Trump's Second-Term Executive Orders Explored

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Alright folks, welcome back to The New Sentinel. Frank here, and today we're rolling up our sleeves to dig into the economic tremors from President Trump's second-term executive orders. Now, y’all probably heard about EO 14257—this one slapped a 10% tariff on all imports, and it’s even steeper for countries like China. I mean, that’s a big ol’ wrench in the global supply chain, right? And don’t forget, there’s a 25% tariff on foreign cars and goods from countries importing Venezuelan oil. The White House says it’s about rebuilding the economy and national security, but I gotta ask—Evie, what’s your take? Are these tariffs really helping the little guys, or are we just stirring up a hornet’s nest?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Frank, I’m so glad you asked! Down in Louisiana, we got shrimpers and small manufacturers who, like, want to believe these tariffs are a lifeline. But honestly? When you jack up prices on imports, it’s not just the big companies that feel it. My cousin’s hardware store—he’s paying more for everything from nails to outboard motors. And with China retaliating, it’s like, are we just trading one set of problems for another? I mean, I get the idea of protecting American jobs, but inflation’s a real gator in the pond, you know?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Yeah, Evie, and let’s not forget the tech side. A 10% universal tariff? That’s gonna hit electronics, phones, all the stuff we rely on. I saw some numbers—could bump up consumer prices by one or two percent, easy. And small businesses, especially the ones importing parts, they’re gonna have to pass those costs on or just eat ’em. Either way, it’s rough. Frank, you ever see something like this shake up the oilfields?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Oh, you bet. I remember back in the late ’80s—regulations changed overnight, and suddenly, half the rigs in West Texas were mothballed. We thought deregulation would save us, but it was a double-edged sword. Now, with Trump’s new energy orders—like EO 14259, reviving coal and fast-tracking drilling in Alaska—it’s déjà vu. Sure, it’ll create jobs, but I worry about the long haul. Evie, you ever see a community boom and bust on a promise like this?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Oh, all the time, Frank. Folks get excited about new jobs, but when the market shifts or the regulations swing back, it’s the workers left holding the bag. And with the national energy emergency, we’re talking more drilling, less oversight. That’s good for short-term paychecks, but what about the wetlands, the fisheries? I mean, I’m all for energy independence, but if we torch our environment, what’s left for the next generation?

Chijioke Eze

You know, in Nigeria, we have seen this movie before. Deregulation brings jobs, yes, but also pollution and, sometimes, corruption. The new department for government efficiency—led by, what, Elon Musk?—it sounds good, but if you push out all the experienced hands for loyalists, who keeps the lights on? Frank, you ever worry about losing the old-timers who know how to fix things when they break?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

All the time, Chijioke. You lose the folks who know the ropes, and suddenly, the whole operation’s running on hope and duct tape. Y’all still with me, or did I lose ya in the weeds? Anyway, these orders might save a buck now, but if we’re not careful, we’ll pay for it down the road. Let’s keep moving—there’s more than just dollars and cents at stake here.

Chijioke Eze

Now, let us talk about borders and politics. Trump’s executive orders on immigration—like EO 14161—restrict entry from countries seen as threats. There’s also the expansion of the Alien Enemies Act, which, eh, targets even students for deportation. Supporters say it’s about security, but critics warn it’s overreach. In Nigeria, I remember when border policies changed overnight—families split, businesses lost. It is never simple. Carlos, what happens when a country turns inward like this?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Man, Chijioke, when the focus is all on the border, you get tunnel vision. Cybersecurity takes a hit, too. If you’re busy screening every student and shutting out researchers, you lose out on talent and innovation. Plus, when you start using wartime laws in peacetime, it’s a slippery slope. I mean, legal challenges are already clogging the courts. And with the U.S. pulling out of the WHO and the Paris Agreement, it’s like we’re saying, “We got this, world—don’t call us, we’ll call you.” But that leaves a vacuum, and you know who steps in? China, Russia. Not always the folks you want setting the rules.

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Carlos, that’s so true. And with the U.S. stepping back from global health and climate deals, it’s not just about politics—it’s about real lives. Like, if there’s another pandemic, who’s coordinating the response? And the Paris Agreement—my parish depends on international climate funding. Without it, we’re on our own when the next hurricane hits. Frank, you think these moves really make us safer?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Well, Evie, I get the idea of putting America first, but sometimes you gotta work with your neighbors, even if you don’t always see eye to eye. Pulling out of the WHO and the UN groups might play well with folks tired of global red tape, but if you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu. And with Project 2025 in the mix—streamlining, deregulating, all that—it’s a big gamble. Chijioke, you ever see a country try to run lean and mean, only to find out it’s just mean?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Alright, y’all, let’s wade into the culture wars. Trump’s orders on education—like banning “radical indoctrination” and bringing back the 1776 Project—are shaking up schools. In my neck of the woods, folks are split. I remember when they tried to change the history curriculum in Lafayette Parish—parents packed the school board meeting, waving signs and shouting. Some wanted more “traditional values,” others said it was whitewashing. It got real heated, real fast. Are these orders protecting our kids, or just deepening the divides?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Evie, I see the same thing in Miami. The executive orders on campus activism and antisemitism—some say it’s about safety, others call it censorship. And then you’ve got the new rules on gender in sports and religious liberty. It’s like, every week there’s a new line in the sand. I get wanting to protect core values, but when you start threatening funding or deporting students for speaking out, it feels like we’re losing the plot. Chijioke, what’s your read?

Chijioke Eze

Carlos, in my village, we say: “If you sweep the house too clean, you throw out the good with the bad.” These orders—on religion, gender, history—they may please some, but they also push others away. When you ban certain medical care or say who can play sports, you are not just making rules, you are shaping identity. The courts will decide some of this, but the real battle is in the hearts of the people. Frank, you see this as protecting tradition, or is it just stirring up more trouble?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Well, Chijioke, I reckon it’s a bit of both. Folks want to hold onto what they know, but the world keeps changing whether we like it or not. I always say, you can’t stop the river from flowing, but you can build a better levee. Maybe these orders are trying to do that, but if you build the levee too high, you might just flood the folks on the other side. I guess time’ll tell if we’re protecting values or just building walls between neighbors.