New York Judge Tosses Out Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione
A New York judge has tossed out the terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, who is suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December; the other charges were kept in place, including a second-degree murder count. The judge’s ruling spared Mangione of a possible mandatory life sentence without parole. Judge Gregory Carro wrote, “While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward United Healthcare, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to 'intimidate and coerce a civilian population,' and indeed, there was no evidence presented of such a goal.”
Ben and Jerry’s Co-founder Jerry Greenfield Quits, Claiming Unilever “Silenced” His Activism
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, announced he’s resigning after nearly 50 years, accusing parent company Unilever of silencing his brand’s social mission. In a statement, Greenfield wrote, “That independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone. And it’s happening at a time when our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community.” Last November, Ben and Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever for silencing its statements in support of Palestinian refugees. Back in 2021, the company withdrew its products from Israeli settlements.
Georgia Supreme Court Declines to Allow Fulton County DA Fani Willis to Keep Prosecuting Trump
The Georgia Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on her removal from Georgia’s election interference case against President Trump over his effort to overturn the 2020 election. The ruling appears to guarantee the case against Trump will not move forward anytime soon — if ever.
FBI Director Kash Patel Clashes with Senate Democrats at Oversight Hearing
FBI Director Kash Patel repeatedly clashed with Senate Democrats during an oversight hearing on Tuesday. Patel was criticized for his handling of the Charlie Kirk assassination probe, the Jeffrey Epstein case and for his overall record at the FBI. Three former senior FBI officials recently sued Patel, alleging they were fired as part of a “campaign of retribution.” This is New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker clashing with Patel.
Sen. Cory Booker: “My god! My god!”
Kash Patel: “If you want to talk about” —
Sen. Cory Booker: “You’re going to lecture me about dividing this country?”
Kash Patel: “It is my time.”
Sen. Cory Booker: “I follow you on your social media posts that” —
Kash Patel: “It is my time” —
Sen. Cory Booker: — “tear this country apart.”
Kash Patel: — “to address your falsehoods.”
Sen. Cory Booker: “So it should be a unifying” —
Kash Patel: “You are an embarrassment” —
Sen. Cory Booker: “You can try all you want” —
Kash Patel: — “to the division in this country.”
Sen. Cory Booker: — “to not take responsibility for what you have said.”
Kash Patel: “It is my time. You had your time.”
Sen. Cory Booker: “Sir, you are making a mockery of this committee.”
Kash Patel: “Your time is over.”
Sen. Cory Booker: “Sir, you don’t tell me my time is over.”
Kash Patel: “You know how far we’ve come since [inaudible]” —
Sen. Cory Booker: “The people of New Jersey tell me what my time is.”
Xp Lee Wins Minnesota House Special Election to Replace Melissa Hortman After Her Assassination
In Minnesota, a special election was held Tuesday to fill the seat of Melissa Hortman, the former Minnesota House speaker who was assassinated at her home in June along with her husband. Democrat Xp Lee won Tuesday’s election with almost 61% of the vote. Lee is a former municipal council member and the son of Hmong refugees who fled Laos during the Vietnam War.
In other news from Minnesota, Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar is facing backlash over her response to the death of Charlie Kirk. On Monday, two House Republicans introduced resolutions to censure Omar and remove her from her congressional committees.
House of Representatives Passes Bills to Charge Minors as Adults in Washington, D.C.
The House of Representatives passed two bills yesterday to charge 14-year-olds in Washington, D.C., as adults and require judges to stick to mandatory minimum sentences for young offenders. Dozens of Democrats joined their Republican colleagues to pass the bills as President Trump continues his crackdown on the city. It comes as President Trump signed an executive order on Monday deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, while indicating that Chicago and New Orleans could soon be next.
Eight Police Officers Fired in the Handling of Domestic Violence-Related Triple Homicide
In Florida, eight police officers have been fired after the Broward County Sheriff’s Office investigated the handling of the case of Mary Gingles, a woman who was murdered by her husband. The investigation found that the deputies failed to properly follow up on reports of domestic violence against Nathan Gingles, who carried out a triple homicide of his wife, her father and her neighbor. The case has drawn fresh scrutiny over Florida’s red flag laws to remove firearms from anyone who poses a danger to themselves and others.
Global Witness: 146 Land and Environmental Defenders Killed or Disappeared Last Year
A new Global Witness report finds at least 146 land and environmental defenders were killed or disappeared last year, with the majority of the killings occurring in Latin America. Global Witness recorded 48 killings in Colombia, 20 in Guatemala and 18 in Mexico. About a third of the land defenders killed last year were Indigenous.
Authorities Investigating Two Suspicious Hanging Deaths in Mississippi
In Mississippi, a 21-year-old Black student at Delta State University was found hanging from a tree on campus on Monday. Local officials say no foul play is suspected in Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s death, but his family is demanding an independent autopsy. The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, said, “Trey Reed was a young man full of promise and warmth, deeply loved and respected by all who knew him; We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain.”
A second Mississippi man was also found hanging on Monday about 100 miles away in Vicksburg. Police have identified the man as Cory Zukatis, a 36-year-old white man who was unhoused. Vicksburg Police said the two deaths are not related.
Oscar-Winning Director and Environmental Activist Robert Redford Dies at Age 89
Tributes are pouring in for Robert Redford, the legendary Oscar-winning director, actor and activist, who died at the age of 89 at his home in Utah on Tuesday. Redford was a longtime environmental activist who served for five decades as a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Redford was also the creator of the Sundance Film Festival, which he helped grow into one of the largest independent film festivals in the world. We will hear Robert Redford in his own words later in the program.