In the digital battleground where political narratives are won and lost in real-time, California Governor Gavin Newsom is doing something remarkable: he's beating Donald Trump at his own game.

Over the past week, Newsom has fundamentally transformed his social media presence from standard gubernatorial messaging into a sophisticated campaign of "meme warfare" that directly targets Trump and MAGA Republicans.

Newsom's new approach reads like a masterclass in online political warfare.

Republicans, unsurprisingly, have dismissed the strategy as "petty" and "unprofessional." Fox "News” called it both “childish” and “insane.”

Hamas has accepted a deal for a 60-day ceasefire and partial hostage exchange, but Benjamin Netanyahu—backed by Trump—continues to reject any resolution short of permanent domination of Gaza. With more than 62,000 Palestinians killed and mass protests erupting across Israel, Netanyahu’s intransigence reflects not just a personal bid to hold onto power, but the violent logic of a system that profits from endless war and mass displacement. Full story from The Guardian.

After months of tension, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy managed a rare calm meeting in Washington, with smiles replacing the open hostility of February. But beneath the photo-op pleasantries, Trump’s erratic approach to Ukraine—backed by his MAGA allies—still signals a dangerous willingness to gamble with lives and democracy in service of his own power. Full story from the AP.

House Republicans tried to bury the Epstein files to protect Trump, but their stonewalling has only deepened public outrage and bipartisan demands for answers. With Democrats tightening procedural traps and even some GOP members breaking ranks, the scandal threatens to drag Trump’s administration into weeks of scrutiny—another reminder of how the powerful bend institutions to protect themselves while survivors wait for justice. Full story from The New York Times (unlocked).

Texas Republicans escalated their power grab by forcing Democratic lawmakers under police escort after they broke quorum to resist Trump-backed redistricting that would cement GOP dominance. One lawmaker says she’s now effectively imprisoned inside the Capitol—an authoritarian tactic that shows how far the right will go to rig maps, silence dissent, and strangle democracy in service of corporate power. Full story from CBS News.

Oklahoma is forcing incoming teachers from blue states to pass a PragerU-designed exam steeped in MAGA culture war talking points, effectively turning right-wing propaganda into state policy. With Trump allies pushing this as a model for schools nationwide, the move shows how the GOP would rather indoctrinate kids with misinformation than fix crumbling classrooms or address the teacher shortage their own policies helped create. Full story from CNN.

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Striking flight attendants in Canada are giving us hope this morning by refusing to work for free, even if it means jail.

More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants are defying a government back-to-work order, demanding fair pay for all hours worked—including time on the ground, for which they say they're currently unpaid.

THE DETAILS: The strike, now in its third day, has grounded flights and disrupted travel for nearly half a million people across Canada.

But workers say they’ve had enough of being underpaid while Air Canada rakes in profits.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled the strike “unlawful” and ordered workers back on Monday. CUPE, the union representing flight attendants, said they won’t comply.

“If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it,” said CUPE president Mark Hancock.

WHAT THEY WANT: Flight attendants are fighting to be paid during boarding, delays, and time spent at the airport—hours that are currently uncompensated.

Air Canada’s offer? A so-called 38% raise over four years that the union says still falls below inflation and minimum wage when accounting for all work hours.

The reality: many attendants—mostly women—are serving pretzels to bring home peanuts.

THE POWER MOVE: CUPE’s defiance is rare in Canadian labor history. The union accuses the government of “caving to corporate pressure” by fast-tracking binding arbitration and stripping workers of their right to strike.

Supporters say this is about more than just one airline: it’s a fight against corporate greed and for dignity on the job.

BETWEEN THE LINES: Canada’s embattled Liberal government is playing both sides—voicing disappointment over the lack of a deal, while forcing workers back without resolving the core issues.

Meanwhile, corporate lobbyists are clutching pearls over the union’s bold stance, warning it “undermines economic stability.” As if the billionaires aren't doing that already.

WHAT’S NEXT: Air Canada has canceled flights through Tuesday afternoon, and CUPE shows no signs of backing down. The legal and financial consequences for the union are unclear — but the message is loud.

This isn’t just about flights. It’s about fighting for respect, justice, and fair pay. And that’s worth striking for.

Last week we asked, should PBS be defunded? Your response was overwhelming.

Dia voted no and said: “PBS is an educational resource that is available at no cost to viewers. Not all children have access to internet to stream material. I have always found incredible value in their programming. I especially enjoy the documentaries. PBS has been the gold standard for nonpartisan, inclusive education.”

Joyce got it right: “Leave PBS alone and release the Epstein files already.”

DSE, one of the few people to vote yes, quickly commented: “Sorry hit the wrong line before. MY HUSBAND AND I SUPPORT PBS ALL THE WAY. FOR YEARS AND WILL ALWAYS. TRUE PUBLIC SERVICE! THANK YOU!” 🤣

Here are some stories the algorithms may be keeping out of your feed.