The criminal charges against Charles Hermes, who was arrested for clapping at a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting, have been dismissed. Hermes was charged with hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct after he clapped despite being warned not to by County Judge Tim O’Hare. While the case was dismissed in exchange for Hermes completing an online class and making a donation, his attorney expressed concerns about free speech at county meetings. Another individual, Carolina Rodriguez, was convicted of a similar offense, and a lawsuit was filed by CJ Grisham for his expulsion from the meeting.
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Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by authors who alleged the company used pirated copies of their works to train its AI chatbot, Claude. The settlement, which could be approved as early as Monday, covers approximately 500,000 books, with authors or publishers receiving around $3,000 per book. A federal judge previously found that while training AI on copyrighted books wasn’t illegal, Anthropic had wrongfully acquired millions of books through pirate websites. This landmark settlement sends a message to the AI industry regarding the consequences of using authors’ works to train AI.
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Following the tragic flash floods at Camp Mystic, which resulted in the death of at least 26 campers and counselors, Texas has implemented new camp safety laws. These laws, including Senate Bill 1 (also known as the “Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act”) and House Bill 1, aim to improve emergency preparedness and safety standards at youth camps. The legislation mandates measures such as youth camp safety teams, minimum camper-to-counselor ratios, state inspections, outdoor warning systems, emergency alert systems, and enhanced evacuation procedures. While these laws are welcomed by many, some camp owners express concerns over the financial implications of implementing these new safety protocols.
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A joint investigation by the BBC Russian Service, Mediazona, and volunteers has confirmed the deaths of over 128,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, identifying names as of early September. This figure is based on obituaries, which do not represent the full death toll, and includes a growing number of volunteer fighters, alongside prisoners and mobilized soldiers. The investigation also noted that the share of volunteer fighters now make up the core of Russia’s offensive force in Ukraine. While Moscow and Kyiv rarely release official figures, independent estimates suggest the death toll may be significantly higher, and Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine despite the losses.
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A Department of Justice official, Joseph Schnitt, was secretly filmed by an employee of the O’Keefe Media Group divulging plans to redact Republican names from Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. The official claimed the department would release a “slanted version” of the files, showcasing a cover-up. Schnitt also detailed internal conflicts regarding the Epstein files, including the decision to move Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum security prison, allegedly to keep her silent. Following the release of the video, the DOJ refuted the claims, stating they had no basis in reality.
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Recent polls suggest that California Governor Gavin Newsom is a frontrunner in the 2028 presidential race, with one poll showing him leading Donald Trump and JD Vance. According to the poll, Newsom led Trump by four points and Vance by one point, potentially due to his strong recognition among Democrats and independent voters. While Newsom has not formally announced his candidacy, his actions have fueled speculation of a potential run. Republican National Committee spokesperson Kiersten Pels criticized Newsom’s “failed agenda” in California.
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Two 17-year-olds have been arrested and charged as adults with first-degree murder in the shooting death of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who was killed by stray bullets in Washington DC. The victim, a summer intern for a Kansas Republican congressman, was not the intended target of the gunfire. The suspects, identified as Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas, were apprehended following an investigation that included surveillance footage. The crime, which occurred near Mount Vernon Square, prompted former President Trump to cite the killing as a reason for deploying national guard troops in the nation’s capital.
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The latest jobs report revealed a struggling labor market, with only 22,000 jobs added in August and an unemployment rate increase to 4.3 percent, the highest since 2021. This downturn follows revisions to previous months, indicating negative job growth, exacerbated by the administration’s erratic economic policies. Imposing tariffs and causing economic uncertainty created a brutal post-COVID economy, and now, those factors have severely impacted job growth. Moreover, the administration’s response involves blaming others and attempting to downplay negative findings, while also implementing policies that have shrunk the workforce and reduced job opportunities.
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A recently revealed covert operation, authorized by Donald Trump, involved Navy SEALs infiltrating North Korea to install surveillance equipment aimed at intercepting Kim Jong Un’s communications. During this mission, the SEALs, believing a small boat contained North Korean security forces, fired upon it, resulting in the deaths of two or three civilians who were fishing. The SEALs then attempted to conceal the incident, and military investigations later deemed the operation justified, classifying the findings and keeping them from the public. Furthermore, legal experts have suggested that the Trump administration may have violated federal law by failing to notify relevant congressional committees about the mission.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed criticism of Western countries moving to recognize a Palestinian state, warning that Israel might respond by annexing the West Bank. He stated that such actions are predictable, and the US had already communicated this to these nations. Rubio further argued that this move would likely complicate the ceasefire efforts in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel’s leaders have condemned the push for recognition, with some, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, calling for annexation, which the UAE warns could undermine normalization agreements.
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John Q. Hosedrinker