Philadelphia is the birthplace of America. Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence there in 1776. Eleven years later, a group of delegates wrote and signed the Constitution there, also at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). The city's paper of record, The Philadelphia Inquirer (1829), has called on Donald Trump to withdraw his candidacy, in … [Read more...] about ‘Donald Trump should leave the race’
First boats. Now planes. Trump thinks planes with electric motors can’t fly without sunlight.
"What happens if the sun isn't shining while you're up in the air?" Trump's rally speech in Chesapeake, Virginia, rivals the Las Vegas event where he spent the better part of two minutes musing about electric boats that might sink near a shark. This is the muddled and vindictive mess, the wannabe dictator, the felon (34 instances), that the GOP thinks should be president. … [Read more...] about First boats. Now planes. Trump thinks planes with electric motors can’t fly without sunlight.
Read the debate transcript. You’ll reach a different conclusion than instant pundits.
Maybe Thursday night was something like the Kennedy-Nixon debates, where John Kennedy was tanned and Richard Nixon, pallid after a stay in the hospital. Reportedly, radio listeners had a different view of that first televised debate than the TV audience. I say that because after READING the transcript [1], I don't understand any pundit who is calling for Joe Biden to … [Read more...] about Read the debate transcript. You’ll reach a different conclusion than instant pundits.
Biden crashes, Trump lies: A campaign-defining presidential debate
U.S. President Joe Biden and Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia and Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University With four months to go until Election Day, the earliest-ever general election debate featured two presidents – one … [Read more...] about Biden crashes, Trump lies: A campaign-defining presidential debate
Trump suggested replacing income tax with tariffs. How the 2017 tax cuts raised the debt and why 2025 is key.
We can be certain that moderators in tonight's CNN debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will feature a question related to taxes and not just because the 2017 tax cuts orchestrated by Trump have led to record deficits. Last week, Trump suggested "entirely replacing the federal income tax with new tariffs." This chart shows why such a change would explode the … [Read more...] about Trump suggested replacing income tax with tariffs. How the 2017 tax cuts raised the debt and why 2025 is key.
Journalism’s trust problem is about money, not politics
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, 2024, in Washington. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Jacob L. Nelson, University of Utah Journalism faces a credibility crisis. Only 32% of Americans report having “a great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in news reporting – a historical low. Journalists … [Read more...] about Journalism’s trust problem is about money, not politics
JACKED UP (CARTOON)
Populism can degrade democracy but is on the rise ? here’s what causes this political movement and how it can be weakened
The rise of populist leaders and movements is sometimes the partial result of people’s economic insecurities and worries about the future. Getty Images Gábor Scheiring, Georgetown University There’s a widespread view that populism is on the rise, from the United States and Turkey to India and Hungary. What is fueling this … [Read more...] about Populism can degrade democracy but is on the rise ? here’s what causes this political movement and how it can be weakened
Debate offers opportunity for errors, partisan spin – and maybe an opening for change
Yet to be seen: a new style of presidential debate. Watchalee Sirikayon/iStock/Getty Images Plus Susan Fillippeli, Auburn University The two leading presidential candidates are set to debate on live television on June 27, 2024. Neither will yet be the official nominee of his party, which is expected to happen at the parties’ conventions in … [Read more...] about Debate offers opportunity for errors, partisan spin – and maybe an opening for change
DEBATE PREP (CARTOON)
Should Donald Trump’s supporters be wearing dunce caps?
Dear Reader: Imagine that you are a Trump supporter. Now, imagine that you are a dunce. Ah, but I repeat myself. Should Donald Trump's supporters be wearing dunce caps? That may or may not be a rhetorical question, depending on your point of view. Perhaps not every Trump supporter is a dunce, but Trump certainly has dunces in his cheering section, and some of them host … [Read more...] about Should Donald Trump’s supporters be wearing dunce caps?
What “liberal” media? News organizations focus on Biden’s age, mental acuity; ignore Trump
Among five major newspapers (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USAToday), since January “nearly 10 times as many articles focused on just Biden’s age or mental acuity as focused on just Trump’s.” Media Matters researchers analyzed 144 stories “focused on either or both Biden's and Trump's ages or mental acuities from January 15, when … [Read more...] about What “liberal” media? News organizations focus on Biden’s age, mental acuity; ignore Trump
Hillary Clinton’s advice to Joe Biden on debating Donald Trump
Embed from Getty Images As speculation continues that in the end former President Donald Trump will find a reason to pull out of his first debate with Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has offered some advice to Biden after having debated Trump in her unsuccessful 2016 Presidential bid. The Guardian: Hillary Clinton has said it would be a “waste of … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s advice to Joe Biden on debating Donald Trump
Signs of trouble for Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
Very early Tuesday morning, about 4:40 a.m., the federal by-election in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s was called for Conservative candidate Don Stewart. While the margin of victory was small, about 1.5 per cent, the Conservative win, and consequent loss for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, was a gut punch for the incumbent government currently set to face voters in … [Read more...] about Signs of trouble for Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
Beep-Beep, Beep-Beep, Yeah (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I love the new MAGAt talking point that President Biden will be on drugs during the debate. Donald Trump has even claimed he’ll be on cocaine. As soon as Trump said this b.s. without any proof, MAGA World picked it up and ran with it. Even Donald Trump Jr accused Biden of being on cocaine which is like Donald Trump Jr accusing anyone of being on cocaine. But the MAGAts got … [Read more...] about Beep-Beep, Beep-Beep, Yeah (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Journalism has become ground zero for the vocation crisis
Journalist Barbara Walters works at her desk at her home in New York in 1966. Rowland Scherman/Getty Images Matthew Powers, University of Washington This year has been a grim one for journalism, with layoffs at the Los Angeles Times, Time magazine, NBC News, Forbes, National Geographic, Business Insider and Sports Illustrated. Further cuts … [Read more...] about Journalism has become ground zero for the vocation crisis
GO FOR HIM JOE
GO FOR HIM JOE No complaining. No whining. The fans are clamoring to see some fight You’ve got a coward as an opponent. A yellow-bellied cry-baby. A liar. A cheat. A phony. A faker. Get him in the corner and don’t let him wiggle out. His history is the perfect indicator of his recent behavior. His brave facade got him and his father to buy him bone spurs, … [Read more...] about GO FOR HIM JOE
Supreme Court’s slow roll on deciding Trump’s immunity is the opposite of politics
U.S. Supreme Court justices normally take their time in issuing decisions. Douglas Rissing/iStock/Getty Images Plus Claire B. Wofford, College of Charleston Frustration is mounting as the country waits – and waits and waits – for the U.S. Supreme Court to issue its decision in Trump v. United States, the case that asks whether the former … [Read more...] about Supreme Court’s slow roll on deciding Trump’s immunity is the opposite of politics
TRUMP’S EXTREME RHETORIC (CARTOON)
MAGA world attacks Jake Tapper ahead of debate – and tries course correction on Biden expectations
MAGA world has been busy as a bee today. A frantic, scared and angry bee. With a historic - perhaps pivotal - debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump days away, MAGA world has seized upon an incident on CNN to continue an attack on CNN as a network and on debate moderator Jake Tapper in particular. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has done a … [Read more...] about MAGA world attacks Jake Tapper ahead of debate – and tries course correction on Biden expectations