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  • Can the Democratic Party Be Saved? Full Interview with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

    Summary | Video | Transcript (condensed) | Credits

    Michigan Senate Race: Interview with Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed — Summary and Condensed Transcript

    Context: With the Michigan Democratic primary on August 4, 2026, the contest between progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed and establishment candidate Haley Stephens has drawn national attention. This piece summarizes a raw, unedited interview conducted by TRNN Editor‐in‐Chief Maximillian Alvarez in Saginaw, Michigan. For the original video and full coverage, see the TRNN report: TRNN — Full Unedited Interview.

    Image: Photo of Abdul El‐Sayed speaking at a rally. Source and context are indicated in the original TRNN post linked above.

    Watch the interview: YouTube — Full Interview

    Key points (neutral summary)

    • Campaign setting: Michigan’s Senate race is framed as a pivotal contest. The primary will determine the Democratic nominee to face the general election opponent.
    • Personal growth: El‐Sayed contrasts his 2018 gubernatorial campaign with his 2026 Senate campaign, noting personal changes (age, family, responsibilities) and political experience gained since then.
    • Diagnosis of political problems: He argues that Donald Trump is a symptom of deeper systemic issues—specifically corporate influence, wage suppression, and the erosion of democratic accountability—and that addressing symptoms alone is insufficient.
    • Public service experience: El‐Sayed cites his tenure leading the Wayne County health department as grounding in technical, practical, and political problem solving—skills he says would help in the Senate.
    • Democratic Party critique: He acknowledges voter disillusionment with the Democratic Party, criticizes corporate donor influence, and positions himself as a candidate who does not accept corporate PAC money.
    • Message to voters in places like Saginaw: He emphasizes presence, listening to residents, honesty about the pace of change, and building long‐term coalitions rather than promising instant fixes.
    • Identity and motivation: Drawing on family history and summers in Egypt, El‐Sayed explains that his work is motivated by a desire to expand opportunity and remove barriers experienced by immigrant and minority communities.
    • On fear and courage: He acknowledges fear about the country’s direction but frames public engagement as a moral and spiritual responsibility; he encourages reflection about personal risk and collective action.

    Condensed transcript (selected excerpts, neutral tone)

    Opening: Maximillian Alvarez interviews Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed in Saginaw. They recall their first meeting during El‐Sayed’s 2018 gubernatorial run and discuss how both the country and El‐Sayed have changed.

    On Trumpism and the underlying problem: El‐Sayed says that Donald Trump is a symptom rather than the root cause. The deeper issue, he says, is a system that allows corporate and billionaire influence over politics, which depresses wages and raises costs for ordinary people. He argues the U.S. did not sufficiently address that underlying “disease” after 2016.

    Personal growth and family: El‐Sayed contrasts his 2018 life—single, younger, limited public service—with his current life—older, married, father of two, homeowner—and describes how parenting and public health training have changed his approach to politics and governing.

    Wayne County public health role: He describes managing a large, complex county health department with many employees, budgets, and programs, and suggests that experience is directly relevant to technical and practical work in the Senate, particularly on health, public health infrastructure, and emergent issues like AI.

    Critique of the Democratic Party: El‐Sayed says many voters feel alienated from party elites who accept corporate funding. He positions himself as a “Democrat with a lowercase d” who refuses corporate money and advocates for a coherent narrative that explains who benefits when jobs are lost or healthcare becomes unaffordable.

    Reaching places like Saginaw: He emphasizes showing up, being vulnerable, listening, and being honest about timelines. He rejects promises of instant cures, favoring a strategy of organizing, advocacy, and long‐term coalition building tailored to local needs.

    Motivation and identity: El‐Sayed speaks about summers in Egypt with his grandmother, the opportunities he received in the U.S., and a desire to extend similar opportunities to other children. He frames his campaign as an effort to reduce the “asterisk” that can attach to the American identity of immigrants and their children.

    Fear and civic courage: He acknowledges fear about the country’s direction and about personal risk, and encourages supporters to reflect on what courage means to them—being willing to accept personal sacrifice to protect others. He frames this as both a moral and spiritual exercise.

    Selected quotes (cleaned and neutral)

    On the root problem: “Donald Trump is the worst symptom of the disease—corporate and billionaire influence over politics—that we failed to cure.”

    On public service experience: “Running Wayne County’s health department taught me how to bring technical, practical, and political work together.”

    On Democratic Party reform: “We should stop taking money from the people who created the problem. If we want a coherent narrative, we have to be able to name who benefits when people lose jobs or healthcare.”

    On working with communities like Saginaw: “You reach people by showing up, listening, being honest, and building things over time rather than promising instant fixes.”

    Credits

    • Interview: Maximillian Alvarez, TRNN Editor‐in‐Chief — The Real News Network
    • Interviewee: Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed — see his bio on Wikipedia
    • Videography: Maximillian Alvarez
    • Post‐production: David Hebden

    Related links

    If you would like the full, verbatim transcript organized and edited for clarity, or a plain‐text downloadable transcript file, I can generate that next. Would you like a complete transcript, a shorter Q&A extract, or a formatted article-ready version?

  • Mumia Abu-Jamal’s legal team appeals to UN

    Mumia Abu-Jamal, a 72‐year‐old incarcerated journalist and former Black Panther, is seriously ill and may die in prison, according to a new filing his legal team submitted to the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The petition, filed by lawyers including Abolitionist Law Center legal director Bret Grote, requests UN review and support after nearly all domestic legal options have been exhausted. Read the original report on Truthout and the filing itself here.

    The submission summarizes decades of alleged procedural failures: a contested 1981 conviction for the killing of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner (which Abu‐Jamal has long denied), the 2001 overturning of his death sentence, and a 2011 resentencing to life without parole. His attorneys argue that repeated attempts to secure a new, fair trial have been denied and that his detention may meet the UN’s criteria for arbitrary detention, which includes factors beyond strict legality—such as unfair process, lack of predictability, and injustice.

    Health and treatment concerns: Abu‐Jamal’s lawyers say he endured long periods of solitary confinement (1983–2011) and now faces multiple serious health conditions while incarcerated at SCI Mahanoy. Medical records cited in the UN submission report a 2012 hepatitis C diagnosis that led to cirrhosis, a severe skin condition treated with steroids that precipitated diabetic complications, and ongoing cardiological and ophthalmological problems. Human rights experts previously raised alarm when he was shackled to a hospital bed in 2021 while awaiting heart surgery; see the OHCHR statement.

    Vision at risk: Court and medical records indicate Abu‐Jamal suffers from cataract complications and complex eye diseases—proliferative diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma—that place him at significant risk of permanent blindness. In a 2025 commentary for Prison Radio, he described severe vision loss that has left him largely unable to read or write.

    Advocates including the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Abolitionist Law Center note that international review has previously influenced U.S. policy: a 2023 submission to the UN Human Rights Committee helped prompt a call for a moratorium on life sentences without parole. The petitioners hope the Working Group’s review will similarly spotlight alleged human rights violations and catalyze action.

    The filing cites precedent: in 2022 the UN Working Group concluded that Leonard Peltier’s detention was arbitrary after a petition by Yale Law School’s Lowenstein Clinic; Peltier later received commutation to home confinement in 2025. Advocates point to that case as an example of international scrutiny provoking domestic remedies.

    Possible routes to release are limited. Abu‐Jamal’s conviction is at the state level, so options include a gubernatorial commutation (politically unlikely), a successful appeal if new evidence emerges, or compassionate release. His lawyers say he does not have a terminal diagnosis that would automatically qualify him for compassionate release now, but they emphasize his age and serious health needs as factors that make continued incarceration problematic. Pennsylvania has not adopted a “second‐look” sentencing policy; review the nationwide status at The Sentencing Project.

    Supporters argue that international pressure and human rights findings have historically influenced U.S. sentencing reforms and release decisions. As Samah Sisay of the Center for Constitutional Rights explained, even when the U.S. resists international law, global advocacy has helped drive domestic change on extreme sentencing.

    Context and advocacy: Former political prisoner Laura Whitehorn and organizations such as Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) emphasize the broader issue of long sentences for older incarcerated people and point to international examples—such as a recent Indian Supreme Court decision directing states to create early‐release policies for elderly and terminally ill prisoners.

    The legal team acknowledges the UN Working Group cannot enforce decisions directly, but hopes a formal finding will increase transparency and pressure for remedies. Their filing requests the UN to determine whether Abu‐Jamal’s detention violates international human rights norms and to recommend appropriate action.

    For more information and source documents, see the Truthout coverage, the Abolitionist Law Center’s submission, and statements from the Center for Constitutional Rights.

    Correction note: This summary clarifies that the Leonard Peltier petition was filed by Yale Law School’s Lowenstein Clinic and that the 2023 recommendation on life without parole came from the UN Human Rights Committee.

    Related internal resource: Full article and coverage on The Real News.

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  • How a 19-year-old sultan built Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

    How a 19-year-old sultan built Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

    Ahmed I ordenó construir la Mezquita Azul de Estambul en 1609 para rivalizar con Santa Sofía pese a la crisis del Imperio Otomano (Wikimedia Commons)

    En 1609, el sultán Ahmed I inició personalmente los trabajos de lo que sería la obra más ambiciosa de su reinado. Tenía 19 años y gobernaba un imperio con problemas económicos y militares. Aunque la tradición exigía financiar grandes mezquitas con botines de guerra, Ahmed no contaba con esos recursos; aun así, quería erigir en Estambul un templo capaz de competir con la venerada Santa Sofía y dejar una huella perdurable en el paisaje urbano. De ese empeño nació la Mezquita del Sultán Ahmed, conocida mundialmente como la Mezquita Azul.

    El proyecto se lanzó en un momento delicado para el Imperio Otomano: tras años de conflictos y tras el tratado de paz de 1606, muchas voces en la corte consideraron que el imperio había salido debilitado. Aun así, Ahmed decidió financiar la obra con fondos del tesoro público, una decisión que generó resistencia entre los ulemas, los juristas islámicos, que llegaron a desaconsejar rezar en la mezquita.

    Un trono heredado en crisis

    Ahmed I subió al trono a los 13 años, tras la muerte de su padre Mehmed III, cuya sucesión se marcó por ejecuciones dinásticas. Heredó un vasto territorio que se extendía por tres continentes, pero también una maquinaria estatal golpeada por las guerras y la escasez de recursos. La reciente Guerra Larga Turca y el tratado que la cerró habían dejado un sentimiento de humillación en algunos sectores, y las crónicas contemporáneas registraron críticas por la aparente temeridad de emprender una obra de tal magnitud en esas condiciones.

    A pesar de las objeciones, Ahmed ordenó la expropiación de varias residencias de visires en la península de Fatih, entre ellas la que pertenecía a Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, y cedió ese terreno para la nueva construcción, ubicada frente a Santa Sofía y sobre los restos del antiguo hipódromo de Constantinopla.

    Ahmed I expropió palacios de visires en la península de Fatih para levantar la Mezquita Azul frente a Santa Sofía y sobre el antiguo hipódromo de Constantinopla (Wikimedia Commons)

    La guerra arquitectónica contra Santa Sofía

    El responsable del diseño fue Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, alumno del eminente Mimar Sinan y autor de una obra que fusionó referentes otomanos y bizantinos. La ubicación de la mezquita, deliberadamente frente a Santa Sofía, buscaba rivalizar con la cúpula bizantina que había definido el perfil de la ciudad durante siglos. El proyecto combinó una sala de oración con una cúpula central apoyada en semicúpulas y un amplio patio con fuente para las abluciones.

    El interior fue recubierto con más de 20.000 azulejos de Iznik en tonos azules y turquesa, lo que dio origen al nombre popular de Mezquita Azul. Un gran número de ventanas —alrededor de 260, muchas con vidrieras— proporcionaban una iluminación uniforme que realzaba la sensación espacial.

    Uno de los aspectos más discutidos del diseño fue la presencia de seis minaretes, cuando la práctica habitual de las mezquitas imperiales solía limitarse a cuatro. Ese detalle provocó rumores sobre la presunta arrogancia del sultán y su comparación con la Gran Mezquita de La Meca. Según la tradición, para calmar las críticas se habría añadido un séptimo minarete a la mezquita de La Meca.

    El interior de la Mezquita Azul reunió más de 20.000 azulejos de Iznik y 260 ventanas, rasgos que consolidaron su lugar en la arquitectura otomana (Wikimedia Commons)

    Un legado construido sobre clemencia y ruina

    La mezquita se integró en un conjunto mayor, o külliye, que incluía una madrasa, un comedor para necesitados, un hospital, un hospicio y comercios en el bazar Arasta. Ese complejo no solo satisfacía fines religiosos y sociales, sino que también generaba ingresos a través de los alquileres comerciales para sostener el mantenimiento del conjunto. La demanda de azulejos de Iznik fue tan intensa que sobrecargó los talleres y contribuyó al declive gradual de esa industria cerámica en el siglo XVIII.

    Ahmed I falleció de tifus el 22 de noviembre de 1617, a los 27 años, poco después de que la obra principal concluyera. Algunos registros contables finales llevaron la firma de su sucesor, Mustafa I, lo que sugiere que el sultán no presenció por completo la finalización del proyecto.

    En lo político, Ahmed introdujo un cambio significativo al no ordenar la ejecución de su hermanastro pequeño al asumir el trono; en lugar de ello, los príncipes quedaron confinados en el llamado kafes, la “jaula” del harén en el Palacio de Topkapi. Ese confinamiento limitó la experiencia administrativa y militar de futuros sultanes, una circunstancia que algunos historiadores consideran factor en el progresivo debilitamiento del gobierno imperial en los siglos siguientes.

    Tras una restauración integral de seis años, la Mezquita del Sultán Ahmed reabrió en 2023. En 2025 recibió la visita del papa León XIV, que se convirtió en el tercer pontífice en visitar el lugar. Hoy, sus seis minaretes siguen dominando la Punta del Serrallo, en una de las colinas históricas de Estambul.

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  • Saving the Democratic Party — Interview with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

    Michigan Senate Primary — Interview Summary: Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed

    Image: Michigan Democratic candidate for Senate Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed speaking at a rally in Detroit on July 18, 2026. (Photo credit in original publication.)

    The following is a concise, neutral summary of an unedited interview by TRNN Editor‐in‐Chief Maximillian Alvarez with Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed in Saginaw, Michigan. The interview focuses on the Michigan Democratic primary (August 4), El‐Sayed’s campaign, internal divisions within the Democratic Party, and his views on corporate influence, public service and community recovery.

    Read the full unedited interview and video: TRNN — Full Interview. For more coverage, visit The Real News or the site’s Politics section.

    Key points from the interview

    • Primary context: The Michigan Senate primary between progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed and establishment candidate Haley Stephens is described as a pivotal contest ahead of the general election.
    • Diagnosing the political problem: El‐Sayed frames Donald Trump as a symptom of deeper systemic problems, pointing to corporate influence, wage suppression and economic inequality as root causes.
    • Party reform: He criticizes the Democratic Party’s ties to corporate donors and argues the party must align more closely with voters’ needs rather than donors’ interests.
    • Public service experience: El‐Sayed highlights his work as a public health official, including leading a larger Wayne County department, as preparation for solving technical and practical policy challenges at the federal level.
    • Commitment to communities: On visiting Saginaw, El‐Sayed emphasizes sustained presence, listening to local concerns, and building coalitions to address long‐term economic recovery rather than promising instant fixes.
    • Personal motivation: He cites his family background and time spent with relatives in Egypt as motivations for public service and expanding opportunity.
    • On fear and courage: El‐Sayed acknowledges fear about the country’s direction but encourages spiritual and moral reflection, and readiness to accept personal risk to protect others’ rights and wellbeing.

    Selected transcript highlights

    • On Trump and the underlying issues: “Donald Trump himself is not the disease of our politics. He’s just the worst symptom.” El‐Sayed stresses the need to address structural causes like corporate power.
    • On change since 2018: He notes personal growth — family life and practical experience running county government — have altered his perspective and approach to politics.
    • On public health and technical expertise: El‐Sayed points out the Senate lacks experienced public health officials and doctors, and he presents his administrative background as valuable for policy development.
    • On Democratic Party reform: He argues the party should stop taking money from those who created the problems it seeks to solve and pursue a clearer narrative that connects economic harms to corporate behavior.
    • On political engagement in places like Saginaw: “You come. We’re here.” He emphasizes showing up, listening, and honestly laying out problems and realistic paths to recovery.
    • On motivation and identity: He describes public service as a way to expand opportunity for children and communities like those in his family’s past.
    • On fear and action: El‐Sayed speaks about processing anxiety, preparing for risks, and choosing fulfillment through meaningful public effort rather than avoiding hardship.

    Credits and further resources

    Videography: Maximillian Alvarez. Post‐production: David Hebden.

    More resources: Background on Dr. Abdul El‐Sayed — Wikipedia: Abdul El‐Sayed. For state election details and schedules, see the Michigan elections page on official state sites or reputable trackers.

    Note: The original transcript was labeled as rushed and may contain errors. For the full unedited video and original transcript, visit the TRNN link above.

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  • Mumia Abu-Jamal legal team appeals to UN

    Originally published by Truthout on July 28, 2026. Shared under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. For related coverage, see our home page or our legal rights section.

    Summary: Legal representatives for long-imprisoned activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal have filed a submission to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention requesting international review and support for his release. The filing, prepared after exhausting domestic remedies in the United States, details alleged legal failures and serious health concerns that, according to his lawyers, make his continued detention arbitrary under international human rights standards.

    Case background: Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther and longtime journalist, was convicted in the 1981 killing of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. He has consistently maintained his innocence. His death sentence was overturned in 2001, and in 2011 Pennsylvania resentenced him to life without parole. Advocates say efforts to obtain a new, fair trial have repeatedly failed.

    The UN submission: The legal filing, led by attorney Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center and supported by organizations including the Center for Constitutional Rights, summarizes decades of allegations: an unfair trial, biased appeals, prolonged solitary confinement, censorship, and what the lawyers describe as “death by incarceration.” The submission cites UN standards that define arbitrary detention broadly to include injustices and due process failings.

    Health and detention conditions: Abu-Jamal is in his early 70s and has multiple serious health conditions. His legal team reports long periods in solitary confinement (1983–2011) and claims inadequate medical care after transfer to SCI Mahanoy. Medical records referenced in the filing indicate he was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2012, developed liver cirrhosis, suffered severe skin conditions treated with steroids that led to diabetic complications, and has faced delays or deficiencies in cardiac and ophthalmological care. United Nations experts previously expressed concern when he was reportedly shackled to a hospital bed in 2021; see the UN press note here.

    Risk of blindness: According to the submission, Abu-Jamal has experienced complications following cataract surgery and now faces several complex eye conditions—such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma—that place him at significant risk of permanent vision loss. He has described severe vision impairment in public commentaries, including a 2025 piece for Prison Radio.

    Legal and international context: While the UN Working Group can issue findings but lacks direct enforcement powers, past UN reviews have influenced U.S. outcomes. In 2022, the Working Group found the cumulative procedural deficiencies in Leonard Peltier’s detention arbitrary, and in 2025 President Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence to home confinement (coverage: Truthout).

    The legal teams behind Abu-Jamal’s submission, including the Abolitionist Law Center and CCR, previously persuaded the UN Human Rights Committee to call for a 2023 moratorium on life-without-parole sentences in certain circumstances; see the CCR statement here.

    Paths to release and advocacy: Domestic options in Pennsylvania are limited. The state has not adopted a formal “second look” sentencing review like many others; for context, see the Sentencing Project’s review of state policies here. Advocates note alternatives such as clemency or compassionate release, though each faces political and procedural hurdles. The campaigners argue that international scrutiny may help catalyze action and public attention.

    Voices and precedents: Supporters cite examples such as Russell “Maroon” Shoatz, who received compassionate release in Pennsylvania in 2021 after decades in custody but died shortly after release. Former prisoners and advocates, including members of Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP), have argued for policy changes that consider age and health in sentencing and release decisions. International rulings—such as a recent Indian Supreme Court directive on early release for elderly and terminally ill prisoners—are presented as comparative precedents that influenced national policy elsewhere.

    Conclusion: Abu-Jamal’s legal team asks the UN to determine whether his detention is arbitrary under international law and to issue findings that could amplify calls for his release or improved medical care. They acknowledge UN rulings are not directly enforceable but contend an international determination would expose the case publicly and support ongoing advocacy.

    Further reading and resources: • Abolitionist Law Center submission to the UN: PDF. • UN on arbitrary detention: information page. • Background on second-look laws: Sentencing Project. • For more on related advocacy, visit our human rights coverage.

    Correction note: This summary clarifies that the petition related to Leonard Peltier was filed by the Lowenstein Clinic for International Human Rights at Yale Law School and that the 2023 moratorium recommendation referenced came from the UN Human Rights Committee.

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  • Vance and Zelensky: air defense, Patriot missiles, market impact

    Vance and Zelensky: air defense, Patriot missiles, market impact

    Zelensky afirmó tras la conversación con Vance que ambos gobiernos mantendrán contacto estrecho para avanzar en los acuerdos (Reuters)

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the conversation they addressed the critical condition of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.

    The call occurred amid an escalation of attacks on both fronts of the conflict, as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defensive capabilities while Russia continues to apply military and economic pressure.

    “I received a good phone call from the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said in his statement.

    Zelensky emphasized to Vance that obtaining Patriot interceptor missiles remains a “priority” for his country, especially given the shortage of this weaponry that is essential to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.

    Zelensky conversó telefónicamente con JD Vance y remarcó la prioridad de reforzar la defensa aérea ucraniana

    At their last meeting in Washington, Trump reportedly told Zelensky that Ukraine had been granted permission to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with the U.S. company Raytheon, consistent with what the U.S. president announced at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.

    However, Trump told the press he was not certain he would ultimately allow Ukraine to produce this strategic weapon.

    “You have to be very cautious, but also very careful. We have not reached an agreement on this. We’re considering it, but it is difficult to hand over that kind of technology. And I don’t think this will happen. There are people who receive that technology who could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about the future of military cooperation with Kyiv.

    Trump pidió cautela y destacó la dificultad de ceder tecnología militar avanzada a otros países (Europa Press)

    During the call, Zelensky also raised with Vance the economic consequences of the war for global markets, particularly the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.

    Russian strikes have almost completely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kyiv has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.

    At the end of the call, Zelensky said the two governments would keep close contact to advance the agreements discussed.

    While diplomacy seeks new avenues to secure Ukraine’s defense, fighting continues on the ground. A drone attack on Friday caused a fire at an energy facility and at Wildberries warehouses—the leading online retailer in the Volgograd region of Russia—leaving at least five people injured.

    Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical care, and in neighboring Rostov a woman was also wounded in a separate drone attack. Meanwhile, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian strike; the company expects the stoppage to last at least two weeks, which could affect the national supply of petroleum products.

    Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has recorded around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including about 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has acknowledged roughly 50,000 soldiers killed and about 400,000 wounded.

    (With information from EFE)

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  • JD Vance and Zelensky discuss air defense, Patriot missile production and war impact on global markets

    JD Vance and Zelensky discuss air defense, Patriot missile production and war impact on global markets

    Zelensky afirmó tras la conversación con Vance que ambos gobiernos mantendrán contacto estrecho para avanzar en los acuerdos (Reuters)

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They discussed the critical state of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.

    The call took place amid an escalation of attacks on multiple fronts, as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its defenses while Russia maintains military and economic pressure.

    “I had a good phone call with the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said.

    Zelensky emphasized to Vance that receiving Patriot interceptor missiles remains a priority for Ukraine, given the current shortfall of this critical equipment needed to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

    Zelensky conversó telefónicamente con JD Vance y remarcó la prioridad de reforzar la defensa aérea ucraniana

    At the recent Washington meeting, Trump reportedly indicated that Ukraine was allowed to produce Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with U.S. firm Raytheon, echoing his statement at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.

    However, Trump told reporters he was not certain he would authorize Ukraine to produce this strategic weaponry.

    “One must be very cautious and careful. We have not reached a decision on this. We are considering it, but it is difficult to relinquish that kind of technology. I do not think this will happen. There are people who receive such technology and could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about future military cooperation with Kyiv.

    Trump pidió cautela y destacó la dificultad de ceder tecnología militar avanzada a otros países (Europa Press)

    During the call, Zelensky also raised the economic consequences of the war for global markets, highlighting the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.

    Russian strikes have largely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kiev has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.

    At the end of the call, Zelensky said both governments would maintain close contact to advance the agreements discussed.

    On the ground, the conflict continues. A drone attack on Friday caused fires at an energy facility and at warehouses belonging to Wildberries, the region’s largest online retailer, in Volgograd, injuring at least five people.

    Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical attention, and in nearby Rostov a woman was also wounded in another drone strike. Separately, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian attack; the company expects the outage to last at least two weeks, which could affect national fuel supplies.

    Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has sustained around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including roughly 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has reported about 50,000 soldiers killed and approximately 400,000 wounded.

    (Based on reporting from EFE)

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  • Can the Democratic Party Be Saved — Dr Abdul El-Sayed Interview

    Michigan Democratic candidate for Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at The People V. The Powerful rally at the Detroit Opera House on July 18, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images.

    Caption: Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed speaking at The People V. The Powerful rally at the Detroit Opera House on July 18, 2026. Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images. For the full interview video, see this YouTube recording.

    Overview

    Michigan’s 2026 Senate primary on August 4 has become a central battleground. Progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and establishment-backed Haley Stephens are competing for the Democratic nomination ahead of the general election. In an unedited conversation recorded in Saginaw, El-Sayed discusses his campaign priorities, his evolution since the 2018 gubernatorial campaign, and his approach to confronting corporate influence and the resurgence of Trump-aligned politics.

    Credits

    Transcript (rushed, unedited)

    Note: This transcript was produced quickly and may contain minor errors. It will be updated when finalized.

    Maximillian Alvarez: I’m here at the Mexican American Council Building in Saginaw, Michigan, with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Thanks for joining me.

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: An honor.

    Maximillian Alvarez: We first met during your 2018 run for governor. How is this campaign different from that one?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: There are two differences: the national context and personal growth. Nationally, many Americans now recognize that addressing surface symptoms of political dysfunction is not enough — the underlying system that lets corporations and billionaires shape policy must be confronted. As a physician I think about disease versus symptom: treating the symptom alone allows the problem to return worse than before.

    Personally, I’m older and have different responsibilities. I was 32 in 2018; now I’m 41 with two kids and a mortgage. Parenthood changes your perspective — it strengthens your ability to sit with pain, to listen, and to prioritize long-term outcomes over immediate victories.

    Maximillian Alvarez: How did your service in Wayne County prepare you for this race?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Running the Wayne County health department involved managing a complex bureaucracy — about 550 staff and a $172 million budget — across federally, state- and county-funded programs. That work taught me how to combine technical expertise, practical implementation and political strategy. It also deepened my relationships across Michigan’s most diverse county, giving me experience building coalitions and understanding how policy affects everyday people.

    We need policymakers in Washington who understand these operational and technical realities — from public health infrastructure to emerging issues like AI — and who can translate policy into outcomes for residents in places like Downriver, Dearborn, and Detroit.

    Maximillian Alvarez: Many voters now distrust the Democratic Party. Why run as a Democrat, and how will you rebuild trust?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: I’m a Democrat with a small “d.” The party needs to stop taking money from the same interests that created these problems. I don’t accept corporate PAC money, and I believe voters can tell when a candidate is independent. Democrats must offer a clear, persuasive narrative — not a set of 10-point policy lists — that explains how corporate power has hurt working families and what concrete steps will change that.

    Rebuilding trust requires both persuasion and structural change. We must articulate a vision that resonates with people’s real experiences and then follow through with action that improves lives.

    Maximillian Alvarez: Why visit places like Saginaw, and what can politicians do for communities in the Rust Belt?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: You come and stay engaged. You listen, tell the truth about what’s possible, and work to build institutions and coalitions that can deliver over time. Saginaw is resilient with deep cultural roots, but it also faces economic decline and blight. Solutions won’t come overnight — but honest listening, clear diagnoses, and sustained advocacy can rebuild communities.

    Maximillian Alvarez: For people who feel vulnerable — concerned about immigration enforcement, surveillance, unemployment —how do you answer their fear and mobilize courage?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Fear is often anxiety about future pain. I try to think through the worst-case scenarios, accept the uncomfortable possibilities, and then weigh what matters most. Courage is the willingness to accept possible loss to protect others. Practically, that means organizing, making sacrifices when needed, and exercising moral clarity. For many, spiritual or personal reflection can help sustain the work. Ultimately, powerful people often retreat first; we must not fold in the face of threats. We need to stand firm and fight for democratic institutions and basic protections.

    Maximillian Alvarez: Any final thoughts?

    Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: I run because of the opportunities I’ve had and the people who were denied them. I owe what I have to others and to my grandmother’s example. If our work can expand opportunity for other kids and remove the stigma or “asterisk” some Americans feel about belonging here, it’s worth everything. I measure my work by whether it would make her proud.

    Related Links

    For more on Michigan politics and related reporting, visit the TRNN homepage: https://therealnews.com.

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  • Mumia Abu-Jamal legal team appeals to UN

    Mumia Abu-Jamal, a 72-year-old incarcerated former Black Panther and journalist, is the subject of a new appeal to the United Nations asking for support for his release. His legal team, led by Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center, filed a submission to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) outlining decades of alleged legal and human-rights violations and asking the UN to recognize his continued detention as arbitrary. The full submission is available here.

    Case background: Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1981 of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner; he has consistently maintained his innocence. His death sentence was overturned in 2001, and in 2011 he was resentenced to life without parole. According to his lawyers, repeated efforts to obtain a new and fair trial have been unsuccessful.

    Legal basis of the UN appeal: The WGAD evaluates detention not only for legality but also for elements such as unfair processes, lack of due process, and other factors the UN considers in defining “arbitrary detention.” More on the WGAD’s mandate is available from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

    Health and detention conditions: Abu-Jamal’s lawyers document long-term confinement and medical neglect. He was held in near-continuous solitary confinement from 1983 until 2011 on death row, then transferred to SCI Mahanoy. Medical records cited by his team say he was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2012, which progressed to cirrhosis. He later developed a severe skin condition treated with steroids that contributed to dangerously high blood sugar and an episode of diabetic shock. UN experts previously raised concerns when Abu-Jamal was shackled to a hospital bed in 2021 while awaiting heart surgery; that statement is summarized here.

    Vision problems and risk of blindness: Abu-Jamal — a prolific author of more than a dozen books — now faces severe ophthalmological issues. Court filings and medical notes indicate complications after cataract surgery in 2025 and ongoing conditions such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, which place him at significant risk of permanent vision loss. He described his visual impairment in a 2025 Prison Radio commentary.

    Advocacy and precedent: The submission to the UN was prepared with support from civil-rights organizations including the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). CCR and the Abolitionist Law Center have previously used UN mechanisms successfully; for example, a 2023 review by the UN Human Rights Committee contributed to calls for a moratorium on life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences. Documentation of that UN Committee action is available via CCR here.

    The WGAD has previously reviewed cases involving long-incarcerated political prisoners. In 2022 it found the detention of Leonard Peltier to be arbitrary and recommended his release; Peltier’s case was submitted by Yale Law School’s Lowenstein Clinic, which is described here. Peltier’s confinement was later followed by an executive commutation to home confinement in 2025.

    Paths to release and limits: In Pennsylvania, options for release include a governor’s commutation, successful appeal based on new evidence, or compassionate release in cases of terminal illness. Abu-Jamal’s team notes he is not currently considered terminally ill, which complicates eligibility for compassionate release. Pennsylvania has not enacted a statewide “second look” law that allows routine sentence review; information on states with such statutes is available from The Sentencing Project.

    Why the UN appeal matters: Although the WGAD lacks power to enforce decisions directly, a ruling that detention is arbitrary can amplify international and domestic pressure and function as a catalyst for legal or political remedies. Advocates emphasize that international scrutiny has previously helped secure changes in U.S. criminal-justice policies, including reforms related to juvenile sentencing and LWOP.

    Related resources and coverage: – Original Truthout article: Truthout
    – Abolitionist Law Center submission (PDF): Submission
    – Prison Radio commentary by Abu-Jamal: Mumia’s Vision
    – UN WGAD information: About Arbitrary Detention
    – Center for Constitutional Rights: CCR

    Correction note: The original report was updated to clarify that the petition regarding Leonard Peltier was filed by the Lowenstein Clinic for International Human Rights at Yale Law School and that the 2023 LWOP moratorium recommendation came from the UN Human Rights Committee.

    For additional reporting from this site, see The Real News and related coverage under the Mumia Abu-Jamal tag.

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  • Iraq suspends Basra crude loading after drone strike on tanker

    Iraq suspends Basra crude loading after drone strike on tanker

    Iraq suspended crude loading at Basra terminals after a drone struck a tanker. (REUTERS/ARCHIVE)

    Iraqi authorities announced a full suspension of crude loading at the country’s southern terminals after a drone struck a tanker at the Basra terminal. Four oil and security sources cited by Reuters said there were no fires or confirmed material damage, but operations were halted as a precaution.

    The affected terminals are in southern Iraq. So far, the attacker has not been identified. As a safety measure, the struck tanker was towed out of the port along with another vessel that was anchored nearby.

    Drone attacks in strategic areas of Iraq

    On Wednesday, another drone reportedly fell at the port of Faw without causing damage, according to the state news agency; port operations there were not affected.

    Iraq typically exports about 3.6 million barrels of oil per day. Before tensions with Iran, roughly 3.4 million barrels per day were shipped through the southern terminals, mainly from Basra.

    The drone strike at the Basra terminal did not cause material damage or fires but halted operations as a precaution. (REUTERS/ARCHIVE)

    Separately, officials reported that eight drones were intercepted while attempting to attack the U.S. consulate and a coalition base at Erbil airport in the Kurdistan region. The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said the incidents occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning; coalition forces shot the drones down before they reached their targets and there were no casualties.

    Official reactions and political context

    Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi strongly condemned the attempted attacks, which coincided with his first official visit to Washington since taking office in May. During the visit, al-Zaidi aims to present his plan to disarm Iran-aligned Shia militias in Iraq—groups the United States has previously designated as terrorist organizations and which have been blamed for similar incidents.

    In a post on X, the prime minister said he had ordered security forces to take “all necessary efforts” to prevent a recurrence of such attacks and to remove those who threaten security, adding that the assaults seek to undermine stability and the state-building process.

    The tanker struck in Basra was towed out of the port along with another anchored vessel as a security measure. (REUTERS/ARCHIVE)

    Bahaa al-Araji, leader of the Reconstruction and Development parliamentary bloc and a principal political backer of al-Zaidi, said on the same social platform that the attack on Erbil sends “negative” and unacceptable political signals and comes at a sensitive time that benefits no one.

    The attempt on Erbil occurs amid the prime minister’s campaign to disarm Iran-aligned Shia militias. In recent years, similar strikes have targeted oil fields and facilities run by U.S. companies in the Kurdistan region.

    Additionally, the impact of a drone of unknown origin at the Grand Faw port—a megaproject at Iraq’s southern tip—adds to a recent series of drone incidents at strategic facilities across the country.

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