Costco Wholesale is suing the Trump administration, contesting the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), seeking a full refund of duties paid. The lawsuit argues that the IEEPA doesn’t explicitly authorize the President to set tariffs. This legal challenge follows the Supreme Court’s review of the tariff agenda, where justices expressed skepticism. Costco, like several other major companies, is seeking refunds, having previously absorbed costs on imported goods such as pineapples and bananas to protect customer prices.
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During a Sunday interview, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem struggled to address the fact that the suspected National Guard shooter’s asylum request was approved during the Trump administration. Noem instead shifted blame to the Biden administration, stating that vetting procedures were lacking under Biden, despite the asylum being granted in April after Trump had assumed office. The shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the U.S. in 2021 and is accused of firing on National Guard members, resulting in one fatality. Critics on social media have also pointed to the appointment of Thomas Fugate, a former landscaper, to head up U.S. terror prevention as a potential security concern.
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The White House confirmed Admiral Frank M. Bradley ordered the second strike on the alleged drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, which resulted in the death of two survivors. This confirmation follows reports and allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commanded military personnel to “kill everybody” on board. While Leavitt stated Bradley was within his authority, the Pentagon’s Law of War Manual prohibits attacking the wounded, sick, or shipwrecked. This incident has led to increased scrutiny, with members of Congress and experts calling for investigations into potential war crimes amidst growing questions about the Trump administration’s lethal campaign.
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A recently released report, compiled by current and former FBI agents and analysts, paints a negative picture of FBI Director Kash Patel’s first six months, citing his leadership as “dismal” and the agency as “rudderless.” The 115-page dossier, based on information from 24 anonymous sources, criticizes Patel’s perceived insecurity, lack of experience, and focus on personal image, including ordering polygraph tests and demanding a raid jacket. The report, prepared for House and Senate judiciary committees, also calls out Deputy Director Dan Bongino, with sources stating that both spend too much time on social media and PR. The report also highlights discontent within the FBI regarding Trump’s pardons of January 6th defendants and agents being forced to participate in immigration raids.
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Next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will face mounting pressure from the United States to reach a deal to end the war with Russia. This push for a peaceful settlement comes amidst internal political turmoil within Ukraine, fueled by a corruption scandal and demands for government reshuffles. Simultaneously, the US is sending a special envoy to Moscow and a renewed Ukrainian delegation is in the US for negotiations. Further complicating matters, Zelenskyy is facing pressure to replace key figures within his administration, potentially weakening his political control.
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The White House has initiated a weekly tracker that identifies and critiques news stories deemed objectionable by the Trump administration, categorizing them as “lies” or “bias.” This “media offenders” page features a leaderboard of news outlets and a “hall of shame” highlighting specific stories and reporters. The administration’s move comes amid escalating tensions with the media, including legal battles and stricter rules for journalists at the Pentagon. Furthermore, President Trump has been criticized for making personal insults toward female reporters, adding a personal dimension to the ongoing conflict.
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Leaked applications for the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 initiative reveal that several individuals seeking roles in a potential Trump administration cited influences from Nazi political theorists and other far-right figures. The applications, sourced from a database breach, showcase the convergence of Republicans and the far-right, including applications from members of nativist and antisemitic groups. Several applicants expressed admiration for Carl Schmitt, a political theorist with ties to the Nazi regime, and Nayib Bukele, the authoritarian president of El Salvador. The applications also highlighted influences from prominent white nationalists and other fringe figures, raising concerns about the ideological leanings of potential appointees.
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The article reports on a series of military strikes launched during the Trump administration targeting alleged drug-running boats, resulting in over 80 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issued a verbal order to leave no survivors, leading to a second strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack. Legal experts and members of Congress have raised concerns, labeling the actions as potential extrajudicial killings and war crimes. While the Department of Defense declined to comment, the administration maintains the strikes are legal, targeting “narco-terrorists” in an ongoing “armed conflict.”
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Former US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed strong criticism of the second Trump administration, citing perceived corruption and declining political standards. Kerry also voiced disappointment in the recent Cop30 climate conference, suggesting it lacked ambition and that the US’s absence negatively impacted the outcome, potentially hindering the global transition away from fossil fuels. Despite this, he remains optimistic about the clean energy transition’s continuation, although he expressed concern about the timeline to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Kerry further indicated that the COP process is “losing credibility,” due to disappointing outcomes.
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More than 220 judges rejecting the Trump administration’s mass detention policy is a significant number, and it speaks volumes about the extent to which the policy was deemed problematic. It highlights the widespread concern among the judiciary that the policy was likely an overreach, or perhaps simply unjust. When so many judges, from different jurisdictions and likely with varying political leanings, come to the same conclusion, it’s hard to dismiss it as a fringe opinion or an outlier case. The implication is clear: the administration’s approach to immigration detention, and potentially its broader immigration policies, was seen as excessively harsh, possibly illegal, and certainly not in line with established legal norms.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood