The Anxious Prepper

THE ANXIOUS PREPPER Friday Edition | April 18, 2025

This week, things shifted fast. Trade talks may cool, but Ukraine peace is on thin ice. A school shooting highlights the danger of unsecured firearms, and drought is setting the stage for fire season. Newsletter’s out now, subscribers check your email or read it here:

Chris Van Hollen Meets With Abrego Garcia in El Salvador Earlier in the day, armed military officials stopped Senator Chris Van Hollen from trying to visit the prison where Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia has been held for over a month.

Breaking News: Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador.

Hey friends! Today’s edition of The Anxious Prepper just released. California sues the Trump administration, China sets terms for talks, Hegseth’s adviser is out, markets stay shaky, and crop delays deepen. All in the latest edition. Subscribers, check inboxes.
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How ShakeAlert Warns California About Earthquakes Even a few seconds’ notice gives people time to prepare before the shaking.

Millions of people across Southern California learned about a 5.2-magnitude earthquake that hit San Diego County on Monday not from their windows rattling or their picture frames clattering, but from a noisy alert on their mobile phones seconds before the shaking started.

YouTube video by The Ring of Fire Businesses Sue To End Trump’s Trade War For Good

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Ring of Fire

THE ANXIOUS PREPPER Monday Edition | April 14, 2025

New issue of The Anxious Prepper is out now. Trump faces another assassination plot, US-China tariffs are heating up, and today’s tip covers long-lasting food storage. Subscribers, check your inbox. Not on the list? Read it here

Meta’s Antitrust Trial Begins as FTC Argues Company Built Social Media Monopoly The tech giant went to court on Monday in an antitrust trial focused on its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The case could reshape its business.

The FTC on Monday accused Meta of creating a monopoly that bought start-ups that stood in its way, kicking off a landmark antitrust trial that could dismantle a social media empire that has transformed how the world connects.

Stellantis, maker of Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler, is laying off 900 U.S. workers and pausing production in Mexico and Canada after Trump’s new 25% auto tariffs. Its stock dropped 7.7% as fears of a trade war escalate. (Reuters)

China is hitting U.S. farm exports with up to 15% in new tariffs on chicken, pork, soy, and beef, while blocking U.S. lumber and soybean imports. Beijing also blacklisted 10 U.S. firms and added 15 defense companies to its export control list, escalating tensions in the ongoing trade war. (AP)

Trump and Vance clashed with Zelenskyy in a tense Oval Office meeting over Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Trump accused Zelenskyy of “disrespecting” the U.S. and said he wasn’t “ready for peace.” The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskyy asked to leave and a joint press conference canceled. (NBC)

Musk is urging retired air traffic controllers to return amid a nationwide shortage. This follows Trump’s firing of nearly 400 FAA workers, though no controllers were cut. The FAA still needs 3,500 controllers to meet staffing targets as safety concerns grow. (The Hill)

A federal judge in San Francisco ruled Trump’s mass firings of probationary federal employees unlawful, blocking OPM from ordering dismissals. The decision deals a major legal blow to Trump’s effort to shrink the federal workforce, as lawsuits push back against his agenda. (AP)

Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports will take effect March 4, citing drug flows as justification. Reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners are set for April 2. Markets dipped as Trump’s shifting tariff policies continue to fuel economic uncertainty. (NBC)

The Trump admin is slashing 90% of USAID aid, cutting $60B in global funding. A judge ordered the freeze lifted, but SCOTUS blocked it, keeping aid on hold. Nonprofits sue over unpaid contracts, calling it reckless. Trump, backed by Musk’s team, says it’s cutting waste. (AP)

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has urged the Trump administration to rewrite the agency’s 2009 endangerment finding, which is the legal basis for U.S. climate regulations. If overturned, this could dismantle federal action on climate change and reshape environmental policy. (AP)

Trump’s administration is ordering federal agencies to submit layoff plans by March 13, aiming to downsize government. Thousands of probationary employees are already gone, and now career officials with civil service protection are next. This move could reshape government operations entirely. (AP)

Trump and Zelenskyy are set to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine rare earth minerals deal, giving the U.S. joint ownership of future proceeds. The agreement, expected to be signed Friday, does not include security guarantees or U.S. protection from Russia, leaving Kyiv seeking further commitments. (AP)

An unknown disease in Congo has killed 53, with many dying within 48 hours. Over 431 cases reported, symptoms include fever, vomiting, and bleeding. WHO ruled out Ebola and Marburg but warns of a major health threat. Origin may be linked to children eating a bat carcass. (Washington Post)

The FAA has signed a contract to use SpaceX’s Starlink for air traffic management. The contract size is undisclosed. This comes as Musk, who leads SpaceX, advocates for federal spending cuts, including at the FAA. SpaceX relies heavily on government contracts, primarily from NASA. (CNN)

Recent data shows Consumer Confidence dropped to 98.3, the biggest decline in over four years. Inflation remains high, and fears of a Trump-led trade war are growing. The outlook for jobs, wages, and business conditions is worsening, signaling a slowing economy. (AP)

21 civil service employees resigned from Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, refusing to aid in dismantling public services. Their resignation letter warns that many hired to cut government jobs lack the expertise needed, calling the effort politically driven rather than practical. (AP)

House Republicans are pushing back on Musk’s federal downsizing after facing backlash at home. Rep. McCormick (R-GA) plans to press Musk and Trump for a “more compassionate” approach, citing CDC layoffs. Even Musk once said the GOP should show more empathy—now, he’s being held to his own words.(NBC)

During a meeting with Macron, Trump claimed Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine to end the war. Peacekeepers, typically neutral forces, monitor ceasefires and reduce conflict. This comes as Trump pushes a minerals deal with Ukraine, sidelining Europe and raising tensions. (AP)

Trump’s U.N. resolution urging an end to the Ukraine war failed after allies rejected its omission of Russia’s role. Instead, Ukraine’s resolution demanding Russia’s withdrawal passed, but with weaker support than past votes. The split highlights tensions over Trump’s negotiations with Moscow. (AP)

Israel sends tanks into the West Bank for the first time in decades, blocking 40,000 displaced Palestinians from returning. Defense officials say troops will stay for at least a year to “thwart terrorism.”(AP)

Zelenskyy says he’s willing to resign if it secures Ukraine’s NATO membership, prioritizing the country’s security over his role. He also signaled openness to granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for continued aid as discussions over Ukraine’s future intensify. (AP)

Germany just voted, but no party won enough seats to govern alone. Now leaders must negotiate a government, which could take months. The outcome will impact NATO, Ukraine, and trade as these are key areas where Trump’s foreign policy is shifting U.S.-Europe relations. (AP)

Elon Musk ordered federal employees to justify their work or be considered resigned. FBI & State Dept. pushed back, telling staff not to respond. Unions vow legal action, calling it an attack on civil servants. Trump admin faces internal resistance over Musk’s ultimatum. (NBC)

Power Shift: Courts, FBI, and Global Tensions Reshaping Justice, Federal Oversight, and International Alliances

Judicial power is shifting, the FBI is refocusing away from counterterrorism, and federal oversight is tightening. Meanwhile, nuclear staff firings and a USPS shakeup raise big questions. I break it all down in this week’s newsletter—subscribers, check your emails.

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Credit : Air & Space for magazine

Trump fired Gen. CQ Brown as Joint Chiefs chair, ousting a key leader after 40+ years of service. Brown, known for backing diversity efforts, played a major role in Ukraine and the Middle East. His removal signals Trump’s push for military leadership aligned with his policies. (NYTimes)