David Brooks’ Sunday op/ed in the New York Times on the underlying tragedy in Haiti—poverty—attempts to tease out the real problems in moving forward in Haiti post-quake and what can be done to improve the situation. Matt Taibbi of True/Slant takes Brooks’ op/ed to the digital woodshed as he “translates” what Brooks is really saying…

Given the devastating earthquake in Haiti, with Wyclef Jean declaring, “This is apocalypse!” there’s an unsettling resonance to the dystopian vision of the Hughes Brothers’ The Book of Eli: Cities reduced to rubble. Lives cut short. Life’s essentials—water, food, hope—in desperately short supply. Consider The Book of Eli a dispiriting primer on what the world…

According to Al Jazeera,  violence between Christians and Muslims northern city of Jos, Nigeria has left dozens dead and over 100 injured. Violence erupted on Sunday over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in 2008 clashes between the two religious groups, residents said, although reports as to why the latest round of fighting broke out varied.…

Wyclef Jean answered accusation as to the use of funds by Yele, the aid organization he founded. Speaking before dozens of reporters, Jean states that he never used Yele funds for personal benefit. WATCH: Wyclef press conference Mid-presser, Jean broke down as he spoke into the camera directly to the people of Haiti. He said…

President Obama is seeking $1.35 billion more to expand his Race to the Top education program. From The Washington Post: The federal initiative uses the lure of grants to encourage school districts to raise standards, make better use of data to track student achievement, and take more forceful steps to intervene in failing schools. The…

A guest blog post from Green for All’s CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins America is struggling. Families strive to make ends meet while facing an uncertain economic future. The deterioration of our environment – rather than slowing – continues to gain speed. At a moment when we need every opportunity possible, climate change threatens the lives and…

Attending church services with his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha, president Barack Obama remembered Martin Luther King: THE PRESIDENT: We gather here, on a Sabbath, during a time of profound difficulty for our nation and for our world. In such a time, it soothes the soul to seek out the Divine in a…

With the ground still and relief efforts slowed by the devastation, security fears are on the rise as Haitians struggle to survive. From The Washington Post: Even as Navy and Coast Guard ships arrived offshore, a round-the-clock airlift intensified and additional dignitaries appeared, the frantic victims of Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake were growing more fearful as…

‘Precious’ was one for three last night as Mo’Nique took the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. “I celebrate this award with all the Preciouses, with all the Marys,” said Mo’Nique, dressed in a sleeveless, strapless gold-colored gown gathered at the waist. “I celebrate this award with every person that’s ever been touched. It’s now…

As disaster relief pours into Haiti, The Smoking Gun takes a look at Yele, the aid organization founded by Wyclef Jean. Their books appear to be…suspect Internal Revenue Service records show the group has a lackluster history of accounting for its finances, and that the organization has paid the performer and his business partner at…