Democrat,

President Trump’s address to Congress was a masterclass in gaslighting and distraction, nothing more than a campaign stunt designed to distract from the damage he’s causing to working families. Instead of providing a blueprint for real growth and real help for our working families, Trump spent most of the speech attacking the things and people he doesn’t like. The entire speech was a fantasy. In reality, under his leadership, unelected billionaire Elon Musk has been allowed to purge entire federal agencies and strip away essential services. Our allies have been alienated and we have sided with our enemies. Our economy is teetering, and Trump’s answer? More corporate tax breaks, more handouts to the ultra-rich, and more fearmongering.

What was missing? REAL solutions. There was no plan to protect public schools and nursing homes. No strategy to lower costs for working people. No commitment to ensuring families can afford housing, healthcare, prescription drugs, or even eggs. Instead, Trump fed his base more lies while Republicans cheered him on, including New Jersey’s own Tom Kean Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew.

New Jerseyans deserve better. They deserve leaders who fight for them, not dictators and representatives who cower in the shadows, too afraid to explain their votes.

This week we had quite a few Executive (Dis)Orders in one – Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress but we will focus on one this week.

First up: Tariffs. Trump is bragging about slapping new taxes on imports, claiming it will “protect American jobs.” In reality, these tariffs are just another tax—on us. Prices will skyrocket with these tariffs, businesses will suffer, and we will be left paying the price. And as of March 5th, Trump walked back and delayed tariffs for another month for goods from both Mexico and Canada

Claim:
Trump claimed that the Biden administration wasted $8 million on “making mice transgender,” pointing to supposed wasteful spending uncovered by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His administration doubled down, falsely saying taxpayer money was used on “transgender animal experiments.”

The Truth:
This is pure nonsense. This is meant to bait those who fall for ludicrous statements like the “migrants eating pets.” Do not fall for it. The studies Trump is attacking were legitimate medical research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The phrase “transgender mice” is just a distortion—what was actually studied were TRANSGENIC mice, genetically modified for research into hormone effects on diseases like asthma, fertility, and breast cancer. None of the research was about changing the gender of mice. Instead, Trump’s team cherry-picked studies that mentioned words like “trans” or “hormones” and twisted them into their typical ridiculous talking points.

Impact on New Jersey:
Beyond being a lie, Trump’s attack is dangerous. He’s using junk science to justify slashing critical funding for medical research. New Jersey is home to some of the top medical research institutions in the country, including Rutgers and Princeton, and NIH funding fuels breakthroughs in cancer treatment, hormone-related diseases, and public health. Cutting this funding means fewer discoveries, fewer treatments, and worse health outcomes for New Jerseyans. This isn’t about “efficiency”—it’s about gutting science to score cheap political points. For more information on this lie and others click HERE and discover the truth.

This week, for our new section on how New Jersey is fighting back against the lunacy unfolding in Washington, we are proud to highlight a representative who has been fearless in calling out Trump’s lies and standing up for working people—Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. Ahead of Trump’s joint address, McIver introduced the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act, a bill to rehire and compensate the 30,000+ federal workers unfairly fired under Trump’s reckless cuts. After walking out of Trump’s speech, calling it nothing more than a televised circus of misinformation, she wasted no time taking action. Flanked by labor leaders and fired workers, McIver made it clear: Democrats are fighting back. While the GOP-controlled Congress may block the bill, McIver’s leadership is exactly the kind of bold action New Jerseyans need at this moment.

New Jersey was one of the pioneers in establishing Women’s History Month. The state boasts a rich history of influential women who have played crucial roles in shaping our Garden State. From activists to politicians, New Jersey women have made groundbreaking contributions, and we are proud to highlight the achievements of Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter!

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter has represented the 35th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2012. She has held executive leadership roles as Deputy Speaker and Majority Conference Leader. Currently, she chairs the Assembly Committee on Community Development and Affairs, focusing on issues like community blight, the wealth gap, and small business growth. Sumter is also a member of the Labor and Commerce and Economic Development committees, and she made history as the first woman to chair the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus. Sadly, Assemblywoman Sumter will not be seeking reelection, but we deeply appreciate the remarkable contributions she has made in shaping New Jersey.

The time to get involved is not October or November, it is now! This is your chance to fight back. Head to our website to check out a full list of events to get involved. This is your moment to make an impact—don’t let it pass you by. Find out what’s next and get involved NOW.

— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

P.S. Here is another reminder to join us this Sunday for a social meet up with our South Asian American Caucus! Connect with community leaders and fellow members over drinks and conversation. The event will take place on Sunday March 9th from 3:00-5:00pm. RSVP HERE.

Click Here for more information.