cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/38158481

Since an Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal came into effect, the U.S. effort to sustain it appears to have constrained Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

[Bias alert - #NYT usually favors Israel] Oct. 27, 2025 Updated 12:10 p.m. ET

https://archive.ph/iI38P

After Israel’s botched airstrike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar last month, Mr. Trump, meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in the Oval Office, forced him to call the Qatari prime minister and apologize.

Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, elaborated in a “60 Minutes” interview on Oct. 20.

“I think he felt like the Israelis were getting a little bit out of control in what they were doing,” he said, “and that it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests.”

It was an extraordinary revelation by Mr. Kushner, who indicated that Mr. Trump believed he was acting in Israel’s interests and that Mr. Netanyahu was not.

Researchers suggest ‘sex-specific strategies’ after analysis of cardiovascular health improvements

Men may need to exercise twice as much as women to achieve the same reduction in coronary heart disease risk, according to researchers, who say healthy living guidelines should take account of the sex differences.

Scientists analysed physical activity records from more than 80,000 people and found that the risk of heart disease fell 30% in women who clocked up 250 minutes of exercise each week. In contrast, men needed to reach 530 minutes, or nearly nine hours, a week to see the same effect.

The study builds on previous work that suggests women benefit more than men from the same amount of exercise, but that women are generally less physically active and less likely to meet recommended exercise targets.

SponsorBlock, Timestamps, and Generated Summary below:

SponsorBlock Timestamps:

1. 0:00 - 0:44 Introduction: Platner's Rise & The Establishment's Response
2. 0:44 - 6:10 The First Attack: Problematic Reddit Posts Unveiled
3. 6:10 - 9:21 The Second Scandal: The Nazi Tattoo Revelation
4. 9:21 - 16:02 Satire: The "Apology Video" Campaign Cycle
5. 16:02 - 20:50 Damage Control: Platner's Formal Media Response
6. 20:50 - 30:23 Analysis: Why The Attacks Failed & The Populist Appeal
7. 30:23 - 34:32 Broader Context: Hypocrisy and Shifting Party Loyalties
8. 34:32 - 39:41 Conclusion: Platner's Defiance and a New Political Moment

Generated Summary:

Overview: The Political Attack on Graham Platner

The central narrative is that Graham Platner, a populist-left, ex-military candidate, was leading in the polls against Republican Susan Collins. The Democratic establishment, fearing his insurgent campaign, recruited Governor Janet Mills to run against him and launched a coordinated opposition research ("oppo") dump to derail his candidacy. Despite these attacks, a poll showed Platner's support remained overwhelmingly strong.

Major Points and Segments

1. The Setup: Platner's Rise and the Establishment's Response (0:00 - 0:44)

• Platner's Initial Success: Platner was portrayed as a strong, populist candidate who was leading Susan Collins by 14 points in general election polls and building significant momentum.
• The Establishment Intervenes: At the request of Senator Chuck Schumer, the incumbent, pro-Israel Governor Janet Mills entered the race, immediately making the primary highly contested.

2. The Coordinated Attacks: Reddit Posts and Nazi Tattoo (0:44 - 9:21)

The transcript describes a series of scandals broken by mainstream media shortly after Mills entered the race, framed as a clear establishment effort to destroy Platner.

• The Reddit Posts (2013): The Washington Post reported on old Reddit posts where Platner:
  • Dismissively downplayed the challenges of reporting sexual assault in the military.
  • Made comments about sexual assault that placed responsibility on victims for consuming alcohol and putting themselves in "dangerous situations."
  • His political director resigned over these comments.
• The Nazi Tattoo Allegation: A video surfaced showing a chest tattoo that resembled the "Totenkopf" (death's head) symbol used by Nazi SS units.
  • Platner's Explanation: He claimed he got the tattoo drunk as a young Marine in Croatia, believing it was just a "cool" skull and crossbones. He stated he was screened for hate symbols multiple times during his subsequent Army and State Department service and no one ever flagged it. He has since covered it up.

3. Satirical Portrayal of a Campaign in Crisis (9:21 - 16:02)

The host provides a satirical commentary, imagining Platner having to make daily apology videos for a never-ending stream of scandals. This segment humorously underscores the perceived absurdity and intensity of the political attacks.

4. Platner's Serious Response and Media Interview (16:02 - 20:50)

• Formal Apology Video: In a more serious tone, Platner addresses the Reddit posts, framing them as the product of a difficult transition to civilian life after war, suffering from PTSD, and using the internet as an outlet for his "rage" and "isolation." He states he has grown and changed.
• TV Interview Highlights:
  • He awkwardly handles a question about another Reddit post asking "why black people don't tip," claiming it was part of a thread about asking "uncomfortable questions."
  • He reiterates his ignorance regarding the Nazi affiliation of his tattoo and his anti-fascist beliefs.
  • He dismissively comments on his former political director who resigned, calling her a "stupid [ __ ]" (later played for satire as another thing he'd have to apologize for).
  • He is unconcerned about Republicans using the scandals against him, arguing they would call any Democrat a "communist" regardless.

5. Analysis: Why the Attacks Failed and the Deeper Political Lesson (20:50 - 30:23)

This is the core analytical segment of the transcript.

• The Poll That Defied Expectations: A University of New Hampshire poll, conducted largely after the scandals broke, showed Platner leading Mills 58% to 24%—a 34-point lead.
• The Key Insight: Populism Appeals to Moderates: The host argues this proves a lesson the Democratic establishment "refuses to learn":
  • While liberals preferred Mills (44% to 40%), moderates broke heavily for the left-wing populist Platner (29-point margin).
  • This mirrors the 2016 Bernie Sanders phenomenon, where his working-class signaling resonated with moderates and voters in conservative states more than the "platitudinous PMC gobbledegook" of establishment candidates.
• The Democratic Party's Real Purpose: The host contends the party is not a political organization with political aims, but a "professional organization" focused on the careers and financial grift of its members. A true populist like Platner threatens the donor base and the revolving door of lucrative post-government jobs.

6. Broader Political Context and Reactions (21:25 - 27:09)

• Contrast with Other Scandals: Comments contrast Bernie Sanders' continued support for Platner with the White House dropping an appointee over racist texts, and a commentator's failed attempt to deny Donald Trump's history of racism.
• Hypocrisy and Tone-Deafness: The host and commentators see hypocrisy in the "woke" establishment trying to cancel a left-wing candidate for not being "woke" enough in his past. They also find the attack on a veteran for being "messed up" after war to be particularly galling.

7. Conclusion: Platner's Resilience and the Shifting Base (34:32 - 39:41)

• Platner's Defiant Town Hall: The segment ends with a clip from a well-attended town hall where Platner gives a powerful speech. He admits shame for his past words but proudly stands by who he is today, defiantly stating the establishment's attacks have only strengthened his resolve.
• A "Tea Party Moment" for the Left: The host concludes that the Democratic base is showing newfound "autonomy," no longer blindly following party leadership. This is attributed to the "broken" trust after the Biden debate meltdown and the recognition that the party's interests (grifting) are not aligned with the voters' interests (winning and having a candidate who represents them). The successes of figures like Platner and "Mamdani" signal a potential fundamental shift in the political landscape.

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the post-civilization left

Due Dissidence is a multimedia one-stop shop for left politics and gallows humor in written, audio, and video form.

North Carolina Republicans just passed a new Trump-inspired congressional map to oust a Black Democrat.

The entire tweet

Meriwether Farms @MeriwetherFarms Oct 20

Dear @POTUS Trump,

We love you and support you— but your suggestion to buy beef from Argentina to stabilize beef prices would be an absolute betrayal to the American cattle rancher.

We understand there are larger economic and geopolitical dynamics at play, including countering CCP influence in countries in our hemisphere. But the practice of solving problems “over there” before solving problems here on our soil is what contributed to the downfall of our country: Americans always come last.

We understand beef prices are high, and we admire your concern for all Americans, but this is not the fault of the American producer. This is the fault of politicians who have allowed BRICS-aligned entities to dominate the meat industry, that participate in price fixing and who also continually lie to their consumers.

Washington for decades has facilitated the squeezing of our own ranchers while allowing these entities to flood the market with cheaper, lower-quality imports -- and the American people don't even know these products are foreign because they are allowed to be marked as “Product of the USA”.

On top of all this—there is only chaos coming from the Department of Agriculture. There is no true guidance, mixed messaging, and a copious amount of photo ops. There is no one to trust over there that truly understands the issues and isn’t bought out by or aligned with Big Industries.

The American cattle rancher is one of the last symbols of independence we have in the nation—but the continued manipulation and betrayal by the very people who claim to support them, needs to end immediately. While only representing 1% of the population, the work is tireless, daily, in poor conditions, with low margins, without thanks— all in order to keep this country fed. We would be a failed nation if we continue to betray the very people who put food on the table for us. There are so many voices on the outside that support you and want to see you succeed. Maybe it’s time to start listening to them. Your team knows how to get in touch with us.

Sincerely, Meriwether Farms

https://xcancel.com/MeriwetherFarms/status/1980296823286952257#m

Ah Argentina, the country Trump gave 40 billion to. America First apparently.

Finding is one of most direct statements from the tech company on how AI can exacerbate mental health issues

More than a million ChatGPT users each week send messages that include “explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent”, according to a blogpost published by OpenAI on Monday. The finding, part of an update on how the chatbot handles sensitive conversations, is one of the most direct statements from the artificial intelligence giant on the scale of how AI can exacerbate mental health issues.

In addition to its estimates on suicidal ideations and related interactions, OpenAI also said that about 0.07 of users active in a given week – about 560,000 of its touted 800m weekly users – show “possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania”. The post cautioned that these conversations were difficult to detect or measure, and that this was an initial analysis.

As OpenAI releases data on mental health issues related to its marquee product, the company is facing increased scrutiny following a highly publicized lawsuit from the family of a teenage boy who died by suicide after extensive engagement with ChatGPT. The Federal Trade Commission last month additionally launched a broad investigation into companies that create AI chatbots, including OpenAI, to find how they measure negative impacts on children and teens.

https://archive.is/sT456

China is the sole producer, for example, of samarium, a rare earth metal used in many military applications. China is also the only country to master the difficult art of refining ultrapure dysprosium: The entire world’s supply, needed for superfast chips, comes from a single factory near Shanghai.

Connolly has long described the EU as neoliberal and undemocratic and has opposed Ireland’s ratification of several EU treaties.

The company's Chinese arm has taken steps toward independence and has resumed selling products to domestic Chinese customers.

The sources said the Dutch government believes it can negotiate a resolution with China that will restore the company to a unified Dutch-Chinese structure.

If adopted, the reform would allow 13- and 14-year-olds to face prison sentences for serious crimes

cross-posted from: https://ibbit.at/post/93096

From Common Dreams via this RSS feed

Retired US Col. Steve Gabavics went public Monday with an account he had previously only spoken about anonymously—the story of his investigation into an Israeli soldier’s killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 and the unsuccessful attempts he made to ensure the US State Department would accurately report his findings: that Abu Akleh was intentionally shot.

Gabavics previously discussed his experience investigating Abu Akleh’s killing just days after it happened in a documentary produced by Zeteo News, but he wasn’t named in the film.

On Monday, he came forward publicly for the first time in an interview with the New York Times to discuss the case he said has “bothered [him] the most” of any he investigated during his 30-year military career.

Retired US Col. Steve Gabavics went public Monday with an account he had previously only spoken about anonymously—the story of his investigation into an Israeli soldier’s killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 and the unsuccessful attempts he made to ensure the US State Department would accurately report his findings: that Abu Akleh was intentionally shot.

Gabavics previously discussed his experience investigating Abu Akleh’s killing just days after it happened in a documentary produced by Zeteo News, but he wasn’t named in the film.

On Monday, he came forward publicly for the first time in an interview with the New York Times to discuss the case he said has “bothered [him] the most” of any he investigated during his 30-year military career.

Nations previously exempt from scraping now in the firing line

Pinterest is testing an AI-driven collage to help users create outfits from saved Pins and personalized boards curated with AI.

Instagram Threads is launching “ghost posts,” a new disappearing-posts feature that lets users share updates that automatically archive after 24 hours. The ephemeral option — rolling out globally on Monday — aims to encourage more casual, low-pressure sharing.

We’re living in a world of fake realities.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20251027170814/https://www.theverge.com/report/806359/openai-sora-deepfake-detection-c2pa-content-credentials

Ad industry watchdog says AT&T violated program rule, demands removal of ads.

Glad they are finally doing it and this should hopefully get much needed funding for our healthcare system. Whats shocking to me is that even with all the controversial bits taken out its still unpopular. I swear nz has the most hardheaded people out there.

RNZ-Reid Research poll last month found 43 percent in support of a CGT on investment properties

What is left for people to whine about?