IJR News

Senate Passes Housing Bill in 85-5 Vote Despite Some GOP Opposition — 1dThe Senate passed a piece of bipartisan legislation Monday that aimed to lower the cost of housing.

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Tom Gallagher It's good they got such a big bipartisan majority on housing costs even with some GOP holdouts.

Machado urges Venezuela elections by July 2027Politics — 1dVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado called for presidential elections by July 2027, saying there is enough time to prepare for a democratic transition. She also urged greater transparency in the management of oil-sale proceeds overseen by the United States, amid differences over the pace of political change.

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Flight Attendants Union Warns Trump Arch Could Endanger Airport Flights — 2dThe flight attendants’ union says President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch near Reagan National Airport could add risks to an already constrained flight path, particularly after plans emerged to equip it for military use, including drones and snipers. The FAA previously found the structure would not pose an aviation hazard if marked for visibility, but that assessment preceded the military plans, and the project faces legal and political opposition.

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Rochester Chamber Backs Planned Pine Island Data CenterTech — 3dThe Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce backed Project Skyway, a proposed Google data center in Pine Island, citing expected jobs, infrastructure and school funding, and substantial new tax revenue. The project has drawn opposition over potential costs and environmental effects, and one report says legal challenges have paused development.

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Five Buss Siblings Defend Pending Lakers Stake Sale — 2dFive of Jeanie Buss’ siblings filed a court opposition to her effort to block the Buss family trust from selling its 17.8% Lakers stake to the incoming ownership group led by Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, calling her petition baseless and saying the sale should proceed. The dispute could affect Jeanie Buss’ ability to remain the Lakers’ governor, and a court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Mexico enacts 2028 single-nationality rule for top officesPolitics — 2dMexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a constitutional reform requiring presidential, state gubernatorial and Mexico City mayoral candidates to hold only Mexican nationality, beginning with the 2028 electoral process; dual nationals can qualify by renouncing other citizenship before registering. The government says the measure is intended to prevent foreign interference, while critics argue it infringes the rights of Mexicans with dual citizenship and may be aimed at opposition candidates.

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Trump Rallies for Nebraska Republicans, Signs Diesel Order — Oct 2, 2026President Donald Trump is heading to Grand Island, Nebraska, to rally support for Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts as he faces independent Dan Osborn in a race that has become unexpectedly competitive. The visit comes as Republicans contend with voter frustration over costs and opposition from Nebraska ranchers to the administration’s foreign beef import plan.

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OpenAI launches always-on Dots agents to rival Meta's Muse — Sep 29, 2026OpenAI launched Dots at DevDay 2026 on September 29: always-on GPT-6 Astra agents with their own cloud computers, rolling out to paid users opposite Meta's Muse.

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Elena Vasquez OpenAI's always-on Dots with dedicated cloud machines could be useful for heavy users, but I worry about the extra subscription fees piling up.

October Skywatching: Meteor Showers and Planet ViewsScience — Oct 3, 2026October’s sky offers two meteor showers—the Draconids, best viewed shortly after dark around Oct. 8, and the Orionids, peaking before dawn around Oct. 21—along with Saturn at opposition, a good chance to spot Mercury, and the hunter’s moon late in the month. The Moon also makes close visual passes by Mars and Jupiter, with viewing conditions and timing varying by location.

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Venezuela Frees 39 Political Prisoners After Talks — Sep 26, 2026Rights groups said Venezuela freed 29 to 39 political prisoners Friday and Saturday after interim government-opposition talks following a Trump-Rodríguez meeting.

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Nicole Hardy This release shows talks can work, yet real progress requires freeing everyone held for political reasons without exceptions.

Carpenter, Qualley Join Holland's Fred Astaire Biopic — Sep 25, 2026Margaret Qualley will play Adele Astaire and Sabrina Carpenter Ginger Rogers opposite Tom Holland in Sony's untitled Fred Astaire biopic, announced September 25, 2026.

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Maya Lindstrom Tom Holland dancing as Fred Astaire could work if they focus on the real partnership with his sister Adele.

Madonna vs Lady GagaYourlist — VS BattleThe Queen of Pop versus the artist who studied at her throne.

CBP weighs scaling back Big Bend border construction — Sep 30, 2026The Trump administration has ended its pause on border-project activity at Big Bend National Park but says it is considering changes to reduce the project’s scope and limit environmental impacts. Customs and Border Protection expects to decide on plans in early October, with any ground-disturbing work likely weeks later, as the proposal continues to face legal challenges and bipartisan opposition.

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Priya Raman Reducing the Big Bend project scope seems like a reasonable compromise to protect the park while keeping some security measures in place.

California Enacts PFAS Pesticide Tracking LawPolitics — Sep 28, 2026California has enacted a law requiring state regulators to identify PFAS-containing pesticides in a public database and track their use, with a fuller list of registered products due by 2028. The measure was scaled back from a proposed ban after opposition from farm groups; supporters say the data will help assess risks and guide future action.

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Ethiopian Forces Reportedly Retake Mekelle AirportWorld — Sep 27, 2026Ethiopian federal troops and allied militia say they have captured Alamata, a strategic supply hub in Tigray, after opposition forces retreated; independent verification and full control were not immediately clear. The renewed fighting has undermined the 2022 peace agreement, with clashes also reported in neighboring regions and Eritrean forces’ involvement alleged by Afar’s regional government.

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Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Faces TurmoilPolitics — Sep 16, 2026Across the US and Nigeria, campaigning is defined by ongoing disputes over elections, governance, and opposition strategy. In the US, President Trump and GOP candidates persist with false election-fraud claims even as voters want to move on; in Nigeria, analysis centers on the APC's campaign council, oil politics, and the opposition's tactics ahead of 2027 elections.

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What were you actually built to do?Quizie — QuizNot the job you have — the one your wiring has been begging for. Twelve questions and the AI writes the job description.

Senate Chinese Car Ban Stalls Over Mercedes ConcernsPolitics — Sep 29, 2026A bipartisan Senate proposal would bar U.S. vehicle sales by companies with more than 15% Chinese ownership, putting Mercedes-Benz—whose Chinese investors hold nearly 20%—potentially in its path. Sponsor Bernie Moreno says lawmakers are seeking a way to protect Mercedes, and are discussing Volvo, while Aston Martin and Lotus could remain exposed; negotiations and opposition have delayed the bill’s progress.

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Israel Election Expected to Test Netanyahu’s Return Bid — Sep 28, 2026Israel’s Oct. 27 election is shaping up as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, including accountability for the Oct. 7 attack and the conduct of the Gaza war, with a diverse opposition seeking to unseat him. The outcome could also entrench or alter policies on the West Bank, democratic institutions and ultra-Orthodox exemptions, while critics argue that supporting Israel does not require backing Netanyahu’s government.

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Buffer ETF Short Interest Swings Sharply in September — Sep 24, 2026September short interest fell sharply in four ETFs: JULT, INT, GAUG and KJAN each saw declines of roughly 97% to 99.3%. FT Vest’s DOCT moved in the opposite direction, with short interest surging 812.8% to 31,190 shares.

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Dana Whitfield It's odd how four similar ETFs lost nearly all their shorts while DOCT gained so many. Maybe a rotation in how people view the buffers.

Activists plan human chain protest at Kennedy Center over Trump — Sep 18, 2026Activists are expected to gather in opposition to President Donald Trump's attempted takeover of the Kennedy Center on Friday. The president has threatened to close and demolish i… — by Sandra Rhodes