Top Stories
Democrats Slash Medicare Homecare Funds to Pay for Coverage for Uninsured
Democrats and Republicans spent part of last week trading places when it came to being tough on crime and defending the meek. After liberal Senator Al Franken (D-MN) pushed forward an amendment that left Republicans reeling from accusations of bei... read more
Senators Force First-Ever Medicare-For-All Vote
Supporters of a single-payer health care system have not yet given up the fight in the U.S. Senate, where a vote will soon take place on an amendment creating a Medicare-for-all type of system. The plan is the brainchild of Senator Bernie Sanders ... read more
Health Reporters Protest FDA Press Restrictions
In order for journalists to interview employees of the Food and Drug Administration, they must first ask permission of the agency—a requirement deemed unacceptable by numerous organizations representing media professionals. The groups, as well as ... read more
The Other Afghanistan Surge: Contractors
While the media focuses on the number “30,000” (as in the number of new troops being sent to Afghanistan), an even larger number has widely been ignored: 100,000. This figure represents approximately the number of contractors working in the countr... read more
Loss of U.S. Missile Production Monitors in Russia Leads to Partisan Finger-Pointing Back Home
Since the end of the Cold War, a small group of American arms control inspectors has been stationed in Votkinsk, Russia, to verify how many new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are produced by the United States’ former adversary. But as... read more
House Bill Proposes Surtax to Pay for Escalating Afghanistan War
If the United States is going to send another 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan, which means billions of dollars more in costs, then the government should have the ability to pay for it, instead of just borrowing more money or robbing other programs ... read more
Obama Refuses to Order Release of Decades-Old Intelligence Documents
Millions of secret government documents are scheduled to be declassified at the end of this year—unless President Barack Obama extends the deadline like his predecessors have done. Reports out of Washington indicate the White House is hurriedly pr... read more
Democratic Senate Report Says Rumsfeld and Gen. Franks Let Osama bin Laden Escape to Pakistan
While President Barack Obama prepares to announce his decision regarding a troop increase for Afghanistan, Senate Democrats have released a report that argues that the Bush administration failed to capture Osama bin Laden when it had the chance in... read more
Wasted Food Uses 25% of Freshwater Supply and 300 Million Barrels of Oil a Year
When Americans throw out food, they’re wasting more than just groceries. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that 40% of all food produced in the United States is discarded, and with it goes a lot of wasted resources. On... read more
Obama Refuses to Sign Landmine Treaty
Although the United States has deemphasized the importance of land mines in American combat operations, the Obama administration is refusing to reverse a Bush-era policy and sign an international agreement banning such weapons. The Mine Ban Treaty... read more
Earthlings Use 50% More Resources a Year than Earth Produces
If the world consumed resources and produced waste at the same rate the United States does, human civilization would need five Earths to keep up. This conclusion was reached by the international think tank Global Footprint Network, whose latest st... read more
Want a Stock Tip? Invest in Stocks Owned by Members of Congress
When it comes to playing the stock market, members of Congress know how to pick ‘em. Over the past three decades lawmakers have increasingly invested in stocks and bonds with little regard for potential conflicts of interest that may arise from pa... read more
Checking Video Games for War Crimes
It perhaps won’t come as a shock to learn that the violence in many of today’s most popular video games would be considered a violation of international humanitarian law, were the events depicted real. Two Swiss human rights organizations, Trial a... read more
Bill to Audit Federal Reserve Moves Forward
The nation’s central bank has never been subjected to an outside audit, but growing frustration in Congress with the Federal Reserve may cause that to change. On Thursday, the House Finance Committee approved a bipartisan amendment that grants the... read more
Americans Having Trouble Meeting Food Needs: Highest Rate Ever Recorded
The Great Recession has left millions of Americans hungry not only for jobs but even food itself. A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows “food insecurity” rose dramatically in 2008—to the highest levels since the federal governme... read more
Holder Says 9/11 Accused to Remain in Prison Even if Acquitted
Critics who blasted the Obama administration’s decision to try Sept. 11 plotters in a New York City courtroom need not worry about terrorists going free. Regardless of how the trial turns out, alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four... read more