IndyCar pushes back on DHS use of racing imagery
'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of yesterday's announcement. Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our [intellectual property] not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter,' IndyCar said in an emailed statement to The Hill on Wednesday.
In a post on the social platform X Tuesday, DHS posted a picture of a vehicle that looks like those used in IndyCar racing branded with the initials for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) next to a prison. The Hill reached out to DHS for comment.
DHS announced Tuesday it had signed another state partnership to house detainees in Indiana. It comes after Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' and will increase ICE space to detain migrants.
The extra bed space, dubbed the 'Speedway Slammer' in reference to Indiana racetracks, is in an existing prison located around 65 miles north of Indianapolis.
'COMING SOON to Indiana: The Speedway Slammer. Today, we're announcing a new partnership with the state of Indiana to expand detention bed space by 1,000 beds,' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
'Thanks to [GOP] Governor [Mike] Braun for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana's Speedway Slammer. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
17 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump tariffs take effect: ‘IT'S MIDNIGHT!!!'
President Trump's latest rollout of 'reciprocal' tariffs on dozens of trading partners has formally taken effect as of Thursday morning. 'IT'S MIDNIGHT!!! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,' the president wrote just before midnight on Truth Social. In another post early Thursday, Trump wrote, 'Tariffs are flowing into the USA at levels not thought even possible!' The president signed an executive order last week unveiling new tariff rates and delayed the implementation date by roughly a week. Now nearly all imports will face a 10 percent tariff. Some nations will stare down higher import tax rates, such as Syria with 41 percent, Laos at 40 percent and Switzerland at 39 percent. Indonesia and Thailand will face a 19 percent tariff rate, while Japan, South Korea and the European Union are looking at a 15 percent figure. Trump also increased the tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. from India by 25 percent on Wednesday, over New Delhi's purchase of Russia's oil. The move came after special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the U.S. continues to push for peace in the more than three-year-long war in Ukraine. India will now face a 50 percent tariff rate, which is set to kick in three weeks. Later Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that 'billions' of dollars will start flowing into the U.S., mostly from countries that 'have taken advantage' of Washington. 'THE ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP AMERICA'S GREATNESS WOULD BE A RADICAL LEFT COURT THAT WANTS TO SEE OUR COUNTRY FAIL,' he said in the post. The president first proposed his ' Liberation Day ' tariff agenda on April 2 but then instituted a 90-day extension a week later, following pressure from Wall Street and GOP lawmakers to stabilize the financial markets. The deadline was extended to Aug. 1 and subsequently bumped to Thursday. Goods that are already on their way to the U.S. are exempt from import fees, along with items covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which was signed in 2020. On Aug. 29, the exemption on de minimis goods will expire, meaning items shipped commercially that are worth $800 or less will no longer be able to evade import fees.
Axios
17 minutes ago
- Axios
Louisiana loses its Independent Party
About 150,000 Louisiana voters lost their party affiliation last week when the state officially did away with the Independent Party. Why it matters: It's part of the logistical and clerical shifts state officials are making as Louisiana prepares to host closed party primaries in 2026 for five elections, which affect all voters, regardless of party affiliation. Be smart: This transition is bound to be complicated for voters, but it's worth paying attention to to make sure your vote counts the way you want it to in 2026 and beyond. The changes will not impact voting in this fall's municipal elections in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Catch up quick: At Gov. Jeff Landry's urging, state lawmakers last year approved a shift away from Louisiana's jungle primary system for five of the state's elections. It means that, instead of everyone getting to vote in the same primary elections, party affiliation will determine who you get to vote for in primaries and primary run-offs. There won't be restrictions in general elections. Affected elections include races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Between the lines: Though the change doesn't take effect until 2026, efforts are already underway at Secretary of State Nancy Landry's office to get things organized. That's why state lawmakers approved the dissolution of the Independent Party earlier this year to make way for a slightly more streamlined process for those voters to participate in primaries. How it'll work: Former Independent Party voters are now lumped in with the more than 650,000 other voters already considered "unaffiliated," according to the Secretary of State's office. When those voters arrive at the polls or request to vote by mail, they'll be offered a choice to vote in the Republican or Democrat primaries, or decline to vote in them. That choice will stand for both the primary and the primary runoff, unless a voter formally changes their party between those two dates. Voters who are registered as Republican or Democrat will only be able to vote in the primaries for their party affiliation. Voters who are registered as any of the dozens of other minor parties in the state won't be able to vote in the primaries. Instead, they'll only be able to vote in their local races. What we're watching: Louisiana has long been known for its large population of " ancestral Democrats," which makes the state look more blue than it typically votes. But if those voters want to actually participate in Republican primaries, this may drastically shift the state's data on registered voters as people formally affiliate with the GOP.
30 minutes ago
Texas Democrats plea for donations to extend their walkout and block Trump's redistricting plan
After leaving Texas for Illinois to prevent a legislative vote on a Republican redistricting plan, state House Democratic leader Gene Wu needed a means to project his voice — and viewpoints — to a national audience. So he tapped his campaign account to buy a microphone for news conferences. When it came to covering the hefty hotel bill for Wu and his roughly 50 colleagues, the lawmaker said he relied on money from his chamber's Democratic Caucus. Now Texas Democrats are pleading for donations to help finance what could be a walkout of weeks — if not months — in a high-stakes attempt to prevent the Republican majority from passing a plan sought by President Donald Trump. The president is urging Texas and other GOP-controlled states to redraw their congressional districts to help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House in next year's midterm elections. 'We're getting a lot of small-dollar donations,' Wu told The Associated Press, "and that's going to be used to help keep this thing going.' A political group led by Beto O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman who ran unsuccessfully for governor and Senate, gave money to the Texas House Democratic Caucus to help cover the up-front costs, according to a spokesperson for the group, Powered by People. O'Rourke this week has been holding events in red states to fire up Democrats and encourage donations. Powered by People has not disclosed how much it contributed. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said Wednesday he's launching an investigation into whether O'Rourke's group has committed bribery by a 'financial influence scheme' benefiting Democrats who left Texas. In response, O'Rourke said he would be undeterred by the threat of an investigation and used it as a fundraising opportunity. By departing the state, Democratic lawmakers have prevented Republicans from obtaining the quorum needed to conduct business. Democrats hope to run out the clock on a special legislative session that ends Aug. 19. But Republican Gov. Greg Abbott could immediately call another session, raising the prospect of a prolonged and an expensive holdout. Not only could Texas Democrats face thousands of dollars in out-of-state lodging and dining costs, they also could eventually face fines of $500 for each day they are absent, which under House rules cannot be paid from their office budgets or political contributions. Texas has a part-time Legislature where lawmakers receive $600 a month, plus an additional $221 for expenses each day they are in session. On Wednesday, state Sen. Jose Menendez joined Democrats from other states at a rally in Boston, where he noted that the potential daily fine for quorum-breaking lawmakers is nearly as large as their entire monthly legislative salary. 'They need your prayers, they need your thoughts and they need you to get behind them,' he said. Some Democrats in the Texas Senate have traveled out of state this week to support their House colleagues, but lawmakers in that chamber are not leaving the state to hold up legislative business. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat and billionaire, has welcomed the Texas lawmakers to his state but said he has not financially supported them. Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who has built a national following in recent weeks, said the lawmakers told Pritzker they didn't want him to fund their trip. 'We've already been inundated with donations from across the state of Texas, from across the country, just regular people donating $5, $10, $15,' Talarico said this week. 'And that's appropriate, because this fight is for the people and it should be funded by the people. We don't have billionaires who are funding this operation.' The House Democratic Caucus has set up a website seeking donations of between $25 and $2,500 — with a default amount of $250. Earlier this week, Abbott asked the state's highest court to remove Wu from office and ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate possible bribery charges related to how Democrats are paying for the walkout, alleging anyone who financially helped them could be culpable. Wu, a former prosecutor from Houston, said the bribery suggestion is 'monstrously stupid.' 'No member is leaving because they might get a campaign contribution that might restore some of the money that they're spending,' he said. Before Democrats decided to leave Texas, Wu said he called potential allies for assurance 'that there would be resources that would come to our assistance.' But he said that's no different from an aspiring candidate asking others for support before officially launching a campaign. Wu, who is chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said he has participated in online sessions with representatives of dozens of Democratic, progressive and redistricting-oriented groups. Not all are financial supporters. Some are providing help in other ways, such as by coordinating publicity. The Democratic National Committee has helped with communications and organizing, as well as providing help from a data analytics team, Chair Ken Martin said. Texas Democrats aren't worried that they'll be forced to return home in the near future because of a lack of money, said Luke Warford, founder of Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund, a Texas fundraising and organizing group. He said longtime Democratic funders understand the high cost of competing in tougher U.S. House races if Republicans succeed in redrawing the map. "Of course having most of the delegation out of the state is going to rack up a bill,' Warford said. But "when you think about it in the context of what Donald Trump has to gain and what Democrats might lose in the short term, it's just not even close to the cost of trying to win back either these races or a bunch of other races in the country.' The Democratic lawmakers have been holed up at a hotel and conference center outside Chicago that was evacuated Wednesday after an unfounded bomb threat. Many lawmakers have been dining and meeting together, and are prepared to keep doing so. Democratic state Rep. John Bucy III, speaking by phone from the hotel, said he isn't concerned about how the costs ultimately get covered. 'There's too much at stake here to be worried about those things,' Bucy said. "Our hotel bills seem so minor compared to what we're trying to do — to protect democracy.'
