Donald Trump signs 'revenge porn' ban with Melania Trump, an advocate, at his side

Donald Trump signs 'revenge porn' ban with Melania Trump, an advocate, at his side

Two months after First ladyMelania Trumpspoke up insupport of banning the publication of sexually explicit imagesand videos without a person's consent, PresidentDonald Trumpsigned legislation making it the law of the land on May 19. The president walked into the White House's Rose Garden with his wife on a warm spring afternoon and signed the bipartisan "Take it Down Act," outlawing and penalizing publication of nonconsensual real and computer-generated images, known as "deep fakes" that are often used as revenge pornography. He then turned to the first lady, seated next to him at the outdoor desk set up to sign the legislation, asking her if she wanted to sign her name on the document. She promptly autographed the leather-bound piece of paper. Addressing the audience made up of victims of revenge porn, members of Congress and Cabinet secretaries, the first lady called the new law a "national victory." "Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the connectivity development of our children," she said. "But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized to shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly." In particular, she thanked Elliston Berry for speaking up and advocating on behalf of survivors after being targeted with revenge porn. Berry was 14 when a classmate used an AI app to attach a nude body to an Instagram photo of her face, before circulating it on social media. The new law will require technology platforms to remove reported "nonconsensual, sexually exploitative images" within 48 hours of receiving a valid request. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, introduced the legislation in August. Berry has said that when she reported the incident to her school in north Texas, the authorities responded saying it was out of their control. It was only after Cruz's Senate office heard her story and reached out to Snapchat that her photos were removed. "It's a very abusive situation," said the president. "And today we're making it totally illegal." Remarking on the wide support in Congress for the bill, with 99 senators and 408 members of the House of Representatives who voted in favor of the bill, the president joked, "I wish we could get that vote from other things." During her husband's first term, Melania Trump advocated against cyberbullying with her"Be Best" campaign. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY.You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump bans nonconsensual, sexual images, first lady co-signs document

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 19, 2025

Donald Trump signs 'revenge porn' ban with Melania Trump, an advocate, at his side

Donald Trump signs 'revenge porn' ban with Melania Trump, an advocate, at his side Two months after First ladyMelania Trumpspoke up ...

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CBS News president steps down amid company's legal standoff with Trump administration

CBS News president steps down amid company's legal standoff with Trump administration

Wendy McMahon, the president and CEO ofCBS News, abruptly resigned from her position in the midst of a legal faceoff between parent company Paramount and PresidentDonald Trump. McMahon, who had been in the position since 2023, pointed to a disagreement between her and the company as the reason for her exit, according to a memo sent to staff andreported by Reuterson May 19. "It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward," McMahon said in the memo, according to Reuters. "It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership." CBS' corporate parent, Paramount Global, began talks with Trump's lawyers in April over his $20 billion lawsuit against the network's news show,60 Minutes.Trump has alleged the program intentionally misled the public in editing an interview with then-Vice PresidentKamala Harrisduring the 2024 presidential race, accusing the network of an effort to "tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party" in the November 5 election. CBS has repeatedly denied the accusations, and legal experts have told theNew York Timesthe lawsuit is "baseless." However, the lawsuit entered mediation last month, signaling Paramount could choose to settle, which has raised concerns over how that may embolden the administration's increasingly aggressive stance toward major media organizations, the New York Timesreported. McMahon's resignation is just the latest shakeup at CBS News amid Trump's legal assault. More:'60 Minutes' correspondent Scott Pelley calls out parent company Paramount McMahon's exit follows the departure of longtime60 Minutesexecutive producer Bill Owens in April. Owns, who announced he would leave the venerated show at the end of the season, cited concerns about editorial independence, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Owens said it had "become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it," according to a note to staffers,CBS reported. Trump's disdain for the media is well-documented, stretching back to his early 2016 campaign trail days when "fake news" became a familiar chant, to the present day. The Republican leader, early into his second term, moved toblock the Associated Pressfrom the Oval Office over the president's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, and on March 14, signed anexecutive orderattempting to dismantle the federally funded news outlet Voice of America. On May 1, the president signed an executive order topull federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, imperiling America's largest public broadcasters PBS and NPR. TheFederal Communications Commissionis also mounting assorted investigations against CBS, ABC, NBC, NPR, and PBS, according to theCommittee to Protect Journalists, seen by press freedomadvocatesas a serious infringement on First Amendment rights. Contributing: Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:CBS News president Wendy McMahon resigns amid Trump Paramount lawsuit

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 19, 2025

CBS News president steps down amid company's legal standoff with Trump administration

CBS News president steps down amid company's legal standoff with Trump administration Wendy McMahon, the president and CEO ofCBS News, a...

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Trump tariffs create the 'perfect storm' for scams, cybersecurity expert says — 3 red flags to watch out for

Trump tariffs create the 'perfect storm' for scams, cybersecurity expert says — 3 red flags to watch out for

New tariff policiesmight be setting the stage for cybercriminals to scam consumers, experts say. Fraud attempts may appear in the form of a "tariff payment request" text or email claiming to be from a retailer, delivery company or a government agency. The swiftly changing and unfamiliar landscape of tariff policies, along with economic strain, can create the "perfect storm for cybercriminals," said Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions. That's because people are expecting to pay more, but may not fully understand how tariffs work. Some shoppers might not question a tariff-related payment request after a purchase, especially as somelegitimate businesses add surchargesto pass tariff costs on to consumers. Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from other countries, paid by the entity importing those goods. Businesses in turn often pass the cost of tariffs along to consumers in the form of higher prices. In April, U.S. President Donald Trumpenacted sweeping tariffsof varying rates affecting more than 180 countries and territories. Last week, the U.S. and Chinastruck a dealto temporarily suspend most tariffs on each other's goods. The U.S. also recentlyunveileda trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Despite the recent trade agreements and deals, consumers still face an overall average effective tariff rate of 17.8%, thehighest since 1934, according to a recentreportby the Yale Budget Lab. James Lee, president of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said it's not unusual for scammers to take a government action — whether that's a new program or policy — and use it for the basis of a scam. Scammers "will use the fact that people don't know a lot about tariffs," Lee said. The PreCrime Labs team at BforeAI, a cybersecurity company,discoveredabout 300 domain registrations from cybercriminals related to tariffs in the first few months of the year. Some spread misinformation while others are financial scams aimed at businesses and consumers. One site the company found was a newly registered phishing domain positioned to lead consumers to believe they are required to make payments to a legitimate governmental entity. "Such payment requests are likely to be spread using email or messaging campaigns with a theme of urgent, pending payments, directing victims to the fraudulent site where their actions will result in financial losses," researchers noted. There are some cases where consumers might legitimately pay for products purchased from another country, namely, customs duties. Sometimes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection willcharge consumers a processing feein order to release an imported good. "That's not common, but it's also not unusual," said Lee. "It really does depend on what it is, where it's coming from." Some consumers have also recently reported receivinglegitimate payment requestsfrom carrier companies after a purchase in order to receive their shipments, the Washington Post reports. Some carriers are acting as the importer of record, meaning they are responsible for any duties, taxes and fees that are applied to the delivery, said Bernie Hart, vice president of customs of Flexport, a logistics firm. If the carrier did not collect those additional fees for the product up front, the carrier will charge the end consumer those additional costs through a follow-up bill, he said. This tactic might not last, because it creates a lot of inconvenience for both companies and shoppers, Hart said: "It's not good for anybody in this process to give somebody a surprise bill." It's easy for anyone to fall victim to a fraud scheme, said Ruth Susswein, director of consumer protection at Consumer Action. If tariff policies continue to be in flux for longer, criminals will have more time to craft sophisticated attacks on consumers, said the ITRC's Lee. Your top priority is to avoid sharing personal information like Social Security numbers, bank details or account login credentials, especially under the guise of "tariff processing," said Payton. Here are three red flags to watch out for, according to scam experts: Emails, texts, or social media ads promising "tariff relief," "vouchers," "exemptions," or urgent offers like "pay now to avoid tariffs" are likely scams, Payton said. Not only are legitimate retailers unlikely to encourage tariff evasion tactics, but also the urgency is meant to pressure consumers into accepting, she said. Also question unsolicited phone calls, emails or text messages about a package held up in the post office because of an unpaid fee, said Lee. If you receive a request to pay import fees or duties on a purchase, look for theform 7501, which is an official government document detailing the import, said Hart. Scammers will create fake websites, emails and phone numbers to mimic retailers or government agencies, Payton said. If you receive a message, check for misspellings and URLs or email addresses that don't match that of the supposed company or entity — say, a message from a "U.S. government official" that does not come from a dot-gov email. You can use tools like WHOIS, a database that stores information about registered domain names and IP addresses, to authenticate the website and confirm registration details, she said. Reputable merchants would clearly label tariff-related fees at checkout and provide contact information for inquiries, Payton said. Otherwise, the "lack of transparency is a red flag." What Moody's downgrade of U.S. credit rating means for your money Wynn Resorts drops bid for NYC casino license 'Boujee on a budget' consumers can power these stocks through tariff headwinds, analysts say

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 19, 2025

Trump tariffs create the 'perfect storm' for scams, cybersecurity expert says — 3 red flags to watch out for

Trump tariffs create the 'perfect storm' for scams, cybersecurity expert says — 3 red flags to watch out for New tariff policiesmigh...

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Trump administration to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt's fatal shooting in Capitol

Trump administration to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt's fatal shooting in Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has agreed to pay just under $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit that Ashli Babbitt's family filed over her shooting by an officer duringthe U.S. Capitol riot,according to a person with knowledge of the settlement. The person insisted on anonymity to discuss with The Associated Press terms of a deal that have not been made public. The settlement will resolve the $30 million federal lawsuit that Babbitt's estate filed last year in Washington, D.C. On Jan. 6, 2021, a Capitol police officer shot Babbitt as she tried to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speaker's Lobby. The officer who shot her was cleared of wrongdoing by the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Columbia, which concluded that he acted in self-defense and in the defense of members of Congress.The Capitol Police also cleared the officer. Settlement terms haven't been disclosed in public court filings. On May 2, lawyers for Babbitt's estate and the Justice Departmenttold a federal judgethat they had reached a settlement in principle but were still working out the details before a final agreement could be signed. Justice Department spokespeople and two attorneys for the Babbitt family didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Babbitt,a 35-year-old Air Force veteranfrom San Diego, was unarmed when she was shot by the officer. The lawsuit alleges that the plainclothes officer failed to de-escalate the situation and did not give her any warnings or commands before opening fire. The suit also accused the Capitol Police of negligence, claiming the department should have known that the officer was "prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner." "Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone," the lawsuit said. The officer said in atelevised interviewthat he fired as a "last resort." He said he didn't know if the person jumping through the window was armed when he pulled the trigger. Thousands of people stormed the Capitol after PresidentDonald Trumpspoke to a crowd of supporters at his Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally near the White House. More than 100 police officers were injured in the attack. In January, on his first day back in the White House, Trump pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of charges for all of the more than 1,500 people charged with crimesin the riot. ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 19, 2025

Trump administration to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt's fatal shooting in Capitol

Trump administration to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt's fatal shooting in Capitol WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump adminis...

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A look at former President Joe Biden's health in wake of prostate cancer diagnosis

A look at former President Joe Biden's health in wake of prostate cancer diagnosis

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with anaggressive form of prostate cancerthat has metastasized to the bone, his office announced this week. The 82-year-old left office earlier this year as the oldest serving president in U.S. history. The cancer diagnosis also comes amidrenewed questionsabout his mental and physical fitness before leaving office due to a slate of new books from reporters claiming Biden was dealing with cognitive decline at the end of his presidency, which the former president has refuted. Here's a look at Biden's health and physical findings since he campaigned for the presidency. Dec. 17, 2019: Medical history released during campaign Biden's campaign releases asummary of his medical historyas the vice president is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. His physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, says Biden is a "healthy, vigorous, 77-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State, and Commander in Chief." Biden is being treated for four different conditions: non-valvular atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, a type of irregular heart rhythm; hyperlipidemia -- higher concentrations of fats or lipids in the blood; gastroesophageal reflux; and seasonal allergies. O'Connor notes that Biden's non-valvular atrial fibrillation was discovered in a preoperative EKG when he had his gallbladder removed in 2003, and that the former vice president is currently asymptomatic and has never required any medication or electrical treatment for either his heart rhythm or rate. MORE: Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer Biden has also been treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia-- otherwise known as an enlarged prostate -- but "has never had prostate cancer," O'Connor notes. Biden has also had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed with Mohs surgery, according to O'Connor. "These lesions were completely excised, with clear margins. He continues to receive close dermatologic surveillance," the doctor says of Biden. Nov. 28, 2020: Foot fracture After winning the presidency, Biden suffers a fractured foot after falling while chasing his dog Major at his Wilmington, Delaware, home over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to O'Connor. The injury requires the use of a walking boot while healing. Nov. 19, 2021: 1st presidential physical Biden has hisfirst physicalas president, with O'Connor saying he is a "healthy, vigorous 78-year-old man," who is "fit for duty" and "fully executes all of his responsibilities without exemptions or accommodations." Biden continues to be treated for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux and seasonal allergies, according to O'Connor. He is also being treated for spinal arthritis and "mild sensory peripheral neuropathy" in both feet, O'Connor says, noting they both may be responsible for "subtle" changes in Biden's gait, which has stiffened in the past year. O'Connor also notes Biden's frequent throat clearing compared to last year. Biden's foot fracture has "healed nicely," O'Connor says. July 21, 2022: 1st COVID-19 diagnosis Bidentests positive for COVID-19for the first time, experiencing mild symptoms. He starts taking Paxlovid and subsequently reports arebound case. MORE: 'Strongest in the broken places': Joe and Jill Biden say thanks amid cancer diagnosis Feb. 16, 2023: 2nd presidential physical Biden has hissecond physicalas president, with O'Connor saying he "remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief." Biden continues to be treated for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis and mild sensory peripheral neuropathy in both feet, according to O'Connor. Biden's stiffened gait was likely the cause of "wear and tear" on the spine but did not result in "root nerve compression significant enough to warrant any specific treatment," the doctor says. Biden's frequent throat clearing remains unchanged from last year. Following his COVID-19 infection, Biden is not dealing with any long-haul symptoms, O'Connor says. During the physical, a lesion is removed from Biden's chest for biopsy as part of his skin cancer surveillance. March 3, 2023: Cancerous skin lesion The lesion removed from Biden's chest isfound to be cancerous, O'Connor says. "As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma," O'Connor says. "All cancerous tissue was successfully removed. ... No further treatment is required." Feb. 28, 2024: 3rd presidential physical Following histhird physicalas president, Biden is found to be a "healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," O'Connor says. The "most notable interval history for this past year" was the incorporation of positive airway pressure, or PAP, into Biden's sleeping routine, O'Connor says, noting that Biden has experienced symptoms consistent with sleep apnea in the past. "Given the importance of efficient sleep for anyone, but certainly for a senior executive, we revisited the issue this past spring, and conducted a formal sleep study. This study confirmed my suspicion that the President would benefit from optimizing his sleep efficiency with PAP," O'Connor says. Biden's medical considerations "remain stable and well-controlled," including a-fib, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis and sensory peripheral neuropathy in both feet, O'Connor says. June 27, 2024: Debate against Trump Questions mount over Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office following his largely haltingdebate performanceagainst Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Biden denies the performance is a sign of any serious condition,subsequently tellingABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, "It was a bad episode." "I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and -- and a bad night," he says. MORE: Biden, on 'The View,' takes blame for Trump's win and rejects reports of cognitive decline July 17, 2024: Tests positive for COVID-19 again Biden testspositive for COVID-19for the second time while campaigning in Las Vegas. He has mild symptoms and takes Paxlovid, the White House says. July 21, 2024: Drops out of race After isolating for several days at his Rehoboth Beach home following his COVID-19 diagnosis, Biden announces he will bedropping outof the 2024 presidential race, saying that while he intended to seek reelection, "I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term." May 8, 2025: Pushes back on reports of cognitive decline on 'The View' In anappearance on ABC's "The View,"both Biden and former first lady Jill Biden push back against the slate of new books from reporters claiming Biden was dealing with cognitive decline at the end of his presidency. "They are wrong. There's nothing to sustain that," the former president says. Asked how he's doing, Joe Biden says, "I'm well. The family's well, thank God. Things are moving along and we're getting squared away trying to figure out what the most significant and consequential role I can play, consistent with what I've done in the past." May 13, 2025: Nodule found in prostate A Biden spokespersonconfirms to ABC Newsthat a small nodule was found in his prostate during "a routine physical exam," requiring further evaluation. May 16, 2025: Prostate cancer diagnosis Biden isdiagnosed with prostate cancerfollowing being "seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms," according to his office. The cancer is "characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," his office said. Biden's diagnosis of a Gleason score of 9indicates his canceris aggressive and the cancer cells are likely to grow and spread rapidly. "While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," his office said. A look at former President Joe Biden's health in wake of prostate cancer diagnosisoriginally appeared onabcnews.go.com

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 19, 2025

A look at former President Joe Biden's health in wake of prostate cancer diagnosis

A look at former President Joe Biden's health in wake of prostate cancer diagnosis Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an...

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