corruption
A prime locale to talk bribery, suspect campaign funding, and all other instances of political corruption. The shadier, the better.
Frightening Reality? 5 Insights on “Soon No Liberal Will Be Able to Live in Israel”
The provocative assertion that “Soon no liberal will be able to live in Israel. The IDF has already fallen to messianism” captures a deeply anxious sentiment within segments of Israeli society. Here, I explore its meaning, analyze current data and commentary, and assess what it reveals about Israel’s political and military trajectory.
By Kageno Hoshino6 months ago in The Swamp
The Mapmakers and the Elephant in the Chamber
If you have lived in this country longer than it takes to cook a brisket, you already know politics is just the art of dressing up a hog and charging admission to watch it root around. It loves flags, speeches, and pretending to work for you. Strip away the pageantry and you find three levers running the whole machine: who writes the rules, who gets counted and allowed to vote, and who draws the lines. America has been yanking on those levers since it was young enough to be bottle-fed on tea and revolution.
By Mike Barvosa6 months ago in The Swamp
Box Office Battle: Weapons Roars to the Top, Freakier Friday Follows in Strong Second
Start ## Box Office Competition: "Weapons" Takes First, "Freakier Friday" Comes in Second Strongly The horror-thriller "Weapons" has taken a commanding lead in a thrilling summer box office battle, opening with an impressive $18.2 million on Friday. In contrast, Disney's "Freakier Friday" had a strong debut, debuting in second place with $12.7 million. ### All of the cylinders are hit by "weapons." *Weapons*, directed by Zach Cregger, smashed into more than 3,200 theaters and made $5.7 million just from previews on Thursday. After just a few recent standouts, it ranks among the highest-grossing opening days for original horror films in the post-pandemic era with its combined Friday total. In a market that is frequently dominated by sequels and superhero blockbusters, industry analysts are now projecting a domestic opening weekend in the range of $42–47 million, a remarkable achievement for an original title. The film is already well on its way to profitability with a production budget of approximately 38 million dollars. The response from critics and the public has been particularly strong. CinemaScore users gave the movie an A–, a remarkable achievement for a horror movie. More than 60% of viewers would "definitely recommend" it to others, according to post-screening polls. Critics have praised the story because of its combination of tense atmosphere, shocking twists, and deeper emotional themes. They see it as more than just another entry in the genre. Cregger, best known for the surprise hit "Barbarian," has once more demonstrated his ability to combine originality and suspense. Not only does "Weapons" provide a few moments of pure terror, but it also tells a multilayered story about grief, loss, and how people deal with their deepest fears. ### "Freakier Friday" Strikes a Sadistic Note Even though "Weapons" took the top spot, "Freaker Friday" also made a big splash. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are back in the beloved comedy sequel, which brought the story to a new generation and pleased longtime fans. The movie opened on Wednesday in a few markets and made 3.1 million dollars in previews before it did well on Friday. It now has weekend projections of $30–32 million, which is a great return for a family comedy with a reported $40 million production budget. The film received a positive response from audiences, earning an "A" CinemaScore and high audience ratings across major review platforms. The film has received praise from viewers for retaining the original's charm while introducing new comedic setups and heartfelt scenes. The body-swapping antics that drive the plot are bolstered by the emotional weight of Lohan and Curtis's chemistry, which is still as engaging as ever. Reminiscence-based marketing also contributes to the film's popularity. In its marketing campaign, Disney used callbacks, Easter eggs, and cast photos side-by-side to evoke fond memories of the 2003 film. Many theaters reported sell-out performances on Friday night, indicating that the strategy worked. ### Two Different Routes to Achievement There is no greater contrast between the two films. *Weapons* is aimed squarely at thrill-seekers and fans of horror, and it thrives on atmosphere, dread, and shocking narrative turns. On the other hand, "Freaker Friday" attracts audiences of all ages with its warmth, humor, and family-friendly appeal. Both are thriving at the box office despite their differences. *Weapons* should continue to gain momentum in the coming weeks due to strong word-of-mouth from horror enthusiasts and genre critics. Family audiences and repeat viewers are likely to support "Freakier Friday" throughout its run. *Weapons* has already begun to amass a respectable international following, with its initial day of sales bringing in more than $11 million from international markets. In just 24 hours, it has reached nearly $30 million globally in addition to its domestic haul. In the coming weeks, "Freakier Friday" will expand internationally, where its appeal to people of all generations could generate additional revenue. ### Summer box office increases The results this weekend show how different moviegoers' tastes will be in 2025. When done with care and creativity, original, high-concept horror can still sell out theaters, and a well-executed sequel with a strong nostalgic pull can attract a sizable audience. *Weapons* is a clear win for Warner Bros.' investment in original, director-driven projects and another summer success story. "Freaker Friday" demonstrates for Disney the value of providing audiences with a satisfying continuation of a story they already love and the enduring power of beloved properties. *Weapons* is expected to win the weekend with just over $43 million, while *Freakier Friday* is likely to come in second place with $31 million. Both films win in the end, demonstrating that in today's competitive box office environment, there is room for heartwarming laughs as well as terrifying scares. writing...
By GLOBAL NEWS6 months ago in The Swamp
The Judge Who’s Missing
Family court was designed to be the place where the most intimate disputes are handled with care, fairness, and a laser focus on the best interests of children. Instead, for too many parents, it’s become a war zone where truth is optional, procedure is a game, and the judge—who should be the last safeguard against injustice—acts more like a referee with one eye closed.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Leave Beyoncé’s Levi Jeans Out of it
The double standards is insane. Conservative outlet reporters are just plain annoying. Actress Sydney Sweeney made a controversial ad with American eagle jeans causing a backlash. Most are saying that the ad is racist and others are saying it’s just a no big deal and that didn’t make it as a big deal just like they did to Beyoncés Levi jeans ad campaign. Sydney Sweeney has started off as a struggling actress before she landed the role as Cassie in HBO’s show Euphoria.
By Gladys W. Muturi6 months ago in The Swamp
Gold futures trade off highs as White House to issue clarification on bullion tariffs
After the White House indicated that it would issue a formal clarification regarding the tariffs that are affecting imported bullion, gold futures saw a decline from their record intraday highs on Friday. The move followed a volatile morning in which U.S. gold futures briefly surged past three thousand five hundred thirty dollars per ounce, driven by confusion over whether certain gold bars would be subject to new import duties.
By GLOBAL NEWS6 months ago in The Swamp
Spaghetti Districts and Stolen Representation
“If you can’t draw it with a ruler, it’s probably rigged.” That’s the unofficial motto voters should adopt when looking at today’s twisted, manipulated, politically carved voting districts. For all the talk about democracy and representation, America’s current district maps look more like abstract art than an expression of “one person, one vote.”
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Bleeding a Father Dry
“They didn’t just try to take my kid—they tried to take everything.” — William Sewell South Carolina’s family courts weren’t designed for justice. They were designed to bleed you dry and leave you broken. No case illustrates this better than that of William Sewell—a father, a mechanic, a veteran—who walked into court seeking fairness and walked out with his life dismantled, piece by piece, dollar by dollar.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Intel’s CEO, Under Attack From Trump, Is Already at Odds With His Board
**The Trump-attacked CEO of Intel Already Disagrees With His Board** Trump's attacks on Intel's CEO have already put him at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Trump's attacks on Intel's CEO have already put him at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board. Intel’s CEO, under attack from Trump, is already at odds with his board.
By GLOBAL NEWS6 months ago in The Swamp
Fighting Back
The American family court system was designed to protect the best interests of children. But for many parents—especially those who dare to represent themselves or question the system’s integrity—it has become a nightmare factory where justice is replaced by punishment, due process is a joke, and the price of protecting your child is your life savings, your reputation, and your sanity.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Who Broke the Family?
In America’s crumbling family court system, the question that won’t go away is this: Who’s responsible? Who in Congress or the White House signed off on laws that—intentionally or not—enabled corruption, incentivized custody battles, and tore families apart in the name of “justice”?
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
Top 10 Worst Politicians for Family Values
In America, “family values” is a phrase politicians love to shout on campaign trails — while quietly supporting policies that dismantle the very institution they claim to protect. Behind the patriotic speeches and photo ops with babies lie decades of destructive legislation, judicial overreach, and systemic rot that have turned family courts into profit centers and made children pawns of bureaucracy.
By Michael Phillips6 months ago in The Swamp
