A Flood Advisory is in effect until 7 AM PST Tuesday for portions of Idaho and Washington due to excessive rainfall and melting snow. Minor flooding is expected in low-lying areas, impacting numerous cities including Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Lewiston. An additional 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain is forecast, exacerbating flooding and potentially making some low-water crossings impassable. Residents are urged to avoid driving on flooded roads and report any observed flooding to emergency services.
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Former NFL player Chris Kluwe was arrested at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting for protesting a proposed commemorative plaque. The plaque, initially celebrating the library’s 50th anniversary, incorporated elements referencing Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, prompting Kluwe’s condemnation of the MAGA movement as anti-democratic and hateful. Kluwe’s protest involved civil disobedience, resulting in his arrest and charges of disrupting an assembly. Despite the incident, the council approved a modified version of the plaque.
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David Cherry, an Indiana man, was arrested and charged with intimidation after posting threats against Elon Musk on X, including a statement about planting a bomb at Musk’s house. Cherry pleaded not guilty and his attorney plans to argue that the posts are protected political speech under the First Amendment. The case hinges on whether Cherry’s statements constitute true threats, a legal exception to free speech protections. Cherry’s trial is scheduled for August.
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A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against President Trump’s executive orders aiming to eliminate federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The judge found the orders likely violate free speech rights due to their unconstitutionally vague language, making it impossible for recipients to understand compliance requirements. The ruling blocks enforcement of the orders, except for allowing an investigation into DEI practices, while acknowledging the administration’s argument that it can align spending with presidential priorities. Plaintiffs, including Baltimore City and higher education groups, successfully argued the orders cause significant harm and chill free speech.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin launched “Operation Whirlwind,” investigating alleged threats against Supreme Court justices and DOGE employees. The inquiry focuses on statements by Senator Schumer, deemed threatening by Martin, and Representative Garcia, whose comments are similarly under scrutiny. Martin’s memo, which deviates from Justice Department protocol, alleges these statements constitute threats, prompting investigations. Garcia’s office refutes the accusations, characterizing the inquiry as an attempt to silence opposition to Musk and Trump.
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Former NFL player Chris Kluwe was arrested at a Huntington Beach city council meeting for protesting a “MAGA” themed plaque at a local library. Kluwe denounced the plaque as a symbol of the MAGA movement’s purportedly anti-democratic and Nazi-like tendencies, citing various alleged actions of the movement. His protest, involving a deliberate disruption of the meeting, resulted in charges of disrupting an assembly. Kluwe was released after four hours, maintaining that the arresting officers were professional, despite council members criticizing his actions.
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The upcoming four years represent a pivotal moment for the nation. To ensure continued access to unbiased reporting during this transformative period, HuffPost is introducing an ad-free experience for supporting contributors. This initiative aims to safeguard the future of free and impartial journalism. By joining, readers directly contribute to the newsroom’s ability to provide critical coverage.
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Ocasio-Cortez’s assertion that J.D. Vance “lied to the world” about free speech stems from a broader context of Vance’s controversial remarks during a Munich speech. The essence of her criticism hinges on a perceived hypocrisy: Vance’s claims regarding threats to American democracy while simultaneously associating with, and even seemingly endorsing, groups considered anti-democratic by many. This contradiction, according to Ocasio-Cortez, represents a profound dishonesty.
The core of the disagreement centers around Vance’s characterization of the situation in America. He presented a narrative emphasizing internal threats to American democracy, suggesting that certain behaviors within the country pose a greater risk than external actors like Russia or China.… Continue reading
The Washington Post declined to run a Common Cause advertisement calling for President Trump to fire Elon Musk from his advisory role. The ad, which also criticized Musk’s influence on government, was intended to appear as a wraparound on the front and back pages and was to be distributed to Congress, the Pentagon, and the White House. Common Cause suggests the Post’s decision may be linked to the relationship between Post owner Jeff Bezos and President Trump. The Post stated that it has the right to require factual substantiation in advertisements and to obtain necessary permissions for use of individuals’ names and likenesses.
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X, formerly Twitter, is blocking links to Signal.me, a URL shortener used by the encrypted messaging app Signal, preventing users from sharing contact links via direct messages, posts, and profiles. This action coincides with DOGE’s efforts to reduce federal spending, leading to widespread federal employee firings and increased use of Signal for secure communication. X’s actions are generating concern, particularly given Musk’s history of silencing dissent on the platform. The blocks appear to be automated, triggering error messages for users attempting to share Signal.me links. TechCrunch’s attempts to replicate the issue were successful.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood