Sefa Secen, Nazareth University The brutal 54-year reign of the Assad family in Syria looks to be over. In a matter of days, opposition forces took the major city of Aleppo before advancing southward into other government-controlled areas of Hama, Homs and finally, on Dec 7, 2024, the capital, Damascus. The offensive was all the more astonishing given that the … [Read more...] about Assad leaves behind a fragmented nation – stabilizing it will be a major challenge for fractured opposition and external backers
Christmas Songs Born of Battle and Mettle, Hope and Love
As we once again approach that “most wonderful time of the year,” all of us hope to be home for Christmas. For some this will only be possible in their thoughts, in their dreams. But even for those of us who will be home for Christmas, our eyes moisten when we listen to the timeless, immortal, heart-wrenching “I'll Be Home for Christmas," initially recorded by Bing Crosby … [Read more...] about Christmas Songs Born of Battle and Mettle, Hope and Love
Bluesky isn’t the ‘new Twitter,’ but its resemblance to the old one is drawing millions of new users
Bluesky is having a moment as millions of people have joined in the wake of the 2024 election. Anna Barclay/Getty Images Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado Boulder What would you say at Twitter’s funeral? That’s the question my collaborators and I asked over 1,000 people on social media as part of a broader research project on Twitter … [Read more...] about Bluesky isn’t the ‘new Twitter,’ but its resemblance to the old one is drawing millions of new users
Republicans have a shrinking mandate
by Elwood Watson President-elect Donald Trump is about to resume a second term as president with such a slim GOP majority in the House of Representatives that it offers the party little if any room for error. Republicans deliriously reveling about their supposed “huge election mandate” may want to keep a lid on such unabashed glee. As final results are being tabulated … [Read more...] about Republicans have a shrinking mandate
INSURANCE SHOOTING (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Was an insurance CEO assassinated over denied claims? Good afternoon from Reykjavik. Today’s blog is late because I wanted to see some of Iceland while the sun was still out. There are only five hours of sunlight at this time of year in Reykjavik. I don’t cheer over someone’s death, though there are times when I don’t mourn. This isn’t one of them. I feel bad for … [Read more...] about INSURANCE SHOOTING (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Appeals court upholds TikTok ban: 5 essential reads on the case and its consequences
TikTok takes on the U.S. government. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Eric Smalley, The Conversation and Matt Williams, The Conversation A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Dec. 6, 2024, upheld a law requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the video app by Jan. … [Read more...] about Appeals court upholds TikTok ban: 5 essential reads on the case and its consequences
Social Media Plays World’s Smallest Violin For Murder Victim
"Social Media Plays World's Smallest Violin For Murder Victim" That is a fitting alternate title to an article published by Rolling Stones. This is how journalist Miles Klee starts his news article titled Social Media Has Little Sympathy For Murdered Health Insurance Exec: "The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel on … [Read more...] about Social Media Plays World’s Smallest Violin For Murder Victim
What South Korea’s short-lived martial law says about nation’s democracy and the autocratic tendencies of President Yoon
A man holds the South Korean flag outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law. Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images Myunghee Lee, Michigan State University During a whirlwind few hours in South Korean politics, President Yoon Suk Yeol placed the country under martial law on … [Read more...] about What South Korea’s short-lived martial law says about nation’s democracy and the autocratic tendencies of President Yoon
HEGSETH IN CONGRESS (MIKE PETERS GUEST CARTOON)
Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his outlook on his life and work which are inexorably entwined. Mike’s warm, easygoing and zany demeanor is evidence that his personality matches his creative talents. As … [Read more...] about HEGSETH IN CONGRESS (MIKE PETERS GUEST CARTOON)
How right-wing media is like improv theater
Podcaster Theo Von, left, President-elect Donald Trump and podcaster Joe Rogan, right, are improv players in right-wing media. AP Photo Danielle Lee Tomson, University of Washington and Kate Starbird, University of Washington If you’ve ever wondered how the right-wing media ecosystem operates and why it’s effective, try viewing it as a form … [Read more...] about How right-wing media is like improv theater
Pete Hegseth’s Nomination: Does Respect for Women Mean Anything to the Incoming Administration? (Updated)
UPDATE: On Wednesday, Hegseth met with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, the first woman combat veteran in the Senate, in what could perhaps be described as a come- to-Jesus meeting. In addition to being a great example of what female servicemembers can accomplish in the military, Lt. Col. Ernst “has made combating sexual assault in the military a key bipartisan focus of her time … [Read more...] about Pete Hegseth’s Nomination: Does Respect for Women Mean Anything to the Incoming Administration? (Updated)
Holiday Humor 2024
What holiday songs do you enjoy or hate? If you have ever worked in retail during the holiday season, then you might hate all of them. After all, if you are forced to hear the same holiday songs over and over for an entire work shift, then you might not be so jolly. This blogger knows from experience. I avoid hearing holiday songs when I can. They make want to put my hands … [Read more...] about Holiday Humor 2024
Destroying America’s Scientific Ascendency
President Trump doesn’t like facts, doesn’t like science, and doesn’t like experts. He trusts his “gut” to tell what to do when faced with difficult decisions. That includes picking people to run the agencies of the government, including those that deal with the health of American citizens and various scientific disciplines. He doesn’t seem to understand that the strength of … [Read more...] about Destroying America’s Scientific Ascendency
After 20 years, I’m done writing about politics
I’ve been writing political opinion nonstop for 20 years. As of today I’m done. Life was different when the Philadelphia Inquirer gifted me a column in January 2004. Both major parties believed in the rule of law, the peaceful transfer of power, and traditional democratic values. It was beyond unthinkable that either side would condone a plotted coup and morph into a … [Read more...] about After 20 years, I’m done writing about politics
HOW TO SURVIVE AS A COWARD.
HOW TO SURVIVE AS A COWARD. It’s really very simple. Become someone you’re not. And never will be. Think about it. There are cowards all over the place. They fill needs. Needs for themselves. Exaggeration helps. You build from there. Now you’re probably saying “So what. We’re all guilty of a little make believe, once in a while. It’s part of selling.” Can’t quarrel … [Read more...] about HOW TO SURVIVE AS A COWARD.
UN survey finds two-thirds of information on social media is not fact-checked
A new UN survey has found that an alarming two-thirds of the content uploaded to digital media platforms, including social media, is not verified for accuracy or fact-checked for truth. This is a disturbing finding since misinformation and fake news is a burgeoning plague on all social media platforms and is corrupting election processes in democracies around the world. … [Read more...] about UN survey finds two-thirds of information on social media is not fact-checked
Review of Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of Mary Poppins
Before I review the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical (ain’t that a mouthful), I need to make a slight disclaimer. I think reviewers should admit to any issues, biases, or conflicts of interest that might sway the objectivity of their reviews. With this in mind, I need to confess to the massive crush I had on … [Read more...] about Review of Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of Mary Poppins
A Second-Generation Dutch Holocaust Victim Speaks out against Rising Antisemitism in the Netherlands
Antisemitism has recently been on the rise in the Netherlands. In a small country where nearly 75 percent of its Jewish citizenry was murdered by the Nazis during World War II, this is a particularly disturbing phenomenon. Perhaps the most serious display of anti-Jewish, anti-Israel hate occurred less than a month ago, when fans of the Israel soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv … [Read more...] about A Second-Generation Dutch Holocaust Victim Speaks out against Rising Antisemitism in the Netherlands
President Biden Pardons His Son, Robert Hunter Biden
Embed from Getty Images Today, President Biden issued a Full and Unconditional Pardon to his son, Robert Hunter Biden. Below is President Biden's statement, followed by the text of the "Executive Grant of Clemency." Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, … [Read more...] about President Biden Pardons His Son, Robert Hunter Biden
Trump picks controversial fierce loyalist Kash Patel to replace Chris Wray as FBI Chief
Embed from Getty Images For the second time Donald Trump will fire a FBI chief. President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he intends to axe FBI Director Chris Wray and replace him with Kash Patel, who has been described alternately by non-MAGAs as a firebrand, fierce loyalist and outright conspiracy-theory believing nutcase and by Trumpistas as someone who indeed … [Read more...] about Trump picks controversial fierce loyalist Kash Patel to replace Chris Wray as FBI Chief