Almost as appalling as President Biden’s debate performance are the efforts of his loyalists to pretend that what 50 million viewers saw and heard didn’t happen or didn’t really matter. What has unfolded in the last few days amounts to a political gaslighting operation by the Biden campaign and supportive pretenders who’ve been trying to erase history as soon as it happened.

 Apparently, Biden’s ego has proven to be much more resilient than his cognition, while loved ones and sycophants in concentric inner and outer circles cling desperately to talking points that are patently dishonest, often preposterous, and virulently dangerous for prospects of preventing a second Trump presidency.

 By whistling past the graveyard of Biden’s credibility as a viable candidate in 2024, the pretenders are doing a huge disservice to all who want to avert a full takeover of the U.S. government by the fascistic Republican Party.

 Let’s start with the innermost circle -- the First Couple. The day after the debate, both sidestepped what it had shown, instead striving to make it about one man’s quest to show individual resilience.

Early Saturday evening on June 29, members of the Dayton Police Department chased, shot down, and ultimately killed a teenager. The shooting occurred moments after they sped into the Negley Place neighborhood, where multiple young people were gathered outside. Families were present and outside all along the neighborhood streets.

Officers have not released the names of those who fired their weapons, nor have they released many details other than heavily edited and redacted body camera footage.

Rather than invite the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to review the officers’ conduct, as is proper procedure following an officer-involved shooting in the community, the Dayton Police Department has asked close ally Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to review the incident, and has promised to conduct an internal investigation. 

Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality, The FUDGE Foundation, Black Lives Matter Dayton, and OFUPAC have the following demands – 1. BCI must be invited in to investigate the conduct of DPD both during the July 29 incident and following.

Humanitarian aid should never be politicized though, quite often, the very survival of nations is used as political bargaining chips. 

 Sadly, Gaza remains a prime example. Even before the current war, the Gaza Strip suffered under a 17-year hermetic blockade, which has rendered the impoverished area virtually 'unlivable'. 

 That very term, ‘unlivable’ was used by the then-UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Palestine, Michael Lynk, in 2018. 

President Joe Biden's debate disaster this week placed a magnifying glass on the already existing concerns of the American electorate that Joe Biden is showing serious signs of cognitive impairment. The debate was a tectonic shift in electoral politics, no matter how the Ruling Elites attempt to spin it. One thing is now crystal clear. The chance to beat the Orange Menace in November is increased by replacing Biden, rather than being a risky move. The riskiest move is to allow Biden to run for President, risking the future of America and democracy itself.

Every America has witnessed the devastating effects of dementia which often included rapid progression. In January, Biden gave a reasonably vigorous State of the Union address, quieting his critics. Only 5 months later, the word vigorous no longer applies, nor will it in the weeks and months to come. It is possible if not likely that Biden will be a shell of a man by election day in November.

Sunday, June 30, 6pm, The Citadel, 1761 Parsons Ave.

Join Community Pride for an evening of artistic expression and celebration of local artists at Queer Art Night!

Queer Art Night is a heartfelt showcase of the incredible talents across Columbus’ QTBIPOC community. The lineup features a range of musicians, performers, live artists, and more who will fill the night with their amazing creative energy.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for a space to connect, Queer Art Night welcomes folks for a night highlighting the power of art in our community. There will also be a community art piece we will encourage attendees to contribute to — so come out and bring a friend!

Accessibility Information

• Masks are required throughout the space and will be provided at the door. We ask that if folks need to unmask for drinks/food that they do so outside. Our safety team will be reminding folks to remain masked, and if you cannot respect this, you will be asked to leave. There will also be signage posted.

• There will be two air purifiers in the space. We will run these in the space for an hour prior to the attendees’ arrival.