Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 52

Trump honors Purple Heart recipients, including 3 who sent him medals after attempt on his life

By MEG KINNARD

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump recognized nearly 100 recipients of the Purple Heart at the White House on Thursday, including three service members who gave him their own medals after an attempt on his life at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.

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Trump opened the event marking National Purple Heart Day by noting that dozens of the award’s recipients were at the ceremony in the East Room. The Republican president offered “everlasting thanks to you and your unbelievable families.”

But he had special words for the trio of veterans who sent Trump their medals after the 2024 shooting in Butler. Trump said the trio, “showed me the same unbelievable gesture of kindness.”

“What a great honor to get those Purple Hearts. I guess, in a certain way, it wasn’t that easy for me either, when you think of it,” Trump said of the attempt on his life. “But you went through a lot more than I did, and I appreciate it very much.”

After a shooter’s bullet pierced the upper part of Trump’s right ear in Butler just days before the 2024 Republican National Convention, the then-Republican presidential candidate was gifted medals from some Purple Heart recipients. The medals were presented to him at campaign events during the race’s closing months.

According to the White House, some of those Purple Heart recipients were brought to Trump’s campaign stops so that he could return their medals to them.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also attended, along with Chris LaCivita, Trump’s former campaign co-manager and a Marine veteran who is also a Purple Heart recipient.

National Purple Heart Day is marked annually on Aug. 7.

President Donald Trump departs an event to mark National Purple Heart Day in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)President Donald Trump, left, takes a selfie with an attendee as he departs an event to mark National Purple Heart Day in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, watches as President Donald Trump departs an event to mark National Purple Heart Day in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends an event to mark National Purple Heart Day in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Show Caption1 of 4President Donald Trump departs an event to mark National Purple Heart Day in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Expand

The Purple Heart, the oldest military award still in use and is awarded to service members who are killed or wounded while engaging in enemy action or resulting from acts of terrorism. According to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, more than 1.8 million medals have been presented since the award’s inception in 1782.

Trump also highlighted the stories of valor of other Purple Heart recipients, including Army Spc. Kevin Jensen whose Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2008. Jensen pulled fellow Purple Heart recipient, Capt. Sam Brown, from the flames.

“He flew 10 feet up in the air, exploded in flames. The whole place was in flames, including, unfortunately, Kevin,” Trump said of Jansen. “He suffered deep, third-degree burns all over his body. He was in trouble, big trouble. Despite the agony, he selflessly ran to the aid of his platoon leader.”

Trump also used the ceremony to gloat about having authorized a 2020 U.S. drone strike, during his first term, that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Trump derided Soleimani on Thursday as “father of the roadside bomb.”

“Where is he? Where is he?” Trump scoffed to attendee laughter. “Where is Soleimani?”

Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP. Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed reporting.

Trump administration asks high court to lift restrictions on Southern California immigration stops

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to halt a court order restricting immigration stops that swept up at least two U.S. citizens in Southern California.

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The emergency petition comes after an appeals court refused to lift a temporary restraining order barring authorities from stopping or arresting people based solely on factors like what language speak or where they work.

The move is the latest in a string of emergency appeals from the Trump administration to the high court, which has recently sided with the Republican president in a number of high-profile cases.

The Justice Department argued that federal agents are allowed to consider those factors when ramping up enforcement of immigration laws in Los Angeles, an area it considers a “top enforcement priority.”

Trump officials asked the justices to immediately halt the order from U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong in Los Angeles. She found a “mountain of evidence” that enforcement tactics were violating the U.S. Constitution in what the plaintiffs called “roving patrols.”

Her ruling came in a lawsuit filed by immigrant advocacy groups who accused President Donald Trump’s administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Trump’s Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the justices to immediately halt Frimpong’s order, arguing that it puts a “straitjacket” on agents in an area with a large number of people in the U.S. illegally.

“No one thinks that speaking Spanish or working in construction always creates reasonable suspicion … But in many situations, such factors—alone or in combination—can heighten the likelihood that someone is unlawfully present in the United States,” Sauer wrote.

Department of Homeland Security attorneys have said immigration officers target people based on illegal presence in the U.S., not skin color, race or ethnicity.

Frimpong’s order bars authorities from using factors like apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someone’s occupation as the only basis for reasonable suspicion for detention.

The Los Angeles region has been a battleground for the Trump administration after its aggressive immigration strategy spurred protests and the deployment of the National Guards and Marines for several weeks.

Plaintiffs on the lawsuit before Frimpong included three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens. One was Los Angeles resident Brian Gavidia, who was shown in a June 13 video being seized by federal agents as he yelled, “I was born here in the states, East LA bro!”

He was released about 20 minutes later after showing agents his identification, as was another citizen stopped at a car wash, according to the lawsuit.

Victims feeling exhausted and anxious about wrangling over Epstein files

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ and JAIMIE DING

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein are feeling skeptical and anxious about the Justice Department’s handling of records related to the convicted sex offender, with some backing more public disclosures as an overdue measure of transparency, and others expressing concerns about their privacy and the Trump administration’s motivations.

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In letters addressed to federal judges in New York this week, several victims or their attorneys said they would support the public release of grand jury testimony that led to criminal indictments against Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell — if the government agreed to allow them to review the material and redact sensitive information.

The Justice Department has asked the court to take the rare step of unsealing transcripts of that secret testimony, in part to placate people who believe that the government has hidden some things it knows about Epstein’s wrongdoing.

Other victims, meanwhile, accused President Donald Trump of sidelining victims as he seeks to shift the focus from Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he habitually sexually abused underage girls. Some expressed concern that the administration — in its eagerness to make the scandal go away — might give Maxwell clemency, immunity from future prosecution or better living conditions in prison as part of a deal to get her to testify before Congress.

“I am not some pawn in your political warfare,” one alleged victim wrote in a letter submitted to the court by her lawyer this week. “What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely.”

FILE – Virginia Giuffre speaks during a news conference outside a Manhattan court in New York, Aug. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Added another victim, in a letter submitted anonymously on Wednesday: “This is all very exhausting.”

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. A top Justice Department official, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, interviewed Maxwell for nine hours late last month, saying he wanted to hear anything she had to say about misdeeds committed by Epstein or others. After that interview, Maxwell was moved from a federal prison in Florida to a low-security prison camp in Texas.

Alicia Arden, who said Epstein sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s, held a news conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles. She said she would support the release of additional material related to the case, including a transcript of Maxwell’s interview with Blanche.

Alicia Arden, a woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual battery in 1997, arrives for a news conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Alicia Arden, a woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual battery in 1997, gets emotional while reading her statement beside her attorney Gloria Allred, foreground, during a news conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Show Caption1 of 2Alicia Arden, a woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual battery in 1997, arrives for a news conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Expand

But she also expressed outrage at the possibility that Maxwell could receive clemency or other special treatment through the process, adding that the Justice Department’s approach had been “very upsetting” so far.

The Trump administration has faced weeks of furor from some segments of the president’s political base, which have demanded public disclosure of files related to Epstein. Epstein has long been the subject of conspiracy theories because of his friendships with the rich and powerful, including Trump himself, Britain’s Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton.

Last month, the Justice Department announced it would not release additional files related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

Prosecutors later asked to unseal the grand jury transcripts, though they’ve told the court they contain little information that hasn’t already been made public. Two judges who will decide whether to release the transcripts then asked victims to share their views on the matter.

In a letter submitted to the court Tuesday, attorneys Brad Edwards and Paul Cassell, who represent numerous Epstein victims, wrote: “For survivors who bravely testified, the perception that Ms. Maxwell is being legitimized in public discourse has already resulted in re-traumatization.”

An attorney for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said this week that she opposed the release of the grand jury transcripts.

“Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not,” he wrote. “Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable, and her due process rights remain.”

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment on the victims’ statements.

Trump defends the US economy with charts after job reports showed warning signs

By JOSH BOAK

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump unexpectedly summoned reporters to the Oval Office on Thursday to present them with charts that he says show the U.S. economy is solid following a jobs report last week that raised red flags and led to the Republican firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Joining Trump to talk about the economy was Stephen Moore, a senior visiting fellow in economics at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and the co-author of the 2018 book “ Trumponomics.”

Flipping through a series of charts on an easel, Moore sought to elevate Trump’s performance as president and diminish the economic track record of former President Joe Biden. Trump stood next to Moore and interjected with approvals.

The moment in the Oval Office spoke to the president’s hopes to reset the narrative of the U.S. economy. While the stock market has been solid, job growth has turned sluggish and inflationary pressures have risen in the wake of Trump imposing a vast set of new tariffs, which are taxes on imports.

Moore said he phoned Trump because he put together some data that shows he was correct to dismiss Erika McEntarfer as the head of the BLS. He noted that’s because reports from the BLS had overestimated the number of jobs created during the last two years of Biden’s term by 1.5 million.

“I think they did it purposely,” said Trump, who has yet to offer statistical evidence backing his theory. Revisions are a standard component of jobs reports and tend to be larger during periods of economic disruption.

The economy has seldom conformed to the whims of any president, often presenting pictures that are far more mixed and nuanced than what can easily be sold to voters. Through the first seven months of this year, employers have added 597,000 jobs, down roughly 44% from the gains during the same period in 2024.

The July jobs report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added last month, while the May and June totals were revised downward by 258,000.

While Biden did face downward revisions on his job numbers, the economy added 2 million jobs in 2024 and 2.6 million in 2023.

The fundamental challenge in Biden’s economy was the jolt of inflation as the annual rate of the consumer price index hit a four-decade high in June 2022. That level of inflation left many households feeling as though groceries, gasoline, housing and other essentials were unaffordable, a sentiment that helped to return Trump to the White House in the 2024 election.

There are signs of inflation heating back up under Trump because of his tariffs. On Thursday, Goldman Sachs estimated that the upcoming inflation report for July will show that consumer prices rose 3% over the past 12 months, which would be up from a 2.3% reading in April.

Trump promised that he could galvanize a boom. And when nonpartisan data has indicated something closer to a muddle, he found an advocate in Moore, whom he nominated to serve as a Federal Reserve governor during his first term. Moore withdrew his name after facing pushback in the Senate.

Moore said that through the first five months of Trump’s second term in office that “the average median household income adjusted for inflation and for the average family in America, is already up $1,174.” Moore said his numbers are based on unpublished Census Bureau data, which can make them difficult to independently verify.

“That’s an incredible number,” Trump said. “If I would have said this, nobody would have believed it.”

JD Vance went kayaking for his birthday. Secret Service had the river level raised

By JULIE CARR SMYTH

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vice President JD Vance’s security detail had an Ohio river’s water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday.

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The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel “could operate safely” while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati.

But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice president’s entitlement, particularly given the Trump administration’s focus on slashing government spending.

Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that “it’s outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.”

The Corps of Engineers declined to address any financial impact of raising the river. Spokesman Gene Pawlik said the agency’s Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami “to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.” He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice.

“It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,” he said in a statement. “Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.” Vance’s birthday was on Aug. 2.

Vance spokesman Parker Magid said the vice president was unaware the river had been raised.

“The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,” he said via text.

The Little Miami River flows in Oregonia, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said.

The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family’s visit to India.

A sign for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is seen along the Little Miami River, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)Flags fly at Caesar Creek Marina at Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)Show Caption1 of 2A sign for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is seen along the Little Miami River, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)Expand

Such special treatment isn’t reserved for one political party.

When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released 4 billion gallons of water to raise the river’s level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service — and Gore also experienced political pushback.

Gore’s campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released.

Monterey approves stricter sidewalk vending rules

MONTEREY – The Monterey City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve tighter regulations on sidewalk vending throughout the city, particularly in high-traffic areas like Cannery Row and the waterfront near Wharf 1.

The updated ordinance limits where and when vendors can operate, citing pedestrian congestion, emergency access and public safety concerns. Vendors will now be required to be at least 10 feet away from other vendors and infrastructure like driveways and crosswalks, and at least 25 feet from wharf entrances, beach access points and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. Equipment is restricted to certain dimensions, and the use of items like portable generators, wood-burning ovens and helium balloons is banned.

With these changes in place, city staff say about 13 vendors will be able to set up on the Wharf on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The ordinance also prohibits vending on or along the Recreation Trail and Simoneau Transit Plaza, and restricts vending on sidewalks between the Harbormaster’s Office and Wharf 1. Roaming sidewalk vending in residential areas is limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and vending hours in nonresidential zones are capped at 10 p.m.

The move came after pushback from several sidewalk vendors, who say little to none of their ideas were included in the proposed changes.

Mayor Tyller Williamson acknowledged the concerns shared by vendors but stood by the decision.

“It’s disappointing to see how we got here, and that there wasn’t a greater effort to collaborate and find common ground,” Williamson said. “I appreciate the stories being shared about the livelihoods of the vendors. This isn’t being prejudiced. I’ve walked by that area and seen huge crowds and had trouble walking by.”

City staff previously rejected vendor requests for expanded hours and vending along the seawall, citing safety concerns and limited space for pedestrians, bikers and emergency vehicles.

Council member Ed Smith agreed, saying there needs to be a set of rules and regulations in place in order for the vending space to operate smoothly and safely.

“We’ve had ambiguity in the area,” Smith said. “As much as city staff and this council has tried to figure this out, we have limited space and if we were to go to larger vendor space, we would be forced to reduce the number of vendors, so this is a compromise.”

The ordinance reflects alignment with state laws, including Senate Bill 946 and anticipated changes under Senate Bill 635, which, if passed, would prohibit background checks for vendors. Some sections of the city code will be repealed or updated if SB 635 becomes law.

The revised rules will take effect 30 days from adoption.

Toro Park Traffic Project, off Monterey-Salinas Hwy., begins phase two

SALINAS – The Toro Park Traffic Project, which aims to address safety and congestion issues on Portola Drive during commuter hours, moved into its second phase earlier this week.

Since the pilot project ended last month, concerns have reemerged that cut-through traffic in Toro Park would return and again present problems just as the new school year begins.

The traffic project’s second phase will redirect traffic away from Toro Park during early morning peak commute hours which will help locals during weekday school drop-off hours.

The second phase of the Toro Park Traffic Project was developed with community input, according to the county, and beginning this week, an early morning partial road closure was put in place for westbound Portola Drive traffic, from 6-9 a.m., Monday through Friday, coinciding with school traffic.

There will be an early morning partial road closure for westbound Portola Drive traffic, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, coinciding with the school traffic. (County of Monterey)

In the Toro Park area, westbound traffic will be blocked at the driveway of Toro Elementary School, between the intersections of Torero Drive and Portola Drive, and Davenrich Street and Portola Drive. Vehicles will not be able to enter Highway 68 from Torero Drive. The road will reopen at 9 a.m. to regular traffic. The weekday partial closures will continue through June 2026.

This second phase traffic project is a partnership again between the County of Monterey and TAMC, and this time, includes the special district which encompasses the Toro Park area – County Service Area 15. Traffic will be monitored during the project and traffic data and community feedback will be reviewed for possible permanent solutions.

Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 runs parallel to Portola Drive where commuters had been exiting the highway to use Toro Park streets to bypass traffic congestion and reenter the highway at another point further down forcing residents and school children to deal with drivers in a rush to get ahead of the traffic pack.

The original Toro Park Pilot Project, a collaboration with the County of Monterey and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, was put in place to prevent cut-through commuter traffic from July 12, 2024 to July 11 this year. The pilot project addressed safety and congestion concerns on Portola Drive due to commuters using the Toro Park community as a short cut by blocking the exit at Torero Drive.

The project was developed by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, as well as Monterey County and residents of Serra Village and Toro Park, and aimed to help define a long-term solution to keep traffic from diverting off Monterey-Salinas Highway.

The Toro Park Traffic Project is a Measure X funded project. Measure X is the 2016 ballot measure approved by 67.7% of Monterey County voters to generate an estimated $20 million annually for a total of $600 million over 30 years through a retail transactions and use tax of a three-eighths’ of 1%. The revenue from the sales tax measure is used to fund transportation safety and mobility projects in Monterey County.

Can Trump hold a census in the middle of a decade and exclude immigrants in the US illegally?

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Thursday instructed the Commerce Department to have the Census Bureau start work on a new census that would exclude immigrants who are in the United States illegally from the head count which determines political power and federal spending.

The census will be based on “modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024,” the Republican president said on his social media platform.

Experts said it was unclear what exactly Trump was calling for, whether it was changes to the 2030 census or a mid-decade census, and, if so, whether it would be used for a mid-decade apportionment, which is the process of divvying up congressional seats among the states based on the population count.

Here’s some answers to questions Thursday’s post raises:

Can Trump do this?

It would be extremely difficult to conduct a mid-decade census, if not impossible, according to experts.

Any changes in conducting a U.S. census would require alterations to the Census Act and approval from Congress, which has oversight responsibilities, and there likely would be a fierce fight.

The federal law governing the census permits a mid-decade head count for things like distributing federal funding, but it can’t be used for apportionment or redistricting and must be done in a year ending in 5. Additionally, the 14th Amendment says that “the whole number of persons in each state” are to be counted for the numbers used for apportionment, and the Census Bureau has interpreted that to mean anybody residing in the United States regardless of legal status. Federal courts have repeatedly supported that interpretation, though the Supreme Court has blocked recent efforts to change that on procedural rather than legal grounds.

“He cannot unilaterally order a new census. The census is governed by law, not to mention the Constitution,” said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who consults on census issues.

Then there is the question of logistics. The once-a-decade census is the biggest non-military undertaking by the federal government, utilizing a temporary workforce of hundreds of thousands of census takers. It can take as much as 10 years of planning.

“This isn’t something that you can do overnight,” said New York Law professor Jeffrey Wice, a census and redistricting expert. “To get all the pieces put together, it would be such a tremendous challenge, if not impossible.”

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A mid-decade census has never been conducted before.

In the 1970s, there was interest in developing data from the middle of the decade for more accurate and continuous information about American life, and a mid-decade census was considered. But the funding from Congress never came through, said Margo Anderson, a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who has written extensively on the history of the census.

Decades later, those wishes for continuous data would develop into the American Community Survey, the annual survey of American life based on responses from 3.5 million households.

In his first term, President Donald Trump, a Republican, unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form and signed orders which would have excluded people in the U.S. illegally from the apportionment figures and mandate the collection of citizenship data through administrative records.

The attempt was blocked by the Supreme Court, and both orders were rescinded when Democratic President Joe Biden arrived at the White House in January 2021, before the 2020 census figures were released by Census Bureau.

Any attempt at a repeat would guarantee legal challenges.

“The census isn’t just a head count. It is meant to reflect America as it is – not as some would prefer it to be — and determines how critical resources are allocated,” ACLU Voting Rights project director Sophia Lin Lakin said in a statement. “Nobody should be erased from it. We won’t hesitate to go back to court to protect representation for all communities.”

What is a census used for?

Besides being used to divvy up congressional seats among the states and redraw political districts, the numbers derived from the once-a-decade census are used to guide the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual government spending.

The federal funding is distributed to state and local governments, nonprofits, businesses and households, paying for health care, education, school lunch programs, child care, food assistance programs and highway construction, among other things.

Why is Trump doing this?

A Republican redistricting expert had written that using citizen voting-age population instead of the total population for the purpose of redrawing congressional and legislative districts could be advantageous to Republicans and non-Hispanic whites.

Critics believe the writings of Republican redistricting expert Tom Hofeller inspired the first Trump administration’s attempt at restricting the apportionment count and guided legislation introduced this year by Republican lawmakers to add a citizenship question to the 2030 census questionnaire. Trump has been open about his intent to increase the number of Republican seats in Congress and maintain the GOP majority in next year’s midterm elections.

Even though redistricting typically occurs once every 10 years following the census, Trump is pressuring Republicans in Texas to redistrict again, claiming they are “entitled” to five additional Republican seats. Trump’s team is also engaged in similar redistricting discussions in other GOP-controlled states, including Missouri and Indiana.

Some critics see the effort as part of Trump’s wider effort to control the federal statistical system, which has been considered the world’s gold standard.

Last Friday, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after standard revisions to the monthly jobs report showed that employers added 258,000 fewer jobs than previously reported in May and June. The revisions suggested that hiring has severely weakened under Trump, undermining his claims of an economic boom.

“Trump is basically destroying the federal statistical system,” Anderson said. “He wants numbers that support his political accomplishments, such as he sees them.”

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social

California court rules UC hiring practice is discriminatory

The University of California must reconsider its policy barring students living in the country illegally from on-campus jobs because the practice is discriminatory, a state appeals court ruled this week.

The ruling does not require UC to change the policy but requires that the university “not rely on litigation risk alone” as justification for it. The system has seven days to revisit its policy.

The California Court of Appeal’s decision comes months after a UCLA alumnus, Jeffry Umaña Muñoz, and UCLA lecturer, Iliana Perez, filed a lawsuit in October alleging UC’s policy is discriminatory, stifles academic and professional opportunities for students living in the country illegally and forces them to seek more dangerous and “exploitative” work opportunities off campus.

“As someone who was undocumented for 27 years, I’ve had to navigate higher education and the labor market without work authorization,” Perez said in a statement Wednesday. “I intimately know the real impact of these barriers…Undocumented students belong in our institutions, in our workforce and in our future. It’s time to open the doors to employment so they can thrive—not just survive.”

UC said it is reviewing the court’s ruling but did not say whether the university would change its hiring policy.

“To the extent it’s compliant with the law, the university continues to believe undocumented students deserve the same opportunities as our other students,” UC spokesperson Stett Holbrook said in a statement Wednesday.

Perez and Muñoz’s lawsuit alleged that while the UC Board of Regents has a “longstanding policy” of refusing to hire students living in the country illegally for on-campus job opportunities, many students had been unaffected because the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program authorized students to reside and work in the United States since its launch in 2012.

But DACA has been challenged in several lawsuits since the Trump administration first attempted to rescind the program in September 2017. DACA renewal applications are being accepted and processed, but the government has not processed new requests since 2018.

And while the California Dream Act — a financial aid application established in 2001 — allows students living in the country illegally to apply for and receive financial aid, it does not provide work authorization.

The Higher Ed Immigration Portal – which compiles state and federal data to support immigrant and international students – estimates there are approximately 102,938 students living in the country illegally who are enrolled at higher education institutions in California. Around 64,343 are not eligible for DACA and therefore not eligible for work authorization or campus jobs.

As more students who could not receive DACA — including Muñoz himself — enrolled at UC and were unable to seek jobs on campus, they began to push the system to pass a policy granting them permission to work on campus.

The regents began exploring the possibility of amending the university’s policy in 2023 but reversed course shortly after over concerns about putting the system at risk of violating federal law and subjecting the university to fines, suspended federal funding or criminal penalties.

The debate revolves around the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which prevents the hiring of people without legal status. The lawsuit argues it doesn’t apply to state employers like UC, while UC attorneys argued the federal government could interpret the law to include state employers and penalize the system.

“I know that many in our community will be disappointed that we are unable to take immediate action,” said UC President Michael Drake at a January 2024 regents meeting. “As an individual, I would like nothing more than to do so right here, right now, because it is the right thing to do,” he added. “However, we have a fiduciary responsibility to consider all possible ramifications of our actions.”

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed the regents’ concerns over federal compliance in his veto of the Opportunity for All Act — a bill that would have prohibited UC, the California State University and the California Community Colleges from disqualifying a student from an employment position due to their immigration status.

But Tuesday’s ruling found that while UC’s fear of federal litigation is not “entirely unfounded,” it is not sufficient for UC to justify its policy barring students living in the country illegally from on-campus job opportunities.

The ruling comes as the Trump administration freezes hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding to UCLA over the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests and allegations of antisemitism on campus.

The court also said UC’s policy violates California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act because refusing to hire students who lack work authorization is discrimination based on immigration status.

Horoscopes Aug. 7, 2025: Charlize Theron, spend your time and money wisely this year

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Mike Trout, 34; Charlize Theron, 50; David Duchovny, 65; Wayne Knight, 70.

Happy Birthday: Spend your time and money wisely this year. Spontaneity and emotional enactments will be your downfall. Pace yourself and think matters through from beginning to end. Leave some wiggle room, and challenge yourself to come up with efficient ways to move forward at a cost you can afford. Protect against taking on too much, overreaching your physical capacity and making promises you cannot deliver. Live within your means, both physically and financially. Your numbers are 4, 17, 22, 24, 31, 35, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your thoughts openly. The more you stew over endless possibilities, the less you achieve. Proactivity will help you win favors and establish yourself as the go-to person. A change to your income or an unexpected cash deposit will help you expand your interests and professional direction. Avoid indulgent individuals. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): What you do will have a greater impact on others than what you say. Your actions will impress and encourage those who criticize you most to rethink your value and treat you with respect. Focusing on your endgame and distancing yourself from those who provoke you and waste your time will soothe your soul. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Up your game, and revise how you use your skills to suit current needs. Keeping up with the times will make the difference when competing with someone for an equal position, favor or popularity. A wholehearted approach to change will be like a breath of fresh air, giving you the momentum to capture positive attention. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Refuse to let your emotions make you look bad or give someone the chance to take advantage of you. Spend your time on self-improvement, looking and feeling your best, and a plan that helps you achieve a better fitness and diet routine. The progress you make working on personal growth will be consequential. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Refuse to let your emotions filter into your financial or professional decisions. Focus on what you know and present yourself and your ideas with finesse, promising positive change. Get the go-ahead in writing before you begin to avoid any discrepancies. Concentrate on personal gain and a positive attitude, and you’ll offset emotional interference. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Focus on moneymaking projects. Whether you enhance your skills and qualifications or expand your options to include positions that require relocation, the outcome will bring positive change. Network and engage in conversations that allow you to market your attributes and express your desires. Someone will show interest in how you live and who you are. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll want to use your energy to bring about personal or professional change. Don’t underestimate what those around you can do. Adjust your thinking to fit the mission, and proceed with strength and determination. An in-depth account will be difficult for others to deny. Stick to facts; embellishment will come back to haunt you. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Follow your heart, say little and do what pleases you. Focus on what matters to you most and engage in broadening your sense of awareness and skills to suit your responsibilities and the prospects you want to pursue. Choose to educate yourself instead of trying to redirect others. Reconnecting with someone will impact your vision. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make home and prospects your focal point. Consider what you want to do to improve your life and the associated costs, and create a plan that addresses both concerns. Utilizing your skills and time effectively will help you improve your situation at a price you can afford. Negotiating on your own behalf will pay off. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be open to suggestions, but don’t immediately adopt what others want. Maintaining control over how and where you live will be vital to achieving peace of mind and convenience. Don’t waste your time arguing when you know what’s best for you. Align yourself with those who share your values. Romance is favored. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your energy to good use. Refuse to let anxiety build or stop you from reaching your full potential. Organize your day according to what you want to achieve, and you’ll enjoy positive change, along with getting the most out of your efforts. Avoid people who bring you down, confuse you or cost you. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Jumping to conclusions will cause problems. Do your research, prepare your questions and talk to the powers that be to help point you in the right direction. Put more thought into your likes and needs, and consider what will encourage better health and a more fulfilling lifestyle. Personal growth and romance are within reach. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are outgoing, determined and proactive. You are helpful and unique.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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