Weekend Dispatch: Curves in the Road, Cracks in the Facade
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Hey Small Biters,
This weekend, you’ve got a front-row seat to democracy in flux. Borders are tightening (both trade and district lines), power is being subpoenaed into accountability, and even pop culture convicts remind us that façades can fall. You’re not just reading; you’re interpreting the arc—a perspective worth paying for.
1. Tariff Shockwaves
A fresh wave of reciprocal tariffs took effect this week, slapping rates as high as 41% on countries like Syria, Brazil, and Switzerland. Exporters worldwide warn of devastating impacts on jobs and fragile economies—swelling global economic tensions.
2. DOJ Targets New York AG
The Department of Justice has issued two subpoenas to New York AG Letitia James. One seeks documents tied to her civil fraud case against Trump, and another involves the NRA investigation—raising alarms over potential political overreach.
3. Texas Quorum Crisis
Texas House Democrats remain out of state, preventing a quorum amid fierce redistricting battles. Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to add more Republican districts until lawmakers return—raising the stakes in a high-stakes legislative feud.
4. Epstein Records Under Fire
Democracy Forward has sued the DOJ and FBI to access internal discussions about handling Epstein-related files and correspondence involving Donald Trump. It's another push from advocates demanding accountability.
5. Chimp Crazy No More
Tonia Haddix, star of Chimp Crazy, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for lying that a primate she'd mistreated had died. A surreal reminder that truth matters—even in the cosmos between celebrity and crime
✍️
“When maps are drawn without consent, the line between representation and erasure blurs.”
Tariffs climb while lawmakers flee,
paper states—blocked, balked, abandoned.
In unseen briefings, the past is guarded,
while a seat at the table goes empty.
🍽 A Small Bite to Carry
Tariffs are not distant economics—they’re wallets and livelihoods on both sides of the border.
Subpoenas of elected officials spotlight the friction between states and the shifting boundaries of federal power.
When legislators boycott their floor, democracy’s machinery isn’t broken—it’s pleading for attention.
As a paid reader of Small Bite, your focus helps sustain a vantage where policy meets people. It’s not just about what’s new—it’s about what perseveres beneath headlines: the dignity of work, the clarity of reporting, and the cost of inaction. These stories are not distant—they are living choices in real families, communities, and civic spaces.
Your presence here matters. Thank you for choosing a newsletter that connects policy with people, headlines with humanity.
Thanks for paying attention and thanks for being a supporter—your presence makes space for thought that lasts longer than the scroll.
Warm regards,
Small Bites
Have a great weekend!!
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