Random News: July 15, 2025

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

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Good morning. It’s July 15, 2025, and it’s a Tuesday. Feels like a normal Tuesday so far, though I’ve been awake for less than an hour, so it’s hard to tell. Thus far, I have indeed gotten out of bed, showered, dressed, and made coffee… all normal things. Now let’s see what’s happening.

• A fascinating observation about the MAGA world’s extraordinarily negative reaction to Dump’s handling — or lack thereof — of the files from the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the sex-trafficking financier who died in jail in 2019 in what was apparently a suicide, I guess.
• The question is… why do they care now?
• MAGA has literally forgiven Dump for what I consider far worse offenses. He’s been convicted of sexual assault. He paid off a porn star whom he had sex with while his wife was delivering his child. 
• He fomented an actual coup against the United States on January 6, 2021. And all that shit was shrugged off by the MAGA world.
• So why does the handling of the Epstein files strike a nerve for these people? Dump did promise to release the files during his 2024 camapgin, but he’s broken tons of promises. Again, why should one more matter?
• Well, his own people kept the Epstein files front and center for years. Last September, Dump’s current deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, said that Epstein’s client list “is going to rock the political world,”
• In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked whether her department would release a list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients. She responded excitedly, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.”
• And then, as you know, last week Bondi declared that there was no client list, and that Epstein killed himself and that no more information would be forthcoming.
• And Lord Dumpalumpagus himself posted over the weekend that we shouldn’t “waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”
• So that’s all, then. Goodbye. All done.
• Now, I’m not saying that his brainwashed cult will suddenly turn on him; that will not happen.
• But they’re trying to find ways to rectify this fantasy of Donnie Dump as a crusading warrior against sex trafficking, versus this obvious evidence that Dumpy himself is part of the coverup.
• They’re looking for anyone to blame but Dump… from his AG Bondi to unnamed super powerful Jews (yes, this is a big rumor now going around the far-right).
• You know what would fix this whole thing? Just release the files. Or, perhaps, let the person who was closest to Epstein — his ex-girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell — testify publicly about it.
• And Maxwell has signaled that she would be willing to testify before Congress regarding the part she played in facilitating sex trafficking of underage girls.
• Over the weekend, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) called on House Republicans to hold a vote demanding the Dump administration release the Epstein files.
• “Why are the Epstein files still hidden? Who are the rich & powerful being protected? On Tuesday, I’m introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding the FULL Epstein files be released to the public. The Speaker must call a vote & put every Congress member on record.”
• But then, late last night, House Republicans blocked Khanna’s push to release the Epstein files. The House Rules Committee voted 7–5 to block the proposal from reaching the lower chamber.
• Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who previously remarked that “the Epstein files are bound to come out,” broke with his party and was the only one of nine Republicans on the committee to vote in favor of the amendment. Chip Roy (R-TX) opted not to vote.
• The more they do to shove this under the rug, the more people will wonder why.
• Moving on, for now.
• A reminder that this coming Thursday evening — July 17, 2025 — is a nationwide protest action.
• Good Trouble Lives On is an action event that’s held on a date to commemorate the 5-year anniversary of the passing of civil rights icon John Lewis.
• There are events planned in all 50 states, and some support events in Europe and Canada as well. Please join us! I’m once again putting a link in the comments so you can find a local event to attend.
• The focus of this action? We are showing solidarity with our friends and neighbors in our community who are being terrorized by ICE.
• That’s not just the people you may — erroneously, I should add — call “illegals.” Anyone with brown skin is automatically a suspect per ICE’s vile and racist policies.
• Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Dump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people.
• My local event — once again in front of city hall in Torrance, CA — is being promoted as a candlelight vigil. Frankly, I’m better at being loud than being peaceful and introspective.
• Funny side note: no actual candles allowed. I doubt they’d work very well outdoors in the late afternoon breeze.
• But I will be there Thursday evening, sign in hand, and some flashlights just for the fuck of it. Mine starts at 7pm, which works well. I can wrap up work, eat some dinner, and head over there. You can too.
• Let’s do some more news.
• If you think flash flooding emergencies are limited to Texas and surrounding states — or if, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, you think Jews and Democrats control the weather — you’re mistaken on either count.
• Heavy rain swept across parts of the U.S. Northeast last night, inundating sections of New York and New Jersey with flash flooding that stranded vehicles in roadways, closed subway lines, and led to the declaration of a state of emergency.
• Horrifying video last night showed intense flood waters on major roadways and in subway stations.
• Back down in Texas, the official death toll across six Hill Country counties has risen to 132 people, while an estimated 101 remain missing.
• Again, I’ll remind you: when you wonder why we’re experiencing more frequent and more severe weather events, it’s because human-accelerated climate change is driving it. That’s why.
• Moving on.
• Yesterday, the Supremely Shitty Court allowed the Dump administration to fire hundreds of workers from the Education Department and continue other efforts to dismantle the agency.
• The court's three liberal justices — Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson — opposed the order.
• Sotomayor said the majority handed Dump the power to repeal laws passed by Congress “by firing all those necessary to carry them out.”
• Correct. This is why we know we’re living in a fascist dictatorship.
• The majority did not explain its decision in the brief, unsigned order.
• But U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Massachusetts had said the White House's decision to fire more than 1,300 workers has prevented the federal government from effectively implementing legally required programs and services. Such changes can't be made without the approval of Congress, which created the department in 1979, Joun ruled in May.
• And the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed that decision. But the SCOTUS is going to let Dump destroy our country’s educational systems regardless.
• Oh, side note, especially for parents of kids with special needs, like any student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP): Dump is also moving special education services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, run by RFK Jr.
• In other news…
• Russia doesn’t give a shit about Dump’s threat of“very severe tariffs” if Moscow didn’t agree a ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, they’re laughing about Dump’s lengthy 50-day grace period on tariffs.
• Oil prices also fell by more than $1 after the announcement, hinting that investors don't think Dump — aka President TACO — will follow through on his threat to impose the tariffs.
• Perhaps more effective would be the bipartisan bill — co-sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) — that would seek to impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas.
• Guess we’ll see.
• Ukrainians are also puzzled by Dump’s weak response. Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik says Dump’s plan gives Putin another 50 days to continue his deadly bombardment and maintain his offensive on the front line.
• She said, ”It is very hard and very personal for us because we don't know if some of us will survive for these 50 days.”
• Sigh. Let’s move on.
• Do you like tomatoes? I use them quite often… in salads, on sandwiches and burgers, as ingredients in various dishes.
• But they’re about to get pricier. Yesterday, Dump’s government said it is immediately placing a 17% duty on most fresh Mexican tomatoes after negotiations ended without an agreement to avert the tariff.
• Do we get a lot of tomatoes form Mexico? Uh, yeah. Mexico currently supplies around 70% of the U.S. tomato market, up from 30% two decades ago.
• So, good news for U.S. tomato growers, I suppose. Now who do you think was working on U.S. farms to expeditiously harvest those fruits and bring them to market?
• Oh yeah, workers being terrorized by ICE.
• Anyway, tomatoes will just get more expensive, like everything else under Dumples the Clown.
• And yes, I said that tomatoes are a fruit. From a scientific standpoint, they are. But in 1893, the United States Supreme Court declared that tomato is legally a vegetable. 
• So nothing has really changed, ever.
• Oh, and a side note that will become bigger news soon…
• Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as Dump’s sweeping tariffs push up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances.
• Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June.
• That’s going to keep happening. Be prepared to pay more for less under Dumpy’s leadership.
• Let’s move on.
• I have — on several recent occasions — run into folks who don’t think that the decimation of Medicaid under Dump’s Big Bullshit Bill that nearly all Republicans in the House and Senate voted for doesn’t affect them.
• And they think this because they believe they are covered under some separate program offered in their state. We’ve mentioned this before, but as I said, I keep seeing it pop up.
• Your state may call Medicaid by another name… but it’s still Medicaid, and the money that your Republican representative voted against affects you directly. Despite having other names, those state programs are being federally funded.
• So to be super clear, here’s a list of what Medicaid is called in various states that don’t have the word “Medicaid” in the name…
• Alaska: DenaliCare. Alabama: Health Care. Arizona: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). California: Medi-Cal. Colorado: Health First Colorado. Connecticut: Husky Health (including Husky A, C, and D). Delaware: Diamond State Health Plan (Plus). Florida: Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program (SMMC), Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) Program, Long-term Care (LTC) Program. Hawaii: Med-QUEST. Illinois: Medical Assistance Program, HealthChoice Illinois. Kansas: Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP), KanCare. louisiana: Healthy Louisiana (formerly Bayou Health). Maine: MaineCare. Maryland: Medical Assistance. Massachusetts: MassHealth. Minnesota: Medical Assistance (MA). Mississippi: Mississippi Coordinated Access Network (MississippiCAN). Missouri: MO HealthNet. Nebraska: Nebraska Medical Assistance Program (NMAP). New Jersey: NJ FamilyCare. new Mexico: Turquoise Care (formerly Centennial Care). Oklahoma: SoonerCare. Oregon: Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Pennsylvania: Medical Assistance (MA). Rhode Island: RI Medical Assistance Program. South Carolina: Healthy Connections. Tennessee: TennCare. Texas: STAR+PLUS. Vermont: Green Mountain Care. Virginia: Cardinal Care. Washington: Apple Health. Wisconsin: Forward Health. 
• Those — and some others — are ALL Medicaid. If you depend on any of those state plans that are funded via federal Medicaid money, your benefits are going to eventually dwindle or possibly go away entirely.
• And the money that funded them — your tax dollars — is being used to give tax breaks to billionaires and to build concentration camps.
• So yes… get mad. You should be mad.
• And now, an editorial from the Clarification Desk.
• It occurred to me how easily stuff that I say and write can be misinterpreted, or purposefully spun to seem as if my beliefs were different than they are.
• Every so often, I like to clarify things so that there’s nothing ambiguous and nothing that could be interpreted — purposefully or mistakenly — the wrong way.
• Gaza — and Palestine as a whole — shouldn’t be ruled by a terrorist group. Hamas commits horrible acts of atrocity, and the people of Palestine — mothers, fathers, and especially children — end up paying the price. This is fucked up.
• Israel should be able to live peacefully adjacent to its Middle Eastern neighbors. But as difficult as that goal is on its own, it’s made much worse by its own apartheid policies and its maniacal and violent leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who uses endless war and death as a platform for his own political clout. This, too, is fucked up.
• Ukraine — the second-largest country in Europe with a rich history that dates back thousands of years — should have its sovereignty respected by its neighbor Russia. And if Russia had been able to easily conquer its neighbor (as some predicted would happen within a few days of their invasion in 2022), Russia would have continued conquering other countries across Europe and we’d be deep into World War III by now.
• And finally, my own country, the United States of America. If I didn’t care about it, this news column would 100% not exist. The reason I’m critical about the USA is because I care — not because I don’t.
• Look: I have two blood relatives that came here in the Mayflower. My direct ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. My relatives were close to George Washington. One of them even returned loaned money to old George in his will.
• And my own father and members of my extended family spent years protecting the USA via their military service.
• I think our current present and his enablers are consciously working to destroy everything that ever made America great, and when I speak up about that… that’s me being a good American.
• And if you hide in a hole somewhere and keep your opinions to yourself and pretend that everything is okay, well… that makes you a shit American. Sorry, but not sorry.
• And now, The Weather: “Honey” by Sister.
• In lieu of a chart, I thought I’d mention that this past weekend was the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. For many of us of, cough, a certain age, this was a big fucking deal.
• What it was: two huge festival concerts held simultaneously on Saturday July 13, 1985 — one at Wembley Stadium in London, the other at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia — with proceeds going to help the relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.
• Just how big a fucking deal was Live Aid? It was one of the largest television broadcasts of all time. An audience of 1.9 billion people in 150 nations watched the live broadcast, which was, at the time, nearly 40 per cent of the world population.
• I was doing a summer semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and my roommate had a TV. We had to rig up some janky shit to get the antennae to function, but even through the static, it was fucking mind-blowing.
• Who played Live Aid? Everyone. Fucking everyone.
• Some of the highlights — in my opinion…
• London: U2, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and with perhaps the greatest live performance by any rock band in history, Queen.
• Philadelphia: Black Sabbath, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Pretenders, Madonna, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Cars, Neil Young, Mick Jagger, Hall & Oates, and — infamously — a hideously bad performance by Led Zeppelin with Phil Collins on drums.
• From the Sports Desk… MLB’s All-Star game is tonight.
• Yesterday, Dave Roberts of the National League and Aaron Boone of the American League announced their starting lineups for Baseball’s 95th Midsummer Classic, being played tonight at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Here they are, in batting order…
• American League: 2B - Gleyber Torres (Tigers), LF - Riley Greene (Tigers), RF - Aaron Judge (Yankees), C - Cal Raleigh (Mariners), 1B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), DH - Ryan O'Hearn (Orioles), 3B - Junior Caminero (Rays), CF - Javy Báez (Tigers), SS - Jacob Wilson (Athletics).
• Boone has chosen reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers as the AL’s starting pitcher. No surprise there.
• National League: DH - Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers), LF - Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), 2B - Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks), 1B - Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), 3B - Manny Machado (Padres), C -  Will Smith (Dodgers), RF - Kyle Tucker (Cubs), SS - Francisco Lindor (Mets), CF - Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs).
• Roberts has selected right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the NL’s starting pitcher.
• Does the MLB All-Star Game actually matter? No. It’s just an exhibition showcase for fun.
• For awhile, the game determined home-field advantage in the World Series… which always seemed 100% ridiculous to me.
• About the only tangible aspect to it is that some players may have contract incentives tied to All-Star selections, and it remains a part of a player's legacy and Hall of Fame consideration.
• Oh, and in related Sports Desk news, hats off to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who won the Home Run Derby yesterday in Atlanta.
• He’s the first catcher and the first switch-hitter to win the event. Making matters more cool: he did it with his father, Todd, pitching to him and his 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., catching.
• Raleigh, aka Big Dumper (I’m not making this up), is having a dream season. His 38 home runs in the first half of the season has him on pace to compete with record seasons by the likes of Barry Bonds.
• Today in history… Dedication of the Temple of Castor and Pollux in ancient Rome (484 BC). John Ball, a leader in the Peasants' Revolt, is hanged, drawn and quartered in the presence of King Richard II of England (1381). The first university of Finland, the Royal Academy of Turku, is inaugurated in Turku (1640). The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard (1799). US Army Lieutenant Zebulon Pike begins an expedition from Fort Bellefontaine near St. Louis, MO, to explore the west (1806). The Spanish Inquisition is officially disbanded after nearly 356 years (1834). Georgia becomes the last of the former Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union (1870). Emil Kraepelin gives a name to Alzheimer's disease, naming it after his colleague Alois Alzheimer (1910). In Seattle, WA, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporate Pacific Aero Products, later renamed Boeing (1916). The steel strike of 1959 begins, leading to significant importation of foreign steel for the first time in United States history (1959). Nintendo released the Famicom, later known as the NES, in Japan (1983). AOL Time Warner disbands Netscape and the Mozilla Foundation is established on the same day (2003). Twitter is launched by Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone (2006).
• July 15 is the birthday of Korean queen Yun (1455), painter Rembrandt (1606), activist/suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst (1858), filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker (1925), racing driver Ian Stewart (1929), NFL player/actor Alex Karras (1935), actor Jan-Michael Vincent (1945), singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt (1946), singer-songwriter/guitarist Roky Erickson (1947), drummer Artimus Pyle (1948), singer-songwriter/producer Trevor Horn (1949), publisher Arianna Huffington (1950), wrestler/politician Jesse Ventura (1951), singer-songwriter David Pack (1952), drummer Marky Ramone (1952), singer-songwriter Johnny Thunders (1952), singer-songwriter Ian Curtis (1956), guitarist/composer Joe Satriani (1956), actor Forest Whitaker (1961), actress Brigitte Nielsen (1963), drummer Jason Bonham (1966), TV host Adam Savage (1967), actor Brian Austin Greene (1973), comedian Gabriel Iglesias (1976), and NBA player Damian Lillard (1990).

Well, there you go. Plenty of stuff to consider. Make a note right now: Thursday night, you’re going to hit the streets with us for Good Trouble Lives On. Link in the comments. Enjoy your day.