Letter from the editors: Explaining ‘Ripple Effects’

It’s been just over a year since President Donald Trump was reelected, bringing massive changes not only to the White House, but also to local communities across the country. That includes UF, Gainesville and Alachua County.

Trump’s expansive agenda hoped to curtail immigration and increase deportations. The administration instructed immigration officers to patrol American cities and raid workplaces. Earlier this year, ICE detained several international university students over their political speech and temporarily revoked thousands of student statuses.

Trump’s foreign policy has centered around imposing heavy tariffs on U.S. allies and adversaries alike, meant to recenter manufacturing domestically. Those tariffs mean business owners pay higher fines to import products, while consumers absorb some of the costs in higher prices.

And, as of Oct. 1, Congress shut down the government, leaving millions of people without federal food stamp benefits and federal workers without paychecks. It’s the longest government shutdown in American history.

This edition of The Alligator looks at how things have changed here, on the ground. Federal funding cuts have hit local media and emergency management programs, while small businesses contend with the trickle-down effects of escalating tariffs. We spoke with international students worried about leaving the country under student visas. We heard from conservative and liberal community members about how politics make them feel — good and bad. 

These stories reflect how the administration’s decisions have ripple effects in our community, even 776 miles from Washington.

— The Alligator Editorial Board (Alissa Gary, Sophia Bailly, Zoey Thomas, Pristine Thai and Corey Fiske)