DN Speak: 1/6/13

Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Debt Ceiling And The Constitution

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/01/07/the-constitution-and-the-debt-ceiling

Like it or not, we’re about to have another donnybrook, another battle royal, over the fiscal life of this country. Call it the debt ceiling cliff, or whatever you like. Within weeks, the Treasury Department will be unable to borrow or spend to fulfill American obligations.
Congressional Republicans say that means the power is now theirs, to demand spending cuts. The president says he won’t negotiate or be held hostage. What does the constitution say?
This hour, On Point: before the storm, we’re looking at the law, the constitution and the American debt ceiling.

-Tom Ashbrook

Drought And The Mississippi

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/01/10/drought-and-the-future-of-the-mississippi

The mighty Mississippi knows floods and the mighty Mississippi knows drought.
Right now, it’s deep in drought country. 2012 was the hottest year on record in the US. So dry crops shriveled in the fields. Worst drought in 80 years. Not good news for the Mississippi River.
South of St. Louis, it’s so shallow now that barges can barely travel. A world of grain, coal, iron, gravel, looking for a way to move. And big tensions over the water that remains, and where it needs to flow.
This hour, On Point: we’re looking at drought, climate, commerce – and the shrunken Mississippi.

-Tom Ashbrook

George Takei

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/01/03/george-takei

On the original Star Trek, actor George Takei was Mr. Sulu. The intergalactic Japanese-American citizen of the cosmos – or at least the Federation.
He was one cool helmsman in space, on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Nearly fifty years later, George Takei is on new frontiers again.
The little boy who grew up in an American internment camp is now the wide-grinned elder mastering Facebook. He’s a social media superstar. A bold and funny activist for gay rights and much more. The star who says “Oh myyy!”
This hour, On Point: George Takei.

-Tom Ashbrook

Who Owns Your Digital Life?

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/12/20/digital-life

Wild uproar this week in the world of Instagram – the digital photo-sharing app that’s had a hundred million users flooding smartphones with snapshots of their breakfast, their kids, their boyfriend’s new haircut. On Monday, Instagram – the overnight sensation that Facebook bought for a billion dollars – announced a change in terms of service.
And it looked like they were going to let advertisers slap your photos into any ad they wanted. Like they owned your face. Your kid’s. Your photo life. Insta-world went nuts.
This hour, On Point: the Instagram uproar, and who owns your digital life.

-Tom Ashbrook

Social Security And The Fiscal Cliff

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/12/20/social-security

“Chained CPI” sounds like some kind of high-tech torture. In fact, it’s a way of calculating inflation that may be on its way to cutting Social Security payments. In the big arm-wrestle of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, “chained CPI” is in the mix.
President Obama wants higher taxes on the wealthy. Republicans want to rein in entitlements. Here’s a way to do it. Whittle back Social Security payments. Seniors don’t need beef. They could eat chicken. Or goat. Or something cheaper.
This hour, On Point: Social Security, the “chained CPI,” and how we’ll live beyond the fiscal cliff.

-Tom Ashbrook

Mental Health And Murder

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/12/18/mental-health

It’s important to say right off the bat that we do not know the whole story with Adam Lanza, the young man at the terrible center of the terrible killings in Newtown, Connecticut. Reports have raised questions about his mental health before massacre and suicide. We’ll wait and learn.
But mental health issues have clearly been key in mass shootings at Virgina Tech, in Tuscon with Gabby Giffords, at Aurora, Colorado’s movie theater. To look at mental health is not a substitute for looking at guns. It’s not to stigmatize. But it’s also not to ignore.
This hour, On Point: mental health and our drumbeat of mass killings.

-Tom Ashbrook

The Future Of Internet Freedom

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/12/05/internet-freedom

The Internet was born free. A novel network that spanned the globe before governments entirely understood what was going on. But they know now. More than forty nations now filter and censor the web. Some have just plain shut it down – think Syria last week.
At a big UN meeting this week in Dubai, there is a fresh push to give national governments more control over the global web. Maybe through the U.N. China, Russia, Iran appear to like the idea. The control. The U.S. and big American companies – Google, Facebook – do not.
This hour, On Point: alarm bells over global Internet freedom.

-Tom Ashbrook

Anna Karenina

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/11/20/anna-karenina

Greta Garbo played it. Vivien Leigh played it, after Gone with the Wind. Now it’s Keira Knightley’s star turn as Anna Karenina – the beautiful and doomed 19^th century Russian aristocrat made slave to passion, desire, adultery.
The great Leo Tolstoy wrote Anna Karenina not as a potboiler, but as vivid instruction on the power of love, right and wrong, human splendor, and human flaws. It raises what Russians call the Cursed Question: How should I live? Maybe David Patraeus should have read it. Maybe he did.
This hour, On Point: we’re rereading Anna Karenina.

-Tom Ashbrook

Week In The News: New Cabinet, Gun Summits, Flu -- Tom Ashbrook, On Point

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/01/11/week-in-the-news-228

Big cabinets picks, guns, and flu in the news this week.
All the President’s men, so far, in his first round of second term nods. Chuck Hagel. John Brennan. Jack Lew, and his loop-the-loop signature, for Treasury.

Joe Biden invited the NRA over for gun talks. They came, but say they won’t come back.

Hamid Karzai, in from Afghanistan, to talk about the US getting out. Flu all over. In and outs for Oscars and the Baseball Hall of Fame. And those trapped killer whales, free in the far north. Good for them.

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/2013-01-11/friday-news-roundup-domestic

President Obama announces his choices for key second-term positions. Vice President Biden meets with gun control advocates and the NRA. And new mortgage rules target risky lending. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top national news stories.

Friday News Roundup - International -- Diane Rehm Show

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-01-11/friday-news-roundup-international

Afghan President Karzai is in Washington for talks on the future U.S. role. Syria agrees to a major prisoner swap. And Venezuela postpones the inauguration of ailing President Chavez. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Discovery of the oldest rock on Earth leads to new evidence regarding Earth's earliest years. If true, "chances for life in the universe suddenly improve — dramatically."

Discovery of the oldest rock on Earth leads to new evidence regarding Earth's earliest years. If true, "chances for life in the universe suddenly improve — dramatically."
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 12, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hcoC2

Meet The House GOP's Anti-Science Committee

Meet The House GOP's Anti-Science Committee
TPMDC | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbwcG

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) told an audience this week that former colleague Todd Akin was "partly right" when he claimed women ... Read more

'Million Man March' promises to paralyze Pakistani capital - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/12/world/asia/pakistan-tahir-ul-qadri/

How The Food Industry Is Enabling The United States’ Obesity Epidemic

How The Food Industry Is Enabling The United States' Obesity Epidemic
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbbMt

Our guest blogger is Danielle Moodie-Mills, an Advisor for LGBT Policy and Racial Justice at the Center for American Progress ... Read more

Also see http://dnspeak.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-series-skinny-on-obesity-sugar.html for a video series on this subject.

Corporate Lobby Threatens A Blizzard Of Litigation Attacking Wall Street Reform And Environmental Protection

Corporate Lobby Threatens A Blizzard Of Litigation Attacking Wall Street Reform And Environmental Protection
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbacx

Yesterday, U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Tom Donohue delivered his "State of American Business" address, in ... Read more

TIL that the first episode of an X-Files spin-off called "The Lone Gunmen," which aired March 4, 2001, involves a US government conspiracy to hijack an airliner, fly it into the World Trade Center, and blame it on terrorists - thereby gaining support for a new profit-making war.

TIL that the first episode of an X-Files spin-off called "The Lone Gunmen," which aired March 4, 2001, involves a US government conspiracy to hijack an airliner, fly it into the World Trade Center, and blame it on terrorists - thereby gaining support for a new profit-making war.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbnzy
Read more

Crisis averted!

Crisis averted!
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbDUr

A constitutional sin

A constitutional sin
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbAnz

NPH is the key!

NPH is the key!
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/aam1L

Fischer: Natural Disasters Are God's Spankings

God Miraculously Made A Pair Of Cindy Jacobs' Shoes Last For Years

Event Horizons - 60 Second Adventures in Astronomy (7/12)

Fischer: "We're Now The New Rosa Parks" And Victims Of Jim Crow

Hate Group Spokesman Called Out For Anti-Gay Positions On Live TV

Hate Group Spokesman Called Out For Anti-Gay Positions On Live TV
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hbhD1

For reasons that remain unclear, cable news networks continue to provide airtime to the Family Research Council, neglecting to ... Read more

The Surprising Root Of The United States’ Wasteful Health Care Spending

The Surprising Root Of The United States' Wasteful Health Care Spending
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/havll

Over the last several decades, U.S. national health expenditures have skyrocketed, increasing everything from the cost of ... Read more

For Balanced Deficit Reduction, The Next Budget Deal Must Be 90 Percent Tax Revenue

For Balanced Deficit Reduction, The Next Budget Deal Must Be 90 Percent Tax Revenue
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/haQIO

Between the recent fiscal cliff deal, the Budget Control Act of 2011, and the federal budget negotiation of Spring 2011, the ... Read more

Conservative Think Tank Ranks Countries With Government-Run Health Care As The Freest In World

Conservative Think Tank Ranks Countries With Government-Run Health Care As The Freest In World
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h8JF8

Former Senator Jim DeMint, the new president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, has decried Obamacare as "a ... Read more

Head Of House Republican Group Is Okay With U.S. Default

Head Of House Republican Group Is Okay With U.S. Default
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/hakTk

The new head of the Republican Study Committee — a caucus of ultra-conservative House Republicans — said yesterday ... Read more

Hobby Lobby Manipulating Employees’ Health Care Plans To Deny Them Access To Birth Control

Hobby Lobby Manipulating Employees' Health Care Plans To Deny Them Access To Birth Control
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 11, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h9R0g

The craft store Hobby Lobby has been embroiled in a legal fight against Obamacare's contraception mandate since ... Read more

Underwater astonishments - David Gallo

Listen to this: "A handful of cable companies have become monopolies that stifle competition and innovation. Their monopoly status is also why Americans pay more money for worse Internet service than consumers in most other developed nations."

Listen to this: "A handful of cable companies have become monopolies that stifle competition and innovation. Their monopoly status is also why Americans pay more money for worse Internet service than consumers in most other developed nations."
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h9CqU

Interview:

Karl Rove fondly recalls the good old days when George W. Bush was in charge of the economy

Karl Rove fondly recalls the good old days when George W. Bush was in charge of the economy
DAILY KOS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h8xvr

Karl Rove drops a bombshell about President Barack Obama: More Americans are unemployed, dropping off payrolls, and falling ... Read more

TOP 5 ALEX JONES DEBATE MOMENTS

Daily Kos: The fraud that is 'Fix the Debt'

Daily Kos: The fraud that is 'Fix the Debt'
DAILYKOS.COM
http://pulse.me/s/h9esJ

My rights are being trampled!

My rights are being trampled!
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h72Q4

Daily Show expose on the Bridge to Canada

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-9-2013/bridge-to-canada

!!!!

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Bridge to Canada

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook

Matt Taibbi: Government Lied To Americans About Bank Bailout

Matt Taibbi: Government Lied To Americans About Bank Bailout
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h8mRC

The government made some rather flimsy claims during the financial crisis -- among them, that the bank bailout would help struggling homeowners an... Read more

Congressional Budget Office Finds GOP Corporate Tax Proposal Would Push Jobs Overseas | ThinkProgress

Congressional Budget Office Finds GOP Corporate Tax Proposal Would Push Jobs Overseas | ThinkProgress
THINKPROGRESS.ORG
http://pulse.me/s/h9v3H

The U.S. Could Drastically Cut Health Care Costs With This One Move

The U.S. Could Drastically Cut Health Care Costs With This One Move
THE HUFFINGTON POST - MAGHREB FEATURED NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h7Fwm

_ Study calls for national healthcare spending target _ Group says plan could be "escape valve" in spending debate By David Morg... Read more

Hey, learned a new word this morning.

Hey, learned a new word this morning.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h9I47

Hitler the Catholic.

Hitler the Catholic.
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h8CbG

Conversations With Great Minds: Dr. James Stanford

Interview:

Opponents Play The Hitler Card On Gun Control, Supporters Say It's Not Gonna Work This Time

Opponents Play The Hitler Card On Gun Control, Supporters Say It's Not Gonna Work This Time
TPMDC | JANUARY 9, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h6cEf

Eventually, any conversation about gun control in America ends with someone, somewhere opposed to new gun regulations comparing ... Read more

Spreak more better English

Spreak more better English
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h83f5

Young Evangelicals Slowly Shifting Away From Traditional Abstinence-Only, Anti-Contraception Views

Young Evangelicals Slowly Shifting Away From Traditional Abstinence-Only, Anti-Contraception Views
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h8jQt

After the failure of abstinence-only education policies, evangelical leaders and institutions have begun to consider promoting ... Read more

Firearms Training CEO: If Gun Violence Prevention Goes ‘One Inch Further, I’m Going To Start Killing People’

Firearms Training CEO: If Gun Violence Prevention Goes 'One Inch Further, I'm Going To Start Killing People'
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h84x4

Pro-gun extremists have reached hysterics since reports that Vice President Joe Biden's task force will consider ... Read more

Asian Squat Toilets

Alex Jones' Hilarious Rants and Raves on CNN

Who's Crazier - Alex Jones, Glenn Beck, or Michael Savage?

Cheney's Troop Poisoning KBR Wants Your Money

Congress: Raise Money Now, Help People...Whenever

German bishops cancel study into sexual abuse by priests, prompting the investigator to accuse them of trying to censor what was to be a major report on the scandals

German bishops cancel study into sexual abuse by priests, prompting the investigator to accuse them of trying to censor what was to be a major report on the scandals
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 9, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h6Nnt
Read more

"HI, I am an UN-APOLOGETIC AMERICAN!!..."

"HI, I am an UN-APOLOGETIC AMERICAN!!..."
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h4UX2

Rush Limbaugh Doubles Down On Connection Between Homosexuality And ‘Normalizing Pedophilia’

Rush Limbaugh Doubles Down On Connection Between Homosexuality And 'Normalizing Pedophilia'
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h7wQV

Rush Limbaugh was astonished Wednesday that he had been criticized for his discussion earlier in the week comparing the ... Read more

Florida Governor’s Estimate For Expanding Medicaid Suddenly Drops By $23 Billion

Florida Governor's Estimate For Expanding Medicaid Suddenly Drops By $23 Billion
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h7OxO

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has been citing inaccurate cost estimates to justify his ... Read more

Illinois Catholic Conference’s ‘Marriage Toolkit’ Condemns Gay Couples To ‘Chaste Friendships’

Illinois Catholic Conference's 'Marriage Toolkit' Condemns Gay Couples To 'Chaste Friendships'
THINKPROGRESS | JANUARY 10, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h7vL0

The Catholic Conference of Illinois has put out a new "marriage toolkit" full of trite talking points designed to ... Read more

"Today, one family, the Walton family of Wal-Mart, owns more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of Americans." - Bernie Sanders

"Today, one family, the Walton family of Wal-Mart, owns more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of Americans." - Bernie Sanders
REDDIT TOP NEWS | JANUARY 9, 2013
http://pulse.me/s/h5X34
Read more