Children from all countries exposed to climate hazards
2 July 2026
* Unicef analyzed young people's exposure to eight climate hazards: coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, river floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms… Almost every child, including those from high-income countries, is now exposed to at least one hazard.*
Governor Newsom accuses government of trying to smear him
2 July 2026
Governor Newsom accuses the US government of investigating him and his wife hoping to find something to smear him with, because he plans to run for president in 2028.
I do not support Newsom, because he is a plutocratist "moderate" democrat , one who does not seek to do anything about the problem of super-rich people who endanger democracy and human rights.
(satire) Return of all foul balls
2 July 2026
(satire) *[Major League Baseball] Demands Return Of All Foul Balls.*
West Bank products mislabeled
2 July 2026
Shipments of products made in Israel's colonies in the West Bank are systematically mislabeled as "Made in Israel" to take fraudulent advantage of trade preferences for exports of Israel's products.
Iranian repression police shooting protesters
2 July 2026
Iranian repression police made a practice of shooting protesters in the face, chest or genitals. Often this caused grave injuries, or death.
Chikungunya can easily spread in most of Europe
2 July 2026
Due to our greenhouse gas emissions, chikungunya can now spread in most of Europe.
Many "tropical" diseases are, or will be in a few decades, able to spread in the formerly temperate zones.
Excavators used by Israeli military
2 July 2026
* The Guardian geolocated and verified images showing the Israeli military using excavators made by six companies – Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, Doosan, Hitachi and Komatsu – to destroy homes, public utilities, shops and other structures across southern Lebanon.*
Shifts from wet to dry weather
2 July 2026
*Sudden shifts from wet to dry weather, or vice versa, may foil typical drought and flooding prevention measures.*
Wrecker not convincing public increased fossil fuel use is safe
2 July 2026
The wrecker is going all-out to increase the use of fossil fuels, but is not convincing the American public that that is safe.
*Two-thirds of Americans say they are worried about climate but level of media coverage does not reflect this.*
I don't think the wrecker cares about the danger of global climate disaster, only about rewarding the planet roasters to keep them in his corner. They all deserve to end up broke and experience living on however much support the US provides to the poor.
Muskrat's cars-in-tunnels "mass transit"
2 July 2026
The muskrat's fabulous cars-in-tunnels "mass transit" seems to be unable to serve many people, but it is an opportunity to disregard environmental planning regulations with impunity and serve real estate owners rather than the public.
Corrupter rewarding those that attacked the capitol
2 July 2026
The corrupter has found another bureaucratic path to reward the people who attacked the capitol on 6 Jan 2020.
Corrupter cutting losses in war with Iran
2 July 2026
It seems the corrupter has decided to cut his losses in the gratuitous (and unwinnable) war with Iran. For once he has approached a situation in a way that does his country a little good, though it is far less than the harm he has done in relations with Iran over the past year. Meanwhile, he found no way to fix the problem that he gratuitously created when he cancelled Obama's non-nuclear deal with Iran.
He will salvage something from this idiocy, though -- some way to increase profits for some of his billionaire supporters.
Commercially sold cannabis increases number of users
2 July 2026
* Decriminalizing the possession of cannabis or strictly regulating access to the drug do not appear to drive up usage, but when the drug is sold commercially the number of users increases and more mental health problems are seen, a review has found.*
Illinois law to compensate former black residents
2 July 2026
Evanston, Illinois, passed a law to compensate former black residents whose ancestors lived in Evanston and experienced the systemic housing discrimination.
I know of three ways n which where the US government and its sub-jurisdictions denied blacks equal rights under the law: slavery, Jim Crow segregation (in some states), and discrimination in housing assistance in part of the 20th century. These were direct policies of discrimination carried out by governments, and those governments are liable for injustice of these racist laws.
Since such harm tends to be inherited by successive generations of descendants of the victims, it is right and proper for the governments that committed those wrongs to pay compensation to today's Americans whose ancestors were wronged.
I can't tell from the article precisely what the conditions are for receiving compensation in Evanston. If they are formulated as being on account of a person's race, that may be discriminatory and unjust. But if they are formulated as being on account of past discrimination against a person's ancestors (done because of their race), that is not discrimination today. The discrimination in question was the racism of the past, and compensation has to compensate the descendants of those selected as victims of racism.
The first article linked to, above, displays symbolic bigotry by capitalizing "black" but not "white". (To avoid endorsing bigotry, capitalize both words or neither one.) I denounce bigotry, and normally I will not link to articles that practice it. But I make exceptions for some articles because I consider them important — and I present this comment about them.
Arbitrary criminalization of stating support for Palestine Action
2 July 2026
A British appeals court sustained the arbitrary criminalization of stating support for Palestine Action.
A few more levels of appeal are possible, but Stormer's government is dead set on repression of criticism where it counts.
Expensive electricity killing British industry
2 July 2026
"Expensive electricity is killing British industry" — but subsidizing energy made from fossil fuels is killing civilization.
The UK government should look for a way to subsidize the customers for energy, but not subsidize fossil fuel or electricity made from that. We must maintain the incentive to use less fossil fuel. There are other ways to keep industrial production going.
Bullshitter acknowledged points about Israel
2 July 2026
The bullshitter has acknowledged important points, such as that Israel wages war in ways that gratuitously kill civilians, and that Netanyahu's wars are unjust and bad for US interests.
Does this mean the bullshitter has had a change of heart? I doubt it; he has gone so long without a heart that he surely doesn't have one now. I think he is simply applying to Israel and Netanyahu the approach he has used with so many others: to contradict himself frequently and change positions so fast that negotiators accustomed to serious negotiations can't grasp what is happening.
I am not sure this will confuse Netanyahu, though. He seems to practice a similar approach.
Iran now demands that Israel withdraw its army from Lebanon or there will be no peace deal.
Maybe the new maximum leader believes he dominates the wrecker so much that he can demand anything whatsoever and get it. Or maybe he is bluffing.
With so much readiness to bluff, it will be hard for them to reach an agreement even if there is an agreement to be reached.
How surveillance companies are allowed to track students and parents
2 July 2026
Explaining how surveillance companies recruit schools, classes and teachers to pressure students and their parents into giving their personal data to the companies, and allowing those companies to track the students and parents.
I suspect that refusing to run anything from Google Prey Store or the Crapple Crap Store will keep them from tracking you. But protecting students in school calls for a law prohibiting schools from ever asking students to run nonfree programs or hosting activities that do so.
AT&T accused of lying to FCC
2 July 2026
California has accused AT&T of lying to the FCC to get permission to eliminate old copper land lines in California.
Alas, the corrupter encourages the FCC to accept lies from big companies that do things to please him.
How cruel tyranny engulfed Turkey
2 July 2026
Turkish journalist Ece Temelkuran writes about how cruel tyranny engulfed Turkey, in the process of which threats of violence forced her into exile. And about what it is like to lose your country to that political disease.
Urgent: Reject "Great American AI Act"
1 July 2026
US citizens: call on your congresscritter and senators to reject the "Great American AI Act" and the propaganda terminology that appears in its name.
In my letter I explained that "AI" is a marketing hype term that the big tech companies use to make the public yield, and urged the legislators to reject it. I included the URL
https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#ArtificialIntelligance
See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.
US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.
To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.
Please spread the word.
Urgent: Cease climate hushing
1 July 2026
US citizens: call on media outlets to cease climate hushing.
See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.
Children hit by parents get worse grades
1 July 2026
A study found that children in England who were hit by their parents have a tendency to get worse grades in school.
This could indicate that hitting children tends to lead them to do worse in school tests. Or it could indicate that children who for certain other reasons tend to do worse in school will tend also to be hit by their parents. Is it the hitting itself that does them harm, or the situation that leads to the hitting, or both, or something else?
Israel attacked notary office in Lebanon
1 July 2026
Israel attacked a notary office in Lebanon, destroying records of land ownership for up to a quarter of a million people.
This seems to be a way of preventing them from ever returning to their homes, or to the wreckage of their homes.
Jamaicans campaigning against selling beachfront land
1 July 2026
Jamaicans are campaigning against selling beachfront land for resorts that will be used only by wealthy foreign tourists.
Predicted collapse of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
1 July 2026
Scientists predict that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (a loop of currents, some at the surface and some deep) will collapse due to global heating. They do not know whether that collapse will spread over many years, or happen with shocking speed. The activities to monitor the change have been defunded.
Estimated 10,000 corpses buried in rubble of Gaza
1 July 2026
An estimated 10,000 corpses buried in the rubble of Gaza will be difficult to identify ever. Israel's continued use of bulldozers in some parts of Gaza is increasing that number.
Hegseth speech at Normandy landings commemoration
1 July 2026
Hegseth went to a commemoration of the Normandy landings of 1944 for two events, but his speech at the first one at Colleville-sur-Mer was so racist and hateful that people in the town of Langrune-sur-Mer (where Hegseth had planned to appear) posted their disgust. This showed how vile he is and reverberated around the world.
Indiana Banned Press From Executions for Dignity
1 July 2026
*Indiana Banned Press From Executions for Dignity. It Actually Serves Repression.*
Harassment of prisoners in Delaney Hall deportation prison
1 July 2026
Radio Jornalera NJ coverse the perverse, unpredictable harassment of prisoners in the Delaney Hall privately run deportation prison.
It is admirable nonviolent resistance to violent, sadistic fascism. But I wonder, is there any way to listen to it without subjecting oneself to nonfree JavaScript code? I have a hunch the people who do this, while heroic in resistance, are unaware of the quite different injustice of nonfree software, and have picked up the habit of handing control of their own computers to any and all companies that might want to snoop on them, cheat them or repress them.
Bullshitter and Iran say peace deal is close
1 July 2026
The bullshitter and Iran say they are coming closer to a peace deal.
We can't presume that the bullshitter is telling the truth about any of this. Even if some parts are true, other parts may be bullshit.
But even if they do make an agreement, the bullshitter might break it at any time. Iran too might break the agreement.
Indiana has excluded journalists from observing executions
1 July 2026
Indiana has excluded journalists from observing executions, pretending that this is a kindness to the convict who is executed.
I've read elsewhere that the victim is allowed to invite a limited number of people to attend, and can include journalists among those few. In other words, the victim has to pay a price to have a journalist there. This proves clearly that the state's exclusion of journalists is not meant as a kindness for the victim. If it were, the victim would be allowed to say "No, thanks. I don't object to the presence of any number of journalists."
This is censorship disguised as "We insist on protecting you whether you want it or not."
FBI raided voter registration group
1 July 2026
The FBI raided a voter registration group — in effect claiming that to help eligible citizens register to vote is forbidden.
Push for impeachment would boost political opposition to saboteur in chief
1 July 2026
Ralph Nader argues that a push to impeach the saboteur in chief would boost political opposition to him and his regime, even if it doesn't succeed in removing him.
So-called "AI" agents don't care about safety or reliability
1 July 2026
*Nvidia and Microsoft Researchers Say [so-called "AI"] Agents Don't Care About Safety or Reliability.*
I take exception to the idea that they understand anything enough to be said to "care". Rather, they give a rather unintelligent rule-based imitation of caring.
Separating the UK from the European Union
1 July 2026
Separating the UK from the European Union, explained as an example of trying a simple quick fix in a complex situation in which no simple fix exists.
KPMG article about agentic pretend intelligence
1 July 2026
KPMG decided to publish an article about agentic pretend intelligence in actual use. The staff asked a pretend intelligence to fill in the details. Great fun ensued — but not for KPMG.
Builders of Israeli "settlements"
1 July 2026
The builders of Israeli "settlements" (in occupied Palestinian territory) hold events around the world to sell apartments in them. One such event being held in London has triggered objections supported by 100 members of the houses of Parliament, who call for prohibiting the sale of land that was taken from Palestinians in violation of international law.
Criminalizing criticism of the government
1 July 2026
The US government is embarked on criminalizing criticism of the government. This started with targeting those who protested unjust government actions, continues through targeting people who write dissenting publications, then targeting people who have copies of such publications, and has now targeted someone for trying to protect others from being prosecuted for possessing copies of dissenting publications.
Very rich people undermine democracy
1 July 2026
Very rich people inevitably undermine democracy while impoverishing others to make themselves even richer. Taxing their wealth will help with both problems.
Peace deal with Iran actually 60-day cease fire
1 July 2026
The bushwhacked bully claims to have made peace with Iran, but actually it is a 60-day cease fire in which he concedes most of the concessions he said he was going to win, and kicks the other hard points down the road.
Here is a more complete description of what the agreement does not discuss. He has no respect for agreements, so he might restart fighting at any moment. Or he might not. But if he does not, the danger he will is likely to continue most of the harmful consequences that the war has had.
Prairieland defendants
30 June 2026
The persecutors's scheme to label protests as "terrorism" had a terrible success, as protesters were sentenced to prison for 30 years and more for nonviolent protest activities.
The persecutor's henchmen had declared (arbitrarily) that this was organized terrorism on behalf of the nonexistent "organization", "Antifa". But the arbitrary designation as "terrorism" was not challenged in court — the judges silently accepted it.
AI-generated influencers
30 June 2026
Companies are advertising products using simulated video depicting simulated customers.
All satisfied, naturally.
Is there an important moral difference between using a machine learning system to generate video of an apparent customer who praises a product, and filming video of an actor giving a performance depicting such a customer? I don't see a significant difference, is there something I am missing?
If there is no significant difference, that doesn't mean they are morally acceptable. Maybe both should be considered fraud unless labeled with how they were produced.
Risk of food shortages
30 June 2026
*Papua New Guinea faces severe food shortages as El [Super]Niño brings frost and drought.*
EU-Taliban talks
30 June 2026
The European Union, under pressure from right-wing immigrant-haters, is negotiating with the Taliban about returning refugees to Afghanistan.
This threatens to aid the Taliban in carrying out their policies of oppression. Every woman in Afghanistan is oppressed; many men are, too. The EU should give asylum to every Afghan women who can reach there, and many Afghan men will deserve it too.
Trump-era mega mergers
30 June 2026
Senator Warren calls for reversing some of the many large mergers that have subjected the US to drastic industrial concentration.
Even before the wrecker became president again, the US had a lot less business competition than it did a few decades ago. Several years ago I needed a new condensation pump to pump the air conditioner's water condensation out of the basement. There had traditionally been two competing manufacturers, but the government had allowed them to merge, so there was only one. That merger should have been blocked to maintain competition in that small field.
Often the US appears to have a lot more competition than it really has. The supermarket company Albertsons uses all these names:
Mourning in America
30 June 2026
Robert Reich: Mourning the great ideals which America had partly achieved, but which the wrecker is trashing.
Whistleblower identification risks
30 June 2026
"Age verification" requirements threaten to identify whistleblowers. They generally require that all users of a site prove their identities, or present video selfies which governments could use to identify them.
Any attempt by a whistleblower to contact a reporter through a site that does age verification is likely to enable tyrannical rulers to identify per and crush per.
This will also prohibit reporters from using anonymous accounts to follow what others are posting or enable sources to contact them.
Anti-ICE organizers
30 June 2026
*Anti-deportation-thug organizers shift focus to defend democracy from [the persecutor's] assault.
Citizens in Minnesota using lessons learned from migrant crackdown to protect elections from president's threats.*