Latest news with #McCarthy-era
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard
Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard Around 10 decommissioned public transit buses caught fire at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's largest facility early Thursday. 00:31 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 14 videos Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard Around 10 decommissioned public transit buses caught fire at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's largest facility early Thursday. 00:31 - Source: CNN Cassie Ventura's friend testifies Diddy held her over a balcony Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura who goes by Bana, testified today about an incident with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2016 when she said that she was 'held over a 17-story balcony' by the music mogul. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 01:48 - Source: CNN 'Good Night, and Good Luck's' scenic designer discusses how he created George Clooney's Broadway newsroom Scenic Designer Scott Pask recreated the CBS newsroom and Edward R. Murrow's set for "Good Night, and Good Luck," the play that brings the 1950s McCarthy-era drama to life. Pask tells CNN why architectural accuracy is important for a play that's about 'speaking truth to power.' Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 02:13 - Source: CNN Police shut down All-American Rejects backyard gig in college town The All-American Rejects played a backyard gig in Columbia, Missouri, as part of their House Party Tour protesting against expensive arena shows. Police eventually shut it down, but not before letting the band play one final song. 01:05 - Source: CNN Bringing 1950s style to Broadway Costume Designer Brenda Abbandandolo mixed vintage, thrifted clothing with precise recreations of 1950s style to bring the Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck to life. She tells CNN how she approached dressing George Clooney and Ilana Glazer with historic authenticity. Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 01:53 - Source: CNN Trans high school athlete wins events amid controversy A transgender athlete, whose participation sparked a national controversy and a temporary rule change, took first place in two of her three events in the California High School Track and Field Championship. 01:09 - Source: CNN How fish skin saved this child's life Eliana DeVos received a dressing made with fish skin to help her recover from a serious bacterial infection that left an open wound on her neck. CNN's Jacqueline Howard spoke with Eliana's mom and her health team at Driscoll Children's Hospital about the healing process. 02:30 - Source: CNN Millions of bees buzz around Washington state roads after truck overturns Millions of bees escape after a truck carrying honeybee hives overturned in Whatcom County, Washington, and rolled into a ditch. Local beekeepers were called to the scene. 00:42 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift buys back her entire music catalogue Roughly six years after Taylor Swift protested the sale of her master recordings by her former record label, she now owns her entire catalog of music. Swift announced the news in a letter posted to her website. 01:28 - Source: CNN 108-year-old submarine wreck seen in new footage Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution captured close-up images of a WWI-era submarine lost at sea 108 years ago. 00:40 - Source: CNN Car flies off the road, crashes into a roof Video shows a car fly off the road and into a veterans hall in Missouri, police say as a result of speeding. This is the second time in three months a car crashed into the same building. The veterans hall will be closed for months for a second time after the latest crash, according to CNN affiliate KCTV. 00:38 - Source: CNN 'The Handmaid's Tale' star reacts to parting scene with June O-T Fagbenle reflects on wrapping "The Handmaid's Tale," Luke's evolution, and the emotional final scene with June as the series ends after six seasons. 02:04 - Source: CNN Elephant seal in Cape Town wanders into suburbia, stops traffic and wins the hearts of locals A Southern elephant seal makes a surprise visit to the residential neighborhood of Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and triggers an almost nine-hour rescue effort to return him to the coast. 00:57 - Source: CNN Why e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber's beauty brand for $1 billion e.l.f. Beauty is buying Hailey Bieber's makeup brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. Founded in 2022, Bieber's brand racked up $212 million in net sales in its last fiscal year. 01:11 - Source: CNN
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard
Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard Around 10 decommissioned public transit buses caught fire at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's largest facility early Thursday. 00:31 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 14 videos Massive fire erupts at Philadelphia bus yard Around 10 decommissioned public transit buses caught fire at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's largest facility early Thursday. 00:31 - Source: CNN Cassie Ventura's friend testifies Diddy held her over a balcony Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura who goes by Bana, testified today about an incident with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2016 when she said that she was 'held over a 17-story balcony' by the music mogul. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 01:48 - Source: CNN 'Good Night, and Good Luck's' scenic designer discusses how he created George Clooney's Broadway newsroom Scenic Designer Scott Pask recreated the CBS newsroom and Edward R. Murrow's set for "Good Night, and Good Luck," the play that brings the 1950s McCarthy-era drama to life. Pask tells CNN why architectural accuracy is important for a play that's about 'speaking truth to power.' Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 02:13 - Source: CNN Police shut down All-American Rejects backyard gig in college town The All-American Rejects played a backyard gig in Columbia, Missouri, as part of their House Party Tour protesting against expensive arena shows. Police eventually shut it down, but not before letting the band play one final song. 01:05 - Source: CNN Bringing 1950s style to Broadway Costume Designer Brenda Abbandandolo mixed vintage, thrifted clothing with precise recreations of 1950s style to bring the Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck to life. She tells CNN how she approached dressing George Clooney and Ilana Glazer with historic authenticity. Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 01:53 - Source: CNN Trans high school athlete wins events amid controversy A transgender athlete, whose participation sparked a national controversy and a temporary rule change, took first place in two of her three events in the California High School Track and Field Championship. 01:09 - Source: CNN How fish skin saved this child's life Eliana DeVos received a dressing made with fish skin to help her recover from a serious bacterial infection that left an open wound on her neck. CNN's Jacqueline Howard spoke with Eliana's mom and her health team at Driscoll Children's Hospital about the healing process. 02:30 - Source: CNN Millions of bees buzz around Washington state roads after truck overturns Millions of bees escape after a truck carrying honeybee hives overturned in Whatcom County, Washington, and rolled into a ditch. Local beekeepers were called to the scene. 00:42 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift buys back her entire music catalogue Roughly six years after Taylor Swift protested the sale of her master recordings by her former record label, she now owns her entire catalog of music. Swift announced the news in a letter posted to her website. 01:28 - Source: CNN 108-year-old submarine wreck seen in new footage Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution captured close-up images of a WWI-era submarine lost at sea 108 years ago. 00:40 - Source: CNN Car flies off the road, crashes into a roof Video shows a car fly off the road and into a veterans hall in Missouri, police say as a result of speeding. This is the second time in three months a car crashed into the same building. The veterans hall will be closed for months for a second time after the latest crash, according to CNN affiliate KCTV. 00:38 - Source: CNN 'The Handmaid's Tale' star reacts to parting scene with June O-T Fagbenle reflects on wrapping "The Handmaid's Tale," Luke's evolution, and the emotional final scene with June as the series ends after six seasons. 02:04 - Source: CNN Elephant seal in Cape Town wanders into suburbia, stops traffic and wins the hearts of locals A Southern elephant seal makes a surprise visit to the residential neighborhood of Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and triggers an almost nine-hour rescue effort to return him to the coast. 00:57 - Source: CNN Why e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber's beauty brand for $1 billion e.l.f. Beauty is buying Hailey Bieber's makeup brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. Founded in 2022, Bieber's brand racked up $212 million in net sales in its last fiscal year. 01:11 - Source: CNN
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
A visa is a privilege, not a right, says Marco Rubio: Exploring the fine line in US immigration policy
Marco Rubio In a fiery exchange that sent ripples across both political and academic circles, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers this week that "a visa is not a right, it's a privilege," as he defended the mass revocation of student visas. The remark came amid a tense Senate hearing where Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen accused Rubio of trampling on the constitutional rights of foreign students protesting US support for Israel. At the heart of the debate was the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, who was detained after criticizing her campus's stance on Gaza. Despite a federal judge finding no links to extremism or hate speech, her visa was revoked and she was sent to a Louisiana detention center. The episode has reignited long-standing questions: What rights do foreign students actually have in the US? And where does the line between privilege and protection begin—and blur? Citizens vs. Guests: The Unequal Footing in US Law While the US Constitution guarantees several core rights to all people on US soil—such as freedom of speech and due process—those protections are not absolute for foreign nationals, especially when immigration or visa status comes into play. Unlike US citizens, international students on F-1 visas are considered "guests," and their legal presence is conditional and revocable. The US government can revoke a visa without a trial, often without even informing the visa holder of the specific reason. This is because immigration policy falls under the broad authority of the executive branch, and courts have historically given the government wide latitude to determine who may enter or stay in the country. Freedom of Speech—But With Consequences While foreign students technically have the right to free speech , that right can be undermined by their immigration status. Secretary Rubio argued that students who participate in what he described as disruptive protests—such as "taking over libraries" or "leading campus crusades"—are abusing their privilege to stay in the country. Van Hollen, on the other hand, pushed back, saying Rubio's actions were not about public safety but about punishing dissent. He referenced the McCarthy-era witch hunts, accusing Rubio of using national security as a pretext to silence criticism of US foreign policy. Due Process Denied? When Constitutional Rights Hit a Wall One of the more contentious issues raised in the hearing was the question of due process. US citizens cannot be punished or deprived of liberty without it. But for visa holders, immigration enforcement often bypasses full judicial proceedings. In Ozturk's case, she was arrested by masked agents, held in detention, and stripped of her visa without a criminal charge, prompting outrage among civil liberties advocates. While a judge ordered her release, her visa remains revoked—demonstrating the fragile legal footing that foreign students occupy. The Fine Line Between Privilege and Rights Rubio's statement—"a visa is not a right, it's a privilege"—may be legally accurate, but it exposes a deeper philosophical tension. When does a temporary presence in the US grant someone moral or political protection? And if someone lives, studies, and contributes to US society for years, should they still be treated as expendable? Critics argue that calling visas a privilege allows the government to enforce political conformity among foreign students, effectively creating a two-tier system of justice—one for citizens, and one for everyone else. Rights vs. Privileges in the US Visa System Aspect US Citizens F-1 Visa Holders / Foreign Students Legal Status Permanent and unconditional (citizenship by birth or naturalization) Temporary and conditional (granted by US government for specific purposes) Right to Free Speech Fully protected under First Amendment Generally protected while in US, but can face visa consequences for expression deemed "disruptive" or against US interests Right to Due Process Full due process protections before loss of liberty or rights Limited; visa revocations often happen without full hearings or appeals Visa Status Not applicable (citizens do not need a visa to reside in US) Privilege, not a right; visa can be revoked at any time, often without court review Right to Stay in US Guaranteed; cannot be deported Conditional; subject to immigration law and administrative discretion Political Participation Right to vote, protest, and run for office No right to vote or run for office; public protests may trigger scrutiny Protection from Deportation Full protection unless convicted of serious crimes or renounce citizenship Can be deported for visa violations, criminal charges, or national security claims Legal Recourse Can sue government for rights violations Very limited ability to challenge deportation or visa revocation in US courts Ability to Work Unlimited, with labor protections Strictly limited; work only under authorized programs like OPT, CPT Government Benefits Eligible for federal aid, healthcare programs, unemployment, etc. Ineligible for most public benefits; F-1 students must be financially self-sufficient While foreign students have some constitutional protections while on US soil, their ability to stay in the country is a revocable privilege, not a guaranteed right. This makes their free speech and presence inherently vulnerable to political or administrative decisions, especially in contentious times like now. The Broader Implications for US Higher Education This crackdown risks sending a chilling message to the global academic community: that the US may no longer be a safe space for intellectual freedom and political expression. Universities, once seen as sanctuaries for debate, may become surveillance zones for visa enforcement. As thousands of students from around the world apply to American institutions each year, many are now asking: Is the opportunity to study in the US worth the risk of having your stay revoked for your beliefs? The Rubio-Van Hollen exchange has illuminated not just a legal distinction but a moral one—between citizenship and conditional presence, between rights that are guaranteed and privileges that can be withdrawn. And as the US walks that blurry line, it raises a larger question for a country that champions freedom: Who gets to speak, and who gets to stay? Invest in Their Tomorrow, Today: Equip your child with the essential AI skills for a future brimming with possibilities | Join Now
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Van Hollen slams Rubio in contentious exchange over deportations and Abrego Garcia
Secretary of State Marco Rubio returned to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, appearing before his former colleagues for the first time since his confirmation to defend the president's foreign policy and the administration's budget priorities for the year ahead. Rather than a warm homecoming, Rubio was quickly on defense, with several Senate Democrats pressing the secretary on the State Department's reorganization and spending cuts, as well as Middle East policy and El Salvador detentions. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., spent much of his allotted time criticizing Rubio on a number of issues, including his coziness with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and the Trump administration's failure to "facilitate" in returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant who was erroneously deported to El Salvador, to the United States. Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland at the time he was deported. "In the case of El Salvador, absolutely, absolutely, we deported gang members, gang members -- including the one you had a margarita with. And that guy is a human trafficker, and that guy is a gang banger, and that and the evidence is going to be clear," Rubio asserted, referring to Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador in April. MORE: Van Hollen describes dramatic meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador upon return to US "Mr. Chairman, he can't make unsubstantiated comments like that," Van Hollen protested. "Secretary Rubio should take that testimony to the federal court of the United States because he hasn't done it under oath!" Van Hollen has said neither man drank from the glasses that he said officials put on the table during the meeting that appeared to have liquid inside with salt or sugar rims. "No judge and the judicial branch cannot tell me or the president how to conduct foreign policy," Rubio shot back. "No judge can tell me how I have to outreach to a foreign partner or what I need to say to them, and if I do reach that foreign partner and talk to them, I have under no obligation to share that with the judiciary branch. Diplomacy doesn't work that way." "You're just blowing smoke now," Van Hollen said. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, had to intervene in the at-times contentious conversation as Van Hollen compared Rubio's policy on deportations and the El Salvador detentions of migrants to the "shameful era" of McCarthy-era witch hunts and the red scare, saying the administration's "campaign of fear and repression is eating away at foundational values of our democracy." "Back then, it took one voice, attorney Joseph Welch, to cut through the hysteria with a simple question that marked the beginning of the end of that shameful era: 'Have you no sense of decency?'" Van Hollen said as he concluded his line of questioning. "And I would ask you the same, Secretary Rubio. You have shown, with your words and your actions what your answer is. I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you as secretary of state." Van Hollen slams Rubio in contentious exchange over deportations and Abrego Garcia originally appeared on
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi freed from ICE custody graduates at Columbia
Listen to article Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi graduated from Columbia University on Monday, just over two weeks after being released from US immigration detention following a controversial arrest that drew national attention. Mohsen Mahdawi, 34, a legal US resident and green card holder, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on April 14 during a routine naturalisation interview in Colchester, Vermont. The arrest came amid a wider federal crackdown on foreign students accused of participating in pro-Palestinian protests. He was released on April 30 by order of a federal judge in Vermont, who criticised the government's actions and compared them to McCarthy-era repression. Mohsen Mahdawi had not been charged with any criminal offence. On Monday, he crossed the graduation stage at Columbia's School of General Studies, receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy to loud applause. He wore a keffiyeh – a traditional Palestinian scarf – as he waved to the crowd, blew a kiss, and bowed. 'It's very mixed emotions,' Mohsen Mahdawi said in an interview. 'The Trump administration wanted to rob me of this opportunity. They wanted me to be in a prison, to not have education, to not have joy or celebration.' After the ceremony, he joined a vigil outside Columbia's gates, holding a photo of his classmate, Mahmoud Khalil, who remains in federal detention in Louisiana. Mahmoud Khalil was set to graduate later this week with a master's degree in international studies. Mohsen Mahdawi is one of several international students detained in recent months under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump targeting individuals deemed to have 'hostile attitudes' toward US foreign policy. The administration has argued that participation in pro-Palestinian protests constitutes a national security concern. A letter calling for Mohsen Mahdawi's deportation, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accused him of using threatening language towards pro-Israeli individuals on campus. However, video footage from November 2023, reviewed by CBS News, appeared to show Mahdawi intervening against antisemitic comments made by another protester. The legal justification for his detention drew criticism from civil rights advocates. The government cited a rarely used provision that allows the Secretary of State to revoke a person's immigration status if they are deemed a threat to US foreign policy. Mohsen Mahdawi, who had previously been accepted into a master's programme in peacekeeping and conflict resolution at Columbia, said he is now reconsidering his future. He recently learned that he will not receive financial aid to continue his studies. 'The senior administration is selling the soul of this university to the Trump administration,' he said, referring to Columbia's response to student activism and the detentions. He also criticised the university for placing its Middle Eastern studies department under new leadership, allegedly in response to political pressure. Columbia University has not publicly commented on Mahdawi's case. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his immigration status and academic future, Mahdawi said he plans to continue advocating for Palestinian rights. 'When I walked the stage, the message was clear: they were cheering for justice, for peace, for humanity,' he said. 'Not the Trump administration, not Columbia University, not any power in this world will stop us from continuing to be human.'
