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
Emmy-winning actor Louie Anderson dead at age 68
Published by Reuters(Reuters) -Louie Anderson, a three-time Emmy Award winner, comedian and game show host, died on Friday morning after a battle with cancer, his publicist told Deadline. He was 68. The star of the comedy series "Baskets" died in Las Vegas, where he was admitted into a hospital earlier this week for treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, publicist Glenn … [Read more...] about Emmy-winning actor Louie Anderson dead at age 68
Supreme Court nixes Trump bid to keep Capitol attack records secret
Published by ReutersWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected former President Donald Trump's request to block the release of White House records sought by the Democratic-led congressional panel investigating last year's deadly attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. The decision means the documents, held by a federal agency that stores … [Read more...] about Supreme Court nixes Trump bid to keep Capitol attack records secret
What causes a tsunami? An ocean scientist explains the physics of these destructive waves
On Jan. 15, 2022, coastal areas across California were placed under a tsunami warning. Gado via Getty Images Sally Warner, Brandeis University On Jan. 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Tonga erupted, sending a tsunami racing across the Pacific Ocean in all directions. As word of the eruption spread, government agencies on … [Read more...] about What causes a tsunami? An ocean scientist explains the physics of these destructive waves
New York probe finds ‘signicant evidence’ of Trump Org. fraud
Published by AFPNew York (AFP) - New York's top justice official said her investigation into Donald Trump's family business had uncovered "significant evidence" of fraudulent or misleading practices, intensifying pressure on the former president as he tries to shut down the probe. In a court filing late Tuesday, state Attorney General Letitia James wrote that the ongoing civil … [Read more...] about New York probe finds ‘signicant evidence’ of Trump Org. fraud
UKRAINE GRAB (Cartoon)
Understanding Putin and Russia
When the Soviet Union and Communism dissolved in 1989-90, Russian citizens were shell shocked. They had no concept of how democracy and capitalism actually worked when it appeared that these were Russia’s next steps. The Russians had been fed a steady diet of propaganda for over 70 years, demonizing liberal capitalist democracy, lauding Marxist economics, the Soviet empire and … [Read more...] about Understanding Putin and Russia
Blinken says Russian attack on Ukraine could come at very short notice
Published by ReutersBy Simon Lewis KYIV (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-can-attack-ukraine-very-short-notice-blinken-says-visit-kyiv-2022-01-19 said on Wednesday that Russia could launch a new attack on Ukraine at "very short notice" as he met the country's president on the first leg of a new diplomatic push to … [Read more...] about Blinken says Russian attack on Ukraine could come at very short notice