A Resource Guide for Real Zetas

The news cycle is filled with information and misinformation. Someone recently compared keeping up with all the things to catching confetti. So Real Zetas will help you stay informed given the current state of ... well, everything! Here is a list of sources that can help you make sense of what's happening in the world.

What's Being Decided in the Courts?

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Interested in any (or all) of the court cases being filed in response to executive action in the last month? This Litigation Tracker from JustSecurity.org will help you stay on top of the cases.

If you are a subscriber to the New York Times, you can follow their coverage of the various lawsuits filed here

What Are Our Elected Officials Doing?

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If you are interested in seeing what your U.S. Representative is up to, visit their website and subscribe to their email updates here. Some representatives have been hosting in-person town halls and tele-town halls. This is a great way to stay informed at a local level.

You can also see what's happening in various U.S. House Committees. For example, "The House Appropriations Committee recently examined how American schools and businesses support career preparation and student workplace success. Led by LHHS Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), members investigated how to best use federal resources to prepare American students and job seekers for career success."

You can also view a committee's calendar and receive notifications on upcoming hearings that are of interest to you like the Federal Investments in Elementary Education hearing on February 26, 2025.

If you would like to see what your U.S. Senator is doing to represent your interests, visit the U.S. Senate website. In the top left corner, you will see a Find Your Senators Search Bar.

You may want to check out the committees to see if your senator serves on a committee focused on an issue you are concerned about.

What's in all the Executive Orders?

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You can read a comprehensive listing all the executive orders made this year via the Federal Register

Pro Tip: Don't want to read the orders, you can download the Adobe PDF and use the read aloud function if you are trying to multitask.

Can I just listen to a podcast?

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Actually, you can. This brief list is focused on people providing accessible analysis of what is happening. Feel free to share your podcast favorites in the comments.

Native Land Podcast featuring Angela Rye, Andrew Gilliam, and Tiffany Cross

The Bulwark Podcast on Spotify

CNN 5 Things and NPR News Now

Provide a brief rundown of the latest news multiple times a day

What might all this mean?

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We are living in an era of uncertainty and confusion. We don't know how things will look in the long term. But in the short term it means we have to stay engaged by any means necessary. During these moments, clear information and the relentless pursuit of truth are tools that will empower us to make decisions and take action to protect American democracy. We must be guided by our values and honor our commitments to our ancestors and descendants. Hopefully these resources will enrich our day to day dialogue and increase our capacity to evoke positive change in the world.

If you are looking for affirmation, a safe place to process everything that's happening, or simply want to connect with like-minded individuals, the RZ community may be the place for you.

We hope this is helpful for anyone looking for information during this time. Please feel free to share your reliable resources in the comments.

Sincerely,

Team RZ

Always Finer, Always Real

The Danger of Executive Overreach: Why We Must Pay Attention

The information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any specific questions or concerns you may have. The author(s) of this blog are not liable for any damages or losses arising from the use of information contained herein. This post represents the author's personal opinions and may not reflect all perspectives. 

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Let’s start with what executive orders are and what they are supposed to be.

An executive order is a directive from the president that carries the force of law without needing Congress to pass anything.

They’re rooted in the Constitution, specifically Article II, which gives the president the authority to ensure that laws are “faithfully executed.” Sounds reasonable, right?

But just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical—or safe when unchecked.

Executive orders have historically been used to handle urgent matters.

Some have changed history for the better, like Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Others, like the orders authorizing Japanese internment camps during World War II, remind us of how much harm they can do when abused.

Presidents use them to bypass gridlocked Congress, which is part of the problem. They were never intended to give one person unilateral control over the direction of an entire nation.

How Many Is Too Many? The Numbers Don’t Lie

The use of executive orders varies wildly from president to president:

• Franklin D. Roosevelt issued over 3,700 during his four terms.

• Recent presidents are more modest by comparison. Obama issued 276 in two terms, Trump signed 220 in one term, and Biden surpassed 100 within his first two years.

It’s not just about the number; it’s about the scope. Some presidents issue executive orders to address emergency situations or implement policies already authorized by law.

But others use them to circumvent Congress and consolidate power. When that happens, we’re stepping into dangerous territory.

President Term(s) in Office Total Executive Orders Average per Year

Jimmy Carter

1977–1981

320

80

Ronald Reagan

1981–1989

381

47.6

George H. W. Bush

1989–1993

166

41.5

Bill Clinton

1993–2001

364

45.5

George W. Bush

2001–2009

291

36.4

Barack Obama

2009–2017

276

34.5

Right now, Trump has signed close to 300 Executive Orders in less than ONE WEEK in office!!!!! Mismanagement MUCH?

The Law and Its Fragility: Who’s Watching the Watchmen with Executive Orders?

By design, there are supposed to be checks and balances. Congress can create laws that counteract executive orders, and the Supreme Court can strike them down if they’re unconstitutional.

That’s how it’s supposed to work. But what happens when those very institutions are stacked in favor of one party or agenda?

What happens when the system that’s supposed to hold the president accountable is compromised by people who share the same ideology—or worse, owe their loyalty to him?

Let’s be real: if the House, Senate, and Supreme Court are all aligned with the president, the chances of someone stepping in to check their power become slim to none.

And if those institutions are filled with people who owe their positions to money, blackmail, or political favors, then it’s game over.

The Constitution becomes a decorative piece of parchment while the real decisions are made behind closed doors.

The Corruption Pipeline: Money, Power, and Outside Agendas

Here’s the ugly truth: executive orders don’t just reflect the will of the president. They reflect the will of the people and groups who put him there.

Political campaigns don’t fund themselves, and we’re living in an era where billionaires, corporations, and lobbying groups pour obscene amounts of money into elections. In 2020 alone, federal election spending hit $14.4 billion.

You don’t spend that kind of money without expecting something in return.

This is why it’s hard to trust what we’re seeing.

A president issuing controversial or reckless executive orders isn’t always acting alone. He’s signing the orders, but someone else is buying them.

Whether it’s deregulating industries, stacking courts, or bending immigration laws to fit an agenda, the orders are often just the final step in a larger plan. That plan doesn’t benefit us—the people. It benefits the powerful.

What’s Happening with Trumps’ Executive Orders  Isn’t Random—It’s Calculated

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room. What’s happening with Trump and his use of executive orders isn’t just reckless; it’s deliberate.

This isn’t a case of one man gone rogue—it’s a network of people and interests using him as a tool to push their agendas.

The fact that no one is stopping him speaks volumes. Whether they’re afraid of retaliation, beholden to his financial power, or simply complicit, they’re letting this happen because it benefits them.

Think about it: how do you hold someone accountable when they’ve stacked the deck? When the courts reflect his ideology, when Congress is silent, and when even the enforcers of the law are replaced with his loyalists?

The system wasn’t designed for this level of corruption, which is why it’s struggling to contain it now.

What’s at Stake with ALL of these Executive Orders? Everything

This is bigger than any one president. The abuse of executive orders is a symptom of a deeper problem: the erosion of democracy itself.

When a president can act unchecked, especially with external forces pulling the strings, the entire system collapses.

And let’s be honest, there’s nothing accidental about this. People knew Trump would play fast and loose with the law.

That’s exactly why they wanted him in.

They knew he’d break the rules, and they bet on the fact that we’d be too distracted, divided, or disillusioned to stop him.

Where Do We Go from Here?

This is a call to action, plain and simple. We need transparency in government, stronger campaign finance laws, and leaders who will stand up for the Constitution—not their own agendas.

Those who stole this land didn’t create a perfect system, but they gave us one that could work if we defended it.

Right now, that system is being tested, and the outcome depends on whether we, the people, demand accountability.

Because if we don’t, who will?