Free Speech For Me, But Not For Thee 3.27.25 Ally Sammarco Mar 28 Happy Thursday, readers! Thank you for continuing to make Today’s American News your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Signalgate latest: Federal judge orders preservation of Signal messages as evidence; Trump fuming about Waltz creation of chat… CNN reports, “A federal judge on Thursday ordered key Trump administration agencies to preserve messages sent on Signal between March 11 to March 15. Judge James Boasberg made the ruling in a preservation lawsuit brought in the wake of the revelation that Cabinet officials were discussing war plans on Signal. The Justice Department says the administration is already working to track down and preserve the Signal texts from that period. Boasberg’s temporary restraining order also directs the administration to file a status report Monday, accompanied with declarations from government officials, explaining the steps the agencies were taking to preserve the messages.” Meanwhile, NBC News reports Trump is privately fuming that his national security advisor Mike Waltz created the unsecured chat in the first place. Rubio says 300 student visas have been revoked after international students spoke out against violence in Gaza… CBS News reports, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that 300 student visas have been revoked, asserting ‘we have a right’ to rescind the visas of students who participate in campus protests, despite questions about due process and First Amendment objections. ‘If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you're coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we're not going to give you a visa,’ Rubio said. ‘If you lie to us and get a visa then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, we're going to take away your visa.’” Ally Sammarco's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Federal judge says Trump likely violated law in firing IGs but doubts she will reinstate them… ABC News reports, “A federal judge Thursday afternoon said she is unlikely to reinstate eight former inspectors general who were fired by the Trump administration in January, even if it's determined that (the) president broke federal law when he removed them from their jobs without notifying Congress. ‘I do not see how I can reinstate the IGs even if I find that the statute is constitutional,’ Judge Ana Reyes said during a hearing in a Washington, D.C. federal district court in a case brought by the inspectors general, challenging their termination. ‘I think what we would be dealing with maybe would be either back pay, or something of the sort.’ When Judge Reyes pressed a lawyer for the Department of Justice about whether Trump followed the law when he failed to notify Congress about the firings, the attorney agreed that the president did not comply with the text of the statute related to terminating inspectors general.” Trump withdraws his pick for U.N. ambassador, weary of thin U.S. House majority… NPR reports, “President Trump on Thursday said he is withdrawing his nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to be ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik's nomination had been expected to easily clear the Senate — but Republicans are concerned about holding on to their thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold 218 seats and Democrats 213 seats. Four seats are currently vacant — two are considered safe GOP seats and two are considered safe Democratic seats. But off-year special elections can bring surprises.” Today’s Furry Friend Meet Stormi, whose fortunes changed as she made human and canine friends… Today’s Buzz Shondaland celebrates two decades making some of America’s best entertainment… Entertainment Weekly writes Shonda Rhimes’ “writing didn't just speak for itself. Like the powerful monologues she'd become known for, her words might as well have screamed in the face of everyone who read them. Rhimes, who remembers making up stories and dictating them to a tape recorder when she was 3 or 4 years old, entered the television landscape in 2005 with a roaring mega-hit, Grey's Anatomy.” A riveting interview with Rhimes follows. Thanks for once again allowing Today’s American News help make sense of the chaos. Check back in with us tomorrow evening.

 

This Administration is a Clown Show

3.25.25

Ally Sammarco Mar 26

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to Today’s American News, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.

Trump group chat debacle latest: Trump downplays Signalgate, admin officials blame journalist, and audaciously deny sharing of classified info on unsecured channels… National security advisor Mike Waltz attacked The Atlantic’s journalist he included on an unsecured channel in which he was sent the administration’s war plans. Trump stood by Waltz and downplayed the episode as having “no impact at all” on the operation. NBC News reports, “National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe” both claimed “did not share any classified materials in a group text about U.S. military plans that inadvertently included a journalist.” as they testified before the U.S. Senate intelligence committee at a contentious hearing. Congressional lawmakers demanded a full investigation.

Trump signs executive order seizing much control over elections across the country… CBS News reports, “President Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive action to overhaul U.S. elections that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandate that all ballots be received by Election Day across the country. The order claims the U.S. has ‘not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote.’ The order says the U.S. has failed ‘to enforce basic and necessary election protections’ and calls on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. The president also threatened to pull federal funding from states where election officials don't comply.” The move has been blasted by election law experts as a federal takeover of elections.

Vance to visit Greenland Space Force base this week instead of Second Family attending dogsled race… Politico reports, “Vice President JD Vance is heading to Greenland later this week, becoming the highest-ranking American official to journey to the Arctic territory President Donald Trump wants to bring under U.S. control. Vance on Tuesday said he would travel to Greenland’s Northwest coast on Friday to visit a Space Force base and ‘check out what’s going on with the security there.’ He will be joining his wife, Usha, who announced earlier this week she would travel with her son to see the national dogsled race. Vance’s office said Tuesday the visit to the Space Force base would occur instead of the dogsled race.” Greenland officials expressed that American officials would be unwelcomed at the dogsled race. Probably best that American folk only go where we are welcomed after irritating Greenland and Denmark so much.

Judge stops Trump immigration goons from detaining South Korean Columbian student as administration continues to attack on free speech on campuses… The Associated Press reports, “A Columbia University student from South Korea who is facing potential deportation for her involvement in a pro-Palestinian protest can’t be taken into immigration detention for now, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The order marks at least a temporary reprieve for Yunseo Chung, and a setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to throw noncitizens out of the country for participating in campus protests that the government deems antisemitic and sympathetic to the militant group Hamas. The students say the government is targeting them for advocating for Palestinian rights… As a Manhattan federal judge considered Chung’s case Tuesday, another federal jurist in Syracuse considered the case of Cornell University doctoral student Momodou Taal. He also faces potential deportation after being at a protest.”

Today’s Furry Friend

Meet S’mores, a stray mama doing everything she could to take care of her 8 pups.

Today’s Buzz

Younger Americans prefer watching creator content over Hollywood-produced movies and shows in ominous findings for Tinseltown… The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Hollywood will have to navigate a world in which consumers are increasingly choosing to spend more of their time with creator-driven entertainment and social platforms rather than premium content. That is a key takeaway from Deloitte‘s 19th annual digital media trends survey, which asks consumers about their media and entertainment preferences. The survey finds that 56 percent of Gen Zs and 43 percent of millennials surveyed find social media content “more relevant than traditional TV shows and movies,” and roughly half feel a stronger personal connection to social media creators than to TV personalities or actors.”

That’s all for today. Check back in tomorrow evening for the next edition of Today’s American News.

Top News | 'We Are Unafraid': Union Leader Vows Fight With Trump

Thursday, November 14, 2024 ■ Today's Top News  ACLU Slams Senate Push to Crack Down on Campus Criticism of Israel "The ability to criticize governments and their policies is a critical component of our democracy." By Jessica Corbett World's Largest Coral Found in Pacific, Unharmed by Planetary Heating "While the nearby shallow reefs were degraded due to warmer seas, witnessing this large healthy coral oasis in slightly deeper waters is a beacon of hope." By Julia Conley 'We Are Unafraid': In Face of Trump Win, Champions of Working Class Vow Epic Fight "We must raise the standard of living for our members and the entire working class through unity, solidarity, and working-class power," said UAW president Shawn Fain. "No matter who is in the White House." By Julia Conley Watchdog Urges House Panel to Publicly Release Ethics Report on Trump AG Pick Matt Gaetz "The public has a right to access and review the committee's findings," said Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. By Jake Johnson As Planet Heads Toward 2.7°C Rise, Tracker Warns Global Climate Action Has 'Flatlined' "As the world edges closer to these dangerous climate thresholds, the need for immediate, stronger action to reverse this trend becomes ever more urgent," one report author said. By Olivia Rosane With Trifecta Secured, GOP Already Eyeing Destructive Healthcare Cuts "If there are a lot of details still to be filled in," wrote one analyst, "the theme of the GOP's healthcare agenda is clear: cuts." By Jake Johnson

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■ More News US Plastics Industry Dumps Almost Half a Billion Gallons of Wastewater Daily Lifesaving Gaza Aid 'Has Fallen to an All-Time Low' Under Israeli Siege excerpt: "Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation, and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war, and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population." Less than 48 hours after the Biden administration said it does not believe Israel is unlawfully obstructing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, a United Nations special committee issued a report Thursday arguing that the Israeli military's actions in the Palestinian enclave bear "the characteristics of genocide." "Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life—food, water, and fuel," said the U.N. committee. "These statements, along with the systematic and unlawful interference of humanitarian aid, make clear Israel's intent to instrumentalize lifesaving supplies for political and military gains." "Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated U.N. appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice, and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation, and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war, and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population," the panel added. Media Justice as The Onion Buys Infowars From 'Hateful' (and Bankrupt) Alex Jones excerpt:  In what one journalist called an "insane twist" to the long saga of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' use of his online platform to spread rampant disinformation, satirical newspaper The Onion on Thursday announced it had won an auction to buy Infowars, Jones' bankrupt publication. Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022 after the families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting won nearly $1.5 billion in damages in lawsuits they filed over Jones' repeated claims on his show that the shooting had been a hoax. Jones claimed the families and victims—20 first graders and six educators—were crisis actors, inciting his supporters to threaten the grieving families. The auction included everything from Jones' desk and production studio to his diet supplement line, and the Sandy Hook families supported The Onion's effort to take control of Infowars, which the company said would be relaunched as a parody of itself. "The Onion's goal with the acquisition is to end Infowars' relentless barrage of disinformation for the sake of selling supplements and replace it with The Onion's relentless barrage of humor for good," said the company in a press release, which did not state how much The Onion paid for Infowars. As US Keeps Arms Flowing, UN Panel Says Israeli Assault on Gaza 'Consistent With Genocide' excerpt:  "Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated U.N. appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice, and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation, and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war, and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population," the panel added. The new report examines in detail Israel's relentless and large-scale aerial assault on the Gaza Strip, which Israeli missiles and bombs—many of them provided by the United States—have rendered a "wasteland of rubble, garbage, and human remains," as one U.N. expert recently put it. Women and children have made up nearly 70% of those killed by Israeli forces in Gaza over the past 13 months. The near-constant bombing since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 has devastated Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, sparking a massive public health crisis that has compounded the humanitarian impacts of the military assault. Israeli forces have also systematically targeted Gaza's agricultural land and infrastructure, which along with Israel's suffocating blockade has created famine conditions across the enclave. "By destroying vital water, sanitation, and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come," the U.N. committee said in a statement Thursday.

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■ Opinion To Fight Billionaire-Backed Fascism, We Need Grit and Solidarity—Not Hope This deeply perilous time requires realism—but not fatalism. In the worst of times, solidarity is most needed. By Norman Solomon When David Brooks Goes 'Bernie Bro' (Sort of) The longtime conservative NYT columnist is certainly not a member of the political left. But his recent admission still has something to offer us. By Harvey J. Kaye Biden Must Act Now to End US Funds for Fossil Fuels Abroad With an incoming Trump administration ready to bend to the will of the fossil fuel industry, the Biden administration cannot afford to miss this opportunity to secure its climate legacy. By Kate Deangelis,Nina Pušić

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Informed Comment daily updates (08/28/2024)

 

UN Idled, as Israel Expels 258K Palestinian Civilians in Gaza, including Aid workers, imperiling Polio Vaccination Drive Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Israelis are not only expelling thousands of innocent civilians from the town of Deir al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip, they gave only a few hours notice that some 200 UN personnel had to abruptly depart their offices and dwellings there. UN head of safety and security, […]

In a new era of Campus Upheaval, the 1970 Kent State Shootings show the Danger of deploying Troops to crush legal Protests By Brian VanDeMark, United States Naval Academy | – (The Conversation) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed his intention, if elected to a second term, to use the U.S. armed forces to suppress domestic protests. The New York Times reports that Trump’s allies are marshaling legal arguments to justify using National Guard or […]

Denouncing the University of Pennsylvania’s collaboration with the House Education Committee investigation of Faculty Members Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – Larry Jameson Interim President, the University of Pennsylvania president@upenn.edu   John Jackson Provost, the University of Pennsylvania provost@upenn.edu . . . We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our […]

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