Politics
-
Michigan’s ‘Rape Insurance’ Bill Is Now Law
Michigan’s legislature has passed a sweeping initiative that would require women to buy additional, separate insurance if they want an abortion, the Detroit Free Press reports. This means that most private and all public health insurance plans would have to offer a separate health insurance plan for abortion, something that would have to be…
-
How Black Women Are Saving Planned Parenthood
The women’s health organization Planned Parenthood has found itself under assault in recent years. Laws passed in states like Texas, which recently became one of 13 states to ban abortion after 20 weeks, will now shutter many local Planned Parenthood clinics. But as the nearly 100-year-old organization struggles to keep its doors open, it has…
-
De Blasios to Move Into Gracie Mansion
The de Blasio family has made up its mind. Starting January, New York’s first family will be living in the 214-year-old mayoral residence, Reuters reports. According to the news site, Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio announced the move on his website Wednesday. The residence is sure to be a big change from the Brooklyn, N.Y., apartment…
-
Rush Limbaugh: Obama Photo ‘Biggest Selfie Boo-Boo’ Since Weiner
According to conservative radio host Rugh Limbaugh, the infamous Obama selfie taken with the British and Danish prime ministers was “the biggest selfie boo-boo since Weiner,” comparing the group self-shot to the NSFW photo tweeted out by disgraced Anthony Weiner years ago. Limbaugh slammed the president for “embarrassing” the first lady while posing for photos…
-
White House Releases Candid Photos of Presidential Trip to South Africa
The White House has released a photo gallery of some candid shots taking on the president and first lady’s trip to South Africa for the memorial service celebrating the life of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. President Barack Obama and Michelle shared the long ride aboard Air Force One with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…
-
Senate Confirms Rep. Mel Watt to Head FHFA
Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) has finally been confirmed to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency after months of filibustering by Republicans, who claimed that the North Carolina Democrat didn’t have enough experience. Democrats argued that Republicans were using the stall tactic to undermine the president, who nominated Watt some seven months ago to head the…
-
McCain Likens Obama-Castro Handshake to Hitler Moment
“Handshake-gate” took an even stranger twist as John McCain compared President Obama’s two–second handshake with Cuban dictator Raúl Castro to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s handshake with Adolf Hilter at the start of World War II, the Washington Post reports. “It gives Raúl some propaganda to continue to prop up his dictatorial brutal regime, that’s…
-
Mandela’s Challenge for South Africa’s Black Intellectuals
Some years ago I initiated a research program on African identity at the Human Sciences Research Council, which is the largest government-funded social science research institution in South Africa. The highlight of the program was a series of lectures by author and playwright Wole Soyinka, professor and The Root Editor-in-Chief Henry Louis Gates Jr. and…
-
Why Black Folks Should Be Wary of Bill de Blasio
With all the chatter and excitement surrounding New York City’s black first lady, Chirlane McCray, you’d think it was verboten to talk about anything else when it comes to Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio. To hear the pundit class talk, you wouldn’t think de Blasio was elected—you’d think his wife was. Which is just fine—if all…
-
Conservative Lobbying Group Loses Support, Switches Tactics
Last weekend, faithful Tea Partiers were surely thrilled to see Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Ryan strut their stuff at the Washington, D.C., summit of the American Legislative Exchange Council. But the conservative pressure group, which has sponsored startlingly reactionary legislation around the country to loosen gun restrictions and clamp down on voting rights,…