July 24, 2014

Jeb Bush does a 180 on immigration

Even After Open Enrollment, Activity Remains Unexpectedly High On ACA Exchange

Even After Open Enrollment, Activity Remains Unexpectedly High On ACA Exchange

"But perhaps more surprising is that, according to federal data released Wednesday to ProPublica, there have been nearly 1 million transactions on the exchange since then. People are allowed to sign up and switch plans after certain life events, such as job changes, moves, the birth of a baby, marriages and divorces."

Americans fight climate change at grassroots

Ugly Right-Wing Underbelly of the Libertarian Cause on Display at Silicon Valley Conference

www.alternet.org/election-2014/ugly-right-wing-underbelly-libertarian-cause-display-silicon-valley-conference?page=0%2C0
"Start with the “two libertarianisms, the hick fascism version owned by the Koch brothers, essentially rebranding Joe McCarthy with a pot leaf and a ponytail; and Silicon Valley’s emerging brand of optimistic, half-understood libertarianism, part hippie cybernetics, part hot-tub-Hayek,” he writes, referring to Friedrich Hayek, the Austrian economist worshipped by Libertarians. But there’s more."

Faith leaders respond to border crisis

Celebrities lend voices to social causes

Thanks To Obamacare, You Might Be Getting An Insurance Refund

www.addictinginfo.org/2014/07/24/thanks-to-obamacare-you-might-be-getting-an-insurance-refund/
"A generally ignored by Fox News part of the Affordable Care Act (aka, Obamacare) mandates that insurance companies spend at least $.80 of every dollar on *gulp* healthcare. The other $.20 can go toward administrative costs and all the other perks that CEOs of giant insurance companies enjoy. The law is even stricter when the policy is sold to a large employer, with a full 85 percent needing to go to healthcare."

The future of Civil Rights in America

The Dutch honors those on flight MH17

Meet the New GOP Prototype for Enriching Local Elites While Enacting Christian Right Dogma

www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/meet-new-gop-prototype-enriching-local-elites-while-enacting-christian-right-dogma?page=0%2C0
"Today, Kansas is in fiscal ruin. The Wall Street Journal reported that tax revenues fell by $685 million in the first 11 months of the fiscal year, putting Kansas on track to blow through its $700 million reserve fund by the middle of next year. With 40 percent of state revenue traditionally coming from those taxes and no specific plan to make up the shortfall, Moody’s Investor Service recently downgraded the state’s debt rating."

Obamacare Has Helped Americans Save Nearly $2 Billion On Their Insurance Premiums

www.thinkprogress.org/health/2014/07/24/3463602/obamacare-premium-savings/
"Millions of Americans can expect to get a refund from their insurance companies this year, at an average of about $80 dollars per family, thanks to a little-known Obamacare provision that’s helping people save money on their premiums. According to a new report released by the Health and Human Services Department on Thursday, Americans across the country have received a total of $1.9 billion dollars in rebates since this provision first took effect in 2011."

Helping Americans or hurting Pres. Obama?

Undercover investigation into food you’re eating

These Top 10 Food Companies Control Nearly Everything We Eat

www.alternet.org/food/food-brands-climate-change
"A new map published on Business Insider shows the top 10 food companies and what they own, and not surprisingly, they own almost everything."

New claims of a violent arrest by NYPD

Clueless Rich Kids on the Rise: How Millennial Aristocrats Will Destroy Our Future

www.alternet.org/clueless-rich-kids-rise-how-millennial-aristocrats-will-destroy-our-future
"Today's wealthy are far more likely to have inherited their fortunes. Here's why that's going to doom our politics."

Republicans rooting for Obama’s failure?

Why Ohio is ground zero for voting rights

July 23, 2014

California Voters Afforded Opportunity This November to Weigh-In on 'Corporate Personhood'

California Voters Afforded Opportunity This November to Weigh-In on 'Corporate Personhood'

"The measure not only calls upon Congress to "propose an amendment...to the United States Constitution" to overturn the infamous Citizens United decision and its progeny, but "to make clear that the rights protected by the United States Constitution are the rights of natural persons only"."

Dangerous consequences of big oil

Rick Scott faces private prison protests

Fixing unethical work practices

Pennsylvania Fracking Regulators 'Woefully' Unprepared, Says State Audit

Pennsylvania Fracking Regulators 'Woefully' Unprepared, Says State Audit

"Placing the health and wellbeing of Pennsylvania residents at great risk, the state’s environmental regulatory body is "woefully" unprepared to monitor and regulate the shale oil and gas drilling boom, charged a report released by the state’s Inspector General on Tuesday."

Scott Walker’s outsourcing attack

CDC Head: Age of Antibiotic Resistance Is Nigh

CDC Head: Age of Antibiotic Resistance Is Nigh

"The growing threat of antibiotic resistance requires imminent action, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Tuesday."

Fiscal conservative loves Obamacare

July 22, 2014

Legalized Bribery Has Allowed Sheldon Adelson to Buy and Sell Politicians

Legalized Bribery Has Allowed Sheldon Adelson to Buy and Sell Politicians

"Shelley Adelson dumping $100 million into our democracy and Wall Street executives having a change of heart and trying to buy up seats in the Senate are just two examples of the rampant bribery that's taken over American politics, which is considered both immoral and illegal in virtually every other developed country in the world."

Backed by Big Telecom, GOP Takes Aim at Net Neutrality and Community Broadband

Backed by Big Telecom, GOP Takes Aim at Net Neutrality and Community Broadband

"Why are members of Congress trying to derail popular efforts at the FCC to establish meaningful net neutrality rules? The answer is easy: just follow the money."

PERRspectives: The Pro-Tax Evasion, Pro-Deficits GOP Strikes Again

PERRspectives: The Pro-Tax Evasion, Pro-Deficits GOP Strikes Again

"By severely limiting the ability of the IRS to audit, identify and prosecute tax cheats, Republicans will once again cost the United States Treasury billions more in lost revenue. And if you feel like you've seen this movie before, that's because you have."

Fox News Chief Political Correspondent Fundraising For A GOP And Koch-Linked Group

www.mediamatters.org/blog/2014/07/22/fox-news-chief-political-correspondent-fundrais/200162
"Fox News chief political correspondent Carl Cameron will speak at a fundraiser benefiting a group run by former Republican Party officials and linked to controversial industrialists Charles and David Koch."

Nurse Sues For Religious Discrimination After Telling Interviewer She Won't Do Part Of Her Job

Nurse Sues For Religious Discrimination After Telling Interviewer She Won't Do Part Of Her Job

"A nurse in Florida does not want to prescribe people birth control, but wanted to work at a family health center where prescribing people birth control is a job requirement. After not getting the job on the grounds of refusing to do the job, the woman is now suing for alleged discrimination."

The Gathering: The Religious Right’s Cash Cow

www.twocare.org/the-gathering-the-religious-rights-cash-cow/
"a disturbing portion finances infrastructure of the dominionist evangelical right, which seeks control of all major societal institutions, and goes to spread The Gathering’s politicized, bigoted version of Christianity to the ends of the Earth."

Secretive National Prayer Breakfast Group, "The Family" Linked to Hobby Lobby Case

www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/secretive-national-prayer-breakfast-group-family-linked-hobby-lobby-case
"Last year, from September 12-15, 2013 at the plush Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale - a Versailles of the desert which bills itself as "Arizona's premier luxury resort destination", leading American evangelicals on the hard religious and political right, members of multimillionaire and billionaire clans - including owners of the Hobby Lobby chain - who represent some of the world's biggest fortunes gathered, socialized, dined and, as they do every year at The Gathering, laid plans for the slow motion religious, cultural, legal, and governmental re-engineering of, and Christian supremacist hegemony over, America and the world."

Rick Perry's Defense Attorney Once Tried To Turn Him In To The FBI

Rick Perry's Defense Attorney Once Tried To Turn Him In To The FBI

"The lawyer now entrusted with preventing a grand jury from bringing criminal charges against Gov. Rick Perry once tried to put Perry in jail."

Rubio’s desperate immigration lie: Rewriting his own record to appease the Tea Party

Rubio’s desperate immigration lie: Rewriting his own record to appease the Tea Party

"Rubio says he warned the immigration bill wasn't tough enough, but that's not what he argued when he voted for it"

Fox's Starnes Attacks Michelle Obama Over Bogus Chick Fil-A 'Ban'

Fox's Starnes Attacks Michelle Obama Over Bogus Chick Fil-A 'Ban'

"Any attempt to interfere with that freedom is downright treason to Starnes, such as the recent removal of Chick Fil-A sandwiches from the vending machines of a South Carolina high school. For Starnes, this is an egregious offense linked directly to the evil machinations of our First Lady who has "declared war" on America's (and Jesus') favorite chicken! Starnes allegation is, as usual, just another southern fried lie and baseless personal attack. But he loves Jesus (and Chick fil-A) and Jesus loves fat kids, so it's all good..."

Fox News Correspondent Has A Meltdown Over Obama's LGBT Non-Discrimination Order

www.mediamatters.org/blog/2014/07/21/fox-news-correspondent-has-a-meltdown-over-obam/200157
"Starnes' commentary is typical of the Fox News personality, who's made a career acting as the network's mouthpiece for some of the country's most extreme anti-LGBT hate groups."

July 21, 2014

Conservative ‘Christian’ Says President Obama’s Execution Should Be Worse Than Being Drawn And Quartered (VIDEO)

www.addictinginfo.org/2014/07/21/conservative-christian-says-president-obamas-execution-should-be-worse-than-being-drawn-and-quartered-video/
"It’s especially disturbing since these people have the gall to say these things and call themselves “Christians” at the same time. This madness will not end unless authorities or voters start taking this kind of talk more seriously. Everytime a conservative talks about killing the president, it’s a threat to national security and the political discourse. It’s the way conservatives stoke rage in the hope that one of their own will actually follow through and carry out the crime. It’s their way of trying to provoke fellow conservatives into overthrowing the government with a bloody coup just because they want their own way. It’s dangerous and shouldn’t be tolerated in a civilized society by anyone. Law enforcement authorities shouldn’t tolerate it and voters shouldn’t tolerate it either. Forget impeachment. THIS is what should really inspire Democrats to vote in 2014."

Tale of two governors on compassion for immigrant kids

A flop for protests against immigrant kids

Iowa Goes Bananas for GMOs | Common Dreams

Iowa Goes Bananas for GMOs | Common Dreams

"Despite what Iowa State University and the Iowa Farm Bureau might think about the need for GMO labels, one thing is for sure: consumers want the right to know what’s in their food and will continue to fight for mandatory GMO labeling."

The GOP’s ‘crude’ intentions

Crist-Teddeo: The ‘golden ticket’ for The Sunshine State?

The Brink of Mass Extinction

The Brink of Mass Extinction

"In the last decade alone, record high temperatures across the United States have outnumbered record low temperatures two to one, and the trend is both continuing and escalating."

Blockade at First Tar Sands Site in US Challenges 'Brazen Disregard for Climate Crisis' | Common Dreams

Blockade at First Tar Sands Site in US Challenges 'Brazen Disregard for Climate Crisis' | Common Dreams

"Happening now: Activists target construction at PR Spring tar sands site in Utah"

Giant hole, giant global warming impact

Journalistic Malpractice: The Media Enables the Right-Wing Politicization of Science

www.alternet.org/environment/journalistic-malpractice-media-enables-right-wing-politicization-science
"a broader, cautionary tale about how poorly the mainstream media holds conservatives accountable for their often specious scientific claims. Facts are the most precious currency of journalists, but if they aren’t willing to speak scientific truth to power—whether it’s on reproductive rights or evolution or climate change—it’s not just the press’s reputation that suffers. We all do."

How the ‘browning of America’ is imminent

The power of Latino voters

Renewables Account for More Than Half of 2014's New US Energy Capacity

Renewables Account for More Than Half of 2014's New US Energy Capacity

"According to the latest Energy Infrastructure Update from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, solar and wind energy constituted more than half of the new generating capacity in the country for the first half of 2014."

Ari Melber highlights health coverage popularity

Hospitals In Medicaid Opt-Out States Are Beginning To Face Money Problems

Hospitals In Medicaid Opt-Out States Are Beginning To Face Money Problems

"The contrast between Democratic and Republican states on health care continues to grow, according to a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Among the 26 states and the District of Columbia joining the federal expansion of Medicaid, enrollment in the health plan for the poor rose 27 percent. By contrast, Medicaid enrollment rose just three percent in the two dozen states opting-out of the expansion, according to Forbes."

GOP’s highway robbery: How self-styled patriots choke future growth, ensure American decline

GOP’s highway robbery: How self-styled patriots choke future growth, ensure American decline

"by turning their backs on infrastructure spending, today’s GOP is turning its back on a key aspect of its own identity "

Border crisis strikes chord with youth

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tells Netroots: 'Push Back And Fight Hard'

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tells Netroots: 'Push Back And Fight Hard'

"Fighting back against a rigged system was the theme of Elizabeth Warren's rousing speech to Netroots Nation."

Where is the soul of the progressive movement?

Some progressives still hesitant of Hillary Clinton

Koch Political Universe Vaster than Previously Known

Koch Political Universe Vaster than Previously Known

"In January, the Washington Post and Center for Responsive Politics followed the $400 million money trail flowing from two Koch-connected funding vehicles, the 501(c)(6) Freedom Partners and 501(c)(4) Center to Protect Patient Rights (now called "American Encore"), to other politically active nonprofits, like David Koch's Americans for Prosperity and the American Future Fund. Many of the recipients of that funding spent money influencing elections, only a fraction of which was reported to the Federal Elections Commission."

July 19, 2014

Equal Pay for Women Would Mean a More Secure Retirement for All

Equal Pay for Women Would Mean a More Secure Retirement for All

"The link is simple and clear: Women earn less than men in the workplace – almost $450 billion less in total each year nationwide – resulting in lower Social Security payments after retirement. The pay discrimination against women not only hurts their current well-being and future security, but also means tens of billions less in revenues to fund Social Security."

July 18, 2014

Progressive Values Are America's Values, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tells Netroots Nation In Keynote Speech

www.alternet.org/activism/progressive-values-are-americas-values-sen-elizabeth-warren-tells-netroots-nation-keynote
"We believe that Wall Street needs stronger rules and tougher enforcement and we are willing to fight for it. We are willing to fight for it. We believe in science… and we are willing to fight for it. We believe that the Internet shouldn’t be rigged to benefit big corporations… and we will fight for it. We believe that no one should work fulltime and still live in poverty… and we are willing to fight for it. We will fight for it. Let me add to that we believe that fast food workers deserve a livable wage and when they take to picket lines we are proud to fight along side of them."

Evidence and missiles in MH17 investigation

Putin’s new problem

When the US Welched on Its NATO Promise | Common Dreams

When the US Welched on Its NATO Promise | Common Dreams

"Mr. Baker keeps repeating that the Cold War "could not have ended peacefully without Shevardnadze." But he and others are silent on the quid pro quo. The quid was Moscow's agreement to swallow the bitter pill of a reunited Germany in NATO; the quo was a U.S. promise not to "leapfrog" NATO over Germany farther East. Washington welched on the deal."

Putin crash response risks Russian credibility

Plane investigators face vexing circumstances

Illinois Becomes The First State To Sue Over Student Loan Scams

www.thinkprogress.org/education/2014/07/15/3460160/illinois-student-loan-scams/
"Illinois is suing a pair of companies that promised to rescue struggling student loan borrowers in exchange for a few hundred dollars in up-front charges. The lawsuits charge these companies were running a scam that targeted indebted students and failed to deliver the promised assistance while further damaging borrowers’ financial outlook."

International tragedy in Ukraine

UN investigates MH17 Crash

NOAA State Of The Climate In 2013: ‘Our Planet Is Becoming A Warmer Place’

www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/07/18/3461677/noaa-state-of-the-climate-warmer/
"The planet kept warming at an unhealthy pace last year, according to a report by hundreds of the world’s top scientists led by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)."

Infrastructure crisis at home

US Lags Behind on Energy Efficiency, Study Shows | Common Dreams

US Lags Behind on Energy Efficiency, Study Shows | Common Dreams

"The U.S. ranks near the bottom of the second annual International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released Thursday by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy."

Economic impact of global conflicts

Thank To Uncle Rupey, Now Two Continents Are Denying Climate Change

Thank To Uncle Rupey, Now Two Continents Are Denying Climate Change

"Australia and the US have a common enemy."

Will any border crisis bill get passed?

America's Dumbest Congressman: 'Our continued existence is at risk' from refugee children

www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/16/1314402/-America-s-Dumbest-Congressman-Our-continued-existence-is-at-risk-from-refugee-children
"Are these people ... stupid? Well, I know Louie Gohmert is, because he isn't America's Dumbest Congressman just for show."

Top 10 Most Horrible Right Wing Reactions To The Border Crisis

www.addictinginfo.org/2014/07/18/border-crisis-right-wing-reactions/
"Angry white bigots drove away the black vote from the GOP for over half a century and they’ve learned absolutely nothing since then."

Tony Perkins Fears Obama Will Start Putting Christians In Jail Any Day Now | Right Wing Watch

Tony Perkins Fears Obama Will Start Putting Christians In Jail Any Day Now | Right Wing Watch

"Tony Perkins invited Fox News’ go-to-Christian-persecution-commentator Todd Starnes to join him on the weekend edition of “Washington Watch,” where Starnes pointed to recent remarks by Rick Warren and Russell Moore warning of the imminent imprisonment of Christians in America as proof that Christians will indeed soon face jail sentences.
Perkins, who recently warned that gay rights advocates are about to launch an anti-Christian Holocaust, naturally agreed that such arrests are going to “play out very quickly in our day"."

Five States Gunning to Make Their Kids as Scientifically Illiterate as Possible by Teaching Creationism

Five States Gunning to Make Their Kids as Scientifically Illiterate as Possible by Teaching Creationism

"The states fighting to pass these laws are predictable if you pay attention to any national politics, the more red a state votes, the more it fights to remove science education from its schools or at the very least, replace science classes with a form of Bible study."

9 sinister things the Christian right does in the name of God

9 sinister things the Christian right does in the name of God

"The Christian persecution complex is absurd. Modern American Christians are not persecuted or under attack. But for Christians who are truly concerned about hostility toward their faith, I have a bit of advice: Don’t be evil. And don’t let your co-religionists get away with being evil either.
No, really."

Jon Stewart rips into GOP’s impeachment fervor: “All this talk of tyranny is bullsh*t”

Jon Stewart rips into GOP’s impeachment fervor: “All this talk of tyranny is bullsh*t”

"Jon Stewart Thursday night ripped into Republican lawmakers’ disingenuous calls to impeach President Obama, or, as they like to call him, "King Obama"."

Koch Brothers Pay Greg Abbott to Play Chemical Russian Roulette With Texas Residents

www.politicususa.com/2014/07/17/koch-brothers-pay-greg-abbott-play-chemical-russian-roulette-texas-residents.html
"The bottom line is Greg Abbott doesn’t want Texans to know if there are hazardous substances in their neighborhoods because his donors paid him off to keep that information secret."

Americans Are Leaving Religion Behind and It Scares the Hell Out of the Christian Right

www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/americans-are-leaving-religion-behind-and-it-scares-hell-out-christian-right
"That’s the idea that’s animating the Christian right: They really do believe that everyone else owes them, that we are obligated to tithe to their churches and pray to their God and if we don’t want to do that, we should somehow be treated as less than fully American. You may think you’re just exercising personal choice when you get married in a park or choose not to hang Christmas decorations, but as Carlson’s interview demonstrates, conservative Christians see this as an attack on their “right” to live in a society that flatters their beliefs everywhere they go."

Conservative media hysteria explodes: Muslims! Ebola! A xenophobic fiasco

Conservative media hysteria explodes: Muslims! Ebola! A xenophobic fiasco

"The conservative media are getting in on the act as well. The buzzing, angry, pulsating hub of anti-immigrant sentiment in the conservative media is Fox Nation."

The truth about Rupert Murdoch’s new plot for world domination

The truth about Rupert Murdoch’s new plot for world domination

"The ongoing consolidation of media content and distribution markets in the U.S. is nothing short of astonishing, as described by Crawford. In 1983, 50 companies ran 90 percent of American media; today, just five mega-entities control 90 percent of what we read, watch and listen to,” she writes."

Horrible Out-Of-Touch Tips For Poor People

July 17, 2014

What Do the Recent Supreme Court Decisions Mean for Women’s Economic Security? | The Nation

What Do the Recent Supreme Court Decisions Mean for Women’s Economic Security? | The Nation

"In the final days of its 2013–14 term, the Supreme Court handed down three rulings of major consequence for women."

Disabled Americans: Pawns in a Larger Social Security Game? | Common Dreams

Disabled Americans: Pawns in a Larger Social Security Game? | Common Dreams

"In other words, Hatch wants to prevent a temporary reallocation of funds from other programs – which Democratic and Republican Congresses alike have done in the past – in order to force a “broader discussion” of across-the-board cut in benefits for Social Security, and perhaps privatization as well."

Corporate Greed Exacerbates Drought: Nestle Believes Water Is Not a Basic Human Right

www.politicususa.com/2014/07/16/corporate-greed-exacerbates-drought-nestle-believes-water-basic-human.html
"Although the extreme California drought is just one reason to take action against Nestle, the point is the giant corporation is pillaging a basic necessity for human life all over the world with little opposition and relative impunity. The company touts job creation as validation for draining the water supply dry and selling it back to thirsty Americans, but when they have exhausted the water supply, no amount of jobs or money will sustain life devoid of water."