demmiblue
demmiblue's JournalSaudi Arabia's crown princes hosts Christian evangelical leaders
Source: NBC/Reuters
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a rare meeting with American evangelical Christians on Thursday, as the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom seeks to open up more to the world and repair an image of religious intolerance.
The delegation was led by communications strategist Joel Rosenberg and included former U.S. congresswoman Michele Bachmann, according to an emailed statement by the group, as well as heads of American evangelical organizations, some with ties to Israel.
"It was a historic moment for the Saudi Crown Prince to openly welcome Evangelical Christian leaders to the Palace. We were encouraged by the candor of the two-hour conversation with him today," the statement said.
The delegation also met Saudi officials including Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Khalid bin Salman and secretary-general of the Muslim World League Mohammed al-Issa.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-s-crown-princes-hosts-christian-evangelical-leaders-n930201?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
31 astonishing images to boost your appreciation of the night sky
Just as our nights are beginning to get longer, the National Maritime Museum in London has announced the winners of its annual Royal Observatory Greenwich's Insight Investment Astronomy Photography of the Year competition.
Out of thousands of submissions, photographer Brad Goldpaint is the overall winner (and winner of the People and Space category) for his image of the Milky Way galaxy shining bright above the red rock formations in Moab, Utah. To capture the image, Goldpaint patiently waited for the right moment as he described in his caption:
Aurorae — Runner Up
Galaxies — Winner
Skyscapes — Highly Commended
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year — Winner
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/astronomy-photography-year-2018-images-illuminate-night-sky-above-us
Feel the love, feel the hate - my week in the cauldron of Trump's wild rallies
There is no understanding Donald Trump without understanding his rallies.
They are the crucible of the Trump revolution, the laboratory where he turns his alternative reality into a potion to be sold to his followers. It is at his rallies that his radical reimagining of the US constitution takes shape: not “We the people”, but “We my people”.
As America reels from a gunman killing 11 Jewish worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue; pipe bombs being sent to 14 of the US presidents’ leading opponents, and Trump declaring himself a nationalist and sending thousands of troops to the US border to assail unarmed asylum seekers; the most powerful person on earth continues to rely on his rallies as seething cauldrons of passion.
And that’s not all. Trump is using them as a test run for his 2020 bid for re-election.
Which is why I have crisscrossed the country, from Montana and Wisconsin in the north to Texas in the south, Arizona in the west to North Carolina in the east, to observe the president delivering his message to his people.
Five rallies, eight days. At each, we explore a different emotion that Trump evokes to arouse his people’s devotion, in search of the source of his appeal.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/01/trump-rallies-america-midterms-white-house
A Historic Announcement from Shaun King
I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous posting something on Medium! No, I’m not running for office! And no, we are not having another baby! 😂
What I am about to do, and what I hope you will do with me, is a dream come true though.
In 1847, with slavery still in full force, two brave men, Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany (both pictured above), started an abolitionist newspaper called The North Star — named for the star, Polaris, that was often used as a guide for those seeking freedom in the North.
Douglass and Delany knew then, as we know now, that in order to fight back against injustice, their stories had to not only be well told — with the color and dimension and nuance that was frequently missing elsewhere, they knew they needed a newspaper that represented the cause of liberation with urgency, clarity, heart, and soul.
We need that right now. This past week proved that to me. And we’re going to build it together.
171 years after it first launched, with the blessing and permission of the family of Frederick Douglass, I am relaunching The North Star alongside my friend and brother, Ben Dixon.
https://medium.com/@ShaunKing/a-historic-announcement-from-shaun-king-ecd7560660df
https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1057980133770964992
The Nigerian military is using Trump's words to justify shooting to death rock throwing protestors..
https://twitter.com/dionnesearcey/status/1058279502646837248
https://twitter.com/HQNigerianArmy/status/1058264565190774786
Repost: Stumping for Abrams, Oprah makes impassioned plea for turnout
"For anybody here who has an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote, and you are choosing not to vote -- wherever you are in this state, in this country -- you are dishonoring your family," Winfrey said in Marietta, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. "You are disrespecting and disregarding their legacy, their suffering and their dreams, when you don't vote."
The hotly contested Georgia governor's race has garnered national attention and is currently neck and neck. Abrams is running against Republican nominee Brian Kemp.
Kemp -- who, as Georgia secretary of state, is also in charge of elections and voter registration -- faced backlash after it was reported his office had put more than 53,000 voter applications on hold, nearly 70% of which are from African-Americans, because they failed to clear the state's controversial "exact match" standard. Kemp has since said the 53,000 Georgians would be able to vote in November.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/01/politics/oprah-stacey-abrams-call-to-vote/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2018-11-01T17:40:52
https://twitter.com/TheBeatWithAri/status/1058046654144827392
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1058051183804383234
Reason: Celebrities campaigning for political candidates and their opinions are not important news of national interest. Please post this in the General Discussions Forum (unclear if this was a consensus decision).
Stumping for Abrams, Oprah makes impassioned plea for turnout
Source: CNN
Washington (CNN)Oprah Winfrey delivered an impassioned call to voters Thursday in a fiery stump speech in support of Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
"For anybody here who has an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote, and you are choosing not to vote -- wherever you are in this state, in this country -- you are dishonoring your family," Winfrey said in Marietta, Georgia. "You are disrespecting and disregarding their legacy, their suffering and their dreams, when you don't vote."
Winfrey -- who sparked speculation about a potential Oval Office run earlier this year -- said Thursday she wasn't considering a run for political office.
"I don't want to run, OK? I'm not trying to test any waters - don't want to go in those waters. I'm here today because of Stacey Abrams," Winfrey said, saying Abrams stands for the values she believes in.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/01/politics/oprah-stacey-abrams-call-to-vote/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2018-11-01T17:40:52
https://twitter.com/TheBeatWithAri/status/1058046654144827392
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1058051183804383234
Steve King blows up at questioner who pressed him on the Pittsburgh massacre #IA04
https://twitter.com/IAStartingLine/status/1058040186360250368Apparently, this young man hit a nerve!
Bolton to praise Bolsonaro, declare "Troika of Tyranny" in Latin America speech
Source: Axios
National Security Adviser John Bolton will declare the election of right-wing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil as a "positive sign" for Latin America while denouncing Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as a "Troika of Tyranny," according to excerpts seen by Axios of a speech he will give at 1 p.m. ET in Miami.
Why it matters: Bolton’s speech is among the clearest statements of the administration’s views on Latin America that we’ve seen so far, and Bolton depicts it almost as a struggle of good versus evil. That he considers Bolsonaro, who has made numerous homophobic and sexist remarks and spoken fondly of military rule, an ally in the fight to "advance the rule of law and increase security and prosperity" is likely to garner attention. So too will his inclusion of Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has brutally suppressed protests calling for his ouster, alongside Venezuela and Cuba in the "troika."
Jason Marczak of the Atlantic Council notes that "there is a high degree of alignment between the Trump administration's key priorities and those of the incoming Bolsonaro administration," most notably when it comes to Venezuela. Like Trump, Bolsonaro also campaigned in direct opposition to the establishment.
Bolton appears to be evoking communism with his use of the word "troika," and there are parallels between his "Troika of Tyranny" and George W. Bush’s "Axis of Evil."
Read more: https://www.axios.com/john-bolton-latin-america-speech-bolsonaro-troika-c7d41d0c-f0c7-4bb9-b19a-9ac0b693ca0e.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100
Michael Lewis' Latest Book 'The Fifth Risk' Acquired By The Obamas Under Their Netflix Production De
Deadline has learned that Michael Lewis’ latest book The Fifth Risk has been acquired by Barack and Michelle Obama under their Netflix production deal for a possible series aimed to help people better understand the inner workings of the government.
We understand that the Obamas are exploring projects but nothing specifically has yet gotten a greenlight. Lewis will reveal the news about the Obamas optioning The Fifth Risk on Katie Couric’s Thursday podcast.
The Fifth Risk, which hit shelves on Oct. 2 from W.W. Norton, follows the chaos and mismanagement that ensued in the departments of Energy, Agriculture and Commerce in the handoff from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump. Lewis spoke with a number of federal workers from the Obama administration who worked in the Departments of Energy, Agriculture and Commerce. The previous administration created briefing books for the next staff, but those who showed up on behalf of the new administration were greatly unqualified and far and few between.
One interview in the book is with John MacWilliams, who served as the Energy Department’s first-ever chief risk officer. He conveys his worries that any shortchanging in the department under Trump could lead to a nuclear-weapons accident, a potential conflict with North Korea or Iran, or an attack on the U.S. electrical grid. Any cuts in the Department of Agriculture would impact critical anti-poverty programs like school lunches and food stamps. Meanwhile the Commerce department may not have enough staff to conduct the census properly. Lewis speaks to the unsung heroes and the linchpins of the system and learns what keeps them up at night; those public servants whose knowledge, dedication, and proactivity keep the machinery running.
https://deadline.com/2018/10/michael-lewis-netflix-barack-obama-michelle-obama-acquire-the-fifth-risk-book-1202492823/
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