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Ohio State Bans Land Acknowledgments in Classes, Events, and Syllabi

Native American Indian Ceremony (Jess Lindner/Unsplash)

Ohio State University has banned land acknowledgments from being used in most public-facing settings unless directly tied to academic instruction. The policy, implemented in response to a new state law, prohibits faculty and departments from including land acknowledgments in syllabi, at university events, on websites, or on signage. Faculty may only reference them when explicitly relevant to course material.

The change follows Ohio Senate Bill 1, which took effect in June 2025 and requires all public universities in the state to remain neutral on political and social issues. Under the law, public institutions cannot promote or endorse statements that advocate for specific causes. The university’s compliance office has classified land acknowledgments as political statements and directed that they be removed from general use.

The university clarified that land acknowledgments may still be used in the context of a class, but only when they are part of the academic content being taught. Instructors must be able to explain how the acknowledgment directly relates to course material. Use of the statements in general announcements, classroom introductions, or programmatic materials is no longer permitted.

Land acknowledgments typically recognize the Indigenous tribes who originally inhabited the land where a university is located. At Ohio State, this had included language naming the Shawnee, Miami, and other tribes as original stewards of the land. The university’s Earthworks Center previously encouraged faculty to include the acknowledgment in syllabi and presentations.

Opposition to the new restriction has come from faculty in the university’s American Indian Studies program and from national academic organizations. Critics argue that land acknowledgments are factual statements of history, not political endorsements. Supporters of the law maintain that taxpayer-funded institutions should not promote ideological messages that fall outside their educational mission.

Ohio State’s decision marks one of the first high-profile examples of a public university responding to state-level legislation restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Other provisions in SB 1 prohibit public colleges from mandating DEI training and restrict how institutions may discuss race, gender, and identity in curriculum and hiring.

LAPD Ends Kamala Harris Security Detail After Backlash

Kamala Harris on "The View" (Screenshot from X/@NickFondacaro)

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has stopped providing protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, just days after assisting the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in guarding her Brentwood home. The decision followed criticism within the department that officers were being pulled from crime suppression duties to cover Harris.

The controversy began after President Donald Trump revoked Harris’s Secret Service protection last week, consistent with the standard policy that former vice presidents lose protection roughly six months after leaving office. While Democrats and legacy media outlets expressed outrage, the move was in line with precedent.

In response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ordered CHP officers to provide a security detail, and the LAPD briefly joined the effort. Jennifer Forkish, an LAPD communications director, said at the time that the assistance was only temporary “to ensure that there is no lapse in security” while Harris arranged for private protection.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a dozen or more LAPD Metropolitan Division officers were assigned to Harris. These officers typically focus on crime suppression in areas struggling with violent crime, sparking backlash among rank-and-file members and city residents who argued that resources were being misused.

By Saturday morning, the LAPD ended its involvement, leaving CHP to cover Harris until she hires private security. The city had been funding LAPD’s temporary detail, an arrangement critics said wasted taxpayer dollars in a city already battling rising crime.

Harris, who recently announced she will not run for governor in 2026, has not revealed her long-term political plans. Speculation continues over whether she will attempt another presidential run in 2028.

Catholic University Sends Psychology Students to Trans Clinic for Minors

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Transgender protest (Karollyne Videira Hubert/Unsplash)

Santa Clara University is placing graduate psychology students at a transgender clinic that treats children as young as five years old. The Jesuit Catholic university began the partnership in Fall 2024 as part of its LGBTQ+ counseling emphasis. Critics say the program undermines Catholic teaching and exposes minors to irreversible gender ideology without adequate medical or parental oversight.

The practicum partnership is between Santa Clara’s Counseling Psychology program and the County of Santa Clara’s Gender Affirming Care Clinic. Students enrolled in the university’s LGBTQ+ emphasis track are eligible for placement, though assignments are made by the county. According to the university’s official announcement, students will be trained in gender-affirming therapy techniques and work directly with children and adolescents identifying as transgender or non-binary.

The clinic offers counseling, garment fittings, peer support groups, and medical referrals for individuals ages 5 and older. According to whistleblower Naomi Best, a former student and intern, services provided included giving chest binders and working with children without informing parents. She described the internship as rooted in ideology rather than clinical science, stating that therapeutic goals were often replaced by affirming identity without question.

Catholic leaders and medical professionals have raised alarm over the program. John Ritchie of TFP Student Action called the placement “a betrayal of Catholic moral teaching,” arguing that gender ideology contradicts the biblical and biological reality of male and female. Dr. Mike Artigues, president of the American College of Pediatricians, warned that gender-affirming care for children can lead to long-term harm, noting that children lack the cognitive maturity to make life-altering decisions about sex and identity.

The university’s School of Education and Counseling Psychology has not responded to requests for clarification on whether parents are notified or if interns are allowed to opt out of participation based on religious conscience. The university’s announcement frames the placement as a step forward in “inclusive training,” but makes no mention of its compatibility with Catholic doctrine.

Santa Clara University, founded by Jesuits in 1851, identifies as a Catholic institution. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that sex is immutable and created by God. Participation in programs that facilitate gender transition for minors directly conflicts with that teaching. The placement raises broader questions about the integrity of Catholic identity in higher education, especially when publicly funded ideology is allowed to reshape faith-based institutions from within.

Trump Hostage Deal Seeks Gaza War End

(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

President Donald Trump’s administration has floated a proposal to end the war in Gaza by securing the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for halting military operations. The deal has been conveyed to Hamas but has not yet been accepted.

The message was delivered through Gershom Baskin, an Israeli civilian and columnist with longstanding ties to Palestinian intermediaries. Baskin was previously instrumental in the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange, in which Israel released over 1,000 convicted terrorists — including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, later identified as a mastermind of the October 7 attacks. That precedent has fueled controversy, but with growing pressure in Israel, the Trump administration is seeking one last attempt at a deal.

The Times of Israel reported that the U.S. outlined principles rather than a fully detailed framework. The concept centers on securing the return of all remaining hostages in Gaza — roughly 48, with perhaps fewer than 20 still alive. In exchange, Washington would push for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Israel has insisted that partial releases are unacceptable, demanding that Hamas free all hostages at once and agree to disarm. Hamas has consistently refused the latter condition, hoping instead to regroup and rearm.

The timing of the proposal comes as Israel prepares for a major offensive in Gaza City and as massive protests in Tel Aviv call for an immediate hostage deal. For the Trump administration, the move represents both a humanitarian push and a last-ditch attempt to resolve a conflict that has destabilized the region.

Whether Hamas will accept the terms remains uncertain, but the deal underscores the administration’s willingness to directly confront one of the most contentious issues in the ongoing war.

UC-Berkeley’s Racial Equity Teaching Program Sparks Ideological Concerns

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University of California-Berkeley (Georg Eiermann/Unsplash)

UC-Berkeley is launching a new mentorship program this October aimed at embedding racial equity practices into faculty teaching. The initiative, part of a broader push for DEI compliance in higher education, offers financial incentives and recognition for professors who commit to yearlong participation. Critics argue the program rewards ideological conformity and prioritizes activism over academic rigor.

The program, called Provost’s Thriving in Teaching: A Mentorship Program for Racial Equity in Teaching, is open to Senate faculty across disciplines and will run through May 2026. Participation is limited to 14 professors who will be grouped in peer cohorts based on similar roles and “lived experiences.” According to the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning, the program seeks to create “arts-based and community-centered” methods of instruction centered on race and identity.

Participants are expected to attend 12 meetings throughout the academic year, engage in reflective teaching exercises, complete a peer observation cycle, and compile a racial equity teaching portfolio. In return, each faculty member will receive a $5,000 “course improvement grant” and a formal recognition letter from the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost to be included in future merit reviews.

The university states the goal is to develop observable racial equity teaching practices and foster an environment of collaborative feedback. The program also calls for each participant to contribute to racial equity teaching resources and share peer-reviewed assessments based on classroom performance.

Applications are due by Friday, September 19, 2025, with decisions announced later that month. The program is funded and managed through the university’s DEI apparatus and is framed as a solution to systemic inequities in the classroom. It explicitly emphasizes storytelling, somatic practices, and social-emotional learning—approaches rooted in progressive pedagogical theory.

This move reflects a growing trend in public universities where faculty advancement is increasingly tied to alignment with diversity initiatives. Critics warn that ideological mentoring programs risk marginalizing dissenting viewpoints and diverting resources away from academic excellence. Others raise concerns about the fairness of merit evaluations when tied to participation in politically motivated programming.

At a time when higher education continues to face scrutiny over bias, religious freedom, and viewpoint discrimination, programs like UC-Berkeley’s mentorship effort raise important questions about the line between professional development and ideological enforcement.

California Woman Registered Her Dog to Vote — Now Facing Felony Charges

"I Voted" Sticker (visuals/Unsplash)

A 62-year-old California woman is facing five felony charges after allegedly registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in two elections. Prosecutors say one of the ballots was counted during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election. The incident raises serious concerns about the security of mail-in voting in the state.

Laura Lee Yourex of Costa Mesa has been charged with perjury, voter fraud, and submitting false documents. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yourex registered her dog “Maya Jean Yourex” to vote. She allegedly cast a ballot under the dog’s name in the 2021 California recall election and attempted to vote again in the June 2022 primary.

The ballot in the 2021 recall was counted. The second ballot was rejected because the voter could not be verified. Despite this, prosecutors say Yourex committed multiple felony offenses by registering a non-human to vote and casting a fraudulent ballot.

The case was uncovered after Yourex self-reported the activity to election officials in October 2024. Prosecutors allege that she posted images on social media indicating the dog had voted. One post showed the dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker. Another post from 2024 showed a ballot envelope with the dog’s name and the caption, “maya is still getting her ballot,” even though the dog had reportedly died by then.

The case brings renewed attention to vulnerabilities in California’s vote-by-mail system. While officials claim protections are effective, the incident demonstrates how easily someone can exploit the system if they choose to act dishonestly.

Trump Sends F-35 Jets to Puerto Rico to Hunt Cartels

Chandler Cruttenden/ Unsplash

U.S. officials have ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of President Donald Trump’s expanded effort to dismantle drug cartels operating in the Caribbean.

Reuters reported Friday that the jets are expected to arrive at a Puerto Rican airfield late next week. Sources familiar with the operation said the aircraft will conduct missions targeting narco-terrorist groups in the southern Caribbean, including Venezuela-linked networks. The announcement came just hours after the Pentagon accused Venezuela of a “highly provocative” maneuver when two of its fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. Navy warship.

The deployment follows a direct strike ordered by President Trump earlier this week. On Tuesday, U.S. forces destroyed a narcotics-laden vessel in international waters, killing 11 members of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal syndicate designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Trump confirmed the strike in a Truth Social post, declaring the group guilty of mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and terrorism across the Western Hemisphere.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed,” Trump wrote. He warned traffickers that anyone attempting to smuggle drugs into the U.S. should “BEWARE.”

In recent months, the Trump administration has ramped up its presence in the region. In August, officials deployed three Aegis guided-missile destroyers near Venezuelan waters to reinforce deterrence against cartel operations.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has responded by accusing Washington of plotting an invasion to remove him from power. He ordered “maximum preparation” in Venezuela’s military ranks and threatened a “period of armed struggle” if U.S. forces moved against his regime.

London Arrests Protesters Backing Banned Palestine Action

Tower Bridge in London, England (Charles Postiaux/Unsplash)

Police in London arrested demonstrators outside Parliament on Saturday after hundreds defied a government ban on the extremist group Palestine Action, which has been classified as a terrorist organization.

Roughly 1,500 people joined the protest, organized by campaign group Defend Our Juries, holding signs declaring support for Palestine Action. Within minutes, Metropolitan Police officers moved in, making arrests as crowds chanted “Shame on you” and “Met Police, pick a side, justice or genocide.”

“Expressing support for a proscribed organization is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act,” police stated, adding that officers would act whenever violations were observed.

The crackdown follows earlier demonstrations where more than 700 people were arrested and 138 charged under anti-terror laws. Among those returning was 62-year-old Mike Higgins, a blind man in a wheelchair who had previously been arrested. “And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it,” Higgins said before predicting he would be detained again.

Palestine Action was officially banned in July after members broke into a Royal Air Force base, vandalizing aircraft to protest British support for Israel. Activists sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker planes and inflicted further damage with crowbars.

Despite claiming to be a peaceful protest movement, the group’s violent actions against military property and its aggressive campaigns against companies tied to Israel prompted the government to move against it. Palestine Action is now challenging the ban in court.

The arrests underscore the government’s hardline stance under the Terrorism Act, aiming to prevent the group and its supporters from operating under the cover of “protest” while engaging in actions that authorities say directly aid hostile forces.

South Korea Retreats on Anti-American Tech Law

South Korea flag (Stephanie Nakagawa/Unsplash)

South Korea has backed away from a controversial regulation targeting American tech companies after the Trump administration called it discriminatory and warned it would tilt the playing field in favor of China.

The Platform Fair Competition Promotion Act, proposed by South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), would have forced U.S. firms to hand over proprietary algorithms to Seoul regulators while exempting Chinese and domestic competitors. Critics, including Trump’s U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Grier, warned last year that the plan deliberately excluded Chinese giants that fall below user thresholds while singling out American companies.

On September 3, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson confronted South Korean regulators directly at the KFTC’s International Competition Forum in Seoul. “The United States expects fair treatment for its firms,” he said, stressing that foreign governments must not discriminate against U.S. businesses.

The next day, the Korea Times reported that Korea’s nominee for the Fair Trade Commission, Ju Biung-ghi, admitted Ferguson’s remarks influenced the government’s decision to shelve the proposal. “Given the importance of trade negotiations, it is currently difficult to aggressively pursue the platform monopoly regulation act,” Ju said.

President Trump has made confronting discriminatory foreign regulations a cornerstone of his America First trade agenda. In August, he warned on Truth Social that “digital taxes, digital services legislation, and digital markets regulations” unfairly target U.S. companies while giving “a complete pass to China’s largest Tech Companies.”

Ferguson has also put U.S. tech firms on notice, warning that weakening encryption or censoring content to appease foreign governments could violate American law. “Consumers might not want to use a service that exposes them to censorship by foreign powers,” he wrote in a recent letter to companies including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.

The setback for South Korea underscores the Trump administration’s willingness to use trade leverage to counter both Chinese influence and anti-American protectionism abroad. The fight, however, is expected to continue as U.S.-Korea trade negotiations move forward.

Artists Warn Fans Against Fake AI Albums Flooding Platforms

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Artificial Intelligence (Igor Omilaev/Unsplash)

Musicians are speaking out against fraudulent artificial intelligence (AI) albums being released under their names, warning fans not to be deceived by the soulless knockoffs.

English folk singer Emily Portman recently alerted her followers after discovering an AI-generated album titled Orca falsely attributed to her on iTunes and YouTube. The fake release used a font nearly identical to her past work and featured song titles that sounded like her style. “It’s so bizarre, it’s kind of like having a light shone into your soul, but on the other hand it’s totally soulless, meaningless AI music,” Portman said, urging fans not to buy it.

Portman filed copyright complaints to remove the fake album, but noted it took Spotify three weeks to act. Other streaming services removed the release more quickly. Spotify later admitted the AI songs were “incorrectly added to the wrong profile of a different artist by the same name.”

Portman, who will release a legitimate album in March, said she wants her real music to reflect her humanity: “I’ll never be able to sing that perfectly in tune. And that’s not the point. I don’t want to. I’m human.”

She isn’t alone. American singer-songwriter Josh Kaufman revealed that fans messaged him about supposed new tracks that were actually AI imitations uploaded under his name. “It was embarrassing and then just kind of confusing,” Kaufman said, though he added most fans recognized the tracks as fake.

Smaller or folk artists appear to be frequent targets of this scam, including Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Father John Misty, Sam Beam, Teddy Thompson, and Jakob Dylan. The controversy follows an open letter signed by over 200 musicians last year — including Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj — demanding AI developers and platforms stop exploiting their voices and likenesses.

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