O'Reilly Pushes Bogus ISIS Link To Chattanooga Shooting While Admitting It Might Not Be True

As John Amato already explained here, Fox "news" and wingnut Pamela Geller almost immediately tried tying the Chattanooga shooter to ISIS this Thursda...  Read more

Fracking Linked to Heart Conditions and Neurological Illness

People who live near fracking sites suffer higher rates of heart conditions and neurological illnesses, says new research...
...  Read more

Fan Yells Monkey Noises At Black Soccer Player, But Only The Player Gets Kicked Out

Russia is set to host the 2018 World Cup. But its response to rampant fan racism in its top flight soccer league leaves much to ... Read more
https://youtu.be/_8NvC0CyEwo

What the Planned Parenthood Hoax Really Proves: Right-wing Extremists Have No Qualms About Destroying Peoples’ Lives

They say a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on. That’s certainly the case with a new and highly deceptive anti-choice propaganda video that claims to show a Planned Parenthood official caught on a hidden camera while allegedly discussing how the women’s health clinics are involved with the harvesting and selling of aborted fetus organs via a sordid underground black market.
...  Read more

Former Iranian Ambassador Praises Nuclear Deal As Model For The Region

From this Thursday's Democracy Now, former Iranian Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian explains why Congress should approve the deal the Obama administ...  Read more

A Scientist Explains Why ‘Mini Ice Age' News Is Bogus

Last week, a press release from the Royal Astronomical Society caught the British news media's attention. It quickly spread to American outlets, and s...  Read more

Ta-Nehisi Coates On Police Brutality, The Confederate Flag And Forgiveness

Growing up in West Baltimore, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates was no stranger to violence. "Everyone had lost a child, somehow, to the streets, to jail, to drugs, to guns," he tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross.

Coates' new book, Between the World and Me, is an effort to protect his son from the same threats he experienced as a youth. Written in the form of a letter, Coates draws on history as well as personal experience to discuss the different forms of violence young African-Americans face on the street, in school and from the police...
Interview:
http://www.wnyc.org/story/ta-nehisi-coates-on-police-brutality-the-confederate-flag-and-forgiveness/

How GOP SuperPACs Are Buying Their Way Into Fox Debates

There's always been some variation on this game, because media companies (including newspapers) have higher rates for campaign ads. (Why? Because they... Read more

Rick Perry’s Criminal Defense Fees Now Total More Than $2 Million

Republican presidential candidate and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has spent more than $2 million fighting his abuse-of-power indictment, the Texas Tr... Read more

The Inside Story of the Crony Court that Deep-Sixed the Scott Walker Probe

Yesterday, Scott Walker caught a break when the Wisconsin Supreme Court, on a party line vote, shut down a criminal investigation of his 2012 recall election campaign. The inquiry, called “John Doe” investigation, was led by a Republican special prosecutor on behalf of five Wisconsin county district attorneys who were probing whether Walker had broken state campaign finance laws when he and his aides steered donors to give to the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a state-level chapter of the national organization that was then led by one of Walker’s top campaign staffers.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/the-inside-story-of-the-crony-court-that-deep-sixed-the-scott-walker-probe

One Simple Way To Get Fresh Food To People Who Can’t Afford It

"We have a tremendous opportunity to capture as much food waste as possible and solve food insecurity."  ... Read more

'Member Of The 1%' Explains On Reddit Why He's Voting For Bernie Sanders

A self-described member of the 1 percent shocked the Reddit community on Wednesday with an explanation of why he was voting for the presidential candi...  Read more

One Congressman’s Fight To Keep Fracking Waste Out Of Drinking Water

Even treated fracking waste can become unsafe when exposed to our public wastewater treatment system.  ... Read more

Jeb Bush Says LGBT Non-Discrimination Should Be A States’ Rights Issue

Bush told a gay voter that "the fact that there wasn't a law doesn't necessarily mean you would have been discriminated ... Read more

Hottest June Puts 2015 On Track For Hottest Year On Record By Far

It's now all but certain 2015 will be the hottest year on record, probably by a wide margin -- as what increasingly appears to ... Read more

Pipeline Spill In The Heart Of Canada’s Tar Sands Industry Leaks 1.3 Million Gallons Of Oily Emulsion

The spill is the largest in Alberta in 35 years.  ... Read more

Equality Just Won The First Skirmish In The Next Great Battle Over Gay Rights

In many states, it is still perfectly legal to fire a worker or deny someone housing because they are gay. That could change, ... Read more

Immigrants Face ‘Mental Torture’ At Detention Center That Was Supposed To Be Shut Down

The facility was slated to shut down in 2010, but politics intervened. ' ... Read more

Boehner Blames California Drought On Obama

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) took to Facebook on Tuesday to recast California's worst drought in 1200 years as a "man-made ... Read more

New Mexico City Finds A Home For All Its Homeless Veterans

Las Cruces joins other cities like Phoenix, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, and Houston that have ended veteran homelessness. ... Read more

Sandra Bland And The Invisible Plight Of Black Women In The Justice System

Black men are missing. So are black women.  ... Read more

Michigan Ditches For-Profit Prison Food Provider, But Not Because It Fed Inmates Rat-Eaten Trash

Michigan is switching from one for-profit food vendor in its prisons to another after a litany of health and safety ... Read more

Hillary Clinton Says She Would Phase Out Fossil Fuel Drilling On Public Lands — Just Not Yet

The question came during a freewheeling town hall-style event in New Hampshire, which included protests, chanting, and unfurled ... Read more

Persecution Complex: Kentucky Court Clerks Resist Marriage Equality

Davis, a court clerk, says Gov. Steve Beshear is “violating my rights” by telling him he’s required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. ... Read more

Breaking: In Historic Ruling, EEOC Finds Sexual Orientation Discrimination Is Already Illegal

The EEOC finds today that "allegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex," as Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner first reported...
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking_in_historic_ruling_eeoc_finds_sexual_orientation_discrimination_is_already_illegal

House GOP Pulls Breast Cancer Bill Over Unfounded Abortion Concerns

“It’s unthinkable that Republicans would oppose funding breast cancer research for women in need,” Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement. “This legislation would fund valuable prevention and research that helps save women’s lives.”...
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/07/15/house-gop-pulls-breast-cancer-bill-unfounded-abortion-concerns/

Humanists promote free-thinking, science, human rights

Humanism is a philosophy that doesn't include any need for an extreme force or deity and recognizes the dignity of all. Out of that grows a lot of ethical philosophies of life...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/humanists-promote-free-thinking-science-human-rights/2237539

Understanding Iran's Point of View

To understand why conservatives in Iran would be wary of the intentions of the U.S. and other western nations, I recommend reading the history of Iran since World War II to the present day.  Note especially all the ways the U.S. has been involved in their history and the outcomes at each point.

Senior Iranian cleric challenges nuclear deal with world powers

...Political analysts said the comments by Khamenei and Kermani allow conservative clerics the political space to make further criticisms of the deal and could also absolve the Supreme Leader of responsibility if the accord, which will last for years, falls apart at some future stage...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/17/us-iran-nuclear-prayer-idUSKCN0PR1BC20150717

5 Points On That Controversial Undercover Planned Parenthood Video

An undercover video surfaced Tuesday purportedly showing a high-level Planned Parenthood official discussing the sale of tissue obtained from aborted fetuses. Heavy emphasis on purportedly.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/planned-parenthood-tissue-video

Supreme Court Ends Secret 'John Doe' Probe That Long Plagued Scott Walker

Republicans called the investigation, launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat, a partisan witch hunt. Wisconsin Club for Growth and its director, Eric O'Keefe, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit last year seeking to halt the probe, arguing the investigation violates their free speech rights. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa sided with the club but a federal appellate court later tossed out the lawsuit, saying the issue belonged in state courts.
... Read more

Woman Dies In Jail After Being Roughed Up During Traffic Stop. Police Say It Was Suicide.

A video shows multiple police officers holding 28-year-old Sandra Bland to the ground while she cries out, "You just slammed my ... Read more

How Climate Change Could Threaten The Nutrition Of Millions

Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could lead to nutrient deficiency in 138 million people by 2050, ... Read more

Alaska Governor Sidesteps GOP-Controlled Legislature, Expands Medicaid On His Own

"This is the final option for me -- I've tried everything else."  ... Read more

This Massive Utility Wants More Renewable Energy Because Corporations Are Demanding It

Alabama Power is hoping to live up to the old adage that says "the customer is always right." ... Read more

Muslim Groups Step In To Help Black Churches Burned In Wave Of Arson

"Too often cowards inflict us with a crippling fear, but with encouragement and support from likely and unlikely places fear ... Read more

Government Proposes New Rules Aimed At Protecting Streams From Coal Mining

If finalized, the rules would protect about 6,500 miles of streams across the U.S. from the impacts of coal mining, according ... Read more

Foreign Agent For United Arab Emirates And Saudi Arabia Raising Money For Jeb Bush

A registered lobbyist who serves as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia has already raised at least ... Read more

Senate Rejects Effort To Teach Kids About Climate Change In School

One senator expressed concern that the measure would result in a lot of "wasted paper."  ... Read more

Court Orders Prosecutors To Stop Investigating Scott Walker’s Alleged Illegal Coordination

The justices said the investigation was "unsupported in either reason or law."  ... Read more

India awaits windfall from Iran nuclear deal

India is particularly well positioned to benefit because many of its refineries are designed to receive Iranian-grade crude, analysts said. On Wednesday, after the agreement was signed, Mumbai's Sensex closed up 1% on hopes of cheaper fuel. Shares in the Indian Oil Corporation Limited are up 5% since Tuesday.
Read more

Diner Says Tipping Is ‘Contrary’ To Its ‘Staff-Oriented Model,’ Drops It In Favor Of Better Wages

"It's just the right thing to do, but also the right thing to do for our business," the owner of Delta Diner in Wisconsin said ... Read more

Federal Government Deepens Commitment To Separate Justice Systems For Wall Street, Main Street

People who apply for jobs with federal contractors still have to check a box if they have been to prison, but a government agency is finally trying to “ban the box” — at least, for billionaire bankers.
... Read more

More Thoughts on The Iran Nuclear Deal

As the reactions come in and the arguments get rolling, we are now getting a clearer look at the debate over the Iran nuclear deal - now in a real and... Read more

The Simplest Explanation Of The Iran Deal You’ll Find

Legos make everything simpler.  ... Read more

‘Comedy’: Amy Schumer Compares Birth Control to Gun Rights

“Ask your doctor if birth control is right for you,” the ad begins. “Then, ask your boss if birth control is right for you. Ask your boss to ask his priest...
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/katie-yoder/2015/05/04/comedy-amy-schumer-compares-birth-control-gun-rights#sthash.rsfV7SDk.dpuf

Even Nuns Aren't Exempt From Obamacare's Birth-Control Mandate

A federal appeals court rules that the Little Sisters of the Poor received a sufficient religious accommodation.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/07/obama-beats-the-nuns-on-contraception/398519/

'Blowing my mind': Prove finds ice mountains on Pluto, canyons on its moon

"Who would have supposed that there were ice mountains?" project scientist Hal Weaver said. "It's just blowing my mind."
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2015/07/16/blowing-my-mind-prove-finds-ice-mountains-on-pluto-canyons-on-its-moon/

Obama: Iran Nuke Deal Makes Our Country, World Safer

...Six world powers, including the United States, reached the deal on Tuesday. It aims to limit Iran's nuclear capability in exchange for lifting punishing economic sanctions. Obama has said the deal eliminates every pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon... He also said that critics of the deal have not presented a better alternative and indicated that he was ready for an engaged conversation on the matter...
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coming-obama-takes-questions-iran-nuclear-deal-n392511

Obama: Iran deal is only alternative to more Mideast war

...Obama is now spearheading an intense White House push to counter Republican critics in Congress and reassure jittery allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/15/us-iran-nuclear-obama-idUSKCN0PP2BQ20150715

Why Some People Think The Iran Nuclear Deal Is Historic And Others Think It’s A Historic Mistake

While certain critics were pushing for unfettered access to Iran's nuclear sites, Brom said, "it never works that way." ... Read more

S.C. Raised Confederate Flag in '61 to Insult 9 Black Protesters—Now Took It Down to Honor 9 Slain

Has history come full circle?
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/sc-raised-confederate-flag-61-insult-9-black-protesters-now-took-it-down-honor-9

10 Most Insane Calamities Right-Wingers Predict Will Result from Gay Marriage

The wing-nuts are having an epic meltdown.
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/10-most-insane-calamities-right-wingers-predict-will-result-gay-marriage

Every Judgement About Women Destroyed In Just Over One Minute (VIDEO)

In most situations, women are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Should they work? Should they stay home? Should they have a nanny? Should they have an abortion? Should they leave an abusive partner? Should they… should they… should they….
Read more

Tyson Chicken Factory Farm Caught On Hidden Camera Torturing And Neglecting Animals

"Tyson Foods is literally torturing chickens to death," said MFA's president, Nathan Runkle. "They are crammed into filthy, windowless sheds, thrown, kicked, and brutalized by careless workers, and bred to grow so fast they suffer from painful leg deformities and heart attacks. This is sickening animal abuse no company with morals should support. Tyson Foods has not only the power, but also the ethical responsibility to end the worst forms of cruelty to animals in its supply chain."
Read more

Why Some People Think The Iran Nuclear Deal Is Historic And Others Think It’s A Historic Mistake

While certain critics were pushing for unfettered access to Iran's nuclear sites, Brom said, "it never works that way." ... Read more