The Run Down - February
- Amari
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
State of The Union
On Feb 24th, President Trump issued the longest State Of The Union in history.
- He focused on questionable economic growth, stricter immigration policy, and a American strength, saying the U.S. is “back: bigger, better and stronger” (NYT). The President also doubled down on his acts on the border and reshaping federal priorities moving forward. This wasn’t a recap, but rather a framing tool. A lot of what the President said leaned into his future goals and claims about the current standing of the country that are simply untrue. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/24/us/trump-state-of-the-union
Feb 28 – Iran Strikes
On Feb, 28 both the U.S. and Israel launched a major strike on Iran, which drastically escalated tensions in the Middle East. In this strike the supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (PBS NewsHour). After this, there have been talks of boots on the ground. Gas prices have also drastically risen as the Middle East is the hub of oil globally.
This shows how policy decisions like this don’t just stay overseas but affect global stability, our alliances, and how the U.S is viewed internationally.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-and-israel-launch-a-major-attack-on-iran-trump-says-supreme-leader-khamenei-killed
Feb 21 – Trump Tariffs
Trump’s tariff plan is now facing legal challenges, with questions about executive authority and the issue being pushed toward the Supreme Court (CNN). His proposal centers on increasing taxes on imports, which is being framed as a way to protect American industries and businesses. Economists are looking towards the possible ripple effects this can have globally. However we know that tariffs target consumers at the same time.
- Raising import costs means higher prices on goods, while also harming relationships with trade partners.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/20/politics/supreme-court-tariffshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r1e327z46o
Feb 25 – Minnesota Medicaid Funding
The Trump administration temporarily halted Medicaid funding to Minnesota as they "review" state spending (MPR News). Even though it’s being described as a pause, the effects are immediate for programs and constituents that rely on consistent federal support for their medical needs.
Medicaid or healthcare isn’t something people can just wait on. It covers their basic healthcare needs, and any interference of that, temporary or not; creates real uncertainty to peoples needs. This also helps highlight a bigger issue: how federal level decisions can quickly impact state programs and the people depending on them. It’s not just policy; it’s access.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/25/trump-administration-temporarily-halting-medicaid-funding-to-minnesota
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