Tough on DEI, Soft on Crime 1.22.25 Ally Sammarco Jan 23 Credit: Reuters Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to Today’s American News! We’re your source for news and analysis on the chaos and contradictions of American politics, culture, and everything in between. Let’s dive in. Pentagon Deploys 1,500 Troops to U.S.-Mexico Border…The Biden administration sought to humanize immigration by addressing root causes and providing asylum to migrants fleeing their home countries through the border. The Trump administration has taken the opposite approach, deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. While these troops won’t engage in direct law enforcement, the optics of a militarized border is all Trump cares about. Trump’s Executive Order on Gender Recognition…In another *on brand* move, President Trump issued an executive order mandating federal recognition of only two sexes. Advocacy groups are calling it a direct attack on non-binary and transgender individuals, undoing years of progress on gender equity and inclusion. They also emphasized that this move erases marginalized identities, leaving countless Americans without legal acknowledgment. Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Congress Passes GOP-Led Immigration Enforcement Bill…In line with the Trump Administration’s harsh stance on immigration, Republicans and some Democrats have passed the Laken Riley Act, a hardline immigration enforcement bill that would have prevented Riley’s attacker, Jose Ibarra, from remaining in the U.S. This legislation directs federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport those without legal status charged with minor theft or shoplifting. Some critics argue that the bill should require a conviction before continuing with the removal process. Trump’s Pardons for January 6th Defendants Draw Judicial Rebuke…Trump’s decision to pardon individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot is facing harsh criticism from federal judges. Their rebuke highlights how these pardons undermine accountability for an attack on democracy. Legal experts warn this move could embolden future extremists and further damage trust in the rule of law. According to reports, J.D. Vance tried to persuade President Trump to pardon solely non-violent criminals involved in the January 6th attack, but Trump went ahead and pardoned the whole bunch. Credit: AP White House Targets DEI Staff for Elimination…Trump’s war on progress continues, as his administration has placed all federal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) employees on administrative leave with plans to eliminate these roles entirely. Naysayers argue this is a blatant attempt to undo years of efforts to make federal workplaces more equitable and inclusive. The war on federal workers doesn’t stop there. The current federal hiring freeze has left newly hired people with rescinded job offers and the elimination of remote work has federal employees scrambling to move, find childcare or forced to quit to accommodate the new rule. Today’s Buzz Prince Harry Settles Lawsuit Against Murdoch’s Newspapers…Prince Harry has achieved another victory against Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid empire, securing an 8-figure settlement and apology for privacy violations, including hacking into his phone. The publisher, NGN, issued an apology to the Duke of Sussex for “the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them.” Credit: Getty Wildfire Explodes Near Los Angeles…A fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles has ballooned to over 8,000 acres, forcing the evacuation of 19,000 residents. Fueled by dry conditions and high winds, this disaster is yet another grim reminder of why urgent climate action is needed to protect vulnerable communities. That’s a wrap on another edition of Today’s American News. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you tomorrow. Stay informed and engaged!