Trump Administration Faces Backlash After Minneapolis Shooting; TikTok Investigates "Epstein" Messaging Glitch
Minneapolis, MN – The Trump administration is facing growing bipartisan backlash following a second fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis in just over two weeks. Meanwhile, social media platform TikTok is investigating reports that users are unable to send the word "Epstein" in direct messages, sparking controversy amid recent ownership changes.
President Donald Trump attempted to quell the unrest on Monday by ordering a shake-up of top officials, according to Time. Border czar Tom Homan will head to Minneapolis to manage Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city. Greg Bovino, Border Patrol commander, who has been at the center of the aggressive surge of immigration arrests across the country in recent months, is expected to leave the city on Tuesday along with a contingent of federal agents, the Associated Press reported. Homan is considered a proponent of targeted enforcement, while Bovino has become associated with the highly visible, often indiscriminate raids.
The shooting victim, Alex Pretti, was killed a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Vox reported that the Trump administration's defense of the killing has increasingly centered on the fact that Pretti had a gun. Zack Beauchamp, a senior correspondent at Vox, described the situation as "the unbearable hypocrisy of pro-gun conservatives defending the Minneapolis killing."
In other news, TikTok is investigating reports that users are unable to send the word "Epstein" in direct messages, a technical glitch that has sparked controversy given the recent change in ownership to a U.S.-led consortium including Oracle, according to NPR News. The investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny of content moderation policies on social media platforms and raises questions about potential influence from new investors.
Separately, in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce reported that actress Sydney Sweeney did not obtain permission to hang bras on the Hollywood sign as part of a promotion for a new brand of women's undergarments, Variety reported. The LA Times reported that Sweeney snuck up to the Hollywood sign in the dead of night and covered it in bras.
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Multiple news sources report that TikTok is investigating a glitch preventing users from sending "Epstein" in direct messages amid scrutiny over content moderation following a change in ownership, while actress Sydney Sweeney faced criticism from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Sign Trust for an unauthorized bra-hanging stunt on the Hollywood sign to promote a new undergarment brand.
Multiple news sources reveal a dynamic landscape spanning entertainment, finance, tech, and global affairs, including the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel trailer release, film festival accolades, financial struggles for private equity firms, cannabis legalization in the Caribbean, and record gold prices. Simultaneously, the tech world is seeing AI advancements and ethical scrutiny for major players like OpenAI and Meta, while the entertainment industry witnesses heated bidding wars for new films and alternative social networks gain traction amid potential TikTok restrictions.
Multiple sources indicate a dynamic landscape across tech and global sectors, with Meta's AI subscriptions, scrutiny of X, and lawsuits against Snap highlighting AI's growing influence and ethical concerns, while alternative social networks emerge and Alibaba Cloud challenges Western AI dominance. Globally, trends include Caribbean cannabis legalization, fluctuating airline profits amidst rising fares, and the historical context of sugar cultivation, alongside insights into software engineering career paths and the increasing use of AI for personal communication, signaling a shift in societal relationships.
This week's news, compiled from various sources, highlights Real Madrid and Manchester United's sports wins, the death of journalist Sir Mark Tully, and SpotDraft's $8 million investment in AI contract review. Additionally, a new footprint tracking technology offers a more ethical and accurate way to monitor small mammals for environmental health, while scientists have developed CytoTape, a protein tape recorder for multiplexed and spatiotemporally scalable recording of gene regulation dynamics.
Multiple news sources report a complex situation involving criticism of the Trump administration over the Alex Pretti killing, internal strife within UK political parties, controversy surrounding Khosla Ventures, and a shift in federal immigration enforcement. Simultaneously, a massive snowstorm has blanketed the U.S., causing at least 12 deaths, widespread power outages affecting over a million households, and record-breaking snowfall in numerous cities, with lingering impacts expected due to plummeting temperatures.
Drawing from multiple news sources, Chris Madel, a GOP candidate for Minnesota governor and lawyer for an ICE officer involved in a fatal shooting, has withdrawn from the race, citing his opposition to national Republicans' retribution against state citizens and the Trump administration's handling of political unrest in Minneapolis. Madel, who initially supported ICE's "Operation Metro Surge," now calls it a "disaster," particularly due to its impact on citizens of color, following the death of a U.S. citizen nurse during protests.
This week's news, compiled from multiple sources, encompasses a wide array of events, from sports victories and film festival accolades to significant developments in AI technology with SpotDraft's investment and ethical scrutiny surrounding OpenAI and Meta. Global events include financial challenges for private equity firms, cannabis legalization in the Caribbean, record gold prices, and the release of the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel trailer, illustrating a diverse and dynamic news landscape.
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