Blue 812 News Issue 15

Apr 06, 2025

‘Liberation Day’ has come, and it seems the ’liberation’ will be our dollars liberated from our bank accounts. Natalie Allison, Jeff Stein, Cat Zakrzewski, and Michael Birnbaum of the Washington Post reported how Trump came up with the amounts to levy as tariffs. After aides from several government agencies prepared options for Trump, he decided instead on the plan that has drawn ridicule because it is crude and has nothing to do with tariffs at all, and was possibly created by ChatGPT. He reached the amounts of tariff levies less than three hours before the official announcement and with little to no input from business or foreign leaders, by dividing the trade deficit of each nation (not including services) by the value of its imports and then cut that number in half. Because he’s a benevolent dictator.

“He’s at the peak of just not giving a f*ck anymore,” a White House official told the Washington Post. “Bad news stories? Doesn’t give a f*ck. He’s going to do what he’s going to do. He’s going to do what he promised to do on the campaign trail.”

In an example of something Trump used to care about, the tariffs have wreaked havoc on the stock market, with markets seeing their worst one-day loss since the COVID pandemic. On Friday, the S&P 500 lost about $2 trillion in value, and now there’s a 60 percent chance of a recession this year, according to an analysis from JPMorgan, up from 40 percent odds. The tariffs are likely to boost inflation and slow economic growth, and will cost most families $3800/year. What’s more, Trump shared a TikTok video which claims that he’s “purposely CRASHING the market.”

European leaders have said they’re meeting Monday to come up with a “proportional” response to Trump’s tariffs, while China said it would work closely with Japan and South Korea to discuss their response.

In an effect that hits close to home (well, about 130 miles) Stellantis announced the temporary layoffs of 900 autoworkers at three plants in Kokomo as well as two in Michigan as it navigates the new tariff rules. This is – and I mean this very literally – the exact opposite of what Trump claimed the tariffs would do.

In Congress, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced a bill to limit the President’s power to set tariffs. A little late on that one, but at least it already has seven Republican co-sponsors in the Senate. Also, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote an informative thread about the tariffs on Instagram.

Navigator, a research firm, just published a short guide on how to correctly talk about the tariffs. They also published Trump and the Economy: A Guide for Advocates. It’s got some really important guidance as well.

This week, Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-N.J.) record-breaking floor speech broke through into the mainstream. Booker kicked off proceedings at 7 p.m. on Monday and ended 25 hours and five minutes later on Tuesday night — the longest floor speech in Senate history.

Booker’s speech wasn’t a filibuster because the senator wasn’t rising to obstruct action on a specific bill; instead, Booker’s dilatory tactic was aimed at the more general purpose of protesting Trump’s actions.

Booker’s marathon speech was a response to a Democratic base that’s furious at Trump and crying out to lawmakers to “do something.” Booker decided to disrupt the Senate and prove that this was not business as usual, speaking at length to prevent the chamber from taking up scheduled votes.

The pure physical aspect of Booker’s feat was remarkable. Booker didn’t use the restroom for the entire duration of his speech. He later told reporters that he purposefully dehydrated himself by cutting off food and water consumption for days in the lead-up.

Unlike past filibusters where the speakers recited recipes or read children’s books, Booker spent the entire 25 hours of his non-filibuster speaking on topics germane to the current administration. He read letters from constituents and referenced carefully prepared binders of information and facts on policy.

The peak viewership turning into the live stream of his speech was more than 300,000, according to Booker’s team. The speech also took off on TikTok, a platform where the symbolism of Booker — the first Black senator from New Jersey — breaking segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond’s (R-S.C.) record for the longest Senate speech was especially powerful to users.

Thanks for reading Blue 812 News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

The Trump administration acknowledged in a court filing Monday that it had grabbed a Maryland father with protected legal status and mistakenly deported him to El Salvador, but said that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction to order his return from the megaprison where he’s now locked up.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported to El Salvador. After Garcia landed in the country, Trump officials claimed there was nothing they could do to rescue him. “This was an illegal act,” District Judge Paula Xinis told a Justice Department lawyer. “Congress said you can’t do it, and you did it anyway.” So the Trump administration sent someone to another country with no due process to ensure that was the appropriate course of action, that person had no chance to explain his situation or plead his case, he was sent to a country that the US expressly forbid him from being deported to, and now there is no way to remove him from this situation that has been identified as erroneous? If it can happen to Kilmar, it can happen to anyone.

Nobody Is Above the Law created a Resistbot letter about the Trump administration's wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia called “Secure release from CECOT prison, rectify deportation injustice.” You can read the letter here and then sign it or text PTBCPK to 50409.

Two relatively new SUVs in the Statehouse parking lot have raised eyebrows: both Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Secretary of State Diego Morales have top-tier, premium rides that cost the state about $90,000 each.

Both state officials have justified the purchases, with Beckwith, who has advocated for local governments to cut spending yet chose the most expensive model of SUV, saying he needed the SUV because he's driving around with "big guys" as opposed to former Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch who he said traveled with a "bunch of women."

Less than an hour after the Indianapolis Star posted the story about the cars, Beckwith, who previously requested to double his office's budget, announced a series of cost cuts totaling $164,000.

On top of the vehicles themselves, expanded reporting by the Star showed that the dealership Diego bought the vehicle from gave his campaign a $25,000 check just weeks earlier, and $65,000 in total to his campaign.

All of this is taking place just months before HB 1518, authored by Rep. Mitch Gore, takes effect on July 1st. The bill, currently headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature, would prevent state officials from using state tax dollars to purchase luxury vehicles. Rep. Gore called the purchases “bullshit” in an interview with IndyStar.

“Many Hoosiers are struggling to keep the lights on in their home or the doors open of their small business. The hard-earned dollars of our taxpayers should be used responsibly and for legitimate purposes. If the average Hoosier can’t afford the vehicle, their tax dollars should not be used to purchase it for a public official. Period,” Rep. Gore said.

US Senator Jim Banks, in his first year of a 6-year term, went viral this week for an exchange caught on video with a fired federal worker, telling the former HHS budget analyst that he "deserved" to be fired from his "left-wing woke job." The employee, Mack Schroeder, had worked with people with disabilities and older adults, and reflected on his experience here with Indiana Public Media

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) may be the latest senior Democrat to face a young primary challenger disappointed at how Washington is combating the Trump administration.

George Hornedo, a 34-year-old with long ties with the state party, is “exploring a run” against Carson with a campaign that could launch next week. Carson has served in Congress representing Indiana’s 7th District for nine terms.

Hornedo accused Carson, just one of two Democrats in the state delegation, of being inactive at a time when Democrats need to be taking action. “Having a warm body in an empty suit is one thing if we were in a blue state and had this strong congressional delegation with other good Democrats in there, but that’s not the case here in Indiana,” Hornedo told Punchbowl News.

Caroline Ellert, Carson’s spokesperson, touted his history of passing bipartisan bills, background in law enforcement and focus on bringing back infrastructure projects to Indianapolis. “He remains a powerful figure in the Democratic Party as a Midwestern voice who is able to push progressive legislation while still finding bipartisan, common-sense solutions when possible to deliver for Indianapolis residents,” Ellert said.

Welcome to week 13 and the last month of the 2025 legislative session. Next week is likely the final opportunity for committees to meet and move bills to the House and Senate floors for final votes. To remain alive, all bills must be heard on the floor for a day and then voted out by the April 15 deadline.

As that deadline approaches, several major bills should move next week, including SB 1, the property tax reform bill, and HB 1001, the state budget bill. The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hear SB 1 on Monday. The budget bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where we will see the Senate’s version of the budget.

The House Education Committee met Wednesday to hear multiple bills, including the two major SB 373 amendments. With Chairman Behning absent, Vice Chair Michelle Davis led the meeting and chose not to move SB 373 forward. It is expected to be taken up next week.

The Senate Education Committee held its final meeting of the session on Wednesday. It advanced only two minor bills and adjourned after roughly 15 minutes.

SB 287 (partisan school boards) was finally called for a vote in the House on Monday and passed 54–40. It now returns to the Senate, where senators will decide whether to concur with the House version or dissent and send the bill to a conference committee. The bill would allow school board candidates to declare a party affiliation, run as an independent or remain nonpartisan.

Gov. Mike Braun signed 30 more bills last week, including one giving the WNBA a tax break. Here's a sampling of what else is advancing through the Statehouse:

These are just some of the bills scheduled for upcoming action this week. View more bills and the latest schedule at madvoters.org.

In what Public Law Library is calling a landmark lawsuit, Indiana State University settled a federal lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union after the school would not allow the Pride Center of Terre Haute’s festival to be held on campus, as it had been the previous two years. In February, the ACLU sued ISU, claiming the university violated the Terre Haute Pride Center’s First Amendment rights by shutting down or changing LGBTQ+ events on campus.

In the settlement, the City of Terre Haute will serve as host of the LGBTQ+ festival at a park off campus while ISU will be a “non-financial sponsor.” meaning ISU "will support its student groups who choose to participate in the festival, as well as promote the event to the Indiana State staff and students."

The City of Terre Haute, the Pride Center and ISU announced what they said was an amicable resolution Thursday afternoon. The city will host Pride Fest 2025 in Fairbanks Park in September. Read more at Indiana Public Media

The 2020 Brown Democracy Medal winner, Srdja Popovic, was a leader in the revolution that brought down the Milošević regime in Serbia and he continues to help protestors around the world learn effective, sometimes humorous, nonviolent tactics.
Pranksters vs. Autocrats by Srdja Popovic and Sophia A. McClennen | Free eBook | Cornell University Press

In contrast to previous mayoral administrations, Mayor Sakbun has a whole webpage dedicated to communication with constituents. I was forwarded a copy of the most recent newsletter - it was really useful! It lists upcoming street closures and sidewalk repairs, which is information I am always surprised by at inopportune times. Previous issues are available on the Mayor’s office website, and you can subscribe yourself here.

I’ve mentioned Mondays with the Mayor on the newsletter before, but another opportunity to hear from our local leader is Mingle with the Mayor, At this informal and relaxed gathering, various topics will be covered each month with opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Discussions will be held at the Grand Traverse Pie Co. where free pie and coffee will be served courtesy of Clinton Gardens. The goal of Mingle with the Mayor is to establish community engagement, break down barriers and allow for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction in an informal, neutral space. There is no agenda or speeches and no reservations are needed.

***don’t forget to check out the Nasty Women events calendar!***

Tuesday, April 8th, 3-4pm: Mingle with the Mayor at the Grand Traverse Pie Company.

Saturday, April 12th, 10-12pm: Legislator Crackerbarrel at Vigo County Public Library

Saturday, April 12: the Indiana Democratic Party is launching the People’s Town Hall series in Bloomington and New Albany. You can RSVP and learn more at the links attached.

Both Town Halls are in the Ninth District, where GOP Rep. Erin Houchin has refused to meet with her constituents and has cancelled her staff office hours at her Bedford office (sound familiar?).

Monday, April 14th, 6-7pm: Vigo County School Board meeting at the administration building at 501 W. Olive St. in West Terre Haute. This is Nasty Women’s Show Up focus for April!

Thursday, April 17th, 5-6:45pm: Nasty Women of Vigo County meeting at the Vigo County Public Library

Friday, April 25th, 5pm: Vigo Dems ‘event’

Susan Crawford won her Supreme Court race by ten points! Turnout was massive, too. Democrats also won loads of downballot races in Wisconsin— Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler described it as a “sweep of the state.”

With nine Republicans joining all Democrats, the U.S. House of Representatives is a step closer to changing a rule that would allow new parents to vote remotely around the birth of their child.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego announced he will block the confirmation of top leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs until the Trump administration backs off plans to cut jobs from the VA.

Adam Schiff announced he was placing a hold on the Ed Martin nomination to be D.C.’s U.S Attorney. Sen. Durbin and all other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee also called for Martin to face questions under oath at a confirmation hearing.

All charges were dropped against the 24-year-old Georgia woman who experienced a miscarriage and was later arrested after placing the fetal remains in a dumpster.

Over 1200 peaceful Hands Off protests happened across the country (and in many other countries) yesterday, garnering worldwide news coverage and instilling new hope in millions of Americans. Another is planned for April 19.

Trump's time in the White House runs out in:

Thanks for reading Blue 812 News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.