Costco's entry-level workers will soon make $13 per hour

Costco announced that it will raise employees' wages this month, which may be a response to competitors like Wal-Mart that have also raised their wages...
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2016/0304/Costco-s-entry-level-workers-will-soon-make-13-per-hour

SCOTUS Stalls Clean Power Plan (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

The historic Paris agreement on fighting climate change nine weeks ago was based on the premise that everybody was in on the fight. One-hundred and ninety-five countries. The US, right up front with a very public commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Now the U.S. Supreme Court has thrown the brakes on the heart of the American promise to the world – cleaning up US power plants. They haven’t killed the plan yet, but they’re signaling they could. This hour On Point, climate change, the constitution, and the U.S. Supreme Court. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2016/02/11/scotus-clean-power-block

Did Jesus Exist? Dr. Robert M Price, Dr. Richard Carrier, David Fitzgerald Interview Part 2 Q&A

Part 2 is new and appears below.  If you haven't seen Part 1, it is here.

Historians and Apologists have been arguing for centuries about the evidence for a historical Jesus, the Mythicist theory takes the position that Jesus may never have existed as a real person and has compelling evidence to support it. Join us as we invite the top three scholars/authors in the Mythicist field to discuss the best and worst evidence for a historical Jesus.

The Authors:

Robert M. Price holds two Ph.D. degrees (in Theology and New Testament). He has taught undergraduates, seminarians, and doctoral students. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montclair and as the Director of the Center for Inquiry, Metro, NY. His numerous books include Deconstructing Jesus, The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man, The Amazing Colossal Apostle, and The Human Bible New Testament. Price is the host of the podcasts The Bible Geek, The Human Bible, and The Lovecraft Geek.

Richard Carrier has a Ph.D. in the history of philosophy from Columbia University, and is a published philosopher and historian, specializing in contemporary philosophy of naturalism, and in Greco-Roman philosophy, science, and religion, and the origins of Christianity. He blogs regularly, lectures for community groups worldwide, and teaches courses online. He is the author of many books including Sense and Goodness without God, On the Historicity of Jesus, and Proving History, as well as chapters in several anthologies and articles in academic journals. For more about Dr. Carrier and his work see www.richardcarrier.info

David Fitzgerald is an atheist activist, writer, public speaker and historical researcher who has been actively investigating the Historical Jesus question for over 15 years. He has a degree in history and was an associate member of CSER (the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion) He lectures around the country at Universities and national secular events. He is also author of NAILED: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed At All and The Complete Heretic’s Guide to Western Religion series.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/irRDkcr5Diw

Canada's PM Wishes Americans Paid 'More Attention To The World'

"Having a little more of an awareness of what's going on in the rest of the world, I think is, is what many Canadians would hope for Americans," he said in a transcript released to The Associated Press on Thursday.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/world-news/justin-trudeau-americans-attention-worldhttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/world-news/justin-trudeau-americans-attention-world

Blocked From The Bench: ‘Christian Nation’ Advocate Rick Green Loses Bid To Join Texas Supreme Court

Green’s view of the founding of the United States has absolutely no basis in reality.
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/blocked-from-the-bench-christian-nation-advocate-rick-green-loses-bid-to

Georgia’s GOP governor uses New Testament to reject anti-LGBT ‘religious freedom’ bill

“I think what the New Testament teaches us is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered the outcasts, the ones that did not conform to the religious societies’ view of the world and said to those of belief, ‘This is what I want you to do,'” Deal said after a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Atlanta. “We do not have a belief — in my way of looking at religion — that says we have to discriminate against anybody. If you were to apply those standards to the teaching of Jesus, I don’t think they fit.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/georgias-gop-governor-uses-new-testament-to-reject-anti-lgbt-religious-freedom-bill/

Should The KKK Be Labeled As A Terrorist Group?

https://youtu.be/Erq7NbQdhx4

Richard Dreyfuss On Life And Bernie Madoff (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Bernie Madoff was the biggest swindler with the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history. Now he’s in prison but back in the public eye in a new made-for-TV drama, played by one of the longest-running marquee names in Hollywood. Actor Richard Dreyfuss made his name as the star of “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and more. Now he’s Madoff. And with us. This hour On Point, actor Richard Dreyfuss on a life in film, and the Bernie Madoff story. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2016/02/04/richard-dreyfuss-bernie-madoff-miniseries

Economy Adds 242,000 Jobs In February, Unemployment Remains At 4.9 Percent

The U.S. economy grew by 242,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/february-2016-jobs-report

Morals Don't Mean Anything to Religious Right; They Still Support Trump

The religious right may not hold as much power as they did 15 years ago, but they are still a strong political force in the United States. And in spite of his complete lack of morals, they’ve decided that Donald Trump might be their ticket back to relevance. Ring of Fire Radio’s Sam Seder recently spoke with author Frank Schaeffer about this, so let’s take a look at that interview…
Interview:
https://youtu.be/XkAy7uaUE2w

How To Get Teens To Read (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

In the age when everything is digital, quick and dazzling, what’s to engage an American teen in the world of a great book? Of deep reading? New Yorker writer David Denby set out to find out. It’s a real challenge. He worries that without meeting it we face a profound cultural loss. But he also found a way. In classrooms where passionate teachers open great books and young minds. This hour On Point, David Denby, and what it takes to make readers of the hyper-digital young. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2016/02/11/how-to-get-teens-to-read

AP Fact Checks Claims From Fox News' Detroit Republican Debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — On taxes, trade and drug prices — along with the always tangled tale of opinion polls — viewers of the latest Republican debate didn't get a straight story...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ap-fact-check-detroit-gop-debate

As Romney Warns Trump Will Lead U.S. into Abyss, Challengers Vow to Back Trump If He's GOP Nominee

In an extraordinary day for the Republican Party, the GOP’s past two presidential nominees, Mitt Romney and John McCain, denounced Donald Trump, saying the current Republican front-runner is a danger to the nation and the party. "Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud," Romney said. "His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University." Hours after Mitt Romney spoke, Donald Trump came under more criticism at a debate in Detroit, but all three of his remaining challengers vowed to support him if he wins the nomination...
Interview:
https://youtu.be/UdsqbIlUJnA

The Darwin Day Lecture 2016, with Jerry Coyne | Evolution and atheism: best friends forever?

A packed auditorium of almost 1,000 people attended the Darwin Day Lecture 2016 in London on 12 February, which was presented by Professor Jerry Coyne, author of Why Evolution is True and Faith vs Fact. The lecture explored whether comprehension of evolution was inimical to religious belief. It was chaired by British Humanist Association Patrons Professor Steve Jones and Professor Alice Roberts.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/sazo1J4Zsj4

Cruz Says He's Spent 'Much' Of His Life In Law Enforcement—Except He Hasn't

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said at the Republican presidential debate on Thursday that he spent "much" of his life in law enforcement, but that's not quite what his resume shows...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ted-cruz-law-enforcement-experience-fact-check

Real Time with Bill Maher: Sarah Silverman Feels the Bern (HBO)

https://youtu.be/9SUQvEyobck

China Redoubles Its War On Coal

“In a nutshell, Beijing has been watching this play out just like all of us, and now they are stepping in to fix it. So much of this is top-down policy so we often see them turn one dial, watch what happens, then realize they need to turn another one to get what they want. They were already dialing up on the shut-down of existing inefficient plants. Now they are dialing down the new-construction pipeline.”
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/29/3753342/china-war-coal/

Why We Believe in Gods - Andy Thomson - American Atheists 09 (repost)

Interview:
https://youtu.be/1iMmvu9eMrg

Guy P. Harrison: Discouraging Irrational Belief

Atheist Community of San Jose presents award-winning writer and author Guy P. Harrison. He will present an upbeat and hopeful talk on how skeptics can be more successful in discouraging irrational belief. Harrison will offer practical tips for having positive and productive interactions with believers. He will detail some of the mistakes most people make when discussing or debating gods; the importance of knowing something about brain evolution, cognitive biases, how vision and memory work; the need for humility in the skeptic; and the single most effective way to promote nonbelief worldwide.

Harrison is an “expert blogger” for Psychology Today and the author of six highly acclaimed bestsellers that promote science and reason. His new book is "Good Thinking: What you need to know to be smarter, safer, wealthier, and wiser". His other books are: "Race and Reality"; "50 Popular Beliefs That People Think are True"; "Think: Why you should question everything"; "50 Simple Questions for Every Christian"; and "50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God". Learn more about Guy and his work at www.guypharrison.com . Guy’s Psychology Today blog is at www.psychologytoday.com/experts/guy-p-ha­rrison . On Twitter he’s at twitter@Harrisonauthor and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Harrisonauthor/
Interview:
https://youtu.be/9Inb7TMQeWQ

Debate #12 Historicity of Jesus with Dr Richard Carrier

Great debate on Jesus - was he a real historical person or made up from whole cloth?
Interview:
https://youtu.be/HhvmuLxBxXU

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