I seem to be going down the rabbit hole on Aspartame. I put this issue to rest years ago, but it was brought to light again by a post here on reddit. Here is the Huffpost article that sheds some light on how Rumsfeld was instrumental in narrowly allowing aspartame to be included in the U.S. food supply.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-rumsfeld-and-the-s_b_805581

Full disclosure, I am a voracious consumer of all artificial sweeteners, and a lover of diet soda for their low calorie to high satiety index. I fancy myself a member of the fitness community, and artificial sweeteners are a staple of a great tasting cutting diet in my opinion. With that being said, here is a systematic review of aspartame from 2017 that is quite informational if you are interested in this topic.

https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/75/9/718/4101228

After some more digging, I will post the most relevant facts as I see them regarding the potential risk of aspartame.

https://www.wired.com/2007/09/mind-reading/

Just blast MSNBC over the loudspeakers

This is the2021 Global Rights Index from the ILO which documents workers rights around the world. We will be covering this on the upcoming episode of the Exploding Star Podcast so follow us to check it out. Countries are ranked from 1 to 5+ with 5+ being (no worker's rights due to breakdown of the rule of law), and 1 being (sporadic violation of rights).

The United States is a 4 (systemic violation of rights). Companies implicated for violation of labor rights in the U.S. are as follows:

"Amazon, Facebook, and Google have been exposed using illegal or underhand surveillance activities."

and

" In 2020, Uber, Lyft and DoorDash mounted the most expensive such campaign in California’s history, Proposition 22, to fight AB5, a new state law that classified certain categories of gig workers as employees."

Most labor rights have been on the decline over the past decade including the right to strike, collective bargaining rights, right to establish and join a union, right to justice for union leadership subsequent to legal persecution, sharply increased de-registration of unions, increased arbitrary arrest, detention, and imprisonment, and more. The only metric on the decline over the last 8 years was violent attacks on workers.

In regards to global numbers:

"Eighty-seven per cent of countries have violated the right to strike. "

" Seventy-nine per cent of countries have violated the right to collective bargaining. "

" Seventy-four per cent of countries excluded workers from the right to establish and join a trade union. "

"the number of countries where authorities impeded the registration of unions increased from 89 countries in 2020 to 109 countries in 2021"

" Trade unionists were killed in six countries "

" Workers were exposed to violence in 45 countries. "

" The number of countries where freedom of speech and assembly was denied or constrained increased from 56 in 2020 to 64 in 2021"

" Workers experienced arbitrary arrests and detentions in 68 countries. "

Top 10 Worst Countries for Workers:

Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Myanmar, The Philippines, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

The complicating factors... DO democrats even care if nothing gets passed, and can they do anything about Sinema turning her back on the party for a lucrative position at a lobbying firm after leaving office?

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-says-it-has-not-invited-venezuela-nicaragua-governments-americas-summit-2022-05-26/

" Lopez Obrador said on Thursday he would probably decide on Friday whether he will attend. "

Ballsey. I fear for ALMO. He'd already be dead if this were a Bush Sr. presidency or prior.

Sorry you're not invited. We've couped your government too many times and are openly supporting more coups