Tori Otten

Washington, D.C.

Breaking News Writer at The New Republic

Half-n-half. Deputy breaking news editor for @newrepublic. Previously English desk for @AFP. Thoughts my own. She/her.

Articles

Trump’s DHS Unveils Chilling Strategy to Avoid ICE Facilities Scrutiny

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

The Trump administration has found a new way to block Democrats from highlighting the reportedly appalling conditions at ICE facilities: flout the law. The Department of Homeland Security is imposing new restrictions on visits that members of Congress and their staff can make to ICE facilities, in violation of federal law.
Anti-DEI King Pete Hegseth Has Upsetting Plan for Juneteenth

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants the Pentagon to tone any commemoration of Juneteenth way, way down, in keeping with his anti-diversity crusade. Hegseth’s office requested the Department of Defense take “a passive approach to Juneteenth messaging,” according to an email obtained by Rolling Stone. The Pentagon’s office of the chief of public affairs also said in the email it won’t publish Juneteenth-related material online on Thursday.
Trump Edits Tulsi Gabbard Video to Make Her Back Him Up on Iran

1 week ago | newrepublic.com | Tori Otten

Donald Trump insists that Iran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, despite repeated statements to the contrary from his own intelligence officials. But rather than listen, the U.S. president is twisting reality to suit his plans. The White House posted a video Wednesday of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee in March. Gabbard was delivering the Annual Threat Assessment from the U.S. intelligence community.
Trump Edits Tulsi Gabbard’s Words to Suit His Iran Policy

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

Donald Trump insists that Iran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, despite repeated statements to the contrary from his own intelligence officials. But rather than listen, the U.S. president is twisting reality to suit his plans. The White House posted a video Wednesday of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee in March. Gabbard was delivering the Annual Threat Assessment from the U.S. intelligence community.
Trump’s China Tariffs Are Backfiring in Funniest Way Possible

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

Donald Trump’s tariffs on China have sent automakers scrambling to keep production lines moving—and their main solution is the exact opposite of what the U.S. president intended.
Democrat Pulls off Epic Win in South Carolina Special Election

3 weeks ago | newrepublic.com | Tori Otten

The Democratic candidate in a South Carolina special election swept to a landslide victory Tuesday night, becoming the youngest person elected to the state legislature in nearly a decade. Keishan Scott, 24, was elected to the state House to represent South Carolina’s 50th district, which encompasses Lee County and parts of Kershaw and Sumter counties. He won just under 71 percent of the nearly 3,700 votes cast, beating his Republican opponent by about 41 percentage points.
Democrat Sweeps to Stunning Victory in South Carolina Special Election

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

The Democratic candidate in a South Carolina special election swept to a landslide victory Tuesday night, becoming the youngest person elected to the state legislature in nearly a decade. Keishan Scott, 24, was elected to the state House to represent South Carolina’s 50th district, which encompasses Lee County and parts of Kershaw and Sumter counties. He won just under 71 percent of the nearly 3,700 votes cast, beating his Republican opponent by about 41 percentage points.
Karoline Leavitt Admits Trump Is Begging Leaders to Make Trade Deals

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt inadvertently admitted Tuesday that Donald Trump, having failed to make any actual trade deals with other countries, has resorted to pleading with world leaders to come to the negotiating table. Reuters reported earlier in the day that the administration has sent a letter to multiple countries urging them to provide their best offer on tariff negotiations by Wednesday.
Hegseth Marks Pride With Plan to Rename Ship Named for Harvey Milk

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

The Navy is considering renaming multiple ships dubbed for prominent Americans who apparently don’t align with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-woke “warrior” ethos. And one of those ships—just in time for Pride Month—is named after assassinated LGBTQ rights leader and Navy veteran Harvey Milk. CBS News reported Tuesday it had obtained official documents to brief the Navy’s secretary on proposed timelines for revealing the new name for USNS Harvey Milk.
Trump Makes Unhinged Tariff Claim as Experts Warn Economy Is Crumbling

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tori Otten

The U.S. economy is falling apart in front of our very eyes—but you wouldn’t know that to hear Donald Trump tell it. The U.S. president took to social media in the wee hours of Tuesday morning to claim that his tariffs are the best thing ever. “Because of Tariffs, our Economy is BOOMING!” he wrote.