Sometimes you come across an idea & the thought that goes through your head is “that makes sense”. That’s what happened when I came across this story.

At a time when tariffs and corporate price gouging are stealing every penny from us in retail stores. At a time where Trump’s Epstein war in Iran is causing food and gas prices to skyrocket…it’s nice to see some people actually want to put money BACK in our pocket.

It seems like such a foreign concept anymore, because usually government policy is to enrich corporations & defraud us, as much as humanly possible.

While these practices are standard operating procedure for the Republican Party, Democrats have plenty of instances in joining in as well.

So I welcome this story. We deserve policies like this. Utility corporations in particular, have been seeing enormous profits the last couple years, mostly off of energy demands of data centers. So not only has energy demand been high, but these companies have raised their rates simultaneously.

Adding in the stress that data centers put onto the grid (which aren’t designed to handle this workload), black outs will become more and more common.

Power outages are currently top-of-mind for Michiganders after nearly 300,000 households lost power last week during severe storms and tornadoes. Many residents were even without electricity for up to four days.

“We’re standing up for Michigan families who had their power out for multiple days after recent storms, and were already paying too much on their monthly utility bills. We all deserve transparency and accountability from a system we pay so much into,” said Sen. Chang, sponsor of Senate Bill 1170. “I’ve seen firsthand how our residents in Detroit and Metro Detroit are struggling amid these extended power outages, losing food and resources they barely can afford. People deserve real action and fair reimbursement for grid failures that they have no control over.”

“Power outages continue to disrupt daily life for Michiganders across the state, and our communities should not be forced to pay the price,” said Sen. Geiss, sponsor of Senate Bill 1171. “These blackouts disproportionately impact low-income and Black and Brown communities. This injustice is unacceptable, and utility companies must be held accountable to reimburse ratepayers and local governments bearing the brunt of their failures.”

This legislation would provide Michigan ratepayers with hourly payments for outages over 72 hours and outage credits for four or more outages annually. The outage credits are designed to disincentivize excessively long outages. The bills would also prevent electric utility companies from using said credits to jack up monthly rates for customers. Electric utility providers would also be required to report more detailed outage and grid data to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).

“As Michiganders face soaring energy costs for unreliable service and excessive power outages, utility companies continue to rake in record profits — and it’s well past time to hold them accountable,” said Sen. Cavanagh, sponsor of Senate Bills 1172 and 1174.

This was shared by Senatedems . com

Meanwhile, the price gouged every consumer, will be paying more for a service that is becoming more unreliable.

So yes, not only in this particular case does this make sense, but in whole it does. People SHOULD BE reimbursed when services they pay for, are no longer available. Frankly, it’s the least we can ask for.

This story, once again, seems small compared to everything going on in the world, but let me explain why I’m taking a moment to focus on it.

As we go forward in these Trump years, it seems inevitable that Democrats will eventually retake power. This is something I welcome, after watching the fascism of MAGA sweep across this country.

However, I don’t want people to fall asleep at the wheel & just accept “any” Democrat that runs for office. Now of course, if this is a general election & the choices are D vs R, of course vote D. I’m more focused on the Presidential primaries that will begin next spring (yes, that soon) & the next batch of Congressional candidates coming for the 2028 cycle.

In this next wave of primaries, it’s imperative that we choose candidates that want to “tangibly” help the American people. We deserve candidates that will fight for us. Not just by defeating a MAGA opponent in an election, but through the actions they will take after being elected.

We deserve candidates that will challenge corporations, not take money from them & insulate them from accountability.

In essence, this is the overarching theme of my newsletter. If you go back through the stories I choose to post about…

I want to draw the attention of this audience to ideas & themes of a direction I think we should be moving towards.

This has never been about just defeating MAGA, this has always been about creating a party that actually represents us.

That party won’t be making it easier for companies to steal more from us, it will be actively trying to recover what we have lost.

This story is an incredibly small example of that, and we all know that utility companies paying us a small refund for power outages isn’t good enough. And frankly, I hope that my writing so far hasn’t seemed like that’s the point I’m making.

As I wrap this up, my point is simply this….

Any policy that favors people over corporations should be welcomed, and we should continue to push for more. I’m bringing this story to you today, because I want more people to embrace candidates and policies that challenge corporations. Please don’t simply be satisfied with supporting a candidate, just because they have a D next to their name.

We deserve better & we have to demand it.

Power to the people.

Until next time,

Desmond

His numbers are cratering with basically every demographic imaginable. Just this week, audio surfaced of Texas Republican Senate Candidate Ken Paxton, lamenting how Trump’s administration was dragging down the entire Republican Party.

Of course, we’ve been talking about the upcoming backlash for months now, but it is reassuring to see how worried Republicans are. That tells me, their own internal polls are showing exactly what we thought…a huge Republican wipeout is imminent.

Independent Thought has done its best to cover the Trump regime since the beginning of 2025 & I want to thank everyone who has reading each of our posts, & sharing them with their friends/family.

A special shoutout to the paid subscribers, who help sustain this newsletter financially. All of this wouldn’t be possible without your help.

If you’d like to become a paid subscriber, support this account, and receive additional posts, like the one from yesterday, you can sign up below

Now let’s get into today’s story

Now of course, we can never rely on polls, and everyone still needs to get out there and vote, but I am encouraged by their fear.

Just this week, JD Vance went to Florida to campaign, and Donald Trump campaigned in Nebraska.

Think about that. The President & VP are campaigning in deep red states, a month before the election.

And now - we see the Democrats dumping millions of dollars into checks notes… the Mississippi senate race?

Yes, that’s correct.

Just to be clear, Democrats haven’t won a senate race in Mississippi in almost 40 years, but they’re hoping the current candidate, Scott Colom, can change that.

Yes, 40 years.

$3 million dollars in PAC money has been directed into the race, with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, asking wealthy donors to send more money into the race. As well as, Party infrastructure being layed out around the state.

While this may seem odd to people who aren’t familiar with the state, Mississippi flipping blue isn’t as far away as you would imagine. Looking back at the map in 2018 (the last blue wave election), Democrats were within single digits of winning the Mississippi Senate race.

The Democratic challenger came within 7 points of victory in that election, and all signs are pointing to 2026 being a bigger wave election than 2018.

It’s also worth noting that that margin is almost identical to the margins we’ve seen in recent cycle in Texas, and Democrats have been relentlessly pouring resources into that state, trying to finally flip it.

And as we turn back to Mississippi, let’s take a look at the primary numbers from this year.

There was only an 8,000 vote difference in the primaries, between Democrats & Republicans. If we’re taking into account the full picture here - yes, we should be investing into Mississippi.

However, it’s not just about Mississippi, the South is in play this cycle. Something we are seeing in Florida, as Angie Nixon has caught the country by storm.

For too long, the left has abandoned the South to MAGA. That has been a mistake. There’s no good reason to abandon the southern states to the Republican Party.

The margins are close in states like Mississippi & Louisiana. They just need true investment, like Georgia did, before it ultimately flipped into a true battleground state.

Will Democrats win statewide in Mississippi?

It’s personally hard for me to believe at this time, but that doesn’t mean we forgo investment. Turning Mississippi into a battleground state may take a couple cycles, but you have to start that investment now.

Investing into the South is the right move, especially in an election cycle like this.

Scott Colom is the Democrat running in state, if you can, please go support his campaign.

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Until next time,

Desmond

Well, here’s one that’s going to go in the opposite direction! Let’s talk about something more positive today.

Our newsletter continues to grow every week & it’s been amazing watching so many new people come in. I also wanted to give a special shout out to the paid subscribers, who help sustain this account. All of this wouldn’t be possible without your help.

If you’d like to become a paid subscriber, support this account, and receive additional posts, like the one from this weekend, you can sign up below

Now let’s get into today’s story

THIS is the way.

Many on the left have been saying for years - that it’s not good enough to just oppose MAGA, you have to also present a CLEAR vision for how you’ll address problems in America.

This is something I wholeheartedly agree with. The way to permanently turn the page on Republicans in power, is for the Democratic Party to aggressively address the countless issues facing working class people.

One of those issues, is the accessibility of childcare. As many people know, childcare is completely out of reach for millions of Americans. It costs thousands of dollars a month, if you can even find an availability in your community.

This has been leaving many families with impossible options. Do you stay at home to be with your kids? - but then you lose income. Maybe you leave your children with a family member while you work…but what if you don’t have a family member who can watch your children?

The current status quo of childcare in America seems to only be viable for those making “comfortable” money. Which, as we know, is not the norm for most Americans.

This situation has attempted to be addressed at the state level, but individual states have limited funds to adequately prop up these programs, and many states don’t offer programs at all.

So here steps in Congressman Ro Khanna, introducing a bill to guarantee childcare to everyone in America. A move that I could not applaud more.

The government SHOULD provide programs like this. THIS is what I want my taxes paying for…not bombs to be dropped on people in the Middle East.

Here’s a piece of what he said, when he spoke with ABC News about the plan:

"The biggest thing killing us is childcare. What this childcare proposal -- in my view -- is speaking to [is] the needs of working class families, and it's something we can deliver.

If you want to do this right, it's going to be an $80 to $90 billion price tag. That's what it takes to make childcare free. That's what it takes to pay people well, and that's what it's going to take to make it flexible.

It should be value neutral between staying at home, going to a childcare center, or having friends or family, and that is maximizing the choice

Childcare is one of those things that didn't have the same exorbitant cost, and if we can fix that issue, provide people with childcare, you’re going to give more Americans the shot to have economic security in a modern economy, and that’s the whole point of economic patriotism: that people should be able to have economic independence in today's economy.”

The Free Child Care for America Act would run nearly $1 trillion, over the course of 10 years.

While that is a huge price tag, it is less than the Department of Defense spends in 1 year. Yes, they spend more than that every single year. Every year.

So does that price tag change my mind - not in the slightest.

I want my taxes invested into making the country easy to live in, easier to survive in, easier to thrive in. I’m tired of our taxes just going to billionaire subsidies & endless wars.

That’s our money & it should be used to improve our lives, not feed the endless greed of the billionaire class.

One final note about this…

Congressman Ro Khanna (in my opinion) is obviously positioning himself for a Presidential run in 2028.

I like Ro Khanna a lot, & I look forward to seeing in begin his run for 2028, but if doesn’t get the nomination, I hope he challenges Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.

I would love nothing more, than to have a Rep like Ro Khanna, leading the Democrats in Congress. That would be the change in leadership that we deserve & desperately need right now.

What are your thoughts? Please comment below

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Until next time,

Desmond

Our newsletter continues to grow every week & it’s been amazing watching so many new people come in. I also wanted to give a special shout out to the paid subscribers, who help sustain this account. All of this wouldn’t be possible without your help.

If you’d like to become a paid subscriber, support this account, and receive additional posts, like the one from yesterday, you can sign up below

Now let’s get into today’s story

NYC parks commission announced they’ve planted 18,261 trees in fiscal year 2026. That’s the most in a single fiscal year since 2016. NYC parks is accelerating tree planting across the city with the goal to reach 30% canopy coverage by 2040.

The majority of the City’s new trees were planted in neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said this about the move to plant more trees across the city:

“Our administration is building a city where every neighborhood can find cool shade on a hot day, breathe clean air and enjoy the beauty of a healthy tree canopy. Access to green space and relief from extreme heat should not depend on your ZIP code. Planting more trees, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most, will help make our city cooler, healthier and more beautiful for all New Yorkers.”

NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said “New Yorkers rely on our trees to provide vital shade, and with climate change leading to more frequent, intense heat, the need is more prevalent than ever. Our team of expert foresters and arborists is putting NYC Parks at the cutting edge of urban forestry, helping us plant smarter and target the neighborhoods that need shade and relief from extreme heat the most. This record-breaking year shows NYC Parks is facing the challenge of climate resiliency head on, keeping New York livable and prepared across every borough.”

Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung said “Every New Yorker, no matter their ZIP code, deserves access to the critical benefits trees provide. With the Urban Forest Plan as our roadmap, NYC is planting more trees, especially in the neighborhoods that need more shade and tree canopy the most, for a healthier and more resilient New York.”

I know it seems like a small thing, comparatively to everything else going on in the news cycle right now, but these are the little things that really add up over time.

Addressing climate change has to take on many forms. While it’s not a giant fix, these are some of the ways local governments can make an impact. Not every action taken to address the climate crisis has to be a massive undertaking.

This is something we can all take to our local governments. In a way, we’re all looking for some answer for how we can help out. I believe small actions like this compounded across the country can have a substantial impact.

And in a time where our federal government has left us feeling powerless, this is a small area where we can take some power back. Asking our local governments to increase tree planting in our communities & taking some action ourselves where we can.

Not just in this story, but in many others too, Zohran Mamdani & his administration have shown us what local government can do, when they actually want to be effective.

While I don’t live in NYC, I’m constantly looking to the example of Mamdani, knowing what local government CAN look like, & now knowing what to ask of my own local government.

That’s it for today. We’re going to keep this one nice & short.

There will be plenty of gross headlines to cover in the future, but today we take a step back & let positivity have its day.

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See you all next time,

Desmond

It should go as no surprise to most of you that Donald Trump has been using his position of power to enrich himself over the last year and a half.

If you’re tired of the corruption of the Trump regime, you’re in the right place.

If this is your first time here, welcome. I hope you’ll subscribe to our newsletter

If you’re already a subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber, to help sustain this newsletter

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After spending years declaring he would “drain the swamp”, and his multiple attacks on the Biden administration, calling them the “Biden crime family”, you would think anti-corruption would be a staple of Trump’s administration…

But we know this is nothing more than propaganda he feeds his base to redirect eyes away from himself.

New details show that Donald Trump and his family have been making a RIDICULOUS amount of money since retaking office in January 2025.

Here’s what we’ve learned:

Read more

As we make the final approach to the midterms this November, I know most of us are trying to think of how we can do more to take back Congress from Donald Trump’s regime.

I strongly suspect that the House of Representatives will flip back to the Democrats this cycle, so I personally want to focus more energy onto the Senate.

Plenty of seats are up for grabs & I think these are the candidates most likely to defeat their MAGA opponents in November.

If you can, please donate to them, sign up to phone back, canvass, or volunteer in some capacity. We have a real chance to take back power from MAGA & we must organize to take it.

The following list is in order of candidates I feel are most likely to win - to the least likely, but still have a realistic shot, depending on turnout. For this list we are excluding what you would consider “safe” blue seats.

1. Jon Ossoff - Georgia

2. Roy Cooper - North Carolina

3. Chris Pappas - New Hampshire

4. Abdul El-Sayed - Michigan

5. Troy Jackson - Maine

6. Mary Peltola - Alaska

7. Sherrod Brown - Ohio

8. James Talarico - Texas

9. Josh Turek - Iowa

10. Angie Nixon - Florida

As I was filling out this list, Substack warned me that my “file was becoming too large”, so I’m just going to text out the remaining candidates.

11. Adam Hamilton - Kansas

12. Dan Osborn - Nebraska

13. Todd Achilles - Idaho

14. Scott Colom - Mississippi

Again, I’ve ranked these in the order I believe are the most likely, to the least likely to win…but I do believe ALL of these candidates can win in November.

I’ll be going into a deeper explanation as to why I think each candidate can win in my next paid subscriber post.

So if you’re not a paid subscriber, please sign up below, so you don’t miss that post.

Subscribe now

Huge thanks to everyone who has been sharing our recent notes, getting involved in group chat discussions, and sharing this content.

On a personal note, I’m sorry for being a little less active on this platform over the last month or so. Truth be told, I’ve been dealing with an ongoing health issue, so it’s been hard to manage my platform while also dealing with that.

Thank you for sticking with this newsletter through that absence & supporting Independent Thought.

More to come soon.

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Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing this post lately, we need more eyes on these files! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

First and foremost * CONTENT WARNING * this is a graphic depiction below

When I first came across this story, I almost didn’t read it. We have sooooo many awful things happening simultaneously in this country right now, sometimes it feels like you can’t take in anymore.

However, I knew it was important to share this information. Not only because of the importance of the subject matter, but also because I haven’t seen this reporting pop up anywhere else yet.

I’ll post the link to the full article below this snippet, but here’s a few details I saw from ARS Technica, who reported on this yesterday:

xAI has now been accused of training Grok on child sex abuse materials (CSAM), as regulators and courts continue to probe how far the problem goes, and some Grok users have been arrested.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday, a plaintiff known as Jane Doe explained that she was preschool-age in the early 2000s when adult men repeatedly raped her to create CSAM to sell to pedophiles online. Since then, Doe’s images have been hashed by groups like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP).

Now, Doe fears that xAI has not only made it easier to make more violative images of the most distressing time in her life, but also that xAI allegedly has stored the images that Grok generates and uses those outputs to further train Grok.

“Because Grok’s terms treat public X posts and Grok’s own outputs as training data by default, publicly posting an image does not just expose it to viewers, but also feeds [it] directly into the pipeline xAI uses to train and improve its model and thereby generate further images,” Doe’s complaint said.

The lawsuit further noted that while xAI filters out violent content in Grok outputs to exclude it from training data, xAI’s terms notably do not specify if CSAM, non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), or NSFW material are “excluded categories.”

Read the full article - https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/elon-musks-xai-used-child-porn-to-train-grok-models-lawsuit-says/

I highly recommend you go and check out the full details in that article. I also want to shoutout this account on X, it’s called “GOP Ls”, it was the only place I’ve seen post this info so far, and the account overall is a good follow

My heart is heavy reading this & thinking about Jane Doe. To not only experience what she went through, but to now have to experience it all over again is something I don’t even know how to put into words.

In no sane society would this be legal, and yet, in Trump’s America, these events keep piling up. Just yesterday we saw the news that a federal appeals court judge ruled that the First Amendment protects an individual’s right to privately possess images or videos of child sexual abuse created using AI.

We’ve talked a lot the last couple years about policies we would like to see enacted, & I know that list keeps getting longer and longer, but this has to be added to the list.

AI should never have images like these fed into its systems, or be generating them in anyway.

The fact that we even have to have this conversation is already atrocious enough as it is, but here we are. We’re once again forced to ask our politicians for what should’ve been a given.

Furthermore, Elon Musk should be in prison. Between this, information he siphoned from the Treasury under DOGE, the DOGE cuts themselves, potential election interference, bribing people to vote in Wisconsin last year…

Elon Musk should be behind bars.

I’m disgusted reading this story. I’m sorry to share it with all of you, but this is information that more people need to be aware of.

Here’s your action item - ask your reps & candidates running for office, to campaign on banning AI from taking in these images or generating them at all.

If you’d like to support our work with a one-time donation, you can do so here ⬇️ https://buymeacoffee.com/independentthought

Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

According to a Gallup poll put out in May, 71% of Americans are against data centers being built within 3 miles of where they live.

Looking at polling that Politico referenced in July, this really has become a bipartisan issue. As both Kamala Harris & Donald Trump voters have largely soured on the idea of data centers over the course of this year.

One thing has become very clear - people across the country do not want these things in our neighborhoods. In fact, opposition to AI in general has increased over this year.

It’s something I see on a daily basis, everytime an AI post lands on my Threads feed, thousands of people flock to express how AI shouldn’t be allowed on the platform.

From a political perspective, it would only make sense to be against these centers. Yet, we largely haven’t seen that from Washington.

Sure, some Democrats have called for data center moratoriums, but even moratoriums aren’t far enough for a lot of us.

Data centers should be outright banned. Full stop.

Until this industry can find a way to create centers that don’t consume incredible amounts of our water, electricity, & limit the amount of noise they make, they do not belong in our communities.

And I’m begging Democrats to adopt this position, especially heading into the elections in November.

But more importantly, the purpose of this article is to convince you of this position.

We need to demand Democrats take a more aggressive stance on data centers & I believe we can force their hand.

Democrats know how vulnerable Republicans are right now, and it’s time to increase the pressure. Force Republicans to come out in support of data centers, as they come out in opposition.

More pressure needs to be applied, and we have to ask these candidates to do so. Go on social media, and make a post saying as much, while tagging your representatives in the post.

Let’s make it clear how we feel about data centers. Let’s force the issue.

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Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Alfalfa sprouts have been recalled over contamination with E. coli and salmonella - Minnesota health officials are warning consumers not to eat

   certain brands of alfalfa sprouts that have been tied to an unusual outbreak involving different disease-causing bacteria.

   Officials say 23 people in Minnesota have become ill with either E. coli or salmonella infections, with two of them hospitalized.

   Three had salmonella, and one of them also had a strain of E. coli bacteria called STEC O168:H8. Seven other people were sickened with a different version of E. coli, called STEC O103:H25. Thirteen more had yet another strain, STEC O26:H11.

   Wisconsin investigators have identified another 18 cases of illness tied to alfalfa sprouts, Minnesota officials said. Reported by ABC News

2. Recalled Guacamole & other dips receive highest warning risk by the FDA - The FDA has updated the recall of popular dips sold by Whole Foods. Now, these dips carry a Class I warning level, meaning that consuming the products could cause “serious adverse health consequences or even death.”

   The Class I warning level applies to multiple products, including about 13,000 units of:

   • Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip;
   • Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes;
   • Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip;
   • Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip;
   • Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip;
   • Whole Foods Trio Dip, containing Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, Salsa.

3. Nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops have been recalled over possible contamination with materials that can harm vision - The FDA said in an enforcement report that Prestige Brand Holdings is voluntarily recalling 39,060 bottles of its Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops due to a “lack of assurance of sterility.” The bottles were distributed nationwide, according to the report.

   The agency has classified the recall as a Class II recall, which means the “use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

4. Abdul El-Sayed calls for ending Flock cameras in Michigan - “We’ve got to stand up to this massive surveillance apparatus being built behind closed doors.”

   

1. The FCC has scrapped plans to make Gigabit internet available nationwide - saying widespread ultra-fast access would put slower providers at a "competitive disadvantage." Though fiber networks have routinely offered such speeds for years, the FCC said the gigabit speed goal is not “technologically neutral,” suggesting that it isn’t fair to other, slower technologies.

   In 2024, the FCC raised its broadband benchmark to 100Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream, setting the new standard by which to judge whether deployment is reasonable and timely. The FCC at the time also set a long-term speed goal of 1Gbps download speeds paired with 500Mbps upload speeds, saying it would use the goal “as a guidepost for evaluating our efforts to encourage deployment.”

   Republican Brendan Carr, who is now the FCC chairman, never liked that long-term goal. He proposed abolishing it last year, and the change was finalized on August 14 in the FCC’s latest broadband deployment report. - Reported by ARS Technica

Until next time,

Desmond

Let me start by saying this - the 2026 election is still months away & a lot can change between now & November…but things look really good today.

It goes without saying that the country is upset with Donald Trump. Recently, he posted the lowest approval rating for any President in recent history, heading into the midterm election.

And as is tradition in our politics, if the President is unpopular, his Party suffers with him in the election.

We’ve been covering polling across the country for months now. I’ve brought you updates from:

• Maine

• North Carolina

• Ohio

• Iowa

• Michigan

• Texas

• Alaska

• Georgia

The tide is turning against Donald Trump everywhere, even in a place like Utah, Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is on the decline right now.

Now recent Senate polling has given us an updated look across the country & it looks like numbers are starting to solidify…

Read more

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I’ve had my eye on this race for months now, but even more so since the primaries at the end of June.

The left flank of the Democratic Party has been challenging the Party’s establishment, across the country this election cycle.

You could say it started last year, with the victory of Zohran Mamdani. Then it was followed by wins in New York City & Denver, by candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

After those victories in June, it seemed the Democratic Party leadership was put on notice. They responded by coalescing around Haley Stevens in the Michigan Senate race. She’s a current member of Congress & backed by Chuck Schumer.

Over $60 million in corporate PAC money flooded into this race to back Haley Stevens against her challenger, Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed ran hard against big money in politics, Medicare for all, & ending aid to Israel.

Naturally, AIPAC responded by dumping over $30 million dollars into this race on behalf of Haley Stevens. That’s the most they’ve ever sent on a Congressional primary election before.

Even though Abdul El-Sayed was outspent $60+ million dollars to $7 million dollars, he overcame that 10-1 spending deficit, and won the Michigan Senate primary election.

This is a massive defeat for the Democratic establishment, who pulled out every trick they could think of to defeat El-Sayed in this race.

As each victory for the left flank has emerged, they rhetoric goalpost keeps getting moved.

• 1st it was: You can’t win a major election - then Zohran Mamdani won

• Then it was: That was an isolated event, he had a great social media campaign - then 4 DSA endorsed members won Congressional primaries in June

• Then it was: Okay, you can win in deep blue areas, but that will never work in purple areas, or statewide - Now Abdul El-Sayed has won a purple state, statewide.

Now, I’m certain, the next goalpost narrative will be you can’t win a general election with these stances.

Make no mistake, this movement continues to evolve, and I don’t think that will be the last victory this cycle. Keep an eye out for the Wisconsin governor primary election next week. Another DSA candidate is the frontrunner in that race as well. Another statewide purple state race.

For me these results are simple, and they echo what we’ve been talking about in this newsletter for over a year now…

The status quo of the Democratic Party is not good enough, we need something more. We need a party that will actually fight back against the fascist regime in the White House.

The Democratic Party has been pathetic in that fight during Trump’s 2nd term, and the people are pissed. If the current elected Democrats will not step up and reflect the will of the voters, we will replace them.

Keep holding them accountable. Vote out the establishments politicians that refuse to fight for us.

Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

According to a recent poll shared by CNN, Zohran Mamdani is the most popular Democrat in America right now, and it’s stories like this that make that fact obvious to me.

In a recent interview, the Mayor of New York City explained that he shared his feelings about ICE to the President of the United States.

“I’ve been clear with the president directly when we’ve had conversations around ICE that I believe it’s a cruel agency, I believe it’s inhumane, I believe it does nothing to serve in the interest of public safety, and I believe it should be abolished”

We’ve talked about ICE a lot over the last year and a half, and I’ll say it once again - ICE should be abolished.

It’s a rogue agency that routinely violates the law, kidnaps people, ignores due process, and sometimes murders Americans in the street.

In ICE detention centers, people are starved, denied medical care, physically abused, sexually abused…there’s no redemption for an agency like this.

ICE was formed in 2003, and we can & HAVE enforced immigration laws in America without the presence of this agency, and we must do so again.

It’s imperative that not only does the Democratic Party shift on its support of ICE, but that we the voters, vote out elected officials that continue to support ICE.

Please share this post on Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, or text it to a friend

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Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Zohran Mamdani: “A lot of what we’ve come to accept as the facts of life across our country is driven by democratic socialist principles.

   If today you and I were to introduce the idea of a building that lends out books for free, we would be slandered in the same way that so many new ideas are slandered today and yet that’s the library. And the same thing with the fire department and the same thing with public schools”

2. Two Israeli female soldiers photographed themselves posing beside a young, blindfolded Palestinian detainee who appears to be a minor and proudly posted the image on Instagram.

   

The post, which circulated widely online and was reviewed by Drop Site News, was uploaded by Israeli soldier Nikol Stelmashvski as part of a 20-photo carousel containing additional images from her time in Gaza. Her account [@ nikol.stel, IG] has since been made private after the photo drew public backlash.

The image is the latest in a documented pattern of Israeli soldiers publicly sharing evidence of Palestinian detainees being humiliated or abused. Such conduct violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits the degrading treatment of detainees.

3. A third of Democrats now identify as Democratic Socialists according to new CNN poll - A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that roughly a third of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults describe themselves as democratic socialists. ⁠
   ⁠
   Compared with the rest of the party's base, this group skews younger, with 59% under age 45 versus 46% of other Democratic-aligned adults, and includes a higher share of white respondents, 57% to 49%. Members are less likely to hold a college degree, 66% to 54%, more likely to earn under $100,000 annually, 76% to 65%, and more likely to describe themselves as highly motivated to vote among registered voters, 66% to 57%. ⁠
   ⁠
   Democratic socialists back Democratic congressional candidates at nearly the same rate as the rest of the party, 99% to 94%, and hold more favorable views of the Democratic Party overall, 68% to 60%. They are nearly twice as likely as other Democratic-aligned adults to want the party to move left on policy, and the two groups differ on aid to Israel: 48% of democratic socialists say they would welcome a candidate who supports cutting US support, compared with 20% of non-democratic socialist Democrats. ⁠

4. Republicans introduce legislation to end birthright citizenship in U.S. territories

   

After failing to overturn birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, Republican legislators have introduced the “End Birthright Citizenship for the Territories Act” to disenfranchise people born on U.S. soil. The bill targets children born to noncitizen or permanent resident parents in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, where the Supreme Court has said citizenship is granted by statute and full constitutional protections do not apply.

5. Anti-ICE protestors sentenced to up to 100 in prison for “terrorism” - A federal judge in Texas has handed down prison sentences ranging from 30 to 100 years to a group of anti-ICE protesters convicted on terrorism charges in March.

   Federal prosecutors had accused the nine defendants of being members of an “antifa terror cell” for attending a protest outside the Prairieland ICE jail on July 4, during which fireworks were set off and a police officer was shot and wounded. Among those sentenced was Daniel Sanchez Estrada, who wasn’t even at the protest. He received a 30-year prison term for conspiracy to conceal documents, after he moved a box containing anti-fascist magazines and pamphlets.
   
   Former U.S. Marine Corps reservist Benjamin Song, who was convicted of the shooting, received a 100-year sentence. In a statement, he said he only fired his rifle because he believed the officer was about to shoot another activist. Song said others had been punished just for knowing him, adding, “This is mass punishment. Collective punishment. This is guilt by association. This is injustice.”

In all seriousness, please read this last story again, and then please share it. This may be the most freighting thing I’ve seen all year.

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Thank you to everyone that read until the end. A special thank you to the paid subscribers that support my newsletter, even though the economy challenges us all.

Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Some of you have heard me say this before, and a lot of you will hear me say this again — I am deathly afraid of what the future of world looks like, if we don’t seriously tighten restraints on artificial intelligence.

As a child, I grew up watching movies like the Terminator & the Matrix, so yes, I’m aware that there’s a bit of bias baked into my feelings on AI, but that doesn’t downplay the dangers.

Oh and before we move on, I also saw this on Threads yesterday:

Besides the obvious doomsday scenarios, rampant job loss it’s creating, the noise pollution of data centers, and the water crisis it’s worsening…it also has a profound impact on the way our brains are wired.

Passive reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) reduces brain activity, critical thinking, and memory recall.

Neuroscientists refer to the negative shift as "cognitive offloading," where outsourcing mental effort to large language models (LLMs) essentially bypasses the brain's prefrontal cortex. This is the mental equivalent of using a robot to lift weights at the gym—you get the final product (the lifted barbell), but your muscles receive zero workout.

For children and adolescents, the stakes are significantly higher because their brains are actively building neural frameworks, meaning AI over-reliance can stop key cognitive skills from developing in the first place.

Which brings us to our story for today, where the country of Norway has decided that they wanted to mostly ban the use of AI in their schools.

Norway will impose a near ban on generative AI tools for elementary school pupils and restrict their use for older students beginning in late August. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said the rules are meant to protect core learning as test scores decline.⁠
⁠
“The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics,” Stoere said at a press conference Friday. Students ages 6 to 13 generally will not use AI, while ages 14 to 16 may use the tools under teacher supervision.⁠
⁠
Older students, ages 17 to 19, will be taught how to use AI for further education and work. The policy follows Norway’s school smartphone ban, new discipline rules for teachers and plans to fund more classroom books after years of computer and tablet use.⁠

Personally, I could not agree more with a smartphone & AI ban in schools, but I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Please tell me in the comments what you think of this ban? Do you agree or disagree with it?

Leave a comment

Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Donald Trump is weighing military strikes in the country of Mali

   

   Trump, whose administration labels him “the peace president” with a “peace through strength” platform as he openly seeks international peace prizes, is reportedly mulling whether to take action in Mali while mired in a months-long war with Iran, according to The Washington Post.

   If approved, the attacks would add to a growing list of nations and international waterways bombed by the U.S. military since 2025. The president has previously ordered strikes in Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen in addition to killing more than 200 people on alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

   Mali, one of the largest gold-producing nations in Africa, is among an alliance of military-controlled governments including Burkina Faso and Niger that have largely cut Western ties and turned to Russian forces for security help after recent military coups ousted their democratically elected leaders.

2. 1 in 4 workers stay in unwanted jobs for health coverage, survey finds - A new West Health-Gallup report estimates that 23 million U.S. adults remain in jobs they do not want to keep employer-sponsored health insurance, up from 16% of surveyed workers in 2021 to nearly one-quarter.⁠
   ⁠
   The rate reaches 41% among workers with at least three chronic conditions. KFF found nearly two-thirds of adults worry about affording healthcare, while Gallup reported that only 28% of workers viewed the job market favorably in May.⁠
   ⁠
   Researchers said job lock can limit mobility, entrepreneurship and productivity, with rising costs and the 2025 expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies adding pressure.⁠

3. Ghost gun company ordered to pay $100 million dollars in the death of a Kentucky teenager, in a historic verdict

   

   A Kentucky jury ordered ghost gun seller Husky Armory LLC to pay $104.2 million after an 18-year-old bought a pistol-building kit online and used the assembled weapon to end his life six days later.⁠
   ⁠
   Henry Willis’ family said the company bypassed federal safeguards requiring background checks and age verification. The award includes $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages, which Everytown Law called the largest verdict against a gun seller.⁠
   ⁠
   Willis’ mother, Laura Herp, said, “A child in crisis should never be able to access a deadly weapon.” Husky Armory did not respond to the lawsuit or attend the Louisville trial.⁠ Reported by Ground News

4. Donald Trump has cancelled plans to sharply escalate the Epstein war in Iran - This comes over concerns that Iranian attacks could dangerously drain the Pentagon's already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East close to zero, per NYT.
   
   The Pentagon has used more than 1,200 Patriot interceptors in the war at more than $4M each, with cheap Iranian drones and ballistic missiles depleting the US inventory. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine privately cautioned that resuming major combat operations would fully deplete interceptors available to US Central Command.
   
   A senior US official adds that continued strikes have had "the opposite effect of what is intended, keeping Iran cohesive and allowing Iranian leaders to focus attention on an external threat."

5. Support for Iran war among MAGA Trump voters falls from 50% to 37%

   

   Support for the Iran war among President Donald Trump’s self-identified MAGA voters has fallen as its economic costs grow, according to a Politico Poll. Thirty-seven percent of that group now say the conflict is worth higher prices, down 13 points since May.⁠
   ⁠
   Another 37 percent of MAGA Trump voters support continued U.S. involvement only if costs do not rise, while nearly one in five want the war ended regardless of expense. Among non-MAGA Trump voters, 21 percent say the war is worth higher costs and 28 percent want it ended regardless of cost.⁠
   ⁠
   The poll comes after two U.S. servicemembers were killed in Jordan and gas prices rose above $4 per gallon.⁠

Final Note

I’ll be starting to post some additional video content over on Patreon & I’d love for some of you to head on over and check it out.

Mostly everything over there will be free, but you can sign up for a paid membership if you’d like to support the account.

Here’s the link below to the Patreon account:

https://www.patreon.com/c/Independentthought

Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hunter Biden has been appearing all over social media lately. He’s particularly been active on X, where’s he’s been trolling Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the Republican Party.

Lately, he’s taken to the podcast sphere, where’s he’s had some choice words for our current President. You can listen to the video inside the Substack app.

He also has taken time to address his father pardoning him at the end of his term last year.

Most recently, he sat down with the ladies of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, where the topic of Zohran Mamdani came up. Hunter Biden had this to say about the NYC Mayor:

“I look at Zohran Mamdani and I go: there’s a leader. He made promises and you know what he did? He kept them.

He’s lowering rent, he’s building co-op grocery stores, pre-kindergarten. That’s all people care about. He’s really, really good”

He also went on to discuss how people said New Yorkers would flee the city, but in fact, no one has left. Life seems to be getting better for people in New York City under Mamdani. All the while, the Mayor continues to roll out more pieces of his agenda, to help everyday people in the community.

Here’s a breakdown of how this would work:

After thousands of tenants aired grievances to city officials, the Mamdani administration has made 23 recommendations to prevent rental ripoffs. One includes reducing income and credit requirements for apartment applications.

In a report released Thursday, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants suggested restricting landlords from requiring both proof of income and a credit check. They also want to force landlords or their brokers to pay for the credit check.

The current system, which often requires an applicant to prove they make 40-times the monthly rent and pay for a credit check, is restrictive for the very tenants most frequently moving, Weaver said. Requiring one or the other will reduce the burden on tenants while still protecting landlords’ ability to choose qualified candidates.

Tuesday’s report includes a roadmap to improving and increasing inspections, mitigating mold, empowering tenant unions and pushing for litigation to improve the apartment application process.

“I spoke with NYers who told me about vents filled with mold, nights spent shivering in the winter… and landlords who, amidst all of this, refuse to do anything about it,” Mamdani said Thursday morning.

Reported by Pix 11

As a renter myself, I cannot stress enough just little the protections are when it comes to our situation with property owners. And unfortunately, it feels like renters rights is an issue that literally NO ONE ever discusses on the campaign trail.

So whether it’s looking out for renters, establishing pre-K for NYC children, taxing the wealthy, creating cheaper grocery stores, lowering cost burdens for small businesses, opening up additional access to public transportation…

It looks like Democratic Socialists can be good leaders.

I think it’s time we give more of them a shot to lead.

More primary elections are on the way in August. Let’s inject some new leadership into the Democratic Party.

Until next time,

Desmond

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts lately. Sharing information is one of the best ways to fight back against fascism! Also, if you’d like more posts calling out the fascist regime, please sign up to be a paid subscriber of our newsletter.

Independent Thought is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s official X account, posted late last night that the Senator had passed away

Our President, Donald Trump, took to his social media platform to release this response.

I’ve been up for a few hours now, so I’ve had some time to sit with my thoughts about how I wanted to cover this, and I have to tell you…I have nothing nice to say about this man.

Lindsey Graham was an intense warmonger, who thought it was funny how many people the United States was murdering abroad.

Here’s a video of him saying that Trump was “killing all the right people”.

He was also, routinely, more faithful to the concerns of Israel, than he was to the concerns of his own country. Something he was never afraid to express. He even flew to Israel to coach their Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on how he should manipulate Donald Trump into a war with Iran.

He also advocated for Israel to use nukes on Gaza. Which you can see in this video below.

There hasn’t been a war that Lindsey Graham wasn’t willing to sign our family members up for. He was a warmonger, a bigot, and someone who routinely sold out the working class to the elites in this country & abroad.

They say it’s “poor taste” to speak ill of the dead, but if I remember correctly, our President had some choice words when Robert Muller died.

So, frankly, I don’t wanna hear it from Republicans, who normalized this type of speech just 4 months ago.

The world is a safer place now that Lindsey Graham is gone.

Until next time,

Desmond

One thing I know about this audience, is how deeply most of you care about the Epstein Files. My first post, where I shared the files linked to Donald Trump, has been viewed on Substack over 100,000 times, & has brought in over 1.400 new members of our newsletter.

Reading the contents of the article is unsettling. Frankly, my mind goes blank trying to accurately express how horrified I am reading those details.

Since this information surfaced last year, it has been apparent that Donald Trump has done everything possible to suppress this information, or create distractions in the news cycle.

He even fired his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, because he felt she hadn’t insulated him enough from the scrutiny surrounding the files.

Trump has since appointed a new Attorney General, Todd Blanche (his personal lawyer), to head the DOJ. And it seems Blanche is doing everything he can to prevent further investigations into the Epstein Files.

You don’t have to take my word for it. They’re openly admitting as in a recent post online.

For those of you who are new here, or didn’t see them the 1st time around. Here are the Epstein files implicating Donald Trump:

Share this information.

It’s obvious they are doing everything in their power to suppress this information. If Trump had nothing to hide, he wouldn’t go these lengths to suppress this information.

Until next time,

Desmond

Before we start today, I just wanted to mention today is my birthday! Last year, I had people ask me how they could send me a few bucks for my birthday & to thank me for my work. If you would like to do that, here’s the best places to do so:

Venmo - @DPrice1820

PayPal - indeethought@gmail.com

For months now I’ve been saying the same thing, over and over again - it’s not good enough to just defeat the fascist MAGA Republicans, we must also remove Democratic politicians who have been weak against fascism, or enabled it directly.

I’ve spent countless posts asking all of you to vote in your primary elections & oust these weak incumbent Democrats who haven’t shown up for us.

Tuesday night, New York City voters did just that.

As all 3 of the Democrats that were endorsed by NYC Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, won their primary elections. Two of these candidates, ousted incumbent Democrats in the process.

Brad Lander, who ran for NYC Mayor last year, but dropped out & threw his support behind Mamdani, won his race on Tuesday, blowing out an incumbent Democrat by 30 points. Truly unheard of.

Claire Valdez was running in an open seat, against a candidate that had the backing of every establishment figure in D.C., including the outgoing Representative, but lost by 21 points.

And in the biggest shocker of the night, Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has never held office before, defeats 5 term incumbent Adriano Espaillat. Chevalier said she only entered the race, because she approached her Representative last year (Espaillat), and asked him to speak up for people being detained by ICE within the city, and he declined to do so. It was then, that she decided to challenge the incumbent, openly calling for the abolishment of ICE.

Incumbents also saw defeat in state legislative races as well last night, so the message is clear - the people want change.

If you haven’t had a chance to vote yet - please make sure to show up to your primary election. We need to oust more incumbents! We need to reform this Democratic Party.

Here’s a list of the remaining primary elections this cycle:

1. Colorado - 6/30

2. Arizona - 7/21

3. Washington - 8/4

4. Kansas - 8/4

5. Missouri - 8/4

6. Michigan - 8/4

7. Tennessee - 8/6

8. Hawai’i - 8/8

9. Vermont - 8/11

10. Connecticut - 8/11

11. Minnesota - 8/11

12. Wisconsin - 8/11

13. Wyoming - 8/18

14. Florida - 8/18

15. Alaska - 8/18

16. Massachusetts - 9/1

17. New Hampshire - 9/8

18. Rhode Island - 9/8

19. Delaware - 9/15

Finally, Mayor Mamdani was asked on MS Now what role Israel has played in the elections this year. Watch the video above to hear his response. You can watch the video by downloading the Substack app.

Get more from Independent Thought in the Substack app

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Please share this post on Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, or text it to a friend

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We had 22 people share our last article outside of Substack. Can we get that number up to 30 this time?

Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Joy Behar: “They’re not afraid of the term Democratic Socialism. I’m not scared of the term” -

   “Social Security is Democratic Socialism. Unemployment insurance, the people who pick up your garbage, the people who take the fire out at your house. All of these things are Democratic Socialism. People have had it with this right-wing nasty politics that we’ve had to subject ourselves to since this guy got into office”

2. Zohran Mamdani defends backing challengers to Democratic Incumbents in MS Now interview -

3. Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Zohran Mamdani has serious “work to do in terms of the conversations that he’s going to have with members of Congress moving forward.” - While Jeffries warned Mamdani the Democratic establishment may be looking for apologies when speaking to CNN in the halls of Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) says New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is going to have to smooth things over with congressional Democrats after backing several progressive candidates who ousted incumbents during Tuesday’s primary elections. (I usually don’t make comments in this section, but I can’t help but be grossed out at this. This is so unbelievably weak and soft on Jeffries’ part. We really deserve a better leader of the Democratic Party). Reported by Huff Post

4. Representative André Carson just introduced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act in the House - The bill would ban the construction of data centers until Congress addresses the economic, environmental, and safety impacts of AI. Additionally, Carson also introduced the AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026, which would require data centers “to be transparent and to make neighborhood input central to any new development.”

   “Data centers cannot come at a cost to American families, who are already facing high grocery, gas, and housing costs.” Reported by Yahoo

5. Israel's Defence Minister: Israel will not withdraw from South Lebanon, even if the US demands it -

   

“The IDF is prepared… and we are not retreating,” Katz said in an onstage interview at the Muni Expo conference for local officials in Tel Aviv. “We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing.”

Israel controls a security zone in southern Lebanon that stretches across the entire length of the shared border, and extends up to 10 kilometers (six miles) into Lebanese territory, in some areas crossing the Litani River and reaching the outskirts of Nabatieh.

Katz said that “200,000 [Lebanese] residents will not return [to the homes they evacuated]. Because what happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population [present] was roadside bombs and attacks against the soldiers, and therefore we will not allow that.”

Iran has repeatedly tied a ceasefire in Lebanon to its understanding with the US.

“For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and further, an end to the war in Lebanon is as important as an end to the war in Iran,” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in Baku during a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Reported by the Times of Israel

Final Note

If you made it to the end of this article, please comment your favorite meal to eat on your birthday in the comments section. I have no idea what I want to eat for my birthday today & could use some ideas!

Leave a comment

Until next time,

Desmond

Democrats haven’t carried the state of Iowa, since President Obama did it in 2012 & haven’t won a U.S. Senate seat since 2008...but all of that could change this November.

Recent polls coming out of Iowa, are showing Josh Turek, the Democratic nominee, leading Republican Ashley Hinson.

Turek, is a current member of the House of Representatives in Iowa, and his favorability numbers are outpacing that of generic Democrats in the Senate.

For complete transparency, Iowa is 1 of the 3 states I’m least confident in, where it comes to Democratic pickups this November.

On the map below, you’ll see 8 states that are a brown/tan color, these are the tossup Senate races this November, & Democrats need to win 8 of them in order to retake Senate control.

I have strong faith that Democrats will win in Michigan, North Carolina, & Georgia.

I also think the chances are high in Maine & Alaska.

However, I do have my concerns in Texas, Ohio, & Iowa, but let’s focus on Iowa for today.

We saw ample polling that showed that not only was Iowa in play for Kamala Harris in 2024, but that she should win the state. This cam from incredibly reputable pollsters at the time.

However, not only did she not win the state, she was blown out in that election.

With that being said, there is a strong through line from the last few elections that’s important to highlight here, that I want to share now.

1. Republicans do underperform when Trump’s name is not on the ballot. Whether this is while he is President, like in 2018, which saw a blue wave election. Or whether when he’s out of office, like in 2022, which promised a red wave year, but saw Republicans pick up only modest gains. Republicans don’t perform as well when Trump isn’t on the ballot.

2. One consistency of the last 2 elections - the economy was not doing well & the party in power was punished for that. I bet you can count on that again, especially in a state like Iowa, where the farming industry has suffered under Trump 2.0. Between tariffs & fertilizer prices (which have gone up because of the Iran war), farmers are hurting across the midwest. Something that Josh Turek has been leaning heavily into in his campaign

You combine these two points with the fact that Republicans have been retiring in masse, trying to redistrict, trying to pass voter suppression legislation, trying to purge voter rolls, & trying to deploy ICE to polling places…yes, they definitely feel vulnerable.

Do I believe the Democrats will flip this seat in November?

It’s hard to say.

As of now, I’m still less confident in Iowa, Ohio, & Texas, only because Republicans are starting from such a huge lead in these states. Trump won each by double digits in 2024. However, I do think all 3 are play & with the right campaign, I do think Iowa is poised to flip.

The economy, the one thing people expected Trump to fix, is in shambles under his leadership.

I expect this will lead to many Republican voters sitting at home this November, & so voting the other direction.

Please share this post on Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, or text it to a friend

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Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Tucker Carlson says “there's no chance I would support the Republican party” in this election - How could I support a political party that is not loyal to the United States. I voted Republican my entire life, I have been a consistent defender for 35 years of the Republican party, but there is no defending this. I'm out. Download the app to watch all videos on our posts

2. Federal judge halts Trump administration effort to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Walz, others in immigration enforcement probe - A federal judge has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, accusing the Justice Department of using its investigatory powers to retaliate against state officials for not cooperating with federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

   In a ruling unsealed Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz found the “dominant purpose” of the subpoenas was to “coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.” Reported by PBS

3. Democratic candidate for Senate (Maine) Graham Platner: “We must codify the right to an abortion.” - “We also must create universal childcare programs, universal healthcare programs, and expand and protect reproductive rights for all. It is the only way we are going to build a future in which every single American can have access to a life of dignity and fulfillment”

4. Vermont has banned AI chatbot therapy, passing a law that requires a mental health professional to conduct therapeutic services - Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed H.816 on June 17, 2026, barring companies from offering AI-delivered mental health therapy and joining a small group of states that began restricting AI therapists in 2025. The law lets clinicians use AI for administrative tasks but reserves diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decisions for a qualified mental health professional or an approved research study. Reported by Recording Law

5. During separate press appearances on Monday, Vice President Vance told reporters, "We want Israel's security to be protected, and we also want Lebanon's sovereignty to be protected." - These appear to be the first televised remarks by a Trump administration discussing the importance of “Lebanese sovereignty.” Notably, the first clause of the U.S.-Iran MOU officially commits the administration to "ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon."
   
   Vance criticized recent Israeli military operations in Beirut that killed Lebanese civilians with no connection to Hezbollah, calling the incidents "not acceptable" and stating that lasting peace requires ensuring "Lebanon's territorial sovereignty is respected by all parties."

   Leave a comment

Until next time,

Desmond

Tomorrow, President Obama’s Presidential Center will open in Chicago. Earlier today, President Obama made a speech in front of the new building, where he took a few moments to talk about the state of America, including a few shots at Donald Trump.

“No one is above the law or beneath its protection.

A belief in checks and balances in our government and an accountability that comes with an independent judiciary and a robust free press.

A belief that our military and law enforcement owe allegiance not to any president, or political party, but to the people and our Constitution.

A belief in the peaceful transfer of power, after the people have spoken in fair and free elections.”

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama also made a speech during the ceremony, where she also took a few shots at the Trump regime.

"No one — and I mean no one — has the right to sit in judgment of who's American enough.

A lasting legacy isn't an award or a name on a building or the number of zeroes in a bank account, but the difference we make in one another's lives.

Guests today included former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Joe Biden. Donald Trump was not invited.

Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Donald Trump in interview with Axios, says there are “no limits” to his power - President Trump denied that the Iran war revealed the limits of his ability to exert power, telling "The Axios Show" he still believes there are "no limits." Still, Trump denied he was in any way humbled by that experience. Asked what he’d learned from the war about the limits to his power, he said: “There are no limits.” "I haven't learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits," he continued.

2. Democratic Virginia Governor, Abigal Spanberger, signs legislation banning domestic abusers from owning firearms - Abigail Spanberger signed landmark legislation that closes the "intimate partner loophole", effectively prohibiting convicted domestic abusers from owning or possessing firearms. HB 19 and SB 160 - These laws fortify protections for survivors of sexual and domestic violence by prohibiting the transfer of firearms when a protective order is issued. SB 38 and HB 93: These bills establish strict firearm relinquishment procedures, requiring individuals convicted of domestic assault and battery to safely and lawfully transfer their firearms.

3. Mississippi police open fire into the vehicle of a family accused of stealing diapers, killing 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

   

Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Kohen’s family, said the child’s mother has not been charged with any crime and that she says she was “trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car.”

“They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old,” Crump said in a statement. “We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him.”

Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, said in a video released through her attorneys that her friend was being pursued for allegedly shoplifting diapers. Reported by ABC News

4. Israeli drones in Lebanon are using the sounds of children crying to lure civilians outside - Human rights groups, paramedics, and local residents have documented instances of Israeli quadcopter drones broadcasting audio recordings of babies crying, women screaming, and pleading for help. This tactic has been reported across Gaza and in southern Lebanon.

   Psychological Warfare & Luring: Residents and emergency responders state that the recordings are typically played late at night. The tactic exploits basic human empathy and the instinct to rush outside to help those in distress.

   Targeting: Witnesses in both Gaza and Lebanon have reported that when civilians, paramedics, or others go out to investigate the distress calls, they are targeted or fired upon by the drones. Observers also believe the tactic aims to exhaust local populations and draw out resistance fighters. Reported by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

5. Vice President JD Vance rebuked Israeli ministers attacking the Iran-U.S. agreement - saying President Trump is “the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel” and warning that Israel should not be criticizing “the only powerful ally” it has left.
   
   Vance said Israeli officials should “wake up and smell the reality” of their country’s dependence on American support.

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Lastly, I want to thank everyone who supports this newsletter by becoming a paid subscriber.

We need 4 more people to sign up, to hit our monthly goal new paid subscribers! If you’re able to sign up & support this account, I cannot thank you enough.

A monthly subscription costs about the same as a cup of coffee 🙂⁠

Until next time,

Desmond

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For about 24 hours now, the news cycle has been plastered with people talking about a “peace deal” between the United States & Iran, that is supposed to be signed in Switzerland this Friday, to hopefully bring an end to the war in Iran.

Before we jump into why this deal is likely to fail, let’s first look at the details of the agreement.

These details have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. government, but the Iranian government has released their understanding of the peace deal that will be signed:

1. $12 billion of Iran's frozen funds to be released before negotiations begin, with another $12 billion during the 60-day final negotiation window.

2. Oil and petrochemical sanctions suspended.

3. Full naval blockade lifted within 30 days.

4. The U.S. commits to non-interference in Iranian affairs, withdrawal of forces from around Iran, and no new sanctions or force deployments during negotiations.

5. An immediate ceasefire is required on all fronts, including Lebanon.

6. The Strait of Hormuz reopens within 30 days under Iranian arrangements.

7. Iran reaffirms its NPT commitment not to produce nuclear weapons.

8. A 60-day window is set to negotiate a final deal covering nuclear issues and full sanctions removal.

9. The U.S. and allies must also present reconstruction plans worth at least $300 billion.

10. Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups are removed from the agenda entirely.

11. No final negotiations begin until the $12 billion is released, oil sanctions are suspended, and the blockade is lifted.

12. A supervisory mechanism will oversee implementation, with any final agreement approved by UN Security Council resolution.

Now this isn’t the first attempt we’ve had at a ceasefire/peace agreement with Iran, and every time Iran has come to the negotiating table, they’ve made very clear that they will not agree to any deal with the United States that does not include Israel stopping its attack on Lebanon.

Every discussion we’ve had with them, they have said the same thing. They view the U.S. & Israel as a package deal, and they see Lebanon as one of their allies. So, no deal can be reached as long as Benjamin Netanyahu continues to invade Lebanon.

With that being said, the Israeli government has already come out & blasted this peace deal, with Israeli Defense Minister Katz saying:

The Israeli military will remain in southern Lebanon and warned that if Iran strikes, it will be hit “with full force,” promising that Israel will resist any pressure after the US and Iran agreed a deal to end the war that also reportedly includes a commitment to end hostilities in Lebanon.

Katz insisted that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, “despite all the existing pressures and those that will still come.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are leading a clear policy that determines that the IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, without any time limit.”

Reported by the Times of Israel

And if for some reason you’re thinking - “this won’t disrupt the entire deal, surely the United States & Iran can find a way to a peace deal that doesn’t include Israel stopping it’s attacks in Lebanon” …you’d be wrong.

As Drop Site News reported earlier today:

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Lebanese leaders that the United States is responsible for implementing the U.S.-Iran memorandum and ensuring a complete halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, according to an Iranian readout of his calls with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

For the entire world to see - Iran considers Lebanon a part of the package deal & they will not agree to a ceasefire that does not include the United States forcing Israel to stop attacking Lebanon…but Israel has vowed not to stop.

So here we are, once again, being trapped in a war because of our inability to stand up to Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has no desire to end its attacks & frankly, they don’t want the war in Iran to end.

Can Donald Trump force Israel to stop its attacks in Lebanon?

The short answer is - yes.

The United States has the ultimate high ground in this scenario, because it supplies Israel with protection & arms. Without the U.S. military protection & the weapons we provide, Israel would probably be overrun by their enemies.

All Donald Trump would have to do, is to threaten to remove aid & military protection, and he would definitely be able to force Israel’s hand. Yet, he seems to be unwilling to play that card, thus locking our country into this stalemate.

It’s hard to say what happens next, but I can’t imagine this peace deal going through with such a large obstacle standing in its way.

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Additional stories I wanted to share:

1. Vice President J.D. Vance alludes that the $300 Billion reconstruction fund is indeed a part of the U.S./Iran peace deal in CBS interview:

2. New York Times reports that Trump & Vance strongly considered invoking Insurrection Act in Minnesota to deal with ICE protests - “Vance got to the point. They needed to invoke the Insurrection Act, swiftly, to crush the unrest in Minnesota. It would be painful in the short term, he said, but the message it would send - that paid agitators could not get away with disrupting ICE operations - would make sure no one tried it again. (There was no evidence that either Mr. Pretti or Ms. Good had been paid activists.)”

3. Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, suspends tax incentives for data centers - Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed a budget bill that imposes a three-year moratorium on new sales tax breaks for data centers, among the most restrictive state-level responses to an industry under fire from residents concerned about energy and water consumption. The moratorium was tucked into an $18 billion budget deal announced last week by Hobbs and Republican lawmakers.

4. Bots now generate more web traffic than humans - Bots now account for more web traffic than humans, according to Cloudflare Radar data cited by Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince. ⁠
   ⁠
   The dashboard put automated traffic at 57.5% of HTTP requests to HTML content, compared with 42.5% from humans, reaching a crossover Prince had expected by the end of 2027.⁠
   ⁠
   The shift is being driven by AI agents rather than older scraper bots and search crawlers. Prince said at SXSW that a person shopping for a camera might visit five sites, while an agent doing the same task could visit 5,000. ⁠
   ⁠
   The change is pressuring publishers, advertisers and security companies whose systems were built around human users. Cloudflare has introduced tools including Pay Per Crawl, AI bot blocking and a machine-readable format for agents. ⁠Reported by Ground News

5. More Perfect Union posts video of what it sounds like to live next to a data center. You won’t believe what this sounds like:

   
   ⁠

Final Note

I want to give a shoutout to all the new subscribers that have joined Independent Thought in the last month! In the last 30 days, we’ve gained more subscribers than any other month in the last 18 months.

Independent Thought now has over 18,000 subscribers & we’re in 125 countries!

Thank you to everyone for being here. I hope to grow this newsletter into something truly special.

Until next time,

Desmond

If you’d like to support our work with a one-time donation, you can do so here ⬇️ https://buymeacoffee.com/independentthought

Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) went onto MS Now, to talk about the recent reports, that Vice President J.D. Vance held meetings in the Situation Room last summer, regarding how the administration would handle the release of the Epstein files.

This information came from recent reporting from the New York Times.

The reporting states that: the Vice President, the Attorney General, the head of the FBI, the White House Chief of Staff, the White House Counsel, the Press Secretary, the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Comm’s Director, & the Deputy Attorney General, all met without Trump to discuss the release of the Epstein Files.

J.D. Vance took a seat at the head of the table & said “this is a huge problem”, as the members in attendance tried to figure out how they were going to spin this story.

Vance floated the idea that they could ask Tucker Carlson to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, if she would be willing to say that Trump had not been part of any wrongdoing, involving Epstein (obviously, that has not happened, I wonder why…?).

Congressman Garcia is now calling for Vice President Vance to come before Congress, so they can ask him questions, regarding his involvement in this apparent cover up.

It’s been a few months since I posted about the details of the Epstein Files, so I wanted to share them again.

Below of the files that directly mention Donald Trump’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, please share these everywhere:

The Department of Justice has come out repeatedly and denied these accusations against Donald Trump, but I’ll let you be the judge.

Our national conversation has had a lot of ground to cover with wars in Iran, ICE terrorizing our streets, rampant inflation, daily corruption…it’s a lot to keep up with.

With that being said, we CANNOT stop talking about the Epstein Files & their connection to Donald Trump.

Please share this everywhere.

Share

Donald Trump will continue to flood the zone with new scandals, as a way to distract everyone from this information, so please don’t let him.

This information needs to be seen by everyone.

Until next time,

Desmond