Trump: Weak Economy Is Fake News, But We Still Need a Huge Stimulus
According to Donald Trump, the economy is booming: all the talk of a possible recession is just fake news and Democratic propaganda. America has the best economy in the world and, possibly, the best economy in all of human history. Also according to Donald Trump, we need an immediate gigantic cut in interest rates and…
Academics Doubt Trump’s Claim About Google Influencing the 2016 Election
Cheriss May/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press Unsurprisingly, experts aren’t so sure about a claim, tweeted by President Donald Trump on Monday morning, that Google influenced at least 2.6 million Americans to vote for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Wow, Report Just Out! Google manipulated from 2.6 million to 16 million votes for Hillary Clinton in…
Planned Parenthood Rejects Federal Funding Over Trump Administration’s “Unethical” Gag Rule
Pro-choice activists and legislators in New York protest the Title X “gag rule” in February. Spencer Platt/Getty Planned Parenthood announced Monday that it will withdraw from Title X, the federal family planning program through which the organization receives about $60 million annually, rather than adhere to the Trump administration’s new rule that restricts grantees from…
California Just Passed New Limits on Police Use of Force. Not Everyone Is Happy With the Compromise.
California Gov. Gavin NewsomAssemblymember Shirley Weber/Facebook California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law one of the country’s most substantive police use-of-force bills on Monday. The legislation nominally attempts to narrow the parameters for when officers are allowed to use deadly force on the job—marking a significant turning point for the state, which is the country’s…
Republicans Really Hate Universities These Days
According to a new study from Pew, the 2016 presidential campaign produced a huge increase in the number of Republicans who think universities are bad for America: I’m a little puzzled by this. Conservatives have been railing about universities forever, from Bill Buckley’s quip about the Boston phone book to Spiro Agnew’s nattering nabobs to…
On the Road at Newport Folk Festival
One of the unique aspects of Newport Folk Festival, which this year celebrated its 60th anniversary, is the interconnected community of the artists who perform each year; there is a sense of musical camaraderie there among both the artists and the fans. A good percentage of performers in any given year are returning alumni, and…