By DAVID IGNATIUS Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- With little public fanfare, U.S. Cyber Command, the military's new center for combating electronic attacks against the United States, has launched operations to deter and disrupt Russians who have been meddling with the U.S. political system. Like other U.S. cyberwar activities, this effort against … [Read more...] about U.S. strikes back at Russia in cyberspace warfare
Trump Makes Predatory Lending Great Again
By John L. Micek Here's another reminder that, when it comes to the Trump administration, it's more important to watch what the White House does, rather than what it says. The payday lending industry scored a huge win this when the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed to weaken Obama-administration rules governing an industry that makes its money by … [Read more...] about Trump Makes Predatory Lending Great Again
A Response to the Tax-the-Rich Crowd
"The country [USA] is full of honest hard working people struggling to feed their families. It also has those with more money than they could ever need to eat, whose fortune comes from how dishonest and unethical they can be for the love of money." The preceding quoted statement was made by a cyber-acquaintance of mine on a social website. The statement reeks with wealth … [Read more...] about A Response to the Tax-the-Rich Crowd
Bezos Exposes his Pecker (Cartoon)
How to say ‘I’m sorry,’ whether you’ve appeared in a racist photo, harassed women or just plain screwed up
Lisa Leopold, Middlebury “I’m sorry.” These two words may seem simple, but the ability to express them when you’re in the wrong is anything but – particularly for those in the public eye. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, to name a recent example, was forced to apologize after his 1984 medical school yearbook page resurfaced showing two unnamed men, one with blackface and … [Read more...] about How to say ‘I’m sorry,’ whether you’ve appeared in a racist photo, harassed women or just plain screwed up
Matthew Whitaker’s five minutes are up
WASHINGTON -- Matthew G. Whitaker runs hot. During the acting attorney general's previous major public appearance, a Justice Department news conference, he perspired with the output of an oscillating sprinkler. Testifying before Congress for the first time Friday -- an appearance he had threatened Thursday to skip -- Whitaker again overheated: An angry scarlet rose up the … [Read more...] about Matthew Whitaker’s five minutes are up
National Enquirer Selfie (Cartoon)
Many risks still exist for pregnant women in developed nations
Getting pregnant makes many women realize the power they possess to bring new life into the world. But even the easiest pregnancies nevertheless change women emotionally, mentally and physically. Bearing children requires enormous strength, but it presents women with new vulnerabilities as well. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and after giving birth lead some women to … [Read more...] about Many risks still exist for pregnant women in developed nations
How will alarmists stop the Sun?
How will alarmists stop the Sun? That is a legitimate question to ask if astronomers are correct about the future of our solar system. To recap, astronomers say that the Sun is ever-so-slowly growing brighter. As a result, planet Earth is ever-so-slowly growing warmer. How Mankind responds to such irreversible all-natural climate change remains to be seen. It isn't … [Read more...] about How will alarmists stop the Sun?
A Virginia Lineup (Cartoon and Column)
What the hell, Virginia? When did we become Mississippi? No offense, Mississippi, but yeah. Every southern state has an ugly history when it comes to racism. There are still people in the south fighting the Civil War. My former editor of The Free Lance-Star, Ed Jones (no relation) used to tell a joke that here in Fredericksburg, the Civil War was treated like breaking news … [Read more...] about A Virginia Lineup (Cartoon and Column)
Journalism needs an audience to survive, but isn’t sure how to earn its loyalty
Is connecting with their audience key to journalism’s future? Shutterstock Jacob L. Nelson, Arizona State University Journalism is in the midst of an existential crisis: the profession has undergone decades of declines in readership, revenue and public trust, with no obvious end in sight. Many in the industry believe that the best way for … [Read more...] about Journalism needs an audience to survive, but isn’t sure how to earn its loyalty
The Polar Solution
“Where should poor children be frozen, at home or on the way to school?” By Daniel Sherman The polar vortex 2019 seems to have moved on, leaving behind substantial chunks of the population to whinge and whine and mewl about the dangers of cold weather, to wring hands about the devastating toll on less advantaged members of society, and give thanks for the provident … [Read more...] about The Polar Solution
A SOTU Gaffe and a General’s Candid Apology
The award of military decorations is a time-honored tradition of recognizing acts of valor, exceptional service or achievement, special skills or qualifications. It is usually a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medaillon. There is a specific way in which these medals and ribbons are worn, according to an order of precedence which each military service prescribes, always … [Read more...] about A SOTU Gaffe and a General’s Candid Apology
MOUTON DE PANURGE
I have wanted to write a post on the Ralph Northam auto-da-fé because, as a life-long skeptic, I smell a rat. A big rat, a gargantuan rat. I’ve waited, expecting to read articles depicting a decades-long list of racist actions and policies known to be Northam’s calling card – or at least some credible journalism that provides a keyhole view into his … [Read more...] about MOUTON DE PANURGE
Donald Trump and the spirit of Eddie Haskell
One of the memorable characters from the old days of television was Eddie Haskell of "Leave it to Beaver." President Trump no doubt remembers him. Haskell was sycophantically respectful toward parents to their faces, but always plotted and schemed when their backs were turned. To a generation, Haskell symbolized hypocrisy of the most annoying kind. Trump's address Tuesday … [Read more...] about Donald Trump and the spirit of Eddie Haskell
Elizabeth Warren Lied To Texas State Bar
If Elizabeth Warren were Pinocchio, then her nose would be a tree branch by now. Washington Post national political reporter Amy Gardner has discovered hard evidence that Warren lied about her ethnicity when she registered with the Texas State Bar. No, Warren wasn't simply mistaken. She knew that she wasn't a member of the Cherokee Nation. One did not make … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Warren Lied To Texas State Bar
The Best Films of 2018
2019 is underway and there are many new films and blockbusters to expect this year, all ranging from great to miserable. But, as we make our way through award season, we must look back on the previous year. 10. Upgrade Upgrade received little love and attention when it released in June, falling just short of earning $12 million domestically. And, while its release didn't … [Read more...] about The Best Films of 2018
The Dog and Pony Show; Trump’s SOTU
Trump's Address to Congress Unlikely to Bring Harmony Peter Baker / New York Times — WASHINGTON — President Trump was set to deliver what aides called a message of bipartisan unity on Tuesday night in his first address to Congress in the new era of divided government, but any hope of harmony was dispelled long before he left the White House. The true State of the Union? … [Read more...] about The Dog and Pony Show; Trump’s SOTU
What SOTU Guests May Say About Their Hosts
In contrast to some of my Democratic friends, I endured the entire, l o n g State of the Union (SOTU) address by the 45th president. “It wasn’t easy, but someone had to do it.” While Trump’s studied soaring rhetoric once again included inaccuracies, exaggerations, bombast, hyperbole, selective boasting, embellishments and just plain falsehoods, I will let the factcheckers … [Read more...] about What SOTU Guests May Say About Their Hosts
SOTU, 2019 – live blog
As we prepare for the 2018 State of the Union spectacle, it's important to note the ambiguous state of presidential appointments. Acting Whitehouse chief of staff Acting US Attorney General Acting Defense Secretary Acting EPA Administrator Acting Interior Secretary There is no chief technology officer. Alexander Hamilton thought that confirmations of … [Read more...] about SOTU, 2019 – live blog