By Michael Winship Back in 2007, just a month and a half after I was first elected president of the Writers Guild of America East, we and our friends and colleagues at the Writers Guild West were plunged into a strike against the networks and studios. For me, it was one hell of an initiation. The strike would last a grueling hundred days and the asymmetric warfare we … [Read more...] about Nevertheless, She Persisted – By the Millions
The Dam Is Weak, But Can Mueller Make An Obstruction Of Justice Charge Stick?
The routine is, by now, numbingly familiar. First, a newspaper breaks a deeply sourced story -- in this case the recent New York Times blockbuster on Donald Trump ordering the firing of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller last June and backing off only after his White House counsel threatened to resign. Second, the story is followed by a mush-mouthed non-denial by Trump's … [Read more...] about The Dam Is Weak, But Can Mueller Make An Obstruction Of Justice Charge Stick?
California Murder Suspect Said to Have Trained With Extremist Hate Group
The California man accused of killing a 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student earlier this month is an avowed neo-Nazi and a member of one of the most notorious extremist groups in the country, according to three people with knowledge of the man’s recent activities. The man, Samuel Woodward, has been charged in Orange County, California, with… … [Read more...] about California Murder Suspect Said to Have Trained With Extremist Hate Group
Great Music – Chapter 5.5 (UPDATED)
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a technical glitch the wrong YouTube video was posted on the first publication of this post. We've now put the correct one in. TMV regrets the error. This week’s offering on music is a bit off the regular track. I am often asked by my piano students what is the most difficult piece of piano music ever created. Some times they ask what is the easiest … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 5.5 (UPDATED)
NRA American Made (Cartoon and Column)
You may have missed this story from last week as it was overshadowed by a government shutdown, shitholes, Davos, The Women’s March, DACA, Tide Pods, Republican conspiracy theories, and Trump’s weekly attempt to obstruct justice and slime his way through the presidency. But, what may have transpired while Trump was sliming his way toward the presidency is that Russians helped … [Read more...] about NRA American Made (Cartoon and Column)
Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Detained Amid Protests
Police in Moscow have detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny at a rally he called to protest Russia's March presidential election. Navalny tweeted " I have been detained," and urged his followers to join the demonstration. A still image taken from a video footage shows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny being detained by Interior Ministry members during… … [Read more...] about Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Detained Amid Protests
The Reason blacks don’t vote for GOP and how to start changing that (Guest Voice)
The reason blacks don’t vote for Republicans in general is because they think they’re racists. Blacks feel that Republicans are the cause of gentrification, mass incarceration of blacks, and the inadequate education of much of the black population. Blacks won’t think Republicans are racist anymore if all of the public schools are renovated and kept up to date. I think our … [Read more...] about The Reason blacks don’t vote for GOP and how to start changing that (Guest Voice)
Steven Spielberg to remake ‘West Side Story’
It's one of the most beloved movies in musical cinema and now Steven Spielberg is giving "West Side Story" a makeover -- except this time, he is recruiting Latino talent to play the lead roles. The original film version of Leonard Bernstein's musical -- Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" reimagined in the world of warring New York… … [Read more...] about Steven Spielberg to remake ‘West Side Story’
When Trump leaves what will be left of us?
Someday, likely three years from now, perhaps sooner, perhaps -- gulp -- later, President Trump will depart the stage. But what will be left of us? New evidence suggests the damage he is doing to the culture is bigger than the man. A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday found that two-thirds of Americans say Trump is not a good role model for children. Every … [Read more...] about When Trump leaves what will be left of us?
Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, new bill ‘can’t change history’
Yesh Atid leader, son of survivor, condemns law prescribing jail time for using phrases such as 'Polish death camps'; Poland played active role in Nazi killing of Jews, he stresses Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid on Saturday slammed a controversial law passed by the lower house of the Polish parliament which aims to penalize individuals or… … [Read more...] about Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, new bill ‘can’t change history’
Trump and His Toadies Don Tinfoil Hats
A wild animal is most dangerous when it's cornered. We're seeing that now. Putin chump Donald Trump, aided by obsequious fright-wing Republicans and amplified by servile TV talking heads, is feeling the heat from Robert Mueller. With each indication that the Russia probe is inching ever closer to his throne, he's lashing out ever more crazily - conjuring paranoid notions of … [Read more...] about Trump and His Toadies Don Tinfoil Hats
Is Biden in danger of becoming the John McCain of 2020?
by Thomas Hoffman There was a time when Senator John McCain was adored by both sides. Conservatives and liberals both admired him for his military service. Conservatives, liberals and independents praised his independent, “maverick” voting style. By the time of the 2008 election, that attitude was political dust. Everyone sees former Vice President Joe Biden as the "great … [Read more...] about Is Biden in danger of becoming the John McCain of 2020?
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Evangelicals
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Evangelical Leader Says Trump Gets 'a Mulligan' on Alleged Affair with Porn Star --Michael Gerson: The Trump evangelicals have lost their gag reflex --Why evangelicals made a deal with the devilish Donald Trump --Evangelicals continue to apply moral relativism in dealing with Trump, but at what cost? Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and Evangelicals
Rhino poaching dips slightly in S.Africa
The number of rhinos killed for their horns by poachers in South Africa dipped in 2017, but more than 1,000 were still slaughtered, the government said on Thursday. South Africa is battling a scourge of rhino poaching fuelled by insatiable demand for their horn in Asia. Most of the demand emanates from China and Vietnam, where… … [Read more...] about Rhino poaching dips slightly in S.Africa
Trump Launched Campaign to Discredit Potential FBI Witnesses
Embed from Getty Images President Donald Trump sought to start a campaign to discredit FBI agents who he feared could testify against him in Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigation, according to a report by Murray Waas in Foreign Policy. Although Fox News et. al may yell (again) "Fake News!" it fits into recent reporting about Trump, as well as into the overall feeling … [Read more...] about Trump Launched Campaign to Discredit Potential FBI Witnesses
Sean Hannity BOTCHES Live Report, Embarrasses Self When He Tries To Retract It (VIDEO)
On Thursday night’s Hannity program on Fox News, host Sean Hannity told the world that the New York Times story about Donald Trump wanting to fire special prosecutor Robert Mueller was completely fabricated and that none of his sources has been able to confirm it. Just minutes later, he was forced to admit that Fox News… … [Read more...] about Sean Hannity BOTCHES Live Report, Embarrasses Self When He Tries To Retract It (VIDEO)
Why climate change is worsening public health problems
By Chelsey Kivland, Professor of Anthropology, Dartmouth College and Anne Sosin, Global Health Initiative Program Manager, Dartmouth College. People collect water piped in from a mountain creek in Utuado, Puerto Rico on Oct. 14, 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans were still without running water. AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa Around… … [Read more...] about Why climate change is worsening public health problems
Does America have a caste system?
By Subramanian Shankar, Professor of English (Postoclonial Literature and Creative Writing), University of Hawaii. In the United States, inequality tends to be framed as an issue of either class, race or both. Consider, for example, criticism that Republicans’ new tax plan is a weapon of “class warfare,” or accusations that the recent U.S. government shutdown was… … [Read more...] about Does America have a caste system?
Trump and Davos Man are closer than you think
President Donald Trump surprised many by winning minds and praise today at his first foray into the fortress of globalization in the snow-capped village of Davos, Switzerland. Nobody expected a statesman and most sighed with relief because Trump seemed less rough, scary, narrow-minded and short-sighted than critics in the US allege. Many European and American … [Read more...] about Trump and Davos Man are closer than you think
The president and the porn star
WASHINGTON -- Wait, back up a minute. We just zoomed past a story that would have been a five-alarm scandal for any other administration, with weeks of screaming front-page headlines: "The President and the Porn Star." The Wall Street Journal had the scoop on Jan. 12: "A lawyer for President Donald Trump arranged a $130,000 payment to a former adult-film star a month before … [Read more...] about The president and the porn star