A firsthand account of the drama that unfolded during Oct. 7-9, 2016, from the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape to the second presidential debate — and everything in between. More …
Month: October 2017
Inside Trump’s Head: An Exclusive Interview With the President, And The Single Theory That Explains Everything
“Nearly a year after the most stunning Election Day in many decades, pundits still profess to find themselves continually shocked by President Trump. They shouldn’t be: His worldview has been incredibly consistent. Rather than as an opportunity to turn ideology into policy, he views governing the way he does business—as an endless string of deals, to be won or lost, both at the negotiating table and in the court of public opinion. Look at his first year through this prism, and it makes sense. And it offers clues for the next three years—or seven.” More …
Presidential Obstruction of Justice: The Case of Donald J. Trump
“There are significant questions as to whether President Trump obstructed justice. We do not yet know all the relevant facts, and any final determination must await further investigation, including by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But the public record contains substantial evidence that President Trump attempted to impede the investigations of Michael Flynn and Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, including by firing FBI Director James Comey. There is also a question as to whether President Trump conspired to obstruct justice with senior members of his administration although the public facts regarding conspiracy are less well developed.” More …
GOP Senator Corker’s Obsession With Preventing Catastrophe Irks GOP
“GOP Senator Bob Corker is so concerned that Donald Trump’s erratic behavior could lead to a war causing millions of deaths that he has spoken out about the issue publicly. Corker’s fellow Republican are extremely upset. At Corker, not Trump.” More …
An Old-School Pharmacy Hand-Delivers Drugs to Congress: Includes Alzheimer’s Prescriptions
“‘At first it’s cool, and then you realize, I’m filling some drugs that are for some pretty serious health problems as well. And these are the people that are running the country,’ Kim said, listing treatments for conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s.” More …
The Scientist Who Spots Fake Videos
“Hany Farid discusses how to detect image manipulations — and the increasing sophistication of forgers.” More …
Measures for Justice: Database of Criminal Justice Activity at the County Level
“Measures for Justice was founded in 2011 to develop a data-driven set of performance measures to assess and compare the criminal justice process from arrest to post-conviction on a county-by-county basis. The data set comprises measures that address three broad categories: Fiscal Responsibility, Fair Process, and Public Safety… It is designed for any user—from criminal justice stakeholders to average citizens interested in how their county is performing—and, in this way, offers up a neutral language that reform initiatives can deploy. MFJ’s goal is to ensure the platform becomes the go-to resource for legislators and advocates–for anyone in a position to initiate and catalyze criminal justice reform.” More …
Desperation Grows in Puerto Rico’s Poor Communities Without Water or Power
“The health crisis is intensifying two weeks after Hurricane Maria, and government aid is slow. ‘We could see significant epidemics,’ a health expert warned.” More …
Puerto Rico Devastation Could Lead to National Public Health Crisis
“Some critical prescription drugs are only made on the island, and Hurricane Maria halted production at dozens of pharmaceutical factories.” More …
Republican Tax Plan Literally Benefits Only Millionaires
“The bottom line—tiny benefits for ordinary people, huge benefits for the rich—is pretty normal for Republican tax plans. What’s astonishing, I guess, is how far up the income scale you have to go before you leave the “ordinary person” category. If you make less than $300,000, you get a tiny pittance—less than a thousand dollars. Even folks who make $700,000 don’t get much: less than a 2 percentage point change, which works out to about $7,000.” More …