Biden eyeing FDA veteran Robert Califf to lead the agency
If nominated and confirmed, Califf would take over an agency poised to make key decisions on coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
Today's Liberal News
Opinion | What the Supply Chain Crisis Reveals About American Infrastructure
Politicians like to argue in favor of more infrastructure — and more spending on it. But we can use the capacity we already have in much smarter ways.
‘Gen Z’ Only Exists in Your Head
You know there’s drama in research circles—or at least what qualifies as drama in research circles—when someone writes an open letter.Earlier this year, that someone was Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland at College Park. His request: that Pew Research Center, the nonpartisan “fact tank,” “do the right thing” and stop using generational labels such as Gen Z and Baby Boomers in its reports.
The Nation’s John Nichols: Trump’s Coup Nearly Succeeded. He Will Try Again in 2024
As the House committee probing the January 6 attack on the Capitol ramps up its investigation, new details continue to emerge about former President Donald Trump’s efforts to stay in the White House despite losing the 2020 election. The Senate Judiciary Committee recently revealed Trump directly asked the Justice Department nine times for help overturning the election.
Afghan Interpreter Who Rescued Biden in 2008 Is Evacuated from Afghanistan with His Family
After weeks of pleading for help, an Afghan interpreter, who helped rescue then-Senator Joe Biden when he was stranded 13 years ago in Afghanistan, has finally escaped Afghanistan. Aman Khalili describes his journey out of the country, and we speak with the reporter who broke the story.
Snipers Fatally Attack Protesters in Beirut as Lebanon Reels from Devastating Economic Collapse
At least five people were shot today in Beirut after snipers opened fire on a protest as Lebanon faces a growing economic and political emergency amid widespread corruption. Over the weekend, Lebanon fell into darkness for 24 hours after the nation’s electric grid collapsed. Within the past year, the Lebanese currency has fully collapsed as it continues to grapple with the aftermath of last year’s deadly port explosion.
The Sleeper SCOTUS Case That Threatens the Separation of Church and State
The Supreme Court’s upcoming abortion- and guns-rights cases are getting much of the attention right now, but a third, relatively overlooked case could transform one of the most consequential areas of American law: the separation of Church and state.
‘The Men Who Are Killing America’s Newspapers’
Many people assume that local newspapers are dying because they haven’t been able to create a sustainable business model for the digital age, now that Facebook and Google command the advertising space. But that’s only part of the story.
Military archbishop says Catholic troops can refuse Covid vaccines on religious grounds
Archbishop Timothy Broglio has expressed support for President Joe Biden’s mandate for service members in the past.
Divided Supreme Court considers who can defend abortion restrictions
Tuesday’s arguments marked the first abortion case to be argued in full before the court’s 6-3 conservative majority.
Biden’s billion-dollar testing plan could struggle with a winter reality
The White House announced last week that it would spend $1 billion to increase access to at-home tests.
Wall Street’s wild party in jeopardy as Fed threatens aid cutoff
The central bank plans to begin yanking back assistance to the economy as early as next month, and many Fed officials are open to increasing interest rates next year.
Americans’ fortunes soared during the pandemic. Some lawmakers see lasting lessons.
Key aspects of the economy are doing better than before the pandemic, which supporters say shows how government spending can help.
Why Biden isn’t hitting the panic button on the debt ceiling — yet
With the deadline looming, the White House is starting to ramp up pressure on Republicans.
Fed signals plan to pull back economic support even as virus looms
The central bank said it’s making progress toward its goals of averaging 2 percent inflation over time and reaching maximum employment.
Biden hails ‘strong’ economic recovery despite disappointing jobs numbers
Biden laid blame for the sluggish growth of U.S. jobs on the “impact of the Delta variant” of the coronavirus.
As CIA Warns China “Most Important” Threat to U.S., Is Biden Pursuing a “New Cold War”?
We look at growing tensions between China and Taiwan as China’s military said Monday it had conducted beach landing and assault drills in the province across from Taiwan. Taiwan’s president responded on Sunday saying Taiwan would not bow to pressure from China. This comes as The Wall Street Journal has revealed a small team of U.S.
Iraqi Journalist: Amid Low Election Turnout, “Iraq’s Streets Littered with the Memories of Our Dead”
Voter turnout at the fifth parliamentary election in Iraq hit an all-time low, with many Iraqis refusing to vote as widespread faith in the democratic process and politics falters. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has been a vocal opponent of foreign invasion, won the most seats. He has also been accused of kidnapping and killing his critics.
Anti-Mask Alaska State Senator Gets COVID-19, Touts Unproven Treatments
Sen. Lora Reinbold was banned from Alaska Airlines earlier this year for refusing to comply with its mask policy.
News Roundup: Abbott and McConnell find their limits; world supply chains bend again
In the news today: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tried yet another anti-Biden, anti-pandemic-reality stunt this week, barring employers from requiring vaccinations for their workers. It didn’t work: The state’s largest employers are ignoring him in favor of employee safety (and the federal mandate they are required to comply with). Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has long had near-total control of his caucus, but that status is in jeopardy as the party adopts full-on Trumpism.
Lindsey Graham issues ludicrous alert about Brazilian ‘terrorists’ with ‘Gucci bags’ flooding border
What? Forty thousand Brazilian fashionistas are keen to move to Connecticut, and Republicans want to stop them? Why? That’s the best news I’ve heard in months! Where, exactly, are they crossing? I’d like to meet them. Maybe they can help me get into some of the A-list clubs I’d normally have no chance of setting foot in because I smell like Kirkland jeans and Prell and have a head the size of an Igloo cooler.
Pro-Trump Virginia candidate believes sea level rise can be fixed with bathtub physics
A Trump-loving Republican candidate for state legislature in Virginia has some interesting thoughts on climate change. Replace the word “interesting” with “painfully ludicrous” and add some sarcastic quotation marks around “thoughts.” Scott Pio is running for state rep. against incumbent Democratic Del David Reid in Loudoun County’s District 32.
Biden pledged to end for-profit detention. So why is a closed private prison reopening as ICE jail?
Joe Biden’s criminal justice reform platform pledged to “end the federal government’s use of private prisons,” saying that if he were to be elected president, he would “make clear that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention, including detention of undocumented immigrants.
Alaska GOP lawmakers demand pharmacists fill ivermectin scripts for COVID-19 ‘no questions asked’
While Alaska leads the country in COVID-19 cases, the state’s Republican lawmakers continue to talk out of both sides of their mouths. On the one hand, they remain steadfast in their calls to forgo mask and vaccine mandates. On the other, they’re demanding easier access to unproven and unauthorized medicines such as ivermectin to treat the virus they’re downplaying.
Trump Says Republicans Won’t Vote If The GOP Doesn’t Repeat His Election Lies
The former president’s strategy of questioning the integrity of the 2020 election didn’t work out so well for Republicans in Georgia and in the U.S. Senate.
Social spending fight may claim progressives’ Medicare expansion
Progressives are closing ranks behind Medicare expansion because it represents the best chance of getting a sliver of their “Medicare for All” vision into law.
Katie Couric Edited Out Controversial Comments By RBG On Kneeling Protests: Book
In her new book, the journalist reveals she held back remarks by Ruth Bader Ginsburg on athletes kneeling in protest during the anthem to “protect” the late justice.
Republicans Stand By While Trump Defends Capitol Riot
“Anybody who’s got the approval rating of 91% of the Republicans in Iowa, you surely wouldn’t be stupid enough to turn down that help,” Chuck Grassley said.
Trump May Get Away With Obstruction Of Congress. Again.
He was impeached on that count in 2019 for his actions in the Ukraine probe but not removed by the Senate. Now he is trying to block the Jan. 6 probe.
We Accidentally Solved the Flu. Now What?
Perhaps the oddest consolation prize of America’s crushing, protracted battle with the coronavirus is the knowledge that flu season, as we’ve long known it, does not have to exist.It’s easy to think of the flu as an immutable fact of winter life, more inconvenience than calamity. But each year, on average, it sickens roughly 30 million Americans and kills more than 30,000 (though the numbers vary widely season to season).