Israel Plans a New War in Syria — but Not for the Reasons It Claims
Israel is beating the drums of war again, this time over Syria. On February 10 the Israel Defense Forces carried out the most aggressive Israeli use of force in Syria thus far.
Category Archives: US News
Department of Justice Launches New Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
On February 28, 2018, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced a new Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Initiative that will focus on combating workplace sexual harassment in the public sector. The DOJ Civil Rights Division enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against state and local government employers.
Trump’s dangerous trade game
President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum may be the most dangerous thing he has done since assuming office - and that is a high standard, given his many reckless policies. The president made the decision at a hurriedly put together White House meeting in which he invited CEOs from the nation's biggest producers, despite warnings from his own economic advisers that the plan could be dangerous, and without the usual preparation for detailing how the policy would be implemented.
Centrism Isn’t Centrism
One of the running themes of this sucky blog is much of what is generally described as the "political center" is not and "moderate politicians" are not. Such "centrism" is mostly about issues and votes which have no constituency where Democrats are willing to join with Republicans .
Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill says drug giant is “stonewalling” her opioid investigation
The world's largest generic drug maker, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has refused to fully cooperate with a Senate investigation into whether major opioid manufacturers contributed to the deadly drug epidemic, according to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is leading the Senate probe. Teva has answered some of McCaskill's questions, providing the Senate committee with general information about its efforts to track and report suspicious orders for its opioid prescriptions, according to a series of letters between McCaskill and the company.
The Latest: Senate banking bill clears procedural hurdle
In this Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, second from left, arrives with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, at the Senate Banking Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. Robert Menendez Thanks AIPAC For Backing Him During Corruption Trial
Sen. Robert Menendez received a hero's welcome at AIPAC, where the New Jersey Democrat thanked the lobby for its support during his corruption trial. Menendez, who returned recently to the top Democratic spot on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his trial ended in a mistrial, was among the few speakers to the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference to receive a standing ovation just for walking on the stage.
Congressional Republicans push President Trump to soften approach on tariffs
Republicans in Congress are frantically lobbying President Trump to water down his proposal to slap steep new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, fearing the move would spark a trade war and damage the U.S. economy just eight months before the 2018 elections. Republican Speaker of the House from Wisconsin Paul Ryan speaks to the media about President Trump's planned steel and aluminum tariffs during a press conference in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, March 6, 2018.
Washington Becomes 1st State to Approve Net-neutrality Rules
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, center, speaks before signing a bill Monday, March 5, 2018, in Olympia, Wash., that makes Washington the first state to set up its own net-neutrality requirements in response to the Federal Communications Commission's recent repeal of Obama-era rules. The FCC voted in December to gut U.S. rules that meant to prevent broadband companies such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon from exercising more control over what people watch and see on the internet.
Senate votes 67-32 to begin debate on bank bill
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 67-32 in favor of beginning to debate a bipartisan bill that would ease rules for mid-sized and small lenders introduced following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. FILE PHOTO: Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Mike Crapo hearing listens to testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen on the "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress" on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 14, 2017.
The Latest: Ryan urges Trump toward more ‘surgical’ tariffs Source: AP
The Latest on President Donald Trump's new tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum : House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's encouraged the White House may reconsider blanket tariffs on steel and aluminum as he urges President Donald Trump take a more "surgical" approach on China and other countries. Ryan told reporters Tuesday, "I'm encouraged" as a result of ongoing talks with the White House over the tariffs.
Maryland Senate passes bill requiring presidential, vice presidential …
The Maryland Senate passed a bill Monday night that would require certain candidates for president and vice president to release copies of their tax returns, legislation aimed at President Trump. The measure passed the Democrat-controlled state Senate with support from all but four Democratic senators, though some Democrats, along with their Republican colleagues, balked at the legislation.
Ryan urges Trump to make steel, aluminum tariffs more targeted Source: Cox Media Group
Scrambling to head off what some GOP lawmakers fear would be economically counter-productive tariffs backed by President Donald Trump on imported steel and aluminum, House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday publicly called on the White House to focus such trade duties on specific countries, not on all nations sending those products to the United States. "I think the smarter way to go is to make it more surgical and more targeted," Speaker Ryan told reporters at a Tuesday news conference when asked about his differences with the President on trade.
Washington State Tells Ajit Pai to Suck It
As we likely all are aware, Ajit Pai's FCC voted a few months ago to undo federal Net Neutrality laws, and in that process the FCC also prohibited states from making their own "local" Net Neutrality laws. Washington state has stepped up to become the first to fully thumb its nose to the FCC by passing its own Net Neutrality protections .
Trump is systematically backing off consumer protections, to…
From left, President Donald Trump, chief economic director Gary Cohn and budget director Mick Mulvaney sit for a radio interview last year. From left, President Donald Trump, chief economic director Gary Cohn and budget director Mick Mulvaney sit for a radio interview last year.
Pastors Head To SC State House
A group of more than 100 pastors will visit the South Carolina State House this week, visiting with top statewide officials and meeting members of the legislature as part of " Pastor's Day 2018 ." The visit - organized by Palmetto Family - comes amid a contentious debate over this year's personhood legislation, which has tied the State Senate in knots for several weeks.
Washington legislators tackle homelessness for those on aid
It's a success story state lawmakers and advocacy groups are trying to replicate by targeting perhaps the biggest challenge faced by the homeless: rejection. Woods, 52, slept on friends' couches for eight months and had eight property owners turn her down before she found a landlord willing to accept her Section 8 voucher, a federal subsidy that helps low-income people pay their rent.
So Long, Cockroach
This news site has zero use for fiscal liberals who masquerade as "Republicans." Nor do we have any use for "Republicans" who get elected by Democrats .
Republicans Pushing Trump To Back Off His Tariff Proposal
In a remarkably public confrontation, House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican allies of President Donald Trump pleaded with him Monday to back away from his threatened international tariffs, which they fear could spark a dangerous trade war. Trump retorted: "We're not backing down."
A Former Anonymous Hacker’s Search for Redemption
After cooperating with the government, Hector Monsegur avoided a lengthy prison sentence. Today, he leads a successful cybersecurity career.