A Virginia couple has filed a federal lawsuit to halt the demolition of the White House’s East Wing, part of a $300 million project to build a new ballroom. The suit alleges that the Trump administration bypassed necessary legal procedures for historic preservation and public transparency. The White House maintains that the president has the authority to renovate and modernize the building, comparing the project to past expansions. The outcome of the lawsuit will determine whether a president can unilaterally alter a national landmark, potentially setting a precedent for the balance of presidential power and public oversight of historic sites.
Read More
A Washington D.C. resident is suing local police officers, a member of the Ohio National Guard, and the District of Columbia after being detained while protesting the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops. The plaintiff, Sam O’Hara, was playing Darth Vader’s theme song from Star Wars while following a National Guard patrol, actions he shared on TikTok. The lawsuit alleges that his First and Fourth Amendment rights were violated and that the arrest constituted false arrest, imprisonment, and battery. O’Hara seeks compensatory damages, claiming the actions of the military and law enforcement were unconstitutional.
Read More
The recent widespread internet outage underscores the vulnerability created by the concentration of power within a few dominant cloud providers, such as Amazon, and its negative impact on economies. This incident, originating in North America, highlights Europe’s dependency on these providers, posing both security and economic threats. Critical services like media outlets and secure communication apps were affected, revealing the fragile nature of digital infrastructure and democratic processes. Experts emphasize the urgent need for diversification in cloud computing to mitigate such disruptions in the future.
Read More
Author Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against Melania Trump, claiming she threatened legal action to prevent him from reporting on her alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The suit alleges that Trump’s actions were intended to inhibit Wolff’s freedom of speech, citing a letter from her attorney demanding a retraction and apology for comments linking her to Epstein. The lawsuit also includes comments Wolff made to The Daily Beast and argues that the statements were taken out of context. Wolff intends to use the lawsuit to uncover details of the Trumps’ relationship with Epstein.
Read More
Reddit sues Perplexity for scraping data to train AI system. This is where it all begins. From what I gather, it’s less about the principle of data scraping, and more about the simple fact that Perplexity didn’t pay for the privilege of using Reddit’s data. It’s like, you want to use our words, our salty basement dweller prose, to build your AI? Fine, but you gotta pay the toll. It’s a transaction, a business deal. The whole issue of AI training using the unfiltered ramblings of the internet… well, that’s another story altogether.
Reddit, in the wake of its IPO, has seemingly changed.… Continue reading
SpaceX and Cards Against Humanity reached a settlement in a lawsuit concerning land owned by the party game company in Texas. The lawsuit alleged that SpaceX trespassed on the property by placing construction materials and debris there without permission. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, Cards Against Humanity confirmed that SpaceX admitted to trespassing and has since removed its equipment. The company had hoped to use settlement funds to pay back donors who contributed to the land purchase.
Read More
Arizona’s attorney general has initiated legal action against House Speaker Mike Johnson for his refusal to swear in newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva, arguing the Speaker lacks the authority to delay her appointment. The lawsuit contends that Johnson is violating the Constitution by preventing Grijalva from fulfilling her duties, potentially due to political motivations such as preventing a vote on releasing Epstein records or strengthening his position in budget negotiations. While Johnson claims he is following precedent and will administer the oath at the next legislative session, the lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks a judicial order compelling the swearing-in by either Johnson or another authorized individual, emphasizing the injury to both Grijalva and Arizona voters. The core of the legal argument revolves around the constitutional requirement for elected members to be sworn in if they meet the qualifications, regardless of the Speaker’s personal preferences or the House’s operational schedule.
Read More
National Guard could stay in Washington, DC through summer 2026: Lawsuit, it seems like we’re facing a situation that’s a bit more complex than just a simple deployment. The core of the matter seems to be a potential extended presence of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., possibly stretching through the summer of 2026, and a lawsuit is likely in the mix to make that clearer. The implication is that this isn’t just a temporary measure; there are concerns it’s a long-term plan with potentially ulterior motives.
So, the extended timeline raises some critical questions, right? First and foremost, what exactly will these guardsmen and women be doing?… Continue reading
The Independent is committed to covering crucial stories like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, providing on-the-ground reporting and in-depth investigations. This work, including documentaries and financial analyses, helps readers distinguish facts from rhetoric. To continue this crucial reporting, the publication relies on donations to send journalists to the field and speak with all parties involved. Uniquely, The Independent offers its content without paywalls, believing that quality journalism should be accessible to all.
Read More
The story of the former Auburn University instructor suing the school, claiming she was fired over a Facebook post about Charlie Kirk, is a complex one, touching upon free speech, political ideologies, and the often-fraught atmosphere of higher education. Let’s break down this situation.
The central issue is the Facebook post itself. The instructor, after Charlie Kirk’s death, penned a post expressing a lack of sympathy for him and used strong language to describe him. The post included phrases like, “I do not mourn oppressors… I don’t give a damn about evil racist, fascist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, mediocre, white men…” This post, the instructor claims, led to her firing, which she is now challenging through a lawsuit, arguing a violation of her First Amendment rights.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood