Global
As Americans and people of other former colonies recognize, there’s a great deal to be said for national independence.
But, at times, we might also wonder: is it sufficient?
Until recently in human history, imperialism was widespread. In 1939, Britain’s Empire and Commonwealth alone had direct or de facto political and economic control of 25 percent of the world’s population and 30 percent of its land mass. In fact, only a century ago, nearly half of today’s independent nations were European colonies.
When it comes to America’s semiquincentennial birthday, I feel like someone whose husband has gotten fat and surly and announced he’s going vegan.
You just have to keep reminding yourself of those Good Old Days when he was a promising young poet and not promising riches with something called “financial products.”
So, I close my eyes and think back to those Good Old Days when America was young and handsome and did some pretty impressive stuff.
Let’s begin with, “All men are created equal,” which was pretty damn radical in human history. Yes, you can tell me that America never really lived up to those highfalutin words, but by 1865, we the people proved we meant it.
Half a million Americans died in a war to end slavery.
Can you name one other nation on this planet where white people sacrificed their blood, as a nation, to end enslavement of Black people?
And please spare me the sophomoric cant that the Civil War was about something other than human bondage.
The U.S.-Israel military merger has not become law - yet.
Not because Congress rejected it, but because the House unexpectedly voted down the procedural rule governing debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
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That vote delayed consideration of the bill, but it did not remove the military merger from it. When the House returns, Congress will almost certainly have another opportunity to consider the legislation.
The American people now have another opportunity to stop it.
What Happened?
The Massie-Khanna Amendment, which would have removed the military merger from the bill, was not made in order by the House Rules Committee, which serves as the traffic cop on legislation, deciding which bills and which amendments move forward.
Whether Israelis will ever comprehend the irreparable damage inflicted upon their country’s reputation by their UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, is a moot point. The damage Israel has done to itself through its barbaric practices in occupied Palestine is simply impossible to overcome.
Danon, however, utilizes a peculiar approach to defending Israel within international institutions: he relies on bullying, intimidation, and an overt attempt to silence anyone who dares to challenge the official Israeli narrative—particularly women leaders. Yet, what makes his behavior most outrageous is his deployment of these abrasive tactics to suppress an issue that demands the utmost sensitivity: the systemic use of sexual violence and human rights abuses against Palestinians.
As the 2026 World Cup unfolded across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Trump administration’s handling of Iran’s national soccer team drew sharp criticism from sports officials, civil‑rights advocates, and international observers. While Iran was not formally barred from the tournament, a series of restrictive measures — from visa denials to public discouragement — created what many described as an atmosphere of exclusion.
Restrictive Policies and Public Signals
Iran’s players and essential staff ultimately received permission to enter the United States. However, several senior Iranian football officials were denied visas, a move Iranian authorities said undermined their ability to participate fully in the tournament’s administrative and logistical requirements.
President Trump publicly questioned whether Iran’s presence at a World Cup hosted partly on U.S. soil was “appropriate,” comments that Iranian officials interpreted as an attempt to delegitimize their participation. In football circles, speculation even emerged about replacing Iran with Italy — a suggestion that further heightened tensions.
In 1852, Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist and political figure delivered a lengthy and profound address in upstate New York at a meeting organized by the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society titled, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” This week marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. In other words, this coming Saturday marks two and a half centuries since the thirteen colonies-Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia-declared their independence from Great Britain. The title of this article is admittedly a shameless, but necessary appropriation of Douglass’s speech.
With the great media mavens DAVID SALTMAN & KARL GROSSMAN we begin GREEP #272 with a deep deep dive into what has happened with the American corporate takeover of how we get informed in this country.
From DR. RUTH STRAUSS, MYLA RESON, DOROTHY REIK, MICKEY LEADER, ALISON GREENE, RAY LUTZ and more take us to the deep depths of election protection, where the future of the world will soon be decided.
With STEVE CARUSO we also go to the core of AI and Data Centers, now at the cutting edge of a truly landmark grassroots uprising worldwide.
We also deal with the “corruption” of the Supreme Court and the idea that “truth in advertising” could be regulated.
With a stunning tribute to the new American “Algae Pool,” we bid this truly stunning 2+ hour session a fond farewell….& we’ll see you in 2 weeks, after America’s 250th Fourth…….