Following a defamation lawsuit settlement with ABC News, Donald Trump announced plans to file further suits against media outlets. His target includes the Des Moines Register due to a poll that underestimated his electoral support in Iowa, despite his actual victory margin. This action, coupled with existing lawsuits against other news organizations, reflects Trump’s declared war on what he deems a corrupt press. Critics fear this emboldens him to further stifle media criticism and sets a concerning precedent for future legal battles.
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A new federal rule aims to ban “junk fees” on hotel accommodations and live-event tickets, a move that could significantly impact consumer spending and the way businesses advertise prices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates this rule, set to take effect around April of next year, could save consumers a substantial amount of money—$11 billion over a decade—and 53 million hours of time spent hunting for the true final cost of their purchases.
However, this isn’t necessarily a complete victory for consumers. The rule doesn’t actually prohibit the fees themselves; instead, it mandates that these fees be included in the upfront price displayed to the consumer.… Continue reading
Gerry Connolly narrowly defeated Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee vote for the top spot on the House Oversight Committee. This vote, however, is merely a recommendation, with a full caucus vote scheduled for Tuesday that could overturn the result. Ocasio-Cortez retains significant support from progressive caucuses and some Oversight Committee members, while Connolly secured backing from centrist Democrats. The final outcome hinges on whether the full caucus will follow the steering committee’s recommendation or favor Ocasio-Cortez.
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Research reveals that the UK discards 13 vapes every second, resulting in over a million daily disposals and a significant environmental problem. The proliferation of larger, high-puff vapes exacerbates this issue, with three million sold weekly. The impending ban on single-use vapes in June 2025 aims to mitigate environmental damage and underage vaping. However, the improper disposal of all vapes, containing hazardous lithium-ion batteries, poses a fire risk and wastes valuable resources.
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Ukrainian troops are reporting that the inexperienced North Korean soldiers are proving to be exceptionally easy targets. Their lack of combat readiness is stark, making them vulnerable in the face of modern warfare.
The contrast between their parade-ground training and the realities of a modern battlefield is striking. It seems the emphasis on ceremonial displays hasn’t translated into effective combat skills.
The North Korean soldiers are facing a truly terrifying experience, thrust into a conflict vastly different from anything they’ve ever trained for. The presence of drones and advanced weaponry must feel like facing a futuristic, alien army.
The sheer technological disparity is overwhelming.… Continue reading
David Hogg advocates for increased representation of younger voices within the Democratic Party, aiming to counter the influence of consultants over working-class concerns. He criticizes the party’s tendency to blame minority groups for electoral setbacks instead of acknowledging internal failures in communication and strategy. Hogg asserts that the party leadership’s complacency and lack of accountability contributed to the shortcomings of the Harris campaign. Ultimately, he argues that the party failed to provide the President with necessary, rather than desired, feedback.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s assertion that vaccines cause autism, a claim widely refuted by scientific consensus, sparked bipartisan condemnation. This statement, aligning with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s discredited claims, follows Greene’s history of vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories. The claim was immediately fact-checked by X and numerous experts, highlighting the lack of scientific basis for her statement. Greene’s views, echoing those of the president-elect, underscore concerns about the spread of misinformation within the political landscape.
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A new Human Rights Watch report details the horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against nearly 80 women and girls in South Kordofan since September 2023. The abuses, which include gang rape and the use of sex slaves, primarily occurred at an RSF military base and constitute war crimes and potential crimes against humanity. While the RSF denies the accusations, claiming impersonators were responsible, HRW investigators documented the testimonies of numerous survivors, highlighting the widespread and systematic nature of the violence. The lack of accountability and the immense humanitarian crisis only exacerbates the suffering of these victims.
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Giant companies, specifically pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), received secret payments to facilitate the unrestricted flow of opioid prescriptions, significantly contributing to the devastating opioid crisis. This wasn’t a simple oversight; these payments, often in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, acted as a de facto incentive to prioritize profit over public health. The sheer scale of the payments, like the approximately $400 million Purdue Pharma paid to PBMs by 2012, underscores the blatant disregard for the human cost of their actions.
These PBMs, controlling access to medication for millions, wielded immense power. Instead of utilizing this power to restrict opioid prescriptions, even amidst a surging overdose crisis, they actively worked to keep the flow of opioids unrestricted.… Continue reading
Major General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s radiation, chemical, and biological protection unit, was killed in a remotely detonated scooter bomb in Moscow. The Kremlin lauded Kirillov, while Ukrainian sources claimed responsibility, citing his role in alleged war crimes involving the mass use of banned chemical weapons. Kirillov was a controversial figure, sanctioned by the UK for disinformation and the deployment of “barbaric weapons,” and accused by Ukraine of overseeing thousands of chemical attacks. His death follows Ukraine’s in absentia war crimes charges against him.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood