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How sweepstakes entry data can reach scammers

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How sweepstakes entry data can reach scammers


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It’s summer. Mall kiosks promise free cruises. Retailers run drawings at checkout. Entry cards sit in stacks near the register. You fill one out, drop it in the box and forget about it by the time you reach your car.

That may be the last moment the information feels contained. Many sweepstakes are legitimate. Still, the official rules or privacy policy may allow the sponsor, its affiliates or marketing partners to use and share your information. The privacy risk grows when those details become part of a larger marketing profile, move through the data broker industry or reach buyers running deceptive campaigns.

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FCC ROBOCALL CRACKDOWN COULD CHANGE PHONE PRIVACY

A simple sweepstakes form can collect personal details that later become part of a larger marketing profile.  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What personal information sweepstakes collect

A basic sweepstakes entry may ask for your name, email address and phone number. Some promotional forms request far more, including your age range, household income, health interests, medications or magazine subscriptions. Those extra questions can have marketing value even when they have little connection to selecting a winner.

The Federal Trade Commission has found that data brokers collect information from online and offline sources, including purchases, magazine subscriptions, income data and other personal details. Brokers can combine those records into profiles that help marketers predict what may capture your attention.

Before entering, ask yourself whether the sponsor truly needs each answer. The more information you provide, the more detailed the resulting profile can become.

 

How sweepstakes entry data becomes a marketing profile

Responding to a sweepstakes can become a valuable signal. It tells a marketer that a prize—based offer caught your attention and persuaded you to provide personal information. The FTC has warned that sweepstakes promoters may sell entry information to advertisers. That can lead to more targeted advertising, junk mail, telemarketing calls and spam.

Your entry may also be combined with purchase histories, demographic estimates and records collected from other sources. As a result, the profile can reveal far more than the few answers written on the original form. Once you are categorized as someone who responds to sweepstakes, your information may become more valuable to companies promoting similar offers. The danger grows when a poorly controlled list reaches a buyer running a fraudulent campaign.

 

What the Epsilon fraud case revealed

Epsilon Data Management was one of the world’s largest marketing companies. It entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department after acknowledging that one of its business units sold consumer lists to mass-mailing fraud schemes. Those operations sent false sweepstakes notices and astrology solicitations. The mailings claimed recipients had won prizes or could receive personalized psychic services after paying a fee. People who paid received nothing of value.

Epsilon agreed to pay $150 million in penalties and victim compensation. Of that amount, $127.5 million was designated for people harmed by fraud schemes that used Epsilon data. Many of the people targeted were older adults. The case continued beyond the company settlement. A jury later convicted a former Epsilon executive and sales manager of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.

The Justice Department said the defendants sold targeted lists to fraudsters who used them to identify people likely to respond to deceptive mailings. The case documents a specific abuse of targeted marketing data rather than a universal path for every sweepstakes entry. Still, it shows how information collected for marketing can become a road map for fraud when it reaches the wrong buyer.

money and laptop

Sweepstakes entry data can lead to more promotional mail and convincing fake prize notices. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How sweepstakes entry data can reach scammers

The exact path will vary by promotion. However, one possible chain looks like this:

  • You enter a sweepstakes and provide your contact information.
  • The sponsor stores the entry and uses or shares it according to the official rules and privacy policy.
  • A marketing company combines your answers with information from other sources.
  • Your record becomes part of a segment based on your interests and response history.
  • The information passes to additional marketers or data brokers.
  • In the worst cases, a buyer uses the list to send deceptive prize notices or other targeted scams.

This chain can unfold without a malicious website, infected attachment or stolen password. The starting point may be a paper form sitting inside a familiar store.

 

Why local sweepstakes can create privacy risks

A mall kiosk or retailer drawing feels safer than a random website because you recognize the location. That familiarity can make the privacy terms easier to overlook. Before entering, look for the official rules and privacy policy. Check whether the sponsor can share your data with affiliates, sponsors or marketing partners.

Also watch for language giving permission to call, email or text you. Once several companies receive the information, tracing every copy becomes difficult. That lack of visibility is one reason a simple contest entry can create a much larger privacy footprint.

sitting at laptop

Older adults may receive targeted prize offers designed to feel personal, urgent and legitimate. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to protect your sweepstakes entry data

A few simple habits can limit the information you hand over, reduce unwanted marketing and help your family recognize a fake prize before money changes hands.

 

1) Reduce your data broker exposure

You cannot pull back every sweepstakes entry you have already submitted. However, you can reduce the amount of personal information available through data brokers and people-search sites.

Start by searching for your name, phone number, email address and home address online. You may find profiles that reveal your age, relatives, past addresses and other personal details. Many data brokers provide an opt-out process, although removing your information manually can take time and may require repeated requests.

You can also use a reputable data removal service to contact brokers on your behalf and continue submitting removal requests when your information reappears. Before signing up, check how many brokers the service covers, whether it offers ongoing monitoring and whether you can request removals from specific sites.

No service can erase every public record, social media post or privately held database. Still, reducing the number of sites displaying and selling your information can make it harder for marketers and scammers to build a detailed profile about you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: CyberGuy.com.

 

2) Share only what the sweepstakes needs

Provide the minimum information required for a valid entry. Think twice when a form asks about your income, medications, health concerns, shopping habits or other sensitive subjects. Some promotions need your age or date of birth to verify eligibility. However, questions unrelated to the official requirements may serve a marketing purpose.

WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME

 

3) Read the official rules and privacy policy

Look for the sponsor’s full name, eligibility requirements, drawing date and privacy terms. Pay close attention to language explaining whether your information may be shared with affiliates or marketing partners. When no official rules or identifiable sponsor appear, skip the promotion.

 

4) Skip optional marketing consent

Watch for preselected boxes or fine print that gives the sponsor permission to send promotions by email, phone or text. Leave optional marketing boxes unchecked. When consent is required to enter, decide whether the prize feels worth the additional contact and data sharing.

 

5) Use a separate email address for promotions

Consider creating an alias email address used only for contests, store loyalty programs and promotional offers. This makes follow-up marketing easier to recognize and keeps your primary inbox less exposed. A separate address cannot prevent the sponsor from sharing the information you provide. However, it can help you contain the resulting email. For more ways to protect your inbox, read how your email address gets into the wrong hands.

 

6) Never provide financial information to enter

Do not provide a bank account number, credit card number or payment app information on a sweepstakes entry. The Postal Inspection Service advises consumers to avoid any sweepstakes requesting financial information or payment. A legitimate sponsor may need tax information after you have independently verified a major prize. That request should come after the drawing and through a confirmed company contact rather than on the original entry form.

 

7) Save the rules and sponsor details

Take a photo of a paper entry form or save a screenshot of an online promotion. Keep the official rules, sponsor name and drawing date. When someone later claims you won, compare the message with the original promotion. Contact the sponsor through information you find independently rather than using a phone number or link provided in the prize message.

 

8) Watch an older relative’s mailbox

The Epsilon schemes harmed many older adults and other vulnerable people. Watch for prize letters that feel urgent, personal or unusually persistent. Talk with parents and grandparents before a suspicious letter arrives. Make sure they know to call someone they trust before sending money or personal information. You can also share our guide on how to stop scam texts from targeting aging parents.

 

9) Never pay to claim a prize

Real prizes are free. A demand for taxes, processing costs, shipping fees, gift cards, cryptocurrency or a money transfer signals a scam. Scammers often create urgency, so you have less time to question the story. Slow down and verify the company yourself. Gift card demands deserve special caution. CyberGuy has also covered how fake prizes lead to gift card losses.

 

10) Unsubscribe only from recognized senders

Legitimate marketing emails must provide a way to opt out of future messages. Use the unsubscribe option when you recognize the company and remember signing up. Avoid clicking unsubscribe links inside suspicious messages. A fake link may lead to a phishing page or confirm that your email address remains active. Mark the message as spam and block the sender instead.

 

11) Report suspicious prize mail

Report suspected prize or sweepstakes scams at the Federal Trade Commission’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can file a report even when you spotted the scam before losing money. When the scam involves the U.S. Mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report. The agency accepts reports involving sweepstakes, lottery and other mail fraud.

COULD THE 7-ELEVEN BREACH AFFECT YOU?

 

Kurt’s key takeaways

That little entry card by the register can reveal far more than you think. The real concern begins when extra details leave the sponsor and become part of a marketing profile that gets shared, categorized and sold. The Epsilon case showed how lists of likely responders can become a road map for fraud, with older adults paying a steep price. Give the minimum, skip optional marketing consent and read the privacy terms before you enter. Then talk with the older people in your life before a convincing prize letter reaches their mailbox. Any prize notice demanding money belongs in the trash. You cannot pull back every old entry, but you can shrink your data trail and make your household harder to target.

Have you ever entered a sweepstakes and later noticed more junk mail, unwanted calls or suspicious prize offers? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



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Thames Water lenders preparing legal challenge to potential nationalisation

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Thames Water lenders preparing legal challenge to potential nationalisation


The lenders to Thames Water are preparing a legal challenge in case a Burnham-led government attempts to nationalise the UK’s biggest water company.

Burnham – who takes over as PM on Monday – has previously said he wants to see “greater public control” of the water and energy sectors and has called for Thames Water to be nationalised.

Thames Water is about £20bn in debt.

Its lenders had proposed a deal to write off nearly half of that and inject new cash in return for some leniency from future pollution fines, but this deal has previously been rejected by the government as being “weak” and bad for consumers and the environment.

Sources close to the creditors have told the BBC that in the event of full nationalisation, they would pursue payment in full of the outstanding debts as has happened in previous cases, which could leave the government with a multi-billion-pound bill.

Fears first emerged three years ago that Thames Water could collapse and on Thursday, the firm warned it has enough cash to last until the end of this year.

Creditors insisted on Sunday that they were still working with officials and regulators to reach an agreement to rescue the company.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the government was “prepared for any eventuality”.

“Thames Water customers have been let down for far too long, with 15 years of under-performance, increasing serious pollution, and customers left to pick up the bill,” the spokesperson said.

“The secretary of state has written to Ofwat to outline her early views that she is not convinced London and Valley Water’s proposal is good enough for consumers or the environment.”

The lenders have offered to write off £9.4bn of Thames Water’s near £20bn debt pile and put £3.35bn of cash into the company, but in return they want leniency from future pollution fines in order to turn the firm’s fortune’s around.

Objecting to the proposal, Emma Reynolds said in June that she did not want a scenario where Thames Water customers had to “pick up the bill for the company’s failures”.

At the time, she told reporters that the government “stands ready for all eventualities”, including temporary nationalisation.

When asked in a Sky News interview on Sunday whether a Burnham government would nationalise Thames Water, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell said: “Let’s see”.

“This has been an ongoing issue and concern in government,” she said.

“The government has powers to to bring a distressed water company under special measures, and let’s see if the government needs to, wants to use those powers.”

Powell added that “the privatisation of water hasn’t worked”.

“It’s not created competition. What you’ve seen is bills going up and up and up over years and years and years. Investment not being being made … and then now these companies are in are in real distress,” she said.

There is a halfway house, in which Thames would be placed into a so called “special administration regime”, or SAR, which is usually a temporary situation until another private sector buyer can be found.

The existing lenders have made it clear that they would be prepared to join the bidders for Thames in that scenario.

However, comments from the incoming prime minister Andy Burnham that key utilities should be under increased “public control” make it hard to imagine that the government will have much political appetite to find a new set of private sector owners for a company that serves 16 million people which means that a temporary nationalisation might become permanent.

But under either a SAR or full nationalisation, Thames ongoing problems could then leave taxpayers footing the bill for Thames cash shortfalls – a figure that Thames Water management puts at £2bn by the end of next year.

Whatever happens, its customers’ taps and loos will still function, but the future of Thames Water is a key policy test for the new administration.



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Ryan Fox denies Cameron Young, Sam Burns at The Open Championship as American golf takes another hit

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Ryan Fox denies Cameron Young, Sam Burns at The Open Championship as American golf takes another hit


America 250: Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the U.S. Amateur at age 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the

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Ryan Fox failed to birdie the easiest hole at Royal Birkdale while trying to win The Open Championship. But, when it mattered most, he birdied the hardest hole on the course to capture the Claret Jug.

Tied with clubhouse leader Cameron Young at 9-under, the 39-year-old New Zealander needed a birdie on No. 18 to win the tournament after failing to birdie the par-5 17th hole.

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After pounding his drive down the final fairway, Fox hit his approach to just inside 12 feet and then dripped his birdie putt into the edge of the cup to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He finished at 10-under, one shot ahead of Young and two clear of 54-hole leader Sam Burns.

Ryan Fox celebrates after making birdie on 18 to win The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

But his win might mean more for international golf than anything else.

Entering the final round, everyone at Royal Birkdale was chasing American Sam Burns, who was searching for his first major championship victory.

Burns, at 10-under, led Fox and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim by two shots. American Ryan Gerard and Australian Lucas Herbert were three shots back, while big names like Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Åberg sat several shots back but were lurking.

RORY MCILROY BLASTS BRYSON DECHAMBEAU FOR HOLDING THE OPEN ‘HOSTAGE’ OVER PENALTY CHAOS: ‘IT IS PERFORMATIVE’

Burns earned that advantage with one of the best two-round stretches in major championship history.

After opening the tournament with a three-over 73, Burns tied the men’s major record with an eight-under 62 on Friday. He followed that with a five-under 65 in the third round, giving him a 127 total over 36 holes, the lowest score across consecutive rounds in men’s major championship history.

And Burns wasn’t alone in going historically low.

Herbert also shot 62 on Friday, while Fox matched the number on Saturday to rocket 50 spots up the leaderboard and earn a spot alongside Burns in Sunday’s final pairing. Three players had tied the major championship scoring record over a span of two days at Royal Birkdale.

Burns also knew better than most how quickly a promising major-championship Sunday could turn into heartbreak.

Sam Burns misses a putt on the green at Royal Birkdale.

Sam Burns came close again, but fell just short at another major championship. (David Davies/PA Images)

He held the 54-hole lead at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont before shooting a final-round 78 and falling into a tie for seventh. One year later, Burns nearly completed a furious Sunday comeback at Shinnecock Hills, but his birdie putt on the 72nd hole stopped inches short and left him one shot behind eventual champion Wyndham Clark.

Now, Burns had another opportunity.

And he initially appeared ready to take control of the tournament.

The 29-year-old American birdied the second hole to reach 11-under and extend his advantage.

Then everything changed.

Burns made three consecutive bogeys at Nos. 4, 5 and 6, coughing up his entire lead in a span of three holes. The player who began Sunday with a two-shot lead suddenly found himself scrambling to remain in contention.

And while Burns stumbled, another American came charging from the middle of the pack.

Cam Young, like Burns, was already familiar with major championship heartbreak. He finished one shot behind Cameron Smith at the 2022 Open Championship despite shooting a final-round 65 and making eagle on the 72nd hole.

Young began the final round seven shots off the lead, seemingly out of contention, but immediately turned himself into a factor with a spectacular front-nine 29. He made four birdies over his first five holes and eventually reached 10-under with another birdie at the 17th.

Then came trouble.

Young drove into a fairway bunker on the final hole and failed to clear its steep face with his second shot. He eventually escaped with a bogey, but still posted an incredible six-under 64 to take the clubhouse lead at nine-under.

But then Ryan Fox came charging.

Fox birdied the 13th and 14th holes to catch Young at nine-under. The New Zealander caught a terrible break with his tee shot at the newly redesigned par-3 15th and couldn’t save par. However, he bounced right back with a birdie at No. 16 to tie Young again.

Young found himself in the unenviable position of sitting around and just waiting to see if his score was good enough.

Cameron Young stands with caddie Kyle Sterbinsky on the 10th tee.

Cameron Young and his caddie, Kyle Sterbinsky, look on during the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour)

Fox caught another bad break on the par-5 17th hole. He elected to hit an iron off the tee to avoid the fairway bunkers, but his ball managed to creep into one of those bunkers after rolling out to over 320 yards. He still managed to give himself a good birdie look, but missed to stay tied.

Burns also failed to make birdie on No. 17, the hole that played the easiest during Sunday’s final round. That meant that Fox was tied with Young and Burns was one shot back with the hardest hole on the course, the par-4 18th, looming.

Fox made it look anything but difficult, blasting his tee shot down the middle of the fairway before sticking an iron to inside 12 feet and giving himself a birdie putt to win the Open.

Burns played the hole well, too, but not well enough. His approach came to rest just inside 30 feet from the cup and the American couldn’t convert, adding another close call to his major championship résumé.

That set the stage for Fox. Make the putt, win The Open. Miss and go to a playoff against Cam Young.

And he buried it to deliver another heartbreak for Young and another heartbreak to American golf.

Because Sunday’s final round was about much more than whether Burns, Young or another contender would walk away with the Claret Jug.

It was also about whether American golf had truly started to take back control of the sport.

Not long ago, that control appeared absolute.

Beginning with Brooks Koepka’s victory at the 2023 PGA Championship, Americans won seven consecutive men’s majors. Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau all followed Koepka during a run that ended with Schauffele completing an American sweep of the 2024 majors at Royal Troon.

Rory McIlroy finally ended the streak with his dramatic breakthrough at the 2025 Masters.

Even then, it hardly felt like the balance of power had changed.

Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. J.J. Spaun captured the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Scheffler then dominated The Open at Royal Portrush.

Americans had won 10 of 11 major championships.

It wasn’t a rivalry at that point. It was domination.

Then the tide turned.

Tommy Fleetwood finally earned his first PGA Tour victory by winning the 2025 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.

One month later, Europe embarrassed the United States on American soil at the Ryder Cup.

The final score, 15-13, made the competition appear far closer than it actually was. Europe entered Sunday singles with an 11½-4½ advantage and had already reduced the final session to little more than a desperate American attempt to avoid complete humiliation.

Rory McIlroy holds Ryder Cup

European players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Things didn’t improve when the calendar flipped to 2026.

McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title, and England’s Aaron Rai followed with his first major championship victory at the PGA Championship. European golfers had won the first two majors of the year.

Wyndham Clark finally stopped the bleeding by winning his second U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

WYNDHAM CLARK HANDLED HIS U.S. OPEN WIN WITH THE PERFECT ATTITUDE TO WIN BACK GOLF FANS

An American victory at Royal Birkdale would give U.S. golfers the final two major championships of the season and provide real evidence that the momentum had begun shifting back.

A non-American victory would leave Clark as the only U.S. major champion of 2026, marking the first time since 2014 that Americans won just one of the four men’s majors.

And the latter is what happened when Ryan Fox became just the second New Zealander to win The Open and the third New Zealander to win a men’s major golf championship.

Clark’s U.S. Open victory stands as the only American major championship win of the season, the first time since 2014 that American men failed to win at least two major tournaments.

Europe embarrassed the United States at Bethpage. Fleetwood took the FedEx Cup. European players captured the Masters and PGA Championship. And a non-American ended the season by lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.

It added up to the roughest major championship season for American golf in 12 years.

And the next Ryder Cup is being played at Adare Manor in Ireland, where the United States will attempt to win on European soil for the first time since 1993.

Based on the past year, there’s little reason to believe that drought is about to end.

Dan Zaksheske is a reporter at OutKick.



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The Open Championship 2026: Ryan Fox best shots from final round

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The Open Championship 2026: Ryan Fox best shots from final round



Enjoy the best moments from Ryan Fox’s final round at the 2026 Open Championship as the New Zealander wins the first major of his career at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.



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Dr Oz reveals the healthy retirement habit that could make America $1 trillion richer

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Dr Oz reveals the healthy retirement habit that could make America trillion richer


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WASHINGTON, DC – The key to improving Americans’ health is reducing healthcare costs while helping people stay active and productive for longer, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz told Fox News Digital.

In an exclusive interview at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Oz shared the biggest lessons he’s learned about improving Americans’ health while serving in the Trump administration.

“You sit with lots of really smart people and you learn something pretty quickly: The most expensive thing we do in healthcare is give bad quality care,” he told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

“Because you’re paying someone who’s not qualified to do a bad job, and you’ve got to pay somebody to fix that job – they’re going to charge you – and you’ve got to fix all the downstream complications,” he added.

Dr. Mehmet Oz sat down with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2026. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)

When it comes to helping Americans stay healthy, Oz said his focus at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is on “quality, quality, quality.”

That includes everything from preventing disease to encouraging healthy behaviors at home, such as preparing healthy meals.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The second big thing we’ve got to do is make sure that every interaction we have in the health system is based on value,” Oz said. “We don’t just pay a doctor to do something to you, we want to pay a doctor to take care of you.”

The doctor said new healthcare technologies are making it easier to deliver high-quality care by “meeting you where you are.”

Close-up of doctor in white coat listening to breathing of senior man

Fewer than half of Medicare beneficiaries take advantage of the program’s free annual wellness visits, according to Oz. (iStock)

“It’s one of the reasons I do want to embrace AI, if used safely and correctly,” he said. “As we get better and better with innovative medications, screening techniques and the ability to get people to think differently about their role, their job, when it comes to staying healthy, we’re going to prosper as a nation.”

According to the CMS administrator, every Medicare patient is issued a free annual wellness exam, but fewer than half of patients take advantage of it.

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Those who skip the annual wellness visit often assume they’re healthy when underlying problems may go undetected, Oz said, leading to more costly treatments later.

“They’re lying to themselves,” he said. “Ignorance is bliss, [but] not in healthcare.”

Female entrepreneur drinks water while working on a computer in an office.

“We can get the average American to feel so vital, so with it, so healthy, that they want to work one more year,” the doctor said. (iStock)

In taking these steps to improve the health of Americans, Oz projected that the country could make major gains in wealth and vitality.

“We can get the average American to feel so vital, so with it, so healthy, that they want to work one more year,” he said. “The value to our nation is $1 trillion.”

“Think about that: $1 trillion of value to GDP, our nation, all the taxes, all the benefits, the social programs, all the extra revenue to help get our country to go full speed. If only we make our people so healthy they want one extra year.”

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Oz said most Americans do want to work as they get older, but may start to feel less physically equipped.

“They start to feel that they’re not in the game anymore. They’re not as strong,” he said. “So, let’s focus on health in America. We’ll spend less. We’ll also make more.”

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.



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What happened to the Jewish left?

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What happened to the Jewish left?


Marc Lamont Hill speaks to Molly Crabapple about the Jewish Bund, anti-Zionism and the Jewish left today.

Founded in 1897 in the Russian Empire, the General Jewish Labour Bund was a revolutionary socialist movement that organised Jewish workers and championed Yiddish culture and democracy while standing against Zionism.

But what remains of its memory? And is its vision finding new life in the Jewish left today?

This week on UpFront, Marc Lamont Hill speaks to Emmy Award-winning artist and author Molly Crabapple.

Published On 19 Jul 2026



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Quote of the Day by Aristotle, “The main aim of men who are wise is not just to secure pleasure in life but to try and stay away from…”

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Quote of the Day by Aristotle, “The main aim of men who are wise is not just to secure pleasure in life but to try and stay away from…”


Quote of the Day by Aristotle

Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers in the history of humankind. His ideas have impacted almost every field of life from philosophy, science, politics, ethics, education to modern logic. Philosophers were often concerned with just abstract theories, but Aristotle thought that wisdom should be used to help people live better lives. More than 2,300 years later, his teachings still influence schools, universities, governments and scientific thought. Aristotle was born in the Greek northern city of Stagira in 384 BC. His father Nicomachus was physician to the Macedonian royal family. Aristotle came from a medical family and was exposed to observation, biology and scientific inquiry from an early age. These early influences later led him to study nature closely, instead of relying on speculation alone.At the age of seventeen he went to Athens, the intellectual capital of the Greek world, and joined Plato’s Academy. Plato, a student of Socrates, was already one of the great philosophers of Greece. Aristotle stayed for nearly twenty years, becoming one of Plato’s most brilliant pupils. Aristotle greatly respected his teacher , but frequently disagreed with Plato ‘s ideas . Plato was interested in perfect forms and abstract realities . Aristotle thought that knowledge should start with observations of the real world . After Plato’s death, Aristotle left Athens and spent several years travelling and conducting research. King Philip II of Macedonia invited him to tutor his son, the future Alexander the Great, which he accepted c. 343 BCE. By teaching the young prince, Aristotle achieved influence over one of the greatest military leaders in history.Aristotle returned to Athens after Alexander’s ascension to the throne and founded his own school, the Lyceum. Unlike many of the schools before it, the Lyceum did not concentrate on philosophical debate, but promoted systematic study of subjects ranging from biology and astronomy to politics, literature, ethics and logic. Aristotle and his students collected plants, animals, constitutions and scientific observations, making the Lyceum one of the first research institutes in the history of the world. Anti-Macedonian feeling rose in Athens after Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE. Afraid of political persecution, Aristotle left the city, reportedly remarking that he would not allow Athens to “sin twice against philosophy,” a reference to the earlier execution of Socrates. There he moved to the island of Euboea where he died in 322 BCE at the age of sixty-two.His philosophy Aristotle believed that all men, by nature, desire to be happy, but he took happiness much deeper than pleasure or comfort. He spoke of eudaimonia, a Greek word often rendered as “human flourishing” or “living well.” Aristotle thought leading a life of virtue, wisdom, responsibility and purpose is the key to true happiness. One of his most famous philosophical concepts is the Golden Mean. Aristotle claimed that virtue generally lies between two harmful extremes. Courage, for example, is between cowardice and recklessness. Generosity is a mean between selfishness and wastefulness. Confidence is a place between insecurity and arrogance. A wise man is never too much or too little.Aristotle also emphasised practical wisdom that he called phronesis. Intelligence was insufficient. A truly wise man can make the right decision in everyday life combining reason and experience with a sense of moral character. Many philosophers considered mind and body as separate, but Aristotle viewed human beings as social creatures who achieve their full potential only through engagement in family, friendship and community. He is famous for calling people “political animals” which means that people naturally live and thrive in society.For about 2000 years his work on logic gave the basis for rational thinking. His systems of deductive reasoning became central to philosophy, mathematics and scientific inquiry. His work in biology was also revolutionary, as he studied hundreds of animal species with great care and tried to classify living organisms.Aristotle’s legacy in the worldFew thinkers have had as much influence on human civilisation as Aristotle. His writings influenced the ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, mediaeval Europe, the Islamic Golden Age, and the Renaissance. His ideas were central to ethics, political theory and metaphysics in philosophy. In the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas and other scholars combined Aristotle’s philosophy with Christian theology, and so his works became the foundation of European intellectual life.Islamic scholars, such as Avicenna and Averroes, translated, preserved, and expanded the works of Aristotle, allowing his ideas to live on into the Middle Ages. His influence reaches into science as well. Although many of his scientific conclusions were revised by modern research, his insistence on observation, classification and logical reasoning became the foundation of scientific methodology. Political scientists today still study Aristotle’s analyses of constitutions , citizenship and good governance . He believes in education that builds knowledge and moral character, a notion educators admire. His moral lessons are still used to provoke discussion on leadership, responsibility and personal growth.Quote of the DayOne of the most iconic quotes of Aristotle with a profound meaning is, “The main aim of men who are wise is not just to secure pleasure in life but to try and stay away from things that can cause pain.” This quote reflects Aristotle’s pragmatic view of happiness. This might initially seem surprising, because so many people assume that happiness comes from the pursuit of pleasure. Aristotle did not concur. Instead, Aristotle says, wise people think ahead. They avoid the habits, decisions and behaviours that lead to pain in the end. This pain can be physical, emotional, financial, moral or social.For instance, an individual may love to spend recklessly today but later financial problems bring stress and hardship. Another may like unhealthy eating but bad health comes years later. The student may prefer to enjoy himself now rather than study, but then later he faces academic challenges. And always, temporary pleasure is the mother of lasting pain. The point Aristotle makes is not that pleasure is bad. He never said people should reject enjoyment altogether. Pleasure, he thought, should come naturally from living a virtuous, balanced life. This philosophy is still very relevant today. In our world today, we are always tempted by social media, online shopping, fast food, gambling and entertainment to seek instant gratification. Most of these activities provide instant gratification, but too much of any of them can cause anxiety, debt, addiction, ill health or damaged relationships. Aristotle would advise people to ask one simple question before making important decisions: Will this choice make my life better in the long run, or will it cause problems later? That habit of reflection, of thoughtfulness, is what separates wisdom from impulse. His quote also reminds us that part of being happy is being resilient. Life is a rollercoaster. Wisdom does not remove all pain. It helps people to not cause unnecessary suffering to themselves through bad decisions. With moderation, self-discipline and good judgement, people are capable of creating more stable, meaningful and fulfilling lives.Aristotle was more than just a philosopher. He was a scientist, a teacher, a researcher and one of the great intellectual pioneers of history. His thinking about ethics, logic, politics, education and science still influences the modern world. Aristotle was not like those thinkers who only wanted abstract theories. He wanted to help people live well, using reason, virtue, and practical wisdom.



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Always feel guilty while relaxing? These 5 mindset shifts can help you truly rest

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Always feel guilty while relaxing? These 5 mindset shifts can help you truly rest


There is something strange about the way many of us have learned to rest. We finally sit down after a long day, put our phones aside, make ourselves a cup of tea, or simply stare out of the window. Within minutes, a familiar thought appears.“I should be doing something productive.”Instead of feeling refreshed, we begin mentally listing unfinished tasks, unread emails, laundry waiting to be folded, or goals we have not yet achieved. Relaxation slowly turns into another source of stress.The truth is, guilt has quietly become part of rest for many people. We celebrate being busy, praise ourselves for pushing harder, and often treat relaxation as something that has to be earned. But real rest is not a reward. It is a basic emotional need.If you often struggle to switch off without feeling guilty, these small mindset shifts may help.

Stop treating rest like a prize you have to earn

Many people unknowingly create invisible conditions before allowing themselves to relax.“I’ll rest after I finish everything.”The problem is that “everything” rarely gets finished. There is always another email, another chore, another responsibility.Instead of making relaxation the final item on an endless to-do list, try seeing it as something that helps you do everything else better. Rest is not a luxury reserved for people who have completed every task. It is what gives you the energy to return to those tasks with a clearer mind.Sometimes, doing nothing for a while is also doing something important.

Notice where your guilt actually comes from

The guilt you feel while relaxing may not even belong to you.Many of us grew up hearing phrases like “Don’t waste time,” “Successful people are always working,” or “You can relax later.” Over time, these messages become internal rules that keep playing in the background.The next time guilt appears while you’re resting, pause and ask yourself one simple question:“Is this my belief, or is it something I learned from someone else?”Often, simply becoming aware of that inner voice is enough to loosen its grip.

Replace the idea of productivity with the idea of presence

Not every moment has to produce something.Some of the most meaningful experiences in life happen when nothing measurable is achieved. Watching rain fall, listening to your favourite music, sitting quietly with someone you love, reading a few pages of a novel, or taking an unhurried walk may not improve your résumé, but they can quietly restore your emotional energy.A life filled only with achievements can still feel empty if it has no moments of presence.Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is fully experience the moment you are in.

Remember that your worth is bigger than your output

It is easy to tie your identity to what you accomplish.When work goes well, you feel valuable. When you are resting, you may feel as though you are falling behind.But your value as a person has never depended on how many boxes you tick in a day.You deserve kindness, peace, and moments of stillness simply because you are human, not because you have worked hard enough to deserve them.The more you separate your self-worth from your productivity, the easier it becomes to relax without carrying guilt alongside you.

Create small rituals that tell your mind the day is over

Our minds often stay in “work mode” long after work has ended. That is why simply sitting on the couch may not feel relaxing.Instead, create a small ritual that signals a shift.It could be changing into comfortable clothes, lighting a candle, watering your plants, making herbal tea, stretching for five minutes, or stepping onto your balcony before dinner.These tiny habits gently remind your brain that it is safe to slow down.Rest becomes easier when your mind recognizes that this part of the day has a different purpose.Thumb image- Canva



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Ferry carrying 133 passengers and crew sinks off Guyana coast

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Ferry carrying 133 passengers and crew sinks off Guyana coast


Sixty-seven people have so far been rescued after a ferry carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew sunk off the coast of Guyana, local officials have said.

Fifteen children are among those to have been recovered after the MV Barima capsized near Iron Punt on Saturday. Dozens of people are still missing.

A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 GMT Sunday) triggering a search operation involving state and private boats, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement.

“We’re hopeful we’ll be able to account for all that were on board,” he told reporters as emergency teams continued their search for survivors on Sunday afternoon.

Both passengers and crew are among those rescued so far, Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips earlier told AFP.

The names of those onboard will be released once rescue operations and medical checks are complete, he said on Facebook. Assistance centres have been set up for relatives of those rescued and passengers still missing.

The MV Barima was travelling from the capital Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized.

Edghill said it was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life crafts and six inflatable life crafts.

It was built in 1939 and is 40m (131ft) long, according to a listing on VesselFinder.



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How to keep wildfire smoke out of your home – especially if you don’t have central AC

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How to keep wildfire smoke out of your home – especially if you don’t have central AC


While the sight of an orange sun piercing through dense wildfire smoke can be unsettling, the most significant threat posed by the haze is often invisible.

Experts warn that microscopic airborne particles carry the potential for a spectrum of health problems, ranging from acute symptoms to long-term chronic conditions.

Such smoke plumes can linger over urban areas for extended periods, with Canadian wildfires currently casting a hazardous blanket of air across millions in multiple US states.

In response, health authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and implement measures to ensure clean indoor air quality.

How to safely run your AC

If you have central air conditioning, it should clean the air in your home.

The US Capitol, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are seen through haze caused by wildfire smoke from Canada from the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, Virginia on July 17, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)

Make sure filters are replaced on schedule and are of the highest level of filtration your system can handle. Filters rated MERV 13 or higher are ideal. Set the air to recirculate and close any vents that pull air from outside if you can. The University of Oregon’s Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice recommends running the system’s fan through the entire smoke event, not just when cooling.

If you buy a portable air filter, look for a HEPA air filter or one that says it traps small particles of pollution. Ensure it does not generate ozone, another harmful air pollutant.

If you can only afford one portable air filter, use it to create a “clean room” in your house where you can spend most of your time.

“The basic message is that something is better than nothing,” said Amy Kalkbrenner, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The science behind DIY air filters

There’s good evidence that DIY filters made by duct-taping furnace air filters to a box fan work.

They’re simple, relatively affordable and scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency have found they are just as good at removing fine particles of pollution from the air as a small commercial air purifier.

“The good news is they really work,” said Kalkbrenner.

The Detroit skyline as smoke from the Canadian wildfires settles in the city on July 16, 2026
The Detroit skyline as smoke from the Canadian wildfires settles in the city on July 16, 2026 (Getty Images)

All you need to have to make one is: four 20-by-20-inch (50.8-by-50.8-centimeters) furnace air filters rated MERV 13 or higher, a box fan, cardboard and duct tape.

The EPA’s website shows how you can modify the design to only use one or two filters. The fan should blow out, and the arrows on the filters should point in. Make sure everything is taped up air-tight.

Using your window AC and cooling your air safely

Many window air conditioners, mini-split heat exchangers and portable air conditioners don’t have the filters needed to remove fine pollution particles. But heat can also be dangerous.

“When smoke and heat occur together, the impacts on your health are even greater than when they occur by themselves,” said Jess Downey, a researcher at the University of Oregon’s Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice

Downey said the ideal scenario is running the AC unit and using an air purifier or a DIY box fan filter to clean the air. Make sure your AC is well-sealed in your window frame, she added.

Make sure the window units are set to recirculate air. Portable units with a single hose should be used sparingly, according to the University of Oregon wildfire smoke center.

City officials encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index was rated ‘very unhealthy’
City officials encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index was rated ‘very unhealthy’ (Getty Images)

If you don’t have AC, any reprieve from hot, smoky air is important. Head to the library, shopping mall or other space with clean, cool air.

Ways to seal up a home to keep hazardous air out

Whether it’s a towel, some tape, or something else — plug areas where air could enter from outside.

“Being from Chicago, I think you can liken it to trying to keep the cold air out,” said Dr. Khalilah Gates, a lung doctor with Northwestern Medicine. “Any areas in which air can come in, consider sealing up those areas to reduce the amount that’s coming into the home.”

When smoke levels are high, experts recommend avoiding anything that burns — candles, fireplaces, even gas stoves — so plan ahead with some meal prep.

How wildfire smoke affects the body

Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, and a burning sensation in the nose and eyes.

“When you ever start to feel those symptoms and they’re not severe, it’s important to acknowledge, ‘Oh, my body is responding to this. I need to move away from it. I need to move inside,’” Gates said.

If you’re wheezing, can’t catch your breath or are in distress, get to the emergency room immediately, she said.



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