Major Hollywood Figures Sign On To Letter Opposing Paramount-WB Merger JJ Abrams and David Fincher were among those signing on to the letter.

Consolidation at this scale has consequences — for journalism, for storytelling, for the public

Paramount+ & Max merging into one behemoth means means less competition & higher prices
— a streaming tax on American households

Film pros are sounding the alarm
#BlockTheMerger -TN

Chevron, Shell to sign agreements for oil, gas areas in Venezuela, sources say Chevron is expected ​to sign agreements on Monday to participate in an extra heavy crude block in Venezuela's main oil ‌region, while returning a gas area that Shell is set to operate, three sources close to the preparations said.

Chevron, Shell to sign agreements for oil, gas areas in Venezuela, sources say reut.rs/4tI7KI2

Minnesota county investigates federal agents’ removal of US citizen from his home as a possible kidnapping | CNN Officials in Ramsey County, Minnesota, on Monday announced a criminal investigation into the arrest of ChongLy Thao, a US citizen caught in a viral photo as immigration agents walked him out of his ho...

Minnesotans will continue to demand justice.

www.cnn.com/2026/04/13/u...

Coachella performers are funding the MAGA movement Following the money from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G to the politicians advancing Trump’s agenda

FYI: "Coachella is run by Anschutz Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, which is owned by right-wing billionaire Philip Anschutz. Money from The Anschutz Corporation’s treasury, which includes the profits from Coachella, is funneled directly to right-wing organizations..."

Botswana signs energy and mineral exploration deals with Oman Botswana's president has clinched multiple ​agreements with Oman, including on mineral exploration, oil storage infrastructure and renewable ‌power, during a visit to the Gulf nation designed to strengthen economic ties, the presidency said on Monday.

Botswana signs energy and mineral exploration deals with Oman reut.rs/426dgIO

Already under financial pressure, Midwest soybean farmers are squeezed further by tariffs, Iran war Midwest soybean farmers are facing an array of compounding issues. Costs, such as equipment, have crept up over time while soybean prices have stayed low.

Illinois is the nation’s number one producer of soybeans — and we’re seeing and hearing the effects of Trump’s chaos.

Instead of helping our farmers, the President now wants to cut federal funding for them and our rural communities for his war in Iran.

RIGHT NOW: UT Austin professors & students are marching to the Texas Capitol to demand an end to classroom censorship & course consolidation.

@aft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@utaustinaaup.bsky.social

The effective federal corporate income tax rate:

1950: 50%
1990: 25%
2020: 13%

Stop asking "but how we will pay for it?" Restore the corporate tax rate.

That is how we will pay for it.

Lufthansa cabin crew union calls for strike on Wednesday and Thursday A union representing Lufthansa cabin crew on Monday called ​for a two-day strike later ‌this week, following a walkout last week and a separate pilots' strike in progress.

Lufthansa cabin crew union calls for strike on Wednesday and Thursday reut.rs/47V0SyW

I am proud to say that Democracy Docket does not publish on Substack. www.democracydocket.com

BREAKING: Swalwell resigns from Congress:

Federal judge rejects Trump’s dubious defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal The demise of the president’s case is a demonstration of the benefits of fighting back — and of the folly of appeasement.

"The only way to lose in a fight against Trump is to try to appease him...

Those who "stand up for themselves and resist the ridiculous attempts at intimidation have prevailed..."

www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

How the Trump administration’s proposed panels would change President’s House

The federal government's envisioned changes for the President's House glosses over the brutal treatment of enslaved persons and dilutes George Washington's role as an enslaver.

Swalwell has announced his resignation from Congress. It’s impossible not to ask why Texas Republican Tony Gonzales hasn’t done the same. And why the GOP doesn’t insist the Epstein files, which repeatedly mention the head of their party, be fully released.

Despite Apocalyptic Warnings, California Fast Food Wage Hike Didn’t Kill Jobs UC Berkeley study finds employment held steady — and only pennies were added to menu prices.

And prices only increased 1.5%. So a $4 burger would now be $4.06.

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of workers got substantial raises, with the average raise registering at more than 10%.

capitalandmain.com/despite-apoc...

Despite Apocalyptic Warnings, California Fast Food Wage Hike Didn’t Kill Jobs UC Berkeley study finds employment held steady — and only pennies were added to menu prices.

A new report from the University of California shows that the state's decision to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20/hr didn’t hurt jobs, or raise prices much.

Data from over 2,000 restaurants shows that the $20/hr minimum wage didn’t reduce employment.

/1

RIP

🚨BREAKING: Eric Swalwell announces he is RESIGNING from Congress.

Surcharges Are Suddenly Everywhere—And Grumpy Americans Are Paying Up The add-ons were a feature during Covid and are once again sneaking their way onto bills.

The Wall Street Journal writes an entire article on the subject of predatory corporate fees without mentioning (even once) that Trump and his courts have lobotomized consumer protection and regulatory autonomy

weird artifice that pretends the government still works

Former U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton And Sheryl Sandberg Join Forces To End Child Marriage The global cost of child marriage runs to $175 billion a year—nearly $2.5 trillion by 2040, a new study finds

Former U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton And Sheryl Sandberg Join Forces To End Child Marriage

Lawmakers in DC: hear us roar! 📢

Nurse leaders took the fight to #AbolishICE to the streets of our nation’s capital today — because our patients and communities deserve care, not terror!

The American president counts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un as his friends while denouncing the Pope.

I’d like to live in a country where a grandma doesn’t have to work as a Door Dash driver to pay for her husband’s cancer treatment

Being mad that the Pope won't endorse your war is like being mad that your doctor won't endorse your cocaine habit.

Cork Airport to get Ireland's largest 'Solar Carport' Waterford's Greenvolt Next will install the energy-generating roofs

Good news, everybody!

Over 1,000 major names in Hollywood signed an open letter opposing the Warner Bros/Paramount merger.

This includes Denis Villeneuve, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Damon Lindelof, Noah Wyle, Glenn Close, Jane Fonda, David Fincher, Ted Danson & more

Peter Magyar confirmed that Szijjarto, Orbán's FM, has barricaded himself with some of his closest colleagues and is shredding documents related to the sanctions on Russia any other evidence of treason.

Canadians Visiting U.S. By Car Down 35% In 2 Years Now 14 months in, Canada’s rejection of the U.S. is the most successful tourism boycott in memory.

Now 14 months in, Canada’s rejection of the U.S. is the most successful tourism boycott in memory.

Leo: "The message of the church, the message of the gospel -- blessed are the peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political. I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."