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Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Feds prep for reopening of Alcatraz prison. Critics call it the ‘stupidest initiative yet'
Two federal officials toured the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary in the San Francisco Bay early Thursday morning as part of the Trump administration's effort to reopen the infamous island prison, a move that critics say would be more expensive than building a new prison. U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Alcatraz before the rush of tourists walked into the now-shuttered island prison, and officials said the two planned to make an official announcement that would air on Fox News. But critics of the Trump administration have called the effort a stunt and a distraction, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referring to the visit and the push to reopen the prison as 'the Trump Administration's stupidest initiative yet.' Pelosi's district includes the island and adjacent San Francisco. 'Make no mistake: this stupidity is a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from this Administration's cruelest actions yet in their Big, Ugly Law, which takes food from children and rips health care from millions to give tax breaks to billionaires,' Pelosi said in a statement, referring to the recently passed 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed by Congress. 'It remains to be seen how this Administration could possibly afford to spend billions to convert and maintain Alcatraz as a prison when they are already adding trillions of dollars to the national debt.' President Trump has pushed for the reopening of prison for months now, saying in a social media post that doing so would be a 'symbol of Law, Order and JUSTICE.' Trump, according to the post, said the structure would house the country's 'most ruthless and violent' offenders. A Justice Department spokesperon said Bondi and Burgum were set to get a briefing on the facility as part of their visit, and would be meeting with National Park Police and other officials about what planning would be necessary to rehabilitate and reopen the facility as a prison once again. Currently, the former prison serves as a popular tourist attraction for visitors to San Francisco. Originally opened in 1934, the prison closed its doors to convicts in 1963 after federal officials determined it was too costly to operate. According to the Bureau of Prisons, the prison was roughly three times more costly to operate than any other prison in the country, mostly because of its location on a 22-acre island. The need to send in supplies, including food and fresh water for guards, operators and prisoners, means that it would be cheaper to open a new facility than to operate Alcatraz. For more than five decades now, the prison has functioned as a museum under the management of the National Park Service. For Alcatraz to operate once again as a prison, Congress would have to pass legislation to remove National Environmental Policy Act and Historic Preservation Act requirements for the area. If reopened, the facility would also have to be transferred back to the Bureau of Prisons for operation. Local officials and Democrats have voiced strong opposition to reopening the facility as a prison. In a social media post Thursday, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie criticized the Trump administration's effort. 'There is no realistic plan for Alcatraz to host anyone other than visitors,' he said on X. 'If the federal government has billions of dollars to spend in San Francisco, we could use that funding to keep our streets safe and clean and help our economy recover.' Pelosi, in her statement, also said efforts to reopen Alcatraz would face stiff opposition in Congress. 'Should reason not prevail and Republicans bring this absurdity before the Congress, Democrats will use every parliamentary and budgetary tactic available to stop the lunacy,' Pelosi said in a statement.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Mike Waltz to face grilling over Signal chat at Senate hearing for UN role
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will face questioning from lawmakers Tuesday for the first time since he was ousted as national security adviser in the weeks after he mistakenly added a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss sensitive military plans. The former Republican congressman is set to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing, with Trump looking to fill his remaining Cabinet position after months of delay, including the withdrawal of the previous nominee . The hearing will provide senators with the first opportunity to grill Waltz over revelations in March that he added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a private text chain on an unclassified messaging app that was used to discuss planning for strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen. Waltz took responsibility even as criticism mounted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared the sensitive plans in the chat that included several other high-level national security officials. Hegseth shared the same information in another Signal chat that included family , but Trump has made clear Hegseth has his support. Waltz was removed as national security adviser in May — replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio — and nominated for the U.N. role. Trump praised Waltz in the announcement, saying, 'From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first.' The United Nations is facing major changes If confirmed, Waltz would be coming to the U.N. at a moment of great change. The world body is reeling from Trump's decision to slash foreign assistance — affecting its humanitarian aid agencies — and it anticipates U.S. funding cuts to the U.N. annual budget. Under an 'America First' foreign policy realignment, the White House has asserted that 'some of the U.N.'s agencies and bodies have drifted' from their founding mission and 'act contrary to the interests of the United States while attacking our allies and propagating anti-Semitism.' With America being the largest United Nations donor, cutting U.S. funding to the U.N. budget would greatly impair operations. Facing financial instability, the U.N. has spent months shedding jobs and consolidating projects while beginning to tackle long-delayed reforms. The U.N. is also facing growing frustration over what critics describe as a lack of efficiency and power in delivering on its mandate to end conflict and prevent wars. John Bolton , a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who was also national security adviser during Trump's first term, was critical of the current state of the U.N. 'It's probably in the worst shape it's been in since it was founded,' Bolton, now an outspoken Trump critic, recently told The Associated Press. Waltz has been meeting with senators Waltz spent the last several weeks meeting with Democrats and Republicans on the Foreign Affairs committee. Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Monday that she and Waltz discussed a wide range of issues, including whether the Trump administration would use the U.N. to strengthen alliances and combat Chinese influence. 'I asked him questions about 'Signalgate,' but I also talked to him about how we are going to sway other nations within the United Nations to our side, in light of how much influence the PRC is having on other nations,' the Illinois senator said, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. Even with Democratic opposition, Waltz only needs a majority in the 53-47 Senate, which Republicans control. 'He'll be fine. Mike won't have any issues,' said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. 'I mean, the Democrats are gonna do their thing. Whatever. Mike's used to taking incoming fire.' It is unclear how Waltz would approach the job. Trump's first nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, had built a track record in Congress of criticizing the U.N. She vowed during her confirmation hearing in January to combat what she called antisemitism at the world body and lead a review of U.S. funding. She was expected to be confirmed, but Trump abruptly withdrew her nomination in March, citing risks to the GOP's historically slim House majority . At the time, the loss of a mere handful of seats could have swung the House majority to Democrats and derailed their recently successful efforts to enact Trump's sweeping agenda. Waltz is still on the White House payroll Waltz, whose Florida House seat was filled during a special election earlier this year, has spent the last few months on the White House payroll despite being removed as national security adviser. The latest list of White House salaries, current as of July 1, includes Waltz earning an annual salary of $195,200. A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said Waltz stayed on to 'ensure a smooth and successful transition given the extreme importance of the role of NSA.' Waltz was the first Green Beret elected to the House and easily won reelection for a fourth term in November before Trump asked him to join the administration. ___ Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral election update: Lander arrested by ICE; Sanders endorses Mamdani
The Brief The New York City primaries are officially one week away. On Tuesday, mayoral candidate and NYC comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE. Also Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Zohran Mamdani, calling him the "best choice for mayor" NEW YORK CITY - Tuesday is officially one week until the 2025 New York City primary elections – and the race to unseat incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is heating up. JUMP TO: TRACKING ELECTION RESULTS | NYC MAYOR POLLS | WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR? Here's a look at the top headlines in the race for mayor, plus the latest polls, candidate profiles and voter information: NYC comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by ICE in immigration court Tuesday. A video posted on X shows Lander walking alongside a man whose immigration case had just been dismissed, attempting to escort him out of court to avoid ICE detention, according to the tweet. Agents still arrested the man outside. Follow developments here. What they're saying In a post on X, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said: "At this dangerous moment in history, status quo politics isn't good enough. We need new leadership that is prepared to stand up to powerful corporate interests & fight for the working class. @ZohranKMamdani is providing that vision. He is the best choice for NYC mayor." MORE: Full list of major NYC mayoral candidate endorsements On Monday, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake cross-endorsed one another. It comes after the New York Times editorial board decided not to back any of the candidates running for mayor. Meanwhile, early voting shows strong participation across all five boroughs. According to unofficial data from the NYC Board of Elections, as of the close of polls on day three (Monday) of early voting, a total of 94,112 voters had checked in. The breakdown by borough is as follows: Manhattan: 31,036 Brooklyn: 33,185 Queens: 19,186 The Bronx: 7,551 Staten Island: 3,154 Now through Sunday, June 22: Last day to vote early. Early voting hours may vary. Tuesday, June 24: Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can check your registration status online HERE. To find your local poll site, click HERE. ***Note: Voter registration for the 2025 NYC primary elections - in person and online - is now closed. Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey: According to a May survey, Cuomo was at 35%, followed by Mamdani at 22% and Lander at 10%. The survey was conducted May 23-26. Marist College: According to a poll conducted in May, Cuomo was at 44%, followed by Mamdani at 22% and Adams at 11%. The survey of 3,383 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted from May 1-8. Siena College: An April poll had Cuomo at 34%, followed by Mamdani at 16%. The poll surveyed 811 registered voters, with a specific focus on 556 Democratic voters. Betting Odds: According to the overseas online prediction market PredictIt, Cuomo's odds of success stand at 70%, with Mamdani's at 29%. Democratic socialist faces hurdles with Black, Latino voters in NYC mayoral race (Politico) New York mayor's race emerges as proxy war for Democrats' future (The Hill) What do NYC teens think of the mayoral candidates? (Chalkbeat) What you can do Bookmark FOX 5 NY's election results page to track results in real time when polls close on Tuesday, June 24. This year, NYC will use ranked choice voting in primary and special elections for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and City Council; a system approved by voters in 2019. On Election Night, results will only show first-choice votes from early voting, in-person voting and processed absentee ballots, accounting for most of the votes. If a candidate is projected to win 50% of first-choice votes, then the Associated Press will declare a projected winner on Election Night. READ MORE: Ranked choice voting explained If no one gets a majority, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and those votes go to the next choice on each ballot. This process continues until two candidates remain; whoever has the most votes then wins. If no candidate has 50% of first-choice votes, the Board of Elections will release an unofficial report on the preliminary elimination rounds on Tuesday, July 1. The BOE plans to certify the results on July 15. NYC Mayor Eric Adams, 64, announced that he would run as an independent, forgoing the Democratic primary for mayor. Jim Walden, 59, a longtime NYC lawyer, is also running as an independent in the 2025 mayoral race. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, has focused his 2025 mayoral campaign on what he describes as a city in crisis. Zohran Mamdani, 33, is a self-declared socialist focused on rent freezes, free bus rides and no-cost childcare. Scott Stringer, 64, former NYC comptroller, is focused on transparency and good governance. Zellnor Myrie, 38, is a Brooklyn native focused on affordable housing and electoral reform. Whitney Tilson, 58, is an investor and lifelong Democrat who has emphasized the need for a city that is safe, affordable and prosperous, criticizing career politicians for failing to address key issues. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, 39, announced that she would be running for NYC mayor amid calls for Eric Adams to resign. Brad Lander, 55, is the current NYC comptroller and a progressive who advocates for police reform, affordable housing, and better management of the migrant crisis. Adrienne Adams, 64, jumped in as a contender to enter the race, directly after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Michael Blake, 42, a former Bronx assemblyman and vice chair of the DNC, is known for his focus on economic equity and social justice. Read more about other races, including public advocate, comptroller and City Council, here. Watch interviews with mayoral candidates here. Ranked choice voting Early voting What's on the ballot?
Toronto Star
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
California opens track-and-field finals to more girls after success of trans athlete
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The governing board for California high school sports is changing its competition rules at this weekend's state track-and-field championships to allow more girls to take part amid controversy over the participation of a trans student-athlete. The California Interscholastic Federation said it was extending access for more 'biological female' athletes to participate in the championship meet. The group announced the change Tuesday after President Donald Trump posted on his social media site about the participation of a trans athlete in the competition. 'Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,' the federation said in a statement. 'The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The move comes amid a nationwide battle over the rights of transgender youth in which states have limited transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. At least 24 states have laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some of the policies have been blocked in court. A recent AP-NORC poll found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women's sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats. The federation didn't specify whether the change applies to all events or only events where a trans athlete has qualified for the final. The change only applies to this weekend's competition. The organization didn't say how many students will be affected by the change. The rule change may be the first attempt nationally by a high school sports governing body to expand competition when trans athletes are participating. Trump threat to withdraw federal funding Trump threatened Tuesday to pull federal funding in California if the state did not bar trans students from participating in girls sports. The post referenced AB Hernandez, a trans athlete who is scheduled to compete in the girls varsity triple jump, high jump and long jump in the state finals. She won the Division 3 girls long jump and girls triple jump and placed seventh in the high jump at the Southern Section Division Finals on May 19, according to CIF results. 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Trump also criticized Maine's Democratic governor after she said the state would take the president to court over his effort to keep trans girls from competing in girls sports. The Trump administration launched an investigation earlier this year over a California law that says districts can't force teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity at school. Newsom praises change California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently said on his podcast that it's 'deeply unfair' for transgender girls to participate in girls sports. Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator and podcast guest, referenced Hernandez when asking Newsom about the issue. Trump said he planned to talk to Newsom about it Tuesday. The governor's office did not confirm the call but said the California Interscholastic Federation rule change was a 'thoughtful approach.' 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said. Sophia Lorey with the conservative California Family Council, which has protested Hernandez competing in girls sports, said the rule change was 'damage control.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Girls who were unfairly eliminated are suddenly back in for State this weekend,' Lorey said. 'This is a step in the right direction, but let's be real: this never should've happened. Boys don't belong in girls sports.' Democratic state lawmakers blocked bills last month that would have barred transgender girls from participating in girls sports. Equality California, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, said the Trump administration was 'bullying a child' and called on CIF to uphold its 'inclusive, evidence-based policies.' 'Our community is watching, and we are counting on the CIF to uphold its policies, adhere to California law, protect its athletes, and reaffirm that everyone deserves to compete safely and authentically,' the group said in a joint statement with several other organizations. Athletes' and district's responses Parents and conservative advocates opposed to transgender girls competing in girls sports have criticized Hernandez's participation and heckled her during postseason meets. After losing to Hernandez in long jump at the sectional final, student Katie McGuinness urged the CIF to change its policy during an interview on Fox News. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I have nothing against this athlete as a person and I have nothing against the trans community,' McGuinness said. 'My message today is really specifically to CIF and for them to act quickly and in a timely manner, because this is a really time-sensitive issue.' Hernandez told the publication Capital & Main earlier this month in response to verbal attacks from adults that 'there's nothing I can do about people's actions,' so she is focused on what she can control. 'I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,' she said. In an email, Hernandez's mother declined to comment on Tuesday's rule change. The Jurupa Unified School District, which includes Hernandez's high school in Southern California, said it would continue to follow state law allowing trans student-athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity. ___ Associated Press journalists Janie Har in San Francisco and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed. ___ Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna
Observer
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Democrats who championed Biden's reelection bid seek atonement
In February 2024, when quizzed on President Joe Biden's ability to communicate his reelection message, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., quickly vouched for him. 'I know that he is ready for this campaign,' he said. 'I have seen how effective he has been up close and personal.' But five months into 2025, Murphy is on the leading edge of top Democrats aiming to Etch A Sketch away their past endorsements of Biden's acuity. Murphy told Politico this week that he had 'no doubt' Biden suffered cognitive decline while in office. Murphy, who declined to be interviewed for this article, is not alone in trying to reposition himself from a top Biden surrogate who sat on the campaign's national advisory board to a truth-teller about what really happened in the 2024 campaign. His pivot is illustrative of a wide swath of the party that is hoping to atone for having fallen lockstep behind Biden. Rep Ro Khanna, D-Calif, another Biden advisory board member who travelled the country as a surrogate to progressives, said this week that it was 'obvious now' that Biden 'was not in a condition to run for reelection.' Khanna had vouched for Biden up until the president ended his campaign. A speech in Detroit that proved to be Biden's last as a candidate 'broke through' the political noise, Khanna said five days before Biden dropped out. Khanna on Friday acknowledged, 'Our party made a mistake, including the dozens of us who campaigned for him for reelection.' But he said that he 'was a surrogate based on information that the president gave' and that he had no reason to apologise for his actions in that role. As the Democratic Party faces record low approval ratings, many party strategists and officials believe it must rebuild trust in its brand. That process, some argue, must begin with confronting how the party handled the 2024 race. For most of Biden's term, many Democrats lived a bifurcated political life. In public, they remained staunchly behind the president, lauding him as sharp and fit to serve. But in private conversations, they fretted about his shaky gait, rambling speech and tendency to forget key details, such as the names of foreign leaders. As recently as a year ago, Democrats saw publicly vouching for Biden and dismissing concerns about his age as the best path to holding the White House and safeguarding their own political futures. The power of incumbency, Democratic officials argued, outweighed well-documented concerns from their voters about his fitness for the job. In a poll from The New York Times and Siena College published in March 2024, for example, a majority of voters who supported him in 2020 said he was too old to lead the country effectively. Now, as Democrats jostle for influence in a demoralised party, their incentives have changed. And those who were closest to Biden appear to be in the trickiest position. Pete Buttigieg, who served as the transportation secretary in the Biden administration, told reporters in Iowa this week that 'maybe' Democrats could have done better without Biden at the top of the ticket. Few Democrats were more forceful in vouching for Biden than Buttigieg, who four years earlier had run a primary campaign against him arguing the party needed generational change. And Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro now says that he began warning Biden directly about his standing in his home state shortly after Shapiro was elected as governor in 2022. 'I was very clear with the president privately about some of the risks that I saw in Pennsylvania,' Shapiro said. 'I communicated that to him and to his staff. And they made the judgment that they made to continue on with their campaign.' Still, some of the country's most prominent Democratic governors, many of whom are said to be considering their own presidential runs, refused to engage in the round of second-guessing. 'I was busy working,' Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer, who was a co-chair of Biden's campaign, said on CNN. 'I didn't see the president frequently. I can't speak to that directly.' Govs JB Pritzker of Illinois, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Tim Walz of Minnesota have largely dodged questions about the former president's fitness, saying in interviews only that Biden should have dropped out before the primaries began. 'If we'd have had more time, could we have had a better shot? Yeah, I think probably,' Walz, whom former Vice President Kamala Harris eventually chose as her running mate, said in a recent interview. 'I don't think we'd have been in a worse spot, that's for sure.' Many Democratic officials have complained that the White House aides kept Biden cloistered as his condition worsened. A book set to be released next week, 'Original Sin,' details those efforts. Biden's spokesperson declined to comment for this article. Rep Jim Himes, D-Conn., one of the first lawmakers to call for Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee after his disastrous debate performance in June 2024, said lawmakers had not fully known Biden's mental and physical state. But, he said, Democrats must now openly admit that Biden was unfit for a second term and should not have run. 'If you don't say it, you don't self-reflect,' Himes said at an event hosted by Politico this week. 'Why is it hard for us to be more honest?' And then there are the Democrats who think fingers are being pointed in the wrong direction. Biden himself said on 'The View' that most Democrats wanted him to stay in the race, an assertion that runs counter to reality. Former Rep Max Rose, D-N Y, said the focus on Biden's condition was misplaced. After all, he said, it was Harris who ultimately lost the election. 'People seem to be forgetting that the Harris campaign are the ones that lost,' Rose said on Friday. 'There are people involved in doing this who are trying to implicitly send the message that if Vice President Harris had another three months, she would have won, which is patently false.' Some Democrats are already warning that this issue could emerge as a dividing line in the 2028 presidential primary, as candidates try to distinguish themselves in what strategists widely expect to be a crowded contest. On Wednesday, former Rep Joe Cunningham, D-S C, offered a bit of 'unsolicited advice' to Democrats aspiring to become their party's next presidential nominee. 'Before attending the BBQs, Lowcountry boils and picnics, cleanse yourself of any culpability you may have had when you stayed silent while so much was at stake,' Cunningham, who first suggested that Biden should not seek reelection in 2022, wrote in an opinion essay. He added, 'As my mother would say: Wash your hands before you come to the meal.' — The New York Times. By Reid J Epstein and Lisa Lerer
