The Week in 5

By Jack Hervela

Bar shooting disrupts quiet California town

Ian David Long, 28, who was a former Marine, charged Borderline Bar and Grille in Thousand Oaks, California late Wednesday night, killing 12.

Located 64 miles from Los Angeles and frequently added in “safest cities across the nation” lists, the shooting has rocked another area with violence, much like the synagogue, schools and churches all recently affected by mass shootings.

“Simply saying ‘enough is enough’ isn’t enough,” said newly elected California Governor Andrew Newsom in a statement released Thurs.,, Nov. 8. “We must address the root causes of these devastating acts at every level of government.”

It was reported Long married in 2009, divorced in 2013 and has been living with his mother since.

An incident arose last year in which police spent almost a full day calming Long down enough to get him out of his mother’s house as he began to act “irrationally.”

“A neighbor told CNN that Long’s mother ‘lived in fear’ of what her son might do,” reported a CNN article detailing the events.

Long was found dead inside the bar.

While the investigation remains underway, updates can be found in a live CNN article, found here.

Trump doubles down on stance towards migrant caravan with new asylum regulations

The Trump administration released new regulations Thurs., Nov. 8, barring certain asylum seekers from entering the country at the United States-Mexico border.

Such regulations come in conjunction with a nearing migrant caravan traveling from Central America, through Mexico, in hopes of seeking asylum in the U.S.

Much like the travel ban against certain Muslim countries, these regulations are birthed under the guise of Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, barring entry to any person deemed, “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

“The administration issued an interim final rule that will bar certain migrants caught crossing the border between ports of entry. The regulation will be paired with a presidential proclamation that outlines the migrants subject to the asylum bar, administration officials said on a call with reporters,” stated a Politico article, describing what limited information the White House did release Thurs., Nov. 8.

As the regulations were just announced Thursday, more statements from the White House and criticisms are to come, stay updated here.

Court of Appeals rules against ending DACA

A three-judge panel from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in favor of lower court injunctions at the Trump Administration’s attempt to phase out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

A New York federal judge blocked the motion to end DACA in February, with a judge in Washington, D.C. following suit in April.

“In upholding Judge Alsup’s preliminary injunction, the Court recognized that Dreamers are ‘no different from any other productive—indeed inspiring—young American,’ and that DACA was put in place to prevent ‘the cruelty and wastefulness of deporting productive young people to countries with which they have no ties,’” said attorney Ethan Dettmer of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in an NPR article.

Although, according to the aforementioned article, the Department of Justice, “asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene by reviewing the three rulings blocking the administration’s plan to terminate DACA,” before the 9th Court of Appeals handed down their ruling.

The Supreme Court has not issued a response to the request but updates can be found here as the story progresses.

Midterms shake up Michigan politics

Michigan midterms crashed a blue wave around an otherwise red state.

All three ballot proposals passed, including the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Gretchen Whitmer defeated Bill Schuette for Governor, ushering in a Democratic state leader while Debbie Stabenow defeated John James in the Senate race.

Democrat Dana Nessel secured the state’s Attorney General position with Democrat Jocelyn Benson winning Secretary of State.

For full result coverage with comprehensive maps, tables and guides head here to MLive.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions forced to resign

President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign Wed., Nov. 7, to Sessions’ quick compliance.

Sessions was asked to resign amid the ongoing Robert Mueller-fueled Russia 2016 election meddling investigation.

A key proponent of Trump tactics and one of the only remaining staff members from his early cabinet, Sessions faced criticism from the media and the president throughout his time as Attorney General.

“Trump has been expressing his anger at Sessions for months, prompting repeated questions about how long the attorney general would keep his job,” reported a Vox article Wednesday.

CBS reported former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is being considered for the position while Sessions’ chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker momentarily handles the position.

A comprehensive guide of what this means along with Sessions’ last few decisions before leaving office can be found at the Washington Post, here.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated at 2:17 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2018 to delete an incorrect reference to the DACA program providing citizenship to immigrants in the United States.