The Trump Experiment may come to an early tipping point

President Trump’s astonishing and reckless accusation that he was wiretapped on orders from President Barack Obama should finally be the tipping point in how the country views him and his presidency.

Obama, through a spokesman, said the charges were “simply false.” On Sunday afternoon, the New York Times reported that FBI Director James Comey had asked the Justice Department to publicly reject Trump’s claim. It appears that Trump issued his wild tweet storm Saturday morning largely on the basis of reports in conspiracy-minded right-wing media.

He signaled his lack of evidence first by reportedly pushing his White House staff to ransack sensitive intelligence information to find support for his claim. Then on Sunday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump wanted Congress to look into the matter and that the administration would offer no further comment.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-experiment-may-come-to-an-early-tipping-point/2017/03/05/87d38b3a-0055-11e7-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html?utm_term=.7526f3d8554f

GOP Draft Health Care Bill Cuts Medicaid, Insurance Subsidies

Source: cnbc.com

A draft bill detailing Republican plans to begin repealing and replacing many facets of the Affordable Care Act would provide expanded tax credits and health savings accounts for individuals while reducing federal spending on tax subsidies and Medicaid and practically eliminating both the current employer and individual mandate to provide and carry health insurance.

The 105-page draft legislation, obtained by NBC News, repeals much of the current law, also known as Obamacare, within the next few years and sets in place a Republican vision of healthcare.


More here:

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-draft-health-care-bill-cuts-medicaid-insurance-subsidies-n725331

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/24/gop-draft-health-care-bill-cuts-medicaid-insurance-subsidies.html

Socialisms Return

After more than a half-century in the wilderness, the socialist left reemerges in America.



https://www.thenation.com/article/socialisms-return/

Jerry Sanduskys Son Charged With Child Sexual Abuse

Source: CBS Philly

HARRIS TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS/AP) — Jerry Sandusky’s son has been arrested on charges of child sexual abuse.

Jeffrey Sandusky, 41, is being held on $200,000 bail at Centre County Prison. He was arrested Monday by Pennsylvania State Police.

He is facing 14 charges, including child sexual abuse, statutory sexual assault, and child pornography.

Read more: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/02/13/jerry-sanduskys-son-charged-with-child-sexual-abuse/

13,000 people hanged in secret at Syrian prison, Amnesty says

Source: CNN

(CNN)In the middle of the night, the Syrian prisoners are told they're being transferred.

Blindfolded, they're moved from their cells to the grounds of Saydnaya prison, north of the capital Damascus.

They're not told what's next -- likely, most don't know what's going to happen to them until they feel the noose around their necks.

A new report from Amnesty International, Human slaughterhouse, contends that this was the fate of groups of up to 50 people, twice a week, at the prison.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/middleeast/syria-executions-amnesty-international-report/index.html

TRUMP SAYS HE CUT WALL STREET REFORM BECAUSE HIS FRIENDS NEED MONEY

Source: Vanityfair.com

On Friday, Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to roll back Dodd-Frank, the sprawling regulatory framework President Obama signed into law in 2010 to avoid another financial crisis, which was not entirely beloved on Wall Street. He also scrapped a fiduciary rule intended to protect retirees by forcing brokers and advisers to “work in the best interest of their clients.“ (This, too, was controversial.)

According to its defenders, Dodd-Frank has been a modestly successful, if tortuous affair, requiring banks to bend over backwards to comply with regulations that protect investors and consumers from abusive practices and excessive risk. According to Trump, it was inconveniencing his friends:

“There is nobody better to tell me about Dodd-Frank than [JP Morgan C.E.O.] Jamie [Dimon]. So he has to tell me about it, but we expect to be cutting a lot from Dodd-Frank because, frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine, that have nice businesses, they can’t borrow money,” Trump said Friday morning, shortly before signing the executive orders. “They just can’t get any money because the banks just won’t let them borrow because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank.”



Read more: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/02/trump-says-he-cut-wall-street-reform-because-his-friends-need-money?mbid=social_twitter

CVS Now Selling Generic Competitor To EpiPen At A 6th Of The Price

Source: CBS Boston

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) — CVS is now selling a rival, generic version of Mylan’s EpiPen at about a sixth of its price, just months after the maker of the life-saving allergy treatment was eviscerated before Congress because of its soaring cost to consumers.

The drugstore chain says it will charge $109.99 for a two-pack of the authorized generic version of Adrenaclick, a lesser-known treatment compared to EpiPen, which can cost more than $600.

CVS Health Corp., the nation’s second-largest drugstore chain, says it cut the price of the generic version of Adrenaclick nearly in half. The lower price is now available at all CVS stores. The chain runs about 9,600 retail pharmacies in the United States, including several locations inside Target stores.

Read more: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/01/12/cvs-epipen-mylan-adrenaclick-generic-price/

GOP Readies Swift Obamacare Repeal With No Replacement Ready

Source: Boomberg Politics

The first major act of the unified Republican government in 2017 will be a vote in Congress to begin tearing down Obamacare.

But the euphoria of finally acting on a long-sought goal will quickly give way to the reality that Republicans -- and President-elect Donald Trump -- have no agreement thus far on how to replace coverage for about 20 million people who gained insurance under the health-care law.

“They haven’t come to a consensus in the House and the Senate about the possible replacement plans,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist and former adviser to Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. “They don’t know Point B.”

Republicans are debating how long to delay implementing the repeal. Aides involved in the deliberations said some parts of the law may be ended quickly, such as its regulations affecting insurer health plans and businesses. Other pieces may be maintained for up to three or four years, such as insurance subsidies and the Medicaid expansion. Some parts of the law may never be repealed, such as the provision letting people under age 26 remain on a parent’s plan.


Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-29/gop-readies-swift-obamacare-repeal-with-no-replacement-in-place

World wildlife 'falls by 58% in 40 years'

Global wildlife populations have fallen by 58% since 1970, a report says.

The Living Planet assessment, by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and WWF, suggests that if the trend continues that decline could reach two-thirds among vertebrates by 2020.

The figures suggest that animals living in lakes, rivers and wetlands are suffering the biggest losses.

Human activity, including habitat loss, wildlife trade, pollution and climate change contributed to the declines.

Dr Mike Barrett. head of science and policy at WWF, said: "It's pretty clear under 'business as usual' we will see continued declines in these wildlife populations. But I think now we've reached a point where there isn't really any excuse to let this carry on.


http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37775622

Cuyahoga River Fire 1969. A reminder on why we need the EPA.