Washington (AFP) - US Sunbelt mayors warned Sunday that their cities are at risk of being overwhelmed by a surge of coronavirus cases as they pushed back against US President Donald Trump's attempt to minimize the gravity of the spreading virus.COVID-19 has been raging for weeks across southern and western states. Florida has registered 10,000 new cases on some days. Arizona … [Read more...] about US Sunbelt mayors push back against Trump’s virus optimism
Is It the ‘Trump Virus’ Now?
As coronavirus cases in Texas take a sharp turn for the worse, it is gratifying to see our governor finally make an abrupt change of course, recognize that the dramatic increase in cases is due to more than just “bar settings” and issue a statewide mask order. “Better late than never” applies more than ever here. It is also fortunate that the Governor does not share his … [Read more...] about Is It the ‘Trump Virus’ Now?
The Progressive Smoke Screen
Senator Sanders has finally accepted former Vice President Biden’s inevitability, but have all of Sanders’ supporters? It seems some of the Vermont senator’s supporters are considering flocking to Trump, in an attempt to “win by losing” and clear the path for a more progressive candidate in 2024. Politico reports that “The 77-year-old Biden still has a ways to go with all … [Read more...] about The Progressive Smoke Screen
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY
Amid US virus struggle, Trump visits Rushmore and bemoans racial protests
Keystone (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump bemoaned protests demanding racial justice as "violent mayhem" Friday, but said little about an alarming resurgence of coronavirus cases as he attended a crowded, fireworks-studded Independence Day celebration beneath majestic Mount Rushmore.Trump, under fire for his response to America's spiraling coronavirus caseload … [Read more...] about Amid US virus struggle, Trump visits Rushmore and bemoans racial protests
The Honeymooners (Cartoon)
Democracy books disappear from Hong Kong libraries
Hong Kong (AFP) - Books written by prominent Hong Kong democracy activists have started to disappear from the city's libraries, online records show, days after Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on the finance hub.Among the authors whose titles are no longer available are Joshua Wong, one of the city's most prominent young activists, and Tanya Chan, a well known … [Read more...] about Democracy books disappear from Hong Kong libraries
Gilty pleasure: Vietnam opens world’s ‘first’ gold-plated hotel
For guests at the "Dolce Hanoi Golden Lake" coffee comes in a gold cup and bath time is taken in gilded splendour.The world's first self-proclaimed gold-plated hotel is open for business -- and the Vietnamese owners insist they have the Midas touch despite the cramping of global travel during the coronavirus pandemic.The hotel cost $200 million to construct with a 24-carat … [Read more...] about Gilty pleasure: Vietnam opens world’s ‘first’ gold-plated hotel
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (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 Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
China appoints hardliner to head new Hong Kong security agency
Hong Kong (AFP) - China appointed a hardliner to head a new national security agency in Hong Kong Friday as police brought the first charges under a sweeping new anti-subversion law that has shaken the semi-autonomous finance hub.Zheng Yanxiong -- a party official best known for tackling protests on the mainland -- will lead the office set up by the legislation that empowers … [Read more...] about China appoints hardliner to head new Hong Kong security agency
OKLAHOMA DELIVERS A DECISIVE WIN… TO OBAMA
Donald Trump spent Wednesday tweeting about Fox and Friends‘ TV ratings and complaining about “fake news.” Those were safe topics, well within his bunkered comfort zone – because he certainly wasn’t going to tweet about his latest political humiliation. It happened Tuesday night in deep red Oklahoma – the second time in recent weeks that Oklahoma has humiliated him (the … [Read more...] about OKLAHOMA DELIVERS A DECISIVE WIN… TO OBAMA
Report: Trump “Desperate, Despondent” As Poll Numbers Nosedive
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman (one of my favorite journalists) reports that Donald Trump is increasingly desperate and down about his nosediving poll numbers. So much so that he called one of his Fox News unofficial advisors, Tucker Carlson, and asked Carlson (who some GOPers now say is arousing interest as a Presidential candidate in 2024) what he should do. Here's part of … [Read more...] about Report: Trump “Desperate, Despondent” As Poll Numbers Nosedive
‘Today is a long time coming’: Jeffrey Epstein victims cheer arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell
MIAMI — Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been arrested by federal authorities and is in the custody of federal authorities. She was arrested Thursday morning in a residence in the small town of Bradford, New Hampshire.The British socialite allegedly helped procure girls for the financier, who died in August 2019 in a jail cell after being arrested himself … [Read more...] about ‘Today is a long time coming’: Jeffrey Epstein victims cheer arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell
Line Ups Today (Cartoon)
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Line Ups Today (Cartoon)
A summer of protest, unemployment and presidential politics – welcome to 1932
The Bonus Army stages a demonstration at the empty Capitol on July 2, 1932. Underwood and Underwood, photographers; Library of Congress James N. Gregory, University of Washington An election looms. An unpopular president wrestles with historic unemployment rates. Demonstrations erupt in hundreds of locations. The president deploys Army units to … [Read more...] about A summer of protest, unemployment and presidential politics – welcome to 1932
The Russian Bounty Outrage: Will Republicans Grow a Spine? (UPDATES)
[Please read the added CODA at bottom] UPDATES: The New York Times: Afghan Contractor Handed Out Russian Cash to Kill Americans, Officials Say. A small-time businessman became a key middleman for bounties on coalition troops in Afghanistan, U.S. intelligence reports say. Friends saw him grow rich, but didn’t know how. Latest Responses by the Trump … [Read more...] about The Russian Bounty Outrage: Will Republicans Grow a Spine? (UPDATES)
Surge of dangerous COVID-19 disinformation threatens lives
We are entering a new surge of coronavirus cases — and of dangerous disinformation coming from the White House.It originally was President Trump who ignored the threat, claiming in February that the virus would disappear “like a miracle.” Now it’s Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the administration’s Coronavirus Task Force, repeatedly insisting that the surge in cases is … [Read more...] about Surge of dangerous COVID-19 disinformation threatens lives
Ken and Karen (Cartoon and Column)
If you’re on social media, that’s probably how you became aware of this story. This story started because St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson publicized the names and addresses of her constituents who had written to her about defunding the police department during a Facebook Live stream. Protesters were on their way to her house, in a rich and snooty neighborhood, to let her know … [Read more...] about Ken and Karen (Cartoon and Column)
TikTok teens and the Trump campaign: How social media amplifies political activism and threatens election integrity
President Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla. had thousands of empty seats, thanks at least in part to the actions of teenagers who mobilized on the social media platform TikTok. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University The lower-than-expected attendance at President Trump’s rally in Tulsa on June 20 was attributed, at least in … [Read more...] about TikTok teens and the Trump campaign: How social media amplifies political activism and threatens election integrity
“Betrayed”: The Republican Lincoln Projects Brutal New Anti-Trump Ad
This is an utterly brutal ad by The Lincoln Project,a group of traditional conservatives who are working to defeat President Donald Trump in the 2020 Presidential election. It's called "Betrayed:" … [Read more...] about “Betrayed”: The Republican Lincoln Projects Brutal New Anti-Trump Ad