News – March 3, 2018

Posted on March 4, 2018 by State of Opportunity

Florida Plays a Lot of Games With Systems Designed To Appear One Way and Function Another Way; Keep Your Eyes On What They Do
Associated Press – Florida lawmakers debate school-safety bill in rare session
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A Pitfall Sanders-Aligned Candidates Must Avoid
ABC News – As Steve Bannon’s star fades, so does that of some candidates he backed
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Voting Rights In Court in Kansas
Associated Press – Kansas voting rights trial has national implications
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Sanders Highlights Federal Failure and Hypocrisy on Puerto Rico
The Intercept – Bernie Sanders on Puerto Rico Neglect: “Do You Think This Would Be Happening in Westchester County?”
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Sanders Finally Stands Up on Yemen, But Where is the Normally Outspoken Rand Paul?
Al Jazeera – US senators in bid to end support for Saudi in Yemen war
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An Eye For An Eye
New York Times – Escalating Trade Fight, Threatens Higher Taxes on European Cars
Reuters – China says it does not want a trade war with U.S
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Reuters Journalists Still Detained
Reuters – DETAINED IN MYANMAR – The latest updates on two Reuters journalists in government custody
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East Coast Gets Hammered, Ugly Hangover Ensues
CBS News – Bomb cyclone nor’easter pummels East Coast with strong winds, rain
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Tit For Tat: De-Nuke For Talks
Reuters – At joke-filled dinner, Trump suggests U.S. will meet with North Korea
Reuters – Iranian official calls on West to scrap nuclear arms before any missile talks
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Big Bot; Why Not?
CNBC – This 13-foot robot cost over $100 million to develop and looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie
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Media Can’t Help Itself, Continues Publishing Fake News
The Atlantic – Are Mexico’s Elections Russia’s Next Target?
New York Times – Will Russia Meddle In Italy’s Election? It May Not Have To
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Putin Reveals New Foreign and Domestic Policies Prior to March 18^th Election
Washington Post – Putin claims Russia is developing nuclear arms capable of avoiding missile defenses
New York Times – Putin Boasts of New Weapons, Vows to Boost Living Standards
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Media, Demonstrating A Complete Ignorance of Chinese Totalitarian Governance, Calls Xi’s Elevation a “Power Grab”
CNN – Trump on China’s Xi consolidating power: ‘Maybe we’ll give that a shot some day’
Chicago Tribune – China sets stage for Xi’s historic power grab to rule indefinitely
Forbes – What Xi Jinping As President With No Term Limits Means For China’s Economy
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News – February 23, 2018

Posted on February 24, 2018 by State of Opportunity

Trump Dances With the NRA
Associated Press – Trump bucks NRA, backs raising age for buying assault rifles
CNN – NRA chief accuses Democrats of pushing ‘socialist’ agenda in wake of Florida shooting

Jeff Bezos Is Building A Giant Clock Inside A Mountain. Definitely Not Part of A Supervillain Lair.
BBC – Bezos-backed 10,000 Year Clock now under construction

Installation has begun—500 ft tall, all mechanical, powered by day/night thermal cycles, synchronized at solar noon, a symbol for long-term thinking—the #10000YearClock is coming together thx to the genius of Danny Hillis, Zander Rose & the whole Clock team! Enjoy the video. pic.twitter.com/FYIyaUIbdJ

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) February 20, 2018

YouTube Censorship Reaches New Level. Who Watches the Watchmen?
USA Today – ‘Crisis actors’ YouTube video removed after it tops ‘trending’ videos

The Left is Beginning to Stand Up
Politico – Dylan Ratigan declares for Congress, shakes up Stefanik race

Democratic Establishment Goes To War With Itself
The Intercept – EMILY’s List Weighs in Hard in Texas Primary – Against a Leading Woman in the Trump Resistance

Here’s Another Open Secret Finally Garnering An Honorable Mention From Mainstream News
New York Times – The Myth of the Hacker-Proof Voting Machine

If Only They Went After All the Vultures As Enthusiastically
Associated Press – US asks judge to approve seizure of ‘Pharma Bro’ assets

Pennsylvania Gerrymandering Drama Continues
New York Times – Democrats Didn’t Even Dream of This Pennsylvania Map. How Did It Happen?
New York Times – The New Pennsylvania Congressional Map, District by District
The Intercept – GOP Senator Says Impeachment of Judges Who Struck Down Gerrymandered Map Is “A Conversation That Has to Happen”

As Is Tradition
CNN – Car intentionally hits security barrier near White House

Puerto Rico: Ignored But For Plundering
The Intercept – Citigroup Drove Puerto Rico Into Debt. Now It Will Profit From Privatization on the Island.

The UN Fiddles As Syria Burns
U.S. News – Deaths Mounts in Syria as UN Weighs Cease-Fire Resolution

News – February 15, 2018

Posted on February 17, 2018 by State of Opportunity

Sanders Maneuvers to Achieve Effective Compromise. Washington Post Misrepresents Trump Tweet As Agreeing With Hardliner Tom Cotton. Senate Bickers.
Washington Post – The Daily 202: A pragmatic Bernie Sanders seeks an immigration compromise to protect ‘dreamers’
New York Times – Senate Rejects Trump’s Immigration Plan

Negotiations on DACA have begun. Republicans want to make a deal and Democrats say they want to make a deal. Wouldn’t it be great if we could finally, after so many years, solve the DACA puzzle. This will be our last chance, there will never be another opportunity! March 5th.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2018

Democratic Faithful Look to Edge Out Sanders in 2020. Useful, But Potentially Just Marketing.
New York Magazine – Gillibrand and Booker Swear Off Corporate Cash

I heard from constituents today asking about corporate PAC contributions. I'm joining several of my colleagues & no longer accepting these contributions. Our campaign finance system is broken. I thank @StopBigMoney for their work—it’s time to pass campaign finance reform.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 14, 2018

I will no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, and I wanted to share why I’ve made that decision. I hope you’ll join me in doing everything we can to fight to reform our broken campaign finance system. pic.twitter.com/v2oWvEiUCe

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 13, 2018

‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens
New York Times – Florida Shooting: Nikolas Cruz Told Police How He Began Shooting Students ‘in the Hallways’
BBC – Florida shooting: FBI and teachers warned about Nikolas Cruz
Huffington Post – Laura Ingraham Hosts Segment On ‘Safe’ AR-15 Hours After Florida School Shooting
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One Step Closer to Global Broadband Internet
Reuters – SpaceX gets U.S. regulator to back satellite internet plan
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Russia, US, UK Trade Accusations. Sidenote: The Blue Dogs Are Not Centrists.
The Telegraph – Russia was behind ‘malicious’ cyber attack on Ukraine, Foreign Office says
Politico – Centrist Democrats try new approach to Russia messaging
CNN – Russia says it has proof of Western influence in its upcoming election
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Flu Shot Particularly Ineffective This Year
Associated Press – Flu shot only 36 percent effective, making bad year worse
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Guzman Gets Trial Date
Reuters – Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ to face U.S trial in September
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Wikileaks Leaks Too
The Intercept – In Leaked Chats, WikiLeaks Discusses Preference for GOP Over Clinton, Russia, Trolling, and Feminists They Don’t Like
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ICE Not Only Ruins Peoples’ Lives, It Steals Them Too
NPR – ICE Lawyer Charged With Stealing Immigrants’ Identities To Commit Bank Fraud
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News – February 13, 2018

Posted on February 14, 2018 by State of Opportunity

Freedom Intensifies

A Social Service for Food Might Be A Good Idea Under A Responsible and Humanist Government, Not This One
Yahoo! – Trump Wants to Replace Food Stamps for Impoverished Americans With Food Boxes to Save Money
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As much disdain as I have for Blackwater/Xe Services/Academi/Constellis, I’m not looking forward to karma circling round…
Bloomberg – U.S. Strikes Killed Scores of Russia Fighters in Syria, Sources Say
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Sending Fake Chemical or Biological Substances To Folks Is Not Cool
Bloomberg – Donald Trump Jr.’s Wife Taken to Hospital After White-Powder Scare
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About Time We Hashed This Out. Gerrymandering Is A Cancer In Our Electoral System and Must Be Excised.
U.S. News – Pennsylvania Gerrymandering Fight Just the Start of a Wider War
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Without A Doubt, Yes. Social Programs Should Benefit All Who Pay In, Lest They Become Targets of Ire. Favors For Special Interest Groups Divides Society and Costs More To Administrate.
U.S. News – Should Free College Give Rich Kids a Free Ride?
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NAFTA Squabble Continues Without Any Sign Of Agreement
Reuters – Canada, U.S. exchange barbs over NAFTA talks as stresses rise
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Trump Urges Protectionism, While Corporate Lackeys Suggest More of the Same Old, Same Old
Business Insider – Trump held a freewheeling White House meeting on trade — and it sounds like some of economists’ worst fears could come true
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Interesting. The Dutch Media Were Also Responsible For the Unverified Claim of Russian Hacking Proof. Very Interesting Indeed.
BBC – Dutch foreign minister quits over lie about meeting Putin
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