Featured Stories

Sanders releases trove of internal HHS emails showing RFK Jr. pressured CDC over vaccine messaging

(The Hill) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday released a tranche of Health and Human Services (HHS) emails that appear to show HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressuring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over its vaccine messaging. Emails indicate that Kennedy directed the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel to restrict access to vaccines, allowed researchers to access “confidential data” to indicate the disproven claim that vaccines cause autism and changed recommendations for the public to receive COVID-19 shots without input from the CDC.

Senator Ron Wyden accuses US health agency of plan to deport more than 500 migrant children

(The Guardian) The US senator Ron Wyden has accused the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of preparing to use what he describes as an “unprecedented legal framework” to deport more than 500 unaccompanied migrant children currently in the custody of the agency’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). In a letter addressed to the HHS secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said he had obtained “credible information” that the department was using a list of more than 500 children as targets for expedited removal under a new administrative process that he says lacks statutory authority.

'It's completely out of bounds': Democrat launches Linda McMahon impeachment effort

(ABC News) Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., on Thursday introduced articles of impeachment against Education Secretary Linda McMahon for attempting to abolish the Department of Education. Though Democrats have been critical of McMahon’s agenda of dismantling the department she leads, Bonamici’s resolution is their first effort to impeach her. On the House floor Thursday, Bonamici said that McMahon has lied to Congress and she scolded the secretary for making "illegal transfers" of critical Education Department functions to partner agencies.

Mamdani delivers promised rent freeze on 1 million rent-stabilized apartments

(Politico) Mayor Zohran Mamdani got another major win Thursday night when the Rent Guidelines Board voted to freeze rents on the city’s roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. The mayor-appointed panel voted 7-1 to freeze rents on both one- and two-year leases, an unprecedented move that came despite protests from landlords that it would push them into deeper financial straits. The freeze, which will cover some 2 million tenants, will take effect for leases signed starting in October. “This is a historic victory for New York City tenants,” Mamdani said in a statement after the vote.

Friday's Condensed News Cartoons & Memes

Judge orders DOJ to produce, unredact sought after Epstein files

(The Hill) On Thursday, a federal judge based in Washington, D.C., ordered the Justice Department to unredact additional pages of the Epstein files in a suit brought by attorney and independent journalist Katie Phang. The preliminary injunction orders redactions be removed in key documents of interest in the files, including “at least eight email exchanges with Mr. Epstein regarding a ‘torture video’ and sexual activity with young women, including minors” as well as interviews with a woman who said she was abused by President Trump as a minor.

Pentagon restores mandatory flu shots for all recruits amid boot camp outbreak

(The Guardian) The Pentagon has said that boot camps for all the military services are once again requiring the flu vaccination for all recruits after the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, made the shot optional for the military at the end of April. The development on Wednesday was confirmed by a Pentagon official to the Associated Press and came amid a growing, weeks-long, flu outbreak at the US air force’s boot camp at Lackland air force base in San Antonio, Texas.

Putin Humiliated as Troops Threaten to 'Turn Their Weapons' on Him

(Daily Beast) A Russian military commander has appealed directly to Vladimir Putin to threaten an armed uprising with help from top military brass if the country isn’t told the “truth” about the war. In an Instagram video that quickly racked up millions of views Thursday, Alexander Lunin addressed the Russian president to warn of “very serious consequences” if his demands were ignored. The 39-year-old father of two went on to say he’d been asked to “deliver a message” to Putin by unnamed military officials and members of the security services.

Russia preparing possible 'provocation' in Baltic states or Poland, sources say

(The Guardian) Two countries on Nato’s eastern flank have warned that Russia is preparing a possible “provocation” in the Baltic states or Poland in an effort to test the cohesion of the western military alliance. Western sources also fear there could be danger on the horizon because the Kremlin is coming under pressure from Ukraine’s campaign of long-range attacks on targets near Moscow and St Petersburg.

DeWine vetoes bill requiring photo ID for mail voting in Ohio

(Scripps) Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed a new Republican-passed bill that would have required Ohioans to show a photo ID to vote by mail. DeWine announced late Wednesday that he had vetoed House Bill 472, which expanded the strict photo ID requirement Ohio has had for voting since 2023. The Republican governor issued an unusually lengthy statement explaining his decision. He said the requirement would pose an unwieldy challenge for voters without providing any real benefit.