Canadian university teachers warned about travel to the U.S.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers has warned its members to travel to the U.S. only if absolutely necessary. The organization cites the political atmosphere created by Donald Trump. It points to travelers being taken into custody at the border and held for up to a week without charges. The association warns its members to be careful about the information that resides on their electronic devices since those devices can be seized by U..S. officials.
Trump threatens to kill Harvard’s tax-exempt status
Donald Trump has raised the possibility that he would revoke the tax-exempt status of Harvard University. Trump raised that possibility yesterday, just a day after Harvard’s President Alan Garber rejected Trump’s demands that the university teach what he wants it to teach and also adopt the administrative policies that he wants. Trump cannot legally revoke Harvard’s tax[exempt status by himself, but he could order the Internal Revenue Service to begin an investigation that could ultimately lead to revocation proceedings.
Stun guns used at Greene’s town hall
Police in Acworth, Georgia, used stun guns on some of the people at a town hall meeting staged by far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene mocked some of the questions being asked during the town hall, after having insisted that people put their questions for her in writing. Greene repeated claims that lots of dead people are receiving Social Security, but provided no evidence to back up her claim. Three people who were proesting against Greene were arrested at the event.
DOJ sues Maine
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Maine for refusing to ban transgender athletes from high school women’s sports. When the federal government tried to force Maine to follow its policies by freezing federal funds, Maine sued the feds. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the latest lawsuit this morning. The lawsuit alleges that Maine is violating Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in schools.
Judge orders Trump Administration to produce information
Federal Judge Paula Xinis has ordered the Trump Administration to produce documents and answer question about what steps it has taken to bring back to the U.S. the Maryland man who was mistakenly sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. She held out the possibility that she could at some future time hold the Trump Administration in contempt of court if it doesn’t cooperate. Donald Trump and others in his administration have ignored her court orders and a Supreme Court decision in the case.
Trump White House restricts news coverage, again
The Trump White House has put an end to the wire services having the ability to cover the White House without interference. Wire services provide news coverage to thousands of media outlets in the U.S. and around the world. Rather than following a court order to restore full access to the Associated Press, the administration expanded its restriction on news coverage to include the news agencies Reuters and Bloomberg. A federal judge last week ordered the White House to restore full access to the Associated Press, saying what the White House had done violates the Constitution.
