ICE secretly investigated hundreds of voter registration groups, documents show

ICE Secretly Investigated Hundreds of Nonprofits Across the Country

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigated hundreds of voter registration groups over the past year as part of efforts to catch noncitizens voting, according to government documents obtained by the nonprofit organization Democracy Forward.

The documents reveal a wide-ranging probe into nonprofit groups and show deliberations within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)—which conducts investigations for ICE—to send undercover agents into the organizations.

"Future [undercover]-related operations may involve utilizing [undercover agents] to target identified organizations and engage in communications with these entities to substantiate recruitment methods and activities related to illegal alien voter registration," one document stated. These efforts "will support broader investigative and enforcement actions, leveraging [undercover] findings to initiate prosecutions and dismantle illicit facilitation networks."

HSI focused on groups in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, but also investigated organizations in Minnesota, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. According to Democracy Docket, there is no proof that HSI ever proceeded with using undercover agents.

The investigations involved using nonprofit search engines and other databases to find "derogatory information" about the groups. HSI looked into at least 82 organizations in Pennsylvania, including the state's branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country's largest civil rights and advocacy organization for American Muslims.

The efforts extended beyond nonprofits. Documents revealed that HSI investigated state primary elections earlier this year, attempting to find "any notable trends or vulnerabilities in upholding election integrity."

In Pennsylvania, HSI also investigated Zumiez, a clothing brand that has worked with organizations like Voto Latino and Rock the Vote, which encourage civic engagement among young people. Why Zumiez received scrutiny remains unclear, as it is a national corporation headquartered in Washington state.

The administration's efforts appear aimed at proving a long-standing conservative conspiracy theory that Democrats register noncitizens to vote to win elections. Despite repeated claims of rigged elections, the few actual cases of voter fraud have disproportionately involved conservatives.

Trump Hesitates on Russia Plague Response

President Donald Trump is delaying action on the recent pneumonic plague case in Russia, appearing disaffected and uninterested when speaking with reporters on the White House South Lawn Tuesday evening.

Trump revealed that he has not yet spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the outbreak.

"Have you spoken to President Putin about the plague in Russia?" one reporter asked.

"I have a call scheduled, yup," Trump said.

"When is that call scheduled for?" the reporter followed up.

"Very soon," Trump added.

When asked if American intelligence agencies had more information on the suspicious death, Trump said he was in "deep discussions" with U.S. officials and could speak about it "probably tomorrow." He did not answer further questions, including whether the call with Putin would happen this week.

Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, died of severe pneumonia on the night between October 1 and October 2. Russian health officials have not confirmed that her death resulted from pneumonic plague or explained how she became ill. However, her death sparked enough regional concern to place 200 people who had been in contact with Shipilova into quarantine.

Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's health watchdog, announced Wednesday that 90 percent of those quarantined had been released after thousands of lab tests came back negative for dangerous pathogens, according to Reuters.

The agency rejected assertions that the lab worker fell ill from workplace exposure, noting in a statement that Shipilova was vaccinated and therefore "immune to the dangerous infections with which she worked."

Trump Plans to Turn Golf Club Into Private Presidential Retreat

President Trump wants to transform his Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach into a private, Camp David–style club for leaders and foreign dignitaries.

The Palm Beach Post first reported last month on the president's plans. In a September 3 letter to Palm Beach County commissioners, Trump proposed providing "access to all" club facilities at "no cost to the federal government." While the Trump family owns the property, it sits on land leased by Palm Beach County.

The plans have progressed significantly, with the county seriously considering the proposal, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Trump has long found Camp David undesirable, saying in 2017 that he could only enjoy the historic retreat center "for about 30 minutes."

"Just as Camp David, Windsor Castle, or the Elysee Palace are known worldwide, so too will the Presidential Golf Course in Palm Beach County," attorney Harvey Oyer, representing the property, wrote to county commissioners. "It would further cement Palm Beach County as one of the most recognizable brands and destinations in the world."

"The property is minutes away from the Donald J. Trump International Airport, does not have buildings looming, does not have houses along the course, has great security features, is close to law enforcement, and happens to be a highly-rated golf course," an anonymous White House official told the Post. "These are features that are necessary for any presidential retreat."

Trump intends to keep the property under his own company, framing it as a "gift" and a "lasting contribution" to all future presidents, even offering to comp membership fees for them.

Collins Struggles in Debate Against Democratic Challenger

Maine Senator Susan Collins, one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the midterms, faced a humiliating reality check Tuesday night during her debate against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.

In the first of four televised debates, Collins struggled to defend her efforts to rein in President Trump's policies.

"Troy mocked it, but I was successful in getting concrete, pulp, and road salt removed from the tariff list," Collins said.

"I didn't mock the fact that she got road salt back, I mocked the fact that, what about everything else? We can't eat road salt," Jackson responded. "And the thing about it is, is that everything that she's doing with Iran war, stuff like that, there's going to be so many less people that'll be able to afford to drive that I'm not even sure the road salt is going to be worth anything, either."

The moment highlighted how Collins has failed to truly stand up to Trump. She has voted five separate times to extend Trump's military campaign in the Middle East. A study found that as of July, the average Maine household has had to pay $3,900 more for goods and services during Trump's second term.

Naked Trump Statue Erected at European Parliament

An eight-foot-tall statue covered in 23-karat gold leaf has been erected at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France, depicting a naked, overweight Trump being carried on the back of a much smaller man. The president holds a golf club, a tiny world-shaped ball, and the scales of justice.

The base is inscribed with the words: "I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back," attributed to "The King of Injustice."

Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt, creator of the statue titled The Orange Plague, said it is a satirical outcry against volatile U.S. environmental and foreign policy.

"Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values, and our common effort to solving the climate crisis," Galschiøt said in a statement. "We must address this issue and stand together against such destructive influence."

"If someone is so thin-skinned that they cannot tolerate this sculpture being exhibited in the European Parliament, then they have no place on the world stage," said Danish Member of the European Parliament Per Clausen at the statue's unveiling.

Trump has been mocked by statues before. Before the 2024 presidential election, a...

[Content truncated]