AP Exclusive: Trump ally may have broken Venezuela sanctions - ABC News

Two senior U.S. officials say the founder of security firm Blackwater has been referred to the U.S. Treasury for possible sanctions violations for a recent trip to Venezuela....
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ap-exclusive-trump-ally-broken-venezuela-sanctions-67988902

‘Murder Inc says what?’: Twitter fires back at NRA for praising man who killed church shooter – Raw Story

In a tweet this Monday, the official Twitter account for the National Rifle Association (NRA) praised Jack Wilson, the church head of security who killed a gunman within seconds after he killed two people in a North Texas church this weekend.....
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/murder-inc-says-what-twitter-fires-back-at-nra-for-praising-man-who-killed-church-shooter/

Russia and Iran condemn US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria

Pentagon says raids that killed at least 25 were reply to deadly Kata’ib Hezbollah attack ....
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/30/tehran-condemns-us-airstrikes-in-iraq-and-syria-as-act-of-terrorism

In Venezuela, Guaidó’s momentum fizzles as his U.S. backers weigh their options - The Washington Post

The opposition leader is struggling to maintain momentum and unity against setbacks, corruption allegations and an unexpectedly resilient Maduro.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/juan-guaido-promised-to-save-venezuela-a-year-later-the-flame-he-lit-is-petering-out-his-us-backers-are-weighing-their-options/2019/12/17/48a18186-1495-11ea-80d6-d0ca7007273f_story.html

Bill Barr Thinks America Is Going to Hell - NYTimes

And he’s on a mission to use the “authority” of the executive branch to stop it. ....
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/29/opinion/william-barr-trump.html

Behind the Ukraine Aid Freeze: 84 Days of Conflict and Confusion - NYTimes

The inside story of President Trump’s demand to halt military assistance to an ally shows the price he was willing to pay to carry out his agenda.....
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/29/us/politics/trump-ukraine-military-aid.html

Take the 7-Day Sugar Challenge - NYTimes

How to skip the extra sugar, one delicious daily challenge at a time. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/well/sugar-challenge.html

Make 2020 the Year of Less Sugar - NYTimes

One of the best things you can do for your health is to cut back on foods with added sugar. Our 7-Day Sugar Challenge will show you how.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/30/well/eat/sugar-diet-healthy.html

Earth at 2° hotter will be horrific. Now here’s what 4° will look like. ...

https://youtu.be/HDjFlP7uFJc

New evidence shows why Senate must hear from John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney on Ukraine scandal – Raw Story

Newly revealed evidence shows President Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to help his re-election campaign threw his administration into chaos — and ended only after a whistleblower revealed the scheme. The New York Times interviewed dozens of current and former administration officials, congressional aides and others, and examined previously undisclosed emails and documents, to map out an account of the 84-day period from Trump’s first inquiry about withholding Ukraine aid and his decision to release the funds.....
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/new-evidence-shows-why-senate-must-hear-from-john-bolton-and-mick-mulvaney-on-ukraine-scandal/

It's That Time of Year (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio)

Hear about the visit to Freethought Hall of the legendary actor Ed Asner (Lou Grant, “Up"). This week's show is an antidote to traditional Christmas music. We play a number of funny, irreverent (and sometimes positive) Winter Solstice songs, such as "O Isthmus Tree" by Ken Lohnquist, "Solstice Song" by Kristin Lems, "Christmas Carol" by Tom Lehrer, "Blah Blah Bethlehem" by Ian Assersohn, "Christmas is Pain" by Roy Zimmerman and "White Wine in the Sun" by Tim Minchin.
Interview:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/freethought-radio/e/66095227

1A Across America: Young Conservatives in Alabama (Joshua Johnson, The 1A)

1A Across America partnered with WBHM in Birmingham for their Big Q event series on November 14, 2019. The discussion focused on young conservative voters.
Interview:
https://the1a.org/shows/2019-11-27/1a-across-america-young-conservatives-in-alabama

Stressed-Out Fish and Ocean Acidification: Consequences of Climate Change (Union of Concerned Scientists, Got Science? podcast #71)

Dr. Sarah Cooley explains how changes in ocean chemistry are having a ripple effect on sea life and our economy.
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/gotscience/ep-71-stressed-out-fish-and-ocean-acidification-consequences-of-climate-change

Guerrilla Skeptics (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #322)

• Interview with Guerrilla Skeptic - Rob Palmer. He tells us about the group and his work on exposing psychics! 
• Investing Skeptically: Edward Jones restraining order 
• Annuity offer from your job

Interview: 

https://www.spreaker.com/user/8084919/322-KkHE23

Suspect faces attempted murder charges after 5 stabbed at rabbi’s home in New York, officials say - The Washington Post

Authorities say five people were stabbed when a man attacked a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/29/monsey-ny-stabbing-attack/

This Has Been the Best Year Ever - NYTimes

If you’re depressed by the state of the world, let me toss out an idea: In the long arc of human history, 2019 has been the best year ever. The bad things that you fret about are true. But it’s also true that since modern humans emerged about 200,000 years ago, 2019 was probably the year in which children were least likely to die, adults were least likely to be illiterate and people were least likely to suffer excruciating and disfiguring diseases..... https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/opinion/sunday/2019-best-year-poverty.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Inside the Biggest 2020 Advertising War Against Trump - NYTimes

Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign wants to flood voters with attacks on Mr. Trump before it is too late, a lesson Republican candidates learned in 2016 when they initially ignored him.....
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/29/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-trump-advertising.html

Americans United (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio)

We complain about prayer and worship in the White House, and report a number of FFRF state/church victories. Tom Cara, president of the FFRF Metropolitan Chicago Chapter, tells us about the un-holy holiday displays chapter members have erected in the Chicago area to counter Nativity scenes and religious displays. Then we hear Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, accepting FFRF's "Henry Zumach Freedom From Religious Fundamentalism" award.
Interview:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/freethought-radio/e/65965460

 

A new study of unproven ‘abortion reversal’ treatments discovered they were so dangerous that the trial had to be stopped almost immediately.

Despite this, some states are forcing women’s healthcare providers to offer it. https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/efwpyz/a_new_study_of_unproven_abortion_reversal/

The Paris Review Podcast Returns (Levar Burton Reads, podcast

What is Street Epistemology? - YouTube

Learn the basics in just one minute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=r1e4HZfHSRQ

Dawkins On His New Book, "Outgrowing God"

Richard Dawkins is the recipient of a number of awards for his writing on science, including the Royal Society of Literature Award and the LA Times Literary Prize, he has also been awarded the Royal Society Michael Faraday Award for the furtherance of the public understanding of science. He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books, such as The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Unweaving the Rainbow, The Devil’s Chaplain, and The Ancestor’s Tale.

 In this week’s interview with Jim Underdown, Dawkins discusses his newest book, Outgrowing God, designed for young people. It is Dawkin’s attempt to address the cyclical nature of growing up religious.
Interview:
https://pointofinquiry.org/2019/12/dawkins-on-his-new-book-outgrowing-god/

Trouble in India (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio)

Happy New Year! Christianity Today did the right thing by condemning Trump's morality. We talk on the phone from Mumbai with India's well-known film and TV actor Sushant Singh, who lost his job as a TV host after publicly condemning the Hindu nationalist violence against students protesting the government's new laws that would discriminate against Muslims. Then we welcome 2020 with Scottish singer Jean Redpath's lovely rendition of Auld Lang Syne written by freethinker Robert Burns.
Interview:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/freethought-radio

Miami megachurch with controversial pastor to host Trump's evangelical rally - Axios

The leader of an Apostolic megachurch, Pastor Guillermo Maldonado, will host the launch of President Trump's "Evangelicals for Trump" coalition at a Jan. 3 rally, The Miami Herald reports. ....
https://www.axios.com/miami-megachurch-pastor-trumps-evangelical-rally-816939c8-ed66-43e1-a467-1240449b11ba.html

George Conway accuses Trump of faking mental incompetence to get out of being impeached - Raw Story

In a late-night tweet on Friday, conservative attorney George Conway, husband of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, looked at the barrage of tweets sent out by Donald Trump and speculated that the president was trying to give the impression he might not be mentally stable enough to face an impeachment trial. .....
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/george-conway-accuses-trump-of-faking-mental-incompetence-to-get-out-of-being-impeached/

Post publishes secret Vatican document about ousted bishop - The Washington Post

For months, civil authorities and Catholic parishioners have sought access to the findings of a church investigation about Michael Bransfield, the West Virginia bishop ousted for alleged sexual and financial misconduct.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/the-bransfield-report-post-publishes-secret-vatican-document-as-parishioners-demand-answers/2019/12/23/69f77f68-0007-11ea-9777-5cd51c6fec6f_story.html

Rapper T.I. Is Obsessed With His Daughter's Sex Life (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Athiest podast #295)

— Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Christian Nationalist, lost his race… for now. (0:31)
— Rapper T.I. is creepily obsessed with his daughter’s hymen. (5:00)
— A 20-year-old Duggar Family child (not that one) is running for State Rep. in Arkansas. (14:55)
— The Irish government says it will look into changing a bizarre survey question about kids’ religious beliefs. (20:55)
— Christian Comedian John Crist is canceling his tour after allegations of sexual misconduct. (29:30)
— Why haven’t Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito recused themselves from these Supreme Court cases…? (40:44)
— Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle refused a White House invitation after his World Series win. (46:20)
— A Maryland county punished a local library because a Christian protested a Drag Queen Story Hour event. (52:10)
— Since Christians are doing it, Satanists want to take advantage of a school release program in Knoxville, TN. (57:10)
— These men from Spain were acquitted of rape charges for the worst possible reason. (1:04:10)
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/friendly-atheist-podcast/ep-295-rapper-ti-is-obsessed-with-his-daughters-sex-life

Andrew Seidel, Author Of The Founding Myth (Hemant Mehta, The Friendly Athiest podast #298)

Andrew L. Seidel works as a constitutional attorney at the Freedom from Religion Foundation (ffrf.org), litigating cases involving religion and the Constitution.

He has appeared on FOX News and MSNBC, speaks and writes extensively about religious freedom, and is the author of a new book called "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American."

We spoke at the recent FFRF convention about what he learned about Christian Nationalism while researching this book, how church/state separation legal strategy changes with a conservative Supreme Court, and the future of Project Blitz.
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/friendly-atheist-podcast/ep-298-andrew-seidel-author-of-the-founding-myth

The Intercept’s 2019 Technology Coverage

A LOOK BACK at The Intercept’s must-read technology stories from 2019. ....
https://theintercept.com/2019/12/27/the-intercept-2019-technology/

The News Roundup – Domestic (Joshua Johnson, The 1A) 2019-12-27

Newly released emails suggest that less than two hours after President Donald Trump’s infamous call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House ordered the Pentagon to freeze security aid to Ukraine.

Boeing fired its CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, over his handling of a company crisis induced by two high-profile plane crashes that killed 346 people. He was swiftly replaced by “turnaround expert” Dave Calhoun.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the rate of homelessness in the United State is up for a third year in a row. Critics, including President Trump, blame California.

We cover the biggest national headlines and more on the News Roundup.
Interview:
https://the1a.org/shows/2019-12-27/the-news-roundup-domestic

Backlash to Pete Buttigieg’s Christmas tweet and the religious divide it exposes - The Washington Post

The candidate's message about the meaning of Christmas cut to a debate about something much bigger in Christianity...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/26/backlash-pete-buttigiegs-christmas-tweet-religious-divide-it-exposes/

The News Roundup – International (Joshua Johnson, The 1A) 2019-12-27

Five people have been sentenced to death and three others to life in prison for their involvement in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A Saudi investigation into the matter determined that the murder was not premeditated — but prominent experts disagree.

Cuba has named its first prime minister in more than four decades. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel appointed tourism minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to the position in order to reportedly lighten the presidential workload.

French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to make peace with protesters upset over suggested reforms to the country’s pension plan. Nationwide strikes have left schools, hospitals, and public transportation understaffed.

We cover the biggest stories from around the world and more on the News Roundup.
Interview:
https://the1a.org/shows/2019-12-27/the-news-roundup-international

In Trump Country, a season of need on family farms - The Washington Post

Farmers struggle to feed their families amid bad markets and the trade war....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/in-trump-country-a-season-of-need-on-family-farms/2019/12/26/fcb71262-2377-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html

How Oil Companies Avoided Environmental Accountability After 10.8 Million Gallons Spilled — ProPublica

Louisiana still hasn’t finished investigating 540 oil spills after Hurricane Katrina. The state is likely leaving millions of dollars in remediation fines on the table — money that environmental groups say they need as storms get stronger.
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-oil-companies-avoided-environmental-accountability-after-10.8-million-gallons-spilled

Atheist Experience #461 with Matt Dillahunty and Jeff Dee

https://youtu.be/3Kkj70MwHbM

WGA Awards Classic: Larry David's Hilarious Laurel Award Acceptance Speech

Jason Alexander presents writer Larry David ("Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm") with the WGA's 2010 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television. The Paddy Chayefsky Award is given to that member of the Writers Guild who has advanced the literature of television through the years, and who has made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer. ....
https://youtu.be/sUMzQ0karAk

Top U.S. & World Headlines — December 26, 2019

Interview:
https://youtu.be/JZ5jftuBpyY

Top U.S. & World Headlines — December 27, 2019

Interview:
https://youtu.be/THSTND2dd00

Evangelical Christians Don't Actually Care About “Religious Freedom”

https://youtu.be/Q-bik3NePOA

Cybertruck is Engineering Genius (and will be copied)

Cybertruck's polarizing design isn't an accident. It's a manifestation of the 4 fundamental needs the vehicle was engineered to meet. Tesla has succeeded on all fronts. This has HUGE implications for the company and its mission, and the future of automotive design and manufacture. As a #Tesla shareholder, I'm very excited for the future.
https://youtu.be/psXWyO32aWk

Is ISIS fatally crippled or poised for a comeback? - The Washington Post

Across many parts of the vast territory it once controlled, the Islamic State is scrambling to reassert its presence. The coming months could determine whether it is fatally crippled or poised for a comeback.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/classic-apps/isis-at-the-crossroads/2019/12/24/adc26f80-1b70-11ea-977a-15a6710ed6da_story.html

Trump admin shuts down pollution-tracking map | TheHill

TOXMAP, an interactive map hosted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and accessible to the public, allowed users to track pollution-producing factories and other environmental concerns such as superfund cleanup sites. However, on Dec. 16, all links to the application on the NLM's website were deprecated, following an announcement from the agency in September notifying users that the site would be "retired."
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/475880-trump-admin-shuts-down-map-that-allowed-users-to-track-pollution

CAUGHT ON TAPE!!! Listen to Trump 2020 Lawyer Admit to Voter Suppression by the Republican party

Jesse discusses Justin Clark who is Senior Counsel to the Trump 2020 campaign, who was just caught on a secret recording admitting that "traditionally it's always been Republicans suppressing votes in places."
https://youtu.be/EIF1N3y2-yU

Ark Encounter founder warns ‘kids of all ages’ that libraries are becoming dangerous - New York Daily News

The creationist responsible for Kentucky’s Ark Encounter — a museum set inside a replica of the Biblical Noah’s Ark — is warning children about the dangers posed by libraries. ...
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-ark-encounter-creationist-ken-ham-libraries-dangerous-20190625-gvjsgeznvjhe5owqgoettb55vi-story.html

Matt Dillahunty - Kids are proof of God says idiot - Atheist Experience

https://youtu.be/TU7oWyl_yWw

Team Trump wants you to own the ‘liberal snowflakes’ at your family Christmas party - The Washington Post

The campaign's new site is distinctly Trumpian, with its domain name of snowflakevictory.com and its references to the "Russian hoax," the "fake news media" and the "Democrats' radical agenda."...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/24/team-trump-wants-you-own-liberal-snowflakes-your-family-christmas-party/

Trump claims Nancy Pelosi and impeachment offends all Americans of faith. He's wrong.

On the eve of his impeachment in the House of Representatives, President Donald Trump released a six-page screed attacking the entire process and everyone who has led it. Though his fate as the third president in U.S. history to be impeached was all but sealed, he wanted to make clear that he considers it an insult — particularly against Christian nationalists who believe he is doing God’s work in the White House.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-claims-nancy-pelosi-impeachment-offends-all-americans-faith-he-ncna1107001

Matt Dillahunty - Its god of the FACTS, not the god of the GAPS - Atheist Experience

https://youtu.be/InYrK_3sYNs

Bureaucracy as a weapon: how the Trump administration is slowing asylum cases

US Citizenship and Immigration Services is returning applications over the equivalent of failing to dot an I or cross a T .....
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/23/us-immigration-trump-asylum-seekers

Lift Every Voice - YouTube

Enjoy Committed's version of the "Black National Anthem" as they commemorate Black History month.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFDy52eCZY

Sorry Mr. President — it’s the GOP that refuses to do anything – Raw Story

President Donald Trump has tried to go after Democrats saying that they can’t get any work done because they’re hamstrung by impeachment. The facts, however, are an embarrassment for the Republican Party and the U.S. Senate.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/sorry-mr-president-its-the-gop-that-refuses-to-do-anything/

G.O.P. Lawmaker Had Visions of a Christian Alternative Government - NYTimes

Matt Shea was 34 years old when he ran for the State Legislature in eastern Washington, but he had already established credentials that made him a promising Republican candidate. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/us/matt-shea-washington-extremism.html

What to Do About an Overtalker - NYTimes

Here’s what to do if you get stuck at the receiving end of a one way conversation. ...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/11/well/what-to-do-about-an-overtalker.html

Senate Republicans were laser-focused on confirming judges in 2019 — even the unqualified ones - Vox

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/23/21031430/senate-republicans-judges-american-bar-association-unqualified-mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump

Here’s the extraordinary delusion that makes US evangelicals think they must support Trump – Raw Story

Paul Djupe, a professor of political science at Denison University, has found that there’s an extraordinary delusion that lies behind evangelicals’ loyalty to Trump: Namely, they believe that they will lose their freedom to practice their religion if a Democrat ever retakes the White House.....

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/heres-the-extraordinary-delusion-that-makes-us-evangelicals-think-they-must-support-trump/

Amash Schools Trump On Impeachment | Talking Points Memo

Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI) isn’t done schooling President Trump on Twitter....

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/amash-tweet-trump-impeachment

Fox News: How To Whitewash an Atrocity

This one's as bad as it gets
https://youtu.be/VC4sAaV1eBs

Proving the Historicity of Jesus? | Andrew - Twinsburg, OH | Atheist Exp...

https://youtu.be/O5AordEPtok

As Carbon Emissions Rise, Rice Nutrition Falls (Union of Concerned Scientists, Got Science? podcast #74)

Former USDA senior scientist Lewis Ziska discusses his research on rice and carbon dioxide – and how the Trump USDA suppressed his findings.
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/gotscience/ep-74-as-carbon-emissions-rise-rice-nutrition-falls

Prime Power: How Amazon Squeezes the Businesses Behind Its Store - NYTimes

Twenty years ago, Amazon opened its storefront to anyone who wanted to sell something. Then it began demanding more out of them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/technology/amazon-sellers.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

The white lie we've been told about Roman statues

https://youtu.be/4jmMWohs1XM

How “Evidence-Based” Became a Dirty Word (Union of Concerned Scientists, Got Science? podcast #73)

Dr. Jacob Carter explores the consequences of the Trump administration’s attacks on science.
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/gotscience/ep-73-how-evidence-based-became-a-dirty-word

Daniel C. Dennett on What Should Replace Religions?

https://youtu.be/m5tGpMcFF7U

How can Democrats possibly challenge Trump on this economy? These charts might help - The Washington Post

Democrats' message that not everyone is equally benefiting from the spoils of this economic recovery has resonance.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/21/how-can-democrats-possibly-challenge-trump-this-economy-these-charts-might-help/

The Navy Installed Touch-screen Steering Systems To Save Money. Ten Sailors Paid With Their Lives.

When the USS John S. McCain crashed in the Pacific, the Navy blamed the destroyer’s crew for the loss of 10 sailors. The truth is the Navy’s flawed technology set the McCain up for disaster. ....
https://features.propublica.org/navy-uss-mccain-crash/navy-installed-touch-screen-steering-ten-sailors-paid-with-their-lives/

The religious case for Christmas is well known. But there’s a scientific one too

Our urge to mark midwinter and celebrate the days growing longer precedes Christianity by thousands of years
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/20/religious-christmas-reasons-scientific-midwinter-solstice

U.S. state laws contributing to rises in pregnancy-related deaths - Reuters

State laws restricting access to family planning and abortion are contributing to rising rates of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, researchers say.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-maternal-mortality/u-s-state-laws-contributing-to-rises-in-pregnancy-related-deaths-idUSKBN1YO2AE

On The Historicity of Jesus - Stephen Ford and Joel Pearson

Interview:
https://youtu.be/X9Vm0J_nWE0

Knowledge & Redemption (Sam Harris, Making Sense podcast #176)

In this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Lynn Novick about her four-part documentary "College Behind Bars." The film follows the progress of students in the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) as they pursue their undergraduate degrees. Sam and Lynn are joined by Jule Hall, a BPI graduate who served a 22-year sentence and is now working for the Ford Foundation.
Interview:
http://wakingup.libsyn.com/176-knowledge-redemption

ECSO President, Claire Klingenberg On The State Of Skepticism (Point of Inquiry)

The European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO) is an umbrella of skeptical organizations throughout the EU that investigate claims of pseudoscience, and defend scientific integrity and practice in research, education, medicine, and public policy.

Point of Inquiry co-host Kavin Senapathy attended the 2019 European Skeptics Congress in Ghent, Belgium, where she presented during the session on “Green Skepticism.” While there, Senapathy had the opportunity to put her head together with some of the most respected skeptics in the world, including ECSO president Claire Klingenberg.

In this episode, Kavin and Claire dive into the current state of the skeptics movement around the world, and what the future of skepticism may look like. Claire explains what she sees as the ideological difference between the American skeptical movement and the European skeptical movement and the interplay between politics and skepticism. They also break down how the social sciences fit into skepticism, how we define what it means to be a skeptic, and the dangers of following personalities deemed “logical” without scrutiny.
Interview:
https://pointofinquiry.org/2019/10/ecso-president-claire-klingenberg-on-the-state-of-skepticism/

Ex-White House adviser blasts GOP’s impeachment ploy: ‘To have a trial which doesn’t turn on facts is bizarre’ – Raw Story

On CNN Monday, former presidential adviser David Gergen excoriated Senate Republicans for attempting to disavow any responsibility to uncover facts at the upcoming impeachment trial.....
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/ex-white-house-adviser-blasts-gops-impeachment-ploy-to-have-a-trial-which-doesnt-turn-on-facts-is-bizarre/

Evangelicals can’t have it both ways - The Washington Post

A Christian magazine separates from the flock, calling for President Trump's removal.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/evangelicals-cant-have-it-both-ways/2019/12/23/70d2523c-25ae-11ea-9c21-2c2a4d2c2166_story.html

White evangelicals blasted for backing Trump: ‘Where in the Bible does it say anything goes?’ – Raw Story

Less than one week before Christmas, Christianity Today magazine started a public debate over the morality of evangelicals supporting President Donald Trump. The magazine — founded by Billy Graham — called for Trump’s removal from office in an editorial.....
 https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/white-evangelicals-blasted-for-backing-trump-where-in-the-bible-does-it-say-anything-goes/

Inside Giuliani's new push to flip the script on Trump's impeachment

Even as President Donald Trump awaits a trial in the Senate, his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is moving full speed ahead with new allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden and the former ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, the very individuals targeted by Trump in events that triggered his impeachment.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/inside-giuliani-s-new-push-flip-script-trump-s-impeachment-n1106321

‘Stunning piece of propaganda’: Journalists blast One America News series - POLITICO

Upstart network seeks to outfox Fox, but media experts say it presents an ethical challenge. ....
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/19/journalists-blast-one-america-news-series-giuliani-087893

Takedown of Tucker Carlson & His Lie About the Threat of Violent White Supremacists Being a Hoax

Join me as I correct Tucker Carlson's propaganda about the actual serious threat posed by radicalized racist white supremacist terrorists in the United States. I read from joint Homeland Security Department/Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence briefings & Government Accountability Office threat assessments. Also included is brief sworn testimony from Director of the FBI Christopher Wray.
https://youtu.be/_zd0j438tBg

'It's killing us': midwestern workers savaged by Trump's trade wars

Layoffs are common, shifts have been cut – and workers in America’s manufacturing and farming heartlands are losing hope
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/20/iowa-midwest-manufacturing-trump-trade-wars

Latest anti-Obamacare court decision means major uncertainty about health care heading into 2020

A federal appeals court has once again put the future of the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy, and this time it has managed to create a giant muddle. Rather than moving to overturn the law entirely—as Republicans want—or upholding the law entirely—as Democrats want—the Fifth Circuit kinda sorta ruled against Obamacare, but sent the key question of whether to overturn it entirely back to the lower court, where it will take a good long time to resolve. That means that we may go into the 2020 elections with this question hanging over us.
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2019/12/19/1906730/-Latest-anti-Obamacare-court-decision-means-major-uncertainty-about-health-care-heading-into-2020