Politics

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Wednesday Link-Off: Falling

genevieve-morton-cleo16-06I was listening to the Attitude Era Podcast this week and they randomly used the Twin Peaks theme for background music. I forgot how much I loved that show until then. It’s an amazing show and hopefully the continuation will be as awesome as the original. Of course, it won’t be half as weird as the world is now. The Black Lodge is a bastion of normality compared to the world today. I’d just stay in there if I was Dale Cooper.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with South African model Genevieve Morton.

We keep talking about this and probably will until it’s proven to be a terrible idea. Finland is about to trial personal basic income. (Demos Helsinki)

The Ontario Progressive Conservatives want to kill sex-ed in Ontario. You don’t have to do much digging to find out that comprehensive sex ed leads to lower teen pregnancy and STI rates which is why we need sex ed. (CBC News)

Is the Cold War back? Russia is meddling in US politics and security experts are concerned that their top sleeper agent is the Republican Presidential candidate. (Newsweek)

At least 110 prominent Republicans have publicly stop supporting Donald Trump. Here is what it took for them to abandon ship. (New York Times)

The Presidential debates are upcoming. Trump is being himself when it comes to debate prep. (Daily Intelligencer)

A former KKK Grand Wizard says that Trump knows exactly what he’s doing by hiring Breitbart’s Steve Bannon to head his campaign. (The Wrap)

It’s not just Brexit. Republican primary voters also want a do-over. (The Hill)

NFL star Richard Sherman believes that the billionaire owners of the teams should pay for new stadia that they profit from rather than burdening the taxpayers. He should get out of the NFL before the concussions ruin great ideas like this. (CBS Sports)

It’s not just EpiPens that have seen massive price increases. Drug company Mylan has been raising prices on damn near everything. (NBC News)

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Sunday Link-Off: The Foundation

anne-v-maxim16-01There are many things you can say about the ongoing US Presidential election campaign but the least controversial statement is that it’s entertaining. That’s mostly because it’s a months-long car crash but that’s still entertaining. I’m glad that I’m not American because “entertaining” would frighten me given how it’s entertaining.

Anyway, it’s Sunday and that means that we’re here to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Russian model Anne V.

Ever wonder what Donald Trump’s policy positions are? Here is a look at his ever-changing policies, including his 13 positions on his Muslim ban. (CNBC)

The Associated Press tried doing an exposé on the Clinton Foundation and managed to embarrass themselves in the eyes of other journalists. (Vox)

And that villainous Clinton Foundation has received $110,000 in donations from the Trump Foundation. Since Trump thinks the Clinton Foundation is used for political favours, what does this donation really mean? (Mother Jones)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Lies, Damned Lies and Press Investigations

dafne-schippers-runnersworld15-01While the news media’s role in modern politics is a matter of debate in today’s world where everyone wants to live in their bubble, they are doing a good job of digging into stories that are important or where people are just content to live in their bubble.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so it’s time for us to do the links. Since I didn’t do an Olympic picture to start off on Sunday, let’s make up for it now with Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers.

Is Ryan Lochte a lying, entitled frat boy who ruined the Olympics? USA Today did an in-depth investigation including visiting the scene, reviewing video, interviewing witnesses and looking at official investigation documents has found that Lochte’s story was embellished but so were police accounts and Lochte was held at gunpoint by a man with a badge. (USA Today)

The biggest challenge facing both American political parties is that neither Presidential candidate has much support from young voters. (Fortune)

If your name has Trump in it, whether you’re a person or company, you’re cashing in from the Donald Trump Presidential campaign. (Vice)

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Sunday Link-Off: Fireworks

sasha-banks-gq16-04It’s a busy weekend in the world. Last night was UFC 202 (I had it as a 47-47 draw giving McGregor a Rounds 1 [10-8] and 4 while Diaz had the other three), NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2 and the final Tragically Hip concert. Tonight is the Apocalympic closing ceremony and Summerslam. There is definitely something for everyone to watch tonight… And Netflix. I really need to watch Stranger Things.

Anyway, it’s Sunday so we have to do the links. Since Summerslam is tonight, let’s kick things off with Sasha Banks.

Last night was goodbye for The Tragically Hip in what could only be considered a Canadian cultural moment the likes of which will never be matched. (The New Yorker)

And in case you don’t know any Hip songs, here is a list of ten of their best songs. (Rolling Stone)

Millennials aren’t that entitled. A new study says that millennials’ inflation-adjusted earnings are earning $4,200 less than people thirty years their senior. (Press Progress)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Follow The Money

michelle-jenneke-instagram16-01It figures that the good political stories were posted immediately following the Sunday links being posted. A secret ledger being discovered in the Ukraine by an anti-corruption team is certainly big news and even bigger when it might impact the office of the President of the United States.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for the links. Since we missed her Olympic appearance, here is Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau found a secret ledger showing $12.7 million in payments from then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian political party to now Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort. Manafort was a paid consultant for Yanukovych’s own Presidential campaign. (New York Times)

Coincidentally, Trump had advocated for a stronger US stance against Russia until recently softening his tone. Many people are saying this and the previous link are connected. (Politico)

And at the same time as that report came out, Ivanka Trump, daughter of the Republican Presidential nominee and one of his closest advisers, was on vacation with Vladimir Putin’s reported girlfriend. (Galore Magazine)

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The Secret Industry of US Private Prisons (Infographic)

The US prison system costs America’s federal government over $55 billion per year for just over two million prisoners. It doesn’t seem like very good value for money so why isn’t there a reevaluation of what lands people in prison? Well, that’s thanks in part to the US’s privately run prisons which requires minimum occupancy.

For this and more info about the US prison system, we have this handy infographic for your perusal.

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Wednesday Link-Off: This Again?

aimee-teegarden-tca16-02Yes, sorry, we’re talking US politics again. When one of the candidates is a walking controversy machine, it makes it very easy to come up with links. At some point, something noteworthy might happen in the world that breaks through the noise but we’re stuck with Trump for a while now.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday so that means we’re doing the links. Let’s kick things off with Aimee Teegarden.

Argue as he might, the polls aren’t skewed and Donald Trump is actually losing to Hilary Clinton in the polls. (FiveThirtyEight)

Not helping Trump is that fact that he claims that Clinton is owned by Wall Street while proposing reform to specifically benefit Wall Street. (Think Progress)

And yesterday, he said that “second amendment people” could stop Hilary. He claims it’s about their ability to band together but it sure sounded like a call to arms. (The Guardian)

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Sunday Link-Off: Apocalympics

nina-dobrev-instagram16-01bSo the 2016 Olympics are underway and none of the athletes have died as of writing. That’s a massive surprise considering all that’s gone wrong in the run up to the Olympics. The best thing to come out of Rio 2016 so far is the alternative to “LOLympics” of “Apocalympics.” Considering the dangerous conditions of Rio, that’s a more appropriate term.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that we’re here to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Nina Dobrev.

Right-leaning media personality Glenn Beck says that Russia hacked Hilary Clinton’s emails to take her down. This on top of smoke regarding Trump and his team’s connections to Russia can’t be coincidence. (The Hill)

President Trump would be hard on immigration despite immigration being a major part of American history and culture. Would he be as hard on his wife? Her record with regards to immigration and work visas is raising some serious questions. (Politico)

A woman in Dallas just ruined public information requests for the rest of us. She filed 89 of them and uncovered a Secret Service sex scandal. (Dallas Morning News)

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Wednesday Link-Off: Reign of Terror

margot-robbie-vanityfair16-07Both US political conventions are done and we’re moving onto the final three months of the campaign and the end can’t come soon enough. Granted, it seems like Trump is trying very hard keep things unintentionally entertaining unless you’re a staunch ABC (anybody but Clinton) voter. In that case, you have to be hope that independents are too busy laughing at you to vote at all.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Margot Robbie since Suicide Squad opens this week. Unfortunately, DC continues to struggle with movies. Perhaps they should stick to TV.

The Philippines is in a state of terror as the police embark on state sanctioned killing of drug suspects. (ABC News)

Why is Donald Trump going easy on Russia and Vladimir Putin? It could be because Trump’s businesses have financial ties to Russia while his advisors have business ties to Russia. (Time)

One of the great investors and business minds of any generation, Warren Buffet, explains how Trump once lost investors 90% over a period when everyone else made 150%. (CNN Money)

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Sunday Link-Off: Electioneering

jenna-coleman-voguegala16-05So both conventions are done and now we just have to survive three months until the election. I’m not even in America and I wish they’d just get it over with. I’m already sick of hearing the same nonsensical and unhelpful stuff from literally everyone. My problem with politicians is they say they will do things but never how. The how is where political differences exist. My right-wing friends want to fix the economy by giving more money to businesses to spend. I think that they won’t spend a dime if it doesn’t help him but consumers will spend if you give them more money. See, that’s political philosophy that this campaign is lacking.

Anyway, it’s Sunday so it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick off with Jenna Coleman.

Six Michigan state employees have been charged in relation to the Flint water crisis. (USA Today)

A Federal court struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law after finding that it targeted black voters in an apparent attempt to disenfranchise them. (Washington Post)

The Koch Brothers have no idea what Donald Trump is on about when he says that he turned down a meeting with the billionaire political funders. (The Hill)

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