NDA’s in the Trump White House
One of the few redeeming aspects of the tawdry Omarosa-Trump drama is the revealing role played by Non-Disclosure Agreements in the Trump White House. Josh Marshall comments on Talking Points Memo. If there’s nothing else we’ve learned in recent months it is that if Trump is paranoid about being betrayed by his top operatives, he apparently has good reason. Michael Cohen taped … [Read more...] about NDA’s in the Trump White House
How Can We Do a Better Job of Prioritizing Addiction Treatment?
Many addiction services are tailored toward serving recovering alcoholics, but discussions surrounding opiates and other drugs largely circle around prevention instead of treatment. Many take opiates to reduce legitimate pain and may end up unintentionally dependent on the substance. Over 21 million people struggle with substance abuse disorder (SUD), and over 50,000 people … [Read more...] about How Can We Do a Better Job of Prioritizing Addiction Treatment?
Female War Hero Leads Wave of Veteran Candidates
I am an Air Force veteran, a (transplanted) Texan, a Democrat and I am all for women pursuing political office. I have previously written about political candidates possessing three of the four “qualifications.” But this is the story of one who has all four and for whom closed doors – whether real or metaphorical -- are no obstacle, for she is an ass kicking, … [Read more...] about Female War Hero Leads Wave of Veteran Candidates
Reality Show Lowlife (Cartoon and Column)
Donald Trump called Steve Bannon “sloppy” and says he “lost his mind.” He accused Michael Cohen of engaging in illegal activity while his lawyer says he’s a liar. Now, he calls Omarosa Manigault Newman “wacky,” a “lowlife,” and just this morning, a “dog.” What do these three people have in common? They all worked for Donald Trump, who used to give them high praise. Now, … [Read more...] about Reality Show Lowlife (Cartoon and Column)
Trump and Omarosa deserve each other
WASHINGTON -- It's hard to take Omarosa Manigault Newman's word for anything. But Lordy she has tapes, and they offer vivid proof that Donald Trump's White House is part clown show, part nest of vipers. Omarosa achieved single-name fame as a contestant on Trump's show "The Apprentice," where she performed with Shakespearean villainy -- lying, cheating, backstabbing, … [Read more...] about Trump and Omarosa deserve each other
CNN’s Don Lemon reveals ‘secret to success’ in WH and why Trump hates McCain (VIDEO)
Once again CNN's Don Lemon absolutely nails it on what it takes to succeed in the Trump White House -- and why Donald Trump hates and Arizona Sen. John McCain. Trump blantantly snubbed then took a verbal shot today at McCain, who is dying of cancer. MUST WATCH: … [Read more...] about CNN’s Don Lemon reveals ‘secret to success’ in WH and why Trump hates McCain (VIDEO)
Holograms: The ghost of Roy Orbison goes on tour – and some aren’t happy about it
Peter Lehman, Arizona State University In January, the production company Base Hologram announced its forthcoming Roy Orbison hologram tour, “In Dreams,” with the U.S. leg of the tour set to kick off on Oct. 1 in Oakland. For the unitiated: A computer-generated hologram of Orbison will be performing alongside an orchestra and band. Shortly after the announcement, a … [Read more...] about Holograms: The ghost of Roy Orbison goes on tour – and some aren’t happy about it
Of Grateful Immigrants and an ‘Immigration Hypocrite’
I have often written about the value of and contributions to America by immigrants. A year ago, I was deeply troubled and offended by White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller’s angry claim that the immortal words engraved at the Statue of Liberty – words about “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…” – do not reflect American values towards immigrants … [Read more...] about Of Grateful Immigrants and an ‘Immigration Hypocrite’
Blackklansman (Cartoon, Column and Video)
If you make a statement and David Duke gives you a supportive shout-out, you might wanna go back and rethink your position. I don’t care if you say, “it looks like rain,” and Duke goes, “yeah.” You would wonder if there was a racist wolf whistle in “it looks like rain.” Laura Ingraham used her podium on Fox News this week to say America doesn’t look like the country she … [Read more...] about Blackklansman (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Rescuing Science From Democrat Naïveté
The New York Times has been caught spreading a falsehood and should apologize for doing so. The falsehood is in a NYT article titled Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change. According to the title of that NYT article, Mankind almost stopped planet Earth from wobbling on its axis. According to the title of that NYT article, Mankind almost stopped … [Read more...] about Rescuing Science From Democrat Naïveté
Immigrant Advocates Say SW Detention Camps Pose Toxic Threats
by Roz Brown Public News Service LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Groups advocating for the rights of children and families detained at the southern border are using the Freedom of Information Act to find out exactly where the Trump administration plans to build migrant detention centers on two military bases in the Southwest. The centers are planned for Fort Bliss and Goodfellow … [Read more...] about Immigrant Advocates Say SW Detention Camps Pose Toxic Threats
Designed to deceive: How gambling distorts reality and hooks your brain
The longer they keep you plugged in to a game, the better it is for the house. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Mike Robinson, Wesleyan University To call gambling a “game of chance” evokes fun, random luck and a sense of collective engagement. These playful connotations may be part of why almost 80 percent of American adults gamble at some point in their … [Read more...] about Designed to deceive: How gambling distorts reality and hooks your brain
Don’t let politics dumb you down
WASHINGTON -- In the era of President Trump, politics is reduced to a fatuous, debilitating spectacle. We screech, we weep, we laugh bitterly. We don't seem to think much. Yet there is an underground. I speak not of some political resistance movement but of quiet, intellectually serious debates taking place around the country that relate neither to Trump nor to our political … [Read more...] about Don’t let politics dumb you down
Great Music Chapter 28 (IMPORTANT UPDATE)
This week in Great Music involved a very quick change of subjects. Let me explain. I had just finished writing an article on the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. I was in the process of attaching the article and images in an email to Joe to put up on TMV when that annoying ding announcing a new email had arrived. I was looking for the setting where I could turn off the ding … [Read more...] about Great Music Chapter 28 (IMPORTANT UPDATE)
Trump & Putin Have Failed Spectacularly In Trying To Bring The U.S. & Russia Closer
It makes sense, in a Burning-in-Hell sort of way, that Donald Trump's admiration for Vladimir Putin is more of a fawning obsequiousness. The two men could not be more different in background, but are remarkably similar as classic bullies and amoral narcissists for whom power and money are holy grails. While Putin by dint of position has been especially ruthless, both he and … [Read more...] about Trump & Putin Have Failed Spectacularly In Trying To Bring The U.S. & Russia Closer
A Set-Back for Argentina and Progress
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