Tag Archives: unconstitutional

Vatican bank rehires couple fired for violating workplace marriage rule

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**Vatican Couple Rehired by Vatican Bank After Workplace Marriage Dispute**

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A married couple who were fired from the Vatican bank for violating an internal rule prohibiting workplace marriages have been rehired in a negotiated settlement, the union representing Vatican lay employees announced Wednesday.

The union hailed the settlement as “a victory of common sense,” but did not specify when the couple would resume work or what their roles within the bank would be.

The couple, who brought three children between them into their marriage, said they never considered canceling their August 31, 2024 wedding despite learning about the new regulation beforehand. The bank had suggested that one of them resign, but the couple explained that they could not afford this option due to financial responsibilities toward their children, former spouses, and a new mortgage.

While the union celebrated the outcome, it noted that the victory was not complete. Vatican procedures do not allow for the reimbursement of legal fees for the prevailing party. Additionally, the couple lacked social safety nets during the period they were challenging their dismissal. The union also emphasized that the regulation leading to the couple’s termination would likely be considered unconstitutional under Italian law.

The couple themselves have not commented publicly on the settlement. However, when filing their lawsuit, they told The Associated Press they had hoped for an intervention from the late Pope Francis, who was pontiff at the time, given his known emphasis on family values.
https://mymotherlode.com/news/europe/10176541/vatican-bank-rehires-couple-fired-for-violating-workplace-marriage-rule.html

Federal judge rules Trump’s Portland National Guard deployment unconstitutional in permanent injunction

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A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, was unconstitutional.

On Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, temporarily extended an order blocking the administration from sending troops to The Rose City, stating that the government failed to justify the move.

In her Sunday evening order, Immergut temporarily blocked “Defendant Secretary of Defense [Pete] Hegseth from implementing” memorandums that authorized the federalization and deployment of National Guard members from Oregon, Texas, and California into Portland. This injunction remained in effect until Friday.

Friday’s 106-page ruling made that order permanent. The decision came after a three-day trial examining whether protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland warranted the use of the military domestically under federal law. The administration argued that the troops were necessary to protect federal personnel and property.

However, Judge Immergut wrote in the ruling that the “evidence demonstrates that these deployments, which were objected to by Oregon’s governor and not requested by the federal officials in charge of protection of the ICE building, exceeded the President’s authority.” She noted that the President failed to demonstrate there was a rebellion or threat of rebellion that could not be controlled without military intervention.

The judge added, “Even giving great deference to the President’s determination, the President did not have a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard.”

Immergut further declared the order unconstitutional, citing that it violated the 10th Amendment. This amendment “reserves to the States any powers not expressly delegated to the federal government in the Constitution.”

The city of Portland and the state of Oregon sued the administration over the deployment in September, after Secretary Hegseth sent 200 troops to the city.

The administration has the option to appeal the decision. It also faces a temporary injunction in Chicago, where a judge has barred similar troop deployments.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/08/us-news/trump-admin-permanently-blocked-from-deploying-national-guard-on-portland-oregon-federal-judge/

Bitchat hits #2 on app charts in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa strikes

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Jamaicans have rushed to download Jack Dorsey’s decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app, Bitchat, as the fatal Hurricane Melissa continues to rip through the Caribbean. Bitchat, which uses Bluetooth mesh networks for internet-free, encrypted communication, is now the second-most downloaded app on the Apple App Store and Google Play in Jamaica. The app offers a vital lifeline for 2.8 million people as internet coverage continues to falter in the region.

Bitchat only trails the weather forecast platform Zoom Earth, indicating that two of Jamaica’s most basic needs right now are to know the weather and to communicate with one another.

CNN reported on Wednesday that Hurricane Melissa has killed over 30 people in the Caribbean, including at least 23 in Haiti, while countless homes and businesses have been destroyed.

Until recently, adoption of decentralized, encrypted messaging apps had been driven mainly by users leaving centralized communication platforms that may censor content or impose other restrictions. However, Bitchat has since become a critical solution for people in countries where internet access has been disrupted—whether due to government interference or natural disasters.

In September, Bitchat downloads surged in Nepal amid government corruption and a social media ban that blocked Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube, triggering widespread protests. Downloads also rose in Indonesia a week earlier amid protests. A similar increase occurred in Madagascar later that month amid demonstrations over ongoing water and power cuts.

Meanwhile, the European Union has been mulling the controversial “Chat Control” law, which would eliminate encrypted messaging. This law would force apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to allow regulators to screen messages before they are encrypted and sent.

The proposal, aimed at spotting child abuse material, was moving closer to passing in October before Germany expressed opposition, arguing that scanning private messages is unconstitutional. The vote has now been postponed, with another vote scheduled for early December.
https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitchat-second-ranked-app-jamaica-as-hurricane-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Run It Back? : Kamala Harris Strongly Hints At Running For President Again

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Kamala Harris Isn’t Done with Politics: Hints at Another Presidential Run

Kamala Harris isn’t ready to step away from the political stage. In a recent interview during her UK promo tour for her memoir *107 Days*, Harris hinted that she might have another shot at becoming President of the United States. Speaking with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, she said it’s “possible” she could be POTUS one day, expressing confidence that her grandnieces will see a woman sitting in the Oval Office “in their lifetime, for sure.”

Despite the challenges she’s faced, Harris gave the strongest indication yet that she wants to run again. She also addressed polls suggesting she isn’t the favorite to secure the Democratic nomination, pushing back against such claims.

Taking aim at former President Donald Trump, Harris called him a “tyrant” and didn’t miss the chance to deliver a pointed “I told you so.” She reminded viewers that everything she warned voters about Trump—and what a second term under his “leadership” would look like—has come true.

**Support Builds for Another Kamala Harris Run**

Harris’ recent comments have sparked reactions, with many already expressing support for the former Vice President to make another bid for the White House. One social media user wrote, “Let me clarify a point: Kamala Harris must and would be our nominee for the next election. She gained 75 MILLION votes in just 3 f*cking months. NOBODY did that before. Give her time to run a real campaign and we will win.”

If Harris does decide to run again, it could set up a rematch with the so-called Orange Menace, who is reportedly considering an unconstitutional third term. Lord help us all.

Check out some of the reactions, both for and against Harris running again, below.
https://hiphopwired.com/2885244/kamala-harris-possible-second-presidential-run-reactions/

Why J&J has been fined $966M in the US

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**Why J&J Has Been Fined $966M in the US**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 08, 2025, 05:15 PM*

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been ordered by a Los Angeles jury to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. This ruling follows the jury’s finding that the company’s talc products were linked to cancer.

### Background of the Case
The lawsuit was filed by the family of Mae Moore, an 88-year-old California resident who passed away in 2021. The family initiated the case against J&J in the same year, alleging that the company’s talc products contributed to her illness.

### Verdict Details
The jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and an astounding $950 million in punitive damages against J&J. In response, Erik Haas, J&J’s global vice president of litigation, announced the company’s intention to appeal the decision. He described the verdict as “egregious and unconstitutional” and criticized the plaintiff lawyers for relying on what he called “junk science” that should not have been admitted in court.

### Product Safety and Company Response
Despite the verdict, J&J maintains that its talc-based products are safe, contain no asbestos, and do not cause cancer. The company discontinued sales of talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, transitioning to a cornstarch-based alternative. It is important to note that mesothelioma has been medically linked to asbestos exposure.

Trey Branham, attorney for Moore’s family, expressed hope that this ruling will finally hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for what he termed “senseless deaths.”

### Ongoing Litigation
Johnson & Johnson currently faces over 67,000 lawsuits alleging cancer caused by its baby powder and other talc products. While the majority of these claims relate to ovarian cancer, mesothelioma cases form a smaller portion of the litigation.

The company has attempted to resolve the mass litigation by filing for bankruptcy protection, but three such proposals have been rejected by federal courts.

### Settlement and Trial Landscape
Though J&J has settled some mesothelioma claims, it has yet to achieve a nationwide settlement agreement. Consequently, many mesothelioma lawsuits have proceeded to trial in various state courts over recent months.

In the past year alone, J&J has faced several significant verdicts related to mesothelioma, with Monday’s ruling representing one of the largest monetary penalties to date. The company has, however, successfully reduced some awards on appeal, including a $260 million verdict overturned by a state judge in Oregon.

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This recent verdict underscores the ongoing legal challenges Johnson & Johnson faces concerning its talc products and the serious claims raised by affected consumers and their families. The company’s appeal process will be closely watched as these cases continue to unfold.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/j-j-hit-with-966m-verdict-in-talc-cancer-trial/story

Judge Won’t Immediately Block President Trump’s National Guard Troop Deployment to Illinois

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A federal judge has declined to immediately block President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois.

US District Judge April Perry, a Biden appointee, opted not to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) but scheduled a hearing on the case for Thursday.

On Sunday, President Trump ordered 400 Texas National Guard troops to be deployed to Illinois and Oregon to protect ICE agents amid concerns over violent Antifa protesters. Following this, Texas announced it would send a total of 2,000 National Guard troops to Chicago, despite opposition from Illinois Democrat Governor J.B. Pritzker.

“I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated. “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” Abbott added.

The activation of the National Guard came after violence erupted in Chicago over the weekend. Far-left protesters reportedly used vehicles to box in ICE agents, escalating tensions in the city.

On Monday, Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit seeking to block the troop deployment. However, the troops were already en route. “Defendants’ deployment of federalized troops to Illinois is patently unlawful,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul wrote, according to CBS News.

“Plaintiffs ask this court to halt the illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional federalization of members of the National Guard of the United States, including both the Illinois and Texas National Guard,” Raoul added.

Governor Pritzker expressed strong opposition to the troop deployment, saying, “Illinois will not let the Trump administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting.”

“We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab because military troops should not be used against American communities,” Pritzker emphasized.

Meanwhile, a federal judge on Sunday evening temporarily blocked President Trump’s National Guard troop deployment to Oregon, underscoring the ongoing legal battles surrounding these decisions.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/judge-wont-immediately-block-trumps-national-guard-troop/