A new policy memo from the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way is urging Democrats to eliminate dozens of words and phrases from their vocabulary, warning that they risk alienating voters ahead of the 2028 elections. The memo identifies 44 terms it says have become barriers to communication with the public, including “privilege,” “cultural appropriation,” “unhoused,” “birthing person,” “Latinx,” and “justice-involved.” The report categorizes the language into six groups, including what it calls “therapy speak” and “seminar room language.” Terms such as “triggering,” “safe space,” “centering,” “body shaming,” “systems of oppression,” and “critical theory” are described as condescending or disconnected from voters’ day-to-day concerns. Other words on the list include “food insecurity,” “housing insecurity,” “radical transparency,” “stakeholders,” and “person who immigrated,” which the report said suggest that individuals lack agency or that Democrats are beholden to groups rather than people. The memo also warns against language that reframes crime, such as “justice-involved,” “incarcerated people,” and “involuntary confinement,” arguing that it risks minimizing the role of victims. Additionally, the report recommends avoiding terminology around race and gender identity that it says may be confusing or alienating to some voters, such as “BIPOC,” “allyship,” “intersectionality,” and some other objectively ridiculous terms. “Much of the language above is a red flag for a sizable segment of the American public,” the report states. “It is not because they are bigots, but because they fear cancellation, doxing, or trouble with HR if they make a mistake. Or they simply don’t understand what these terms mean and become distrustful of those who use them.” Some high-profile Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have used several of the terms flagged in the report, including “unhoused” and “incarcerated people.” The memo reflects growing calls within the party to simplify messaging. In February, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) told Politico: “We’ve sanitized different language so significantly that … people don’t feel like we’re talking to them. It’s hard to communicate when you’re not using some normal language.” The Third Way report concludes that Democrats risk losing voters if they do not shift away from academic or highly technical language, and instead focus on words and framing that connect more directly to the concerns of ordinary Americans. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the United States this week as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods and resetting global trade with tariffs. An executive order signed last month eliminates a widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less starting Friday, nearly two years earlier than the deadline set in the tax cuts and spending bill approved by Congress. Although the president previously ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will require vetting and be subject to their origin country’s applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%. For the next six months, carriers handling orders sent through the global mail network also can choose a flat duty of $80 to $200 per package instead of the value-based rate. In response, the national postal services of more than a dozen countries said they would temporarily suspend sending some or most U.S.-bound packages due to confusion over processing and payment requirements. Japan and Switzerland on Monday joined Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Thailand, the U.K. and New Zealand in saying they would pause shipments. Exemption created in 1938 for $1 imports The Trump administration says the exemption has become a loophole that foreign businesses exploit to evade tariffs and criminals use to get drugs, counterfeit products and other contraband into the U.S. Former President Joe Biden and members of Congress also discussed the issue. Other countries have similar exemptions, but the threshold is usually lower. For example, 150 euros ($175) is the value limit in the 20 European Union countries that use the euro as their official currency. The U.K. allows foreign businesses to send parcels worth up to 135 pounds ($182) without incurring tariff charges. In the U.S., the “de minimis” — Latin for lacking significance or importance — exemption started in 1938 as a way to save the federal government the time and expense of collecting duties on imported goods with a retail value of $1 or less. U.S. lawmakers eventually increased the eligibility cutoff to $5 in 1990, to $200 in 1993 and to $800 in 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. Since then, the number of shipments claiming de minimis treatment has exploded. A total of 1.36 billion packages with a combined value of $64.6 billion reached the U.S. last year, compared to 134 million packages sent under the exemption in 2015, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported. About 60% of the 2024 shipments came from China and Hong Kong, according to an analysis logistics firm Flexport prepared based on U.S. government data. Multiple countries and regions accounted for the remainder, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, India and Vietnam. Boutique owner anticipates higher costs for European apparel Proponents of limiting the exemption argue that it has served as a way for China-founded retail platforms like Temu and Shein to flood the U.S. with low-priced goods. The National Council of Textile Organizations said the move would help close a “backdoor pipeline for cheap, subsidized, and often illegal, toxic and unethical imports.” But some smaller American […]
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President Donald Trump’s personal crypto ventures are expanding again, this time with plans for a digital asset treasury company that holds an alternative cryptocurrency. Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social media platform, announced Tuesday that it was partnering with the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com to form a company that holds CRO, a token created by Crypto.com. A blank check company tied to Yorkville Advisors is another co-founder of the new firm, called Trump Media CRO Strategy. Trump Media said it plans to purchase $105 million worth of CRO. Yorkville said the total expected funding for the company’s treasury will be $1 billion worth of CRO, or about 19% of the token’s market cap, plus $420 million in cash and equivalents and as a $5 billion line of credit. The announcement is part of the hottest trend in crypto, in which a wide variety of companies – many with no obvious ties to the world of digital assets – have made buying and holding cryptocurrency a primary part of their business plan. The model is based on MicroStrategy, a tech firm that first started buying bitcoin in 2020 and has seen its stock price soar. “Companies of all sizes and sectors are strategically planning for the future by establishing digital asset treasuries anchored by assets that have created a comprehensive value proposition and are poised for even greater utility,” Devin Nunes, the chairman and CEO of Trump Media, said in a statement. Trump Media said it plans to introduce a “rewards system” on Truth Social that uses Crypto.com digital wallet infrastructure. CRO saw its price jump Tuesday morning by about 30% to 21 cents a token. It’s still far off from its all-time high of nearly 97 cents a token that it hit in 2021. Expanding Crypto Empire Since taking office, the Trump administration has pushed for crypto-friendly regulations and laws, while the Trump family has aggressively sought to expand its crypto-related businesses. That unprecedented dynamic has led to allegations of corruption from Democrats, though the president says he has entrusted the management of his business dealings to his sons. In May, Trump rewarded top investors in his meme coin with a swanky dinner. Trump launched the coin just days before taking office. Fans of the president have also been able to buy crypto-themed Trump merchandise, including $100,000 watches and pricey sneakers. Trump Media previously announced plans to hold a significant amount of bitcoin on its books as well as to create an exchange-traded fund tied to the prices of five popular cryptocurrencies. World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company launched by Trump and his sons last year, has received significant boosts from an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates and Justin Sun, a China-born crypto entrepreneur. The Securities and Exchange Commission has paused a lawsuit it filed against Sun in 2023 alleging his company engaged in market manipulation and paid celebrities for undisclosed promotions. A little-known firm called ALT5 Sigma recently announced it was planning to raise $1.5 billion to buy the digital coins created by World Liberty Financial and that Eric Trump, the president’s son, is joining the company’s board. Also on Tuesday, a firm called Canary Capital filed paperwork with the SEC seeking to sell an exchange-traded fund that will track the price of the president’s meme coin. (AP)
Reports that the government may allow certain bnei yeshiva who have not reported for army service to fly abroad for Rosh Hashanah in Uman and other destinations sparked sharp political backlash on Tuesday. Under Israeli law, those who fail to enlist in the IDF are generally barred from leaving the country. Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf, head of United Torah Judaism, sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday, thanking him for the recent government plan to enable Yidden to travel to New York for the Yomim Nora’im. In his letter, he urged the prime minister to “expand the plan” so that even those presently under an exit ban could fly, stressing that such journeys are “a unique spiritual experience, and it is our obligation to enable them the same right granted to others.” In addition, the government this week earmarked NIS 10 million to help finance aspects of the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, where tens of thousands gather at the tziyon of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. The idea immediately drew fire from government critics. Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionist Party blasted the plan as being out of touch: “To focus on those avoiding the draft while tens of thousands of reservists are being called to the front during the Yomim Nora’im is a complete disconnection from reality.” Avigdor Liberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, likewise condemned any government funding for Uman flights, claiming that money is being spent on those “trying to avoid service” while soldiers are mobilized in Gaza. Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) went further, sending a formal letter to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara demanding that she block the plan. Lapid accused the government of considering permits for “10,000 healthy individuals who could be contributing to Israeli society and filling the IDF’s manpower needs.” The controversy comes as the High Court is reviewing related petitions. On Monday, the government supported a lawsuit calling for the removal of National Insurance discounts currently given to yeshiva students who do not serve. The state argued that such benefits were never meant to apply to those receiving exemptions or deferments. The petition was filed last year by secular activist groups pressing for stricter enforcement against draft exemptions. The debate underscores one of the most sensitive issues in Israeli society. Successive governments have failed to resolve the long-simmering dispute over a draft law that would secure broad exemptions for the bnei yeshiva. Charedi leaders continue to maintain that forcing yeshiva talmidim into the army represents an assault on bnei torah’s way of life. At the same time, military officials warn of manpower shortages as fighting intensifies on multiple fronts. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Americans’ view of the U.S. economy declined modestly in August as anxiety over a weakening job market grew for the eighth straight month. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked down by 1.3 points to 97.4 in August, down from July’s 98.7, but in the same narrow range of the past three months. The small decline in confidence was in line with the forecasts of most of the economists who were surveyed. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell by 1.2 points to 74.8, remaining significantly below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. Consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation also fell modestly, to 131.2 in August from 132.8 in July. While the unemployment and layoffs remain historically low, there has been noticeable deterioration in the labor market this year and mounting evidence that people are having difficulty finding jobs. U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July, well short of the 115,000 analysts expected. Worse, revisions to the May and June figures shaved 258,000 jobs off previous estimates and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%. That report sent financial markets spiraling, spurring President Donald Trump to fire Erika McEntarfer, the head of Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tallies the monthly employment numbers. Another government report showed that U.S. employers posted 7.4 million job vacancies in June, down from 7.7 million in May. The number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects elsewhere — also fell. More jobs data comes next week when the government releases its August job gains and June job openings reports. The Conference Board’s report said that references to high prices and inflation increased again and were often mentioned in tandem with tariffs. Other government data this month showed that while prices at the consumer level held fairly steady from June to July, U.S. wholesale inflation surged unexpectedly last month. Economists say that’s a sign that Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports are pushing costs up and that higher prices for consumers may be on the way. The share of consumers expecting a recession over the next year rose in August to the highest level since April, when Trump’s tariff rollout began. The share of survey respondents who said they intended to buy a car in the near future rose, while those planning to purchase a home remained stable after July’s decline. Those saying they planned to buy big-ticket items like appliances fell, but there were big variations among product categories. Respondents who said they planned to take a vacation soon, either inside of the U.S. or abroad, also declined. (AP)
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Thanks to the incredible work of Flatbush Shomrim, more than $10,000 worth of stolen jewelry was returned to its rightful owner. Sources tell YWN that the incident began when an elderly woman’s regular home aide took some time off, and a temporary aide was hired in her place. Upon returning, the original aide noticed that the woman’s closet had been rummaged through, and upon further inspection, discovered that all of her jewelry was missing. Flatbush Shomrim was contacted immediately. The suspect was confronted and given an opportunity to return the items. Sure enough, just a few hours later, she returned every single piece of jewelry—valued at over $10,000—along with several hundred dollars in cash. All are reminded to exercise extreme caution when hiring help in the home. Proper vetting and oversight are essential to prevent such unfortunate incidents. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Democratic National Committee planned to clarify its position on the Israel-Hamas war this week. But after a surprise reversal, it may be several months before DNC officials adopt a formal position on an issue that has divided their party perhaps more than any other. The debate played out on Tuesday as the DNC gathered in a downtown Minneapolis hotel behind a security checkpoint for its annual summer meeting. There were two competing resolutions that addressed the war and the related humanitarian crisis in Gaza: The first, introduced by the committee’s progressive wing, called for an arms embargo and the suspension of military aid to Israel; the other, backed by DNC Chair Ken Martin, offered more context from Israel’s perspective while calling for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance — including food, water, medicine and shelter — to civilians in Gaza.” It also reaffirmed the Democrats’ support for a two-state solution. The DNC’s Resolutions Committee voted to support Martin’s version and voted down the progressives’ preference. But after a brief debate, Martin surprised many in the crowded hotel ballroom by deciding to withdraw his measure. He called instead for members to form a task force to study the issue further. “As we’ve seen there’s divide in our party on this issue,” Martin said. “I’ve decided today, at this moment, to listen … so we can move forward united today and have the conversation.” The delay prolongs a sensitive political debate that has divided Democrats for much of the last year. Resolutions Committee members said they received nearly 5,000 emails about the resolution from activists on both sides ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Even when the party adopts a formal position — if at all — the issue threatens to continue dividing Democratic voters heading into next year’s midterm elections. Any DNC resolution would be a symbolic measure with no real power. DNC member Allison Minnerly of Florida, who sponsored the progressive version, said she was disappointed by Martin’s decision. “There needs to be urgency,” Minnerly said. “The majority of our party is looking for answers and leadership on this issue.” It’s unclear when Martin’s yet-unformed task force would report back with an updated position. Martin did not offer a timeline. The DNC is expected to meet again in December. Harini Krishnan, a DNC member from California, was among several officials to express their frustration. “I also want to say that I truly hope as a party that we can move beyond this issue,” she said. (AP)
California, Washington and New Mexico could lose millions of dollars of federal funding if they continue failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday. An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug. 12 found what Duffy called significant failures in the way all three states are enforcing rules that took effect in June after one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. He said the department was also already reviewing how states were enforcing the rules before the crash. Truckers are supposed to be disqualified if they can’t demonstrate English proficiency and Duffy said the driver involved in the crash that killed three should not have ever been given a commercial driver’s license because of his immigration status. But the crash has become increasingly political with the governors of California and Florida criticizing each other and Duffy highlighting the Trump administration’s immigration concerns in interviews. But Duffy said Tuesday that it is a safety issue — not a political one — because truckers need to understand road signs and be able to communicate with law enforcement about what they are hauling if they are pulled over or what happened if there is an accident. “This is about keeping people safe on the road. Your families, your kids, your spouses, your loved ones, your friends. We all use the roadway, and we need to make sure that those who are driving big rigs — semis — can understand the road signs, that they’ve been well trained,” Duffy said. Duffy says these states aren’t enforcing the rules The Transportation Department said California has conducted roughly 34,000 inspections that found at least one violation since the new language standards took effect requiring truck drivers be able to recognize and read road signs and communicate with authorities in English. But only one inspection involved an English language rules violation that resulted in a driver being taken out of service. And 23 drivers with violations in other states were allowed to continue driving after inspections in California. He cited similar statistics for the other states with Washington finding more than 6,000 violations of safety rules during inspections, but only pulling four drivers out of service for English language violations. New Mexico has not placed any drivers out of service since the rules took effect. Duffy said the states will lose money from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if they don’t comply with the rules within 30 days. Duffy said California could lose $33 million, Washington could lose $10.5 million and New Mexico could lose $7 million. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office said on the X platform that the Trump administration is just trying to deflect responsibility for the crash. The other two states did not immediately respond Tuesday. “This is rich. The Trump Administration approved the federal work permit for the man who killed 3 people — and now they’re scrambling to shift blame after getting caught. Sean’s nonsense announcement is as big a joke as the Trump Administration itself,” Newsom’s office said. Florida crash killed three people Three people were killed when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn on a highway, according to Florida’s Highway Patrol. He is being held without bond after being charged with three state counts of vehicular […]
Representatives of three European countries threatening to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program failed to agree with their Iranian counterpart Tuesday on how to avoid the measures days ahead of a deadline, a diplomat said. The talks in Geneva among representatives of Britain, France and Germany — known as the E3 — and Iran “ended without a final outcome,” said the diplomat with knowledge of the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive discussions. The diplomat said efforts would continue to search for a solution ahead of an E3 deadline at the end of this month to invoke the so-called “snapback mechanism” of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal over what the countries have deemed Iran’s lack of compliance. The snapback would mean a return to wide-ranging U.N. sanctions in place before the deal, including a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, travel bans and a ban on producing nuclear-related technology. The meeting among the E3 and Iran was announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday. The talks follow a previous meeting between the Europeans and Iran in Istanbul on July 25. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said on X that Tehran “remains committed to diplomacy” and that it was “high time” for the European countries “to make the right choice, and give diplomacy time and space.” The Europeans’ concern over the Iranian nuclear program, which had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels before the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June saw its atomic sites bombed, has only grown since Tehran cut off all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the conflict’s wake. That has left the international community further blinded to Iran’s program — as well as the status of its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, though it is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium at that level. The U.S., the IAEA and others say Iran had a nuclear weapons program up until 2003. The Europeans agreed with the U.S. earlier this year to set an end-of-August deadline for invoking the mechanism if Iran fails to meet several conditions, including resuming negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program, allowing U.N. nuclear inspectors access to its nuclear sites and accounting for the over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. The snapback provision of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal can be invoked by any party if they find Iran out of compliance with requirements. Its purpose is to swiftly reimpose all pre-deal sanctions without being vetoed by U.N. Security Council members, including permanent members Russia and China. The E3 countries feel an urgency to use the snapback because it expires on Oct. 18 unless the U.N. Security Council extends it. On Sunday, Russia proposed a draft resolution to delay the expiration until next spring, in what would buy some time for Iran. The Russians said the move recognizes “the necessity of allowing additional time for negotiations on this matter,″ and it urges all initial participants of the nuclear deal to resume negotiations. However, it is unlikely the Russian effort will receive enough support in the 15-member […]
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Microsoft has gone nuclear on its own employees — calling in the FBI and local police to crush a wave of Gaza-related protests that have spiraled from office disruptions to flotillas outside the lakefront mansions of its top bosses. Over the weekend, pro-Palestinian activists paddled kayaks across Lake Washington, circling near the luxury homes of CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith while chanting and waving banners accusing the tech giant of “profiting from genocide.” The dramatic waterborne protest is just the latest flashpoint in a year-long rebellion by a group calling itself No Azure for Apartheid, which claims Microsoft’s cloud technology is fueling Israel’s war in Gaza. Instead of negotiating with terrorist sympathizers, the $3 trillion company turned to law enforcement. Internal emails show Microsoft investigators flagged employees — and even their family members — to the FBI’s Seattle office, warning of “disruptions” to upcoming events. Two engineers were fired last year after staging a lunchtime vigil for Palestinians at Microsoft HQ. In April, one staffer hurled a keffiyeh onto the stage during an AI keynote. Another hijacked a panel featuring Nadella, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. Both quit in protest. Weeks later, a worker stood on a chair during Nadella’s remarks, shouting accusations of “war crimes.” He was fired that night. Just last week, cops zip-tied 20 protesters after they set up a “liberated zone” in a Redmond plaza and chanted executives’ names. Smith defended calling in the feds. “This isn’t about dialogue anymore,” he said. “It’s a matter for law enforcement.” Microsoft — long seen as the “quiet” Big Tech giant compared to scandal-ridden rivals — is now at the center of one of the most polarizing conflicts in the world. Despite FBI scrutiny, firings, and police crackdowns, activists say they won’t back down. In a defiant statement, No Azure for Apartheid said: “The fact Microsoft is attempting to use law enforcement to silence its own workers should be a wake-up call to anyone who dares organize. We are unfazed by scare tactics.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in north London wore a Palestinian flag badge while performing surgery on a Jewish patient last month, The Telegraph reported on Sunday. The patient said she was “extremely distressed” when she saw the badge and felt that his views could affect his care. She contacted UK Lawyers for Israel, who filed a complaint with the hospital. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has received numerous complaints from Jews over the display of pro-Palestinian symbols at London hospitals, including Bart Health Trust and University College London Hospital (UCLH). At UCLH, a Jewish patient was left feeling “vulnerable and scared” after seeing posters on the walls of the hospital stating “Zionism is poison” and accusing Israel of “starving and slaughtering children in Gaza.” The patient called UK Lawyers for Israel, who filed a complaint, and the posters were removed immediately. The administration also sent reminders to employees that no political messages are allowed on hospital grounds. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook will sue President Donald Trump’s administration to try to prevent him from firing her, her lawyer said Tuesday. “President Trump has no authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook,” said Abbe Lowell, a longtime Washington lawyer who has represented figures from both major political parties. “His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis. We will be filing a lawsuit challenging this illegal action.” The case is likely to end up at the Supreme Court and could more clearly define the limits of the president’s legal authority over the traditionally independent institution. The Fed exercises expansive power over the U.S. economy by adjusting a short-term interest rate that can influence broader borrowing costs for things like mortgages, auto loans, and business loans. Trump, a Republican, has repeatedly demanded that Chair Jerome Powell and the Fed’s rate-setting committee cut its rate to boost the economy and reduce interest payments on the government’s $37 trillion debt pile. If Trump succeeds in removing Cook from the Fed’s board of governors, it could erode the Fed’s political independence, which is considered critical to its ability to fight inflation because it enables the Fed to take unpopular steps like raising interest rates. A less-independent Fed could leave Americans paying higher interest rates, because investors would demand a higher yield to own bonds to offset potentially greater inflation in the future, pushing up borrowing costs throughout the economy. Who’s on the board? Trump appointed two members of the board, Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, in his first term and has named Steven Miran, a top White House economist, to replace Gov. Adriana Kugler, who stepped down unexpectedly Aug. 1. If Miran’s nomination is approved by the Senate and Trump is able to replace Cook, he would have a 4-3 majority on the Fed’s board, which votes on all interest rate decisions, along with five of the Fed’s 12 regional bank presidents. Legal experts say the Republican president’s claim that he can fire Cook, who was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022, is on shaky ground. But it’s an unprecedented move that hasn’t played out in the courts before, and the Supreme Court this year has been much more willing to let the president remove agency officials than in the past. “It’s an illegal firing, but the president’s going to argue, ‘The Constitution lets me do it,’” said Lev Menand, a law professor at Columbia University and author of a book about the Fed. “And that argument’s worked in a few other cases so far this year.” Menand said the Supreme Court construes the Constitution’s meaning, and “it can make new constitutional law in this case.” Allegations against Cook Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee to the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, made the accusations last week. Pulte alleged that Cook had claimed two primary residences — in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in Atlanta — in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Mortgage rates are often higher on second homes or those bought to rent. The most likely next step for Cook is to seek an injunction against Trump’s order that would allow her to continue her work as a governor. But the situation puts the Fed in a difficult position. “They have their own legal obligation to follow […]
A rash of hoax calls about active shooters on college campuses — some featuring gunshots sounding in the background — has sent waves of fear among students around the nation as the school year begins. The calls have prompted universities to issue campus-wide texts to “run, hide, fight.” Students and teachers have rushed to find cover, often cowering in classrooms for safety. Officers have swarmed campuses seeking out the threat. Yet in every recent case, the threat didn’t exist. “It’s looking as if this was another swatting or hoax call,” University of Arkansas Police Department Assistant Chief Matt Mills said after false reports of an active shooter on Monday prompted school leaders to cancel classes there for the day. Number of college campuses receiving hoax alarms grows The hoax calls and false alarms have hit at least 10 college campuses from Arkansas to Pennsylvania. On Monday alone, law enforcement responded to calls claiming there were active shooters at Arkansas, Northern Arizona University, Iowa State, Kansas State, Colorado University and the University of New Hampshire. Another was made Tuesday at the University of Kentucky though it was determined to be a hoax before an alert could be issued. The goal of swatting, which sometimes uses caller ID spoofing to disguise numbers, is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to an address. The FBI said in a statement Tuesday that it was working with law enforcement on the swatting cases on college campuses, which come as such false reports surge nationwide. A wave of threats three years ago was believed to come from outside the country, the FBI said at the time. The agency provided few details about the recent campus threats, including whether they are coordinated, but the calls appear to share similar traits. Most of them involved multiple calls to authorities about an active shooter or shooting, and at least four included the sound of gunshots in the background. In an era of mass shootings, the calls create a climate of fear and sap law enforcement resources. The FBI stressed in a statement that the threats also put “innocent people at risk.” In 2017, for instance, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call. Climate of fear can linger The emotional toll on students and staff can linger for days or even weeks, said Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm that focuses on K-12 safety. Miceala Morano, a 21-year-old senior journalism major at the University of Arkansas, knows that firsthand. She hid behind a green screen in the broadcast room and called her grandmother as officers outside donned bullet proof vests. “As of right now, I’m safe. I love you,” said Morano, who was raised on active shooter drills. As a child, she learned to stack chairs in front of the classroom door and to climb into the ceiling if there is no other way out. Now this. “There’s just these few minutes where all you really feel is fear, whether the threat’s there or not,” she said. Casey Mann, a 19-year-old classmate, said she couldn’t sleep until 2 a.m. afterward. “It’s just a scary reality the time we’re living in right now,” she said, pausing and apologizing, her voice chocking up. “It […]
A Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade arrest by U.S. immigration agents lost an attempt Tuesday to throw out the Trump administration’s case against her. The prosecution of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan highlights the push by President Donald Trump’ s administration to confront state and local authorities who resist his sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to make a national example of Dugan to chill judicial opposition to its deportation efforts. She was arrested at the county courthouse in April and indicted on federal charges in May. She quickly filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. However, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on Tuesday rejected that argument and upheld the July recommendation of a magistrate judge who also ruled that the case could proceed. Adelman said the dispute boils down to Dugan arguing that there is a general rule of immunity for judges from prosecution, with some limited exceptions, while the government argues that the cited exceptions are simply examples of types of prosecutions that have been brought. “A review of the relevant history reveals the government has the better of the argument,” Adelman wrote. He said that “the particulars of this case may be unusual,” but “there is no firmly established judicial immunity barring criminal prosecution of judges for judicial acts. There is no basis for granting immunity simply because some of the allegations in the indictment describe conduct that could be considered ‘part of a judge’s job.’” Attorneys for Dugan said in a statement that they were disappointed with the judge’s decision, but “we look forward to the trial which will show Judge Dugan did nothing wrong and simply treated this case like any other in front of her courtroom.” Adelman’s decision could be appealed to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He scheduled a hearing in the case for Sept. 3. Dugan has pleaded not guilty to helping the man in the country illegally try to evade authorities. No trial date has been set. She faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted on both counts. In a motion in May to dismiss the charges, Dugan argued that the federal government violated Wisconsin’s sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. Dugan also argued that the prosecution under federal law violated the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers because it overrides the state of Wisconsin’s ability to administer its courts. The judge rejected her arguments. Dugan is charged with concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor, and obstruction, which is a felony. Prosecutors say she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking to arrest him for being in the country without permanent legal status. Agents arrested Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase. Milwaukee police last week released body camera footage of Dugan saying she didn’t know Flores-Ruiz was in the country illegally. The comments were captured three days before her arrest in April after Dugan called police because of potentially threatening flyers she […]
The IDF on Tuesday revealed that six of the roughly 20 Palestinians killed in Monday’s shelling of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis were Hamas terrorists, but emphasized that the disclosure was not meant to absolve the army of responsibility for what commanders have already admitted was a grave operational mistake. The incident has triggered widespread international condemnation and intensified scrutiny of how the IDF approved the use of tank fire against a crowded hospital, a move many officers privately criticized as reckless given the availability of more precise alternatives. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said the intended target was a video surveillance camera, not suspected terrorists. Soldiers in the field had reported suspicious movements, but the order to open fire was given without clear confirmation of Hamas activity. The army also acknowledged that two separate rounds of shelling were fired on the hospital. The second strike inflicted further casualties on medical staff, journalists, and rescue workers who had rushed to the scene. The military’s latest statement did not explain why a second barrage was approved. The casualties included several journalists. Reuters confirmed that its cameraman Hussam al-Masri was killed and photographer Hatem Khaled wounded. Other journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer for the Associated Press; Mohammed Salama, who worked with Al Jazeera; and Moaz Abu Taha. A rescue worker was also killed, according to Gaza officials. The hospital, reportedly operating at full capacity with more than 1,000 patients, saw at least 50 others wounded in the shelling, said Nasser Hospital director Atef al-Hout. The unusual wording of the IDF statement, which distinguished between errors by field commanders and those at Southern Command headquarters in Beersheva, signals possible internal disagreements. Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin, the army spokesperson, reiterated Monday night that Israel seeks to avoid civilian harm but must contend with Hamas embedding itself in hospitals. Still, Defrin provided no specific information about Hamas assets struck in this case, fueling speculation of dissent over whether tank fire was an appropriate method. Since Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor assumed command of Southern Command in March, air force sources have accused him of being less rigorous in minimizing civilian casualties than his predecessor. The strike has further damaged Israel’s already tenuous civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio. While IDF officers privately estimate a wartime ratio of roughly 60% civilians to 40% terrorists killed, the past six months show a much higher civilian toll. The IDF says it has killed 2,000 Hamas fighters during that period; Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry claims about 11,000 Gazans have died overall. Israel disputes many of Hamas’s figures but has not provided its own official tally—breaking with past practice. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
