OPINION: 2025 is here!

Although it had not been our intention to spend a large amount of time talking about Donald Trump in 2025, the reality is the majority of stories emerging last year are coming up again this year and will involve Trump and his administration. 

The two past stories most independent of Trump stories are: 1) the movement of the six African Americans toward sainthood by the Catholic Church; and 2) the fate of Jackson State University professor and faculty senate president, Dr. Dawn Bishop McLin. 

All the other stories have strings attaching them to the Trump administration.

On one hand, the canonization of the African Americans on the road to sainthood is not likely to be a major story in 2025. That is, in part, because the process is usually so long and drawn-out until it will be years before they are canonized. Whenever it does occur, however, it will be a major news story. 

On the other hand, whether Dr. McLin is re-instated or terminated is perhaps too far down the totem pole to be interfered with by the national administration. The university president or the college board itself is likely to have the last word on the matter. It will become major news only if the faculty feels the need to mount a major public protest.

Let us turn then and look at the issues that will be in the news. Since 2025 is an election year for the city of Jackson, the upcoming Jackson municipal election is likely to be big news. There are at least three factors supporting this. (1) A large number of individuals plan to run for mayor. That is likely to generate a great deal more criticism and controversy. (2) The FBI, particularly since the incumbent mayor along with the overwhelming majority of the council are democrats, will go overboard to try and convict Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and Councilman Aaron Banks or to keep the matter before the public while the election goes on, which will weaken them as candidates. (3) Conservative white citizens are lining up behind their favored candidate whom they hope to influence if he is elected. Black citizens must carefully follow the upcoming election in order to help prevent Jackson from becoming a remotely controlled Black “enclave.” 

That reality also points to the fact that the Trump administration is likely to bolster the assaults on the city of Jackson, including control of the airport, expansion of the policing power of the Capitol Police Force, and the ignoring of the status of Jackson being a sanctuary city. Around the country, the administration will make news by “going after” Democratic-run municipalities.

Keeping in mind the contents of the Project 2025 document and the kinds of individuals selected for cabinet, staff, and agency positions, we can anticipate the Justice Department increasingly turning away from the investigations and subsequent reforms of police departments such as in Rankin County and the city of Lexington. We can anticipate more race-based violence and vigilantism.

More news will continue to be made as efforts are mounted to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, voting rights protections, health and safety regulations, and social welfare programs. These things he will pursue through executive orders, pressure on congressional leaders, and through the administration of federal agencies. 

There will perhaps not be news about the past and present discrimination against historically Black schools and colleges such as were revealed in Brown vs. Board of Education and Adam vs. Richardson. Gone, too, will be major news about Trump’s indictments and convictions. For all intents and purposes, he is off the hook forever.

In foreign affairs, we are already witnessing the chaos and threatening conditions that will characterize 2025 and the Trump presidency. He threatens allies such as Canada and Mexico with tariffs. He talks again about annexing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. He seemingly plans on isolating or leaving Ukraine at the mercy of Russia, on ignoring Israel’s inhumane actions in the Middle East, and on continuing to join in the neo-colonial exploitation of Africa, while despising the African people.

Before all this occurs, however, we can expect to see an exorbitant amount of time being taken up trying to get the government organized. Because so many of Trump’s choices for office are so unqualified, so mired in past criminal or immoral behavior, or set on even destroying the agencies that will be under their charge, there are likely to be major congressional battles over their confirmations from the start.

Finally, because the country is so divided and the Republicans have such slim majorities in Congress, there will be many struggles in 2025. This opens the door for activists and organizers to lobby legislators. It should also revive the prominence and importance of the politics of protest.