The passage of a damaging bill highlights concerns about the fitness of older Democratic representatives, several of whom recently passed away due to age-related health issues. This raises questions about the party’s prioritization of experience over vitality, particularly given its struggles to connect with younger voters. The lack of promotion for younger rising stars within the party further exacerbates this concern. Ultimately, the article suggests a need for Democrats to honestly assess their capacity to effectively oppose the current administration.
Read More
A new Russian law mandates a tracking app for all foreign nationals in the Moscow region, ostensibly to combat crime. The app will collect biometric data, location information, and monitor real-time geolocation. Non-compliance results in deportation, while critics cite constitutional privacy violations and potential negative impacts on labor migration. The program, running until September 2029, may expand nationwide if deemed successful.
Read More
The Supreme Court issued a brief, unexpected ruling affirming a lower court decision regarding Oklahoma’s use of public funds for a religious charter school. An equally divided court—with Justice Barrett recused—prevented a definitive outcome. Justice Barrett’s recusal, unexplained but potentially due to her close friendship with a key advisor to the school, resulted in a tie. This leaves the lower court’s decision in place, with the matter unresolved for the time being.
Read More
China’s BYD has overtaken Tesla in European sales for the first time, a significant development shaking up the electric vehicle (EV) market. This surprising shift isn’t solely due to BYD’s success, but also highlights perceived shortcomings in Tesla’s current strategy and execution.
Some observers believe Tesla’s focus on projects like the Cybertruck, deemed by many as a novelty rather than a practical vehicle, has diverted resources from core product development and improvement. This, coupled with the controversial actions and pronouncements of Elon Musk, has potentially alienated some consumers. The argument is that a more focused approach, prioritizing a solid, reliable base model akin to the Ford Model T, might have yielded different results.… Continue reading
The Treasury Department plans to cease penny production, ending the minting of this historic coin due to escalating production costs. Currently, manufacturing and distribution of a single penny costs approximately 3.7 cents, resulting in significant annual losses for the U.S. Mint. Eliminating penny production is projected to save roughly $56 million annually. This decision follows previous administrations’ considerations of the same issue, driven by the increasing expense of zinc, the penny’s primary metal component.
Read More
Glen Edward Rogers, known as the “Casanova Killer,” was executed in Florida for the 1995 murder of Tina Marie Cribbs. His final words included a message of support for President Trump, stating “President Trump, keep making America great,” a comment that surprised witnesses. Rogers also expressed love for his family and offered a promise of future answers to his victims’ families. The execution marked the 16th in the U.S. this year, and followed a pattern of similar killings across multiple states.
Read More
A small plane, possibly a Cessna, crashed into a San Diego military housing neighborhood, resulting in multiple fatalities, all of whom were on the plane. The crash ignited numerous homes and vehicles, causing a significant fuel spill and requiring hazmat response. While several injuries were reported on the ground, no additional fatalities outside the aircraft occurred. Local officials are supporting impacted residents and investigating the cause of the accident.
Read More
Following a deadly tornado in St. Louis that killed five, the city’s emergency management chief, Sarah Russell, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an external investigation. The investigation centers on the failure of the city’s tornado sirens to activate during the Friday storm, despite a National Weather Service warning. An internal investigation revealed that while a malfunctioning button at the Fire Department contributed to the failure, unclear communication from Russell also played a role. Consequently, Mayor Spencer issued an executive order assigning sole siren activation responsibility to the Fire Department.
Read More
According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump informed several European leaders that Vladimir Putin believes he is winning the war in Ukraine and has no intention of ending hostilities. Despite this acknowledgment, Trump opposes further sanctions on Russia, favoring lower-level talks mediated by the Vatican. He expressed reservations about an “unconditional” ceasefire, a term he previously used, and showed wavering commitment to direct US involvement in the proposed negotiations. This private admission contrasts with Trump’s prior public statements claiming Putin desires peace.
Read More
The House narrowly passed President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” by a 215-214 vote, a closer margin than initially appeared due to last-minute voting and the absence of Representative Andrew Garbarino, who reportedly overslept. The bill, including tax cuts and increased defense spending, faced criticism from some conservatives for insufficient debt reduction. Two other Republicans voted against the bill, and one voted present, while the Democrats were down one member due to a death. The legislation now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood