Issuu

QUAKER CAMPUS Nov. 21, 2024

The voice of Whittier College since 1914

Volume 23 — Issue 7

Opening Up Trump’s Cabinet Gavin Newsom Calls Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR

tention to “destroy every element of Hamas” rather than supporting a ceasefire in Gaza. As Secretary One of the unique powers that of State, Rubio would handle fora newly elected president has in eign relations and critical alliances, the United States is the ability to acting as the U.S.’ top diplomat. hand-select their cabinet. Members Secretary of Defense of the president’s cabinet oversee Pete Hegseth different sectors within the executive bureaucracy–such as the State The Department of Defense overDepartment and Department of sees the actions of the Pentagon and Homeland Security–and are typ- the U.S. military. Fox News anchor ically chosen due to experience in and combat veteran Pete Hegseth— that sector. Almost all appoint- who served overseas in Iraq and ments require Senate approval. Let’s Afghanistan, as well as domestitake a look at some of the key place- cally on the Minnesota National ments Trump has announced so far: Guard—has called for a purge of

Trump picks RFK Jr. for cabinet post. Vice President - J.D. Vance Unlike most of the president’s cabinet, a pick for Vice President (V.P.) does not require Senate approval. A Republican senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance was selected as Trump’s V.P. candidate over the summer. In the past, Vance has spread baseless rumors about immigrants and defended Trump’s false assertions that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. A source close to the Trump administration told ABC News that Vance will be Trump’s “eyes and ears” as V.P. and “deliver the hammer” in the Senate. Secretary of State - Marco Rubio Currently serving in the Senate, Marco Rubio (R-Florida) is frequently considered a foreign policy “hawk.” According to BBC News, the Senator voted against a $6 million aid package to Ukraine, called China “the largest, most advanced adversary America has ever faced,” and has backed Israel’s in-

Courtesy of Reuters

“woke” generals in the Department. Hegseth lacks experience in elected office, but has been a prominent voice on the subject of traditional masculinity. He openly expressed the opinion that, “We should not have women in combat roles” because it “has made fighting more complicated,” AP News reported.

Director of Interior Doug Burgum The Department of the Interior manages U.S. public land, natural resources, and the continental shelf. Republican Doug Burgam—currently the governor of North Dakota—would help shape the future of U.S. fossil fuel consumption and land use. Burgam plans to “unleash American energy dominance” via increased fossil fuel production, and does not believe that human action has exacerbated the climate crisis, despite scientific evidence that it has.

California to Action

Director of Health and Human Services - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran an independent presidential campaign against Trump, but ended his bid this past August. As director of health and human services, RFK Jr. would be responsible for handling outbreaks such as COVID-19, administering health insurance benefits, and regulating medical treatment. His baseless theories regarding public health have raised concern among medical professionals—he is the founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense and spread vaccine misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Gavin Newsom convenes special session. Courtesy of Cal Matters

Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Under the Trump administration, the Director of Homeland Security will play a key role in advancing immigration policy and a crackdown at the border, as well as matters of domestic law enforcement and cybersecurity. Currently serving as the Republican governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem has no experience in law enforcement, but has invested in strengthening South Dakota’s cybersecurity and been vocal on immigration, sending her state’s National Guard troops to the southern border at least five times, according to Politico. Director of Nat’l Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard A former Democratic congresswoman turned Trump supporter, Tulsi Gabbard will oversee U.S. intelligence (including the CIA), a community President-elect Trump has repeatedly referred to as untrustworthy and part of the “deep state.” During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to overhaul intelligence agencies, a task Gabbard will be critical in carrying out. Gabbard is a veteran who was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, but does not have experience in the intelligence community.

Attorney General - Matt Gaetz Tasked with leading federal investigations through the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General is the nation’s lead prosecutor. Trump has been vocal on his social media platform Truth Social regarding his mission for Congressman Matt Gaetz to “end the partisan weaponization of our Justice System” and investigate “political adversaries.” Despite the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) conviction of Trump for 34 felonies, Gaetz firmly believes that Trump is inno- This article has been condensed cent, and has been investigated for print. To read more, visit for sexual misconduct himself. medium.com/the-quaker-campus.

Sara Martínez STAFF WRITER

who controls Congress. In California, we will keep moving forward.” This movement among CaliAfter Donald Trump was confirmed fornia lawmakers is part of a widas the winner of the 2024 presiden- er discourse among Democratic tial election, California Governor leaders who are prepared to defend Gavin Newsom called on state law- their states’ policies in the wake of makers to convene a special session a second Trump administration. to protect statewide policies that After the election, Illinois Govmay be threatened by the Trump ad- ernor J.B. Pritzker stated in a press ministration. The call to action was conference, “Despite [Trump’s] not uncharacteristic of Newsom, threats to health care coverage and who was a sharp critic of Trump educational opportunity and a during his first term as Governor fair minimum wage, Illinois will from 2019-2022, which Trump continue to invest in the wellbewas president for two years of. ing and prosperity of our people.” During Trump’s first presidenGovernor Kathy Hochul of tial term, then California Attorney New York spoke a day before both General Xavier Beccera—with the Pritzker and Newsom, although full support of Newsom’s admin- her stance touched on the posistration—filed over 100 lawsuits sibility of working with the new against Trump’s administration administration: “If possible, we on a range of issues including cli- will work with [Trump], but we mate change policies, immigra- will not compromise our values, tion, and sanctuary state law. our integrity, or our principles.” Some of the cases that were won So far, the Trump administrablocked the addition of a citizenship tion has not made a formal response question to the U.S. Census, up- to this widespread sentiment amon held protection for recipients under Democratic leaders. However, Presthe Deferred Action for Childhood ident-elect Trump did make an Arrivals program, or DACA, and announcement on his social merejected the Trump administration’s dia platform Truth Social on Frichallenge to the 2017 Sanctuary day, Nov. 8, in which he criticized State Law via the Supreme Court. Gavin Newsom directly: “Governor As a result of these lawsuits, Cali- Gavin Newscum is trying to KILL fornia spent an estimated $43 mil- our Nation’s beautiful California. lion over the course of four years. For the first time ever, more people Along with its legal precedent, are leaving than are coming in. He Newsom’s call for a special session is using the term ‘Trump-Proof ’ as “reignited Califonia’s resistance cam- a way of stopping all of the GREAT paign against conservative policies things that can be done to ‘Make that state Democratic leaders start- California Great Again,’ but I just ed during the first Trump admin- overwhelmingly won the Election.” istration,” according to AP News. In the final months leading up Current California Attorney to Trump’s inauguration in JanGeneral Rob Bonta also made a uary, residents of California, Illipublic announcement on Thursday, nois, and New York can expect to Nov. 7 in the City of San Francisco. hear updates about their state leadDuring his speech, Bonta acknowl- ers’ plan to fight Trump policies. edged a second Trump adminIn California, Newsom’s speistration and promised that the cial session is set to begin on Dec. California DOJ will protect citizens’ 2 and will surround relevant issues rights and freedoms, stating, “Prog- such as reproductive rights, cliress will prevail. No matter who is mate action, and immigration that in the White House. No matter may be impacted under Trump.