Convicted Felon Escapes Consequences—Again
1.10.25
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Happy Friday and welcome back to Today’s American News, your source of news and analysis for the circus that is American politics and entertainment.
Trump sentenced for 34 felony convictions without punishment… During a Zoom conversation accompanied by his legal team, convicted felon Donald Trump was sentenced to “unconditional discharge” today. In layman’s terms, “unconditional discharge” more or less means no punishment. New York Judge Juan Merchan noted “the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary” but the protections do not include “the power to erase a jury verdict.” Merchan distinguished that in this case Trump is an “ordinary citizen” and “criminal defendant” and in the same breath, the judge noted the extraordinary circumstances that did, in fact, put the president-elect essentially above the law.
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Meta goes reactionary to the extreme on diversity… Just days after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced an end to Facebook’s fact-checking on account of Trump’s election victory, Meta announced its diversity programs would be next to go. NBC reported, “Among the changes, Meta is ending the company’s ‘Diverse Slate Approach’ of considering qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for its open roles. The company is also putting an end to its diversity supplier program and its equity and inclusion training programs. Gale also announced the disbanding of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) team, and she said that Meta Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams will move into a new role focused on accessibility and engagement.”
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Biden issues additional protection for 1 million immigrants… President Biden today used his executive authority under Congress’s 1990 Temporary Protected Status designation to protect legal immigrants in advance of a Trump presidency. Biden’s order extends protection for immigrants from “El Salvador until March 2026 and Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela until October 2026,” Politico writes, impacting one million people in the United States. Trump has vowed to conduct the largest mass deportation of immigrants–documented and undocumented–once he assumes office. Biden’s move is likely to legally complicate Trump’s desire to swiftly roll back Temporary Protected Status protections as part of the latter’s inhumane immigration plans.
Panama’s president intends to take Trump threats to U.N. security council… Panamanian President José Mulino said privately this week that he intends to ask the United Nations Security Council to intervene as a pre-emptive move to stop Donald Trump from seizing the Panama Canal. The private remarks by the Panamanian head of state were revealed by the country’s former president, Ernesto Balladares. Mulino has not yet taken action on the matter because Trump is not yet the U.S. president. “Like everybody else in this country [our president is] surprised,” Balladares said.
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Today’s Buzz
Los Angeles restaurant community does its part to help neighbors amid wildfires… People helping people is–or at least should be–the American way. The Hollywood Reporter writes, “The local food scene has been hit hard by the fires that have broken out around the L.A. County. Multiple Malibu institutions were destroyed in the Palisades Fire, including Reel Inn, Cholada Thai and Moonshadows.” In response, “InKind, who provides upfront capital purchasing food and beverage credit to restaurants, are donating proceeds from e-cards purchased on their site directly to restaurants in their network. Eateries around the city have been doing their part to help those suddenly finding themselves displaced, whether that be through meals to first responders, offering their restaurant as a shelter or donating profits to relief efforts.”
Thanks for reading Today’s American News. Enjoy your weekend and stay safe out there.
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