News and Views on the Global Stage....

Sophie
Currently...

WNBA’s Sophie Cunningham Draws Liberal Ire — ‘MAGA Barbie’ — for Her Stance on Women in Sports

The WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), in general, and the Indiana Fever team, in particular, have gained greater clout and public recognition — and fan support — since Caitlin Clark left a stellar college career to join the league. Since Clark arrived on the scene with the Fever, things have gone up dramatically for players league-wide. Attendance is skyrocketing, along with salaries, and players fly charter rather than Southwest. Of course, some opposing players actually resent Clark, as evidenced by one who appeared to assault her throat with her fist while Clark lay helpless on the floor. Clark has a teammate who is also making headlines — and earning liberal scorn and tirades. Sophie Cunningham, who also has a lucrative side career on ads for Yrefy, Adidas, and Arby’s, continues to speak out in favor of keeping women’s sports closed to trans athletes. Her comments have earned her the scornful sobriquet of “MAGA Barbie.” On ESPN, Cunningham said: “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. I’m like, I never once said that. I think I’m here to extend love, but I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young

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Maduro2
My Take

Maduro in Court: Does Drug Criminalization Really Work?

Nicolás Maduro is in court again today for a hearing on drug trafficking charges. No doubt the man and his country made billions in the cocaine trade, but the question remains: Does drug criminalization — and the drug war that goes with it — really work? One country — Portugal — decided 25 years ago to try a different approach to illegal drug use. It took away criminal penalties and erected a strong community support network to help addicts. The results were astounding so long as the government kept the support money faucet open. Budget cuts revealed that perhaps the best answer is a strong support network to help people come clean, along with a police force that refers addicts to the recovery centers to get help. Here’s the story: Portugal: The Myth vs. The Reality Let’s clear something up right away: Portugal did not legalize drugs. This is one of the most persistent misconceptions in drug policy debates. What Portugal actually did in 2001 was far more nuanced—and initially, far more successful—than simple legalization. The country decriminalized personal drug possession, a distinction that matters enormously. Here’s how it works: Under Law 30/2000, which took effect in July 2001, possessing small amounts

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Ortega
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Daniel Ortega Previews America’s Future Under the DSA

Daniel Ortega, self-proclaimed leader of Nicaragua with his wife, Rosario Murillo, has had enough of fake elections. He’s canceling them, effective immediately. He made the announcement during a rally to commemorate the 1979 Sandinista Revolution that brought him and his party into power for the first time. “There will never be elections here again,” Ortega said. Members of Ortega’s opposition are largely either in jail or exiled. Of the opposition, he said: “They would love to win elections in order to make money. But they can forget about it.” Unfortunately, we have Ortega clones winning elections here in the United States, starting with Zorhan Mamdani as mayor of New York City. These people call themselves Democratic Socialists, but that title just masks the truth of their being communists. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), in fact, have introduced a blueprint for governing America. That blueprint calls for abolishing the U.S. Presidency, Senate, and Supreme Court, and having the whatever-they’ll-call-it House of Representatives rule by fiat. At its core, the DSA platform argues that capitalism is inherently exploitative and incompatible with true freedom, democracy, and equality. [V.I. Lenin is no doubt smiling in his grave.] The organization’s ultimate goal is a

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Spain
Currently...

Millions Greet FIFA World Cup Champs in Madrid — Gaza Celebrates in Unison

Spain’s men’s national team paraded the World Cup trophy through Madrid on Monday, a day after beating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time in East Rutherford, New Jersey. An estimated crowd of almost two million greeted the 26-player squad and coaching staff. The team first met King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, then traveled by open-top bus from near Moncloa Palace to Cibeles Square. In Gaza, Palestinians watched and celebrated Spain’s win at cafes and outdoor screenings, with support tied to Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and criticism of Israel’s war. (If President Trump hears of this, tariffs may go up again on Spain.) The Argentine squad returned to Buenos Aires without captain Lionel Messi. Argentine players, including Messi, showed unsportsmanlike conduct in their loss, and even refused to congratulate the winners. FIFA said its disciplinary committee appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of its code after post-match incidents between Spain and Argentina players. [PICTURED: The celebration in Madrid.]  

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Stephen A
Currently...

Presidential Aspirant Stephen A. Smith Survives ESPN Shake-Up

ESPN has undertaken another round of layoffs, which it says is in response to its acquisition of the NFL Network. Gone are former NFLers Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, Tom Pelissero, and others. In all, about 30 are being let go. The layoffs, at least according to one analyst, put notable ESPN commentator — and sometime presidential candidate — Stephen A. Smith [pictured above] in the crosshairs for his huge salary. “Ryan [Clark] has no issue with Stephen A. Smith, so I, by proxy, have no issue with Stephen A. Smith,” Emmanuel Acho, formerly of Fox Sports, said on the Speakeasy podcast. “But Stephen A. Smith could have stopped this. And that’s what’s weird to me about seeing this apology is, Stephen A., you both have enough power to go to the executives and say, ‘I don’t want him to get fired.’ And B, you’ve enough power and fiscal responsibility and freedom to say, ‘I’ll do whatever is in my power to make sure they don’t stop this.’” In other words, take a pay cut to save others’ asses. Newton, co-host of Smith’s show “First Take,” said in light of his layoff: “When the news came about, yes, I felt like

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FIFA
Currently...

Trump Booed, But America a Big Winner at FIFA World Cup — For Just Being America

Early on in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in North America — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — reports surfaced of visitors from across the Pond marveling at American institutions like Walmart and the Waffle House. Ranch dressing was also a big winner, though that was a conscious effort on the part of its owner, the Clorox Company (of all places) The only down note came after yesterday’s final faceoff, during the Cup presentation to the team from Spain, which defeated Argentina in a totally lopsided match. After more than 10 blocked kicks, Spain finally scored the winning one in extra time to become global champs. That down note came courtesy of one Donald John Trump, president of the United States, who was robustly booed when he appeared for the awards presentation. The rest of FIFA was marvelous. Visitors from Europe and elsewhere commingled with Americans as if there were no tensions between our leader here — Trump — and their leaders wherever they hailed from. Stadiums sold out for big bucks and televised Futbol matches had TV screens flickering everywhere, even in the wee hours of the morning in England, when the Brits somehow beat Mexico in Mexico.

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Delcy
My Take

Two Reasons for the U.S. Conflict with Iran: Delcy and Bibi

Okay, the obvious reason for the conflict is a decision made by Donald Trump as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. armed forces to bomb Iran. However, as matters stood at the beginning of 2026, Iran was facing a massive regime-change uprising, Israel was locked and loaded against its mortal enemy, the Islamic Republic, and the U.S. had just concluded an unimaginably successful military operation in Venezuela called Operation Absolute Resolve. The Iran uprising prompted President Trump to vow that “help is on its way,” but no help was forthcoming while at least 30,000 Iranian protestors were slaughtered by the regime. Meanwhile, the foray into Venezuela on January 3 to extract Nicolás Maduro under Absolute Resolve left that country in the hands of a Trump puppet named Delcy Rodriguez, formerly vice president under Maduro. Israel under Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu was locked in a struggle with Iran over its nuclear weapons and missile programs. He wanted both programs eliminated — and probably the entire country as well. Netanyahu took his concerns to Trump both at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, and the two remained in constant contact. When Venezuela was overwhelmed by U.S. forces so quickly and almost effortlessly,

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