In a huge warehouse in Geel, Belgium, $9.7 million in contraceptives have been locked up since early 2025. Some 77% of the shipment from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was destined for about 10 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali. But when Donald Trump’s administration dismantled the world’s largest development aid organization, these medicines were left stranded, destined either to be destroyed or to expire box by box. About 5,800 miles south of Belgium, in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Jane Anyongo, Violet Mosomi, Salma Kamau, and hundreds of thousands of women are still waiting for their pills, condoms, subdermal implants, intrauterine devices, and other sexual and reproductive health supplies.
Salma* (32, Nairobi) is another woman affected by the shortage of contraceptives in Kenya. She wants to switch to a copper IUD, but there isn’t enough stock at the Njiru health center.
Tycen Proper’s mother could not take it any longer. On the night of Wednesday, June 7, the woman, who lives in Danville, Ohio, picked up the phone and called Knox County police to report that her son was planning something. The 19-year-old had spent several weeks buying numerous guns and ammunition. He spent long periods locked in his room and online. She was worried and alarmed by the content of some conversations she had seen in her son’s online communications, with messages about plans and attacks.
The FBI says it has already seized multiple drones and made at least one arrest since World Cup matches began last week, warning that individuals flying aerial devices near event sites could face fines of up to $100,000.
Disney has picked up the animated adaptation of Coolabi’s global phenomenon Warrior Cats. Warrior Cats is based on Erin Hunter’s feline book series that follows the adventures and drama of multiple clans of feral cats. The series will drop in 2028 on both Disney+ and The Disney Channel alongside hits like Bluey and Mickey Mouse […]
UPDATED: Pulisic, Balogun & Co.’s heroics at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium made World Cup television history. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup became Team USA’s most watched English-language and Spanish-language World Cup telecast ever. The contest delivered 15.986 million viewers across Fox, Fox One and Tubi and […]
The right-wing (plus some alleged liberals cough Singal cough) assault on trans kids is genuinely horrifying. Literally hundreds of anti-trans bills – most focused on trans people under 19 years old – are proposed every year, and some succeed in becoming law.
Unfortunately, it’s obvious which side the conservative majority of the Supreme Court is on. Earlier this month, regarding California’s policy of not outing trans students to their parents, the Court ruled:
Gender dysphoria is a condition that has an important bearing on a child’s mental health, but when a child exhibits symptoms of gender dysphoria at school, California’s policies conceal that information from parents and facilitate a degree of gender transitioning during school hours. These policies likely violate parents’ rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
In her dissent, Judge Kagen noted that the conservative majority’s concern for parents’ rights has been inconsistent.
Another contrast—this time, between this case and United States v. Skrmetti (2025)—is also striking. In Skrmetti, several parents challenged Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The suit raised claims grounded in both equal protection and substantive due process. As to the latter, the parents in Skrmetti, similarly to the parents here, asserted a right “to make decisions concerning medical care for their minor children.” …And in support of that right, the Skrmetti parents relied on the same precedents the Court does today. But the Court, when deciding to grant certiorari in Skrmetti, limited its review to the equal protection issue: It would not even hear the parents out on their substantive due process claim.
This is typical of Republican hypocrisy – in the courts, but also in the way everyday Republicans talk about parental rights. As journalist Chris Quinn put it, “Republicans always say the parents know best, except when the Republicans know better.”
Some Republicans square this circle by saying that gender affirmative care for minors is child abuse (a claim they support with lies about what the research shows), and child abuse is the exception to parental rights.
But necessary medical treatments, supported by the overwhelming majority of experts and legitimate medical organizations, aren’t child abuse because Republicans arbitrarily declare it so.
Even if you, dear reader, happen to be a centrist weenie who can “see both sides” of this issue, that in and of itself is an argument for keeping gender affirmative care for minors legal. If this issue is complex and multifaceted, that’s even more reason that a minor’s medical care needs should not be decided by random Republican legislators.
Republican legislators don’t know Sam Examplekid; they don’t love Sam Examplekid; they have no familiarity with Sam’s needs or background or condition or individual circumstances. The decision should lie with people who know Sam and are committed to Sam Examplekid’s well-being – Sam, Sam’s parents, and Sam’s doctors.
TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has for panels, showing two women talking as they walk through a hilly park. The woman in front has dark hair and is wearing a red t-shirt; the person in the rear has light brown hair and is wearing floral pants. I’ll call them TSHIRT and FLORAL.
PANEL 1
Tshirt is listening as Floral lectures.
FLORAL: Of course teachers should be legally required to “out” trans kids to their parents. Because of parents’ rights.
PANEL 2
FLORAL: It doesn’t matter if it’s outing trans kids, or vaccinations, or what books teachers are allowed to assign. It should always be up to the parents!
PANEL 3
Close-up on Flora, who is pounding a fist into her palm, very intense.
FLORAL: Parents’ rights are sacrosanct! Period!
PANEL 4
Tshirt turns to ask Floral a question; Floral replies cheerily.
TSHIRT: What if parents want their trans kid to have gender affirming care?
FLORAL: Fuck parents’ rights.
CHICKEN FAT WATCH
“Chicken fat” is a long-obscure cartoonists’ term for unimportant but amusing details slipped into the art, which I want to bring back. (“Stop trying to make fetch happen!”)
PANEL 1: A grinning kid is hanging upside-down high in a tree. A notice nailed to the tree shows a sad-looking robot and says “NOTICE: Background gags weren’t made by A.I.” On the ground, Steamboat Willie (the earliest form of Mickey Mouse, now copyright-free) is fleeing from a vicious cat.
PANEL 2: An evil-looking bunny is behind the bush, smoking a cig. High in a tree, a rat has disguised itself as a squirrel by taping a big leaf to its real end, and is trying to pass itself off to a real squirrel. A notice nailed to the tree has a picture of an evilly grinning robot and says “NOTICE: Then again isn’t that what an A.I. would say.”
PANEL 3: On top of a cloud, a cloud-colored person with a mohawk is lying on their back and reading their phone.
PANEL 4: A basset hound is in the hole in the tree. A sign below the hole says “Home Sweet Hole.” The robot from the notices in panels 1 and 2 is hiding behind the tree. Steamboat Willie’s lifeless corpse lies in the grass. A notice nailed to another tree shows a picture of a vague shadow shape, and says “MISSING: Small robot which functions as a visual representation of A.I. in background gags. Extremely hackneyed, but functional.”
T-SHIRT: In panel 1, the t-shirt has a logo of a piece of cake. Panel 2, it’s a peace sign. And in panel 4, it’s a chess piece.
Police released photos of person of interest in Tuesday’s cross burning, often linked to white supremacy and racism
Chicago authorities are searching for a suspect after a cross was burned in Grant Park earlier this week.
At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, Chicago’s fire department responded to reports of a cross set ablaze in the park. No injuries were reported and firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.
Machi Mobi offers a safer and more environmentally friendly way to see the tourist sites.
For many overseas tourists in Tokyo, a tour around the city on four wheels means joining a fleet of go-karts. What many tourists don’t know, though, is there’s an alternative tour that’s safer for both drivers and the environment, and it’s called Machi Mobi.
▼ Machi Mobi (“まちモビ”) combines the Japanese word for “town” with “mobility”.
According to organisers, the Machi Mobi experience is a new way to explore the city that sits somewhere between walking tour and sightseeing bus. The pace is slow and relaxed, and there are two modes of transport to choose from – rickshaw or Rodem. A Rodem is an electric mobility vehicle that can easily be operated by a wide range of people, including the elderly and those with mobility impairments.
Operating out of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu shopping and business complex, this sightseeing experience offers guided street tours that take you around the Nihonbashi area. Each Rodem tour lasts around 90 minutes, with tickets costing 2,000 yen (US$12.46) on weekdays and 2,500 yen on weekends and public holidays, so you can take in the views at a leisurely pace.
After hearing about the Rodem experience, our reporter Natsuno Futon was keen to try it, but at the time it was Golden Week, a busy holiday period, so every tour was fully booked. She managed to make a reservation for a later date, but as luck would have it, it fell on a June day that happened to be pouring with rain. As the tour still operates on rainy days (as long as it’s not too rainy), Natsuno didn’t have to miss out for a second time, but that did mean she had to contend with the weather while she scooted around town.
It was a weekday afternoon so the streets weren’t too busy, and the meeting point was conveniently located right next to Tokyo Station’s Yaesu Exit. When she arrived, she was pleased to find that the staff had raincoats prepared for participants.
According to staff, some people do cancel when it rains, so they were happy to see Natsuno, who was joined by a few others on the day. After a quick briefing on the route and a rundown of the safety instructions, it was finally time to hop aboard the Rodem.
▼ With its rounded shape and low seating position, Natsuno felt as if she was riding on a giant ladybug.
▼ The controls were simple: a single hand-operated joystick lets you move forward, reverse, and steer.
As the tour group received instructions from the guide, Natsuno noticed that they received curious looks from passersby. Had she not known about the tour, Natsuno too would’ve been curious, because like the onlookers around them, she’d never seen such a cute mobility scooter before.
▼ Natsuno’s test ride was so fun it had her grinning like a Cheshire cat.
In reality, the scooter moves much more slowly than it does in Natsuno’s GIF, so she felt safe, secure and confident when the group finally took off.
▼ Sitting in her cute Rodem, the rain couldn’t dampen her spirits.
As the group moved slowly along the sidewalk, this familiar street now felt somehow new to her.
Simply being on a Rodem changed how everything looked to her, and she was able to even enjoy the beauty of the roadside flowers as she trundled by.
Because the scooter moves much slower than walking pace, you naturally start noticing buildings and other details you’d normally overlook.
With staff members riding at the front and back of the group, Natsuno felt well looked after as she admired the city. The guide’s commentary was also really engaging, and she lost count of how many times she found herself surprised by what she’d heard.
▼ The guide’s commentary is delivered through bone-conduction earphones like the ones shown here.
Natsuno learned why there are no power lines or trees along the street known as Chuo-dori, and she also heard about the history of the Nihonbashi area and how redevelopment is steadily reshaping the neighbourhood, giving her a new appreciation for the area.
▼ About 15 minutes after departure, they arrived at the famous Nihonbashi bridge.
After stopping for a few photos, and to answer questions from passersby who wanted to know what they were riding, the tour continued on.
They heard more fascinating stories about the ornamental finials on the bridge (known as “giboshi” in Japanese) and the Nihonbashi River cruise. Natsuno has decided to leave out the details, though, so as not to spoil the experience for any future participants.
As they made their way further, like languid snails traversing the streets, Natsuno glanced up at the sky and realised the clouds had parted, blessing them with sunny weather.
▼ It was perfect timing as they were now nearing their next stop: Fukutoku Shrine, a lucky power spot.
Here, they were able to actually hop off their Rodems and pray at the shrine, which is famous for granting prayers pertaining to lotterywins, particularly for tickets to live concerts and stage performances.
After enjoying some time in this spiritual oasis, the group stepped back into their scooters and continued their tour through the city.
They listened to the tour guide’s food recommendations and interesting backstories about the history of various shops, before returning to the starting point about 90 minutes after the tour had begun.
Riding a futuristic-looking vehicle while exploring a city with roots going back to the start of the Edo period in 1603 made for a very memorable, and oddly fascinating, experience.
Despite having no particular interest in history, Natsuno found the tour to be incredibly insightful, and she reckons it will be even more enjoyable for history buffs. Regardless of whether you’re into history or not, the Rodem tour offers a completely different perspective on the city. It made Natsuno more aware of things she wouldn’t normally notice in Tokyo, like changes in sidewalk elevation, the pace of pedestrians, and how many people are actually looking at their phones while walking.
▼ Seeing Tokyo from a new perspective.
Each Rodem can accommodate either one person, or a parent and young child, making it a great activity for young families looking for a fun and relaxed way to see the sights. As a tour that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages, the Machi Mobi is a fun activity for both locals and overseas tourists, and a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to Japan’s controversial go-karts.
Tour Details Machi Mobi / まちモビ
Address: Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku, Yaesu, 2-1-4, Yaesu Central Square, Tokyo Midtown Yaesu
東京都中央区八重洲2-1-4 東京ミッドタウン八重洲 八重洲セントラルスクエア
Open: 9:30 a.m.-5:30p.m. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Tour times: Three departures daily (except Tuesdays and Wednesdays) at 10 a.m./1 p.m./3 p.m.
Tour Duration: 90 minutes per tour
Price: 2,000 yen (weekdays), 2,500 yen (weekends and holidays)
Bookings: Online reservations required via the official website Website
The phenomenal success of director Curry Barker's Obsession seems to have fueled an online debate about whom the "real" villain of the movie is. The answer is obvious, of course, but people enjoy arguing with each other. A similar back-and-forth erupted, to a much lesser degree, exactly a decade ago. The discourse that time revolved around the same idea: consent, and the movie's questionable understanding of it. While Obsession makes it quite clear that the male protagonist is, in fact, evil, the 2016 movie wasn't as confident about labeling its own hero as the creep that he was. And that's primarily why certain members of the audience took offense to it. The movie in question was a massive box-office hit that cost $150 million to produce, but here's the kicker: it might eventually be overtaken by the tiny-budget Obsession.
Despite a glowing track record as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth has had a rather difficult time trying to grab a piece of pre-existing franchises. The actor played a memorable supporting role in Paul Feig's Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, which underperformed at the box office for reasons other than its quality. He also played a supporting role in George Miller's long-awaited prequel film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which underperformed commercially as well. He also voiced Optimus Prime in Transformers One, which you probably forgot came out less than two years ago. However, arguably his least successful attempt to join a new franchise remains Men in Black: International.
“Dave Vs. Hollywood,” a new comedy mockumentary from directors Brad Dickson and Daniel Katz, will have its World Premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on June 26 for the upcoming Dances With Films: Los Angeles festival. Per the official description, “Dave Vs. Hollywood” follows “a struggling actor (Preston Tyler Ward) who moves to Los Angeles […]
This is true. My transition is long since over and rarely figures much in my life any more. I really only think about being trans because obsessed creepy Republicans can’t help themselves.
Reading those comments inspired this cartoon, but I’ve heard sentiments like this from many trans people for years.
At least ninety percent of trans-related controversies are created by right-wingers’ refusal to just mind their own business and let other people be. The sheer irrationality of it boggles my mind.
Other issues are real issues. Even if Republicans didn’t deny the existence of climate change, how to address climate change would remain a real issue that needed to be debated in Congress. Even if Republicans didn’t have an abiding and vicious hatred of immigrants, we’d still need to figure out immigration policy and there’d be good-faith policy questions to work out.
But most trans issues would never be discussed at high levels of government if conservatives would just live and let live. There’s no need, at all, for the White House to decide what specific health care a fifteen year old trans kid needs. Why not leave that for the fifteen year old to decide with her doctor and her parents?
Part of it is just the grift. Republicans need hate to fundraise and be elected. Blaming problems on marginalized groups like immigrants and trans people is extremely practical for a party whose top priority is making rich people richer, but which also needs to pretend to be addressing ordinary people’s problems.
But it’s not just a grift. There’s sincere spite and bigotry – and, as Representative McBride said, obsession – behind the deluge of anti-trans legislation and activism we’ve seen.
TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has four panels, each showing the same central character, a fortyish redheaded woman, in a different setting.
PANEL 1
A woman wearing a red cardigan over a white t-shirt, and a cross necklace, is handing a brown paper lunch bag to her daughter. The daughter is rolling her eyes.
WOMAN: Schools are hotbeds for trans groomers! Don’t let any of them talk to you.
PANEL 2
Four women, including our main character (who is currently speaking), are having a meeting on Zoom.
WOMAN: I found a petition supporting this week’s new bills banning trans heath care. I’m sending the link so we can all sign.
PANEL 3
A woman with short brown hair is washing her hands in a public restroom. Nearby, our main character watches the woman suspiciously.
WOMAN (thought): Short hair… Might be trans? I better call the manager!
PANEL 4
The woman lies in bed. It’s nighttime, but she’s wide awake.
WOMAN (thought): Why is the left obsessed with trans?
CHICKEN FAT WATCH
“Chicken fat” is ancient, mostly forgotten cartoonist-ese for fun but needless details in the art.
PANEL 1 – The dog is rolling its eyes, just like the daughter. The daughter’s t-shirt says “Plants are gooood!” with a picture of a lit joint.
PANEL 2 – One person on Zoom is drinking with a mug with a picture of Jesus grinning and with his thumb up, a reference to the Kevin Smith movie Dogma. Another zoom person has dozed off, and the cat in her lap is anxiously taking notes. And a third zoom person is knitting a sweater with three sleeves, a reference to a famous Charles Addams cartoon.
PANEL 3 – The short-haired woman has a tattoo of Mr. Cupcake from Five Nights At Freddy’s.
PANEL 4 – The dog is wearing a sleep mask and pajamas with little hearts. Also, there are four books lying on the bed, which are:
TRANS PEOPLE HATE YOU. They’re Probably Hiding Under Your Bed Right Now, by Matt Waltz & Dave Chappelle.
HARRY POTTER AND THE INFINITE WELL OF ANTI-TRANS FUNDING by J.K. Rowling.
TRANSGENDERS ATE MY DOG and other things that definitely really happened, by Abigail Crier. “This is the best and probably only book I’ve ever read” – D. Trump
HOW THE TRANS DESTROYED MY LIFE. It’s Definitely Their Fault And Not Just That I’m An Insufferable Asshole And Everyone Who Has Ever Met Me Hates Me, by Graham Lineham.
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