Trump Halts Legal Migration 1.21.25 Ally Sammarco Jan 22 Donald Trump signing his first executive orders. (Credit: AP) Happy Tuesday and welcome back to Today’s American News. We are your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Let’s get started. Trump turns off app that stopped flood of dangerous refugee border crossings… The app was working very well, refugees scheduled their appointments to bring asylum claims and crossed the border legally into the United States at a point of entry. When the app read a message that it would no longer be operable and that all existing appointments had been canceled, migrants wept with uncertainty. NBC News reports, “The CBP One app was set up under the Biden administration as a way to curb people crossing the southwest border illegally to request asylum.” Once active, the app was the only way migrants could request an appointment to claim asylum. Expect to see court battles. Trump makes first move toward massive immigrant raids at schools, churches… Last month we brought you an NPR story about how immigrant families, particularly mixed-status families, were worried for the new year. Their fears are starting to come true under Trump, but this will be a long fight. Imagine the lasting horror children will feel as immigration enforcement officials seize people from their schools and churches. The executive order, which also applies to health care facilities like hospitals, would do just that. It’s the latest in Trump’s go-to issue since the day he announced his campaign in 2015. Expect prolonged legal battles on this one. Ukraine is embracing Trump, who again mocked Putin as weak… Up is down and in is out. Trump spent much of the 2024 campaign slamming Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Soon after the U.S. election, French President Emanuel Macron invited Zelenskyy and Trump to join him at the reopening of the Notre Dame. The three spoke at length. Read CNN’s analysis of Trump’s comments. 1,000 Russian soldiers die each day. Parts of Russia are still under Ukraine’s control. Russia desperately called in North Korea. Russian banks are on the verge of collapse. Western sanctions finally hit Russian oil, oil refineries keep burning, and Ukraine shut off the pipeline that sent gas to Putin-friendly parts of Europe. He also lost in Syria and cant get his equipment out. Our take: Zelenskyy is a great politician and schmoozer and doing what he needs to do re: Trump. Trump has changed his tune because of daily intelligence briefings. By calling Putin weak in advance of any future negotiations, Trump has weakened Putin’s hand. This was NOT on our Trump’s first week bingo card. Affidavit to Senators: Hegseth’s wife hid from him in closet… Trump defense secretary nominee “Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, in an affidavit given to senators on Tuesday, alleged that the Pentagon chief pick caused his second wife to fear for her safety. Danielle Hegseth, who was married to the former Fox News host’s brother for eight years, said that Pete Hegseth’s second wife, Samantha Hegseth, once hid herself in a closet because she was scared of her husband’s actions.” This is the man Senate Republicans are set to confirm to lead the most powerful military in the history of the world–and to protect the men AND women serving our country. Today’s Buzz “Razzies”gives out awards like “Worst Picture” and we’re here for it… Hey, a lot of us had a bad 2024, but a select group in the entertainment industry is getting an award of (dis)honor for releasing really bad movies last year. The Hollywood Reporter notes, “The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, have announced their nominations for 2024's worst films and filmmakers, with a five-way tie for the most (dis)honors per movie. The supervillain musical Joker: Folie à Deux, the costly passion project Megalopolis, the video game adaptation Borderlands, the superheroine flick Madame Web, and the presidential biopic Reagan each racked up six nominations, including Worst Picture.” Today’s Furry Friend Meet Hazel and Rio. So sweet! That’s a wrap on another edition of Today’s American News. Thanks once again for reading and join us again tomorrow evening.