Trump DOJ mass-deletes info on Jan. 6 riot cases, including violent assaults on cops

The Trump administration has mass-deleted information about prosecutions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including cases of defendants who assaulted police officers. The removals mark the latest phase of President Trump’s effort to rewrite the history of the violent riot.

NPR

Trump Squeezes Immigrants by Cutting Them Off From Jobs, Healthcare and Housing

The methodically planned strategy is intended to pressure noncitizens, including many with legal status, to leave the United States.

The New York Times

Anti-ICE Protesters Found Guilty in Case That Guts Free Speech Rights

“This was the first conspiracy prosecution in Eastern Washington history under 18 U.S.C. Section 372—a Civil War-era law dusted off to punish members of the Spokane community who stood up for two young men who were unlawfully detained by ICE,” former acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker told The Spokesman-Review in a statement. “I hope that moving forward DOJ will focus on the crimes that matter most to keep our families safe and to build trust with the communities that most need and deserve law enforcement protection.”

The New Republic

Why Trump Keeps Getting Rolled in Negotiations

The president will try to spin any Iran deal he makes, but he’s ill-equipped to gain real concessions.

The Atlantic

Trump’s Past Is Catching Up With Him

We’ve discussed Trump’s ongoing efforts to prevent the release of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the now-dismissed classified documents prosecution against the president. That issue has now resurfaced. As we discussed at the time, Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump and has always ruled in his favor, was never going to order the release of Volume II of the Special Counsel Report, which covers the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. But now the matter is in the hands of a different court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has not hesitated to correct Cannon’s errors in the past.

Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance

Why did the press ignore a gathering of the world’s leading fascists?

Right-wing extremism is going mainstream, but it’s not getting the coverage.

The ReDoubt

Trump’s Memphis crime taskforce accused of using ‘immense force’ in intimidation campaign

Additional declarations filed on Thursday by six community observers detail “cowboy tactics” they say have been used in recent months, from bumper-riding their cars in unmarked vehicles and pretextual traffic stops to an arbitrary arrest.

The Guardian

She’s the world’s oldest drag king, and still hoping for her big break

Elsie Saldaña, 81, cleans houses almost every day and sometimes she gets to climb on stage to croon a Tom Jones tune.

The Washington Post

Samuel Alito’s Son Has Been Quietly Working for Trump’s Treasury Department

Philip Alito has been working as an attorney with the Treasury’s office of the general counsel for months even as the Supreme Court takes up cases involving the department.

NotUs

Ousted Republican Warns More Epstein Retribution Is Coming

Representative Thomas Massie isn’t holding back.

The New Republic

White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval on research grants

These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque

Scientific American

How Donald Trump Became Jimmy Carter

An Iran crisis. Inflation. Someone should get the president a cardigan sweater

Rolling Stone

Hating AI is good, actually

LinkedIn may be awash with boosters, but shunning AI is the human choice.

The Handbasket

Lawmakers Ask DOJ Watchdog to Investigate Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report

Led by Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, five House members have called on the Department of Justice’s inspector general to examine why election fraud charges were not pursued “despite reported findings and evidence.”

ProPublica

A Bernie-Backed Community College Professor Fights for the Soul of the Democratic Party

In California’s Central Valley, Randy Villegas is hoping to win back Latino voters who cast ballots for Trump.

Mother Jones

In Harris County judge runoff, a Democratic upset underscores voters’ desire for new blood

Former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer defeated longtime local politician Annise Parker to win the Democratic nomination for Harris County judge in what political experts say might be a sign of the changing of the guard.

The Texas Tribune

‘La Causa’ Continues in South Texas

We cannot ignore César’s influence and leadership. At the same time, we must acknowledge his abuse, support the victims, and condemn any other similar conduct in a movement that was never about one person, no matter how iconic.

Texas Observer

Starved, smashed and bloodied: The violence at ICE’s Delaney Hall

Brutality towards detainees and protesters continues to unfold in Newark, NJ. The Handbasket was on-site to report.

The Handbasket

WHO chief reports 5 Ebola recoveries as a new treatment center opens in eastern Congo

Five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola virus, the head of the World Health Organization said Sunday during a visit to Bunia in eastern Congo, a city at the heart of an outbreak.

AP News

Why the French Open is named after Roland Garros, who didn’t play tennis

The short answer: In 1928, a decade after Garros was killed in action, Paris’ new tennis stadium needed a name. Emile Lesueur, president of the Stade Français rugby club, suggested Garros — his former business school classmate.

NPR

France serves up €1 meals to all university students in effort to cut hardship

Ministers take action after survey shows almost half of students had gone without food for financial reasons

The Guardian

A look at the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha and their significance to Muslims around the world

This year, the Hajj has been approaching against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related tensions and uncertainty in the Middle East.

Religion News Service

Meeting Pope Leo was a humbling, deeply moving experience, say Chicago faith leaders

A dozen leaders of different religious traditions were part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s delegation in Rome. “He’s listening to our cry, whatever cry it is all over the world,” said the Rev. Juan Vargas, associate pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary parish on the Northwest Side.

Chicago Sun Times

“Mind-bogglingly crazy”: Climate experts alarmed by Europe’s deadly spring heatwaves

This year, summer highs are striking before spring is even over. It may herald worse heat to come as parts of Europe brace for yet another torrid season of punishing extremes.

Mother Jones

Cancer jab can eradicate entire tumours in patients, trial shows

Jab brought ‘unprecedentedly strong responses’ in patients whose disease had become resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy

The Guardian

Opinion: Pope Leo reminds us of the value of our shared humanity

Pope Leo released his first encyclical this week. He called it Magnifica Humanitas — or Magnificent Humanity. In it, he compares the swift, irresistible rise of Artificial Intelligence in our lives to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, which ends with God punishing humans for their hubris.

NPR

The Oldest Evidence of Animal Sex Has Been Found, and It’s Mind-Boggling

Fossils unearthed in the Northwest Territories push the origins of animal sex back by 5-10 million years and reveal the earliest examples of locomotion in the fossil record.

404 Media

Open letter to NHS Director for Specialised Services on trans youth hormone ban

I am one of the 85 signatories to an open letter to James Palmer, NHS England’s National Medical Director for Specialised Services. We are raising serious concerns about the recent NHS evidence reviews of hormone therapy for trans youth, and subsequent prescribing policy and public consultation.

Dr. Ruth Pearce

Israel seizes medieval castle as it expands major offensive in southern Lebanon

Israel previously held the castle during an 18-year-old long military occupation that ended in 2000. A quarter-century later the Israelis are still fighting Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran.

NPR

Pro-Trump de la Espriella and peace-builder Cepeda to face off in a presidential runoff in Colombia

Tough-on-crime lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella and peace-builder Iván Cepeda were leading the vote count in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, and are to face off in a runoff in the South American nation later in June.

AP News

Ian McKellen joins march for LGBTQ+ equality in Commonwealth countries

Actor among protesters in central London highlighting laws in 29 countries where same-sex relationships remain illegal

The Guardian

Penpa Tsering sworn in for a second term to lead Tibet’s government-in-exile

Tsering’s swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of the Dalai Lama, who was escorted to the venue by red-robed monks among the sounds of beating drums and chanted prayers.

Religion News Service