During the first Trump administration there was often the feeling of being unable to escape the news. Every day, a new presidential proclamation via Twitter. Every day, a comment made in a press gaggle with potentially staggering implications. For many, the impact was immediate; but more often than not, the threat remained conceptual. This time around is different; things are actually getting materially worse each day, and the human brain is unequipped to notice, let alone process, all of it.
From the continued genocide in Gaza and the disappearing of immigrants off our streets by federal agents, to the dismantling of our health care infrastructure and the ever-growing scourge of gun violence, the pace of news is relentless. Even so, it’s crucial to take stock of events that each on their own would have once been considered a catastrophe, especially when much of major American media would give you the impression that the only thing that happened over the weekend was Charlie Kirk’s hagiographic memorial.
Let’s walk through a few important stories you may have missed—
Don’t illegal immigrants to the US come overland through Mexico anyway? Am I making things up?
Most undocumented immigrants in the US came legally overland or via plane from Canada or Europe and then overstayed their visas.
The focus isn’t on the US-Mexico border (which is already the most heavily guarded border between two countries that aren’t at war with each other in the world) because of any real problem. It’s purely for xenophobic propaganda reasons.
But yes, the vast majority of refugees and other immigrants from South and Central America come to the US by land or air rather than by sea.
Canadians can be here illegally. Chinese. Australians. But yes, the southern border is a popular place for such activities.