“Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, widely believed to have White House ambitions, is facing questions over the accuracy of a story about his family’s background involving being forced to flee the state of South Carolina due to threats from the Ku Klux Klan. ‘I am literally the grandson of someone who was run out of this country by the Ku Klux Klan, right?’ Moore told Time magazine in 2023 in a conversation about how he ‘reconciles Patriotism’ with the country’s ‘racist past.’ … Moore has frequently referenced his grandfather, James Thomas, as the figure in this story, including during a 2020 appearance on the Yang Speaks podcast titled ‘Wes Moore on how the KKK ran his family into exile,’ where he detailed how his grandfather was a minister in Winnsboro, South Carolina, who fled to Jamaica after being threatened by the klan.” (02/10/25)
“Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. avoided impeachment on Tuesday, a largely expected outcome after allies in the lower house of Congress voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the complaints against him. The vote came a week after the House of Representatives’ justice committee dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos, saying they lacked substance. Marcos was accused of betraying the public’s trust, committing graft and corruption, and violating the constitution. … Following the dismissal, impeachment efforts now shift toward Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing another round of complaints after surviving a similar bid last year.” (02/10/26)
“A Los Angeles‑based federal judge on Monday blocked California from enforcing its law that would require ICE agents to remove masks during immigration enforcement operations. Judge Christina Snyder, appointed during the Clinton administration, granted a preliminary injunction against the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ arguing that it discriminated against the federal government by violating the Supremacy Clause. Under the constitutional clause, federal law takes precedence over any conflicting state or local law, rendering the lower-level law unenforceable.” [editor’s note: Perhaps the reporter should actually read the supremacy clause before so confidently getting it completely wrong – TLK] (02/09/26)
“The House Oversight Committee is launching an investigation into reports that a key swing state could have noncitizens both in its jury pools and voter rolls. Committee Chairman James Comer [R-KY] is sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi alongside Rep. John James [R-MI], asking whether a specific county in the Detroit metropolitan area is giving rights exclusive to U.S. citizens to others residing there — which could potentially violate federal law. ‘Non-citizens have appeared in the state’s jury pool, and in some instances, have been registered to vote. The Committee is requesting a briefing to understand the U.S. Department of Justice’s role in investigating such matters, and the potential for similar issues to be occurring nationwide,’ the letter said.” (02/10/25)
“French National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said Tuesday she was opposed to the creation of a parliamentary inquiry into the scandal involving late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, warning that such a move would ‘compete with the justice system.’ Braun-Pivet, an ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, was responding to calls by the left-wing La France insoumise (LFI) party for the establishment of a cross-party inquiry to investigate Epstein’s French ties. … Braun-Pivet’s comments came a day after Macron sought to distance France from the Epstein affair, saying it was ‘a matter that mainly concerns the United States.'” (02/10/26)
“After a month of outrage from the San Diego community, Mayor Todd Gloria has announced the city will walk back new parking fees at Balboa Park. In a statement released Friday, Gloria announced adjustments to the paid-parking program, including making more lots free for residents. … What had previously been free suddenly cost as much as $16 per day for anyone hoping to go out to dinner, visit any of the museums or just go for a walk. … A few days before implementation, visitors spotted vandalized parking kiosks, with foam stuffed into the cardholders and feces covering the screens.” (02/09/26)
“The Trump administration is expected this week to revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, according to a White House official. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule rescinding a 2009 government declaration known as the endangerment finding. That Obama-era policy determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of an official announcement, confirmed the plans, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. ‘This week at the White House, President Trump will be taking the most significant deregulatory actions in history to further unleash American energy dominance and drive down costs,’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Tuesday.” (02/10/25)
“Police say a Mississippi woman, fearing for her life, shot and killed one of two suspects wearing ski masks who broke into her apartment. The incident happened about 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the Park at Inverness Apartments in Jackson. Jackson Police say their investigation revealed two [b]lack males wearing ski masks broke into a woman’s apartment. Fearing for her life, the resident fired a weapon, hitting and killing one of the suspects. The second suspect fled the scene.” (02/09/26)
“Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna claimed on Monday that the Department of Justice improperly redacted the names and faces of six potential co-conspirators of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The two lawmakers, who led the congressional charge to compel the DOJ to release every government file related to Epstein, arrived at Two Constitution Square to review less-redacted versions of the files than have been released to the public so far. After their in-person review on Monday, they again accused the DOJ of violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act. … Massie claimed the men were ‘likely incriminated’ based on the document’s context, but declined for now to share their names. He said he first wanted to give the DOJ a chance to explain why those names weren’t made public.” (02/09/26)
“Israel’s government has taken unilateral steps to give itself greater control over the occupied West Bank, challenging President Trump’s opposition to Israeli annexation of the territory and possibly violating international law. The measures, which make it easier for [squatters to steal] land and undercut the Palestinian Authority in parts of the West Bank that it administers, appear to flout important agreements that Israel signed under the Oslo peace process decades ago. The changes were made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet at a closed-door meeting on Sunday. By enhancing Israel’s control over West Bank territory [within the borders of the State of Palestine], they effectively advance the cause of annexation by degrees — continuing a strategy that the government has been pursuing for years.” (02/09/26)
