I’ve noticed a pattern with every front page this year. There’s always orange. If it’s not fire, then it’s the spray-tanned face of President Donald Trump. This man’s face and name is everywhere I look on the news. And that is precisely what he wants. He wants the U.S. to be at his feet. But that is not the case. There are many organizations and people who are fighting against Trump’s policies, from powerful ones like Harvard to regular Quakers marching against Trump’s immigration policies. We cannot helplessly watch and report on the devastating effects of Trump’s administration without further highlighting the resistance against them.
One of Trump’s greatest strategies is “flooding the zone.” The plan was to overwhelm any opposition by the sheer speed of the Trump administration’s movements. In just his first week, Trump paused foreign aid, let go of thousands of federal employees, barred asylum across the southern border and issued a myriad of other orders, treating the federal government as his own playground. On one hand, it is important for people to be aware of his administration’s plans so that we do not concede, but on the other hand, the onslaught of information is desensitizing, which is exactly what he wants.
Additionally, as a local news source, the Outlook has a duty to further highlight local issues. Large news organizations are doing enough reporting on Trump. The Outlook needs to highlight the issues in San Mateo happening in our backyards. These are the things that will impact our day-to-day. Trump is currently trying to defund CBS and NPR, which fund thousands of local news stations. When communities are in the dark, they cannot effectively band together for mutual aid. Anyone can talk about national news, but only the Outlook can talk about local news pertaining most directly to our student audience.
My problem is not with the fact that the Outlook and all other media sites are covering Trump. I think the way the Outlook does month-long analyses about his policies is a fantastic way of covering them, if we cover him at all. My problem is that the reactionary shock that frames many of these articles is creating a helpless picture of doom and gloom that gives Trump too much credit.
Written by Meilin Rife
