September 1, 2026

00 First Filter

Irish councilor proposes tiny statue of mosquito blamed for killing invader Oliver Cromwell– boingboing.net

pgnewser May 27, 2026 0

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A Green Party councillor in Cork wants the Irish city to honor the mosquito blamed for killing Oliver Cromwell, the English Lord Protector whose conquest of Ireland made him a reviled figure there. Oliver Moran tabled the motion at a Cork City Council meeting on May 12, proposing what he describes as the world’s smallest public statue, to be mounted on an empty plinth outside City Hall.

The motion reads:

STATUE TO THE MOSQUITO OR MIDGE THAT BIT OLIVER CROMWELL

‘That Cork City Council will erect a statue to the mosquito or midge that bit Oliver Cromwell during his siege of the city, later causing his death through ‘Cork fever’ (malaria); and that this statue shall be the ‘world’s smallest public statue’.’

Syria Refuses To Take Back 700,000 Syrians From Germany: “They Are A Strategic Resource”– gellerreport.com

pgnewser May 27, 2026 0

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Syria has rejected Germany’s plan to return over 700,000 Syrian refugees to their home country.

“We categorically reject any attempts at forced deportation,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

He added that Syrians in Germany are a “strategic resource” rather than a burden.
Huge rise in violent crime in Germany — nearly half committed by non-German: Syrians show a crime rate approximately 16 times higher than that of German citizens, with Afghan nationals at around 14 times higher.

Syria rejects German deportation calls, says diaspora ‘strategic asset’

Squeezing Capacity from Multimodal Large Language Models for Subject-driven Generation– arxiv.org

pgnewser May 27, 2026 0

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Abstract: Subject-driven image generation aims to synthesize new images that preserve the identity of the given subject while following textual instructions. Existing approaches often encode text and reference images separately. This limits cross-modal reasoning abilities and causes copy-paste artifacts. Recent frameworks that connect multimodal models and diffusion models improve instruction following, but largely overlook identity preservation. To address these limitations, we condition diffusion models on Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs) that jointly encode text and reference images, and augment it with VAE-based identity conditioning. A novel Dual Layer Aggregation (DLA) module is designed to aggregate multi-level MLLM features for optimal conditioning, and a multi-stage denoising strategy is applied to progressively balance the semantic information from MLLM and fine-detail identity from VAE during inference.

Israel attacks Hamas leader in Gaza airstrike after one week on the job– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Israel targeted the new leader of Hamas’s military wing in a Gaza airstrike late Tuesday after he filled his late predecessor’s shoes about one week ago.

Mohammed Odeh was attacked, but Israeli officials did not say if he was killed. A statement from the prime minister’s office said he was “struck.” Typically, the Israeli military says a target was “eliminated” if they died from a strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the operation.

Odeh replaced Ezzedine al Haddad, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza less than two weeks ago. Odeh led Hamas’s intelligence staff during the massacre and abduction of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israel.

Leftists Plan Striptease Event To Raise Money For Convicted Antifa Terrorists– dailycaller.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Leftists are planning an Oregon “strip club” event to raise money for a group supporting convicted members of an Antifa terrorist cell in Texas.

The Williamette Valley Abolition Project will host a May 31 “Sluts 4 Prairieland Defendants” event in Eugene for the sixteen people convicted over a July 2025 shooting at the federal government’s Prairieland Detention Facility for migrants, according to a Friday Instagram announcement. Seven defendants pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses for aiding the Antifa-aligned group that carried out the attack, while jurors convicted nine others of terrorism, attempted murder and other offenses in March.

By Sabotaging Redistricting, SC GOPers Beg Voters To Fire Them– thefederalist.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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If you were looking for a pathetic excuse for what qualifies as a “statesman” these days, look no further than the so-called “red state” of South Carolina.

In complete defiance of their voters’ wishes, a cabal of Republican state senators sided with Democrats on Tuesday in tanking a proposal that sought to redistrict South Carolina’s lone Democrat congressional seat ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Democrat seat is currently held by longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, a former member of the U.S. House Democrats’ leadership team.

Deaths reported after chemical tank implodes at pulp and paper mill in Washington state– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Deaths and injuries have been confirmed following the implosion of a chemical tank at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state on Tuesday, local authorities and company officials said.

In a joint statement, Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. and local law enforcement said the tank’s rupture caused “multiple critical injuries” as well as fatalities, but specific numbers were not given. There are also some individuals who are unaccounted for, officials said at a news conference.

“The scene remains in the recovery phase as emergency responders continue operations,” Longview Fire Department said in a statement on social media. “No identifying information regarding injured or deceased individuals will be released at this time pending notification of family members.”

Maine Dem Scrambles to Do Damage Control After Slamming Graham Platner’s Nazi Tattoos– townhall.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Maine Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss isn’t a fan of Graham Platner, his party’s presumptive Democratic nominee to face off against Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. He finds his Nazi tattoos disqualifying. It’s sad we even have to say that—I mean, no kidding, my dude. Yet, here we are. Less than 24 hours after saying that during an interview on CNN, he’s kowtowing to the Fuhrer—I mean, Platner’s camp.

 

Vicki Schmidt is a Pro-Abortion Republican Who Shouldn’t be Kansas Governor– www.lifenews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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As pro-life Kansans wrap up Memorial Day weekend, we want to make you aware of an important issue ahead of the June 1 candidate filing deadline in Kansas.

Kansans for Life Political Action Committee (KFL PAC) has been outspoken in its opposition to Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt’s campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor.

Simply put, Vicki Schmidt’s record on life may be the worst record of any candidate ever to seek statewide office in Kansas. 

During her time in the Kansas Senate from 2004 through 2018, Vicki Schmidt repeatedly opposed some of the most common-sense pro-life legislation ever considered in Kansas.

Christian schools say religious education could be hurt by new student loan rules– www.lifesitenews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) – A new U.S. Department of Education (DOE) rule aimed at curbing “useless” degree programs that leave students high in debt but short on career prospects could have unintended consequences for religious education, several leaders of Christian colleges are warning.

Tucked within President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging One Big Beautiful Bill Act (BBB) last year was a so-called “do no harm” standard for federal student loan eligibility, which would require eligible degree programs to yield higher earnings for graduates than those without the degree. Last October, American University estimated that only about 1.8% of overall students were in programs likely to be negatively impacted by the change.

On April 20, DOE published regulations implementing the new rule by “replacing the former debt-to-earnings (‘D/E’) metric with a revised earnings premium measure, expanding transparency, and strengthening institutional compliance standards.” A “revised version of the earnings premium measure would apply to both GE [gainful employment] and non-GE programs; those failing the earnings premium measure in two of three consecutive years would lose Direct Loan eligibility, though limited extensions may be granted when an orderly program closure […] is in students’ best interest.”

 

FINAL POLL: Ken Paxton Opens Clear Lead Over John Cornyn In Texas Senate Runoff– wltreport.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

FINAL POLL: Ken Paxton Opens Clear Lead Over John Cornyn In Texas Senate Runoff– wltreport.com
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The last major poll before Tuesday’s Texas Republican Senate runoff shows Ken Paxton with a clear lead over Sen. John Cornyn.

The Quantus Insights survey, conducted May 21-23 among 1,018 likely GOP runoff voters, puts Paxton at 52.7% and Cornyn at 43.4%, with 3.9% still undecided.

The effective sample size was 936, with a weighted margin of error of roughly 3.5 points.

That nine-point gap is remarkable given where this race started.

Doctors may soon be able to check your red blood cells by filming your eyeball– www.livescience.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

Major University Faces Trump Admin Lawsuit: ‘Hostile Educational Environment’– townhall.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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The Department of Justice is suing the University of California system over alleged antisemitism against students following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The UCLA-focused lawsuit is serving as a follow-up legal action to a complaint over the treatment of Israeli and Jewish staff at the university.

“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students,” Dhillon added.

Veterans group to raise money for Freedom Convoy leader’s lawsuit against Canadian government– www.lifesitenews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Canadian veterans’ group opposed to government overreach, Veterans4Freedom, will be putting its support behind and helping to raise funds for Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich’s legal battle against federal authorities who had her jailed for months. 

In a recent announcement on X, Lich said she was “humbled and honoured to announce that our good friends at @Vets4FreeCanada have offered to help raise funds for my malicious prosecution and negligent investigation case.”

Lich noted that all profits from “V4F-specific merchandise will be given to Tamara Lich for her malicious prosecution lawsuit.”

“V4F will collect funds through their merch sales and forward whatever they raise directly to my legal team.Thank you Veterans4Freedom!”

Spencer Pratt Accuses Karen Bass Of Violating Election Law– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt filed a formal complaint Tuesday accusing Mayor Karen Bass of illegal electioneering near a ballot drop box during early voting, escalating the fight ahead of the June primary.

The complaint, sent to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office, claims Bass campaigned within restricted distance of a voting location while encouraging supporters to cast ballots early. Pratt’s campaign says the alleged violations were “clear, repeated, and publicly documented” in social media footage.

Attorney Peter McNulty, representing Pratt’s campaign, alleged Bass appeared in videos “soliciting votes” and “holding signs asking voters to vote for her” near a polling place and ballot drop box. The letter argues the conduct violated electioneering restrictions that bar campaigning within 100 feet of voting locations.

Trump Convenes Rare Camp David Cabinet Meeting as Iran Negotiations Reach Critical Juncture– slaynews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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President Donald Trump will convene a rare Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Wednesday as negotiations with Iran enter what could be a decisive phase, with diplomacy continuing alongside renewed military tensions in the Middle East.

All Cabinet members are expected to attend the gathering, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, according to reports first published by the New York Post.

The meeting comes as the administration weighs its next steps in negotiations aimed at securing a broader agreement with Tehran while preserving a fragile ceasefire that has faced increasing strain in recent days.

Paramount, pushing to buy Warner Bros., girds for legal challenges– www.latimes.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Is Paramount making a Tony Soprano move?

David Ellison’s media company appears to be girding for a big battle with California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and fellow state attorneys general who may team up to file a lawsuit aiming to block Paramount’s proposed $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Last week, Paramount hired powerhouse antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler to help defend its proposed takeover of Warner, which owns CNN, TBS, HBO and the prestigious Burbank film and television studios.

Kessler — co-executive chairman of Winston & Strawn in New York — is one of the nation’s top antitrust lawyers. He most recently led the state attorneys’ case against concert promoter and ticketing firm Live Nation, resulting in a monumental win for the states, including California.

California Dem Gov. Candidate Tom Steyer Defends High School Trans Athletes– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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During a recent appearance on the Jennifer Welch podcast, Tom Steyer, a billionaire Democrat running for governor of California, said that he is ‘totally’ in favor of trans athletes in high school.

I have been saying that Democrats learned absolutely nothing from the 2024 election, and this is further proof. They have every intention of returning to the same issues they supported before losing power.

Not only does the public not support the idea of trans athletes in high school sports, but the very idea of ‘trans kids’ has been soundly rejected.

Nancy Mace Accuses Ilhan Omar of ‘Foreign Allegiance’ amid Push to Ban Foreign-Born Lawmakers from Congress– slaynews.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is escalating her criticism of foreign-born members of Congress, accusing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of having a “foreign allegiance” and arguing that elected officials with loyalties to other nations should not be serving in the federal government.

The South Carolina Republican made the remarks while defending a constitutional amendment she recently introduced that would require members of Congress, federal judges, and certain executive branch appointees to be natural-born U.S. citizens.

Democrats’ Official X Account Forced to Delete Horribly Disrespectful Memorial Day Post– www.westernjournal.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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You’d hope that Memorial Day would be an occasion — perhaps one of the few occasions in modern American life — where people within our mainstream political parties would engage in the spirit of bipartisanship in the name of remembering those who gave all for our country.

Yet again, hopes were dashed. You probably won’t be surprised who happened to dash our collective yearning for at least momentary unity, at least if you can read a headline.

However, it doesn’t just bear mentioning that the Democrats decided to use Memorial Day as a cudgel against President Donald Trump’s administration. Instead, we need to note how abhorrently that cudgel was wielded and how the party basically ghosted everyone after the backlash, pretending that it never happened and giving everyone a pro forma post saying how they “remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

House Oversight Committee Launches Probe into California’s $189 Million ‘Porn For Prisoners’ Tablet Program › American Greatness– amgreatness.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has launched an investigation into the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) prisoner digital tablet program that allegedly allows inmates to watch porn, have explicit video chats, and exploit women and minors on the outside.

City Journal broke the story earlier this month, reporting that the Newsom administration approved a $189 million contract to provide new tablets to every inmate in the state prison system.

According to the shocking report, the program distributed tablet computers to nearly all California prisoners by mid-2023.

Democrat Endorses Susan Collins In Maine Senate Race– crooksandliars.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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No, Jake Auchincloss did not mouth the words “I support Susan Collins and go vote for her instead,” but that’s essentially what he did yesterday with his appearance on CNN. Bad-mouthing the presumptive Democratic nominee in a Senate seat that the Democrats absolutely need to gain control of the U.S. Senate is beyond stupid. Still, it’s always worth reminding ourselves that Republicans don’t have a monopoly on stupid politicians. Almost, but not quite.

Source: Mediaite

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) trashed his party’s presumptive nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, Graham Platner, on Monday, calling the Democratic candidate’s Nazi tattoo scandal and his claims about it “personally disqualifying.”

The controversy stems from a report last year that Platner had a tattoo on his chest of a Nazi SS “Totenkopf” symbol. Platner has since covered the tattoo and denied knowingly displaying Nazi imagery, saying he got the tattoo with fellow Marines during a trip to Croatia in 2007 and did not understand its meaning at the time.

Auchincloss had previously become one of the first elected Democrats to publicly urge Platner to abandon the Senate contest against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) after the tattoo controversy surfaced.

Rethinking organizational design in the age of agentic AI– www.technologyreview.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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 As AI agents are integrated into an organization, enterprises will need to pivot from a set of linear processes and steps, to rewiring work in a very different way, explains Shah. That’s because the value in AI agents isn’t as another layer in an existing technology stack but as a connective tissue, he explains, moving between or across layers to coordinate a high-level task or retrieve and interpret data from multiple discrete applications. AI agents can create “a true competitive differentiation for an enterprise” by making decisions based on this capacity to contextualize, he says. “That is where the next battleground will be.”

To build this connective tissue, leaders need to adapt their technology stack to surface higher quality decisions from AI agents, prioritizing access to multiple datasets and applications simultaneously to develop tacit knowledge. “Organizations that make this architectural shift become genuinely more adaptive,” says Chatterjee. “When a new business requirement emerges, you don’t wait six months for a software vendor to build a feature. You configure an AI employee using natural language and connect it to the systems it needs. The time from business to production workflow drops from months to days.”

After years on the back foot, ISIS ‘on the march’ in Nigeria– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Northern Nigeria is facing an ascendant ISIS insurgency, drawing Washington into the fray.

Since the jihadist insurgency in northern Nigeria began 13 years ago, the conflict has drastically changed in scope, amid concerted counterterrorism efforts from the Nigerian government, countless jihadist ideological splits, and international interventions. The 2020s began with ISIS and other terrorist groups on the back foot, but a change in tactics and fortunes has sent them back on the offensive in the last couple of years, turning the country into one of the foremost fronts in the Global War on Terror.

Alexander Palmer, a fellow in the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Washington Examiner that ISIS in Nigeria is “on the march, they are increasingly active, and they’re increasingly threatening military targets,” with a large-scale military campaign ISIS calls “Camp Holocaust.”

Platner Embarrasses Himself at Bernie Rally, Gets Blasted by Fellow Democrat – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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Dems dug themselves a big hole with their presumptive candidate for Senate in Maine, and he proved that again during his rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Monday.

Sanders was all in, supporting Platner at the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Portland, Maine.

“The last time, well, before last night, I shared a state with Senator Standers, it was here in Portland, 13 days after we had launched this campaign. It felt surreal then, and to tell you the truth, it still feels as surreal today.”

U.S. says it carried out strikes in southern Iran, including on missile sites – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser May 26, 2026 0

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The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely.”

The strikes were done “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” but the military was “using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, the spokesman for the U.S. military’s Central Command, said in a statement.

Further details were not immediately available, including more specifics on the threats from Iran and what this means for negotiations. There was no official response from Iran, which had sent its parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf to Qatar for negotiations over the possible deal with the U.S.