Contrary to the Trump administration’s claims, new detention data reveals that only a small percentage of detainees in the Chicago area have criminal records. The Department of Justice filed data on Friday showing that of 614 individuals arrested, just 16 posed a high public safety risk. This list was produced as part of an ongoing lawsuit alleging violations of a consent decree limiting warrantless arrests. Further investigation has suggested that many of those detained may have been targeted based on profile rather than criminal history.
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During a White House address, President Trump referenced the Bible’s emphasis on caring for vulnerable children, sparking immediate criticism. Critics highlighted the administration’s legal efforts to halt payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to over 16 million children. These efforts included appeals to the Supreme Court to block SNAP funding, actions that were eventually dropped after the government shutdown ended. Following the temporary funding bill, the USDA has directed states to ensure full November benefits are promptly distributed to SNAP recipients.
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Following an ICE raid at an Allston car wash, Boston University alumni and residents condemned the BU College Republicans president, Zachary Segal, for claiming credit for the raid after posting that he had contacted ICE for months. Community members expressed outrage and called on the university to address Segal’s actions, citing a responsibility for students to be good neighbors and for BU to foster positive town-gown relations. Several alumni, including those who had made donations to the university, expressed their disgust and called for disciplinary actions against Segal. Despite the backlash, neither Segal nor the College Republicans club responded to requests for comments.
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Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to have lunch with five transgender individuals on Sunday during a Vatican event celebrating the Jubilee of the Poor. Among those invited is Alessia Nobile, a prominent transgender activist, who hopes to speak with the Pope about LGBTQ+ rights. This marks the first time a transgender advocate will participate in such a meal, seen by some as a pastoral gesture. While the Church upholds the dignity of all individuals, including transgender people, its teachings do not support the separation of gender from biological sex and question sex-change interventions.
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At CNBC’s Delivering Alpha conference, RXR CEO Scott Rechler and Rudin Management Co-Chairman Bill Rudin discussed the real estate market in New York City post-election. Despite concerns surrounding Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the executives reported record levels of office leasing and ongoing investments, including a new building project by Ken Griffin. While acknowledging potential risks with the new administration, particularly regarding overseas investor sentiment, Rechler and Rudin expressed optimism, citing the city’s resilience and a need to attract young talent. Both executives emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to address housing affordability and other critical issues, with a focus on working with the mayor.
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In a late-night Truth Social post filled with disjointed sentences and transphobic remarks, Donald Trump abruptly withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, labeling her a “ranting lunatic.” The attack came amidst growing pressure surrounding the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, with Trump criticizing Greene for her public break over the matter and claiming she has become irrelevant. The former president’s post included claims about his administration’s stance on transgender issues and concluded by offering his support to anyone who might primary Greene. Greene responded by stating that Trump’s attack was motivated by her efforts to release the Epstein files.
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The U.S. military conducted its 20th strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in four fatalities and raising the total death toll from these operations to 80 since September. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling. Simultaneously, the Trump administration is expanding its military presence in the region with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, solidifying its ongoing mission, Operation Southern Spear. While the administration claims the buildup is focused on stopping drug flow, concerns arise, with some suggesting this is an intimidation tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces accusations of narcoterrorism.
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In a recent interview, Alan Dershowitz, an emeritus Harvard Law Professor, argued against the characterization of Jeffrey Epstein as a “pedophile,” citing Epstein’s 2008 plea deal involving a 17-year-old. Dershowitz’s comments, made on NewsNation, focused on the specifics of the charges, despite the existence of broader allegations against Epstein. This plea deal, which resulted in a lenient sentence, was criticized in a 2020 Justice Department report. Dershowitz, who has a history of defending controversial figures and had a personal connection to Epstein, also defended Trump during his impeachment trial.
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On Friday morning, an 11-year-old boy was fatally shot in a road-rage incident on a Las Vegas-area freeway. The shooting occurred after two drivers were jockeying for position and arguing. Tyler Matthew Johns, 22, was arrested at the scene and charged with open murder and discharging a firearm at a vehicle after allegedly firing a single shot into the victim’s car, striking the child in the backseat.
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Trump drops tariffs on dozens of food items, from beef to bananas, which has certainly stirred up a lot of discussion. It’s fascinating, isn’t it, how a seemingly straightforward move can generate such a spectrum of reactions? Some people are outright questioning the motives, others are skeptical about the actual impact, and many are simply confused. It’s like everyone’s trying to decipher the true implications of this decision.
The core of the matter seems to be around whether tariffs were actually the reason food prices were so high to begin with. If the argument is that tariffs *didn’t* cause higher prices, then logically, why would removing them lead to lower prices?… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood