Politics

By Rick Timmer

U.S. Politics
The looming expiration of the federal debt ceiling, explained
Vox - Matthew Yglesias
The most dangerous economic policy bomb in Washington is poised for another explosion. On March 1, the federal government is scheduled to hit the debt ceiling, running out of legal authority to borrow
Liberal View
Trump megadonor ripped off thousands of tenants by stealing their security deposits: lawsuit
rawstory.com
Trump megadonor ripped off thousands of tenants by stealing their security deposits: lawsuit 21 Feb 2019 at 07:56 ET Don't miss stories. Follow Raw …
Environment
3 tests the Green New Deal must pass to work
National Geographic - Andrew Revkin
EnvironmentConnecting the Dots Energy systems change slowly, with heating oil still barged through river ice as one example. Yet there are signs of hope in a brash proposal for a “green new deal” on climate
Obama Administration
Despite Trump’s Tough Talk About Migrant Smugglers, He’s Undercut Efforts to Stop Them
propublica.org - by Sebastian Rotella and Tim Golden
ICE has shifted manpower and money away from more complex investigations to support the administration’s push to arrest, detain and deport …
Green New Deal
The Green New Deal: Don't Trust Anyone Under Thirty
Forbes - Michael Lynch
Criticism of the Green New Deal proposed by a number of Democratic politicians is widespread, a lot of it of the dog whistle variety (Socialism! Banning Beef!) which should be ignored as political theater–and
Foreign Policy
Trump has sounded all the wrong notes on Venezuela, even though he’s right about Maduro
Los Angeles Times - By Jesse Lehrich
“The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the United States of America is standing right by their side,” President Trump declared Monday at a rally in Miami. It’s a frequent
Water
Why California should turn down Trump’s offer to raise Shasta Dam
Los Angeles Times - By Jacques Leslie
If the Trump administration wanted to increase California’s water supply by the most cost-effective means possible, it would immediately drop its attempt to raise Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet. It would instead
Green New Deal
Senators Not Backing Green New Deal Received On Average 7 Times As Much Fossil Fuel Cash
huffpost.com - By Alexander C. Kaufman
The 12 senators co-sponsoring the Green New Deal resolution that Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) unveiled earlier this month have accepted nearly $1.1 …
Tariffs
Trump’s car tariffs idea is profoundly misguided | Financial Times
ft.com - The editorial board
Many peculiar notions about trade have emanated from Donald Trump’s White House. Few are as eccentric as the idea that the US importing cars is a …
European Parliament
A Trump trade war with Europe would hurt the trans-Atlantic relationship (Opinion) - CNN
CNN
Editor's Note:Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian Prime Minister, is president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group in the European Parliament. The opinions in this article are those
News
Biden gets closer to a White House bid but serious concerns remain
NBC News - By Mike Memoli
As he weighs a decision, Biden is carefully considering how a campaign, and the president's likely attacks, would affect his family. WASHINGTON — Joe Biden wants to be president. And each day, he’s closer
Jeb Bush
Crazy in Gov: Why Won’t the Media Discuss Trump’s Mental Instability?
The Intercept - Deconstructed
Subscribe to the Deconstructed podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Radio Public, and other platforms. New to podcasting? Click here. …
House Judiciary Committee
Lawmaker: Country deserves to know if Trump is a crook
CNN
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, talks to CNN's Don Lemon about the possible release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia investigation, which could
News
Brett Kavanaugh could decide how redistricting is done
Roll Call - Todd Ruger
Newest justice will be center of attention when court hears gerrymandering cases next month Voters keep voicing their frustration with the politically …
U.S. Politics
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hits back at Times Square billboard that blames her for Amazon canceling its New York HQ2
Business Insider - Sarah Gray and Alexandra Ma
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at a billboard in Times Square that blamed her for the termination of a deal between the city of New York and Amazon that would have parked its second
U.S. Politics
Power Up: 'By the Book Bob:' Prosecutors say Mueller will tightly hug Justice guidelines in report
The Washington Post - By Jacqueline Alemany
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/powerup/2019/02/21/powerup-by-the-book-bob-prosecutors-say-mueller-will-tightly-hug-justice-guidelines-in-report/5c6dc89a1b326b71858c6bf3/ WapoParser
Happiness
It’s time to switch to a 4-day work week, economists argue
Ladders - Ross Chainey
Working less would have a range of benefits for workers and employers and the world should embrace the four-day working week, was the message two …
Donald Trump
George Conway Conducts Donald Trump Credibility Poll, And Trump Is Losing
huffpost.com - By Lee Moran
George Conway is conducting his own poll on President Donald Trump’s credibility. The conservative attorney, who is married to top White House aide …
U.S. Politics
Trump White House Is Forcing Interns to Sign NDAs and Threatening Them With Financial Ruin
The Daily Beast - Asawin Suebsaeng
When the Trump White House welcomed its newest batch of interns earlier this year, the director of the internship program, Zoe Jackman, did what …
Environment
Report: Trump Wants Guy Who Compared Climate Science to the Holocaust to Head Climate Panel
Gizmodo - Tom McKay
Donald Trump’s administration is assembling a panel to determine whether climate change—which scientific experts broadly agree poses an existential …
Russia Probe
All the ways the Mueller investigation could wrap up and present its findings
Axios
The Justice Department is preparing for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation to end as soon as next week, according to a CNN report. What to …
Liberal View
MSNBC's Morning Joe blames Trump for inspiring violence: 'He sees this as a sign of strength'
rawstory.com - Travis Gettys
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough drew a straight line between President Donald Trump’s tweets and violent threats made by his supporters against media critics …
News
Roger Stone faces judge Thursday after Instagram posts
CNN - By Katelyn Polantz, CNN
Washington (CNN) — Roger Stone is in hot water heading into a court hearing on Thursday afternoon. The longtime Republican political operative and self-described "dirty trickster" faces a federal judge
U.S. Politics
9 polling experts explain what could happen if Joe Biden doesn’t run for the presidency
Vox - Li Zhou
His supporters could scatter across an already divided field. Joe Biden still hasn’t decided if he’s going to run for president. But if he doesn’t, he could well scramble an already divided Democratic
Liberal View
Rich People Have Been Taking Your Money For 40 Years And They Still Are
splinternews.com - Hamilton Nolan
Why all the talk about socialism? Why all the talk about inequality, and the 99% vs. the 1%? Because for the past forty years, the rich have been …
Comedy
Colbert Already Has The 'Book Report Version' Of Mueller’s Trump Investigation
huffpost.com - By Ed Mazza
Stephen Colbert said Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election and allegations of collusion with the campaign of President …
Donald Trump
Susan Collins' Reaction To Trump's National Emergency Hints She Will Side With Democrats
Bustle - Kavitha George
Since President Trump declared a national emergency to build a southern border wall last Friday, Congress and the White House have been barreling …
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Good News: A Unanimous Supreme Court Strikes a Blow for Civil Liberties
National Review - David French
It’s always a good day when even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg writes like an originalist — and that’s exactly what she did when she wrote the opinion …
James Madison
George F. Will: Republicans who abide Trump’s trashing of the Constitution should be expelled from public life
sltrib.com - By George F. Will | The Washington Post
Annapolis, Md. • America’s most improbably popular governor, a Republican beginning his second term in perhaps the bluest state, resembles a beer keg …