Latest news with #ChrisMurphy
New York Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Do Democrats Want a Fight Over Colbert?
Until last week, Stephen Colbert was a fairly innocuous fixture in American media, a late-night host who'd sanded down his edges as he assumed what was once one of the most coveted slots on television. Now, after CBS announced the end of his show, which came as its parent company, Paramount, pursues a merger that requires government approval, some progressive Democrats are taking up his cause as their own. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut warned in a video posted to social media that the ouster of a prominent Trump critic like Colbert showed that the country was 'entering a censorship state.' Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts posted that the country 'deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.' She later added that the corporate maneuvers and settlements swirling ahead of the potential merger 'could be bribery in plain sight.' 'We have to speak out critically of those who capitulate,' said Senator Adam Schiff of California, in an 11-minute video he posted to X (in which he humble-bragged that he'd learned of the firing earlier than most because he'd been a guest on the show when Colbert announced it). The Democratic caucus, though, is far from agreed on whether voters really care. Over the last six months, as President Trump has rammed his agenda through Congress and bulldozed parts of the federal government, Democrats have struggled to home in on a single message. Polling suggests that they've made inroads in casting the president's signature domestic policy bill as a giveaway for the rich at the expense of regular Americans. And they've spent much of the last couple of weeks seeking to exacerbate Republican divisions over Trump's handling of the government's files relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Not everybody's sure they should add Colbert — a well-compensated denizen of a dying medium — to their plate. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Sen. Chris Murphy slams ICE, says allowing masked officers will enable 'depravity' and 'vigilantism'
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., condemned the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics Tuesday, warning that plans to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and allow agents to operate in masks could lead to "vigilantism" and "depravity." Speaking on "The Bulwark" podcast, Murphy criticized the administration's push to hire more ICE officers to execute mass deportations—a centerpiece of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. He argued that such rapid expansion, coupled with the anonymity provided by masks, could attract undesirable candidates and create dangerous conditions for misconduct. Murphy said that officers wearing masks can be "just a cover for illegality and for brutality, because if nobody can identify the law enforcement officer that's beating the hell out of an immigrant, then everybody can get away with it." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised concerns about the doxxing of ICE agents, claiming attacks have skyrocketed by 830% since January. The DHS has called on the Justice Department to prosecute anyone suspected of "doxxing" ICE agents by posting agents' photos and personal information online or in public. Murphy said he wants federal agents to be treated with respect but warned that as Trump beefs up ICE by hiring more officers, "There is an element of folks who are going to be drawn to these jobs that see it as a bonus that they can get away with masked vigilantism." "As you hire into ICE so quickly, the standard for who you hire is going to go down and down and down," he said. "If ICE decides to hire 10,000 people this year, man, there are going to be some pretty unsavory people who get hired, and the masks allow them to sort of get away with a level of depravity that none of us should accept." He compared the hiring pace to the Border Patrol, which, he claimed, struggles to find even 1,000 people a year who meet their criteria. Bulwark host Tim Miller suggested that immigration raids by masked officers seem "pretty risky" in a heavily armed country like the United States, and Murphy offered a theory. "One of my colleagues was speculating that the reason that these very high-profile raids are happening in a place like California and not happening, at least as visibly, in places like Arizona, is because of the worry that in a community with folks who have concealed weapons, it's going to lead to a shootout," he said. "And that shouldn't ever be the reason why you aren't enforcing the law, that you're worried you're going to get shot at," he added.
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Sen. Chris Murphy warns Trump expanding ICE with 'unsavory' people, allowing them to wear masks
Sen. Chris Murphy warned that President Trump rapidly expanding ICE and allowing them to wear masks as they conduct raids will lead to a wave of "depravity that none of us should accept."
CTV News
22-07-2025
- CTV News
Saskatoon man sentenced to 13 years for killing roommate with hammer
A Saskatoon man who killed his roommate with a hammer has been handed a 13-year sentence. Steffen Pohl, 35, was found dead inside his Idylwyld Drive North home at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 30, 2023. His roommate, Nader Butter, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. According to an agreed statement of facts, Butter was impaired by alcohol and magic mushrooms when he killed Pohl. During a sentencing hearing in June, the Crown sought a sentence of 11.3 years, factoring in credit for time Butter had already spent in custody. The defence argued for a significantly lighter sentence: one day in jail followed by three years of probation. Defence lawyer Chris Murphy said the case hinges on Butter's moral culpability, arguing that without the magic mushrooms 'this would not have happened.' When delivering her sentencing decision Tuesday morning, Justice Natasha Crooks ruled Butter had moral culpability because he was aware of his behaviour and actions. She also said intoxication does not diminish or mitigate that culpability. Crooks said Butter had the wherewithal to calm himself down and interact with officers after Pohl called police to report his roommate was trying to kill him. She said Butter was aware of rising tensions, noting that he called his landlord throughout the night to report things were 'getting out of hand.' Butter also followed his landlord's directions to call 911 and report Pohl's death, Crooks said. 'I am satisfied Mr. Butter was aware of his behaviour throughout the night,' she said. Crooks cited several aggravating factors, including the fact that Pohl was killed in his own home and struck multiple times with a hammer. She also noted that Butter is considered a very high risk to reoffend. With credit for time served, Butter has nine years and four months remaining on his 13-year sentence. At the end of the hearing, Crooks spoke directly to Butter, urging him to utilize resources while in custody and address his alcoholism. 'If you do not address your alcoholism there is no question you will be back in court,' she said. -With files from Laura Woodward
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Injured Red Sox setup man not throwing, doing plyo work ‘to get strength back'
BOSTON — Red Sox setup man Justin Slaten, who has been on the injured list since June 1 with right shoulder inflammation, played catch June 27. But the 27-year-old righty, who has a 3.47 ERA, four holds, three saves and a .171 batting average against in 24 outings, hasn't continued with a throwing progression. He is doing plyo ball work in the gym. 'Right now he's doing plyos, trying to get the strength back,' manager Alex Cora said before Boston's game against the Rays on Thursday. 'So that's where we're at right now.' On the day the Red Sox placed Slaten on the IL, he said he was dealing with 'a little bit of fatigue' and he didn't think the injury was 'anything super serious.' Asked if there was a setback after he played catch, Cora replied, 'I don't want to call it a setback. Playing catch is nothing different (than) like what they're doing in the gym.' Boston transferred Slaten from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on June 28 to open a 40-man roster spot for lefty reliever Chris Murphy who returned from Tommy John surgery rehab. More Red Sox coverage Red Sox rookie survives roster crunch, has 'best at-bat of the season' in comeback win Red Sox option reliever to Worcester, clearing spot for Hunter Dobbins to start Friday Red Sox make roster decision, send down infielder with Alex Bregman returning Friday Red Sox reactions: Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela lead late comeback for 7th straight win Red Sox must make roster decision on Tanner Houck soon; could he go to bullpen? Read the original article on MassLive.
