Published by NJ.comPresident Biden nearly scuttled the bipartisan infrastructure deal last week by inserting his foot in his mouth, but he recovered over the weekend and put the compromise back on track. Now, progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are doing their best to kill it again, and it looks like their problem has deeper roots. If they don’t … [Read more...] about Threat to Biden infrastructure plan now comes from liberal leaders
Trump Organization, CFO expected to be charged Thursday -WSJ
Published by Reuters(Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump's namesake company and its chief financial officer are expected to be charged on Thursday with tax-related crimes by Manhattan's district attorney, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Charges have been expected to focus mainly on whether Trump Organization CFO … [Read more...] about Trump Organization, CFO expected to be charged Thursday -WSJ
Partisanship vs. Centrism
Gallop polls in the first quarter of 2021 showed that more Americans were Democrats than Republicans, but the largest bloc of voters identified as independents or centrists. 30 percent of people in the survey called themselves Democrats, 25 percent Republicans, 19 percent were independents who leaned Democratic and 15 percent were independents who leaned Republican. Thus, … [Read more...] about Partisanship vs. Centrism
Will Bunch: The real crisis for American democracy is our cowardly inability to tax the rich
In 2018 — after his then-planetary-record net worth had hit $131 billion, yet right before the pandemic that would make his Amazon the alpha and omega of online shopping for so many American families — Jeff Bezos admitted he had so much money the only thing he could think to do with it was to blast himself into space. He told a reporter that year: “The only way that I can see … [Read more...] about Will Bunch: The real crisis for American democracy is our cowardly inability to tax the rich
Biden to visit Florida condo collapse site as hope dims for rescue
Surfside (United States) (AFP) - US President Joe Biden will visit the site of a deadly apartment building collapse in southern Florida later this week, the White House announced Tuesday, as rescuers scoured the wreckage in an increasingly desperate search for survivors. A 12-story oceanfront condominium in Surfside, a neighborhood near Miami, pancaked into rubble in the early … [Read more...] about Biden to visit Florida condo collapse site as hope dims for rescue
“You can’t f—ing talk to me like that!” Trump said: new revelations and statements confirm belief Trump governed with anger, rage, delusions and lies
"You can't f---ing talk to me like that!" then-President Donald Trump yelled Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as Miley called Trump on his exaggerations about last summer's racial protests. Trump had wanted to put Miley in charge of a crackdown. Axios reports this excerpt from The Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender in his forthcoming book, "Frankly, We … [Read more...] about “You can’t f—ing talk to me like that!” Trump said: new revelations and statements confirm belief Trump governed with anger, rage, delusions and lies
California’s famed Venice Beach grapples with homeless problem
Venice (United States) (AFP) - Ah yes, Venice Beach in California: synonymous with sun, surf, palm trees and, now, homeless people. As many as 200 tents line the oceanfront in this Los Angeles-area town that for decades has been a lure for surfers and tourists. The area is a chaotic jumble of any material that can create shelter, and of waste and detritus, amid appalling … [Read more...] about California’s famed Venice Beach grapples with homeless problem
Republicans Senate negotiators ready to move forward on infrastructure after Biden walkback
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