Texas’ measles outbreak, originating in late January, now includes 597 confirmed cases, with 36 new cases reported. Sixty-two patients required hospitalization, and tragically, two school-aged children have died. Ten counties currently experience ongoing measles transmission, highlighting the continued spread despite claims to the contrary. Prevention relies solely on two doses of the MMR vaccine.
A leaked U.S. peace proposal, discussed in Paris, suggests a ceasefire in Ukraine that would leave occupied territories under Russian control and potentially ease sanctions on Moscow. The plan, which requires further discussion with Kyiv and European allies, would reportedly involve a freeze on the conflict and preclude Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. However, the proposal has been met with resistance from Ukraine’s president, who rejects any recognition of Russian control over occupied territories. Failure to secure a Russian agreement to halt hostilities would render the proposal void.
Nineteen-year-old Darya Kozyreva received a two-year and eight-month prison sentence for “discrediting” the Russian army. Her activism involved using 19th-century Ukrainian poetry in graffiti and online posts protesting the war in Ukraine. Kozyreva maintained her innocence throughout the trial, citing her actions as expressing truth, not crime. This sentencing adds to the estimated 234 individuals imprisoned in Russia for anti-war stances, according to Memorial Human Rights Center.
JD Vance is attempting to leverage a trade deal to pressure the UK into rolling back its LGBTQ+ hate speech protections. This is a deeply concerning tactic, using economic pressure to dictate social policy in a sovereign nation. The sheer audacity of the proposition is staggering. It’s not just about trade; it’s about imposing a specific worldview, one that prioritizes certain forms of speech over the protection of vulnerable groups.
This move highlights a disturbing trend of prioritizing certain ideological preferences over international cooperation and mutual respect. The implication is that the US is willing to weaponize trade agreements to force other countries to align with its conservative social agenda.… Continue reading
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claim that autism is solely affecting young people sparked widespread criticism. Kennedy’s assertion, made during a press briefing on rising autism prevalence, ignores the drastically different diagnostic criteria and societal treatment of autism in previous generations. Experts countered that factors such as historical institutionalization, inadequate care, and shorter lifespans for individuals with severe autism explain the apparent discrepancy. His comments, coupled with previous pronouncements declaring autism a preventable disease, raise serious concerns about his fitness for office and the dissemination of potentially harmful misinformation.
Following days of uncertainty, Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego García in El Salvador, as confirmed by photos posted by President Bukele. The meeting occurred after the Senator’s earlier attempt to visit Abrego García in prison was denied. This visit followed a Supreme Court ruling ordering Abrego García’s return to the U.S., a ruling the Trump administration and Bukele have resisted, citing unsubstantiated claims of MS-13 affiliation. Despite these ongoing disputes, Senator Van Hollen relayed a message of love to Abrego Garcia’s wife.
San Diego’s City Council passed an ordinance, 8-1, prohibiting landlords from using private data-driven algorithms to determine rental prices. This measure, targeting companies like RealPage, aims to prevent potentially anti-competitive practices currently under legal challenge. The ordinance, while excluding algorithms using public data, intends to protect tenants from unfair rent increases and is enforceable through tenant lawsuits. However, opponents argue the ordinance is overly broad and could hinder the development of new housing.
Venezuelan migrant Neri Jose Alvarado Borges was deported from Texas to El Salvador’s dangerous Terrorism Confinement Center after immigration authorities mistook his autism awareness tattoo for gang affiliation. Friends and family claim he was denied asylum despite presenting documentation, with officials citing the tattoo as evidence of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. Borges, who worked at a Texas bakery, was apprehended in February and held at Bluebonnet Jail before deportation. This incident follows similar controversial deportations based on misinterpreted tattoos and social media activity, raising concerns about due process violations.
A Norwegian politician, Karina Ødegård, has called for the granting of asylum to transgender Americans, citing the current political climate in the United States as a grave threat to their safety and well-being. She argues that the targeting of transgender individuals by the current administration represents a dangerous escalation of illiberal policies, drawing chilling parallels to the persecution of LGBTQ+ people in 1930s Germany. Ødegård emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that the scale of rights withdrawal through legal and political means warrants immediate international action.
The comparison to 1930s Germany is a stark one, highlighting the severity of the situation as perceived by Ødegård and others.… Continue reading
ChatGPT, when presented with Donald Trump’s reported physical statistics (215 pounds at 6’3″, 4.8% body fat), deemed the combination “virtually impossible” for a 78-year-old man. The AI attributed this to the significant muscle mass implied, typically seen only in elite bodybuilders, contrasting with Trump’s reported sedentary lifestyle and age-related muscle loss. This analysis, shared via a viral TikTok video, fueled online discussion surrounding the accuracy and plausibility of the reported physical data. The discrepancy highlighted the ongoing public speculation regarding Trump’s health and the reliability of released information.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood