Alex Baumhardt

A Loophole Allows Ranchers to Renew Grazing Permits With Little Scrutiny of the Environmental Impact With dwindling oversight, cattle are grazing where they’re not supposed to and in greater numbers or for longer periods than permitted. This can spread invasive plants, pushing out native species and ...

NEW: With dwindling oversight, cattle are grazing where they’re not supposed to and in greater numbers or for longer periods than permitted.

This can spread invasive plants, pushing out native species and worsening wildfire risk.

Loving couples ripped apart while a convicted cocaine trafficker who used the Honduran presidency to enrich himself is pardoned. A @nytimes.com front page for our strange times.

Photos from St. Paul today captured by MPR photojournalist Kerem Yücel. He filed them even after being hospitalized after being injured by a less lethal munition.

Judge’s Footnote on Immigration Agents Using AI in Chicago Area Raises Accuracy and Privacy Concerns U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote the footnote in a 223-page opinion issued last week, noting that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines agents’ credibility and “ma...

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote the footnote in a 223-page opinion issued last week, noting that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines agents’ credibility and “may explain the inaccuracy of these reports.”

Noem ordered deportation flights to El Salvador after judicial halt, DOJ tells court | Arizona Mirror Kristi Noem made the call to continue removals of Venezuelans to a brutal Salvadoran prison, despite a judge’s order to stop the deportations

Noem’s decision sent 137 Venezuelan men to a mega-prison for months until the Venezuelan government could broker a prison swap with El Salvador and the United States to have the men returned.

Oregon Rep. Andrea Salinas kept from constituents on visit to Tacoma ICE center • Oregon Capital Chronicle The Democrat’s 6th Congressional District includes areas heavily hit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in recent weeks.

Oregon's U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and an immigration lawyer were unable to meet with constituents at detained at the Tacoma ICE center Tuesday because limited meeting rooms were overbooked. She said detainees have mostly "theoretical access" to lawyers: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/26/o...

Phil Knight is once again rooting for Oregon Republicans next year A recent $3 million donation to back GOP candidates is the largest single contribution by an individual in state history.

Oregon’s richest man again donating record $$ to Republican candidates for state offices www.opb.org/article/2025...

Deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino went off the rails at hello, transcript shows A full transcript of Cmdr. Gregory Bovino’s deposition has been made public in an ongoing lawsuit accusing federal immigration agents of routinely violating a restraining order on tactics in …

Deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino went off the rails at hello, transcript shows

Oregon’s lawsuits against Trump cost a fraction of what state has saved • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon's a part of at least 45 lawsuits against the Trump administration, often teaming up with other states to prevent federal funding cuts.

Oregon has spent at least $19k in legal fees, travel, for lawsuits against federal gov. and Trump admin. Winning those lawsuits has helped the state keep $4.5 billion in federal health, research, education, EV investments @miamaldonado.bsky.social reports: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/25/o...

Farmworkers sue over Trump’s low wages for foreign guest workers • Pennsylvania Capital-Star A California union and a group of current farmworkers from around the country are suing to stop new federal guidelines that cut wages for temporary foreign agriculture workers — helping farmers but hu...

A California union and a group of farmworkers from around the country are suing to stop new, lower-wage federal guidelines that save money for farmers but cut pay for temporary foreign agriculture workers — hurting local laborers as a result, the suit alleges.

From @stateline.org

Article excerpt: Shortly after 8 a.m., Carreto’s phone rang. It was Carlos, telling her an officer with the Florida Highway Patrol had pulled over the truck on Interstate 4 near Tampa. The stated reason: cracks in their windshield. But Carreto was worried. She knew Florida police were collaborating with federal immigration authorities. Her fiancé was undocumented. She says she rushed to the scene and made it there just before the immigration officers. As she feared, Matias had been detained. But to her surprise, so had Carlos. He was just a kid. (ProPublica is only identifying Carlos by his first name because he is a minor.) Carlos was in high school. He’d been living in the United States for over two years and was working toward applying for legal status to stay long term. The government had given her, a legal resident, custody of him. Now he was in handcuffs. Why would they take him too?

1/ THREAD: This year ICE has sent a record 600 immigrant kids into federal shelters, more than in the previous four years combined. Data suggests some are being separated from their families.

For one 15-year-old, it began with a cracked windshield 👇

Chicken v. Trump: Lawsuit claims DHS used excessive force at Portland protests PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man dressed as a chicken, two senior protesters and two freelance journalists are suing the Trump administration. In a class action lawsuit that was filed in federal court…

Chicken v. Trump: Lawsuit claims DHS used excessive force at Portland protests

Press access to Oval Office argued in case involving Trump and wire service WASHINGTON — A three-judge federal appeals panel grilled lawyers for a former White House official and The Associated Press Monday in a case that could significantly overhaul press access to the Oval ...

Press access to Oval Office argued in case involving Trump and The Associated Press. Story by @ashleymurray.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pres...

Judge drops James Comey and Letitia James charges, saying prosecutor served 'unlawfully' A senior federal judge dismissed charges Monday against two public officials with long-running public disputes with President Donald Trump, saying the controversial appointment of the president’s form...

Judge drops James Comey and Letitia James charges, saying prosecutor served 'unlawfully,' reports @fischler.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judg...

Total arrests 289,890 Up 61,800 since the last release People currently in detention 65,140 Up 5,370 Total deportations 290,600 Up 56,390

The Guardian is tracking the Trump administration's campaign of mass deportation.

Since Trump was inaugurated, ICE and CBP:
- arrested nearly 290,000 people
- deported more than 290,000 people

As of Nov 17, 65,000 people are in immigration detention, an all time high

Top FDA drug regulator raises alarms about expediting approvals Richard Pazdur, who assumed his new role this month, has warned that new Trump administration initiatives could be illegal and pose a risk to public health.

Makary is also pushing to change FDA regs affecting depressants, puberty blockers and psychedelics, seeking to cut career scientists out of decisions, our sources told us.

Pazdur has pushed back, saying career experts must have input.

He has also mused about abruptly retiring.

More in our story→

New federal student debt rule seen as tool to enforce Trump agenda • Oregon Capital Chronicle WASHINGTON — A new U.S. Department of Education regulation to narrow eligibility for a key student debt relief program for public service workers has drawn strong opposition from advocates who argue…

A new U.S. Department of Education regulation to narrow eligibility for a key student debt relief program for public service workers has drawn strong opposition from advocates.

Oregon proposes settlement to stop major landlord from hiking rent prices • Oregon Capital Chronicle If the court approves the settlement, Greystar would have to pay $7 million to the nine plaintiff states, which include Oregon.

The country’s largest landlord would stop using algorithmic software to artificially inflate rent prices under a $7 million settlement offer Oregon and eight other states proposed.

Democratic-led states ramp up protections in reproductive health shield laws • Oregon Capital Chronicle Shield laws that protect abortion providers and patients from out-of-state prosecutions have become a point of contention in the fight over access to abortion medication. These measures popped up in n...

Democratic-led states ramp up protections in reproductive health shield laws oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/21/r...

Ellisons Tap Saudis to Fund News Media Takeover - The American Prospect If the Saudi crown prince owns a piece of CNN and CBS News, how will they cover No Kings Days?

David Ellison is asking Saudi Arabia for help buying Warner Bros. He’s looking for Trump’s approval, and promised Paramount will axe any CNN hosts the president doesn’t like. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/S0oAEzS

As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Leave in Droves for ICE Many of the problems the agency is facing now are not new, but staff and prisoners fear an exodus of officers could make life behind bars even worse.

NEW: Federal prison workers are jumping ship & heading to ICE for better pay + bonuses. Already BOP lost >1400 people this year, reversing all of 2024’s staffing gains. It’s an unintended consequence of Trump’s push for mass deportations

My 1st for @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...

Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.

An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.

Alaska didn’t use $5M set aside to fund SNAP during the shutdown, even though benefits were late | Alaska Beacon Alaskans' full food benefits were two weeks late, even though the state had emergency funds to prevent that.

Alaska didn’t use $5M set aside to fund SNAP during the shutdown, even though benefits were late, writes Claire Stremple for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alask...

Gov. Kotek orders state agencies to move faster on clean energy projects, electrification • Oregon Capital Chronicle A new order from Gov. Tina Kotek directs agencies to create policies that will accelerate by 2027 clean energy projects, transmission.

Gov. Tina Kotek wants state agencies to move faster to address climate change, ensure more longterm renewable energy power that is cheap and reliable for Oregonians and fill in gaps from federal disinvestment from clean energy projects. buff.ly/16Uwthk

‘Found money,’ economic resilience dramatically shrink Oregon’s budget deficit • Oregon Capital Chronicle Adjusted corporate income tax receipts, mild revenue increases have modestly improved state’s budget outlook, economists said.

Like putting on an old winter coat and pulling a surprise $20 from the pocket, Oregon's $373 million budget deficit is shrinking, for now, due to what state economists call “found money." But lack of labor statistics means revenue forecast tenuous. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/19/f...

'In general, drug cartels are better classified as criminal organizations rather than terrorist groups, a retired senior military U.S. commander told Task & Purpose.'

Trump administration unveils plan to try to dismantle Department of Education • Rhode Island Current WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration took major steps Tuesday in trying to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, announcing six total inter-agency agreements signed with other de...

Trump administration unveils plan to try to dismantle Department of Education rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/11/18/r...

License plate recognition, wrongful conviction among 2026 priorities for Oregon lawmakers • Oregon Capital Chronicle During a Monday hearing, the six-member Senate Interim Judiciary Committee weighed concerns about controversial license reading technology.

Oregon lawmakers are weighing legislation for next year to regulate local law enforcement’s use of license plate reading software and streamline the compensation process for wrongfully convicted individuals.

Lawmakers might tap two reserve funds to fill Oregon’s budget deficit. What are they? • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon has two reserve funds meant to ensure state agencies and services remain whole and public school budgets aren’t throttled.

The Oregon Legislature is meeting this week to consider some major cuts to current spending levels as a large revenue deficit looms. That’s because the state’s tax code automatically replicates new federal tax cuts, including ones passed this summer that will reduce state revenue. buff.ly/kIxKhTd

Feds ink millions of dollars in contracts to feed, house National Guard in Memphis • Tennessee Lookout The federal government has entered millions of dollars of contracts to purchase food and lodging for the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis.

The total cost in salaries, benefits for up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard personnel in Memphis could reach $26M annually, according to a federal memo filed in court, reports @awadwhani.bsky.gmail.