Over the past few days, the following topics attracted our attention:
Four US States Ban Men from Women’s Sports
Trans Ideology Critic Arrested for Insulting Berlin Mayor
Germany’s Tolerated Migrant Numbers Top 200,000
Four US States Ban Men from Women’s Sports
US states Washington, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona voted to restrict trans girls from participating in girls’ school sports, according to the, according to the Seattle Times.
Around 20 years ago, Washington state became one of the first to allow transgender pupils to compete on a team chosen on the basis of their gender identity. Now, voters have changed their minds, with about 57 per cent supporting the initiative, which prohibits biological males from participating in girls’ individual or team sports. If the initiative is confirmed, all girls competing will be required to provide medical proof of their biological sex, in the form of a doctor’s certificate, a sports medicine assessment or the student’s medical history. Girls who identify as boys may, however, still compete on the boys’ side. Although some votes have yet to be counted, more than half of the remaining ballots must be against the initiative for it to fail, which is considered unlikely.
Colorado voters also approved a ballot proposal prohibiting transgender pupils from participating in sports teams selected on the basis of gender identity. Currently, schools in Colorado apply different rules regarding transgender pupils competing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity – some schools allow it, some decide on a case-by-case basis, and some prohibit it. If adopted, the ban would apply to all public and private schools and colleges, although it does not specify how pupils must prove their sex. Schools would be obliged to designate whether a team is for girls or boys, or whether it is mixed. Biologically female or male individuals would not be permitted to join a team of the opposite sex, although an exception would apply to women: if there is no women’s team in the desired sport, they may join the men’s team. The ban would not apply to youth sports teams in private clubs or leagues.
Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting biological boys and men from playing on girls’ and women’s teams. Nebraska already had a law requiring schools to organise sports teams based on biological sex and prohibiting participation in teams of the opposite sex. Biological sex must be confirmed by a medical certificate. There is an exception for women, who are allowed to play on men’s teams if their desired sport is not offered to women. The new measure enshrines these requirements in the state constitution.
In Arizona, about 58 per cent of voters approved a ballot proposal requiring both private and public schools, as well as sports associations, to organise teams by sex as men’s, women’s or mixed teams, so that biological males cannot join women’s teams. The Arizona initiative would also prohibit transgender people from using facilities intended for the opposite sex and defines sex biologically. The state already had some rules requiring sports teams to be designated by sex, but these applied mainly to public schools.
Trans Ideology Critic Arrested for Insulting Berlin Mayor
Dr Paul Brandenburg has been taken into custody in Germany on charges of insulting Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegner, after allegedly claiming that the mayor had links to a convicted drag performer, reports The Daily Sceptic.
Brandenburg was arrested on last week at Berlin’s Willy Brandt Airport alongside his 10-year-old child. According to Brandenburg’s lawyer, Markus Haintz, he faces four counts of insulting Wegner and two counts of defamation under the German Criminal Code, which provides enhanced penalties for certain offences against people involved in political life (so-called lèse-majesté law). All allegations relate to Brandenburg’s posts claiming that Mayor Wegner is linked to Berlin drag performer and trans activist Mario O, who performs under the stage name Jurassica Parka.
In September 2026, the Tiergarten District Court (Amtsgericht Tiergarten) found Mario O guilty of possessing child pornography and sentenced him to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended. The investigation into Mario O had begun in 2025. Despite the investigation, the Berlin police supported a gala organised by Mario O in July 2025, which was held under the patronage of Berlin Police President Barbara Slowik. The event was reportedly intended to raise money for queer people who are victims of “hate crimes”.
Against this background, Brandenburg posted a reminder in October 2025 that “Berlin’s Governing Mayor @KaiWegner continues to this day to send child molesters into daycare centers on taxpayer money”. He also criticised the Berlin police for promoting trans and drag events and appearing alongside an individual who was under investigation for possessing child pornography.
In a post in November, Brandenburg warned parents: “Berlin’s governing mayor @KaiWegner (front center in the picture) pays men in women’s lingerie with taxpayer money to perform in front of children in daycare centers.” He also accused the Berlin police, led by Police President Barbara Slowik, of supporting such propaganda by officially promoting trans and drag shows alongside someone convicted of possessing child pornography.
According to the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office, Brandenburg was arrested because there was a “risk of him absconding”. The office added that, under the Criminal Code, defamation of a person involved in political life can carry a prison sentence of between six months and five years.
Germany’s Tolerated Migrant Numbers Top 200,000
According to new figures from the German government, the number of migrants whose deportation has been temporarily suspended has risen again after several years of decline, reaching 200,601 at the end of September 2026. At the same time, 256,873 people are required to leave the country, but the majority have not been deported, for various reasons, reports Remix News.
Although individuals with a suspension of deportation (Duldung), or ‘tolerated’ status, are obliged to leave Germany, their deportation is temporarily suspended. Reasons for this often include a lack of travel documents, family ties, illness or other obstacles. This status is temporary but can be extended. At the end of 2025, 190,974 of the 232,067 people required to leave Germany had this status. By comparison, the figure was 248,000 at the end of 2022. In 2026, around 45,000 people were granted Duldung status for the first time, including approximately 13,460 minors. Of these, only 402 people had an officially registered suspension of deportation for vocational training, while 17 had one for employment.
The decline in previous years was partly due to the previous government’s Opportunity Residence Act, under which many people with ‘tolerated’ status were given the opportunity to obtain a more secure residence permit. Those who met certain requirements, including financial self-sufficiency and sufficient German language skills, could qualify for a longer-term residence status. The scheme expired at the end of 2025, which is considered one of the reasons behind the renewed increase.
People with ‘tolerated’ status are generally entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, which cover basic needs, accommodation and, to a certain extent, medical treatment. However, after 36 months, eligible recipients may receive benefits at a level comparable to standard social assistance. Total gross public expenditure under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act across Germany amounted to 6.16 billion euros in 2025.
Alexander Throm, the CDU’s spokesperson on domestic policy, has criticised the large number of cases involving people with so-called ‘tolerated status’. He described as scandalous the fact that around four in five people required to leave Germany held this status at the end of 2025.