Talkin’ PoliticsAuthoritarian regimes are spying on journalists, human rights activists, and politicians Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones and Android devices to enable operators of the tool to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/revealed-leak-uncovers-global-abuse-of-cyber-surveillance-weapon-nso-group-pegasusCOVID - the unavoidable topicAnti-vax messaging continues to filter from Fox https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/us/fox-news-hosts-smear-covid-shots-despite-outbreaks-among-the-unvaccinated.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-cases-deaths-rising-u-s-cdc-warns-pandemic-unvaccinated-n1274161Media/Digital content filtering and literacy - talk about where the information came fromWe’ve been talking about combating the misinformation and alternatives to calling a Trump supporter or fox news watcher a moron or shouting them downhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/15/theres-a-new-tactic-for-exposing-you-to-radical-content-online-the-slow-red-pill$3.5 Trillion budget reconciliation measurehttps://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/14/democrats-3point5-trillion-budget-package-funds-family-programs-clean-energy-medicare-expansion.htmlBut progressives, who strongly support the budget resolution, want the exact opposite: proof that their ambitious budget bill can pass before they agree to join centrist Democrats and Republicans in approving the watered-down infrastructure planJay Nixon running for senate in Missouri? https://missouriindependent.com/2021/07/12/jay-nixon-plans-to-headline-clay-county-democrat-event-fueling-senate-speculation/Our very scientific poll shows that the twitter followers of heartland POD are pretty well split on if it’s a good thing or notBasically 53% positive 47% not positiveNotably 33% answered “Nah that aint it”Last Call - George W. Bush has some thoughts about the President’s job, again - after a strange 4 year silence https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/breaks-my-heart-former-president-bush-says-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-n1273904