(indyradio will have additional headlines this evening)
Lebanese Journalists Demand Apology from U.S. Envoy Over His Demeaning Comments
Lebanese journalists are demanding an apology from Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria, for demeaning comments he made at a press conference in Beirut.
Tom Barrack: “The moment that this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we’re gone. So, you want — you want to know what’s happening? Act civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is the problem with what’s happening in the region.”
The Union of Journalists in Lebanon called for a boycott of all future events with Barrack unless he apologizes for his comments, saying, “the content of his remarks reflects ingrained colonial arrogance towards the peoples of the region and constitutes a blatant violation of basic diplomatic etiquette and the values that diplomacy should represent — chief among them respect for press freedom and the people’s right to knowledge.”
FEMA Suspends Staff for Signing Letter Criticizing Trump Administration
FEMA is suspending staff members who signed a letter criticizing the Trump administration for gutting the agency’s ability to handle natural disasters. The letter came just days before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. At least 36 employees have signed their full names to the letter, titled the “Katrina Declaration,” and about 150 others have signed the letter anonymously. On Tuesday, FEMA told the staffers that they were put on administrative leave in a “non-duty status while continuing to receive pay and benefits.”
Whistleblower Claims DOGE Put Americans’ Social Security Records at Risk
The Social Security Administration’s chief data officer has said the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans was uploaded onto a vulnerable cloud server by members of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. The claim appears in a whistleblower complaint filed Tuesday. In the complaint, the official, Charles Borges, writes, “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital health care and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for reissuing every American a new Social Security number at great cost.”
Denmark Summons Top U.S. Diplomat Over Allegations of Greenland Espionage
Denmark’s foreign minister has summoned the top U.S. diplomat in the country after a news report alleged that three American citizens linked to President Trump were conducting covert influence operations in Greenland. Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to capture Greenland from Denmark due to its strategic location and wealth in critical minerals. According to recent polls, most Greenlanders do not want to join the U.S.
Trump’s 50% Tariffs on India Take Effect as Penalty for Indian Imports of Russian Oil
U.S. tariffs on Indian imports have doubled to 50%. The Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs on India as a penalty for buying oil and weapons from Russia. The Global Trade Research Initiative has warned the tariffs could endanger hundreds of thousands of jobs in India.