The right (Trump, in particular) is using political violence to intimidate anyone who would speak out against them. A method autocrats use to grab more power. Barbara Walter, a professor of international affairs at U.C. San Diego, is a leading expert on violent extremism and domestic terror. (Politics)

News: As Israel turns its focus to Iran, the death toll mounts in Gaza — and hunger deepens (NPR) (Politics)

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/g-s1-73175/gaza-hunger-aid-attacks-israel Israel's primary focus is now its war with Iran, but Israeli troops are still holding territory deep inside Gaza, and Tuesday marked the deadliest day in recent weeks for Palestinians there trying to reach food distribution sites and trucks. Health officials in Gaza say at least 59 people were killed by Israeli military drones and artillery fire Tuesday, and more than 200 wounded, trying to get food. Most of the deaths, at least 45, occurred at an intersection in southern Gaza's city of Khan Younis, where a large crowd of people had amassed waiting for trucks to enter carrying flour.It was the deadliest single incident of people desperately trying to lay their hands on food since late March, when Israel began allowing a trickle of aid into Gaza following nearly three months of total blockade. Israeli attacks on Palestinians trying to reach food aid since March 27 have killed at least 400 people and wounded more than 3,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which releases daily death counts. Those killed while seeking aid are among the ministry's overall death toll of nearly 55,500 people killed in the war.

A look back - October 24, 2023 - President Biden in a trip to Israel showed that he understood that Hamas did not represent the vast majority of Palestinians and, therefore, the Palestinian people should be spared Israel's wrath, but did Netanyahu listen? (Politics)

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/was-hamas-elected-to-govern-gaza-george-w-bush-2006-palestinian-election.html In a speech during President Biden’s visit to Israel, he urged the nation’s military to do all it can to minimize civilian casualties in its war with Hamas. “The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas,” he said. “Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.” How did Hamas come to power in Gaza in the first place? It was in January 2006 that the Palestinian territories held what turned out to be their last parliamentary elections. Hamas won a bare plurality of votes (44 percent to the more moderate Fatah party’s 41 percent) but, given the electoral system, a strong majority of seats (74 to 45). Neither party was keen on sharing power. Fighting broke out between the two. When a unity government was finally formed in June 2007, Hamas broke the deal, started murdering Fatah members, and, in the end, took total control of the Gaza Strip. Those who weren’t killed fled to the West Bank, and the territories have remained split ever since. In other words, Hamas’ absolute rule of Gaza is not what the Palestinians voted for back in 2006.

Definition of a terrorist: a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

News: Trump directs immigration authorities to prioritize deportations in Democratic-run cities (Politics)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-directs-ice-deportations-democratic-run-cities/ Washington — President Trump on Sunday night directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities, a move that comes after large protests erupted in Los Angeles and other major metropolitan areas against the Trump administration's immigration policies. In a Truth Social post, the president called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials "to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History." He added that to reach the goal officials "must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America's largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside." "These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens," the president wrote. Mr. Trump's declaration comes after weeks of increased enforcement, and after Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and main architect of the president's immigration policies, said ICE officers would target at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Mr. Trump's second term. At the same time, the Trump administration has directed ICE to halt arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels amid concerns that the president's crackdown on illegal immigration is hurting key industries, two sources familiar with the abrupt policy change told CBS News. The pause on worksite immigration enforcement operations applies to the agricultural, hospitality and restaurant industries, which rely in large part on labor from immigrants, many of whom are in the U.S. unlawfully, the sources said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal actions. Opponents of the president's immigration policies took to the streets as part of the "No Kings" demonstrations Saturday that came as Mr. Trump held a massive parade in Washington for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The parade featured tanks, flyovers and fireworks. Mr. Trump made the call for stepped up enforcement in Democratic-controlled cities on social media as he was making his way to the Group of Seven economic summit in Alberta, Canada.

News: California wants to ban face coverings for ICE agents and cops - The No Secret Police Act - SB 627 - California would become the first state to prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their faces. (Politics)

https://sfstandard.com/2025/06/16/california-donald-trump-ice-face-covering-masks-n95-doxxing/ California could soon tick off one more box on its long and expanding list of anti-Trump stances: becoming the first state to clamp down on federal agents and police concealing their identities. Introduced days after hundreds of thousands of Golden State residents marched in protest of President Donald Trump’s second term, new legislation would prohibit law enforcement officers who operate in California from wearing face coverings. The No Secret Police Act, introduced Monday by state Sen. Scott Wiener, comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other law enforcement officials have been seen in recent weeks covering their faces during immigration raids and at anti-Trump protests. Democrats have criticized the practice, arguing that it decreases transparency as Trump ramps up his use of federal law enforcement to achieve his hard-line immigration policies. Republicans say masks help prevent authorities from being targeted or doxxed, which is when an individual’s home address or other information is shared online. “The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror,” said Wiener, who is introducing the bill with state Sen. Jesse Arreguín. “If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state.” Wiener said law enforcement should be “proud to show their faces,” and doing so will increase trust in public-safety officials. SB 627 would also require officials to be identifiable through uniforms or other means.

Today: No King! - Ocean Beach, San Francisco (Politics)

Today - No Kings Protest - San Francisco Edition. Click on three dots below slideshow to see option to enlarge ("esc" to return to normal screen). (Politics)

Today - No Kings! - Tyranny by Trump (Artistry by Ingrid of Indiana) - Includes names of his collaborators / henchmen. Click on three dots below slideshow to see option to enlarge ("esc" to return to normal screen). (Politics)

News: Newsom reacts to federal court's ruling against Trump's National Guard use in L.A. Newsom shows himself to be presidential while Trump shows himself to be a coward who abuses his authority. (Politics)

Alert: No Kings nationwide protests scheduled for Saturday, 6/14/25. In San Francisco - 10 am at Ocean Beach, and 11:30 am at Dolores Park (Find one in your area; participate; reclaim your democracy). (Politics)

Solidarity with Los Angeles Demonstrators - Demonstrating against Immigration Raids (Politics)

Citrus Heights, Orangevale, Sacramento & Locke - June, 2025 - slideshow (Travel)

News: Trump holds meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz shows himself to be an honorable statesman. Trump, as usual, shows himself to be an arrogant, dishonest, incompetent buffoon. At least we can be grateful that he didn't sabotage Merz as he did Ukrainian leader Zelensky and South African leader Ramaphosa in the oval office in recent months (Associated Press Video - 41 min) (Politics)

News: The Trump-Musk bromance is over as accusations fly (Live now from Fox) (Politics)

Katherine Ann Shaw, professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, points out to Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) that Trump has simply engaged in more lawless activity than other presidents (by far). A fact "Republican victim" Hawley just doesn't want to accept. (MSNBC) (Politics)

Trump has pushed away—or deliberately threatened—American allies and trade partners, leaving the United States more isolated on the world stage. And now, Trump bans travelers from a dozen countries under the guise of national security. Democrats denounce the ‘reckless’ and ‘discriminatory’ ban. (click on pic to enlarge) (Politics)

News: AOC, 'Trans Girls Are Girls': AOC Blasts GOP Bill To Ban Transgender Athletes From Women's Sports (You go girl! You are brave enough to speak up on behalf of those getting discriminated against, ruthlessly) (Politics)

News: Transgender student-athlete AB Hernandez took home gold in the girls high jump and the triple jump at a meet. She was born a boy but has transitioned and now competes against the girls. President Trump signed an executive order seeking to ban transgender women from female sport. Trump is now threatening to withdraw federal funding from California over Hernandez's participation in this athletics event. Whose side are you on? I hope you are on the side of inclusion. I hope you are opposed to discrimination. From NPR, "More trans teens attempted suicide after states passed anti-trans laws, a study shows." (Politics)

News: Elon Musk Calls Trump Policy Bill a ‘Disgusting Abomination’ (click on image to enlarge) (Politics)

End of the School Year Student BBQ (Students)

Congratulations Graduates - Class of 2025 (Students)

News: Court strikes down most of Trump's tariffs, ruling them illegal (Politics)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/court-strikes-dow-trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-ruling-them-illegal/ A federal court on Wednesday froze most of the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump on virtually every foreign nation, ruling the levies exceed the president's legal authority. The ruling — issued by a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade — halted the sweeping 10% tariffs Mr. Trump assessed on virtually every U.S. trading partner on "Liberation Day" last month, with higher tariffs threatened for dozens of countries. The court also blocked a separate set of tariffs imposed on China, Mexico and Canada by the Trump administration, which has cited drug trafficking and illegal immigration as its reasoning for the hikes. Global markets rallied on the news. The Trump administration has justified the tariffs by citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, or IEEPA, which gives the president the power to regulate imports during certain emergency situations. But the court on Wednesday rejected the government's interpretation of the law, and said it would be unconstitutional for any law passed by Congress to give the president blanket authority to set tariffs. "The court does not read IEEPA to confer such unbounded authority and sets aside the challenged tariffs imposed thereunder," the judges wrote Wednesday. The Trump administration has justified the tariffs by citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, or IEEPA, which gives the president the power to regulate imports during certain emergency situations. But the court on Wednesday rejected the government's interpretation of the law, and said it would be unconstitutional for any law passed by Congress to give the president blanket authority to set tariffs. "The court does not read IEEPA to confer such unbounded authority and sets aside the challenged tariffs imposed thereunder," the judges wrote Wednesday. Following the decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade, a federal district judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that Mr. Trump's tariffs deriving from a series of executive orders invoking IEEPA are unlawful. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras found that the law "does not authorize the president to impose the tariffs set forth" in five of his orders and barred the Trump administration from collecting any tariff deriving from them from the plaintiffs in the case, two family-owned businesses based in Illinois. The judge paused his order for 14 days to give the Justice Department time to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The case, Contreras wrote in a 33-page decision, "is about whether IEEPA enables the president to unilaterally impose, revoke, pause, reinstate, and adjust tariffs to reorder the global economy. The court agrees with plaintiffs that it does not." The Trump administration said in court papers with the trade court that it will appeal the ruling to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The Justice Department has said that if the appeals court declines to provide interim relief in the coming hours, the U.S. will ask the Supreme Court to intervene Friday. "Absent at least interim relief from this Court, the United States plans to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court tomorrow to avoid the irreparable national-security and economic harms at stake," the Justice Department filing said. The department has also asked the U.S. Court of International Trade to pause enforcement of its ruling pending appeal. That court has given the states and small businesses until Friday at 12 p.m. to respond to the government's stay request. White House spokesperson Kush Desai responded to the ruling by defending the reasoning for the tariffs, saying the U.S.'s trade deficits with other countries have "created a national emergency that has decimated American communities." "It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency. President Trump pledged to put America First, and the Administration is committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis and restore American Greatness," Desai said in a statement. Tariffs are a signature part of Mr. Trump's second-term agenda. He argues the levies are necessary to boost U.S. manufacturing and end what he views as unfair trade practices. But the moves have rattled financial markets and drawn rebuke from Democrats, as well as some Republicans. Mr. Trump has stood by his tariff strategy but halted many of the levies while vowing to negotiate with U.S. trading partners. A set of so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries were paused in April for a period of at least three months. Goods that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement were exempted from 25% tariffs. Massive tariffs on Chinese goods have also been cut back amid negotiations. Meanwhile, the tariffs have drawn lawsuits from businesses, Democratic states and other parties. Wednesday's ruling was linked to two lawsuits: One from a group of businesses that say they have been harmed by the tariffs, and one from several states. Some of the lawsuits against the tariffs have raised legal doctrines long championed by conservative lawyers and judges to restrict the authority of executive branch agencies. Those include the major questions doctrine, which says Congress needs to give clear authorization for federal agencies to decide issues of major economic significance, and the nondelegation doctrine, which holds that Congress can't delegate its legislative power to the executive branch. "If this issue gets to the Supreme Court, which is a big if, and if it comes down to the major questions doctrine or the nondelegation doctrine, and those are big ifs as well, we believe the court's precedent requires them to rule in our favor," Somin told CBS News earlier this month.

Major Religions of the World - 2025 (click on image to enlarge) (Politics)

Religious differences have caused conflicts in the world, both historically and in the present day. Therefore, it seems important to understand the nature of a person's relationship to religious belief. Sigmund Freud viewed religion as a collective neurosis stemming from repressed infantile desires, particularly the Oedipus complex. Carl Jung, on the other hand, believed that religion plays a significant role in shaping people's psychology, viewing it as an important aspect of the human psyche and a crucial tool for individuation. He saw religion as a symbolic expression of life's meaning and a way to connect with the unconscious. (Psychology / Sociology)

1 of 4 of Carl Jung's Archetypes: The Self: This archetype represents the whole, integrated personality, the union of conscious and unconscious aspects. It is often symbolized by a circle, square, or quaternity, representing wholeness and totality. (Psychology / Sociology)

2 of 4 of Carl Jung's Archetypes: The Shadow: This archetype encompasses the unconscious, repressed aspects of our personality, including negative qualities, instincts, and desires. It's the "dark side" of our psyche, often misunderstood or denied. (Psychology / Sociology)

3 of 4 of Carl Jung's Archetypes: The Persona: This archetype is the social mask we wear to adapt to the external world, representing how we want others to perceive us. It can be a conscious or unconscious construct, influencing how we interact with society. (Psychology / Sociology)

4 of 4 of Carl Jung's Archetypes: The Anima/Animus: These archetypes represent the unconscious feminine (Anima) and masculine (Animus) aspects of the psyche, respectively. They are often associated with our relationships with the opposite gender and can influence our emotional and relational lives. (Psychology / Sociology)

Carl Jung, "You are what you do, not what you say you will do." (Psychology / Sociology)

Carl Jung, "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." (Psychology / Sociology)

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) Reads (Trump's) EPA Director a List of His Failures (Politics)

Thank Heaven for AOC - speaking about how, under new legislation proposed by Republicans, women could be kicked off of their insurance if they had a miscarriage (Politics)

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested during a protest in the US Senate over military aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. (Politics)

Brilliant Cold Open - Final Show for the 50th Season of SNL - It's Funny Because it's True (TV) (Funny / Politics)

Supreme Court rules against Trump administration in Alien Enemies Act case (CNBC) (Politics)

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/16/supreme-court-alien-enemies-venezuela-deportation.html The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by Venezuelan nationals seeking to block their removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act. In a 7-2 decision, the court said the Trump administration had not given the detainees enough time or adequate resources to challenge their deportations. “Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,” the ruling said. The justices barred the removal of the men, who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, pending a new decision from a lower federal appellate court. But “the Government may remove the named plaintiffs or putative class members under other lawful authorities,” they wrote. President Donald Trump raged against the ruling later Friday afternoon. Trump on Friday morning vented frustration toward the high court, writing that it “IS BEING PLAYED BY THE RADICAL LEFT LOSERS” That post came the day after the justices heard oral arguments in a case related to Trump’s controversial executive order ending birthright citizenship.

CA Senator Adam Schiff - Lesson from History - Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) who created a bogus Red Scare and smeared countless innocent victims in a five-year reign of terror. BTW, Roy Cohn (1927-1986) was chief counsel to Senator McCarthy. He is the same Roy Cohn who later represented and mentored Donald Trump during Trump's early business career. (Politics / History)

St Peter’s Square today, white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, announcing that a conclave of cardinals had elected a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. He is Pope Leo from the U.S.A. Leo XIV called on Catholics to seek “a disarmed peace and a disarming peace” through “dialogue” and “building bridges”, in a brief speech heavy with themes of unity. (Religion / History)

Most Americans think that Trump is a "dangerous dictator." (Politics)

At 100 days in office, Trump's poll numbers, especially those related to the economy, are worse than any president in 80 years, but Trump is in denial calling it, "Fake news." Yet again, Trump refuses to admit the truth. He has failed the American people. (Politics)

The dominos are starting to fall. Mike Waltz takes the fall for "Signal gate" and is out as National Security Advisor. (Politics)

Even before the bombing, Israel was abusing Palestians though apartheid. In 2022, Amnesty International’s investigation showed that Israel has imposed a system of oppression and domination against Palestinians across all areas under its control: in Israel and the OPT, and against Palestinian refugees, in order to benefit Jewish Israelis. This amounts to apartheid and is prohibited by international law. (Politics)

There are people with integrity who will vote with their feet against corruption. Bill Owens, the Executive Producer of TV's 60 Minutes, resigned citing a loss of independent decision-making freedom. He stated that it had become clear he would no longer be allowed to run the show as he had always done, or make independent decisions based on what he believed was right for the program. (TV / Politics)

Pope Francis (17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) frequently spoke about peace. He emphasized that it is a precious gift. He said that a constant effort is required to work toward justice, forgiveness, and love. He encouraged dialogue and mutual respect. He highlighted that true peace is not just the absence of war, but a state of harmony with oneself, nature, and others. (Religion / History)

California Senator Adam Schiff speaks to how Trump has adopted the big lie propaganda technique originally coined by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf, who said, “The great masses of the people… will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one.” The big lie is repeated again and again. It is treated as if it is self-evidently true, in hopes of swaying the course of an argument in a direction that takes the big lie for granted rather than critically questioning it or ignoring it." (Politics)

What happened to Rubio's hard line against Putin? Before becoming Trump's Secretary of State, Rubio spoke out about Russia attacking Ukraine saying, "Vladimir Putin is the real aggressor in this war, and he is attempting an unjustified takeover of a sovereign, democratic country. The United States cannot recognize Putin's claims or we risk establishing a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, to imitate." (CONGDP, 09.22.22) (Politics)

The gutsy New York Times published Larry David's gutsy satire of Bill Maher and his recent dinner with Trump. Following the dinner, Maher had praised Trump for, among other things, having a sense of humor (on his show, "Real Time with Bill Maher") (Funny / Politics)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/opinion/larry-david-dinner.htmlImagine my surprise when in the spring of 1939 a letter arrived at my house inviting me to dinner at the Old Chancellery with the world’s most reviled man, Adolf Hitler. I had been a vocal critic of his on the radio from the beginning, pretty much predicting everything he was going to do on the road to dictatorship. No one I knew encouraged me to go. “He’s Hitler. He’s a monster.” But eventually I concluded that hate gets us nowhere. I knew I couldn’t change his views, but we need to talk to the other side — even if it has invaded and annexed other countries and committed unspeakable crimes against humanity. Two weeks later, I found myself on the front steps of the Old Chancellery and was led into an opulent living room, where a few of the Führer’s most vocal supporters had gathered: Himmler, Göring, Leni Riefenstahl and the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII. We talked about some of the beautiful art on the walls that had been taken from the homes of Jews. But our conversation ended abruptly when we heard loud footsteps coming down the hallway. Everyone stiffened as Hitler entered the room. He was wearing a tan suit with a swastika armband and gave me an enthusiastic greeting that caught me off guard. Frankly, it was a warmer greeting than I normally get from my parents, and it was accompanied by a slap on my back. I found the whole thing quite disarming. I joked that I was surprised to see him in a tan suit because if he wore that out, it would be perceived as un-Führer-like. That amused him to no end, and I realized I’d never seen him laugh before. Suddenly he seemed so human. Here I was, prepared to meet Hitler, the one I’d seen and heard — the public Hitler. But this private Hitler was a completely different animal. And oddly enough, this one seemed more authentic, like this was the real Hitler. The whole thing had my head spinning. He said he was starving and led us into the dining room, where he gestured for me to sit next to him. Göring immediately grabbed a slice of pumpernickel, whereupon Hitler turned to me, gave me an eye roll, then whispered, “Watch. He’ll be done with his entire meal before you’ve taken two bites.” That one really got me. Göring, with his mouth full, asked what was so funny, and Hitler said, “I was just telling him about the time my dog had diarrhea in the Reichstag.” Göring remembered. How could he forget? He loved that story, especially the part where Hitler shot the dog before it got back into the car. Then a beaming Hitler said, “Hey, if I can kill Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals, I can certainly kill a dog!” That perhaps got the biggest laugh of the night — and believe me, there were plenty.

News & Commentary: The Majority Report (with Sam Seder) spoke on the Bill Maher vs. Larry David feud pointing out the fact that even if Trump is "a nice guy" when you get him alone, it's irrelevant considering all the damage he has done and continues to do to people's lives (36 min). (Politics)

News: Harvard President will not give in to Trump's extortion efforts saying Harvard refuses to compromise its basic principles when it comes to First Amendment rights. Do you hear that Harvard alumnus and Trump supporter Mark Zuckerberg? Oh, that's right, you didn't graduate from Harvard. You dropped out during your sophomore year to pursue development of Facebook. Facebook, which has faced numerous lawsuits, including a $725 million settlement for a class action lawsuit related to data privacy violations, and a $90 million settlement for internet tracking using the "Like" button. There are also ongoing lawsuits from the Federal Trade Commission, states, and individual investors, alleging monopolization, mental health impacts, and misleading statements about risks. Zuckerberg and Trump are birds of a feather or should I say snakes of a scale (Politics)

Al Gore draws parallels between Trump and Nazi Germany. Like the Nazis, Trump seeks power by controlling the narrative. By turning the truth around. By blaming Ukraine when it is Russia that is attacking. (Politics)

Pope Francis (17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) Spoke out in Support of Gaza (Religion / History)

Why do Trump voters have no regrets? Because the people they hate are getting hurt more (Arwa Mahdawi) (Politics)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/18/donald-trump-voters-people-hate-politics-prices

Proud to be a Californian: Gavin Newsom sues Trump over ‘unlawful’ tariffs (Politics)

As Trump continues to defy court orders, yes, we are in a constitutional crisis - Brooks and Capehart - PBS News Hour (TV / Politics)

News: In a late-night decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has halted the Trump administration’s plan to deport Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — a wartime law not used since WWII. The emergency ruling comes after civil rights groups (including the ACLU) warned of overreach and ethnic targeting. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. (Politics)

News: U.S. District Judge Boasberg said in an order that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over their deportation flights to El Salvador. (MSNBC / TV / Politics)

Trump's Pay to Play Spells Corruption - Brooks and Capehart - PBS News Hour (TV / Politics)

According to CNN today: US Consumer Confidence Plummets to Second-lowest Level on Records going back to 1952 (Economy / Politics)

Article from www.redpepper.org.uk: Einstein’s nightmare: the fascist politicians wielding power in Israel (History / Politics)

https://www.redpepper.org.uk/global-politics/palestine-middle-east/einsteins-nightmare-the-fascist-politicians-wielding-power-in-israel/ In December 1948, a group of prominent US Jews, including Albert Einstein and Hannah Arendt, wrote a letter to the New York Times expressing concern over the emergence of ‘The Freedom Party’ (Tnuat Haherut) in the newly-created state of Israel. The letter described Tnuat Haherut as ‘closely akin in its organisation, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties’. As their letter details, Tnuat Haherut preached ultra-nationalism and racial superiority. Leader, Menachem Begin, was involved in the massacre of 240 men, women and children in the village of Deir Yassin. The letter predicted :‘from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.’ Today, as Israel continues to pound Gaza, it is clear that horrific future is upon us. It has been upon us from the establishment of the State of Israel, a settler-colonial project that required the forced removal and elimination of millions of inhabitants of historic Palestine. Since then, Israel has pursued a process of entrenched apartheid and an illegal and brutal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). What is happening now feels very much like a second Nakba, in which Israel’s current Likud government has decided to undertake the ethnic cleansing of Gaza in order to realise their vision of Greater Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s anti-democratic assault on Israel’s judicial system, thus, serves two purposes: to free up his government to behave as they please in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and to ensure that he never faces prosecution for his political and personal malfeasance. Netanyahu’s sixth and current government is proudly fascist. The coalition comprises openly racist Islamophobes who were historically marginal in Israeli politics, but who are now driving policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The Israeli government of Netanyahu is very comfortable committing genocide. (By Andrew Feinstein, former African National Congress (ANC) MP, son of a Holocaust survivor, and author of The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade (Penguin, 2012)).

Senator Bernie Sanders warns us of the oligarchs in power who don't believe in the rule of law, nor the Constitution. He tells us, "The billionaire class which owns so much of our economy and media are now moving aggressively to own our political system." It's up to the people to take back the Democracy that the oligarchs are taking from us. Stirring things up at his rallies and on the Senate floor, at 83, Bernie is going strong. (Politics)

Good News: Galápagos Tortoise at Philadelphia Zoo Becomes First-time Mother at 97 (Biology / Nature)

CNN's Fareed Zakaria breaks down why Trump's tariffs will be disastrous. (Politics)

Dr. Samer Attar - Chicago surgeon, 49, recently finished a fifth mission to Gaza. Attar is also a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. Attar told 60 Minutes about Gaza, "I can serve your community. I can bear witness to your suffering. And then just make some noise about it." (Politics / Aid)

Bibi Netanyahu (prime minister of Israel) is responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians including women and children. He is a fascist. Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian and ultranationalist political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy (a system of government by one person with absolute power) and militarism. (Politics)

Protest Today - Civic Center - San Francisco (Politics)

Senator Booker said, "In this democracy, the power of people is greater than the people in power." Take to the streets today (Saturday, April 5) - Hands Off! National Day of Action - to stand up against those who believe they can take whatever they want—our democracy, our future, our rights. (Politics)

Cory Booker filibuster pleads for, "Good trouble." (Politics)

Trump's Disastrous Tariffs - Brooks and Capehart - TV's PBS News Hour (Politics)

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, speaks about how he was invited to a national security group chat on Signal - what he heard, what he exposed, what are the wider implications. (Politics)

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (who famously wrote about proudly killing her puppy) uses prisoners (who have not had their due process) as her props as she tries to look tough in a sexy skin-tight top and perfectly coiffed hair and overly made up plastic surgery face while wearing a $50K Rolex. Even conservative commentator Megyn Kelly is disgusted. (Politics)

Fascism rejects the view that violence is inherently negative or pointless but rather views imperialism, political violence, and war as means to national rejuvenation. Case in point - Trump's attempt to seize Greenland. (Politics)

Some of the Signal Chat that Trump's Buffoons Allowed to be Released. Careless handling of military information, especially direct military action, puts American soldiers and the world in danger. Trump's Secretary of Defense Hegseth and National Security Advisor Waltz are a threat to our security. (Politics)

Dangerously stupid Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaked military information on a Signal group chat that conveyed details of the timing and weapons descriptions of a planned attack against the Houthis in Yemen when he included not only the names or initials of 18 Trump's people, but also, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg published his account of the messages. Thus, he exposed the carelessness of Trump's cabinet members. That carelessness puts American lives at risk.

Trump said he would improve the economy. He is failing. Poll from March 16, 2025. (Economy / Politics)

Trump's Authoritarian Government at Work - Free Speech is Dead for Foreigners in America who don't Support his Agenda (Politics)

Alert: April 5 Protest (Politics)

Southern comedian Cliff Cash hilariously makes fun of MAGA People (Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, homophobes, racists, bigots, white supremacists, Republicans) - 11 min

Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, “Republicans control the House. They control the Senate, and they control the presidency. Everything that happens or fails to happen in Washington, D.C. is on the Republicans.” (Politics)

Documenting Hate: New American Nazis (full documentary) | FRONTLINE (Video - 54 min) (Politics / History)

Thomas Jefferson, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." (History / Politics) (Quote)

Fascism depends on the idea of "us vs. them." It dehumanizes segments of the population, trying to reduce empathy and justify inhumane treatment of them. For Nazis, the segments were Jews, homosexuals and people with disabilities. For Trump's America, the segments are people of non-European origin and people with left-leaning politics. Jews were the scapegoat of Nazi's. Trump's scapegoats are immigrants and the former President Biden. (Politics / History)

"Trump: America First" This book title says it all. Fascism depends on ultra-nationalism and is always home grown. Trump and his followers are fascists working to dismantle our democracy. Don't be complacent. If you are not fighting against this, you will be partly to blame when our democracy fails. (Politics)

We all need to be heroes like Dorothy Thompson. She was one of America's most urgent, eloquent voices against fascism. Her writing and radio broadcasts alerted millions of people to Nazi Germany's threat to democracy and international peace. (Politics / History)

EXPOSING the Rise of Modern Authoritarianism Rick Wilson talks with Jason Stanley (Video - 38 min) (Politics)

"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" a book by Jason Stanley. The author explains fascism in depth, highlighting similarities between Trump and historical fascism. (Politics)

NAZI TOWN, USA (Chapter 1) - Watch this. The footage and history will shock you. History repeats itself. There were Nazis in America (The German American Bund) and Germany in the 1930s. Less than 100 years later, fascism is here again led by Trump. Trump has hit the ground running. He is dismantling our democracy and putting his fascist government in its place. (10 min)

This photo of Musk giving the Nazi salute has not been doctored. This was Musk thumping for Trump during the campaign. Was the American population not horrified by this? When voters voted to "Make America Great Again," did they mean "Make America Nazi Germany?"

It's just too easy to make fun of Trump, Speaker of the House Johnson, and strawberry foodies. It's all smoke and mirrors folks (Jimmy Kimmel Live) (Politics) (Funny)

Senator from California, Adam Schiff, eloquently recounts Trump's undemocratic ways (Senate floor, March 5, 2025). Heed his words.

Elbows Up! (Politics)

hereswhykevin reports from Instagram - This week the State Department announced that they would be using AI to target pro-Palestinian social media accounts as well as target student protestors at Columbia University specifically. Last night the first targeted arrest was made with the help of pro-Israel groups and individuals, including Columbia’s high-profile pro-Israel professor, Shai Davidai. The man who was detained is a lawful resident of the United States but DHS agents took him anyway. According to witnesses, on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at 8:30PM, Mahmoud Khalil was entering his New York City apartment with his pregnant wife when agents pushed their way in behind them. The officers were wearing plain clothes and refused to identify themselves. The agents said Khalil was being detained because his student visa had been revoked as part of the crackdown on ‘pro-Hamas’ sympathizers. The agents showed him what they claim was a warrant on their phone. Khalil, his wife and their lawyer who they had on the phone, explained that Khalil was a green card holder. The agents made a phone call and claimed that his green card had been revoked as well and took him in. He is being held at a facility in New Jersey. Khalil is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian origin and an American green-card holder. He was one of the lead negotiators on behalf of pro-Palestine protesters at 2024’s Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University. This unlawful arrest and the targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters is a clear violation of the First Amendment. (Politics)

No Free Speech for Mahmoud Khalil in Trump's America. Who's next? Khalil, student leader of the Columbia University "Gaza Solidarity" protests, has been arrested by ICE. This occurred despite the fact that Khalil’s wife is a US citizen and he has a permanent residency green card. This follows the Trump administration canceling $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University for allowing the protests. (Politics)

PROUD TO BE A CALIFORNIAN. California Senate Bill 54, also known as the California Values Act, was signed into law in 2017. It limits the ability of state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The law is intended to protect immigrants and build trust between the immigrant community and law enforcement. SB 54 (De León, 2017) designated California as a sanctuary state, restricting the use of state and local resources for federal immigration enforcement.

"The friend of my enemy is my enemy." Hear that Mr. U.S. President? In Syria, Assad was a murderous dictator of the worst kind. He was overthrown by the Syrian people. He fled to Russia. Putin welcomed him. Birds of a feather stick together. Now the "supposed" leader of the free world (Donald Trump) says, "It is more difficult to deal with Ukraine than Russia." and "The US is doing very well with Russia." This after suspending military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign nation. Ukraine, like all democracies, has an inalienable right to self-determination. Ukraine is under attack by Putin's Russia. The Ukrainian SSR protects and defends the national statehood of the Ukrainian people. You are on the wrong side of history President Trump. (Politics)

Power to the People!

You don't have to look far to understand Trump is a fascist leader - 1) authoritarian (via Presidential orders), 2) nationalist (antagonizes our allies), 3) hierarchist (by being anti-immigrant), 4) elitist (by being pro-white & classist), 4) militaristic (by abusing his authority as Commander in Chief), 5) decadent (by promoting high-end development for the rich), 6) anti-egalitarian (by undermining rights for certain groups of people - e.g., transgender), 7) totalitarian (by using executive orders to suppress the press (AP) and others (Columbia University) who he perceives are undermining his authority) (Politics)

Make no mistake about it, "Make America Great Again" translates to "Make America Hate Again". Hate was the driving force in Nazi Germany and it is the driving force in Trump's America. (Politics)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls out Trump re: Trade War (Politics)

David Renick of the New Yorker calls President Trump's and Vice President's actions in meeting with Zelensky on Friday, "A moral and strategic disaster;" "America has switched sides to the autocracy;" Former Ambassador to Russia Robert McFaul says Vance had no right to ask for a "thank you" because Trump & Vance have done nothing for Zelensky or Ukraine. (Politics)

Europe shows the meaning of diplomacy as it reaches out to Ukrainian leader Zelensky. Trump and his cronies take note. This is what leadership looks like.

Howard Zinn told us that small acts of change, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. (Quote)

"The 10 Tactics of Fascism" by Jason Stanley (Professor of Philosophy at Yale University) of Big Think - Trump is following Hitler's tactics to a T. (Politics)

Brooks and Capehart's impressions of Trump's altercation with Zelensky (PBS News hour) (Politics)

Vladimir Putin has got Trump's family jewels ('The Late Show' with Stephen Colbert) (Politics / Funny)

Trump, Musk behavior makes for easy comedic news on SNL (Politics / Funny)

Free Palestine! (Politics)

Solidarity with Ukraine (Politics)

The large Norwegian company Haltbakk Bunkers, which specializes in the production of marine fuel, has announced its decision to halt refueling US military vessels. This move is a response to the recent dispute between the US and Ukrainian presidents. According to the owner of Haltbakk Bunkers, Gunnar Gran, not a single liter will be delivered until (US President Donald) Trump is finished.

Trump & Vance off the rails today during meeting with Zelensky. They are bullies who are only serving to isolate the U.S. Europe will continue to support Ukraine. Trump is aligning himself with Dictator Putin. Trump is undermining U.S. security. (Politics)

Trump's approval rating is lower than any U.S. President in history. Musk is his bête noire. (Politics)

The implosion of the Trump presidency begins - as reflected in recent polls. (Politics)

PBS News Hour: Brooks and Capehart on the Trump administration’s alliance with Putin which threatens peace in Europe and the world; creation of chaos; frustration amongst his supporters as reflected in recent poll which shows his popularity falling; failure of vision from the right - they only want to take down the left

Last Week Tonight - John Oliver hilariously exposes the dirty deeds of Trump & Co. just one month into his second term - Trump 2.0 - Feb 16, 2025 (Politics) (Funny)

PBS News Hour: Brooks and Capehart on the Trump administration’s antagonization of our allies in Europe via VP Vance at the Munich Security Conference and and Sec of State Hegseth at Brussels Press Conference (Politics)

Jonathan Capehart speaks to how Biden looked out for ALL of us. The oligarchy and dictatorship ahead will only benefit the new/old president and those close to him. Remember the goodness of Biden and resist the evil of Trump. (Politics)

San Jose, Calif., City Council unanimously resolves to protect undocumented residents (News, 2/7/25)

LINK SAN JOSE, Calif.—With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a new wave of raids conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency swept immigrant communities across the Bay Area, prompting local leaders to take action in defense of residents. On Jan. 26, ICE raided a plaza on King Road and Story Road, which is a well-known Latino/a cultural landmark. It spurred significant protests to denounce the raid throughout the week. Most notably, on Feb. 3, over 500 individuals protested ICE’s presence in the city. On Feb. 4, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved a resolution authored by Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Pamela Campos, Domingo Candelas, and David Cohen affirming the city’s commitment to preserving the safety and dignity of all its residents, regardless of national origin or immigration status. With the passage of the resolution, the city upheld its historic role in protecting and fostering its diverse community. Hundreds of residents turned out on a rainy Tuesday afternoon to provide public comment in support of the resolution, representing community organizations like the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, the Rapid Response Network, and the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, in addition to the many others who attended individually as workers, business owners, religious leaders, and residents to express concerned for their undocumented neighbors and provide public comments in support of the resolution. Alysa Aujero, a substitute teacher for San Jose Unified, delivered a passionate comment in support of her undocumented students. “We vow to remind our students that we love them, that they all belong here, that this is a safe place and we want all our students to thrive […] Teachers and school staff are one part of our community. It requires y’all in charge to keep them safe. It’s a community responsibility to keep our people safe.” City Councilmembers also touted their records in support. Vice Mayor Pam Foley and Council member David Cohen recalled their time on the school board in 2016 during Trump’s first presidency protecting confidential student records from immigration authorities. In particular, Cohen drafted and approved northern California’s first resolution to the Berryessa School Board promising non-cooperation with ICE. He also stressed the importance of institutional trust between the community and the city. Councilmembers Domingo Candelas and Bien Doan recalled their own histories with immigration. Candelas’s mother had been undocumented for a significant part of her life and currently holds the strongest voting record of her family. Doan fled war in Vietnam in the 1970s and experienced discrimination during his time in the States, which he alluded to as his reason for supporting the resolution. Mayor Matt Mahan noted the contributions of immigrants to the economic life of San Jose, who make up 40% of the city’s population. Three-quarters of those immigrants have been in the city for longer than a decade, and 70% are part of the workforce in San Jose. He also noted that of 60,000 small businesses, around half are owned by immigrants. Of course, immigrants are more than just their economic contributions, and Mahan reaffirmed the city’s position as a moral stance in favor of protecting diversity. Mahan also committed to supporting the Rapid Response Network and making “Know Your Rights” resources available at all community centers. The mayor also questioned San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph, asking him to clarify the role of law enforcement in ICE raids. According to Joseph, the police department will neither cooperate with ICE nor detain residents on issues specific to immigration. However, in accordance with sanctuary state policy, the police department will not be able to interfere in ICE raids and will continue to execute arrest warrants for other crimes, regardless of immigration status. San Jose is no stranger to protecting its immigrant community, as documented by the authors of the resolution. The city has passed four similar resolutions in the past: Resolution 75401 (6/8/2010): The city will not detain persons solely for suspicion of having unlawful resident status in the United States, and the City will serve all residents without reporting any otherwise law-abiding persons to federal immigration officials unless otherwise required by federal law, court decision or other legal requirement. Resolution 78788 (9/18/2018): Denouncing the U.S. Department of Justice’s Zero Tolerance Policy that resulted in the inhumane separation of families, and called for the immediate reunification of existing separated families. Resolution 79013 (3/19/2019): Denouncing the attempted deportation of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to 1995, and acknowledging the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to pursue sanctuary and avoid the endangerment that may accompany a forced return to their country of origin. Resolution 79473 (4/14/2020): Monitor, protect, and defend the confidentiality of resident information provided to the Federal Government through the 2020 Census from breach and misuse, and to support outreach activities to ensure a complete count and broad participation in the Census as a way to guarantee that marginalized and hard-to-count communities participate in the Census without fear. In the face of increased raids by the Trump administration, it seems the residents of San Jose can count on their local institutions will continue to serve them regardless of immigration status. We hope you appreciated this article. 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Nelson Mandela (Quote)