The Tate Brothers, in Federal Custody, Watch Their Powerful Backers Go Quiet

THE NEW YORK TIMES: After Andrew and Tristan Tate, prominent leaders of the so-called manosphere, were arrested in Miami, many of their onetime allies on the American right pulled back support.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Andrew Tate, right, and Tristan Tate in Bucharest, Romania, in 2025. Credit: Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images
On Sunday morning, hours after the manosphere influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested by federal agents in Miami, one of their representatives reached out to Alina Habba.

Not long ago, Ms. Habba, a lawyer, was a vocal supporter of the Tate brothers as they faced allegations of human trafficking and other serious crimes in Romania and Britain. In a podcast appearance in January 2025, shortly after being named a counselor to President Trump, she told Andrew Tate, “I got your back over here.”

Now the brothers were in a federal detention center after Britain requested their extradition for a slew of new criminal charges there. Their representative wanted to know: Was Ms. Habba free to talk?

She did not respond, according to two people familiar with the outreach. It was a sign of the brothers’ eroding support among their onetime allies on the American right.

In recent years, the Tates had leveraged their enormous following of young men to cultivate support among Mr. Trump’s advisers, family members and other prominent conservatives. Those efforts paid off last year when, feeling pressure from members of the new Trump administration, Romanian prosecutors lifted a travel ban on the brothers, freeing them to leave the country and jet-set around the world. But they are now facing a new level of legal jeopardy. Britain has issued 38 charges against them, including rape and sex trafficking; Andrew Tate was also charged with extreme pornography and indecent images of children. The brothers have denied all of the criminal accusations and called the charges politically motivated. » | Megan Twohey, Isabella Kwai, Matei Barbulescu and Alan Feuer | Thursday, July 23, 2026

Google Hit With $1 Billion Fine for Abusing Its Power in Europe

THE NEW YORK TIMES: At a tense moment for trans-Atlantic trade, the European Union accused Google of anti-competitive business practices.

In a decision likely to intensify trans-Atlantic trade tensions, European Union regulators on Thursday hit Google with a $1 billion fine for illegally undercutting competition through its dominance as a search engine.

President Trump has previously threatened to retaliate against the European Union for what he views as the unfair targeting of American technology companies. The Google decision comes when he is weighing a new batch of tariffs on the European Union and other major trading partners.

In explaining Thursday’s fine of 890 million euros, regulators in Brussels said Google had used its position as the world’s largest search engine to unfairly boost its services in areas like shopping, travel, games and language translation. Google displayed its own services more prominently at the top of search results, while relegating competing services farther down the page, according to regulators.

The European Commission, which conducted the investigation, also concluded that the tech giant used unfair restrictions on its Google Play app store that prevent app developers from communicating with users, or conducting transactions that could reduce the fees Google can collect. » | Adam Satariano and Jeanna Smialek | Adam Satariano reported from London and Jeanna Smialek from Brussels. | Thursday, July 23, 2026

Carolyn et John-John Kennedy : l’histoire vraie derrière le crash qui a bouleversé l’Amérique

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article de Madame Figaro. | Ce couple formé par le fils de JFK et une jeune attachée de presse de Calvin Klein est devenu le plus iconique des années 90 aux États-Unis. Madame Figaro
MADAME FIGARO : PODCAST - Dans le deuxième épisode de la série de Scandales consacré à la dynastie Kennedy, la journaliste Marion Galy-Ramounot repart sur les traces de l’un des couples les plus adulés des années 90, et leur disparition, tragique, dans l’Atlantique.

Si vous avez écouté le premier épisode de cette série, vous savez déjà d’où viennent les Kennedy, qui a bâti le clan, qui a donné le “la”. Vous savez aussi où commence ce que l’on a appelé la légende noire, qui colle à tous les drames de cette famille. Après la lobotomie de Rosemary et les assassinats de JFK et Bobby, la malédiction va se trouver un nouveau théâtre : le monde de la mode, les magazines people, et une nuit pluvieuse au-dessus de l’Atlantique. Après la mort de JFK, c’est sans doute celle de son fils, John-John, au côté de sa femme Carolyn Bessett, qui a le plus secoué l’Amérique. » | Par Marion Galy-Ramounot | mercredi 15 juillet 2026

Podcasts Madame Figaro ici.

Voici une super photo de John-John.

Sleeping Beauty! 😊

With many thanks to Philv on Pinterest for this super image.

Communism is the Sequestering of State Assets

Who STEALS, sequesters more state assets than Trump? So it is Trump who is the bloody communist! Nobody else! What a FRAUD Trump is!

Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines

July 23, 2026

Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Trump has turned the USA, which was once a lovely country, into a S***HOLE country! WTF would ever want to vacation there? — © Mark Alexander

Bab El-Mandeb, l’autre détroit qui menace d’étrangler le pétrole mondial

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Suite à une frappe sur un pétrolier saoudien, les rebelles houthis imposent un blocus naval à Riyad en mer Rouge. Après Ormuz, verrouillé par Téhéran, un second goulet d’étranglement se referme sur le brut saoudien.

En mer Rouge, tout s’est noué en une dizaine de jours. Les rebelles yéménites houthistes ont pris prétexte de bombardements menés par l’Arabie saoudite contre l’aéroport de Sanaa, sur fond de dispute autour d’un avion iranien, pour frapper en riposte l’aéroport d’Abha, première attaque visant le sol saoudien depuis 2022. Lundi, ils ont décrété un « blocus naval » contre le royaume. Jeudi, ils sont passés à l’acte en visant deux pétroliers saoudiens. Riyad a confirmé un incendie à la proue de l’un d’eux. Au moins neuf navires ont fait demi-tour près du détroit de Bab al-Mandab, où le trafic se contracte.

Restés jusqu’ici en marge de la guerre américano-iranienne, les houthistes sont une milice pro-iranienne issue des hauts plateaux du nord du Yémen. Après avoir repris la capitale Sanaa, en 2014, elle est en guerre depuis 2015 contre une coalition conduite par Riyad. À la suite d’une escalade avec les Saoudiens, l’Iran se sert de son allié pour rappeler qu’il possède un autre moyen de pression : le détroit de Bab al-Mandab. Le procédé est rodé : en 2023, après les attaques du 7 Octobre et les bombardements déclenchés en représailles par Israël contre la bande de Gaza, les houthistes avaient déjà harcelé le trafic marchand. » | Par Rémi Monti | jeudi 23 juillet 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Trump Should Be 'Run Out of Office' for This Act of Indecency | Scott Lucas

July 23, 2026 | Professor Scott Lucas joins Maddie Hale to discuss whether Donald Trump has increased the risk of a nuclear arms race with Iran, why he argues the president has repeatedly misled Americans over the conflict, and the growing political fallout over Trump's latest foreign policy decisions.

HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN: How to make Cokertme Kebab - Bodrum Kebab with Crispy Matchstick Fries

February 14, 2021 | Amsterdam | Cokertme kebab (Çökertme, pronounced "Ch'kertme") is a specialty from southwest of Turkey and particularly from Bodrum which is very close to the small town of Çökertme which gave this delicious dish its name.

Marinated strips of beef served on top of crispy fried matchstick potatoes, garlic yogurt and tomato sauce. How can a dish like this go any wrong? Easy to make and I don't know any single person who doesn't like it! Try it and see it for yourself!

Hope you enjoy this detailed, step-by-step recipe of this delicious dish from Turkey.


HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.

WIKIPEDIA: Çökertme kebabı »

Cuba After Castro: The Island in the Crosshairs | Feature Documentary

Premiered Jun 23, 2026 | From directors Abby Martin and Matt Belen, Cuba After Castro delivers the definitive portrait of Miguel Díaz-Canel, Cuba’s first leader born after the Revolution. Through this unprecedented in-depth interview we see a vision of revolutionary Cuba suppressed in the west: a nation of collective values and defiance in the face of constant threats from the United States.

The film chronicles Diaz-Canel’s formation as an unexpected successor to the Castros — an unassuming organizer molded by the revolutionary process. Confronting a perfect storm of intensified U.S. sanctions, a media war, a devastating pandemic, and historic domestic protests. Díaz-Canel reflects on navigating these existential crises for the nation he has come to lead.

Sadistic And Depraved’ - Journalist Who’s Visited Cuba Describes U.S. Policy

July 23, 2026 | Donald Trump is not just threatening war against Cuba, but his sanctions against the island nation are having severe and deadly consequences. Its power grid is collapsing and Cuba’s most vulnerable are dying.

After a visit from CIA Director John Ratcliffe in May, it is making sweeping economic changes that journalist Abby Martin says could raise inequality.

In the midst of this crisis, Martin became the first U.S. journalist to interview Cuba’s president Miguel Díaz-Canel, as part of a provocative documentary entitled ‘Cuba After Castro.’

Martin’s documentary tells the untold story of the Cuban people. “Death is the policy. Mass murder is the policy that has been stated for decades to make the Cuban people suffer and overthrow their government.”

This in-depth conversation on the consequences of U.S. foreign policy goes beyond Cuba, as Mehdi and Martin also discuss her previous documentaries, centered around Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. Mehdi asks Martin about occupied Gaza, Israel, Marco Rubio and MORE. …

Lincoln Project: Confessions of the Dear Leader

Jul 22, 2026 | If you think this ad is ridiculous, you don’t know Trump.

Jesse Dollemore: Trump Insults 9/11 Victims, Teams Up w/ Terrorists, Gives Saudis Nukes

July 22, 2026 | Donald Trump has approved a landmark nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. Jesse Dollemore responds...

'Americans Can't Buy Food & You Want Money for Iran War?': Gillibrand Drops Truth Bomb on Hegseth

July 22, 2026 | A heated exchange unfolded on Capitol Hill as U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand challenged Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the Trump administration's defense spending priorities during a congressional hearing. Gillibrand criticized the administration's request for increased funding for military munitions, arguing that the government was seeking billions for bombs while many American families continue to struggle with the rising cost of living. She questioned how the administration could justify such spending to the public. Responding to the criticism, Hegseth rejected the suggestion that the administration was asking for "unlimited bombs." He said the funding request was aimed at ensuring the U.S. military has "the right bombs at the right time" to deter future adversaries. Hegseth also described the proposal as a "generational investment" in national defense and blamed the previous administration for failing to adequately fund the Pentagon.

Hegseth and the whole Trump regime are garbage. Incidentally, why does this regime give preferential treatment to Sunnis over Shiites? How come Saudi Arabia can have a nuclear program which will in all likelihood lead to them having nuclear weapons, but Iran cannot? That, to me, sounds highly hypocritical and it certainly isn’t even-handed. — © Mark Alexander

Rejecting Trump

Father David gives Americans the low down on Trump and his character flaws.

Swiss Divided over Restricting Real Estate Market for Foreigners

SWISSINFO.CH: The consultation on the planned tightening of the Lex Koller law has revealed a deep divide between the political camps. Whilst business organisations and estate agents warn of serious disadvantages, political parties on both the left and right welcome the proposal.

The Swiss government intends to respond to the tight situation on the housing market by tightening the rules. In future, people living abroad will no longer be allowed to buy shares in listed residential property companies. The consultation on the plans ended on Wednesday.

The left-wing Social Democrat Party and right-wing Swiss People’s Party supported the proposal. They argued that foreign capital was driving up property prices. » | SWI | Wednesday, July 15, 2026

ALSO READ:

Swiss government to tighten foreign property ownership »

Steve Rosenberg: Drone Attacks on Russian Online Retailer Wildberries: Reaction in the Russian Press

July 23, 2026 | Coming up: what this morning’s Russian papers are saying about the Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian online retailer Wildberries. Also in the papers: “Russians expect prices to soar.” Plus, an interesting editorial about “a cacophony of ideologies.”

IHIP News: Trump Panicking after Melania's Dark Past Threatens to Expose Them

July 23, 2026 | The Melania Trump allegations are getting juicier.

Very strong language alert! This video is also highly controversial. The views expressed therein should in no way be construed as my own. — Mark

États-Unis : le procès de Nicolas Maduro fixé au 1er juin 2027

LE FIGARO : Le procès de Nicolas Maduro pour trafic de drogue et narcoterrorisme débutera le 1er juin 2027 à New York, selon la date fixée lors d’une audience préparatoire. L’ancien président vénézuélien est détenu aux États-Unis depuis janvier.

L'ouverture du procès à New York du président vénézuélien déchu Nicolas Maduro pour trafic de drogue a été programmée pour le 1er juin 2027 lors d'une audience préparatoire mercredi. Capturé par les Etats-Unis à Caracas au début de l'année et incarcéré depuis le 3 janvier dans une prison de Brooklyn, l'ex-chef d'Etat, âgé de 63 ans, est poursuivi pour quatre chefs d'accusation, dont narcoterrorisme. Son épouse Cilia Flores, 69 ans, fait face à trois chefs d'accusation. Les deux nient les faits qui leur sont reprochés. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 22 2026

What Do We Know about the US' Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia? | BBC News

July 23, 2026 | The US and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark deal that will reportedly allow the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme.

The deal is described as a "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" that will provide "great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program", according to the US energy department.

Text from the deal was not made public, but US media have reported that it could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future - which can be used as fuel for power plants, but also to make nuclear bombs.

Experts say that would mark a first for the US and could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region.


Watching MBS and Trump pawing each other and smiling at each other like hyenas is really quite sickening. Two queer bros wouldn’t make more of a song and dance together! It all comes over like a felons’ fest! By the way, one can but wonder how many billions Trump is going to make for himself and his family from this ridiculous deal? — © Mark Alexander

Nobody in Europe Knows or Cares What Kemi Badenoch Thinks. That’s a Big Mistake

THE GUARDIAN: The opposition leader wants to pull the UK out of the ECHR, wrecking treaties from the Good Friday agreement to the Gibraltar deal

This screenshot is from this Guardian article. | Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch speaking in Farnborough, Hampshire, 21 July 2026. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA
Sitting in Brussels, or one of the EU’s 27 chancelleries, one could be forgiven for tuning out the latest psychodramas in Britain’s Conservative party. After all, the country has a new Labour prime minister who is a pro-European keen to build upon the “reset” begun by Keir Starmer. Who cares what a party in opposition thinks about anything when it is still reeling from its landslide 2024 defeat, and languishing third in the opinion polls as it haemorrhages support from its right flank? It is easy to dismiss Kemi Badenoch and her party as a sideshow.

That would be a mistake. Following her latest pronouncements, Badenoch has effectively committed the Conservatives to a policy of conflict, and possibly even rupture, with the EU. She recently suggested in a newspaper article that anyone who opposes her policy of withdrawing from the European convention on human rights (ECHR) or ditching net zero commitments would be considered “not serious”, and thus excluded from consideration as a Conservative candidate at the next election. She then withdrew the party whip (a UK parliamentary euphemism for “kicked out”) from Gavin Barwell, a member of the House of Lords who criticised Badenoch’s stance. Such a choice revives memories of Boris Johnson’s purge of pro-Europeans from the party.

Westminster has mostly viewed this through a domestic lens: a Tory leader prepared to jettison centre-right supporters in the hope of preventing further rightwing defections to Reform UK. What has been missing is the European dimension. Were the Conservatives to return to power – which polls suggest is possible in alliance with Reform UK – Badenoch’s ideological red lines will resurrect the ghost of “no deal” Brexit. » | Simon Nixon | Thursday, July 23, 2026

Kemi Badenoch is yet another very dangerous politician. The Conservatives were mad to make her their leader. Her ideas are unappealing and anti-EU, and she does not have mass appeal. She is no Margaret Thatcher! If I am not greatly mistaken, Kemi Badenoch will end up as yet another failed Conservative leader in a long, recent list of them. And as for her wish to withdraw the UK from the ECHR — well that stinks! By the way, I write as a one-time dyed-in-the-wool Conservative voter. — © Mark Alexander

Trump Sanctions Threaten Prison for Americans Who Advocate Gaza Justice | Omar Shakir & Tariq Ra'ouf

July 22, 2026

Stephen Miller Should Worry Every American | Steve Schmidt

July 20, 2026 | As debate over Stephen Miller's rhetoric and influence intensifies, questions about free speech, political power, and the future of American democracy take center stage. Steve Schmidt examines the broader consequences of unchecked political power and what comes next.

This video speaks for itself. It tells you all you need to know about the odious Stephen Miller. This man makes some of the Nazis of the Third Reich looks like softies! Even Goebbels could have taken some lessons from this danger to humanity! — © Mark Alexander

Huthi-Angriff auf Öltanker im Roten Meer: Ölpreis auf Sechs-Wochen-Hoch

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Huthi-Miliz meldet Angriffe auf Öltanker im Roten Meer. Damit ist nun eine weitere wichtige Schifffahrtsroute bedroht.

Die jemenitische Huthi-Miliz hat nach eigenen Angaben zwei Öltanker im Roten Meer angegriffen, wie Bloomberg berichtet. Kurz vor der Huthi-Erklärung meldete die britische Behörde für maritime Sicherheit (UKMTO) einen Vorfall rund 70 Seemeilen südwestlich der saudischen Hafenstadt Al Shuqaiq. Der Kapitän eines Tankers berichtete demnach, von einem unbekannten Geschoss getroffen worden zu sein; an Bord sei ein Feuer ausgebrochen, das die Besatzung bekämpfe.

Laut UKMTO gab es keine gemeldeten Verletzten und keine Umweltschäden. Schiffen wurde geraten, das Gebiet mit Vorsicht zu passieren. Nach Angaben von Reuters berichteten maritime Sicherheitsdienste, dass einer der von den Huthis genannten Tanker – die unter saudischer Flagge fahrende „Encelia“ – im Roten Meer getroffen worden sei. Saudi-Arabien äußerte sich laut Bloomberg zunächst nicht. » | Anika Schlünz | Donnerstag, 23. Juli 2026

« Cet accord est dangereux » : l’Arabie saoudite a reçu le feu vert de Washington sur le nucléaire civil

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article du Figaro. | Le prince héritier du Royaume d’Arabie saoudite, Mohammed ben Salmane, et Donald Trump au Forum d’investissement américano-saoudien au John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, à Washington, D.C., le 19 novembre 2025. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Au grand dam d’Israël, Washington a donné son feu vert pour que Riyad développe son propre programme.

La course au nucléaire au Moyen-Orient s’intensifie. Donald Trump a cédé à de longues années de pressions de l’Arabie saoudite et accepté de fournir à ce royaume quasiment clés en main un programme nucléaire censé être limité à un usage civil. Cet accord, «  jetant les bases juridiques d’un partenariat de plusieurs décennies », afin notamment de renforcer les infrastructures énergétiques saoudiennes, a été annoncé officiellement mercredi par le ministre américain de l’Énergie, Chris Wright, avant d’être présenté au Congrès. Sur un plan financier, l’opération devrait représenter une aubaine pour les États-Unis, dans la mesure où seules des firmes américaines bénéficieront d’un monopole sur les centaines de milliards de dollars de contrats.

Autre point important : l’accord prévoit que l’Arabie saoudite sera autorisée à procéder à l’enrichissement de l’uranium sur son sol, dès lors qu’une étude conjointe menée par les deux pays aura conclu que les installations où ce processus interviendra sont bien limitées à un usage civil. Un autre garde-fou aurait sauté : l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique, qui siège à Vienne, ne pourra pas effectuer d’inspection inopinée sur des sites qui ne semblent pas susceptibles d’être utilisés discrètement à des fins militaires. » | Par Marc Henry Tel-Aviv | mercredi 22 juillet 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Hitler’s Birthplace in Austria Is Now a Police Station

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The government repurposed the 17th-century building in hopes of preventing the site from becoming an attraction for Nazi sympathizers.

The building where Adolf Hitler was born in Austria more than 137 years ago opened as a police station on Wednesday morning, the country’s interior ministry announced, concluding a yearslong effort to prevent any attempts from making the location an attraction for Nazi sympathizers.

The refurbishing and repurposing of the building has reignited a debate about what to do with sites associated with the Nazis in a country that is still grappling with how to acknowledge its role in the Holocaust.

“You could make the point that now is a watershed moment,” said Stefan Benedik, the deputy director of the House of Austrian History, a museum in Vienna. But, he added, when it comes to grappling with the past, “such processes are never over.”

The 17th-century building where Hitler was born — at Salzburger Vorstadt 15 in the center of the small, medieval town of Braunau am Inn, along the German border — has been undergoing renovations for about three years. Now, the exterior is a crisp white. The windows are new. No remnants of Nazi influence remain.

“The future use of the house by the police should send an unmistakable signal that the role of this building as a memorial to the Nazis been permanently revoked,” Wolfgang Peschorn, the interior minister of Austria, said in a statement. » | Claire Moses | Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Watch the accompanying NYT video here »
LESEN SIE AUCH:

Soll Neonazi-Pilger abschrecken: Hitlers Geburtshaus ist jetzt eine Polizeistation: Nach jahrelangem Streit um die Nutzung hat Österreich das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers zur Polizeidienststelle umgebaut. Am Umgang mit dem NS-Erbe gibt es Kritik. »

Yet Another Defiant, Very Handsome Smoker!

Left-wing politicians haven’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of being able to ban smoking for adults! Time for them to concentrate on the big things and stop sweating the little things. Moreover, for this super image, I would like to thank Ryder on Pinterest. — © Mark Alexander

Fortes pluies, grêle, rafales à plus de 100 km/h... Des orages « violents » vont toucher la France ce week-end

LE FIGARO : La France va passer brutalement des fortes chaleurs à une situation orageuse samedi. Selon La Chaîne Météo, plusieurs régions pourraient connaître des intempéries localement marquées.

Après plusieurs jours de chaleur intense dans certaines parties du pays, et d’incendies dévastateurs, une dégradation orageuse va toucher la France ce week-end. Alors que les températures vont encore grimper vendredi, avec des pointes proches de 40°C dans certaines régions, l’arrivée d’une dépression samedi va favoriser le développement d’orages parfois violents, particulièrement dans le sud du pays, selon La Chaîne météo*.

La chaleur atteindra son maximum vendredi. Le mercure affichera fréquemment entre 36 et 39°C dans les régions méditerranéennes et le Sud-Ouest, avec des pointes pouvant atteindre « 40°C le long de la vallée de la Garonne », précise La Chaîne météo. Cette forte chaleur gagnera temporairement une partie du nord de la France, avec « près de 30°C jusqu’au bassin parisien ». » | Par Maxime Dubernet de Boscq | mercredi 22 juillet 2026

Pete Hegseth Unravels Under Jon Ossoff's Questions | Steve Schmidt

July 22, 2026 | As Pete Hegseth faces sharp questioning from Jon Ossoff over the Trump administration's national security decisions, concerns about accountability continue to mount. Steve Schmidt explains the broader ramifications for U.S. foreign policy and global stability.

Trump is f*****g trash! How many times does it have to be said? Moreover, it is hard to see how America will ever be able to recover from his pathetic presidency. — © Mark Alexander

‘BONKERS’ US Saudi Nuclear Deal Shows How ‘Dependent’ Trump Is on MBS

July 22, 2026 | President Donald Trump has approved a landmark civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium on its own soil.

The proposed 30-year deal is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, with critics warning it could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and fuel a regional arms race. Supporters argue it will strengthen the US-Saudi alliance and keep Riyadh aligned with Washington rather than rivals such as China or Russia. Matt Frei and Mark Urban discuss what it all means in this segment of the Fourcast Indicators.


Dismember a journalist and be rewarded by getting all the privileges! Something looks wrong with this picture! As I have said before: Trump is trash! — © Mark Alexander

Rejecting Stephen Miller’s Fascist Fearmongering

Father David speaks the truth about Stephen Miller and his attack on left-wing political violence. Political violence is to be found right across the political spectrum, not just on the left.

Trump Makes Major Mistake by 'Throwing a Grenade' into Old Political Firestorm | Sir Bill Browder

July 22, 2026 | Sir Bill Browder joins Maddie Hale to discuss reports the Trump administration is preparing to announce a major nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump reviving threats to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, and new U.S. intelligence suggesting Tehran may be moving thousands of centrifuges into the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.

This is the very first time that I disagree with Bill Browder! If Saudi can be trusted with nuclear material, then Iran can and should be trusted with it too. It is absolutely ridiculous to help Saudi Arabia get nuclear material and at the same time be at war costing multiple billions to stop Iran getting the very same material. I am saddened and surprised by Bill Browder’s excuses here. I thought he'd have a better, fairer assessment than this. Further, when push comes to shove, the Iranians are a very sophisticated people. Very well-educated and sophisticated.

By the way, one thing we can be sure of is that Trump and his cronies will be filling their coffers "BIGLY" through these deals with Saudi Arabia. Further, when it comes to corruption, it is difficult to tell who is learning from whom here! — © Mark Alexander

Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines

July 22, 2026

Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Soll Neonazi-Pilger abschrecken: Hitlers Geburtshaus ist jetzt eine Polizeistation

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Nach jahrelangem Streit um die Nutzung hat Österreich das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers zur Polizeidienststelle umgebaut. Am Umgang mit dem NS-Erbe gibt es Kritik.

Das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers im oberösterreichischen Braunau am Inn ist am Mittwoch offiziell als Polizeidienststelle eröffnet worden. Innenminister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) übergab das umgebaute Gebäude in der Salzburger Vorstadt seiner neuen Bestimmung. Untergebracht sind dort künftig eine Polizeiinspektion mit rund 45 Beamten sowie das Bezirkspolizeikommando Braunau.

„Es ist ein neues Kapitel. Nun wird dieses Haus zu einem Ort der Demokratie, der Rechtsstaatlichkeit, der Sicherheit. Gleichzeitig verschwindet die Erinnerung nicht“, sagte Karner bei der Eröffnung laut ORF Oberösterreich. Die Republik stelle sich damit dem belasteten Erbe dieses Ortes, erklärte der Minister nach Angaben der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Auch der oberösterreichische ÖVP-Landeshauptmann Thomas Stelzer sprach von einem bewussten Zeichen für den Rechtsstaat. » | Peter Steiniger | Mittwoch, 22. Juli 2026

Salman Rushdie Attacker Faces US Terrorism Trial

THE GUARDIAN: Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence

The man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in the eye on stage in 2022 is standing trial for a second time – this time facing terrorism charges after being found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year.

Hadi Matar’s federal trial begins in Buffalo, New York on Wednesday, about 70 miles from the venue where Rushdie was due to speak about writers in political exile in August 2022, when he was stabbed more than a dozen times.

Matar, 28, was convicted last May of attempted murder and assault at the state level. He denies charges that include providing material support to terrorists and committing an act of transnational terrorism, and faces a possible life sentence if convicted on all counts.

Rushdie, 79, survived the attack but lost the use of one eye and suffered lasting nerve damage. The Booker prize-winning author is expected to testify again, having already given evidence at Matar’s state trial. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. » | Emma Loffhagen | Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Model Scout for Jeffrey Epstein Found Dead at His Home Near Paris

THE GUARDIAN: Daniel Siad faced allegations of rape and trafficking in France and appeared in more than 1,000 documents in Epstein files

This screenshot is from this Guardian article. | Daniel Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events. Photograph: US Department of Justice
A modelling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home near Paris, French officials have said.

Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation by the prosecutors specialising in human trafficking in France, accused of rape and other charges. His name appeared in more than 1,000 documents in the US Department of Justice Epstein files that were declassified earlier this year.

Siad was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. He had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events.

He was found dead in his home on Monday evening. An investigation to determine the cause of death has been opened and an autopsy is to be carried out.

Siad traveled around the world, visiting villages in eastern Europe or flying to Cuba or Sweden, trying to source women to work in the modelling industry. Alongside searching for potential models, he looked for women whom he hoped Epstein might want to meet. He compared his work to fishing, explaining to Epstein in an email in 2014 that patience was required: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache (sic) quick, some time no fish.” » | Amelia Gentleman | Wednesday, July 22, 2026

À LIRE AUSSI :

Hauts-de-Seine : Daniel Siad, le «rabatteur» présumé de Jeffrey Epstein, retrouvé mort à son domicile : Âgé de 69 ans, ce Suédois d’origine kabyle était visé par des accusations de viol depuis la déclassification des «fichiers Epstein», dans lesquels son nom apparaît à des milliers de reprises. »

The Secret to Crispy Chicken Thighs and Tender Greens | Andy Baraghani | NYT Cooking

July 20, 2026 | Andy Baraghani shows us how to make his crispy chicken thighs with melty leeks and peas. It’s the kind of dish you make when all the pretty greens finally show up at the market and you want something light but still deeply satisfying. It all happens in one skillet, which means the vegetables pick up the savory bits left behind by the chicken.

For the full recipe, please click here »

Impact of MAGA on European Right-wing "Ideologically Close But Interests Not Respected”

July 22, 2026 | Giovanni Orsina, Director of the Political Science Department at Luiss University in Rome, takes a look at transatlantic ties under Trump and the impact of MAGA on European right-wing movements.

Droit de vote des femmes, avortement, homosexualité… Douglas Wilson, le pasteur provocateur préféré de la nouvelle droite américaine

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article du Figaro. | L’homme de 73 ans, à la stature imposante et à l’épaisse barbe blanche, livre chaque semaine, entre les chants des psaumes, un commentaire à portée politique sur un passage de la Bible. adobestock, Laura Brett/Sipa USA via Reuters, Britt Van Niekerk
LE FIGARO : Installé dans l’État américain de l’Idaho, le chantre du nationalisme chrétien est devenu en quelques années une figure incontournable du mouvement Maga.

Dans une église remplie de familles et d’enfants, Douglas Wilson prêche pour la troisième fois de la matinée, ce dimanche matin de juillet, le message biblique du livre d’Esther. Il raconte comment cette reine de l’Ancien Testament déjoue le complot du sinistre vizir Haman, « cupide, méchant et envieux », qui voulait exterminer les Juifs de l’Empire perse. « Si l’on observe tout le désordre culturel qui nous entoure, on constate qu’il est presque entièrement causé par le péché de jalousie », déclare le pasteur en chaire.

L’homme de 73 ans, à la stature imposante et à l’épaisse barbe blanche, livre chaque semaine, entre les chants des psaumes, un commentaire à portée politique sur un passage de la Bible. En attendant la construction d’une cathédrale, c’est cette église de briques, percée de trois fenêtres en ogive, qui accueille la fervente assistance. Dehors, l’or des champs de blé et le jaune vif des cultures de colza scintillent, dans ces vastes collines du nord-ouest des États-Unis. « La jalousie prend de nombreuses formes : le féminisme, le socialisme, l’égalitarisme, poursuit le pasteur. La meilleure façon de la combattre est de lui déclarer la guerre partout, dans nos cœurs et dans nos vies, dans nos familles, nos quartiers, nos entreprises. »

Wilson dirige Christ Church, une église fondée il y a plus de cinquante ans à Moscow, dans l’Idaho. Elle fait partie du Crec, la Communion des Églises évangéliques réformées, qui regroupe une centaine de communautés marquées par un protestantisme calviniste. Depuis trois décennies, le pasteur érige l’interprétation littérale des Saintes Écritures en morale absolue qui doit régir chaque aspect de l’existence humaine, de la vie privée à l’économie et à la politique.

Il en tire des conclusions extrêmes, qu’il a défendues à la télévision, au prix de vives polémiques, à la faveur de sa notoriété grandissante. Entre autres, les femmes ne devraient pas avoir le droit de vote, et l’homosexualité, tout comme l’adultère, devrait être pénalisée. Car au fond, pour lui, les États-Unis devraient devenir une théocratie chrétienne, une nation rédigeant ses lois selon les préceptes de la Bible. » | Par Mayeul Aldebert, correspondant à Washington | mercredi 22 juillet 2026

Light But Necessary Relief in These Troubled Times

For some relief from the heaviness of politics, and for some stimulation and eye candy for your tired and weary eyes, click here » I feel sure you’ll be glad you did! 😊 — Mark

The World's Most Expensive Party | The Celebration That Helped Bring Down the Shah

July 22, 2026

For more information on this documentary, click here.

Margaret Thatcher: Defend Freedom While You Still Can

These were her thoughts on the matter.
She was right at the time, but now, it isn't socialism or communism which threaten our freedom; rather, it's the oligarchs, the superrich. — © Mark Alexander

US Renews Strikes on Iran as Trump Threatens to Attack Nuclear Site | BBC News

July 22, 2026 | US Central Command (Centcom) said the wave of strikes were "designed to continue degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported that air defences were activated in the capital Tehran. Explosions were also reported in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and in Bushehr, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant.

Iran, which has retaliated against the US and its Middle East allies, warned of reprisals after Donald Trump said the US would soon hit an underground nuclear site near Natanz.


All that money p****d against the wall! Just imagine what a president with sound judgment could have done to improve Americans’ lives with all that money!

As far as I can see, it doesn’t matter how many billions Americans throw at this war, it is hard to see how the Iranians will let America win. And God only knows what is going to happen to the world economy with the Strait of Hormuz and now also the Bab el-Mandeb blocked by the Houthis, too.

Mr Trump needs to learn that his transactional approach will not work with a people so married to their religion and ideology. Belief trumps profit each and every time. — © Mark Alexander

Benjamin Netanyahu Is a War Criminal

July 22, 2026 | The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for a reason. He should be arrested and stand trial.

My administration examined every legal avenue available to determine whether New York City could execute that warrant. The law is clear: we do not have that authority. The federal government does. So we are calling on the United States to uphold international law, cooperate with the ICC, apprehend Benjamin Netanyahu and transfer him to The Hague to face justice.

We cannot end this genocide on our own. But we can use every tool available to defend humanity and uphold justice. That is the responsibility of this city. And it is my commitment as mayor.



Related article here.

With His Latest Threats, Trump Signals to Iran That He Is Willing to Escalate

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump is facing a critical moment in the war, which has failed to bring about the “unconditional surrender” he once demanded.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | “We’ll be hitting that area probably pretty soon,” President Trump said of Pickaxe Mountain on Tuesday. “And there’s not a thing they can do about it.” Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times
President Trump threatened on Tuesday to accelerate the war with Iran by returning the conflict to where it began, with a bunker-busting attack on one of the country’s nuclear facilities.

But the target he has in mind, known among Western intelligence agencies as Pickaxe Mountain, is not complete. No nuclear experts believe it houses the kind of working equipment to enrich uranium, and convert that material to bomb fuel, like the three major nuclear sites Mr. Trump ordered bombed in June 2025, in what the Pentagon called “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

At most, experts say, Pickaxe Mountain for now is a deep underground storage site.

But for Mr. Trump, facing a turning point in the war, it may make little difference whether Pickaxe Mountain is empty or giving cover to the surviving remnants of Iran’s stockpile of nuclear centrifuges, the machinery critical to churning out bomb fuel. In his own statements on Tuesday and those of his military advisers, who spent much of the afternoon dodging questions from Senate Democrats, Mr. Trump seemed mostly fixated on sending a message to Iran that his willingness to escalate knows no limits.

“We’ll be hitting that area probably pretty soon,” Mr. Trump said, not for the first time. “And there’s not a thing they can do about it,” the president said during a visit from Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has reported on the efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear capabilities for more than two decades. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Trump is in a bind. He’s got himself into a war he probably cannot and will not win, and he doesn’t know how to get out of and at the same time save his face, either. What a predicament to be in. The Iranians are outsmarting him all the time. — © Mark Alexander

ALSO READ:

Hegseth Estimates Iran War Has Cost $37.5 Billion: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requesting as much as $70 billion in emergency military spending after nearly five months of war. »

Mamdani Calls Netanyahu a ‘War Criminal’ and Calls on U.S. to Arrest Him

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani challenged the United States to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, which New York itself cannot do.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that New York cannot arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, but the United States should. Credit: Dave Sanders for The New York Times
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday night challenged the federal government to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, calling him a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” in a striking video statement.

The mayor said the city Law Department explored whether the New York Police Department could arrest the Israeli prime minister during his expected visit to the city in September but that the city did not have “independent legal authority” to do so.

The mayor’s announcement came days after he told Lulu Garcia-Navarro last week on “The Interview,” a New York Times show, that he had been in “active conversation” with the city’s lawyers about executing a warrant issued for Mr. Netanyahu in 2024 by the International Criminal Court.

On Tuesday, Mr. Mamdani said in the video that those conversations had led his administration to determine that it did “not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.”

Seated between the flags of the United States and New York City, Mr. Mamdani looked directly into the camera and solemnly told New Yorkers that Israel’s prime minister had no place visiting New York.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” Mr. Mamdani said. “While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.” » | Liam Stack | Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Zohran Mamdani is a hero. A man of principle. It is refreshing to hear a politician speak with such clarity and moral authority. New Yorkers are indeed blessed to have a mayor like Zohran. — © Mark Alexander

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel

THE NEW YORK TIMES: U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, to be announced Wednesday, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop nuclear weapons.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | President Trump shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the White House last November. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times
The Trump administration plans to announce Wednesday that it has reached a broad nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the country enriching its own fuel for nuclear reactors, U.S. officials said.

The accord is intended to further bind the United States with the Saudi government as the war with Iran strains the relationship. The Trump administration, according to officials, estimates it will provide billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry — starting with Westinghouse, which designs many of the reactors sold abroad.

The Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the agreement with the Saudis on Wednesday, said two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. It would announce the details to Congress soon afterward.

Although the agreement likely would have support among many Republicans, some U.S. lawmakers from both parties along with Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to eventually develop nuclear weapons. » | David E. Sanger, Edward Wong and William J. Broad | David Sanger reported from Washington, Edward Wong from Manila, where he is covering a diplomatic trip by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and William J. Broad from New York. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Clearly, Trump has a soft spot for the Saudis! He’s gone to war with the Iranians for the very same thing. Why the double standards? If anything is going to turbocharge this war with Iran, this will! How unwise and foolish can a president be? — © Mark Alexander