Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists.
In a recent analysis of social media videos from 28 events in Illinois from Oct. 9 to Oct. 27, Bellingcat found seven that appeared to show the use of riot control weapons when there was seemingly no apparent immediate threat by protesters and no audible warnings given. Nineteen showed use of force, such as tackling people to the ground when they were not visibly resisting. Another seven showed agents ordering or threatening people to leave public places. Some of the events identified showed incidents that appeared to fall into more than one of these categories.
The Trump family’s decades long financial controversies span charity misuse, to business fraud findings, to large civil and criminal penalties, including the dissolution of the Trump Foundation, and a $25 million Trump University settlement.
During both terms of his presidency Trump has successfully increased the wealth of himself and family members, including payments from foreign governments and state-linked firms in apparent violation of the Emolument Clause of the US constitution.
Author Maria Konnikova explores how con-men are artists of persuasion and exploiters of trust that keeps us falling for the con, over and over again. We don’t fall for cons because we are greedy or stupid. We fall for them because we are human and are susceptible to compelling stories. Con artists exploit this by building trust so we never verify their stories.
We are most susceptible to cons when we are in a state of emotional vulnerability, when for instance, the world has changed. In these moments, we crave certainty, making us prime targets.
Watch these videos and you will see that what is happening in Portland is mostly covered by free speech, which allows us to protest and make our views known. Any disturbance like skirmishes between protestor and counter-protestors are something police are trained to handle. See for yourself.
The Oregonian/OregonLive report on protests at the ICE facility.
KATU streamed what is really happening at the entrance to the ICE facility in Portland, OR
So how does the Trump regime justify wanting to send soldiers into the streets of Portland? Watch this.
Why Affordable Healthcare Premiums Matter: Keeping People Covered and Hospitals Open
Democrats are pressing Republicans to negotiate on health care provisions tied to reopening the government as they seek to secure legislation that directly lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs: a long-term extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and a reversal of recent Medicaid cuts.
The Human Cost of Rising Premiums
When premiums become unaffordable, the ripple effects touch everyone, from families struggling to pay their bills to hospitals facing financial uncertainty. Without immediate action, ACA marketplace premiums could more than double for many Americans, jumping from an average of $888 to $1,904 annually when the enhanced tax credits expire.
The Domino Effect on Healthcare Access
When premiums rise sharply, healthier individuals often drop their coverage first. This creates what’s known as an adverse selection spiral—as healthier people leave the insurance pool, the remaining people tend to be sicker and more expensive to cover, which drives premiums even higher. This cycle doesn’t just hurt individuals. It fundamentally weakens our healthcare infrastructure.
Why Hospitals Need Insured Patients
Hospitals operate on increasingly thin margins, and the math is straightforward: insured patients are more likely to seek preventive care, catch health issues early, and pay their medical bills. When millions of people lose insurance coverage, rural hospitals face closure because a significant drop in insured patients can be the difference between staying open and closing doors—leaving entire communities without local healthcare access. When hospitals close or reduce services, everyone suffers. Remaining hospitals become overcrowded, wait times increase, and people must travel farther for care. In emergencies, those extra miles can mean the difference between life and death.
Many hospitals in the North Country are threatened if the ACA subsidies are lost, and recent Medicaid cuts are not reversed. Alice Hyde is one of those hospitals.
The Path Forward
As we face decisions about healthcare subsidies and coverage, we need to remember that this isn’t just about government spending. It’s about maintaining a healthcare system that works for everyone. Since enhanced premium tax credits were introduced, the number of people enrolled in ACA marketplace health insurance plans has almost doubled. This expansion didn’t just help individuals—it strengthened the entire healthcare system.
Healthcare isn’t a luxury good that only some can afford. It’s infrastructure, as essential as roads and schools. Three-quarters of Americans want Congress to extend tax credits that help keep premiums affordable, including a majority of Republicans. When we invest in keeping that infrastructure accessible, everyone benefits. When we let it crumble, we all pay the price—one closed hospital, one dropped policy, one untreated illness at a time.
