Tuesday, July 29, 2025
All civic learning topics for this day
Today's Topics
Social Security AI denies 73% of disability claims automatically
Social Security launched an AI system in July 2025 that automatically rejects disability benefit claims without human review. The algorithm denies 73% of applications within seconds, including claims from quadriplegics marked as "insufficiently disabled" and terminal cancer patients labeled "temporarily impaired." Appeals take 18 months while families lose their homes.
DOJ targets UCLA over Gaza protests while threatening funding
The Justice Department declared on July 29, 2025, that UCLA violated Jewish students' rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protests to continue. UCLA disputes this, saying they balanced free speech with student safety. The timing is suspicious—this gives Trump ammunition to threaten the university's federal funding right as Harvard fights to get billions restored.
Twenty states sue Trump over food stamp data demand
Twenty states filed lawsuit July 29, 2025, challenging the Trump administration's demand for sensitive personal information of all SNAP (food stamp) recipients nationwide. The Agriculture Department wants names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and household composition of low-income families, raising fears the data will be used for immigration enforcement or benefit cuts. California AG Bonta called it an "illegal fishing expedition."