Today's Liberal News
Gladiators
Each had been terrible
enough to himself
already, to that truestself, inside, as only he
could know it, so it
seemed it shouldmatter less what ways
in particular they’d been
terrible to each other,or even that they’d been
terrible at all.
What Reality TV Reveals About Motherhood
Most mothers have never glued lashes to their daughters’ eyelids for pageants. They’ve never, as the moms on Toddlers & Tiaras have, gotten their children’s legs spray-tanned. They haven’t stood in the audience, cuing their kids’ routines with kissy faces and arm sweeps, hollering, “Get it, girl!” and “Sparkle, baby!”But they may have let their kids sit too long in front of the TV, faces slackened and minds empty.
What American Mental Health Care Is Missing
During my last year as director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), I was in Oregon, giving a presentation to a roomful of mental-health advocates, mostly family members of young people with a serious mental illness. During my tenure as the “nation’s psychiatrist,” the nickname for my role, I oversaw more than $20 billion for mental-health research, and I was eager to share evidence of the agency’s scientific success.
Schumer moves to limit debate on Califf nomination
The Senate is expected to officially vote on his confirmation as early as Tuesday, three people with knowledge of the matter said.
Masks off? Democrats try for a pandemic pivot
The party’s governors are ditching them. Its swing-state lawmakers are ready to follow. But not everyone agrees, and it may be too little, too late.
U.S.-brokered J&J vaccine deal for refugees in Thailand is delayed
The delay underscores the legal and logistical hurdles U.S. and COVAX face in getting vulnerable populations vaccinated.
Prince Charles isolating after testing positive for Covid-19
A message on the royal’s official Twitter page said Charles tested positive on Thursday morning.
CDC weighs updating messaging around transmission and masking
The debate at the CDC comes as governors across the country in states such as New York, New Jersey and Delaware, announce they are lifting mask mandates in schools.
Ukraine’s Civilian Soldiers
Photographs by Jean-Marc Caimi and Valentina PiccinniAs the world anxiously watches Ukraine’s borders, where Russia has amassed as many as 130,000 troops, the question on the minds of many is what Vladimir Putin wants, and what he’s willing to do to get it. The answer has immediate implications for the United States, Europe, and the NATO military alliance, whose potential expansion in Ukraine and the broader post-Soviet space is regarded by Moscow as a threat.
What’s the Harm in Medical Misinformation?
Earlier this week I asked, “What should be done about medical misinformation, if anything? Why?” I noted that one faction wants to take action against it while another wants institutions to stay viewpoint-neutral and allow all perspectives to be aired.Carol argues that the stakes are high:
Medical misinformation is contributing to America’s growing death toll, now passing 900,000. It’s a matter of life and death.
Biden takes victory lap with January jobs report
“America’s job machine is going stronger than ever,” Biden said at the White House.
U.S. employers shrug off Omicron, add 467,000 jobs in January
The burst of jobs came despite a wave of Omicron inflections that sickened millions of workers, kept many consumers at home and left businesses from restaurants to manufacturers short-staffed.
Opinion | Why Are Minority-Owned Banks Disappearing? Washington Holds the Smoking Gun
Congress needs to create a new safety net for such lenders — not let regulators squeeze them out of business.
Biden’s first year: A tale of 2 presidencies
Inside the White House, there is still optimism: “President Biden was elected to a four-year term, not a one-year term.
Price spikes threaten to ground Biden’s big-spending plans
The government reported Wednesday that the consumer price index, the most widely watched gauge of inflation, hit a four-decade high in December compared to the previous year.
“American Reckoning”: 55 Years After KKK Murder of Mississippi NAACP Leader, Case Remains Unsolved
This month marks 55 years since the assassination of an NAACP leader. The new documentary “American Reckoning” seeks justice in the cold case of murdered civil rights activist and local NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson Sr. in Natchez, Mississippi. No one was ever charged with his 1967 murder, despite evidence pointing to the involvement of the inner circle of the local Ku Klux Klan. It’s one of many unsolved crimes targeting civil rights activists.
Spotify Signed Joe Rogan for $100 Million But Won’t Hold Him Accountable for Spreading Misinfo, Hate
Comedian Joe Rogan has come under fire for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, using racial slurs and other harmful rhetoric on his Spotify podcast. Musicians such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music from the platform in protest of his $100 million contract reportedly paid by Spotify, raising questions how responsible audio platforms should be over hateful content.
“We Need Restraint”: Rep. Ro Khanna Cautions Against Sending U.S. “Lethal Aid” to Ukraine
Congressmember Ro Khanna cautions against sending “lethal aid” to Ukraine and says all sides need to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The last thing the American people want is to provoke a war with Russia, says Khanna. “I think we should do everything possible not to escalate the situation.
Rep. Ro Khanna: The U.S. Could End the Yemen War Tomorrow. It’s Time to Stop Arming the Saudis
President Joe Biden had promised to end support for offensive operations by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and stop all “relevant” arms sales, but the U.S. continues to service Saudi warplanes, and the administration recently approved the sale of $650 million in air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia. Congressmember Ro Khanna, one of the most outspoken congressional critics of the war, says the U.S. has the power to stop the fighting.
Twitter Wits Suddenly Get Why Trump Had Such Problems Flushing His Water-Efficient Toilets
He wasn’t just complaining about being green.
The Joy Collective: A roundup of happy videos that are guaranteed to make you smile
Social media is filled with funny moments and stories. Sometimes we just need to step away and take some time to relax; such posts allow us to mentally recharge.
As part of a weekly series that aims to make you laugh, Daily Kos will be compiling and sharing viral funny videos from across social media platforms. The news cycle can be a bit much at times. Self-care is needed.
We all need balance, so let’s have some joy where we are able.
Hillary Clinton Debuts New Hat To Mock Donald Trump’s Document Shredding
When sweet payback goes right to your head.
Daily Kos Week in Action: Fighting for a better justice system
Hello, Daily Kos Community, and welcome back to Daily Kos Week in Action! This weekly series from the Daily Kos Activism team shares the issues we’re working on and gets your feedback on where we might focus our future efforts.
At Daily Kos, we believe in fighting for equity, especially when it comes to the law.
A Just and Legal Weed: Legal cannabis opens a Pandora’s box of equity issues
Coast to coast, the green rush is failing Black growers and entrepreneurs.
By Donnell Alexander, for Capital & Main
This story is the first in a four-part series about cannabis equity in America.
Full Disclosure: I am so thoroughly in the tank for cannabis that I believe negative “stoner behavior” can be chalked up to dosing issues. In my experience, cannabis is medicine, and too much of anything is bad for you.
Canadian Judge Blocks Money For Truckers From U.S. Right-Wing Christian Fundraising Site
GiveSendGo claims Canada has no jurisdiction across borders, even as it funds a protest in another country.
Why the West’s Diplomacy With Russia Keeps Failing
Oh, how I envy Liz Truss her opportunity! Oh, how I regret her utter failure to make use of it! For those who have never heard of her, Truss is the lightweight British foreign secretary who went to Moscow this week to tell her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, that his country should not invade Ukraine. This trip was not a success.
REI leans on social justice language in its union-busting efforts, this week in the war on workers
Outdoor gear retailer REI remains committed to breaking the union-organizing effort by workers at its Manhattan store, but it also remains committed to pretending to be committed to social justice—in hilarious fashion in the case of a podcast episode featuring CEO Eric Artz and chief diversity and social impact officer Wilma Wallace.
Sen. Cotton Knocks Harm Reduction Strategy Backed By Commission He Co-Chaired
The commission just released a final report saying clean syringe programs are good, actually.
Connect! Unite! Act! Welcome to Super Bowl weekend
Connect! Unite! Act! is a weekly series that seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups meet regularly to socialize, get out the vote, support candidates, and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers that be. Visit us every week to see how you can get involved!
Another year, another Super Bowl.