Roberto Unger, Obama's Former Harvard Law School Professor, Says The President 'Must Be Defeated'

One of President Barack Obama's former professors appears to have turned against him, according to a recent YouTube video.

Parents accused of killing daughter's pimp in San Francisco

Authorities believe Barry Gilton and Lupe Mercado failed in one attempt and succeeded with their second in killing Calvin Sneed, a known Compton gang member.

Americans Support Cutting The Deficit, But Not Cutting Specific Programs

Nearly 70 percent of Americans now say that cutting the deficit is an important goal for 2012, with 84 percent of Republicans, 66 percent of Democrats, and 64 percent of Independents rating it as their top priority. There’s a major problem, though: when asked about specific programs, wide majorities almost always favor either increasing spending or maintaining the current level, according to the Pew Research Center.

‘Stop-And-Frisk Watch’ Smartphone App Allows New Yorkers To Push Back Against Unlawful Police Encounters

If you’re concerned about possible racial profiling and police misconduct resulting from New York City’s controversial“stop-and-frisk” policy, there’s an app for that.

POLL: NEVADA REPUBLICANS FAVOR BROTHELS OVER MARRIAGE EQUALITY 3-1

A new Public Policy Polling poll finds that brothels enjoy popular support across all political parties in Nevada, including 66 percent of both Democrats and Republicans. A March poll found that only 20 percent of Nevada Republicans support same-sex marriage, a juxtaposition that PPP described as “an interesting take on family values.” Nevada’s brothels have no legal restrictions on sexual orientation, so according to the state’s Republicans, it’s okay if gays and lesbians pay for sex, just so long as they don’t settle down and start families.

SENIOR CITIZENS LOST $2.9 BILLION TO FINANCIAL ABUSE IN 2010

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched an inquiry into financial fraud and abuse against senior citizens Thursday, as studies showing that scams against the elderly are becoming more prevalent. Senior citizens lost $2.9 billion to financial abuse in 2010, a 12 percent increase from 2009, according to research from MetLife. 58 percent of respondents to a survey conducted by Investors Protection Trust said they encounter financial exploitation or fraud targeted at seniors “quite often” or “somewhat often,” and 96 percent consider it a “serious problem.” The CFPB is now seeking public comments about whether seniors are getting adequate financial education, and for examples of how they are being exploited.

Lisa Brown, Michigan Lawmaker, To Help Perform 'Vagina Monologues'

LANSING, Mich. -- A Michigan lawmaker barred from speaking in the state House after she used the word "vagina" during a debate on an anti-abortion bill will participate in a performance of the Tony Award-winning play, "The Vagina Monologues," on the state Capitol steps.

Conservatives Use Sam Donaldson In Their Game Of, "Yeah We Did It, But They Did It First" In This Recent Interruption Of The President (Spoiler They Mention Reagan!)

NEW YORK -- Shortly after Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro interrupted President Barack Obama's remarks on changes in immigration policy Friday, Editor-in-Chief Tucker Carlson suggested to The Huffington Post that the reporter's actions were similar to those of former White House correspondent Sam Donaldson during the Reagan years.

Obama Immigration Plan Leaves Young Immigrants Hopeful, Skeptical

ATLANTA -- Scores of young undocumented immigrants who have called the United States home for most of their lives are excited by the Obama administration's decision allowing them to stay here legally, but they have a lot of questions. Most important: Is it too good to be true?

Reporter Neil Munro Interrupts, Heckles President During Remarks (Maybe He Wants To Be The Next BreitBart!)

President Obama was heckled by a reporterduring his immigration remarks on Friday.

Obama announced that the Department of Homeland Security will stop deportations and grant work permits for students who meet certain requirements. The policy change will apply to those who arrived in the U.S. before turning 16, who have been in the country for at least five years, and are under the age of 30.

Why Obama’s Decision To Stop Deporting DREAM-Eligible Youth Is Good For The Economy

President Obama will announce a new immigration policy today that will allow some undocumented youths to avoid deportation and receive work permits to remain in the United States. Students in the U.S. who are in deportation proceedings or those who would have qualified for the DREAM Act and have yet to come forward to Department of Homeland Security officials will not be deported and will be allowed to work in the United States.

GOP Begins Judge Blockade

With less than four and a half months until Election Day, Senate Republicans are shutting off the bipartisan spigot when it comes to confirming President Barack Obama’s nominees to the nation’s top courts and will present a unified front against his circuit court picks through November.

Obama Speech Highlights 'Fundamentally Different Views' From Mitt Romney

CLEVELAND — President Barack Obama said November's election will give voters the chance to break a stalemate about America's direction, declaring Thursday in a campaign speech in battleground Ohio that he and Republican Mitt Romney offer "two fundamentally different views" about how to grow the economy and create jobs.

Five Reasons Americans Are Right To Blame Bush For The Economy

Sixty-eight percent of Americans — including 49 percent of Republicans — say President George W. Bush is responsible for the state of today’s economy, a new Gallup poll finds.

Afghanistan War Death Toll: Operation Enduring Freedom Hits 2,000 U.S. Casualties

After more than 10 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. reached a milestone on Wednesday when the 2,000th American died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, CNN reports.

World’s Richest Man Calls For Increasing Retirement Age To 70

Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim, who is the world’s richest manwith a fortune of $65 billion, believes that struggling countries need to raise their retirement age to 70 in order to help fix their finances:

Five Reasons Why Michigan’s Anti-Abortion Bill Is The Nation’s Worst

The Michigan House has passed HB 5711, the nation’s most restrictive anti-abortion bill that combines some of the worst attacks on women’s access to abortion care into one bill. The massive 45-page, Republican-backed legislationlimits when a woman could have an abortion and puts a greater, unnecessary burden on abortion providers.

How A Justice Department Investigation Could Shake Up The Cable Television Model

There are a lot of people who want a lot of things about the way we watch television to change: to be able to buy channels on a stand-alone basis rather than in bundles, to be able to buy streaming access to premium networks like HBO without having to purchase a cable subscription first, to be able to stream shows that are available through services like Hulu as quickly and smoothly as if they were airing on a network. As much as I would also like to see some of those things come to pass, and as much as some networks would like to be able to offer some, if not all, of those options it’s been hard to get through to folks that there is a complex system governing cable television and internet that makes those changes difficult to make without current successful business models take a major hit that could disrupt the delivery and quality of the programming we currently find so desirable.

Health Care Insurers Spent $100 Million To Defeat Obamacare

As the Supreme Court readies to announce their decision on the individual mandate portion of the health reform, it has emerged that the largest health care lobbying group in the country spent a total of $102.4 million in just 15 months to prevent Obamacare from becoming law in the first place.

From GoDaddy To E3, Pop Culture That Treats Men Like They’re Dumb And Forgets Women Exist

Today on the Penny Arcade Report, Ben Kucheraexplains why the E3 convention’s reliance on booth babes to sell video games is a fundamental misreading of the video game market:

Black Couples Face Unique Challenges Dealing With Prostate Cancer

A recent study suggests that African-American couples affected by the trials ofprostate cancer face emotional challenges that increase the burden of combating the disease. Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center of Florida published the study in the Journal of Cancer Education, which focused primarily on African-American men and how their families fared while dealing with cancer.

NRA Offers ‘Stand Your Ground’ Insurance To Cover Legal Costs Of Shooting People In Self-Defense

In a rare “scoop” for an editorial cartoonist today, Matt Bors skewered a little-known National Rifle Association (NRA) program that offers insurance to cover policy holders’ costs should they become embroiled in a legal battle after shooting someone in self-defense.

Seniors Could Lose Prescription Drug Discounts If Supreme Court Strikes Down Obamacare

Seniors have saved $3.5 billion on prescription drug costs thanks to an Affordable Care Act provision that closes the coverage gap — known as the “doughnut hole” — in their Medicare Part D plans. But if the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare later this month, these drug savings could end, according to a drug industry spokesman.

Jeffrey Warren, White Student, Gives Back Scholarship Intended For African American Students

When a 17-year-old white Californian high school student walked towards the stage to collect a scholarship last month, awkward laughter erupted from the audience.

The President's Global Job Approval Down Sharply, Poll Says

International opinion of President Barack Obama's foreign policy has fallen sharply since his inauguration, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Jerry Sandusky Trial: Alleged Victim Says Former Penn State Football Coach Forced Oral Sex

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- An alleged victim of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky testified Wednesday that Sandusky had sexually assaulted him and then threatened him to prevent him from telling anyone.

Mother-of-two, who spent $15,000 on butt injections, lifts lid on the secret world of black market cosmetic procedures

A woman who spent approximately $15,000 on illegal butt and hip injections has shed light on the secretive world of black market cosmetic procedures in a new book.

MacBook Pro With Retina Display Can Cost $9,000 With All Of The Accessories And Add-Ons

The Retina display on Apple's new top-of-the-line MacBook Pro is eye-popping. So is the price, if you want all the fixings.

Five Cities That Want Taxpayer Money To Finance Pro Sports Stadium Boondoggles

Cities across the country are turning to taxpayers to finance newer, fancier sports stadiums that feature more luxurious amenities than their predecessors, a trend that has persisted through the Great Recession and economic recovery despite dire state budget situations.

When Will Congress Decide If They Actually Care About The Future Of Higher Education Or The Debt That Now Comes With IT?

Dear Friend,

Since you've been receiving our emails about student loan debt, you probably already know that it's out of control, and that on July 1st, it's about to get way worse if we don't do something. But do your friends know that?

Does Oprah’s Interview with 50 Cent Mean She’s Desperate?

Jun 11, 2012

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

When I read that Oprah Winfrey was going to interview 50 Cent, I took a moment of pause. I thought, “Why would a champion for women’s rights interview a man who has made millions by degrading women in every way imaginable?”

Mitt Romney’s Most Shocking Statement Yet?

Mitt Romney’s Job Elimination Program

During the course of the primary campaign, Mitt Romney famously said that he “likes being able to fire people who provides services to [him].” Now Mitt Romney wants to fire people who provide essential services to all of us — specifically teachers, firefighters, and cops.

Americans Suffered Record Decline In Wealth During Recession: Report

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - Americans suffered a record decline in wealth between 2007 and 2010 as home values tumbled, according to a Federal Reserve report on Monday that underscored the severity of the recent recession.

San Francisco's Marijuana Dispensaries Still Don't Cause Crimes, Study Shows

Whenever a new medical marijuana dispensary applies for a San Francisco permit, a troop of naysayers is ready with a predictable script: dispensaries cause crime, harm children, and destroy neighborhoods.

Not Enough Sleep Could Increase Stroke Risk: Study

Most of us are aware of the main risk factors for a stroke -- smoking cigarettes, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having high blood pressure and/or cholesterol, among others. But now, new research suggests not getting enough sleep could also raise your risk.

Salem woman arrested in $2.1 million Oregon tax fraud case

Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 4:16 PM

Authorities arrested a Salem woman Wednesday who is accused of swindling the Oregon Department of Revenue out of more than $2 million by filing what could be one of the biggest fraudulent tax returns in state history.

BLACK ON BLACK

By Darryl James

Monday, April 6, 2009.

Now that I have your attention, you have to know that the title is far from the truth. At least it is for any sane person, but not for a growing number of Black women who are now using the R. Kelly acquittal to bolster their claim that Black men hate Black women.

Read How Women Throw Themselves At Pro Athletes (And Vice Versa): A Publicist Explains

I'm a publicist, and I've worked with high-profile athletes for nearly 15 years. Olympic gold medalists, NFL All-Pros and Super Bowl champions, MLB All-Stars and World Series champions, even an NBA player on a championship team once. I'm not really a nightlife guy, but there are times when I need to accompany clients to clubs, concerts, after-parties, whatever. When I first started, I remember my mouth dropping at every attractive woman who approached one of my clients, and at the things they would say to them or offer them. Now, I don't even bat an eyelash. The only reaction you may get from me is a laugh if it's an approach I haven't heard before. I've seen women slip their numbers to my clients while their boyfriends weren't looking. I've seen women ditch their boyfriends in the bar just for a shot at one of my clients—and I've seen my client shoot those same women down just to laugh at them.

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear ‘Birther’ Argument…Again

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal challenging PresidentBarack Obama‘s U.S. citizenship and his eligibility to serve as commander in chief.

Nation’s Largest Health Insurer Will Preserve Key Obamacare Provisions, Regardless Of Supreme Court Ruling

UnitedHealthcare — one of the nation’s largest health insurers — has announcedthat it will preserve a provision of the health care law that allows young adults to stay on their family health care plans up to age 26, even if the high court rules the law unconstitutional later this month.

Companies With Big Spending CEOs Are More Likely To Commit Fraud

Pay for chief executives has skyrocketed over the last two decades, and a new study found that the way executives use their wealth has a direct impact on how their companies operate. “Unfrugal” CEOs — those who spend their massive salaries on luxury goods — aren’t more likely to commit fraud in their personal business dealings. Their companies, however, are more likely to commit fraud, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research:

14 MILLION SENIORS ARE ALREADY BENEFITING FROM OBAMACARE

Medicare reports that 14.3 million seniors in America have already received important preventive benefits under President Obama’s health care law. In the first few months of 2012, seniors were able to take advantage of a number of preventative health services, including an annual checkup, without paying any deductibles or co-pays. “Thanks to the health care law, millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms, and other preventive services for free,” said acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “These preventive services are helping people in Medicare stay healthy and lower their health care costs.” –Angela Guo

Apple Expected To Show Fresh Software, New Macs

NEW YORK -- Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to show off new iPhone software, updated Mac computers and provide more details on future releases of Mac software when he kicks off the company's annual conference for software developers on Monday.

U.S.-Pakistan Relation At Dangerous Low

ISLAMABAD -- You know a friendship has gone sour when you start making mean jokes about your friend in front of his most bitter nemesis.

INCREASE IN PRISON SENTENCE LENGTHS COST STATES $10 BILLION IN 2009

According to a study conducted by Pew, the amount of time that offenders spend behind bars has drastically increased in recent decades. In 2009, prisoners served “an average of nine additional months in custody, or 36 percent longer, than offenders released in 1990.” This new trend in the criminal justice system has its price: “prisoners released from incarceration in 2009 cost states $23,300 per offender–or a total of over $10 billion nationwide. More than half of that amount was for nonviolent offenders.”

Republicans Block Online Disclosure Of Campaign Television Ad Spending

The Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision has created a flood of television ad spending — hundreds of millions of dollars — from outside groups, corporations, and individuals. The Justices who voted for the decision and its supporters argue that disclosure is all voters need to make informed decisions. But yesterday, a panel of House Republicans moved to keep much of this spending in the dark.

Could These Four Pictures Show the State Of MotherHood As It Is Today?

If a girl has a baby at 18, 17, 16, 15 that she cannot afford she will be destined to be poor and her off spring will be poor as well. A self perpectuating cycle is born.

Three Democratic Senators Undecided On Extension Of Bush Tax Cuts For The Rich (This is also a huge Problem The Conservadem!)

Two days after the White House said it would not extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich under any circumstances, multiple Democratic senators refused to rule out the same scenario.

NEW DATA: 6.6 Million Young Adults Insured Thanks To Obamacare

Even though much of the Affordable Care Act does not go into effect until 2014, conservatives insist the bill is making things worse for Americans. But a new study shows that one implemented provision of the ACA is already providing millions of young Americans with health insurance.

GOP Candidate Wants To Let Student Rates Double July 1, Work On More ‘Important Things’ Now

The Republican nominee for Gabby Giffords’ old congressional seat declared this week that he’s willing to let interest rates on student loans double on July 1 because Congress should “deal with the huge problems right now” instead.

Power Plant Mercury Emissions Poisoning the Great Lakes

This week we released a report,Poisoning the Great Lakes: Mercury Emissions from Coal Fired Power Plants in the Great Lakes Region, which highlights the impacts of mercury emissions from Great Lakes power plants on the people, fish, birds, and wildlife of our region. EPA recently issued new nationwide Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that require power plants to cut their mercury emissions by 90% on average, as well as to make similar cuts to their emissions of arsenic, lead, acid gases, and other toxic air pollution.

Military Suicide Rate Surges To Nearly One Per Day This Year

WASHINGTON -- Suicides are surging among America's troops, averaging nearly one a day this year – the fastest pace in the nation's decade of war.

House Democrats Propose Increasing Minimum Wage To $10

A group of House Democrats have proposed increasing the minimum wage to $10, which, as Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) pointed out would allow the wage to “catch up” with where it would be had it been allowed to grow with inflation:

NUMBER OF WEALTHY HOUSEHOLDS PAYING NO INCOME TAX SPIKED AFTER 2004

According to data from the Internal Revenue Service,one in 189 high income Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2009. This included householdsmaking more than $200 million. As this chart by Noni Mausa at Angry Bear shows, the number of wealthy taxpayers managing to avoid the income tax spiked after 2004, while the percentage increased “eightfold”:

Providing Housing For The Homeless Saves Government Money

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s most recent data, there were more than 51,000 homeless individuals in Los Angeles county, which has one of the highest homeless populations in the country. But it turns out that programs to provide housing for these unlucky individuals actually helps LA save money.

Earth Tipping Point Study In Nature Journal Predicts Disturbing And Unpredictable Changes

Earth is rapidly headed toward a catastrophic breakdown if humans don't get their act together, according to an international group of scientists.

Marvel Comics Film Adaptation Of Black Panther Could Spark Necessary Revolution

When the rumors hit the web that Marvel Studios had given an official green light to a long-discussed Black Panther movie project, fans of the super-hero comic book hero rejoiced universally. Although a breaking report fromLatino Review has not been confirmed by the heads of Marvel, it didn’t stop the snowball effectof the spreading news, with mounds of speculation still piling up. If the rumors do result in a film, what could this mean for the face of an industry that is lacking in positive Black images, especially in the realm of comic book adaptions?

An Official Invite To 'Seattle Seahawks’ Mini-camp For Brian Banks!

Brian Banks has been invited to the Seattle Seahawks minicamp next week, ESPN reports.

Banks, who served five years in prison and an additional five years on parole for a rape he did not commit, says he is not sure whether or not he will accept the offer because he needs to consult with his agent.

Letter From Rebuild The Dream On Student Loan Debt

Dear Readers,

The media does a flat-out terrible job of showing how people are struggling in this economy. In the student loan debt fight, you can go days hearing nothing but numbers and statistics. But for me, this fight becomes so much more personal when I read a story like this:

Face it, Black American Enthusiasm for President Obama is Dead (This was interesting and still has me thinking)

Jun 7, 2012 By Dr. Boyce Watkins

As we gear up for the 2012 Presidential election, it’s interesting to see how the White House works to explain the fact that it’s been MIA for the black community. The last three years have been a relative wasteland of political and economic progress for African Americans, and even the most ardent Obama supporters are growing tired. They want to defend him at any cost, but he’s made it remarkably difficult.
Policies and action that have come forth to help the gay community, women, immigrants and other groups have flown over the head of black America, like Jay-Z performing in a city where black people can’t afford to buy tickets. But similar to the Jay-Z concert, some of us love Obama anyway, standing outside the arena hoping to catch a glimpse of our hero as he gets inside his limousine.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT OFFICIALLY DEFIES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, VOWS TO CONTINUE VOTER PURGE

In a letter sent tonight, Florida Governor Rick Scott said the state will continue to purge registered voters from the rolls despite the Department of Justice’s warning that the effort is illegal. The Miami Herald reports, “the letter all but dares the Justice Department to sue Florida for allegedly violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.” You can read the full letterhere.

Gonorrhea May Be Untreatable Soon

GENEVA — A potentially dangerous sexually transmitted disease that infects millions of people each year is growing resistant to drugs and could soon become untreatable, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

Georgia Drug Testing Policy Not Catching Jobless Druggies So Far

Georgia businesses have complained recently that they have had trouble finding workers who can pass drug tests. But since February, when the Georgia Department of Labor started encouraging businesses to report job applicants with dirty urine, not a single one has done so.

Fifteen State Attorneys General To Investigate Company Marketing For-Profit Colleges To Veterans

An Iraq War veteran searching the web for “GI Bill schools” won’t find the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website about Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits among the top results. Instead, he or she will see GIBill.com, a slick commercial site advertising the select schools willing to pay to get their names featured — mostly for-profit schools with low graduation and high loan default rates.

Colorado Asks Unemployed To Pay Back $128 Million In Jobless Benefits

In one state, the jobless now have to pay the government.

Colorado accidentally overpaid $128 million in unemployment benefits last year, and now the state is billing the jobless to get that money back, the Denver Postand Associated Press reported.

Political Consultants In The Age Of Super PACs See More Opportunity Than Ever, Win Or Lose

WASHINGTON -- When Joe Ricketts, the founder of the brokerage firm TD Ameritrade, had an itch to spend $10 million on an anti-Obama ad campaign, Fred Davis, the well-traveled conservative media consultant, was there to help him craft a plan.

Walmart Outsourcing Depresses Wages In U.S. Warehouses: Report

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has driven down wages in its retail supply chain by outsourcing jobs in American warehouses, according to a report issued Wednesday by a low-wage workers advocacy group.

Democrats Face Cruel June

WASHINGTON — Just one week old, June already is proving a cruel month for President Barack Obama and the Democrats – and it could get a lot worse.

Obama: Bush Tax Cuts For Wealthy Will Not Be Extended, Period

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — The White House is insisting President Barack Obama will not extend the Bush-era tax cuts for wealthier Americans – even temporarily.

Scott Walker Defeats Tom Barrett In Wisconsin Recall Election (Some Deserve What They Get Remember They Voted Him In 51% Last Time)

MILWAUKEE -- Scott Walker did it. In the historic Wisconsin recall battle, Walker emerged victorious on Tuesday, beating back labor unions and Democrats who tried to kick him out of office.

BREAKING: Senate GOP Blocks Pay Equity Bill

Today, Republicans in the Senate blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act by filibustering the bill. The legislation would have strengthened protections for women who are being paid less because of their gender by creating larger penalties for employers who discriminate, creating more transparency of salaries so that women know whether they are being paid less, and protecting those who sue for pay equity.

Venomous Spiders Invade Indian Town, 2 Dead

An army of venomous spiders invaded a town in India, killing two people -- and scientists still don't know much about the arachnids or where they came from.

Wisconsin Recall: Scott Walker, Tom Barrett Make Final Pitches To Voters (Tell Me After All That Has Come To Light, "How In The Hell Is This Race Neck an Neck.")

MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to reelect one of the most polarizing politicians in the country, choosing between two starkly opposite visions of how to run the state. Symbolically, the election's importance is second only to the presidential contest, and both gubernatorial candidates -- Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) -- made sure their supporters understood the stakes one last time on Monday.

Zimmerman Donations Increase Since Bond Revoked

Contributions to George Zimmerman have ballooned to a whopping $1,000 per day since his $150,000 bond was revoked for lying to Judge Kenneth Lester about available funds, reports Huffington Post.

CUOMO SEEKS TO LOWER CHARGE FOR PUBLIC POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) has proposed “reducing the penalty for public possession of small amounts of marijuana” from a misdemeanor to a violation. Under the measure, which still has to be approved by the legislature, individuals caught with under 25 grams of marijuana could face a fine of up to $100, but woud avoid stop-and-frisk searches and criminal charges. State law already treats private possession of marijuana in such a manner. “There’s a blatant inconsistency,” Cuomo said on Monday. “If you possess marijuana privately, it’s a violation. If you show it in public, it’s a crime.” Eighty-two percent of New Yorkers arrested from stop and frisks were either black or Hispanic.

Lawyer Admits Zimmerman Misled Court At Bail Hearing, Blames Trayvon Martin Supporters

Last week, the judge presiding over George Zimmerman’s trial for the alleged murder of Trayvon Martin revoked Zimmerman’s bond because hefailed to disclose $200,000 donated to him through a website. Earlier today, his legal team released a statement claiming that Zimmerman should be allowed to post a new bond because “in all other regards, Mr. Zimmerman has been forthright and cooperative.” The statement also suggests that part of the blame for Zimmerman’s misstatements rests on the many activists who worked to ensure that Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence would be evaluated by a court of law:

Verizon To Lay Off 1,700 Workers After Paying CEO $22 Million Last Year

America’s largest wireless service provider plans to cut 1,700 jobs by offering its technicians and call center employees buyouts. Verizon Communications announced last week that it would reduce its nationwide workforce by 1 percent, and if enough workers don’t accept the buyouts, it will resort to involuntary layoffs.

Bleeding Cash Conservatives Wasting Money To Punish Vulnerable Americans

Not so long ago, the term "bleeding heart liberal" had currency in American politics as a way to accuse someone of costly naïveté. Here was a label that could be slapped on anyone who advocated policies that aimed for fairness and decency, pursuing feel-good outcomes at the supposed expense of taxpayer interest, public safety and common sense.

Thee Republican Economy

By PAUL KRUGMAN   Published: June 3, 2012

What should be done about the economy? Republicans claim to have the answer: slash spending and cut taxes. What they hope voters won’t notice is that that’s precisely the policy we’ve been following the past couple of years. Never mind the Democrat in the White House; for all practical purposes, this is already the economic policy of Republican dreams.

GOP’s Austerity Chickens Come Home to Roost

Friday's dismal jobs report — just 69,000 net jobs created last month and the unemployment rate ticking up slightly to 8.2 percent — shows that the GOP’s success at manufacturing crises, blocking new job creation measures, and forcing deep spending cuts is taking a severe toll on our economy and the lives of millions of unemployed Americans.

The Sunday June 3rd 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Apparently we're going to talk mainly about whether the rising unemployment rate means the recovery is stalling (YES) and if the Wisconsin recall race is a preview of the presidential election (NO). I mean, that's how easy it is to answer those questions, and yet we're going to point a camera at flapping gums for like, an hour.

Nearly 70 Percent Of People Who Invoked ‘Stand Your Ground’ Walked Away Scot Free In Florida

It took 44 days before George Zimmerman was arrested for Trayvon Martin’s death because police claimed he was “standing his ground” when he fatally shot the teenager. But these kinds of delays are not all that uncommon under the ALEC-sponsored law, a new report by Tampa Bay Times concludes.The report finds that in nearly one-third of 200 Stand Your Ground cases, the defendant had initiated the fight, shot an unarmed individual or first pursued the victim, and were never even charged with crimes.

CHART: Bush Vs. Obama On Private And Public Sector Job Creation

Even with today’s disappointing and troubling jobs report, private sector job creation under President Obama has far exceeded private sector job creation under President Bush. 40 months into his presidential term, there are currently more private sector jobs in the economy than when Obama came into office. At the same point in President Bush’s term, the total number of private sector jobs was still down 1.7 percent from where it began.

Highest Number Of Anti-Gay Murders Ever Reported In 2011: The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

More murders motivated by anti-gay bias occurred last year than any year since the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs began collecting data in 1998, the national advocacy organizationreported this week.

Vietnam War Turns 40 'Napalm Girl Photo'

TRANG BANG, Vietnam — In the picture, the girl will always be 9 years old and wailing "Too hot! Too hot!" as she runs down the road away from her burning Vietnamese village.

Dow Jones Industrial Average Plunges More Than 200 Points On May Jobs Report

U.S. stocks are closing with their biggest declines this year after a dismal jobs report and troubling economic news from overseas.

North Carolina Bill Would Require Coastal Communities To Ignore Global Warming Science

Some North Carolina GOP legislators want to stop the use of science to plan for the future. They are circulating a billthat would force coastal counties to ignore actual observations and the best science-based projections in planning for future sea level rise.

Elections Officials Throughout Florida Refuse To Use Rick Scott’s Inaccurate Lists To Purge Voters

On Wednesday, Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher (D) told ThinkProgress her office has rejected theerror-ridden list of alleged non-citizen voters sent to county officials by Gov. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) administration. Now, as the Department of Justice has told Florida to stop its illegal purge, other county elections officials across Florida have confirmed their counties will not comply with the state’s effort:

As Job Growth Slows All Over, Will Republicans Double Down On Austerity?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that the economy created a disappointing 69,000 jobs last month, and that the unemployment rateincreased to 8.2 percent. The job creation totals for March and April were both revised downward.

GLOBAL CANCER RATES TO INCREASE 75 PERCENT BY 2030

Cases of cancers worldwide are expected to rise by nearly 75 percent in 20 years, according to a study published Friday in the Lancet Oncology. Demographic and lifestyle factors, such as more people adopting a “western” diet higher in sugar, starch, and meat, are driving the increase. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) researchers say the number of cancer cases will jump to 22.2 million by 2030 from 12.7 million in 2008, with 90 percent of the growth happening in poor countries. Along with expanded vaccinations, early detection, and effective treatments, “[t]argeted interventions can lead to a decrease in the projected increase,” the IARC reports.

TRAYVON MARTIN SHOOTER GEORGE ZIMMERMAN MISLED COURT, HAS 48 HOURS TO SURRENDER

The judge in George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial revoked his bond and ordered him to surrender within 48 hours because he misled the court about his finances. Zimmerman’s wife testified during his original bond hearing that the Zimmermans had limited funds, and failed to disclose that more than $200,000 had been donated to Zimmerman through a website. Prosecutors argued that the Zimmermans conspired to lie about money. Zimmerman also failed to disclose the fact that he had a second passport, which he did not surrender to the court.

Oklahoma Doctor Refuses To Provide Rape Victim With Emergency Contraception

An Oklahoma emergency room doctor refused to provide emergency contraception to a 24-year-old female rape victim because the medication violated the health provider’s personal beliefs, a local CBS News affiliate reports. The hospital also denied the victim a rape kit, noting that it had no appropriate nurse on staff to administer the test.

Rumsfeld: Obama Call To Get Bin Laden No Big Deal, Credits Bush Admin For Raid’s Success

Earlier this month, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served in both the Bush and Obama administrations, said President Obama’s decision to order the raid that killed Osama bin Laden “gutsy,” saying that “people don’t realize” what a tough call it was and not everyone would have made the same decision.

BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Florida Voter Suppression Law

A federal judge blocked much of Florida’s year-old voter suppression law today as an unconstitutional infringement on speech and voting rights.

Have You Lost Your Job Or Were You Betrayed By Others Who Looked Just Like You? Were You Betrayed Just Like Denmark Vesey!

The North American Slave Revolts are often centered on the most well-known rebellion of African slaves rising against their captors: the Nat Turner-led revolt of 1831. TheDenmark Vesey conspiracy, however, is notable for the sheer number of slaves involved and how a simple, cowardly confession from fearful members of the revolution foiled Vesey’s epic plot. One-hundred and ninety years ago today, thousands of African slaves were betrayed by their own after the plot was revealed, resulting in dozens of executions.

8-Year-Old Gets 'Catastrophe Award' for Most Homework Excuses (Mother Deflection)

The mother of an 8-year-old Arizona girl who was presented with a "Catastrophe Award" for apparently having the most excuses for not having homework believes her child was humiliated by her teacher.

Fox & Friends Produces 4 Minute Anti-Obama Attack Ad, Then Removes It From Its Website

Critics of the Fox News morning program Fox & Friends have often charged the show’s three hosts with essentially providing free airtime to GOP candidates, lawmakers and surrogates with little to no representation from their Democratic counterparts. But Wednesday morning’s foray marks a new low in the network’s willingness to do the Republican Party’s heavy lifting for it.

The New Aids OF The America's (Chagas)

A disease like AIDS is scary enough by itself but what about a disease that can be just as deadly and is transmitted by insects, that disease is called Chagas and researchers are warning that its being quickly spread throughout the Americas, much in the same pattern as the early HIV/AIDS epidemic.

U.S. Drone Policy: Standing Near Terrorists Makes You A Terrorist

The Obama administration has in turnbeen secretive about its use of targeted drone strikes, boasted about the program's success, and fended off critics who say the strikes are killing and injuring too many civilians. A New York Times storypublished Tuesday has the administration's human rights critics buzzing again. A key revelation comes near the end of the article, written by Jo Becker and Scott Shane, under the heading, "'They Must All Be Militants.'"

Dirty Tricks In Wisconsin: Secret Group Shuts Down Phones Of Scott Walker’s Democratic Challenger With Spam Texts

One week before Wisconsinites vote on whether or not to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), a conservative group is engaged in dirty tricks that have shut down the Democratic challenger’s campaign phones.

US Has One Of The Highest Child Poverty Rates In The Developed World

According to a new report from the Office of Research at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the developed world. Of the 35 wealthy countries studied by UNICEF, only Romania has a child poverty rate higher than the 23 percent rate in the U.S.:

Virtual Blackout From National Media On Voter Suppression In Florida

Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has directed his administration to purge the state’s voting rolls of thousands of registered voters prior to the November election. But his list, which purports to include only “non-citizens,” targets mostly Democrats and Hispanics and, as ThinkProgress has documented, may disenfranchise hundreds of citizens who are eligible to vote.

The President's Kill List!

WASHINGTON — This was the enemy, served up in the latest chart from the intelligence agencies: 15 Qaeda suspects in Yemen with Western ties. The mug shots and brief biographies resembled a high school yearbook layout. Several were Americans. Two were teenagers, including a girl who looked even younger than her 17 years.

MEMORIAL DAY WAS STARTED BY FORMER SLAVES

According to Professor David Blight of Yale University, the first Memorial Day took place on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC, after a group of African-Americans, mostly former slaves, gave 257 Union soldiers a proper burial. The black community in Charleston then consecrated the new cemetary with “an unforgettable parade of 10,000 people,” led by 3,000 black school children. It was initially called “Decoration Day.”

Fact.

Memorial Day Driving By The Numbers

Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity to remember and honor the countless sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform in order to protect this great nation. It also marks the traditional start of the summer driving season—when families pack their bags and pile into their cars or minivans to hit the road for destinations across the country. This weekend nearly 35 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more to visit family and friends.Ninety percent of them will likely drive to their destination, filling up their tanks with expensive gasoline or diesel fuel before hitting the road.

Drone Lobbying Ramps Up Among Industry Manufacturers, Developers

WASHINGTON -- It may be years before unmanned aircraft are common in the sky, but lobbyists for the industry that develops and manufactures the drones are already buzzing around Capitol Hill.

After ‘Huge Progress,’ Veterans Are Still Struggling To Find Employment

While the unemployment rate for veterans has dropped dramatically in the last year, two veterans advocates told CNN’s Candy Crowley this morning that finding jobs for veterans remains a major issue. Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said there has been “huge progress” on helping unemployed veterans because President Obama has instituted policies to reduce veteran unemployment and Fortune 500 companies are also helping returning servicemembers.

Florida Telling Hundreds Of Eligible Citizens That They Are Ineligible To Vote

Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has ordered the state to purge all “non-citizens” from the voting rolls prior to November’s election. But that list compiled by the Scott administration is so riddled with errors that, in Miami-Dade County alone, hundreds of U.S. citizens are being told they are ineligible to vote, ThinkProgress has learned exlusively.

The Sunday May 27th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

So, today, McCain is here to talk about bombing places, and some Catholic Cardinal, Donald Wuerl, will discuss the Catholic Church's plan to push back on President Barack Obama's attempts to make it so that women aren't the societal equivalent of chattel. Then there will a C-team Fox panel and then we can move on to the next thing.

Obama's Hypocritical War on Marijuana

A forthcoming biography on President Obama is making headlines, with new details about the president smoking marijuana with his teenage friends in Hawaii.

New Mexico Official Asked To Resign After Advocating Teens Use Condoms

Erin Bouquin, New Mexico’s chief medical officer, said she was asked to resign after she promoted condom use in a TV interview as a way to slow the growth of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. An hour after her interview aired, Bouquin said she met with Health Department Secretary Catherine Torres and was asked to leave because she had not met the expectations of the state’s Republican governor.

Man Falsely Accused of Rape, All Liars Should Go To Prison

There’s nothing like using Facebook to say “I’m sorry for sending you to prison after falsely accusing you of kidnap and rape.”

Coal Industry Pays Fake Activists $50 To Wear Pro-Coal Shirts At Public Hearing

Apparently unable to find real activists, the coal industry paid astroturfers $50 to wear pro-coal t-shirts at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing yesterday.

Occupy Protesters Help Los Angeles Woman And Disabled Daughter Save Their Home From Bank Of America

Last month, Bank of America foreclosed on a Los Angeles woman and her disabled daughter. Dima Rodriguez had spent thousands of dollars retrofitting her home to accommodate her daughter — who has cerebral palsy — and fell behind on her loan payments. Bank of America gave her a loan modification, and even though Rodriguez had made her trial modification payments for a year, the bank sold her house at auction, right out from under her.

Occupy This Album

See How The Zero Weeks Of Paid Maternity Leave In The U.S. Compare Globally

Out of 178 nations, the U.S. is one of three that does not offer paid maternity leave benefits, let alone paid leave for fathers, which more than 50 of these nations offer. Here’s how the U.S. stacks up to 14 other countries:

Oh Baby By Motherhood Secret Fit Belly Pin-Striped Bootcut Pants

Teen’s NFL Dreams Squashed By Fake Rape Claim, Woman Confesses 10 Years Later

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The kidnap-rape conviction of a once-promising prep football star was dismissed Thursday following a recantation by his accuser.

BaDA Bain! Bain Capital Explained By Tony Soprano

The national debate over private equity so far has hinged on the question of whether experience in the field qualifies Mitt Romney, the former Bain Capital executive, for the presidency. But a more vexing, and largely unanswered, question lies just beneath the surface: How is it, exactly, that an investment company can make millions even as the company it's ostensibly trying to turn around goes bust?

POLL: WHITES MORE SUPPORTIVE OF ‘STAND YOUR GROUND’ LAW THAN AFRICAN-AMERICANS

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which has faced intense scrutiny after the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, is far more popular among white voters than minorities. Sixty one percent of white respondents say they favor the law while 31 percent oppose, a mirror image of the state’s black population which opposes “Stand Your Ground” 56 percent to 30 percent. Hispanic voters support the law as well, but by far narrower margins, 53 percent to 36 percent. Florida’s 2005 “Stand Your Ground” Law gives residents the authority to defend themselves–with lethal force if necessary–under certain circumstances. It has since been adapted by two dozen other states. The Trayvon Martin case cast doubt on the law however, due to concerns that Martin’s killer George Zimmerman could invoke it to escape accountability for his actions.

Prominent Islamophobes Identified As ‘Heading Up The Radical Right’

Increasing anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. has shown enormous growth in the past two years, leading the Southern Poverty Law Center to mention three notorious Islamophobes on their list of “30 new activists heading up the radical right.” The SPLC finds that “[a]n anti-Muslim movement, almost entirely ginned up by political opportunists and hard-line Islamophobes, has grown enormously since taking off in 2010, when reported anti-Muslim hate crimes went up by 50%.”

Five Ways The Facebook IPO Teaches Us About How Wall Street Games The System

Facebook’s initial public offering — which so dominated the financial press that Facebook has been on the cover of the Wall Street Journal fornine straight days — has started to raise some red flags for regulators, after it came to light the company and its Wall Street underwriters quietly hid a report about weak revenue. And that’s just one of several ways in which the Facebook IPO highlights how Wall Street and big companies can game the rules to gain an economic advantage. Here are five examples:

0: NUMBER OF TIMES ROMNEY MENTIONED IMMIGRATION AT LATINO EVENT

Mitt Romney didn’t mention immigration during his speech to the Latino Coalition Economic Summit on Wednesday. Romney spoke primarily about education and indirectly referenced undocumented students, saying, “No matter what circumstances they were born into, every child has a dream about where they can go or what they can become.” For many Latinos, these are one in the same: 91 percent of Latinos support the DREAM Act, and many consider immigration issues a top priority.

3 Black Chemistry Students Earn Doctorates, Set University Record

At the University of Mississippi (UM), a year-long initiative to increase graduates in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has paid off in epic fashion. Ole Miss News reports that three African-American chemistry students graduated on May 11 with doctorates, setting a school record.

Jay-Z, Kanye Prove That It Pays Be A N*gga

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

Congratulations to Kanye West, who raked in a chunk of BET Award nominations with his homeboy Jay-Z. Among the nominations for Video of the Year is the ever-so-bumping track “N*ggas in Paris,” the song that reminds you that no Black man on earth had ever been to Paris before Jay-Z and Kanye. Why read a book when artists are willing to give us instant history lessons?

Internet Protection Act Would Eliminate Anonymous Online Comments In New York

A new bill in Albany has its sights set on anonymous internet trolls. The Internet Protection Act would require sites to have online commenters identify themselves.

Study Finds Fox News Viewers Least Informed Of All Viewers

Another study has concluded that people who only watch Fox News are less informed than all other news consumers.

Federal Anti-Gay Hate Crimes Law Gets Its First Test

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. -- In the middle of an April night last year, a young gay man named Kevin Pennington crawled out of the woods in the remote hills of southeastern Kentucky, looking for help. Bruises and cuts covered his face and body and he limped down the road, dragging his ankle along the asphalt, until he reached a pair of empty cabins in a clearing -- a ranger's station -- and smashed out a window in one and climbed inside.

Ten Things Romney’s Republican Primary Opponents Said About Bain

Romney has placed his record at Bain at the center of his campaign. In April for example, Romney said, “You might have heard that I was successful in business. And that rumor is true…And after 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery!” (Multipleindependent fact checkers have concluded that Romney’s claims on job creation at Bain are simply false.)

Members Of New GOP Women’s Caucus Voted Against Equality For Women

The 24 Republican Congresswomen in the U.S. House announced yesterday that they have joined to form the Women’s Policy Committee, a caucus aimed at “raising the profile of GOP women in their roles as lawmakers, highlighting their diverse achievements and providing a unique, unified voice on a wide range of critically important issues.”

First 'United States Colored Troops’ Created 149 Years Ago Today

Shortly after the U.S. Congress passed theSecond Confiscation Act, which helped free slaves who had Confederate owners who opposed the Union, President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the act planted the seeds for emancipation.

Rep. K. Ellison: ‘We Were Held In Slavery Longer Than We’ve Been Free’

From the day he was sworn into office in 2006 with his hand placed on the Quran, Representative Keith Ellison (pictured left) (D-MN), the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Congress, has exemplified political bravery.

Are Republicans Sabotaging the Economy Just to Hurt President Obama?

Last year, the Republicans nearly destroyed the economy with their manufactured crisis over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. And then the spending cuts they demanded in return for avoiding a first-ever default on our obligations have slowed down the recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Financial Industry Gave Over $565,000 To Newark Mayor Cory Booker For 2002 Campaign

Yesterday, Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker (D) attacked the Obama campaign for making an issue of Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital during an appearance on Meet the Press. While the progressive leader laterbacked off the criticisms, Republicans have been quick to highlight his comments as anattack against the idea that scrutiny of Mitt Romney’s record as a businessman is fair game.

Corey Booker And Harold Ford Jr. Turn On President Obama! (Actually Ford Has Always Been A Blue-Dog)

Well it looks like that Billionaire Won't Need Larry Elder After All!  

Google Chrome Overtakes Internet Explorer As Most Used Web Browser In World: Statcounter

Has Google Chrome surpassed Internet Explorer to become the world's most used web browser?

Humane Society Investigation At Wyoming Premium Farms Raises Livestock Welfare Concerns

Earlier this year, the Humane Society of the United States prepared a young animal rights advocate for the sorts of abuse they expected her to encounter when she went to work at a Wyoming pig farm last month. Even so, the activist -- and the Humane Society -- say they were appalled by the level of depravity they ultimately documented in an undercover video that has since touched off an investigation by state officials and raised fresh questions about animal welfare on the nation's factory farms.

Obama Addresses Mitt Romney Bain Capital Experience Head-On

Obama, speaking at the NATO Summit in Chicago on Monday, questioned whether Mitt Romney's business experience at Bain Capital made him fit to be president in some of the most stark terms to date.

More Americans Die In Their Workplaces Each Year Than Died During 10 Years Of War In Iraq

4,690 people were killed at work in 2010, up three percent from 2009, the Center for Public Integrity reports. That means that more Americans died in their workplaces in one year than died during the entire war in Iraq.

43 CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS FILE 12 SEPARATE LAWSUITS AGAINST OBAMA’S BIRTH CONTROL RULE

The University of Notre Dame, Catholic University of America, the Archdiocese of Michigan, and the Archdiocese of New York have filed a lawsuit against an Obama administration regulation requiring employers and insurers to offer preventing health services — including contraception — without additional cost sharing. The suit,one of 12 filed Monday, argues that the requirement violates the Catholic institutions’ religious freedom– even though regulators have includes an accommodation for religious organizations. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards has called the challenges “unbelievable” and claimed, “This isn’t a religious or political issue – it’s a medical issue, and that’s where we should keep it.” An overwhelming majority of Americans — and Catholics — support the coverage rule.

BIG BANKS AND HOW THEY BOUGHT THE TEA PARTY: Cash Transforms Populist Insurgents To Reliable Vote For Financial Industry

The 15 freshmen Republican representatives in the House Tea Party Caucus each ran in 2010 on a populist anti-Wall Street message, highlighting their opposition to bank bailouts like the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and criticizing Washington for enabling the banking sector as it became “Too Big to Fail.” After winning, all fifteen receivedsignificant PAC contributions from the banking industry — and have become a reliable vote and mouthpiece for the financial industry, a ThinkProgress analysis of campaign contributions, voting records and public statements reveals.

Boomers Urged To Get Tested For Hepatitis C

ATLANTA — For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C.

Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in draft recommendations issued Friday.

CNBC ANALYST: BAIN CAPITAL ‘FIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE’ TO GET ‘PROSPERITY FOR THE RICH’

The private equity firm co-founded by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney “fired a lot of people” to get “prosperity for the rich,” CNBC analyst Jim Cramer said during an appearance on Meet The Press this morning. During a panel discussion on the effectiveness of an ad from President Obama’s campaign highlighting Romney’s past at Bain Capital, which bankrupted nearly a quarter of the companiesin which it invested while making billions of dollars, Cramer said the firm’s past earned Romney a reputation as a “job destroyer, not a creator.” Watch it:

CONGRESSMEN SEEK TO ‘LEGALIZE THE USE OF PROPAGANDA ON AMERICAN AUDIENCES.’

BuzzFeed reports that Rep. Mark Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) have inserted a provision into the latest defense authorization bill that would “‘strike the current ban on domestic dissemination’ of propaganda material produced by the State Department and the Pentagon.” The proposal would “give sweeping powers to the State Department and Pentagon to push television, radio, newspaper, and social media onto the U.S. public.”

Billion Dollar ‘The Avengers’ Received Millions In Subsidies From New Mexico

The box office smash The Avengers has officially made more than $1 billion worldwide, after setting the record for largest opening in film history. This revenue dwarfs the film’s $220 million budget, and makes one wonder why the state of New Mexico felt the need to subsidize the movie to the tune of $22 million:

Top Right-Wing Group: Minority Births Are ‘Not A Good Thing’ Because They ‘Don’t Share American Values’

Yesterday, the New York Times reported on new census data which showed, for the first time, that non-white births made up over 50 percent of all births in the United States last year.

Meet Joe Ricketts: Billionaire Has Millions To Smear Obama, Demands Massive Taxpayer Subsidy For Baseball Stadium

This week, the New York Times reported that Joe Ricketts, a right-wing billionaire and founder of TD Ameritrade, is soliciting multi-million dollar ad proposals to attack President Obama. One such proposal, leaked to the paper, was a $10 million, racially-charged campaign entitled “The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama: The Ricketts Plan to End his Spending for Good.” The proposal, which center on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, suggests hiring an “extremely literate conservative African-American” to break down Obama’s image as a “metrosexual, black Abe Lincoln.”

Latest on the Trayvon Martin Case

Ten Pieces of New Evidence

Last night, state prosecutors released a large amount of evidence — including 183 pages of documents and numerous multimedia files — related to their murder case against George Zimmerman. Here are ten notable pieces evidence that were just made public:

House GOP Throws Out Entire Summer Of Debt Ceiling Negotiations In Less Than 10 Minutes

Last August, debt ceiling negotiations between House Republicans and Senate Democrats came to an end when President Obama signed into law the Budget Control Act, a not-so-grand bargain that created a legislative super committee tasked with finding spending cuts to offset the debt ceiling increase. If the super committee failed, automatic cuts from the defense budget and discretionary spending levels would offset the cost.

All White Jury Declares White Policeman Innocent Despite Video Of Him Beating Black Teen

Police officers were caught by a security camera apparently beating a black teen as he lay prone with his hands behind his head.Chad Holley, then fifteen, was running from police after committing burglary, but after falling over the hood of a police car remained on the ground and put his hands behind his head. The video shows Officer Andrew Blomberg reach Holley first, and he then appears to kick or stomp Holley on the head or neck. Blomberg then runs to pursue another suspect. Holley remains surrounded by at least five officers who appear to continue beating him.

FACEBOOK AVOIDS PAYING $16 BILLION IN TAXES AFTER GOING PUBLIC

ThinkProgress has noted, Facebook’s initial public offering will help both CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company itself avoid billions of dollars in taxes. With Facebook’s offering now in the books, as Bloomberg’s Paula Dwyer wrote, the company is set to officially save $16 billion in taxes by deducting the cost of stock options granted to owners and employees. “The tax windfall will be the largest ever claimed by a company for stock option awards,” Dwyer wrote. “Facebook is an American success story. Its ability to use a stock option loophole to zero out its U.S. tax bill, despite ample profits, makes no sense. It also isn’t fair to the rest of American taxpayers who will have to pay more because Facebook pays nothing,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).

Brain Tapeworms Cause Neurocysticercosis, A Creepily Common Parasitic Disease (PHOTO)

You've heard of disgusting, 20-foot-long tapeworms living inside peoples' intestines, but it turns out their larvae are even more horrific, and they could be eating holes in your brain right now, undetected.