Trump DOJ Purges Jan. 6 Records; Gabbard Resigns; Israel Strikes Lebanon as Iran War Enters Day 89
Top Stories
- Trump DOJ mass-deletes info on Jan. 6 riot cases, including violent assaults on cops. According to MPR News, the Trump administration has systematically purged information from government databases related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including records of violent assaults on police officers. [MPR News]
- Tulsi Gabbard resigns as Director of National Intelligence. The independent newsletter Tangle reports that Gabbard has stepped down from her post leading the U.S. intelligence community. Details on the reasons for her resignation were not immediately clear. [Tangle]
- Iran war day 89: Israeli strikes kill 31 in Lebanon as ceasefire tensions rise. Al Jazeera reports that Israel has intensified attacks across southern Lebanon, killing at least 31 people, as displacement orders spread and regional ceasefire tensions escalate. [Al Jazeera]
- Trump-backed Ken Paxton topples Senator John Cornyn in Texas Republican primary. Al Jazeera reports that Paxton, backed by former President Trump, has defeated the long-serving incumbent in a major intra-party shakeup. [Al Jazeera]
- SCOTUS won't intervene in Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. MPR News reports the Supreme Court has refused to intervene, allowing the hiring discrimination case led by the former Miami Dolphins coach to proceed toward trial. [MPR News]
Left Perspective
- Immigration courts are using a new tactic to speed up deportations. MPR News reports that immigration courts are deploying "mega-master" calendars to process large numbers of cases rapidly, a tactic critics argue pressures migrants and undercuts due process. [MPR News]
- Judge finds no probable cause for church protest search warrants. A federal judge pushed back forcefully on investigators after unsealed documents showed warrants targeting 38 people charged for a protest at a St. Paul church did not meet legal standards. [MPR News]
- Gun trigger device ruling stands on court appeal. The Minnesota Court of Appeals declined to reinstate a ban on binary trigger devices, a decision gun safety advocates had sought to uphold. [MPR News]
- Judge halts construction of Pine Island's hyperscale data center. A Minnesota judge ordered developers to temporarily stop construction until a lawsuit over the project's environmental review can be heard. [MPR News]
- Competing approaches color DFL Senate convention race. MPR News highlights the Minnesota DFL Senate primary as a proxy battle over the party's strategic direction in the Trump era, featuring Rep. Angie Craig among the contenders. [MPR News]
Right Perspective
- States toughen penalties for disrupting worship services. MPR News notes that at least four states have passed laws criminalizing disruptions of worship services following a high-profile protest inside a Minnesota church, a move championed by religious liberty and law-and-order advocates. [MPR News]
- Trump-backed Paxton topples Cornyn. The defeat of a GOP incumbent by a Trump-aligned candidate underscores the continued hold of the MAGA wing over the Republican base. [Al Jazeera]
- Immigration courts speed up deportations. The Trump administration's use of "mega-master" hearings is viewed by immigration hawks as a necessary step to clear massive backlogs and enforce immigration law. [MPR News]
- DOJ deletes Jan. 6 case information. Supporters of the administration's actions argue that the mass deletions are consistent with the president's authority to manage federal records and his past pledges to address what he has called unjust prosecutions of January 6 defendants. [MPR News]
International View
- Europe faces fertiliser shortages due to the Iran war. Al Jazeera reports that disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is fueling food security fears, prompting the EU to launch a fertiliser action plan. [Al Jazeera]
- Deep suspicion of US lingers in Iran amid war. Iranian officials say recent U.S. strikes have validated their skepticism, even as discussions about a potential agreement to end the conflict continue. [Al Jazeera]
- China's EV exports surge 40 percent. Data compiled by Bloomberg shows Asia bought the most Chinese EVs in April, followed by Europe and Latin America, raising questions about Western tariffs and green transition strategies. [Al Jazeera]
- India's Muslims denied public spaces for Eid prayers. Authorities have issued threats against outdoor congregations, leaving mosques to ask worshippers to pray in shifts. [Al Jazeera]
- Ebola-hit Bunia isolated by DRC flight suspension and Uganda border curbs. The outbreak is adding severe economic strain to an already fragile region. [Al Jazeera]
- Taiwan's AI-driven economic boom leaves some behind. Taiwan is seeing explosive GDP growth from chip exports, but some citizens feel excluded from the prosperity. [Al Jazeera]
Underreported
- Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara resigns. O'Hara stepped down after facing discipline from the mayor over allegations he interfered with an investigation into his alleged sexual relations with citizens. The story has received limited national coverage. [MPR News]
- Tribal nations in Minnesota continue toward energy independence. The Red Lake Nation broke ground on the Makwa Solar Array, a step toward tribal sovereignty in energy. [MPR News]
- Minnesota program awards $4.7M to boost soil health. Demand among farmers for conservation grants is high, but the program's scale relative to need highlights persistent barriers to adopting sustainable practices. [MPR News]
- Packers' Josh Jacobs arrested on domestic abuse charges. The NFL running back faces five charges including felony strangulation, but the story has been overshadowed by geopolitical and political news. [Al Jazeera]
Sources
- MPR News (lean left)
- Tangle (center)
- Al Jazeera (center)