Gregory F. Treverton, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences President Donald Trump’s choice for acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, has proved controversial. Pulte’s lack of background in national security matters has sparked resistance from Democrats on Capitol Hill, which is not surprising. But some Republicans, too, have expressed dismay … [Read more...] about Why the director of national intelligence needs more than political loyalty to do the job
DESCENT INTO THE POST TRUTH MAELSTROM
5 ways data centers endanger their local communities and the country as a whole
An Amazon data center sits next to a neighborhood in northern Virginia. Nathan Howard/Getty Images Neha Gour, George Mason University; Ed Maibach, George Mason University, and Luis Ortiz, George Mason University Every internet search, streamed video and AI-generated response depends on a data center somewhere. Driven by rapid growth in … [Read more...] about 5 ways data centers endanger their local communities and the country as a whole
URGENT FUNDRAISER TO RAISE $517 (UPDATE 2)
FUNDING GOAL $700 TOTAL as of 6/7/26 $233TOTAL. AMOUNT NOW NEEDED $517 The Moderate Voice is now dealing with a legal issue and has to raise $700. TMV has been around since 2003 and now has a wider reach since Google News has picked it up as a news source and also the SmartNews phone app also runs some of its posts. This current crisis came out of the blue. $50 was … [Read more...] about URGENT FUNDRAISER TO RAISE $517 (UPDATE 2)
Panic at Penn Station After Stabbing Leaves Six Injured
Panic spread through New York City’s Penn Station on Sunday evening after a stabbing attack left six people injured inside one of the nation’s busiest transit hubs.The attack unfolded around 7 p.m. near the West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue entrance, when the New York City Fire Department received a call reporting multiple stabbing victims.Authorities said six people were … [Read more...] about Panic at Penn Station After Stabbing Leaves Six Injured
On Wine, a Wine Find, and on (Wine) Ageing
I am not a wine connoisseur. The last time I ventured into this cultured milieu, I made that abundantly clear. Writing about China’s burgeoning wine industry a few years ago, I asserted my wine naivety at length. Among my disclaimers: “I can’t tell the difference between a $7.95 and a $27.95 bottle of wine. I often buy and drink screwcap-bottled wine and even sniff the … [Read more...] about On Wine, a Wine Find, and on (Wine) Ageing
The nation turns 250. One man is making sure it’s about him.
I don’t have a lot of memories of the nation’s bicentennial; I spent that summer in northern Europe. But I do know that President Nixon was accused of putting on a “buycentennial” because of the corporate money spent on the celebration. President Trump is once again making Nixon look like a choir boy. One of the first executive orders Trump signed in 2025, Celebrating … [Read more...] about The nation turns 250. One man is making sure it’s about him.
CBS NEWS (CARTOON)
How Fox News viewership increases belief in the anti-immigrant great replacement theory
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2022, about a resolution condemning the great replacement theory. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Adam Eichen, UMass Amherst; Jesse Rhodes, UMass Amherst, and Tatishe Nteta, UMass Amherst During a Washington Nationals baseball game on May 17, 2026, three people unfurled a large banner … [Read more...] about How Fox News viewership increases belief in the anti-immigrant great replacement theory
‘This is Nuts’: Critics Aghast as Trump Appoints ‘Personal Henchman’ as Acting DNI
by Brad Reed Common Dreams President Donald Trump shocked many observers on Tuesday when he appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to be his acting director of national intelligence, weeks after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down from the role. In a Tuesday morning social media post, Trump announced that Pulte would be taking over as DNI while also … [Read more...] about ‘This is Nuts’: Critics Aghast as Trump Appoints ‘Personal Henchman’ as Acting DNI
Why teachers are walking away
The near legendary elementary school teacher sighed. “I’ve been teaching more than 23 years and I love the kids,” he said. “But it’s getting harder and harder and I think I’m going to hang it up at the end of this year.” What’s getting harder? “There’s so little support at home when the kids act up. There’s so much stress in the classroom. There are some nights when I … [Read more...] about Why teachers are walking away
Conservatives used to preach good morals. Now they splash in the sewer
I’m old enough to remember when conservatives routinely preached a good game about the importance of morality in politics. This was back in the 1990s when Bill Clinton was known to… how shall I say this… fancy the ladies. His behavior prompted many on the Republican right to furrow their brows and insist our leaders possess the virtues of “good character.” In the words of … [Read more...] about Conservatives used to preach good morals. Now they splash in the sewer
CUPID NEEDS A NEW JOB
The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr.
When the Pentagon announced a $620 million loan last year to a small North Carolina startup linked to Donald Trump Jr., defense officials and the company tried to tamp down suspicions of cronyism. The president’s eldest son said through a spokesperson that he wasn’t involved. The Pentagon said Trump Jr. played no role in the record-setting deal. And the startup’s founder told … [Read more...] about The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr.
Eat Mor Cornyn (Cartoon and Column)
From one indicted, impeached, adultering, corrupt individual to another I have been drawing cartoons about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton since at least 2020, as you can see here, when he filed a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's electoral vote for Joe Biden. Did I mention that he's the Attorney General for Texas, not Pennsylvania? I did a cartoon about him in 2022 … [Read more...] about Eat Mor Cornyn (Cartoon and Column)
Taylor Swift trademarking her voice and likeness points to a new legal frontier in combating AI deepfakes
Taylor Swift’s filings sit at the messy intersection of copyright, publicity and trademark law, each of which addresses different aspects of AI deepfakes. Luis Gutierrez/Norte Photo via Getty Images Daryl Lim, Penn State As one of the most popular celebrities in the world, Taylor Swift has already endured her share of AI-related … [Read more...] about Taylor Swift trademarking her voice and likeness points to a new legal frontier in combating AI deepfakes
Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls — and that’s the point
Police clear the campus of Brooklyn College on May 8, 2025, after students established an encampment to protest the Gaza war. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Bruce Schneier, Harvard Kennedy School and Jon Penney, Harvard University; York University, Canada Younger Americans have soured on the second Donald Trump … [Read more...] about Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls — and that’s the point
Cornyn’s Blowout Loss Shows Trump Still Rules GOP Primaries
Despite national approval ratings below 40 percent, President Trump maintains a stronghold on his core supporters, at least within GOP primary contests. Last night, Ken Paxton, the Trump-backed state attorney general, won the Republican primary, unseating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Cornyn has served four Senate terms. Attorney General Paxton defeated Cornyn by over … [Read more...] about Cornyn’s Blowout Loss Shows Trump Still Rules GOP Primaries
Washington Bombed Iran. Here’s What It Actually Broke.
by Hassan Elbiali I remember reading Thomas Schelling's Arms and Influence as a graduate student and thinking the distinction between deterrence and compellence was academic hair-splitting. Deterrence stops an adversary from acting. Compellence forces them to change behavior they've already chosen. Fine. Subtle. Seemingly theoretical. Then Operation Epic Fury happened. … [Read more...] about Washington Bombed Iran. Here’s What It Actually Broke.
Trump Is Doing Xi’s Job for Him
Whether consciously or not, President Trump’s actions in multiple ways appear to be helping President Xi, China and the CCP weaken America. Xi sees America as a flailing giant, an empire in decline. Trump is accelerating this decline. First of all, Trump has damaged all our alliances, particularly with NATO and our special relationship with Great Britain. He has deprecated … [Read more...] about Trump Is Doing Xi’s Job for Him