Iran will receive significant concessions in the deal to end the war, according to officials by Jon Gambrell, Zeke Miller, Michelle L Price and Samy Magdy, AP News
DUBAI United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran will immediately take steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once a tentative deal with the U S to end the war is signed and will be allowed to sell its oil without restrictions, according to leaked copies of an interim agreement that officials say broadly matches the document
The accord due to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, also envisions Iran receiving at least $300 billion to rebuild after the war and says the U S would work to end all American and United Nations sanctions imposed on Tehran if a final agreement addressing Iran s nuclear program is reached
See Deal to End the War, p 6
Not just a Southern Issue: Advocates say SCOTUS Voting Rights decision has already started to reshape Black Political Power
by Edward Henderson, California Black Media
U S Rep Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) whose district spans parts of Los Angeles County joined fellow CBC member U S Rep Troy Carter (DLA-2) for a May 21 briefing with Black media outlets in California
See SCOTUS, p 5
The Rise, The Sacrifices, And The Victory Of Jalen Brunson by
NEWSONE
Stephen A Crockett Jr,
In order to understand Jalen Brunson s sacrifice – the financial, emotional, and physical toll the lead guard made for the New York “championship” Knicks – you need look no further than his mom and Game 5 of the NBA Finals Brunson s mom, Sandra, didn t want to take the team flight to Game 5 in San Antonio because she had a prior obligation to a charity she refused to miss She knew what was at risk but she wanted to be there for the kids in her and Jalen s Second Round Foundation that empowers children to determine their own success by understanding that their background doesn’t determine their future
See Jalen Brunson, p 6
More than 770,000 children are no longer receiving SNAP benefits after Trump changes federal food program
by Nicole Santa Cruz, PROPUBLICA
As a House committee debated President Donald Trump s signature domestic policy bill last year Republican backers repeatedly emphasized that its changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known as food stamps wouldn’t affect vulnerable people SNAP reforms would restore integrity to the program and ensure it works for the most vulnerable among us, including children,” said Rep Glenn “GT” Thompson a Pennsylvania Republican and chair of the House Agriculture Committee
See SNAP, p 2
Run-of f yields lower tur nout than primar y
This past Tuesday, June 16th, Greene County held a run-off election for the Greene County Commission and one Democratic Senate seat Only 1,578 of the 6,332 registered voters
Greene County
(numbers as of May 31, 2026) participated in the run-off
In the race for County Commission, District 1, incumbent Garria Spencer
(55
with
to Larry
votes (44 31%) For County Commission, District 3, incumbent Latasha
(48
received
and Jacque-
(55
Spencer and Stewart will serve a four-year term alongside Smith Tennyson, and Hodges after the November election Jacqueline Stewart was endorsed by the Alabama New South Alliance (ANSA) for this race Johnson did not attend the ANSA endorsement meeting
For state races Everett Wess a democratic candidate for United States Senator, had 688 votes (53 33%) to Dakarai Larriett’s 602 (46 67%) Wess will be running against republican nominee Barry Moore for the Senate seat Wes Allen Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, won in Greene County with 67 (52 76 %) votes to John Wahl's 60 (47 24%) Allen is the current president of the Republican New South Coalition
BOE r epor ts good financial standings; town of Boligee makes a r equest
The Greene County Board of Education met on Monday, June 15th, for a regular session All board members were present during the session, with the previous minutes being approved The agenda was amended to hold an executive session before discussing action items
Preceding the financial report Shelly Patrenos from the state examiners' office presented the results of the districts' FY 2025 audit report Patrenos stated that all tests ran “did not display any instances of non-compliance with any laws” There were no reported violations marking the 4th year of clean reports for the board
In the financial report, Mrs Marquita Lennon presented a snapshot of the district's financials As of May 31, 2026, all bank accounts have been reconciled, and the combined ending fund balance is $8 593 196 78 No fraudulent activity was reported A full document of numbers presented will be available on
Boligee Mayor Hattie Samuel addressing school board members
www greenecodemocrat co m Superintendent Thurman began his report with summer school enrollment numbers: 67 at Eutaw Primary School, 36 at Rober Brown Middle, and 45 at Greene County High He stated that the middle
school numbers are troubling and that they are working on increasing attendance Staffing numbers however are at 90% which is excellent for this time of year
Dr Thurman also attended the West Alabama
Works Regional Superintendents meeting regarding the career pathways program to ensure the district stays in good standing with career initiatives We want to stay at the forefront in our state,” he explained before detailing more professional development dates There will be a school board conference starting on June 19th and a Superintendent s conference will be held June 2024th
Following the Superintendent’s report Richardson motioned to have an executive session Merriweather seconded the motion The board moved to have an executive session for 30 minutes The session lasted 45 minutes, yet no votes or decisions were made The board immediately voted to discuss the action items recommended by Dr Thurman
See School Board, p 3
Rep. Sewell Secur es $5 Million for Community Pr ojects in Ala bama's 7th Cong r essional District in FY27 Tr
D C
U S Rep Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that she secured $5,086,138 in federal funding for ten community projects across Alabama's 7th Congressional District in the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act The legislation was approved by the House Appropriations Committee on June 3 It now moves to the
full House for consideration
The funding would support critical investments in public safety, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development and community revitalization in Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa, and across Alabama's Black Belt
"These federal investments will help strengthen our communities, improve quality of life, and create new opportunities for the people I represent " said Rep Sewell From replacing aging emergency equipment and improving local infrastructure to revitalizing downtown business districts and expanding community spaces for seniors and families these projects respond directly to the needs identified by local leaders across Alabama s 7th Congressional District I will continue fighting to bring federal resources home and ensure that our communities receive the investments they deserve "
See Sewell, p 3
Gr eene County Sherif f Depar tment r epor ts sever al Incident and one ar r est
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests 6/15- Yalonda Powell 60, of Tuscaloosa, AL was arrested for harassment She was released on a bond of a $1 000 The Greene County
Sheriff Department reported the following incidents 6/13- Jamarcus Jones reported discharging gun into occupied vehicle and criminal mischief 3rd degree Item damaged: Vehicle rear windshield valued at $400
6/13- Mika Clary reported an incident 6/14- Kaniya Craig reported discharging firearm into occupied dwelling and criminal mischief 2nd degree, Item Damaged: Vehicle driver door and front passenger door valued at $600
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following bonds 6/15- Wilson Craig was released on a bond of $10,000 for Assault 2nd
Garria Spencer
Jacqueline Stewart
SNAP
June 28- Eutaw Methodist Church will host America’s 250th Birthday at 3:00p m wth congregation singing, individuals singing and communty choir, childrens choir and Eutaw Chimes God Bless America Patriotic Singing A celebration of God’s Grace on American 250th birthday Carol’s Notes
When You Got Your Freedom Juneteenth, another day they say we free If the Lords made you, you free Others can put you in bondage, But that don’t take your freedom Others can deny your rights, But oppression don’t take your freedom Freedom is that same joy we all got inside It’s that sacred breath that gave life to our spirit When we know who we are and We stand for who we are We got our freedom Even as we struggle We got our freedom
Carol Prejean Zippert
Theater Multiplex Center-Eutaw (205) 496-0908
eutawrenaissance theatre@gmail com
Friday, June 19, 2026
Movie this weekend:
Death of a Fat Man
The Greene County Democrat P O Box 598, Eutaw, AL 35462 FREE “LOVE GIVEAWAY”
Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10:00a m - 2:00p m
Where: The Greene County Baptist District Christian Center 684 Finches Ferry Road Eutaw, AL 35462 Sponsored by:
The Greene County Baptist District Deacons’ Wives Free new and gently used items will be available Contact: Mrs Glenda Hodges at 205-496-1709 or Mrs Katie Jones-Powell at 205-372-9612/205-919-9921
Passing the bill would be a historic accomplishment that will ensure those in need can continue to receive the assistance they need ” said Rep John Rose a Republican from Tennessee And Rep Dusty Johnson a South Dakota Republican said the bill would focus resources on the “neediest” Americans “If you are a pregnant woman, your benefits are unaffected If you have young children at home your benefits are unaffected by this bill If you are disabled, your benefits are unaffected by this bill ”
But nearly a year after the measure was signed into law the number of children receiving food assistance has plummeted by at least 776,000, according to a ProPublica analysis At least 12 states break down program participation by age, and of the 1,670,011 people who are no longer receiving benefits in those states, 776,134, or 46%, were children
Another analysis reached the same conclusion: Just last month the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found there were 700,000 fewer children receiving food assistance
Arizona has seen the nation s largest percentage decline in SNAP participants; 205 223 children are no longer receiving the benefit since July 2025 a 55% drop Louisiana had the second largest percent decline among children, 22%
The U S Department of Agriculture which oversees SNAP hasn t detailed the impact on children aided by the program, but initial figures show that compared to February 2025 4 3 million fewer people received SNAP nationwide in February 2026 leaving 37 8 million participants
Although children weren t the intended targets of the legislation s changes, they re increasingly “collateral damage ” said Katie Bergh a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
If states are trying to comply with the law’s changes to SNAP they’re likely not focusing on making the program accessible, Bergh said Other experts said that people may be pushed off the program because of increased paperwork requirements to remain eligible
States are required to impose work requirements for most adult recipients while preparing for two major cost shifts In October, states will begin covering 75% of the program s administrative costs States have been paying 50% of those costs
In addition, states will have to pay a larger share of SNAP benefits starting in October 2027 based on their error rate Error rates reflect overpayments or underpayments of SNAP benefits While sometimes characterized as fraud, such errors are usually the fault of the state agency or the SNAP recipient, according to USDA, which describes them as “largely unintentional ”
If a state agency is facing staffing shortages and struggling to comply with new regulations it will be harder for low-income families to access the benefits Bergh said Families are falling through the cracks
In Massachusetts for example the share of SNAP applicants who called an assistance line and couldn’t reach a worker rose from 61% in November to nearly 81% in March, according to the Department of Transitional Assistance which administers SNAP in the state The state agency did not respond to a request for comment
A USDA spokesperson did not address ProPublica s questions about the number of children who have lost access to SNAP “There is no shortage of resources for the most vulnerable among us, including children, the spokesperson said
The three members of the House Agriculture Committee who defended last year ’s bill before its passage Rose, Thompson and Johnson did not respond to ProPublica’s questions about their statements now that many children no longer receive SNAP benefits
Rep Jim McGovern a Massachusetts Democrat asked Secretary of Agriculture
Brooke Rollins about her recent comments that it was good news that millions of people no longer receive SNAP If more than 700 000 children have been dropped in the 12 states that report those figures, “that number ’s going to be into the millions” when other states are included he said
Rollins responded, “The 700,000 number of children is not correct,” contending that most people who were kicked off SNAP were fraudulent
“That is not a nonpartisan group that gave you that number,” she said (ProPublica independently verified the figures reported by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities )
McGovern said he has talked to people who have lost food assistance These are people who actually need and rely on this food assistance to provide basic nutrition for their families, he said
Pressure to lower error rates “creates a temptation for the states to bump off working families, said Parke Wilde, a food economist at Tufts University Working families may have more volatile incomes making it harder for state agencies to assess benefits accurately
When they say we want to preserve SNAP for those with the greatest need they re sort of acknowledging that they want the scale of the SNAP program to be smaller,” he said
Mariana Chilton, an expert in child hunger at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said a smaller program won t save money in the long run Research shows that children who receive SNAP benefits are healthier have better academic outcomes use hospitals less often and have better mental health as teenagers
She called the situation a “public health crisis” in the making “When children are not healthy, this affects children today and it affects them throughout their lifetimes, she said likening hunger during early childhood to a brain injury
As Arizona s SNAP participation drops, nonprofits are feeling the effects St Mary s Food Bank the largest in the state has seen a 15% increase in need this year which translates into 300,000 more visits from people in search of food, said Milt Liu, the chief executive officer
“It’s important for everyone to realize that policies have implications for people on the edge and we re seeing that in our line every day he said
On a recent morning, Ana Alvarez waited in a line of vehicles at a St Mary’s food bank in Phoenix Alvarez, a single mother of five who works at a restaurant, started coming to St Mary’s after she lost her SNAP benefits in September
She reapplied for SNAP with the Arizona Department of Economic Security in December but the application is still pending The department did not respond to questions about its backlog
She clips coupons and has cut out trips to the zoo and restaurants with her children
The slow season at the restaurant where she works is about to hit And as summer temperatures rise Alvarez wonders how she will afford her electric bill her rent and her car payment
At least once a week she contacts the agency about her application The last time she called, a worker told her what others have in the past: She will have to keep waiting
School Boar d
Merriweather motioned
items B-G as a blanket asking that item A be set aside The board approved items B-G and opened discussion for item A No comments were made
The special recommendation personnel items were addressed under the attorney’s report Attorney Sanders explained that the superintendent cannot recommend the CSFO or relatives for hire Therefore, any candidates for hire who are related to the superintendent will be fully vetted by the attorney
There were no other legal matters to report
Before adjourning the board yielded the floor to city representatives from Boligee Representatives came seeking a portion of land near Boligee s volunteer fire department within the board’s jurisdiction
They stated the land would be used to fulfill a vision of economic and industrial development” for the town, possibly including residential spaces Leo Branch stated that the gathered citizens were truly a bright spot in Greene County ” The potential donation or acquisition of the land will be further discussed with Attorney Sanders
The following are the approved action items from the session:
A Greene County Board of Education Policy on Re-
Sewell
Jefferson County
$1,000,000 for the City of Fultondale's Fire Engine Replacement Project to replace aging emergency response equipment and strengthen public safety capabilities
$776 000 for the City of Center Point Senior Center Renovation Project to modernize and improve the facility allowing it to serve more seniors
$460,138 for the City of Irondale Gateway Project to improve community infrastructure and enhance a key entrance corridor into the city
$250,000 for the City of Birmingham Fire and Rescue Facility Renovation Project to improve facilities used to train first responders and support public safety operations
$250,000 for the Princeton Senior Tower Housing Project in Birmingham to-
tention Bonuses
B Principal of CareerTechnica Center Job Description C FY 2026 Budget Amendments D Overnight travel for girls basketball team to attend a basketball camp at Alabama A&M University on June 26-27
E Payment of all bills claims and payroll
F Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs Marquita Lennon CSFO
G Revision of student uniform policy: added red, royal blue, and gold as approved shirt color options and black pants as an approved pants color option Added Spirit Friday, where the uniform is optional
The following are the approved personnel recommendations from the session:
Rescind
1 Employment of Genetta Bishop as the Jumpstart Kindergarten Teacher (Summer)
2 Employment of Kayla Thomas as a long-term substitute Second grade at Eutaw Primary
Resignations
1 Krystal Flantroy Science Teacher – Greene County High
2 Kelsey Smith, Special Services Teacher Greene County High Retirements
1 Gwendolyn Webb,
ward the development of a 100-unit affordable senior living facility in the historic Arlington Westend neighborhood
Choctaw County
$850,000 for the Town of Lisman Community Center Renovation Project to renovate and improve a community facility that serves residents throughout the area including the addition of temporary housing, a dedicated workforce development training space an education and safety briefing space and ADA-compliant restrooms
Sumter County
$500 000 for the University of West Alabama s Downtown Livingston Revitalization Initiative to enhance public safety modernize infrastructure, improve sidewalks and pedestrian access, upgrade
Pre-K auxiliary Teacher –Eutaw Primary effective July 1 2026
2 Teresa Hill Bus Driver for Blackbelt Scholars STEM Camp at Stillman College (Fund-
lighting and expand economic opportunities in historic downtown Livingston
Wilcox County
$500,000 for the City of Camden Infrastructure Improvement Project to support storm sewer replacement and utility improvements along Whiskey Run Road that will strengthen local infrastructure and improve public services
Greene County
$250,000 for the City of Eutaw Community Center Revitalization Project to improve the Robert Young Community Center with a modern exterior design, new metal roofing system, upgraded interior flooring and full renovation for community and business use
Rober t Br own Mid dle School PTA
ns T hr ee State Awar ds
Parent and community involvement are key components in assisting the school and district in educating our children The Parent Teacher Association provides stakeholders with the opportunity for involvement and engagement in decision making relevant to our students
Robert Brown Middle School’s PTA received three awards for the 2025-2026 school year:
The Early Bird Award for submitting membership dues by October 1st, The Gold Leaf Award for surpassing last year ’s membership, and the Oak Tree Award for a 20% increase in membership Th exemplary officers are President Katie Jones-Powell, Vice President Joe Powell, Secretary Michelle Aaron, Treasurer Nicole Henley, Faculty/Staff Liaison Felicia Smith, and Fundraising Chairmen Amy Wynn and Celisa Bryant (shown above) Mrs Tammy Anderson is school principal, and Mr Gary Rice is Vice-Principal
ing Source: Alabama Blackbelt Scholars)
3 Marilyn Finch Bus Driver for Blackbelt Scholars STEM Camp at Stillman College (Funding Source: Alabama Blackbelt Scholars)
Stipend for Mrs Soule, to serve as MTSS Coordinator at RBMS, in the amount of $500
Stipends for secretaries who serve as Truancy Liaisons between the school and parents:
1 Marilyn SanfordRBMS - 1 full academic year - $1,000
The special recommendation personnel items were addressed under the attorney’s report Attorney Sanders explained that the superintendent cannot recommend the CSFO or relatives for hire Therefore, any candidates for hire who are related to the superintendent will be fully vetted by the attorney There were no other legal matters to report
The next monthly school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 20th, at 4:30 pm
Tuscaloosa County
$250,000 for the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority Project to support affordable housing through the development of additional homeownership units for qualified firsttime home buyers as a part of the Springer Estate Project "While there is still work to do before these investments become law I am pleased that the House Appropriations Committee recognized the importance of these projects to Alabama's 7th Congressional District," Sewell added "I will continue working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to secure final passage of these critical investments for our communities "
For Sale: Childr en’s Nutrition
Fax: 205-372-2243
By Marc Morial, President and CEO,
National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
This is an economic engine, not just for the South Side of Chicago most certainly here but it s going to be an engine for the city and the region It’s going to be a beacon of hope to the world at a time where I think we can all use a little hope – Valerie
Jarrett
At a moment when a sitting president squanders resources on hollow symbols of personal aggrandizement the Barack Obama Presidential Center stands as a transformative investment in community, economy, and civic life
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Obama Presidential Center – and I will attend the its grand opening on Juneteenth and I found it to be a powerful testament to leadership, community, and the ongoing mission to create opportunity
Rooted in the values of service democracy and opportunity this critical space reminds us what’s possible when we invest in people, in hope, and in shared progress
President Obama has called the Center a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo” In a democracy that demands active participation a space dedicated to inspiring civic engagement is essential
Economic projections tied to the Center estimate hundreds of thousands of annual visitors and billions in long-term economic activity with thousands of jobs created during construction and ongoing operations In communities that have endured decades of disinvestment, that level of economic investment represents opportunity for residents who have too often been left out of the wealth generated in their own neighborhoods Like Chicago, cities across the country are grappling with the chal-
lenge of attracting investment while protecting vulnerable communities from displacement
The Obama Presidential Center is unfolding in real time as an example that policymakers, advocates, and developers alike will study closely
The Center has an opportunity to demonstrate that economic development and equity are not competing goals, but complementary ones It can show that inclusive planning, community input, and enforceable protections can produce growth that benefits everyone
Our own Urban League Empowerment Center was conceived in this very same spirit, with a projected economic impact of $300 million right here in Harlem
But the Center s mission like our own goes beyond its own economic impact As Chicago Tribune art critic Lori Waxman wrote, “Visiting the OPC felt like being in an alternate reality One where people of diverse origin, ability, and belief co-exist peacefully and productively; the value of the environment public space human health and the arts finds expression everywhere, for everyone; and the future appears collaborative and hopeful
More than a traditional presidential library the Center s Forum includes the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium a media suite for recording music and podcasts, and the Elie Wiesel Auditorium for performances and lectures There s a regulation-sized basketball court, a branch of the Chicago Public Library the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden The campus playground even includes a sledding hill; Michelle Obama had always wished for one when she was growing up in the largely-flat neighborhood
The Obama Presidential Center is a reminder that development can be a catalyst for both growth and justice When we center community, honor history, and invest with thoughtful intention, we can build institutions that uplift neighborhoods rather than displace them At a time when our nation is searching for models of progress that are inclusive and sustainable, the Center offers a hopeful blueprint
By Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com)
-
They are calling it a budget cut But let’s be clear: when Congress cuts WIC, it is taking food from pregnant women, babies, toddlers and young children
WIC is not cash welfare It is not a giveaway It is one of the most efficient and humane nutrition programs this country has ever created It provides targeted food support, breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women infants, and children up to age five It helps families buy milk, eggs, cereal, formula fruits vegetables and other basics that make the difference between nourishment and hunger
Now the House has decided that these families should do with less
On June 4, the House passed the FY2027 Agriculture appropriations bill including a $200 million cut to WIC and a reduction in the fruit-and-vegetable benefit For a family already stretching every dollar that is not an abstraction That is fewer apples Fewer greens Less formula Less food at the very moment when food matters most
The numbers are stark
The House bill cuts WIC by $200 million and reduces the fruit-and-vegetable benefit The White House proposal goes even further, slashing the monthly produce benefit for young children from $26 to about $10 That is a $16 cut per child each month more than 60 percent in the very part of WIC designed to put fresh food on the table
Some will say that $16 a month is not much But $16 is only “not much” to people who have never been down to their last $16 For a family living on the edge $16 is milk and bananas, eggs and apples, bus fare to the grocery store, or the difference between buying fresh food and buying the cheapest calories available A cut does not have to be large to be cruel Sometimes the last $16 is the last straw
This is what cruelty looks like when it wears a green eyeshade
We are told endlessly that this nation cares about children Politicians pose with babies, praise mothers salute families and campaign on “values ” But values are not measured by slogans They are measured by budgets And a budget that takes food from women and children tells us exactly whose lives are expendable
WIC also supports farmers, grocers, and local food economies When a mother uses WIC dollars to buy fresh fruit vegetables milk, eggs, cereal, or formula that money does not disappear It goes to grocery stores, farmers markets, dairy producers, food distributors, and growers
who depend on regular customers Less WIC money means fewer purchases of healthy food It means fewer dollars circulating in local communities It means that a cut aimed at poor women and children also reaches farmers and small businesses Nutrition dollars are economic dollars too
That is especially important because healthy food is already too expensive for too many families Fruits and vegetables are often the first things to disappear from a household budget when money gets tight WIC helps keep those foods on the table Cutting the fruit-and-vegetable benefit does not simply reduce choice; it narrows possibility It tells a mother to stretch substitute and make do It tells a child that fresh food is optional It tells farmers that the public dollars that helped families buy their produce are no longer a priority
What kind of country negotiates over the nutrition of infants? What kind of Congress looks at pregnant women and toddlers and says, “You cost too much”? What kind of moral arithmetic takes fresh fruit and vegetables from a child s plate while protecting tax breaks, weapons contracts, corporate subsidies and political theater? What kind of Congress spends nearly $2 billion a day on an undeclared war against Iran, then skimps on food for children?
The House has acted, but the Senate has not finished its work Final negotiations are still ahead That means advocacy matters now Not next month Not after re-
cess Now The ask is simple: fully fund WIC Reject cuts to the fruit-and-vegetable benefit Preserve the virtual and remote services that make WIC accessible to working mothers rural families, and those without easy transportation Do not balance the budget on babies
The United States can find money for tax breaks weapons, walls, corporate subsidies and billionaire giveaways Surely it can find money for bananas, carrots milk cereal formula, and breastfeeding support
The families who rely on WIC are not asking for luxury They are asking for food They are asking for nourishment They are asking for a basic public commitment that babies should not go hungry that pregnant women should not be undernourished, and that children should have access to the building blocks of health That should not be controversial It should be the floor beneath our politics When children are hungry, delay is a decision When pregnant women are undernourished, silence is complicity And when Congress chooses austerity for babies while protecting abundance for the powerful, we should name it for what it is This is not fiscal discipline It is moral failure
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC base economist and author Juliann e m a l v e a u x c o m malvceauxnewsletter@gomail com
Tur n a wall on Its side, and it becomes a ta
By Ben Jealous
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
A friend said something to me once that I have never forgotten
His name is Alec Baldwin He told me, I m an old school American That means I believe you re an American the day you decide to come here and join us ” I love that line It is simple It is generous It is true
That is the country I was raised to believe in A country with room A country that makes space at the table
We seem to have forgotten that lately We talk about walls We talk about who to keep out We talk about whole groups of people as if they were a problem to be solved
But fear is a poor teacher It tells us to lock the door It tells us the stranger wants what is
ours It tells us there is not enough to go around Fear is almost always wrong A great American answered that same fear long ago His name was Frederick Douglass He was born into slavery He freed himself And in 1869, he stood up in Boston to speak for people who looked nothing like him
The target back then was Chinese immigrants Many Americans wanted them shut out Douglass said no He called for a composite nation one people made from many The immigrants would keep coming he said the way waves keep coming to the shore And we would be stronger if we met them as friends Stronger Not weaker That was his word Douglass was right He is still right
Now think about our most famous symbol of welcome The Statue of Liberty She stands in New York Harbor with her torch held high
Most of us were never taught where she came from: the end of slavery The men who dreamed her up had fought to end it In an early design, she held broken chains in her hand Look closely today, and you will still find a broken chain and shackle at her feet Most visitors never
see them She is at her heart a statue about people set free And a statue about welcome The two ideas were always one
Which brings me to a film I cannot stop thinking about
It is called The Welcome Table ” The filmmaker Josh Fox made it, and it premieres June 23 on HBO For years he followed families driven from their homes by floods and fires and drought People the world keeps trying to wall out Fox had one simple idea A wall, on its side, can be a table ” he says The thing we build to keep people out can become the thing that invites them in Same wood Same length We only have to lay it down flat So he built one A table a thousand feet long He gathered families from around the world to sit at it together on a levee in New Orleans They ate They sang They told their stories They began to heal Fox reminds us we have done this before New Yorkers once feared Italian immigrants Newspapers drew them as criminals Today you cannot imagine New York without pizza Every wave we feared we later thanked Now Fox is taking the
table on the road He is building a movement of house parties across the country Neighbors gather in living rooms watch the film, and talk about who their own families once were, and who they might welcome next Welcoming is a virtue ” Fox says We have let it slip He wants us to pick it back up That is the choice in front of us We can keep building walls Or we can lay them down and set the table
I know which America I want to live in I want the America Alec Baldwin described The one you join the day you decide to come I want the America Frederick Douglass fought for The composite nation, stronger for its mix I want the America the Statue of Liberty was built to be A free people making room for the next An old saying goes: when you have more than you need build a longer table, not a higher wall So let s build the longer table
Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP
Rep. Sewell Accepting A pplications for Fall 2026 Inter nships
Washington D C The Washington D C and district offices of U S Rep Terri Sewell (AL-07) are currently accepting applications for fall 2026 interns College students and recent graduates interested in government and public service are invited to apply for a chance to spend the semester working closely with Rep Sewell s staff on a variety of important legislative, communications, and administrative tasks Interns are our future leaders, advocates, and changemakers,” said Rep Sewell “Through my fall internship program students have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on
experience in Congress, learn about the legislative process and help serve the constituents of Alabama s 7th Congressional District As someone who benefited from mentors who opened doors and created opportunities, I know how important it is for young people to see themselves in positions of leadership and public service I encourage all interested students to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity ” Interns will have the opportunity to research legislation, draft letters, compile media clips, answer constituent calls and attend legislative hearings, briefings, and seminars
Students with connections to Alabama that will be beginning their junior or senior years in an undergraduate program by September 2026 are strongly encouraged to apply Candidates should be proactive, professional, dependable, and have an interest in federal policy and the legislative process Candidates should also possess strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to multitask attention to detail and a willingness to learn The Office of U S Rep Terri Sewell is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in the hiring process based on
race, color, religion, sex, gender identity national origin sexual orientation marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factors BIPOC applicants and individuals in underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply
The deadline to apply is Monday, July 6, 2026, at 9:00 a m CDT For more information including how to apply visit https://sewell house gov/in ternship-opportunities
‘Wake Up Ever ybody!’ T his song still r esonates
By Hazel Trice Edney
(TriceEdneyWire com)Wake up everybody No more sleepin' in bed No more backward thinkin' Time for thinkin' ahead
The world has changed so very much from what it used to be There is so much hatred, war and poverty
The world won't get no better If we just let it be Naw naw naw naw naw naw naw
The world won't get no better We gotta change it, yeah - just you and me
The words of the song, Wake Up Everybody, debuted by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1975 still resonate today as those words are just as relevant more than a half century later
In a rare, nearly somber moment, the group s celebrated lead singer, Teddy Pendergrass introduced the song on Soul Train the weekly dance and live performance TV show that aired roughly between 1971 and 2006 Pendergrass told the attentive live audience and thousands watching by television, that Wake Up Everybody, the title tune of their latest album was intended to inspire people to take action with a goal to change America for the better
“I’m sure that you will all agree that there are things that need to be done in this country today, he said So what I d like for you to do is listen very carefully to see what you can do to lend a hand ”
The song’s appeal worked
“I played that song over and over and over again because it was a constant warning to keep ourselves prepared for the society that we were living in ” says A Peter Bailey then a 37-year-old former aid to Malcolm X When “Wake Up Everybody” hit the airwaves, Bailey was working as an associate editor of Ebony Magazine It was a call to be aware of what we were dealing with in the country that we lived in the world we lived in the neighborhood we lived in, the cities that we lived in,” Bailey said in an interview with the Trice Edney News Wire
He concluded that during Black Music Month 2026, such songs should be recalled and celebrated as a key to changes for the good across America; especially because such songs successfully encouraged people to deal with the issues that might otherwise denigrate the promises of America, including the promise that All men are created equal , as stated in the Declaration of Independence
“The rhythms and blues expressed our joys our sorrows and our fears ” Bailey recalls “It was those songs and the singing of those songs by our people that attracted us to the campaigns for justice
With his life inspired by that song and others Bailey now 88 went on to establish and teach a Black Press class at Virginia Commonwealth University Also, he has since written three books, including a memoir, Witnessing Brother Malcolm X, the Master Teacher in which he expounded upon successful principles of social justice some of which are reflected in “Wake Up Everybody ”
Long before the term woke became associated with campaigns for justice, Teddy Pendergrass led the song that reverberated across America and still holds deep meaning
The song concludes: Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way Maybe then they ll listen to what you have to say cause they're the ones who's comin' up and the world is in their hands When you teach the children teach 'em the very best you can
Wake up, all the doctors, make the old people well
They're the ones who suffer and who catch all the hell But they don't have so very long before their Judgement Day So won't you make them happy before they pass away
Wake up, all the builders, time to build a new land I know we can do it
if we all lend a hand The only thing we have to do is put it in our minds
Surely things will work out they do it every time
The world won't get no better if we just let it be Naw, naw, naw, naw, naw, naw, naw The world won't get no better We gotta change it, yeah - just you and me
This article is the first in a four-part series powered by AARP in commemoration of Black Music Month, June 2026
Senate Sketches #2034.....by Hank Sander s Two Hundred Fifty Years: Two Powerful Opposing Forces
Two hundred and fifty years: Two powerful opposing forces We are a month away from officially celebrating 250 years of the making of the United States of America Embedded in that 250 years are two ongoing powerful but opposing forces One force may be characterized as ideals; the other may be characterized as realities Two Powerful Opposing Forces
Ideals are powerful
They move some people
They direct some people
They lift some people
They help some people
They inspire some people
They challenge the best in some of us They stimulate some of our creativity
They raise some spirits
Ideals are real for some of us Ideals are powerful
Two Powerful Opposing Forces
Realities are powerful
They force some of us to act They force some of us to react They cause some of us to make hard choices
They challenge some of our ideals They challenge the courage of some of us
They challenge some of our spirits Realities are powerful Two Powerful Opposing Forces
We cannot really understand the United States of America without understanding the power of both forces Too many of us tend to focus on one or the other when both forces are ever present Both forces are very powerful and both very real Two Powerful Opposing Forces
One force is captured in the beautiful words of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness ” This same force is captured in the Preamble to the U S Constitution: “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect union, establish Justice insure domestic Tranquility provide for common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America ” Two Powerful Opposing Forces
I know the power of this ideal of life and liberty I have felt it in my spirit It has moved me in my life I have observed its power on others in my travels to the following: China, India, Turkey and Taiwan in Asia; South Africa Egypt Nigeria, Mali, Tanzania and various other countries on the continent of Africa; France, England Spain Germany Greece and other countries in Europe; Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Alabama, Mississippi Georgia and other places in North
The lawmakers highlighted what they describe as a mounting threat to Black political representation resulting from an April 29 U S Supreme Court ruling that weakened key protections under the federal Voting Rights Act
Kamlager-Dove and Carter warned that the decision, which narrowed the role of race in redistricting, is already reshaping congressional districts across the South and undermining Black voters ability to elect candidates of their choice
While I support building coalitions, we have to make sure that as a Black community we are not yielding our power, she added Calling the fight not unique to the South Carter urged Black communities nationwide to recognize the broader implications of the legal and political battles unfolding in Southern legislatures and courtrooms
The Supreme Court ruling centers on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 the portion of the law that prohibits voting systems or district maps that dilute the voting strength of racial minorities For decades, Section 2 allowed civil rights groups to challenge district maps that weakened Black political representation even when lawmakers did not openly state discriminatory intent
Now, advocates fear that standard has fundamentally changed
America and the Caribbean; and Brazil Argentina, Columbia and other places in South America Two Powerful Opposing Forces
The other powerful force is embodied in the following: White supremacy; slavery; racial segregation; materialism; limitation on liberty including the right to vote; genocide; mass incarceration; taking of land property and basic rights by force; religious oppression; and lynchings The evidence is found in many documents including the 1856 Supreme Court s Dred Scott Decision Two Powerful Opposing Forces
While these two powerful opposing forces manifested themselves before the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, we will start this analysis with July 4, 1776 Many of the very persons who wrote the beautiful soaring words embodied in the Declaration of Independence, enslaved Black persons of African origin in the worst slavery ever known to humankind It was a slavery that took every element of identity from enslaved persons: Name; family; religion; history; language; right to own property, right to control their bodies; freedom for their children; etc Human beings were treated like animals and worse Two Powerful Opposing Forces
The peoples who came to these shores deeply resented oppression and loved freedom so much they left the places where they were bred born and raised and traveled across oceans to places thousands of miles away to build new lives of freedom in strange lands Some of these same persons and or their immediate descendants oppressed the Native Americans took their lands, murdered many, and oppressed others They also enslaved peoples of African descent Two Powerful Opposing Forces
These opposing powerful forces were manifested in the following historical moments of this country: The Declaration of Independence; The American Revolutionary War; The writing and enactment of the U S Constitution; the expansion of the country across the North American Continent; the spread of Slavery; the American Civil War; the Reconstruction Period; the Post-Reconstruction period; the First and Second World Wars; the formation of the United Nations; the Civil Rights Movement; these current times of Trump; etc Two Powerful Opposing Forces
These powerful opposing forces did not prevent the United States from becoming the most powerful and wealthiest country in
the history of the world
These powerful opposing forces did not prevent peoples from all over the world from trying to come to live here They did not prevent peoples all over the world from being inspired by the United States to fight for greater liberty in their countries One can make a case that if just one of these powerful forces was present, the United States may not have reached its lofty status Every time one force advances, the other force pushes back Two Powerful Opposing Forces
These two powerful opposing forces have challenged me, my wife, children and fellow strugglers One force inspires us to work and struggle and lift The other force challenges us to work and struggle and lift Both forces have impacted me deeply One inspires me to be at my best The other challenges me to be at my best Two Powerful Opposing Forces
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, June 7, 2026 – I arose early, traveled to Montgomery stopped for breakfast stopped in Auburn, continued to Atlanta, Georgia, then to McDonough, Georgia and back to Selma Among others I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure and Dr Margaret Hardy of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Dr Fannie McKenzie, Ella Sanders and Glevia Sanders of McDonough, Georgia
Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Faya Rose Toure on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Among others I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Law Professor Kindaka Sanders of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Dr Carol Prejean Zippert of Lake Charles Louisiana
Monday – I walked, handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Retired College President Dr James Mitchelll; Lowndes County School Superintendent Samita Jeter; Marilyn Cosby, Karen Jackson and K C Bailey of Selma; Dorothy Hulett of Lowndes County; and Alabama New South Coalition Board Chair Sylvia Fitts
Tuesday – I was up early and made it to Montgomery by 7:55 a m where I handled a couple of matters returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Josephine Curtis, Junior Oliver and Charlene Williams of Selma; Mont-
Wednesday – I walked, handled many matters, attended meetings and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Lowndes County School Board members Steve Foster and Robert Grant; Jonathan Raulston of Jefferson County; Allen Garner of Dallas County; Latanya Crockrell of Greene County; Christmas Greene of Selma; Montgomery businessman Steve Thomason; and Green County Chief School Finance Officer Marquita Lennon
Thursday – I left Selma very early in the morning, traveled to New Orleans, handled various matters and worked remotely on various issues and attended a Mass Meeting for the New National Christian Leadership Movement (NNCLM) Among others I communicated with the following: NNCLM President Reverend Dr Kenneth Glasgow; Reverend Byron C Clay of NNCLM Demopolis; and Demopolis City Councilman Charles Jones
Friday – I remained in New Orleans walked handled various matters, attended sessions of the New National Christian Leadership Movement attended a banquet where Faya Rose Toure and others received awards, and worked remotely Among others I communicated with the following: Rebecca Marion of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Retired Montgomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; and Ainka Sanders Jackson of the Selma Center for Non-Violence and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee
Epilogue – It is amazing how powerful opposing forces can each cause us to be at our best One might think that one would stimulate us to do our best and the other would inhibit us from doing our best However, one opposite can pull us while the other can push us I was pulled and pushed by the two powerful opposites embedded in the forging of this Country Two Powerful Opposing Forces
The implications could stretch far beyond congressional elections Brown said Section 2 protections have historically applied not only to U S House districts but also to state legislatures, school boards, county commissions, judgeships, and local governing bodies Voting rights advocates warn that weakening those protections could reshape political representation throughout the South, particularly in states with large Black populations
This is not just a Southern issue, said Amir Badat, manager of Black Voters on the Rise and voting special counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Badat described the current moment as part of a much longer historical pattern
“This is the same move ” Badat said
Advocates also emphasized that the consequences of weakened voting protections extend into everyday life
Local elected offices such as school boards, city councils, county commissions, and judgeships often determine funding priorities, public safety policy, education standards, and infrastructure investments
These are not abstract numbers, Badat said These have real political consequences and policy consequences on people s day-to-day lives
gomery businessman Raymond Craig; and Pernila Stimley Brown of Jackson, Mississippi
EarthTalk®
From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Why is real-time or near-time tracking of pollution and other environmental markers important today and who is leading the charge? -- Barry Jenkins, Erie, PA
Pollution tracking is a way of continuously monitoring the air quality of an environment Though this technology has been used
Without state-of-the-art pollution tracking techology and communications infrastructure, we don't stand a chance in reducing pollution Credit: Pexels com
since the mid-20th century, it has become increasingly more reliable in recent years Pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and others are detected and monitored by a variety of technological systems, pro-
Jalen Br unson
viding key insights for scientists researchers and the public
Pollution tracking serves many roles including providing a means to detect an issue and trigger a quick re-
Sandra missed her connecting flight the night before the game, so she flew to Austin instead, rented a car, and drove an hour and a half to make it to the game
Because that’s what commitment looks like It’s the work you do when no one is watching It s the sacrifice you make when there is no audience to cheer you on It s the willingness to make the drive when you could’ve just forgotten the kids and taken the flight Brunson could have forgotten his teammates, the city of New York, and the people and taken the bag He could’ve dropped the top on the whip and pressed play on Southern epistemologist, Young Dolph s Get paid, young n–ga, get paid as he left Madison Square Garden
Players leave Teams trade franchise icons Owners cry poor while printing money
Every contract negotiation becomes a public debate about maximizing value securing the bag, and making sure nobody leaves a dollar on the table
And generally speaking? That s good advice
Get your money
Because if sports have taught us anything, it s that organizations don t care about feelings or facts They care about money That’s it
Currently, the New York Knicks are the NBA champs from a division often overlooked, in a conference that doesn’t get respect in a city that hasn’t won a championship in 53 years To fully understand how long 53 years ago actually was, just know that the number one song in 1973 was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree” by some old people named Tony Orlando and Dawn
Respectfully
Because if sports history has taught us anything, it’s that organizations rarely reward loyalty They reward production The moment that production slips loyalty suddenly becomes a very flexible concept
Which is what makes Jalen Brunson s championship feel so significant
Because this isn’t just a story about the New York Knicks winning their first NBA title in generations It s a story about a star who chose to believe in something bigger than his next paycheck and was proven right
Brunson could ve waited and signed a projected five-year, $269 million max contract; instead he signed a four-year $156 5 million extension to help bring in better players It led to the Knicks signing OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns It led to a championship Leaving $113 million on the table with inflation higher than Willie Nelson standing on top of a giraffe, which is standing on top of the peak of Mount Everest, is insane
People called it foolish People called it risky Some treated it like financial malpractice After all NBA careers are short One injury can change everything Why voluntarily leave millions on the table?
The answer became clear the moment the Knicks raised the Larry O Brien Trophy
Brunson wasn’t thinking about what he could get He was thinking about what the team could become Every dollar he didn t demand gave New York more flexibility More room to keep talent More room to build depth More room to chase a championship instead of merely chasing headlines And now that championship belongs to him Not because he was the highest-paid player Not because he had the flashiest endorsement deals Not because he was chasing individual accolades Because he understood something that gets lost in today’s sports culture
The point isn’t to win the negotiation The point is to win the damn championship That’s what makes Brunson s story resonate beyond basketball
We live in a culture obsessed with individual accumulation More money More followers More status More attention More everything Brunson chose a different path He chose investment He bet on teammates He bet on organizational stability
Deal to End the War
The U S and Israel went to war on Feb 28 in part to prevent Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon although U S President Donald Trump’s goals in the conflict have repeatedly shifted The interim deal stops the war before that aim is secured instead opening a two-month period for nuclear negotiations and appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return
The U S agreement to immediately allow Iran to sell its oil freely and the offer to eventually lift all sanctions for instance represent major concessions that outstrip the terms of Iran s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that Trump withdrew America from in his first term, declaring it the worst deal ever
The accord likely will draw intense criticism in Washington and appears to be a major setback for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is coming under intense criticism at home as the details emerge
The deal will stop the fighting and start more negotiations
Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting negotiations between the U S and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait which is a crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas and whose closure created a historic energy crisis
The deal includes an end to the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranianbacked militia Hezbollah That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement because Israel has maintained it will continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon Iran has said Israel must withdraw under the deal although the leaked versions make no mention of withdrawal
A person who was briefed on the memorandum of understanding after it was signed and another who viewed a copy beforehand said it largely matched the text of what was published by the Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya which reported details of the deal on Tuesday The two people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions
Another two officials in the Mideast, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason, also said the versions published by Al Arabiya and Bloomberg broadly matched the final agreement
The White House and other American officials have not published the terms and did not immediately respond to questions However, White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote online Wednesday after CNN published a leaked version of the deal that it “does not reflect the language of the actual” agreement, without elaborating Iran also has not published an official version of the deal Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency close to its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed Wednesday that Bloomberg s version had missing portions, without offering a full accounting Trump has cited various goals for the war, including at times vowing it would end Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and its support for Hezbollah and other proxy groups in the region He also suggested it could lead to toppling the Iranian government
The interim deal falls short of all of these goals, but Trump hailed it Wednesday Nobody knows what it is but it s very strong, Trump said in France, where he is attending a Group of Seven summit
But he also opened the door to abandoning it: “It’s a memorandum of understanding and if I don t like it we ll go back to shooting at them dropping bombs
sponse to a rise in pollutants This helps implement protections before the pollutant levels become dangerous Also, pollution tracking helps educate the general public about the impact of poor air quality
Recently there have been various advances in realtime technology, making it more accurate and reactive These improvements are essential for a speedy and precise response to a rise in pollutants Regulators can pinpoint precise interventions and cities can compete on measurable impacts not vague promises, says Ingmar Rentzhog, the founder and CEO of We Don’t Have Time the largest global climate action media platform Investors, regulators, insurers, and policymakers now have regular insight into exactly
who is polluting how much and where
In addition, experts are developing a wider variety of detection systems for different settings For example, continuous emissions monitoring systems are used by industries subject to regulatory emissions standards Another form of pollution monitoring is a geographic information system which creates spatial data that can be used by environmentalists and policymakers Indoor air quality monitoring systems are useful for businesses and individuals monitoring healthy enclosed environments
There are many groups leading the charge toward faster, more reliable pollution detection Climate TRACE is one group that is publishing reports accessed
Most importantly, he bet on himself
by large audiences “Worldwide we re seeing the rapid rise in clean energy jobs overtake dirty energy jobs, and we’re seeing people all around the world continue to demand that we respect their future, says Al Gore, one of Climate TRACE’s founders Such tracking can have a profound impact on legislation, too This is a tool to show the threat to our own children and politicians are going to have to yield to this technology says Jay Inslee, former governor of the State of Washington
Readers interested in getting involved can stay updated by reading pollution tracking reports from Climate TRACE or other sources and take measures to reduce carbon emissions and air pollutant production
And let s be honest: betting on himself is something Brunson has been doing his entire life The Dallas Mavericks certainly weren’t doing it Before he became the face of New York basketball, Brunson was sitting in Dallas, practically begging the Mavericks to recognize what was right in front of them
Instead, they hesitated Again and again
Dallas treated Brunson like a complementary piece when he was already becoming a cornerstone They saw a solid player New York saw a franchise leader The Mavericks looked at him and saw someone who benefited from playing alongside Luka Dončić The Knicks looked at him and saw somebody capable of carrying a franchise on his back
Only one organization got it right
Now one franchise is celebrating a championship while the other is still living with one of the most expensive miscalculations in modern NBA history The beauty of Brunson s rise is that it feels familiar to anyone who has ever been underestimated
Too small
Not athletic enough
Not flashy enough
Not marketable enough
Not enough
For years Brunson heard some version of that message Now he s a champion Not because he transformed into somebody else Because everybody else finally caught up to who he already was And that s why this title matters so much
And in order to understand this you have to understand how Brunson was raised
The Knicks didn t just win because Brunson took less money Basketball is more complicated than that But his sacrifice helped create the conditions that made winning possible It set a tone It established trust It sent a message to the rest of the roster that the franchise star was willing to prioritize the collective over the individual Championship cultures don’t magically appear They’re built through a thousand decisions that prioritize winning over ego Brunson made one of those decisions The ring is the reward
And perhaps the sweetest part of all this is how completely it rewrites the narrative For months people talked about the money Brunson supposedly lost Today nobody is talking about the money They’re talking about the parade They’re talking about the banner They re talking about the championship Years from now, nobody will remember the salary-cap calculations Nobody will care about the spreadsheets Nobody will debate the exact dollar figure he left on the table They ll remember that Jalen Brunson became the face of the franchise that brought a championship back to New York
They’ll remember that he helped resurrect the Knicks
They’ll remember that he won
And somewhere in Dallas they ll probably remember him too
Just not for the reasons they hoped
The deal provides major concessions to Iran
Some concessions to Iran including the full lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets would happen gradually and be linked to progress in the nuclear talks according to officials from Pakistan, a key mediator They outlined some of the deal s major points on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue
But in the meantime, the U S will issue waivers to sanctions that allow Iran to sell oil freely Iran’s main buyer of oil China is believed to have bought at below-market prices because of its willingness to ignore the sanctions
Granting oil waivers at the start of the 60-day talks strips the U S of a major point of leverage Only at the conclusion of the overall deal in 2015 were sanctions on Iran’s oil lifted
The interim deal also opens the door to ending all sanctions Iran faces from the U S and at the U N though it says the schedule for that will be worked out later Still that is far beyond the 2015 deal, which only lifted some sanctions in exchange for Iran drastically reducing its enrichment and stockpile of uranium
The accord would also provide Iran with at least $300 billion to rebuild after an intense U S and Israeli bombing campaign an extraordinary figure and another major benefit for Iran That also appears dependent on the progress of further negotiations
U S Vice President JD Vance has said Gulf Arab nations would invest that amount Trump reiterated Wednesday that the U S would not contribute and said it was up to other countries if they wanted to invest
The deal would provide relief to the global economy
The deal provides a major win for the global economy the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed before the war began Since then Iranian attacks on shipping and the threat to vessels effectively shut the strait
The strait s closure drove up energy prices around the world and made many basics, including food, more expensive Iran let out some vessels that paid tolls, something never done before in the strait, which has long has been considered an international waterway
The U S later provided military support to get other tankers out but traffic was nowhere near levels before the war
The deal also says the U S will lift a blockade imposed on Iranian ports and that the strait will return to its prewar traffic levels in 30 days, while acknowledging Iranian mines may need to be destroyed
The deal leaves much more to be resolved in future negotiations
The interim deal sets a 60-day window which can be extended to negotiate over limiting Iran s nuclear program, which has been discussed at multiple rounds of talks during Trump’s second administration without success The U S promises not to make threats of military action under the current deal after two rounds of talks were interrupted by attacks Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, though it has enough highly enriched uranium to build multiple atomic bombs, should it choose to do so, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency
In the interim deal Iran reiterates that it will never build a nuclear weapon a promise it also made in the 2015 nuclear accord
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