“A social media post from James Talarico about his ‘white skin’ giving him ‘immunity’ from the ‘virus of racism’ has left the Democratic US Senate nominee from Texas wide open to attacks from Republicans and other pundits, who attacked his message as ‘peak woke’ and openly racist. GOP Gov. Greg Abbott said the pro-Black Lives Matter post is proof that Talarico ‘is toast’ in the Nov. 3 contest, in which Democrats are seeking to win one of Texas’ two US Senate seats for the first time since 1988. Talarico, a state legislator who triumphed over US Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in Tuesday’s primary, suggested in an X post on May 8, 2020, that he was as ‘contagious’ as any white American in spreading systemic racism. The message merged the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with the headline-making murder of Ahmaud Arbery while jogging in Georgia.” (03/05/26)
“President Donald Trump’s illegal, unconstitutional war on Iran is not only a moral and humanitarian disaster, but also the latest assault on our way of life. Trump and his enablers count on us to endure their ever escalating egregious abuses of power that imperil our democracy, potentially fatally. We must prove them wrong. We can and must overcome these clear and present threats to our lives, liberty, and way of life. Our Constitution cannot defend or protect itself. Not when Trump and his administration keep violating their oath to defend and protect it. It’s up to us to do that. We the People must not fail to meet this crisis. We must not let these abuses of power go unchecked. The Congress and the American people must hold Trump and all those complicit in the Trump administration accountable for their escalating attacks on the rule of law.” (03/05/26)
“NASA issued a welcomed all-clear Thursday, saying there’s now zero chance that asteroid 2024 YR will crash into the moon in 2032. The space agency had been predicting a 4.3% chance of a direct hit. But observations by the Webb Space Telescope in February helped scientists refine the asteroid’s orbit. This new information indicates that the asteroid will miss the moon by 13,200 miles (21,200 kilometers) on Dec. 22, 2032. Discovered at the end of 2024, the asteroid at first looked like it might threaten Earth. Scientists last year ruled out a collision with our planet anytime in the next century, but kept the moon as a possible target. The asteroid is about 200 feet (60 meters) across.” (03/05/26)
“Lost in the noise of the broadening regional war sparked by the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran was a historic turning point: Qatar shot down two Iranian jets approaching its territory. The Monday action, the first time an Arab state militarily clashed with Iran, carried a message: Under siege, once-passive Gulf Arab states are striking back. In less than 72 hours of this new war, the Gulf states have been transformed, evolving from dependents on American security that were pushing for peace to wartime ralliers actively fighting to defend their countries. The Gulf states still hold out hope that diplomacy can end the conflict. Until then, however, they are showing willingness to do whatever it takes, even increasingly offensive action, to protect their citizens, residents, and economies. In so doing, they are changing the way they view themselves and their relationship with the United States.” (03/04/26)
“Once war begins and American soldiers are under fire, a rational discussion of the pros and cons of war becomes nearly impossible. That is exactly why our Founders wrote a Constitution that demands a debate before the initiation of war. But there was no debate in Congress, let alone a vote. On Feb. 28, Americans awoke to discover that their country was once again embroiled in a war in the Middle East. Americans were not asked if they would bear the burdens of war. Instead, the American people were told, through a presidential eight-minute video posted around 2:30 in the morning, that the country was, once again, at war. And because there was no national discussion about going to war, we do not know whether ground troops will be used. We have no idea how long the war will last. We have no idea who will lead Iran after the death of the supreme leader.” (03/05/26)
“China has cut its annual economic growth target to a range of 4.5%-5%, the lowest expansion goal since 1991 as it grapples with challenges both at home and abroad. It is the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to ‘around 5%’ in 2023. A target was not set in 2020 due to the pandemic. The details were released during China’s biggest political gathering, known as the “two sessions”, alongside the release of some details of the 15th Five Year Plan for the world’s second largest economy. Beijing aims to reshape its economy as it faces issues like weak consumption, a shrinking population, an ongoing property crisis, global trade tensions and an energy crunch due to the Iran war. One China analyst told the BBC that the lower target gives China ‘more room to manage the economy’ without being forced into making huge financial commitments just to hit a precise goal.” (03/05/26)
“Three years after Honduras parted ways with Taiwan and forged diplomatic ties with China in hope of economic gain, shrimp farmers in the Central American country are in revolt. Their sales to Taiwan fell to a mere $16 million in 2025, down from more than $100 million in 2022, and the Chinese didn’t fill the void as hoped. ‘We were deceived,’ said Javier Amador, executive director of the National Aquaculture Association of Honduras, as he described the promises from former President Xiomara Castro of better opportunities with China when she severed ties with Taiwan and opened an embassy in Beijing in 2023. Nasry Asfura, who was elected president with the backing of President Donald Trump and sworn into office in January, has ordered a review of agreements between Tegucigalpa and Beijing. This has fueled expectations that Honduras will distance itself from China, in line with a Trump administration campaign to reduce Chinese influence and economic clout in Latin America.” (03/05/26)
“In response to his sentencing following his conviction on 34 felonies in May 2024, President Trump stated that he had ‘won the election in a massive landslide, and the people of this country understand what’s gone on. This has been a weaponization of government.’ Despite his conviction, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced him to an unconditional discharge with no consequences like prison, probation, or even fines. The judge determined that this was ‘the only lawful sentence’ that avoided infringing on the authority of the presidency. Had that been Donald Trump’s first encounter with the law (which, of course, it wasn’t), it would have been a stark lesson in impunity. It’s no surprise then that, in an interview last year with Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, when asked about his obligation to uphold the Constitution, Trump responded, ‘I don’t know.'” (03/05/26)
“If Secretary of State Marco Rubio is to be believed, Israel basically buffaloed the Trump administration into starting a war with Iran. ‘We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,’ he told reporters recently. ‘Obviously, we were aware of Israeli intentions and understood what that would mean for us, and we had to be prepared to act as a result of it.’ That doesn’t excuse Trump’s decision, of course, but it is a plausible read of the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu basically said as much: ‘This coalition of forces allows us to do what I have yearned to do for 40 years.’ And as I have previously written, only an Israeli goal of turning Iran into a failed state can explain their repeated assassination of any figure who could possibly consolidate the reins of power.” (03/05/26)
“A bipartisan resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran has failed in the US Senate, as the strikes continue. The war powers measure was rejected in a 53-47 vote largely along party lines. It would have halted US military action in Iran without congressional approval. Democrats argue that Trump has sidelined Congress and offered shifting reasons for the war. Most Republicans blocked the resolution, but some said they could change course if the war expands in the coming weeks.” [editor’s note: The Senate had two constitutionally legitimate options: Either vote to declare war and ask the House to agree, or ask the House to vote articles of impeachment. Without a declaration of war, the war is illegal (either way, it’s evil and stupid, but that’s a different subject) – TLK] (03/04/26)
