Interview:
Monday, February 28, 2022
The world's insect population is in decline — and that's bad news for humans (Terry Gross; Fresh Air podcast)
"The world, our surroundings, would be far quieter, far duller, far drabber without insects," he says. "When you start kind of digging down into these figures looking at the research, it's clear that there's something seriously amiss. ... There is a consistent decline in most insect populations, and that spells major trouble for them but also for us."
Interview:
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Top Secret Confetti (feat. Pete Strzok)(Allison Gill; Mueller, She Wrote podcast)
This week: US intelligence officials accuse Zero Hedge of amplifying Kremlin propaganda; Manafort is writing a book and Andrew Weissman wants to make sure he doesn’t profit from it; plus the Fantasy Indictment League, and a conversation with Peter Strzok about the top secret documents found at Mar-a-Lago. 
Interview:
What is Humanism? (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
Guest: Andrew Copson. FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott explains FFRF's newest federal lawsuit involving students who walked out of a Huntington, W.Va., high school protesting religious services on campus during school time. Then we speak with the Chief Executive of Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, about the new book he co-authored with Alice Roberts called The Little Book of Humanism: Universal Lessons on Finding Purpose, Meaning and Joy.
Interview:
Talk Heathen 06.08 with Katy Montgomerie and Jmike
00:00:00 Intro
5:09 Simon-(UK) | There May Be A God After All, An Evil One.
30:50 Casey-MO | Has Evidence the Bible is Accurate
57:00 Relic-TX | The Dissipation of Religion and the Rise of Spirituality
Interview:
5:09 Simon-(UK) | There May Be A God After All, An Evil One.
30:50 Casey-MO | Has Evidence the Bible is Accurate
57:00 Relic-TX | The Dissipation of Religion and the Rise of Spirituality
Interview:
Truth Wanted 05.07 with ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews @TheThinkingAtheist
00:00 Intro
18:54 KC-MO | Why Do Atheists Hate God?
36:40 Nikki-OR | I Didn’t Want To Believe In Jesus, But...
50:15 Show Clips
52:15 Jacob-IL | The Insidiousness Of Praying The Gay Away
1:02:26 Ashley-CO | Advice For Remaining Polite With Religious Family
1:15:54 Mike-TX | Doubting The Truth Of Christianity: Coming Out To Family
1:23:55 Jim-(CA) | Angry Drunks, Happy Drunks, & Preacher Drunks
1:27:52 Barrie-(NZ) | Objective Vs Convincing Arguments For God
1:35:50 Outro
Interview:
18:54 KC-MO | Why Do Atheists Hate God?
36:40 Nikki-OR | I Didn’t Want To Believe In Jesus, But...
50:15 Show Clips
52:15 Jacob-IL | The Insidiousness Of Praying The Gay Away
1:02:26 Ashley-CO | Advice For Remaining Polite With Religious Family
1:15:54 Mike-TX | Doubting The Truth Of Christianity: Coming Out To Family
1:23:55 Jim-(CA) | Angry Drunks, Happy Drunks, & Preacher Drunks
1:27:52 Barrie-(NZ) | Objective Vs Convincing Arguments For God
1:35:50 Outro
Interview:
The Atheist Experience 26.08 with Matt Dillahunty and Jim Barrows
00:00 Intro
02:21 Kevin-(CA) | Coincidences Are The Language Of God
09:44 Charles-GA | The Ark Is Real & Its In Turkey (Yes, This Again)
32:46 Jon-(CA) | We Need God To Control The Agents Of Moral Chaos
42:01 Bob-TN | A Lesson On An Inconsistent Epistemology
49:47 ACA Clips: An All-Knowing God Should Have A Maxed Out Accuracy Skill
51:53 Christian-NY | An Example Of Being Convinced For Bad Reasons
1:20:00 Jesus-MO | Mirror Universe Jesus Has Joined The Channel
1:24:03 Carlton-NT | Larger Storms Indicate End Times Are Near
1:31:39 Raj-(UK) | Did Slavery Help Progress Society?
1:37:47 Outro
02:21 Kevin-(CA) | Coincidences Are The Language Of God
09:44 Charles-GA | The Ark Is Real & Its In Turkey (Yes, This Again)
32:46 Jon-(CA) | We Need God To Control The Agents Of Moral Chaos
42:01 Bob-TN | A Lesson On An Inconsistent Epistemology
49:47 ACA Clips: An All-Knowing God Should Have A Maxed Out Accuracy Skill
51:53 Christian-NY | An Example Of Being Convinced For Bad Reasons
1:20:00 Jesus-MO | Mirror Universe Jesus Has Joined The Channel
1:24:03 Carlton-NT | Larger Storms Indicate End Times Are Near
1:31:39 Raj-(UK) | Did Slavery Help Progress Society?
1:37:47 Outro
Interview:
Forfeiting a Game Because of Faith (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #415)
— Hold your sympathy for the Alabama high school basketball team whose faith led to them forfeiting their playoff chances. (1:25)
— Christian sex predator Ravi Zacharias was effectively aided by the corrupt leaders at his ministry. (30:25)
— The share of Americans who are absolutely certain God exists has dropped below 50% for the first time ever. (49:03)
— The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving an anti-gay Christian website designer who doesn’t want to make sites promoting same-sex weddings. (1:01:35)
— Conservative Christian Nebraska State Senator Mike Groene resigned after allegations that he took "objectifying" photos of a female aide without her consent and shared them with other people. (1:09:33)
— Christian sex predator Ravi Zacharias was effectively aided by the corrupt leaders at his ministry. (30:25)
— The share of Americans who are absolutely certain God exists has dropped below 50% for the first time ever. (49:03)
— The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving an anti-gay Christian website designer who doesn’t want to make sites promoting same-sex weddings. (1:01:35)
— Conservative Christian Nebraska State Senator Mike Groene resigned after allegations that he took "objectifying" photos of a female aide without her consent and shared them with other people. (1:09:33)
Interview:
zNo dinner at my uncles with Tara Setmayer (The Mary Trump Show podcast)
Mary Trump proclaims the importance of choosing democracy over fascism. Then, she is joined by Tara Setmayer to examine the abandonment of conservative principles in favor of authoritarianism by Republicans and the need to vote against it. They highlight how we should face down Trumpism, the many disasters it’s sown, and how to reclaim our politics and our country when the stakes have never been higher.
Interview:
DeVry, DeVos, Durham (Allison Gill and Andrew Torrez; Cleanup on Aisle 45 podcast Episode 58)
This week: Biden’s Department of Education approved $2 billion in loan relief for more than 107,000 borrowers through borrower defense - many of those cases DeVoss had just blanket denied; Durham “clears up” his most recent filing; Judge Mehta makes a ruling on Swalwell’s Klan suit against Trump, Junior, Guiliani, and Brooks; and more.
Interview:
Tucker Carlson condemned for Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘Rwanda’ comments | Ketanji Brown Jackson | The Guardian
Fox News anchor accused of presenting 'perfect distillation of white supremacy' in rant against Biden supreme court nominee…
Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at white nationalist event
… Greene is the second Republican representative — along with Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar — to associate herself with the racist fringe group…
Putin’s Ukraine invasion opens Kremlin’s dark endgame in region - The Washington Post
Putin's defiant decision to use full-fledged military force represents an unprecedented level of risk-taking for the Russian leader and threatens to isolate his country even further from the West and its allies.
The strange Republican world where the big lie lives on and Trump is fighting to save democracy | Republicans | The Guardian
…Such speeches cast the struggle in heroic terms so that criticism is only likely to harden the siege mentality and resolve of the foot soldiers. Those wandering the corridors of CPAC seemed to share Joe Biden's view that a struggle for the soul of America is under way – but were convinced that the president is on the wrong side...
What is SWIFT and why does it matter in Russia-Ukraine war? - The Washington Post
One of the first serious points of division among Western nations on Russian sanctions in the Ukraine crisis is whether Russian financial institutions should be cut off from a global messaging system known as SWIFT…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/02/26/swift-russia-sanctions-explained/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/02/26/swift-russia-sanctions-explained/
Ukraine and International Law; Gov. Abbott’s Despicable Attack on Trans Kids (Opening Arguments podcast OA572)
What does the US’s disgusting history of war crimes teach us about international law? We look at the story of how the US screwed over Nicaragua and what the UN did about it. Also, we break down Gov. Abbott’s gross attack on trans people. It’s despicable, but what will the real life consequences be? Find out. Before that, some good news and very bad news in the efforts to hold Trump accountable for his uncountable crimes.
Interview:
Saturday, February 26, 2022
The News Roundup — Domestic and International (The 1A) 2022-02-25
After weeks of speculation and diplomacy, Russia invaded Ukraine. Explosions reported in Ukraine Wednesday night into Thursday and Russian troops are moving into the region.
The House Intelligence Committee is working on legislation to provide support for pro-Ukraine independence fighters.
Following rumblings of a possibility of a trucker-led protest shutting down the D.C. beltway, 700 National Guard were approved for deployment in the area in an effort to deter the possibility.
Interview:
Donbass region of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden announced new sanctions on Russia in response to its military action against Ukraine. He met with leaders from the G7 on Thursday.
Colombia became the latest nation to strengthen abortion access, decriminalizing it during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
We cover the most important stories from around the world on the international portion of the News Roundup.
Interview:
The House Intelligence Committee is working on legislation to provide support for pro-Ukraine independence fighters.
Following rumblings of a possibility of a trucker-led protest shutting down the D.C. beltway, 700 National Guard were approved for deployment in the area in an effort to deter the possibility.
Interview:
President Joe Biden announced new sanctions on Russia in response to its military action against Ukraine. He met with leaders from the G7 on Thursday.
Colombia became the latest nation to strengthen abortion access, decriminalizing it during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
We cover the most important stories from around the world on the international portion of the News Roundup.
Interview:
MTG DAO NGMI; and Why Palin v. NYT is Not Over (Opening Arguments podcast OA571)
If you don’t understand the first part of the title, you’re not alone! There was a delightful dust up between Wizards of the Coast and something called a DAO over Magic the Gathering. It turns out you’re not just allowed to profit off of other people’s IP? Cryto bros were very surprised to learn this. Andrew decodes it for us. Then, we finally get a thorough breakdown of what happened in the Palin v. NYT case. You may have heard it was dismissed, but it may not be over yet! It’s a weird story with a lot of twists and turns.
Interview:
Eight sobering realities about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
The US and allies must be clear-eyed about this: what might the economic and political ripple effects of the war be?
Anti-Trump Republican Group Trolls CPAC With Blunt Billboards | HuffPost Latest News
…The event also highlights voices from within the party who appear sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He just launched an unprovoked assault on Ukraine to much international condemnation...
Eight Books Uncovering Black Histories - The Atlantic
…French's sweeping but eminently readable narrative rejects one common framing of modernity—the claim that it stemmed from the accomplishments of European figures, including those like Christopher Columbus, whose arrival in the so-called New World supposedly set North America on a course to civilization. Instead, French meticulously documents and sets out to amend "a centuries-long process of diminishment, trivialization, and erasure of Africans and of people of African descent from the story of the modern world." …
Biden confronts Putin's Ukraine-Russia war — and Trump's GOP
…This week, we've watched former President Donald Trump openly root for Putin, Fox News host Tucker Carlson feed his viewers daily diatribes apologizing for Russia's autocratic strongman and the House GOP leadership turn a mundane presidential snapshot into a preposterous symbol of purported weakness for America's president...
Friday, February 25, 2022
Jan. 6 rioter who led mob to the Speaker's Lobby sentenced
…Jeffrey Register, 39, who is from Florida, was wearing a "God, Guns & Trump" sweatshirt and a "2020 Keep America Great" skullcap when he stormed the Capitol. In a plea agreement, he admitted that he called and waved for the group to press forward before the mob reached the doors of the Speaker's Lobby outside the floor of the House, where Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot, and that he deleted photographs and performed a factory reset on his cellphone after Jan. 6...
Ukraine conflict brings cybersecurity risks to US homes, businesses
…I also suggest people regularly ensure their computer, mobile devices and software are updated, double-check that all passwords are secure and all key accounts are protected by two-factor authentication. Beware that phishing attacks may increase, seeking to trick people into clicking links that grant attackers access to computer systems. These are a few simple steps that can help increase one's cybersecurity preparedness both now and for the future...
What the Threat of Cyberwar Means for Americans - The Atlantic
…Putin might target the technology that supports U.S. infrastructure. American banks have been shoring up their cyberdefenses, but "they've never had to withstand a full-on, all-in cyberattack by a nation as powerful in cyberspace as the Russians," Lin said. Municipal power and water authorities would likely be more vulnerable, he said, because many of them don't have extra money to spend on cybersecurity…
Putin’s Nuclear Threat Sets the West on Edge | WIRED
By promising a response "never seen" in history if other countries interfere in Ukraine, the Russian leader upended decades of relative stability...
Majority of abortions in US now done with pills, data shows | GMA
…At the same time, many states are already enacting restrictions on abortion access, including medication abortion...
Tucker Carlson says Ukraine is not a democracy. Here are the facts.
…Carlson is too quick to dismiss Ukraine as not a democracy, especially given his embrace of Hungary. It is especially rich of Carlson to mimic Putin's complaints about the state of Ukraine's democracy, given that Putin runs an authoritarian regime. Putin does not care about democracy; his main complaint is that the current Ukrainian government refuses to be a Russian puppet...
Opinion | What worries me most about the classified information discovered at Mar-a-Lago - The Washington Post
…For now, the government needs to know how, exactly, former president Trump treated highly sensitive national security information taken from the White House more than a year ago. This is urgent…
Putin's Useful Idiots - The Atlantic
Too many Republicans who know better are serving as mouthpieces for the Kremlin…
PolitiFact | Fentanyl seizures are not evidence of an ‘open border’
…While that figure is accurate, the tweet leaves out the context that seizures of fentanyl at the southwest border spiked when Trump was president. The DEA said such seizures have risen steadily since 2016.
The notion of an "open border" under Biden is inaccurate. While there has been a record surge of migrants at the border since Biden took office, the majority of those encountered by border agents are expelled, including by the continued use of a public health order put into place by Trump…
Saudi-Russia Collusion Is Driving Up Gas Prices, Worsening Ukraine Crisis
…Now, as Biden refuses to meet with MBS due to his culpability in the grisly murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the crown prince may again see a friend in Moscow, which is profiting handsomely off MBS's refusal to increase oil production…
Belief in QAnon has strengthened in US since Trump was voted out, study finds
Some 22% of Americans believe that a "storm" is coming, 18% think violence might be necessary to save the country and 16% hold that the government, media and financial worlds are controlled by Satan-worshipping pedophiles, according to four surveys carried out last year by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) think tank.
Covid-19 is killing more people now than during most of the pandemic. Here's who's still at risk - CNN
The people dying from Covid-19 now tend to be younger than before, and they're overwhelmingly unvaccinated, experts say…
Trump immediately botches what’s happening in Ukraine - The Washington Post
…Midway through the interview, Laura Ingraham noted that "we are just learning that U.S. officials are looking at a potential amphibious landing now in Odessa, Ukraine." The clear implication was that this was Russia engaging in the potential amphibious landing as part of its attack, but Trump took it as the United States itself "looking at" such an action…
Maternal death rates data reinforces why GOP's 'pro-life' stance is utter nonsense
… A forced pregnancy isn't about being "pro-life." In fact, for far too many women, it could be a death sentence.
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/maternal-death-rates-pandemic-rcna17528
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/maternal-death-rates-pandemic-rcna17528
Five essential commodities that will be hit by war in Ukraine
Though the economic consequences of a war that threatens the lives and livelihoods of many Ukrainians will always be secondary to the looming humanitarian crisis, here are five areas likely to see trouble ahead:…
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Bill of the Month: $80,000 surprise could still happen under new law : Shots - Health News : NPR
Total bill: $117,084. The hospital was out of network for the infants. Cigna paid for some of Scarlett's care, for reasons the Bulls couldn't figure out. The Bulls were left on the hook for about $80,000, for both babies. Their account was ultimately sent to collections...
Trump Organization, longtime CFO ask for fraud charges to be dropped | TheHill
"This bullshit argument is nothing more than more feeble attempts by #Trump, Weisselberg and company to continue to lie in hopes of blaming me for the investigation into all the illegal actions they committed. No one is above the law and soon this adage will ring true!" Cohen tweeted…https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/595465-trump-organization-longtime-cfo-ask-for-fraud-charges-to-be-dropped
Trump feeds on Americans' loss of political power — a problem created by the GOP - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism
…Whether it's cheaper drugs, nationwide single-payer healthcare, a cleaner environment, stronger social security, postal banking, a higher minimum wage, low-cost high-speed broadband, mass transit, predatory bank behavior, an end to student debt, or the breakup of giant corporations so entrepreneurialism can again blossom in America, corporations and billionaires have paid legislators to block them all in defiance of the majority of voters…
Maternal mortality rates increased during 1st year of COVID pandemic: CDC - ABC News
In 2020, 861 U.S. mothers died, an increase of 14% from 754 deaths in 2019...
Republicans view Putin more favorably than they do leading Democrats - The Washington Post
…Russian President Vladimir Putin operates within a well-established political framework. He is an autocrat with near-unilateral control over his country. Russia has elections, but no one is under the impression that the results will be allowed to pose a threat to Putin's power. Personal freedoms are constrained significantly; opponents of Putin's regime have a habit of succumbing to sudden illness and accidents.
Yet American Republicans view him slightly more positively than they do leading Democratic officials…
How a Russian Invasion Will Affect Gas Prices - The Atlantic
Beyond the imminent threat of violence, Russia is poised to upend the global energy market...
Three men plead guilty to planning U.S. power grid attack, driven by white supremacy | Reuters
"They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war", the department said in a statement...
Opinion | This year’s CPAC lineup speaks volumes about the conservative movement - The Washington Post
…This Trump-infused movement conservatism is decidedly angry, if the titles of CPAC's panels are any indication. One is called "Put Him to Bed, Lock Her Up and Send Her to the Border." Another promises to "Lock Her Up, FOR REAL." "The Moron In Chief" is presumably about the current occupant of the Oval Office, and Sebastian Gorka and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) will encourage the next occupant to "Fire Fauci." Panels such as "The Invasion" and "Obamacare Still Kills" will keep the blood running hot, while "War: A Tribute to Andrew Breitbart" is presumably not about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sober discussion, it appears, will be in short supply at this weekend's confab…
Is It Amnesia or Hypocrisy That Fuels the GOP’s Crazy Response to Putin? – Mother Jones
…But there's nothing surprising about the ongoing romance between conservatives and the democracy-crushing thug-leader of Russia, who has invaded Ukraine and violated international law. Anyone shocked by this has forgotten one of the key facts of the 21st Century: Putin waged war on the United States, and Donald Trump and his party aided, abetted, and benefitted from that attack...
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans health care for trans youth with a vigilante scheme.
…The governor wrote that anyone who approves or performs this treatment has committed a criminal offense. Abbott has spent months proclaiming that parents have an absolute right to control their children, and Texas law already gives parents the right to consent to medical treatment for their kids. Now the governor has decided that he can strip parents of this most basic right when he personally disapproves of the treatment…
FBI reports at least 57 bomb threats at HBCUs, other institutions since January - The Washington Post
Historically Black schools, places of worship and other faith-based and academic institutions have received threats, officials said…
Michigan GOP gov. candidate Soldano says kids should get COVID-19 ‘naturally’ - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism
…Rape victims who become pregnant must "protect that DNA and allow it to happen," Soldano said on a right-wing podcast in January, encouraging pregnant people to give birth no matter the circumstances. "… God put them in this moment."…
Five months post-covid, Nicole Murphy’s heart rate is still doing strange things - The Washington Post
The prevalence of such symptoms has experts projecting a 'tidal wave' of cardiovascular cases related directly and indirectly to the coronavirus…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/21/covid-cardiac-issues-longterm/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/21/covid-cardiac-issues-longterm/
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