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California Professor Indicted for Attacking Federal Agents at Marijuana Farm Raid

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A California State University Channel Islands professor has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly assaulting Border Patrol agents during a July raid on a marijuana farm in Camarillo.

Jonathan Caravello, 37, of Ventura, was charged with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon after allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at agents. He was released on $15,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

According to court documents, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol executed a high-risk search warrant on July 10 at a 160-acre marijuana farm. Protesters gathered at the farm’s entrance, blocking exits with their bodies and vehicles. Authorities reported that demonstrators turned violent, hurling rocks at government vehicles, smashing windows, and damaging mirrors.

Agents deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd and ensure safe departure. Prosecutors say Caravello attempted to kick one of the canisters before picking it up and throwing it back overhand at federal officers. He was arrested after resisting attempts to restrain him.

Caravello, a philosophy lecturer at CSUCI, was defended by the university in a statement shortly after his arrest. The school claimed he was “peacefully participating in a protest” and demanded his release. If convicted, Caravello faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The July 10 raids in Camarillo and Carpinteria uncovered 361 illegal aliens working on marijuana farms, including at least 14 migrant children forced into labor. Federal officials also arrested several criminal aliens with prior convictions for violent crimes such as kidnapping, burglary, and child sex offenses. DHS previously announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of another suspect involved in the assaults on agents.

Elon Musk’s xAI Loses CFO Amid Wave of Executive Departures

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Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has lost another senior leader as Chief Financial Officer Mike Liberatore exited after only a few months on the job. Liberatore, a former Airbnb executive, joined xAI in April but left in July, according to The Wall Street Journal. His short tenure included helping lead fundraising efforts and advancing plans for a major data center expansion in the Memphis area.

The reasons behind Liberatore’s abrupt departure remain unclear, and Musk has not publicly addressed the move. His exit comes as xAI has faced a string of senior-level resignations, raising questions about stability within the fast-growing firm.

In July, Linda Yaccarino stepped down as CEO of Musk’s social media platform X shortly after the company disabled text responses from its Grok AI chatbot, which had made disturbing references to “MechaHitler” and Nazi ideology. While insiders insisted her departure was unrelated, the timing added to growing leadership concerns across Musk’s ventures.

Other recent exits at xAI include General Counsel Robert Keele, who left to spend more time with his family while noting “daylight between our worldviews” with Musk, and co-founder Igor Babushkin, who departed to launch an AI safety-focused investment firm. Raghu Rao, another company lawyer, also left recently.

Despite these setbacks, xAI remains a major player in the AI race. Following its merger with X, the company was valued at $80 billion, compared to $33 billion for X, cementing xAI as a direct competitor to Sam Altman’s OpenAI and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. Still, the wave of high-profile resignations underscores the challenges Musk faces in retaining top talent while scaling his AI vision.

CBS Backtracks After Editing Kristi Noem Interview Sparks Outrage

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CBS News (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

CBS News has announced a major policy change after being caught selectively editing an interview with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Face the Nation. The network admitted it would now only air live or live-to-tape interviews “subject to national security or legal restrictions,” promising viewers the full, unedited version will be broadcast.

The reversal followed backlash after CBS cut a critical 24-second portion of Noem’s interview in which she detailed allegations against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal alien accused of domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation. CBS claimed the edit was for time, but critics argued it conveniently omitted damaging information about Biden’s border failures.

Initially, CBS defended the decision, insisting the interview “met all CBS News standards” and pointing to the full version posted online. But the network has faced mounting criticism for a pattern of manipulative editing. Just two months earlier, CBS agreed to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over 60 Minutes selectively editing coverage of Kamala Harris to protect her failing campaign.

The controversy highlights long-standing distrust in legacy media. For years, outlets like CBS have been accused of pushing hoaxes and false narratives—from the Russia collusion conspiracy and the Covington Catholic smear to the Hunter Biden laptop cover-up and claims that border agents whipped migrants. Each scandal has eroded public confidence while fueling the growth of alternative media.

By editing out Noem’s remarks, critics argue CBS once again prioritized political optics over truth, reinforcing the perception that corporate media operates as an extension of the Democratic Party. Whether this new policy will restore credibility remains doubtful. As CBS faces declining ratings and legal battles, its selective reporting has only widened the gap between mainstream outlets and Americans seeking unfiltered news.

Roblox Tightens Age Checks After Predator Scandal

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Roblox, the online gaming platform widely used by children, announced this week that it will expand its age estimation technology to all users and adopt standardized age ratings for games and apps. The move comes as the company faces mounting scrutiny over predator grooming scandals and lawsuits alleging it has failed to protect minors.

By the end of 2025, Roblox will roll out an age estimation system that requires users to scan selfies, allowing facial analysis to determine approximate age. The company says the tool will help prevent adults from communicating with children through voice and text chat. This system will be used alongside ID verification and parental consent features to strengthen child safety. Roblox also pledged to launch new restrictions to further separate adult and child interactions.

In addition, Roblox is partnering with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to replace its in-house maturity labels with globally recognized content ratings. U.S. players will see Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings, while users abroad will receive ratings from authorities such as PEGI in Europe, GRAC in South Korea, and USK in Germany. Roblox says the goal is to give parents clearer insight into potentially concerning content, including violence, adult themes, and gambling elements.

The changes follow legal action in Louisiana, where Attorney General Liz Murrell (R) filed a lawsuit accusing Roblox of enabling predators. Murrell argued the platform prioritizes profit over safety, claiming it is “overrun with harmful content and child predators.”

The scandal has been compounded by lawsuits detailing how predators exploited Roblox to solicit nude images and even arrange meetings with minors. One case involved a 13-year-old who was manipulated into sending explicit material in exchange for Roblox gift cards.

With its user base still heavily child-focused, Roblox is under intense pressure to prove it can protect young players while balancing profits and safety reforms.

Chinese Money Laundering Networks Linked to Mexican Cartels

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Chinese flag (Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra/Unsplash)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is intensifying efforts to crack down on global cartel financing, revealing that Chinese money laundering networks are working directly with Mexican drug cartels to move billions of dollars. The findings highlight a growing alliance between two of America’s most dangerous adversaries—China and the cartels fueling the fentanyl epidemic.

According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Treasury investigators analyzed 137,153 Bank Secrecy Act reports between 2020 and 2024. They identified $312 billion in suspicious transactions tied to Chinese laundering groups. Officials say these networks are now a key tool for cartels, exploiting both Mexican and Chinese currency laws to mask their operations.

Cartels face restrictions in Mexico on how many U.S. dollars can be deposited or transferred. Meanwhile, Beijing maintains strict controls on international cash transfers. To get around these laws, Chinese laundering groups purchase bulk U.S. dollars from cartels, then resell them to Chinese businesses and individuals looking to skirt China’s financial rules.

FinCEN warned that these laundering operations depend heavily on U.S.-based Chinese nationals to funnel cash into banks. These individuals—often students, retirees, or housewives—make suspiciously large deposits with no clear source of income, a red flag for financial institutions.

The revelation follows recent Treasury sanctions on two Mexican banks and a brokerage firm accused of helping cartels launder money and transfer funds to China for fentanyl precursor purchases. Officials believe the flow of cartel drug money into China plays a major role in sustaining the supply chain behind America’s fentanyl crisis.

Treasury officials urged banks to strengthen monitoring of cash transactions linked to Chinese nationals and report anomalies immediately. By targeting financial pipelines, the U.S. hopes to disrupt both cartel operations and China’s role in propping up the deadly drug trade.

Starmer Labour Government Crisis Deepens After Rayner Exit

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The collapse of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has thrown Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government into turmoil, sparking speculation about whether it can survive its full term or will face an early election. Rayner, once one of Labour’s few popular figures, resigned after revelations she underpaid taxes on her £800,000 second home, dealing a heavy blow to the party.

Her departure forced a sweeping reshuffle. Longtime anti-Trump critic David Lammy was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister, while pro-Palestine activist Shabana Mahmood became the first Muslim woman to head the Home Office. Mahmood’s track record, including votes for open borders and responsibility for last year’s mass release of prisoners, has raised doubts over her ability to manage Britain’s border crisis.

The reshuffle has fueled speculation about Labour’s stability. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage predicted that internal splits and a battle to replace Rayner could force an election by 2027. Number 10 quickly denied this, with Chief Secretary Darren Jones insisting Labour “is not going to split and there won’t be an early election.”

Even Labour insiders, however, acknowledge the danger. Former Blair cabinet member Lord Falconer admitted the government has “not connected appropriately with the public” and warned of looming trouble unless Starmer charts a clear course. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who survived the reshuffle, is reportedly preparing another round of tax hikes this fall—a move critics warn will deepen economic pessimism.

Top pollster Sir John Curtice delivered perhaps the harshest verdict, branding the lack of political direction a “gaping hole” at the heart of Downing Street. “The public have repeatedly said … that they don’t know what he stands for,” Curtice said, arguing the absence of leadership explains Labour’s collapse in popularity just a year after winning power.

Trump Restores ‘Department of War’

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In his 200th executive order, President Donald Trump officially restored the name “Department of War” to the Department of Defense.

“We’ve been talking about this ‘Department of War,'” Trump said. “So, we won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between — and then we decided to go woke and we changed the name to Department of Defense. So, we’re going ‘Department of War.'”

“America’s military is the single most powerful fighting force in the world,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine. “The mission you and [Secretary Pete Hegseth] have given us is clear and unambiguous — to deliver peace, through overwhelming strength.”

“Service to this nation is an incredible gift, and we’re grateful and honored every day to do so,” Caine added. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

Trump noted that bringing back the Department of War “sends a message of victory” and is “really a message of strength.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said prior to the order’s signing that the nation is “going to go on offense, not just on defense,” explaining, “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders. So this war department, Mr. President, just like America, is back.”

Lawmakers have already moved to codify the name change. A new bill introduced by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) supports the order and states that any reference to the “Department of Defense or the Secretary of Defense in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or other official paper in force on the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the Department of War and the Secretary of War, respectively.”

A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

Lawmakers Seek to Codify Department of War Name

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A new bill introduced by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) codifies President Trump’s order to restore the Department of Defense to its original name, the Department of War. A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

The Senate bill declares that the “Department of Defense is hereby redesignated the Department of War.” It adds that any reference to the “Department of Defense or the Secretary of Defense in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or other official paper in force on the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the Department of War and the Secretary of War, respectively.”

“The United States military is not a purely defensive force. We are the most lethal fighting force on the face of the planet — ready to defeat any enemy when called upon,” Scott said. “Restoring the name to Department of War reflects our true purpose: to dominate wars, not merely respond after being provoked. President Trump has made it clear that our nation will pursue Peace Through Strength — and we will always stand ready to defend our freedoms.”

According to a report from Fox News, implementing the order will require changes to signage and websites, such as renaming the public affairs briefing room to the “Pentagon War Annex.”

President Trump informed reporters of the desired name change last week.

“Why are we ‘Defense?’ So it used to be called the Department of War, and it had a stronger sound,” he told reporters from the Oval Office. “As you know, we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything, and now we have a Department of Defense.”

“If you people want to, standing behind me, if you take a little vote, if you want to change it back to what it was when we used to win wars all the time, that’s OK with me. All right?” Trump said.

“I don’t want to be defense only,” Trump added. “We want defense, but we want offense too.”

Trump Locks In Historic Japanese Trade Agreement

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Japanese flag (Fumiaki Hayashi/Unsplash)

President Trump signed an executive order to officially implement the recent agreement between the United States and Japan. The agreement, announced in July, “lays the foundation for a new era of United States-Japan trade relations grounded in principles of reciprocity and our shared national interests,” Trump’s order says.

The agreement further establishes a “tariff framework that levels the playing field for American producers and accounts for American national security needs” and will “reduce the United States trade deficit, boost the economy of the United States, and address the consequences of the United States trade deficit, including by strengthening the manufacturing and defense industrial base of the United States.”

According to the agreement, the United States will “apply a baseline 15 percent tariff on nearly all Japanese imports entering the United States, alongside separate sector-specific treatment for automobiles and automobile parts; aerospace products; generic pharmaceuticals; and natural resources that are not naturally available or produced in the United States,” while Japan will provide “American manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, food, energy, automobile, and industrial goods producers with breakthrough openings in market access across key sectors.” This includes an expedited process of rice procurements.

As part of the agreement, Japan will invest $500 billion into the United States, a move that Trump said is the “largest deal ever made” between the two nations. “This is what happens when you have strong leadership and put America First,” he told reporters in July.

The investments will add hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans, contribute to domestic manufacturing, and “secure American prosperity for generations,” the order declared.

Tennessee Pioneers America’s First Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facility

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Tennessee is set to hold the nation’s first nuclear fuel recycling facility to support the development of a “clean, reliable energy supply,” nuclear tech company Okla announced.

The facility will recover usable fuel material from used nuclear fuel and develop it into fuel that can be used in advanced reactors. The company is also in discussions with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to potentially recycle its used fuel and evaluate power sales from future facilities in the area. “This collaboration would mark the first time a U.S. utility has explored recycling its used fuel into clean electricity using modern electrochemical processes, turning a legacy liability into a resource while creating a secure fuel supply for the future,” a press release from the company states.

“Fuel is the most important factor in bringing advanced nuclear energy to market,” said Jacob DeWitte, Okla’s co-founder and CEO. “By recycling used fuel at scale, we are turning waste into gigawatts, reducing costs, and establishing a secure U.S. supply chain that will support the deployment of clean, reliable, and affordable power. Tennessee is showing the nation that recycling can be done to support new nuclear development and growth.”

“The next generation of nuclear technologies are being built and developed right here in our own backyard,” TVA President and CEO Don Moul added. “Our partnership with Oklo represents yet another step forward in shaping the future of nuclear energy and ensuring a secure energy future for the Valley and beyond.”

In May, President Trump signed executive orders boosting the nuclear industry.

One executive order aims to “speed up the approval and adoption process for specialized nuclear reactors,” a White House official said at the time of the signing. “It also creates a special envoy position and a strategy around nuclear technology export, the idea being that we can grow American industry on the back of foreign purchasers who are interested in this sort of technology as well.”

Another order reforms the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to reduce the regulatory processes that have held the industry back. A separate order reduces overregulation for nuclear reactor testing.

The final order seeks to spur a “closer collaboration with private industry to ensure that we have the fuel supplies we need for a modernized nuclear energy sector,” the official explained. It also discusses the creation of a “nuclear energy sector workforce.”

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