Syrian general accused of atrocities is protected by U.S. and Lebanon, NPR and BBC find : NPR

"If what you are saying is true, the fact that our tax dollars are being used to furnish a comfortable life for someone associated with the use of chemical weapons on Syrian civilians, who claims to have had Austin Tice executed, is offensive. This is nothing less than aiding and abetting the escape of a wanted war criminal. The Syrians deserve justice, and he should be returned to stand trial."…

 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/08/nx-s1-5993637/syrian-general-lebanon-fbi-austin-tice

Trump is lifting protections in America’s largest marine protected areas : NPR

The largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean. President Trump is rolling back their protections...

 https://apps.npr.org/troubled-waters/

 

Mike Johnson warns GOP donors he can’t protect them if democrats win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQFo_rJSN4 

This homeschooling law protects kids. Republicans opposed it!

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X_GGoDYIImk

GOP Lawmakers Passing Bills to Shield Oil Companies From Climate Lawsuits

Most of the 15 bills being considered are part of a coordinated effort by groups linked to right-wing activist Leonard Leo…

 https://www.propublica.org/article/climate-change-alec-leonard-leo-lawsuits-fossil-fuel-oil-gas-immunity

Trump steps up pressure on European allies to help protect strait of Hormuz

US president says it is 'only appropriate' for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be 'very bad' for Nato…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/strait-of-hormuz-australia-japan-no-ships

 

DoJ moves to eliminate sexual abuse protections for LGBTQ+ people in prisons

The US Department of Justice has moved to eliminate rules protecting LGBTQ+ people from sexual abuse in prisons, a shift advocates say is "reckless and dangerous" and will lead to increased assaults behind bars... 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/doj-prison-lgbtq-sexual-abuse-protections

 

How To Activate Scam Protection On iPhone | HuffPost Life

Once you activate the iOS call screener, Apple's Siri will become your phone's bouncer and in its robotic voice, it will ask your caller who is calling and the reason for the call. The transcribed conversation will appear as a message and you can direct Siri to ask more questions, pick up the phone or reject the call. 

But this feature is not a default setting ― you need to turn it on yourself if you're an iPhone user. Here's how…

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iphone-call-screening-ios-26_l_68e543a3e4b038265cc82dde

 

Trump officials reportedly ask Congress for $58m in security after Kirk shooting

Funding would go toward protecting members of executive and judicial branches, and potentially members of Congress…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/14/trump-administration-congress-security-funds

 

Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar shatters Gulf’s faith in US protection

"The perception in the Gulf is that at worst is that the US didn't want to stop Israel and gave it a green light, or at best, that it doesn't care about the sovereignty of its Gulf allies," said Yasmine Farouk, project director at the International Crisis Group…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/12/israels-strike-on-hamas-leaders-in-qatar-shatters-gulfs-faith-in-us-protection

 

Elder abuse is surging: Congress must protect long-term care residents

Long-term care ombudsman representatives help address serious complaints, including involuntary discharge or eviction, physical abuse, neglect, poor staff response to requests for assistance, inadequate or poor medication management, insufficient quality or quantity of food and many other issues. 

However, funding for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and other services authorized by the Older Americans Act has not kept pace with the growth in our population of older Americans. Federal funding falls far short of meeting the needs of all long-term care residents…

https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5477954-ombudsman-program-elder-protection/

 

Trump announces rollback of chemical disaster protections - The Washington Post

"We've been here before, and the losers are always the families, workers and first responders," said Adam Kron, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, an environmental law firm. "The EPA should be implementing its chemical disaster safety, not rolling it back."…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/03/07/trump-chemical-disasters-protections-rule/

New York adds protections for doctors who send abortion pills out of state | New York | The Guardian

Democratic governor Kathy Hochul signs law permitting doctors to leave names off prescriptions for abortion pills…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/04/new-york-abortion-pill-law

California lawmakers unveil new abortion protections ahead of Trump return to White House

The bill would shield Californians from legal or professional consequences if the incoming Trump administration tries to ban the mailing and distribution of abortion medication like mifepristone, the statement added. 

The second would allow the Attorney General to fine local governments in California for blocking or otherwise obstructing abortion providers from opening…

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019499-california-lawmakers-abortion-protections/

How to make yourself scam-proof in 45 minutes or less

"The steps I took are straightforward, free and most only take only a few minutes to set up. Here's what I did..."

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/27/how-to-make-yourself-scam-proof-in-45-minutes-or-less.html

Opinion | It is so much nicer being a woman in Trump’s world - The Washington Post

"It is so much nicer being a woman, now that Donald Trump is in charge! 

 You barely remember the Biden times at all, except in nightmares. In the dreams, regular eggs cost as much as Fabergé eggs. All the food at the grocery store is too expensive — if you made it to the store at all without being killed, sometimes twice. Also you were always thinking about abortion. 

 But then you wake up all the way and Donald Trump is protecting you and you are not thinking about abortion. 

 Mostly you feel wonderful all the time, happy and confident and not depressed because all that has been fixed. Every single problem the country had! Poof! And all you had to do was stop thinking about abortion..."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/25/trump-abortion-policy-women-support-satire/

New iPhone update improves 'Stolen Device Protection': How to turn it on

Requiring biometric data or a one-hour time delay to update these key security settings is designed to make it harder for thieves to take control of your device once they have it...

https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4513135-new-iphone-update-improves-stolen-device-protection-how-to-turn-it-on/

About Stolen Device Protection for iPhone in iOS 17.3 - Apple Support

Update your iPhone to iOS 17.3 . Then… 

 Stolen Device Protection adds a layer of security when your iPhone is away from familiar locations, such as home or work, and helps protect your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone is ever stolen…

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212510

The Fuzzy Math Cookie Jar (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Jack: A Special Counsel podcast, Episode #46 )

This week:

• in Florida, Jack Smith’s office files the government’s response to Trump’s motion for a revised CIPA schedule, claiming, in part, that it is a precursor to a motion to delay the entire trial, and 
• we learn that Jack Smith may intend to prove Trump’s motive in taking and retaining the documents, and 
• Judge Cannon holds conflict of interest hearings 
•  In DC, DoJ filed a motion asking Judge Chutkan to require Trump to disclose whether he intends to employ an “advice of counsel” defense as that would affect discovery; 
• Trump’s defense team objects to something in the DoJ’s motion to use “fair and protective jury procedures” but it is unclear what; 
• Trump files a motion for “Select Committee Missing Materials” that may not even exist. 
• In other Special Counsel news, Robert Hur interviewed President Biden for several hours; 
• reporting says that Hur plans to wrap up his investigation soon.

Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-hm2hp-1b586974

Opinion | The Republican Party Says It Wants to Protect Children, but Not All Children - The New York Times

When you put all of this together, the picture is clear. The Republican Party will use the law and the state to shield as many children as possible from the knowledge, cultural influences and technologies deemed divisive or controversial or subversive by the voters, activists and apparatchiks that shape and guide its priorities. When Tucker Carlson, Christopher Rufo and Moms for Liberty say jump, their only question is: How high? 

But when it comes to actual threats to the lives of American children — from poverty, from hunger, from sickness and from guns — then, well, the Republican Party wants us to slow down and consider the costs and consequences and even possible futility of taking any action to help...

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/opinion/protecting-children-republicans.html