Seventeen US states now mandate age verification for accessing online pornography, impacting major platforms like Pornhub. These laws, requiring state-issued ID, raise privacy concerns, prompting Aylo, the parent company of several adult websites, to withdraw service from these states. The increased demand for VPNs to circumvent these restrictions highlights the impact of the legislation. Furthermore, potential future restrictions under a Trump administration, as outlined in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan, could lead to even stricter measures, including potential criminalization of pornography.
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A New Year’s Eve fireworks accident in Honolulu resulted in three fatalities and over 20 injuries, some critical. The incident involved a large, illegal firework “cake” that tipped over, causing a massive explosion that sent shrapnel into the surrounding area. Authorities are investigating the incident and considering stricter penalties for illegal fireworks use, citing the severity of the injuries and the chaotic scene. A fourth fireworks-related death occurred separately on Oahu, highlighting the dangers of illegal pyrotechnics.
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Forrest Pemberton, a Gainesville, Florida resident, faces federal stalking charges for allegedly plotting an attack on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Florida. He is accused of scouting AIPAC’s offices with the intent to harm or kill employees, possessing firearms during surveillance, and making statements indicating an intention to commit violence. Law enforcement intervened, apprehending Pemberton with firearms before he could carry out the alleged attack. Pemberton’s motivation stemmed from frustration with AIPAC’s political influence, and he remains in pretrial detention.
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President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, to twenty individuals. Among the recipients are Representatives Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the January 6th Committee investigation, despite President-elect Trump’s calls for their imprisonment. Other honorees include prominent figures in the fight for marriage equality, veterans’ care, and women’s rights. The White House statement emphasizes the honorees’ shared commitment to public service and their positive impact on the nation.
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Following Texas’s abortion ban, a sharp increase in infant mortality and abandoned newborns has been observed, with babies found dead in various locations. This surge is directly linked to the abortion ban, compounded by reduced funding for prenatal care and family planning, and fear of deportation among undocumented immigrants seeking medical assistance. Despite a “safe haven” law, lack of funding and awareness campaigns renders it ineffective, highlighting a lack of genuine concern for infant lives by Texas Republicans. Instead of supporting such programs, resources are funneled into crisis pregnancy centers, revealing a prioritization of punishment over the well-being of women and infants.
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Unverified reports indicate Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad suffered a suspected poisoning in Moscow on Sunday, experiencing severe respiratory distress. Initial medical intervention at his residence reportedly stabilized his condition, though tests allegedly revealed traces of poison. Russian authorities have yet to confirm the incident, but an investigation is underway. Assad and his family have been residing in Moscow since the recent collapse of the Syrian Baath regime.
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Between December 30, 2024 and January 1, 2025, Ukraine’s HUR conducted a cyberattack targeting Lukoil, a Russian oil company supplying the Russian military, disrupting its digital resources and preventing mobile app payments. This attack also affected Evotor’s smart terminal platform and the “Chestny Znak” product marking system, causing widespread payment failures and significant retail sector disruptions. This action follows previous HUR cyberattacks on Gazprombank and the North Caucasus University, highlighting a pattern of targeting critical Russian infrastructure. The timing of the attack, coinciding with the holiday period, maximized the impact on consumers and businesses.
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Russia recently fined at least seven individuals for what authorities deemed “looking too gay” following a police raid on a Tula nightclub. This incident highlights the increasingly stringent enforcement of Russia’s “anti-gay law,” which has expanded beyond prohibiting “LGBT propaganda” among minors to encompass the broader suppression of “non-traditional lifestyles.” The law’s vagueness allows for arbitrary interpretations, leaving individuals vulnerable to fines based on subjective assessments of their appearance.
The details of the arrests, as reported, paint a picture of absurdity. Descriptions of the party-goers’ attire—a man with crosses of black tape on his nipples and a women’s corset, another with pink socks, an unbuttoned kimono, dyed orange hair, and facial tattoos—illustrate the lengths to which authorities are willing to go to enforce their interpretation of acceptable masculinity.… Continue reading
Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the low 2022 eighth-grade reading scores, advocating for the elimination of the Department of Education as a solution. However, education experts dispute this claim, asserting that the department’s role in funding, data collection, and research is crucial for monitoring student progress and improving literacy. They argue that eliminating the department would not address the underlying issues impacting reading proficiency. Instead, increased investment in research and grant programs within the department could prove more effective.
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The Independent relies on reader support to fund its unbiased journalism covering crucial issues like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech. Their reporting, exemplified by the recent documentary “The A Word,” prioritizes fact-checking and presenting diverse perspectives. Despite this commitment to providing accessible information, President-elect Trump used a recent New Orleans terrorist attack, committed by a US citizen, to falsely reiterate his claims about immigrant crime. This incident highlights the need for accurate reporting in a time of misinformation, which The Independent strives to provide.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood