(click on images to enlarge)
(Garry Trudeau, gocomics.com)
(Ann Telnaes, anntelnaes.substack.com)
(David Rowe, Financial Review, Australia)
(Bart van Leeuwen, Oedipoes.com, Netherlands)
(Nick Anderson, Tribune Content Agency)
(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
(Rob Rogers, Tinyview.com)
(Mike Konopacki, The Capital Times, WI)
(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)
(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)
(Phil Hands, Wisconsin State Journal)
(Mort Gerberg, @mortgerberg)
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) speaking at a rally in Savannah, GA, yesterday:
“The president was so humiliated in Hormuz he threw his toys out the stroller and refused to sign the affordable housing bill. That’s after he gave some felon donor a no bid contract for the reflecting pool and it filled up with algae, which for some reason required the deployment of the National Guard. And then because of his war and tariffs, inflation rose to over 4%. He promised to bring down prices on day one, do you remember that?”
____________________
“Citizens United was the most destructive court decision in modern American history. It’s unleashed a flood of secret money, corporate money, billionaire money on both sides. Donald Trump’s rise is a symptom of this deeper disease. Our task is not just to contain his wickedness, but to cure the rot that gave rise to it.”
____________________
“This is what happens when you send your son in law Jared to cosplay as a
diplomat. Despite zero qualifications, Prince Jared was tapped to lead
Middle East diplomacy. Now remember Jared’s slush fund already got $2
billion from the Saudi Crown Prince. Even now he’s actively asking Arab
princes for billions more. Not for the US, for his own business.”
He also rightfully called his MAGAt Republican opponent Rep. Mike Collins "a bigot and an antisemite under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars..."
FFS, Democratic candidates, please take note of how to pound the fascist Republican MAGAt cult, and what we need to do with power, from this guy.
You can view the entire video of Sen. Ossoff's remarks as well as those of former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democratic nominee for Georgia Governor, here.
Instead of a piece to reflect on today, we're again asking that you consider supporting recovery and relief efforts for the Venezuelan people who suffered catastrophic earthquakes last week through a charity of your choice. We have a handful listed here to consider:
International Red Cross: Venezuelan Red Cross’ nationwide network of hospitals and clinics remains active and continues to deliver care, and rescue teams are supporting evacuation and search efforts
International Rescue Committee: Currently on the ground delivering urgent health, nutrition, and livelihood services.
Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (UN Crisis Relief): Partners with dozens of trusted local NGOs to provide life-saving aid and healthcare.
Catholic Relief Services: Working alongside Caritas Venezuela to support nutrition programs, primary health services, and emergency shelter.
Global Empowerment Mission: A disaster relief organization actively mobilizing emergency supplies and personnel.
World Central Kitchen: Mobilizes rapidly to serve hot meals and food assistance to displaced families and first responders.
Thank you!
This is a fairly brief, but quite informative, video on the recently-opened Obama Presidential Center that has some insights provided by the architects who designed the Center, as well as President Obama's vision and intentions in creating this "New Monument to Democracy."
From Architecture Hunter:
... Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWBTA), the 19-acre campus is anchored by a 225-foot (69-meter) granite-clad tower and complemented by the Forum, the Library, public gardens, gathering spaces, and an expansive landscape designed to serve the city for generations to come.
More than a presidential library, the project was conceived as a democratic campus, a place where architecture, education, culture, and civic engagement come together. Inspired by the belief that meaningful change emerges through collective action, a principle that defined the presidency of President Barack Obama, the Center reimagines what a presidential institution can be: not a monument to the past, but a platform for the future.
In this film, we experience the project through a poetic and cinematic architectural journey, exploring how landscape, materiality, light, and public space come together to create an environment that belongs as much to the people of Chicago as it does to the legacy of the Obama Presidency.
The film also features a rare and extensive interview with President Barack Obama, alongside conversations with the architects of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, offering unique insight into the ideas, values, and ambitions that shaped the project over more than a decade of development...
BONUS: In contrast --
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For almost a month, Albanians have demonstrated against their government's approval of a reckless real estate development project backed by the odious Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on Albania's Adriatic Sea, which would destroy an ecological area that's one of the last in the Mediterranean region. Every night, growing numbers of angry Albanians demonstrate against the selling of their natural heritage by the corrupt government of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his colleagues in the government. From Mei Seva writing in Mother Jones:
"Every day, for nearly a month running, tens of thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets, a peaceful mass movement seeking nothing less than a complete overthrow of the government.
The “Flamingo Revolution,” as local activists have dubbed it, was set off by the luxury resort projects that Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, plan to build on nature reserves in Albania. At the beginning of May, a barbed-wire fence was erected in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape in Zvërnec, restricting access to one of the most treasured natural coastlines and one of the Mediterranean’s last untouched coastal ecosystems.
Activists, residents, and members of the Levizja Bashkë political party gathered to protest the fences, and after security guards violently dragged a demonstrator through the property, more protests erupted and the story went global.
The Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape is home to flamingos, pelicans, migratory birds, and hundreds of protected species. It includes lagoons, wetlands, and habitats of exceptional ecological value. And it is one of many protected nature zones now at dire risk of destruction.
In February 2024, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama of the center-left Socialist Party, Albania’s parliament passed Law 21/2024, which allows the National Territory Council to grant permits for luxury tourist resorts anywhere in the country, even in protected landscapes. Three days later, Kushner went public with plans to create two luxury developments in the region, including a resort on Sazan, a protected nature zone and one of Albania’s only major islands.
Javanka’s vision includes up to 10,000 'units of villas,' priced far beyond what most Albanians can afford, to be built in an area where many locals lack access to 24-7 running water. Albania, which has set a goal of 2030 for admission to the European Union, is obligated to repeal Law 21/2024, which clashes with EU conservation standards, but so far has failed to do so." (our emphasis)
The photographs accompanying the story are powerful, and it's heartbreaking to realize that two selfish, rapacious nepo babies could be gorging on a pristine Adriatic coastline that most Albanians will never get access to again. The Albanian government is defending their approval of the resort development with the usual "jobs creation and economic stimulus" argument, which the people aren't buying at the expense of their natural heritage. Hopefully the demonstrations will grow and the government will be replaced by those who have their country's interests -- and not Javanka's -- at heart.
(photo: Marchers in Tirana, Albania, June 2026. Nurphoto / Getty Images)
(click on images to enlarge)
(Monte Wolverton, caglecartoons.com)
(David Horsey, The Seattle Times)
(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
(Clay Jones, claytoonz.substack.com)
(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)
(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)
(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)
(Bill Day, caglecartoons.com)
(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)
(Ingrid Rice, politicalcartoons.com, Canada)
(Kevin Kallaugher, The Economist, UK)
Operation Epic Failure: what ceasefire?, market manipulation, peacetime bombings --
Bahrain said it came under attack from Iranian drones, and a tanker was hit while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, as the latest flare-up in fighting extended into a third day.
— The Wall Street Journal (@wsj.com) June 27, 2026 at 7:36 AM
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Pentagon delayed publicly announcing U.S. strikes on Iran until after financial markets had closed. The timing was intended to reduce the immediate impact on financial markets, including oil prices.
— Shipwreck (@shipwreck75.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 11:58 PM
“Peacetime bombings”
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 7:52 AM
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The mentally disturbed Malignant Fascist does some serious vote rigging projection --
— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Bible banger lies about the first words of the First Amendment, as Don Snorleone nods off --
Today I learned that the First Amendment is actually not part of the Constitution.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
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He has the Trump edited version.
— davidrlurie (@davidrlurie.com) June 26, 2026 at 4:05 PM
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South Afrikaner's SpaceX stock in junk bond territory? --
“.. The sell-off means the company’s bonds are trading at levels closer to those of junk-rated borrowers ..” @financialtimes.com $SPCX www.ft.com/content/04f9...
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 5:17 PM
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Let's have more Dems like James Talarico --
Talarico: Every bar has that guy. He’s loud, he’s obnoxious, he makes all the women in the bar feel uncomfortable. He hears you say your name to the bartender and then adds his drink to your tab when you’re not looking. That’s Paxton. And I don’t know about y’all, but I’m done picking up his tab.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 11:35 PM
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The ignorant MF doesn't understand that passports are for when you go OUT of the country --
These geniuses don’t seem to realize passports are for American citizens, when they LEAVE the country 🤦🏼
— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 10:35 PM
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Kim Jong Un thinks this is a bit much
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 26, 2026 at 5:13 PM
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More things in fascist Russia that go "boom." Slava Ukraini! --
⚡️ Ukraine's Flamingo missiles 'successfully struck' key Russian military plant in Volgograd, Zelensky says. "Confirmed strikes were followed by a fire on the plant's premises," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) June 27, 2026 at 3:55 AM
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Loser MF's "Great American State Fair" ain't going so great. Sad! --
This isn’t as much fun as a funeral.
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@nothoodlum.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 10:17 AM
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Fighting the war on algae --
BREAKING: the algae has taken the fight to the White House. #DonaldTrump
— Paulley Ticks (@tomadelsbach.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 4:04 PM
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"... Our elite political media is now bothsidesing racism.
"Most of the coverage of Thursday’s Supreme Court decision -– to the extent that it raised the issue of racial animus at all -- consisted of, literally, both sides. Reporters briefly quoted Alito’s opinion, briefly quoted Justice Elana Kagan’s blistering dissent, and left it at that. Jump ball.
"See the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and NBC Nightly News coverage, for instance. The CBS Evening News and ABC World News Tonight whiffed entirely on the racial element.
"That was bad enough.
"What was even worse was the New York Times 'news analysis' headlined 'Justices Clash on Whether Race Played a Role in Trump’s Bid to Deport Haitians.' In it, chief legal affairs correspondent Adam Liptak explicitly treated Trump’s obvious racism as an open question, with two sides. [snip]
"If you’re going to write about politics and racism, one of the most important stories to tell is that not just Trump, but the entire Republican Party – inspired and liberated by Trump -- is becoming more and more overtly racist. And that includes the Republicans on the high court.
"As I wrote in October, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that white supremacy is one of the core animating principles of the Republicans who control all three branches of government.” -- Dan Froomkin, at his "Critical Read" Substack, on the recent racist Republican SCOTUS's deportation decision in Mullin v. Doe.
We've been doing this blogging stuff for over two decades, and one thread stands out as much as anything else in our political culture: the news media will never speak honestly and with clarity about anything that puts the Republican Party in a bad light without trying to create a false comparison with Democrats. Never. "Working the refs" only works for Republicans, largely because Democrats aren't effective doing it, or don't do it at all. But, to look for a moral spine in the broad news media is to go on a fool's errand. They're corporate, bean-counting, access-driven cowards.
"The pathway that connects the White House residence to the Oval Office has long been paved in Tennessee flagstone. Every president since Harry Truman made the 45-second commute, and made it without complaint, until Donald Trump. The dun rock would not do. Instead, Trump wanted polished African granite, carved in Italy, with a flamed-finish stripe—slightly raised, to prevent slips—running down the middle. As workers tore up the flagstone in March, a reporter asked Trump who was paying for the enhancements. 'Paid for by me,' he replied.
But that wasn’t true. Budget documents from the National Park Service that I obtained show that the walkway replacement cost taxpayers $689,232, and is part of a $1.3 million project that included repairing adjacent stone and masonry and providing new hardware for nearby doors. A year earlier, in a separate 'Rush project at request of POTUS,' the Park Service spent $347,503 to remove and replace the stucco on the colonnade wall, a project that cleared the way for Trump to affix gold frames and plaques mocking some of his predecessors. [snip]
Taxpayer spending on projects in the National Capital Region has increased 92 percent over the past year, according to the budget documents. The windfall draws on revolving maintenance accounts and more than $100 million in fees collected almost entirely from national parks elsewhere. Trump has ordered the refurbishment of fountains, the lining of the Reflecting Pool, and a $1.6 million Fourth of July fireworks display on the National Mall. He has requested billions more from lawmakers, who thus far have refused. 'I’m so proud of Washington, D.C.,' Trump said Wednesday during a meeting in the Oval Office with the secretary-general of NATO. 'It’s become one of the hottest cities in the world.'”
Scherer's article continues to describe the impact of the MF's "projects" on needed repairs at our National Parks, with some 900 National Park projects robbed of their funding due to the MF's destructive narcissism. It matters nothing to him that American taxpayers are not getting a good experience from their national parks, due to his redirection of funds to his "redecorating" projects to aggrandize himself.
(photo: National Park Service)
Korean-Japanese vlogger Mei takes us on a summer trip to the island of Ogijima in the Inland Sea and to one of the nearby principal Japanese islands, Shikoku. Hillside paths, sea views, food stops (of course), the Ogijima library, the don't- miss beautiful Ritsurin Garden on Shikoku, and much more. A relaxing tour for a Saturday summer morning.
(click on images to enlarge)
(Ann Telnaes, anntelnaes.substack.com)
(Jimmy Margulies, King Features)
(Manny Francisco, politicalcartoons.com, Philippines)
(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
(Bruce Plante, caglecartoons.com)
(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)
(Daniel Boris, @cartoonmovement)
(Drew Sheneman, The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ)
(Ruben Bolling, gocomics.com)
(Clay Jones, claytoonz.substack.com)
(Banx, @banxcartoons)
The long-awaited release of unredacted copies of a number of Epstein-Trump files was ordered by a Federal District Judge, in response to the lawsuit filed by journalist / lawyer Katie Pfang citing the Epstein Files Transparency Act. From ABC News:
"A federal judge is ordering the Department of Justice to turn over unredacted versions of some of the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or explain why the materials were withheld.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan sided with an independent journalist who sued over the withheld materials, concluding that the Trump administration likely violated the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The Department of Justice has until July 2 to either turn over the documents with less redactions -- namely identifying the sender and recipient of some emails and the names of co-conspirators included in a draft indictment -- or explain 'why the redactions should not be removed.'
He also ordered the Department of Justice to publish a log detailing all the redactions.
Among the documents included in the ruling, Judge Sullivan ordered the DOJ to hand over the underlying notes from the FBI's interview with a woman who accused President Donald Trump of assault. Those claims were uncorroborated, and Trump has denied the allegations. The DOJ has released the interview reports from some of those interviews, but not the underlying notes.
The Trump administration also was ordered to reveal the sender and recipients of a series of emails that reference the recruiting of young women.
'The key are the 14 to 15 year old girls--i am a sexual pervert because i say they are now of a reproductive age?' said one email sent to Epstein in 2015. 'My heart goes out to you brother ... being called a sexual pervert is no fun.'
'She is like Lolita from Nabokov , femme miniature :) So now I should send you her type of candidates only,' another email, sent to Epstein in 2017 said." (our emphasis)
Let's hope the degenerate Malignant Fascist's acts are uncovered behind the redacted black paragraphs, but he's going to do everything to try to stop the release, for obvious reasons. Compared to the panic in the White House over the release of the Haberman - Swan book "Regime Change," his reaction to the public eventually seeing his interactions with Epstein and his victims should be volcanic. Stay tuned.
(Gif: the perverted MF with his friend Epstein, picking out girls)
The Epstein-Trump files coverup / on Trump's 13-year-old accuser --
“US District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered acting AG Todd Blanche to release unredacted versions of several Epstein files, or explain why DOJ should be allowed to keep them secret, as he sided w/investigative journo @katiephang.bsky.social, who had accused Blanche of violating the Epstein Files Act.”
— Sanho Tree (@sanho.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 8:48 AM
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Operation Epic Failure / the cost and Iran's gain / more lies --
The cost of the Iran War has been massive. Direct military costs will likely approach $100 billion. But the total could be closer to $1 trillion when long-term costs from inflation impacts, debt interest payments, and veterans’ benefits are included. My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
— Steve Rattner (@steverattner.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 3:41 PM
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Iran stands to make up to $450 billion off a potential peace deal. Trump has already committed to an $18 billion upfront windfall before the deal is even finalized. While full details are TBD, the proposal is objectively worse for Americans than Obama's JCPOA. 📸: @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social
— Steve Rattner (@steverattner.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 2:12 PM
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Nobody believed Trump and Vance that Iran was going to spend this money on US farm products. That was a line to assuage the cultists who were told by their hero for a decade that providing billions to Iran was weak and evil.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 9:34 AM
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Trump and Republican SCOTUS' racist deportation ruling: MAGAt FAFO --
A lot of people who voted for Trump are going to be in for a massive shock when their parents lose their home health care aides, who are largely immigrants.
— Eric Michael Garcia (@ericmgarcia.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 10:59 AM
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no sign of racial animus here, no sirree from less than two weeks ago
— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 7:29 AM
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What Democratic voters want --
Democratic voters prefer politicians who are ready, willing and able to fight. Where incumbents fail that test, voters will look to replace them with politicians who will actually fight. That's it. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 3:24 PM
What they want Democratic politicians to fight against --
pass our law or we'll try to overthrow the republic every time we lose an election. because we're criminal degenerates.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 8:39 AM
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Hard to fully express the contempt I feel for this gutter racist, nor the horror of living in proximity to both him and the people who would sustain him in high office. To spend your privileged time on earth spreading calumnies about your neighbors is just incomprehensibly bleak and vile.
— Alex Schieferdecker (@alexschief.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 3:48 PM
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While it's obvious the next Democratic president should pardon these individuals on day one, the judge who handed down the sentences should also be subjected to a federal investigation to determine if he abused his power and whether it warrants prosecution and potential imprisonment.
— Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 9:31 PM
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Nixon, Trump, Vance, and erasing history --
vance is basically nixon if nixon were a dipshit and not a genuinely impressive guy
— jamelle (@jamellebouie.net) June 25, 2026 at 7:05 PM
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Russians getting a taste of Putin's war. Slava Ukraini! --
Muscovites traumatized by a small taste of war. For many Muscovites, the first warning that the war was coming closer was not an official alert but drones overhead at night, followed by explosions at the capital’s largest oil refinery. As Ukraine has stepped up its drone campaign against Moscow
— Scott Horton (@robertscotthorton.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 9:05 AM
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The Green Reflecting Pool (Happy Friday!) --
Green Reflecting Pool
— Brent Terhune (@brentterhune.bsky.social) June 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM
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We're staying in the avian family, so to speak, with our weekend music choices. Minneapolis' great alt band The Jayhawks have a new album, "Sanctuary Park," coming out on August 28, and have released this single, "Keeping Our Heads Above Water." The song exhibits The Jayhawks' beautiful 3-part harmonies and instrumental interplay, and is part of what the band's vision for the album is about: a "place where distant memories re-emerge, childhood friends from years prior start speaking again, and teenage lovers start lives that their older selves are determined to renew."
Sixty-one years ago today, The Byrds reached #1 on the charts for the first time with their cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But rather than play that iconic classic again, we're flipping to the "B" side of the single, Gene Clark's gorgeous "I Knew I'd Want You." Clark's vocal, the classic Byrds harmonies, as well as the subtle chord changes and subdued 12-string guitar work (Roger McGuinn was the only Byrd to play on the song) make this one of our favorite Gene Clark early compositions. Hope you enjoy.
The disastrous earthquakes in Venezuela have killed hundreds and left thousands injured and homeless. Please consider supporting aid and relief efforts through a charity of your choice. We have a handful listed here to consider:
International Red Cross: Venezuelan Red Cross’ nationwide network of hospitals and clinics remains active and continues to deliver care, and rescue teams are supporting evacuation and search efforts
International Rescue Committee: Currently on the ground delivering urgent health, nutrition, and livelihood services.
Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (UN Crisis Relief): Partners with dozens of trusted local NGOs to provide life-saving aid and healthcare.
Catholic Relief Services: Working alongside Caritas Venezuela to support nutrition programs, primary health services, and emergency shelter.
Global Empowerment Mission: A disaster relief organization actively mobilizing emergency supplies and personnel.
World Central Kitchen: Mobilizes rapidly to serve hot meals and food assistance to displaced families and first responders.
Reuters has a summary of international efforts to assist Venezuela in its search and rescue efforts, and humanitarian relief.
(photo: Pedro Mattel / AP)
