A Week of Surprises: LA Mayoral Race Heats Up, Trump Hosts Peace Meeting, and More

This week has been marked by a series of surprising events that have left many in the United States and around the world stunned. From a last-minute challenge to Karen Bass's mayoral campaign in Los Angeles to President Trump's upcoming peace meeting, the news cycle has been filled with unexpected twists and turns. In Los Angeles, Progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) has launched a surprise bid to challenge Mayor Karen Bass (D) in the June primary election. Raman made the announcement just hours before the 12 p.m. filing deadline for candidates to be on the ballot. Despite the last-minute nature of her announcement, Raman has already begun to make her case for why she is the best candidate for the job. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Raman praised Bass but also highlighted the need for new leadership in the city. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., President Trump is preparing to host the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace on February 19. The meeting will coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House, which had already been scheduled for the day before. According to a source familiar with the plans, the meeting is intended to promote peace and stability in the region. However, Trump's efforts to promote peace have been overshadowed by controversy in recent days. On Friday, a since-deleted racist video depicting former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes was posted on the commander in chief's Truth Social account. The video sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing Trump for his role in promoting hate speech. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has gone so far as to suggest that Trump suffers from "Obama Derangement Syndrome," a condition characterized by an irrational obsession with the former president. Dowd's comments come as Trump continues to face criticism for his handling of the situation. In other news, the music world is mourning the loss of Brad Arnold, the frontman for the rock band 3 Doors Down. Arnold passed away on Saturday at the age of 47 after a battle with kidney cancer. According to a statement from the band, Arnold died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loved ones. Finally, the Pentagon has announced that it will be severing its academic partnerships with Harvard University. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the announcement on Friday, citing the need to "maximize taxpayer value" and "build lethality" in the military. The decision has been met with criticism from some, who argue that it is an attempt to politicize the military and undermine academic freedom. As the week comes to a close, it is clear that this has been a week of surprises. From the world of politics to the world of music, unexpected events have left many in shock. As the news cycle continues to unfold, one thing is certain: there will be many more surprises in store.