Argentina encountered a fork in the road last week and took a wrong turn. A hair raisingly tight vote in the Senate (after succeeding in the House) to allow abortion up to 12 weeks didn’t pass, a loss for Argentinian women wanting jurisdiction over their own bodies. If progress were an international race it would put Argentina just behind Ireland with their recent … [Read more...] about A Set-Back for Argentina and Progress
The table is set for Democrats to take the House
WASHINGTON -- For President Trump, this can't be much of a vacation. The onetime chairman of Trump's presidential campaign, Paul Manafort, is on trial in federal court for tax fraud and other alleged crimes. The prosecution's star witness in that trial is Rick Gates, the deputy chairman of Trump's inaugural committee. The first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump for … [Read more...] about The table is set for Democrats to take the House
Report: Trump’s résumé has lots of mob connections
The Washington Post's David Von Drehle details how Donald Trump has a long history of being linked to mob figures or figures who were notably linked to mob figures. (I may find a horses head in my bed tonight, which is akin to Sean Hannity who is a horses'...you fill in the blank): Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas titled their classic group portrait of Harry S. Truman’s … [Read more...] about Report: Trump’s résumé has lots of mob connections
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Political Endangered Species
OF RELATED INTEREST: --NY GOP Congressman Chris Collins suspends campaign amid insider trading allegations --Trump administration calls endangered species protections a 'regulatory burden' --Republicans Are Caught in a Trump Bind as the Midterms Approach --Book Review: EVERYTHING TRUMP TOUCHES DIES A Republican Strategist Gets Real About the Worst President Ever Mike … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Political Endangered Species
Profit, not free speech, governs media companies’ decisions on controversy
What causes a media business to bar the door? yanin kongurai/Shutterstock.com Amanda Lotz, University of Michigan For decades, U.S. media companies have limited the content they’ve offered based on what’s good for business. The decisions by Apple, Spotify, Facebook and YouTube to remove content from commentator Alex Jones and his InfoWars platform … [Read more...] about Profit, not free speech, governs media companies’ decisions on controversy
Charlottesville: A step in our long arc toward justice
Derek W. Black, University of South Carolina The number and exuberance of white nationalists who descended on Charlottesville sent emotional tremors through the nation. Some worried that this was the beginning of an expanding movement that would hearken us back to darker times. And many felt that President Donald Trump’s comments only made matters worse. The president’s … [Read more...] about Charlottesville: A step in our long arc toward justice
Cartoon: Not a Crook
What elephants’ unique brain structures suggest about their mental abilities
African elephant bull. Michelle Gadd/USFWS, CC BY Bob Jacobs, Colorado College Conservationists have designated August 12 as World Elephant Day to raise awareness about conserving these majestic animals. Elephants have many engaging features, from their incredibly dexterous trunks to their memory abilities and complex social lives. But there is … [Read more...] about What elephants’ unique brain structures suggest about their mental abilities
Danny O’Connor’s Close Race in Ohio Ominous for Republicans
By Colleen O'Connor he song “Oh What A Night,” has new meaning. As does the classic Irish lament, “Oh, Danny Boy.” Written about the loss of a son, the classic song has taken on a new, celebratory meaning after a Democratic candidate, Danny O’Connor, forced a “too close to call” election result in a district Republicans have held, with one exception, since the … [Read more...] about Danny O’Connor’s Close Race in Ohio Ominous for Republicans
“BlackkKlansman,” Is A Powerful Rebuke of Racism and Hate
Few filmmakers are able to capture the tragedy of racism and its place in America's modern history, but Spike Lee has done just that. Lee delivers a powerful rebuke with BlackkKlansman and gives an emotional plea against hate. In the end, the audience is left with a side-by-side comparison of this nation's past and present and to contemplate their place and responsibility in … [Read more...] about “BlackkKlansman,” Is A Powerful Rebuke of Racism and Hate
Under Trump, It’s Easy To Like Ike
By John L. Micek GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The golf clubs in the laundry room at the rear of Dwight Eisenhower's farmhouse here are perched and ready, as if the 34th president of the United States might come and fetch them at any moment. Eisenhower was a passionate golfer. His valet, Sergeant John Moaney, would be tasked with cleaning them after Eisenhower returned from one of … [Read more...] about Under Trump, It’s Easy To Like Ike
CVS Sued for Fake Medicine: Homeopathy Alert
Here’s a story for today: it seems one of our largest and most trusted health care providers has been pulling a swiftie on the American public. In stores and online, adjacent to real scientific medicines (in D.C. as alleged and presumably nationwide) CVS has been hawking dangerous, pseudo-science woo-woo to the public. Their cynicism and profit motivated dishonesty is … [Read more...] about CVS Sued for Fake Medicine: Homeopathy Alert
Who are the Sikhs and what are their beliefs?
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. AP Photo/Julio Cortez Simran Jeet Singh, New York University New Jersey’s first Sikh attorney general, Gurbir Singh Grewal, was a target of disparaging remarks recently. Two radio hosts commented on Grewal’s Sikh identity and repeatedly referred to him as “turban man.” When called out on the offensiveness of … [Read more...] about Who are the Sikhs and what are their beliefs?
Alex Jones: Troll (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Conservatives and other assorted nutzoids were up to their tinfoil hats in anger this week as Facebook, YouTube, Google and Spotify banned the InfoWars conspiracy freak, Alex Jones from their platforms. Alex was banned for all sorts of violations, which included posting “fake news” and just being an all-around troll (every conspiracy in this cartoon was created by Alex … [Read more...] about Alex Jones: Troll (Cartoon, Column and Video)
It seems some Southerners want to kill 14-year old Emmett Till again
There is a lonely purple marker that stands, riddled with bullet holes, near Money, Miss. The placard marks the spot where 14-year old Emmett Till, black and doomed, was brutishly dragged, hung, shot, mutilated and then thrown into the nearby Tallahatchie River by rabid white vigilantes. For years now, the site has been fired at intermittently–there was once an outburst of one … [Read more...] about It seems some Southerners want to kill 14-year old Emmett Till again
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
At a time when Hollywood still struggles with minority representation in film and media, Crazy Rich Asians is the perfect answer. Embracing an all Asian cast, this movie is funny, heartfelt and entirely self-aware. Crazy Rich Asians is a story about love, family, and tradition. Chinese-American Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is accompanying her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry … [Read more...] about Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
The Darkest Minds (2018)
The theatrical trailer for The Darkest Minds didn't inspire confidence. Instead, it left the viewer struggling to figure out the story. Remaining true to this, the film turned out to be a messy disappointment, not worth anybody's time or money. The Darkest Minds is a story of teenage rebellion against an authoritative government, much like Divergent and The Maze Runner. Ruby … [Read more...] about The Darkest Minds (2018)
A Nation of Immigrants, Once More
About a year ago, in the series “Reflections of a ‘Nation of Immigrants,’” we told the stories of several TMV authors and readers who themselves or whose ancestors immigrated to America and helped make this country great. Last night, CNN’s Chris Cuomo told the heartfelt immigration story of his family, one that could have been the story of Susan Rappaport, J. D. Ledell, … [Read more...] about A Nation of Immigrants, Once More
Listening to history’s echoes
WASHINGTON -- How do democratic countries get to the point where they give up on self-rule? Under what circumstances do demagogues capture large audiences through irrational, emotional appeals unmoored from fact, logic or morality? When do politicians responsible for maintaining a democratic system surrender to dictators? These questions are more pertinent to us in the early … [Read more...] about Listening to history’s echoes
Manafort is on trial. So is Trump’s judgment.
WASHINGTON -- Robert S. Mueller III's prosecutors have taken pains not to make Paul Manafort's trial about President Trump. When prosecutor Greg Andres on Tuesday asked Rick Gates, his star witness and Manafort's former business partner, where Manafort stayed in New York, Gates said "he had an apartment on Fifth Avenue." Neither mentioned that it was in Trump Tower. When … [Read more...] about Manafort is on trial. So is Trump’s judgment.