Obama to visit federal prison

"The president will outline the unfairness in much of our criminal justice system, highlight bipartisan ideas for reform and lay out his ideas to make our country fairer, smarter and more cost effective while keeping the American people safe and secure," Earnest said.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/10/obama-federal-prison-trip/29974849/

Concluding the #BooksforLouie Campaign | Secular Coalition for America

...We were disheartened to hear that Rep. Gohmert expected to receive "nasty angry, bitter calls" because he read from the Bible. Those of us who are concerned about the separation of church and state do not need to employ name calling to make our case. There is a wealth of published literature on the historical, moral, and civil case for why the separation of church and state and evidence-based policymaking are the best guarantee for freedom for all...

https://www.secular.org/blogs/casey-brescia/concluding-booksforlouie-campaign

Do We Live in a Christian America? Not Quite

...The problem with this analysis, writes Willamette University professor Steven K. Green in Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding, out this month from Oxford University Press, is that it is false, reflecting a serious misreading of U.S. history and a misunderstanding of the Compact’s intent and subsequent influence on documents such as the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Green notes that the Compact’s frequent references to the Almighty bolster the idea—accepted as gospel by the right—that the cornerstone of U.S. government comes directly from heaven...
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/07/10/live-christian-america-quite/

Evangelical Pastors Gather To Learn Another Calling: Politics

Hundreds of conservative evangelical pastors across the country are being trained to run for political office. The project is part of an effort to mobilize an "army" to do battle in the culture wars...
http://www.npr.org/2015/07/10/421684410/evangelical-pastors-gather-to-learn-another-calling-politics

Kudos To Sanders, With A Wink To Clinton, Too

...Sanders, of course, goes further. He pleases crowds with full-throated proclamations about universal health care and Wall Street reform. He quickens the pulse of liberals and populists alike, including many who, like Sanders, have not been card-carrying Democrats...
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/07/10/421566327/kudos-to-sanders-with-a-wink-to-clinton-too

Week In The News: Greek Stalemate, High Stakes Glitches, SC Takes Down The Flag (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

The Confederate Flag leaves the Statehouse in South Carolina. Across the country, separate outages halt trading on the New York Stock Exchange and ground United Airlines, prompting massive flight delays. Hillary Clinton jabs the Republican field on immigration. Donald Trump doubles down on everything. The Pope charms in South America. Team USA wins the World Cup. Explosive new revelations about the Bill Cosby sex scandal. Still no deal with Iran. Greece hurtles toward a Sunday deadline. This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. – Michel Martin
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/07/10/south-carolina-iran-greece-crisis

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

U.S. officials reveal that more than 20 million Americans were affected by a hack of federal employee files – a far greater number than originally thought. That news came a day after technical glitches hit the New York Stock Exchange and United Airlines. The Confederate flag comes down from South Carolina’s statehouse grounds after flying there for more than half a century. The Obama administration revives its plan for Medicare to cover end-of-life counseling. And Republican leaders worry about Donald Trump’s message. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week’s top national news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-07-10/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Friday News Roundup – International (Diane Rehm Show)

Greece outlines a new proposal for economic reforms, accepting austerity in exchange for debt relief. Iran accuses Western powers of changing demands in nuclear talks as a deadline expires. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is prepared to walk away if concessions aren’t made. The Chinese stock market experiences a rebound after losing a third of its value. The U.S. led coalition hits ISIS targets in airstrikes. And the Pope apologizes for sins committed by the Catholic Church during the Colonial era in the Americas. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week’s top international news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-07-10/friday-news-roundup-international

Medicare Will Cover End-Of-Life Care, Resurrecting 'Death Panel' Outrage

WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare says it plans to pay doctors to counsel patients about end-of-life care.  ... Read more

Bush: Under My Plan"People Should Work Longer Hours"

In an interview with the Manchester Union-Leader, the first-in-the-nation primary state's most-read paper, former Florida Gov Jeb Bush insisted "peopl... Read more

WATCH: S.C. GOPer Delivers Moving Speech Calling For Flag Removal

As some of her colleagues in the South Carolina House on Wednesday night fought over a bill that would remove the Confederate flag from the state capi... Read more

In Private Phone Call, RNC Chairman Pleads With Trump To Tone It Down

As Donald Trump refuses to apologize for remarks calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and drug dealers, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince ... Read more

Members Of Congress Introduce Groundbreaking Bill To Help More Women Afford Abortion

The legislation seeks to undo the Hyde Amendment.  ... Read more

The Peculiar Reason The Oklahoma Governor Is Refusing To Remove The Ten Commandments Statue

"The Ten Commandments are obviously religious in nature and are an integral part of the Jewish and Christian faiths." ... Read more

Bernie Sanders’ Plan To Make Solar Power More Accessible

According to the bill summary, homeowners with suitable roofs would receive grants to help them afford solar panel installation while renters or others without appropriate siting options would get connected through alternative means such as community solar gardens. Solar gardens are designed for those without rooftop access as a way to connect to a shared solar system that guarantees their electricity comes from solar power. Usually these community solar gardens are one or two megawatts in size and operated by third-party solar providers and local utilities.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/07/07/3677745/bernie-sanders-introduces-solar-legislation/

Donald Trump: Questioning My Hiring Of Undocumented Immigrants Is ‘Pretty Pathetic’

Trump also demanded names so that he could fire the workers.  ... Read more

Jimmy Carter: Jesus would approve of gay marriage

“I think Jesus would encourage any love affair if it was honest and sincere and was not damaging to anyone else, and I don’t see that gay marriage damages anyone else,” Carter said in a HuffPost Live interview with Marc Lamont Hill published Tuesday.
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/08/jimmy-carter-jesus-would-approve-of-gay-marriage/

Catholic Church Helps Defeat ‘Death With Dignity’ Proposal In Calif. Senate

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Catholic Church, often out of step with California’s liberal Legislature, notched a prominent win at the statehouse this week after aligning with advocates for the disabled and medical groups to defeat a proposal to allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/07/08/catholic-church-helps-defeat-death-with-dignity-proposal-in-calif-senate/

Hillary Clinton Writes Letter To 'Fight Back' Against Palestinian BDS Movement

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has declared her opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement (BDS), dedicated to putting econom... Read more

House Republicans Sneak Sex-Ed Restriction Into ‘No Child Left Behind’ Rewrite

...The bill prohibits funding for programs or materials “directed at youth, that are designed to promote or encourage sexual activity, or normalize teen sexual activity as an expected behavior, implicitly or explicitly, whether homosexual or heterosexual.”...
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/07/08/house-republicans-sneak-sex-ed-restriction-child-left-behind-rewrite/