Bernie Sanders’s “National Tour to Fight Oligarchy” is drawing massive crowds, exceeding 10,000 attendees at a recent Michigan rally. The tour focuses on combating the influence of the billionaire class and the “Big Lie” politics prevalent in the current political climate. Sanders links this fight to historical struggles for social justice, emphasizing the need for ordinary people to resist oppression. The tour strategically targets districts with narrow Republican wins, aiming to pressure lawmakers against proposed cuts to vital social programs while highlighting the growing wealth disparity in the United States.
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Russia’s purported encirclement of Ukrainian troops near Kursk through a pincer movement is a developing situation shrouded in conflicting reports and intense political accusations. The claim itself hinges on reports of a significant Russian advance into the Kursk region, an area Ukraine had occupied since a surprise offensive the previous year. This offensive, it is claimed, aimed to use Kursk as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations.
This alleged pincer movement, according to some accounts, involved a multi-pronged attack, pushing from both Sudzha, a town within Russian territory, and across the border from the Sumy region in Ukraine. The reported objective was to surround a sizable contingent of Ukrainian forces.… Continue reading
Record-high egg prices, exceeding $10 per dozen in some areas, have drawn criticism of Donald Trump, who previously pledged to lower grocery prices on his first day in office. A column by Charlie Kirk attributed the price surge to avian flu impacting chicken populations, absolving Trump of responsibility. Trump, however, dismissed the concerns, urging people to “shut up about egg prices,” sparking a backlash on social media. This response contrasts sharply with his earlier campaign promises, highlighting a significant shift in his public stance on the issue.
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Veteran Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus resigned after a disagreement over editorial direction. Marcus alleges that CEO William Lewis suppressed a column dissenting from owner Jeff Bezos’ new mandate for opinion pieces to unequivocally support free markets and personal liberties. This policy change, implemented last month, followed Bezos’ controversial attendance at President Trump’s inauguration. Marcus’s departure, following that of opinion editor David Shipley, highlights concerns about compromised editorial independence at the newspaper.
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In response to President Trump’s trade war, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a 25% electricity surcharge for 1.5 million American consumers in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan, generating an estimated $208,000-$277,000 CAD daily to support Ontario’s economy. This measure, despite a one-month tariff reprieve from the U.S., will remain in effect until all tariffs are removed, with Ford threatening a complete electricity shutdown if necessary. The surcharge adds approximately $69 CAD monthly to affected American bills and is in addition to Canada’s $21 billion in retaliatory tariffs. Ford also urged Alberta to impose an oil export tax, further escalating the trade conflict.
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Lucas Sielaff, a German citizen, and his American fiancée were detained by CBP at the San Diego border after entering from Tijuana. Following accusations of visa violation despite Sielaff’s claims of compliance, he was arrested by ICE and held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center for over two weeks. After intervention, Sielaff was deported to Germany, expressing gratitude for his release. While ICE cited visa violation as the reason for detention, CBP and ICE did not provide further details to inquiries.
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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is experiencing another outage, affecting thousands of users according to Downdetector. This isn’t the first time the platform has gone down, and the frequency of these disruptions is raising concerns about the platform’s stability and infrastructure. The sheer number of reported issues, as reflected on Downdetector, underscores the significant impact these outages have on a substantial portion of X’s user base. It highlights the dependence many still have on the platform, despite the considerable criticism it faces.
This latest incident prompts reflection on the overall reliability of X. There’s a stark contrast between the platform’s current state and its past reputation.… Continue reading
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor-to-be, proposes discussing nuclear weapons sharing with France and Britain, viewing it as a complement to, not replacement for, the US nuclear shield. This follows French President Macron’s openness to expanding France’s nuclear deterrent. Merz’s plan necessitates constitutional changes to increase defense and infrastructure spending, requiring the support of the Greens, who currently object to the lack of climate focus. Simultaneously, Merz aims to form a coalition government by Easter, navigating disagreements on migration policies with potential coalition partners while countering the far-right’s gains.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the completion of a six-week review of USAID programs, resulting in the elimination of approximately 82% of its initiatives. This action, directed by President Trump’s executive order, transferred the remaining 18% of programs to the State Department for more effective administration. The administration claims these eliminated programs, totaling tens of billions of dollars, did not serve U.S. national interests. This decision, however, faces legal challenges from those who argue the process was illegal and lacked transparency, citing the termination of even life-saving programs.
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President Trump’s decision to halt military aid to Ukraine has deeply disappointed Ukrainian soldiers, though they remain committed to defending their homeland. Despite this setback, soldiers expressed determination to continue fighting, utilizing alternative resources if necessary. The cessation of aid, coupled with reduced intelligence sharing, has left Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian aggression, raising concerns about the impact on critical air defense operations. Analysts warn that Russia is likely to exploit this vulnerability, intensifying attacks.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood