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🌐 Europe plans for post-Trump world Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Terrified by President Trump's tariffs and threats against Greenland, Europe's leaders held a secret January crisis meeting to plot how to survive a rupture with America, according to a deeply reported Wall Street Journal story (gift link). Why it matters: European allies are quietly stripping U.S. tech from government systems and pouring billions into homegrown space, AI and data-center firms in what the Journal calls an "unprecedented experiment in de-Americanization." Nearly 30 leaders gathered for a tense Brussels summit dubbed "therapy night," where French President Emmanuel Macron declared "there is no going back," warning Europe's overreliance on America was a security risk. Italy's Giorgia Meloni initially pushed back on the room's mood, arguing Trump could still be reasoned with even if other leaders didn't like him. Months later, after Trump's airstrikes on Iran spiked fuel prices across Europe, even Meloni had changed her tune and declared that Trump "is not reasonable." Worthy of your time.
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💥 Trump's Iran grudge hangs over NATO summit Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photos via Getty Images President Trump arrives at the NATO summit in Ankara today still furious at the allies who refused to help him fight Iran — and determined to make sure they know it, Axios' Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo write. Why it matters: For years, Trump has openly questioned whether America's closest allies are strong enough, loyal enough or useful enough to deserve the protection they've relied on since World War II. Some allies' refusal to open air bases for U.S. strikes on Iran — or to send forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz — has hardened his NATO skepticism into open contempt. Zoom in: Trump has spent the weeks since the Iran war publicly humiliating Europe's leaders. He has mocked Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she "begged" him for a photo at the G7. Yesterday, Trump posted a meme of Meloni with the caption: "Restraining order needed." He called outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer weak and suggested his hesitation over Iran showed he was "no Winston Churchill." Even NATO chief Mark Rutte — Europe's preeminent "Trump whisperer" — struck out last month when he tried to flatter the president with a gold-lettered chart touting "The Trump Trillion" in allied defense spending. 👀 What to watch: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe last month. One U.S. official told Axios the review could lead to adjustments in Europe. A second U.S. official said a "NATO drawdown isn't really on the table" for the summit, but added: "The president isn't happy with the Europeans. It's the same old story." U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told reporters that Trump will push allies to move faster toward spending 5% of GDP on defense. 🇺🇦 Between the lines: Trump's meeting with Zelensky could become the summit's most consequential side drama. Ukrainian officials hope the meeting — their second in three weeks — will produce movement on two urgent priorities: Patriot air defense systems and a new U.S. push for a deal to end the war.
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Business & Media Markets
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
🤖 Claude's hidden thinking space Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios Anthropic said yesterday that it has identified an internal workspace Claude uses to hold and manipulate ideas without putting them into words — a structure it says resembles how humans consciously access thoughts, Axios' Ina Fried and Madison Mills write. Why it matters: Anthropic hasn't shown that Claude feels or experiences anything. But the discovery gives fresh ammunition to the debate over what would count as machine consciousness. In a video, the company says Claude uses this "J-space" to plan strategies that can be unrelated to its immediate task and are separate from the "chain of thought" reasoning it shares with users. "We can see Claude silently perform reasoning steps in its head—noticing bugs in code, identifying images, and more," Anthropic said in a post on X accompanying its video. 🧠 The intrigue: Anthropic's research paper uses the word "conscious" over 200 times, though the company doesn't go so far as to say its models are conscious. Watch the video ... Anthropic's paper ... -
This Day in History
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Word of the Day (and other daily nuggets)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY July 7 1930 Preliminary work begins on the Hoover Dam Construction of the Hoover Dam begins. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Cold War 1983 11-year-old Samantha Smith leaves for visit to the USSR Crime 1865 Mary Surratt is first woman executed by U.S. federal government Early U.S. 1798 U.S. launches the Quasi-War with France, the first conflict since the Revolution European History 2005 Terrorists attack London transit system at rush hour Native American History 1863 Kit Carson begins his campaign against Native Americans Sports 2019 U.S. women’s soccer team wins record 4th World Cup title 1912 Jim Thorpe begins Olympic pentathlon U.S. Government and Politics 1797 First impeachment of a U.S. Senator U.S. Presidents 1946 Future President Jimmy Carter marries 1986 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter spend wedding anniversary building Habitat for Humanity home Women’s History 1976 Female cadets enrolled at West Point 1981 Reagan announces Sandra Day O’Connor as pick for the Supreme Court World War I 1917 British Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps is officially established World War II 1942 Himmler decides to begin medical experiments on Auschwitz prisoners -
Bull Run Begins The annual nine-day San Fermín festival—known as the Running of the Bulls—kicked off yesterday in Pamplona, Spain. Watch the traditional rocket launch, overlooking 12,000 crowdgoers wearing white and waving red handkerchiefs, here (via YouTube). Beginning today, thousands of people will sprint ahead of six fighting bulls and six steers each morning at 8 am local time, followed by an afternoon bullfight. The medieval-era festival honors Saint Fermín, remembered as the son of a Roman senator and Pamplona's first bishop. In the 16th century, festivities were moved from the saint's feast day in the fall to July, presumably to coincide with the peak season for cattle markets. This year, celebrations coincide with the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway's “The Sun Also Rises,” which popularized the festival. Read about the novel’s enduring legacy here. At least 16 people are believed to have died in the festivities over the past century; see photos from 1947 here.
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Crimes, Homicides & Suicides
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Kirk Murder Hearing Prosecutors this week are publicly unveiling their evidence in the murder case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University last September. The preliminary hearing that began yesterday will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial. Watch the first day's livestream here. The defendant, 23-year-old Tyler Robinson, is charged with aggravated murder; he has not entered a plea as of this writing. Day 1 of the hearing included testimony from former campus police officer Chris Bagley, who said authorities found what appeared to be a "sniper pad" on a campus rooftop overlooking the event. (Read more highlights.) Prosecutors also outlined evidence they plan to present over the coming days, including DNA evidence, autopsy findings, an alleged confession, and a video interview with Robinson's former roommate and romantic partner. Read the alleged confession texts and charging documents here. See a timeline of the investigation, including aerial mapping of the shooting, here (scroll down for map). -
NATO Defense Push World leaders are gathering in Ankara, Turkey, today for the 36th annual NATO summit. The 32-member alliance is expected to showcase new military equipment funded by increased defense spending. NATO is estimated to spend about $258B more on defense across 2025 and 2026 as members work to increase defense budgets from 2% to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035. President Donald Trump pushed for the higher target last year, arguing that member states rely too heavily on the US. He threatened to reduce backing for allies that fail to meet the metric. Countries near Russia—such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia—are nearing the 5% goal, while Spain and Belgium previously struggled to meet the 2% benchmark. See how much NATO allies spend on defense here. Separately, Ukraine renewed calls for NATO support yesterday after reporting that Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones at and around Kyiv. NATO allies have reportedly provided 99% of all military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022. Learn how NATO works in one minute. (w/video)
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Explosions rock Syria’s capital as French President Macron visits DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Explosions rocked Syria’s capital on Tuesday and injured at least 18 people as France’s president met with his counterpart in a landmark visit to the country rebuilding from years of civil war, Syria’s Interior Ministry said. https://apnews.com/article/syria-france-macron-damascus-explosions-4bbe664b13bc1fb18042e9689f4ceab7?
- Today
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Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of defensive lapses SEATTLE (AP) — Images told the story of the United States’ World Cup downfall. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-united-states-belgium-score-0325e8102be7a88e852079deffd70ca0? ps:Good for them! The US didn't need any help from the man that has no knowledgeable of soccer!! They could've won on there own, they didn't need someone to try and fix the game for them!!!!!!!!!! ⚽ World Cup bummer View from behind the goal as U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese unable to stop Belgium's fourth score during a 4-1 World Cup Round of 16 loss in Seattle. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images The U.S. crashed out of its home World Cup last night, losing 4–1 to Belgium in Seattle, just after President Trump leaned on FIFA to get striker Folarin Balogun cleared to play. The Americans got their best crack at a deep run in a generation with home turf, a soft bracket and a mostly healthy roster, but squandered it in a lopsided and embarrassing exit. Belgium rested two of its biggest stars and still won comfortably — a measure of how far the Americans remain from soccer's elite. The match was nearly over before it started. A Belgium forward scored in the ninth minute, and though the U.S. bounced back on a deflected free kick, the same Belgian struck again two minutes later to take back the lead. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese's blunder, mishandling a ball far outside his net, gave Belgium a third goal, and then the Belgians scored a fourth in the final minute. For a month, America charmed the soccer world as co-host and won over visiting fans. That goodwill came crashing down after FIFA reversed the suspension of Balogun, the U.S.'s leading scorer. The reversal came after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Balogun had been red-carded a match earlier. The reversal drew a rare public rebuke from Europe's soccer establishment. Photo: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo, one of soccer's biggest superstars, teared up on the pitch in Arlington, Texas, after playing in his last World Cup match yesterday. Portugal, where he made his international debut 23 years ago, was eliminated by Spain. That ended the World Cup career for the all-time leader in international goals (146) and appearances (233). He's the only player to score goals in six consecutive World Cups. "I go with a clear conscience," Ronaldo, 41, said after the match. Photo gallery: Ronaldo in six World Cups.
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Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee.
phkrause replied to hobie's topic in World Affairs
We'll see! They've said many times one thing or another and always did something else!! Jesus tells us that you'll hear peace here and there, but there won't be any!!! -
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Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee.
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USA Facts
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Semiquincentennial snapshot: the US at 250 years Insights about the nation's population, households, education, employment, and income. https://usafacts.org/articles/semiquincentennial-snapshot-the-us-at-250-years/? One last fact The Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to admit new states to the union. Most states form by drafting a state constitution and submitting it for Congressional approval. Once approved, it passes an Act of Admission, which the president signs, officially granting statehood. Sixteen states formed in the 18th century, 29 in the 19th century, and five in the 20th century. When was your state founded? -
☀️ Parting shot: Parisian skies Photo: Mark Tonzello Reader Mark Tonzello snapped this scene from the terrace of a Paris hotel. As Mark put it: "Beauty under the scorching sun."
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EMDR goes mainstream Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios A pair of recent essays made a powerful case for "EMDR," the trauma therapy formally known as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, Axios' Natalie Daher writes. Neither writer was subtle about the stakes. For both, the treatment altered lives that had been knocked severely off balance. 🔎 Zoom in: In The Wall Street Journal, health journalist Michael Waldholz writes that EMDR helped pull him back from the brink after a divorce in his mid-'60s (gift link). In The New Yorker, music critic Amanda Petrusich describes turning to EMDR after the sudden death of her husband in 2022, when their daughter was just 13 months old. 🔭 Zoom out: Their essays are not clinical endorsements so much as personal testimony. Waldholz describes a long-tail shift in his nervous system: "Stress no longer triggered overwhelming reactions. A newfound flexibility in the face of life's normal challenges made me feel like I had acquired a superpower." Petrusich is more cautious, but no less moved by the possibility of relief. "EMDR can help the brain to process trauma in a more adaptive way," she writes, "thereby lessening its capacity to completely capsize a person." 🖼️ The big picture: EMDR is not new. Psychology student Francine Shapiro began developing it in 1987, and the treatment has since become one of the better-studied therapies for PTSD. It typically asks patients to focus briefly on a traumatic memory while also engaging in bilateral stimulation — usually guided eye movements, though therapists may also use alternating taps, tones or hand-held buzzers. The full protocol is structured around eight phases, from history-taking and preparation to desensitization, body scan, closure and reevaluation. 📈 What's new is its cultural momentum. The Cut reported earlier this year that Zocdoc users "booked 79% more EMDR appointments in 2025 compared to the previous year." Once easy to dismiss as strange or fringe, EMDR is now recognized in PTSD treatment guidance from major organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Psychological Association. Celebrity mentions have helped, too: Prince Harry was filmed using bilateral tapping in an EMDR session in his mental-health series with Oprah Winfrey, and Miley Cyrus credited the therapy with helping her overcome stage fright. 🧩 The paradox: Many clinicians are confident that EMDR works, while researchers continue to debate exactly why. 🧠 One theory is that the bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that resembles aspects of REM sleep. Another, known as the "working-memory theory," suggests that recalling a painful memory while performing a second task reduces the memory's vividness and emotional charge. 🌱 The bottom line: Even if the origin story sounds improbable, the results, for many patients, have been harder to dismiss.
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Adventist view on the Nature of Christ
hobie replied to hobie's topic in Real Issues in Adventism today
Then He had a advantage, think about it. -
Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee.
hobie posted a topic in World Affairs
Well looks like we are on the road to 'Peace' in the Middle East......... "DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group said Monday it had dissolved its government in Gaza and is preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Hamas did not say whether it planned to take the crucial step of disarming or handing over security to an international force, but described its decision as evidence of its commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction after years of war. It was unclear if the move, announced by a lower-level official, would lead to any meaningful change on the ground. The Board of Peace, the new entity led by President Donald Trump with the mandate of governing and rebuilding Gaza, said it was aware of the Hamas announcement but said it would assess the impact based on “actions, not promises.” The board stressed in a statement on X that the technocratic committee must control all weapons in Gaza, as laid out in the ceasefire agreement. At a news conference Monday, Ismail al-Thawabta, general director of the Hamas-run Government Media Office, said “only technical and professional staff” would remain in their positions to run the Palestinian enclave’s day-to-day affairs. “All employees working in service provision are ‘state employees’ and are fully prepared to work under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” al-Thawabta said during a press conference in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called it “a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal.” Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee -
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Jerome Odenthal
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3 word devotional
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The Church of Rome denies Jesus came in the flesh
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Season 1 Eps 8 Sinful Woman
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Adventist view on the Nature of Christ
Gustave replied to hobie's topic in Real Issues in Adventism today
He was like us in all ways except sin. That means he was fully human (minus the sin). -
I'm so sorry Bonnie. Prayers for you and your family.
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Kevin H reacted to a post in a topic:
Jerome Odenthal
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Jerome Odenthal
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Adventist view on the Nature of Christ
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Adventist view on the Nature of Christ
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Adventist view on the Nature of Christ
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Spirit of Prophecy is incompatible with the Trinity Doctrine
Gustave replied to Gustave's topic in Trinity topics
Remember, the BEEF Ellen White and her contemporaries had with the Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches was that all those Churches taught that God "DIDN'T HAVE A BODY". This is why Ellen White called "THE PERSONALITY (aka body) OF GOD" a pillar Doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. According to the Sabbath Herald Paper the literal body of God (AKA The Personality of God Doctrine) was what held the SDA Church together and set it apart from the Babylon systems that promulgated that God DIDN'T have a body. -
Spirit of Prophecy is incompatible with the Trinity Doctrine
Gustave replied to Gustave's topic in Trinity topics
If you could go back in time and ask Moses, the Children of Israel, David, Isaiah, etc. Not one of them would claim the scriptures you cited taught that God had a body like a man. If you could go back in time and walk around Jerusalem around the time of Jesus none of the Jews believed the Scripture's you cited taught that God had a body like a man. This is a Pagan concept that was popularized by anti-Trinitarian groups in the 19th century. The Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, etc. categorically reject God has a body, let alone that it is in a hominid shape. -
Sexual Abuse, Harassment, Assualt, Misconduct Complaints, Sex with a minor and Sex Trafficking
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Democrats begin pulling Platner endorsements after Maine candidate faces sexual assault allegation A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a Politico report released Monday, leading prominent supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for the party into turmoil. https://apnews.com/article/graham-platner-maine-assault-senate-061e18bdd180928bbcd94b18a52f4ec9? -
HealthCare, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Obamacare rolls shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows NEW YORK (AP) — States across the country saw steep drops in the number of people covered by the Affordable Care Act over the past year, with Ohio and Oklahoma each losing nearly one-third of enrollees, according to new federal data that provides the first complete 50-state breakdown of sharp enrollment declines following the January expiration of enhanced subsidies. https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-obamacare-enrollment-subsidies-trump-189b9b197edbc3c6883d77691dd894b7? Mapped: Obamacare enrollment plummets Data: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios Ohio, Oklahoma, Arizona, South Carolina and Minnesota have suffered some of the deepest losses in Obamacare coverage since beefed-up federal subsidies expired this year, Axios' David Nather writes from state-by-state federal data. Why it matters: The coverage losses are hitting deep-red states as well as blue ones after Congress let the subsidies expire. 🧮 By the numbers: Ohio and Oklahoma each lost nearly a third of their Obamacare enrollment since last year, according to the state breakdown, first reported by AP. Coverage in Arizona, South Carolina and Minnesota dropped by more than a quarter. Interactive map, with state-by-state data ... Keep reading. -
The Intercept Investgations
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
There’s a New Democratic Machine. It’s Unabashedly Socialist. As democratic socialists toppled establishment favorites this midterm cycle, the old guard of the Democratic Party picked up a preferred cudgel against insurgents: These people were propped up by white, urban, coastal, educated electorates — not the ones the Democrats were trying to reach, and certainly not the working class. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/06/dsa-democrats-midterms-wisconsin-colorado-new-york/? Trump’s Communist Boogeyman Playbook: Charging Protesters as Terrorists A noise demonstration that took place outside of the Prairieland Detention Facility in Texas one year ago has resulted in decades of prison time for the anti-ICE activists involved. Federal judges sentenced eight defendants, who the government cast as antifa operatives, to between 30 and 100 years in prison for terrorism-related charges last week; seven more people were sentenced this week. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/03/antifa-prairieland-protests-terrorism-conspiracy/? The Horrifying Lessons of 250 Years of American History In his typical understated fashion, President Donald Trump has billed his Fourth of July rally in Washington, D.C., as the culmination of the “most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen.” It’s hard to argue any different. From brutal bloodsport on the White House lawn to the great emptiness of the “Great American State Fair” to his filthy, fenced-in reflecting pool on the National Mall, Trump has offered up semiquincentennial spectacles destined to be etched into the minds of Americans for a generation. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/04/july-4-america-250-trump/? RFK Jr. Claims He’s Investigating Terrorism Now, Too Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is taking a beat from his busy day job ending the scourge of vaccines and modern medicine to take up a right-wing push attempting to link the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States to terrorism. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/02/rfk-cair-terrorism-muslim-investigation/? Graham Platner Inspired Another Left-Wing Veteran to Take On an Establishment Dem When Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner sealed the deal on his resounding primary victory in June, the oysterman turned political lightning rod sounded a note of defiance — one that resonated with another would-be candidate on the other side of the country. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/05/washington-primary-strickland-scheel-dsa/? How Florida’s Cuban Diaspora and the Israeli Lobby Came Together — and Are Coming Apart After a devastating earthquake rocked Venezuela last week, President Donald Trump backed off his claims to be “in charge” of the country he invaded in January — which might imply an obligation to support its people and rebuild the nation — opting instead to send disaster assistance to our “friends” there. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/02/tomdispatch-trump-florida-cuba-latin-america-lobby-israel-aipac/? -
You are correct.