Illinois Primary Heats Up. SCOTUS TPS Hearing. Kiki Shepard Dies. Midwest Leak.

Daria Dawson of America Votes argues that the most common misconception among voters is that their vote doesn't matter or only matters in presidential elections. She emphasizes that every election, from local public service commissions (which determine utility bills) to state and federal offices, directly impacts daily life. Voting is presented as just one step in a continuum of civic power, which includes holding elected officials accountable through emails, town halls, and letters to the editor.

Dawson cites the 2000 Florida election, decided by fewer than 600 votes, as proof of individual vote impact. She also mentions the Georgia Public Service Commission race determining electricity bills, illustrating the direct impact of local elections.

America Votes highlights an ongoing effort to purge people from voter rolls, framing it as a deliberate tactic by those in power to restrict access and diminish voter voice. This restriction makes it harder for citizens to hold officials accountable, especially when incumbents cannot run on their record alone.

Dawson states, 'what they are doing right now is trying to restrict. And by restriction, that means taking away power. That means taking away your voice and making it harder for you to hold them accountable.'

Retired Brigadier General Arnold Gordon Bray criticizes the 'shock' expressed by US leadership, specifically Donald Trump, regarding Iran's actions in the Middle East conflict. Bray asserts that military strategists and planners anticipate actions and reactions, and that such 'surprise' is either disingenuous or indicative of poor planning, especially when considering the complex web of alliances and threats in a region.

Bray states, 'No strategist, no military planner was really surprised by any actions that we've seen thus far.' He questions the idea of a 'rule book' for Iran and emphasizes the need to understand all actors, friends, and enemies in a conflict.

Natalie Pipkins, founder of Black World Schoolers, explains 'world schooling' as a method of homeschooling that uses the 'world' (from a front porch to international travel) as a learning environment. Her organization focuses on providing culturally relevant books, written by Black authors, to positively shape how Black children see themselves. The initiative aims to build home libraries and empower families to take education into their own hands, regardless of traditional schooling.

Pipkins describes how her children 'fell in love with reading once they got access to those books' that were not available in schools, bookstores, or libraries. She emphasizes that 'education is in our hands' and that families can 'buy the books, read the books, go to the library, check out the books and get information that they're trying to keep from us because we are free to do that.'