The Department of Homeland Security launched a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area, deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents and officers. This operation, described as the largest ever by DHS, is partly tied to alleged fraud involving Somali residents and includes agents from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. Immigration rights groups and elected officials reported an increase in federal agent sightings, and the state’s governor criticized the operation, citing lack of coordination. The operation also involved the arrest of 150 people Monday, with authorities focusing on fraud investigations, as the Trump administration intensifies immigration crackdowns in the region.
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Hilton Hotels announced it would sever ties with a Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota, following a video that showed a desk clerk refusing to book rooms for a person claiming to be a Department of Homeland Security agent. The decision came after the hotel’s owner, Everpeak Hospitality, had previously apologized for canceling reservations for DHS agents, claiming it was not consistent with their policy. Despite Everpeak’s initial assurance that the issue was resolved, the new video demonstrated a continued refusal to accommodate DHS employees, leading Hilton to take immediate action. Hilton reiterated its commitment to being a welcoming place for all and stated it would reinforce its standards with all franchisees to prevent similar incidents.
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The Trump administration has initiated a freeze on federal funding for childcare and food programs in Colorado, impacting initiatives like the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), citing concerns about non-citizen benefit fraud. Over $300 million in federal funds, totaling $10 billion across five Democratic-led states, is currently frozen. State and local officials have expressed uncertainty and concern over the freeze, as families in need rely on the services provided by these funds. Several state politicians have denounced the move, suggesting legal challenges may be pursued, as this act is viewed as another in a line of the Trump Administration’s attacks on Colorado.
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White House webpage claims Jan. 6 “insurrection” was a Democratic fabrication. The very idea that the White House would put out a claim that the January 6th events were fabricated by Democrats is, frankly, mind-boggling. It’s the kind of thing that makes you rub your eyes and wonder if you’re actually seeing what you think you’re seeing. It’s hard to believe this could be a genuine stance, particularly given the overwhelming amount of evidence to the contrary.
The immediate reaction is, of course, disbelief. How could anyone, especially those in positions of power, claim something so demonstrably false? The insurrection was, after all, a live event, broadcast across the world.… Continue reading
In the 1980s, a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle sparked reflections on King Ludwig II and his withdrawal from reality, drawing parallels to a modern leader. The author raises concerns about Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, drawing attention to his impulsive actions, like claiming to run Venezuela without any existing plan. This behavior, alongside other bizarre incidents, raises questions about his fitness for office, echoing historical precedents where leaders’ mental states threatened governance. The author urges for the importance of the constitution and those in power to uphold it.
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The Trump administration used the alleged existence of a “Cartel de los Soles” led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as justification for his removal. However, now that the Department of Justice must prove this in court, the claim is being walked back, effectively admitting the non-existence of the organization. This narrative, initially used to garner support for US aggression, described Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. But the new indictment omits the existence of a formal cartel, portraying it as a culture of corruption instead.
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The article details the story of Thomas Webster, a former police officer who was present at the January 6th Capitol riot. Webster, swayed by Donald Trump’s rhetoric and conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, drove to Washington, D.C. where he assaulted a police officer. Following his conviction, Webster was sentenced to prison, but was later pardoned by Trump. Despite the pardon, and now living in Mississippi, Webster still believes the election was stolen. The article concludes by highlighting Webster’s continued struggles with the events of that day and the difficulty in reconciling his actions with his self-perception as a patriot.
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the closest thing the U.S. had to a publicly-funded media outlet, has been shut down following a massive funding cut. This move, spearheaded by Donald Trump and his allies, effectively eliminates a source of trusted news and educational programming for all Americans. The CPB’s demise will be especially detrimental to the approximately 1,500 local public radio and TV stations that relied heavily on its funding. This is part of a larger effort by the right wing to undermine a functional press and consolidate control over media narratives.
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The U.S. media’s response to President Trump’s actions in Venezuela, including attacks and the kidnapping of its leader, has been surprisingly mild, avoiding terms like “act of war” and “coup.” Instead, mainstream outlets framed the events as “operations” or “pressure campaigns,” mirroring the administration’s language. This reluctance to use stronger terms, even in the face of blatant violations of international law, indicates a pattern of state subservience and sanitization in media coverage. The media’s choice of language, particularly in comparison to its coverage of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, reveals a willingness to adopt the administration’s preferred framing, effectively acting as stenographers to power.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood