opinion

Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.

What You Think You Know Is Totally Wrong. AI-Generated.
What You Think You Know Is Totally Wrong Every day, we walk around thinking we’ve got the world figured out. We rely on facts we've learned from school, stories we've heard from others, or information that’s been repeated so often it must be true. But here’s the shocking reality: many of those “facts” are completely false.
By Haq Nawaz7 months ago in The Swamp
Brad Lander: A Progressive Voice Reshaping New York City’s Future . AI-Generated.
Brad Lander: A Progressive Voice Reshaping New York City’s Future Brad Lander is not your average city official. As the New York City Comptroller, he has taken a bold and transparent approach to handling the city’s finances, focusing on equity, accountability, and justice. Known for his progressive values, Lander has become a key figure in reshaping how local government can work for everyone, especially for those who have been overlooked in the past.
By Saad 7 months ago in The Swamp
Trump Vetoes Ayatollah Assassination.. Content Warning.
Donald Trump told Netanyahu straight about killing the Supreme Leader of Iran. Israel, in its first raid on Iran, bumped off leaders of Iran's military and Revolutionary Guard. Israel has always killed enemy leaders. More often, the group or country replaces that fallen leader with another. Israel took out the Secretary General of Hezbollah and killed many of the group's top leaders. The fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has stopped, more or less. Hezbollah today is headed by Naim Qaim (forgive me if I got his name wrong). The group is still around, but it has been weakened by conflict with Israel. The group is considering whether it should respond to Israeli attacks on Iran. Given Hezbollah's tenuous situation, the Iran- backed group might sit this out. Hamas has been reduced to a shadow of its former self in Gaza, Israel taking out its top men. However, the group is still resisting the IDF despite all the munitions Israel has dumped on Gaza. Only the Houthis, who have been pounded by the US recently and even by Israel, remain in the game. The US and the Houthis agreed to a ceasefire, provided the group did not shoot at ships in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis are still free to fire missiles and drones at Israel.
By Nicholas Bishop7 months ago in The Swamp
The Long Pause Is Over
For more than half a century, America managed to do something remarkable: we avoided political assassination. From the bloody chaos of the 1960s — when bullets felled a president and his brother — we entered an uneasy, fragile calm. Three generations grew up believing that while our politics might be ugly, dangerous violence was mostly behind us.
By Jeff Olen7 months ago in The Swamp
How Verbs & Adjectives Frame the Israel-Iran Conflict
Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." - Rudyard Kipling The choice of language plays a pivotal role in shaping perceptions of conflict, subtly favoring one party over another without the reader ever realizing it.
By Scott Christenson🌴7 months ago in The Swamp
💔 Tragedy Above Ahmedabad: Air India Flight 171 Crash
On the afternoon of June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI‑171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner—suffered a catastrophic fate just 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, heading to London’s Gatwick. With 230 passengers and 12 crew onboard, the aircraft tragically plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel, claiming 241 lives and causing at least 28 ground fatalities among on-campus residents . A horrific scene: eyewitnesses described the impact as “like an earthquake,” followed by a deafening roar .
By GadgetGround7 months ago in The Swamp
Bitcoin vs Open Interest Should traders be worried by THIS divergence
The price action of Bitcoin has recently been scrutinized, but savvy traders are also paying attention to something even more telling: a significant divergence between open interest in Bitcoin and its price. The derivatives market may be sending a cautious signal while the spot market maintains its optimism. Analysts are concerned about this divergence, which raises the question of whether traders should be concerned. Understanding what open interest actually entails is essential before delving into its ramifications. The total number of unresolved derivative contracts in the futures and options markets is referred to as open interest. It shows how much activity and participation there is in the market. An increase in open interest typically suggests that new money is flowing into the market, which can reinforce a trend. A decline could indicate that traders are closing positions, which could indicate indecisiveness or exhaustion of the trend. The price of Bitcoin has been either steady or showing signs of rising, hovering in bullish territory above key support levels in recent weeks. However, open interest in Bitcoin futures has not followed suit. In fact, in several instances, open interest has dropped or stagnated while prices climbed—a classic divergence.
By GLOBAL NEWS7 months ago in The Swamp
When the Villains Make More Sense
We used to cheer for the government. Or at least that’s the version Hollywood kept feeding us. The formula was simple: America good, enemies bad. The threats were always external — aliens, terrorists, rogue hackers — while the brave agents of truth, justice, and democracy raced to protect the hallowed halls of power: the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court. These weren’t just buildings; they were cinematic shorthand for freedom itself.
By Jeff Olen7 months ago in The Swamp
Radio Free California #2: The bigger picture
[Opening static, faint Morse code pulses, the familiar low rumble of distant helicopters fades in] ANNOUNCER (calm, steady, weary but defiant):
By Jeff Olen7 months ago in The Swamp
Altcoin season could be near: Why June can see a 2021-style rally
**Altcoin Season Could Be Near: Why June Can See a 2021-Style Rally** Numerous analysts and investors are beginning to speculate that an altcoin season may be just around the corner as the cryptocurrency market continues to show signs of recovery. The month of June, historically a favorable period for crypto rallies, is shaping up to potentially mirror the explosive growth seen in 2021. The stage may be set for altcoins to take the lead as Bitcoin's strength and dominance plateau. ### What Is the Season for Altcoins? Altcoin season, or "alt season," refers to a period when alternative cryptocurrencies—those other than Bitcoin—outperform the leading digital asset. During this phase, investors rotate capital from Bitcoin into smaller market cap assets in pursuit of higher gains. This is a time when tokens like Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and a number of smaller-cap projects saw huge returns in a short amount of time. Typically, altcoin seasons follow a strong Bitcoin rally as market participants look for the “next big thing.”
By GLOBAL NEWS7 months ago in The Swamp
Gen-X: We Know a Coup When We See One. Top Story - June 2025.
Say what you will about Gen-X. We’ve been called cynical, apathetic, detached, sarcastic — and sure, a lot of that’s true. But we’ve also got finely tuned bullshit detectors. And right now, they’re all blaring at maximum volume.
By Jeff Olen7 months ago in The Swamp
Radio Free California #1: The American Tradition of Fear
[Intro music fades. Static crackles. The voice of the host cuts through.] Good evening, my fellow Americans — or what’s left of us.
By Jeff Olen7 months ago in The Swamp