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The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) is warning parents and families about a sexually suggestive new Carl’s Jr. ad to air on traditional and streaming television outlets ahead of the February 9 Super Bowl game. The ad is already available to watch online.

“Carl’s Jr. has taken a page from the pornography industry with the sexually suggestive imagery that references a ‘money shot’ in its new ad, and families should beware as the ad will air before the Super Bowl game on different media outlets,” said Melissa Henson, vice president, Parents Television and Media Council.

“Using ‘soft core porn’ to sell burgers was Carl’s Jr.’s previous strategy years ago – and one we called out. In 2017 the company appeared to have a change of heart, wisely realizing that strategy was ‘distracting.’ But like Hollywood ‘s mindset of reviving old ideas, Carl’s Jr. must have dusted off its outdated playbook, forgetting that it alienated customerswith its racy ad campaigns years ago.

“We urge Carl’s Jr. to reconsider airing this ad campaign. We also warn parents to try to steer clear of this commercial over the coming weekend,” Henson said.

This report examines opportunities to interrupt entry points into systems and strengthen the provision and accessibility of community-based services for children and youth at risk of, or impacted by, trafficking, providing guidance on:

1. Connecting youth with comprehensive services within, and outside of, systems
2. Interrupting vulnerabilities (e.g., family crisis, housing insecurity)
3. Reducing dependency on formal child-serving systems while supporting families and meeting the child’s holistic needs

Read more here.

Human trafficking, a pervasive and insidious crime, poses a profound and escalating threat to the national security of the United States. As we look forward in 2025, this illicit activity not only undermines law and order, but also impacts economic stability, threatens public health, and erodes the very fabric of social institutions. Previously, both nonprofit organizations and government bodies estimated the global revenue from human trafficking at around $150 billion annually. However, a recent 2024 report from Nasdaq revealed that human trafficking generated an astonishing $346.7 billion in illicit cash flow in 2023, indicating that despite efforts to combat this crime, we have barely scratched the surface. Understanding the multifaceted dimensions of human trafficking’s impact on national security is imperative for shaping effective countermeasures. 

Read more here.

Read more here. 

Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ron Johnson introduced the Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act to crack down on the human trafficking of unaccompanied migrant children through comprehensive vetting procedures of sponsors, regular monitoring and updates on the child’s well-being. Last August, a DHS Inspector General Report revealed that President Biden’s DHS had lost track of more than 320,000 unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the border into the United States, putting these children “at risk of sex trafficking, forced labor and other forms of exploitation.”

Senator Rick Scott said, “It is terrifying to think that over 300,000 young, innocent children have been brought into this nation, potentially forced into unsafe conditions and at risk for human trafficking. As a parent or grandparent, it’s unimaginable to think what might happen to these children, and that former president Joe Biden allowed this to happen by completely dismantling our immigration system and opening our southern border, completely ignoring the consequences or the tolls on human life. Thank God President Trump is in office and has already made incredible strides to secure our border and find the thousands of migrant children unaccounted for and at risk under Joe Biden. Our bill, the Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act, will support President Trump’s actions by making critical changes to fix Biden’s broken process and protect innocent children from being trafficked in our nation.”

Senator Ron Johnson said, “The Biden administration’s open border policies resulted in an explosion of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at our southern border. Biden’s HHS then compounded this lunacy by making a mockery of its duty to ensure these children were placed with properly vetted sponsors who would ensure their safety. In just the first two years of the Biden administration, HHS lost track of over 85,000 children with many of them being exploited for labor and even sex trafficking. We need to fix our broken immigration system to reduce the number of unaccompanied children entering the country illegally. But those that do come here need to be cared for appropriately, and this legislation would ensure that HHS thoroughly vet sponsors before releasing any children and keep track of them post release.”

Read more here.

President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, marking the first piece of legislation to become law in his second administration.

“This horrific atrocity should never have been allowed to happen,” Trump told reporters ahead of signing the legislation. “And as president, I’m fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”

The measure, which advanced through the House and Senate in January, directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes, or those accused of assaulting a police officer.

Read more here.