Start your week with DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou, where political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, where we catch you up on the news of the weekend and prepare you for the week ahead and what it all means.
Bullet Points for Each Topic
- Israel Lied to Qatar: Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, approved by Netanyahu, kills five Hamas members and one Qatari officer. New reports claim Trump was in fact informed beforehand—exposing his statements that he learned after the bomb blasts in Doha began and immediately notified his ally, as lies. Israel is covering up for The Donald. But who will ever believe him again?
- If a Tree Burns in the Woods, Will the EPA Report It?: Trump already gutted the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now he seems to be trying to stop everyone from getting access to reliable information about the environment. His EPA will stop thousands of coal plants, oil refineries, and steel mills from reporting greenhouse gas emissions, a practice in place since 2010. This undermines climate policy by hiding emission sources, while the EPA claims it saves $2.4 billion in compliance costs. The move follows Trump’s efforts to erase climate change references and cut related funding.
- If a Company’s Q3 Blows, Will Stock Analysts Ever Know?: Trump suggests public companies reduce financial reports from four to two annually, aiming to save costs and shift focus to business operations. Critics warn this reduces transparency for investors and regulators, potentially hiding financial crimes. The SEC must approve the change.
- Right-Wing Cancel Culture: The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University leads to firings of employees, including a sports reporter and a Secret Service agent, for public comments. Private employers cite reputational harm, with legal experts noting limited First Amendment protections. Should your boss be allowed to can you for what you say away from work?
- Poland Want Ukraine No-Fly Zone: Poland’s foreign minister, after Russian drones entered Polish airspace last week, proposes a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect against debris and drones. The idea, floated to German media, would need NATO approval and revisits no-fly zones of the past. Will it escalate tensions with Russia.