Trump Plans to Detain Thousands of Immigrants in U.S. Military Sites 
Carlos Barria/Carlos Barria/ REUTERS
Following promises of mass deportations, President Donald Trump is now planning to detain undocumented immigrants at military sites across the country. The New York Times reports his team is starting with a “deportation hub” set to hold up to 10,000 individuals at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. But that’s just the blueprint. Trump plans to create similar detention sites across the country—from New York to Utah. Thousands of immigrants might remain in these complexes while they go through the deportation process. Although it’s still in beginning stages, Trump’s officials are planning to ramp up the project and divert military resources to its expansion. They claim that there’s a lack of space at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities and intend to create a countrywide network of holding sites. Immigration advocacy organizations are expressing concerns over the proposal, citing historic cases of abuse and negligence at deportation centers. In the past, military bases have solely served as urgent backup when shelters overflow, holding mostly teenagers. There, the minors suffered panic attacks and other mental trauma due to a lack of preparedness from the officials watching them. Some were held there for two months. The project reveals a substantial increase in the government’s plan to militarize immigration enforcement. Now, as Trump releases videos of immigrants in shackles and forces migrants into Guantánamo Bay, he’s intensifying his efforts to expel thousands of families who once sought refuge in the United States. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Trump Administration for comment.
LA Fire Chief Axed as Mayor Alleges She Made Major Gaffe Ahead of Wildfires
Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
Los Angeles’ fire chief Kristin Crowley was fired Friday and accused of making a major gaffe on the day deadly wildfires broke out in the city last month. Mayor Karen Bass said it was specifically Crowley’s handling of the Palisades Fire that led to her getting the ax. “We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said Friday—a bombshell indictment on Crowley’s decision making if true. Bass also alleged Crowley refused to conduct an after action report on the fires. “These require her removal,” Bass said. The firing comes after weeks of bickering between the officials, beginning as early as Jan. 10 when Crowley told news outlets, including CNN, the city of Los Angeles had failed her department by leaving it underfunded and understaffed. Bass, who was abroad when fires broke out, appeared with Crowley at news conferences as a united front during the fires. With the flames extinguished, however, Bass has since alleged that Crowley did not properly alert her to the city’s fire risk. Had she done that, she claims she would have canceled her Africa trip.
Score HP’s Sustainable Smart Printer for $125 Off Right Now
HP
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Buying endless plastic printer cartridges is bad for the environment and your peace of mind. The HP Smart Tank 6001 is designed to address those shortcomings as a more sustainable, high-volume printer with refillable ink tanks. It reduces plastic waste by eliminating cartridges and comes with a two-year supply of ink. That means you can print up to 8,000 color pages or 6,000 black and white pages before you even have to think about enjoying the environmentally friendly refills.
And, the sustainability doesn’t end there. It’s made from up to 25 percent recycled plastic and recyclable ink bottles. It also has an Energy Star certification for energy efficiency.
Setting up the Smart Tank is effortless, thanks to an intuitive interface that syncs with the HP app. This allows for seamless printing, scanning, and copying from any device. Additionally, the Wi-Fi capability reduces the number of cables needed for set-up and provides a fast connection for reliable printing.
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Aside from sustainability and ease of use, this printer delivers exceptional print quality with crisp text and vibrant, true-to-life colors—perfect for everyday documents and stunning photos.
Right now, HP is offering $125 off the Smart Tank with that two-year supply of ink in the box. If you want to avoid stress on yourself and the environment, take advantage of $125 of savings and upgrade your home printing experience to the HP Smart Tank 6001 today.
You can find more product information here.
Gil Cohen Magen/Gil Cohen Magen/ REUTERS
Bad news for Americans who love a meal with a side of cleavage—Hooters is going bankrupt. The popular restaurant chain, largely known for its servers’ skimpy outfits, is $300 million in debt. Almost 300 locations are scattered nationwide, historically enticing casual diners and drinkers with cheap beers and American comfort food. It isn’t the only chain prepping for its downfall—Red Lobster also filed for bankruptcy last summer. Both have blamed rising rent and food prices. Plus, they say, people are eating out less and ordering in more. The owl-themed spot first opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983. For over four decades, it has greeted millions of Americans. But its loyal fans just aren’t cutting it anymore. Hooters is readying itself to restructure through Chapter 11—a policy which allows them to negotiate leases and loans in order to reorganize. Hooter-holics shouldn’t lose hope yet. Chapter 11 worked for Red Lobster, which emerged triumphant after closing 100 restaurants and ending their debts. The private equity-owned restaurant already shut down 40 of its “underperforming” locations in June to try and stay above water. Nationwide, dozens of chains are facing the same fate: from big players like Applebee’s and TGI Fridays to small, locally-owned businesses.
Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Makes Surprise Show of Support at Luigi Mangione Hearing
Chelsea Manning was among the supporters at a courthouse for Luigi Mangione’s hearing on Friday. Getty Images
One-time whistleblower Chelsea Manning was one of the hundred-plus people who packed a Manhattan courthouse ahead of Luigi Mangione’s hearing on Friday, according to a report. Manning, who leaked classified military documents, arrived at 8:15 a.m. ahead of the 2:15 p.m. hearing where Mangione will answer to charges that he murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, People reported. “I am here exercising my Sixth Amendment right,” Manning told People at the courthouse. ”I am a member of the New York City public here to witness our court proceedings.” Manning is a former American soldier who was imprisoned for seven years for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents that exposed U.S war crimes. In 2017, her sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama. Supporters thronged the courthouse and erupted in support when Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo arrived, People reported. A huge image depicting Mangione with a halo around his head was also observed projected onto a Manhattan building ahead of his hearing, with the caption “Free Luigi.”
These Zero-Proof THC Seltzers Give You a Buzz Without the Hangover
Happi
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From work events to gatherings with friends, alcohol is a constant—especially now that it’s Damp February. The relaxation and social buzz a glass of wine or cocktail provides is hard to beat but comes with consequences like headaches, anxiety, and upset stomach the next day. Plus,
with the recent announcement from the Surgeon General that alcohol should come with a cancer warning label, many of us are taking a pause to reevaluate our relationship with it. If you’re looking for a zero-proof alternative, you can have the best of both worlds with Happi.
This collection of THC seltzers provides a light buzz without the hangover. Happi’s beverages are all-natural, organic, non-GMO, alcohol-free, and only 20-50 calories a can. The THC used in Happi is Delta-9. Delta 9 is naturally derived from hemp and is known for its soothing and uplifting buzz.
Happi designed its drinks to mimic the onset of a glass of wine or a beer, so you feel the effects right away—around 15 minutes and last about two hours.
There are many drinks to choose from, but the Raspberry Honeysuckle is a clear fan favorite. It’s bursting with a sweet-tart berry flavor and a hint of honeysuckle. With over 140 reviews, Raspberry Honeysuckle holds a 4.9 rating on Happi’s website. Plus, in 2024, it won Gold at the L.A. Spirits Awards. If you’re ready to enjoy a new type of Happi hour this season, look no further than these THC-powered seltzers.
Salman Rushdie’s Stabber Found Guilty of Attempted Murder
Fabrizio Bensch/Fabrizio Bensch/ REUTERS
Sir Salman Rushdie’s stabber was today found guilty of attempted murder, three years after attacking the author during an onstage lecture. The assailant, 27-year-old Hadi Matar, was charged after an eight day trial. He launched his attempt at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York, where 77-year-old Rushdie was about to publicly speak. He stabbed the author 15 times in the right eye, chest, hand, neck, and stomach, leaving Rushdie to fear that he was dying. During the trial, Rushdie recalled blood pouring from his open wounds, and Matar “hitting and slashing” him. The Indian-born British American writer was left partially blind and paralyzed in his hand. Matar, however, pled not guilty, and his attorney argued that the prosecution wasn’t able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill Rushdie. But the jury deliberated quickly before announcing a guilty verdict and Matar now faces more than 30 years in prison. Rushdie has detailed the incident in a memoir titled Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder. He’s also critically-acclaimed for writing famous fantasy novels such as Haroun and the Sea of Stories and The Satanic Verses.
Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother, Voletta Wallace, Dies at 72
Voletta Wallace attends the photocall of “Notorious” during the 59th annual Berlin Film Festival. Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Voletta Wallace, the mother of late rapper Notorious “Biggie Smalls” B.I.G. and the steward of his legacy and estate upon his 1997 murder, died Friday morning, reported TMZ. She was 72-years-old. According to the report, Wallace died of natural causes under home hospice in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Her son’s estimated $160 million estate will be inherited by his two children, T’yanna Wallace and C.J. Wallace. Born in Jamaica, Wallace raised Biggie, real name Christopher Wallace, in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill neighborhood and was a struggling single mother. In interviews and in his music, Biggie frequently discussed his rise from poverty to becoming a successful rapper, with Wallace keeping his legacy alive long after his death through documentaries about his life and feature films. Although her son’s killers were never brought to justice, Wallace held out hope for closure. “As long as I have life there’s hope,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2021 while promoting the Netflix documentary Biggie: I Have a Story to Tell. “I’ll never give up. And I hope when I’m not in this world anymore, my friends and family will carry on the fight. There is always hope.”
U.S. Man to Be Executed by Firing Squad
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
A South Carolina man on death row for murder has chosen to be executed by a firing squad. Inmate Brad Sigmon is scheduled to die March 7, and will be the first person to be executed in the U.S. using the method in 15 years. Sigmon, 67, chose firing squad over electric chair and lethal injection. Scheduled in just a few weeks, he will be strapped to a chair, hood over his face, and a target on his heart, according to the Associated Press. Then, three volunteers are expected to shoot him about 15 feet away. “If he chose lethal injection, he risked the prolonged death suffered by all three of the men South Carolina has executed since September—three men Brad knew and cared for—who remained alive, strapped to a gurney, for more than twenty minutes,” his lawyer, Gerald “Bo” King, wrote. “He does not wish to inflict that pain on his family, the witnesses, or the execution team. But, given South Carolina’s unnecessary and unconscionable secrecy, Brad is choosing as best he can.” He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001 via baseball bat, and then kidnapped his ex at gunpoint, according to the outlet.
Diddy’s Lawyer Quits: ‘Under No Circumstances Can I Continue’
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A lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs has asked the judge in the disgraced rapper’s sex-trafficking case for permission to quit his defense. “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs,” Anthony Ricco wrote in a motion filed Thursday. “It is respectfully but regrettably requested that the court grant the relief requested,” Ricco wrote, without elaborating on why he wanted to step down. The decision came after speaking with Combs’ lead attorney Marc Agnifilo, the filing said, but a judge must sign off on it to make the resignation official. Ricco is one of six defense attorneys currently representing Combs, who was arrested in September on suspicion of sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors say he allegedly forced women to participate in days-long sex parties he dubbed “freak-offs.” More than 150 alleged victims—many of them men and boys—have since accused Combs of sexual assault, leading to more than 30 civil suits, according to The New York Times. Combs and his lawyers have denied all of the allegations. His criminal trial is scheduled to start in May.
Apothékary’s Metabolic Tinctures May Help Boost GLP-1 Sans a Prescription 
Apothekary.
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GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have surged in popularity during the last couple of years for their ability to help patients shed weight quickly and potentially reduce inflammation. While the drug class was initially used to treat diabetes and obesity, the compounds are now being prescribed for a range of off-label benefits aside from weight management. Of course, the natural supplement industry has taken note, and brands are launching drug-free alternatives formulated to help boost the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone in the body sans a prescription. While these natural formulas will not deliver the same result as their RX counterparts, some early research suggests these products can mimic some of the same effects—albeit to a lesser extent. There are a slew of capsules, powders, and other GLP-1 boosting formulas on the market right now, but our current favorite is Apothékary’s Metabolic Tinctures.
The Metabolic Duo combines two powerful formulas: Blue Burn for metabolism support and Sugar Kick for blood sugar balance. Together, they might offer benefits similar to RX GLP-1 treatments. Blue Burn is designed to boost energy, jumpstart metabolism, and speed up recovery post-workout, thanks to a blend of adaptogenic herbs and metabolism-boosting botanicals. Sugar Kick, on the other hand, features a potent mix of ancient herbs known for helping regulate blood sugar, keeping sugar crashes and that 3 p.m. slump at bay. While each formula is sold separately if you’re looking for results that rival GLP-1s, investing in both is your best bet.
U.S. Officials Refuse to Call Russia the ‘Aggressor’ in G7 Statement
Leah Millis/Leah Millis/ REUTERS
The United States is officially opposed to calling Russia the aggressor in its war on Ukraine. In a Group of 7 (G7) statement, drafted to mark the historic third year anniversary of the war, U.S. representatives are objecting to any language believed to be pro-Ukraine, according to four officials from other countries involved in the assembly. The G7 allies originally adopted pro-Ukraine sentiment following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The phrase “Russian aggression” or word “aggressors” have been used in G7 statements since 2022, and the G7 group—headed by Canada—has long condemned Russia in their declarations. But only days after President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and claimed that Ukraine was to blame for the deadly war, U.S. officials have proposed a neutral statement that makes no reference to Russia as the offender or Ukraine as the victim. The new draft also cuts text describing the invasion as a breach of sovereignty. The Trump administration demanded a shorter statement that did not impact current ongoing negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The final language is currently being negotiated, which could continue until it is finally published Feb. 24. Officials are also still debating whether the G7 leaders, who will meet virtually Monday, will invite Zelensky. He was in attendance last year. Three years in, the war has killed tens of thousands of civilians.
Blake Lively Seeks Protective Order After ‘Violent’ Threats
Caitlin Ochs/REUTERS
Blake Lively says she’s being “threatened” by communications amid her legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni and needs “additional protections,” according to documents obtained by People. Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds submitted a letter on Thursday requesting those protections, and also claimed that Lively, “her family, other members of the cast, various fact witnesses, and individuals that have spoken out publicly in support of Ms. Lively have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications.” Both Baldoni and Lively had already agreed to a protective order, however Lively’s lawyers argue there’s “good cause” to amend the “model” one in place. Lively also amended her December complaint against Baldoni this week, wherein she claimed two of her female It Ends With Us co-stars were willing to testify that Baldoni had subjected them to “unwelcome behavior” on set. Lively’s publicist backed Lively’s claims that other “employees” besides Lively had made claims against Baldoni in her filing to be dismissed from his countersuit Thursday.
