Browse articles by month.
3227 articles
Neal Katyal, a lawyer for clients involved in the Supreme Court case against Trump's tariffs, stated that the federal government should refund the money collected illegally, with interest. The Supreme Court recently struck down Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, ruling it unconstitutional, and Katyal emphasized that tariff decisions should be made by Congress, not the president.
A report by Cyabra claims that approximately 33% of engagement with Nicki Minaj's political posts on X last fall was likely generated by fake accounts, with about 19,000 of over 55,000 involved being inauthentic. The report suggests these accounts were part of a coordinated campaign to amplify Minaj's political support, employing uniform language and mimicking organic behavior, and possibly overlapping with right-wing groups like Turning Point USA. Minaj's representatives deny any use of bots, asserting her genuine popularity, and the report indicates the campaign's primary aim was to create the appearance of broad support rather than ideological promotion.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Caribbean leaders in Saint Kitts and Nevis to discuss regional security, migration, and drug trafficking, as the U.S. increases pressure on Cuba and Venezuela. The discussions aimed to enhance stability, economic growth, health, and energy security within the Caribbean Community, with Rubio emphasizing U.S. efforts to influence Venezuela's leadership and restrict oil shipments to Cuba amidst ongoing regional tensions.
Malawi has launched a mass vaccination campaign against polio following its first outbreak in years, vaccinating 1.3 million children in four days with emergency supplies provided by the WHO. The outbreak is part of a broader global challenge, with misinformation, social media influence, and funding shortfalls, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan, hindering eradication efforts. Community engagement and trust-building are crucial for successful vaccination, while Malawi continues to respond despite aid cuts and economic challenges.
Federal judges are increasingly ruling in favor of ICE detainees in Greene County, ordering bond hearings or release for individuals with no criminal records and long-term residence in the U.S., such as Keqiang Fu and Tatiana Lozhkina. These rulings reflect a broader national trend, with detainees having their cases heard despite opposition from federal administration officials, and highlight ongoing legal challenges related to detainee rights and bond hearing procedures. The Greene County Jail, which houses up to 300 ICE detainees daily under contract, is at the center of these legal developments.
The U.S. has ordered nonessential diplomats and their families to leave the U.S. Embassy in Beirut amid rising tensions with Iran, with ongoing assessments deeming the security environment risky. The move is temporary, and the embassy remains operational; such departures often signal potential U.S. or Israeli military actions in the region. Tensions have increased due to Iran's nuclear program negotiations and the U.S. military build-up in the Middle East.
Nicole Shanahan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s former running mate, is serving as an executive producer on a crowdfunded satirical film titled *The Rash*, which satirizes COVID-19 policies and features a character inspired by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. The project is supported by the Brownstone Institute and is written by novelist Walter Kirn, with a budget of nearly $6 million. The film aims to critique pandemic-related fears and policies through comedy, with financing and production efforts involving prominent libertarian and COVID skeptic perspectives.
The first-ever march for young workers was held in Washington, D.C., organized by federal workers and the Young Organizing Unionists for the Next Generation (Y.O.U.N.G.), to demand improvements such as raising the federal minimum wage, affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, and stronger union rights. The march responded to ongoing attacks on federal workers' rights, including efforts to weaken collective bargaining and retaliate against whistleblowers, especially under the Trump administration. Participants emphasized the need for a multigenerational movement to address economic inequality, worker protections, and broader labor issues across the U.S.
Mark Hodges, creator of the ICE-monitoring app Eyes Up, is suing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for pressuring Apple and Meta to remove channels related to ICE monitoring. The lawsuit, supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, cites government overreach in attempting to suppress citizen-verified recordings of immigration enforcement activities. Eyes Up, which allows users to submit and view footage of immigration enforcement, is protected by the First Amendment and aims to promote government accountability through documented evidence. Despite challenges, the app remains accessible via its website and Google Play Store, with increased usage following the lawsuit.
British police arrested former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his alleged passing of sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein over a decade ago. The investigation follows the release of Epstein-related documents revealing Mandelson's close ties to Epstein, whom he called "my best pal," and suggests he may have shared government details in 2009. Mandelson, who does not face sexual misconduct charges, was questioned and could be held for up to 96 hours as police continue their inquiry.
Dr. Peter Attia has stepped down as a CBS News contributor following the release of correspondence between him and Jeffrey Epstein in the Epstein Files. CBS decided to sever ties after embarrassing email exchanges were made public, despite Attia's assertion that he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. The emails, many from the mid-2010s, were part of a broader scrutiny of individuals with connections to Epstein, and Attia expressed regret for his part in the communication.
The Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision, struck down President Trump's use of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that tariffs are not authorized by the law. The decision highlighted concerns about executive overreach and the legal limits on presidential power, with the majority opinion emphasizing that tariffs are a form of taxation, which Congress must approve. Despite the ruling, Trump announced new tariffs and raised existing rates, and the case's complex opinions reveal ongoing disagreements over the scope of executive authority and the application of the major-questions doctrine. The decision also leaves unresolved issues regarding tariffs' revenue and refunds, with a fractured court opinion reflecting broader debates over presidential powers.