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Trump executive order aims to eliminate ‘improper ideology’ at Smithsonian

March 28, 2025
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to eliminate what he deems “improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Institute and National Parks Service. The move comes as the Trump administration continues to target Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in government.
- The White House argued the museums and parks focus too much on subjects of race and gender while minimizing American accomplishments.
- Critics argue the executive order is akin to “whitewashing” American history.
Full Story

President Donald Trump is continuing his tamping down of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within government institutions, going after what he calls “improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Institution.

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, March 27, directing changes at the world’s largest museum and research complex in addition to U.S. national parks.

What does the order do?

In the order dubbed “Restoring Truth in American History,” the White House said it wants to restore “truth and sanity to American history by revitalizing key cultural institutions and reversing the spread of divisive ideology.”

Trump’s order directs the Department of the Interior and other agencies to examine Smithsonian exhibits and National Park Service sites to weed out what it deems “improper ideology” or anti-American sentiment.

Does it mean Confederate monuments will return?

The move also appears to tease a potential comeback of honoring Confederate figures, after the Biden administration’s removal of many such statues and monuments in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests.

The order mandates the return of statues, monuments and markers removed or altered since 2020, which The Associated Press noted could include Confederate memorials removed over the last few years.

What else does the executive action order?

The president is ordering that future spending on the Smithsonian Institute not focus on efforts that he says “degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans based on race.”

Why are some opposed?

Critics contend that executive orders like this, coupled with the Trump administration’s efforts to scrub DEI initiatives, are examples of “whitewashing” America’s sometimes bloody history and argue all Americans deserve U.S. history in its entirety.
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Ben & Jerry’s founders come forward in support of ousted CEO

March 21, 2025
- Ben & Jerry’s announced support for the return of former CEO David Stever to his position. The brand accused Unilever of firing Stever for defending its progressive values and social activism.
- Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever, claiming the company violated merger terms by removing Stever without the independent board’s approval.
- Tensions between the ice cream brand and Unilever have persisted. Ben & Jerry’s has accused Unilever of silencing its efforts to speak out on social issues.
Full Story

Ben & Jerry’s founders came forward in support of the company’s ousted CEO. On Wednesday, March 19, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield expressed their support for David Stever after Unilever, the parent company of the ice cream brand, dismissed him.

“Dave has been a tireless champion of this company and its progressive values,” the founders said. “We believe there’s no one better to lead Ben & Jerry’s at this moment in its history.”

On Tuesday, March 18, Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever of firing Stever for defending the company’s social and political activism initiatives.

What’s in the court filing?

The ice cream brand accused Unilever of violating the merger agreement terms by removing Stever without board approval.

“While we don’t have insight into Unilever’s decision, we do know this: we stand 110% behind Dave,” the founders, who are no longer members of the brand’s independent board, wrote in their message. “As CEO, he’s continued to lead with courage and integrity, delivering on our Social Mission while posting strong global growth last year, his first full year in the role.”

A spokesperson for Unilever told The Wall Street Jounal on Wednesday that the company had made several attempts to connect with the board to discuss Stever.

A strained partnership

For years, the relationship between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever has been strained.

In 2024, the ice cream brand also sued Unilever. It accused Unilever of silencing the company’s attempts to speak out in support of Palestinians and threatening to dismantle its independent board.

The ice cream brand’s independent board can decide about the brand’s social mission following the $326 million deal that Unilever reached to acquire in 2000.

According to this week’s court filing, Unilever criticized Stever in a performance review in January for repeatedly complying with the demands of the Independent Social Mission Board.

The ice cream brand also alleged that Unilever prevented the brand from posting tributes for Black History Month and supporting Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil. Authorities detained Khalil, a U.S. legal permanent resident, on March 8 for helping to lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations in 2024.

History of Ben & Jerry’s

Since Ben & Jerry’s launched in 1978, it has been recognized for its left-leaning advocacy, led by Cohen and Greenfield.

Over the years, the ice cream brand has continued introducing innovative flavors and engaging in activism.

What’s next?

In March 2024, Unilever announced its plans to spin off its ice cream division.

If the move is successful later this year, it will end the 25-year partnership between the two companies.
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- Ben & Jerry’s accuses parent company Unilever of silencing Trump criticism
- Ben & Jerry’s says parent company is silencing its pro-Palestinian views
Ben Shapiro urges Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin for federal crimes

March 17, 2025
- Conservative talk show host Ben Shapiro is advocating for a federal pardon for Derek Chauvin. Shapiro argues George Floyd died from a pre-existing condition and plans to release programming detailing his views on the case.
- Chauvin, a former officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, is serving a 22-year sentence for Floyd’s murder. His death led to worldwide protests.
- Trump has stated he is not considering a pardon, despite Shapiro’s campaign and Elon Musk’s support on social media.
Full Story

Conservative talk show host Ben Shapiro has called on President Donald Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin for federal crimes related to George Floyd’s death. Chauvin, a white former officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, is currently serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of Floyd, a Black man.

Floyd died after a store clerk called the police, accusing him of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Video of the arrest shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly says he can’t breathe. Floyd later died at a hospital.

Floyd’s death sparked worldwide protests. Within days, calls to defund or abolish the police became widespread. The protests caused more than $1 billion in losses to the insurance industry. It marked the first civil disorder to reach that amount.

On his podcast, Shapiro argued Floyd died from a pre-existing heart condition and encouraged viewers to sign a petition urging Trump to consider a federal pardon.

Elon Musk responded to Shapiro’s plea on X, posting, “Something to think about.”

However, Trump told reporters he’s not considering a pardon, saying, “I don’t know anything about it.”

Despite Trump’s comment, Shapiro plans to release programming on March 18 that he says will expose the truth about the Chauvin case.

In December, a judge granted Chauvin’s lawyers permission to have samples from Floyd examined to test a theory that Floyd died of a heart condition aggravated by a rare tumor, not asphyxiation.

Chauvin was convicted on state murder charges in 2021 and later pleaded guilty in federal court to violating Floyd’s civil rights. He is serving his state and federal sentences concurrently. A federal pardon would not overturn his state conviction.
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Why DC is removing its ‘Black Lives Matter’ street mural

March 11, 2025
- The removal of the Black Lives Matter Plaza street mural in Washington, D.C., began Monday, March 10. The move comes after a Republican House bill called for withholding federal funds from Washington D.C. unless it removed the mural and renamed the location “Liberty Plaza.”
- U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde introduced the legislation, which orders the city to paint over the mural and rename the area or risk losing federal funds.
- Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the renaming and painting of the intersection as Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020.
Full Story

The removal of the “Black Lives Matter” street mural in Washington D.C., installed in 2020 to commemorate the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, began Monday, March 10.

Who’s behind the mural’s removal?

A Republican House bill proposed withholding federal funds from Washington D.C. unless it removed the mural and renamed the location to “Liberty Plaza.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced the legislation, ordering the city to paint over the mural and rename the area or risk losing federal funds.

How have local residents responded?

Keyonna Jones, one of the seven artists who painted the plaza, expressed her understanding of the ultimatum faced by Washington D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser, but she remains proud of the artwork she helped create.

“I recognize what the mayor has in front of her, and she has a big choice. She has priorities,” Jones said.

“It’s an honor. I’m a native here and raised in D.C.,” Jones added. “So, to be able to put my mark on the ground, especially being a woman, being black and having a voice. I always say that art is one of those universal languages that you don’t need words for, and so, it was a true honor to be a part of it.”

When did DC rename the area and paint the mural?

Bowser ordered the renaming of a symbolic two-block stretch of 16th Street NW near the White House and the painting of the intersection as Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020.

The announcement followed the killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and the protests that ensued.

Some bystanders took pictures of the mural Monday before its demolition.

“It makes me feel empowered,” Stephanie Carey of Maryland said. “It makes me feel represented. It makes me feel like I belong here. So, that’s why this being painted over doesn’t feel right at all. Because now I feel I’m being pushed out and being forced to accept something like that just doesn’t feel natural.”

How has Bowser responded?

Bowser posted on X to explain her decision to comply with calls to dismantle the mural on March 4.

“The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a very painful period,” Bowser wrote. “But now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference.”

However, she said she does not support the bill requiring the removal of the mural and the renaming of the plaza.

How have supporters of the change responded?

While some condemned the removal, conservative voices welcomed the change.

Libs of TikTok, an X account run by conservative influencer Chaya Raichik, posted, “The world is healing.”

Others called the artwork “divisive,” and some said it should be renamed to something “inclusive for everyone.”

Pro-Trump influencer Jaimee Mitchell also celebrated the move, writing on X, “Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C. is being dismantled as we speak! And yes, before anyone asks, I voted for this.
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Judge awards ‘Proud Boys’ name to vandalized Black church

February 5, 2025
- A judge has ruled that a Black church gets the naming rights to the Proud Boys. The group has been stripped of its trademark and barred from selling merchandise without the church’s consent.
- The ruling happened after the Proud Boys didn’t pay $2.8 million to the church.
- Trump granted clemency to the Proud Boys leaders for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
Full Story

A historic Black church in Washington, D.C., vandalized by members of the Proud Boys, has secured the far-right group’s naming rights. The case stems from a night in December 2020 when Proud Boys tore down and destroyed a Black Lives Matter sign at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church during a rally for President Donald Trump, who had lost reelection.

A judge on Monday, Feb. 3, stripped the group of control over the trademark “Proud Boys” and barred it from selling any merchandise with either its name or its symbols without consent of the church.

This comes after a separate June 2023 ruling when a judge ordered the Proud Boys to pay the church $2.8 million in compensation for the vandalism, which the church never received, according to court documents.

The new ruling clears the way for the church to take any money the Proud Boys might make by selling merchandise.

How is the church responding?

“If they thought we would be afraid, they were wrong,” the church’s pastor, William H. Lamar IV, told CBS Money. “There are many people with us and who stand with us.”

How is the Proud Boys group responding?

The Proud Boys former leader, Enrique Tarrio, released a statement to The New York Times that said in part, “I fear nothing. With God as my strength and guide, I stand firm.”

Tarrio also criticized the judge’s 2023 decision.

“The judge put a million-dollar settlement on a $40 sign,” Tarrio told The Washington Post.

The judge said replacing the sign and taking steps to protect the church cost around $36,000 after the church called the Proud Boys’ actions “acts of terror” in its lawsuit.

The judge agreed, calling the Proud Boys’ conduct “hateful and overtly racist.”

What role did the Proud Boys have in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots?

The Proud Boys have a history of violence, with the group’s leaders being sentenced for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

While Tarrio was not in D.C. during the Capitol riot, he was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for seditious conspiracy and obstructing a congressional proceeding. A judge called him the “ultimate leader” of the insurrections.

Trump granted clemency to Tarrio and other leaders of the Proud Boys last month, while also pardoning roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants.
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Civil rights activists call for Target boycott after DEI rollback

January 31, 2025
Civil rights activists are pushing for a nationwide boycott of Target over its decision to phase out its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. DEI supporters gathered outside Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis Thursday, Jan. 30, urging people to start a boycott Saturday, Feb. 1, to coincide with the first day of Black History Month.

The protest comes after the retail giant announced last week it would join Walmart and a number of other stores in scaling back its DEI initiatives. It did so after feeling pressure from conservative groups and President Donald Trump’s recent signing of executive orders ending DEI programs in the federal government.

“We thought that they would continue to stand for the values that we all hold dear,” Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney, said at Target’s headquarters. “But instead, they acted cowardly, and they made the decision to bow down to the Trump administration.”

Several Black-owned businesses that sell their products at Target, including the cosmetics company The Lip Bar, have expressed fear it will impact their bottom line if their customers stop shopping at Target stores.

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However, supporters of the boycott are now encouraging people to shop directly from the websites of Black-owned companies instead of purchasing their products through Target.

Target, which has historically advocated for the rights of Black and LGBTQ+ people, hasn’t commented on the calls for a boycott.

In a memo to employees last week, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, Kiera Fernandez, described the DEI decisions as a “next chapter” in the company’s strategy.
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Only American flags allowed at US Embassies under new Trump order

January 22, 2025

The Trump administration has introduced a new “One Flag Policy,” requiring all State Department buildings to fly only the American flag. This rule applies to U.S. State Department facilities both domestically and abroad, banning any other flags from being displayed on these government grounds.

The policy, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his confirmation on the night of Monday, Jan. 20, is a reversal from the Biden administration.

Under Biden, U.S. Embassies raised flags such as the Pride flag during Pride Month in 2021 and the Black Lives Matter flag in 2022 during Black History Month. These instances would no longer be allowed under the Trump administration’s new directive, regardless of the issue or politics.

The policy states that the U.S. flag represents unity for all Americans and is meant to show “respect” for the American flag. The only exceptions to the rule are the “Prisoner of War/Missing in Action” (POW/MIA) emblem and the “Wrongful Detainees” flag, which can still be flown at State Department facilities.

While this policy only applies to State Department buildings, a bill introduced in the Senate last year sought to extend the One Flag Policy to all federal buildings. It remains unclear whether the new Republican-majority Congress will pursue similar legislation.

The policy has faced opposition from civil rights organizations. Lambda Legal’s CEO Kevin Jennings criticized the move in an interview with Newsweek.

“Banning Pride and other flags is just petty and mean-spirited,” Jennings said. “Flying such flags is simply a signal to people that they matter. It hurts no one.”

The State Department’s order, first obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, says, “Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content.”

The memo emphasizes that the U.S. flag represents the universal principles of “justice, liberty, and democracy, values shared by all Americans.”

The new policy is part of a broader shift by the Trump administration, which is also calling for an end to diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal agencies. The policy further states that any State Department employee who violates the order could face disciplinary action, including termination or reassignment.
Ex-Georgia DA on trial for obstruction in Ahmaud Arbery death case

January 21, 2025
Jury selection has begun for a former Georgia prosecutor accused of interfering with the investigation into the murder of an unarmed Black man. Jackie Johnson, the former district attorney for Georgia’s Brunswick Judicial Circuit, is charged with violating her oath of office and obstruction in connection with the 2020 shooting death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

What’s the background?

Arbery was jogging in the Satilla Shores subdivision in February 2020 when three white men chased him down in an attempt to detain him at gunpoint for police. Father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, claimed they suspected Arbery of stealing equipment from nearby homes under construction.

During the confrontation, Arbery tried to run past Travis McMichael; they scuffled, and Arbery was fatally shot.

Here’s where Jackie Johnson comes in

Greg McMichael had formerly worked for Johnson as an investigator for the DA’s office. Before that he was a police officer.

Though she recused herself from the case immediately, Johnson is accused of trying to shield the McMichaels from legal recourse. None of the men were charged in Arbery’s death until two months after it happened, when video of the incident was released, which raised public outcry.

Johnson denies any wrongdoing. Opening statements will begin once jury selection is over.

Where are the McMichaels and Bryan now?

Greg and Travis McMichael and Roddie Bryan are all serving life sentences on state murder charges and were all convicted on federal hate crime charges.

In March of last year, the trio appealed against the federal hate crimes verdict against them, and in October, they asked for a new trial on the state murder charges.

Arbery’s legacy

Arbery’s death, along with those of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, sparked a series of Black Lives Matter protests across the country in the summer of 2020, calling for an end to police brutality and racial injustice. The protests were the largest in U.S. history, with an estimated 15-26 million people participating.

It also spurred a slew of legal changes in Georgia. In June 2020, Georgia enacted a new bipartisan hate crime law. Previous versions of the legislation had passed the state House but failed in the Senate. Prior to Arbery’s murder, Georgia was one of just four states without any hate crime laws.

On Feb. 16, 2021, exactly a week before the first anniversary of Arbery’s murder, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, R, announced big changes to the state’s citizen’s arrest law, which dated back to the Civil War era. He said the law was outdated and vague.

The McMichaels and Bryan said they were attempting to perform a lawful citizen’s arrest when Arbery was shot. Kemp said the changes closed numerous loopholes in the law, while still protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

The outdated law was replaced with new legislation, allowing for certain people, like licensed private detectives, security guards, shopkeepers and restaurant employees, to conduct arrests under specific circumstances. The changes were signed into law with strong bipartisan support on May 10, 2021.
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Amazon joins other companies in scaling back DEI programs

January 13, 2025
Amazon is scaling back some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, joining a growing list of major corporations making similar moves in light of increasing political scrutiny. The company’s Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology Candi Castleberry sent out a recently uncovered memo to employees last month, Bloomberg reported.

In it, Castleberry said the company was winding down outdated diversity and inclusion programs.

“Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture,” Castleberry said.

The note didn’t say which programs the company planned to drop, but The Washington Post reported sections from its website including “Equity for Black People” and “LGBTQ+ Rights” were removed from the page, along with all mentions of “transgender.”

Amazon’s site currently still has other diversity sections listed, including “Latinos at Amazon,” “Amazon People with Disabilities” and “Black Employee Network.”

In 2020, Amazon set a goal of doubling the number of Black employees in vice president and director roles and announced the same goal in 2021 in addition to pledging to hire 30% more Black employees in top positions.

Other major companies have also recently curbed DEI programs. On Friday, Jan. 10, Straight Arrow News reported Meta was ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs effective immediately.

McDonald’s, Ford and Walmart also made similar moves.

The DEI changes come ahead of a second term for President-elect Donald Trump, who signed an executive order toward the end of his first term in 2020 banning diversity training in government agencies, contractors and institutions that get federal funding.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order when he took office asking government agencies to promote chief diversity officers and hold DEI training, which some are now anticipating Trump will eliminate.

The changes for companies also come after conservative criticism of DEI programs and the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in 2023, reversing a decades-long effort to boost enrollment of racial minorities at universities.

The debate has critics who argue DEI policies violate the principle of equal treatment under the law when it comes to admissions, hiring and promotions against advocates who say diversity programs are still necessary to address inequality.
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Former DC police officer convicted of feeding information to Proud Boys leader

December 23, 2024
A retired Metropolitan Police officer has been found guilty by a District of Columbia judge on Monday, Dec. 23. Shane Lamond was convicted of tipping off a leader of the Proud Boys group and then lying about it.

Lamond now faces up to 45 years in prison for feeding Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, information that helped him plan the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The former lieutenant led the Metropolitan Police Department’s police intelligence unit. He pled not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and three counts of making false statements.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson handed down the verdict, stating that Lamond acted as an informant for the Proud Boys group.

“The defendant was not using Tarrio as a source; it was the other way around,” she said.

During the two-week bench trial, prosecutors said Lamond covered up his communication with Tarrio. He deleted messages and used an encrypted app.

The prosecution said conversations showed Lamond telling him there was a warrant for his arrest for burning a Black Lives Matter flag during a pro-Trump rally in 2020.

They also said Lamond pledged his support for the Proud Boys. He said he personally supported the group and didn’t want to see its reputation “dragged through the mud.” Lamond’s defense said his conversations with Tarrio didn’t breach police conduct. His lawyers argued Lamond was actually key in Tarrio’s arrest.

Tarrio is currently serving 22 years in prison for helping to coordinate the attack on the Capitol. Tarrio also testified in Lamond’s defense; he said he lied about receiving information from Lamond to other members of the Proud Boys.
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