Category Archives: Government

I don’t think Washington understands how ticked off we truly are

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Dan Shanoff and Rafe Bartholomew in the NYT Stephen A. Smith brought a taste of “First Take” to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. The ESPN host, who has branched out into political commentary in recent months and even teased the possibility of running … Continue reading →

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Chaos at the CDC

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Jim deMaine

from The Epidemiologist On Friday, about 1,300 CDC employees received a surprising email: they were fired. No warning. No time to plan. Their badges were immediately deactivated. The justification was a “reduction in force”—a bureaucratic term now being used as … Continue reading →

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Something SERIOUS is About to Happen

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Jim deMaine
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Columbus Day – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Jim deMaine

On October 9, President Donald J. Trump’s office issued an official proclamation declaring Monday, October 13, “Columbus Day.” The proclamation says that the day is one on which “our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus—the original American hero, a giant … Continue reading →

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Nobel Peace Prize committee explain why Donald Trump didn’t win despite him saying ‘he deserved it’

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Jim deMaine

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize went to María Corina Machado of Venezuela instead Joshua Nair in LADbible (thanks to Bob P.) The Nobel Peace Prize committee has revealed why Donald Trump missed out on this year’s award. Trump has made it … Continue reading →

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Among Portland Protests, It’s Frogs and Sharks and Bears, Oh My!

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Anna Griffin and Aaron West in the NYT (thanks to Linda T.) Animal costumes are the new black. Exceedingly aware that the black garb worn by demonstrators in 2020 informed President Trump’s apocalyptic view of Portland, Ore., protesters this year have gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Animals, Dance, Government, Humor, Law, Military, Politics, protests, Satire | 1 Comment

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Dozens of sitting judges shared with The Times their concerns about risks to the courts’ legitimacy as the Supreme Court releases opaque orders about Trump administration policies. By Mattathias Schwartz and Zach Montague in the NYT More than three dozen federal judges have … Continue reading →

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M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Vimal Patel in the NYT M.I.T. became the first university to reject an agreement that would trade support for the Trump administration’s higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment. The proposal, called the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher … Continue reading →

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Commentary on the progression toward authoritarianism by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Today, with the popularity of President Donald J. Trump and his administration dropping, Trump’s disastrous performance at the United Nations, the return of comedian Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves, and the Tuesday’s election in Arizona of Democratic representative Adelita Grijalva, … Continue reading →

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Aging sperm: a factor in autism

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Dan S. Ed note: We don’t have a quick answer about the multifactorial causes of autism. Tylenol appears to be unproven. Older men appear to be a factor. No doubt there are a number of other reasons as … Continue reading →

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‘Politics of the End’ is a Seattle U class. It could be a study of last week’s news

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside the Jacob K. Javits federal building in New York City on Thursday. (Yuki Iwamura / The Associated Press) Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against Immigration … Continue reading →

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Civil Rights and Liberties

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M. The inscription is part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. It reflects his commitment to civil rights and liberties during his presidency, emphasizing that oppression, injustice, and hatred undermine the very foundations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Government | 1 Comment

The Era of Dark Passions

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By David Brooks in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) Sometimes when I have nothing better to do, I think back on the elections we had in the before times — when, say, Mitt Romney ran against Barack Obama or John … Continue reading →

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We need more Jon Greens

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pearl McE. who notes, “I was disappointed to see that the flag over Harborview was flown at half mast for someone who denigrated so many.”

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Give an Hour for Democracy

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Cindi W. Dear Friends, Our democracy is in jeopardy.  The Constitution is being attacked.  No branch of government is standing up for our fundamental rights.  We invite you to join us in taking a stand. A group of … Continue reading →

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A New Federal Report Links Alcohol With These Alarming Health Conditions — And It’s Being Quietly Buried

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by Jillian Wilson in the Huffington Post (thanks to MaryLou P.) How many alcoholic drinks do you have in an entire week? Five, seven, 10? More? If you have one drink a day, your health could be impacted ― but … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Health, Science and Technology | 1 Comment

Remembering September 15, 1963

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson At 10:22 on the morning of Sunday, September 15, 1963, a bomb ripped through the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. It was Youth Day in the historic brick church, and five young girls … Continue reading →

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Photos capture Chicagoans’ protest against ICE and Trump’s intervention plans

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By  CAROLYN KASTER (thanks to Pam P.) CHICAGO (AP) — Thousands of protesters marched in Chicago on Saturday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to the city. ___ This is … Continue reading →

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How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart) | David Brooks

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Ethics, Government, History, Justice, Kindness, Politics, Poverty, Religion | Comments Off on How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart) | David Brooks

The new name for Defense–The Department of War

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, although the 1947 abandonment of the Department of War name was not simply a matter … Continue reading →

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Original Medicare to use AI companies to evaluate need for health care services

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Daily Actions on September 5, 2025 (thanks to Mary M.) Donald Trump and Dr. Oz want to let Artificial Intelligence (AI) choose which procedures Medicare will cover for individual patients — with AI companies being paid based on how … Continue reading →

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Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures [for those with Original Medicare]

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Jim deMaine

A pilot program in six states [including Washington State] will use a tactic employed by private insurers that has been heavily criticized for delaying and denying medical care. By Reed Abelson and Teddy Rosenbluth in the NYT (thanks to Mary M.) Like millions … Continue reading →

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ACLU Know Your Rights Training

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. Friday, September 5, 2025 8:00 PM ET As we speak, President Trump has deployed thousands of National Guard troops, federal agents, and local police forces to the streets of D.C. to target Black and Brown residents, … Continue reading →

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Okanogan County protests highlight rural impact of Trump policies

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Organizers in the north-central Washington Republican stronghold want to call attention to how recent cuts could hurt the region’s poorest residents. Mai Hoang Sep 2, 2025 in Crosscut One recent Saturday morning, Twisp was full of activity, typical for the … Continue reading →

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We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By William FoegeWilliam, Roper, David Satcher, Jeffrey Koplan, Richard Besser, Tom Frieden, Anne Schuchat, Rochelle P. Walensky and Mandy K. Cohen – in the NYT Opinion Section The authors previously led in the C.D.C., as directors or acting directors under Republican and Democratic … Continue reading →

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