Millions rally on Quds Day in solidarity with Palestinians

Elon Musk’s America Party — announced on July 4 — has moved beyond mere symbolism and is now laying out a clear political strategy aimed at disrupting the traditional two-party dominance in the United States.

While the party’s launch initially drew curiosity and skepticism, recent statements from Musk suggest that this is more than a passing experiment.

What is the America Party?

According to Musk, the America Party was formed to “keep democracy alive” and return “freedom” to American voters. He positions it as an alternative to what he calls the “two-party (some say uni-party) system” that currently dominates U.S. politics.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote:

“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

What Are the Party’s Political Goals?

The America Party does not aim for a nationwide campaign in its initial phase. Instead, Musk has revealed a targeted strategy, focusing on:

3 Senate seats

8 to 10 House districts

The aim is not to secure a majority, but rather to block one. By doing so, the America Party hopes to hold the balance of power in Congress, enabling it to influence or even prevent the passage of major legislation from either of the dominant parties.

This approach is designed to position the America Party as a swing force in close votes — not unlike the role small parties sometimes play in parliamentary systems abroad.

Why Now?

Musk’s announcement came shortly after the passage of a controversial bill dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”, reportedly backed by Donald Trump. Musk publicly disagreed with the legislation, prompting speculation that his political move was a response to growing frustration with both the Republican and Democratic establishments.

His messaging has strongly emphasized political independence, government accountability, and restoring individual freedoms — themes that resonate with a growing number of voters dissatisfied with the status quo.

Can Elon Musk Run for President?

Despite growing interest and speculation, Elon Musk cannot legally run for President of the United States under current constitutional rules.

He was born in South Africa and became a U.S. citizen in 2002.

However, the U.S. Constitution requires presidential candidates to be natural-born citizens.

Unless the Constitution is amended — an extremely unlikely scenario — Musk’s role in U.S. politics will remain that of a party leader, financier, or influencer, rather than a presidential candidate.

Final Thoughts

Whether the America Party becomes a viable political force remains to be seen. But with a calculated strategy and a high-profile founder, it has already begun drawing attention from voters, analysts, and media alike.

What began as a social media poll has now evolved into a political experiment — one that could test the resilience of America's two-party system and redefine how influence is wielded in Washington.

Shivamogga: Tension prevailed in the Bangarappa Layout area of Shivamogga's Raggigudda locality on Sunday after unidentified miscreants allegedly desecrated a Ganesha and Naga idols, police sources said.

They also said the Naga idol fell into the roadside drain.

According to the sources, the incident occurred in the Shantinagar ward of the district headquarters town of Shivamogga, where the idols had recently been installed on the main road of the Bangarappa Layout.

Residents of the area strongly condemned the act of vandalism and expressed anger over the alleged insult to the deities.

Senior police officers visited the spot and held discussions with the local community.

The officers told residents that a case has been registered and they promised strict action against the culprits.

Additional police forces have been deployed in the area, and tight security arrangements are in place to prevent any further disturbance.

The situation is currently under control, and police are continuing their investigation.

In a post on 'X', BJP state president Vijayendra alleged that after a brief pause in their acts of mischief in Shivamogga, anti-Hindu elements have once again resumed their wrongdoing.

Vijayendra, an MLA from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, said, In Raggigudda, miscreants desecrated the idols of Ganesha and Sheshanaga. He also said the idol was thrown into a drain.

Attacking the Congress government in the state, he said, "The @INCKarnataka government, which looks at Hindu organisations with a jaundiced eye, has always stood as a backbone to anti-Hindu forces. Especially in Shivamogga district, the excesses of miscreants have reached extreme levels," he alleged.

Mangaluru, July 8: The Tulupara Horata Samiti (Tulu Movement Committee) has urged the Karnataka government to rename Dakshina Kannada district as 'Mangaluru District' to reflect its historical and cultural identity.

Addressing a press conference today, committee leader Dayananda Kattal Sir stated that a non-partisan committee has been formed to spearhead the movement for renaming, uniting individuals across political lines. No specific office-bearers have been appointed to maintain neutrality and inclusiveness.

He emphasized that the region traditionally known as Tulu Nadu encompasses present-day Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and parts of Kasaragod. This cultural and linguistic zone has been historically recognized in ancient Tamil Sangam literature, particularly in verse 13 of the poetic anthology Agananooru, dating back nearly 2,000 years.

Dayananda highlighted that successive dynasties—Alupas, Pallavas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings, and the Keladi rulers—have all historically referred to this region using names like Tulu Vishaya, Tulu Desa, and Tulu Rajya.

During the Vijayanagara Empire, the area was administratively divided into the Mangaluru State and Barkuru State, further affirming the historical importance of the name Mangaluru.

Adding to this legacy, several foreign scholars and historians have mentioned Mangaluru in their writings. He also recalled that in 1931, when noted leader S. U. Paniyadi proposed the name Tulu Nadu District in the District Council, a counter-suggestion arose from fellow members to name the district Mangaluru instead.

The committee believes it is now time to recognize the historic and cultural continuity of the region by officially renaming Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru District.