Many feel exhausted by the constant stream of news notifications detailing some major shift in the U.S. government.
President Trump is bombarding the public with executive orders that may have serious consequences for many current operations. News media organizations are only able to cover so many things at once. With the constant governmental updates, the media is spiraling to keep up, which leaves gaps in much of the information available to the public.
News organizations and citizens alike are struggling to understand the heck is actually happening.
This is an intentional media diversion strategy. Trump is proficient in media manipulation. That is, he understands the importance of image and presence and uses those skills to maintain a constant media presence.
The news agenda is not a conspiracy of what media wants people to talk about. The agenda, simply put, is the available space to talk about news. There is often only room for about five major stories per media cycle.
Sensation and scandal are most likely to consume the news agenda.
Between the constant Executive Orders that challenge identities and repeal constitutional rights, and the Nazi salute on national television, many are left questioning what the reality is.
The nature, intention and number of recent orders are overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start asking questions and where to start finding answers.
Executive orders (EOs) historically related to routine administrative matters and the internal operations of federal agencies; however, recent presidents have used EOs more broadly to carry out policies and programs, according to the Bureau of Justice Assistance website.
Recent orders have been vague yet intimidating for many. It is uncertain what could possibly come next for the country and the university after recent initiatives.
Research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention was halted, repealed and purged to comply with executive orders about “gender ideology,” or the erasure of gender inclusive language.
The Gulf of Mexico was renamed “The Gulf of America” to work around oil drilling laws.
There was a mandated pause, or ban depending on the organization, of “special emphasis programs” including, but not limited to, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Many cannot comprehend what some of these initiatives have to do with anything, and why people are no longer allowed to exist as they choose.
It feels like an attack on personal liberties. The executive branch, which currently only represents a small fraction of American citizens, are now allowed to dictate what freedoms citizens are allowed to have.
Which leaves us questioning: why does the executive branch seemingly have so much power, and what happened to checks and balances of power in the other two branches?
Experts don’t seem to have an answer. Or at least experts at the public level.
As the country moves forward through this mess, The Chanticleer encourages all to educate themselves as best as they can, and to be brave with sharing what they know is true.
“Executive orders are not legislation; they require no approval from Congress, and Congress cannot simply overturn them. Congress may pass legislation that might make it difficult, or even impossible, to carry out the order, such as removing funding. Only a sitting U.S. President may overturn an existing executive order by issuing another executive order to that effect,” according to the American Bar Association.
