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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump keeps brutalizing immigrants because he's failing at everything else
There seems to be no end to President Donald Trump's and Republicans' cruelty, but don't be fooled: it's all a distraction. The reports coming out of Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention center built in the Florida Everglades, are harrowing. Detainees in the center have reported overflowing toilets, lights on through the night and dismal meals. "This place needs to be shut the hell down," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, said on a press call with the Naples Daily News and other outlets. According to a report from The New York Times, only about 60% of the detainees have criminal convictions. That means 40% did nothing wrong. The facility currently houses about 900 men sleeping in tents. Alligator Alcatraz is a cruel reminder that Trump will do whatever he wants to vulnerable populations in the United States, and only a few Democrats seem willing to call him out on it. It's also cruel for a reason: to appease the MAGA base and keep them from realizing that Trump isn't making good on any of his other promises. And never forget that none of this would be happening if not for Republican support. Trump continues to fail us on the economy Take the economy, for example. Trump campaigned on a promise that he would make it easier for the average family to afford the cost of living, only for his tariff plan and cuts to federal funding to send the economy into a tizzy. The 'Big Beautiful Bill,' Trump's fiscal agenda, is projected to harm working-class families because of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits. His tariff agenda is leading to an increase in inflation and consumer prices, something that will ultimately cost the average American household at least $1,000. Polling on Trump's handling of the economy has consistently been negative, according to Gallup. While it improved slightly in June, it's still much lower than the economic confidence during Trump's first term. Opinion: Republicans hurt rural Americans with their beautiful bill. Then they clapped. Going after immigrants does nothing to solve the unfolding economic crisis in our country. In fact, the pursuit of the Trump administration's strict immigration agenda is likely to harm the economy, thanks to the way it is affecting businesses that rely on undocumented labor. But Trump hopes you don't notice that, and Republicans know this was never about improving an economy that was already thriving in a global market. America's foreign policy is a global joke. US is no longer a force for good. Foreign relations are another area where Trump is failing – likely because he was making promises he couldn't keep. He claimed he would end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza – only for both conflicts to continue. He claimed there would be no wars under his leadership, then conducted airstrikes in Iran and nearly plunged the United States into another war. New reporting suggests his bragadocious messaging after those Iran strikes was nonsense. Opinion: White House wants us to see Trump as Superman. We all know he's the villain. He's just now realizing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can't be trusted, and has finally decided to help Ukraine. Other countries are no longer seeing America as a force for good, according to Ipsos polling over the last six months. Pew Research Center polling shows a lack of confidence in Trump's international leadership abilities. He threatened to annex Greenland and Canada – things that there was no way he'd be able to achieve. He has damaged relationships with allies due to his tariffs and ambitious plans, making the United States an international laughingstock and causing tourism to the country to plummet. But sure, let's brutalize immigrants. The Epstein files mess is engulfing the Trump administration Or consider the Jeffrey Epstein files, which have become a source of contention for the MAGA movement. Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed the files existed and were sitting on her desk. Then, in July, she claimed there were no such files. Trump doubled down on this and demanded that everyone stop talking about Epstein, 'somebody that nobody cares about.' At first, this led to a huge backlash among MAGA supporters and conspiracy theorists who wanted answers. Right-wing personality Laura Loomer said in a July 16 interview that this could 'consume' the presidency in the same way Trump's ties to Russia did during his first term. Other pundits, like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have dropped the conversation altogether. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. But Trump really, really doesn't want you to focus on the fact that he said he wanted to declassify the Epstein files on the campaign trail. It's best if you just focus on the immigrants who are being treated no better than livestock. After all, Trump says they're the root of the problem in this country, and we should believe that, right? In all seriousness, the cruelty is not the point for a Republican Party that is both successful in pushing its agenda and failing in convincing Americans it's worth pushing. The Trump administration is busy producing smoke and mirrors to pacify its political base by targeting immigrants while failing to improve the lives of the working class. The needless meanness is merely a comforting distraction for an entire political party that can't be bothered to actually help Americans. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alligator Alcatraz is cruel distraction from Trump's failure | Opinion
International Business Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Who Was Anthony Zecca? Dog the Bounty Hunter's 13-Year-Old Stepgrandson Is Accidentally Shot Dead by His Father
Dog "the Bounty Hunter" star Duane Chapman's stepson was accidentally shot and killed by the reality star's stepson, over the weekend, according to a report. Anthony Zecca, 13, the step-grandson of 72-year-old reality TV star was shot and killed by his father, Gregory Zecca, inside their apartment in Naples, Florida, according to TMZ. Zecca, 38 — the son of Francie from a previous marriage — reportedly works alongside his stepfather Duane as part of his bounty hunting crew. Notably, Chapman's son is a gun enthusiast and back in 2021, he had shared a series of photos of himself along with his late son spending time at a shooting range with their rifles. Tragic Death Dog the Bounty Hunter Duane Chapman with his stepgrandson Anthony Zecca Instagram The Collier County Sheriff's Office told the Naples Daily News that it is looking into a fatal shooting that occurred Saturday night. Despite the horrific nature of Anthony's death, police have described it as an "isolated incident" while not identifying anyone involved. "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony," representatives for Chapman and his family told TMZ. Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman with his wife Francie Instagram A year ago, young Anthony spent the summer with his grandparents and shared a touching story about sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit while visiting his "Meemaw" in the hospital ER in 2023, after she hurt her ankle. Anthony and Duane were sitting together on a bench in the waiting area when he suddenly felt a blast of cool air coming in from outside—despite the fact that it was a warm, rainy day. "When we're walking to her room I feel the wind again but from a different direction. When it first came, it hit me [on my chest]. But when it came again, it hit me from the back,' the Christian child marveled. Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman with his wife Francie and grandson Anthony Zecca Instagram "And I'm wondering what is this? Because the doors didn't open this time, so why am I getting hit by wind? [It was] the Holy Spirit. And I asked Meemaw and she said, 'It was the Holy Spirit.'" Francie had been in a lot of pain, but after getting X-rays and saying a prayer, they returned to the room to find her feeling much better. She said, " This don't even hurt anymore." In the end, it turned out the injury wasn't a fracture. Gone too Soon In addition to his love for firearms and faith in Jesus, young Anthony also liked dancing to Usher and going to local Comic Con events, where he once posed with Predator. Duane and Francie, who started their relationship in 2020, connected through the mutual pain of losing their spouses. Anthony Zecca Instagram Duane's fifth wife, Beth Smith, died in 2019 from stage II throat cancer, while Francie lost her husband, Bob Frane, in 2018. "We understood the pain that the other one was feeling, and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up," she told ET in 2020. "We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling. We were able to walk alongside each other through the pain and heartbreak, and it brought us together in this amazing way." The grieving couple is set to mark their fourth wedding anniversary on September 2. Then, on November 15, the Chapmans will host their 3rd Annual F.U.S.E. Restored Gala in Cape Coral, Florida. The event, featuring a vintage Hollywood glamour theme, will support the fight against human trafficking and take place at The Westin in Cape Coral at Marina Village.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Alligator Alcatraz is cruel distraction from Trump's failure
"This place needs to be shut the hell down," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, said on a press call with the Naples Daily News and other outlets. According to a report from The New York Times, only about 60% of the detainees have criminal convictions. That means 40% did nothing wrong. The facility currently houses about 900 men sleeping in tents. Alligator Alcatraz is a cruel reminder that Trump will do whatever he wants to vulnerable populations in the United States, and only a few Democrats seem willing to call him out on it. It's also cruel for a reason: to appease the MAGA base and keep them from realizing that Trump isn't making good on any of his other promises. And never forget that none of this would be happening if not for Republican support. Trump continues to fail us on the economy Take the economy, for example. Trump campaigned on a promise that he would make it easier for the average family to afford the cost of living, only for his tariff plan and cuts to federal funding to send the economy into a tizzy. The "Big Beautiful Bill," Trump's fiscal agenda, is projected to harm working-class families because of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits. His tariff agenda is leading to an increase in inflation and consumer prices, something that will ultimately cost the average American household at least $1,000. Polling on Trump's handling of the economy has consistently been negative, according to Gallup. While it improved slightly in June, it's still much lower than the economic confidence during Trump's first term. Opinion: Republicans hurt rural Americans with their beautiful bill. Then they clapped. Going after immigrants does nothing to solve the unfolding economic crisis in our country. In fact, the pursuit of the Trump administration's strict immigration agenda is likely to harm the economy, thanks to the way it is affecting businesses that rely on undocumented labor. But Trump hopes you don't notice that, and Republicans know this was never about improving an economy that was already thriving in a global market. America's foreign policy is a global joke. US is no longer a force for good. Foreign relations are another area where Trump is failing - likely because he was making promises he couldn't keep. He claimed he would end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza - only for both conflicts to continue. He claimed there would be no wars under his leadership, then conducted airstrikes in Iran and nearly plunged the United States into another war. New reporting suggests his bragadocious messaging after those Iran strikes was nonsense. Opinion: White House wants us to see Trump as Superman. We all know he's the villain. He's just now realizing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can't be trusted, and has finally decided to help Ukraine. Other countries are no longer seeing America as a force for good, according to Ipsos polling over the last six months. Pew Research Center polling shows a lack of confidence in Trump's international leadership abilities. He threatened to annex Greenland and Canada - things that there was no way he'd be able to achieve. He has damaged relationships with allies due to his tariffs and ambitious plans, making the United States an international laughingstock and causing tourism to the country to plummet. But sure, let's brutalize immigrants. The Epstein files mess is engulfing the Trump administration Or consider the Jeffrey Epstein files, which have become a source of contention for the MAGA movement. Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed the files existed and were sitting on her desk. Then, in July, she claimed there were no such files. Trump doubled down on this and demanded that everyone stop talking about Epstein, "somebody that nobody cares about." At first, this led to a huge backlash among MAGA supporters and conspiracy theorists who wanted answers. Right-wing personality Laura Loomer said in a July 16 interview that this could "consume" the presidency in the same way Trump's ties to Russia did during his first term. Other pundits, like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have dropped the conversation altogether. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. But Trump really, really doesn't want you to focus on the fact that he said he wanted to declassify the Epstein files on the campaign trail. It's best if you just focus on the immigrants who are being treated no better than livestock. After all, Trump says they're the root of the problem in this country, and we should believe that, right? In all seriousness, the cruelty is not the point for a Republican Party that is both successful in pushing its agenda and failing in convincing Americans it's worth pushing. The Trump administration is busy producing smoke and mirrors to pacify its political base by targeting immigrants while failing to improve the lives of the working class. The needless meanness is merely a comforting distraction for an entire political party that can't be bothered to actually help Americans. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump keeps brutalizing immigrants because he's failing at everything else
The Trump administration is busy producing smoke and mirrors to pacify its Republican base by targeting immigrants while failing to improve the lives of the working class. There seems to be no end to President Donald Trump's and Republicans' cruelty, but don't be fooled: it's all a distraction. The reports coming out of Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention center built in the Florida Everglades, are harrowing. Detainees in the center have reported overflowing toilets, lights on through the night and dismal meals. "This place needs to be shut the hell down," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, said on a press call with the Naples Daily News and other outlets. According to a report from The New York Times, only about 60% of the detainees have criminal convictions. That means 40% did nothing wrong. The facility currently houses about 900 men sleeping in tents. Alligator Alcatraz is a cruel reminder that Trump will do whatever he wants to vulnerable populations in the United States, and only a few Democrats seem willing to call him out on it. It's also cruel for a reason: to appease the MAGA base and keep them from realizing that Trump isn't making good on any of his other promises. And never forget that none of this would be happening if not for Republican support. Trump continues to fail us on the economy Take the economy, for example. Trump campaigned on a promise that he would make it easier for the average family to afford the cost of living, only for his tariff plan and cuts to federal funding to send the economy into a tizzy. The 'Big Beautiful Bill,' Trump's fiscal agenda, is projected to harm working-class families because of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits. His tariff agenda is leading to an increase in inflation and consumer prices, something that will ultimately cost the average American household at least $1,000. Polling on Trump's handling of the economy has consistently been negative, according to Gallup. While it improved slightly in June, it's still much lower than the economic confidence during Trump's first term. Opinion: Republicans hurt rural Americans with their beautiful bill. Then they clapped. Going after immigrants does nothing to solve the unfolding economic crisis in our country. In fact, the pursuit of the Trump administration's strict immigration agenda is likely to harm the economy, thanks to the way it is affecting businesses that rely on undocumented labor. But Trump hopes you don't notice that, and Republicans know this was never about improving an economy that was already thriving in a global market. America's foreign policy is a global joke. US is no longer a force for good. Foreign relations are another area where Trump is failing – likely because he was making promises he couldn't keep. He claimed he would end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza – only for both conflicts to continue. He claimed there would be no wars under his leadership, then conducted airstrikes in Iran and nearly plunged the United States into another war. New reporting suggests his bragadocious messaging after those Iran strikes was nonsense. Opinion: White House wants us to see Trump as Superman. We all know he's the villain. He's just now realizing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can't be trusted, and has finally decided to help Ukraine. Other countries are no longer seeing America as a force for good, according to Ipsos polling over the last six months. Pew Research Center polling shows a lack of confidence in Trump's international leadership abilities. He threatened to annex Greenland and Canada – things that there was no way he'd be able to achieve. He has damaged relationships with allies due to his tariffs and ambitious plans, making the United States an international laughingstock and causing tourism to the country to plummet. But sure, let's brutalize immigrants. The Epstein files mess is engulfing the Trump administration Or consider the Jeffrey Epstein files, which have become a source of contention for the MAGA movement. Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed the files existed and were sitting on her desk. Then, in July, she claimed there were no such files. Trump doubled down on this and demanded that everyone stop talking about Epstein, 'somebody that nobody cares about.' At first, this led to a huge backlash among MAGA supporters and conspiracy theorists who wanted answers. Right-wing personality Laura Loomer said in a July 16 interview that this could 'consume' the presidency in the same way Trump's ties to Russia did during his first term. Other pundits, like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have dropped the conversation altogether. But Trump really, really doesn't want you to focus on the fact that he said he wanted to declassify the Epstein files on the campaign trail. It's best if you just focus on the immigrants who are being treated no better than livestock. After all, Trump says they're the root of the problem in this country, and we should believe that, right? In all seriousness, the cruelty is not the point for a Republican Party that is both successful in pushing its agenda and failing in convincing Americans it's worth pushing. The Trump administration is busy producing smoke and mirrors to pacify its political base by targeting immigrants while failing to improve the lives of the working class. The needless meanness is merely a comforting distraction for an entire political party that can't be bothered to actually help Americans. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
'Help me!' Democrats decry 'vile' conditions at 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigrant prison
The Democratic lawmakers weren't allowed to talk to the detainees or examine their cells. Calling the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention center in Florida's Everglades "vile", "inhumane" and "gross" while pledging to hold authorities accountable, Democratic members of Congress toured the facility July 12. "People were yelling, 'Help me. Help me," said Rep. Maxwell Frost. "I heard in the back someone say, 'I'm a U.S. citizen.'" Frost said there are about 1,000 male detainees, mostly Hispanic, at the center. There are cells to house 3,000 detainees, and he said workers will soon add another 1,000 beds. He said authorities told him Saturday the average stay will be two weeks before deportation. "When those doors opened, what I saw made my heart sink," said Frost, 28, the first Millennial elected to Congress and the son of a Cuban immigrant. "I saw 32 people per cage, about six cages in the one tent. I saw a lot of people, young men who looked like me, and people who were my age." The lawmakers weren't allowed to examine the cells or talk to the detainees, they said, observing them from the tent entry. "As we were walking away, they started chanting, 'Libertad, Libertad. Freedom,'" Frost said. Previously blocked from entering the detention center in Ochopee, about 75 miles west of Miami, Democrats from Congress and the Florida legislature had a very different take from Republicans who toured more than 10 days ago. The 39-acre compound targeting immigrants for deportation was hastily constructed in eight days. Republicans called the food "yummy," talked about how comfortable the detainees' beds were and said the facility met all the standards for detention centers. The Democrats disagreed. "They should not put humans in the middle of swampland in the Everglades: It's outrageous; it's inhumane; It's unlawful," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Flooding and backed-up toilets Frost spoke during a virtual call with the Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and other news outlets: "We had planned to come unannounced to see this for what it really is and to see it not sanitized." But their attempts were blocked, he said. "Federal law requires allowing members of Congress in for unannounced visits," Wasserman Schultz said. "We're quite sure the state got wind of it and decided to set up this sham tour." Frost said he's spoken with lawyers and the families of the detainees. "There's been flooding. There's been reports of toilets not working, backing up, feces being flooded inside cages that they are sleeping in. People not being allowed to shower." Wasserman Schultz added that "detainees are forced to sleep all night with the lights on, they don't have access to counsel" then pointing out that it's a concern that "this facility infringes (on) different tribal lands." 'Gross' toilet tanks include drinking-water spigot Frost detailed what he witnessed. "I was in the facility for about two hours, and what I saw were horrible conditions and cages," he said. "... There are three toilets in each cage for the group of 32 people, and their drinking water comes from the toilet. "There's a little spigot on top of the toilet, and that's where they drink their water as well. ... it's gross and it's disgusting, and this is where people are being held." There 'will be hearings' Democrats pledge "There will be accountability on this," Frost said. Wasserman Schultz was more direct. "This place needs to be shut the hell down," she said. USA TODAY Network's J. Kyle Foster contributed to this report. Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@ grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts.
