Seventy years ago, in response to a fantastical-but-true event on the ball field, sportswriter Red Smith wrote: “The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled invention.” Indeed there are times, as we all know, when life imitates art imitates life. But this week nothing can top the twisty absurdism of the true tale that bonds Larry David with his ex-TV wife and Robert F. … [Read more...] about LIFE BECOMES ‘CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM’
Fiscal stimulus fuels U.S. economy in 2021 to its best performance since 1984
Published by ReutersBy Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy notched its strongest growth in nearly four decades in 2021 after the government injected trillions of dollars in COVID-19 relief, and is seen soldiering on this year despite headwinds from the pandemic, strained supply chains as well as high inflation. The Commerce Department's report on Thursday … [Read more...] about Fiscal stimulus fuels U.S. economy in 2021 to its best performance since 1984
Stephen Breyer is set to retire – should his replacement on the Supreme Court have a term limit?
Will Stephen Breyer’s replacement on the Supreme Court serve for so long? AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Paul M. Collins, Jr., UMass Amherst and Artemus Ward, Northern Illinois University A vacancy sign hangs above the Supreme Court bench following reports on Jan. 26, 2022, that long-serving liberal justice Stephen Breyer is set to retire. Names are … [Read more...] about Stephen Breyer is set to retire – should his replacement on the Supreme Court have a term limit?
STEPHEN BREYER RETIRES
Retiring Justice Breyer fortified abortion rights, doubted death penalty
Published by ReutersBy Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has authored pivotal rulings bolstering abortion rights and safeguarding a landmark healthcare law while questioning the death penalty during 27 years as a liberal on a bench often dominated by conservatives. Breyer, who U.S. media reports on Wednesday said would retire … [Read more...] about Retiring Justice Breyer fortified abortion rights, doubted death penalty
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Breyer to retire, media reports say
Published by ReutersBy Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung (Reuters) -Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, at 83 the oldest member of the U.S. Supreme Court, will retire at the end of the court's current term that runs through the end of June, NBC News and CNN reported on Wednesday, giving President Joe Biden the opportunity to appoint a successor who could serve for decades. Breyer … [Read more...] about Liberal Supreme Court Justice Breyer to retire, media reports say
The US military presence in Europe has been declining for 30 years – the current crisis in Ukraine may reverse that trend
Over there, over there (again). Omar Marques/Getty Images Michael A. Allen, Boise State University; Carla Martinez Machain, Kansas State University, and Michael E. Flynn, Kansas State University Up to 8,500 U.S. troops could soon be heading to Eastern Europe – bolstering an American military presence in the continent that has been in decline since the … [Read more...] about The US military presence in Europe has been declining for 30 years – the current crisis in Ukraine may reverse that trend
MITCH, PLEASE (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Politicians make gaffes. Some examples are Gary Johnson’s “What is Aleppo?” Rick Perry unable to name the third department he’d eliminate (which he was later appointed to head by Trump). George W. Bush’s “Fool me once, shame on you…fool me…can’t get fooled again.” President Obama’s “57 states,” which Republicans still can’t let go. And then there’s Joe Biden in the 2008 … [Read more...] about MITCH, PLEASE (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Biden warns Putin with sanctions as West steps up Ukraine defenses
Published by ReutersBy Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk and Dmitry Antonov WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he would consider personal sanctions on President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine, as Western leaders stepped up military preparations and made plans to shield Europe from a potential energy supply shock. The rare sanctions threat … [Read more...] about Biden warns Putin with sanctions as West steps up Ukraine defenses
WHAT DO REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY SUPPORT?
by John L. Micek About halfway through his marathon news conference last week, President Joe Biden finally asked the only question in Washington that’s worth asking. With congressional Republicans standing in the way of the Democrats’ every initiative, including voting rights (which should be as bipartisan as it gets), what do they actually support? “What are Republicans … [Read more...] about WHAT DO REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY SUPPORT?
Anxiety over Fed tightening, Ukraine tensions sink stocks, oil
Published by Reuters(Refiles to insert Global Markets tag in headline) By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The selloff on Wall Street worsened Monday and oil prices turned lower as rising geopolitical tensions and the Fed's plans to reduce economic stimulus took their toll on investors. Jitters over the prospect of a Russian attack on Ukraine and anticipated Fed tightening … [Read more...] about Anxiety over Fed tightening, Ukraine tensions sink stocks, oil
U.S. Capitol riot probe to report any phony elector evidence to Justice Dept-chairman
Published by ReutersWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House probe of the deadly assault on the Capitol will share with federal prosecutors any evidence of potential crimes aimed at pushing phony Republican electors in states won by Democratic President Joe Biden, the committee's chairman said on Sunday. The House of Representatives Select Committee on Jan. 6 is looking for … [Read more...] about U.S. Capitol riot probe to report any phony elector evidence to Justice Dept-chairman
A year after Navalny’s return, Putin remains atop a changed Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin stands alone. Alexey Druzhinin/AFP via Getty Images Regina Smyth, Indiana University In early 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny flew back to Moscow after recovering in Germany from an assassination attempt carried out by Russian security services. His return prompted an authoritarian turn that transformed … [Read more...] about A year after Navalny’s return, Putin remains atop a changed Russia
Thich Nhat Hanh, who worked for decades to teach mindfulness, approached death in that same spirit
Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh praying during a three-day requiem for the souls of Vietnam War victims in 2007. Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP via Getty Images Brooke Schedneck, Rhodes College Thich Nhat Hanh, the monk who popularized mindfulness in the West, died in the Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam, on Jan. 21, 2022. He was 95. In 2014, Thich Nhat Hanh … [Read more...] about Thich Nhat Hanh, who worked for decades to teach mindfulness, approached death in that same spirit
Bob Saget and the Erasing of the Jew
By Sam Litvin It is very easy to make Jews evil when Jews who are loved by all, have their Jewishness erased. When I have a feeling that someone is Jewish, I often go to Wikipedia. The bios in “Early Life” portion always mention ethnicity of a person, be they Persion or English or Jewish and on which side. It is basic and obvious thing to do to give credit to the person’s … [Read more...] about Bob Saget and the Erasing of the Jew
How antisemitic conspiracy theories contributed to the recent hostage-taking at the Texas synagogue
Law enforcement officials outside Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis University The man who took a rabbi and three congregants hostage in Colleyville, Texas, on Jan. 15, 2022, believed that Jews control the United States of America. He told his hostages, as … [Read more...] about How antisemitic conspiracy theories contributed to the recent hostage-taking at the Texas synagogue
Sure sounds like a coup attempt: draft Trump executive order called for seizing voting machines after 2020 election
If it walks like a coup attempt, smells like a coup attempt, and considered seizing voting machines after an election that didn't turn out the way powerful bigwigs hoped it did, it sure sounds like a coup attempt. Especially if there was a drafted Trump executive order to seize voting machines after he lost the 2020 Presidential election. As the drip-drip-drip details … [Read more...] about Sure sounds like a coup attempt: draft Trump executive order called for seizing voting machines after 2020 election
Is COVID retreating in the U.S.? Data paints encouraging scenario
Published by ReutersBy Maria Caspani NEW YORK (Reuters) -New coronavirus cases are falling in parts of the United States hit hardest by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, according to a Reuters analysis of public health data, offering an early indication the virus might once again be in retreat. COVID-19 infections have decreased in 19 states … [Read more...] about Is COVID retreating in the U.S.? Data paints encouraging scenario
SINEMA’S STAND
IT’S UNCLE JOE VERSUS HIS IMPLACABLE FOES
In conversation this week with the White House press corps, on the eve of his one-year presidential anniversary, Joe Biden said: “One thing I haven’t been able to do so far is get my Republican friends to get in the game of making things better in this country… I did not anticipate that there’d be such a stalwart effort to make sure that the most important thing was that … [Read more...] about IT’S UNCLE JOE VERSUS HIS IMPLACABLE FOES