Adopt a news station, the latest on the Freedom Flotilla, and my reading list for the rest of summer.

Last week, Congress eliminated roughly $535 million in federal funding for PBS, NPR and other local news stations across the country.

Already, communities have rallied to protect these free, localized sources of journalism. These stations are necessary lifelines to take political action, prepare for natural disasters, and stay aware of other threats to our wellbeing.

Over the last three months, roughly 120,000 people have contributed about $20 million to the stations near them. These are promising numbers, but fall far short of the lost revenue. 

Adoptastation.org is an easy way to find local news platforms in your community and make a donation. Consider adopting a station by making a recurring donation.

AFL-CIO report finds that CEOs made 285 times more than their workers last year. The union's latest "Executive Paywatch" report found that the average S&P 500 executive made an eye-popping 285 times more than their median worker did, up from a 268-to-1 ratio in 2023. Truthout >

Communities near data centers struggle now. Trump's AI plan will make it worse. The Trump administration released a plan to fast-track the growth of artificial intelligence in the US, delighting tech groups while alarming environmental advocates who point to the industry's toxic emissions and heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Truthout >

1.3 million Sudanese return home, offering fragile hope for recovery. With pockets of relative safety emerging in Sudan, over 1.3 million Sudanese people, including one million who were internally displaced and over 300,000 refugees, have returned home. UN >

Trump administration prepares to kick mixed immigration status families out of public housing. President Trump appears to be quietly reviving a plan that would kick families of mixed immigration status out of public housing and prohibit them from receiving most forms of rental assistance. The Intercept >

'No sh*t, Sherlock': WSJ reports DOJ told Trump he's in Epstein files in May. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Donald Trump in May that his name appears multiple times in the Department of Justice's files for Jeffrey Epstein. Common Dreams >

Florida police under fire as video of Black man punched, dragged by deputies during traffic stop goes viral. A cell phone video showing a White police officer in Jacksonville, Florida, striking a Black man in the face during a February traffic stop. CNN >

Trump administration to spend $1.2B building largest U.S. immigration jail in Texas. The Trump administration announced plans to spend $1.2 billion building what would be the largest immigration detention facility in the United States, located in the Texas border region. Democracy Now >

Israel’s digital siege of Gaza is another effort to wipe out proof of our existence. Palestinians in Gaza shared how the latest internet cutoff in the region affected them and their community. Prism >

I tend to read like you’d expect someone with untamed ADHD does; flipping between physical books and audiobooks that span genres and lengths. Here are the three that I’m currently reading (or anticipating this week). Reply to this email and tell me what you’re reading – I’d love to create a reader-generated reading list!

Become a magician – if only for a day.

I’m a magician, and hosting a free, hour-long workshop on stage magic! Regardless of your age or experience, join us to learn a card trick, a micro-magic history lesson, and make friends with other participants. August 5 at 7pm EST. Learn more >

See you in Martha’s Vineyard?

I’ll be in Martha’s Vineyard August 18-22 for my work with Camelback Ventures and to connect with other entertainment leads. Will you be there? Reply here or follow me on Linkedin.