Mexico City celebrated its 700th anniversary with public events featuring artistic performances honoring the city’s Indigenous roots, reenacting the founding of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital established in 1325. The anniversary commemorates the Mexica’s arrival in the Valley of Mexico, guided by a divine sign, and the establishment of the city that would become central to Aztec civilization. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of recognizing Mexico’s pre-Hispanic history and eradicating racism. While the festivities are political and civic, historical research highlights that the exact founding date is unknown and details are based heavily on legend.
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Following the discovery of Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart’s body at Crawford Pond, 17-year-old Deven Young initially volunteered to help police with the investigation at the Mic Mac Cove Campground. However, Young led authorities on a “wild goose chase” before being arrested and charged with Stewart’s murder. The victim, an experienced paddleboarder, had been strangled and bludgeoned to death, with her body found under unusual circumstances, leading officials to rule the death a homicide. The teenager has been held at a youth detention facility and faces a motion to be tried as an adult.
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The Trump administration’s recent budget bill allocated a staggering $170 billion over four years to fund mass deportation efforts, including significant expansions for detention facilities, ICE operations, and border wall construction. This unprecedented level of funding has made ICE the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the country, fueling concerns about the potential for increased human rights abuses and the rapid expansion of detention centers. To meet the administration’s aggressive deportation goals, ICE is embarking on a massive hiring spree, seeking to add thousands of new agents despite warnings that rushing the hiring process will likely lead to lowered standards and increased misconduct. This situation mirrors past instances where rapid expansion of law enforcement has resulted in a deterioration of quality and an increase in problematic behavior.
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Senator Ron Wyden has been investigating Epstein’s financial network and uncovered over $1.5 billion in suspicious transactions flagged by four major banks. These transactions included transfers linked to Russian banks and payments to women and girls from multiple countries, according to Wyden. Despite requests, the Trump administration allegedly blocked access to the full files. Wyden’s office found over 4,700 money transfers connected to Epstein.
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The death toll from an attack on a Catholic church in eastern Congo, perpetrated by Islamic State-backed rebels, has risen to 34, with a separate attack on a nearby village resulting in at least five more deaths. The attacks, believed to have been carried out by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) using guns and machetes, targeted civilians in the Ituri province. Attackers stormed the church at around 1 a.m., and reports indicate that several houses and shops were also burned. The ADF, with ties to the Islamic State, has been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians in eastern Congo in recent years.
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The claim that The National, a Scottish newspaper, published a front page reading “Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland” in advance of Donald Trump’s visit is true. The newspaper’s front page, published on July 25th, included this headline, referencing Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records. This front page was shared on The National’s official X account and was further verified by a video from one of its journalists. The “convicted US felon” description is accurate, as Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in May 2024.
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Sources indicate that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intends to replace the 16-member cancer screening and HIV medication task force due to concerns of the group being too “woke.” This reported action follows a trend, as Kennedy previously removed all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The decision is linked to the task force’s use of terms like “pregnant persons” and references to “structural racism” in recent publications. Kennedy’s actions reflect a broader pattern of similar moves within other Trump administration departments.
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The Department of Justice recently questioned Ghislaine Maxwell, with her lawyer stating she answered truthfully about “100 different people”. Reports indicate the DOJ questioned Maxwell about various figures including Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk, sparking controversy, as Musk is also in the files. Experts are concerned as a high-ranking DOJ official interviewing a convicted felon is unusual. A pardon for Maxwell is under consideration as Trump has not ruled out the possibility.
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In a Truth Social post, former President Donald Trump accused Kamala Harris’ campaign of illegally paying millions for celebrity endorsements, including $3 million to Oprah Winfrey. Trump alleged that these payments violated campaign finance laws, stating that Harris and those who received endorsement money should be prosecuted. This accusation is the latest in a series of attempts to divert attention from renewed interest in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Notably, Trump’s opinion on Oprah has shifted from previous praise to criticism, reflecting a change in their relationship due to political endorsements.
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A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Virgin Islands alleges that JPMorgan Chase aided Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation by turning a blind eye to suspicious activities. The complaint claims the bank facilitated and concealed financial transactions related to the trafficking enterprise. The U.S.V.I. contends that JPMorgan provided services to Epstein even after his 2008 conviction, prioritizing his financial influence and overlooking red flags for over a decade. The lawsuit further states that human trafficking was the primary activity of Epstein’s accounts at JPMorgan.
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John Q. Hosedrinker