Welcome to The Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "real estate mogul/crime boss" tactic doesn't really work on other nations, especially one who being lead by someone who earned political capital by going up against such types :

 Jimmy Dore's rightfully skeptical .

 Margret Kimberley of Black Agenda Report interviews Medhurst about being targeted by the UK and Austria authorities, and how his criticism of Israel's role in Gaza may be a factor .

 

 

 

  #ZeusX!

 

 

 Although the House has (narrowly) passed the " give rich people what they want bill " the libertarian Rep from Kentucky has stayed steadfast: Libertarians have been put on the GOP back-burner in favor of MAGA ( although some claim that the two overlap ). This back-and-forth can only increase the tension between the two camps, fraying an already strained alliance. 

 

  The Cradle : Pepe Escobar on the winners and losers of the India-Pakistan war. Scheerpost : 14,000 Gaza babies will perish in 48 hours if the blockade remains... Mint Press News : ...and the "relief" being allowed through may not be what people think.  Black Agenda Report : Washington DC's black mayor is pushing the City Council to reverse referendums and ballot initiatives that would benefit not only African-Americans, but the working class as a whole. Prism Reports : a university with over 60% Latinx, immigrant and international students would be the last place you'd think would work with ICE, but Florida International University has done just that. 

 Learn more about the person behind the "burned babies" and "mass sexual assaults" myths:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The Cradle : US Intelligence is using the Iraq playbook for Iran. Prism Reports : Is Wikipedia our best option for archiving? Scheer Post : Should we be concerned about the motives behind loosening the Syria sanctions?  Mint Press News : Ibrahim Traore is making the West nervous.

 

  Via Reuters : China's BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab became the most popular vehicle brand in Singapore so far this year, outselling Toyota (7203.T), opens new tab for the first time, government data showed, as the fast-growing electric vehicle maker steps up efforts to boost overseas sales. In the first four months of 2025, BYD sold 3,002 cars, or 20% of total vehicle sales in Singapore. Toyota and BYD's main EV rival Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab sold 2,050 and 535 units each during the same period. Toyota used to hold the crown in the wealthy Asian financial hub where the population of cars is kept steady by an expensive certificate system, selling 7,876 cars in 2024, versus BYD's 6,191 sales. BYD's robust sales growth in Singapore underscores its efforts to focus on overseas markets amid bruising price competition in China. Reuters reported this month that China's No.1 automaker aims to sell half of its vehicles outside the Chinese market by 2030, a massive in...

 Interesting that it takes the most MAGA of MAGA to recognize this as problematic.  Highlights! Not only is there a connection between Qatar and Hamas, but Israel supported it .  Despite the denials, it's possible for President Trump could take the plane for his presidential library. Yes, Pam Bondi was a lobbyist for Qatar at one point , earning $115,000 a month. 

 

 

  From a capitalist perspective, how is having children profitable?

 

 

  Highlights: China's weapons (specifically their aircraft) was on full display in the recent Pakistan-India conflict, and is clearly light years ahead of what the West is offering. America's addiction to the Military Industrial Complex has cost it the ability to keep up in military production (China's already testing 6th generation planes while the US equivalent is still on the drawing board). The Trump White House has no true North Star in dealing with the global economy (when China visited the US recently, the administration had not real "ask"). China has won/is winning the Trade War (US tariffs on China to drop from 145% to 30%, China lowers their tariffs to 10%, resetting the tariffs to pre-"liberation day" numbers).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Novara Media has more:

 

 

 CNN has two interesting articles regarding who the next Pope could be: First is a peak into the selection process . Fun Fact: the longest time it's take to select a Pope has been three years. Next, a list of potential candidates . The average age is 69, a majority were appointed to Cardinal by the previous Pope, and while there's a "global" representation, the edge still goes to those from Europe. 

 

 

 

 

 

  Mint Press News: Criticizing Israel is a crime ? Black Agenda Report: Black liberals are not helping . Prism Reports: Incarcerated workers put on their own version of a "strike." ScheerPost: Chris Hedges reminds us how America became  "Trumpland."

 

 

 

 Actually, that lyric didn't go that way , but thinks to the push for profits:

 

 The video makes some good points; let's watch them and then talk a bit about them: Diligence : Yeah, Americans are not working longer hours in a factory without extra pay. If the Cost of Living and Quality of Life were better, maybe... Cutting Edge Technology : China is introducing flying taxis to go along with their high-speed rail  and attempts to cure cancer ; Americans are still arguing over fixing roads and bridges (which would have created a few more jobs) and giving citizens universal health care. We are not the same.  Decades of Manufacturing Experience : So much so that it's part of the Chinese culture at this point. It would take years for Americans to catch up, and as Phillip Scott pointed out, we can't even get Americans to farm when presented the opportunity. Also, with the Department of Education being attacked, good look streamlining that training in any efficient way. Low Industry Power Costs : When the utility companies aren't concerned with squeezing...

 Some would rather lose and keep the grift going than dare to listen to their (shrinking) base:

 

 

 

 Sadly, you ask five different White House officials what's going on, and you'll get five different stories: