The U.S. State Department will begin revoking passports on May 8 for Americans who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support, affecting about 2,700 people initially. Officials say the policy will soon expand to include anyone owing more than $2,500, using passport revocation as a tool to pressure parents to settle overdue child support debts.
Category: U.S. Government
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
D.C. Council extends federal transparency laws
Washington, D.C. transparency laws governing the Metropolitan Police Department’s interactions with federal officers have been extended through November, amid ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity and debate over accountability, oversight and public trust in policing throughout the District.
Posted inNational News
Black leaders demand corporate accountability for $175 billion in tariff refunds
Following the Supreme Court’s Feb. 20 ruling to strike down the current administration’s tariffs, Rep. Steven Horsford is leading an effort to demand corporate accountability regarding the distribution of $175 billion in refunds.
Posted inNational News
DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against 47th president in writings to family
Authorities say Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man, is accused of attempting a politically motivated attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, after sending writings to family expressing grievances against the 47th president’s administration. Investigators believe Allen acted alone, legally acquired multiple weapons, and intended to target administration officials before being subdued by security, prompting a chaotic scene and the evacuation of the president, who was unharmed.
Posted inU.S. Government
Lawmakers move to oust Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick for alleged ethics violations
The House is moving toward a bipartisan vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) after a committee investigation proved 25 ethics violations. While a federal judge has delayed the Florida Democrat’s criminal trial for the alleged theft of $5 million in FEMA funds until 2027, congressional leaders indicated that the chamber is prepared to act as early as next week.
Posted inTV and Film
Back from the brink: ‘Afropop’ season 18 to premiere in June
The season features Listen to Me, Kanika Harris and Stephanie Etienne’s urgent documentary on the Black maternal and infant mortality crisis, and This World Is Not My Own, Opendox’s visually striking film using animation about celebrated folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe, who turned her home and yard in Vinings, Georgia, into the fantastical creative world she called the Playhouse. Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba and Broadway veteran Amy Warren bring Rowe and her friend, gallery owner and arts patron Judith Alexander, to life through voice and movement. A third title, to be announced later this year, will premiere in November.
Posted inPOLITICS
Supreme Court weighs future of 14th Amendment in historic citizenship case
The Supreme Court is preparing to rule on an executive challenge to the 14th Amendment that could replace the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship with a system requiring proof of parental status. Legal experts and advocates warn that this shift could create profound administrative hurdles for marginalized communities and potentially leave millions of American-born children without access to essential services.
Posted inReligion
Many US Catholics are dismayed by No. 47’s unprecedented broadside at the first American pope
Many U.S. Catholics and some evangelical leaders are expressing dismay after the 47th U.S. president launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, highlighting growing tensions between the White House and key religious constituencies ahead of the midterm elections.
Posted inPOLITICS
Executive order targets inclusion, equity and diversity in federal contracting
The recently signed executive order mandates the immediate removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements from all federal contracts, prioritizing a strict merit-based standard for government procurement. This policy shift is expected to significantly alter the economic landscape for Black and Brown business owners who have historically utilized these programs to gain access to the federal marketplace.
Posted inNational News
Calls for investigation after Haitian asylum seeker dies days after ICE release
A 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker was found dead at a Pittsburgh bus stop just days after being released from federal immigration custody. Attorneys and advocacy groups are calling for answers about the circumstances surrounding her release and death.
Posted inNational News
U.S. president pulls back on threats against Iran with 2-week ceasefire agreement
The U.S. president has announced that he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran. A two-week ceasefire is now in effect in the war against Iran, which was launched on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel.
Posted inNational News
47th president’s administration opens investigations into race in admissions at 3 medical schools
The 47th president’s administration has launched federal investigations into admissions practices at three major medical schools—Stanford, Ohio State, and UC San Diego—over concerns about potential racial discrimination. The move is part of a broader effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action and increase scrutiny on how universities handle race in admissions.