The late President John F. Kennedy was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, he was a cad who seduced young interns and then handed them off to his allies. However, he stopped a nuclear war. He initiated an inspiring space program, and his speeches united millions, making them proud to be Americans. The Kennedy […] The post The Kennedy Center Gets a Longer Name appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States had conducted strikes against ISIS targets in Syria in response to an attack last weekend that left two American troops dead.  Hegseth said that the strikes were not about starting a new war, but enacting “vengeance” for an ISIS attack targeting American forces last Saturday.  “Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth posted on X. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.” “As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he added. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.” Citing an American official, the New York Times said that the strikes targeted dozens of ISIS sites throughout central Syria. The operation is set to be a “a massive attack,” the official said.  The attacks last week killed two troops identified as 29-year-old Nate Howard and 25-year-old Edgar Torres. An American interpreter named Ayad Mansoor Sakat was also killed in the attack. Both Howard and Torres were members of the Iowa National Guard.  On Wednesday, President Donald Trump and Hegseth attended a dignified transfer of the soldier’s remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. After the attacks last weekend, Trump said that the United States would retaliate.  “I can tell you in Syria there will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it, that they got the person, the individual person, but there’ll be big damage done,” Trump said on Sunday.

Savannah Guthrie’s job is talking. She and Today Show co-anchor Craig Melvin spend hours talking to viewers every day. That can take a toll on even the most trained professional’s voice. On December 19, Savannah Guthrie announced she will be off the air for several weeks due to surgery for a problem many likely noticed. “Some of you have noticed that my voice has been very scratchy and started to crack a little bit like Peter Brady, who was going through a change,” Savannah joked. “Well, I have found out what it is. I have vocal nodules, and now I also have a polyp. It’s not a big, big deal, but I am going to have a surgery real early in the new year and be off for a couple of weeks. So it’s my last day for a little while,” she explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow) Savannah Guthrie Said Her Surgery Will Require a Huge Change She wanted to let viewers know that she’s not ill. “So I just want to let everyone know, and if you’ve been wondering, do I have the world’s longest head cold? No, I don’t,” she said. Savannah Guthrie said she will have to make a big change after surgery. The reason she can’t come back to work is that she has to remain completely silent. “I know, the jokes write themselves,” Savannah laughed. Fans immediately wished Savannah well. “Worked for an ENT for 20 years. Total voice rest, even no whispering is key! Carry around pad and pen ( at least was key years ago) good luck. You’ll do great,” one wrote. This fan shared their surgery success story with Savannah Guthrie. “I had this surgery as well 20 years ago! It helped tremendously though. The week of silence was torture. Best wishes Savannah!!” They wrote. “Sending you positive thoughts and prayers and wishing you a speedy recovery,” another person shared. This story’s featured image can be found here.

On the heels of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Christmas card reveal, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared their own holiday greetings. The pair have been cautious not to share images of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s faces on social media, but do give a glimpse into the family’s life from time to time. On December 19, they shared an Instagram post captioned “Happy Holidays! From our family to yours,” alongside a sweet photo. Meghan and Harry look lovingly into their children’s faces. They cleverly covered them with their hands and hair so as not to show off their features. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Seem to Love Christmas In addition to what appears to be their Christmas card photo, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also shared a post on their Archewell Foundation’s website. “On behalf of the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Archewell, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year,” the message reads. It’s been an interesting year for the couple. Harry’s been embroiled in a legal fight for state-funded security for his family when they visit the United Kingdom. And Meghan Markle saw the rise and fall of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. But in the end, despite their troubles, the family appears to be having a good 2025. If things go well for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they may be looking at a reunion with King Charles after Christmas. It would be the first time the king’s seen Prince Arcie and Princess Lilibet since 2022. That’s a long time for a man his age, who’s experienced health challenges recently. The palace declined to comment on a reunion in a statement to People. “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”’ We hope for a Christmas miracle for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It’s never too late. This story’s featured image is by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images.

Episode Description: This week, Arielle and Karissa dive into two very different but deeply connected stories about what it means to truly support healing. First, we unpack new research on what people going through cancer actually find helpful during the holidays, and why practical support often means more than cozy socks and inspirational mugs. Then they travel to the Sierra Nevada, where nearly 900 acres of ancestral land have been returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation in a landmark cultural and ecological restoration near Yosemite. They close with some seasonal reflections, a big thank you to listeners, and a look ahead at how they’ll be revamping the podcast in 2026 to bring you even deeper, more useful solutions-focused stories. If you have thoughts on today’s stories, ideas for what you’d love to see in the new version of the podcast, or just want to say hi, send a message to social@optimistdaily.com. Want to be part of the Optimism Movement? Become an Emissary. Subscribe to our FREE Daily Newsletter and follow us on Instagram, X, and Blue Sky. The Optimist Daily is a project of the World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http:// Transcript: Theme music  Arielle  Hello, and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Arielle.  Karissa  And I’m Karissa. And we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.  Arielle  All right, we are back with another episode of the podcast to share the solutions from The Optimist Daily this week.  Karissa  And if you want these solutions straight to your inbox every day, you can get them in our free daily newsletter. The information to sign up is in the show notes.  Arielle  We’re also on social media, of course, so you can find us @OptimistDaily on basically everything, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, but on X, we are @OdeToOptimism. So, give us a follow and interact with us on socials.  Karissa  And we of course have to thank our Emissaries who are our financial supporters. Thank you so much for keeping the lights on here at The Optimist Daily and really helping the mission of putting optimism out there into the world.  Arielle  But non-financial support is just as important. So if you share this pod with a friend, send the daily newsletter to someone who needs a dose of optimism, interact with us, as I said, on our socials, leave a comment, like, follow, subscribe, whatever, that is a huge help for us.  Karissa  We’re starting out with our solutions today because we have a couple of announcements at the end of the podcast. Some of the solutions this week on The Optimist Daily include.  Arielle  New method uses sound waves to map soil health, stop famine, and restore farmlands. This simple 15-minute mindset exercise can ease anxiety, science shows. Three organization hacks for type B brains that actually work. I might have to check that one out. I think I’m definitely type B (laughs). And more states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers? And I think that’s obviously US-based. What else did we have, Karissa?  Karissa  Well, we had Eight fermented foods that your gut will love (and that taste great too!). India’s social experiment, how paying women directly reshapes welfare, autonomy, and politics. Vision board ideas for adults, how to create one that inspires real change; as we come up on the new year that is a cool solution to take a look at. Scientists build the first fully human bone marrow model to revolutionize blood disease research. And Seven cold and flu season mistakes doctors want you to quit making.  Arielle  All right, I’m actually going to talk about the solution that I didn’t have the time to talk about last week because we kind of fully dug into yours, Karissa.  Karissa  Yeah, it was a great discussion on Australia’s social media ban. Yeah, but we missed your solution, and it’s still very timely because it’s the holiday season.  Arielle  Yeah, well, I guess I’ll jump into it. The title of the solution that I’m going to talk about today is Gift shopping for a loved one with cancer this holiday season? Here’s what actually helps. So, we are headed into peak gift-giving season. And if you have someone in your life who’s going through cancer treatment or is going through any serious illness, you’ve probably felt that extra layer of pressure. What on earth do you get them that doesn’t feel trivial or wrong or just off?   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  Because when someone is dealing with really heavy health issues, the meaning of a gift changes. The gifts you give that are hoping to communicate and bring comfort can sometimes miss the mark. Not because you don’t care, but because illness really reshapes what comfort actually looks and feels like.  Karissa  Yeah, and I think a lot of us default to, you know, well, at least I’m doing something, and then later wonder internally if it was really helpful at all.  Arielle  Exactly. That disconnect between the intention behind a gift and how useful it actually is, is what two sociologists, Ellen T. Meiser and Natalie Rita, set out to study. Both of them were diagnosed with cancer in their early 30s, which would be so scary.   I mean, getting a cancer diagnosis at any age is scary, but me being in my early 30s myself, I can only imagine how my world would be turned upside down by this kind of diagnosis.   But because of their own experiences, these two sociologists decided to interview 50 millennial women about what it’s really like to receive gifts during cancer treatment. And what they found was pretty striking. Their research revealed a clear mismatch between what people tend to give and what patients actually need. And a lot of that, they argue, traces back to the way cancer has been commercialized and packaged online.  Karissa  Interesting.  Arielle  Yeah, it’s weird to think of such a serious illness becoming commercialized.  Karissa  How has it been commercialized? What are people most often giving?  Arielle  So, across all 50 interviews, 10 items kept coming up over and over again. Things like fuzzy socks, blankets, adult coloring books, mugs and tumblers, gourmet snacks, herbal teas, inspirational self-care products, flowers, books, and then money or gift cards, often through GoFundMe or similar sites.  Karissa  Yeah, that list sounds very familiar. It’s basically an entire corner of the internet– gifts for someone going through a hard time. And all of those you can kind of find, like, maybe even in, like, a hospital like, gift shop too. So that makes sense.  Arielle  The women in the study really did understand the intention, so it wasn’t like they weren’t grateful.   Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  A soft blanket says: I want you warm and comfortable, and flowers brighten up a hospital room or any room. So, none of it is inherently bad. But Meiser and Rita noticed how consistent those gifts were, especially fuzzy socks, and that raised the question, why these same things so often? When they dug into it, they traced a lot of it back to pre-made cancer care packages and online gift guides. You know the ones… they bundled together spa items, teas, candies, beanies, “you got this” mugs, all in one pastel-colored box. The interviewees kept describing gifts that looked almost identical to these curated packages.  Karissa  Yeah, it’s like there’s now a standardized way to buy comfort, kind of almost a template for carrying.  Arielle  And that’s where it gets really complicated. Meiser and Rita write about how businesses seek to extract economic value out of all aspects of daily life. And cancer has become a surprisingly and horrifyingly lucrative niche. The problem is all the glossy pink ribbons and motivational slogans can unintentionally eclipse the harsher realities of illness. They encourage gift giving that looks soothing from the outside, but doesn’t always line up with what patients actually need on the inside.   And sometimes those curated boxes backfire. The research found that their uniformity can signal distance rather than closeness, especially for someone who’s craving individual attention and genuine understanding.  Karissa  Yeah, because if you’ve just been through surgery or you’re in the middle of chemo, getting the same cancer box three times might make you feel like you’re being treated as a category and not as you.  Arielle  So, the most useful part of the study, I think, came when Meiser and Rita flipped the question. Instead of asking, “What did you receive?” They asked, “What did you want?” And the list that emerged looked completely different.   Across the board, the most valued gifts were the most pragmatic. Things like money or useful gift cards. So, there was one thing on the list, on the original list, that got it right with the GoFundMe and stuff like that.  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  Gift cards, especially for groceries, takeout, or pet supplies, were really valued. Meals and meal trains, plus pantry staples for the household. Hands-on help, like childcare, transportation to appointments, cleaning, and yard work. Personal notes or cards, not performative, just real check-ins. And practical self-care items like thick lotions or gentle soaps that don’t irritate treatment-sensitive skin.  Karissa  Yeah, I mean, instead of, “Here’s a cute object to cheer you up,” it’s more like, “Here’s one less thing for you to have to think about.”  Arielle  Mm-hmm, exactly. These are small, everyday kindnesses that actually lighten the load. Instead of adding yet another item to the bedside table, they support the parts of life that feel heaviest when someone is exhausted or rearranging everything around medical appointments.   One of the most striking findings from the interviews was this: Almost none of the women they interviewed expressed a desire for non-essential items usually stocked in commercial care packages. What they longed for were gifts that acknowledged how illness disrupts everyday roles: parenting, partnering, working, caregiving. A plant can’t ease financial pressure, but grocery delivery can. A charming mug cannot fold the laundry, but a friend who shows up and says, “Point me to the laundry basket,” absolutely can.  Karissa  Yeah, and that really reframes what thoughtful means. It’s not just, “I saw this and thought of you,” but “I see what your life is like right now, and I’m stepping into that reality with you” and kind of meeting you where you are. And I just love this idea, just in general for gift giving and putting care into how you’re showing up for the people around you.  Arielle  That’s the heart of it. Thoughtful support starts with recognizing what someone’s life actually looks like in this moment. Gifts that align with those real needs carry a specific message. I see the fatigue, I see the logistics, I see the appointments and the paperwork and the childcare puzzle, and I’d like to take one thing off your plate. When patients in the study described feeling cared for and seen, they often pointed to the people who stepped into the messiness of daily life. Not the people who tried to cover it with a cheerful slogan, but the ones who said, “I can take the dog to the groomer,” or “I’m bringing dinner on Tuesday; no need to text back.”  Karissa  Yeah, and that’s also such a relief for givers in a way, because you don’t even have to find the perfect symbolic object or even pay a lot of money. You can just do something concretely helpful.  Arielle  Meiser and Rita encourage all of us to rethink what support looks like, especially during the holidays. Instead of defaulting to the mass-produced idea of comfort, they suggest pausing to ask a few simple questions, like, what responsibilities is this person still trying to juggle? Where might they be feeling the most stress? And what everyday tasks have become harder since their diagnosis? A casserole, a ride to treatment, help feeding the pets, none of these are particularly glamorous. But those are the gestures that recognize the real impact of illness. And their research shows that recognition is often the most meaningful gift of all.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  So, as we’re sitting here, mid-December, or actually crawling to late December, looking at our gift lists and feeling that familiar holiday pressure, this study offers a really gentle reframe. If someone on your list is facing cancer or any serious illness, the best gift might not be fuzzy socks this time. Thoughtful support often comes from looking behind the scenes at the fatigue, the logistical strain, the emotional weight they’re carrying. As Meiser and Rita emphasize, small acts can speak volumes when they reduce pressure and restore a bit of breathing room.  Karissa  Yeah, I really love the solution. I think it’s great for, even more than just people you may know who have cancer going through some kind of sickness, but anyone who might be going through a rough time. And maybe instead of a pre-made care package, you could do something like saying, I’m sending you a gift card for your favorite takeout place. I booked a cleaner to come by once this month. I’ll drive you to your appointment and sit in the waiting room with you. Or even, I wrote you a real letter because I know texting can feel overwhelming right now.  Arielle  Yeah, those choices say, I am paying attention to your reality, not just your diagnosis. So, if people are struggling out there and they’re rushing to find that perfect gift for someone who’s going through a rough time, before you click buy on that generic cancer gift box, you might ask yourself a different question. What would make their day-to-day life even 10% easier? Because in a season that’s already emotionally loaded, a warm meal, help with chores, a quiet note, gift cards, et cetera, everything that we’ve just said, that might be the thing that communicates care in the most human and grounded way.  Karissa  Aw. Well, I love this. Thank you for sharing this very helpful guide, Arielle.  Arielle  I mean, hopefully people are kind of wrapping up their Christmas shopping, but I know that there are other type B people out there like me who are still getting started (laughs).   Karissa  Exactly. Me too.  Arielle  So. What about you, Karissa? What solution caught your eye this week?  Karissa  The headline that caught my eye is that Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation regains ancestral lands near Yosemite in a major cultural restoration. And I had to share the solution because it’s very, very close to where I was born and raised. The Sierras and the Miwuk people have always been something I’ve been fascinated by. And I remember as a little kid spending a lot of time up in the mountains and in their lands and learning about their traditions at things like 6th grade camp or just when we’d go to different, you know, points of interest around the area. And yeah, it’s just always been something so interesting to me. And I’m glad to see this major win.  Arielle  Oh, what incredible childhood memories to have. This good news must have been especially heartwarming for you.  Karissa  Yeah, Exactly. So, I’m happy to report that nearly 900 acres of ancestral territory have been officially returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, marking a major milestone in indigenous land restoration efforts in California. The property, which borders Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest, include Hennes Ridge, a culturally vital landscape that once formed part of an ancestral trail in Yosemite Valley. And for the Miwuk people, this transfer represents far more than acreage. It is a reconnection to land they stewarded for generations before being forcibly removed in the 19th and 20th centuries.  Arielle  Well, I can only imagine what a huge deal this is for the Miwuk Nation.  Karissa  Yeah, for sure. As Sandra Chapman, tribal council chair and elder of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation says, “Having this significant piece of our ancestral Yosemite land back will bring our community together and celebrate tradition and provide a healing place for our children and grandchildren. It will be a sanctuary for our people.”  Arielle  Such a beautiful, powerful statement. So how did this transfer come about?  Karissa  Well, the land was transferred from Pacific Forest Trust, a conservation organization that has a track record of working in partnership with indigenous nations. The project was made possible through funding from the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Program, which supports Indigenous-led conservation and climate resilience.  Arielle  I love that. As we’ve reported so many times here at The Optimist Daily, Indigenous leadership is one of the most effective ways to protect the environment, not just in the US, but everywhere.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about how the world’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve, the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, is one step closer to reality, which is another huge conservation win.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. That was super inspiring news as well. And it’s cool for this return because this return actually builds on precedent. In the 1990s, the Pacific Forest Trust helped create the first-ever conservation easement with tribal entities in the U.S., partnering with the Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. The Miwuk land return reflects a continuation of the effort to align environmental conservation with indigenous land rights. The reclaimed land is more than symbolic, as we kind of mentioned. I mean, Henness Ridge is ecologically rich and culturally foundational. Historically, it’s served as a corridor for deer and other migratory species and formed part of a traditional trail from the Central Valley to Yosemite Valley. And this is where I’m from, so it’s pretty special to hear. It’s also an ideal location for cultural gatherings, environmental education, and traditional ecological practices that were once banned or forgotten under federal oversight.  Arielle  I love that this is both a cultural and ecological win.  Karissa  Yeah, me too. Tribal Secretary Tara Fouch-Moore emphasized the practical and cultural importance of this return as well. And she says, “we will be able to harvest and cultivate our traditional foods, fibers, and medicines and steward the land using traditional ecological knowledge, strengthening our relationships with plants and wildlife and benefiting everyone by restoring a more resilient and abundant landscape.” So, this is really encouraging to hear. And the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation plans to use the land to support food sovereignty, ceremonial practice, and land-based education. The community will take an active role in protecting local ecosystems. particularly the tributaries that feed the South Fork of the Merced River, a water source protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  Arielle  So, I know you said earlier that the reclaimed land is more than symbolic. It has really wonderful practical benefits for the Miwuk people to heal generational wounds and fortify traditions, like you said, that have been stifled over so many years, but the symbolic weight is quite significant, isn’t it?  Karissa  Yeah, it definitely is. We can’t overlook that at all. The last of the Miwuk people living in Yosemite Valley were evicted by the National Park Service in 1969. And now, more than five decades later, the community reclaims the ability to once again live, gather, and care for the land on its own terms. So, this transfer adds momentum to the growing movement of Indigenous land back initiatives across the United States. And like you mentioned earlier, Arielle, even across the world.  Arielle  Right. This is truly a powerful example of how collaborative conservation can protect ecosystems and deliver long overdue justice for native communities, which is exactly the kind of story we love to see here at The Optimist Daily.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. This just really warmed my heart. So, I was happy to share this one today.  Arielle  A local one to you, Karissa. That’s so exciting.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  I am really struck by how both of the stories we covered today are at their core about people finally getting what they actually need in order to heal and move forward. For folks going through cancer or serious illness, it’s not the cutesy gifts. It’s real practical support that lightens the load. And for the Southern Sierra Mewak Nation, it’s not just symbolic recognition; it’s land, sovereignty, food, culture, and the ability to care for their home on their own terms. Both of these solutions are about being seen clearly and about receiving what matches reality, not just sentiment. In these cases, it’s not just the thought that counts.  Karissa  Yeah, absolutely. It’s really helpful to see those kinds of needs being met in very tangible ways.  Arielle  And as we head into the holidays, our wish for all of you listening is that you also get what you genuinely need from the weeks ahead. Whether that’s rest, deeper connection, clearer boundaries, more joy, or just a little bit more breathing room than last year. We’re sending you so much care and gratitude for being part of the solution- focused community, and we truly hope this season brings you comfort, warmth, and a sense of grounded hope.  Karissa  Yeah, perfectly said, Arielle. Happy holidays, everyone. We’re so grateful you choose to spend some of your time with us and with The Optimist Daily.  Arielle  And looking ahead, we also wanted to let you in on a little update. In the new year, we’re going to be revamping the podcast, refreshing the format, playing with some new ideas, and hopefully giving you even more of what you need to hear. Deeper dives into solutions, more context, and more conversations that leave you feeling informed, but also inspired.  Karissa  Yeah. And to make that happen in a thoughtful way, we’re going to take a short break from releasing new episodes until February. We’ll be using that time behind the scenes to put our new plans in motion and make sure we come back stronger, sharper, and more useful to you. So, this is a see you soon, not a goodbye, of course. We’ll still be sharing solutions every day on OptimistDaily.com and in the daily newsletter, so this is the perfect time to subscribe, and of course on social media as well. So, you can absolutely stay connected with us in so many ways while the pod is on pause.  Arielle  And as always, we love hearing from you. If you have thoughts on today’s stories, ideas for what you’d love to see in the new version of the podcast, or just want to say hi, you can email us at social@optimistdaily.com, slide into our DMs on socials as well. Anything like that will work.  Karissa  Exactly. And again, thank you so much for listening, for caring about solutions, and for being part of this community. We can’t wait to be back with you in the new year.  Arielle  And on that note, season’s greetings to you and yours from us at The Optimist Daily, and we’ll catch you in 2026.  Karissa  Woo, crazy.  Arielle  I know.  Karissa  Looking forward to it.  Arielle  All right. Bye, Karissa!  Karissa  Bye, Arielle!  Arielle  And bye to all our listeners. See you soon.  Karissa  See ya!  The post Podcast Transcript December 19, 2025— Holiday gifts for a loved one with cancer + a powerful Miwuk land-back victory near Yosemite first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

anyone caught within the "kill zone"

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Two new resolutions introduced in Congress directly challenge the growing influence of European and British online censorship laws on American speech. Together, they signal a coordinated effort to push back against a creeping erosion of First Amendment freedoms by foreign powers. In the Senate, Senator Mike Lee introduced S. Res. 567, declaring that “any attempt by foreign entities to censor or penalize constitutionally protected speech of United States persons shall be opposed.” The resolution frames freedom of expression as a defining principle of American identity, describing it as “a hallmark of American exceptionalism” and “necessary to ensure that truth can always be spoken, lies can always be exposed, and important questions can always be asked.” The Senate measure specifically condemns the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), arguing that the law seeks to export European censorship norms across borders. It warns that the EU has been “attempting to force United States entities to use products and technology to censor and undermine free speech occurring in the United States” and that it “threatens steep penalties under the Digital Services Act if United States entities do not implement the censorship regime required under the Act.” Senator Lee’s resolution cites the EU’s 2024 threat against Elon Musk over his interview with President Trump on X and the $140 million fine levied against the platform in 2025. It concludes by urging action: “The Senate… urges the Trump administration to ensure swift and firm rejoinders to any implementation of disapproved activities.” Meanwhile, in the House, Representative Jeff Van Drew introduced H. Res. 967, asserting that “European laws and regulations unfairly and unreasonably burden American speech and innovation.” The resolution targets the EU’s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, along with the UK’s Online Safety Act and Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, calling for formal US opposition to their enforcement. The House measure highlights the political misuse of vague regulatory terms, warning that “labels like ‘misinformation’ and ‘hate speech’ are inevitably used by the powerful to censor critics and silence dissent.” It also references congressional oversight findings that “the Biden administration coerced and colluded with social media companies to censor First Amendment-protected discourse related to elections and the COVID–19 pandemic.” Emphasizing the economic and constitutional stakes, the resolution further states that “European digital censorship laws set de facto international standards for content moderation” and that they “violate the due process rights of American companies to administer fines and penalties that amount to targeted trade barriers against Americans.” Both resolutions reflect a growing determination among lawmakers to prevent foreign governments from shaping the boundaries of US speech. From a free expression perspective, the message is clear: Congress is drawing a line between legitimate cooperation on global digital policy and the imposition of foreign censorship norms within the United States. By formally calling on the Trump administration to respond through diplomatic and economic channels, these measures make a broader statement that the defense of open debate and the protection of American platforms from extraterritorial censorship are matters of national sovereignty and democratic integrity. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Resolutions Introduced in Congress Challenge EU and UK Online Censorship Laws’ Influence on US Free Speech appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

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