Monday, July 31, 2017

Alex Jones: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Alex Jones is known for pushing conspiracy theories, but he also spends a lot of time promoting his own products. John Oliver and a “doctor” “from” M.I.T. test out his marketing strategy.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/WyGq6cjcc3Q

Top U.S. & World Headlines — July 31, 2017

Interview:
https://youtu.be/ixinJw6aOOI

Hackers descend on Las Vegas to expose voting machine flaws -- POLITICO

A computer science professor used a laptop's Wi-Fi connection to gain access to the type of voting machine that Fairfax County, Virginia, used until just two years ago...
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/30/hackers-voting-machines-las-vegas-241130

Amid the Blaring Headlines, Routine Reports of Hate-Fueled Violence -- ProPublica

...The specter of hate incidents and crimes — some of them fueled by the nastiness of the 2016 presidential campaign — felt white hot months ago. The issue remained high-profile as several horrific murders — a South Asian immigrant slain in Kansas City, a homeless black man butchered near Times Square in New York — generated outrage and national news coverage...
https://www.propublica.org/article/amid-the-blaring-headlines-routine-reports-of-hate-fueled-violence

Federal judge blocks Arkansas from enforcing extreme abortion laws -- ThinkProgress.org

A federal judge has blocked Arkansas from enforcing several extreme abortion restrictions that reproductive rights advocates say would have had a devastating effect on patients. The preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge...
https://thinkprogress.org/arkansas-federal-judge-abortion-462ab1722303

Google Finds and Blocks Spyware Linked to Cyberarms Group -- WIRED

A new, targeted malware called Lipizzan could completely take over an Android device until Android Security shut it down ...
https://www.wired.com/story/lipizzan-android-malware-nation-state

The deadly risk of standing up to Putin

What can happen to you if you oppose the Kremlin? There is a high mortality rate among prominent critics of the Russian government, which some say is emblematic of how President Vladimir Putin runs the country....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxjFSPGLlRc&feature=youtu.be

Mulvaney: Trump Wants Senate To Vote On O'Care Repeal Before Anything Else -- TPM

White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney on Sunday said President Donald Trump wants the Senate to hold another vote to repeal Obamacare before moving on to any other legislative business. "...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mulvaney-trump-senate-obamacare-repeal-vote

LIVE: William Browder Testifies before Senate Judiciary Hearing Russian Meddling US Election 7/27/17 - YouTube

This is what Trump's latest tweets and Scaramucci's outrageous comments were meant to distract us from.

Businessman Paints Terrifying And Complex Picture Of Putin's Russia -- NPR

Allegations of murder, blackmail and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of corruption. William Browder's story has it all — and he shared it Thursday with a Senate panel investigating Russia. ...
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/28/539802914/businessman-paints-a-terrifying-and-complex-picture-of-putins-russia

William Browder Testifies before Senate Judiciary Hearing Russian Meddling US Election 7/27/17

This is the big story Trump hopes you missed while he distracted with tweets about transgender people in the military and Scaramucci's obscene comments about people in the White House.

William Browder's testimony goes into great detail about what the Russians -- especially Putin -- want, and what it means when Donald Trump Junior says they talked about adoptions in his meeting with the Russians.

EXPLOSIVE Testimony on Putin's Corruption & Meddling. Justice Department Officials Testify on Foreign Agent Registration Requirement. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on foreign agent registration requirements.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/S-RsAGjUXtg

Will the Government Protect Abortion Clinic Access In the Era of Trump? (Lindsay E. Beyerstein, The Breach)

Rewire Vice President of Law and the Courts Jessica Mason Pieklo joins Lindsay Beyerstein for a special episode on abortion access to mark the launch of Rewire’s first original documentary, Care in Chaos. Anti-choice activists are already testing the government’s commitment to enforcing the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a federal crime to blockade an abortion clinic. If the federal government won’t defend the rule of law, we could be looking at a return to the tactics of the “Summer of Mercy,” when thousands of anti-choice protesters physically blocked access to clinics in Wichita, Kansas.

Care in Chaos, directed by Lindsay Beyerstein and Martyna Starosta, follows a 27-year-old abortion clinic administrator as she battles anti-choice aggression and law enforcement indifference that threaten safe access for patients and staff.
Interview:
https://rewire.news/multimedia/podcast/breach-will-government-protect-abortion-clinic-access-era-trump/

Is The Health Care Overhaul Over? (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Over a steak dinner last night, President Trump urged key Republican Senators to finally repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He didn’t know that two more Senators were about to announce they oppose the bill – effectively killing it. So what now? Mitch McConnell wants a “repeal only” bill, but that could lead to chaos. Others say it’s time to work across party lines to fix healthcare. This hour On Point: Republicans fumble and Obamacare remains the law of the land. -- Anthony Brooks
Interview:
http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2017/07/18/is-the-health-care-overhaul-ove

Inside The 'Shakespearian Irony' Of Trump & Bannon's Relationship

In August 2016, three months before the presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump was behind in the polls. Instead of staying on message, the candidate was engaged in a politically damaging fight with the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq.

On Aug. 17, in an effort to change course, the Trump team appointed Steve Bannon, the former executive chairman of the conservative Breitbart News, to lead the campaign. Journalist Joshua Green of Bloomberg Businessweek says the switch would prove to be a turning point.

"[Trump] was headed toward a pretty serious loss, and Bannon brought his wealth of anti-Clinton knowledge into the campaign and managed to keep Trump focused on a target," Green says.

Green argues that Bannon's experiences with Breitbart gave him a framework for mobilizing disaffected young white male voters who were attracted to Trump. Without such guidance, Green says, "I don't think that Donald Trump would have been elected president."

Despite Bannon's success in the campaign, Green says that the adviser's nationalist vision remains largely unfulfilled. "The kind of tragic, Shakespearean irony of the Donald Trump-Steve Bannon relationship is that Bannon finally did find the vessel for his ideas who could get elected president ... [but who] now doesn't have the focus, the wherewithal, the self-control to even do the basic things that a president needs to do."

Green's new book, Devil's Bargain, profiles Bannon and explains his role in Trump's election.

Interview:
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/18/537885042/inside-the-shakespearean-irony-of-trump-and-bannons-relationship

Dave Rubin vs. The Left (David C. Smalley, Dogma Debate #322)

Making your opposition afraid to ask questions for fear of being labeled hateful, only prevents your goal of educating them. EXPLICIT!
Listen to "#322 - Dave Rubin vs. The Left" on Spreaker.

"Graham Greene" by Percival Everett -- (LeVar Burton Reads Episode 6)

A man is contacted by a 102-year-old woman with an unusual and seemingly impossible request. "Graham Greene" appears in Percival Everett's collection HALF AN INCH OF WATER, available from Graywolf Press.
https://art19.com/shows/levar-burton-reads/episodes/49e491ac-af35-482e-a390-22f56c907526

MAGAnomics And The Quest For Three Percent (Joshua Johnson, 1A)

They call it MAGAnomics.

That’s a term coined by budget director Mick Mulvaney to describe a budget plan designed to guarantee three percent economic growth every year. How? Through tax cuts, spending cuts and a combination of other strategies.

That three-percent estimate has been criticized as practically impossible. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the plan will only give the economy a one-tenth of one percent boost, keeping overall growth below two percent. The White House has previously said it doesn’t have much faith in the CBO’s math skills, but whose calculations can we trust? And what would it take to get to three percent growth?
Interview:
http://the1a.org/shows/2017-07-17/maganomics-and-the-quest-for-three-percent

Revenge Porn & Parol Evidence (Opening Arguments podcast OA87)

For today’s show, we take a deep dive into the law of contracts, featuring the “parol evidence” rule.

First, however, we answer a question from special listener Lydia S. who wants to know all about Blac Chyna, Rob Kardashian, and “revenge porn.” YOU asked for it!

In the main segment, Andrew and Thomas discuss what you can and can’t do to dispute a written contract.

Next, Garry Myers asks us about why law firms are all structured as partnerships. Again, the answer might surprise you!.

Finally, we end with the answer to Thomas Take the Bar Exam Question #32 regarding 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Listen and find out if Thomas makes it back to .500! And don’t forget to play along by following our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and/or our Facebook Page and quoting the Tweet or Facebook Post that announces this episode along with your guess and reason(s)!
Interview:
http://openargs.com/oa87-revenge-porn-parol-evidence/

Sen. Al Franken On Washington Today (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Al Franken was there from the beginning with Saturday Night Live. A fixture comedian for years. Straight up funny. Then he got the political bug, bigtime. Squeaked into the U.S. Senate from his home state, Minnesota. And now, Sen. Al Franken is in his second term and in the thick of the craziness in Washington. Asking the tough questions in hearings. Railing against Ted Cruz. Talking Trump. What’s he really think? We’ll ask. This hour On Point: Sen. Al Franken. -- Tom Ashbrook
Interview: 

Kentucky Officials Have Ended the $18 Million Tax Rebate Deal With Ark Encounter

This is a big deal. And you can read more of the back story here. Quick summary: The Creationists behind Ark Encounter initially said they were building a for-profit attraction in order to get a lot of perks, including a tourism-related tax rebate from the state of Kentucky worth more than $18 million over ten years. But after the city of Williamstown said they would add a 50-cent surcharge to all tickets to pay for a safety fee, Ken Ham‘s team sold Ark Encounter to their own non-profit, Crosswater Canyon, because religious ministries are exempt from that kind of tax....
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/21/kentucky-officials-have-ended-the-18-million-tax-rebate-deal-with-ark-encounter/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Minimum Wage and Job Loss: One Alarming Seattle Study Is Not the Last Word - The New York Times

Seattle was the first city in the United States to raise the minimum wage substantially, so a University of Washington study released last month showing big job losses has received a lot of attention, and prompted many an I-told-you-so. The job losses in the study were far greater than in a control group of similar areas in Washington State (where the minimum wage was not raised).

Because the study found that low-wage workers lost income as a result of the increase, it was a much more dire assessment of the effects of a minimum-wage increase than even the more pessimistic studies to date....
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/upshot/minimum-wage-and-job-loss-one-alarming-seattle-study-is-not-the-last-word.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_up_20170724&nl=upshot&nl_art=5&nlid=78638145&ref=headline&te=1&_r=0


Frontrunner For U.S. Senate Seat In Alabama Calls Islam A 'False Religion' -- HuffPost

A U.S. Senate candidate and former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice told voters this week that Islam is a "false religion." ...

A Plastic Garbage Patch Bigger Than Mexico Was Found in the Pacific -- National Geographic

Yet another floating mass of microscopic plastic has been discovered in the ocean, and it is mind-blowingly vast. ...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/ocean-plastic-patch-south-pacific-spd

Noah's Ark transfers land back to for-profit entity after state threat | Lexington Herald Leader

Three days after state tourism officials suspended an $18 million tax incentive, officials at a Noah’s Ark theme park have sold their main parcel back to their for-profit entity for $10....
http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article163349603.html


Federal Judge Nominee Claims Bible Precedes Constitution

Theocracy alert: Federal judge nominee Amy Coney Barrett says religious faith comes before law, and claims the Bible takes precedent over the U.S. Constitution. A legal watchdog group is warning that Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s nominee for a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, is a dangerous religious extremist that is not qualified to serve on the bench....
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2017/07/federal-judge-nominee-claims-bible-precedes-constitution/


Massachusetts police do not have authority to detain undocumented immigrants for ICE says high court

Reuters is reporting that Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that police officers cannot detain undocumented immigrants without cause—and holding them while waiting for federal law enforcement officers is not an acceptable reason....
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1683503


GOP Rep. Uses Audio Of Baseball Practice Shooting In Senate Ad (VIDEO) -- TPM

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) on Monday released a new television ad for his U.S. Senate campaign that uses audio of the shooting at a congressional baseball practice that left his colleague and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) injured to underscore Brooks' support for gun rights. ...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mo-brooks-ad-congressional-baseball-shooting-audio

Illinois Bishop Decrees No Communion, Funeral Rites For Same-Sex Spouses : The Two-Way : NPR

A Catholic bishop has instructed priests in his central Illinois diocese to deny communion, last rites and funeral rites to people in same-sex marriages – unless they repent....
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/23/534127330/illinois-bishop-decrees-no-communion-funeral-rites-for-same-sex-spouses


And Now the Good News #251: Using Holograms to Detect Extraterrestrial Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ7NknTsbNA&feature=youtu.be

The Bogus Medicines the Feds Have No Plan to Stop -- The Daily Beast

In a better world, the FDA would regulate homeopathic products. It would certainly be a lot cheaper and just as effective....
http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-bogus-medicines-the-feds-have-no-plan-to-stop

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Secular Student Alliance update (The Phil Ferguson Show 221)

Interview with Kevin Bolling. He is the new Executive Director of the SSA Secular Student Alliance. Investing Skeptically: Social Security Trust Fund, Infinite Banking.
Interview:
http://www.spreaker.com/user/8084919/221-secular-student-alliance-update
Listen to "221 Secular Student Alliance update" on Spreaker.

Pardon Me? Yes, Donald Trump Can Pardon Himself -- Opening Arguments OA90

In today’s episode, Andrew definitively opines that the Presidential pardon power includes the right to self-pardon.

We begin, however, with “Andrew Was Wrong.” This time, he was wrong about Thor Heyerdahl, but right about the fate of Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter.

In our main segment, the guys analyze the recent claims by Laurence Tribe, Richard Painter, and Norm Eisen that Donald Trump does not have the power to pardon himself and find it less than persuasive.

Next, Andrew briefly discusses the legality of Trump’s tweet regarding transgender individuals serving in the military.

Finally, we end with an all-new Thomas Takes the Bar Exam Question #34 about introducing a rape victim’s sexual history into evidence. Remember that you can play along with #TTTBE by retweeting our episode Tweet along with your guess. We’ll release the answer on next Tuesday’s episode along with our favorite entry!
Interview:
https://openargs.com/oa90-pardon-yes-donald-trump-can-pardon/

We Worship God, Says The Confused President -- (Hemant Mehta, The Friendly Atheist Ep. 174)

We discussed:
— Donald Trump said “We Worship God.” All of us. (02:21)
— Trump’s ban on transgender troops. (06:21)
— The Colorado atheist who gave his invocation slot to a Satanist. (12:04)
— Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will become a “Religious Freedom” ambassador… for some reason. (17:45)
— The Boy Scouts’ pathetic apology for Trump’s speech. (26:51)
— Ark Encounter will finally pay the Williamstown safety fee. (36:34)
— The anti-abortion crowd’s interest in reverse abortions. (40:04)
— Don’t get suckered in by a Catholic church’s seemingly pro-LGBT comments. (47:00)
— England’s NHS will ban prescriptions for homeopathic remedies. (54:34)
— A Pakistani village’s “reverse” rape. (1:03:30)
Interview:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/28/podcast-ep-174-we-worship-god-says-the-confused-president/

Sally Yates: Protect the Justice Department From President Trump - NYTimes.com

The spectacle of President Trump’s efforts to humiliate the attorney general into resigning has transfixed the country. But while we are busy staring at the wreckage of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ relationship with the man he supported for the presidency, there is something more insidious happening.

The president is attempting to dismantle the rule of law, destroy the time-honored independence of the Justice Department, and undermine the career men and women who are devoted to seeking justice day in and day out, regardless of which political party is in power. If we are not careful, when we wake up from the Trump presidency, our justice system may be broken beyond recognition.
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/opinion/sally-yates-protect-the-justice-department-from-president-trump.html?mabReward=CTM3&recp=2&mi_u=78638145&mi_user_hash=727cf331d7cc41bf4894508cb4c04295f5005bc5e0039811e6a4ea96&referer=


Lewis Black On Religion 2015 Stand Up [HD] - YouTube

Interview:
https://youtu.be/MZS06ATzKzM

Pecos Bill: Rider on the Storm (Myths and Legends podcast)

The story of Pecos Bill is that of a true American Hero...who spends half the story naked and who legitimately thinks he is actually a coyote. But don't tell him that. He's cool and won't hurt you, but you'll get into a long discussion and won't actually convince him or his horse (named Pegasus/Widowmaker/Jeremy) that he's actually a human being. Also, while we're at it, he can lasso water and air because I guess when you ask the audience to suspend disbelief, you go for broke.

The creature this time is the Mongolian Death Worm. It's a sand worm, but don't go getting your maker hooks just yet, because it's no Shai Hulud. And that's a problem, because instead of the spice melange that will give you longevity and maybe prescience, it spits a virulent neurotoxin that will do precisely the exact opposite.

The Myths and Legends store is now up! Check it out at https://www.mythpodcast.com/store
Interview:
https://www.mythpodcast.com/12705/75-pecos-bill-rider-on-the-storm/

Seth Andrews Teaches Sunday School (Seth Andrews, The Thinking Atheist)

No...these aren't the stories you're used to hearing at Sunday Sermon. These are stories that are often skipped over, ignored, or excused, lest they send Christians into a fit of head-scratching, guffaws and gasps. Let us explore The Good Book. (And if you can, share this episode with your Christian family and friends. They'll love it!) Support our sponsor: http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth
Interview:
http://www.thethinkingatheist.com/podcast/seth-andrews-teaches-sunday-school

Will the Government Protect Abortion Clinic Access in the Era of Trump? (Lindsay E. Beyerstein, The Breach)

Rewire Vice President of Law and the Courts Jessica Mason Pieklo joins Lindsay Beyerstein for a special episode on abortion access to mark the launch of Rewire’s first original documentary, Care in Chaos. Anti-choice activists are already testing the government’s commitment to enforcing the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a federal crime to blockade an abortion clinic. If the federal government won’t defend the rule of law, we could be looking at a return to the tactics of the “Summer of Mercy,” when thousands of anti-choice protesters physically blocked access to clinics in Wichita, Kansas.

Care in Chaos, directed by Lindsay Beyerstein and Martyna Starosta, follows a 27-year-old abortion clinic administrator as she battles anti-choice aggression and law enforcement indifference that threaten safe access for patients and staff.

Recommended Reading:

Ivanka Inc. by Matea Gold, Drew Harwell, Maher Sattar and Simon Denyer for the Washington Post, July 2017

Transcript (PDF)

Interview: 
https://rewire.news/multimedia/podcast/breach-will-government-protect-abortion-clinic-access-era-trump/

Baptist Joshua Thinks The Bible Treats Homosexuals Better Than The 'Myth' Of Evolution

Responding to a video by Baptist Joshua who tries to compare the views of the bible against those of evolution to see which has a more favorable view of homosexuality.

From his description box: "How do the stances of Scripture and Evolution view the homosexual/lesbian? The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, but all sins are forgivable. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

According to the myth of evolution, the homosexual is not as evolved, will die out, and is a waste. God loved the homosexual so much, He died for them!"

No Joshua. Homosexuality isn't a sin, and we find that many species have homosexual tendencies. It's completely natural. Time to put your myths away, and join us in reality.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/98i7MwlX6ro

The "Myth" of Atheism - YouTube

Paintings don't evolve, soda cans don't evolve; how could we?...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXz1Vyy6W_s&spfreload=10

Family Income's Critical Role in Child Development - YouTube

As Trump and the Republicans target vital social programs in their budget, a new study from the London School of Economics shows that poverty has a huge impact on children's cognitive, social-behavioral and health outcomes...
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-KS_j542P0

How Trump signed a global death warrant for women | Sarah Boseley | Global development | The Guardian

With one devastating flourish of the presidential pen, worldwide progress on family planning, population growth and reproductive rights was swept away. Now some of the world’s poorest women must count the cost....
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/21/trump-global-death-warrant-women-family-planning-population-reproductive-rights-mexico-city-policy?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=236017&subid=22113254&CMP=GT_US_collection


The hidden fossil fuel giveaway at the center of the 2018 House budget -- ThinkProgress.org

In order to raise $1.5 billion for the federal government, the House has hidden a proposal in its budget to open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. ...
https://thinkprogress.org/the-hidden-fossil-fuel-giveaway-at-the-center-of-the-2018-house-budget-b024bbaccfaa

GOP Senate candidate embraces men’s rights blogger who said ‘misogyny gets you laid’ -- ThinkProgress.org

Mike Cernovich is the sort of person that makes you question whether the internet is a good idea. An outspoken promoter of the false claim that a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C. was a front for a pedophile ring involving Hillary Clinton, Cernovich offers men advice like "misogyny gets you laid" and "the hotter the sex, the more closely it resembles rape." ...
https://thinkprogress.org/josh-mandel-cernovich-adl-2d2cc228677c

Public Defender: Body Camera Shows Cop Planting Drugs

While charges were dropped against the suspect, former Baltimore cops say the case should highlight the need to end prohibition...
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1gpHDhuw4&feature=youtu.be

Government scientist says he was reassigned after speaking out about climate change -- ThinkProgress.org

A policy director and scientist at the Department of the Interior filed a whistleblower complaint with U.S. Office of Special Counsel after being relocated from his position helping Alaskan communities adapt to climate change. He was then assigned to "an unrelated job in the accounting office that collects royalty checks from fossil fuel companies,” he wrote Wednesday in a Washington Post op-ed. ....
https://thinkprogress.org/joel-clement-announcement-cffd775f833

Arizona Senate candidate under attack for being Muslim | Religion News Service

She’s a challenger to U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake. A native of Little Rock, Ark. A Phoenix attorney and civil rights activist. An independent turned Democrat. A 19-year resident of Arizona who wants to represent “the state where I found my home, family and dreams.” And, as it turns out, a few nightmares. Deedra Abboud is also Muslim....
http://religionnews.com/2017/07/20/arizona-senate-candidate-under-attack-for-being-muslim/


A Federal Appeals Court Just Shot Down Government Prayer on Steroids in North Carolina - The New Civil Rights Movement

In Rowan County, North Carolina, the county board of commissioners was intent on taking government prayer to a whole new level. Every board meeting opened with a prayer. But it wasn’t just government prayer. It was government prayer on steroids.

The prayers were delivered by commissioners themselves. No one else was allowed to give the prayer. Over the years, the prayers referred to only one faith — Christianity — and were proselytizing. Multiple prayers, for example, described Christianity as “the one and only way to salvation.”...
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/871459/a_federal_appeals_court_just_shot_down_government_prayer_on_steroids_in_north_carolina


10 Theist Questions We Can Easily Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcwlO1lUVO8&feature=youtu.be

Texas Bill Would Revoke Medical Licenses of Doctors Who Perform Abortions

A measure proposed in the special session would ban physicians from providing almost all abortions....
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-bill-would-revoke-medical-license-of-doctors-who-perform-abortions/


One-third of dementia cases could be prevented, report says - CBS News

One-third of cases of dementia worldwide could potentially be prevented through better management of lifestyle factors such as smoking, hypertension, depression, and hearing loss over the course of a lifetime, according to a new report....
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-third-of-dementia-cases-could-be-prevented-alzheimers-report/


My Take On Stefan Molyneux and Steven Crowder's Talk About The Politics Of Atheism

From the description of the original video: "Is there a connection between atheism/religious disbelief and the desire for an increasingly powerful, ever-expanding government that tramples individual freedoms? Steven Crowder joins Stefan Molyneux to discuss trends among atheists, the non-believers draw toward false government solutions, incredibly important values instilled via Christianity, objective ethics, the "my body, my choice" abortion mantra, economy crushing climate change proposals and the rise of the regressive left." My thoughts on a small portion of the overall interview, where Stefan tries to blame atheists for ripping away the fabric of society without having something to replace it with. In this portion at least, Crowder seems like the more reasonable person and points out that if atheists are right, they're not responsible for replacing the lie.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/8_hWbftoWAg

You Deserve To Burn! Why Is Disbelief In God The Greatest Sin?

This is a video response to the video 'Why is disbelief in God the biggest sin according to Islam?'

We bumble our way through horrendous analogies, bad arguments and mental gymnastics meant to explain away the everlasting torment of other human beings.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/uJ5VjJFzCQQ

Saturday, July 29, 2017

This Little Girl Has Her Own Letter For The President

After seeing Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a letter addressed to the President from nine-year-old Dylan AKA 'Pickle,' Stephen gives one young girl the platform to do something similar.
Interview:

The President Of The United States (Except Alaska!)

The Trump administration allegedly told Alaska its relationship with the White House was 'in jeopardy' over the healthcare vote of its state's Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/81cS2xRo1T8

Week In The News: Health Care Revival, White House Chaos, Russia Investigation (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

A GOP healthcare collapse this week. Wild profanity from the White House. And the Boy Scouts of America apologize for remarks of the president of the United States. Holy cow! John McCain cast the vote that brought down a "skinny repeal." Anthony Scaramucci went off on Reince Priebus. The president went off on Jeff Sessions, and tweeted a ban on transgender military service. Congress sanctions Russia some more. This Hour On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. -- Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2017/07/28/week-in-the-news-health-care-revival-white-house-chaos-russia-investigation

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Joshua Johnson, 1A) 2017-07-28

After purportedly consulting with generals and military experts, the president issued a ban on transgender troops. Then, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said his generals won’t act on the president’s tweets.

After voting to debate repeal and replace, Senate Republicans are now eyeing a slimmed down scaling back of the Affordable Care Act.

And after a week on the job, new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci has jumped in to attack leakers and the Russia investigation.

After all this, join us for a recap of the week’s top stories.
Interview:
http://the1a.org/shows/2017-07-28/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Friday News Roundup – International (Joshua Johnson, 1A) 2017-07-28

The U.S. slaps sanctions on Venezuela officials as opposition leaders organize another strike against the government. Speaking of U.S. sanctions, new ones have been imposed on Russia. Plus, tensions ease in a standoff over one the world’s holiest sites and the latest on Qatar’s PR offensive to counter a regional feud.

A panel of journalists joins Joshua Johnson for analysis of the week’s top international news stories.
Interview:
http://the1a.org/shows/2017-07-28/friday-news-roundup-international

Top U.S. & World Headlines — July 28, 2017

Interview:
https://youtu.be/Rvl7pbM1m_M

The tragedy of Charlie Gard exposes conservatives’ morality deficit -- Salon

Charlie Gard, the British baby whose parents had been fighting to get him medical care in the United States in the off-chance that it might save his life, passed away on Friday. His plight was seized upon by conservatives in the United States who used his case to argue against a nationalized health care model.
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/28/the-tragedy-of-charlie-gard-illuminates-conservatives-morality-deficit/

DOJ: Title VII does not protect sexual orientation - CNNPolitics.com

The Justice Department filed an amicus brief Wednesday saying that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not cover employment "discrimination based on sexual orientation."

The DOJ filed the brief in the case of Donald Zarda, who had filed suit against his former employer Altitude Express in a case that questions whether sexual orientation is included in Title VII's protections....
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/doj-amicus-brief-title-vii-sexual-orientation/index.html


Senators buck Sessions, move to protect state medical marijuana laws -- Ars Technica

Senators approved an amendment Thursday that would maintain protections. ...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/07/despite-sessions-pleas-senators-push-to-protect-state-medical-marijuana-laws/

A complete failure of Trump's leadership -- CNN

Julian Zelizer says the collapse of the GOP effort to repeal Obamacare is an epic fail by Donald Trump, who subverted the process with distractions, threats and a failure to engage with the details of the policy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/28/opinions/trump-complete-failure-of-leadership-opinion-zelizer/index.html

Human embryos reportedly edited for first time in the US using CRISPR - The Verge

The scientists effectively corrected disease-causing genes...
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/27/16049340/human-embryos-dna-crispr-gene-editing-us

Trump Administration Advances School Vouchers Despite Scant Evidence - Scientific American

Studies show that school vouchers lead to lower math and reading scores. So why has the Trump administration embraced them?...
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-administration-advances-school-vouchers-despite-scant-evidence/?WT.mc_id=send-to-friend


Why Moscow’s retaliation for U.S. sanctions is a major escalation

Russia announced that the U.S. would need to drastically reduce the number of officials working in the country, and barred the U.S. from using two properties there. The announcement was retaliation for actions taken by the U.S., including the seizure of two Russian-owned compounds and a Senate-approved bill that includes new sanctions....
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7n4xOQ4yq8&feature=youtu.be

Shields and Brooks on Reince Priebus’ exit, GOP health bill’s defeat

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including President Trump’s firing of White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and what it means for relations with the Republican Party, the Senate’s rejection of a “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act and Anthony Scaramucci’s obscene tirade....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQQqLpf1kiI&feature=youtu.be

Scaramucci Lashes Out, GOP Scrambles on Health Care: A Closer Look

Seth takes a closer look at the backlash the Trump White House continues to face over the President's cruel and sudden decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD91AOD4XCk&feature=youtu.be

The most alarming passages from Trump’s fearmongering Long Island speech -- Vox

A bleak picture of American immigration — and a suggestion that law enforcement should use whatever means necessary to get violence under control. ...
https://www.vox.com/2017/7/28/16059554/trump-long-island-speech

Inside The 'Shakespearean Irony' Of Trump And Bannon's Relationship (Terry Gross, Fresh Air)

In August 2016, three months before the presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump was behind in the polls. Instead of staying on message, the candidate was engaged in a politically damaging fight with the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq.

On Aug. 17, in an effort to change course, the Trump team appointed Steve Bannon, the former executive chairman of the conservative Breitbart News, to lead the campaign. Journalist Joshua Green of Bloomberg Businessweek says the switch would prove to be a turning point.

"[Trump] was headed toward a pretty serious loss, and Bannon brought his wealth of anti-Clinton knowledge into the campaign and managed to keep Trump focused on a target," Green says.

Green argues that Bannon's experiences with Breitbart gave him a framework for mobilizing disaffected young white male voters who were attracted to Trump. Without such guidance, Green says, "I don't think that Donald Trump would have been elected president."

Despite Bannon's success in the campaign, Green says that the adviser's nationalist vision remains largely unfulfilled. "The kind of tragic, Shakespearean irony of the Donald Trump-Steve Bannon relationship is that Bannon finally did find the vessel for his ideas who could get elected president ... [but who] now doesn't have the focus, the wherewithal, the self-control to even do the basic things that a president needs to do."

Green's new book, Devil's Bargain, profiles Bannon and explains his role in Trump's election.
Interview:
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/18/537885042/inside-the-shakespearean-irony-of-trump-and-bannons-relationship

Jason Bateman: New ‘Arrested Development’ Season Will Take On Trump -- The Daily Beast

Jason Bateman is a very busy man. The next year-plus will see the actor star in not one, but two anticipated Netflix series. ...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/jason-bateman-new-arrested-development-season-will-take-on-trump

Ark Encounter’s Latest Attempt to Avoid Paying City’s “Safety Fee”? Rejected.

There’s a controversy brewing in Williamstown, Kentucky that involves Ark Encounter and the City Council. If the two sides can’t resolve their issues, we may see a lawsuit very soon, but that would be disastrous for the city and unwelcome publicity for the Creationists....
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/19/ark-encounters-latest-attempt-to-avoid-paying-citys-safety-fee-rejected/


Dissident Chinese billionaire says China has 25,000 spies in the US -- Business Insider

Beijing's spy networks in the United States include up to 25,000 Chinese intelligence officers and more than 15,000 recruited agents who have stepped up offensive spying activities since 2012, according to a Chinese dissident with close ties to Beijing's military and intelligence establishment. ...
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinas-spy-network-united-states-includes-25000-intelligence-officers/

A despot in disguise: one man’s mission to rip up democracy | George Monbiot | Opinion | The Guardian

James McGill Buchanan’s vision of totalitarian capitalism has infected public policy in the US. Now it’s being exported...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/19/despot-disguise-democracy-james-mcgill-buchanan-totalitarian-capitalism









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