The New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense on Thursday over its new press access policy, which has significantly changed how reporters cover the Pentagon and which outlets are allowed inside. The publication alleges in its complaint that new press restrictions implemented in October violate the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment by restricting […]

'Why aren’t we talking about the crime?'

'Pay-to-play scheme'

'Deeply concerned'

'Massive amounts of data and tips'

'A non-starter'

'Grieve the killing of George Floyd'

News RoboCop Nearly 15 Years Later, the Detroit RoboCop Statue Has Finally Found a Home What began as an online joke has finally become part of the city. By Matthew Byrd | Published on December 4, 2025 Photo: MGM Studios Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: MGM Studios The bizarre story of Detroit’s attempt to honor officer Alex James Murphy (aka RoboCop) seemingly ended recently, as a statue of the iconic sci-fi character was finally placed outside the Free Age Productions studio in the city’s Eastern Market area. If the idea of a RoboCop statue in Detroit sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because this project began nearly 15 years ago when a viral tweet directed at then-Detroit Mayor Dave Bing suggested that the city should erect a statue of RoboCop in the style of the Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia. The mayor’s Twitter account shot down the idea (which reportedly originated from someone who didn’t even live in Detroit at the time), but the concept of a RoboCop statue quickly took root. Shortly thereafter, a Kickstarter campaign intended to fund the creation of said statue was launched and ultimately garnered over $65,000 in donations. But like many successful Kickstarter campaigns born out of elaborate online jokes, things started to go wrong from there. After securing the necessary funds, the Kickstarter campaign’s organizers (led by filmmaker Brandon Walley and Loveland Technologies CEO Jerry Paffendorf) commissioned Venus Bronze Works to develop a model of the statue. Due to both the various logistical challenges (which included the Venus Bronze Works owner reportedly battling through a cancer scare) and the fact that this particular project required approval from RoboCop rights holder MGM Studios throughout the process, it took a few years for an early version of the statue to be crafted. However, a surprising amount of perseverance eventually paid off, and the campaign’s organizers planned to unveil the statue on “RoboCop Day,” June 3, 2014. That unveiling didn’t happen, though. Instead, it kicked off what proved to be a decade-plus battle to find a home for the statue. At various points, Roosevelt Park, the Michigan Science Center, and Wayne State University were all considered as potential sites for the finished project. However, each was rejected due to numerous complications and legal problems stemming from the character’s aforementioned association with MGM Studios. The statue was eventually moved to an undisclosed location in Eastern Market until the whole thing could be resolved. And though reasonable doubts strongly suggested that the RoboCop statue would forever remain a valiant attempt at a strange idea, it seems to have finally found its forever home. Well… maybe. See, the contract the statue’s organizers have with MGM stipulates that it needs to be in place by the end of 2025. If you haven’t checked your calendar recently, we are almost at that point. That tends to suggest that this location may have been partially chosen out of necessity, so I suppose you can’t rule out the possibility that this may not be the statue’s permanent home. Actually, its “formal” unveiling isn’t set to occur until next year. The statue’s long journey to this point has also been marked by a series of controversies that may never be entirely resolved. Putting aside debates about the money and time that went into this whole thing, the idea that RoboCop should represent Detroit has always struck some as a fundamentally odd idea. After all, the character is essentially capitalist Jesus and an instrument of the corporate-driven dystopia that some believe we are currently spiraling towards. While the RoboCop movie is a blistering and brilliant satire of all of that, the RoboCop character has almost transcended those themes en route to becoming a pop culture commodity. He’s been turned into toys, starred in a children’s cartoon, and now has a statue. Others have long criticized the idea of building a statue of a cop (even a fictional cop) in Detroit. Interestingly, the statue’s organizers were also seemingly aware of that issue, as they decided to not portray the character with his trademark gun in order to make him seem more “inviting and approachable.” Of course, that decision only strengthens the argument that this statue is more representative of RoboCop as pop culture figure rather than the original version of the character. And for those who like to split hairs (this is the internet after all), it should be noted that the original RoboCop was largely filmed in Dallas, Texas, with many of the movie’s only real depictions of Detroit largely coming via overhead shots. Of course, Detroit as it was in the ’80s is undoubtedly a vital piece of the original movie’s narrative and atmosphere. [end-mark] The post Nearly 15 Years Later, the Detroit <i>RoboCop</i> Statue Has Finally Found a Home appeared first on Reactor.

President Donald Trump appears to think being a congressman runs in the family. On Thursday, Trump endorsed Trever Nehls, the identical twin brother of retiring Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, for the House seat of Texas’ 22nd district. “It is my Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior TREVER NEHLS, who is running to represent the incredible people of Texas’ 22nd Congressional District,” Trump wrote Thursday on the social media platform Truth Social. “Trever’s brother is the GREAT Congressman from Texas, Troy Nehls. He and his family are fierce advocates for our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” This is not the only time Trever is looking to succeed Troy. Troy was previously constable of Fort Bend County, a position that then went to Trever in 2013. Troy then went on to serve as sheriff in the county, an office for which Trever launched a campaign following Troy’s transition to Congress. He ultimately did not win the election but was the Republican nominee. Left to right: Trever Nehls, President Donald Trump, and Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. (Trever Nehls/Facebook) The 22nd Congressional District has been represented by prominent Republicans such as former Rep. Ron Paul and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Troy Nehls announced his decision not to seek reelection on Nov. 29, writing on X that he would “focus on [his] family and return home.” Trever Nehls announced his candidacy the same day, writing on Facebook, “I know this district and this district knows me. I will work every day to earn your trust and carry on the tradition of America First leadership that our outgoing Congressman Troy Nehls set.” Trever Nehls would not be the only Congressman to succeed his brother. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., won election in his brother Mike Fitzpatrick’s district after he decided not to seek another term. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., is also a successor to his brother, former Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart. The post SEEING DOUBLE? Trump Endorses Retiring Rep’s Twin Brother for Texas Seat appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has “zero confidence” in what the Biden administration did to vet Afghan nationals coming to the United States in the wake of the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington before Thanksgiving. “We just concluded a briefing from U.S. Customs and Immigration Service officials, which gives me zero confidence that the Afghan nationals who came to the United States were adequately vetted,” Cornyn told members of the press at the Capitol.  “Unfortunately, one of the National Guardsmen is dead, but there’s also been subsequent arrests of individuals,” the Texas senator continued. The Texas lawmaker articulated how the previous administration’s border policies failed to thoroughly vet those that were welcomed into the United States.  “This is part of the open border policies of the Biden administration that really is not confined to Afghan nationals, where they use this process known as parole, which basically means massive numbers of individuals simply waived in a country, and we know next to zero about them,” Cornyn added.  Republicans were sounding the alarm about the lack of vetting of Afghan nationals as far back as October 2021.  “Some of these individuals are being paroled into the interior of the United States, or they are even prematurely leaving military bases before undergoing proper and necessary vetting,” Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., then the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Border Security, told his colleagues at a joint hearing on Oct. 21, 2021. The hearing focused on Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration that allowed National Guardsmen shooting suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal to come into the country. Lakanwal had been evacuated with his family from Afghanistan by American military forces in August 2021.  Then-House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, R-Tenn., subsequently sent a letter with three House colleagues including Higgins to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in May 2023 inquiring about the vetting and screening of Afghan evacuees.  At least one person expressed concern about Lakanwal’s state writing a January 2024 email reported by The New York Times that, “Rahmanullah has not been functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year.” The New York Post recently reported that more than 5,000 Afghans who came to the U.S. after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 had been flagged by the Department of Homeland Security for “national security” issues. Cornyn contended that it was the executive branch that was at fault. “Well, this, this individual, these Afghan nationals, were not, did not come in through any legislative act that we passed. It was strictly done by the Biden administration using what’s known as parole,” the senator said. “But parole is supposed to be done on a case by case basis, and it’s illegitimate to try to do it in the way of massive tens of thousands of people into the country that you know nothing about,” Cornyn continued. “My impression is we do not know where [the Afghan nationals] are. The Biden administration simply lost track of them once they came into the country again without proper vetting,” Cornyn explained. President Donald Trump for his part has sought to rectify the mistakes of his predecessor by promising to “reexamine every single alien who’s entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden” and to “take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.” The post Cornyn Slams Biden Admin Over Failed Vetting of Afghan Nationals appeared first on The Daily Signal.