A national debate over Sarah Sanders' dinner
Meal, interrupted
For some Trump administration officials, dining out is occasionally served with a side of scorn. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant Friday because of her connection to President Donald Trump. In the same week, protesters heckled Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as she ate at an upscale Mexican restaurant near the White House. Trump weighed in Monday, calling the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, that booted Sanders, "filthy." Both incidents sparked debates over civility, tolerance and hypocrisy. A Red Hen in Washington, D.C., was even caught in the crossfire. Some wonder if America is headed toward civil war.
The immigration fight
Turn them away at the border. That's how President Donald Trump says we can end illegal immigration. Trump doubled down Monday on his weekend tweet suggesting undocumented immigrants be sent home without a hearing, despite blowback from legal scholars, activists and Democrats. Every day, thousands of migrants risk their lives trying to cross the U.S. border, fleeing corruption, crime and poverty (hundreds died last year making the trek). Controversy over Trump's "zero tolerance" policy pressures Republicans and Democrats to answer the question of what to do with those seeking a better life in America.
Trade war revs up
Harley-Davidson is shifting some of its motorcycle manufacturing capacity out of the United States in response to European tariffs — a sign that President Donald Trump's trade dispute is beginning to sting U.S. businesses. The iconic firm said Monday in a public filing that the move is necessary "to maintain a viable business in Europe." The European Union last week raised tariffs on U.S. motorcycles — a move that will cost Harley about $2,200 per bike — after Trump earlier imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum. Here's how Europe's tariffs may hit other American products.
Justices wrestle with election maps
After recently taking a pass on political redistricting, the Supreme Court weighed in Monday by ruling that Texas did not draw most congressional and state legislative districts based on racial demographics. The 5-4 ruling by the court's conservative justices said only one state House district was designed using race improperly and upheld the Republican-controlled state legislature's maps for all others. The court also decided not to take up the case of a Washington state florist who refused to serve a gay wedding, sending the matter back to the state Supreme Court for review.
'Death by a thousand cuts'
Me Too uncovered many of the worst offenses. Men exposing themselves. Women being coerced into having sex. Groping on set. Rape. But as part of Paste BN's in-depth look at the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry, we found women who have never come into contact with accused serial predators like Harvey Weinstein or Bill Cosby are dealing with the effects of repeated harassment and microaggressions. Isolated comments, lingering stares and far more minor behaviors that can cause a negative psychological impact as serious as physical or other types of harassment.
#MustRead: The unacceptable state of VA nursing homes
An analysis of internal documents shows residents at more than two-thirds of Department of Veterans Affairs nursing homes last year were more likely to have serious bed sores, as well as suffer serious pain, than their counterparts in private nursing homes across the country. The analysis suggests that large numbers of veterans experienced potential neglect or medication mismanagement. It also provides a fuller picture of the state of care in the 133 VA nursing homes that serve 46,000 sick and infirm military veterans each year. Read the full investigation.
This is a compilation of stories from across Paste BN.