HoosLeft This Week 6/8/25

This Week’s Rundown: National Stories * FASCISM WATCH * Communities Resist ICE Raids in Cities Across Country * San Diego last Friday * ICE agents were serving the court-authorized warrants, and a large crowd began to gather, chanting "Shame!” They demanded federal agents leave the neighborhood while cursing at them and calling them “Nazis” and “fascists.” Agents used a flash-bang grenade to try to disperse the crowd. * Cincinnati Sunday * Saturday ICE arrests outside Latino-neighborhood Kroger saw one man detained while his family cried out in horror. * Minneapolis Tuesday * Residents noticed federal agents gathering near a Mexican restaurant, quickly assembled a crowd, and formed a human barrier. In response to items being thrown at them, police responded with force, including pepper spray. * Apparently this was not an immigration raid, but related to a criminal case. * Chicago Wednesday * ICE lured individuals to routine immigration check-in appoinments, then took them into custody. * Demonstrators and elected officials confronted agents; police were present but did not participate in raids. * Los Angeles Friday * Dozens across LA detained in Thursday ICE raids * Demonstrators clashed with LAPD riot police Friday. Police deployed tear gas, pepper spray, concussion rounds. * LAPD did not participate in ICE raids. * ESCALATING IN LA CURRENTLY. * TRUMP NATIONALIZES GUARD OVER NEWSOME OBJECTIONS * Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to US, but… https://apnews.com/ahttps://tracreports.org/immigration/quickfacts/ * To be charged with human trafficking, smuggling in Tennessee * Was originally detained in error; no criminal record. Admin accused KAG of being MS-13. Defied court order to bring him home. * Garcia’s lawyer calls charges ‘preposterous’; Nashville US attorney resigns; * THIS HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF A TRUMPED-UP SHOW TRIAL * Trump Admin Aims to Freeze $9.5B, Eliminate CPB Funding https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/04/repub/trump-wants-congress-to-slash-9-4b-in-spending-now-defund-npr-and-pbs * $1.1B to PBS, NPR on chopping block * Calls public media “politically biased and an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.” * President and CEO of PBS Paula Kerger wrote that the “proposed rescissions would have a devastating impact on PBS member stations and the essential role they play in communities, particularly smaller and rural stations that rely on federal funding for a larger portion of their budgets.” * Also seeks to cut $8.3B from foreign aid programs. * PEPFAR AIDS Relief program * “programs that work to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies” * “eliminate programs that are antithetical to American interests and worsen the lives of women and children, like ‘family planning’ and ‘reproductive health,’ LGBTQI+ activities, and ‘equity’ programs,” * Trump/Musk Feud https://www.cnn.com/business/timeline-elon-musk-trump-x-dg * Tuesday - Musk Breaks with Trump Over ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ * Tweets, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” * Correct to oppose the bill, but for the wrong reasons * “Musk’s business interests stand to take a hit if lawmakers approve Trump’s bill, which would slash funding for electric vehicles and related technologies. * Thursday - feud escalates in social media volley * Musk tweets reminding Trump of his own words on debt ceiling & balanced budget * Trump says, “"I'm very disappointed with Elon. I've helped him a lot. He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem & he only developed the problem when he found out we're going to cut EV mandate" * Musk responds, “This bill was never shown to me even once…” * Who elected him to review bills?!? * Claims Trump and R’s would have lost without his support * Musk threatens to form new political party, says “Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years (not at the rate he uses Ketamine) * Trump comes back on his own social media site (how f’d up is it they both have their own?), saying Musk was “wearing thin”, and “went CRAZY!” when Trump “took away his EV Mandate” * Trump threatens Elon’s government subsidies and contracts * Musk goes NUCLEAR, says Trump is in the Jeffrey Epstein files and that’s why they haven’t been released (THIS IS NOT NEWS - Trump’s relationship with Epstein is well-documented; PS so is Musk’s) * Musk threatens to decommission Dragon spacecraft that serves ISS; retweets user calling for Trump’s impeachment * IS THIS ALL FOR SHOW OR A REAL FEUD? * Did Musk already get everything he wanted? (DOGE data) and is THIS why he wanted it? * ”Trump Regime Working with Palantir to Gather Personal Data on Every American: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-silently-employs-palantir-213150870.html * “President Trump’s March executive order for federal data sharing is being implemented through Palantir’s product, Foundry.” * Palantir’s selection was reportedly influenced by Elon Musk’s DOGE * Palantir’s Peter Thiel and Musk are both apartheid South Africa-raised and have a long relationship dating back to PayPal * Where is JD Vance in all of this? * Vance is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thiel * Musk called for Trump’s impeachment, Vance to replace him. * Vought Replaces Musk at DOGE https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-advisor-russell-vought-doge/ * Architect of Project 2025 * More detail-oriented & fanatical than Musk * Some Dems look to snuggle up to Musk https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/05/elon-musk-democrats-donald-trump-00389961 * Ro Khana says Dems should “be in dialogue” with Musk * Centrist Dem Liam Kerr says “it’s a zero-sum game” * Ritchie Torres, “I’m a believer in redemption.” Indiana Stories * Pollster Shows Buttigieg Leading Early ‘28 Dem Presidential Primary * https://www.yahoo.com/news/poll-shows-dems-want-2028-203419834.html * Pete 31.5% * AOC 19.4% * Kamala 16.6% * Booker 10.4% * Newsome 7.1% * Shapiro 4.8% * Whitmer 3.7% * Warnock 1.4% * Who do you like? Overrated? Underrated? Snubs? * State Unveils First Draft of New A-F School Grades https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/05/indiana-unveils-first-draft-of-overhauled-school-accountability-system-to-replace-a-f-grades/ * “a point-based system designed to measure a broader range of student outcomes — from academic proficiency to work-based learning and attendance, as well as soft skills like communication and collaboration.” * Old A-F grading system has been suspended since 2018 * “Supporters of a revamped system, including Republican Gov. Mike Braun and key GOP lawmakers, maintain that it provides needed clarity and transparency for parents. But critics, including some Democrats and educators, have warned against oversimplifying complex school dynamics when evaluating overall performance.” * “Each student’s “score” combines academic mastery — such as ILEARN or SAT performance — with additional indicators including regular attendance, completion of college-level coursework, progress in English language acquisition, and participation in work-based learning or credential programs.” * “We have zero intention or plan (to adjust) those cut scores to make it easier on schools and kids. We want to keep that rigor and that standard high in Indiana and be very honest about where we are,” State Education Secretary Katie Jenner said. “But we want to see the full picture of each child, because so often, when you just do pass or fail … you sometimes lose students in those models.” * Braun Admin Freezes Funding for Elevate Ventures, Promises IEDC Audit https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/25/state-freezes-funding-for-economic-development-affiliate-promises-audit/ * “The IEDC was created as a public-private entity under former Gov. Mitch Daniels but became a major target for scrutiny in the last election cycle, including criticism from Braun.” * “Regarding Elevate Ventures, an economic development affiliate and venture capital firm, allegations include imprecise accounting, questionable staff compensation and … This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com