President Trump to reveal "America First" national security strategy

Article Links:
BBC
Fox News




Trump's comprehensive national security policy is a 70-page document which prioritizes economic security foremost to gain national security. President Trump's national security plan will be built on four main themes, which include protecting homeland security, protecting economic prosperity, advancing America's influence as a superpower, and sustaining peace through strength. Trump's foreign policy is the opposite of President Obama's, and does not recognize climate change as a national security threat (although he will mention its importance, officials say). The policy's vision is for perpetually competitive international affairs in which superpowers compete for influence. President Trump predicts Russia and China to be the primary threats to U.S. dominance. President Trump will also discuss cyber hacking as a new threat.

President Trump, contrary to President Obama, has always strongly encouraged and supported an "America First" policy. I believe this attitude is certainly beneficial for America, although I believe climate change is an issue that should be heavily considered.

Discussion:
Although we do not have specific details on President Trump's plans, what do you think of his main focuses?
What are the benefits and detriments of the President's America First policy?
Is Trump delegating the necessary focus to climate change?

Michigan seeks outlet to decline in manufacturing growth

Link to article: New York Times

Quillen, a young entrepreneur who is struggling to spark her business and create jobs in a Midwest state that relied on a manufacturing renaissance from President Trump, was visited by people from New York Times to discuss the social implications of jobs and the manufacturing economy. They prioritized jobs and were joined by numerous Presidents in their respective fields of manufacturing and Chamber of Commerce in Jackson County. Quillen and the others discussed the idea that there were not enough qualified workers to take on advanced manufacturing jobs and companies saw a general trend of poor working habits. Lately, for the first time in many years, manufacturing jobs started coming back to the United States, yet they require higher abilities since they include helping  robots on the assembly line and they accept a position beginning at $10.50 working up to making $25 an hour under four years if they decide that route.

Many people blamed Ms. Quillen for not paying workers decently to show responsibility regarding the organization. Her compensation scale, beginning at around $10, according to her, mirrors the neighborhood economy. Joblessness in Jackson is low. Wages, in any case, are not developing. Family salary is really 11 percent lower than in 2000 so it’s easy to see where the fault is originating from in light of the decline in sales growth. I wonder what effect the Republican tax bill would have on her wages and hiring process. Do you think that these tax cuts would boost economy and help build up Quillen’s business? How could she help employers in her county to sufficiently support themselves? What do you think she should do to address the business challenges she’s facing in her automotive industry? I personally think she should set up internship programs during the summer for students so they can be exposed to this working experience.

GOP's Final Tax Reform Bill

Article Links:

BBC

Fox News





President Trump looks to make good on his promise to the American people to pass legislation for tax cuts by the end of this year. With the House of Representatives looking to vote on the final bill next Tuesday, and the Senate voting later in the week, the President's efforts seem to be coming to fruition. Republicans have promised that the bill would provide tax relief for American citizens of all income levels, although Democrats and other critics disagree, stating that it would benefit the rich and big businesses. Although many opposing the bill have hoped that Doug Jones, the winner of the Alabama Senate election, may tip the scales, it seems he will not be sworn into office before the voting on this bill.


"The plan brings the US corporate tax rate down to 21% from the current 35%. The top individual income tax drops to 37% from 39.6%" (BBC). While tax cuts for businesses may be permanent, tax cuts for individuals are likely to expire by 2026. This will amount to billions of dollars added to the already high national debt.


More information on the final tax plan here:


What's in the final tax plan?





We have learned about the process in which a bill becomes a law recently in AP government. The bill has just passed the combined House-Senate conference committee and will be voted on by both houses of Congress. Obviously, if the bill reaches the President, he will sign it into law. Republicans hold a majority in the Senate 52-48, and passed their original Senate bill with a 51-49 majority, with only Republican Senator Bob Corker voting against. However, Corker has stated he would support the bill despite initial reservations. Because the Vice President decides the Senate vote in the case of a tie, and Mike Pence obviously backs the bill, Republicans can afford to lose no more than two of their own party's votes. Due to the increasing polarization in today's Congress, this is not likely. The House of Representatives also has a Republican majority, but we shall see their voting outcome soon.



Discussion Questions:

What do you think of the new tax bill and will it help all American citizens?

Do you believe Republican victory is most likely here?

Russia: A potential risk to undersea cables

Article Links:
Fox News
BBC



According to a recent report by the Policy Exchange think tank, the world's communication network is comprised of around 213 independent cable systems and 545,018 miles of fiber, as seen in the image above. Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach says Britain and NATO must prioritize the defense of the undersea lines of communication against a potential Russian attack, as cutting or disrupting them could cause an economic catastrophe.

Because the cables do not have formal state ownership, they are quite vulnerable in international law. Also, an international power such as NATO needs to act because these cable systems are too extensive to be protected by any single nation. This is in response to increased Russian submarine activity and their willingness to use unconventional warfare. The potential effects of wire-tapping, cutting, or disrupting these networks could be disastrous according to many experts, including MP Rishi Sunak and Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's former top military chief.

Ultimately, we must remember that any Russian plot is only speculation for now. Admiral Stavridis even warned of potential threats from China and Iran. However, in the possibility of Russia's navy acting on these economically and socially vital cable networks, and in light of the ongoing accusations against President Trump for possibly colluding with Russia, what do you think the U.S. or NATO can, will, or won't do?

FCC Repeals Net Neutrality

This Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality rules.

In 2015, net neutrality established internet service as a utility, preventing internet service providers from discriminating among web content by blocking certain sites or slowing the speed at which they load in addition to preventing them from providing faster internet service to customers who pay more. Yesterday's repeal removes all that regulation.

Supporters of net neutrality argue the end of net neutrality could lead to a future of internet service that privileges large companies and the wealthy. They fear services providers may start providing "bundles" like cable providers, requiring you to pay extra for certain sites, something that is already happening in Portugal. Small business owners are also concerned that they'll be more easily out-competed by larger corporations that can afford to pay for their sites to load faster if ISPs start offering priority to higher paying customers. However, Ajit Pai, chairman of the FCC, argues that these fears are unfounded. Before net neutrality was established, none of these problems existed and, as it ends now, major ISPs are reassuring the public they do not intend to change the way they provide internet.

Pai argues that deregulation of this market will foster increased competition, giving companies incentive to provide internet to more people. His critics point out that the market for internet service is highly consolidated and lacks competition, suggesting deregulation may be an opening for abuses instead of a jump-start to the competition of the market

Unfortunately, until the changes caused by repealing net neutrality come to pass, the consequences - or lack thereof - for repealing it are uncertain.

Questions:
1. Do you support or oppose the repeal of net neutrality?
2. Can we trust large corporations when they assure us the internet will continue to run as usual?
3. Are people's fears about the end of net neutrality reasonable?

Links:
New York Times: 1 and 2
Fox News
Image Source

Disney Makes $52.4 Billion Deal for 21st Century Fox in Big Bet on Streaming

(Image courtesy of the NY Times)

Disney is taking a monumental step towards its goal of creating a streaming service by purchasing large parts of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion. Disney will acquire most of Fox's sporting networks and television studios (according to BBC), as well as Fox's key investments in companies such as Hulu. (Fox will keep its news networks, like its iconic FOX News.) The merger is one of the largest in the entertainment industry, and will spell trouble for existing streaming services. Disney plans to launch its own streaming services by 2019 (according to the NY Times); merging Fox and Disney allowed the company to gain a foothold in the battle against Netflix, Amazon, and Google. Disney already owns ABC's network and made a name for itself as a growing media powerhouse when it purchase the rights to Star Wars in 2012.

While I personally don't follow business closely, the Disney-Fox merger frightens me. As an avid  consumer of Netflix's online streaming services, I worry about the growth of industry monopolies, and with the FCC's recent repeal of net neutrality, I believe internet service providers and online streaming services will gain an unchecked power over the market. The articles from BBC and The Verge layout the various investments major companies have in streaming services: for example, Time Warner, Disney, and Fox each own an equal share of Hulu. I also worry that the government, with its chiefly conservative viewpoints, won't move to dissolve these monopolies and will instead enable their growth.

Discussion Questions:
1. What is your opinion on large media conglomerates?
2. Do you think the government should play a role in the regulation of emerging monopolies (especially in industries like online streaming)? Why or why not?
3. Do you think Disney's competition with Amazon, Netflix, and Google will help improve their services? Why or why not?

BBC
NY Times
The Verge

Tillerson looking to hold talks with North Korea

Article Links:
BBC
Fox News



"This year, the North has conducted more than 20 ballistic missile launches and one nuclear test explosion, its most powerful yet" (Fox News).

In October, President Trump tweeted that Tillerson would be "wasting his time" in pursuing negotiations with North Korea. Two weeks earlier, North Korea tested a missile that could carry a nuclear warhead to the east coast of the United States. Following this, the UN's Undersecretary General Jeffrey Feltman visited Pyongyang and urged North Korea to consider negotiations.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that the U.S. is ready to have diplomatic relations with North Korea even if they have no intention of giving up their nuclear arsenal program. Rex Tillerson has implied in the past that the precondition for holding negotiations would be North Korea showing a readiness to give up, to a certain degree, their nuclear program. Now, it seems Tillerson is taking a more realistic view, as they are too committed to their nuclear program. Of course, Tillerson maintains that the ultimate goal of these negotiations would be for North Korea to drop the program.

I believe that Tillerson is taking the right approach here, as negotiations have to begin somewhere and this seems like a courteous beginning. It would be unfeasible to have North Korea be willing to drop their nuclear program, which they have worked on for considerable amounts of time, as a condition of negotiations.

Now, as it seems that negotiations with North Korea are bound to begin, although the first meeting could "be about anything". What approach would you guys take to these negotiations to convince North Korea to terminate the program? Do you see this "compromise" as a softening of policy on Tillerson's part?

Democrat Doug Jones Defeats Republican Roy Moore In Alabama Senate Race

(I apologize in advance for the informality of this post. I was struck by Doug Jones's unprecedented victory in Alabama and felt compelled to comment.)

The actual election itself mirrored the nail-biting narrow margins of the presidential election; at 80% reported vote the polls declared the race too close to call. Most of the counties in Alabama that voted Democrat were concentrated around large metropolitan areas: Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery. A majority of the Republican counties were centered in the northern part of Alabama, along the border with Florida. (I would suggest taking a look at CNN's county map if you're interested.)

Roy Moore looked good for the Senate until recently, when sexual assault allegations surfaced in light of congressional investigations. Moore's support from the national Republican party weened, even drawing criticism from incumbent Alabama senator Jeff Flake. According to The Daily, a New York Times podcast, Moore had garnered support from the Christian right and ended his career as Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Alabama when he refused to remove the Ten Commandments from his office. (Sidenote: I recommend listening to the podcast from Tuesday, December 12. It's only 25 minutes long.) Thus, even in the midst of sexual assault allegations, Moore carried a baseline support from evangelicals and rural Alabama residents. Conversely, the Democratic candidate Doug Jones comes from far on the other end of the political spectrum, having prosecuted KKK members for bombing an African-American church and killing four girls during his career as an attorney.

The last notable time such a drastic political shift in senators was when Senator Scott Brown (GOP) replaced Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy's seat in 2010. Now that the election is over, what matters most, I believe, is what you guys think the election means for the Democrats in Congress, and what kind of impact this even will have in the grander political climate. Please feel free to update the story with your personal insight or discussion from other news sources.

Discussion Questions:
1. Who did you predict would win the election? Are you surprised by the results?
2. What do you think it means when states with deep-seated political views elect members of Congress from the opposing party?
3. What are your general thoughts on this special election?

Links Galore:
CNN
NPR
Fox News
The Daily from the NY Times (if you enjoy news podcasts, I strongly recommend this one)
Another NY Times article that is very thorough in its election data

Bomber Strikes Near Times Square, Disrupting City but Killing None

(Image courtesy of the NY Times)

On Monday morning, December 11, at approximately 7:20 AM EST, an attempted-suicide bomber detonated a pipe bomb in the bustling Times Square Station in New York. The bomb resulted in severe (although not fatal) injuries to the bomber himself and three other minor injuries. While the investigation is ongoing, the bomber is not suspected to have direct ties to terrorist groups, but his attack was inspired by suicide bombers seen in countries such as Israel and Nigeria (never before in Manhattan). The bomber is a young immigrant from Bangladesh, a relative of a U.S. citizen living in New York.

This is the second attack New York has seen in the past couple months, and one of numerous terrorist attacks post-9/11. Because it is a large metropolitan area and a central symbol of American culture, New York has been the target of terror attacks even predating 9/11. With coverage of other attacks in London, Paris, Barcelona, and countless other cities, the awareness of terrorist attacks has significantly increased, concerning citizens around the globe.

Donald Trump has taken to Twitter with another call to curb immigration, backed by Jeff Sessions. I personally believe in expanding the U.S.'s immigration intake, or alternatively offering aid to refugees of any of the numerous calamities countries face today. While it is important to recognize the threat of terrorism from abroad, it is also important to acknowledge that the U.S. has suffered countless domestic terrorist attacks as well, most notably the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013.

Discussion Questions:
1. What can be done to more effectively protect the U.S. from potential terrorism?
2. Do you agree with Trump's stance on immigration. Why or why not?
3. What can be done to combat domestic terrorism as well as international terrorism?

NYTimes
Washington Post
CNN

California's Thomas Fire scorches area larger than New York City

Picture

After scorching 230,000 acres in the last week alone, the Thomas Fire, currently raging in Southern California, has now expanded to an area greater than the size of New York City. Having grown by more than a whopping 50,000 acres a day, it is now being referred to as the fifth largest wildfire in California's history. Many people in the Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties have been evacuated, and the fire is reported to have been 10% contained after a decrease from 15%.

Personalities like Rob Lowe and President Trump have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns on the issue, with Lowe being a resident of Santa Barbara and is currently evacuating his home. Because this is not the only wildfire raging in California, a state of emergency has been announced by President Trump, with the situation deemed code purple, the highest priority, by authorities. Governor Jerry Brown has labelled this situation as "the new normal", with climate change the driving force between these vast fires which "could happen every year or every few years".

Questions:

1. Do you believe California's multi-million dollar agricultural industry will be affected immensely by this onslaught of fires that have become more apparent in California? If so, do you think this will affect California's status as a major exporter in the country?

2. Based on Governor Brown's claim that these fires are fueled by climate change, do you imagine President Trump will agree with his assertion that these fires will occur more frequently with less regulation on fossil fuels?

Article

Trump, Rejecting Calls to Stay Away, Speaks at Civil Rights Museum

Photo by Tom Brenner

Trump visited the new civil rights museum in Jackson, Mississippi, leading to some protests and boycotts. The new museums, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and its companion state history museum, opened Saturday, December 9. Trump announced earlier this week that he would be visiting the museum to give a speech, which sparked some boycotts among the attendees and residents because of his history of supporting white supremacists, not speaking up on issues relating to police brutality, and promotion of policies that hurt minorities.

Though he ended up speaking to a crowd of museum donors, members of the civil rights movement, and government officials as opposed to the public, which was initially who he was going to deliver the speech to, some people view his appearance in different ways. Some, including people who took part in the civil rights movement, feel like his visit is "symbolic of a time for reconciliation," yet some feel like his presence is a negative thing, as it contradicts his attitude towards the issue of civil rights.

While I can somewhat appreciate his efforts to show up to the opening of the museum, I think his presence has done more harm than good. He's done very little, if anything, to try to improve race relations in the United States. He made some important statements about the civil rights movement in his speech, but I find it difficult to find any value in them because of his lack of action on the issue.

What do you think? Should Trump have gone to speak at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum? How should his visit be interpreted? 

New York Times

LA Times

His speech (Washington Post)

San Francisco to robots: Don’t crowd our sidewalks

Source: Gabrielle Lurie

Robots have been roaming around San Francisco delivering food and packages, but the city has been passing regulations to avoid the possibility of automation "gobbling up jobs." These regulations include limiting companies to three robots, limiting the city to nine robots, and confining robots to industrial areas. Such restrictions, some supporters of the robots say, "slows down the process of testing." Others also remain optimistic, believing that San Francisco can pave the way for the creation of well-paid manufacturing jobs, contrary to the threat of automation these robots pose.

Supervisor Norman Yee proposed a few "guiding principles." He suggested that, in general, emerging technology businesses should seek to "provide a net common good," shall not prevent people from accessing resources or infrastructure, make their technology accessible to "vulnerable populations," share data about how they operate, and make sure tech grows instead of reduces the labor force.

Now, startups are under stricter guidelines. Do you think the city is justified in regulating technology businesses in this manner? Why or why not? What do you think about Norman Yee's "guiding principles"? Do you completely agree with them, or is there anything you would change? What are some of the greater implications politicians will need to consider as innovation occurs at a rapid rate? 

SF Chronicle

Wired

Meet Max the Cat

There's been an intruder in the Macalester College libary in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

His name is Max, and he's on the run. 

Librarians have posted a sign on their university library door to banish Max because an employee is very allergic to cats and people are worried that he would be locked inside. But he's been seen quite a few times, trespassing these borders. In the photo above, we have evidence of his intrusions. Guilty as charged. Moreover, the photograph of the notice on the library door spread all over the Internet. People are outraged at the library's banishment of Max. They want him to be allowed inside. They're even drawing library cards for this poor cat. 

Serious Discussion Questions:

Should Max be allowed in the library?

Do you really think Max should be expelled because of one employee's allergies? (And other concerns)

Article Links: 

WP

Today

Star wars expansion proves phrophit

Star wars. on December 15, "The Last Jedi" will be in theaters to enjoy for all star wars fans.Star wars is seen as one of the biggest and most popular franchises in the history of franchises in terms of cinematic. After lucasfilm was bought by Disney for 4 billion dollars, Disney took no time in attempting to expand the star wars theme to whatever they could. Currently,Disneyland is producing star wars land in Anaheim,California and plan on creating a movie based on Han Solo called "a new hope". George Lucas himself had admired Disney power to continue to make significant profit as seen after the release the the film "Rogue One", making almost 1 billion worldwide.

link:http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/entertainment/star-wars-saturation-column/index.html

questions:
1. star wars in unarguably one of the greatest franchises in history.Was selling lucasfilm to Disney a mistake for George Lucas in terms of profit?
2.Disney bought star wars for 4 billion, will Disney be able to make a significant profit?
3.FUN QUESTION: the cover shows Luke skywalker in both red and regular color. having in mind the quote "its time for the Jedi to end" and  "things will not go as you planned", do you believe that  Luke is a sith lord?do you believe he does not believe in sith or jedi anymore?

FBI Director Defends the Agency in Response to Recent Criticism

On Thursday morning, the FBI Director Christopher Wray defended his agency to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. He said "There is no finer institution than the FBI and no finer people than the men and women who work there.” This was in response to President Trump’s recent tweet which said the FBI’s "reputation is in Tatters - worst in history! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness."

People have been critical of Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Peter Strzok was removed from the investigation team because it was found that he had sent text messages that said negative things about Donald Trump during the election. President Trump’s supporters often use Strzok to backup their argument that Mueller's team is biased and they also claim that other team members donated to Democratic candidates. Last week another agent was removed from the investigation team because he sent negative text messages about Trump which triggered the president’s tweet.

I can see the desire to create an investigative team that is unbiased, but creating a group of people who have no political preference is incredibly difficult especially since the team members are probably surrounded by politics. I would hope agents would be able to put their political views aside and investigate Russian involvement without bias but considering how polarized America is right now that may be impossible.

Do you agree with Trump’s claim that the FBI’s reputation is in “tatters”? Are you worried about the investigation team being biased?

Article

Texas Prisons Ban 10,000 Books. No ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ for Inmates.

Credit: Michael Stravato

Inmates in Texas prisons are banned from reading 10,000 books listed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Some of these publications include "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a collection of Shakespearean sonnets (sorry Mr. Thurtle), and "Where's Waldo? Santa Spectacular." Yet, books on the approved list include Adolf Hitler's autobiography "Mein Kampf," "American Psycho," and two books by former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke. Several books by Dave Barry, a humor writer, were banned because of "criminal schemes." In an email, he said, "I can't imagine why the Texas Department of Criminal Justice would ban them, unless they're worried that the inmates would overpower the guards using fart jokes."

Prisons have the right to censor books. Several publications have been banned because of how they were manufactured and many other reasons. The binding, cover, or other parts of a book can be used to hide contraband and are therefore prohibited. Nevertheless, critics say the lists of approved and banned books in Texas prison are surprising and some outrageous. Nicole Porter, director of advocacy at The Sentencing Project said, "The reasons for banning books are subjective." Additionally, James LaRue, director of Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, said "To block access to 'Where's Waldo’ on the one hand, and Shakespeare on the other, doesn’t preserve order...it preserves ignorance and imprisonment."

I find some of the bans hilarious and disheartening. I mean, children's books such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and "Where's Waldo?" are banned. (It's even the Santa Spectacular version). 

On the other hand, I believe these bans are reasonable to an extent because they are meant for a safe environment, yet publications such as "Mein Kampf" are allowed. I also understand that pop-up books are not allowed because of contraband, but the content of these books are otherwise harmless and should be permitted. 

Discussion Questions:

What do you think about banning "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and other children's books? 

Should "Mein Kampf" be allowed for reading in prison?

Do you think the Texas Deparment of Criminal Justice should review their list of bans?

Links:

NYTimes

ABCNews

DallasNews

TexasTribune

Here's a free, printable Where's Wally? Christmas Puzzle.

And the book, if you're interested.

Merry (early) Christmas!

On Wednesday President Trump announced that he is recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and that the US embassy will have to move there from Tel Aviv. He said “this is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do.” For decades the United States and many other countries have not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Considering failure of the previous years of negotiations and policy concerning Jerusalem, Trump argued “it would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result.”

As the past few presidents have, Trump signed the national security waiver that would keep the embassy in Tel Aviv for six more months. Although this contradicts his recent announcement, his administration said that the waiver was unavoidable since it would take years to move the entire embassy to Jerusalem anyway.

Response to this announcement has not been very positive. Arab and European leaders along with the Pope and many others warned that this could have some violent consequences. White House officials defended it by saying that they expect repercussions but that peace in the Middle East is still achievable. They said that the move to Jerusalem will remove ambiguity for America.

What do you think? Was this a good move for President Trump? Do you predict damage to Middle East peace negotiations or do you think this is a step in the right direction?

Article

Who is John Conyers III?

Pictured: John Conyers III
Credit: Monica Morgan/Wirelmage file

John Conyers III, son of the retired Representative John Conyers Jr., was endorsed by his father to succeed him in the House. However, Conyers III's eligibility is in question.

On February 15th, Conyers III was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence against his girlfriend. She suffered knife cuts during an argument in a Los Angeles residence and claimed he "body slammed her...pinned her down and spit on her." In an interview on Wednesday, Conyers III explained that he "didn't do this...She kept swinging [the knife] and she cut herself." The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office cited  "a lack of independent witnesses" and no evidence that the injury "was not accidentally sustained." Additionally, charges were dropped. He was released in lieu of a $50,000 bond the same day. His girlfriend also received a restraining order against him which lasts until March of next year.

As of now, John Conyers III hopes to and is still deciding on whether or not to run for office. However, the seat is not guaranteed. Some also claim that he lacks political experience. Additionally, this incident with his girlfriend was not his first scandal. John Conyers III was also cited for speeding his father's government-leased vehicle. (Oops?)

Discussion Questions:

In your opinion, is John Conyers III a qualified candidate?
Also, how do you think these scandals play into his situation? Or do they at all?

Does the case with his girlfriend call for more investigation?

Links:

NBC

WP

NYTimes

Franklin Fustrating Females

4 senators of Congress have called out Al Franklin to resign. After multiple women have came out reporting Al of inappropriately touching them, Senator Kirsten Gilligan stated on social media that stepping down to let someone else serve would set a good role model for our country.AL Franklin was accused in November, when first accuser Leeann Tweeden had explained to the press about him  kissing her. After than incident,more people had came out with pictures describing their scenarios of him inappropriately touching them.By the end of November, Franklin had been accused by 5 different women on multiple occasions describing his inappropriate behavior

representatives believe that congress does not have the necessary tools to represent what the people want in this situation.in the span of 30 minutes, 10 senators had desired him to resign.

link:http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/12/06/kamala-harris-calls-on-franken-to-resign-bts-ip.cnn/video/playlists/al-franken/

questions:

1. misconduct in congress is a mild parallel to the allegations of Bill Clinton. Seeing the product of impeachment for Bill Clinton, should Franklin be resigned?

2.up to 10 senators came out agreeing with his resignation,is this a bias opinion of the senate knowing he is  a democrat?

Mueller Subpoenas Trump Deutsche Bank Records, Source Says

Picture

As the Russia investigation moves into full swing, reports have surfaced that special prosecutor Robert Mueller has subpoenaed information from Deutsche Bank AG, Germany's largest lender, on their relationship to the Trump family. As the action has not yet been announced, Trump's lawyer John Dowd has rejected all notions of a subpoena even being issued claiming he has been assured of this from the bank and other sources.

While the bank claims to have always cooperated with investigating authorities from all countries, this information comes months after the bank rebuffed many Democrats' attempts to call for increased transparency over the $300 million Trump owed to the bank before becoming president. The bank previously rejected those demands, stating that the sharing of client data would be illegal unless it received a formal request to do so. Those loans being the focus of possible ties to Russia from before the election, Trump has unsurprisingly denied any wrongdoing.

Article

1. Do you think that the Deutsche Bank will submit the information that Mueller requires? Is it probable that he will find incriminating information to do with Russia in the records of Trump's financial dealings?

2. Do you feel that this is the only bank Mueller will begin to subpoena records from, or will this start a trend of looking into more of Trump's dealings before he was president, much less a candidate?

Cyntoia Brown Case Highlights How Child Sex Trafficking Victims Are Prosecuted

Photo: Daniel H. Birman Productions

When she was 16, Cyntoia Brown was put in prison with eligibility for parole after her 69th birthday after being convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. At the time, she had been forced into prostitution and later tried as an adult after killing a man who had brought her home for sex. Her case was given attention in late November after celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna and Snoop Dogg began posting about it on social media. 

Much of the controversy surrounds the fact that when she was arrested in 2004, federal laws had not yet fully introduced legislation to protect victims of sex trafficking. Back then, she was tried as a prostitute, but now she would be viewed as a "young girl who's involved in sex trafficking" according to Dan Birman, who made a documentary about Brown in 2011. Advocates and supporters of Brown also suggest she was wrongfully tried as an adult. 

While, of course, murder is a serious act, I believe the justice system has failed Brown and her case deserves to be reconsidered, especially under the newer laws that are supposed to protect minors involved in sex trafficking. She was put in an extremely difficult situation, and was essentially forced to protect herself in an extreme manner. I argue that it would have been more unlikely that Brown would have done such a thing had she not been forced into prostitution, and I also think she should have been tried as a minor, especially given the unfair, harsh circumstances. 

What is your opinion on this case? Should Brown have been tried as a minor? Why or why not? On the topic of celebrities trying to hold the system accountable through using their platforms, to what extent do you think they are impactful? What are some obstacles that Brown, her team and advocates may encounter as they try to get her case reconsidered?

Sources:

NPR: Here & Now

NPR: All Things Considered

Russia Banned from Winter Olympics by I.O.C.

On Tuesday the International Olympics Committee announced that the Russian athletes are banned from the Winter Olympics due to doping. It a Russian athlete wants to compete they must petition for permission and the IOC will rule if they are allowed to compete. If they get this special dispensation then they are not competing for Russia and have to wear a neutral uniform. The Russian Olympic Committee was also fined $15 million.

After extensive investigation the IOC found that in the 2014 Olympics Russia tampered with over 100 urine samples. So far over two dozen athletes have been disqualified and they are still investigating.

These penalties are the most severe in Olympic history and the Russians think it is too harsh. Some officials have threatened to protest but we are still waiting for Russia's response. Russia’s former sports minister argues that many people's dreams of representing their country at the Olympics are being stolen. He suggests banning the Russian Olympic Committee for two years until they can be re-certified by anti doping regulators.

While I do see that the people who do not use drugs to boost their performance will not have the opportunity to win their medals, I think stopping Russian doping is more important. Hopefully after this punishment, doping in Russian Olympic team will stop for good. When the Russian team does compete again I think they should be closely observed to make sure this does not happen again.

Do you think the punishment is too harsh? Is it worth punishing the athletes who didn't cheat to stop others from doing so?

Article

The CHIP Program Is Beloved. Why Is Its Funding in Danger?

Credit: Mark Makela for The New York Times

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers close to nine million U.S. children from low-income families. CHIP is a block grant program, so states receive a set amount of federal dollars. On September 30th, its federal funds ran out, and Congress has not renewed the program. Congressional leaders can provide temporary relief to only some states with diminishing CHIP funds before the end of this year.
In November, the House passed a bill for the extension of  CHIP with a vote of 242 to 174. Yet, senior members of the Finance Committee in the Senate explain that the bipartisan deal on CHIP is still in the making. Both the Democrats and Republicans agree to fund CHIP, but they disagree over how to pay for the program. Many parents, pediatricians, and state officials are worried and frustrated.

Discussion Questions:
What are you opinions on this CHIP situation?
Any ideas on how Congress should pay?

Links:
NYTimes
WP
HealthCare
Medicaid
CCF

Roy Moore Gets Full Trump Endorsement for Alabama Senate Race

President Trump has enthusiastically endorsed Roy Moore for Alabama state senator. This is a controversial move because Roy Moore has been accused of inappropriate sexual relations with teenage girls when back he was a prosecutor. He was accused of sexually assaulting one teenager and molesting another. Moore has denied this and has refused to step out of the race.

Trump has given his support to Moore by posting on Twitter Monday morning.  He said “we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama. We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more.” He followed that with “Putting Pelosi/Schumer Liberal Puppet Jones into office in Alabama would hurt our great Republican Agenda of low on taxes, tough on crime, strong on military and borders...& so much more.” He also might help with Moore’s campaign when he visits a rally in Pensacola, Florida on Friday which will be covered by the Alabama media.

It is clear that President Trump needs Moore’s vote because it would benefit his political agenda. In my opinion, however, backing someone who has been accused of such inappropriate sexual relations indirectly puts the president’s stamp of approval on such actions. Mitch McConnell said that he was just going to let the people of Alabama decide, which I think would have been a better response from the president.

What do you think? Do you agree with President Trump’s endorsement? If you were in the president's position would you have given your endorsement to someone with these accusations because it would help get the votes you need?

Article

Group Uses Marriage Counseling Methods To Help Bridge Political Divide

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After the 2016 election, it seemed as if the United States was more polarized than ever. In fact, the Pew Research Center has found that since the election, the gap between parties has been widening, especially with issues relating to government aid to the needy, racial discrimination and immigration. Some people often talk about trying to bridge the partisan divide, but rarely do we talk about how we plan on doing so. Better Angels, a nonprofit organization based in New York, aims to "depolarize America" through holding free workshops in which people who identify as conservative and liberal are brought together to discuss their beliefs and perspectives using marriage counseling methods. Over the past year, Better Angels has been holding free workshops around the country, asking both conservatives and liberals to "talk, listen and find what they have in common," according to the StarTribune.

I personally think this is an interesting concept, but like the organizers in the NPR article suggest, selection bias pays a large role in who chooses to participate. Though I want to be optimistic and think that programs such as this are impactful in bridging the political divide, I think those that are already more inclined to listen to the other side are the ones that attend. This is definitely a good way to get people from opposite sides of the political spectrum to get face to face and have these conversations, but I do wonder how big of an impact programs such as these will have.

Solving the issue of political polarization, or at least lessening its impacts, is no easy task, but I do have a few questions: how can we most effectively "bridge the political divide"? What do you think the impact of programs like Better Angels will have, and how impactful do you think such programs are? What is your opinion on Better Angels, and do you think their "marriage counseling methods" work? Why or why not?

Pew Research Poll
NPR
CityLab
StarTribune

Supreme Court Allows Trump’s Travel Ban to Take Effect

Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the third edition of Trump administration's travel ban issued in September, which imposed restrictions on citizens of predominantly Muslim nations, some groups from Venezuela, and North Korea, to go into effect for now. Legal challenges against this ban continue in the lower courts, and the court has not yet signed these orders. President Trump cites these barred countries as national security threats. Citizens from these countries will be barred from emigrating, working, studying, or vacationing to the U.S. 

I find this travel ban unreasonable. The Trump administration is clearly discriminating against individuals based on their nationality. Furthermore, Trump's main reason for this ruling is that these countries are threats to our national security, which I believe is a superficial rationale because the ban primarily targets Muslim-majority countries, and according to Hart, Trump's "anti-Islamic prejudice [is] often expressed on Twitter and at rallies...[which] has been used against him in court repeatedly to prove the ultimate purpose of the travel ban." The legality of this case is questionable, as the lower courts are still hearing out this travel ban.

Discussion Questions:

What do you think about this travel ban?
Is this ban lawful?
Do you think this is a "Muslim Ban"? And if that's the case, do you think freedom of religion under the First Amendment is violated?

Links:
NYTimes
BBC
CNBC
CNN

NYMAG

Click here for the reactions of separated couples to this travel ban.
*Edited

Trump shrinks monuments

about 39 minutes ago, on December 4th 2017, 45th president of the united state has significantly decreased the size of two national monuments in Utah, decreasing the size of them by 85%. With his act, there are highly likely chances for lawsuit to rise from the natives and environmentalist groups.with the idea that the land should not be controlled by a small group in Washington,Trump takes action on the belief of taking action as being a historical turning point for ending the "overreach of Washington

questions:

1.Nation parks are protected by the federal government. Do you believe that the supremacy clause will come into play in this situation?

2.is Trumps actions justified?

link:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42226752

Kushner Says Mideast Peace Is Essential to Thwarting Iran and Islamist Extremism

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After being away from the national spotlight following the start of Robert Mueller's investigation, Jared Kushner has come out in a rare public appearance and echoed the President's sentiments that stopping regional aggression and extremism in the Middle East can only be solved with a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine first.

After Trump appointed Kushner to a senior White House aide and proponent for the "ultimate deal",  little has been heard about the plan the White House is devising to achieve peace in the Middle East. However, Americans aren't the only ones, with Israel, Palestine, Arab governments, and international backers all lacking vital information about the deal.

Three members of Kushner’s team, including him, are Orthodox Jews. Jason Greenblatt, the White House special representative for international negotiations, who used to be the executive vice president and chief legal officer of the Trump Organization. David Friedman, the administration’s ambassador to Israel, who used to be Trump’s bankruptcy lawyer and, like Kushner, a financial contributor to the Israeli settlement movement in the past. The fourth team member is Dina Powell, deputy national security adviser and an Egyptian American who is a Coptic Christian.

With Israeli officials maintaining their opposing stance to a two-state solution and Palestinian anxiety about what little rumours that have been heard about the plan, tension regarding the conflict has been augmented by the fact that Trump has to make a decision regarding a move of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by Monday. Per 1995 legislation, he also has the ability to postpone it 6 months into the future. A potential move would recognize Israel as the sole owner of Jerusalem, and discount the Palestinians to it, something Jordan, a key U.S. ally, objects to.

Article

1. Do you think Trump will sign the waiver and move the embassy from Tel Aviv, or will he postpone the moving of the embassy like all presidents before him?

2. Considering the background of Kushner's team, is it necessarily qualified to find peace in the Middle East?

3. Do you think Kushner's donation to various pro-settlement organizations will cloud his judgment in finding a fair solution for both sides of the land struggle?

Feds Release Arrest Warrant for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate After Pier Shooting Verdict

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After being acquitted of all charges except for felony possession of a murder weapon, Jose Ines Garcia Zarate has had an amended federal arrest warrant issued in his name. After illegally entering the country and being deported five times, many people have been quite vociferous about their opinions regarding the case where Kate Steinle was fatally shot in back in San Francisco in 2015.

Among those who were quite passionate in response to this case included Trump and Jeff Sessions, each pushing for San Francisco to be more compliant with federal deportation efforts. According to them and other conservatives, it was San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city that allowed him to shoot Steinle.

Zarate recounts the experience as him finding a firearm beneath a pier chair, and when he picked it up, it fired on Steinle. However, jurors also found him not guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. It was the charge of possessing a weapon, breaching part of a bond he signed years ago, which enabled him to ultimately be removed from the country.

Article

1. In spite of all the evidence, do you think this ruling was fair towards the Steinle family after waiting 2 years for justice?

2. Do you think Zarate's account of what happened can be classified as involuntary manslaughter?

3. Should sanctuary cities like San Francisco respond to this case by becoming more compliant with federal immigration agencies and handing over certain undocumented immigrants, or should they unequivocally maintain their stance and stand their ground like Mayor Ed Lee?

United States and the UN Migration Agreement

Article
        During much of Trump's campaign, he has continuously called the immigration crisis a "trojan horse," citing many of its dangers to the US and its economy. Recently, the UN convened to discuss new policy on how to deal with the immigration crisis, in which the US has historically supported under the Obama administration. However, as we all probably expected, Trump's administration has walked away from discussion, promoting more isolationist views. He claims that the US should have the autonomy to regulate their own borders, which is essentially true, but it poses many challenges to the refugee crisis.
        Proposed policies surrounding the refugee crisis (in US): Trump has stated that there should be a cap of 45,000 refugees admitted per year and that borders should be more highly regulated. There are currently millions of refugees dying on trips to bordering countries and to the US as well as multiple millions of displaced individuals and families. The US, as one of the global powers, has always been a crucial supporter of taking in refugees, yet it is generally agreed that they could not possibly take on this burden alone. Although there is current policy that will continue support, in 2018, support from the US will likely end (as stated by Trump).

1. What do you think of these new semi-isolationist actions by the Trump administration.
2. Do you support protecting sovereignty of the US versus taking in as many refugees/giving as much support as possible?
3. As this is also a reflection on Trump's stance on tighter borders, how do you think these stricter borders would influence the country (more division, possible positive effects)?

CVS bids $69 billion for Aetna amid health care changes

Link

Drug store CVS is making a $69 billion dollar offer for insurer Aetna as it tries to become a one-stop shop for America’s health care needs. The company announced that it will pay about $207 in cash and stock for each share of Atena, this huge acquisition goes to a company that holds 9,700 drugstores and 1,100 walk in clinics with an insurance covering 22 million people. The deal's impact on prescription drugs is unclear, meaning those prices could be real high or moderately high, and CVS may only negotiate them when they’ve bulked up a bit. However, CVS could transform into a place where people could meet with nurse practitioners, get blood drawn, grab some snacks, and by some cold medicine. CVS is desperately trying to close the gap between itself and other health care competitors, so some see this as a shrewd move. Soon CVS could be replacing aisles with healthcare services.

Questions

1. Thoughts on CVS becoming a one-stop pharmaceutical shop?
2. On a scale of uncaring to anxious, how do you feel about the uncertainty of the prescription prices?

Another Democrat Faces Calls to Resign Because of Sexual Harassment Allegations

NBC: Link

Npr: Link

Representative Ruben Kihuen faces sexual harassment charges and resignation for making unwanted sexual advances towards his prior finance director known as Samantha. The woman has accused him of nonconsensual touching and unwelcome propositions; she even states that at one point he followed her to her car sprouting claims about wishing he could date her. Nancy Pelosi has called for Kihuen to resign stating that, “In Congress, no one should face sexual harassment in order to work in an office or in a campaign. The young woman's documented account is convincing, and I commend her for the courage it took to come forward.” Kihuen says he doesn’t remember such incidents regarding the director, but that he sincerely apologizes for making her feel any discomfort from working with him. This allegation can be added to the wave of sexual misconduct and harassment claims that have been cresting over the media and business industries this year. Personally, I agree with Nancy, no one should have to spread their legs-among other things- to be able to work at their desired occupation and those who have been seriously charged with such allegations should pay the proper consequences to their actions.

Side note: be civil in the comments please.

Questions:

1. How do you feel about this sudden outpour of sexual harassment claims, not only in the media, but in Congress as well?
2. Are you surprised at the sheer amount of sexual misconduct allegations being stated during this time period?