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    21Sep, 2025
    Weekly Digest: September 2025

    Recent Executive Actions and Policies

    The last two weeks have brought a wave of executive actions, proclamations, and new policies from the White House. Each of these decisions reflects broader political, economic, and cultural debates shaping the country today. Below is a summary of what happened since our last weekly digest, when it was signed, and why it matters.

    TikTok Enforcement Delay Extended

    @azra.aars

    fast gegen die tĂĽr gelaufen am ende #inmyfeelings #kikidoyouloveme #drake #2018 #fyp

    ♬ original sound – chachaslide
    Apparently this is super important to people, being able to do short videos to music and lip sync. Or for challenges that usually end up getting people hurt.

    Date: September 13, 2025
    President Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the forced sale or ban of TikTok until December 16, 2025. This move gives the company, lawmakers, and regulators more time to reach an agreement about ownership and data security. Critics argue the extension postpones a decision on national security concerns, while supporters say it prevents disruption for millions of U.S. users.

    Emergency Board for Long Island Rail Road Dispute

    Date: September 15, 2025
    The President issued an order establishing a three-member emergency board to investigate an ongoing labor dispute at the Long Island Rail Road. The board members cannot be affiliated with either the company or the unions. The order does not detail the precise nature of the dispute but confirms involvement from multiple unions, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The board has 30 days to report findings.

    U.S.–U.K. Technology Prosperity Deal

    Date: September 16, 2025
    A memorandum of understanding was signed between the United States and the United Kingdom. The deal emphasizes cooperation in nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. While framed as a partnership, some analysts question whether the U.S. intends to use the deal to advance domestic interests or push British adoption of American technologies.

    Constitution Week Proclamation

    Date: September 17, 2025
    President Trump proclaimed September 17–23, 2025 as Constitution Week. Traditionally, this observance encourages reflection on the U.S. Constitution and civic education. Critics, however, note the irony of celebrating constitutional principles at a time when many civil liberties and democratic norms are under strain.

    The Gold Card and Platinum Card Immigration Programs

    Date: September 18, 2025
    The administration announced new immigration pathways — the Gold Card and Platinum Card — which allow wealthy individuals to gain U.S. residency if they invest $1 million or more. While promoted as a way to attract capital, the policy has sparked backlash. Opponents argue it favors the wealthy while restricting opportunities for working-class immigrants and skilled technical workers.

    National POW/MIA Recognition Day

    Date: September 19, 2025
    The White House recognized National POW/MIA Recognition Day, honoring U.S. service members who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action. Ceremonies across the country underscored the enduring commitment to account for those who never returned home. This observance has bipartisan support and remains one of the least controversial presidential proclamations.

    Restrictions on Non-Immigrant Workers

    Date: September 20, 2025
    A new executive action targeted H-1B visa holders and other non-immigrant workers in the tech sector. The order requires foreign workers to pay $100,000 for every 12 months of employment and limits their eligibility to remain in the U.S. The administration framed this as a jobs protection measure for Americans. However, critics say it will destabilize industries that depend on high-skilled foreign labor.

    Other Observations: Heritage Foundation and Project 2025

    Beyond executive actions, public attention also turned to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a policy blueprint for the next conservative administration. A recent chapter calls for ending federal funding of National Public Radio (NPR) and moving children’s programming like Sesame Street entirely off public television. The proposal reflects broader conservative opposition to public education and government-funded broadcasting. Supporters argue it corrects perceived left-wing bias, while opponents warn it undermines free and balanced reporting.

    Works Cited

    5Sep, 2025
    Week of Sept 1

    Executive actions & nominations (Sept 1 → Sept 5, 2025)

    Quick summary (at a glance)

    • The administration issued an executive order implementing the U.S.–Japan framework (15% baseline tariff; sector exceptions; retroactive to Aug 7). The White House
    • Japan is said to have committed ~$550 billion in investment; details and enforceability remain vague and disputed in reporting. ReutersCSIS
    • Several presidential nominations (and a few withdrawals) were formally sent to the Senate this week — including the BLS nominee E.J. “Erwin/E.J.” Antoni and multiple maritime, commerce, Treasury, and State nominees. The White House
    • The Western District of Virginia U.S. Attorney nomination/appointment situation remains messy after a sudden resignation — raising oversight questions. Department of Justice
    • The Department of Defense has been renamed to the Department of War — raising questions of why we seem to be going on the offensive and a precursor of what is to come. The Guardian

    Below I’ve laid this out day-by-day (Sept 1 → today), each entry short, clear, and with: (1) what happened, (2) why it matters, and (3) red flags / what to watch. I triple-checked the main facts against primary sources (White House / EO text), major news coverage, and official agency pages; links are at the end.

    Sept 1, 2025 — (week-opening notes)

    No single White House “presidential actions” item dated Sept 1 on the official feed. This week’s actions cluster on Sept 2–5.

    Sept 2, 2025 — Nominations (selected)

    What happened

    • The White House sent a batch of nominations to the Senate (examples reported earlier this week include Tammy Bruce to be Deputy Representative to the U.N., plus other ambassadorial and judicial nominations). The White House

    Why it matters (left-leaning lens)

    • Filling diplomatic and judicial slots shapes U.S. policy and how laws get applied for years. Ambassador picks affect trade, human rights enforcement, and global coordination on climate and labor standards.

    Red flags / What to watch

    • Check nominees’ records for corporate ties or past advocacy against labor or environmental rules. Senate hearings are the moment to demand documents, voting records, and recusals where conflicts exist.

    Sept 3, 2025 — Nominations (large, high-turnover batch)

    What happened (core items drawn from the White House list)

    • Erwin (E.J.) Antoni — to be Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 4-year term (replacing Erika McEntarfer). Reuters
    • Laura DiBella and Robert A. Harvey — to be Federal Maritime Commissioners (two FMC vacancies). The White House Lloyd’s List
    • Steven Haines — Assistant Secretary of Commerce (replacing Grant T. Harris, resigned). The White House
    • Trent Morse — Board member, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (5-year term). The White House
    • Joshua Simmons — General Counsel, CIA (replace Kate Heinzelman, resigned). The White House
    • Christopher Yeaw — Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Stability (replace Mallory Stewart, resigned). The White House Hudson Institute
    • Withdrawals sent to Senate (documents show a few withdrawals were formally transmitted) — including Terrence Gorman (Veterans’ Appeals), Penny Schwinn (Deputy Sec. of Education), and Christopher Gilbert (U.S. Attorney, Western District of Virginia). The White House

    Why it matters

    • The BLS commissioner is central to trust in labor and inflation data. A politicized BLS can distort economic policy debates and hurt working people. Reuters
    • FMC appointees shape port rules and shipping costs — important for supply-chain resilience and import/export fairness. Lloyd’s List
    • Appointing a State Arms Control lead with a strong defense/industrial background matters for treaty posture and arms-control diplomacy. Hudson Institute

    Non-MAGA critique & red flags

    • E.J. Antoni (BLS) — He comes from the Heritage Foundation; critics warn this could politicize federal statistics. The BLS needs technical independence. Senators should press for traceable evidence that nominees will not change data collection or revision processes for political ends. Reuters
    • FMC slate (DiBella / Harvey) — Both tied to Florida economic-development networks; the pattern looks like regional patronage. Watch for business or port-industry conflicts of interest. Public benefit must trump private port contracts. Lloyd’s List
    • CIA General Counsel (Joshua Simmons) — He’s a career legal adviser in State; the GC role requires both independence and a record on civil-liberties protections. Senators should probe his positions on surveillance, targeting, and whistleblower protections. The White House International Court of Justice
    • High turnover — Several positions are “vice X resigned.” Replacing many career or long-tenured officials quickly reduces institutional memory and weakens checks on power. That invites policy instability and potential cover-ups.

    What to watch in confirmation process

    • Demand full financial disclosures and recusal agreements.
    • For BLS: technical briefings showing no political interference with sampling methodology, seasonal adjustment rules, or revision policy.
    • For FMC: disclosure of port contracts, grants, and any ties to private investors who will benefit from tariff or regulatory changes.

    Sept 4, 2025 — Executive Order: Implementing the United States–Japan Agreement

    What happened (straight fact)

    • The President issued an executive order implementing the U.S.–Japan framework agreement. It: (a) sets a baseline 15% tariff on most Japanese imports (with sector-specific treatment for autos, aerospace, generics, and certain natural resources); (b) makes many aerospace products duty-free; and (c) applies retroactively to entries on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 7, 2025. The EO text is posted on the White House site. The White House

    Public reporting & the investment pledge

    • The administration and press report that Japan agreed to $550 billion in U.S. investment commitments as part of the deal; reporting describes that figure as a mix of equity, loans, and guarantees, but details on legal commitments, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms remain thin in official documents. Reuters The White House

    Non-MAGA critique (what concerns should people have?)

    • Transparency & enforcement: The EO says Japan will “provide” investments selected by the U.S. government, but the EO itself does not include binding enforcement language, timelines, or independent audits. That leaves open the question: What counts as deliverable capital and who verifies it? The WhiteHouse Reuters
    • Retrospective tariff changes: Making the tariff change retroactive to Aug 7 could trigger refunds or complex customs reconciliations. Retroactivity can quietly shift who benefits (importers, large corporations) and who bears short-term costs (workers facing supply shifts). The White House
    • Delegation power: The EO delegates broad authority to Commerce and DHS to implement and to define “products of Japan.” That gives agency officials latitude — which can be necessary — but also raises risk of opaque rule-making without adequate public oversight. The White House
    • $550B — real or aspirational? Media reporting indicates the $550B figure has been repeatedly touted by administration officials, but independent analysts urge skepticism until commitments are legally documented. Watch for any “investment committee” structures, profit-sharing arrangements, or conditionality clauses that could hide giveaways to corporations or leave public oversight weak. Reuters CSI S

    What to watch next

    • The Commerce Department notice(s) to the Federal Register (they’re required within days under the EO). Those notices will show details — exclusions, HTS modifications, and timelines. The White House
    • Treasury / Commerce briefings or Japan government releases spelling out the $550B mechanics. Insist on documentation: who signs, what legal form the commitments take, and how compliance will be verified. Reuters

    Sept 5, 2025 — Notes & continuing developments

    • Press coverage and fact-checking are ongoing. Several outlets flagged the $550B number as a headline figure with sketchy public back-up and urged caution. Independent watchdogs will need to follow the Federal Register and any intergovernmental memoranda of understanding. Reuters CSIS
    • While this was being completed for posting, there was a news flash, Trump has changed the name from Department of Defense to Department of War. The Guardian

    Red flags across the week — grouped (short checklist)

    1. Data agencies at risk of politicization — BLS nominee comes from a partisan think tank; confirmers must protect statistical independence. Reuters
    2. Big trade deal with thin public enforcement language — $550B headline needs legal documents to be meaningful. Demand more than press statements. The White House Reuters
    3. Rapid turnover & withdrawals — multiple resignations and withdrawals reduce continuity and increase opportunities for back-channel deals. The White House Department of Justice
    4. Potential cronyism in nominations — regional and industry ties for FMC nominees warrant careful vetting. Lloyd’s List
    5. Delegated, fast rulemaking — the EO authorizes quick HTSUS modifications that could be implemented with limited notice. Watch the Federal Register for the rule text. The White House
    6. Potentially antagonizing the world — Changing the name of the Dept. of Defense to Dept. of War is peek at the hand of Trump’s plans.

    How to push for accountability (practical next steps)

    • Demand the Federal Register notices tied to the EO and bookmark them. The notice will show the exact tariff changes and any exclusions. The White House
    • Ask the Senate to hold thorough confirmation hearings that dig into conflicts, data-methodology protections (for BLS), and nominees’ ties to industry. Use the hearing record to request documents. The White House
    • Watch the Commerce Department for the investment documentation — e.g., MOUs, formal guarantees, or project lists. If nothing public appears, press for FOIA and independent audits. Reuters
    • Civil-society monitoring — labor, environmental, and procurement transparency groups should monitor how investments are selected and whether they create jobs with good wages and protections. CSIS

    Final notes — verification & sources

    I verified the EO text and tariff rules directly from the White House presidential actions page (executive order text). I cross-checked major facts about the Japan package and the $550B headlines against Reuters and independent policy analysts, and I used the White House nominations posting plus Department of Justice and reputable trade/port trade outlets for nominee backgrounds and the U.S. Attorney developments. Key supporting documents and reporting are below.

    Primary sources used (top references cited inline above)

    Additional reporting/background consulted

    All sources referenced above / used to triple-check facts