1. STOP shipments of offensive weapons to IDF units in Gaza and the West Bank. ENFORCE the Leahy Laws. These units are credibly implicated in the commission of gross violations of human rights.
2. STOP funding the ad-hoc Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. They were told their 'plan' would result in chaos. They are herding starving people into a few hard to reach small areas - where the starving are being shot like fish in a barrel. Since late May, more than 766 Palestinians were killed while heading to sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. BRING BACK UN AND NGO GROUPS with demonstrated expertise in distributing humanitarian aid. Israeli, Trump administration, AIPAC and CUFI assertions that Hamas is blocking distribution have proven to be false. This humanitarian crisis is a compounding of Israel's years long blockade with months of Israel effectively preventing food and medical supplies into Gaza.
"An examination of Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians and military commanders about the goals of the attack, leads to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip. In other words: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
- B'Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
"Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) joined more than 200 NGOs on July 1 to call for immediate action to end the deadly Israeli distribution scheme (including the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) in Gaza. This system has forced more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to access aid from just four military-controlled distribution sites, where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties while trying to obtain food and are denied other life-saving supplies."
"I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government."
"It is not possible that this GHF system with only four militarized distribution sites could replace the UN-led aid network that had more than 400 aid distribution points during the temporary ceasefire. Moreover, by requiring Palestinians to travel long distances to access food, GHF’s model risks contributing to the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, raising serious concerns about its role in a broader effort to depopulate parts of Gaza."
- Letter to Sec.of State Marco Rubio from Sen. Chris VanHollen, Maryland and 19 other Democratic Senators
Here is another letter recently sent to Rubio and Witkoff which 43 Democratic senators signed, including yours. It covers some of the same topics, but does not request answers to the series of questions in the other.
emailed to my RI Senators after the Gillibrand letter was sent 2 days after the Van Hollen letter.
Dear Senators Whitehouse & Reed,
I now realize there are two letters to Secretary Rubio. The Van Hollen and the Gillibrand. Thank you for signing the Gillibrand letter.
“The ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ has failed to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and contributed to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization’s sites.”
However the GHF “has failed to address the crisis” and “contributed to unacceptable death” is hardly addressing the reality of the fact that GHF is committing crimes against humanity/the genocide of the Palestinian race! What, pray tell, is contributing to an ‘acceptable’ amount of civilian death? Netanyahu should be tried in the Hague.
The Palestinians no longer need a diplomat… they desperately require a Champion!
Sincerely tired of brining a knife to a gun fight, Susan
Here is another letter recently sent to Rubio and Witkoff which 43 Democratic senators signed, including yours. It covers some of the same topics, but does not request answers to the series of questions in the other.
Thank you, lin, for the latest letter as mkt senators, Schiff and Padilla, did sign this one, but I am curious as to why they didn’t sign onto the first one. The first one asked pertinent questions!
BREAKING - Real Time Epstein 8/10/19 Suicide Evidence is Available:
More thanks & many kudos to young 'USA Today' White House reporter, FRANSCESCA CHAMBERS, who with others revealed there is a complete video tape in its ENTIRETY of Epstein's prison cell #46 made at the Manhattan Metro Correctional Center of Epstein's Cell automatically recorded at "8/10/2019 at 12:49 AM "
Pam Bondi's cover story of a purported daily missing"minute" during a daily "reset" is a FALSE misdirection. The admissible evidence is available & currently controlled by Kash Patel's FBI & and Pam Bondi's Department of Injustice.
We need a properly authorized & executed subpoena served on the "Kash & Pam" Gang ASAP.
"Trump Blamed Epstein for "Stealing" Virgina Giuffre who committed suicide earlier this year.
Gotta look 👀 at Tara on her Substack platform, "The Red Letter" .
Tara traveled with an Epstein-Walker Victim, Virginia Giuffre, a former "Spa" worker at Mar-a-Lago until "taken" DJT says by Epstein & abused by Walker & Epstein.
On the "discovery" of Epstein suicide video, the interior of Epstein's cell in the minutes after midnight are clearly visible. I was a trial attorney for over 30 years, patience, deductive admissible conclusions must wait for the availability of the entire video tape.
lin, I record Ali Vitali's MSNBC show "Way to Early" which is broadcast at 2 AM way-to-early out here in California.
Almost daily, Ali Vitali, gives the first national exposure to bright young reporters who all seemed have been raised on a diet of Woodward & Bernstein protein.
Francesca Chambers is fortified example of their skills.
Below is the link to the Van Hollen letter to Secretary Rubio regarding US funding of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s genocide of Palestinians seeking food.
The coast of Southern Maine is one of my favorite places. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I'm in my 70's, now, and we've stayed in Biddeford since I was a teen.
Damn, I was gonna say the exact same thing! Nyc for over 50 years, but love that part of Maine. Hey Joyce, you’re only about an hour, if that, from Heather Cox Richardson!
A bit different from scorching wheat country in rural semi-arid Eastern WA where harvest is in full swing. That’s America, though, & why we love it. Hope the chickens are mellow & eating worms in your absence.
Good for you! I just turned off the news - Bove’s approval is NOT going to mess up a lovely summer evening for me. Cat in lap, book in hand: that’s the good life!
Thanks Joyce for all you do! We so appreciate you!! Have a good time relaxing - we all need to catch our breath now and again - and nobody deserves it more than you.
TRUMP IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND SCUMMIEST BLACKMAILER
Joyce does a remarkable job highlighting illegalities and the court system in the United States.
In fact ‘King’ Donald has blatantly ignored the Constitution and the laws and regulations of a constitutional system of checks and balances.
His blatant use of blackmail is unprecedented in the history of the United States:
1) Globally his cockamamie application of whimsical tariffs has blackmailed many of our traditional allies and upset a finely-tuned global economic system.
Some of our allies and Asian countries feel obliged to accept his ‘America’ First demands to prevent a crippling of their economies. While China and some other countries—perhaps Canada and Mexico?—strongly resist, others feel they must succumb to his imperial demands.
Humiliation is a poor basis for long-term cooperation. As an article in Foreign Affairs expressed it—Trump’s initiatives has transformed America from being ‘indispensable’ to being ‘insufferable.
Domestically his blackmail is unfettered:
1) Illegally, and being resisted in court, he has sought to cripple Columbia, Harvard, and many other major educational and research institutions. Harvard has strongly challenged this in court. Nonetheless, it may choose to pay a $500 million ‘bribe’ to stay in business. Columbia has already agreed to a $200 million bribe for Trump’s illegal blackmail.
2) Trump has blackmailed law firms, lawyers, the media, and others, often threatening their livelihood. Paramount/CBS agreed to pay $16 million as the ‘cost of doing business’ in. A fraudulent charge. Some major law firms buckled, while the courts are unanimous in supporting those firms that resist.
3) Trump has taken massive contributions from fossil fuel, crypto, other other companies in return for a massive lososening of federal regulations;
4) Trump, in part weigh Musk’s DOGE, has crippled the professional civil service and has removed inspector generals and other officials established to monitor the legal of federal operations.
5) Trump had made clear that he seeks to politicize the military. In part this has led to the ouster of numerous high ranked Blacks and women. Now he insists that any lt. General or vice admiral must be interviewed by him before his name can go to Congress for four stairs.
6) Federal justice has been crushed by Trump’s revenge and retaliation against those who pursued the law in previous administrations. With Bondi he has transformed the Dept of Justice into the Dept of Injustice, while Patel at FBI has castrated the integrity of this once-apolitical agency.
I applaud Joyce for highlighting how the federal judiciary, despite ther Supine Court, is still fighting for jusrice. Nonetheless, so far there does not seem an effective counterweight to Trump’s relentless blackmail and revenge.
Enjoy!
JV has earned a respite.
We take up the mantle
PLEASE phone your Congressional delegation.
1. STOP shipments of offensive weapons to IDF units in Gaza and the West Bank. ENFORCE the Leahy Laws. These units are credibly implicated in the commission of gross violations of human rights.
2. STOP funding the ad-hoc Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. They were told their 'plan' would result in chaos. They are herding starving people into a few hard to reach small areas - where the starving are being shot like fish in a barrel. Since late May, more than 766 Palestinians were killed while heading to sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. BRING BACK UN AND NGO GROUPS with demonstrated expertise in distributing humanitarian aid. Israeli, Trump administration, AIPAC and CUFI assertions that Hamas is blocking distribution have proven to be false. This humanitarian crisis is a compounding of Israel's years long blockade with months of Israel effectively preventing food and medical supplies into Gaza.
"An examination of Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians and military commanders about the goals of the attack, leads to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip. In other words: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
- B'Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
.https://www.btselem.org/publications/202507_our_genocide.
"Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) joined more than 200 NGOs on July 1 to call for immediate action to end the deadly Israeli distribution scheme (including the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) in Gaza. This system has forced more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to access aid from just four military-controlled distribution sites, where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties while trying to obtain food and are denied other life-saving supplies."
.https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-starvation-or-gunfire-not-humanitarian-response-0.
"I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government."
- Sen. Angus King, Maine
.https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-amid-growing-nutrition-crisis-in-gaza.
"It is not possible that this GHF system with only four militarized distribution sites could replace the UN-led aid network that had more than 400 aid distribution points during the temporary ceasefire. Moreover, by requiring Palestinians to travel long distances to access food, GHF’s model risks contributing to the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, raising serious concerns about its role in a broader effort to depopulate parts of Gaza."
- Letter to Sec.of State Marco Rubio from Sen. Chris VanHollen, Maryland and 19 other Democratic Senators
.https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-welch-19-senators-call-for-answers-on-gaza-humanitarian-foundation-press-administration-to-cease-funding-ghf.
Writing to my Senators Schiff and Padilla asking them why they did not sign this letter.
I was happy to see one of my senators, Tim Kaine, sign. Need to ask why Senator Warner didn't.
Here is another letter recently sent to Rubio and Witkoff which 43 Democratic senators signed, including yours. It covers some of the same topics, but does not request answers to the series of questions in the other.
.https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Letter-to-Rubio-and-Witkoff-on-Middle-East-2025.07.29.pdf.
emailed to my RI Senators after the Gillibrand letter was sent 2 days after the Van Hollen letter.
Dear Senators Whitehouse & Reed,
I now realize there are two letters to Secretary Rubio. The Van Hollen and the Gillibrand. Thank you for signing the Gillibrand letter.
“The ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ has failed to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and contributed to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization’s sites.”
However the GHF “has failed to address the crisis” and “contributed to unacceptable death” is hardly addressing the reality of the fact that GHF is committing crimes against humanity/the genocide of the Palestinian race! What, pray tell, is contributing to an ‘acceptable’ amount of civilian death? Netanyahu should be tried in the Hague.
The Palestinians no longer need a diplomat… they desperately require a Champion!
Sincerely tired of brining a knife to a gun fight, Susan
I keep getting requests for money from Sen. Warner as though he's losing in 2026. Let's get 2025 elected first.
Me too from Warner. Way too many!
I've not responded with a donation and will not. He's an excellent Senator but these pleas are over the top.
Here is another letter recently sent to Rubio and Witkoff which 43 Democratic senators signed, including yours. It covers some of the same topics, but does not request answers to the series of questions in the other.
.https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Letter-to-Rubio-and-Witkoff-on-Middle-East-2025.07.29.pdf.
Thank you, lin, for the latest letter as mkt senators, Schiff and Padilla, did sign this one, but I am curious as to why they didn’t sign onto the first one. The first one asked pertinent questions!
I didn’t know that. Disappointing.
I am not sure how many more disappointments I can actually stand.
Can you please tell me what letter you are referring to, so I can check to see if my senators signed. Thank you!
Stacy, look above at lin’s response. She provided a link in her last paragraph.
ThankYou!
This should take you to a pdf of the actual letter.
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/van_hollen_ghf_letter.pdf
Sen. Chris can Hollen is a gem!
Too often people we accusing Dems of ‘doing nothing’!
— I think most are doing all they can … with what the voters gave them.
Thank you very much lin 🙏
BREAKING - Real Time Epstein 8/10/19 Suicide Evidence is Available:
More thanks & many kudos to young 'USA Today' White House reporter, FRANSCESCA CHAMBERS, who with others revealed there is a complete video tape in its ENTIRETY of Epstein's prison cell #46 made at the Manhattan Metro Correctional Center of Epstein's Cell automatically recorded at "8/10/2019 at 12:49 AM "
Pam Bondi's cover story of a purported daily missing"minute" during a daily "reset" is a FALSE misdirection. The admissible evidence is available & currently controlled by Kash Patel's FBI & and Pam Bondi's Department of Injustice.
We need a properly authorized & executed subpoena served on the "Kash & Pam" Gang ASAP.
Is it true that they are not even showing Epstein’s actual cell?
TARA PALMERI:
"Trump Blamed Epstein for "Stealing" Virgina Giuffre who committed suicide earlier this year.
Gotta look 👀 at Tara on her Substack platform, "The Red Letter" .
Tara traveled with an Epstein-Walker Victim, Virginia Giuffre, a former "Spa" worker at Mar-a-Lago until "taken" DJT says by Epstein & abused by Walker & Epstein.
You GO Tara! See, tarapalmieri@substack.com
**********************************************
On the "discovery" of Epstein suicide video, the interior of Epstein's cell in the minutes after midnight are clearly visible. I was a trial attorney for over 30 years, patience, deductive admissible conclusions must wait for the availability of the entire video tape.
ThankYou!
lin, I record Ali Vitali's MSNBC show "Way to Early" which is broadcast at 2 AM way-to-early out here in California.
Almost daily, Ali Vitali, gives the first national exposure to bright young reporters who all seemed have been raised on a diet of Woodward & Bernstein protein.
Francesca Chambers is fortified example of their skills.
Already made calls to my representatives today. Thanks for the reminder
Call Early and Call Often ; )
Dear Senators Whitehouse & Reed,
Below is the link to the Van Hollen letter to Secretary Rubio regarding US funding of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s genocide of Palestinians seeking food.
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-welch-19-senators-call-for-answers-on-gaza-humanitarian-foundation-press-administration-to-cease-funding-ghf
I realize Dems do not control the Senate, but would appreciate your reply as to why you did not also sign this letter?
Sincerely in need of an explanation, Susan
Enjoy your vacation, Joyce and family.
The coast of Southern Maine is one of my favorite places. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I'm in my 70's, now, and we've stayed in Biddeford since I was a teen.
Damn, I was gonna say the exact same thing! Nyc for over 50 years, but love that part of Maine. Hey Joyce, you’re only about an hour, if that, from Heather Cox Richardson!
I'm betting that they got together and that we will see a podcast or something!
Enjoy our beautiful state. The state I call home. We are so pleased you choose to vacation here! Come back often.
A bit different from scorching wheat country in rural semi-arid Eastern WA where harvest is in full swing. That’s America, though, & why we love it. Hope the chickens are mellow & eating worms in your absence.
Good for you! I just turned off the news - Bove’s approval is NOT going to mess up a lovely summer evening for me. Cat in lap, book in hand: that’s the good life!
Thanks Joyce for all you do! We so appreciate you!! Have a good time relaxing - we all need to catch our breath now and again - and nobody deserves it more than you.
Enjoy your beach getaway! Looks amazing!
TRUMP IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND SCUMMIEST BLACKMAILER
Joyce does a remarkable job highlighting illegalities and the court system in the United States.
In fact ‘King’ Donald has blatantly ignored the Constitution and the laws and regulations of a constitutional system of checks and balances.
His blatant use of blackmail is unprecedented in the history of the United States:
1) Globally his cockamamie application of whimsical tariffs has blackmailed many of our traditional allies and upset a finely-tuned global economic system.
Some of our allies and Asian countries feel obliged to accept his ‘America’ First demands to prevent a crippling of their economies. While China and some other countries—perhaps Canada and Mexico?—strongly resist, others feel they must succumb to his imperial demands.
Humiliation is a poor basis for long-term cooperation. As an article in Foreign Affairs expressed it—Trump’s initiatives has transformed America from being ‘indispensable’ to being ‘insufferable.
Domestically his blackmail is unfettered:
1) Illegally, and being resisted in court, he has sought to cripple Columbia, Harvard, and many other major educational and research institutions. Harvard has strongly challenged this in court. Nonetheless, it may choose to pay a $500 million ‘bribe’ to stay in business. Columbia has already agreed to a $200 million bribe for Trump’s illegal blackmail.
2) Trump has blackmailed law firms, lawyers, the media, and others, often threatening their livelihood. Paramount/CBS agreed to pay $16 million as the ‘cost of doing business’ in. A fraudulent charge. Some major law firms buckled, while the courts are unanimous in supporting those firms that resist.
3) Trump has taken massive contributions from fossil fuel, crypto, other other companies in return for a massive lososening of federal regulations;
4) Trump, in part weigh Musk’s DOGE, has crippled the professional civil service and has removed inspector generals and other officials established to monitor the legal of federal operations.
5) Trump had made clear that he seeks to politicize the military. In part this has led to the ouster of numerous high ranked Blacks and women. Now he insists that any lt. General or vice admiral must be interviewed by him before his name can go to Congress for four stairs.
6) Federal justice has been crushed by Trump’s revenge and retaliation against those who pursued the law in previous administrations. With Bondi he has transformed the Dept of Justice into the Dept of Injustice, while Patel at FBI has castrated the integrity of this once-apolitical agency.
I applaud Joyce for highlighting how the federal judiciary, despite ther Supine Court, is still fighting for jusrice. Nonetheless, so far there does not seem an effective counterweight to Trump’s relentless blackmail and revenge.
So glad you are back in Maine! Have fun!
The work you do is crucial. Hope you a nice vacation.
You deserve it! Enjoy and decompress!
Enjoy Maine. I used to live there and I miss it. Great place to unwind
Your family enjoys and deserves you as much as we do!
Glad you are “refreshing” in my beloved State of Maine, but must apologize for the abnormal hot weather.
You and Heather Cox Richardson are my first reads every morning and the last in the evening, if posted.
Thank you for all you do, which includes updates on the chickens! We ARE in this together!!