The Interior Department has opened the door for trophy hunters to again bring back elephant parts from Zimbabwe, even while President Donald Trump calls elephant hunting a "horror show." With no fanfare, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued a letter saying officials will review requests to import elephant parts on a "case-by-case" basis. The Obama administration banned… … [Read more...] about US to Allow Limited Import of Trophy-Hunted Elephants
Very Bad News For Trump: Maximum Bob Can Walk & Chew Gum At The Same Time
One of the few certainties about the Russia scandal is that the news media keeps misunderestimating (to use one of Dubya's favorite words) what Special Counsel Robert Mueller is going to do next and to whom. Exhibit A in this regard is Donald Trump's vulnerability. It is widely assumed that Mueller can go after Trump for obstruction of justice, and some pundits correctly … [Read more...] about Very Bad News For Trump: Maximum Bob Can Walk & Chew Gum At The Same Time
What Trump is breaking will take long to repair
WASHINGTON -- As the saying goes, you don't miss the water until the well runs dry: This deeply aberrant presidency threatens to cost the nation much more than even some of Donald Trump's harshest critics may realize. From 1988-1992, I was The Washington Post's correspondent in Buenos Aires, covering all of South America. It was a time when countries such as Argentina, … [Read more...] about What Trump is breaking will take long to repair
Great Music – Chapter 10
In this week’s Chapter of Great Music, I picked an iconic song, HALLELUJAH by Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen, and a fairly unknown singer by the name of K.D. Lang. I’ve heard numerous versions of this song performed by Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright and others but K.D. Lang’s version captures the emotion of the song better than anyone. Unfortunately, this song would … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 10
Nunberg Meltdown (Cartoon, Column and Video)
This week, we got a full dose of a prime example of the best people Donald Trump hires. I woke up to Sam Nunberg talking to Katy Tur on MSNBC. I thought to myself, is this being taken seriously? Then, I found out it wasn’t his first appearance on MSNBC or with Tur, as he had done a phone interview earlier in the day. He also appeared on CNN, MSNBC again, and then CNN again. … [Read more...] about Nunberg Meltdown (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Is Devin Nunes Just Dangerous, Or Is He Dirty As Well?
By Blair Bess Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), the unintelligent chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, continues to pose a clear and present danger to America. Nunes babbles on, divulging delicate information and claiming there is no evidence to support a Russian plot to influence the 2016 presidential election and American public opinion in general. This … [Read more...] about Is Devin Nunes Just Dangerous, Or Is He Dirty As Well?
Economists warn Trump’s policies will start a 1930s-era trade war
Many economists are sounding alarm bells over President Donald Trump's apparent push toward protectionism and an all-out retaliatory trade war. They say history is clear: It's a bad idea. The Great Depression pushed millions of Americans into catastrophic poverty — which lasted for years. Savings were wiped out. Unemployment reached 25 percent, and in an age… … [Read more...] about Economists warn Trump’s policies will start a 1930s-era trade war
Gary Cohn, Trump’s top economic advisor, is quitting
The Trump administration not-so-Merry Go Round continues: Gary Cohn, who has served as President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser since last year, is quitting. Reports say it's over a)general frustration b)Trump's refusal to ditch Trump’s planned tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Trump is ignoring his own advisers and many GOPers on his plan, which many predict will … [Read more...] about Gary Cohn, Trump’s top economic advisor, is quitting
President Trump is blessedly weak
WASHINGTON -- In the category of small mercies, let us file this one: As strongmen go, President Trump has proved to be blessedly weak. It isn't, apparently, for lack of ambition. The president, who has never been stingy in praising the world's dictators, engaged in that favorite pastime again Saturday night before a friendly audience in what was supposed to be a private … [Read more...] about President Trump is blessedly weak
The cost of our war on public life
NEW YORK -- We didn't fully realize just how hard it was to be president until we had one with no idea of what it takes to do the job. We didn't appreciate having a government that was relatively honest and free of venality until we had one riddled with corruption. And we didn't know how wildly irresponsible Republican criticisms of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were … [Read more...] about The cost of our war on public life
Will the United States ever get back on a bipartisan ‘Middle Way?’
By Lou Galambos, Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University. Bipartisan laughter: Eisenhower with GOP Sen. William Knowland and Democratic Sen. Lyndon Johnson. Our nation has been ripped apart by political discord, ad hominem attacks and deep rifts between the dominant political parties. But history provides a lesson about how the United States can return to bipartisanship… … [Read more...] about Will the United States ever get back on a bipartisan ‘Middle Way?’
10 Off-the-Rails Sam Nunberg Quotes
To say Sam Nunberg wasn't happy to receive a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller on Monday would be an understatement. The former Trump campaign aide immediately turned to the cable news circuit for a series of no holds barred interviews with MSNBC and CNN, telling the stations' anchors that he has no intentions of complying… … [Read more...] about 10 Off-the-Rails Sam Nunberg Quotes
In Italy, fake news helps populists and far-right triumph
By Filippo Trevisan, Assistant Professor, American University. Silvio Berlusconi, left, arrives to vote as a bare-breasted woman protests in background AP Photo/Luca Bruno Although there were no outright winners in Italy’s parliamentary election on March 4, there were two clear losers – the European Union and immigrants. No one party or coalition won a majority and… … [Read more...] about In Italy, fake news helps populists and far-right triumph
Go ahead, marry your cousin—it’s not that bad for your future kids
Just don't turn it into a family tradition. Albert Einstein and his second wife (and first cousin), Elsa Einstein, took family marriage to a new level. They were related through both maternal and paternal lineages: Their mothers were sisters and their fathers were first cousins. Wikimedia Commons Yaniv Erlich has a soft spot for genealogy. A… … [Read more...] about Go ahead, marry your cousin—it’s not that bad for your future kids
Ex-Trump aide vows to defy special counsel but hints at Russia case against president
WASHINGTON — In a bizarre episode, Sam Nunberg, a former aide to Donald Trump, vowed Monday not to cooperate with the special counsel investigating Russian political interference even as he suggested that the president "may have done something" improper during the campaign. It was a head-snapping statement from a onetime Trump loyalist, although it was unclear… … [Read more...] about Ex-Trump aide vows to defy special counsel but hints at Russia case against president
Cartoon: Trump’s Game
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump’s Game
Report: State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0
You now have to conclude that President Donald Trump and his administration are either a)historically incompetent, or, b)not taking action against Russia for its interference in American politics because they want a re-run of 2016, only this time with the Russians pushing down the scale in favor of the Republican Party's continued control of Congress. Or is it both? Note this … [Read more...] about Report: State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0
Real Estate: Why Interest Rates Have to Go Up Very Slowly!
Banks make money by making loans. When interest rates are low for a long time, as they have been for several years now, the interest rates on each bank’s loans have time to adjust downward, tightening their spread. Even though profit percentages can still be decent, they are now based on lower overall numbers. As a result, banks feel pressure to make more loans to generate the … [Read more...] about Real Estate: Why Interest Rates Have to Go Up Very Slowly!
Trump’s chaotic leadership drives people to the exits
[facebook] WASHINGTON -- Whom the gods would destroy, they first make toil for Donald Trump. Jeff Sessions had been a four-term U.S. senator, had served as the top Republican on important committees and had a strong following among hardcore conservatives. Then he went to work for the Trump administration. Now he is publicly ridiculed and mocked -- by President … [Read more...] about Trump’s chaotic leadership drives people to the exits
The hidden threat of teacher stress
By Brandis M. Ansley, Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia State University, Kate McPhee, Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia State University, Joel Meyers, Regents Professor, Center for Research on School Safety, School Climate and Classroom Management, and Kris Varjas, Professor and Director of the Center for Research on School Safety, School Climate and Classroom Managment, … [Read more...] about The hidden threat of teacher stress