Jenna

Cubans take to the streets against their government, risking their lives in mass protests for freedom for the first time in decades.

 Approx. 11 million - roughly the size of New York City and Chicago together.

U.S. & Cuba defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War in 1898 - an independent Cuban government established in 1902.

: The Cuban Revolution. After a series of different governments (some elected and some not), communist leader Fidel Castro came to power and ruled until 2008 - then named his younger brother president. Raul Castro later chose current Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel as his successor. 

 nations (incl. China, North Korea, Vietnam & Laos):

"...a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society)." 

Lack of access to basic needs: food, electricity, transportation etc.

"Government owns and controls all broadcast media" (CIA, The World Fact Book).

"... private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization" (The World Fact Book).

Majority of the population b/t 15-54 years old; while the nation has near full literacy, citizens can't speak freely or chart their own destinies, due to communist control & limited options.

"... our country has no need to be suffering as it has for generations ... We've also been victims for the simple fact of thinking different, of not being Communist ..."

Cuban artist Alexander Delgado. His band's song "Patria y Vida" (Homeland  [or Fatherland] and Life) debuted in Feb. - a play on Cuba's old revolutionary slogan, "patria o muerte" (

. The lyrics became a foreshadowing rallying cry. Economic hardship & shortages of necessities with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic created conditions for a collision course w/ those in power.

The U.S. reinstated diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2015, opening an embassy for the first time since the early 1960s while also maintaining a trade embargo. Some blame the U.S. for these economic sanctions that further strangle the island's economy in an attempt to punish & hopefully incentivize a change in the communist regime; others say these sanctions need to continue to pressure a murderous regime that has been starving & imprisoning its own people while empowering the elite.

what to know

Cuba 

Feds charge 4 in Iran plot to kidnap activist in US, others

“I have only one life and I’m not going to live in paranoia. I’m not going to live in fear. I have two options — feel miserable, make my oppressors feel miserable, so I choose the second one.”

Journalist Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American who fled her native Iran for the U.S. after she was targeted by the current regime for exposing corruption. The U.S. federal govt. has filed a lawsuit against a group of Iranians for trying to target & kidnap at least 4-5 critics, incl. Alinejad. Those charges could carry life in prison. 

Why This Matters: “Among this country’s most cherished freedoms is the right to speak one’s mind without fear of government reprisal. A U.S. citizen living in the United States must be able to advocate for human rights without being targeted by foreign intelligence operatives.” U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss

Quote of the Day

QTD Iranian Exile Targeted 

Britney Spears 

Recent reports include the Taliban taking control of a key border crossing with Pakistan, as well as overseeing the surrender of Afghanistan's special forces (and 

reportedly executing some despite their surrender

Context: The Taliban currently control more territory now than at any point in the conflict, and 

. Thousands of Afghans have been displaced by the Taliban, 

fleeing their homes as the Taliban taken more ground.

: The U.S. recently announced full withdrawal will happen at the end of August. The Taliban worked with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan & Pakistan; Al Qaeda hatched and launched the 9/11 terrorist attacks from Afghanistan. Questions remain about how much an unstable environment in Afghanistan fuels more terrorist activity/ideology and thus threatens safety elsewhere.

Afghanistan latest 

USA Today Report: Sunscreen recall 2021: 

"J&J recalling select Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen due to presence of benzene"

"Valisure Detects Benzene in Sunscreen" - Valisure News

Valisure's Petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

 (Note: Tables listing the sun care products that Valisure recommends "be recalled" are shown on pages 12 - 13 of petition)

 (American Academy of Dermatology Association) 

A popular brand recalls some of its sunscreen due to concerns about a carcinogen.

What Johnson & Johnson says about the latest news and why it matters. 

Johnson & Johnson recalls several AEROSOL sunscreen products: 

A chemical called "benzene" was discovered in sunscreen samples, including J&J's.

Benzene is a carcinogen (cancer-causing chemical) we likely confront often, from cigarette smoke to car exhaust - and even in items such as detergent. In high amounts, benzene can be toxic (causing dizziness, drowsiness and, in extreme cases, death).

J&J doesn't know why or how the benzene contamination occurred but says the amount discovered 

"would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences."

“We’re a month and a half past the big Memorial Day beach weekend that unofficially kicks off summer. How many consumers nationwide have unknowingly been using sunscreen that could cause cancer?"

U.S. PIRG Education Fund Consumer Watchdog Teresa Murray. Valisure, an online pharmacy known for independently screening products, appealed to the FDA on May 24 to recall 40 sun care products (6 after-sun care products and 34 sunscreens) due to the presence of benzene - some with nearly 3x the limit. Nearly 300 sun care products were tested.

For some perspective, here's a reminder about why sunscreen matters: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America. ~ 20 people will die today from melanoma. 

BTW: How Does Sunscreen Even Work? The ingredients either reflect the sun rays (physical blockers like zinc) or absorb the rays (chemical blockers), preventing absorption by your own body. 

Now You Know

Sunscreen Recall 

Chang, University of California, San Francisco, and his team worked on "decoding brain waves" - think of it like reading someone's mind. 

Electrodes placed on the brain's speech center pick up on the brain waves that connect to language production. As the person thinks of a word, their brain fires off instructions for certain muscles to move. Chang's computer translates these tiny signals into words.

The first participant: a man in his 30s who suffers from paralysis after a brain-stem stroke. 

How it worked: Words appeared as text on a computer screen a few seconds after the man thought them. 

 This cutting-edge technology is called "speech neuroprosthetic" - a new scientific field of work carrying great potential for people whose physical speech is inhibited. 

Device taps brain waves to help paralyzed man communicate

Paralyzed man speaks 

Coffee Talk

Black Lives Matter on Cuba, Benzene in sunscreen & the latest on Britney.

Your Big Picture

The latest numbers from Customs and Border Protection

Migrant encounters at the border surpass 1 million for the year. June's numbers reach 188k

The highest number of people attempting entry along the U.S. southwest border in modern data collection.

 "encountered" at the U.S. southern border in June 2021 - 

the highest single-month number in at least 20 years

More than half - 104,907 - were expelled.

The majority of those crossing the border are single adults. However, the number of unaccompanied minors (those 17 and younger traveling without a guardian) also increased last month to 15,253 - one of the highest monthly totals in decades (the highest being in March of this year: 18,800+).


“We are in the hottest part of the summer, and we are seeing a high number of distress calls to CBP from migrants abandoned in treacherous terrain by smugglers with no regard for human life."

CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller. During summer months, border apprehensions tend to take a dip with the high temperatures, but the number of encounters have now increased to more than 100,000+ encounters every month since February.

: Customs and Border Protection reiterated that many of the people "encountered" for crossing the border illegally are repeat offenders - those who have attempted crossing before & were apprehended and expelled - not *new* attempts.

: While important, this data reflects *only* "encounters" - a term used for those apprehended, arrested, expelled or allowed to stay pending pursuit of asylum. It doesn't include an estimate of those who have attempted crossing and succeeded undetected.

Why This Matters: With June's numbers, more than 1 million people have been encountered at the U.S. southwest border this year; the government's "year" spans from October 2020 - September 2021. These are the highest numbers we've seen in at least two decades. 

Note: We use the term "modern data collection" when comparing these numbers since that's when the data was recorded in a more consistent manner.  

New Border Numbers 

Trailblazing aviator Wally Funk is heading to space at 82: "I'm going. That is my quest."

When Is Jeff Bezos’ Flight to Space and How to Watch the Blue Origin Launch

"I'm going. That is my quest ... I love flying, that's my job, that's what I love. And I'm not a quitter."

Ms. Wally Funk joined Jeff Bezos on Blue Origin's first *crewed* flight to space on Tuesday. A pilot at age 17, Funk trained to become an astronaut as part of the *Mercury 13* - a group of women who completed rigorous requirements by NASA but never got the chance to travel to space. At the time, only military pilots became astronauts - and only men were allowed to become military pilots. At 82, she became the oldest person to fly to space.

Wally QTD

Agents stopped two travel trailers at an immigration check-point.

A total of 74 people were found in the trailers.

The people in the trailers came from Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru.

: Recent data shows the highest number of attempted entries at the southern border in more than 20 years, and a historic pace that might be the highest in modern data collection. This story reflects the lengths and danger of illegal border crossing. 

travel trailer illegal immigration

The detainee was transferred to Morocco. 

We do not know exactly why Abdul Latif Nasir was held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center (he reportedly has a long past of extremist behavior including training in an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan). He was cleared for release by the Obama administration; the Obama admin also aimed to close the military prison in Cuba.

"The office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a 2016 report that about 17% of the 728 detainees who had been released were “confirmed” and 12% were “suspected” of reengaging in such activities."

: Guantanamo once held 700 prisoners - now the number is down to 39. The Biden administration has made its goal for Gitmo clear, but the White House also admits it cannot close Guantanamo unilaterally. Some of the detainees also have active cases against them.

Close Gitmo 

Hodgkins walked onto the Senate floor that day with a large "Trump 2020" flag; he pleaded guilty of a single count of obstructing an official proceeding.

Hodgkins says he had no ambition to enter the U.S. Capitol that day; he had only come to Washington D.C. to support Pres. Trump.

"I say this not because I face consequence, but because of the damage that day's incident caused, the way this country that I love has been hurt."

: This is the very first federal sentence related to the January 6 riot. The sentencing guidelines recommended upwards of 18 months; Hodgkins received 8 months. The judge explained that while Hodgkins had no previous record, and wasn't caught in a violent act, he still deserved the sentence because he 

"actively and intentionally participated in an event that threatened not only the security of the Capitol but democracy itself." 

Some say this will serve as a precedent for other cases moving forward.

Capitol Rioter Who Walked On Senate Floor On Jan. 6 Sentenced To 8 Months In Prison

Capitol Hill Sentence

Israel Pfizer Variant 

The Taliban have gained significant, strategic territory in recent weeks.

The organization has increased focus on one strategically important city, Kandahar (not only economically powerful but features an important airport for supplying Afghan forces).

The U.S. announced full withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of August but has continued airstrikes to blunt the continued gains made by the Taliban - 

these airstrikes have reportedly increased in recent days.

The U.S. also continues to try to negotiate a political settlement between the current Afghan government and the Taliban - but to no avail. 

The Taliban want the current Afghan president removed

; Pres. Ashraf Ghani recently met with Pres. Biden at the White House.

: The Taliban provided safe haven to al Qaeda to plan and train for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As America's longest war comes to a close, questions remain about the threat that the Taliban and others pose to national security.

Taliban battles Afghan military for control of Kandahar City

Afghanistan intensifies

Tackling Two Threats: Terrorism & The Pandemic

Current Events

Test or Vaccinate

Pres. Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Monday.

America's combat mission in Iraq started in 2003; America will continue to train and support Iraqi troops.

 offers this reporting on the announcement by Pres. Biden: 

U.S. officials ... say it (the end of the combat mission) won’t lead to a significant reduction in the number of American troops in the country nor fundamentally alter their mission.

Roughly 2500 U.S. troops currently remain in Iraq.

: Iraq continues to offer fertile ground for a proxy war between America and Iran. Only weeks after Pres. Biden took office, 

an American contractor was killed by a rocket attack blamed on Iranian-backed militia 

targeting Americans. The opposing sides have exchanged fire in both Iraq and Syria. 

Biden says US combat mission in Iraq to conclude by year end

Pres. Biden announces future plans in Iraq for the American military.

Iraq and the U.S. 

Bloomberg Article: More Variants Are Coming, and the U.S. Isn’t Ready to Track Them

What Is The CDC Doing To Track Variants? 

What If We Tracked COVID-19 Variants Like Hurricanes? 

Hunting Variants

Here's the CDC map to show transmission: 

The CDC says they have new science to support new guidance.

Here are the key takeaways from the CDC's new masking recommendation and why it matters.

On July 27, a little more than two months since announcing masks are optional for vaccinated people, the CDC changed its guidance.

The CDC now recommends even vaccinated people should mask indoors in public settings during times/areas of high transmission (see map on source page for your state).

CDC Dir. Walensky held a briefing on the updated guidance based on new science she says she recently reviewed.

Dir. Walensky says the delta variant "behaves uniquely differently" than other variants of the virus that causes COVID in its "willingness to outsmart and to be an opportunist in areas where we have not shown a fortified response against it" (specifically in communities with high transmission and low vaccination rates). The CDC currently lists four "variants of concern." The CDC says variants of concern are being closely monitored and are more infectious, causing "more severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths) ..."

"When we examine the rarer breakthrough infections, and we look at the amount of virus in those people, it is pretty similar to the amount of virus in unvaccinated people."

The CDC says "breakthrough cases" (when someone fully vaccinated becomes infected with the virus that causes COVID-19) continue to be rare but did not supply specific data points on how rare. The CDC promised more research to come on outbreak clusters they've been following.

"We continue to estimate the risk of a breakthrough infection with symptoms upon exposure to the delta variant is reduced by seven-fold. The reduction is 20-fold for hospitalizations and deaths."

The CDC provided this estimate on the efficacy of current vaccines, saying they still believe the vaccines protect individuals from mild/severe illness, hospitalization and death.

"... I think [what] we in public health and science are worried about is that virus and the potential mutations away we are from a very transmissible virus that has the potential to evade our vaccines in terms of how it protects us from severe disease and death."

Dir. Walensky emphasized this concern about the delta variant and potential new mutations of the virus as a core reason behind the new guidance intended to slow transmission and lower infection rates.

The CDC director says one of the reasons for this new guidance is to protect individuals who can't get vaccinated - not only children but also immunocompromised people. That's one of the reasons the current CDC guidance is that while in-person learning should take place this fall, those in K-12 schools ought to wear a mask.

Latest from CDC 

The state's project is called "Sewershed" - through PCR testing, it tracks the presence of the virus that causes of COVID-19 in sewage waste.


This type of surveillance has expanded nationwide as health officials look for ways to monitor contagion.


The current thinking: a person sheds the virus days before symptoms, giving public health officials a heads-up on the state of the virus in the community.


The research does have limits - it's not great for sequencing variants, and storms/flooding can dilute samples.


: Used before for other viruses like polio, this surveillance gives health officials information that doesn't require public participation, and can hopefully help forecast potential spikes of infection.

Wastewater Helps Health Officials Spot Covid-19 Warning Signs

Wastewater collection continues to expand for COVID-19 surveillance.

Wastewater collection for covid

The seasonings include: McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, McCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning and Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning.

These items were shipped June 20 to July 21. 

: Salmonella can potentially cause severe illness; no cases related to these products have been reported as of yet.

McCormick is recalling some seasonings due to potential salmonella contamination.

Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan.

Articles by Jenna

Top Stories

“I thought they were trying to kill me.”

Britney Spears in a private hearing about her conservatorship. A judge rules she can hire her own lawyer.

“The Taliban were making progress each year over the last several years while we were still there.”

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on the current gains by the Taliban as America winds down its longest war.

“It’s exciting to think we’re at the very beginning of a new chapter, a new field.”

Neurosurgeon Dr. Edward Chang on "a medical first" - helping a paralyzed man to "speak" again via brain waves.

Your Big Picture

“Transnational criminal organizations recruit United States Citizens to facilitate their smuggling schemes, they continue to place lives in danger with little regard for their safety and well-being.”

Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean McGoffin on his team discovering travel trailers full of dozens of people attempting illegal entry into the U.S.

“Our goal is to close Guantanamo Bay.”

White House Press Sec. Jen Psaki on the first Guantanamo Bay detainee released under the Biden administration.

“This was a foolish decision on my part that I take full responsibility for ... I do not nor will not make any excuse.”

Florida resident Paul Hodgkins who received the first felony sentence (8 months) for his January 6 actions on Capitol Hill.

Top Stories

“We are still not sure about whether the reduction in effectiveness is due to time passed or [a] question of the variant.”

Israeli Dr. Nadav Davidovitch on new data raising questions about the efficacy of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

“I think the issue is still in doubt, but Kandahar has not fallen.”

General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr. who oversees the U.S. military's mission in Afghanistan as the Taliban gain ground.

Top Stories: Getting A Grip

“We are not going to be, by the end of the year, in a combat mission.”

Pres. Biden on the U.S. military in Iraq.

Hunting Variants

“We can get an amazing amount of information about the community from a quarter cup.”

Prof. Marc Johnson, University of Missouri, on the state's monitoring of sewage waste to track COVID-19 infections.

“The potential risk was brought to McCormick’s attention by FDA during routine testing.”

The FDA on four McCormick seasonings voluntarily recalled due to possible contamination with salmonella.