TOP STORY

The pressure worked: Elon Musk gives up

In case you need some good news—this is it.

After a string of defeats, plummeting auto sales, and a personal popularity rating among the lowest in the country, Elon Musk says he’s basically giving up on politics.

THE DETAILS: Speaking via Zoom to a gathering of oligarchs and their admirers in Qatar yesterday, Musk admitted he'll be spending "a lot less" on political campaigns.

• The retreat comes after his failed push to gut the federal government under Donald Trump and a massive electoral defeat in Wisconsin.

Musk, a top political donor to Trump and an architect of Trump-era government cuts, told a conference he believes he's "done enough."

BACKGROUND: For once, we agree with Musk. He’s done enough. A short recap:

• He poured at least $250 million into the 2024 election to help re-elect Trump and fund fascist candidates nationwide.

• His so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired tens of thousands of workers and tried to illegally dismantle or cripple entire agencies like the Social Security Administration.

The people pushed back—launching protests and vandalizing his businesses—all before delivering a humiliating defeat to his hand-picked candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

CHANGING HIS TUNE: Apparently, the pressure worked—it all got to him.

• Announcing his retreat he said, "Being attacked relentlessly is not super fun. Seeing cars burning is not fun.”

Now, his political empire is on pause—a quiet concession from a man who once tried to buy—and then destroy—the government of the people, for the people, and by the people.

BOTTOM LINE: We’re not a totalitarian state—yet. The lesson here is that protests still work. Pressure works.

The people pushed back and the richest man in the world gave in.

🗞️ Making News

Analysis confirms Trump’s tax cut is a big handout to the rich

Continuing America’s long tradition of socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for everybody else, a new analysis found that Trump’s proposed tax cuts are another massive redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the top. The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center found that the top 20% of households, those with incomes above $217,000, would reap 60% of the benefits from Trump’s proposed tax cuts. Full story from The Huffington Post.

AOC seen as ‘face’ of Democratic Party—and it’s not even close

A new poll found that most Democrats see Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the face of the party. And—she was far ahead of anybody else. Coming in a distant second was Bernie, while Rep. Jasmine Crockett placed third with 8%. Full story (and rankings) from Mediaite.

New Trump vaccine policy limits access to COVID shots

What happens when you appoint an unqualified nut job to be the nation’s chief public health officer? A stark break with established science. The FDA’s new policy raises new questions about whether some people who want a vaccine this fall will be able to get one. Full story from the AP.

US oil firms pumping secret chemicals into ground and not fully reporting it

A new analysis has found that fossil fuel companies have found a new way to quietly kill us—by pumping secret chemicals into the ground via fracking and then fail to disclose that information to the public. A report from environmentalist groups in Colorado found that big gas companies like Chevron were pumping millions of pounds of chemicals into the ground and not making the legally required disclosures. Just one more reason to boycott Chevron (see below). Full story from The Guardian.

➡️ Question of the Day

Yesterday we reported on how Bernie Sanders agreed that the Democratic Party is a threat to Democracy. Then we asked, do you agree with him? The results were overwhelming.

Strepani voted no and made a good point: “Neither party gives a rat's butt about the people anymore. But, the Democrats are not as horrible as those supposed adult Republicans who are afraid of trump. All any of them want is to keep their cushy jobs, and to hell with those of us who keep them in power.”

Still, Michael voices a lot of people’s frustrations: “The DNC chooses their candidate for president. It doesn't let the voters decide. In 2020, Bernie was leading in the primaries and the DNC decided that they didn't want him as their candidate so in order to install Biden they convinced the other candidates to drop out before super Tuesday and to endorse Biden. While Biden did a better job than I expected I believe Bernie could have led our country in a different direction and would have set up a more progressive direction for the country.”

Cardinal was more blunt about the Democrats: “If they don't get their heads out of their asses - there will not be a democracy left thanks to the current administration.”

TODAY’S QUESTION: Today we want to know—do you think AOC is the face of the Democratic Party? Tell us why or why not after you vote.

IN DEPTH

UN: 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if Israel doesn’t let in aid

The situation has gone from horrible to much, much worse in Gaza—as Israel has refused to let almost any humanitarian aid enter the territory for the last 11 weeks.

Things are so bad the U.N. warned yesterday that 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours if food and medical aid were not let in immediately.

THE DETAILS: U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher issued the dire warning, calling the situation catastrophic in an interview with the BBC yesterday.

• On Tuesday, the U.N. said it had received permission to send around 100 trucks full of aid into Gaza. They have yet to confirm if anything has been delivered.

Only five trucks were allowed in Monday, but Fletcher called that a “drop in the ocean.”

THE BACKLASH: Unlike our government—which is funding this ethnic cleansing with American tax dollars—the U.K., France, and Canada are all pushing back against Israel for this unthinkable evil. The three issued a rare joint condemnation of Israel yesterday.

The U.K. went even further:

• They have suspended trade talks and summoned Israel’s ambassador.

• And their Foreign Secretary (their equivalent to Secretary of State) David Lammy demanded an end to the blockade and bombardment in a speech to Parliament. “The world is judging. History will judge them.”

Israel’s far-right government responded with defiance.

• Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed the outrage as sympathy for what he called “a genocidal attack”—and vowed to keep bombing until “total victory.”

THERE’S MORE: Israel’s blockade has been matched with increased bombing and a new “ground offensive.” 

Medical aid groups say Israel is systematically targeting Gaza’s health system—another war crime. 

• Nasser Hospital—southern Gaza’s largest—was bombed twice this week; while other medical facilities were also attacked.

• And overnight, the AP reports the two last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza have been encircled by Israeli forces.

In the past few days, Israel’s airstrikes have killed over 300 more people.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: There are three things you can do right now to help the children of Gaza and end this genocide.

1. Call your members of Congress and urge them to demand Israel let in aid immediately. This tool from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights will help you call all three of your representatives and give you a script of what to say.

2. If you’re financially able, donate money to the children of Gaza through UNICEF.

3. Boycott these brands for their support of Israel’s genocide. Notable boycotts include Chevron, Microsoft, and Reebok.

Most importantly, don’t look away. The children of Gaza need us now more than ever.

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