Week In The News: VA Scandal, Primaries And The Tea Party, Chinese Hackers (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Primary election votes this week, with establishment Republicans across the board turning back Tea Party candidates, but not so much Tea Party politics.  GOP eyes now on the Senate.  Democrats bracing for a fight.  The VA scandal draws tough talk from President Obama this week.  A promise of accountability.  Russia and China do a big energy deal, as the US brings charges against hackers in the Chinese military.  We’ve got a coup in Thailand, soft pushback on the NSA, and “Happy” dancers arrested and freed in Iran.  This hour On Point:  Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/05/23/va-scandal-tea-party-primaries-china

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

In another cabinet shuffle, President Obama plans to nominate San Antonio mayor Julian Castro for housing secretary. Castro will replace Shaun Donovan who’s expected to take over the White House budget office. The president pledges to get to the bottom of problems at Veterans’ hospitals, but did not ask Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign over the scandal. Establishment Republican candidates sweep the Tea Party in the first round of mid-term primaries. And after weeks of internal debate, House Democrats decide to participate in the Republican-led committee to investigate the 2012 Benghazi attacks. A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top national news stories.

 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-05-23/friday-news-roundup-domestic

 

 

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

Violence in Eastern Ukraine escalates days ahead of a presidential election. China and Russia sign a $400 billion natural gas deal. The U.S. charges Chinese military officials with cyber espionage. Thailand's military takes control of the government in a coup. Pakistan wages an offensive against tribal militants. The U.S. sends troops to Africa to help search for kidnapped Nigerian girls. An Egyptian court sentences former President Mubarak. And Iran arrests six young people for making a video of themselves dancing to the popular song "Happy." A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-05-23/friday-news-roundup-international

No Thanks To Congress, America Has Added 5,600 New Clean Energy Jobs In 2014

Despite Congressional refusal to extend tax benefits for clean energy producers, the American economy is still adding thousands ... Read more

U.N. Says Iran Cut Uranium Stockpile And Is Complying With Nuclear Agreement

A new report from the U.N.'s nuclear agency shows Iran is in complying with the Framework for Cooperation estalbished in The ... Read more

Mitch McConnell Softens Opposition To Obamacare

McConnell suggested on Friday that he would not support repealing Kynect, Kentucky's state-run health care exchange.The post ... Read more

At Pa. School, Teens Build Empathy By Confiding In A Crowd

Kids can act out when they're feeling isolated, so one Philadelphia school encourages students to take the mic and reveal their deepest fears in front... Read more

Economist Piketty's Work Doesn't Add Up, 'Financial Times' Says

Economist Piketty's Work Doesn't Add Up, 'Financial Times' Says by Marilyn Geewax May 23, 2014 5:28 PM ET i i French economist and academic Thomas... Read more

Did the Holocaust Exist? Scary Number of People Say 'No' or Not Even Aware

Worldwide study indicates large number of disbelievers.

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2014/05/23/did-the-holocaust-exist-scary-number-of-people-say-no-or-not-even-aware

NC voucher applications show pitfalls of using public money for private schools

"...Victory Christian Center School’s website states: “We believe that the use of the Bible is paramount in the development of strong character. We believe in having a strong academic program with subjects being taught from a Biblical perspective. We believe that the Holy Spirit is The One True Teacher; therefore, it is necessary to have a Christian staff that prays and is led by the Spirit.”
Al-Iman School states that the school’s mission is “guided by the Qur’an.” “Through the teaching of Islamic and scholastic courses,” it prepares students “to achieve excellence in education and a strong Muslim identity.”...

http://www.ncspin.com/2014/05/22/nc-voucher-applications-show-pitfalls-of-using-public-money-for-private-schools/

Atheists conduct friendly march around Mormon Temple Square

Group seeks to help nonbelievers who fear leaving LDS Church.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57781931-78/atheists-church-american-temple.html.csp

In switch, gay rights issue now favoring Democrats

DENVER (AP) - It wasn't all that long ago that Republicans used gay marriage as a tool to drive Election Day turnout. But as public opinion on the issue has turned and courts strike down same-sex marriage bans, gay rights is evolving into a wedge issue for Democrats to wield...

http://www.nbc12.com/story/25595431/in-switch-gay-rights-issue-now-favoring-democrats

Name Games: Judge Formerly Affiliated With Liberty University Delays Transgender Woman’s Name-Change Request

This all just goes to show what happens when Christian fundamentalists are allowed to let their personal religious beliefs impact other people’s lives. It sounds like Judge Yeatts has no legal basis for denying Fialkowski’s request, so instead he’s using dogma as an excuse.

... Read more

Amazing Sunrise in Norway. Photo by Jørn Allan Pedersen [2048×1363]

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The House Science Committee Has Held More Hearings on Aliens Than on Climate Change

Congress is fascinated by the search for intelligent life on other planets. Apparently, they've given up the search at home.
Read more

James Bond Island, Thailand. Photo by Sebleu. [997x665]. Xpost from /r/SeaPorn.

http://ppcdn.500px.org/50433122/c2b153a50fb81c557d5d6cc9e283ee0599535077/5.jpg

Masturbation 'cuts cancer risk' (BBC)

Men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation, researchers suggest. Read more

Ohio Churches Fight To Save Renewables And Energy Efficiency

A controversial bill that would freeze Ohio's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs has stalled in the House, thanks ... Read more

How The Tens Of Millions Of Kids Who Rely On School For Food Get Fed During Summer Break

More than 30 million children in low-income households rely on the free or reduced-price school meals program for their nutritional needs, but when the school year ends their lives can be thrown into disarray. The current system for providing summer meals only serves about one fifteenth as many kids as rely on school-funded food during the academic year.  ... Read more

House Votes To Deny Climate Science And Ties Pentagon’s Hands On Climate Change

The military understands the realities of climate change and the negative impacts of heavy dependence on fossil fuels. The U.S. ... Read more

Billionaire Environmentalist Targets 7 Statewide Races

San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer has already pledged at least $50 million to his superPAC, NextGen Climate, and now the superPAC's leaders are laying out a hardball strategy for the fall campaign.
The goal: tag seven Republican candidates as "science deniers" who are on the wrong side of the increasingly urgent climate change issue...
.. Read more

Battling Infections By Silencing Bacterial Chatter

Princeton biologist Bonnie Bassler studies bacterial "quorum sensing" -- the chemical communication that makes pathogens so dangerous. ... Read more

The Myth of a 'War on Religion'

Last week, the Public Religion Research Institute published a study showing that Americans want their fellow citizens to think they are more religious... Read more

Why Medicine Is Cheaper in Germany

Every day, medical innovation saves American lives, but those same breakthroughs contribute to our ever-skyrocketing healthcare bill. Part of the reas... Read more

Neil deGrasse Tyson Slams CNN for Its Stupidity on Climate Change

Why do networks like CNN suggest that climate change is up for debate?

 ... Read more

http://youtu.be/Ys2SGV60iMc

How Right-Wingers Are Amping Up Their War on Science and Reality

Republicans are taking their science denialism to striking new levels.

 ... Read more

Koch Brothers Exposed: The Chilling New Documentary Republicans Don’t Want You to See

There is a chilling new documentary about the billionaire brothers, David and Charles Koch, that some Republicans do not want you to see. On Monday, Republican Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan tried to block an event at the Capitol unveiling the film, "Koch Brothers Exposed: 2014 Edition." Miller claimed the documentary could violate House rules and "cross the line into partisan politics." She unsuccessfully argued that showing...

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/21/koch_brothers_exposed_the_chilling_new

See the full film for free or donation: http://www.bravenewfilms.org/koch2014

Interview:

Robert Reich: American Capitalism is Broken

Why the vast majority of Europeans and Canadians live longer, happier lives.

... Read more

Notre Dame’s petition for HHS lawsuit rehearing denied

"...Religious nonprofit organizations can shift the cost for contraceptives to the government or to a third-party health care administrator by submitting an opt-out form. Notre Dame currently provides the coverage through Meritain Health..."

(So what's the problem, I'd like to know?)

http://ndsmcobserver.com/2014/05/notre-dames-petition-hhs-lawsuit-rehearing-denied/

"Hidden Waterfall" - Oneonta Gorge, Oregon [900x600][OS] photo by Danny Seidman

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The Gay Enemy Threat In The Christian Home

"In this country we have an epidemic whereby 40% of homeless youth are either gay, lesbian, or transgender. And the suicide rate among gay, lesbian, and transgender teens is frightening. A survey of one district, a district in famously liberal San Francisco, found that every year 1 out of 3 gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender students reportedly attempts suicide. A government report in 1989 put LGBT youth at four times the risk for a suicide attempt as any other young people. The Center For Disease Control and Prevention reports that “LGBT youth are also at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, suicide attempts, and suicide. A nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7–12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers [3]. More studies are needed to better understand the risks for suicide among transgender youth.” The L.A. Times recently re-reported the findings of a 2011 survey that found that “A whopping 41% of people who are transgender or gender-nonconforming have attempted suicide sometime in their lives, nearly nine times the national average” while covering a more up to date analysis of this epidemic..."

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/camelswithhammers/2014/05/the-gay-enemy-threat-in-the-christian-home/

LGBT Groups Protest Amazon’s Support of the Boy Scouts of America

A campaign to persuade Amazon to drop the Scouts from a list of groups customers can donate to has been started by 17-year-old gay Eagle Scout Pascal Tessier after the Boy Scouts of America decided to exclude gay adults from the organization.

http://time.com/108588/lgbt-gay-rights-advocates-protest-amazons-support-of-boy-scouts-of-america/

Sex and the Southern Baptist

Is the denomination really softening its views on homosexuality and pre-marital relations? 

(The reader comments section is pretty worth reading too.)

 

 http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/05/the-gays-and-the-baptists/371260/

 

 

Very Distant Galaxy Cluster Confirmed

"The structures and star populations of massive galaxies appear to change as they age, but much about how these galaxies formed and evolved remains mysterious. Many of the oldest and most massive galaxies reside in clusters, enormous structures where numerous galaxies are found concentrated together. Galaxy clusters in the early universe are thought to be key to understanding the lifecycles of old galaxies, but to date astronomers have located only a handful of these rare, distant structures..."
Read more

India's new PM to Use Solar to Bring Power to Every Home by 2019

India’s new government led by Narendra Modi plans to harness solar power to enable every home to run at least one light bulb by 2019, a party official said.
Read more

Anderson Cooper turns a Dallas TV personality's words against Michael Sam's on-air kiss right back at her.

Amy Kushnir stormed off the set during a debate on whether it was appropriate to air the Michael Sam kiss on television.


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Google wants to show ads through your thermostat and car

"...How would this work? Imagine that it's a cold winter day. The snow starts floating down, a wind kicks up and you go to your thermostat to kick up the heat. In Google's world, that action could be met with an advertisement on your thermostat for a new wool sweater..."

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/google-wants-to-show-ads-through-your-thermostat-and-car/articleshow/35472374.cms

North Carolina Wants To Nominate Climate Change Deniers To Study Sea Level Rise

The nominations are only the latest blow from conservatives that have done their best to make climate change seem ... Read more

Mortgage Companies Break The Law And Their Own Promises To Homeowners

Mortgage servicers have pledged to clean up their act and adhere to stricter new rules, but California homeowner advocates ... Read more

Why Early Exposure To Technology Is The Key To Job Creation And Economic Growth

Today, we live in a world where networked-based technologies transform the way we live, work and play, and I have had the opportunity to witness first... Read more

The Israeli Court System on Trial: The Rachel Corrie Appeal

Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights On March 16, 2003, 23-year old human rights defender Rachel Corrie ... Read more

Inside the Troubling Rise of Fascist Parties Across Europe

History is repeating itself as Europe's political leadership puts the needs of the banks first and the people last.

 ... Read more

Why Neil deGrasse Tyson Is the Lightning Rod for the Major Threat Science Poses to Creationists

Rational thought and evidence are the creationists' biggest enemies.

... Read more

Americans Are Far More Likely to Be Killed by Right-Wing Terrorists Than Muslims -- But the Media's Afraid of Saying It

We must confront the threat of far right extremism.

... Read more

D’Souza’s Demise: Fundamentalist Christian Commentator Pleads Guilty To Campaign Fraud

Reuters reports that D’Souza, who served in the Reagan administration as a public policy advisor, had been indicted on charges of using straw donors to channel funds to Long’s floundering campaign, something he had strenuously denied until this morning ... Read more

Republicans in Congress cut food for needy kids in the inner city while leaving rural funding intact

I'm not sure why this isn't a bigger deal. I hadn't heard about it other than in this brief passage tucked away in a Politico article about the House ... Read more

Study shows strongly held incorrect beliefs often cannot be changed by disputing facts.

Instead, appealing to the sense of self can allow people to be more open-minded.

Read more

Obamacare Buried By Avalanche Of Negative Ads, Study Finds

Obamacare Buried By Avalanche Of Negative Ads, Study Finds by Peter Overby May 20, 2014 5:57 PM ET i i A frame grab image from video provided by A... Read more

Why Those Tiny Microbeads In Soap May Pose Problem For Great Lakes

The plastic beads in some face soaps look a lot like fish food when they end up in the water. Two states are close to banning the beads, which researc... Read more

BRUTAL Female Genital Mutilation Happening to American Girls

"Jaha Dukureh, who is leading the campaign to end female genital mutilation in the US, and the head of the joint UNFPA/UNICEF project to end FGM Nafissatou Diop, and Shelby Quast, senior policy advisor at Equality Now answered questions about FGM from 12-1pm ET on Tuesday 20 May.

"Jaha's petition on Change.org and backed by congressman Joe Crowley, UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, and the Guardian has reached over 48,000 signatures.The petition is calling for a new study to find out just how many girls and women are affected by FGM in the US, as the first step to forming a national action plan to tackle the practice. The number of American women and girls affected or at risk is believed to have grown by 35% to at least 228,000 between 1997 and 2000.

"Jaha has said she is determined to keep fighting until FGM is recognised as a real risk for American girls and policies are put in place to protect them. 'I don't want to be poster child. I want every woman who has been through this to be able to speak out,' she says."*

http://youtu.be/IOGQ-_o3Lq0

Accused War Criminal Accuses Obama of "Ignoring" the Law

"Former Vice President Dick Cheney has never been shy with his criticism for President Barack Obama, and a Monday conversation with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt marked no exception.

"Sitting for an interview to promote wife Lynne Cheney's new book on James Madison, the former second-in-command said that, though he's a 'big advocate of the strong executive office,' he believes Obama has taken things too far.

"'I really feel as though Barack Obama is ignoring the law in many cases, and going far beyond what was ever intended,' he said. 'I mean he, all by himself, sort of routinely changes the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, if it suits his will.'

"Cheney added that he believes the president teeters the line of unconstitutional behavior.

"'I think much of what's been done does in fact skate up to the edge of violating the constitution in terms of the way he's interpreted his executive power,' Cheney said."*

http://youtu.be/EUpT_0S_83c

GOP Lawmaker: "Common Core Will Turn Your Kids Gay!"

"Common Core standards are a divisive topic in education circles, but one Florida lawmaker is taking his anti-Common Core message to a new level.

"State Rep. Charles Van Zant (R) said the American Institutes for Research, which has been assigned to develop Common Core-based tests for Florida, 'are promoting as hard as they can, any youth that is interested in the LGBT agenda.'

"Van Zant made those comments at the Operation Education Conference in Orlando back in March. Video of his comments was posted on ThinkProgress on Monday.

"'These people that will now receive $220 million from the state of Florida, unless this is stopped, will promote double-mindedness in state education and will attract every one of your children to become as homosexual as they possibly can,' Van Zant said.

"Van Zant concluded by telling the crowd, 'I'm sorry to report that to you ... I really hate to believe that news, but you need to know.'"*

http://youtu.be/R65GcX-mu4A

Sr. Jeannine Gramick Asks Obama to Expand Abortion Coverage Worldwide

Sister Jeannine Gramick, dissident nun and co-founder of the controversial New Ways Ministry, has joined with 30 other faith-based groups from the Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths to petition President Obama to clarify, then repeal the Helms amendment, which restricts aid funding for abortion services.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kathyschiffer/2014/05/sr-jeannine-gramick-asks-obama-to-expand-abortion-coverage-worldwide/

Dinesh D'Souza In Court: 'I Deeply Regret My Conduct'

Dinesh D'Souza told a federal judge on Tuesday that he "deeply" regretted violating a federal campaign finance law, and that he knew that what he did ... Read more

No, Taking Away Unemployment Benefits Doesn’t Make People Get Jobs

Illinois is a case study: two months after losing long-term unemployment benefits, most were still out of work.The post No, ... Read more

Anti-Obama Activist Pleads Guilty To Charges Conservatives Widely Dismissed As Political Payback

An array of prominent Republican politicians and several Fox News personalities had earlier dismissed the charges as mere ... Read more

GOP Confronted With ‘Republican Death Panel’ For Opposing Obamacare

Nearly six million low-income Americans have been left without any access to affordable insurance whatsoever. The post GOP ... Read more

War on Boys

What ever happened to letting "boys be boys?" Take these two cases: In one, a seven-year-old boy was sent home for nibbling a Pop Tart into a gun. In another, a teacher was so alarmed by a picture drawn by a student (of a sword fight), that the boy's parents were summoned in for a conference. In short, boys in America's schools are routinely punished for being active, competitive, and restless. In other words, boys can no longer be boys. Christina Hoff Sommers, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, explains how we can change this...

Interview:

http://youtu.be/OFpYj0E-yb4

Cliffs of Moher (960x640)

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Evangelical Group: Climate Change Is A ‘Pro-Life’ Issue

Rev. Mitch Hescox, president of the Evangelical Environmental Network, is leading the group's campaign for Florida Governor ... Read more