A Check on Washington: Not a Caribbean Reprieve — Issue 01 source record

Public institutional records and attributed research

Democrats have won both chambers of Congress, although some election results remain unresolved. For the Caribbean, the opening is real—but tariffs, deportations and coercive foreign policy will not disappear with a change of congressional leadership.

Compiled 14 November 2026

Key extracts & findings

SOURCE 1

Reuters — Democrats flex congressional majorities as Trump accepts electoral losses, 4 November 2026

Source extract: “Democrats also gained at least 30 seats in the House of Representatives.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/5f374b32b07b/legal/government/democrats-seize-congress-sweeping-midterm-repudiation-trump-2026-11-04/

SOURCE 2

Reuters Graphics — US midterm results in maps and charts, accessed 14 November 2026

Source extract: “Democrats have won a total of 254 seats and Republicans have won 167 seats.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/graphics/US-ELECTIONS/GRAPHICS-BLOG/akpelkldzvr/

SOURCE 3

NPR — Democrat Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate race, 11 November 2026

Source extract: “His victory expands the majority Democrats will have in the new Congress to 55 seats, with the race in Alaska still undecided.” Public record: https://www.npr.org/2026/11/11/g-s1-151688/mississippi-senate-race-scott-colom

SOURCE 4

Reuters — After midterm sweep, Democrats split over Trump, cost-cutting agenda, 14 November 2026

Source extract: “Democrats meet in Denver after midterm landslide” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/us/after-midterm-sweep-democrats-split-over-trump-cost-cutting-agenda-2026-11-14/

SOURCE 5

Reuters — Midterms upended Congress but Trump still commands foreign policy, 5 November 2026

Source extract: “Democrats’ main tools could be investigations, Trump nominees’ confirmation hearings and funding authority to curb his foreign operations, but analysts say their leverage will be limited.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/us/midterms-upended-congress-trump-still-commands-foreign-policy-2026-11-05/

SOURCE 6

Reuters — US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s global tariffs, 20 February 2026

Source extract: “The justices upheld a lower court’s decision that Trump’s use of this 1977 law exceeded his authority.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/legal/government/us-supreme-court-rejects-trumps-global-tariffs-2026-02-20/

SOURCE 7

Reuters — Trump pivots to new 10% global tariff, new probes after Supreme Court setback, 20 February 2026

Source extract: “After 150 days, Congress would need to approve their extension.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/china/trump-orders-temporary-10-global-tariff-replace-duties-struck-down-by-us-supreme-2026-02-20/

SOURCE 8

The White House — Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, 16 December 2025

Source extract: “These restrictions distinguish between, but apply to both, the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants.” Public record: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/

SOURCE 9

Reuters — Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for Haitians and Syrians, 25 June 2026

Source extract: “The United States first provided TPS to Haitians after a major earthquake in 2010 and to Syrians after their country descended into civil war in 2012.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/supreme-court-lets-trump-end-deportation-protections-syrians-haitians-2026-06-25/

SOURCE 10

Internal Revenue Service — Proposed regulations on the new remittance transfer tax, 10 April 2026

Source extract: “Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, a 1% remittance transfer tax applies to remittances sent from the United States to recipients in foreign countries when the sender provides cash, a money order, a cashier’s check, or other similar physical instrument to the remittance transfer provider.” Public record: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-proposed-regulations-on-the-new-remittance-transfer-tax-established-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill

SOURCE 11

Reuters — As USAID stops foreign aid, Rubio says future US assistance will be limited, 1 July 2025

Source extract: “The cutbacks have effectively shut down USAID, leading to the firing of thousands of its employees and contractors.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/legal/government/usaid-stops-foreign-aid-rubio-says-future-us-assistance-will-be-limited-2025-07-01/

SOURCE 12

Reuters — US imposes sanctions on Cuban military conglomerate, mining joint venture, 7 May 2026

Source extract: “Sherritt said in a statement on its website on Thursday that it had suspended its direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba, effective immediately.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/us/us-issues-new-cuba-related-sanctions-treasury-department-website-shows-2026-05-07/

SOURCE 13

Reuters — US lifts some Venezuela sanctions to ease oil sales, 29 January 2026

Source extract: “Broad US license eases some sanctions on Venezuelan oil” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/business/energy/us-eases-sanctions-venezuelan-oil-industry-2026-01-29/

SOURCE 14

Reuters — US Senate advances measure curbing Trump’s Venezuela war powers, 8 January 2026

Source extract: “However, the resolution faces steep hurdles before going into effect.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/americas/us-senate-vote-reining-trump-venezuela-2026-01-08/

SOURCE 15

Reuters — US Senate narrowly blocks effort to rein in Trump’s Venezuela war powers, 14 January 2026

Source extract: “Wednesday’s vote demonstrated Trump’s hold over his party.” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/us/us-senate-blocks-effort-rein-trumps-venezuela-war-powers-2026-01-14/

SOURCE 16

Reuters — Rubio urges Caribbean leaders to cooperate on gangs as Cuba worries grow, 25 February 2026

Source extract: “Jamaica’s PM calls for dialogue between Cuba and US” Public record: https://www.reuters.com/3fec1b0a85a0/world/us/rubio-begins-talks-with-caribbean-leaders-amid-cuba-worries-2026-02-25/

Short source extracts retain third-party ownership. Institutional descriptions and dated announcements are not independent outcome evaluations. Some restricted pages were inspected through indexed text; no interviews or field visits are claimed.