Thursday, November 30, 2023
How support for Trump is causing a rift in the evangelical church (Terry Gross; Fresh Air podcast)
Atlantic writer Tim Alberta grew up in the evangelical church, the son of a pastor. His book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, examines why so many evangelicals are ardent Trump supporters.
Interview:
‘Bait and switch’: Liz Cheney book tears into Mike Johnson over pro-Trump January 6 brief | Books | The Guardian
"Mike was seriously misleading our members," Cheney writes. "The brief did assert as facts known to the amici many allegations of fraud and serious wrongdoing by officials in multiple states."
Johnson, she says, then told Republicans that 105 House members had expressed interest. "Not one of them had seen the brief," Cheney writes. She also says he added "a new inaccurate claim", that state officials had been "clearly shown" to have violated the constitution…
…Johnson "was telling our colleagues he was a constitutional law expert, while advocating positions that were constitutionally infirm", Cheney writes…
"A team of lawyers who were also apparently advising Trump had in fact drafted [it]," she writes. "Mike Johnson had left the impression that he was responsible for the brief, but he was just carrying Trump's water."…
In certain circumstances, close elections can be thrown to the House – which Mike Johnson now controls.
‘It should never have happened’: death of boy, 16, at sawmill highlights rise of child labour in US
Michael Schuls died after getting trapped in dangerous machinery at a mill in Wisconsin. But across the US conservative groups are pushing to loosen laws that protect children in the workplace…
Opinion | The 3 Fantasies That Keep Congress Dysfunctional - POLITICO
Lawmakers will have to give up these illusions if they want to get the House and Senate back on track…
Speaker Mike Johnson singed by a blast of conservative fury - POLITICO
The right's ire toward the Louisiana Republican isn't universal. But it's growing: One member called him a "joke," and another deemed his performance "plummeting."…
Rep. Virginia Foxx Says Not Enough Workers Willing To Work Overtime | HuffPost Latest News
The Labor Department estimates that the overtime proposal would put $1.3 billion of additional wages in workers' paychecks.
When the Labor Department announced the proposal, Foxx said it would "stifle workplace flexibility" and "lump burdensome costs on job creators."…
Federal government investigating multiple hacks of US water utilities - POLITICO
Iranian hackers suspected to be behind attacks targeting facilities that use Israeli-made equipment...
Trump's gift to Florida Democrats - POLITICO
They will use his latest call to repeal Obamacare against Republicans…
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Detainees speak out against ‘abusive’ US migrant jail: ‘This place is horrible’
"I know the public does not know what is going on in immigration," the 42-year-old Pal said. "A lot of them think that we're coming here illegally and stealing jobs, [but] they have been misled. That is not the case for a lot of people. We came here legally, [are] law-abiding citizens … But because we were not born in America or did not apply for citizenship, we don't get a second chance. We get thrown away – deported. Even though we have been here 99% of our lives."…
Now for Some Good News About Climate - WSJ
Costs for renewables have plummeted and growth is exceeding expectations…
Pope strips conservative US cardinal of Vatican privileges, Vatican official says | Reuters
Pope Francis has removed some of the Vatican privileges of conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke, including a large subsidized apartment and his salary, a senior Vatican official said on Tuesday...
Influential Koch network backs Nikki Haley for president in 2024 GOP primary : NPR
Americans for Prosperity, or AFP, says it believes nearly three-quarters of Republican voters are ready to move on from Trump. That's despite the former president leading among Republicans by a wide margin in national and key primary-state polls.
Michigan will implement ambitious clean energy mandates with goal of carbon-free electricity by 2040 | PBS NewsHour
Michigan will join four other states in requiring utility providers to transition to 100 percent carbon-free energy generation by 2040 under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The state has also set a goal for utilities to generate 50 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2030, a significant leap from the current 12 percent…
Biden looks to boost domestic drug manufacturing amid shortages
Amid widespread drug shortages, President Biden is outlining a plan to increase domestic production of essential pharmaceuticals — including by leveraging a defense law used to bolster countermeasures against COVID-19…
Trump lawyers ID election denial’s Patient Zero: Russian interference - The Washington Post
So now, it seems, he's at last willing to concede that Russia interfered. Or at least, his attorneys are...
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Asylum seekers find refuge in volunteers where the US has failed
Guards didn't respond when she went to ask them questions, she said. "They look at you with, like, rage, disgust, contempt. So we're adrift here because you don't know who to ask."…
Border patrol is claiming the people at these sites are not in detention, said Jacqueline Arellano, the director of US programs for Border Kindness, a non-profit migrant relief organization. "However, if you issued somebody a bracelet, and given them the parameters of where to be, and aren't giving them various instructions starting from the time they cross, and they know that they have to cooperate with border patrol in order to be compliant with the asylum process that they have a legal right to, then how is that not being detained?", she asked…
Idaho asks Supreme Court to let abortion law that penalizes doctors to take full effect | CNN Politics
Idaho asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow its state abortion ban that imposes penalties on doctors who perform abortions to take full effect despite federal requirements for emergency room doctors.
Trump hints at expanding domestic role for the military within the U.S. | PBS NewsHour
Trump has not spelled out precisely how he might use the military during a second term, although he and his advisers have suggested they would have wide latitude to call up units…
The Supreme Court case seeking to shut down wealth taxes before they exist, Moore v. United States - Vox
The plaintiffs in Moore, however, claim that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to tax profits before those profits are realized. This case is widely viewed as a stalking horse against Warren-style wealth taxes, as it would be impossible to tax wealth (as opposed to merely taxing the income generated by wealth) if the Constitution were to prohibit taxation of unrealized gains on the very assets that Warren-style proposals target. But a sweeping decision in favor of these plaintiffs could also endanger numerous other, existing taxes — forcing the entire government to scramble as hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of anticipated tax revenue is suddenly declared unconstitutional…
Before the Trump tax bill became law, the United States attempted to tax US corporations' overseas income. Under the old regime, however, corporations could defer taxation of their foreign profits indefinitely by creating a foreign subsidiary. Income earned by these foreign subsidiaries would not be taxed until it was repatriated into the United States, giving companies a strong incentive to hoard money overseas and away from US tax collectors.
By 2015, US corporations were keeping an estimated $2.6 trillion overseas to prevent this money from being taxed in the United States…
PolitiFact road-tests Donald Trump’s claim about driving an electric vehicle in New Hampshire
"I don't think I'll ever go back to a gas car," Fiermonti said. "Any EV I've been in is smooth, quiet, efficient and easy to maintain."
Kevin McCarthy shows his ignorance about American history in new video
"In his own odd way, McCarthy is recapitulating one of the central tenets of nineteenth century Manifest Destiny: that everyone wanted to be part of the US, so any US military action was not a hostile invasion but rather a liberation," Jacoby wrote. "President Polk and others in the 1840s, for example, spoke of taking 'bloodless possession' of California and New Mexico rather than admit that the U.S. seized these territories by force."
Correcting McCarthy's falsehoods is not just a matter of getting the historical record right. It's crucial to counter the way that many on the right — and some liberals — downplay or whitewash America's history of expansionism and imperialism in order to foster a dangerous brand of American chauvinism…
Judge rejects Trump bid for US House Jan. 6 committee records | Reuters
The judge concluded that prosecutors had already given Trump written transcripts of those interviews and that Trump's attorneys had not shown how video footage of those same conversations could be relevant to his defense...
1 in 5 children in the US have “inadequate” health insurance coverage: Study | The Hill
Among those with public coverage, 92.2 percent were reported to typically have reasonable out-of-pocket costs. In comparison, 67.6 percent of children with commercial coverage were reported to say the same, with 31.3 percent reported to have annual out-of-pocket costs that were "never" reasonable…
The origins of Gospel stories: tales of Greek and Roman gods -- MythVision Documentary
Christianity, a faith embraced by over 2.4 billion people globally, has its roots deeply intertwined with the life and teachings of Jesus. However, many followers, often raised within the faith, may not have delved into its historical origins.
Traditionally, researchers have primarily focused on Jewish influences in the formation of Christianity.
Yet, this perspective overlooks the significant impact of the Roman world, a civilization rich with a plethora of deities and diverse cultural influences, on the development of this religion.
In our documentary, we embark on a fascinating journey to explore the true genesis of Christianity. We'll delve into its foundational texts and uncover the substantial influence of Greek and Roman culture and mythology on the core narratives of this globally practiced religion.
The clear connections to the Greek heroes and the Caesars as competition with the early Christian cult is undeniable. Prepare to embark on an enlightening journey that will redefine your understanding of Christianity's beginnings!
Interview:
Weekly Roundup: The City Banning Gay People and Trump’s Vermin Comments (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
Brad begins by discussing the history of Murfreesboro, TN, where a city ordinance banned homosexuality in public. As Brad recounts, this isn’t the first time the city has been in the news. A decade ago, citizens tried to prevent the construction of a mosque on the grounds that Islam isn’t a religion. Brad draws on scholarship to outline how Christian nationalists employ a framework wherein the USA should be a place of limitless freedom for them, and limited life for everyone else.
In the second segment he dissects Trump’s vermin comments – and how they connect to Nazi rhetoric. For Brad the local and the national collide in the Murfreesboro ordinance and Trump’s dangerous rhetoric. It is a mater of little fires everywhere preparing little fascists everywhere to accept fascism everywhere.
In the final segment, Brad offers a positive story – the faith of the UAW boss Sean Fain and what it means for “branding” faith in the Midwest and beyond.
Interview:
In the second segment he dissects Trump’s vermin comments – and how they connect to Nazi rhetoric. For Brad the local and the national collide in the Murfreesboro ordinance and Trump’s dangerous rhetoric. It is a mater of little fires everywhere preparing little fascists everywhere to accept fascism everywhere.
In the final segment, Brad offers a positive story – the faith of the UAW boss Sean Fain and what it means for “branding” faith in the Midwest and beyond.
Interview:
Monday, November 27, 2023
The Value of a Docuseries Exposing Christianity and other news (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #506)
— "Let Us Prey" exposes abuse in Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. (1:08)
— More congregations are ditching the United Methodist Church over an LGBTQ schism. (14:20)
— A Christian school has sued Vermont officials after facing consequences for anti-trans bigotry. (27:50)
— A teenager created a Prayer Mirror in her high school's bathroom. It needs to come down. (44:00)
— A Pennsylvania school district must pay Satanists $200,000 after a lawsuit over After School Satan Club. (49:32)
— Facing lawsuits, Archdiocese of Washington challenges law empowering abuse survivors. (1:00:15)
Interview:
— More congregations are ditching the United Methodist Church over an LGBTQ schism. (14:20)
— A Christian school has sued Vermont officials after facing consequences for anti-trans bigotry. (27:50)
— A teenager created a Prayer Mirror in her high school's bathroom. It needs to come down. (44:00)
— A Pennsylvania school district must pay Satanists $200,000 after a lawsuit over After School Satan Club. (49:32)
— Facing lawsuits, Archdiocese of Washington challenges law empowering abuse survivors. (1:00:15)
Interview:
Congressperson Jared Huffman on Christian Nationalism and the Threat to Our Democracy (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
Brad is joined by Congressperson Jared Huffman, who represents California’s 2nd District. Rep. Huffman is the only member of the House who is not affiliated with a religious tradition. He started the Freethought Caucus in 2018 to highlight the concerns and needs of Americans who are humanists, freethinkers, agnostics, and otherwise invested in freethinking in politics and the public square. Perhaps most importantly for SWAJ in March 2022 Rep. Huffman held a hearing on White Christian nationalism that reviewed a report on J6 by the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the Baptist Joint Committee. He has called out Christian nationalism on the House floor and said that it is infecting our government.
Interview:
Ian Bassin On The Steps Trump Would Take to Unravel Our Democracy (Al Franken podcast)
Protect Democracy’s Executive Director on Our Nightmare:
Trump is telling us exactly what he plans to do, and it sure sounds like a fascist dictatorship. Listen and judge for yourself. Guest Ian Bassin provides details from Trump's own words.
Interview:
Rep. Ken Buck blasts his party's hardliners for ‘lying to America’ - POLITICO
"Everybody who thinks that the election was stolen or talks about the election being stolen is lying to America," Buck said.
‘Archaic’: the Tennessee town that made homosexuality illegal
Fueling this increasingly bold attack on LGBTQ+ rights, Beach-Ferrara said, is a rightwing Christian hate group called the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
The ADF, which was founded in 1994 by a group of "leaders in the Christian community", according to its website, has funded efforts both to restrict abortion and ban books that address LGBTQ+ topics, two of the group's marquee causes...
Exposure to widely used insecticides decreases sperm concentration, study finds
"Based on this meta analysis, we believe insecticide exposure … is impacting overall sperm concentration," she told the Guardian. "The message is we need to reduce insecticide exposure in order to ensure men who are planning a family or want to conceive children are able to do that without interference."…
Electric heat costs way less than reports say, new data suggests
Earlier this year, Republicans and the fossil fuel industry were furious at suggestions from US regulators that gas stoves could be phased out over concerns about dangerous indoor air pollution, prompting president Biden to rule out such a ban.
Now a slew of publications, including the rightwing Daily Caller, have reported that US households using electricity for heat this winter will pay hundreds of dollars more than those who use gas...
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Saturday, November 25, 2023
California jogger ‘filmed himself killing homeless man’ who blocked sidewalk | California | The Guardian
Elliott allegedly tried to wake Avalos by nudging him with the pushcart, whereupon Avalos started yelling at Elliott to leave him alone.
Elliott, who allegedly filmed their encounter, then brought a handgun out of his cart, prosecutors charged, adding that when Avalos stood and threw a shoe at Elliott, he ducked and responded by shooting Avalos three times...
Friday, November 24, 2023
David Fahrenthold on The Trump Organization’s Long History of Corruption (Al Franken podcast)
The New York Times Reporter Puts the Current Trial Into Perspective.
Interview:
Healing the 'Invisible Ache' behind the suicide crisis among Black men and boys (Tonya Mosley; Fresh Air podcast)
Actor Courtney B. Vance was a young actor on Broadway in the 1990s when he received a call from his mother that would tear his world apart: His father was dead, she said, by suicide. Years later, Vance's godson, a promising college student, would also die by suicide.
In the wake of these devastating losses, Vance has focused on peeling back the layers of both his father's pain and his own struggles as a Black man in America. In a new book, The Invisible Ache, Vance and psychologist Robin L. Smith (who often goes by Dr. Robin) explore the trauma unique to Black men and boys, and address what they see as an urgent need to change the conversation about mental health.
"[With] Black boys and Black men, the rates of suicide is increasing," Smith says. "The rate is accelerating faster than any other group in the country, in the United States. And so we have to ask why."
Smith points to a modern culture of isolation and loneliness, which the surgeon general has referred to as a public health emergency. But, she adds, those factors are compounded for Black men and boys.
"If we then put race and racism with isolation and loneliness, surely we understand that Black boys and Black men are up against historical trauma as well as current-day trauma," Smith says.
Though the book is focused on the mental health of Black boys and men, Vance says the issue has universal implications: "We are all interconnected. ... My ache is your ache. If I'm aching, [and] you [are] clutching your purse as I walk by, you're aching. You're as much in a prison as I am," he says.
Interview:
In the wake of these devastating losses, Vance has focused on peeling back the layers of both his father's pain and his own struggles as a Black man in America. In a new book, The Invisible Ache, Vance and psychologist Robin L. Smith (who often goes by Dr. Robin) explore the trauma unique to Black men and boys, and address what they see as an urgent need to change the conversation about mental health.
"[With] Black boys and Black men, the rates of suicide is increasing," Smith says. "The rate is accelerating faster than any other group in the country, in the United States. And so we have to ask why."
Smith points to a modern culture of isolation and loneliness, which the surgeon general has referred to as a public health emergency. But, she adds, those factors are compounded for Black men and boys.
"If we then put race and racism with isolation and loneliness, surely we understand that Black boys and Black men are up against historical trauma as well as current-day trauma," Smith says.
Though the book is focused on the mental health of Black boys and men, Vance says the issue has universal implications: "We are all interconnected. ... My ache is your ache. If I'm aching, [and] you [are] clutching your purse as I walk by, you're aching. You're as much in a prison as I am," he says.
Interview:
What's next for Fox News now that Rupert Murdoch has stepped down? (Terry Gross; Fresh Air podcast)
In Network of Lies, author Brian Stelter describes behind-the-scenes turmoil at Fox News following the 2020 election, and speaks to the network's future under the leadership of Rupert's son Lachlan.
Interview:
Is Wokeness Killing Comedy? (Open to Debate podcast)
What Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, or Eddie Murphy jokes would be deemed offensive by today’s standards? From comedy specials to TV shows and movies, what makes us laugh has come under scrutiny. Some old jokes and racy skits are considered off-limits in today’s context, leading to public apologies, cancellations, and backlash. While society wants more inclusivity and awareness, comedy has now become a cultural battleground. Some argue that political correctness will stifle comedic creativity and worry it will affect comedy’s ability to tackle tough subjects, leading to self-censorship and lack of depth or free speech. Those who disagree say comedy, like all art forms, has always evolved with changing societal norms and it can still flourish without relying on harmful stereotypes or tropes. Instead, acting more sensitive or woke will refine and elevate comedy.
Against this background, we debate the question: Is Wokeness Killing Comedy?
This debate took place in front of a live audience, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at The Comedy Cellar’s Village Underground in New York City. Warning that this content is not made for kids.
Interview:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-fp4fg-1bcd5082
Against this background, we debate the question: Is Wokeness Killing Comedy?
This debate took place in front of a live audience, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at The Comedy Cellar’s Village Underground in New York City. Warning that this content is not made for kids.
Interview:
Thursday, November 23, 2023
How one judge is slowing down one of Trump’s biggest criminal cases - POLITICO
"Judge Cannon's bias is showing over and over again," former Mueller deputy Andrew Weissmann wrote last week on X, formerly known as Twitter, declaring the judge to be "in the bag for Trump."…
GOP states are embracing vouchers. Wealthy parents are benefitting. - POLITICO
Most of the beneficiaries are incoming kindergarteners or students already enrolled in private schools...
Michael Voris, founder and president of Church Militant, resigns
In a 14-minute video posted on X Tuesday evening, Voris did not explain why exactly he resigned, but alluded to some personal problems he's facing, referring to them as a "spiritual terror." He said he's going on a retreat...
U.S. Gas Prices Drop Ahead of Thanksgiving Travel - The New York Times
With OPEC Plus members in disarray over production levels, oil prices have fallen nearly 20 percent in three months...
Cheaper gas and thriving labor: 5 economic trends we're grateful for
For all the gloomy forecasts about the U.S. economy — recession! unemployment jump! sticky inflation! — plenty of developments are underway that allow for some optimism and gratitude this holiday season...
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Exclusive: Everytown claims GOP soft spot on crime and public safety
48% of Virginia battleground voters said that Democrats addressed their concerns about public safety and crime better than Republicans (44%), according to the poll from Everytown for Gun Safety and Schoen Cooperman Research…
'I'm really embarrassed for them': Rep. Zoe Lofgren slams Mike Lee's new J6 conspiracy - Raw Story
"Many of them were evacuated along with me," she continued. "They know that this was not a normal day of tourists visiting. They know that more than 160 police officers were injured, some so seriously that they had to leave the force. And they know that hundreds of these rioters have been convicted by a jury of their peers because of the overwhelming evidence."
"I guess they must think their supporters are dumb, that they will somehow convince them that what happened didn't happen," Lofgren added. "You know, don't believe your lying eyes. It's really — it's really pathetic."
Kansas School Demands Native American Student Cut His Hair to Attend - The New York Times
Refusing to accommodate the student's religious and cultural beliefs violates state and federal law, the A.C.L.U said...
Opinion | I Read Mike Johnson’s Legal Filings. They Reveal a Distinctive Pattern. - POLITICO
The new speaker's view is "the First Amendment for me but not for thee."
What Long-Term Care Looks Like Around the World - The New York Times
The Dutch have included long-term care in their universal health care system since 1968…
The Netherlands spent 4.1 percent of its gross domestic product on long-term care in 2021, more than any other country tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and four times the amount the United States spent…
The sugar lobby’s up to its old tricks again | The Hill
But the "no cost to taxpayers" claim is not true, simply because taxpayers are consumers. And they are paying much higher prices for the sugar they buy at the store, as well a little bit more for every candy, baked good, and other processed products they purchase...
Trump Donor Peter Thiel Backs Down: 'A Lot Of Things I Got Wrong' | HuffPost Latest News
"There are a lot of things I got wrong," he acknowledged. "It was crazier than I thought. It was more dangerous than I thought. They couldn't get the most basic pieces of the government to work. So that was—I think that part was maybe worse than even my low expectations."
Democrats supporting Israel oppose Bernie Sanders’ plan for conditional aid
"While Israel has the right to go after Hamas, [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's rightwing extremist government does not have the right to wage almost total warfare against the Palestinian people," Sanders said in the statement. "That is morally unacceptable and in violation of international law."
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