The impending presidency of Donald J. Trump presents a challenge for those who study and comment on politics because it is a challenge to keep up with the conflicts and scandals. Take the last week, for example. On Tuesday, Buzzfeed published a dossier with flimsy but damning allegations that inspired the hashtag #goldenshowers. Trump responded with a meltdown about… Continue reading No, This is Not Normal
Category: Congress
Rape and Other “Gifts from God”
During a debate this past Tuesday, Indiana Republican senate nominee, Richard Mourdock, made the case against the rape exception for abortions: “I’ve struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God, and even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that… Continue reading Rape and Other “Gifts from God”
2012 Election Sexism Watch #10: “Much More Ladylike”
In case you missed it, Missouri senatorial candidate Todd Akin has again raised the ire of those who care about gender justice by stating that his opponent, Senator Claire McCaskill, was “much more ladylike” when she ran in 2006. He went on to say, “I think we have a very clear path to victory, and apparently Claire McCaskill… Continue reading 2012 Election Sexism Watch #10: “Much More Ladylike”
President Obama on Modern Day Slavery
On Tuesday, President Obama gave a speech on human trafficking at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference that no doubt elevated the priority of this policy in a way that only a presidential speech can. He gave an impassioned plea to end the scourge of human trafficking, remarking that children younger than his daughters are sold into servitude. President… Continue reading President Obama on Modern Day Slavery
A Recession for White Americans, A Depression for Black and Latino Americans
A new study from the Pew Research Center reports staggering gaps in median wealth–a person’s accumulated assets minus her debt–between whites ($113,149), blacks ($5,677) and Latinos ($6,325). That’s a 20-to-1 white-to-black ratio of wealth and a 18-to-1 white-to-Latino ratio. Essentially, all of the economic gains made by people of color since the Civil Rights Movement… Continue reading A Recession for White Americans, A Depression for Black and Latino Americans
Five Myths About the 2010 Midterm Elections
The 24-hour punditry cycle has produced some narratives about the 2010 midterm election that are less than factual. I tackle four of them here.