You’re busy, we’re know it. Don’t worry. We’ve got the five big stories you probably missed this week.
- As AI models evolve, concerns gets louder: The AI industry is rapidly advancing with Google’s Gemini 2.5 reasoning model now outperforming competitors like OpenAI on benchmarks across various domains. However, this acceleration comes with concerns: Google has neglected safety reports, federal AI safety oversight is being reduced, and benchmarking tests are becoming less useful as models consistently ace them. While AI promises benefits like faster writing and free advice, challenges remain in four key areas: copyright issues with AI-generated art, education policies, psychological impacts including emotional dependency, and the massive energy consumption required for AI development. Read more.
- U.S. punishes South Sudan, which is on the verge of civil war, by imposing full visa ban on its citizens: Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked all South Sudanese visas and halted new issuances in response to what he says what South Sudan’s decision not to comply with U.S. deportation standards. This coincides with expiring Temporary Protected Status for South Sudanese nationals in the US. He is leveraging immigration enforcement as a diplomatic tool, potentially affecting over 100,000 South Sudanese in America, including 2,300 TPS beneficiaries. Learn more at TANTV.
- ICE’s ‘diesel therapy’ speeds deportations: In a practice known as “diesel therapy,” ICE rapidly transfers detained immigrants between multiple detention centers—a tactic advocates claim deliberately disrupts attorney-client communication and can shift cases to conservative courts with higher deportation rates. Three recent cases illustrate this pattern: a Canadian actress moved between two centers in two weeks, a Georgetown scholar transferred through four facilities in one week, and a Honduran man named Ivan shifted through three centers before deportation. Ivan was unexpectedly detained at a routine ICE check-in, then struggled to contact family and legal representation due to limited phone access during transfers. Analysis shows removal rates exceed 60% in conservative states like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona. Read more at Documented.
- Inside the movement to save diversity, equity and inclusion principles on a college campus: Three University of Louisville students are leading activism against anti-diversity, equity and inclusion measures. They’ve organized demonstrations, lobbied legislators, and engaged in civil disobedience to protest President Trump’s nationwide attacks on DEI programs. They formed Kentucky Students for DEI, working to preserve inclusion programs across state campuses. Their immediate concern is Kentucky’s House Bill 4, which would ban DEI efforts at state universities. Despite Democratic Governor Andy Beshear’s veto, the Republican supermajority is expected to override it. Read more at Capital B.
- A history of the Baltimore Uprising of 2015: On April 12, 2015, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man, made eye contact with police in West Baltimore and ran, prompting a chase. After capture, he was roughly handled and placed headfirst into a police van without a seatbelt. Following multiple stops, Gray suffered a severed spine and died on April 19 from injuries sustained in custody. His death sparked immediate protests from Gilmor Homes residents, growing into the Baltimore Uprising. This was part of a larger movement following other police killings and connected with national Black Lives Matter activism. The protests emerged organically from Gray’s community before his death, demonstrating neighborhood solidarity against police violence. Read more at Baltimore Beat.
BONUS
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This content was created with AI assistance or collection.
