What’s wrong with a little bit of neutrality?

I took Tank on a walk yesterday on the path towards the river.

It was a bit cold but otherwise a calm day. No wind, which is a nice day for us.

I was alone on the path for the most part, which I like. It’s always awkward for me to pass someone not knowing if I should say hi, force a smile, or act like they don’t exist. It’s harder to act like they don’t exist when Tank believes everyone should give him their attention and pet him. I like it when someone sees me walking with a dog that looks like a Rottweiler and they turn off in another direction. Yes, fear me and my sad excuse for a protective canine.

I’m not entirely sure why, but I decided to watch the Israel Holocaust Remembrance Day. I will never be able to imagine. In 8th grade I went to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. I would really like to go back. I don’t understand why schools think 8th graders will fully comprehend or care about the history, which was proven to be true for me, as my walking “Buddy” was keenly more interested in chasing boys than learning anything to do with anything during that trip. I love museums, I love learning even then as a 13/14 year old, so that entire escapade was very frustrating for me.

Some news for today:

The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to lift a nationwide injuction, seeking immediate enforcement of its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The admistration argues that the policy is essential for military readiness, while opponents contend it discriminates against transgender service members.

Does having transgender service members really affect military readiness? Some transgender service members may be non-deployable during medical transition, for example, surgeries or hormone therapy. However, this affects a small portion of the 1.3 million active-duty force.

Coordinating medical care like hormone therapy or surgical recovery may require adjustments in scheduling and deployment planning.

Implementing inclusive policies may require training service members and leadership on topics like privacy, respectful conduct, and health policy–which takes time.

On the other side, all four military service chiefs testified that transgender personnel have not negatively affected unit cohesion, discipline, or morale.

Transgender troops perform their duties at the same standard as other service members. There’s no evidence they reduce mission effectiveness or compromise national security.

Transition-related healthcare accounts for an estimated 0.04-0.13% of the total military health budget.

President Trump has intensified criticism of Havard University, labeling it as an “Anti-Semitic, Far Left Institution.” This follows the administration’s move to freeze federal research funding to the University, citing concerns over alledged antisemitism on campus. Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging the funding freeze, arguing it undermines academic freedom and research initiatives.

Has there been a growing concern of Anti-Semitism at Harvard? Yes. Concerns have intensified over the past year. In January 2024, a group of Jewish students filed a lawsuit against Harvard, alleging that the university failed to address antisemitism harrassment and discrimination on campus. They claimed that Harvard violated Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act by not protecting Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination and harassment, especially after the October 7th 2023 Hamas attact.

A federal judge allowed the case to proceed, stating there were plausible accusations from Harvard for acting indifferent toward Jewish and Israel students who fear for their safety. While the university has taken steps to address these issues, debates continue about the effectiveness and motivations behind these measures.

Following a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyviv that resulted in at least 10 fatalities, President Trump publicly urged Russian President Valdmir Putin to “STOP!” the aggression. This marks a rare direct criticism of Putin by Trump amid ongoing tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Is the Trump admistration close to ending the war between Ukraine and Russia? Despite their significant efforts to broker a peace deal, the lack of agreement from Ukraine and apprehension from European allies indicate a resolution is not imminent. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing diplomatic engagements and negotiations. Though President Trump did say he will walk away if an agreement can not be made.

President Trump has indicated a willingness to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports, suggesting that tariffs could, “come down substantially.” However, China has denied that any negotiations are currently taking place and has called for the U.S. to revoke its unilateral tariffs.

The Trump Administration has appointed Michael Antonio, the State Departments director of policy planning, to lead technical negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program. Anton will head a team of approximately a dozen officials in upcoming talks aimed at addressing nuclear proliferation concerns.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke briefly about the nuclear program for Iran during the Holocaust Remembrance Day and said it would be a very bad idea to allow Iran to have a nuclear program in their country and was disappointed in the U.S. for agreeing to negotiate with Iran on the subject. He said not only would it be bad for Israel but for western countries as well, meaning Iran would come for us next with their nuclear power.

Democratic National Commitee Chair Ken Martin is proposing a policy requiring DNC officers to remain neutral during Democratic primaries. This initiative comes in response to Vice Chair David Hogg’s plans to support primary challenges against incumbent Democrats, which Martin argues could compromise the committee’s impartiality.

What are some reasons for a neutrality rule? Martin emphasizes that DNC officers should act as impartial arbiters, ensuring that voters, not party officials, determine primary outcomes. By enforcing neutrality, the DNC aims to avoid internal divisions that could weaken the party’s cohesion and effectiveness in general elections. The rule seeks to direct resources and attention toward defeating Republican candidates, rather than internal disputes.