Columbia Becomes The First College To Divest From Private Prison Industry

Students protested for over a year after discovering $10 million in investments with notorious private prison companies. The ... Read more

Bigots’ delusional last stand: Same-sex marriage opponents are definitely not ready to admit defeat

Some people honestly still believe that a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage could ever happen.  In one of the sadder cattle-calls of the 2016 presidential cycle, evangelical conservatives last week gathered in Washington D.C. for the Road to Majority conference put on by Ralph Reed...

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/22/bigots_delusional_last_stand_same_sex_marriage_opponents_are_definitely_not_ready_to_admit_defeat/

Why Researchers Are Sounding The Alarm About Climate Change’s Health Impacts

A new landmark report lays out why people around the world should be worried about climate change's effects on their health. ... Read more

New Research Warns Of Catastrophic Food Shortages Due To Unchecked Climate Change

New research finds that, absent major changes, humanity risks a catastrophic collapse in its ability to feed itself by ... Read more

The Hidden Mental Health Impacts Of Climate Change

One expert predicts that, in the future, more than 200 million Americans "will have some mental health problem because of ... Read more

Chocolate lovers: prices could go up (again)!

...But this price-hike problem could be a continuing trend. Part of the issue: location. The majority of the world's cocoa supply is in two tiny countries: Ghana and the Ivory Coast in western Africa. Cocoa production in Ghana alone is down 22% from last year. If something happens there -- such as another Ebola outbreak or bad weather -- it sends ripples across the chocolate industry...
Read more

Ryan Cragun, Author of How to Defeat Religion in 10 Easy Steps (The Friendly Atheist #55)

Dr. Ryan T. Cragun is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Tampa and the author of books including What You Don’t Know About Religion (but Should).

His latest is called How to Defeat Religion in 10 Easy Steps.

We spoke with Dr. Cragun about whether religious fervor is cyclical or fading, why religious holidays should become secular, and the surprising thing churches can do to stop the shifting trend away from religion.
Interview:
http://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/?s=cragun

The Unholy Trinity Goes to Australia (The Thinking Atheist 2/1/2015)

The Atheist Foundation of Australia is hosting a "Down Under" tour with Matt Dillahunty, AronRa and Seth Andrews in March 2015. Join them for a casual chat about the "trinity," the trip, and whatever else comes up in conversation.
Interview:
http://www.thethinkingatheist.com/podcast/google-chat-the-unholy-trinity-goes-to-australia#sthash.Db8M0qJn.dpuf

The Arctic Rush (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

In Seattle this week, kayakers saying no to a big new Shell Oil drilling rig in the Arctic. Protesters blocking the terminal. In Connecticut, the President saying global warming – climate change – is a very real security threat to the USA. And in the Arctic itself, as spring turns to summer, yet another season in which the Arctic ice cap shrinks and shrinks. And hungry would-be developers from many nations are moving in. The Arctic melt is essentially opening a new ocean. New resources, and risks. Up next, On Point: the new ocean at the top of the world, and the rush for Arctic riches. / Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/21/arctic-circle-rush-consequences

Free College? (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Another college academic year down, another huge whack of college debt for young Americans. $1.2 trillion in college debt now in this country. Absolutely massive. The only kind of consumer debt not headed downward since the recession. In fact, student loans are up 84 percent. Critics says it’s a yoke on the necks of a whole generation and more. Now there’s a call – and legislation on the table – to make public higher education, college tuition, free. Not cheaper, but free. Like Germany and Finland and more. Would that be wise? Crazy? Up next, On Point: College for free. / Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/21/college-students-crippling-debt

Ramadi Falls. Is Iraq Over? (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

A call for fresh volunteers today from the Iraqi government in Baghdad to try to retake Ramadi, and maybe to save Iraq. Over the weekend, Iraqi troops cut and ran, again, as fighters of the Islamic State blasted their way into control of the capitol of Anbar Province. With Ramadi in its control, the Islamic State is now just 70 miles from Baghdad. Instead of a promised retaking of Mosul and pushback of the Islamists, the US and Baghdad government are themselves back on their heels. This hour, On Point: the fall of Ramadi, where US troops fought and died, and the uncertain future of Iraq itself.
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/20/ramadi-falls-isis-iraq

Where Does America Fit In The World? (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Iraqi forces, run out of Ramadi this weekend. By ISIS. Now just 75 miles from Baghdad. Even as US warplanes pummeled ISIS from the sky. It’s a big deal. And it raises the question again of just how deeply the US should be involved. Not just in Ramadi and Iraq, but all over the world. Should we send in troops and fix things? Should we turn our attention homeward, and fix the United States? Global strategist Ian Bremmer says we have to decide. We can’t go on jerking from crisis to crisis. And now is the time to choose. This Hour, On Point: choosing a solid, clear global course for the USA.
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/18/ian-bremmer-america-superpower-global-balance

Social Justice & Private Parts, with Sam Killermann (The Humanist Hour #136)

In this episode, Bo Bennett interviews social justice comedian and advocate Sam Killermann on gender issues, feminism, humanism, and intolerance. Also, find out how NOT to make small talk with Bo!

Sam loves and appreciates all people, and hopes to someday live in a world where everyone shares those views and we all stop being jerks. He uses humor as a “social lubricant” to put people at ease confronting difficult issues, drawing on his master’s education in college student development from Bowling Green State University and his eight years of experience working stand-up comedian for guidance.

Sam is a dedicated ally and advocate for social justice. Ultimately, he would prefer shows and websites like “It’s Pronounced Metrosexual” to become unnecessary and irrelevant, even at the cost of his dream job. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go before he has to worry about that.
Interview:
http://thehumanist.com/multimedia/podcast/the-humanist-hour-136-social-justice-private-parts-with-sam-killermann

Group That May Have Influenced Charleston Killer: He Had Some 'Legitimate Grievances'

A white nationalist group that may have influenced the suspected gunman in last week's massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Caroli... Read more

Atheists Are Perverts & Molesters, Says Ted Cruz's Dad

"In an appearance before a gathering of OK2A, an Oklahoma Second Amendment advocacy group, Rafael Cruz, father of freshman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that atheism leads to sexual abuse of children.

In his talk, which took place earlier this month, the elder Cruz railed against atheism and secular humanism, which he said are two of the main ills facing our society...".*
http://youtu.be/EOIXCj-yppU

Cruz's Dad: Northeastern Catholics, Jews Put Being Dems Above Religion

Rafael Cruz, Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) father, on Saturday said that northeastern Jews and Catholics put their allegiance to the Democratic Party ahead o... Read more

Poll: We like our red-white-and-blue patriotism — mostly

... the country is split over whether Christians (72 percent of U.S. adults) are now facing as much discrimination as other groups.
About half of those surveyed — 49 percent, strongly led by white evangelicals at 70 percent — say yes. The other half — 47 percent (including 59 percent of “nones”) say no...
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/23/poll-like-red-white-blue-patriotism-mostly/

What is each country’s second-largest religious group?

Religiously unaffiliated people – sometimes called the “nones” – account for 16% of the world’s population, and they make up the largest “religious group” in seven countries and territories. Perhaps more remarkably, they also are the second-largest group in roughly half (48%) of the world’s nations.

GCHQ: Security software? We'll soon see about THAT

The UK's spook agency GCHQ has been working with the National Security Agency to subvert anti-virus software, according to the latest piece of spoon-fed Snowden info reported on The Intercept...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/23/shocker_spooks_reverse_engineered_anti_virus_software/

Bill would restrict judges, county clerks from performing marriages (Michigan)

“If the intent behind it wasn’t so mean-spirited and bigoted it would be comical,” said Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids. “But it’s a bill I think most Republicans would be ashamed of.”
http://fox17online.com/2015/06/22/bill-would-restrict-judges-county-clerks-from-performing-marriages/

Catholics for Choice fights back against bishops' anti-marriage equality stance

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is holding its "Fortnight for Freedom." But the freedom that the bishops are talking about at the conference is the freedom to discriminate. They are supporting legislation that would allow people to discriminate against LGBTs without any legal repercussions. They're also supporting the "Defense of [Traditional] Marriage," among other things. They want Catholics to support both of these precepts. You can see all of their proposals at the USCCB link below...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/22/1395512/-Catholics-for-Choice-fights-back-against-bishops-anti-marriage-equality-stance

In U.S., Socialist Presidential Candidates Least Appealing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the 2016 presidential election field takes shape, more than nine in 10 Americans say they would vote for a qualified presidential candidate who is Catholic, a woman, black, Hispanic or Jewish. Less than half of Americans would vote for a candidate who is a socialist...
http://www.gallup.com/poll/183713/socialist-presidential-candidates-least-appealing.aspx

The Key Thing Conservatives Don’t Get About Obama’s Use Of ‘N*****’

Obama added, “And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say ‘nigger’ in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination.”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/obama-n-word-conservatives-marc-maron

A Liberal in the South: I Tried to Have a Civil Conversation With an Anti-Abortion Activist

It didn't go so well.
...  Read more

Robert Reich: Mass Incarceration Is Leading to Economic Ruin

The former secretary of labor on our prison industrial complex and the need for smarter sentencing laws.
...  Read more

Why the TPP Agenda Is Straight out of Alice in Wonderland

The arguments for fast-track are completely ridiculous... The bizarre, unconstitutional, blatantly illegal nature of this enforced secrecy was highlighted in a May 15th article by Jon Rappoport, titled “What Law Says the Text of the TPP Must Remain Secret?” He wrote...
...  Read more

Howard Kurtz: Fox News is the real victim of the Charleston massacre

"We don't even know if Roof watched Fox News!" he said, rebutting an argument no one actually made Fox News media analyst Howard Kurtz used his latest Media Buzz column to do what he always does — defend his employer against those who rightly point out its transparently strong ties to the Republi...

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/22/howard_kurtz_fox_news_is_the_real_victim_of_the_charleston_massacre/

RWW News: Gays 'Grooming' Kids In School (Excerpt from 'Light Wins')

http://youtu.be/ZmY2450GFC4

Mexico is facing a deadly Central American migrants crisis

Bloody clashes have left hundreds of Mexican security personnel, gang members, and civilians dead or wounded in the past few weeks. And recent reports show that even people just transiting the country cannot avoid the violence. Hundreds of Central American migrants traveling north through Mexico ...

http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-is-facing-a-cental-americans-migrant-crisis-2015-6

China's stock market dream could bring about its worst nightmare

China's ruling Communist Party has made it clear that it has a mortal enemy: social unrest. Separately, it has also made it clear that the Chinese people should be heavily invested in the stock market. And so, dutifully, the Chinese people have done just that, spurring the longest bull market in...

http://www.businessinsider.com/falling-chinese-stocks-could-bring-social-unrest-2015-6

Article: Verizon's Massive East Coast FiOS Scandal: 41% Coverage Using "Weasel Room" Math.

Definition of "Weasel Room": Using specific terms, words or phrases with 'selective' accounting to distort, puff up or obfuscate the facts.

Verizon harmed America's East Coast; not just in one or two states, but from Massachusetts down through Virginia. Using Verizon's own press releases, combined with U.S. Census and FCC data, here's the reality:...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-kushnick/verizons-massive-east-coa_b_7631400.html

How to tell your kid they're adopted (YIAY #110)

http://youtu.be/I5VFpizG7gU

In U.S., Domestic Terror, Cop Killings and Violent Gun Deaths with Suicides, Dwarf Anything "Jihadis" Have Produced

The Real (Armed) Dangers of American Life.
...  Read more

What s Wrong With Texas Rick Perry, According To Lewis Black

http://youtu.be/GHdA2RHZZOM

The Charleston shooting is part of a long history of anti-black terrorism in America

Was the shooting that killed 9 people in Charleston's Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday terrorism? To answer that, you have to know what made the church...  Read more


https://youtu.be/ad77Bzv7uSc

Why Is the Flag Still There?

On Saturday, Charleston shooter Dylann Roof was linked to a website with a rambling manifesto of hate, illustrated with dozens of pictures. Several sh...  Read more

Dylann Roof Is Not Alone: Racism Persists Across Generations

If anyone thought that having a black president was going to make a difference in attitudes, think again.
...  Read more

What the Numbers Don't Tell Us: Religion Is a Lived, Shifting Experience

A new survey doesn’t tell us why that’s occurring, only that it is occurring, and that it is unstoppable.
...  Read more

Rush Limbaugh’s Downward Spiral Continues: Another Demotion, Another Step Toward Irrelevancy

Stations are dropping the conservative firebrand with amazing frequency.
...  Read more

Dylann Roof May Have Been Radicalized By the Website Of a Group Associated With Southern GOP Politicians

The website is a hodgepodge of re-written media stories designed to give the reader the impression there's a barrage of black-on-white crime.
...  Read more

Trump's Racism Is No Joke: 4 Times the Donald Got Away With Anti-Black Smears

His history of dogwhistle racism shouldn’t just disqualify him from the White House, it should disqualify him from public life.
...  Read more

Pope Francis Says Arms Manufacturers Can’t Call Themselves Christian

...His criticism was not limited to the manufacturers, however; Francis also called out investors, saying “duplicity is the currency of today…they say one thing and do another.”...
http://time.com/3930178/pope-francis-weapons-manufacturers-christian/ -- see also:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/pope-francis-weapons_n_7636416.html

Charleston Shooting: We Need Prayer, But Also an End to This Political Genocide

After the killings, there was urgency about arresting Dylann Roof, but where’s the urgency to address the conditions that led to the tragedy?
...  Read more

6 Evil Right-wing Moments: Fox News' Staggering Denial of Charleston Reality Tops the List

We're at a loss to explain this network-wide brain dysfunction.
...  Read more

Jade Helm 15 Emails Are Conservative Crazy On Parade: ‘I Do Not Trust Barak Obama’ (IMAGES)

The Stupid Part of America’s insanity was put on full display when a Freedom of Information Act request by Gawker’s Sam Biddle uncovered e-mails sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott regarding Barack Obama’s alleged plot to allow Muslims, or ‘Illegals,’ or unicorns, or lizard people, or something stupid, to invade Texas through a series of underground tunnels connected by closed Walmart stores...
... Read more

WATCH: John Oliver's Perfect Suggestion for What to Do With South Carolina's Confederate Flag

Why is the flag flying at any staff at all?
...  Read more

https://youtu.be/-BABz5haVos

Marco Rubio Totally Ignores Charleston Tragedy In Massively Insensitive Speech

When will these pieces of swill figure out that we really need to admit we have a serious problem with gun violence? Read more

Miami Herald Columnist Claims S.C. Shooter ‘Doesn’t Look White’ (TWEETS)

Look for this to become a talking point among conservatives. For them, anything is better than admitting that racism exists.  Read more

Leader of Group Cited in 'Dylann Roof Manifesto' Donated to Top Republicans

Before Charleston, these 2016 candidates took his money.
...  Read more

Jeb Awarded $100M To Company While Gov. – They Later Paid Him $1M For ‘Part-Time Work’

Jeb Bush has a lot of explaining to do after this. Read more

Homeless Man Finds Purse & Cash He Needs — Single Mom Needs It More So He Gives It Back

When he saw her EBT card he knew she was struggling, so he found her and gave it back. She turned out to be a single mom ... Read more

Bill Maher Rips Apart Right-Wing Talking Points On Charleston: Denying Racism Is Racism (VIDEO)

He also gets to the truth behind the Confederate flag... Read more
https://youtu.be/JKHNKGYgF8U

Ted Cruz's Stunningly Stupid Plan for ISIS

http://youtu.be/eBfx1r1xqiA

Fox News Pundit Calls Pope Francis 'The Most Dangerous Person On The Planet' For Suggesting Climate Change Is Real

"He wants to be a modern pope," Gutfeld lamented. "All he needs is dreadlocks and a dog with a bandana and he could be on Occupy Wall Street."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/18/greg-gutfeld-pope-francis_n_7616156.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000055

'Criminalising Christianity': Mike Huckabee says legalising same-sex marriage threatens religious liberty

"I also refuse to surrender to the false god of judicial supremacy, which would allow black-robed and unelected judges the power to make law and enforce it, which upends the separation of powers so very central to our Constitution," Huckabee said.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/criminalising.christianity.mike.huckabee.says.legalising.same.sex.marriage.threatens.religious.liberty/56732.htm

North Carolina’s new hurdle for same-sex marriage

...Yes, equal protection is the primary reason for a constitutional right to gay marriage, and the law shouldn’t make gay marriage more difficult. But the right to individual religious liberty is also important. The reason it doesn’t apply here is simply that government officials need to follow the law and treat everybody equally — not allow their own personal religious views to prevail...
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-commentary/north-carolinas-new-hurdle-for-same-sex-marriage-20150622/

Confidence in Religion at New Low, but Not Among Catholics

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Americans' confidence in the church and organized religion has fallen dramatically over the past four decades, hitting an all-time low this year of 42%. Confidence in religion began faltering in the 1980s, while the sharpest decline occurred between 2001 and 2002 as the Roman Catholic Church grappled with a major sexual abuse scandal. Since then, periodic improvements have proved temporary, and it has continued to ratchet lower...
http://www.gallup.com/poll/183674/confidence-religion-new-low-not-among-catholics.aspx

A humane way to end life

... Oregon’s 18 years of experience do not confirm any of these fears. Enacted in 1997, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill adults who are residents of the state to obtain and use prescriptions from their physicians for self-administered lethal doses. Stringent protections include a life expectancy of less than six months, a finding of mental capability, a concurring opinion from a second doctor, mandatory discussion of hospice and other options, waiting periods and more...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-humane-way-to-end-life/2015/06/21/189949ba-13dc-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html

Barack Obama invokes N-word during interview on racism in America | US news | The Guardian

“Racism, we are not cured of it. And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not,” Obama told comedian Marc Maron, who interviewed the president for his popular podcast on Friday and released their conversation online on Monday.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/22/barack-obama-n-word-racism-marc-maron-interview

Dylann Roof’s Racist Manifesto Sure Has A Lot Of Mainstream Right-Wing Talking Points

The Charleston shooter's apparent manifesto has leaked online and what it contains is terrifying not just for its violent ... Read more

Bernie Sanders Sits Down With Bill Maher And Explains How He Could Win (VIDEO)

Sanders has the radical idea for his campaign -- telling the truth. Read more
https://youtu.be/0QEHUCF3Qsc