Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“No bro this US war in the middle east will be completely different, bro. See, this time the regime we’re trying to get rid of is REALLY BAD! No no, this is nothing like all those other times. This time military interventionism to topple an oil-rich government in west Asia will lead to peace and democracy. Our soldiers will be greeted as liberators! You don’t understand, bro. This time the government and the media are telling us the truth! … If it turns out our leaders were wrong and this war was a bad idea, I’m sure they’ll admit their mistakes and course-correct immediately to set things right, and then implement major, sweeping policy changes to make sure they never repeat the same mistakes again. What could possibly go wrong?” (02/25/26)
Source: Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
by Drew Favakeh
“Late last month, the US Department of Justice published 3.5 million pages about convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. On top of the grotesque and horrifying photos and emails that appear to offer more evidence of systemic and widespread child abuse, the Epstein files revealed further allegations of his ties to Israel and its intelligence agency Mossad. … It is important to note that the Epstein emails contain allegations and intimations, and don’t prove that Epstein was an Israeli agent, formally or informally. However, they do add to the existing evidence that Epstein used his considerable connections and wealth to assist the Israeli state.” (02/25/26)
“The Winter Olympics had its thrills and spills — and a deep philosophical divide represented by two American, or American-born, athletes. Jack Hughes, the gold medal-winning American hockey player for the US team, gave voice to a patriotic reflex in his unhesitating, heartfelt expressions of love of his country. Eileen Gu, the gold medal-winning American-born freestyle skier competing for China, exemplified a cosmopolitan ideal that purports to float above mere nationhood. This difference — between the bloody-mouthed hockey player draped in his own country’s flag and the exceptionally talented part-time model resistant to any questions about national loyalty — drives many of the divisions in American society. Is loyalty to country a matter of choice, or an unalterable commitment? Is the appropriate attitude toward America one of fundamental gratitude or critical distance?” (02/24/26)
“Candidates and political groups are pouring money into Texas’ hotly contested U.S. Senate race at a record pace, partly fueled by Democrat James Talarico’s fundraising and allies of Republican Sen. John Cornyn trying to save his long career. Heading into Tuesday’s primary elections, the cost of advertising and reserved advertising time had topped $110 million, the most ever for a Senate primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The heavy spending in Texas is a preview of the money that is expected to flood this year’s midterm elections across the U.S. with control of Congress at stake.” (02/25/26)
“Federal officers are searching the home of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, The California Post confirmed. The searches are being conducted at Carvalho’s San Pedro home, his office at LAUSD in downtown Los Angeles and another location in Miami tied to the investigation, according to a law enforcement source. An affidavit filed concerning the search was under seal, officials said. LAUSD employees looked confused outside headquarters Wednesday morning, unsure if they were able to go into work. Federal agents were seen entering the building, but would not comment on the reason for their visit when asked by a reporter for The California Post. Carvalho is the LAUSD’s chief employee and has led one of the nation’s largest school systems since 2022. Carvalho is the LAUSD’s chief employee and has led one of the nation’s largest school systems since 2022. It’s unclear why authorities are searching Carvalho’s home and office.” (02/25/26)
“MAGA has been, throughout, an amorphous entity — curling, folding, dividing — as it slimed and slithered its way into this American life. Neocon MAGA is one particularly noteworthy division within, a more-than-slightly schizophrenic aberration that, if MAGA-world had any interest in maintaining conceptual coherence, would surely have long ago been run out of town. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is Neocon MAGA’s chief exemplar. In contrast to unreconstructed neocons like Lindsay Graham and John Bolton, who have tried to bootlick their way into President Donald Trump’s good graces with spotty results, ‘Little Marco’ was a neoconservative boy who has growth-spurted his way into a Neocon MAGA man.” (02/25/26)
“Mexican lawmakers approved President Claudia Sheinbaum’s initiative to gradually reduce the work week from 48 hours to 40 hours early Wednesday. The constitutional reform now goes to state legislatures for approval, where Sheinbaum’s governing party controls the majority. It passed the lower chamber of the Congress early Wednesday with 411 votes in favor and 58 against. The Senate had already approved it earlier this month. The change will be implemented gradually, trimming two hours per year beginning in 2027 and reaching a 40-hour work week in 2030. Lawmakers decided to maintain the requirement for one day of rest for every six days worked, rejecting a proposal to require two days of rest per week. The government has calculated that the change could affect 13.5 million workers, but some analysts say more than double that number could be covered.” (02/25/26)
“When the Founders wrote ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness’ into the Declaration of Independence, they weren’t guaranteeing comfort, equality of outcome, or a government-managed society. They were making a bolder claim that became the foundation of the American Dream: that people could build meaningful lives if government protected liberty and then got out of the way. That idea still matters today. At its core, the phrase shows trust in the American people. The Founders believed individuals, given freedom and responsibility, could make better choices for their lives than distant officials ever could. Perhaps more important is the idea that, as adults who are created equal, we have inherent dignity that must be recognized by our government. When this dignity is recognized, we can truly thrive as humans and give our best to our families, communities, and workplaces.” (02/25/26)
“Sperm quality is highest in the summer and lowest in the winter, according to a new study. Researchers from the UK, Canada and Denmark analysed semen samples from 15,581 men in Denmark and Florida, all aged between 18 and 45. Their findings show that sperm motility – the ability of sperm to swim effectively – was consistently highest in June and July for both parts of the world. Understanding these seasonal patterns could improve fertility treatments, by optimising the timing of treatment and fertility testing to provide better guidance to couples trying to conceive. The study, published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, suggests that sperm’s motility levels remain consistent across different climates, instead changing with the seasons. Levels were lowest in December and January, even though Florida remains warm all year round.” (02/25/26)
“A five-judge panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously voted to convict those accused of plotting the 2018 killing of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, a case that exposed deep-rooted ties between politics and organized crime. The case has stirred emotions in the politically divided nation. Some see Franco as a martyr and symbol of left-wing resistance, while allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro have attacked her legacy and the tributes paid to her since her death. The five men on trial for the killing of the 38-year-old human rights activist-turned-politician were former congressman Chiquinho Brazão; his brother who was a member of a Rio government watchdog, Domingos Brazão; his assistant Robson Calixto Fonseca; former police investigator Rivaldo Barbosa and former police officer Ronald Paulo Alves Pereira.” (02/25/26)
