NewsFlash

DOJ fires US attorney for New Jersey after state picks her over former Trump lawyer Alina Habba -  https://abc7ny.com/post/trumps-former-lawyer-alina-habbas-term-new-jerseys-top-federal-prosecutor-ends/17245436/

17 immigration court judges have been fired by the Trump administration across 10 states, union says - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/17-immigration-court-judges-have-been-fired-by-the-trump-administration-across-10-states-union-says

Department of Justice rocked by wave of Trump firings - https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5409135-doj-firings-trump/

US House spending panel votes to rename Kennedy Center Opera House for Melania Trump -

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-spending-panel-votes-rename-kennedy-center-opera-house-melania-trump

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/22/congress/kennedy-center-melania-trump-00467996


It's not what you know, it's who you know.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43256318

The Trump administration has proposed widening the government’s social media surveillance dragnet to include not only travelers, visa applicants, and visa holders, but also their U.S. citizen contacts. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/governments-growing-trove-social-media-data

[Beware the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Targeting System.]

Judge Bars Trump Admin From Taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia Into Custody. Second judge issues order that he be released from jail immediately on bond. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-judge-kilmar-abrego-garcia-trump-custody/ 


EDIT 24 July - Judge pauses Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release from federal custody. “Abrego shall therefore remain in the custody of the United States Marshal pending further order,” she wrote.  https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/judge-orders-kilmar-abreg-garcia-released-federal-custody/3796423/

In a letter of dissent, 149 National Science Foundation employees expressed “deep concern over a series of politically motivated and legally questionable actions by the Administration that threaten the integrity of the NSF.” -  https://www.eenews.net/articles/149-science-agency-staffers-sign-dissent-letter-against-trump/

Text of letter - https://democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/AFGE_Local_3403_NSF_Letter_to_RM_Lofgren_REDACTED_Redacted.pdf

And, because it's Wednesday:

Here's the "law enforcement beating an anti-ICE protestor" video of the day.   https://substack.com/@reallyamerican/note/c-137565074

DOJ Announces that deputy AG Todd Blanche will be meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell to find out what she knows.  Note that Todd Blanche was once Trump’s personal lawyer, and that Trump wished Ghislaine Maxwell well, after getting indicted. [Maxwell is incarcerated, but appealing her conviction.]

House Oversight Chair James Comer [Republican] sent a subpoena to Jeffrey Epstein associate and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, compelling her testimony before Congress on Aug. 11. - https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/23/congress/epstein-james-comer-subpoena-ghislaine-maxwell-testify-00471644

The plane's crew started to cry. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/22/salvador-cecot-detainee-describes-beatings/

I really would like to step off this timeline.

I forgot to add this one. US Justice Dept civil rights unit faces mass exodus - https://www.aol.com/news/us-justice-dept-civil-rights-170641623.html

"...since Trump took office in January, the Civil Rights Division had disregarded its statutory responsibilities to enforce laws that prohibit discrimination, and had enabled civil rights violations to be committed against people and institutions as part of Trump's political agenda."

Three hundred sixty-eight career employees have quit.

Tulsi Gabbard on Russian Intervention in past election, trying to drag Obama  -  https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/5416183-gabbard-releases-new-documents-on-2016-election/

Ex. VP Mike Pence on Russian Intervention in past election  -  https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lunwqdas5s2h

EPSTEIN FILES. Does not distract from.



Speaking of: Bipartisan House Oversight will subpoena DOJ for [all?] Epstein files -  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-subcommittee-votes-8-2-to-subpoena-justice-department-for-epstein-files

EDIT:  'Part of the cover-up': Senate Republicans torched for blocking release of Epstein files  - https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/part-of-the-cover-up-senate-republicans-torched-for-blocking-release-of-epstein-files/ar-AA1JeujM

https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/senate-republicans-block-quick-passage-ruben-gallego-resolution-calling-release-of-epstein-files/75-cdc181f8-f6ec-4dbd-8ef6-8ccefa63529b

EPSTEIN FILES. Does not distract from.

Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled. - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-birthright-citizenship-order-unconstitutional-003329289.html

Oh for goodness sakes.  ICE is harassing Native Americans. -  https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-schatz-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-trumps-dhs-immediately-end-wrongful-ice-searches-and-harassment-of-tribal-members-uphold-us-trust-and-treaty-responsibility-with-tribal-nations?utm_source=chatgpt.com

And the bizarre close for the evening - State Dept. cuts China experts as administration says countering Beijing top priority - https://www.npr.org/2025/07/24/nx-s1-5477523/state-department-cuts-china-experts?utm_medium=social&utm_source=bsky.app&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews

A little good news. Apparently the whole village turned out to welcome Andy home. Thank the gods he made it home.

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/gay-makeup-artist-tearfully-reunited-with-family-after-release-from-notorious-el-salvador-prison

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/venezuelan-makeup-artist-returns-home-describes-torture-during-el-salvador-2025-07-23/

Trump signs order making it easier to remove homeless people from streets by institutionalizing them - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-signs-order-making-easier-201201520.html  Text of Order - https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ending-crime-and-disorder-on-americas-streets/

So heavens, don't be poor in a high cost-of-housing area! - But it's not a new idea - https://dirkdeklein.net/2024/11/04/the-black-triangle-the-forgotten-victims/


And


After helping GOP-led Texas, Trump admin denies FEMA aid to another Democratic-led state - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/helping-gop-led-texas-trump-191310314.html

https://wjla.com/news/local/gov-wes-moore-statement-fema-disaster-aid-denied-for-western-maryland


And


Former Company Caught Employing Undocumented Workers Now Profiting Off an Immigrant Detention Camp. - https://www.propublica.org/article/nathan-albers-fort-bliss-immigration?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky&utm_content=7-25

Venezuelan team denied entry into U.S. for Little League's senior tournament [boys 13 - 16] - https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb/breaking-news/article/venezuelan-team-denied-entry-into-us-for-little-leagues-senior-tournament-020301699.html

US Coast Guard tried to force Canadian boat in Canadian waters into US waters, capsized the boat, boater detained - https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-man-warning-canadian-boaters-after-he-was-detained-by-us-coast-guard-put-in-jail-cell/

ICE raids spark great economics for private detention providers -  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-migrant-raids-spark-boom-170101603.html

ICE grabbing a working guy outside the Home Depot in Encinitas, California.  Obviously this was not a situation where they had a warrant, they just grabbed a brown guy.  https://bsky.app/profile/amysiskind.com/post/3lustj4so4k26

South Bay company outraged over employee being detained by ICE - was in the country legally and had a valid work permit, the company says - https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay-company-employee-being-detained-ice/3922816/   "After being detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the employee told [the employer] she had been coerced by ICE to sign self-deportation papers. As of Friday, the company didn't know where she was."

ICE using ‘incredibly aggressive’ tactics, advocates say - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rush-immigration-arrests-shift-ice-160052701.html

 Pastor and father of 3 arrested in Maryland for overstaying visa a quarter-century ago -  https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/25/us/ice-maryland-pastor-fuentes-espinal

Vermont School Superintendent Citizen told he has no rights at port of entry (Houston) -  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/praying-end-vermont-superintendent-speaks-010900710.html

Immigration Agents Laugh at U.S. Citizen as He Records His Own Arrest - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/immigration-agents-laugh-u-citizen-191701165.html
Alternate versions   https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/citizen-detained-traffic-stop-takedown-120000741.html
                                      https://www.mediaite.com/politics/you-have-no-rights-youre-a-migo-teenage-u-s-citizen-recorded-his-violent-ice-arrest/

Crimes against humanity, pretty much does look like it - https://www.politisage.com/p/the-international-criminal-court?r=46nrpc
                                                                                               

FEMA grants set to hand out $600M to states so they can build migrant detention facilities [no money to give to states to help people rebuild after disasters, but ]- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/fema-grants-immigration-detention-b2796641.html

The legacy of a Vietnam War hero scrubbed from a government webpage - https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/27/us/alfredo-freddy-gonzalez-vietnam-war-texas/index.html


EDIT:  As of 27 July 2025 there is a web page for Sgt. Gonzalez online again - or rather, his information is linked to the ship that was named after him.  https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/alfredo-gonzalez.html

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is planning to remove all the members of an advisory panel that determines what cancer screenings and other preventive health measures insurers must cover, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. - https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/kennedy-oust-care-task-force-wsj-reports-hhs-says-no-decision-yet-2025-07-25/