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Hiroshima Survivor Shigeaki Mori, Embraced by Obama, Dies at 88
WorldThe Independentindex-hrla-vanguardia+1japan-times23d ago4 sources

Hiroshima Survivor Shigeaki Mori, Embraced by Obama, Dies at 88

Shigeaki Mori, an 88-year-old survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb known for his research on American prisoners of war and famously embraced by Barack Obama, has passed away. His work led to U.S. confirmation of the deaths of 12 captured American service members in the bombing.

Former US presidents attend Jesse Jackson memorial in Chicago
WorldKorea Herald1mo ago

Former US presidents attend Jesse Jackson memorial in Chicago

CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Former US Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton joined thousands of mourners at a public memorial service for Jesse Jackson in Chicago to honor the longtime civil-rights activist and Democratic political leader. Jackson, who died last month at the age of 84, was a leading advocate for voting rights and desegregation. The memorial on Friday at the House of Hope, a 10,000-seat venue on Chicago's South Side, was celebratory, with a choir performing rousing gospel

Former Finance Minister Larry Summers Resigns Over Epstein Files
PoliticsAl Jazeeratvn24delo+1Yahoo1mo ago4 sources

Former Finance Minister Larry Summers Resigns Over Epstein Files

Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary and top economic advisor to Barack Obama, announced his difficult decision to retire from Harvard University at the end of the academic year, following the revelation of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Just When You Thought Obama's Tower Of Doom Couldn't Get Any More Ugly...
Politicszerohedge1mo ago

Just When You Thought Obama's Tower Of Doom Couldn't Get Any More Ugly...

Just When You Thought Obama's Tower Of Doom Couldn't Get Any More Ugly... Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, Barack Obama’s infamous Presidential Center in Chicago, already slammed as a dystopian “prison-like” monstrosity, has just received a bizarre new update that’s ignited widespread mockery online. The addition of disjointed words from one of Obama’s speeches has been dubbed “headache-inducing,” amplifying the backlash against this $830 million behemoth that’s overrun budgets, displaced locals, and turned a public park into a narcissistic shrine. As construction drags on toward a June 2026 opening, the former president’s ego-driven tweaks have only fueled the fire, with X users unleashing savage roasts and memes comparing the structure to everything from a Soviet-era bunker to a “concrete porta potty.” The latest fiasco stems from Obama’s decision to etch excerpts from his 2015 Selma speech onto the building’s facade. But instead of inspiring awe, the disjointed lettering has sparked hilarity and disgust. They somehow managed to make the Obama presidential library even uglier. My gosh. ? pic.twitter.com/lmZnyJ4FSs February 17, 2026 One X user highlighted how the words appear chopped and unreadable, calling it a “headache-inducing” mess that perfectly encapsulates the project’s overall failure. I's indistinguishable from L's and T's. E's indistinguishable from F's. Multiple words get disjointed–not just on one plane but two. pic.twitter.com/hohr6Whusy February 17, 2026 what don’t you understand about YOU ARE AMERICA https://t.co/kmHawlABHO February 16, 2026 Fixed it for Obama. pic.twitter.com/BJU5eA6vIx February 18, 2026 This is what the text should read… pic.twitter.com/YaZ2iSJQuY February 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/N60Kwjw9Q5 February 18, 2026 As we previously reported, the Obama Presidential Center has ballooned to nearly $1 billion in costs, resembling a “Tower of Doom” that’s sucking the life out of Chicago’s South Side. Locals have decried it as a “totalitarian command center dropped straight out of 1984,” with property values skyrocketing and forcing out longtime residents. Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor warned that such developments “displace the very people they say they want to improve it for,” as rents for two-bedroom apartments jumped from $800 to over $1,800 per month. The project’s DEI-focused hiring of diverse contractors has backfired spectacularly, leading to lawsuits over “racial discrimination” and claims of poor performance, proving once again that woke policies lead to broke outcomes. President Trump didn’t hold back when mocking the stalled eyesore. “He needs help,” Trump quipped, noting how the library-museum hybrid is “not too pretty” and has “run out of money” despite Obama’s insistence on DEI builders. Trump contrasted this with his own push for classical architecture, like the grand Arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge, symbolizing a return to American greatness. The center’s foundation is now scrambling with only $116 million in reserves against $230 million in remaining costs, not including staff salaries. Scheduled tours have started, but critics question who’d visit this overpriced ode to Obama’s ego amid Chicago’s economic woes. Obama’s defenders claim it’ll be an “economic catalyst” for the black community, but the reality is displacement and fiscal chaos. This project exemplifies the hypocrisy of elite liberals: preaching equity while building vast ego towers that burden the working class. In the end, as Trump restores beauty and dignity to American landmarks, Obama’s legacy crumbles under the weight of its own pretension— a fitting monument to an era of division and decline. Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews. Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 15:40

Obama Says Aliens Exist But Are Not Kept In Area 51
Politicszerohedge1mo ago

Obama Says Aliens Exist But Are Not Kept In Area 51

Obama Says Aliens Exist But Are Not Kept In Area 51 Authored by Rachel Roberts via The Epoch Times, Former U.S. President Barack Obama said in a Feb. 14 podcast interview that aliens are real but that none are kept at the secretive Area 51 military base in the Nevada desert, later adding that he didn’t see any evidence indicating that extraterrestrials have contacted Earth during his presidency. In the interview, when asked, “Are aliens real?” Obama replied, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them—and they’re not being kept in [Area 51]. There’s no underground facility, unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.” Obama became the first leader of the United States to affirm the existence of extraterrestrial life when questioned by progressive podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen in a video posted on YouTube. After the interview went viral, Obama said on Instagram that he wanted to “clarify” his comments to Cohen, writing that he was “trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round” while speaking on the podcast. “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there,” he wrote. “But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!” In 2013, Obama was possibly the first U.S. leader to acknowledge the existence of Area 51, an Air Force base built during the Cold War, which has long been rumored to house extraterrestrials and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Cohen did not ask Obama a follow-up question on the issue. Instead, he asked the former president what his first question had been upon entering the White House. “Where are the aliens?” Obama joked in response. Some critics, including British political commentator Calvin Robinson, said Cohen should have asked Obama for more information about aliens. “When a former President of the United States says on the record there are aliens, YOU FOLLOW UP WITH RELEVANT QUESTIONS. You do not continue reading from your script,” he wrote on X. The U.S. government first acknowledged Area 51’s existence in 2013 through a Freedom of Information request and has declassified documents detailing its history and purpose. The base has been a testing ground for a host of top-secret aircraft, including the U-2 in the 1950s and later the F-117 stealth fighter. Trump Admin on Aliens President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about the existence of aliens, while acknowledging that “anything is possible.” Trump addressed the subject in several media appearances during the 2024 presidential campaign. On a podcast with Lex Fridman, Trump said he would consider pushing the Pentagon to release additional UFO footage that many believe is classified. “Oh yeah, sure, I’ll do that. I would do that. I’d love to do that,” Trump said, noting that public pressure to disclose records relating to UFOs is similar to that surrounding the John F. Kennedy assassination. On Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast in June 2025, Trump said, “Am I a believer? No, I can’t say I am." “But I have met with people, serious people, that say there’s some really strange things flying around out there.” Trump added that given the size of the universe, “Why wouldn’t there be something, somebody?” Vice President JD Vance has expressed his personal enthusiasm, telling the “Ruthless” podcast in August 2025 that he is “obsessed with the whole UFO thing.” “What’s actually going on? What were those videos all about? What’s actually happening?” Vance probed. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said last August that she believes aliens may exist and that the U.S. government holds classified information on the subject. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in Washington on Dec. 2, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Gabbard pledged to share disclosures from ongoing investigations into UFOs amid growing discussion of the phenomena at the highest levels of government. Pentagon Cases Unresolved The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) continues to investigate more than 1,600 reports of “unidentified aerial phenomena,” an official term that has largely replaced “UFOs.” At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in November 2024, AARO’s director, Jon T. Kosloski, detailed cases the military believes it has solved—such as the widely circulated 2016 “GOFAST” video, now thought to show an object flying at 13,000 feet rather than right above the water—as well as other incidents which have so far defied explanation. Previous presidents, including Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, have discussed their curiosity about alien life without confirming a belief in it. Carter reported that he saw an unidentified bright object in the sky when he was governor of Georgia in 1969, although he later said it was likely a natural phenomenon. A view of Area 51. Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times Clinton said that he was curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and that he had asked aides to look into both Area 51 and the Roswell incident of 1947, which gave rise to much speculation about a government cover-up. After Air Force personnel recovered metallic and rubber debris near Roswell, New Mexico, the U.S. Army Air Forces announced that they were in possession of a “flying disc” before retracting the statement within a day. Clinton said he was told there was no evidence of alien life in connection with the incident. In 1995, he joked about the Roswell incident, saying, “If the U.S. Air Force did recover any alien bodies, they didn’t tell me about it.” The American public is increasingly convinced that aliens exist and have visited Earth, according to recent polls. More than half (56 percent) of Americans believe extraterrestrials definitely or probably exist, according to a 2025 YouGov poll. Democrat (61 percent) and Independent (59 percent) voters are more likely than Republicans (46 percent) to believe aliens exist, with 73 percent of Americans believing the government would hide evidence of UFOs if it had any, and just 13 percent thinking it would be transparent, according to the same survey. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 17:00

Did Sasha borrow Michelle Obama’s Valentine’s date night earrings for NBA game?
CultureTimes of India1mo ago

Did Sasha borrow Michelle Obama’s Valentine’s date night earrings for NBA game?

Former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha made a rare family appearance at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Their Valentine's weekend outing blended romance and family connection, drawing significant attention. Sasha's presence, a departure from her childhood in the spotlight, highlighted generational transition and public affection, making the event a viral sensation.

Why did Obama say aliens are real? - The Latest
PoliticsThe GuardianFox News1mo ago2 sources

Why did Obama say aliens are real? - The Latest

Barack Obama caused frenzy after saying aliens were real on a podcast - and was forced to clarify he had not seen any evidence of them in a statement posted to Instagram over the weekend. There is a long-running conspiracy theory claiming that the US government is hiding extraterrestrials at Area 51, a highly classified air force site in Nevada. Lucy Hough speaks to host of the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, Madeleine Finlay Continue reading...

Thousands Protest Trump Policies Across US in 'No Kings' Rallies
PoliticsReutersBBCwsj+40FTThe GuardianAl JazeeraCNNFox Newsnzzcnbchelsingin-sanomat+32 more11d ago43 sources

Thousands Protest Trump Policies Across US in 'No Kings' Rallies

Thousands of demonstrators participated in 'No Kings' rallies across various US cities to protest against Donald Trump's policies, including his stance on Iran and the war. The protests, described as the third wave of anti-Trump demonstrations, saw significant turnouts in multiple locations, with some events drawing large crowds and others experiencing clashes with police.

Obama's Presidential Center Seeking 100 Unpaid Volunteers To Staff Lavish Facility
Politicszerohedge24d ago

Obama's Presidential Center Seeking 100 Unpaid Volunteers To Staff Lavish Facility

Obama's Presidential Center Seeking 100 Unpaid Volunteers To Staff Lavish Facility Authored by Bryan Hyde via American Greatness, Former president Barack Obama’s foundation has announced that it will be launching its lavish $850 million presidential center in Chicago in June and is seeking unpaid volunteers to help staff the facility. That may seem on brand for a former president who has made volunteerism a central tenet of his civic career since his beginnings as a community...

Fionnán Sheahan: After riling Irish farmers, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon now has to get them back down the hill
Politicsirish-independent1mo ago

Fionnán Sheahan: After riling Irish farmers, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon now has to get them back down the hill

Normally, the focus of attention is on the other side of the road. The imposing US embassy is a landmark of Dublin 4. Designed in the 1950s, it has been a focal point of diplomatic activity since it opened in the 1960s, just after John F Kennedy was assassinated. Among the incidents it has witnessed was a vehicle in Barack Obama’s cavalcade getting stuck on the ramp exiting the car park.

PoliticsBBCSCMPFrance 24+1Dawn1mo ago4 sources

'Clown show': Obama speaks out on Trump's racist monkey clip and 'rogue' Minneapolis crackdown

Former US president Barack Obama on Saturday addressed a racist video posted on President Donald Trump's social media account, telling a podcast that the "decorum" that once guided public officials has been lost. Obama also lamented the "rogue behaviour" of federal agents involved in a deadly immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and praised local communities for pushing back.

PoliticsDawn1mo ago

Former US president Obama says aliens are real: report

Former United States president Barack Obama said during an interview that aliens are real, Time magazine reported on Sunday. Citing an interview of Obama by podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, the report stated that when asked about the existence of extraterrestrial life, the former president responded: “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them. “They’re not being kept at Area 51. There’s no underground facility — unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” Obama added. Time reported that Cohen “did not ask a follow-up question on the topic”. The report added that Obama spoke out about the deployment of thousands of immigration agents to Minnesota, condemning what he deemed “rogue behaviour” on the part of the federal government.  “Obama compared the actions of the Trump Administration in Minnesota to behaviour that ‘we’ve seen in authoritarian countries and we’ve seen in dictatorships, but we have not seen in America’,” Time reported. The former president was quoted as saying that recognising the unprecedented nature of federal agents’ activities in the city of Minneapolis and their actions, including “pulling people out of their homes [and] using five-year-olds to try to bait their parents”. “So the rogue behaviour of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous, but we should take a moment to appreciate the extraordinary outpouring of organising, community building [and] decency,” Obama said.

The ‘Scrubs’ Revival Is Millennial Cringe: TV Review
CulturevarietyNew Statesman1mo ago2 sources

The ‘Scrubs’ Revival Is Millennial Cringe: TV Review

To be a millennial is to watch the cultural staples of one’s youth curdle into cringe. “Harry Potter” is now politically fraught; the meme-literate language coined by the first generation of digital natives (“lulz,” “heckin’ doggo,” etc.) has turned unspeakably passé. The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their […]

Vikas Khanna's New York Restaurant Becomes Culinary Sensation
CultureTimes of India5d ago

Vikas Khanna's New York Restaurant Becomes Culinary Sensation

Chef Vikas Khanna's restaurant, Bungalow-Ek Sau Ek, in New York City has become incredibly popular, with tables selling out within seconds of booking availability. The celebrated Indian restaurant is booked solid for weeks, attracting even high-profile figures like former US President Barack Obama.

Jesse Jackson's Early Crusades and Controversies
PoliticsBBCNYTwsj+8The GuardianAl JazeeraFrance 24The IndependentYahoorolling-stonetmzscreen-rant1mo ago11 sources

Jesse Jackson's Early Crusades and Controversies

A look back at young Jesse Jackson's early activism, including his critiques of disco music, labor mediation, and corporate boycotts.

Pelosi Appears To Have Picked Their Candidate For President In 2028
Politicszerohedge1mo ago

Pelosi Appears To Have Picked Their Candidate For President In 2028

Pelosi Appears To Have Picked Their Candidate For President In 2028 Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) may be retiring from Congress at the end of this term, but she's not done trying to shape presidential races. The 85-year-old former House speaker has turned into what one former aide calls "a Gavin fan-girl," deploying her legendary donor network and political capital to boost California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a 2028 White House contender. The move lands as a calculated slight to Kamala Harris, who polls ahead of Newsom nationally but appears to have lost Pelosi's confidence after the 2024 debacle. According to a report from Axios, Pelosi has spent months publicly and privately vouching for Newsom.  "From the standpoint of leadership, vision, and values, knowledge of the issues, strategic thinking about how to get things done, he's masterful," she told The New Yorker. She told Vogue earlier this month, “I’ve seen him grow politically, I've also seen him have this beautiful family, and for all of us who love him, seeing him evolve has been wonderful to behold.” She’s even trying to help Newsom shed the perception of coming from privilege, telling The Atlantic, "Everybody thinks of Gavin and a silver spoon. But that isn't right. He was a very hard worker in everything that he did, whether it was personally, professionally, and then civically." This week, Pelosi told Politico that Newsom "would make a great president," though she added Democrats have many strong potential candidates.  The hedge shouldn’t fool anyone.  Pelosi isn’t likely to gush unless she's decided. Former aides say she's been eager to publicly vouch for Newsom whenever asked and has privately admired how he's navigated Trump "with a combination of defiance and charm." One former staffer said Pelosi "doesn't crush on many people" and added, "She's hardly ever wrong. When she says she sees something, it's a real thing." Of course, Pelosi’s connection to Newsom isn’t limited to politics. Her brother-in-law was married to Newsom's aunt, and Pelosi frequently says she knew Newsom before he was born. Politically, they’ve been connected for years, as she's mentored him since his days as San Francisco mayor, watching him rise through California politics like a puppet master or a kingmaker. While Pelosi is reportedly focused on helping Democrats retake the House in November and making Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaker, she’s clearly looking to the future and sees Newsom as the next leader of the party who will bring Democrats to the White House. This may be a significant vote of confidence for Newsom, but it’s also an undeniable betrayal of another California Democrat, Kamala Harris.  Pelosi endorsed Harris quickly after Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, reportedly frustrating Barack Obama, who wanted a more open process. “The Obamas were not happy,” a Pelosi confidant told ABC’s Jonathan Karl for his book Retribution. 'This person summed up Obama's message to Pelosi as, essentially, "What the f*** did you just do?"'  Harris lost badly to Trump, spending more than a billion dollars in the process, leaving many major donors deeply disillusioned with her. Pelosi’s support would have gone a long way to repair the damage, but Pelosi appears to have moved on.  Harris leads the 2028 field with a 27.5 percent national polling average, according to Race to the White House, while Newsom trails at 22.7%. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sits at 9%, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 8.7%, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 4.9%, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at 3.4%. Neither Newsom nor Harris has publicly announced their intent to seek the presidency, but both are reportedly considering, which makes Pelosi's public courtship of Newsom a calculated snub. Pelosi's endorsements carry weight with the donor class and party elites who decide primaries long before voters cast ballots. By elevating Newsom now, she's signaling to those constituencies where the smart money should flow. Whether Pelosi's bet pays off depends on factors beyond her control. Newsom has baggage from California's struggles with homelessness, crime, and out-migration on his watch. Harris, meanwhile, carries the weight of a failed campaign but has name recognition and institutional support, and isn’t a white male — a huge plus for a party that has gone all in on identity politics.  Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 19:30