Tag Archives: Virginia

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

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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.

Judge Releases Pro-Palestinian Non-citizen in Blow to ICE

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

CBS News: Top Gabbard aide under scrutiny for emails showing push to edit intel assessment

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President Trump’s nominee to head the National Counterterrorism Center is under fresh scrutiny as emails show he pressed senior intelligence analysts to amend an assessment of links between the Venezuelan government and the criminal gang, Tren de Aragua, known as TDA, to align the assessment more closely with Trump administration policies and to include references critical of Biden-era immigration programs.

The nominee, Joe Kent, is just being a good sycophant, sucking up to the bosses and giving them what they want to hear.

Counterterrorism nominee Joe Kent under scrutiny as emails show he pushed for edits to intelligence assessment
Emails show Kent pressed senior intelligence analysts to amend assessment of links between Venezuelan government and Tren de Aragua gang.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/counterterrorism-nominee-joe-kent-emails-edits-intelligence-assessment

Associated Press: Trump’s $600 million war chest: How he plans to wield his power in the midterms and beyond

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Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash.

The president has amassed a war chest of at least $600 million in political donations heading into the midterm elections, according to three people familiar with the matter. It’s an unprecedented sum in modern politics, particularly for a lame-duck president who is barred by the U.S. Constitution from running again.

The only way for MAGA & King Donald to survive is to buy their way through the mid-term elections in 2026.

Trump’s $600 million war chest: How he plans to wield his power in the midterms and beyond
Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, President Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-fundraising-midterms-leverage-ccee4d19d5b41f08504370839fb36364

USA Today: Trump’s crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions

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Referencing Trump’s business moves while in office, an ethics expert said, “His is one of the most blatant and appalling instances of selling access to the presidency I’ve ever seen.”

President Donald Trump dined with 220 investors who plowed a combined $148 million into his crypto venture, boosting the growing crypto industry and inviting a torrent of criticism about the ethical implications.

Black-tie dinners with the wealthy are nothing new for Trump. But this event, which took place on the evening of May 22 at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, stood out among the annals of presidential dining.

The dinner with the president was a reward for making the leaderboard in a contest to be among the top purchasers of the $TRUMP meme coin, a type of cryptocurrency. The top 25 buyers spent more than $111 million and were granted a private VIP reception with Trump, while the top four also received a limited edition Trump Tourbillon watch that sells for $100,000.

This is corruption and influence-peddling at is finest. King Donald is for sale!

Trump’s crypto dinner: Black ties, a Chinese billionaire and ethics questions
Trump hosted a black-tie dinner at his Virginia golf club for 220 investors who gave a combined $148 million to his crypto venture.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/22/trump-crypto-dinner-ethics-meme-coin/83787117007

Raw Story: Staffers quit over Kristi [“Bimbo #2”] Noem’s 4-hour ‘fishing expedition’ polygraphs: report

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi [“Bimbo #2”] Noem’s obsession with tracking down leakers in her department has led to an exodus of employees who would rather quit than listen to threats or be subjected to intrusive polygraph tests.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the polygraphs that began back in February have continued unabated as she and top adviser Corey Lewandowski have personally singled out employees in numbers that one former official labeled “unprecedented.”

With the Journal’s Michelle Hackman and Tarini Parti labeling what is going on behind closed doors at the agency as a “fishing expedition,” they reported, “… many have said the seeming randomness has created a chilling effect inside the department.”

The report notes that some interrogations that have taken place “in a small interrogation room in Virginia with a one-way mirror,” have lasted up to four hours and that has helped lead to an exodus from the department.

Staffers quit over Kristi Noem’s 4-hour ‘fishing expedition’ polygraphs: report

https://www.rawstory.com/noem-leakers-staffers-quit

Alternet: ‘Not one peep from Trump’: Tornado-ravaged city’s mayor pleads for federal assistance

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At least 28 people across three states were killed when tornadoes struck Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia on Friday, with a governor and a mayor calling them among the worst they’ve ever seen. Unseen, however, has been any acknowledgment or support from President Donald Trump or, according to some reports, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“What we need right now is federal assistance,” declared St. Louis, Missouri Mayor Cara Spencer on MSNBC (video below) on Monday, “we need federal assistance.”

“This is where FEMA and the federal government has got to come in and help communities,” Mayor Spencer urged. “Our city cannot shoulder this alone. The State of Missouri cannot shoulder this alone. We need partners at the national level, at the federal level to step up and help.”

Spencer explained, “this is what the federal government is for. We need your help, we need the help of the broader community.”

“FEMA has not been on the ground—we do not have confirmed assistance from FEMA at this point,” Spencer said. “I do want to say, however, every other level of government has been on the ground with us, helping in every capacity possible. But when you have a disaster of this scale, eight miles of just pure destruction, this tornado didn’t just touch down and leave, this tornado ripped through our community for a full eight miles in the city of St. Louis …

Memo to St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer: Regretfully our self-absorbed Grifter-in-Chief is busy telling Walmart to “eat it” and has no time for us little people.

‘Not one peep from Trump’: Tornado-ravaged city’s mayor pleads for federal assistance

https://www.alternet.org/the-right-wing/trump-fema-tornadoes

Sacramento Bee: ‘Reeks of Unconstitutionality’: Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Outrage

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Several major law firms have stepped up to challenge the Trump administration. District Judge John Bates recently expressed skepticism about the legality of a Trump executive order targeting the law firm Jenner & Block. He raised concerns that the order primarily serves a punitive purpose. The court recently granted a temporary halt to the order and is now considering a request for a permanent injunction.

Legal arguments center on whether the order aims to deter clients from working with Jenner & Block by restricting their access to federal resources. The order refers to the firm’s previous employment of Andrew Weissmann, who served on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team.

Michael Attanasio, attorney for Jenner & Block, contended that the executive order is punitive and unconstitutional, targeting the firm due to its affiliations. Bates rejected Justice Department claims that the sanctions on Jenner & Block and other firms were not punitive.

Bates said, “It’s trying to punish Jenner by stopping the flow of money to Jenner.” He questioned, “Isn’t it logical that clients are going to be reluctant to engage Jenner & Block if they know there’s a real chance that Jenner and Block isn’t going to be able to go into a federal building or talk to federal agencies?”

‘Reeks of Unconstitutionality’: Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Outrage
Several major law firms have stepped up to challenge the Trump administration. District Judge John Bates recently expressed skepticism about the legality of a Trump executive order targeting the law firm Jenner & Block. He raised concerns that the order primarily serves a punitive purpose. The court recently granted a temporary halt to the orderContinue reading ”‘Reeks of Unconstitutionality’: Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Outrage”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/reeks-of-unconstitutionality-trump-s-executive-order-sparks-outrage/ar-AA1EV5Kf

Washington Post: Trump shut out refugees but is making White South Africans an exception

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Federal and Virginia state officials are preparing to receive about 60 White South Africans at Dulles International Airport next week, government documents and emails show.

Months after the Trump administration ground U.S. refugee admissions to a halt, the program meant for people fleeing war or political persecution has restarted — but only for one group: White South Africans.

Plans are underway to fly approximately 60 Afrikaners to Dulles International Airport on a State Department-chartered plane Monday, with federal and Virginia officials preparing to receive them in a ceremonial news conference, according to documents and emails obtained by The Washington Post, as well as three government officials familiar with the preparations.

Real refugees need not apply, but South Africa’s fallen racists are welcomed.

https://archive.is/MMsu5#selection-213.0-224.0

Associated Press: Army plans for a potential parade on Trump’s birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns

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His Majesty King Donald would like a big parade to celebrate his birthday:

Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump’s birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

…

While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.

Army plans for a potential parade on Trump’s birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns
Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump’s birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and potentially a couple thousand civilians.

https://apnews.com/article/army-parade-trump-birthday-96bb9c8e9af1ef285c56fdc3d1ba4b35

ACLU: There’s No Evidence I’m in a Gang — Because I’m Not. But I’ve Been Locked Up for Two Months for Gang Membership.

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Trump’s Amerika:

One Friday after school last June,I went to play soccer with friends in the park in Brentwood, New York, where I live. I love the soccer fields there. There are lights and grass, and it feels so much nicer and safer than the fields where I used to play. In El Salvador, where I’m originally from, a gun might go off or gang members might grab a player off the field and beat him up.

Walking home with my friend, Juan* around 8 p.m., I felt good. We ran into a kid we knew from school, Andres,* and he joined us. I knew Andres’ face, and I would say, “Hey, what’s up?” when we ran into each other at school, but I didn’t know him well.

As we were walking, Juan and I started to joke around and shove each other, laughing. All of a sudden, we saw a police car pull up. For months, the police had been stopping me frequently and accusing me of being in a gang. Their “evidence” was based on nothing — a doodle they found in my notebook and people I said hello to at school. I had even asked to meet with the police to explain to them that I’m not in a gang.

…

I don’t belong locked up. I can’t understand why I’ve been in jail for more than two months. I never belonged to a gang. I never hurt anyone. I never threatened anyone. I fled from the gangs in my country. And I thought I was coming to a country where I would be safe.

There’s No Evidence I’m in a Gang — Because I’m Not. But I’ve Been Locked Up for Two Months for Gang Membership. | ACLU
The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.
There’s No Evidence I’m in a Gang — Because I’m Not. But I’ve Been Locked Up for Two Months for Gang Membership.