The Times of India

Texas Republican AG candidate Aaron Reitz faced backlash for a social media post comparing Texas counties to Indian cities, sparking accusations of targeting a specific community. A Community Note highlighted a major donor, a Pakistani-American doctor indicted in a healthcare fraud case, raising questions about Reitz's campaign funding and alleged hypocrisy.

A viral video shows an eight-year-old boy, Max, crying after being called an illegal immigrant during a football game, despite being born in the US. His mother shared the clip to highlight the profound impact of bullying and anti-immigrant language on children, urging reflection on casual words and their lasting effects.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has condemned an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. She described the incident as demoniac and an attack on religious freedom, linking it to growing hostility towards faith in US politics. The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the disruption.

Far-right writer Curtis Yarvin sparked outrage by using an anti-India slur while praising India's Aadhaar biometric system over the US Social Security Number. His comments, made during a debate on outdated US identity systems and modern biometrics, drew widespread condemnation for their offensive nature, overshadowing the policy discussion.

SNL kicked off 2026 by hilariously imagining Stranger Things sequels, spin-offs, and absurd reboots. Highlights included Steve as a forever-teen drama teacher, Nancy covering the O.J. chase, Mike gossiping in Manhattan while writing a coming-of-age story about Eleven, and Ted Wheeler oblivious to Demogorgons. The sketch skewered franchise excess, viral fan obsessions like Conformity Gate, and the shows long-running quirks, blending cringe and comedy.

A viral video shows controversial internet personalities Andrew Tate, Nick Fuentes, and others singing along to Kanye West's banned song 'Heil Hitler' on a bus. The clip, featuring the antisemitic lyric, has sparked widespread outrage online. These influencers, with millions of followers, were reportedly en route to a nightclub in Miami, further fueling criticism of their public actions.

A Saturday Night Live sketch has folded Heated Rivalry into pop-culture shorthand, spoofing the HBO hockey romance through a Harry Potter parody packed with innuendo. With Finn Wolfhard, Ben Marshall and a surprise Jason Momoa cameo, the sketch reflects how quickly the series, already renewed for season two, has travelled from niche hit to mainstream reference point.

Former AOC chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti is launching a congressional bid in San Francisco, aiming to represent California's 11th District. The Indian-origin Democrat, a former Silicon Valley engineer, is positioning himself as a reform-driven challenger in a district long shaped by Nancy Pelosi, testing the future of Democratic leadership.

ICE agents, after dining at a Minnesota restaurant, reportedly detained three staff members hours later as they left. The incident, occurring after closing, has raised questions about the operation's nature and the workers' immigration status. This event unfolds amidst increased immigration enforcement and a recent fatal encounter involving an ICE agent in the state.