Early Thursday morning, Senate Republicans passed legislation to claw back $9 billion in previously approved funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid programs. The vote was 51 to 48, with some Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. The bill is now headed to the GOP-controlled House and, if passed, will cement the Trump administration’s unilateral attacks on programs supported by Congress. Democrats warned that the bill imperils future spending negotiations and may be a test case for further cuts to programs.
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The Sanseito party, promoting a “Japanese First” agenda, faces scrutiny following reports of a candidate’s interview with Russian state-owned media. Saya, a Sanseito candidate running in Tokyo’s upper house district, was featured in a video interview by the Russian news agency Sputnik. The interview’s dissemination has raised concerns given current geopolitical tensions. The incident has sparked debate and could impact the party’s standing with voters.
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Following Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI’s declaration that Jeffrey Epstein’s death was a suicide and no further disclosures were warranted, controversy erupted within MAGA world. Influential figures like Elon Musk and Laura Loomer criticized the handling of the situation, sparking a division among Trump’s supporters. While some, like Ben Shapiro, downplayed the issue, others, such as Alex Jones, viewed the government’s memo as a betrayal. This led to the questioning of the existence of an “Epstein list” containing details of Epstein’s associates and those involved in his crimes, fueling conspiracy theories and causing significant division within the movement.
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Recent data reveals a significant escalation in US air strikes under the current administration. Since taking office, the current president has ordered 529 air strikes, nearly matching the previous administration’s total of 555 strikes over four years. This aggressive approach includes operations in Yemen and Somalia, exceeding the pace of the prior administration, and has opened a new front targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Experts note the increased intensity of these campaigns, indicating a shift towards a more rapid and less restrained military response.
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A significant gap of two minutes and 53 seconds was discovered in the surveillance video footage from outside Jeffrey Epstein’s prison cell prior to his death. The edited video, released by the Department of Justice and the FBI, has raised further questions, with analysis revealing that the “full raw footage” was repeatedly edited and saved. The missing footage occurs around the time of a nightly system reset, as reported by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The video was manipulated over several hours before being uploaded, and the DoJ stated the edits were for clarity.
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During a recent segment on Fox News’ “The Five,” Greg Gutfeld suggested conservatives should reclaim the term “Nazi” in a similar manner to how Black people have reclaimed the “n-word.” Gutfeld’s remarks, which included the co-hosts jokingly using the word, immediately sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing him of normalizing Nazism and being “beneath contempt.” This is due to the highly insensitive analogy used to deflect criticisms. The segment drew comparisons to past instances of Gutfeld’s increasingly extreme rhetoric, which has included calls for civil war and inflammatory comments against transgender healthcare providers.
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Environment Agency inspections revealed 199 breaches by 154 farms between 2022 and June, with 141 incidents posing a foreseeable impact on health or the environment. Despite these breaches, only one farmer faced prosecution and one received a fine, while the majority received warnings or advice. A concerning number of farms were found abstracting water without proper licenses, and only a fraction of licenses are being inspected, raising concerns about the lack of deterrent for over-abstraction. Advocates like Wildfish are calling for increased inspections and stricter enforcement to address the issue.
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On Tuesday, the Fyre Festival brand, including its intellectual property, trademarks, and social media assets, was sold on eBay for $245,300 after a week-long auction with 175 bids. The disastrous 2017 event, which promised luxury but delivered chaos, led to organizer Billy McFarland’s conviction for fraud. Despite the festival’s infamous reputation, McFarland had previously announced plans for a Fyre Festival II. Ultimately, he chose to sell the brand, citing a desire to move on and allow a new group to rebuild the festival.
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On July 17, Russian media and officials reported widespread Ukrainian drone attacks across multiple regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russian officials claimed to have shot down numerous drones, with some reports indicating temporary airport closures and injuries. Attacks were also reported in regions closer to the front lines, such as Belgorod and Voronezh, with casualties and damage reported. These reported attacks follow a series of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including a double-tap attack in Nikopol and an aerial bomb dropped on a shopping center in Donetsk Oblast.
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John Q. Hosedrinker