Hard Pass

When politicians redraw congressional district maps to favor their party, they may secure short-term victories. But those wins can come at a steep price — a loss of public faith in elections and, ultimately, in democracy itself.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said Wednesday following days of testimony about the environmental impacts of the Everglades immigration detention camp that she plans to rule no later than Aug. 21 on a request to temporarily shut it down.

Were she to side with the plaintiffs, it would be a significant blow to the Trump and DeSantis administrations, which have touted the hastily constructed detention center as a successful new tool in the president’s mass-deportation campaign.

Williams, an Obama appointee, is presiding over a lawsuit filed by Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and the Miccosukee Tribe alleging the federal government and the state dodged federal environmental regulations.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges said Thursday that the weight of evidence against May is significant. She cited his international travels and the danger he possibly poses to himself, his two young children and to other children.

May was arrested at his West Columbia home Wednesday, roughly 10 months after his house was raided in August 2024 by U.S. Homeland Security Investigation agents, who seized various electronic devices, such as cellphones, hard drives, a CD and thumb drives.

May, who was shackled at his wrists and ankles at his first federal court appearance Thursday in Columbia, entered a plea of not guilty.

What’s next you tech bro wankers, is AI going to drink the pint for me?

… just when you thought they couldn’t force AI into any more things. The epitome of a solution in search of a problem

Since Trump returned to the White House this year, a record number of members are eyeing the exits as the Republican-led Congress has largely ceded its power to Trump's vision of the country.

With just under 15 months to go until the 2026 midterms, nine senators and 21 House members have announced they don't plan to run for reelection, each a modern record for this point before the election, according to an NPR analysis of congressional campaign data since 2017.