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A La Carte Education: Skip The LGBTQ Storybook Special

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Ted Rall

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case where religious families in Montgomery County, Maryland, sought to opt their children out of public school lessons involving LGBTQ storybooks. The conservative majority seemed likely to favor the parents, prioritizing religious freedom and parental rights. Justices like Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh questioned the feasibility of denying opt outs, while liberal justices worried about broader impacts. Should parents be able to have their kids educated a la carte, choosing which lessons align with their beliefs? This debate highlights tensions between individual rights and standardized education, with a ruling expected soon.

Stocks, Bonds, T-Notes and Dollar Dive as Safe Havens Dwindle

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Ted Rall

Stocks, bonds, Treasury notes, and the US dollar falling together, a rare event, unsettle investors, driven by tariffs under President Trump. These tariffs fueled economic uncertainty, sparking selloffs in US assets. Stocks dropped from expected profit declines, bonds fell as yields hit 4.5 percent, Treasury notes faltered amid inflation fears, and the dollar weakened against major currencies. Safe havens, like gold or German bunds, gained favor. With diversification less effective, reliable refuges dwindle. Investors navigate a volatile market, where cash, despite low returns, offers stability. This turbulent environment demands caution, as traditional safe havens shrink rapidly.

Trump Brags About El Salvador Prison Abuse

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Ted Rall

The Trump administration has sparked outrage by releasing photos showcasing alleged Venezuelan gang members, deported from the US, enduring harsh conditions in El Salvador’s maximum-security CECOT prison. Unlike the Abu Ghraib scandal under George W. Bush, where leaked images exposed prisoner abuse in Iraq, Trump officials openly shared these images, framing them as proof of tough immigration policies. The photos show detainees in shackles, heads shaved, packed into crowded cells, echoing the brutality of Abu Ghraib. Human Rights Watch reports 350 deaths in Salvadoran prisons since 2022, citing torture and neglect. The administration claims the detainees, linked to Tren de Aragua, threaten US security, but evidence remains thin, fueling comparisons to past war on terror abuses.

First They Came for the Grad Students

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Ted Rall

A society that jails peaceful students for protesting or writing essays signals a chilling collapse of freedom. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate, was arrested by ICE in March 2025 for leading pro-Palestinian protests, despite holding a green card. Transferred to a Louisiana detention center, he faces deportation for vague “foreign policy risks,” sparking outrage over free speech suppression. Similarly, Yunseo Chung, another Columbia student, had her green card revoked and was detained for participating in anti-war demonstrations, highlighting a pattern of targeting activists. At UCLA, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown, faced detention after DHS accused him of Hamas ties for his protest involvement, with no clear evidence. These cases reveal a democracy fraying, where dissent invites punishment. Will silence become complicity?

Harvard Defies Trump! $2B Showdown Erupts!

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Ted Rall

Harvard University dropped a bombshell, becoming the first major institution to defy Donald Trump! The former president demanded Harvard ditch diversity programs, ban protest masks, and enforce merit-only hiring, threatening to yank billions in funding. He also pushed for viewpoint audits to curb what he calls leftist bias, aiming to reshape the Ivy League icon. Harvard said no way, refusing to bend to what they call unlawful overreach. This move risks over $2 billion in frozen grants, sparking a showdown that could inspire others to resist. Will Harvard gamble big and win, or will Trump pressure crush the academic giant? The battle for control is heating up fast!

ChatGPT Caught Silencing Critics

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Ted Rall

Has Big Tech gone full Orwell? Cartoonist Ted Rall says he’s been digitally ‘unpersoned’ by ChatGPT, seemingly for the crime of criticizing OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. Go ahead, ask ChatGPT about Ted Rall—you’ll get nothing but silence. Suspicious, Rall dug deeper and uncovered a disturbing pattern: OpenAI appears to be systematically erasing critics from its AI’s responses, a move straight out of 1984’s playbook. This isn’t just about one cartoonist—it’s a glaring red flag for free speech. If a powerful company like OpenAI can quietly suppress dissent in its AI systems, what’s stopping Big Tech from controlling the narrative everywhere? Rall’s discovery raises tough questions: Can we trust tech giants to protect open discourse, or are they building a future where criticism vanishes into a digital void? As AI shapes our world, this chilling censorship tactic suggests we’re on a slippery slope—unless we demand answers now.

Trump’s Sneaky Social Security Plot Exposed

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Ted Rall

Is the Trump Administration secretly waging war on senior citizens? A suspicious new trend suggests they’re passive-aggressively piling on extra hurdles to snag Social Security benefits—bureaucratic hoops and red tape that’d make even the sprightliest grandma groan. Why the sudden change? Maybe it’s a cunning ploy by the president, a self-proclaimed beacon of physical fitness, now teamed up with health nut RFK Jr. Could this be their bizarre masterplan to Make Elderly Codgers Limber Again (MECLA)? Forget bingo and rocking chairs—Trump might want seniors doing jumping jacks to prove they’re worthy of their checks!

Trump’s Deportation Plan: Fascist or Vacation Hack?

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Ted Rall

As inflation soars, dream getaways to top tourist spots like Paris or Hawaii can set you back thousands—flights, hotels, and food adding up fast. But here’s the unexpected twist: deportations might just be your ticket to an exotic escape! Imagine skipping the hefty price tag and jetting off to El Salvador—for free! Sure, it’s a one-way trip, and you might not be sipping cocktails by choice, but with pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and no round-trip costs, could this be the ultimate budget travel loophole?

Fear of ICE Grips Migrants, Activists, and Citizens

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Ted Rall

Fear of ICE arrests is spreading across the United States, reaching beyond migrants and political activists to include everyday citizens. This growing anxiety stems from intensified immigration enforcement, with frequent raids and deportations unsettling communities. The emotional toll is palpable—individuals live with constant uncertainty, while society grapples with the broader implications. Many people wonder whether it’s safe to leave the U.S. on vacation. We are a nation at a crossroads, wrestling with issues of identity, rights, and government overreach.

Trump’s Tariffs Make the Case for Communism

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Ted Rall

Trump’s 2024 election win partly relied on complaints over inflation, like skyrocketing egg prices. However, his tariff-focused strategy to protect American businesses may raise costs further by limiting foreign competition. This will lead to even higher prices for staples—eggs, bread, meat—undermining his anti-inflation stance. This convoluted approach bolsters arguments for socialism or communism, where essentials are subsidized or free, ensuring affordability. While tariffs appeal to nationalist voters, they risk alienating those demanding lower grocery bills. Can tariffs curb inflation, or do they invite radical economic alternatives?
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