Category Archives: Government

The rest of the story

From Mary Jane Francis Here’s the rest of the story about where this cartoon came from… from a college classmate who’s son is an old friend of Davey Hearn, the man detained [it’s too good not to pass along] –  … Continue reading

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If You Love America, Cringe for It

By Bret Stephens Opinion Columnist in the NYT My father was fond of the Spanish expression “en los pequeños detalles se ve la persona” — the person is revealed in the small details. Last week, at the summit of the Group of 7 … Continue reading

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Juneteenth National Independence Day

from the National Park Service Booker T. Washington remembered his mother “was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this … Continue reading

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Michele Obama’s speech

reported by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Diana Caplow) The crowd at the center was packed to hear speeches by the Obamas and longtime friends and aides, and to hear performances by Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Common, Jennifer Hudson, John … Continue reading

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Giant Rainbow Appears As Crowd Awaits Removal Of Trump’s Name From Kennedy Center

Thanks to Pearl McElheran As crowds gathered to watch crews dismantle President Donald Trump’s name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center on Friday evening, a massive rainbow — the universal symbol of hope after turbulent times and LGBTQ+ Pride — appeared overhead. The … Continue reading

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Tacky Birthday, Dear America! Tacky Birthday to You!

Where is Will Campbell when we need him?by PARKER J. PALMER (thanks to Mary Montgomery) This is an artist’s rendition of the structure now nearing completion on the south lawn of the White House. It will serve as the stage … Continue reading

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Other uses for that $70 billion

from Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Mary Jane Francis) Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) notes that the $70 billion in tax money Republicans just gave to ICE and Border Patrol could provide free childcare for 1.3 million children through September 2028, … Continue reading

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The White House’s Latest Provocation Is ‘Grotesque and Terrifying and Juvenile’

By M. Gessen in the NYT (thanks to Dan Smith) “They walk among us.” The glowing green letters emerge ominously against a dark backdrop. Above them hover the words “aliens” and “declassified,” suggesting the release — long awaited in some corners … Continue reading

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How South Korea Cut Stroke Deaths by More Than 80%

from The Formula by Tom Frieden — Thanks to Kate B. In 1990, stroke killed South Koreans at a rate of 248 per 100,000. By 2023, that rate had fallen to 32. That’s an 87 percent drop. A generation ago, only … Continue reading

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Civil Liberties in the Age of Trump

Thanks to Dan S. This will be an informative event! Monday May 4th at 7:30 PM in the MBR. Vanessa Torres Hernandez is the Advocacy Director of the ACLU of Washington. She leads the ACLU-W’s development and implementation of legal, policy, … Continue reading

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Decoding the King: Brits Hear Subtle Rebuke to Trump that Americans Might Miss

Decoding the King: Brits Hear Subtle Rebuke to Trump that Americans Might Miss (thanks to Ann M.) By Michael D. Shear in the NYT Michael D. Shear is the chief U.K. correspondent, and spent the last four days following King Charles … Continue reading

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Who’s Really Running Iran?

In today’s NYT podcast, The Daily, there’s a fascinating discussion about the power dynamics in Iran shifting from a theocracy to a military dictatorship. The incentives in negotiations are now more transactional about power and money in a more pragmatic … Continue reading

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The Erratic President and FBI Director

by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Pam P.) Late Saturday evening, Josh Dawsey and Annie Linskey of the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was so unstable and angry after learning on April 3 that Iranians had shot down an American jet … Continue reading

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This War Has Not Gone Putin’s Way

By Serge Schmemann Mr. Schmemann, an Opinion writer, is a former Moscow bureau chief of The Times.See more of our coverage in your search results. The Iran war has been an economic windfall for Russia, pushing oil prices sky-high and loosening … Continue reading

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Report from Senator Jamie Pedensen

Thanks to Mary Jane F. Dear friends and neighbors,One of my top priorities is to protect our state as the Trump administration assaults the rule of law, undermines science, and targets vulnerable communities in Washington. The Legislature took significant steps … Continue reading

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A minute after posting the image of himself as Jesus, Trump posted an image of a Trump tower on the moon

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson By the end of 2024, inflation in the U.S., which had soared in the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdowns, was almost back to the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2%. Even so, during the 2024 presidential … Continue reading

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Where Mail Voting Began, Worries Spread Over Trump’s Attacks

In the Pacific Northwest, mail-in ballots have been the norm for decades, but President Trump’s war on such voting has turned a point of regional pride into another partisan battle line. By Anna Griffin in the NYTT The American system of … Continue reading

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Commentary on the Ceasefire

by Heather Cox Richardson The ceasefire President Donald J. Trump announced Tuesday night fell apart almost immediately. Israel complained that it hadn’t been consulted, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Israel did not accept an end to its bombardment of … Continue reading

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Time to push the button?

Thanks to Pearl McE.

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“The story is the president himself and his obvious mental deterioration”

from Heather Cox Richardson “It’s really difficult to cover him in a way that conveys how unhinged he is,” journalist Aaron Rupar of Public Notice told George Grylls of The Times about President Donald J. Trump. Rupar explained that political journalists are trained to … Continue reading

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‘Everything After This Will Be Harder’: Gen. Stanley McChrystal on Iran

Ed note: I listened to this conversation on “The Daily,” a New York Times podcast. It’s a very powerful conversation about what appears to be ahead of us in Iran. David French talks with the retired general about the “great … Continue reading

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Can we learn from past weeping?

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it. Luke 19:41 Irony and tragedy — The crowds were cheering a political-military messiah they imagined would conquer Rome. Jesus knew the real battle was spiritual, and … Continue reading

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Join us for LIVE coast-to-coast coverage of the United States standing up against Trump’s corruption—because America doesn’t bow to kings.

Thanks to Pam P. This Saturday, March 28, we’re broadcasting live from No Kings protests across the country.Three streams. Reporters and contributors embedded at multiple sites. More on-the-ground coverage than you’ll find anywhere else!What’s happeningThe list of reasons why we … Continue reading

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Seniors at the Crossroads

Hello Friends, (thanks to Judy M.) Join us for TWO Seniors at the Crossroads** demonstrations! WHEN:  March 26—regular 4th Thursday demonstration, 8th & Madison, 4:30 – 5:30 pm WHEN:  March 28—Saturday–In support of the No Kings! rally and march.  We will demonstrate from 10:30-11:30, … Continue reading

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Covid-19 six years later

by Katelyn Jetelina in Your Friendly Epidemiologist Ed note: This is likely more that you want to know, but it’s an excellent summary of what we know and still don’t know. Six years ago today, I put my baby in … Continue reading

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