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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New Jersey US attorney post: Alina Habba or Desiree Leigh Grace? Justice department clash with federal judges over lawyers in contention
Alina Habba (File photo) vs Desiree Leigh Grace (Image credit: LinkedIn) The New Jersey US attorney's office was in embroiled in confusion and chaos on Tuesday when top Justice Department officials contested federal judges' appointment of a new US attorney. The federal judges dismissed Alina Habba's request to maintain her position and exercised their unusual authority to select Desiree Leigh Grace, an experienced prosecutor whom Habba had previously appointed as her first assistant in March. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a social media statement supporting Habba, announcing that Grace "has just been removed." Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, criticised the judges' actions, suggesting collusion with New Jersey's Democratic senators. Grace received notification of her termination via email on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation, according to New York Times. This swift series of events could escalate into another full-blown clash between the Trump administration and federal judiciary. The judges' ruling, following a private vote on Monday, challenged Trump's emphasis on loyalty within the Justice Department. Despite Grace's potential appointment requiring adherence to Washington's Justice officials, Tuesday's response indicated resistance to leadership not directly chosen by the president. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, a George W. Bush nominee, signed Grace's appointment order. After Grace's dismissal, Bumb's office stated "the court will have no comment." Who is Justice department backed Alina Habba? Grace's career in the Newark office began in 2016, progressing from acting chief of violent crimes in August 2020 to criminal division chief in March 2024. Habba, aged 41, served as one of President Trump's foremost legal allies, representing him in multiple high-profile civil and criminal cases. In 2023, she became counsel to Trump's Save America PAC and subsequently joined his inner circle as 'counsellor to the president.' Born in Summit, New Jersey, Habba graduated from Kent Place School in 2002. She obtained a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University and a law degree from Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Before working with Trump, she specialised in civil litigation and corporate law in private practice. Habba also clerked for Judge Eugene J Codey Jr. at the Civil Division of the Superior Court in Newark and was formerly the managing partner at Habba Madaio & Associates in Bedminster. A mother of three, Habba described herself at the Republican National Convention in July as a 'devout Catholic, a proud first-generation Arab American woman and a feisty Jersey girl.' Who is Federal Judges' choice Desiree Leigh Grace? Desiree Leigh Grace, known as 'Desi' to colleagues, is a seasoned federal prosecutor who joined the US attorney's office for the District of New Jersey in 2016. A graduate of the University of Maryland and Seton Hall Law School, Grace quickly rose through the ranks, leading the violent crimes unit in 2020 and later the criminal division, which she officially headed by March 2024, according to NYT. She has handled major cases involving gang violence and health care fraud and received a standing ovation at a 2024 alumni dinner, underscoring her respect within the legal community. Before joining the government, she clerked for top judges and worked at McCarter & English. In April 2025, Trump-appointed interim US attorney Alina Habba named Grace as her first assistant, a move widely supported within the office.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Of course Trump lied about Project 2025. Now he's enacting it.
The similarities between what Project 2025 proposed and what Trump's second administration has unleashed on Americans is striking, but now is not the time to be complacent and simply hope for change. A year ago, as delegates to the Republican National Convention gathered in Milwaukee to nominate Donald Trump for president, I sent an urgent warning to voters about an innocent enough sounding proposal – "Project 2025" –punctuated by this admission: "Honestly, it scares me." The 922-page report from a conservative think tank outlined the first 180 days of a second Trump presidency. At the time, then GOP-nominee Trump claimed to know nothing about it, despite his name being mentioned 312 times in the document. While Trump tried to distance himself from its politically unpopular ideas, I recognized that if he won, Trump would support many of its radical plans that could disrupt nearly every aspect of our lives, including healthcare, education, taxes and civil rights. The question looms: Was I right? I was right, and it's so much worse than I thought The short answer is yes, and in ways even more frightening than I first feared, but you don't need to take my word for it. Just ask Maurice Cunningham, a retired professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston, who studied politics for decades and is well-versed in Project 2025. When I asked Cunningham if the policies outlined in the document implemented by Trump are hurting the average American as much as I suspected, he responded: "It's not just bad; it's possibly worse than you could have imagined.' Although the situation may seem dire, Cunningham warned that now is not the time to be complacent and simply hope for change. Instead, it is crucial for people to organize, protest and hold their elected officials accountable. Opinion: I'm exhausted by attempts to pretend discrimination doesn't exist in America Trump appointed Project 2025 authors to administration posts The similarities between what Project 2025 proposed and what Trump's second administration has unleashed on Americans is striking, and it would be unwise to dismiss them as mere coincidence. And keep in mind, we still have another 3.5 years to go. In the first 100 days since he took office alone, nearly 45% of his executive orders closely resemble the policy recommendations advocated by Project 2025, according to an analysis conducted by the Hearst Television Data Team. And that was just the beginning. A number of Trump administration appointees were contributors to the project, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and border czar Tom Homan. Cunningham said Trump's policies, put into place by the people behind Project 2025, are beginning to take a toll on the most vulnerable sectors of society. This alignment appears to be a key component of his overall strategy. We saw this at work with the passage of Trump's "big beautiful" budget bill where cuts to Medicaid alone could cause as many as 20 million people to lose their health coverage over the next decade. This will happen despite Trump's repeated promises not to cut Medicaid benefits as recently as March. That fits a familiar pattern. Lie. Deny. Enact. Repeat. Opinion: How much of Project 2025 has been implemented? Enough to break us beyond repair. It's worth noting that Project 2025 proposed significant changes to Medicaid, including work requirements, limiting eligibility and possibly imposing lifetime caps or time limits on coverage, while also weakening reforms from the Affordable Care Act. As we look back on the past five months under the Trump administration, the key question is whether we're better off now or if we've fallen further into hardship. "I think that's easy to answer and it will only get worse,' Cunningham said. This will be a slow burn. Tax cuts under the bill happen immediately while Medicaid changes are phased in. In other places, the pain is already being felt from mass layoffs of federal employees and DOGE budget cuts. Education and social safety net endure DOGE chainsaw Education is place where changes outlined in Project 2025 will begin making a major impact this fall. It called for allowing discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, redirecting taxpayer money to private schools, eliminating Title 1 funding and making cuts to Head Start, which would affect 800,000 preschoolers. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has promised to dismantle the department and has pushed to cut the Education Department's budget by $12 billion. This reduction would seriously impact minority and low-income children and their families in public schools and rural communities. The administration already cut and delayed funding for Head Start programs for preschoolers from low income families, which assists 16,000 children in Wisconsin alone. Project 2025 proposed to make it even more difficult for low-income individuals to afford food. The proposal aims to reverse the Biden administration's initiative to increase SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits over the next decade, a measure designed to keep pace with rising food costs. Under Trump's budget bill, SNAP will face its largest cut in history, resulting in an estimated 3.2 million adults losing food benefits each month, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Opinion: Senate just passed Trump's Big Beautiful Bill – and made it even uglier Picture this: young students stepping into their classrooms, their bellies empty and growling, struggling to concentrate and absorb knowledge as the shadow of budget cuts hovers ominously over their futures. And it doesn't stop there. Then came Alligator Alcatraz Trump's mass deportations align directly with Project 2025's plan to increase executive power and undermine the U.S. immigration system. It proposed implementing asylum procedures at the border, reducing access to legal immigration options, utilizing local resources for mass deportations and detention, and separating immigrant children from their families. Trump's budget bill allocates $170 billion to deport 1 million people each year. ICE officials have gotten more aggressive, arresting undocumented immigrants at their homes, workplaces, protests, churches, near schools, and even at the Milwaukee courthouse. On April 18, Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was taken into custody by FBI officials after she allegedly assisted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, in escaping federal agents following his appearance in her courtroom. Flores-Ruiz, 31, was arrested after a brief foot chase outside the courthouse. A week later, Dugan, 65, was also arrested at the courthouse. She was charged on April 25 with two federal counts: obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee political science professor Kathleen Dolan called the arrest of Dugan an 'intimidation tactic.' 'If a judge can be handcuffed on their job, what do you think will happen to you?' she said. The ongoing mass deportations continue to rip families apart, leaving a trail of profound emotional devastation in their wake. It's disheartening to witness the stark absence of compassion among Republicans regarding this crisis. Just this month, a migrant detention facility opened in the Florida Everglades. Some Republicans have dubbed the facility 'Alligator Alcatraz,' due to its isolated location and the fact that it's surrounded by lurking alligators and slithering pythons. The term "Alligator Alcatraz" not only evokes a sense of danger but also highlights the callousness that the Trump administration is willing to exhibit to drive home its message. Disturbingly, they are even merchandising T-shirts that mock what I would call a modern-day concentration camp. This tumultuous situation sends shockwaves through immigrant communities, escalating fear and uncertainty at every turn. But when you have a president who has continuously labeled immigrants as sex offenders, murderers, and gang members or suggested that many came to America from insane asylums, one can only imagine the atmosphere of dread that permeates these communities. This is not the time to become complacent or tune out news While Trump may seem to have the upper hand, it doesn't mean that everything is bleak. Both Cunningham and Dolan emphasized that now is not the time for people to become complacent. Dolan urged individuals to stay engaged in politics, even when it feels confusing and tedious. Cunningham stressed the importance of making one's voice heard through protests and by challenging both Republican and Democratic leaders to address the public's needs. Opinion: White House wants us to see Trump as Superman. We all know he's the villain. These are remarkable times with head spinning twists. One time ally and now enemy of Trump, Elon Musk, poised the idea of an third political party on Tuesday. Musk said the "America Party," would be the place for those not happy with the Republican or Democratic parties. While I agree something needs to change, Musk, who was Trump's largest donor for his campaign is not the right person to lead such a party, especially given Musk's brutal and haphazard spending cuts in his time at the poorly named Department of Government Efficiency and considering Trump said he would look at having Musk deported to his native South Africa. Besides, Americans don't have time for a new political party. I think a better idea would be for people to unite for a new nationwide "Poor People's Campaign," similar to the one led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1968. This campaign would tackle issues like wealth inequality, poverty and racism, which continue to divide our society. A group in North Carolina has taken up this mantle. It's astonishing that issues from 57 years ago persist today, including the lack of access to health care and education, as well as inadequate wages. I know there are people who don't believe that marching has an impact, but when you consider that Project 2025 was designed for a specific type of individual – one who doesn't look like me – and that Trump aligns with that inherently racist, sexist and classist document, it is clear that something drastic needs to change. This moment presents an opportunity to unite everyone – from diverse backgrounds, races, religions and socioeconomic statuses – around a shared mission. Too many people are still on the sidelines, watching as individuals are deported, others lose their healthcare and civil rights continue to be eroded. We can either sit back and hope we aren't the next ones affected by the issues on Trump's long list, or we can fight to not only protect what we have but also to help those who have already lost so much. James E. Causey is an Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at jcausey@ follow him on X @jecausey.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
CNN panel devolves into chaos after lefty commentator suggests Trump wasn't actually shot in the ear
Pandemonium broke out on a CNN panel Thursday night after one guest implied that President Donald Trump wasn't shot at the Butler campaign rally just over a year ago. During a CNN panel discussion about the White House's transparency on Trump's health, leftist podcast host Touré suggested that Trump wasn't shot in the ear on camera in front of a large crowd in Pennsylvania by a would-be assassin last year. The statement threw the CNN 'NewsNight' panel into chaos. 'He supposedly got shot in the ear. We never heard from his doctors about that,' Touré said, triggering CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings who demanded that host Abby Phillip step in to correct the record. 'Whoa, whoa, whoa! Uh-uh!' Scott replied, waving his hands. 'Did you say 'supposedly?' Abby, Abby,' he said, turning to the host. As Jennings sought the moderator, Touré raised his voice and continued to press his point. 'When did we hear from his doctors? When did we hear from his doctors?' he asked. Phillip tried to calm the clash, stating, 'Hold on. If you all stop screaming at the table, maybe I can actually respond.' 4 Leftist podcast host Touré suggested President Trump wasn't shot in 2024 during a CNN panel. CNN Days after the would-be assassin Thomas Crooks took shots at Trump at the July 13 rally, former White House doctor and former Trump physician Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, revealed he was monitoring the-then candidate's health and declared there was 'absolutely no evidence' he was hit with 'anything other than a bullet.' As members of the panel – which included former Harris campaign spokesperson Adrienne Elrod and conservative commentator Ben Freguson – attempted to press their points again, Phillip held them off. 'Hold on a second! Hold on a second,' she said, putting her hands up. 'Touré, he was shot in the ear.' 4 CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings was stunned and demanded host Abby Phillip correct Touré's comments. CNN 4 Phillip corrected her guest's controversial suggestion on air. CNN Still, Touré wasn't satisfied. 'But can we hear from the doctors? We would always hear from his doctors when he gets shot?' he asked. Phillip punted the question to Jennings. The commentator replied, 'I mean, all I know is, I went to the Republican National Convention and he had a bandage on his ear.' As the pundit spoke, Touré kept interjecting, 'That would be 'no.' That would be 'no'. That would be 'no.'' 4 President Trump was shot in the ear in Butler, Pa. on July 13, 2024. AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Ferguson tried to get words in before Phillip had to shut down the conversation. The topic started with Elrod talking about the White House releasing a statement on Trump's health after recent photos showed discoloration on his hands and swollen ankles. 'The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity … venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,' Leavitt said in a press conference Thursday. Elrod remarked that the White House showed transparency on this topic but alleged they sometimes do not regarding Trump's health.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Watch: Ex-Minnesota Republican Leader's Trash Can Blown Up Outside Home
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. Former Minnesota Republican leader Michael Brodkorb has shared footage of someone detonating a device in the trash can outside his home. "My family is safe but shaken," the ex-Minnesota GOP deputy chair said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, along with a clip from surveillance cameras at his home in Eagan, Minnesota, taken at 12:45 a.m. Friday. "I am furious." Newsweek has reached out to the Eagan Police Department for comment via email outside regular working hours. NEW: Please review the security video and audio of the 12:49 AM explosion outside my home. A masked individual detonated an incendiary device in my trash, causing a fire. @EaganPolice are investigating. If you recognize anything, please contact them at (651) 675-5700. — Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) July 18, 2025 Why It Matters The incident underscores rising concerns of political intimidation and personal security for public figures and commentators. Minnesota Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot last month in what Minnesota Governor Tim Walz branded an act of "targeted political violence." Brodkorb has been a vocal participant in Minnesota political life—including breaking with his party to endorse Democratic candidates after a long Republican tenure. Such events can have a chilling effect on political discourse and may influence perceptions of safety among political activists and former officials. What To Know Both surveillance footage and Brodkorb's statements indicate the suspect wore a mask and arrived on a bicycle, remaining in front of the house for four to five minutes while appearing to use a phone. The individual ignored several other trash cans on the street before seemingly targeting the one outside Brodkorb's driveway. Michael Brodkorb speaks with reporters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 30, 2011. Michael Brodkorb speaks with reporters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 30, 2011. Jim Mone/AP Eagan Police Sergeant Rich Evans told The Minnesota Star Tribune that the incendiary device was "a mortar-style firework." An arson investigation has been launched. Brodkorb, his wife and three children were home at the time but were not harmed. However, he said they had been "terrified" by the attack. The 51-year-old held Republican Party leadership posts from 2009 to 2011 and attended the 2008 Republican National Convention as a delegate. In 2024, he publicly endorsed Democratic nominees former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who lost to President Donald Trump in the general election. Who People Are Saying Brodkorb posted the footage on X, saying: "At 12:49 AM, a masked individual intentionally detonated an incendiary device—or large firework—in the trash can outside my home. It exploded, sparked a fire, and destroyed the can." In a second post, he continued, "Seconds after the video starts, a masked person on a bicycle stops in front of my house. Later in the video, you can hear them talking on the phone. At 12:49 AM, they light the device, it explodes, and then the person leaves. @EaganPD is investigating. Please share the video." Nicole Widdersheim, deputy Washington director of Human Rights Watch whose friend, British politician Jo Cox, was killed on the steps of her office, condemned political violence last month, telling Newsweek: "Public servants should not have to weigh the risk to their families before casting a vote or answering constituents' questions. Political violence doesn't just harm individuals—it poisons the system, scares away good people, and chips away at public trust." What Happens Next Eagan police have initiated an arson investigation and seek public input based on the released security footage. Law enforcement encourages anyone with information about the incident or the individual involved to report tips. No arrests had been made as of publication time.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
As Trump considers NIL executive order, granddaughter Kai Trump just got another NIL deal
Questions about whether President Donald Trump will issue an executive order to address name, image and likeness standards in college sports after media reports surfaced he was working on one earlier this week. Following a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, student athletes have been allowed to profit from their publicity with sponsorship deals. The change has drastically changed the landscape of collegiate sports, and college sports leaders have repeatedly met with lawmakers to push for federal standards and guidelines. CBS News reported on July 15 that Trump was planning to sign an executive order in the following days to establish those standards. Front Office Sports and Yahoo! Sports also reported the order was in the works. This is not the first time reports have surfaced on Trump's plans to address NIL, and the U.S. House of Representatives is working on legislation known as the SCORE Act. The White House did not comment on the media reports, and USA TODAY Sports reported college leaders did not have knowledge of an imminent order. But whatever new laws or regulations come into fruition on NIL for student athletes, the consequences could hit close to home for the president. Trump's eldest granddaughter, Kai Trump, is a young golf star and future college athlete with her own NIL deals. Here is what to know: More: College sports leaders unaware of Donald Trump's plan for executive order addressing NIL What is NIL? The acronym stands for name, image and likeness. NIL deals protect student athletes' rights to earn money from their publicity and sometimes includes a big-name brand endorsement, like Kai Trump's. Until a historic 2021 Supreme Court decision that led to an NCAA rule change, the NCAA didn't allow student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. An array of state laws have been passed to regulate it, but college sports leaders have pushed for federal intervention. Who is Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump? Kai Trump, 18, is President Trump's eldest granddaughter, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and ex-wife Vanessa Trump. Kai Trump made her political debut at the Republican National Convention ahead of the 2024 election, talking up the human side to her grandfather, who she said calls her to check in on her golf game. She is a rising senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She has committed to playing golf at the University of Miami after graduating. Does Kai Trump have a NIL deal? Yes, she has a few brand partnerships. On July 15, Kai announced a new partnership with Accelerator Active Energy. In February, Kai announced her first lucrative endorsement deal with big-name golf equipment company TaylorMade. On3, a website that rates high school and college athletes, valued her name, image and likeness (NIL) at more than $1.2 million. The valuation makes her No. 1 in women's high school golf and No. 98 among high school and college athletes' valuation, according to On3. Her recent announcement with Accelerator energy drinks, where Travis Kelce is also a brand ambassador, was presidential-themed in a nod to her grandfather. She later went on "Fox & Friends" to announce the new deal. "He really just taught me to keep on fighting and keep on practicing and whatnot," Kai said in the interview, according to Golfweek. "I've loved playing golf with him my whole life. It's the reason that we share a special bond together." Contributing: Tom Schad, Matt Hayes, Jennifer Sangalang, Eric J. Wallace, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
