DOJ Drops Police Reform Agreements
Final week, the U.S. Division of Justice introduced it might terminate federal police reform agreements, often called consent decrees, with the cities of Minneapolis and Louisville. These agreements had been established following the high-profile killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, aiming to deal with systemic points inside native police departments.
Assistant Lawyer Basic Harmeet Dhillon criticized the decrees as expensive and legally flawed, advocating for native management over police reform efforts. Regardless of the federal pullback, leaders in Minneapolis and Louisville have pledged to proceed their reform initiatives independently. Civil rights advocates have condemned the choice, arguing it undermines accountability and progress made in addressing racial disparities in policing.
The larger image: Because the homicide of George Floyd on Could 25, 2020, the vast majority of U.S. states have enacted over 1,500 police reform legal guidelines. These reforms embody a spread of measures geared toward growing transparency, accountability and neighborhood belief in policing.
Regardless of widespread state-level reforms since George Floyd’s homicide, federal police reform laws has repeatedly stalled in Congress as a consequence of deep partisan divides, leaving many advocates pissed off over the dearth of a unified nationwide strategy to policing accountability. Efforts proceed, however complete federal motion stays elusive.
South African President Meets with Trump in Oval Workplace
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with President Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace final week, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties and talk about commerce relations. Nevertheless, the assembly took an sudden flip when Trump offered a video alleging a “white genocide” in South Africa, showcasing controversial clips and unverified stories. Ramaphosa refuted these claims, emphasizing that South Africa’s land reform efforts are carried out lawfully and goal to deal with historic inequalities with out inciting violence. Regardless of the tense trade, the leaders briefly touched on mutual pursuits, together with the upcoming G-20 summit and potential commerce collaborations.
A better look: The assembly’s contentious nature stemmed from the Trump administration’s latest coverage choices, notably granting refugee standing to white South Africans citing alleged persecution—a transfer criticized for its racial bias. Trump’s assertions had been influenced by far-right narratives and figures like Elon Musk, who has criticized South Africa’s Black Financial Empowerment insurance policies. Ramaphosa’s go to was an try to counter these narratives and reaffirm South Africa’s dedication to democratic rules and equitable land reform. The incident has additional strained U.S.-South Africa relations, with critics arguing that Trump’s strategy undermines diplomatic norms and exacerbates racial tensions.
NPR Sues Trump Administration over Public Media Defunding
On Tuesday, Nationwide Public Radio (NPR) and three Colorado public radio stations filed a federal lawsuit towards the Trump administration, which seeks to get rid of federal funding for NPR and PBS. The plaintiffs argue that the order violates the First Modification by retaliating towards media retailers for content material the administration deems unfavorable, and that it unlawfully bypasses Congress’s authority over federal spending.
Background: Government Order 14290, signed on Could 1, 2025, directs the Company for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, citing considerations over alleged political bias. In a press release, NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher described the order as “a transparent violation of the Structure and the First Modification’s protections for freedom of speech and affiliation, and freedom of the press.” Maher emphasised that the manager order seeks to punish NPR for content material the president finds objectionable, labeling it as retaliatory and viewpoint-based discrimination. She affirmed NPR’s dedication to difficult the order’s constitutionality and upholding the group’s editorial independence.
Goal Splits from Executives Tied to DEI Initiatives
Amid ongoing backlash over its rollback of variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Goal has dismissed two executives who beforehand championed these packages. Amy Tu, who joined Goal in 2024 as Chief Authorized and Compliance Officer, had been a vocal advocate for DEI, drawing from her private experiences with discrimination. Christina Hennington, a 20-year veteran of the corporate and Chief Technique and Progress Officer, performed a pivotal function in launching Goal’s $2 billion dedication to assist Black-owned companies. Each departures had been categorized as “involuntary termination with out trigger,” signaling a big shift within the retailer’s strategy to DEI amid mounting political and shopper pressures.
By the numbers: Goal’s CEO, Brian Cornell, acknowledged that the corporate’s retreat from DEI commitments has contributed to declining gross sales and buyer dissatisfaction. After a latest revision of its 2025 outlook, Goal now anticipates a small annual gross sales decline after beforehand projecting progress. It expects earnings of $7–$9 per share. Comparable gross sales dropped 3.8%, with in-store transactions down 5.7% and on-line gross sales up 4.7%. Fewer transactions and smaller purchases additionally contributed to the stoop.
Home Democrat Introduces Reparations Laws
U.S. Rep. Summer season Lee (D-PA) reintroduced the “Reparations Now Decision” in Congress earlier this month. This decision requires the federal authorities to supply reparations to the descendants of enslaved Black Individuals, emphasizing the nation’s ethical and obligation to deal with the enduring impacts of slavery and systemic racism.
Rep. Lee convened with fellow lawmakers and advocates in Washington, D.C. on Could 13, for a pivotal briefing titled “Why We Can’t Wait: Advancing Reparative Justice in Our Lifetime.” Hosted by Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, the occasion aimed to provoke assist for reparations laws. Rep. Lee emphasised the urgency of reparations, stating, “Reparations now, not later, not sometime, and never when it’s politically handy.”
What occurs subsequent? As of Could 27, 2025, the decision has been referred to the Home Judiciary Committee however has not but been scheduled for a listening to or markup. It at the moment has 13 cosponsors.
One other Black Historical past Museum Will get Funding Reduce Amid DEI Rollbacks
Trump administration abruptly revoked a $500,000 federal grant to Boston’s Museum of African American Historical past, jeopardizing its instructional packages and outreach initiatives. The grant, awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Providers (IMLS), was meant to assist college discipline journeys and broaden entry to the museum’s historic displays, together with these highlighting abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Black Civil Struggle troopers. The administration justified the reduce by stating that the funding “now not serves the curiosity of the USA.” In consequence, the museum now faces an unsure future, with native educators warning that college students will lose important alternatives to interact with Black historical past firsthand.
The larger image: The defunding of Boston’s Museum of African American Historical past exemplifies the Trump administration’s broader marketing campaign to dismantle variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout the federal authorities. Since January 2025, Trump has signed a number of government orders eliminating DEI packages, together with rescinding Government Order 11246, which had prohibited employment discrimination by federal contractors. Businesses such because the Division of Schooling and the State Division have been directed to purge DEI-related language and workers, whereas the Division of Protection has eliminated references to historic Black navy figures from its supplies.