“In defense circles, ‘cutting’ the Pentagon budget has once again become a topic of conversation. Americans should not confuse that talk with reality. Any cuts exacted will at most reduce the rate of growth. The essential facts remain: U.S. military outlays today equal that of every other nation on the planet combined, a situation without precedent in modern history. The Pentagon presently spends more in constant dollars than it did at any time during the Cold War — this despite the absence of anything remotely approximating what national security experts like to call a ‘peer competitor.’ Evil Empire? ‘It exists only in the fevered imaginations of those who quiver at the prospect of China adding a rust-bucket Russian aircraft carrier to its fleet or who take seriously the ravings of radical Islamists promising from deep inside their caves to unite the Umma in a new caliphate.” (06/30/25)
“You have to give New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani one thing—he doesn’t hide it very well. His racism, his antisemitism, and his radical leftist extremism aren’t whispered in smoky back rooms. No, he says them out loud, with a straight face, into microphones, and on national television. The only time he pretends not to mean them is when the public backlash finally reaches his well-manicured ears. This week, Mamdani sat across from NBC’s Kristen Welker on ‘Meet the Press’ and was asked (over and over) whether he condemned the phrase ‘globalize the intifada,’ a rallying cry from anti-Israel, often antisemitic extremists around the world. And like every coward who knows the truth would get him disqualified from polite society, let alone public office, he bobbed, weaved, deflected, and flat-out refused to give a straight answer.” (06/30/25)
“Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s new budget of about $115 billion into law Monday, capping the end of a lengthy and combative legislative season that was largely defined by GOP infighting, despite the party’s iron grip on Tallahassee. The signing came ‘right at the buzzer,’ DeSantis said, just one day before the budget goes into effect. It took lawmakers 105 days to finalize the spending plan, during what was supposed to be a 60-day session. The budget comes in at about $4 billion less than the state’s current adjusted budget, and is nearly $600 million less than the Legislature’s proposed budget, after DeSantis used his line-item veto power to cut spending projects. ‘I think what you see in the budget is an example of a very fiscally responsible state,’ DeSantis said.” (06/30/25)
Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“Do something every day to help undermine public perception of the empire. Draw attention to its abuses in places like Gaza. Get people laughing at its absurdities and hypocrisies. Spread distrust in the imperial propaganda services known as the western press by spotlighting their deceptions and manipulations. Help people to recognize all the ways their government is screwing them over for the benefit of the rich and powerful. Facilitate the collective dawning of the realization that everything westerners have been taught about their society and their world is a lie. Help people to understand that it really, truly does not need to be this way. Use every means at your disposal to help open up the next pair of eyelids to the ugly reality of the empire.” (06/30/25)
“Democrat Karen Bass is the mayor of Los Angeles who praised Castro upon his death. Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson, of Chicago, recently had a 6.6% approval rating. Now, an avowed socialist, Zohran Mamdani, is likely to be mayor of New York City. Combined, one in 25 Americans will be ‘governed’ or ‘ruled’ (depending on your point of view) by those three mayors. Perhaps, more importantly, will be their combined effect on national politics. In 2026 and 2028, it likely will be said that so goes the cities of LA, Chicago and New York, so goes the Democrat Party. With that dynamic, Americans, overall, might well shift more to the right. In 2024, according to even the embattled NPR, ‘Most of the country shifted right in the 2024 presidential election.'” (06/30/25)
“In the early days of legalized weed production in California, Santa Barbara County led the charge with a nascent but robust cannabis growing industry — a new feather in the cap of one of California’s agricultural epicenters. But in recent years, like many other places in California where the cannabis business has taken a turn, the boom times have given way to bust. Now, Santa Barbara County officials are looking for ways to shift spending in response to swiftly declining cannabis tax revenues. And one of the first things on the chopping block is the funds allocated to law enforcement. And, in a twist, a big chunk of remaining cannabis tax funds has been redirected away from law enforcement and to a local nonprofit group that helps families cope with fallout from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and deportations.” (06/30/25)
“Italian luxury fashion label Prada has said it acknowledges the Indian roots of its new footwear line, days after the design sparked a controversy in India. The sandals, showcased at the Milan Fashion Week last week, had an open-toe braided pattern that closely resembled the traditional Kolhapuri sandals made in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Prada described the sandals as ‘leather footwear’ but did not mention its Indian origins, prompting backlash and allegations of cultural appropriation in India. Responding to the controversy, Prada told the BBC in a statement that it recognises that the sandals are inspired by traditional Indian footwear. A Prada spokesperson said that the company has ‘always celebrated craftsmanship, heritage and design traditions,’ adding that it was ‘in contact with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture on this topic.'” (06/30/25)
Source: Common Dreams
by Jeffrey D Sachs & Sybil Fares
“The attack by Israel and the U.S. on Iran had two significant effects. First, it once again exposed the root cause of turmoil in the region: Israel’s project to ‘reshape the Middle East’ through regime change, aimed at maintaining its dominance and blocking a Palestinian state. Second, it highlighted the futility and recklessness of this strategy. The only path to peace is a comprehensive agreement that addresses Palestine’s statehood, Israel’s security, Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, and the economic recovery of the region. Israel wants to topple the Iranian government because Iran has supported proxies and non-state actors aligned with the Palestinians. Israel has also consistently undermined U.S.-Iran diplomacy regarding Iran’s nuclear program.” (06/30/25)
“The International Criminal Court has been targeted by a ‘sophisticated’ cyberattack and is taking measures to limit any damage, the global tribunal announced Monday. The ICC, which also was hit by a cyberattack in 2023, said the latest incident had been contained but did not elaborate further on the impact or possible motive. ‘A Court-wide impact analysis is being carried out, and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident,’ the court said in a statement. The attack happened last week. ‘All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the business continuity,’ court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told The Associated Press. The incident happened in the same week that The Hague hosted a summit of 32 NATO leaders at a conference center near the court amid tight security including measures to guard against cyberattacks.” (06/30/25)
“New York’s lefty lawmakers just blocked reviving the state’s ban on masking by protesters, and now two Manhattan Democrats, Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, have turned around to push a federal ban on masking by ICE agents, even when nabbing dangerous gangbangers. Their ‘No Secret Police Act’ would bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other Homeland Security officers from concealing their faces during civil immigration enforcement and require them to clearly display official ID and insignia. California Democrats are proposing a similar state ban on any face masks for law enforcement officers; expect other progressive bastions to join in.” [editor’s note: They seem to think not being on the ICE gang’s “side” is a bad thing – TLK] (06/29/25)
