Why Scalia’s ‘Racial Entitlement’ Quote Is Even Scarier Than You Think

Justice Antonin Scalia quite deservedly came under fire yesterday for his claim that a key provision of the Voting Rights Act is a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.” If the justice were looking to confirm every suspicion that conservative opposition to the law that broke the back of Jim Crow voter exclusions is rooted in white racial resentment, he could hardly have picked a better way to do so.

Contrary To GOP Rhetoric, Low-Tax States Have Worse Economic Growth

Republicans love to claim that low-tax states such as Texas enjoy a disproportionate amount of economic success, while higher-tax states like California are economic basket cases. Republican governors in several states are using that rationale to propose gutting their state income taxes (and, in many instances, replacing them with regressive sales taxes).

Bloomberg Businessweek Should Explain How Its Racist Cover Got Selected And Published

To highlight a story about the return of dangerous, pre-crash practices to the housing market, Bloomberg Businessweek decided to publish a cover that didn’t just blame consumers rather than lenders for the rise of subprime lending and the treatment of mortgages as a way to get access to cash, but specifically portrayed consumers of color (and female consumers) for engaging in this behavior:

Bloomberg Businessweek Goes Racist-Chic For Housing Bubble Cover

Now that Newsweek is out of print, there's a vacuum to be filled in the whole "trollgaze" cover game. Bloomberg Businessweek has apparently decided to fill it with a cover story on the return of the housing bubble, which they've chosen to doll up in the style of "How Rastus Got His Turkey" by filling their cover image with a collection of vile depictions of blacks and Hispanics:

Bucking Responsibility: GOP’s History Of Demanding Obama Identify The Spending Cuts They’d Support

Senate Republicans unveiled their plan to avert sequestration this week, and though they are still demanding that the looming budget reductions be offset totally by a different set of budget cuts, they are refusing to say what new budget cuts they prefer. Instead, they want to give President Obama the authority to choose which programs would face cuts as part of the $85 billion plan.

Congress Finally Reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act

After nearly a year of partisan infighting on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives and the Senate have finally agreed to send a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to President Obama’s desk.

The Three Votes That Prove Washington Is Not Broken

On Thursday afternoon, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives’s vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) guaranteed much-needed protections for all women, but also demonstrated that Congress can advance popular initiatives if GOP leadership is willing to bring legislation to a vote.

How Big Food Corporations Watered Down Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign

On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama launched her third “Let’s Move!” tour to combat childhood obesity. Before she kicked off the tour in Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri, Mrs. Obama appeared on “Good Morning America” to praise her campaign’s success in changing children’s eating and exercise habits. She also unveiled Let’s Move latest initiative, the MyPlate Recipe Partnership geared toward parents looking for easy, nutritious recipes:

New E-Mails Show ‘Cannibal Cop’ Didn’t Want To Eat Black Women, But Co-Conspirator Loved Eating Them

“Cannibal cop” Gilberto Valle (pictured) is on trial for a creepy plot to capture, rape, and eat women, but apparently, he wasn’t fond of feasting on Black women, according to communications shared with one co-conspirator, according to the N.Y. Daily News.

University Didn’t Call Cops About Sexual Assault For Fear Of Exposing Alleged Rapist’s Grades

Officials at Oklahoma State University did not go to the police with several reports of rape or sexual assault on campus in 2011, falesly believing that they were following procedures protecting the information of the purported assailant.

Chuck D: ‘Since The R&B Years (Reagan and Bush), There’s Been Nothing But Guns And Drugs In Black Community’

Responding to the question “Trayvon Martin one year later, what have we learned?” on CNN Tuesday morning, hip-hop activist Chuck D went on to discuss how the downfall of the Black community directly coincided with the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush years.

Why Everything Republicans Are Saying About The Sequester Is Wrong

Barring a last minute Congressional compromise, $85 billion in automatic across-the-board cuts will go into effect in the next 72 hours as a result of the sequester mechanism included in the 2011 Budget Control Act.

What Happens If The Voting Rights Act Loses In The Supreme Court

We do not have to guess what the states currently subject to a key provision of the Voting Rights Act will do if the Supreme Court grants their wish to have that provision declared unconstitutional — top Republicans in those states have already told us. In a brief filed last August, Republican attorneys general from six of the states covered, at least in part, by Section 5 of the Voting Right Act complained that this landmark legislation is all that stands between them and implementing a common method of disenfranchising minority voters. Two of those states, South Carolina and Texas, admit that the Voting Rights Act stopped them from implementing a voter suppression law their governors already signed.

8 Inspiring Things That Happened Since Trayvon Martin Was Tragically Killed One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, Trayvon Martin — an unarmed 17-year-old boy on his way home from 7-11 — was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. The murder trial is scheduled to begin this June. A separate hearing may be held in April to determine whether Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law gives Zimmerman immunity.

Liberal Super PAC Sends Racist Tweet About Mitch McConnell’s Chinese Wife

A liberal super PAC in Kentucky is on the defensive after recently sending a racist tweet attacking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) wife for being Chinese.

Senate Confirms Chuck Hagel As The Next Secretary Of Defense

The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Chuck Hagel to become the next Secretary of Defense, just hours after the upper chamber of Congress broke the Republican-led filibuster of Hagel’s nomination.

How Austerity Stifled The British Economy (And The Rest Of Europe) In Three Charts

Last week, the United Kingdom received its first ever credit downgrade, as continued austerity has dragged down the country’s economic growth. Britain’s conservative government, however, is forging ahead. Finance Minister George Osborne yesterday called for the UK to “stick to its course.”

Caltech Physicist: If All Science Were Run Like Marijuana Research, Creationists Would Control Paleontology

In the face of obstacles to marijuana research from both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a theoretical physicist at the California Institute of Technology and one-time MacArthur Fellow is calling out the federal government on its obstruction of science.

Why Seth MacFarlane and The Onion’s Jokes About Quvenzhané Wallis Are So Gross

Beasts of the Southern Wild star and youngest-ever Best Actress nominee Quvenzhané Wallis is a lovely little girl who shows plenty of signs of turning into a reliable talent and a charming presence on the awards-season publicity circuit. And for some reason, she became the target of some of the most unpleasant jokes both during last night’s Academy Awards and in the commentary about them.

University Of North Carolina Rape Victim May Be Expelled For Speaking About Her Case

A college sophomore at the University of North Carolina is being sent to the school’s “Honor Court” and may be expelled for speaking publicly about her rape.

Students Cause Uproar As They Don KKK Robes At Hockey Game

Three unidentified students are being investigated for sporting Ku Klux Klan-styled garb at a state semifinal hockey game last Friday in North Dakota, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Ali Wins 1st World Heavyweight Championship On This Day In 1964

Considered the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali (pictured left) possessed formidable ability coupled with a personality that gained him both fans and detractors. With his tall stature and unorthodox fighting style, Ali dazzled audiences and frustrated opponents with a seemingly limitless vault of skills. On this day and at the age of 22, Ali would defeat reigning champion Sonny Liston (pictured) to capture his first world title.

The Onion Calls Child Actor Quvenzhané Wallis A ‘C*nt’ On Twitter

Nominated for her break-out role in “Beast of the Southern Wild,’ the future A-Lister, recently tapped to reprise the role of “Annie,” continues to woo hearts all over Tinsel Town. The Onion attacked Wallis on Twitter, showing that they had forgotten what satire means with their distasteful and unimaginative remarks:

Galaxy S4 Will Be Launch In New York On March 14

SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it will launch its new Galaxy S smartphone on March 14 in New York, taking its fight for market supremacy to Apple Inc's doorstep after reportedly being inundated with requests from U.S. mobile carriers.

Sonia Sotomayor Condemns Prosecutor's Racially Charged Question

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Monday condemned racially charged language used by a federal prosecutor in Texas.

Why we still need the Voting Rights Act

John Lewis, a Democrat, represents Georgia’s 5th District in the U.S. House.

On “Bloody Sunday,” nearly 50 years ago, Hosea Williams and I led 600 peaceful, nonviolent protesters attempting to march from Selma to Montgomery to dramatize the need for voting rights protection in Alabama. As we crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, we were attacked by state troopers who tear-gassed, clubbed and whipped us and trampled us with horses. I was hit in the head with a nightstick and suffered a concussion on the bridge. Seventeen marchers were hospitalized that day.

Texas Republicans Threaten Funding For Schools With Pro-LGBT Policies

Two Republican Texas lawmakers have filed bills that would cut funding for schools and universities that have policies supporting their LGBT students and staff.

Sequester Impact On States Detailed In New White House Reports

WASHINGTON -- It's looking increasingly like the government is about to impose on itself $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts. So as part of its strategy to pressure Republicans into accepting new revenues as part of a deal to prevent the sequester from taking effect, the White House released new reports on Sunday that outline the ugly effects those cuts would have in individual states.

Glenn Beck Wants To Make Cable Subscribers Pay For His Conspiracy Theory Channel

Since Glenn Beck left Fox News in 2011 and founded his own web channel, TheBlaze, the former right-wing sensation has been less prevalent in the mainstream political conversation. Still, Beck has cultivated a substantial audience for his subscription-only programming, and is now using that following to pressure cable networks into carrying his channel.

North Carolina Proposes Second-Class Driver Licenses For DREAMers

On March 25, North Carolina will begin issuing driver’s licenses to thousands of undocumented immigrants who qualify for the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — but there is a catch. A markup of North Carolina’s new driver’s license for immigrants, pictured above, distinguishes the license by a bright pink stripe and the bolded words “NO LAWFUL STATUS.” Legal non-citizens will also have a special license, though Fox 8 reports it is unclear what they will look like.

The Sunday February 24th 2013 Talking Heads

THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS

Today, George Stephanopoulos, who describes the sequester as a "new cliff" (it's not), will run down all of this week's political crap, with -- I don't know? They don't do that thing where they run it all down for us at the beginning, introduce the "powerhouse roundtable" and show people storming, with purpose, all over the Newseum, as if to say, "The American people need me cough up this thought-tumor that's wedged by my larynx!" Instead, I guess I have to be surprised. I don't like surprises, or change, or being awake!

Voting Rights Act Provision Defended By Obama Administration, Civil Rights Groups

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration and civil rights groups are defending a key section of the landmark voting rights law at the Supreme Court by pointing reformed state, county and local governments to an escape hatch from the law's strictest provision.

VIEWPOINT: The Debt Everyone Is Freaking Out About Does Not Exist

Between the new-and-improved Simpson-Bowles plan, Joe Scarborough’s feud with Paul Krugman, the relentless drumbeat of the entire Republican Party, and the media blitzkrieg launched by the billionaire-driven “Fix the Debt” campaign, one might think no serious and responsible American can ignore the unassailable truth: America faces a debt crisis, which we must act on immediately and decisively.

New Film Tells Story Of Unsung Civil Rights Leader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just before the March on Washington in 1963, President John F. Kennedy summoned six top civil rights leaders to the White House to talk about his fears that civil rights legislation he was moving through Congress might be undermined if the march turned violent.

U.S. Government Plans To Air Drop Toxic Mice To Fight Snake Invasion

Guam is being overrun by millions of snakes. The U.S. Government hopes air dropping drugged, dead mice can solve the problem.

How Raising The Minimum Wage Could Reduce Gun Violence In Chicago

It may be possible to help reduce gun violence in Chicago — a city that saw over 500 homicides last year — in one simple step: Raising the minimum wage.

Fourth Grade Teacher Assigns Slavery Word Problems To Students (WTF)

A huge controversy is now raging at a New York City elementary school over math homework that a teacher assigned to fourth graders that included having them answer questions that tallied up the killing and beating of slaves.

On This Day In Black History UNTOLD: Lynch Mob Attacked Postmaster Frazier Baker And Family On This Day In 1898

Although the term “lynching” conjures for most the stirring image of a person being hanged, the act itself has a wider meaning. Taking one’s life without legal authority and by means of show of force in numbers also captures the term’s overall defintion. The heinous practice wasn’t a bane exclusive to African Americans — as many Whites were lynched as well — but Black people certainly suffered the most-brutal examples. One such horrific case is that of Postmaster Frazier Baker, a federally appointed postmaster in the largely White town of Lake City, Sc. Baker and his infant daughter were killed by a mob of Whites on this day in 1898.

Ted Cruz Claims He Has A List Of Communists Who Have Infiltrated Harvard Law

During the confirmation hearing for Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Sen. Ted Cruz engaged in guilt-by-association tactics that reminded several observers (including this author) of former Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI)’s baseless claim to have “a list” of Communists who had infiltrated the U.S. State Department.

Indiana Bill Would Force Women To Undergo Two Transvaginal Probes To Take A Pill

An abortion pill, officially known as RU-486, is the earliest available abortion option for a woman. A patient could be as little as one week pregnant and take the pill to terminate. But despite the incredibly early stage at which the pill is administered, a new bill proposed in the Indiana State Senate would require women to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound before they are permitted to simply swallow the medication.

5 Ways The Sequester Could Make You Sick

In just a week, the United States will hit the deadline for the sequester — the automatic spending cuts that were negotiated during the 2011 debt ceiling deal. The spending cuts will begin going into effect on March 1 unless lawmakers broker a compromise to avert sequestration, as they did at the beginning of this year when they agreed to push the deadline back two months. But so far, there’s no sign of a deal.

Maryland Senate Committee Votes To Repeal Death Penalty

A bill to repeal the death penalty in Maryland cleared the state Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee last night. The bill, a major priority for Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD), is expected to pass the state senate, where 26 of the body’s 47 members have said they will support the bill.

5 Things Happening In Africa That Aren’t Oscar Pistorius

South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was released on bail this morning following the shooting death of his girlfriend, and the cable news networks devoted the vast majority of their coverage to the hearing. CNN alone spent 192 minutes in total on the story between 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM, broadcasting for three hours without a single commercial break. The network maintained a constant box on the side of its screen alerting viewers to the imminent bail hearing.

Republican Senator Bemoans Influence Of Grover Norquist On Tax Policy

AFTON, Iowa — Though some have questioned the influence that Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge holds over the GOP, a leading Republican senator left no doubts of its influence at a recent town hall.

Republicans With Influence On Immigration Debate Are Top Recipients Of Private Prison Contributions

As the immigration reform debate heats up, private prison executives have made it clear that they are monitoring how it will affect their rates of incarceration. During a call with investors last week, Corrections Corporation of America CEO assured investors that there will “always be demand for beds”, reflecting concern that incarceration rates will actually go down. With many elements of reform left on the negotiating table, the Columbia Journalism Review is showing just how much money the two major private prison companies, Corrections Corporation of America and GEO Group, have invested in the outcome:

Malcolm X Assassinated On This Day 48 Years Ago

Muslim minister and human rights leader El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, widely known as Malcolm X, stands as one of the most-influential figures in Black History. Forty-eight years ago today, Malcolm X was gunned down by three assailants, and it has been speculated that the killing was inspired by words from his former Nation of Islam (NOI) compatriot and current leader Louis Farrakhan.

Top GOP Senator: Native American Juries Are Incapable Of Trying White People Fairly

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Republicans have offered a number of reasons why they oppose the Violence Against Women Act. Some think it’s unconstitutional. Others argue that it’s just a meaningless bill with a patriotic title.

Nielsen Ratings Will Add Streaming Data For Fall 2013: Here’s What We Need To Ask About The Changes

There are a lot of details that have yet to be reported, but this is big: according to The Hollywood Reporter, Nielsen, the company that measures the ratings of television shows, is reportedly planning a significant shift in its ratings measurement system that will capture data about television viewing not simply through broadcast, but through streaming.

Indentured Servitude? GOP Lawmaker Wants To Tether Immigrants To ‘The Dirtiest Jobs’

A top conservative in the House of Representatives told NPR Thursday morning that he opposes bipartisan proposals to allow undocumented immigrants to earn a path to citizenship, but would support expanding “a guest-worker program for immigrant-labor-dependent U.S. agriculture” to ensure that farms have a steady stream of foreign labor to fulfill the “dirtiest jobs.”

Biologists Create 'Zombie Cells' In The Lab Which Outperform Living Counterparts

Biological researchers have created dead 'zombie' cells in the lab which outperform living cells.

Seriously.

A team at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico have innovated a technique whereby mammalian cells are coated with silica to form a near-perfect replicas.

Beltway Brain Fever: People Who Agree With Obama But Have to Pretend Otherwise

It is obviously possible to agree with the Republican negotiating position over the budget sequester, which is that it would be better to replace the sequester with cuts to social spending, yet better to keep the sequester than increase tax revenue in any form. It is also obviously possible to disagree with President Obama’s position, which is that the sequester ought to be replaced with a “balanced” mix of cuts to retirement programs and increased revenue through tax reform. It is also obviously possible to take a stance directly between the two positions.

Playstation 4 Unveiled

NEW YORK — Sony unveiled its next-generation gaming system, the PlayStation 4, and promised social and remote capabilities. Wednesday's announcement gives the struggling Japanese electronics company a head start over Microsoft and an Xbox 360 successor.

Fox (Fixed) News: Al Jazeera America Is A Plot To Activate Muslim Sleeper Cells In Detroit (HA HA HA)

In a typical fair and balanced panel, Fox News warned on Wednesday that Al Jazeera is set to “infiltrate” the United States amid dire warnings about “sleeper cells” in the Muslim suburbs of Detroit.

Capital Gains Tax Cuts ‘By Far’ The Biggest Contributor To Growth In Income Inequality, Study Finds

Changes in tax law that reduced the federal tax rate on capital gains income is “by far the largest contributor” to rising income inequality in the United States, according to a new paper from Thomas Hungerford, an economist at the Congressional Research Service.

Anti-Racism Group Fight White Privilege With ‘Unfair’ Messages On White Faces

With a tagline that reads, “It’s hard to see racism when you’re White,” the University of Wisconsin Duluth-Superior‘s Un-fair Campaign is forcing Whites of Duluth, Minn., to reconsider their White privilege once again, and their latest campaign has some crying foul. Why? Because it features Whites wearing a number of grievances allegedly shared by minorities…on their faces.

President To Speak At U.S. Capitol Unveiling Of Rosa Parks Statue

Next week, President Barack Obama will honor pioneering civil rights activist Rosa Parks (pictured) in an unveiling ceremony of a statue at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, February 27. The President will deliver remarks at the gathering after an invite from House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Parks will be the first African American honored in such a fashion inside the Capitol.

Ryan Waterman, Florida Man, Arrested After Facebook Photos Show Kids Riding Manatee

A Florida family turned a trip to Taylor Creek in St. Lucie County into their own private petting zoo in January, authorities report, and then posted the incriminating photos online.

Bloomberg, Homeless Advocates Spar After Mayor Denies Anyone Is 'Sleeping On The Streets'

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday that "no one is sleeping on the streets" in New York City, NY1 reports.

Sequester Would Chop Long-Term Unemployment Insurance

WASHINGTON -- If the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration take effect as expected at the beginning of March, long-term unemployed Americans receiving federal unemployment insurance will see their weekly benefit checks reduced by 9.4 percent.

John Boehner: Sequester Is Product Of Obama's 'Failed Leadership'

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Tuesday evening, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) blamed President Obama for the nearly $1.2 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts set to go into effect next month, labeling the looming cuts as "the president's sequester."

How An Over-The-Top Joke Became A Republican Talking Point Against Chuck Hagel

A journalist with the New York Daily News has come forward as the unintentional source for a rumor that Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel was receiving funding from the non-existent “Friends of Hamas” group.

Union Busting 2.0: Wisconsin Republicans Target Private Sector Unions They Previously Praised

When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) initiated a high-profile effort to bust his state’s public sector unions in 2011, he said that he had no interest in pursuing similar efforts against private sector unions. “Private sector unions are my partner in economic development,” Walker has said. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that he “has consistently downplayed seeking any restrictions on private unions in public statements.”

Why Americans Might Be Better Off If Their Burgers Were Made Of Horsemeat

Food regulators recently uncovered horsemeat masquerading as beef in Burger Kings, school cafeterias, and hospitals across Europe and the UK, prompting multiple product recalls and widespread horror. The horsemeat scandal has not touched the US, and many experts and journalists have rushed to reassure Americans that their burgers are safe from horse contamination. But compared to the dangerous pathogens hiding in US-produced meat, Americans might want to consider replacing their beef patties with European horsemeat.

Your Guide To The Looming Spending Cuts: Where They Came From And What They Will Mean

The United States is rapidly approaching March 1, the date on which the automatic spending cuts put in place by the summer 2011 debt ceiling deal will begin taking effect. There is little indication that Congress will avert the cuts as it did in January, as Republican leaders have thus far been unwilling to negotiate with President Obama and Senate Democrats.

Supporters Of Keystone XL Outspend Opponents 35 To 1

At least fifty oil companies, business trade associations, labor unions, and political groups with combined lobbying budgets of more than $178 million lobbied Washington in support of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in 2012. And the dozen groups lobbying against the environmentally risky project had 2012 lobbying budgets of less than $5 million total, a ThinkProgress analysis reveals.

Pan-African Congress Gathering On This Date In 1919, The First One Organized By W.E.B. Du Bois

The Pan-African Congress was a series of meetings held in various locations around the world that sought to address the rampant European colonization of Africa. Later, the Congress became known as a peace broker regarding the clashes between colonizers in the West Indies and Africa and natives of their respective regions. On this day in 1919, civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois (pictured) led the first of seven Pan-African Congress sessions.

How One 75-Year-Old Soybean Farmer Could Deal A Blow To Monsanto’s Empire Today

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a 75-year-old soybean farmer’s appeal against biotech giant Monsanto, in a case that could permanently reshape the genetically modified (GM) crop industry. Victor “Hugh” Bowman has been battling the corporation since 2007, when Monsanto sued him for violating their patent protection by purchasing second-generation GM seeds from a grain elevator. An appeals court ruled in favor of Monsanto, and despite the Obama administration’s urging to let the decision stand, the nine justices will hear Bowman make his case today.

North Carolina Governor Signs ‘Unprecedented’ Gutting Of Unemployment Insurance

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) today signed a law that imposes severe cuts to his state’s unemployment insurance program, a change that will also cost jobless workers in the state access to the federal unemployment compensation program.

The Supreme Court Will Hear A Republican Party Lawsuit To Make Citizens United Even Worse

The Supreme Court’s election-buying decision in Citizens United v. FEC enabled wealthy corporations to spend unlimited money to change the course of American elections, and a subsequent lower court decision gave the green light to super PACs funded by unlimited donations from millionaires, billionaires and corporations. Today, the Supreme Court announced it would hear another case — brought by none other than the Republican National Committee — that would go even further towards transforming American democracy into the Wild West.

Pizza Shop In Virginia Offers A Discount To Anyone Who Carries A Gun

At one Virginia pizza shop, customers who bring in a gun or show a gun permit get 15 percent off their order. The pro-gun owner of All Around Pizzas and Deli claimed that 80 percent of his customers have walked in carrying a gun since he offered the discount last week, including one carrying an AK-47. “It’s been awesome,” the owner, Jay Laze, said.

9 Ways Chris Christie Isn’t Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) attempted last week to position himself as a moderate, suggesting to a labor leader that popular New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is his ideological soul mate. “I’m not much different from Andrew Cuomo. I probably agree with him on 98% of the issues,” Christie reportedly claimed. But on a wide variety of key issues, Christie’s far-right record stands in stark contrast to that of his gubernatorial next-door neighbor’s.

Missouri Bill Makes It A Felony For Lawmakers To Propose Gun Safety Legislation

Yesterday, Missouri state Rep. Mike Leara (R) proposed legislation making it a felony for lawmakers to so much as propose many bills regulating guns. Leara’s bill provides that “[a]ny member of the general assembly who proposes a piece of legislation that further restricts the right of an individual to bear arms, as set forth under the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States, shall be guilty of a class D felony.”

Kansas Bill Would Require Teachers To Misinform Students About Climate Change

Last week, the Kansas House Education Committee introduced a bill that mandates teachers question the scientific basis of global warming, becoming the latest state to take up one of American Legislative Exchange Council’s “model bills” aiming to misrepresent climate change in schools.

Mississippi finally ratifies 13th Amendment outlawing slavery 148 years later (Welcome to the 21s Century Mississippi)

Life really does move slower in the South. One hundred forty-eight years after Congress sent the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery to the states for ratification, Mississippi officially has joined the ranks.

Happy Presidents’ Day! Meet The Five Most Overrated American Presidents

Americans love to rank things. So lists of the best presidents in American history frequently allow historians to duke it out over whether George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Franklin Delano Roosevelt should be remembered as our nation’s greatest leader. Meanwhile, recently departed President George W. Bush already ranks close to the top in polls of historians asked to rank the worst president in American history. Rather than wade into the thicket of which men best or worst served their nation during their time in the White House, we would like to offer a different kind of list. Here are five presidents who routinely rank far above what their performance in office deserves in surveys considering presidential performance:

The Top Black Business Leaders Of 1800s And 1900s

Although African Americans endured abject racism and prejudice during the 18th and 19th centuries, many businesses sprang forth in spite of the barriers ahead of them. With determined grit and sound practices, Black business leaders began to emerge and earned the right to engage in commerce like any other citizen. NewsOne continues its look at 20 Black business owners of that time period, highlighting their significant contributions to American society.

Wall Street Blocked Elizabeth Warren From Her Consumer Protection Board And This Is What They Got

WASHINGTON -- A clip of Massachusetts freshman Sen. Elizabeth Warren posing a simple question to bank regulators this past week has been viewed more than 1 million times, putting it on pace to become the consumer advocate's most-viral video hit to-date.

South Africa Mine Shooting: Rival Unions Clash At Anglo American Platinum Mine

JOHANNESBURG — Anglo American Platinum says nine South African miners were injured when its guards opened fire with rubber bullets to stop a fight between rival unions.

18-Year-Old Mother Shot And Killed In Chicago Hours After Sister Attends Obama’s Gun Speech

18-year-old Janay Mcfarlane, a mother of a 3-month-old boy, was shot in the head and killed in a Chicago suburb just hours after her sister sat behind President Obama as he advocated for tighter gun regulations on Friday.

35,000 Protesters Demand Immediate Climate Action At ‘Largest Climate Rally In U.S. History’

On Sunday, an estimated crowd of 35,000 people joined the Forward On Climate rally in Washington, DC, where protesters delivered a clear message to President Obama: Take immediate action on climate change by rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Organizers of the rally described as the “largest in U.S. history” also called on the president to issue overdue Clean Air Act standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants.

Bill Maher On Pope Resignation: Hillary Clinton Should Replace Benedict

As far as Bill Maher's concerned, the best possible outcome of the pope resigning is that Catholics will quit as well. The second best possibility: Hillary Clinton will be the next pope.

The Sunday February 17th, 2013 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY:

Chris Wallace touches off today talking about the super new filibuster of Chuck Hagel, and here to explain the whole ten-day temper tantrum that some of the Senate Republicans felt they had to have while a war -- that, admittedly, they haven't really been paying close attention to lately, along with everyone else -- is raging in Afghanistan, is Senator Lindsey "Jowly Dave Foley" Graham.

GOP Senator Would Take Away Health Coverage From 30 Million Americans To Avoid Military Cuts

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Sunday the government should protect the Defense Department from automatic spending cuts by slashing $1.2 trillion from the Affordable Care Act.

ABC News Calls Out Paul Ryan For Hypocrisy Over Looming Budget Cuts

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl confronted Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) over his past support for the sequester, just as the one-time GOP vice presidential candidate sought to blame President Obama for the automatic across-the-board cuts scheduled to go into effect on March 1.

Gingrich: Republicans Will Oppose Any Immigration Plan Backed By Obama Because They Hate Obama

During an appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) admitted that Republicans are likely to oppose any immigration reform proposal introduced by President Obama because they personally dislike the Commander-in-Chief.

GOP Eager For The Sequester To Go Into Effect So They Can Blame Obama For Its Devastating Consequences

With the sequester deadline looming just two weeks away, Republicans have adopted the public posture of cheerleading for the anticipated spending reductions to social programs, while preparing to blame President Obama for their devastating impact on middle class Americans and national security.

GOP ‘Savior’ Marco Rubio Falls Back On The Same Old Anti-Woman Policies

In an interview on Thursday with conservative magazine Newsmax, Tea Party standard-bearer and so-called ‘savior’ of the Republican party Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) revealed that he will become a cosponsor of the “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.” The bill is a concerted effort to prevent girls in dangerous family situations from going across state lines to receive abortions.

Public Health Advocates To The FDA: Crack Down On Sweeteners In Soda

Public health advocates have decided to take their fight against American obesity straight to one of its major sources, calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pass rules encouraging soda and food makers to limit the amount of sweeteners used in their products, the New York Times reports.

Black Men Received 20% Longer Sentences Then White Men For The Same Crimes

Prison sentences of black men were nearly 20% longer than those of white men for similar crimes in recent years, an analysis by the U.S. Sentencing Commission found.

Black Abolitionists Use Force To Free Fugitive Slave In Boston On This Day In 1851

Although the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 sought to undermine the efforts of the northern anti-slavery movement and give power to southern slave masters, there were brave men and women who fearlessly challenged and protected those who broke free from their oppressors. One such group that exhibited great courage was the Boston Vigilance Committee, an anti-slavery group led by Unitarian minister Theodore Parker.

The Company That Ran The ‘Cruise From Hell’ Pays Almost No Income Tax

Carnival’s “cruise from hell” — during which the ship lost power off the Yucatan peninsula and was stuck for days, leaving passengers no recourse to relieving themselves in plastic bags — finally ended last night as the crippled boat was tugged into port. “It was horrible. Horrible,” one passenger said. “The bathroom facilities were horrible and we could not flush toilets. No electricity and our rooms were in total darkness.”

New York Mayor: Minor Marijuana Possession No Longer Means A Night In Jail

Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), arrests in New York City for marijuana have skyrocketed. And while Bloomberg made clear during a radio interview Friday that he does not support legalization of marijuana, he is ready to soften his stance. Bloomberg announced during his State of the City address Thursday that, in the absence of a state law decriminalizing public marijuana possession, he will use his executive power to eliminate jail custody for those arrested for low-level marijuana possession:

Man On Delta Airlines Flight Allegedly Tells 'Mother' Of Crying Baby To ‘Shut That N*gger Baby Up’

Joe Rickey Hundley was arrested and charged with simple assault when he allegedly demanded that another passenger quiet her 19-month-old crying baby stating, “shut that n*gger baby up.” The man then reportedly followed up the shout with an open-handed slap across the child’s face, The Smoking Gun reports.

The Russian Meteor Exposes The Dangers Of Cutting Space Funding

It seems a little late to talk about the potential dangers from above as an asteroid 150 feet across flies by closer than the moon and more than 400 people have been injured by a meteor in Russia. But if there is one thing that today’s headlines highlight, it’s that we do not have the capacity to protect ourselves from space.

’2016: Obama’s America’ Mailed To Every Member Of Congress

Disgraced former college president and conservative pseudointellectual Dinesh D’Souza would very much like to be relevant again:

No, Chicago Isn’t Proof That Gun Regulation Doesn’t Work

Friday afternoon, President Obama will speak on gun violence prevention in Chicago. Charles C.W. Cooke, writing for National Review, previews the conservative spin, arguing that because Chicago has a high murder rate and relatively strict gun laws, it “defies belief” that the President would defend gun regulations there.

65 Republicans Supported Increasing The Minimum Wage When Bush Was President

President Obama’s call for a minimum wage increase in Tuesday’s State of the Union address — like nearly all of his proposals — was met with immediate opposition from Congressional Republicans. But six years ago, many of the same Republicans supported a similar proposal backed by Republican President George W. Bush.

How CNN’s ‘Poop Ship’ Coverage Failed To Highlight A Real Global Health Issue

CNN and other news networks missed an ideal opportunity this week to highlight the actual public health risk that poor sanitation conditions pose to millions of people around the world.

Wealthy Professional Boxer Refuses To Fight In U.S. Because He’d Have To Pay Taxes

Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing champion who regularly pulls in guaranteed purses north of $20 million a fight, is now refusing to hold his next bout in Las Vegas because the United States insists on taxing the income of people who make money inside its borders.

Facebook Paid No Corporate Income Tax Last Year, After Making More Than $1 Billion In Profits

Between 2008 and 2011, 26 major corporations were able to pay no federal corporate income tax, despite making a combined $205 billion in profits. According to a new report from Citizens for Tax Justice, Facebook joined that illustrious club last year, receiving $429 million in tax rebates despite making more than $1 billion in profits:

Emmett Till’s Family Reacts To Lil Wayne Lyric

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A cousin of the late Emmett Till wonders if Lil Wayne understands just how damaging it was when he rapped a vulgar reference to the black U.S. teen whose death in 1955 became a significant moment in the civil rights movement.

Your Valentine’s Day Chocolate Is Mostly Corn (Monsanto)

On a typical Valentine’s Day, consumers buy more than 58 million pounds of chocolate. Since 70 percent of that chocolate is owned by two companies, Hershey and Mars, most of it was actually processed from genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans.

OOPS: GOP Rep. Inadvertently Makes The Case For Nearly Doubling The Minimum Wage

President Obama’s State of the Union proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour and index it to inflation so that it keeps up with growth in the economy was quickly rebuked by top Republicans like Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), who claim the minimum wage will kill jobs and hurt small businesses.

Never Before: Senate Republicans Make History, First To Filibuster Defense Secretary Nominee

Senate Republicans today chose to uphold a filibuster against Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel, despite many of them previously pledging that they would be willing to allow him to be confirmed.

Why Employers Won’t Fire People If We Raise The Minimum Wage To $9

Republicans are responding to President Obama’s proposal raise the federal minimum wage by arguing that requiring businesses to pay their workers at least $9 an hour would lead employers to shed jobs or increase prices and pass the costs onto consumers.

What’s Happened In The Trayvon Martin Case Since You Stopped Paying Attention

It’s been nearly a year since George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old on his way back to his father’s townhouse. In the weeks following the shooting, the story captured the nation’s attention, culminating with Zimmerman being charged with second-degree murder last April.

Republican Rep Says GOP Should Oppose Immigration Reform Because It Would Give Democrats ‘Millions Of Votes’

As bipartisan momentum builds for comprehensive immigration reform in the aftermath of the GOP’s poor showing among Latinos in the 2012 election, conservative Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) warned Republicans that “immigration is exactly the wrong subject to use to attract Hispanic support.”

Meet The Shady Secret Money Group Helping The NRA Buy Up Judges And Attorneys General

As the nation engages in a long-overdue debate about gun violence, ThinkProgress has documented examples of how the NRA’s influence over Congress and public opinion may be exaggerated. The NRA may, however, exercise more influence in state elections, where candidates are less well known and political ads can have more impact. The NRA has funneled millions of dollars to a front group that spends its money electing judges and state attorneys general who are tough on crime—unless those crimes involve gun control laws.

Health Officials Warn The U.S. Still Faces An ‘Ongoing, Severe Epidemic’ Of STDs

The United States’ persistently high rates of sexually transmitted infections are incurring billions of dollars in medical costs, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just in time for Valentines Day. The new report details what one of the CDC researchers describes as “an ongoing, severe, STI epidemic” in this country.

Newark Man Beaten, Stripped And Whipped Over $20 Debt

NEWARK, N.J. — Three people are under arrest in New Jersey after a video surfaced showing a naked man being whipped because of his father’s debt.

GOP ‘Savior’ Marco Rubio Mocks Climate Change

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) made an appearance on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning less than 12 hours after delivering the GOP rebuttal to President Obama’s State of the Union address. The Republican Party’s newest champion took the time to shoot down the realities of climate change and the kinds of regulations that he himself once supported as the speaker of the house in Florida.

GOP Rep Mocks Congresswoman’s Outfit At State Of The Union

A Texas-based conservative talk radio host, Michael Berry, ran a betting pool during Tuesday night’s State of the Union over what color Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s (D-TX) outfit would be.

Teen 'Jeopardy!' Contestant Leonard Cooper Answers Final Question With A Bit Of Humor For The Win

Thank you, 'Jeopardy!' Teen Tournament, for introducing us to our new favorite game show contestant: Leonard Cooper.

Marco Rubio's Water Moment: I Don't Always Vote Against Women, But When I Do, I Drink Poland Spring. Stay Second Class My Friends.

I care less about drinking water and more about the fact that he was obviously selected as a token minority, with the thought that somehow he's guaranteed to cinch up the Latino vote for a Party that is rapidly sinking in quicksand and doesn't know what else to do since they're incapable of any new ideas.

State Of The Union Speech Promises Climate Change Executive Action

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama Tuesday night pledged that if Congress refuses to take action to stem climate change, his administration would act unilaterally.

New York Poised To Pass ‘Rape Is Rape’ Bill To Update Definition Of Sexual Assault

As anti-choice politicians seek to narrow the definition of sexual assault to “forcible rape” or “legitimate rape,” lawmakers in New York State are taking the opposite approach — and actually may be prepared to advance a bill that would expand the definition of rape to encompass additional acts of sexual violence.

Top Republicans Oppose Obama’s Call To Raise The Minimum Wage

During his State of the Union address last night, President Obama called for raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour, up from its current $7.25, and indexing it to inflation so that it rises as the economy grows. If the increase were to happen, it would give the minimum wage its highest purchasing power since 1981, lifting millions of families above the poverty line.

Read Full Uncensored Manifesto Of Chris Dorner

From: Christopher Jordan Dorner /7648

To: America

Subj: Last resort

Regarding CF# 07-004281

Christopher Dorner w/ Chief William Bratton

Six Game-Changing Ideas In The State Of The Union

On Tuesday night, President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union and laid out an agressive agenda that could set the nation on a more progressive course. Below are 6 of his most ambitious and far reaching proposals:

John McNeil Freed After Serving 6 Years For Fatal Shooting

John McNeil, a Cobb County Ga., man who was convicted of killing a contractor in the driveway of his home, was released from jail today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Chris Dorner Barricaded In Cabin In Big Bear

Dorner was in the white, Dodge pick-up truck, when deputies tried to make a stop. Dorner refused to stop, a gun battle ensued and he fled on foot. A second gun battle followed and it currently appears to be a stand-off. It is confirmed that two deputies are shot and they are trying to pull them to safety to get them treatment.

Congress Establishes First Fugitive Slave Act On This Date In 1793

America is replete with the racist and oppressive reminders of the institution of slavery. One such hallmark is that on this date in 1793, Congress passed the first law declaring escaped slaves to be brought back to their masters by harsh means with the Fugitive Slave Act. Northern and Southern states were bound to the law, although the North relaxed the strict measures and even allowed slaves seeking freedom a fair trial.

Survivors Will Stand Up For Gun Laws At Tonight’s State Of The Union

Twenty six victims of gun violence will attend the State of the Union on Tuesday night, each wearing a black and white ribbon to signify their commitment to sensible gun laws. They all plan to stand silently during the portion of the President’s speech about gun safety regulations.

BREAKING: Senate Passes Violence Against Women Act, With No Help From 22 Republican Male Senators

The Violence Against Women Act re-authorization passed through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, by a vote of 78 to 22. Of those opposing the legislation, all 22 were Republican men. Every female Senator supported the bill.

Three Charts That Show America Doesn’t Have A Spending Problem

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) claim this weekend that the government doesn’t have a spending problem has been met with typical outrage from Republican politicians (and several members of the Washington media) who have spent the greater part of the last three years arguing that reining in America’s supposed out-of-control government spending would put the country on a more stable economic footing. There is, however, no basis to those claims, as actual evidence points in the opposite direction.

L.A. Residents Plead With LAPD On Signs, Shirts: ‘Don’t Shoot, I’m Not Chris Dorner’

In response to the LAPD shooting at least 3 innocent people in a manhunt for Chris Dorner, the fugitive ex-cop and alleged murderer they’re hunting with U.S. military spy drones, residents of Los Angeles have begun wearing shirts and placing signs on their vehicles that read, “Don’t shoot, I’m not Chris Dorner. Thank you.”

North Carolina Unemployment Benefits Cuts Harshest In Country: Report

Later this week, North Carolina is expected to drastically reduce unemployment benefits for its residents, who face the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the country. The state joins seven others that have trimmed back benefits for the jobless since the recession.

Six Facts You Must Know Before Watching Obama’s State Of The Union Address

Before President Obama delivers his fifth State of the Union address this evening, here are six things you should know about the nation’s most pressing issues:

GOP to Blame for Latest Manufactured Crisis

The country is bearing down on March 1, the day that deep, damaging across-the-board spending cuts — known as the “the sequester” in Beltway parlance — start to kick in.

Fox News Wastes Four And A Half Minutes Criticizing Adele’s Weight

On Monday afternoon, while CNN was covering blizzard damage and MSNBC was speculating on the President’s State of the Union, Fox News spent exactly four minutes and 30 seconds analyzing whether pop singers Adele and Kelly Clarkson needed to drop a few pounds.

Another Study Confirms That Taxes And Regulations Aren’t Holding Back Job Creation

A favorite GOP talking point is that a slew of regulation and taxes are preventing employers from creating jobs, which explains the stubbornly high unemployment rate. “By pursuing a steady repeal of job-destroying regulations, we can help lift the cloud of uncertainty hanging over small and large employers alike, empowering them to hire more workers,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). “Business owners are reluctant to create jobs today if they’re going to need to pay more tomorrow to comply with onerous new regulations,” claimed Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

The Six Executive Orders Obama May Issue To Circumvent The Do-Nothing Congress

The 112th Congress was one of the least productive and most obstructionist in history — as Ezra Klein notes, it passed 100 fewer laws than the previously-least productive Congress on record and “achieved nothing of note on housing, energy, stimulus, immigration, guns, tax reform, infrastructure, climate change or, really, anything.” The unprecedented use of the filibuster (roughly 400 times, a number unheard of in American history previously) ensured that any action in the Senate would be go nowhere, to say nothing of the GOP-controlled house.

Nelson Mandela Freed From Prison On This Day In 1990

South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela is perhaps the only politician to serve several decades in prison and come out stronger than ever. In an attempt to silence the popular lawyer and African National Congress (ANC) activist, he was arrested and acquitted of treason in 1961. The following year, Mandela was arrested for illegally leaving South Africa. It was in 1964, however, that Mandela’s fortunes would turn for the worse.

William Shatner ‘Appalled’ By ‘Racist’ And ‘Sexist’ Posts On Reddit

William Shatner may be new to Reddit, but the famed actor didn’t wait long before penning his first criticism of the the popular social news website.

Border Patrol Admits Spy Drones Being Used To Hunt Dorner

As the manhunt for fugitive murder suspect and former cop Christopher Dorner continues into its 4th day, members of a 125 member task force formed to find him have revealed that drones are being used to bring him to justice, reports the Daily Express.

Democratic Congressman Destroys GOP Hypocrisy On Looming Budget Cuts

On ABC’s This Week Sunday morning, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) called out Tom Cole (R-OK) for his claim that President Obama is responsible for the automatic budget cuts set to go into effect if Congress cannot reach a budget deal by March. The so-called “sequester” includes steep defense cuts intended to motivate Republicans who refused to agree to any deal that included a tax increase in 2011.

The Sunday February 10th, 2013 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

I've made it a habit to not watch John McCain wash down the drain of his career by trying to establish a George Blanda-esque record for appearing on the Sunday morning circular jerk marathons, but occasional I get lax and so here I am, poised to suffer through McCain yelling at or around Nancy Pelosi, both of whom will be talking about the "state of our union." Then there will be a panel discussion, about John Brennan and targeted killings, with which I imagine the entire panel will find no problem.

Capt. Phil Tingirides: Dorner ‘High Value Target’ Hasn’t Left Home, Scared For Family

Captain Phil Tingirides, 54, chair of the three-member “Board of Rights” that stripped fugitive murder suspect Christopher Dorner of his badge in 2008, has not left home since the manifesto became public and is afraid for not only his safety, but for the lives of his wife and six children, reports the OC Register.

Christopher Dorner: LAPD Claims He’s Lying But Reopens Case

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — The hunt for a former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings continued in snow-covered mountains Saturday as the LAPD's chief said he would reopen the disciplinary case that led to the fugitive's firing.

Boston Blizzard: Northeast Snowed In As 'Nemo' Barrels Through

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Emergency crews and residents struggled to clear roadways and sidewalks from a storm that rampaged through the Northeast, dumping up to 3 feet of snow and bringing howling winds that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands.

California Democrats Propose Strictest Gun Regulations In The Nation

Thursday afternoon, a group of California Senate Democrats rolled out a legislative package that would create what would likely be the tightest gun regulation system in the nation, ranging from sweeping prohibitions on semi-automatic rifles to restrictions on guns in the home. The proposal consists of ten points:

Revisionism Exposed: ‘Lincoln’ Screenwriter Concedes Inaccuracy

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The screenwriter for the movie “Lincoln” has conceded taking some liberties in its portrayal of a 19th century vote on slavery, but he said his changes adhered to widely accepted standards for the creation of historical drama.

664,000 Residents Without Power After Massive Storm Hits The Northeast

How The Sequester’s Budget Cuts Will Devastate Already-Battered Programs

Federal spending is scheduled to reach historic lows thanks to the Budget Control Act, which placed caps on spending as part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling in the summer of 2011. Non-defense spending is already 14 percent lower than it has been at any time in the last half-century, and it could go even lower if the so-called “sequester,” a series of automatic budget cuts that will begin to take effect at the beginning of March, is allowed to occur.

How House Democrats Plan To Use Local Power To Stop Gun Violence – And How To Do It Better

On Thursday afternoon, the House Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released a framework document laying out fifteen proposals for gun violence prevention legislation. It’s a good document, reaching beyond the mainstay proposals like an assault weapon bans to less heralded, but equally important issues like restrictions on the federal government’s ability to help state and local police track local guns. But the most unique proposals in the framework are also some of the ones most in need of improvement: its recommendations for supporting local efforts against gun violence.

Black Man In KKK Robe Says Black On Black Violence Worse Than Klan

It is a rare sight to see a man standing in the middle of Philadelphia in a KKK robe–especially if the man under the hood is Black.

‘Orangeburg Massacre’ In South Carolina Occurred On This Day In 1968

One of the most stirring tragedies of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s took place in the small town of Orangeburg in South Carolina. On this day in 1968, police officers fired in to a crowd of Black students protesting segregation, killing three and wounding 28 others, in what has been called the “Orangeburg Massacre.“

Republicans Blame Video Games, Not Guns, For Gun Violence

Republicans are more likely to place the blame for gun violence on video games, not guns, according to a recent poll from Public Policy Polling. Sixty seven percent of Republicans believe that such games are a “bigger safety threat” than firearms — only 14 percent think the reverse.

How The GOP Would Make Undocumented Immigrants America’s Next Permanent Underclass

Conservatives in the House of Representatives are rejecting the growing bipartisan consensus for permitting undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship. Instead, one prominent negotiatior, Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID), suggested a legal status “compromise” that would keep 11 million immigrants in a probationary grey area for an indefinite period of time, unable to participate in the full rights of citizenship. As the Washington Post warned, this so-called compromise would establish “a permanent underclass of workers.”

Asteroid Flyby On Feb. 15 Will Be Closest Approach On Record For Space Rock That Big

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A 150-foot-wide asteroid will come remarkably close to Earth next week, even closer than high-flying communication and weather satellites. It will be the nearest known flyby for an object of this size.

Bush Got Hacked!

HOUSTON — A hacker apparently accessed private photos and emails sent between members of the Bush family, including both former presidents, and a spokesman for George H.W. Bush said a criminal investigation is under way.

Super Wealthy CEO Admits Spending Cuts Will Hurt The Economy, Wants Them To Happen Anyway

For a hint of what austerity can do to an economy, one needs to look no further than Europe. And the U.S. is in for a dose of austerity of its own due to spending cuts under the so-called “sequester” that are scheduled to take place in March.

What Marco Rubio Doesn’t Understand About Hip-Hop

Senator and 2016 GOP presidential hopeful Marco Rubio is a “hiphop connoisseur,” or so the National Journal’s social media person would have us believe. The last time Rubio cashed in some rap cred was in a November interview with GQ, and that interview appears to have a decent shelf life with the DC media. It’s the sole source for the lead section of the National Journal listicle that argues the Florida senator’s “eclectic taste in music” is a key to his appeal as the next face of a political party that’s not so much reinventing itself as taking sandpaper to its rough edges. Rubio’s hip. He’s with it. He knows the name of hiphop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. He knows Tupac was from New York. He knows Eminem is “the only guy that speaks at any sort of depth.” He– wait, what?

FaceBook Refuses To Remove A Racist Post Showing Black Kids As Monkeys (This is why I don't have an FAkeBook Account!)

In “Racism in Social Media” news, Facebook has refused to remove a picture of a Black monkey and a White baby, with the caption, “Stop Racism: Black Children and White Children are the Same,” reports Clutch Magazine.

'Warren Ballentine Show' Cancelled Following Charges in $10M Mortgage Fraud Case

Reach Media and Radio One have cancelled syndication of "The Warren Ballentine Show" following Ballentine's indictment by a federal grand jury. Chicago native and attorney Warren Ballentine -- as we reported previously -- is accused of taking part in mortgage fraud schemes between December 2004 and May 2006. "The Warren Ballentine Show" was heard in 37 markets nationwide, including on two stations in the Chicago area. Ballentine insists he's innocent and says he will fight the charges. Reach Media and Radio One recently combined their syndication companies with Ballentine's show among those in the new entity. As reported here, January 29, Ballentine -- who bills himself as the "people's attorney" -- was indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding lenders by scheming with others to obtain nearly 30 bogus mortgage loans, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago. They claim it was a $10 million mortgage fraud scheme. Ballentine's Chicago-based radio program was distributed nationally by Syndication One. On the Facebook page for his show, Ballentine posted, "For the record I'm innocent. I made a standard fee on closings. In Illinois a buyers attorney doesn't handle any of the documents till closing so as this proceed u will see that I'm in this because I have a name. No big payday no knowledge of the paperwork. I know some may say everybody says their innocent. Well I am."

Super Bowl Ad Remade To Show Reality

Dodge Ram's Super Bowl ad painted a romantic portrait of American farmers, but did it irresponsibly avoid reality?

'Dafne,' 9-Year-Old Girl, Gives Birth To Baby Girl In Mexico

A 9-year-old girl in Mexico has reportedly given birth.

The girl, identified as "Dafne" by The Telegraph, reportedly delivered a 5.7 pound baby by cesarean section on Jan. 27 in Zoquipan Hospital in Jalisco, an area in western Mexico.

Eight Reasons Why Marco Rubio Is Not ‘The Republican Savior’

Since Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) abandoned his opposition to providing undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship and embraced a bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration, political pundits and Republican leaders have anointed the Florida Congressman the future of the GOP.

Senator Introduces Bill To End Huge Corporate Tax Giveaway

Corporations offshoring profits costs both the federal government and states billions of dollars per year. One of the more egregious giveaways is known as “deferral,” which allows U.S. corporations to avoid paying taxes on overseas profits until they bring that money back to the U.S., giving them every incentive to leave it overseas permanently.

5 Practical Ideas To Rein In The Presidential Power To Kill Americans

Yesterday, NBC News released a Department of Justice white paper concerning the “Lawfulness of a Lethal Operation Directed Against a U.S. Citizen Who Is a Senior Operational Leader of Al-Qa’ida or An Associated Force.” Most of the white paper echoes a speech Attorney General Eric Holder delivered last year laying out the Obama Administration’s criteria for authorizing such a targeted killing, although the paper provides significantly more detail than Holder’s speech about when the administration may deem a targeted attack to be warranted.

Republican Congresswoman Likens Regulations Of For-Profit Colleges To The Holocaust

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) compared efforts to regulate the for-profit college industry to the Holocaust during a speech Tuesday. Speaking at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Foxx invoked a famous Holocaust maxim in order to defend for-profit colleges against increased scrutiny. “They came for the for-profits, and I didn’t speak up,” the North Carolina congresswoman said.

Levar Burton: ‘Django Is A Fantasy. It’s Not History’

Lavar Burton contributed perhaps the most salient commentary on “Django Unchained” any celebrity of note has made when asked about the film while in New York this week.

Five Reasons Why Fewer People Trust Fox News Than Ever Before

A poll released Wednesday by Public Policy Polling shows that fewer people than ever trust Fox News as a source for accurate news and reporting. Just 41 percent expressed trust in the network — down from 49 four years ago — while 46 percent said they distrust Fox. There’s an obvious reason why: Fox misrepresents facts and fudges its data to advance the conservative agenda. Indeed, it’s nothing like the “fair and balanced” network it claims to be. And, it seems, voters are catching on.