A candidate with the same name as Alaska's incumbent U.S. senator advanced Tuesday to the general election in what will be one of the most closely watched races in the country this fall.
For President Donald Trump, this one was personal. Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina won the Republican primary runoff Tuesday to replace her brother -- the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally -- on the November ballot for a full six-year term. With more than 95% of the vote in, Ms. Graham was leading by 52% to 48%.
The former FBI operative whose disclosures fueled a lawsuit over mosque surveillance is now walking back key claims.
Flock's surveillance cameras have already sparked outrage. WIRED reconstructed its next-generation AI system, already in use by some police, to confirm it goes much further than tracking license plates. read more
Amid his continued struggles in national polling, President Donald Trump is now saying his record-low polls are part of "demoralization operations" that seek to make Republicans less likely to vote in November's midterms.
Switchfoot - Meant To Live (2003)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
...
Latin Quarter - Modern Times (1985)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...[emphasis mine]
Their star-light shone bright in the blackout
Like the beams of the usherette
But when the Big Bear bit deep after Yalta
There were those that came to forget.
They went out West for the screening
And they carried a sharp-tooth comb
In search of the double meaning
They were making the fur fly at home.
So get up! Go on! Grip that stand!
And press your hand to your heart
Big Mac is asking the questions
And this is only the start. ...
Song Description
By the end of the 1940s and at the beginning of the 1950s America had resumed its cold war with the Soviet Union ("Big Bear"). Gone was the friendship with Josef Stalin ("Uncle Joe") that had helped the Allied forces defeat Hitler. Sensing an opportunity to make a name for himself US Republican Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy ("Big Mac") hit on the idea of an anti-communism campaign. His portrayal of Communism as the supreme evil allowed his accusations of "disloyalty" to be incredibly effective.
During the early 1950s McCarthy, a master of the art of playing on people's fears, set about ridding America of the supposed red menace at home. Blacklists, deportations, imprisonment, ruined careers and marriages were the order of the day, especially for non-Americans. Actors, writers, musicians, radio and television entertainers were targeted because of their prominence in society. The authorities took Hollywood's ("Tinsel Town") actors, directors and film script authors under special scrutiny. Many artists were taken to the chairman of the "House of Un-American Activities Committee", there they looked for any ambiguities in their statements or liberal or left wing beliefs. To defend an accused was perceived as sharing the accused's views.
Charlie Chaplin was never a member of the Communist Party and was never anti-American. He did however stand up for many different peoples with a good cause, including America's allies the Russians during war. He did have an affinity for some Communist ideas on a humanitarian level. His 1936 film "Modern Times "was seen by some critics as an attack on capitalism. Life for Chaplin became unbearable in the States during the McCarthy witch hunts, in the atmosphere of paranoia McCarthy instigated Chaplin became a hate figure. He was eventually forced to leave America and spent the rest of his life living in Switzerland, returning to the US only once.
The song begins with an original speech clip from one of the sessions of the committee. The chairman calls for order and makes a swearing-in. An accused says: "You have spent one week vilifying me before the American public and you refuse to allow me to make a statement on my rights as an American citizen."
... .
Another Connecticut town puts Flock license plate cameras on hold amid privacy concerns
www.newstimes.com
... Police have suspended the installation of Flock license plate reader cameras in town in light of questions raised by residents and people across the state about the technology.
In a release on Tuesday, the Bethel Police Department said the town has a contract with Flock for the placement of license plate reading cameras, but their installation is on hold until further notice. There are currently no Flock cameras installed in Bethel.
"No data has been collected by any Flock system, and no Flock data has been shared with any agency at any level of government," officials said.
Police said the decision was made "in light of questions raised locally and across the state" about automated license plate reader technology. It comes just days after police in Milford paused the installation of additional Flock cameras after public backlash, and a month after the towns of Windsor and Killingworth took their cameras down. ...
Local article ...
East Lyme Republican registrar reportedly used racial slurs in primary election outburst (August 18, 2026)
www.ctinsider.com
... The town's Republican Registrar of Voters Mary Smith was accused by her Democratic counterpart of using a racial slur during an argument between the two of them, which the town's first selectman said he has addressed.
First Selectman Dan Cunningham confirmed he was made aware of a complaint involving the registrars, "and we took appropriate actions given the circumstances." However, he didn't elaborate on what those actions are or whether Smith is on leave.
Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Smith's accuser, Democratic Registrar of Voters Wendi Sims, has served as East Lyme's Democratic Registrar of Voters for six years, and said in an interview Tuesday she has long had tension with Smith.
According to Sims, on the Sunday before last week's primary election, during early voting, she and two other poll workers "heard banging" from the town's youth center near where voters were filling out their ballots.Sims said the banging was from Smith, who was reportedly enraged that Sims had left their workspace a mess.
"She came into the office and started yelling and screaming at me," Sims said. From the next room, Sims said she and two poll workers then heard Smith shout "She treats me like a (n-word)," referring to Sims.
Both women are white.
Sims said state Rep. Nick Menapace, D-East Lyme, reached out to the Secretary of State's office to ask their advice and heard a resignation brought about by "community pressure" is what's most effective. ...
@#25
Cool.
You notice the tunes I post.
Here's another for ya ...
La Tour - People Are Still Having Sex (1991)
www.youtube.com
:)
Do try harder.