By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican Senate negotiators on an infrastructure deal were optimistic about a $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill on Sunday after President Joe Biden withdrew his threat to veto the measure unless a separate Democratic spending plan also passes Congress. U.S. Senator Rob Portman said he and his fellow negotiators were "blindsided" by Biden's … [Read more...] about Republicans Senate negotiators ready to move forward on infrastructure after Biden walkback
Grim Gun Violence Milestone
This weekend, our nation reached (and then surpassed) another grim milestone with the 300th mass shooting in 2021. A little less than two weeks ago, the mass shooting in my hometown, Austin, Texas, brought the number of such tragedies in our country in 2021 to 260. In a piece at the time lamenting and railing against the senseless loss of lives, I wrote about the … [Read more...] about Grim Gun Violence Milestone
Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska.
Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska. No, not the character "Rex" in the Toy Story films, although that particular toy may be owned by children in Alaska. Instead, this is the T-Rex that visited Alaska: From New Scientist, 24 June 2021: "The Prince Creek fossil site is the furthest north that dinosaurs have been confirmed to have lived. Accessing … [Read more...] about Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska.
What today’s GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity
Rep. Liz Cheney talks to reporters after House Republicans voted to remove her as conference chair on May 12, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University Directly following the 2020 election, Republicans seemed to be through with Donald Trump. Party leaders stopped speaking to him and voters began … [Read more...] about What today’s GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity
Biden names special envoy for LGBTQ rights
Washington (AFP) - US President Joe Biden on Friday named advocate Jessica Stern as special envoy for LGBTQ rights, in a move aimed at increasing global awareness and acceptance of the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. Currently the executive director of OutRight Action International -- a group which advocates for the human rights of lesbian, gay, … [Read more...] about Biden names special envoy for LGBTQ rights
Ringo Starr Drops Legal Battle Against ‘RingO’ Penis Rings
Beatles drumming legend Ringo Starr has dropped his legal battle against Screaming O Pleasure Products, who sell a line of RingO penis rings. Starr filed suit against the company in 2019, objecting to the name of the penis rings. In his complaint, Starr claimed the brand was “identical in appearance, sound, connotation and pronunciation” to his own name. “Consumers will likely … [Read more...] about Ringo Starr Drops Legal Battle Against ‘RingO’ Penis Rings
At border, U.S. vice president Harris shakes off Republican critics
By Nandita Bose EL PASO, Texas (Reuters) -Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, aiming to counter claims from Republicans she has been slow to visit the region as part of her role addressing the root causes of immigration. The trip, her first to the border since becoming vice president five months ago, was announced … [Read more...] about At border, U.S. vice president Harris shakes off Republican critics
Feds sue Georgia over new voting law
ATLANTA – The U.S. Justice Department will take Georgia to court over its new election law. Attorney General Merrick Garland Friday is expected to announce the department will file a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Senate Bill 202, which imposes new voter identification requirements, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and impose other requirements that critics say will … [Read more...] about Feds sue Georgia over new voting law
Four dead in Florida building collapse, 159 unaccounted for
Surfside (United States) (AFP) - Four people are now known to have died in the collapse of an oceanfront apartment building near Miami Beach, officials said Friday, while the number of unaccounted for has risen to 159 -- fueling fears of a much higher death toll. An unknown number of residents are feared to have been asleep in the 12-story tower in the town of Surfside, when … [Read more...] about Four dead in Florida building collapse, 159 unaccounted for
Democrats’ two-step infrastructure plan draws Republican ire
By David Morgan and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hours after U.S. President Joe Biden declared "we have a deal" to renew the nation's infrastructure, the Senate's top Republican lashed out at plans to follow the $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill with another measure addressing what Democrats call "human infrastructure." Biden and top congressional Democrats - House Speaker … [Read more...] about Democrats’ two-step infrastructure plan draws Republican ire
White House, lawmakers strike deal on infrastructure
Washington (AFP) - US President Joe Biden announced Thursday he has reached a deal with a bipartisan group of senators to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, likely unlocking the most funding for roads, bridges and ports in decades. "We have a deal," Biden said at the White House, adding on Twitter that a group of five Democrats and five Republicans "has come together and … [Read more...] about White House, lawmakers strike deal on infrastructure
Free Britney: OOPS, I DREW IT AGAIN (Cartoon and Column)
Britney Spears and her father have issues, and guess what. I’m on Britney’s side. Spears is in a conservatorship where her father controls her life. He controls everything from who she’s friends with, who she dates, to the color of her kitchen. Spears is probably worth around $60 million and she’s on a $2,000 a week allowance. You may think $2,000 a week is nice. I’m sure … [Read more...] about Free Britney: OOPS, I DREW IT AGAIN (Cartoon and Column)
New York appellate court suspends Rudy Guiliani’s law license over ‘false and misleading’ claims while working for Trump
Embed from Getty Images The days when former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani was called "America's Mayor" ended years ago. A New York appellate court has now underscored the fact that Rudy Guiliani is now America's political hack: it has temporarily suspended Guiliani's law license over lies and misleading statements he made in disseminating The Big Lie -- or, perhaps more … [Read more...] about New York appellate court suspends Rudy Guiliani’s law license over ‘false and misleading’ claims while working for Trump
Trends in journalism: The transition to digital journalism
The digital age definitely changed journalism and the way reporting is done. Previously, writers have to be affiliated with a media company who has the capacity to house printing devices. The high costs of purchasing and maintaining printing devices limited the number of companies reporting events and occurences. Readers were mainly at the mercy of whatever these media houses … [Read more...] about Trends in journalism: The transition to digital journalism
Germany and US launch joint initiative against Holocaust denial
Germany and the United States have unveiled plans for closer cooperation in keeping alive the memory of the Holocaust and in countering those who deny Nazi crimes. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a joint declaration at Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe on Thursday to hold the first high-level Holocaust conference … [Read more...] about Germany and US launch joint initiative against Holocaust denial
US military chief rebukes Republican lawmakers’ concerns on ‘critical race theory’
Washington (AFP) - The top US military official, General Mark Milley, on Wednesday defended the necessity of studying even controversial parts of history, saying accusations by Republican lawmakers that the armed forces are teaching recruits a controversial theory about racism were offensive. At the core of the argument, which has mostly taken place on social media, is a legal … [Read more...] about US military chief rebukes Republican lawmakers’ concerns on ‘critical race theory’
Angry and traumatized, Britney Spears calls conservatorship abusive
By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -An emotional Britney Spears on Wednesday called the 13-year-long conservatorship that has controlled her life stupid and abusive, saying she felt traumatized and angry and wanted her life back. In a statement of more than 20 minutes, pop star Spears, 39, told the Los Angeles judge overseeing the arrangement that she wanted it to end. "I … [Read more...] about Angry and traumatized, Britney Spears calls conservatorship abusive
To forgive or not to forgive student debt – that is the question.
To forgive or not to forgive student debt - that is the question. To be specific, should college loans backed by the U.S. government be forgiven even if the debtors were not defrauded by a for-profit university? First, here are results of a survey by CollegeFinance.com, 02 June 2021: Now, compare the results of that survey to the struggles of adults who do … [Read more...] about To forgive or not to forgive student debt – that is the question.
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
Has the GOP reached a point yet where they accept that climate change is real and that America and all nations must do something about it before we are all baked in place. Temperatures above 100 degrees have become the norm intermittently in much of the nation, especially the Southwest, California and parts of the Midwest. In fact, in some of these areas, the daily temperature … [Read more...] about The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
Nobody grifts quite like the U.N.
Nobody grifts quite like the U.N. From The Guardian, 20 June 2021: "The head of climate change at the UN has warned that world leaders are still 'far away' from securing a deal to limit the disastrous effects of global heating, with less than five months to go before a key summit in Glasgow. Time is now running out, said Patricia Espinosa, who was formerly … [Read more...] about Nobody grifts quite like the U.N.