https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YVj8LKxaLk
Monday, June 30, 2025
Intercepted call of Iranian officials downplays damage of U.S. attack - The Washington Post
The officials were heard saying Trump's strike on Iran proved less devastating than expected. The administration calls the intelligence insignificant…
Senate rulekeeper deals blows to revised ‘big, beautiful bill’ - POLITICO
A Medicaid carveout for Alaska was among the "Byrd bath" casualties...
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/29/megabill-byrd-alaska-megabill-parliamentarian-00431730
President's son suggests he could run for president when father’s term ends
Forty-one-year-old has stayed away from politics, but says 'political path would be an easy one' if he chose to pursue it…
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Inside a plan to use AI to amplify doubts about the dangers of pollutants
An industry-backed researcher who has forged a career sowing doubt about the dangers of pollutants is attempting to use artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify his perspective...
Debating Religion (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
We discuss the Supreme Court decision allowing states to defund Planned Parenthood and we decry many attempts by Christian nationalists to force religious conformity on a diverse nation.
After celebrating the life of the irreverent comedian, actor, filmmaker, songwriter and playwright Mel Brooks (who turns 99 this month), we hear opening statements in two debates in the United Kingdom that FFRF co-presidents participated in.
We hear the Opening Statement by Dan Barker in a debate at Oxford University on the topic: “This House Believes God Is a Delusion.” Then we hear the Opening Statement by Annie Laurie Gaylor at Cambridge University on the topic: “This House Believes Religion and Feminism Are Incompatible.”
Interview:
The Apostle Assassin (Conspirituality podcast episode #263)
“Dad went to war last night” read Vance Boelter's text to his family in the early hours of June 14. This was sent after his shooting rampage aimed at Democratic lawmakers, which left two dead and two critically wounded.
Turns out Boelter is an ordained pastor in a church associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, which sees the world as a spiritual battlefield and whose leaders have preached that political enemies are possessed by demons.
This is not some small fringe movement. Key figures in the Trump administration are adherents. We revisit this apocalyptic evangelical Christian cult and consider its political violence and religious extremism.
Interview:
Turns out Boelter is an ordained pastor in a church associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, which sees the world as a spiritual battlefield and whose leaders have preached that political enemies are possessed by demons.
This is not some small fringe movement. Key figures in the Trump administration are adherents. We revisit this apocalyptic evangelical Christian cult and consider its political violence and religious extremism.
Interview:
The Deadly Cost of Religious Extremism (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #589)
— Vance Boelter and the deadly cost of religious extremism. (0:40)
— Christian music icon Michael Tait’s fall from grace. (17:50)
— Sean Duffy turns military graduation into blatant ad for Christian Nationalism. (34:20)
— Appeals Court blocks Louisiana law forcing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (53:05)
— Trump has earned $1.3 million (so far) from his MAGA Bible grift. (1:07:44)
— Christian parents let their baby die because of their faith. Now they’re going to prison. (1:15:22)
— Colorado Springs City Council members target Pride Parade after “Hail Satan” shout-out. (1:25:37)
Interview:
— Christian music icon Michael Tait’s fall from grace. (17:50)
— Sean Duffy turns military graduation into blatant ad for Christian Nationalism. (34:20)
— Appeals Court blocks Louisiana law forcing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (53:05)
— Trump has earned $1.3 million (so far) from his MAGA Bible grift. (1:07:44)
— Christian parents let their baby die because of their faith. Now they’re going to prison. (1:15:22)
— Colorado Springs City Council members target Pride Parade after “Hail Satan” shout-out. (1:25:37)
Interview:
Saturday, June 28, 2025
The News Roundup – Domestic and International (The 1A) 2025-06-27
Domestic
Donald Trump claimed at the NATO summit this week that the U.S. strikes on nuclear sites in Iran had “completely and fully obliterated” the country’s nuclear program. American intelligence reports, however, indicate the attack only set Tehran back a few months.Kari Lake, a senior advisor to Donald Trump, told a congressional committee this week that the U.S. Agency for Global Media is “rotten to the core” and that pieces of it should be reorganized underneath the State Department.
Zohran Mamdani, the New York assembly member representing the state’s 36th district, is expected to be the Democratic party’s nominee for mayor after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded this week.
Interview:
International
President Donald Trump asserted this week that after the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, if Tehran was to rebuild, America would strike again.NATO leaders met this week and promised to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
Following a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president suggested he was open to sending more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
Interview:
SCOTUS upholds key ACA measure on preventive care for millions : NPR
Siding with the government on Friday, the court upheld the Affordable Care Act, allowing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to continue determining which services will be available free of cost to Americans covered by the Affordable Care Act...
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/27/nx-s1-5430393/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care
Christian nationalists decided empathy is a sin. Now it’s gone mainstream. | Vox
In practice, what Rigney is typically decrying is any empathy for a liberal perspective or for someone who's part of a marginalized community...
https://www.vox.com/culture/413530/what-does-empathy-is-a-sin-mean-christian-extremism
Supreme Court gives Trump a wave of victories in final week : NPR
The Supreme Court term has given the Trump administration a series of major wins in the final blockbuster week of its term. We rounded up the final decisions in one place, with more information and links to read the full decisions and our full coverage...
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/27/g-s1-74738/scotus-decisions-birthright-aca
Liberal Justices Scorch Birthright Citizenship Opinion In Foreboding Dissent | HuffPost Latest News
Sotomayor, writing first, accused the government of engaging in "gamesmanship" that threatens the foundational rule of law…
"Today, the threat is to birthright citizenship. Tomorrow, a different administration may try to seize firearms from law-abiding citizens or prevent people of certain faiths from gathering to worship."
She closed by accusing the court of complicity in mocking the U.S. Constitution…
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scotus-birthright-decision-dissent_n_685ea633e4b0bc17d54c6b83
Trump’s Old Post Mocking Obama On Iran Comes Back To Haunt Him | HuffPost Latest News
"Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly—not skilled!" Trump wrote when he was still a reality TV personality...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-old-tweet-iran-obama_n_68525910e4b0672778c4061e
Liberal justices slam majority decision on porn age verification as ‘at war with itself’
"But what if Texas could do better — what if Texas could achieve its interest without so interfering with adults' constitutionally protected rights in viewing the speech [the Texas law] covers?" she asked…
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5373522-supreme-court-upholds-texas-porn-law/
The hilarious implications of the Supreme Court’s new porn decision, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton | Vox
Thus, if Texas wants to apply this law to Pornhub, some poor judge will have to watch much of the content on that website to determine if it has literary, artistic, political, or scientific value — and whatever that judge decides, their decision will be appealed to other judges who will have to engage in the same exercise.
Justice Thomas and his colleagues, in other words, should probably install a popcorn machine in the Supreme Court building, because they've just signed themselves up to recreate the humiliating movie days of the Court's past…
https://www.vox.com/scotus/418065/supreme-court-porn-free-speech-paxton-clarence-thomas
Supreme Court Says States Can Limit Access To Porn | HuffPost Latest News
"It is not, contra the majority, like having to flash ID to enter a club," Kagan wrote. "It is turning over information about yourself and your viewing habits—respecting speech many find repulsive—to a website operator, and then to ... who knows? The operator might sell the information; the operator might be hacked or subpoenaed."
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-porn-texas_n_683f057ee4b018c3beee0d74
3 takeaways from the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship decision | Vox
The Court, in other words, resolved very little. It appears that nationwide injunctions are still allowed, at least some of the time. And they might even be allowed in this very case...
Another mysterious anti-Trump sculpture appears on the National Mall - The Washington Post
This time, featuring clips of President Trump dancing. The White House was not amused…
Friday, June 27, 2025
As Political Violence Surges, Trump Shuts Down a Top Prevention Program – Mother Jones
"We're at real risk of normalizing political violence as a part of our democracy."…
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/terrorism-violence-prevention-dhs-cp3-william-braniff/
Republican megabill would undermine the student loan system
"Trump views colleges as his political enemies, so he is doing everything he can to tear them down..."
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/megabill-student-loans-congress-project-47-rcna215054
The alarming rise of US officers hiding behind masks
…But, German argued, the longterm consequences could be severe. The practice could erode trust in the US law enforcement agencies: "When it's hard to tell who a masked individual is working for, it's hard to accept that that is a legitimate use of authority," he noted.
And, he said, when real agents use masks more frequently, it becomes easier for imposters to operate.
German – who previously worked undercover in white supremacist and militia groups and is now a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-profit – spoke to the Guardian about the dangers of officer masking, why he thinks officers are concealing themselves and how far the US has deviated from democratic norms…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/25/immigration-officers-wearing-masks
Murder Rates Could Hit Record Lows This Year, but Killings by Police Are Rising – Mother Jones
The uptick in police violence hasn't occurred everywhere. Many Democratic-leaning states that enacted reforms after George Floyd's death in 2020 saw police killings fall slightly in the years afterward, according to Samuel Sinyangwe, the data scientist who leads Mapping Police Violence.
But Republican-leaning states that didn't enact reforms saw major increases. "There has been a backlash to the protests," Sinyangwe says, referring to the countless demonstrations sparked by Floyd's murder, "whereby Red states further funded and encouraged more aggressive policing practices and imposed barriers on local jurisdictions trying to enact reforms."…
DOJ coordinated with Texas AG to kill Texas Dream Act, Trump official says
A top Justice Department official boasted at a private Republican gathering that the Trump administration was able to kill a Texas law that gave undocumented immigrants in-state tuition "in six hours" by coordinating with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a recording obtained by NBC News...
RFK Jr. Tells Fox News The Rotten Truth About His Anti-Fluoride Crusade | HuffPost Latest News
…The authors of that study have said themselves that their findings should not be used to evaluate the use of fluoride in water in the U.S., for a variety of reasons.
Kennedy was also wrong when he suggested that Europe as a whole had banned fluoride in water. While it's true that many European countries do not add it to their water, the region has a patchwork of practices, as outlined by a 2018 report. Some parts of the U.K. and Ireland fluoridate their tap water, while Greece adds it to bottled water. And in some areas, fluoride occurs naturally in the water supply…
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-jr-fluoride-cavities_n_685d823be4b0bd0253108d8d
Elizabeth Warren presses oil companies on tax break lobbying for Senate bill | Oil and gas companies | The Guardian
Democratic senator leads calls for answers over provision that could cut fossil fuel firms' income tax to zero…
RFK Jr’s new vaccine panel votes against preservative in flu shots in shock move | US news | The Guardian
Decision to restrict thimerosal in immunizations could impact future vaccine availability on a global scale…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/26/rfk-flu-shot-vaccines-panel
What is thimerosal, the flu vaccine ingredient targeted by RFK Jr.? - The Washington Post
On his social media post, he cited several studies he said supported his claims — and contradicted his own agencies. Medical experts told The Post Kennedy was misstating the science. "
It's a way to overwhelm an audience who mostly WON'T click each one to find what they are looking for," said Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious-disease epidemiologist, in a text. "Second, there is zero evidence of his claims in any of those links."…
'Never seen this': Former CDC official rails against Trump nominee's latest move - Raw Story
"Never before have I seen a private citizen invited to come and give a sort of overview of the evidence that has not been reviewed by the work group."
The doctor went on to say, "The type of presentation she's giving is usually given by a CDC official after a lot of clearance. The fact that she is presenting in this very well-respected, previously well-respected public forum is just yet another example of RFK Jr.'s interference in the CDC's vaccine policy process…
https://www.rawstory.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-2672441305/
Israeli forces kill three Palestinians after settlers attack West Bank town | Palestinian territories | The Guardian
Dozens of Israeli settlers have attacked a Palestinian West Bank town, sparking a confrontation that ended with Israeli forces killing three Palestinians...
Key SALT Republican rejects latest offer from Senate GOP, administration
The House-passed measure included a $40,000 deduction cap — quadruple the number in current law — for individuals making $500,000 or less. Senate Republicans, however, reverted the proposal back to $10,000 in their version of the legislation, sparking a fierce fight between the two camps.
In recent days, however, talks have zeroed in on keeping the $40,000 deduction cap in place but changing the income threshold and inflation index...
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5371485-salt-republicans-offer-trump-bill/
BBC to start charging US-based consumers for news and TV coverage | BBC | The Guardian
It will see the BBC compete directly with the likes of CNN, headed by the former BBC director general Mark Thompson, which is launching a streaming subscription service later this year...
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/26/bbc-usa-paid-subscription-news
China breaks more records with surge in solar and wind power | China | The Guardian
Between January and May, China added 198 GW of solar and 46 GW of wind, enough to generate as much electricity as Indonesia or Turkey…
Here's where same-sex marriage would be banned without Obergefell
On the 10 year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, access to marriage equality faces increasing opposition…
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/26/marriage-equality-bans-trigger-laws-obergefell-hodges-anniversary
Trump DoJ ally denies claim he urged defying court orders on immigration
Emil Bove, a former Trump attorney, faced Senate judiciary committee considering him to be federal appeals judge…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/25/trump-emil-bove-immigration-court-orders
Yes, Jesus was a FAILED PROPHET (feat Tim O'Neill) (Mike Winger / InspiringPhilosophy response)(Paulogia)
Many argue Jesus predicted He would return in the 1st century and since this did not occur Jesus uttered a false prophecy. But did Jesus really predict His 2nd coming would occur in the 1st century? Tim O'Neill from @historyforatheists9363 joins me to look at the claims of @InspiringPhilosophy and @MikeWinger.
Interview:
Thursday, June 26, 2025
New Data About How Issues of Family, Gender, Sexuality Drive MAGA Extremism (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi welcomes back Dr. Andrew Whitehead, sociology professor at Indiana University and co-author of Taking America Back for God. They unpack how Christian nationalism uses ideas about gender, family, and sexuality to shape political identity—especially among white working-class Americans.
Dr. Whitehead shares key insights from public opinion data that reveal a strong link between Christian nationalist beliefs and support for authoritarian leaders. The conversation explores the myth of the “nuclear family,” the politics of fear, and how nostalgia and hierarchy fuel the MAGA movement.
Andrew’s Substack: https://andrewwhitehead.substack.com
Interview:
Dr. Whitehead shares key insights from public opinion data that reveal a strong link between Christian nationalist beliefs and support for authoritarian leaders. The conversation explores the myth of the “nuclear family,” the politics of fear, and how nostalgia and hierarchy fuel the MAGA movement.
Andrew’s Substack: https://andrewwhitehead.substack.com
Interview:
Protected Whistleblower Disclosure of Erez Reuveni (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Unjustified podcast)
The full 27 page letter from the whistleblower, Erez Reuveni — in which he alleges/details how Justice Department officials lied to the courts about planes full of immigrants being sent to El Salvador — is here for you to read: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25982172-doj-whistleblower-letter/
Listen to Andy and AG read it aloud here:
The Trump Phone no longer promises it’s made in America | The Verge
Now the T1 Phone is "Designed with American values in mind," which is… different...
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/693080/trump-mobile-t1-phone-made-usa
Gabbard says 'new' intel shows Iran nuclear sites destroyed
"Interesting how the narrative changes," Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote on X, referencing reports about Trump calling the initial assessment "inconclusive."
"One way or the other, the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear program will come out," he added later.
"I trust the analyses of the men and women of our brilliant intelligence community over Donald Trump spiking the football."…
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5369572-gabbard-iran-nuclear-capabilities-strikes/
Trump administration is preparing to challenge budget law, U.S. officials say - The Washington Post
"We are seeing multiple major, major violations of the budget law," said G. William Hoagland, who served as a GOP aide to the Senate Budget Committee and is now at the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center. "I think this is on its way to becoming a really big issue. This is going to blow up more than the administration can imagine."…
All NATO, including US, 'totally committed' to keeping Ukraine in fight, Rutte says | Reuters
NATO committed to supporting Ukraine against Russia, says Rutte
Europeans to take more responsibility for military aid to Ukraine
US to remain involved with intelligence and military support…
DOJ whistleblower alleges top Trump officials ignored court decisions
Including Bove, nominee for judge…
Trump Ripped After Posting Outrageous Video | HuffPost Latest News
The president's post came amid a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran…
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-bomb-iran-video_n_685bac82e4b04f1da81ccf74
U.S. damage report: Iran nuclear program set back by months, not obliterated - The Washington Post
Core components of Tehran's nuclear effort were damaged but not destroyed by U.S. airstrikes on three key facilities, according to three people familiar with a Defense Intelligence Agency initial assessment...
CDC vaccine report cites study that does not exist, says scientist listed as author
Robert Berman, cited in report on preservative thimerosal, says he 'doesn't endorse this misrepresentation of research'…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/24/cdc-vaccine-presentation-autism?
Health care after the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s big, beautiful bill: less care, more deaths | Vox
The US is sabotaging its own health care system…
https://www.vox.com/health/417639/trump-medicaid-health-insurance-big-beautiful-bill
RFK Jr. says US won’t donate to global vaccine effort - POLITICO
In response to the video, Gavi said its "utmost concern is the health and safety of children."
"Any decision made by Gavi with regards to its vaccine portfolio is made in alignment with recommendations by WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), a group of independent experts that reviews all available data through a rigorous, transparent, and independent process," the group said...
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/25/rfk-vaccine-donations-gavi-00422705
Tillis warns of Medicaid cuts' political risks for Republicans
"Tillis said this is going to be like ObamaCare. He said just like ObamaCare led to huge losses for Democrats in 2010 and 2012, he said this could be the same thing for us because hundreds of thousands of people in his state, millions around the nation are going to be kicked off of Medicaid — working people, who are Trump voters," the source told The Hill.
Tillis warned "it could cost us majorities in both houses" of Congress, the source added…
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5367877-tillis-republicans-mediticaid-cuts/
Judge blocks Trump from withholding EV charger funds awarded to 14 states
Trump officials had ordered states not to spend $5bn given by Biden under national EV infrastructure scheme
At least 40 more Palestinians killed seeking aid in Gaza, say medics and officials
More than 500 people have reportedly been killed seeking aid in Gaza in the past month…
Union leaders’ exit from DNC exposes ‘mind-boggling’ tensions inside Democratic party
Responding to Weingarten and Saunders' concerns, Martin said: "The DNC and our partners are leading the fight against Trump's budget bill, investing unprecedented dollars into states so Democrats can win elections from the ground up, and reaching out to voters in working-class districts."
Martin told the Guardian that he's trying hard to build bridges with the broader labor movement, and increase its role in the DNC and in the Democrats' efforts. "Winning back the working class and stopping Trump's budget bill isn't a political goal, it's personal," he said. "Labor runs through my family's veins."…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/25/dnc-union-leaders-democratic-party
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