I can never hear Kate Smith's version of this anthem without thinking of my father's reaction. All his life, he would have tears in his eyes and could hardly speak from the emotion that song produced in him, and his memories of WW2 and the homefront.
I had the same reaction during a different era. Whenever I hear it now, I think of September 11 and how that song was played during the seventh inning stretch of MLB games.
Both emotional events, and the combination of a grateful immigrant songwriter in Irving Berlin, and a powerful singer in Kate Smith. No other version will do.
I saw the following column at RedState. It was lovely to see Ronald Reagan and others in the accompanying video.
Like Christmas, Independence Day is famous for its songs.
There
are so many of them that bring home the patriotism of the holiday, our
gratitude for our forefathers for creating a more perfect union, and our
love of America. Think, the Star‑Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A., and lately, during the World Cup, John Denver’s Country Roads.
Of course, one of those patriotic favorites is God Bless America, and it’s still sung by the massive crowds across the country.
But when was it first performed, and who wrote it?
Although
the first public performance was in 1938 to celebrate Armistice Day
(the end of World War I), the story actually goes back to 1918 and “The
Dean of American Songwriters,” the great Irving Berlin. He’d written the
tune 20 years earlier, but it wasn’t until 1938 that a revised version
was sung publicly:
November 9, 1938
In
[a] remarkable letter, songwriter Irving Berlin writes to fellow
composer Harry Ruby on the eve of “God Bless America’s” reintroduction
to the world. The timing is chilling as the letter was written on the
eve of the Kristallnacht program (Nov. 9–10, 1938) in Nazi Germany.
Berlin reveals that Kate Smith will sing it the next night on national
radio—reviving a forgotten WWI-era tune that would become a defining
American anthem. This letter, written just one day before Smith's
Armistice Day broadcast, captures the quiet beginnings of what would
become one of the most patriotic songs in U.S. history.
Although technically the very first
rendition by Smith was for radio in 1938, she reprised it for the 1943
Warner Bros. film "This Is the Army," where she performed it with a
large orchestra and choir. See if you can spot a legendary former
president and even the songwriter himself in the clip:
Here is the first time ever God Bless America was sung Happy 250 America Watch and spread Like and smile pic.twitter.com/9xPMImc96W
This
simple one-verse song became an overnight hit, and a hopeful song as
war threatened. “It’s not a patriotic song,” composer Irving Berlin said
in a 1940 interview, “but an expression of gratitude for what this
country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” Today,
many Americans consider “God Bless America” an unofficial national
anthem of the United States.
For decades, you used to hear Smith’s
version at New York Yankees and Philadelphia Flyers games, but the Left
always wants to make sure you can’t have nice things, so in 2019, they
dragged up other songs that she had sung nearly a century ago and got her canceled. The two teams no longer play her voice because some of the tunes were deemed to be racist.
Critics
of cancel culture struck back, noting that Smith recorded one of the
controversial “racist” songs with an African American man, and it was
meant to be satirical, not hateful. Meanwhile, she didn’t exactly sound
like your average KKK Grand Wizard in an interview:
Smith
called for racial tolerance in 1945 in an address on CBS Radio,
declaring, "Race hatreds, social prejudices, religious bigotry, they are
the diseases that eat away the fibers of peace". She went on to state
"it is up to us to tolerate one another in order to achieve peace".
In any case, you won’t hear her anymore at Yankees or Flyers games.
The
Left is always trying to erase our history, but the problem for them is
that they can’t. We’ve got the documents, we’ve got the videotapes,
we’ve got the contemporaneous news stories. I hope you enjoyed Smith’s
rendition.
Now fire up those grills,
display your American flags, and let the world know that you are a loud
and proud American who will not be erased.
I don't need any convincing. Since my first COVID vaccine in 2021, I have been happily touting the benefits of these lifesavers, and I have avoided getting COVID myself. So did my father, who got his first COVID shot in Jan. 2021 at the age of 90. For us, it's been a miracle drug, and I'm grateful.
"Billions of doses later, a global review
has found that mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective. Not only
have they proven to be a valuable weapon against COVID-19, it reports,
but the platform shows promise for treating many other diseases,
including influenza, RSV, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer.
"The first mRNA vaccines
approved for widespread human use were the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna
vaccines against COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. While their rollout was
lambasted as "rushed" by some, research into the technology had really
been decades in the making.
"Now
that billions upon billions of doses have been administered around the
globe, scientists can take a step back and get a clear view of their
impact, resulting in a new global review.
“After billions of
doses, we now have an extraordinary amount of scientific evidence,” Anna
Blakney, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia,
said in a statement.
“People
should feel empowered to ask questions about their health and what they
put in their bodies,” said Blakney. “Our goal is to provide clear,
credible evidence to inform these conversations and decisions.”
What Did The Review Find?
"The researchers compiled and assessed heaps of mRNA vaccine data from around the world taken from laboratory research, clinical trials, and real-world surveillance.
"Serious adverse side effects
from mRNA vaccines were exceptionally rare, with myocarditis and
pericarditis (inflammation of the heart) occurring in just 12.6 cases
per million for Pfizer BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine and 35.6 cases per
million for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Both values are substantially
lower than the risk of getting those conditions from a COVID-19
infection.
"The review also
found mRNA vaccines to be effective at preventing serious COVID-19
infections, with 87 percent overall effectiveness against SARS‑CoV‑2
infection, 93 percent effectiveness against hospitalization, and 94
percent effectiveness against mortality 14 to 42 days after
vaccination.
"Effectiveness waned over time, however, and was
reduced by certain variants, such as the Omicron lineage (for which the
vaccines on the whole had 67 percent effectiveness against infection and
72 percent against hospitalization).
"The team also addressed some
common misconceptions about how mRNA vaccines work. Above all, they
sought to clarify that these medications don't alter a person's DNA.
Instead, the mRNA provides a set of instructions that prompts human
cells to produce a harmless piece of a virus, training the immune system
to recognize and respond to it.
"Both the mRNA and the lipid nanoparticles it's packaged within are quickly broken down and cleared from the body after use.
"The
findings also support mRNA technology's potential for treating diseases
beyond COVID-19. An ever-expanding list of trials – for everything from
pancreatic cancer to bird flu – are already underway, potentially meaning that we will have mRNA vaccines for a wide range of illnesses in the near future.
“This
is really about what comes next,” said Blakney. “We’re seeing the same
platform being applied to cancer treatment and other diseases.
Understanding how these vaccines work—and why they’re safe—helps build
confidence in the next generation of medicines.”
"The study is published in the journal The Lancet."
What a great piece! It should be required reading. We have to fight back and not give in to these Jew-haters, Israel-haters, and America-haters who are suddenly so unfortunately prevalent in our country. I show I'm not cowed by wearing my Star of David and patriotic jewelry every day rather than let them think they're in charge. It's a little thing, but it helps.
The
Patrouille de France conducts a flyover above the Statue of Liberty in
New York Harbor in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American
independence, June 9, 2026. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images.
(July 2, 2026 / JNS)
"For those old enough to remember the general hoopla and feel-good
atmosphere of the American bicentennial, the general lack of enthusiasm
surrounding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is
shocking … and discouraging. Unlike 50 years ago, when the entire nation
seemed to fairly burst with patriotic fervor, this year’s commemoration
has a downbeat flavor to it.
"Even worse, some Jews are—for the
first time in the history of the country—beginning to think that America
is no longer a safe place. Some are even openly speaking of it as no
different from any other stop in the last two millennia of Jewish
Diaspora waystations.
"The reasons why are not far-fetched. But
rather than giving up on the United States at a time when Jewish life is
starting to feel precarious, Jews should be doing the opposite. They
should not only be joining wholeheartedly in the America 250
celebrations. They should be doubling down on their determination to
fight for it.
Partisanship and woke ideology
"Some of
the lack of enthusiasm for America 250 is due to the hyperpartisanship
of these times, with many Democrats and liberals being reluctant to
celebrate the country led by a man they despise: President Donald Trump.
"But
a lot also has to do with the pervasive influence of left-wing
ideologies like critical race theory, intersectionality and
settler-colonialism, that helped generate a spate of antisemitism that
has rocked this country following the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab
terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. These toxic ideas now
dominate American education, journalism, culture and the arts. A
half-century ago, they were largely unknown and confined to portions of
the academy where progressives were just beginning to make their way in
their long march through American institutions. But today, the belief
that the United States is an irredeemably racist nation that has been
more a force for evil than good has become widespread.
"This
neo-Marxist worldview is patently false. And yet, it has played an
outsized role in convincing a great many people, especially the
college-educated who now make up the vast majority of those who vote for
Democrats and identify as liberal, that old-fashioned patriotism of the
sort that was commonplace in 1976 is not merely out of fashion. It’s
downright wrong.
"And it is due to the growing influence of such
thinking that many are starting to feel like the golden age of American
Jewry is over.
"Antisemitism isn’t merely rising to unprecedented levels; it is being mainstreamed by corporate media outlets like The New York Times.
More than that, for the first time in American history, it has become
an organizing principle of politics. Hatred for Israel and the
normalization of blood libels against the Jewish state are now the
litmus test by which left-wing activists view candidates, including
those who are otherwise down-the-line liberals on every other issue,
such as Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), who just lost a primary that will mean the end of his career as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Sadly,
the same phenomenon is beginning to make itself felt on the American
right as well. Though the overwhelming majority of Republicans and
conservatives are pro-Israel and philo-semitic, the influence of
Jew-hating podcasters—namely, former Fox News host Tucker
Carlson, the even crazier commentator Candace Owens and the
Holocaust-denying neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, along with enablers like media
celebrity Megyn Kelly—is also on the rise. Worse than that, Vice
President JD Vance has been sending signals that not only is he neutral about the debate on the right about antisemitism, but that he is ready to jettison the U.S.-Israel alliance.
The fruits of American liberty
"With
the academy and so many other sectors of American life becoming hostile
environments for Jews who won’t bend the knee to woke hatred for Israel
and the Jewish people, it’s understandable that many no longer think of
it as the “Goldene Medina” in the way their immigrant forebears did.
"That’s
sad, but it’s also counterproductive. Instead of throwing in the towel
on what admittedly sometimes seems like a sinking ship, Jews should
understand that they have no choice but to stand and fight for their
place in society.
"One reason for doing so is that, contrary to the
assumptions of many Jewish liberals, America has always been a uniquely
welcoming place for Jews. From its earliest days, the American republic
not only didn’t erect barriers to Jewish equality and participation
that were a given in Europe, as well as in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
With few exceptions, Jews have always been treated as equal partners in
the American experiment in constitutional government, rather than, as is
the case elsewhere, a tolerated minority.
"The principles of
Judaism were baked into the Western Enlightenment thinking that was
intrinsic to the mindset of the framers. And that made itself felt in a
variety of ways. President George Washington’s famous letter to the
Hebrew Congregation of Newport, R.I., in which he wrote that “happily
the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction,
to persecution no assistance” was not merely a personal sentiment.
Though Jews were a tiny minority in America, they had taken an active
part in the American Revolution. And in a republic without an
established religion and in which many of the various Christian sects
had a living memory of persecution in Europe, religious freedom was
enshrined as the nation’s “first freedom” in the Bill of Rights.
"It
was a nation that was not merely dedicated to liberty as no other had
been. It was also a place where economic freedom and the rule of law
were guaranteed, thus giving Jews and other immigrant minority groups a
chance to better themselves. If American Jewry is the freest and most
prosperous Jewish Diaspora in history, it is a function of the governing
system first conceived in 1776 and then firmly established in the
framing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. It is those founding documents
that are the guarantee of Jewish liberty as well as that of everyone
else.
"That this exceptionalism and tradition of liberty is under
assault is not in doubt. A two-front war is being waged against the
Judeo-Christian heritage that is the foundation of American liberty from
both the left and the right. And given the strength of liberty’s woke
opponents, pessimism about its survival, which is inextricably linked to
Jewish safety, may be forgiven at times.
"But the semiquincentennial is no time to concede that fight.
No choice but to stand and fight
"We
must do so not merely out of a desire to defend our lives here. We must
do so because a strong America that has not abandoned the best of
Western civilization and values is essential to the worldwide struggle
against the forces of tyranny, both Marxist and Islamist, which threaten
Israel and Jews everywhere.
"If Jewish life is unsafe in America,
it will be unsafe everywhere. And that will impact Israel as well.
That’s why it is essential that, rather than giving up or giving in to
hysterical talk about the end of American liberty and even the end of
American Jewry, we must recommit to the fight to roll back the woke tide
on the left and its antisemitic echo on the right—and to defeat it.
"This
may be a generational struggle in much the same way that leftist
efforts to impose these false beliefs on the United States were one. But
it is a battle that is necessary to fight—not just to save American
Jewry, but to save the canon of Western civilization on which our
freedoms rest.
"The contempt for traditional patriotism and belief
in the truth that the American republic—flawed though it might be—is a
force for good in the world has already been made clear by left-wing
elites. But as discouraging as this discourse may be, it is a reminder
that the stigmatizing and targeting of Jews is part and parcel of the
same struggle that other Americans are engaging in. America is and
always has been exceptional. But it will only remain that way so long as
a broad cross-section of its citizens—Jews and non-Jews, liberals and
conservatives, Democrats as well as Republicans—are willing to stand up
against the woke forces seeking to traduce its founding values.
"The
appropriate answer to attacks on Jews is not flight or a call to
shelter in place. Jews must speak up and not abandon the streets or the
public square to the antisemites and woke mobs. The rejoinder to
anti-Jewish violence and intimidation is for Jews to act in the most
quintessential American way possible: to arm themselves and make it
clear that they will not be intimidated or silenced.
"Those who
hate the founding principles of the United States, in addition to its
Jewish residents, may seem to be on the ascent, as election results in
various Democratic Party primaries have shown. But they are wrong about
the end of American greatness or the need to transform it into some pale
reflection of Marxist or Islamist concepts. And as dire as the
situation may seem at the moment, these enemies of liberty may be
sealing their own fate with their attempt to foist antisemitic
extremists on a country that is inherently moderate and where Jew-hatred
of this type has always been confined to outliers rather than the
mainstream.
"Faith in the good sense and decency of the American
people may seem like a forlorn hope when you witness the ability of
figures like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to affect the future of
American democracy. But those who bet against America have always been
shortsighted suckers. Right now is no time to doubt that this will
continue to be the case.
"On this 250th Independence Day, rather
than writing off America, we should be embracing it all the more
enthusiastically and pledging to defend it against those who wish to
tear it down. The alternative is not merely unthinkable; it’s an
abandonment of Western civilization, and all that decent people hold
dear.
"Happy birthday, America! Even on your worst day, we still believe in you, and we know you’re worth fighting for."
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS. Follow him: @jonathans_tobin.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek
and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American
political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle
East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice”
podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily”
program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube.
Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief
political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger.
He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other
writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and
foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia
University.
Even though COVID is said to be at low levels right now, you can never really drop your guard, so it's good to remind yourself of COVID symptoms and get your vaccine, just to be on the safe side.
This summer, COVID-19 is very much still a risk for many—even if you're generally healthy, doctors warn.
"Nearly everyone remains at some risk of a severe COVID infection," Dr. Michael Mina, MD, Ph.D., chief medical officer of Invivyd, tells Parade.
"However, those with the highest risk include the very young, older
individuals, and immune-compromised individuals who cannot or do not
mount appropriate immune responses to protect themselves against the
virus. The immune-compromised population is varied and can include those
who have autoimmune disorders or cancer, those who have had a recent
organ transplant and those with cardiac, renal or liver diseases.
Immune-compromised people are particularly at risk for severe COVID-19."
Dr. Kyle Hoedebecke, MD, MBA, MPA, MS, FAAFP, CPE,
clinical advisor of Alpas Wellness NOVA, concurs, explaining, "As has
been the case since the beginning of this pandemic, the groups at
greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are older adults, people
with compromised immune systems, pregnant patients and people with
pre-existing conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, obesity)."
That comprises a lot of people, so even if you're generally fine, you'll likely want to take at least some precautions to protect others who need it. Find out the most common COVID-19 symptoms in July 2026,
plus why there are unique challenges right now in terms of staying
healthy in the face of the pandemic that never really ended.
What Are the Most Common COVID-19 Symptoms in July 2026?
"Loss of taste and smell is less common than it was during earlier waves," Dr. Lora shares. "Vascular phenomena, such as 'COVID toes,'
are also less frequently seen. Due to higher levels of immunity in the
population, we also see fewer patients developing severe respiratory
symptoms early in the course of illness compared with the beginning of
the pandemic."
That
is a relief, right? However, there are some important elements to
consider now that you may not have before in terms of the level of COVID
risk with which you're comfortable, because now, you may be sicker for
longer and also at higher risk of cognitive impairment (which could be potentially longer term if you get long COVID).
"In
terms of population health, it's not as much about the severity of the
symptoms of COVID-19 changing in 2026 as it is about the next generation
of Omicron variants' ability to cause repeated infections," Dr. Ayesha Bryant, MD, MSPH, clinical advisor of Alpas Wellness, says. "Some patients are reporting fatigue, cognitive impairment and brain fog, GI issues and longer-than-expected recovery periods, but the most commonly reported symptoms remain in the upper respiratory tract."
What COVID Variants Are Most Prevalent Right Now?
Right
now, we're seeing a lot of descendants of the Omicron variant,
specifically XFG, NB.1.8.1 and other variants of the JN.1 lineage, Dr.
Bryant says. Experts are a bit divided on whether or not that's a good
thing.
On
one hand, Dr. Lora notes, "While [Omicron variants] remain highly
contagious, we have accumulated immunity from vaccination and past
infections, helping reduce the severity of illness for many people."
On
the other hand, Dr. Bryant warns that newer Omicron variants have shown
a potential for repeated infections, and really—it sucks enough getting
COVID once. Having it multiple times just seems cruel.
Does COVID Risk Go Down in the Summer?
Unfortunately, unlike flu and the common cold,
which tend to peak in the months during which we're huddled up indoors
in close quarters, COVID risk isn't reduced just because we're outside
getting fresh air and extra vitamin D.
"While
age and comorbidities are still strong predictors of severe disease
regardless of the specific variant of SARS-CoV2, the warmer temperatures
associated with summer may result in less time spent in enclosed areas
where airborne pathogens are more likely to be transmitted," Dr. Bryant
explains. "However, increased mobility during summer months via travel
and larger social gatherings also increases opportunities for airborne
pathogen transmission."
What's more, you'll want to stock up on COVID tests, because a lot of common COVID symptoms overlap with those of seasonal allergies—and if you're anything like me, grass pollen has been trying to kill you since March.
How Can I Protect Myself and Others From COVID-19?
Get vaccinated!
"While
vaccines may not always prevent infection, they continue to provide
important protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death,"
Dr. Lora urges. "Staying up to date remains especially important for
high-risk individuals. The vaccine has also been shown to reduce the
risk of complications after COVID-19, such as heart attacks or strokes."
"The
most effective way to protect oneself from infection is through
layering of protection, such as maintaining current vaccinations,
testing for SARS-CoV-2 when experiencing symptoms, receiving antiviral
therapy promptly if eligible and practicing additional caution around
immunocompromised people," Dr. Bryant advises.
Dr.
Hoedebecke agrees. "Regardless of seasonal activity level, using common
sense practices to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses remains
effective," he says. That means staying home when you're ill, improving
air circulation through ventilation systems, wearing masks in high-risk
environments, hand washing and using hand sanitizer as needed.
There's a Medication That Could Help Prevent Long COVID—but Most Doctors Aren't Prescribing It Yet
If
you're a candidate for them, you'll want to grab some Paxlovid from
your doctor, but even then, don't necessarily expect a miracle.
"The
treatments available today are limited and researchers are working to
develop new approaches and new classes of treatments," Dr. Mina tells Parade.
"While certain antiviral medications such as Paxlovid remain on the
market, many of their benefits have been shown in recent research by
scientists to be significantly reduced since they were first introduced.
Additional research has shown potential increases in rebound."
Dr. Mina recommends monoclonal antibody treatment if you can get it.
Other
than that, experts recommend drinking a lot of water, getting a lot of
rest and managing symptoms with over-the-counter medications like
ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fevers and aches, lozenges for sore
throat and cough and decongestants for sinus congestion.
"Imagine being so consumed by hatred for Donald Trump and his immigration
agenda that you would hand a full pardon to a man who sexually
assaulted a 10-year-old girl for four years, just to keep him from being
deported.
"You do not have to imagine it. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) actually did it.
"Last
month, Walz pardoned Tou Lue Vang, a 42-year-old illegal immigrant
convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, wiping his record
clean and shielding him from deportation to Laos. It’s bad enough that
the pardon erased Vang's conviction entirely, but what makes it worse is
that Walz did it to rescue him from the consequences that Trump's
immigration enforcement was finally about to deliver.
"Vang pleaded
guilty in 2006 to repeatedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl over
four years, starting in 2002. When police arrested him in 2005, he did
not deny what he did. He justified it, telling officers it was a
"cultural thing" to "marry and have sex with girls as young as 12."
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Vang also tried to pay
his victim $10 to keep her quiet while the abuse was happening.
"Vang’s
plea deal kept him out of prison, but it cost him his legal immigration
status, and he received a final order of removal in October 2006.
Instead, Vang stuck around for nearly two decades until Trump's
Minnesota immigration operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, finally
caught up with him last year. Records show Vang applied for a pardon in
July 2025, presumably sensing his window was closing.
"The
pardon came from a three-person panel that included Walz, Minnesota
Attorney General Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), and Minnesota Chief Justice
Natalie Hudson. You can’t even pretend that Trump’s immigration policies
weren’t a factor because, as the Daily Mail reported, “Ellison also
cited President Donald Trump's expansive use of executive pardon power
in his statement defending his pardon of the pedophile.”
"DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis laid out exactly what happened here. "Tou
Lue Vang lost his legal status following his conviction for repeatedly
sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl," she said, adding that the
pardon wipes his conviction from the record entirely. A DHS spokesperson
called Walz "disgusting" for granting the pardon. DHS Secretary
Markwayne Mullin went further, calling the move "horrific" in a
statement on X.
"This evil alien from Laos repeatedly sexually
assaulted a 10-year-old child," Mullin said. "These are the illegal
alien criminals sanctuary politicians like Tim Walz are protecting over
American citizens."
"Mullin is right, obviously, and Walz just proved it in the most grotesque way possible.
"This is Trump Derangement Syndrome in its purest form. Walz pardoned
Vang because Trump wanted him gone, and spiting Trump apparently matters
more to Walz than punishing a child rapist.
"Remember when
President Trump said he’d focus his deportation efforts on the worst of
the worst, and Democrats insisted he was really targeting “innocent”
illegal immigrants? Does anyone honestly believe that claim now? If
Democrats like Tim Walz are so consumed by Trump Derangement Syndrome
that they’ll pardon a convicted child rapist to keep him from being
deported, the issue was never about protecting non-criminal illegal
immigrants. It was always about resisting Trump. When a sitting governor
will shield a convicted child predator from deportation to spite Trump,
you’ve reached rock bottom.
The rise of the Socialist left in New York is a bad omen for obvious reasons.
The radical agenda is uniformly anti-police, pro-criminal, favors
wildly expanded government powers over private property and demands
punishing taxes on businesses and high-income families to fund its
redistribution schemes.
If that were all, it would still be a destructive and dangerous movement.
But the post-election analysis from last week’s New York primary races finds another driving force among the winning candidates.
Namely, the hatred of all things Israel, and those who dare support the Jewish state.
It hardly needs to be said that the pied piper of this sickening eruption is Mayor Mamdani.
He started it and continues to fan the flames of antisemitism.
And now New Yorkers have made the added mistake of electing a cadre of clones.
As Jay Jacobs, the state leader of the beleaguered Democratic Party’s
state leader, told The Post, the pro-Palesinian, anti-Israel furor “was
a more important issue” in luring voters to races that otherwise had
very low turnouts.
Overall, only abut 17% of registered Dems voted in the districts
where the Socialist candidates beatprevailed over other Dems, some of
them incumbents.
ADL blames hate, too
The Anti-Defamation League effectively reached the same conclusion, saying in a statement
that the winners in the three hotly contested congressional primary
winnersies rode to victory on a “movement built on antisemitic
rhetoric.”
It said that as Mamdani walked through an election night victory
party of the Democratic Socialists of America, some people chanted “from
the river to the sea,” part of a coded Palestinian message calling for
the elimination of Israel.
“We’re witnessing candidates succeed not in spite of demonizing
rhetoric against the Jewish community and the Jewish state, but because
of it,” the organization added.
It also made a larger point by noting that, “When leaders cheer
slogans that dehumanize Jews, it does not stay at a victory party. It
bleeds into schools, neighborhoods and daily life, putting Jewish
families, children and neighborhoods at risk.”
Against that backdrop, the surge of hate crimes against Jews and Jewish institutions is not a coincidence.
The attacks are the poisoned fruits of a movement based on hate.
That this is happening in New York is more than a minor rupture with the past.
For much of the past 50 years, Democrats were the most ardent and consistent supporters of Israel.
At the same time, in many Jewish households, being a Dem and voting for the party’s candidates became near-religious rituals.
Jews played pivotal roles in the civil rights movement, and have been in the forefront of most liberal causes ever since.
But the party has changed dramatically in recent years.
Barack Obama started his presidency by apologizing to Arabs for America’s Mideast policies.
Beyond his ignorance about much of that history, he demonstrated complete disdain for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Along with his championing Palestinian causes, the moves made Obama
the most unpopular American president in Israel since its post-World-War
11 founding.
It’s now clear that the Obama years opened the door for an even
bigger shift in the Dems’ view of Israel, which has declined sharply in
the past three years.
The oddest thing is what propelled it to change so quickly.
A February Gallup survey reported that only 33% of Democrats say they
are pro-Israel, while 60% say they view our close ally unfavorably.
Gallup says that is the first time a majority of any political party
held negative views on the Jewish state since the question was first
asked in 1989.
Dem future at stake
The finding comes despite the horrors of the Hamas attack, but timing
suggests Dem views were changed by distorted media coverage of the war
in Gaza that followed and that converted Palestinians into the victims.
The bestial slaughter of 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians,
including women and children, who were, raped, killed or taken hostage,
were shoved aside by inflated figures about Palestinian casualties
released by Hamas propaganda outlets.
Much of that coverage, from American television networks, wire
services and leftist outlets led by The New York Times, amplified Hamas’
false charges of genocide and the starvation of children.
As the incomparable Douglas Murray wrote, Israel is the only nation not allowed to win a war.
The media’s stew of falsehoods helped to launch the keffiyeh-wearing
mobs on elite college campuses, many of whom demonstrated their
antisemitism and their ignorance by denouncing Israel as a colonialist
state that has no basis in the region.
That same movement then helped to propel Mamdani from Albany’s back benches into City Hall.
That he vowed not to visit Israel and to arrest Netanyahu if he ever
came to New York, breathed new life into the coals of the ancient
hatred.
Never mind that Netanyahu was indicted by the International Criminal Court, which the US does not recognize.
What mattered most was that Mamdani expressed his contempt for all
things Israel, a view he has repeatedly offered, most recently by being
the first mayor in six decades to boycott New York’s Israel Day Parade.
And now his example and support have elected some like-minded bigots.
How and where this ends is impossible to predict, but it seems to me that there are two possible outcomes.
Either decent and wise Dems will rise up and marginalize the Jew haters, or watch as their party is completely consumed by them.
Here's another dangerous Democrat socialist who succeeded in defeating a 30-year incumbent in Colorado. I have a feeling the moronic voters who cast ballots for these people are young; brainless Gen Z types who join the latest fad; those who get their news on social media; and old hippies and fools who like Bernie Sanders.
Who is funding all this? And when will it stop? The Democratic party is now the party of hate: hate America, hate Trump, hate Jews, hate Israel, hate ICE, hate crime & punishment, and hate personal responsibility. How is that a good thing for the country?
I just hope the new socialists in Congress are not given any important committee assignments, and definitely not with Foreign Relations, Intelligence or Appropriations.
---------------------------------------------
This is from an article at the 7-1-26 PBS website:
"Taking to a stage under a sign that read "Power to the People," Kiros
told her supporters that her win belonged to every one of them.
"This is a movement," Kiros said. "We are just getting started."
"To an excited crowd, which had been singing and dancing moments
before she got on stage, she laid out her plans: taking the fight to
"Donald Trump and the oligarchy," abolishing U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, passing "Medicare for all" and ending the "genocide
in Palestine."
Here's more medical useful information by Dr Ruth Ann Crystal. The news about the lowest levels of COVID is very interesting. I will still keep my guard up anyway.
A
proposed OMB rule (2 CFR Part 200) would extend Trump administration
grant cuts beyond scientific research to all federal grants to states,
cities, and nonprofits nationwide. Political appointees would replace
peer review panels, DEI research would be effectively banned, agencies
could terminate grants at any time for any reason, and all grant
programs would have to “align with the President’s policy priorities” or
be denied if an organization’s affiliations or views are deemed
“un-American”.
COVID
levels are very low across most of the United States now. Even the
hotspots are not anywhere as high as they were in the past. For example,
the highest level on WastewaterSCAN is in Pascagoula Moss Point, Mississippi at 160 PMMoV. While this is high, it is nowhere near what past COVID levels have been.
On June 23, 2026, the CDC estimated that COVID infections were growing in Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Texas. COVID infections were declining in 34 states, and were unchanged in 12 states according to the CDC.
According to JP Weiland,
COVID wastewater levels are 5 to 8x lower than prior lulls, with
roughly 40,000 new U.S. infections daily, though a small late summer
wave is possible in the West and South. Mike Hoerger
estimates are somewhat higher, putting active infections at about 1 in
310 Americans, with hot spots like Mississippi closer to 1 in every 40
people currently infected.
University
of Copenhagen researchers screened 738,944 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from
Denmark’s national surveillance system and identified 303 cases of
persistent infection. Immunosuppressed patients faced nearly 6x the odds
of prolonged COVID infection compared to others. These persistent
infections also accumulated more nonsynonymous mutations, including
variants associated with antiviral drug resistance, underscoring
immunocompromised populations as a critical site of viral evolution.
Researchers analyzed 3,332 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from chronic COVID infections and identified 14 recurring mutation patterns,
including signatures associated with deep lung tissue and evasion of T
cell immunity. These co-evolving mutations may help explain how
prolonged viral persistence inside individual hosts shapes the evolution
of the virus and potentially contributes to Long COVID pathology.
Chinese
scientists found that plasma levels of proteins SERPINA1 and CD59
increased with acute COVID severity, reflecting disruptions in both
complement activation and coagulation pathways. When evaluated together,
the two proteins outperformed D-dimer in predicting mortality at 12
months, though the findings require validation in larger cohorts.
A
new study shows that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) can exit
infected cells independently through an unconventional secretion
pathway, releasing NP into the bloodstream, even in the absence of
detectable viral RNA. The secreted NP was found to activate granulocytes
which make inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α.
Researchers from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation studied 17 COVID patients and found that 5 individuals with prolonged symptoms showed CD4 T cells that responded weakly to stimulation, producing more than 50% fewer gene activations and reduced interferon
signaling compared to normal immune responses. Encouragingly, 4 of
those 5 patients eventually showed improvement over time, suggesting the
immune dysfunction was not necessarily permanent.
This is similar to the Columbia University preprint
from last week that showed that dysfunctional T cells paradoxically
suppressed antiviral interferon responses, permitting chronic viral
persistence and recapitulating features of Long COVID.
University
of Pennsylvania scientists examined data from 110,955 children and
adolescents with neuropsychiatric conditions to evaluate whether
antidepressant use affected Long COVID outcomes. SSRI and SNRI
use showed no association with reduced Long COVID risk overall, but was
linked to elevated rates of POTS, brain fog, and fatigue in this
population.
Annexin
A5 (or annexin V) is a cellular protein that can bind to
phosphatidylserine, a marker of apoptosis. The function of the protein
is unknown, but it has been shown to inhibit blood coagulation in vitro.
Antibodies to annexin A5 are found in patients with antiphospholipid
syndrome (APS), which is a thrombophilic disease.
A new preprint shows that Annexin A5 (Anx5)
can simultaneously bind both the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and the ACE2
receptor. This dual binding action reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral burden and
increased survival rates of infected cells, suggesting that annexin A5
may work as a COVID antiviral.
Long
COVID physician Dr. Zeest Khan, herself disabled by the condition,
breaks down the SSDI application process with disability attorney
Barbara Comerford. Only 32% of initial claims are approved, and Long
COVID rarely qualifies for fast-track approval, but expert documentation
of PEM, dysautonomia, and cognitive dysfunction can make the
difference.
Spanish
researchers studied 425 adults (167 with Long COVID, 148 COVID
recovered, and 110 uninfected controls) and found that 31% of Long COVID
patients, 20% of recovered individuals, and 5% of never infected
controls had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the blood using the
ultra-sensitive Simoa® assay at 6-12 months post infection. COVID antigen levels had largely disappeared by the two year mark. They concluded “SARS-CoV-2 antigens circulate in plasma up to one year after infection in a minority of individuals, regardless
of whether they develop Long COVID or not, and become rarely detectable
later on. Therefore, current evidence does not support its use to guide
clinical monitoring or treatment decisions in Long COVID.”
A) Proportion of participants with detectable antigenemia on Simoa assay
Researchers from UCSF and Aethlon Medical analyzed plasma samples from 45 individuals and found that Long COVID patients had 2x higher levels of extracellular vesicles coated with mannose,
a sugar molecule that tags these microscopic cargo carriers. This
pattern of mannose enrichment on the surface of extracellular vesicles
may help explain aberrant immune signaling in Long COVID.
Mannose positive extracellular vesicles can be removed from the blood using GNA resin in the Hemopurifier from Aethlon. These vesicles may act as a measurable biomarker for Long COVID and are a potential therapeutic target for filtration based treatments like the Hemopurifier.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can also be removed with the GNA resin Hemopurifier.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs)
are tiny RNA molecules that regulate gene activity by binding to
messenger RNAs (mRNAs), preventing those mRNAs from being translated
into proteins. Spanish researchers studied 64 long COVID patients and
identified a specific blood microRNA signature associated with
measurable cognitive deficits. Reduced levels of miR-448 and miR-450a in the blood were linked to worse performance across memory, processing speed, and executive function assessments.
University of Helsinki scientists analyzed blood microRNA and messenger RNA (miRNA and mRNA) from 107 adults (50 Long COVID, 57 recovered controls) following COVID infection and identified two distinct Long COVID subgroups. Subgroup LC1 was distinguishable by 9 miRNAs and LRRFIP2
with an AUROC of 0.91 and showed elevated D-dimer levels, activated
platelet pathways, and immune and blood cell signaling patterns which
was linked to worse symptoms, disability and reduced quality of life.
Researchers
from Madrid compared 104 post-COVID syndrome (PCS or Long COVID)
patients to 34 COVID-recovered controls and found significantly elevated
salivary anti-nucleocapsid secretory IgA and reduced serum C3 levels in
Long COVID patients, with 17.3% of Long COVID samples falling below the
normal C3 range compared to none among controls. A combined biomarker model using salivary anti-nucleocapsid IgA and C3 achieved an AUC of 0.93, suggesting these paired mucosal and systemic immune markers may offer clinically useful discrimination of Long COVID.
Clemson
University researchers generated Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from
10 Long COVID patients, 10 COVID-recovered controls, and 50 pre-pandemic
healthy controls, finding distinct metabolic signatures
in each group. Long COVID cells showed depleted energy production
across glycolytic, TCA cycle, and mitochondrial pathways. They also
responded poorly to hormones and cellular signaling molecules, with greater metabolic dysfunction seen in those Long COVID patients with higher symptom burden, providing a potential biological explanation for hallmark Long COVID symptoms including fatigue and muscle weakness.
Donepezil (Aricept)
treats memory loss and confusion in people with Alzheimer’s disease. It
works by boosting acetylcholine in the brain to help improve attention,
memory, and daily functioning. Japanese researchers found that nearly
63% of 156 Long COVID patients carried antibodies to the HHV-6B protein SITH-1,
which animal models suggest suppresses acetylcholine production in the
brain. Among 73 trial participants, the Alzheimer’s drug donepezil (Aricept) reduced fatigue and depression exclusively in those Long COVID patients who tested positive for the antibody.
In
30 adults with persistent COVID related smell loss, researchers from
the University of SĂ£o Paulo used 7 Tesla MRI brain scans and found
thinning of the orbitofrontal cortex, and disrupted activity in the
insula, thalamus, and memory-linked smell circuits of the brain. These
findings show a distinct brain signature for long-term impaired smell function (dysosmia) after COVID infection.
A Czech study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in 35 people with Long COVID showed that this tDCS protocol did not improve neurocognitive symptoms nor EEG measures of brain network activity.
The
Patient-Led Research Collaborative analyzed 162 self-reported symptoms
from 6,031 Long COVID adults and found that subgroup clusters shifted
substantially depending on the algorithm used, with no clear natural
boundaries in the symptoms. All methods used identified a high-burden
group enriched for post-exertional malaise. Patient “types” may be
gradients, and not fixed categories.
In
a small study, University of British Columbia scientists studied
transcriptomics and metabolomics in 47 healthcare workers (12 with Long
COVID and 35 recovered controls) and found that Long COVID was
associated with neutrophil driven inflammation alongside elevated levels of oxoglutarate,
an energy related metabolite that signals metabolic disruption. The
authors postulate that there may be “potential links between persistent
innate immune activation, metabolic reprogramming, and neurocognitive or
systemic symptoms in Long COVID.”
Researchers from Einstein Med and Montefiore analyzed more than 910,000 adults and found that COVID infection was associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea for up to 4.5 years
afterward, even after mild infection. The authors caution that this
large observational study establishes a statistical association rather
than a confirmed cause.
A
review from Golestan University, Iran shows that viral infections can
accelerate neurodegenerative diseases through at least four overlapping
biological mechanisms: persistent brain inflammation, abnormal protein
folding, mitochondrial dysfunction, and breakdown of the blood brain
barrier. Engineered viruses may paradoxically be used as targeted
therapeutic delivery systems.
Public
health scientist Jess Steier, DrPH (Unbiased Science) states that the
US has already lost measles elimination status by any objective measure.
With 2,104 cases by June 18, 2026, 48 outbreaks in 2025, and genomic
sequencing tracing continuous transmission across multiple states since
January 2025, only 6% of current cases are imported. PAHO’s review is
now delayed until November after the midterm elections.
Active measles outbreaks now in Utah (507 for the year, 9 new cases this week), Virginia (129 cases), Pennsylvania (83 measles cases). South Carolina’s measles outbreak was 670 cases. Texas has had 182 measles cases, and Florida 155 measles cases through June 20.
“The Ebola outbreak, which is now the second largest in DRC [history], shows no signs of slowing and currently stands at 1,155 confirmed cases and 304 deaths. Neighboring Uganda has 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.
In a press conference yesterday, Africa CDC Director-General Jean
Kaseya, MD, MPH, warned that if contact tracing efforts don’t pick up,
“for sure it will be the largest Ebola outbreak ever.”
At least 275
military training recruits at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have
contracted the flu, up from 160 last week. Four trainees have been hospitalized with influenza, and one recruit’s death
is under investigation. Defense Secretary Hegseth’s April 2026 decision
to make flu vaccination optional for all U.S. troops led to 60% of
trainees being unvaccinated. The Army, Navy and Air Force are reportedly
now requiring flu shots once again for basic trainees.
The
Trump administration has dismissed hundreds of scientific advisory
committee members since taking office, including a dedicated Long COVID
panel. Clinicians managing Long COVID patients are now without formal
federal guidance on the underlying mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and
treatments for Long COVID.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
revealed that his 4-year-old twins were temporarily removed from their
home after an anonymous caller made a false CPS report accusing him of
violent crimes. Michigan State Police confirmed the report was
fabricated. Buttigieg called it a politically motivated hoax and said he
is exploring civil and criminal legal options.
Wow!Researchers
from the University of Gothenburg applied deep learning to a dataset
linking all ECGs recorded in Sweden, identifying a new biomarker on ECG for sudden cardiac death risk. The marker in lead aVL was validated in 3 different cohorts and was linked to the benefit of using a defibrillator.
France reported an extra 1,000 deaths in 3 days from a severe heat wave this week. WHO Director Dr. Tedros warns
that Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent now and European
workplaces, hospitals, and homes were not built for these high temps.
At least three NHS England hospital trusts declared critical incidents as record June heat exceeding 36°C
(96.8°F) knocked out chiller units, MRI scanners, operating theatres,
cancer radiotherapy machines, and IT servers. Norfolk and Norwich
University Hospitals had no working MRI scanners; Portsmouth and
Southampton also suspended planned surgeries and appointments. A prior
report found 90% of NHS buildings ill-equipped for prolonged extreme
heat.
“For months, Sebastian Rucci said his massive data center project would not take water from the drought-stricken Colorado River.”
He is now suing for 260 million gallons of Colorado River water
annually to cool a proposed AI data center. The Colorado River supplies
water to roughly 40 million people across seven states, and Imperial
Valley farmers hold some of the river’s oldest and largest water rights.
Achondroplasia
is a genetic disorder that is the most common cause of dwarfism. A new
study shows that “In children with achondroplasia, treatment with
once-daily oral infigratinib for 52 weeks resulted in a significantly
greater increase from baseline in the annualized height velocity than
placebo.”
Students
and young professionals ages 18 to 35 are invited by the WHO to submit
short videos (90 seconds maximum) addressing Influenza and COVID
prevention, myths, and protection strategies. Submissions open August 3
and close September 13, 2026.
Intercept is a new $500 million philanthropic initiative
aimed at catalyzing the development and deployment of technologies to
drastically reduce the burden of respiratory infections, with an
eventual goal of eliminating them altogether.
“
Catherine, Princess of Wales, completed Britain’s arduous Three Peaks
Challenge over the weekend to support the hospital where she underwent
cancer treatment two years ago.”
Using
AI trained to detect ink from X-ray scans, researchers virtually
unwrapped a carbonized scroll charred in the 79 AD Vesuvius volcano
eruption, revealing 20 columns of previously hidden text. The content,
discussing stoic ethics and impulse regulation, may be an unpublished
work by Greek philosopher Chrysippus.
I will be taking off next week for the holiday. Have a wonderful 4th of July!
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