Tearful plea from Guthrie children
In an emotional video posted to Instagram on Wednesday, “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie and her brother and sister pleaded for their missing mother to return home, days after her apparent abduction. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home against her will, though no suspects have been identified. “We need to know without a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her,” Guthrie said in response to reports of a potential ransom note. Sitting beside her siblings in the video, Savannah Guthrie indicated her family is “ready to talk” with possible abductors. “We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen,” Guthrie said, stressing that her 84-year-old mother is in “constant pain” and needs her medication to survive.
No change in Federal activity in Minneapolis
Despite the Trump administration signaling its intent to dial back its operations in Minneapolis, there has been no immediate change. Border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security will immediately withdraw 700 agents from Minnesota, leaving about 2,000 officers on the ground. But, they still were acting the same way they did before the announcement. Donald Trump suggested in an NBC News interview yesterday that his administration could use a “softer touch” on immigration following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by his agents. This comes as recent polls show Americans overwhelmingly view the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents as involving “excessive force” and consider the shooting unjustified.
School districts sue Trump’s DHS
Minnesota school districts, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, along with the teachers union, have filed suit in federal court to stop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from sending ICE agents to schools and areas in the immediate vicinity of schools.The lawsuit alleges the masked and armed federal agents have created a climate of fear while significantly reducing school attendance. In one case, federal agents arrested at gunpoint a school principal who was a U.S. citizen. In another case, agents followed a teacher, also a U.S. citizen, from her home to a school. The suit claims ICE agents have followed school vans, handcuffed staff members at schools, and used pepper spray near students.
Democrats may call Trump to testify on Epstein files
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee says that his party would seek to interview President Trump as part of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives. Rep. Robert Garcia said Republicans set a new precedent by demanding testimony from former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who are expected to give depositions later this month. President Trump has again said he feels it’s time for the American people to forget about the Epstein files, while reports now indicate Trump’s name shows up more than 4,500 times in the files that have been released, not 1,000 times as previously reported.
Coal plants could forced up utility bills
Aging coal-fired power plants across the U.S. are being given new life under the Trump administration — a move that CNN reports could raise electricity bills according to experts in the field. The administration has so far prevented five aging coal plants from shutting down at their planned retirement dates. Administration officials say this is a cost-saving solution for Americans at a time when rising energy bills are causing concern nationwide. But experts say it’s likely to increase energy prices, instead. New analysis shows that keeping these plants open could cost U.S. utility customers between $3 billion and $6 billion by the end of 2028.
Washington Post layoffs
The Washington Post newspaper laid off roughly one in three employees across the company on Wednesday. Sources say the sweeping layoffs included more than 300 employees in the newsroom and primarily affected the sports, books and podcast units. The cuts come as owner Jeff Bezos has been pushing management to return the publication to profitability and President Trump has frequently criticized the newspaper’s reporting. Following the announcement, executive editor Matt Murray told CNN that Bezos “remains committed to the publication” and “wants the Post to be a bigger, relevant, thriving institution.” Many Post journalists are skeptical, however, arguing that the organization cannot cut its way to growth.
