Elon Musk’s PAC fired and abandoned canvassers in Michigan, and the situation has left me incredulous. It embodies everything I’ve come to expect from a world where corporate power runs amok, often leaving the little guy in the dust. The actions of this PAC are a microcosm of the larger trend we see with billionaires like Musk and the unchecked influence they wield over our political landscape.
The revelation that canvassers were left stranded feels emblematic of a broader disregard for the people it employs. When I hear of these individuals being transported in a U-Haul and suddenly finding themselves without a job or support, it’s a bitter reminder of how disposable certain entities consider their workforce.… Continue reading
Quincy Jones, a towering figure in music who produced Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and composed prize-winning film and TV scores, has died at the age of 91. Coming from a tough childhood in Chicago, Jones became one of the first Black executives to thrive in Hollywood and worked with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Lionel Richie. He accumulated an impressive list of honors, including 28 Grammys, two honorary Academy Awards, and an Emmy for “Roots.” As a music executive, he pioneered in breaking racial barriers and held positions such as vice president at Mercury Records in the early ’60s and the first Black musical director for the Academy Awards ceremony in 1971. Jones is survived by his two sisters, a brother, seven children, including notable actress and filmmaker, Rashida Jones.
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Moldova’s pro-Western President, Maia Sandu, has won a second term in the presidential election, securing 55% of the vote compared to opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo’s 45%. The result will advance the country’s political alignment with Western countries and the path towards the EU. However, there were claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation, including the orchestrated transportation of voters and cyberattacks on national voter record systems. In earlier votes, over 50% supported Moldova’s path towards EU membership, but allegations of vote-buying clouded the results. Moldova’s future could be further defined in its 2025 parliamentary election.
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Incumbent Moldovan president Maia Sandu won re-election for a second term, according to preliminary results, with 54.35% of the vote counted, potentially giving the country a major boost towards European Union aspirations and marking a rejection of Moscow’s influence. Sandu’s opponent was Kremlin-friendly political newcomer Alexandr Stoianoglo from the Socialist party. The results indicated that the large Moldovan diaspora, accounting for about 20% of the electorate, had overwhelmingly voted for Sandu. However, both the presidential election rounds and the EU referendum vote were marred by accusations of Russian interference. Despite this, the campaign led by Sandu, a former World Bank adviser, signifies an accelerated push for Moldova to break away from Moscow’s influence amidst the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine.
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Trump campaign events leaving cities with hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills is a phenomenon that seems to defy logic. How do we find ourselves in a situation where cities willingly host rallies for someone widely known for not paying his debts? The very nature of his business practices has been under scrutiny for decades, yet there are still municipalities ready to extend credit as if this time will be different. The sheer naivety of it all is astounding.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that this is not an isolated incident; rather, it’s part of a long-established pattern in which Trump operates.… Continue reading
Two days before the presidential election, former President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, expressing conspiratorial and profanity-laden sentiments. He repeatedly cast doubt on the integrity of the vote, intensified his attacks on Democrats and the media, and made references to reporters and political critics being shot. He suggested he can only lose the election under fraudulent circumstances, despite polling showing a very close race. Trump was previously indicted for attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. There are concerns among some Trump allies about prematurely declaring victory on election night, as he did in the 2016 election, which led to months of denial and lies, climaxing in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.
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One of the most significant videos documenting the recent fatal floods in Spain showcases a dam in Almonacid de la Cuba, Aragon, withstanding a large increase in water capacity. This dam, constructed approximately 2000 years ago by the Roman emperor Augustus, is the tallest Roman dam worldwide at 34 metres high. The Spanish government reports that at least 140 people have died in the floods, with hundreds still missing. The financial damage in the region could surpass the 425 million euro mark recorded in 2019.
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A series of volcanic eruptions on Indonesia’s remote island of Flores has led to the death of at least six people. The eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki spewed ash as high as 2,000 meters into the air, covering surrounding villages and areas in debris and causing several houses, including a convent, to burn down. The country’s disaster management agency raised the danger level for the volcano and expanded the exclusion zone to a seven-kilometer radius. Approximately 10,000 people have been affected by the eruption. This is Indonesia’s second volcanic eruption in as many weeks.
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A 17-year-old Donald Trump supporter was arrested after allegedly punching a 70-year-old woman attending a rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. The boy was charged with battery on a person aged 65 or over. The woman, Kathleen Tomasko, claimed she didn’t provoke him and didn’t see him coming. Witnesses reported the youth was walking away from another confrontation with another Harris supporter when he struck Tomasko. The incident took place in Stuart, Florida, at an event which was part of the nationwide Women’s March campaign.
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Roman Kostenko, secretary of Ukraine’s parliamentary defence committee, has called for the mobilisation of 500,000 citizens to meet current battlefield needs. This suggestion is in agreement with former Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny’s earlier recommendation for 500,000 new recruits. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged the need for large-scale mobilisation, which is estimated to cost Ukraine 500 billion hryvnias. Kit is currently planned for an additional 160,000 men to be mobilised, in addition to the 1.05 million already serving. Ukraine has been struggling to replace battlefield casualties and rotate soldiers who have been fighting since the onset of the war.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker