'Palestine is an environmental and climate justice issue'

'a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation'

In the world of holiday music, soulful Christmas songs often shine as hidden gems, much like jazz compositions—rich in emotion but frequently overlooked in popular culture. While many of these songs were monumental hits upon release, others have faded into the background, particularly those originating in the ’60s and ’70s. This article aims to reignite the magic of these timeless tunes while also showcasing modern pieces that have brought fresh energy to the genre. Our mission was to curate a diverse selection of soulful renditions of Christmas classics and original tracks, each performed by artists whose profound influence has extended The post 20 Most Soulful Christmas Songs Of All Time appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The United Nations (UN) appears to be firmly embracing its novel role as one of “disinformation warriors” through what can be described as a series of “nesting dolls” of censorship and surveillance-enabling treaties, resolutions, frameworks, and initiatives. The world organization, once focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, is now using its Department of Global Communications as a bullhorn to promote these new priorities. The head of the department and UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming is particularly active, if repetitive in her efforts. During a gathering in Mexico earlier in the week, Fleming once again delivered some doomsday-style remarks about the threat of “misinformation and AI.” At the same time, she promoted controversial UN instruments like the Pact for the Future, its annex, the Global Digital Compact, and Global Principles for Information Integrity. A wide range of contentious policies are contained in these: digital ID, censorship aimed at “hate speech and misinformation,” enabling surveillance – while the latter also recommends algorithmic censorship and demonetization. But the key point of Fleming’s address to students in Guadalajara this time was regulating AI, in terms of making sure it is “defending democracy from disinformation.” To justify such grand plans – steering the development of an entire emerging tech sector in a “desired” direction – Fleming is once again unafraid of reaching for some remarkable scaremongering. The panel she spoke to about “the crisis of mis-and-disinformation in the world” was called, “The Day When AI Would Replace Democracy.” And is that the “crisis in the world” that the UN should be so passionately focused on right now? Fleming thinks so. Apparently speaking for us all, she further raises the alarm about the “difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not”… because of AI. There’s another big problem that the UN is trying to tackle these days (no, once again, nothing concerning its core mission) – namely, the decline of trust in both institutions and (their) legacy media. That sort of decline happens when autocracy, rather than AI, starts replacing democracy, but Fleming insists it’s the fault of “misinformation and AI.” The UN official therefore pushes for “urgent AI regulation.” The UN instruments mentioned earlier are recommended as governance frameworks to do this. And they are promoted as ensuring “respect of human rights,” “prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations,” and being “inclusive and equitable.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post UN Amplifies Campaign Against “Disinformation” and AI Through Global Governance Frameworks appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Republican Senator Eric Schmitt has addressed the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, asking for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) to be cut off from temporary government funding that’s currently negotiated in Congress. Schmitt – who was, as Missouri attorney-general, behind the Missouri v. Biden free speech lawsuit (that became Murthy v. Missouri) said in a post on X that GEC “must be excluded from any subsequent piece of legislation for the remainder of the 118th Congress.” The senator added that Americans “deserve to know their First Amendment rights are being protected.” The letter to Schumer reveals that the temporary funding measure, known as “continuing resolution (CR)” among its original 1,500 pages provides for GEC as well. (It has sine been removed from the slimmer bill that passed on Friday.) We obtained a copy of the letter for you here. This office has been the subject of scrutiny by legislators and public for finding a way to flag social media posts for censorship, despite being a part of the government. Critics say this rendered its activities, conducted with third parties and affecting speech on social media, unconstitutional. Democrats had hoped to get the CR approved through mid-March (but would extend GEC for another year) – however, President Trump, and consequently Republicans dashed their hopes of reaching a quick, bipartisan deal. Now Schmitt’s letter shows one of the many objections Republicans have to the proposed CR, slamming it as an example of backroom deals that fly in the face of “transparency, accountability, and responsible government.” Schmitt notes that GEC was set up to combat foreign propaganda, but then “mutated” into a censorship-facilitating outfit suppressing speech at home on a mass scale. The senator states that since the target of censorship were narratives which “questioned established thinking” and involved a number of powerful actors (the government, social media), this “risks creating a government-endorsed ‘truth’ immune to public scrutiny.” And, essentially – there goes true democracy, starting with the First Amendment. For these reasons, Schmitt urges Schumer to make sure that GEC “under no circumstances” continues to receive public money. The Republican senator is severely critical of the “giant ‘Christmas tree’ spending bill” itself, not only for undermining trust in government and the country’s institutions but also, due to its size and the rush to adopt it, for “slipping into the text” policies that would have GEC renewed and funded. Schmitt therefore demands to exclude GEC from any legislation considered by the current Congress. “I will strongly oppose any end-of-year bills that includes reauthorization or funding of the GEC and urge my colleagues to do the same,” Schmitt’s letter concludes. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Senator Eric Schmitt Urges Exclusion of State Department’s Global Engagement Center from Government Funding appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Washington’s complex relationship with Silicon Valley and corporate conglomerates faces a major shakeup, with one name at the center: Gail Slater.Slater, though not widely known, has been nominated to lead the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division — one of the most powerful roles at the intersection of government and private business. Her nomination carries major implications for Big Tech and other corporate giants. It signals that President Trump is breaking from the old swamp rules, where cash and lobbyists ruled and rhetoric often outweighed action.For small businesses, entrepreneurs, and those concerned about concentrated economic power, Gail Slater represents hope.President Trump hasn’t forgotten how Big Tech treated him, particularly after he left the White House. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram banned him, and Google may have rigged search results against his campaign. The bias extended beyond Trump himself to the political movement he represented, often trickling down to his supporters.Antitrust action isn’t just about protecting speech, and that’s why Slater is an ideal pick to lead the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. She brings experience from two branches of government and leadership roles at major companies like Fox and Roku.What sets Slater apart is her balanced approach to antitrust enforcement. She isn't driven by ideological grandstanding or simplistic anti-business sentiment. In fact, she has proven throughout her career that she embodies a principled conservative perspective that understands the fundamental purpose of antitrust laws: protecting free and fair market competition and taking anticompetitive corporate behavior to task.Slater has a deep understanding of how large corporations manipulate market conditions to their advantage — essential expertise for leading the government’s antitrust enforcement. She has worked inside Silicon Valley while also recognizing the power of government regulation and the importance of using it responsibly.For years, the tech sector has wielded unprecedented influence with little oversight. Companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta have systematically acquired competitors, manipulated search results, and built barriers that stifle innovation from startups. Slater’s leadership could mark a turning point, challenging anti-competitive practices and ensuring industries start playing by the rules.Slater’s approach — and President Trump’s — focuses on ensuring a level playing field, not punishing successful businesses. Conservatives agree that free-market capitalism thrives on robust competition, not an economy dominated by a few giants. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai know this, which is why they’ve made visits to Mar-a-Lago. They recognize the Trump administration is serious about opening up market participation for disruptors and innovators alike.Beyond economics, Slater understands that unchecked corporate power undermines American values: innovation, opportunity, and fair competition. Her nomination signals Trump’s commitment to restoring market dynamism and protecting smaller businesses and consumers — a promise he championed on the campaign trail and now plans to deliver.When announcing Slater as his pick, President Trump said, “Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans.”That populist message helped Trump win the presidency in November. Americans are tired of being taken advantage of by private interests, whether through censorship or illegal barriers that block entry into competitive markets.For small businesses, entrepreneurs, and those concerned about concentrated economic power, Slater represents hope. Her expertise, integrity, and clear vision show that meaningful antitrust enforcement is not only possible — it’s on the horizon.The road ahead won’t be easy, but with Slater leading the antitrust division, there’s renewed optimism for a more competitive, innovative, and fair economy.America’s economic future relies on leaders like Slater, who understand that protecting free markets isn’t about safeguarding big businesses — it’s about defending opportunity for all.

Here's the Pardon/Commutation Count for the Last Few Presidents (and Biden's Not Done Yet)