POLITICS NEWS
Showing 12 articles
AP
Chicago Prosecutor Admits Personal Pitch to Grand Jury in Immigration Protest Case","description":"U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros publicly acknowledges he personally spoke to jurors, a rare admission amid allegations of grand jury misconduct linked to the Trump-era immigration sweep prosecutions.","summary":"In a rare admission, Chicago’s top federal prosecutor Andrew Boutros disclosed that he addressed a grand jury about the immigration protest case. He claimed his remarks were meant to remind jurors of impartiality, yet critics view the action as an overstep. The indictment was later dismissed due to alleged procedural errors, highlighting broader DOJ struggles with grand jury handling.","image":"https://assets.apnews.com/7b/af/5e2193159b829937a1a22ebfa897/2434212dec644fda8854c2025f5ec4d6","text":"<p>In a surprising turn, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, released a five‑page statement Tuesday admitting he personally spoke to a grand jury in the case that eventually led to the indictment and dismissal of protesters who opposed the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps. The admission marks the first time a federal prosecutor has been candid about such direct contact with a grand jury, a process that is normally shrouded in secrecy.</p> <p>Boutros’s statement includes transcript excerpts in which he says he was “there only to remind jurors of their obligation to be fair and to apply the law impartially.” However, he also told jurors to “please raise your hand” if they “cannot set aside their personal feelings about immigration or any other case.” Defense attorneys have called the remarks a chilling reminder that the prosecutor was stepping beyond the traditional bounds of a grand‑jury proceeding.</p> <p>The indictment, handed up on the third try, was eventually dismissed on May 21 after a U.S. District Court judge determined that a former assistant U.S. attorney’s misconduct had tainted the grand‑jury process. Boutros later told the judge that “no one acted with the intent to mislead.” Yet the controversy underscores the broader challenges the Justice Department has faced during the second Trump administration.</p> <p>Other cases have revealed similar irregularities. In Wyoming, a U.S. attorney’s remarks that the accused were “bad guys” and “murderers” led to the dismissal of charges against nine people. In Nebraska, a federal magistrate judge scolded a Trump loyalist who had helped secure the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, citing “profound investigative missteps.” Don Lemon’s case against an independent journalist has also drawn attention due to lawsuits seeking grand‑jury transcripts.</p> <p>Since his appointment in 2025, Boutros has been criticized by Democratic senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who accuse him of “deep internal dysfunction” in his office and have called for his resignation.</p>
AP
Pope Leo XIV’s AI Manifesto Sparks Meme Storm","description":"When Pope Leo XIV called for strict AI regulation, humor hit social media, turning Vatican messages into viral memes and sparking debate about faith and tech.","summary":"Pope Leo XIV released a sweeping manifesto calling for responsible AI development. The pope’s call quickly became fodder for internet memes, with the #PopeLeoAI trend featuring playful videos and jokes. The Vatican’s effort to engage with tech giants was backed by a co‑author from Anthropic. Meanwhile, faith leaders and scholars interpret the pope’s stance as a modern vocal call for moral responsibility in technology.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/0c2adf4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4644x3096+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F09%2F50%2Fd6d54d85acef2b245afb32528215%2F9b934d6605e94cbcb0d692ade798c929","text":"<p>After Pope Leo XIV proclaimed his sweeping manifesto on artificial intelligence, the Vatican’s cautionary tone became a viral meme. An Instagram account with more than 3 million followers posted a video of the pope’s call to \"disarm AI\", captioning it \"Love my woke pope (I’m not even Catholic).\" </p>\n<p>On X, a user riffed with a meme echoing the encyclical, saying: \"The atheism leaving my body the moment the pope starts talking about how AI is an affront to God and the new Tower of Babel.\" The jokes illustrate a generation’s inversion of papal rhetoric: turning grave warnings into joking banter.</p>\n<p>\"People have really been looking for a response to AI,\" says 27‑year‑old Boston comedian Isabel Thurston. \"This is the first time the world’s religious leader is speaking to technology on such a scale.\" </p>\n<p>The announcement came just months after faith leaders and tech CEOs began dialogues in Silicon Valley over AI’s social impact. Pope Leo, a U.S. native, famously wore Nike sneakers during an appearance and quoted Gandalf from Tolkien’s \"Lord of the Rings\" in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. The pope’s casual approach has helped him tap into pop‑culture memes while maintaining a serious tone.</p>\n<p>Forty‑two‑thousand words of the encyclical urge \"men and women of goodwill\" to take a hand in building a more humane society. In the video, Leo humorously answered a youth’s request for the silly 6‑7 meme, a basketball‑like joke that made the pope a meme icon. The hilarity continues in his popemobile tours, where he waves to crowds with a grin.</p>\n<p>But the press is not uniformly amused. Some critics question the decision to partner with Anthropic’s co‑founder Christopher Olah, suggesting the pope may be leaning toward tech‑centric solutions. Others believe the pope’s critique of the outdated \"just war\" doctrine reflects a deep shift toward dialogue and forgiveness.</p>\n<p>Besides AI, Leo’s cultural ventures include hosting a Hollywood “World of Cinema” day and even golfing with the Chicago White Sox. He has taken out a custom Knicks jersey bearing \"Pope Leo 14\" as a sign of outreach to American pop culture. This visible blending of theology and entertainment has become a magnet for meme culture.</p>\n<p>Speakers from the Vatican and outside note that the pope’s embrace of cultural fluency may attract lapsed Catholics and resonant voices back to the faith. As Robert Orsi of Northwestern University points out: \"At times I think the language in this encyclical truly mirrors the Declaration of Independence.\" </p>\n<p>Ultimately, Pope Leo XIV is using both memes and ministry to offer a modern, relatable message: faith cannot ignore the digital age, but it can speak guided by human dignity and moral responsibility. The Roman presidency reminds us that the conversation between technology and tradition is only just beginning.</p>
AP
Ghanaian Mother and Child Detained at U.S. Airport Then Extradited to Ghana","description":"A pregnant Ghanaian woman and her son were held for days in a windowless detention room at Washington Dulles before being ordered deported by a federal judge.","summary":"Annabella Gyasi, 38, and her seven‑year‑old son were arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport after claiming they feared returning to Ghana. The pair suffered two hospitalizations for pregnancy complications and lived in a windowless detention cell. A U.S. District Judge ruled that it was in the best interests of justice for them to return to Ghana, and the attorneys said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s treatment was inhumane.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/7fad3ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5615x3743+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fe6%2Fa4%2F3e5557ce07217991b82efa1b1aea%2F3eba7085f0e64648bfa4a8cbc5d49bfb","text":"<p>Annabella Gyasi, 38, arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 19 to seek a medical appointment for her son, who was born with severely malformed hands. While she and her son were in possession of valid tourist visas, immigration officials detoured them after Gyasi reported that she and her child had faced persecution in Ghana and feared returning. <b>Gyasi’s interview with the officers highlighted her concerns and led to a detention in a windowless cell at the airport.</b></p>\n\n<p>During the detention, the mother was hospitalized twice for pregnancy complications, including vaginal bleeding and high blood pressure. In the run‑up to a court hearing, lawyer Marah K. Amankwah said the pair had no viable alternatives and ultimately agreed to leave the country. <b>U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema issued an order in early Friday saying, “the welfare of the petitioners and the interests of justice are best served by allowing petitioners to return home immediately.”</b></p>\n\n<p>The Department of Homeland Security asserted that every detainee receives “appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.” Civil liberties advocates, however, countered that the couple was repeatedly denied additional food even after stating hunger. ACLU‑Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer remarked that while the pair’s release was welcome, “no one should be subjected to the inhumane conditions they endured.”</p>\n\n<p>Gyasi and her son departed for Ghana that evening, and a return flight was scheduled for Friday night, per the order by Judge Brinkema. The case underscores the plight of travel‑bound migrants who, despite legitimate visas, may still face harsh detainment under the U.S. asylum framework.</p>
Follow us
© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.