Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
In today’s briefing: Current and former employees express concerns as President Donald Trump steers the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in a new direction. Columbia University students gear up for encampment protests this week. Plus, the NFL draft launches tonight, with the Tennessee Titans under pressure.
Here’s your daily briefing.
Trump Reshapes DOJ Civil Rights Division, Triggering Senior Staff Departures
President Donald Trump is quietly restructuring the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, a move that past employees claim contradicts established norms for enforcing civil rights law under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
As part of this reorganization, Trump appointed Harmeet Dhillon, a staunch conservative who represented him in challenges to the 2020 election results and supported his unsubstantiated claims of voter irregularities, to head the division. According to ten current and former division employees, along with individuals familiar with the Justice Department’s operations who spoke with NBC News, Dhillon has reportedly forced out a significant number of senior managers, prompting resignations and fundamentally altering the department’s focus away from its core mission: upholding statutes that prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and voting rights.
Dhillon has circulated several memos, obtained by NBC News, instructing the division to prioritize new objectives: “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports” and “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” priorities that reflect Trump’s executive actions.
These shifts have resulted in a “complete bloodbath,” according to one senior Justice Department lawyer within the division. Over a dozen senior attorneys have been reassigned within the division.
Dhillon characterized these changes as a typical realignment of priorities under a new administration. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to vigorously defending the civil rights of all Americans,” she asserted in a statement.
However, current and former employees contend that the degree to which the Civil Rights Division is being repurposed is exceptional. “If regular Americans believe that this administration will safeguard their rights, they are mistaken,” stated a recently departed division lawyer.
See the complete report here.
Columbia University Students Plan Encampment Protest
Demonstrators are planning tent encampments at Columbia University this week to protest the conflict in Gaza. Sources familiar with the planning and a meeting recording obtained by NBC News indicate that organizers intend to establish two separate encampments on the main campus and near the university’s business school.
More than 100 individuals attended a coordination meeting on Tuesday night, where students employed code names and wore masks to conceal their identities.
“Any action that we undertake will attract police, will bring repercussions, and we have considered that profoundly and are aware of it,” one speaker at the meeting said, to applause from attendees.
Organizers disseminated several guidelines to student protestors, as obtained by NBC News, outlining the legal ramifications of protesting and advising on best practices for interacting with law enforcement. One individual at the planning meeting described this year’s planned demonstration as “much more organized and careful.”
Last year, numerous Columbia students were taken into custody following a months-long series of protests over the Israeli military’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. These demonstrations spurred similar actions at colleges across the United States and globally. Demonstrators also pressed the university to divest from entities associated with the Israeli government.
The Trump administration previously suspended several federal grants to Columbia and Princeton, citing a broader initiative to “root out” antisemitism on university campuses.
The president has maintained targeting other institutions of higher education by giving them a list of guidelines to adhere to, or face federal funding cuts. Many universities, including Harvard, have resisted complying with Trump’s requests, criticizing what they perceive as federal overreach. Columbia University eventually complied with a series of requests from the Trump administration to have the grants resume.
Access the full story here.
Putin Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine
Russia has conducted one of the most intensive barrages on major Ukrainian cities since the onset of the war overnight, resulting in at least nine fatalities. This escalation occurred shortly after President Donald Trump indicated that he believed he had reached agreements with both parties to bring the conflict to an end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his immediate return home from a trip to South Africa to address the widespread “destruction” in his country.
“Russia continues to inflict casualties and evade stringent pressure and accountability,” he stated on Thursday. “Regrettably, the devastation is extensive. Rescue operations are in progress, and the removal of debris is ongoing.”
The attacks come on the heels of conflicting statements in the U.S.-brokered peace negotiations.
On Wednesday, President Trump remarked in the Oval Office that “I believe we have an arrangement with both” factions, before mentioning that an agreement with Ukraine remained outstanding.
“I initially believed it might be simpler to negotiate with Zelenskyy,” he commented. “However, it has proven more challenging thus far.”
Special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow this week to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the negotiations, as confirmed by the White House on Tuesday. Observers utilizing FlightRadar24, a flight tracking website, reported that they had identified a plane, previously used by Witkoff, en route from Paris to Moscow overnight.
Find the complete coverage here.
Your Guide to the 2025 NFL Draft
The NFL draft commences in Lambeau Field, Wisconsin, with the Tennessee Titans making the first selection. Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi reported that the team “has reached a consensus” regarding the No. 1 pick. Nevertheless, significant uncertainties persist: Will the Cleveland Browns opt for a quarterback prospect or reinforce their defensive lineup? Will Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL icon Deion Sanders, forge his own path and be selected in the initial round?
These issues and others will find resolution tonight. Read the full coverage here.
More NFL Draft Updates:
- Examine the insights and potential outcomes suggested by recent mock drafts.
- NFL teams commit significant time and resources to identifying promising quarterbacks, though it remains unclear if teams have improved at picking them.
- Texas A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart’s exceptional athleticism has attracted attention from NFL scouts. Will his limited collegiate statistics affect his attractiveness in the draft?
- University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who initially had no college scholarship offers, is now expected to potentially be a first-round pick.
Top Stories
- A liberal advocacy group intends to launch an advertising campaign highlighting legal firms that reached agreements with Trump to circumvent being targeted by executive orders.
- A combination of slightly lower mortgage rates, increased property supply, and higher tariffs are causing some home manufacturers to reassess their plans.
- Prosecutors portrayed Harvey Weinstein as a Hollywood executive who exploited women as his re-trial for sexual offenses got underway.
- Billy McFarland is marketing products linked to the Fyre Fest brand, just a week after the second iteration of the festival was postponed without a firm date.
- A gut toxin has been shown to potentially cause lasting harm to colon cells, which over time may result in the development of cancer.
Staff Pick: Farmers Voice Alarm Over Mounting Repair Expenses
American farmers are confronting challenges beyond just environmental factors this planting season. They report that manufacturers are rendering repairs for agricultural machinery costly and difficult to arrange, which impacts their livelihoods.
As their tractors sit idle, they are heading to the courtroom in droves. Hundreds of farmers are engaged in class action lawsuits against John Deere, accusing the agricultural giant of restricting access to essential repair software. Now the Federal Trade Commission is accusing Deere of illegally monopolizing repair services. We consulted with farmers, independent mechanics, and activists supporting the “right-to-repair” movement, who explained why this issue extends beyond just farmers. It affects all consumers.
— Natalie Kainz, production assistant
NBCU Academy: High Schoolers Secure Medical Jobs Post-Graduation
In Duluth, Georgia, teenagers are mastering vital signs assessment, EKG administration, and patient care as part of their public education. The $38 million McClure Health Science School equips students for healthcare careers through practical training and partnerships with local hospitals. “When you engage a child or student with hands-on learning – whether they achieve success or encounter challenges – they gain significantly more insight than they could acquire from simply reading a document,” stated McClure teacher James Boulware. Students typically graduate with certifications that enable them to immediately enter the workforce or continue their training in college. See how the school is providing teens a jump-start in their medical professions.
NBCU Academy is a tuition-free educational initiative focused on expanding proficiency and promoting career advancement in journalism, media, and technology.
NBC Select: Streamlined Online Shopping
Talking Shop is an NBC Select series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. We recently spoke with Blueland founder Sarah Paiji Yoo about her favorite cropped shirts, air purifiers, reusable straws and much more. Plus, we tested dozens of workout headphones to find the best options on the market.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
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