deb hoeffner

As Russia escalates its aerial attacks on Ukraine’s cities, people, and energy infrastructure, the Kyiv Independent delivers urgent, independent journalism from the ground, from breaking news to investigations into war crimes.

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Giant copy of the Constitution being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Today's the day. No Kings!! Be peaceful and show your love for America. And feel free to share.

Jane Goodall has shown us what a purposeful life can be. May her spirit continue to inspire the many lives she has touched.

Sandu’s pro-European party takes majority in Moldovan parliamentary elections The EU has warned that Moldova is enduring "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia ahead of the election.

⚡️Sandu’s pro-European party takes majority in Moldovan parliamentary elections.

With 99.91% of ballots counted, Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) secured 50.16% of the vote, giving it a clear lead and reaffirming public support for Sandu’s push toward European integration.

An incredibly important election in a tiny country just went the right way. Moldova has resisted a huge Russian disinformation campaign and will not become a Russian puppet state.

I have approximately zero following on this app, sharing in the hopes it can get in front of the right person. A man I went to college with’s wife was kidnapped by ICE at a green card hearing, and he’s trying to find a reporter who will speak to him about the situation

Map of Regional Public Health Coalitions Northeast Public Health Collaborative (Blue) West Coast Health Alliance (Yellow)

IT'S OFFICIAL: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York City have formed the Northeast Public Health Collaborative.

The collaborative will issue their own vaccine recommendations and coordinate public health efforts.

9/11 Never Forget. Remembering how I felt on that day and in the days after. Feel free to share my painted tribute.

Russia's 'imperialist plan' is only beginning, Merz says "A new conflict between systems has broken out between liberal democracies and an axis of autocracies," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

⚡️Russia's 'imperialist plan' is only beginning, Merz says.

Russia's "imperialist plan wouldn't end with the conquest of Ukraine but would rather be just the start," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sept. 8.

Trump will do all he can to “fix” the 2026 and 2028 elections to secure MAGA victories by every method he can muster, however blatantly illegal and unconstitutional, whatever the courts might say. If every eligible voter shows up, we can overwhelm his schemes.

Otherwise, our way of life is doomed.

An empty booth with a sign that says “vendor removed for selling AI art #ArtBYHumans”

I love the smell of consequences in the morning. Thank you, @dragoncon.org

This is the way

Common Sense about Negotiations For Americans about Ukraine

As Ukrainian and European leaders travel to Washington for discussions in the White House this Monday about ending Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Americans would do well to remember ten principles of negotiation.
snyder.substack.com/p/common-sen...

LFG! 💙🌊

Velshi Banned Book Club: ‘The House on Mango Street’ by Sandra Cisneros “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros has been studied in classrooms, recommended to daughters by their mothers and then to their friends, read in book clubs, topped national best-seller lists, and awarded literary prizes. A series of short vignettes that make up a year in a young life, the novel explores identity, family dynamics, the power of language, and the necessity of community as Esperanza experiences joy, sorrow, growth and false starts. "Every human being is a walking book", says Cisneros. The work is part autobiographical and part inspired by her students at Chicago’s Latino Youth Alternative High School and decades later, it is easy to see why this book has remained so important and so influential, but less easy to understand why it’s faced bans. "Books are medicine,” says Cisneros, “and if it's not your prescription, that doesn't mean you burn down the whole pharmacy."

"Books are medicine - and if it's not your prescription, that doesn't mean you burn down the whole pharmacy.”

“The House on Mango Street” author Sandra Cisneros explains the power of literature like only a legend can. "Every human being is a walking book." #VelshiBannedBookClub

"The Power Within," a magazine by the Kyiv Independent In its first magazine, designed and printed in Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent offers a snapshot of Ukraine three years into Russia’s full-scale war. From the battlefields of Donbas to the streets of Ky...

If you haven't yet secured your copy, now is the time. This special edition represents months of our team's dedication and captures a pivotal moment in history that deserves a permanent place on your shelf.

Purchase the magazine here: store.kyivindependent.com/products/the...

Rash: Returning Ukraine’s abducted kids isn’t about geopolitics — it’s about justice "The scales falling from the president’s eyes regarding the Kremlin is a welcome, albeit late, development," columnist John Rash writes.

Russia has kidnapped over 20,000 Ukrainian children. We must pass my bipartisan legislation to support efforts to recover these children and hold Russia accountable.

www.startribune.com/us-bill-kidn...

Highly troubling.

A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials An imposter using AI to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable.

AI has now inserted itself in imposter calls between world leaders. This is why they should NOT use Signal as their default comms. We have gov’t to gov’t secure comms to use. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

State Sen. John Hoffman discharged from hospital, still faces ‘long road to recovery’ after shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman has been discharged from a hospital and moved to a rehabilitation facility as he continues his recovery from being shot and critically wounded in an attack at his hom...

Grateful to see my friend Sen. John Hoffman making progress on his long road to recovery. Continuing to keep him, his wife Yvette, and their family in our prayers.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Warnock: "We are engaged in Robin Hood in reverse ... this is socialism for the rich."

Warnock: If I'm honest, there are days when I have to ask people of my faith tradition as a Christian, are we reading the same book? 

The book I know says I was hungry and you fed me. I was sick, I was in prison and you visited me, I was a stranger and you welcomed me….

Tim Walz eulogizes slain lawmaker as a historic Minnesotan — and friend After a hug with Kamala Harris, Gov. Tim Walz eulogized slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman as “the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history.”

It's incredible that neither the president nor VP was here. The politicization of all facets of American life is coming from the White House. No other American president would have failed to pay their respects. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

The Prospects for Tolerance in the 21st Century | Educational conference of the Auschwitz Memorial "Is Memory Enough in the 21st Century?" is the theme of the international educational conference of the Auschwitz Memorial. The keynote lecture titled "The P...

"Is Memory Enough in the 21st Century?" is the theme of our international educational conference.

We will stream the introduction & the keynote lecture on June 30 (at 1-3 pm, CEST)

"The Prospects for Tolerance in the 21st Century"

by Prof. Dr. Bernd Simon (University of Kiel)

In case you missed it!

Ukraine war latest: US signals more Patriot missiles for Kyiv after Zelensky-Trump talks at NATO summit Key developments on June 25: * Zelensky, Trump hold talks on NATO summit sidelines * 'Something unknown' hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says * Russia has launched ...

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit; The two leaders discussed the purchase of American air defense systems as well as the potential for co-production of drones; and more.

Minnesota lawmaker shot to death at home to lie in state at Capitol ahead of funeral Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, will lie in state in the state Capitol Rotunda on Friday, a day ahead of their funeral

Minnesota lawmaker shot to death at home to lie in state at Capitol ahead of funeral

NEWS: Senate Parliamentarian says GOP scheme to limit federal court preliminary injunctions by requiring plaintiffs challenging government actions to post large bonds cannot be part of reconciliation bill.

A victory for Democrats, rule of law and the courts and a defeat for Trump and the GOP.