(New York, NY) – Lawmakers in New York are attempting to ban ICE agents from wearing masks or face coverings while on the job. There is a schism happening in the MAGA crowd following the release of a DOJ memo on the Jeffrey Epstein case. WABC has the top headlines to know to start your week off:
Local Lawmakers Want to Unmask ICE
Assemblyman Tony Simone, who represents Chelsea up in Albany, has unveiled his “MELT” Act. The name stands for Mandating End to Lawless Tactics, the tactics in this case are the face coverings that officials claim stokes fear in the community. ICE officials maintain that any officers in masks are doing so for their own safety, and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons refuted any stories of people falsely claiming to be ICE agents. There is no number for the bill and no State Senate equivalent, however Simone believes progress will be made and the bill will be enforceable within state lines.
Texas Still Recovering Following Floods
The scene in central Texas is still one of destruction and desperation as search efforts continue in the flood-ravaged region. Over 130 people were killed after the Guadalupe River overflowed following heavy rain, which caused catastrophic flooding. Nearly 160 people remain missing. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said that as questions swirl around the response, he maintains the cause was completely natural, rejecting any conspiracy theories of weather modification. President Trump also paid the area a visit with First Lady Melania, where they spoke with some of the families affected.
EU and Mexico Hit with Trump Tariffs
President Trump took to Truth Social to announce a 30% tariff rate on the European Union and our neighbor south of the border. This comes after our neighbor to the north – Canada – was threatened with a 35% tariff rate for what Trump says is a failure to cooperate on key policies, like cracking down on fentanyl. Trump also said if any of the countries want to retaliate, the move will only cause him to raise rates again. EU leaders say they are committed to continue negotiations, and Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum says her team has been in talks with the White House.
Calls for Unity Candidate in NYC Mayoral Race
A big name in New York politics, former Governor David Paterson, is calling for one of the independent candidates to drop out of the race. There are currently 5 candidates running for mayor, with 3 of them running on independent lines. Democrats will be represented by Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and Republicans have named founder of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa, as the GOP candidate. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is still running despite his loss in the primary as an independent candidate. Also running an independent candidate, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is trying to win a second term. Businessman Jim Walden is the third and final independent candidate, but Paterson says someone should sacrifice their campaign for the good of the city. Paterson says Mamdani is a radical leftist and inexperienced in government.
Epstein Files Cause MAGA Schism
Conservatives are seemingly split on the issue regarding the Trump administration’s conclusion in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Epstein was accused of running a child sex trafficking ring on a remote island and died in prison in 2019. One of the items on the Trump DOJ’s agenda was exposing an alleged “client list” with names of powerful people connected to Epstein. A memo was released this past week saying there was no list and claimed Epstein did in fact commit suicide, refuting conspiracy theories that he was murdered in his cell. Personalities like Laura Loomer and Megyn Kelly have called for Trump to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi.
To hear more on these stories including audio from leaders, listen to the full News Hour: Weekend Edition below
