Because we live in the dumbest timeline, The Pokémon Company has released a statement regarding the White House using the Pokopia font generator to promote “Make America Great Again.”
The Pokémon Company of course distanced itself stating:
We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand. We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property. Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.
The administration has regularly used pop culture to promote their agenda, often against the wishes of the creators behind it.
Hasbro has joined hundreds of companies suing the Federal Government to get refunds for the tariffs paid due to President Trump’s “emergency trade measures.” Those tariffs were deemed illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court towards the end of February.
Hasbro did not disclose how much it has paid in IEEPA tariffs but it is requesting refunds along with interest. There’s more than 2,000 similar cases filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade since April.
In July 2025, Hasbro’s CEO warned that prices could rise due to the tariffs. Then did so in the second half of the year though it didn’t dent sales. Revenue for the company jumped 31% to $1.45 billion beating expectations. Its profit was $201.6 million for the last three months of 2025. The increase in retail prices varied resulting in an additional 10% to 20% to the cost of items.
At the end of February, the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs in a 6-3 vote. An estimated $200 billion has been paid due to them. Tariffs are a tax that is put on goods imported into the country. It could be raw materials or finished products.
In a report it was estimated that 90% or more of the tariff’s cost was paid by US firms and consumers with the average tariff in 2025 going from 2.6% to 13%. Corporations are unlikely to eat all of that cost, so it is then passed along to consumers in the form of paying for the tariffs directly or by increased prices.
In a recent order, it was increased by a little over $5 for me, about 10% of the pre-tax price of the item which was a toy. Retailers have had to raise their prices to consumers with many making statements they would be doing so.
It’s also unknown if consumers will see any relief in prices due to this decision. It’s not common for corporations to lower prices once they have been raised, so it’s possible the increase retail prices will remain, especially in a continuing uncertain economic outlook.
In the spring of 2025 the cartoonist Joe Sacco, author of Palestine and Footnotes in Gaza, and Chris Hedges, the former Middle East Bureau Chief for The New York Times, traveled to Cairo where they interviewed 29 Palestinian families who had recently left Gaza. In Requiem for Gaza, they use the experience and stories of these families to detail the crucible of the genocide, the loss of homes and communities, the appalling death toll among friends and loved ones, the constant displacement, the terror of indiscriminate killing, the hunger and deprivation, the obliteration of all that was known and familiar, and the struggle to cope with the callous indifference of a world that continues to supply Israel with weapons despite its wholesale destruction of Gaza and mass slaughter.
Requiem for Gaza, like their New York Times best seller Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, combines comics and single images drawn by Sacco within the narrative written by Hedges. Hedges’ vivid prose and Sacco’s visceral images complement each other and together paint a portrait of dignity and suffering under genocide. The collective power of the individual stories that chronicle the first day of the genocide, the forced evacuation of homes, the targeted assassinations, the false hopes engendered by ceasefires, the dislocation and alienation of exile, the brutal killing and hasty burial of family members, and the humiliation of living under tarps without clean food and water bring every aspect of the genocide to life. Set against this horror are stories of self-sacrifice and compassion that show how Palestinians not only clung to their humanity, but morally triumphed over their killers.
Requiem For Gaza will be available wherever books are sold as a hardcover graphic novel (ISBN: 979-8-8750-0272-4) as well as a digital edition, in October 2026, for a list price of $24.99.
The decision was praised by numerous publishers and organizations within the geek and entertainment space. GAMA: The Tabletop Game Association released the below statement yesterday:
GAMA: The Tabletop Game Association applauds today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which struck down the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that he had exceeded his authority in doing so.
Trump promptly announced he would re-impose the tariffs through other methods.
The Supreme Court issued its 6-3 decision in the case of Learning Resources Inc. et al v Trump, which had been consolidated with the case Trump v V.O.S. Solutions. GAMA had filed an amicus brief in the case in support of Learning Solutions and V.O.S., challenging this presidential overreach. GAMA argued that in the IEEPA, Congress had never intended to delegate such sweeping economic powers to the executive branch.
In his majority ruling, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. agreed, writing: “The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.”
GAMA is interested in hearing from any members who would like to share their stories of how the illegal IEEPA tariffs impacted their business, so we can maintain a record of how the tariffs have hurt our industry. Click here to contact the GAMA Communications Team if you are interested. Please let us know if you are also willing to have your story shared on our social channels and in advocacy communications, which will help us put faces and names to the harm these tariffs have done and help amplify the message that Congress needs to take action against future efforts to impose similar tariffs.
It may be possible for companies that paid tariffs to apply for refunds. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged last September on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the agency would issue refunds if ordered to do so by the Supreme Court. GAMA is researching how businesses in our industry that paid tariffs could apply for refunds and will share information as we have it.
GAMA’s support for Learning Resources and V.O.S. Solutions stems from a shared commitment to constitutional governance and economic stability. The unchecked use of IEEPA to alter tariffs threatened not only businesses but the very principle of separation of powers enshrined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
GAMA continues to monitor the Trump administration’s actions regarding tariffs.
The economic situation has been tenuous at best and during President Trump’s second term, even more frightful with his focus on a tariff war with most of the world. The Supreme Court on Friday struck down those tariffs which Trump enacted through executive order. The vote was 6-3 and generally the justices ruled that Trump exceeded the powers given to him by Congress under a 1977 law providing the President the authority to regulate commerce during national emergencies that are due to foreign threats.
What is still undecided is what should happen to all of the money paid as tariffs already, an estimated $200 billion.
Tariffs are a tax that is put on goods imported into the country. It could be raw materials or finished products.
In a report it was estimated that 90% or more of the tariff’s cost was paid by US firms and consumers with the average tariff in 2025 going from 2.6% to 13%. Corporations are unlikely to eat all of that cost, so it is then passed along to consumers in the form of paying for the tariffs directly or by increased prices.
In a recent order, it was increased by a little over $5 for me, about 10% of the pre-tax price of the item which was a toy. Retailers have had to raise their prices to consumers with many making statements they would be doing so.
It’s also unknown if consumers will see any relief in prices due to this decision. It’s not common for corporations to lower prices once they have been raised, so it’s possible the increase retail prices will remain, especially in a continuing uncertain economic outlook.
The use of comics in politics isn’t something new and goes back decades, if not over a hundred years if you want to include political cartoons. But, in recent years, campaigns have re-embraced the printed page to help promote their candidates. The latest is Kat Abughazaleh who is running for Congress in Illinois’ Ninth District. The district covers parts of Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties and currently represented by Democrat Jan Schakowsky, who is not seeking reelection, in one of the most reliably Democratic districts in Chicago and all of Illinois. There’s currently about 16 individuals running in the Democratic primary.
The comic introduces Kat and inspired by a love of comcis, graphic novels, and manga, and introduces the candidate to voters, focusing on what she cares about and why she’s running.
The artwork was originally created as a direct mail comic illustrated by Chicago based artist and publisher Josh Blaylock creator of Mercy Sparx, The Disavowed, and more at Devil’s Due.
Now, all five editions are being collected to help raise money for the campaign in a small, limited printed run.
The proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. has a lot of hurdles before it’s approved including being approved by the government.
On Tuesday, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos appeared before the US Senate to discuss the deal that would see Warner Bros.’ studio, HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Games, and DC Comics purchased by Netflix.
Concerns over antitrust issues were raised but some took the opportunity to bring up “woke” content and “transgender ideology” bringing culture wars to the process.
While making attacks, those Senators could not provide evidence or support for their claims and statistics. MAGA influencers have raised that issue to block the merger and it has been echoed by Republicans.
Paramount has put in a competing bid for the company. Paramount has a more conservative bent having put numerous individuals into decision making positions to guide CBS and more. Paramount is looking to continue to consolidate the market and bring all of Warner Bros. Discovery under their control.
A man dressed as Batman confronted the Santa Clara City Council, city authorities, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Monday during a joint meeting over ICE’s involvement with Super Bowl 60. Levi Stadium in Santa Clara will host the event.
The speaker’s comments as protests against ICE and its violent actions have increased, both the protests and violent actions. ICE has killed multiple individuals in its enforcement including two recently in Minneapolis. There’s also unknown amounts of abuses occurring under watch and directly by them to individuals detained.
He demanded the city bar the use of city resources in cooperation with ICE.
Greg Ketter of DreamHaven Bookshas become a bit of an internet celebrity over the weekend. The 70 year old Ketter was interviewed about the occupation, terrorism, and murder of a US citizen by ICE in Minneapolis where he cursed them out stating “I’m seventy years old and I’m fucking angry!” That moment went viral and is driving business to the store.
DreamHaven Books and Comics was established in 1977 by Ketter in Minneapolis and the oldest continuously running science fiction, fantasy, and horror bookstore in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. In 1999 it was awarded the Will Eisner Spirit of Retail Award and in this act of defiance, deserves more recognition and awards for showing off the best of the comic book community.
Greg Ketter of DreamHaven Books has become a bit of an internet celebrity over the weekend. The 70 year old Ketter was interviewed about the occupation, terrorism, and murder of a US citizen by ICE in Minneapolis where he cursed them out stating “I’m seventy years old and I’m fucking angry!”
Protester in Minneapolis just before disappearing in gas: "Fuck you! Stop. Damn! I'm 70 years old and I'm fuckin' angry!"
In an interview with MS Now on Saturday with clashes between protesters and federal agents going on, Ketter was caught in the smoke-filled streets where he cursed out federal agents.
During the moment, tear gas was fired at the protesters including Ketter. As the HuffPost article described the situation goes on:
Just then, a loud boom went off nearby, and demonstrators could be heard chanting in the distance. The man then walked over to a pallet of plastic water bottles and took one out before the waves of tear gas smoke enveloped him entirely.
He then began coughing before walking off into the smoke and disappearing.
That led to a now iconic photo of Ketter within the remaining smoke from a recent attack by the federal government against its own citizens.
On their Facebook page, Ketter recounted the situation:
Wow. So much to address.
First things first. FUCK ICE. They murdered Alex Pretti on Saturday in cold blood. I won’t accept any other explanation. The young man is dead because of Donald Trump, Kristi Noem and the rest of that ghoulish group.
Because of this I was angry enough to go to the site of Alex’s murder to pay respects and witness for myself the ICE thugs who support these actions. I got there about an hour after the murder and went right up to the intersection that ICE had taped off and stood guard. There were perhaps 50-100 of them and several hundred observers/protesters milling around. Some were right up front yelling and swearing. I became one of them.
No one made a move toward the agents but suddenly several canisters of tear gas were thrown into the crowd. A number of agents broke the tape and ran after people along a side street to my left for no reason I could see. I stood where I was as more tear gas and flash bombs (they were loud) were thrown at us. There was shooting, probably pepper balls. Most people had backed off but a few had gas masks and stayed near the line. I had no gas mask and I don’t know what made me stay but I did. And I was screaming even louder.
I was screaming and sobbing, not from gas, but from Fury and sadness. I don’t think the gas had affected me at this point. A gas-masked camera man had been circling around near me asked if I was OK. I was physically fine but I had snapped. I was so angry that people hired by our government could do this to innocent people. Hence the rant which seems to have gone viral.
People have been so kind – from the concerned people there at the scene offering me help to the many, many thousands who have watched the video and offered their support. Those who ordered books from us (it will take a bit to get things sorted out) and eventually crashed our website (working on that too), I thank you. People discovered the old GOFUNDME we had after the riots after George Floyd was murdered and our store was heavily damaged and have been making donations there. I’m greatly touched by that but I would like to offer that money to our local food shelves if donors wouldn’t mind. The store is intact and doing well and the money should go to a greater cause.
I’ll have more for you later today and in upcoming days. Thank you all and stay strong. I’m still fucking angry! Greg
DreamHaven Books and Comics was established in 1977 by Ketter in Minneapolis and the oldest continuously running science fiction, fantasy, and horror bookstore in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. In 1999 it was awarded the Will Eisner Spirit of Retail Award and in this act of defiance, probably deserves more recognition and awards for showing off the best of the comic book community.
