Today, President Joe Biden, who cancelled his trip to the Vatican in order to oversee the U.S. government's response to the California wildfires spoke to His Holiness Pope Francis and named him a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, "the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the … [Read more...] about President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to His Holiness Pope Francis
Past time to regulate Big Pharma; Novo Nordisk profits in 2024 are obscene
When one year's sales matches a full three decade research budget, price gouging is clearly afoot. And that's the case for Novo Nordisk A/S, maker of sister GLP-1 drugs Ozempic (type 2 diabetes, T2D) and Wegovy (obesity). In September, Bloomberg estimated that the two drugs would bring in $65 billion in sales by the end of 2024. The entire research budget for the past … [Read more...] about Past time to regulate Big Pharma; Novo Nordisk profits in 2024 are obscene
Does Character Still Matter? A Presidential Eulogy Says ‘Yes,’ Eleven Times
On the eve of the 2024 presidential election, I pondered, “Does character still matter?” and suggested, “We will know very soon.” When the results of the elections became clear to me the early morning of January 6, I commiserated: Words fail me to express my sadness and disappointment at the results of yesterday’s presidential election, except to say that now we know … [Read more...] about Does Character Still Matter? A Presidential Eulogy Says ‘Yes,’ Eleven Times
North Carolina Supreme Court Blocked Certification of a Justice’s Win. Activists Fear It’s “Dangerous for Democracy.”
North Carolina Supreme Court Blocked Certification of a Justice’s Win. Activists Fear It’s “Dangerous for Democracy.”by Doug Bock ClarkProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.The Republican-controlled Supreme Court of North Carolina threw the election of one of its members … [Read more...] about North Carolina Supreme Court Blocked Certification of a Justice’s Win. Activists Fear It’s “Dangerous for Democracy.”
Trudeau taps out: How Trump’s taunts and tariff threats added to domestic woes confronting Canada’s long-standing PM
Walking away. Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Jan. 6, 2025. Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images Patrick James, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences After weeks of speculation over his future, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign on Jan. 6, 2025. His departure will bring an end to a … [Read more...] about Trudeau taps out: How Trump’s taunts and tariff threats added to domestic woes confronting Canada’s long-standing PM
Musk surrenders to Trump: ends fact-checking and calls fact checkers politically biased
META boss Mark Zuckerberg announced that he is giving incoming President Donald Trump what Trump has long wanted: an end to fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram. In the process Zuckerberg suggested those who were doing fact checking were politically biased. That's the reality --and here is how it was spun: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a series of major changes … [Read more...] about Musk surrenders to Trump: ends fact-checking and calls fact checkers politically biased
Here We Go Again. And I’m Not Talking About Trump
Here we go again. By “here we go again” I am not referring to the impending second Trump presidency. I am talking about re-embarking on the pattern of back and forth between extremes. President Biden was supposed to be a bridge. He was a bridge all right. A bridge that took us to the exact same path that led us to where the bridge started. A bridge to nowhere. Jon Stewart … [Read more...] about Here We Go Again. And I’m Not Talking About Trump
DEMOCRACY DIES IN DAYLIGHT, TOO? AWARD WINNING WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST QUITS AFTER CARTOON SHOWING BEZOS AND OTHERS PAYING TRIBUTE TO TRUMP IS KILLED
The Washington Post has a motto "Democracy Dies in Darkness." It can also die in bright light such as when a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist's cartoon showing Post owner Jeff Bezos and other billionaires literally and figuratively paying tribute to incoming President Donald Trump. The cartoon is Ann Telnaes who wrote on her Substack page: I’ve worked for the Washington … [Read more...] about DEMOCRACY DIES IN DAYLIGHT, TOO? AWARD WINNING WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST QUITS AFTER CARTOON SHOWING BEZOS AND OTHERS PAYING TRIBUTE TO TRUMP IS KILLED
(Re-)Starting 2025 on the Right Foot (Updated)
UPDATE: Following the White House ceremony, the seven Medal of Honor recipients were inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 5. (Below) During the ceremony, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III noted, "The soldiers whom we honor today came from different walks of life, from different communities … [Read more...] about (Re-)Starting 2025 on the Right Foot (Updated)
Quote of the Day: An unprecedented moment begins in American politics
Our quote of the Day comes from The Bulwark Newsletter: Donald Trump has dominated American politics for almost a decade. Thrice the Republican nominee for president, twice the victor in general elections, currently the undisputed master of a political party which will now control both the Senate and the House—Trump is the most consequential American politician of the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: An unprecedented moment begins in American politics
Constantly-present Musk reportedly annoys Trump as “President Musk” AI memes multiply
Is the world's most talked, written, and social-mediaed bromance on the rocks? There are increasing rumblings in reports and in social media that President-Elect Donald Trump is becoming a bit annoyed by the ever-president billionaire who largely bankrolled his campaign -- Elon Musk. Musk is appearing everywhere with Trump and reportedly has rented a $2,000 a day condo … [Read more...] about Constantly-present Musk reportedly annoys Trump as “President Musk” AI memes multiply
The Next Massive Volcanic Eruption: A Looming Global Threat
By Steeve Lapierre Sustainability Times In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted with a force so immense that it altered the course of history. The explosion hurled vast amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and causing global temperatures to plummet. The aftermath was catastrophic—a “year without a summer” that led to widespread crop failures, famine, … [Read more...] about The Next Massive Volcanic Eruption: A Looming Global Threat
New Orleans attacker’s apparent loyalty to Islamic State group highlights persistent threat of lone wolf terrorism
Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a white Ford F-150 pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Matthew Hinton/AFP via Getty Images Sara Harmouch, American University The deadly Jan. 1, 2025, attack in New Orleans serves as a reminder of the persistent threat to the U.S. from individuals inspired by … [Read more...] about New Orleans attacker’s apparent loyalty to Islamic State group highlights persistent threat of lone wolf terrorism
How about we start the new year with humor.
How about we start the new year with humor. After all, life is too short to fuss about politics all of the time. Granted, political humor has its place whether it be intentional or coincidential. Example of the former would be images depicting Donald Trump being subservient to Elon Musk. To be fair to the latter, President Musk paid plenty of money for his presidency. In … [Read more...] about How about we start the new year with humor.
Continuing an ‘Obnoxious Tradition’: The Best and the Worst of 2024
Continuing – and perhaps concluding – the “tradition” (“one of the most obnoxious end-of-year traditions...") started at TMV in 2023 of remembering “the best and the worst people, events, things and phenomena” of the year gone-by, here is a drastically summarized version. While in our 2023 “list” we quoted several sources, this year we will focus on just one list, Michelle … [Read more...] about Continuing an ‘Obnoxious Tradition’: The Best and the Worst of 2024
JIMMY: AMERICA’S BEST FORMER PRESIDENT (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
A lot of people say Carter was our best former president. While that’s true, it’s not entirely fair. For years, people have been saying Carter was a bad president but a great former president and it’s been said so much, that most people who do say it can’t say what made him a bad president. In case you haven’t noticed, America forgot Donald Trump is our worst president and just … [Read more...] about JIMMY: AMERICA’S BEST FORMER PRESIDENT (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, 100, DIES: THE BEST POST PRESIDENCY EVER
Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100, making him the President who lived the longest. He was a controversial president but one thing appears to be universally agreed: he had the greatest post-presidency of any President in American history. Carter and his era will be remembered for many things. He was ahead of his times on many issues, particularly on … [Read more...] about FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, 100, DIES: THE BEST POST PRESIDENCY EVER
Trump’s Mindset- American Empire
Instead of Trump convincing Vladmir Putin to stop thinking like a 19th century imperialist trying to extend the Russian empire, it appears that Putin has transformed Trump’s mindset. It is Trump who is now thinking like an imperialist, wanting America to obtain new territories. Some of Trump’s pronouncements are truly bizarre. He has spoken of America needing to take over … [Read more...] about Trump’s Mindset- American Empire
Bob Dylan and the creative leap that transformed modern music
Dylan and singer-songwriter Mimi Farina relax at the Viking Hotel in Newport, R.I., in July 1964. John Byrne Cooke Estate/Getty Images Ted Olson, East Tennessee State University The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet, focuses on Dylan’s early 1960s transition from idiosyncratic singer of folk songs to … [Read more...] about Bob Dylan and the creative leap that transformed modern music
Long bottled up Gaetz ethics report: evidence of drug use, statuatory rape and using prostitutes
An old joke that goes back to scandal-plagued movie star Errol Flynn has now been updated: What goes into 17 twice? Matt Gaetz. The long-awaited, long bottled-up House Ethics Committee report on resigned Republican House member Matt Gaetz has been released. And the report outlines says the newly hired news anchor for the right wing One America News network was indulging … [Read more...] about Long bottled up Gaetz ethics report: evidence of drug use, statuatory rape and using prostitutes