Everyone’s been wondering about the same thing, what made United Airlines feel like it could abuse its flying customers? This has been viral for a while as airports and flying have become a hot topic recently. Does all this overlap at all with the #MuslimBan? We uncover all these questions in this week’s instalment of The Expose. We missed Esther this week but we had Silla, our Director of Social Media on to shed some light on Laila’s personal life and ask our interesting question at the end!
We get it, Wednesdays can be tough to get through. In an effort to keep up with the world’s ever-changing news landscape, we’ve put together 10 headlines to keep you on top of things.
1. Mike pence visits Korea, US sent warships to the Peninsula
Abcnews.go.com
Mike Pence went to DMZ (demilitarized border) to reaffirm the ties between South Korea and the United States while simultaneously hoping to intimidate North Korea. He said, “This president has made clear that we’re going to abandon the failed policy of strategic patience. But we’re going to redouble our efforts to bring diplomatic and economic pressure to bear on North Korea. Our hope is that we can resolve this issue peaceably.”
A little over a week ago, the Trump administration said they were sending warships towards North Korea after the nuclear provocation, but this was later proven incorrect. The President said, “We’re sending an armada,” and the many governments in East Asia reported on their fears of a pre-emptive military strike. The story of the wayward carrier might never have come to light had the Navy not posted a photo online Monday of the carrier called “the Carl Vinson” sailing south through the Sunda Strait. It was taken on Saturday, four days after the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, described its mission in the Sea of Japan.
Now the Carl Vinson is finally heading towards the Korean Peninsula according to Navy sources.
2. Steve Stephens: a live-streamed murder and apparent suicide
CNN.com
Since April 16, the American midwest has been abuzz with concern over the whereabouts of the now-infamous Cleveland Murderer, Steve Stephens. For a while, it seemed the police would never be able to find the man who brutally murdered a man on Facebook live. The victim was Robert Godwin, a grandfather of 14 and beloved family man.
Steve Stephens was caught when he went to a McDonalds and the crew decided he must be the guy everybody was looking for. They withheld his fries to secretly call the police. Unfortunately, Stephens didn’t care as much about his fries as the McDonalds crew had hoped so he drove away, but police were already on their way. The police used a “PIT” maneuver in their vehicles to apprehend him but once his car was hit, he shot himself on the scene. Steve Stephens claimed he took the life of another man because he was mad at his girlfriend before he committed suicide.
3. Coachella Weekend
tumblr.com
This passed weekend, the famous Coachella festival took place in Indio, CA. Many music artists, celebrities, and festival goers attended this yearly event to soak up some sun, chill, eat, and listen to music. The Coachella Music Festival hosted performers from Kehlani to Two Doors Cinema.
In Arkansas, a string of executions have been halted because of many protests and responses from faith leaders. The five men left scheduled to be executed are currently on hold as the Supreme Court reviews the case. Currently, the individuals’ lawyers are fighting for the lives of their clients and stating their innocence. Due to the executions being blocked for those still on death row, their death penalty is set to restart from the beginning. Those that have to restart their sentencing will have to go through the clemency process.
5. Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft exec, launches start-up to track government spending
nytimes.com
On Tuesday, Steve Ballmer announced he was launching a database that tracks government spending federally, locally, and throughout the state. Although this is just a start-up website at this time, he believes that it will expand into something more evolved and much needed for the country.
6. Former New England Patriot Found Dead
nytimes.com
Former NFL player, Aaron Hernandez, was found hanging in his jail cell as he was sentenced to life in prison after being charged with the murder of Odin L. Lloyd. Officials say that he hung himself with the bed sheets in his cell.
Although it appears to be a suicide, many that knew Hernandez believes he was not capable of doing something like that to himself. They believe someone had the motive to harm Hernandez. Apparently, Hernandez was looking forward to a second chance at life. Since the tragedy was under the eyes of the law, the murder conviction he was guilty for will be overlooked because the individual has not had the ability to clear his name.
7. “Girls” aired its series finale, and we have mixed feelings
HBO TV series “Girls” aired its finale this week and those who tuned in remember it as the next step beyond “Sex and the City.” “Girls” was supposed to be the show that brought about more feminist television, and sure, it certainly did push limits. The approach to body positivity consisted of the show’s writer and star Lena Dunham’s choice of clothing and lack thereof, and that was just her style. However, Dunham has become increasingly associated with white feminism, not simply because of the peripheral roles of racial minorities on her show, but because of public commentaries she has been associated with. Indeed, not all female identifying people can understand just what it means to be a middle upper class white woman in Brooklyn, but “Girls” does not have to be the show we turn to for that fulfillment.
8. The first female to race in the Boston Marathon 50 years ago does it again
The “fragile women” of the 1960s could not bear to run the distance of the Boston Marathon- but apparently they could. Katherine Switzer became an icon when she ran the marathon with a bib number, which she managed to attain by signing her first name with her initials. After all, there were no official rules restricting women from running the race, nor a gender box. Yet, there are photographs of men nearby trying to do away with the dame as she tries to get through the marathon. It would have been interesting to see them try during this last Boston Marathon, where Switzer ran again 50 years later.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the AKP party in Turkey, has gained even more power recently. The constitutional amendment drafts that create an executive presidential system were approved earlier this week. The Prime Minister post was abolished in the draft and Erdogan can identify with the AKP Party under the changes.
10. Sophia Amoruso’s #GIRLBOSS is coming to Netflix
nytimes.com
Coming soon to Netflix, the highly rated novel of a woman making it on her own and building her own business from the ground up, #GIRLBOSS is soon to be the next trending series of the year.
The show will be based on how Sophia, the founder of Nasty Gal, came to be such a success and what she did. Being a 23-year-old is not all its worked up to be, according to Sophia, and it takes dedication and hard work. The author of the novel displays how its all about finding yourself and also making mistakes on the way to the top. Netflix decided to take on this project because they are interested in original content and plan to spend around $6 billion on the project.
We get it, Wednesdays can be tough to get through. In an effort to keep up with the world’s ever-changing news landscape, we’ve put together the top 10 headlines to keep you on top of things.
1. Senate Confirms Neil Gorsuch to the senate, triggering “nuclear option” to get around the Democratic filibuster.
CNBC.com
After a fourteen-month vacancy from the passing of Justice Scalia, the ninth Supreme Court spot was filled by the Trump administration’s pick – Neil Gorsuch. The Senate confirmed Gorsuch at a close 54-45 vote. Only three democrats voted for Neil Gorsuch, and they all come from conservative-leaning states. It was the narrowest approval of a Supreme Court nominee since the 1991 52-48 confirmation of Clarence Thomas. “He is the perfect choice”, according to President Trump. “Perfect” is used tentatively, we suppose.
2. A truck plows through a Stockholm shopping plaza
BusinessInsider.com
On Friday, April 7th, a truck driver drove down Drottninggatan (Queen Street), a shopping area in Stockholm, only to crash the truck into a department store. Sadly, there were four people who passed away in the attack. It was later announced to be a terrorist attack.
By Tuesday, April 11th, Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old from the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, came out as the truck driver behind the attack. He has not been formally charged yet. Prosecutors must formally charge Akilov by May 11, Court President Malou Lindblom said.
3. US airstrikes in Syria draw both intense criticism and support
BBC.co.uk
The missile strikes targeted Shayrat airbase near Homs, Syria. The US has said this was the location from which Syrian forces launched a chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday morning. The Pentagon said 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from warships in the Mediterranean in the early hours of Friday morning.
A Syrian official told the Associated Press that at least seven people had been killed and nine wounded in the US missile attack. Reuters reported that the Syrian state news agency said the strikes had killed nine civilians, including four children, in areas near the airbase. The death toll has not been independently verified yet.
4. Murder-suicide in San Bernadino
HuffingtonPost.com
A murder-suicide took place in San Bernadino on April 10th, 2017. In a fit of rage, 53-year-old Cedric Anderson shot his estranged wife, Karen Smith, at North Park Elementary School in her classroom for special education. He murdered Smith and also struck two students who were standing behind her, according to the police chief. One of those children, unfortunately, passed away, and the other is still in critical condition.
5. Malala Yousufzai becomes an honorary citizen of Canada
CBC
Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan is the sixth person (and the youngest) to ever receive honorary Canadian citizenship. On Wednesday, she was given the title during an honorary citizenship ceremony in Ottawa. She reaffirmed her love for her native country and that she is a proud Pashtun, but that she still feels highly honored by her honorary status. Earlier this week, she also was elected as a UN Messenger of Peace, which is the highest honor the UN can bestow on a human, for her work on the rights of ladies in education worldwide. (An honorary citizenship is completely symbolic and doesn’t give one a real citizenship.)
6. Dangerous advertising at Pepsi and Nivea
Advertising remains interesting through controversy, and it leaves you wondering if these major companies deliberately pulled stunts for publicity- or if their teams are really so clueless. In the latest mess-up, Kendall Jenner hands a Pepsi can to an officer during a protest. Critics stated the depiction commercialized legitimate expression, tokenized minority depictions, and the belittled the experiences of minorities.
Then Nivea’s “white is purity” ad drew outrage expressing concern about the notion that white is associated with something pure, and in contrast, darker colors are lesser (yes, its an issue of race). Again, it’s about implications, and we’re left wondering what advertisers were thinking. Apparently, the white was supposed to contrast the black on the can, which was supposed to represent “strength.” We didn’t see that part on the poster. Plus, it’s supposed to be invisible deodorant.
7. Twitter sues the US gov to block unmasking an anonymous account
Twitter.com
The government and the tech sector butt heads again in a question of protecting the identity of a Twitter account. Alternative accounts on Twitter, allegedly ran by current or former federal employees, criticize President Trump’s administration. Customs and Border Protection summoned Twitter to reveal sensitive information on the alternative immigration account. The controversy rings in the questions of subversion, national security, the protection of free speech, and the even the legitimacy of Twitter if the social media site is coerced into revealing the alt-accounts’ identities. Is @ALT_uscis really a threat to national security, or our president’s legitimacy (or both?). Furthermore, will this account’s identity eventually be revealed?
8. NCAA lifts its ban on holding championships in the state of North Carolina
House Bill 2 (also known as HB2) was recently replaced in North Carolina with a compromise bill, HB142. HB2 restricted public restroom options for transgender people and limited protection for LGBTQ people. The compromise bill is insufficient for groups that fight for the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. However, the replacement of HB2 was enough for NCAA to announce its lift on banning on championship events in North Carolina. The announcement has brought in criticism to the NCAA from groups like HRC, and openly LGBTQ lawmakers.
Last Sunday, two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt were attacked in suspected suicide bombings. At least 44 people were injured and more than 100 were killed. Mar Gerges church in Tanta and Mar Markas in Alexandria were targeted, disturbing worshippers on Coptic Christian Palm Sunday. The Islamic State claimed the attacks, adding to a number of other attacks on Coptics, including a mass beheading in Libya two years ago. These attacks highlight the threat that Coptics in Egypt face, as they make up roughly 10% of the population there, which is a Muslim majority. The attacks put a spotlight on the political climate and tensions between the two religious groups in Egypt.
10. Las Vegas to be the first city in the US to dispense clean needles via vending machine
By the end of May, three locations in central Vegas should have operating vending machines to dispense clean syringes. The syringes are to come in a kit that also offers a tourniquet and a container for used needles, alcohol swabs, and information on where to receive addiction treatment. Though heroin use has increased, the city is hoping to curb the problem of users transmitting diseases.
White women showed up at The Women’s March- but are they still considered feminists if they don’t show up for the minorities, women of color, and transgender women? Join us as we talk about this complicated, intersectional issue of white feminism.
If you’re listening to our podcast while driving, here’s a playlist to follow the episode on your journey to where ever: COMMUTERS DRIVE: The Cruising Mix
We get it, Wednesdays can be tough to get through. In an effort to keep up with the world’s ever-changing news landscape, we’ve put together the top 10 headlines of the week to keep you on top of things.
On Monday, North Carolina won the 6th NCAA Championship with a 71-65 win over Gonzaga. The victory literally came down to the very last second, with Justin Jackson delivering the final, winning 3-point play only 1 minute and 40 seconds before the final buzzer.
2. Deadly St. Petersburg, Russia train blast
nbcnews.com
This week in Moscow, Russia, a bomb was set off in two locations of public transportations. One woman said that she saw someone throw a bag in one of the train cars. 11 people on the train were killed and many still missing. The explosion occurred during the Russian president’s visit to his hometown. As of right now, the source of the bomb is unconfirmed but an investigation is under way.
As Neil Gorsuch’s nomination heads to the Senate, we should know what to expect in terms of his ideologies, as they may very well be affecting daily American life. Gorsuch is known for his extremely hostile feelings towards Planned Parenthood primarily because of the abortion services Planned Parenthood offers (although that is only a small percent of the women’s health services they offer and by no means their primary purpose, meaning that Gorsuch wants to eliminate abortion essentially more than he wants to provide healthcare in general for women).
It is probable that he will work to overturn Roe v. Wade. He has also stated his belief that employers should not be required to provide employees with contraceptive coverage if doing so interferes with their religious beliefs, putting religion above the health-related rights of female employees. In addition to voting in favor of decisions that undermine women’s rights and employee rights, Gorsuch can be expected to fail to prioritize the rights and needs of people with disabilities, as well as civil rights in general.
4. Mudslides in Colombia
theatlantic.com
Heavy rainstorms in Colombia this week were the unfortunate impetus for powerful mudslides in the southwestern region of the country. Torrential downpours, coupled with floating debris, upheaved neighborhoods, have left over 273 and counting dead. Over 300 people are missing in the city of Mocoa, with local forces working as quickly as they can to launch efforts to find survivors.
James Rosenquist passed away at 83 this past Friday in New York City. Rosenquist was, and will continue to be, widely renowned for his immense contributions to the early Pop Art movement. Pop Art can be defined as combining or juxtaposing fine art values with mass media and modern popular culture, often to make some kind of social or political commentary.
Rosenquist’s life was a vivid testament to the value of breaking away from the norm and embracing change; his art, although ill-received initially as it strayed away from the traditionalism of the early 60’s, inspired and gave way to today’s greatest Pop Artists: Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Rosenquist was also known for the sheer size, scale and boldness of his pieces, many of which covered billboards that loomed over places like Times Square.
In Syria, many are dying from the toxins of a chemical bomb. Many innocent lives were taken and some children are now left without their families. There are about 25 survivors being treated of the chemicals. A chemical bomb is not completely the reason, as of this moment, but many claimed they saw a bomb being dropped from a plane causing many to be killed from the chemicals.
Today with the European Union, Britain has voted for the United Kingdom to be kicked out of the Union. The campaign began on June 23 of last year and was just confirmed of their victory on the campaign.
8. Egypt’s authoritarian leader is welcomed to the White House
Egypt’s authoritarian was welcomed at the White House by President Trump on the 3rd of April 2017. Trump emphasizes how great of a leader Sisi is, but he has done nothing but show ignorance towards his people, especially the women that reside there. The President also mentioned how he has similar tactics that the Egyptian authoritarian has towards his government.
9. Bill O’Reilly sexual assault allegations put Fox News in trouble again
In a vein similar to that of Fox News CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes stepping down amidst similar claims, The New York Times reported that five women were paid between 2002 and 2016, either by O’Reilly himself or Fox News, a collective $13 million to settle harassment allegations, agreeing not to pursue legal action or publicly discuss the incidents. Two of the women were former producers on Bill O’Reilly’s show, and the other there were former on-air personalities at Fox News and Fox Business Network. 4 of the 5 claims involved sexual harassment claims.
O’Reilly has not addressed the allegations on his show. He has only posted a statement on his website explaining that his fame made him a target for publicity stunts, and that no complaints have ever been filed to Fox News’ Human Resources department thus far, not even anonymously. In addition, 21st Century Fox, Fox News’ parent company, stated that O’Reilly”denies the claims, but has resolved those he regarded as his personal responsibility.
“Resolved” or paid off?
You decide.
Consequently, BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz have all pulled their advertisements from O’Reilly’s show.
10. Michael Flynn seeks immunity in exchange for testifying on Russia
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn served for a short amount of time as national security adviser to Donald Trump, before he was asked to resign due to allegations of ties to Russia, which were at the time confirmed by Trump, although the extent of the ties was not clear. Flynn is now is seeking immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying regarding the president’s ties to Russia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. Flynn’s attorney has stated only that “discussions have taken place” with the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, but that is all the information that is been released to the public for now.
From the work family balance to the effective leadership styles, what do the ladies think about women in leadership?And how to we make leadership theory practical? And how do minions fit in? Are we making this all up and it’s just in our head? You might want to listen in because we definitely have an opinion about this.
We get it, Wednesdays can be tough to get through. In an effort to keep up with the world’s ever-changing news landscape, we’ve put together the top 10 headlines so you can stay on top of things.
On March 22nd, five people (including the attacker) were tragically killed in a terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge (near the Houses of Parliament) in London. More than 50 people were injured. The attack itself only lasted 82 seconds and involved a man named Khalid Masood driving a car hired from a depot in Birmingham; he used the car to hit pedestrians indiscriminately, going almost 80 miles per hour.
Masood had a criminal record (his most recent conviction having to do with life possession in 2003) and had been previously investigated, according to Prime Minister Theresa May, in relation to “concerns about violent extremism”, but did not seem like a threat at that time. Because of the attack, UK has set it’s terror threat level to “severe” and the Mayor of London has expressed that this will not change for some time, as a subsequent attack is highly likely.
Egyptian former president (or as some call him, Egypt’s successfully overthrown dictator) Hosni Mubarak, was released after spending a mere 6 years detained in one of Cairo’s military hospitals. Mubarak has been acquitted of all charges of murdering 239 protesters during the Arab spring uprising of 2011 and has returned to his home in a suburb in Cairo where he is now living seemingly comfortably with family and friends. Mubarak was also charged with corruption, but this charge was overturned in 2015. Egyptians, although some are hopeful about the future of Egypt and some feel more or less resigned, enemies and supporters of Mubarak alike, seem collectively unsurprised by Mubarak’s release.
Donald Trump’s proposed “healthcare” plan (meant to “repeal and replace” Obama’s Affordable Care Act) was pulled on Friday by Paul Ryan due to it’s inevitable failure to garner the necessary votes, even though the GOP holds majority in both the House and the Senate. In response, Trump has publicly blamed both the House Freedom Caucus and Democrats in general for the bill’s lack of support. A poll conducted by CBS indicates that the bill lacked support simply because it was not a popular bill, as opposed to having anything to do with Donald Trump himself or the fact that either Republicans or Democrats didn’t compromise.
4. Hundreds of minority girls have gone missing in DC
More than 500 juveniles have been reported missing from DC in the first three months of 2017. The missing children and teens have been primarily Latina and black females, and it is feared that these are incidents of human trafficking. While some say that more girls have gone missing recently than during the beginning of the year, others say this impression is only created by greater social media presence of the issue. Either way, this should be a top-priority issue and many are outraged that it is not being treated as such.
5. Scottish parliament in support of referendum for its independence
The Scottish parliament will vote as to whether to request another referendum for independence from the UK on the 28th of March. The original vote was postponed due to the attack in London. This gives Scotland time – albeit, not very much – to begin discussions before Theresa May intends to trigger Article 50 (which would officially kickstart the “Brexit” process).
6. Agreement is reached to replace 18K contaminated water lines in Flint by 2020
Flint, Michigan, which first made headlines in 2014 after reports of lead-contaminated water broke, has been suffering from a water crisis for the last three years now. The effects of the contamination could impact residents for the rest of their lives; among the health risks of lead contamination are impaired mental cognition and behavioral disorders. Young children and pregnant women are especially susceptible.
A $97 million settlement has been approved by a federal judge. The money will cover the replacement of water lines made of lead or “galvanized steel.” About 18,000 households will be affected by the year 2020.
Flint is a particularly vulnerable city, with over 41% of residents living below the poverty line and a demographic makeup of about 56% African American. The city is located about an hour drive north of Detroit.
7. First annual #MuslimWomensDay is celebrated
Twitter.com
Hundreds of thousands took to social media (namely Twitter) in support of #MuslimWomensDay on the 27th of March. The date coincides with Women’s History Month. The campaign is due to partnerships between Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Muslim Girl, and HerCampus, who marketed the day to the world.
Women – Muslim and non – were encouraged to share their experiences and stories around the world. The day was meant to highlight the diversity and power of Muslim women.
8. New population of tigers found in eastern Thailand
A new population of rare tigers have been discovered in eastern Thailand. According to BBC, camera traps captured footage of at least six cubs. The discovery is an important one, as the current total population estimate wavers at just around 250. Poachers post the biggest threat to their safety at the moment.
The protection of these animals is critical; in a world where “major league” animals such as tigers and elephants are at risk of extinction due to poaching, this is an environmental wake-up call for all of us.
The Special Olympics is gearing up to begin a whirlwind of competitions. This year, the games will be hosted throughout the US, from Texas, to Illinois. Athletes in the Special Olympics are children and adults with intellectual disabilities, hailing from all around the world. Over 4.7 million athletes from 169 countries have participated, some as young as 8 years old.
10. Kenya in critical condition, in addition to Somalia’s famine crisis
The Red Cross announced that Kenya is facing a serious humanitarian crisis, with over 3 million in need of food aid as drought takes hold of yet another country. The timing of Kenya’s crises joins several other East African countries, namely, Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.
Ever meet a man on Tinder who claimed to be a feminist yet he believed it was the girl’s fault for the rape? Yeah, same. Where do you draw a line? How do you meet men or women who are truly feminists? Why are all men suddenly claiming to be feminists? We uncover the answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode. Kat and Esther discuss their favourite jokes about ghosts and boobies before they talk about having their own reality TV shows.
We get it, Wednesdays can be tough to get through. In an effort to keep up with the world’s ever-changing news landscape, we’ve put together the top 10 headlines so you can stay on top of things.
1. Rohingya refugees crisis worsens
aljazeera.com
Currently at the refugee camps of Balukhali, many struggle to survive through harsh climates and circumstances that they are succumbed to. The refugees get little-to-no aid for health because there are no medical facilities. The health of the refugees deteriorates everyday due to the unstable conditions with food and water and bathrooms. As many struggle to survive and look forward to a better future in the refugee camp, they all take things one day at a time.
2. Electronics banned on UK and US flights inbound from the Middle East
bbc.com
As many flights allow the use of portable electronic devices, some flights are beginning to see that any electronic device bigger than a smart phone could be used for terrorism. The airlines that decided to ban large electronics state that it could prevent any attacks from occurring and save more lives. Although these airlines have impacted this rule, passengers are still allowed to take on their electronic devices but only to be put in their check-in luggage.
The bans on electronics were announced by Royal Jordanian Airlines, and impacts 8 majority-Muslim countries.
3. Sesame Street’s Julia will open
nytimes.com
Throughout years that Sesame Street has been on air, they have always taught us many valuable life lessons, and the time has come to see a new perspective for everyone to take note of. The new 4-year-old muppet, Julia, is diagnosed with autism but has an amazing ability to memorize song lyrics better than any of her peers. The character is played by a mother whom understands the world of a child with autism because her child is diagnosed as well. Julia is meant to be shown as a character that can teach about a person with autism is like and that they are more than what meets the eye.
Taking precaution, Pakistan has made it a priority to seek out possible terrorists and send them to military court. The situation was brought to the national assembly’s attention after the terrorist attack on the army-run school in 2014. Not only are they taking this precaution, but they are also reinstating the death penalty.
5. SCOTUS hearing for supreme court nominee
abcnews.com
The recent hearing for the Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, took place on March 21 and allowed him to get some interesting points out on what he would do and how he would handle things if handed the job. The nominee did happen to avoid such questions that dealt with issues that were sensitive to touch on at the time, but did make it clear that he is not biased and that the law is always right. Continuing with the hearing, Gorsuch went on to say that he agreed 99% of the time with the appeals court decisions. The nominee admitted that he would not partake in political decisions because of the consequences that could be at hand.
6. Sports fans, rejoice – March madness is underway
Basketball fans, get hyped! The NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the annual single-elimination tournament currently featuring 68 college teams this year is taking place in Kentucky, and continues on Thursday, March 23rd. The tournament airs on TBS, TNT, CBS and truTV. The National Championship will air on Monday, April 3rd, so stay tuned!
7. Sweden updates nuclear bunkers as tensions with Russia escalate
Fears are evidently growing surrounding Russia and a possible Cold War. Putin has increased Russia’s military presence along the Baltic, putting Baltic states (namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) under pressure. Consequently, Sweden is taking preemptive action. This week, 50 members of parliament held a military drill at a secret location, in which Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency dusted off and subsequently carried out a review of the nation’s Cold War-era nuclear bunkers. Gotland, Sweden’s largest island and the closest in proximity to Russia as it’s right in the center of the Baltic Sea, was one of the first to have its bunkers checked. Further increases in both Russia’s and Sweden’s militaries seem inevitably underway.
8. Apple releases red iPhone, in collaboration with PRODUCT(RED)
Apple released a brand new, special edition, cherry-red iPhone 7 in an effort to support the AIDS charity, (PRODUCT)RED; it will be available for order starting this Friday, March 24th. Apple has worked with (PRODUCT)RED previously as well, such as with the release of its special edition iPod Nano, it’s more recent Beats products, and its accessories for the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. However, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has referred to the latest red iPhone as Apple’s “biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED).”
In addition to the color change, the new phone was released with several other novel features, including up to 256 GB of storage and various new apps, such as Apple Clips. It was released along with an updated version of the smaller iPad Pro, which has brighter display, better performance, but is cheaper in cost than its predecessor.
Tomi Lahren, host of The Blaze’s “Tomi,” in which she generally shares her political views and feelings, had her show suspended for a week due to conservative backlash regarding her explanation of why she was pro-choice. She made the statement during her appearance on last Friday’s “The View.” Essentially, Tomi defended her position by citing that she would be a hypocrite not to, considering she is a believer in limited government involvement.
The most significant backlash and the one which led to the suspension of her show came from Glen Beck, founder of The Blaze, who took issue with primarily her justification of her position. The public wonders why this is where conservatives draw the line, after Lahren has made countless statements in the past that have been wildly inappropriate, blatantly racist, uneducated and inaccurate, and somehow shouldered no consequences.
10. UN accused Israel of apartheid politics, then took it back
Earlier this week, the UN accused Israel of committing acts that constitute the crime of apartheid, calling Israel guilty of crimes against humanity. The report in question was written by two known critics of Israel’s practices: Virginia Tilley and Richard Falk. It was titled “Israeli Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid,” and published by the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The report was written with the intention of convincing and pushing governments to support BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) activities against Israel.
However, just as quickly as the word spread, the report was taken down. UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said the report had been “published without any prior consultations with the UN Secretariat and its views do not represent those of the secretary-general.” Still, the incident was not a positive one in terms of Israel’s relationship with the UN.
This week, we welcome our pop and trends editor, Chelsea Ennen to the podcast! We’re wondering whether celebrity activists effective at all? From Shia LeBeouf to Katy Perry, how successful are they in using their platform for social betterment? And what are the dangers of letting an individual represent a community? And where did Kat go anyway?
Stay tuned to the end for Esther’s strange question about celebrity parents.
At the close of 2016, many of us looked back on the year with a mixture of incredulity and sadness. We felt the deep reverberations of a changing political global landscape, riding the shockwaves through events like Brexit, an attempted Turkish coup, and the American election campaign. For many, politics took a dark and sudden turn the night Donald Trump was elected.
Donald Trump’s rise to power and ultimate capture of the White House was jolting for many. The rhetoric he used to incite support was divisive, destructive, and crass — but the sad truth is that he was merely capitalizing on the sentiments of his support base. He’s all of our childhood bullies personified: the ones who picked on us for our names, sexualities, clothes, lunches, appearances. Our bullies tried to make us feel small, alien.
[bctt tweet=”The Tempest is launching a new Policy vertical to kick off the new political era.” username=”wearethetempest”]
Donald Trump’s victory is an affirmation that those bullies don’t merely exist on the playground. And as of today, he was sworn in as 45th President of the United States of America.
That’s not something we’re going to take lightly.
We’re not here to participate in internet slacktivism — we’re here to assert our political presence. Which is why The Tempest is launching a new Policy vertical to kick off the dawn of a new political era.
We’re here to help people like you decipher laws and policies in ways that are easily digestible for everyone. In times like these, the most powerful thing we can do is equip ourselves with knowledge.
However, keeping up with politics requires time, energy, and (more often than not) an advanced dictionary/thesaurus. Truth is, many of us become discouraged with the seemingly daunting and clunky language of politics. Bills can be up to hundreds of pages long and full of legal jargon that’s difficult to break down. It’s all-too-easy to disengage from the endless bills that flow through the congressional labyrinth.
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This section is going disrupt that flow, take out the haphazard fluff and get straight to what matters. We’ll walk you through some of the hottest bills, what they aim to do, and whether or not they’ll disproportionately affect you.
Given that this is such a crucial time for politics, it’s extremely important that we understand the policies which govern us. Practicing active citizenship is the best favor we can do for ourselves, regardless of whoever’s in office.
Trying to boil 2016 down to a few words, or even a few sentences, is a challenge.
When I first sat down to choose the four articles that best summed up the year, I wasn’t sure what angle I wanted to take. Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year is “Post-Truth” – and while I’m inclined to agree with the choice, the News Section covers more than just divisive politics.
Looking back on some of this year’s biggest headlines, I can’t help but re-live the roller coaster of emotions associated with them. We stood in solidarity with our black brothers and sisters, criticized the judicial system when Brock Turner got off easy, and mourned the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre. We bit our nails as the events of Brexit unfolded, watched incredulously as Donald Trump won the American presidency, and stood at the front lines of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Our hearts broke as the crisis in Syria reached unprecedented levels, and several terror attacks across Europe incited new waves of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic rhetoric.
2016 was filled with events that were so shocking, we almost couldn’t believe they happened.
But amidst the heartbreak, we’ve had some serious gains. We’ve doubled our writer’s network and now feature voices from over 20 countries. Every email, pitch, and article is a gain in my eyes. It means we’re still fighting.
Race relations were at the forefront of most of identity politics reporting this year. Cecilia Nowell, Editorial Fellow, tackles Colin Kaepernick and race relations in America as she describes her complicated relationship with the Pledge of Allegiance: “I had, after all, grown up in a country where presidents proclaimed ‘God bless America’ and bumper-stickers exclaimed ‘God bless our troops!’ Believing in God was half of being an American. But what was I if I didn’t?”
This honest narrative gets us all to think about how we practice our patriotism.
Sexual violence is no joke – and young females are especially vulnerable. We saw extensive dialogue taking place throughout Brock Turner’s highly publicized trial – and the nation’s collective dismay when he got let off easy. The horrifying reality of this year’s rape statistics has shown us there’s a lot of work to be done.
Chelsea Hensley spares no feelings in this powerful open letter: “I’ll never forget or forgive that you are a rapist. I wish nothing but bad things on you.”
Mansharn Toor gets honest with us as she describes her struggles as a Sikh woman in Canada. Toor’s experiences relatable on many levels: “Since [9/11], being a brown skinned individual in a dominantly white country meant that with many interactions with the Western world I would be racialized.”
Toor shares with us a secret she’s never told before and stresses the need for increased dialogue, while simultaneously debunking myths surrounding the turban.
It would be an understatement to say that politics were at the forefront of media this year. Editorial Fellow Ryanne Berry sums up the millennial experience in this honest description on her journey to “becoming political.”
Once she started engaging with politics, she realized how important it was to discern the “difference between internet slacktivism and actually being ‘political,'” especially with the rapid advent of social media.
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