Democratic presidential candidates clash over ‘hope and change’ vs. restoring the pre-Trump status quo, Marianne Williamson denounces Trump for conjuring up ‘dark psychic force of collectivized hatred’. “…what many considered the line of the night from (Elizabeth) Warren responding to (John) Delaney: ‘You know, I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.'” https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/dan-gainor-marianne-williamson-debate-dark-psychic-forces-detroit-democrats
Only one Democratic Party candidate mentions increasing wages and unionization. “…I proposed we allow gig workers to unionize. … We have to respond to the changes (in the economy)… by doubling unionization.” (Pete) Buttigieg also said the minimum wage is too low. “So-called conservative Christian senators right now in the Senate are blocking a bill to raise the minimum wage, when Scripture says whoever oppresses the poor taunts their maker.” https://www.vox.com/2019/7/31/20748003/democratic-debate-2020-working-class-voters-issues
Man claims that after he donated his mother’s body for scientific research it was blown up by a military contractor to simulate a roadside bomb attack. “Her body was strapped to a chair and a bomb was detonated underneath it to simulate what happens to the human body when a vehicle hits an IED, he said.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/arizona-mother-body-detonated-military-ied-blast-test-army-phoenix-biological-resource-center
Hawaii’s governor rescinds ‘state of emergency’ he imposed to give law enforcement greater latitude when dealing with anti-observatory protesters on sacred mountain. “The governor declared an emergency on July 17 to give law enforcement more authority to close areas of the mountain and to use additional National Guard troops to help deliver construction gear.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hawaii-governor-withdraws-emergency-order-telescope-protesters-n1037096 The public is peacefully protesting an unpopular government policy! Call out the National Guard!
South Carolina deputy accused of filing a false report after shooting homeowner. “The video confirms the homeowner had a gun, but it does not capture the homeowner aiming a weapon at the deputy. The last image of the homeowner, before the shooting, appears to be of him walking away from the front door…. (Dick) Tench and his attorney also allege that the deputy did not identify himself as law enforcement until after he fired the shots.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/07/31/police-said-they-shot-man-when-he-opened-his-door-aiming-gun-then-bodycam-video-came-out/
National Archives releases previously withheld, 1971 phone call from then California governor Ronald Reagan to Richard Nixon. “To see those, those monkeys from those African countries—damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/ronald-reagans-racist-conversation-richard-nixon/595102/
Trump retweets Twitter meme calling Democrats ‘the true enemies of America’, Twitter suspends that account. “…the suspension was due to the account breaking Twitter’s rules on users having multiple accounts to ‘artificially amplify or disrupt conversations’.” https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-suspends-conspiracy-theory-account-retweeted-trump-2019-7
Wealthy families accused of giving up custody of their children so they can qualify for financial aid for college. “Students would then file for financial independence, which effectively opened the door to financial aid they wouldn’t have been able to access while under the legal care of their parents.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2019/07/30/college-financial-aid-custody-transfer-guardianship-loophole-admissions-scandal/1868220001/
79 year-old woman sentenced to 10 days in jail for feeding stray cats. “I would always feed them and care for them because I was worried about them and I’m a cat lover. Once my neighbors got upset about it, they called the animal warden.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/79-year-old-woman-sentenced-to-jail-for-good-deed-feeding-stray-cats I wonder what the mandatory minimum sentence is for this?
Elizabeth Warren says she paid $50 a semester when she was an undergraduate student. “It was a public four-year college just 40 minutes away and tuition was just $50 a semester — something I could afford on a part-time waitressing salary.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/30/elizabeth-warren-paid-for-college-with-a-part-time-waitressing-job.html I believe tuition when I was in college (1979 to 1983) at a state university was between $400 and $500 a semester.
Indigenous community in New Zealand protests over child removals and land development. “In the 2017-2018 year, 290 Māori babies were taken into care, and Māori children make up more than 50% of all children in state care.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/31/new-zealand-rocked-by-maori-protests-on-child-removals-and-use-of-sacred-land
State Department reportedly spent $315 million trying to build housing for contractors guarding U.S. embassy in Afghanistan, but then cancelled the project. “The plan now is to build housing for the guards on the embassy grounds. It is not scheduled to be completed until 2023.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/two-us-troops-shot-dead-by-afghan-soldier-at-southern-army-base/2019/07/30/fde6545e-b289-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html
China claims 90% of Uighurs detained in ‘training camps’ have been released. “Gathering evidence to test their claims of numerous releases from the camps is likely to be difficult.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/china-release-uighurs-xinjiang-muslims-internment-reeducation-camps.html
Canadian judge rules that wine made at West Bank Jewish settlements does not have to be labeled ‘Made in Israel’. “Whatever the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank may be, all of the parties and interveners agree that the settlements in issue in this case are not part of the State of Israel.” https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746507056/canadian-court-rules-west-bank-wines-are-not-a-product-of-israel How about ‘Made in Occupied West Bank’?
Philippines ranked most dangerous for environmental and indigenous activists. “In an average week last year, three people were killed while defending their land and the environment from industries such as mining, logging and agribusiness, the report said.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/philippines-deadliest-country-environment-activists-2018-190730050417470.html
27% of food delivery drivers reportedly admitted to snacking on customers’ orders. “Fifty-four percent of the drivers surveyed admitted to being tempted by the smell of a customer’s food, and about half of them actually took a bite.” https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746600105/1-in-4-food-delivery-drivers-admit-to-eating-your-food Not getting enough to eat?
ACLU accuses Trump administration of violating court order to stop family separations. “The filing alleges that from June 28, 2018, through June 29, 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents separated 911 children — including numerous babies and toddlers — based on (parental) criminal history as well as ‘defendants’ unilateral, unsupported determination that the parent is unfit or a danger’ or a mistake about the identity of the adult as the child’s parent.” https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/455383-aclu-says-trump-admin-has-separated-over-900-migrant-children-in-past