Stephen Kinzer: Panama’s Tangled Relationship With the United States | The quasi-colonial friendship that binds the two countries depends on an old formula: concentrate on making money and don’t annoy Washington. buckscountybeacon.com/2026/07/step...

"Mexico is “preparing legal measures” over the killing of Salgado Araujo because “we cannot allow the mistreatment of our brothers and sisters in the United States,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday. In April, Sheinbaum expressed concern about the deaths of ...

After ICE Officer Fatally Shoots a Man in Houston, Family Demands an Independent Probe | “He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of Mexican man shot and killed by ICE," said Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's son Ronaldo. READ: bit.ly/4w3QVZR

😳 Jacob Helberg—who left his position as an advisor at *Palantir* to join the Trump State Dept—spearheads the international “Pax Silica” initiative. In May, he discussed it w/ Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale: “Jacob Helberg on Pax Silica & the New Global Order in the AI Age” 1/

Pennsylvania Elections Could Look Very Different if Democrats Win Full Control of State Government in 2026 | A Democratic trifecta could restart stalled election proposals such as pre-canvassing, same-day voter registration, and mandatory electronic pollbooks, reports @votebeat.org.

Stephen Kinzer: Panama’s Tangled Relationship With the United States | The quasi-colonial friendship that binds the two countries depends on an old formula: concentrate on making money and don’t annoy Washington. buckscountybeacon.com/2026/07/step...

Bucks County Tree Fruit Farmers Suffer Crop Loss After April’s Cold Freeze | Solebury Orchards saw most of their crops suffer a “total wipeout” after the freeze. Farms like this need community support.

Trump Plans to Fast Track AI With 74 Gas-fired Power Plants Across the US, Including 7 in Pennsylvania | The power plants would release nearly 662 million tons per year of greenhouse gas pollution (= the emissions of Australia), according to @envirointegrity.bsky.social. via @insideclimatenews.org

Republican State Senator Jarrett Coleman Argues Skill Games Are Not Gambling | “Skill games should operate under no tax, and no regulation, because they are not gambling.”

During the height of the "school board wars", Central Bucks School District's school board was captured by Moms for Liberty, a local MAGA millionaire, and pro-book banning, history erasing, Pride Flag hating extremists. The group that organized & took the board back (9-0) is now closing its doors.

Trump Plans to Fast Track AI With 74 Gas-fired Power Plants Across the US, Including 7 in Pennsylvania | The power plants would release nearly 662 million tons per year of greenhouse gas pollution (= the emissions of Australia), according to @envirointegrity.bsky.social. via @insideclimatenews.org

CBSD Neighbors United Was a Revolution in Central Bucks School District | While CBSD Neighbors United is closing its doors, the movement we started lives on.

Bucks County Tree Fruit Farmers Suffer Crop Loss After April’s Cold Freeze | Solebury Orchards saw most of their crops suffer a “total wipeout” after the freeze. Farms like this need community support.

Bob Harvie Stands With Nearly 1,500 Workers Facing Layoffs; Calls on Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to Act | The JBS facility in Souderton is one of the largest employers in Montgomery County. Its closure would not only affect its workers, but also their families.

During the height of the "school board wars", Central Bucks School District's school board was captured by Moms for Liberty, a local MAGA millionaire, and pro-book banning, history erasing, Pride Flag hating extremists. The group that organized & took the board back (9-0) is now closing its doors.

CBSD Neighbors United Was a Revolution in Central Bucks School District | While CBSD Neighbors United is closing its doors, the movement we started lives on.

New Power Plants for Data Centers Would Significantly Increase Pennsylvania’s Climate Pollution | “It makes no sense for a technology of the future to be powered by the dirty fossil fuels of the past,” @envirointegrity.bsky.social's Jen Duggan told @insideclimatenews.org 

Interesting choice of flags at the July 4th parade for Chalfont and New Britain in #BucksCounty. #America250

For #America250, remember the oft forgotten and intentionally neglected true heroes of our history - progressive social movements. Honor them by continuing the unfinished fight for civil rights, women's rights, racial justice, economic justice, environmental protection, and peace. #dreamdeferred

Bob Harvie Stands With Nearly 1,500 Workers Facing Layoffs; Calls on Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to Act | The JBS facility in Souderton is one of the largest employers in Montgomery County. Its closure would not only affect its workers, but also their families.

Interesting choice of flags at the July 4th parade for Chalfont and New Britain in #BucksCounty. #America250

The United States Is Turning 250 – and Trump Is Making It All About Him | Trump attempts to fuse patriotism with personal loyalty so that love of country is the same as loving him.

Americans’ Pride in US History and Democracy Drops, and Fewer Are Proud to Be American, Polls Find | Much of the declining positivity comes from Democrats, who polling suggests have become increasingly disenchanted with the United States in the years since President Donald Trump was first elected.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, perhaps the greatest tribute we can offer those who signed the Declaration of Independence is not merely celebrating their courage, but exercising the responsibility they entrusted to us.

...and the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

For #America250, remember the oft forgotten and intentionally neglected true heroes of our history - progressive social movements. Honor them by continuing the unfinished fight for civil rights, women's rights, racial justice, economic justice, environmental protection, and peace. #dreamdeferred

The United States Is Turning 250 – and Trump Is Making It All About Him | Trump attempts to fuse patriotism with personal loyalty so that love of country is the same as loving him.

OPINION: Happy Birthday, America! | Do not let the current ugly ideology infecting our government lead you to sorrow on this July 4th, writes Newtown's Steve Cickay.

New Power Plants for Data Centers Would Significantly Increase Pennsylvania’s Climate Pollution | “It makes no sense for a technology of the future to be powered by the dirty fossil fuels of the past,” @envirointegrity.bsky.social's Jen Duggan told @insideclimatenews.org 

Americans’ Pride in US History and Democracy Drops, and Fewer Are Proud to Be American, Polls Find | Much of the declining positivity comes from Democrats, who polling suggests have become increasingly disenchanted with the United States in the years since President Donald Trump was first elected.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, perhaps the greatest tribute we can offer those who signed the Declaration of Independence is not merely celebrating their courage, but exercising the responsibility they entrusted to us.

ICE Arrests 10,000 in 5 Days, a Sharp Late-June Surge in Trump’s Deportation Push | The arrest numbers come after the agency shifted its approach from high-profile arrest sweeps in major American cities to quieter ways to reach President Trump's mass deportation goals.

New Jersey Is Set to Charge Companies With Workers on Medicaid. Other States May Follow | Business groups object. So do some liberal policy organizations.

Democratic lawmakers and governors see it as a way to help pay for the joint federal and state insurance program that covers low-income residents as federal policy changes are expected to make the program more expensive for states and may lead to a reduction in the number of people with coverage.

ICE Arrests 10,000 in 5 Days, a Sharp Late-June Surge in Trump’s Deportation Push | The arrest numbers come after the agency shifted its approach from high-profile arrest sweeps in major American cities to quieter ways to reach President Trump's mass deportation goals.

OPINION: Happy Birthday, America! | Do not let the current ugly ideology infecting our government lead you to sorrow on this July 4th, writes Newtown's Steve Cickay.

Donald Trump doesn't want you to read this A criminal president saw opportunity in the celebration of America's 250th birthday -- a distraction from the only story that matters: his family's more than $2 billion grift, cashing in on the presidency My July 4 column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...

With No Final Budget, State Senate Republicans Leave Harrisburg for July 4 Holiday Weekend | Another budgetary impasse threatens public school districts, low income Pennsylvanians, county governments, public transit riders, libraries and those who rely on “discretionary” state funding.

This is much better than "you must work to get Medicaid" requirements -- make employers not providing adequate benefits and wages to workers pay.

Democratic lawmakers and governors see it as a way to help pay for the joint federal and state insurance program that covers low-income residents as federal policy changes are expected to make the program more expensive for states and may lead to a reduction in the number of people with coverage.

I like this idea. If companies aren't willing to pay their employees a living wage and provide benefits, why should the taxpayers be expected to pick up the tab for their healthcare? Make them pay for it one way or another.

New Jersey Is Set to Charge Companies With Workers on Medicaid. Other States May Follow | Business groups object. So do some liberal policy organizations.

Advocates Want Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to ‘Find His Courage’ in Congress and Secure the Right to Contraception for His #PA01 Constituents | The Bucks County Republican lawmaker has been on both sides of the Right to Contraception Act.

The Divided Supreme Court’s Birthright Citizenship Decision Exposes Sharp Rifts Among Justices | Tuesday's decision rejects an order President Trump issued at the start of his 2nd term, declaring that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.

Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Attempt to Obtain Pennsylvania Voter Rolls | The Department of Justice could now appeal the ruling, as it has in other states, reports @votebeat.org.

"Blessed be the Fruit." Trump and Republicans are going after your birth control.

Advocates Want Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to ‘Find His Courage’ in Congress and Secure the Right to Contraception for His #PA01 Constituents | The Bucks County Republican lawmaker has been on both sides of the Right to Contraception Act.

Class Action Lawsuit Filed to Stop Philadelphia’s ICE Office from Unlawfully Re-detaining Immigrants at Check-ins | "To let this continue fails to consider principles embodied in the 4th and 5th Amendments of our Constitution and violates important protections for immigrants reflected in our laws.”

The Divided Supreme Court’s Birthright Citizenship Decision Exposes Sharp Rifts Among Justices | Tuesday's decision rejects an order President Trump issued at the start of his 2nd term, declaring that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.