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BREAKING: Trump DOJ Indicts Democratic Congresswoman and Drops Charges Against Newark Mayor

Aaron Parnas May 20

In a stunning development with wide political implications, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has announced the dismissal of a misdemeanor charge previously filed against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The announcement came with a surprise twist: Habba has invited Mayor Baraka to personally tour the ICE detention facility in Newark — the same site that has drawn heated protests from local and state leaders, including Baraka himself.

Simultaneously, Rep. LaMonica McIver has been indicted on federal charges stemming from a protest incident at that same facility. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McIver has been charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 111(a)(1) — a serious offense that carries potential prison time.

If they can indict a sitting Democratic Congresswoman, they can indict anyone. Now more than ever, I need your help to protect myself if they come for me. Subscribe today to support my work and help me keep speaking truth to power:

This abrupt reversal and indictment comes amid mounting tensions between federal immigration authorities and local New Jersey officials who have long opposed the ICE facility’s presence and practices in Newark. Mayor Baraka, a vocal critic of the site, had faced legal scrutiny over what was widely viewed as a symbolic misdemeanor charge tied to a recent demonstration.

Habba’s decision to drop the charge against Baraka, while extending an olive branch in the form of a tour, is being perceived by many as a calculated political maneuver — especially given the stark contrast in treatment toward Rep. McIver.

Legal experts suggest the decision to pursue federal assault charges against McIver — rather than lower-level state charges — signals a potentially aggressive shift by the Justice Department in response to escalating demonstrations against federal immigration policy.

Rep. McIver's charge under 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) could lead to a sentence of several years in federal prison.

The juxtaposition of leniency toward Mayor Baraka and the severe charges against Rep. McIver has ignited speculation about internal politics and strategic calculus within the Justice Department.

More details are expected as court proceedings begin and as Mayor Baraka responds to the invitation from Habba to tour the facility.

This is a developing story.

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Elon Musk Brought XAI to Boxtown, Tennessee Whose Residents are now Choking on its Pollution

Elon Musk's XAI company is producing smog impacting a majority Black neighborhood, Trump sends $5 million taxpayer dollars to an insurrectionist, Naomi Biden takes on Jake Tapper

Aaron Parnas May 19

This afternoon, I’m feeling fired up—not because of another bestseller about President Biden, but because too much of the mainstream media is more interested in selling books than serving the public. The headlines focus on hype, not the issues that matter most to everyday Americans.

That’s why independent journalism matters now more than ever. While Jake Tapper and others chase publishing deals and cable hits, I’m here for something different: the truth. No corporate sponsors. No hidden agendas. Just a commitment to holding power accountable and keeping you informed.

If that mission speaks to you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing. Real journalism doesn’t need a PR machine—it needs people like you. Let’s change the media conversation, together.

• When Elon Musk’s xAI transformed an abandoned Memphis factory into “the world’s largest supercomputer,” city leaders heralded it as a tech renaissance. But for residents of Boxtown — a predominantly Black, pollution-burdened community nearby — the AI boom feels more like a public health crisis. Powered by dozens of gas turbines and operating without air permits, xAI’s Colossus facility is stirring fears of toxic exposure in a region already saturated with industrial pollutants. As Memphis eyes economic transformation, locals ask: at what cost? With little transparency, political muscle behind Musk, and federal environmental rollbacks, many fear Memphis is becoming a cautionary tale in the race to dominate AI.

• According to the Washington Post, the U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, the 35-year-old Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Babbitt was attempting to climb through a shattered window near the House chamber as lawmakers were being evacuated when she was shot by Lt. Michael Byrd. Investigations by the Justice Department and Capitol Police concluded that the shooting was lawful and may have prevented further violence.

• In a significant and highly controversial decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to pause a lower court ruling that had blocked the Trump administration from revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan migrants. This move effectively clears the way for the administration to immediately strip legal protections from hundreds of thousands of individuals who had been granted TPS under a designation issued on July 31, 2023.

• Naomi Biden strongly criticized Jake Tapper and his new book about President Biden, calling it “political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.” In a scathing review, she accused the book of spreading unoriginal lies based on anonymous sources, claiming it distorts reality for profit while failing to grasp the integrity of her grandfather.

• Seven free speech and civil rights groups, including the ACLU and Reporters Without Borders USA, have issued an open letter warning that freedoms of speech and the press are under threat in the U.S. under the Trump administration. Led by the Knight First Amendment Institute, the letter urges major American institutions to unite in defending these core democratic rights.

• After former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, political leaders offered their support across party lines. Vice President JD Vance sparked debate with his comment, “Whether the right time to have this conversation is now or some time in the future, we really do need to be honest about whether the former president was capable of doing the job,” which some viewed as a valid concern and others as an inappropriate politicization of Biden’s illness.

• The Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the Chicago mayor following a remark about giving hiring priority to Black applicants. The probe aims to determine whether the hiring policy violated federal civil rights laws.

• Klarna's losses have increased as a growing number of users miss payments, according to the Financial Times. The payment platform now has 100 million users despite the rising defaults.

• Recession fears have eased, but JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon cautions against complacency, warning, “Don’t get comfortable.” Despite improved economic indicators, he urges vigilance amid ongoing uncertainties.

• Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” begin ceasefire talks following an “excellent” call with Putin. However, he did not secure the ceasefire he had initially hoped for.

• U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced the "Presidential Airlift Security Act," aiming to prohibit the use of foreign-manufactured aircraft as Air Force One. This legislative move responds to Donald Trump's plan to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 from Qatar's royal family for presidential transport.

• A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to dismantle the U.S. Institute of Peace, ruling that the takeover was unlawful. Judge Beryl Howell determined that the administration exceeded its authority by removing USIP's leadership and seizing its headquarters, actions that violated the institute's congressionally mandated independence.

• Netflix has acquired Sesame Street, and both new episodes and older seasons will be available to its 300 million subscribers later this year. The show will also continue to be broadcast on PBS.

See you in the morning.

— Aaron