All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Science Does Not Support Claims That Contraceptives Are ‘Abortion-Inducing’

Judge Kavanaugh’s use of the term in his confirmation hearing resurrected a controversial phrase.

Trump inauguration crowd photos were edited after he intervened

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Exclusive: documents released to Guardian reveal government photographer cropped space ‘where crowd ended’

A government photographer edited official pictures of Donald Trump’s inauguration to make the crowd appear bigger following a personal intervention from the president, according to newly released documents.

The photographer cropped out empty space “where the crowd ended” for a new set of pictures requested by Trump on the first morning of his presidency, after he was angered by images showing his audience was smaller than Barack Obama’s in 2009.

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Trump doubles down on ‘treason’ accusation after New York Times op-ed

Does not understand difference between free speech, being Putin’s BFF, lying about everything, and accepting money from Russians for favors.

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At Montana rally, president hails Republican who assaulted Guardian reporter as fighter ‘in more ways than one’

Donald Trump on Thursday accused the New York Times of committing “treason” after the paper published an opinion piece by an anonymous senior administration official who detailed a “quiet resistance” working to rein in the president.

During a campaign appearance in Billings, Montana, Trump also praised Greg Gianforte, the Republican congressman who physically attacked the Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs last year, as “a fighter and a winner”.

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Outrage over Trump’s ‘sickening’ plans to detain migrant children indefinitely

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New rules would enable the government to circumvent court limits on detaining minors during their immigration proceedings

Opponents of Donald Trump’s approach to immigration have lined up to condemn as “inhumane” and “sickening” proposals to facilitate indefinite detention of migrant children and their families.

The administration has announced it plans to withdraw from a federal court agreement that strictly limits the conditions under which authorities can detain migrant children. And the government proposed new rules it said would enable it to detain minors during their immigration proceedings.

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Friday Open Thread | Meet Beto O’Rourke

If there’s a candidate that I sooooo want to be triumphant in November, it’s Beto O’Rourke.

Beto is a the man who has Ted Cruz running scared in Texas.

As always, Beto could use your help. Texas is an expensive place to run.

About Beto:

Beto O’Rourke is a fourth-generation Texan, born and raised in El Paso. After graduating from Columbia University, Beto worked in New York for a few years before deciding to move back to his hometown and start a small technology company. El Paso wasn’t the most likely place to start a company like this, but thanks to the work of some really talented El Pasoans, the company was a success. Over the years Stanton Street hired dozens of people in high skill, high-wage jobs that one might not expect to see in a border community.

Outside of work, Beto became deeply involved in the civic, business and community efforts in El Paso. He ran for El Paso City Council in 2005 and served for two terms before running for U.S. Congress in 2012, taking on an eight-term incumbent and winning. He knocked on thousands of doors and had real conversations, face-to-face, with the voters in El Paso.

In Congress, Beto serves on the House Committees for Armed Services and Veterans Affairs. He has made it a priority to work across the aisle to secure bipartisan support for his legislation, because Beto knows our country is at its best when we can put party aside to work together, build consensus and find common ground.

Much of Beto’s focus has been on improving the ability for veterans to get the health care — and other earned benefits — that they need. He’s also been focused on curbing the influence of corporate money in Congress. He helped introduce the “No PAC Act,” which would stop candidates for federal office from relying on PACs to bankroll their campaigns.

 

Accountability and responsiveness are critical to excellence in public service. Beto has made it a priority to host monthly town halls in El Paso to hear directly from his constituents. For nearly five years he hasn’t missed a single one. And that’s exactly how he’s running his campaign for U.S. Senate.

Beto is traveling to every part of Texas to meet with Texans in their communities. Whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, Independents or even non-voters, all Texans deserve an accountable, full-time, full-service Senator who’s committed to working tirelessly for our state. Now is the time for Texas to step up and lead.

Beto and his wife, Amy, are raising their three children, Ulysses, Molly and Henry, in El Paso.

Interview with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz – SPIEGEL ONLINE Wonders why things he says are overblown – because he is a neo-fascist, that’s why

In a DER SPIEGEL interview, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, 32, talks about his goals as holder of the rotating European Council presidency, the fight against illegal immigration and his relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Source: Interview with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz – SPIEGEL ONLINE