News

Summary

Orthodox Jewish passenger Yisroel Liebb filed a federal lawsuit claiming a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom during a January 2024 flight from Tulum to Houston, exposing his genitalia to passengers.

Liebb said he was experiencing constipation and had been in the bathroom for about 30 minutes when the pilot broke the lock and dragged him out.

After landing, Customs and Border Protection officers detained Liebb and another passenger, allegedly making derogatory remarks about their religion.

United Airlines and CBP declined to comment.

FBI agents are working around the clock – some in 12-hour overnight shifts – on a frenzied mission this week.

The president, who is also now the board chair for the Kennedy Center, convened a meeting of said board on Monday. In a recording of the meeting shared with The Washington Post, Trump and members said they’d like to see “Camelot,” “Cats,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “The Phantom of the Opera” featured at the Kennedy Center. Speaking with reporters, Trump said, “We’re going to get some very good shows.”

There are a number of practical problems with this wish list, the first of which is that none of those musicals are touring in North America.

Federal agents who usually hunt down child abusers are now cracking down on immigrants who live in the U.S. illegally.

Homeland Security investigators who specialize in money laundering are raiding restaurants and other small businesses looking for immigrants who aren’t authorized to work.

Agents who pursue drug traffickers and tax fraud are being reassigned to enforce immigration law.

This account of Trump’s push to reorganize federal law enforcement – the most significant since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks – is based on interviews with more than 20 current and former federal agents, attorneys and other federal officials. Most had first-hand knowledge of the changes. Nearly all spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss their work.

In response, the department has scrambled to restore a handful of those posts as their removals have come to light. While the pages of some well-known veterans, including baseball and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson, are now back up on Pentagon websites, officials warn that many posts tagged for removal in error may be gone forever.

The restoration process has been so hit or miss that even groups that the administration has said are protected, like the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military pilots who served in a segregated World War II unit, still have deleted pages that as of Saturday had not been restored.

This past week chief, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a video that mistaken removals will be quickly rectified. “History is not DEI,” he said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion.

COPENHAGEN (AP) — The Danish foreign ministry has changed its U.S. travel advisory for transgender people, following other European countries such as Germany and Finland who suggest they may face difficulties when trying to enter the United States.

Gunshot victims ranging in age from 16 to 36 were sent to all three local hospitals, as well as to University Medical Center of El Paso, the regional trauma center, according to police and hospital officials. Of six patients who arrived at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces by ambulance and private car, five were sent to El Paso, said marketing and communications director Andrew Cummins.

Those who died were two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy, police said. Their names and those of other victims were not yet being released.

Police were asking for bystanders to share videos and other tips as they continued to seek a suspect or suspects in the attack, which occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday in the city’s Young Park, a music and recreation venue. A news conference was scheduled for later Saturday.

Summary

Michigan farmer Rebecca Carlson, a longtime Trump supporter, faces bankruptcy as Trump’s funding freezes stall a $400,000 USDA grant for hiring temporary workers.

Carlson, who hoped Trump’s second term would revive her struggling cherry farm, already spent $200,000 preparing for labor under the H-2A visa program.

With funding halted, she risks losing $200,000 more and can’t move forward with critical hires.

Trump’s new tariffs and immigration crackdowns threaten agriculture costs and labor availability, leaving farmers uncertain and frustrated with unmet promises.

Summary

A Harris Poll revealed that 20% of Americans support boycotting companies aligning with Trump’s agenda, including major brands like Amazon, Target, and Tesla.

Boycotts are driven by dissatisfaction with companies rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with 46% citing DEI rollbacks as a reason.

Support for boycotts is stronger among younger, non-white, and Democratic demographics. Some boycotts, like the “Latino Freeze Movement” and religiously motivated Target boycotts, are coordinated within communities.

Companies cite legal pressures for DEI changes, while critics view it as a moral compromise.

Summary

Trump has intensified his opposition to nationwide injunctions, calling for Congress and the Supreme Court to limit district courts' power to block federal policies nationwide.

These injunctions have repeatedly halted Trump’s second-term initiatives, including attempts to end birthright citizenship and deport migrants under a 1789 law.

Trump’s administration argues that these orders undermine executive authority and seeks permanent relief to restrict their use.

The Supreme Court has expressed concerns but has not yet ruled on the issue.

Summary

Lawmakers are once again pushing to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from legal liability for user-generated content.

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are collaborating on a bipartisan bill to sunset the law in two years.

Repealing Section 230 aims to force Congress to renegotiate platform liability standards.

The proposal reflects growing frustration over tech giants’ power and content moderation practices, but past efforts have faced political gridlock despite bipartisan support.

Summary

The US tourism industry faces a major decline as harsh immigration policies deter visitors.

High-profile detentions of Western travelers have led to a forecasted 9% decrease in visits, reversing a previously expected 5% rise, and risking a $64 billion loss.

Germany and the UK updated travel advisories following detentions of citizens without clear visa violations.

Canadian tourism also dropped significantly amid tariff threats. Denmark and Finland warned transgender travelers about entry issues.

Experts cite anti-immigrant rhetoric and unpredictable enforcement as key deterrents.

Letters show audience panic, hysteria described by media could be earliest American example of “fake news”

Summary

Elon Musk blamed trans people for recent Tesla attacks after his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, called him a "pathetic man-child."

Musk shared false data on trans violence and claimed hormone therapy causes volatility. He linked trans identity to attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships, citing unverified reports of trans suspects.

Musk’s comments followed Wilson’s interview where she condemned his far-right shift and disavowed responsibility for his views.

Critics accused Musk of scapegoating trans people amid Tesla's financial decline and political controversies.