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Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
'Trumpugees' fleeing U.S. for liberal Netherlands find it's taken a right turn
Liberal Americans fleeing the U.S. for the Netherlands - traditionally a bastion of progressiveness - are in for a rude awakening as the country pivots right. The so-called 'Trumpugees' looking for an alternative to Donald Trump 's rightist agenda have been looking to the European country as a haven. But the country's new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, is preparing to usher in a wave of policies more in common with the Republican administration in Washington. Despite that, GTFO Tours - an organization founded by Bethany Quinn and Jana Sanchez to help Americans relocate to the Netherlands - says it has seen a 200 per cent uptick in inquiries in recent months. 'I think a lot of Americans have sort of been waiting to see how things are going, but they just keep getting worse,' Quinn told Newsweek. The organization pointed to Trump's hardline immigration policies and anti-transgender rights stance as the driving force behind the increase. Quinn said Americans have been bracing for setbacks in social progress since Trump took office in January. She argued that Trump's slew of executive orders on his first day in office, 'reversed 60+ years of progress.' 'A lot of Americans are just looking to have a peaceful life. They just wanna live their lives and they don't want to worry about their safety. They don't wanna worry about their government collapsing,' Quinn continued. The Netherlands may seem like an obvious choice to escape the American grind, but the country's government has had its fair share of turmoil. The government's four-party coalition collapsed in June when Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, withdrew after the other three parties declined to back his immigration plan. Then in July, the Dutch parliament passed a slew of anti-immigration reforms targeted at asylum seekers. The Netherlands is also pumping the brakes on reforms for transgender citizens. A bill introduced in 2021 to make it easier for trans individuals to change their gender registration on official documents was recently withdrawn. 'This cabinet is letting transgender people down in an unprecedented way,' chair Remke Verdegem said of the decision. The wave of conservative policies mirrors the harsh immigration and anti-trans policies of the Trump administration. Grover Wehman-Brown, an American looking to move to the Netherlands, recently told Newsweek, that as a trans individual, they felt increasing fear living in the U.S. Wehman-Brown said that they experienced a 'constant threat and vigilance' growing up trans in rural Ohio, and was now starting to see those tensions again. 'I had gone to the Netherlands once 15 years ago, and I really liked the short amount of time I spent there, so I was like, "this is really a lovely place where everybody seems busy and purposeful, but cooperating well together and things are running smoothly,'" they added. Wehman-Brown isn't the only one, with a survey by the Immigration Advice Authority citing that one in four Americans were weighing emigration after Trump's 2024 win. Canada has also emerged as a leading destination for fed-up Americans to relocate. However, any refuge could be short-lived if the president makes good on his threats to turn the country into America's 51st state. Almost 500 fleeing U.S. citizens have tried to claim asylum in Canada since the billionaire's re-election. But liberals seeking refuge from Trump's America have been dealt a crushing blow after their favorite sanctuary issued a brutal crackdown. The Canadian government is bringing in emergency powers to make it easier to block applications and its border agency says the proposed overhaul is to 'protect the system.' Other popular destinations for American progressives include Portugal and Spain. Interracial lesbian couple Doris Davis and Susie Bartlett living in NYC told Reuters in May they are considering the move. 'We love this country, but we don't love what it has become. When your identity is being attacked, there is a personal sense of... anger (and) frustration,' Davis said.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Huge spike in 'Trumpugees' fleeing America... but they'll quickly regret it
As President Donald Trump 's agenda quickly accelerates to the right, many liberal Americans are looking for an exit strategy. And with its progressive culture and affordability, the Netherlands is looking increasingly attractive for so-called 'Trumpugees'. GTFO Tours, an organization founded by Bethany Quinn and Jana Sanchez to help Americans relocate to the Netherlands says it has seen a 200 percent uptick in inquiries in recent months. 'I think a lot of Americans have sort of been waiting to see how things are going, but they just keep getting worse,' Quinn told Newsweek. The organization pointed to Trump's hardline immigration policies and anti-transgender rights stance as the driving force behind the increase. However, those looking to flee to the European country may be in for a rude awakening upon arrival. The country's new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, is preparing to usher in a wave of conservativism. Schoof was elected in June as the country has pivoted hard to conservatism. Quinn said that Americans have been bracing for setbacks in social progress since Trump took office in January. She argued that Trump's slew of executive orders on his first day in office, 'reversed 60+ years of progress.' 'A lot of Americans are just looking to have a peaceful life. They just wanna live their lives and they don't want to worry about their safety. They don't wanna worry about their government collapsing,' Quinn continued. The Netherlands may seem like an obvious choice to escape the American grind, but the country's government has had its fair share of turmoil. The government's four-party coalition collapsed in June when Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, withdrew after the other three parties declined to back his immigration plan. Then in July, the Dutch parliament passed a slew of anti-immigration reforms targeted at asylum seekers. The Netherlands is also pumping the brakes on reforms for transgender citizens. A bill introduced in 2021 to make it easier for trans individuals to change their gender registration on official documents was recently withdrawn. 'This cabinet is letting transgender people down in an unprecedented way,' chair Remke Verdegem said of the decision. The wave of conservative policies mirrors the harsh immigration and anti-trans policies of the Trump administration. Grover Wehman-Brown, an American looking to move to the Netherlands, recently told Newsweek, that as a trans individual, they felt increasing fear living in the US. Wehman-Brown said that they experienced a 'constant threat and vigilance' growing up trans in rural Ohio, and was now starting to see those tensions again. 'I had gone to the Netherlands once 15 years ago, and I really liked the short amount of time I spent there, so I was like, "this is really a lovely place where everybody seems busy and purposeful, but cooperating well together and things are running smoothly,'" they added. Wehman-Brown isn't the only one, with a survey by the Immigration Advice Authority citing that one in four Americans were weighing emigration after Trump's 2024 win. Canada has also emerged as a leading destination for fed-up Americans to relocate. However, any refuge could be short lived if the president makes good on his threats to turn the country into America's 51st state. Almost 500 fleeing US citizens have tried to claim asylum in Canada since the billionaire's re-election. But liberals seeking refuge from Trump's America have been dealt a crushing blow after their favorite sanctuary issued a brutal crackdown. The Canadian government is bringing in emergency powers to make it easier to block applications and its border agency says the proposed overhaul is to 'protect the system.' Other popular destinations for American progressives include Portugal and Spain. Interracial lesbian couple Doris Davis and Susie Bartlett living in NYC told Reuters in May they are considering the move. 'We love this country, but we don't love what it has become. When your identity is being attacked, there is a personal sense of... anger (and) frustration,' Davis said.
Fast Company
18-06-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
The hidden cost of unpaid care work
Caregiving is the invisible cornerstone of our economy—and it's in crisis. Recent data from Pivotal, an organization founded by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress, reveals staggering statistics: 67% of caregivers face personal financial strain due to caregiving responsibilities, often accruing credit card debt. 82% of voters agree that policymakers should prioritize investments to ease caregiving for families. 65% of caregivers report that caregiving benefits would influence their job decisions. Unpaid caregivers—those who leave paid work or drastically reduce their hours to care for loved ones—often shoulder immense responsibilities with little to no institutional support. Recent data suggests that 44.58 million caregivers in the U.S. perform the equivalent of an estimated $873.5 billion worth of labor each year. With that much money at stake, this is far more than a personal issue; it's a structural challenge impacting our economy, workforce, and well-being. At Catapult Design, we see caregiving as more than a policy challenge; it's an opportunity for design innovation. By centering on caregivers' lived experiences, we can design inclusive solutions that ease their burdens and restore dignity to this vital, yet often-invisible labor force. Unpaid care work, including childcare, elder care, and household management, contributes an estimated $10 trillion annually to the global economy. However, that staggering number isn't reflected in GDP calculations. Many caregivers, predominantly women, often give up paid employment, career advancement, and financial independence, creating cascading impacts on their mental and physical health—particularly when caregiving responsibilities include supporting individuals with significant health challenges. This isn't just a policy issue. It's a systemic challenge with far-reaching implications for economic stability, workforce resilience, and social equity. Caregivers need human-centered solutions At Catapult Design, we believe caregiving requires not only policy reform, but also innovative, systemic solutions. Human-centered design (HCD) offers a way to reimagine caregiving by centering the real needs of caregivers. HCD is a collaborative, empathetic approach to problem-solving. It prioritizes listening to and learning from the people most impacted—in this case, caregivers. By understanding their lived experiences, we can create practical, inclusive, and scalable solutions that not only address immediate challenges, but also support long-term equity and dignity. In a recent project, Catapult Design addressed two issues caregiver often face—burnout and financial instability. Through deep engagement and co-creation, we identified solutions ranging from improved operational tools to peer-support networks. Small changes like these had a significant impact, reducing stress and increasing retention. The findings of this project underscore a key principle: Caregivers must be active participants in designing a world that works for them. Their insights are essential to creating systems and tools that reflect their realities and aspirations. 3 ways to address the caregiving crisis For employers, policymakers, and community leaders, recognizing and supporting caregivers is both an ethical and economic imperative. Insights from our work at Catapult Design highlight three ways HCD can address the caregiving crisis: Make caregiving visible. In our projects, we've seen how platforms that share caregivers' stories can help elevate their contributions and shift societal perceptions. Amplifying these voices encourages recognition and investment in support systems. Reduce barriers. Our work has shown that even small interventions—like improved scheduling tools or accessible financial support systems—can reduce stress and make caregiving more manageable. Foster collaboration. By involving caregivers directly in design processes, we ensure that solutions are tailored to their real needs and have community buy-in, which leads to more sustainable and impactful outcomes. Moving Forward Caregiving isn't just a personal challenge—it's a societal one, deeply tied to economic stability and equity. By focusing on the real needs of caregivers, HCD can help create innovative, inclusive, and dignified solutions that alleviate burdens and recognize caregiving as a critical component of our economy and society.
Al Bawaba
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Jose Mujica, ex-Uruguayan president, dies at 89
BOGOTA, Colombia - Uruguay's former President Jose 'Pepe' Mujica, known for his humble lifestyle and socially progressive administration, has died at the age of 89. Mujica had been diagnosed with cancer and had entered the terminal phase of his illness in recent weeks. His death was announced Tuesday by Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi. "With deep pain, we announce that our comrade Pepe Mujica has passed away," Orsi said on X. "President, activist, a guiding figure, and a driving force. We are going to miss you, dear old man. Thank you for everything you taught us and for your profound love for your people." Born on May 20, 1935, Mujica co-founded the Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional-Tupamaros (MLN-T) in the 1960s, an urban guerrilla group influenced by the Cuban revolution. Captured in 1970, he escaped and was subsequently arrested in 1972 and remained imprisoned until 1985. Mujica endured 13 years in prison, where he was tortured and survived inhumane conditions, including prolonged periods of isolation in bunkers or cages. He was freed under an amnesty granted in 1985 coinciding with the end of Uruguay's military regime. Before becoming president, Mujica served as a deputy and senator, and in 2005, he was appointed Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries in the first government of the Frente Amplio, Uruguay's leftist coalition. During his presidential term from 2010 to 2015, the Uruguayan economy achieved an average annual growth rate of 5.4%, poverty levels declined, and unemployment remained low. Upon leaving office, Mujica enjoyed a high level of domestic popularity, approaching 70% in the small country of more than 3 million people. Beyond Uruguay's borders, 'Pepe' Mujica garnered significant international recognition, becoming an emblem of unconventional leadership and humility. He was globally renowned not just for his past as a guerrilla fighter or for his progressive policies, which included legalizing abortion, marijuana and same-sex marriage, as well as the resettlement of war refugees from Afghanistan, but also became known for his strikingly austere lifestyle and his incisive critiques of consumerism and global inequality. Throughout his presidency, he famously chose not to reside in the presidential mansion, breaking with the tradition of his predecessors. Instead, he continued to live with his wife, Lucía Topolansky—a fellow politician and former guerrilla member—in their modest home on the outskirts of Montevideo. Known for his informal attire and minimal security detail, Mujica famously continued to drive his sky-blue 1987 Volkswagen Beetle and donated a significant portion of his presidential salary to charities that benefited poor people and small entrepreneurs. Mujica's death has been met with widespread tributes and condolences from across Uruguay and the international community.
