Conservative Catastrophic Memory Loss Reaches Epic Proportions

Conservative Catastrophic Memory Loss is spreading faster than the measles in California. First there was Ron Fournier, now Bret Stephens. It must be ...  Read more

Richard Dawkins Interview with Father George Coyne

Clinton Richard Dawkins, Sc. D., FRS, FRSL (born 26 March 1941) is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist,[1] and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford,[2] and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008.[3]...
http://youtu.be/iZPxtGqdTrs

What Is the Evidence for Evolution Found in the Fossil Record? Richard Dawkins Speech (2009)

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution is a 2009 book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, which was released on 3 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September 2009 in the U.S. It sets out the evidence for biological evolution, and is Dawkins's 10th book, following his bestselling critique of religion The God Delusion (2006) and The Ancestor's Tale (2004), which traced human ancestry back to the dawn of life...
http://youtu.be/S_LY-LZtJAs

Week In The News: State Of The Union, Yemen Crisis, 'DeflateGate' (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

A dead Saudi king, turmoil in Yemen, and a State of the Union challenge in the news this week. The Arabian Peninsula, jammed with developments. Royal succession in Riyadh. Guns all over in Sanaa. In Washington, President Obama comes out feisty in his State of the Union address saying help the middle class. Republicans say “we’ll do it our way.” Israel’s leader will address Congress without a White House invitation. Republican women break ranks a bit on abortion. We’ve got measles at Disneyland. And Deflategate! This hour On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/01/23/sotu-yemen-deflategate-nfl-isis

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

House Republicans back away from a controversial abortion bill after some G.O.P. women raise objections. President Obama visits a pair of red states to pitch economic proposals outlined in his State of the Union Address. The Senate begins debate on revising the “No Child Left Behind” education law. Vice President Biden says he may challenge Hillary Clinton in 2016. Protesters disrupt the Supreme Court on the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United decision. And the Justice Department reportedly won’t pursue civil rights charges against Ferguson, Missouri police office Darren Wilson. A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week’s top national news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-01-23/friday_news_roundup_domestic

Friday News Roundup – International (Diane Rehm Show)

A rebel attack on Yemen’s capital throws the country into crisis. U.S. lawmakers renew calls for sanctions against Iran. And American and Cuban officials meet in Havana for the first time in decades. A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week’s top international news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-01-23/friday_news_roundup_international

Voices of Reason - David Niose: Fighting Back the Right

"... Fighting Back the Right reveals a new alliance in the making, a progressive coalition committed to fighting for rational public policy in America and reversing the damage inflicted by decades of conservative dominance..."
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/dc/events/david-niose-2015/

Religious response to postponed abortion bill vote illustrates differences across denominational lines

"...The Rev. Debra Haffner, president of the Religious Institute, tweeted throughout the week about the importance of upholding Roe v. Wade protections for a woman's right to have an abortion. On Wednesday night, she added "Great news. See, gender matters," to the AP's announcement that the House GOP would drop its abortion bill..."
http://www.signalscv.com/section/598/article/132058/

Ex-Atlanta fire chief files discrimination complaint against City

"...Mayor Kasim Reed fired Cochran over his distribution of his book, which condemns homosexual acts as “vile, vulgar and inappropriate,” at work..."
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/ex-atlanta-fire-chief-files-discrimination-complai/njtb7/#__federated=1

Disneyland measles outbreak: Cases not limited to the unvaccinated

"...Their cases point to a lesser-known aspect of the measles vaccine: That even those who get the shots have a small risk of getting sick, especially older people who were immunized in the 1960s, '70s and '80s..."
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-measles-spread-20150122-story.html

Here's How The Anti-Abortion Movement Plans To Modernize Its Approach

WASHINGTON -- While Republican lawmakers squabbled over a single bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the anti-abortion movement's leadership found common ground Wednesday discussing long-term strategy at a summit in the nation's capital...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/22/march-for-life-abortion-_n_6525868.html

14 glorious minutes of religious people getting served by Richard Dawkins

http://youtu.be/rwdVD1gGDvA

House abortion bill switch reveals emerging clout of moderate Republicans

After spending the last few years butting heads with his most conservative members, House Speaker John A. Boehner has a new headache: a revolt by moderates... http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-gop-abortion-20150123-story.html

What's next for Twin Cities Archdiocese?

A look at the Archdiocse of St. Paul and Minneapolis' funding structure. | Betrayed by Silence, an MPR News investigation: http://mprnews.org/betrayed
http://youtu.be/hLauma2zlas

Jon Stewart Savages GOP's Deadpan Reaction To State Of The Union (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart was hardly able to contain his rage on Wednesday night as he tore into Republicans for blowing off the "good news" in the President's Stat... Read more

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

This GOP Guv Is Forcefully Arguing For Other States To Expand Medicaid

In a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Republican lawmakers in Montana, Ohio Gov. John Kasich made a forceful argument in favor of expanding Medicaid... Read more

Graham to Pro-Lifers: I Need Your Help Finding A Way Out Of 'Definitional Problem With Rape'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged activists to avoid letting the fast-moving debate among House Republicans over a 20-week abortion ban bill devolve in... Read more

'How Do We Save Roe?' Is The Wrong Question

"...This work is essential in keeping the case for abortion rights compelling and relevant, rather than associating it with a 42-year-old Supreme Court decision that has failed to effectively protect access to abortions for the women who need them..."
Read more

Louie Gohmert Finds Way To Connect 'Selma' To The Fight Against Al-Qaeda

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Thursday drew an interesting lesson from the critically-acclaimed movie "Selma," saying it reminded him of the importance... Read more

Huckabee: America Needs To Know Laws 'Come From God,' Not Man

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said during an appearance Thursday on a Christian television show that he's thinking about running for Presiden... Read more
http://youtu.be/unDAYiRg4uo

Israeli Officials Reportedly Defy Netanyahu, Warn Against Tougher Sanctions On Iran

"We met with a number of government officials from many different parts of the government. There's not a uniform view there," ... Read more

The Government Just Took A Step Toward Ending Mass Homelessness

For the first time, money is flowing into the National Housing Trust Fund, which could create affordable units and ease ... Read more

New Senate Environment Chair Gets His Gavel, Goes On Rant Arguing Climate Science Is A Hoax

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) chairs the Senate committee overseeing the environment. The post New Senate Environment Chair Gets His ... Read more
http://youtu.be/pT9ZeEFDVyM

‘Hottest Year’ Story Obscures Bigger News: Ocean Warming Now Off The Charts

The big climate news last week was NOAA and NASA announcing that 2014 was the hottest year on record, breaking the highs of ... Read more

Oil And Gas Production Is Exposing Californians To At Least 15 Different Kinds Of Pollutants

According to a new report, California needs to do more research into how exposure to oil and gas production facilities is ... Read more

Senate hearing: Should health care be a right for all people, provided by the Government?

Listening to business owners and school administrators... "From Your Lips to God's Ear"
http://youtu.be/Hb6OjniRoEQ

Search for the Chimera: A Lecture by James "The Amazing" Randi.A Lecture by James "The Amazing" Randi

http://youtu.be/S_I8aXrRAVA

Justice Ginsburg Explains Everything You Need To Know About Religious Liberty In Two Sentences

Notorious.The post Justice Ginsburg Explains Everything You Need To Know About Religious Liberty In Two Sentences appeared ... Read more

The Problem With Pope Francis Telling Catholics To Avoid Breeding ‘Like Rabbits’

His comments ultimately fail to move the dial forward for women in developing nations pushing for better access to reproductive ... Read more

Thousands Of Montanans Can’t Drink Or Cook With Tap Water Because Of Oil Spill

The EPA has confirmed that the oil spill contaminated the water supply of one Montana city. The post Thousands Of Montanans ... Read more

The Malevolence Of Anti-Muslim Bigots

When it comes to deciphering the roots of such violence, a problematic issue arises when certain individuals attempt to paint ... Read more

Obama’s State Of The Union Proposals Are Super Popular With Everyone Except Congress

Polls show that American voters support many of the progressive policies Obama is likely to announce tonight. The post ... Read more

Pope Francis Says Humans Cause Climate Change. These Catholic Members Of Congress Disagree.

ThinkProgress has compiled a list of the twelve Catholic members of Congress who cite their religion as part of their political ... Read more

GOP Congresswomen Withdraw Their Support For Proposed Abortion Ban

Two GOP congresswomen have officially withdrawn their support for a proposed 20-week abortion ban that has recently sparked controversy within the Republican Party, asking to be removed as co-sponsors from the legislation.
... Read more

The Biggest Tech Ideas Obama Will Prioritize This Year

President Obama has used the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s State of the Union address to preview a slew of tech policies he wants to tackle in the coming year. The president has set forth several legislative goals that could reset the way consumers use and interact with the internet. Here are some of the most important tech-themed policy issues Obama is expected to address in his speech Monday night:
... Read more

5 Numbers To Keep In Mind As You Watch Obama’s State Of The Union

President Obama's State of the Union speech will include some measures intended to address poverty and inequality. How ... Read more

A brief political history of religious exemptions

"...In recent years — especially with the debate about Hobby Lobby — I’ve seen lots of people assert that religious exemption regimes are a conservative invention. That’s just not the case, and I thought I’d briefly explain why..."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/01/21/a-brief-political-history-of-religious-exemptions/

Santorum and Huckabee Question Authority

"...For some conservatives, this questioning of the Supreme Court’s authority emanates from their view that Griswold forms the basis for rights they claim are not constitutionally recognized but have been created by “activist judges” who seek to impose them in reproductive and LGBT rights settings. Huckabee, in 2015, is speaking directly to the anxieties of Santorum in 2012 (and 2015): that the Supreme Court’s authority impinges on what they see as religious truths about homosexuality, abortion, and birth control. But what are religious truths when even Rick Santorum says he can’t listen to the Pope?..."
http://religiondispatches.org/santorum-and-huckabee-question-authority/

Obama Touts Climate Action, Mocks The ‘I’m Not A Scientist’ Caucus

The GOP response makes clear that Obama will have to go it alone on climate action and clean energy. His address shows he is ... Read more

Love Letters to Richard Dawkins

April 11th, 2014 - In a candid moment, filmmaker Eric Preston, founder and producer at Fusion Films, rolls his camera as Dr. Richard Dawkins - Author, Professor and Evolutionary Biologist - reads fan mail he has received from some of his greatest admirers. (Parental Discretion is Advised!)
http://youtu.be/gW7607YiBso

Is William Lane Craig a Psychopath?

http://youtu.be/_lhqotlvRtc

That one time America almost got universal child care

TIL the US temporarily had universal child care during World War II to support working mothers. In 1971, Congress passed a bill that would have provided it permanently, only to have it vetoed by Richard Nixon at the urging of Pat Buchanan.
Read more

Joni Ernst's Family Got Hundreds Of Thousands In Farm Subsidies

I put Joni's SOTU response up there so you can listen to her little anecdote at the beginning again, but this time with a little more transparency and... Read more

Jon Stewart Is Extremely Excited For Lindsey Graham To Run For President (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart needed some cheering up on Tuesday night after reviewing the field of Republican presidential hopefuls for 2016.  ... Read more

The Daily Show
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Menendez: Obama Admin's Iran Talking Points Are 'Straight Out Of Tehran' (VIDEO)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Wednesday that the Obama administration sounds ... Read more

Republicans Post Doctored Version Of State Of The Union, Censor Facts On Climate Change

The official website for House Republicans has posted on YouTube a doctored version of President Obama's State of the Union ... Read more

Sea-level rise today: Can Louisiana Hold Oil Companies Accountable For Its Vanishing Coastline?

As the state loses a football field-sized area of land every hour, Louisiana's Flood Protection Authority has leveled a ... Read more

Jindal's PAC takes on 'liberal media' in fight over 'no-go zones'

Fox News might be backing down from its campaign against "no-go zones," but Bobby Jindal isn't. And now the Louisiana governor's political action committee is taking up the cause.
Read more

IRS shutdown possible amid budget cuts, agency chief says - The Washington Post

“Today, the IRS is struggling to keep the lights on,” NTEU president Colleen M. Kelley said in a statement this week. “Not only do these cuts threaten our voluntary tax-compliance system, they also reduce the ability of the IRS to continue to collect 93 percent of our nation’s revenue.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/16/irs-shutdown-possible-amid-budget-cuts-agency-chief-says/

Your phone company can block robocalls! (Consumers Union)

"...If you are lucky, your phone company may already give you a way to block robocalls. But millions of people don't get free robocall blocking, and Americans lose millions of dollars each year to fraudulent schemes peddled by telemarketers who find victims using these annoying robot call systems..." Read more.

An Old Bias Found a New Target at Duke U.

"...Her statement highlighted the two errors being made by Franklin Graham. The first is to assume that all Muslims should be punished on account of the actions of an extremist. The second is assuming that the extremists represent the true teachings of Islam..."
http://chronicle.com/article/An-Old-Bias-Found-a-New-Target/151307/

Republicans: 'We'll defend life'

"...Obama threatened to veto the bill on Tuesday but took a more conciliatory tone in his speech that evening.

"We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows," he said..."
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/230166-republicans-well-defend-life

Jindal Plans To Double Down On Muslim ‘No-Go Zone’ Neighborhoods

"...But British Prime Minister David Cameron has called such assertions bunk. Fox News apologized for airing an interview with an American author who made similar assertions, and an official with Paris’ City Hall said Tuesday the city plans to sue Fox News for airing the statements..."
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/01/21/jindal-no-go-zone-neighborhoods/

Antitheism and the Art of the "Hitch Slap"

"...Less a comedian than a wit, Hitchens developed his distinctive argumentative style while studying politics, philosophy, and economics at Oxford University during the ‘60s. There, he learned how verbal barbs and linguistic dexterity can be potent weapons of rhetoric in intellectual combat..."
http://www.popmatters.com/column/189249-antitheism-and-the-art-of-the-hitch-slap/

Obama Goes Off Script, Silences Hecklers

"I know because I won both of them," he said.The post Obama Goes Off Script, Silences Hecklers appeared first on ThinkProgress. Read more
http://youtu.be/wVNC6dAeeyA

GOP Mentions Immigration In Spanish SOTU Response But Not In English One

In a disparity that crystalizes the Republican Party's struggle with immigration reform, its official English-language response to President Obama's S... Read more

Kelly Stunned At D'Souza Claims Obama Never Had 'African American Experience'

"...D'Souza, the author of "The End Of Racism," was criticizing prominent black political figures on Monday night when he said President Obama "hasn't actually had the African American experience" because he is "not descended from slaves on either side of his family..."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dinesh-dsouza-megyn-kelly-obama-black-experience

Republicans Irked By Obama Zinger In State Of The Union Address

Republicans were irked by President Barack Obama's caustic reminder in his State of the Union speech that he defeated them twice...

"And to think, before this "zinger" the Republicans were prepared to work with this President for the first time."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/republicans-obama-jab-state-of-the-union

Republican Response To Obama SOTU Dodges Nearly Every Major Issue

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) didn't mention many of the major policies outlined in Obama's address.The post Republican Response To ... Read more

Paris mayor: We intend to sue Fox News

"...Hidalgo's comments about a lawsuit came after a series of Fox segments suggested there are parts of Paris and other European cities where Islamic law is practiced and where police are fearful to work. The "no-go" zone segments were widely mocked and challenged as inaccurate, particularly by French media outlets.
Some critics have accused the network of using the controversial "no-go zones" idea to perpetuate a fearful narrative about Muslims, particularly in the days since terror attacks in Paris."Read more

State of the Union 2015: Full video and transcript

"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.  

But tonight, we turn the page..."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/20/politics/state-of-the-union-2015-transcript-full-text/index.html
http://youtu.be/cse5cCGuHmE

‘No Gays Allowed’ Law Set To Pass In Virginia

"Want to buy a bed? Prove you’re not sharing it with a member of the same sex.

Want to buy diapers but show up with your same-sex partner? No diapers for you, and don’t darken the door of this store again. 

We aren’t going to enroll your kid in our school district because she has two moms. 

All these scenarios would be entirely legal under the new law."

 http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=173754

Francis: Catholics Needn’t ‘Breed Like Rabbits’

"...He spoke of meeting a woman in Manila who is pregnant with her eighth child after giving birth seven times by Caesarian section. That, he said, was "irresponsible parenting."

But the pontiff objected to what he called "ideological colonization" of the family and developing world. It’s wrong to impose progressive, Western notions about birth control and gay rights, especially as a precondition of development aid, the Associated Press reported Francis as saying..."
http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-says-catholics-neednt-breed-like-rabbits/2605463.html

Children in America's secular families turn out just fine

"...Far from being dysfunctional, nihilistic and rudderless without the security and rectitude of religion, secular households provide a sound and solid foundation for children, according to Vern Bengston, a University of Southern California professor of gerontology and sociology..."

"...The results of such secular child-rearing are encouraging. Studies have found that secular teenagers are far less likely to care what the "cool kids" think, or express a need to fit in with them, than their religious peers. When these teens mature into "godless" adults, they exhibit less racism than their religious counterparts, according to a 2010 Duke University study. Many psychological studies show that secular grownups tend to be less vengeful, less nationalistic, less militaristic, less authoritarian and more tolerant, on average, than religious adults..."
http://www.bradenton.com/2015/01/19/5589883_children-in-americas-secular-families.html?rh=1

15 Free Ways to Burn Calories Without the Gym

It's a new year and that means, if polls are to be believed, nearly half of us have made resolutions to make this year the most...  Read more

Tell the FCC to let you block robocalls!

"Last year, the phone carriers told Congress that current laws actually prevent them from blocking robocalls. This didn't make any sense to us.
It's your phone, you should be allowed to control who calls. 

The National Association of Attorneys General agreed. They wrote to the FCC and asked them make robocall blocking solutions "more easily accessible to consumers." Now the FCC wants to know what the public thinks. 

Fill out the short form below and we'll take your comments with us to Washington D.C. on Tuesday, January 20, 2015..."

  http://www.nomorobo.com/pages/tell-the-fcc