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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Chicago law enforcement officers intervene during a standoff with ICE and federal officers Sunday in Chicago. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that President Donald Trump's views on immigration hurts the United States. (Reuters | Jim Vondruska)

Opinion: Trump’s policies revive anti-immigrant sentiment in US

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | October 8, 2025

Since President Donald Trump took office, a new fear has spread among 19.1% of the US population. As if it were a 1984 version, the federal government has led an unprecedented persecution against the Latino population, on the pretext that insecurity has...

President Trump wears a “USA” hat and delivers remarks during a Navy 250 celebration. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues frequent speculation about Trump's health is not news. (Reuters | Jonathan Ernst)

Opinion: Media speculation about Trump’s health is useless

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | October 6, 2025

A popular criticism of former President Joe Biden was his advanced age and the effects it may have had on his health while in office. President Donald Trump now suffers similar criticisms, but the guessing games being popularized by the media are pointless. A...

U.S. President Donald Trump departs from the White House to attend his meme coin gala at the Trump National Golf Club, in Washington, D.C. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst believes the constant speculation about Trump's health is not news. (REUTERS | Evelyn Hockstein)

Opinion: Donald Trump’s military cannot be the new police

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | October 5, 2025

Over a month after deploying the National Guard to Washington D.C., President Donald Trump has celebrated the results, claiming D.C. is “like a different city” and sent more troops to other U.S. cities. Crime as a whole has dropped in D.C., but Trump...

A package of Tylenol 8 hour extended-release tablets sits on a table. Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson believes the Trump administration's claim that Tylenol causes autism is a scary case of misinformation. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Opinion: Trump’s Tylenol statement spreads disinformation

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Columnist | September 30, 2025

The White House’s announcement on Sept. 22 – falsely linking autism to taking Tylenol during pregnancy – is a scary reflection of how the administration is changing the mission of science. During the announcement, President Donald Trump and United...

The United States Department of Education logo and U.S. flag are pictured in an illustration. Opinion Columnist Byrdie Seda believes the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Education will bring more harm to education than good. (REUTERS | Dado Ruvic)

Opinion: Trump’s dismantling the Department of Education causes more harm than good

By Byrdie Seda, Opinion Columnist | September 30, 2025

The Trump administration ordered a plan in March to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. This plan would discontinue federal programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and English Language Learners (ELL) students,...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, in front of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, speaks during a press conference on reports of federal deployments in Chicago. Opinion Columnist Gabe Santos believes that President Donald Trump deploying federal troops in U.S. cities is the behavior of a dictator. (REUTERS | Jim Vondruska)

Opinion: Donald Trump’s use of federal troops in U.S. cities is the behavior of a dictator

By Gabriel Santos, Opinion Columnist | September 25, 2025

President Donald Trump’s first few months in office have been alarming to say the least. His use of executive orders to carry out what many view as authoritarian commands have left his supporters feeling untouchable, and his critics at best concerned...

President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference on Thursday. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that negotiations between Trump and Putin are failing. (Reuters | Leon Neal)

Opinion: Negotiations between Trump, Putin are failing

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | September 18, 2025

One of the main campaign premises – if not the most prominent one — of President Donald Trump was the definitive cessation of hostilities in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Campaign promises of immediate success in negotiations that would have...

U.S. President Donald Trump adjusts a hat that says USA on it on June 24 as he disembarks Air Force One. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that Trump's tactics to bring jobs in the U.S has failed American workers. (Reuters | Brian Snyder)

Opinion: Trump’s tactics fail American workers

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | September 11, 2025

Despite measures by the current administration to recover "American jobs" from foreign lands, policies have again proved ineffective against unemployment figures. These figures may rise or fall, but the unemployment rate does not normally exceed the rate...

A photo depicts President Donald Trump speaking on Friday during a dinner for lawmakers on the newly renovated Rose Garden patio, at the White House. Opinion Columnist Gabe Santos argues that when death hoaxes of President Trump swarmed the internet, it was met with hope and not mourning. (Reuters | Brian Snyder)

Opinion: Mourning in advance

By Gabriel Santos, Opinion Columnist | September 9, 2025

On Labor Day weekend, photos of President Donald Trump looking worse-for-wear, taken by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds for Getty Images, hit the internet. Soon after, the White House and Trump himself went all but silent, prompting rumors to hit the internet...

President Donald Trump wears a Make America Great Again hat, which shadows his face. On Aug. 11, Washington, D.C. was put under military occupation as part of an effort by President Donald Trump to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. (Associated Press)

National Guard takes over Washington, Chicago potentially next in line

By Diego Martinez and Austin Lamb | September 2, 2025

DeKALB – On Aug. 11, Washington, D.C. was put under military occupation as part of an effort by President Donald Trump to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. “I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime,...

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst believes that president Donald Trump withholding disaster aid to states who boycott Israeli companies is unethical. (Mark Schiefelbein | AP)

Opinion: Trump’s threat to withhold disaster aid over Israel boycotts sets dangerous precedent

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | August 27, 2025

When some U.S. cities and states boycotted Israeli companies over the war in Gaza, the Trump administration responded by withholding disaster aid. Aside from being unethical, this approach will backfire in the long run. Generally, when a boycott’s...

Protesters line the sidewalk at Memorial Park with signs that read "Hands off our democracy," "No kings! Hands off our country" and more. Crowds gathered on Saturday to protest perceived issues with the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement with the federal government. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

Crowds gather in DeKalb to protest Trump, Musk policies

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor | April 6, 2025

  DeKALB – Signs such as “No Kings! Hands off our country” were seen at South First Street and Route 38 on Saturday, as a crowd gathered to protest a variety of perceived issues with the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk’s...

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