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FREE PRESS WEEKLY

August 2–8, 2026

Independent journalism from Columbus and around the world

For more than five decades, the Columbus Free Press has challenged concentrated power, amplified grassroots voices, and covered stories too often ignored by corporate media. Here are this week's most important stories from Ohio and beyond.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Wall Street and the White House: Is presidential communication being turned into a high-frequency trading advantage?

Israel and Gaza: A German activist makes a serious allegation of sexual assault while in Israeli detention.

Political accountability: Are allegations of abuse being treated differently depending on which party is involved?

Nuclear danger: Why are the world's nuclear powers continuing to expand their arsenals despite decades of warnings?

Election and Epstein claims: A controversial new report makes sweeping allegations about the 2024 election, Israel, intelligence agencies, and the Epstein files.

Monetizing the Megaphone: Wall Street, the White House, and the High-Frequency Insider Loop

By Cynthia Brown

Cynthia Brown examines the Trump administration's relationship with Trump Media & Technology Group and its new subscription service offering Wall Street and high-frequency trading firms early access to Truth Social posts. She argues that selling even a fractional-second advantage on potentially market-moving presidential communications raises profound questions about conflicts of interest, insider trading, executive ethics, and the integrity of American financial markets.

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German Activist Anna Liedtke: I Was Raped by the IDF

By Mahmoud El-Yousseph

Mahmoud El-Yousseph reports on German activist and journalist Anna Liedtke's account of alleged sexual assault while she was detained after participating in a humanitarian flotilla. Liedtke has filed a criminal complaint with Israeli authorities and publicly described her allegations, saying she hopes speaking out will encourage other victims to come forward.

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Abuse Isn't Partisan. Protecting Abusers Is.

By Emily Suttle-Braun

Emily Suttle-Braun argues that sexual abuse should not be reduced to a partisan issue and that political parties should be judged by how they respond when members face credible allegations. Using the controversy surrounding Ohio Congressman Max Miller as her central example, she examines questions of political loyalty, accountability, and whether party leaders are willing to put principles ahead of electoral calculations.

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The Rulers of the Nuclear Powers Are Slow Learners

By Lawrence S. Wittner

Historian and nuclear-disarmament scholar Lawrence S. Wittner examines the continuing expansion of the world's nuclear arsenals, warning that the nine nuclear powers are moving in the wrong direction as arms-control agreements deteriorate. He recalls earlier periods when public pressure helped push leaders toward nuclear restraint and argues that a renewed movement for disarmament is urgently needed.

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Update: Third Whistleblower—Israel, the Stolen 2024 Election, and the Epstein Files

By This Will Hold

This article presents a series of sweeping allegations concerning alleged connections among Israel, surveillance technology, the 2024 U.S. election, wealthy political and business figures, and the Epstein files. It relies heavily on purported whistleblower accounts and makes claims about election manipulation and intelligence activity that are highly contested and not independently established; readers should examine the underlying evidence and sources for themselves.

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