This put up was initially printed on The Washington Informer
By Stacy M. Brown
100 days into Donald Trump’s second presidential time period, his administration faces mounting criticism over financial coverage, civil rights rollbacks, and an more and more authoritarian method to governance.
A brand new report from Individuals for Tax Equity (ATF) reveals that Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda has already price American households a further $14 billion.
The Bureau of Financial Evaluation reported that taxes on overseas imports soared to $96.3 billion within the first quarter of 2025, up 17% from final yr. Individuals for Tax Equity concluded that below Trump’s present plan, the efficient tax fee on all imported items will attain 18% by yr’s finish.
With out adjustments in shopper buying patterns, the speed may rise to twenty-eight%, the very best since 1901.
“These are simply the primary results of Trump’s reckless and regressive tariffs — the start of upper prices that households will face as a result of president’s incompetent commerce insurance policies and to fund his tax giveaway to billionaires,” stated David Kass, government director of ATF. “This isn’t about defending American employees — it’s about shifting the burden to these least in a position to afford it.”
An ATF evaluation of earnings knowledge reveals the burden is falling hardest on working-class Individuals. The underside 60% of earners, who collectively take dwelling about one-fifth of nationwide earnings, are absorbing practically one-third of the brand new tariff prices. In the meantime, the highest 1% of earnings earners — these making over $940,000 yearly — will account for simply one-tenth of the tariff burden regardless of receiving greater than 20% of nationwide earnings.
Trump has proposed changing earnings taxes with tariff income. Whereas company tax charges have continued to fall, the Yale Funds Lab now estimates that firms are paying a decrease efficient tax fee than American shoppers via tariffs for the primary time in practically a century.
The method mirrors the financial construction of the Gilded Age, an period Trump has praised publicly. Throughout that point, poverty affected greater than 70% of the inhabitants, and there have been no federal earnings or company taxes to assist public companies.
Outrage over Trump’s insurance policies sparked protests in Washington on Tuesday. Greater than 200 folks shut down morning rush hour site visitors for over two hours. Demonstrators blocked intersections and demanded an finish to what they referred to as “100 days of catastrophe.”
Eight folks had been arrested.
“For 100 days, Trump, Musk, and their billionaire pals have stripped away our basic freedoms — abducting our neighbors, cracking down on political dissidents, and making an attempt to erase trans folks from existence,” stated organizer Ella Weber. “On this second, our selection is obvious: braveness or compliance. We’ve made our determination — be a part of us.”
Olivia DiNucci of CODEPINK stated the administration is funneling taxpayer cash into militarism and overseas battle whereas reducing important companies.
“On Trump’s one hundredth day of catastrophe, we see 100 extra days of loss of life and destruction for the folks of Gaza,” she asserted. “Whereas social companies are gutted, billions to Israel and a trillion-dollar Pentagon price range surge expose the hypocrisy.”
Thomas Mande of Jews Towards Fascism denounced the administration’s immigration crackdown.
“For 100 days, Donald Trump, Tom Homan, and Stephen Miller have taken a wrecking ball to our freedoms to enact a xenophobic marketing campaign of mass extrajudicial detentions and deportations,” Mande stated. “Our custom instructions us: ‘You should not stand idly by as your neighbor bleeds.’”
Dawn Motion DC’s Alejandro Sobrera stated working-class Individuals endure as the rich develop richer.
“This administration continues to line the pockets of billionaires whereas promoting out working-class folks and our planet. CEOs accountable for local weather destruction are profiting whereas our communities face the fallout,” Sobrera supplied.
Free DC’s Alex Dodds and Metro DC DSA’s Marli Kasdan issued a joint assertion criticizing the administration’s disregard for District residents.
“Speaker Johnson and the capitalist class are targeted on a political agenda that’s harming employees, college students, immigrants, and older Individuals,” Dodds remarked. “It’s about to price D.C. communities $1.1 billion. We’re selecting braveness over compliance.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the Nationwide Motion Community, stated Trump’s first 100 days characterize a sweeping assault on civil rights and fairness.
“Donald Trump has signed greater than 140 government orders, together with actions to intestine range in federal authorities, bully the non-public sector to do the identical, erase Black historical past, erode police accountability, and assault our LGBTQ+ family members,” Sharpton stated. “Merely put, Donald Trump’s first 100 days are Challenge 2025 in movement.”
Sharpton warned that Trump’s insurance policies are pushing Black companies, faculty graduates, and employees to the margins.
“Trump might have government orders. He might have the Home and the Senate. He might have a conservative Supreme Courtroom that can stand idly by even when he defies their orders,” he demanded. “However he doesn’t management our bucks. He can not cease us from marching. So NAN will march on Wall Avenue this August 28 to ship a message to Company America and monetary establishments that our purchasing energy can’t be ignored.”
The Not Above the Regulation coalition, a community of greater than 150 advocacy, authorized, and coverage organizations, has tracked what it calls Trump’s dismantling of constitutional governance. The coalition cited the administration’s refusal to observe a Supreme Courtroom order to return a Maryland man unlawfully deported to El Salvador.
It additionally famous Trump’s use of government orders to instruct the Justice Division to research political opponents, sweeping pardons for January 6 rioters and political allies, the arrest of a Milwaukee choose as a part of a marketing campaign to intimidate the judiciary, and retaliatory actions towards universities, legislation corporations, and nonprofits.
Sharpton and others say the resistance is way from over.
“We’ve got come too far, heard too many commitments, and proved our case for fulfillment to return now,” Sharpton assured.
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