Tag: Mike Pence

Categories
USA 2020 Elections Activism Politics Race The World Inequality

Uplifting Black people is the best way to thank Stacey Abrams

[Image description: Stacey Abrams wearing a mask that says, "vote."] Via essence.com
[Image description: Stacey Abrams wearing a mask that says, "vote."] Via essence.com

Thanks to the efforts of Black organizers and activists, the state of Georgia has made many historical wins regarding their recent Senate races. Notably, it’s been almost 30 years since Georgia was a blue state. Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won in their respective races, on Tuesday night, to tie the United States senate 50-50 between Demoract and Republican seats. This means when the Senate votes on important political issues, Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris will break ties if there is one, becoming the deciding factor on what policies get approved or thrown out.

Additionally, Rev. Warnock will be the first Black senator to represent Georgia, the eleventh Black senator overall to serve in America, and the second Black senator from the south since The Reconstruction Era. In his victory speech, Warnock acknowledged the historical significance of his win stating, “The other day, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator.” In addition, 33-year-old Ossoff will be the youngest person to hold a seat in the senate since Joe Biden won Deleware in 1973 at 30-years-old.

Needless to say, Black women came through for the Democratic party. Again. As has been highlighted many times, Stacey Abrams has been fighting against voter suppression since her governor loss in 2018 and has since registered an estimated 800,000 Georgia citizens to vote. Stacey Abrams’ organization Fair Fight that emphasizes voter empowerment for Black people along with others such as Black Voters Matter, The New Georgia Project, and The People’s Agenda carefully and tirelessly strategized to advocate for Black voters in the south. 

So, these monumental Democratic wins for Biden, Harris, Ossoff, and Warnock are a result of the groundwork Black people did, fighting to take back our democracy since Donald Trump’s unsavory presidential win in 2016. These major wins also further highlight how Black women are indeed the backbone of the Democratic Party as well as the importance of political groundwork, in-person interaction, and community care to progress the political framework of the American government. 

Black organizers have been focused in Georgia for years before the rest of America invested attention in the state after it became a battleground in the 2020 presidential election. However, it’s been noted the way Black female political figures tend to become idealized by white Americans after the rest of the country can reap the benefits of Black women’s work. 

For example, people praised Kamala Harris during her vice presidential debate with Mike Pence last October when she continuously asserted her will by not allowing him to speak over her. And people are now praising, in a hyper-romanticized sort of way, Stacey Abrams, similar to the way they did Kamala, for all of the work she’s done for the Democratic Party. The praise in itself isn’t the problem; however, it is uncloaking a pattern of behavior rooted in misogynoir.

It feels as though white people will only allot praise to Black women when our efforts are beneficial to them. Whereas Black women elsewhere still tend to get talked over, overlooked, and accused of being angry, difficult, or combative when we advocate for or defend ourselves. Abrams herself has denounced this sentiment of being a magical savior for the Democratic Party in a New York Times article stating, “I chafe at this idea that we then objectify one group as both [the] savior and as [the] responsible party.”

Democrats won those senate races in Georgia because Black women organizers and activists fought hard through voter suppression and historical disenfranchisement to ensure Black people’s voices were heard. Political efforts on the ground from Stacey Abrams, Felicia Davis, Helen Butler, Nsé Ufot, and other Black women across Southern states aided in numerous crucial Democratic wins. White liberals were ready to give up on Georgia when Abrams lost in 2018, but she stayed to fight the suppression that cost her the governor seat.

The many successes for Democrats are after years of racism, disenfranchisement, and oppression on the Black community. So, don’t romanticize our work, offer to support us instead. 

Black people are often forced to move mountains with little resources. People must seek to financially support Black grassroots organizations, create or donate to scholarships for Black youth, and/or aid in investing in community care benefitting the Black community. Also, head how the Black women in your lives are treated. Uplift the voices of your Black female colleagues or friends when they need it. It’s likely that as you praise the likes of Abrams and Harris on social media for their strength, the Black women in your lives are being chastised for the same reasons.

Furthermore, Black women continue to do standout work in American politics, but we are also not your political work mules to be praised only when it benefits others. Rather, we are people who are oppressed and in search of freedom however we can get it. The best way to thank Stacey Abrams and other Black female organizers for their efforts is by continuously showing up and being an ally for Black people everywhere and in anyway way you can. As I’ve said before, the work of achieving true equality continues, and the road towards liberation will be made easier if and when we are all engaged in this work together.

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Categories
The Environment 2020 Elections Inequality

President Trump’s four year long war on science needs to come to an end

[A firefighter walks across the street under the smoky skies from wildfires in San Francisco] via unsplash
[A firefighter walks across the street under the smoky skies from wildfires in San Francisco] via unsplash

The past four years have been irreversibly affected by efforts from the Trump administration to limit the use of science in policy making. During this administration’s tenure all of the progressive climate reforms made by its predecessors have been reversed – the United States removed itself from The Paris Agreement and the wildfires raging across the West Coast have doubled in size causing the forced evacuations of more than 90,000 residents. To make matters worse, these fires show no sign of slowing down as increased emissions from heat-trapping gases have led to warmer and drier conditions in the area. The flames which have torn across the West Coast thus far in 2020 indicate the most active fire season on record. As the climate warms, the wildfires will continue to grow larger and more frequent. Still, President Trump denies the enormity of the threat presented by climate change. Our nation cannot afford another four years of his environmental inaction.

Both presidential debates last month included questions regarding climate change, prompting the candidates to speak on their plans to rectify the situation. But here’s the thing—there is no rectifying it. Global warming has worsened with every passing year since at least 1950. The only viable option left—apart from laying in the grave which has been dug for all living beings—is to try to slow down the progress of global warming and not allow the earth to become entirely unlivable for the future generations. Perhaps this is a classic case of too little, too late.

Since taking office President Trump has invalidated the well-known fact that carbon dioxide emissions are caused by human activities, labeling it “alarmist.” Instead, he has held onto the American coal industry as well as domestic oil production for dear life, therefore accelerating fossil fuel development. On the debate stage a few Thursday’s ago, the president proudly stuck up his faux green thumb and proclaimed that his fervent solution to save the environment is to plant more trees.

On the other hand, Joe Biden’s plan is only a little less ashy. His campaign promises a strict reduction of net carbon emissions through the creation of new energy-efficient homes and electric vehicle charging stations—but there is a big discrepancy. The former vice president cites support of the promotion of clean energy while simultaneously assuring voters that the jobs associated with natural gas production will remain secure. So, he must be lying to someone. A real transition from fossil fuels toward renewable energy will inevitably result in the elimination of the oil and coal industries. At the rate in which the world is warming, this elimination might need to come sooner than we’d expect, leaving millions of working class Americans out of work. But, at least it’s a step away from immediate and total destruction of the earth.

The hottest year ever recorded was in 2016, with 2019 coming in a close second place by less than one-tenth of a degree Fahrenheit. Right now, there is an increased urgency to implement real change because doom is impending. Whoever winds up in the Oval Office next must plan for the economic pitfalls that will come along with such a change—but nonetheless ensure that the change happens, and fast. That is why it is imperative that all U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote do so today. In more ways than one, we hold the fate of the world in the palms of our hands. 

 

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USA Editor's Picks 2020 Elections The World

How to effectively prepare for a stress-inducing election day

[Image description: A graphic image illustrating people voting.] Via free photos on Pixabay
[Image description: A graphic image illustrating people voting.] Via free photos on Pixabay

The 2020 Presidential election is now upon us, and many Americans are feeling the weight of what is possibly at stake for the next four years. Given such a highly anticipated, seemingly crucial, and perhaps downright confusing election, many could use some helpful tips on how to effectively prepare for tomorrow’s election. Some elements of concern for voters across the country include new voting procedures, potential misinformation from social media and other news outlets as well as worrying political division.

So, whether you’re wondering what the voting process looks like across the country due to the pandemic, how to constructively utilize social media or what are the best ways to unplug before bed on Tuesday- here’s how you can prepare yourself for tomorrow’s election: 

Learn the correct voting process for your state:

If you missed early voting, it’s important to learn the correct voting process for your state on election day. Understandably, given the unprecedented election rhetoric and processes from COVID-19, what voting looks like state to state may be a bit confusing. Some states are extending mail in votes, while others require in-person voting. Axios has provided a detailed article that illustrates when and how to vote in all 50 states. Click here to learn and understand how to vote in your state.

Know your voting procedures and stay in line

Before casting your ballot, you’ll be asked to present a form of acceptable identification and voter registration card. For voters 18 to 69, the presented identification cannot have expired more than 4 years ago. Voters 70 and older may use a form of acceptable photo identification that has expired if the identification is otherwise valid. While waiting in line, simply stay until you vote. 

Even if the polls close while you’re standing in line, you are still legally allowed to vote. A 2018 Mental Floss article states, “As long as you are in line at closing time, you have a legal right to vote. In fact, if someone does attempt to force you to leave, you are encouraged to call a voter protection hotline (such as 1-866-OUR-VOTE) or submit a complaint to the Department of Justice (1-800-253-3931).”

Be prepared to wait

Election days can see long lines with possibly hours long wait times. When going to vote, ideally, wear comfortable and warm clothes for standing outside, bring food to snack on and water to stay hydrated, and maybe even take headphones to listen to music or watch a couple episodes of your favorite show. Take whatever you need tomorrow to ensure you’re comfortable and able to withstand a long wait. Also, don’t forget to bring your mask!


Items to bring with you

As previously mentioned, it’s likely you may face long wait times on election day. To ensure efficiency and accuracy, bring the proper resources necessary to cast your vote. 

Most states require a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or tribal ID, to vote. Other states allow people to use non-photo identification, like bank statements, to vote. Notably, your voter registration card is needed along with some form of identification. In cases when a voter cannot provide identification, there are two legal options. First being what is called a non-strict policy that lets people cast a ballot without further action from the voter or vote on a non-provisional ballot. Second being a strict policy that requires voting on a provisional ballot and takes additional steps after election day to ensure the vote is counted. For more information on voter identification laws and necessary materials to bring on election day, click here.

Use social media wisely:

On election days, social media can be great for reassurance, community, and much needed humor; however, social media sites can also be a cesspool of misinformation and baseless claims. A recently published Washington Post article advises people “not to jump to any conclusions before a race is called by an official outlet, no matter how it looks on a news or social media site’s official map.” Tomorrow, make sure to check your sources while on social media sites and resist the urge to jump to inaccurate conclusions. In addition, don’t share news unless you’re confident the information is accurate and legitimate. And, finally, don’t forget to take social media breaks!

Find ways to unplug:

Whatever the outcome in tomorrow’s election, many people can attest to having some mild or severe anxiety leading up to Tuesday. Additionally, because of mail in votes, it’s likely we won’t even know the outcome of the election for perhaps another week. With this in mind, find helpful ways to unplug and relax before going to bed on Tuesday, and be prepared to upkeep this routine for a few days. I suggest prioritizing sleep, maintaining social connections with others who are just as anxious as you, or doing a stress-reducing activity: hot bath or shower, read, late night walk or watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show. Ultimately, in addition to election results, your wellbeing matters too.

Lean on friends or family for emotional support:

Finding comfort in those close to you can be very helpful on election nights. There are even emotional support groups specifically for Tuesday on social media sites like Facebook. Try engaging with like-minded individuals, within your friend group or family, on election night for an outlet of humor, support, or comfort to help you get through what is likely going to be a long, stress-inducing election process.

 All things considered, allow yourself to feel any and all complicated emotions during this time. Tomorrow’s election is unprecedented and feels to be one of the most divided elections in American history. 

Regarding post election preparation, Katyi Christian sums it up perfectly in her article for The Good Trade stating, “The most important thing we can do post-election is to stay engaged and to hold our leaders accountable. Even if your party won or the votes went the way you hoped, it’s up to us to ensure that legislation is passed and promised policies are fulfilled. Election day is not the ending, it’s the beginning.”

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Categories
LGBTQIA+ Money Now + Beyond

You cannot profit off of Pride and still be an ally

A person is wearing a black cap with the word "Equality" around a rainbow and they are wearing a rainbow hoodie.
[Image description: A person is wearing a black cap with the word "Equality" around a rainbow and they are wearing a rainbow hoodie.] Via Elyssa Fahndrich on Unsplash

Stonewall is barely behind us. The crypt keeper otherwise known as Mike Pence sits a spitting distance from the highest office in the nation which is currently filled by notable transphobe Donald Trump. In dozens of other countries, homosexuality is punishable by prison or even death.  Yet amidst all this, we have Pride.

It is remarkable that parades celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community still go tumbling down the street in a cloud of body paint and glitter despite so much hate. Being able to join in wearing a t-shirt that says “Born This Gay” or “Pride and No Prejudice” should be recognized as the small, but fierce feat it is.

While June is undoubtedly an important month to rock the rainbow with technicolor “Love Wins” and innocuous “HUMAN” shirts, all that merch feels a little bit advantageous. An injection of incremental support at a time when everyone is looking to see who’s an ally. For thirty days in June, companies like American Eagle, Absolut, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Disney, Equinox, IKEA, Lush, Macy’s, Megabus (what?), Nike, Rosetta Stone, Sweetgreen, Under Armor, Warby Parker and countless others are quick to roll-out limited-time offers and special editions in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. While that may seem like an exciting list of #allies, it is important to remember that they all revert back to monochrome once the month is over.

Sure, Bud Light’s rainbow-colored aluminum bottles are appreciated, but the truth is corporations, just like cops, haven’t really earned a place at Pride.

Without consistent and substantial support, all the banks, brands…and mouthwash (???) are all fair weather friends that rolled up in time for the month-long block party that is Pride and disappear after. In addition to that not being true allyship or inclusion, these companies are also making more than a quick buck off of the celebration all under the guise of giving back to the Community.

For their new STAY TRUE, STAY YOU collection, H&M is “celebrating love, equality, and togetherness in all its glory!” This means quoting Laverne Cox and donating “10% of the global sales price” from the collection to the United Nations’ Free & Equal campaign. At $10 a tank top, H&M is really going to have to move some product to make that percentage count.

Similarly, Rag & Bone is featuring a BE PROUD, DO GOOD campaign that celebrates “Pride with two limited edition t-shirts inspired by individuality and togetherness and designed by NYC-based artist Jason Naylor.” Each costs $150, of which 20% will benefit The Trevor Project. Rag & Bone is also decorating “Pride windows” at select locations. For those counting at home, that’s $30 and a window.

Urban Outfitters‘s Happy Pride collection features t-shirts, racerbacks, snapbacks, socks, fanny packs, backpacks, bucket hats– everything you’d expect to find in an Urban. According to the UO website, “for every item sold, UO Community Cares has donated $10 to GLSEN, the leading education organization focused on creating LGBTQ-inclusive schools.”  That’s $10, which is what it costs to buy a salad in the city, for a $30 t-shirt you have to assemble yourself.

Gap (from exactly May 26th to July 6th) is donating “15% of sales from the Gap + Pride Collection to the United Nations Foundation in support of the UN Free & Equal Campaign for LGBTI equality. Up to $100,000. While supplies last.” Purchasing their Embroidered Denim Shorts, which cost a cool $59.95, means about $9 goes towards LGBTI equality.

But wait, it gets better. Converse “are supporting longstanding local and global LGBTQ+ partners, including It Gets Better Project, OUT MetroWest and Fenway Health.” Their Pride campaign also features members/advocates of the LGBTQIA+, like Navy SEAL Kristin Beck modelings a pair of Chuck 70 Pride High Tops, as well as “statements of hope” posters available for download. It is unclear how much “supporting” translates to in USD.

Pride is a celebration and should not become about money, but selling rainbow swag does beg the question of who really benefits from the proceeds. While it is truly amazing that 10% of a shirt or $9 or whatever the total comes out to is going to the Trevor Project or It Gets Better given what an important service those organizations provide, it is simply not enough.

Advertisements featuring members of the LGBTQIA+ community or their artwork is a step in the right direction. Harry’s advertisements feature Shea Couleé, Richard Haines, and Fran Tirado. They are also selling a Shave With Pride set for $25 that includes “a limited-edition, artist-designed box complete with an iridescent razor” and donating 100% of profits to the Trevor Project. Now that is a number to be proud of. 

But I guess not everyone can put their money where their mouth is. So I suggest a compromise. Keep the proceeds, move all your HOMO ESTAS t-shirts and store windows cascading rainbows to November. Because Love Wins, but Hate Votes.

Categories
Politics Policy Inequality

Trump’s voter fraud commission is a guise to suppress voters, not protect them

flickr.com

Donald Trump’s Presidential Commission on Election Integrity had its first public meeting on July 19 amid less than stellar public reception: It’s facing at least seven lawsuits, as well as unwavering skepticism from watchdogs across the nation.

The commission was created to prevent voter fraud and investigate unsubstantiated accusations made by the President that 3 to 5 million people illegally voted during the 2016 Presidential Election. This claim has been widely debunked by lawmakers, experts, and federal courts across the nation.

The Trump Administration’s actions surrounding voting rights indicate that this task force could be nothing more than a ploy to restrict voting rights. The consequences of this commission could ultimately be dire for marginalized communities, potentially disenfranchising them at an unprecedented federal level.

We’re breaking down what this commission is planning to do and how it could affect the most vulnerable:

What exactly is this commission?

thehill.com

The voter fraud task force was commissioned by executive order in May to investigate supposed mass voter fraud in the 2016 election. Vice Chair Kris Kobach so far has asked states to turn in voter data to “enhance the American people’s confidence in the integrity of the voting processes,” but has not explicitly discussed what will be done with this information.

Each state is required to keep records of its registered voters in accordance with the Help America Vote Act, but the type of voter information collected and how much is made public is to the discretion of each state. So far, 14 states have refused to comply with the task force’s voter data request.

What we know so far is that the task force wants to create a centralized collection of national voter information to “investigate fraud,” but this move could violate state-specific privacy laws and lay the foundation for voter suppression on a national level.

Why is the commission problematic?

eji.org

The supposedly “bipartisan” commission isn’t so bipartisan after all: The majority of the group is composed of Republicans who have records of supporting restrictive voting laws that historically affect communities of color.

Kobach himself has notoriously disenfranchised voters in his home state of Kansas by requiring voters to show proof-of-citizenship. He was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union after he barred about 30,000 Kansas citizens from registering to vote because of policy that required people to show a birth certificate or passport to prove citizenship. 

According to a public email, Kobach also expressed how he hoped to amend the National Voter Registration Act with a provision that would implement proof-of-citizenship requirements on a federal level. The act currently prevents states from imposing a proof-of-citizenship on new voters and encourages states to streamline the registration process.

The Department of Justice has already sent out its own request for personal voter data from 44 states in a move to potentially force voter purging, which could assist in the Trump Administration’s wider efforts to restrict voting.

How could communities of color be affected?

washingtonpost.com

According to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the task force is founded on the “false premise that Black and Latino voters are more likely to perpetrate voter fraud.” Trump himself has also claimed that much of the supposedly illegal votes in the most recent presidential election were from undocumented immigrants, a claim yet again unsubstantiated.

The commission believes that it can curb fraudulent voting by requiring voters to prove their citizenship. But as research has shown, those that are most affected by these proof-of-citizenship requirements are communities of color, as well as low income, elderly and disabled folks. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, these voters are less likely to have government-issued identification or ready access to proof of citizenship in the first place.

More than half of U.S. states implement voter ID requirements, effectively hindering marginalized communities from rightfully participating in the electoral process, even if they are eligible.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego found that Black and Latino voters who live in states with strict voter ID laws have the lowest turnout in elections. For example, they found that Latino voter turnout was 10.3 points lower in states where a valid photo ID is a required versus Latinos in states where the requirements are lax.

Voter fraud has been proven to be extremely rare, and American lawmakers need to stop using the fight against it as a guise to suppress already disenfranchised voters.

In order to have a truly democratic society, all citizens should be afforded the fundamental right to vote, no matter their racial or socioeconomic background. Lawmakers owe it to their consituents to do all they can to protect every citizen’s right to vote, not suppress it.

Categories
USA World News The World

Arkansas Executions, North Korea, and Turkey: The Week in Review

Property of the Tempest, Inc.

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

mike pence korea
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

steve stephens
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.

While the festival draws in thousands of attendees every year, “Coachella Culture” has been heavily criticized for promoting cultural appropriation.

4. Two inmates on death row are executed on hours apart in Arkansas


Source

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

Related image
telegraph.co.uk

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

Image result for kathrine switzer
NHPR

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.

9. Erdogan expands his power overseas


Source

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.

Until next week:

GIPHY
Categories
Politics The World

Andrew Puzder withdrew nomination for labor secretary

Puzder
politico.com

Fast-food executive Andrew Puzder has withdrawn as President Donald Trump’s decision for labor secretary due to the increasing opposition from Senates focused primarily on Puzder’s past employment of an undocumented housekeeper.

From the nomination in December 2016, Puzder faced strong opposition from democrats, unions, and liberal groups. The attacks mostly focused on his business record and his character. But the Republicans had also grown tired of the doubts facing Puzder. This eventually led to senior GOP officials notifying the White House Wednesday that Puzder lacked a viable path for approval.

In the following afternoon, Puzder released a statement saying, “After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labor”. So what happened in two months to have the nomination back out of the race?

There were many rumors about the candidate, along with records such as of those from his 1988 divorce. These records of divorce brought up again of past spousal abuse accusations made some Republican senators very uncomfortable. His ex-wife had dropped the accusations, but senators from both parties privately screened a videotape. This videotape showed Puzder’s wife as she laid out the charges in disguise.

Despite these acts, some people say that they would still vote for Puzder. An example would be Lamar Alexander, chairman of the HELP Committee, who speaks of how Puzder taking responsibility for the actions prove him to be a qualified and honorable member for the labor secretary position.

Alexander says, “I evaluate him and his whole life’s work, so I didn’t think that mistake should disqualify him from being a cabinet member.” The only mistake Alexander was talking about, however, was the case of the undocumented housekeeper. In the situation, Puzder admitted that he let her go as soon as he realized the housekeeper was undocumented.

President Trump is now looking for a new candidate and he was recently spotted around the eastern coast with some possibilities.

“If President Trump is remotely serious about standing up for workers, he will nominate someone for Labor Secretary that champions workers’ rights rather than suppresses them,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Searching for a new candidate for the position would show to be too soon to come up with a short list. Also, the president likes making personal connections but acknowledged there are some names floating at the moment.

Authorities hinted that Peter Kirsanow has already been in their orbit. He is a Cleveland attorney and a former member of the National Labor Relations Board and current member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

Kirsanow met President Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in November.

Authorities would not fully confirm other names being publicly reported. When asked about rumors that Catherine Templeton and Joseph Guzman were among those being considered, an official would only tell NBC News, “You’re close.” If the new White House were a person, it would be someone with resting bitch face syndrome. That way, you never know anything about what they really think or know.

However, Templeton, former director of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation of South Carolina, visited Trump Tower in New York on Dec. 5. Guzman, assistant professor at Michigan State University’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, was seen at Trump Tower on Jan 3.

Looking at a wider scale, there is a question of the multiple resignations and withdrawing nominations in the last month. Puzder’s removal arrived only two days following the resignation of President Trump’s security adviser, Michael T. Flynn. In early February, Trump’s candidate for Army secretary Vincent Viola, the billionaire financier, also retired his name from consideration, stating he could not complicate his business relationships. And the U.S. secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, was approved only after Vice President Mike Pence called a tiebreaking vote.

What does this say for America? Is it to say that none of the nominations can stand for themselves? Is it to say that Pence and Trump are only hiring those who can follow them blindly?

Categories
Gender Inequality

I pass as a straight woman in Trump’s America – here’s why that’s a privilege

source

President Trump’s administration has made their position on LGBTQ+ issues pretty clear. And in case it wasn’t clear enough, when he officially took office, the LGBTQ+ issues webpage disappeared from the whitehouse.gov website. LGBTQ+ identifying people took to the Internet to express their rage at being erased from this Administration.

LGTBQ+ people have been enraged and terrified since the election results came in.

President Trump and Vice President Pence pose an actual danger to the LGBTQ+ community. Their administration has talked about repealing gay marriage. They support the trans discriminatory bathroom bills that are being passed throughout the county. Mike Pence has even admitted that he believes in using electroshock therapy to ‘treat’ gay people, because he believes homosexuality is a disease. There are plenty of reasons to be angry and scared.

In a time where identifying as LGBTQ+ is so scary, it’s easy for straight passing and cis passing people to hide behind their straight privilege. Before the election, I was guilty of this all the time.

I am a bisexual woman who is married to a man. I have been with that man for over five years and it’s been a long time since my bisexuality was noticeable. In fact, there are people in my life who didn’t know I was bisexual until the election.

There are many reasons for this, including my own struggle with internalized bi-erasure. It’s very common for bisexual people to have their sexuality lost under other labels. When I was dating women, I identified as a lesbian. When I started dating my current husband, I questioned my sexuality entirely. There was a time when I never thought I’d date a man again, so I was completely confused by falling head over heels for this guy.

I experienced some harsh alienation from the gay community in my area when I started dating a man after years of dating exclusively women. The general consensus was that I was a ‘hasbian’, a woman who had gone through a lesbian ‘phase’ then gone back to men. At the time, I was so confused about my own sexuality that I began to believe their narrative. Maybe I had never really been gay at all. Maybe it was just that time in my life. Maybe I really was straight.

It was easy for me to believe that I was straight because I was living a completely straight life. People that met me after my current husband and I started dating had no idea that I’d ever dated women, and I started avoiding talking about the fact that I had. When talking about my exes, I used gender neutral pronouns. I started erasing the fact that I had ever dated women because I was beginning to believe that it wasn’t a part of my sexuality.

But the more I told myself that dating women had been a phase, the more inauthentic I felt. Deep down, I knew I was lying to myself about my sexuality. I had no desire to stray from my current relationship with a man, but it was undeniable that we both checked out a beautiful woman when we saw one. And I still thought about women from time to time, in the private of my own bedroom.

I was still attracted to women.

I was confused all over again. By that time, I was pretty sure that I was going to marry this guy I was dating, which meant I would probably never date a woman again. How could I identify as gay if I was never going to date a woman again? If I was going to be in a straight relationship, hopefully for the rest of my life?

It was around this time that I started to read articles about bi-erasure, the phenomenon of denying someone’s bisexual identification based on their current relationship status. These articles informed me, in no uncertain terms, that sexuality and sexual orientation have nothing to do with the person I’m currently dating. I’m not a lesbian when I’m dating a woman and straight when I’m dating a man. I am always bisexual, regardless of who shares my life and my bed.

I began to embrace my bisexuality. I used gender specific pronouns when I talked about my exes. I talked openly about dating women. When sexual orientation came up in conversation, I identified as bisexual. I corrected people who labeled me as straight because of my current relationship.

When Trump was elected, I felt some of the pain of my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.

But I realized immediately that I did not feel it as deeply as they did, because I was not currently living my life in a homosexual relationship. I was not walking down the street holding hands with my girlfriend or wife. My marriage was not in jeopardy. My safety wasn’t threatened if my husband and I kissed in public. If I wanted to be safe from this anti-LGTBQ+ administration I had the option to hide and be safe.

The day after the Election I chose not to be safe. Though I spoke openly about being bisexual to those in my life. I had not written about being bisexual on my blog or in any of my published work. In fact, I had purposely avoided it. I was still scared of identifying as bisexual on such a large stage. On November 9th, I published an article proudly stating that I was bisexual and that I refused to hide from this administration.

It would be so easy to spend the next four years staying quiet about my sexuality. There are other things to fight for: reproductive rights, Black Lives Matter, access to healthcare. I could easily oppose this administration without having to say, “I’m gay” and making myself a target.

My friends in openly gay relationships do not that privilege. Their day to day lives put them in danger. I refuse to use my straight privilege to avoid the negative consequences of this administration, and I urge other straight passing people to come out and stand up to this administration as well. We should be putting our lives on the line with all our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.

Categories
Politics The World

What’s Mike Pence’s game?

chicagotribune.com

Mike Pence. The man, the mystery, the former Governor of Indiana. Currently running as Donald Trump’s VP, Mike Pence is probably best known for signing the infamous Indiana “freedom of religion” law that allowed Indiana business owners to discriminate against LGBTQ people. He spent twelve years in Congress advocating to defund Planned Parenthood, describing himself as “tea party before it was cool,” and warning that legalizing same-sex marriage could bring about societal collapse.

He had already served one term as governor and was about to run for a second when Trump asked him to join his ticket. As such, Pence’s colorful history has taken something of a backseat to his running mate, who becomes less and less electable with every passing second.

Which leads me to my question: What is your game, here, Pence? What’s your angle? What’s in it for you?

For one thing, the former congressman and governor clearly has much stronger knowledge of how government actually works than Trump does. Whenever Trump makes a ridiculous promise he couldn’t possible fulfill or blames Obama’s presidency for his bread getting moldy, Pence knows he’s being categorically incorrect. Presumably, anyway. I should hope he’d have caught on after all his time as an elected official.

Why would he want to stake his career on the Trump train? Even if he’s convinced Trump will win, that’s four years. Does Pence think that he’ll be able to channel Trump’s, erm…enthusiasm into actual, functional, government? Does he imagine himself actually running things while Trump marches around the West Wing telling random interns “you’re fired!” just because he can?

Or, does he imagine a future where Trump is impeached or steps down, allowing Pence his time in the sun? Pence was a rising star in the Republican party and a favorite to run for President himself before his homophobic legislation in Indiana made headlines and spoiled his reputation. Maybe he’s just trying to cling to the tattered remnants of his Presidential hopes, or is fantasizing about jumping in and saving the day after Trump has his fun.

Huh. Remember the days when doing or saying heinously bigoted things made you (even supposedly) unfit to run on the Republican ticket? Good times…

The other interesting thing is how Trump really isn’t as hardcore conservative as Pence is, on many subjects. They don’t agree on policy; the list of areas where they differ goes far beyond Trump’s response to questions about Syria in the second debate.

After Trump’s “pussy grabbing” tape leaked, Pence didn’t even bother trying to spin it, he just said “I do not condone his remarks and I cannot defend them.” For someone who has been selling himself as a conservative Christian for years, he wouldn’t do any better than that? What do his Indiana supporters think about his backing a man who brags about sexually assaulting women, brags about any kind of sexual contact with a woman who isn’t his wife?

There were plenty of Republicans who really wanted Ted Cruz but threw their lot in with Trump when it came down to it. After this latest debacle, many of them are ditching Trump like a bad habit, ignoring him to focus on Congress, or, I assume, curled up in the fetal position and asking themselves where it all went wrong.

But not Pence. No, Pence is just doubling down and making sure we all know that he hasn’t once considered dropping out of the race, calling his chance to be Trump’s VP “the greatest honor of my life.” When asked about Trump’s comments about assaulting women, he just deflected to Bill Clinton. When asked whether or not he and Trump were at odds about Syria, he said that Martha Raddatz misrepresented him in the way she framed the question.

Maybe Pence is as delusional as Trump. Maybe he really and truly believes a Trump presidency is headed our way, and it will usher a golden age in America. Considering his record as a career politician who has functioned within the system for years now, I have my doubts that his motivations are as straightforward as that.

I don’t understand you, Mike Pence. I deeply, do not understand you in a way that goes beyond your fossilized views on women and the LGBTQ community.

Categories
BRB Gone Viral Pop Culture

Don’t Play Yourself: Ivanka Trump vs. Cosmopolitan

Ivanka Trump
Politico

Welcome to Don’t Play Yourself, a weekly column dragging the rich and famous for embarrassing themselves. Every Friday I’ll collect this week’s players and decide how thoroughly they played themselves.

In this inaugural edition, the previously unknown-to-me Kate Upton lands on my radar, Ivanka Trump finds a nemesis in Cosmopolitan, Hillary Clinton takes on the Basket of Deplorables, and Kid Cudi kicks off the most boring rap beef ever.

Kate Upton

Uh…huh. Thank you, Katherine, for enlightening us all on the proper protocol for protesting. and reminding us all of the importance of blind patriotism and, of course, pleasing you.

Before Upton added her voice to the chorus of white people indignant about black football players exercising their constitutional rights, I had no idea who she (model, bad actress) was. But it wasn’t a leap to assume that, despite running to scold US citizens for not being “proud” enough, Upton’s never managed to have an opinion on police brutality. Just to be sure I checked her timeline after the recent killing of 13-year old Tyre King. Shockingly, Upton had nothing to say about it and probably never will.

I’m sure Kate Upton lives a very busy life veering out of her lane, but if she can make time to tweet all this nonsense and write an Instagram caption no one asked for, she has time to educate herself. Girl, instead of policing everyone else’s patriotism why don’t you go talk to your uncle–who blocked a bill for 9/11 first responders three times–about his. It takes a special (but not uncommon) kind of stupid to demand we never forget 9/11, but during the national anthem, especially on 9/11, forget that America’s cops often shoot and kill its citizens without cause.

Yeah, I’ll try that.

Giphy
Giphy

Did Kate Upton play herself? I feel like I got played paying attention to another mediocre white woman being determinedly ignorant. Meanwhile Upton will probably fade into attractive white lady obscurity again soon, her reputation only damaged among people who didn’t care about her to begin with.

Ivanka Trump

“So I think that you have a lot of negativity in these questions,” said Ivanka Trump in an interview with Cosmopolitan, easily replacing “I would like very much to be excluded from this narrative” as my favorite perfectly pointless phrase of 2016.

The interview was about the maternity leave plan proposed by Donald Trump, Ivanka’s bigoted father and presidential candidate, but as soon as Ivanka was asked a couple followup questions about the plan’s lack of paternity leave and her father’s previous comments about pregnancy being “inconvenient” for business, she drifted right off the rails and left the interview with an abrupt, “I’m going to jump off. I have to run. I apologize.”

Can’t you just hear Ivanka? Her measured, snooty tone taking on a bite in response to perfectly reasonable questions about her father’s so-called “policies”? Can’t you see her laughing airily (I envision a hair flip of some sort) while trying to disguise her agitation that people know her father is dirt? On the other end she was probably gesturing wildly and demanding to know how she got saddled with Prachi Gupta, my hero, when she was expecting Matt Lauer or Jimmy Fallon.

Just to make this even more confounding, Ivanka took to Twitter after the interview went live.

LMAO. Girl, what?

First of all, I’m alarmed that she doesn’t know how to number her tweets (why doesn’t she get chronology?), but what point is she trying to make? That Cosmopolitan was unfair to her by asking questioning her father’s policies? That they were standing in the way of change by holding the Trumps accountable? Yes, Ivanka, some people do have a vested interest in making sure your father doesn’t take office and fuck this country up more than it already is.

Did Ivanka play herself? Naturally. I’m sure Ivanka went into that interview expecting it to be fluffy (because it’s a woman’s magazine right, Ivanka?), but she agreed to it, showed up for it, and made herself look stupid doing it.

The Basket of Deplorables

You could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables…The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic — you name it.

YAAAAAAS, Hillary, you’re finally appealing to the rest of us! And you didn’t even have to compare yourself to anyone’s abuela! Right after Hillary dropped this truth (but she should have said “all”), the Basket of which she spoke mobilized with the intention of getting their revenge by….proving her right. Bigots usually try to prove they aren’t bigots by being bigots, but the Deplorables took it a step further and pushed back against Hillary’s characterization by embracing it fully. Social media handles changed to “Deplorable Bob” and “Deplorable Janet”, not to mention these gems:

This is peak Deplorable.

Thank you, Deplorables, for making yourselves so easily identifiable to the rest of us. It helps. I lowkey hate myself for having to google “Deplorable t-shirts” to find that image.

What the Deplorables haven’t realized is that even after Hillary’s fauxpology, she’s sprinting with “deplorables”. Though some people (probably racist people) are treating Hillary’s remarks as a gaffe rather than the objective truth, it’s unlikely she lost any support she didn’t already have. She’s more likely to gain voters now that the Trump campaign, including vice presidential deplorable candidate Mike Pence, is doing Hillary’s job for her.

Did the Basket of Deplorables play itself? It may be more accurate to ask if Hillary played them, but either way

Kid Cudi, Kanye West & Drake

I guess it’s a rapping thing, but people get all up in their feelings about not writing their own material. But if Beyonce is fine with people writing for her, everyone else can be, too. I’m clearly in the minority since Kid Cudi ruffled some feathers after going on a Twitter rampage (which I’ve shortened in the interest of not being here all day) calling out Drake and Kanye West for their teams of writers (Cudi cowrote four tracks on Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreak) and supposedly being disloyal to Cudi.

As far as rap beef goes, this one really should have been better than it was. Cudi got the ball rolling, cueing the inevitable responses from Ye and Drake, but when they came, they left a lot to be desired.

Let’s start with Kanye.

This was almost good. It started off well enough with Kanye reminding Cudi that he signed him to G.O.O.D music once upon a time, but it really should have ended there. He ruins it by trying to play the racism card with Cudi (“we’re two black men in a racist world”). Excuse me, Ye, I thought racism was  “a dated concept“. Please don’t try to feign wokeness now that Kid Cudi is putting you on blast. For Black Jesus Christ’s sake, you pal around with Vanessa Beecroft  (aka Painfully Racist White Woman #9909765), and have yet to stop begging white people to validate you and your “art”.  And wearing skinny jeans first? You can do better. Between this and the VMAs (I’m never getting that time back), maybe you should hire a speechwriter. Or Kid Cudi.

Though Kanye was disappointing, he at least came through in pure Kanye-ness. Aubrey Graham, however….

Cud-Ittt?

Cud-Ittt?

Kid Cudi says you don’t write your own stuff and you come out to prove why you can’t? Drake, where the hell was Rihanna? You couldn’t ask for her input? The Queen of the Clapback never would have let you embarrass yourself this way.

Did Kid Cudi play himself? Nah, he said his piece and left it alone. Hopefully he won’t feel the need to respond to these tepid clapbacks unless it’s to point out how weak they were.

Did Kanye play himself? Kanye is always playing himself.

Did Drake play himself? Of course he did. He said, “Cud-itttt.”

Categories
Science Now + Beyond

What would Donald Trump’s win mean for us?

CNN

The end of the Republican National Convention on Thursday officially put Donald Trump and Mike Pence on the ticket with their formal acceptance of the Republican nomination. Bloated with speeches from Trump’s children, political figures, media personalities, and business men and women, the convention was a whirlwind of emotion, encompassing the craze and dynamic energy that an election cycle brings. One of the most anticipated speeches was from the Republican nominee himself. The hour-and-15-minute speech, longer than any other since 1972, left some still with a vague view of where he will stand on many issues. With the grandiose promise of making America great again, we ask how.

While we wait for more conclusive answers on policy and reform, we must talk about Trump and Pence’s views on science. The habitats of the Oval Office are symbols for the nation and examples for the population, making their views on science crucial to understand. A little-discussed topic in the media for most presidential campaigns, we need to take a closer look at Trump and Pence’s views on science issues, hopefully giving insight into how, if elected, our world could change.

Climate Change

In a 2014 interview on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown, Pence was asked if he was convinced if climate change was man-made and responded, “I don’t know that is a resolved issue in science today” (it is). In 2001, he wrote an op-ed, “Global warming is a myth,” in response to the Kyoto Protocol. He cites inaccurate facts about climate change, like that the Earth is actually colder than it has been in 50 years. From there, there are multiple other instances of Mike Pence’s denial of climate change – earning him a spot on President Obama’s website as a climate change denier.

Similarly, Donald Trump has also joined the camp of climate change denial, but with a twist: It’s actually a Chinese conspiracy. Trump’s infamous tweets are where this theory broke out in 2012: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.” When asked about climate change last September, Trump said it was “very low on the list.” He continued, “So I am not a believer, and I will, unless somebody can prove something to me, I believe there’s weather. I believe there’s change, and I believe it goes up and it goes down, and it goes up again.”

Because of these beliefs, Trump has repeatedly spoken about renegotiating or even abolishing global climate change deals and significantly downsizing the Environmental Protection Agency.

Vaccinations

Trump tweeted in late 2014, “I am being proven right about massive vaccinations—the doctors lied. Save our children & their future.”  During CNN’s Republican debate in September of last year, Trump commented on his opinion of vaccines and their relation to autism: “Just the other day, 2 years old, 2 and a half years old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic.” Trump, like many, has played into the “apparent” relationship between autism and vaccination. As we must repeat again and again, correlation does not equal causation. There is no definitive proof that vaccines have any effect on the likelihood of autism in children.

Smoking

It may be a surprise to see this one on the list, as it would be incredibly hard to find a doctor that doesn’t proclaim smoking as a seriously harmful habit. But Pence isn’t a doctor, he’s just a politician that could make it into the White House while never believing that smoking kills. In another one of Pence’s 2001 op-eds, he plainly states, “Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn’t kill.” His support? “2 out of every three smokers does not die from a smoking related illness and 9 out of ten smokers do not contract lung cancer.” He doesn’t say that it’s safe, imploring briefly for smokers to quit, just that it doesn’t kill, implying big government is “more harmful to the nation” than smoking.

Evolution

In an interview with Chris Matthews, Mike Pence was asked the simple question: “Do you believe in evolution?” After repeating the question back to Matthews in the first-person, Pence said, “I embrace the view that God created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that’s in them.” After dodging the question of whether he believes that evolution is how we got here, Matthews concludes that Pence believes in evolution, but is afraid to admit it because his “conservative constituency might find that offensive.” Pence’s personal beliefs on evolution are still on the table, but whatever they are, it is true that Pence will not say, outright, that evolution exists. He does, however, take on the belief that all scientific controversies should be taught in schools, and let the children decide what they believe. Too bad creationism isn’t a scientific controversy.

Strangely, this is the future of our nation. These men are not scientists or doctors and cannot be judged as such. However, their lack of acceptance of commonly accepted science and their willingness to claim that it is not, in fact, accepted, shows either ignorance or deception. An acknowledgement of science is crucial, especially as a politician, as science is largely affected by government and politics. From defunding the EPA to teaching creationism in schools, the Trump/Pence presidency would change a lot—and not in a good way.

Categories
USA World News The World

RNC Drama, Twitter Bullies and Baton Rouge: The Week in Review

nyt.com

We get it, Wednesday’s 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 from the week so you can stay on top of things.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Republican National convention begins

Giphy

On Monday, July 18th, the Republican National Convention kicked off in Cleveland, Ohio to formally announce Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. A few hours in, social media was alight with criticism as plagiarism allegations surfaced in response to Melania Trump’s introductory speech.

The convention is said to amass crowds of 50,000+ people.

2. Shooting in Baton Rouge

Raw Story
Raw Story

A gunman, identified as Gavin Eugene Long, killed three police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was shot dead shortly after by a SWAT team.

Long is a former marine and allegedly suffered from PTSD. Hours before he was shot, Long released a handwritten “manifesto” calling the shooting a “necessary evil.” In a video posted on social media, he states: “Zero [revolutions] have been successful through simply protesting. It has never been successful and it never will.”

Despite claims that the Black Lives Matter movement was behind this, Long described himself as an “alpha male” and made it clear his actions were his alone.

3. Attacks in Nice on Bastille Day

Love this pic
Love This Pic

What started as a day of celebration in Nice, France turned into a day of mourning after a lorry driver plowed into a large crowd, killing 84. Ten of the victims were children; over 300 were hospitalized. The driver was identified as Franco-Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, age 31.

France extended its state of emergency for another six months following the attack. This marks the third major terrorist attack in France within the span of 18 months.

4. Attempted coup in Turkey

Huffington Post
Huffington Post

A faction of the Turkish military attempted to carry out a coup in Ankara. As it was happening, people took to social media to try to figure out the chain of events.

Nearly 10,000 people have been detained and 600 schools closed as part of counter-measures by President Erdogan to shut down opposition. He has since declared a state of emergency for three months following the coup attempt.

5. Mike Pence is announced as Donald Trump’s running mate

Twitter
Twitter

Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana, was announced via social media as Donald Trump’s pick for VP. When their joint logo was released, pretty much everyone had an opinion about it.

6. Emmy nominations are released

Giphy

Nominated TV shows include the hugely popular Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, House of Cards, and Mr. Robot. The awards show is set to take place in September.

7. Twitter permanently suspends Milo Yiannopoulos

Giphy

Milo Yiannopoulos facilitated the bullying of Leslie Jones, Ghostbusters actress, after posting his review of the movie and getting his followers to flood the actress with a barrage of hate. In response, Jones tweeted: “I feel like I’m in a personal hell. I didn’t do anything to deserve this. It’s just too much. It shouldn’t be like this. So hurt right now.”

Yiannopoulos is dubbed by the New York Times as “one of the most egregious and consistent offenders of [Twitter’s] terms of service.”

Milo Yiannopoulos isn’t the first celebrity to wreak havoc and get suspended on Twitter. Earlier this year, Azaelia Banks incited the wrath of thousands of users when she started a racially and culturally insensitive tirade against Zayn Malik.

8. Massachusetts Attorney General begins crackdown on assault weapons

Boston.com
Boston.com

Maura Healey, Massachusetts Attorney General, is trying to ban assault rifles in her state. Her goal is to change the parameters of what’s deemed “compliant” with state gun laws. She claims manufacturers have deemed certain weapons as complaint when they really shouldn’t be.

“The gun industry does not get to decide what’s compliant, we do,” she said.

9. Gary Marshall passes away

People
People

Gary Marshall passed away Tuesday, July 19th after complications from pneumonia. Those who grew up on iconic sitcoms like “Happy Days,” “Laverne and Shirley,” and “Mork and Mindy” from the 70’s remember him fondly, while younger generations know him best for major motion pictures “The Princess Diaries” and “Pretty Woman.”

Several celebrities expressed their condolences for the Hollywood icon, including Anne Hathaway, who described him as “goodness itself.” He was 81.

10. Pokémon Go generates $35 million

JS Online/a>
JS Online/a>

According to estimates from mobile app intelligence sources, Pokémon Go has already generated $35 million in revenue and has been downloaded over 30 million times. It’s currently the most downloaded app in mobile gaming history. Nintendo is benefiting big time: their stock is up by a staggering 120%.

The game’s success taken taken almost everyone by surprise. Besides using it for the sake of gaming, people are now using Pokéstops to carry out crime and even find dead bodies.

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