GeorgeBounacos
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The United States and Israel say they are honoring the ceasefire with Iran, but the Pakistanis and Iranians who negotiated it say they are not.
That's exhausting to read, and it barely scratches the surface of what this country has lived through in a year.
Consider what we've witnessed. The sexual abuse of children by powerful men and a government fighting to keep their names hidden. American special forces abducting the president of Venezuela and jailing him in Brooklyn while a sitting president threatened to annex Greenland. Federal agents killing American citizens on the streets of Minneapolis while grocery bills spiked so high that families are making choices no one should have to make.
Maybe the ceasefire in an undeclared war holds. But we've all earned the right to weariness and skepticism tonight. The ceasefire doesn't end anything but the active bombing. Prices were surging before Iran, Cuba is still on the president's radar, and midterm elections are seven months away.
Take a beat today. We'll email you tomorrow's stories so we can start fresh. This is nowhere close to over.
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Today on the Website (embedded links, data, image): https://go.govbrief.today/260408-full
[1] https://go.govbrief.today/nato-trump-apr8
[2] https://go.govbrief.today/iran-war-apr8
[3] https://go.govbrief.today/gates-testimony
[4] https://go.govbrief.today/bondi-epstein-dep
[5] https://go.govbrief.today/ca-election-probe
[6] https://go.govbrief.today/auto-draft-reg
[7] https://go.govbrief.today/petrova-canceled-court
[8] https://go.govbrief.today/anthropic-appeal
[9] https://go.govbrief.today/national-trust-ballroom
[10] https://go.govbrief.today/fed-worker-medical
[11] https://go.govbrief.today/polymarket-ceasefire
[12] https://go.govbrief.today/minn-enforcement
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DidCatchABreak
Thank you, George
StellarJay77
#4 She wasn't answering questions about it BEFORE she left office so she should be found in contempt of Congress, arrested, and thrown in jail until she agrees to testify. Just because she's not in an official position anymore doesn't mean she magically doesn't have to speak to what she learned while she was in her official position. She's such a horrible sycophantic person. It's good that she just happens to be incompitent too but doesn't think she is.
Ikwilstroopwaffels
Not hundreds of thousands. Hundreds of millions.
FiftyShadesOfArugula
#3 So now it's Gates' turn to tell congress "trump did nothing wrong afaik" lest the DoJ digs deeper into his own dealings with epstein. This is getting old. A huge performative "investigation" questioning everyone except trump and other far-right epstein buddies, and in the end not a single perp is brought to justice.
notsurewhattocallthis
Thanks @GeorgeBounacos . Keep it up!
RussianMafia1337
#6 soooo America is like Russia now - he really does admire his bestie Vlad
FuzzyX
Not quite that bad when Russia does sign up prisoners saying their convictions will be quashed if they go fight in Ukraine.
Then Russia sending those under 18 to fight has been noted but Russia usually tries to avoid kids fighting.
FuzzyX
On #4 Pam Bondi needs to realise if she receives a summons to appear before the House Oversight Committee she can attend or not attend but if she refuses to attend on multiple occasions she can be charged with contempt and arrested. Then if she does appear she can refuse to answer questions but will face the fallout from that.
PuzzledCompletely
Thank you! Indy's not much better when he gets his own close up.
GeorgeBounacos
Always mutter under my breath, "We named the dog Indy"
ImmatellallyallboutFightClub
Being constantly lied to is indeed exhausting. But the only way through misinformation and false transparency is knowledge. Thanks for the headlines. I'm curious to see how they spin bringing back the draft when they do.
Sassy comfortable Dubs having a good morning.
StellarJay77
Easy, just look at the movie Starship Troopers and the glorification of military service being the only patriotic way to serve the motherland. The ignorance and impoverished state of so much of the US will simply accept that they are "doing their part" to protect the country from "evil". Too many good people let their foot off the gas in keeping selfish arrogant evil people from attaining power. Democracy requires constant vigilance and understanding how important it is for everyone to vote.
GeorgeBounacos
It's confusing. They didn't bring it back. 18-year-olds have been required to register for the last 40 years. They just automated the registration process because 18-year-olds have a habit of putting stuff off, getting it wrong, etc. ;)
ImmatellallyallboutFightClub
Yes! And I have in the past expressed annoyance that we had to manually register when the gov't could do it automatically. Imagine if we were automatically registered to vote! A radical concept.
It's this *particular* administration that makes me think this is an increment towards re-instating the draft. They do things in increments, and even the good ideas have insidious motives.
GeorgeBounacos
Couldn't agree more.
tinydog
Thank you for what you do, George. Have a tiny dog cake on my cake day.
GeorgeBounacos
OMG - adorable. And Happy Cake Day!!
TheFastpaws
Practice!
GeorgeBounacos
GTFOH!
so funny
Sebastopol140
ArchMagos
#4 DOJ doesnt have the authority to make that decision
thinkybrainpains
Truth. They subpoena private citizens all of the time. And there are consequences for ignoring those subpoenas. If she goes, she’ll just plead the 5th on everything
notsurewhattocallthis
Donnie Only Justice.
MenloPart
They should have faced consequences before #45 left office. Now we're hoping he'll fall asleep, fall out of his chair, and hit his head.
PuzzledCompletely
... fall out of his chair, land on Vance, and hit his head.
Ostegonation
Bingo. Pam better face consequences if she doesn't show.
TheWombatStrikesAgain
#1 Then FUCKING LEAVE, asshole. You don't want allies, you want lackeys. And Europe isn't going to be your lackey. Go ask your worthless Board of Peace members, if they want to send their people to die for your ego.
Yeah, NATO is gonna be weaker without a reliable and commited US, but a reliable and committed US has been dead for years. At this point, no one expects you to fulfill your obligations anyway. We all know you play on team Putin.
thinkybrainpains
He acts like he’s the CEO of the world and other nations leaders are his employees. Disgustingly arrogant and being a bully…which is kind of how we are seen as tourists, too. I hate that fucker so much but this is who 🇺🇸 has been. I hope we change this about ourselves
Ostegonation
#2 Israel has never honored a ceasefire. They are the aggressors and they want to exterminate everyone around them for not being the chosen people. The next admin needs to cut off all support to Israel, let them stand or fall on their own.
BipedalHumanoidWithSlightlyDifferentNoseRidge
They will need to change the laws. So will need control of Congress with Non-AIPAC members.... so won't happen.
Rijacki
Israel has made sure that the US (and other countries) regard non-support of Zionism and the Israel government's genocide efforts is considered anti-antisemitism.
Jmarie453
#11. New polymarket accounts... Sooooo probably people operating in any of the four governments currently involved in this war that could manipulate policy or military action?
Insider trading / betting might one day be a crime, but right now they are a side hustle. Ugh.
Thank you George as always for this daily dose of necessary depression 🫠
GeorgeBounacos
You're welcome, and I think all of you are on track with these comments. America has a gambling issue that it hasn't woven into its social compact yet, and we certainly haven't resourced mental health resources for it.
Daliena06
What makes me wonder is, where the hell does the money come from? Surely people with the kind of money to throw hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars on bets like that are either already on the inside, or realized that someone is manipulating things with insider info
So who's putting up the money that these crooks are winning?
Jmarie453
Likely the normal people betting on things who do not have insider information. Kinda like the stock market pump n' dumps that drain $ from everyday people.
It's also possible they intentionally "leak" misinformation to bump betting.
This is a common tactic abused for stock pushes, especially now with AI social / news farms.
Polymarket isn't really like crypto (used to easily pay for illicit services or bribes), since it's more like a stock in structure. Anything is possible, though!
elten
#6 so you can get registered automatically for a draft, but not to vote?
myhamstergotdead
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1ODg2cTR3dnZiaXdzM2RqMmdiZGxoMnhlaDVta3lpd2wxcGw1cGo2cyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/YPvXkXhnTJNm/200w.webp
GeorgeBounacos
It's odd. I was in the first year of 18-year-olds who had to register. To be honest, it just an errand you had to do within 30 days of turning 18. But I certainly would've preferred it being automatic. Just about every state allows people to register when they apply for a driver's license and you can also get an application at the post office. Honestly, turnout and registration are issues, but they're at the personal level.
TheWombatStrikesAgain
It's all about what they actually want to happen.
thinkybrainpains
Is voting registration managed tan the federal or state level? I’m not sure if I’d want this federal government to own that. Also, how much longer before they raise that age to 35 because finding cannon fodder is get harder when it’s clear the wars/war crimes are about protecting Israel and stealing oil not about defense.
Caughtintheconcentricelipsesofchaosanditsinnatemadness
They no accept people up to 42 years of age.
Caughtintheconcentricelipsesofchaosanditsinnatemadness
*now
piratecaptainwendy
They....don't care about you.
StellarJay77
And young girls can be forced to be mothers long before they can legally drive, vote, or make pretty much any decisions required of an adult on their own. This has been conservatives wet dream end game for decades. All of this has been in planning for a long time and they are making their play to control it all now before the midterms. They will be doing everything they can to ensure they win in November or barring that make sure November doesn't happen.
Corrodias
Yes. But just to provide some context, people were always legally _required_ to register for the draft. It should have been automatic all along. So should be voting registration, but _that_ isn't required, as you know.
GeorgeBounacos
No, that's not quite accurate. After the Vietnam débâcle, the entire system was shut down. It was either 1975 or 1976. It didn't get reinstated until Carter and it went in to effect in 1980. I turned 18 in the first year after it was reinstated so am pretty clear-eyed on this one. Prior to World War II, there was absolutely no peacetime draft or registration.
Corrodias
My mistake, you're right, I shouldn't have said "always".
PuzzledCompletely
AMAB people anyway. (Although I did hear of one trans man that was notified that he hadn't registered. He did, knowing full well that they'd reject him if it came to it.)
Kotarisu
I had a friend who tried to register for SS after his transition (he was in his 20s at the time entering college), and the agency was basically just confused on how to handle it.
FuzzyX
Soldiers can kill and be killed years before they can lawfully buy and drink alcohol.
Currently there is little change when people are supposed to register within 30 days from their 18th birthday anyway.
I still see this auto-draft as suspecious though when if Trump withdraws the US from NATO then maybe next he wants a big war with NATO through invading Canada and Greenland.
Then guess who's butts get drafted.
McMasterx
Probably an 80/20 Split of Democrat/Republican voters tbf. The Draft age range is quite large, and he keeps trying to acquire voting records.
SalmonTheWise
I'm not sure giving access to weapons to opponents of your regime and teaching how to use them is a sound strategy for a dictator. Unless every single American is a spineless bootlicker regardless of political affiliation.
McMasterx
Failure to show up for the Draft would result in Prison Slavery, loss of Voting Rights, or just being picked up off the street and vanished.
SalmonTheWise
If the drafted army is 80% democrats then they can kill the fascists you numbskull.
MattoJanai
Ok I'm sincerely stupid in this topic and need some explanation. I'm too old to be drafted at this point. But I thought it was always automatic? Was I supposed to fill out some paperwork when I turned 18? Did I accidentally draft dodge? I was under the assumption that if a draft occurred some dudes in suits would show up at my door with a rifle and my new uniform/s but really I never grew up in draft times and I have no idea how it works
StellarJay77
No, for almost the last half century, signing up for military service has been voluntary. They have rigged the system though to make military service sign up extremely appealing to impoverished individuals with incentives that are hard to turn down. It's part of the reason why there is no national Medicare and why housing and post secondary education is so expensive.
slack3rdav3
yep, i sucked some Uncle Sam govt dick for some healthcare, housing, and a degree.
Kotarisu
All males in the United States were required to self-register with the Selective Service, which is where they would pull the draft rolls from. Basically now instead of that they are going to make up a list from any database they can find or conjure up which will of course be 100% accurate.
MattoJanai
I get that. I'm confused about the previous part. How was I supposed to do that? How do I register to be a part of the draft that I'm legally required to do? If I'm confused as a 35 year old man about it, how did they ever expect 18 year olds to do it? Fuck trump and everyone involved but this seems like a slightly less confusing way of doing it. Like having the government take responsibility for their shitty draft laws
PuzzledCompletely
You probably mailed in a postcard half your life ago. They did seem to have some sort of system to know when someone hadn't done it, so you probably just don't remember.
Kotarisu
If memory serves, one could get the forms from high school, colleges, local government offices, the post office, etc. It was then mailed in to the SSS offices. And yes, it makes more sense for them to handle it instead of self-service.
GeorgeBounacos
I was telling someone here that I had it easy because I turned 18 in the first year it was reinstated so there was tons of news! If you don't go to a post office and fill out the form, they probably gave you one at school. I know one of my kids got one there. Or as PC said, there were postcard reminders too, but I thought you had to have a social security card to get them.