Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“Faced with growing backlash, US President Donald Trump appears to have removed a controversial Truth Social post depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. The AI-generated image, which showed Trump appearing to heal a sick man in a hospital bed, sparked fierce backlash from both sides of the US political spectrum, including from some of Trump’s most ardent supporters. The post came just hours after Trump posted a lengthy message criticising Pope Leo XIV, a vocal critic of the US and Israeli military operation in Iran. Trump acknowledged posting the picture, telling reporters he thought it was ‘me as a doctor.’ The now-deleted image showed Trump, wearing a white robe, with a glowing hand on the forehead of a sick man, which critics said was similar to religious paintings showing Jesus healing the infirm.” (04/13/26)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17v8y0z9z2o
Source: Crooked Media
“Hasan Piker Has Thoughts on the Hasan Piker Discourse.” (04/12/26)
https://audioboom.com/posts/8887019-hasan-piker-has-thoughts-on-the-hasan-piker-discourse
Source: exile in happy valley
by Nicky Reid
“As a badly battered Middle East hangs off the edge of a cliff by a string with a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, peace or anything remotely resembling it looks even less likely for Southern Lebanon than it does for the rest of that treacherous map drawn by dead British arseholes. Even if Israel were the kind of creature who could be trusted to respect a ceasefire with anyone, much of the damage is already done.” (04/12/26)
https://exileinhappyvalley.blogspot.com/2026/04/lebanon-iran-and-forgotten-plight-of.html
Source: Quillette
by Andreas Paul John
“The German state has been generous to its beneficiaries—but that largesse is becoming increasingly unsustainable.” (04/12/26)
https://quillette.com/2026/04/12/germanys-cozy-catastrophe-economics-reform/
Source: Politico
“California Republicans refused Sunday to endorse Donald Trump’s pick for governor here, a stark rebuke of the sitting president by the party’s rank-and-file in the nation’s most populous state. The activists’ break with Trump — electing not to endorse in the contest, despite his backing of former Fox News host Steve Hilton — came amid worsening fears within the GOP about the party’s prospects in the midterms, including in critical House battlegrounds in California. … More party delegates voted for Chad Bianco, a firebrand Southern California sheriff who launched a probe into last year’s special election, than Hilton, with neither reaching the 60 percent threshold necessary to secure an endorsement. Bianco received 49 percent support, Hilton drew 44 percent, and the rest of delegates voted not to endorse.” (04/12/26)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/12/republicans-break-with-trump-in-california-governors-race-00868537
Source: Free Talk Live
“Internet routers being nationalized in the US :: Cash for Clunkers but for routers :: AI data centers are buying up all manufacturing capacity for electronics, driving up prices :: Penguin warns of upcoming electronics price surges :: Why the US can’t use our own oil :: Talks of Forkfest which is coming soon :: Liberty failing in all of the world except New Hampshire :: How do you define Free Stater? :: What does liberty mean? :: Dems in NH and their anger and hate towards Free Staters :: It’s over for us as far as privacy in electronics, we’re screwed :: Steve Gibson’s Security Now! podcast :: Article by Activist Post about Ian Freeman being in a cage while Epstein’s clients walk free :: DCYF kidnapping children but Free Staters are pushing back :: 2026-04-12 :: Hosts: Bonnie, Mark Edge, Penguin.” (04/12/26)
https://soundcloud.com/freetalklive/ftl2026-04-12
Source: The Realist Review
by Chris Mott
“Under the influence of neoconservatism and other varieties of hawkism, America has lost its ability to think strategically and now acts as one of the primary sources of global instability. But herein lies the opportunity, as every time the neoconservatives manage to achieve their aims, their popularity and prestige collapse once the results become apparent. New and establishment-bucking political candidates openly run against them, thanks to a strong desire amongst the public to move on from wars that don’t advance the national interest. And the neoconservatives have, potentially, sown the seeds of their own dismantling in the security state they have helped to build.” (04/12/26)
https://therealistreview.substack.com/p/purge-the-neoconservatives
Source: SFGate
“A former Nigerian oil minister accused of staying in luxury homes for free and enjoying lavish spending sprees in exchange for government contracts denied taking bribes as she gave evidence in a London court on Monday. Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is accused of benefiting from access to multimillion-pound U.K. homes that were paid for and refurnished by energy firms seeking government contracts in Nigeria. Prosecutors allege that she benefited from private jets, a chauffeur-driven car and shopping trips including 2 million pounds ($2.7 million) spent at Harrods, a famed London department store. They also allege that she received 100,000 pounds ($135,000) in cash while she was Nigerian minister of petroleum resources from April 2010 to May 2015. Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court in London, Alison-Madueke said ‘I did not abuse my office during that period.’ She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.” (04/13/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/nigerian-ex-oil-minister-denies-taking-bribes-for-22203448.php
Source: Free Talk Live
“Campbell v. LNC Judicial Committee Hearing.” (04/12/26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VdPJJwsVyM
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Cláudia Ascensão Nunes
“In 1985, inspired by Southwest Airlines, the first major low-cost airline in the world, and following the liberalization of European airspace, Ryanair brought the low-cost model to scale in Europe, revolutionizing air travel across the continent. It did so through an efficiency-driven model that enabled the sale of extremely low-cost tickets in a market previously dominated by expensive legacy carriers. … However, 41 years later, Ryanair is preparing to cut around 3 million seats, corresponding to an estimated 75 to 90 routes across Europe. A combination of aggressive green ideology from the European Union and state-protected airport monopolies lies at the root of this decision.” (04/12/26)
https://fee.org/articles/ryanair-vs-the-european-union/
