This week, I am both proud and sad to write about Spc. 5th Class* Clarence E. Sasser, Medal of Honor recipient. Proud, because Sasser attended my alma mater, Texas A&M University. Sad, because he passed away just over a week ago. With the passing of Sasser, there are only 61 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor alive today. Two of them Black. Shown … [Read more...] about Medal of Honor Tuesday: Army Spc. 5th Class Clarence Sasser
ALITO BLAMES WIFE (CARTOON)
Iran crash: President Raisi’s death leaves Tehran mourning loss of regime loyalist
Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, is reported by state media to have died following a helicopter crash. Iranian Presidency Office via AP Eric Lob, Florida International University Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed when his helicopter crashed on May 19, 2024 in a mountainous border region, was a consummate loyalist whose passing … [Read more...] about Iran crash: President Raisi’s death leaves Tehran mourning loss of regime loyalist
ALITO’S FLAG (CARTOON)
HOW SO DO YOU SPELL TRUMP TRIAL? C-H-A-O-S
How do you spell Trump Trial? C-H-AO-S. First, the Trump defense team seemingly got former Trump lawyer and key accuser Michael Cohen in a "gotcha" moment with Cohen admitting he stole thousands of dollars from The Trump Organization. Many cable pundits and armchair pundits on Twitter proclaimed this was a body blow to the prosecution's case. But then, towards the end of … [Read more...] about HOW SO DO YOU SPELL TRUMP TRIAL? C-H-A-O-S
Segregation Academies Still Operate Across the South. One Town Grapples With Its Divided Schools.
Segregation Academies Still Operate Across the South. One Town Grapples With Its Divided Schools.by Jennifer Berry HawesProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.A mile of Alabama country road, and a history of racism, separate the two schools. At the stop sign between them, … [Read more...] about Segregation Academies Still Operate Across the South. One Town Grapples With Its Divided Schools.
Alito pro-Trump upside down flag another blow to Supreme Court judicial and political credibility
Last August the Supreme Court's approval rating dipped to a new low. Last month the Court's approval rating improved considerably. Expect it to go way down again. Half (or more) will now see the once-venerable court as a group with at least two members not only with their thumbs overtly on the scale, but virtually sitting on one side of the scale. The latest scandal to hit … [Read more...] about Alito pro-Trump upside down flag another blow to Supreme Court judicial and political credibility
Attempted assassination of Slovak prime minister follows country’s slide into political polarization
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s shooting sent shock waves through Slovakia. Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images Alexandria Wilson-McDonald, American University The assassination attempt against Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been widely condemned by world leaders as an attack on democracy. In Slovakia, the violent act similarly saw a … [Read more...] about Attempted assassination of Slovak prime minister follows country’s slide into political polarization
Albuquerque Is Throwing Out the Belongings of Homeless People, Violating City Policy
Albuquerque Is Throwing Out the Belongings of Homeless People, Violating City Policyby Nicole Santa CruzProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.On a recent morning, Christian Smith ran an errand, leaving a shopping cart carrying everything she owned near the Albuquerque, … [Read more...] about Albuquerque Is Throwing Out the Belongings of Homeless People, Violating City Policy
The First Biden-Trump Debate (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The presidential campaigns of President Joe Biden and Groper/Felon Trump agreed on two debates yesterday and here are the fun details: The debates will be earlier than usual with the first being in Atlanta on June 27 and hosted by CNN. The second debate will be on ABC News on Sept. 10. There will not be an audience for the CNN debate which will be the first time there … [Read more...] about The First Biden-Trump Debate (Cartoon, Column and Video)
NEUTRALITY IN JOURNALISM
By Marisa Lagos My ability to be neutral as a political journalist depends on the intellectual honesty of the people—and the society—I cover. But in an era when one side of the political spectrum is not always operating in good faith, and when people in my position are increasingly losing the trust of the audiences we serve, I don’t think neutrality should be the final … [Read more...] about NEUTRALITY IN JOURNALISM
THE CLING ONS (CARTOON)
A silent Trump with eyes closed and a convicted liar on the stand – 2 experienced observers of Trump’s criminal trial discuss what stands out
Michael Cohen leaves his home to attend his second day of testimony at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 14, 2024, in New York City. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images David E. Clementson, University of Georgia and John E. Jones III, Dickinson College Sex, money and power – all three subjects got an airing over the three days of testimony and … [Read more...] about A silent Trump with eyes closed and a convicted liar on the stand – 2 experienced observers of Trump’s criminal trial discuss what stands out
NC Senate Republicans vote to make it illegal to wear a medical mask in public
The bill sponsor, state Senator Buck Newton, claims protesters wear masks to hide their identity, calling it "craziness." Rejecting repeated efforts to amend House Bill 237, the 30 Republicans in the North Carolina Senate struck down a state law "passed after the start of the Covid pandemic that explicitly allowed the public to wear masks for health reasons." On … [Read more...] about NC Senate Republicans vote to make it illegal to wear a medical mask in public
US Military Completes Critical Floating Gaza Pier Project (Photo Update)
UPDATE: Original Post: The U.S. Central Command press release is short, even modest: Today [May 16] at approximately 7:40 a.m. (Gaza time) United States Central Command personnel supporting the humanitarian mission to deliver additional humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in need anchored a temporary pier to the beach in Gaza. As part of this … [Read more...] about US Military Completes Critical Floating Gaza Pier Project (Photo Update)
A pivotal moment in history: “the most consequential [election] in our lifetimes”
Bernie Sanders writes in The Guardian: “I know. Biden is not popular and many progressives, including me, strongly disagree with his policies regarding Israel and this disastrous war in Gaza. “But, let’s be clear. Biden is not running against God. He is running against Donald #Trump, the most dangerous president in American history whose second term, if he is … [Read more...] about A pivotal moment in history: “the most consequential [election] in our lifetimes”
If found guilty, Trump should serve time: Yahoo! News Survey
Overwhelmingly, participants in a Yahoo! News Survey who have an opinion believe that Donald J. Trump should serve time if he is convicted of falsifying business records in the New York election interference case (media dubbed "hush money" case). About half of those surveyed (51%) approved of a prison sentence. In contrast, only 36% disapproved. About 1-in-8 surveyed (13%) … [Read more...] about If found guilty, Trump should serve time: Yahoo! News Survey
She Campaigned for a Texas School Board Seat as a GOP Hard-Liner. Now She’s Rejecting Her Party’s Extremism.
She Campaigned for a Texas School Board Seat as a GOP Hard-Liner. Now She’s Rejecting Her Party’s Extremism.by Jeremy SchwartzProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Weeks after winning a school board seat in her deeply red Texas county, Courtney Gore immersed herself in … [Read more...] about She Campaigned for a Texas School Board Seat as a GOP Hard-Liner. Now She’s Rejecting Her Party’s Extremism.
Unethical Lying Sleazebag (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Donald Trump, his crappy lawyers, and crappy Republicans are attempting to discredit Michael Cohen who testified this week in the Trump hush money case. Cohen was the money man in paying Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her awkward and uncomfortable hotel quickie with Donald Trump. The way the scheme worked was that Cohen would pay Daniels with his own money and … [Read more...] about Unethical Lying Sleazebag (Cartoon, Column and Video)
PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY FROM ROMANS TO ALITO
by Edward Watts I have been studying and writing about Roman emperors for more than 30 years. I never imagined I would live in a time and place where the judicial system might give more extensive legal immunity to an American president than any Roman emperor ever enjoyed. Until last Thursday. Contemporary imagination often assumes that Roman emperors enjoyed absolute … [Read more...] about PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY FROM ROMANS TO ALITO