The 2020 Election Isn’t Over — Now the FBI Is at Fulton County

Federal agents executed a court approved search at the Fulton County Election Hub in Georgia, seizing ballots and election records tied to the 2020 presidential election. Officials say the search was authorized by a judge and focused on how election materials were handled. Four years after the vote, the federal government is still physically removing election records from a local election office.

To me, this looks like a first step toward something bigger. Not the end goal, but a signal.

Do states control their own elections? Yes, for now. That is still how the system is supposed to work. But it only works as long as that authority is respected.

In my opinion, this is where Trump is headed. He will eventually claim that investigators have “found” votes that were supposedly missing in the 2020 election. He will point to that and say the states cannot be trusted to uphold election integrity. From there, the justification is simple. If states cannot be trusted, the federal government has to step in.

That is how you build the case for federal control. Not through Congress, and not by passing new laws. You do it through narrative. He does not need to prove fraud. He only needs to say the system failed. Once that claim is accepted by enough people, an executive order becomes easy. ICE assisting with elections. Federal oversight reframed as security.

I know executive orders are not laws. I know they can be challenged. The problem is timing. Challenges take months or years. Elections do not. Courts move slowly. Congress is stalled. Agencies that resist get replaced.

This is how power shifts. Gradually. Each move framed as reasonable. Each step justified as temporary. And by the time anyone tries to stop it, the system already looks different.

Why Is ICE Anywhere Near the Olympics in Italy?

ICE showing up in Italy ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics should make people uneasy. U.S. officials are insisting these agents will be working quietly in a control room, helping with security coordination and intelligence sharing. No immigration enforcement. No presence on the streets. Just support… which makes zero sense.

Milan’s mayor has already said ICE is not welcome, and the reaction across Italy hasn’t been subtle. People know this agency’s record. They’ve watched ICE become synonymous with raids, intimidation, and deadly encounters in the U.S. You don’t erase that history by putting the word “Olympics” next to it and calling it cooperation.

This moment reinforces what many already believe: ICE has drifted far from its stated purpose. It now operates like the Trump administration’s private police force, deployed aggressively at home and now awkwardly abroad. An agency with that reputation has no business operating outside U.S. borders, especially at a global event meant to bring countries together.

Italy is capable of handling its own security. It doesn’t need an American enforcement agency with a violent track record hovering in the background. If Italian officials want to protect their sovereignty and their people, the response should be simple and firm: ICE can fuck off.

Tesla’s First Year-Over-Year Revenue Drop

Tesla crossed an uncomfortable line in 2025: for the first time, its revenue fell year over year. The drop was about 3 percent, but the underlying numbers tell a bigger story. Earlier this month, Tesla reported its fourth-quarter sales and production figures, showing a 16 percent decline compared to Q4 2024. Now we know what that slowdown cost. Automotive revenue fell 11 percent, landing at $17.7 billion.

Years of momentum finally caught up with reality. Deliveries slipped, sales weakened across the U.S., Europe, and China, and price cuts failed to do what they used to. Tesla kept cars moving by lowering prices, but that strategy squeezed margins and didn’t stop demand from cooling. Competition is no longer theoretical. Buyers have real alternatives, and they’re using them.

Not every part of the business struggled. Tesla’s energy storage division posted 25 percent growth, bringing in $3.8 billion, and its services business grew 18 percent to $3.4 billion. Those gains softened the blow, but they didn’t erase the core problem. The car business still drives the company, and that engine is sputtering.

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Yesterday in Minnesota, a life was taken in a way that is shaking people across the country.

On January 24, 2026, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a US citizen and intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by a federal Border Patrol agent during a massive immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Video that local outlets and international press have shared shows Pretti with his phone in hand, trying to help someone else, and not wielding a weapon when he was pepper-sprayed, pinned and ultimately shot. Pretti had a concealed-carry permit and was a lawful gun owner, yet his death has left his family, his community and people watching nationwide sick with grief and fear.

This was not an isolated event. It followed recent federal enforcement actions in Minneapolis that have already led to at least one other fatal shooting by ICE agents, protests and rising tensions between local officials and federal authorities. Governor Tim Walz has demanded that these operations stop and ordered a state investigation into what happened, arguing that federal agents have blocked local access to key evidence.

The outrage is not just local. Thousands have taken to the streets to demand accountability and to call for immigration agents to leave the state entirely. Even groups that rarely break with the Republican leadership, like the National Rifle Association, have criticized comments from federal prosecutors about the incident, saying it was wrong and risky to broadly characterize gun owners in ways that could erode trust.

For many people watching this unfold, the anger is personal and deep. It isn’t just about one shooting. It’s about the fear that a government with growing power over people’s lives can use lethal force without clear accountability. It’s about watching life-saving professionals like Pretti be killed while standing up for their neighbors. And it’s about the sense that the federal government too often puts enforcement and ideology ahead of human life.

That fear is already tied to broader anxieties about where the country could be headed. Some opponents of what’s known as Project 2025 — a 920-page policy blueprint by a major conservative think tank — have warned that the plan could undo many regulations meant to keep guns out of the hands of people who might misuse them, expand concealed-carry standards nationwide, and weaken enforcement of existing state gun laws. They argue these proposals could make it easier for firearms to flow into daily life with fewer safeguards and less oversight.

For people already devastated by shootings and violence around the country, that possibility feels especially ominous. The idea that guns could become more widespread at the same time that we see federal agents shooting citizens in the streets taps into real and raw fear. It fuels a worry that individual rights and safety are being weighed against political agendas in ways that put ordinary people at risk.

No matter where you stand politically, that fear is human. It’s fear for your children, your neighbors, your friends and your own future in a country you love. It’s worry that the system might not protect you or hold people accountable when power and force intersect. And it’s grief for a man like Alex Pretti, whose life ended in violence while he was trying to help someone else, a tragedy that leaves a hole not just in his family’s heart, but in everyone who believes our communities should be safer and more just.

I’m holding a lot of fear and a lot of grief today. For his family, for our communities, and for the country we’re becoming. We can’t look away from this.

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I keep seeing people argue about individual moments from the past year. One policy. One speech. One headline.

That misses the bigger picture.

What changed wasn’t one thing. It was the accumulation. The speed. The way each move made the next one easier.

So I put somethings that we might have forgotten in order, from January 2025 through now. Not to overwhelm you. To make sure none of it disappears.

Here’s the timeline.

January 2025

Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20 and immediately floods the zone with executive orders.

The pardon for all of the Jan 6 insurrectionists goes out and they immediately all walk free, except for one. One honest woman, Pamela Hemphill, rejected her pardon saying she was a participant and deserves her punishment… it’s always a woman who stands up, but I digress.

Immigration enforcement expands within days. Federal hiring freezes roll out across agencies. DEI programs are ordered dismantled or scrubbed from federal policy, websites, and grant language. Climate commitments are reversed, paused, or withdrawn. Gender markers and language are stripped from federal records and guidance.

Agencies receive conflicting directives, some public and some internal, as staff try to interpret what still applies and what no longer does.

DOGE is founded and creates MASS CONFUSION cutting funding, gaining access to systems, and making God knows what unsecure and vulnerable.

Within days, inspectors general across multiple agencies are fired or removed. These are the watchdogs responsible for oversight, fraud detection, and abuse prevention. Their removal happens quickly, before congressional hearings can organize and before agencies can stabilize.

The tone of the administration becomes clear early. Speed is prioritized. Reversibility is treated as irrelevant. Pushback is expected and ignored.

February–March 2025

The rhetoric escalates.

Judges are attacked by name. Prosecutors are accused of political targeting. Investigators are framed as partisan actors rather than public servants. Legal accountability is recast as persecution.

The Justice Department is increasingly spoken about as a department that needs discipline, not independence. Career officials begin to exit quietly. Others are reassigned. Internal morale drops as lines between law enforcement and political loyalty blur.

Court rulings that block or pause executive actions are publicly dismissed. The idea that courts are an obstacle rather than a coequal branch becomes normalized in speeches and public statements.

Rules don’t disappear, but they are regarded as optional.

April–May 2025

Immigration enforcement ramps up in visible ways.

ICE operations expand. Door-to-door actions return to headlines. Raids are documented through press releases, photos, and social media clips. Detentions increase. Families and communities feel the shift immediately.

States and cities push back in uneven ways. Federal responses vary. Some jurisdictions cooperate under pressure. Others resist and face threats of funding cuts or legal action.

Immigration stops being an abstract policy debate and becomes a daily, visible presence again.

June–July 2025

Federal authority is asserted more aggressively over local governance, particularly in Washington, D.C.

Emergency powers are invoked. Federal involvement in local law enforcement expands. Protests grow in size and frequency, not only in D.C. but nationally.

Demonstrations are increasingly described by administration officials as threats to order rather than expressions of dissent. Crowd control tactics escalate. Arrests rise. Public statements focus less on the cause of protests and more on the fact that they exist.

For many people, this is when federal power stops feeling theoretical and starts feeling personal.

August–September 2025

Education becomes a primary target.

Policies aimed at eliminating what the administration calls “gender ideology” expand beyond K–12 into higher education. Universities receive warnings, guidance, and funding threats. Gender studies, philosophy, and related disciplines are singled out as inappropriate or dangerous.

Faculty report self-censorship. Departments scramble to revise syllabi. Administrators weigh compliance against legal risk.

At the same time, media outlets critical of the administration are publicly threatened with investigations, lawsuits, or licensing consequences. These threats are not subtle and not rare.

Criticism begins to carry real professional and financial risk.

October 2025

The East Wing of the White House is demolished.

This is not a renovation or an interior update. A full wing of the White House complex is removed to make way for a new ballroom project.

The East Wing had housed offices, public access areas, and key support spaces for more than a century. It included functions tied to the first lady’s office, visitor operations, and internal logistics.

Its removal marks a rare and significant physical alteration of the White House during a sitting presidency and all done without oversight or approval from the Historical Preservation Committee.

Alongside this, ongoing institutional changes popped up elsewhere in the federal government.

November–December 2025

Quieter changes pile up.

Federal libraries and archives close or are dismantled (NASA closed a bunch of libraries). Documents are boxed, relocated, or discarded. Public access to records becomes more limited. Scientific communication is restricted or routed through additional layers of approval.

Research funding is further reduced, paused, or redirected. Long-term projects stall. Data collection efforts are interrupted.

These moves don’t dominate the news cycle. There are no dramatic announcements. But they reshape what information survives, who can access it, and what future accountability looks like.

This is the part of the timeline that won’t fully reveal its impact for years.

January 2026

Foreign policy tensions escalate.

Tariff threats against allies resurface. European partners are treated as leverage points rather than collaborators. Greenland becomes a diplomatic flashpoint, referenced casually in public statements despite its geopolitical sensitivity.

Longstanding alliances are discussed in transactional terms. Commitments are framed as negotiable. Diplomatic norms feel less stable.

By this point, the pace and volatility feel familiar.

And that familiarity is part of the problem.

As of now, roughly 51 percent of Project 2025 has already been enacted or put into motion.

Not debated.
Not theoretical.
Active.

And that number matters more than any single headline from the past year.

Because none of this happened in isolation. The executive orders, the firings, the enforcement shifts, the education crackdowns, the quiet dismantling of records and institutions, even the physical alteration of the White House itself. These weren’t random moves. They align. They stack. They reinforce each other.

This is what implementation looks like when it’s broken into pieces small enough to outrun public attention.

If parts of this year feel fuzzy, that’s not because nothing happened. It’s because too much happened, too fast, and in too many directions at once. Confusion wasn’t collateral damage. It was useful.

The timeline matters. The order matters. And once you see how much is already in place, it becomes a lot harder to tell yourself this was just noise.

We’re not looking at a proposal anymore. We’re living in the early results.

Randall Gamboa Esquivel left Costa Rica healthy. He crossed the US border, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and nearly ten months later was flown home on an air ambulance in a vegetative state. Five weeks after that, he was dead. No cause of death listed. No real answers. Just silence, paperwork, and a family left holding the pieces.

If this sounds familiar, it should. The trajectory is disturbingly close to Otto Warmbier. A person goes into custody. They disappear from meaningful contact. They reemerge catastrophically injured. The authorities insist protocols were followed. The family is told, in essence, nothing to see here.

The difference is that Warmbier’s case was treated as an international scandal because it happened in North Korea. This happened under US custody, and the response from officials has been bureaucratic at best and callous at worst.

Gamboa’s sister says he looked healthy on video calls until mid-June. Then he vanished. When the family finally tracked him down through a lawyer, he was catatonic, unable to speak, following people with his eyes. Medical records later showed sepsis, malnutrition, toxic encephalopathy, rhabdomyolysis, ulcers, and extensive medication use. This did not happen overnight. This was a slow collapse that nobody bothered to explain to the people who loved him.

And then there is the quote from Department of Homeland Security claiming detainees receive “the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives.” Read that again, slowly, while looking at photos of a man returned home covered in sores, unable to move, unable to speak, and dead weeks later. If that is the best, the bar is underground.

What makes this especially chilling is the total lack of accountability. No clear timeline. No explanation for the medications. No cause of death. No confirmation that Costa Rican consular officials even visited him while he was hospitalized in Texas. Just a body sent back across a border and a family forced to ask, publicly, what was done to him.

Authoritarian regimes are supposed to be the cautionary tales. We are taught to point at them and say, that could never be us. But when someone enters government custody healthy and leaves in a vegetative state, the comparison stops being rhetorical. It becomes unavoidable.

This is not about immigration policy. This is about basic human responsibility. If the government takes custody of a person, it owns what happens next. Randall Gamboa Esquivel did not just die. He was lost inside a system that refuses to explain itself.

And the most damning question remains unanswered: how many more stories like this never make it home at all?

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Door-to-Door ICE Operations Are Underway in Minneapolis.

ICE is now going door to door in Minneapolis. This is happening days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, and right as Kristi Noem announced hundreds more federal agents are being sent into Minnesota. That context matters. This is not routine. This is escalation.

First, your rights. Because fear is the point.

If ICE shows up at your door:

• They cannot enter without a judge-signed warrant with your name and address.

• An ICE or DHS administrative warrant is not enough.

• You can ask them to show the warrant through a window or slide it under the door.

• If they don’t have one, you do not have to open the door.

• You have the right to remain silent.

Keeping your door closed is legal. It is not obstruction.

Now the part everyone should be alarmed by.

Door-to-door federal enforcement in a US city, immediately after a civilian was killed by ICE, is not about safety. It’s about control. Flooding Minnesota with agents while refusing to say how many or for how long is intimidation, full stop.

This is the kind of thing the US condemns when it happens in other countries. Knowing your rights isn’t optional right now. It’s self-defense.

Trump just announced himself as the interim president of Venezuela. Not through diplomacy. Through a Wikipedia screenshot.

Trump just announced himself as the interim president of Venezuela. Not through diplomacy. Through a screenshot from Wikipedia.

For the record, he is not the interim president of Venezuela. There was no appointment, no recognition, and no authority involved. Someone edited a wiki page for a moment, and Trump treated it like a press release.

This is the same authoritarian energy we usually point to in other countries. Declare power, ignore reality, and see who challenges it. That’s why the Otto Warmbier comparison keeps surfacing. Not because the situations are identical, but because the mindset is familiar. Power as performance. Truth as optional.

Wikipedia fixed the page. The post is still up. And the most alarming part is not that it was false. It’s that he thought this was a normal thing to share at all.

The site repeatedly calls the rioters “peaceful patriotic protesters” and targets former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House select committee, accusing them of fabricating an insurrection narrative to blame Donald Trump.

Key facts are missing. The site does not mention that nearly 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the attack and falsely claims that no officers died, omitting Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and four others who later died by suicide.

This comes after Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with January 6 at the start of his second term.

Here’s my video for more:

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Trump Jokes About Canceling the 2026 Midterms

During a closed-door House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center, Donald Trump openly mused about canceling the 2026 midterm elections. He stopped short of outright saying it, then joked that if he did, the media would call him a dictator. He smiled while saying it.

The comments came on January 6, five years after the Capitol attack, as Trump complained about having to run against Democrats at all and repeated his long-standing grievance that presidents unfairly lose seats in the midterms. He framed it as a psychological flaw of the public, not a reflection of policy or performance.

Trump went on to boast about his 2024 win, warn Republicans they must win the midterms to prevent yet another impeachment, and encourage lawmakers to “figure out” health care without offering an actual plan. He also floated flexibility on the Hyde Amendment, already drawing backlash from conservatives.

It was classic Trump. Off-script, grievance-heavy, joking about things presidents are not supposed to joke about, and delivered to a room full of lawmakers who laughed along.

For why this matters, what’s being normalized here, and how this fits into a bigger pattern, watch my video below.

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What “Cartel de los Soles” actually is:
It is not a cartel in the way people understand that word. It is a Venezuelan slang term that dates back to the 1990s. Journalists used it to describe military and political officials who were corrupted by drug money. Think culture and patronage, not a structured organization with a boss, lieutenants, and a hierarchy.

Experts have been saying this for years. The DEA has never listed it. The UN has never listed it.

What changed in the indictment:
The original 2020 indictment mentioned Cartel de los Soles 32 times and described Maduro as its leader.
The new indictment mentions it twice and reframes it as a “patronage system” and a “culture of corruption.”

That is a big walk-back. Prosecutors are still accusing Maduro of drug trafficking conspiracy, but they are no longer claiming he ran a named cartel.

Why this is awkward for the administration:
Last year, the Trump administration designated Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization. Treasury did it first. Then Marco Rubio ordered State to do the same.

Those designations were never tested in court. Now the Justice Department is effectively admitting they could not prove that claim if they tried.

One expert put it bluntly: they knew they could not prove it in court.

The mixed messaging problem:
Even after the revised indictment was unsealed, Rubio went on Meet the Press and kept calling Cartel de los Soles a real cartel and Maduro its leader. That directly contradicts the Justice Department’s own filing.

So you now have the executive branch saying two different things at the same time.

Why this matters beyond Venezuela:
This shows how terrorism designations can be used politically. You do not need courtroom-level proof to label something a terrorist organization. But once a case actually hits a judge, the language suddenly gets a lot more careful.

It also raises questions about how much of the Maduro narrative was built to justify capture first and legal theory second.

Bottom line:
The Justice Department just admitted, without saying it out loud, that a core claim used to justify major foreign policy actions was overstated. Maduro may still face serious charges, but the “cartel” that was used as a rhetorical anchor never really existed the way the administration said it did.

If you want, I can help turn this into a tight TikTok explainer with a sharp headline like “The Cartel That Wasn’t” or walk through how terrorist designations get used when courts are not involved.

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Florida’s answer to an immigration crackdown? Let the kids work the night shift.

That’s not hyperbole. A new bill moving through the Florida Legislature could strip away key protections for teens as young as 14, letting them work longer hours—including overnights—if they’re homeschooled or enrolled in virtual school.

Why? Because, according to Governor DeSantis, teenagers should be filling the jobs once held by undocumented migrants.

Let that sink in: Instead of addressing a broken immigration system, state leaders are floating the idea of sending minors into the workforce with fewer protections, fewer breaks, and fewer limits—all to backfill cheap labor.

In my latest video, I break down what this bill proposes, why it matters, and what it means for the future of child labor in America.

Consumer Confidence Plummets as Trump’s Economic Whirlwind Fuels Recession Fears

If it feels like the economic vibes are off—it’s not in your head.

Consumer confidence just dropped to its lowest level since January 2021, continuing a months-long slide that began right after the election. Americans are bracing for higher inflation, a possible recession, and what experts are now calling stagflation—a toxic combo of rising prices and slowing growth.

Trump’s economic agenda isn’t helping. Tariffs are being slapped on and rolled back with zero warning. One week it’s 25% on Mexico and Canada, the next it’s threats of a 200% tariff on European alcohol. And the next round of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” is looming.

This chaotic approach has consumers and businesses alike feeling uncertain, and it’s making long-term planning nearly impossible. But Trump’s economic team says there’s nothing to worry about—at least not until the hard data (like jobs reports) catch up. Economists aren’t so sure. If confidence keeps dropping, the consequences might be just around the corner.

In case you somehow missed this… the Trump administration accidentally texted a journalist its war plans.

No, seriously.

Before the U.S. started bombing Houthi targets in Yemen, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly sent a group text—and the Editor-In-Chief of The Atlantic was in it. The message included exact details about the weapons, the timing, the targets. At first, he thought it was a prank. Then the bombs started dropping.

I break down the full timeline in this week’s video because… how do you even begin to process that our government’s war planning got sent out like a party invite?

Again, sorry for being MIA - but I’m back, baby!

This week is gearing up to be a wild week. I look forward to bringing you all the updates.

xoxo,

Cristina

Just when I thought the Pentagon’s DEI purge couldn’t get any pettier, they’ve decided to remove a reference to the freakin’ Enola Gay from an official website. Because, apparently, acknowledging history is just too much these days. 🫠

According to AP News (link), they’ve been quietly erasing diversity initiatives, scrubbing images of women and people of color, and now, even historical references are on the chopping block. First, it was DEI policies, then it was training materials, and now it’s the Enola Gay? What’s next—deleting entire wars from the record? (Here’s the list of banned words)

Let’s be real: this isn’t about “readiness” or “effectiveness.” If it were, they’d be talking about actual military challenges, not playing a weird game of historical hide-and-seek. If diversity and historical accuracy are such a threat, maybe the real issue isn’t DEI—it’s whoever thinks reality needs a rebrand.

What do you think? Because this is giving strategic gaslighting with a side of historical revisionism.

Check out my full coverage of this here:

Kicking Out War Refugees—Because Why Not?

And if you thought the government’s commitment to making the worst possible decisions stopped there, think again. Because now, Trump is reportedly planning to cancel legal status for 240,000 Ukrainian refugees who fled the war with Russia. (Forbes link). Because nothing says “strong leadership” like punishing people who had to flee a literal war zone.

These refugees were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) because, well, their homes were getting bombed. But sure, let’s just send them back into a war because… reasons? Meanwhile, Trump and his allies are still bending over backward to defend Russia. Funny how that works.

So, just to recap: The Pentagon is airbrushing diversity (and history) out of existence, and Trump is out here trying to force thousands of refugees to pack their bags. I guess we’re just speedrunning the worst decisions possible at this point?

Would love to hear your take—because this is giving strategic gaslighting with a side of cruelty for sport.

Stay spicy,
Cristina

Well, well, well. It seems our so-called representatives have once again shown their true colors, and spoiler alert—they're not pretty. In a move that can only be described as a slap in the face to democracy, the House of Representatives voted 224-198 to censure our very own Rep. Al Green of Houston. His crime? Daring to stand up during President Trump's speech and shout the truth: "You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!"

Now, let's talk about betrayal. Ten Democrats crossed the aisle to join all Republicans in this censure vote. Yes, you read that right. Ten members of the party that's supposed to stand for the people decided to side with those who'd rather see us silenced. Among them were Reps. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.).

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) had the audacity to call Green's actions a "breach of proper conduct." But let's get real. When did speaking truth to power become improper? Green's constituents rely on Medicaid, and he wasn't about to let that slide without a fight. He stood up, cane in hand, and let the president know exactly how he felt about those proposed cuts. And for that, he's punished?

But here's the kicker: this censure is nothing more than a symbolic slap on the wrist. It carries no fines, no penalties—just a public scolding to make the establishment feel better about maintaining their precious decorum. Meanwhile, our voices—the voices of the people—are drowned out by partisan politics.

Rep. Green, ever the unrepentant warrior, stood by his actions, stating,

And can we blame him? When our leaders are more concerned with maintaining appearances than addressing the real issues affecting their constituents, someone has to shake things up.

And let's not forget the double standards at play here. Remember when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene interrupted President Biden's State of the Union address in 2024, shouting "Say her name!" in reference to Laken Riley, a tragic victim of violent crime?

Where was the censure then? Oh, that's right—there wasn't one. It seems that disruptive behavior is only condemnable when it comes from those fighting for the marginalized.

So, what's the takeaway here? Our fight is far from over. If our so-called representatives won't stand up for us, then we must stand up for ourselves. It's time to make our voices heard, louder and clearer than ever before. Because if we don't, who will?

Stay sassy, stay informed, and stay vocal.

Love Always,

Cristina

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Well, well, well—Trump’s got his boxes back. The FBI returned documents seized from Mar-a-Lago, and Trump wasted no time declaring victory on Truth Social, calling it “justice” and vowing they’ll be part of his presidential library one day.

White House staffers were spotted loading around 15 boxes onto Air Force One, with Trump’s team insisting this was just “his stuff” being returned after an “illegal raid.” His attorney Alina Habba took a victory lap, throwing shade at Special Counsel Jack Smith and saying, “Jack Smith is no longer. We are in the Oval Office.” Subtle.

The Justice Department had already dropped the case after Trump’s election win, and now it seems the saga of Trump’s classified documents has officially come full circle—right back into his hands.

RFK Jr.: Suddenly a Fan of Vaccines?

Well, well, well—look who’s pushing vaccines now. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., longtime anti-vax darling, is suddenly all about the MMR shot as measles cases surge across Texas. In an op-ed for Fox News, RFK Jr. called the outbreak a "call to action" and stressed how crucial the measles vaccine is to preventing deadly infections.

Yes, you read that right. The same guy who’s spent years fueling vaccine skepticism is now urging parents to vaccinate their kids. The irony is almost as contagious as measles itself.

Texas has reported 146 confirmed cases, mostly in unvaccinated children, and tragically, one child has died. The CDC and Texas officials are scrambling to contain the spread, but this outbreak is exactly the kind of public health crisis RFK Jr.’s rhetoric has helped fuel.

So what changed? Maybe being Secretary of Health and Human Services means finally facing reality—or maybe it’s just politically convenient. Either way, it turns out vaccines actually work. Who knew?

GOP Lawmakers Are Ducking Their Own Voters

Republicans are getting torched at town halls over Elon Musk’s DOGE-led mass layoffs and deep federal cuts. The backlash is so bad that GOP leaders are telling members to stop holding public events altogether.

Speaker Mike Johnson blames "paid protesters," and Trump, never one to miss a conspiracy, posted on Truth Social:

Meanwhile, constituents keep showing up. Their reps? Not so much.

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🚨 Here’s what went down:

🔹 DOGE’s Influence Grows – Musk’s government efficiency initiative has already gutted agencies, and now, a SpaceX-led team embedded inside the FAA is making bold recommendations—ones that just so happen to benefit Musk’s own businesses.

🔹 Verizon’s $2.4B FAA Contract? Starlink Wants It. – The FAA was set to start paying Verizon next month to overhaul air traffic control communications. But suddenly, a SpaceX team inside the FAA is recommending that Starlink take over instead.

🔹 Conflicts of Interest, Much? – Several former FAA officials now working at Starlink are behind the push, and senior FAA leaders refused to sign off—so Musk’s team reportedly went straight to a Trump appointee to get their way.

🔹 Musk’s Twitter Tactics – Before any of this was public, Musk started tweeting that Verizon’s system was ‘failing’ and putting air travelers at risk—with zero evidence. Then, like clockwork, his insiders at the FAA moved to get the contract redirected.

🚨 What this means:

Musk isn’t just making deals—he’s reshaping the federal government in real-time. DOGE is slashing jobs and restructuring agencies while Starlink and SpaceX get first dibs on government contracts. All under the guise of "efficiency."

With air traffic control already under stress from budget cuts and layoffs, this move raises serious questions. Is this really about safety and modernization? Or just another way to funnel billions into Musk’s empire?

🔎 Stay tuned—I’ll be tracking every twist in this story.

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Let’s get into it! Buckle up because today’s newsletter is packed with some major tea you won’t want to miss.

1️⃣House Republicans Pass Budget, Set to Gut Medicaid

On a party-line vote on February 25, Republicans in the House passed a budget bill that could slash $880 billion from Medicaid, putting millions of Americans' healthcare at risk. The bill, part of Trump’s budget reconciliation process, is a bid to bypass Senate opposition and push forward his priorities, including tax cuts for the wealthy, military spending, and drilling for more energy. This massive cut is meant to help offset Trump's 2017 tax cuts and fund defense. However, concerns have risen about the devastating impact on healthcare, particularly for rural areas and low-income families. The House’s decision to approve this budget raises red flags about what’s at stake for vulnerable populations as the fight for Medicaid rages on.

2️⃣Quick Recap: Trump’s "Gold Card" Scheme

Let’s take a quick peek at the newly infamous “gold card” scheme, where Trump is allegedly trying to offer American citizenship in exchange for $5 million. In exchange for the investment, individuals could secure citizenship, adding another layer to the corruption allegations swirling around the Trump administration. It’s no surprise that the deal has been causing major concerns about foreign influence in the U.S.

If you missed it, I’ve got a video here that breaks down how the scheme works, who’s benefiting, and why it stinks like a tacky backdoor deal. 🤔 Check it out below. (I took the approach of a car salesman for this one)

3️⃣Rare Minerals & Zelensky’s U.S. Visit

Meanwhile, a potential game-changer in international diplomacy: as President Zelensky is set to visit the U.S., surprisingly, talks are moving forward with the U.S. and Ukraine reaching a deal on access to Ukraine's rare mineral resources. While there’s been a push from Trump to get his hands on Ukraine’s resources for the U.S., it’s clear that Ukraine is making its own terms. A deal is being negotiated to ensure mutual benefit in the wake of the war, and it's no surprise that the U.S. is trying to secure resources as part of this larger global conversation.

Alright, that’s all for today, folks! Stay tuned, and keep an eye out for more drama in your inbox soon. You’re not going to want to miss what’s coming next.

Until next time,
Cristina Turner
VibeCraftVoice

On February 3, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund (SWF), a bold plan to raise trillions of dollars to boost the U.S. economy. But with a $36 trillion national debt and no surplus revenue to speak of, there’s growing concern that the Trump administration might turn to an unsettling solution: selling off public lands, including national parks, to fund this colossal financial venture.

In a recent interview, Trump’s Interior Secretary suggested that America’s public lands could be worth as much as $200 trillion, positioning them as potential assets to help bankroll the SWF. If that’s the direction we’re headed, it’s not hard to see how Trump’s plan could directly impact national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone, turning cherished landscapes into financial commodities—leaving the public with a massive financial windfall for a few but cutting off access to these protected spaces for generations.

To make matters worse, the administration has already begun laying off thousands of federal workers at the National Park Service. These cuts include essential positions responsible for everything from disaster recovery and rental subsidies to investigating discrimination and protecting wildlife.

Watch my footage of the protests going on in Yosemite National Park by employees.

With layoffs affecting park staff and resources stretched thin, it’s hard not to wonder: Is this part of a larger push to make these public lands more marketable for private sale? If the parks are left to deteriorate or operate understaffed, their value as assets might increase in the eyes of the administration, making it all too tempting to put them on the auction block.

The idea of selling public lands to fuel the SWF is not just a theoretical concern; it’s a very real threat. The proposal has been a longstanding item on the agenda of the anti-parks caucus, with some Republicans pushing for privatizing national treasures to accommodate real estate developers, timber companies, and oil drilling interests. We are now seeing the convergence of these ideas in the form of significant layoffs at the National Park Service, further eroding the accessibility and protection of our national parks.

The financial need for the SWF is clear, but the method of raising those funds should raise serious red flags. We risk losing the natural resources that have sustained generations of Americans, all to fund a speculative investment strategy that could line the pockets of the wealthy while leaving the rest of us with nothing but lost land and diminishing public spaces. The future of our parks and public lands is at stake—do we really want to sell out our nation’s heritage for a quick financial fix?

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You thought Elon Musk hiring tech bros couldn’t get any wilder? Think again. Enter Edward Coristine, aka "Big Balls." This 19-year-old from the DOGE crew (yes, that one) has some seriously questionable family history. Turns out, Big Balls is the grandson of a KGB agent who was flipped by the FBI and later removed from the Earth by Putin. Oh, and he has unprecedented access to sensitive government info. What could possibly go wrong, right? Catch the full video breakdown here.

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Chaos in Idaho: Woman Dragged Out of Town Hall 🚨

Have you heard about the town hall in Idaho that turned into a nightmare? A woman was forcibly dragged out by law enforcement after peacefully protesting the local government's actions. This wasn’t just any protest, either—this was a public display of people trying to make their voices heard in the face of increasing government control. The video footage quickly went viral, and it’s easy to see why.

The woman’s removal was shocking, to say the least. Some are calling it an abuse of power, others are asking if this is an attack on free speech. What’s clear is that this event isn’t just about one woman’s removal—it’s a bigger question of what happens when the public feels silenced by those in power. It’s a sad day for democracy when those who speak up for change are treated this way, especially when the freedom to protest is one of our most basic rights. You can read the full story here and see what went down.

Here Come The Power Struggles - Staffers Told to Ignore Musk’s Email 🤨

In case you missed it, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gone full throttle with a weekend email to every federal employee—answer by Monday or you’re fired. Yep, they want staff to list their weekly accomplishments in five bullet points. Oh, and failure to comply means you’re considered to have “resigned.”

Agencies like the FBI, State Department, and Pentagon are telling staff to ignore the email or wait for further instructions, but let’s be real—this chaos is exactly what Trump wants. He praised Musk for doing a “great job” cutting costs and now wants him to get even more aggressive. So, here we are, where “efficiency” = treating government workers like they’re on a reality show. Just remember, this all came from hr@opm.gov, and honestly? If you’re a federal worker, don’t answer that email. Who knows what Musk’s next move is. Stay tuned for more absurdity.

Other News:

Israeli tanks enter occupied West Bank for first time in decades

Elon Musk’s star power fails to help far-right AfD win German election

Pope still in critical condition with signs of ‘mild’ kidney failure, Vatican says

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It's Friday, and guess what? I’ve got some real good news to kick off your weekend! Forget the chaos going on with Musk’s ridiculous statement about deorbiting of the ISS—let’s focus on the positive, shall we? It’s time for a little celebration of human progress, compassion, and change!

✨ 1. Pope Francis Recovers from Pneumonia ✨
Pope Francis is officially on the mend after recovering from pneumonia! After a brief hospital stay, the Pope has bounced back and is now back to his work. It's a reminder that even in tough times, the human spirit can overcome, and it’s wonderful to see him making a strong recovery. 🌟 Here's to good health and positive energy!

Get the full story here: Pope Francis Recovers

✨ 2. Anna Kendrick Giving Back ✨ In case you needed another reason to love Anna Kendrick, here it is: She’s donated all of her earnings from her movie Woman of the Hour to sexual assault victims. ALL of it. Talk about using your platform for good. Kendrick’s generosity shows that when you’ve got a voice and a platform, you can make a real difference. Kudos, Anna! 👏

Get the full story here: Anna Kendrick's Donation

✨ 3. Empowering Survivors of Sexual Assault ✨ This next story is all about empowerment. Advocates in Alaska are pushing for a system that gives survivors the ability to track their own sexual assault exam kits. This isn’t just about making sure exams are handled quickly—it’s about giving survivors the autonomy to stay in control of the process. It’s a huge step towards justice and healing. It’s about time we put survivors first.

Learn more about it here: Tracking Assault Exam Kits

✨ 4. Free Bookstore for Children ✨ And finally, we’ve got an inspiring story out of Dundalk, where a free bookstore is giving children access to books they otherwise wouldn’t have. Book donations are helping boost literacy rates in a community that needs it. The bookstore is fueling kids' imaginations and giving them the resources to succeed. I mean, who doesn’t love a free bookstore for children? 🙌

Check out the full story: Free Bookstore for Kids

I know things are a little chaotic in the world, with Musk doing his best to make us all question everything, but here’s the truth—there’s still so much good happening. 🌍 So, let’s end this week on a high note and keep fighting the good fight, because positive change is happening all around us.

Have an amazing weekend! Catch you next week with more good news (and more sass)! 💫

Yours truly,
Cristina

In a shocking display of authoritarian rhetoric, the White House followed this up and referred to President Donald Trump as "the King" in an official post.

This statement goes far beyond the usual political commentary. It challenges the core principles of our Constitution, which explicitly rejects any notion of monarchy. The Constitution is clear: no one is above the law, and the idea of absolute power is anathema to the democratic values that this country was founded on.

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As outlined in Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, the Constitution prohibits titles of nobility, ensuring that no American leader can hold absolute, unchecked power. The very concept of monarchy is a direct contradiction to the republic established by the Founding Fathers.

By calling himself "the King," Trump’s rhetoric raises serious concerns about his belief in being above the law. This sentiment is not just dangerous, but a stark challenge to the checks and balances designed to protect our democracy. It sets a terrifying precedent, where the separation of powers is undermined and the rule of law is threatened.

We must stay vigilant in safeguarding the rule of law. No leader, regardless of their position, should be allowed to behave as though they are above the law. This is a call to action for all of us to protect the foundations of our democracy.

Yesterday, Trump signed new executive orders that have massively expanded his power over federal agencies. Independent agencies—which are supposed to operate free of presidential influence—are now being forced to answer to him. So much for a system of checks and balances, right? Instead of these agencies acting on behalf of the American people, it looks like they’re just another part of Trump’s personal empire. Watch the full breakdown in my video—this is the stuff they won’t tell you.

Part 2: IVF Gets a Boost, But at What Cost?

Some good news! In a move aimed at helping more families, Trump signed an executive order focused on making IVF treatments more affordable and accessible. This is a huge step forward for people struggling with fertility issues, as the high costs of IVF have been a barrier for many. This new initiative could open doors for more families to grow, and it’s a big win for those who need it most.

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Part 3: World News—Gaza Reconstruction or More Band-Aids?

Meanwhile, on the global stage, other countries are stepping in with alternate plans for Gaza’s reconstruction. While the U.S. has been embroiled in its own response, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are working together to propose their own solutions, focusing on a long-term peace and recovery plan that’s been met with mixed reactions. With Gaza in critical need of help, this move could either lead to fresh ideas or deepen divisions. It’s a complicated situation, and these countries are trying to take the lead where others have failed.

Other world news:

• Brazil charges former president Jair Bolsonaro over alleged coup plot

• The Pope has double pneumonia - Pope Francis had a restful night and ate breakfast this morning

• Since January, more than 12,800 earthquakes have been recorded in Santorini, Greece.

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