Source: Expression
by Sarah McLaughlin & Zoe Armbruster
“A familiar pattern of state repression has unfolded as mass protests spread in Iran. Authorities escalated their response through lethal force, mass arrests, communication blackouts, and the threat of executions. Demonstrations that began in late December over inflation and a collapsing currency quickly evolved into nationwide protests challenging the rule of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei more broadly. Death tolls are as of yet unclear, with different sources reporting numbers so far in the range from 6,000 to 12,000 to 30,000, and the exact number will likely be difficult to discern given widespread censorship. Security forces have also conducted thousands of arrests across all provinces. As unrest intensified, Iran imposed a near-total internet shutdown, cutting off roughly 90% of connectivity while preserving selective access for government officials and state-linked platforms.” (01/30/26)
“Honestly, if you’d told me a couple of weeks ago literally anything about failed CNN personality Don Lemon, it would have taken me a minute to remember who he was. If I really think about it, there’s a good chance I would have had to think about it for a second or two even back when he had a show on CNN, but now that he’s gone the only thing I think of is how he had a job with Twitter for one show, an interview with Elon Musk, and was so stupid that he got fired immediately after it. Until he helped raid that church in Minneapolis, that was going to be how I remembered him…If I remembered him at all. Now it’s like the j*****s who facilitated left-wing nutjobs screaming at families trying to worship God, then claimed they were white supremacists anyway.” (02/01/25)
Source: Wired
by Matt Burgess, Lily Hay Newman, Maddy Varner, & Andy Greenberg
“Filming federal agents in public is legal, but avoiding a dangerous — even deadly — confrontation isn’t guaranteed. Here’s how to record ICE and CBP agents as safely as possible and have an impact.” (01/31/26)
“The strongest case for the Epstein obsession is that it’s a kind of a metaphor — that his circle reveals the inwardness and corruption of American elites. I imagine Epstein would love this. As a convincing New York Times investigation showed, the sex criminal was a Gatsby-esque con man, feeding his fame and fortune with an astute trade in money, status, and information. At some point, the public might want to accept that we’re the final victims of his con, elevating his status beyond his wildest imaginings. Or maybe the bots, trained on the humans of Reddit and other social media platforms, will prove me wrong and unearth the real Epstein conspiracy.” (01/31/26)
“Last night, federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon in connection with an anti-ICE protest inside a Minnesota church earlier this month. The Department of Justice charged him with violating federal statutes — primarily 18 U.S.C. § 241 and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act — that protect people exercising their constitutional rights. These are serious charges, and the federal government bears a heavy burden of proof. Let’s break it down.” (01/30/26)
Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“I don’t know what to say today. We are ruled by abusive monsters. The US is preparing for war with Iran. They’re going in for the kill shot on Cuba. The latest batch of Epstein emails looks horrifying. The US is full of protests because ICE keeps killing people. Israel is still massacring civilians in Gaza as Australia prepares to host its president for an extended visit. Reuters has confirmed that Biden officials actively obstructed the circulation of internal USAID reports that Gaza was being turned into a nightmarish hellscape in early 2024. There’s so much cruelty. So much abuse. You’d think all this evidence that we are ruled by deranged psychopaths would unite us against them, but it doesn’t. The population is more angrily, bitterly divided against itself than ever.” (02/01/25)
“In recent weeks, new data has emerged from Canada showing the near-catastrophic consequences to American alcohol manufacturers from President Donald Trump’s tariff wars. Yet despite clear signs that his tariff policies are backfiring, the president keeps doubling down.” (01/31/26)
