“They didn’t call it lawfare in 1807, but the president’s use of federal prosecution to settle political scores had already begun. As President Donald Trump ramps up efforts to prosecute his political opponents, one early such episode — the treason trial of Aaron Burr — is worth revisiting. Though Trump’s personalized lawfare has historical precedent, the modern presidency probably makes the practice more destructive than it was before.” (10/02/25)
“The acquittal of Brayan Ramos-Brito is more than just a legal victory for one individual; it is a powerful reaffirmation of the American jury system. After a federal jury in Los Angeles took just over an hour to acquit Ramos-Brito of a misdemeanor assault count, it became clear that the justice system — when it functions as the Framers intended — stands as a bulwark against government oppression. The facts of the case, as they unfolded, are illustrative of a disturbing trend. … the government’s case rested heavily on the testimony of U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino, the sole agent who claimed to have witnessed the alleged assault on Agent Jonathan Morales at a June protest. … Bovino, with a deeply troubling track record, having previously been relieved of command and encouraged to retire, has demonstrated that he cannot be trusted.” (10/02/25)
“Israel Pays Influencers $7,000 Per Post in Desperate Propaganda Push: With Journalist Nick Cleveland-Stout; How to ‘Drink Your Way Sober’ With Author Katie Herzog.” (10/02/25)
“Republicans have settled on their message for the government shutdown: A noun, a verb, and ‘illegal aliens.’ … Many Democrats have supported access to federal health care funds for undocumented immigrants, which is a component of the Medicare-for-All bill backed by most progressives in Congress. But that bill is not among the party’s demands in the shutdown fight, and Democrats have scoffed at Republicans who portray emergency room care or benefits for migrants with legal status as giveaways to the undocumented.” (10/02/25)
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
by Angel Eduardo
“On Monday, YouTube agreed to pay $24.5 million to President Trump and several others, settling a lawsuit over YouTube’s suspension of their accounts following the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This marks the third major social media company to capitulate to the Trump administration this year. … in addition to media companies like Paramount Global, who bent the knee to Trump for $16 million this past July, and ABC News, who settled for $15 million late last year. … If you care about free speech, this should really piss you off. These companies and institutions traded principle — and, most importantly, the opportunity to stand on their First Amendment rights — for profit and short-term peace of mind. How do we know? Because in many cases, such as that of Paramount Global, the settlement was a thinly veiled prerequisite to FCC approval of a major — and lucrative — business deal the company was after.” (10/02/25)
“The White House on Wednesday sent letters to nine of the nation’s top public and private universities, urging campus leaders to pledge support for President Trump’s political agenda to help ensure access to federal research funds. The letters came attached to a 10-page ‘compact’ that serves as a sort of priority statement for the administration’s educational goals — the most comprehensive accounting to date of what Mr. Trump aims to achieve from an unparalleled, monthslong pressure campaign on academia. The compact would require colleges to freeze tuition for five years, cap the enrollment of international students and commit to strict definitions of gender. Among other steps, universities would also be required to change their governance structures to prohibit anything that would ‘punish, belittle and even spark violence against conservative [sic] ideas.'” (10/02/25)
“Every August I stand in the orchards of my family’s farm in Henderson County, North Carolina, looking at over 6 million pounds of apples on the trees. I’m consumed with worry and anticipation. Without enough workers to harvest on time, those apples and months of hard work could spoil right in these orchards. … I try to hire domestic employees from the community, but the reality is farm work is physically demanding and requires long hours. Americans clearly don’t want farm jobs, or they’re looking for a job that lasts longer than a season. On the rare occasion they do apply, few decide it’s the right fit for them and most resign quickly. … The stakes couldn’t be higher. Fruits and vegetables ripen on nature’s timeline, not ours. … This isn’t just about farmers. It’s about every family that counts on affordable, healthy food.” (10/02/25)
“Protesters took to the streets of more than 200 towns and cities across France on Thursday to denounce spending cuts and demand higher taxes on the rich. In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees and students marched on Thursday afternoon from Place d’Italie. The Eiffel Tower informed visitors in a statement it was closed due to the strikes. The nationwide strikes, called by France’s major unions, are the latest of a series of protests that started last month fueled by political turmoil and heated budget talks.” (10/02/25)
