Bi-Weekly Clips - MLK Monday 2025

Readers:

Welcome to the unedited uncensured bi-weekly clips prepared by other young Oregonians for your consideration.  Stay informed by all sources as we edge closer to unknown events. 

The bi-weekly clips on this frozen day:

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MLK’s former speechwriter: ‘We are trying to save the soul of America’

Commentary: The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today.

OREGON

Portland ice storm warning issued for Tuesday, ‘significant icing expected’ and schools close in preparation.

Down from 200,000 people, 77,000 still without electricity.

News coverage by Oregon Catalyst:

• Wild snowstorm photos
• Snowstorm uncovers folly of denying people natural gas
• After outcry, Kotek delays tax plan (until after election?)

Oregon Capital Chronicle reports: “Oregon House Republican lawmakers on Thursday released details of a proposal that would end Measure 110 by mandating misdemeanor penalties for drug possession and treatment to avoid jail.”

Oregon Capital Chronicle reports: “The Oregon Supreme Court will defer to the U.S. Supreme Court and won’t hear a court case challenging former President Donald Trump’s ability to appear on Oregon ballots.”

Providence and Regence BlueCross seal deal on insurance partnership.

COVID

OPINION by the Washington Post (imagine if this had come out in 2020 – no way): Legitimate criticism of the covid-19 pandemic response, including school closures.

Mask policies return in some parts of the U.S. as respirator viruses threaten to strain hospitals. Keyword: threaten. Not currently “threatening”, but as something that COULD happen.

Why foreigners who endured China’s covid lockdowns are now leaving the country.

OPINION: Phony Fauci fesses up on fake science and COVID flim-flam.

NATIONAL

Everything you wanted to know about the immigration mess. Biden didn’t care about it back in 2020-21, but now it matters due to the election.

Eczema and how a small family brand solved this problem with an organic product.

First Things, November 2022, and a commentary about wealth in an article called, “The truth about Bill Gates”

An investigator thinks he may have identified the famed hijacker, D.B. Cooper.

What’s gone wrong at Boeing?

Trump receives warm embrace in frigid Iowa.

WORLD

Ukraine/Russia

Lots of war-mongering going on (must keep military industrial complex afloat and bureaucracy bloated): Germany prepared for Russia to start WWIII.

Ukraine says it shot down Russian A-59 spy plane.

What the heck is going on here?! Fox News reports: American filmmaker arrested and jailed for spreading pro-Russia propaganda, dies in Ukrainian prison. It says this filmmaker was first sentenced to prison last year – why hasn’t this been publicized and why haven’t public outcries been heard? Of course, MSM can’t publish many bad things about Ukraine because American support will wane.

WSJ: He warned of nuclear disaster in Ukraine. Then he was thrown in a Russian jail and tortured.

More countries join talks on Ukraine peace. But Russia is absent and war grinds on.

Zelensky ‘requested’ (demanded?) Switzerland host Ukraine peace summit.

Russia meeting with North Korea.

Israel

Republican Speaker of the House in Congress wants to fire any of the government employees in 22 agencies who walks out in protest of the federal government’s Gaza policy.

Israeli soccer player arrested, charged in Turkey after standing in solidarity with Israeli hostages. He returned to a warm welcome in Israel.

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel has ‘global support’ finance minister says.

Afghanistan

OPINION: Saving Afghanistan’s child brides.

Suicide bomber in western Afghanistan targets the governor’s office.

Afghanistan’s extremist rulers learned what all governments now know: SIM cards are worth every penny. The article describes how the Taliban is handing out SIM cards like candy to refugees to track and surveil them.

WHO appeals for $1.5 billion to address crises from Gaza to Afghanistan.

Pakistan effectively shuts the key crossing into Afghanistan to truck drivers.

Inside Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian disaster as aid funding falls short.

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MLK worried about the ‘soul’ of the country. Wonder what he’d think today?

Given the day, and the frozen weather, I will pass on other comments given the world situation.  The White Oligarch War grinds on.  The Gaza City Conflict is expanding.  The Houthi Doublecross by DC Swamp Dwellers is spiraling out of control.  Corporate profits are rising.  And we all pay more for everything!  Nothing has changed?

Government serves Government not the People?

Be prepared.  Be informed.  Be ready.  Buckle up.

De oppresso liber.

Pray for peace.

Sincerely,

Brian Boquist

Oregon State Senator

Supporters of the Houthi movement rally to denounce air strikes launched by the U.S. and Britain on Houthi targets, in Sanaa, Yemen January 12, 2024.

(Former USG ally who does not look like they are going to back down to their double crosser!  Afghanistan Round Two?)