Carol Sparmo

[Rami Elghandour @RamiElghandour]

Rutgers Engineering class of 2026, here’s your speech! 

The speech is just as I had written it before Rutgers rescinded my invitation over my advocacy for Palestinian human rights and freedom. Violating the principles of American democracy in the process.

Given the events of the past week, I added an introduction and reflection bookending the speech. You can find the original, unaltered convocation address — the one Rutgers was so afraid of you hearing from: 2:20 to 25:24.

Hope you enjoy it and more importantly that you get something from it. 

Like i said, we're counting on you.

p.s. The two minute introduction I mentioned is here. The link to the full speech is in the first comment.

p.p.s. Sharing some context in the replies in support of the things I shared in the introduction and reflections. If there’s one value to all of this, it’s the education and community it will build.

[Doge Van @ballsdeepindoge]

We just loaded 60 beagles out of Ridglan Farms into the DogeVan.

[Rami Elghandour @RamiElghandour]

My Rutgers convocation address was canceled for opposing this.

[Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald]

Most decent people, by definition, view the liberation of these Ridglan beagles as a feel-good story. They were bred to live short lives of sadistic (and utterly gratuitous) government-funded experiments, then unceremoniously killed, and instead now are living as dogs should.

But this is because activists spent years working for this outcome, often arrested and even investigated by industry-controlled FBI and state legislatures as terrorists. They deserve immense credit and respect for their success.

[SocialEmotionalLearning @SELearningEDU]

School staff: We're pouring into students' SEL every day—but are we investing in our own? 

Teaching is emotionally exhausting. With burnout rates still high (~50%+ for K-12 educators), we can't effectively support kids if we're running on empty.  Time to model what we teach....🧵

[Thomas Massie @RepThomasMassie]

End all foreign aid

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

⛪️ April 7 | Pope Leo calls for all to reject war, warns of economic and energy crises

The Pope issued a direct appeal from Castel Gandolfo, calling on Americans and citizens of all countries to “reject war” and violence. 

Addressing the ongoing United States and Israel’s war on Iran, the Pope specifically urged ordinary citizens to contact their political leaders and representatives to demand an end to the hostilities.

Leo XIV warned of a "worldwide economic crisis" and an “energy crisis” already underway as a result of the instability caused by the “unjust war” that is "continuing to escalate and... is not resolving anything".

The Pope described the threat against the entire Iranian people as "unacceptable" and noted that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.

[Vatican News @VaticanNews]

Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, highlights the urgent need for support after having visited southern villages to help distribute 15 tons of humanitarian aid from L’Œuvre d’Orient.

https://t.co/g5CKKBjcKx

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

NYT published two articles explaining U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, but both rely entirely on U.S. and Israeli officials. Neither article quotes Iranian officials, independent analysts, humanitarian groups, or civilians, nor mentions civilian deaths or damage to hospitals, homes, schools, or water infrastructure, @loffredojeremy found: 👇

[Thomas Massie @RepThomasMassie]

If Israel insists on destroying civilian targets in Lebanon, let them buy and build their own weapons. American taxpayers should not be funding this.

[Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald]

If Iran has been at war with the US for 47 years and it was inevitable that we waged major war back -- as Rubio and Ben Shapiros now claim -- shouldn't Trump have mentioned that during the campaign?

Not just "Iran can't have nukes" but "if I win, we're going to launch major war against Iran." He repeatedly said the opposite.

[Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald]

The Trump presidency is the presidency of Lindsey Graham, Ben Shapiro, AIPAC and John Bolton:

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

🚨 ISRAEL REIMPOSES TOTAL SIEGE ON GAZA

Israel has closed all crossings into Gaza, including Rafah, “until further notice.”

COGAT says humanitarian staff rotations are postponed, meaning no aid personnel can enter or leave.

Israel falsely claimed: “The substantial quantities of food that have entered since the beginning of the ceasefire amount to four times the nutritional needs of the population… Therefore, the existing stock is expected to suffice for an extended period.”

UN says less than 170 of the daily 600 trucks have been entering Gaza drive the ceasefire began.

[Carol Sparmo @sparkleCS]

😣

[jasper nathaniel @infinite_jaz]

When you hear this woman scream and beg for her life as she’s being bludgeoned, I hope you try to imagine what that moment must’ve actually felt like, and understand that this is the daily experience of millions of Palestinians across the West Bank. It is a true reign of terror.

[Ryan Grim @ryangrim]

The PAC spent the money backing Tahesha Way, AIPAC's preferred but ill-fated candidate in NJ11. Now they're spending $250k+ for Foushee. This comes after Hakeem Jeffries named Foushee to be one of three Dems on an AI task force, which then invited huge ($700k and counting) AI money to get in behind her. /2

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

Rep. Ro Khanna is again challenging pro-war Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler to a public debate on why the United States should go to war with Iran.

Khanna is working with Rep. Thomas Massie on a War Powers resolution to block military action without congressional approval. He said he expects to have the votes by early next week after initially delaying a floor push to avoid losing 20–30 Democrats.

Khanna told Breaking Points that “powerful interests” are pushing for regime change in Iran and says many lawmakers avoid taking a stand out of fear of angering wealthy donors and entrenched lobbying groups.

@RepRoKhanna | @krystalball | @esaagar

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

⭕️ Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) is urging the Democratic National Committee to release its full 2024 election autopsy report, saying Democrats must “deal with the hard truths about how our failure to stop the genocide in Gaza cost us support.”

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

Tucker Carlson asks U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on what basis PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whose family is from Europe, has the right to displace Palestinians who have lived in Palestine for thousands of years.

[Ian Miles Cheong @ianmiles]

BREAKING: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez is attacking Elon Musk for the crime of sharing news of his decision to legalize 500k illegals to win elections and change the face of Europe. He’s now calling for censorship of X to silence criticism of his policies.

[Drop Site @DropSiteNews]

A joint statement by Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s “repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza,” which they say have killed and injured more than 1,000 Palestinians. The ministers warn these violations are a “direct threat to the political process,” sabotage efforts to stabilize Gaza, and obstruct humanitarian relief. They stress Israel must fully comply with the ceasefire and affirm that lasting peace requires “the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood,” grounded in international law and UN resolutions.