wednesday, august 13th.
this is the news.and i’m tired of it being filtered through corporate neutrality.so here we go.
📰 headline rundown (00:00:30–00:04:59)
🗞️ headline 1 — DC Mayor Bowser calls Trump’s deployments an “authoritarian push” (00:00:30–00:01:04)what’s happening:dc mayor bowser escalated criticism of federal deployments and urged residents to defend the city’s autonomy while reaffirming police authority amid low violent crime.
what to know:this isn’t just politics. it’s a power play. federal intervention in local governance sets a dangerous precedent.
my take:autonomy matters. local voices deserve authority over their streets, not federal theater.
🗞️ headline 2 — California to redraw maps after Trump misses deadline (00:01:10–00:02:22)what’s happening:gov. newsom mocked trump as “taco” on social media after he missed a redistricting deadline. democrats are preparing retaliatory maps against republican-led efforts.
what to know:redistricting battles are more than lines on a map. they shape who gets represented and how. in the early 2020s, republicans resisted efforts to limit gerrymandering. now, democrats are counteracting unfair maps—and the rhetoric is messy.
my take:state pushback matters. maps aren’t just politics—they’re power.
🗞️ headline 3 — State Dept. report softened under Trump (00:02:26–00:03:08)what’s happening:a state department report under trump reduced criticism of allies like israel and el salvador, removed references to the gaza crisis, and stripped much lgbtq+ language, while europe, brazil, and south africa faced sharper scrutiny.
what to know:language is power. altering reports shifts accountability and shapes who is seen as responsible—or untouchable.
my take:neutrality isn’t the absence of bias. it’s bending facts to power.
🗞️ headline 4 — Judge orders Trump admin to restore UCLA funding (00:03:08–00:05:03)what’s happening:a federal judge ordered the trump administration to restore part of $584 million in grants frozen for ucla, ruling the suspension violated a june injunction protecting uc system funding. the freeze was tied to allegations of antisemitism during pro-palestinian protests.
what to know:trump has threatened cuts to universities over gaza-related demonstrations. ucla warns a proposed $1 billion settlement from the administration would “devastate” the institution.
my take:this is more than money. dissent or disagreement with administration policy risks punishment—even in education.criticizing israel for war crimes is not antisemitism. antisemitism is targeting jewish students, making them feel unsafe, or putting swastikas on campus. unrest in the jewish community is real, but protecting human life requires critical thought. denying people the chance to learn about their heritage? that’s oppression.
🧠gut check (00:05:08–00:05:32)everyone’s tired. that’s not failure.that’s capitalism doing exactly what it was built to do.don’t confuse survival with laziness.resting and resisting are radical acts.noticing something real—like the shape of your breath or how light hits your coffee—is enough.you are here. this is resistance.
📌 show notes + support– follow on IG: @redefiningtherecord– subscribe on Substack: redefiningtherecord– support the record: fund-the-record– tip jar: venmo @marlenageller– hosted by marlena– recorded in california with one dog, zero filters, no coffee (yet)
🔚 sign-offthat’s the record🗞️. no permission required. see you tomorrow.
đź“Ś show notes + support
with clarity & no corporate filter,— marlena
founder, redefining the record
substack | podcast | daily news@marlenabeautydotcom | @redefiningtherecord
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