The use of Russia’s frozen assets to aid Ukraine has become a contentious issue for Ukraine’s allies, with Belgium particularly hesitant due to concerns about financial liability and Russian retaliation. The EU proposed using the assets to facilitate a loan for Ukraine, but Belgium’s hesitations have stalled progress. A new proposal by a former U.S. administration, seeking to profit from the assets held in Europe, could further complicate the situation and pressure the EU to unfreeze the assets, potentially leaving European taxpayers to cover the loan repayment to Russia. The proposal includes a U.S. investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction with the U.S. receiving 50% of the profits.
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Mamdani was recently asked if he planned to retract previous criticisms of President Trump, including accusations of being a “despot” and having a “fascist agenda,” in an effort to improve their relationship. Mamdani declined to retract any remarks, stating that both he and the President have clear views, and emphasized the meeting focused on shared goals for New Yorkers rather than disagreements. Another reporter later followed up, directly asking if Mamdani was affirming his belief that President Trump is a fascist.
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RI Judge Intervenes After ICE Wrongfully Detains Superior Court Intern
The incident, as it unfolds, paints a stark picture of overreach. A Rhode Island Superior Court judge, Joseph McBurney, found himself directly confronting the consequences of what seems to be a flagrant error by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The story begins with an intern at the courthouse being wrongfully detained.
Multiple sources indicate that the events leading up to the detention involved a sheriff noticing an individual, later identified as an ICE agent, taking photographs within the courthouse, including Judge McBurney’s courtroom. Despite being instructed to adhere to standard courthouse rules, including not taking photos, the agent continued their actions.… Continue reading
Finland’s president urges Europe to hold its nerve, and honestly, it’s a message that resonates deeply right now, especially given the complex situation in Ukraine. It’s a call for composure in the face of what looks like a prolonged and difficult situation, suggesting a ceasefire isn’t on the immediate horizon. And coming from Finland, a nation with a keen understanding of Russian behavior, that message carries extra weight. They know the neighborhood.
What’s striking is the sense that Europe might be underestimating the long game here. There’s a feeling that some in Europe are perhaps hoping for a quick resolution, or that they haven’t fully grasped the scale of the challenge.… Continue reading
Two Texas men, Gavin Rivers Weisenburg and Tanner Christopher Thomas, have been charged by the Department of Justice with plotting a coup d’état on the island of Gonâve, Haiti, with the intent of sexual assault and enslavement. The men allegedly planned to kill all the island’s men and exploit the women and children, recruiting individuals and acquiring military skills and resources to execute the invasion, which began in August 2024. Thomas joined the Air Force, and the men sought to procure a boat, weapons, and ammunition. The charges include conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country, and producing child pornography, with potential sentences of life in prison.
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Under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Education is implementing changes to student loan reimbursement, with the “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP) replacing previous programs. A key factor in determining reimbursement is whether a degree is considered “professional,” leading to concern as several degrees, including nursing, are excluded from the list. This reclassification could significantly impact students pursuing these degrees, as they may receive less financial aid, potentially deterring them from entering high-demand professions and possibly exacerbating workforce shortages. Various stakeholders are criticizing the exclusion of these professions, arguing it contradicts the traditional understanding of “professional” and could have detrimental effects on public health and other critical sectors.
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The FBI spied on a private Signal group chat of immigrants’ rights activists who were organizing “courtwatch” efforts in New York City. Law enforcement records show the FBI gained access to a Signal group coordinating volunteers monitoring federal immigration court proceedings and labeled the court watchers as “anarchist violent extremist actors.” The FBI’s report, which did not clarify how they accessed the group or provide evidence of the “extremist” claims, was shared with other law enforcement agencies. Critics have condemned the surveillance, noting the non-violent nature of courtwatch efforts and likening the actions to past FBI overreach.
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FBI Deploys Police to Guard Facility Where Epstein Files Are Stored. The headline itself is already a bit of a head-scratcher, isn’t it? If these files are just some sort of nothingburger, a “Democrat hoax” as some have suggested, then why the need for extra security? It’s like guarding a box of air. The fact that the FBI is deploying police to protect the facility where these files are stored, known as the Central Records Complex, immediately raises questions and stirs up a whirlwind of speculation. This is especially true given the context: chatter on Reddit suggested possible protests and even the hypothetical, though not explicitly stated, threat of attempts to access the files.… Continue reading
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses, despite many others working tirelessly. This decision has sparked criticism from unions and lawmakers, who argue that all workers who maintained operations during the shutdown deserve recognition. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the bonuses as acknowledgement of dedication, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union expressed concern over the exclusion of thousands of other dedicated employees. The FAA faced staffing shortages before the shutdown, which were further exacerbated during the shutdown due to absences and retirements, prompting flight cuts and safety concerns.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
RI Judge Intervenes After ICE Wrongfully Detains Court Intern, Threatens Judge
RI Judge Intervenes After ICE Wrongfully Detains Superior Court Intern
The incident, as it unfolds, paints a stark picture of overreach. A Rhode Island Superior Court judge, Joseph McBurney, found himself directly confronting the consequences of what seems to be a flagrant error by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The story begins with an intern at the courthouse being wrongfully detained.
Multiple sources indicate that the events leading up to the detention involved a sheriff noticing an individual, later identified as an ICE agent, taking photographs within the courthouse, including Judge McBurney’s courtroom. Despite being instructed to adhere to standard courthouse rules, including not taking photos, the agent continued their actions.… Continue reading