U.S. and world news for Sept. 16

Bondi says Trump administration will decide what people can say

The Trump administration’s Attorney General Pam Bondi says that not everything people say will be allowed in the future and that hate speech is not protected as free speech. She implied that the Trump administration will determine what qualifies as free speech. Bondi’s comment was made on a podcast hosted by the wife of Trump aid Stephen Miller. Her comment provoked a reaction from some conservatives who cited the position taken by the late right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk who said that even gross, ugly and evil speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Trump files lawsuit against The New York Times

President Trump has filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging defamation and libel, and accusing the outlet of being a “virtual mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party. In a post overnight on his social media platform, the president accused The Times of making false statements about him, his family and his businesses, although he did not elaborate on the allegations. In addition to the newspaper, the lawsuit names four journalists at The Times. Trump had threatened last week to sue The Times after it published articles related to a birthday letter showing the outline of a naked woman with the signature Donald at the bottom. The signature appeared to match Trump’s from that time. The letter was included in a book of greetings prepared for Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. Trump and his aides have denied that he was involved in the creation of the letter.

Court rules against Trump’s firing of Federal reserve member

President Trump cannot remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors for now, a federal appeals court said in an emergency ruling yesterday. The decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was split 2-1 along party lines. Trump has sought to oust Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud, though Cook has not been charged with any wrongdoing and Trump has not produced any evidence to support his allegation. The Federal Reserve Act specifies that presidents can only fire Fed governors “for cause.” The two judges who supported Cook noted that the government admitted it did not provide Cook with due process before trying to fire her. At the same time the court ruled Trump couldn’t immediately fire Cook, Stephen Miran, Trump’s nominee to fill a separate seat on the Fed’s Board, was confirmed by the Senate.

Robert Redford dies at age 89

Actor Robert Redford died this morning at his home in Sundance, Utah. He was 89. Known for his starring roles in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men,” Redford also directed award-winning films such as “Ordinary People” and “A River Runs Through It.” His passion for the art of filmmaking led to his creation of the Sundance Institute, a nonprofit that supports independent film and theater and is known for its annual Sundance Film Festival. Redford was also a dedicated environmentalist, moving to Utah in 1961 and leading efforts to preserve the natural landscape of the state and the American West. Redford was born in Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles, in 1936. Redford studied theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. His big acting break came in 1963, when he starred in Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” on Broadway – a role he would later reprise on the big screen with Jane Fonda.

Israel’s Gaza offensive underway

Israel has launched its ground offensive to take control of Gaza City, a move that escalates the war in defiance of international condemnation. The Israeli public, hostage families, and even some in the military have opposed expanding the war over concerns it could jeopardize the lives of the Israeli hostages still held in the enclave by Hamas. An independent United Nations inquiry also concluded today for the first time that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, where nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry there. Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on pressing ahead with the offensive — even if it means Israel faces isolation that could last for years.

TikTok deal

A deal has been reached between the Trump administration and China to keep TikTok operational in the U.S., following a yearslong saga over national security concerns and ownership disputes. The president will speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize the deal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. Trump repeatedly extended a self-imposed deadline to reach an agreement with China to sell at least part of TikTok’s parent company’s U.S operations to an American-backed owner. The Trump administration did not name the U.S.-backed buyer, but the group is widely expected to be led by Oracle executive chairman Larry Ellison, who last week briefly became the world’s richest person.