Source: Reason
by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
“Like sex trafficking panic more broadly, the Epstein files are a useful political tool—as long as they remain hidden.” (07/16/25)
https://reason.com/2025/07/16/magas-epstein-files-fight-shows-the-long-tail-of-qanon/
Source: In These Times
by Stephen Semler
“The idea of a $1 trillion Pentagon budget was hyperbole just a few years ago. It became reality a few days ago, once Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The sweeping legislation adds $156 billion in military spending on top of the $899 billion already approved for 2025. This year’s military budget now stands at … $1,055,270,000,000. It’s a watershed moment, and not a particularly proud one for the nation, especially considering that the same bill pushing annual military spending over the $1 trillion mark also cuts healthcare and food assistance. The deficit was used both as the justification for slashing social spending and the vehicle for financing the bill’s excess military spending. The legislation’s Pentagon budget increase isn’t paid for, as it were — not unlike the post-9/11 wars, the extra costs aren’t offset by commensurate tax increases; they’re funded by the deficit.” (07/16/25)
https://inthesetimes.com/article/trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-pentagon-budget-spending-military
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“A coalition of countries has announced at a meeting in the Colombian capital of Bogota that they will pursue accountability for Israeli abuses in Gaza, including by preventing the transfer of weapons to Israel. The two-day meeting concluded on Wednesday with two dozen countries agreeing to six measures to ‘restrain Israel’s assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.’ They include Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and South Africa. … Among the steps announced by the group are the denial of arms to Israel, a ban on ships transporting such arms and a review of public contracts for possible links to companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation.” (07/16/25)
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“How the Trump administration is amping up immigrant deportations.” (07/16/25)
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“Good News! DOGE Is (Sorta) Back!” (07/16/25)
https://rumble.com/v6w99oo-good-news-doge-is-sorta-back.html
Source: Brownstone Institute
by Clayton J Baker MD
“Moore was being prosecuted for defying state-sponsored tyranny, which has since been acknowledged by the courts, and even by the State itself. … Bondi’s explanation of her own eleventh-hour rescue of Dr. Moore rings hollow, for several reasons. First, the case has been a high profile cause celebre on social media for weeks heading into the trial …. It seems difficult to believe that an Attorney General – especially one as media-focused as Bondi – would only have found out about Moore’s case after day 3 of the trial. … Second, there is ample evidence that Bondi’s DOJ – likely with her knowledge – actively and deliberately continued to pursue the case against Moore right up until her sudden announcement.” (07/16/25)
https://brownstone.org/articles/the-exoneration-of-kirk-moore-and-the-trial-of-pam-bondi/
Source: Jerusalem Post [Palestine]
“Russian air defense units destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones overnight that targeted the capital, Moscow, and scores of other Russian regions, injuring at least one person, Russian authorities said on Thursday. More than half of the drones were destroyed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions that border Ukraine, the Russian defense ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. Three drones were destroyed over the Moscow region, it added.” (07/17/25)
https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-861304
Source: The Hill
by Max Burns
“To 70 percent of Trump voters and the millions of Americans tuning in for the media scandal of the summer, Trump the Crusading Epstein Truther now looks like Trump the Man with Something to Hide. The swamp he so boldly pledged to drain is quickly rising up his legs, leaving the president with two bad options: release documents he claims not to have or admit that one of MAGA’s founding myths is a lie. Trump is standing in front of an exploding fireworks store and insisting there is nothing to see here. But he isn’t Frank Drebin and this isn’t ‘The Naked Gun.’ Epstein was a real criminal, and uncovering the full truth of his crimes comes with real stakes for the women he abused and the lives he destroyed. Trump is playing political games with an unspeakable crime.” (07/16/25)
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5402092-trump-epstein-files-scandal-conspiracy/
Source: LP Alliance
“Interview with Jo Jorgensen.” (07/16/25)
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, roughly half the federal troops deployed to the city, the Pentagon said. President Donald Trump ordered some 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines into Los Angeles in early June to help enforce federal immigration raids amid widespread protests. According to Department of Homeland Security figures, cited by NBC Los Angeles, the raids have led to the [abductions] of 2,792 undocumented immigrants. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on Tuesday confirmed the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen ‘from the federal protection mission.’ He claimed the move was because ‘the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding.’ Mayor Karen Bass described the withdrawal as a ‘retreat,’ crediting the success of peaceful protests and legal actions.” (07/16/25)