Trump’s Tariffs

By: Eli & Haidar

As some of you may know, President Trump is placing tariffs on all exports from China to the United States. These tariffs don’t just affect people who buy goods directly from China, they impact our entire economy and daily lives. With higher costs on imported goods, everyday purchases become more expensive. As prices rise, consumer purchases will likely decrease, leading to reduced spending, which can gradually slow down the U.S. economy. Trump’s tariffs appear to be doing more harm than good, and if they are not abandoned soon, the economic damage may continue to grow until new leadership steps in to make changes. These Tariffs and other Tariffs will affect the U.S consumers’ food production, food prices, car production, agriculture and farm sustainability, and the stability of our economy.

President Trump’s tariffs will negatively impact grocery shopping for all U.S. citizens. Since nearly 20 percent of the country’s food is imported, these tariffs could significantly limit the availability of cultural and religious foods in the United States. This not only affects consumer choice, but also harms communities that rely on specific imported ingredients for traditional meals and religious practices. The rising tariffs under Trump are not the only concern—tariffs imposed by the U.S. on other countries as a whole are affecting both our food supply and the broader economy. Trump’s tariffs have been so high and unpredictable that some countries have celebrated avoiding them. For example, “Mexico celebrated Thursday (April 3rd 2025) having dodged the latest round of tariffs from the White House” (Sanchez, Verza). Similarly, the U.S. The Department of Agriculture warned that tariffs on imported food could lead to “price spikes on fruits, vegetables, and nuts that are not widely produced domestically” (USDA). This means that families across the country, especially those with limited incomes, will have a lot of financial troubles due to these increased grocery bills. 

President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs are expected to have a significant effect on car purchases in the United States by driving up prices and limiting consumer options. Many automobiles that are sold in the United States rely on parts imported from countries like China, Mexico, and Canada. With higher tariffs on these imports, manufacturers will face increased production costs, which are likely to be passed on to consumers through higher vehicle prices. According to the Center for Automotive Research, tariffs on imported auto parts could increase the price of a typical vehicle by as much as $2,750. In addition, a report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimated that a 25% tariff on imported cars and parts could cause car sales to drop by 1.3 million units annually. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers also warned that, "higher auto tariffs would threaten auto jobs and raise prices on all cars, regardless of whether they are domestic or foreign-made." As prices rise and demand drops, there will be many factory slowdowns, raises in costs for car production and consumer prices.

President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs are set to significantly impact the electronics industry by raising prices on devices that rely on imported parts. Currently, there's a 90-day pause on tariffs for smartphones, laptops, and other consumer electronics; however it if they go back into effect, According to the Consumer Technology Association, these tariffs could increase the price of laptops and tablets by up to 45%, and smartphones by about 26% (Trump’s Tariffs). One example is the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, originally priced at $449.99, which may see a huge skyrocket in price due to tariffs on electronics parts  made in countries like China and Vietnam (Gillespie). In response, Nintendo has moved some production to Vietnam and delayed U.S. pre-orders to adjust to market changes (DNYUZ). Despite these efforts, U.S. consumers are still most likely to face higher costs on a wide range of electronics as companies pass these tariffs on to buyers.

While the tariffs are a scary thing for the US to face, it’s always important to stay hopeful and remember that we will eventually get through it. Our country has many ups and downs and there are even more to come, but we will almost always come out okay.

Works Cited

Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials - Agricultural Trade | Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/agricultural-trade#:~:text=High%2Dvalue%20products%20drive%20growth%20in%20U.S.%20agricultural%20imports&text=The%20value%20of%20U.S.%20agricultural,meet%20U.S.%20biofuel%20feedstock%20demand. Accessed 19 May 2025.

AP. https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=e71ce581ae4b48368d2397297db3f17b. Accessed 19 May 2025.

McWhertor, Michael. ‘Nintendo Delays Switch 2 Pre-Orders in Response to Trump Tariffs’. Polygon, 4 Apr. 2025, https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2/553133/pre-orders-delayed-trump-tariff.

Trade Briefing: U.S. Consumer & Economic Impacts of U.S. Automotive Trade Policies | Center for Automotive Research. https://www.cargroup.org/publication/trade-briefing-u-s-consumer-economic-impacts-of-u-s-automotive-trade-policies/. Accessed 19 May 2025.

The overturning of Roe V. Wade, a granted federal constitutional right to abortion, has caused many issues for women in the state of Kentucky. Kentucky is one of the fourteen states that has a total ban on abortion with the only exception being if the mother’s life is at risk.  The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a political move to take power away from women while causing economic tension as some women will need to go out of state (or country) if they need to get an abortion. It wasn’t that long ago women earned the right to vote.  It wasn’t that long ago that women earned the right to have a credit card and their own bank account. It wasn’t that long ago that women fought to have power over their bodies. This is scary.  And I have to ask, why aren’t there any laws mandating policy on men’s bodies?  We are writing this to inform people about women’s rights and to fight for the rights that they deserve. 

A lot of the time, women get overlooked and their voices aren’t heard. Daycare and schooling and even the cost of living is going up and hasn’t come down, and when people with economic barriers face insurmountable costs, children probably won’t be able to live the life that people legislating their bodies automatically think will be granted to them. The problem with Kentucky being an abortion banning state is that many women will face the problem of not being able to take care of the baby because they are too young, not financially stable, or have underlying health concerns.   Moreover, the father (or baby daddy) may not be in the picture.  And of course, we know the history that when medical facilities no longer offer abortions, that the black market finds a way- which will result in women dying.  Women and girls today are having to fight another civil rights battle that their mothers and grandmothers already fought.  Why isn’t our government listening to us? 

Women’s rights are slipping away from their grasp. We’ve gathered research from multiple sources to help understand our history and current reality.  Roberta Brandes Gratz, a journalist for Common Edge,  states, “It was just not something that any woman should have to go through, period. It's just as simple as that.” (Women reflect on what life was like before Roe v. Wade) This means that women around the United States should never have to experience having rights taken from them. Women having to travel greater distances to get an abortion for medical or life reasons is causing punishment for an already difficult circumstance. This is also another challenge to their mental health. It’s an unnecessary hit to their finances when you factor gas money, money to get the abortion, missing work, hiring childcare, the endless list. The ban that has been put on abortions makes it so so hard for women to get one.

Women's rights have been taken away for many years, not just now. In 1960 women got the right to have a bank account. In 1974 women got the right to have a credit card and use their bank account without their husbands signature. About 90 years later in 1920 after men were able to vote, women gained the right to vote in the U.S. The first women were in Utah and it later spread around the US. When Roe V. Wade passed, many things changed for women around the United States. From the news article, “Roe V. Wade Case Summary: What You Need To Know.” states that “The constitutional right to privacy comes from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Due Process Clause does not explicitly state that Americans have a right to privacy. However, the Supreme Court has recognized such a right going all the way back to 1891.” This means that women should have their own rights to do whatever they want with their bodies. This means that with Abortion Rights being taken away from them and prevent them from being able to have abortions even if they are a victim of rape. Some states will act quickly to ban abortion. According to a new analysis by the Guttmacher Institute, South Dakota, Kentucky and Louisiana have laws in place that lawmakers designed explicitly to take effect immediately upon the fall of the Roe V Wade precedent. Idaho, Tennessee, and Texas – where most abortions are already illegal after about six weeks of pregnancy – have similar laws, which would take effect after 30 days. Guttmacher states seven other "trigger ban" states have laws that would require state officials such as governors or attorney generals to take action to implement them.”  With the states that have banned abortion rights, more states are considering doing so as well. 

Around the J. Graham Brown School in Downtown Louisville, KY. We have interviewed several teachers around the school on their opinions on the problem with abortion rights. Many people think that abortion rights being taken away is a violation of women's rights as well as human rights. The women we interviewed think that by overturning Roe v. Wade set back women's rights at least 60 years.We shouldn’t lean towards one half of the population and we should evaluate each side's (genders) opinions. Women’s voices should be heard and understood, a group of men in office shouldn’t be able to take these rights away. In 2017, Trump hosted a ‘Women’s Health Caucus’ at the White House; A picture was taken at the meeting. The room was filled with men. The photo began to gain popularity over social media. This made many people angry because of the lack of people needed for a certain subject.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Giinsberg told the nation, “A woman’s right to choose an abortion is something central to a woman’s life, to her dignity. And when government controls that decision for her, she’s being treated as less than a full adult human being responsible for her own choices.”  And we would like to add that women are not using abortion as a form of birth control, they get abortions for reasons such as being not financially stable, health reasons, and life situations as well as the age you are in that situation.

What can you do to help women in need? Many young women across Kentucky are in need of help. Women and young women can't get the resources they need such as abortion rights, paying for abortions, or finding a clinic close enough. Although there are many websites to help women get the resources they need from finding an abortion clinic as close as possible to post abortion counseling, some women may not know those resources are available. Advocating for women in general is something anyone can do, but to be more specific, donating to an abortion clinic, showing up and protesting, speaking up and sharing with family and friends to spread their stories and about the matter in general. It is a good choice to just sit down and listen to people's stories. Hadley Duvall has been speaking across the country, representing Kentucky.  She is a rape victim. Her stepfather raped her for a very long time, he got her pregnant at 12 years old. She states, “I had choices,” because she could get an abortion. Many young women in her situation do not have a choice anymore. Duvall spoke about her own struggles at the Democratic party campaign. Andy Beshear spoke on her story he states, “that right was ripped away from my mom, my wife, my daughter, and every other woman in America.” Beshear goes on to say that it is difficult to watch this happen to women across the US. Hearing people's stories and views can make you more empathetic and understanding.

 The overturning of Roe. V Wade saddened many women and it is time to make a change for the future generations and for the health of women. It is important to listen to women’s point of views as well as their experiences with this topic because of how difficult it is to understand how deep this topic can go.  And of course, you must vote. Vote for the person who will protect and better the lives of women.

Sources Cited: 

Nawaz, Amna, et al. “Women Reflect on What Life Was like before Roe v. Wade | PBS News.” PBS News, PBS News, 21 June 2022, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/women-reflect-on-what-life-was-like-before-roe-v-wade. 

“Your Abortions. Your Voices. Your Stories. | American Civil Liberties Union.” American Civil Liberties Union, 7 July 2022, https://www.aclu.org/news/reproductive-freedom/your-abortions-your-voices-your-stories. 

“Andy Beshear Draws Rebuke from Vance over Abortion Comments.” NBC News, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/andy-beshear-draws-rebuke-vance-abortion-comments-rcna167388. 

“Here’s Where KY Stands on Abortion 2 Years after Dobbs Decision | Whas11.Com.” Whas11.Com, 6AD, https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/abortion-kentucky-2-years-roe-wade-dobbs/417-26598fc7-b029-44ca-beba-7e79ff401584#:~:text=In%20the%20wake%20of%20the,all%20abortions%20in%20the%20Commonwealth. 

“Andy Beshear Draws Rebuke from Vance over Abortion Comments.” NBC News, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/andy-beshear-draws-rebuke-vance-abortion-comments-rcna167388. 

“Here’s Where KY Stands on Abortion 2 Years after Dobbs Decision | Whas11.Com.” Whas11.Com, 6AD, https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/abortion-kentucky-2-years-roe-wade-dobbs/417-26598fc7-b029-44ca-beba-7e79ff401584#:~:text=In%20the%20wake%20of%20the,all%20abortions%20in%20the%20Commonwealth.\ 

All-Male White House Health Bill Photo Sparks Anger - BBC News.” BBC News, BBC News, 24 Mar. 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39375228. 

Have you ever felt scared or paranoid inside of a building that is advertised as a safe learning environment? School Shootings are something that the United States has been suffering with since 1764. Many young, middle and high schoolers have expressed multiple feelings and emotions about how they feel with these school shootings surrounding where they live. According to VCU news, “Guns are now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the U.S.” Why is this? Year after year guns are more unnoticed and normalized all around the U.S. Throughout the U.S, we lose teenagers every day and according to the Sandy Hook Promise, “Each day 12 children die from gun violence in America.” Schools surrounding our societies are losing students every day, whether it's in school or out of school. The issue is that many students are dying in and around a place that is said to be a safe environment. Throughout this piece we will be exploring the question: What are the physiological, social and environmental circumstances that cause school and overall gun violence. 

All around the U.S, there are schools that are suffering with school shootings, access to firearms, mental health, and over exposure to guns and weapons.  These are all causes of school shootings and are resulting in many lives to be lost. We must sacrifice certain school standards and practices in order to create a better living environment and a safer school for students around the U.S.

Easy access to firearms is causing teenagers to have unsafe and hazardous possession of weapons. All across the U.S, there are millions of firearms that are within access to teenagers, this is a danger hazard for the adolescent and everyone in that person's surroundings. Out of the teenagers that live in the U.S more than “approximately 3 million are exposed to gun violence” (Everytown Child & Teen Gun Safety). The possibility of a teenager starting a school shooting after being exposed to gun violence is high, and plays a huge role in why and how these school shootings are caused. School officials need to be aware of the warning signs for potential gun violence.   “The majority of mass school shooters – 87 percent – showed signs of a crisis, as exhibited in their behavior, before the shooting. Seventy-eight percent revealed their plans ahead of time, often on social media” (The Conversation). Prior exposure to gun violence, peer pressure, and many others are reasons a teenager in school would want to start a school shooting but one that makes up most are suicidal shootings. According to The Conversation, “80 percent of mass school shooters were suicidal.” This shows that mental health and other aspects that can lead to a hatred towards themselves can play a role in motives for a school shooting to happen. Environmental factors, such as the portrayal of violence in media and entertainment, can also play a role in shaping an individual's perception of violence. The constant exposure to violent video games, movies, and television shows can blur the lines between reality and fiction, making it easier for individuals to justify violent actions (Brockmyer).

The issue of school shootings is directly related with mental health, as many causes of these tragic events often show strong signs of mental distress prior to acts of violence. Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and severe emotional stress can significantly impact an individual's behavior and decision-making processes. As an illustration, individuals who experience bullying, social isolation, or traumatizing events may develop feelings of sadness, unhopeful for a change and anger, which can sometimes be the major and main cause in violent actions. Research has shown that a major number of school shooters have a history of mental health issues, yet they often do not receive the needed  support and actions that need(ed) to be made. According to a study by the FBI, “63% of active shooters between 2000 and 2013 had a history of mental illness.” Additionally, the Safe School Initiative report by the U.S. (The Secret Service and Department of Education)  found that “71% of attackers felt persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked, or injured by others prior to the incident.” This lack of efficient mental health care can make their conditions a lot worse, leading to hazardous and lethal outcomes.The fear surrounding mental health can prevent individuals from seeking help, as they may be frightened from  judgment or not recognize the importance of their conditions. Schools play an important and efficient role in identifying and supporting students with mental health challenges. By providing understandable, applicable and easy access to mental health services, promoting a supportive and inclusive school environment, and educating students and staff about the importance of mental health, schools can help mitigate the risk factors associated with school shootings. 

The accessibility of firearms is also a major factor in school shootings. All over the U.S, studies have shown that the ease of access to guns significantly increases the likelihood of violent incidents in schools. According to research by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, “higher rates of gun ownership have higher rates of school shootings.” Another major factor that plays a role in causing school shootings across the U.S is that many school shooters obtain their weapons from home, where firearms are often not securely stored. Over ¾ of the homes across the U.S have a chance of occupying a weapon that is not rightfully secured in an area where it is hazardous. The U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Education found that in, “68% of school shootings, the guns used were taken from the shooter’s residence or from a relative.” Lastly, a factor of school shootings and gun violence is the lack of necessary background checks and regulations that allow individuals with a history of mental illness or violent behavior to acquire firearms easily. The Gun Violence Archive reports that in many cases of school shootings, the shooter had legal access to firearms despite having known risk factors. By addressing the issue of firearm availability through stricter gun control measures, better storage practices, and regulations we as a country can reduce the risk of school shootings and create a safer environment for students.

In conclusion, addressing the issue of school shootings requires an approach that considers the mental, social, and environmental circumstances contributing to gun violence. It is important that we create a safer school environment by implementing stricter gun control measures, providing emotional and mental health support for students, and creating a community that prioritizes the well-being of its members and makes sure that they are all taken care of and understood.. By taking these steps, we can work towards reducing the incidents of school shootings and making sure that schools remain a safe place for learning and growth.

Bibliography

Brockmyer, Jeanne Funk. “Desensitization and Violent Video Games: 

Mechanisms and Evidence.” Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 31, no. 1, Jan. 2022, pp. 121–32. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2021.06.005.

“Child & Teen Gun Safety.” Everytown, https://www.everytown.org/issues/child-teen-safety/. 

Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Densley, James, and Jillian Peterson. “School Shooters Usually Show These Signs of Distress 

Long before They Open Fire, Our Database Shows.” The Conversation, 8 Feb. 2019, http://theconversation.com/school-shooters-usually-show-these-signs-of-distress-long-before-they-open-fire-our-database-shows-111242. 

Matthews, Alex. “School Shootings in the US: Fast Facts.” CNN, 22 Sep. 2023, 

https://www.cnn.com/us/school-shootings-fast-facts-dg/index.html. 

“School Shootings and Violence.” The New York Times. NYTimes.com, 

https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/school-shootings-and-violence . Accessed 30 Oct. 2024. 

Surviving a School Shooting: Impacts on the Mental Health, Education, and Earnings of 

American Youth | Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/health/surviving-school-shooting-impacts-mental-health-education-and-earnings-american.  Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Tupponce, Joan. “Why Do School Shootings Keep Happening in the United States?” VCU 

News,https://news.vcu.edu/article/2022/06/why-do-school-shootings-keep-happening-in-the-united-states.  Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.