☕ Antifa in focus

Good morning!

Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon all rallied behind fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on their respective programs last night, as the suspension of Kimmel’s show by ABC continues to dominate headlines.

Interestingly, we’re yet to hear from Kimmel himself - but his colleagues are certainly filling that void.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• President Trump said broadcasters who criticize his administration could have their licenses "taken away" following the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show. The suspension came after Kimmel suggested the killer of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was a Trump supporter, prompting administration pressure on ABC. Trump said networks give him "only bad publicity and press" and questioned whether "their license should be taken away." The Federal Communications Commission oversees broadcast licensing and would need to approve any license revocations.

• The wife of Charlie Kirk will take over as the head of his political advocacy group, Turning Point USA. Kirk, who was assassinated during a speaking event in Utah this month, founded the conservative not-for-profit in 2019. Following her husband’s death, Erika Kirk has now been named Turning Point CEO and Board Chair. A statement from the organisation said Erika was unanimously voted in as chief executive ahead of a public memorial service next week. Tens of thousands of attendees are expected at the event in Arizona on Monday, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

• The Taliban removed all books written by women from Afghan universities this week as part of new policies restricting education content. The measures also prohibit teaching courses on human rights and sexual harassment, affecting approximately 680 books across the country's higher education system. The changes extend the Taliban's four-year restructuring of Afghanistan's laws that have restricted women's and minority rights since their return to power. Officials said the policies align with their interpretation of Islamic law.

• A man in his 30s died on Universal Orlando's newest roller coaster, Stardust Racers, after suffering multiple blunt force injuries. Orange County medical examiners ruled the death accidental following an autopsy after the man was found dead when the ride ended. Universal has not released details about the extent or nature of the injuries, with a company spokesperson saying the incident "raises more questions than it answers." The ride remains closed as investigations continue.

I’ve got 1 minute

President Trump announced he will designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, allowing federal prosecutors to charge members and supporters under anti-terrorism laws. The move follows the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and represents Trump's broadest crackdown on left-wing groups to date. Here's what you need to know.

What happened?

Trump announced the designation in a Truth Social post Monday, writing: "I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating Antifa, a sick dangerous, radical left disaster, as a major terrorist organization."

The designation would place the loosely organized anti-fascist movement on the State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organizations list alongside ISIS and al-Qaeda, despite Antifa operating domestically. Trump said he would also investigate Antifa's financial supporters.

The announcement follows Kirk's killing last week and Trump's promise to target "each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it."

What is Antifa?

Antifa is a decentralized anti-fascist movement that has operated in the U.S. for decades. The name comes from the German word "antifaschistisch."

The movement gained national attention during Trump's first presidency. In 2017, around 100 masked Antifa supporters attacked far-right activists at a Berkeley protest. In 2020, a Portland man identifying with Antifa shot and killed a member of a far-right group.

Response

Republican lawmakers praised the move. "The president is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists," Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said.

Legal experts questioned whether the designation is enforceable. Antifa's lack of formal leadership or structure makes prosecution difficult, and First Amendment protections have historically prevented domestic terrorist designations.

The Justice Department has not yet announced how it will implement the new classification or what specific actions it will take against Antifa supporters.

I’ve got 2 minutes

New research has found Russia is using a network of facilities to train and ‘reeducate’ abducted Ukrainian children.

It follows widespread reports of abductions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Analysis by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) shows children from Ukraine are being held in at least 210 locations across Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.

HRL concluded that Russia is operating “a potentially unprecedented system of large-scale re-education, military training, and dormitory facilities capable of holding tens of thousands of children”.

The report

According to the HRL, Russian officials have led forced deportation, reeducation and militarization of children from Ukraine since at least 2014.

However, the report said these practices have “significantly expanded in scale and scope,” since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

It found Ukrainian children have been removed from areas controlled by Russia – either orphaned, separated from their parents, or forcibly removed from their families – during the recent conflict.

Researchers used high-resolution satellite imagery, public data sources, and geo-location software to uncover 210 sites where Ukrainian children are being held. This includes military bases, religious institutions, schools, camps and orphanages.

The exact number of Ukrainian children currently in Russian custody is unknown, but the report reveals, “the logistical and operational capacity committed to Russifying children taken from their home communities in Ukraine.”

Militarization

HRL defines militarization as “the psychological and physical conditioning of children to the technology, practices, and culture of the Russian military.”

The report identified militarization programs in at least 39 sites. This includes weapons handling, combat drills and, in some cases, assembling drones. Children at these bases range from eight to 17 years old.

At least 23% of the sites being monitored by the HRL have expanded since 2022, including “two entirely new cadet schools”.

Re-education

Investigators identified re-education activities at the majority of sites, including cultural, patriotic, or military programs that align “with pro-Russia narratives”.

The HRL has accused Russian officials of “explicitly” targeting vulnerable Ukrainian children, like orphans, “and those living close to the frontline.”

The report also flagged long-term “coerced fostering and adoption” practices, where children taken from Ukraine were “presented as Russian orphans” and placed with Russian families.

International law

The report says there is strong evidence to suggest Russia’s program “of forcible deportation, transfer, coerced adoption and fostering of Ukraine’s children,” is in breach of international law.

This includes alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and child protection violations.

The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023, but Russia does not recognise the court’s authority.

The report is calling for “concerted international action,” to return children being held by Russia to Ukraine, and “hold perpetrators to account... to ensure these alleged crimes never occur again.“

It warned the impacts of the alleged crimes perpetuated by the Russian Government will “leave generational scars.”

A coalition of 41 countries has called on Russia “to fulfil its legal and moral obligation by immediately and unconditionally returning Ukrainian children.”

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