A federal jury has awarded $500,000 to the widow and estate of a police officer who died by suicide shortly after defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. The eight-member jury found David Walls-Kaufman liable for assaulting Officer Jeffrey Smith, awarding the widow and estate for damages. The encounter, which took place during the riot, was captured on the officer’s body camera. Walls-Kaufman, who served a 60-day prison sentence for a riot-related misdemeanor, denied assaulting the officer.
Read More
Military officials, concerned about then-President Trump’s social media activity potentially jeopardizing operational security, devised a plan to mislead his team regarding a planned attack on Iran. While publicly maintaining a facade of deliberation, the administration was actively planning the strikes. The military, fearing Trump’s unpredictable online behavior, deployed decoy bombers to Guam, ensuring only one group flew towards the actual target. Despite Trump’s claims of obliterating Iranian nuclear facilities, damage reports indicated a more limited impact.
Read More
On Sunday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office recovered the bodies of three hikers near Lake Tahoe. The hikers were part of a group of six who were in the Soda Springs area when three of them jumped into Rattlesnake Falls and did not resurface. After receiving the alert Wednesday afternoon, authorities deployed a dive team, suspending search operations Thursday due to unfavorable weather conditions before resuming and ultimately recovering the bodies on Sunday.
Read More
In a recent order, Republican justices on the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump may effectively bypass laws and treaties protecting immigrants from torture. This temporary order allows the administration to send immigrants to potentially dangerous countries while the *D.V.D.* case is litigated. The administration appears to have exploited a loophole, attempting to deport individuals to countries, such as South Sudan and Libya, where they face a high risk of torture without providing new hearings. Justice Sotomayor dissented, highlighting the potential for a deadly trap, as the administration seems to be intentionally selecting unsafe destinations after immigration hearings have already been completed.
Read More
Following air attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow and pledged support to Iran. Putin did not specify the nature of this support, while the Kremlin suggested it would depend on Iran’s needs. Highlighting the established alliance between the two nations, Putin condemned the attacks as unprovoked aggression and affirmed Russia’s commitment to supporting the Iranian people. Furthermore, Putin also discussed the Middle East crisis with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani.
Read More
The thing that’s truly baffling is how easily the conservative argument about gay marriage leading to human-animal marriage seems to have been forgotten. It was a cornerstone of the opposition, a scare tactic deployed with surprising frequency. Remember the dire warnings? If we allowed same-sex couples to marry, the next thing you knew, people would be tying the knot with their pets, the slippery slope argument in full effect. But here we are, years after marriage equality became the law of the land, and… crickets. No mass weddings for humans and their furry, scaled, or feathered companions. No legislative push to recognize such unions.… Continue reading
Following Iran’s retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar, French President Emmanuel Macron urged all parties to de-escalate and return to negotiations. Macron, during a press conference in Norway, stated that US strikes on Iran were not legal, while also supporting the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear arms. He opposed any military-led regime change, emphasizing the need for diplomatic and technical solutions. Furthermore, Macron warned of the potential global economic consequences if Iran were to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Read More
David Prine, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, still backs the former president despite his wife’s detention. Yenifer Correa Ganan, who entered the U.S. legally under the CBP One parole program, was detained in May after a clerical error and subsequent domestic dispute. Despite all state charges being dropped and her requests for voluntary deportation, Ganan remains incarcerated, leaving Prine struggling to care for their children and manage their household. The situation highlights the impact of immigration policies amid Trump’s crackdown on those without legal status, leaving the family fractured.
Read More
The recent airstrikes on Iran, despite their tactical impressiveness, may have fallen short of their strategic goals, particularly concerning the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program. Uncertainty surrounds the effectiveness of the attacks, with doubts arising on whether the bunker-busting bombs successfully destroyed Iran’s enriched uranium. Iran’s response, including missile strikes on a U.S. air base, has raised the stakes and increased the likelihood of further U.S. involvement. The ambiguous location of Iran’s uranium stockpile following the attack has intensified the uncertainty surrounding the conflict and its potential escalation.
Read More
Following a U.S. strike on three Iranian nuclear sites, the State Department issued a worldwide caution for Americans abroad, citing potential disruptions to travel and demonstrations against U.S. interests. The strikes, which President Trump deemed “very successful,” have escalated tensions in the region, prompting Iran to warn of consequences. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin, warning of a heightened threat environment in the United States. The State Department is urging U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution and review travel advisories.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood