The day before Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida, the House and Senate agreed to keep the federal government operating past September 30. The temporary budget expires December 20 and included no supplemental funds for FEMA disasters. [A]s the House and Senate’s top four leaders met last weekend to negotiate a deal to keep the government funded, they were forced to … [Read more...] about Republicans in FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA and WV voted against funding FEMA last month
Trump lies: the Biden Administration did not divert FEMA money to immigration. But Trump did.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is suffering a budget shortfall, because the House of Representatives did not fund FEMA disaster relief in its "stopgap" bill; yet hurricane season runs through November. FEMA has not diverted any money -- much less a billion dollars -- to immigration programs, as Donald Trump has falsely claimed. Trump has repeatedly lied about … [Read more...] about Trump lies: the Biden Administration did not divert FEMA money to immigration. But Trump did.
Helene damage could negatively impact computer chip production
The town of Spruce Pine, NC (population 2,194), is home to two of the most important mines in the world that produce "high-purity quartz used for making semiconductors, solar panels and fiber-optic cables." Production at the mines stopped September 26, 2024, before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida. Helene's devastating winds and rains pummeled western North … [Read more...] about Helene damage could negatively impact computer chip production
Tackling Vance’s lies: abortion, climate change, health care, immigration
Despite a television performance peppered with lies from start to finish, political pundits named JD Vance "the winner" because he was polished, professional, cordial (here, here, here, here, not exhaustive). That, my friends, is BS. It looks like independent and "other party" voters agreed: Here's historian Heather Cox Richardson on the lies and Donald Trump's … [Read more...] about Tackling Vance’s lies: abortion, climate change, health care, immigration
TRUMP’S LYING AGAIN (CARTOON)
It’s not enough to spread lies. Trump pledges to deport Haitians who are here legally.
UPDATED: In the 'you can't make this up' category, Donald Trump told NewsNation today that the Haitians living in Springfield "must be removed." Trump said he would "revoke" their current legal status, "and I'd bring [sic] them back to their country." There are 200,005 Haitian nationals here under the 34-year-old Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. NEW - In an … [Read more...] about It’s not enough to spread lies. Trump pledges to deport Haitians who are here legally.
Vance again refuses to say Trump lost in 2020; election denial is GOP calling card
Although The Washington Post failed to emphasize JD Vance's refusal to acknowledge that Donald Trump lost in 2020, late Wednesday afternoon in Michigan Vance again refused to answer the question and the paper stepped up. Denial of the facts of 2020 has become the calling card of any Republican currying favor with Trump. Here's the WaPo: Trump’s denial of his 2020 … [Read more...] about Vance again refuses to say Trump lost in 2020; election denial is GOP calling card
Russia’s new ideological battlefield: The militarization of young minds
Youth take part in an action to mark the ninth anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. AP Photo Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Colorado State University Over the summer of 2024, some 250 Russian children traveled to North Korea for a 10-day-long kids camp. Framed as cultural diplomacy, the event was the result of a new youth … [Read more...] about Russia’s new ideological battlefield: The militarization of young minds
Some thoughts on the VP debate
Last night's vice-presidential debate cannot have been much fun for the Harris-Walz campaign team. For those of us who cannot wait to see the last of Donald Trump, the exchanges between JD Vance and Tim Walz were frequently crazy-making, so much so that I had to resort to my tried-and-true distraction method of doing an on-line crossword puzzle while mostly paying attention to … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on the VP debate
VANCE WALZ DEBATE: LIZARD LIAR (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
I watched the debate last night between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and an imposter playing JD Vance. That was NOT JD Vance we saw in the debate last night. The courteous gentleman we saw last night wasn’t the same guy we’ve seen on TV and at hate rallies attacking Tim Walz’s military service and dehumanizing legal immigrants by claiming they’re eating your cats. This guy … [Read more...] about VANCE WALZ DEBATE: LIZARD LIAR (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
America’s dad vs. the manosphere: Walz-Vance debate highlights two versions of masculinity
Two guys, shaking hands: Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, ahead of their debate on Oct. 1, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University Few people expected the campaign to elect the first woman president to spark a referendum on masculinity, but what it means to be a man has become “arguably … [Read more...] about America’s dad vs. the manosphere: Walz-Vance debate highlights two versions of masculinity
JD VANCE DEBATE QUESTIONS (CARTOON)
Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020
For context, I was a high school debater on a winning team. I was immediately turned off by the slick spiel that marked Sen. JD Vance's performance as he "debated" (not really) Gov. Tim Walz. This was the defining moment, and it came as the debate wrapped up: Walz asked Vance if Trump had lost the 2020 election. (The moderators had set up the scenario by citing the lost … [Read more...] about Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020
Trump and Musk are good at losing money
Both Donald Trump and Elon Musk present themselves as superb businessmen. Yet neither man has succeeded in operating a social network. Musk is killing one in a slow death march; Trump's will probably finish going south after November. Musk's purchase of Twitter, rebranded as X, has lost approximately 80% of its value, which is now estimated at $9.4 billion. Trump's social … [Read more...] about Trump and Musk are good at losing money
DONALD TRUMP (CARTOON)
KAMALA VS TRUMP (CARTOON)
Artificial Intelligence and Global Warming
Artificial Intelligence has been considered a danger to human survival by some of its creators and independent analysts, though other researchers see it as a major positive development for humanity. Whether AI is truly an existential risk or not, there is no disagreement on the fact that AI and data centers consume huge amounts of electricity. The demand for electricity will … [Read more...] about Artificial Intelligence and Global Warming
Happy 100th Birthday President Jimmy Carter
Today marks a special moment in history, for the first time ever a President of the United States has reached the age of 100. Given the overall increase in human life span it is likely we will see other former Presidents match this mark but it is certainly worth noting the event. Like most Presidents, he has been a controversial figure over the years and was at one point … [Read more...] about Happy 100th Birthday President Jimmy Carter
IS CBS NEWS ABDICATING ITS MURROW CRONKITE LEGACY IN WALZ VANCE DEBATE?
It's a cliché, but true. CBS News has been the legendary "gold standard" of journalism. It had some bumps along the way, but to say "CBS News" still conjured up images of stalwart role-model 20th century journalists such as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. They were of the Greatest Generation and members of the Greatest Generation of journalists. News was then … [Read more...] about IS CBS NEWS ABDICATING ITS MURROW CRONKITE LEGACY IN WALZ VANCE DEBATE?
Does Hezbollah represent Lebanon? And what impact will the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah have?
A picture of the secretary-general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah is seen among the rubble following an Israeli air strike. Str-/picture alliance via Getty Images Mireille Rebeiz, Dickinson College Israel has killed the leader of the militant group Hezbollah in a airstrike in Beirut, marking a further escalation of hostilities in the … [Read more...] about Does Hezbollah represent Lebanon? And what impact will the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah have?