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Axios
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Resistance 2.0 protests get louder and more organized
Protests against the Trump administration's policies have built up to a focused, organized movement. Why it matters: After a quiet stretch in the months following President Trump's election victory, the streets are buzzing again. Demonstrations are growing in size, in frequency, and in coordination. "The idea of protest as an effective tool regained its footing," says Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Protests against Trump administration policies and allies have attracted millions in the last few months: Tesla Takedown in March, Hands Off! and 50501 in April, May Day, No Kings in June, and Free America on Independence Day. Protests also broke out in Los Angeles last month in response to the administration's immigration enforcement, inspiring others across the country. "Good Trouble Lives On" protests are scheduled on July 17, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and former Rep. John Lewis. More than 56,000 people RSVP'd to 1,500 events as of Friday. The other side: "Nearly 80 million Americans gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again and he is delivering on that promise in record time," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. Flashback: Historically, U.S. protest movements have been focused on a specific issue, says William Hall, an adjunct professor of political science at Webster University, Washington University and Maryville University. In recent years, those included the Women's March, March for Our Lives and Black Lives Matter movements. The protests of the past several months, however, reflect broader opposition to Trump-era policies and the MAGA movement. Zoom out: Protests last year came to a fever pitch over widespread opposition to Israel's war in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. "It took the imagination again of young people and others to say this is the way," said Browne-Marshall, who published a book this year on U.S. protest history. Zoom in: The Indivisible Project, a leading organizer group, describes its mission: "We will not yield to fascism. We will stand together and we'll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities and our values." "There's extraordinary damage being sustained across every front that we care about, and because of that, I think the way in which people are processing individual outrages or specific moments has shifted a little bit," says Leah Greenberg, Indivisible co-founder and co-director. On July 16, Indivisible is launching "One Million Rising," a national project to train a million people in the basics of community organizing and campaign design. The intrigue: Effective protesting often starts with an emotional response to policy or an event, swiftly followed by strategy, per Browne-Marshall. The current movement is reaching that second stage, she said. "That outrage is still there, but now it's going to be funneled and channeled into strategies and tactics on how we actually make change in the government," she said. " As more and more protests happen," Browne-Marshall added, "local, state and federal elected officials will feel uncomfortable maintaining the stance they have."
USA Today
02-07-2025
- USA Today
The Diddy verdict and the message it sends sexual assault survivors
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – but just like the verdict, reactions are mixed. A 12-person jury acquitted Combs on the most serious charges against him in a federal sex-crimes trial. Combs was found not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges, but he was convicted on two lesser counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – involving former girlfriends Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine and the anonymous "Jane," who both say he abused them for years. Combs' transportation to engage in prostitution conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison per count. With his guilty verdicts on two counts, he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, some onlookers see this split decision as a slap in the face to women and survivors of sexual abuse, calling it 'gross negligence by the jury.' 'We fail women every day in this country,' one X user posted. Combs' trial was an anomaly – in most cases, an abuser's violence is rarely documented by a portfolio of evidence. The numerous photos, videos and witness testimonies supporting Cassie's testimony is the 'exception, not the rule,' Elizabeth L. Jeglic, a clinical psychologist specializing in sexual violence and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, previously told USA TODAY. 'The message to victims is clear: no amount of proof is enough,' another X user wrote. Sexual violence experts say Combs' trial impacts the decisions that survivors make in terms of getting help, leaving abusive situations and speaking out. 'This is a heartbreaking verdict for survivors of sexual abuse, especially for Black women,' says sociologist Nicole Bedera. 'Survivors are accustomed to these kinds of betrayals, but it doesn't make the betrayals any less gutting. There are a lot of survivors who see themselves in Cassie.' However, while small victories in a mixed verdict often go uncelebrated, that doesn't mean they don't exist. Julie Roginsky and Gretchen Carlson, survivors and co-founders of the nonprofit Lift Our Voices, say onlookers shouldn't lose sight of how Combs has been held accountable. 'Anybody online who thinks this is a loss for (Cassie) is just completely misguided," Roginsky says. "It is a win for her, because she has inspired so many other women to be able to tell their own stories, to be able to hold their heads high, to be able to show that there is life after being sexually abused.' Implications for the #MeToo movement, other survivors Even when there is evidence, victims are still subjected to ridicule and judgment – from asking why Cassie didn't leave sooner, to calling her complicit in Combs' alleged abuse. Ahead of the trial, Combs' lawyers had said that they wanted to show that there was "mutual violence in their relationship" and "hitting on both sides,' rather than denying Combs' violence. And online, Cassie's testimony was met with victim-blaming, which happens when society or individuals place responsibility, or blame, on a victim for the harm they have experienced, rather than on the perpetrator. 'All of this can be very discouraging (to other survivors), both in terms of reliving what happened to you, but also in terms of how society still isn't fully supportive of people when they come forward, they can attack them, and so that can be really hard for survivors to see,' Jeglic previously told USA TODAY. During the trial, Cassie was forced to read aloud explicit messages in cross-testimony, as Combs' lawyers insisted that all sex at the freak-offs (sometimes days-long sexual performances) was consensual. When asked why she agreed to participate in the alleged "freak offs," Cassie said, "I wanted to make him happy." Combs allegedly gave her ecstasy and alcohol before and during her first "freak off," she said. "Doing this made me feel horrible. It made me feel worthless," she said. Victim-blaming myths, especially around consent, still need to be debunked, Bedera says. Black women survivors also face an uphill battle to be believed. In a 2025 study conducted by Chloe Grace Hart, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she found that Americans were less likely to say they believed a Black woman describing a sexual harassment experience compared to a white women describing the same thing. However, Cassie being supported is a step in the right direction. 'We saw in the #MeToo movement, when people came forward and other people came forward because they were supported and believed,' Jeglic said. Roginsky and Carlson reject any narratives that the "#MeToo movement is dead," pointing to the success of laws like the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (passed in 2022) that have continued to help survivors seek justice. However, Bedera says this verdict is a 'missed opportunity for social change' and a 'reminder the media narratives around #MeToo failed to fully recognize the harms of intimate partner violence, as well as the stories of Black women and sex workers.' 'Survivors often have other goals in coming forward, including exposing the failures of our criminal justice system to intervene in violence happening in plain sight. This verdict absolutely does that,' she adds. In case you missed: The Diddy trial details were worse than anyone expected. Will how we treat victims change? Cassie's testimony still leaves a mark on survivors and the justice system Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer who represented Cassie in her civil lawsuit against the music mogul, told reporters July 2 that Combs' is 'finally being held responsible for two federal crimes, something that he's never faced in his life" and "still faces substantial jail time." He added that he just spoke with Cassie, who is "in a good place." In an additional statement provided to USA TODAY, Wigdor said, "Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice." Contributing: Brendan Morrow
Time Magazine
02-07-2025
- Time Magazine
What Is Racketeering? One of the Charges 'Diddy' Combs Faced
Though rapper and music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, he was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The racketeering charge proved the most difficult for the jury to agree on: By Tuesday afternoon, it had reportedly reached a verdict on all the other charges, but said jurors had 'unpersuadable opinions on both sides" regarding the racketeering conspiracy count. They only reached a decision the following morning, after the judge told them to continue deliberating. Combs, 55, faces up to 20 years in prison. But if convicted on the charge of racketeering and the two charges of sex trafficking, he could have confronted a much longer sentence—potentially life behind bars. Here is what you need to know about the charge that gave the jury in Combs's trial the most trouble. What is racketeering? Racketeering comprises various illegal activities that multiple people engage in to earn a commercial profit, possibly under the guise of conducting legitimate business, according to Cornell Law School. It does not refer to one specific crime, but several different crimes that fall under the same federal law: the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. RICO was passed in an effort to combat organized crime, at a time when the mafia's disconnected structure and disparate and seemingly uncorrelated crimes made conviction of high-ranking leaders difficult. For someone to be convicted of RICO charges, the Justice Department says, a pattern of crimes must be proven that includes at least two instances of racketeering committed within a ten-year period and as part of a long-term association with an 'enterprise' formed to carry out criminal activities. Prosecutors must also prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was aware of the criminal enterprise and intended to participate. Racketeering conspiracy, which Combs was charged with, is a charge alleging that at least two people conspired to violate the RICO statute. According to David Shapiro, lecturer at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, racketeering charges require a lot of 'investigative and prosecutorial resources,' which is why they are not used very often. 'It's one of those things that requires a great deal of effort, expenses, experts, witnesses, to comb through transactions over 10 plus years, trying to link them together and demonstrate the existence of a corrupt organization controlling and directing these predicate crimes,' Shapiro tells TIME. Lorraine Gauli-Rufo, an attorney at LGR Law in New Jersey who has dealt with multiple racketeering charges, speculated on why the jury in Combs's trial may have come to the decision it did. 'We think that [the jury] probably found him as a sole individual, not an enterprise—not a group that existed with a common purpose. And if that was the case, that would explain why they didn't find [Combs] guilty on the RICO count,' Gauli-Rufi told TIME. What are some examples of racketeering? A number of different offenses can amount to racketeering if they're part of a pattern, including drug trafficking, sex trafficking, money laundering, and extortion. In the cases of high-profile mafia members like John Gotti, the head of the Gambino crime family, RICO charges have been used in their most classic form—to deal with the mob. Gotti was convicted of multiple counts of racketeering in 1992. RICO charges have similarly been levied in more recent organized crime prosecutions, including in a case involving members of the MS-13 Gang that resulted in three defendants pleading guilty earlier this year. Racketeering has also been used as a charge in several high-profile federal cases to prosecute men accused of sexual abuse. In addition to Combs, the R&B singer R. Kelly also faced the charge, in relation to 14 connected accusations including the sexual exploitation of children, sex trafficking, and forced labor. Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Racketeering was also notably used in the indictments against nine Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) officials and several other corporate executives, which alleged systemic bribery spanning a 24-year period going back to 1991. In each of these cases, prosecutors worked to prove long-standing and premeditated criminal acts that were connected, yet disparate, as part of the RICO charges. How long can you be in prison for RICO charges? RICO charges carry a maximum criminal penalty of 20 years in prison for each count a defendant is convicted on, according to Cornell Law.
New York Post
30-06-2025
- New York Post
You can blur your home on Google Maps: Here's how to do it and why experts say you should
As homeowners invest in high-end locks, alarm systems and surveillance cameras to safeguard their properties, some law enforcement officials say there's one overlooked measure that could help ward off burglars: obscuring their homes on Google Street View. While the feature has existed for years, a growing number of homeowners are now choosing to blur their houses in online map images to reduce digital exposure—a tactic authorities and crime experts suggest could help reduce the risk of becoming a target. Ryan Railsback, a police officer in Riverside, California, said he's seen some residents take this additional step. 4 Homeowners are being urged to consider blurring their homes on Google Maps as a safety precaution to deter burglars who may use Street View to scout entry points, security systems, and valuable possessions. Google Maps 'The crooks are looking for new and innovative ways to victimize people,' he told ABC News. 'It's good for the public to be aware of that and counter what the criminals are already doing.' Street View, a service of Google Maps, provides panoramic images captured by camera-equipped vehicles traversing public roads. While it offers convenience for everything from navigating new neighborhoods to browsing real estate, it may also give criminals an easy way to scope out potential targets, experts say. 4 While the feature has been available for years, many are unaware that a permanent blur can be requested through Google by locating the property on Street View, clicking 'Report a problem,' and submitting a form. ltstudiooo – Christopher Herrmann, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told ABC News that 'would-be thieves certainly want to scout their locations before they hit them,' using publicly available imagery to assess potential points of entry, spot visible cameras or alarms, and even identify valuable property visible from the street. For those looking to conceal their home on Street View, Google allows homeowners or tenants to request a permanent blur. Users can access the tool by locating their home on Google Maps, opening the Street View image, and clicking 'Report a problem' in the lower right corner. A short form allows users to specify the area they want blurred. According to Google, once applied, the blur cannot be reversed. 4 Experts like Officer Ryan Railsback and Prof. Christopher Herrmann warn that criminals increasingly rely on digital tools to plan break-ins, and blurring your home could make it a less appealing target. luckybusiness – 'We'll review your report as fast as we can,' Google states on its site. 'If you entered your email address in the form, we may contact you to get additional information or to update you on the status of your report.' 4 However, some experts also caution that having the only blurred house on a block might attract unwanted attention. Rafael Henrique – Still, not everyone agrees that the tactic is foolproof. Some warn that having the only blurred home on a block could have unintended consequences, potentially signaling that the residents have something worth hiding.
Newsweek
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani Reacts to Andrew Cuomo Reportedly Staying in Mayor's Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani responded to a report that Andrew Cuomo is staying in the New York City mayoral race during an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett on Wednesday night. According to reporting by CNN, Cuomo will remain on the November general election ballot and will not withdraw by Friday's deadline. Although Cuomo conceded the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he will retain his spot on the "Fight & Deliver" ballot line, keeping open the option to challenge Mamdani and Mayor Eric Adams, running as an Independent, in the fall. Burnett asked Mamdani if the report surprised him. This combination photo shows on left, Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaking during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York and on right, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani talking to people after... This combination photo shows on left, Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaking during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York and on right, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani talking to people after the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in New York City More Associated Press "Ultimately, Andrew's decision or my decision matters less than the decision the voters already took on Tuesday night," he replied. "What we saw from Bay Ridge to Dyker Heights to Harlem to Washington Heights, we saw a mandate delivered for a new generation of leadership. And I'm so proud and excited to build on that mandate and ever-expanding coalition." He continued, that includes the endorsement of Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Holyman-Sigal, and soon-to-be New York City Comptroller Mark Levine. And that is a coalition that will expand through November." Sources told CNN that Cuomo's team believes the broader general electorate could be more receptive to his candidacy than primary voters. When asked if he was "worried" about a re-do, Mamdani said, "We did it once and it turned out pretty well." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
