I believe music was created so I’d be able to find my heart no matter how cruel and cold the world becomes. A few weeks ago, while watching the musical Hamilton rightfully steamroll the Tony awards, I happened upon a non-Hamilton related song, voice and performance that was nothing short of a revelation. I’m going to try and explain what happened to my soul as I heard the song, … [Read more...] about A Beautiful Song Changes Everything: Thank You Jessie Mueller!
Nebraska Republicans Hope Ashford’s Foe Brings Home The Bacon
This cycle, opportunities for House Republicans to play offense for capturing seats are few and far between. Most of the districts held by Democrats are drawn so heavily in the party’s favor that they have no chance of losing. With Donald Trump topping the GOP ballot, virtually all of the Democratic marginal incumbents are safe as well. In a year like this, Republicans are more … [Read more...] about Nebraska Republicans Hope Ashford’s Foe Brings Home The Bacon
Egan’s 4th of July Column
Timothy Egan provides some needed 4th of July perspective in The New York Times. But on this upcoming Independence Day, at a time when Trump’s response to our better angels is to go small, mean and tribal, an American ideal is in peril. Not open borders, which is something the United States hasn’t had since 1875, but open minds. In committing economic suicide, Britain is … [Read more...] about Egan’s 4th of July Column
Trump’s disgusting Star of David Clinton tweet appeals to anti-Semites (Guest Voice)
Donald Trump is being accused of dog whistling again to anti-Semites by attacking Hillary Clinton's fundraising prowess with a Star of David superimposed over money. The day after the Clinton campaign announced it had raised more than $68.5 million for Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee and state parties in the month of June, Trump… … [Read more...] about Trump’s disgusting Star of David Clinton tweet appeals to anti-Semites (Guest Voice)
Trump’s Latest Insult is Everything You’d Expect It Would Be
Trump's Latest Insult is Everything You'd Expect It Would Be By John L. Micek Donald Trump's latest presidential pivot didn't last long. His rapacious ego dented and his equally thin skin nicked by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's criticism of him during a joint appearance with Hillary Clinton on Monday, the presumptive GOP nominee went right back into fourth-grade tyrant … [Read more...] about Trump’s Latest Insult is Everything You’d Expect It Would Be
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate, dies at 87
By Bill Trott (Reuters) - Activist and writer Elie Wiesel, the World War Two death camp survivor who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the life-long voice of millions of Holocaust victims, died on Saturday. He was 87. Wiesel was a philosopher, speaker, playwright and professor who also campaigned for the tyrannized and forgotten around the world. He died at his home in … [Read more...] about Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate, dies at 87
For Members Only: Reporters Not Welcome
For Members Only: Reporters Not Welcome by Evan Sarzin Let’s visit one of the original thirteen colonies and a battleground state still. North Carolina! In Fayetteville Earl Phillip, the state director for the Donald Trump campaign, was about to give a speech when he spied an enemy of the state seated in Golden Corral, a convivial setting for a political rally. Motioning … [Read more...] about For Members Only: Reporters Not Welcome
Bangladesh police storm restaurant to rescue hostages
Bangladeshi police stormed a Dhaka restaurant on Saturday to free 20 hostages, including several foreigners, who were trapped inside after gunmen launched an attack. "Our commandos have stormed into the restaurant. Intense gunfighting on," Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, a deputy director at the Rapid Action Battalion force, told Reuters news agency. Islamic State of Iraq and the… … [Read more...] about Bangladesh police storm restaurant to rescue hostages
How The Supreme Court Has Changed Without Scalia. (Hint: It’s For The Better.)
I have written that if I could take only one Supreme Court reporter with me to a desert island, it would be Dahlia Lithwick, who year in and year out writes the most penetrating analyses of the top court. This observation from a Slate magazine piece following a draconian Texas abortion law being overturned nails it: It seems clear the court is experiencing the same … [Read more...] about How The Supreme Court Has Changed Without Scalia. (Hint: It’s For The Better.)
Independence Day 2016
While on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies proclaimed their independence from Great Britain, the war to cement their independence had already been fought for a year and would continue for another seven years, claiming the lives of approximately 25,000 Patriots. Sadly, the War of Independence would be just the first of a score of wars and major conflicts that would follow … [Read more...] about Independence Day 2016
The Press Fights Back
In an earlier piece, I said Donald Trump had buffaloed the press and that it was time for the media to use the L word and call him out for his constant lying. Well, there are signs, at long last, that the press is adjusting its outdated “journalism nice” rules to deal with a person whose lying is unique in modern political history. The clearest example was yesterday’s New York … [Read more...] about The Press Fights Back
When Prosecutors Parade, Criminal Justice Becomes a Circus
When Prosecutors Parade, Criminal Justice Becomes a Circus Stephen Cooper and Donnie W. Bethel Call us ‘old school’, but like the Honorable Scott Milne Matheson, Jr., "lawyers, especially prosecutors, should not in [our] judgment, 'try their cases in the press.'" In 1990, Judge Matheson, then a distinguished law professor (who would later serve as the United States … [Read more...] about When Prosecutors Parade, Criminal Justice Becomes a Circus
Attorney general defends meeting with Bill Clinton amid email probe
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Loretta Lynch has spent the past two days fending off questions about her private meeting on a government jet with former President Bill Clinton, whose wife's use of a personal email server while serving as secretary of state is being investigated by the Justice Department. The 30-minute conversation Monday night, Lynch said,… … [Read more...] about Attorney general defends meeting with Bill Clinton amid email probe
Politifact.com on Trump v. Clinton
Non-partisan fact-check website Politifact.com compares presumptive nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Trump has more statements rated Pants on Fire, 30, than the 21 other candidates for president we’ve fact-checked this cycle combined. Ninety-five of the 158 fact-checks of claims made by Trump have been rated False or Pants on Fire. Add in Mostly False and that … [Read more...] about Politifact.com on Trump v. Clinton
Trump: The 1040 you’ll never see (Guest Voice)
Trump: The 1040 You’ll Never See By Andrew Feinberg Filing Status—Huge Agriculture—My golf courses receive tax breaks for agricultural use. If a goat poops on your New Jersey property you can be designated a working farm. Hey, we’re real farmers at Trump Golf. We raise greens fees. Ha! Our government is so stupid. Health savings account deduction—Can we talk about … [Read more...] about Trump: The 1040 you’ll never see (Guest Voice)
#EndorseThis: To Fix Terrorism, Trump Wants To ‘Fight Fire With Fire’
Yesterday, Donald Trump responded to a terrorist attack by once again implying the unthinkable: America is losing the War on Terror because we haven't stooped to the terrorists' level. "We have to fight so viciously and violently, because we're dealing with violent people," Trump said "We can't do waterboarding - which may not be the nicest… … [Read more...] about #EndorseThis: To Fix Terrorism, Trump Wants To ‘Fight Fire With Fire’
Thoughts on Independence Day (Guest Voice)
Thoughts on Independence Day by Jordan Cooper President Thomas Jefferson once said blacks like sex, but love less deeply. He said they have inferior reasoning to whites. He said that black people are less healthy than whites. Let's stop proving him correct based on the statistics presented today. When I tell people I wrote speeches for the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Independence Day (Guest Voice)
GOP leaders: Put your country before your party
WASHINGTON -- He can't do it, Republicans. It's time for you to admit that Donald Trump is incapable of even pretending to be an acceptable candidate for president. The question is which side of history you want to be on. Are you going to stand with him as the balloons drop on the last night of the convention, knowing he shares neither your views nor your values? Are … [Read more...] about GOP leaders: Put your country before your party
Benghazi conspiracy theorists turn on Trey Gowdy
WASHINGTON -- Et tu, Trey? A day after the House Benghazi committee released a final report that left Hillary Clinton relatively unscathed, conservative activists -- the conspiracy-minded ones who pressured House leaders to appoint the committee in the first place -- rounded on Chairman Trey Gowdy for failing to deliver the goods. "To say I was disappointed … [Read more...] about Benghazi conspiracy theorists turn on Trey Gowdy
Want a Brighter Future? Teach Financial Literacy.
Want a Brighter Future? Teach Financial Literacy by Brian Goebel If we want social mobility and effective government, we need our kids to be financially literate. [dropcap custom_class="normal"]Unless you are excited by the prospect of a 21st Century Wayne's World playing out in your house -- your kids living in your basement after they have graduated from college … [Read more...] about Want a Brighter Future? Teach Financial Literacy.