Politics
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Black Students Expelled or Suspended at Higher Rates Than Whites
Public school students of color face punishment more often and have less access to skilled and experienced educators than their white counterparts, the Huffington Post reports, citing surveys released Friday by the U.S. Department of Education. The surveys, which include data from every U.S. school district, shows that black students are suspended or expelled at…
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Congress Must Act to Protect the Fundamental Right to Vote—for All
This month we’ve honored the anniversaries of events that we hoped would change America forever. On March 21, 1965, hundreds of men and women began a peaceful march from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery to stand up for one of the most cherished and fundamental rights in our democracy—the right to vote. But on Sunday, March…
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Obama Shifts Focus to Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane
In his first public comments since the as-yet-unexplained vanishing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, President Barack Obama is pledging that the jetliner is among America’s top priorities, the Associated Press reports. According to the report, Obama said Wednesday that all available U.S. resources, including the FBI, the National Transportation Safety Board and other offices that…
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The Fresh, New and Very White World of Startup Journalism
It’s a fascinating and bizarre development to watch, an emerging clique of the world’s smartest, snarkiest and data-driven geek-journalists battling for domination as Masters of the Wonkverse. While it’s been happening for some time, recent elections and the constant cycle of fact-checked talking points have created a rather lucrative market place for these startup operations.…
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Obama Goes Solo in His 2nd Term
In the weeks since his State of the Union, President Barack Obama has issued a series of executive orders designed to stem a tide of growing economic and racial inequality that threatens to undermine the fabric of American society. Obama’s efforts to pivot the political narrative toward a focus on economic injustice reflects the fact…
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Oprah to Headline at Virginia Democrat’s Fundraiser
All other Virginia Democrat campaigns, move aside: Oprah Winfrey is raising funds for Lavern Chatman, who is hoping to replace retiring Rep. Jim Moran, also a Democrat, New York’s Daily News reports. The talk-show icon will be the headliner at an April 5 fundraiser in Arlington. Chatman, former president of the Northern Virginia Urban League, says…
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President Obama Awards Medal of Honor to 24 Overlooked Minority Veterans
On Tuesday, President Obama awarded 24 minority U.S. soldiers, who collectively served in three of the nation’s wars and were never rewarded for their courage, with the Medal of Honor, reports the Associated Press. Only three of the 24 were alive for President Barack Obama to drape the medals and ribbons around their necks; the…
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Florida Lawmakers Push to Change ‘Stand Your Ground’
Florida is making progress in attempts to tweak the state’s notorious “Stand your ground” law, Mediaite reports. Proposed modifications include the ability for law enforcement agents to conduct a proper investigation every time the law is invoked and allowing local enforcement departments to set guidelines for neighborhood-watch groups. The changes unanimously went through a Senate…
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GOP State Senator Has No Issue If Business Owners Exclude Customers
One Republican lawmaker is so trusting of the free market that he doesn’t see a problem if businesses choose, based on their beliefs, to deny service to certain customers, Talking Points Memo reports. South Dakota Sen. Phil Jensen, who is a self-proclaimed “free market absolutist,” believes that these decisions are between business owners and the market.…
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White House Promotes Affordable Care Act With Basketball Campaign
The White House will be catering to all the basketball junkies with a “March Madness” campaign to bump up insurance enrollment through the Affordable Care Act, The Hill reports. According to the news site, the “16 Sweetest Reasons to Get Covered” bracket will be released on Monday. It will be updated daily based on online…