By Bob Garver A lot of people were unhappy with my review of "Sing" a few weeks ago. Many wondered how I could have so much disdain for a movie with positive messages about perseverance and following your dreams. There are two main reasons: 1) That movie is considerably less positive with its messages about stealing… … [Read more...] about “Hidden Figures” (Movie Review)
Cartoon: Balance
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Balance
Media Ethicist: Buzzfeed Memo a Mistake
Sean Iling interviews mdeia ethicist Kelly McBride on whether Buzzfeed should have published the Trump/Russia memo on vox.com. I think the real problem is the impact this has had on the conversation. Before BuzzFeed published the dossier, the conversation that we were having, and CNN was leading on the reporting, was that four senior intelligence officers or officials were … [Read more...] about Media Ethicist: Buzzfeed Memo a Mistake
This bumblebee is the first to become endangered—but it won’t be the last
The rusty patched bumblebee joins the red list USGS The rusty patched bumblebee is the first bee species in the Lower 48 to join the endangered list. Just a few decades ago, the rusty patched bumblebee pollinated crops and wildflowers in 28 states. Now, as of Tuesday, it lives on the endangered species list. A statement… … [Read more...] about This bumblebee is the first to become endangered—but it won’t be the last
Draining the Swamp
When Donald Trump promised to drain the swamp, what exactly did he mean? Did he himself know? The inference was that he wanted to rid Washington of all its insiders that were ruining the country, particularly the ensconced politicians and the lobbyists. But he also railed against Wall Street and the moneyed elite. These were in cahoots with Washington to produce legislation … [Read more...] about Draining the Swamp
Assessing President Obama’s Legacy: ‘For Eight Years He Walked On Ice And Never Fell’
There has been much gum flapping over whether President Barack Hussein Obama's legacy will be undermined by his successor, for whom Pretend Time will soon come to a crashing end with his inauguration. There indeed have been occasions over the last eight years when the hope-and-change mantra that propelled Obama to the presidency has seemed like a fiction, and the election of … [Read more...] about Assessing President Obama’s Legacy: ‘For Eight Years He Walked On Ice And Never Fell’
Benny King and the criminalization of addiction in America
Benny King is a gregarious, good-hearted, God-fearing 53-year-old black man from Alabama who shouldn’t be in prison. But he is. Mr. King is serving 14-months at the federal correctional institution in Jesup, Georgia, for violating conditions of his supervised release; conditions ordered as part of King’s sentence over eleven years ago, in 2005, for bank fraud. Mr. … [Read more...] about Benny King and the criminalization of addiction in America
Cartoon: Trump’s Fireside Tweets
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 Fireside Tweets
Trump proved Obama’s point
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Cardin used one of the oldest saws in politics to lay out an imperative for the coming Trump era. "It cannot be business as usual," Cardin said. He was talking primarily about Russia, but his statement stands on its own. Under the 45th president, it cannot be business as usual for the media, for Congress or for any citizen who values our … [Read more...] about Trump proved Obama’s point
Can Anything ‘Hurt’ Trump Anymore?
We don’t know yet if the latest salacious allegations about president-elect Donald Trump’s adventures in Russia are facts, half-truths or just plain lies. Most reports now lean towards the latter -- or at least "unsubstantiated." The New York Times calls it an "unverified but explosive dossier." But we are all aware of the allegations of sexual “misconduct” made against … [Read more...] about Can Anything ‘Hurt’ Trump Anymore?
Keeping SCOTUS Seat Open Four Years Would Create Unhealthy Paradigm Shift
Donald Trump’s impending inauguration and the inevitable clash over filling Antonin Scalia’s Supreme Court seat forces us to take a look at the institution. Regardless of the opinions that people will have about whomever the president-elect nominates - and one can rest assured that there will be many, both visceral and glowing, how will the partisan navigations used to support … [Read more...] about Keeping SCOTUS Seat Open Four Years Would Create Unhealthy Paradigm Shift
Trump’s Rationale: It’s OK Because I Won
Matthew Yglesias on vox.com on the two most important words from Trump's presser today: I won. Donald Trump explained very clearly at Wednesday morning’s press conference why he won’t release his tax returns, thus leaving the public entirely in the dark as to who may or may not be paying him off: “I won.” It’s as good an explanation as any. Norms are important in politics … [Read more...] about Trump’s Rationale: It’s OK Because I Won
Cartoon: Inauguration
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Inauguration
Three possible scenarios on allegations of Russia having compromising info on Trump
Three possible scenarios regarding the Kompramat dossier: 1) The allegations are partly true, partly just inaccurate, and partly BS. Because there is enough circumstantial evidence to believe something fishy happened (FBI's FISA warrant, RNC changing the Platform re: Ukraine), McCain leads a serious investigation. Trump inauguration goes ahead but the story gets thicker and … [Read more...] about Three possible scenarios on allegations of Russia having compromising info on Trump
Angry Trump Presser: Trump blames U.S. intelligence for “phony” Russian dossier
By Ayesha Rascoe NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday angrily denounced the publishing of claims he had been caught in a compromising position in Russia and attacked U.S. intelligence agencies over the leak of the information. "I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so … [Read more...] about Angry Trump Presser: Trump blames U.S. intelligence for “phony” Russian dossier
Obama pushes values, and prods Trump, in final, emotional address
By Jeff Mason CHICAGO (Reuters) - With a final call of his campaign mantra "Yes We Can," President Barack Obama urged Americans on Tuesday to stand up for U.S. values and reject discrimination as the United States transitions to the presidency of Republican Donald Trump. In an emotional speech in which he thanked his family and declared his time as president the honor of … [Read more...] about Obama pushes values, and prods Trump, in final, emotional address
Moscow Home Movies
January 10, 2017 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Super Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President-elect Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Super Baby DonDon. So tonight the … [Read more...] about Moscow Home Movies
CNN Bombshell: Intel chiefs presented Trump with claims of Russian efforts to compromise him (UPDATED)
CNN has just released a bombshell report written by top reporters Evan Perez, Jim Sciutto, Jake Tapper and Carl Bernstein, that says intelligence chiefs last week presented President-Elect Donald Trump with allegations that the Russians have compromising information on his personal and financial matters -- and that the Russians did indeed gather info on both parties but chose … [Read more...] about CNN Bombshell: Intel chiefs presented Trump with claims of Russian efforts to compromise him (UPDATED)
Bipartisan groups urge Congress to take care when reforming Obamacare
Two of the leading bipartisan groups that focus on fiscal responsibility have issued warnings to President-elect Donald Trump and the new Republican Congress that upcoming budget matters, and especially Obamacare reforms, must be handled in a way that does not increase the projected federal debt or damage Medicare. The nation’s accumulated debt is expected to hit $20 … [Read more...] about Bipartisan groups urge Congress to take care when reforming Obamacare
Chicago’s Velveted Heart
Chicago’s Velveted Heart by Daniel Sherman In the dead of winter, on the wind-lacerated littoral of an inland sea, the sprawling fortress of the Art Institute of Chicago shelters her secrets. To find them you have to fight your way in through a sniffling scrum of once-a-year art goers, who are loading the coat-checkers with mountains of hats, gloves, scarves, and those … [Read more...] about Chicago’s Velveted Heart