By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent court settlement mandates the US government to restore numerous webpages focusing on gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that were removed from government websites. This order stems from a lawsuit initiated by nine medical organizations and public health nonprofits following a Trump administration executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove crucial information. The settlement requires the government to restore the data and cease further deletions of resources, with the Washington State Medical Association expressing satisfaction with the outcome. The HHS, however, maintains its commitment to removing what it considers radical gender and DEI ideology from federal programs.
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Judge orders Trump to restore hundreds of diversity, equity, and inclusion webpages, and it’s honestly telling, isn’t it? The fact that a court had to step in to ensure information about inclusion is accessible speaks volumes about the previous administration’s priorities. It’s like the situation with “Alligator Alcatraz” – gone, then back, a legal ping-pong match playing out. You’ve got to wonder what rights or legal precedents actually hold firm anymore; it’s almost as unpredictable as those digital price tags in stores that can change at any moment.
Republicans, unfortunately, seem ready to shout “DEI hire!” every time someone who isn’t white gets a decent job. It’s not even coded racism anymore; it’s right there, in the open. And, naturally, an appeal is expected. Let’s hope it doesn’t go Trump’s way. It feels like he might just ask the judge for a Big Mac and a Diet Coke. It’s going to be an uphill battle. But, with resistance and persistence, we can get somewhere.
The reactions are, well, predictable. Someone might suggest Trump take a vacation in Uganda to the judge. Nobody tells the “chief clown” how to run his circus, and he will be back in two weeks, most likely. And the appeals court might just overturn it, claiming the ruling infringes upon “compelled speech.” The sentiment is understandable; data that could help anyone not fully subscribing to the MAGA ideology is not what they want to see.
This case potentially affects research. Blue states might keep their research going, while research in red states suffers because of the potential cut in NIH funding grants. It’s a sad situation, but at least some good research continues. The question is, how long will this ruling hold before the appeals court steps in? A week? How would you feel telling Trump the news? “We’re the sickest nation in the world…” – a sentiment that, ironically, might lead to the firing of doctors. One can only hope he acts quickly and follows the court’s order. Trump is, after all, known for losing in court. Now, if he’d just *do* what the courts tell him.
He might be able to disregard the courts because SCOTUS could, potentially, put him above the law. It’s the next logical step, the process is to go through the motions. It feels like we need more than just orders to get anything done. The cards are falling, and Trump can’t keep winning, regardless of how much he says otherwise. He doesn’t even listen to himself, so why would he listen to the courts? Appeals are inevitable.
Trump, in many ways, is a constant frustration. It is better than not fighting at all; it is good to see someone pushing back. The fact that it is back now, however, is due to an, frankly, absurd interpretation of facts by two Trump-appointed appeals court judges. The logic, or lack thereof, is stunning. A project isn’t considered federally funded until the state receives the money. So, since Florida hasn’t been reimbursed yet, the Alligator Alcatraz is apparently not in violation.
It’s odd how victories in court are celebrated when they are often overturned or ignored quickly. It feels like what usually happens in wars. “DEI” feels like “woke”—words co-opted to say the N-word to each other without actually saying the word. It’s a racial slur for cowards. Cue, to signal the beginning, or queue, meaning a line of people. An appeal and refile are the likely next steps, until eventually, it just falls apart.
Perhaps Trump should switch to regular Coke instead of Diet Coke. He couldn’t even get Sean Dunn in prison after trying several times. It seems he cannot just jail his opponents whenever he wants. The response to the judge might be predictable, perhaps an act of defiance. This is very similar to the administration. The reason for these actions is because his administration’s supporters don’t care what sticks to him, and neither do his followers. They’re not covering anything up unless they think there are people around that aren’t on their team.