“I hate these people, I really do. When was the last time you actually thought a Democrat politician had your back on something? I mean, really had your best interest in mind, even if only in words and not deeds? I’ll wait. I can’t think of one. Maybe on 9/11, from the moment of the attack, through the spontaneous singing of God Bless America on the steps of the US Capitol, and for about a week after that. Then the wheels came off and they started to return to, well, themselves. They asked: ‘What did we do to deserve this attack?’ And it was off to the races ever since. How a party that actively roots against the best interests of the people who elect them, and enacts policies to harm them, manages to win elections is a mystery (I know people are into masochism, I just didn’t realize there were that many people into it).” (03/26/26)
“Days after Maine Gov. Janet Mills released her first attack ad against her rival in the Democratic Senate primary, Graham Platner, focusing on comments he made about sexual assault victims online 13 years ago, Emerson College Polling conducted the latest survey of likely primary voters regarding their support for the two candidates. Between March 21-23, the polling group surveyed 1,075 Maine Democrats and found that 55% expressed support for Platner, while just 28% supported Mills—giving the first-time political candidate, oyster farmer, and combat veteran nearly a 2-to-1 advantage. When asked about a hypothetical general election matchup with Republican Sen. Susan Collins, respondents gave both Democratic candidates an edge over her, but Platner had a more comfortable lead. Forty-eight percent supported him over Collins, while 41% backed Collins and 12% said they were undecided or supported another candidate. Mills had the backing of 46% of voters compared to Collins’ 43%, and 11% were undecided.” (03/26/26)
“Kari McCaw was flying with co-workers to attend a conference in Las Vegas last month when Southwest Airlines employees stopped her at the ticket counter. The agents’ message was clear: either buy a second seat for herself or don’t fly. McCaw is not alone in her experience. In January, Southwest’s popular ‘customer of size’ policy changed, and flyers have taken to social media to share their frustrations. Flyers report that customer service agents have singled them out for their appearance and forced them to buy another seat to be accommodated, something they’ve never needed to do before.” [editor’s note: It’s not about “appearance,” it’s about size. If you require two seats, they’re going to charge you for two seats because space is a scarcity factor – TLK] (03/26/26)
“On the last day of testimony in the federal ‘“Prairieland’ trial (wherein nine activists faced charges related to a protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center), the government called its star witness back to the stand. Kyle Shideler, director of counterterrorism research at the right-wing think tank Center for Security Policy, had been key to the prosecution’s case that ’antifa’ (the loose network of activists defined by their ‘opposition to fascism’) is a violent, criminal organization bent on overthrowing the U.S. government. Shideler, an imposing figure with a cleanly shaven head and full beard, had attended nearly the entire trial, even sitting in the overflow room during jury selection. At the stand, Shideler read aloud the government’s definition of antifa, as well as an excerpt from President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring antifa a domestic terrorist organization — issued in September, less than two weeks after the assassination of right-wing pundit and activist Charlie Kirk.” (03/26/26)
Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“There’s another giant ‘No Kings’ protest scheduled for this weekend, and right now all I can think about is how disgusting it is that this is the closest thing to a mass-scale antiwar protest in the United States right now. The problem with the ‘No Kings’ protests is right there in the title. They’re saying ‘We don’t want a king, we want a president!’ But Donald Trump is not a king. He is a president. And that’s the real problem: US presidents are extremely evil men who do extremely evil things. Donald Trump is a US president who is doing US president things. US presidents consistently murder people with unforgivable acts of mass military violence, mistreat immigrants and marginalized communities, and promote tyranny for the benefit of corrupting special interests in defense of the US empire and the capitalist status quo. That’s what their job is.” (03/25/26)
“Many nations that have emerged from internal conflict – Rwanda, Colombia, Indonesia, to name a few – have anchored their national reconciliations in acts of mercy. In its own peculiar way, Venezuela might now join this group, nearly three months after the United States removed its dictator, Nicolás Maduro, by force and charged him with narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. Most of Mr. Maduro’s colleagues remain in power in a deal made with U.S. President Donald Trump in the name of stability and a sharing of oil wealth. Yet the regime has also begun releasing political prisoners – just how many is in dispute. … Many of the political prisoners violated no law, or at least none based on democratic rights. And the proceedings for their release from prison are conducted in front of judges tied closely to the regime.” (03/24/26)
“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would rather use your tax dollars to bomb Iranian families than feed American families. That’s the upshot of news that Hegseth is prepared to request $200 billion in funding for the Pentagon’s new war on Iran. That’s far higher than earlier reports that put the request at $50 billion or $100 billion. And all of these astounding sums would come on top of the $1 trillion already budgeted for the Pentagon, itself a record. It should be clear: Funding this unjust, unpopular, and illegal war comes directly at the expense of ordinary Americans.” [editor’s note: And so would the cost of funding all the “social programs” the author recommends. How about cutting out ALL that spending instead of stealing the money? – TLK](03/25/26)
“The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that internet providers are not liable for copyright infringement by their users, delivering an opinion in Cox v. Sony and tossing a $1 billion verdict. ‘Under our precedents, a company is not liable as a copyright infringer for merely providing a service to the public with knowledge that it will be used by some to infringe copyrights,’ Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the opinion. ‘Accordingly, we reverse.’ The ruling marks a significant win for broadband providers facing pressure from copyright owners to police subscriber activity. Cox Communications now cannot be held liable for piracy by its internet service subscribers of songs owned by Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and other labels, ending their billion-dollar-plus music copyright lawsuit.” (03/25/26)
“In the wake of Washington’s January 3 military attack and then problematic détente with Caracas, corporate media suggest a meaningful shift in Venezuela policy, implying relief for a country long subjected to economic coercion. However, far from dismantling the sanctions regime, the US has merely adjusted its application through licensing mechanisms, leaving the core structure of coercive measures fully intact. Reuters reported, ‘US lifts some Venezuela sanctions,’ followed by news of sanctions being further ‘eased.’ … Not a Single Sanction Has Been Rescinded.” (03/25/26)
“Slavery was the ‘most horrendous crime that took place in the history of mankind,’ Ghana’s foreign minister has told the BBC ahead of a landmark vote at the UN General Assembly. Member states are set to vote on a resolution – led by Ghana — to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as ‘the gravest crime against humanity.’ The proposal urges UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. The resolution is likely to face resistance, as countries like the UK have long rejected paying reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs. But the proposal’s advocates, which include the African Union and the Caribbean Community, say it is a step towards healing and justice.” (03/25/26)
