Tuesday, August 6, 2024
'Impeach him now': Critics pile on 'corrupt' Clarence Thomas over new revelations - Raw Story
"As I'm sure you suspected, Clarence Thomas is even more corrupt than previously reported," writer Jason Karsh responded to the news on X. …
Opinion | JD Vance Just Blurbed a Book Arguing That Progressives Are Subhuman - The New York Times
The word "fascist" gets thrown around a lot in politics, but it's hard to find a more apt one for "Unhumans," which came out last month. The book argues that leftists don't deserve the status of human beings — that they are, as the title says, unhumans — and that they are waging a shadow war against all that is good and decent, which will end in apocalyptic slaughter if they are not stopped. "As they are opposed to humanity itself, they place themselves outside of the category completely, in an entirely new misery-driven subdivision, the unhuman," write Posobiec and Lisec...
Polls are showing an undeniable shift toward Kamala Harris
Harris has an outright lead over Trump in three of those recent polls, including those conducted by Daily Kos/Civiqs (49 percent to 45 percent), Reuters (43 percent to 42 percent), and Morning Consult (47 percent to 46 percent)…
Former GOP rep Denver Riggleman endorses Harris, says Trump 'would endanger US citizens'
Former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) endorsed Vice President Harris's bid for president on Sunday and warned sending former President Trump back to the White House "would endanger U.S. citizens — and create global chaos."…
Trump says he has ‘no choice’ but to back EVs after Musk endorsement
"I'm for electric cars, I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly," Trump, the Republican nominee for US president, told supporters at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday...
Former Trump supporters speaking out
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump’s surrogates giving the most awful interviews on live tv on the weekend news shows.
Misogyny, Breeding, and the Right’s “Sacred” Family (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
We are thrilled to introduce an audio essay by Anika Brockschmidt, a Berlin-based journalist who spent three days at the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon).
Anika’s insights critically examine recent trends within the American right, particularly focusing on themes of misogyny, fertility, and family values. The discussion spotlights notable figures like J.D. Vance and Kamala Harris, and addresses the resurgence of patriarchy and natalism in American politics.
Anika also highlights the influence of global right-wing alliances and the problematic rhetoric of folkish ideology. The episode sheds light on the mainstreaming of National Conservatism within the GOP and its implications for the future.
Interview:
Monday, August 5, 2024
JD Vance Taps into Parental Rage (Conspirituality podcast)
The “childless cat lady” thing is as ridiculous as JD Vance is. But it’s not stupid. It’s tapping into something powerful, because it’s shameful.
Vance’s fantasy that childless cat ladies are miserable in their lives is another case of every accusation being a projection.
In actuality, he’s speaking to that swath of parents out there in general—and particularly on the right—who are actually miserable in their lives, regretting their choices, wondering why God saddled them with 4-5-6 kids in a country that does so little to support families.
But it’s illegal to say any of this. Children are gifts from God, right? They have to disown it and pretend that their families are perfect and perfectly fulfilling.
An editorial-style Brief from Matthew, who’s been parenting as a stepdad and biodad for long enough to know that parents and the childless absolutely need each other.
Interview:
Vance’s fantasy that childless cat ladies are miserable in their lives is another case of every accusation being a projection.
In actuality, he’s speaking to that swath of parents out there in general—and particularly on the right—who are actually miserable in their lives, regretting their choices, wondering why God saddled them with 4-5-6 kids in a country that does so little to support families.
But it’s illegal to say any of this. Children are gifts from God, right? They have to disown it and pretend that their families are perfect and perfectly fulfilling.
An editorial-style Brief from Matthew, who’s been parenting as a stepdad and biodad for long enough to know that parents and the childless absolutely need each other.
Interview:
Weekly Roundup: Trump Attacks Kamala Harris’ Racial Identity (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
Annika Brockschmidt joins us to discuss recent shifts in American politics, particularly focusing on identity politics.
The conversation delves into controversies surrounding race and identity, spotlighting Donald Trump’s contentious comments on Kamala Harris’s heritage, the Trump campaign’s struggles to broaden its coalition, and the GOP’s strategies related to Project 2025.
We analyze the influence of social media on political mobilization and explore how these dynamics are perceived outside of the United States.
The episode concludes with a sense of cautious optimism as they reflect on recent positive developments and public enthusiasm related to the upcoming election.
Interview:
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Anne Applebaum on Autocracies and Comedian Trae Crowder on JD Vance (Al Franken podcast)
We talk to The Liberal Redneck, comedian Trae Crowder, about JD Vance and his “Hillbilly” roots.
With Donald Trump running for President of the United States, could we be heading for a similar fate?
We’ve seen other countries thwart autocracies in recent weeks. Is America ready to do the same?
Plus, Donald Trump has one of the most disliked VP candidates in history.
Interview:
Restart Your Engines (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Jack: A Special Counsel podcast, Episode #88)
- Jack Smith has not requested an expedited briefing schedule in the appeal to the 11th Circuit to reverse Cannon’s dismissal.
- Cameras caught Chesebro doing his dirty work to perpetuate the Jan 6 scheme.
- Judge Chutkin has her case back!
- We shed some light on Trump’s Project 2025 plan for DoJ.
- Plus we take some listener questions.
Interview:
Sunday, August 4, 2024
The News Roundup – Domestic and International (The 1A) 2024-08-02
It’s been less than two weeks since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place. Despite no formal nomination, the shakeup in the race has already shaken up the polls, especially in swing states.
The National Association for Black Journalists invited former President Donald Trump for an on-stage interview on Wednesday. At the start, moderator Rachel Scott asked him to address his name-calling of Black journalists and his false birtherism claims.
Iowa’s abortion ban went into effect this week. The procedure is now outlawed after about six weeks of pregnancy, often well before most parents are aware they’re on their way to having a child.
Interview:
Israel says two major leaders of Hamas were killed this week. The group’s top political leader was killed in Iran on Wednesday by a planted explosive. His death was announced by Iran and confirmed by Hamas. Both have blamed Israel for the assassination.
This week the U.N. Human Rights Office issued a report saying tens of thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities since Oct. 7 and been subjected to waterboarding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, dogs attacks, and other forms of mistreatment.
Al-Jazeera says two reporters were killed in an Israeli strike in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in a blast that struck a car in Gaza City.
Interview:
The National Association for Black Journalists invited former President Donald Trump for an on-stage interview on Wednesday. At the start, moderator Rachel Scott asked him to address his name-calling of Black journalists and his false birtherism claims.
Iowa’s abortion ban went into effect this week. The procedure is now outlawed after about six weeks of pregnancy, often well before most parents are aware they’re on their way to having a child.
Interview:
This week the U.N. Human Rights Office issued a report saying tens of thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities since Oct. 7 and been subjected to waterboarding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, dogs attacks, and other forms of mistreatment.
Al-Jazeera says two reporters were killed in an Israeli strike in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in a blast that struck a car in Gaza City.
Interview:
Catholic Priest Sues Grindr for Outing Him
— Everything wrong with Candace Owens’ conspiracy-laden anti-evolution rant. (1:10)
— Catholic priest outed for using Grindr sues app for not maintaining his privacy. (21:04)
— Tulsa mayoral candidate longs to go back to when public officials “had to be Christians.” (46:49)
— Why is an Arizona school district letting a church rent space for next to nothing? (55:37)
— More Oklahoma school districts are rejecting Ryan Walters’ forced Bible mandate. (1:04:07)
Interview:
— Catholic priest outed for using Grindr sues app for not maintaining his privacy. (21:04)
— Tulsa mayoral candidate longs to go back to when public officials “had to be Christians.” (46:49)
— Why is an Arizona school district letting a church rent space for next to nothing? (55:37)
— More Oklahoma school districts are rejecting Ryan Walters’ forced Bible mandate. (1:04:07)
Interview:
Schools Under Attack (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
We describe our legal efforts to gain information about the attempt by the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Education to put the bible into every classroom, and similar attempts in Tennessee to inject religion into government.
We hear Rupert Brooke’s poem “Heaven” (from the point of view of a fish) set to music by Dan Barker.
Then we talk with Cara Fitzpatrick, author of the new book, The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America.
Interview:
Texas lockups violate minors’ constitutional rights, says US justice department
Staff in the detention centers have engaged in sexual acts with children, kept some for stretches of 17 to 22 hours of isolation in their cells and pepper-sprayed minors in their faces, US assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke said in releasing Thursday's report.
Clarke also noted that about 80% of detained Texas children are Black or Hispanic...
Saturday, August 3, 2024
‘We have to be voting biblically’: the Courage Tour rallies Christians to get Trump in office
A travelling tent with self-styled prophets hits swing states and brings a message: help deliver the election to Trump…
For-profit colleges fund lawmakers who led attack on top universities over campus protests
Critics say representatives Elise Stefanik and Virginia Foxx shield for-profit colleges from accountability
Latest fentanyl seizure doesn’t do GOP talking points any favors
Republicans will continue to habitually repeat the "open borders" line, but there's fresh evidence of how demonstrably ridiculous the claim is...
Fact check: Trump, who approved multiple prisoner exchanges, falsely claims he gave up ‘nothing’ to get Americans back | CNN Politics
In May, former President Donald Trump declared that he was the only person who could obtain the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison. After President Joe Biden proved the claim wrong on Thursday by securing the release of Gershkovich and others in a multi-country prisoner exchange, Trump posted a series of skeptical questions on social media.
$10M cash withdrawal drove secret probe into whether Trump took money from Egypt - The Washington Post
Political appointees rejected efforts to search for additional evidence investigators believed might provide answers, then closed the case...
Alabama jailer pleads guilty in death of prisoner who froze to death in cell
Joshua Jones reportedly admits that 'collectively we did it. We killed him' after Tony Mitchell died of hypothermia…
Friday, August 2, 2024
Republican resist Joe Biden's plan to reschedule marijuana
"I actually think that it's harmful that we have political leaders who are suggesting, despite the evidence again in the year 2024, that marijuana should be to continue to be classified alongside drugs like fentanyl," Packer said.
"I think that through other examples of substances like alcohol or tobacco or coffee or sugar, we can acknowledge that even when substances have some type of public health risk, the way that we can actually best mitigate that risk is to regulate that activity."…
The West Bank: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
John Oliver discusses how the West Bank settlements came to be, what their presence means for everyone in the region, and why the weight of the world rests squarely on the shoulders of Ben & Jerry’s.
Senate Rejects Bipartisan Tax Deal - The New York Times
"Senate Republicans love to say they care about families, yet it seems like most of them will block a bill that expands the child tax credit, lifts half a million kids out of poverty and expands benefits to 16 million children," Mr. Schumer said on Wednesday before the vote. Mr. Vance did not vote Thursday...
As Trump Attacks Her Identity, Harris Responds on Her Own Terms - The New York Times
"It was the same old show," she said. "The divisiveness and the disrespect. And let me just say, the American people deserve better."
A Star Is About to Explode (And You'll Be Able to See It)
Have you ever wondered what happens when a star explodes? In this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson dives into the fascinating phenomenon of a star explosion in the constellation Corona Borealis, specifically focusing on the recurrent nova T Corona Borealis.
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Biden administration reaches out to borrowers about proposal to cancel as much as $20,000 in accrued interest - The Washington Post
The proposed plan provides partial or full debt relief to borrowers in four circumstances: those who owe far more than they originally borrowed because of interest; those who have been paying for at least 20 or 25 years; those who attended career training programs that led to high debt loads or low earnings; and those who are eligible for existing forgiveness programs but never applied...
Bloomberg-backed gun regulation group pledges $45 million for election - The Washington Post
"With MAGA Republicans pushing an extreme 'guns everywhere' agenda, this election is a life-or-death moment — so Everytown is going all-out to mobilize the majority of Americans who want to live free from the fear of gun violence," Everytown for Gun Safety president John Feinblatt said in a statement. "From sending Vice President Harris to the Oval Office to helping our own volunteers win office, we'll elect gun sense champions up and down the ballot."
The plot to end church-state separation one school district at a time
First, it demonstrates that the MAGA movement is now firmly ensconced as the powerbrokers of the GOP. Christian nationalists are now emboldened to enact policies that force their own religious views on public school students, most of whom hail from varied religious backgrounds, or increasingly, from no religious background at all.
Indeed, America's growing secularization and religious diversity in all corners of our public lives is precisely why Christian nationalists feel compelled to mandate their misguided belief that America's greatness is solely linked to its founding as a Christian nation in American classrooms...
Campaign Event in Atlanta, Georgia with Vice President Kamala Harris
Her talk starts at about 19:00.
Dar Leaf, Michigan’s ‘constitutional’ pro-militia sheriff, vies for re-election
Leaf's skepticism about elections and convictions about the excesses of the federal government fit in comfortably in Barry county, a deeply red and rural county just north of Kalamazoo that voted for Trump over Biden in 2020 by a two to one margin.
But locally, some Republicans want to turn the page. Two of his intraparty challengers in the 6 August primary have highlighted his investigation into the 2020 election as a key point of contrast.
"The sheriff has propagated these lies," says Joel Ibbotson, one of his three opponents. "I'm sick of that. I want it to end."…
Want fewer abortions? Vote for Harris.
But pro-life voters, who want more than anything else to minimize the number of abortions, also ought to vote for her. They should try to elect Democratic congressional candidates, as well. A Trump presidency, particularly if he gets a Republican Congress, would probably mean more abortions...
X suspends ‘White Dudes for Harris’ account after massive fundraiser - The Washington Post
The account was reinstated, but the issue sparked concerns about how Musk could use X to sway voters, even as Republicans welcome his influence...
Michigan Supreme Court Ruling to Raise Minimum Wage in the State - The New York Times
As a result of the 4-to-3 ruling, labor groups expect Michigan's hourly minimum wage of $10.33 to increase by at least $2 in February, once the state treasurer calculates inflation adjustments. There will be subsequent cost-of-living increases through 2029.
In addition, tipped workers, who currently can be paid as little as $3.84 per hour, will be subject to the same minimum as all other workers by 2029, putting Michigan on a path to be the eighth state to establish a standard wage floor for all workers...
Kamala Harris to appear with running mate at rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Speculation abounds that Pennsylvania's governor, Josh Shapiro, will be named as Harris's running mate
Trump FREEZES as Black Journalists CONFRONT HIS RACISM!
Adam Mockler with MeidasTouch breaks down clips of Donald Trump getting CONFRONTED on his racism ON STAGE!
Eating Processed Red Meat Linked to Increased Dementia Risk, Study Finds - The New York Times
Ultraprocessed foods, which also include items like sodas, flavored yogurts, instant soups and most breakfast cereals, make up a huge part of the American diet. They account for about 58 percent of the calories consumed by both children and adults, on average. In the last decade, researchers have linked these foods to health conditions including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer and gastrointestinal diseases...
Trump Media Made Deal Involving GOP Donor James E. Davison — ProPublica
The deal with energy magnate James E. Davison illustrates how Trump's stake in the Truth Social company, which makes up a majority of his net worth, presents conflicts of interest...
GOP charge that Kamala Harris backed taxpayer-funded health care for immigrants overlooks key detail - PolitiFact
But the claims are misleading. It's true that Harris supported allowing immigrants residing in the U.S. to obtain public health insurance regardless of legal status. During the first 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate in Miami, Kamala Harris raised her hand when a moderator asked candidates to raise their hands if their government health plan would cover immigrants who are in the country illegally.
But that doesn't mean Harris specifically said she supported taxpayer funding for the benefits or that the health coverage would be free…
Fact-checking the first ads in the battle to define Kamala Harris - The Washington Post
Trump links Harris to the migrant surge on the border, while Harris counters with a positive biographical spot...
Harris Has BIG PLANS for the Supreme Court
Drawing on reporting from Politico, Harry argues that VP Harris may be a stronger voice for SCOTUS reform than President Biden.
Why Are So Many Americans Choosing to Not Have Children? - The New York Times
"It's not about being selfish and saying, 'I'm not having kids because I want to sleep in all the time,'" Dr. Guzzo said. "When fertility rates are down, to me, that's because people don't feel like they have a future that they feel confident in."…
Opinion | How Trump’s Ideas Could Seriously Mess With Your Financial Life - The New York Times
There is an invisible glue that binds the economy. It determines the cost of your day-to-day life, such as your mortgage, credit card bills and business loans. You might not know it's there, but you'll sorely miss it if it ever goes away...
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Why Democrats calling Republicans ‘weird’ works so well - The Washington Post
A central pillar of Trump's campaign is the idea that liberals are perverted misfits who want to tear down American values. Married men and women who have children are normal, but couples without children, or parents without partners, or children with two dads, or women who have two children but also once had an abortion — those people are morally deficient. All of this is old-school puritanism, but Trump brought it all into a pep rally atmosphere. Not only was it morally correct to pass judgment, but it was also festive and fun. They were strong; libs were weak. They were right; libs were wrong. They were with the prom king, who was telling them they were awesome, and the libs were outcasts in the library, probably being read to by a drag queen.
"Weird" intrudes on that narrative. It doesn't entirely upend it, but it does plant a seed of doubt. What if, instead of being admired or feared, they are instead being laughed at? What if, instead of edgelords, they are actually just the kids in the corner eating glue off their hands?…
Opinion | Joe Biden: My plan to reform the Supreme Court and ensure no president is above the law - The Washington Post
"We can and must prevent the abuse of presidential power and restore the public's faith in our judicial system."
Kamala Harris Erases Trump's Swing-State Lead in 2024 Election: Poll - Bloomberg
The numbers suggest Harris has a shot at reassembling the voter coalition that propelled President Barack Obama to the White House — and a clearer path to victory than Biden, who'd struggled to galvanize the Democratic base…
Project 2025 director leaves as Democratic attacks spurred backlash from Trump - The Washington Post
"Hiding the 920-page blueprint from the American people doesn't make it less real — in fact, it should make voters more concerned about what else Trump and his allies are hiding," she said in a statement. "Project 2025 is on the ballot because Donald Trump is on the ballot. This is his agenda, written by his allies, for Donald Trump to inflict on our country."
More than 900 Native American children died while at Indian boarding schools in U.S. - The Washington Post
The Washington Post, in a year-long investigation published in May, found at least 122 priests, sisters and brothers assigned to 22 boarding schools since the 1890s were later accused of sexually abusing Native American children under their care. Most of the documented abuse occurred in the 1950s and 1960s and involved more than 1,000 children...
Top Evangelical Leader: “We’ve Lost Our Credibility to the Outside World...
"We are the people Jesus warned us about."
Arizona mayor becomes the latest Republican to back Harris
"The time has come for my fellow Arizona Republicans to return to the core foundations of the Grand Old Party. Our party used to stand for the belief that every Arizonan, no matter their background or circumstances, should have the freedom, opportunity and security to live out their American Dream. But since Donald Trump refused to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, Republicans have yet to course correct. The Republican Party with Trump at its helm continues down the path of political extremism, away from focusing on our fundamental freedoms."
J.D. Vance’s weirdest idea: giving extra votes to parents - Vox
"In short, Vance wants to turn the law into a vehicle for legislating hard-right morality.
This isn't being unfair to Vance: he explicitly identifies as a "postliberal," a school of thought that believes it's the government's job to push people toward living morally upright lives, defined in conservative religious terms. In particular, he has cited Patrick Deneen — a Notre Dame professor and chief postliberal theorist — as a major influence. Speaking at a release event for Deneen's book, Regime Change, Vance described himself as an "anti-regime" politician — meaning that he aimed to act on Deneen's call for fundamentally transforming American politics along postliberal lines..."
Olympic ‘Last Supper’ scene was in fact based on painting of Greek gods, say art experts
The idea, Jolly said, was "more to have a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus, Olympian, Olympianism … You'll never find in me any kind of wish to mock, to denigrate anything at all. I wanted a ceremony that repairs and reconciles."
Jolly did not name the painting that inspired the tableau, but art historians in France and the Netherlands have pointed to van Bijlert's work, a portrayal of the ancient Greek deities gathered for a feast on Mount Olympus.
The Dutch art historian Walther Schoonenberg was in no doubt. "The tableau vivant or 'living painting' in the opening ceremony of Paris 2024 was of The Feast of the Gods, by Jan van Bijlert from 1635," Schoonenberg said on X...
Student loan borrowers who owe over $200,000 become more common
"There are quite a number of people who owe the federal government over $2 million in federal student loans," Johnson said...
Trump or Harris? NPR asks Pittsburgh area voters how they feel : NPR
"I am a registered Republican, but I don't like the extreme right of the party," Runco said. "I'm a little frightened by Project 2025 and how that will influence or is influencing the party."
Runco spent 20 years in a Christian ministry and generally opposes abortion, but feels it is sometimes medically necessary...
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