Trump, Tantrums, and Taking Rights: A Neurodivergent’s Guide to Surviving Week One

In the latest installment of "Femme on the Spectrum," hosted by Elizabeth, the podcast explores the turbulent developments related to President Trump's administration and their impact on the neurodivergent community. Elizabeth delves into discussions about the President's perceived constitutional violations, the implications for the neurodivergent community and how to survive amidst the chaos. She unpacks the overwhelming constant news barrage and its psychological effects on neurodivergent individuals, the potential healthcare implications of the dismantling the Affordable Care Act, and environmental degradation. Elizabeth also provides guidance on fighting back through self-care routines, lending support to disability rights organizations, raising voices towards representatives, contributing unique abilities, and banding together as a community.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Step into a world where being neurodivergent is celebrated and
the conversations are as real as they are eye opening.
Welcome to Femme on the spectrum where autism, ADHD and
life's biggest issues collide in the most empowering way. I'm Elizabeth,
your host and high functioning AODHD queen. Today we've got

(00:26):
a lot on our plate and it's going to be
a wild ride. We're diving into the constitutional chaos of
the Trump administration two point zero, exploring how all this
madness impacts our neurodivergent communities and sharing tips on how
to survive and fight back. So buckle up, my beautiful brains,

(00:48):
because we're in for an enlightening and hopefully humorous journey. Okay,
so let's start with the big question. Is Trump breaking
constitutional law? Short answer? Yes, long answer? Oh honey, Let
me grab my highlighters and my copy of the Constitution, which,

(01:11):
by the way, is looking more like a coloring book
at this point. First up, we've got the first Amendment,
you know, the one that says we have freedom of speech, press,
and assembly. But apparently Trump missed that day in Civics
class because he's been threatening to shut down media outlets
that criticize him. Like, sir, this isn't the apprentice. You

(01:34):
can't just fire the free press. Then there's the fourteenth Amendment,
which guarantees equal protection under the law. But guess what
Trump's been pushing policies that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including
disabled folks. And let's be real, neurodivergent people are already
fighting for basic accommodations. The last thing we need is

(01:56):
a president who thinks ADA compliance is optional. Oh and
don't even get me started on the emolument's clause. This
man is out here profiting off his presidency like it's
a side hustle. It's giving multi level marketing scheme and
I'm not here for it. Stay tuned, because up next,
we're diving deeper into how all this chaos uniquely impacts

(02:18):
our neurodivergent community and what we can do to fight back. Remember,
if we don't laugh, we'll cry, and spoiler alert, I've
already cried twice this week. All right, my beautiful brains,
let's talk about how all this chaotic news is hitting
us neurodivergent folks specifically. Spoiler alert it's not great. First,

(02:40):
there's the constant barrage of news. For those of us
with AIDHD or really any neurodivergent wiring, the twenty four
to seven news cycle is like being trapped in a
room with a broken fire alarm. It's loud, it's overwhelming,
and it won't stop. We're constantly bombarded with updates and
breaking news, and it's exhausting. When the news is this chaotic,

(03:05):
it's hard to focus on anything else. Like I tried
to fold laundry yesterday and ended up hyper fixating on
whether Trump's tweets count as presidential records, and spoiler, they do,
but good luck getting him to admit it. Next up,
let's talk healthcare. Trump's been all about dismantling the Affordable
Care Act, and that's a huge deal for us. For

(03:28):
neurodivergent people, access to therapy, medication, and accommodations is literally
life changing. Without it, we're left to navigate a world
that's already stacked against us. And let's be real, we're
not exactly drowning in spoons over here. And the environment.
Don't even get me started on the environment. Trump's rolling

(03:50):
back environmental protections like it's a Black Friday sale. For
those of us with sensory sensitivities, pollution and climate change
aren't just abstract concepts. They're a full blown sensory nightmare,
like can we not have clean air and water? Is
that too much to ask? All of this together creates

(04:10):
a perfect storm of sensory overload and stress, making it
even tougher for us to manage daily life. But hey,
if you need to take a break and binge watch
Bluey instead, I'm right there with you. Sometimes self care
looks a lot like cartoon puppies. Stay tuned because coming
up next, we're diving into how to survive all this

(04:32):
madness and even fight back because we might be a
little frazzled, but we're also fabulously resilient. All right, my
fabulous fighters, we've delved into the chaos. But now let's
shift gears and focus on how to survive and even
fight back against this roller coaster of a reality. Trust me,

(04:53):
you've got more power and resilience than you might think.
First things first, self care is your frontline defense. If
the news is too much, and let's be real, it's
always too much, step away. It's okay to mute Trump's
tweets and instead dive into a binge watch of Bluey
or whatever sparks joy. Self care isn't selfish, it's survival.

(05:17):
Remember it's perfectly fine to take breaks and recharge your
mental batteries. Next, let's talk about getting involved. Yes, you
can make a difference. Call your representatives and let them
know where you stand. Your voice matters. Join protests if
you're up for it, and lend your support to organizations
that are fighting for disability rights and social justice. Every

(05:41):
bit of involvement counts, no matter how small it might seem.
And here's a crucial piece of advice. Use your neurodivergent
strengths to contribute, whether it's through research, art, or organizing.
Your unique abilities are needed. Maybe you have an extraordinary
way of seeing patterns and solutions. That's a superpower right there.

(06:02):
Share your talents in ways that are meaningful to you
and can help the cause. Lastly, remember that you're not alone.
We've got each other's backs in this crazy ride. The
neurodivergent community is a vibrant, strong and supportive network. Lean
on each other for support, share your experiences and uplift

(06:23):
one another. We're in this together, and together we can
make a difference. So rally your strength, beautiful brains, take
action in whatever way suits you best. Whether it's tuning
out the noise for a while, making a call, or
using your unique talents, you have the power to push
back and maintain your well being. All right, my beautiful brains.

(06:45):
That's it for this episode of Femme on the Spectrum.
Remember you're not just surviving, you're thriving, and if anyone
tries to tell you otherwise, just channel your inner Max
and tell them to take a snack break. Thanks. Thanks
for hanging out with me Elizabeth on this wild ride.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and most importantly,

(07:07):
share this episode with your friends. The more the merrier.
Until next time, stay weird, stay wonderful, and stay loud. Bye.