WASHINGTON -- President Trump leaned heavily on the stories of American heroes in his State of the Union address Tuesday night because he didn't have much else to say. From the Coast Guard, the fire departments, the shop floor and many other quarters they came, providing structural support for a flabby speech that was one of the least adventurous and forward-looking efforts of … [Read more...] about Instead of seeking ‘common ground,’ Trump gives a flabby, divisive speech
Toobin Comes Clean About Hillary: Thats One Apology Down & A Thousand To Go
Jeffrey Toobin, CNN's chief legal analyst, has apologized for promoting during the presidential campaign the notion that Donald Trump's thoroughly documented history as a racist, fraud, bully, sexual predator and pathological liar was somehow cancelled out by Hillary Clinton's used of a private email server while secretary of state. Okay, that's one apology down and a … [Read more...] about Toobin Comes Clean About Hillary: Thats One Apology Down & A Thousand To Go
Shut Up or Shut Down (Guest Column)
By Blair Bess Chaos theory has been called the study of predicting "inherently unpredictable" systems. It is also an apt description of the study of the Trump presidency. Those closest to the president say he thrives on chaos, relishes tumult, and takes perverse pleasure in stirring up conflict among advisers and associates.The president is energized by noise. While this … [Read more...] about Shut Up or Shut Down (Guest Column)
Artificial intelligence is the weapon of the next Cold War
By Jeremy Straub, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, North Dakota State University. With artificial intelligence weapons on both sides, are we in a new cold war? Dim Dimich/Shutterstock.com It is easy to confuse the current geopolitical situation with that of the 1980s. The United States and Russia each accuse the other of interfering in domestic affairs.… … [Read more...] about Artificial intelligence is the weapon of the next Cold War
Stormy (Cartoon and Column)
Is it unfair of me to hit Melania Trump with a cartoon? Yeah. Political cartoons aren’t supposed to be fair. Show me a fair political cartoon and I’ll show you a crappy cartoon. During the national meltdown that was Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, conservatives and liberals alike wondered, some demanded, why Hillary wouldn’t leave Bill. I don’t like to judge … [Read more...] about Stormy (Cartoon and Column)
Spain’s king celebrates 50th birthday amid Catalan crisis
Spain's King Felipe VI will celebrate his 50th birthday Tuesday as the royal house seeks to drum up public support for the monarchy amid a crisis over Catalonia's separatist push. The festivities will throw the spotlight on the king's oldest daughter Leonor, the 12-year-old heir to the throne. Felipe will award the angelic-looking princess with one… … [Read more...] about Spain’s king celebrates 50th birthday amid Catalan crisis
Trump urges US parties set aside differences
US President Donald Trump urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday. "Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the… … [Read more...] about Trump urges US parties set aside differences
Cartoon: Devin Nunes
Will There Be 2018 Midterm Elections, Or Not
So you think the title of this piece is fanciful and couldn’t happen, right? Remember that, even as this is written, Scott Walker, the Koch purchased Governor of Wisconsin, is refusing to set special elections to fill the seats of two Republican state legislators who vacated their seats in December, 2017 to join his administration. And, he is doing this in direct violation of … [Read more...] about Will There Be 2018 Midterm Elections, Or Not
Duke fact-checking team needs testers during the State of the Union address
On January 9, 2018, less than year after being sworn in as president of the United States, Donald Trump told his 2,000th lie. When we started this project, originally aimed at the president’s first 100 days, he averaged 4.9 claims a day... There are now nearly 70 claims that he has repeated three or more times. Indeed, he crossed the 2,000 threshold during his one-hour … [Read more...] about Duke fact-checking team needs testers during the State of the Union address
How to Make a Blockbuster on a Budget (Infographic)
A fascinating infographic via money-pod.co.uk How to Make a Blockbuster on a Budget? by Moneypod. … [Read more...] about How to Make a Blockbuster on a Budget (Infographic)
FISA Memo (Cartoon and Column)
During the Obama presidency, Republican wingnuts perpetuated conspiracy theories that he was out to destroy America and would never leave office when his terms were up. Without any actual evidence to base these beliefs, they shat out one flimsy reason after another. He was born in Kenya. His birth certificate is a forgery. Nobody knew him in college. He’s a Muslim. He’s a … [Read more...] about FISA Memo (Cartoon and Column)
America’s UN Cuts Cost Lives in the DRC
by Sean Bennett Following the rapid political and humanitarian decline of 2017, could the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo get any worse? Given the government’s massive wave of crackdowns over the past months, the unfortunate answer seems to be yes. Just last week, state security forces killed at least six and wounded dozens amidst demonstrations in Kinshasa and … [Read more...] about America’s UN Cuts Cost Lives in the DRC
Cartoon : State of the Telepromter
India has 21 million ‘unwanted’ girls
The desire of Indian parents for sons has created an estimated 21 million "unwanted" girls because couples keep having children until they produce a boy, the government said Monday. Indian parents have historically wanted sons, who are seen as breadwinners and family heirs. Girls are often viewed as a financial burden in a country where the… … [Read more...] about India has 21 million ‘unwanted’ girls
Trump’s Wasted Efforts
Doesn’t President Trump have better and more productive things to do, like play golf, or deny his campaign’s collusion with the Russians. Instead, he’s wasting his time working on policies that will have no lasting value for the country and a negative impact temporarily. Some of these he does by presidential fiat and others with the help of a Republican Congress that appears … [Read more...] about Trump’s Wasted Efforts
Cartoon: Trump Trojan Gift to FBI
EPA ends important Clean Air policy, fulfilling request of fossil fuel lobby
Strike another win for the fossil companies and another loss for the people. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the withdrawal of a key provision of the Clean Air Act. Following this move, hundreds of U.S. industrial facilities will be allowed to dramatically increase their emissions of the most toxic air pollutants. Image credits: Petter Rudwall.… … [Read more...] about EPA ends important Clean Air policy, fulfilling request of fossil fuel lobby
With Trump under investigation, Republicans vote to release controversial memo
WASHINGTON — As President Trump seethes over the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, he's been able to count on rock-solid support from his Republican allies in Congress, who, amplified by conservative commentators on Fox News, have increasingly labored in recent weeks to raise public doubts about the inquiry. Their efforts, cheered on by… … [Read more...] about With Trump under investigation, Republicans vote to release controversial memo
BREAKING: FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is stepping down from the FBI
Embed from Getty Images Is this pro-forma, or was he pushed? FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is stepping down from the FBI. And despite initial reports, some analysis and on Twitter are using the same term: a "slow motion Saturday Night Massacre." Is forcing out Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein soon in the cards? CBS News: FBI Deputy Director Andrew … [Read more...] about BREAKING: FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is stepping down from the FBI