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Progressives And Socialists Travel to Pan-American Summit To Push Back On Trumpâs Policies
Progressive U.S. lawmakers and socialist candidates are heading to the Pan-American Congress in Uruguay to forge a cross-border leftist coalition aimed at countering right-wing governments and Trump administration policies in the Western Hemisphere. Participants include Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Chuy Garcia, and Democratic Socialist candidates from New York. The event runs from Aug. 21-23 in Montevideo. Organizers seek to promote international solidarity against what they call imperialism while opposing the so-called âDonroe Doctrineâ. Jayapal and colleagues framed the administrationâs regional approach as partisan intervention. The gathering links progressive legislators from across the Americas in an explicit effort to push back against conservative trends.
Editorâs Note: The rightward shift in politics in Central and South America came at the peopleâs choice at the ballot box. So this effort can only be seen as election interference and a usurpation of the peopleâs mandate.
đď¸ News & Politics
Maoist Faction Of DSA Rejects AOC As Potential Candidate For Lacking Palestine Solidarity
A Marxist-Leninist-Maoist faction of the Democratic Socialists of America rejected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. The DSA Liberation Caucus said she has retreated from socialist politics and failed conditions on Palestine solidarity. The group cited her hosting a panel with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and voting for a resolution affirming Israelâs right to exist. It condemned efforts to present her as a DSA standard-bearer. The caucus formed in 2025 and describes itself as adhering to Maoist principles within the broader organization.
El-Sayed Campaign Gets $175,000 Boost From CAIR After Criticizing AIPAC Support
The Unity and Justice Fund, linked to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, donated $175,000 to Fighting for Michigan PAC, which supports Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The contribution came after El-Sayed criticized AIPAC's support for his primary opponent as a form of foreign intervention. Fighting for Michigan has spent nearly $3 million on ads and polls for El-Sayed. CAIRâs leader previously expressed happiness about the Oct. 7 attacks. The PAC has ties to other progressive and anti-Israel groups. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
Editorâs Note: CAIR was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holyland Foundation terrorism finance trial that proved CAIR monetarily supported Hamas. This is the second link for El-Sayed to donors with terrorist ties.
HHS Uncovers Millions In Potentially Fraudulent Billing For Pediatric Gender Care
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report examining insurance coding for sex-reassignment procedures on minors. The analysis identified about $50 million in claims for puberty blockers billed under endocrine disorder codes and nearly $11 million under precocious puberty codes for older teens. Officials said the patterns suggest potentially fraudulent billing to secure coverage. More than 225 hospitals have established pediatric gender programs. Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine highlighted the findings. Referrals were made to the Justice Department and the HHS Inspector General for further review.
53 Percent Of Seattle Democrats Want Socialist Mayor Katie Wilson To Resign
A Change Washington poll found 66 percent of Seattle voters disapprove of Mayor Katie Wilsonâs job performance. Sixty percent overall said she should resign or be removed from office. Among Democrats, 53 percent favored her resignation or removal, while 60 percent disapproved of her performance. A separate Fulcrum Strategy Group poll showed her favorability falling to 37 percent from 57 percent in April. Voters cited public safety concerns, including the response to a mass shooting and the handling of drug use and encampments. Wilson said anyone can interpret polls, and her priority is delivering for Seattle.
Zuckerbergâs Meta Had Donât Ask Donât Tell Policy On Child Safety Ex-Employee Testifies In Historic Trial
A former Meta safety researcher testified that the company maintained a âdonât ask, donât tellâ approach to underage users and child safety concerns. Arturo BĂŠjar told a California federal court that Meta prioritized growth and profits over addressing risks on Facebook and Instagram. He said CEO Mark Zuckerberg did little to act on safety issues despite repeated discussions. BĂŠjar was the first witness called by a coalition of state attorneys general suing Meta over alleged teen mental health harms and data practices. Meta has denied wrongdoing and argued it has implemented protective tools. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
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Jewish Democrats Urge Support For Mike Rogers Over Abdul El-Sayed
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers (R-MI) is courting Democrats unhappy with Michigan Democrat nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Rogers launched a âDemocrats for Mike Rogersâ coalition featuring lifelong Democrats and Jewish leaders. Supporters cited concerns over El-Sayedâs positions on Israel and progressive policies. Polls show a close race. Some Jewish Democrats have organized fundraisers and open letters in support of Rogers. El-Sayedâs campaign accused Rogers of prioritizing Trump over Michigan interests.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Warns Property Owners Not To Partner With ICE
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu urged private property owners not to lease parking spaces to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter followed a DHS notice seeking about 249 parking spots in Boston for potential enforcement operations. Wu said renting to ICE would escalate risks to public safety and economic activity. She also filed a FOIA request to identify interested property owners. DHS called her actions âunhingedâ and said she lacks the authority to block the use of private property. Wu previously restricted ICE from city-owned property.
Editorâs Note: Of course, she has no say about who private citizens allow to park on their property. The lawsuits would flyâŚ
Ignorant MSNOW Reporter: Cuban Voters In Florida Might Not Understand Communism Versus Democratic Socialism
An MS NOW reporter discussed challenges for Democrats in Florida after the nomination of DSA-aligned candidate Angie Nixon. The reporter noted the stateâs large Cuban diaspora and its aversion to communism. He said Republican messaging creates an incorrect conflation between communism and democratic socialism that could hurt Nixonâs general election prospects. Florida has more registered Republicans than Democrats. Cuban Americans often lean conservative due to experiences with communism in Cuba.
DHS Canât Make Cities Ditch DEI To Get Disaster Relief, Judge Rules
A federal judge blocked the Department of Homeland Security from conditioning disaster relief funds on cities eliminating DEI policies. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane in Oregon granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the city of Salem. He found no connection between the grant conditions and disaster recovery programs. The judge said the requirements involving gender ideology and DEI were unrelated and too vague. Salem had sued to protect funding for storm and flood repairs. The ruling prevents the withholding of money while the case proceeds.
Black Christian Preacher In Dearborn Slams Officials For Running City Under Sharia Law
A Christian pastor addressed the Dearborn, Michigan, city council and accused officials of operating the city under Sharia law rather than American law. Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church said the city is no longer under American laws and declared, "Enough is enough.â He stated that America is not a nation of Muslims but a nation of Christians under the God of the Bible. Sewell referenced an earlier incident involving activist Jake Lang and claimed insufficient arrests showed preferential treatment. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud rejected the characterization, saying such portrayals attack the idea that all faiths can belong in America.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Totalitarianism is not the accidental byproduct of socialism; it is the logical culmination of concentrating all economic and political power in the hands of the state."
â Frank Chodorov
đ International
Armed Men Seize Oil Tanker Off Yemen And Divert It Toward Somalia
Armed men boarded an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen and took control of the vessel, diverting it toward Somalia. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the incident occurred about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla. Six armed persons seized the tanker, identified as the Seamull or Sibu 1, after it issued a distress call. Authorities are investigating the hijacking. The event comes amid a resurgence of Somali piracy in the region. Vessels have been advised to transit with caution.
Iran Warns Of Devastating Response To US Sanctions As America Prepares New Phase
Iranâs Armed Forces chief of staff warned of a crushing and devastating military response to any new U.S. threats after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would impose the toughest sanctions in history. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for an end to the war while Iran holds a position of strength and dignity. China pushed back against U.S. calls for cooperation on the sanctions. Oil prices rose amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts noted limited new supplies of Iranian oil due to the U.S. blockade.
Editorâs Note: A crippled country is not in a position of strength, and the US can be energy independent.
China Sentences Evergrande Founder To Life In Prison
A Chinese court sentenced Xu Jiayin, founder of the collapsed property developer Evergrande, to life in prison. The Shenzhen Intermediate Peopleâs Court convicted him of multiple crimes, including financial fraud, embezzlement, and corporate bribery. All of his personal assets were ordered confiscated, and he was deprived of political rights for life. Evergrande Group and its real estate unit were fined a combined 15.82 billion yuan. Other executives, including family members, received prison terms. The case stems from the companyâs 2021 default that contributed to Chinaâs property sector crisis.
Editorâs Note: What a novel idea, people who defrauded the people in real estate financial scams are actually going to prisonâŚ(ahem).
French Police Attacked By Migrants As They Intercept Inflatable Boat
French police intercepted an inflatable boat on a beach in northern France as migrants attempted to cross the Channel to the UK. Footage shows migrants throwing objects at officers. Police used spray and then slashed the dinghy with a knife to deflate it. The action occurred under a UK-France deal funding enhanced enforcement. French authorities report preventing 185 small boat events and more than 4,300 migrant crossing attempts in recent months. Officers have also boarded multiple taxi boats at sea.
US Imposes Sanctions On Hezbollah Cash Smuggling Ring
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 10 individuals accused of operating a cash smuggling network for Hezbollah. The network used couriers on commercial flights to move funds between Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the scheme allowed the group to obtain foreign currency and evade sanctions. The Treasury also redesignated Hezbollah as controlled by Iranâs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. The action came amid broader U.S. plans for intensified economic pressure on Iran.





