Source: The American Prospect
by David Dayen
“The Maine Democratic State Committee has voted for a 600-person nominating convention, not a statewide caucus, as the method to select a replacement nominee for Graham Platner. Five hundred of the delegates will come proportionally from Maine’s counties, and then include the 100 state committee members. While a statewide caucus was previously seen by my sources as a likely outcome, the state committee went in a different direction on Wednesday night. I apologize for what was ultimately incorrect information. This could easily torch whatever remaining goodwill exists between the party and supporters brought into Platner’s campaign, and brings back all of the unsavoriness associated with perceived backroom dealing.” [editor’s note: So the three runners-up for the Governor nomination now run for the Senate seat; nothing changes unless they unseat Collins – SAT] (07/08/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/07/08/maine-democrats-poised-to-run-lighthouse-primary-senate-platner-collins/
Source: France 24 [French state media]
“US President Donald Trump formally began the process of removing Syria from his country’s list of state sponsors of terrorism on Wednesday, notifying Congress after telling Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa the move would help rebuild the war-ravaged country. The decision marks a major shift in Washington’s policy towards Damascus and is a boost for Sharaa after Tuesday’s explosions in Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit. … The designation as a state sponsor of terrorism carries restrictions on US foreign assistance, defence exports and certain financial transactions.” (07/08/26)
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260708-trump-moves-to-remove-syria-from-us-list-of-state-sponsors-of-terrorism
Source: Antiwar.com
“Trump Says MoU ‘Over,’ Bombs Iran for Second Night, Backs Long-Range Strikes in Russia, and More.” (07/08/26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2D6Iq2w-7E
Source: The UnPopulist
by Berny Belvedere
“On Monday night in Seattle, Belgium dismantled the United States 4-1 in their Round of 16 matchup—the worst 90 minutes the U.S. played all tournament, and a stunning collapse from the team that had swashbuckled through Paraguay, dispatched Australia, battled Turkey to the wire, and outclassed Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first knockout round to get here. So what happened? What happened is the president of the United States turned a red card into an international incident. The U.S. lost because it played poorly and Belgium played superbly—that’s not in dispute. But one contributing factor that led to that outcome was surely the brouhaha over Trump’s meddling in FIFA’s enforcement of World Cup rules.” (07/08/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-us-teams-loss-hasnt-shamed-america
Source: Independent Institute
by Scott Beyer
“While homeownership is touted as the main wealth-building tool, renting plus stock investing may be the best path for young workers.” (07/08/26)
https://www.independent.org/article/2026/07/08/homeownership-or-stocks-whats-the-better-path-to-building-wealth/
Source: Associated Press
“The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Persian Gulf. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz signaled the end of the fragile ceasefire. The U.S. struck a variety of military sites and port facilities early Wednesday after Iran targeted several merchant vessels off the coast of Oman, sparking Iranian fire then as well. But Thursday’s attacks appeared bigger all around, with sirens sounding at least three times in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters. There was no immediate word of damage in the three Gulf Arab countries from attacks claimed by Iran’s military.” (07/09/26)
https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-oil-july-9-2026-0472764b119d7aa204de4f7f5e44a9bf
Source: Eastern New Mexico News
by Kent McManigal
“One of the most important fights in our lifetime, a fight for the future of America, is shaping up right over our heads. It’s the fight against license plate reader cameras and the related spyware that is already being used against you and your liberty. This may even be more important and urgent than defending the natural human right to own and to carry weapons without government interference. These data collectors will be used to violate your right to bear arms and all your other rights as well. If this is to be stopped, it must be stopped now. Before long, it will be too entrenched to stop.” (07/08/26)
https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2026/07/08/voices/opinion-lpr-cameras-are-watching-you/233796.html
Source: Niskanen Center
“The rise of small donors is mostly making politics worse.” (07/08/26)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-rise-of-small-donors-is-mostly-making-politics-worse/
Source: AOL
“Ukrainian drones on Thursday hit more Russian oil facilities and set two oil tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defense systems. … Early Thursday, a Ukrainian drone strike triggered a fire at an oil depot in the city of Tver in western Russia, according to acting regional Gov. Vitaly Korolyov. And in the southern Stavropol region, Gov. Vladimir Vladimirov said oil reservoirs has been set ablaze by Ukrainian drones in Vyazniki. … In the Sea of Azov, Ukrainian drones set two oil tankers ablaze, according to Rostov Gov. Yuri Slusar, who said that one of the ships was still burning and the crews were evacuated.” (07/09/26)
https://www.aol.com/articles/ukrainian-drones-batter-russian-oil-075400000.html
Source: Libertarian Institute
by Angelo Monaco
“Inflation has hit grocery bills hard over the last four years, making it incredibly difficult for middle- and lower-income families to stretch a budget. For $4.99, a family can provide a meal by buying a whole, fully cooked, three pound chicken. Pound for pound, it is one of the most efficient, nutritious, and accessible sources of lean protein available in the modern marketplace; it costs significantly less than one Big Mac while providing vastly superior nutritional value. … When describing my observation to a group of academics, rather than commenting on the economics of this phenomenon they angrily asked, ‘Do you consider the treatment of all those chickens to be fair?’ Huh?” (07/08/26)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/the-economic-morality-of-rotisserie-chicken
