Wednesday, March 31, 2021

GOP lawmakers ask Myorkas for documents on warnings from DHS to Biden on immigration | TheHill

..."It is difficult because the entire system was dismantled by the prior administration. There was a system in place in both Republican and Democratic administrations, that was torn down during the Trump administration, and that is why the challenge is more acute than it ever has been before," Mayorkas said CNN's "State of the Union," earlier in March. "We are rebuilding the orderly systems that the Trump administration tore down to avoid the need for these children to actually take the perilous journey."...

PolitiFact | COVID-19 relief for minority farmers not a ‘bonus,’ it’s for past discrimination

...The COVID-19 relief plan signed into law in March 2021 includes an estimated $5 billion, mostly to pay off debt, for socially disadvantaged farmers — those in groups such as Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice...


Under Half Of U.S. Adults Belong To A Religious Congregation, Survey Says : NPR

...Catholics have seen the greatest decline, with an 18-point drop in the past two decades, double the 9-point decline for Protestants. Gallup said it doesn't have sufficient data to analyze trends for other religions...


Trans kids on the Republican bills targeting them: 'I'm not a problem to society' | US news | The Guardian

Jeffrey: I'm an engineer, so I've read a lot of scientific papers over the years. And I spent a fair amount of time looking at the medical literature on this, which is very clear about the drops in suicide rates that occur when you provide this treatment to these kids. It's a double-digits reduction. So to have that treatment taken away, it really puts our daughter at risk, and it's for no other reason than they just want to mark off a checkbox in their rigid worldview. Science doesn't care about your worldview...

No convictions for St Louis officers who beat Black undercover colleague at protest

"If an undercover cop can't get justice, how will the rest of us who have been maced, shot, beaten, and brutalized ever get justice?" Tweeted Cori Bush, a Black congresswoman who represents the Missouri district that includes St Louis...


Dominion Builds Legal Behemoth To Drain Trumpland of Billions

...Dominion expanding its legal team is the latest effort to punish leading players in the months-long propaganda push to trash the company and baselessly assail the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential contest...


6 Bold Ideas for Gun Reform That Could Actually Happen - POLITICO

Gun violence prevention advocates are rallying behind these state and local-level initiatives that don't count on major action from the federal government...


Former Trump officials say coronavirus response was worse than known - The Washington Post

...'That's what bothers me every day': Birx and others admit failures that hampered the White House response...


The rich-poor gap in America is obscene. So let's fix it – here's how

...Growing income and wealth inequality is not just an economic issue. It touches the very foundation of American democracy. If the very rich become much richer while millions of working people see their standard of living continue to decline, faith in government and our democratic institutions will wither and support for authoritarianism will increase. We cannot let that happen...


Americans like billionaires less after they got richer in the pandemic - Vox

... What unites Americans is a belief that billionaires have too much influence in the political system...


Schumer mulls obscure procedural maneuver to pass Biden's infrastructure bill - CBS News

... Schumer aides argue that Section 304 would allow for a second reconciliation process to be used this fiscal year, because it says "the two Houses may adopt a concurrent resolution on the budget which revises or reaffirms the concurrent resolution on the budget for such fiscal year most recently agreed to."...


Behind the dark-money web that put Barrett (and Kavanaugh and Gorsuch) on the Supreme Court | Salon.com

Neil and Ann Corkery have a mission: Load up the judicial branch with right-wing Catholics. It's definitely working...


American Atheists' 2021 National Convention | Hopin

American Atheists holds an annual National Convention at locations throughout the United States. Our national conventions bring together members of the atheist community from all over the nation and world to celebrate reason, rationality, and atheism. This year our convention will be online! ...


Biden has plans for 4 major tax increases - Axios

President Biden is preparing to go to the mat for four tax increases worth about $1.8 trillion to help pay for his infrastructure and social safety net plans, advisers tell Axios...


The Fourth Surge of the Pandemic Is Upon Us - The Atlantic

A deadlier and more transmissible variant has taken root, but now we have the tools to stop it if we want...


Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Want To Avoid Raising Entitled Kids? Don’t Do These 4 Things. | HuffPost Life

Don't overlook the power of chores.


Covid-19: CDC head warns of 'impending doom' in US - BBC News

...On Monday President Joe Biden urged state politicians once again to make mask-wearing obligatory in public places...


PolitiFact | The facts about Georgia’s ban on food, water giveaways to voters

...The law makes it a misdemeanor to give away food or water within 150 feet of the outer edge of a polling place building or within 25 feet of any voter in line. Violations of this law are punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. While people other than poll workers can give away food or water, they have to adhere to these boundaries to avoid breaking the law.,.


Trump lashes out at Fauci and Birx after CNN documentary - POLITICO

The former president released a fact-challenged statement criticizing the former advisers after they criticized his administration's pandemic response...

U.S. lawmakers urge USPS board to halt delivery vehicle contract | Reuters

"Squandering this once-in-a-generation opportunity by spending billions of dollars on vehicles that will be custom built for obsolescence – indeed, by the end of their operating lives they will be the last internal combustion fleet vehicles on the road – and defying President Biden's Executive Order is utterly unacceptable," the lawmakers wrote...


The Antiscience Movement Is Escalating, Going Global and Killing Thousands - Scientific American

Rejection of mainstream science and medicine has become a key feature of the political right in the United States and, increasingly, around the world...


Opinion | Biden’s second economic package could blow up one of the silliest myths in D.C. - The Washington Post

... You can already see how this game will unfold. Republicans will declare that infrastructure repair could be bipartisan. But Republicans will add both that we can't spend nearly what liberals want because of the deficit and that we can't raise taxes to pay for it, because that will be "job-killing."...


Rupert

The billions Rupert Murdoch has made are only a fraction of what he has cost American democracy. But he did get one thing right: America IS watching. And we've seen enough.
https://youtu.be/sWYIqwJqKbE

Opinion | Biden outfoxes the GOP in first 60 days - The Washington Post

...Whether on the vaccine, the coronavirus relief package or guns, Biden enjoys a supermajority of public support, one that is not reflected in Congress, where every single Republican opposed the American Rescue Plan. One would think reporters would be pressing GOP congressional leaders on why they are thwarting policies that many of their own voters support. Republicans' public grousing about the size of the economic package has evidently fallen on deaf ears...


The problem with the GOP's hypocrisy complaints about the filibuster

... By all three measures, obstructionism that was once rare has been made routine. When Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1973, there were 44 cloture motions filed in the Senate during its two-year session -- a relatively high total by the historical standards of the time. By the 1993-1994 Congress, as Republicans desperately tried to block Bill Clinton's agenda, that number had nearly doubled, growing to 80. In the 2007-2008 Congress, when Mitch McConnell scrambled to stand in the way of a new Democratic Congress, the tally reached 139...


Monday, March 29, 2021

Fmr. Priest James Carroll: How the Catholic Church Lost Its Soul

The battle to reform the Catholic Church has been plagued by a long-running sexual abuse crisis. Author, historian and journalist James Carroll argues that male dominance is the root cause of the church's issues. His new memoir, "The Truth at the Heart of the Lie," links his own crisis of faith as a priest to the history of the church itself. He joins our Michel Martin to discuss his call to reform the church and the need to give women a voice within the institution.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/464bg-DkPC8

From Pastor To Atheist | The Full Story

In this video I tell my full story from Christianity to atheism, from pastoral ministry to secular worldview.
https://youtu.be/ngYTttVDgFs

‘He’s toast’: GOP leaves Raffensperger twisting in the wind - POLITICO

...The Georgia GOP secretary of state who bucked Donald Trump is up against serious resistance within his own party...


National Day of Reason: Join FFRF, others in ‘Mayday For Humanity’ | Freethought Today

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and other secular and freethinking groups are asking you to celebrate National Day of Reason on May 6 by joining the Zoom entertainment extravaganza — "Mayday For Humanity."

FFRF, along with members of the Secular Student Alliance, the Secular Coalition for America, the Freethought Society, and Recovering From Religion are sponsoring the event.

The three-hour program will begin at 7 p.m. EST, with comedians Leighann Lord and Ian Harris co-hosting. They will usher in an array of comedians, poets and performers, including Penn & Teller, Julia Sweeney, John de Lancie, John Davidson and Ann Druyan. (See below for full list.)

The National Day of Reason falls on the same date as the National Day of Prayer. But, as the religious community prays, the nontheist community will be taking action! 

During the National Day of Reason's "Mayday For Humanity" event, online donations will be collected to benefit homeless shelters and food banks selected by the event co-sponsors. All beneficiary organizations operate in a non-discriminatory and secular manner. The program will be interspersed with messages from co-sponsors, celebrity supporters and people who are conducting grassroots community service projects during the 2021 Secular Week of Action (April 30 – May 9). 

An online auction will also take place with items donated by Zenos Frudakis, Ann Druyan, Curt Anderson, the Humanists Society of Santa Barbara and many others. 

Register for the Zoom event at: bit.ly/Join4Humanity. Pre-event donations can be made at: bit.ly/MAYDAY4HUMANITY. You can also donate via text! Just text the code: "MAYDAY4HUMANITY" to 44-321. 

Here is the list of performers and guest appearances: 

Ty Barnett, Sandra Booker, Baba Brinkman, John Davidson, Ann Druyan, John Fugelsang, Victor Harris, Jon Huertas, Keith Lowell Jensen, John de Lancie, Hemant Mehta, Shelley Segal, Gary Stockdale, Penn & Teller, Jill Sobule, Julia Sweeney, Voices of Reason.

https://www.freethoughttoday.com/vol-38-no-03-april-2021/national-day-of-reason-join-ffrf-others-in-mayday-for-humanity

For US bishops, LGBTQ 'anthropology' rules out Equality Act compromises | National Catholic Reporter

"If you say we can't support any anti-discrimination protection for sexual orientation or gender identity because such behavior or identity is wrong or flawed," he warned, "then it's very hard to explain to someone else why they should support religious freedom protections or traditional religion when they believe its behaviors or tenets are wrong."


Five myths about poverty - The Washington Post

... In 2021, the poverty line for a family of three was approximately $22,000. Families that once thought of themselves as solidly middle class are now straining to pay for the basics. Food banks have seen record lines outside their doors, and job security for many has vanished. Yet poverty is still shadowed by misperceptions...


Choir Amazes Judges Singing Bohemian Rhapsody By QUEEN on Georgia's Got Talent

https://youtu.be/B9kTEQtB_yY

Jeff Lynne - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (Live)

https://youtu.be/o_gOpk0KhUY

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Taken from Concert For George)

https://youtu.be/CrTMc2i6Lzc

Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton - Something (Live)

https://youtu.be/Xl-BNTeJXjw

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale, live in Denmark 2006

https://youtu.be/St6jyEFe5WM

A Day In The Life with orchestra - The Beatles (arr. Sam Haug)

https://youtu.be/0edji28K8mk

Finale performance of "With A Little Help From My Friends" at the 2015 H...

https://youtu.be/xOuxVDgV6CY

Paul McCartney - All Things Must Pass (Live)

https://youtu.be/o6iaSWSB7rE

Mick Mulvaney calls Donald Trump's Capitol riot claims 'manifestly false' - CNNPolitics

... "It's not right to say there was no risk, I don't know how you can say that when people were killed," he added...

Shanna Swan: 'Most couples may have to use assisted reproduction by 2045' | Fertility problems | The Guardian

...Phthalates, used to make plastic soft and flexible, are of paramount concern. They are in everybody and we are probably primarily exposed through food as we use soft plastic in food manufacture, processing and packaging. They lower testosterone and so have the strongest influences on the male side, for example diminishing sperm count, though they are bad for women, too, shown to decrease libido and increase risk of early puberty, premature ovarian failure, miscarriage and premature birth. 

Bisphenol A (BPA), used to harden plastic and found in cash-register receipts and the lining of some canned-food containers, is another. It is oestrogen mimicking and so is a particularly bad actor on the female side, increasing risks of fertility challenges, but likewise it can affect men. Men occupationally exposed to BPA have shown decreased sperm quality, reduced libido and higher rates of erectile dysfunction. Other chemicals of concern include flame retardants and certain pesticides such as atrazine...

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Joe Brown - Here Comes The Sun (Live)

https://youtu.be/cTwWpkLEHCA

“Beat the Press.” (Pod Save America podcast)

Joe Biden announces vaccines for all by May 1st and Donald Trump wants credit, Tan Suit journalism returns as some political reporters work hard to generate Biden controversies, Andrew Cuomo faces more calls to resign, and progressives are concerned about some of the President’s foreign policy decisions during his first fifty days in office.
Interview: 

Leaving God (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

"Thoughts and prayers" are not enough. Violence — often prompted or exacerbated by religion — must be addressed with meaningful legislation. We encourage people this week to take action to protect state/church separation in Arizona, Delaware and Tennessee. After hearing Dan Barker's song "Get Off Your Knees (And Get To Work)," we talk with former Madison-Avenue adman John Follis about his award-winning documentary film, "Leaving God: Why I left God and why so many others are too."
Interview: 

“Biden’s chance to go big.” (with Heather McGhee!) (Pod Save America podcast)

Jon and Heather talk about how Biden’s next economic plan could be even more progressive and transformative than the last, the results from the latest Crooked Media/Change Research Pollercoaster series on voting rights in Arizona, and whether anything can get done on gun control. Then, they discuss their favorite under-the-radar headlines.
Interview: 

Sidney Powell's Defense Is Even Worse Than You Think (Opening Arguments podcast OA476)

Sidney Powell's response to the Dominion Defamation suit is too batshirt to miss! Andrew brings us the full breakdown. Also, a jury has been selected in the Derek Chauvin trial so we've got some updates there. And finally, Andrew explains the gun control bills that have passed congress.
Interview: 

What’s going on at the border and why it’s a humanitarian crisis - Vox

... The pandemic-related economic downturn and a pair of hurricanes late last year that devastated Honduras and Guatemala in particular have only exacerbated those more longstanding problems. Many people are hoping to apply for asylum or other humanitarian protections, and the US is obligated by federal law and international human rights agreements to give them that chance...


Election expert pinpoints 'the most sinister' part of Georgia's voting law that's flying under the radar - Raw Story - Celebrating 16 Years of Independent Journalism

"...Not being able to give people food and water, trying to cut back on early voting — those kinds of things got the headlines. But I think the real purpose here was to intensify control over how every aspect of elections are run in Georgia. So, when there are close elections in the future — which they know there will be — they will have unprecedented power to challenge the election results and to decline to certify them if they don't like who the winner is."

Talk Heathen 05.12 with Vi La Bianca and @Viced Rhino​

00:00​ Intro
08:38​ Jason-PA | Sea Creatures On Mountain Tops
18:10​ Chelsey-NC | Brother Toxically Against Trans
25:48​ Marcus-IL | Existence Of Free Will And Choice
36:23​ Cameron-MN | Debunking Science In The Quran
46:25​ CJ-CA | Micro And Macro Evolution
51:52​ Nick-TN | Changes In Community Education
1:02:35​ Mike-MA | Philosophy Odd Way To Prove God
1:18:48​ Matt-GA | Church Indoctrinating Hell To Nephew
1:26:21​ Stuart-(UK) | Scientific Process To Help Delusions
Interview: 

The Atheist Experience 25.12 with Matt Dillahunty and @Katy Montgomerie​

00:00​ Intro And Announcements
08:39​ Mike-(CZ) | People Hardwired For Belief
25:51​ Shelby-ME | Reread The Bible
30:58​ Steve-OH | The $1000 Bet
32:59​ Don-CA | A Grieving Atheist
47:53​ John-CA | Fairness Of Trans Women In Sports
58:40​ Seleste-FL | Crystalline Fabric Of Reality
1:10:29​ Buzz-WA | Nothing Exists Out Of Time
1:19:54​ Arnie-WA | No True Scotsman
1:32:31​ Scott-(MX) | Do People Lie About Gender?
1:41:47​ Outro
Interview: 

Saturday, March 27, 2021

The News Roundup — Domestic (The 1A) 2021-03-26

President Biden is pushing Congress to pass comprehensive gun control legislation after two mass shootings left over 10 people dead in under a week. We know the names of the victims and the gunman in the Boulder attack, but police have been tight-lipped about any potential motive. Plus, the Senate debates legislation that would defend against efforts to roll back access to the ballot.

And a cyclical surge of migrants at the border has the Biden administration on the defensive.

We spoke with a top Biden administration official about their immigration policy at the southern border earlier this week.
Interview: 


The News Roundup — International (The 1A) 2021-03-26

After weeks of declining, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again around the world. Brazil’s daily death toll tops 3,000 for the first time – as AstraZeneca faces more questions about side effects and efficacy. One place where cases are plummeting is Israel; more than half of the country has now had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the highest percentage of any nation worldwide. And we, like everybody else, are wondering about why a massive container ship is causing headaches in the Suez Canal – and far beyond.
Interview: 


Twisting the Bible to Push Essential Oils (feat. Genetically Modified Skeptic)

According to Eric Hovind's guest, in Biblical times, essential oils were used for everything from holy ceremonies to everyday needs. And today, if you're willing to pay quite a bit of money to Eric Hovind, you too can harness the all-natural power of essential oils to calm, purify, and heal our bodies and homes.

But is Eric merely twisting the Bible to push his new products from the controversial organization called Young Living. Just because the Bible speaks of many different oils being used for everything from the crowning of a king to the healing of the body, does that mean that essential oils are an intersection of science and scripture?

Join Drew from @Genetically Modified Skeptic and I as we watch Megan Trombly and Eric Hovind share their interpretations of the Oils of the Bible.
Interview: 

Citibank's $900 Million Oopsie (Opening Arguments podcast OA475)

It's a no takesies backsies deep dive! We all know the law is pretty reasonable and there's no way you get to keep millions of dollars that a bank wires you by accident, right? Wellllllll ordinarily yes, but sometimes no! Andrew's got the full breakdown on Citibank's big oopsie.

Before that, we talk about Alan Dershowitz's (s)hit new podcast and how he's lying about the My Pillow guy.
Interview: 

Finding Smiles Lewis & The Anomaly Archives | Truth Wanted 04.11

00:00​ Intro
01:54​ What Are The Anomaly Archives?
09:31 Keeping An Open Mind While Remaining Skeptical
23:25 The Problems With "Independent" Research In The Internet Age
34:34 Phil-TX | Don’t Say Aliens Definitely Exist
45:32 Tom-OH | Assessing The Technology Gap Between Us And Extraterrestrials
54:33 Sven-WA | Racism In Ancient Alien Theories
1:11:21 Testing Extrasensory Perception
1:18:49 Keith-FL | Do We Have Compelling Evidence For The Loch Ness Monster?
1:23:59 Outro
Interview: 

Donald Trump Jr. Faces 1 Scathing Question In New 'Daily Show' Investigation | HuffPost

Roy Wood Jr. wants to know the "uncomfortable" truth about the former president's son...

An Instacart shopper believed he heard someone loading guns in a bathroom stall. Police arrested a man with 6 guns - CNN

... The witness rushed out of the bathroom and notified staff at the Publix Supermarket. When police arrived soon after, they arrested a suspect as he was exiting the bathroom -- with six loaded guns in his possession...


Microsoft Edge is locked with virus error message - Microsoft Community

It's a common scam. Click the X to close the window. You should then see a box at the bottom, Do not allow this site to create new messages. Check it and then close that window and finally the popup...


Stephen Miller to launch a new legal group to give Biden fits - POLITICO

...America First Legal will focus on a few things: executive branch issues and giving Joe Biden headaches...


Michigan GOP leader mentions 'assassination' in response to question about anti-Trump Republicans | TheHill

"Ma'am, other than assassination, I have no other way ... other than voting out. OK?" said Weiser.


Republicans ask U.S. Supreme Court to let them defend Trump immigration rule | Reuters

... Trump's policy expanded the public charge bar to anyone deemed likely to receive a much wider range of benefits for more than an aggregate of 12 months over any 36-month period including the Medicaid healthcare program, housing and food assistance...



'Predatory Elite' Also Bear The Blame For Migrant Crisis, NSC's Juan Gonzalez Says : NPR

... Gonzalez said that the Center for Global Development conducted a study that showed the U.S. investments led to less violence in El Salvador, which in turn resulted in drops in migration. "So we were seeing results, and then the Trump administration came in and cut a lot of those programs," he said...


Tucker Carlson Justifies the Idea of a Full-Blown Fascist Takeover | Vanity Fair

"When you make that long trek to the reservation the leftists have set up for you—and make that trek you will—what memories do you want to take with you? When living in the liberal utopian nightmare of 57 genders and government control over everything in your life…You'll want to know, to remember, even just cherish the knowledge that, one day, you rode out onto the plains and made them feel pain."


Arkansas governor signs bill allowing medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people | PBS NewsHour

... Opponents have said types of health care that could be cut off include maintaining hormone treatments for transgender patients needing in-patient care for an infection, or grief counseling for a same-sex couple. They've also said it could also be used to refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control, or by physicians assistants to override patient directives on end of life care...

Spying on the Scammers [Part 1/4]

When a scammer connected to my PC, I was able to reverse their connection and discover that they had CCTV. You're going to see the most detailed exposé of a tech support scam ever seen on YouTube. The company were called Faremart.com - A travel agency in Delhi who use their buildings and VOIP telephony to run various scams. They are one of hundreds of scam call centres in India and this one group will make over $3 million per year with scams.
https://youtu.be/le71yVPh4uk

Georgia lawmaker arrested as governor signs new election law - BBC News

Election reform or voter suppression?


Black farmers speak out against the 'festering wound' of racism in agriculture

... Once making up about 14% of US farmers, Black farmers make up less than 2% today. Many were forced out by racist lending practices by the agriculture department that led to vast losses of land, income, profits and generation wealth...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/25/black-farmers-hearing-racism-usda-agriculture


American Petroleum Institute supports paying a carbon tax on oil, gas - The Washington Post

The Biden administration met this week with oil executives, environmentalists, labor leaders and Native Americans to begin talks on climate policy...


Ted Cruz’s misleading memories of his 2013 gun proposal - The Washington Post

... Had his amendment become law, Cruz says, there's a "good chance" the Sutherland Springs shooting would not have happened. But what is this based on? A misleading read of his own legislation and what happened at the Air Force. Cruz earns Three Pinocchios...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/25/ted-cruzs-misleading-memories-his-2013-gun-proposal/


Donald Trump says some of Capitol rioters posed 'zero threat'

... Trump complained to Fox News's Laura Ingraham that law enforcement was "persecuting" the Capitol rioters, while "nothing happens" to leftwing protesters. Five people, including a police officer, died in the riot...


Fact check: False claim on CNN's Boulder coverage used altered image

"It's yet another fake and offensive image circulating on social media. CNN never aired that chyron," he wrote...


Why Is North Carolina Paying this Proud Son of Confederate Veterans to Lock Up Black Men?

... In his role as a parole officer, Stone oversees the freedom of those whose cases he's given. There should be a recognized conflict in determining the futures of Black folks while also being a proud promoter of Confederate lies who mixes with stars of the white supremacist movement and promotes a fable that attempts to erase the horrors of slavery and white supremacy...









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