Author: mfnnews
Indian students score $200K ‘food racism’ payout from UC Boulder
A 35-year-old Indian student says he was told that curry stinks, but sandwiches do not.
Aditya Prakash and his fiancée, Urmi Bhattacheryya, won a settlement of $200,000 from the University of Colorado Boulder in a story dripping with progressivism.
‘My food is my pride, and notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined.’
The BBC described the ordeal as a case of “food racism” while outlet Indian Express said Prakash was the “target of racism” over his microwaved food.
Ate crime
The couple reportedly claimed they faced a series of “microaggressions and retaliatory actions” after a staff member at the university — who was British, according to the BBC — complained about the “smell” of the food Prakash had in the microwave.
The staffer allegedly said the food was giving off a “pungent” odor and informed Prakash there was a rule against heating foods that have strong odors. Prakash reportedly claimed there was no such rule publicly stated and said, “It’s just food. I’m heating and leaving.”
The Indian also said he later inquired what foods were considered pungent. He was allegedly told that smelly foods included curry but not sandwiches.
In a pickle
The couple claimed they soon lost their research funding and teaching roles, and a lawsuit followed. Prakash claimed it was not about money, though.
“It was about making a point — that there are consequences to discriminating against Indians for their ‘Indianness,'” he said.
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Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
Prakash also claimed he was a victim of “systemic racism” because his department “refused to grant” his Master’s degree.
“That’s when we decided to seek legal recourse,” he said.
The May 2025 lawsuit alleged discriminatory treatment and a “pattern of escalating retaliation” but was settled with the university that September. The terms reportedly include giving the students their degrees while denying all liabilities and banning them from studying or working at the school in the future.
Paneer miss
The dish at the center of the controversy is called palak paneer, which, according to cooking website Hooked on Heat, contains some strong ingredients.
The main parts of the dish include spinach and paneer, a soft white cheese considered to be the Indian version of cottage cheese. Also added to the dish are onion, ginger, garlic, chili powder, garam masala (Indian spices), and more.
Prakash reportedly argued that his food only stinks according to some people.
“My food is my pride, and notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined,” he posited.
Cruciferous context
A counterargument he allegedly faced was that even broccoli is not allowed to be heated because of its odor, but Prakash claimed that “context matters,” before adding, “How many groups of people do you know who face racism because they eat broccoli?”
His fiancée says that President Trump’s re-election has caused a “narrowing of empathy” toward foreigners.
“Institutions talk a lot about inclusion, but there is less patience for discomfort, especially if that discomfort comes from immigrants or people of colour,” she claimed.
Currying favor
The university told BBC that while it cannot comment on the specifics of the claims due to privacy laws, it is “committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff regardless of national origin, religion, culture and other classes protected under U.S. laws and by university policies.”
“When these allegations arose in 2023, we took them seriously and adhered to established, robust processes to address them, as we do with all claims of discrimination and harassment,” the school continued. “We reached an agreement with the students in September [2025] and deny any liability in this case.”
The couple has reportedly not since returned to the United States, with Prakash saying he is willing to start over.
“If this case can send out a message that this (‘food racism’) cannot be practiced with impunity, that we, as Indians, will fight back, that would be the real victory,” he said, per Indian Express.
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‘By accident’: CNN panelist apologizes after accusing Trump of involvement in Epstein sex-trafficking ring
A gun-control advocate apologized and claimed to accidentally accuse President Donald Trump of being involved in the Epstein trafficking ring.
Cameron Kasky made the comments while speaking on a CNN panel before posting his apology on social media on Tuesday. Many called on the president to sue the activist over the comments that could be considered slanderous.
‘I said that by accident and didn’t mean it.’
Kasky was confronted by commentator Scott Jennings during the segment, which led Kasky to repeat the claim. He was singing a far different tune the next day.
“I would like to retract my comments from CNN last night and truly apologize,” Kasky wrote.
“Donald Trump was obviously not involved with a giant international child sex trafficking ring where women and children were systematically raped by elites,” he added. “I said that by accident and didn’t mean it.”
Some online believed the tone of the message was sarcastic.
While the president had a past connection to Jeffrey Epstein, he has never been convicted of participating in Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking ring. The billionaire financier later accepted a plea deal where he admitted guilt to a felony state charge of soliciting a minor for sex.
Kasky became an advocate for gun control after surviving the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. He has since spoken at rallies and in the media about restricting gun rights.
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Epstein was found dead in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial for additional sex-trafficking charges in 2019.
The allegations that he orchestrated an underage sex-trafficking ring for the wealthy and powerful have led to many suspicions that he was killed to avoid incriminating alleged co-conspirators.
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Ghislaine Maxwell scheduled to testify before House Oversight
The House Oversight Committee revealed Wednesday that it plans to depose Ghislaine Maxwell next month as part of the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.
Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in a Texas prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse children, is scheduled to testify virtually on February 9 in a closed session.
‘Ms. Maxwell will invoke her privilege against self-incrimination.’
Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) stated during a Wednesday hearing, “We need to hear from Ghislaine Maxwell. We’ve been trying to get her in for a deposition, and her lawyers have been saying that she’s going to plead the Fifth. But we have nailed down a date, February 9, where Ghislaine Maxwell will be deposed by this committee.”
Comer stated that he hopes Maxwell changes her mind about invoking the Fifth Amendment.
David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s attorney, wrote in a Tuesday letter to Comer, “Ms. Maxwell will invoke her privilege against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions.”
Markus claimed moving forward with deposition would serve “no other purpose than pure political theater and a complete waste of taxpayer monies.”
James Comer. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“That is not a negotiating position or a tactical choice; it is a legal necessity,” Markus stated. He claimed that his client’s “post-conviction litigation is far from over,” referring to a pending habeas petition seeking to vacate her conviction.
Maxwell filed the petition in December, arguing that her conviction must be voided because a juror gave false answers during the selection process, “concealing a history of sexual abuse directly relevant to ‘issues at trial.’” She also claimed that prosecutors concealed a detective’s grand jury testimony that “conflicted with his trial testimony.”
Ghislaine Maxwell. Photo by Paul Zimmerman/WireImage
Democrats on the committee accused Comer of treating Bill and Hillary Clinton differently from Maxwell, claiming he was allowing Maxwell to avoid answering to lawmakers.
Comer disputed that claim, arguing that Maxwell has been willing to appear before the committee, while the Clintons have “refused to appear,” altogether ignoring the committee’s subpoenas.
“One of the proposals that Clinton made was, if we would let Hillary Clinton off, then Mr. Garcia and I could travel to Mr. Clinton’s house and bring one staffer and take notes, but no transcript,” Comer said, referring to the committee’s ranking member, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). “That’s not even a thing, and you all know that.”
“What few counterproposals that the Clintons’ massive legal team has made aren’t acceptable,” Comer stated.
Comer noted that the committee has been negotiating with the Clintons’ lawyers for five months.
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Taylor Swift named to Songwriters Hall of Fame, second-youngest ever
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