Week In The News: Super Tuesday, Romney Hits Trump, Scott Kelly Returns Home (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Something like full-on mayhem in the GOP this week. Uncivil war on the debate stage. Big Republican Mitt Romney tearing into Donald Trump on the billionaire’s record and character. And Trump takes Super Tuesday. And Clinton does the same. We’ve got Supreme Court tensions, up. Chris Rock going big on race at the Oscars. And astronaut Scott Kelly, back on Earth. This hour On Point, our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2016/03/04/romney-scott-kelly-gop-super-tuesday

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Diane Rehm Show 2016-03-04)

Former G.O.P. presidential nominee Mitt Romney leads the charge of establishment Republicans against Donald Trump. In a speech yesterday, Romney sharply criticized the G.O.P. frontrunner and called for the party to rally around one of his rivals. The Justice Department grants immunity to a staffer who set up Hillary Clinton’s private email server. Republican senators meet with President Obama but don’t give ground on a hearing for his potential Supreme Court nominee. And the U.S. economy grew by 242,000 jobs in February, keeping the unemployment rate steady at 4.9 percent. A panel of journalists joins guest host Tom Gjelten for analysis of the week’s top national news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-03-04/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Friday News Roundup – International (Diane Rehm Show, 2016-03-04)

The U.N. says a ceasefire in Syria is largely holding, but there are some reports of violations. A top E.U. official warns economic migrants against coming to Europe. The U.N. Security Council adopts new sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program. Moderates and reform candidates make significant gains in Iran’s national elections. And gulf Arab states declare Lebanon’s Hezbollah a terrorist group, a move signaling escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. A panel of journalists joins guest host Tom Gjelten for analysis of the week’s top international news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-03-04/friday-news-roundup-international

Is Donald Trump the Charismatic Leader the KKK & Neo-Nazis Have Been Waiting For?

http://democracynow.org - After initially refusing to condemn an endorsement from former KKK leader David Duke, Donald Trump has faced a series of questions about why his campaign has been so embraced by Neo-Nazis and Klansmen. We speak to Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino. Levin talks about encountering Trump supporters at a recent rally held by a chapter of the Klan in Anaheim known as the Loyal White Knights, or LWK.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/iRsGiFKcpuk

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime – March 4, 2016 (HBO)

Bill Maher and his guests – Raheel Raza, Rep. Donna Edwards, Ari Shapiro, Matt Lewis and Sarah Silverman – answer viewer questions after the show.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/FdW5OkizEto

Trump Owns Bill O'Reilly Post Debate

In this Majority Report clip, another tragicomic situation unfolds as Donald Trump, head bully of the world, appears to neatly bring up the most hurtful things possible that he could rub in Bill O'Reilly's face after the Republican debate. O'Reilly may or may not be drunk and doesn't seem to notice, but ... can we honestly feel bad for Bill O'Reilly?? What is happening to reality?
Interview:
https://youtu.be/asAxn1zbH0U

Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rule – The Empathy Gap (HBO)

In his editorial New Rule, Bill Maher calls out Republicans for refusing to get on the humane side of an issue unless they have been personally affected by it. Original air date: March 4, 2016.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/BVwFmdipfZg

Neocons Are Freaking out Over Trump and It's Hilarious

The guys who got us into three unwinnable wars are back and poutier than ever...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/neocons-are-freaking-out-over-trump-and-its-hilarious

Quote of the Day: "No, sir, I am not going to answer that"

Fascinating! What exactly is it that Blackburn is so loath to answer—and so unable to defend? Well, it turns out that she wants to issue a subpoena to get the names of individual medical researchers who use fetal tissue, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler wants to know why. Steve Benen picks up the story...
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/03/quote-day-no-sir-i-am-not-going-answer

Donald Trump Loves the Great Wall of China. Too Bad It Was a Complete Disaster.

The Donald's second-favorite wall was "a symbol of futility, waste, cruelty, bad policy."
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/great-wall-china-donald-trump

From Threatening the House Speaker to Ejecting Black Students From Rallies, Trump Previews His Hate-Filled Vision for the Presidency

The essence of Donald Trump’s motivation — and alas, his appeal — is the annihilation of the democratic process...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/threatening-house-speaker-ejecting-black-students-rallies-trump-previews-his-hate

To Take Down Trump, Clinton Has a Secret Weapon That Cruz and Rubio Missed Out On

Clinton is doing what pretty much every Republican in the country failed to do — she’s taking Trump seriously...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/take-down-trump-clinton-has-secret-weapon-cruz-and-rubio-missed-out

Donald Trump's absurd claim that he knows nothing about former KKK leader David Duke

"I don't know anything about David Duke."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/02/donald-trump/trumps-absurd-claim-he-knows-nothing-about-former-/

Sanders: Welfare reform more than doubled 'extreme poverty'

"Since (welfare reform) was signed into law, the number of families living in extreme poverty has more than doubled."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/02/bernie-s/sanders-welfare-reform-more-doubled-extreme-povert/

Ted Cruz wrongly says Harry Reid likes Donald Trump best in GOP field

Then he added, "There's a reason (Senate Democratic Leader) Harry Reid, when asked about the Republican field, said the Republican he likes the best is Donald Trump, and he said, because I can work with him. He'll cut deals. We've had too many deals in Washington."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/02/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-wrongly-says-senate-democratic-leader-har/

R.I.P. religious right, and other Super Tuesday takeaways

(CNN)Was it a coming-out party for atheists or a funeral dirge for the religious right?
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/02/politics/religion-super-tuesday/index.html

Unintended pregnancy rate in U.S. is high, but falling

A big part of the reason for the decline, at least so far, is the "pretty significant increase in women using long-acting contraceptive methods like the (intrauterine device) in recent periods," Finer said. These methods, such as the levonorgestrel and copper IUD and birth control implants, are associated with failure rates of less than 1%, while the failure rates of birth control pills and condoms are about 9% and 18%, respectively...
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/02/health/unintended-pregnancy-rate/

Texas creationist won big in Super Tuesday’s race for Board of Education

"Obama has a soft spot for homosexuals because of the years he spent as a male prostitute in his twenties. That is how he paid for his drugs. He has admitted he was addicted to drugs when he was young, and he is sympathetic with homosexuals; but he hasn’t come out of the closet about his own homosexual/bisexual background."

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2016/03/texas-creationist-won-big-in-super-tuesdays-race-for-board-of-education/

McCain's Senate Challenger's Anti-Trump Ad

It's not difficult to pull together clips of Donald Trump that make the Republican Party look bad, and that's exactly what Democratic Senate candidates will be doing across the country this year...
https://youtu.be/u4RH7qqBMew

Welcome to Michigan: Don't Drink the Water

GOP, Democrats set to spar in Detroit and Flint.

It's hard to win a popularity contest when you're unpopular, but here the politicos come.

Michigan plays host this week to both the Democratic and Republican presidential roadshows.

What will the candidates find in the Great Lakes State? Failing schools. Crumbling roads. Poisoned water. And a people who have lost faith in their public officials.

They'll find America.

Some candidates will promise big government. Some will promise small government. But can they deliver an effective government?
https://youtu.be/6vyBq8W37w0

Yes, Donald Trump has been linked to the mob

Donald Trump "seems terrified to release his taxes" because they may reveal his true net worth, his donations to liberal causes, or something even seedier, Sen. Ted Cruz suggested on Meet the Press...
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/02/ted-cruz/yes-donald-trump-has-been-linked-mob/

Abortion Rates Are Falling, But Conservatives Won’t Like the Reason Why

It has nothing to do with all those restrictions.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/abortion-decline-better-contraception

Science Has Found a Brilliant New Use for Your Kitchen Scraps

Turns out, dumping compost on grasslands can do a suprising amount for the planet.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/02/compost-sequester-marin-carbon-project-emissions

How The Republicans Paved The Way For Donald Trump, Explained In 2 Minutes

How did we get here? Read the full transcript...
https://youtu.be/IUpcZMbpcjo

RWW News: David Barton Says It's The Role Of Judges To 'Render Judgment For God'

https://youtu.be/lsSul4SEzls

Has Republican Austerity Destroyed Your City?

Republicans are obsessed with cutting budgets, but only the budgets that don’t deal with tax cuts, subsidies to profitable industries, and military spending. But on basic necessities, Republicans have no problem slashing those funds down to nothing. These cuts have left cities and states all over this country in dire straights.
https://youtu.be/kmqkEF-RwP4

The Real Kasich | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | TBS

If you think John Kasich is your moderate answer to the crazy pile atop the South Carolina primary, think again.
https://youtu.be/p6y_AeJXUdM

Alabama Man Deemed 'Suspicious' By Officer Fatally Shot Outside Own Home

Finley confirmed Smith is white. Gunn was black...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/greg-gunn-police-shooting

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 2, 2016

Interview:
https://youtu.be/eCMnvUqsMbc

Trump Makes Every Mark For ‘Daily Show’ Fascist Checklist (VIDEO)

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/daily-show-donald-trump-week-of-facism

Russian Faces Up to Year in Prison for Denying Existence of God

Russia's Investigative Committee — the equivalent of the FBI — charged Krasnov with "offending believers' feelings," which was criminalized in Russia after a notorious performance by punk band Pussy Riot in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February 2012. Two band members were jailed in 2012 for performing an anti-Vladimir Putin song at the cathedral...
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russian-faces-year-prison-denying-existence-god-n530111

Who Needs Bible Study? An Atheist Arizona Legislator Will Lead Secular Studies for His Colleagues

Now, Mendez is preparing to challenge Christian privilege in a new way...
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/03/01/who-needs-bible-study-an-atheist-arizona-legislator-will-lead-secular-studies-for-his-colleagues/

The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous

Its faith-based 12-step program dominates treatment in the United States. But researchers have debunked central tenets of AA doctrine and found dozens of other treatments more effective...
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

Grand jury: 2 bishops hid sex abuse of hundreds of children

...In a practice seen in other dioceses, the bishop created a "payout chart" to help guide how much victims would receive from the church, the report said. Victims fondled over their clothes were to be paid $10,000 to $25,000; fondled under their clothes or subjected to masturbation, $15,000 to $40,000; subjected to forced oral sex, $25,000 to $75,000; subjected to forced sodomy or intercourse, $50,000 to $175,000...
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/538b2019e2f648059e0cebe2fab073d0/grand-jury-2-bishops-hid-sex-abuse-hundreds-children

It's Super Tuesday! Did Hillary Clinton Have A Terrorist Cat?

https://youtu.be/NpCF7GXCtuM

Catholic Church's disapproval boosts Girl Scout donations in St. Louis

When it comes to Girl Scout fund-raising and cookie sales, critics can bring out customers...
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2016/0301/Catholic-Church-s-disapproval-boosts-Girl-Scout-donations-in-St.-Louis

More Than A Third Of People Shot By LAPD In 2015 Were Mentally Ill

The report found a marked increase in the shooting of mentally ill people from the previous year...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lapd-shot-mentally-ill_us_56d617b5e4b0871f60ed1e3b

My Donald Trump Conspiracy Theory

Now, when Donald Trump drops out of the race -- and he will - the last Republican standing can proudly tell the American people...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-hotchkiss/my-donald-trump-conspiracy-theory_b_9349954.html

Mandatory Self-Reliance Classes for Welfare Recipients? Utah Bill Is Red State Cruelty at Its Worst

The bill would require recipients of government assistance to complete a two-hour self-reliance course within 90 days...
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/mandatory-self-reliance-classes-welfare-recipients-utah-bill-red-state-cruelty

Obama: None of the GOP candidates have climate change plan

"There is not a single candidate in the Republican primary that thinks we should do anything about climate change."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/01/barack-obama/obama-none-gop-candidates-have-climate-change-plan/

Fact-checking Donald Trump's claims about Trump University

"We (Trump University) have an ‘A’ from the Better Business Bureau."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/28/donald-trump/fact-checking-donald-trumps-claims-about-trump-uni/

Who’s Regulating For-Profit Schools? Execs From For-Profit Colleges

And many of them come from schools that have been under investigation...
https://www.propublica.org/article/whos-regulating-for-profit-schools-execs-from-for-profit-colleges

Peace message in Iran’s election - CSMonitor.com

VOTE AGAINST EXTREMISM: Despite a rigged list of candidates, voters in Iran’s Feb. 26 election found a way to elect relative moderates who seek a less threatening country more open to the world. The vote was a humiliating blow to Iran’s clerical rule.
http://m.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2016/0229/Peace-message-in-Iran-s-election

Major Leader of the American Jewish Mainstream Does 180, Calls State of Israel a 'Failure'

"In every important way, Israel has failed to realize its promise for me."
http://www.alternet.org/world/major-leader-american-jewish-mainstream-does-180-calls-state-israel-failure

"We Must & Can Aim High": Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich on Endorsing Bernie Sanders

We speak with Robert Reich, the former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997, about his decision to formally endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for president on the Democratic ticket. "What worries me about other candidates, particularly Hillary Clinton, is that the message seems to be we cannot aim high, or we must not be ambitious, we must not try to be bold, because we can’t get there. That, to me, is exactly the wrong message," Reich says. "In terms of mobilizing Americans and organizing and getting the kind of response we need from Americans to push Congress, to change Congress, to get a government that is responsible for us, the message should be we must and can aim high. We can do it. And we’ve done it before in this country." This comes as four top economists and former advisers for Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have issued an open letter to Senator Sanders criticizing his economic platform. Reich is the author of many books, mostly recently, "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few."
Interview:
Part 1:
https://youtu.be/ZjYdmILv4fs

Part 2:
https://youtu.be/_byv_6MlmgM

Donald Trump Wants to Commit War Crimes and Neocons Still Think He's Too Moderate

Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s campaign has come under fire from high-level military officials, including former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who has said if Trump were elected president, it is possible U.S. military officials would refuse to follow his orders. Trump has pledged to reinstate forms of torture, including waterboarding, and other practices he said were "so much worse." He has also repeatedly called for killing the family members of terrorists—a practice that violates the Geneva Conventions. We speak with Zaid Jilani, staff reporter at The Intercept, who argues the pledges Trump made about torture are "flatly illegal," but past presidents have also disobeyed and disavowed international law. His new article is "Neoconservatives Declare War on Donald Trump." We also speak with Mychal Denzel Smith, Knobler fellow at The Nation Institute and a contributing writer for The Nation magazine.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/mQ9qY4pg9dA

Super Tuesday: Amid Protests over Racism, Donald Trump Appears Poised to Triumph in Key Contests

Super Tuesday has arrived, the biggest primary day in the presidential race. Republicans and Democrats each go to the polls in 11 states. Billionaire Donald Trump could win as many as eight of the 11 states. He has won three out of the four caucuses and primaries to date. This comes as his campaign is under increasing fire after he at first refused to disavow an endorsement from David Duke, a prominent white supremacist and former KKK leader. Trump’s comments have prompted several rounds of protests during his recent rallies. On Monday, he reportedly ordered Secret Service agents to remove about 30 black students from his rally in Georgia who were quietly standing on the bleachers. At another Trump rally on Monday in Virginia, black students who chanted "No more hate! No more hate! Let’s be equal! Let’s be great!" were also removed. "You could write these things off before as hate speech, as vile, as disgusting rhetoric that he supported," says Mychal Denzel Smith, a writer for The Nation, "but now [Trump] is going to be in a position where he could very well be the person to exercise that sort of hate speech and vile rhetoric with institutional power backing him." Smith’s new article is "Trump’s Racism Didn’t Scare Me. Now It Does."
Interview:
https://youtu.be/i0MWi0bhv-s

DMV OKs first "Pastafarian" to wear a strainer on head in license photo

Pastafarianism – a blend of the words "pasta" and "Rastafarianism" – promotes a playful view of organized religion. The basic message is that all religious beliefs are equally plausible, but none of them belong in public schools...
http://onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/pastafarian.html

Ben Carson Vows To End Nonexistent 'Ban On Christianity' In Public Schools

While speaking today with Pat Robertson at Regent University, Ben Carson said that he would work “very hard on eliminating the ban on Christianity in our public schools” if elected president...
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ben-carson-vows-end-nonexistent-ban-christianity-public-schools

Religiously unaffiliated Americans are the new powerhouse political bloc. But only if they vote.

Religiously unaffiliated voters may be the most important political group that no one talks about...
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/religiously-unaffiliated-americans-are-the-new-124459554.html

Homeopathy - Con or Cure / Enemies of Reason (Richard Dawkins)

I was amazed since my parents have always used homeopathic medication for hayfever and other allergies. When I heard about the dilution applied in these medications I was stunned...
Interview:
https://youtu.be/E0-NalmRSl8

And Now the Good News #178: 3/1/2016

Learn more about the stories featured in this video at the following sources:

“UNC-Chapel Hill researchers make groundbreaking discovery, use skin cells to kill cancer”
http://goo.gl/hqVQWG

“Solar cells as light as a soap bubble”
http://goo.gl/Yr7MhT

“Small study finds immunotherapy improves cognition in patients with schizophrenia”
http://goo.gl/yTVIX8
Interview:
https://youtu.be/GMtUc9L0LDw

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 1, 2016

Interview:
https://youtu.be/sl8YfHdrEZA

Georgia gov: ‘I don’t perceive this bill allows discrimination’

Georgia’s business community has mobilized against the bill, bolstered by high-profile opponents including Marc Benioff, founder of technology company Salesforce...
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/02/georgia-gov-i-dont-perceive-this-bill-allows-discrimination/

'Spotlight' Wins Oscar For Best Picture; Pope Challenged By Producer From Stage

“This film gave a voice to survivors, and this Oscar amplifies that voice which we hope will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican,” said producer Michael Sugar onstage, surrounded by Spotlight‘s cast and creatives. “Pope Francis, it is time to protect the children and restore the faith.”
http://deadline.com/2016/02/spotlight-oscar-winner-best-picture-2016-academy-award-tom-mccarthy-1201710767/

Robert Reich: Dear GOP Establishment, Brace for a Painful Reckoning With the Reality You Created | Alternet

Republican politicians in particular have descended into the muck of bigotry, hatefulness and lies...
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/robert-reich-dear-gop-establishment-brace-reckoning-reality-you-created

Krugman: This Presidential Election Is an Up or Down Vote on the Survival of Humanity

The Republican Party has somehow managed to get even more destructive in eight years...
http://www.alternet.org/environment/krugman-presidential-election-or-down-vote-survival-humanity

Clinton's Argument That Free College Is Bad Because Rich Kids Can Take Advantage of It Makes No Sense

The same logic could apply to K-12 education, roads, parks, or any general public good...
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/clintons-argument-free-college-bad-because-rich-kids-can-take-advantage-it-makes-no

I Thought I Could Reason With Antonin Scalia: A More Naive Young Fool Never Drew Breath

I clerked for Scalia, certain he prized reason. From our leather chairs, we never saw the lives his rulings gutted.
http://www.alternet.org/i-thought-i-could-reason-antonin-scalia-more-naive-young-fool-never-drew-breath

Weird Ailments, Toxic Water, Dismissive Officials—and No, This Isn't Flint

The environmental justice disaster you've never heard of...
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/02/environmental-racism-coal-ash-explainer

Leonardo DiCaprio Uses Best Actor Speech to Blast the “Politics of Greed”

"Climate change is real, it is happening right now," DiCaprio said, to applause. "It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating."
http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2016/02/leonardo-dicaprio-oscar-win-climate

The Truth About Marco Rubio

Interview:  (see link for complete topical index)
https://youtu.be/TihORiLAvbo

GOP Debate on Immigration Marked by Misinformation & Lack of Empathy (Jose Antonio Vargas, Democracy Now)

Florida Senator Marco Rubio went on the offensive against Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump during a spirited debate last night in Houston, Texas. It was the final showdown for the five remaining Republican candidates before Super Tuesday, when about a dozen states will hold contests to choose a nominee. The debate came just days after business mogul Donald Trump won the Nevada caucuses in his third consecutive victory. With former Florida Governor Jeb Bush no longer on stage, the five remaining candidates were Trump, Rubio, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Much of the debate focused on immigration. We play highlights from the fiery debate and get reaction. "You look at the two Hispanic candidates for president who are trying to out-Trump Trump. … Given their own immigration history in this country, where is compassion? Where is empathy? Where is a sense of humanity when it comes to talking about this issue?" says Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, founder and editor of #EmergingUS and founder of Define American. Vargas is also critical of the job moderators and reporters have done covering immigration in the 2016 election. "I just don’t understand … when it comes to an issue like immigration, which has been central to this campaign, why a lot of journalists don’t know the facts and don’t call out the candidates for not knowing the facts."
Interview:
https://youtu.be/Y-X1Pn6nKEM

'Christianity Is Under Siege': Donald Trump Vows To Stop Christianity From Becoming 'Weaker, Weaker And Weaker'

He said he would restore Christianity to greatness by scrapping IRS regulations pertaining to church engagement in partisan political activity on behalf of candidates or campaigns.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/christianity-under-siege-donald-trump-vows-stop-christianity-becoming-weaker-weaker-and-weak

Coalition of 400 companies fight Georgia's proposed 'religious liberty' bill

One major company is already leaving the state over the law, which would allow individuals and organizations to discriminate against same-sex couples...
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/28/georgia-religious-liberty-bill-first-amendment-defense-act

Louisiana child law violates priest's religious freedom, judge rules

BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana judge has struck down a state requirement that clergy members report suspected child abuse even if they learn about it during a private confessional...
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/02/judge_rules_child_law_violates.html

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Donald Trump (HBO)

https://youtu.be/DnpO_RTSNmQ

Top U.S. & World Headlines — February 29, 2016

Interview:
https://youtu.be/LkhkrTIoH4I

Ted Cruz twists Donald Trump's talk about health care, 'socialized' medicine | PolitiFact

"For decades, Donald has been advocating socialized medicine," Cruz said. "What he said is the government should pay for everyone’s health care. And in fact, a couple of debates ago, he said if you don’t support socialized health care, you’re heartless."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/25/ted-cruz/cruz-invents-trump-statement-socialized-medicine/

Marco Rubio: We 'wiped out' Obamacare 'bailout fund' for insurance companies | PolitiFact

"When they passed Obamacare, they put a bailout fund in Obamacare," Rubio said while addressing frontrunner Donald Trump on Feb. 25, 2016. "All these lobbyists you keep talking about, they put a bailout fund in the law that would allow public money to be used, taxpayer money, to bail out companies when they lost money. We led the effort and wiped out that bailout fund."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/25/marco-rubio/rubio-we-wiped-out-obamacare-bailout-fund-insuranc/

Donald Trump's Pants on Fire claim he never discussed Libya intervention

Oh, Trump discussed it...
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/feb/25/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-he-never-discussed-/

Will Conservatives Abandon Donald Trump in the General Election?

"The New York Times has a big story this morning about the trials and tribulations of the Republican Party establishment in their efforts to stop Donald Trump. I would like to draw your attention to two things. First this..."
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/02/will-conservatives-abandon-donald-trump-general-election

Liberals Need to Back Off the Trump Love

"...This is not 11-dimensional chess. All those arguments we've been making against him are absolutely correct. We need to be against Trump—not ironically and not with our fingers crossed, but in reality. The conservative establishment hates him because he'd be bad for conservatism. We ought to hate him because he'd be bad for the country and bad for liberalism..."
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/02/liberals-need-back-trump-love

These Racist Collectibles Will Make Your Skin Crawl

DAVID PILGRIM bought his first piece of racist memorabilia in the early 1970s, when he was a youngster in Mobile, Alabama. It was a set of salt and pepper shakers meant to caricature African Americans. "I purchased it and broke it" on purpose, recalls Pilgrim, who is black. Yet over the next few decades, he amassed a sizable collection of what he calls "contemptible collectibles"—once-common household objects and products that mock and stereotype black people...
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/02/david-pilgrim-understanding-jim-crow-racist-collectibles

Let Us Take a Minute to Fully Appreciate the Current State of American Politics

Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it? The presidential campaign of one of our great political parties has now degenerated into two guys in suits insulting each other for sweating a lot during a debate...
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/02/let-us-take-minute-fully-appreciate-current-state-american-politics

The Flying Spaghetti Monster EXPLAINED - The Flying Spaghetti Monster and His relation to PIRATES

The Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe, much as it is today, but for reasons unknown made it appear that the universe is billions of years old (instead of thousands) and that life evolved into its current state (rather than created in its current form). Whenever a scientist carbon-dates an object, The Flying Spaghetti Monster is there to change the results with his noodly appendage, so only the TRUE BELIEVERS understand the truth. May you too be touched by His noodly appendage and be blessed. RAMEN.
https://youtu.be/0XebqnAf4Zw

What is Pastafarianism?

There are lots of religions out there; Pastafarianism is a strong contender for the best one.
https://youtu.be/7sfnnJBk3aY

Harris Rosen spent the first half of his career making millions and the second half giving away millions.

From Hell’s Kitchen in New York to a Quality Inn in Orlando, here is his story...
So after leaving Disney, he withdrew his last $20,000 from savings and put a down payment on a 256-room Quality Inn on Orlando’s International Drive. And that’s where it all began...
https://pegasus.ucf.edu/story/rosen/

Poll: 38% of Florida voters believe Ted Cruz could be Zodiac Killer - UPI.com

Several reports say the rumor stems from a speech Cruz delivered at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013 titled "This is the Zodiac Speaking" and has become popular again since he began his presidential campaign...
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/02/26/Poll-38-of-Florida-voters-believe-Ted-Cruz-could-be-the-Zodiac-Killer/4771456519542/