Following President Trump’s false claim of Portland being “war ravaged,” a Saturday visit revealed a stark contrast between his depiction and reality. Outside the ICE field office, only a few protesters demonstrated peacefully, defying Trump’s assertion of an “under siege” situation. The city’s downtown and farmers’ market exhibited normal weekend activity, far from any indication of a war zone, with residents even mocking the President’s statements on social media. This situation contrasts sharply with the narrative spread by conservative media.
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President Trump, in a Truth Social post, directed the Secretary of Defense to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, escalating his use of military deployments in US cities, despite legal challenges. This follows deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Memphis, with local officials condemning the actions as provocative and unauthorized. Trump’s authority to deploy troops is legally dubious, violating the Posse Comitatus Act and facing legal setbacks, as a federal judge has already ruled against a similar deployment to Los Angeles. Civil liberties experts warn that Trump’s actions, including designating “Antifa” as a domestic terrorism organization, could be used to suppress progressive groups and pose a significant threat to American democracy.
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Since June, Amtrak Police have arrested nearly 200 people at Penn Station for alleged public lewdness or indecent exposure, prompted by customer complaints and targeting illicit activity in the men’s bathroom. This crackdown has resulted in at least 20 immigrants being taken into ICE custody due to the Amtrak Police Department’s federal status, which requires them to alert ICE if an individual is flagged. Plainclothes officers have been deployed to catch those seeking sexual encounters, leading to arrests based on suspicion of illegal behavior, including prolonged use of urinals, according to reports. While state and city laws restrict NYPD cooperation with ICE, Amtrak, as a federal agency, is obligated to report individuals with ICE detainers.
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The president signed a memorandum targeting “antifa” and other left-leaning groups, despite the vast majority of political violence in the U.S. being committed by right-wing actors. The memo provides ambiguous definitions of “antifa,” listing views like “anti-American” and “anti-capitalist” as indicators, while failing to specify if targeting would be based on violence or ideology. The document grants the president new powers, including designating groups as “domestic terrorist organizations.” Critics have raised concerns about the implications for free speech, warning that the administration may target non-profits and activists under the guise of combating political violence.
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In response to unidentified drone activity near critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region, NATO has announced it will enhance its “Baltic Sentry” mission. The augmented mission will involve “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms and at least one air-defence frigate.” These additions are designed to protect critical infrastructure after recent incursions in multiple countries, including Denmark and Norway. Germany is considering authorizing its military to shoot down drones, and the EU is expected to discuss improved defense strategies, with Russia being the prime suspect behind the drone activity.
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Trump falsely suggests FBI agents to blame for igniting Jan. 6 violence, a claim that, when examined, unravels under the weight of his own actions and the facts of the day. It seems that the former president is employing a tactic that is both familiar and deeply troubling: attempting to shift responsibility for his own role in the events of January 6th.
The very notion that FBI agents were somehow orchestrating the violence at the Capitol is not only unsupported by evidence but also directly contradicts the narrative that Trump himself, through his rhetoric and actions, helped fuel the insurrection. Consider the context: Trump refused to authorize the National Guard to intervene and defend the Capitol.… Continue reading
The recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show highlighted a power struggle between ABC and large broadcast groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, who own a significant number of ABC affiliates. Despite pressure from the FCC, the broadcast groups’ initial decision to remove Kimmel from their stations was ultimately unsuccessful. The economics of the situation favored ABC, as the broadcast groups risked losing viewers and revenue by preempting a popular program like Kimmel. Ultimately, the broadcast groups relented, recognizing that the long-term costs of the standoff outweighed the benefits, and the show was put back on air.
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In a shocking turn of events, Lorenz Kraus admitted during a television interview to killing his parents eight years prior and burying them in their backyard. The confession came after police recovered the bodies and launched an investigation into financial crimes involving Kraus’s parents’ Social Security benefits. Kraus described the deaths as mercy killings for his aging parents, although he did not state they had terminal illnesses. Following the interview, Kraus was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, with a public defender raising questions about the interview’s legality due to the media’s involvement.
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Authorities in Kenya have disrupted a human trafficking ring, rescuing over 20 Kenyans who were lured with false job offers in Russia, but were intended to be sent to fight in Ukraine. Police raided an apartment where 22 individuals were discovered awaiting processing, seizing recruitment materials and travel documents, and have arrested a suspect accused of coordinating the victims’ travel. The victims reported signing contracts and paying deposits for visas and other logistics, with some returning home injured or traumatized, while others never make it back. This operation comes amid growing concerns over Kenyans being trafficked abroad with similar false promises, and follows reports of Kenyan nationals held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
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President Trump announced on Saturday the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the city as “war ravaged” and intending to protect ICE detention facilities, a directive made to the Department of War. This announcement followed a deadly attack at a detention facility in Dallas, which federal authorities said was carried out by a gunman seeking to terrorize ICE workers. Local officials, however, dispute the president’s claims of unsafety and have not been informed of a military mission, requesting residents to remain calm. The Pentagon has yet to issue a deployment order, but the chief Pentagon spokesman stated the department is ready to mobilize personnel in support of DHS operations.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood