Politics
In Photos: From Dancing to a Free Round Trip, US Mayors Deepen Ties With Singapore and each other
The U.S. Conference of Mayors held an event at the Singaporean embassy on Thursday night where mayors mingled, viewed exhibits and ate traditional food.
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Jeffries emphasizes need for changes at ICE ahead of possible government
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called for immediate and dramatic changes to be made at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a press conference Thursday.
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In Photos: Kid Rock and Ticketing representatives appear before Congress, targeting ticket resale and rise of bots
The Senators questioned the singer and ticket company representatives on issues regarding scalpers, bots and unfair ticket pricing.
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Native American leaders endorse draft bill to protect native children
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs invites Native American tribal leaders and experts to examine Title II of a draft Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act, which aims to provide justice and protections for Native children and families.
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Senators unite on need to solve unfair ticketing practices by automated bots
The Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy will hold a hearing to discuss live performance ticketing practices, with testimony from concert venue executives, and performer Kid Rock.
read moreSenate Democrats plan to block funding for DHS, in what could be the start of a partial government shutdown
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are opposing a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of two deadly shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Minnesota, in a move that will likely lead to a partial government shutdown by the end of the week.
In the past few weeks, federal law enforcement agents shot and killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti — two U.S. citizens — in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement surge. Pretti’s death was the third shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis alone in January.
Tens of thousands of people across the country have taken to the streets to protest the surge of violence by ICE officials. Amid this public outcry to reduce the presence of ICE, a funding bill appropriating $10 billion to the agency passed the House last week. It now rests with the Senate, but Democrats have said they won’t vote for it.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling — and unacceptable in any American city,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement Monday. “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”
Without the needed 60 votes to pass the funding bill, the federal government would go into a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 31. Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate — a majority, but not enough to break a filibuster.
Senate Democrats have been vocal in their opposition to ICE’s increased activity in recent weeks and appear unified in their headfirst push into another shutdown just a few months after the country faced the longest shutdown in its history.
“Republicans are trying to jam us politically, but the American people want reforms and restraints,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “All Republicans have to do is separate those other funding streams from the ICE appropriations, and we’ll have a deal.”
Jeremy Mayer, a professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, said that while Democrats won the last shutdown in public opinion, they lost on policy.
If they initiate a partial shutdown this week, he said, they “have to win” to appease their base.
“The reason the Democrats lost the last shutdown is that they crumbled — they folded like a cheap suit in the rain and didn’t achieve anything for all that suffering,” Mayer said. “I think the Democratic base is willing to accept lines at TSA if that’s what they have to accept, as long as at the end of it there is something that resembles victory.”
The $1.2 trillion appropriations package up for a vote in the Senate includes funding for a range of departments, including Defense, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education.
Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said he sees the looming partial shutdown as another attempt by Democrats to push their agenda without a majority of the votes.
“The Democrats have proven themselves to be really stupid on these kinds of decisions,” Schmitt said. “My hope is that they learned their lesson last time that this isn’t a good way to do it.”
Even if the government goes into a partial shutdown at the end of the month and Congress does not pass the appropriations bill, DHS will not run out of money anytime soon. The Trump administration gave the department $165 billion in July with the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, with an estimated $45 billion just for ICE.
It is unclear if Senate Republicans will offer to split off the DHS funding from the rest of the bill and send it back to the House to avoid a larger shutdown. Either way, the House is not in session again until Feb. 2 and is unable to vote on any legislation before Friday’s deadline.
Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, called shutdowns “irresponsible,” but said he doesn’t see any immediate change in the language of the appropriations bill to be likely.
“At this point, we’re all just sitting around staring at each other,” Cornyn said. “We’re waiting to see who will make a decision.”
Listen: Gen Z pro-life activists, students convene for annual March for Life
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In Photos: 53rd National March for Life draws thousands to Washington
WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of pro-life demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Washington on Friday for the 53rd annual March for Life. Carrying both handmade and printed out signs and chanting as they walked from the National Mall to the Supreme Court, attendees traveled from across the country to advocate for restrictions on abortion access.
The march came nearly three years after the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which shifted abortion policy to the states and overturned Roe v. Wade. Before demonstrators began their march, speakers emphasized their continued opposition to abortion access nationwide, including concerns about the abortion pill, women crossing state lines to receive abortions and what they deemed to be federal overreach.
53rd March for Life shows an uncertain Post-Dobbs future
WASHINGTON – Thousands gathered Friday for the 53rd annual March for Life, celebrating pro-life policy gains while appearing split over the movement’s future in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision.
Alongside signs expressing hope, many demonstrators voiced frustration with the administration’s efforts to advance their cause. Pro-life voters overwhelmingly support Republicans, and that increased strain has led to efforts by the administration to curry support before the midterms, amid pro-life calls for action.
Ahead of the march, President Trump met with several pro-life leaders at the White House and released a message outlining his administration’s pro-life policies. Still, his administration drew criticism from the movement last year after the Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of the abortion pill and after Trump said Republicans should be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment, which prevents the use of federal funds for abortions.
This is Vice President JD Vance’s second time appearing at the March for Life. Last year, it constituted his first public appearance after becoming vice president. (Isabel Papp/MNS)
Vice President JD Vance headlined the rally, where he celebrated blocking foreign aid to groups involved in abortion services, diversity programs, and transgender care. Under the theme “Life is a Gift,” he touted the administration’s return to the Geneva Consensus Declaration to advance women’s health and a renewed federal ban on the use of aborted fetal tissue in research.
“The mark of barbarism is that we treat babies like inconveniences to be discarded rather than the blessings to cherish that they are,” he said, addressing a largely Christian audience. “But the inheritance of our civilization is something else, the fact that, as scripture tells us, each life is fearfully and wonderfully made by our creator.”
Aborted fetal tissue research has always been controversial, but constitutes a small, specialized portion of biomedical research and represents a fraction of 1 percent of total research projects. It used .3% of the National Institutes of Health’s funding, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Despite recent policy shifts, many demonstrators said they expect the government to do more to restrict abortion access, though the crowd remained divided on exactly what the next steps should be.
Randall Terry, founder of anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, interrupted Vance’s address several times by shouting, “Ban the abortion pill!” Before the vice president’s speech, he had attempted to rally the crowd to join his protest.
“Our hope for the future is that we create a civil protest movement that creates massive social tension and disruption in the country, so that we outlaw the killing of human beings,” Terry said. His voice was one of many calling for the administration to do more against abortion.
Others wore hats or signs saying ‘Defund Planned Parenthood,’ including student spokespersons for Students for Life of America. One of them was Kyra Kishore, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, who argued that Planned Parenthood mostly conducted abortions and should be completely abolished.
In fact, according to Planned Parenthood’s 2023-2024 annual report, abortive care made up 4% of its total services. While the government is Planned Parenthood’s largest revenue source through health services grants and reimbursements, 96% of pregnancy-related services are indeed abortive. The most common services provided are STI and STD testing, making up 54%. The majority of Medicaid beneficiaries who received services at Planned Parenthood received contraceptive and STI services, not abortions, according to KFF.
Some demonstrators supported a nationwide abortion ban, but others emphasized expanding adoption programs, providing resources for women struggling with domestic violence and financial support to families without criminalizing abortion.
“I’m happy for any legislation which supports women who are in a situation where they’re trying to decide,” said Rita Zubricki. “That would be my first priority.”
The march also featured a visible international presence, with demonstrators carrying flags from South Korea, Poland, Ukraine and Canada, highlighting global anti-abortion efforts. Among the international visitors was a bus of youth activists from the Campaign Life Coalition, a Canadian organization that travels annually to Washington for the march.
“Our country is a little different,” said Justyna Armatowicz, a representative with the delegation.“We are hoping that we follow in your footsteps, but it takes a little bit of time.”
As demonstrators waited for the march to reach its final destination at the Supreme Court, five counterprotesters gathered nearby carrying signs against ICE and the Trump administration.
“The truth is, we’re spread awfully (expletive) thin,” said Karen Erwin, seated between signs calling the Trump administration fascistic. “[Trump’s] entire agenda is about control and has nothing to do with life, but supporting him runs away at all the rest of our rights.”
Karen Erwin (right), one of the only counterprotesters against the March for Life this year, sits with her friend amid signs condemning the Trump administration and the pro-life movement. (Isabel Papp/MNS)
“I’m here because abortion bans violate my religious freedom,” said Sarah Kolick, a traditionally observant Jew and another counterprotester. “My religion obligates a woman to undergo an abortion when our life or mental health is endangered by the pregnancy.”
Although the marchers were fighting for the rights of the unborn, internal disagreement on federal policy, internal disagreement on federal policy left questions for the movement’s future.
“We love each other, but we’re going to have open conversations about how best to use our political system to advance life, how prudential we must be in the cause of advancing human life,” said Vance.
Jack Smith defends his investigation into Trump in congressional hearing
WASHINGTON — Former Special Counsel Jack Smith told a congressional committee Thursday that his investigation into President Donald Trump was not partisan and that he wouldn’t be “intimidated” by Trump’s threats toward him.
Smith, who led the investigation into President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents, sat for more than five hours as House Republicans attacked his probe. His investigation into the then-former president uncovered evidence of a criminal scheme and ultimately led to indictments in both cases along with more than 40 federal charges.
Smith had previously stated he had evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict Trump in both cases. But he dropped them after Trump won the 2024 election, citing regulations prohibiting prosecutors from pursuing criminal charges against sitting presidents.
“No one should be above the law in our country, and the law required that he be held to account,” Smith told the House Judiciary Committee in his opening remarks. “So that is what I did.”
Thursday’s hearing marked the first time Smith testified publicly about his investigation, giving him an opportunity to defend himself from attacks by Trump and Republicans. In December, he answered lawmakers’ questions behind closed doors for more than eight hours, but he had repeatedly asked for a public hearing.
Since he took office for his second term, Trump has repeatedly indicated that he wants to see Smith prosecuted for investigating him. During the hearing, he took to TruthSocial, calling Smith’s investigation a “Democrat SCAM.” He posted that Smith was being “DECIMATED” by Republicans’ questions and called him a “deranged animal.”
“The statements are meant to intimidate me,” Smith said. “I will not be intimidated.”
Republicans focused much of their questioning Thursday on Smith’s probe into lawmakers’ toll and phone records after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Smith defended his requests for the documents and did not disclose any of their contents.
Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-N.J., said Smith’s investigation targeted Republicans because of their “political status, their political party and their ideals.”
“Everything you’ve done, everything you’ve ever done, is always against Republicans,” Drew said.
The former special counsel denied that politics played any role in his investigation.
“I have conducted my career in a non-partisan fashion,” Smith said. “If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat.”
Smith seemed determined to distance himself from House Democrats throughout the hearing. He did not respond to many of the Democratic committee members’ offers of thanks for his work. Smith repeatedly testified that he would have carried out his investigation of the president regardless of his party affiliation.
He added that his office maintained full independence throughout the investigation. He said that he was not pressured by then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed him, and he “never” talked to then-President Joe Biden about the investigation.
When asked if he had any regrets about how he carried out his investigation, Smith said the only thing he wishes he could have done was to express a greater appreciation for his staff who “sacrificed endlessly.”
“We followed the facts of the law,” Smith said. “If anything, I wish I had thanked them enough.”
One year into Trump’s second term, protesters march to White House
WASHINGTON – One year into President Donald Trump’s second term, hundreds of people gathered to march to the White House to demand that ICE and the National Guard leave D.C. on Tuesday.
The march began at 14th and U Street NW, where protesters held yellow picket signs with bold, capitalized letters spelling out, “JUSTICE FOR RENEE GOOD” and “FROM DC TO MINNEAPOLIS STOP ICE TERROR”.
“Now that he’s in office and now that he’s deployed the National Guard here as well as ICE agents, the city feels different than it used to,” protester Michelle Peterson said. “And people are more cautious, people are more worried.”
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Watch: Protesters “walk out” in D.C. and nationwide, rally against fascism and threats to democracy
WASHINGTON — Hundreds of people walked out of work and school Tuesday, gathering at Pershing Park near the White House, as part of the Free D.C. Walkout Against Fascism — a nationwide day of action that organizers say is meant to confront what they describe as growing threats to democracy under the Trump administration.
The demonstration coincided with the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Organizers and participants criticized the administration’s policies on civil rights, labor protections, and immigration, arguing they have fostered fear, division, and increased federal control over local communities. Protesters held signs, shared personal stories, and called for protections for immigrant and marginalized communities.
A smaller walkout also took place outside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where immigration advocates and faith groups delivered more than 13,000 signatures demanding an end to federal spending on detention and deportation.
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Supreme Court appeared skeptical of Trump’s firing of Federal Reserve Board Governor
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed likely to prevent the federal government from removing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook from her position while her legal challenges against the government continue to make their way through the court system.
Wednesday morning’s oral arguments included two hours of questioning directed at both sides on a variety of topics, including what it means to fire a Federal Reserve Board Governor “for cause” and what type of notice is required beforehand. Justices seemed especially concerned about how a ruling could impact the independence of the Federal Reserve.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said some of the government’s arguments in the case would “weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve.”
The Federal Reserve determines monetary policy, like interest rates, while focusing on long-term economic growth and stability. Members of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors are appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate and serve staggered 14-year terms to prevent undue influence by any one administration.
The Court said the Federal Reserve System is a “uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States” in the majority opinion of Trump v. Wilcox (2025), a case regarding the firing of a National Labor Relations Board member.
Members of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors can only be removed by the President “for cause,” a standard that the Justices questioned both sides about at length during oral arguments.
In Cook’s case, President Donald Trump said the cause for the firing was allegations of mortgage fraud committed by listing both a home in Michigan and a residence in Georgia as her primary residence, according to a Truth Social post from August.
Cook sued in district court, and the judge in the case ruled in September that Cook could continue to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors during the appeal process. Soon after, the D.C. Circuit Court upheld the lower court’s ruling in a 2-1 decision.
The federal government then asked the Supreme Court for an emergency stay on the lower courts’ decision, which would prevent a lower court ruling from going into place while the litigation is pending, effectively firing Cook.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned John Sauer, the Solicitor General and lawyer representing the Trump administration, about the precedent that the Court could set by allowing Trump to fire Cook solely based on allegations of misconduct.
Kavanaugh said that it would likely result in “at-will removal,” where, anytime a new president takes power, the previous administration’s appointees are removed.
“Once these tools are unleashed, they are used by both sides and more the second time around,” Kavanaugh said.
Some justices also appeared concerned about potentially unresolved questions in the facts of the case.
Justice Samuel Alito questioned why the case had to be handled “in such a hurried manner” before the claims of mortgage fraud leveled against Cook were investigated.
“You began by laying out what you claim to be the ‘for cause’ removal, but no court has explored the facts of the case,” Alito said to Sauer.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed skepticism around the issue of a Truth Social post being sufficient notice prior to Cook’s firing, another important question in the case.
Some Justices also indicated that they wanted the lower courts to review some of the more complicated questions surrounding it.
“To have lower courts look at these issues first makes the most sense for the public’s confidence and the world’s confidence in the due process of law,” Sotomayor said.
Justices mainly questioned Attorney Paul Clement, Cook’s lawyer, on the meaning of the “for cause” standard and what an appropriate notice and hearing would look like.
The Court went through various hypotheticals over both in and out of office conduct, including a history of sexual harassment, stealing and vocal support of Hitler or the Ku Klux Klan.
While the Court has allowed the firing of officials in other recent cases regarding independent executive agencies, Cook has remained in office.
“It’s less important that the President have full faith in every single governor and it’s more important that the markets and the public have faith in the independence of the Fed from the President and from Congress,” Clement said.
If the Court rules in favor of Trump and removes Cook from her office, the Federal Reserve would lose its longstanding independence. In the 112 years since its creation, no President has removed a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.
“Keeping the Fed independent is important because the political temptation will always be to lower interest rates shortly before an election to kind of goose the economy. The party in power tends to do a lot better when the economy is good,” said Patrick Borchers, Lilli Family Professorship in Law Professor at Creighton University. There may also be downstream negative consequences to constantly giving the economy a sugar high. It might get fat, and might have inflationary aspects down the road that are going to be hard to deal with.”
A decision in the case is expected by the summer.
House committee votes to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress
WASHINGTON – The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted 34 to 8 Wednesday to pass a resolution to hold former President Bill Clinton, 79, in criminal contempt of Congress, after he refused to attend a scheduled deposition in the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The committee passed a similar resolution, 28 to 15, concerning former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The Clintons were subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee in August 2025.
In his opening remarks, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the committee chairman emphasized that “subpoenas are not near suggestions,” and that they “carry the force of law and require compliance.”
“Not a former president, or a private citizen may willfully defy a duly issued congressional subpoena without consequence,” he stated.
After Congress holds witnesses in criminal contempt of Congress, if prosecuted and found guilty, they could face fines of up to $100,000, and possible imprisonment.
It’s rare for those found in contempt of Congress to get imprisoned. Trump advisors Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon were jailed, after being found in contempt of Congress. However, no sitting or former U.S. president has ever been found in contempt of Congress.
Before the Clintons would face consequences, the full House and Senate would have to pass the resolution and Trump would have to sign it into law.
Republican lawmakers’ sharp focus on the Clintons “attracts, draws tension, draws fire away from Trump,” according to Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. “It puts one of their enemies at center stage.” Though, 9 Democrats voted to hold Former President Clinton in contempt.Ranking member Robert Garcia’s, D-Calif., opening statements highlighted that Bill Clinton has called for a full release of the Epstein files, something the chairman, and “no one else in this committee has actually done,” he said.
“It is shameful, illegal, and unconstitutional that the Department of Justice has released one percent of the files,” Garcia said.
Yesterday, Rep. Comer refused the Clintons’ offer to hold an interview under oath in Bill Clinton’s office in New York. According to him, the Cinton’s lawyers had the contingency that no official transcript could be recorded. In a post on X Tuesday, Comer slammed this request, stating that, “the absence of an official transcript is an indefensible demand that is insulting to the American people who demand answers about Epstein’s crimes.”
According to Garcia, the Clintons’ lawyers stated in an email sent today to both his team and Comer’s that they “are not objecting to a transcript and never have.” going against Comer’s remarks Tuesday.
Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., recommended that instead of holding the Clintons’ in criminal contempt, a civil contempt order could be a more appropriate enforcement of the law.
“A civil enforcement of a subpoena can take place very quickly. Criminal trials will take a very long time, months, if not years, that will definitely run out the clock,“ stated Min, who voted present in both votes.
In a letter to Comer, the Clintons criticized Comer’s choice to target them in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, and claimed that Comer has “forced the victims to relive their painful experiences, while doing little to give them and everybody else what’s deserved: truth and justice.”
“Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it,” the Clintons said.
With the continued pressures from the public and both political parties, the Department of Justice released thousands of the over 2 million documents related to Epstein in the DOJ’s possession last month, after the Epstein Files Transparency Act was passed by Congress, nearly unanimously.
Democrats Seek ICE Accountability, Oppose Funding After Renee Good’s Death
WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats last week called for reforms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after the killing of Renee Nicole Good.
Good, 37, was shot and killed on Jan. 7 by an ICE agent in her vehicle in Minneapolis, days after the Trump administration deployed up to 2,000 federal agents to the city. Federal agents made over 3,000 arrests over the past six weeks, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Days following Good’s death, thousands of people protested in Minnesota and across the country against ICE and its operations, according to news reports This prompted Noem to send “hundreds more” federal agents to Minneapolis and has no plans to withdraw ICE from Minnesota, she told reporters Thursday.
At two news conferences last week, Democrats in Congress called for ICE to be held accountable for Good’s death, funding to be cut for ICE and Noem to be impeached.
“She has unleashed ICE and other federal law enforcement officers upon American communities, not to protect them, but to attack them,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said last Wednesday at a Capitol news conference.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday seemed to walk back from his original statements about the violence. Hours following Good’s death, he said Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer.” Video records analyzed by the New York Times show his statement was false. Good’s car drove away from the ICE officer before she was shot.
Trump on Tuesday called Good’s death a “tragedy” about which he “felt terribly” after learning Good’s father was a Trump supporter.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said that the Congressional Progressive Caucus will oppose all immigration enforcement funding in upcoming appropriations bills until ICE is held accountable through meaningful reforms.
“We cannot and we should not continue to fund agencies that operate with impunity,” Omar said. “ICE has no place in terrorizing Minneapolis or any other American community.”
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D‑Ill., criticized ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for aggressive tactics in Minneapolis and cities nationwide, such as tear‑gassing protesters and entering homes.
Ramirez called on Congress to pursue impeachment against Noem for “a disregard for the rule of law and violations of civil rights.”
Georgetown Law School supervising attorney Sophia Genovese said federal agents must follow the Constitution and may only use force under extreme circumstances
“ICE has brought authority to conduct federal acts, [but] what they don’t have authority to do is harass communities. That’s where they’re exceeding the limits of the law,” Genovese told Medill News Service.
Genovese said claims that the ICE agent acted in self‑defense are contradicted by the video showing the agents’ actions were not so. She called the ICE agents “trigger-happy.”
“I think it’s just happening to a degree that now everyone can see it too,” Genovese told Medill News Service.
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., said she plans to introduce legislation to hold DHS to the same standards as other local and federal agencies in response to the shooting of Good.
“Justice means accountability, and let Renee Nicole Good’s name be a call for accountability, not just in Minneapolis, but across our entire country,” Meng said.
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, criticized Trump and Noem for calling Good a “domestic terrorist”. He added that if someone acting peacefully can be labeled a terrorist, then “anyone in this country could be next.”
Green told Medill News Service that a person’s true character is revealed not in comfort and convenience, but in times of controversy. He said Americans must take a stand now to protect democracy.
“We must engage in peaceful protest to let this administration know that we the people will not tolerate what happened to Ms. Renee Nicole Good,” Green said. “There must be justice for Good.”
In Photos: Protesters walk out of work over Trump’s first year in office
WASHINGTON — Protesters in Washington joined a nationwide walkout on Jan. 20, marking one year since President Donald Trump returned to office for a second term. Demonstrators gathered around Pershing Park after leaving work and school as part of a visible protest against the administration.
New protest installation of Epstein birthday card marks Trump’s one year in office
WASHINGTON D.C. — On the coldest day of the year, University of Maryland English professor Orrin Wang came to the National Mall on Tuesday to see the anonymous art group The Secret Handshake’s latest protest piece against the Trump administration.
“I don’t know if [protest art pieces] really do anything right now, but they are a document of what people are feeling and remembering about this time,” he said.
A 10-foot tall replica of the birthday card President Donald Trump allegedly wrote him in 2003 appeared on the National Mall on Monday.
Protest art gives people a safe way to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech. In just one night, the card was covered in hundreds of messages from visitors condemning Trump’s presidency and his relationship with Epstein.
Trump has denied writing, drawing and signing the card, which features the outline of a naked woman with a transcript of a conversation between him and Epstein.
A nearby plaque encouraged onlookers to sign the card replica with a message to the Trump administration accompanied by multicolored waterproof markers.
Epstein would have been 73 on Tuesday, but died in prison in 2019. The installation also marks the one year anniversary for Trump’s second term in office.
A month after the congressionally mandated deadline for the Department of Justice to release the The In response to bipartisan legislation the Justice Department released 300,000 redacted pages of the so-called “Epstein files.” Lawmakers criticized the Trump administration for releasing documents that were overly redacted, with entire pages completely blacked out.
In reference to this, the protest display included a replica of a filing cabinet with shredded versions of the redacted files spilling out.
“We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” the message reads. “Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?… Happy birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Dozens of people have gathered to take pictures of and contribute to the installation. When it was knocked over by the wind on Tuesday morning, onlookers helped push it back up. Cars stopped as they passed the Capitol.
“Where is democracy when the rich pedophiles are free? And we’ve sold it out to, what, the highest pedophile?” said Krys Feyen, a retiree who regularly travels to D.C. to protest with other Southern women her age. “The government exists at the will of the people. And we, the people, are pissed.”
A permit from the National Park Service will enable the art piece to remain until Friday, according to the Washington Post. On the permit application, the artists wrote that the purpose of the work was “to use creative and artistic free speech about one of the most relevant political issues of this moment, and to highlight the conversation about President Donald Trump’s friendship and relationship with Jeffrey Epstein using his own reported language and correspondence. As well, to highlight the heavily redacted files that have been released and those that haven’t.”
However, Secret Handshake’s earlier statue of Trump and Epstein frolicking together was removed in less than a day, despite a permit.
Before Wang walked away from the installation, he decided to write on the card. In between profanities and phrases condemning Trump’s relationship with Epstein, Wang chose to sign with a couple of lines from William Blake’s poem “Earth’s Answer.”
“Selfish father of men/Cruel, jealous, selfish fear,” he wrote on the card. Wang explained that the themes of the post-French Revolution poem represents how he feels about the Trump administration.
“We can be better than that,” he said. “We can be better than just being selfish and jealous people.”
Medill Today | Wednesday, February 5, 2026