Columbia Activist’s Case Goes to Court

Outside a Manhattan courthouse today, a large gathering of protesters assembled to voice their opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University who played a key role in organizing protests against Israel on campus. Inside the courthouse, a judge announced that Khalil’s lawyers would be granted the opportunity to speak with him privately for the first time since his arrest and transfer to an immigration detention facility in Louisiana.

The case has become a focal point of President Trump’s campaign to remove foreign students who participated in last year’s protests on campus regarding the conflict in Gaza. Following months of threats of deportation, Trump hailed Khalil’s arrest – a legal permanent resident with a green card – as the first of many to come.

Behind the scenes, federal investigators, typically focused on cases involving human trafficking and drug smuggling, have been scouring social media for posts indicating support for Hamas among protesters. While authorities have not accused Khalil of any direct involvement with the terrorist group or providing material support to it, Trump’s administration argues that his alleged organization of anti-Semitic activities on campus renders him deportable under an obscure legal statute.

“This is not a matter of free speech,” stated Marco Rubio, the secretary of state. “This is about individuals who have no right to be in the United States in the first place. No one is entitled to a student visa or a green card.” Critics of Trump contend that Khalil’s impending deportation blatantly violates the First Amendment.

The federal government moves closer to a potential shutdown

Senate Democrats have signaled that they will not support a Republican bill to fund the government until September 30, as stated by Chuck Schumer, the party’s leader in the Senate. Schumer instead urged Republicans to consider a shorter extension to allow for negotiations on individual spending bills.

The decision has significantly increased the likelihood of a government shutdown by the end of the week, when the current funding is due to expire. With little time available to explore alternative solutions, House Republicans have already left town after passing their funding bill. Here are the latest updates.

Other political news:

Europe and Canada retaliate in trade dispute with Trump

Following the implementation of global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by Trump, the European Union and Canada have responded with retaliatory measures.

Canada has announced additional tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, effectively increasing prices for imported American metal, computers, sporting goods, and more.

Lost Ravel composition to be premiered after 125 years

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic are eagerly preparing to debut a five-minute piece by renowned composer Maurice Ravel. The composition, written around 1900 but never published, will be performed for the first time tomorrow.

Originally intended for an unfinished cantata about Babylonian queen Semiramis, the piece was recently unearthed during research at a Paris library to identify works suitable for commemorating Ravel’s 150th birthday. Dudamel described the piece as “precious.”

Reflecting on Covid memes five years later

Five years ago this week, the world was brought to a standstill by Covid. In the subsequent months, many turned to the internet for solace, finding joy in the midst of lockdown through fun and quirky online trends.

Voice behind ‘Looney Tunes’ steps forward

Eric Bauza, the voice actor behind beloved characters like Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in the new “Looney Tunes” movie, attributes his career to his high school days when he entertained classmates with various cartoon voices during morning announcements.

What some may perceive as a mundane task, Bauza transformed into a springboard for his successful career as a voice actor. In addition to voicing iconic characters like Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, and Puss in Boots, Bauza continues to delight audiences with his versatile vocal talents.

Have a fantastic evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Philip Pacheco served as our photo editor today.

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