How Jack Abramoff’s Old Lobbying Firm Became Turkey’s Biggest Defender
President Donald Trump poses with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a dinner in Paris, France on November 10, 2018.Anadolu Agency/Getty The effects of Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria are still rippling through the Middle East, as the Kurds—who until recently were America’s staunchest allies in the fight against ISIS—face the prospect of ethnic cleansing.…
Unplugging PG&E Is Easier Said Than Done
Firefighters battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg in October 2019.Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images As California finally takes control of the fires that have been burning for weeks, PG&E is—and will continue to be—in the hot seat. It seems likely that transmission equipment from the utility, which supplies power for roughly 40 percent of Californians, sparked…
Someone Please Investigate Why Ukraine’s President Loves Jay Leno
Hey, here’s something weird: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky supposedly considers former Tonight Show host Jay Leno a “hero.” This is according to the testimony of the ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland. Before we get into the whole thing, let’s point out that: 1) Zelensky was a comedian before he ran for president, 2)…
Mike Pence’s Office Pushed to Reroute Foreign Aid to Favored Christian Groups
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Heritage Foundation Honors in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. AP/Jose Luis Magana This story originally appeared on ProPublica. Last November, a top Trump appointee at the U.S. Agency for International Development wrote a candid email to colleagues about pressure from the White House to reroute Middle East aid to…
WHY IS FACEBOOK YELLING AT ME?
FACEBOOK The world’s biggest social media company just couldn’t help itself: Facebook is now FACEBOOK. Officially. THE ALL-CAPS RESET was announced this week in a widely mocked blog post by its chief marketing officer. The rationale: Apparently the company felt the need to distinguish its subsidiary services and products, like WhatsApp and Instagram (owned by the…
Another Big Winner in Tuesday’s Elections: America’s Frustrated Teachers
On March 12, 2018, a group of the several hundred teachers gather to protest perceived attacks on public education at the Capitol. Bryan Woolston/AP On Tuesday night, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, while declaring victory over the Trumpish “bully” incumbent Matt Bevin, made sure to praise one group of voters Bevin had bad-mouthed during his…