Idiot pol “workshopping reality series allowing migrants to compete for citizenship”

Source: Irish Star [Ireland]

“Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem has allegedly proposed the creation of a reality television show that would allow migrants seeking citizenship to compete in a cross-country challenge and would grant the winner a fast-track to U.S. Citizenship. The show, which is allegedly titled The American, is still in the very early stages of development and has yet to be officially approved or denied. While this may sound like a joke, the Daily Mail reportedly obtained a copy of a 35-page outline detailing Noem’s involvement with the show. In the outline, Noem is mentioned to have offered up several officials within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to tally votes.” (05/16/25)

https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/kristie-noem-workshopping-reality-series-35234914

Thomas L. Knapp

Mexico: Regime demands bribe from YouTube star MrBeast after pyramid chocolate video

Source: The Guardian [UK]

“Mexico is seeking compensation from YouTube celebrity MrBeast’s production company, accusing it of using images of the country’s ancient archaeological sites to advertise a chocolate brand. A video of the social media star visiting Maya ruins has been viewed around 60m times since 10 May on YouTube, where he has 395 million subscribers. … The permit issued to production company Full Circle Media did not authorise ‘the use of the image of the archaeological sites for the advertising of commercial brands for private profit,’ [the National Institute of Archaeology and History] added.” (05/15/25)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/16/mexico-demands-compensation-from-youtube-star-mrbeast-after-pyramid-chocolate-video

Thomas L. Knapp

Don’t be fooled by the drizzle of AI. A storm is coming.

Source: Washington Post
by Megan McArdle

“In September 1939, Europe entered a strange historical period known as the phony war that lasted until the following spring. Having guaranteed Poland’s independence, Britain and France declared war when Germany invaded. But then nothing much occurred for months other than some naval skirmishes. Only with the blitzkrieg offensive of late spring did the phony war start to seem real. History produces these moments from time to time, liminal pauses when it’s clear that something has happened, but it doesn’t feel as if it’s happened yet. One of them is our AI revolution, which is underway but visible only in a few odd spots, like a cheating wave engulfing U.S. schools. So when I warn people to prepare for what’s coming, a common retort is that they’ll believe it when they see it.” (05/15/25)

https://archive.is/mmM9X

Thomas L. Knapp

Russian Jet Violates NATO Airspace as Putin “Shadow Fleet” Tanker Escorted

Source: Newsweek

“Estonia has accused Russia of breaching its airspace in a move that raises tensions between Moscow and NATO’s Baltic State member. The Russian Sukhoi Su-35 entered Estonia’s airspace for less than a minute on Tuesday evening above the Juminda Peninsula area in the Gulf of Finland, according to the Estonian Defense Forces. Russian and Polish media said that the incident may have been connected to the Estonian Navy escorting one of Russia’s sanctions-busting ‘shadow fleet’ oil tankers on its way to Saint Petersburg, with the jet trying to ward off the NATO member’s ship.” (05/15/25)

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-nato-putin-shadow-fleet-2072535

Thomas L. Knapp

For the Sake of Our Democracy [sic], We Must Reform Our Regressive [sic] Capital Gains Tax

Source: Inequality.org
by Bob Lord

“The top tax rate wealthy Americans pay on their investment gains today runs barely half the top rate the rest of us pay on our wages. But that only begins to tell the story of how lightly taxed our richest have become compared to the rest of us. On the surface, the nominal tax rate on long-term capital gains from investments seems somewhat progressive, even given the reality that this rate sits lower than the tax rate on ordinary income. Single taxpayers with $48,350 or less in taxable income face a zero capital gains tax rate. Taxpayers with over $533,400 in taxable income, meanwhile, face a 23.8% tax on their capital gains, a rate that includes a 3.8% net investment income tax. But these numbers shroud the real picture. In reality, we tax the ultra-rich on their investment gains less, not more.” (05/15/25)

https://inequality.org/article/americas-most-regressive-tax-levy-our-tax-on-capital-gains/

Steve Trinward

WI: Dugan pleads not guilty to federal obstruction charges

Source: United Press International

“Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to her alleged interference with an ICE [abduction]. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries accepted Dugan’s not guilty plea to one charge each of obstructing an official proceeding and concealing a person from arrest and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest. … Dugan’s lawyers submitted a motion to dismiss her case Wednesday which cited judicial immunity and federal overreach as reasons her case should be dismissed, as per the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, under which her legal team purports that federal agents cannot enter a state courthouse and arrest a sitting judge.” (05/15/25)

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/05/15/Hannah-Dugan-plead-not-guilty-ICE-arrest/4781747326934/

Thomas L. Knapp