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Tuesday, October 28, 2025

In an embarrassing moment caught on video, it's clear Donald Trump gets confused and walks away from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. read more


A new court filing in the Northern District of Illinois alleges that a federal immigration agent pointed a gun at a U.S. citizen and made a threatening remark during a protest in central Chicago's Little Village neighborhood last week. read more


Speaking aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during his tour of East Asia, the president appeared to suggest -- in a largely incoherent speech -- that he is pushing for aircraft carriers to use "steam for the catapults" and hydraulics for elevators, while wrongly claiming that water can disable magnets. read more


Thursday, October 23, 2025

Trumpy donors say the pro-Kirk "exposure" project took tens of thousands before going dark. read more


While a federal judge scrutinizes the constitutionality of tactics used by federal immigration authorities during ongoing protests in Chicago, these same agencies are quietly amassing behind-the-scenes surveillance technology. read more


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More: The allegations go beyond a single confrontation between a protester and a federal agent. They highlight a growing conflict over how far the federal government can go in enforcing immigration and security operations inside U.S. cities"and how firmly courts can enforce limits on that power.

With a judge's restraining order already in place, claims that agents ignored it touch on core questions of accountability, the rule of law, and the balance between executive authority and civil liberties on American streets.

The document, filed on behalf of journalism organization the Chicago Headline Club and other plaintiffs, claims that agents from DHS violated a temporary restraining order (TRO) limiting their use of force during protests.

The filing identifies the agent as part of a federal team led by Bovino, the head of the U.S. Border Patrol's Chicago operations.

According to the plaintiffs, a federal officer "pointed a pepper ball gun and then a real gun at declarant Chris Gentry, a combat veteran who was lawfully standing on the side of the road voicing his opposition as agents were driving by in their vehicles."

The filing states that the officer "said bang, bang,' and you're dead liberal.'"

The incident reportedly took place on October 23, during demonstrations in Little Village following federal operations earlier in the week.

Gentry was described as unarmed and not engaged in any unlawful activity.

The same filing also alleges multiple uses of tear gas and pepper munitions by federal agents in violation of Judge Sara L. Ellis's TRO, which restricted the use of crowd-control devices unless there was "an immediate and serious threat of physical harm."

The plaintiffs say the conduct documented on video shows "extreme violence against peaceful and innocent American civilians."

More: Backed by funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has entered into contracts with companies to provide surveillance capabilities like facial recognition algorithms, an iris-scanning identification app, controversial spyware on smartphones, and a real-time smartphone location and social media tracking system. In September alone, ICE racked up $1.4 billion in new surveillance technology contracts, the highest in at least 18 years, according to The Washington Post.

These contracts are in addition to any privately owned surveillance networks to which ICE has access. Flock Safety, for example, has allowed ICE to access over 80,000 of its AI-powered license plate reader cameras installed nationwide, according to 404 Media. The expansive"and growing"mass surveillance camera network captures the license plate number, make, model, and any distinctive features of all passing vehicles, making it possible to track cars and, by extension, drivers, often without a warrant.

Although ICE has sold its surveillance campaign as necessary to locating and deporting undocumented immigrations, the Trump administration has signaled that the technologies will also be used on American citizens. In September, Trump signed an executive order designating antifa a domestic terrorist organization and signaled that federal agencies, including ICE, should devote resources to investigating the network. Todd M. Lyons, acting director of ICE, told Glenn Beck during an interview shortly after the executive order was signed that the agency would "track the money," "ringleaders," and "professional agitators" who are "being brought in" from outside the Chicago area to protest against immigration enforcement. But whether from Chicago or elsewhere, protester or "domestic terrorist," constitutional rights and limitations still apply, although adherence by federal agencies is being questioned.

Critics of mass surveillance have long warned that intrusive technologies could be used to violate Americans' privacy rights. "We don't know if law enforcement or ICE are getting search warrants to deploy this spyware," Maria Villegas Bravo, counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told the Post. "It's also a First Amendment issue because your phone contains all your communications, all your expressions ... it has your contact lists, it has your social media. Any political organizing people do," she continued, is "typically on social media now, or over the phone."

Argentine peso weakens to fresh low despite US interventions

The Argentine peso has fallen below the level it reached before the US Treasury began purchases earlier this month, in a sign that the Trump administration's financial support is failing to halt the currency's slide ahead of a crucial election for libertarian president Javier Milei.

The peso dropped almost 1 per cent in early trading on Monday to 1,476 against the dollar, touching a fresh record intraday low, before paring its losses. The level is close to the bottom of an exchange rate band adopted in April.

The slide has resumed despite three purchases of pesos by the US Treasury since October 9 " which Argentine economists estimate total roughly $400mn, although neither government has confirmed the figure " as well as the announcement of a $20bn currency swap line between the two countries.

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