During a White House press conference, President Trump, at 79 years old, sat in his chair while announcing efforts to expand IVF access, after complaining about having to stand for long periods at previous events. He noted his exhaustion from standing at a previous conference, leading him to sit while others, including RFK Jr., stood. This instance has raised further questions about his health, particularly considering his swollen ankles and the White House’s prior defense of his health, despite a recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency and a persistent bruise on his hand.
Read More
Following Israel’s withdrawal from portions of Gaza under a US-backed ceasefire, President Trump threatened action against Hamas for its public executions, reversing his earlier stance. He stated that if Hamas continued killing, retribution would be enacted. The comments came amidst a plea from an Israeli-backed militia in Gaza, urging Trump to protect residents from Hamas’s actions. While clarifying the US wouldn’t deploy troops, Trump indicated the retaliation would be carried out by others “very nearby,” under US auspices.
Read More
Former U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Doug Krugman resigned in late September, citing concerns about President Trump and the direction of the country. In an op-ed, Krugman explained his belief that Trump’s actions, including the rebranding of the Department of Defense and the potential use of the military for domestic purposes, were at odds with the Constitution. Krugman stated that Trump’s pardon of those involved in the January 6th insurrection and his halting of refugee programs were particularly concerning, leading him to believe he could no longer serve under Trump’s leadership. Krugman’s decision reflects a broader worry about the role of the military and the adherence to constitutional principles.
Read More
Respondents reported various issues with an ad experience, including slow loading times for both the video player and content. Some users experienced complete failure to load the video content, while others noted the ad itself froze or didn’t finish. Additionally, issues were reported with the audio on the ad being too loud, as well as several other unspecified problems that negatively impacted the user experience.
Read More
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller of enabling President Trump’s immigration policies. Pritzker stated that Miller is the driving force behind Trump’s tactics within the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aiming to make Trump an authoritarian leader. He criticized Miller’s role, particularly in light of the National Guard’s deployment in Chicago, and responded defiantly to Trump’s suggestions of jail time. The conflict escalated as Vice President Vance criticized Pritzker for his opposition, framing the administration’s actions as efforts to protect Chicago residents.
Read More
President Trump has made several false claims regarding military deployments in American cities, including the assertion that U.S. troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat with young members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Washington, D.C. Despite the president’s claims of eliminated crime in the district, officials from the Joint Task Force–District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department have refuted the accuracy of these statements. Furthermore, Trump’s justifications for deploying federal agents and National Guard troops, painting cities as “war-torn wastelands,” have been met with legal challenges and criticism from experts. Trump’s rhetoric, seen as fearmongering, aims to galvanize public support for increased militarization, but the claims are viewed as blatant lies by many.
Read More
Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford warned that a “black swan event,” or unpredictable crisis, could occur in the agricultural industry due to labor shortages caused by restricted immigration. This could threaten food production. Farmers are struggling to find labor, and with significant percentages of farmworkers being immigrants, particularly in the dairy industry, any disruptions to the workforce due to deportations could have severe consequences. A single ICE raid could lead to a food crisis within hours as animals would be neglected.
Read More
Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, have warned the US and Gaza plan architects that the effort to end the war is at risk due to mediators’ perceived leniency towards Hamas. These warnings stem from Hamas’ post-ceasefire actions, such as refusing to disarm and engaging in violence. Saudi Arabia has signaled it will reduce its involvement and skip reconstruction efforts without decisive US action and a change in the mediators’ approach. The Emiratis have taken a similar stance. The Saudis are expected to meet with Trump, and the outcome of this meeting may be significant.
Read More
U.S. soybean farmers face significant challenges due to the ongoing trade war with China, the nation’s largest buyer of the crop, and an overreliance on a small number of global trade partners. The current farm economy is unstable, prompting bailouts that, while providing short-term relief, exacerbate long-term issues and drive up prices due to the cycle. A new report suggests that these issues stem from a focus on large-scale monoculture farming and a lack of support for smaller, more diversified farming operations. To counter these issues, the report advocates for incentivizing non-commodity crop growth, reforming bailout practices, supporting antitrust legislation, and investing in local infrastructure to ensure food security.
Read More
While Trump’s efforts to influence redistricting have had limited success, the Supreme Court’s potential ruling in *Louisiana v. Callais* poses a far greater threat. Oral arguments suggest the Court may severely weaken or dismantle Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to draw racially discriminatory maps. This could lead to a significant shift, potentially costing Democrats numerous seats and solidifying Republican control of the House. Consequently, the Supreme Court’s actions hold the potential to reshape the political landscape, potentially outweighing the impacts of gerrymandering efforts by Trump and state-level Republicans.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker