Miami Herald: Judge Releases Pro-Palestinian Non-citizen in Blow to ICE

A U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles has ordered the release of Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid the administration’s crackdown on dissent related to Palestinian advocacy. Giles found that Suri’s detention violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights. His case has raised concerns about the targeting of non-citizen academics for their political beliefs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-releases-pro-palestinian-non-citizen-in-blow-to-ice/ss-AA1FmSle

The Hill: Opinion: Trump is tanking with Ohio independents — a new poll shows why

Trump won Ohio by 11 points in 2024. But the news among Ohio independents today is not especially good.

According to the latest Bowling Green State University-YouGov poll of 800 registered Ohio voters, Trump is underwater among independents. Just 40 percent approve, while 47 percent disapprove of his job performance. Just five months ago, 56 percent of Ohio independents reported voting for Trump.

Potential trouble among independent voters is apparent throughout the survey. More than half of Ohio independents (53 percent) think the country is on the wrong track, with nearly half (48 percent) saying that inflation or the economy in general is America’s most important problem and another 13 percent saying threats to democracy.

Asked about their personal economic situation, more than half of Ohio independents (52 percent) believe it has worsened. Their assessment of the U.S. economy is more dire. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) believe it has gotten worse.

Asked about the Trump administration’s tariff policies, more than half of Ohio independents (51 percent) believe they hurt the U.S., and 53 percent believe they will hurt them personally. Specifically asked about a 25 percent tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports, 61 percent of Ohio independents are opposed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/opinion-trump-is-tanking-with-ohio-independents-a-new-poll-shows-why/ar-AA1E4T08

Reuters: White House seeks to cut TSA funding and boost air, rail safety

The White House said on Friday it wants to cut funding for the Transportation Security Administration by $247 million, while boosting spending on rail and air safety.

In its proposal on Friday to cut TSA officer levels, the White House said, “TSA has consistently failed audits while implementing intrusive screening measures that violate Americans’ privacy and dignity.” It was not immediately clear how many positions the White House wants to cut.

And:

The proposal also calls for cutting funding by $308 million for Essential Air Service, which subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports and is popular with Republican lawmakers.

I’m no fan of TSA, but cutting a quarter billion dollars out of their budget hardly seems likely improve aviation security. Focus on their procedures and methods, not on their people.

Cutting Essential Air Service will be disastrous for many rural communities. It will also hit airlines hard while they’re also feeling the loss of international tourists thanks to the actions of King Donald & Co.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/white-house-seeks-to-cut-tsa-funding-and-boost-air-rail-safety/ar-AA1E4oWa

Politico Magazine: JD Vance’s Little Brother Tries His Hand at Politics. It’s Not Going So Well.

Cory Bowman says he wants to be mayor of Cincinnati. He might have other things in mind.

A lonely microphone and an empty chair sat at the end of a long, yellow cloth-draped table where Vice President JD Vance’s half-brother, Cory Bowman, should have been sitting. If Bowman had been there, it would have been one of a handful of key appearances ahead of the first election for potentially the first role of his nascent political career: Cincinnati mayor.

It was a Tuesday night in April inside a community center, where the local NAACP chapter was holding the second and final debate ahead of the May 6 mayoral primary. And Bowman, a local evangelical pastor, coffee shop owner and the first Republican to file to run for mayor here in 16 years, was nowhere to be found.

Dunce and Duncer?

https://archive.is/5yTgC#selection-1041.13-1060.0

Money Talks News: 26 Social Security Offices Expected to Close Down by This Fall

The Associated Press (AP) recently obtained an internal planning document from the General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, that includes the dates on which some of those leases are expected to end. The AP also searched publicly available data to find additional information on these leases.

The publication identified 26 SSA offices that will close in 2025.

This news comes just after the SSA implemented stronger identity verification practices. Beneficiaries must now verify their identity in person before they can change their direct deposit information or claim benefits. Closing SSA locations will make it more difficult for beneficiaries in certain areas to do that.

26 Social Security Offices Expected to Close Down by This Fall