According to new polling data, nearly 80 percent of Americans support extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of this year -- and are at the center of a funding dispute that led to a shutdown of the federal government this week. read more
Donald Trump has sparked a fresh frenzy about his health after giving a very unorthodox CNN interview. The 79-year-old president gave an exclusive interview to State of the Union host Jake Tapper Sunday, but bizarrely texted his answers in at an unspecified time before the show rather than speaking in person or calling.
Hamas is looking to secure a "fair hostage exchange" as part of a deal with Israel to end the two-year war that's devastated Gaza and destabilized much of the Middle East. The Palestinian militant group's negotiating team in Egypt will aim to "eliminate all obstacles" to a settlement, Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesperson, said during a televised address broadcast on Qatar-based Al-Jazeera on Tuesday.
A senior federal prosecutor in Virginia has privately told colleagues she intends to reject efforts to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite mounting pressure from President Donald Trump, according to MSNBC, citing two people familiar with the matter. read more
Paramount said Monday that it has bought the news and commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, saying it believes the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based. read more
Leon Russell - Tight Rope (1972)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
I'm up on a tight-wire
One side's ice and one is fire
It's a circus game with you and me
I'm up on a tight rope
One side's hate and one is hope
But the top hat on my head is all you see
...
Trump's Backing a Healthcare Plan That Breaks His Promises (2017)
www.nbcnews.com
... President Donald Trump rode to the White House making big promises on health care -- pledges that he is now in serious danger of breaking. Let's look at how the president's words on the campaign trail stack up against what we know today.
In addition to Trump's comments on the stump, his administration has spent weeks raising expectations on its Obamacare replacement. Among the claims: The Republican plan would cover more people, reduce their premiums and costs, avoid cutting Medicaid, and leave no one worse off than under the former president's signature achievement.
So now that the House GOP's American Health Care Act (AHCA) is here, how do these pledges look?
Not good, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released on Monday. The report found the House plan -- which the Trump administration has thrown its support behind -- would cause millions to lose insurance and raise costs for vulnerable populations. ...
When will the Air Traffic Controllers and US Service personnel be paid?
2025 payroll calendar
www.gsa.gov
Oops, there seems to be an issue with that calendar.
Republicans in Congress.
Another view ...
Several airports experience delays as air traffic controllers go without pay
www.the-independent.com
... Airports from New York to Los Angeles experienced delays Monday night as air traffic controllers went without pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
It's been six days since the government shutdown started after the Senate failed to pass a bill to fund federal agencies, and the Federal Aviation Administration is feeling the pressure.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday the shutdown is putting more stress on air traffic controllers, whose jobs are already extremely demanding. ...
@#47 ... Iow she is completely UNQUALIFIED to be objective ...
Will he goal be to be providing objective reporting? Or catering to the Trump administration?
While I do agree that CBS news has leaned towards the left of late, but is that because the right has been proffering unsubstantiated phlegm?
CBS News " Bias and Credibility
mediabiasfactcheck.com
... Overall, we rate CBS News as Left-Center biased based on story selection that moderately favors the left and is High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. ...
There's that "High for factual reporting" that I have a concern may vanish.
Bronski Beat - Heatwave (Extended Remix) (1985)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Hey we're headin' for a summer heatwave
Boys we're headin' for a summer heatwave
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
Tattoos and muscle passion and sweat
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave
Yeah yeah
...
Fun tune ...
South Carolina judge's home burned down after anti-Trump ruling. Police investigating cause
www.snopes.com
... According to a statement provided to reporters by Mark Keel, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief, no evidence exists suggesting the fire was set intentionally, as of this writing. Keel also urged caution when speculating about the fire's potential causes.
"I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgement and not share information that has not been verified," he said. ...
Pheromones - YuppieDrone (1982)
www.youtube.com
Yeah, the Yuppies of the 80's now seem to be the current ~billionaires~ in pop culture.
Can Deere tractors plow under Trump tariffs (November 2024)
www.fierceelectronics.com
... John Deere, the world's biggest farm machinery manufacturer, prides itself on using AI for autonomous tractors and precise See & Spray crop spraying technology. Its yellow and green tractors and lawn mowers are also iconic symbols of America's heartland, helping place Deere in the political crosshairs of future tariff policies under President-elect Donald Trump.
Deere's innovative self-driving tech and other improvements rely heavily on sensors and GPUs. Various upgrades have meant the newest giant farm machines are priced at half a million dollars or more apiece, often putting them out of reach of average farmers. An autonomous Deere 8R tractor recently sold for $500,000, with autonomous electronics adding another $50,000. In the past two years, Deere has reacted by creating a new pricing scheme, a pay-per-use licensing model for monthly billing of AI-based applications like See & Spray, said to cost a fraction of the traditional upfront investment.
Against the backdrop of needing to hold down costs to farmers, Trump has repeatedly promised tariffs on many types of imports, especially from China. In September, Trump singled out Deere for reportedly wanting to move some production to Mexico, proposing steep tariffs that could make the newest farm tech even more expensive.
"I'm just notifying John Deere right now, if you do that, we're putting a 200% tariff on everything that you want to sell into the United States," Trump said Sept. 23. It isn't clear whether the remark has had any effect on Deere & Company's Mexico plans. The company laid off 503 workers in Illinois and 310 in Iowa earlier in 2024, amid reported steps to acquire land in Mexico to shift production previously done in the US. ...
Classic American farm brand John Deere is seeing prices rise and profits drop -- and Trump's tariffs are making things worse
www.independent.co.uk
... The company, which is the leading supplier of farm equipment in the United States, is in a worse financial position now than it was a year ago. In its Q3 earnings report, John Deere said its net income was down 26 percent compared to the same time last year. It also saw a 9 percent decline in sales.
That, in part, is due to President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Tariffs on steel and aluminum have made it more expensive to manufacture equipment, even though John Deere assembles 80 percent of its equipment in the U.S., and only 25 percent of its components are imported, the company reported.
"Tariff costs in the quarter were approximately $200 million, which brings us to roughly $300 million in tariff expense year to date," Josh Beal, the director of investor relations, told the Wall Street Journal in August. ...
@#6 ... in the 1948 war ...
Yeah, tht is the main issue in the Middle East.
The conflicts go back for decades, some might proffer centuries.
History of Conflict in the Middle East
www.studentsofhistory.com
... The Middle East is a region with a fascinating history that goes back to the earliest known civilizations and empires. Its location at the crossroads of continents has made it a battleground for empires, religions, and ideologies. As a sad result of this, conflict has raged in the Middle East for centuries. This has shaped boundaries, politics, culture, and the lives of millions.
The history of conflict in the Middle East traces back to ancient times, marked by the rise and fall of mighty empires like the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans.
These powerful civilizations vied for control over the region. They left behind a legacy of conquest, assimilation, and cultural exchange. The shifting borders of these empires laid the foundation for modern geopolitical rivalries and territorial disputes.
Religion has played a profound role in shaping the landscape of conflict in the Middle East. The rise of Islam in the 7th century brought about a new era of conquest and expansion, as Arab armies swept across the region, establishing vast caliphates, and spreading Islamic civilization. The Sunni-Shia divide, dating back to the early days of Islam, led to further tension and conflict. The two sides (Sunni and Shia) have been at odds in various nations ever since. ...
@#9 ...One side's hate and one is hope ...
Yeah.