By Tyme Anderson 

Foreign Policy

Argentina / Peace in the Middle East / Venezuela / Greenland First! Oops, I mean America first. While this administration was largely elected under the premise that Americans would be prioritized and pulled from senseless wars, the actions of the last 365 days exhibit otherwise. On the bright side, this White House was able to push our European allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to pull their financial weight in their respective defense departments. However, we didn’t have to bully them to accomplish this goal. But the bullying persists with continued threats to purchase Greenland. Maybe this confidence comes on the heels of our military successfully capturing the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from their home and transporting them back to the States. After all the theatrics and international attention, Maduro’s vice president was eventually installed as the current leader, effectively changing nothing for the Venezuelan people. Oh, but the U.S. president promised that his team of oil heirs will revamp their entire oil infrastructure, while the funds are placed into offshore accounts. Those funds in the offshore accounts will go back to the Venezuelan people, right? Right?! Greenland, I hope you are paying attention! First, it’s Venezuelan Oil for the fossil fuel royals, and next is Greenland’s minerals for the tech lords. 

Nevertheless, apparently it is important to American citizens that we provide a $20 billion currency swap to stabilize the Argentine Peso based on reporting from NPR. While generations of Americans swim in student loan debt on the mainland, we get to simultaneously buffer Argentina’s economy so they can meet their impending debt obligations. 

Immigration

The United States has a complicated relationship with immigration and it undoubtedly needs streamlined reform. Which is probably why it is arguably the hottest topic of debate lately, and one of the top issues highlighted in the 2024 election.. While Americans were promised the target would be the criminals and cartels, it is community members that are paying the price. What many of us are witnessing with our eyes is not respect, and people are reportedly denied due process as guaranteed in the constitution. With the flurry of policy changes from this administration, it led to illegal border crossings dropping significantly from nearly 1.5 million to about 238,000 encounters according to the Pew Research Center. Ironically, border crossings from Canada into the United States have also dropped nearly30%, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Now, this is likely in part because of the threats of annexation and trade tensions. This administration can however make room for South African refugees to resettle in America, while providing cash aid, Medicare, and other job support programs. Interesting. This administration has consistently condemned socialism, but I guess that doesn’t count for the South Africans.

Education 

On March 20, 2025, the president of this administration signed an Executive Order directing the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and the current Secretary of Education to begin dismantling the Department of Education. This will effectively remove federal oversight and shift control to “empower” states and local level agencies to make their own decisions. So far this empowerment has been exemplified through the current presidential administration leveraging millions of dollars in efforts to align higher learning with their agenda. Columbia University settled a $200 million settlement to restore federal funding following protests, and the University of Pennsylvania agreed to restrict their transgender athletes in exchange for $175 million of unfrozen federal funds. In contrast, Roosevelt University journalism student Bryana Robinson noted how, “this feels like another form of censorship,” and championed RU’s values highlighting their legacy for advocating for diversity. This settlement trend in higher learning is unprecedented and signals to other higher learning institutions to get their students in line. RU, will you?

Pop Culture 

Through the chaos of politics, TikTok is American now and the Epstein files were finally released after missing a congressional deadline effectively breaking the law. The White House is also building a new ballroom that’s projected to cost $400 million, and the military bases are returning to their former names dedicated to confederates, which also cost $24 million. Interesting how many Republicans complained about the cost to change the names away from confederates, citing cost consciousness, but had no issue immediately spending more money to return the traitorous namesakes. Not to mention, the current President has renamed the Kennedy Center after himself, and then closed it down for more expensive renovations for two years. Way to save! Lastly, and maybe most embarrassingly, the pressure to transfer the Nobel Peace Prize to the current administration for all of the success mentioned above. Stay tuned: there’s only three more years of this unless they steal the next election.

Sources:

Chen, Dalson. “Canadian Land Travel to the U.S. Fell More than 30% in 2025.” CBC, 22 Jan. 2026, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/cross-border-travel-us-canada-detroit-windsor-9.7056590.

Latham. “President Trump Issues Executive Order on Digital Assets.” Global Fintech & Digital Assets Blog, 27 Jan. 2025, http://www.fintechanddigitalassets.com/2025/01/president-trump-issues-executive-order-on-digital-assets/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Mahlkow, Hendrik, et al. “America’s Own Goal: Who Pays the Tariffs?” Kiel Policy Brief, vol. 201, 2026, http://www.kielinstitut.de/publications/americas-own-goal-who-pays-the-tariffs-19398/.

Romer, Keith. “Scott Bessent’s $20 Billion Dollar Gamble on Argentina : Planet Money.” NPR, 14 Nov. 2025, http://www.npr.org/2025/11/14/nx-s1-5609382/argentina-loan-bessent-treasury-bailout.