The Kennedy Center’s long-standing Christmas Eve jazz concert has been canceled by its host, Chuck Redd, due to the addition of Donald Trump’s name to the venue. The White House announced last week that the building’s facade now reads “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” This decision has been met with controversy, as scholars claim it violates existing law that prevents the board of trustees from designating the center as a memorial to anyone else. Several artists have withdrawn from performances at the Kennedy Center since Trump’s return to office, and Kennedy’s niece, Kerry Kennedy, has pledged to remove Trump’s name once he leaves office.
Read More
In a recent development, Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna have initiated inherent contempt charges against former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. These charges stem from the release of files associated with the Jeffrey Epstein case, raising concerns about the handling of sensitive information. The bipartisan action signifies a united front in holding Bondi accountable for her actions regarding the Epstein case files. Further details regarding the specific nature of the released files and the reasons for the contempt charges are expected to emerge as the legal process unfolds.
Read More
Crocs is suing the Trump administration for a $54 million tariff refund, alleging the administration exceeded its authority. The footwear company claims it paid this sum due to increased tariffs imposed during the Trump presidency. Crocs is challenging the legality of these tariffs and seeking reimbursement for the financial burden they created.
Read More
Newly released FBI documents, stemming from the Epstein case, contain an unverified claim from a woman alleging Donald Trump witnessed her uncle murder her newborn child and dispose of the body in Lake Michigan. The woman claims she was sex trafficked by her uncle and Jeffrey Epstein in 1984, when she was 13 and pregnant. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also released a letter allegedly written by Epstein to Larry Nassar, claiming Trump shared their interest in young girls, which the DOJ has stated is fake. The DOJ has noted the files contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” and is facing scrutiny for violating federal law by missing its deadline to release all Epstein files.
Read More
Nineteen Democratic state attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over its attempt to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals providing gender-affirming care to adolescents, arguing it violates procedural law and state authority. The lawsuit challenges a “declaration” from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., that asserts “sex-rejecting procedures” for children are unsafe and ineffective. The states claim this declaration bypasses required administrative processes and illegally supersedes state authority over Medicaid, infringing on medical standards of care. This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restrict gender-affirming care, reversing policies from the previous administration.
Read More
On Monday, Houston police recovered two bodies from local bayous, bringing the year’s total to 33 bayou-related deaths, nearly matching last year’s total. One body was found in Buffalo Bayou and the other near Brays Bayou, with the latter significantly decomposed. The Harris County medical examiner’s office will conduct autopsies to determine the identities and causes of death for both individuals. These discoveries follow increased attention on bayou-related deaths, which have seen over 200 bodies found in the past nine years.
Read More
A Virginia family has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, alleging they were bitten by bed bugs during a flight. The family claims the bites resulted in welts, lesions, and rashes, ruining their vacation and causing various damages. The lawsuit details that the incident occurred on a KLM flight purchased through Delta’s SkyMiles program, with the family providing photographic evidence. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages of at least $200,000, while the airlines have yet to fully comment on the allegations.
Read More
Consumer confidence in the U.S. decreased in December, reaching its lowest point since the implementation of tariffs, driven by anxieties about high prices and the effects of President Trump’s trade policies. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped to 89.1, with short-term expectations remaining stable but below a key recessionary marker. Concerns about prices and tariffs were prominent in the survey responses, while perceptions of the job market also declined, further contributing to the overall decrease in confidence.
Read More
The Department of Homeland Security has withdrawn its plan to deport Guan Heng, a Chinese national, after his case drew public attention. Guan, who secretly filmed detention facilities in China’s Xinjiang region, faced potential punishment from Beijing if deported. Human rights advocates Rayhan Asat and Zhou Fengsuo confirmed the decision, with Guan’s legal team now working to secure his release from ICE detention. Public pressure, including from U.S. lawmakers, supported Guan’s asylum request due to his role in exposing human rights abuses.
Read More
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the California Department of Motor Vehicles by a group of immigrant truckers. The suit claims the state violated the rights of thousands of workers by initiating the revocation of their commercial driver’s licenses. The DMV’s action, affecting approximately 21,000 drivers, stems from federal pressure related to the issuance of licenses to immigrants. The plaintiffs argue the state’s plan infringes upon their due process rights and threatens their livelihoods, with the lawsuit seeking to halt the license cancellations.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker