NIH scientists publish declaration criticizing Trump’s deep cuts in public health research

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s National Institutes of Health director says some employees’ critical letter to him has “fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken.” Monday’s letter from NIH researchers and staffers says the Republican Trump administration’s policies waste public resources and harm people’s health. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya in his confirmation hearings pledged openness to views that might conflict with his, saying dissent is the “essence of science.” The NIH employees’ letter says, “We dissent.” Bhattacharya says “respectful dissent in science is productive.” The White House says it’s “restoring the Gold Standard of Science” for federal research instead of pursuing “ideological activism.”

Some visitors report extra scrutiny at US airports as Trump’s new travel ban begins

MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump’s new ban on travel to the United States by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries is now in effect. The ban took effect on Monday and comes as tensions escalate over the president’s campaign of immigration enforcement. Trump signed the new proclamation last week. It applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don’t hold a valid visa.

Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit against Blake Lively

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has dismissed the lawsuit that Justin Baldoni filed against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment. The ruling is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the film. Lively sued Baldoni in late December. Baldoni then sued Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in court are exempt from libel claims. And the judge ruled that Baldoni’s claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn’t count as extortion under California law.

Trump administration urges court not to dismiss case against Wisconsin judge

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Trump administration argues that charges should not be dropped against a Wisconsin judge indicted for allegedly helping a man who is in the country evade U.S. immigration agents seeking to arrest him in her courthouse. Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice urged a federal judge on Monday to reject a motion filed by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan seeking to dismiss the charges against her. Justice Department attorneys say dropping the charges would be “unprecedented” and allow judges to be above the law. A grand jury indicted Dugan on May 13 and she pleaded not guilty ahead of a scheduled July 21 trial.