August 31, 2026

00 First Filter

Vladimir Putin haemorrhaging money over payouts to Ukraine war dead reach £47bn | World | News– www.express.co.uk

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine recently reached a major milestone in that it has now been going on for longer than World War 1. The war has taken a toll on both Ukraine and Russia with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians dead and billions of pounds worth of buildings destroyed.

However, after Donald Trump took a warmer approach to relations with Russia, it looked like Ukraine might be forced towards a humiliating peace deal.

That has not happened. While there is no sign as yet of Putin looking like he will sue for peace, there is another financial factor to consider. The financial cost to Putin of the soldiers who are dying fighting for Russia, something that is costing his economy billions of pounds.

House Democrats launch effort to impeach Secretary Linda McMahon for downsizing Education Department– www.thecollegefix.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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A Democratic representative from Oregon, backed by numerous fellow lawmakers in the House, has filed articles of impeachment against Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon, alleging she is illegally dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici introduced the resolution last Thursday, arguing “I introduced an impeachment resolution because Secretary McMahon has made it her mission to close down the Department of Education, something she does not have the right to do.”

The legislation is cosponsored by 16 fellow Democrats, according to a news release from Bonamici’s office.

Susan Collins Keeps Edge over Democrat Graham Platner in Maine– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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A Fox News poll published Tuesday shows the 2026 Maine Senate race remains tight, with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins holding a narrow lead over Democrat Graham Platner.

The poll shows that among registered voters, Collins receives 50 percent support to Platner’s 47 percent. The race shifts among the most engaged voters. Platner leads Collins 53 percent to 44 percent among those who say they are extremely motivated to vote, fueled by higher enthusiasm among Democrats.

About 76 percent of Democrats say they are highly motivated to vote, compared to 61 percent of Republicans. The poll also found voters have concerns about both candidates, but worries about Platner run deeper. Roughly one-third of independents said they are extremely concerned about Platner’s judgment, while 30 percent said the same about Collins having served too long.

House GOP agenda stalls over holdouts’ insistence on SAVE America Act– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Washington — Republican hardliners continue to hold up most legislation on the House floor as they dig in on their demands for the Senate to pass President Trump’s voting regulations bill, the SAVE America Act.

On Tuesday, the holdouts blocked Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to merge the SAVE America Act with the annual defense policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, before sending it over to the Senate. The conservative members sank a party-line procedural vote that would have set up final votes for the defense bill and other legislation.

Fourteen Republicans, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, voted against moving forward. Scalise, from Louisiana, switched his vote in a procedural move so that leadership can bring up the measure again.

Is Iran facing a new internal front? Kurdish clashes test regime amid US talks– www.foxnews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is facing a new round of violence in the country’s Kurdish-majority west, raising questions about whether a long-simmering Kurdish insurgency is entering a more active phase as fragile talks between Iran and Washington continue, experts say.

The flare-up matters beyond Iran’s borderlands because Kurdish opposition groups were recently viewed as a potential pressure point against Iran during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran — and now some Kurdish voices fear they could be left exposed as Washington and Tehran return to fragile diplomacy.

In recent days, Iranian security forces have been killed in several reported attacks and clashes across western and northwestern Iran. Four Iranian security personnel reportedly were killed and several others injured in two separate armed attacks Tuesday, reported The Jerusalem Post, in an analysis by Seth J. Frantzman, citing Iraq’s Shafaq News.

SCOTUS Lets Hold On Trump’s Library Of Congress Firing Continue– thefederalist.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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The U.S. Supreme Court declined to stop a lower court’s order blocking President Trump from removing a leading Library of Congress official on Tuesday.

The announcement came in the high court’s latest order list, in which the justices denied the Trump administration’s application to stay (“pause”) a September ruling by a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. That decision sought to block the government from firing Shira Perlmutter, who led the U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress until her termination in May.

As The Federalist previously reported, “Perlmutter’s dismissal came shortly after Trump removed Obama-appointed Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress. Hayden has been replaced by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is filling the position on an ‘acting’ basis.”

The justices did not provide a reason for the decision. They did, however, note that the denial of the administration’s request “is not a ruling on the merits of the legal issues presented in the litigation.”

House votes to disclose which members settled sexual misconduct allegations with taxpayer funds– www.politico.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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The House approved a measure Tuesday compelling the public release of records showing which House members have used taxpayer dollars to settle sexual misconduct charges levied against them and how much money was spent.

The resolution, offered by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), directs the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights — which also handles claims of misconduct — to produce such information within 60 days. It passed nearly unanimously, 420-0, with only Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) — an outspoken advocate for victims of sexual harassment and assault — voting present.

“We need to know what’s been going on here in the House of Representatives in order to convince the people and assure the people that we are conducting the people’s business with the utmost integrity and treating the officers and employees of this institution with the respect that they deserve,” said Massie, in remarks on the chamber floor imploring his colleagues to support the measure.

Massie’s effort comes after Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) were, earlier this year, forced to resign under the cloud of serious sexual misconduct allegations. The incidents forced a reckoning in the House, where members have historically struggled to show they take sexual assault allegations within their ranks seriously and to show they are prepared to root out bad behavior when necessary.

Colombian election loser threatens ‘civil disobedience’ if winner does not ditch US citizenship– abcnews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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BOGOTA, Colombia — A Colombian senator, who recently lost the nation’s presidential election, said Tuesday he will not recognize his opponent, Abelardo de la Espriella, as the nation’s new head of state, if he does not comply with several demands, including renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

In a statement issued Tuesday, progressive senator Iván Cepeda urged de la Espriella, the winner of June’s presidential runoff, to renounce his U.S. citizenship, arguing that holding it while being Colombia’s president could generate conflicts of interest.

The senator also said that de la Espriella should clarify whether he is an “agent” of the United States, because as a criminal defense lawyer he defended a former paramilitary leader who was an informant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

US lifts export controls on powerful AI models, Anthropic says– www.euronews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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The US government has lifted restrictions on powerful AI models, such as Fable 5 and Mythos 5, according to Anthropic, the AI firm behind

The company will soon begin restoring global access to its most powerful AI models, it said on Tuesday.

Posting on X, Anthropic said: “We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5,” adding, “We’ll begin restoring access tomorrow.”

Earlier this month, US authorities blocked access to the models on national security grounds.

Cuban official says talks with the US are at a standstill, announces UN debate on US oil embargo– abcnews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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HAVANA — Talks between Cuba and the U.S. are at a standstill, despite the island recently approving a series of free-market reforms, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez announced Tuesday.

He noted that the newly unveiled reforms were neither mentioned nor discussed in earlier talks between the two nations.

“The recently announced (measures) are a matter of total and absolute sovereignty,” Rodriguez said. “We have neither listened to nor are we interested in the U.S. government’s opinion on them.”

But he said it was striking that they “were met with a new package of unilateral coercive measures … against Cuba.”

Alaska Supreme Court delivers blow to Republicans, rules in favor of ‘sham candidate’– www.theblaze.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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The Alaska Supreme Court has delivered the final blow to Republicans’ efforts to keep a Senate challenger by the same name as incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) off the ballot.

In a short order handed down Monday, the court affirmed a ruling from a superior court that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. must appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot for U.S. Senate.

‘The only reason he is running is to deceive voters and manipulate Alaska’s election system.’

Putin rejects peace and pledges ‘Novorossiya’ imperium– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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President Vladimir Putin has signaled Russia’s disinterest in new peace negotiations with Ukraine. Instead, he is recharacterizing his war on Ukraine as an imperial restoration project. While he has always viewed Ukraine as a Russian limb, Putin’s rhetoric reflects his need to consolidate Russians amid a failing war effort.

Putin’s latest comments came in an interview with Kremlin propagandist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday. While Putin admitted that escalating Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure were causing fuel shortages, he insisted that these problems were limited. More air defense systems were being rapidly produced to deal with this challenge, Putin said.

US envoys met with mediators in Qatar, talks with Iran up in the air– www.france24.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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US envoys met with Qatari mediators on Tuesday in Doha to discuss negotiations with Iran, the Gulf state said, after Tehran and Washington agreed a memorandum of understanding this month to halt the Middle East war.

Iran said a team would go to Doha but contradicted US President Donald Trump‘s claim that direct talks would take place.

Qatar also said no high-level meetings or direct talks between the longtime foes were planned.

Here is what we know about the discussions.

Rescue teams in Venezuela race to save security guard trapped under building that collapsed during earthquakes– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Nearly a week after two back-to-back earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, international rescue teams, including from the U.S., are still working around the clock to save people trapped under the rubble — like 44-year-old security guard Hernan Gil Flores.

Gil Flores has been trapped under a partially collapsed 10-story building in La Guaira for six days.

“It is a very complex rescue,” Manny Sampang, a task force leader from the Los Angeles County Fire Department who is in Venezuela to help with rescue efforts, told CBS News. “I have multiple buildings leaning into that building that we are trying to rescue him from.”

Far-Left Texas Democrat James Talarico Tied with Ken Paxton in Senate Race, Shock Poll Shows– slaynews.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Far-left Texas Democrat James Talarico is tied with Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a shocking new Senate poll, raising alarms that Democrats may have a path to threaten a reliable GOP stronghold.

Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in Texas in nearly four decades.

However, a New York Times/Siena survey released Tuesday found Talarico and Paxton tied at 47 percent support among likely Texas voters.

The race is one of a handful that could determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate.

Iran is selling oil at 20% premium as U.S. blockade removal frees up sales– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 0

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Oil tankers and cargo vessels are anchored off the coast of Oman after being stranded for days as congestion at Port Sultan Qaboos has prevented them from docking on June 23, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.

Elke Scholiers | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Iran has exported more than 40 million barrels of crude oil since the U.S. removed its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and is now selling oil at prices roughly 20% higher than before the war, parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday.

The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end nearly four months of war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and set ​up 60 days of negotiations to work out a permanent peace deal. The two sides briefly traded strikes over the weekend after Iran attacked two transiting vessels.

The ceasefire prompted a surge in crude shipments through the vital waterway where traffic had largely ground to a halt during the conflict, sending oil prices sharply lower.

Trump is right to threaten tariffs over European digital tax extortion– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser July 1, 2026 1

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Often untethered to unfair foreign trade practices, President Donald Trump’s fetish for tariffs is foolish. Tariffs reduce prosperity and opportunity for the vast majority of the public in order to benefit far smaller numbers of Americans in specific industries. Still, tariffs have value when it comes to penalizing unfair economic activity by U.S. trade partners. Trump is thus right to now threaten new tariffs on the European Union and European nations over their threat to American technology companies.

In a social media post last Friday, Trump warned that European countries were discussing the “imminent” introduction of digital services taxes on U.S. technology giants. He added that any “country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the [U.S.].” While Trump’s 100% tariff rate is arbitrary, he is right to warn of robust action. Contrary to their claims of justified regulation, the European digital taxes in question serve a simple and wholly unjustified purpose: extorting American companies.

Bellwether Report – June 2026

pgnewser June 30, 2026 0

Originally published June 26, 2026 for our weekly Issue of Mindful Intelligence Advisor.  Subscribe to get weekly issues. By STAFF…

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Tools of Engagement – June 2026

pgnewser June 29, 2026 0

Originally published June 26, 2026 for our weekly Issue of Mindful Intelligence Advisor.  Subscribe to get weekly issues. By Paul…

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Starmer Steps Aside for Burnham

pgnewser June 25, 2026 1

After Andy Burnham handily won the special by-election in Makerfield, Keir Starmer took less than a week to officially announce his intention to resign as Britian’s Prime Minister. Members of his cabinet have been quick to endorse Burnham in the leaders’ race, which is looking more like a coronation at this point.

Starmer has stated no significant policy changes will be made until the new Prime Minister takes power. This puts a pause on their push to force British citizens to use digital ID every time they access the internet in the name of protecting children.

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EXCERPT:

At the No 10 lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said that Keir Starmer has agreed that there will be “no new major policy or spending commitments” before he stands down.

But this did not cover the defence investment plan (Dip), the spokesperson suggested. Starmer seems to regard this as a policy that is already more or less settled.

Describing how the civil service would operate during the transition period leading to a new PM taking over, the PM’s spokesperson said:

The cabinet secretary [Antonia Romeo] has written to heads of departments to set out the principles of how the civil service should operate during this period.

Keir Starmer remains prime minister, and so the business of government will continue as normal until he has recommended a successor to His Majesty the King.

The civil service will act as it did during similar periods in line with precedent. All ministers remain in office and may carry usual activities …

The prime minister has agreed that there will be no new major policy or spending commitments initiated during this period.

Where a process is already under way or collective agreement is in place, government business will continue.

Major Earthquake Strikes Venezuela

pgnewser June 25, 2026 1

A 7.5 Earthquake has struck Venezuela, with reports of skyscrapers collapsing and thousands feared dead and missing. The official death toll is rapidly changing. At the time of this report, it had crossed 100 dead and 1,000 injured. The U.S. has pledged aid, as have multiple nations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted in X that the United States is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”

Venezuela earthquake live: At least 164 dead as Caracas buildings crumble in 7.5 quake– www.mirror.co.uk
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Offers of help were made by various governments, including the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X that the United States is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela”.

Jeremy P Lewin, the US undersecretary of state for foreign assistance, said the State Department had mobilised a disaster assistance team and task force to organise aid in co-ordination with the interim Venezuelan government.

Ms Rodriguez said that Qatar had already sent rescuers who were expected to arrive within the next day, along with rescue personnel from Mexico and El Salvador.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, once diametrically opposed to Venezuela’s government, said in a post on X that he had offered aid. “We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” Mr Bukele wrote.

A damaged building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira State(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

 

Columbian “Trump” Wins – thebethlehem.com

pgnewser June 25, 2026 0

The Columbian Trump, Abelardo de la Espriella, has won a close election against his leftist opponent, Senator Ivan Cepeda. The victory was by less than 1%. The election is being contested, but the U.S. has already thrown its support behind the pro-U.S. de la Espriella.

Go Deeper

Scotus Rules Haitians Must Go – americanistpress.com

pgnewser June 25, 2026 0

Haitians and Syrians with Temporary Protection Status had been prevented from being deported by a lower Federal court ruling. That ruling was overturned by SCOTUS in a 6-3 decision. Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the decision, “The TPS statute plainly bars consideration of respondents’ nonconstitutional claims.”

Go Deeper

Montreal shooter’s alleged manifesto calls for far-left communist totalitarianism, ‘revolutionary terror’– www.theblaze.com

pgnewser June 25, 2026 0

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A police officer and a civilian are dead after a long-haired gunman opened fire in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood around 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday.

Some liberal media outfits have narrowly characterized the ideology espoused within the manifesto allegedly left behind by the gunman as “incel” — involuntary celibate — in nature.

‘The essential political conditions of a society in which capitalism/liberalism, and thereby, hypergamy itself, are not part of the established order of things, have mostly already been laid out by Marx, Engels, and others.’