In case anyone has time to write a few postcards, there is a really important Special Election in PA on May 16th for a seat in the Pennsylvania State House seat needed to keep the Democratic majority (again!). Our one-seat majority is keeping PA from passing the terrible laws we are seeing pass in red states all over now. And in 2024, we will need the majority to safeguard elections, including for President. Volunteers are writing postcards for Democrat Heather Boyd right now! It's a critical election that voters may not know about! To help with postcards, text “join” to Abby the text bot at 484-275-2229 or email join@TonytheDemocrat.org. If you’ve already joined, just text Abby for addresses & script.
Those readers defending CNN are simply not exposing themselves to the trenchant criticism that has been made by other bloggers. Indeed, they are echoing centrist pundits, who have a large spot in our newspaper world. I am mystified why people who do not do their own research question yours. As a historian myself, I recognize you as a student of history, and thus the role of outlets like CNN normalizing seditionists can never be soothed away. Garland is two years too late and that is our tragedy and his.
Oh c'mon, what's to criticize about CNN (Coddling Neo-Nazis)?
(Per much of Robert's column today, to not actively oppose a violent ideology is to support that ideology and all the harm it does. In this case that ideology is the GOP's embrace of white supremacy and of hurting LGBTQ+ and immigrants and other vulnerable minorities. Broadcasting a proven racist authoritarian, the leader of the GOP, is definitely not actively opposing that person. That's why I offer my CNN acronym NOT in jest; I think it's accurate.)
It’s the ol’ ‘a little bit pregnant’ thing. You can’t be. ….and so I too do not get how CNN can give the lying, thieving, trouble making trump air… unless it’s positioning to go Faux news…
That occurred to me, too and that it might be a corporate move to cash in on the upheaval at Fox to grab more viewers while pretending to be non partisan in a post-partisan world.
Thank you for such careful coverage of critical issues facing us Robert. I am just plain terrified by the degradation of our country by the Republican “party”. I recall listening to an extremist radio host in 2007, describing democrats as the enemy of the US, and feeling frightened back then. I never imagined just how extreme and authoritarian and violent they would become.
The images of nazis in our country spewing hate towards the LGBTQ community is bone chilling in its similarity to hitler’s supporters.
We MUST win in a huge way in the next election cycle because our safety and rights depend on it. Thanks for pointing out that once one group is targeted everyone is at risk
I am very disturbed by your readers who do not see that, however much they like CNN, it is going in a dangerous direction by giving the insurrectionist anti-American ex-president a place at the table. It sickens me.
I plan to put in as much work as I can in the upcoming election season. The outcome will be critical in determining whether we save our democracy, and even if this country will be safe for many of us and our families. I don’t feel safe here now.
“‘We MUST win in a huge way in the next election cycle because our safety and rights depend on it. Thanks for pointing out that once one group is targeted everyone is at risk.’”
Everything happening is frightening to me.
Today will be spent writing postcards (addresses from Postcards To Voters) for Donna Deegan Mayor candidate for Jacksonville, FL, the largest city in FL, and Heather Boyd, candidate for PA State House, to keep Blue with a one vote majority.
Fingers crossed.
Action keeps my Hope alive, together with this Community.
Sorry you do t feel safe but everyday in many ways voters and concerned citizens are pushing back and going to court and winning cases and boycotting businesses. Democracy has always been fragile and always tested and the testing makes us stronger.
May 3, 2023·edited May 3, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Kaitlin Collins may indeed be a great newswoman. But I hate the idea of CNN or any other news outlet valuing the good of our country so little as to give Trump airtime. Trump lies. Trump exaggerates. Trump loves, above all else: celebrity. He and his followers measure himself through click counts. You're just feeding the tiger when you give him 1 second of air-time, to say nothing of the time so graciously by CNN. He lies.
It is my understanding that Chief Justices have testified before, despite ’separation of powers”. The Executive branch historically meets with congressional members and vice versa and next week, regarding the Debt Limit, this will be reoccur. The Justice branch is the exception?
Yesterday, as just one example of a false Republican narrative, Sen L. Graham stated he would not participate, stating, “If this is about destroying the Court, count me out." WTF? “Destroying the Court”? Simply having a written code of ethics, even as so far as to impeach and remove a Chief Justice does not destroy the Court, it makes it better, stronger and more trusted by all. The Court will not only survive, it will prevail, paraphrasing William Faulkner.
What a bunch of horse sh-t Republicans shovel! Subpoena Roberts!
Inform me; I don’t know, but does codifying a Code of Ethics require a super majority of Senators?
So infuriating to watch Graham, Cornyn and Lee present this disingenuous alternative narrative while ignoring the real issues of Supreme Court lack of ethics, transparency and accountability.
Cornyn’s using his time to show a video of Thomas refuting Anita Hill’s accusations, was despicable
Republicans’ claim that Democrats are trying to destroy/ delegitimization the Court is absurd . The Justices are doing this themselves through their arrogance, refusal to adopt a code of ethics and lack of transparency..
I have to agree CNN is and has changed its tune What I’ve read and heard makes it seem like a FOX wanna be station now. So much that I’m over NETWORk and CABLE news. My tv is OFF.
Is anyone aware of an organization/group focused on advocating that cable/Sirius prescribers have the option of 'opting out' of subscribing to some channels? I cringe to consider that 90% of Fox revenue comes from cable subscriptions(prob true for cnn & others). I cringe to admit I am part of the problem feeding the beasts.
Do you need all the programming on cable? I know several people who only get the basic internet connection and then get all the programming they want by other methods. Apple TV, Hulu, etc etc. I don’t watch tv or have cable do I don’t know about all this but apparently younger people do and could likely teach you. Unless there are things you absolutely must have that the a la carte options don’t provide.
We are part of a condo homeowners association with 75 units. The cable access is purchased as package for all & it is really cheap. I can just imagine the backlash....fair number of Magnuts in this community. A few, however, have suggested what you proposed. Will revisit. Arn't CNN & Fox part of basic?
Ah, I see. As far as the “basic” cable, I don’t know. I thought my friends just got the internet access and were able to do all the programming they wanted in other ways. Good for you for resisting and looking into it.
May 3, 2023·edited May 3, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Robert, thank you for your continued support of the LGBQT community. Rachel Maddcow’s report was a difficult,although necessary view as I try to stay informed. This week a Florida legislator
said the quiet part out loud on the House floor..“Our terrorist enemies hate homosexuals more than we do.”😔
On a + note, watch my home state ☺️Senator Whitehouse slay it in his opening remarks at the Senaate Judiciary hearing on the corruption of SCOTUS.
20 years ago, the MA SJC issued its opinion that barring same sex marriage violated the MA Constitution. What struck me then was the humanity of Justice John Greaney's concurring opinion in that 4-3 decision.
Justice Greaney acknowledged the sincerity of those who opposed the change. He explained "the plaintiffs are members of our community, our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends. ... [They] volunteer in our schools, worship beside us in our religious houses, and have children who play with our children, to mention just a few ordinary daily contacts. .... Simple principles of decency dictate that we extend to the plaintiffs, and to their new status, full acceptance, tolerance, and respect."
In 2003, I loved Justice Greaney's call for humanity. In the face of the onslaught against gay and trans people, we must persist in opposing inhumanity. Otherwise, those opponents will turn their inhumanity (as did the Nazis) on themselves and on everyone else.
It’s important to remember that the MA fight for marriage equality didn’t end with that ruling. Following that ruling the state legislature was considering whether to change the state constitution to reverse the ruling (I lived there then but forget some details of the exact process). It took thousands of activists and allies calling reps and testifying at the Capitol. (I went to testify but the line was too long and we never got in.)
When that move was defeated, marriage licenses began to be issued.
All people are ignorant; just on different subjects! -- Will Rogers
It is truly frightening that the Supreme Court has the arrogance to say they should make the final decision over all the experts in all regulatory bodies.
I have deleted the CNN APP from my phone and will not watch CNN on TV after this naked play for increasing its audience by giving Trump a platform. I was already losing patience with CNN for its constant attempts to make news “entertaining.” Then I became increasingly irritated with its presentation of false equivalencies, e.g., Biden also had classified documents in his home. CNN has lost stature over the years as a real news organization and now it is clear that CNN is a money-making machine—and nothing more. Bye-bye!
I have several friends who have done essentially the same thing. I don't watch CNN. I found years ago that fair reporting didn't seem to be part of their business model.
i will never watch CNN again. It is just my opinion, but showcasing him shows me all i need to know about CNN and how low they are going to get clicks. p.s.
If you think about it we unfortunately are engaged in a civil war in this country. The war is between red states who want to ban abortion, criminalize doctors performing their duties; deny healthcare to the LGBTQ community, loosen gun laws and keep people from registering and voting. Blue states like Washington, California , Colorado and New Mexico and others who are passing laws to protect citizens from other state who come to their states to get the services they need and are entitled to. Florida’s attack on Disney is an example of state government overreach and is a dangerous precedent to corporate America. If I was the CEO of a company expanding or building new facilities I would carefully consider if the state I want to open a business in is a state that the new employees and their families I need to hire want to live in. The future workforce expansion will impact Generation Z workers more than anyone and maybe if they refuse to work in states that are repressive the lost revenue and tax income maybe a deterrent or a wake up call. Republican state legislators are not considering the financial impacts of their racists legislation and we as voters and future employees need to remind them thst their decisions have consequences.
I suspect that puberty blockers and trans surgery--if that's what you're referring to in saying "red states who want to... deny healthcare to the LGBTQ community..." is a reaction to a social contagion and is done far too much. I'm in agreement with everything else you're saying here. The article, by Emily Yoffe, a superb journalist, was just published, and shows how advocates of puberty blockers, and other transgender treatment refused a child's mother's efforts to get them to remove the puberty blockers, and shows that the kid involved realized that social contagion was driving his interest in changing his gender.
Just as abortion is a medical procedure necessary for conditions that have nothing to do with casual termination of pregnancy, puberty blockers are also used for early onset puberty and have nothing to do with gender reassignment. Extremist lawmakers have no business meddling in complicated medical matters.
In recent weeks some doctors have refused everyday typical healthcare to those individuals who identify as Trans. Everyone is entitled to elected surgery and I don’t want the government to tell me if it’s ok to have a knee replaced or change by sexual identity. Your article is very dated.
you sound like you didn't read it. The first article was posted in the last week or so. The kid was very depressed after puberty blocker was installed in his arm. The healthcare organization gave the mother the runaround when she tried to get the puberty blocker removed.
I did read it. I’m not sure I understand what your point is. My comment was simply no one should be denied medical treatment for any reason. We don’t get upset when people get plastic surgery and change their appearance which is an elective procedure. The bottom line is many Americans can’t accept the proven medical fact that some individuals while born a certain sex and because of biological and chemical reasons identify as the other sex.
There is such a thing as social contagion, and it's a common phenomenon, which appears in all sorts of areas. For example, people who have friends who are happy tend to be happier than they would otherwise. (Nicholas Christakis of Yale writes about this stuff.) For the last ten years, my best friend has had a significant other who loves him, and emotionally supports him, and he is the same way towards her, and when I visit I can feel it, and it makes me happy.
If you'd read Emily Yoffe's article with an open mind, you would have read about how the boy who got the puberty blocker, which the "health care" organization would not take out, giving the child's mother the runaround, actually recognized that there'd been a social contagion going on around sex change, which he'd been caught up in. Yes, he was ambivalent, but adolescent kids are often confused about a lot of things.
When I was growing up, in the '50s and '60s, I'm sure there were a few people in the wrong bodies--a very few people--but now there's a lot more of this sort of thing, and if you had read Emily Yoffe's article with an open mind (the first one I posted), that would be obvious to you.
Surgery is done only in very rare instances for teens at around 17. The articles you post are not based on current science. Every major medical association in the US supports gender affirming care of trans youth. Your sources are biased if they printed this.
You don't sound like you read them. The issue in the first article was a puberty blocker that had been put in the child's arm. He had become very depressed after it was installed, but the mother could not get it removed as the healthcare organization kept giving her the runaround.
The UK has become much more restrictive about this sort of thing. I'm not opposed to gender affirmation surgery. But I think medical professionals need to be much more careful about when they do it. The people running the organization in the first article were out and out advocates.
And the madness continues……..the Un-Free state of Florida just passed a bill allowing healthcare workers to refuse to provide care based on conscientious objections. In other words, they can refuse care to LGBTQ people, the primary catalyst for this bill. If this isn’t a violation of civil rights, then we should all be looking for places to live in truly democratic countries! God help us abandoning our humanity and destroying what used to be our country. How many other red states will soon follow? I wish all healthcare professionals in the fascist Florida would go on strike.
Why are people always pumping up news journalists and TV news personalities as having the independence to pursue a story in the manner they choose? They are told what to do by network producers.
Kaitlin Collins may be worthy of respect as a journalist, but she is not representative of the entire network. I sat glued to CNN in the early days of the pandemic, as the coverage and presentation of current data was unparalleled. After the intense heat of the pandemic came under better control with vaccines, I became quite impatient with the obvious need for them to do whatever was necessary to get ratings. I tend to avoid all MSM "news" and I am so weary of the constancy of "breaking news" given to every little thing. People need to have more balance in their lives- too many just focus their lives around the unrelenting 24/7 news cycle.
The bane of the 24 hour “news” cycle is the approximately 22 hours spent discussing what “might” happen. I’m aging myself here, but Oh, for the days of the separation of news and commentary.
The debt ceiling and the biennial theatrics that go with it have to go. The legislatively legitimate and straightforward way to do that is through the discharge petition and we should all, especially those of us burdened with Republican Congresspeople, call, email, and write them in support. If we're going to be serious about open, honest, and transparent governance, it has to start with the fundamentals and nothing is more basic than financing the government.
May 3, 2023·edited May 4, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
In a Forbes article in June 2022, Chris Licht was said to be "moving CNN to the center." In other words, he was keen to bring in the "other side" to balance their news toward the middle. He thinks this will grow his share of audience. Wrong! This has been a massive mistake, IMHO, because his "both-sides-ism" is giving credence to fact-free right wingers and undermining our democracy.
I have been noticing more "Republican consultants" in the round-table line ups on John King, Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, Abby Phillip and Wolf Blitzer. When the R's spout something stupid -- or worse, objectively wrong -- they are NOT corrected in real time. Rather, their comments (even when factually incorrect) are given equal weight to the other D pundits. CNN has become, to my mind, a ratings-chasing new player in the normalization of Trump / sedition / far-right facism. We can only vote with our eyes, which I have now done. Plus, I am going to email them. We all should do this: https://www.cnn.com/feedback/index.html
Sheila, you speak the truth. John Malone, a major investor, in CNN, IMO, holds all the cards. I have read he's a member of the Federalist Society and has a right wing agenda. Zaslow and Licht, CEO's of CNN take there marching orders from Malone. Follow the money!
Thank you Robert. Onward!
In case anyone has time to write a few postcards, there is a really important Special Election in PA on May 16th for a seat in the Pennsylvania State House seat needed to keep the Democratic majority (again!). Our one-seat majority is keeping PA from passing the terrible laws we are seeing pass in red states all over now. And in 2024, we will need the majority to safeguard elections, including for President. Volunteers are writing postcards for Democrat Heather Boyd right now! It's a critical election that voters may not know about! To help with postcards, text “join” to Abby the text bot at 484-275-2229 or email join@TonytheDemocrat.org. If you’ve already joined, just text Abby for addresses & script.
Or join a Vote Save American phone bank tonight: https://www.mobilize.us/crooked/event/558827/. Or if you feel like a road trip, they need canvassers: https://www.mobilize.us/boydforpahouse/?end_date=2023-05-17T03%3A59%3A59.999Z&is_virtual_flexible=false&start_date=2023-04-28T04%3A00%3A00.000Z
Or consider giving to one of The States Project’s two PA Giving Circles raising to support Heather Boyd’s election right now, here: https://statesproject.org/help-defend-the-pennsylvania-house-majority/
Thanks!!
Pinning to the top. Thanks, Sarah.
I just sent off 20 postcards for Heather on Monday. Keep up the good work, folks!
Bravo, Sarah I’Neill.
Thank you.
Donated. Thanks for the links
Our Tuesday postcard group sent a big batch. Against!
We meet weekly at C&P Coffee in West Seattle 10:30-noon. If you’re near, join us!
Those readers defending CNN are simply not exposing themselves to the trenchant criticism that has been made by other bloggers. Indeed, they are echoing centrist pundits, who have a large spot in our newspaper world. I am mystified why people who do not do their own research question yours. As a historian myself, I recognize you as a student of history, and thus the role of outlets like CNN normalizing seditionists can never be soothed away. Garland is two years too late and that is our tragedy and his.
Oh c'mon, what's to criticize about CNN (Coddling Neo-Nazis)?
(Per much of Robert's column today, to not actively oppose a violent ideology is to support that ideology and all the harm it does. In this case that ideology is the GOP's embrace of white supremacy and of hurting LGBTQ+ and immigrants and other vulnerable minorities. Broadcasting a proven racist authoritarian, the leader of the GOP, is definitely not actively opposing that person. That's why I offer my CNN acronym NOT in jest; I think it's accurate.)
It’s the ol’ ‘a little bit pregnant’ thing. You can’t be. ….and so I too do not get how CNN can give the lying, thieving, trouble making trump air… unless it’s positioning to go Faux news…
I posted this only yesterday, but it's so good and to your point -- and reinforces much of Robert's column today:
https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-on-not-meeting-nazis-halfway/
Thanks for the link to Rebecca Solnit. She is a brilliant writer!
Thank you for that link--good article.
Thank you, Eric.
That occurred to me, too and that it might be a corporate move to cash in on the upheaval at Fox to grab more viewers while pretending to be non partisan in a post-partisan world.
That's exactly what's going on.
Of course.
I thought that was what the NN stood for, but I wonder what is *neo* about these Nazis?
Thank you for such careful coverage of critical issues facing us Robert. I am just plain terrified by the degradation of our country by the Republican “party”. I recall listening to an extremist radio host in 2007, describing democrats as the enemy of the US, and feeling frightened back then. I never imagined just how extreme and authoritarian and violent they would become.
The images of nazis in our country spewing hate towards the LGBTQ community is bone chilling in its similarity to hitler’s supporters.
We MUST win in a huge way in the next election cycle because our safety and rights depend on it. Thanks for pointing out that once one group is targeted everyone is at risk
I am very disturbed by your readers who do not see that, however much they like CNN, it is going in a dangerous direction by giving the insurrectionist anti-American ex-president a place at the table. It sickens me.
I plan to put in as much work as I can in the upcoming election season. The outcome will be critical in determining whether we save our democracy, and even if this country will be safe for many of us and our families. I don’t feel safe here now.
Janice Radder,
Your eloquent comment gives me heart:
“‘We MUST win in a huge way in the next election cycle because our safety and rights depend on it. Thanks for pointing out that once one group is targeted everyone is at risk.’”
Everything happening is frightening to me.
Today will be spent writing postcards (addresses from Postcards To Voters) for Donna Deegan Mayor candidate for Jacksonville, FL, the largest city in FL, and Heather Boyd, candidate for PA State House, to keep Blue with a one vote majority.
Fingers crossed.
Action keeps my Hope alive, together with this Community.
Thanks for you service to our country Nancy.
Sorry you do t feel safe but everyday in many ways voters and concerned citizens are pushing back and going to court and winning cases and boycotting businesses. Democracy has always been fragile and always tested and the testing makes us stronger.
True. But how far will this go. As a mother of someone being targeted by the republican/fascist/nazi right, that is not very comforting.
Kaitlin Collins may indeed be a great newswoman. But I hate the idea of CNN or any other news outlet valuing the good of our country so little as to give Trump airtime. Trump lies. Trump exaggerates. Trump loves, above all else: celebrity. He and his followers measure himself through click counts. You're just feeding the tiger when you give him 1 second of air-time, to say nothing of the time so graciously by CNN. He lies.
Right?! Why would any person put a known liar on their show? What cha going to prove, that he lies – we already know that.
It's all about the money and nothing else. They are not out to prove anything, but only to get more clicks and dollars and improve their bottom line.
It is my understanding that Chief Justices have testified before, despite ’separation of powers”. The Executive branch historically meets with congressional members and vice versa and next week, regarding the Debt Limit, this will be reoccur. The Justice branch is the exception?
Yesterday, as just one example of a false Republican narrative, Sen L. Graham stated he would not participate, stating, “If this is about destroying the Court, count me out." WTF? “Destroying the Court”? Simply having a written code of ethics, even as so far as to impeach and remove a Chief Justice does not destroy the Court, it makes it better, stronger and more trusted by all. The Court will not only survive, it will prevail, paraphrasing William Faulkner.
What a bunch of horse sh-t Republicans shovel! Subpoena Roberts!
Inform me; I don’t know, but does codifying a Code of Ethics require a super majority of Senators?
The filibuster is an obstacle, but the filibuster can be overcome by a majority vote to create a carve-out.
So infuriating to watch Graham, Cornyn and Lee present this disingenuous alternative narrative while ignoring the real issues of Supreme Court lack of ethics, transparency and accountability.
Cornyn’s using his time to show a video of Thomas refuting Anita Hill’s accusations, was despicable
Republicans’ claim that Democrats are trying to destroy/ delegitimization the Court is absurd . The Justices are doing this themselves through their arrogance, refusal to adopt a code of ethics and lack of transparency..
I have to agree CNN is and has changed its tune What I’ve read and heard makes it seem like a FOX wanna be station now. So much that I’m over NETWORk and CABLE news. My tv is OFF.
Is anyone aware of an organization/group focused on advocating that cable/Sirius prescribers have the option of 'opting out' of subscribing to some channels? I cringe to consider that 90% of Fox revenue comes from cable subscriptions(prob true for cnn & others). I cringe to admit I am part of the problem feeding the beasts.
Yes, Susan: I believe https://unfoxmycablebox.com/ is what you're looking for.
There's also https://www.nofoxfee.com/ .
I learned about these on Brian Tyler Cohen's piece yesterday: https://youtu.be/kYGRRruh1ao The explanations start at 06:00.
Thank you Eric. A beginning. Next step Sirius radio & opting out of other channels.
I cancelled my Sirius subscription last month and don’t miss it at all. I listen to Pandora and audiobooks instead.
I get that. But there are some amazing shows on Sirius Progressive radio. Michaelango Signorilie, Stephanie and Thom, and so much more.
I'll consider but it is for music in a waiting room & staff like it. I think ur right though & will look into other options.
Do you need all the programming on cable? I know several people who only get the basic internet connection and then get all the programming they want by other methods. Apple TV, Hulu, etc etc. I don’t watch tv or have cable do I don’t know about all this but apparently younger people do and could likely teach you. Unless there are things you absolutely must have that the a la carte options don’t provide.
We are part of a condo homeowners association with 75 units. The cable access is purchased as package for all & it is really cheap. I can just imagine the backlash....fair number of Magnuts in this community. A few, however, have suggested what you proposed. Will revisit. Arn't CNN & Fox part of basic?
Ah, I see. As far as the “basic” cable, I don’t know. I thought my friends just got the internet access and were able to do all the programming they wanted in other ways. Good for you for resisting and looking into it.
Robert, thank you for your continued support of the LGBQT community. Rachel Maddcow’s report was a difficult,although necessary view as I try to stay informed. This week a Florida legislator
said the quiet part out loud on the House floor..“Our terrorist enemies hate homosexuals more than we do.”😔
On a + note, watch my home state ☺️Senator Whitehouse slay it in his opening remarks at the Senaate Judiciary hearing on the corruption of SCOTUS.
https://youtu.be/ojOBGTUDPVA
thanks for the link! Senator Whitehouse was great on Rachel's show.
Wow. That is what real leadership looks like 👍
Senator Whitehouse is among the best in my lifetime.
Love Senator Whitehouse...
20 years ago, the MA SJC issued its opinion that barring same sex marriage violated the MA Constitution. What struck me then was the humanity of Justice John Greaney's concurring opinion in that 4-3 decision.
Justice Greaney acknowledged the sincerity of those who opposed the change. He explained "the plaintiffs are members of our community, our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends. ... [They] volunteer in our schools, worship beside us in our religious houses, and have children who play with our children, to mention just a few ordinary daily contacts. .... Simple principles of decency dictate that we extend to the plaintiffs, and to their new status, full acceptance, tolerance, and respect."
In 2003, I loved Justice Greaney's call for humanity. In the face of the onslaught against gay and trans people, we must persist in opposing inhumanity. Otherwise, those opponents will turn their inhumanity (as did the Nazis) on themselves and on everyone else.
Thanks for the reminder of Justice Greaney's opinion.
It’s important to remember that the MA fight for marriage equality didn’t end with that ruling. Following that ruling the state legislature was considering whether to change the state constitution to reverse the ruling (I lived there then but forget some details of the exact process). It took thousands of activists and allies calling reps and testifying at the Capitol. (I went to testify but the line was too long and we never got in.)
When that move was defeated, marriage licenses began to be issued.
All people are ignorant; just on different subjects! -- Will Rogers
It is truly frightening that the Supreme Court has the arrogance to say they should make the final decision over all the experts in all regulatory bodies.
The right wing justices are maga too.
I have deleted the CNN APP from my phone and will not watch CNN on TV after this naked play for increasing its audience by giving Trump a platform. I was already losing patience with CNN for its constant attempts to make news “entertaining.” Then I became increasingly irritated with its presentation of false equivalencies, e.g., Biden also had classified documents in his home. CNN has lost stature over the years as a real news organization and now it is clear that CNN is a money-making machine—and nothing more. Bye-bye!
Me, too!
I have several friends who have done essentially the same thing. I don't watch CNN. I found years ago that fair reporting didn't seem to be part of their business model.
i will never watch CNN again. It is just my opinion, but showcasing him shows me all i need to know about CNN and how low they are going to get clicks. p.s.
If you think about it we unfortunately are engaged in a civil war in this country. The war is between red states who want to ban abortion, criminalize doctors performing their duties; deny healthcare to the LGBTQ community, loosen gun laws and keep people from registering and voting. Blue states like Washington, California , Colorado and New Mexico and others who are passing laws to protect citizens from other state who come to their states to get the services they need and are entitled to. Florida’s attack on Disney is an example of state government overreach and is a dangerous precedent to corporate America. If I was the CEO of a company expanding or building new facilities I would carefully consider if the state I want to open a business in is a state that the new employees and their families I need to hire want to live in. The future workforce expansion will impact Generation Z workers more than anyone and maybe if they refuse to work in states that are repressive the lost revenue and tax income maybe a deterrent or a wake up call. Republican state legislators are not considering the financial impacts of their racists legislation and we as voters and future employees need to remind them thst their decisions have consequences.
I suspect that puberty blockers and trans surgery--if that's what you're referring to in saying "red states who want to... deny healthcare to the LGBTQ community..." is a reaction to a social contagion and is done far too much. I'm in agreement with everything else you're saying here. The article, by Emily Yoffe, a superb journalist, was just published, and shows how advocates of puberty blockers, and other transgender treatment refused a child's mother's efforts to get them to remove the puberty blockers, and shows that the kid involved realized that social contagion was driving his interest in changing his gender.
https://www.thefp.com/p/i-felt-bullied-mother-of-child-treated
Just as abortion is a medical procedure necessary for conditions that have nothing to do with casual termination of pregnancy, puberty blockers are also used for early onset puberty and have nothing to do with gender reassignment. Extremist lawmakers have no business meddling in complicated medical matters.
Read the first article and you will see that they are being used in that manner.
In recent weeks some doctors have refused everyday typical healthcare to those individuals who identify as Trans. Everyone is entitled to elected surgery and I don’t want the government to tell me if it’s ok to have a knee replaced or change by sexual identity. Your article is very dated.
you sound like you didn't read it. The first article was posted in the last week or so. The kid was very depressed after puberty blocker was installed in his arm. The healthcare organization gave the mother the runaround when she tried to get the puberty blocker removed.
I did read it. I’m not sure I understand what your point is. My comment was simply no one should be denied medical treatment for any reason. We don’t get upset when people get plastic surgery and change their appearance which is an elective procedure. The bottom line is many Americans can’t accept the proven medical fact that some individuals while born a certain sex and because of biological and chemical reasons identify as the other sex.
There is such a thing as social contagion, and it's a common phenomenon, which appears in all sorts of areas. For example, people who have friends who are happy tend to be happier than they would otherwise. (Nicholas Christakis of Yale writes about this stuff.) For the last ten years, my best friend has had a significant other who loves him, and emotionally supports him, and he is the same way towards her, and when I visit I can feel it, and it makes me happy.
If you'd read Emily Yoffe's article with an open mind, you would have read about how the boy who got the puberty blocker, which the "health care" organization would not take out, giving the child's mother the runaround, actually recognized that there'd been a social contagion going on around sex change, which he'd been caught up in. Yes, he was ambivalent, but adolescent kids are often confused about a lot of things.
When I was growing up, in the '50s and '60s, I'm sure there were a few people in the wrong bodies--a very few people--but now there's a lot more of this sort of thing, and if you had read Emily Yoffe's article with an open mind (the first one I posted), that would be obvious to you.
And your point is.?
Surgery is done only in very rare instances for teens at around 17. The articles you post are not based on current science. Every major medical association in the US supports gender affirming care of trans youth. Your sources are biased if they printed this.
You don't sound like you read them. The issue in the first article was a puberty blocker that had been put in the child's arm. He had become very depressed after it was installed, but the mother could not get it removed as the healthcare organization kept giving her the runaround.
The UK has become much more restrictive about this sort of thing. I'm not opposed to gender affirmation surgery. But I think medical professionals need to be much more careful about when they do it. The people running the organization in the first article were out and out advocates.
And the madness continues……..the Un-Free state of Florida just passed a bill allowing healthcare workers to refuse to provide care based on conscientious objections. In other words, they can refuse care to LGBTQ people, the primary catalyst for this bill. If this isn’t a violation of civil rights, then we should all be looking for places to live in truly democratic countries! God help us abandoning our humanity and destroying what used to be our country. How many other red states will soon follow? I wish all healthcare professionals in the fascist Florida would go on strike.
thanks. i will write about this topic in tonight's newsletter.
This is sickening and tragic. Only those who can afford to go to blue states for care can get the help they need for themselves/their kids.
Why are people always pumping up news journalists and TV news personalities as having the independence to pursue a story in the manner they choose? They are told what to do by network producers.
Kaitlin Collins may be worthy of respect as a journalist, but she is not representative of the entire network. I sat glued to CNN in the early days of the pandemic, as the coverage and presentation of current data was unparalleled. After the intense heat of the pandemic came under better control with vaccines, I became quite impatient with the obvious need for them to do whatever was necessary to get ratings. I tend to avoid all MSM "news" and I am so weary of the constancy of "breaking news" given to every little thing. People need to have more balance in their lives- too many just focus their lives around the unrelenting 24/7 news cycle.
The bane of the 24 hour “news” cycle is the approximately 22 hours spent discussing what “might” happen. I’m aging myself here, but Oh, for the days of the separation of news and commentary.
Gosh Judith, you are so right about that! It's maddening!
Bingo
The debt ceiling and the biennial theatrics that go with it have to go. The legislatively legitimate and straightforward way to do that is through the discharge petition and we should all, especially those of us burdened with Republican Congresspeople, call, email, and write them in support. If we're going to be serious about open, honest, and transparent governance, it has to start with the fundamentals and nothing is more basic than financing the government.
In a Forbes article in June 2022, Chris Licht was said to be "moving CNN to the center." In other words, he was keen to bring in the "other side" to balance their news toward the middle. He thinks this will grow his share of audience. Wrong! This has been a massive mistake, IMHO, because his "both-sides-ism" is giving credence to fact-free right wingers and undermining our democracy.
I have been noticing more "Republican consultants" in the round-table line ups on John King, Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, Abby Phillip and Wolf Blitzer. When the R's spout something stupid -- or worse, objectively wrong -- they are NOT corrected in real time. Rather, their comments (even when factually incorrect) are given equal weight to the other D pundits. CNN has become, to my mind, a ratings-chasing new player in the normalization of Trump / sedition / far-right facism. We can only vote with our eyes, which I have now done. Plus, I am going to email them. We all should do this: https://www.cnn.com/feedback/index.html
Sheila, you speak the truth. John Malone, a major investor, in CNN, IMO, holds all the cards. I have read he's a member of the Federalist Society and has a right wing agenda. Zaslow and Licht, CEO's of CNN take there marching orders from Malone. Follow the money!
BTW, I tried to send my objection via this link, and it didn't go through. I was told to "try later." Indeed I will!