Crossroads with Joshua Philipp

While the last four years saw the adoption of policies in line with DEI, or “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the emerging culture is going in the opposite direction. The Pentagon declared in a recent video that the focus is no longer on DEI but instead on the idea of the “American warrior.” Troops are now being pushed to lose weight and become stronger. And many recent videos from official military accounts are posting videos with high firepower and that demonstrate some of the U.S. military’s emerging capabilities.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

There are growing debates over whether President Donald Trump could suspend habeas corpus as a way to bypass judges blocking deportations. Doing so would be regarded as a more extreme method of carrying out his agenda, and in a recent interview, Trump suggested that while he may have this type of capability, he’d rather not use it.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

A secret brainwashing experiment was conducted on Reddit by unauthorized researchers. These researchers from the University of Zurich used artificial intelligence (AI) to see if they could sway the opinions of regular people, and the results are raising concerns over the potential uses of AI.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been using the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) as a tool for transnational repression. In a recent case, Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma was implicated in a CCP campaign to export its abuses into other countries. Yet this is just the latest of many instances in which INTERPOL, an organization with 196 member countries, has been manipulated by China’s communist regime to work as its very own global police force.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Do states have the right to not cooperate with federal authorities on deportations of illegal immigrants? Can the federal government cut funding to states that don’t cooperate? We could soon get answers to both of these questions. President Donald Trump is now signing an executive order targeting the so-called sanctuary cities, and this comes on the heels of legal challenges that blocked his federal freeze on cities with sanctuary policies.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

There’s a legal battle taking place over the push for large-scale deportations. On one side, there are calls for due process. On the other, there are allegations that the problem is so large that it would never be resolved if each deportation were challenged in court. And now, President Donald Trump is calling for a kind of “courageous justice” in the face of legal challenges.Views expressed in this episode are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

The UK is moving forward with experiments to dim the sun, carrying out controversial programs on what’s known as solar geoengineering. These are being developed with the goal of fighting “global warming” by reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth.–Views expressed in this podcast are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

A new conflict is emerging in the White House, and this time it’s between the various news outlets being allowed into the briefings. Seats for “new media” have now been opened. Many of these are conservative outlets, and this is creating some tensions with the media that used to hold those seats.—Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a “baby bonus.” This would be a $5,000 bonus to mothers in a bid to increase birth rates. The plan comes amid dwindling birth rates in most developed countries, which is considered a long-term threat to the future of the United States.—Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

The Department of Defense has been authorized by the Trump administration to take nearly 110,000 acres of land along the southern border from the Department of the Interior. This not only allows the United States broader control over border security, but could also result in additional criminal charges against illegal immigrants.—Want to support independent journalism? Follow our podcast!Views expressed in this podcast are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

President Donald Trump is moving to reclassify around 50,000 government employees from civil servants to political appointees under Schedule F. This would remove civil service protections from these positions, making it easier for these federal workers to be fired. In a public statement, Trump said this will help him “root out corruption,” and have the government “run like a business.”—Support independent journalism by giving us a 5-star rating.Views expressed on this podcast are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Harvard University could lose about $2.2 billion in grants and tens of millions of dollars in contracts. The federal government is now freezing the university’s funds, after its heads refused to follow policies that would get rid of diversity programs and put some restrictions on student protests regarded as anti-Semitic. Harvard argues that this is about protecting constitutional rights, while the Trump administration says it’s about upholding civil rights laws.—Enjoyed Crossroads? Give this podcast a follow.

The Trump administration has been criticized for the accidental deportation of an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. Allegations against the administration say the man was called a gang member when he was not, and many news outlets alleged that the Trump administration was ignoring a court order to return the man to the United States. And now, a very different story is coming out. During their meeting at the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele clarified why the man was arrested, his gang membership, and details on the court order that news outlets are now accused of misrepresenting.

Through the use of tariffs, reduced foreign aid, and renegotiated trade deals, the Trump administration is forcing a change in global politics. The latest chapter has involved the trade war between the United States and the Chinese communist regime. There are also new U.S. trade policies that require global changes on identity politics and a new push for other countries to drop forms of online censorship. When taken together, the policies represent a new form of American diplomacy using financial power as its tool.

The impact of the new U.S.–China trade war is becoming clear, and it seems that quality of life for Americans is suddenly improving. President Donald Trump has now clarified that with all actions combined, the total tariffs on China are now 145 percent, while tariffs on other countries are now around 10 percent. And contrary to some expectations, consumer prices are now going down, and inflation is dropping as well.

The stock market has suddenly boomed. Trump has paused tariffs on all countries looking to make a deal, and he’s shifting his focus to fight a global trade war against the Chinese Communist Party. This is as the White House is saying that China has walked into its tariff trap.

It could soon be expensive to be an illegal immigrant in the United States. A law from 1996 is now being enforced by the Department of Homeland Security, which can fine illegal immigrants up to $998 each day they refuse to leave the country, and can also allow the government to seize their assets. In addition to this, the White House is promoting a hotline for immigration enforcement, where anyone can anonymously report illegal immigrants to authorities. And alongside this, the Trump administration has now won a Supreme Court case on the enforcement of the Alien Enemies Act. 

The stock market has begun to surge after days of record drops. This follows an announcement from the European Union that it's ready to negotiate with the United States, and the deal on the table is “zero-for-zero” tariffs on industrial goods. Yet, while the EU is now willing to negotiate, the Chinese communist regime is doing the opposite, and President Donald Trump is now threatening to expand tariffs against China.

Conflicting events are sweeping the United States over the “Liberation Day” tariffs. On one side, large-scale protests against President Donald Trump’s policies were organized across the country. On the other side, Trump’s approval ratings in some polls have gone up, and analysts are raising questions on whether the impact to the stock market may not reflect on the wealth of average Americans.

President Donald Trump carried through with his global tariffs for what he deemed “Liberation Day.” This includes sharp tariffs against many countries in the world, while offering a way out if they drop their tariffs and trade barriers against the United States. The day after, the stock markets saw a huge selloff, in what some framed as an attempt to short the market. Yet already, many countries are saying they’re ready to negotiate.

The leading presidential candidate in France is now ineligible to run for political office. Marine Le Pen was expected to come out on top in the French presidential elections, but she has now been found guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to four years in prison. After the verdict was announced, she alleged the case was politically motivated, and critics pointed out that her case fits in with a broader pattern. Populist leaders around the world are facing similar legal attacks, and some allege these are part of a campaign to keep the new parties out of politics.

“Liberation Day,” as President Donald Trump calls it, has now arrived. April 2 was slated as the day when the administration’s large-scale tariffs on other countries would take effect. In response, many countries from Europe, to the Americas, to Asia are now looking to form new trade alliances to work around the United States. Trump is saying they’ll be back and that he intends to fight on the issue even if it takes all summer.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gone from cutting government spending to shrinking the size of government overall. Now, the agency’s head, Elon Musk, is detailing what DOGE has uncovered in fraud, overspending, and gaps in the system.

Police officers in Rochester, NY are being accused of violating sanctuary city rules for helping border patrol agents. And now, border czar Tom Homan is weighing in behind the officers, saying “help is coming.” In other news, the White House just declared what it called “MAGA Madness.” It gave a nod to "March Madness" and the NCAA basketball tournament, but went further to declare the administration’s vision for the United States.

A lawsuit filed over the Signal chat leaks has gone to a judge overseeing several other Trump cases. Judge James Boasberg will oversee the lawsuit, in addition to cases on blocking Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and deportation flights, among others.

 President Donald Trump has now changed the election laws across the United States. The March 25 executive order includes changes such as proof of citizenship to vote in U.S. elections. Critics argue the order will have the effect of changing the process of how people register to vote and say it could disenfranchise voters. And already, there are groups saying they will challenge the election law changes in court.

The latest political storm in Washington surrounds a Signal chat that included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their communications on plans to attack Houthi terrorists were leaked to the press, and it turned out that someone had inadvertently added a journalist to the secure chat. The incident has now turned into a debate on the security of government communications and whether laws could have been broken. But what’s being left out of the discussion is that Signal is actually approved for government and even some military communications.Meanwhile, 23andMe is going bankrupt, and now there are warnings that the DNA data could get sold off.

The attacks on Tesla are being taken seriously. The FBI has now reportedly launched a special task force looking into an anarchist group involved in the attacks. This follows public comments from President Donald Trump and recent arrests by the Justice Department, and could now be aimed at organizations behind the incidents. In other news, the DHS has revoked legal protections on another wave of illegal immigrants, this time it's those on parole.

The actions of President Donald Trump have been regularly stalled or blocked by court actions. Many of these are in turn brought about by lawsuits from various agencies. And now, Trump is taking action to prevent attorneys and law firms from blocking the actions of the president. 

The Department of Education, as we knew it, has come to an end. President Trump has signed an executive order essentially dismantling the department and returning education back to the states to decide on. In other news, a new campaign to get heavy metals out of baby formula, and to make sure that formula is reliable and nutritious, has been launched by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He’s referring to this campaign as “Operation Stork Speed.” 

The campaign against Tesla as a form of protest against President Donald Trump is growing. Boycotts, incidents of arson, and vandalism are being reported in various parts of the United States and Europe, with some public figures also speaking out against the company. The attacks against the electric vehicle company are seen as an attempt to harm the interests of the company’s owner, Elon Musk, in retaliation for his role in the Trump administration. On the other side of the issue, Attorney General Pamela Bondi is now also saying the attacks could qualify as domestic terrorism.

The United States’ manufacturing has been declining, and there’s now a push to bring it back. Vice President JD Vance recently spoke at the American Dynamism Summit about the unseen impacts of losing manufacturing, how this happened, and the emerging policies to restore it. 

President Donald Trump has declared that the presidential pardons issued under the Biden administration are now null and no longer in effect. He alleged that the documents had been signed with an autopen and that the former president was likely unaware of them. The move could clear the way for new criminal investigations.Meanwhile, new polls on approval ratings are showing new records. Trump has matched his record high, while Democrats are showing record-low ratings. The polls suggest that a change in approach may be necessary for Democrats to win back voters in the midterm elections.

Over 200 gang members from Tren de Aragua and MS-13 have been deported from the United States, and have now arrived at a prison in El Salvador. Videos were posted online showing the gang members being taken from the planes and sent to the country’s Terrorism Confinement Center. The deportation follows a recent action from President Donald Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, where he declared an invasion of the United States by Tren de Aragua, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. Now, a legal battle is beginning as well, after a federal judge blocked Trump’s invocation of the act and also ordered the deportation of gang members to stop.

The push for mass deportations could soon get the backing of a major order. President Donald Trump is reportedly expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. He discussed using this order when he was on the campaign trail, and it would give the president broad authority to deport noncitizens.

The coordinated attacks being launched on Tesla are now being called acts of terrorism. This began with organized protests at Tesla dealerships. It then expanded to dozens of locations across the United States—and then began escalating into threats of violence, arson, and other actions targeting Tesla as a form of retaliation for Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. Musk went public and alleged that the attacks were being coordinated by a group of far-left organizations and major left-wing figures. And now, the Trump administration is saying the attacks represent a form of domestic terrorism, which could result in criminal charges.

A trade war is kicking off between the United States and Canada. The new Canadian prime minister is promising to win the financial battle. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is working on his own response, which he says will include actions that will go down in history.

A policy that could have brought an end to America’s suburbs has now been discarded. The zoning policy under the Obama administration, and later the Biden administration, created a type of equity program that localities had to follow. And the program has now been eliminated by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.In other news, the Department of Homeland Security has repurposed the CBP One app that could formerly be used to schedule illegal entry into the United States. It has been relaunched for self-deportation.

Cryptocurrencies could soon be part of the U.S. national strategic reserve. During a recent event, President Donald Trump announced his administration is exploring ways to do this through bitcoin.The move follows another Trump order where he banned central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), or government-backed digital currencies. Both actions could represent a break of the United States from a global trend of mass surveillance in digital payments.

President Donald Trump is expected to abolish the Department of Education. A draft of the executive order was detailed by several news outlets ahead of the expected announcement, and this also aligns with what Trump had promised early in his campaign. The plan is to have the school systems handled by the states, and not by the federal government.

An anti-Trump resistance has formed within government agencies. A secret network of federal workers has organized to fight back against the Trump administration. The group is now working to form strategies and share information on encrypted apps. Alongside this, new U.S. intelligence shows that the Chinese regime is attempting to recruit disgruntled U.S. federal employees.In other news, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Trump’s freeze on some USAID payments will have to go through. The denial of Trump’s attempts to block a lower court order could signal how other legal challenges over money heading to international programs may go.

The Department of Justice has recovered files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein that were allegedly withheld from release. The announcement was made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced plans to make the Epstein files public. In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced he’s now ready to sign a rare earths deal with the United States and be a part of peace talks with Russia. This takes place just days after Zelenskyy argued with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office and was asked to leave the White House without signing the agreement.

With the midterm elections coming up, there’s a legal battle starting over election laws and who controls them. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to bring the Federal Election Commission (FEC) under White House scrutiny. Democrats say that this could undermine the independence of the FEC, which is in charge of enforcing campaign finance laws, and a new lawsuit could soon determine the legalities of Trump’s order. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has reportedly paused aid to Ukraine.

Plans for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine broke down on live TV. In a discussion at the White House, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy argued with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance about the potential agreement. The deal is now on pause, and Trump has said Zelenskyy can come back when he’s ready for peace. In the meantime, Ukraine is turning to Europe for help, and this is sparking new debates on whether Europe could defend itself without the help of the United States.

The first batch of files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has now been released by the Department of Justice. The files were first given to a handful of conservative influencers where photos at the White House showed them holding binders with the label “The Epstein Files, Phase 1: By order of Attorney General Pamela Bondi & FBI Director Kash Patel.” And now the DOJ has publicly released these "Phase 1" Epstein files. Also, you might have noticed that egg prices have skyrocketed. President Trump's administration has a billion dollar plan to combat this egg shortage.

The White House is ending the practice of letting an outside association decide who gets access to the president and who doesn’t. An organization known as the White House Correspondents’ Association used to control a good amount of press access to the White House, and now the Trump administration is replacing it with a new White House Press Pool while promising more access to new outlets.In other news, illegal immigrants in the United States will now need to register with the federal government within the next 30 days. As part of this, they will be fingerprinted, and those who fail to register will face civil penalties. The decision was announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said this is an act to enforce the Alien Registration Act.

A new movement is underway to fix some of the causes of childhood chronic disease. This is being led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to his role with HHS, he’s also the head of the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which has influence over other departments and agencies. In other news, Kash Patel has now been sworn in as director of the FBI. And we’re seeing some of his first moves for the agency.

President Donald Trump has a new plan for the District of Columbia, and is suggesting the federal government should take over the nation’s capital. His plan is a counter to those who believe it should, instead, be granted statehood. And in other news, Kash Patel has now been confirmed as the new director of the FBI.

There is now a new push for the United States to decouple from China, including a campaign for large-scale divestment. These measures could also serve as part of a broader undercurrent to President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs and, ultimately, could signal the beginning of a new global trade war. At the same time, the Chinese Communist Party shows increasing signs of its preparations for war. And in other news, President Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to fire all the remaining Biden-appointed attorneys generals. 

Despite the legal pushbacks it’s now facing, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is moving forward with audits and reviews of government agencies. And now, just in time for tax season, DOGE staff have arrived at the headquarters of the IRS. The federal tax collection agency is now facing an investigation into any potential waste, and also a review of its practices.