The US State Department is preparing to fund rightwing and populist organizations across Europe to promote “American values” and challenge perceived threats to free speech, particularly in response to European regulations on online content. This initiative, slated to focus on major European capitals, has already elicited concerns from some US allies regarding American interference in domestic policy debates. The move occurs as US-funded international broadcasters face scaled-back funding and independent media within the United States experiences significant layoffs, raising questions about the nation’s commitment to press freedom both domestically and abroad.
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Members of Congress will commence reviewing the unredacted Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein on Monday morning, requiring in-person access at the DOJ offices with 24 hours’ notice. This review is limited to Congress members, not their staff, and allows note-taking but prohibits electronic devices. The examination will focus on the 3 million publicly released files, excluding an additional 6 million documents still in DOJ possession. This access follows a request from lawmakers, including Representatives Massie and Khanna, who authored the legislation mandating the release of these materials, and precedes Attorney General Pam Bondi’s scheduled appearance before the Judiciary Committee.
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Despite accusations of moving the goalposts, Republican Oversight Chairman James Comer has refused to hold a public hearing for Hillary Clinton’s deposition, asserting that committee hearings are primarily for entertainment. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, agreed to a closed-door deposition following their prominence in the latest Epstein files, though the couple has since advocated for a public proceeding. Clinton’s team maintains they engaged in good faith for months, sharing information under oath, only to have Republicans ignore it and shift their focus, turning accountability into a distraction.
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President Trump shared a video depicting the Obamas as apes, which was widely condemned as racist, even by some Republican lawmakers. The White House initially dismissed the clip as a harmless meme but later stated a staffer “erroneously” posted it, and the video was removed. Numerous politicians and commentators expressed outrage, with some calling for the staffer’s immediate termination and an apology from Trump. This incident adds to Trump’s history of racially charged rhetoric directed at the Obamas.
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The Justice Ministry is preparing to revise Japan’s 70-year-old anti-prostitution law, which currently only penalizes sellers, to include punishment for sex buyers, addressing a significant legal imbalance. A panel of experts will convene in February to deliberate on these changes, potentially including increased penalties. This reform movement gained traction following a recent human trafficking case involving a minor, highlighting concerns that the existing law disproportionately targets victims by failing to criminalize the demand side of prostitution.
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The New York state trial for Luigi Mangione, facing charges in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in December 2024, is scheduled to begin on June 8, despite defense arguments of unpreparedness and an impending federal trial. The judge has ordered the defense to be ready for the June date, asserting the state’s significant interest in prosecuting a murder that occurred within its jurisdiction. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces a potential life sentence, recently made his first public statement in court, proclaiming, “One plus one equals two. This is double jeopardy by any common sense judgment.” A federal judge previously ruled against the death penalty for Mangione and dismissed two federal counts, while allowing evidence from his arrest to be used in trials.
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South Africa and China have signed a framework agreement to begin negotiations on a new trade deal, aiming to provide South African goods with duty-free access to the Chinese market. This development comes as South Africa seeks alternatives to U.S. trade policies, particularly following high import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The agreement is expected to be finalized by the end of March and includes enhanced investment opportunities for China in South Africa.
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Nevada lawmakers are scrutinizing Elon Musk’s Boring Company over alleged workplace safety and environmental violations related to its Vegas Loop tunnel project. The company has faced numerous complaints and significant fines, though some have been contested or withdrawn. Despite these concerns, the Vegas Loop has been praised for providing convenient transportation for conventiongoers and is approved for extensive expansion throughout the city.
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A federal judge has delivered a significant blow to the Department of Justice’s recent efforts, ruling that the agency can no longer be trusted in its pursuit of voter roll data. This decision stems from a perceived disconnect between the DOJ’s public pronouncements and its actions, leading a judge to conclude that the presumption of regularity, typically afforded to government entities, no longer applies. Essentially, the court is stating that assurances from the DOJ regarding the privacy and intended use of sensitive data must now be met with heightened scrutiny, especially when these assurances appear to conflict with public statements.
The judge’s ruling highlights a profound loss of faith in the Department of Justice’s intentions and methods.… Continue reading
This article details how the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) opposed Representative Andy Malinowski for supporting conditions on aid to Israel, a stance increasingly popular among Democrats due to public disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The article then introduces Misty Mejia, a progressive candidate endorsed by prominent figures like Senator Sanders, who is poised to benefit from AIPAC’s opposition. Mejia’s position on the conflict is more extreme than Malinowski’s, as she has characterized the situation in Gaza as genocide and refused any AIPAC-funded trips to Israel, mirroring a successful strategy seen in a previous New York mayoral campaign.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood