On Sept. 17, Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show was “pre-empted indefinitely” after he made comments regarding the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. His comments pertained to how he believed the “‘MAGA gang’ aimed to score political points from the shooting.” Whether or not you agree with what Kimmel said, it is evident that censorship of the press is becoming increasingly prominent. Free speech is no longer truly free, but instead available to those with the resources and power to speak over others and prevent their voices from being heard. In times such as these, we must not forget the injustices in the world when political figures attempt to cover them up, no matter how old they may seem.
When I say that old news is current news, I’m addressing the ongoing crises within the United States that are not talked about nearly as much as they should and used to be.
A key example of this phenomenon is the Epstein files, which include records found in the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice and former girlfriend. There has been a hard push to release the documents to reveal the who “supported him in his criminal activity, especially those with wealth and political sway.” The Trump administration has received criticism for their decision to not release information related to Epstein’s investigation. Tying back into censorship, Trump went after the Wall Street Journal after they reported a “risque birthday letter to Epstein in 2003 that had Trump’s name on it.” Later, Trump denied that he had any connection to the files after the Journal claimed his name appeared multiple times.
Recent news has been filled with disinformation and intense debates that create intensified political division between the left and right. For example, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that Democrats pressing the release of the files are “pretending to care about victims of crime when they do not care about victims of crime.” However, both parties are simultaneously pushing for a bill demanding the administration to release all investigative material relating to Epstein.
Between Trump’s denial of his connection to the files and the pitting of Republicans and Democrats against each other, the Epstein files have become a controversial topic that is simultaneously pushed down by powerful political figures. We must not allow the chaotic discourse surrounding the files’ release to make us forget the most important reason they should be published: justice for the victims and their families.
Another controversial topic whose impact has been greatly minimized is the existence of Alligator Alcatraz as well as other immigration crises. Alligator Alcatraz is an immigration detention center created by the Trump administration meant to house 3,000 people. People detained there have reported that the conditions in the facility are horrific.
While there was talk of the facility being shut down, the government recently ruled against a lower court’s attempt to shut down the facility. Therefore, the detention center will remain open. There are, however, three other lawsuits challenging the facility. This creates the illusion that there is something being done to shut down the inhumane operation, but this minimizes the issue at hand by assuming it can be fixed easily. It also means that the process will continue to drag on, making news about it less relevant in the era of constant breaking news cycles.
Another concerning and related trend is the number of immigrants who are disappearing. At the end of August, the location in which two-thirds of over 1,800 men detained at Alligator Alcatraz could not be found. In fact, around 800 detainees “showed no record on ICE’s online database.”
There are also more than 1.2 million immigrants who vanished from the labor force from January to July. This number also includes people who entered the country legally or are legal residents. Information about where these people are now as well as news coverage on the subject has also disappeared. While this is an ongoing conflict, it has gone under the radar and is concealed by claims that Alligator Alcatraz and similar facilities will be shut down.
Charles Bukowski, a writer who focused on the grittier side of life in America, has a famous quote: “the only time most people think of injustice is when it happens to them.” Overall, now more than ever, it is incredibly important to pay attention to all news, since old news is still current. Even though major headlines change each day, older news remains relevant and important.