DN Speak: 7/7/13

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Wounded Soldier Writes Letter About Being Forced To Commit War Crimes In Iraq . . . Then Commits Suicide

Wounded Soldier Writes Letter About Being Forced To Commit War Crimes In Iraq . . . Then Commits Suicide
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nJQLK

The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power--with author and religion reporter Jeff Sharlet

Interview:
http://player.fm/series/truth-driven-thinking/tdt-number-77-the-family-the-secret-fundamentalism-at-the-heart-of-american-power-with-author-and-religion-reporter-jeff-sharlet

Back in the national spotlight, religion reporter Jeff Sharlet joins Stephen Gibson to discuss his book about the secretive influence of a religious "elect" that has wielded power and influence in Washington D.C. since the 1930s. The book, "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power," is not conspiratorial in nature, but the newly discovered connections to Sen. John Ensign and S.C. governor Mark Sanford are nothing compared to the larger, elitist religious views Sharlet says are at the core of this controversial and powerful group.

Beliefs of a Non-Believer--A Sermon by "Russ"

Interview: http://podbay.fm/show/125255718/e/1251814627?autostart=1

Steve is honored to air a recent Sermon delivered to a UU Congregation, by a reader/podcast listener--about the richness and value he finds in a skeptical worldview. A copy of the presentation is available at Steve's BLOG as well (http://truthdriven.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/sermon-beliefs-of-a-non-believer/).

Humanist Approach to Happiness--Jen Hancock (30 min excerpt)

Full Interview: https://truth.bloomfire.com/posts/436265-tdt-89-humanist-approach-to-happiness/public

A humanist's "holy trinity":

Be Responsible.
Be Ethical.
Be Compassionate.

From finances and porn, to drugs, relationships, health, and a humanistic "holy trinity," adults will also learn from this discussion of morality and virtues for young adults and teens, with guest author Jen Hancock. TDT

Meaning and Morality Apart from God--Luke Meuhlhauser

Interview:
https://truth.bloomfire.com/posts/432114-tdt-87-meaning-and-morality-apart-from-god-luke-meuhlhauser/public

After sharing his deconversion story, this philosopher shares his thoughts on meaning and morality without god. Is there such a thing as an "objective moral standard" that we can all agree to live by? Is religion even a source of morality?

Week In The News: Egypt, Airliner Crash, Boston Bombing Suspect In Court (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/07/12/week-in-the-news-238

Big rivers of news this week. From Congress, with its fireworks on immigration, food stamps, farm bill, filibuster. From Egypt, where many have died as the military and Muslim Brotherhood face off. From the courts, where the trial of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin wraps up in drama, and the young Boston bombing suspect made his first appearance. From disaster zones – an airliner down in San Francisco, an oil train and much of a town blown up in Canada. Hot times in the summertime.

This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

- Tom Ashbrook

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-07-12/friday-news-roundup-domestic

House Republicans overwhelmingly resist comprehensive immigration overhaul. President Barack Obama's nominee to head the FBI answers questions about domestic surveillance. And the Boston Marathon bombing suspect pleads not guilty. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top domestic news stories.

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-07-12/friday-news-roundup-international

Egypt's military government calls for the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leaders. President Barack Obama considers pulling all troops from Afghanistan after 2014. And the U.S. warns China on cyber theft. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Netflix worth watching: Bitter Harvest (1981 version)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082077/

Note: There are at least 2 other films with the same title. They are not about the same thing.

Congressman who used to be a high school English teacher irks GOP by marking their memos with a red pen.

Congressman who used to be a high school English teacher irks GOP by marking their memos with a red pen.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXFya

11-Year-Old Unable to have Abortion in Chile Because of Jesus -- She became pregnant after being continually raped by her stepfather. "Think about it. An 11-year-old girl who is the victim of rape has to now become a mother because she has no other options"

11-Year-Old Unable to have Abortion in Chile Because of Jesus -- She became pregnant after being continually raped by her stepfather. "Think about it. An 11-year-old girl who is the victim of rape has to now become a mother because she has no other options"
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nW6Ja

Meet The People Who Lost Their Housing Thanks To Budget Cuts

Meet The People Who Lost Their Housing Thanks To Budget Cuts
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nZvrD

Ismael Brazza was one of the lucky few to move to the top of the waiting list for Section 8 housing vouchers in Washington ... Read more

Irish Jury Confirms: Better Abortion Care Would Have Prevented Savita Halapannavar's Tragic Death | ThinkProgress

Irish Jury Confirms: Better Abortion Care Would Have Prevented Savita Halapannavar's Tragic Death | ThinkProgress
THINKPROGRESS.ORG
http://pulse.me/s/o0kKt

Spurred By Savita’s Tragic Death, Irish Lawmakers Work To Amend The Country’s Total Abortion Ban

Spurred By Savita's Tragic Death, Irish Lawmakers Work To Amend The Country's Total Abortion Ban
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nZODB

After an all-night debate, Irish lawmakers approved an update to the deeply conservative country's abortion law early on ... Read more

See How Much Sequestration Is Hurting Communities Across The Country

See How Much Sequestration Is Hurting Communities Across The Country
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nZwQr

The latest victims of sequestration, the automatic, across-the-board budget cuts that went into effect in March, were 650,000 ... Read more

A dream since Leonardo da Vinci, we have finally built a human powered helicopter! Go Humanity!

A dream since Leonardo da Vinci, we have finally built a human powered helicopter! Go Humanity!
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXyeU

Elizabeth Warren Introduces 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act

Elizabeth Warren Introduces 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXNgz

Thursday, July 11, 2013

One liner comedian - this kid's brilliant.

One liner comedian - this kid's brilliant.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nxc1b

New evidence that the fluid injected into empty fracking wells has caused earthquakes in the US, including a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma that destroyed 14 homes.

New evidence that the fluid injected into empty fracking wells has caused earthquakes in the US, including a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma that destroyed 14 homes.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXXxQ

Elizabeth Warren Introducing A Bill That Would Be Wall Street's Worst Nightmare: "Today, she'll introduce a bill to reenact Glass-Steagall."

Elizabeth Warren Introducing A Bill That Would Be Wall Street's Worst Nightmare: "Today, she'll introduce a bill to reenact Glass-Steagall."
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXQG1

The Accidental Atheist: How I Got Here and How You Can Help

Interview:

How does a true believer come to atheism? Understand Stephen's path, backed by archived exchanges with two former pastors and one retired Episcopal bishop, as well as an evolutionary biologist--all in order to share with Christian believers exactly how and why some people stop believing. Wouldn't believers want to fully understand that process? Perhaps save others from it? Of course Steve's goal is not that, but rather is mutual understanding--as the first step toward tolerant, peaceful, and respectful interactions. He understands the world of believers; have you tried to genuinely understand his story? As you will find out, it wasn't a willful or conscious choice. (Excerpts with Bishop John Shelby Spong, scholars and former pastors Dr. Robert M. Price and Tom Harpur, and biologist Dr. David Sloan Wilson.)

Part 1: Listen here or the YouTube video below.

Part 2: Listen here or the YouTube video below.

Dinesh D'Souza Debates Daniel Dennett

Interview:

Full YouTube Playlist with all 15 parts:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL93719CE5428E5D49

The Credibility of Biblical Miracles (Sam Harris, Re-Evolution fest)

Pommel Horse/鞍馬

A Terrified GOP

A Terrified GOP
THEDAILYBEAST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nLaMp

Has anyone else noticed how pathetically frightened the Republican Party is that Obamacare just might succeed? I know, we're all supposed to think th... Read more

U.N. Takes on the Vatican

U.N. Takes on the Vatican
THEDAILYBEAST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXMwC

After years of noncompliance, the Vatican is finally being taken to task by the United Nation's Commission for the Rights of the Child about its dodgy... Read more

The Real College Crisis

The Real College Crisis
THEDAILYBEAST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nR590

Senators sparred Wednesday over whether and how to subsidize federal loans for college students, whose total debt load has tripled in the last eight y... Read more

U.S.’s Disappearing Deficit

U.S.'s Disappearing Deficit
THEDAILYBEAST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nYvcZ

If there was any question as to whether we are living in a Golden Age of Deficit Reduction™, the June Treasury Monthly Statement, released Thursday af... Read more

Americans Pay at the Pump While Speculators Profit and Play

Americans Pay at the Pump While Speculators Profit and Play
BUSINESS NEWS ON HUFFINGTON POST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXLrh
Incredibly, since the later part of June, the price of oil has spiked by $12 a barrel to close at $107/bbl yesterday, a jump of close to 15 percent ov... Read more

Wegmans Cuts Some Part-Time Workers' Health Benefits As Obamacare Looms

Wegmans Cuts Some Part-Time Workers' Health Benefits As Obamacare Looms
BUSINESS NEWS ON HUFFINGTON POST | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nY5Lu

Wegmans, a beloved northeastern grocery chain with a reputation for treating its workers well, announced on Thursday that it would cut health-care ben... Read more

Bankers Caught On Tape, Joking About Bailout, And How They'd Never Pay It Back

Bankers Caught On Tape, Joking About Bailout, And How They'd Never Pay It Back
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/5s1iJ

Conservatives Mock Guantanamo Detainees On Hunger Strike

Conservatives Mock Guantanamo Detainees On Hunger Strike
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nTMix

Experts, rights groups, the medical community, lawmakers and activists have all expressed deep concern about the current hunger ... Read more

Boston’s 10,000 Undocumented Irish Wait For Immigration Reform

Boston's 10,000 Undocumented Irish Wait For Immigration Reform
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nYEdw

Latinos are indisputably the most visible faces of the current immigration debate; after all, the vast majority of undocumented ... Read more

Over 10,000 Google Users Protest Company’s Inhofe Fundraiser

Over 10,000 Google Users Protest Company's Inhofe Fundraiser
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXsrJ

by Brad Johnson, campaign manager for Forecast the Facts Since I first reported on Climate Progress the news of Google's ... Read more

REPORT: The United States Makes College A Risky Investment

REPORT: The United States Makes College A Risky Investment
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nGXmU

Kirsten Gibson is an intern for ThinkProgress. "Inefficient," "decentralized," and "risky ... Read more

Democrats Can Thank Five Republican Judges For Making Filibuster Reform Possible

Democrats Can Thank Five Republican Judges For Making Filibuster Reform Possible
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nYCcE

According to an e-mail from Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) office, the Majority Leader just filed cloture on seven of President ... Read more

Solar Power Cheaper Than New Coal, Foresees German Solar CEO

Solar Power Cheaper Than New Coal, Foresees German Solar CEO
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXhyH

By Tina Casey via Clean Technica. In a new interview with Deutsche Welle, the CEO of a Germany-based global solar developer ... Read more

GOP Rams Farm Bill Without Food Stamps Through The House

GOP Rams Farm Bill Without Food Stamps Through The House
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nYmS4

With Thursday's vote to sever food stamps funding from the federal spending that guarantees the agricultural industry a ... Read more

New Infographic: The Anti-Science Climate Denier Caucus

New Infographic: The Anti-Science Climate Denier Caucus
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nUo8K

Manmade climate change is happening. One would think that with hundreds of climate-related natural disasters declared since ... Read more

Fracking and energy exploration connected to earthquakes, say studies

Fracking and energy exploration connected to earthquakes, say studies
TOP NBCNEWS HEADLINES | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nSA1P

The rivers of water pumped into and out of the ground during the production of natural gas, oil and geothermal energy are causing the Earth to shake m... Read more

US posts surprisingly big budget surplus

US posts surprisingly big budget surplus
TOP NBCNEWS HEADLINES | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXuiH
The U.S. government posted an unexpectedly large budget surplus in June, a further sign of the rapid improvement in public finances that has taken the... Read more

Immigration Reform Will Make Our Economy Stronger – Here's How!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/immigration-economic-benefits

Sales tax on school supplies: 6-10 percent. Sales tax on $1 quadrillion of financial securities trades: ZERO.

Sales tax on school supplies: 6-10 percent. Sales tax on $1 quadrillion of financial securities trades: ZERO.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXpZA

Women’s Health Experts Virtually Absent From Cable News Coverage Of Texas Abortion Bill

Women's Health Experts Virtually Absent From Cable News Coverage Of Texas Abortion Bill
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWuZE

Cable news has been covering the ongoing pro-choice protests in Texas for about two weeks by now — but not everybody has ... Read more

Republican Senator Admits He Is Blocking A New EPA Head Over A Pet Project

Republican Senator Admits He Is Blocking A New EPA Head Over A Pet Project
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXUh4

As the Senate's Democratic majority prepares to meet Thursday to consider filibuster reform for presidential appointees, ... Read more

Fox News 'Liberal' Wages War on American Muslims

Smithsonian Museum’s Low-Wage Workforce Walks Out In Protest

Smithsonian Museum's Low-Wage Workforce Walks Out In Protest
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nXLjQ

Visitors to D.C.'s Smithsonian museums Thursday will get educated on a subject they likely aren't expecting: low-wage worker ... Read more

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate: Health Insurance Shouldn’t Cover Doctors’ Visits

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate: Health Insurance Shouldn't Cover Doctors' Visits
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWXjV

During a policy breakfast for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce in Virginia, state attorney general and gubernatorial ... Read more

Fox News 'Liberal' Wages War on American Muslims

Koch Brother Launches New Campaign

Koch Brother Launches New Campaign
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nVjmc

WICHITA, Kan. -- Wealthy businessman Charles Koch has launched a $200,000 ad campaign in Wichita focused on political and ... Read more

Republican-Turned-Dem To Slam GOP In Upcoming Book

Republican-Turned-Dem To Slam GOP In Upcoming Book
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWblO

NEW YORK — Charlie Crist, the former Florida governor who switched from the Republican Party to Democrat, is working ... Read more

Robertson Urges Revolt Against Obamacare

Robertson Urges Revolt Against Obamacare
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWhW3

Televangelist Pat Robertson urged viewers Wednesday to look to the protests in Egypt for an example on how to deal with ... Read more

These Are The Senators Who Voted Against Student Loans

These Are The Senators Who Voted Against Student Loans
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWKYP

The Senate rejected a move to restore lower interest rates on some new federal student loans on Tuesday. Forty-nine senators ... Read more

Atheists Are the Most Feared Group in America — But Why?

Atheists Are the Most Feared Group in America — But Why?
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 9, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nUk9f

TIL that we have been warned that Iran will have obtained a nuclear bomb "within years" since 1984.

TIL that we have been warned that Iran will have obtained a nuclear bomb "within years" since 1984.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWD8S

Conan is excellent

Conan is excellent
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nVSYw

Immigration Reform Would Be A Boon To Federal And State Economies

Immigration Reform Would Be A Boon To Federal And State Economies
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWK7V

Marina Fang is an intern for ThinkProgress. Two new reports released today illustrate that granting a path to citizenship for ... Read more

The U.S. Is In ‘Mediocre’ Health, Falling Far Behind Other Wealthy Nations

The U.S. Is In 'Mediocre' Health, Falling Far Behind Other Wealthy Nations
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nVqSD

The people who live in the United States are lagging behind their counterparts in other wealthy nations in most measures of ... Read more

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Billionaire Koch Brother Says Eliminating The Minimum Wage Will Help The Poor

Billionaire Koch Brother Says Eliminating The Minimum Wage Will Help The Poor
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWDrM

A conservative mogul worth $43 billion says he knows the secret to helping poor people. According to Charles Koch, the U.S. ... Read more

GOP Push To Split Farm Bill Leaves Food Stamps Vulnerable To Severe Cuts

GOP Push To Split Farm Bill Leaves Food Stamps Vulnerable To Severe Cuts
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWZIV

A House Republican scheme to strip food stamp funding out of the farm bill would lead to the program being weakened or even ... Read more

How One Oklahoma Hospital Is Driving Down The Cost Of Health Care By Thousands Of Dollars

How One Oklahoma Hospital Is Driving Down The Cost Of Health Care By Thousands Of Dollars
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nVD60

In Oklahoma City, one surgical center is successfully reducing the price tag for their procedures by thousands of dollars ... Read more

House Votes To Block Light Bulb Efficiency Standards

House Votes To Block Light Bulb Efficiency Standards
THINKPROGRESS | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nz1GL

The Energy and Water spending bill for 2014 that's winding its way through the House was being treated as a political ... Read more

White House: Critics of health care bill delay are 'willfully ignorant'

White House: Critics of health care bill delay are 'willfully ignorant'
TOP NBCNEWS HEADLINES | JULY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/nWQCH
The White House pushed back Wednesday on critics of its move to delay the implementation of a key part of the Obama-backed health care law, saying tha... Read more