This week’s edition covers stories
from January 16th to January 22nd, 2024.
Today’s issue is 1304 words, a 9-minute read.
Hey folks, Mateo here.
As we get deeper into January, this week’s stories capture a mix of pivotal moments and ongoing debates. From President Trump’s bold start to his second term, marked by sweeping executive orders and questions of oligarchic influence, to the fleeting TikTok ban that left millions wondering about the app’s future, the headlines are as dynamic as ever. Meanwhile, on the Minnesota sports front, fans are grappling with postseason heartbreak for the Vikings and midseason uncertainty for the Timberwolves, while anticipation builds for the Twins’ upcoming Spring Training. It’s a week full of reflections, questions, and hopes for what lies ahead.
Oligarchs and Executive Orders: Trump’s Big First Day

As President Donald Trump steps into his second term, the legal, cultural, and political landscape is being shaped by a series of highly controversial executive actions that signal a continuation of his hardline approach to governance. These moves, while consistent with his rhetoric, have stirred not only resistance from political opponents but also deep concerns within local communities across the nation–especially immigrant communities in states like Minnesota, which are grappling with both the prospect of mass deportations and the broader implications of Trump’s executive orders.

In Minnesota, home to an estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants, the fear of deportation has led to increased reluctance among immigrant populations to engage with law enforcement. This poses a serious challenge to the public safety efforts of cities like Minneapolis. In response, Minneapolis Police Chief Brain O’Hara has publicly underscored the city’s commitment to ensuring community trust by reaffirming a policy that prevents local law enforcement from being involved in immigration enforcement. The updated policy explicitly protects undocumented individuals, stating that it is not the job of the MPD to enforce federal immigration laws. These protections are essential when working to foster an environment where immigrant communities feel safe and secure enough to report crimes, seek assistance, and protect their families.

Trump’s first days back are not just marked by debates over immigration. They are also being defined by the influence of powerful oligarchs, a group of wealthy individuals whose control over policy decisions has drawn comparisons to an oligarchic system. Trump himself, whose net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion, continues to rely on a network of wealthy donors and influential figures to drive his agenda. Critics argue that these powerful figures, who benefit from preferential policies, are increasingly steering the country toward an oligarchic state—one where the interests of a few shape the lives of many. With just a few corporations and individuals holding so much sway, it is evident that the policies being implemented are often in their favor, creating a widening gulf between the elite and ordinary citizens. Figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg find themselves not only influencing the economy but also shaping the political discourse around policy decisions. Musk, in particular, has been at the center of several high-profile controversies, including an incident just before Trump’s inauguration, where Musk performed a Nazi salute while delivering remarks on stages. Despite his attempts to downplay the incident, the salacious nature of such behavior highlighted a broader issue: the way in which the ultra-wealthy navigate and sometimes exploit political symbolism to further their own influence.
The Politics of TikTok: Trump’s Opening Moves
Just last week, as the looming TikTok shutdown captured everyone’s attention, I was gearing up to write about how the ban might unfold and its impact in the early days. Instead, the ban came and went in less than 24 hours. So, what exactly happened? Let’s break it down:
The Tiktok ban, which became a key issue early in Donald Trump’s first presidency, was framed as a national security concern due to the app’s ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. Trump signed an executive order in 2020, requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face the shutdown of the app in the United States. The ban’s implementation was delayed several times, creating significant anticipation and uncertainty among TikTok’s millions of American users. This delay fueled speculation that the ban was less about security concerns and more about positioning Trump as a decisive leader from the outset of his term, with this week’s decisions giving him another “win” on day one.

As the deadline for the ban loomed, there were reports of potential buyers, including tech moguls and even Mr. Beast. However, no deals were made, and the deadline was approaching quickly. As the sale deadline passed, TikTok users experienced temporary disruptions, with the app going dark on Sunday evening. By Monday afternoon, the platform resumed operations, crediting Trump for the platform’s resurgence. Yet, despite this momentary reprieve, TikTok is still unavailable for new downloads in U.S. app stores, leaving users wondering what the future may hold. Are you still using TikTok? Do you have any concerns about its future?

One way or another, Trump’s decision to delay the ban raises questions about the bargaining that occurred behind the scenes. What did Trump ask in return for allowing TikTok to remain available in the U.S.? Could the deal include stipulations on the control of what can and cannot be shown on TikTok? Speculation includes concerns over potential security risks, as well as the possibility that Trump or his allies might gain some level of influence over the app’s content, similar to how he has used his relationship with Elon Musk to his advantage on X (Twitter). While we have yet to see the full details of the agreement, these questions remain unresolved, leaving the door wide open for further revelations about the motivations behind Trump’s decision to extend TikTok’s operation in the U.S.
Minnesota Winter Sports Update

As usual, the Vikings’ season ended earlier than expected, as their magical 2024 run came to an end over wild card weekend, as they lost 27-9 to the LA Rams. If it makes fans feel any better, the entire NFC North division disappointed their fans, as all three teams (Packers, Lions, Vikings) were eliminated in their first game of the playoffs. As the best overall division in the NFL, it came as a surprise that the Lions and Vikings, especially, came up short in the playoffs, as both were expected to make potential Super Bowl runs. Well, there is always next year.

We have reached the midseason point in the NBA, marking the halfway point in a long 82 game season. As it stands, the Timberwolves are 22-21, good enough for 9th place in the Western Conference. In what has been a disappointing season of sorts, the Wolves have not lived up to the preseason expectations and now are facing a much more difficult path to the playoffs. Many fans attribute this “fall-off” to the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, as he has looked like an MVP caliber player in New York, and the exact kind of player that they could really use right now. The trade was a surprise at the time, and to this day still leaves questions about the reasoning behind the trade. As all-star break approaches, the Wolves will need to make changes in order to remain competitors throughout the second half of the season.

Outside of the Vikings and Wolves, the Twins season is approaching rapidly. I know it sounds crazy to say in January, but we are actually only about three weeks away from players reporting to Spring Training, which is essentially the preseason for baseball. The Twins have not done much on the player acquisition side this offseason, which is par for the course of the current management, but look forward to competing in what should be a strong AL Central in 2025. Their main competition this year will likely come from Cleveland and Detroit, both of which made playoff runs in 2024. More to come as the season approaches!
Stay informed, stay connected.
See you next week!
–
Mateo and the NewPrensa team
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