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Senate Republicans Defy Vice President Vance, Vote to Block President Trump’s Brazil Tariffs

(Photo by Nathan Howard-Pool/Getty Images)

Five Republican senators joined Democrats in a Senate vote to block President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, despite direct warnings from Vice President J.D. Vance. The 52–48 vote marks a rare public break within GOP ranks, challenging the use of national emergency powers Trump invoked to defend American trade interests.

The resolution targets tariffs placed on key Brazilian goods like oil, coffee, and orange juice. President Trump imposed the tariffs earlier this year, declaring that Brazil posed “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. economic security. Critics of the tariffs argue the emergency designation was an overreach of executive authority.

Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Thom Tillis sided with Democrats. Rand Paul criticized the use of emergency powers for trade disputes, claiming they were meant for war or disaster scenarios.

Vice President Vance urged Republicans to stand united, warning that reversing the tariffs would “undermine American leverage” in global trade. His appeal fell short, as Senate moderates broke with the administration over concerns about rising consumer prices and supply chain complications.

While the resolution passed in the Senate, it faces slim chances in the House, where GOP leadership has blocked similar tariff rollbacks. President Trump is expected to veto the resolution if it reaches his desk.

The split highlights ongoing tensions in the Republican Party between America First trade policies and traditional free-market conservatism.

Man Vows to ‘Make Life Harder’ for ICE Agents

(Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)

A Washington state man is under federal investigation after allegedly posting online threats targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and vowing to “make life harder” for officers. Authorities say the posts named the Ferndale ICE office, included threats and plans to follow and record agents, and prompted a Homeland Security review.

Federal agents opened an inquiry after social‑media posts dated Oct. 22 identified the Ferndale, Washington, ICE office near the U.S.–Canada border and threatened personnel there. Investigators allege the suspect, identified as James Adrian Warren, called ICE agents “Nazis,” threatened to follow and record them, and refused to stop after repeated warnings.

Law‑enforcement officials treat explicit threats against federal officers as serious crimes. The Department of Homeland Security provided details to local authorities and federal investigators, who are assessing whether the online posts violated statutes that prohibit threats and intimidation of federal employees. The posted material reportedly sought to expose officers’ locations and disrupt operations, prompting concerns about officer safety and operational security.

The charged rhetoric fits a broader pattern of online attacks and targeted harassment of immigration‑enforcement personnel in recent months. Federal prosecutions earlier this year charged individuals who used social platforms to identify and threaten ICE officers and their families, demonstrating that such conduct can lead to indictments when it crosses into criminal threats or coordinated harassment. Law‑enforcement officials emphasize that advocacy or protest does not protect violent or threatening conduct.

Threats aimed at public servants carry real consequences. Targeted disclosure of officers’ personal information, persistent stalking, or calls for violence elevate risk for both officers and their families and impede lawful enforcement activity. Protecting civil order requires clear lines between lawful dissent and criminal intimidation. Agencies tasked with homeland security maintain that those who cross that line will face investigation and potential prosecution.

Teen Sues AI Tool Maker Over Fake Nude Images

AI, Artificial Intelligence (Just_Super/Getty via Canva Pro)

A 17‑year‑old teenager from New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the company behind the AI tool ClothOff, alleging that the app was used to generate non‑consensual nude images of her when she was 14. The tool’s operator, AI/Robotics Venture Strategy 3 Ltd., is being sued along with messaging platform Telegram for facilitating access to the software.

According to the complaint, the student’s social media photo in a swimsuit was altered using ClothOff to produce a realistic nude image. That image was then circulated among classmates, identifiable by face despite the non‑consensual modification. The lawsuit contends that because the victim was a minor at the time, the altered image qualifies as child sexual abuse material under both state and federal law. The filing requests a court order compelling the defendants to delete existing non‑consensual images, ceasing the tool’s operation, and prohibiting its use to train future AI models.

This case echoes a growing trend of AI misuse in intimate digital spaces. As noted by commentators, high‑school students increasingly exploit AI “undressing” apps to fabricate nude images of peers, which raises urgent concerns about adolescent privacy, consent, and emotional harm.

Legally, the incident highlights challenges in holding overseas or loosely regulated AI‑tool creators accountable. The company behind ClothOff is reportedly based in the British Virgin Islands and operated from Belarus.

Bank of America CEO Warns Middle Class ‘Pinch’ Amid Mounting Economic Risks

Bank of America (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

The CEO of Bank of America, Brian Moynihan, cautioned that while consumer spending remains robust, the U.S. middle class is beginning to feel a squeeze as inflation stays elevated and a government shutdown threatens broader economic momentum. He highlighted uneven income growth and rising risks that could undermine the consumer‑driven engine of the economy.

Moynihan noted that households earning in the $75,000–$100,000 range continue to grow their incomes, but at a slower rate compared to higher‑income households—suggesting a “pinch” in the middle. He pointed out that though spending remains strong—debit, credit, cash withdrawals all are up—this strength may be deceptive: the underlying resilience masks potential softness ahead.

He also flagged the ongoing government shutdown as a growing threat to economic growth. The shutdown is delaying business approvals, IPOs, federal contracts and other activity, potentially dragging on overall economic expansion.

Moynihan stressed that high inflation continues to affect households, especially those lower on the income scale, as they pay a larger share of income toward necessities.

Supreme Court Showdown: Professors Demand Ban on Biological Men in Women’s Sports

(Jimmy Woo/Unsplash)

A coalition of 24 philosophy professors has filed an amicus brief in support of the states of Idaho and West Virginia in the cases West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Bradley Little v. Lindsay Hecox. They argue that categorizing sports by biological sex—not gender identity—is both philosophically justified and necessary to protect fairness in female athletics.

The brief emphasizes that “sex” constitutes a natural category akin to age or weight, which can fairly govern sports classifications. It contends that allowing participation based on gender identity creates a “gerrymandered” category that undermines women’s sports.

According to the filing, Idaho and West Virginia enacted laws restricting female athletics to biological females in response to what they characterize as competitive and safety disadvantages when biological males compete in women’s sports. The professors claim these laws are not discriminatory but are designed to preserve female‑only divisions.

Among the signees are professors affiliated with institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame, and University of Florida.

The upcoming Supreme Court decision will have implications not only for women’s sports but also for how American society treats biological sex, gender identity, and equality under law.

D.C. Del. Norton in ‘Early Stages of Dementia,’ Scammed Out of Thousands

Washington, D.C. city skyline (f11photo/Getty via Canva Pro)

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 88‑year‑old non‑voting Delegate from Washington, D.C., is reported to be in the “early stages of dementia” while also being the victim of a home scam where “cleaning crew” impostors charged her over $4,300 for nonexistent services.

According to a police report in Washington, D.C., Norton let a group of purported HVAC workers into her residence in the 9th Street SE area just after 3:30 p.m. The report states they claimed to provide duct and fireplace cleaning, but no actual services were rendered; yet Norton’s credit card was charged $4,362.

The report further claims that at the time of arrival the person holding power of attorney was not present. Upon seeing the workers on her home security camera, the attorney‑in‑fact instructed Norton to dismiss them, but the workers remained until the charge went through and police were notified.

The claim that Norton is in the early stages of dementia stems from the same D.C. Metro Police document. While Norton’s office disputes the characterization, the official report says she has a caretaker with power of attorney.

The incident raises serious questions about the vulnerability of elderly public officials, the safeguards around their financial exposures, and the appropriateness of continuing long‑term service by members of Congress who may be facing cognitive decline.

University of Michigan Protest Turns Arrest: Three Anti‑Israel Activists Detained

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Police (Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

A demonstration at University of Michigan resulted in the arrest of three non‑student protesters after they blocked a parking garage as part of an anti‑Israel protest. The event highlights conflicting responses to campus speech and protests in the context of the Israel‑Hamas war.

On Wednesday, an estimated 150 or so activists and students, allied with the TAHRIR Coalition (a pro‑Palestinian coalition), gathered outside the university’s Rackham Graduate School to protest an event featuring former Israel Defense Forces members hosted by the campus chapter of Students Supporting Israel. Campus security reported that police intervened when protesters blocked an underground parking‑garage exit and refused to comply with orders to disperse.

According to university officials, three individuals who were not students were arrested on charges including resisting and obstructing police, attempting to disarm an officer, disorderly conduct, and outstanding warrants. One of those arrested had a prior felony charge. A spokesperson noted the arrests followed repeated warnings to clear the exit obstruction.

Protest participants claimed the police used force during the arrests — one described officers pushing unarmed demonstrators to the ground and threatening pepper spray deployment.

While the protesters argued they faced aggressive policing, the university’s message emphasised that blocking a public facility and refusing orders posed a legitimate grounds for law enforcement action. This event adds to a broader national trend of heightened campus tensions around the Israel‑Hamas war, free speech, and protest tactics.

Canada Could Lose Measles-Free Status After Outbreak Explosion

Canada new PM
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Canada is at risk of losing its measles elimination status after a year-long outbreak that began in New Brunswick in October 2024. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) granted the country “eliminated” status in 1998, meaning there had been no sustained local transmission for 12 consecutive months. That streak is now broken.

The outbreak, which started at a Mennonite gathering, quickly spread across religious communities in Ontario and Alberta. These populations often have lower vaccination rates due to cultural and religious objections. Health officials also cite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to missed routine vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella.

Over the past year, Ontario has reported 2,375 measles cases and Alberta 1,925. The outbreak in New Brunswick was declared over in January, and officials in Ontario believe the province may soon follow if no new cases emerge outside the virus’s incubation window.

Canada now has an incidence rate nearly three times higher than the United States, which has reported 1,618 cases in the same period despite having 8.5 times the population. Mexico is also experiencing a comparable outbreak.

W.H.O.’s Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) will review Canada’s elimination status in November. The review will almost certainly find that Canada no longer meets the standard due to over 12 months of sustained local transmission.

Ontario health officials noted that 75% of measles patients have been children, and 96% of them were unvaccinated. Two babies died after their mothers gave birth prematurely while infected—one in Ontario, one in Alberta.

The U.S. and Mexico will also be subject to measles status reviews in early 2026. The United States previously avoided losing its elimination status in 2019 after controlling a serious outbreak in New York. Current outbreaks in New York and South Carolina remain small by comparison.

If Canada loses its measles elimination certification, it will mark a major public health setback and underscore the ongoing consequences of vaccine hesitancy and pandemic-related disruptions in routine care.

Democrats Blame Trump for SNAP Shutdown, But Keep Voting No

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

As the government shutdown nears the one-month mark, Democrats are attacking President Donald Trump and Republicans over expiring food stamp benefits, even as Senate Democrats repeatedly vote against funding bills that would reopen the government and keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operating.

SNAP funding is set to expire at the end of the month, potentially affecting over 42 million Americans. Leading Democrats — including Sens. Alex Padilla, Mark Kelly, Mazie Hirono, Andy Kim, and Chuck Schumer — accuse President Trump of “letting kids go hungry” and claim he is refusing to use emergency funds to keep the program running.

However, Senate Democrats have now voted 13 times against a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would reopen the government, according to The Hill. The CR needs 60 votes to advance. It received 54 — not enough to pass — despite support from some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, and Sen. Angus King.

Padilla claimed Trump has the money but is refusing to use it: “Americans are going to go hungry because Republicans want leverage.” Mark Kelly accused the administration of using “hardworking Americans as political pawns,” and Schumer said the administration is choosing “not to use” $5 billion in available emergency funds to fund SNAP.

But Speaker of the House Mike Johnson countered those claims, laying out several key facts on Tuesday. He emphasized that Democrat votes are necessary to fund the government, noting the Senate filibuster threshold: “You must have 60 votes in the Senate,” Johnson said. “We only have 53 Republicans, so we must have Democrats to do it.”

Johnson also pointed out that Democrats are refusing to pass funding unless it includes billions in benefits for illegal aliens and restores spending on programs many Republicans have called wasteful and unrelated to national priorities.

“They want billions of dollars in wasteful programs to be returned to foreign countries,” Johnson said. “We’re not going to do that.”

Despite their public outrage, Senate Democrats continue to block clean funding bills that would keep essential programs like SNAP funded and avoid further disruption. With Democrats controlling the Senate and repeatedly voting down Republican funding measures, their coordinated blame campaign appears to ignore their own legislative record.

Trump Told Nvidia to Build in America, And They Did

Technology Chip (Adi Goldstein/Unsplash)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced this week that the company will build seven new supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy — all using American-made chips. During the keynote address at Nvidia’s GTC event in Washington, D.C., Huang credited President Trump for pushing the return of manufacturing to the U.S., stating, “The first thing that President Trump asked me is, ‘bring manufacturing back.’”

The announcement marks a major win for the Trump administration’s push to rebuild domestic industry. The largest of the planned supercomputers, developed in partnership with Oracle, will house 100,000 of Nvidia’s new Blackwell chips. These machines will support national defense, energy research, and the maintenance of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Huang confirmed that the chips and servers will be produced in America. Nvidia manufactures chips in Arizona, assembles servers in Texas, and produces networking equipment in California. “We are manufacturing in America again — it is incredible,” Huang said.

Beyond the Department of Energy partnership, Nvidia revealed a massive $500 billion in bookings for its Blackwell and Rubin chip lines over the next five quarters. The surge in demand solidifies Nvidia’s place as a global leader in AI technology amid ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions.

In an effort to expand further, Nvidia also announced a $1 billion investment in Nokia, acquiring a 2.9% stake as the two companies team up to push AI innovation in telecommunications. The new product line, Arc, will support 6G development with improved power efficiency in network base stations.

Nvidia is also collaborating with Palantir Technologies to bring AI to logistics operations for companies like Lowe’s and is partnering with Uber to launch a self-driving Robotaxi network through its new Hyperion platform.

As AMD races to compete with its own $1 billion supercomputer deal with the Department of Energy, the battle for AI dominance is heating up. Meanwhile, trade tensions with China continue to loom large. Huang emphasized that access to the Chinese market remains important but reiterated the company’s focus on U.S.-based innovation.

Nvidia’s alignment with Trump’s economic agenda reflects a broader shift: rebuilding American tech leadership and manufacturing while securing U.S. supremacy in the AI race.

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