Colorado Democrats formally censure Gov Polis over Tina Peters commutation

May 21, 2026 2:51am EDT / Fox News

Colorado Democrats formally censured Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday after he commuted the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a prominent election denier convicted in a voting system breach case.

The Colorado Democratic Party State Central Committee voted Wednesday to censure Polis, a fellow Democrat, after he issued a controversial commutation for Peters, who was convicted in connection with a 2021 voting equipment breach case.

“Reducing her sentence now, under pressure from Donald Trump, is not justice,” the party said in a statement. “It sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president.”

“That’s a dangerous and disappointing precedent to set,” the statement added.

COLORADO GOVERNOR COMMUTES TINA PETERS’ SENTENCE AS TRUMP POSTS ‘FREE TINA!’

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters speaks at a rally on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on April 5, 2022.(Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

The party accused Polis of having “materially harmed” the state party’s credibility and barred him from participating in official Democratic Party-sponsored events moving forward.

It also said the clemency decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions, or democratic commitments of the Colorado Democratic Party.”

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Polis defended the governor’s decision in a statement to Fox News Digital.

TRUMP CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR RELEASE OF TINA PETERS AS COLORADO GOVERNOR WEIGHS CLEMENCY

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks to members of the media in the spin room following the first vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York on Oct. 1, 2024.(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The Governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was the right thing to do,” the spokesperson said. “Sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular thing with everybody. Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship.”

The reprimand came after Polis announced clemency for 44 individuals last Friday, including 35 pardons and nine commutations.

Peters was among those granted a commutation, reducing her prison sentence and making her eligible for parole beginning June 1, 2026.

APPEALS JUDGE SEEMS SKEPTICAL OF SENTENCE FOR PRO-TRUMP COLORADO CLERK TINA PETERS

Attorneys for former Colorado election official Tina Peters filed a motion seeking her release from prison and urged the appellate court to recognize a pardon issued by President Donald Trump. The motion argues that Trump’s pardon applies to Peters’ state convictions, a claim disputed by Colorado officials as the court considers its jurisdiction.(Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Peters became a nationally known figure among 2020 election skeptics following the Mesa County voting equipment breach controversy and subsequent criminal prosecution.

President Donald Trump quickly weighed in on the commutation, posting on Truth Social: “FREE TINA!”

According to the executive order signed Friday, Peters’ sentence was reduced from eight years and three months to four years and four-and-a-half months.

The order also stated the clemency action “shall not in any way affect the underlying criminal conviction.”

Peters was convicted in 2024 of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, along with conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with secretary of state requirements.

In a statement announcing the clemencies, Polis said, “the Clemency power is a serious responsibility, and not one that I take lightly.”

“This power has the ability to change lives — help grant a second chance for someone who has made grave mistakes — and it comes with great consideration, and sometimes even controversy,” he added.

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The move was immediately condemned by Democrats, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who accused Polis of legitimizing “the election denial movement.”

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

Michael Sinkewicz is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.sinkewicz@fox.com

英伟达首席执行官黄仁勋1月5日在美国拉斯维加斯举行的一场活动上发表讲话。 （法新社档案照）

英伟达的首席执行官黄仁勋说，随着美国出口限制持续重塑全球人工智能半导体格局，公司已基本上将中国人工智能晶片市场让给华为。

黄仁勋接受美国消费者新闻与商业频道采访时说：“中国市场需求非常大……华为实力非常强劲。他们去年创下了纪录，未来一年也很可能会表现非凡。由于我们退出了这个市场，中国本土晶片企业生态的发展也相当不错。”

黄仁勋补充说：“我们基本上已经把那个市场让给他们了。”

黄仁勋也称英伟达已告知投资者，对于获批向中国销售先进晶片一事“不要抱有任何期待”。

英伟达更高端的H200晶片已获得美国批准在中国销售，但美国总统特朗普透露，中国尚未批准采购H200晶片，“因为他们选择不这么做，他们想自己开发”。

延伸阅读

英伟达首季营收达破纪录816亿美元 阿里巴巴发布新款AI晶片 试图打造替代英伟达的本土产品

黄仁勋上周最后一刻才加入美国商界领袖代表团，随美国总统特朗普赴北京与中国国家主席习近平举行元首峰会。这项消息令投资者及华盛顿对华鹰派人士猜测，英伟达可能在人工智能晶片输华方面取得突破。

另据路透社星期三（5月20日）下午报道，英国《金融时报》称，黄仁勋访华期间，中国将英伟达的游戏晶片列入禁售名单。

英国与海合会在伊朗战争阴影下达成贸易协议

2026年5月21日 13:21 / 联合早报

英国与海合会在伊朗战争阴影下达成贸易协议

美伊冲突2月底爆发后，伊朗实际封锁了霍尔木兹海峡，对国际石油供应造成严重干扰。 （路透社档案照片）

英国周三宣布，已与海湾合作委员会达成贸易协议，有望大幅推动双方贸易规模，促进英国经济及民众收入增长。

这项与海湾合作委员会（GCC，简称海合会）的协议是在美国和以色列今年2月底对伊朗发动空袭后达成的。海合会成员包括巴林、科威特、阿曼、卡塔尔、沙特阿拉伯和阿联酋。

美以空袭引发伊朗对波斯湾其他国家展开报复袭击，导致能源和粮食供应紧张。

英国商贸部长凯尔星期三（5月20日）在声明中指出：“在当前局势日益动荡之际，今天的公告发出了明确的信心信号，让英国出口商获得规划未来所需的确定性。”

英国政府说，从长期看，协议预计能推动英国与海合会成员贸易额增长19.8%，并为英国经济每年带来约37亿英镑（约64亿新元）增长。

据了解，协议涵盖货物贸易、服务贸易、海关程序、商务人员流动、数字贸易和投资等领域。英国政府预计，协议全面实施后，英国出口产品每年将少支付约5.8亿英镑关税。

Colorado governor censured by own party over his decision to free election denier Tina Peters

2026-05-21T04:46:00.673Z / CNN

By Mary Kay Mallonee

2 hr ago

PUBLISHED May 21, 2026, 12:46 AM ET

Gov. Jared Polis speaks during the press conference at Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Hyoung Chang/Denver Post/Getty Images

Summary

• Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis was formally censured by his own party for granting clemency to election denier Tina Peters.
• The state party said Polis reduced Peters’ sentence under pressure from President Donald Trump, setting a dangerous precedent for election tampering.
• Peters, convicted of breaching voting systems to prove Trump’s false fraud claims, is set to be released on parole June 1.

AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was censured by his own party Wednesday night for his decision to grant clemency to election denier Tina Peters.

The Colorado Democratic Party voted to rebuke the governor over his decision to free Peters.

“Reducing her sentence now, under pressure from Donald Trump, is not justice,” the state party said in a statement. “It sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president. That’s a dangerous and disappointing precedent to set.”

The former Mesa County clerk is set to be freed from state prison on June 1, after Polis’ commutation cut her sentence in half. A jury convicted Peters of conspiring with allies of President Donald Trump to breach voting systems in her county in 2021, in hopes of proving his 2020 fraud claims.

State Democrats said they formally censured the governor “for conduct inconsistent with the Colorado Democratic Party’s commitment to democratic institutions, election integrity, and public accountability.”

The party added: “Until further action by the State Central Committee or Executive Committee, Governor Jared Polis shall not participate as an honored guest, featured speaker, or officially recognized representative of the Colorado Democratic Party at Party-sponsored events and functions, including but not limited to the Obama Gala and DemFest.”

A spokesperson for Polis said in a statement Wednesday the governor did what he thought was right based on the facts of the case, adding, “Sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular thing with everybody. Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship.”

Related article SEDALIA, CO – JUNE 28: Mesa County Clerk and Colorado Republican candidate for secretary of state Tina Peters reacts to early election returns during a primary night watch party at the Wide Open Saloon on June 28, 2022 in Sedalia, Colorado. Marc Piscotty/Getty Images Fact check: Colorado governor’s misleading rationale for freeing election denier Tina Peters 6 min read

Peters’ impending release is a victory for Trump and the right-wing election denier movement, which hails her as a hero who was unjustly prosecuted. Trump has waged a long pressure campaign against Colorado over Peters’ incarceration. She is the last Trump ally still in prison for 2020 election-related crimes.

Polis’ decision to free Peters garnered bipartisan condemnation from Colorado officials. His decision came after she acknowledged for the first time since her 2024 conviction that she “made a mistake” and “misled” Colorado election officials.

Witnesses testified at Peters’ trial that in 2021, she gave people affiliated with pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell unauthorized access to the election offices in Mesa County, where she was the clerk. Witnesses said they made copies of sensitive election data so they could audit the 2020 results.

Related article Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Samuel Corum/Getty Images ‘This is long overdue’: Jan. 6 rioters and election deniers celebrate Trump’s $1.8 billion compensation fund 9 min read

Last month, a state appeals court upheld Peters’ criminal convictions. However, it ordered the trial judge to re-sentence her, finding that he improperly based part of the punishment on Peters’ protected speech about elections, violating her First Amendment rights.

Polis previously told CNN he agreed with that ruling, saying, “I hope that Democrats don’t sacrifice our deeply held belief in free speech because of political expediency or disregard for what people are saying. There should be no consideration of what we say, how unpopular it is, how inaccurate it is in sentencing or in criminal proceedings.”

Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado said Wednesday night he supported the state party’s decision.

“The Democratic Party must fight for democracy and the rule of law. We must be consistent, courageous, resolute, and willing to call out our own when they fall short,” he said in a statement.

CNN’s Marshall Cohen and Edward-Isaac Dovere contributed to this report.

No English content available

少年儿童屏幕时间或比睡觉上学时间长 已成美国公共卫生问题

2026年5月21日 13:51 / 联合早报

新加坡卫生部也建议，三岁至六岁孩童每天在校外使用电脑和手机等数码设备的屏幕时间不应超过一小时，七岁至12岁每天使用时长不超过两小时，除非与学习课业有关。 （海峡时报档案照片）

根据美国卫生局局长周三发布的一份健康咨询报告，儿童和青少年过度使用电子屏幕，包括无休止地浏览社交媒体、不停地发短信和玩几个小时的电子游戏可能有害，这已成为美国的一项公共卫生问题。

美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）星期三（5月20日）报道指，由于特朗普政府目前没有正式任命的卫生局局长，这份新的健康咨询报告由美国卫生与公众服务部官员共同撰写。

报告警告，儿童接触电子屏幕的时间往往在一岁之前就开始了，并且随着年龄的增长而增加；到了青春期，孩童花在电子屏幕上的时间可能比睡觉或上学的时间还要长。

报告指出，孩童进入青少年时期后，平均每天花在屏幕上的时间达到四个小时或更长，而且近一半的青少年承认，他们自己都记不清在手机上花了多长时间。

报告并指，屏幕使用会导致睡眠质量下降、学习成绩降低、体育活动减少以及人际关系疏远。

美国卫生局在报告中建议，18个月以下儿童完全禁止使用屏幕；六岁以下儿童每天使用屏幕时间不超过一小时；六至18岁青少年每天不超过两小时。

One-on-one with LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt

2026-05-21 1:19 AM EDT / CNN

By Elex Michaelson, CNN

Published 1:19 AM EDT, Thu May 21, 2026

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/video/spencer-pratt-los-angeles-mayoral-candidate-pkg-tsi

One-on-one with LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt

LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt joins Elex Michaelson to open up about why he’s a Republican, the AI-generated videos depicting Mayor Karen Bass that he shares on social media and more.

7:57 • Source: CNN

斯里兰卡约有240万人靠茶业谋生，如果持续遭到中东冲突的打击，国家本就脆弱的经济也面临恶化。图为斯里兰卡中央高地的茶园。 （路透社）

中东战争正在冲击南亚产茶国斯里兰卡的关键茶叶产业，收入本就不高的茶农担心，若冲突持续，很多工人可能面临贫困。

法新社星期四（5月21日）报道，斯里兰卡出口的锡兰红茶，半数都销往中东。伊朗战争2月底爆发，大幅打击斯里兰卡茶业出口。

国有出口发展局（EDB）数据显示，3月茶叶出口收入同比下降17.3%，仅有1亿1475万美元（约1亿5000万新元）。

迪尔玛锡兰茶叶公司（Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company）的产品销往108个国家，约三成业务来自中东地区。伊朗战争爆发后，公司现在面临物流和海运中断的挑战，因此正在加速拓展加拿大、南美和美国市场。

董事长兼首席执行官费尔南多说：“我们已自行承担成本一段时间，但无论是从珀斯到墨尔本，还是科伦坡到迪拜，燃油成本和对物流的连锁反应都在推高通胀。”

延伸阅读

落网外籍诈骗嫌犯激增 斯里兰卡忧成为网络犯罪新据点 22名斯里兰卡僧侣涉嫌走私110公斤大麻被捕

斯里兰卡茶叶产业价值15亿美元，约有240万人靠此谋生。如果茶业持续遭到打击，可能进一步危机斯里兰卡本就脆弱的经济。

据报道，斯里兰卡茶园工人的日薪通常在1350至1750卢比之间，（5到6.5新元之间），仅略高于全国1200卢比的最低日薪标准。

超过半数的茶园工人生活在世界银行规定的国际中低收入贫困线（每日3.65美元）以下。

种植园人民土地权利运动召集人加内沙林甘（Thangawel Ganeshalingam）说：“茶园工人接连迎来危机。由于成本上升，学生缺勤率越来越高，人们减少餐食，有的甚至离开茶园，到城里找更好的工作。”

工人马拉尔（Jacintha Malar）和丈夫都是茶厂工人。她过去用液化气给家人做饭，但中东冲突推高能源成本，还重创她赖以维生的茶叶产业，如今她不得不用柴火做饭。

马拉尔说：“我们不知道还能不能撑下去。如果战争持续，许多人都要面临困境。”

Iran rebuilding military industrial base faster than expected, already producing drones, according to US intel

2026-05-21T07:09:36.243Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/iran-military-rebuild

Iran has already restarted some of its drone production during the six-week ceasefire that began in early April, one sign it is rapidly rebuilding certain military capabilities degraded by US-Israeli strikes, according to two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments. Four sources told CNN that US intelligence indicates Iran’s military is reconstituting much faster than initially estimated.

The rebuilding of military capabilities, including replacing missile sites, launchers and production capacity for key weapons systems destroyed during the current conflict, means that Iran remains a significant threat to regional allies should President Donald Trump restart the bombing campaign, according to the four sources familiar with the intelligence. It also calls into question claims about the extent to which US-Israeli strikes have degraded Iran’s military in the long term.

While the time to restart production of different weapons components varies, some US intelligence estimates indicate Iran could fully reconstitute its drone attack capability in as soon as six months, one of the sources, a US official, told CNN.

“The Iranians have exceeded all timelines the IC had for reconstitution,” the US official said.

Drone attacks are a particular concern for regional allies. If hostilities resume, Iran could augment its missile production capability — which has been significantly degraded — with more drone launches, to continue firing at Israel and Gulf countries that are well within range of both weapons systems.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume combat operations against Iran if the two countries fail to reach a deal to end the war, including saying publicly on Tuesday that he’d been an hour from restarting bombing, meaning these military capabilities could come into play.

Iran has been able to rebuild much faster than expected due to a combination of factors, ranging from support it is receiving from Russia and China to the fact that the US and Israel did not inflict as much damage as the two countries had hoped, one of the sources told CNN. For example, China has continued to provide Iran with components during the conflict that can be used to build missiles, two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments told CNN, though that has likely been curtailed by the ongoing US blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS last week that China is giving Iran “components of missile manufacturing” but declined to elaborate further.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denied the allegation during a press conference, calling it “not based on facts.”

Meanwhile, Iran also still maintains ballistic-missile, drone-attack and anti-air capability despite the serious damage inflicted by US-Israeli strikes, according to recent US intelligence assessments, meaning the quick rebuilding of military production capacity isn’t starting from scratch.

A spokesperson for US Central Command declined to comment, saying the command does not discuss matters related to intelligence.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN in a statement that “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.”

“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests,” Parnell added.

CNN reported in April that US intelligence assessed that roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers had survived US strikes. A recent report increased that figure to two thirds partially due to the ongoing ceasefire providing Iran with time to dig out launchers that might have been buried in previous strikes, according to sources familiar with the intelligence.

The US intelligence assessment total may include launchers that are currently inaccessible, such as those buried underground by strikes but not destroyed.

Thousands of Iranian drones still exist — roughly 50% of the country’s drone capabilities — two sources previously told CNN the intelligence indicated.

The intelligence also showed a large percentage of Iran’s coastal defense cruise missiles were intact, consistent with the US not focusing its air campaign on coastal military assets though they have been hitting ships. Those missiles serve as a key capability allowing Iran to threaten shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Taken together, recent US intelligence reports overwhelmingly suggest that the war has degraded Iran’s military capabilities, but not destroyed them, with the Iranians demonstrating they can effectively limit the long-term impact of the war by quickly reconstituting after those strikes.

That includes rebuilding its defense industrial base, which CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said on Tuesday has been largely eliminated.

“Operation Epic Fury significantly degraded Iran’s ballistic missiles and drones while destroying 90% of their defense industrial base, ensuring Iran cannot reconstitute for years,” Cooper testified during Tuesday’s hearing before the House Armed Services Committee.

But Cooper’s testimony stands in stark contrast to US intelligence assessments examining Iran’s ability to rebuild its military capabilities and the timeline in which they are able to do so, with two sources telling CNN the intelligence is inconsistent with the descriptions provided by the CENTCOM commander.

One of the sources familiar with recent US intelligence assessments told CNN that the damage to Iran’s defense industrial base has likely set its ability to reconstitute back by a matter of months, not years. And some of Iran’s defense industrial base remains intact, which could further accelerate the timeline for reconstituting certain capabilities, the source noted.

CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed to this story.

英外交部大幅缩编 或裁撤半个伊朗危机应对团队

2026年5月21日 14:34 / 联合早报

英外交部大幅缩编 或裁撤半个伊朗危机应对团队

英国外交部长库珀（图）正主导一场裁员潮，消息人士透露，负责应对伊朗危机的团队中，可能半数员工会接受裁员方案。 （路透社档案照片）

英国外交部在伊朗冲突持续之际大规模裁员，负责处理伊朗战争后续事务的团队规模即将缩减一半。

彭博社星期四（5月21日）报道，伊朗战争爆发之初，英国外交部在伦敦总部设立危机指挥中心，协助和撤离冲突地区的英国公民。如今战争局势还未缓解，这个危机小组却卷入外交部长库珀主导的裁员浪潮。

据知情人士透露，团队中面临缩编的不只有伊朗危机应对人员，除最高层官员外，所有职员均被要求重新申请原有职位，并在下周得知自己的岗位是否得以保留；预计约半数负责伊朗的团队成员会接受裁员方案。

英国外交部证实裁员消息，称这是人员结构改革的举措之一。“我们正通过一项自愿离职计划，为希望离职的同事提供机会。”

英国外交部的声明说：“这项计划面向全体员工，现在正在评估申请，确保我们保留所需的专业人员，从而维持更具韧性、更灵活、更现代化的组织。”

报道称，被裁的员工可以申请其他岗位，但若不成功，就会在夏季之前失业。

根据政府网站的数据，英国外交部在全球281个办事处雇佣约1万7000名员工。彭博社率先报道英国外交部缩编计划，称会削减25%的岗位。

还有一些结束海外高级职位任期返英的外交官回到伦敦后，却发现自己没有新的任命。

有高级官员告诉彭博社，裁员和晋升冻结已引发“信心危机”。

英国通过全民公投离开欧盟后，全球影响力遭受重创。过去近三个月里，英国及盟友为解决伊朗局势所做的努力也收效甚微，霍尔木兹海峡的船舶通行仍处于停滞状态。