Selling Trump: A profitable post-presidency like no other
In the year since Donald Trump has left the White House, he has undertaken a wide-ranging set of moneymaking ventures, trading repeatedly on his political fame and fan base in pursuit of profit. Much as he did while in office, Trump has thoroughly blurred the lines between his political ambitions and his business interests. The monetization of his post-presidency represents a return to his roots. He leveraged his celebrity from “The Apprentice” and his image as a businessman to build credibility in politics. Now he is executing the same playbook in reverse: converting a political following that provided millions in campaign contributions into a base of consumers for Trump-branded products.
Pennsylvania police are sued after murder cases collapse
One night, at a barbecue in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, in 2016, two gunmen killed five people. Investigators quickly arrested Robert Thomas and Cheron Shelton, charged them with six counts of criminal homicide and kept them in detention for four years while awaiting trial. But in 2020, on the first day of the trial, prosecutors dismissed the charges against Thomas, citing a lack of evidence. Shelton was acquitted less than two weeks later at trial. Now both men are filing federal lawsuits, accusing police in Allegheny County of misconduct, saying they relied on three confidential informants even though their statements contradicted evidence.
Under new restrictions, teachers tackle Black History Month
In February, public school teachers shape lessons around Black History Month. But Republican-led legislatures in several states have passed laws affecting how schools teach about racism in U.S. institutions. Their students are learning about activists like Ida B. Wells, but some teachers are exercising restraint. “I am not going to let any of these laws deter me from the things that I think work best for students,” said Eric Parker, a history teacher. “But I also enjoy working with students and having a roof over my head.” Since January 2021, according to a list by Education Week, 37 states have introduced measures to limit how race can be taught.
Sheriff’s office in California makes recruiting pitch to unvaccinated LA deputies
A Southern California sheriff’s office posted a recruitment video this week aimed at Los Angeles County deputies unhappy with efforts to make them comply with a vaccination mandate. “Drive north, we have a place for you,” reads a message on the video, posted by the sheriff’s office in nearby Kern County, which has no vaccine mandate. The video was posted Wednesday and showed headlines about the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passing a motion Tuesday that could lead to the termination of thousands of county employees who have not been vaccinated. The Los Angeles County sheriff, Alex Villanueva, has refused to enforce the mandate.
US pulls most diplomats from Ukraine as tensions mount
President Joe Biden warned President Vladimir Putin of Russia that invading Ukraine would result in “swift and severe” costs to Russia and cause “widespread human suffering,” the White House said Saturday as Western officials made a forceful diplomatic push to dissuade Putin from an attack. The two leaders spoke only hours after the U.S. ordered most of its diplomats and other staff members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. U.S. officials believe that if Russia launches an invasion next week, it could be preceded by an operation meant to create a false pretext for the war.
Omicron cases surge in Russia amid deep distrust of vaccine
As Russia commands the world’s attention with a military buildup around Ukraine, it faces a stubborn domestic challenge: the coronavirus. On Friday, the country reported a daily record of 200,000 new coronavirus cases, as the highly transmissible omicron variant sweeps across the vast country. Though deaths in Russia are off their November peak, the surge has served as a reminder of the vulnerability of Russia’s vaccine-skeptical population. The country recorded more than 170,000 cases over the past week, or 122 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Police face off with remaining trucks blocking bridge
Canadian police moved in Saturday to clear protesters at a vital bridge in Windsor, Ontario, that connects Canada and the United States, and by midday had shepherded most of the pedestrians onto other streets. About a dozen vehicles remained, blocking the flow of traffic across the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, an important conduit for the supply chains of the global automobile industry. As Canada enters the third weekend of a crisis that has brought thousands of protesters into the streets of its capital, Ottawa, and disrupted international supply chains, officials are turning to harsher measures to try to restore order.
As violence rises in the West Bank, settler attacks raise alarm
Last month, Israeli settlers attacked villagers and Israeli rights activists planting trees near the Palestinian village of Burin. At least seven people were injured. The attack, captured on video, was part of an escalation of civilian violence across the occupied West Bank. Settlers injured at least 170 Palestinians last year and killed five, U.N. monitors reported. The settlers who commit violence are rarely punished, while Palestinian suspects are frequently prosecuted by military courts. Of the 111 police investigations into settler attacks monitored by the Israeli rights group Yesh Din in the past five years, only three led to indictments.