If Dems do him dirty, Stephen A Smith could be the next RFK Jr

Source: Fox News
by David Marcus

“As sports media star Stephen A. Smith teased talk of a presidential run in 2028 this weekend, there is one thing that he and those advising him must surely know: The Democratic Party does not nominate outsiders. This is a lesson that Sen. Bernie Sanders [I-VT] learned in both 2016 and 2020 as his populist socialist movement was blocked at every turn by party leaders. To his credit as a politician, Sanders and the socialists, after a decade of work, have now all but taken over the party. The more relevant example to Stephen A’s would-be grab for the golden ring in 2028 is not Sanders, it is Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose mistreatment by the DNC led him to endorse President Donald Trump in 2024.” (02/18/26)

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-democrats-do-him-dirty-stephen-a-smith-could-next-rfk-jr

Steve Trinward

Poll: Many Democrats still down on the Democratic Party

Source: SFGate

“Democratic candidates have notched a series of wins in recent special elections — but a new AP-NORC poll finds views of the Democratic Party among rank-and-file Democrats have not bounced back since President Donald Trump ’s 2024 victory. Only about 7 in 10 Democrats have a positive view of the Democratic Party, according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While the overwhelming majority of Democrats still feel good about their party, they’re much less positive than they’ve been in the past. The midterm elections are still many months away, and lackluster favorability doesn’t spell electoral doom. Other factors could benefit Democrats this year, including broadly negative views of Trump and other Republicans. But the lack of enthusiasm could be a longer-term problem for the party.” (02/18/26)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/the-latest-many-democrats-are-still-down-on-the-21360107.php

Steve Trinward

CBS censors Colbert, bowing to pressure from Trump’s FCC

Source: Popular Information
by Judd Legum, Rebecca Crosby, & Noel Sims

“CBS forbade Late Show host Stephen Colbert from interviewing Texas State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat running to unseat Republican Senator John Cornyn. The incident is a chilling example of how the Trump administration and allied media organizations are colluding to suppress critical coverage of the administration. Addressing the incident on Monday night’s show, Colbert said he was also told by CBS’ lawyers not to discuss the decision to spike the Talarico interview. But Colbert, whose show is being canceled in May, ignored that directive.” (02/18/26)

https://popular.info/p/cbs-censors-colbert-bowing-to-pressure

Thomas L. Knapp

A Worker-Led Alternative to Billionaire-Owned News in DC

Source: CounterPunch
by Chris Mills Rodrigo

“Even setting aside the decimation of the Post’s metro desk, the suite of local news options available to Washington, DC residents has shrunk dramatically in last decade as the portion of the digital ad-share pie not gobbled up by tech monopolies has grown smaller. Washington City Paper ended its print circulation in 2022 and, in February of 2024, DCist was shut down by its owner, the NPR-affiliate station WAMU. Luckily for DC residents, several of the staffers laid off in the closure of DCist decided that the service they provided to the community was too important to abandon.” (02/18/26)

https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/02/18/a-worker-led-alternative-to-billionaire-owned-news-in-dc/

Thomas L. Knapp

Tesla stops using “Autopilot” to promote its EVs in California

Source: Engadget

“Tesla has stopped using the term ‘Autopilot’ to sell its cars in California, thereby avoiding a 30-day sales and manufacturing ban in the state. If you’ll recall, a California administrative law judge ruled in December that the automaker misled consumers by using the terms ‘Autopilot’ and ‘Full Self-Driving.’ The judge recommended the suspension, but the California DMV gave Tesla 60 days to remove any untrue and misleading language in its marketing materials. In its announcement, the DMV said Tesla has taken corrective action and has stopped using Autopilot for marketing. Prior to that, the automaker has already clarified that driver supervision is still needed with Full Self-Driving.” (02/18/26)

https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-stops-using-autopilot-to-promote-its-evs-in-california-112533060.html

Thomas L. Knapp