Ted Cruz Wins 2014 Values Voter Summit Presidential Straw Poll (Again)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) won the 2014 Values Voter Summit presidential straw poll. The results were announced on Saturday ... Read more

Study: Complex Multi-celled Life Existed 60-Million Years Sooner Than Thought

Findings of the recent study, published online in the journal Nature, contradicts the longstanding belief that multi-celled life during that period comprised relatively simple creatures, such as bacteria, single-cell eukaryotes, algae, sea sponges, sea anemones, or bilaterally symmetrical animals.

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/22281/20140925/new-breakthrough-research-from-virginia-tech-university-shows-complex-multicelled-life-existed-at-least-600-million-years-ago-rewriting-the-standing-scientific-narrative-on-the-evolution-of-more-soph.htm

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

Attorney General Eric Holder announces plans to resign after six years in his post. Lawmakers are bracing for a fight over the appointment of a successor. The Secret Service is under intense scrutiny after a knife-wielding man manages to evade security and enter the White House. The Treasury Department reveals new, stricter rules aimed at discouraging U.S. companies from striking so-called tax inversion deals overseas. A new FBI report confirms that mass shootings are on the rise in the U.S. And President Barack Obama speaks at the U.N. climate summit, calling for a more ambitious approach to climate change. A panel of journalists joins Diane for the domestic hour of the Friday news roundup.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-09-26/friday-news-roundup-domestic

 

 

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

The U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants hit oil refineries in Syria. President Barack Obama calls for global unity in the fight against Islamist extremism. Iraq’s prime minister says ISIS militants plotted against subways in the U.S. and Europe. An Algerian terror group beheads a French tourist. Britain’s prime minister meets with Iran’s president. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns Ebola could infect more than 1 million people in West Africa by the end of January. And India becomes the first Asian nation to reach Mars. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-09-26/friday-news-roundup-international

 

 

Week In The News: AG Holder Resigns, UN Tackles Climate, ISIS Advances (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

US bombs on Syria this week.  Coalition bombs, says President Obama.  They’re on ISIS, but a line is crossed.  And heavy bombing in Iraq.  We’re in this now.  In Washington, Attorney General Eric Holder, resigning.  After tumultuous times.  That is a changing of the guard.  At the UN, calls for urgent action, at scale, on Ebola.  It’s soaring.  For urgent action, at scale, on the climate.  Huge protests.  We’ve got a fence-jumper at the White House door.  India with a Mars mission.  Derek Jeter’s last hit at Yankee Stadium.  This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/09/26/eric-holder-ag-un-climate-change-isis

Scientists have found the beginnings of life-bearing chemistry at the centre of the galaxy.

Iso-propyl cyanide has been detected in a star-forming cloud 27,000 light-years from Earth. Its branched carbon structure is closer to the complex organic molecules of life than any previous finding.
Read more

Apple puts iPhones through the wringer to prove #Bendgate is overblown

Only nine people complained to Apple about the iPhone 6 Plus bending in their pockets, but that's not going to ... Read more

Jon Stewart Rips Fox's 'Latte Salute' Coverage: 'F**k You All And Your False Patriotism'

As we and others already discussed this week, the wingnuts and the talking heads over at Faux "news" have worked themselves into a lather over their l... Read more

The Daily Show
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Pittsburgh Cops Tasered Reverend While He Prayed Over Body Of Dead Son In Hospital: Lawsuit

Police and UPMC say that Baldwin was getting in the way of attempts to revive the 23-year-old victim, but the video of the incident tells a different story.

... Read more

25 Insane Obama Non-Scandals Invented By The Washington Times

The Washington Times lives in an alternate universe where proud and funny moments in the Obama Presidency are viewed as disastrous. The list of twenty... Read more

Some Might Call This Treason

When an elected representative starts telling generals they should resign, it might be time to dust off the protocols for wartime.
.. Read more

D'Souza's Ex-Wife Urged Judge To Throw The Book At Him: He's An Abusive Liar!

Updated: Sept. 26, 2014, 2:20 PM EDT Conservative filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza's ex-wife alleged in a letter sent this week to the federal court that hea... Read more

Bachmann Goes On All-Out Attack Against Hillary Clinton At Values Voter Summit

Two potential top 2016 Republican presidential contenders took the stage at the Values Voter Summit on Friday but it was a former presidential candida... Read more

Tea Party Congressman: Holder’s Resignation A Ploy To Distract From Horrors Of Obamacare

"I can't help but wonder if this is the president's attempt to change the subject," he said. The post Tea Party Congressman: ... Read more

The Infant Mortality Rate In The U.S. Is Too High

"The U.S. lags behind other developed countries because there remain significant gaps in access to and utilization of prenatal ... Read more

Mitch McConnell Attacks His Opponent For Answering Yes To: ‘Do You Believe In Climate Change?’

Believe in the reality of climate change? That could be enough to earn an attack from the right.The post Mitch McConnell ... Read more

Why It Matters That Statoil Just Shelved Its Multi-Billion-Dollar Tar Sands Project

There are a bunch of reasons why the postponement matters for the environmental community.The post Why It Matters That Statoil ... Read more

A Coal CEO Allegedly Coerced His Employees To Donate To Political Candidates. Here’s Who Benefited.

Federal Election Commission rules state that corporations can't make their employees donate to specific candidates or parties ... Read more

Teen Worker says he was Forced to Wear "GAYTARD" on Name Tag at work

Tyler Brandt is “not ashamed of being gay” and has been out to his family and friends since he was in the fifth grade. It wasn’t until this summer that the 16-year-old faced a stark, tangible act of discrimination.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/09/25/teen-worker-homophobic-name-tag

White Evangelicals Consider Themselves a 'Religious Minority' in America

"...No other religious group is more worried than white evangelicals that the government will interfere with their religious liberty...."

http://www.charismanews.com/us/45536-white-evangelicals-consider-themselves-a-religious-minority-in-america

How satanists exposed the Christian right’s core hypocrisy

Evangelicals fancy themselves champions of "religious freedom" -- except when its exercise challenges their beliefs.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/how_satanists_exposed_the_christian_rights_core_hypocrisy_partner/

Here's how you and your spouse can avoid arguing over faith and God

What are some hints for helping husbands and wives navigate when one spouse is more religious or spiritual than the other? Here's a look.

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/life/here-s-how-you-and-your-spouse-can-avoid-arguing/article_b9e57214-cb19-5f0b-ab8f-e62da553bec0.html

Did a freshman congressman just beat Stephen Colbert at his own game?

On Tuesday night, Colbert aired an interview with Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman, a freshman who represents the Northern California coast. Huffman refused to support Han Solo's right to shoot first, and refused to specify his religion, even when Colbert decided to classify him as heathen/hellbound.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/24/did-a-freshman-congressman-just-beat-stephen-colbert-at-his-own-game/

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Congressional Candidate and Nephew of ‘Duck Dynasty’ Patriarch Under Fire Over Comments About Sandy Hook, Mass Killings and Atheism

During a podcast titled, “Why Did This Happen,” Dasher, a Republican, addressed mass killings, saying that ”mental illness and guns are not the cause of mass murder.” He also lambasted both postmodernism and atheism as societal problems that have essentially led to mass moral decay.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/09/25/congressional-candidate-and-nephew-of-duck-dynasty-patriarch-under-fire-over-comments-about-sandy-hook-mass-killings-and-atheism/

Republicans rallying behind religious liberty as evangelical summit begins

"How do we win? We defend the values that are American values," said Cruz, a favorite of evangelicals who overwhelmingly won the Values Voter straw poll a year ago. "We stand for life. We stand for marriage. We stand for Israel."

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2014/09/26/republicans-rallying-behind-religious-liberty

Loud, Proud, and Atheist: ‘Openly Secular’ Encourages Nonbelievers to Come Out of the Closet

The new ‘Openly Secular’ campaign illuminates prejudice against atheists. Will it convince Americans that nonbelievers can be trustworthy, moral, and even electable?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/25/loud-proud-and-atheist-openly-secular-encourages-non-believers-to-come-out-of-the-closet.html

Millionaire Atheist Reveals Plan That He Says Will Profoundly Change How Society Views Those Who Reject God

An activist and his secular foundation are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a campaign aimed at fighting back against anti-atheist discrimination.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/09/23/millionaire-atheist-reveals-plan-that-he-says-will-profoundly-change-how-society-views-those-who-reject-god/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=ShareButtons#

 http://youtu.be/vh29BTqUxLU

Scandal!

 ... Read more

Leaked Documents Show How The RGA Does Business

I'm shocked, shocked to find out about the extensive corporate outreach by the Republican Governor's Association.  ... Read more

India's $74 million Mars mission cost less than 'Gravity' movie

When the Mangalyaan spacecraft slipped into orbit around Mars on Wednesday after a 10-month voyage, India became the first country to successfully reach the Red Planet on its first attempt.

Read more

7 different types of non-believers

If you've left religion behind and you're unsure what to call yourself, you might try on one of these labels.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/25/7_different_types_of_non_believers/

55 hours Work per Week May Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

"...These long working hours may also have an impact on sleep. And this sleep deprivation leads to an increased risk of several chronic illnesses like heart issues and gastrointestinal diseases..."

http://www.istreetresearch.com/55-hours-work-per-week-may-increase-risk-of-type-2-diabetes/2511377/

 

In response to the freakout regarding Obama saluting Marines with a latte in his hand...

Read more

The bacteria in our gut manipulate our minds by signaling which dietary choices we should make

"“...Microbes have the capacity to manipulate behavior and mood through altering the neural signals in the vagus nerve, changing taste receptors, producing toxins to make us feel bad, and releasing chemical rewards to make us feel good,” said Aktipis, who is currently in the Arizona State University Department of Psychology..."
Read more

Native tribes from the U.S. and Canada signed a treaty Tuesday

...establishing an inter-tribal alliance to restore bison to areas of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains where millions of the animals once roamed. Read more

First At TPM: New Ad Hits Ernst For Signing Norquist's No Taxes Pledge

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a new television ad attacking state Sen. Joni Ernst, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in I... Read more

Why Obama Is Planning To Use Religion To Fight ISIS

"We must offer an alternative vision," Obama said.The post Why Obama Is Planning To Use Religion To Fight ISIS appeared first ... Read more

Hundreds of Students Protest in Denver over New Proposal from School Board

"...the new curriculum proposal raised the issue when the school board announced that they would focus on the topics that would highlight the "positive aspects" of the United States and its heritage. Through this, the school authorities believe that they would avoid material that could encourage civil disorder or disregard of the law..."

http://uncovercalifornia.com/content/21748-hundreds-students-protest-denver-over-new-proposal-school-board

Doubts Over Vatican's First Abuse Arrest

Papal authorities have finally arrested one of their own on horrific sex abuse charges but critics wonder if the ex-archbishop is being protected from harsher civilian courts.

 ... Read more

Outrage ensues after Obama's coffee cup salute

"...Mr. Obama is not the only president to salute with his hands full. Former President George W. Bush was frequently seen saluting while holding his Scottish Terrier, Barney..."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/outrage-ensues-after-obamas-coffee-cup-salute/

Emergency contraception may not be available to all young men

"Researchers report in the journal Contraception that in about one in every five attempts, young men in New York City were not able to buy the drug that can prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex..."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/sns-rt-us-planb-men-20140923-story.html

Open letter to Gov. Jindal from Christian leaders

"...By contrast, the Family Research Council's leaders have a decades-long track record of making false and inflammatory comments about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people:

"The videos are titled 'It Gets Better.' They are aimed at persuading kids that although they'll face struggles and perhaps bullying for 'coming out' as homosexual (or transgendered or some other perversion), life will get better. ... It's disgusting. And it's part of a concerted effort to persuade kids that homosexuality is okay and actually to recruit them into that lifestyle."
- Tony Perkins, FRC fundraising letter, August 2011

"Terrorism is a strike against the general populace simply to spread fear and intimidation so that they can disrupt and destabilize the system of government. That's what the homosexuals are doing here to the legal system."
- Tony Perkins, Washington Watch, April 29, 2011

"While activists like to claim that pedophilia is a completely distinct orientation from homosexuality, evidence shows a disproportionate overlap between the two. ... It is a homosexual problem."
- Tony Perkins, FRC website, 2010

"One of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order."
- 1999 FRC publication, "Homosexual Behavior and Pedophilia," Robert Knight and Frank York 

"Gaining access to children has been a long-term goal of the homosexual movement."
- Robert Knight, FRC director of cultural studies, and Frank York, 1999..."

http://www.faithfulamerica.org/jindalletter/

Love thy neighbor.
No exceptions.

Bobby Jindal urged not to attend Family Research Council event by state religious leaders

"The leaders feel Jindal, a Catholic, should avoid the FRC summit because the organization has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their repeated "use of known falsehoods to attack and demonize members of the LGBT community.""

www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/bobby_jindal_urged_not_to_atte.html

'I'm an Atheist': Stephen Hawking on God and Space

World-famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking says flat-out that he doesn't believe in God, but he does believe that space travel offers the best hope for our species' immortality.

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/top-stories/item/749772-im-an-atheist-stephen-hawking-on-god-and-space

sc

Seattle is Beautiful

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"This thought has helped motivate me many times" [Image]

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Waste Not....

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Jon Stewart: Talking To GOP 'Science' Committee Like Pushing A Million Pounds Of Idiot Up A Mountain

Jon tears into the fascinating stupidity that was the Science Committee's exchange with Obama's science advisor. ... Read more

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/8q3nmm/burn-noticed

The Daily Show
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Convicted Felon Dinesh D'Souza Gets No Jail Time For Campaign Finance Law Violations

Proving that it's always better to break the law first and apologize later, Dinesh D'Souza got off with a nice light sentence for trying to buy a New ... Read more

Koch Brothers Really Hated Obama's U.N. Climate Change Speech

President Obama's speech today at the United Nations really lit up the Kochs. After all, these are the guys who want to buy the Senate to get rid of E... Read more

http://youtu.be/zmz6srlnur8



http://youtu.be/dXkeUvSRLmw

The Pope Francis Revolution Is Coming To America

In less than two years, Pope Francis has changed the face of a two-thousand- year old institution. His emphasis on humility, mercy and social justice ... Read more

Senate Dems Unveil Bill To Boost Access To Emergency Contraception For Rape Victims

A group of Senate Democrats introduced legislation on Tuesday which would require federally funded hospitals—under Medicare or Medicaid—to provide eme... Read more

Murray CEO Says EPA Has Permanently Destroyed Coal: ‘Grandma Is Going To Be Cold’

"Grandma is going to be cold and in the dark with what they're doing," Murray said of EPA regulations to fight climate ... Read more

Louisiana State Judge Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage Ban

"Earlier this month, a federal judge upheld Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage, making him the first federal judge to rule against same-sex marriage since the Supreme Court’s decision last year in United States v. Windsor. State judge Edward Rubin was not persuaded by that error-ridden opinion, however, and this week overturned Louisiana’s ban..." Read more

New Executive Order: U.S. Must Consider Climate Change When Helping Other Countries

President Barack Obama will announce the new executive order during a speech before more than 120 world leaders at the U.N. ... Read more

Walmart Lures Managers Into Making Political Contributions By Leveraging Charity For Needy Workers

"A coalition of groups is asking federal officials to investigate Walmart for misuse of a company charity set up to help its low-income workers. The company is using the charity to drum up contributions to the political action committee it uses to influence elections and curry favor with politicians, a scheme that violates the federal ban on corporate money going to PACs, according to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint the groups filed Monday..."
 ... Read more

Amazon Workers Strike In Germany To Protest Unfair Wages

Amazon has a history of facilitating abusive working conditions and skirting labor laws to keep prices low. The post Amazon ... Read more

Leading Conservative Magazine Blames NFL Scandals On Obama

Conservative blogger John Geraghty believes Obama is "setting the tone" for the poor leadership exhibited in response to Ray ... Read more