Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 69

Trump likes renaming people, places and things. He’s not the first to deploy that perk of power

By LAURIE KELLMAN

History, it has been said, is written by the winners. President Donald Trump is working that lever of power — again.

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This time, he’s insisting that Washington’s NFL team change its name from the Commanders back to the Redskins, a name that was considered offensive to Native Americans. Predictably, to Trump’s stated delight, an internet uproar ensued.

It’s a return to the president’s favorite rebranding strategy, one well-used around the world and throughout history. Powers-that-be rename something — a body of water, a mountain in Alaska, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Mumbai, various places in Israel after 1948 — in line with “current” political and cultural views. Using names to tell a leader’s own version of the nation’s story is a perk of power that Trump is far from the first to enjoy.

A name, after all, defines identity and even reality because it is connected to the verb “to be,“ says one brand strategist.

“A parent naming a child, a founder naming a company, a president naming a place … in each example, we can see the relationship of power,” Shannon Murphy, who runs Nameistry, a naming agency that works with companies and entrepreneurs to develop brand identities, said in an email. “Naming gives you control.”

Trump reignited a debate on football and American identity

In Trump’s case, reviving the debate over the Washington football team’s name had the added effect of distraction.

“My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way,” he wrote on his social media platform, adding a threat to derail the team’s deal for a new stadium if it resisted.

FILE – Native American leaders protest against the Redskins team name and logo outside U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins in Minneapolis on Oct. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)

In fact, part of the reaction came from people noting that Trump’s proposed renaming came as he struggled to move past a rebellion among his supporters over the administration’s refusal to release much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. Over about two weeks, Trump had cycled through many tactics — downplaying the issue, blaming others, scolding a reporter, insulting his own supporters, suing the Wall Street Journal and finally authorizing the Justice Department to try to unseal grand jury transcripts.

Trump’s demand that the NFL and the District of Columbia change the team’s name back to a dictionary definition of a slur against Native Americans reignited a brawl in miniature over race, history and the American identity.

Trump’s reelection itself can be seen as a response to the nation’s reckoning with its racial history after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. That year, Americans elected Democratic President Joe Biden, who championed diversity. During his term, Washington’s football team became first the Washington Football Team, then the Commanders, at a widely estimated cost in the tens of millions of dollars. And in 2021, The Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians.

In 2025, Trump has ordered a halt to diversity, equity and inclusion programs through the federal government, universities and schools, despite legal challenges. And he , though it’s unclear if he has the authority to restrict the nearly $4 billion project.

Is Trump’s ‘Redskins’ push a distraction or a power play?

What’s clear is that names carry great power where business, national identity, race, history and culture intersect.

FILE – People stand at the Eielson Visitor Center with a view of North America’s tallest peak, Denali, in the background, Sept. 2, 2015, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Trump has had great success for decades branding everything from buildings he named after himself to the Gulf between Mexico, Cuba and the United States to his political opponents and people he simply doesn’t like. Exhibit A: Florida’s governor, dubbed by Trump “Meatball Ron” DeSantis, who challenged him for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

And Trump is not the first leader to use monikers and nicknames — branding, really — to try to define reality and the people who populate it. Naming was a key tool of colonization that modern-day countries are still trying to dislodge. “Naming,” notes one expert, “is never neutral.”

“To name is to collapse infinite complexity into a manageable symbol, and in that compression, whole worlds are won or lost,“ linguist Norazha Paiman wrote last month on Medium.

”When the British renamed places throughout India or Africa, they weren’t just updating maps,” Paiman wrote. “They were restructuring the conceptual frameworks through which people could relate to their own territories.”

This is not Trump’s first rebranding push

Trump’s order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America is perhaps the best-known result of Executive Order 14172, titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.”

The renaming sent mapmakers, search engines and others into a flurry over whether to change the name. And it set off a legal dispute with The Associated Press over First Amendment freedoms that is still winding through the courts. The news outlet’s access to events in the Oval Office and Air Force One was cut back starting in February after the AP said it would continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico in its copy, while noting Trump’s wishes that it instead be renamed the Gulf of America.

This photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows the Military Sealift Command’s fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) in Norfolk Va., on Sept. 24, 2024. (LaShawn Sykes/U.S. Navy via AP)

It’s unclear if Trump’s name will stick universally — or go the way of “freedom fries,” a brief attempt by some in the George W. Bush-era GOP to rebrand french fries after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

But there’s evidence that at least for business in some places, the “Gulf of America” terminology has staying power. Chevron’s earnings statements of late have referred to the Gulf of America, because “that’s the position of the U.S. government now,” CEO Mike Wirth said during a Jan. 31 call with investors.

And along the Gulf Coast in Republican Louisiana, leaders of the state’s seafood industry call the body of water the Gulf of America, in part, because putting that slogan on local products might help beat back the influx of foreign shrimp flooding American markets, the Louisiana Illuminator news outlet reported.

Renaming is a bipartisan endeavor

The racial reckoning inspired by Floyd’s killing rippled across the cultural landscape.

Quaker retired the Aunt Jemima brand after it had been served up at America’s breakfast tables for 131 years, saying it recognized that the character’s origins were “based on a racial stereotype.” Eskimo Pies became Edy’s. The Grammy-winning country band Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A, saying they were regretful and embarrassed that their former moniker was associated with slavery.

And Trump didn’t start the fight over football. Democratic President Barack Obama, in fact, in 2013 that he would “think about changing” the name of the Washington Redskins if he owned the team.

Trump soon after posted to Twitter: “President should not be telling the Washington Redskins to change their name-our country has far bigger problems! FOCUS on them, not nonsense.”

Fast-forward to July 20, 2025, when Trump posted that the Washington Commanders should change their name back to the Redskins.

“Times,” the president wrote, “are different now.”

SF Giants snap losing streak as Devers makes debut at first base

ATLANTA — Perhaps all the Giants needed was for Rafael Devers to do something he’s never done.

San Francisco (53-49) emphatically snapped its six-game losing streak with a 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Truist Park as Devers made his professional debut at first base in what tied for the team’s largest margin of victory this season.

“They responded well,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We knew we had to play a much better game today. Last night was not one to be proud of. I think the guys had a little bit of an edge today.”

Along with getting two hits, two runs and an RBI, Devers recorded four putouts in four chances as a first baseman. Devers wasn’t tasked with doing anything too complex on the defensive end, though Melvin did point out that Devers had to hold runners on base, listen to the PitchCom and check his scouting card.

Casey Schmitt and Willy Adames each fielded a pair of grounders and made Devers’ life easy by delivering chest-high throw. Devers noted that he was using his own first baseman’s mitt, one that he ordered during his second day in San Francisco.

“I feel very comfortable,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I’ve been practicing at it for a while, so it’s really good that I was able to get out there. But most important is that we won the games.”

The three-time All-Star performed well as a full-time designated hitter with the Boston Red Sox (.905 OPS) before his recent slump with the Giants (.681 OPS), but Devers believes he hits better when he’s playing the field.

“I’m the kind of player that likes to be active, likes to be on the field,” Devers said. “I’d rather be in the field than in the cage hitting all the time and just thinking about the next at-bat.”

Devers remains visibly hindered by back and groin ailments, but the recent All-Star break provided him with several much-needed days away from the game. The time away also provided Devers a mental respite following a whirlwind of a month, one where he was traded to the Giants from the Boston Red Sox, then played his old team just days later.

“I was able to take advantage,” Devers said. “I went back home to go visit family, go visit friends … and had to time to disengage from everything that happened and just move forward and concentrate on what I’m doing right now.”

Devers was far from the only player in the lineup who contributed to San Francisco’s rare offensive explosion. Wilmer Flores hit his 12th home run of the season — and his first since June 7 — as he drove in four runs. Schmitt sent a towering solo homer into the second deck in left field, his fifth home run of the season. Devers, Matt Chapman and Patrick Bailey each had two hits while Adames drew three walks.

On the mound, Landen Roupp tossed five scoreless innings with six strikeouts as he lowered his ERA on the season to 3.11. Roupp had to navigate several lengthy innings, throwing 20 pitches in the first and 27 pitches in the third, but he helped preserve the Giants’ bullpen after Hayden Birdsong failed to retire a single batter on Monday.

Roupp’s outing was all the more impressive given that Roupp said Tuesday in Atlanta was “probably one of the hottest games I’ve ever thrown in my life.”

The right-hander said it was difficult to breathe on a hot, humid southern night, one where the temperature at first pitch was 94 degrees. Roupp didn’t think his pitches were moving as much due to the humidity, but he was able to turn in five shutout innings regardless.

“He always pitches with a little bit of an edge, and with the way we’ve been playing, I think he was looking forward to getting the start,” Melvin said.

The Giants opened up the scoring with four runs in the top of the second. Chapman drove in the game’s first run on a triple that missed being a home run by inches, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Flores. Schmitt’s no-doubt solo homer and Heliot Ramos’ sacrifice fly expanded the lead to 4-0.

San Francisco grew its advantage to 5-0 in the fifth on Adames’ RBI single to drive home Devers, then landed a haymaker in the seventh to balloon its lead to 9-0. After Devers’ single knocked in Ramos — who ran through a stop sign but still scored — Flores elevated the game to blowout status with a towering three-run blast.

Despite opening up the road trip with four straight losses, the Giants can secure a happy flight back to the Bay Area as Justin Verlander takes the hill on Wednesday in search of his first victory with the black and orange.

Trump says a China trip is ‘not too distant’ as trade tensions ease

By DIDI TANG

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a trip to China might be “not too distant,” raising prospects that the leaders of the world’s two largest economies may meet soon to help reset relations after moving to climb down from a trade war.

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Trump made the remarks while hosting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, where he praised the “fantastic military relationship” with Manila as the U.S. looks to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Yet, Trump still said the U.S. is “getting along with China very well. We have a very good relationship.” He added that Beijing has resumed shipping to the U.S. “record numbers” of much-needed rare earth magnets, which are used in iPhones and other high-tech products like electric vehicles.

Widely speculated about since Trump returned to the White House, a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would be expected to stabilize — even for a short while — a difficult relationship defined by mistrust and competition.

Beijing believes a leader-level summit is necessary to steady U.S.-China relations and that Trump must be wooed because he has the final say on America’s policy toward China, despite more hawkish voices in his Cabinet, observers say.

The question, however, is when.

Danny Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump has consistently shown his hunger for a visit to China and that Beijing has used that to bolster leverage.

“As soon as the leadership in Beijing is satisfied that Trump will be on his best behavior and will accept terms for a deal that they think are favorable, they will give a green light to the visit,” Russel said.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center, said a visit “is in the making” with two sides likely to strike a trade deal.

What Trump said might mean the visit would not be in September but “potentially November, but still depends on whether they play ball on trade and other things we want,” Sun said.

Trump’s campaign to impose tariffs on other countries kicked off a high-stake trade war with Beijing. China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to Trump’s hiking the tax on Chinese goods to 145%.

Both sides also imposed on each other harsh trade restrictions on critical products: China on rare earths, and the U.S. on computing chips and jet engine technology.

Trade tensions, however, eased following two rounds of high-level talks in Geneva and London, when the two sides agreed to lower tariffs — pending a more permanent deal by mid-August — and pull back on trade restrictions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” that he will be meeting with his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week to work on “what is likely an extension” of the Aug. 12 deadline.

“I think trade is in a very good place with China,” Bessent told host Maria Bartiromo. “Hopefully, we can see the Chinese pull back on some of this glut of manufacturing that they’re doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy.”

He said he also expects to bring up China’s purchases of Russian and Iranian oil and Beijing’s role in aiding Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

Beijing has not announced any travel plans for Vice Premier He Lifeng, who led trade negotiations in both Geneva and London on behalf of the Chinese government, but it is not unusual for China to make such announcements closer to a travel date.

In a possible friendly gesture, Beijing on Tuesday said it suspended an antitrust investigation into chemical maker DuPont’s operations in China. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation made the announcement in a one-line statement but gave no explanation for the decision.

DuPont said in a statement that it is “pleased” with China’s action.

Chinese regulators launched the investigation in April against DuPont China Group, a subsidiary of the chemical giant, as part of Beijing’s broad, retaliatory response to Trump’s sky-high tariffs.

Beijing also has agreed to approve export permits for rare earth elements and rare earth magnets that U.S. manufacturers need to build cars, robots, wind turbines and other high-tech products. The U.S. has eased restrictions on some advanced chips and other technologies.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Fu Ting in Washington contributed to this report.

Columbia University says it has suspended and expelled students who participated in protests

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University announced disciplinary action Tuesday against students who participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration inside the Ivy League school’s main library before final exams in May and an encampment during alumni weekend last year.

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A student activist group said nearly 80 students were told they have been suspended for one to three years or expelled. The sanctions issued by a university judicial board also include probation and degree revocations, Columbia said in a statement.

The action comes as the Manhattan university is negotiating with President Donald Trump’s administration to restore $400 million in federal funding it has withheld from the Ivy League school over its handling of student protests against the war in Gaza. The administration pulled the funding, canceling grants and contracts, in March because of what it described as the university’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.

Columbia has since agreed to a series of demands laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university’s student disciplinary process and adopting a new definition of antisemitism.

“Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community,” the university said Tuesday. “And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution’s fundamental work, policies, and rules. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences.”

It did not disclose the names of the students who were disciplined.

Columbia in May said it would lay off nearly 180 staffers and scale back research in response to the loss of funding. Those receiving nonrenewal or termination notices represent about 20% of the employees funded in some manner by the terminated federal grants, the university said.

A student activist group said the newly announced disciplinary action exceeds sentencing precedent for prior protests. Suspended students would be required to submit apologies in order to be allowed back on campus or face expulsion, the group said, something some students will refuse to do.

“We will not be deterred. We are committed to the struggle for Palestinian liberation,” Columbia University Apartheid Divest said in a statement.

Columbia was at the forefront of U.S. campus protests over the war in spring 2024. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up an encampment and seized a campus building in April, leading to dozens of arrests and inspiring a wave of similar protests nationally.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cut funding to several top U.S. universities he viewed as too tolerant of antisemitism.

The administration has also cracked down on individual student protesters. Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident with no criminal record, was detained in March over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He is now suing the Trump administration, alleging he was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smeared as an antisemite.

Senate considering nomination of ex-Trump defense lawyer for lifetime appointment to appeals court

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate narrowly voted on Tuesday to begin considering the nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, with at least one Republican opposed and Democrats vowing to try to slow his confirmation.

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Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, is now a top official at the Justice Department. His nomination for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has come under intense scrutiny from Democrats after a fired department lawyer said he suggested the Trump administration may need to ignore judicial commands — a claim Bove denies.

He was at the forefront of the department’s dismissed corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He has also accused FBI officials of “insubordination” for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in those Jan. 6 criminal cases.

The 50-48 vote came after Democrats forced an additional procedural vote on his nomination, an effort to protest the nomination and delay the process. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Bove “the extreme of the extreme of the extreme” and “Trump’s worst judicial nominee to date.”

“Mr. Bove’s entire career has been built on one thing: fealty to Donald Trump,” Schumer said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 21: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court with attorney Emil Bove (L) during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 21, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Dave Sanders-Pool/Getty Images)

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote against moving to consider the nomination, signaling that Republicans will have the votes to confirm Bove by the end of the week. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted to move forward but has not said whether she will support Bove’s confirmation.

The tension and delays over Bove’s nomination come as Republicans have tried to move Trump’s nominees as quickly as possible and as Trump has pushed Senate Majority Leader John Thune to skip the traditional August recess to stay in session and confirm more judges and executive branch officials. Thune said he is considering doing that if Democrats continue to force delays, and Democrats have shown little signs of letting up.

At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Bove took criticism of his tenure head-on, telling lawmakers he understands some of his decisions “have generated controversy.” But Bove said he has been inaccurately portrayed as Trump’s “henchman” and “enforcer” at the department.

“I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right,” Bove said.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said Bove has used his position “to weaponize the Department of Justice against the president’s enemies.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended Bove against the whistleblower’s claims and said he deserves fair treatment. He said Democrats withheld the complaint from the fired lawyer and that his staff had investigated the claims.

“Mr. Bove has a strong legal background and has served his country honorably,” Grassley said at a Senate Judiciary meeting last week, where Democrats walked out in protest.

The whistleblower complaint came from a former Justice Department lawyer who was fired in April after conceding in court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison.

That lawyer, Erez Reuveni, described efforts by top Justice Department officials in the weeks before his firing to stonewall and mislead judges to carry out deportations championed by the White House.

Reuveni described a Justice Department meeting in March concerning Trump’s plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act over what the president claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Reuveni said Bove raised the possibility that a court might block the deportations before they could happen. Reuveni claims Bove used a profanity in saying the department would need to consider telling the courts what to do and “ignore any such order,” Reuveni’s lawyers said in the filing.

Bove said he has “no recollection of saying anything of that kind.”

A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trump’s legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he’ll serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Pam Bondi says judge-picked New Jersey prosecutor succeeding Alina Habba has been removed

By MIKE CATALINI

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday said the New Jersey federal prosecutor, who just hours earlier was named as the replacement for interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, has been removed.

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Desiree Leigh Grace was named by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb as Habba’s successor under a statute that permits district court judges to name a prosecutor if the president’s nominee has not been confirmed by the Senate after 120 days. Tuesday was the 120th day since President Donald Trump had named Habba, his former defense attorney and one-time White House counselor, to the acting role. Bondi said the Justice Department won’t tolerate “rogue judges.”

White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement that Trump has full confidence in Habba and that the administration would work to get her confirmed by the U.S. Senate, despite opposition from Democratic home state senators.

The back-and-forth over the state’s top federal prosecutor unfolded as Habba has quickly established a high-profile, pursuing a rare prosecution against a sitting member of Congress.

Habba, 41, was effectively removed earlier Tuesday by a brief order from Bumb, naming Grace as Habba’s successor and citing the law that permitted the district court to act.

Her tenure has included the high-profile prosecution of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, which was eventually dropped and the ongoing assault case against Rep. LaMonica McIver. Both cases against Democrats stemmed from a visit to a privately operated immigration detention center in the state’s largest city.

Messages seeking comment were left with Habba’s office and the Justice Department.

Grace’s LinkedIn page shows she’s served as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey for the last nearly nine years. Under the law governing vacancies, the district court may appoint a U.S. attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled.

Senatorial courtesy

Trump, a Republican, nominated Habba for the position pending Senate confirmation, but the state’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim signaled their opposition to her appointment. Under a longstanding Senate practice known as senatorial courtesy, a nominee’s appointment can stall out without backing from home state senators, a phenomenon facing a handful of other Trump picks for U.S. attorney.

Booker and Kim had questioned whether Habba met the standard to serve as the state’s top federal prosecutor and accused her of bringing politically motivated prosecutions.

Tenure as top prosecutor

Among Habba’s highest-profile prosecutions stemmed from a May visit by three Democratic members of Congress and Baraka to the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark. Baraka was arrested on a trespass charge stemming from his attempt to join a congressional visit of the facility. Baraka denied any wrongdoing, and Habba eventually dropped that charge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa rebuked Habba’s office after moving to dismiss the charges, writing that the move amounted to a “worrisome misstep” and calling the arrest hasty. Baraka is suing Habba in her official capacity over what he says was a “malicious prosecution.”

Habba later brought assault charges against McIver, a freshman representative from the city who first was elected in a special election last year, over physical contact she made with law enforcement officials as Baraka was being arrested.

The indictment of McIver was the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen the Trump administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey’s largest city to court amid the president’s ongoing immigration crackdown and Democrats’ efforts to respond. The prosecution is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption.

A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka’s arrest on the other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. McIver and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor.

The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. Her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word “Police.”

Besides the prosecution of McIver, Habba had announced she launched an investigation into New Jersey’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, and attorney general, Matt Platkin, over the state’s directive barring local law enforcement from cooperating with federal agents conducting immigration enforcement.

In social media posts, Habba highlighted her office’s prosecution of drug traffickers, including against 30 members of a fentanyl and crack cocaine ring in Newark.

Habba’s background

A partner in a small New Jersey law firm near Trump’s Bedminster golf course, Habba served as a senior adviser for Trump’s political action committee, defended him in court in several civil lawsuits and acted as a spokesperson last year as he volleyed between courtrooms and the campaign trail.

U.S. attorneys often have experience as prosecutors, including at the state or local level. Many, including the acting U.S. attorneys in Brooklyn and Manhattan, have worked in the offices they now lead.

Habba said she wanted to pursue the president’s agenda of “putting America first.”

Habba was one of Trump’s most visible defense attorneys, appearing on cable TV news as his “legal spokesperson.” She represented Trump in 2024 in the defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll.

But Habba has had limited federal court experience, practicing mainly in state-level courts. During the Carroll trial, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan chided Habba for botching procedure, misstating the law, asking about off-limits topics and objecting after he ruled.

What’s happening with forgiveness for student loans on income-based repayment plans?

By CORA LEWIS

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid a federal overhaul of student loan plans, many borrowers have been left wondering what it means for their hopes of loan forgiveness. In particular, those who are enrolled in a repayment plan known as income-based repayment, or IBR, have wondered if forgiveness will still be available to them.

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A recent update from the Education Department said forgiveness through the IBR plan is paused while systems are updated. “IBR forgiveness will resume once those updates are completed,” the agency said.

IBR is not affected by a federal court’s injunction blocking former President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan. The IBR plan was created by Congress separately from other existing repayment plans, including those known as PAYE and ICR. It’s also exempt from some changes coming from President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill.

Here’s what to know.

Which income-driven repayment plans are affected by the court’s injunction?

Following a court injunction last summer, loan forgiveness for the SAVE, Income-Contingent Repayment, or ICR, and Pay As You Earn, or PAYE, plans is currently paused because those plans were not created by Congress. The legal action called into question whether student loan forgiveness was authorized under the federal statute that governs those plans. The IBR plan was created under a different authority.

IBR, created by Congress, reduces monthly payments for borrowers with lower incomes. It also invokes a statute that authorizes student loan forgiveness of the balance at the end of a 20- or 25-year repayment term.

When will IBR forgiveness resume?

The Education Department hasn’t given a timeline for when its system update will be complete and forgiveness will resume.

Should a borrower continue to make IBR payments in the interim?

Borrowers enrolled in IBR who have reached the threshold for forgiveness but who are not seeing their loans discharged as a result of the pause may continue to make payments with the expectation that the Education Department will refund the excess payments. The plan offers forgiveness after 240 or 300 monthly payments, depending on when borrowers enrolled.

Borrowers can also request forbearance from their loan servicer. In that case, interest would continue to accrue on any remaining balance.

What changes are coming from Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’?

Trump’s tax and spending law will eventually phase out the ICR, PAYE and SAVE plans, replacing them with the Repayment Assistance Plan. IBR plans will continue to exist and to provide forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. RAP, in contrast, will require 30 years of repayment before forgiveness is granted.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

Rep. Panetta, House Democrats demand release of education funding

MONTEREY – U.S. House of Representative Democrats, including Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, are demanding the Trump Administration immediately release nearly $7 billion in congressionally approved federal education funding that is currently being withheld from schools across the nation, of which nearly $928 million would go to California.

Holding back the funds is already disrupting the lives of thousands of students, families, and educators in California’s 19th Congressional District, according to Panetta’s office. The freeze threatens programs that serve the most vulnerable students in the region, including children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, English language learners and those needing afterschool enrichment and adult education services.

“Due to this Administration’s decisions on funding for education, school districts across our country, California, and our community are stuck with more uncertainty just weeks before the school year begins,” said Panetta in a press release.

The Administration’s refusal to release these dollars undermines students and creates unnecessary confusion and hardship for schools, he said.

Schools in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo counties have already begun making tough choices, according to Panetta’s office. Many districts anticipated this funding in their budgets and are now grappling with how to proceed without it. Hiring freezes, delayed programming and cuts to staff and services are already being considered, even as the new school year looms just weeks away.

The uncertainty is particularly acute for rural and agricultural communities like Monterey County, where over 10,000 migrant students rely on support from the federal Migrant Education Program. Without these funds,  academic and enrichment services, ranging from tutoring and summer learning to mental health care and college readiness, may be scaled back or eliminated according to Panetta’s office. In Santa Cruz County, Pajaro Valley Unified School District stands to lose $3 million for migrant education, $4.6 million for afterschool programs, and nearly $400,000 in adult learning services.

Panetta joined two official Congressional inquiries, one submitted by Democrats in the California delegation and another backed by 150 House Democrats nationwide, seeking answers and action on the withheld federal funding for local school systems, says his office. California has nearly 5.8 million K-12 students in its schools.

In the California inquiry, the members state, “These programs support some of the most vulnerable and underserved students and communities in California and have been demonstrated to have lifelong benefits to students’ educational attainment, income, and other measures of well-being. Each passing day that these funds are unlawfully withheld hurts our schools and students and strains already limited budgets.”

In the nationwide inquiry, the members state, “There is no legitimate reason why any review of these programs should prevent the Administration from fulfilling its responsibility to the American people on time. No more excuses — follow the law and release the funding meant for our schools, teachers, and families.”

These federal funds, typically distributed on July 1, support a wide range of essential education programs, such as Migrant Education, serving children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, English Language Acquisition, supporting students learning English, Supporting Effective Instruction Grants, for teacher training and class size reduction, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, for afterschool and summer enrichment programs, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, funding STEM education, mental health services, and college readiness, Adult Basic Education and Literacy Grants, including civics and workforce readiness.

Panetta says that he and his colleagues are demanding immediate action to release these funds and restore the federal commitment to public education.

“Together, my congressional colleagues and I are, again, fighting back and working to get these funds flowing for our children, families, teachers, and communities,” he said.

Regulators set to vote on Peninsula water supply and demand

MONTEREY – State regulators Thursday will decide whether to accept much of the future water supply and demand estimates submitted to them by California American Water Co., a move that’s already rankling four local agencies and a nonprofit because the state Public Utilities Commission will likely not allow any debate on the issue.

At issue is whether the Monterey Peninsula has enough water to satisfy demand by 2050. Cal Am, in documents filed with the CPUC, argues there won’t be enough water unless it can build its desalination plant.

But others, including the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Marina Coast Water District, the city of Marina, Monterey One Water and the nonprofit Public Water Now, continue to argue that Pure Water Monterey, the recycled water plant, and its expansion project coming online this year will be more than enough to satisfy demand by 2050 when combined with other water sources.

In addition,  letters opposing Cal Am’s estimates have been sent to the CPUC by entities such as LandWatch Monterey County and individuals such as Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew and state Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bill Monning.

“Over-estimating demand can lead to over-building of unnecessary utility infrastructure,” Monning wrote to commissioners on July 17. “Developing utility projects that are not needed would in turn disproportionately burden the residents (ratepayers) of our community, who already pay some of the highest water rates in the nation.”

The CPUC’s own Public Advocates Office – established in 1984 by the state Legislature to ensure California ratepayers are represented at the CPUC – states that “Cal Am unreasonably omits certain water supplies from its forecasts and includes questionable components in its demand forecast.

“For several reasons, Cal Am’s demand forecasts are flawed and should not be adopted,” wrote Travis Foss, an attorney for the Public Advocate’s Office.

But in May, the CPUC issued a 50-page proposed decision that included supply and demand estimates more in line with Cal Am’s. Thursday’s action will, if passed, codify the proposed decision authored by CPUC administrative law judges Robert Haga and Jack Chang. Doing so, again, if passed, would provide Cal Am with additional documented evidence to move forward with its desal project – named the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.

Thursday’s item is listed as part of the CPUC’s consent agenda, which is a section of any government meeting that groups together typically routine, noncontroversial items that do not require significant discussion or debate. Melodie Chrislock, the managing director of Public Water Now, questioned whether a battle that has raged for at least the past decade could be considered routine enough to be placed in the consent agenda.

Any of the commissioners can pull an item out of consent for a full commission review.

Cal Am stands by its estimates. The Proposed Decision adopts a current supply of 11,204 acre-feet per year and an estimated demand of 13,732 acre-feet per year by 2050, leaving a deficit that can only be addressed by a desal project, Cal Am argues.

Current water usage is under 9,000 acre-feet. An acre foot is enough water to cover a football field to a depth of one foot.

Cal Am, in a June 3 filing, describes the current water status as “water starvation.”

“Once a new long-term water supply is established, it is reasonable to allow existing customers to marginally relax extreme conservation behaviors and enjoy an adequate and reliable water supply, while still maintaining efficient water use consistent with state policy goals.”

While the proposed ruling didn’t directly address desalination, Josh Stratton, Cal Am’s external affairs manager, said in May that it affirms the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project is needed.

He called desal project a “part of a balanced and resilient supply for California American Water customers. The proposed decision projects a water supply deficit … of 2,528 acre-feet per year by 2050.”

Others, however, have raised the issue of cost to consumers of building a desal plant in an already expensive market. Tyller Williamson, the Monterey mayor, in a July 17 letter to commissioners, noted that Monterey faces some of the highest water costs in the country.

“Those costs are borne most heavily by our seniors on fixed incomes, young families, and workers in our hospitality and service industries,” Williamson wrote. “These are the very people who keep our community running. Any decision that contributes to rising water rates must be grounded in accurate, transparent analysis.”

To watch Thursday’s 11 a.m. meeting, click on www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc

To view the meeting’s agenda, see https://tinyurl.com/bvk42dww

Horoscopes July 22, 2025: Selena Gomez, truth will be difficult to detect

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Selena Gomez, 33; Rufus Wainwright, 52; David Spade, 61; Willem Dafoe, 70.

Happy Birthday: Truth will be difficult to detect. Listen carefully, ask questions and verify the accuracy of information before sharing or incorporating it into your life. Temptation will surface if you feel let down or left out. Avoid following the crowd or not giving yourself enough credit. Recognize your attributes and consider how to make the most of what you’ve got. It’s time to change how you live and how you handle your cash, and move forward. Your numbers are 5, 12, 21, 32, 36, 39, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be careful what you wish for. Domestic problems require restraint. It’s best to set your emotions aside and focus on positive ways to address any issues that surface. Overreacting will only make matters worse, but finding common ground and spending time doing something enjoyable will ease stress, worry and tension. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Explore the possibilities; travel, seek knowledge and information, and update your skills. Make positive domestic changes that lift restrictions and offer insight into balancing your life and maintaining the status quo you desire. Let your actions speak for you, and you’ll face less interference. Be cautious regarding joint ventures and shared expenses. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Participate in events that shed light on your goals. The information you gather will push you down an enlightening and educational path. What you learn will help restructure your life plan and encourage you to consider changing your location or approach to achieving your goals. New beginnings look gratifying. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Emotions will be difficult to control. Refuse to let outside influences tempt you into something bad or over-budget for you. Arguing over what you cannot change is useless; instead, focus on what you can do to enhance your life. Self-improvement, personal growth and a positive attitude are favored. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Jump into action and take over. Your leadership skills will help you win favors and make allies that will help you realize your wishes. Don’t expect everyone to agree with you. Prepare to offer incentives, and you’ll slowly but surely win the approval of even your most formidable opponent. Love and personal improvements are favored. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let the little things get to you. Select your destination and strive to achieve your dreams. Don’t give in to someone trying to bait or intimidate you. Consider how to reach your goal, and focus on what matters most. Gather information, learn from experience and refrain from making uninformed decisions. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think before you speak or act. You’ll tend to let your emotions take over if you are too quick to respond. Make love, not war, and you’ll find it easier to bring about positive change. Discipline, courtesy and doing your best to partner with people who share your beliefs and goals will pay off. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Avoid risky ventures and environments that can affect your physical or emotional well-being. Focus on your accomplishments, and don’t hesitate to move forward. Walk away from temptation and toward common sense and long-term gains. Choose the path that feels most comfortable to you. Recognize and walk away from scammers. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Knowing what you want and being able to act fast are important, but not all deals are equal. Hit the reset button if something doesn’t feel right. Question everything and refuse to let anyone take advantage of you. Think before you act to avoid unnecessary loss. Trust your instincts, not someone else’s hype. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Individuals with bravado will draw your attention. Listen, ask questions and determine what has value and what doesn’t. Put your time and effort into whatever will fill a void or replenish what’s emotionally missing from your life. Opportunity is within reach, along with the promise of emotional stability. A partnership looks promising. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Get the ball rolling. Pick up the pace, and take steps toward positive change at home and for your physical well-being. Looking and doing your best will impact how you present or market yourself and your skills. Use charm, facts and demonstrations to convey a concise message. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Attend functions or events that excite you. An open mind will allow you free rein when dealing with possibilities; however, before you jump into someone else’s gig, consider doing your own thing. Learn through observation, not by paying someone else to do the work. Look, see and do for yourself. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are outgoing, imaginative and restless. You are possessive and determined.

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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