MON SEVEN

Political activists occasionally propose a new constitutional convention, which would gather delegates from the states to craft amendments to the nation's founding document. It's a long and convoluted process, but the Constitution itself provides the blueprint.Article Vallows such a confab if two-thirds of Congress or two-thirds of the state legislatures call for one. These days, conservatives are the driving force for the idea, as they see it as a means to put further limits on the federal government. Sometimes,progressivespropose such a thing. Their goals are to enshrine various social programs and social-justice concepts. Yet anyone who has watched the moronic sausage-making in Congress and state legislatures should be wary of openingPandora's Box. I'd be happy enough if both political tribes tried to uphold the Constitution as it is currently drafted. It's a brilliant document that limits the power of the government to infringe on our rights. Without the first 10—the Bill of Rights—this would be a markedly different nation. For a sense of where we might be without it, I'd recommend looking at Great Britain and its approach to the speech concepts detailed on our First Amendment. Our nation was spawned from the British, so we share a culture and history. Yet, without a specific constitutional dictate, that nation has taken a disturbingapproachthat rightly offends American sensibilities. AsTabletmagazinereported, "74-year-old Scottish grandmother Rose Docherty was arrested on video by four police officers for silently holding a sign in proximity to a Glasgow abortion clinic reading 'Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.'" Thousands of Brits are detained, questioned, and prosecuted, it notes, for online posts of the type that wouldn't raise an eyebrow here. The chilling effect is profound. This isn't as awful as what happens in authoritarian countries such as Russia, where the government's critics have a habit of accidentallyfalling out of windows. But that's thin gruel. Britain and the European Union are supposed to be free countries. Their speech codes are intended to battle disinformation/misinformation, but empowering the government to be the arbiter of such vague concepts only destroys everyone's freedoms. In 1998, Great Britain approvedArticle 10of the European Convention on Human Rights. It protects a citizen's "right to hold your own opinions and to express them freely without government interference." But it comes with limits and conditions. The authorities may quash suchspeechto "protect national security, territorial integrity (the borders of the state) or public safety," or "prevent disorder or crime," or "protect health or morals," or "maintain the authority and impartiality of judges." One may not express "views that encourage racial or religious hatred." Those are open-ended terms, which has led to bizarre prosecutions. OurFirst Amendmentincludes these words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble." A constitutional amendment stating "no law" is more protective than a statute with asterisks and exceptions. With the political Left devoted to limiting speech based on its fixations on race and gender and the political Right's willingness to, say, deport students who take verboten positions on the war in Gaza and malign reporters asenemies of the people, I'd hate to see how speech protections would fare in a refashioned constitution. Traditionally, the Left has taken a "living and breathing" approach, insisting its plain words and founders' intent are up for reinterpretation. Sadly, modern conservatives, who previously defended originalism, seem ready to ditch the Constitution when it hinders their policy aims. Just read their dissing ofdue process—as stated in the 5th and 14th amendments, when it comes to immigration policy. When asked abouthabeas corpusduring a Senate hearing, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noemsaidit's "a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country." It's the opposite, ashabeas corpusrequires the government to explain why it's detaining people—and forbids it from holding them indefinitely. MAGA apparently believes the words of the Constitution mean the opposite of what they say. Frankly, I wouldn't want either side to be near a constitutional convention that's empowered to rewrite a document penned by men more brilliant and civic-minded than our current lot. "Those who won our independence by revolution were not cowards,"wroteSupreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in the 1927 free-speech case,Whitney v. California. "They did not exalt order at the cost of liberty. … If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence." We don't need to revisit theConstitution, but to uphold the protections already within it. This column wasfirst publishedin The Orange County Register. The postBritish Attacks on Free Speech Prove the Value of the First Amendmentappeared first onReason.com.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key U.S. inflation gauge slowed last month asPresident Donald Trump'stariffshave yet to noticeably push up prices, while American incomes jumped. Friday'sreportfrom the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices rose just 2.1% in April compared with a year earlier, down from 2.3% in March and the lowest since September. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.5% from a year earlier, below the March figure of 2.6%. Economists track core prices because they typically provide a better read on where inflation is headed. The figures show inflation is still declining from its post-pandemic spike, which reached the highest level in four decades in July 2022. Economists andsome business executiveshave warned that prices will likely head higher as Trump's widespread tariffs take effect, though the timing and impact of those duties are now in doubt after they werestruck down late Wednesdayincourt. At the same time, incomes — before adjusting for inflation — rose a healthy 0.8%. Much of that gain reflected an increase in Social Security benefits for some retired teachers, fire fighters, and federal workers whose incomes previously weren't fully counted toward Social Security benefits. The inflation-fighters at the Federal Reservesaid at their most recent meetingMay 6-7 that inflation is still elevated, compared to their target of 2%. Fed officials, who focus more on core prices, broadly support keeping their key interest rate steady while they evaluate the impact of the tariffs on inflation and jobs. Consumer spending rose 0.2% in April from March, the report said, but that's down from the big 0.7% rise in March. Thecourt rulinglast Wednesday said that most of Trump's tariffs were unlawful, including his duties on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as those on more than 50 other countries. Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars were implemented under different laws and remain in place. But the duties were allowed to remain in effect while the Trump administration appeals the ruling against them. And administration officials say they will find other legal authorities, if needed, to implement the tariffs. As a result, what tariffs will end up in place and for how long remains highly uncertain.

DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in aradio interviewthatPresident Donald Trumphad previously told her in the Oval Office he would not consider pardons for the men convicted of conspiring to kidnap her — a position he veered from this week, when he told reporters gathered in the White House that he would "take a look at it." Whitmer, speaking with Michigan Public Radio Network reporter Rick Pluta at the Detroit Regional Chamber Conference on Mackinac Island, said not condemning political violence "does a disservice to everyone." "I'll be honest with you, I talked to the president about a month ago and he asked me how I'd feel about this and I said I think it would be the wrong decision, I would oppose it, and he said 'Okay, I'll drop it,'" Whitmer said in an interview for the Michigan Public Radio Network thataired May 29. "Now we see this revelation. So, I'm not sure how to process it." Whitmer added she would be reaching out to Trump, a Republican, over the weekend. She previously visited the Oval Office and earned Trump'ssupport for a new fighter mission at SelfridgeAir National Guard Base, as well as for a facility designed to prevent invasive carp speciesfrom entering the Great Lakes. Trump praised Whitmer, a Democrat, during the April visit, saying: "She's really been doing an excellent job." Whitmer, who typically meets one-on-one with reporters at the conference, declined an interview request from the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, through her office. Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on May 28, told reporters he was considering a pardon for the convicted plotters. In Aug. 2022, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. were convicted of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer in 2020 after being disgruntled with her government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's been brought to my attention. I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, I'll be honest with you," Trump said, of a potential pardon. "It looked to me like some people said some stupid things. You know, they were drinking, and I think they said stupid things." Whitmer noted the July assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, saying leaders must condemn political violence regardless of party. "I will just point out that when the man shot at the president when he was on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first officeholders on either side of the aisle to condemn it," Whitmer told Pluta. "Because anything short of condemnation creates a dangerous space for people that are sworn an oath to do the work of the public. We don't take up arms and harm one another. And so, I'm going to make my thoughts on this known to the White House again. And I hope that it's not an action that they take." During a Q&A session on the stage of the Mackinac Policy Conference, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Tricia Keith asked Whitmer about the possibility of the Trump pardons. "Oh, what are you talking about?" Whitmer said. But after injecting some humor, she became serious. "No one should hesitate to condemn political violence," Whitmer said, adding that she hopes Trump doesn't follow through on the pardons he floated. Fox received a 16-year prison sentence, while Croft received a 19-year sentence after being convicted of an additional weapons charge. Both are currently serving their sentences at a maximum security federal prison in Colorado. In April, a U.S. 6th Circuit of Appeals panel denied their request for a new trial. Whitmer had previously condemned the kidnapping plot and called the convictions of Fox and Croft proof "that violence and threats have no place in our politics and those who seek to divide us will be held accountable." In total, 14 men were charged for their involvement with the plot. Prosecutors had mixed success across federal and state courts, landing nine convictions while five men were acquitted across state and federal courts. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:Gretchen Whitmer says Trump promised not to pardon kidnapping plotters

C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S, Faizan Zaki! The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas,won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling BeeThursday night. Zaki, who hascompeted in the annual contest four times, came in second last year. Here's what else you need to know toGet Up to Speed and On with Your Day. The Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declaredstates of emergencydue to a series of wildfires. The blazes, which began on Monday in Saskatchewan, have rapidly expanded in size,prompting the evacuation of more than 18,000 people. The intensifying fires are also beginning to send hazardous smoke toward the US. As of Thursday, just over 160 wildfires were burning across Canada, and about half were uncontrolled. Collectively, they have burned more than 1.56 million acres — 40% above the 10-year average for this point in the year. According to National Resources Canada,above-average fire weather severity is forecastfor almost all of Western Canada in June and July. Israel has accepted a newceasefire proposalwith Hamas from US envoy Steve Witkoff, which includes the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages, as well as a 60-day truce. Although Hamas said the latest framework doesn't "respond to any of our people's demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine," the militant group offered three counterpoints: 1) Hamas will agree to the release of the hostages and a 60-day ceasefire if the US can assure that negotiations over a permanent ceasefire will continue and the fighting will not resume after the 60 days. 2)Humanitarian assistancewill be carried out through the UN channels. 3) The Israel Defense Forces will agree to pull back to the positions that they held on March 2, before Israel re-launched its military operations. Amid these negotiations, Israelapproved a massive expansion of Jewish settlementsin the occupied West Bank. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. A federal appeals court on Thursday paused the Court of International Trade's ruling that President Donald Trumpdidn't have the authorityto impose sweeping tariffs using the emergency powers he declared earlier this year. The ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit means Trump can continue to impose tariffs using emergency powers, and adds tothe confusion and uncertaintyabout the future of his economic policy. The case could potentially work its way upto the Supreme Court. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X this week that an undocumented migrant from Mexico had been arrested for allegedly sending a letter threatening to kill President Trump. She also included a picture of the man and a copy of the letter. However, investigators now believethe migrant was set up. According to several sources, law enforcement believes Ramon Morales Reyes, 54, didn't write the letter, which was sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and other agencies. Instead, investigators suspect a person who is currently awaiting trial in a robbery and assault case in which Reyes was the victim wrote the letter in an attempt to have him deported. Federal officials who asked for a handwriting sample from Reyes also determined that his handwriting and the threatening letter didn't match. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, continues to evolve. A new strain called NB.1.8.1 has been detected in several states and designateda variant under monitoringby the World Health Organization. Since NB.1.8.1 is a part of the Omicron family, the WHO said that currently approved Covid-19 vaccines should be effective. However, in recent weeks, the Department of Health and Human Services has madesignificant changesto how Covid-19 vaccines are approved and which groups they are recommended for. A new framework could limit Covid-19 vaccines to older Americans and people at higher risk of serious infection. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said the vaccinewill no longer be recommendedfor pregnant women and healthy children. Kennedy Center exec firedA far-right political activist with a history of anti-gay rhetoric and promoting conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama said hewas sackedafter only a month on the job following a CNN investigation. Fewer perks, more profitStarbucks plans toeliminate one of its top loyalty perks: the 25-star bonus for customers who bring in a reusable cup for drink orders. The reason for the raspy voiceSinger Miley Cyrus has revealed thatshe has Reinke's edema, a noncancerous vocal cord disorder. A whole new ball gameMajor League Baseball ispurchasing a stakein the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which will feature four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Vaults — playing 24 games each against one another between June 7 and July 23. Just imagine how fun the holidays will beActor/comedian Eddie Murphy's son Eric Murphyrecently wedJasmin Lawrence, actor/comedian Martin Lawrence's daughter. "Yeah, we're in-laws," Murphy said on "The Jennifer Hudson Show." Which airline, that at one time had a policy that "bags fly free," now charges travelers for checked luggage?A. SpiritB. FrontierC. SouthwestD. JetBlue Take me to the quiz! $50,000That's how muchreward moneyauthorities are offering to anyone with information leading to the arrest of a convicted double murderer or an experienced fugitive who broke out of a New Orleans jail. "I found myself surrounded by cumulonimbus clouds and trapped inside. It was terrifying — everything around me was white. Without the compass, I wouldn't have known which direction I was heading. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning." — Chinese paraglider Peng Yujiang,onsurviving an accidental high-altitude flightwithout oxygen. Check your local forecast here>>> Harvard president receives standing ovationDuring the university's commencement ceremony on Thursday, Alan Garberreceived applausewhen he made an indirect reference to the university's pushback against the White House's effort to keep international students from attending the school. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said Friday, while Hamas was reviewing a new Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal after giving it an initial cool response. President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy had expressed optimism this week aboutbrokering an agreementthat could halt the Israel-Hamas war, allow more aid into Gaza, and return more of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas, around a third of whom are alive. Experts say a nearly three-month Israeli blockade of Gaza —slightly eased in recent days— has pushed the population of roughly 2 million Palestiniansto the brink of famine. Israel's war in Gaza has killed around 54,000 Palestinians, mostlywomen and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. The war began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left around 1,200 dead. Here's the latest: Families of hostages plead with Netanyahu Families of hostages held in Gaza are pleading with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure that any agreement to end the war must include the freedom of all the hostages. There are 58 hostages left in Gaza, of whom Israel believes approximately a third are still alive. Ayelet Samerano, the mother of Yonatan Samerano, whose body is being held in Gaza, was among the family members who met with Netanyahu on Thursday. She said the news that only 10 hostages and several bodies would be released had once again plunged the families into indescribable uncertainty. "It's again a selection, you know, all the families, we are right now standing and thinking, is it going to be my son? Isn't it? What will be after part of them will come, what will be with the rest?" Israel has accepted a new U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, the White House said Thursday, while Hamas has had a cooler response. "If they (Hamas) want guarantees, we will give them guarantees that after the last hostages will back to Israel, we will stop the war," Samerano said. "I'm telling you, Netanyahu, say yes. All our countries say yes, the families say yes. All the families, when we are saying, stop the world and give us the hostages back." At least 14 dead in Gaza strikes, medics say Hospital officials and paramedics say Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 14 people and wounded others. Officials at Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza said the bodies of 12 people, including three women, were brought Friday from the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the bodies of two people as well as nine others who were wounded were taken to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. It said one of the wounded is a doctor who works at the same hospital. Hamas reviewing a new ceasefire proposal Hamas said Friday it was reviewing a new Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal. The White House said Thursday that Israel accepted a new U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. Hamas officials, however, gave the draft a cool response, saying that it seeks to perpetuate Israel's policies of killing and starving people in Gaza. Still, the group said it was going to thoroughly review it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end the war until all the hostages are released and Hamas is either destroyed or disarmed and sent into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu undergoes a routine colonoscopy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent a routine colonoscopy on Friday morning in Jerusalem, his office said. The office did not provide further information about whether Netanyahu was moderately sedated or under general anesthesia for the procedure. Netanyahu, 75, underwentsuccessful surgery in Decemberto have his prostate removed. Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader, as he manages multiple crises including thewar in Gazaand histrial for alleged corruption, despite a series of recent health setbacks.