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Pressure is mounting for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, fueled by survivor testimony and a discharge petition in the House. Former President Trump is facing scrutiny, with survivors condemning his dismissal of the files as a “hoax”. The White House is reportedly attempting to dissuade Republicans from supporting the petition, indicating concern over the potential release. Representative Jim McGovern believes the petition may pass, citing Republican fear of Trump as a significant factor.
Russian occupation authorities in Luhansk Oblast created an online database offering Ukrainian children for adoption, categorized by physical traits and presented as “orphans.” This database, which features 294 children, allows filtering based on age, eye color, and desired guardianship, raising concerns of child trafficking. Many of the children listed were born in Luhansk Oblast before the occupation and are identified as having Ukrainian citizenship, with some parents reportedly killed or forced to accept Russian identification. The abduction of Ukrainian children, a widely condemned war crime, has led to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Russian officials, although the return of the abducted children has faced resistance.
Racquel “Kelly” Smith received a life sentence for trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, alongside accomplices Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn. The trio were also given concurrent 10-year sentences for kidnapping, despite Joshlin remaining missing. Evidence revealed Smith sold Joshlin to a traditional healer for 20,000 rand, citing the child’s desirable features. Judge Nathan Erasmus cited a lack of remorse from the defendants and the severity of the crime in imposing the maximum sentence.
Russia has reportedly transferred at least 744,000 Ukrainian children to its territory, primarily with parental accompaniment, though the true figure remains unknown due to Russia’s information blockade. While Ukraine has documented 19,546 cases of unlawful deportations, the actual number is significantly higher. Despite this lack of transparency, Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative has facilitated the return of 1,269 children. Russia employs various methods, including coercion and deception, to deport children, often separating them from families during filtration processes or forcibly removing them from institutions.
In West Virginia, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz were each sentenced to lengthy prison terms—215 and 160 years, respectively—for forcing their five adopted Black children into labor. The couple, who moved the children across state lines before settling in West Virginia, were found guilty of human trafficking, child neglect, and forced labor after a welfare check revealed the children’s horrific living conditions. The judge condemned the couple’s actions, highlighting the stark contrast between the children’s suffering and the state’s idyllic image. The victims delivered powerful impact statements, expressing their resilience and denouncing their abusers.
Trump’s decision to end a program tracking the abduction of Ukrainian children is deeply disturbing. It’s a move that suggests a callous disregard for the plight of innocent victims caught in the crossfire of a brutal war. The implications are horrifying, painting a picture of a leader prioritizing personal gain and political expediency over the well-being of vulnerable children.
The sheer scale of this act is staggering. We’re not talking about a minor bureaucratic oversight; this was a deliberate dismantling of a system designed to help reunite abducted children with their families. It speaks volumes about the priorities of an administration that would willingly choose to abandon these children to their fate.… Continue reading
Funding for a Yale University team tracking Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia has been halted due to cost-cutting measures implemented by the Trump administration’s “Doge” agency, led by Elon Musk. This team, utilizing open-source intelligence, had successfully located hundreds of children and facilitated their repatriation. The funding cut jeopardizes ongoing efforts to reunite thousands of Ukrainian children with their families and raises concerns about the Trump administration’s stance toward Russia. The UK government may be called upon to replace the lost funding. This action is widely criticized as potentially enabling further war crimes.
I was caught up in the chaos that unfolded on the freeway connecting California to Las Vegas after a truck hauling batteries crashed, resulting in a 9-hour shutdown on a scorching Friday afternoon. The temperatures soared to around 110 degrees, creating a nightmarish situation for countless travelers like myself who were caught in the traffic snarl. I had plans to head to Vegas so my wife could attend a Mariah Carey concert, but little did I know that my 4-hour trip would turn into a 10-hour odyssey filled with frustration and delays.
As traffic was rerouted at Barstow to the 40E and then to the 95N, the sheer volume of vehicles on the road quickly turned the 40 into a chaotic mess.… Continue reading
As a human being, it is incomprehensible to fathom the depths of evil and depravity that exist in some individuals. The recent case of a West Virginia couple charged with trafficking their adopted Black children to be used as ‘slaves’ is beyond abhorrent. The fact that these innocent children were found locked in a barn with no basic necessities is truly heartbreaking. The sheer cruelty and disregard for human life displayed by the couple is nothing short of monstrous.
The defense of the couple, claiming that they cannot be bad people because they adopted five Black children, is nonsensical and repugnant.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood