Extra, Extra
Weaponized Profits: “The militarization of the police in the US is nothing new. Local police departments splurged on vehicles, weapons and tactical gear as part of the Nixon, Reagan and Clinton administrations’ fight against drugs and the Bush administration’s war on terror after the 9/11 attacks. But the size of those buildups is dwarfed by President Donald Trump’s push to vastly expand immigration arrests and make Democratic-run cities a proving ground for domestic military operations.” That’s good news for the companies that sell the weapons. Bloomberg (Gift Article): The Military Suppliers Behind Immigration Raids.
+ Shot Caller: “A laser-guided bomb had killed nine of the 11 people on board, sunk the boat’s motor and capsized the vessel’s front end, according to people who have viewed or been briefed on a classified video of the operation. As smoke from the blast cleared, a live surveillance feed provided by a U.S. aircraft high overhead showed two men had survived and were attempting to flip the wreckage.” WaPo (Gift Article): How a U.S. admiral decided to kill two boat strike survivors. (As you’re reading this, keep in mind the bigger story is not what decision Adm. Frank Bradley made, but that he was put in a position to have to make it in the first place.)
+ Detention Contention: Judge orders immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention. (It’s a safe bet that the administration will come up with another way to arrest this guy.)
+ The Other Big House: In a story that has completely consumed sports media (and still features many unanswered questions), Sherrone Moore went from being Michigan’s football coach to being fired to being arrested in a matter of hours.
+ Battle of the Bulg: “Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced he was stepping down, becoming the latest leader to leave in the past four years, amid public anger over corruption and democratic dysfunction.” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Resigns in the Face of Mass Protests.
+ A Tough Cell: “We learn that prisoner number 320535 had a 12 square metre cell, equipped with a bed, desk, fridge, shower and television. There was a window, but the view was blocked by a massive plastic panel placed outside.” Nicolas Sarkozy releases prison diaries about his 20 days behind bars.
