Happy Juneteenth! 6.19.25 Ally Sammarco Jun 20 Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Today is Juneteenth…Juneteenth—now a federal holiday—commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, specifically marking the day—June 19, 1865—when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the last enslaved African Americans that they were free. Markets and government offices were closed. National media spotlighted 98 year-old Opal Lee whose decades-long crusade made this day a national recognition of Black freedom. As she puts it: "True freedom is only when everyone is free." Common Sense takeaway: Reflect, celebrate, and engage in real conversations about equity and freedom today. Largest data breach in history….Cyber researchers have uncovered 16 billion stolen login credentials in 30 fresh data dumps in what is being called the largest data breach in history. This isn't old news, it's an active threat. The leak includes emails, passwords, and URLs from Apple, Google, Facebook, Telegram, GitHub, VPNs, and even government portals. Common Sense takeaway: Change your passwords. Turn on two-factor authentication. Use a password manager. And maybe stop using your dog’s name as your bank login. Common Sense with Ally Sammarco is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Israel–Iran conflict intensifies….Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, including a strike near Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, using cluster munitions in civilian areas. Israel responded with strikes on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, including the Arak reactor. Efforts are ramping up with foreign ministers from the U.S., UK, and Europe meeting in Geneva to attempt to de-escalate the impending war. Meanwhile, Donald Trump said he will be making a decision on strikes in Iran in two weeks. (We’ve heard that one before.) Trump removed LGBTQ+ Youth Hotline…..The Trump administration announced that, starting July 17, 2025, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will remove its “Press 3” option, which connected callers aged 25 and under to counselors trained specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. Starting July 17, everyone gets routed to the general line—because apparently Trump thinks jamming everyone into one hotline is efficient. Common Sense takeaway: You don’t need to “streamline” suicide prevention. You need to save lives. Today’s Buzz Jack Schlossberg—nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr.—has publicly condemned the upcoming FX show American Love Story, produced by Ryan Murphy. Schlossberg said the series, which dramatizes JFK Jr.'s relationship with Carolyn Bessette, failed to consult the Kennedy family and profits off his uncle’s legacy, calling it “grotesque.” He urged that any proceeds be donated to the John F. Kennedy Library. That’s all for today. Thanks for reading. Check back tomorrow for the next edition of Common Sense.