Politics
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White House Announces Race to the Top Competition
USA Today is reporting that the White House has announced the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. Students from public high schools across the country are invited to demonstrate how their school prepares them for college and a career. “The winning school will host President Obama as their 2011 commencement speaker,” said a White…
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Mubarak: 'I Won't Run Again'
Earlier this afternoon, the New York Times reported that President Obama told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak he shouldn’t run again at the end of his term. Mubarak is on board with this plan. He just assured protesters that he won’t seek re-election (not to mention, he prays to God to guide him to a successful…
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'March of a Million' Calls for Mubarak's Ouster; Will He Listen?
MSNBC is reporting that the largest protest since the anti-government protests began in Egypt last week is happening in Cairo. The Egyptian government has cut train service, closed roads and blocked the Internet but is “allowing” crowds to protest throughout the day. Portesters are chanting that they want President Mubarak to leave the country, although…
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Egypt Offline: Internet Is Down; Mobile Phone Networks Are Next
CNN is reporting that the Noor Group, an Egyptian Internet service provider, has been shut down. The information ministry says that mobile networks will be the next to go, ahead of demonstrators’ planned “march of millions.” While cutting off communications will surely make organizing more difficult, we’re pretty sure this won’t be enough to deter…
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Federal Judge Strikes Down Health Care Mandate
Is it constitutional to require Americans to purchase health insurance? A federal judge in Florida has decided in favor of 20 state plaintiffs, ruling that it is not. The states challenged a $695 annual penalty that would be imposed under Obama’s health care law on people who fail to purchase health insurance. Virginia, in a…
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Obama Adviser on Egypt Crisis: 'Mubarak's Time Has Run Out'
The Associated Press is reporting that the United States led an international push on Sunday to force President Hosni Mubarak to yield to Egyptians’ demands for democracy. But there was little sign that the army was about to end his 30-year rule — just yet. Egyptian diplomat Mohamed ElBaradei, claiming a mandate from disparate opposition…
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Activist Mohamed ElBaradei Joins Egyptian Protesters
Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Administration, joined the demonstrations at Tahrir Square in Egypt on Sunday. At one time, he was considered the No. 1 choice to take the reins from President Hosni Mubarak. Speaking to Fareed Zakaria on CNN this morning, ElBaradei said, “I think it is loud and…
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'Brick City' Documentary Season 2: Real Time With Cory Booker
Minutes after snowpocalyptic flurries descended on the nation’s capital this week, clogging traffic and leading to hellish commutes, someone summoned Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker via Twitter: “@CoryBooker how do we draft you to be Mayor of DC?” tweeted ABC Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper. “How about just during snowstorms? Can you call Mayor…
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Egypt Crisis Intensifies
Conditions in Egypt continue to unravel, with at least 45 people across the country dead in related violence since Friday, according to health-ministry officials. President Hosni Mubarak’s desperate attempt to hold on to power by firing his cabinet — but not himself — didn’t cut it with the thousands of protesters who have flooded the streets of…
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Racism to Blame for Midterm Losses, Democratic Congressman Says
Fox News is reporting on comments made by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) following Tuesday’s State of the Union address. The congressman told the Arab network Alhurra that Democratic losses can in November’s midterm elections can be traced to voters who “don’t want to be governed by an African American, particularly one who is inclusive, who…