As the White House Spin Machine works overtime in concert with the Right Wing Noise Machine to try to divert attention from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's shock-and-awe indictments, it is time to remember yet again that the Russia scandal is not about partisan politics. It is about an assault on American democracy. Even the most benign spin -- that the indictments are … [Read more...] about Keep Your Eye On The Ball: The Russia Scandal Was An Assault On Democracy
Media Ignorance About Climate History
Once again, climate change is in the national news, with CBS News publishing a story titled Report sees "momentum" against climate change and its impact on health. While media members talk about current climate change, they tend not to talk about previous eras of climate change. It is as if they don't know about the previous eras. Regarding those previous eras, climate … [Read more...] about Media Ignorance About Climate History
‘International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists’ Missed Trump
I wonder how many people know that yesterday, November 2, was “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.” The State Department did, but forgot to tell Trump about it. In 2013, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2 November as the "International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists" … [Read more...] about ‘International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists’ Missed Trump
Our Housing Crisis Is a Serious Infrastructure Problem
Our nation is facing a serious housing crisis, which is part of our infrastructure problem as a whole. We have recently learned of the infrastructure issues in Puerto Rico that are coming to light in the wake of the recent disasters. It ties back to our housing shortcomings and how our government fails to come through for its citizens so frequently in this regard. In the … [Read more...] about Our Housing Crisis Is a Serious Infrastructure Problem
Cartoon: Mueller’s greatest hits
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: Mueller’s greatest hits
The other huge scandal Mueller brought to light this week
WASHINGTON -- Robert Mueller brought to light a huge scandal this week, and it has nothing to do with Russia. He has introduced the world to Sam Clovis. Clovis, we now know, was the Trump campaign official who oversaw George Papadopoulos and encouraged his efforts to meet with Russian officials. But what's more interesting than what Clovis is is what Clovis isn't. For … [Read more...] about The other huge scandal Mueller brought to light this week
What draws ‘lone wolves’ to the Islamic State?
By James L. Gelvin, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of California, Los Angeles. Police work near a damaged Home Depot truck on Nov. 1, 2017, after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki The recent attack on a bike path in lower Manhattan once again… … [Read more...] about What draws ‘lone wolves’ to the Islamic State?
Cartoon and Column: PREZ FOR THE CALIPHATE
Every president from FDR to Obama, (and yes, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, even Kennedy AND JFK) responded to attacks on our country by uniting the nation. Roosevelt didn’t blame Republicans when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. George W. Bush didn’t throw petty insults and lies at Nancy Pelosi when al Qaida hit the World Trade Center. When a terrorist killed 49 people at the Pulse … [Read more...] about Cartoon and Column: PREZ FOR THE CALIPHATE
Cartoon: First charges in the Russia investigation
Trump, the GOP, and the autocrat’s playbook
WASHINGTON -- Democracies sometimes collapse suddenly. More typically, they waste away. One major cause of institutional decline involves politicians putting their own immediate interests ahead of their obligations to democratic norms. We wake up one day and discover that a long series of individual choices has rotted out the constraints on authoritarian rule. President … [Read more...] about Trump, the GOP, and the autocrat’s playbook
Political Deplorables
In September of 2016, Hillary Clinton put a nail in her political coffin when she said, "You can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables, right? Racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, you name it." Sure, she apologized for her remark the next day, but by then, the self-inflicted political damage couldn't be reversed. The irony … [Read more...] about Political Deplorables
Trump’s Real Fear
Paul Waldman breaks down Donald Trump's biggest fear from the Mueller investigation in The Week. Trump is plainly sensitive about anything that might cast doubt on the legitimacy of his election victory. But that's not what he's really afraid of. The real threat Mueller poses, the thing that's probably keeping Trump up at night, is what he might find out about the president's … [Read more...] about Trump’s Real Fear
Science confirms: Spending time in nature really does help your mind
New research confirms what we pretty much knew deep down: spending time in nature makes us feel better. All nature helps, but rural and coastal areas more so than urban parks. Image credits: Elke Karin Luger. If you talk to people, there are countless stories of how being in a forest or just by the seaside… … [Read more...] about Science confirms: Spending time in nature really does help your mind
Cartoon and Column: NYC Terror attack
If you want to attack a city, instill it with fear and terror to the point the citizens there change their way of life, you might want to pick a place that’s not New York City. You always hear how we won’t let fear change us, but that’s not always true. We use fear to enact bans on refugees, suspend Constitutional rights, and even how we look at each other. But, when you … [Read more...] about Cartoon and Column: NYC Terror attack
Trump Blames Immigration Lottery, Calls US Justice ‘A Joke’ After NYC Attack
The terror attack in New York on Tuesday afternoon quickly became a political issue after President Donald Trump blamed a visa program that he said allowed the suspect, Sayfullo Saipov, into the country and called the U.S. justice system "a joke" for moving too slowly. Trump said he wants to work with Congress to abolish the… … [Read more...] about Trump Blames Immigration Lottery, Calls US Justice ‘A Joke’ After NYC Attack
Under Fire, Kevin Spacey Won’t get International Emmy Award
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has revoked an award it was going to give Kevin Spacey, a decision made after allegations that he made sexual advances on a teen boy. The group says “”it will not honor Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award.” The award is to honor “an individual… … [Read more...] about Under Fire, Kevin Spacey Won’t get International Emmy Award
More Displays of Right-Wing Lunacy
I always believed that pigs would fly before I would completely agree with anything said by journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates. Well, . . . From The Hill: "A Twitter thread by author Ta-Nehisi Coates in response to White House chief of staff John Kelly’s comments that the Civil War started from a “lack of ability to compromise” is gaining traction." In his Twitter thread, … [Read more...] about More Displays of Right-Wing Lunacy
Democrats are setting themselves up to lose
WASHINGTON -- President Trump's job approval rating fell to just 33 percent in a Gallup poll this week. One of his campaign aides pleaded guilty in the Russia probe and two more were indicted. Republicans are fighting over their tax plan, increasing the odds of yet another legislative debacle. It would seem that the midterm election is the Democrats' to lose. And you can be … [Read more...] about Democrats are setting themselves up to lose
Suppression of Science
Galileo’s ideas regarding the earth revolving around the sun were condemned by the Roman Catholic Inquisition in 1633, denying scientific truth. Unbelievably, America is going through a similar experience in the 21st century. Scientific knowledge is being suppressed, under the guidance of our able and intelligent leader, President Donald Trump. (If you don’t believe how smart … [Read more...] about Suppression of Science
GOP Tax Cuts Won’t Pass This Year — Or Maybe Even Next
On Sunday’s edition of CNN’s Reliable Sources, guest Bruce Bartlett referred to the right-wing hosts of Fox & Friends as “those three idiots.” This gave show host Brian Stelter the vapors, but it was simply Bartlett being Bartlett: blunt, astute, opinionated and — to our minds at least — accurate. His knowledge of government and the attendant industries of money, media and … [Read more...] about GOP Tax Cuts Won’t Pass This Year — Or Maybe Even Next