Blue 812 News Issue 23

Jun 01, 2025

Wall Street came up with a new nickname for Trump’s tariff flip-flopping: TACO, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out”, describing how every time Trump announces massive tariffs, the stock market panics, causing Trump to back off, while investors cash in on the rebound. The economy’s been on this financial rollercoaster since February 1st.

Naturally, Trump hated the nickname. After a reporter asked him about it, he erupted, calling it a “nasty question,” doubling back later in the conversation to show it really got under his skin, and insisting that his tariff strategy is just “negotiation.” He defended his decision to cut tariffs on China for 90 days and delay a 50% tariff on European goods until July - exactly as the TACO theory predicts.

A heartbreaking story out of Georgia has been making headlines: Adriana Smith, a 30 year-old nurse and mother, was about nine weeks pregnant when a medical emergency rendered her brain dead. Because of Georgia's law banning most abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected (roughly six weeks into pregnancy), doctors at Emory University Hospital have been keeping her organs functioning for the last 4 months until the fetus can be delivered. This is against the wishes of her family, and they are on the hook for the bill.

According to current reporting, it’s unclear if Adriana had a living will or any kind of advance directives in case of emergency, but in a twist that surprises no one - if you’re pregnant, it probably doesn’t matter! In Georgia, advance directives are null and void if you’re pregnant, unless very specific criteria are met. At least 26 states have statutes that invalidate an advance directive during pregnancy. Nineteen of those 31 states overrule advance directives only if the fetus can survive while the mother is on life support, but 12 states require that the life support continue regardless of the viability of the fetus. You’ll never guess what Georgia and Indiana have in common this time! more info in the latest episode of Hoosier Health Matters.

Lemons float, but limes sink. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Last week, the conservative majority handed down rulings that make corporate executives, religious institutions, and immigration hardliners very happy while leaving vulnerable communities scrambling.

And what’s next? We’re still waiting on rulings that could redefine presidential immunity (all eyes on Trump), transgender rights (because attacking the trans community never goes out of style), and porn regulations (which is more important - privacy and free speech or puritanical restrictions?).

Terre Haute introduced a new logo and slogan, “Meet Us at the Crossroads,” featuring a design inspired by the Vigo County Courthouse and the city’s sports history. Mayor Sakbun emphasized that the rebrand reflects civic pride and ongoing improvements to neighborhoods and infrastructure.

Secretary of Defense Pete Kegseth Hegseth’s Department of Defense has created a survey for citizen whistleblowers to identify waste in the DoD. Local patriots can use the form to notify the government that Lockheed Martin delivered F-35 aircraft late 91% of the time, and Pratt & Whitney delivered engines late 100% of the time, leading to cost overruns and delays, or create a protonmail account to report the plans to spend “more than $40,000” on a makeup studio at the Pentagon so Secretary Pete (the bad one) can look good for press conferences.

on the agenda

local council meetings (city council, county council, school board, etc). often post their agendas on their respective websites. Use this info to keep up-to-date on what’s being discussed and to decide whether to attend in person. Testify to your anger with your presence!

City Council: June 5th meeting agenda | June 12th meeting agenda

County Council: agendas (posted after the meeting)

School Board:

Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission
at The Hub, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 900 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana at 4:00 pm

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

Indivisible Wabash Valley has launched a calendar for the Southern Indiana/Wabash Valley area

Tuesday, June 10th at 5pm: Indiana Nasty Women - Vigo County meeting at the Vigo County Public Library

Saturday, June 14th at 10 am: National Day of Action "NO KINGS" Rally

Wednesday, June 25th at 8:30 am: County Update with the Vigo County Commissioners at Hulman Center. The Vigo County Commissioners will provide an update on county projects and issues of great importance to Vigo County. Individual tickets are $40. (what is this money going to?) more info here.

Three Republican lawmakers in Florida whose families fled Cuba are pushing back on the Trump administration’s efforts to end programs that protect many of the region’s immigrant communities from deportation.

NPR is suing Trump over his executive order that aimed to end federal funding for NPR and PBS.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst faced vocal opposition at a town hall for supporting cuts to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, and for responding, “Well, we’re all going to die” when asked about the fatality of GOPs’ policies.

New Mexico’s recreational marijuana tax is funding a basic income program for vulnerable families. The program provides $750 monthly payments to 80 families in two districts where students struggle with low academic performance, as well as financial counseling to the families.

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

Sudan has more pyramids than any other country - more than double the number Egypt has. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.