Ms Rachel Crowned Anti-Semite of the Year Finalist
PDS Published 12/02/2025
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And if you are thinking Ms. Rachel? The one who wears overalls and sings educational songs for children?
Yeah, that is the one.
A group called StopAntisemitism just released the top 10 finalists for its Antisemite of the Year.
And she was among the contenders people can vote for, joined by people like Tucker Carlson, an MMA fighter who defended Hitler, a right-wing creator who denied the Holocaust, and then also a few actresses who have spoken in support of Gaza amid the war.
And Ms Rachel has done that herself, right, while her primary content is for children, she frequently uses her social media platforms to speak up for kids around the world, especially in Gaza.
And even though she has gotten a lot of criticism for this, she has repeatedly stood her ground and said she will continue to try to help children there:
“I just put myself in the parents' shoes. And every child in Gaza is somebody’s world. There is a great quote from a Jewish text that every life is a universe. They are everything to us.” (4:25-4:38)
“I have very strong morals and values. Write articles. Attack me. I know who I am. God knows who I am. I’m here to serve children and I will not back down.” (5:00-5:12)
Right, with caring for kids really just being her primary concern, constantly posting about how no child, no matter where they are, should worry about hunger, bombing, illness, or conflict.
So when people saw that this landed her on a list of antisemites, there was a ton of backlash, right.
You even had politicians like Rep. Ro Khanna weighing in to say:[]
“Ms. Rachel is a preschool teacher who speaks up for starving children in Gaza. That is not antisemitism. I hope thousands will join me in standing up for her.”
Others saying things like:
“Ms. Rachel is one of the kindest humans in public life who has preached nothing but love for all children, everywhere. She hasn't uttered a cruel word toward anyone, let alone antisemitism. This absolute garbage sets back the fight against antisemitism.”[]
And tons of people outraged that someone like Ms. Rachel made this list, while Nick Fuentes, the white supremacist groyper leader who is currently causing one of the biggest fractures in the MAGA movement, was not on it at all.[][][][][]
Right, some saying that his omission:
“illustrates perfectly that groups like this don’t actually care about antisemitism at all.”[]
Others arguing:[]
“Whatever your feelings on Ms. Rachel's political advocacy, including a beloved childhood educator on an "antisemite of the year" list along with actual Jew-haters, and leaving out Nick Fuentes, shows the hypocrisy of accounts like StopAntisemitism. When we conflate condemnation of Israeli policies with antisemitism, we risk minimizing the work of actually stopping antisemitism.”
And the StopAntisemitism group did address some of this backlash, saying Nick Fuentes has made the list in prior years, and saying it stands by its choice to nominate Ms Rachel.[][]
But still, people continued to slam this, noting it is not even the first time this group has gone after Ms. Rachel.
Right, they previously asked the DOJ to investigate whether or not she was spreading propaganda on behalf of Hamas.
The Washington Post also did a report last year noting the group has been accused of doxxing people that it believed made anti-Israel or antisemetic statements.
So some have just argued this account should not be trusted.
As for Ms. Rachel herself, she has not yet publicly responded to her inclusion on this list, but just a few weeks ago she did respond to this general criticism, writing that:
“Antisemitism is rising and it’s real and we need to address it and prevent it - saying people are antisemitic because they care about Palestinians is wrong and absurd. It has kept people silent and has caused more death of KIDS and innocent people. It’s caused a genocide to continue.”[]
“Accusing people of being paid by Hamas for caring about Palestinians is serious and makes no sense. I have the most beautiful community around me of Jewish people who care so deeply about Palestinians and are working every day to help.”
So I would love to know your thoughts on this one, on all the outrage surrounding Ms. Rachel’s activism, anything at all.
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FEMA reinstated workers who were suspended for writing a letter warning that Trump was gutting disaster response, but hours after they returned to work, the Trump administration suspended them AGAIN.
Right, back in August, nearly 200 current and former FEMA employees wrote a letter to Congress slamming Trump’s plan to dramatically scale down FEMA and shift more responsibility to state officials.
And specifically, the officials accused Trump of violating several provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, which was enacted after the botched response to the devastating 2005 hurricane.
With the letter pointing to a section of the act mandating that FEMA be an independent agency within the DHS and prohibiting the DHS secretary from substantially reducing its responsibilities and functions or limiting its capability to perform those duties.
Beyond that, it also claimed that Trump had gone against the law by repeatedly failing to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator, as well as by gutting disaster mitigation and preparedness programs.
Now, very notably here, of the 200 people who signed the letters, just 35 of them actually attached their names — the rest declined to out of fear of retaliation.
And that fear was well-founded because the Trump administration put many of the named signatories on administrative leave — though there have been conflicting reports about exactly how many of them were suspended.
And since then, some outlets have reported that most of the named signers have since left the agency entirely, either taking buyouts or new jobs.
But what we do know is that at least 14 people — including one who was eventually fired — all filed complaints with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is an independent federal agency that investigates whistleblower reports.
And yesterday, several outlets reported that the 14 workers had received notices last week informing them that they were being removed from administrative leave.
With one notice obtained by CNN stating that the workers were being reinstated because the misconduct investigation had been closed.
And, according to Axios, those employees were ordered to report back to work yesterday.
But, later that same day, the Trump administration announced that it had reversed those reinstatements and suspended the employees AGAIN.
With a DHS spokesperson saying in a statement:
“14 FEMA employees previously placed on leave for misconduct were wrongly and without authorization reinstated by bureaucrats acting outside of their authority. Once alerted, the unauthorized reinstatement was swiftly corrected by senior leadership.”
And adding: “This Administration will not tolerate rogue conduct, unauthorized actions, or entrenched bureaucrats resisting change.”
Another day, another absolute shitshow…
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Governor Tim Walz is “100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota.”
That’s one claim making headlines (1, 2) in right-wing media right now.
And we should talk about where that claim is coming from, if there’s any truth to it, and also how this whole situation may be impacting the state’s sizable Somali community.
And, to start, it’s true that Walz has been at the helm while fraudsters made off with hundreds of millions of dollars in state money meant to help people in need during the pandemic.
And this type of fraud? It took place nationwide, with Americans stealing at least one-hundred billion dollars through unemployment benefits, business loans and other forms of aid – according to federal auditors.
But the scale of fraud has been particularly shocking in Minnesota.
Right, back in 2022, federal prosecutors started charging defendants in the state in connection to a program aimed at feeding hungry children.
The case focused largely on a nonprofit named Feeding Our Future, which sent invoices to the state claiming to have organized meals for tens of thousands of children.
With state agencies then reimbursing the organization for those “expenses” even though most of those meals never actually happened.
Right, instead, business owners spent the money on luxury cars, houses and even real estate projects abroad. []
And you had Merrick Garland – attorney general at the time – calling it the country’s largest pandemic relief fraud scheme. []
But notably, that was only one scheme of several, and this year, prosecutors have also brought charges related to other alleged operations.
In one case, prosecutors claimed hundreds of providers were reimbursed for assistance given to people at risk for homelessness – but those services were apparently never provided.
And in another case, scammers allegedly took advantage of a program aimed at providing therapy for children with autism.
With them recruiting children who didn’t actually have autism and then paying their parents kickbacks for their help.
And overall, federal prosecutors say that more than $1 billion in taxpayers’ money has been stolen through these various schemes.
With 59 people getting convicted so far. []
And notably, of the eighty-six people who have been charged, all but eight are of Somali ancestry, with a vast majority of them being American citizens. []
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Costco is looking to get Team Trump to PAY UP as the Supreme Court decides the fate of Trump’s tariffs.
Right, Costco has just filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, demanding a refund on the duties they paid as a result of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. []
Specifically, they want the Court of International Trade to rule that all tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were done so unlawfully.
Arguing that IEEPA doesn’t authorize the president to set tariffs. []
And this isn’t really a new argument - after Trump became the first president ever to use the IEEPA to impose import duties, several lower courts ruled that it wasn’t legal.
But they pointedly allowed the tariffs to stand while the case was being argued. []
So now, the whole thing is in front of the Supreme Court and it’s not looking good for Team Trump.
In oral arguments last month, the justices seemed to be leaning away from the government’s case to allow them to continue.
Despite the government attorneys arguing that Trump’s tariffs are necessary to address the annual US trade deficit that he said amounted to a “national emergency.” []
Now, many have pointed out that Costco bringing their case when they did is pretty notable.
We don’t know when the High Court is going to be bringing down a final decision on the tariff case but even if they rule against them, there’s no guarantee that there would be any refunds on the couple hundred billion dollars the government has pulled in.
Which led to Costco’s suit here - with their attorneys saying, quote, "separate action is necessary.” []
Now, they didn’t specifically say how big of a refund they’re gunning for in this suit but we do know from an earnings call earlier this year that roughly a third of Costco’s sales in the US are imported products. []
And that there was a direct impact from tariffs on imports of some fresh food items from Central and South America.
Though, Costco’s Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said they made sure not to pass that impact along to their customers - saying they didn’t increase prices on, quote, “key staple items." []
Adding,
"We essentially held the price on those to make sure that we're protecting the member.” []
Millerchip also added in September that the company was doing everything they could to mitigate the impact of the tariffs - including, quote, “moving the country of production where it makes sense and consolidating our buying efforts globally to lower the cost of goods across all our markets." []
It’s also worth mentioning here that while they may be one of the largest, Costco isn’t the first company to sue over this.
Right, motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki, makeup brand Revlon, canned food maker Bumble Bee - those are just a few others that are gunning for tariff refunds from the government. []
So we’re going to have to keep our eyes on this situation - both Costco’s case specifically as well as the Supreme Court ruling on the tariffs.
In the meantime, I’d love to know your thoughts about this in those comments down below.
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We’ve gotta talk about Luigi Mangione, because his lawyers are pulling out all the stops to keep this man from spending the rest of his life in prison or even being executed.
It’s been almost exactly one year since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on a Manhattan sidewalk, and yesterday his alleged assassin showed his face in court for the first time in nearly just as long. [Image]
With protesters gathered outside holding signs reading “Free Luigi,” and one wearing a Super Mario Bros costume with a sign saying, “When patients die, profits rise.” [Screenshot, 00:39, and Image]
Then on the inside, two rows of seats were filled by more of his supporters, one of whom held a doll of Luigi the video game character and had a smaller figurine of him clipped to her purse. [Image and Quote, find “purse”]
And as for Mangione himself, he took his seat at the defendant’s table wearing a grey suit with a checkered red and white shirt, leaving the top two buttons undone — politics aside, he was a handsome devil. [Image]
And then, the proceedings began, and for context, this isn’t the trial yet; it’s a pre-trial hearing.
But that’s not to say the stakes aren’t incredibly high; right, the outcome of this could make the difference between a guilty verdict and his freedom.
Because for probably the next week or so, both sides are gonna be fighting to convince the judge about which evidence should be allowed in the actual trial.
So yesterday, the courtroom watched a presentation of evidence, starting with the video of Brian Thompson’s apparent murder.
And watching Mangione’s reaction, The Daily Beast editorialized: “His even gaze suggested that if he is in fact the killer, he remains convinced it was justified.” [Quote and Image]
Adding, “At one point, Mangione peered up at a bank of windows set too high on the wall to afford any view of the world outside. But they still allowed in sunshine, which seldom reaches the Metropolitan Detention Center.” [Quote same link]
And finishing, “Mangione then peered back over his shoulder at the crowded courtroom, seeming not to look for anybody in particular so much as to just take it all in.” [Quote same link]
Next, the court reviewed images of the suspect inside a Starbucks, a hostel and the back of a taxi. [Screenshot, 01:37]
And then, the climactic moment: they saw surveillance video from inside the McDonald’s where Mangione was found for the first time. [B roll, 01:31 - 01:36]
You see him smile flirtatiously at the cashier, wipe down a corner table with a napkin, and sit down to eat a Hash Brown. [Same B roll]
But then, the court heard audio from a 911 call made by the restaurant’s manager, who seemed unsure whether he was actually the shooter.
With her noting that she tried the non-emergency line first but couldn’t get through, then telling the operator that she’s calling because some customers think he’s the guy and are upset about it.
But thanks to his hat and mask, she says it’s difficult to see his face, saying, “You can see nothing but his eyebrows.” [Quote]
So due to the uncertainty, the operator rated the call as “low priority.” [Quote]
And 15 minutes later, two cops show up, they ask Mangione to place his hands behind his head, he complies, and then as the officer’s check his ID, he calmly continues eating his hash brown. [Same quote and Quote, find “one bite”]
You know, just super cool, super casual, almost as if he didn’t murder a man in the middle of midtown Manhattan, and according to him, he didn’t.
But what happened next is at the center of this week’s court battle.
Because the cops grabbed Mangione’s backpack, opened it up, and reportedly found a 3D-printed gun, ammunition, and a notebook with a manifesto disclosing a desire to “wack” a healthcare executive. [Screenshot, 02:16]
Now his lawyers argue that because the search of the backpack was done without a warrant, all the evidence recovered from it should be considered inadmissable at trial.
But the other side counters that the search was legal because the cops had to check for any weapons, and in fact, one officer said on body camera that she wanted to make sure there “wasn’t a bomb.” [Quote]
Either way, Mangione’s lawyers also want another piece of evidence thrown out: all of the statements he supposedly made to law enforcement during the ten days between his arrest and his transfer to New York.
Specifically his conversations with two Pennsylvania state corrections officers, whom his lawyers claim questioned him without reading him his Miranda rights.
Right, the first one, Officer Matthew Henry testified that Mangione told him he had a backpack with a 3D printed gun, foreign currency and ammunition. [Quote, find “currency”]
So during cross-examination, one of Mangione’s lawyers accused the CO of making it up, asking, what, did Mangione just blurt out that he had a gun? [Quote, find “blurted”]
“You weren't asking him any questions, you weren’t speaking to him at all... And out of nowhere he says to you, 'I had a 3D-printed pistol’?” [Quote]
And Henry replied that yes, Mangione volunteered the information.
Next, the second officer, Tomas Rivers, said he was assigned to monitor Mangione because the prison “did not want an Epstein-style situation.” [Quote]
And he claims that they talked extensively through the cell door, sometimes about weird shit like Mangione witnessing a gang fight in Thailand. [Quote, find “Thailand”]
But other times about more relevant subjects, such as the differences between private and nationalized health care, and “different medical states in third-world countries compared to the West.” [Quote]
Also, Mangione allegedly asked him whether the news media was focused on him as a person or the crime that was committed. [Quote, find “news media”]
And Rivers says he replied that mainstream outlets were focused on the crime, but social media was more focused on potential wrongdoings in the health care industry. [Quote, find “mainstream” and “wrongdoing”]
Then, during cross-examination, Mangione’s lawyer pointed out that Rivers seemed to recall a whole lot of what Mangione said but very little of what he himself said.
Effectively implying, once again, that the CO was making shit up. [Quote, find “two-way”]
Now if Mangione’s team gets the gun, notebook, and statements thrown out, that’ll be a major setback for the prosecution.
Because then the jury wouldn’t be allowed to consider all of this key evidence meant to establish a motive and a murder weapon.
But we’re gonna have to wait and see how things unfold, especially because we could hear from as many as two dozen more witnesses over the coming week. [Quote, find “two-dozen”]
And don’t forget, this is just the New York State case; we’ve also got a separate federal case where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
So with the next chapter in the life and times of Mr. Luigi Mangione about to begin, let me know your thoughts on any aspect of this so far.
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The billionaire CEO of Dell is giving free money to 25 MILLION American children — IF they agree to sign up for “Trump accounts.”
Right, as we’ve talked about before, the Trump accounts are investment accounts for children that were established under the Big, Beautiful Bill — though they aren’t active yet and aren’t expected to open until next summer.
But once the accounts are up and running, any child under 18 will be eligible as long as they have a Social Security number.
And under the current guidelines, the accounts can receive contributions from anyone — parents, relatives, employers — with a cap of $5,000 per child each year.
Access to the Trump accounts will be locked until the child turns 18, and until then, the money will be managed by professionals, invested in U.S. index funds, and grow tax-free until it's distributed — kind of like an individual retirement account.
And once the funds are available, recipients can invest them in qualified expenses, like education, homeownership, or entrepreneurship, and any money not used can stay in the account and continue to grow.
So for kids who are able to get regular contributions, this could be a solid investment opportunity if this whole idea actually pans out — which might be a pretty big “if” with this administration…
But the kids who stand to benefit the most are U.S. citizens born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, because the Treasury Department is giving them a one-time contribution of $1,000 in seed money to incentivize their parents to start an account.
Now, obviously, that’s a decent chunk of money, but it only goes to a small percentage of American children — and that’s where the Dell money comes in.
Right, today, Michael and Susan Dell announced that they are pledging $6.25 billion to help expand the number of kids who will receive seed money.
And to be clear, that’s a buttload of money — the Dells believe that their gift will be the largest ever private donation devoted to American children.
Now, as for the details, the Dells say the money will be used to give $250 to the Trump accounts of 25 million children 10 and under who aren’t eligible for the $1,000 Treasury grant.
But, very notably, it’s been widely reported that the money will only cover children who live in ZIP codes with a median income of $150,000 or less.
And in a fact sheet, the Dells said that the gift “is expected to reach nearly 80% of children age 10 and under across 75% of U.S. zip codes.”[]
With them also noting that younger children will be prioritized if funds run out, but adding that if there are excess funds, they may expand the benefit to children over 10.[]
Right, and with all this, the Dells are hoping they will both incentivize more people to get Trump accounts and encourage other philanthropists, corporations, and governments to follow suit, with The New York Times reporting:
“The approach could become a model for wealthy donors who want to give away money but have not set up foundations and don’t know where to begin vetting recipient groups.”
And to that point, some major players have already started taking similar steps, with a handful of big companies — including Dell Technologies — announcing that they will match the government’s $1,000 contributions to the newborn children of their employees.
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