Two more allegations last night, although they were anonymous and went to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They were released last night in an effort by Republicans, I suspect, to show that there are many loony accusations. Also two men came forward to take “credit” for the Kavanaugh assault on Dr. Ford, which actually does not HELP Kavanaugh. I will not … Read More
Kanavaugh Hearings Update
The hearings are a sham. The Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee (all older white men) will not question any witnesses, but will cede their power to a woman named Rachel Mitchell, an Arizona prosecutor. Mitchell is the chief of the special victims division of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which deals with sexual assault cases, among others. A registered Republican, … Read More
The Future Is AI And The US Is Falling Behind
The Trump administration has done little to support artificial intelligence research, experts say. Now, the top members of a House subcommittee are calling for a plan to maintain American leadership in AI. As the White House idled, China implemented a national plan that is propelling its AI research and implementation. Now, the two countries are in a race to reap … Read More
Kavanaugh Drama Continues
It really is starting to look like the GOP and Trump are choosing to prevail or die on this hill. And I’m not sure it is the best hill to die on. SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh went on Trump TV (Fox News) last night with his wife, and — imagine this — denied that he sexually assaulted Dr. Ford in … Read More
More Women Accuse Kavanaugh
From The New Yorker: As Senate Republicans press for a swift vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senate Democrats are investigating a new allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. The claim dates to the 1983-84 academic school year, when Kavanaugh was a freshman at Yale University. The offices of at least four Democratic senators have … Read More
Kavanaugh Spokesman Resigns Because He (Oh, Dear) Sexually Assaulted A Woman
You can’t make this stuff up: A communications adviser to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) during the Supreme Court confirmation fight has abruptly resigned after an accusation of sexual harassment — an allegation he denies. Garrett Ventry submitted his resignation Friday night, he said in a brief phone interview Saturday morning. He said he denies the allegation … Read More
The Insane Theory of Mistaken Identity In The Kavanaugh Sexual Assault Allegation
Ed Whelan floats a trial balloon pic.twitter.com/qjc6QmEhtz — Mr Toad’s Wild Ride (@goddamnedfrank) September 21, 2018 I watched this unfold in real time on Twitter. it was bizarre: Ed Whelan, a former law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia and the president of a think tank called the Ethics and Public Policy Center, took this theory to a new, wildly irresponsible … Read More
Breaking: Ford Says She Is Willing To Testify If “Fair”, But Monday Is Impossible
NY Times: The woman who has accused Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of sexual assault has told the Senate Judiciary Committee, in an apparent bid to jump-start negotiations, that she “would be prepared to testify next week,” so long as senators offer “terms that are fair and which ensure her safety,” according to an email her lawyers sent to committee staff … Read More
Epistemic Closure Can Kill A Party
An internal poll conducted by the Republican National Committee revealed that “57 percent of people who describe themselves as strong Trump supporters don’t believe Democrats have a chance” of winning back the House. That has Republican operatives worried because it signals complacency, which is a problem for the upcoming midterm elections where turnout is key. It’s not hard to imagine … Read More
Dr. Ford Calls For FBI Investigation Before She Appears
NY Times: The woman who has accused President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault all but ruled out appearing at an extraordinary Senate hearing scheduled for next week to hear her allegations, insisting on Tuesday that the F.B.I. investigate first. Speaking through lawyers, Christine Blasey Ford said she would cooperate with the Senate Judiciary Committee and left open the … Read More
Kavanaugh And His Accuser To Testify About Alleged Rape
The woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of an attempted rape that occurred 35 years ago has a name and an identity: Christine Blasey Ford. Actually, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a clinical psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California. A biostatistician, she “specializes in the design and analysis of clinical trials and other forms of intervention evaluation.” Speaking publicly … Read More
Letter Alleges Brett Kavanaugh Tried To Rape When In High School. Is The Nomination Jeopardized?
NY Times: WASHINGTON — A secretive letter shared with authorities by the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee charges that a teenage Brett M. Kavanaugh and a male friend trapped a teenage girl in a bedroom during a party and tried to assault her, according to three people familiar with the contents of the letter. According to the letter, … Read More
Serena Williams And The Sexist Double Standard
On Saturday, Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, lost to Naomi Osaka in the finals of the U.S. Open. Osaka was the better player and deserved to win. But the contest was marred by bad reffing. Well, that’s one way to look at it. Williams’s eruption came in the second set of Saturday’s U.S. Open final — … Read More
Trump Administration To Detain Immigrant Children Indefinitely
NBC: The Trump administration announced a new rule Thursday that would allow immigrant children with their parents to be held in detention indefinitely, upending a ban on indefinite detention that has been in place for 20 years. The rule, proposed by the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, goes into effect in 60 days and will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement … Read More
RIP The Village Voice
Gothamist: Three years after buying The Village Voice, and a year after the paper shut down its print edition, owner Peter Barbey told the remaining staff today that the publication will no longer be posting any new stories.“Today is kind of a sucky day,” Barbey told the staff, according to audio obtained by Gothamist. “Due to, basically, business realities, we’re going to … Read More