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13 ways Trump's been terrible for LGBTQ people during his first 5 months.

Has he really been that bad for LGBTQ people? Let's retrace our steps.

Last summer, Donald Trump promised "to protect our LGBTQ citizens."

The assurance — seemingly the first time LGBTQ rights were acknowledged by a nominee at a Republican National Convention — came as a sigh of relief to some LGBTQ people and allies hoping for continued progress on queer rights, even in the event that Trump would win the election: Could lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans finally have a Republican ally in the White House?

To find out if Trump's promise held up, let's recap the first five months of his presidency as it pertains to LGBTQ rights:

1. Trump rescinded federal bathroom protections for transgender students.

Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images.

With Trump's approval, the Justice and Education Departments rejected guidelines suggested under President Barack Obama that allowed trans students across the country to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender.

The reversal gives state and local officials more sway in forcing kids to use the bathroom that aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth — a move that puts them even more at risk of violence.

2. Trump stopped data collection on LGBTQ seniors, making it difficult to know if and how certain programs affect them.

Photo by Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images.

The Trump administration pulled questions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity from an annual survey given to seniors by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The data collection is crucial in pinpointing where and how federal dollars should be spent on programs benefiting older Americans, NBC News reported, and could negatively affect services like transportation, caregiver support, and home-delivery meals for LGBTQ seniors.

3. Trump has surrounded himself with blatantly homophobic and transphobic officials with huge influence over policy.

Trump with Mike Pence. Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images.

Bringing years of abhorrent views on LGBTQ people and their rights to Washington, Trump's cabinet truly does showcase a remarkable collection of bigotry, Michelangelo Signorile reported in The Boston Globe.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' family foundation has donated millions of dollars toward groups solely focused on slashing LGBTQ rights. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price called Obama's transgender-inclusive policies "absurd." Attorney General Jeff Sessions has an "alarming record on LGBTQ equality," according to the Human Rights Campaign, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson once compared sex between people of the same gender to bestiality and pedophilia.

While he was governor of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence signed a bill into law allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ patrons based on religious beliefs and supported conversion therapy — a form of child abuse — for LGBTQ children.

Unsurprisingly, none of these people have showed signs of changing their beliefs on LGBTQ rights since taking office.

4. Trump's messaging and America-first fiscal priorities are emboldening anti-LGBTQ movements around the world.

Photo by Kirll Kudrjavtsev/AFP/Getty Images.

The "Trump Effect," as The Daily Beast coined it, is empowering hate groups worldwide — not only in regions like the Caribbean and Latin America, but in even the most LGBTQ-friendly countries, like the Netherlands and the U.K., according to OutRight International.

What's more, whatever budget passes through a GOP House and is signed by the president will likely slash tens of millions of dollars in funding for programs that prevent HIV transmission and protect LGBTQ people from persecution overseas.

5. Trump has done nothing to stop — or even condemn — the mass arrests and murders of gay, bisexual, and transgender men in Chechnya.

Photo by John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images.

Since April, at least 100 LGBTQ men have been arrested, tortured, and even killed by law enforcement — all while the Chechen government refuses to acknowledge LGBTQ people even exist there.

Many world leaders have spoken out against the atrocities. Not Trump.

6. Trump signed an executive order allowing for more leniency in letting churches get political.

Trump visits a Las Vegas church in October 2016. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

In early May, Trump signed an executive order that eased guidelines prohibiting churches from being politically active, Reuters reported. With the move, pastors and religious figures can more freely endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status — a move that could result in more anti-LGBTQ political rhetoric being spewed from the pulpit.

And the order doesn't stop there.

7. Trump has allowed certain religious organizations to discriminate when it comes to health care provisions for LGBTQ employees.

Photo by Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images.

Under the same executive order, religious groups can now more easily deny health insurance to employees when the care conflicts with their beliefs. A Christian charity group, for example, could legally refuse to cover certain drugs related to HIV prevention or the costs associated with gender confirmation surgery for a trans person.

That is, Rabbi Denise L. Eger wrote for NewNextNow, "private health decisions between an individual and their medical team will be affected by the religious views of their employer."

8. Trump is fighting for health care reform that would force thousands of HIV-positive people off their care.

Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images.

LGBTQ Americans (particularly gay and bisexual men of color and trans women) have been disproportionately affected by the AIDS epidemic, which is why moves by the GOP to overhaul the Affordable Care Act is setting off alarm bells for advocates everywhere.

Behind closed doors, Republicans are drafting a health care bill that will likely reverse the bulk of key Obamacare provisions. Earlier legislative efforts suggest the bill, if passed, could decimate our progress on defeating HIV/AIDS by dismantling the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion and making certain HIV drugs inaccessible to those who need them most.

Trump's complete disregard for prioritizing a national strategy on the issue is one big reason why a number of experts just resigned from the White House's HIV/AIDS advisory panel.

"As advocates for people living with HIV, we have dedicated our lives to combating this disease and no longer feel we can do so effectively within the confines of an advisory body to a president who simply does not care," the experts penned for Newsweek on June 16.

9. Trump's education department is scaling back civil rights investigations, hurting kids who are transgender in the process.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Photo by Manel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images.

The Washington Post reported on June 17 that the Department of Education is dropping a consequential discrimination case involving a trans student in Ohio who was harassed by teachers and students and barred from using the bathroom that corresponds with her gender.

Because Trump rescinded federal guidelines protecting trans students in February (see #1 on this list), the department reversed its decision to deem the school's actions as discriminatory, officials said.

It may be just one case — but it's indicative of an even more worrying big picture. The move is part of a larger shift away from enforcing civil rights laws through the department, and that change in attitude and policy is one the Ohio student's advocates are calling "dangerous" for LGBTQ students nationwide.

10. Trump is quietly removing mentions of LGBTQ people and their rights on federal webpages.

The Obama White House's LGBTQ page has been replaced with this generic page.

Just as Trump was inaugurated into office, several White House pages on various issues temporarily disappeared as the new administration took over — not an uncommon hiccup during a presidential transition. Obama's page dedicated to LGBTQ matters, however, still hasn't been replaced.

On June 15, the Department of Commerce removed sexual orientation and gender identity from a list of protected groups in its equal employment opportunity statement, BuzzFeed News noticed. (After the report published —and the department faced swift backlash — the list was updated to include LGBTQ protections once again.)

Federal websites lay out what the president and his administration's priorities are. Erasing them from government websites is a clear sign that the challenges faced by LGBTQ people aren't of immediate concern for Trump and his administration.

11. Trump's proposed travel ban barred LGBTQ refugees from entering the U.S., putting them more at risk of violence.

A transgender refugee from Honduras who is temporarily staying in Mexico hopes to make it to the U.S. eventually. Photo by Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images.

Trump's executive order on immigration served as a blanket ban on refugees coming from a handful of Muslim-majority countries. Among those fleeing their homelands for safety and security, though, are LGBTQ people escaping persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Take Ramtin Zigorat. He's a 27-year-old LGBTQ activist and refugee stranded in Turkey after being sentenced to death in Iran for being gay. The UNHCR had granted him admission to the U.S., but that was put on hold after Trump's travel ban. He's one of many.

"Maybe they will kill me tomorrow," he told CNN back in March. "You always live with this fear."

12. Trump decided against including questions related to sexual orientation or gender identity on the 2020 census.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Questions on those matters have never been on the census. But a proposal to include them in the 2020 survey was rejected by the Census Bureau, leaving LGBTQ people invisible, yet again, in one of the most crucial collections of federal data we have.

If data doesn't exist on a marginalized population, it becomes impossibly more difficult to service their specific needs.

13. Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch — a right-leaning justice with a questionable track record on LGBTQ rights — to the Supreme Court.

Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images.

Arguably one of the most lasting impacts Trump will have on civil rights is his picks for the Supreme Court — which is why his decision to nominate right-leaning Gorsuch has LGBTQ advocates on edge.

"For a conservative, he may stake out some admirably unorthodox positions on the bench," wrote Slate's Mark Joseph Stern after noting Gorsuch's bigoted stances on transgender equality and gay marriage. "But an embrace of LGBTQ rights will not be one of them."

So, to get back to the initial question: Do lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans finally have a Republican ally in the White House?  

The evidence speaks for itself.

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Family

Naming twins is an art. Here are some twin names people say are the best they've ever heard.

With twins, all the regular pressures of having a baby are doubled, including choosing a name.

Photo credit: Canva

Are you in favor of rhyming twin names? Or is it too cutesy?

Having twins means double the fun, and double the pressure. It’s a fairly known rule to name twins in a way that honors their unique bond, but that can lead to overly cutesy pairings that feel more appropriate for nursery rhyme characters than actual people. Plus, it’s equally important for the names to acknowledge each twin’s individuality. Again, these are people—not a matching set of dolls. Finding the twin baby name balance is easier said than done, for sure.

Luckily, there are several ways to do this. Names can be linked by style, sound or meaning, according to the baby name website Nameberry. For example, two names that share a classic style would be Elizabeth and Edward, whereas Ione and Lionel share a similar rhythm. And Frederica and Milo seem to share nothing in common, but both mean “peaceful.”

Over on the /NameNerds subreddit, one person asked folks to share their favorite twin name pairings, and the answers did not disappoint.

One person wrote “Honestly, for me it’s hard to beat the Rugrats combo of Phillip and Lillian (Phil and Lil) 💕”

A few parents who gave their twin’s names that didn’t inherently rhyme until nicknames got involved:

"It's the perfect way! Christmas cards can be signed cutely with matching names, but when they act out you can still use their full name without getting tripped up.😂"

"The parents of a good friend of mine did this: her name is Allison and her sister is Callie. Their names don’t match on the surface, but they were Alli and Callie at home."

“Alice and Celia, because they’re anagrams! Sound super different but have a not-so-obvious implicit connection.”

This incited an avalanche of other anagram ideas: Aidan and Nadia, Lucas and Claus, Liam and Mila, Noel and Leon, Ira and Ria, Amy and May, Ira and Ari, Cole and Cleo…even Alice, Celia, and Lacie for triplets.

Others remembered name pairs that managed to sound lovely together without going into cutesy territory.

twin names, twins, babies, baby namesThese matching bunny ears though. Photo credit: Canva

“I know twin toddler boys named Charlie and Archie and they go so well together,” one person commented.

Another wrote, “Tamia and Aziza. I love how they follow the same sound pattern with the syllable endings (-uh, -ee, -uh) without being obnoxiously matchy matchy.”

Still another said, “Lucy and Logan, fraternal girl/boy twins. I think the names sound so nice together, and definitely have the same 'vibe' and even though they have the same first letter they aren't too matchy-matchy.”

Other honorable mentions included: Colton and Calista, Caitlin and Carson, Amaya and Ameera, Alora and Luella, River and Rosie, and Eleanor and Elias.

One person cast a vote for shared style names, saying, “If I had twins, I would honestly just pick two different names that I like separately. I tend to like classic names, so I’d probably pick Daniel and Benjamin for boys. For girls my two favorites right now are Valerie and Tessa. I think Val and Tess would be cute together!”

Overall though, it seems that most folks were fans of names that focused on shared meaning over shared sound. Even better if there’s a literary or movie reference thrown in there.

twin names, twins, babies, baby namesMany adult twins regret that their names are so closely linked together. Photo credit: Canva

“My mom works in insurance, so I asked her. She’s seen a lot of unique ones, but the only twins she remembers are Gwenivere [sic] and Lancelot... bonus points... little brother was Merlin,” one person recalled.

Another shared, “If I had twin girls, I would name them Ada and Hedy for Ada Lovelace and Hedy Lamarr, both very early computer/tech pioneers. Not that I’m that into tech, I just thought it was a brilliant combination.”

Other great ones: Susan and Sharon (think the original “Parent Trap”), Clementine and Cara (types of oranges), Esme and Etienne (French descent), Luna and Stella (moon and stars), Dawn and Eve, plus various plant pairings like Lily and Fern, Heather and Holly, and Juniper and Laurel.

Perhaps the cleverest name pairing goes to “Aubrey and Zoe,” since…wait for it… “they’re A to Z.”

It’s easy to see how naming twins really is a cool opportunity for parents to get creative and intentional with their baby naming. It might be a challenge, sure, but the potential reward is having the most iconic set of twins ever. Totally worth it!


This article originally appeared last year.

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Pets

Popular pet rescue advocate explains why she supports 'kill shelters' and it's eye-opening

She makes some excellent points.

Photo credit: Canva (left), Isabel Klee/TikTok used with permission (right)

Isabel Klee explains why "kill shelter" is a misnomer.

Isabel Klee has created a name for herself in the animal rescue world with daily videos documenting the heart wrenching and heartwarming transformations of the pets she rehabilitates. In early 2025, millions of people got sucked into the saga of Isabel's foster dog, Tiki, who came to Isabel completely traumatized and shut down. Under her care, Tiki slowly but surely learned to trust and began to thrive, and people loved seeing him become the brave, playful, loving, dog he was always meant to be.

Now Isabel has a message for her audience that might feel counterintuitive for animal lovers but is also something that can't be ignored. In a video captioned, "Just because you turn away from a problem doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist," Isabel surprisingly encourages people to "support your local 'kill shelter.'"

@simonsits

Just because you turn away from a problem doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist

She shares that a "no kill" rescue shelter that she has worked with before had posted something "extremely harmful." In a video against spay abort practices, the shelter said "overpopulation is a myth." Isabel describes "spay abort" as "the ethical procedure that a rescue organization does when they find a pregnant animal and choose to spay them…so that we aren't contributing to the already critical level of overpopulation happening in shelters around the country."

Isabel explained how overpopulation is very much not a myth and why she doesn't agree with the terms "kill" and "no kill" to describe shelters.

"I feel it creates an us vs. them narrative," she says. "I also think it's all about marketing, where the 'no kill' shelters are the heroes and the 'kill' shelters are absolutely horrible."

animal rescue, animal welfare, animal shelter, pet adoption, pet fostering 'Kill shelters' are really just open-intake shelters, which means they don't turn any animal away.Photo credit: Canva

"In reality," she continues, "kill shelters are open intake municipal shelters. This means they take in every single animal that comes to their door. They take in strays. They take in owner surrenders. They take in medical cases. They take behavioral cases. […] They are not able to say no, even when the dog has no place to go."

"No kill" shelters, she explains, are largely privately-owned shelters that are closed intake, meaning that they can pick and choose which animals they accept. They can turn animals away and control their population.

"Now, there's nothing wrong with that," Isabel says. "In fact, these privately-owned rescues and shelters are so important. But to villainize municipal shelters is just wrong. And for a 'no kill' shelter to say that overpopulation is a myth is frankly just insulting."

Isabel wants to be clear: "Just because you turn away from the problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It exists every single day, day in and day out."

animal shelter, cats, animal rescue, pet adoption, foster pets Animal shelters can easily become overpopulated.Photo credit: Canva

"I truly believe that the state of animal rescue is at a tipping point," she says. "And pitting people against each other who are all on the same side is not helpful. Shelters need rescues, rescues need shelters, everyone needs fosters, and the world needs proper, science-backed education."

People who have worked at both kinds of shelters are sharing their own experiences that corroborate what Isabel is saying:

"I’m a shelter director in the deep South & I can assure you we all dream of never having to euthanize but overpopulation is not a myth. We’re drowning."

"THIS THIS THIS TIMES A ZILLION. We are technically a 'no kill' shelter but all that means is that when we are full, we don't take more on...and guess where those animals have to go? If you care about the animals, support whichever shelter is local to you. We all need help."

"I started a nonprofit to support our local open intake, high volume shelter in Texas. The amount of hate that we get is wild when the shelter is really just dealing with a larger community problem."

stray dogs, animal shelter, animal rescue, pet adoption, foster dogs Stray animal overpopulation is a big problem in places all over the U.S.Photo credit: Canva

"As a former shelter worker, there is no such thing as a 'no kill' shelter anyways. only 'low kill' just because they don’t euthanize of space doesn’t mean they don’t euthanize."

"Spay aborts are one of the hardest decisions any rescue or shelter has to make. I’m on the board at our local animal rescue and we have previously done spay aborts and it’s always very hard for us."

"Thank you! I’ve worked at both and it’s exactly that. We had to take in every animal no matter what at the “kill” shelter whereas “no-kill” or rescues, we could just say no we’re full. And neither place takes euthanasia or saying no lightly. We want to help every animal but are given only bad choices because YES, WE ARE IN AN OVERPOPULATION CRISIS."

animal rescue, animal shelters, no kill shelter, pet adoption, foster pets Both "kill" and "no kill" shelters need support.Photo credit: Canva

"I got my beautiful baby from a kill shelter! They were about to euthanize him because of the insane amount of animals being brought in after Helene. The workers were so relieved when I got him, some even crying. They don’t want to euthanize."

The reality is that no one who cares about animals wants to euthanize them, but municipal shelters that don't turn away any animals have limits to their capacity. What's to be done when the limit is breached? What alternatives are there? Do those animals get tossed out onto the street to suffer, potentially becoming a danger to other animals and people? Is that really preferable to humane euthanasia of those unlikely to be adopted due to illness or behavioral problems when a shelter is already overpopulated and there aren't enough people to take them in? And how do we prevent overpopulation in the first place? These questions aren't easy, and people working in those shelters are the ones in the thick of it trying to figure out the best answers. Vilifying those folks is most certainly not the solution.

animal rescue, foster dog, pet adoption, animal shelter, animal welfare Animal rescues try to home as many animals as they can, but demand is greater than supply in many places.Photo credit: Canva

In addition to population control through spay and neuter efforts, what is really needed are more people to foster and adopt. If you are interested and able to care for an animal either temporarily or long-term, contact your local animal shelter or rescue. The more responsible humans we have to care for the animals in need of a home, the less we'll have to debate the terminology we use for overcrowded shelters and worry about the methods used to manage a currently unmanageable problem.

You can follow Isabel Klee on TikTok (@simonsits).

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Sustainability

Beavers were brought to the desert to save a dying river. 6 years later, here are the results.

Their engineering feats are pretty dam incredible.

Canva Photos

Can outsider beavers save this dried up river?

It's not easy being a river in the desert under the best of circumstances. The ecosystem exists in a very delicate balance, allowing water sources to thrive in the harsh conditions. These water sources in otherwise extremely dry areas are vital to the survival of unique wildlife, agriculture, and even tourism as they provide fresh drinking water for the people who live nearby.

But man-made problems like climate change, over-farming, and pollution have made a tough job even tougher in some areas. Rivers in Utah and Colorado that are part of the Colorado River Basin have been barely surviving the extremely harsh drought season. When the riverbeds get too dry, fish and other aquatic creatures die off and the wildfire risk increases dramatically.

About six years ago, one team of researchers had a fascinating idea to restore the health of some of Utah's most vulnerable rivers: Bring in the beavers.

beavers, beaver dam, animals, wildlife, ecosystem, nature, earth, sustainability, deserts, waterways, rivers, pollution, climate change Beaver in water. Photo by Svetozar Cenisev on Unsplash

In 2019, master's student Emma Doden and a team of researchers from Utah State University began a "translocation" project to bring displaced beavers to areas like Utah's Price River, in the hopes of bringing it back to life.

Why beavers? It just makes dam sense! (Sorry.)

Beaver dams restrict the flow of water in some areas of a river, creating ponds and wetlands. In drought-stricken areas, fish and other wildlife can take refuge in the ponds while the rest of the river runs dry, thus riding out the danger until it rains again.

When beavers are present in a watershed, the benefits are unbelievable: Better water quality, healthier fish populations, better nutrient availability, and fewer or less severe wildfires.

It's why beavers have earned the title of "keystone species," or any animal that has a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem around them.

Doden and her team took beavers who were captured or removed from their original homes due to being a "nuisance," interfering with infrastructure, or being in danger, and—after a short period of quarantine—were brought to the Price River.

Despite the research team's best efforts, not all the translocated beavers have survived or stayed put over the years. Some have trouble adapting to their new home and die off or are killed by predators, while others leave of their own accord.

But enough have stayed and built dams since 2019 that the team is starting to see the results of the effort. In fact, beaver projects just like this one have been going on all over the state in recent years.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

The water levels in the river are now the healthiest they've been in years. The fish are thriving. Residents of Utah are overjoyed at the results of the experiment.

A column in The Salt Lake Tribune from 2025 (six years after the beaver translocation began) writes that the revitalization of the Price River "helped save our Utah town."

"A tributary of the Colorado River, the Price River runs through downtown Helper. On a warm day, you’re likely to find the river filled with tourists and locals kayaking, tubing and fishing along its shore. A decade ago, it was hard to imagine this scene—and the thriving recreation economy that comes with it—was possible."

Of course, it wasn't JUST the beavers. Other federal water cleanup investments helped remove debris, break down old and malfunctioning dams, and place tighter regulations on agriculture grazing in the area that depleted vital plant life.

But the experts know that the beavers, and their incredible engineering work, are the real MVPs.

beavers, beaver dam, animals, wildlife, ecosystem, nature, earth, sustainability, deserts, waterways, rivers, pollution, climate change An actual beaver dam on the now-thriving Price RiverPublic Domain

In other drying, struggling rivers in the area, researchers are bringing in beavers and even creating manmade beaver dams. They're hoping that the critters will take over the job as the rivers get healthier.

Utah's San Rafael river, which is in bleak condition, is a prime candidate. In on area of the river, a natural flood inspired a host of beavers to return to the area and "riparian habitat along that stretch had increased by 230%, and it had the most diverse flow patterns of anywhere on the river," according to KUER.

It's hard to believe that beavers nearly went extinct during the heyday of the fur trapping industry, and continued to struggle as they were considered nuisances and pests. Now, they're getting the respect they deserve as engineer marvels, and their populations have rebounded due to better PR and conservation programs.

To that I say...it's about dam time!

This article originally appeared in June.

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Community

People who eat cheap and healthy share their favorite $5 meals that taste 'expensive'

"Quick, inexpensive and oh-so-tasty."

Image via Canva/golubovy

People share cheap and healthy meals under $5 that they love to eat.

If you're trying to save money on food and groceries, you should know that eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive. Making delicious meals under $5 is possible with the right ingredients and savvy grocery shopping.

People are opening up about the cheap and healthy meals they whip up for $5 or less that taste 'expensive.' Home chefs shared their favorite budget meals that boast loads of nutrition and class.

Looking to save money on food but not skimp on taste or health benefits? Try cooking one of these 20 cheap and healthy meals for $5 or less.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Peanut sauce noodles with frozen edamame, green onion, and chili oil!" - cmccagg

"Haluski - buttery egg noodles, cabbage, and onions. Add kielbasa if you get it on sale." - Troubled_Red

"Korean tuna pancakes. Some flour, one egg, a can of tuna, some soy sauce, salt and pepper, and a little of whatever else you want to put in there. Green onion, kimchi, shredded cabbage, whatever. Oil a pan and fry til crispy, dipping sauce is pretty much soy sauce and rice wine vinegar. Doesn't taste like tuna or egg. Leftover sushi rice with a little sesame oil, lots of green onion, topped with fried egg. A little gochugaru or chili crisp. Quesadilla. Whatever protein you have chopped up, and put in a tortilla with some cheese and cooked til brown. Salsa, pico, or hot sauce." - SubstantialPressure3

"Seasoned black bean, cheese, corn, tomatoes, jalapeño enchiladas." - Dijon2017

"Use lentils to bulk up ground beef. You can make meatballs (bonus that it's a good source of protein and fiber) roast some tomatoes and bell peppers then blend them into a sauce, serve with pasta." - reddituser975246

"Get a rotisserie chicken and potatoes. Make the potatoes however you like em. Make a gravy using 2tbsp butter + 2tbsp flour in a sauce pan to make a roux (watch Jacques Pepin if you want to learn how to make a roux white sauce. It's super simple and will change your cooking forever). You can then add a bouillon cube of whatever and either 1 cup water or milk or a combination. Bring to a boil until it thickens and now you have meat, potatoes, and Gravy for less than $1.50 per serving (assuming it takes you about 4 meals to eat through the rotisserie chicken thar you bought for about $5)." - greatexpectations23

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"What my kids call 'dad noodles,' which is a diced onion sautéed in butter in a large saucepan until softened, then add 1-2 crushed up chicken bouillon cubes, pinch of dried parsley and a big squeeze of lemon juice, whatever pasta you have on hand, barely cover with water and bring to a boil, cook pasta to al dente stirring frequently to continually emulsify the sauce in the butter/onion/bouillon mixture and to ensure you evenly cook pasta. By the time the pasta is cooked the water will have reduced and emulsified to a thin, glossy sauce that thickens when you plate it. Takes 15 min depending on the strength of your burner and cook time of your pasta, but super delicious and cheap. Add protein if you’ve got it, pretty much anything will work." - ODBCP

"Shakshouka, but just using whatever veggies and protein you have on hand. The tomato sauce, the peppers, and the spices are a must though." - heyitsvonage

"Baked potatoes with whatever you want! I’m partial to frying up onion, bell pepper, garlic, with spices. If you do the potatoes at 425, put some broccoli in the oven when there’s about 15 minutes left. Bacon cheese can be expensive, but sour cream is fairly cheap and you can add a bit of ground meat into the veggie satay." - Alarocky1991

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"These black bean quesadillas have been a staple in our household for years. The recipe makes 10 servings, and they're pretty filling." - taniamorse85

"Yakisoba noodles or beans/rice with a bag of frozen veggies and add whatever meat/fish/tofu." - Slight_Second1963

"White clam sauce served over pasta you have on hand. 6oz can of chopped clams, 1/4 cup olive oil, 5-6-7 generous shakes of garlic powder. You can fancify it up with wine, etc., but no need, IMHO. It is quick, inexpensive and oh so tasty." - sokosis

"Homemade pasta, gnocchi, and spaetzle. There's a learning curve and you do pay with your time, but they are delicious at a cheap price." - wharleeprof

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Frozen fish or fish on sale can be a real MVP at the grocery store for adding variety to your diet and eating healthy. Keeping in mind that you’re buying once and spreading it over 4 meals, tilapia with a tomato and bell pepper relish. 1 lb frozen tilapia fillets (tends to cost ~$5 where I am and will have about 5 fillets in the bag), 1 lb frozen bell pepper strips ($3.5), 2 lb diced tomatoes (fresh is best, romas tend to be a good balance between cost and taste, ~$2/lb). 4 fillets pan-fried with salt and pepper. The tomatoes and bell peppers diced, seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano and garlic, and baked at 425’ for 20 minutes (stir once during). Serve over rice. Total cost per serving is at most $4." - Inky_Madness

"Spaghetti Squash Lasagna - again, buy once but eat a lot. 2 spaghetti squash, cut open and roasted with some salt. Scrape insides, toss with some butter and Italian seasoning. Layer half in casserole dish with half a jar of spaghetti sauce and half a bag of shredded Italian cheese blend (you only need one bag, 8 oz total for this recipe), then layer rest of spaghetti squash and top with rest of sauce and cheese. Bake for 1 hour or until bubbly. This reliably gets me 8 generous servings and it’s $2.50 or less per serving." - Inky_Madness

"Rumbledethumps. Basically layers of mashed potatoes, grated cheddar cheese, and cabbage. Sort of a Scottish lasagna. Cook each layer separately and season each how you like then layer it all together and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or so. We figured it out at $2.50 per serving. Tip: grate your own cheese, it melts much better." - Tazz2212

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"I can get a 4 pack of small boneless pork cutlets for $2.50 at my local grocery store. I take those, dry brine them overnight, then coat them in honey, a little olive oil, paprika, pepper, and garlic powder. I air fry them at 425 for 12 ish minutes and pair them with whatever vegetables are reasonably priced that day. Usually green beans or asparagus. You could also just get a mixed bag of frozen vegetables and pop them in the air fryer or oven and season with salt and pepper." - iNeedScissorsSixty7

"Japanese cream stew. " cat_at_the_keyboard

"Toasted sourdough, goat cheese, a poached egg, and everything bagel seasoning. The runny yolk is like a sauce with the creamy goat cheese." findingcoldsassy

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Realtor's raw, emotional take on why nobody can afford a house is beautifully devastating

"Corporations should not be allowed to buy single family dwellings."

@zacharyloft/TikTok

Realtor Zachary Loft discusses why it's impossible for young people to afford a home right now.

We’ve heard plenty of people lament the fading American Dream of being able to buy a home. But hearing that lamentation from the very people who sell that dream…it hits a bit different.

Delaware-based realtor and realty coach Zachary Loft (@zacharyloft) has had a very successful, very profitable career. In a recent TikTok video, he shared that he’s been able to make upwards of $400,000 in one year, essentially erasing any worries about money.

But over the past six or so years, Loft said that, along with his success, he had a “VIP front row seat to watching the American Dream get sifted away from the working class,” causing him to become disillusioned and fill with despair.

@zacharyloft Long one. Save for later. Rant #housing ♬ original sound - Delaware Realtor Zach

Getting passionate, Loft recalled how he once encouraged and educated people on making that potentially life-changing investment of a first-time home. However, in his own research, what he continued to find were legislative measures to “undo” the average person’s ability to attain this goal.

He cited the removal of 1933’s The Glass-Steagall Act, which prohibited commercial banks to merge with investment banks and insurance companies, as well as the “shifting tax brackets” brought on by the Reagan administration, the “skyrocketing” rise of private equity and “Wallstreet landlords.”

- YouTube www.youtube.com

“I look at the infestation of institutional investors buying up and banking on asset inflation that is housing, that is shelter, keeping normal everyday people out of having a roof in exchange for billionaires having bigger accounts,” he said, blaming their “egos” and a “lust for power.”

This greed, Loft argues, lines affluent pockets all while "draining" the income opportunities for the working, middle class. All of these revelations made him “not want to sell homes anymore” by 2022.

“I think I speak for a lot of people in their mid-20s right now that feel like ‘what if I do the work and the opportunity's just not there?” Loft said quietly.

Now, even more than selling homes, he wants “change.” And this call to action stuck a chord with many, many viewers.

“We’re so close to massive class consciousness. Keep pressing,” one person urged.

Another said, “Keep getting angry and loud at the systems. We gotta change it.”

“Dude, you have me in tears here” commented a third. “Your soul level conviction, altruism, and empathy touched me. You really, truly care. You are an incredible person. Please keep this up.”

Yet another hailed Loft's words as "slam poetry," saying it was "beautiful, even if every awful, devastating part is true."

While there is certainly truth to Loft’s findings, an article from journalist Derek Thompson suggests the well known housing crisis has less to do with private equity firms and more about the lack of new single family developments due to over-regulation and restrictive zoning laws that aren't set up to meet increasing populations.

To that end, several states are trying to make single family housing development easier. California’s governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into a law some groundbreaking reforms to boost housing production and infrastructure statewide and improve affordability. Similarly, cities like Minneapolis, Arlington, and Gainesville have also reformed and/or eliminated their single-family zoning laws.

There has also been an uptick in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that focus on investing in, developing, and managing properties that are specifically designed to serve low- and middle-income families. As explained by Sortis Capital, these REITs partner with governments, nonprofits, and private developers to provide housing at below-market rents, filling a gap that traditional market-rate housing developers cannot. Heavy hitters include Community Development Trust (CDT), Housing Partnership Equity Trust (HPET), and Reven Housing REIT.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

That’s not to say this isn’t still a very real and prevalent issue, nor that we will make much headway without addressing the overarching wealth and power imbalance in our country (i.e., billionaires). But, as many pointed out, true change happens when we speak up, together.

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