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No, He’s Not Hitler—Yet. Trumpism is not Fascism—Yet. And while 63 MILLION AMERICANS voted for this guy, that is only 27 Percent of the voting-eligible population. There is plenty of resistance out there to make sure he doesn’t become Hitler and we don’t succumb to neo-fascism. Let’s get to work.
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Recent Posts
- “What’s Really Radical? Not Taxing the Rich,” By David Leonhardt
- “Why are we so angry?” Here’s Why.
- Some Things, And Some People, Deserve Our Contempt
- More Ugly
- Ugly
- In Case You Don’t Subscribe To The New York Times, Here Is Why You Should
- A Periodic Note Of Hope
- Kavanaugh Is A Liar. Period.
- Remarks And Asides, 9/25/18
- Help This Guy. He’s Good People. And Help Dems Take The House.
- The C Word
- What Roe V. Wade Is All About
- My First Prayer For Tr-mp, Long Overdue
- Two Kinds Of Resistance
- Enough.
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Science News
- A Simple Twist of Thermodynamics Could Lead to Greener Refrigeration January 21, 2020
  Fibers that become colder when they are untwisted could inspire more environmentally-friendly fridges -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Sophie Bushwick
- Old Drug, New Tricks: Existing Medicines Show Promise in Fighting Cancer January 20, 2020
  Dozens of compounds approved for other purposes can kill cancer cells selectively -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Jim Daley
- Are Human Body Temperatures Cooling Down? January 17, 2020
  A new study finds that they have dropped, on average, over the past century and a half -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Karen Weintraub
- The FCC's Approval of SpaceX's Starlink Mega Constellation May Have Been Unlawful January 16, 2020
  A new paper suggests that the agency broke U.S. environmental law in its approval of the satellites and that if it were to be sued in court, it would likely lose -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Jonathan O'Callaghan
- Possible Missing Link in Alzheimer's Pathology Identified January 16, 2020
  It may open the door to new treatments and explain why previous ones failed -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Karen Weintraub
- Johns Hopkins Scientists Give Psychedelics the Serious Treatment January 16, 2020
  The first research center of its kind in the country is bringing renewed rigor to the investigation of the drugs’ therapeutic uses -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Tanya Lewis
- Bacteria-Filled Bricks Build Themselves January 15, 2020
  The microorganisms transform sand and gelatin into a living construction material -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Sophie Bushwick
- The Curious Case of Proxima C January 15, 2020
  Astronomers continue to gather evidence for a second world around the sun’s nearest neighboring star -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Lee Billings
- Mysterious, Dusty Objects Are Swarming the Milky Way's Core January 15, 2020
  Swirling around our galaxy’s central supermassive black hole, these objects share properties with both stars and gas clouds -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Nadia Drake
- Will Taal Volcano Explosively Erupt? Here's What Scientists Are Watching January 14, 2020
  The seismic rumblings of the Philippines’ second most active volcano hold clues to what it might do -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  Andrea Thompson
Raison d’être
- Duane Graham
- Why I Have To Repent
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Dow Jones Industrial Average
- How to Deal With Head-Spinning Market Swings
- Call Me Maybe? Conflicting Views Show Gap Between U.S. and China
- S&P, Dow and Nasdaq Slide After China Tariff Threat and Trump Twitter Response
- Stock Markets, Jolted by Economic Worry, Suffer 2nd Worst Drop of 2019
- Wall Street Slides on Heightened Anxiety Over the Trade War
- Stocks See Worst Decline of 2019 as China Raises Trade Tensions With U.S.
- How to Stay Financially Stable When the World Might Be Falling Apart
- Day Care and Dog Care Helped Plump These Funds’ Returns
- Falling Fees Give Investors More Choices. Just Be Careful Using Them.
- Stocks Bounce Back From Edge of Bear Market
Business : NPR
- Boeing 737 Max May Stay Grounded Into Summer
  Boeing suggests it could fly about mid-2020. Industry sources note that the FAA and other regulators around the world could take months longer to find the planes safe to fly passengers.
- Law Enforcement Officials Argue Rural Homeless Services Worsen Problem
  Rural homelessness in Oregon isn't as visible as its urban equivalent, but it's a major problem. Even when money is available, local officials say providing resources could make the problem worse.
- The Story Of Money: How Human Behavior Shapes Economies — And Vice Versa
  What's the point of money? The answer might seem obvious: we need it to get paid for our work, and to buy the things we need. But there's also a deeper way to look at the role of money in our lives.
- Trump Wants To Move The U.S. Secret Service Back To Treasury
  After the Sept. 11 attacks, the Secret Service moved to Homeland Security. The White House says the service should be moved again to be better suited to protect the nation's financial infrastructure.
- More Data On The Midlife Crisis
  An economist uses a broad range of data from 132 countries to understand why middle age is such a drag.
- Extradition Hearing Formally Begins For Huawei's Meng Wanzhou
  The extradition hearing for the CFO of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, began Monday in Vancouver, Canada. American officials want her sent to the U.S. to face federal charges.
- Iran Conflict Could Shift To Cyberspace, Experts Warn
  After the U.S. killed Iran's top military leader, government officials and security experts say Iran could retaliate with cyberattacks ranging from destroying data to defacing websites.
- Extradition Trial For Huawei Executive Facing U.S. Fraud Charges Begins In Vancouver
  Meng Wanzhou was arrested in 2018 as she changed planes in Vancouver. The U.S. says the Chinese technology giant misled banks about the nature of Huawei's business in Iran.
- Patients Still Struggle To Balance High Costs Of MS Treatment, Despite Generic
  Drugs to treat multiple sclerosis can run $70,000 a year or more. Patients hoped competition from a generic version of one of the most popular brands would spur relief, but prices went up. Here's why.
- Boeing's 737 Max Crisis Weighs Heavily On Workers, Retirees
  Boeing workers and retirees in Washington state are grieving. The pride they felt from designing and building airliners has been tarnished by the company's 737 Max crisis.
- Trade War's Effect On The Economy
  NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Randall Kroszner, a former governor for the Federal Reserve, about why the U.S. economy has remained relatively healthy despite the trade war with China.
- Beyoncé Teams Up With Adidas For Brand Relaunch
  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with fashion writer Marjon Carlos about Beyoncé's athletic clothing collaboration, Adidas x IVY PARK.
- U.S.-China Trade Deal Implications
  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Mary Lovely, professor of economics at Syracuse University, about the new trade agreement with China.
- Does The China Trade Deal Move The World Away From Free Trade?
  While the new deal with China lowers some trade barriers, it leaves many tariffs in place. And it dictates that China buy more from the U.S., but that has other trading partners worried.
- Elk Raise Tensions Between Tribes And Farmers In Washington's Skagit Valley
  In Washington state's Skagit Valley, a conflict is unfolding between Native Americans and farmers. Elk are making a comeback there. Local tribes are thrilled, but the agriculture industry is not.
World : NPR
- Glenn Greenwald Accused By Brazilian Prosecutors In Hacking Probe
  The U.S. journalist decried the accusation as an "obvious attempt to attack a free press in retaliation for the revelations we reported." A judge will decide whether the case moves forward.
- Dozens Of Indians, Mostly Muslims, Have Been Killed By Police During Recent Protests
  Dozens of Indians have been killed by police in weeks of nationwide protests. Most are Muslims whose families say they were singled out by forces loyal to the Hindu nationalist government.
- How The Missile Strike On A Yemen Base Affects The Ongoing Peace Process
  NPR's Alisa Chang speaks with Peter Salisbury of the International Crisis Group about last Saturday's missile attack in Yemen, which killed at least 100 people.
- Mother Separated From Daughter As Central American Migrants Meet Mexican Police
  After desperate Central American migrants clashed with Mexican police yesterday, Saury Vallecilla Ortega became separated from one of her four children — a 5-year-old she's now desperate to find.
- VIDEO: How The U.S. And Iran Ratcheted Up Their Long-Running Feud
  If you want to trace the history of U.S.-Iran tensions, you would have to go back decades. But the roots of the latest escalation can be found in a series of developments over the past two years.
- Titanic Wreckage Now Protected Under U.S.-U.K. Deal That Was Nearly Sunk
  On Tuesday, British Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani lauded a 2003 treaty that sat unratified for years but, after approval by the U.S., has recently been dredged from its would-be grave.
- 1st Case Of New Coronavirus Detected In U.S.
  The individual had returned to his home in Washington state after a visit to Wuhan, China, where the virus was discovered in December.
- Former Interpol President Sentenced To Prison In China For Corruption
  Meng Hongwei, the global police agency's first Chinese president, disappeared in 2018 only to turn up in custody in China. Meng pleaded guilty last year to accepting more than $2 million in bribes.
- Proof That A Good Sandwich Knows No Borders
  Using latitude and longitude 2 men, one in New Zealand and one in Spain, created an earth sandwich. The BBC reports they placed bread on precise points on either side of the planet at the same time.
- A Helcopter View Of The Menacing Taal Volcano In The Philippines
  Scientists say intense seismic activity indicates magma is shifting beneath the volcano and a violent eruption is possible. Hundreds of thousands of residents are under evacuation orders.
- Mexico National Guard Prevents Caravan Members From Crossing Border
  Migrants trying to make it from Central America to the U.S. were blocked by Mexican troops. Mexico promised the Trump administrator it would try to keep migrants away from the U.S. Southern border.
- Coronavirus In China Spreads By Human-To-Human Transmission
  NPR's Noel King talks to Dr. Linfa Wang, a virologist at Duke-National University of Singapore, about a new virus that emerged in China last month and has spread outside that country.
- Extradition Hearing Formally Begins For Huawei's Meng Wanzhou
  The extradition hearing for the CFO of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, began Monday in Vancouver, Canada. American officials want her sent to the U.S. to face federal charges.
- As Lebanon's Economy Worsens, Protests Turn More Violent
  The Lebanese economy is unraveling. A once-secure middle class is being hit hard as the poverty rate rises — prompting protests against political dysfunction and power cuts.
- News Brief: Impeachment Trial, Coronavirus, Taal Volcano
  Senate will begin the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. China says new virus can spread person to person. Philippine residents are not officially allowed to return to quake area.
Philosophy Bites
- Emily Thomas on Wildly Implausible Metaphysics October 21, 2019
  Some philosophers have drawn very strange conclusions about the nature of reality. Despite this Emily Thomas believes that their work may still be worth studying. They usually have had good reasons for what they concluded. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast she discusses several wildly implausible metaphysical theories with Nigel Warburton. We […]
- James Wilson September 21, 2019
  Are thought experiments the best way of doing practical ethics? Not according to James Wilson. He thinks we need the rich detail of real cases or complex imaginary cases not a simplified version of reality to make sense of the moral problems we face. We are grateful for support for this episode from the Marc Sanders Foundation and from our supporters on Pat […]
- Kate Kirkpatrick on the life and work of Simone de Beauvoir July 8, 2019
  In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, Kate Kirkpatrick, author of a new biography of Beauvoir, Becoming Beauvoir, discusses the relationship between the life and work of Simone de Beauvoir. Beauvoir is often portrayed as applying Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism to the condition of women. Is this a fair assessment? We are grateful for suppor […]
- Kathleen Stock on What is a Woman? May 21, 2019
  'What is a woman?' has become a contentious question with practical implications. The philosopher Kathleen Stock gives an account of the category 'woman' and how we should think about it. She gives a different answer to this question which Amia Srinivassan addressed in a previous Philosophy Bites interview on this topic.
- Christian Miller on the Character Gap February 25, 2019
  Christian Miller believes that there is a character gap, a gap between what we think we are like morally and how we actually behave. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he explores the psychology of moral behaviour, and how we can become better people. We are grateful for support from the Marc Sanders Foundation.
- Philip Pettit on the Birth of Ethics February 25, 2019
  Where did ethics come from? Philip Pettit tells an 'as if' story about the birth of ethics that is designed to illuminate what ethics is and why it evolved on this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. We are grateful for support from the Marc Sanders Foundation and from Patreon donors for this episode.
- Helen Beebee on Possible Worlds January 14, 2019
  Philosophers often talk about possible worlds. Is this just a way of describing counterfactual situations? As Helen Beebee explains, some of them believe that possible worlds actually exist. This episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast is supported by the Marc Sanders Foundation and by Patreon donations.
- Paul Sagar on Scepticism about Philosophy November 27, 2018
  Throughout its history there have been challenges to the status of philosophy. Paul Sagar discusses some of these in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. We are grateful for support from the Marc Sanders Foundation in making this podcast, and for donations from Patreon patrons.
- Katherine Hawley on Trustworthiness October 7, 2018
  Is it always good to be trustworthy? Can trustworthiness come into conflict with other values, such as generosity? Katherine Hawley discusses these and other questions about trustworthiness with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. We are grateful for support from the Marc Sanders Foundation and from our Patreon subscribers for t […]
- Teresa Bejan on Civility August 20, 2018
  Civility is a conversational virtue that governs how people talk to each other. How important is it in political life? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Teresa Bejan discusses this manner of speaking and writing and its history. We are grateful for sponsorship for this episode from the Marc Sanders Foundation and from our Patreon patrons.
Arts & Life : NPR
- Tim Roth On Working With Tarantino And Getting His Start In London Pub Theater
  The British actor has over 100 acting credits, including the new film The Song of Names and the streaming TV series Tin Star. Roth also appeared in Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight and Pulp Fiction.
- In True Tale 'The Third Rainbow Girl,' Townspeople Accuse One Another Of Murder
  Emma Copley Eisenberg's book offers a deep-dive into rural Appalachia — and digs into questions of how misogyny and bias can take root inside a community — as she tracks a double murder.
- 'Just Mercy' Attorney Asks U.S. To Reckon With Its Racist Past And Present
  Bryan Stevenson built a museum and monument in Alabama dedicated to slavery and its legacy. "We need to create institutions in this country that motivate more people to say 'Never again,' " he says.
- 'The Majesties' Is Disturbing, Yet Shockingly Enjoyable
  Tiffany Tsao's novel explores the dark secrets of the wealthy Chinese-Indonesian Sulinado family, who fall victim to one of their own when daughter Estella poisons the entire clan at a family dinner.
- Scott Simon Draws The Mystery Of 'Sunnyside Plaza' From His Own Past
  When NPR host Scott Simon was in his teens, he took a job in an assisted living facility in Chicago. "It really opened my eyes into seeing the world differently," he says.
- 'Cleanness' Revisits Familiar Ground, Beautifully
  Garth Greenwell's new story collection — like his previous novel — follows young, gay American men teaching English in Bulgaria. It's part heartbreaking, part forward-looking, and all beautiful.
- Star Boors: Humanity Is Cruising For A Bruising In Sci-Fi Comedy 'Avenue 5'
  It takes HBO's space-cruise comedy (from the creator of Veep and The Thick Of It) a while to find its footing — but that's understandable, given how wonky the ship's gravity turns out to be.
- Not My Job: We Quiz Food Writer Alison Roman On Cooking The Books
  We ask the author of Nothing Fancy and Dining In three questions about financial fraud.
- 'Little Gods' Reminds Us Some Questions Are Better Left Unasked
  Meng Jin's new novel shows us a complex woman through the eyes of her husband, her daughter, and her daughter's nanny — all of whom see different, sometimes contradictory facets of her character.
- 'Why Religion?' Asks 'How Hearts Can Heal' After Tragedy
  Religion scholar Elaine Pagels lost her young son to terminal illness and her husband a year later in an accident. She spoke to Fresh Air in November 2018 about loss and faith.
- Final Round
  The final two contestants test their knowledge of everything from world leaders to puppets in this rapid-fire game of smarts and strategy.
- The Swing Of Things
  In this music parody game, songs from the New Jack Swing movement are rewritten about things that very literally swing — or can be swung.
- This Is United States
  The contestants swap two-letter terms and phrases for states that share those same two letters in this high-concept word game. It's that simple!
- Hashtag Challenge
  In this audio quiz, contestants strike a pose and stay verrrrry still as they identify viral internet challenges.
- Marina Franklin: Single Black Female
  Comedian Marina Franklin talks about her early efforts getting into comedy, and her latest stand-up special, Single Black Female.
Opinion : NPR
- His Dad Died In A Venezuelan Hospital. What He Saw In The Morgue Still Haunts Him
  When this reporter's father died, he accompanied the body as it was taken to the morgue. The grieving son says it was the hardest walk of his life.
- Opinion: American Politics Is Messy. But Here's A Little Global Perspective
  NPR's Scott Simon offers some context to America's political chaos by looking at how authoritarian regimes around the world have tightened their grips on power.
- Update: NPR's Climate Coverage Team Expanding
  A new editor will coordinate coverage of the urgent topic with the goal of bringing it more visibility.
- Opinion: The Danger From Iran Didn't Die With Soleimani
  We should be very worried about the new risks we will confront in a world where senior government officials are considered fair game, writes former diplomat Brett Bruen.
- Opinion: In Iran Crisis, Iraq And Afghanistan Risk Becoming Collateral Damage
  As this high-stakes situation plays out, the danger is that Iran's fragile neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan, will become collateral damage, writes the head of the United States Institute of Peace.
- Opinion: We May Never Know The Toll Fires Have Taken On Australia's Wildlife
  A billion animals in Australia may have been impacted or killed by the wildfires so far, and some may have been pushed to the edge of extinction.
- "Killing" Or "Assassination"?
  Listeners and readers question how NPR has described the killing of an Iranian general.
- Opinion: Ukraine Used Diplomacy; Russia Used Disinformation. The Difference Is Key
  As we head into the 2020 elections, we must do a better job of distinguishing between diplomacy and destructive disinformation, writes former diplomat Brett Bruen.
- Corporate Sponsorship Is Still Strong For College Football's Bowl Season
  Bowl season is not over yet for college football teams. Commentator Mike Pesca says he's noticed that corporations love sponsoring bowl games.
- 'Disinformation' Is The Word Of The Year — And A Sign Of What's To Come
  Foreign nations have been systematically spreading falsehoods on social media for years; in 2019, it seemed like the world began to fully grasp the ramifications of disinformation campaigns.
- Opinion: It's Time To End The Colonial Mindset In Global Health
  Health workers from rich countries who do short-term stints in poor countries are perpetuating the colonialist story in which the "white savior" comes to the rescue of the native population.
- Opinion: Looking Back On 2019, I Think Of Fear
  NPR's Leila Fadel reflects on stories she covered in 2019 on the race, identity and culture beat.
- Reflections From A Jew At A Mock-Jewish Restaurant
  On a trip to explore her Jewish-Ukrainian roots, one writer made a stop at a controversial Jewish-themed restaurant, where guests are served matzo at every meal and invited to haggle over the check.
- Opinion: Placenta-Eating Went Mainstream When Many Doctors Stopped Listening
  Preparers of pills made from placental tissue have gained online momentum, claiming to support each new mom in her slog to recovery. A historian traces the trend to a mother's need to be heard.
- Opinion: A Ye Olde Holiday Tale For 2019
  NPR's Scott Simon has gotten tired of clichéd holiday stories, so he wrote one of his own.
Economy : NPR
- Trump Goes To Davos To Boast About U.S. Economy, But Avoids Climate Change
  President Trump is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week. He boasted about the strength of the U.S. economy, but said little about the event's main focus: climate change.
- Law Enforcement Officials Argue Rural Homeless Services Worsen Problem
  Rural homelessness in Oregon isn't as visible as its urban equivalent, but it's a major problem. Even when money is available, local officials say providing resources could make the problem worse.
- The Story Of Money: How Human Behavior Shapes Economies — And Vice Versa
  What's the point of money? The answer might seem obvious: we need it to get paid for our work, and to buy the things we need. But there's also a deeper way to look at the role of money in our lives.
- More Data On The Midlife Crisis
  An economist uses a broad range of data from 132 countries to understand why middle age is such a drag.
- Trade War's Effect On The Economy
  NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Randall Kroszner, a former governor for the Federal Reserve, about why the U.S. economy has remained relatively healthy despite the trade war with China.
- U.S.-China Trade Deal Implications
  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Mary Lovely, professor of economics at Syracuse University, about the new trade agreement with China.
- A Mayor In Norway's Arctic Looks To China To Reinvent His Frontier Town
  Melting ice means ships are plowing along polar lanes, so Rune Rafaelsen wants Chinese investors to help turn the small town of Kirkenes into a major logistics hub. But doubters abound.
- Does The China Trade Deal Move The World Away From Free Trade?
  While the new deal with China lowers some trade barriers, it leaves many tariffs in place. And it dictates that China buy more from the U.S., but that has other trading partners worried.
- Elk Raise Tensions Between Tribes And Farmers In Washington's Skagit Valley
  In Washington state's Skagit Valley, a conflict is unfolding between Native Americans and farmers. Elk are making a comeback there. Local tribes are thrilled, but the agriculture industry is not.
- The News Roundup - International
  A new cabinet in Russia, Iran takes responsibility for shooting down a plane and Parnas goes public.
- In China, Birthrate Falls To Lowest Level In 70 Years
  Last year, there were 10.48 births per 1,000 people — the lowest since the country was founded in 1949. Beijing also said its economy cooled to the slowest pace in nearly three decades.
- Planet Money: Single Women Are Shortchanged In The Housing Market
  A new study from Yale School of Management found a gender bias in the housing market means single women often lose out, whether they're buying a home or selling one.
- U.S. Financial Services Industry Emerges As A Winner Of U.S.-China Trade Deal
  One winner in the new U.S.-China trade deal is the U.S. financial services industry. Bankers, investment firms and insurance companies would have more access to the world's second biggest economy.
- What The U.S.-China Trade Deal May Mean For The WTO
  NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Simon Lester of the Cato Institute about the impact of the U.S.-China trade deal on the World Trade Organization.
- Why Iran's Economy Has Not Collapsed Amid U.S. Sanctions And 'Maximum Pressure'
  Although the country has been hit hard, Iranians have managed to live under sanctions for four decades.
Law : NPR
- Supreme Court Allows Flint Water Lawsuits To Move Forward, Officials Not 'Immune'
  In refusing to take up two cases involving the 2014 water crisis, the higher court has upheld earlier rulings saying neither city nor state officials are protected from being sued.
- The Landscape For Campaign Finance, 10 Years After Citizens United
  It's been a decade since the Supreme Court decided Citizens United v. FEC. NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Nate Persily of Stanford Law School about the decision's effect on campaign finance.
- Splitting Up, But In It Together: Divorce In 2020
  A member of the 1A Text Club says: "I am really lucky to have a friend for a husband and an ex-husband. But I know it's really about the work and dedication than the luck."
- Former Interpol President Sentenced To Prison In China For Corruption
  Meng Hongwei, the global police agency's first Chinese president, disappeared in 2018 only to turn up in custody in China. Meng pleaded guilty last year to accepting more than $2 million in bribes.
- Trump Wants To Move The U.S. Secret Service Back To Treasury
  After the Sept. 11 attacks, the Secret Service moved to Homeland Security. The White House says the service should be moved again to be better suited to protect the nation's financial infrastructure.
- Roe v. Wade: Settled Law Or Bad Precedent? States Prep For An Overturn
  A Supreme Court case in March will test the new five-member conservative majority. If justices strike federal abortion protections, look for a state-by-state quilt of abortion "deserts" and "havens."
- Amtrak To Drop $25,000 Ticket Price For 2 Wheelchair Users After Complaints
  NPR reported on Friday that the ticket for a two-hour ride between Chicago and Bloomington-Normal, Ill., stations usually costs $16. Amtrak had based the higher price on adjustments to train cars.
- Women And The Legal Bounds Of Self-Defense
  NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Elizabeth Flock, of The New Yorker, about how far abused women can legally go to protect themselves.
- Gun Rights Activists Descend On Virginia Capitol
  Thousands of people converged at the state Capitol in Virginia on Monday. At issue is an effort to curb gun laws in the commonwealth. Protesters and counterprotesters turned out in droves.
- Honolulu Police Search For Remains Of Suspect Who Killed 2 Officers, Set Homes Ablaze
  Investigators are sifting through the remains of seven homes burned to the ground in Honolulu. Authorities say a man facing eviction stabbed his landlord, set a fire and fatally shot the two officers.
- Richmond Gun Rally: Thousands Of Gun Owners Converge On Virginia Capitol On MLK Day
  "This is about losing one of the base freedoms that we have," a gun rights backer says in Richmond. The rally drew an estimated 22,000 people; officials say one person was arrested.
- The Strategic King: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Visionary Leadership
  In partnership with WNYC and the Apollo Theater, we examine the legacy of Dr. King's leadership.
- 'Just Mercy' Attorney Asks U.S. To Reckon With Its Racist Past And Present
  Bryan Stevenson built a museum and monument in Alabama dedicated to slavery and its legacy. "We need to create institutions in this country that motivate more people to say 'Never again,' " he says.
- Psychologists Who Helped Develop CIA Torture Program To Testify In Sept. 11 Case
  Testimony by two psychologists whose consulting firm developed the CIA's torture program will begin Tuesday at the U.S. military court in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
- News Brief: Trump Impeachment, Virginia Gun Rally, Royals Step Back
  Senate impeachment trial of President Trump begins Tuesday. Virginia's capital prepares for a pro-gun rally. Buckingham Palace says Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family.
Religion : NPR
- Remembering Spiritual Leader Ram Dass
  Dass, who died Dec. 22, was a practitioner of Eastern-inspired philosophy who became interested in the religious potential of LSD in the '60s and '70s. Originally broadcast in 1990.
- 'Why Religion?' Asks 'How Hearts Can Heal' After Tragedy
  Religion scholar Elaine Pagels lost her young son to terminal illness and her husband a year later in an accident. She spoke to Fresh Air in November 2018 about loss and faith.
- The News Roundup - International
  A new cabinet in Russia, Iran takes responsibility for shooting down a plane and Parnas goes public.
- How 'Namaste' Flew Away From Us
  "Namaste" has a meaning among Hindi speakers. But in the U.S., the word has been wrangled out of its context and tossed around to mean whatever people want it to.
- Behind The Initiatives Announced On National Religious Freedom Day
  NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Benjamin P. Marcus, of the Religious Freedom Center at the Freedom Forum Institute, about what President Trump has announced for National Religious Freedom Day.
- Trump Defends School Prayer. Critics Say He's Got It All Wrong
  The president urged public schools to remember that students have constitutional rights to prayer — but one group says too many schools are promoting prayer in ways that cross the line.
- Trump To Unveil New Guidance On School Prayer
  President Trump is announcing an initiative to "safeguard" the right of students and teachers to pray in school. Court decisions will limit what he can do.
- Retired Pope Benedict's Book Addresses Priestly Celibacy
  Pope Benedict promised to remain out of sight when he retired in 2013. Instead he has ignited a firestorm over the importance of priestly celibacy, an issue Pope Francis is currently weighing.
- Space Force Bible Blessing At National Cathedral Sparks Outrage
  The dedication at the Washington National Cathedral of an official Bible of the new U.S. Space Force is being criticized as a violation of laws separating church and state.
- In New Book, Retired Pope Benedict Breaks Silence To Speak Out On Priestly Celibacy
  The surprise move is seen as a rebuke to Pope Francis, who is weighing whether to allow older, married men to be ordained in some South American countries, where a shortage of priests is acute.
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All posts for the month July, 2010

Don’t Forget Your Sam’s Card And Your Pistol

Last post from PHOENIX, AZ: While most of the attention lately has been on the reactionary immigration law passed by the legislature, another unfortunate and reactionary Arizona law went into effect yesterday.

From the Arizona Republic:

Arizona is now the third state, behind Alaska and Vermont, to allow people to carry a concealed weapon without having to get a permit.

And not needing permits means no background checks or gun-safety classes.

Get that? In Phoenix, a massive metropolitan area, folks with varying degrees of mental stability and spotty obeisance to the law can hide weapons in their pockets and purses and head to Sam’s Club for a 30-pack of very expensive Keystone Light, and you, a connoisseur of that fine, if pedestrian, brew, would never know they were packing.

Unless, of course, you grabbed the last available copy of Glenn Beck’s latest book (I think it’s called, “How I Made Millions Peddling Paranoia,” or something like that.) and pissed off a pistol-packing paranoiac.

Or maybe while rushing for the sample cart, featuring the latest incarnation of chicken-on-a-stick, you accidentally brushed up against Arizona’s version of Sarah Palin, knocking her loaded-but-not-locked piece onto the floor, discharging it in the direction of that 50-inch flat screen you had your eye on.

In any case, there is a serious lesson to be learned here. Politics—more specifically, political philosophy—can very quickly change the landscape of any city, state, or nation. When President Obama selected Democrat Governor Janet Napolitano for his cabinet, a Republican took over, and with her came a certain political philosophy.

From yesterday’s concealed-weapon story in the Arizona Republic:

During her time as governor, Janet Napolitano vetoed at least a dozen different weapons bills – several similar to the law going into effect today – that would have eased restrictions on gun owners.

But Napolitano’s departure and the appointment of Gov. Jan Brewer in January 2009 gave the Legislature and gun-rights groups an ally in the executive office. Brewer signed the law April 16.

Like the governor switch in Arizona, the election this November and in 2012 could have major consequences for America. The worst of those consequences could be the restoration of a failed political and economic philosophy, still advocated by right-wing zealots hell-bent on crystallizing the economic inequities exacerbated by the Bush years.

Such a philosophy, like that which led to unfettered gun-toting in Arizona, will eventually move us back to the 19th century, a time in which guns were necessary for survival, and a time in which there wasn’t much of a middle in the middle class.

by R. Duane Graham on July 30, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Arizona gun law, conceal and carry, Jan Brewer, Janet Napolitano, NRA, Sam's Club

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 30, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/dont-forget-your-sams-card-and-your-pistol/

This Is America, I Keep Thinking

SAN DIEGO, CA: Traveling here by SUV from Phoenix gave me a chance to see the Border Patrol hard at work. Well, let me explain.

On the six-hour trip to San Diego, we encountered three checkpoints set up along the highway so the Border Patrol could “search” the cars for illegal immigrants.

I say “search” but I wouldn’t exactly call it a search. Here’s pretty much the way two of the encounters went:

Border Patrol: Is everyone in your car an American citizen?

Us: Yes.

Border Patrol: Have a nice day.

In the other encounter, the officer didn’t even ask us a question. He just looked at us and waved us on.

Now, it must have been obvious that we were all pale-faced tourists; otherwise I can’t explain the short encounter and lack of interest in our cargo. For all the officer knew, we could have been smuggling in half a dozen Mexicans in our rented Chevy Tahoe, using clever Midwest redneck disguises.

We saw only one car pulled over, presumably so the Border Patrol could get a closer look. And guess what the folks in that car looked like?

Yep. You got it on the first guess.

There was something disturbing about the whole thing. This is America, I kept thinking. What the hell is going on?

At each checkpoint, there appeared to be between eight and twelve officers, a couple of tents, several official looking SUVs, and lots of hot sun. In one case, traffic was backed up about a mile. It’s not clear to me what they expect to accomplish by these checkpoints, accept to make the public believe something important is going on.

In advance of each checkpoint were signs indicating it was coming up, and any illegal smarter than Sarah Palin could figure out that Uncle Sam was mad as hell and not going to take in any more escapees from the economic prison that is Mexico, at least those dumb enough to travel on the nation’s interstate highways with all that checkpointin’ goin’ on.

Two things became crystal clear to me after our encounters with the Border Patrol in the middle of the desert on the way to San Diego: Such stuff is a big waste of money. And it clearly involved the use of racial profiling.

This is America, I keep thinking. What the hell is going on?

by R. Duane Graham on July 28, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Border Patrol, illegal immigration

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 28, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/this-is-america-i-keep-thinking/

Phoenix Heats Up On Immigration Law

PHOENIX, AZ: Naturally, much of the news down here is beginning once again to focus on the immigration issue, particularly the controversial state law that is due to go into effect this coming week.

Yesterday, I talked about the law with a Hispanic man who is close to retirement from his job with the city of Scottsdale. I think what he told me probably reflects the opinion of those who are not part of either extreme on this issue.

“Both sides aren’t telling the whole story,” he said. “There are lies on each side.”

Although he admits he doesn’t have an answer to the problem, he believes that part of any solution has to involve making it less difficult to become a citizen of this country.

“I know a guy who took eight years to become legal,” he told me. “That’s way too long.”

In any case, not all folks down here have such moderate opinions. Saturday’s Arizona Republic published this letter to the editor:

Arizona Inherited White bigots

Yes, we have an immigrant problem that did not exist when I was growing up in the 1920s and 1930s.

We went to school with “Mexicans” and lived and worked with them. Our current immigrant problem is with all the White bigots we inherited from the rest of the United States. We have all the hateful talk and racial profiling by our “tough” sheriff and his supporters and a mediocre clerk for a governor who embarrasses us every time she has to make an ad hoc comment. No wonder we are viewed as such racists by many other people. Yes, I long for the good old days.

—William Johnson, Phoenix

by R. Duane Graham on July 25, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 25, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/phoenix-heats-up-on-immigration-law/

OLIVIA RUTH SMITH

Birthday Number One

by R. Duane Graham on July 24, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 24, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/5696/

The Globe Gets It Right, And Both Candidates Are Wrong For Joplin

The Joplin Globe has done the right thing and corrected an earlier story on the issue involving Shelly Dreyer and the lawsuit brought by her former partner, Charlie James:

A story in Saturday’s editions incorrectly reported that a deposition in the lawsuit showed that the firm’s majority partner, Charles James, knew about the case referral.

James said that Dreyer while a partner referred a personal injury case to a Chicago attorney and did not keep appropriate records. After she left that firm, Dreyer accepted the direct payment of a fee of more than $35,500 that James contends should have gone to the firm to be reconciled with the division of property due all the lawyers as a result of Dreyer’s departure.

So, now we await both the voters’ decision in the August primary between Dreyer and Bill White and the decision of a court (or negotiated settlement) in the dispute over attorney’s fees.

Which leads me to what I intend as my final word on both Shelly Dreyer and Bill White.

As I have acknowledged, I do not and cannot support either candidate for obvious reasons. When you put an “R” beside your name, especially these days, you are making a statement about your political philosophy that I cannot accept as my representative in the Missouri legislature.

Bill White built a new 7,500-square-foot house outside of the 129^th District (in the Wildwood Ranch Estates) that he intends to live in—unless voters elect him. And even if it’s true, as Mr. White says, that the house, contrary to rumors, is not a multi-million dollar house, or “not even a million dollar house,” it is more than a little troubling that a man who wants to be our representative built a house outside our district that is many times more expensive than most of us, who will likely live here long after Mr. White moves on, could possibly afford.

But, to me, that’s not as troubling as his politics, which besides the standard pro-life, pro-gun rights stuff, includes the following statement, which I found on a flyer his campaign left on my door not long ago. It said:

Bill opposes tax increases.

Since Mr. White has already decided that no matter what, and despite the fact that Missouri’s budget is being cut dramatically and the tax burden in Missouri is near the bottom in the country, he is opposed to raising the money to pay for the services Missouri offers, that statement alone should disqualify him from becoming ours or anyone’s state representative.

As for Shelly Dreyer, that fateful day she dropped by my neighborhood campaigning, she left a printout of what looked like a page from her campaign website, “My Pledge To You.”

I happened to compare the page she had prepared to hand out to my neighbors with the one on her website and I noticed the following website “pledge” missing from the one left on my door:

Require random drug testing for anyone receiving Welfare benefits and stop benefits for those found using illegal drugs.

At least three things disgust me—besides the obvious assumption regarding people on welfare—about this pledge to require “anyone” receiving welfare benefits to be tested for illegal drugs.

One is that “anyone” usually means women with children, and Ms. Dreyer doesn’t explain what happens to those children when she callously cuts off the mothers’ benefits.

The second disgusting thing is that Ms. Dreyer doesn’t have a similar pledge to test randomly for illegal drugs the management of businesses who receive tax breaks, farmers who receive subsidies, and other examples of corporate welfare. Or how about politicians who take taxpayer money in the form of salaries?

The third disgusting thing about Ms. Dreyer’s disgustingly disgusting pledge is that she didn’t have the courage to put it on the flyer she distributed to my neighbors, some of whom just might be on welfare, given the times we’re in. Despite the fact that the flyer was almost an identical reprint of her campaign webpage, she, for obvious reasons, left her nasty appeal to class politics out.

I don’t know, but maybe the campaign has a flyer designed for Snob Hill, which does include the missing pledge to test those drug-doing welfare moms. In any case, I hope I’ve made it clear that such a policy—apparently designed to appeal to at least some residents of the 129^th District—is as disgusting as it can be.

And that’s why, despite all the other associated issues, I could not support either of these Republican candidates.

Here is a screenshot of the offensive pledge:

by R. Duane Graham on July 23, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Bill White, drug testing welfare recipients, Joplin Globe, Shelly Dreyer, testing welfare moms

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 23, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/the-globe-gets-it-right-and-both-candidates-are-wrong-for-joplin/

Obama Needs To Apologize To Shirley Sherrod

It seemed like a perfect storm. A black Obama official discriminating against a poor white Georgia farmer.

Nothing illustrates more the power of god-awful right-wing media than what Andrew Breitbart, Fox “News” Channel, and talk radio did to Shirley Sherrod, President Obama’s now former USDA Georgia Director of Rural Development.

Nothing, that is, except how the NAACP and then the White House reacted to the smears generated by those god-awful right-wing media.

Shame on both of them, but particular shame goes out to the White House, who without knowing the facts, reportedly forced Sherrod to resign, for fear that she would be an item on a disturbed conspiracist’s Fox program, Glenn Beck’s daily presentation of his many delusions.

Breitbart used a short clip of a 24-year old speech Shirley Sherrod gave to “what appears to be an all-black audience,” the clip being used to expose “Sherrod’s racist tale” of her reluctance to help a white farmer. Breitbart also presented the clip as “conveying a present tense of racism” from an Obama official.

The only problem is that the white farmer and his wife consider Sherrod a friend to this day for helping them keep their farm, and that a look at the full video Breitbart’s “source” clipped reveals that Sherrod was really making the point that despite the fact that the farmer was white and she was black, working with him made her realize that the real problems she needed to work on were a result of “those that have versus those that don’t” and had nothing to do with race.

In other words, the entire video makes the opposite point that Breitbart was trying to make.

President Obama himself should—today—ask Shirley Sherrod to come to the White House for a personal apology and to ask her to come back to work. And the President should find and fire whoever it was that rushed to judgment and forced her to resign, all on the basis of the right-wing smear machine.

What this episode shows about Breitbart and the race-baiting tendencies of the extreme right-wing media we already knew, but what it shows about the fear of right-wing media in the Obama administration is disturbing.

Now that the White House is scrambling to make amends, Sherrod is naturally a little reluctant to get back on board. I don’t blame her one bit. Which is why Obama should intervene and apologize on behalf of his administration.

Here is a clip from the Today show this morning:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

by R. Duane Graham on July 21, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 21, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/obama-needs-to-apologize-to-shirley-sherrod/

The Real 100 Words Project

Since it appears the Joplin Globe has seen fit to reject my original question suggestions for its 100 Words Project, “How old is the earth?” or “Were Adam and Eve real people who lived less than 10,000 years ago?” I have suggested an alternative to fellow blogger Jim Wheeler: “Is evolution a fact?”

Now, Jim wasn’t too keen on it, believing it would be considered “impertinent,” so that tells me that once again my question suggestion likely will not be presented to our gallant field of congressional candidates.

But nevertheless, based on the candidates’ previous answers to other more pertinent questions, I was able to determine how the top three Republican candidates would answer my question, and I also included Joplin’s own entertaining Steve Hunter as a bonus. Miraculously, each answer is exactly 100 words long:

JOPLIN GLOBE: The Erstwhile Conservative wants to know what you all think about our origins, how we came to be or how long we’ve been around. He asked, “Do you believe evolution is a fact?”

BILLY LONG: The people I talk to are fed up with career politicians who answer dumb questions like that. I mean, who the heck knows how old the earth is or how we got here? God put us here to make money, through the private sector I might add, and that’s all that matters. Those kinds of questions are just the kind of questions that elitists who love big government would ask. Do you know we have over 2 million federal employees? And I bet every single one of them sit around on taxpayers’ money and think of stupid questions like that.

JACK GOODMAN: I am running for Congress for one reason: To fight with everything in me to save the greatness of America for future generations. Our generation must fight for what our Founders created, so our kids and grandkids will have the freedoms and opportunities we have enjoyed. I doubt very much that our Founders believed in evolution, and since they didn’t, neither should we. I will work to reduce the federal government’s intrusive role in understanding our origins. Whether evolution is a fact is a matter for the states to decide. When I abolish the Department of Education, goodbye to Darwin.

GARY NODLER: My experience in my many years in government did not prepare me to answer authoritatively such an important question for many of my constituents. If you would have asked me a budget question, like should the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy be made permanent, I could give you a positive yes on that one. But as to whether evolution is a fact or simply a theory I would say it is a little of both. It’s kind of like the trouble I had trying to figure out whether the old 80s rocker, Boy George, was a boy or girl.

STEVE HUNTER: First, I would cut every government program by 10 percent, then grow the economy through various tax cuts. I would eliminate the federal system where money is created out of thin air. Which leads me to my evolution position. If the feds can create money out of thin air, what makes you think God couldn’t create Adam and Eve out of thin air? Just like I said I would do if you elect me, God cut out early after reaching his goal of creating Adam and Eve. I have pledged to leave Congress early should I accomplish my 10 goals.

JOPLIN GLOBE: Thank you everyone. And may the best Republican win.

[Hunter image from a video on The Turner Report]

by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged 100 words project, Billy Long, Creationism, Darwin, evolution, Gary Nodler, Jack Goodman, Joplin Globe, Missouri 7th Congressional District, Steve Hunter

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/the-real-100-words-project/

Bill White Campaign Responds

I requested a comment from the Bill White campaign on the issues raised about Shelly Dreyer’s campaign on my blog. Since I requested it, I thought it only fair to present the entire statement from White’s campaign manager, Jimmy Morris:

If the allegations made by Charles and Lynne James are true, it is a sad day in Missouri politics. Unfortunately, instances like this only serve to reinforce the cynicism many voters have about candidates for elected office. The good news is that voters in the 129th legislative district do have a proven conservative candidate in William “Bill” White, who has lived, worked, and volunteered alongside many in this community over the past 18 years, and whose high standard of honesty and integrity qualify him as an excellent choice in the Republican primary.

Now, obviously, regular readers of this blog know that I cannot support either Shelly Dreyer or Bill White, both of them way too conservative for my tastes. But, I do agree that all this stuff does “reinforce the cynicism” of voters.

As for me, what I find dismaying is that there is no viable Democratic alternative to the Republican candidate who emerges with a win in the upcoming primary.

by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Bill White, Charlie James, Jimmy Morris, Lynne James, Shelly Dreyer

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/bill-white-campaign-responds/

Roy Blunt Links Carnahan To Obama In New Ad

Chuck Todd, NBC’s Chief White House Correspondent and political director, pointed out this morning that the following ad, newly released by the Roy Blunt campaign, is a “significant development in the national electoral landscape.” Here’s why, he says:

It’s the most direct anti-Obama message we’ve seen made by a Republican running in a general election in a swing state. Now, that said, Blunt is trying to appeal to primary voters a tad right now. But if this ad against Carnahan, using Obama, does raise the Democrat’s negatives, don’t be surprised if it gets copied by GOP candidates across the country. This is an interesting test to keep an eye on.

The ad is very good, in terms of its potential effectiveness, and it shows that Carnahan will need to get better organized and employ some gifted media folks to combat the attacks coming her way.

by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Chuck Todd, President Obama, Robin Carnahan, Roy Blunt

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/roy-blunt-links-carnahan-to-obama-in-new-ad/

Rare Praise For The Tea Party

Since I have been more than a little critical of the Tea Party folks for tolerating and in some cases promoting racist elements associated with their rush to take us back to the 18th century, it’s only fair to praise them when they at least attempt to act like they live in the 21st.

Something called the National Tea Party Federation, which is trying to exert some leadership over the disparate groups of disgruntled people who have raised the temperature of our national politics, has kicked out one of the worst among them: Mark Williams and the Tea Party Express.

Mr. Williams was the head of Tea Party Express, which as Politico pointed out, “has organized some of the movement’s biggest events, including rallies with former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin.”

The Tea Party Express has also been closely tied to Sharron Angle’s campaign in Nevada, which, fortunately, has given Sen. Harry Reid new life out there. In other words, the Tea Party Express is (was?) a big bleeping deal.

The NAACP had earlier urged Tea Party “leaders” to purge their ranks of those “who use racist language in their signs and speeches,” to which Williams replied with what he called a “satirical” letter that began:

Dear Mr. Lincoln

We Coloreds have taken a vote and decided that we don’t cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!

He continued with this:

Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government ‘stop raising our taxes.’ That is outrageous! How will we coloreds ever get a wide-screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The tea party expects coloreds to be productive members of society? Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we belong.

Believe it or not, that is just a sampling of the worst of Mr. Williams’ performances. Check here for a rundown of the dumb stuff he has said, including calling the President of the United States an, “Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief.”

But despite the fact that it is a little tardy, the booting of Mark Williams and Tea Party Express is welcome news. Someday, it may be possible to focus only on the misguided political philosophy animating the movement and not on the white angst that fuels so much of the anger behind it.

by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Harry Reid, Mark Williams, NAACP, National Tea Party Federation, Sarah Palin, Sharron Angle, Tea Party Express

Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 20, 2010

https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/rare-praise-for-the-tea-party/

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All posts for the month July, 2010

Don’t Forget Your Sam’s Card And Your Pistol

This Is America, I Keep Thinking

Phoenix Heats Up On Immigration Law

OLIVIA RUTH SMITH

The Globe Gets It Right, And Both Candidates Are Wrong For Joplin

Obama Needs To Apologize To Shirley Sherrod

The Real 100 Words Project

[Hunter image from a video on The Turner Report]

Bill White Campaign Responds

Roy Blunt Links Carnahan To Obama In New Ad

Rare Praise For The Tea Party

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[Hunter image from a video on The Turner Report]

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