Discount store chain Target said Friday that it would join rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under attack from conservative activists and, as of this week, the White House. The Minneapolis-based retailer said the changes to its "Belonging at the Bullseye" strategy would include ending a program it established to help Black employees build meaningful careers, improve the experience of Black shoppers and to promote Black-owned businesses following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Target, which operates nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, said it already had planned to end the racial program this year. The company said Friday that it also would conclude the diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, goals it previously set in three-year cycles.
The city of Huntington Beach is now a non-sanctuary city after the city council voted to approve Mayor Pat Burns' initiative to make that declaration last night. Currently, California is a sanctuary state, meaning local law enforcement cannot cooperate with federal immigration authorities. But in Huntington Beach, local law enforcement would help federal agents make arrests for immigration violations. In a social media post, the city of Huntington Beach said that the intent of this Resolution is to deliberately sidestep the Governor's efforts to subvert the good work of federal immigration authorities and to announce the City's cooperation with the federal government, the Trump Administration, and Border Czar Tom Homan's work. The city attorney also now has the power to defend against any legal action brought by the state against the resolution.
Biden, in final act in office, issues pardons to his family members, due to 'unrelenting attacks' from Trump and allies. read more
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of this week's hazardous winter weather that's expected to bring snow to the Florida Panhandle. Sleet, snow and freezing rain are expected in North Florida in the counties along the Interstate 10 corridor. read more
Rachel Vindman said she was "hurt" by the snub from President Joe Biden when he did not pardon her family for their role in Donald Trump's first impeachment. Vindman is the wife of Trump's impeachment witness and retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was born in Ukraine but immigrated to the United States decades ago. He served under Trump as his director for European Affairs for the U.S. National Security Council from 2018 to 2020 and testified about Trump's Ukraine scandal in 2019. "Whatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed," Rachel Vindman wrote on Bluesky. "I cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt I feel." Whatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed. I cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt I feel.
#3 Yep. For giggles I tried to set up a DR poll earlier, the question was which DR liberal would stroke out first and when?