The legislative session starts today. So here’s the annual what would you like them to pass post. For me:
– A capital gains tax would be a real step toward making the state’s tax system more fair. I would prefer an income tax, but I don’t think that it has the votes.
– I don’t have much faith that they’ll do much good on transportation, but at least don’t fuck it up any worse by caving in to another unconstitutional Eyman initiative.
The Daily Show: Iran’s Foreign Minister vows not-so-swift revenge
Wired: Former Secret Service agent explains how to detect counterfeit money.
Roll Call: Authorizing conflict—The AUMF and Congress explained.
Bruce Nelson: Staying hopeful in troubled times, aka, “The shit song”.
The Dotard Трамп and Other Murderous Dictator Wannabees:
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week.
MoveOn: Nationwide news coverage of #NoWarWithIran protests.
The Atlantic: The dramatic 5-year journey of opening a zero-waste restaurant.
Rachel Maddow: Another vindication for Clinton as probe reportedly hits dead end.
Twenty-twenty Vision:
Vox: How to fix our unreliable power grid.
Bruce Nelson: It can only get better once it can’t get worse.
The Atlantic: How cities became childless
Farron Cousins: After 3-year investigation, DOJ still can’t find any way to prosecute Hillary Clinton.
Robert Reich: Four reasons why millennials don’t have any money
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
Still feeling gross. But WTF Boeing?
Feeling pretty crappy today, but suffice it to say, today is a good time to write or call your member of Congress and ask them to oppose a war.
It’s 2020! Celebrate the start of this new (possibly transformative) year with the Seattle Chapter of Drinking Liberally on Tuesday night.
We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. Look for us in the back room of the pub beginning about 8pm.
Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the 266 chapters of Living Liberally, including 22 in Washington state, seven in Oregon and three in Idaho. Find a chapter near you. Or start a new chapter for your community!
Dear Senators Cantwell and Murray;
I am writing to urge you to do everything in your power to stop us from going to war with Iran. A war would have devastating consequences for both sides, andis not in the national interest. Further, we have a moral obligation to stop it before it goes any further.
Thank You
Carl Ballard
Now This: Most heroic first responders of 2019.
Daily Show: Top 10 Obama Scandals.
Mental Floss: 18 weird & wonderful holidays to celebrate in the New Year.
The Dotard Трамп and His Henchpersons:
Now This: Top Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez moments of 2019.
Roll Call: Best of Congressional Hits and Misses in 2019.
Weird History: Hedy Lamarr—The Nazi-fighting bombshell who made cell phones possible.
Now This: Who is Devin Nunes, and why is he always having a cow?
Hasan Minhaj: How to survive 2020:
Chris Hayes: Senate staffer portrayed in “The Report” responds to Mike Pompeo.
Vice News: Inside the cryptocurrency revolution.
Twenty-twenty Vision:
Now This: How reproductive freedoms were limited in 2019.
Sky News: A new climate—What Antarctica tells us about the past…and the future.
Chris Hayes: On the threat of Anti-Semitism.
Vox: Google and Amazon are now in the oil business.
Robert Reich: Why I’m still hopeful about America:
Vice: Why college athletes don’t get paid
Now This: Michelle Obama voted most admired woman in U.S.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
There are going to be anti war protests across the country tomorrow (h/t). If you are in the Seattle or Tricities area, and are able to attend, I would encourage you to come.
Hey, let’s not go to war with Iran. I mean the President clearly wants a war. But we will have to do what we can to prevent it. Or at the very least stand up and say that we oppose it. I don’t know how effective marches or letter writing or whatever is, but be the kind of person who participates in opposing the war.
Now This: Top 10 most absurd stories in 2019 U.S. politics.
Jimmy Kimmel: The YEAR in unnecessary censorship.
Full Frontal: Frost Bee the Snowwoman.
WaPo: The wildest political moments of 2019.
Robert Reich: Five ways to stop corporations from ruining the future of work.
The Dotard Трамп and His Impeachable Henchpersons:
Now This: Obama kisses baby at golf course.
Vice News: Space debris is now a big problem.
Jimmy Dore: Politicians leave holiday wishes on Jimmy Dore’s voicemail:
Now This: How far LGBTQ+ rights have come this decade.
Hasan Minhaj: How America is causing global obesity.
Twenty-twenty Vision:
Full Frontal: Best pieces on women’t health.
The Atlantic: Will Congress fulfill a 184-year-old promise?
Reflect: Eleven interesting facts about Kwanzaa.
Chris Hayes: FBI looking into pardons by Ex-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin
BuzzFeed: Blind people answer commonly Googled questions about being blind.
Daily Show: Shit that pissed off Lewis Black in 2019.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
If you’re anything like me, you got socks that you will never wear for Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate, or inexplicably from a vendor at work). I’m sure that whatever charity shop you donate them to is great. But if you’re having trouble figuring out what to do with them, there are boxes of socks for homeless people. You can find the one closest to you here.
The Seattle Chapter of Drinking Liberally will be getting together this Tuesday for Christmas eve and end-of-the-year toasts. Stop by and join the festivities, if you can. And if I don’t see you, merry Christmas, happy Hannikuah, awesome Pancha Ganapati, joyous Kwanzaa, fulfilling Boxing Day, or miraculous Festivus to you and yours!
We meet every Tuesday (except this New Year’s Eve) at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. Look for us in the back room of the pub beginning about 8pm.
Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the 266 chapters of Living Liberally, including 22 in Washington state, seven in Oregon and three in Idaho. Find a chapter near you. Or start a new chapter for your community!
Does Boeing firing Dennis Muilenburg make a difference for workers or safety? Does it fix the 737 Max more quickly? If so, great. If it’s just a PR move, and his replacement is just as bad, well I guess we’ll see.
The Daily Show: Fox News’ fair and balanced misogyny.
Hasan Minhaj: Why we can’t retire.
The Atlantic: The Nazi hunter—Capturing Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the holocaust.
Now This: Why millions of Americans are “going solar”.
Huffington Post: Washington Rep. Matt Shea engaged in domestic terrorism.
Minute Physics: Hacking the periodic table.
The Dotard Трамп* And Other Constitutional Criminals:
Now This: Most inspiring environmental stories of 2019
WaPo: How massive wood buildings could help fight climate change
Jimmy Kimmel: This week in unnecessary censorship.
Kurzgesagt: Overpopulation & Africa
WA Rep. Matt Shea is accused of domestic terrorism!
Now This: How AI could revolutionize recycling.
The New York Times: What does the rise of homemade guns mean for gun laws? We made one to find out.
Twenty-twenty Vision:
Wired: Could humans hibernate for space travel?.
Verge Science: The science and controversy behind your lightbulbs.
Chris Hayes: Washington State lawmaker, Matt Shea, engaged in “domestic terrorism”:
Now This: How to shop against gun violence.
Minute Earth: Why it’s hard to bring a new apple to market.
Trevor: Mental health stigma in the Black community.
*Impeached and awaiting trial.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
Eager to share our brilliant political commentary and blunt media criticism, but too genteel to link to horsesass.org? Well, good news, ladies: we also answer to HASeattle.com, because, you know, whatever. You're welcome!