Dan Coats’ Deputy Is a Widely-Respected Intelligence Professional. Naturally, Trump Wants Her Out.
Evan Vucci/Associated Press The succession plan for yet another administration appointee went awry last week, after Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), President Donald Trump’s pick to replace Dan Coats as director of national intelligence, withdrew his name from consideration. The timing could not have been worse. The Senate, which has to confirm Trump’s eventual nominee, is out…
A Racist Mass Killer Wasn’t Going to Stop an Off-Duty Soldier From Saving Kids’ Lives
Glendon Oakley Jr., whose heroic instincts saved lives during the mass shooting at the mall in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019Courtesy of Glendon Oakley Jr. and Task & Purpose Welcome to Recharge, a weekly newsletter full of stories that will energize your inner hellraiser. See more editions and sign up here. Recently back…
Tommy Tuberville Perfected His Folksy Trumpism in That Great Lab of Democracy: Local Sports Radio
Mother Jones illustration; Stew Milne/AP; Getty “I don’t need the job and I ain’t going to be politically correct,” said Tommy Tuberville recently at a campaign rally. Intentionally or not, it’s a pretty good summation of Tuberville’s approach to his run for US Senate. Tuberville is best known for his 40 years as a college football…
A New Study Reveals Just How Toxic a Bee’s World Has Become
K_Thalhofer/iStock You can thank pollinating insects for one of every three bites of food you take. But as you may have heard, these bugs are in trouble: Since 2006, around 30 percent of US honeybee hives have died off each year, about double the previous loss rate. Honeybee populations are holding steady, because honeybees are…
California Fees May Hinder Housing Growth
The LA Times reports today that local governments typically charge developers high fees if they want to build new housing and that these fees may slow the growth of new housing stock. This will come as a surprise to exactly no one in the state. But you have to read down to literally the last…
El Paso Congresswoman Says She Won’t Participate in President Trump’s Post-Shooting Visit
Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) answers questions after a press briefing, following the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart.Joel Angel Juarez/AFP/Getty Images) Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) has long been a critic of President Donald Trump’s draconian immigration policies, but now it’s personal. In the wake of Saturday’s shooting at an El Paso Walmart in Escobar’s district, the…