Cool heads douse a hot shutdown

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff

“This year in Washington so far has been one of gloves-off politics rather than handshake compromises. More than 150 lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration’s actions. Then, starting Oct. 1, Democrats in the Senate voted 14 times not to fund the government until a key demand on health care was met. The shutdown has been the longest in United States history. On Sunday, however, a gaggle of three former governors (Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire along with independent Sen. Angus King of Maine) were able to broker a deal and achieve a 60-40 Senate vote that is expected to end the shutdown in coming days.” (11/10/25)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2025/1110/Cool-heads-douse-a-hot-shutdown

Steve Trinward

France: Sarkozy given early jail release

Source: United Press International

“France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from jail as he seeks appeal of his recent conviction for alleged criminal conspiracy attempt. In September, Sarkozy was convicted of conspiracy stemming from campaign finance funding from the late Libyan strongman leader Moammar Gaddafi. He could be set free as early as Monday from La Sante prison while awaiting a pending appeal trial in March, according to the BBC and CNN. … Sarkozy is barred from leaving France as part of his release, is forbidden from contacting French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin in addition to other names implicated in the ongoing criminal case. … Sarkozy is the first French leader to be imprisoned since Nazi collaborator Philippe Pétain in 1945 for treason.” (11/10/25)

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/11/10/France-Nicolas-Sarkozy-jail-free-released-conspiracy/3581762783187/

Thomas L. Knapp

Trump threatens BBC with frivolous lawsuit

Source: New York Post

“President Trump threatened the British Broadcasting Corporation with a $1 billion lawsuit in Florida Monday if it did not retract a news program that featured doctored footage of Trump’s remarks ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In a letter from Trump’s outside counsel obtained by The Post, the BBC was given until 5 p.m. ET Friday to ‘retract the false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements made about President Trump’ in its ‘Panorama’ program that aired Oct. 28, 2024, titled ‘Trump: A Second Chance?’ … On Monday, BBC Chair Samir Shah conceded in a statement to a UK parliamentary committee that “we accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.” (11/10/25)

https://nypost.com/2025/11/10/us-news/trump-lashes-out-at-corrupt-dishonest-bbc-after-bosses-resign-over-doctored-jan-6-speech-footage/

Thomas L. Knapp

Why I Cut Ties With T-Mobile

Source: Common Dreams
by Tony Andrews

“With everything that the Trump administration is doing to militarize our cities and neighborhoods, it can be easy to forget about all of the damage that Elon Musk has done, and continues to do. He and his Department of Government Efficiency minions destroyed the US Agency for International Development, resulting in incredible misery and thousands of deaths in countries around the world. They fired thousands of dedicated civil servants and embedded themselves in all major government agencies, and combined our personal data in illegal ways that make us all more vulnerable. … he continues to use his vast wealth to subvert democracy both here and around the world, and will continue to do so unless we fight back. One of the pillars of his empire is Starlink, which leverages Musk’s relationship with President Donald Trump to help it acquire additional spectrum licenses and crush its competition.” (11/10/25)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/boycott-t-mobile-2674282011

Steve Trinward

SCOTUS rejects bid to overturn same-sex marriage ruling

Source: The Hill

“The Supreme Court rejected a long-shot effort Monday to overturn its ruling guaranteeing same-sex marriage nationwide. Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis directly asked the justices to overrule the 2015 landmark decision after a jury awarded damages to a couple whom Davis refused to issue a marriage license. … In a brief order, the justices declined to take up Davis’s appeal, alongside dozens of other petitions up for consideration at the justices’ weekly closed-door conference. There were no noted dissents.” (11/10/25)

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5597353-supreme-court-rejects-davis-appeal

Thomas L. Knapp

Five laws FIRE wants on the books to protect free speech

Source: Expression
by staff

“Even with the robust protections offered to us by the First Amendment and the decades of decisions made by our federal and Supreme courts, defending free speech is still difficult business. Infringements on our rights often take advantage of loopholes and gaps in our legal frameworks, leading to actions — particularly from those in power — that violate our expressive rights and chill free speech. That’s why FIRE has long championed a variety of proposals to help safeguard free expression from government attacks and abuse, including federal legislation. But what would that legislation look like?” (11/10/25)

https://expression.fire.org/p/5-laws-fire-wants-on-the-books-to

Thomas L. Knapp

Lukoil Declares Force Majeure on Iraqi Oil After Sanctions

Source: Bloomberg

“Russia’s Lukoil PJSC declared force majeure on oil shipments from its giant West Qurna 2 field in Iraq, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The move is a sign that sanctions against Russia’s No. 2 oil producer are beginning to impact its international operations. The US announced penalties against the firm last month as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to ramp up pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. Declaring force majeure gives Lukoil the right to skip contractual obligations, but it doesn’t automatically mean shipments from West Qurna 2 will halt. The company owns 75% of the field, which was pumping more than 480,000 barrels a day back in April, according to Interfax.” (11/10/25)

https://archive.is/iTuNE

Thomas L. Knapp