“Interest rates will be higher over the next decade because of the GOP’s megabill and drive up borrowing costs even for the federal government, Congress’[s] nonpartisan scorekeeper predicts in a new report released Monday. In an analysis of the massive domestic policy package President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the measure will increase the federal deficit by $4.1 trillion over a decade. Because the bill’s red ink is not offset by more spending cuts or new revenue, CBO found, the legislation will drive up interest rates. That increase could affect investors and regular people getting loans for a range of assets, from cars to homes. But it will also hike costs for the federal government in a real way, according to the budget office — increasing interest payments on the nearly $37 trillion national debt by $718 billion over a decade.” (08/04/25)
“A BBC investigation has exposed the French and UK operations of a powerful and violent smuggling gang taking people across the English Channel in small boats. A reporter, posing as a migrant wanting to cross, helped us gain unprecedented access to the smugglers’ notorious forest hideout in northern France – an area plagued by armed battles between rival gangs. Secret filming at a major UK railway station also captured associates of the gang collecting cash payments to secure migrant places on illegal Channel crossings. Two men met us on separate occasions on the busy concourse at Birmingham’s New Street Station to collect envelopes containing hundreds of pounds. Multiple sources have described how gang leaders, who keep one step ahead of the authorities by changing mobile phone numbers and the gang’s name, subjected their henchmen and migrants to violent beatings.” (08/05/25)
“Russia is no longer bound by a moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range nuclear missiles, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, with former President Dmitry Medvedev blaming NATO’s ‘anti-Russian policy’ and warning that Moscow will take ‘further steps’ in response. Medvedev, who has engaged in a war of words on social media with United States President Donald Trump, made his latest broadside after the Foreign Ministry’s announcement on Monday. … Last week, Trump said that he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to be repositioned to ‘the appropriate regions’ in response to Medvedev’s remarks about the risk of war between Washington and Moscow. In its statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the developing situation in Europe and the Asia Pacific prompted its reassessment on the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles.” (08/05/25)
“The Lebanese government asked the national army on Tuesday to prepare a plan in which only state institutions will have weapons in the small nation by the end of the year, a move that aims to disarm the militant Hezbollah group. The announcement by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam after a nearly six-hour Cabinet meeting, came shortly after Hezbollah’s leader said his group would not disarm and warned that the Iran-backed faction would resume missile attacks on Israel if military operations against them intensify. Salam said the government asked the army to have the plan ready by the end of the month for discussion and approval. The government’s move came as Beirut is under U.S. pressure to disarm the group that recently fought a 14-month war with Israel and was left gravely weakened, with many of its political and military leaders dead.” (08/05/25)
“Police in Lawrence, Kansas, say they have a good Samaritan to thank for helping subdue a suspect who was attacking a woman in her home. Austin Netherton says he is just thankful he happened to pass by the woman’s home when he did. … At the time of the attack, Netherton was walking into his apartment building. ‘I was just punching in my door code and kind of heard what sounded like violent TV, obviously a struggle. When I looked over at the window, it was wide open, and he was on top of her. He was attacking her. I just went through the window and grabbed him,’ Netherton explained. Netherton said he held the attacker down while the woman called 911 and continued to subdue the suspect until police responded.” (08/04/25)
“An appellate court has affirmed Ian Freeman’s federal conviction and jail sentence for conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business with bitcoin ATMs. In February 2024, Freeman was ordered to pay more than $3.5 million in restitution [sic] to 29 victims [sic] and forfeit other assets seized during an investigation into a money laundering scheme and other internet fraud. … Freeman was sentenced to eight years in prison …” [editor’s note: We try to only run very “fresh” stories at RRND/FND, but I somehow missed this one over the weekend and only discovered it today. It’s important enough for US to run, “fresh” or not. It’s also important enough for you to visit freeiannow.org and sign the petition seeking his release – TLK] (08/01/25)
“Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election — a case that has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro before the top court, said in his decision that the 70-year-old former president had violated precautionary measures imposed on him by spreading content through his three lawmaker sons. Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement that he will appeal the decision. … Monday’s order followed one from the top court last month that ordered Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway.” (08/05/25)
“The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycott Israeli companies, according to an agency statement. States must certify that they will not cut off ‘commercial relations specifically with Israeli companie’ to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the agency’s terms, opens new tab for grantees. The condition applies to at least $1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. … FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $553.5 million set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas, according to a grant notice posted Friday.” (08/04/25)
“Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered a grand jury investigation into the intelligence regarding President Trump and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election. She has directed Justice Department staff to begin legal proceedings and ordered a federal prosecutor to present evidence to a grand jury about the matter to secure a potential indictment, according to a source familiar with Bondi’s efforts. It is unclear what the charges would be and who would be charged. The directive follows a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in mid-July. The Justice Department confirmed it had received the referral.” [editor’s note: I agree that there should be lots of grand juries investigating all past presidents/administrations and their actions. But the reason for this one isn’t hard to figure out – TLK] (08/04/25)
“Argentine President Javier Milei on Monday vetoed a pension boost and a bill strengthening protections for people with disabilities, which lawmakers had passed in July, saying that they put fiscal balance at risk. The decision to veto the bills had already been announced by Milei last month, although Congress — where the libertarian [sic] president does not have a majority — can still overturn the vetoes. The vetoes come less than three months before Argentina’s mid-term elections, seen as a gauge of approval for the Milei administration, which has managed to reduce triple-digit annual inflation but whose austerity policies have had a social impact.” (08/04/25)
