Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 ps:Language alert!! Stephen Miller’s Wife Celebrates Journalist’s Arrest With Vile Slur Video Katie Miller enjoyed a homophobic joke soon after the news about Don Lemon broke. MAGA podcaster Katie Miller celebrated the arrest of Don Lemon by sharing a homophobic attack against the former CNN anchor. The wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller rushed to post an unhinged response on social media following news that Lemon is facing federal charges for covering an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Miller shared an interview she conducted with rapper-turned-MAGA mascot Nicki Minaj in which the pair gleefully laughed at a homophobic jab aimed at the openly gay Lemon. “You called for Don Lemon’s arrest over his church stunt in Minneapolis; he’s since called you racist, unhinged, homophobic, and out of your depth,” Miller asked. “Anything you’d like to say to Don Lemon?” “c---sucker, stop,” Minaj replied. Miller posted the clip as soon as news broke early Friday that Lemon had been arrested Thursday night for covering a Jan. 18 demonstration. The protest disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church, where demonstrators accused a pastor of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lemon, who now works as an independent journalist, has repeatedly defended the protest as protected under the First Amendment and said he was merely documenting the demonstration rather than participating in it. Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, called the arrest an “unprecedented attack” on the First Amendment.“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention, and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell added. In another social media post, Miller wrote “cry harder” when Pod Save America co-host Dan Pfeiffer also suggested Lemon’s arrest was an attack on the First Amendment. Conservative political commentator Megyn Kelly was another MAGA figure who praised the arrest of the longtime Donald Trump critic. “For those saying this is criminalizing journalism, journalists don’t get a pass when breaking the law just because they have a mic,” Kelly posted on X. “If I accompanied people storming an abortion clinic, harassing/scaring/‘traumatizing’ crying women while saying ‘But I’m a reporter!’ I would absolutely have been charged under any Dem admin.” Kelly also claimed that Lemon faces at least one felony charge and has been charged alongside five other defendants. Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights and a top Trump ally, had previously warned Lemon, “You are on notice” after his reporting on the protest triggered outrage among MAGA figures and the White House. Dhillon had threatened Lemon with charges under the Ku Klux Klan Act or the FACE Act during media appearances. The Trump Justice Department arrested Lemon just days after a magistrate judge rejected the evidence in its initial attempt to prosecute him. In a video posted online responding to the backlash, a defiant Lemon said: “The MAGA administration and the fake news MAGAs are losing their minds over something that’s not even true. “I had no affiliation with that organization. I didn’t even know they were going to this church until we followed them. We were there chronicling protests,” he said. “Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism—reporting on it and speaking to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church, and members of the organization. That’s it.” Lemon is due to appear in a Los Angeles court on Friday morning to face the charges. https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-millers-wife-katie-miller-celebrates-journalist-don-lemons-arrest-with-vile-slur-video/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 Trump Shakes Down Taxpayers for Jaw-Dropping 11-Figure Payout The president’s DoJ could be the one to decide the full amount of the settlement in the suit Trump has filed against the Treasury. Donald Trump is suing the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion after a rogue employee leaked the president’s tax returns. Trump, alongside his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and the Trump Organization, filed a lawsuit in Miami federal court on Thursday, alleging the agencies failed to prevent the disclosure of personal financial information by former IRS contractor Charles “Chaz” Littlejohn. If successful, American taxpayers would ultimately be on the hook to cover the mammoth 11-figure damages claim against Trump’s own government. Littlejohn is currently serving a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to stealing Trump’s tax data and leaking it to The New York Times. He also leaked tax returns and other sensitive financial information belonging to thousands of wealthy individuals—including billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk—to ProPublica. The Times used information from Littlejohn to publish a damning assessment of Trump’s finances in September 2020, reporting that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and paid no income tax in several other years because he reported losing far more money than he earned. “The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization to The New York Times, ProPublica, and other left-wing news outlets, which was then illegally released to millions of people,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told CNBC. “President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable.” The lawsuit alleges that the Trumps suffered “embarrassment” and that their family business was “unfairly tarnished” as a result of reporting based on the leaked tax returns. “Defendants’ failures have caused significant and irreparable harm to Plaintiffs, their reputations, and their substantial financial interests,” Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in the suit. As noted by Bloomberg Tax, Trump loyalists at the Department of Justice—an agency now more than willing to allow the president to pursue a revenge tour against his adversaries—could decide whether to settle the case and on what terms.Last October, Trump demanded that the DOJ pay him roughly $230 million in compensation over the investigation into alleged Russian collusion during the 2016 election and the 2022 FBI raid of his Mar-a-Lago home over classified documents. Any settlement in that case could also be approved by Trump allies now installed at the department. Earlier this month, Trump’s 2024 campaign manager Chris LaCivita dropped a lawsuit against the Daily Beast that he had filed over an article reporting that his consulting firm had been paid millions of dollars by the campaign through a variety of contracts. LaCivita withdrew the suit without producing any discovery documents, including his tax returns. The Beast did not retract the story, issue an apology, or make any payment. The Daily Beast has contacted the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-shakes-down-taxpayers-for-jaw-dropping-11-figure-payout/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 Two More Kids From Detained 5-Year-Old’s School Taken Into ICE Custody The asylum-seeking mom begged the school to bring her boys to ICE so they wouldn’t be left alone after she was detained. Two more boys from the school of 5-year-old detainee Liam Conejo Ramos were taken into ICE custody by their principal after agents detained their mother at an immigration appointment. A photograph of Liam, standing scared in the snow, wearing a hat with bunny ears, while being detained by federal immigration agents, has come to represent some of the most heartless aspects of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation drive. The latest seizure unfolded on Thursday when the mother, who is seeking asylum, was picked up during a check-in at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, according to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). With no relatives in Minnesota to look after them, the woman phoned Valley View Elementary principal Jason Kuhlman and asked him to bring her sons—both elementary-age, between 7 and 9—to be with her in custody, the Star Tribune reported. He and a school nurse who collected the boys from class in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, explained what had happened to their mom, and drove them to Whipple. The older child, a fifth-grader, stayed quiet as Kuhlman described the detention, then broke down as they approached the federal complex and clung to the nurse’s hand, according to the outlets. Inside the Whipple building, Kuhlman and Columbia Academy principal Leslee Sherk said they saw other children waiting around a television playing cartoons, with a box of books on the floor—a makeshift holding room for families in limbo. Describing the scene, Sherk told the Star Tribune, “It just didn’t sit right with me.” The principal arrived carrying the mother’s immigration documents and told officials that she and her boys had proof of lawful presence and, they said, a judge’s order barring their deportation. According to Kuhlman, staff told them to wait while a supervisor reviewed the situation, but no decision came before the educators had to leave, MPR reported. What happens next to the family is unclear. Kuhlman said they fear the boys and their mom could be moved within hours to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas—the same ICE facility where Liam, 5, is already being held, along with at least one fourth-grader from a neighboring school. That Dilley complex was reopened under a renewed ICE contract to detain migrant families through at least 2030, despite years of complaints over medical care and conditions. On Thursday, lawmakers and advocates described Liam as feverish, vomiting, and barely responsive inside the facility. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett said the boy was “so lethargic” during a 30-minute visit. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that the child was ill, putting forward a government official who it said had given him a check-up. Kuhlman, who has worked in Columbia Heights Public Schools since 2019, said the campus is being hollowed out by immigration raids. He told the Star Tribune that ICE has detained mothers and fathers from 25 families at Valley View this month alone, including Liam and his father, who were grabbed outside their apartment on Jan. 20. Columbia Academy principal Sherk said at least 14 families at her middle school have been hit by enforcement actions, with Monday mornings now bringing a routine of voicemails about parents taken by ICE. Minnesota Public Radio reported that at least six children from the Columbia Heights district are now in ICE custody. Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, asylum seekers from Ecuador, were swiftly flown more than 1,200 miles to Dilley after agents detained them outside their home in Columbia Heights. A federal judge in Texas, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, has temporarily blocked their deportation and any transfer out of his court’s jurisdiction while litigation continues, though he left the pair in ICE custody at the facility. School officials have accused ICE of using Liam as “bait” during the original arrest by walking the five-year-old to his front door. DHS denies that and claims his father abandoned him while trying to flee. Educators say they are being forced into the middle of those battles—now literally delivering children into detention. “We shouldn’t have to be bringing students to a detention center because their mom was doing everything right and was detained,” Kuhlman told the Star Tribune. In response to a Daily Beast request for comment, the DHS’ Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin set out her view of the case. McLaughlin stated, “On Jan. 29, ICE arrested Ixchell Indira Leon-Silvera, an illegal alien from Venezuela released into the country by the Biden administration in 2023. Upon her arrest, ICE officers gave her the choice to either take her children with her or place them in the care of someone she designates. The parent chose to take her children with her. A school official brought the children to ICE, and the family unit is together pending a hearing on their case.” In conclusion, McLaughlin said, “Parents can take control of their departure by using the CBP Home app. By using the app, families receive $2,600, a free flight home, and preserve the opportunity to return to the U.S. the legal way and live the American dream.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/two-more-kids-from-detained-5-yos-school-taken-into-ice-custody-in-minnesota/? ps:I guess this is OK to maga? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 Live updates: Justice Department says it’s releasing 3 million pages from its Jeffrey Epstein files The Justice Department said Friday that it was releasing many more records from its investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, resuming disclosures under a law intended to reveal what the government knew about the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls and his interactions with rich and powerful people including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. AP reporters are reviewing the files. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump’s choice of Kevin Warsh to lead the Fed could reshape the world’s most influential central bank Journalist Don Lemon is charged with federal civil rights crimes in anti-ICE church protest The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the killing of Alex Pretti Protesters call for nationwide strike against Trump’s immigration policies Montana residents forced to reckon with national immigration policy after beloved mechanic’s arrest Immigration raids, election office search stir midterm concerns for Democratic election officials House Republicans propose voting changes as Trump administration eyes the midterms AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Texas’ special congressional runoff Polly Cooper, an Oneida woman who helped save Washington’s army, is honored on $1 coin Pushed by Trump, US allies are resetting relations with China Cubans scramble to survive as US vise on island tightens in push to oust government Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 📁 Millions of Epstein docs released Photo illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios. Photos: Getty Images The Justice Department released the final tranche of Epstein files, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters today. 🔢 By the numbers: DOJ is releasing more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, he said. Blanche didn't detail the contents. But journalists worldwide are digging through the docs, Axios' April Rubin reports. The videos and photos include "large quantities" of commercial pornography — not taken by Jeffrey Epstein or anyone in his orbit — that was seized from his devices. The big picture: With the release, Blanche said the DOJ's obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act will be completed. It's been more than a month since the congressionally mandated deadline for the department to vet and release materials. Asked if all files related to President Trump are being released, Blanche said: "Yes, I can assure that we complied with the statute, we complied with the act. We did not protect President Trump." See the documents. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 🏦 Warshonomics Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Jin Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images Kevin Warsh, named by President Trump this morning to chair the Federal Reserve, is a former Fed governor who's well-known in political circles and trusted by the markets, Axios' Neil Irwin and Courtenay Brown write. Warsh's appointment attracted enthusiastic endorsements, plus accusations that he's overly political and will be too deferential to Trump. Longer-term interest rates were up slightly, reflecting Warsh's stated desire to reduce the Fed's massive bond portfolio. The dollar was up, and stocks were slightly down. Some Democrats attacked the new nominee for seemingly adapting his views on interest rates to the party of the White House occupant. But Warsh drew general support among Republicans and on Wall Street. President Trump concluded his announcement post about Kevin Warsh by saying: "On top of everything else, he is 'central casting,' and he will never let you down." Via Truth Social Warsh, 55, was a key lieutenant of Fed chair Ben Bernanke during the Global Financial Crisis nearly two decades ago. Since then, Warsh has been a Fed critic. He's argued that Fed leaders — Powell, and Janet Yellen before him — were too willing to try to fine-tune the economy, overly confident in models and too eager to intervene with bailouts. While traditionally a monetary "hawk" who favors tighter policy, he has lately endorsed "dovish" interest rate cuts in light of strong productivity gains fueled — in Warsh's telling — by Trump's economic policies and the AI boom. The open questions for economy-watchers: Will Warsh's dovish tone persist once he's in the big chair at the Fed? How effective will he be at bringing the 18 other Fed officials who have a say on monetary policy to his side? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 🏁 President Trump signed an executive order to bring an IndyCar street race to... downtown D.C. this summer. Mayor Muriel Bowser is embracing the unprecedented high-profile race course near the National Mall. Go deeper with Axios D.C. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1 Author Members Posted February 1 Don’t Panic View in browser Trying to parse market reactions to world events can feel a bit like armchair psychology. Lately, investors seem to be holding something back—amid a barrage of potentially seismic decisions from the White House, markets have barely budged. In moments of global instability, traders usually start selling. President Obama’s threats to Syria during his second term gave traders “jitters.” Trump’s escalating trade war with China during his first term deflated the stock market. And last spring, when Trump unveiled “Liberation Day”—a plan to impose punitive tariffs on dozens of foreign nations—the S&P 500 shed a record $5 trillion over two days. It remains the biggest market shock of the president’s second term so far. But the reactions to three headlines from this past month tell a different story. When U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, reviving an old protocol for dominance in the Western Hemisphere, the markets held strong. When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell revealed on January 11 that he was under criminal investigation by the Justice Department, and that the central bank’s independence was potentially under threat, markets responded with startling calm. And when Trump proposed a raft of European tariffs on January 17, as part of an effort to seize Greenland from our Danish allies, the market reaction, although noticeable, was far from catastrophic. The fact that traders haven’t reacted so dramatically to volatility in 2026 is partly the product of better-than-expected economic growth in 2025. Although consumer prices remain high and job growth is slow, most experts will tell you that the American economy is in pretty good shape: The S&P 500 grew 16.39 percent last year; unemployment, although higher than when Trump took office, is still relatively low; and inflation isn’t expected to balloon over the coming year. (Prophecies of a recession turned out to have been wrong.) Traders are weighing Trump’s actions against that rosy backdrop, and have lately been acclimating to the president’s caprice. The “TACO” theory (short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”) emerged as a way to describe his tendency to overpromise. But the markets’ resiliency over the past month indicates a more all-encompassing anhedonia. Ahead of the mission to extract Maduro from Caracas, Trump suggested that U.S. intervention in Venezuela was intended to free up the country’s oil reserves, which are thought to be the largest in the world. It seemed possible that American companies would barrel up those trillions of gallons of oil, increasing global supply and lowering prices—a boon for purchasers and a potential problem for the energy companies already facing an oversupply problem. But because this all unfolded early on a Saturday morning, and oil-futures trading doesn’t open until Sunday evening, investors had a slight buffer. Josh Lipsky, the chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, told me that energy traders understood pretty quickly that there wouldn’t be “some influx of oil coming on.” American oil companies were reluctant to pour money into Venezuela given the country’s crumbling infrastructure, its history of political instability, and the cost of refining its low-quality reserves. A protracted battle over the country’s leadership also seemed unlikely, meaning that the effects of Maduro’s capture would largely be felt locally. After a moment of initial uncertainty, the markets quickly recovered—a muted reaction to what could have been a much larger, and much costlier, event. The revelation that the Justice Department had subpoenaed the Federal Reserve chair posed an entirely different sort of risk. In a video message announcing the news, Powell accused Trump of persecuting him over his refusal to lower interest rates as quickly as the president would like. The Fed is famously independent from daily politics, which is part of its strength, and the dollar’s strength; Trump’s attempt to assert control over it could have severe economic consequences. There was a chance that, after Powell’s announcement, traders would start to price in that danger. But as with the Maduro operation, this happened on a weekend, and markets had a buffer. That same night, Trump distanced himself from the DOJ’s investigation, and Senator Thom Tillis (a member of the Senate banking committee) came out strongly against it. Krishna Guha, the vice chair of the investment-research firm Evercore ISI, told me that had those developments not occurred, the market could have “responded very violently.” But by Monday afternoon, traders had barely reacted. Something about Trump’s social-media proposal to put tariffs on European nations spooked markets more than the investigation of Powell or the capture of Maduro. Once again, the news arrived on a weekend. When trading resumed, stocks did noticeably decline, and the dollar weakened—but the 2.1 percent dip in the S&P 500 was nothing close to what happened after the “Liberation Day” announcement. When the president reneged on his Greenland-tariff plan last week, markets steadied. “I think that we got a little taste of how bad things would have been if the administration had continued along the escalation path,” Guha said. According to John Canavan, the lead market analyst at Oxford Economics, that initial dip was likely compounded by a spike in Japanese-long-term-bond yields. Investors may have also learned their lesson from the slight pullback that followed last year’s “Liberation Day” panic; some of those proposed tariffs were eventually paused, reduced, or delayed. Although many of the big ones remained in place, it became clear that Trump was essentially using the threat of economic devastation as a negotiation tactic. The economists I spoke with stressed that although these three cases are distinct, on the whole, markets have become more inured to the Trump administration’s actions. For now, the fate of Americans’ 401(k)s is not tied to the president’s Truth Social account. But that could always change; just this week, the president wrote that the United States has deployed a “massive armada” to the Middle East in an attempt to force Iran to end its nuclear weapons program. Financial markets are in the business of pricing threats—and Trump will surely keep them coming. Related: The TACO presidency Trump is trying to fix the economy—by handing out cash. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 3 Author Members Posted February 3 Epstein Victim Gave Bombshell Testimony on Trump and Ghislaine The latest Epstein files have raised fresh questions about Trump’s links to the sex offender and his convicted accomplice. One of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims told the FBI how Ghislaine Maxwell effectively tried to pimp her out to Donald Trump and his party pals, making it clear that she was “available” for them. But the names of the men involved in the victim’s testimony, other than the president’s, have been hidden by the Justice Department, prompting claims of another attempted cover-up. About 3.5 million fresh documents were published by the department on Friday, featuring bombshell new references to Trump, uncorroborated FBI tips about alleged abuse or ties to Epstein and Maxwell, and interviews with Epstein’s victims. In one particular interview conducted by the FBI in September 2021, a woman, whose name has been redacted, told authorities that Maxwell took her to a party in New York, where she “seemed very excited that there would be a lot of great men for (redacted) to meet.” At the party, the victim was “presented” to Trump by Maxwell, who also gave him “a rundown” of her accolades. “MAXWELL presented (redacted) to TRUMP and they had a conversation for approximately 20 minutes. (Redacted) was invited to MAR-A-LAGO where she was given a tour by TRUMP with EPSTEIN and MAXWELL present,” the file said. “Nothing happened between (redacted) and TRUMP,” the file added, but “by the things that MAXWELL said, it was made clear that (redacted) was available. MAXWELL said things like, ‘Oh I think he likes you. Aren’t you lucky. This is great’... MAXWELL said things like, ‘Oh he’ll like that. He doesn’t like that.’ It was set up very much like how MAXWELL introduced (redacted) to EPSTEIN.” The information is contained in a so-called 302 report, which FBI agents use to summarize an investigative interview that could be used as testimony. It is not clear when the introductions were made, but the details have raised fresh questions about Trump’s links to Epstein and Maxwell, and how much he knew about their heinous crimes. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the pair and previously claimed that he cut ties with Epstein in the mid-2000s, although files released last year suggest otherwise. Last year, the president also expressed dismay that the reputations of people who “innocently” met the disgraced financier years ago could be damaged due to the release of the files. On Friday, the White House referred the Daily Beast to a statement issued by the Justice Department, which stated that the new trove of files “may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act.” “To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the statement added. But the administration has once again come under fire for redacting the names of men who could have been involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking operations, undercutting the push for accountability. In the FBI’s 302 report, for instance, agents wrote that Maxwell also introduced the victim to other men, not just Trump, including one who was contacted by government officials and another man who was “much older” than the victim. But their names and details remain hidden in the heavily redacted filing. Asked if the public would learn the identities of the men who abused girls and young women as part of Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday, “If we learn about information and evidence that allows us to prosecute them, you better believe we will. But I don’t think the public is going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women, unfortunately.” However, Blanche added that the department had complied with the law and had the right to hold back any information that could jeopardize ongoing investigations, breach attorney-client privilege, identify victims, or show child pornography. “We didn’t protect or not protect anybody,” he told reporters on Friday. But Democrats and Epstein’s victims have hit out at the department for the redactions–and the fact that about half of the files in the DOJ’s possession have not been released. “The DOJ said it identified over 6 million potentially responsive pages but is releasing only about 3.5 million after review and redactions,” said Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who helped spearhead the Epstein Transparency Act alongside GOP Rep. Thomas Massie. “This raises questions as to why the rest are being withheld… Failing to release these files only shields the powerful individuals who were involved and hurts the public’s trust in our institutions.” In a joint statement issued after the latest batch of files was released, a number of survivors of Epstein’s abuse said, “This is not over. We will not stop until the truth is fully revealed and every perpetrator is finally held accountable. As we have always said, this is not about politics. We hope Democrats and Republicans will stand with survivors in continuing to demand the full release of the Epstein files.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epstein-victim-gave-bombshell-testimony-on-donald-trump-and-ghislaine-maxwell/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 3 Author Members Posted February 3 Anti-ICE Protesters Flood U.S. Cities Days After Nurse Killing ICE raids are sparking mass protests, walkouts, and clashes across the U.S. From Minneapolis to New York and Los Angeles to Atlanta, protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown erupted nationwide on Friday, as demonstrators marched, boycotted work and school, and urged their fellow Americans to shut it all down.Organizers said protests were planned at roughly 250 sites across dozens of states as part of what they described as a “national shutdown.” Demonstrators called for ICE to be abolished and said they opposed both immigration raids and deportations being carried out without due process. Nowhere was the anger more concentrated than in Minneapolis, which has emerged as ground zero for the movement. Several thousand protestors marched through the city’s downtown following the fatal shootings of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and mom-of-three Renee Good by federal agents in two separate incidents earlier this month. The Justice Department has since opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death to examine whether Department of Homeland Security officers violated the law. Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello performed at a benefit concert in Minneapolis supporting the families of Good and Pretti, both of whom were killed by federal agents during immigration raids in the city.In New York City, thousands gathered at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan, braving below-freezing temperatures to protest ICE enforcement. In Atlanta, protesters marched along Buford Highway, a corridor known for its immigrant-owned businesses. Protests also spread to other cities, including Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia, where hundreds turned out despite bitterly cold conditions. In several locations, organizers encouraged participants to close businesses or withhold labor as part of the broader shutdown effort, underscoring the size and scope of the coordinated protests. In Portland, Oregon, students walked out of classes and joined community marches, while on the opposite coast, in Portland, Maine, demonstrators filled Monument Square, chanting and holding signs opposing deportations and ICE operations in the state. In Tucson, Arizona, at least 20 schools canceled classes after the Tucson Unified School District cited high staff absences linked to the protests. In Los Angeles, demonstrations didn’t stay contained. After thousands marched downtown, a smaller group converged on a federal detention center, clashing with federal officers and triggering a law enforcement response, according to The New York Times. By nightfall, authorities had declared the assembly unlawful and moved in to disperse the crowd. Despite the scale of the demonstrations, the White House has shown no sign of backing down. Speaking on the red carpet at Thursday’s Kennedy Center premiere of Melania, the new $75 million documentary about his wife, President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions that immigration enforcement would be scaled back. “We’ll do whatever we can to keep our country safe,” he said while also praising his border czar, Tom Homan. With organizers already calling for additional actions, the nationwide protests show little sign of slowing. What began as outrage over deadly immigration raids in Minneapolis has broadened into a coordinated show of resistance, with demonstrators signaling that opposition to the administration’s immigration tactics now spans cities large and small, even in the coldest conditions. https://www.thedailybeast.com/anti-ice-protesters-flood-us-cities-days-after-nurse-killing/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 3 Author Members Posted February 3 How the FBI Worked Out Epstein’s Sinister Web Newly released documents show just how much evidence prosecutors had in Florida before Epstein was handed a sweetheart deal. The Department of Justice gave a peek into how it compiled information on a web of accomplices related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in a new release of more than 3 million pages of files related to the late sex offender. From Friday’s dump of files, it appears that the DOJ spoke with dozens of victims in the mid-2000s to establish a network of individuals associated with Epstein. The victims detailed who paid them, what they wore, what Epstein said to them, and if Epstein gave them any gifts. Some of the gifts detailed by the victims include Epstein paying the rent on their apartment, underwear from Victoria’s Secret, a Louis Vuitton purse, and the book Massage for Dummies. Multiple girls said they received tickets to see David Copperfield. Many of the victims in this list had spoken with the Palm Beach Police Department about their experience with Epstein. The PBPD was the agency that investigated Epstein’s sex crimes in 2005, before the investigation was largely turned over to the federal government. In 2008, then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alexander Acosta, who later became President Trump’s Secretary of Labor in his first term, awarded Epstein what has become known as a “sweetheart deal.” Epstein pleaded guilty to lesser state-level solicitation charges to avoid federal sex trafficking charges. Despite the mountain of evidence collected in Florida, Epstein served just 13 months of an 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County Jail and was granted work-release privileges six days per week. In 2019, Epstein was arrested and then indicted in the Southern District of New York on federal charges related to sex trafficking minors. The DOJ appears to have used all of that information from victims in Palm Beach, Florida, to untangle a web of Epstein’s accomplices before the federal indictment. The Department of Justice appeared to accidentally release an unredacted web of Epstein’s co-conspirators, with summaries of what the DOJ knew about each. The DOJ described Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime girlfriend and accomplice, as the “overall property manager to all of Epstein’s properties.” In 2021, Maxwell was convicted on federal sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison the following year. In the unredacted document, the DOJ said that “multiple victims” cited Lesley Groff, who worked as an executive assistant for Epstein for 20 years, as “the main point of phone contact for NYC-based massage appointments.” On Groff, the DOJ said, “On at least 2 occasions, victims believed that Groff was the one to pay them at [Epstein’s] Madison Avenue office building.” The DOJ also released unredacted information on Nadia Marcinko, a known pilot for Epstein and alleged co-conspirator to his crimes. The DOJ said Marcinko was “rumored to be Epstein’s ‘sex slave’” and that victims described her as being “involved in the sexual abuse during these massages.” Marcinko has reportedly been missing since January 2024, when a New York court unsealed details about Epstein’s case. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-fbi-worked-out-jeffrey-epsteins-sinister-web/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 3 Author Members Posted February 3 Exposed Musk Now Insists Epstein Files Don’t Matter The Tesla billionaire suddenly claimed the Epstein files are a “distraction.” Elon Musk is now claiming the Epstein files are a “distraction” that “doesn’t matter” after he was busted begging to come to one of Jeffrey Epstein’s parties. The 54-year-old billionaire had long been a vocal advocate for releasing the Epstein files and arresting the late sexual predator’s clients. But after emails in which Musk planned to visit Epstein’s Island for the “wildest party” were exposed in Friday’s Epstein files release, Musk has changed his tune. “What matters is not release of some subset of the Epstein files, but rather the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein,“ he wrote in an X post Saturday morning. “When there is at least one arrest, some justice will have been done. If not, this is all performative. Nothing but a distraction,” he added. Friday’s Epstein files release contained email correspondence between Musk and Epstein, written in November 2012, in which Epstein asked Musk, “how many people will you be for the heli to island.” Musk responded, “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?” Musk was referring to his then-paramour Talulah Riley, whom he married twice and divorced twice in the 2010s. A month later, Musk emailed Epstein on Christmas morning asking if Epstein could help him “let loose” in the “party scene.” Another exchange from 2013 found Musk planning a visit to Epstein’s Little St. James. Epstein told the Tesla CEO that there was “always space” for him on the island. The release pokes holes in Musk’s previous denial of a friendship with Epstein. In 2019, Musk had denied ever visiting the island and tried to cast Epstein as a pest trying to get him to visit. He told Vanity Fair that Epstein “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island. I declined.” After Friday’s Epstein files release, users on X, Musk’s social media platform, were divided between Musk critics hounding him for his thirsty emails and Musk defenders trying to brush them aside as no big deal. Ian Miles Cheong, a Malaysian influencer notable for promoting MAGA on social media, came to the billionaire’s defense by compiling a batch of posts in which Musk demanded the release of the Epstein files. He wrote, “There has not been one person more vocal about calling for the release of the Epstein files than Elon Musk. If he had anything to hide, or committed any wrongdoing, he wouldn’t have wanted those files out there.” Musk boosted the post and added, “Absolutely.” Musk has used the Epstein files as a cudgel with which to threaten his political enemies, including Donald Trump. After Musk and Trump had a falling out in the summer of 2025, Musk tweeted, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” He also called the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files an “obvious” cover-up and moaned that “so many powerful people want that list suppressed.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/exposed-musk-now-insists-epstein-files-dont-matter/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 3 Author Members Posted February 3 🌎 America's place in the world Data: European Council on Foreign Relations. Chart: Axios Visuals Imagine a world where ties to the U.S. feel like a burden, not a benefit to free society. "How America First Risks Becoming America Alone," an essay in this weekend's Wall Street Journal, says American allies — soured by President Trump's treatment — are "searching for alternatives to what increasingly feels like an abusive relationship." 📊 Positive views of the U.S. are declining worldwide, the essay notes: Brits who view the U.S. unfavorably doubled in the past two years to 64%. (YouGov) In Germany, 71% view the U.S. as an "adversary." (German polling firm Forsa) Across Europe, just 16% view the U.S. as an ally. (European Council on Foreign Relations) Nearly two-thirds of Canadians, Mexicans and Brazilians hold unfavorable views of the U.S., "and view their neighbor as a bigger threat than China." Keep reading (gift link) ... Go deeper: "Trump's trade minefield squeezes America's allies," by Axios' Courtenay Brown. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 🇦🇪 UAE firm bought secret stake in Trump crypto Skyline of Dubai, UAE, including the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Photo: Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images The Wall Street Journal uncovered a backstory to the Trump administration agreement giving the United Arab Emirates access to advanced AI chips — part of a flurry of dealmaking with the UAE: Four days before President Trump's inauguration last year, lieutenants to the UAE's national security adviser — Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family dubbed the "Spy Sheikh" — secretly signed a deal to buy a 49% stake in the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, for $500 million. The deal was signed by Eric Trump. "At least $31 million was also slated to flow to entities affiliated with the family of Steve Witkoff, a World Liberty co-founder who weeks earlier had been named U.S. envoy to the Middle East," The Journal reports. Why it matters: Foreign money flowed to the Trump family right before the inauguration — from a government now winning major U.S. policy concessions. A Liberty Financial spokesman said: "We made the deal in question because we strongly believe that it was what was best for our company as we continue to grow." A White House spokesperson said: "President Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children. There are no conflicts of interest." Keep reading. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Heartbreaking Details of 5-Year-Old’s Time in ICE Custody Revealed Liam Conejo Ramos’ father says detention staff denied him medicine when the child got sick. The father of a 5-year-old boy detained by ICE for two weeks has spoken about their ordeal after a federal judge ordered the pair’s release. Liam Conejo Ramos became the face of Donald Trump’s brutal mass deportation drive after a photo of him standing forlornly in the snow in a bunny-ears hat as ICE seized his asylum-seeker father in Minnesota went viral. Liam was visited last week by Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who said the child had gotten sick and was being mistreated, triggering further public outrage. But, after U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the release of Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from the family detention center in Dilley, South Texas, the pair were allowed to fly back home to their family on Sunday, just as the center was hit by a measles outbreak and movement in and out was locked down. In an exclusive interview with ABC News during the flight from San Antonio, which saw Liam invited into the cockpit by the pilot, Conejo Arias shared heartbreaking details about their ordeal. He said agents detained them on Jan. 20 as they arrived home from preschool in Columbia Heights. “That’s when several agents emerged [from their vehicles] and detained us,” he told ABC. His mother, local officials, and Crockett said Liam became feverish, vomited, and grew lethargic inside the detention facility, with Crockett, 44, saying Liam was “so lethargic” during a visit and “never alert” the entire time. The Department of Homeland Security at the time denied he was sick. But Conejo Arias echoed those health concerns in the ABC interview, describing conditions as “not great” and alleging staff had no medicine for his son. “We asked for medication, but we were told they didn’t have any,” he said. Biery, a Bill Clinton appointee in the Western District of Texas, used unusually sharp language in the order, calling the case “ill-conceived and incompetently implemented” and criticizing “daily deportation quotas.” DHS disputed the family’s account. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to ABC after the ruling: “ICE did NOT target or arrest a child.” DHS also claimed Conejo Arias “fled on foot—abandoning his child,” and said officers tried to place Liam with his “alleged mother,” who DHS claimed refused to take custody. Conejo Arias denied that characterization. “I love my son too much. I would never abandon him,” he told ABC. Neighbors have said Liam’s mother, who is pregnant, was too scared to leave the house for fear of also being detained. Biery noted Liam and Conejo Arias could still end up back in Ecuador—“involuntarily or by self-deportation”—but said any outcome should come via “a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place,” according to ABC News. Conejo Arias told ABC on Sunday that he wants to stay in the United States with his family, saying they fled Ecuador because they were scared to return. “I asked for asylum to be here for my family, for my children,” he said. “I’m here because I’m scared of returning to my country.” He said the family’s asylum case is still working its way through the system and that they “came in with all the requirements,” with his first court hearing scheduled for later in February. Conejo Arias added that his message to the federal government was “not to be so unfair with the Latino population,” arguing it is “unjust” when people who come to work and support their families are detained. “In my case, we were also arrested unjustly,” he said. When asked for comment by the Daily Beast, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stuck to the administration’s original line surrounding ICE’s detention of Liam and his father but confirmed they had been released from ICE custody. https://www.thedailybeast.com/heartbreaking-details-of-5-year-old-liam-conejo-ramoss-time-in-ice-custody-revealed/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Elite Law Firm Boss Who Bent the Knee to Trump Sucked Up to ‘Amazing’ Epstein The embattled chairman of Paul Weiss has now had his embarrassing emails to Jeffrey Epstein exposed. The chairman of a major law firm that sparked backlash by caving to President Donald Trump to save itself from his retribution campaign gushed to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein about how “amazing” he was. Brad Karp, the 66-year-old head of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, came under fire last year for being the first Big Law firm executive to make a deal with Trump after the president signed a series of executive orders targeting law firms that had represented his perceived enemies. While other firms fought Trump’s orders and won big in court, Paul Weiss agreed to provide $40 million in free legal services to causes championed by Trump, release a statement about neutrality in hiring, and avoid any policies promoting diversity and inclusivity. The deal backfired with major corporate clients and led to an exodus of top talent, and Karp was personally heckled and protested at a New York Bar Foundation gala in November, Bloomberg Law reported. Now, the embattled firm leader’s awkward emails to Epstein have been released in the latest tranche of documents released by the Department of Justice. “I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget,” Karp wrote to Epstein in July 2015, the day after a scheduled dinner with Epstein, Karp, and film director Woody Allen, the Financial Times reported. “It was truly ‘once in a lifetime’ in every way, though I hope to be invited against. You are an extraordinary host—and your home…!!!” Epstein wrote back that “there are many nights of unique talents” and promised Karp would be “invited often.” “You are always welcome,” he wrote. “You’re amazing… and thank you!” Karp replied. In another email, Karp asked Epstein for help getting his son a job with an Allen production, Bloomberg Law reported. The messages were sent several years after Epstein pled guilty to Florida state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. “Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, then the CEO of the firm’s longtime client Apollo, to negotiate a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein that spanned several years,” Paul Weiss said Sunday in a statement. “The firm was adverse to Epstein, and at no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him.” But the Justice Department’s files show that not all of Karp and Epstein’s communications on the matter were adversarial. “can you please ha+e the discussion re my fees. I m leaving it to you to resolve. Thx,” Epstein emailed Karp in October 2018, the FT reported. “I brought it up today and made now progress,” Karp replied. “Let me try again, in a different way.” The next day, Epstein asked again, and Karp said that Black “just waved me off.” The documents also show that Allen played a prominent role in Karp’s relationship with Epstein. Epstein’s assistant arranged for Karp and his children to attend a small film screening in New York in 2014, and for Karp’s son to attend screenings in 2016 and 2018. The 90-year-old filmmaker married his ex-girlfriend Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn in 1997 and was accused of sexually abusing Farrow’s other daughter Dylan, which he denies. Allen and Previn were regular guests for years at Epstein’s townhouse on the Upper East Side, where they were always welcome despite the controversy surrounding the Annie Hall director, The New York Times reported in December. While other celebrities featured in the Epstein files have said they regretted being involved with Epstein, who died in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, Allen has expressed neither embarrassment nor contrition, the Times reported. Trump and Epstein were close friends for more than a decade. The president has denied knowing anything about Epstein’s crimes. https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-weiss-boss-brad-karp-who-bent-the-knee-to-trump-sucked-up-to-amazing-epstein/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Trump Goes on Manic Posting Spree After GOP’s Humiliating Loss The president made seven posts in just three minutes after Republicans lost a race in Texas. The president self-soothed by going on a Truth Social posting spree after the Republican Party suffered a major upset in Texas. President Donald Trump, 79, made seven posts in the span of just three minutes on Sunday afternoon and reposted six endorsements he made over the last week after a Democratic candidate secured a decisive victory in Texas’ deep-red 9th State Senate District, which he carried by more than 17 points in 2024. First-time candidate Taylor Rehmet, 33, became the first Democrat to hold the seat in decades after handing a resounding defeat to MAGA activist Leigh Wambsganss, 57 percent to 43 percen. Trump played nonchalant after the stunning loss in the solidly Republican district by touting the supposed success of his policies. The president reposted opinion pieces from the Des Moines Register and Bari Weiss-founded The Free Press titled, “Iowans are earning more, paying less after Trump’s return” and “How Trump Won Davos.” Trump also published a screenshot of a Jan. 26 X post by Roma Daravi, vice president for public relations of the newly MAGA-fied Kennedy Center, thanking him for “saving America’s cultural center.” The president posted another screenshot, this time going all the way back to Dec. 3 last year, of an X post by Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar lavishing praise for Trump’s “tremendous leadership.” At the time, Trump had pardoned Cuellar, who was indicted on a dozen charges, including bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. In another Truth Social post, Trump bragged about receiving a letter dated Feb. 23, 1989, from convicted felon George M. Steinbrenner III, the principal owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees for more than three decades.“You were great! You tell it like it is,” Steinbrenner wrote. “It is like I said to Stephen, you should run for President some day and get the whole damn thing straightened out.” In yet another post, the president daydreamed over a rendering of his planned “Arc de Trump.” The president also posted endorsements he had made in races in New Hampshire and Indiana. In the case of Texas’ 9th State Senate District, however, Trump’s Truth Social endorsements didn’t carry Wambsganss to victory. Trump endorsed Wambsganss in three posts made between early Friday morning and Saturday afternoon. “Today is the day!” Trump wrote on Saturday. “To all Voters in Texas’ 9th State Senate District: GET OUT AND VOTE for a phenomenal Candidate, Leigh Wambsganss. She is a highly successful Entrepreneur, and an incredible supporter of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” After Wambsganss lost, Trump pretended to be blissfully unaware of the election he had made three posts about. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear about it,” he told reporters in Mar-a-Lago on Sunday. “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race. You mean I won by 17 [points], and this person lost?” he said before shrugging. “Things like that happen.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-goes-on-manic-posting-spree-after-gops-humiliating-loss/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 DOJ Makes Bizarre Attempt to Redact Trump’s Face in Epstein Files Photo The newly released materials contain frequent references to Donald Trump. The Justice Department is drawing fresh scrutiny after releasing Epstein-related records that appear to black out Donald Trump’s face in a photograph. The Trump administration last week made public roughly three million pages of Justice Department records tied to its long-running investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the pedophile financier who died in custody in 2019. Among the newly released materials is a 2019 text exchange between Epstein and Stephen Bannon, a former top adviser to Trump, that includes an image of Trump speaking at an event—his face conspicuously hidden beneath a black redaction box. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and the DOJ for comment. The administration has long treated Trump’s appearance in the Epstein records as a political flashpoint. Despite campaign promises in 2024 from Trump allies to fully disclose the files, the White House later pulled back, stoking speculation that the materials might contain politically embarrassing details. That suspicion deepened in December, when the Justice Department briefly posted—then removed—a photograph of Epstein’s New York mansion showing an image of Trump with several young women tucked inside a drawer. Officials later said the image was taken down to protect victims, before reposting it. Concerns about transparency resurfaced again this week when officials acknowledged that only about half of the total Epstein records collected by the government had been released. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said roughly three million pages were made public, out of six million gathered, along with thousands of videos and images, calling the move the culmination of a lengthy review process. The disclosure arrived six weeks after the legal deadline, which required the department to make public all records tied to Epstein’s crimes and associates under the Transparency Act—a measure President Trump signed into law last year only after considerable resistance. The newly released materials contain frequent references to Trump. The New York Times identified more than 5,300 files with tens of thousands of mentions of Trump, his family, and Mar-a-Lago. None, however, show direct communications between Trump and Epstein. The latest document release also contains interview summaries and investigator notes from conversations with Epstein’s victims, some of which reference Trump. In one set of handwritten notes from a September 2019 interview—conducted weeks after Epstein’s death—a victim described being driven in a dark green vehicle to Mar-a-Lago for a meeting with Trump. According to the notes, Epstein introduced her by saying, “This is a good one, huh?” The account does not allege any improper behavior by Trump. Elsewhere in the files, investigators recorded statements from Juan Alessi, a former Epstein employee, who told authorities that Trump was among several prominent figures who had visited Epstein’s residence. Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not been charged or accused by prosecutors in connection with the billionaire’s crimes. The pair were friends in the 1990s and early 2000s, but Trump maintains that he cut ties with Epstein well before the convicted sex offender’s 2006 arrest. Trump has also said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in the mid-2000s following a dispute over Epstein’s conduct toward a young woman, though the specifics of that incident have never been fully confirmed. https://www.thedailybeast.com/doj-makes-bizarre-attempt-to-redact-trumps-face-in-epstein-files-photo/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Trump Shuts Down Kennedy Center After Artists Keep Canceling The president called it “tired, broken, and dilapidated.” President Donald Trump is shuttering the Kennedy Center for a MAGA makeover after a series of cancellations at the venue. Nearly a year after hijacking the storied cultural institution, the 79-year-old president announced on Truth Social that he would “temporarily” close the center for “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding.” Trump, who has attempted to rename the Kennedy Center after himself, said it would cease “Entertainment Operations” on July 4 for roughly two years. Dismissing the capital’s premiere performing arts center as “tired, broken, and dilapidated,” the president pledged to remake it into a “new and beautiful Landmark.” Trump, a former real estate developer, said he had conducted a one-year review of the institution with “Contractors, Musical Experts, Art Institutions, and other Advisors and Consultants,” and considered both a partial and full closure. He justified shutting the center completely, claiming that “interruptions with Audiences from the many events” would impact the speed and quality of the makeover. Trump added that the renovation is “totally subject to Board approval,” without mentioning that he installed MAGA loyalists to the historically bipartisan board in February last year. The president claimed that “financing is completed, and fully in place!” The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and the Kennedy Center for comment. Trump began his MAGAfication of the Kennedy Center last year by purging its board and firing its president and chairman. He appointed loyalist Ric Grenell as president and installed himself as chairman. But the makeover was poorly received by audiences and performers alike, with the center facing plummeting ticket sales and a wave of artist cancellations. Renowned composer Philip Glass pulled the world premiere of his highly-awaited Symphony No. 15: “Lincoln” last week, blaming “current leadership.” A day later, the center’s new programming head resigned after less than a week on the job. Earlier this month, Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming backed out due to what the center described as a “scheduling conflict,” and the Martha Graham Dance Company canceled its April show. The Washington National Opera similarly ended its five-decade residency at the center earlier this month. With difficulty booking talent, the Kennedy Center has leaned on programming tied to the president and his family, such as last Thursday’s premiere of Melania, the first lady’s vanity documentary. Meanwhile, ticket sales at the center fell sharply in 2025, according to data collected by the Washington Post. The annual Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by Trump in December, also attracted its smallest-ever audience. Trump has insisted that the center’s challenges predate his chairmanship. “People don’t realize that The Trump Kennedy Center suffered massive deficits for many years and, like everything else, I merely came in to save it and, if possible, make it far better than ever before!” he wrote in a Truth Social post last week. The Kennedy Center was named after President John F. Kennedy shortly after his assassination. Construction began in 1964, and the building opened to the public in 1971. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-reveals-hes-closing-kennedy-center-for-maga-makeover/? ps:Sorry mr vanity the problem is you!!!!! Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 A crisis emerges across the US as ‘forever chemicals’ quietly contaminate drinking water wells The roughly 40 million Americans who get drinking water from wells are at particular risk when harmful forever chemicals contaminate the supply. Odorless and colorless, the chemicals known collectively as PFAS are linked to increased risk of certain cancers. While water from a utility will be forced to meet federal PFAS limits, those limits won’t apply to private wells. And well owners are often the last to learn about contamination. At least 20 states don’t test private wells beyond areas where PFAS problems are suspected. When a well is tainted, it can take homeowners years to find a new source of clean water. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump administration to create a strategic reserve for rare earths elements Trump plans to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil Out with the old? Young Democrats are trying to convince voters to send a new generation to Congress What recent polls show about the challenges facing Trump this year US Attorney General Pam Bondi announces 2 more arrests in the St. Paul church protest Father of 5-year-old detained in Minnesota disputes government assertion he abandoned the boy Canadian company says Virginia warehouse sale to ICE won’t proceed Planned Parenthood drops lawsuit against Trump administration’s Medicaid cuts Trump nominates government economist to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics Judge blocks additional citizenship provisions in latest setback to Trump’s election executive order Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot shut down Texas Latino voting group, judge rules Utah governor signs bill adding justices to state Supreme Court as redistricting appeal looms From stilettos to safety concerns on Inauguration Day: 4 takeaways from Melania Trump’s new movie Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Exit Stage Right (Eric Lee / The New York Times / Redux) View in browser One year ago, President Trump conducted a hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center, the venerable Washington, D.C., performing-arts institution. The president said he had never attended a show there, but he was confident that he alone knew what the center needed. Last night, Trump delivered an implicit admission of defeat, announcing that the center will close on July 4 for two years. Trump brought the same theory to the Kennedy Center that he does to most of his moves: He believes that he knows better than the experts, and that a “silent majority” actually supports his disruptions. That certainty seems to have led him to a bad bet here. “I have determined that The Trump Kennedy Center, if temporarily closed for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding, can be, without question, the finest Performing Arts Facility of its kind, anywhere in the World,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “The temporary closure will produce a much faster and higher quality result!” If you’ve been paying attention, this explanation will be perplexing. In October, Trump posted that “Many major improvements” were under way at the center—including, bafflingly, the addition of marble armrests on chairs—but that “We are remaining fully open during construction, renovation, and beautification.” (For the record, the Kennedy Center underwent a $250 million expansion just seven years ago.) In December, when Trump added his name to the building’s facade—in violation of statute and grammar—he boasted, “We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially and every other way. And now it’s very solid, very strong.” Just a month ago he added, “A year ago it was in a state of financial and physical collapse. Wait until you see it a year from now!!! Like our Country, itself, it will rise from the ashes.” Now Trump is saying that a year from now the center will be closed and dark. Trump’s contradictory statements and the absence of an independent board or any notification to Congress make these claims of a building in need of repair unverifiable at best, and most likely nonsense. (He also hasn’t said anything about how he would pay for this renovation.) A more plausible reason for the closing is that under Trump, the Kennedy Center can’t hold on to staff, artists, or audiences. When Trump took over, he fired Deborah Rutter, the respected programmer who was the center’s president, and replaced her with Richard Grenell, a political bagman who had previously been deployed as acting director of national intelligence, ambassador to Germany, and envoy to Venezuela, but who had no arts experience. (To be fair, he had little or no qualifications for most of those jobs.) Other staff haven’t stuck around either. “Almost every head of programming has resigned or been dismissed,” The Washington Post notes. The latest of these was Kevin Couch, the new head of programming, who quit less than two weeks after his hiring was announced. One can imagine the job would be no picnic. In recent weeks, the composer Philip Glass yanked a new symphony commissioned by the center. The opera singer Renée Fleming also canceled two performances. The Washington National Opera announced that it was departing the center. The jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled a long-running Christmas Eve concert. Grenell’s threat to sue Redd for $1 million is unlikely to make artists more eager to book shows. Grenell has accused artists of politicizing the center. “The left is boycotting the Arts because Trump is supporting the Arts,” he posted on X. “The Arts are for everyone—and the Left is mad about it.” But this statement has it all backwards. Trump grabbed unprecedented presidential control and politicized his own involvement in the arts, promising to use his leadership of the Kennedy Center to vanquish leftist culture. One artist who chose to play, the folk guitarist Yasmin Williams, said that an organized group attended and heckled her. Given the hollowing out of the schedule and Trump’s unpopularity in Washington, ticket and subscription-package sales have fallen steeply. The Washington Post found that since September, “43 percent of tickets remained unsold for the typical production. That means that, at most, 57 percent of tickets were sold for the typical production.” (Some of those tickets may have been given for free.) For comparison, 93 percent of tickets were sold or given for free in fall 2024. One of Grenell’s dictates was that the center would book only shows that broke even or were profitable, yet instead the center is driving patrons away. CNN reports that the Kennedy Center wasn’t even able to book performances for next season. Closing the doors for two years just makes official what was already happening. Trump believed that if he grabbed the Kennedy Center’s reins and started booking shows that conformed to his taste—and to that of some of his friends and MAGA fans—the venue would be wildly popular. It turns out, though, that a 79-year-old New York–born billionaire whose tastes run to gilded accents and kitschy musicals isn’t a good proxy for either the general population or arts patrons in Washington. As my colleague Spencer Kornhaber recently wrote, Trump’s term dawned with expectations of a huge cultural shift. Instead, popular culture has remained stubbornly indifferent to MAGA aesthetics. Trump keeps making a version of this error. His first term was a series of overreaches, all confidently executed in the belief that the silent majority would back him. Instead, he lost in 2020. His second-term win renewed his overconfidence. Now he believes that because many Americans wanted tighter border security, they will also support violent crackdowns in the streets of American cities; instead, his immigration approval keeps sinking. He believes that because he won the election in part on his promises to fix the economy, Americans are willing to tolerate high inflation; instead, polls show that voters’ confidence in the future is declining. The closure of the center also fits into another pattern: As I wrote last week, Trump has proved adept at destroying things but shows little interest in building them back up. Trump’s previous predictions for the Kennedy Center haven’t borne out, so some skepticism is warranted now. Even if the physical overhaul succeeds, the center will still have the same problems of audience, artists, and staff when it’s done—only in a gaudier space. In effect, Trump appears to have graffitied his name on an empty shell. “I am doing the same thing to the United States of America, but only on a ‘slightly’ larger scale!” he wrote in an October post about the center’s makeover. This time around, his harshest critics might be the first ones to agree. Related: Ryan Miller: Why my band, Guster, played the Kennedy Center Trump’s golden age of culture seems pretty sad so far Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 Rare Earths Reserve President Donald Trump is launching a first-of-its-kind $12B strategic stockpile of critical minerals to reduce US reliance on Chinese supplies and protect domestic manufacturers from supply chain disruptions. The initiative—dubbed "Project Vault" and modeled after US oil reserves—would combine roughly $10B in financing from the US Export-Import Bank (see 101) with about $1.7B in private capital to buy and store materials. The record-setting loan from the US Export-Import Bank is more than double the bank's previous largest deal. The stockpile will include rare earths, gallium, and cobalt, which are used in products such as iPhones, batteries, jet engines, and electric vehicles. The US already operates a national stockpile for defense needs, but not for civilian industries. China is the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, accounting for about 70% of global extraction and 90% of processing. Explore our deep dive on critical minerals here. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 3 historic shifts Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios You can only fully understand politics, business and your own anxiety in 2026 by reckoning with the three, once-in-a-generation shifts unfolding at once, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column: The ideologies, tactics and tone of governance. The lightning-fast advancements in AI. The overnight transformation of how our realities are shaped. Why it matters: All three are hitting all of us — and all at once. If you focus on only one (like many do with President Trump), you miss the enormity of change pushing our minds and nation somewhere new, different and uncertain. The good news: Once you see it, you can't unsee it. It helps explain your anxiety, your visceral sense that work and business are evolving, and your confusion about politics and policies. And then you can do something about it. We plan to spend this year illuminating these shifts bluntly, but helpfully. We're big believers that you can only successfully navigate reality by fully understanding it. The shifting tectonic plates: 1. A once-in-a-century shift in politics and governance. President Trump reinvented the Republican Party ... then American politics ... then American governance. He has proudly turned Republicans into an America First movement and stretched the powers of the presidency to unprecedented lengths. His actions — and the reactions to him — are reshaping what the parties believe in, who votes for them, the language and platforms our politicians use, the relevance of institutions and outside experts, and the way other nations view us. The politics and norms of one short decade ago are unrecognizable today. Democrats, especially California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are adopting many of Trump's most pugnacious tactics. And Democrats are as likely to counter with socialism as they are with more conventional liberalism. Whatever politics was before, it won't be again, absent a massive reset. 2. A once-in-a-generation shift in how our realities are formed. Stop thinking about news as a way to understand the world. That's no longer how your reality, and what's left of our shared reality, forms. We call this the "post-news era." We're breaking into hundreds or thousands of information bubbles, shaped and hardened based on our age, politics, jobs and interests. Pick six random people (we've both done this at dinners). You'll often find that most get their information from platforms the others never visit, and trust people the others have never heard of. The common window we once collectively looked through has splintered into countless pieces. In its place: podcasters, YouTubers, Substackers, and digital and encrypted communities. With attention scattered and trust shattered, we've grown highly susceptible to manipulation, polarization and frustration. 3. A once-in-a-generation technology shift. AI has the promise, and high likelihood, of upending society at a scale greater than the internet — and possibly as profoundly as fire or electricity. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns it could destroy half of all entry-level white-collar jobs in a few short years, and has a 25% chance of essentially wiping out human existence. Sit with that sentence for a minute. At the same time, there's nothing on the American or global landscape with more promise to cure disease, extend life, stretch our economy and enrich our imaginations. We've no choice but to get this right. You can't slow it or stop it, and government is mostly on the sidelines. You might find this panoramic portrait of the American landscape horrifying or confusing or electrifying. But it's the most accurate picture of our reality today. Any one of these shifts could cause grand social or political upheaval. All three, moving at once, crashing into each other, virtually guarantee it. The bottom line: Never before has the nation needed more people spending more time thinking more originally about how to change government, business and personal thinking to meet this moment. Never before have your understanding and participation been more imperative. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 4 Author Members Posted February 4 🚧 Kennedy Center makeover plans Workers add President Trump's name to the Kennedy Center sign in December. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images President Trump's forthcoming closure of the Kennedy Center — announced with few details — casts doubt over one of Washington's most prominent cultural institutions, Axios D.C.'s Cuneyt Dil and Anna Spiegel write. Why it matters: The president's vague promise of a "complete rebuilding" could further roil the arts world, trigger clashes with Congress and federal planners, and disrupt thousands of local jobs. Asked yesterday if he'd tear down the building, Trump told reporters: "I'm not ripping it down. I'll be using the steel. So we're using the structure, we're using some of the marble and some of the marble comes down." He also said the venue would "have all brand-new heating, air conditioning." Go deeper: What we know about Trump's Kennedy Center closure. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted Wednesday at 11:14 PM Author Members Posted Wednesday at 11:14 PM MAHA has reshaped health policy. Now it's working on environmental rules Activists for the Make America Healthy Again movement have found an unlikely ally in the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency, winning new restrictions from an agency that has generally been more focused on removing regulations. Read more. GOP leaders labor for support ahead of key test vote on ending partial government shutdown Every Homeland Security officer in Minneapolis is now being issued a body-worn camera, Noem says Don Lemon says a dozen agents were sent to arrest him even though he offered to turn himself in Trump's $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities Young people are protesting ICE and reenacting immigration raids in online gaming platform Roblox In the face of aid cuts, Gates Foundation narrows its priorities and defends global health funding Attorney says Gabbard is holding up a complaint about her actions, which her office denies Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS raises conflict of interest concerns Intelligence director says Trump requested her presence at FBI search of Georgia election center Geoff Duncan broke with Trump. The former Republican wants Democrats to make him Georgia’s governor Maryland House OKs new congressional map, but Senate will likely prove a roadblock Alabama GOP dismisses challenge to Tuberville candidacy Defense seeks to block videos of Charlie Kirk's killing in murder case, claims bias Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
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