US/World News
So much going on, we can’t even get to these…
Trump Assholery:
Trump criticizes Olympic skier who said representing the U.S. ‘brings up mixed emotions’ (NBC)
President Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening (Detroit News)
6 Republicans join Democrats to rebuke tariffs on Canada in blow to Trump (The Hill)
Corruption
Justice Department seeks to wipe out Bannon conviction for defying Jan. 6 committee (Politico)
Public Health
Iran
0:05:24 Epstein Files
Ghislaine Maxwell invokes Fifth Amendment in House deposition (MSNOW)
Maxwell appeared virtually before the House Oversight Committee on Monday and refused to answer any questions, pleading the Fifth.
Her attorney said she would only answer questions if granted clemency by President Trump, stating, “only she can provide the complete account” and that her testimony would exonerate both Trump and former President Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing.
Epstein Files Reveal Scope of Ghislaine Maxwell’s Role in Clinton Circle (NYT)
Regarding Clinton, it turns out Maxwell “played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative,” an offshoot of the Clinton Foundation that brings together leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector aiming to tackle global challenges.
This took place in 2004, before Epstein’s first indictment and, though Clinton is said to have stopped speaking with Epstein before 2006, Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010 and told the DOJ she last saw Bill between 2016 and 2018.
She says Bill Clinton was HER friend, not Epstein’s.
Congress members view unredacted files
Lawmakers don’t rule out exposing redacted names of powerful men in Epstein files (Politico)
Jamie Raskin accuses DoJ of cover-up after viewing unredacted Epstein files (Guardian)
Also Monday, select members of Congress were able to view unredacted files at a DOJ office building, where lawmakers were given access to four computers and allowed to take only written notes.
Raskin accused the department of being “in a cover-up mode” and breaking the law, noting “mysterious redactions” that obscured the names of abusers while allowing the names of victims to become public, which he blamed on either “spectacular incompetence and sloppiness” or as “a deliberate threat to other survivors who are thinking about coming forward.”
Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie accused the DOJ of going beyond the scope of redactions permitted by the law THEY wrote, which compelled the release of the Epstein files by Dec 19 which we STILL only have about half of.
Massie threatened to release the name of six potential co-conspirators on the floor of the House, where he is protected by the Speech and Debate Clause, but said he would give the DOJ an opportunity to “correct their mistakes.”
High-Profile Resignations and Replacements as Epstein Case Fallout Spreads (USNWR)
While those six men’s names remain hidden, some people ARE facing consequences for their relationship with the late child rapist & sex trafficker.
Recall, the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal title last year.
Also in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is teetering as some MPs from his own Labour party have called for his resignation over having appointed Epstein confidant Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.
A week and a half ago, Brad Karp resigned as chairman of prestigious white-shoe law firm Paul Weiss when his exchanges with Epstein became public.
Then Thursday, another prominent attorney, Kathy Reummler, former Obama White House counsel said she would resign her position as chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs.
Also this week, DP World - the Dubai-based logistics giant - replaced their chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, after his friendship with Epstein was exposed.
Former Norwegian PM Thorbjorn Jagland was charged Thursday in his country with “aggravated corruption” in connection with an investigation related to the Epstein files’ release.
Also in Norway, Mona Juul, ambassador to Jordan resigned after it was revealed Epstein left $10M to her children in his will.
In France, former culture minister Jack Lang, stepped down from his post as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris over financial ties to Epstein.
And in Slovakia, national security adviser - and former president of the UN General Assembly - Miroslav Lajčák resigned over text messages with Epstein wherein they discussed “gorgeous” girls.
0:15:11 Bondi’s “Jekyll and Hyde” Testimony
Fiery exchanges dominate Bondi appearance before Congress (The Hill)
In fiery hearing, House Dems question AG Bondi (Democracy Docket)
On Wednesday, AG Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee for approximately four hours.
Bondi took questions on many issues, but exchanges regarding the Epstein files were most contentious.
The Attorney General gave a “Jekyll and Hyde” performance, acting deferential and professional with her Republican questioners while attacking Democrats using a large binder of opposition research.
Key House Democrats demand Bondi cease tracking Epstein files search history (ABC)
About that binder, it appears Bondi had printouts of the lawmakers’ search histories from their Monday visit to DOJ where they viewed the unredacted files.
At least 11 Epstein survivors were in attendance and Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked them to raise their hands if they had NOT YET been questioned by Trump’s DOJ. They all did. Bondi refused to acknowledge them - this despite having earlier pledged to investigate ANY accusations of abuse.
Bondi also compulsively praised Trump, dodging tough questions by touting the record-high stock market and claiming Trump is the “best president ever.”
0:23:49 SAVE Act
From the above article from Democracy Docket, “Throughout the hearing, Democrats largely failed to ask the attorney general about the DOJ’s recent, prominent attacks on voting rights — most notably, the FBI’s unprecedented raid on a Fulton County election facility in late January.”
About that raid, we spoke each of the last two weeks about DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s presence in Atlanta. She was back in the news this week for other reasons.
Intelligence Dispute Centers on Kushner Reference in Intercepted Communication (NYT)
Apparently Gabbard personally throttled a whistle-blower’s report concerning an intercepted communication between two foreign nationals last year that concerned President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Law demands that such complaints be delivered to Congress within weeks, but the underlying intelligence report has yet to be sent to Capitol Hill. A heavily redacted copy was provided by Gabbard’s office only last week.
But whatever revelations come from that intercept, we ALL already know the entire Trump family is engaged in corrupt foreign entanglements. The real story with Gabbard is the election subversion, and along those lines…
House passes GOP elections overhaul (Politico)
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE America act, a major election overhaul bill.
“The legislation would trigger major changes to how Americans vote, including requiring voters to present proof of citizenship to register, eliminating mail-only registrations, and requiring photo ID in every state for the first time. It would also require states to take new steps to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls.”
In the House, ONE Democrat, Henry Cuellar of Texas - who had been indicted on corruption charges but pardoned by Trump - voted for the bill. In the Senate too, only one Democrat - John Fetterman - has voiced support for the bill.
Now, the bill appears unlikely to pass the upper chamber, as Majority Leader John Thune has ruled out changes to the filibuster rule to push it through.
Trump floats executive order on voter ID if SAVE Act stalls in Senate (The Hill)
Trump, though, threatened to issue an executive order, saying in a Truth Social post, “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”
Later in the post, he continued, “Republicans must put this at the top of every speech — It is a CAN’T MISS FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE MIDTERMS, AND BEYOND!” Even Democrat Voters agree, 85%, that there should be Voter I.D.”
Why do you think Democratic voters might support this?
Sounds good in theory, but in practice, it’s a poll tax. (Jess Piper)
SAVE would require a passport, or real ID.
Half of Americans don’t have a passport.
Passports cost $165
Real ID requires a birth certificate, which can require time and money to acquire.
It also requires multiple proofs of residence (eg physical bills) which may not be available if you pay online.
…and a physical Social Security card.
…and time to go to the DMV - perhaps multiple trips.
…and for people who have changed their name (ie most married women), proof of the name change (which may also incur charges).
0:32:06 Trump EPA: “Let it burn”
The US Government Is Trying to Make Coal Cute. (Mother Jones)
I didn’t get to this one when it dropped a few weeks ago, but have you met Coalie?
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum introduced the mascot for the “American Energy Dominance Agenda” in a post on X in late January.
Trump repeals landmark EPA climate finding. (USA Today)
Well there’s nothing cute about this. On Thursday the Trump administration rescinded the EPA’s Obama-era “endangerment finding,” which has served as the legal basis for greenhouse gas regulations since 2009.
“The finding [...] stated that current and projected concentrations of six key greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ‘threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.’ A related EPA finding, signed in tandem, singled out new motor vehicles and engines as contributors to greenhouse gas pollution.”
Just because you repeal the finding doesn’t make it untrue.
Trump has called climate change a “hoax” and a “con job” and pulled the US from international climate obligations.
Rescinding this finding would render the EPA unable to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Actual environmental scientists highlight carbon dioxide and methane gases as threats to public health.
Groups like Climate Power, Sierra Club, and the American Lung Association have come out against the repeal while the fossil fuel, energy, freight and transport industries are in favor.
Trump’s EPA repeals landmark climate finding in gift to ‘billionaire polluters’ (Guardian)
“The final rule removes the government’s ability to impose requirements to track, report and limit climate-heating pollution from cars and trucks. Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the US.”
Again, if you don’t count it, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
“It does not apply to regulations on stationary sources of emissions such as power plants and fossil fuel infrastructure, which are regulated under a separate section of the Clean Air Act, but it will open the door to end those standards, too.”
Trump’s EPA has also proposed rules to just that.
Even the American Petroleum Institute said this is a bridge too far.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said the move will save the US $1.3T, but an analysis from the Environment Defense Fund found that it would impose up to $4.7T in expenses in the long run.
0:45:11 ICE
Judge blocks California’s ban on federal agents wearing masks (AP)
Last September, California passed a law that would ban federal law enforcement agents from wearing face coverings, as well as one that mandated they display clear identification.
However, on Monday a federal judge blocked the mask ban from going into effect because it did not also apply to state law enforcement, discriminating against the feds.
The law requiring ID was upheld.
Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE in Trump’s 1st year back in office had violent criminal records (CBS)
Of the nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by ICE since the beginning of Trump’s second term, less than 14% had charges or convictions for violent offenses - and that’s according to an internal DHS memo.
Now, nearly 60% of those arrested had SOME charges, but the majority were not for violent crimes.
So, 40% had ZERO criminal record?
Americans support ICE overhaul amid federal funding fight (NBC)
With statistics like that, it’s easy to see why a wide majority of Americans support - at the very least - reforms to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
A new NBC News poll released this week found 43% of US think ICE should be reformed while 29% say it should be abolished outright. An equal 29% say it should continue as is.
Among other interesting findings in the survey, a majority of Americans, including 41% of Republicans, support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and 87% of Americans believe federal agents should NOT be granted immunity for unlawful activity on the line of duty.
ICE says federal agents appear to have lied about confrontation that led to shooting (Politico)
Along those lines, it appears two ICE officers lied about an incident in Minneapolis last month where one them shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg - this according to ICE Director Todd Lyons.
The agents have been placed on administrative leave and are under investigation by the DOJ.
Pam Bondi’s DOJ? Do you trust them to conduct a fair, impartial investigation?
Homan announces Minnesota immigration surge is ending (NPR)
“Border czar” Tom Homan announced Thursday that the administration will end “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota.
A little less than two weeks ago Homan had announced a 30% reduction in forces in the state, but now he says increased cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement means the massive number of agents is no longer necessary.
Governor Tim Walz says nothing changed about the way the state has addressed immigration enforcement, but the replacement of CPB commander Greg Bovino with Homan, who was more willing to engage in talks.
What is this? A new, gentler, more accountable ICE?
Homeland Security shutdown starting this weekend (AP)
And if so, does Democratic hardball over government funding deserve credit?
To that effect, DHS funding expired on Saturday and Democrats say they will not approve more money until reforms are made.
The resulting partial government shutdown is limited only to agencies under the Homeland Security umbrella - ICE, CBP, TSA - but the very immigration and deportation work that has drawn scrutiny will continue because last year’s OBBA bestowed ICE and Border Patrol with tens of billions of dollars each, which they can draw upon.
Given that, have Congressional Dems actually accomplished anything?
Indiana News
0:58:52 The Crossroads
ICE in Indiana
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement establishing office in Carmel (WRTV)
Emotions run hot as ICE eyes move to Carmel (Axios)
ICE informed Carmel police that the agency is establishing office space in the city, just north of the county line and border with Indianapolis at the Penn on Parkway business complex.
Is that the border they’re protecting?
Apparently, elected officials in the city were not notified ahead of time.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s office was the first in the state to line up an agreement with ICE last year.
ICE is also eyeballing warehouse locations in NW Indiana to convert into a detention center.
Banks Establishes Trucker Tip Line
Sen. Jim Banks launches tip line for truckers to snitch on immigrant drivers (MSNOW)
Senator Banks launches trucking tipline following fatal Jay County crash (WANE)
Banks launched the TruckSafe Tipline after an immigrant from Kyrgyzstan was arrested after his truck caused four fatalities in a crash earlier this month.
The man came to the US legally using the CPB One app and had a commercial drivers license.
The administration has latched onto rare incidents like this to portray all immigrant drivers as a threat.
This tip line is specifically for truckers and others in the industry to snitch on drivers they suspect - for whatever reason.
State receives first monthly payment for ICE detainees (ICC)
Indiana has received $1.17M for housing ICE detainees at the Miami Correctional Facility.
The payment is for October and was delayed due to the government shutdown last fall.
The state budget committee approved $16M for upgrades to the facility, but is expected to recoup this from the high per diem rate from the feds, about 4X what it costs to hold the men.
1:08:54 Social Media
Social media companies accused of “addicting the brains of children” as trial begins (CBS)
Meta and YouTube are being sued on claims their products are addictive and harmful to children. The trial began this week in Los Angeles.
Jurors were presented with internal documents appearing to show the companies knew of the adverse effects of Instagram and YouTube, particularly on already-vulnerable kids.
A separate trial in New Mexico also began on Monday alleging Meta failed to protect users from sexual exploitation.
Additionally, school districts are suing social media platforms in a trial expected to begin in Oakland in June, while TikTok faces lawsuits in more than a dozen states.
Indiana House panel advances school cellphone crackdown, revised youth social media bills (ICC)
Two bills cleared the House education committee on Wednesday - one requiring student cell phones be powered off and locked up for the entire duration of the school day, and another which would place restrictions on minors’ social media accounts.
Both bills originated in the Senate, the first passing narrowly with concerns about how it could be implemented. It did pass out of the House committee 12-0.
The second bill - SB199 - is a larger education package. The social media provision had earlier been removed due to constitutional and enforcement concerns, but were reinserted in the wake of the apparent murder of a Fishers teen by a man she met online.
This bill would require social media companies to implement new standards for minors’ accounts and mandate parents be granted access upon request.
This bill cleared committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats opposed, citing First Amendment and privacy concerns.
Other provisions in the bill would eliminate certain college degree programs based on earning potential.
1:19:36 Data Centers
Meta breaks ground on $10B data center campus at LEAP district (WTHR)
Governor Braun attended a ceremony in Lebanon on Wednesday, where Meta broke ground on a $10B 13-building data center campus, where he touted Indiana’s “business-first” environment.
So, residents second? Third? Other?
Meta is already in the process of opening an $800M data center in Jeffersonville.
Braun’s staggering hypocrisy (Will Colteryahn FB)
But just hours earlier, Braun had taken to social media - ironically - to complain about big tech putting “profit over protection” in touting the aforementioned SB199.
Martindale Brightwood data center moves forward despite resident outcry (Indystar)
On Thursday, a proposed Metrobloks data center development in the predominantly black neighborhood moved forward after a vote of recommendation by a hearing examiner, despite more than 100 residents showing up to protest.
Several city-county councilors went on the record asking the LA-based startup company delay or withdraw their rezoning request, though Rob Gibson, the councilor for that area, supports the project.
The proposal will be heard by the Metropolitan Development Commission next month.
The company has apparently not yet secured an agreement with local utility AES to power the facility (which could use as much electricity as the entire city of Muncie) AND is expected to have 36 diesel generators on site.
Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis, TN is accused of using a similar setup and pouring pollution into a predominantly black neighborhood there.
1:20:09 IPS Takeover
Debate grows over who should control Indiana’s schools (IPM)
HB1423 would create a new state-authorized, entirely mayor-appointed entity that would sit above the IPS school board and oversee transportation and facilities.
Bill author Bob Benning says the legislation will not dissolve IPS or its democratically-elected school board, and is only meant to address access.
For now
A similar proposal for South Bend schools failed to advance this session.
In 2017, state lawmakers took over and installed outside managers in Muncie and Gary public schools, though the state has been slightly less heavy-handed with recent legislation.
Last year, the General Assembly snuck language into SB1 - the governor’s major property tax bill - that would close rural Union School Corporation. Another bill that session sought to outright eliminate Gary public schools as well several small rural districts. Thankfully IT did not advance.
African American Coalition: Parents of color ‘not a monolith’ in supporting IPS overhaul (Mirror Indy)
In Indianapolis, charter school nonprofits like the Mind Trust and Stand for Children Indiana argue that black parents support the takeover and that opposition is only coming from white liberals.
On Wednesday, the African American Coalition of Indianapolis called BS, saying, “African Americans are not a monolith, but claims made by organizations and institutions with little or no authentic connection to the Black community do not reflect the public record and are deeply concerning.”
Both the Mind Trust and Stand for Children are led by white men.
Greater Indianapolis NAACP and the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis also oppose HB1423.
1:36:36 Also at the Statehouse
For full coverage of the week’s happening in the Indiana General Assembly - and a look at the week ahead - check out yesterday’s This Week at the Indiana Statehouse w/ MADVoters on Progressive Indiana Network.
Indiana House passes ICE cooperation bill (FOX59)
Mandates that Indiana law enforcement, public schools, universities, and local governments must cooperate with federal immigration authorities and agencies, including ICE, or be sued for $10,000 per violation. House passed 61-28 on Thursday. Heading back to Senate for concurrence.
Indiana’s decade-old syringe exchange law hangs in the balance (IndyStar)
SB91 would extend Indiana’s syringe exchange program (originally another 10 years, amended to just 2), ,which has helped reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Without this extension, the program will expire. Up for House amendments and potential House vote next week.
The state first legalized such programs in response to the Scott County HIV outbreak of 2015 and attaches a ton of conditions, far from a full embrace of harm reduction practices.
Democrats have supported these programs, with Republicans split.
BMV rule barring gender marker changes effective this week (ICC)
SB 182 - a bill that would erase legal recognition of trans, intersex, and non-binary Hoosiers; prohibit changes to birth certificates; contains bathroom ban language; sex segregation in correctional facilities, bathrooms, locker rooms - awaits a committee hearing in the House this week.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles, though, is changing their policy now. Thursday, the BMV stopped providing customers the option to change the gender marker on their state-issued ID - even with a court order or statement from a doctor.
This change results from an executive order issued by Governor Mike Braun last year prohibiting “modern gender ideology” in state agencies.
Two public hearings about this rule change produced massive opposition which, obviously, was disregarded.
1:53:18 Beckwith
Indiana Lt. Gov. Beckwith slams Sen. Alting over ‘laughing’ comment (Journal & Courier)
Recently, Republican Senator Ron Alting of Lafayette made a subtle dig at the Lieutenant Governor during a public policy hearing, asking if Beckwith was needed to cast a tie-breaking vote.
“Certainly we don’t have to get the lieutenant governor, tell me not, for a tie-breaker, do we,” Alting asks in the video, where a person off camera answers that would not be needed. “OK, God bless us. Thank you.”
Friday, Beckwith posted a video to social media included clips from that hearing and rattled off a list of grievances, citing instances where Alting broke with fellow Republicans on abortion, trans youth care, and DEI initiatives.
Alting was one of several GOP lawmakers to receive threats of violence late last year when he opposed President Trump’s proposal to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps. Beckwith supported the plan and has vowed to support challenges to those who did not go along.
Son of Life Church pastor gets 6 years in child exploitation case (Indiana Citizen)
Meanwhile, the son of Beckwith’s best friend, podcast co-host, and lead pastor at the church where the Lieutenant Governor preaches was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to child exploitation charges.
Jonathan Peternel, son of Pastor Nathan Peternel, was arrested last October after uploading child sex abuse material on Snapchat. Investigators found more than 200 such files on the younger Peternel’s devices, chat logs referencing a group called “Diddy Disciples” and more than 50 images of his parents either nude or engaged in sex acts.
Jonathan was apologetic during sentencing, apologized to his parents directly, and said his behavior was inconsistent with his upbringing.
