#LA food coalition

[victoriapedroza]

Devendra Banhart @ Kitchen Sink Festival 2

Fundraiser for Los Angeles Food Coalition

The Lodge Room. December 19th, 2023

purgatorie

[probablyasocialecologist]

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization coined CSA in 2009 to describe practices aimed at increasing farm resilience and reducing the carbon footprint of a global food system responsible for up to 37 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, however, observers say that CSA has been usurped by the Gates-led corporate alliance, with programs like Water Efficient Maize for Africa serving as green-painted Trojan horses for industry. “CSA is an agribusiness-led vision of surveillance [and] data-driven farmerless farming, [which explains why] its biggest promoters include Bayer, McDonnell, and Walmart,” said Mariam Mayet of the African Centre for Biodiversity. “From a climate perspective, it entrenches the global inequalities of a corporate food regime. There’s no system shift at all.” Octavaio Sánchez, the grizzled director of Honduras’s National Association for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture, contends that policies that promote true resilience must focus on regenerating soils through the use of organic fertilizers, crop rotation, and the preservation of native seeds able to adapt to changing conditions. These are the cornerstones of a global agro-ecology movement that has emerged from the seed and food sovereignty coalitions of the past three decades. The peasant-led agro-ecology movement—with La Via Campesina and AFSA in front—rejects the familiar refrain from agribusiness promoters that it is condemning farmers to permanent poverty and stagnation. The movement’s position is supported by both a growing literature of case studies and the development of scientific agro-ecological practices. When Gates Foundation officers were preparing to launch AGRA in 2006, researchers at the University of Essex published a study showing that agro-ecological practices increased yields by an average of nearly 80 percent across 12.6 million farms in 57 poor countries. The authors concluded that “all crops showed water use efficiency gains,” which led to “improvements in food productivity.” The UN’s High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition recommended in 2019 that governments support agro-ecological projects and redirect “subsidies and incentives that at present benefit unsustainable practices,” a judgment based on similar studies undertaken around the world.

[moonstone-vibe]

So, @starsmadeinheaven, here's the shortfic for the ring toss prompt. it went wrong as always :))))

TOY SOLDIER (also on AO3)

"Winner of the ring toss gets to kiss the loser."

"Oh, you're on!" Francis watched with a curl of lips as the boy leaned in and stole the winner's kiss from his lover before the girl had even begun, making her drop the ring from her mittened hand. The ensuing bickering was lost in the cheerful noise as he turned away from the bright colorful lights and walked towards the gate of the winter fair.

Beyond, a bare field stretched at the foot of the Lion's Mound, blanketed with the sparkly, fresh snow. Two hundred and nine years ago, in early summer, this place had not been so joyous.

Francis still couldn't say whether he held any bitterness about how the events had unfolded or not, after all he did believe that chubby, ambitious little man had in the end gotten what he’d deserved. Francis had followed him from beginning to end, not 'pour la France' or 'pour l'Empereur', but for the bloodshed the man brought with him everywhere.

Deadly as a plague, yet without the repulsive alteration of flesh and blood.

If he came back here year after year, it wasn't for Napoleon's memory; for while Napoleon Bonaparte had lost everything here, in this very place, Francis Bonnefoy had gained his most prized possession.

They never came back in the summer though. Winter suited Gilbert better - the crisp air, the icy white of snow onto dry weeds and grasses dotting the field under which old bones still lay. Gilbert should have been grateful, maybe, not to have ended up as such himself.

"Very lively this year, n'est ce pas?" he said, gaze wandering far away. Two hundred and nine years later, it still looked odd without all those men, horses, canons, tents and the altogether different noise and smells of war. "Do you still remember the night we met?"

"Yes. A remarkable waste of time and lead."

Gilbert's voice came out flat, thick with that choky accent he had yet to smoothen. Blunt as ever, and yet Francis smiled.

“But the Coalition won,” he pointed, gesturing at the majestic lion profiled against a starry horizon, one muscular paw of weathered iron firmly grasping onto the globe below. Even if he’d not watched it happen.

They’d both missed the greatest of battles.

That night, in early June, he’d been utterly bored. For one such as he, the worrisome anticipation plaguing everyone else made little impression. All battles were the same, and he’d seen plenty. Spoils mattered and Francis was all for the spoils, hungered for them in the rawest sense of the word.

He’d snuck out of his tent, into the falling darkness already fragrant with the summer air and still alive with chirping of rare birds in the nearby trees, not yet chased away by what was to come. He’d passed men hunched around fires, horses, carriages with supplies, stocks of weaponry and ammunition and barrels of gunpowder like a ghost, he had slipped and crawled over the no-man’s-land as unseen as the night breeze.

The Prussian camp lacked in lavishness or at least in style compared to that of the Emperor, he’d noted yet again, passing similar piles of stuff, more weary faces lit by flickering flames, more of the same human misery, just foreign. Just…

Francis wouldn’t have called them ‘the enemy’.

What right did he have? What enmity did he really hold against them? What creature would hold it against their own food? Besides, they were but poor creatures, blind and deaf to the predator walking carefree amongst them in a pristine, elegantly-cut French uniform.

In that moment, Francis’d had no appetite for the meagre, dirty foot soldiers he was encountering at every step. He’d have his fill of them the next day, or what would be left of them, as it was. It was undoubtedly going to be thrilling, even if he’d seen the carnage, had feasted on it a thousand times over - there was nothing, nothing like the ruby-red trickle of openly-spilled blood, the agony, the lost hopes, the scattered dreams of dying men.

No, that night he’d resolved he would get himself some finery, if there was any to be had. And whatever infernal gods were on his side had brought Gilbert Beilschmidt into his path.  

A sole candle was burning on the corner of a small table, but bright enough for his eyes to awe at the beauty of the man sitting there, head propped against the heel of his palm, quill hovering lazily in his hand over a blank page.

Francis had taken him in with such pure interest and marvel that he’d even stood there motionless as the young officer had jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over, and had fired his pistol straight into his heart without as much as a warning.

‘What a delightful little beast’ he had thought, as the other’s light-colored eyes had widened at his drawing near without as much as a stumble.

But to be fair, Gilbert had put up quite a fight, however short and futile. Pistol abandoned, he’d been quick to draw a blade from his boot and stab at the Frenchman’s chest until all strength had finally left him.

“It’s been so long and still you won’t let go of it. Aren’t they all gone, Francis?”

Francis half turned to see his minion’s stern profile against the white of the snow. Moonlight shone in his hair, some barely-there freckles dusted the bridge of his nose, the ghostly white of his skin marble-like, but his back was still impossibly straight, chest pushed out, hands clasped at his back in a martial stance.

Perfect, beautiful little toy soldier.

Too bad Francis could give him the dark gift, but not any actual life. Not for two hundred years. He shouldn’t have complained – from all his servants, Gilbert was the most effective, compliant, disciplined, dutiful; only, he never smiled, never looked Francis in the eye and had yet to yield to his master’s charms.

“It’s been so long and you still don’t understand what I come here to remember,” Francis said, facing the other fully and making him turn as well. “You in my arms! I yearned like a fool the moment I laid eyes on you, did I not look, from that very first moment, like a man in love?!”

He knew he was being overdramatic for the sake of drama, but it was ever surprising how many people fell for that, again and again.

“You looked like a creep, lecherous and defective.”

Francis sighed. “Gilbert, I know that fateful night you were trying to write a letter to your so-called beloved, but she wasn’t the one for you and you know it. You had already crumpled it when I found you.”

Gilbert raised his chin, his eyes cold and defiant. “It was a draft. And I had spilled potato soup on it!”

Francis burst into laughter, throwing his head back, and he laughed right up until a snowball hit him square in the face, half of it filling his mouth. While he spluttered, eyes watering, he spied Gilbert looking away with an eye roll but with a conspicuous twitch of lips.

Maybe there was hope yet. He shook his head, combing away the snow from loose blonde locks.

“Ah, the simple joys of the living! Come on, let us return to the fair, away from ghosts and times long forgotten,” he said and grabbed hold of the Prussian’s hand, jerking just hard enough to make him loose his footing and take a nose dive. “I want to try the ring toss too! Winner gets to kiss the loser, what say you?”

THE END

[ludinusdaleth]

what are some ways to get involved in NTX? what activist groups do you recommend?

these are some folk ive donated to, worked with, or at least heard stellar recommendations about from others. all of them have social media, i will link their instagrams:

dallas sandwich sundays (one of the best imo)

remembering black dallas (absolutely vital because dallas is gentrification station)

say it with your chest (one of the best imo)

janes due process

la frontera noz cruzó

trans texas

palestinian youth movement dfw / students for justice in palestine (one of my closest friends is very close to these, they really need help)

fort worth food not bombs

texas muslim womens foundation (one of the best imo)

turning point rape crisis prevention center (i did my first ever activist steps with them)

nelson-tobedo resource center (massive dfw hrt and prep provider, my own. please donate or volunteer theyre really gonna need it)

DHREAM

denton left

stop cop city dallas (i neeeeed folk to pay attention to cop city as an issue)

fund texas choice

oak cliff veggie project

bonton farms

southside community garden

united peoples coalition

please feel free to add more.

[thefirsthogokage]

(Link to Tweet)

[Image ID: A tweet from Jenny Klein that reads:

Now 100 days into the strike, here is a roundup of places you can donate to help entertainment worker relief (all workers not just WGA) - [Click this sentence to go to the Google document] #WGAstrong #unionstrong

/End ID]

In case you can't open the link:

We are more than 75 days into the WGA strike, and now SAG-AFTRA has joined us too. Unite Here 11 hotel workers have been out all month. Teamsters and IATSE have been out of work. Here's some funds you can donate to to support everyone. I will update this often as more funds pop up!

WORKER SUPPORT

THE UNION SOLIDARITY COALITION FUND

TUSC is raising money for direct aid to IATSE and Teamsters crew -- they are notably covering people’s health insurance premiums while they’re out of work. Donate here. [501c3 - tax deductible]

ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND

Most importantly, EntertainmentCommunityFund.org gives financial aid to entertainment workers all over the industry, both WGA and non-WGA. It's a big source of assistance for IATSE people especially. [501c3 - tax deductible]

SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation provides financial assistance to members of their union in need. https://members.sagfoundation.org/donate [501c3 - tax deductible]

HUMANITAS GROCERIES

Humanitas Groceries For Writers. This helps staff writers and other early career WGA members with $100 grocery gift cards. Donate here (and select Groceries For Writers from the dropdown): https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AVJ6TL2YYPX2A

INEVITABLE FOUNDATION

Inevitable Foundation has a financial aid fund for WGA writers with disabilities. [501c3 - tax deductible] You can donate to support here: https://www.inevitable.foundation/emergency-relief-fund-donate?form=webdonate

GREEN ENVELOPE GROCERY AID

WGA captain Joelle Garfinkel helps run a grocery aid fund for entertainment workers. You can learn more about it here: https://twitter.com/msjoellegarf/status/1678522919780069377 Donate by sending money on venmo to @ Joelle-Garfinkel and if you need aid you can apply by emailing greenenvelopegroceryaid@gmail.com

FOOD BANK GROCERIES FOR ACTORS/WRITERS

World Harvest Food Bank in Mid City LA is giving away free groceries to writers and actors on strike. You can donate to support those efforts here: https://www.worldharvestla.org/donate-now [501c3 - tax deductible]

UNITE HERE 11 MUTUAL AID STRIKE FUND

Unite Here 11 hotel workers, who staff many of the hotels used by the major studios for production, are on strike. If you would like to donate to their strike fund, you can do so here: https://www.unitehere11.org/donate-to-the-unite-here-local-11-strike-mutual-aid-fund/

MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND

MPTF (formerly known as the Actors Fund) provides a variety of services including grants for people on strike. You can donate to MPTF here: https://mptf.com/donate/ [501c3 - tax deductible]

HOLLYWOOD SUPPORT STAFF RELIEF FUND

This is an MPTF fund specifically for Hollywood assistants impacted by the strike. https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20023a?8217.donation=form1&8217_donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=12A38B8E80F6E4250888E4E44BE1190D&df_id=8217&idb=182923308&mfc_pref=T [501c3 - tax deductible]

PICKET LINE SUPPORT

PIZZA FUND - ALL LA LOTS

Comedy writer Jess Morse maintains a pizza fund that delivers to all of the Valley pickets. You can send money to @ Jess-Morse on Venmo or paypal.me/pizzastrikefund on Paypal ($10.97 buys one pizza)

FOX LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

I run a food fund to help feed our picket line at Fox, where I am an assistant coordinator. My Venmo is @ OlgaLexell and we love to use this money on catering from local businesses so we can support them while their business is down too.

SONY LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

The folks coordinating the Sony lot started a food fund via GiveButter. https://givebutter.com/sonypicketlines

NETFLIX LOT FOOD FUND (LA)

Lot coordinator Danny Tolli runs a Venmo fund for food and beverages at Netflix. You can Venmo him @ dctolli to contribute.

DISNEY LOT FUND (LA)

Lot coordinator Carlos Cisco started a Venmo fund for supplies like water at Disney, which has extremely high temperatures in the summer. Venmo him at @ Carlos-Cisco to contribute.

COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY PROJECT (LA)

CSP has been delivering hot meals like breakfast burritos to all of the LA lots. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-entertainment-workers-on-the-strike-line

TARGET REGISTRY - ALL LA LOTS

Official Target registry run by the WGA West Lot Coordinators. This is to get supplies for our check-in stations, ranging from snacks to first aid to garbage bags and beyond. https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift-giver?registryId=079d5420-f35e-11ed-989e-f9022739cfe2&type=CUSTOM

NYC STRIKE SUPPLIES

NY Strike captain Steph Deluca offered to receive incoming funds to buy picket line supplies, which is something the WGAe needs help with. They are fundraising via her venmo @steph_deluca

FEEDING THE NYC STRIKERS

A group sending food and water to NYC strikers has set up a Cashapp and Paypal fund. You can send the money at $NYCStrikeFund via Cashapp or feednycstrikers@hotmail.com via Paypal.

[mariacallous]

An endless parade of data breaches, brutally disruptive ransomware attacks, and crippling IT outages has somehow become the norm around the world. And in spite of escalating impacts to critical infrastructure and daily life, progress has been intermittent and often fleeting. Something's gotta give—and at the BSides Las Vegas security conference this week, a longtime critical-infrastructure security researcher is launching a project to communicate with utility operators, municipalities, and regular people in creative ways about both urgency and optimism around protecting critical infrastructure now.

Dubbed UnDisruptable27, the project will start as a pilot with a $700,000 grant for the first year through Craig Newmark Philanthropies' Cyber Civil Defense coalition. Led by Josh Corman, who was chief strategist for the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Covid Task Force, in collaboration with the Institute for Security and Technology (IST), the project will focus on the critical interdependence of water, food, emergency medical care, and power as the backbone of human safety. Corman says that the key goal is to foster new discourse about these challenges inspired by the disaster management tenets “inform, influence, inspire.” In other words, people need to understand the risks and feel empowered that they can take action.

“We are overdependent on undependable things. No one should feel comfortable with the potential for harm here with our current state of defense,” Corman told WIRED ahead of the announcement. “Our dependence on connected tech has grown faster than our ability to secure it. People have been doing good things, but public policy takes time, and I think this year we need to cross certain thresholds on the sense of urgency.”

One of Corman's main motivations to launch the effort as quickly as possible came from comments made during a January congressional hearing about the cybersecurity threat China poses to the US. In the hearing, then Cyber Command head and NSA director Paul Nakasone, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Jen Easterly, FBI director Christopher Wray, and head of the Office of the National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. testified about pressing threats to US critical infrastructure, including specific campaigns the Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon has been conducting to pre-position itself in US water infrastructure. The goal of this targeting is apparently to create leverage and a credible threat against the US as part of a Chinese plan to invade Taiwan, potentially in 2027.

“The budgets that emerge from discussions underway now will dictate what kind of resources we have ready in 2027, a year that, as this committee knows all too well, the CCP has circled on its calendar,” Wray told the US House of Representatives committee in January. “And that year will be on us before you know it. As I've described, the PRC is already today putting their pieces in place. I do not want those watching today to think we can't protect ourselves, but I do want the American people to know that we cannot afford to sleep on this danger.”

Having worked on embedded device security and critical infrastructure defense for years, including through the decade-old grassroots computer security and human safety initiative he founded known as I Am the Cavalry, Corman says that it felt significant that some of the nation's top intelligence officials were warning Congress of such specific threats to US infrastructure in an unclassified setting.

“It’s not just that the water goes out, it’s that when the sole wastewater facility in your community is down really bad things start to happen. For example, no water means no hospital,” he says. “I really encountered a lot of this during my leadership of the Covid Task Force. There is such interdependence across the basic functions of society.”

UnDisruptable27 will focus on interacting with communities who aren't reached by Washington, DC-based policy discussions or Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), which are meant to represent each infrastructure sector of the US. The project aims to communicate directly with people who actually work on the ground in US critical infrastructure, and grapple together with the reality that cybersecurity-related disasters could impact their daily work.

“There’s a data breach, you get whatever services like identity protection for some period of time, and life carries on, and people think that there’s no long-term impact," says Megan Stifel, IST's chief strategy officer. “There’s this expectation that it’s fine, things will just continue. So we’re very interested in getting after this issue and thinking about how do we tackle critical infrastructure security with perhaps a new approach.”

Corman notes that even though cybersecurity incidents have become a well-known fact of life, business owners and infrastructure operators are often shaken and caught off guard when a cybersecurity incident actually affects them. Meanwhile, when government entities try to impose cybersecurity standards or become a partner on defense initiatives, communities often balk at the intrusion and perceived overreach. Last year, for example, the US Environmental Protection Agency was forced to rescind new cybersecurity guidelines for water systems after water companies and Republicans in Congress filed a lawsuit over the initiative.

“Time and time again, trade associations or lobbyists or owners and operators have an allergic reaction to oversight and say, ‘We prefer voluntary, we’re doing fine on our own,’” Corman says. “And they really are trying to do the right thing. But then also time and time again, people are just shocked that disruption could happen and feel very blindsided. So you can only conclude that the people who feel the pain of our failures are not included in the conversation. They deserve to understand the risks inherent in this level of connectivity. We’ve tried a lot of things, but we have not tried just leveling with people.”

UnDisruptable27 is launching this week for visibility among attendees at BSides as well as the other conferences, Black Hat and Defcon, that will run through Sunday in Las Vegas. Corman says that the goal is to combine the hacker mentality and, essentially, a call for volunteers with plans to work with creative collaborators on producing engaging content to fuel discourse and understanding. Information campaigns using memes and social media posts or moonshots like narrative podcasts and even reality TV are all on the table.

“We must prioritize the security, safety, and resilience of critical infrastructure—including water, health care facilities, and utilities," Craig Newmark, the Craigslist founder whose philanthropy is funding UnDisruptable27, told WIRED. "The urgency of this issue requires affecting human behavior through storytelling.”

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

Los Angeles: Join the MLK People's March & Vigil

Monday, January 15

Gather 2 p.m. @ MLK Blvd. & Western Ave

March 3 p.m.

Vigil 5 p.m.

No to U.S./Israeli Genocide in Gaza!

Money for Food, Housing, Jobs, Healthcare & Education - Not for War & Genocide!

Gather 2pm MLK Blvd & Western Ave for March to a Vigil in Africa Town Square to honor fallen warriors from Dr King to Kwazi Nkrumah and the over 30,000 Palestinians, 60% women and children, martyred by US/Israeli monstrous weapons of genocide.

Orgs: Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice, Black Alliance for Peace, Al-Awda Right to Return Coalition, Martin Luther King Coalition of Greater LA, Union del Barrio, Black Autonomy, Code Pink, Harvard Blvd Block Club, Justice for Palestine - LA, Anakbayan, All African Peoples Revolutionary Party, Black Men Build, Diaspora Pa'lante

[oddcryptidwrites]

The Murder of Fredrik Lexand (Space Clue)

ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS OF STARSEEKER A1 AND BEYOND: AS OF 18:16 21/3/314, FREDRIK MAXIMIL LEXAND, CORPORATE KING OF LEXAND STARFLEET, WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS POD. AN INVESTIGATION IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. PLEASE REMAIN CALM.

General Information

Genre: Sci-Fi, thriller

POV: Unknown, likely third limited like every thing else.

Setting: 314 years post-takeoff in a giant, self sustaining spaceship (a la the Snowpiercer train crossed with the Axiom Spaceship from Wall-E)

Content warnings: Murder (obviously), blood, gore, emphasis on class divisions, politics

Status: Planning document plus about 2k words.

Cast

Fredrik Maximil Lexand :: he/him :: 58 :: deceased :: Corporate King of Lexand Starfleet :: descendant of the original Fredrim Maximil Lexand :: telekinetic

Maximil "Andren" Lexand :: he/him :: 25 :: alive :: Heir to Lexand Startfleet :: Member of the Triple L :: telekinetic

Aurelia Margreve Lexand :: she/her :: 24 :: alive :: Professional Socialite :: Member of the Triple L :: telekinetic

Ailyx Yante Lexand :: she/he :: 22 :: alive :: Leader of the Triple L :: no known powers

Corceles Ance Moncell :: he/they :: 25 :: alive :: Bioengineer for HydroCell :: biokinetic

Aayrne Ocanos Coopet :: he/him :: 26 :: alive :: Heir to Cooper Circuit :: telepath

Ristie Hitte Hayeston :: xe/she :: 24 :: alive :: Architect for Hayeston Constructs :: magnetokinetic

Betiz Dorne Wison :: she/they :: 29 :: alive :: Head of Lexand Household :: no known powers

Scoud Jawn Tambry :: xe/xir :: 30 :: alive :: Detective with A1 Police Squadron :: no known powers

Baen Asiric Kemat :: he/him :: 24 :: alive :: Hitman for the Lexand family :: prophetic visions

Mashinsa "Mashie" Werne Moncell :: she/her :: 54 :: alive :: Lead Bioengineer/CEO of HydroCell :: Biokinesis

Corven Ocanos Coopet :: he/him :: 53 :: alive :: CEO of Coopet Circuit :: Ex-Member of the Martian Coalition :: Telepathic

Notable Companies and Lexand Starfleet Subsidaries

Lexand Starfleet: Builder of the Lexand Starfleet, the last havens for humanity. The firstborn of each generation inherits the company, earning the title the "Corporate King". Lexand Starfleet controls the everyday workings of the average person and most means of production in order to keep the Fleet thriving. All of the legal companies on the Starfleet are either under Lexand Starfleet as a subsidiary or are closely linked to Lexand Starfleet. Lexand Starfleet has created sharp divisions between the different class of citizens, with those who paid more for their ticket in the beginning having higher status.

Coopet Circuit: Coopet Circuit is the closest thing Lexand Starfleet has to a rival. The families have their issues with one another, and Coopet Circuit did leave the Mars Coalition, but they still produce most of the electronics for the Starfleet.

Hayeston Construction, a Subsidiary of Lexand Starfleet: Hayeston Construction works directly for Lexand Starfleet, leading all major construction projects within the Starfleet. While there are technically other minor construction companies which are Lexand Starfleet subsidiaries, Hayeston Construction is given control over them.

Celse Purification, a Subsidiary of Lexand Starfleet: Celse Purification handles all water production and purification within the Starfleet. While Celse Purification originally started as its own seperate company, it was recently brought under Lexand Starfleet's official umbrella when Fredrik Maximil Lexand married Margreve Tael Celse.

HydroCell: Although HydroCell is one of the few remaining independent companies within the Starfleet, the Moncell and Lexand families have been close for generations. HydroCell bioengineers and grows all of the "natural" products within the Starfleet, which includes food.

Concepts

Triple L 

Triple L, or the Lexand Triad, is the nickname of the three children of Fredrik Lexand: Andren, Aurelia, and Ailyx. They hold immense power on A1, and can manipulate practically anything to their liking. Andren serves as the political/economic side, often making deals either in service to his father or in service to himself. Aurelia is the social butterfly, and often helps her brother, flirting and befriending her way to what she wants. Then there’s Ailyx, and their twofold strength. Ailyx, first off, is brilliant, despite most people underestimating them. They can often dig up information that no one else should know. Additionally, their close link to Baen Kemat allows them to access the last resort: assassination. 

Mars Coalition  

The Mars Coalition is the original band of companies that came together under the leadership of Fredrick Dean Lexand (Fredrik Dee Lexand), and formed the original Lexand Starfleet Corporation. The heads of the companies planned to build 25 Starfleet cruisers, to harbor the last bits of humanity. These companies include Cooper (Coopet) Circuit, HydroCell, Celsius (Celse) Purification, and Hayes Town (Hayeston) Construction. Today, all of these companies are still collectively known as the Mars Coalition, although Coopet Circut has exited the group. The name originates from their plan to recolonize Mars, which never came to fruition.

A/N: So yeah I just cranked this whole thing out in one afternoon, after posting WAY too much stuff today. I probably won't touch it for a HOT minute but I might come back every now and then to work on it. Also Fine Print by the Stupendium absolutely nails the aesthetic of the Starfleet in general (capitalist hell).

Tag List (Let me know if you wanted to be added or removed): @thetruearchmagos @the-down-upside-finch @aether-wasteland-s @shay-creates @n1ghtcrwler @writingonmymind @dyrewrites @writeblrsupport

[queermtl]

QUEER MTL THINGS TO DO: July 2023

July turns up the heat and Montréal’s queers take to the streets! This month, Montréal is stuffed to the brim with events, parties and unique experiences painted in all the colours of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. From drag to community, circuit to underground, here’s some of our picks for the best LGBTQ+ things to do in the city. For further announcements, follow QueerMTL on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr! Got an event coming up? DM it our way!

EVENT OF THE MONTH:

🥳 Sure to be one of the summer’s favourite gathering spots, Ellelui presents Summer Happy Hours—Lesbian, Queer & Trans Oriented Events, every Wednesday from 19:00-22:00 this summer at Ping Pong Club. There’s a 20% BIPOC discount and PWYC tickets are available to those facing financial hardship—contact tickets@elleluimtl.com to access either option.

EVENTS

🐕 Queers love dogs, and dog-loving queers will adore the first edition of WOOPAW FEST at Bassin Peel on July 1 and 2, 2023, including a grand parade along the Lachine Canal!

🧺 Make new friends at the July Queer Picnic at Parc La Fontaine on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Find details on Facebook. 

✊ Show your love for Montréal’s Village at MANIFESTATION J’AIME MON VILLAGE on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, starting at Parc de l’Espoir at 5:30 PM. Bring your favourite noisemaker and show your love for one of the city’s most historically queer neighbourhoods. 

✍️ HommeHomo brings Drink & Draw back to Bar Le Cocktail on Wednesday, July 5 and Wednesday, July 19, 2023, featuring live models and drink specials. 

🎶 A Very Toxic Show at Bar Notre Dame des Quilles on Thursday, July 6, 2023, is sure to be an unforgettable night of covers, remixes and mash-ups of Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and nothing else. 

🎥 Wong Kar Wai’s Fallen Angels screens at the notorious old school adult Cinema l’Amour as part of Cinema Erotica 05, featuring post-screening music from Pauli Cakes, Miasalav, Mossy Mugler and Faux Sommets on Friday, July 7, 2023.

🫦 Pay loving tribute to the legendary Missy Elliott at the Missy Elliott Burlesque at Café Cléopatra on Saturday, July 8, 2023!

🥘 The Coalition des familles LGBT+ (CFLGBT+) hosts a Potluck BIPOC LGBTQ2S+ on Saturday, July 8, 2023 in Parc La Fontaine. Grab free tickets and get cooking!

🧘 Grove Campus Yoga Fest ’23: What is Love in Action? offers yoga for all levels, meditation, plant-based food, local vendors and entertainment all day long on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Check Eventbrite for tickets and location information. 

🎶 Musical darling Christine and the Queens perform two nights in a row at MTELUS, Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9, 2023. 

🎉 Celebrate and commemorate 30 years of Montréal sexual health organization REZO at REZO en spectacle—Soirée d’autofinancement at Cabaret Mado on Monday, July 10, 2023. 

🎥 REEL GAY screens the Twilight saga’s New Moon with live commentary featuring the one and only Tranna Wintour on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at The Diving Bell Social Club. 

🕺Choreographer Scott Fordham presents Limitless, a showcase of his work with special guest performers at Cabaret Mado on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. 

🎤 If you’ve ever asked what could possibly make karaoke even better, the popular Bareoke: Strip Karaoke at Café Cléopatra on Saturday, July 15, 2023 is your answer!

🤝 Meet fellow LGBTQ+ professionals at Le Frigo Vert’s Queer Entrepreneur Networking Event on Saturday, July 15, 2023. 

🎶 Veruca Salt’s Louise Post brings her solo material to Bar Le Ritz PBD on Monday, July 17, 2023.

🧺 Summer picnic season continues with the Queer Anglo Pride Picnic (Take 2), presented by Fierté Montréal, on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Parc Leduc. 

🩲 The Festival Hochelag: Queer et NU.E.S. brings two nights of performance to the Maisonneuve House of Culture on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22, 2023. Night one is a full cabaret with 10 performers, while the second night features the premiere of the Collectif NU.E.S’ Quand la neige fond entre mes cuisses.

🎶 Moira & Claire play alongside Ezra Glatt on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at Ursa. 

✊The Archives gaies du Québec hosts The Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP Montréal: a history in photos and posters from June 13-August 13, 2023, spotlighting an important piece of both HIV/AIDS and Montréal’s activist history.

👠 Twice a month on every second Tuesday, Bring It! hosts an OTA night of ballroom and vogue with commentator and DJ. Follow their Instagram for dates and details.

🤔 Every Wednesday, Bar Champs hosts Wednesday Trivia Night at Champs with Quiz Master Brian. 

🎾 Throughout the month, Tennis Lambda hosts LIGUE DE DIMANCHE outdoor tennis on the courts at Parc Louis-Riel. Check Eventbrite for full dates and details. 

🚲 Montréal Queer Bike Polo meets on Thursdays! Find details and directions on their Instagram. 

🏐 Les Ratons-Chasseurs (Montréal’s LGBTA dodgeball group) holds regular events. Keep an eye on their Facebook for upcoming opportunities to join in and play. 

🤠 The long-running Club Bolo offers open country music dance classes every Friday evening at the Association sportive et communautaire du Centre-Sud. Find more details at their website. 

🕹Montréal Gaymers hosts regular gatherings including board game nights and gaming gatherings. Check their Facebook for what’s next!

🎤 Most Tuesdays, check out Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic at Impro Montréal, focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians.

🏃🏾Join the Out-Run run and workout club for people relating to the queer / sapphic experience. Details on their Instagram!

💃 Tango/Salsa Queer’s continue, with Salsa Queer on Saturdays from 13:30-14:30 and Tango (beginners/intermediate) on Saturdays at 12:00-13:30. Contact tango.queer@hotmail.com or call +1 (438) 930-8529 for prices and signup information.

🐦 Bird lovers should keep their eye on Queer Birders' regularly scheduled birdwatching events and excursions. Join the Facebook group and get those binoculars at the ready. 

PARTIES

🥳 Guaranteeing an unmissable outdoor day-long dance party, Playground 2023 takes over Entrepôt 77 on Saturday, July 1, 2023, featuring performances from Mantisse, Laroie, Berlam, David Campana, Young Rose and more. 

🥳 Paying tribute to dance music of the Arab/SWANA region, Parallel Vol. 2 promises to dance the night away at The Diving Bell Social Club on Saturday, July 1, 2023. 

🥳 The sounds of the legendary Berghain comes to Montréal at BERLIN TECHNO 7—Canada Day Edition at Cabaret Berlin on Sunday, July 2, 2023. 

🥳 Vinorama hosts a Queer Wine Mixer on Thursday, July 6, 2023, and the first glass comes included with the entry ticket.

🥳 Discoño returns on Friday, July 7, 2023 at Ausgang Plaza with sets from Argentina’s Tayhana, Mexico’s Samia, AYYYBRINO, Jashim and Rico Rica. 

🥳 LUVHAUS Soirée LGBTQ made in Hochelaga brings B’ugo and Diskommander to Blockhaus on Saturday, July 8, 2023!

🥳 The Tumblr 2014 Dance Party promises to go back in time to the “edgy blogger era” at Turbo Haüs on Saturday, July 8, 2023. 

🥳 Turn back the clock at the With It 60’s Soul Party Montréal on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Bar La Shop, and dance to all of your favourite ‘60s hits. 

🥳 The ‘90s are back in style at Saved By the ‘90s…Baby! at Plaza Centre-Ville on Friday, July 14, 2023, self-proclaimed as the biggest ‘90s dance event in town. 

🥳 Turn the lights down low at Cirque de Boudoir’s GOTH BEACH 2 at Cabaret Berlin on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Don’t forget the dress code—keep it fetish and keep it on theme!

🥳 Gear ’n’ Dance Montréal takes over Bain Mathieu on Saturday, July 22, 2023, promising a new and welcoming fetish experience for experts and beginners alike. 

DRAG

👑 Calling all gaymers: The Gahds (Uma and Selma) host Jackbox Games with The Gahds at Bar Le Cocktail on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Play along or vote for your favourite players!

👑 Misty Waterfalls pulls double duty on Sunday, July 2, 2023 with Le Brunch aux Folles at 13h00 and Le Souper aux Folles at 17:00, both featuring Kiara and Victoire de Rockwell at Bar Social Verdun. 

👑 Cabaret Mado hosts the Cabaret Queer on Thursday, July 6, 2023, featuring performances from Tracy Trash, The Lady Josephine, Velma Jones, Miss Butterfly, Kitana Swett and others. 

👑 Master of diva impersonation Jimmy Moore presents Jimmy Moore personnifie Lady Gaga to Cabaret Mado on Saturday, July 8, 2023. 

👑 If you miss Y2K culture, non-binary performers Heaven Genderfck, Prudence, Val the Freak and Cismon Genderfck want to take you there at ENBY 4.5 presents YouTube 2K on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at Bar Le Cocktail.

👑 Legendary queen Mado presents Mado Bitche la France on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at her namesake club Cabaret Mado, featuring Squeegee Nicky on piano. 

👑 Jimmy Moore pays spot-on tribute to Céline Dion with Jimmy Moore personnifie Céline Dion on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Cabaret Mado. 

👑 Lulu Shade and Lady Monrose host Shade on Vacation on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at Bar Le Cocktail, featuring Mike Oxlong, Lily-Rose and Iris DeLys. 

👑 A queen of many talents, Tracy Trash pays tribute to the Material Girl with Madonna! on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Cabaret Mado. 

👑 Montréal’s glamour doll Sasha Bags hosts Sashalicious on Thursday, July 20, 2023, featuring appearances from Aizysse Baga, Pétula Claque, Bobépine and Lady Boom Boom. 

👑 Pop chameleon Jimmy Moore presents the Jimmy Moore personnifie Adèle supper and show at Complexe Sky on Friday, July 21, 2023.

👑 Does Jimmy Moore ever sleep? Don’t miss Jimmy Moore personnifie Britney Spears at Cabaret Mado on Saturday, July 22, 2023. 

👑 Lady Boom Boom hosts Drag Brunch at the Resto du Village on Sunday, July 23, 2023 with guests Zayra Schatzi, Will Charmer and Darling Delight. 

👑 Celebrate Crystal Starz’s birthday on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 with Légale et Blonde at Bar Le Cocktail, featuring appearances from Chibouki, Chouchoune and Michel Dorion. 

👑 Aizysse Baga presents TRASHILAZ featuring some of Montréal’s most exciting up-and-coming drag talent featuring Lady Boom Boom, Emmötionnal Damage, Pétula Claque, Misty Waterfalls and special guest Prince D-Serious on Thursday, July 27, 2023. 

👑 Jimmy Moore continues to work, work, work, work, work it with Jimmy Moore personnifie Rihanna at Cabaret Mado on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

👑 On Friday and Saturday nights, the legendary Mado Lamotte hosts Mado Reçoit at her namesake club, Cabaret Mado. Each week, she shares the stage with a hand-picked roster of queens. Tickets and lineup info here.

👑 Uma Gahd hosts weekly screenings of Drag Race All Stars Season 8 at Bar Le Cocktail on Friday nights. Come early for a good seat and laugh along all season!

👑 Rosa Golde hosts weekly Drag Race All Stars Season 8 viewings with special guest hosts including Marilyn Manhole and August Wind every Friday at Champs Bar, starting at 9:00 PM. Find more information here. 

👑 Every Tuesday, Canada’s Drag Race season 3 winner Gisèle Lullaby hosts Full Gisèle at Cabaret Mado. Tickets and schedule at Cabaret Mado’s website.

👑 Bar Le Cocktail’s regular weekly events include Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly every Thursday, Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion on Fridays, Drôles de Drags with a rotating cast of queens on Saturdays and Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion on Sundays. Check listings for specific details, and pick up tickets here.

👑 Every Monday at the Diving Bell Social Club, Bambi Dextrous hosts Trivia Night! Be sure to  book your team table in advance.

👑 Every Thursday at Complexe Sky, check out the Jimmy Moore Drag Show at 10 PM, sure to feature eye-popping costume changes and dance moves that don’t quit. Free with club admission. 

👑 Sunday nights brings the amazingly hilarious Tracy Trash’s Le Tracy Show to Cabaret Mado. Grab tickets here.

[bardonastick]

If you don't want to vote because both parties have failed you and the people you care about, that is completely understandable. If genocide is your red line, don't let Democrats shame you into voting for genocide, claiming it will be "the lesser genocide". Don't forget that Harris' calls for a ceasefire have been limited to short periods and have been effectively meaningless without mentioning an arms embargo. Don't forget that Tim Walz said "the expansion of Israel and its proxies is an absolute fundamental necessity for the United States to have the steady leadership there". Don't forget Harris' husband assured Jewish voters Harris would support Israel.

There are ways both within and without the voting system to work towards change. Many states will have socialist candidate Claudia de la Cruz on the ballot. Most have green's Jill Stein. Giving in to the duopoly has allowed the Dems to shift to the right over the years with no consequences, and voting for a real left wing candidate will long term either build the movement or force the Democrats left in an attempt to earn back our vote.

Maybe you feel like Israel's genocide is just the cost of having a more diversity minded administration. You can still support true progress by connecting with your community, supporting mutual aid, educating yourself and others, resisting, and organizing. Activists are starting to realize that we've reached the limits of what protesting is going to accomplish against this genocide, so joining coalitions now will help when the next step comes and there is more direct action, maybe even a general strike to stop our support of the genocide.

The Democratic party now exists to stand in the way of us ending capitalism. They stop us from getting universal healthcare, fully funding higher education, ending the ability of billionaires to exist, guaranteed food and housing, abolishing the police, ending prison slave labor, stopping climate change, ending war, ending genocide, and more. We likely will not elect our way out of this, but we are not powerless, and we can choose to use our vote strategically to further the fight.

To anyone considering not voting because of the Palestinian genocide, I have this to ask:

How many Palestinian people do you think you're helping by laying back and inviting the GOP to crush you under foot? Self flagellation didn't cure The Plague, and it won't fix this situation either.

If you don't like the idea of voting for Harris, I doubt I'll be able to change your mind, but consider this: 468 congressional seats out of a total 535 are up for re-election THIS NOVEMBER. You want to make the government start actually representing the will of the people? Start there.

We're living in frightening times, and apathy is a very comfortable state of being, but you need to act. If you don't, who will?

[transsolidarityproject]

Homelessness Hotlines

Everyone deserves compassion and safety, including emergency shelter and other social services. Find tools and resources centered on houselessness below. Support the project by reblogging or visiting transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com. Updated last: 11/30/2024

🇫🇷 115 @ refugies.info / 115 / Emergency number in France that connects individuals with accommodation centers free of charge.

🇺🇳 211 @ 211.org / 211 / Referral and directory telephone service that connects callers with any/all resources that may be beneficial to their circumstances. 211 is available both in the entirety of the United States and Canada.

🇬🇧 Advice for Renters @ adviceforrenters.org / Charity organization that offers free housing advice, financial support, and mentoring for those living in the United Kingdom.

🇬🇧 akt @ akt.org.uk / 020-7831-6562 / British organization that specializes in providing emergency housing and services to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 16 to 25.

🇬🇧 Centrepoint @ centrepoint.org.uk / 0808-800-0661 / Youth homelessness charity based in the United Kingdom that works primarily with young people ages 16 to 25.

🇮🇪 Citizens Information @ citizensinformation.ie / Homeless information for those in Ireland, with large databases on agencies throughout the country.

🇺🇸 Coalition for the Homeless Crisis Intervention Hotline @ coalitionforthehomeless.org / 888-358-2384 / One of the oldest advocacy and direct service organizations for the homeless in the United States, providing crisis care, housing, food, and job training.

🇲🇽 Consejo Ciudadano Para la Seguridad y Justica @ consejociudadanomx.org / 55-5533-5533 / Also known as the Safety Hot Line, Mexico's primary non-emergency telephone center for those seeking support on various social issues.

🇬🇧 Crisis @ crisis.org.uk / National charity in the United Kingdom that helps homeless individuals find the resources and tools needed to thrive.

🇺🇸 Disaster Distress Helpline / 800-985-5990 / National service that provides 24/7 crisis support within the United States for anyone experiencing emotional distress due to natural or human-caused disasters such as tornados, severe storms, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, droughts, mass violence, disease outbreaks, and community unrest.

🇺🇳 FEANTSA @ feantsa.org / 32-02-538-66-69 / International organization co-funded by the European Union to provide support to homeless individuals.

🇺🇸 Feeding America @ feedingamerica.org / 800-771-2303 / Nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and meal programs in the United States.

🇪🇸 HOGAR SÍ @ hogarsi.org / 911-108-984 / Social initiative and nonprofit organization in Spain that supports the needs of homeless individuals.

🇳🇱 Homeless Counter / 070-353-72-91 / Emergency shelter and social support for homeless people living in the Netherlands and at least 18 years old. Homeless individuals under the age of 18 should contact the Jeugd Interventie Team at 070-302-80-05.

🇮🇪 Homeless Dublin @ homelessdublin.ie / 1800-707-707 / Emergency accommodation for homeless individuals in Ireland.

🇦🇺 Homelessness Australia @ homlessnessaustralia.org.au / Support and resource organization in Australia with a large database of local helplines and charities centered on helping homeless individuals.

🇺🇸 Homeless Shelter Directory @ homelessshelterdirectory.org / Network of local shelters and homeless services in the United States.

🇺🇸 Human Resources and Services Administration @ hhs.gov / The primary agency under the United States government for supporting the delivery of essential human services which operates and partners with 19 different federal agencies, state and local governments, and other service providers to help homeless individuals.

🇺🇸 Miracle Messages @ miraclemessages.org / Nonprofit organization based in the US that provides social support systems to those experiencing homelessness, such as through their family reunification program, phone buddy system, and basic income pilots.

🇯🇵 Moyai Support Centre @ npomoyai.or.jp / 81-03-0363-0137 / Social welfare service that helps people living in Japan find everyday essentials/housing and overcome financial hardship.

🇺🇸 National Call Center for Homeless Veterans @ va.gov / 877-424-3838 / Free help through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. As a free and confidential service provided 24/7, the center accepts calls both from veterans themselves as well as family members, friends, and other supporters of veterans who are at risk.

🇺🇸 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans @ nchv.org / 202-546-1969 / National organization focused on ending veteran homelessness in the United States by promoting and shaping legislation as well as managing a referral helpline for at-risk veterans.

🇬🇷 National Emergency Response Mechanism / 30-2132128888 / Service for homeless children or children who are unaccompanied or in otherwise precarious living situations.

🇺🇸 National Healthcare for the Homeless Council @ nhchc.org / 615-226-2292 / Human rights and social justice organization that manages a nationwide healthcare network for homeless individuals in the United States. Additional information about free and low-cost medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and behavioral services can be found through the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics at nafcclinics.org.

🇺🇸 National Runaway Safeline @ 1800runaway.org / 800-786-2929 / National communications system for runaway and homeless youth in the United States, which caters to keeping young people as safe and healthy as possible in potentially dangerous situations.

🇿🇦 National Shelter Movement of South Africa Helpline @ nsmsa.org.za / 0800-001-005 / 24/7 helpline in South Africa, with a focus on victims of domestic violence. Also available via text and WhatsApp.

🇳🇴 Nav @ nav.no / 55-55-33-33 / Emergency accommodation in Norway for those looking for a place to sleep for the next 24 hours.

🇬🇧 Samaritans @ samaritans.org / 116-123 / Charity that supports those in crisis in the UK, which includes assisting homeless individuals find necessary resources and aid.

🇧🇪 Samusocial @ samusocial.be / 0800-99-340 / Immediate help provided by mobile teams and emergency reception centers in Belgium to help homeless individuals.

🇬🇧 Shelter @ england.shelter.org.uk / 0808-800-4444 / Helpline agency that connects individuals with free legal advice and local referrals.

🇬🇧 StreetLink @ thestreetlink.org.uk / Website service for individuals sleeping rough in the United Kingdom, connecting them with their local council and outreach services.

🇺🇸 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program @ usa.gov / Formerly known as "food stamps," SNAP is a US welfare program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget.

🇳🇿 The People's Project @ thepeoplesproject.org.nz / 0800-437-348 / New Zealand-based organization that fosters a housing-first approach in helping homeless individuals get back on their feet.

🇺🇳 Travel's Aid Hotline @ travelersaid.org / 866-201-7399 / International network of social service agencies, airports, and train stations that work to end homelessness and human trafficking around the globe.

🇬🇧 United Response @ unitedresponse.org.uk / Established charity that specializes in housing needs for individuals with mental health needs and disabilities such as autism, sensory impairments, and dementia.

🇺🇸 Women, Infants, and Children @ fns.usda.gov / Special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children in the United States to provide federal welfare for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding people, as well as infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk.

Enjoy this content and work? Consider helping out by sharing this blog or visiting transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com.

[ncisladaily]

@every_day_action - Hello all. It’s that time of year again! I don’t know about you but I need community more than ever as we head into the upcoming holidays, so if you feel the desire to give back please consider helping out in the @every_day_action Thanksgiving food drive. If you are in LA and can cook, hell yeah, if you are far away and can donate, love yah, if you can’t do either for whatever reason, consider sharing this post! I appreciate all the help this year to make another impactful food drive. This year YOUR donation (food, monetary or other) will benefit the following: DEPAUL Los Angeles NoHo Home Alliance New Directions for Veterans The Right Way Foundation SELAH The Hollywood Food Coalition Hope the Mission ROCERA LA Family Housing Bridge to Home An individual family in need Thank you for considering. I’ll put the link in my bio to donate. If you want to help in person or drop food. Please email: mail@youreverydayaction.org (please don’t spam us, ty)

[justiceheartwatcher]

Tucker Carlson to Headline RNC in Milwaukee

Trump Family Members

Donald Trump Jr.

Eric Trump

Co-Chairman Lara Trump

Kimberly Guilfoyle

 Entertainers, Celebrities, & Industry Leaders

Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition

Tucker Carlson, Television Host

Savannah Chrisley, TV Personality and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate

Franklin Graham, Renowned Faith Leader

Lee Greenwood, Country Music Star 

Alina Habba, Trump Campaign Senior Advisor

Diane Hendricks, Owner of ABC Supply 

Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director

Chris Janson, Country Music Star

Perry Johnson, Businessman 

Charlie Kirk, CEO of TPUSA

Sean O’Brien, President of TEAMSTERS 

Vivek Ramaswamy, Businessman  

Amber Rose, Rapper & Influencer

David Sacks, CEO of Yammer

Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya Foods 

Dana White, CEO of UFC

Steven and Zach Witkoff, Businessman

RNC Leadership

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley 

COA Chairwoman Anne Hathaway 

Host Committee Chairman Reince Priebus

GOP Officials & Candidates

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) 

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) 

U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) 

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) 

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) 

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), NRSC Chairman 

U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) 

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) 

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) 

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) 

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake (R-AZ) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Banks (R-IN) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy (R-MT) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Sam Brown (R- NV) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno (R-OH) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Dave McCormick (R-PA) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Hung Cao (R-VA) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde (R-WI) 

U.S. Senate Candidate Gov. Jim Justice (WV) & Babydog

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-4) 

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-1) 

U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-6) 

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-9), NRCC Chairman 

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), House GOP Conference Chair 

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-1) 

U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-6) 

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) 

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19) 

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) 

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) 

U.S. Rep. John James (MI-10) 

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) 

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-1)

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) 

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) 

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38) 

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) 

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) 

Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) 

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) 

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA)

Attorney General Brenna Bird (R-IA)

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R-NC)

Mayor Eric Johnson, Mayor of Dallas & Former Democrat 

Mayor Trent Conaway, Mayor East Palestine, Ohio 

Dr. Ben Carson, Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Kellyanne Conway, Former Counselor to President Donald J. Trump

Ric Grenell, Former Acting Director of National Intelligence 

Peter Navarro, Former Director of United States Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

Mike Pompeo, Former U.S. Secretary of State 

Linda McMahon, Former U.S. Administrator of SBA  

Newt Gingrich, Former U.S House Speaker

Lee Zeldin, Former U.S. Rep. (NY-1)

[captainelainembakleblog]

Rush Pena and Company Enter the World of Hate and Violence - With the rise of cartel governance in countries south of the border, accompanied by despicable violence, peace and security within their societies fell into decline. 

E. M. Duesel vividly portrays this in her book "Illegal", where the kidnappings of girls on the border hit close to home, targeting even the female volunteers of Laredo's food bank, La Cantina. In response, Rush Pena and his allies formed a coalition to resist. Take a leap into this gripping adventure—it certainly lives up to its promise!

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 5.18 (before 1920)

332 – Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople. 872 – Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I. 1096 – First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany. 1152 – The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England. 1268 – The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch. 1291 – Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land. 1302 – Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia. 1388 – During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Ming army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan. 1499 – Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela. 1565 – The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta. 1593 – Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. 1631 – In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts. 1652 – Slavery in Rhode Island is abolished, although the law is not rigorously enforced. 1695 – The 1695 Linfen earthquake in Shannxi, Qing dynasty causes extreme damage and kills at least 52,000 people. 1756 – The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France. 1783 – First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John, New Brunswick), Canada, after leaving the United States. 1794 – Battle of Tourcoing during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. 1803 – Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France. 1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate. 1811 – Battle of Las Piedras: The first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay led by José Artigas. 1812 – John Bellingham is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. 1843 – The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland. 1848 – Opening of the first German National Assembly (Nationalversammlung) in Frankfurt, Germany. 1860 – United States presidential election: Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party presidential nomination over William H. Seward, who later becomes the United States Secretary of State. 1863 – American Civil War: Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant begin the Siege of Vicksburg during the Vicksburg campaign in order to take full control of the Mississippi River. 1896 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that the "separate but equal" doctrine is constitutional. 1896 – Khodynka Tragedy: A mass panic on Khodynka Field in Moscow during the festivities of the coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II results in the deaths of 1,389 people. 1900 – The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga. 1912 – The first Indian film, Shree Pundalik by Dadasaheb Torne, is released in Mumbai. 1917 – World War I: The Selective Service Act of 1917 is passed, giving the President of the United States the power of conscription.

[mariacallous]

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party has won the country’s recent parliamentary elections, reigniting debates about the rise of right-wing populists across Europe. However, survey data and election results from various continental European countries show that left-wing radicals are also experiencing a significant surge. These data suggest that Europe is not merely shifting to the right, but undergoing a broader political polarization. The driving force behind this trend seems to be socio-economic issues, including a wave of inflation that has hit the middle class hard.

Austria's search for stability

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won the country’s recent parliamentary elections, as was expected, securing 29.2% of the vote, according to preliminary data from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. The party, which has made immigration its central campaign theme, is still waiting for the final count, as many Austrians vote by mail. This process has sparked controversy in the past, as late-arriving ballots have sometimes significantly altered election results — often to the detriment of the far-right. However, this time, the Freedom Party’s lead over the ruling center-right People’s Party (26.5%) is more than 2.5%, a margin that the remaining votes are unlikely to close.

Despite this clear victory, the Freedom Party has little chance of forming a government. All other parties, including the People’s Party — despite its previous coalition with the FPÖ — are currently refusing to cooperate with the winner. Additionally, President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has Russian roots, has made it clear that he will not nominate the FPÖ’s leader, Herbert Kickl, a pro-Russian hardliner, for the position of prime minister. It is more likely that a coalition of centrist parties, both left- and right-leaning, will take power, leaving the Freedom Party in the opposition — this despite a clear anti-immigration sentiment among Austrian voters.

At the same time, a new trend is emerging in Austria: rising demand for radical left-wing politics. For the first time in decades, the long-forgotten local Communist Party came close to passing the parliamentary threshold. It has focused on addressing real social issues, such as housing policy, and it is gaining traction in urban areas. In 2023, the party performed well in regional elections in Salzburg, achieved solid results in Vienna, and since 2021, the mayor of Graz has been a member of the Communist Party. This suggests that the Communists could strengthen their position even further in time for the next elections, especially if they start appealing to current far-right voters, as is happening in France and Germany.

France riding a left-wing wave

The approval rating of French President Emmanuel Macron has recently dropped to its lowest level of his seven years in office. According to a poll by Odoxa, only 25% of the French public are satisfied with his performance. Moreover, 59% believe that Macron’s newly appointed prime minister, Michel Barnier, will be a “poor” head of government.

In Austria, mainstream politicians are struggling to keep the far-right out of power. But in France, following the snap elections in June, Macron found himself up against the far-left. The New Popular Front, a coalition of diverse parties that includes the Socialists, took first place. Leading the coalition and securing the majority of the left-wing seats in parliament was Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his far-left party, La France Insoumise (“Unsubmissive France”).

Although Macron’s political maneuvering has thus far succeeded in keeping Mélenchon and his allies out of government, the French left is gaining momentum by focusing on social issues such as utility prices, pensions, food costs, and education. They are steadily reclaiming voters who had previously shifted to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.

Not long ago, the biggest concern for centrists in France was the potential victory of the far-right’s young new leader Jordan Bardella in the 2027 presidential elections. Now, however, the question of the day is which radical left-wing candidate will make a serious run for the presidency. Mélenchon performed quite well in the last presidential race, but it is likely that this time the candidate will be younger — and possibly even more radical.

German Greens losing ground to left-wing radicals

The political landscape in Germany and the Czech Republic also indicates a shift to the left. Almost simultaneously, the leaders of Germany’s Green Party and the Czech Pirate Party announced their resignations. In Germany, the Greens’ official reason for stepping down was their crushing defeat in the Sept. 22 regional elections in Brandenburg, where they secured only 4.1% of the vote, failing to enter the regional parliament (Landtag).

In reality, however, change at the top is likely due to the fact that the rating of the Alliance 90/The Greens, a la Macron's situation in France, has dropped to its lowest level in seven years, and is currently hovering around 9.5% nationwide. This puts them behind the newly established left-wing and pro-Russian Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, which was formed just this year. In Brandenburg, Wagenknecht's party managed to capture 13.5% of the vote.

A similar scenario played out in the Czech Republic in the latter half of 2024. Following disappointing results in regional elections and senatorial by-elections, the Pirate Party's leadership stepped down. The Pirates, much like Germany’s Greens, had positioned themselves as champions of progressive environmental policies, marriage equality, LGBTQ rights, and stricter penalties for domestic violence.

At the same time, the popularity of local communists and their allies surged following the European Parliament elections. They have coalesced into the Stačilo bloc, led by the Czech equivalent of Wagenknecht — Kateřina Konečná. Like her German counterpart and Mélenchon, the Czech communist opposes active military support for Ukraine and favors a potential normalization of relations with Russia. However, her campaign remains focused on social issues, such as high levels of household debt and problems with utility bills, access to housing, and pensions.

Radicalization fueled by inflation

In both the Czech Republic and Germany, the next parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2025 — unless the current governing coalitions collapse before then, triggering snap elections. The newly emerging left-wing movements, which combine anti-immigration rhetoric with pro-Russian sentiments, appear to have a strong chance of success. It seems that radical leftists, who had largely vanished from the political landscape over the past two decades, are making a comeback in many European countries.

However, their platforms have shifted significantly, and in some cases, their stance on immigration sounds almost identical to that of the far-right. Support for such parties is growing among the European lower-middle class, which has been hit hard by economic and social upheavals over the past five years. Key factors include a sharp rise in utility costs following the breakdown of energy ties with Russia, record-high inflation for the EU, and increasing food prices. These issues were aggravated by the policies put in place in many EU countries to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, by global food price spikes caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, by the recent conflict in the Middle East, and by ongoing climate disruptions.

In Germany, the number of family-owned businesses is noticeably shrinking, and bankruptcies are rising. In the Czech Republic, a similar pattern is emerging, with more bankruptcies being declared and fewer small businesses opening up. Politicians have been quick to exploit these vulnerabilities. As a result, by the 2025–2027 election cycle, the narrative may shift away from fears of a right-wing bump to a growing concern over a left-wing resurgence. This new leftward shift could prove more stable and enduring than the rightward shift did, as its root causes are unlikely to be resolved quickly — if EU countries can even address them at all in the foreseeable future.