The Trump administration has controversially justified the killing of suspected cocaine smugglers as “unlawful combatants” in an “armed struggle” against the United States, even if they are unarmed and pose no immediate threat. In a specific instance, Adm. Frank M. Bradley ordered a second missile strike on survivors of an initial strike on a drug smuggling boat. According to reports, this second strike was carried out because the survivors had radioed for help and were seen as still “in the fight.” Critics argue the second strike was a war crime, violating the law-of-war rules regarding shipwrecked individuals. This defense reveals the complexities of applying the law of war to a scenario that, according to the article, doesn’t really exist.
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This holiday season, many Americans are experiencing a lack of celebration due to the impacts of the Trump administration’s policies. The article aims to amplify the voices of those negatively affected and ensure their experiences are acknowledged. Readers are encouraged to join in holding the administration accountable for its decisions. Further engagement with the article is available for members.
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The FBI Director, Kash Patel, vehemently refuted a New York Post op-ed report criticizing his leadership and professionalism within the bureau, dismissing it as inaccurate and stemming from disgruntled sources from prior administrations. The report, compiled from anonymous internal sources, accused Patel of being out of touch, focusing too much on public image, and cited instances of unprofessional conduct, including a bizarre incident where he allegedly refused to disembark from a plane without an FBI raid jacket. Patel countered these claims on Fox News, calling the allegations false, defending his actions, and highlighting his personal life, including using the FBI jet to visit his girlfriend.
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A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from making widespread immigration arrests in Washington, D.C., without warrants or probable cause of imminent flight risk. The ruling, issued late Tuesday, granted a preliminary injunction sought by civil liberties groups against the Department of Homeland Security. Judge Howell found a substantial likelihood of unlawful practices, citing violations of immigration law and the department’s regulations. The judge also ordered documentation of any warrantless arrests, requiring agents to detail the facts supporting their pre-arrest probable cause, and to provide that information to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
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A Colombian family has filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) alleging that Alejandro Carranza Medina was unlawfully killed in a US airstrike on September 15th. The complaint marks the first formal challenge to the Trump administration’s airstrikes against suspected drug boats, authorized under a novel legal interpretation. The petition, filed by a human rights lawyer, identifies US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as responsible and cites statements by President Trump ratifying the actions. A White House spokesperson responded by accusing media of supporting “foreign terrorists.”
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The Pentagon announced that all National Guard members deployed in Washington D.C. would be armed with live weapons and conduct joint patrols with local police, a significant shift in the rules of engagement for domestic military deployments. This decision follows a recent shooting of two guardsmen, one of whom died, near the White House, prompting the administration to order more troops to the city. The move to arm these troops comes as a recent order finding the deployment unlawful is on hold, pending the Trump administration’s appeal. Additionally, the suspect in the shooting, an Afghan national, has caused the administration to launch a review of immigration policies.
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The Pentagon has recently undergone a shift in its press corps, with several right-wing outlets and influencers, including Laura Loomer, gaining credentials. These new arrivals, however, immediately faced criticism after mistakenly claiming to occupy the desk of a Washington Post reporter, leading to mockery and corrections from the ousted press corps. The transition has raised concerns about the objectivity of reporting, especially with the Trump administration’s defense strategies and its military buildup in the Caribbean, coming under scrutiny. The shakeup comes amidst increasing questions regarding the legality of military actions.
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Costco has sued the Trump administration to recoup tariffs paid this year and prevent future collection, citing a potential loss of funds even if the Supreme Court rules against the duties. The lawsuit addresses a looming December 15 deadline concerning tariff liquidation and the potential for refunds. The suit emphasizes that even if the Supreme Court invalidates the tariffs, Costco needs separate judicial relief to secure a refund. Dozens of other companies have also filed similar suits contesting the legality of the tariffs.
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Costco sues Trump administration for ‘full refund’ of tariffs, a move that’s sparking a lot of conversation, and for good reason. It’s a complex situation with a lot of moving parts, and it has the potential to impact both the company and, potentially, the consumers who shop there. The core of the matter is that Costco is seeking to recoup money it paid in tariffs imposed during the Trump administration.
Digging deeper into the details, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a simple case of a company wanting its money back. The tariffs in question were levied on imported goods, and the lawsuit argues that they were, in essence, an unfair tax.… Continue reading
Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s resignation due to her efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Warren argued that McMahon’s actions, including mass layoffs and the transfer of key functions to other agencies, will negatively impact families and schools. Under the proposed plan, programs like Title I would be managed by the Department of Labor, potentially affecting funding for K-12 schools. This call for resignation followed legal action from a coalition of labor unions and educators who claim the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and harm students.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood