First daughter Ivanka Trump once had designs on running for political office, but her father's role in inciting a mob to attack the United States Capitol building last week may have permanently hobbled her political career.
Sources tell CNN White House correspondent Kate Bennett that both Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner are worried about what they're going to do next because last week's riots have provided "horrific images" that will follow them wherever they go.
"That has Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in a bit of a panic as they look to their future," she said. "I talked to a lot of sources today who say they're questioning everything now, from where they're going to live after the White House to what their careers will be."
Bennett explained that Ivanka and Kushner both know that they are no longer welcome in New York, and they also feel that they might not be wanted in Bedminster, New Jersey, where one of the president's prized golf courses is located.
Additionally, she said that the Trump riots are making it "very difficult for them to tout any achievements they've made inside this administration" that they were planning to make as part of a "farewell tour."
Texas has become the largest U.S state to enact legislation prohibiting healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender minors. This legislation, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, classifies such treatments as a form of child abuse.
The law pertains to various medical procedures and treatments, including hormone therapy and puberty blockers, which are commonly used in the medical care of transgender minors. Critics of the legislation argue it infringes upon the rights of transgender youth and their families to make informed healthcare decisions, potentially exacerbating mental and physical health risks for this already vulnerable group.
Proponents of the law claim it protects minors from making irreversible decisions about their bodies before they reach adulthood.
“The Children’s Gender Protection (CGPA) Act, Senate Bill 14 by Rep. Tom Oliverson, is a compassionate solution that recognizes the continuing evolution of a child in adolescence," wrote the Texas House Republican Caucus in a May press release. "This legislation provides a common-sense prohibition on medically unnecessary, irreversible gender modification therapies and medical procedures to alter a child’s gender before they are of legal adult age.”
Texas joins 18 other U.S. states that have banned medication and surgical care for transgender youth.
Medical professionals, including leading health organizations, strongly oppose the legislation. They insist that gender-affirming care is often essential for the mental and physical wellbeing of transgender youth, and decisions regarding such care should be made on an individual basis by patients, families, and healthcare providers.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights organizations are preparing to challenge the law, which they consider an assault on the rights of transgender individuals. Legal experts expect a flurry of lawsuits, likely resulting in a protracted legal battle over the contentious law.
Texas lawmakers "are hellbent on joining the growing roster of states determined to jeopardize the health and lives of transgender youth, in direct opposition to the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence," the ACLU said in a statement when the bill passed the legislature.
The enactment of the law represents a significant development in the ongoing national debate about transgender rights and the extent of government intervention in personal healthcare decisions.
In a legal settlement announced Thursday, the state of Minnesota has agreed to implement significant policy changes toward transgender inmates, marking a win for transgender individuals in the U.S correctional system.
The lawsuit was brought forward by Christina Lusk, a transgender woman who had been incarcerated in a men's prison. Lusk, alleging violation of her constitutional rights, sought to be housed according to her gender identity. Advocacy groups supporting Lusk argued that her situation highlighted the broader issue of inadequate protection and systemic discrimination against transgender individuals in the prison system.
The settlement stipulates that the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) must adopt new procedures, ensuring the safety and appropriate accommodation of transgender inmates. Policies include housing inmates based on their gender identity, providing necessary medical care such as hormone therapy, and prohibiting harassment or discrimination.
Lusk will receive $495,000 as part of the settlement, which includes $250,000 in legal fees.
"With this settlement, the Department of Corrections takes an important and necessary step toward fulfilling its responsibilities to the people in its care," Gender Justice Legal Director Jess Braverman, the organization that represented Lusk in the case, told NPR.
"Thanks to Christina Lusk's willingness to speak out, transgender people in custody will now have expanded access to the housing and health care they need, and the legal protections they deserve," Braverman added.
This case and its settlement carry national implications. It puts pressure on correctional systems across the country to reevaluate their treatment of transgender inmates.
Lusk is now being transferred to a women's facility. The legal victory is seen as a major step in the fight for transgender rights within the U.S correctional system.
Business magnate Elon Musk has recently stirred controversy by sharing anti-trans content on his Twitter account. Known for his outspoken and often divisive social media presence, Musk's posts have sparked heated debates and backlash from groups advocating for transgender rights.
Musk came under fire from conservatives after Twitter reduced the distribution of a conservative film produced by The Daily Wire "that urges intolerance of trans people and opposes medical intervention for trans children," according to Business Insider.
The film by The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh had its visibility cut after allegedly violating Twitter's rules on hateful conduct.
Shortly thereafter, Musk bucked the decision by his own platform to reduce the film's distribution by sharing it on his own account and saying, "Every parent should watch this."
On Friday afternoon, Musk pinned the tweet sharing the video to the top of his profile.
"Consenting adults should do whatever makes them happy, provided it does not harm others, but a child is not capable of consent, which is why we have laws protecting minors," the Tesla CEO added.
Musk's supporters have defended his right to freedom of speech, although the discussion illuminates the ongoing tension between individual liberties and the potential harm such expressions can have on marginalized communities. Some have also questioned the role social media platforms like Twitter should play in moderating or removing such content.
The incident has sparked calls for accountability and increased scrutiny of high-profile individuals' responsibilities when voicing their opinions on public platforms. Many hope it will stimulate further conversation about the role of social media in shaping societal attitudes towards marginalized communities, and the importance of promoting understanding and respect for all, regardless of gender identity.
Republicans, however, are pushing and passing legislation to limit the rights of transgender people. In particular, critics argue that gender-affirming care isn't appropriate for minors.
