When creating an account, users acknowledge their agreement to the Terms of Use. These terms encompass a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, significantly impacting legal recourse. Simultaneously, users confirm they’ve reviewed the Privacy Policy. This policy outlines the company’s practices regarding the collection, utilization, and dissemination of personal information.
Russia loses one million tons of fuel in September alone as strikes and sanctions converge, a staggering figure that highlights the complex challenges facing the Russian energy sector. It’s a situation that paints a picture of significant disruption, with a combination of factors contributing to this massive loss of fuel production.
The Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, specifically, are a key part of this story. While precise numbers are always tricky to pin down, with some news outlets claiming up to 38% of Russian oil refining capacity is offline, the situation isn’t quite that simple. Considering that Russia can refine 327 million tons of oil annually, or roughly 6.5 million barrels per day, the impact of these attacks, targeting 16 refineries, is significant.… Continue reading
To support struggling public television stations, thirty paintings by Bob Ross will be auctioned off. The sale will benefit stations facing funding cuts due to reduced federal support, and the proceeds will assist with licensing fees for popular programming. Ross, a beloved figure on public television, dedicated his life to making art accessible, and this auction aims to continue that legacy by supporting the medium that showcased his work. Bonhams will host auctions in multiple cities, with the estimated total value of the paintings ranging from $850,000 to $1.4 million.
While not directly responsible for Trump’s 2024 victory, popular manosphere podcasters significantly solidified his support among young male audiences. These content creators, including figures like Adin Ross, Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, and Theo Vonn, provided friendly platforms during the campaign. However, following the implementation of the president’s agenda, many of these influencers are distancing themselves, criticizing policies such as aggressive immigration enforcement and increased spending. Their disillusionment highlights a conflict between campaign promises and the administration’s actual actions.
The Ambler Road project, a 211-mile route in Alaska aimed at facilitating mining, has been approved by Donald Trump, reversing the Biden administration’s previous block. This project involves the extraction of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals. The White House also announced a 10% equity stake in Trilogy Metals, a Canadian company developing the site. While supporters cite economic benefits and access to critical minerals, opponents, including Alaska Native groups, express concerns about environmental damage and harm to subsistence harvests.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut expressed concern over the Trump administration’s attempt to circumvent her order blocking Oregon National Guard troops from Portland by deploying troops from other states like California and Texas. At a late-night hearing, Immergut questioned the legality of this action, specifically asking if bringing in federalized National Guard troops from California contradicted her previous ruling. After hearing arguments, the judge expanded her order to prevent troops from any state from being sent to Portland, citing the relatively small size of the protests and potential violations of Oregon’s self-governance.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent Republican, voiced support for extending expiring Obamacare subsidies to avoid premium hikes, breaking from her party’s stance. Greene, citing concerns about doubled insurance premiums for her constituents, including her own children, emphasized her focus on supporting Americans. Despite the split within the Republican party, leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have insisted on no discussion of this issue until Democrats concede on reopening the government. Greene’s public stance, expressed on X, drew attention, even from Democrats, like Rep. Greg Casar.
White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren’t entitled to back pay – that’s the core issue here, isn’t it? It boils down to the administration’s stance on compensating federal employees who are forced to take unpaid leave during a government shutdown. It seems the memo is laying out a position that contradicts what many might expect, and what a prior law might have indicated. The crux of the matter is whether these workers, who are essentially mandated to stop working without pay, will eventually receive the compensation they would have earned had the government remained open.
The reactions to this potential development are understandably strong.… Continue reading
The Independent’s reporting highlights a developing situation where the Trump administration is deploying federal law enforcement to Democratic-led cities, with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker accusing the administration of using the situation as a pretext to invoke the Insurrection Act. Pritzker argues that Trump is exaggerating the violence in cities like Chicago to justify military intervention, a move that is facing legal challenges. Trump has stated he would consider invoking the Act if necessary, but the governor and other officials believe state and local police can handle any situation, and his actions appear to violate the Posse Comitatus Act. The Insurrection Act, which was last invoked in 1992, could suspend that Act, potentially allowing federal troops to enforce domestic law.
Following a judge’s decision to prevent the Oregon National Guard from deploying to Portland, the Oregon Republican party celebrated the planned deployment of 300 California National Guard troops. Social media posts by the party utilized an image falsely depicting the Portland protests as out of control by combining photos from South America, taken in 2008 and 2017. When questioned about the image’s authenticity, the party’s X account admitted they were “just bad memers.”
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood