“Uganda has not reached any agreement with the United States to take in illegal [sic] immigrants because it lacks necessary infrastructure to do so, a senior foreign affairs ministry official said on Wednesday. ‘To the best of my knowledge we have not reached such an agreement. We do not have the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate such illegal [sic] immigrants in Uganda. So, we cannot take in such illegal [sic] immigrants,’ Okello Oryem, state minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters in a text message. On Tuesday, CBS News, citing internal documents, reported that Washington had reached deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda as part of its effort to strike more agreements with countries that would accept [abducted] migrants deported from the U.S. who were not their citizens.” (08/19/25)
“A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its Supreme Court electoral map, after finding the map dilutes the power of [b]lack voters. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled the map, which was enacted in 1987, violates the Voting Rights Act and cannot be used in future elections. The Mississippi branch of the American Civil Liberties Union helped litigate the lawsuit, arguing the map cut Mississippi’s Delta region — a historically [b]lack area — in half. ‘This win corrects a historic injustice,’ said Ari Savitzky, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Voting Rights Project. ‘All Mississippians will benefit from fair district lines that give [b]lack voters an equal [sic] voice — and new generations of [b]lack leaders an equal chance to help shape the state’s future by serving on the state’s highest court.’ The lawsuit, which was filed on April 25, 2022, argued the map diminished [sic] the [b]lack vote in the Central District.” (08/20/25)
“Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked the security clearances of 37 former intelligence officials, the Trump administration’s latest move against Obama-era officials whom the White House accuses of undermining the Trump administration. In a memo she posted Tuesday on social media, Gabbard directed the heads of several national security agencies to immediately revoke the clearances of the officials, at the direction of the president, alleging they politicized or weaponized intelligence for personal or partisan gain.” [editor’s note: I’m against the idea that government should be allowed to keep anything secret in the first place, but if they are, wouldn’t it make sense for “security clearances” to be AUTOMATICALLY revoked any time someone leaves the job they’re issued for, instead of only when political distractions are needed? – TLK] (08/19/25)
“Longtime Trump political foe Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff for years has been accused of leaking classified documents — long before the release of a ‘bombshell’ whistleblower testimony claiming the California lawmaker approved leaking classified information in order to discredit the president during the Russiagate probe, Fox News Digital found. Schiff, who served in the U.S. House for more than two decades before securing his spot in the U.S. Senate in 2024, is facing heightened scrutiny following FBI Director Kash Patel declassifying claims from a Democrat whistleblower that Schiff approved the release of classified information on Trump that allegedly ‘would be used to indict President TRUMP,’ according to the report. The whistleblower, who reportedly had worked for Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee for more than 10 years, made the claims to the FBI in 2017. (08/20/25)
“A member of the Irish rap group Kneecap has arrived in court in London, charged with a ‘terror’ offence for allegedly supporting the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O’Hanna, and who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, appeared at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he was charged in May for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November. … Since Hezbollah was banned in the United Kingdom in 2019, it has been an offence to show support for the Iran-aligned group.” [editor’s note: Heaven forbid anyone get away with waving the “wrong” Holy Pole Quilt! — TLK] (08/20/25)
“Michael Franti, a Bay Area musician and former Stern Grove headliner, is ‘vehemently’ denying engaging in nonconsensual behavior toward a younger female musician. A forthcoming music cruise in Mexico that Franti was set to headline has been canceled. Franti did not name his accuser, but his message appears to be a response to statements made by Victoria Canal, a Spanish American singer-songwriter. Canal also did not name Franti but said last week on Instagram that she was groomed by an older musician she was touring with who touched her in nonconsensual ways and coerced her into not telling anyone else at the time. Franti is an alternative rock star known for his positive songs like ‘Say Hey (I Love You)’ that combine reggae, pop, soul and hip-hop influences.” (08/20/25)
“Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is suing two major textbook publishers for overcharging Florida school districts – and was quick to add they push ‘egregious’ content in their instructional materials. Attorney General James Uthmeier filed suit Aug. 19 against McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning Co., specifically accusing the two publishers of bilking Florida school districts for textbooks. DeSantis also noted concerns he’s had with the textbook materials as well, saying their content is not ‘aligned with our standards.’ … The 26-page complaint filed in Leon County alleges that the publishers are violating Florida law, which requires them to give each Florida school district the lowest price offered to any other district in the country.” [editor’s note: If the price or content is unsatisfactory, don’t buy the books. “Problem” solved – TLK] (08/19/25)
“President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to help defend Ukraine against Russia after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before. Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO and regaining the Crimean Peninsula from Russia are ‘impossible.’ … Putin, as part of any potential deal to pull his forces out of Ukraine, is looking for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Trump on Monday said that he was arranging for direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.” (08/19/25)
“Family members of Israeli hostages demanding that the government make a deal to free them blocked a major freeway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday after Hamas signed onto a joint Egyptian-Qatari peace plan. Authorities broke up the women’s group demonstration on the Ayalon Highway after protestors, including some relatives of hostages who have been released or killed, blocked traffic and held up signs saying ‘Conquering Gaza = Sacrificing the hostages and soldiers’ and chanting ‘Their time is running out, a deal is on the table.’ The direct action came two days after a nationwide strike and demonstrations saw road blockages across the country in the largest protests so far demanding a cease-fire and a deal to release the 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, around 20 of whom are believed to be alive.” (08/19/25)
“India and China agreed on Tuesday to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as the neighbours rebuild ties damaged by a 2020 border clash. The Asian giants are cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy, staging a series of high-level bilateral visits. The latest statements came at the end of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit to New Delhi for the 24th round of talks with Indian National Security (NSA) Advisor Ajit Doval to resolve their decades old border dispute.” (08/19/25)
