Mobile security threat

Yesterday, Senate Republicans voted down a bill to strengthen the federal government’s ability to monitor domestic extremism . The practical implications of this legislative defeat are relatively modest. But it has much larger significance as another indicator of the Republican Party’s unwillingness to dislodge the faction of violent extremists that has gained a foothold on its right flank. In its substance, the bill consisted of a few modest provisions that until recently would have been unobjectionable. It would have established a new office to monitor and prosecute domestic terrorism in each of the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. It would have required regular reporting on domestic terror threats as well as a focus on “white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services.” It did not create new federal powers, define new crimes, or define additional groups as terrorist. In response to concerns from civil libertarians, it … [Read more...] about Republicans Block Bill to Monitor Their Violent Allies

Dried blood on the window of Paris’s Carillon cafe. Photo: Jerome Delay/AP In the aftermath of mass murder in Paris, Establishment Republicans posited hopefully that now, finally, their voters would get serious and support a presidential candidate who had professional experience in the field of politics. A few days after the attacks, Politico reported the firm convictions of party stalwarts, who confidently asserted, “The reemergence of foreign policy atop the Republican agenda will force voters to reevaluate the outsider candidates, particularly as both [Donald] Trump and [Ben] Carson display a lack of knowledge about national security and the terrorist threat.” But that, it turned out, was wishful thinking. Far from sobering up the Republican electorate, the attacks served instead to ­ intensify its state of frothing rage . A poll showed that the candidate Republicans trusted most to handle terrorism, and the candidate who found his overall lead in the polls rising … [Read more...] about Terrorism in the Age of Trump

(CNN) — The US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention is investigating more cases of monkeypox across the United States as part of a global outbreak. The CDC has identified nine monkeypox cases in seven states as of Wednesday, Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Thursday. READ MORE: President Biden Tells Naval Academy Grads Putin 'NATO-ized Europe' Cases have been identified in Massachusetts, Florida, Utah, Washington, California, Virginia and New York. Most of the cases “are within gay [and] bisexual men and other men who have sex with men,” she said. Virginia announced Thursday that the case in its state is a woman . Walensky called for an approach “guided by science, not by stigma.” “This is a community that has the strength and has demonstrated the ability to address challenges to their health by focusing on compassion and science,” she said in an apparent reference to the AIDS epidemic. “While some groups may have a greater chance of exposure right now, … [Read more...] about CDC Identifies 9 Monkeypox Cases In 7 States

Five years ago, Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden sat down for an interview with The Washington Post and said "we believe that climate change is real. We believe that the threat of climate change is real. And we believe that action is needed." Then he added: "It doesn't mean we have to kiss hydrocarbons goodbye. In fact, we can't. But it does mean that we have to make more intelligent choices." Today, however, Shell and other oil companies are under fire from those who don't believe industry leaders are making intelligent choices. Dissident shareholders sought to use annual meetings to press their cases this week. And at Shell's annual meeting in London on Tuesday, dozens of climate activists wore "Christian Climate Action" T-shirts and rhythmically chanted "we will, we will stop you," forcing the company's chairman to halt the proceedings for over an hour. At the heart of the matter is the disagreement over the purpose of big oil and gas companies. Should they do further … [Read more...] about Climate pressure from employees, shareholders rattles Big Oil

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — People are rallying against gun violence in Philadelphia in the wake of the Texas mass shooting at an elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead. T hey’re calling for action and say these types of incidents are preventable. Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, are scheduled to speak at a news conference on Friday afternoon. The briefing and rally are sponsored by CeaseFirePA. READ MORE: Pottstown House Explosion Leaves 5 People Killed, 2 Others Injured: Officials They say there are a number of bills that are stalled in Harrisburg that could help prevent shootings like what happened in Texas. Earlier this week, Democrats in the Republican-led house failed to pass a package of bills geared at gun control. The package has been stalled for years. It included bills that would ban assault weapons, reporting stolen or lost guns, safe storage and allow local governments to enact … [Read more...] about Philadelphia Residents Rally Against Gun Violence In Wake Of Mass Shooting At Texas Elementary School

Gas rationing in Europe may be coming down the pike should Vladimir Putin follow through on his threat to cut off supplies to those who refuse to pay Russia in rubbles, the European Union’s energy commissioner has warned. This week, the EU has announced that it is crafting contingency plans, including rationing gas in the coming months in the event of a complete shut down of Russian gas shipments to the bloc. As many have already warned, a shortage of gas could be devastating to major European economies like Germany, which rely on abundant, cheap energy to function. “We are facing a situation that any member state might be the next one [to be cut off],” Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told the Financial Times . “So far we have been able to take care of the security of supply concerns of these three member states [who have already been cut off], mainly with the help of the solidarity of neighbours.” “This year if there will be full disruption, we are preparing contingency … [Read more...] about EU Preps for Gas Rationing over Russian Shutdown Fears