News

A lecturer at Texas State University (TxSt) in San Marcos is no longer teaching classes after sending a social media message to a plastic surgeon that included explicit language. The university confirmed that, as of February 4, 2026, Bret Bryon is no longer employed by TxSt.

Incident Details

The incident began when breast reconstructive surgeon Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, MD FACS, received a Facebook message from Bryon. Dr. Srinivasa then posted a screenshot of the message to Instagram on Wednesday.

According to the posted screenshot, the message included the statement, “I hope Kristi Noem deports you,” and contained several derogatory terms directed at Dr. Srinivasa.

Texas State University initially responded to the incident in the comments section of Dr. Srinivasa’s Instagram post, stating they were looking into the matter. The university later added a comment confirming Bryon’s termination.

Bryon’s name has since been removed from the university’s website listing of faculty members.

Surgeon’s Response

Dr. Srinivasa shared a video on Instagram acknowledging Texas State University’s swift action, stating she was grateful for their response. Still, she also expressed concern that simply removing individuals from their positions may not be enough to address the underlying issues.

“The reason I’m still kind of bummed is it makes me face the reality that simply identifying these people, shaming them, firing them is likely to be completely insufficient to fix the problem,” Dr. Srinivasa said in the video. “To fix the problem, you have to raise boys differently, you have to teach them differently.”

What’s Next

further discussion will occur regarding university policies and procedures for addressing harassment and inappropriate conduct. The university could also face scrutiny regarding its handling of similar incidents in the past. It remains to be seen whether this case will prompt broader conversations about online harassment and accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted Texas State University to take action?

Texas State University responded after Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa posted a screenshot to Instagram of a Facebook message she received from Bret Bryon, a lecturer at the university.

What did the Facebook message contain?

The message included the statement, “I hope Kristi Noem deports you,” and contained several derogatory terms directed at Dr. Srinivasa.

When was Bret Bryon terminated?

Texas State University stated that as of February 4, 2026, Bret Bryon was no longer teaching classes at the university.

How can universities best address online harassment directed at their faculty and staff?

The U.S. Department of Defense is ending all military training, scholarship programs, and certificate programs at Harvard University, according to a statement from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Harvard Programs Terminated

Hegseth announced the decision on X, characterizing Harvard as “woke” and asserting the university is full of anti-USA activists. He stated, “Too many faculty members openly hate our military.”

The move signals a significant shift in the relationship between the Department of Defense and one of the nation’s most prestigious universities. The cessation of these programs could impact military personnel seeking advanced education and professional development opportunities.

It remains to be seen how this decision will affect future collaborations between the Department of Defense and other universities. A possible next step could involve a review of similar programs at other institutions, potentially leading to further adjustments in military-academic partnerships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What programs are being ended?

All military training, scholarship programs, and certificate programs at Harvard University are being terminated.

Who made the decision?

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made the decision and announced it on X.

What reason was given for the decision?

Hegseth characterized Harvard as “woke” and claimed It’s full of anti-USA activists, stating that too many faculty members “openly hate our military.”

How might this decision impact the relationship between the military and academia?

A female emu named Enzo briefly escaped from an eastern Ontario animal rescue sanctuary earlier this week, quickly becoming a local celebrity.

Local Emu’s Unexpected Adventure

Enzo’s adventure unfolded Monday in Almonte, Ontario, a town located 50 kilometres southwest of Ottawa. She resides at Gagné Homestead and Rescue, off Highway 29 on the community’s southern outskirts. According to a Facebook post from the sanctuary, Enzo “set off on a solo adventure… exploring the town like a true tourist” before being safely returned home.

Enzo’s emu companion, Blue, as well attempted to escape, but did not receive past the property.

Siobhan O’Keefe, a resident of a nearby community, captured a photo of Enzo near a residential area along the highway and shared it online. “It’s been a while since I’d been home, so [I] was shocked to spot an emu next to the Welcome to Almonte sign,” O’Keefe told CBC via text.

Jeff Gagné, the owner of the sanctuary, apologized for any concern or disruption caused by Enzo’s “unscheduled run” and thanked those who assisted in bringing her home. He stated that they are working to determine how Enzo escaped.

February 2, the day of Enzo’s escape, coincided with Groundhog Day, prompting the homestead to playfully suggest that “If Enzo the Emu sees her shadow on Groundhog Day, winter sticks around a little longer.”

Gagné and Enzo later traveled to Ottawa for an interview with CBC’s All In A Day host Alan Neal. While plans to bring Enzo into the studio were ultimately scrapped, the conversation—including details about how Enzo escaped—aired on 91.5 FM and the CBC Listen app on Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Enzo escape from?

Enzo escaped from Gagné Homestead and Rescue in Almonte, Ontario.

How fast can emus run?

Emus can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h.

What did the sanctuary owner say about Enzo’s escape?

Jeff Gagné apologized for any concern caused and thanked those who helped bring Enzo home, stating they are working to determine how she escaped.

What role do animals play in shaping community narratives and capturing public attention?

The case of 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy Liam Cornejo Ramos, who was detained in Minnesota in January, has taken another turn following his release. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this Friday that it is seeking to deport the child.

DHS Seeks Deportation, Disputes “Expedited” Claim

Yet, the department, which oversees federal immigration law enforcement, denied that it was requesting an expedited expulsion. This denial came after Liam’s attorney, Danielle Molliver, told The New York Times that the Trump administration was seeking a rapid deportation and described the move as “extraordinary” and potentially “retaliatory.”

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the action is a standard deportation procedure, adding that “it is a standard process and there is no retaliation in the enforcement of the country’s immigration laws.”

Detention and Return to Minnesota

The boy and his father returned to Minnesota on Sunday, days after being detained by immigration agents in a Minneapolis suburb and held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas.

Both Liam and his father, originally from Ecuador, were detained and subsequently transferred to a detention center in Dilley, Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Liam and his father?

Liam and his father were detained on January 20 in a suburb of Minneapolis and held at a facility in Texas before being released and returning to Minnesota on Sunday.

Is DHS seeking to expedite the deportation?

According to DHS, it is not seeking an expedited expulsion, though Liam’s attorney stated the administration was requesting a rapid deportation.

What is DHS’s explanation for its actions?

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the deportation proceedings are a standard process and not retaliatory.

What implications will this case have on future immigration enforcement policies?

Hikers woke early in a temperature‑controlled church fellowship hall in Christmas, Fla., after a grueling 32‑mile day that felt as long as a typical 38‑mile stretch because of swampy trail conditions and a late‑night arrival at the hall around 9 p.m.

Swampy Terrain Extends “Short” Day

Despite covering roughly 32 miles the previous day, the team was exhausted after navigating knee‑deep water and flooded sections that slowed progress. The narrator noted that the swampy trail turned a “shorter” day into a marathon‑like effort, echoing a similar nightmare experience in 2023 when heavy rain left the trail south of Christmas heavily flooded.

Road Walking and Unexpected Support

The hikers transitioned from wet woods to a series of road walks, including a stretch alongside a highway where they had to cross on‑ramps and watch for oversized vehicles. Mid‑day, a driver named Mike stopped, shouted “Trail magic!” and supplied snacks and drinks from a nearby 7‑11, providing a morale boost. Later, they encountered a dead alligator on the road, a stark reminder of Florida’s wildlife.

Late‑Night Camp and Fatigue Management

After a 47‑mile push, the pair reached the trailhead near 10:45 p.m., then trekked an additional mile to a designated campsite where another hiker’s tent was already set up. They backtracked to a flat spot, set up their own tents and fell asleep hoping for rest before another long day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the hikers have to walk on roads instead of the trail?

The Florida Trail in this area transitions onto busy roads for more than 20 miles, with few trees or natural camping spots, so the hikers followed the designated route onto the road.

What caused the hikers to experience exhausted despite covering fewer miles?

Swampy trail conditions forced them to wade through water, slowing their pace and making a 32‑mile day take as long as a typical 38‑mile day, compounded by late‑night arrivals and limited sleep.

How did the hikers stay safe around alligators and traffic?

They kept a lookout for wildlife, noted the presence of an alligator roadkill, and paid close attention to oversized vehicles and towing equipment while walking along highways and side roads.

What strategies will the hikers consider to balance mileage and rest on the remainder of their Florida Trail journey?

A conversation shared on social media between a young man living in Miami and his mother in Cuba has reignited debate regarding the real impact of measures announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and the political use of the issue on the island.

In the exchange, the young man, identified as Yero Vento, recounts that his mother expressed fear via WhatsApp regarding supposed restrictions associated with Trump—such as “no country” being able to provide Cuba with petroleum or a halt to remittances—and he responds with a question that became central to the video: “Mom, when have you had all that Trump wants to take away?”

In the audio, the young man insists his mother “is worried” about the idea that Cuba would be left “without petroleum, without electricity, or transportation,” and questions who would truly be affected by a tightening of sanctions.

According to his argument, these restrictions would primarily impact “the elite” and those who benefit from supply circuits and businesses, not the general population, who—he says— “doesn’t care” given that they already live in hardship.

The dialogue as well reflects personal anxieties: the mother mentions that “if I die, don’t reach,” fearing she would be prevented from traveling, while the young man responds that “that’s nothing new” and suggests travel restrictions wouldn’t be exclusive to the Trump administration.

He notes that his mother’s fears are based on recent perceptions (“my mom found out now… after so many years”) regarding the difficulty of remittances and the cost of intermediaries.

Throughout the exchange, the young man describes a landscape of precarity in his neighborhood: many homes are “dark” for long periods, people cook with charcoal, wood, or other resources, “most” do not receive remittances or products from abroad, and the population “has nothing.”

he insists that any announcements from Washington would not substantially alter the daily life of the average Cuban, and accuses the Cuban government of always blaming the “blockade” and never taking responsibility.

The young man also suggests the government would use the people as a “shield” against sanctions, while referencing international organizations and the UN in a discourse of political confrontation (“they will take care of trying to lift the sanctions…”).

He reiterates that, from his perspective, deterioration encompasses multiple spheres—food, health, education, economy, internet—and concludes that “there is nothing decent in Cuba.”

The exchange has gone viral because it exposes, through a family conversation, the gap between the political narrative about the impact of external sanctions and the everyday experience of scarcity described by many Cubans, summarized in the question that fuels the controversy: “When did you have that?”

Back to the Special Period

On Thursday, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed what millions of Cubans are already living daily: the country has returned to the hard years of the Special Period. During his extensive address, the leader acknowledged that since December 2025, no petroleum has arrived on the island from Venezuela and that the country is experiencing a deep energy crisis, with no immediate solutions or external allies.

Díaz-Canel explained that the situation “will not be resolved overnight” and that the Council of Ministers approved a set of directives to address the acute fuel shortage. The plan, inspired by the measures of the Special Period of the 1990s, revives the so-called “zero option” designed by Fidel Castro, now updated for the new context.

He said these strategies include prioritizing state consumption, reducing energy expenditure, and redistributing available fuel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sparked the recent debate about the impact of U.S. Measures on Cuba?

A conversation between a young man in Miami and his mother in Cuba, shared on social media, re-ignited the debate about the real scope of measures announced by President Trump and their political use on the island.

What concerns did the mother express in the conversation?

The mother expressed fear regarding supposed restrictions associated with Trump, such as Cuba being unable to receive petroleum from any country or a halt to remittances.

What did Miguel Díaz-Canel confirm regarding Cuba’s current situation?

Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba has returned to the hard years of the Special Period and that, since December 2025, no petroleum has arrived on the island from Venezuela.

As Cuba navigates this renewed period of economic hardship, what role will external factors and internal policies play in shaping the future for its citizens?