Kevin McCarthy, just before he was ousted as speaker of the House. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Charles R. Hunt, Boise State University The House of Representatives on Oct. 3, 2023, did something that had never been done before in the nation’s history: It ousted the speaker of the House. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, lost his job in a vote … [Read more...] about Ouster of Speaker McCarthy highlights House Republican fractures in an increasingly polarized America
News orgs continue to run off the rails when the subject of a story is Trump
Both the Washington Post editorial board and the Associated Press (AP) engaged in slipshod journalism on Monday. They were joined by other organizations that seem unable to break from whatever spell Donald J. Trump has cast upon them. Let's take the Post first, as it may be the more shocking. 1. On the 14th amendment The Washington Post editorial board opined on Monday … [Read more...] about News orgs continue to run off the rails when the subject of a story is Trump
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK 2023 (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
The National Newspaper Association asked a few cartoonists to draw a cartoon for National Newspaper Week, which is this week, and I’m honored to be one of them. Technically, the Arkansas Press Association is in charge of the campaign this year and its executive director, Ashley Kemp Wimberly was gracious enough to ask me to participate, so props to her. Also, Ms. Wimberly … [Read more...] about NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK 2023 (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
John Kelly Confirms Trump’s Contempt and Disgust for the U.S. Military
John Kelly, the longest-serving White House chief of staff for Donald Trump, confirmed on-the-record for CNN most of the damning stories reported in “A Man Who Does Not Respect the Military Can Not Lead America” about “statements Trump made behind closed doors attacking US service members and veterans.” “What can I add that has not already been said?” Kelly says about: • … [Read more...] about John Kelly Confirms Trump’s Contempt and Disgust for the U.S. Military
Africa’s Francophone Spring? The Good Coup/Bad Coup Line
by David Anderson Just like during the 1970s coups in Africa have become trendy again recently. And I mean "trendy": many human actions, collective and individual, are more contagious than we give them credit for. Individually, street crime, violence and suicide are all extremely contageous. On a larger scale, civil wars and coups often happen in clumps. Take Gabon, the most … [Read more...] about Africa’s Francophone Spring? The Good Coup/Bad Coup Line
The Profanity President
A little more than four years ago, Peter Baker wrote in the New York Times about “The Profanity President” and his “four-letter vocabulary.” He was referring to then-president Trump’s already infamous vulgarity, “full of four-letter denunciations of his enemies and earthy dismissals of allegations lodged against him.” “At rallies and in interviews, on Twitter and in formal … [Read more...] about The Profanity President
We need to know the hate that Trump is spewing
On September 22, 2023, Donald Trump called for the execution of outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark Milley. The venue, Truth Social. Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told CNN Monday that there is “a legitimate fear” that if Trump were reelected as commander-in-chief, those who he has taken issue with, like Milley, could be retaliated against in some … [Read more...] about We need to know the hate that Trump is spewing
President Biden on John McCain, democracy and Trump
Let me begin with the core principles. Democracy means rule of the people, not rule of monarchs, not rule of the monied, not rule of the mighty. Regardless of party, that means respecting free and fair elections; accepting the outcome, win or lose. (Applause.) It means you can’t love your country only when you win. (Applause.) Last week, President Joe Biden (D) traveled to … [Read more...] about President Biden on John McCain, democracy and Trump
Europe’s new tragedy: an exodus of 100,000 Armenian refugees, UN agency reports.
Another human tragedy is ripping through Europe’s heart with thousands of refugees fleeing to Armenia in less than a week from the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijan, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reports. After two wars and three decades of cross-border violence, the Nagorno-Karabakh region disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan has ceased to exist. UNHCR chief … [Read more...] about Europe’s new tragedy: an exodus of 100,000 Armenian refugees, UN agency reports.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazer from San Francisco’s City Hall to Capitol Hill
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has died at age 90. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Lincoln Mitchell, Columbia University Democrat Dianne Feinstein, the 90-year-old senior senator from California, died on Sept. 28, 2023. Feinstein had an extraordinary political career that began when she won her first election only a few months after Neil Armstrong walked … [Read more...] about Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazer from San Francisco’s City Hall to Capitol Hill
FEINSTEIN LEGACY (CARTOON)
US Senate titan Dianne Feinstein dead at 90
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Veteran Senator Dianne Feinstein, a titan of US political history who notched a string of legislative achievements during a trailblazing three-decade career in the Senate, has died. She was 90. Feinstein, the Senate's oldest member, was celebrated as a pioneer for women in politics and a hugely effective legislator. During a career that began … [Read more...] about US Senate titan Dianne Feinstein dead at 90
Ya Mitt-Manchin, Dis the dress code of Founding Fathers…
BIDEN: TRUMP WILL TAKE A WRECKING BALL TO DEMOCRACY (VIDEO)
In a speech in Phoenix, AZ President Joe Biden warned that democracy is fragile and former President Donald Trump would take a wrecking ball to it and its institutions. The Washington Post: President Biden on Thursday sharply rebuked former president Donald Trump and his supporters for continued attempts to undermine American democracy, delivering one of his most … [Read more...] about BIDEN: TRUMP WILL TAKE A WRECKING BALL TO DEMOCRACY (VIDEO)
Taylor Swift and the end of the Hollywood writers strike – a tale of two media narratives
Taylor Swift cheers as the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24, 2023. David Eulitt/Getty Images Aarushi Bhandari, Davidson College This fall, I’ve been starting my sociology classes by asking my students to share some uplifting news they’ve come across. On Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, they were abuzz about Taylor Swift’s appearance … [Read more...] about Taylor Swift and the end of the Hollywood writers strike – a tale of two media narratives
Senator John Fetterman loves GOP Congressman James Comer.
Senator John Fetterman loves GOP Congressman James Comer. At least that's what the Senator reveals in a 09/28/23 Twitter post. In case the professional media do not report Fetterman's post, here it is: "This morning, I directed my staff to deliver a gift to congratulate and salute Representative Comer and his Team America™ squad as they embark on their historic … [Read more...] about Senator John Fetterman loves GOP Congressman James Comer.
A Man Who Does Not Respect the Military Can Not Lead America (UPDATED)
UPDATE: When asked about Trump’s insinuation that the retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should deserve the death penalty, the decorated Army general stressed that he's a soldier who's been faithful to the Constitution for more than 44 years and that he is willing to die to support and defend the Constitution, according to CBS News. General Mark Milley added … [Read more...] about A Man Who Does Not Respect the Military Can Not Lead America (UPDATED)
Fertility Rates and Population Decline
A study in July 2017 reported a major decline in human sperm counts with concern about the possibility of human extinction. Between 1973 and 2011 the number of sperm in a single ejaculate from men in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand dropped by over 50 percent. Increasing the worry about a worldwide fertility crisis, a study in the journal Human Reproduction … [Read more...] about Fertility Rates and Population Decline
Trump commuted sentence of Florida felon who had been accused of bribing Sen. Menendez
In 2021, as the clock ticked down on his last day as president of the United States, Donald J. Trump commuted the 17-year sentence of a Democrat-supporting Florida eye doctor convicted of Medicare fraud. One of the people urging clemency: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). In 2017, a Florida jury had convicted Dr. Salomon Melgen of medical fraud fraud. In a six year period, Melgen … [Read more...] about Trump commuted sentence of Florida felon who had been accused of bribing Sen. Menendez
The Supreme Court’s originalists have taken over: here’s how they interpret the Constitution
Justices who follow originalism dominate in the U.S. Supreme Court. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Whitley R.P. Kaufman, UMass Lowell Today a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices are either self-described originalists or strongly lean toward originalism. Yet less than 50 years ago, originalism was considered a fringe movement, hardly taken … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court’s originalists have taken over: here’s how they interpret the Constitution