Someone had to say it

This week’s news came with plenty of water, way too many zeros, and just enough ego to make you shake your head. From citizens rising up against corruption in the middle of disasters, to Trump putting a six-figure price tag on visas, to people here at home rooting for the government to fail just so they can be right, it’s a reminder that whether it’s floods or politics, the real damage often comes from human hands, not nature.

Drowning in Mismanagement

Protestors in Manila flooded the streets this week, enraged by the government’s alleged mismanagement of flood-control projects. More than a dozen arrests later, the fury hasn’t cooled; it’s only grown.

This is something we’ve seen before in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka: flood disasters, yes, but also corruption, broken promises, and infrastructure that fails just when people need it most. In those places, people didn’t just rage online; they marched, demanded accountability, and overthrew complacent leaders. Manila might be next.

Because falling rain shouldn’t feel like falling justice.

Last Word: The water rises, the anger simmers, and one day the damned might just break the dam.

The $100,000 Visa Dream

The Trump administration just slapped a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, essentially turning the “land of opportunity” into the land of “can you afford it?” The program, long used to bring highly skilled workers into the U.S., is now priced like a luxury handbag.

Sure, the White House says it won’t affect current visa holders, only future applicants in the 2026 lottery. This isn’t just policy, it’s gatekeeping dressed up as patriotism. The people who’d fuel tech, medicine, and research in America are being told their brains are welcome, but only if their bank accounts match.

And for countries like India, Sri Lanka, and the rest of South Asia - where the H-1B has been a rare ticket to opportunity - this feels like yet another door being slammed shut. The pipeline of talent that once reshaped Silicon Valley now risks becoming a trickle.

Last Word: The American dream has always been expensive, but now, it comes with an actual price tag.

Politics Isn’t a Game, It’s Your Life

Some of you act like politics is a sport, and losing an election means sitting back and hoping the other side collapses so you can scream, “I told you so.” The ego is massive, but the common sense? Non-existent.

Here’s the reality check: when the government fails, the country fails. And when the country fails, it’s not the politicians who pay the price first, it’s us. Our wallets get thinner, our bills get heavier, our opportunities shrink.

Nobody’s saying you have to worship the government or “ride” for them. But progress demands maturity. Celebrate the wins, even if it’s not “your” party. Hold them accountable when they mess up. That balance is the only way we move forward. Because sabotaging the government for bragging rights is basically sabotaging yourself.

Last Word: Opposition is vital. Self-sabotage is foolish.

Until next week, stay aware, stay grounded, and remember: when the country sinks, we all sink with it.

– Rihaab