Brazil’s top court panel forming a majority to convict Bolsonaro for criminal organization, what a headline! It’s hard not to feel a surge of both admiration and a touch of envy. The fact that Brazil is taking a strong stand against a former leader, holding him accountable for alleged criminal activities, is truly commendable. It speaks volumes about the strength of their democratic institutions and their commitment to justice. It really makes you think about how the US handles its own political accountability.
It’s a bit surreal to process that a country once labeled a “banana republic” is now demonstrating such a clear commitment to upholding the rule of law while, at least in the perception of some, the US is lagging behind.… Continue reading
A fisherman using sonar on the Mississippi River in Minnesota discovered a submerged car, leading to the potential resolution of a nearly 60-year-old missing person case. Upon recovery of the 1960s-era Buick, investigators found human remains inside and identified the vehicle as belonging to Roy Benn, who vanished in 1967. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office believes the remains are those of Benn, based on the car’s VIN and other evidence. The case has been handed over to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, which has notified Benn’s family.
Read More
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Brazil’s judiciary, asserting Trump would face trial in Brazil had the January 6th Capitol attacks occurred there. Trump has imposed tariffs and criticized the proceedings against ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who faces potential imprisonment for his alleged coup attempt. Lula defended the democratic nature of Bolsonaro’s trial, highlighting the evidence-based proceedings and rejecting accusations of human rights violations from the U.S. Lula urged Brazilians to remain resilient amidst the diplomatic tensions caused by Trump’s interference, while also lamenting the damage to the historic diplomatic relationship.
Read More
Paulo Figueiredo, a Brazilian right-wing influencer, and Eduardo Bolsonaro have been spearheading a campaign in the US to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, alleging censorship of conservative voices. This lobbying effort appears to have yielded results, including the revocation of US visas for Moraes and his allies, and eventually formal sanctions. However, Figueiredo’s influence is under scrutiny as a company of his is named in a bankruptcy case related to a fraud scheme. Figueiredo, who is also allegedly involved in the launch of the social network Gettr, views these actions as a way to strengthen the pro-Bolsonaro movement in Brazil.
Read More
Brazil’s Bolsonaro arrested, adding to tensions with Trump, and it’s hard to ignore the reverberations of this event. It’s fascinating, and frankly a little alarming, to see the reaction it’s sparking. We’ve got former President Bolsonaro, now facing legal troubles, and then there’s the ex-president in the U.S., Donald Trump, whose immediate response, or rather, his predictable outrage, is what really gets tongues wagging. It feels like a classic case of “birds of a feather,” doesn’t it?
It’s clear that Trump isn’t just casually observing; he seems genuinely upset when figures accused of corruption are held accountable. Why would this be?… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker