Latest news with #un-American
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Denying Miami residents the right to vote in November is wrong
Skip the proposal Some members of Miami's city commission want to deny residents the right to vote by postponing November's city election to 2026. This is wrong! This seems illegal and against our rights as citizens of the United States of America, Florida and the city of Miami. Brenda Merrill, Miami Voters have a say Canceling the upcoming City of Miami election is an un-American act of tyranny and we, the voters of Miami, will not allow our voices to be silenced. Clementine Gazay, Miami Promises, promises Revocation of legal programs for certain migrants is the most recent example of America reneging on its promises. The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) parole program, instituted in early 2023, allowed 30,000 persons per month from these countries to legally enter the U.S. for up to two years. Then they were supposed to go home. The Trump administration terminated CHNV in March, leaving 550,000 in the lurch. We should have simply enforced the two-year limit, required the migrants to honor their end of the bargain and then leave — or be removed. This is a years-old problem, however. People entering our country apparently know how to claim political asylum at the border, as economic refugees are quickly deported or refused entry. Political asylum cases are backlogged for years, allowing unlimited stays. Until now, no TPS program has ever been terminated. So much for 'Temporary.' Migrants and their advocates should stop complaining about the devastation to their lives if their time is up. On the other hand, our government must examine TPS for each country and make an unbiased decision to continue it or not. Norman Segall, Coral Gables Sustainable resource Imagine Greater Miami and Miami Beach without its beaches and bay. No days spent swimming, boating or fishing, no economic tourism benefit. While it can be easy to take our backyard for granted, we can't. The importance of protecting our region's greatest asset — our marine waters — can't be understated. World Ocean Day reminds us to act. While Miami Beach has championed sustainability initiatives like promoting green infrastructure, energy and water efficiency and resilience efforts to build a better future for residents and visitors, local government can't do it all. The tourism industry must do its part. Destinations that proactively improve their environmental health create stronger, more vibrant communities. For example, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB) Green Key Global Certification program recognizes hotels and resorts for water conservation and eco-friendly practices. With 71 hotels (including 28 Miami Beach properties) in the certification pipeline, we call on all our tourism industry peers to do more. Tourism is our economic lifeblood. Whether committing to existing programs or creating new ideas, let's work together to protect our most vulnerable and valuable resource and help ensure Greater Miami and Miami Beach remain a sustainable paradise to live, work, play and visit. Laura Dominguez, GMCVB board member, city commissioner, Miami Beach Rising insurance If you live long enough, you get cataracts. I've been told I need surgery. Armed with Medicare, supplemental and additional vision insurance, I was surprised to learn that my out-of-pocket cost will be about $4,500 per eye. My home insurance rose so much we are dropping it and hoping we don't get a Cat 5 hurricane. With health, home and car insurance consuming 35% of our income, something had to give. I thought I was well-covered for the surgery. Something isn't right. George Lipp, Cooper City Feeding strays I wholeheartedly disagree with Haydee Sanchez's June 2 letter, 'Animal feeding.' For many years, I dropped off mail after hours at the post office at Bird Road and Southwest 117th avenue. Every night, someone would put out up to 15 disposable plates of food for stray cats by the entrance. This attracted many cats. The smell was unpleasant, the area was dirty and not all the food was consumed. Rats likely ate the leftovers. This was a health hazard being created by well-meaning cat lovers and shouldn't have been allowed. Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado's ordinance would have protected residents from such health hazards. We have a problem, but feeding strays in public places shouldn't be allowed. One reason I stopped visiting that post office at night was all the cats, rats and the food stench. Lynn Guarch-Pardo, Coral Gables Housing concerns On May 25, the online Miami Herald published the Bloomberg editorial, 'A building boom on federal land just might work.' I take issue with this statement: 'In exchange for land, states and local governments should also be required to make concrete changes to draw investors. The free market — not zoning boards or community groups — should be allowed to determine what kind of housing gets built and at what price.' We have seen that over and over in Miami. We tear down affordable housing and replace it with 'luxury' housing, which drives up housing costs and makes workforce housing impossible to attain. We do not need more luxury housing. Nanci Mitchell, Miami Roads to learning As a proud Miami Dade College graduate and current FIU student, I know firsthand that the road to a degree isn't always linear. I began my journey 11 years ago as an immigrant learning English. Today, I'm on track to become a CPA — thanks to the Helios 20th Anniversary Pathway Transfer Scholarship. Florida leads the nation in two- and four-year college transfers, but such students face significant barriers. Often overlooked in traditional scholarship programs, these students bring resilience and ambition to their new institutions, enriching academic communities. Many are first-generation college students or come from low-income backgrounds. Tailored services are critical for their success. Transfer pathways offer affordable, accessible routes to higher education, ensuring students of all backgrounds can succeed. Multiple narratives exist, including the notion that not every student needs a four-year degree. I couldn't disagree more. Our communities must continue to invest in clear, affordable pathways to education beyond high school; this strengthens our communities and recognizes the unique contributions of every student Regardless of their chosen path, let's celebrate all students pursuing post-secondary education. Talent doesn't follow a single path and neither should opportunity. Leina Olazabal Rodriguez, Doral Honor all troops For many years, I have felt a sense of regret (even cowardice), for not serving in our military. As a result, I make it a point to offer my seat or shake the hand of any service member I encounter, including transgender personnel. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows President Trump and his administration to enforce a Department of Defense policy prohibiting transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military. Who would oppose any member of our society willing to put on the uniform and take a bullet on our behalf, bearing the weight of defending our freedoms? The military has about 1.3 million active-duty service members. According to the Defense Department's own reports, only 0.2 percent of those in uniform have a 'diagnosis of gender dysphoria.' Astonishing. Although pros and cons are present in most situations, I will endlessly support any fellow American in uniform, for they never have to experience the lack of courage I once felt. Jaime Rivera, Miami ICE's chaos Why are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plain clothes and masks showing up at immigration courts and scooping up individuals who were following all the rules and reporting for asylum hearings before a judge? Targeting immigrants who have no criminal record creates chaos, does not make our communities safer and discourages individuals from showing up. ICE should go after real criminals and leave law abiding immigrants alone. Kenneth Karger, Kendall
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Neil Young renews attacks on Trump, calls the U.S. government ‘out of control'
Neil Young is once again taking shots at U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the American government 'out of control' and suggesting that the country is at risk of 'martial law' in a statement shared on his website this week. 'Our country and our way of life, that which our fathers and theirs fought for, is now threatened by our government,' Young declared in a post titled 'WAKE UP AMERICA,' though he did not mention any government policy in particular. 'Our government is out of control, not standing for us.' Young is set to embark on a world tour with his new band the Chrome Hearts later this month. In his post, he said that his shows will not be political, but also acknowledged the fraught political situation in the U.S. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'When I tour the USA this summer, if there is not martial law by then which would make it impossible, let's all come together and stand for American values,' Young's statement said. Entertainment Bono says 'the whole world is in awe' of Canada, takes shots at Pierre Poilievre and Donald Trump Richie Assaly However, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer did appear to offer Trump an olive branch of sorts: 'President Trump, you are invited. Come and hear our music just as you did for decades,' Young wrote, making reference to the fact that the president was a self-proclaimed fan before their relationship deteriorated in recent years. Last month, Young also came to the defence of Bruce Springsteen, another rock star who has drawn the ire of Trump in recent weeks for publicly criticizing the administration. 'Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America,' Young wrote on his website on May 20 in a post titled 'TRUMP!!!' 'You worry about that instead of the dyin' kids in Gaza. That's your problem.' Entertainment Opinion Vinay Menon: Donald Trump is feuding with Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. Here's why other celebs should beef with the president Vinay Menon The feud between Young and Trump: a timeline Young, 79, was born in Canada, but has lived south of the border for decades (he officially became a U.S. citizen in 2020). As an artist and an activist, Young has never shied away from politics and has thrown constant barbs at Trump since he launched his political career in the mid-2010s. Music Decoding the enduring genius of Neil Young and the depth of his Toronto connection Luke Savage Special to the Star In 2015, Young spoke out against Trump's use of the 1990 single 'Rockin' in the Free World,' after the song accompanied Trump's announcement of his presidential campaign. In 2020, Young sued Trump's re-election campaign for copyright infringement, saying he doesn't want his music used as a theme song for a 'divisive un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW After Trump was elected for the first time, Young penned an open letter calling Trump a 'disgrace' and 'the worst president in the history of our great country.' Young has also been a vocal critic of Trump's tariffs targeting Canada and his threats of annexation. In April, he attended a protest against Trump's threats in Los Angeles, where he was spotted holding up a sign that read, 'HANDS OFF CANADA.' Neil Young attends a protest on April 4, 2025. Neil Young Archives Young and the Chrome Hearts Earlier this year, Young announced that he is releasing a new protest album with a newly assembled band called the Chrome Hearts, which includes guitarist Micah Nelson, bassist Corey McCormick, drummer Anthony Logerfo and organist Spooner Oldham. Titled 'Talkin to the Trees,' the album's first single is about electric cars, and takes a shot at Tesla CEO and Trump ally Elon Musk. Young and the Chrome Hearts will perform in Toronto at the Budweiser Stage on Aug. 17.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Neil Young renews attacks on Trump, calls the U.S. government ‘out of control'
Neil Young is once again taking shots at U.S. President Donald Trump , calling the American government 'out of control' and suggesting that the country is at risk of 'martial law' in a statement shared on his website this week . 'Our country and our way of life, that which our fathers and theirs fought for, is now threatened by our government,' Young declared in a post titled 'WAKE UP AMERICA,' though he did not mention any government policy in particular. 'Our government is out of control, not standing for us.' Young is set to embark on a world tour with his new band the Chrome Hearts later this month. In his post, he said that his shows will not be political, but also acknowledged the fraught political situation in the U.S. 'When I tour the USA this summer, if there is not martial law by then which would make it impossible, let's all come together and stand for American values,' Young's statement said. However, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer did appear to offer Trump an olive branch of sorts: 'President Trump, you are invited. Come and hear our music just as you did for decades,' Young wrote, making reference to the fact that the president was a self-proclaimed fan before their relationship deteriorated in recent years. Last month, Young also came to the defence of Bruce Springsteen, another rock star who has drawn the ire of Trump in recent weeks for publicly criticizing the administration. 'Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America,' Young wrote on his website on May 20 in a post titled 'TRUMP!!!' 'You worry about that instead of the dyin' kids in Gaza . That's your problem.' Young, 79, was born in Canada, but has lived south of the border for decades (he officially became a U.S. citizen in 2020 ). As an artist and an activist, Young has never shied away from politics and has thrown constant barbs at Trump since he launched his political career in the mid-2010s. In 2015, Young spoke out against Trump's use of the 1990 single 'Rockin' in the Free World,' after the song accompanied Trump's announcement of his presidential campaign. In 2020, Young sued Trump's re-election campaign for copyright infringement , saying he doesn't want his music used as a theme song for a 'divisive un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.' After Trump was elected for the first time, Young penned an open letter calling Trump a 'disgrace' and 'the worst president in the history of our great country.' Young has also been a vocal critic of Trump's tariffs targeting Canada and his threats of annexation. In April, he attended a protest against Trump's threats in Los Angeles, where he was spotted holding up a sign that read, 'HANDS OFF CANADA.' Neil Young attends a protest on April 4, 2025. Earlier this year, Young announced that he is releasing a new protest album with a newly assembled band called the Chrome Hearts, which includes guitarist Micah Nelson, bassist Corey McCormick, drummer Anthony Logerfo and organist Spooner Oldham. Titled 'Talkin to the Trees,' the album's first single is about electric cars, and takes a shot at Tesla CEO and Trump ally Elon Musk . Young and the Chrome Hearts will perform in Toronto at the Budweiser Stage on Aug. 17.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump's deranged robot Biden rant was fueled by Jake Tapper's hypocrisy and Karoline Leavitt's lies
Over the weekend, Donald Trump, the man currently occupying the most powerful office on Earth, in case you needed any reminder, spread a deranged conspiracy theory claiming Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robot clone. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. I saw this post on one of my social feeds, and I didn't believe it, so I checked, and it was sadly true. It's a repost from someone else, but it's still absolutely unbelievable. This weekend alone, as war escalated in Ukraine and Gaza, Trump's 'big beautiful bill' came under attack in town halls in red districts, and it was reported that ICE had detained a congressional aide a few days ago, this is what the president of the United States wants Americans to focus on, Biden's mental health. But what he's really doing is changing the subject with some bizarre sci-fi bedtime story ripped from a Reddit thread and soaked in QAnon Kool-Aid. A conspiracy theory only the equally wacko Laura Loomer would appreciate. This is not just lunacy. It's a deliberate political tactic. Trump peddles this madness to distract from the wreckage of his own presidency. It's a desperate effort to shift the spotlight away from the authoritarian, un-American disasters piling up under his watch. Just last Wednesday, a congressional aide was arrested under the guise of immigration enforcement. Not a cartel leader. Not a violent criminal. A staffer working for Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. In the congressman's office. This is what fascism looks like — when ICE in pseudo-MAGA hats pretends it's keeping us safe. Trump would rather feed the fever dreams of the internet than answer for the fact that the wars he said he'd end on day one are not only still active but more deadly than when he was sworn in. A deadly Israeli strike in Gaza that killed 32 civilians waiting for U.S.-backed food aid and the Ukrainian drone strikes deep in Russia that's been called 'Russia's Pearl Harbor" expose the growing crisis of wars he has utterly failed to mediate, end, or let alone control. Remember when Trump said he'd end the wars on day one, or something like that? Just another fantastical thing Trump ranted about on Truth Social that bears no resemblance to reality. And back home, the backlash continues to Trump's House-passed legislation that takes from the poor and gives to the rich. At an Iowa town hall, Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst dismissed constituents' fears over Medicaid cuts in Trump's "big beautiful bill" with a flippant "Well, we all are going to die.' Just let me say here that I saw this on social media and also double-checked to make sure that it was true. And yes, as unbelievable as it may seem, she really said that. It gets worse. She later doubled down by posting a sarcastic Instagram video from a graveyard, mocking their concerns and urging them to "embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ" for eternal life. But let's return to Trump's Biden-bot theory. Where on Earth would a sitting president feel emboldened enough to amplify such a fantasy? Enter CNN's Jake Tapper, whose responsibility during the final years of Biden's presidency was to report the facts about the president's health. Instead, Tapper turned the decline of an aging public servant into a cash grab, selling his 'original sin' as a tell-all book. In doing so, he is fanning the flames of speculation, offering no clarity to the public, and now wonders why no one trusts journalism. His reward? Tanking ratings and the moral equivalent of tabloid shame. Trump didn't invent this lie from scratch. He just picked up where irresponsible media and cowardly press secretaries left off. White House mouthpiece Karoline Leavitt, for example, recently called Jill Biden 'complicit' in her husband's condition and smeared Joe Biden — now battling advanced prostate cancer — as mentally incompetent. Her venom is proof that cruelty, not truth, is the White House's guiding principle. Biden, let's remember, is no longer president. He is a private citizen, suffering through a grave illness with dignity and moral and mental clarity. He is no longer governing. Trump is. And for Trump to weaponize a grotesque fantasy about his predecessor being executed and replaced by a machine, without a shred of humanity or sanity, is beyond disgraceful. The only person here who seems unwell is the one who can't stop rage-posting conspiracy theories from his golf cart. When a president openly promotes this idea about his predecessor, we get deeper into dangerous territory now, not just because of the lie itself, but because of what it says about the man spreading it. The world is watching, and while they're laughing, they're also panic-stricken. We're being governed by someone who is either completely untethered from reality or so manipulative that he's willing to plunge the nation deeper into paranoia to distract from his own failures. All of that sounds too rational. Frankly, there is no rationalizing Trump anymore. He's mindlessly short-circuiting every norm, every truth, and every shred of American decency left in his path, and we're not even at six months. Over the next four years, let's hope that Trump is replaced somewhere along the way with a robot. We'd most certainly be in more capable hands. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We can't let it go down the drain like Detroit': Jon Voight is Trump's Hollywood ally looking to save US production
Actor Jon Voight, one of Trump's three 'special ambassadors' to Hollywood, says the president's recently announced threat to place 100 percent tariffs on foreign-made films was greeted with enthusiasm by the industry, despite numerous press accounts from insiders that the plan could cripple film production. 'We've gotten a lot of good response from people,' Voight told Variety on Wednesday. 'We're really rolling up our sleeves and working. I think we have a good plan, and we're just beginning. This little team of mine has worked very hard to try to figure out things. The union people and producers give their expertise and understanding to this problem, and we're working together. A lot of people had a lot of input and we're listening to everybody.' Voight has submitted a 'comprehensive plan' to Trump, including 'federal tax incentives, significant changes to several tax codes, the establishment of co-production treaties with foreign countries, and infrastructure subsidies for theater owners, film and television production companies, and post-production companies,' according to his manager, Steven Paul. The actor argues that such steps are needed to keep Hollywood and the larger U.S. as a prosperous film production hub, as other locales like the UK, Canada, and Hungary offer generous film incentives. 'It's come to a point where we really do need help, and thank God the president cares about Hollywood and movies,' Voight added in the Variety interview. 'He has a great love for Hollywood in that way. We've got to roll up our sleeves here. We can't let it go down the drain like Detroit.' Industry unions were split on Trump's tariff idea after it was proposed in a Sunday night Truth Social post. 'The United States needs a balanced federal response to return film and television jobs,' Matthew D. Loeb, the president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents much of Hollywood's behind-the-scenes talent, said in a statement. 'IATSE recommended that the Trump administration implement a federal film production tax incentive and other domestic tax provisions to level the playing field for American workers.' The Teamsters union celebrated the tariff idea, calling it a 'strong step' toward 'reining in the studios' un-American addiction to outsourcing our members' work.' The White House has walked back the tariff plan, describing it as a non-final proposal, while Trump has said he'll meet with industry figures. 'I'm not looking to hurt the industry; I want to help the industry,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. 'We're going to meet with the industry. I want to make sure they're happy with it, because we're all about jobs.' California Governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that he wants to collaborate with Trump on a $7.5 billion federal tax incentive for the film industry.
