The Logan Square community has rallied to find Bam Bam, a 14-year-old dachshund stolen from his legally blind owner, Angel Santiago, in June. A team of neighbors and animal lovers have established a tip line, a Facebook page, and a website to aid the search, and a flier canvassing event will take place this weekend. A fundraiser has already surpassed its goal, with the funds earmarked for flyers and to increase the reward for Bam Bam’s safe return, currently at $5,000. The group hopes the increased awareness and pressure will lead to Bam Bam’s safe return, with no questions asked, and are open to anonymous tips.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom is employing a combative and meme-heavy social media strategy, modeled after Donald Trump’s online persona, to counter Republican initiatives. This involves all-caps threats, pop culture parodies, and AI-edited content. Newsom’s strategy includes mocking Trump on social media while also responding to redistricting plans in Texas. The governor’s team is adopting tactics like trolling and parody to shift the narrative in Democrats’ favor, which is resonating with Democratic voters. However, some strategists warn that this viral appeal may not translate into broader support.
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Behind-the-scenes footage released by RT, a Russian state-run news network, depicts President Trump engaging with Vladimir Putin backstage following their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. The video shows Trump initiating a two-handed handshake with Putin and then shaking the translator’s hand, with both leaders laughing together. The footage was released by the Kremlin shortly after the public remarks, where neither leader took any questions. The White House has not released similar candid footage. This is the latest instance of the Kremlin providing more details than the White House.
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The summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska has been met with jubilation in Russia, as Putin secured a meeting with his US counterpart without making any concessions. Despite Trump initially threatening consequences if Moscow refused a ceasefire, the summit yielded no tangible results, and Trump instead embraced Putin’s preferred path of a comprehensive peace agreement. This shift was seen as a victory for Putin, as Trump appeared to shift responsibility to Kyiv and Europe while potentially applying pressure on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to meet Putin’s demands. Moscow’s confidence is high, with Russian officials openly contradicting Trump and state media celebrating the summit as a sign of Russia’s international standing.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning to spend up to $50 million on a new international PR campaign, following previous “Stronger Border, Stronger America” ads starring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This campaign, running from September to March, is being managed by People Who Think LLC, a company with ties to the GOP and Noem’s unofficial chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski. The move comes amid intense criticism of Noem, including mockery on *South Park* and scrutiny over her promotional activities. Despite a DHS spokesperson denying the spending is related to Noem’s coverage, Democrats have raised concerns over the use of taxpayer dollars and demanded records.
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Despite the historic summit and high expectations, President Trump and President Putin concluded their Alaska meeting without announcing a deal to end the war in Ukraine, though both leaders expressed optimism about future progress. The meeting, marked by a military flyover and a presidential limousine ride, included three hours of talks, yet yielded no details on a ceasefire or any concrete agreements. While Putin emphasized the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict, suggesting continued demands that Ukraine would likely reject, Trump left without taking questions. This outcome has fueled speculation that the summit served as a stalling tactic, despite Trump’s previous warnings of severe consequences for failure to reach an agreement.
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In a recent Zoom call with Texas state Democrats, former President Barack Obama delivered a sharp critique of efforts to gerrymander congressional districts and suppress voting, specifically targeting actions perceived as an assault on democracy. The meeting served as both a pep talk and a strategy session, during which Obama emphasized the need to fight for democratic principles. He also expressed gratitude to the Texas Democrats for their efforts in highlighting the redistricting fight and inspiring other states to retaliate against Republican plans. Obama’s involvement underscores his commitment to combating partisan gerrymandering, further evidenced by his upcoming fundraiser to support Eric Holder’s National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
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Melania Trump personally appealed to Vladimir Putin regarding the illegal abduction of Ukrainian children, with the letter delivered during negotiations in Alaska. The full contents of the letter remain undisclosed, but it specifically addressed the issue of child abductions amid the ongoing war. This comes as Ukraine confirms the deportation of over 19,000 children, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Putin and others involved in the illegal removal of children. Following the summit, both leaders expressed optimism, with Trump mentioning discussions on territorial agreements and security guarantees for Ukraine, while Putin emphasized resolving the war’s “fundamental causes.”
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Hezbollah’s leader issued a stark warning to Lebanon, stating there would be “no life” if the government confronted the group. This follows President Joseph Aoun’s statement to an Iranian official that no Lebanese group is allowed to possess weapons or depend on foreign support. The warning suggests a firm stance against any attempts to disarm or limit Hezbollah’s influence in the country. The group’s leader’s remarks highlight the ongoing tension regarding Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon.
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The meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Putin cited fundamental threats to Russian security and the need to eliminate conflict causes, echoing the Kremlin’s long-held justifications for the war. Trump described the talks as productive but admitted a deal wasn’t reached. Czech Minister Lipavský welcomed Trump’s efforts to halt the war and hoped for updates on the negotiations, while also noting Russia’s continued attacks during the talks indicated a lack of seriousness about peace.
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John Q. Hosedrinker