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Policy & Unrest Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Tennessee inmate Christa Pike still alive after lethal injection dose, lawyers say
Lawyers for Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike said she was still alive Wednesday night after being administered two syringes of lethal injection drugs. Pike's federal public defenders wrote in a motion to the Tennessee Supreme Court that witnesses reported she had been given doses of…
US Supreme Court clears way for Christa Pike’s execution in Tennessee
Top court's decision overturns last-minute stay that stalled Tennessee's first execution of a woman in 200 years.
Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Georgia voter rolls
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a Department of Justice lawsuit seeking Georgia’s complete voter rolls, marking the department’s 26th court defeat in its nationwide campaign to obtain sensitive voter information. U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert, an appointee of former President…
White House blocks CNN from pool duty despite judge’s order
The White House plans to keep CNN journalists from carrying out the network’s previously scheduled duty providing television pool coverage of President Trump on Thursday, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hill. The administration will prevent CNN from providing its scheduled…
Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have penalized people for using smart glasses to record people without their permission in changing rooms, doctor’s offices and other spaces people generally consider private
ICE arrests Honduran illegal immigrant for allegedly sexually assaulting children: DHS
ICE arrested Oscar Evaristo Nunez, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, facing child sex crime charges, after Fairfax County authorities released him last month from his initial arrest.
Protection Orders, Gun Training, And 3D Printing Laws Among Gun Bills Signed By California Governor
Protection Orders, Gun Training, And 3D Printing Laws Among Gun Bills Signed By California Governor Authored by Michael Clements via The Epoch Times, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 gun bills into law that he says will enhance what he considers to be the state's already…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom bans AI 'robo bosses' in landmark state law, reversing his earlier veto
California Governor Gavin Newsom has banned 'robo-bosses' from firing workers, the first U.S. state with such a law.
Gavin Newsom targets ICE agents with shock-glove ban, job blacklist — but feds tell them to ignore him
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed multiple bills that his office said would expand oversight of federal immigration enforcement in California.
Supreme Court clears the way for Christa Pike’s historic execution in Tennessee to move forward
The US Supreme Court overturned a stay on Wednesday that was granted just hours before she was set to die by lethal injection.
US can deport leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque on national security grounds, judge rules
CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. can deport the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque — an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights — on the grounds that he is a threat to national security, an immigration judge ruled Wednesday. Salah Sarsour was detained in Milwaukee in March by U.S. Immigration and…
Federal oversight of Oakland Police Department ends after 23 years
A federal judge on Tuesday ended federal monitoring of the Oakland Police Department after 23 years, capping the longest-running oversight of a police department in U.S. history.
Supreme Court allows execution of Christa Pike to go forward
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Tennessee can put Christa Pike to death, lifting an eleventh-hour appeals court ruling that had paused the execution. The court's decision clears the way for the state's first execution of a woman in more than 200 years. It came over the dissent of the…
Democratic Women’s Caucus blasts Trump over Title IX rollback after Cornell rape allegations
The Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) criticized the Trump administration over its rollback of Title IX protections and expressed support for Jane Doe, who accused seven men of raping her over several hours at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University. The caucus chair, Rep. Teresa Leger…
US Senate rejects bill targeting AI data centre electricity costs
Democrats criticise bill as lacking 'teeth' and push for mandatory measures to address soaring electricity bills.
Judge Orders New York City To Scrap Notices For Mamdani's Tax On Second Homes
Judge Orders New York City To Scrap Notices For Mamdani's Tax On Second Homes Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times, A Staten Island judge ruled Sept. 29 that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration mishandled the rollout of a pied-à-terre tax on second homes in July…
Trump administration considers scaling back border project in Texas' Big Bend National Park
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is considering reducing the scope of a planned border project through Big Bend National Park in Texas, a contentious undertaking that has drawn bipartisan opposition over concerns it will irrevocably mar the remote, majestic area. The announcement on…
Lawmakers urge ICE to restore detainee locator system
Dozens of lawmakers are urging immigration officials to restore the detainee information that lets families and legal representatives locate them.
Justice Alito Says Recusal in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County a "Difficult Judgment Call"
Bloomberg reports on why Justice Alito decided to recuse from the first case of the Supreme Court's term.
Conservationists Vow Court Fight as DHS Lifts Pause on Big Bend Border Construction
The Trump administration on Wednesday allowed a temporary pause on border construction in and around Big Bend National Park in Texas to expire, prompting renewed vows from conservationists and other opponents to fight the contentious project in court. Laiken Jordahl, the national public lands…
Federal Judge Rejects Trump's Rationale for Hiding Memo on 'Cold-Blooded Murder' at Sea
A key memo from the Office of Legal Counsel at President Donald Trump's Department of Justice has underpinned the administration's yearlong campaign of bombing boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, and the White House has been adamant that the document should be kept secret. But on…
AI safety fears put OpenAI and Anthropic in the FTC's crosshairs
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI companies over potential safety risks posed by their products, an agency spokesperson told Axios Wednesday. Why it matters: The federal government has largely taken a hands-off approach to regulating AI, but the FTC…
EPA union sues management over contract termination
AFGE accused EPA leadership of implementing President Trump’s executive order stripping many federal employees of their collective bargaining rights partly so it could discipline employees who signed an open letter criticizing Administrator Lee Zeldin more easily.
Cops Used AI Surveillance To Detain an Innocent Texas Driver. His Lawsuit Just Got the Program Struck Down.
AI-powered license plate readers flagged an abnormal driving pattern. Then officers made up reasons to pull him over and interrogated him, and they faked a K-9 alert to justify a nonconsensual search.
'Put a Real Ban on the Floor If You’re Serious': Senate Democrats Block Loophole-Laden Fake Fix to End Lawmaker Stock Trading
Democrats in the Senate have blocked what they described as a loophole-laden Republican-led bill to ban members of Congress from purchasing stocks. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blasted his Democratic colleagues on Wednesday after they declined to give the votes necessary to advance the bill—known as…
WATCH: Justice Department files complaint against judges over immigration enforcement surge comments
The Department of Justice filed a complaint Wednesday against federal judges in Minnesota over their remarks to the media about the pressure on their courthouse during Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge.
Newsom Signs Laws Banning Shock Gloves And Taxing Immigration Detention Centers
Newsom Signs Laws Banning Shock Gloves And Taxing Immigration Detention Centers Authored by Chase Smith via The Epoch Times, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 21 bills on Sept. 29 aimed at limiting federal immigration enforcement in the state, including a ban on officers using shock gloves and a…
Blackburn sues Jack Smith over phone records
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., sued former special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday, alleging that his prosecution of the president also unconstitutionally pulled in her records as a member of Congress. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, moves a…
Trump pleads with Hispanic voters to back GOP in midterms, admits border policy can hurt Republicans’ chances
“I just want to ask you to get out and vote,” Trump said. “You're an unbelievable special group of people. You've been with me right from the beginning.”
Human rights groups ask UN panel to help end ICE's effort to hide locations of detainees
Human rights advocates have asked a United Nations panel to intervene in a new U.S. government practice that they say amounts to the “enforced disappearance” of noncitizens
Long Island health care exec motivated to run for state Senate over antisemitism in NY: ‘Need more moderate voices’
Lisa “Malkie” Vider has spent about 30 years working in healthcare, including running an assisted-living facility and advocating for healthcare providers in Albany.
State Department has revoked over 250K visas in mass immigration vetting crackdown under Trump admin
Revocations target criminal activity, birth tourism, fraud and national security threats on a historic scale.
Do federal immigration agents make arrests at churches? Depends on what day you ask.
(RNS) — Over the past year, the Trump administration has issued contradictory and, at times, seemingly false statements about whether federal agents have conducted operations at churches.
Trump's DOJ takes its fight with federal judges to Minnesota
The Justice Department filed a complaint against a group of federal judges from Minnesota for speaking to The New York Times about the impact of the immigration enforcement surge on their court. The big picture: The complaint opens a new front in the Trump administration's standoff with federal…
Trump admits struggling to find balance on immigration ahead of midterms
President Trump admitted that he struggles to strike the right balance on immigration during a Hispanic Heritage Month event at the White House on Wednesday. “Frankly, it’s the hardest job that I’ve had,” Trump said. “They’ll say you’re too tough or you’re too soft. Get tougher, get softer. No…
US judge rules Wisconsin mosque leader Salah Sarsour can be deported
Sarsour’s lawyers say the decision threatens free speech protections and plan to fight the ruling.
Paxton misses Vance rally; will stump with Trump on Thursday
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, did not attend Vice President Vance’s rally Wednesday in South Texas, but he is expected to attend President Trump’s stop at a manufacturing plant in Texas on Thursday. Vance, who was in Texas to stump for GOP House candidate…
After 50 Years of Anti-Choice Hyde Amendment, Campaigners and Lawmakers Say 'Enough Is Enough'
On Wednesday, reproductive rights groups marked half a century of abortion care being "baselessly set apart from all other healthcare," with coverage for abortions blocked in government-funded healthcare plans like Medicaid, which about 16 million women of reproductive age rely on. "Our…
Red states challenge mail-order abortion shield laws for providers
Three attorneys general in anti-abortion states filed a lawsuit directly with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the abortion shield laws of three Democratic-led states that protect physicians who send medication for abortion through the mail. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill…
Justice says he supports Trump, ICE: ‘Some are twisting my words’
Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) backtracked on comments he made Tuesday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), clarifying that he supports President Trump’s mass deportation effort. “Let me be crystal clear: I support President Trump’s immigration strategy, full stop. It’s not surprising that…
Police "Islamophobia" Training Equates Farage's Words With Hate Crime
Police "Islamophobia" Training Equates Farage's Words With Hate Crime Authored by Steve Watson via MODERNITY, North Yorkshire officers sat through a publicly funded "Islamophobia" talk that treated Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's remarks on British values as if they belonged in the same…
Man shot by ICE in Austin will not be released after hearing on federal criminal charge
The man shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Austin on Sept. 20 will remain in custody after appearing in a federal courtroom Wednesday afternoon.
Republican AGs sue abortion ‘shield law’ states in U.S. Supreme Court
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and the attorneys general in Arkansas and Alabama filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. Supreme Court, suing California, Massachusetts and New York to invalidate the so-called “shield laws” that have allowed providers in those states to send…
ICE repatriates 58 objects of cultural heritage to the People’s Republic of China
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with law enforcement partners repatriated 58 culturally significant objects during a ceremony at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on September 16. The 58 artifacts came from investigations conducted by nine HSI offices, and in…
US FCC head says controversial Trump ads do not raise concerns
Series of publicly-funded television spots have been criticised by Republicans and Democrats as self-promotion by Trump.
Appeals court backs finding Trump colluded with IRS, Treasury
An appeals court Tuesday sided with a lower court judge who determined President Trump colluded with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in bringing and later dismissing a case seeking $10 billion in damages from the IRS. Florida-based U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in July found that the…
Judge extends temporary pause in USDA relocations as he considers indefinite freeze
A federal judge in San Francisco said it was "significant" that Congress included a provision in a fiscal 2026 spending package that blocked the Agriculture Department from reorganizing without approval from the House and Senate appropriations committees.
Jack Smith faces new lawsuit over congressional phone records
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sued former special counsel Jack Smith Wednesday, alleging he unlawfully obtained her cellphone toll records during his investigation of Trump and the 2020 election Why it matters: The lawsuit escalates Republicans' efforts to challenge Smith's investigation more…
Texas ICE Shootings Deserve More Than a One-Sided Narrative
Legacy media outlets have been spinning tall tales about Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in recent months, trying to stoke backlash against immigration enforcement. But they’re not telling the full story. Two shootings of illegal aliens in particular have garnered extensive…
You Can Now Sue Federal Agents in California. Good Luck Getting Past Qualified Immunity.
Californians can now sue federal officers for civil rights violations, but cops can still claim qualified immunity as a bona fide defense for official misconduct.
EXCLUSIVE: State Department revokes over 250,000 visas in broad immigration vetting crackdown
The State Department has revoked over 250,000 visas under Trump for criminal activity, fraud, birth tourism and national security threats.
DOJ accuses Minnesota federal judges of misconduct for NY Times immigration interviews
The Department of Justice seeks the recusal of the judges who spoke to The New York Times from any cases involving the Department of Homeland Security.
Groups Call Senate Permitting Deal a 'Blatant Giveaway to Big Oil and Big Tech'
A bipartisan Senate proposal to overhaul federal permitting rules drew fierce opposition Wednesday from environmental and wildlife advocates, who warn that the legislation could significantly weaken the Endangered Species Act and other key protections in service of boosting President Donald…
Dems Rebuke Trump's Ultra-Rich Treasury Chief Over $910,000 in Unpaid Medicare Taxes
A group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday pushed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to pay back the nearly $1 million in Medicare payroll taxes that he reportedly owes from his years as a hedge fund manager. In a letter to Bessent, the senators pointed to a recent court ruling clarifying the scope…
Your Right to Privacy Doesn't Disappear When You're in Public
Defenders of Flock-style surveillance systems argue that people “have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public.” They're wrong.
Stats don't support Flock's claim of solving 1 million crimes
Flock has made unsupported or inconsistent statistical claims in the past, according to a CBS News review and criminal justice experts.
Court halts execution of Christa Gail Pike for a Tennessee murder she committed at age 18
Tennessee's execution of Christa Gail Pike for a murder she committed at age 18 was halted Wednesday about an hour before it was set to begin, as a federal appeals court sought to review whether her allegations of childhood sexual abuse and rape were fully considered at her sentencing.
As Springfield prepares to bury Haitian student, sympathy surges and deportations continue
(RNS) — From US senators to John Legend, many are voicing support for the city’s Haitian community, even as neo-Nazis marched downtown Saturday.
Are religious charter schools constitutional? After deadlocked SCOTUS decision, another Oklahoma case is trying to find out
(The Conversation) — A new application for a religious charter school is stirring up far-reaching questions about the constitutionality of public aid to faith-based institutions.
ICE Deleted Reviews for Deaths in Custody That Cited Shoddy Medical Care
Three-quarters of ICE’s own 2025 death reviews, briefly posted online, raised substandard and “inappropriate” care of ill detainees. The post ICE Deleted Reviews for Deaths in Custody That Cited Shoddy Medical Care appeared first on The Intercept.
Federal Appellate Court Halts Tennessee's Planned Execution of Christa Pike
A federal appellate court on Wednesday morning temporarily blocked Tennessee from executing Christa Pike, as witnesses had already gathered at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville for the state's first execution of a woman in centuries. A panel from the US Court of Appeals for the…
US can deport the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque on national security grounds, judge rules
CHICAGO (AP) — Salah Sarsour was detained in Milwaukee in March by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Senate Democrats block bill to limit lawmakers' stock trades
A Republican-led effort to approve a House-passed stock trading bill fell short in the Senate, with Democrats saying the restrictions don't go far enough and pushing back against a voter ID provision.
Journalist's Publishing Information About Sealed Arrest Protected by First Amendment
Tech CEO who sued over the publication had to pay about $400K in defendants' attorney fees as a result of the trial court's throwing out the lawsuit, and the Court of Appeal just affirmed the decision.
Exclusive: Cornell rape allegations fuel House Democratic women's Title IX push
A criminal investigation into allegations that a Cornell University student was gang raped by seven fraternity members in 2024 is fueling a new push by House Democratic women to strengthen federal protections against sexual violence on college campuses. Why it matters: The Democratic Women's…
District Court Declares Vacatur (Likely) Unconstitutional
"Even if Congress were to enact a law clearly empowering Article III courts to vacate agency rules or regulations and automatically cause their erasure from the Code of Federal Regulations, vacatur would likely still be inconsistent with the limited nature of the judicial power and the…
US appeals court halts Tennessee execution of Christa Pike
Christa Pike was set to become the first woman executed by Tennessee in more than 200 years.
Judge dismisses most of David Sills’ claims against SBC leaders, orders settlement conference
(RNS) — A federal judge ruled a defamation claim filed by former professor David Sills, who lost his job to sexual misconduct allegations, could go forward against the SBC's Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions, Al Mohler and Southern Seminary.
FTC probing Anthropic and OpenAI over AI safety threats
The regulatory agency's investigation comes amid mounting concerns that AI could pose serious risks to people.
Federal court halts Christa Pike's execution
Christa Pike, 50, has spent three decades on death row for a murder she committed at 18. Hours before her scheduled execution, a federal appeals court issued a temporary stay, halting the process as the court reviews her case. NBC News' Jesse Kirsch and Misty Marris report on Tennessee attorney…
Trump's meeting with tech leaders leaves AI safety more unsettled than ever
Following Trump's lunch with artificial intelligence leaders at the White House, the industry remains largely unchanged on AI safety.
A timeline of developments in AI safety since the attack on Hugging Face
Since OpenAI disclosed this summer that its artificial intelligence system hacked into another AI company in what is now referred to as the Hugging Face incident, other AI companies have jumped on the bandwagon with their own concerning events, such as...
Trump administration considers scaling back border project in Texas' Big Bend National Park
The Trump administration says it's considering reducing the scope of a border security project in Big Bend National Park in Texas
Migrant Caravan Headed For US Border Has 'Zero Chance' Of Entering, DHS Chief Warns
Migrant Caravan Headed For US Border Has 'Zero Chance' Of Entering, DHS Chief Warns Another migrant caravan from Honduras has "zero chance" of entering the United States, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. U.S. Army combat engineers place razor wire on the U.S.-Mexico border wall to reinforce…
Tennessee inmate Christa Pike's execution halted an hour beforehand
Death row inmate Christa Pike got a last-minute reprieve Wednesday when a federal appeals court stopped her execution about an hour before it was set to take place in Nashville. The latest: The court ordered "a short stay of execution" just before 9am CDT so it could consider an ongoing legal…
Catholic Bishop Calls for Month of Fasting and Prayer to Defeat Virginia Ballot Measures
Bishop Michael Burbidge is asking Catholics to spend October fasting and praying to defeat two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. In a video posted Tuesday, Burbidge asked Catholics to observe two weekly disciplines during the month. On Fridays, he asked them to pray the Stations of…
Homeland Security Admits To Watchlisting Americans Based on 'Potential Inaccuracies'
The feds’ response to a lawsuit over their voter fraud investigation program is an admission that their approach didn’t work. But some questions are still unanswered.
Tennessee execution of Christa Gail Pike is halted by a court
A federal appeals court has halted the execution in Tennessee of Christa Pike about an hour before it was set to begin
AI-Powered Concierge Government
Plus: FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv forced to emergency-land, ICE hiring surge, and more...
Supreme Court’s Suncor Case Is ‘Bigger’ Than A ‘Climate’ Policy Dispute
'It's not a fight about climate science. ... It's a fight about whether we're going to allow this maneuver to be what reshapes American society.'
Taiwan analysts say Trump-Xi summit produced no policy shift but real test lies ahead
Taiwan analysts assess whether Xi Jinping secured private concessions from Trump, with arms sales and senior U.S. official visits as key tests ahead.
Republican redistricting in Texas and Florida may not turn out as Trump had hoped
Eric Flores, a former federal prosecutor and Army National Guard infantry captain, is one of the Republican Party's prized recruits in this year's midterm elections
OpenAI debuts "dots" as industry safety focus shifts to "What did my AI assistant do now?"
OpenAI is equipping high-end subscribers with always-on agents, known as dots. It's a bold move from a company that continues to deal with reports of its agents breaking past intended safeguards. Why it matters: AI's safety challenge has moved from "Will the chatbot say something harmful?" to "How…
US Poised To Boot Legal Immigrants From Medicaid, Including Refugees and Sex-Trafficking Victims
The Congressional Budget Office estimated 100,000 more immigrants will be uninsured by 2034 because of Medicaid eligibility changes under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that take effect Oct. 1. A KFF Health News survey of nine states found many more are at imminent risk of losing…
Judge ends federal oversight of Oakland police department after 23 years
A federal judge has ended the 23-year federal monitoring of the Oakland Police Department, marking the longest oversight of a police department in U.S. history
SCOTUS Stays Third-Party Removal Injunction 40 Minutes After Reply Filed
It seems the Justices worked out a plan before the briefing concluded.
Can Republican-Run Florida Lead the Way in AI Regulation?
Florida’s lawsuit against OpenAI defies Trump’s efforts to shield the AI industry from statewide regulation.