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#libraryofcongress — Public Fediverse posts

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  1. Author Carlo Carrasco @[email protected] ·

    What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 138

    Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

    Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

    I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

    #1 How To Get The Strongest And Most Optimized Spaceship Crew In Starfield – This year, Bethesda launched several important updates to make their 2023 science fiction role-playing game Starfield better and they also offered new DLC for those who crave for new content. One of the more defining aspects of the game is space travel and this includes setting up your own crew for your spaceship and there is impact on its functions and capabilities. If you want to learn how to get the stronger and most optimized crew for your ship, I encourage you watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/vy8iOx7eqVU?si=gn7W1mZxTOQ4SSrd

    #2 Mari Iijima And The Defining Song of Macross: Do You Remember Love? – I really love watching the 1984 anime feature film Macross: Do You Remember Love? Apart from the great animation, the spectacle, the memorable characters and the solid storytelling, the movie also has a great soundtrack made to delight the long-time Macross fans. Still, the movie has its very own song performed by none other than Mari Iijima (Minmay) and it is a classic among Macross fans. In the videos below, you will see Mari Iijima perform the song live in a 1980s TV broadcast and the song playing with selected footage of Macross: Do You Remember Love? Enjoy these!

    https://youtu.be/OfuW_Wbt73c?si=Q1DE8eJxo4Zk90pc

    https://youtu.be/uJBMYV9e1Nc?si=veDGYU4r7s0flQ_H

    #3 The Tuna City In Japan Is Changing With Tourism In Mind – If you plan to visit Japan at all, you might want to discover Miura City located in Kanagawa Prefecture. Miura City is famous for its fresh tuna and in recent times there has been a series of changes as several room-only hotels and new trends have sprouted as the locality is finding new ways to turn visitors into overnight guests. This is a place I would like to visit someday if ever I get the opportunity to return to Japan. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

    https://youtu.be/fUPP30fYH78?si=MrC6Dml3IRVe7fcV

    #4 Women’s Rights Activist Marries Islamist And Things Went Wrong – Did you notice that there is a gradual rising number of feminists and women’s rights activists who not embrace Islam (wicked and ugly) but also marry Islamists believing that things will be alright and they can just continue their activism. Of course, many of them activists and feminists do not fully understand Islam nor the full content of the Quran. As such, when things go very wrong, they are get into deep trouble. Watch and learn from the video below.

    https://youtu.be/bx3YvoyP6cw?si=omxqhyR8CQfpfhYK

    #5 Islamists Violate Hindu Women In India And Get Arrested – Let’s be very clear here. Islamists are oriented to conquer others even though they may not be numerous within a locality. Believe it or not, a group of such people who wielded power inside a business violated the Hindu women (plus at least one male employee) with regards to cultural norms and doing things that go against their faith. Even forced religious conversion happened. Watch and learn from the video below.

    https://youtu.be/9xjFS-3Vuws?si=xuDIivIonrp9tQux

    #6 Meatballs Reaction And Retrospective – When it comes to cinematic comedy, Bill Murray is iconic and his early work in 1979’s Meatballs already involved the late Harold Ramis and the late director Ivan Reitman. That said, there is something about Meatballs – produced for less than $2 million – that helped it achieve tremendous commercial success with ticket sales of $70 million. Remember, three of the creative minds behind the classic Ghostbusters are involved in this old movie and you will see how You, Me and The Movies react to it in the video below. Be aware that as of this writing, there are not too many movie reaction videos about Meatballs on YouTube. Also posted below is an in-depth retrospective about Meatballs by GoodBadFlicks.

    https://youtu.be/nhR9xUCvpAI?si=Zh6gjAX0SdIrtSfT

    https://youtu.be/D0BS-K3K_vE?si=HtyR_VThLUKv0Wj6

    #7 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To The Thin Man – Have you ever heard of The Thin Man? It’s not a UFO reference. It’s the 1934 American pre-Code comedy-mystery movie that was eventually named to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress having been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” in 1997. Apart from its reputation in American film history, The Thin Man also resulted in five sequels. If you want to discover the 1934 movie but you don’t have the time nor resources to watch the movie, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video and see how it impacts her.

    https://youtu.be/IJRQXuw–20?si=mSYY7_Eb4EK6reBY

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #1930s #1970s #1980s #1990s #amusement #animation #anime #AshleighBurton #Asia #Bethesda #BethesdaSoftworks #BillMurray #CarloCarrasco #CBR #CBRCom #ChatGPT #cinema #classics #ComicBookResourcesCBR #Communist #crime #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #Facebook #feminism #feminist #film #fish #food #forcedConversion #fun #geek #GoodBadFlicks #Google #GoogleSearch #Hindu #holiday #immigration #Inclusion #India #Indians #Instagram #IslamicTerrorists #Islamist #IslamoLeft #IvanReitman #Japan #KanagawaPrefecture #KhanNida #liberal #LibraryOfCongress #LynnMinmay #Macross #MacrossDoYouRememberLove #MariIijima #Marxist #meatballs #Minmay #MiuraCity #movies #music #Muslim #MuslimWomen #Muslims #mustSee #mustWatch #NationalFilmRegistry #Nippon #NipponTV #nostalgia #onlineVideos #religion #Reviews #rolePlayingGameRPG #SaharTV #sciFi #scienceFiction #sex #sexualAssault #sexualHarassment #ShariaLaw #ShariahLawIsWicked #SJW #SJWs #socialJustice #socialJusticeWarriorSJW #SocialJusticeWarriorsSJWs #socialMedia #socialist #spaceTravel #spaceship #Starfield #SuperDimensionFortressMacross #Tata #TataConsultancyServicesTCS #terrorism #terrorists #The1930s #The1970s #The1980s #The1990s #TheThinMan #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #tuna #Twitter #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #video #videoBlog #videos #WhatToWatchOnYouTube #women #womenSInterest #womenSRights #WordPress #WordPressCom #Xbox #YouMeAndTheMovies #YouTube #YouTuber #YouTubers
    #1930s #1970s #1980s #1990s #amusement #animation
  2. Author Carlo Carrasco @[email protected] ·

    What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 138

    Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

    Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

    I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

    #1 How To Get The Strongest And Most Optimized Spaceship Crew In Starfield – This year, Bethesda launched several important updates to make their 2023 science fiction role-playing game Starfield better and they also offered new DLC for those who crave for new content. One of the more defining aspects of the game is space travel and this includes setting up your own crew for your spaceship and there is impact on its functions and capabilities. If you want to learn how to get the stronger and most optimized crew for your ship, I encourage you watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/vy8iOx7eqVU?si=gn7W1mZxTOQ4SSrd

    #2 Mari Iijima And The Defining Song of Macross: Do You Remember Love? – I really love watching the 1984 anime feature film Macross: Do You Remember Love? Apart from the great animation, the spectacle, the memorable characters and the solid storytelling, the movie also has a great soundtrack made to delight the long-time Macross fans. Still, the movie has its very own song performed by none other than Mari Iijima (Minmay) and it is a classic among Macross fans. In the videos below, you will see Mari Iijima perform the song live in a 1980s TV broadcast and the song playing with selected footage of Macross: Do You Remember Love? Enjoy these!

    https://youtu.be/OfuW_Wbt73c?si=Q1DE8eJxo4Zk90pc

    https://youtu.be/uJBMYV9e1Nc?si=veDGYU4r7s0flQ_H

    #3 The Tuna City In Japan Is Changing With Tourism In Mind – If you plan to visit Japan at all, you might want to discover Miura City located in Kanagawa Prefecture. Miura City is famous for its fresh tuna and in recent times there has been a series of changes as several room-only hotels and new trends have sprouted as the locality is finding new ways to turn visitors into overnight guests. This is a place I would like to visit someday if ever I get the opportunity to return to Japan. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

    https://youtu.be/fUPP30fYH78?si=MrC6Dml3IRVe7fcV

    #4 Women’s Rights Activist Marries Islamist And Things Went Wrong – Did you notice that there is a gradual rising number of feminists and women’s rights activists who not embrace Islam (wicked and ugly) but also marry Islamists believing that things will be alright and they can just continue their activism. Of course, many of them activists and feminists do not fully understand Islam nor the full content of the Quran. As such, when things go very wrong, they are get into deep trouble. Watch and learn from the video below.

    https://youtu.be/bx3YvoyP6cw?si=omxqhyR8CQfpfhYK

    #5 Islamists Violate Hindu Women In India And Get Arrested – Let’s be very clear here. Islamists are oriented to conquer others even though they may not be numerous within a locality. Believe it or not, a group of such people who wielded power inside a business violated the Hindu women (plus at least one male employee) with regards to cultural norms and doing things that go against their faith. Even forced religious conversion happened. Watch and learn from the video below.

    https://youtu.be/9xjFS-3Vuws?si=xuDIivIonrp9tQux

    #6 Meatballs Reaction And Retrospective – When it comes to cinematic comedy, Bill Murray is iconic and his early work in 1979’s Meatballs already involved the late Harold Ramis and the late director Ivan Reitman. That said, there is something about Meatballs – produced for less than $2 million – that helped it achieve tremendous commercial success with ticket sales of $70 million. Remember, three of the creative minds behind the classic Ghostbusters are involved in this old movie and you will see how You, Me and The Movies react to it in the video below. Be aware that as of this writing, there are not too many movie reaction videos about Meatballs on YouTube. Also posted below is an in-depth retrospective about Meatballs by GoodBadFlicks.

    https://youtu.be/nhR9xUCvpAI?si=Zh6gjAX0SdIrtSfT

    https://youtu.be/D0BS-K3K_vE?si=HtyR_VThLUKv0Wj6

    #7 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To The Thin Man – Have you ever heard of The Thin Man? It’s not a UFO reference. It’s the 1934 American pre-Code comedy-mystery movie that was eventually named to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress having been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” in 1997. Apart from its reputation in American film history, The Thin Man also resulted in five sequels. If you want to discover the 1934 movie but you don’t have the time nor resources to watch the movie, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video and see how it impacts her.

    https://youtu.be/IJRQXuw–20?si=mSYY7_Eb4EK6reBY

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #1930s #1970s #1980s #1990s #amusement #animation #anime #AshleighBurton #Asia #Bethesda #BethesdaSoftworks #BillMurray #CarloCarrasco #CBR #CBRCom #ChatGPT #cinema #classics #ComicBookResourcesCBR #Communist #crime #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #Facebook #feminism #feminist #film #fish #food #forcedConversion #fun #geek #GoodBadFlicks #Google #GoogleSearch #Hindu #holiday #immigration #Inclusion #India #Indians #Instagram #IslamicTerrorists #Islamist #IslamoLeft #IvanReitman #Japan #KanagawaPrefecture #KhanNida #liberal #LibraryOfCongress #LynnMinmay #Macross #MacrossDoYouRememberLove #MariIijima #Marxist #meatballs #Minmay #MiuraCity #movies #music #Muslim #MuslimWomen #Muslims #mustSee #mustWatch #NationalFilmRegistry #Nippon #NipponTV #nostalgia #onlineVideos #religion #Reviews #rolePlayingGameRPG #SaharTV #sciFi #scienceFiction #sex #sexualAssault #sexualHarassment #ShariaLaw #ShariahLawIsWicked #SJW #SJWs #socialJustice #socialJusticeWarriorSJW #SocialJusticeWarriorsSJWs #socialMedia #socialist #spaceTravel #spaceship #Starfield #SuperDimensionFortressMacross #Tata #TataConsultancyServicesTCS #terrorism #terrorists #The1930s #The1970s #The1980s #The1990s #TheThinMan #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #tuna #Twitter #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #video #videoBlog #videos #WhatToWatchOnYouTube #women #womenSInterest #womenSRights #WordPress #WordPressCom #Xbox #YouMeAndTheMovies #YouTube #YouTuber #YouTubers
    #1930s #1970s #1980s #1990s #amusement #animation
  3. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Resources for African American History Month: Selected Digital Collections – Teaching with the Library

    Teaching with the Library Primary Sources & Ideas for Educators

    ISSN 2691-6916

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    Article image… See online at https://www.loc.gov/collections/?fa=subject_topic:african+american+history&loclr=blogtea

    Resources for African American History Month: Selected Digital Collections

    February 10, 2026, Posted by: Colleen Smith

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    This is the second post in a series that looks at different resources from the Library that support teaching and learning about the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history.  The first post highlighted several primary source sets from Teaching with the Library; today’s post brings attention to the Library’s digital collections.

    More than twenty-five of the Library’s digital collections relate to the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contemporary experiences of African Americans. A few are highlighted below, along with ideas for using collection items in the classroom.

    Selected Collections

    African American Photographs Assembled for the 1900 Paris Exposition 

    W. E. B. Du Bois compiled a series of photographs for the “American Negro” exhibit at the 1900 Paris Exposition. His goal was to show the diversity and successes of African Americans as a counter to common stereotypes. The Library of Congress holds approximately 220 mounted photographs reportedly displayed in the exhibition.

    • Teachers might use items in this collection to introduce, investigate, or reinforce aspects of DuBois’s approach to combating racism and segregation.
    • Images from the collection are powerful visuals of African Americans holding professions in diverse fields. This may help broaden students’ understanding of African American life at the time and bring attention to the experiences, successes, challenges, and contributions of African American individuals and communities.

    By Popular Demand: Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s 

    To honor the remarkable life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, Library staff put together this collection featuring sources from across many different divisions of the Library.

    • The colorful prints and photographs make this an inviting collection to explore with younger learners. Teachers could bring some of these visuals to support existing materials they use to celebrate Robinson and his contributions.
    • For older learners, consider sending them to this set of brief essays. Topics include Robinson’s career and the greater subject of segregation in the sport of baseball.

    Zora Neal Hurston

    This collection features digitized plays by Hurston (1891-1960), an author, anthropologist, and folklorist.

    • A timeline offers a glimpse into Hurston’s life and career and could help students find an angle or selected topic for further research.
    • Teachers interested in finding more on Huston’s work might also consult this resource guide from the American Folklife Center, where Hurston’s audio recordings are held. The guide highlights unique unpublished and published materials.

    Frederick Douglass Newspapers, 1847 to 1874

    Douglass, a leader in the black press, used the medium to communicate and persuade the public on the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. With this collection, students can explore newspapers edited by Frederick Douglass.

    • These articles and essays are helpful for finding your way through the collection and identifying aspects to explore further. For example, this post gives further context to Douglass’s famous speech, “What to the American Slave is Your Fourth of July?“
    • Ask students to consider how Douglass used the media of his time to capture public attention. In what ways do public figures use media today to communicate a message? What differences and similarities do students notice?

    We hope this overview is helpful for considering how you might bring some of the Library’s digital collections to your classroom. If you are interested in more ways for students to engage with materials from the Library, you might check out the latest transcription campaign from By the People: the papers of Christian Fleetwood an African American Union soldier during the Civil War.

    Do you enjoy these posts? Subscribe! You’ll receive free teaching ideas and primary sources from the Library of Congress.

    Categories

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Resources for African American History Month: Selected Digital Collections | Teaching with the Library

    Tags: 1900 Paris Exposition, 25 Collections, African American History Month, American Negro, Blogs, By the People, Christian Fleetwood, Colleen Smith, Frederick Douglass Newspapers, History of Black Americans, Jackie Robinson, Library of Congress, Selected Digital Collections, Teaching with the Library, W.E.Ba. Du Bois, Zora Neal Hurston
    #1900ParisExposition #25Collections #AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth #AmericanNegro #Blogs #ByThePeople #ChristianFleetwood #ColleenSmith #FrederickDouglassNewspapers #HistoryOfBlackAmericans #JackieRobinson #LibraryOfCongress #SelectedDigitalCollections #TeachingWithTheLibrary #WEBaDuBois #ZoraNealHurston
    #1900parisexposition #25collections #africanamericanhistorymonth #americannegro #blogs #bythepeople
  4. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Letters from an American – October 13, 2025 – Heather Cox Richardson

    Letters from an American

    Letters from an American, October 13, 2025

    By Heather Cox Richardson, Oct 13, 2025

    Last Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump showed to Canadian officials a plan for a triumphal arch that would sit on the banks of the Potomac River opposite the Lincoln Memorial in a traffic rotary at the Virginia end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge below Arlington National Cemetery. The idea, apparently, is to build the arch to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026.

    On Thursday, the White House press pool reported, the plan was laid out on Trump’s desk in the Oval Office. The massive stone arch appears to be the same height as or taller than the Lincoln Memorial. Early in the morning on Saturday, October 11, Trump posted on social media an artist’s rendering of what such an arch might look like, complete with what appears to be a gold winged victory statue at the top of the arch.

    Triumphal arches are free-standing structures consisting of one or more arches crowned with a flat top for engravings or statues. They hark back to ancient Rome, where leaders built them to commemorate military victories or significant public events. Those arches inspired others, like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, built to honor those who died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

    Observers immediately noted that the photographed plan showed the Lincoln Memorial facing the wrong way, and compared the Trump Arch both to the Arc de Triomphe and to another arch modeled on it: the German Arch of Triumph proposed by Adolph Hitler to commemorate Germany’s victory in World War II.

    That triumphal arch was never built.

    Architect Eric Jenkins told Daniel Jonas Roche of The Architect’s Newspaper that the proposed arch would disrupt the symbolic connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The two are connected not only by the Arlington Memorial Bridge, but also by the Civil War. During that war, the nation began to bury its hallowed dead on the grounds of the former home of General Robert E. Lee, who led the troops of the Confederacy. Lee’s Arlington House sits directly behind the memorial to Lincoln, who led the United States to stop the Confederates from dismantling the nation.

    The proposed construction of a triumphal arch contrasts with the expected sale and probable demolition of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. Completed in 1940, the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building was built to house the Social Security Board, the precursor to the Social Security Administration.

    In August 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. That law established a federal system of old-age benefits; unemployment insurance; aid to homeless, dependent, and neglected children; funds to promote maternal and child welfare; and public health services. It was a sweeping reworking of the relationship between the government and its citizens, using the power of taxation to pool funds to provide a basic social safety net.

    The vision of government behind the Social Security Act was very different from that of the Republicans who had run it in the 1920s. While men like President Herbert Hoover had embraced the idea of a “rugged individualism” in which men provided for their families on their own, those behind the Social Security Act recognized that the vision of a hardworking man supporting his wife and children was more myth than reality. They replaced that vision with one in which the government recognized that all Americans were equally valuable.

    Their reworking of American government came from the conditions of the United States after the rise of modern industry. Americans had always depended on community, but the harsh conditions of industrialization in the late nineteenth century had made it clear that the government must protect that community. City governments like New York City’s Tammany Hall began to provide a basic system of social welfare for voters, making sure that they had jobs, food, and shelter and that women and children had a support network if a husband or father died.

    Editor’s Note: Please subscribe if you can. Heather provides insights into the legal fiasco, Trump, legal challenges, and more.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: October 13, 2025 – by Heather Cox Richardson

    #2025 #250AnniversityAmerica #America #ArcDeTriomphe #DonaldTrump #Education #Health #HeatherCoxRichardson #History #LettersFromAnAmerican #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #Substack #triumphalArch #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #WashingtonDC

    #250anniversityamerica #america #arcdetriomphe #donaldtrump #education #health
  5. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Shutdown Update; Senate Votes – GovTrack.us

    govtrack.us

    Tracking Congress & the White House

    Legislative Recap Oct. 10, 2025: Shutdown Update; Senate Votes »

    1. News From Us
    2. Legislative Recap

    Shutdown Update; Senate Votes, Oct. 10, 2025 · by Amy West

    Shutdown Update

    Still going. 

    The Senate voted for a seventh time on the two competing continuing resolutions in front of it to allocate funds to federal agencies (one Democratic, one Republican) and both failed again to reach the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. It’s possible that Republicans are beginning to soften their positions. On X, Igor Bobic posted about Democrats’ ask to extend expiring health care subsidies:

    “[Sen.] Tillis says a deal on ACA subsidies wouldn’t be hard once government is funded, with mix of retiring senators & those up for reelection. “You’re telling me you can’t find eight people that could walk the plank?” “As a veteran plank-walker, it’s not near as bad as it seems””

    One might reasonably ask why not walk the plank now in order to end the shutdown? However, if Senate Republicans have been asked this kind of question, no one has publicly recorded their responses.

    (By the way, in a previous post we incorrectly wrote that these subsidies would affect low-income Americans. But that was wrong: It would affect middle class Americans who get health care through the ACA marketplace exchanges.)

    The House remains in recess. Many House Democrats are in D.C. anyway to make a messaging point and to push Speaker Johnson on why Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva hasn’t been sworn in yet. Earlier this year, Republican representatives-elect Patronis (FL-1) and Fine (FL-6) were sworn in immediately after election while the House was in recess. Why won’t Johnson swear her in? Punchbowl takes a stab at answering the question. Maybe it’s not about Epstein files; maybe Johnson is just really committed to this stop-work action he’s making the House take during the shutdown. A few Republican House members are expressing dissatisfaction with Johnson’s strategy.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Shutdown Update; Senate Votes – GovTrack.us

    #2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Education #GOP #GOPShutdown #GovTrack #GovTrackUs #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Politics #RepublicanShutdown #Resistance #Science #SenateVotes #Shutdown2025 #Trump #TrumpAdministration #USSenate #UnitedStates

    #america #donaldtrump #education #gop #gopshutdown #govtrack
  6. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment – San Francisco Chronicle

    People protest outside a federal courthouse on Oct. 3, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Jenny Kane /Associated Press

    Politics

    Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment — twice

    By Bob Egelko, Staff Writer, Oct 6, 2025

    Audio FileDownload

    President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them “radical lunatics” or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn’t usually go after judges he appointed.

    That changed this weekend.

    U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon’s National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump’s administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama. 

    Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state’s National Guard troops. 

    And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon’s largest city.

    The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee — she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

    That didn’t stop Trump from assailing her. He didn’t call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say — and show — that he didn’t know much about her.

    “I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you,” Trump said Sunday outside the White House. “I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge,” who “ought to be ashamed of himself,” Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be “ashamed of herself,” and that Portland was “burning to the ground,” contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut. 

    Trump’s national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut’s rulings as a “legal insurrection” — apparently viewing any decision against Trump’s military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

    During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a “so-called judge.” 

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment

    #2025 #America #Appointee #BlockedOregonTroops #DistrictCourt #DonaldTrump #Education #FailedToProvideEvidence #Health #History #JudgeKarinImmergut #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Oregon #Politics #Portland #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpTurns #USDistrictJudgeKarinImmergut #UnitedStates

    #america #appointee #blockedoregontroops #districtcourt #donaldtrump #education
  7. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment – San Francisco Chronicle

    People protest outside a federal courthouse on Oct. 3, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Jenny Kane /Associated Press

    Politics

    Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment — twice

    By Bob Egelko, Staff Writer, Oct 6, 2025

    Audio FileDownload

    President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them “radical lunatics” or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn’t usually go after judges he appointed.

    That changed this weekend.

    U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon’s National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump’s administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama. 

    Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state’s National Guard troops. 

    And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon’s largest city.

    The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee — she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

    That didn’t stop Trump from assailing her. He didn’t call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say — and show — that he didn’t know much about her.

    “I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you,” Trump said Sunday outside the White House. “I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge,” who “ought to be ashamed of himself,” Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be “ashamed of herself,” and that Portland was “burning to the ground,” contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut. 

    Trump’s national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut’s rulings as a “legal insurrection” — apparently viewing any decision against Trump’s military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

    During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a “so-called judge.” 

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment

    #2025 #America #Appointee #BlockedOregonTroops #DistrictCourt #DonaldTrump #Education #FailedToProvideEvidence #Health #History #JudgeKarinImmergut #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Oregon #Politics #Portland #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpTurns #USDistrictJudgeKarinImmergut #UnitedStates

    #america #appointee #blockedoregontroops #districtcourt #donaldtrump #education
  8. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment – San Francisco Chronicle

    People protest outside a federal courthouse on Oct. 3, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Jenny Kane /Associated Press

    Politics

    Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment — twice

    By Bob Egelko, Staff Writer, Oct 6, 2025

    Audio FileDownload

    President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them “radical lunatics” or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn’t usually go after judges he appointed.

    That changed this weekend.

    U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon’s National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump’s administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama. 

    Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state’s National Guard troops. 

    And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon’s largest city.

    The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee — she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

    That didn’t stop Trump from assailing her. He didn’t call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say — and show — that he didn’t know much about her.

    “I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you,” Trump said Sunday outside the White House. “I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge,” who “ought to be ashamed of himself,” Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be “ashamed of herself,” and that Portland was “burning to the ground,” contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut. 

    Trump’s national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut’s rulings as a “legal insurrection” — apparently viewing any decision against Trump’s military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

    During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a “so-called judge.” 

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment

    #2025 #America #Appointee #BlockedOregonTroops #DistrictCourt #DonaldTrump #Education #FailedToProvideEvidence #Health #History #JudgeKarinImmergut #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Oregon #Politics #Portland #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpTurns #USDistrictJudgeKarinImmergut #UnitedStates

    #america #appointee #blockedoregontroops #districtcourt #donaldtrump #education
  9. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment – San Francisco Chronicle

    People protest outside a federal courthouse on Oct. 3, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Jenny Kane /Associated Press

    Politics

    Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment — twice

    By Bob Egelko, Staff Writer, Oct 6, 2025

    Audio FileDownload

    President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them “radical lunatics” or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn’t usually go after judges he appointed.

    That changed this weekend.

    U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon’s National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump’s administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama. 

    Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state’s National Guard troops. 

    And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon’s largest city.

    The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee — she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

    That didn’t stop Trump from assailing her. He didn’t call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say — and show — that he didn’t know much about her.

    “I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you,” Trump said Sunday outside the White House. “I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge,” who “ought to be ashamed of himself,” Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be “ashamed of herself,” and that Portland was “burning to the ground,” contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut. 

    Trump’s national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut’s rulings as a “legal insurrection” — apparently viewing any decision against Trump’s military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

    During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a “so-called judge.” 

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment

    #2025 #America #Appointee #BlockedOregonTroops #DistrictCourt #DonaldTrump #Education #FailedToProvideEvidence #Health #History #JudgeKarinImmergut #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Oregon #Politics #Portland #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpTurns #USDistrictJudgeKarinImmergut #UnitedStates

    #unitedstates #usdistrictjudgekarinimmergut #trumpturns #trumpadministration #trump #technology
  10. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment – San Francisco Chronicle

    People protest outside a federal courthouse on Oct. 3, 2025, in Portland, Ore. Jenny Kane /Associated Press

    Politics

    Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment — twice

    By Bob Egelko, Staff Writer, Oct 6, 2025

    Audio FileDownload

    President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them “radical lunatics” or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn’t usually go after judges he appointed.

    That changed this weekend.

    U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon’s National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump’s administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama. 

    Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state’s National Guard troops. 

    And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon’s largest city.

    The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee — she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

    That didn’t stop Trump from assailing her. He didn’t call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say — and show — that he didn’t know much about her.

    “I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you,” Trump said Sunday outside the White House. “I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge,” who “ought to be ashamed of himself,” Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be “ashamed of herself,” and that Portland was “burning to the ground,” contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut. 

    Trump’s national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut’s rulings as a “legal insurrection” — apparently viewing any decision against Trump’s military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

    During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a “so-called judge.” 

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump turns on his own appointee who blocked Oregon troop deployment

    #2025 #America #Appointee #BlockedOregonTroops #DistrictCourt #DonaldTrump #Education #FailedToProvideEvidence #Health #History #JudgeKarinImmergut #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Oregon #Politics #Portland #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpTurns #USDistrictJudgeKarinImmergut #UnitedStates

    #america #appointee #blockedoregontroops #districtcourt #donaldtrump #education
  11. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    October 2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Politics, Economy, Shutdown Impact, Fundraising, Redistricting, and Key Races – An UPDATE Report

    October 2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Politics, Economy, Shutdown Impact, Fundraising, Redistricting, and Key Races

    Political Landscape and Approval Ratings

    As of early October 2025, President Trump’s job approval remains steady in the low 40s percentile, with disapproval rates in the mid-50s. Despite the recent government shutdown turmoil, his core support remains loyal, reflecting stable but polarized public opinion. Polling aggregators like RealClearPolitics and the New York Times report a narrow approval range between 39% and 44% over the past several months (RealClearPolitics; New York Times).

    This contrasts with broad voter dissatisfaction: a YouGov/Economist poll found 59% believe the country is on the wrong track, while 60% disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation. Only 26% rate the economy positively. The shutdown and healthcare funding debates risk impacting Trump’s midterm prospects but early trends suggest limited shifts in overall sentiment (YouGov; NPR).

    Government Shutdown Fallout

    The federal government shutdown began October 1, 2025, after Senate failure to pass funding bills. Approximately 750,000 federal workers face furloughs, and active-duty military pay is affected (CNN Politics; Government Executive).

    Key impacts include:

    • Reduced national park services raise visitor safety concerns (BBC Travel).
    • Social Security and Veterans benefits continue, but new claims processing is delayed (SSA.gov).
    • Airport operations face staffing challenges affecting efficiency (NBC News).
    • NIH research grants and FOIA requests are on hold (Latham & Watkins).

    With partisan stalemates ongoing, messaging battles over the shutdown’s blame are influencing voter perceptions (Politico).

    Early Primary Results and Fundraising Reports

    Preliminary 2025 special and local election results hint at emerging voter enthusiasm patterns. Fundraising reports through Q3 show Republicans holding a narrow cash advantage overall, although Democratic challengers in key swing districts have posted notable gains. This financial landscape suggests intensifying resource battles ahead of critical nomination contests (270toWin; Sabato’s Crystal Ball).

    Legal Challenges and Redistricting Fallout

    Ongoing legal disputes over congressional maps affect campaign strategies nationwide. California’s Proposition 50, aiming to create an independent commission to redraw districts, could favor Democrats by reshaping competitive seats. Lawsuits challenging districting plans in Texas and North Carolina add uncertainty, with court outcomes potentially reshaping the 2026 electoral terrain (270toWin; Politico).

    Congressional Midterm Outlook

    Senate: Democrats face a tough map, needing to swing four seats to gain control. Key battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Georgia remain highly competitive, with forecasts maintaining a slim Republican edge (270toWin; Cook Political Report).

    House: Republicans currently have a moderate edge in retaining the House majority, but redistricting battles such as Proposition 50 introduce uncertainty. Candidate filings and retirements will influence the competitive landscape as campaigns intensify (270toWin; Sabato’s Crystal Ball).

    Economic and Social Issues

    Inflation and cost-of-living pressures remain top voter concerns, with pessimism on economic growth widespread. The government shutdown heightens doubts about federal government competence and service reliability, likely influencing turnout and party enthusiasm. Social polarization persists around immigration, healthcare, and governance, framing party messaging battles (White House Research; Pew Research Center; Notus.org).

    Key Races and Ballot Measures

    • California’s Proposition 50 — a key ballot measure aiming to create nonpartisan districting — could shift several House districts in Democrats’ favor (270toWin).
    • Highly contested Senate races in swing states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia remain closely watched (Cook Political Report).
    • Ongoing primary battles and fundraising developments will shape narratives and resource allocations ahead of 2026 (Sabato’s Crystal Ball).

    Charts

    Trump Job Approval (2025 Year-to-Date)

    Odds for Party Control After 2026 Midterm Elections

    Bibliography

    #2025 #America #DonaldTrump #DrWeb #DrWebSDomain #Education #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Midterms2026 #MonthlyElectionReport #November2026 #Opinion #PerplexityAI #Politics #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration

    #america #donaldtrump #drweb #drwebsdomain #education #health
  12. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    How and Why Did Democrats Say They Chose Shutdown over Trump – October 5, 2025 – A Special Report

    Special Report: Democrats, the 2025 Shutdown, and Trump’s Embrace of Project 2025

    By DrWeb — October 5, 2025

    DrWeb’s view in context and the thrust of the decision by Democratic leaders during the 2025 Federal Shutdown. This report examines how the Democratic strategy unfolded, the stakes of the standoff, and how former President Donald Trump is now openly embracing the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 as the blueprint for his second term. The adoption of this plan, once denied during the campaign, is reshaping the contours of the shutdown fight and raising questions about the balance of power.

    Overview & Stakes

    As the shutdown entered October, Democrats framed it as both a test of political resolve and a defense of core healthcare and social programs. They argue that Republicans, under Trump’s renewed influence, are using the budget process as a wedge to force acceptance of Project 2025’s sweeping proposals: mass layoffs, dismantling of federal agencies, and consolidation of executive power.

    The stakes are immediate and long-term. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers face lost pay. Public services from healthcare research to postal delivery are curtailed. At the same time, the ideological battle now centers on whether Trump can leverage the crisis to sidestep Congress and implement a 900-page partisan blueprint outside normal democratic checks.

    Key Quotes & Excerpts (Chronological)

    Sept 25, 2025

    “The shutdown pain would be ‘caused by the Democrats.’”

    Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/25/trump-shutdown-pain-blame-democrats-00580824

    Sept 29, 2025

    “The shutdown is being wielded not just as a bargaining chip but as a lever to rewire the federal government.”

    Time. https://time.com/7323278/trump-project-2025-government-shutdown/

    Sept 30, 2025

    “National parks will remain mostly open in shutdown.”

    Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/30/national-parks-will-remain-mostly-open-in-shutdown-main-00589074

    Oct 1, 2025

    “About 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay, impacting HHS, CDC, and NIH.”

    LMT Online. https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/cuellar-federal-workers-solidarity-paycheck-forgo-21081996.php

    Oct 1, 2025

    “Welcome to the shutdown.”

    Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/01/welcome-shutdown/

    Oct 2, 2025

    “Trump is no longer distancing himself from Project 2025. He is now staffing his administration with its architects.”

    AP News. https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-russ-vought-shutdown-2d1ea5e6e32c583ddf6b8a8164e523c3

    Oct 2, 2025

    “Mass federal layoffs could begin imminently, leveraging the shutdown to impose reductions in force.”

    Time. https://time.com/7323278/trump-project-2025-government-shutdown/

    Oct 3, 2025

    “Trump marked the Navy’s 250th anniversary during the shutdown, declaring: THE SHOW MUST GO ON!”

    AP News. https://apnews.com/article/926e1f114b704bc069dd9ad8fff449e0

    Oct 3, 2025

    “Trump now openly backing Project 2025 during government shutdown.”

    AP News. https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-russ-vought-shutdown-2d1ea5e6e32c583ddf6b8a8164e523c3

    Oct 3, 2025

    “The GOP says it’s winning the shutdown. Some fear Trump’s cuts may change that.”

    AP News. https://apnews.com/article/republicans-trump-vought-shutdown-congress-democrats-transportation-0dff71ebe4f115feb8649a045646cb5c

    Oct 3, 2025

    “Trump Administration Halts $2.1 billion in Chicago Infrastructure Projects Amid Government Shutdown.”

    Time. https://time.com/7322946/trump-administration-funding-cuts-democratic-cities-government-shutdown/

    Oct 3, 2025

    “Slash and burn: Trump budget chief relishes chance to cut, fire and cancel.”

    The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/trump-russ-vought-government-shutdown

    Oct 4, 2025

    “Why this shutdown is different and what Trump is getting out of it.”

    PBS / Washington Week. https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/video/2025/10/why-this-shutdown-is-different-and-what-trump-is-getting-out-of-it

    Oct 4, 2025

    “Trump’s vast federal cuts create distrust on Capitol Hill.”

    AP News. https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-congress-budget-project-2025-abba67746a7c74c88962def177759b44

    Oct 5, 2025

    “House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted it was Democrats blocking funding, while Democrats accused Trump of sabotaging negotiations.”

    The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/05/mike-johnson-democrats-government-shutdown

    Oct 5, 2025

    “Democrats are embracing the risky politics of a government shutdown to rein in president, activists say.”

    The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/05/democrats-healthcare-government-shutdown

    Oct 5, 2025

    “White House: Mass layoffs will start if shutdown talks ‘going nowhere.’”

    Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-says-layoffs-will-start-if-trump-sees-shutdown-talks-going-nowhere-2025-10-05/

    Analysis

    Democrats’ strategy has been to draw a sharp line against Project 2025, framing it as an existential threat to constitutional checks and balances. Yet some critics say Democrats are risking political backlash by embracing a shutdown.

    Trump’s use of the shutdown to advance layoffs and executive consolidation shows how a budget impasse can morph into a constitutional stress test. With Russell Vought at the center, the administration is turning Heritage’s proposals into operational reality — while Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Adam Schiff try to keep their caucus united.

    Works Cited

    #2025 #America #DonaldTrump #DrWeb #DrWebSDomain #Education #FederalShutdown #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #October2025 #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SpecialReport #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

    #america #donaldtrump #drweb #drwebsdomain #education #federalshutdown
  13. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Since Late September 2025: Events, Causes, Accountability, and How to Get Government Working Again – October 2, 2025 – Update Report

    Editor’s Note: This report researched and produced by Perplexity Pro. I reviewed and edited the report. It is worth noting there is indeed some balance, as requested. I did not want to add to the “blame game,” though I mention it. –DrWeb

    Since Late September 2025: Events, Causes, Accountability, and How to Get Government Working Again

    What’s Happened Since Late September 2025

    Shutdown begins and broad disruptions follow. Congress failed to pass a funding deal, triggering a federal shutdown that halted or curtailed services, furloughed large numbers of workers, and suspended some economic data releases. Straight-news rundowns detail what is open/closed and the operational impact across agencies (Reuters explainer). Early estimates warned of multi-billion-dollar weekly losses to GDP if the closure persisted (Guardian economic analysis).

    Funding freezes weaponized during the standoff. The administration moved to freeze major tranches of federal funds largely aimed at Democratic-led states (e.g., transit and green-energy projects), escalating partisan leverage in the middle of the shutdown (Reuters). Separate reporting tracked the shutdown’s hit to specific programs such as WIC and related food aid if prolonged (Reuters).

    Partisan messaging published on federal sites and comms. Multiple agencies posted banners or circulated templates explicitly blaming Democrats for the shutdown — prompting Hatch Act and anti-lobbying concerns from ethics experts. Examples include HUD’s prominent red-banner message and broader agency communications captured by reporters (Federal News Network; CBS News; Politico).

    Separate security escalation: “armed conflict” framing vs. cartels. In parallel with shutdown tensions, the White House told Congress the U.S. is in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels following lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean — a position that immediately triggered legal-oversight questions and War Powers scrutiny (Reuters; AP). (This matters for Congress’s role below.)

    Causes & the Blame Game

    Legislative brinkmanship over substance. The proximate cause is failure to pass regular appropriations or a workable continuing resolution; underneath that are hard-line demands that lacked the votes for a bipartisan deal. Reporting on House/Senate dynamics shows why rival short-term bills failed and how partisan positioning crowded out compromise (Reuters live updates).

    Executive amplification of conflict. The funding freeze announcements, aggressive rhetoric, and politicized agency messaging during the shutdown pushed confrontation over coalition-building — increasing the political cost for moderates to cross the aisle (Reuters; Politico).

    Information environment and public confusion. Partisan claims flooded official channels and social media — including banner statements on .gov sites — blurring lines between public information and political messaging. Ethics experts flagged potential legal issues (Hatch Act, Anti-Lobbying Act), underscoring how the communication war compounded the budget war (CBS News; Federal News Network).

    Who Can Intervene with the President — Real Mechanisms

    Vice President + Cabinet (25th Amendment, Section 4). If the VP and a majority of principal officers judge the President “unable to discharge” duties, they can temporarily transfer power. It’s constitutionally grounded but politically explosive; it depends on insiders willing to act. Authoritative, plain-English texts explain the standard and process (National Constitution Center).

    Congress: oversight, appropriations, and war powers. Congress can compel briefings, issue subpoenas, restrict funds via riders, and, where relevant, force votes under the War Powers Resolution’s expedited procedures. The WPR structure and “clocks” are summarized by nonpartisan analysts (CRS overview; PDF: CRS PDF).

    Courts and internal legality systems. Courts can enjoin unlawful actions; inside the executive branch, OLC, agency counsel, inspectors general, and (in military contexts) law-of-war rules impose legal constraints that can slow, narrow, or block directives (War Powers Reporting Project (context)).

    Five Workable Options to De-escalate and Restart Normal Governance

    1) Force a War Powers vote on the cartel operations. Congress should trigger the WPR’s expedited procedures to require a clear authorization vote on the “armed conflict” posture against cartels. A public floor debate and recorded votes restore constitutional lines, impose reporting requirements, and anchor any use of force to statute — or terminate it if authorization fails (CRS).

    This does not solve the shutdown directly, but it lowers temperature by re-channeling the most escalatory policy into a lawful process and signals to allies/adversaries that the U.S. is operating under institutional checks (Reuters; AP).

    2) Attach targeted appropriations riders with enforceable teeth. In the next CR or omnibus, include narrowly tailored “no-funds-for-X” clauses (e.g., forbidding use of appropriations for partisan messaging on .gov, or for specific structural actions not authorized by law), plus mandatory reporting to GAO and deadlines for compliance.

    Precision matters: riders must be specific, time-bound, and paired with oversight triggers; otherwise they invite evasion. Appropriations leverage is the fastest path to constrain behavior while unlocking votes to reopen the government (Reuters).

    3) Fast-track litigation to enjoin clear legal violations. Affected parties (states, employees, contractors, NGOs) should seek emergency injunctions where actions conflict with statute (e.g., misuse of official resources for partisan messaging, unlawful fund freezes contrary to enacted law). Early injunctions prevent faits accomplis while merits are argued.

    Coordinated venue strategy and plaintiffs with concrete standing increase speed and odds of relief; judicial intervention can remove the most inflammatory steps from the bargaining table so negotiators can focus on funding substance (Politico; CBS News).

    4) Cabinet-level guardrails; if necessary, 25th Amendment process. Cabinet officials and White House counsel can insist on OLC review, document dissent, and refuse to sign unlawful directives. If incapacity is the core issue, the VP and a Cabinet majority can temporarily transfer powers under Section 4; even preparing the paperwork can deter extreme steps (Constitution Center).

    Because this is politically nuclear, the more immediate and practical version is internal legal process: slow-rolling or narrowing directives that lack statutory basis, while Congress negotiates a funding off-ramp.

    5) Bipartisan “off-ramp” package: clean CR + structured policy talks. Pair a time-limited clean continuing resolution (reopen government) with a locked calendar of bipartisan negotiations on the disputed policy asks (health, immigration, energy). Put non-negotiable guardrails in writing: no partisan banners on .gov; no unilateral funding freezes outside legal process.

    To make this workable, center the deal on items both sides claim to want (e.g., targeted anti-fentanyl measures with due-process safeguards; infrastructure that benefits red/blue districts) and schedule public checkpoints. Reopening removes economic harm and gives Congress the political space to legislate in regular order (Reuters; Guardian).

    Segment: “A total lie — shutdown talking point” (context clip)

    Interview: Rep. Lloyd Doggett on the shutdown strategy (context clip)

    Explainer: What could happen during a U.S. government shutdown (BBC context clip)

    #2025 #AI #America #BBC #ChatGPT #CNN #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #Education #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #MSNBC #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #YouTube

    #ai #america #bbc #chatgpt #cnn #donaldtrump
  14. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – The Washington Post

    Opinion

    Meet us on the rail trail

    A street artist paints a mural along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in D.C. on Sept. 13, 2023. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / For The Washington Post)

    A place to gather as Americans, not partisans.The Island Line Trail on the Burlington, Vermont, waterfront, which Howard Dean played a role in creating. (Courtesy From Rails to Trails Film, LLC)

    By Tommy Thompson and Howard Dean – Tommy Thompson, a Republican, is a former governor of Wisconsin. Howard Dean, a Democrat, is a former governor of Vermont.

    September 28, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. EDT, Yesterday at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 3 min

    Life in much of America today seems fractured, offering fewer opportunities for people to meet, mingle and feel part of the same community. But there is at least one exception: local rail trails — quiet, leafy greenways that follow the paths trains once traveled.

    Over the past six decades, a citizen-led movement has transformed more than 26,000 miles of abandoned rail corridors into thousands of public paths for walking, biking and recreation. Tens of millions of people use these trails each year — in the countryside, in small towns and in big cities. This successful effort to convert rails to trails has never belonged to just one political party.

    Railway tracks incorporated into the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    We know this because we’ve lived it; rail trails have been important to both our lives. One of us (Thompson) grew up along the nation’s first rail trail: the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, which ran through his family farm. The other (Dean) helped create the Island Line Trail in Vermont, which swings from Burlington out onto a causeway far into Lake Champlain.

    A runner along the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    It was Thompson’s father who helped bring the Elroy-Sparta trail to life, setting in motion a project that revived local communities and became a model for the nation. And it was Dean whose leadership helped secure a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that validated the concept of saving rail corridors.

    These trails do more than repurpose land. They restore communities. They promote health, tourism and local business. They give Americans a place to meet as neighbors, not partisans.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – Washington Post

    #2025 #America #Biking #community #Education #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #OpenSpaces #Opinion #PublicPaths #RailTrails #Railroads #Rails #Reconnect #Recreation #Science #TheWashingtonPost #Travel #UnitedStates #Walking

    #america #biking #community #education #health #history
  15. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – The Washington Post

    Opinion

    Meet us on the rail trail

    A street artist paints a mural along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in D.C. on Sept. 13, 2023. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / For The Washington Post)

    A place to gather as Americans, not partisans.The Island Line Trail on the Burlington, Vermont, waterfront, which Howard Dean played a role in creating. (Courtesy From Rails to Trails Film, LLC)

    By Tommy Thompson and Howard Dean – Tommy Thompson, a Republican, is a former governor of Wisconsin. Howard Dean, a Democrat, is a former governor of Vermont.

    September 28, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. EDT, Yesterday at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 3 min

    Life in much of America today seems fractured, offering fewer opportunities for people to meet, mingle and feel part of the same community. But there is at least one exception: local rail trails — quiet, leafy greenways that follow the paths trains once traveled.

    Over the past six decades, a citizen-led movement has transformed more than 26,000 miles of abandoned rail corridors into thousands of public paths for walking, biking and recreation. Tens of millions of people use these trails each year — in the countryside, in small towns and in big cities. This successful effort to convert rails to trails has never belonged to just one political party.

    Railway tracks incorporated into the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    We know this because we’ve lived it; rail trails have been important to both our lives. One of us (Thompson) grew up along the nation’s first rail trail: the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, which ran through his family farm. The other (Dean) helped create the Island Line Trail in Vermont, which swings from Burlington out onto a causeway far into Lake Champlain.

    A runner along the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    It was Thompson’s father who helped bring the Elroy-Sparta trail to life, setting in motion a project that revived local communities and became a model for the nation. And it was Dean whose leadership helped secure a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that validated the concept of saving rail corridors.

    These trails do more than repurpose land. They restore communities. They promote health, tourism and local business. They give Americans a place to meet as neighbors, not partisans.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – Washington Post

    #2025 #America #Biking #community #Education #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #OpenSpaces #Opinion #PublicPaths #RailTrails #Railroads #Rails #Reconnect #Recreation #Science #TheWashingtonPost #Travel #UnitedStates #Walking

    #america #biking #community #education #health #history
  16. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – The Washington Post

    Opinion

    Meet us on the rail trail

    A street artist paints a mural along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in D.C. on Sept. 13, 2023. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / For The Washington Post)

    A place to gather as Americans, not partisans.The Island Line Trail on the Burlington, Vermont, waterfront, which Howard Dean played a role in creating. (Courtesy From Rails to Trails Film, LLC)

    By Tommy Thompson and Howard Dean – Tommy Thompson, a Republican, is a former governor of Wisconsin. Howard Dean, a Democrat, is a former governor of Vermont.

    September 28, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. EDT, Yesterday at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 3 min

    Life in much of America today seems fractured, offering fewer opportunities for people to meet, mingle and feel part of the same community. But there is at least one exception: local rail trails — quiet, leafy greenways that follow the paths trains once traveled.

    Over the past six decades, a citizen-led movement has transformed more than 26,000 miles of abandoned rail corridors into thousands of public paths for walking, biking and recreation. Tens of millions of people use these trails each year — in the countryside, in small towns and in big cities. This successful effort to convert rails to trails has never belonged to just one political party.

    Railway tracks incorporated into the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    We know this because we’ve lived it; rail trails have been important to both our lives. One of us (Thompson) grew up along the nation’s first rail trail: the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, which ran through his family farm. The other (Dean) helped create the Island Line Trail in Vermont, which swings from Burlington out onto a causeway far into Lake Champlain.

    A runner along the High Line in New York in 2018. (Jesse Dittmar / For The Washington Post)

    It was Thompson’s father who helped bring the Elroy-Sparta trail to life, setting in motion a project that revived local communities and became a model for the nation. And it was Dean whose leadership helped secure a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that validated the concept of saving rail corridors.

    These trails do more than repurpose land. They restore communities. They promote health, tourism and local business. They give Americans a place to meet as neighbors, not partisans.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: Opinion | Rail trails offer space to reconnect with community – Washington Post

    #2025 #America #Biking #community #Education #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #OpenSpaces #Opinion #PublicPaths #RailTrails #Railroads #Rails #Reconnect #Recreation #Science #TheWashingtonPost #Travel #UnitedStates #Walking

    #america #biking #community #education #health #history
  17. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Freedom of Speech Around the World: A Global Analysis and the Jimmy Kimmel Case – DrWeb’s Domain Report

    Freedom of Speech Around the World: A Global Analysis and the Jimmy Kimmel Case

    Published on September 19, 2025, Prepared by Perplexity Pro, edited by DrWeb.

    Introduction and Defining Freedom of Speech

    Freedom of speech represents a fundamental human right that varies significantly in protection across different countries and legal systems. Legal definitions provide the foundation for understanding this concept across three authoritative sources:

    Cornell Law School defines freedom of speech as “the right to speak, write, and share ideas and opinions without facing punishment from the government.” This definition emphasizes the protection from government interference in expression.

    The Law Dictionary characterizes it as “a guarantee of the 1st and 14th amendment giving people the right to speak without any restriction from the government.” This focuses specifically on constitutional protections within the American legal framework.

    Merriam-Webster provides a broader definition: “the right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content and subject only to reasonable limitations.” This definition acknowledges that some restrictions may apply under specific circumstances.

    Global Freedom of Speech Rankings

    Question: Where does the United States rank in Freedom of Speech?

    Based on the Global State of Democracy Indices 2023, countries receive scores from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating stronger freedom of expression protections. The analysis reveals significant variations in how democratic nations protect speech rights.

    Top 25 Countries with Strongest Freedom of Speech Protections

    RankCountryScoreNotable Features1Finland0.94Leading global freedom of expression2Denmark0.93Strong Nordic tradition of free speech3Ireland0.89Robust democratic protections4Chile0.88Latin American democracy leader5New Zealand0.88Strong civil liberties framework6Austria0.84Central European democracy7Switzerland0.84Neutral nation with strong rights8Germany0.83Post-war constitutional protections9Costa Rica0.83Central American democratic leader10Czech Republic0.82Post-communist democratic success11Slovakia0.82Transition democracy12Latvia0.82Baltic state recovery13Estonia0.82Digital-forward democracy14Luxembourg0.82Small state, strong rights15United Kingdom0.81Common law tradition16Belgium0.81European Union founding member17Barbados0.81Caribbean democracy18Jamaica0.80Commonwealth democracy19Uruguay0.79South American leader20Iceland0.79Nordic island democracy21Vanuatu0.79Pacific democracy22Taiwan0.78Asian democratic success23Dominican Republic0.78Caribbean development24France0.77Revolutionary democratic tradition25Canada0.77North American constitutional monarchy

    Notably, the United States ranks 28th with a score of 0.75, indicating room for improvement despite constitutional protections.

    This ranking suggests that while the U.S. has strong theoretical protections, practical implementation may lag behind other democracies.

    International Legal Framework

    Freedom of speech receives recognition in international law through multiple mechanisms and judicial bodies that have developed influential standards for global application.

    International Courts and Freedom of Speech Recognition

    Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.” The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) provides legally binding protections for member states, creating enforceable obligations beyond mere aspirational statements.

    The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has developed influential standards through Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR consistently holds that criticism of government and politicians receives strong protection, and that criminal penalties for political speech violate proportionality requirements. These European standards have become widely influential in international law and have been adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee.

    International legal advocacy organizations like the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP) successfully use these international norms in domestic courts, arguing that restrictive national laws violate treaty obligations under the ICCPR. Recent cases in Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia, and Palestine have resulted in dismissed charges when courts recognized that criminal penalties for online expression violate international law.

    Major U.S. Supreme Court First Amendment Decisions

    The United States has developed extensive jurisprudence protecting freedom of speech through landmark Supreme Court decisions that have shaped modern understanding of expression rights.

    Foundational Cases

    Schenck v. United States (1919) established the “clear and present danger” test, with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes stating that speech could be restricted when “the words are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has the right to prevent.” The Court upheld convictions for distributing leaflets opposing military conscription during World War I.

    Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) represents the most significant modern free speech precedent. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned Clarence Brandenburg’s conviction under Ohio’s Criminal Syndicalism statute for advocating racial strife at a KKK rally. The Court established that government cannot prohibit speech unless it is “directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.” This decision created one of the most speech-protective legal tests worldwide.

    Student Speech Rights

    Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) established that students “do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.” The Court protected students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, creating the foundational principle for student expression rights in educational settings.

    Symbolic Speech Protection

    Texas v. Johnson (1989) held that flag burning constitutes protected symbolic political speech. The Court concluded that “a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment is that Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

    Wooley v. Maynard (1977) protected a Jehovah’s Witness who covered New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” motto on his license plate. The Court recognized both “the right to speak freely and the right to refrain from speaking at all,” establishing negative speech rights.

    Recent Developments

    Moody v. NetChoice, LLC (2024) addressed social media content moderation, ruling that the First Amendment protects platforms engaging in expressive activity when compiling and curating speech. The Court held that states cannot interfere with private actors’ speech to advance ideological balance.

    National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo (2024) prohibited government officials from wielding power selectively to punish or suppress speech through private intermediaries, establishing important precedent regarding indirect government censorship.

    Analysis of the Jimmy Kimmel ABC Suspension Case

    Question: What’s your analysis of the current Jimmy Kimmel events regarding Freedom of Speech?

    The recent suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by ABC provides a contemporary case study in the complex intersection of government pressure, private broadcaster decision-making, and First Amendment protections. This incident illustrates how theoretical speech protections face practical challenges in the modern media landscape.

    Background of the Controversy

    On September 16, 2025, ABC indefinitely suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following controversial comments the host made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel criticized the “MAGA gang” for attempting to politically exploit Kirk’s murder, suggesting they were “doing everything they can to score political points” from the tragedy. He also mocked former President Trump’s response to questions about Kirk’s death.

    The suspension came after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks on a podcast, calling them “some of the sickest conduct possible” and threatening regulatory action with the warning “we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Major broadcast station owners Nexstar and Sinclair preemptively pulled the show from their ABC affiliates before the network announced the indefinite suspension.

    First Amendment Analysis

    This case presents a complex intersection of government pressure and private broadcaster decision-making that raises significant constitutional concerns. Under established First Amendment precedent, particularly Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), Kimmel’s political commentary clearly falls within protected speech categories as criticism of government figures and political movements.

    The critical constitutional issue centers on whether government coercion violated the First Amendment’s prohibition on indirect speech suppression. As Professor Raleigh Levine of Mitchell Hamline School of Law explains, “The issue here is whether the government is using coercion or pressure to get private companies to do indirectly what it could not directly force them to do.” While private employers can typically discipline employees for speech, broadcast networks operating on public airwaves occupy a unique regulatory space.

    The Supreme Court established in Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan (1963) that government cannot use threats of punishment to coerce private entities into suppressing speech, even when direct censorship would be unconstitutional. FCC Chairman Carr’s explicit threats of regulatory consequences for failing to discipline Kimmel likely crossed this constitutional boundary.

    Legal Precedent and Regulatory Framework

    Broadcasters historically receive reduced First Amendment protections compared to other media, a doctrine criticized by constitutional scholars as creating “junior varsity First Amendment rights.” However, even under this diminished standard, political commentary remains strongly protected speech.

    The FCC’s regulatory authority extends primarily to local station licensing rather than network content control. Carr’s threats appeared to leverage this licensing power to indirectly pressure content decisions, potentially exceeding statutory authority while violating constitutional boundaries.

    Predicted Legal Outcomes

    Question: What’s your predicted outcome now of the Jimmy Kimmel events?

    Several potential legal challenges may emerge from this controversy:

    First Amendment Litigation: Kimmel or advocacy organizations like the ACLU, which has already condemned the suspension as government suppression of opposing ideas, may file suit challenging the government coercion. Such cases would likely focus on proving that Carr’s threats constituted impermissible government pressure rather than permissible advocacy.

    Congressional Oversight: The incident may prompt legislative hearings examining FCC overreach and the scope of regulatory authority over broadcast content. Questions about whether current broadcast regulation frameworks remain constitutionally viable in the modern media landscape could drive policy reforms.

    Industry Response: The suspension’s chilling effect on other broadcasters and entertainers may generate broader resistance. Late-night hosts and Hollywood figures have already rallied to Kimmel’s defense, potentially creating sustained pressure for reinstatement.

    Commercial Consequences: ABC faces significant advertising revenue losses, with “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” reportedly generating approximately $70 million annually from over 200 brands. Economic pressure may ultimately force the network to restore the program regardless of political considerations.

    The most likely outcome involves eventual reinstatement of Kimmel’s show, possibly following legal settlement or policy clarification limiting FCC content oversight authority. This case may establish important precedent regarding the limits of government pressure on private media companies, particularly in the broadcast television context where regulatory relationships create unique constitutional vulnerabilities.

    Conclusion

    This comprehensive analysis demonstrates that while freedom of speech enjoys broad international recognition, implementation varies significantly across nations. The United States maintains strong constitutional protections through extensive Supreme Court jurisprudence, yet ranks below many other democracies in practical freedom of expression measures. The Jimmy Kimmel case illustrates ongoing tensions between government authority and speech protections, particularly in regulated industries like broadcasting.

    The global landscape reveals that Nordic countries lead in practical freedom of expression, while international courts increasingly recognize speech rights as fundamental human rights. As media landscapes evolve and political tensions intensify, the balance between legitimate regulation and speech protection remains a critical challenge for democratic societies worldwide.

    Bibliography and Sources

    Legal Definitions

    Global Rankings and Analysis

    International Law

    U.S. Supreme Court Cases

    Jimmy Kimmel Case Analysis

    Research compiled, analyzed, and published on September 19, 2025.

    #2025 #ABC #AI #America #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #Education #FCC #FederalCommunicationsCommission #Health #History #JimmyKimmel #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #PerplexityPro #Politics #Resistance #Science #Television #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

    #abc #ai #america #donaldtrump #drwebsdomain #education
  18. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Letters from an American – September 11, 2025 – Heather Cox Richardson

    Letters from an American, September 11, 2025

    By Heather Cox Richardson, Sep 11, 2025

    Twenty-four years ago today, terrorists from the al-Qaeda network used four civilian airplanes as weapons against the United States, crashing two of them into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City and a third into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

    Four years ago, George W. Bush, who was president on that horrific day, spoke in Pennsylvania at a memorial for the passengers of the fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, who on September 11, 2001, stormed the cockpit and brought their airplane down in a field, killing everyone on board but denying the terrorists a fourth American trophy.

    Former president Bush said: “Twenty years ago, terrorists chose a random group of Americans, on a routine flight, to be collateral damage in a spectacular act of terror. The 33 passengers and 7 crew of Flight 93 could have been any group of citizens selected by fate. In a sense, they stood in for us all.” And, Bush continued, “The terrorists soon discovered that a random group of Americans is an exceptional group of people. Facing an impossible circumstance, they comforted their loved ones by phone, braced each other for action, and defeated the designs of evil.”

    Recalling his experience that day, Bush talked of “the America I know.”

    “On America’s day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor’s hand and rally to the cause of one another…. At a time when religious bigotry might have flowed freely, I saw Americans reject prejudice and embrace people of Muslim faith…. At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome to immigrants and refugees…. At a time when some viewed the rising generation as individualistic and decadent, I saw young people embrace an ethic of service and rise to selfless action.”

    Bush celebrated the selfless heroism and care for others shown by those like Welles Crowther, the man in the red bandana, who helped others out of danger before succumbing himself; the airplane passengers who called their loved ones to say goodbye; neighbors; firefighters; law enforcement officers; the men and women who volunteered for military service after the attack.

    That day, and our memories of it, show American democracy at its best: ordinary Americans putting in the work, even at its dirtiest and most dangerous, to take care of each other.

    Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

    Continue/Read Original Article Here: (1) September 11, 2025 – by Heather Cox Richardson

    #2025 #911 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #HeatherCoxRichardson #History #LettersFromAnAmerican #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Politics #PresidentBush #Resistance #Science #September112001 #Substack #Television #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TwinTowers #UnitedStates #WorldTradeCenter

    #america #donaldtrump #health #heathercoxrichardson #history #lettersfromanamerican
  19. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    September 2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Deep Dive on Politics, Economy, Redistricting, and Key Races – DrWeb’s Domain UPDATE

    September 2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Deep Dive on Politics, Economy, Redistricting, and Key Races

     

    The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to be highly contested and defined by critical battles over congressional control, redistricting fights initiated by GOP and Democrats, and an economy that voters are closely watching. This monthly report breaks down the latest developments, polling trends, and political analysis ahead of the November 2026 elections. Remember election date is November 3, 2026.

    1. Major News Stories: Top 10 Midterm Election Reads

    2. Deep Dive Analysis: The Redistricting Power Play

    This summer, Texas Republicans, urged by President Trump, redrew congressional maps mid-decade to add five new Republican-leaning districts, a rare and controversial move historically uncommon outside court orders. Democrats responded by unveiling competing maps in California and encouraging legal challenges nationwide, sparking a fierce redistricting showdown that will impact dozens of competitive House districts and likely cement a GOP advantage in 2026.

    Experts warn these aggressive partisan redraws risk disenfranchising voters and undermining the constitutional principle that the House should closely represent the populace. With control of the House up for grabs, this redistricting race has become the most consequential political battle outside the ballot box heading into next year.

    3. Polling and Forecasts

    President Trump’s approval rating slightly rebounded from 42% in July to 44% in September, buoyed by gains among independents and moderates. However, economic concerns remain high, with inflation and job growth cited as top voter priorities.

    National generic ballot polling shows Democrats leading Republicans by 2.3 points on average, signaling a competitive but Democratic-leaning House race nationally. Senate control remains toss-up territory, with Republicans defending 22 of 35 seats and Democrats defending 13; Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reclaim the chamber.

    4. Economic & Social Issues Impacting the Midterms

    Economic jitters permeate voter sentiment as weak job numbers and stubborn inflation dominate headlines. August added just 22,000 jobs, raising concerns about a stalling labor market that could drive voter dissatisfaction. Inflation pressures related to tariffs and rising costs threaten to weigh on President Trump’s approval ahead of the elections.

    Social issues such as immigration and government spending rank highly in voter priorities, shaping campaign narratives across party lines. The evolving debates on these topics may significantly influence turnout among key demographics.

    5. Legislative and Legal Landscape

    The legal battle over redistricting is expected to continue well into 2026, with Democrats mounting court challenges against GOP maps in states like Texas. Key legislative efforts around voting rights and election security are also progressing in several states, further complicating the electoral environment.

    6. Key Dates & Events to Watch

    • Fall 2025: Candidate filing deadlines in several battleground states
    • Spring 2026: Primary elections for House and Senate races begin
    • Summer 2026: Major party conventions and national conventions
    • November 3, 2026: Election Day — Midterm elections for all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats

    7. Expert Voices & Opinions

    David Wasserman, election analyst at the Cook Political Report, highlights that redistricting alone could yield a net gain of 4 to 12 seats for Republicans in the House, despite a national environment slightly favorable to Democrats. Political strategists emphasize the importance of battleground states like North Carolina and Texas, where intense contests and primary battles will shape Senate control.

    8. Conclusion & What to Watch Next Month

    The 2026 midterms are fast becoming a referendum on economic performance and political representation. Redistricting fights will likely decide control of key House districts before voters even cast ballots, while Senate races remain unpredictable with numerous open and contested seats. Voter attention will increasingly focus on economic signals and social issues as campaigns intensify heading into 2026.

    Next month’s update will cover early primary results, fundraising reports, and the fallout of ongoing legal challenges over redistricting maps. Stay tuned for in-depth analysis and fresh polling data as the election year approaches.

    Sources: Politico, NBC News, CBS News, G. Elliott Morris, New York Times, USA Today, 270toWin, NPR, Cook Political Report as of September 2025. Edited by DrWeb, analysis by Perplexity Pro.

    #2025 #America #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #Education #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Midterms2026 #MonthlyElectionReport #November2026 #Opinion #PerplexityAI #Politics #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

    #america #donaldtrump #drwebsdomain #education #health #history
  20. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show turns 50 – CBS Sunday Morning – September 7, 2025

    CBS Sunday Morning today looked back at the 50-year history of the cult cinema classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” embedded above.

    In addition, I’ve researched, aided by my trust sidesick AI, some highlights of the best RHPS history and notes about the film, its history, midnight showings, cast, and include those excerpts here in the post. “Let’s Do the Timewarp Again!”

    Let’s Do the Time Warp Again! 50 Years of Rocky Horror History

    Film Origins & Creation

    • Stage to Screen: Based on Richard O’Brien’s 1973 stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, the film premiered in the UK on August 14, 1975, and in the US on September 26, 1975.
    • Initial Flop: Despite its later success, Rocky Horror was a complete box office disaster when first released, pulled from theaters after poor performance.
    • Cultural Inspiration: O’Brien created the musical as a tribute to the science fiction and B-movie horror films he loved, with opening number Science Fiction/Double Feature referencing classics like “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Flash Gordon,” and “King Kong.”

    Record-Breaking Run

    • Longest Theatrical Release: Still in limited release in 2025, Rocky Horror holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-running theatrical release in film history—50 years and counting.
    • Midnight Movie Pioneer: The film essentially created the midnight movie phenomenon, with the first regular midnight showings beginning in 1976.
    • Global Gross: What started as a flop has earned over $170 million worldwide through its unprecedented theatrical longevity.

    Iconic Cast & Characters

    • Tim Curry: His breakout role as the “sweet transvestite” Dr. Frank-N-Furter became one of cinema’s most memorable performances.
    • Star Power: Featured Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as the naive couple Brad and Janet, with Meat Loaf as motorcycle-riding Eddie.
    • Supporting Cast: Richard O’Brien (also the writer) as Riff Raff, Patricia Quinn as Magenta, and Little Nell as Columbia rounded out the core ensemble.

    Midnight Madness & Audience Participation

    • Shadow Casts: Live amateur performers act out the film in front of the screen during screenings, a tradition that began organically and continues worldwide.
    • Prop Culture: Audiences bring rice, toast, water guns, and newspaper to throw at specific moments, though many theaters now regulate prop policies.
    • Costume Tradition: Fans dress as characters, though this has decreased over the years, with some theaters hosting themed nights like “prom night” or “lingerie night.”
    • Safe Space: The midnight showings became sanctuaries where people could express themselves freely, particularly important for LGBTQ+ communities and those feeling marginalized.

    50th Anniversary Celebrations (2025)

    • Special Tour: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spectacular Tour” is in progress, for September-November 2025, featuring original cast members Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell across 55 North American cities.
    • 4K Restoration: A newly restored 4K HDR edition has a forthcoming release in October 2025 in collectible SteelBook format with Dolby Vision and Atmos audio.
    • Deluxe Soundtrack: 50th anniversary edition on 180g red-in-gold vinyl featuring never-before-seen photos and production diary excerpts.
    • Documentary Features: Two commemorative documentaries were produced: “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror” and another exploring the Rocky Horror phenomenon.

    Cultural Impact & Legacy

    • Cult Classic Definition: Rocky Horror essentially defined what we mean by a “cult movie”—the first, the biggest, and the template for all others.
    • Life-Changing Impact: The BBC noted the film has literally “saved lives” by providing community and acceptance for outsiders and marginalized individuals.
    • Continuing Tradition: Famous venues like Los Angeles’ Nuart Theatre have hosted weekly Saturday night screenings since 1986, with shadow cast performances by groups like “Sins O’ The Flesh.”
    • Pandemic Resilience: Even during COVID-19 lockdowns, a Portland theater continued showing the film to empty houses for 54 weeks, and celebrities did live-streamed readings to support political causes.

    Additional Resources:

    The unique film’s enduring appeal lies in its celebration of sexual liberation, gender fluidity, and the joy of being different—themes that continue to resonate with new generations of fans who find community in the darkness of midnight theaters worldwide. Somewhere, always, it seems now, there’ a “Time Warp” waiting for you!

    #2025 #America #DrWebSDomain #Film #Films #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Movies #RHPS #ScienceFiction #Television #TheRockyHorrorPictureShow #UnitedStates #Wordpress #YouTube

    #america #drwebsdomain #film #films #history #libraries
  21. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    A Really Well Insulated Attic

    Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance

    A Really Well Insulated Attic

    By Joyce Vance, Sep 04, 2025

    “If the entire foundation falls out from under your house, it does no good to have a really well-insulated attic,” the judge said. “It sure would be nice if someone had our backs.” An anonymous federal judge made that comment to NBC News in a remarkable piece that published this morning.

    The attic they are referring to is the U.S. Supreme Court. A Court that is increasingly viewed in some corners as having abandoned the role Article III of the Constitution assigns to it, to act as a check and balance on the executive branch. But the concerns the judges expressed were about the process the Supreme Court is using to make decisions. The reporting was not an inquiry into either the substance of the high court’s rulings or the politics behind it all.

    It’s all about the shadow docket, a term you’re familiar with if you read Civil Discourse. It’s a slightly snarky term coined by legal academics to refer to the Court’s emergency docket, which is used for time-sensitive issues, like last-minute requests to stay executions in death penalty cases. The Court also hears appeals involving emergency civil relief on this docket. That means that cases where pro-democracy lawyers seek injunctions to block some of the most egregious steps this administration is taking land, with increasing frequency, on the shadow docket, and that’s where they get decided.

    But these cases aren’t like the cases on the Supreme Court’s regular docket, the ones that get fully briefed, orally argued, and then decided on the merits in carefully crafted, lengthy opinions that fully set out the decision and the legal basis for it. This kind of shadow docket ruling happens early in a case, and the decision, as in the birthright citizenship cases where the Court rejected the use of nationwide injunctions to obtain relief but didn’t weigh in on whether Trump could erase birthright citizenship from the Constitution, are on procedural issues, not the substantive merits of a case. The decisions are typically unexplained and unsigned. There’s usually no opinion. Maybe you get a couple of paragraphs. Sometimes a stinging dissent. But there is very little basis for understanding why the court ruled the way it did and applying it in the lower courts.

    This is frustrating for us. We’ve had this experience in a number of cases. It happened when the Supreme Court signed off on letting the Trump administration deport noncitizens to third countries (countries other than their country of origin), desperately unsafe places like South Sudan. It happened when the Court okayed DOGE’s foray into Americans’ confidential data held by Social Security. The Court let Trump fire members of independent agencies.

    Apparently, it’s frustrating for judges in lower courts as well. After all, they are being called upon to apply the Supreme Court’s decisions. Shadow docket rulings are precedent that lower courts must follow. But how do you apply something when there is no explanation for why it happened? That’s the position the lower courts are in and it’s what led 12 federal judges to take the unprecedented step of speaking anonymously to an NBC reporter about what’s going on at the Supreme Court.

    The reporting characterized it like this:

    “Lower court judges are handed contentious cases involving the Trump administration. They painstakingly research the law to reach their rulings. When they go against Trump, administration officials and allies criticize the judges in harsh terms. The government appeals to the Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority.

    And then the Supreme Court, in emergency rulings, swiftly rejects the judges’ decisions with little to no explanation.”

    The judges had a deeper criticism too. One that is unique to the time of the Trump administration, where the president and his cronies have attacked judges who rule against the president’s policies or against him on personal matters, often placing those judges in the crosshairs of his supporters. As one judge put it, “A short rebuttal from the Supreme Court, they argue, makes it seem like they did shoddy work and are biased against Trump.” Trump cronies like Stephen Miller have accused judges who rule against the administration of engaging in a judicial coup and there have been calls for their impeachment. One judge said that the Supreme Court “is effectively endorsing Miller’s claims that the judiciary is trying to subvert the presidency.”

    This unique criticism of the Supreme Court from lower court judges comes as the Court has granted 17 of 23 emergency requests made by the administration, asking it to undo lower court decisions on an emergency basis. The NBC report concluded that five of the 17 cases were decided without any substantive reasoning to back them up and seven of the others had less than three pages of explanation. And we’re talking here about highly important decisions about the scope of presidential power. Supreme Court decisions routinely exceed 100 pages.

    Continue/Read Original Article: https://joycevance.substack.com/p/a-really-well-insulated-attic

    #12Members #2025 #America #AuthoritarianRulings #BadDecisions #BalancedCourt #Books #DonaldTrump #Education #ExpandSCOTUS #History #ImmunityForTRUMP #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Politics #Resistance #RightWing #RightWingJustices #Science #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpCourt #UnitedStates

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  22. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Top 7 Sources: US Elections 2025–2026 News Summary – DrWeb’s Domain

    Top 7 Sources: US Elections 2025–2026 News Summary

    1. 2026 United States elections overview
      Comprehensive Wikipedia summary: federal, statewide, local races; generic ballot polling; mayoral/county races; opinion polling tables.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_elections
    2. August 2025 Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll results
      Trump approval rating, top voter issues, polarization, inflation vs. immigration priorities, policy support splits.
      https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-august-2025/
    3. Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Ballot model: Democrats favored
      Conditional forecasts for House/Senate seat change; regression analysis; impact of seat exposure and generic ballot.
      https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/generic-ballot-model-gives-democrats-strong-chance-to-take-back-house-in-2026/
    4. Nate Silver Bulletin: Trump approval rating aggregator
      Daily composite Trump approval/disapproval; historical net approval vs. previous presidents at same point; reliability notes.
      https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin
    5. USAPP Blog: LSE ‘The road to the 2026 midterms’ series
      Calendar of 2025–2026 elections; special/primary/off-year races; Senate seat analysis and party control implications.
      https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/06/04/the-road-to-the-2026-midterm-elections/
    6. Ballotpedia: Special Elections to the 119th Congress (archival)
      Dates, districts, results, implications for House/Senate control. Note: direct fetch unsuccessful; refer to Ballotpedia main page.
      https://ballotpedia.org/Special_elections_to_the_119th_United_States_Congress_(2025-2026)
    7. Generic ballot poll aggregation – RCP/DDHQ, opinion data
      RealClearPolitics, Decision Desk HQ, poll aggregators cited via Wikipedia and Crystal Ball articles for current generic ballot, party lead.

      See references/links inside Wikipedia and Sabato’s Crystal Ball cited above.

    Prepared for DrWeb’s Domain and updated by ChatGPT.

    #2025 #2025Elections #2026Elections #AI #America #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #DWD #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #NewsUpdates #Politics #Resistance #Science #SourceChatGPT #Trump #TrumpAdministration #USElections #UnitedStates

    #2025elections #2026elections #ai #america #donaldtrump #drwebsdomain
  23. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    Monthly U.S. Elections Summary: August 2025

    Monthly U.S. Elections Summary: August 2025

    Here is the August 2025 summary update on major U.S. news and political trends as the nation heads toward the November 2026 elections, with current charts for Trump’s approval and congressional control signals. This report is prepared monthly by Perplexity Pro especially for and edited by DrWeb’s Domain.

    Politics

    • The 2026 midterm elections will decide all House seats, over a third of Senate seats, dozens of governorships, and many local offices, making it a pivotal contest for both parties.
    • Democrats are currently leading in generic congressional ballot polling by 3–4 points, indicating an early advantage for potential House gains, while Senate forecasts favor notable Democratic advances due to Republican seat exposure in competitive states.

    Economy

    • Inflation remains voters’ top concern in late August 2025, with public mood sensitive to rising prices and economic performance, both likely to heavily influence campaign agendas in the coming months.

    Social Issues

    • Crime and immigration are high-profile topics for the electorate, matched by significant attention to global events such as conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.
    • Persistent partisan and demographic divides are evident in polling, suggesting continued polarization on key issues and strategies targeted by both parties.

    Key Events

    • Special congressional elections and 2026 primary dates are in motion, with each new cycle update potentially affecting momentum and party margins going into next year.

    Charts

    Trump’s Approval Ratings (August 2025)

    • Trump’s approval: 44.1%
    • Trump’s disapproval: 52.4%

    Chart: Trump approval vs disapproval trend line for August 2025

    House and Senate Control Signals (2026 Outlook)

    • Democrats lead House polling by +3.7 points
    • Senate models project Democratic net gains (+5 seats)

    Chart: Bar chart showing current indicators for congressional control by party

    This update tracks the latest polling, major issues, and election process milestones, with charts refreshed monthly through November 2026.

    Top 7 Sources for Reference

    1. 2026 United States elections overview
      Comprehensive Wikipedia summary: federal, statewide, local races; generic ballot polling; mayoral/county races; opinion polling tables.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_elections
    2. August 2025 Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll results
      Trump approval rating, top voter issues, polarization, inflation vs. immigration priorities, policy support splits.
      https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-august-2025/
    3. Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Ballot model: Democrats favored
      Conditional forecasts for House/Senate seat change; regression analysis; impact of seat exposure and generic ballot.
      https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/generic-ballot-model-gives-democrats-strong-chance-to-take-back-house-in-2026/
    4. Nate Silver Bulletin: Trump approval rating aggregator
      Daily composite Trump approval/disapproval; historical net approval vs. previous presidents at same point; reliability notes.
      https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin
    5. USAPP Blog: LSE ‘The road to the 2026 midterms’ series
      Calendar of 2025–2026 elections; special/primary/off-year races; Senate seat analysis and party control implications.
      https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/06/04/the-road-to-the-2026-midterm-elections/
    6. Ballotpedia: Special Elections to the 119th Congress
      Dates, districts, results, implications for House/Senate control.
      https://ballotpedia.org/Special_elections_to_the_119th_United_States_Congress_(2025-2026)
    7. Generic ballot poll aggregation – RCP/DDHQ
      RealClearPolitics, Decision Desk HQ, poll aggregators for current generic ballot and party lead data.
      See references/links inside Wikipedia and Sabato’s Crystal Ball cited above

    Monthly summary compiled August 26, 2025. Next update: September 2025.

    #2025 #America #August2025 #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #Elections #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Opinion #Politics #Reading #Resistance #Science #Trump #TrumpAdministration #USElections #UnitedStates

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  24. DrWeb @[email protected] ·

    DrWeb’s Domain – Deep Dive – Trump’s Circle Not Best, Not Brightest…

    Video and podcast made with Google NotebookLLM, Headliner, Spotify, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and human brain power. Remember this?

    The Best and the Brightest, by David Halberstam

    The Best and the Brightest is David Halberstam’s masterpiece, the defining history of the making of the Vietnam tragedy. Using portraits of America’s flawed policy makers and accounts of the forces that drove them, The Best and the Brightest reckons magnificently with the most important abiding question of our country’s recent history: Why did America become mired in Vietnam and why did it lose? As the definitive single-volume answer to that question, this enthralling book has never been superseded. It’s an American classic. — Goodreads

    Above, the discussion team tackle Trump’s “team” (little “t”)… they are, not surprised, the best nor the brightest.. the loyalty test seems like a raised arm salute, to me.

    Continue Reading/Listening: DrWeb’s Domain | all things library and life.. from a librarian

    #2025 #America #Books #DonaldTrump #DrWebSDomain #DWD #Headliner #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #Musk #NotebookLLM #Opinion #Politics #Reading #Resistance #Science #Technology #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpSCabinet #TrumpSInnerCircle #TrumpSMinons #UnitedStates

    #america #books #donaldtrump #drwebsdomain #dwd #headliner