U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said, even as negotiators seek an end to the war that would leave Russia with far less territory.
It's been a week or two or three since I last posted this. So ... here goes ... read more
Researchers noticed 'dramatic' changes in nutrients in crops ... read more
By most traditional measures, having a net worth of $1 million should put someone firmly in the "wealthy" category. Yet a growing number of millionaires don't see it that way. Just one third (36%) of the nation's wealthiest citizens -- those with at least $1 million in investable assets -- consider themselves wealthy, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2025 Planning and Progress study.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday insisted that the Trump administration has not needed Congressional approval for the strikes on several boats in the Caribbean that were allegedly smuggling drugs into the U.S.
The FBI Redacted Trump's Name in the Epstein Files (August 1, 2025)
www.bloomberg.com
... We know from news reports that Trump's name was in the Epstein files. But what hasn't been reported is that an FBI FOIA team redacted Trump's name"and the names of other prominent public figures"from the documents, according to three people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak with the media.
That team, tasked with conducting a final review of the voluminous cache, had applied the redactions before the DOJ and the FBI concluded last month that "no further disclosure" of the files "would be appropriate or warranted."
From the government's perspective, Trump was a private citizen when the Epstein investigation took place and therefore is entitled to privacy protections. ...
Trump's name blacked out
What happened next kicked off a new phase in the Epstein saga. As I reported in the March 28th edition of FOIA Files, Patel directed FBI special agents from the New York and Washington field offices to join the bureau's FOIA employees at its sprawling Central Records Complex in Winchester, Virginia and another building a few miles away.
They were instructed to search for and review every single Epstein-related document and determine what could be released. That included a mountain of material accumulated by the FBI over nearly two decades, including grand jury testimony, prosecutors' case files, as well as tens of thousands of pages of the bureau's own investigative files on Epstein. It was a herculean task that involved as many as 1,000 FBI agents and other personnel pulling all-nighters while poring through more than 100,000 documents, according to a July letter from Senator Dick Durbin to Bondi. ...
Congress considering impeachments over release of Epstein files
www.newsnationnow.com
... Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a lead co-sponsor for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said Friday that lawmakers were mulling possible impeachment moves after the Justice Department (DOJ) released a tranche of heavily redacted files tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna raised questions about the "quality" of the documents released and the redactions he deemed to be heavy-handed, lacking the explicit explanation for the withheld information required by the law, signed by President Trump late last month.
"Congress is talking about possible impeachment. They're talking about inherent contempt for the attorney general or deputy attorney general," he said during an appearance on CNN's "AC360."
"Any justice department official who has obstructed justice could face prosecution in this administration or a future administration," the California Democrat added.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche oversaw the latest file release, which did not include all of the files required by the legislation. Blanche and others alleged the process of redacting names to protect Epstein's victims and other innocent people was too time-consuming to be able to unveil all of the documents at once.
He added that Trump did not direct him to leave his name or others' names out of the release " but some photos of those perceived to be adults were blocked out.
"I don't know what the president has said, but what I do know is that [Blanche's] production violates the spirit of the law, and it violates the letter of the law, and it's a slap in the face of survivors," Khanna told CNN host John King.
"And so, look, they have underestimated this issue for six months. I don't get it. Just release the files, get it over with," he continued. "The president can talk about affordability and the economy. They're the ones who continue to play these games that make this a bigger and bigger issue." ...
Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty says she was muted for Kennedy Center renaming vote
www.dispatch.com
... The board of the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., voted Dec. 18 to change the name to the "Trump-Kennedy Center," according to the White House.
But Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty took to social media later in the day to say the vote was made without the input of all board members.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the news on social media, saying the center's board voted unanimously in favor of the change.
Beatty, a Democrat who represents Ohio's 3rd Congressional District and serves as an ex officio member on the board, disputed the characterization of the vote in a video posted to Bluesky, saying she was repeatedly prevented from speaking during the meeting. Beatty's district is entirely contained within Franklin County, covering much of Columbus.
"Be clear, I was on that call, and as I tried to push my button to voice my concern, to ask questions, and certainly not to vote in support of this, I was muted," Beatty said. "Each time I tried to speak, I was muted."
What happened during the meeting?
Beatty said the meeting was held over Zoom and was not conducted in a traditional boardroom setting.
"The Zoom meeting was held in a home, and I can't tell you who was there physically in the room," Beatty said. "We never saw the individuals who were voting or who was even talking. That is definitely not normal."
Beatty said other participants attending remotely could hear her, but each time she attempted to unmute herself, the system automatically muted her again.
Though some board leaders described the vote to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center as unanimous, Beatty said members who attended the meeting virtually were not allowed to voice objections before the vote. ...
Chuck Mangione - Chase The Clouds Away (1975)
www.youtube.com
A fav instrumental tune for me ...
YMMV ...
Finland apologizes to Asian countries over beauty queen racism scandal
www.nbcnews.com
... Finland's prime minister has apologized to Asian nations for "offensive" social media posts made by a former Miss Universe contestant and several members of parliament.
The controversy erupted after the winner of this year's Miss Finland pageant, Sarah Dzafce, posted a picture on social media this month of her pulling the corners of her eyes alongside the caption "eating with a Chinese person."
Her racist gesture quickly drew condemnation online before it was deleted, and Dzafce, who is not of Asian origin, subsequently apologized.
But after Dzafce, 22, was stripped of her Miss Finland title last week, several members of the far-right Finns Party posted similar images of themselves making the same gesture in an apparent show of support.
That prompted Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to apologize for the "offensive" posts made by the lawmakers whose party is one of four that make up Finland's governing coalition. ...
I'm waiting for Sec Noem to dress up and pose for a photo op with those she has deployed to the border. Those who face unsanitary conditions.
When will we see those photos? ( drudge.com )
Field Report - Home (Leave the Lights On) (2014)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
Cold snap like a coiled spring
You can feel the frost coming on
We are Marigolden, dropping orange and umber
And barely holding on, just barely holding on
And now the downtown's dolled up with tinsel and angels
Seasons sneak like hair cuts teased apart and tangled
We were praying for awhile and we took it all down
Like garland and the traffic signals
[Chorus]
Leave the lights on
Cause it might be nighttime when I get there
When I'm on my way home
Leave the the lights on
Cause it might be nighttime when I get there
And I'm on my way home
...
Reminds me of my travels to home for the holidays.
@#7 ... It's a fair bit of cash. It's almost 28% of what it cost to bail out Argentina's failed economy. ...
Good point.
But that bailout of Argentina seems to have benefits for the billionaire(s) in the Trump Cabinet.
Scott Bessent's $20 billion dollar gamble on Argentina (November 2025)
www.npr.org
More from the article ...