Tuesday, April 22
Samir Alsheikh, a former Syrian prison head, was charged in the US with torturing political prisoners during his tenure at Adra Prison. He allegedly oversaw brutal practices and later lied on immigration applications. Alsheikh faces potential decades-long prison sentences if convicted of torture and immigration fraud.
97-year-old Judge Pauline Newman is fighting her suspension from the Federal Circuit, denying claims of mental unfitness. She argues delays in her opinions were due to meticulousness, not cognitive decline, and claims colleagues threatened her for seeking transparency. Her legal team, the NCLA, calls the suspension unconstitutional, citing clean medical evaluations and lack of due process.
Argentina, under President Milei, achieved its first fiscal surplus in over a century through spending cuts and eliminating monetary emission. Inspired by this, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are leading the DOGE initiative in the US to tackle government waste, echoing Milei's approach. While facing challenges, DOGE aims to streamline federal spending and address the US's growing deficit.
Podcast host Alex Cooper expressed surprise at the $100,000 cost of recreating her studio for Kamala Harris's campaign appearance, calling the set "not that nice." Harris's campaign faced criticism for extravagant spending, including a Vegas display and extensive advertising, despite raising billions.
Elon Musk condemned puberty blockers as a "horrific crime" after the UK banned their use for children under 18, citing safety concerns. Musk's stance stems from personal experience with his transgender child. The ban, while praised by some as a protective measure, faces criticism from transgender advocates. The UK plans further clinical trials to assess the treatment's efficacy.
