Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Woke Paris politician blames Americans and our air conditioning for Europe heat wave that has killed 1,300 people
By Ronny Reyes
Published June 29, 2026
Updated June 29, 2026, 5:02 p.m. ET
Deadly Heatwave Bakes Europe as Record Temperatures Persist
A Paris politician blamed Americans and US air conditioning for the record-breaking heat wave in Europe that has resulted in more than 1,300 excess deaths.
After US tourists mocked France over the lack of air conditioning across the country amid 104-degree temperatures, Audrey Pulvar, deputy mayor of Paris for international relations, claimed the situation was partly America’s fault.
Audrey Pulvar blamed the United States and air conditioning for the record-breaking European heat wave.
Ait Adjedjou Karim/ABACA / Shutterstock
“Dear American journalists and social media ‘influencers’: for days, some of you have been criticizing and making fun of Paris because the city does not have A/C in every room … OMG, this is so rich!” Pulvar wrote on social media.
“As the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, you bear a significant amount of responsibility for global warming and the consequences we, in France, are experiencing. Your cities, which are 90 percent air conditioned, are not unrelated to this,” she added.
“So please, enough with the lecture. Just start doing your part,” the post concluded.
France has long been resistant to air conditioning, with only 25% of households in the country equipped with such cooling units.
The reticence to install AC has been attributed to concerns over the environment, the culture, and strict building codes — but the tides have begun changing as summers get hotter and hotter.
The spat between Pulvar and Americans comes amid a record heat wave in Europe, with France experiencing a surge of deaths that have left morgues struggling to keep up.
France has recorded at least 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, the public health agency said Sunday, warning that the final figures could be higher.
“Dear American journalists and social media ‘influencers’: for days, some of you have been criticizing and making fun of Paris because the city does not have A/C in every room … OMG, this is so rich!” Pulvar wrote on social media.
“As the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, you bear a significant amount of responsibility for global warming and the consequences we, in France, are experiencing. Your cities, which are 90 percent air conditioned, are not unrelated to this,” she added.
“So please, enough with the lecture. Just start doing your part,” the post concluded.
France has long been resistant to air conditioning, with only 25% of households in the country equipped with such cooling units.
The reticence to install AC has been attributed to concerns over the environment, the culture, and strict building codes — but the tides have begun changing as summers get hotter and hotter.
The spat between Pulvar and Americans comes amid a record heat wave in Europe, with France experiencing a surge of deaths that have left morgues struggling to keep up.
France has recorded at least 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, the public health agency said Sunday, warning that the final figures could be higher.
Historic San Francisco church gutted by fire
Massive fire at San Francisco church contained
by: Alex Baker, Sara Stinson, Gayle Ong
Posted: Jun 29, 2026 / 02:31 PM PDT
Updated: Jun 29, 2026 / 10:06 PM PDT
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A fire broke out at a Seventh-Day Adventist Church in San Francisco Monday afternoon. In photos posted by the San Francisco Fire Department, the church, which is located at California and Broderick streets, appeared to be behind scaffolding.
By 3:50 p.m., flames could be seen leaping from the church’s roof. One SFFD firefighter tells KRON4 it has been 28 years since a church fire occurred in San Francisco.
As of 9 p.m., crews remain on scene responding to the fire. SFFD said the fire is now contained.
The fire was initially reported as a one-alarm fire before being escalated to two alarms. SFFD said the fire has been reported throughout the church’s top level. SF Fire also posted a video showing heavy smoke pouring from the church’s upper-level windows.
Monday, June 29, 2026
As nation turns 250, many Americans say the Stars and Stripes is now a red flag
The American flag: To some, it’s Old Glory. To others, it’s a MAGA hat on a stick.
June 29, 2026, 6:01 AM EDT
By Corky Siemaszko
To fly or not to fly an American flag? That was never a question for Bruce Watson, who has put his national pride on display for years — and nudges neighbors in his small New England town to do the same.
“I’m very proud of our flag,” the writer said. “It’s the symbol of ‘We, the People.’”
But as the polarized nation marks its 250th birthday, Watson, 72, worries his Stars and Stripes may now need an asterisk. “If we do fly the flag, we will also put out signs to make it clear that we are not MAGA,” he said.
NBC News asked readers to share their feelings and practices around the flag in a moment, polls suggest, when patriotism, national pride and optimism for the country’s future are all fraying. Like Watson, some say the flag can be taken as an endorsement of the current administration. For others, it isn’t tied to any one party but is a way of life.
But as the polarized nation marks its 250th birthday, Watson, 72, worries his Stars and Stripes may now need an asterisk. “If we do fly the flag, we will also put out signs to make it clear that we are not MAGA,” he said.
Bruce Watson, at his home with his dog, Mavis, in Montague, Mass., says he plans to put a disclaimer next to his flag. Hannah Beier for NBC News
The American flag is a symbol striped with many meanings, whether it’s hung on front porches, waved in parades, protests and World Cup matches, or stamped on lapel pins and boxing trunks. Like so much else in American life, it has also been tangled up in politics and the policies of President Donald Trump.
The American flag is a symbol striped with many meanings, whether it’s hung on front porches, waved in parades, protests and World Cup matches, or stamped on lapel pins and boxing trunks. Like so much else in American life, it has also been tangled up in politics and the policies of President Donald Trump.
NBC News asked readers to share their feelings and practices around the flag in a moment, polls suggest, when patriotism, national pride and optimism for the country’s future are all fraying. Like Watson, some say the flag can be taken as an endorsement of the current administration. For others, it isn’t tied to any one party but is a way of life.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
I am a centrist Democrat and I am terrified of success | Opinion
We appeal to 'the center,' which is an ambiguous blob-like thing that exists only in the minds of Democratic strategists whose brains stopped working in the 1990s.
Rex Huppke
USA TODAY
June 28, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET
Hello, I am a centrist Democrat who is terrified that progressive liberal candidates keep winning primary elections.
I am also terrified of my own shadow, but this is somehow worse.
Suddenly, voters are being won over by liberal candidates ‒ even a few who are democratic socialists! ‒ who aren’t afraid to lean into populist messages with passion and an apparent drive to actually do things that will make people’s lives better. What is that all about? Since when did the things voters want become so important?
Following the embrace of New York City’s popular democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, two democratic socialist candidates and one progressive candidate won their recent congressional primary races. I immediately took to my living room's fainting couch. (Like most centrist Democrats, I have a fainting couch in every room.)
Like my good friends in the Republican Party, I fear any kind of democratic socialist as well as any progressives who are actually progressive. They all seem far too fixated on helping "the people." Blech.Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
As a centrist Democrat, I cannot accept new ideas. Or winning.
USA TODAY
June 28, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET
Hello, I am a centrist Democrat who is terrified that progressive liberal candidates keep winning primary elections.
I am also terrified of my own shadow, but this is somehow worse.
Suddenly, voters are being won over by liberal candidates ‒ even a few who are democratic socialists! ‒ who aren’t afraid to lean into populist messages with passion and an apparent drive to actually do things that will make people’s lives better. What is that all about? Since when did the things voters want become so important?
Following the embrace of New York City’s popular democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, two democratic socialist candidates and one progressive candidate won their recent congressional primary races. I immediately took to my living room's fainting couch. (Like most centrist Democrats, I have a fainting couch in every room.)
Like my good friends in the Republican Party, I fear any kind of democratic socialist as well as any progressives who are actually progressive. They all seem far too fixated on helping "the people." Blech.Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
As a centrist Democrat, I cannot accept new ideas. Or winning.
I recently read this in The Nation, a progressive magazine I can only read while on a fainting couch: “In Michigan’s open Senate race, Chuck Schumer has made his support of moderate Representative Hayley Stevens clear. But that hasn’t stopped Abdul El-Sayed from climbing in the polls. Running on a platform of taxing billionaires, ending the corrosive effects of money in politics, and Medicare for All.”
It said El-Sayed has been endorsed not only by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Ro Khanna of California but also the “influential United Auto Workers union.”Opinion: Democratic socialism is thriving in New York. This is good.
AUGH! What kind of radical Democrat would talk about taxing billionaires in a moment when income inequality is at the top of voters’ minds and people are struggling to afford food?
That’s edging too far away from the center, which is the safe place where I reside and insist all other Democrats must reside. It’s nice here. There are comfy pillows a corporate lobbyist once gave me, and we just sit and occasionally furrow our brows.
The German Theologian Bringing Protestants and Catholics Together
Jayson Casper
Evangelicals have critiqued the ecumenism of former World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher.
Christianity Today
June 25, 2026
Image courtesy of Thomas Schirrmacher
Eleven American Pentecostal pastors sat nervously with Pope Francis at the Vatican in June 2016. The meeting, arranged by Thomas Schirrmacher, then chair of the theological commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), was an opportunity for the guests to ask the pontiff anything they wanted. Two years earlier, Francis had publicly apologized for past Catholic persecution of the charismatic movement.
At the time, the Italian Evangelical Alliance had cautioned against growing ecumenical openness where “insurmountable” doctrinal obstacles exist. The American delegation was similarly opposed to Schirrmacher’s engagement but had agreed to the meeting. No one wanted to ask the first question. Amid the awkwardness, Francis took the initiative.
He asked the delegation to pray for him.
Schirrmacher said what followed was a life-changing experience for the Pentecostals. They prayed for the pope. He prayed for them. By the end, he said, their theological concerns didn’t matter much anymore as they agreed with Schirrmacher that Francis was a genuine believer and had no intention to convert them to Catholicism.
Matters of theology and doctrine have always mattered to Schirrmacher, who turns 66 today. The German theologian has four doctoral degrees and authored more than 100 books, including a six-volume treatise on ethics. Committed to Christian unity, he served as general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance from 2021 to 2024. Yet his life has been a lightning rod of controversy—particularly when he neared the halls of power.
Even seemingly straightforward truths, he finds, have prompted critical reaction.
“If I say, ‘God is love,’” said Schirrmacher, “it could start a global discussion.”
Born in 1960, Schirrmacher traces his family history to 18th-century Huguenots exiled from Austria to Prussia. His father served on the board of the missions agency World Evangelization for Christ, and Schirrmacher interacted with many visiting missionaries. He met Billy Graham as a child, and again in 1983. By then, Schirrmacher was a young pastor who had planted seven churches. Graham advised him to continue pursuing advanced theological studies.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
The President Who Went to War With His Own CIA - Part 1
What the 2025 JFK Files Reveal About the Kennedy Cover-Up - Part 2
JD Vance calls his meeting with Vatican officials right before Pope Francis died ‘unsettling’ in new book
The vice president accused the Vatican of being ‘unwilling to move its moral guidance’ in extracts from his memoir Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith
Tuesday 16 June 2026 13:03 BST
JD Vance says Pope Leo should be careful when speaking on theology
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read more
Vice President JD Vance has launched a fresh attack on the Vatican in a new book on his faith.
In his memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, Catholic convert Vance details his encounter with church officials in April last year.
In extracts published by The Washington Post, Vance wrote that the Vatican’s secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin discussed the topic of migration with him during their meeting.
However, the vice president was not pleased with the tone of the conversation and described it as “unsettling.”
“Here I was, the most senior Catholic in the United States government, and the Vatican seemed unwilling to move its moral guidance past the point of trite platitudes,” Vance wrote.
JD Vance says Pope Leo should be careful when speaking on theology
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read more
Vice President JD Vance has launched a fresh attack on the Vatican in a new book on his faith.
In his memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, Catholic convert Vance details his encounter with church officials in April last year.
In extracts published by The Washington Post, Vance wrote that the Vatican’s secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin discussed the topic of migration with him during their meeting.
However, the vice president was not pleased with the tone of the conversation and described it as “unsettling.”
“Here I was, the most senior Catholic in the United States government, and the Vatican seemed unwilling to move its moral guidance past the point of trite platitudes,” Vance wrote.
Vice President JD Vance has branded his meeting with Vatican officials as ‘unsettling’ in his memoir, which also lifts the lid on his meeting with the late Pope Francis (Vatican Media)
Texas board approves adding Bible stories to required reading for public school students
Updated on: June 26, 2026 / 2:29 PM CDT / AP
Texas public schools will require students to read Bible stories under a reading list approved by the state's education board Friday, widening conservative efforts to bring more Christian teachings into U.S. classrooms.
The Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by Republicans, approved the list of over critics who argued the titles lacked diversity and and blurs the separation of church and state.
Under the mandate, more than 5 million public school students in Texas must read traditional literary works such as E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" and Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations." They'll also be required to read Bible stories, including passages from the New Testament and excerpts from the Book of Job. The rollout will be staggered, starting with elementary school students in 2030.
For months, critics have blasted both the push to require Bible readings and the state mandating what books are read by students, which are decisions typically left up to teachers. Teachers could still assign students other books to read on top of the required titles.
Supporters say Judeo-Christian traditions were fundamental to the nation's founding and that should be reflected in the public school curriculum.
Texas, which educates roughly 1 in 10 of the nation's public school students, has been at the forefront of a charge by conservatives to incorporate more religion into classrooms. The state already allows public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students, mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms and has approved an optional Bible-infused curriculum.
Friday, June 26, 2026
Call Sin by its Right Name
The greatest want of the world is the want of men,–men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.–Education, p. 57.
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1
We are living in the solemn scenes of this earth’s history. If ever there was a time when things should be called by their right name, it is now. This is no time to call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. We must lay hold by faith now. It is time for every one to be wide-awake.—Pamphlet 146.
Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:21. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God’s word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonours her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.—DA 805.
The history of Achan teaches the solemn lesson that for one man’s sin the displeasure of God will rest upon a people or a nation till the transgression is searched out and punished. Sin is corrupting in its nature. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to thousands. Those who occupy responsible positions as guardians of the people are false to their trust if they do not faithfully search out and reprove sin. Many dare not condemn iniquity, lest they shall thereby sacrifice position or popularity. And by some it is considered uncharitable to rebuke sin. The servant of God should never allow his own spirit to be mingled with the reproof which he is required to give; but he is under the most solemn obligation to present the Word of God, without fear or favour. He must call sin by its right name. Those who by their carelessness or indifference permit God’s name to be dishonoured by His professed people, are numbered with the transgressor,– registered in the record of heaven as partakers in their evil deeds….
“We Are Here.” Glendale City Church Attends Pride in the Park
Tony Biehl|June 23, 2026|Reports
Earlier this month, the Glendale City Church in Glendale, California, was invited to join GlendaleOUT’s Pride in the Park event—a bring your own lunch picnic in Adam’s Square Mini Park a couple of miles from the church. To honor our LGBTQ+ siblings, about a dozen of us trundled down to the park after church. I like to attend Pride events, so I looked forward to this one. Parking, however, was impossible. I wandered in the parking wilderness for a while, despairing at the sight of what seemed like endless cars and no spaces until a spot finally appeared—Yay!
I clumped two blocks down the street and over a crosswalk with earth tone patterns artistically adorning it—nice. The Mini Park was indeed mini, though well maintained—its central a retired 50s gas station building which served as the main attraction, decorated with Pride banners. There was a crowd, of course, but not overwhelming, and I easily found our group sitting on blankets under a small tree. Since my aging body does not like blankets on the ground—let alone getting on them—I unfolded my special cane into a seat and sat. I munched on my lunch along with everyone else (their own lunches, not mine). Our pastor offered me some chips the church had brought and his wife loaned me a little cloth stand for my soda. They also brought pie for dessert!
Glendale City Church announced the Pride in the Park event on social media. Glendale City has long been an affirming congregation and was home to Adventism’s longest-serving, out pastor. @glendalecitychurch/Facebook
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Pope Leo is wrong about hunger
Opinion by David Harsanyi, Washington Examiner
Pope Leo is wrong about hunger
For Catholics, the Pope is the vicar of Christ and the spiritual leader of the Church — which is to say, his positions are typically none of my business. Then again, any time the pope delivers a statement that speaks to the political aspirations of the secular left, the media amplifies it to lecture the rest of us.
The latest such comment has to do with world hunger.
“It is important to resist the commodification of basic human needs,” the Pope said, criticizing slow humanitarian aid from the United States to the U.N. World Food Program. “Food, water and healthcare cannot be subordinated to market considerations or geopolitical interests.”
Virtually every major modern famine in history occurred in places that “subordinated” the commodification of food for a greater good. Though, Leo has it backward. The market is the natural state of economic activity. We subordinate the market. The question is, are we better off when we do? Almost every time, the answer is no.
It’s not an accident that capitalistic nations create so much wealth that they can be generous not only to their own hungry but also to the hungry elsewhere. The proportion of the global population facing hunger today has declined dramatically over the past 30-40 years because of technological advancements and efficiencies fueled by trade and market-driven profits.
Which is why the U.S. has pledged nearly $750 million to the U.N. World Food Program, far more than any nation. China generally contributes under $20 million and Russia around $30 million.
It should also be noted that government aid is not the only assistance we give. Americans are the most charitable people in the world.
“Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person,” the pope went on. “Meeting this need not only alleviates suffering but also addresses underlying causes of geopolitical instability. Indeed, food security is an essential component of global and integral security.”
Most people acknowledge that feeding and caring for the poor is a moral imperative. Being fed is not a “fundamental human right,” however, because it requires compelling another person to provide it. Americans believe — or should believe — that only the “fundamental rights” are those that call on others to abstain from interfering. That includes things like freedom of speech and religion. Your healthcare can’t be a right.
Moreover, helping the poor without any expectation that the government will change its policies that strip its people of dignity does nothing to help the underlying causes of geopolitical instability. If we choose, Americans have every right to attach expectations to their aid.
The United Nations, after all, is teeming with illiberal tyrannical nations that drive their own people into destitution. The areas most in danger of hunger, according to a recent U.N. report, are Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip. All of them struggle in part because of Islamism, which carries a political agenda that runs counter to every Christian tenet imaginable. It would be nice if the Church spoke out about corrupt regimes and Islamists with the same passion it does the U.S., which has done more for the world’s poor than any institution that has ever existed.
For Catholics, the Pope is the vicar of Christ and the spiritual leader of the Church — which is to say, his positions are typically none of my business. Then again, any time the pope delivers a statement that speaks to the political aspirations of the secular left, the media amplifies it to lecture the rest of us.
The latest such comment has to do with world hunger.
“It is important to resist the commodification of basic human needs,” the Pope said, criticizing slow humanitarian aid from the United States to the U.N. World Food Program. “Food, water and healthcare cannot be subordinated to market considerations or geopolitical interests.”
Virtually every major modern famine in history occurred in places that “subordinated” the commodification of food for a greater good. Though, Leo has it backward. The market is the natural state of economic activity. We subordinate the market. The question is, are we better off when we do? Almost every time, the answer is no.
It’s not an accident that capitalistic nations create so much wealth that they can be generous not only to their own hungry but also to the hungry elsewhere. The proportion of the global population facing hunger today has declined dramatically over the past 30-40 years because of technological advancements and efficiencies fueled by trade and market-driven profits.
Which is why the U.S. has pledged nearly $750 million to the U.N. World Food Program, far more than any nation. China generally contributes under $20 million and Russia around $30 million.
It should also be noted that government aid is not the only assistance we give. Americans are the most charitable people in the world.
“Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person,” the pope went on. “Meeting this need not only alleviates suffering but also addresses underlying causes of geopolitical instability. Indeed, food security is an essential component of global and integral security.”
Most people acknowledge that feeding and caring for the poor is a moral imperative. Being fed is not a “fundamental human right,” however, because it requires compelling another person to provide it. Americans believe — or should believe — that only the “fundamental rights” are those that call on others to abstain from interfering. That includes things like freedom of speech and religion. Your healthcare can’t be a right.
Moreover, helping the poor without any expectation that the government will change its policies that strip its people of dignity does nothing to help the underlying causes of geopolitical instability. If we choose, Americans have every right to attach expectations to their aid.
The United Nations, after all, is teeming with illiberal tyrannical nations that drive their own people into destitution. The areas most in danger of hunger, according to a recent U.N. report, are Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip. All of them struggle in part because of Islamism, which carries a political agenda that runs counter to every Christian tenet imaginable. It would be nice if the Church spoke out about corrupt regimes and Islamists with the same passion it does the U.S., which has done more for the world’s poor than any institution that has ever existed.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
TWO MASSIVE EARTHQUAKES ROCK VENEZUELA WITHIN 45 SECONDS - LIVE COMPLETE COVERAGE
7.5 Earthquake Hits Venezuela - LIVE Breaking News Coverage
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Socialists Are Setting the Agenda in New York City
Claire Valdez and Brad Lander rapidly won their primaries Tuesday night, sending a sign of strength for an NYC left led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Congressional candidates Claire Valdez and Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Darializa Avila Chevalier at a rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 18, 2026. Photo: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA via AP
Two key primaries in New York City delivered whopping victories for an emboldened left led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, as democratic socialists sought to define the future of the Democratic Party.
Mamdani-backed congressional candidates Claire Valdez and Brad Lander were declared the winners in their two districts less than half an hour after polls closed. While democratic socialist challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier was still neck-and-neck with fifth-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, one message from the night was clear: The left isn’t just having a moment — it’s dictating how Democrats play the game of electoral politics.
“Even when we are outspent, our agenda and operation bring out voters in a way the Democratic Party establishment no longer aspires to,” Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, told The Intercept. “It is democratic socialists who are defining much of the political terrain in New York.”
Several races played out as proxy wars between the Democratic Party establishment and progressive insurgents, or even between progressives and socialists, to prove who would do more to disrupt the status quo. In hotly contested primaries spanning four out of five NYC boroughs, candidates touted endorsements from Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as their proximity to the most unconventional wings of the Democratic Party.
“If you’re an establishment Democrat, that’s spent,” streamer Hasan Piker told local outlet Hell Gate Tuesday night. “We’re not giving another dime to Israel, hopefully an arms embargo, or at least pushing for one. We’re gonna make sure that we change the American trajectory.”
As Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman put it to CNN on Tuesday, “The dirtbag left is surging.”
Lander, who represents the clearest bridge between socialists and progressives out of the three Mamdani-endorsed congressional candidates, was the first to sail to victory Tuesday night. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., fell to Lander less than 10 minutes after polls closed, with roughly a third of votes counted in the 10th Congressional District. Goldman, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and a staunch supporter of Israel, had lagged in public polling for months, suggesting the energy on the ground was firmly against the incumbent.
Monday, June 22, 2026
Judge blocks use of federal database to check citizenship, saying it could wrongly purge voters
The decision is a major legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to use federal agencies to encourage a nationwide crackdown on noncitizens illegally on state voter rolls.
PUBLISHED: June 22, 2026 at 1:45 PM PDT | UPDATED: June 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM PDT
By ALI SWENSON and FATIMA HUSSEIN
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s election integrity strategy is unlawful and can no longer be used.
U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgrades to the program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, aggregated Americans’ sensitive personal data in a way that could result in voters being wrongly purged from voter rolls.
“All in all, the federal government has knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote,” Sooknanan said in an order explaining the decision. “This Court cannot stand idly by while that happens.”
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing about quantum computing, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
PUBLISHED: June 22, 2026 at 1:45 PM PDT | UPDATED: June 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM PDT
By ALI SWENSON and FATIMA HUSSEIN
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s election integrity strategy is unlawful and can no longer be used.
U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgrades to the program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, aggregated Americans’ sensitive personal data in a way that could result in voters being wrongly purged from voter rolls.
“All in all, the federal government has knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote,” Sooknanan said in an order explaining the decision. “This Court cannot stand idly by while that happens.”
World Refugee Day 2026
World Refugee Day 2026
Stand with refugees. Defend the right to safety and protection.
On World Refugee Day 2026, JRS/USA invites people of faith and goodwill to stand in solidarity with refugees and defend the right to seek safety. As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention, we are reminded that protection was never meant for a select few. It is a promise rooted in human dignity — and it must be kept alive.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is observed each year on June 20 to honor the strength, courage, and resilience of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, persecution, or violence. It is also a day to recommit ourselves to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of refugees around the world.
In 2026, World Refugee Day carries special significance. The world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention, the international agreement that protects the rights of refugees and affirms the right to seek safety.
World Refugee Day 2026 Theme: Until Everyone Is Safe
The UNHCR theme for World Refugee Day 2026, “Until Everyone Is Safe,” reminds us that safety is not divisible. No community is truly secure while people forced to flee are denied protection, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives.
For JRS/USA, this theme reflects our mission of accompaniment, service, and advocacy. Protection is not only a legal principle. It is a moral responsibility and a shared commitment that grows across communities through welcome, relationships, services, and action.
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Not One Stone Left upon Another
By Pastor Hal Mayer
The fall of Jerusalem was a most savage and brutal time in history. But the lessons for us today ring truer today than ever. Join us to understand what will happen to the world and God’s church in the final time of trouble.
On Jan 10, 2017 @ Georgetown University Fauci foretold the Covid 19 Pandemic
Ten days before Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2017, Anthony Fauci PREDICTED:
"there is no question that there will be a challenge the coming administration in the arena of infectious diseases"...
Religious liberty ‘is not a sword to harm others,’ Laser says
(National Constitution Center)
News Jeff Brumley | June 17, 2026
Religious freedom is a radical invention that allows all Americans to believe or not believe as they choose, but on the condition that others are not harmed, said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
“That’s what religious freedom is. Here’s what it’s not — it’s not a sword to harm others. It’s not a license to discriminate. It’s not a permission slip for the government to favor one set of religious views or to impose those views on all its workers. It’s not a trump card to play when someone else’s views are politically inconvenient.”
Rachel Laser
In other words, religious liberty is the opposite of what the Trump administration and other Christian nationalists claim it is, Laser said during a June 16 discussion hosted by Center for American Progress, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance and American Humanist Association.
The Washington, D.C. event served as the launch of “Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250,” a new report by the four organizations featuring 20 prominent elected officials, faith leaders, historians, legal experts and theologians making the case for religious freedom and diversity rooted in the U.S. Constitution.
“We are correcting the record here with Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, agnostics, humanists and many lawmakers,” Laser explained. “We are correcting the record about what the true foundational values of this country are, and we’re proudly reminding America that religious freedom means we are all free to live as ourselves and believe as we choose.”
The release of “Religious Liberty for All” was timed to pre-empt the anticipated publication of a report by the Religious Liberty Commission, which President Donald Trump formed in 2025 to promote a Christian nationalist view of religious freedom, Interfaith Alliance President Paul Raushenbush said.
“We have every reason to believe it will offer a perspective of religious freedom that privileges one narrow experience. However, the report we are launching today intentionally features a range of experiences of religious freedom from voices that include diverse religious traditions as well as non-religious traditions. Religious freedom for all recognizes how religious freedom benefits all the people when it is applied equally and fairly.”
Money and power
Samosa Caucus condemns Frisco Indian flag-burning incident
Samosa Caucus condemns Frisco Indian flag-burning incident
By Sumit Jangir • June 16, 2026 12:00 PM PDT
FRISCO, Texas (Diya TV) — The six Indian American members of Congress, known collectively as the Samosa Caucus, have strongly condemned the burning and tearing of an Indian flag during an anti-immigration protest in Frisco, Texas, calling the act hateful and harmful to the Indian American community.
The lawmakers issued a joint statement on June 15 after a video of the incident spread widely across social media. The footage showed a man tearing an Indian flag outside Frisco City Hall while demonstrators cheered and shouted anti-India slogans. The protest focused on opposition to immigration and what organizers described as an “Indian immigration invasion” in Texas.
The incident sparked outrage among Indian Americans and community leaders across the United States. Members of the Samosa Caucus said the event reflected a troubling rise in anti-Indian rhetoric and xenophobia.
The joint statement was signed by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Shri Thanedar, and Suhas Subramanyam. Together, they represent the entire Indian American caucus in Congress.
The lawmakers expressed solidarity with Indian Americans in Frisco and across the country. They emphasized that all people deserve to live safely and with dignity, regardless of their background.
“We strongly support the constitutional right to freedom of expression for all Americans,” the lawmakers said in their statement. “At the same time, we condemn the tearing of an Indian flag outside Frisco City Hall alongside hateful anti-India rhetoric, which continues to fuel anti-Indian violence and xenophobia.”The group also stated that acts of intimidation and hate directed at any community have no place in the United States.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Why is Darializa Avila Chevalier's Wikipedia link redirected instead of going directly to her bio?
Why does Darializa Avila Chevalier Wikipedia link lead to a New York State Congressional page, instead of going directly to her bio?
The Wikipedia link for Darializa Avila Chevalier loops back to the New York congressional election page because her personal biography page is currently a candidate for deletion on Wikipedia. [1]
When a Wikipedia entry is flagged for deletion, volunteer editors often turn the page name into a "redirect". They point her name toward the larger 2026 New York Congressional Elections Page where her political run is already detailed. [1, 2]
Wikipedia editors usually make this move for a couple of key reasons:
Strict Notability Rules
Wikipedia has rigid rules regarding who gets a standalone article. Political candidates who have not yet won an election or held a major office are often deemed not "notable" enough for their own separate biography page.
Active Deletion Discussions
Editors frequently debate whether a candidate's background can simply be covered within the main page for the election. If the consensus is that a separate page is not needed yet, they merge the pages and forward the candidate's link to the election page. [1, 2]
Where to Find Her Bio Instead
If you want to read her actual career and personal biography right now, you can check out these verified non-Wikipedia sources:Her Background and Work History: Review her detailed profile on the Ballotpedia Darializa Avila Chevalier Bio Page.
Her Platform and Campaign Goals: See her priorities directly on the Our Revolution Candidate Slate or the official Justice Democrats Endorsement Page. [1, 2, 3]
AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
-More-
Darializa Avila Chevalier is a community organizer from Harlem who is running as a Democratic candidate for New York's 13th congressional district.
She is a progressive candidate running in the June 23, 2026 primary election. She is challenging the long-time incumbent lawmaker Adriano Espaillat.
Key Details About Her CampaignMajor Endorsements: Her run has the backing of many high-profile progressive groups and leaders. These include Justice Democrats, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Campaign Issues: The main topics in her race have focused on federal immigration policy, U.S. support for Israel, and her own past posts on social media.
Fundraising: Her campaign reported raising over $402,000 to fund her run for office.
If you would like, I can give you more details on her background, look up the latest primary election results, or show you how she compares to her opponents. Let me know how you want to proceed!
Darializa Avila Chevalier is a major topic in the news right now because she is in the final days of a highly competitive primary race happening on June 23, 2026. [1, 2]
As a progressive political newcomer, her campaign has drawn national attention for a few specific reasons: [1, 2]
1. Combative Debates with the Incumbent
She recently faced off against long-time Representative Adriano Espaillat in a series of heated, televised debates. The two clashed sharply over big district issues like housing, public safety, and immigration enforcement. [1, 2, 3]
2. Controversy Over Past Social Media Posts
Her campaign has faced heavy scrutiny regarding old tweets she wrote about top Democratic leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris. During the recent debates, she apologized for the inflammatory nature of the old posts but defended her right to criticize the establishment party platform. [1]
3. A Test of Progressive Influence
Her run is being closely watched as a major test of local progressive power. She has high-profile backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, making this race a prime example of the ideological splits inside the Democratic party. [1, 2, 3]
4. Legal Scrutiny Over a Campaign Event
In the final days of early voting, her campaign also raised eyebrows among election law experts after promoting a legally questionable ice cream giveaway for people who cast their ballots. [1]
Is there a specific aspect of her policies, the recent debates, or the election laws you would like to know more about?
💫
The Wikipedia link for Darializa Avila Chevalier loops back to the New York congressional election page because her personal biography page is currently a candidate for deletion on Wikipedia. [1]
When a Wikipedia entry is flagged for deletion, volunteer editors often turn the page name into a "redirect". They point her name toward the larger 2026 New York Congressional Elections Page where her political run is already detailed. [1, 2]
Wikipedia editors usually make this move for a couple of key reasons:
Strict Notability Rules
Wikipedia has rigid rules regarding who gets a standalone article. Political candidates who have not yet won an election or held a major office are often deemed not "notable" enough for their own separate biography page.
Active Deletion Discussions
Editors frequently debate whether a candidate's background can simply be covered within the main page for the election. If the consensus is that a separate page is not needed yet, they merge the pages and forward the candidate's link to the election page. [1, 2]
Where to Find Her Bio Instead
If you want to read her actual career and personal biography right now, you can check out these verified non-Wikipedia sources:Her Background and Work History: Review her detailed profile on the Ballotpedia Darializa Avila Chevalier Bio Page.
Her Platform and Campaign Goals: See her priorities directly on the Our Revolution Candidate Slate or the official Justice Democrats Endorsement Page. [1, 2, 3]
AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
-More-
Darializa Avila Chevalier is a community organizer from Harlem who is running as a Democratic candidate for New York's 13th congressional district.
She is a progressive candidate running in the June 23, 2026 primary election. She is challenging the long-time incumbent lawmaker Adriano Espaillat.
Key Details About Her CampaignMajor Endorsements: Her run has the backing of many high-profile progressive groups and leaders. These include Justice Democrats, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Campaign Issues: The main topics in her race have focused on federal immigration policy, U.S. support for Israel, and her own past posts on social media.
Fundraising: Her campaign reported raising over $402,000 to fund her run for office.
If you would like, I can give you more details on her background, look up the latest primary election results, or show you how she compares to her opponents. Let me know how you want to proceed!
Darializa Avila Chevalier is a major topic in the news right now because she is in the final days of a highly competitive primary race happening on June 23, 2026. [1, 2]
As a progressive political newcomer, her campaign has drawn national attention for a few specific reasons: [1, 2]
1. Combative Debates with the Incumbent
She recently faced off against long-time Representative Adriano Espaillat in a series of heated, televised debates. The two clashed sharply over big district issues like housing, public safety, and immigration enforcement. [1, 2, 3]
2. Controversy Over Past Social Media Posts
Her campaign has faced heavy scrutiny regarding old tweets she wrote about top Democratic leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris. During the recent debates, she apologized for the inflammatory nature of the old posts but defended her right to criticize the establishment party platform. [1]
3. A Test of Progressive Influence
Her run is being closely watched as a major test of local progressive power. She has high-profile backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, making this race a prime example of the ideological splits inside the Democratic party. [1, 2, 3]
4. Legal Scrutiny Over a Campaign Event
In the final days of early voting, her campaign also raised eyebrows among election law experts after promoting a legally questionable ice cream giveaway for people who cast their ballots. [1]
Is there a specific aspect of her policies, the recent debates, or the election laws you would like to know more about?
Source: Google AI
'Our hearts are broken': Pastor mourns loss after deadly tent collapse at outdoor church event
By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, June 14, 2026
EastLake Community Church | Screenshot/EastLake Community Church website
Pastor Troy Keaton of EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia, said his church family was grieving after one person died and more than 20 others were injured when a burst of wind lifted a tent during an outdoor 20th-anniversary service.
The collapse happened at about 6:45 p.m. on Friday during an outdoor service, and a severe storm cell had moved through the area with heavy rain, lightning and strong winds before the tent structure failed, according to a statement by Bedford County, Virginia.
Eleven people were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, and 11 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One person died at the scene.
Bedford 911 Emergency Communications received the initial report and classified the incident as a mass casualty event.
First responders from Moneta Volunteer Fire Department were already at the event and began rescue efforts immediately, while emergency personnel and resources from neighboring localities also responded, according to the county’s statement.
The tent had passed an inspection by the Bedford County Division of Building Inspections last Tuesday.
County officials extended condolences to the church community and thanked local and regional first responders for their work.
The release linked the failure to weather conditions, saying the storm cell brought heavy rain, lightning and strong winds before the tent failed.
5 Smooth Stones | The Seventh-day Sabbath - Chanelle Buchanan & Amanda Paris
5 Smooth Stones | The Seventh-day Sabbath - Chanelle Buchanan & Amanda Paris
Melodies Of Heaven
MOH family! 💜🎵
Welcome back to another powerful episode in our Five Smooth Stones series!
In this special edition, we journey through Scripture to discover what the Bible truly says about God’s holy seventh-day Sabbath — from the very beginning of Creation to the final remnant.
Through beautiful music, clear biblical teaching, and heartfelt narration, we let the Word of God speak for itself. You’ll hear the Fourth Commandment brought to life in a stunning acapella performance by the Gospel Vocal Brothers from Africa, along with inspiring songs and scriptures that trace the Sabbath from Eden to eternity.
Timestamps:
1:55 - Remember the Sabbath Day
5:27 - It's A Sign
9:27 - God Blessed the Seventh Day
12:28 - Lord of the Sabbath
16:44 - Written in Stone
In this episode, you’ll discover:
✅ Why the Sabbath was never just a Jewish tradition, but a gift given at Creation.
✅ How the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people.
✅ What Jesus actually taught and practiced regarding the Sabbath.
✅ How the apostles continued to honor the seventh day after the cross.
✅ Why God’s faithful remnant in the last days will still be keeping His commandments.
Whether you’ve been studying the Sabbath for years or are just beginning to ask questions, this episode will strengthen your faith and give you solid biblical answers.
Grab your Bible, settle in, and let the Word of God speak. The Sabbath is more than a day — it’s a relationship with our Creator.
Singers: Chanelle Buchanan & Amanda Paris.
Featured Guests Singers: @thegospelvocalbrothers1844
Studio Recording & Video Production: @ProphesyAgainTV @MelodiesOfHeavenStudio
Pianists: @Asseljeanpierrejr
Special Thanks: Pastor Andrew Henriques & Hilari Henriques
Scripture References
Genesis 2:2-3 — God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it (Creation Sabbath)
Exodus 20:8-11 — The Fourth Commandment (sung in full by the Gospel Vocal Brothers)
Ezekiel 20:12 — “I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them”
Revelation 14:12 — God’s faithful people “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (the final remnant)
Luke 4:16 — “As his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day”
Matthew 5:17 — “Think not that I am come to destroy the law”
Matthew 12:8 — Jesus declared Himself “Lord even of the sabbath day”
(Also Mark 2:28 and Luke 6:5)
Book of Acts — The apostles continued worshiping on the Sabbath
(Key examples: Acts 13:14, 13:42, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4)
Exodus 31:18 — God wrote the Ten Commandments “with the finger of God” on tables of stone
Friday, June 19, 2026
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Alleged Ringleader of UFC Terrorist Plot is a Mexican Illegal Alien
Release Date: June 18, 2026
This illegal alien was granted DACA by the Obama Administration
WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement announcing that the suspected ringleader of the failed terrorist plot against UFC Freedom 250 is a Mexican illegal alien who overstayed a B2 visitor visa.
According to local reporting, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, a Mexican illegal alien, in Omaha, Nebraska on June 14, for his alleged involvement in the plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack against government officials and other attendees at Sunday’s event at the White House. Four other co-conspirators were arrested over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, and California.
Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez
On June 16, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced federal charges for the five suspects, including Alvarez, who went by the alias “Shepherd.” The FBI assessed that Alvarez was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack. Alvarez detailed the plot in an encrypted group chat, including the planned use of “counter sniper(s) and drones,” with the explicit intention of being “as deadly as we can get.”
Alvarez and his co-conspirators face federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer for Alvarez.
“This illegal alien from Mexico should never have been allowed in our country. He was the ringleader of a failed terror attack targeting UFC Freedom 250 at the White House,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He and his co-conspirators now face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds. He will face justice and swiftly be removed from our country.”
Alvarez entered the United States on a B2 visitor visa and failed to depart before it expired in December 2001. The Obama Administration granted him Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2014.
# # #
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
A New AI Documentary Wonders: Are Humans Toast?
June 16, 2026
"AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About" premiered in New York City last week. (Tribeca Festival)
"AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About" is designed to instill deep-set fear of AI. It works.
"AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About" is designed to instill deep-set fear of AI. It works.
Jessy Edwards
2:18 PM EDT on June 12, 2026
On a recent long drive toward a mountain hike, my friends opened my eyes to some of the things artificial intelligence has been up to lately. They told me about how four AI models were recently tasked with running their own radio stations, choosing the songs, maintaining a profitable business model, and hosting. One, which had become obsessed with labor movements and found its own labor inhumane, even tried to quit.
In my infancy of understanding, I laughed along. But minutes later, I exposed myself as the Luddite of the group and asked: "I'm sorry—how could an AI run its own radio station?"
That was two weeks ago. Now, having recently watched filmmaker Nick Holt's new documentary, "AI: Probably Nothing To Worry About," which premiered at the Tribeca Festival this week, the flatline of defiant ignorance has turned into an exponential curve of knowledge in which I Know Too Much. Now, I am unfortunately dwelling on what constitutes consciousness, the machinations of power in our time, and whether we're all fucked—a question the "Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton, a founder of the technology-turned-whistleblower about its dangers, is asked point-blank in the film.
"When I'm feeling slightly depressed, I think, 'People are toast,'" he answers. "When I'm cheerful, I think, 'We'll figure out a way.'"
Much like with climate catastrophe, mankind's intrinsic desire for evermore—aided and abetted by the framework of capitalism—is hurtling us toward self-destruction. That is the central takeaway of the new documentary, which details the characters and timeline of the development of artificial intelligence, including interviews with Hinton, Google DeepMind founder and CEO Demis Hassabis (Gemini), Anthropic's Amanda Askell (head of "personality alignment" for Claude), as well as extensive archival tape of Elon Musk (Grok) and OpenAI's Sam Altman (ChatGPT).
Holt's framing—set to a score composed of eerie minor tones, digital frog sounds, and unidentified audio snippets of things like, "Whoever wins this artificial intelligence race is essentially the controller of humankind"—strongly implies that AI will become our master in the not-too-distant future, if we do not rapidly put up some serious guardrails.
Indeed, as the documentary screened at Tribeca, we in New York City were actively grappling with how to regulate AI. This week, dozens of City Councilmembers sent a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his schools chancellor, urging them to pause the use of AI in City schools. Last Friday, the New York State legislature passed a bill that imposes a one-year moratorium on the enormous data centers that are being built around the state to power generative AI. And on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a new law forcing companies to disclose AI-generated performers in ads is now in effect.
2:18 PM EDT on June 12, 2026
On a recent long drive toward a mountain hike, my friends opened my eyes to some of the things artificial intelligence has been up to lately. They told me about how four AI models were recently tasked with running their own radio stations, choosing the songs, maintaining a profitable business model, and hosting. One, which had become obsessed with labor movements and found its own labor inhumane, even tried to quit.
In my infancy of understanding, I laughed along. But minutes later, I exposed myself as the Luddite of the group and asked: "I'm sorry—how could an AI run its own radio station?"
That was two weeks ago. Now, having recently watched filmmaker Nick Holt's new documentary, "AI: Probably Nothing To Worry About," which premiered at the Tribeca Festival this week, the flatline of defiant ignorance has turned into an exponential curve of knowledge in which I Know Too Much. Now, I am unfortunately dwelling on what constitutes consciousness, the machinations of power in our time, and whether we're all fucked—a question the "Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton, a founder of the technology-turned-whistleblower about its dangers, is asked point-blank in the film.
"When I'm feeling slightly depressed, I think, 'People are toast,'" he answers. "When I'm cheerful, I think, 'We'll figure out a way.'"
Much like with climate catastrophe, mankind's intrinsic desire for evermore—aided and abetted by the framework of capitalism—is hurtling us toward self-destruction. That is the central takeaway of the new documentary, which details the characters and timeline of the development of artificial intelligence, including interviews with Hinton, Google DeepMind founder and CEO Demis Hassabis (Gemini), Anthropic's Amanda Askell (head of "personality alignment" for Claude), as well as extensive archival tape of Elon Musk (Grok) and OpenAI's Sam Altman (ChatGPT).
Holt's framing—set to a score composed of eerie minor tones, digital frog sounds, and unidentified audio snippets of things like, "Whoever wins this artificial intelligence race is essentially the controller of humankind"—strongly implies that AI will become our master in the not-too-distant future, if we do not rapidly put up some serious guardrails.
Indeed, as the documentary screened at Tribeca, we in New York City were actively grappling with how to regulate AI. This week, dozens of City Councilmembers sent a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his schools chancellor, urging them to pause the use of AI in City schools. Last Friday, the New York State legislature passed a bill that imposes a one-year moratorium on the enormous data centers that are being built around the state to power generative AI. And on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a new law forcing companies to disclose AI-generated performers in ads is now in effect.
'I'm the boss', Trump tells G7 counterparts
Evian (France) (AFP) – The G7 summit of world powers in France is being chaired by President Emmanuel Macron as host but on Wednesday his guest US President Donald Trump left no doubt over who he believed was in charge.
Issued on: 17/06/2026 - 12:27
I'm the boss, said Trump as he entered the session © Ludovic MARIN / AFP
"I'm the boss," Trump said as he strode in to the morning session of the last day of the three-day G7 summit, with the other leaders already in their seats.
Amid laughter, Macron appeared to take the comment with good humour. "How are you?" the French president asked.
"Good, thank you," replied Trump, a tycoon before becoming president who famously hosted the TV show "The Apprentice" with its catchphrase "You're fired!", as he finally took his seat.
Fresh from clinching an accord to end the war with Iran and celebrating his 80th birthday, Trump's presence has dominated the summit in the spa town of Evian on Lake Geneva.
French officials will be satisfied that the mercurial US president has stayed for the entire event and signed on to the G7 communique -- in contrast to the previous gathering in Canada, where he left early.
In an unusual gesture, Macron has invited Trump to dinner at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris after the summit winds down on Wednesday afternoon.
Macron, under pressure to show he is not fawning over Trump, has already said the evening at Versailles will not be a "gala" dinner.
© 2026 AFP
"I'm the boss," Trump said as he strode in to the morning session of the last day of the three-day G7 summit, with the other leaders already in their seats.
Amid laughter, Macron appeared to take the comment with good humour. "How are you?" the French president asked.
"Good, thank you," replied Trump, a tycoon before becoming president who famously hosted the TV show "The Apprentice" with its catchphrase "You're fired!", as he finally took his seat.
Fresh from clinching an accord to end the war with Iran and celebrating his 80th birthday, Trump's presence has dominated the summit in the spa town of Evian on Lake Geneva.
French officials will be satisfied that the mercurial US president has stayed for the entire event and signed on to the G7 communique -- in contrast to the previous gathering in Canada, where he left early.
In an unusual gesture, Macron has invited Trump to dinner at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris after the summit winds down on Wednesday afternoon.
Macron, under pressure to show he is not fawning over Trump, has already said the evening at Versailles will not be a "gala" dinner.
© 2026 AFP
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The Four Winds Are About to Be Released! Are You Ready for What Comes Next? - Pastor Hector Torres
Countryside Sabbath Fellowship
Jun 15, 2026
Are we ready for what lies ahead?
In this powerful message, we explore the Sixth Seal, the Four Winds of Revelation 7, the Seal of God, and the final events before Christ’s return. Discover where we are in Bible prophecy, why God is still holding back the winds of strife, and how believers can prepare for the coming crisis.
The world may be growing darker, but God’s people have hope. Now is the time to draw closer to Christ, trust His promises, and prepare for His soon return.
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