Documentary filmmaker Janet Jarman works on her film about midwives in Mexico. Matt Cipollone, CC BY Bill Gentile, American University School of Communication When Time magazine named journalists who faced persecution, arrest or murder as their 2018 Person of the Year, it described them as “The Guardians” in the “War on Truth.” It was a forceful … [Read more...] about With foreign bureaus slashed, freelancers are filling the void – at their own risk
How about some good news for a change?
"We sure could use a little good news today." That is the ending statement of a song recorded by Canadian singer Anne Murray and released in 1983. That lament is applicable right now. So, how about some good news for a change? 1. A would-be mugger gets his just desserts. 2. Families of Sandy Hook victims score a legal victory. 3. Finally, a pardon for the … [Read more...] about How about some good news for a change?
Why are Republicans suddenly outraged over King’s racism?
WASHINGTON -- Republicans are shocked, shocked, to learn that Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is a dyed-in-the-wool racist. Also that snow is cold, the ocean is wet and the sky is often blue. The clamor of GOP voices denouncing King's latest racist eruption is more amusing than inspiring. Where have his Republican colleagues been all these years? Surely the "party of Lincoln" is … [Read more...] about Why are Republicans suddenly outraged over King’s racism?
Is U.S. Freedom of the Press in Jeopardy? (Updated)
UPDATE: And now this, “Rosenstein, DOJ exploring ways to more easily spy on journalists” The Hill: For months now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) quietly has been working on a revision to its guidelines governing how, when and why prosecutors can obtain the records of journalists, particularly in leak cases. Read more here Original Post: In a … [Read more...] about Is U.S. Freedom of the Press in Jeopardy? (Updated)
Sharia Republicans (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The Republican Party has been struggling to attract members and voters who aren’t white or Christian. Well, they’re not actually struggling because they’re not really trying to attract people who aren’t white Christians. Or if they are, they’re doing a very bad job with it. Iowa Republican congressman Steve King has a history of racism. Last Thursday, King defended white … [Read more...] about Sharia Republicans (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The media’s bias should be toward democracy
WASHINGTON -- The belief that constitutional democracy is superior to other forms of government rests in part on its capacity to encourage open debate and thus social learning. Social learning is underrated. Citizens can and do learn together and from each other. They pick up tidbits and cues from the public debate and then argue over back fences or kitchen tables, in their … [Read more...] about The media’s bias should be toward democracy
President Trump has a strange sense of honor
WASHINGTON -- President Trump, on his way to a border photo op that even he reportedly thought pointless, gave insight this last week into the thinking that faked an immigration crisis, shut down the government and gave him the "absolute right" to use emergency powers to circumvent Congress. Asked an unrelated question on the White House South Lawn on Thursday, Trump … [Read more...] about President Trump has a strange sense of honor
How will Trump’s tantrum end?
President Trump's tantrum (a.k.a. government shutdown) is now the longest of its kind in U.S. history. As Politico reports, ". . . there appears to be no end in sight. As Trump repeatedly declares he won't reopen the government unless he gets funding for his border wall, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are adamant that … [Read more...] about How will Trump’s tantrum end?
Congressional Democrat Does Right Thing. Constituents Shocked.
A congressional Democrat's constituents are in shock over the fact that the Democrat did the right thing. First, here is the background story as provided by Steve Cortes: When I think of the fraternal Catholic organization the Knights of Columbus, I mostly recall pancakes and basketball. In my parish when I grew up, the Knights regularly served pancake breakfasts to … [Read more...] about Congressional Democrat Does Right Thing. Constituents Shocked.
Rethinking the New Year
by Kim Mooney What’s the first thing we do at the end of the year? We make resolutions for the new year about things we intend to do better, like an extreme makeover. It’s a nice tradition but ….. here comes the killjoy… if we really really want to love our lives, this works a little bit against us. We’ve just got so many calendar dates that we schedule our gratitude … [Read more...] about Rethinking the New Year
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
I find it ironic that nobody in the Republican Party appears to remember their own St. Reagan’s exhortation to the USSR in 1987, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”, referring to the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Berlin. That wall was a symbol of a decayed and dying ideology that had strangled the Soviets for decades, immiserating its citizens by shutting them off … [Read more...] about THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
A Texas border sheriff who supports Trump 100%…
...doesn't want the wall. He also is concerned about illegal immigration. An interesting perspective. … [Read more...] about A Texas border sheriff who supports Trump 100%…
Federal workers begin to feel pain of shutdown as 800,000 lose their paychecks
Families are feeling the pinch of the government shutdown. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University President Donald Trump wants US$5.7 billion to fund a border wall to keep out undocumented immigrants and “criminals.” Democrats in Congress say the wall is a waste of money that wouldn’t solve any of America’s actual immigration … [Read more...] about Federal workers begin to feel pain of shutdown as 800,000 lose their paychecks
Call Me an ‘Honorary Enemy of the People’
With only one course in journalism and even with a lot of help from a dog-eared 2007 “Associated Press Stylebook,” I hardly qualify as a journalist. Fortunately, because of the freedom of the press expression we enjoy in our country, I have been privileged to be able to freely express my thoughts and opinions here and in many other media outlets. Perhaps I owe whatever … [Read more...] about Call Me an ‘Honorary Enemy of the People’
‘On the Basis of Sex’ Portrays Ruth Bader Ginsburg Coming Into Her Own
There is a rather exclusive group of people who have left an indelible mark on the history and progress of the United States in our more than two centuries as a nation. From Presidents to legislators, firebrand populists to methodical administrators, activists, and generals, many of the same names come to mind. One of those names, however, has become so synonymous with American … [Read more...] about ‘On the Basis of Sex’ Portrays Ruth Bader Ginsburg Coming Into Her Own
NY Times Bombshell: FBI Opened Probe Into Whether Trump Was Secretly Working for Russia
The New York Times has a bombshell of a report. According to the Times, after Donald Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director law enforcement officials began an investigation into whether was in fact a Russian asset -- someone working for the interests of Russia's Vladimir Putin. In the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law … [Read more...] about NY Times Bombshell: FBI Opened Probe Into Whether Trump Was Secretly Working for Russia
The Gay Say (a shrinking space for many a voice)
Recently Kevin Hart is in the news with some old comments and jokes about the Gay community and his standing down from hosting the Oscars. He has apologized and wants to move forward but without being an ally of the LGBTQ community. I for one am comfortable with that position and believe that he should be hosting the Oscars after all. Seemingly as a society, we are fast … [Read more...] about The Gay Say (a shrinking space for many a voice)
Trump and Lindsey Graham (Cartoon)
The Saudi engine of repression rumbles on
by David Ignatius Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- One hundred days after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pressing ahead with anti-dissident campaigns and remains in regular contact with Saud al-Qahtani, the media adviser whom the CIA believes helped organize Khashoggi's killing, according to U.S. and Saudi … [Read more...] about The Saudi engine of repression rumbles on
It’s 2016 All Over Again
Future Ex-President Trump got soundly thumped for his speech from the Oval Office. He said nothing new, looked as if he were embalmed and couldn’t wait to get off the air. Yet, when it was over, I had this disquieting feeling, like I had not really heard him at all; as if it passed right through me. The Democratic leadership followed him up, chiding him for his … [Read more...] about It’s 2016 All Over Again