Speakers' Corner

Open Thread

July 6, 2009

Feel free to post any comments on any topic here. Also, this is where you’ll find any off topic comments that have been moved from other posts, those conversations can continue here.

A Tale of Two Vancouvers But Mostly Mine, the Best One

In Memory of Fergie

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TOP NEWS

Mass Layoffs Trump Is Threatening in Shutdown Fight May Be Illegal

Unions have sued to block any firings, which budget experts believe are not even needed to protect essential federal services. [...]

Trump Suggests Furloughed Federal Workers May Not Receive Back Pay After Shutdown

Union leaders and Democratic lawmakers say the move would run afoul of a law adopted under President Trump’s first term. [...]

What Does the National Guard Do? Why Are Its Troops in U.S. Cities?

The Guard has been federally mobilized around the country at least 10 times since World War II, with presidents using it to respond to civil unrest. [...]

New Race-Day Worry for the Chicago Marathon: Immigration Enforcement

Tensions over the federal intervention in the city have many runners worried about what to expect during the race, which passes through immigrant neighborhoods and draws many participants from abroad. [...]

Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay: How ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ Built a New Culture of Consumption

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ has built a delirious new culture of consumption — and trapped users in a vortex of debt. [...]

Israel Marks Two-Year Anniversary of Oct. 7 in Subdued Fashion

The somber milestone comes with peace talks underway, hostages from the Hamas-led attack still in Gaza, more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and Israel more isolated than ever. [...]

Witkoff and Kushner Expected to Join Israel-Hamas Talks

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, both architects of President Trump’s plan to end the war, are expected to join mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas. [...]

EU Proposes 50% Steel Tariffs, a Move to Counter Chinese Imports

European officials want to sharply lower the bloc’s quota on tariff-free steel imports, while doubling levies to 50 percent, as President Trump’s tariffs create domino effects. [...]

Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops

As it did in 2018, the White House plans to dole out relief funds to struggling U.S. farmers who have lost their biggest customer. [...]

Gold Price Hits $4,000 an Ounce, a Sign of Turmoil and Unease

The precious metal is on course for its best year since the 1970s, underscoring unease in financial markets. [...]

How Kyrsten Sinema's decision makes Democrats' 2024 Senate map tighter

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided to shake up the political world on Friday by becoming an independent. The former Democrat is still caucusing with the party in the Senate, so the Democratic caucus still has 51 members. Now, instead of 49 Democrats and two independents within their ranks, the caucus has 48 Democrats and three independents. [...]

Meet the woman steering Biden's bipartisan winning streak on Capitol Hill

The Biden administration managed to rack up a long list of major legislative wins in its first two years despite facing one of the most closely-divided Congresses in history. From bipartisan action on infrastructure, gun safety and same-sex marriage to party-line bills tackling climate change and expanding health care coverage, it's a record President Joe Biden and Democrats on the ballot were all eager to tout on the campaign trail during the midterms. [...]

CNN Political Briefing

The political news you need to know, in 10 minutes or less. Hosted by David Chalian. [...]

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

Go beyond the soundbites and get to know some of the most interesting players in politics. [...]

Margins of Error

Look closely at almost anything and you'll find data—lots of it. But what are those numbers really saying about who we are and what we believe? Harry Enten is on a mission to find out. [...]

The notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump

All eyes are on former President Donald Trump, who has launched another White House bid. [...]

The fine print of the Respect for Marriage Act

Let's start with the positive: Republicans and Democrats are coming together to protect same-sex marriage from the Supreme Court. [...]

Everything you need to know about Biden's student loan forgiveness program

President Joe Biden's federal student loan forgiveness program, which promises to deliver up to $20,000 of debt relief for millions of borrowers, is on hold indefinitely as legal challenges work their way through the courts. [...]

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day [...]

0% intro APR until 2024 is 100% insane

Israelis mark 7 October anniversary as talks on Gaza peace plan continue

"The horror of that dark day will be forever seared in the memories of us all," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. [...]

Five takeaways from Pam Bondi's tense, partisan Senate hearing

Nerves were raw in a hearing that covered much ground, and saw Trump's attorney general go on the attack. [...]

Time may be running out for Master of clocks Macron: What next for France?

After eight years in office, Emmanuel Macron's position as president is coming under increasing pressure as France's political crisis escalates. [...]

German mayor critically injured in stabbing attack, police say

Chancellor Friedrich Merz says "we fear for the life" of Iris Stalzer, a newly-elected mayor in the western town of Herdecke. [...]

Syria acknowledges 'shortcomings' in number of seats won by women at election

Results from the first parliamentary elections since the fall of Bashar al-Assad show only 13% of seats were won by female and minority candidates. [...]

Third person dies from methanol poisoning in Brazil

Authorities are investigating the source of the tainted drinks, which have affected more than 200 people. [...]

Canadian marine park threatens to euthanise 30 beluga whales

The Canadian government blocked Marineland's attempt to export the animals to a park in China. [...]

Two Austrian women switched at birth meet 35 years later

Doris Grünwald and Jessica Baumgartner, born in Graz in 1990, were accidentally given to the parents of the other family. [...]

Fifa accuses Malaysia of faking foreign-born players' eligibility

The alleged forgery was done to comply with Fifa's 'grandfather rule' for foreign-born players. [...]

Albanian judge shot dead in court by man during trial

Judge Astrit Kalaja was killed while two others were injured during a hearing at Tirana's Court of Appeal. [...]

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