Is Trump “making America affordable again”?

 By Natalia Marques 

Prices of staple groceries rise as people in US face egg shortage, contrary to Trump’s campaign promises to “make America affordable again”.

US President Trump ran his campaign on a pledge to “make America affordable again,” following the inflationary crisis during Biden’s administration. But since the beginning of his presidency, the cost of living crisis, including the cost of staple grocery items and rent, has persisted. 

NYT: Trump Unstoppable, Opposition Futile

 By Raina Lipsitz

The New York Times editorial board (2/8/25) this month urged readers not to get “distracted,” “overwhelmed,” “paralyzed” or “pulled into [Donald Trump’s] chaos”—in short, don’t “tune out.” But what good is staying informed unless there are concrete actions Trump’s opponents can take to rein him in?

New York Governor Orders CUNY Take Down Job Posting for Palestinian Studies

 By Sharon Zhang

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has reportedly ordered a City University of New York (CUNY) college to remove a job posting for a professorship in Palestinian Studies, sparking outrage among advocates who say she is contributing to the censorship and dehumanization of Palestinians amid widespread repression of anti-Zionists across the U.S.

Under Threat of Trump, A Blueprint for Resurgence of Local and Independent Journalism

 By Eloise Goldsmith

This may feel like a difficult time to call for bold policy change," wrote the advocacy group Free Press. "Yet, this is also a moment of immense opportunity."

Journalism is a public good.

That's the basic premise of a 12-page policy roadmap released Tuesday by Free Press Action, the 501(c)(4) arm of the advocacy group Free Press, and created by members of Media Power Collaborative, an organizing space for media workers and others, which aims to resist journalism's trend towards clickbait, misinformation, and "a shortage of local news that actually meet people's needs."

Landry plans to reopen a Louisiana youth prison closed a decade ago

 

In just a matter of months, Gov. Jeff Landry plans to reopen a Baton Rouge-area youth prison shuttered a little over a decade ago with support at the time from Democrats and Republicans. 

Landry and state legislators have reshuffled at least $42.4 million over the past week and directed it toward reopening the Jetson Center for Youth in Baker. The governor is also pushing for an additional $12.7 million to add staff to Jetson in his latest budget proposal, though lawmakers haven’t signed off on that money yet. 

Louisiana K-12 superintendent urges schools to embrace Trump DEI guidance

 By Piper Hutchinson

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is urging Louisiana K-12 schools to comply with guidance from President Donald Trump’s administration as it threatens to revoke federal funding from campuses that use race-conscious practices in admissions, programming, training, hiring, scholarships and other aspects of student life. 

Fires of desperation at Red Onion are a call for dignity and justice

 By Steven Mangual

At Red Onion State Prison, one of two supermax prisons in Virginia, at least 12 Black menlast year set their own bodies on fire in horrifying and desperate acts of protest against inhumane conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement.

US Education Department threatens yanking funds for schools that use race in decisions

 By Shauneen Miranda

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to rescind federal funds for schools that use race-conscious practices in admissions, programming, training, hiring, scholarships and other aspects of student life, according to a Dear Colleague letter sent to schools.

Tennessee levied $44.78 million in penalties against private prison operator in three years

 By Sam Stockard

Tennessee’s Department of Correction is requesting a $6.8 million contract increase for its private prison operator despite penalizing the company $44.78 million since 2022 for contractual shortfalls, $15 million in the last five months alone.

Prosecutors Resign Over Trump Ordering DOJ to Drop Case Against NYC Mayor

By Chris Walker

The DOJ had ordered the case against Mayor Eric Adams to be dropped following weeks of his cozying up to Trump. 

UPDATE: As of Friday afternoon, the number of federal prosecutors who have resigned over the Department of Justice’s demands to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams (amid claims that that action was part of a quid pro quo with the Trump administration) has increased to seven.