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International Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
'Deport Melania': Petition Calls for First Lady's Deportation Amid Trump's Immigration Crackdowns
As U.S. President Donald Trump pushed for stricter immigration policies and increased deportations during his term, a viral petition emerged online demanding that his own family not be exempt from the same scrutiny. The petition, hosted on called for the deportation of Melania Trump, her parents, and their son, Barron Trump. The petition, which collected nearly 3,000 signatures, argued that if Trump was serious about targeting naturalized citizens and immigration loopholes, the same rules should apply to his wife and her family. "If it's good for one, it's good for all," the petition stated, criticizing what it perceived as hypocrisy in Trump's policies. Melania Trump, originally born as Melanija Knavs in Slovenia, moved to the United States in the 1990s to pursue a modeling career. She was granted a green card in 2001 and became a U.S. citizen in 2006, shortly before marrying Donald Trump. She is the second First Lady in U.S. history to be born outside the country and the only one to have become a naturalized citizen. Critics have previously questioned the transparency around Melania's early visa status. Reports during Trump's presidency highlighted concerns that she may have worked in the U.S. before obtaining legal authorization. These questions resurfaced alongside the petition, amplifying debates around immigration policy and double standards. Adding fuel to the controversy, Congresswoman Maxine Waters had earlier raised concerns during a rally in Los Angeles, questioning the documentation status of Melania's parents. "We don't know whether or not her parents were documented," Waters said, suggesting that Trump's own family history be examined under the same lens used to scrutinize others. The petition emphasized that if national security and legal immigration were true concerns, then no one—including the president's family—should be above the law. "There should be no exceptions," the petition said. "This should not be about favoritism." This backlash emerged as a form of protest against Trump's immigration rhetoric, which critics say disproportionately targeted immigrants from specific countries while overlooking similar cases within his own circles. Melania's immigration journey gained further attention due to her use of the EB-1 visa, often called the "Einstein visa," meant for individuals with extraordinary abilities. Critics questioned whether her modeling credentials qualified her for the category, especially during a period when the Trump administration was tightening eligibility standards. While the petition may not carry legal weight, it has reignited public discourse around fairness in immigration enforcement. It also highlights the symbolic divide between Trump's policy stance and his personal life, underlining ongoing tensions in America's immigration debate.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Blake Lively's link to Judge Lewis J Liman's brother revealed after SHOCKING dismissal of Justin Baldoni's $400M lawsuit; netizens call it 'Conflict of interest'
's courtroom victory over has come under the radar after social media users uncovered a past connection between the actress and the brother of federal Judge Lewis J Liman, who dismissed Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Monday, Judge Liman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the 'It Ends With Us' director's defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband , and The New York Times. Judge Liman ruled that Lively's statements were made within the bounds of legal privilege and could not serve as the basis for a defamation claim. However, shortly after the decision, social media users began circulating a detail that has since gone viral. The viral post claims that the judge is the brother of Hollywood filmmaker , who directed Lively in the past. The post claimed that the actress was a teen when she worked with director Doug in a 2008 pro-Obama campaign ad for The ad also featured Lively's Gossip Girl co-star . 'FUN FACT: the judge that dismissed Justin Baldoni's claims against Blake Lively is Lewis Liman, brother to Doug Liman. Doug and Blake worked together years ago—small world,' wrote one user on X, triggering a wave of commentary and speculation. Some critics questioned a potential conflict of interest, despite the brief and indirect nature of the connection. 'I don't understand how he could preside then. That's a conflict of interest, I'd assume,' one commenter wrote. Others quickly pushed back, arguing that the 2008 collaboration between Lively and Doug Liman—a commercial involving dozens of public figures—hardly constituted grounds for judicial recusal. 'You think this judge would dismiss a lawsuit because Blake did a COMMERCIAL with his brother? Lmfao,' one user replied. Judge Lewis J Liman, a Harvard and Yale Law School graduate, has served on the federal bench since 2019 following a distinguished legal career that included time as a federal prosecutor and appellate division chief. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His brother Doug has directed major studio films including The Bourne Identity, Swingers, and Edge of Tomorrow. There is no indication at this time of any formal conflict of interest or ethics violation. The judge has not commented on the social media reaction, and legal experts have noted that distant, professional overlaps involving family members are generally not disqualifying—especially when no ongoing or personal relationship exists. Lively celebrated the dismissal on Monday with a public statement, saying, 'I'm more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity, and their story,' she wrote. The judge, however, said Baldoni could revise the lawsuit if he wanted to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached or interfered with a contract. His legal team indicated it planned to do so.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist is the latest to say he's running for governor. Here's who's in the race
Michigan's lieutenant governor this week became the latest person to announce plans to seek the governorship in 2026, joining a growing list of candidates with more than a year until the election. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, on March 11 announced his candidacy when he took part in a launch event at the Jam Handy venue in Detroit. Since January, six people have announced plans to seek the state's highest office, including two Republicans, three Democrats, and one longtime Democrat running as an independent. Several other individuals have said they are considering their own campaigns or have created gubernatorial campaign finance committees but have not made formal announcements. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term limited and will leave an open field for the 2026 gubernatorial election. The next governor will take office in 2027 after Whitmer's term expires. To qualify for the ballot, candidates for governor must submit petitions with a certain number of voter signatures. Currently, the Michigan Secretary of State website does not list deadline dates for when candidates in the 2026 election must file nominating petitions. Deadlines for 2026 haven't been written yet, spokesperson Cheri Hardmon previously said, but "we will likely have them to post by the fall." For partisan candidates, the deadline is 15 Tuesdays before the August primary election and for candidates filing without party affiliation, it's 110 days before the November election. Declared candidates include Democrats Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Republicans Anthony Hudson and State Sen. Aric Nesbitt. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an Independent. The next election for governor of Michigan is Nov. 3, 2026. The 2026 primary election is Aug. 4, 2026. Here's a closer look at the declared candidates (in order of when they created their campaign committee) and those considering running for governor. Gilchrist, 42, grew up in Detroit and Farmington, and studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. He worked as a software engineer at Microsoft in Washington state, where he also was a social media manager for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. After moving to Washington, D.C., he worked for a liberal advocacy group. When he returned to Detroit, he worked for the city as its director of innovation & emerging technology. Gilchrist has been Whitmer's lieutenant since she was first elected. "I am about results. And engineers get things done. Engineers are not worried about the politics. They're worried about the problem and the solution and that's where my head will always be and I will be ready and willing, eager frankly, to solve problems alongside anyone who has that same mentality," he told the Detroit Free Press in a phone interview. Swanson was elected Genesee County sheriff in 2020. He won reelection in 2024. Swanson grew up in Grand Blanc and currently lives in Fenton, both Genesee County cities. He has worked in law enforcement for almost three decades, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's website. Swanson attended Mott Community College in Flint, and holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in public administration, both from the University of Michigan. During a campaign kickoff event, Swanson named protecting Michigan residents' 2nd Amendment, collective bargaining and civil rights as some of his priorities as well as the freedom to worship, in a speech in which he invoked his own faith, saying the Lord had opened doors for him. Benson, 47, was first elected Secretary of State in 2018 and then again in 2022. As Michigan's chief elections officer during the 2020 election, Benson spoke out against President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his loss that year. In addition to her election duties, Benson also oversees motor vehicle services in Michigan. During her time in office, Benson has moved more services online and, with self-service kiosk stations in Michigan, drivers have replaced in-person visits to a Secretary of State office with a trip to the grocery store. Before serving as Secretary of State, Benson was dean at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. "I want Michigan to be the best place in the country to be a kid, raise a kid, and be healthy, safe, and successful. A place where government is efficient and easy to deal with, where businesses and communities thrive, and where every resident has access to quality child care, health care, education, and housing," Benson said in a statement. Nesbitt, 44, is a Cass County Republican, who grew up on a farm and has a long career in Republican politics. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2010, serving three terms in the chamber. He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018. When Democrats flipped that chamber from Republican to Democratic control in the 2022 election, his fellow GOP lawmakers chose him to serve as the Senate Republican Leader. "As governor, I will put Michigan first by supporting taxpayers over the woke left, empowering parents, keeping families safe, and standing with President Trump to revive our manufacturing industry and Make Michigan Great Again," Nesbitt said in a statement. Hudson, a Grand Blanc resident, was born in Hillsboro, Texas, and served in the U.S. Army from 1999 to 2001. He moved to Michigan in 2012, his online biography says, to be near his children after his divorce. His career experience includes owning a small trucking company, Longhorn Logistics, according to Ballotpedia. Hudson is running for governor to eliminate property and state income taxes, demand transparency and accountability, and return power to local communities where it belongs, he says on his website. Duggan, 66, is a Detroit native and was elected the 75th mayor of Detroit in 2013. He took office as mayor in 2014 and is currently serving his third four-year term. After graduating from law school at the University of Michigan, he became an attorney for Wayne County, and then served for 14 years as deputy Wayne County executive, a biography on the city's website said. Duggan chaired the stadium authority and was involved in building Comerica Park and Ford Field, the downtown stadiums for the Tigers and Lions. He also oversaw the construction of the McNamara Terminal and modernization of Metro Airport, the website said. Duggan also was CEO of the Detroit Medical Center. Duggan says he wants to find ways to keep Michigan's young people in the state, improve public education, and expand access to affordable housing. He also hopes to end partisanship in Lansing. Numerous people are listed as having finance committees in place on the state website. Democrat Marni Sawicki has a Facebook page, Michigan Loves Marni, Governor, that says "Marni is the former mayor of Cape Coral, Florida. She was elected in 2013 and served for four years. She is now running to the next Governor of Michigan!" "Getting geared up for campaigning! Looking forward to getting out and meeting Michiganders!" a Jan. 27 post says. A website linked on the page calls her a life coach, speaker and consultant. Republican Evan Space, of Grand Rapids, has formed a campaign committee and has a website stating he is running for governor. Space, a Traverse City native, calls for the elimination of all business taxes, statehood for the UP, bringing space launches to Michigan, the establishment of a U.S. military base and the reform of the Friend of the Court, among other goals. Republican Mike Cox, 62, hasn't announced a run, but said he's considering it in a Jan. 30 post on X. He served as Michigan's top law enforcement officer from 2003-10. He ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2010, finishing third in a five-candidate field that year. Cox grew up in Redford Township. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1989 and went on to work for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and then the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. His wife, Laura Cox, previously served as the Michigan GOP chair during the 2020 election. Larry Hutchinson, with no party affiliation, Richard Fuentes, with no party affiliation, Republican Joyce Gipson and Republican Benita Carter have all filed paperwork forming candidate committees with the state since the last gubernatorial election in 2022. The Detroit Free Press contributed reporting to this story. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race is getting crowded. Here's who's running
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist is the latest to say he's running for governor. Here's who's in the race
Michigan's lieutenant governor this week became the latest person to announce plans to seek the governorship in 2026, joining a growing list of candidates with more than a year until the election. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, on March 11 announced his candidacy when he took part in a launch event at the Jam Handy venue in Detroit. Since January, six people have announced plans to seek the state's highest office, including two Republicans, three Democrats, and one longtime Democrat running as an independent. Several other individuals have said they are considering their own campaigns or have created gubernatorial campaign finance committees but have not made formal announcements. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term limited and will leave an open field for the 2026 gubernatorial election. The next governor will take office in 2027 after Whitmer's term expires. To qualify for the ballot, candidates for governor must submit petitions with a certain number of voter signatures. Currently, the Michigan Secretary of State website does not list deadline dates for when candidates in the 2026 election must file nominating petitions. Deadlines for 2026 haven't been written yet, spokesperson Cheri Hardmon previously said, but "we will likely have them to post by the fall." For partisan candidates, the deadline is 15 Tuesdays before the August primary election and for candidates filing without party affiliation, it's 110 days before the November election. Declared candidates include Democrats Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Republicans Anthony Hudson and State Sen. Aric Nesbitt. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an Independent. The next election for governor of Michigan is Nov. 3, 2026. The 2026 primary election is Aug. 4, 2026. Here's a closer look at the declared candidates (in order of when they created their campaign committee) and those considering running for governor. Gilchrist, 42, grew up in Detroit and Farmington, and studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. He worked as a software engineer at Microsoft in Washington state, where he also was a social media manager for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. After moving to Washington, D.C., he worked for a liberal advocacy group. When he returned to Detroit, he worked for the city as its director of innovation & emerging technology. Gilchrist has been Whitmer's lieutenant since she was first elected. "I am about results. And engineers get things done. Engineers are not worried about the politics. They're worried about the problem and the solution and that's where my head will always be and I will be ready and willing, eager frankly, to solve problems alongside anyone who has that same mentality," he told the Detroit Free Press in a phone interview. Swanson was elected Genesee County sheriff in 2020. He won reelection in 2024. Swanson grew up in Grand Blanc and currently lives in Fenton, both Genesee County cities. He has worked in law enforcement for almost three decades, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's website. Swanson attended Mott Community College in Flint, and holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in public administration, both from the University of Michigan. During a campaign kickoff event, Swanson named protecting Michigan residents' 2nd Amendment, collective bargaining and civil rights as some of his priorities as well as the freedom to worship, in a speech in which he invoked his own faith, saying the Lord had opened doors for him. Benson, 47, was first elected Secretary of State in 2018 and then again in 2022. As Michigan's chief elections officer during the 2020 election, Benson spoke out against President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his loss that year. In addition to her election duties, Benson also oversees motor vehicle services in Michigan. During her time in office, Benson has moved more services online and, with self-service kiosk stations in Michigan, drivers have replaced in-person visits to a Secretary of State office with a trip to the grocery store. Before serving as Secretary of State, Benson was dean at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. "I want Michigan to be the best place in the country to be a kid, raise a kid, and be healthy, safe, and successful. A place where government is efficient and easy to deal with, where businesses and communities thrive, and where every resident has access to quality child care, health care, education, and housing," Benson said in a statement. Nesbitt, 44, is a Cass County Republican, who grew up on a farm and has a long career in Republican politics. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2010, serving three terms in the chamber. He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018. When Democrats flipped that chamber from Republican to Democratic control in the 2022 election, his fellow GOP lawmakers chose him to serve as the Senate Republican Leader. "As governor, I will put Michigan first by supporting taxpayers over the woke left, empowering parents, keeping families safe, and standing with President Trump to revive our manufacturing industry and Make Michigan Great Again," Nesbitt said in a statement. Hudson, a Grand Blanc resident, was born in Hillsboro, Texas, and served in the U.S. Army from 1999 to 2001. He moved to Michigan in 2012, his online biography says, to be near his children after his divorce. His career experience includes owning a small trucking company, Longhorn Logistics, according to Ballotpedia. Hudson is running for governor to eliminate property and state income taxes, demand transparency and accountability, and return power to local communities where it belongs, he says on his website. Duggan, 66, is a Detroit native and was elected the 75th mayor of Detroit in 2013. He took office as mayor in 2014 and is currently serving his third four-year term. After graduating from law school at the University of Michigan, he became an attorney for Wayne County, and then served for 14 years as deputy Wayne County executive, a biography on the city's website said. Duggan chaired the stadium authority and was involved in building Comerica Park and Ford Field, the downtown stadiums for the Tigers and Lions. He also oversaw the construction of the McNamara Terminal and modernization of Metro Airport, the website said. Duggan also was CEO of the Detroit Medical Center. Duggan says he wants to find ways to keep Michigan's young people in the state, improve public education, and expand access to affordable housing. He also hopes to end partisanship in Lansing. Numerous people are listed as having finance committees in place on the state website. Democrat Marni Sawicki has a Facebook page, Michigan Loves Marni, Governor, that says "Marni is the former mayor of Cape Coral, Florida. She was elected in 2013 and served for four years. She is now running to the next Governor of Michigan!" "Getting geared up for campaigning! Looking forward to getting out and meeting Michiganders!" a Jan. 27 post says. A website linked on the page calls her a life coach, speaker and consultant. Republican Evan Space, of Grand Rapids, has formed a campaign committee and has a website stating he is running for governor. Space, a Traverse City native, calls for the elimination of all business taxes, statehood for the UP, bringing space launches to Michigan, the establishment of a U.S. military base and the reform of the Friend of the Court, among other goals. Republican Mike Cox, 62, hasn't announced a run, but said he's considering it in a Jan. 30 post on X. He served as Michigan's top law enforcement officer from 2003-10. He ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2010, finishing third in a five-candidate field that year. Cox grew up in Redford Township. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1989 and went on to work for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and then the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. His wife, Laura Cox, previously served as the Michigan GOP chair during the 2020 election. Larry Hutchinson, with no party affiliation, Richard Fuentes, with no party affiliation, Republican Joyce Gipson and Republican Benita Carter have all filed paperwork forming candidate committees with the state since the last gubernatorial election in 2022. The Detroit Free Press contributed reporting to this story. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race is getting crowded. Here's who's running
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California Senate leader urges Dodgers to drop oil and gas advertisers
A leading member of the California Senate is urging Dodgers owner Mark Walter to end the team's sponsorship deals with oil and gas companies, telling him that "continuing to associate these corporations with our beloved boys in blue is not in our community or the planet's best interest." In a letter Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) wrote that Angelenos "breathe some of the most polluted air in the country, with demonstrated links to negative health outcomes." The recent L.A. County wildfires, she said, have called attention to the fact that "fossil fuel pollution is responsible for not only the climate crisis, but also the persistently harmful air quality in the region." One of the Dodgers' most visible advertisers is Houston-based oil giant Phillips 66, which owns the 76 gas station chain. Orange-and-blue 76 logos are displayed throughout Dodger Stadium, including above both scoreboards — a climate red flag that I highlighted in a column last year. My column prompted climate activists to rally outside Dodger Stadium and start a petition — which as of Tuesday afternoon had garnered nearly 23,000 signatures — calling on Walter to dump Phillips 66. Activists and academic experts say fossil fuel companies, like tobacco companies before them, use ads at sports stadiums and other cultural institutions to build goodwill and normalize the harms caused by their products. Gonzalez noted that California is suing major oil and gas companies, including Phillips 66, for climate damages, with state officials accusing the industry of a "decades-long campaign of deception" to hide the truth about global warming and delay the transition to clean power. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the lawsuit to move forward. Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, charged Phillips 66 last year with violating the U.S. Clean Water Act by dumping oil and grease from its Carson refinery, just outside Gonzalez's district, into the L.A. County sewer system. Removing the Phillips 66 ads from Dodger Stadium "would send the message that it's time to end our embrace of polluting fossil fuels and work together towards a cleaner, greener future," Gonzalez wrote. The Dodgers didn't respond to a request for comment. The 2024 World Series champions aren't the only pro sports team taking fossil fuel money. A recent survey from UCLA Law's Emmett Institute tallied at least 59 U.S. franchises that accept sponsorship dollars from oil giants, or utility companies whose energy sources are primarily fossil fuels. The list included five other California teams: LAFC, the Sacramento Kings, the Athletics (formerly of Oakland), the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. The Dodgers, though, occupy a unique place in American sports history. As Gonzalez wrote, the team has long been ahead of the curve. The Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier when they signed Jackie Robinson in the 1940s, and when they barred cigarette ads from Dodger Stadium in the 1960s. More recently, the team has encouraged fans to take public transit to games and launched sustainability efforts. These efforts "make the Dodgers' continued partnership with Big Oil all the more anachronistic," Gonzalez wrote. Gonzalez wrote to Walter after hearing from Zan Dubin, the climate activist leading the push for the Dodgers to drop Phillips 66. Dubin, who has worked with the local Sierra Club chapter on the campaign, praised Gonzalez for showing "true leadership and unflinching courage as the first elected official to endorse our campaign." "Greenwashing must end so we can accelerate adoption of renewable energy," Dubin said. A spokesperson for Phillips 66 didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did a spokesperson for Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum, whose Arco gas stations have run ads at Dodger Stadium in recent years. In an interview, Gonzalez described herself as a "huge baseball lover" who grew up cheering for the Dodgers. She said she wishes players on the team would start talking about fossil fuel advertisements, too. "I'd love for [Shohei] Ohtani or [Freddie] Freeman or someone to say, 'This is important to us, too,'" she told me. The Dodgers travel this week to Tokyo, where they'll open the season with two games against the Chicago Cubs. They'll return to Los Angeles for the home opener at Dodger Stadium on March 27. The 76 logos will loom large. Just a few months removed from the Eaton and Palisades fires, Dodgers fans taking pictures and posting them on social media will, in many cases, be providing free publicity to Phillips 66. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
