rabble.ca - I Read The News Today, Oh Boy!

Austerity fever

mattman — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:55:27 +0000

Austerity fever is catching, and it isn't a pleasant disease. Symptoms include unemployment, growing wealth gaps, crumbling infrastructure and more. We diagnose it and give some good economic health tips. Plus don't miss who is supporting green energy in Germany, what you can be stripped searched for in the U.S., why the bees are disappearing, George Clooney's spy satellite and more in our feature "Below the Fold: News you might have missed."

Stripped of justice

Homosexuality still nowhere near acceptance in the former USSR (with bonus link here)

Below the belt: Politics and dirty tricks

mattman — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:26:17 +0000

The robocall scandal to suppress the vote in Canada still has legs but Canadians aren't quite yet in the pro-league when it comes to bringing down the vote. American political organizers, though, are pursuing both legal and not so legal ways to keep people from the polls. Plus, we look at the continued incredible attacks on women and women's health and rights. As always we have our feature "Below the fold: news you might have missed."

Does God hate vaginas? The religious right's attack on women's health

mattman — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:41:57 +0000

In the name of some folks' religion, women's health keeps getting attacked. From reigniting the abortion debate in Canada to, to an all-male government panel in the U.S. House of Representatives trying to stop contraception services, to the jaw-dropping remarks of GOP possible presidential front-runner Rick Santorum, women's health isn't on the right-wing God's agenda. Plus as always we have our feature. "Below the Fold: News you might have missed":

Organized sports and Gingrich on the moon

mattman — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:04:28 +0000

The players association for the National Football League in the U.S. comes out swinging against so-called "right to work" anti-union legislation and we talk labour and sports, labour without sports, and sports without labour. Newt Gingrich pledges to colonize the moon, because colonialism has worked out great so far. Gil Scott Heron's Whitey On The Moon seems appropriate. And we have our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed" with these gems:

Below the fold: News you might have missed in 2011

mattman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:06:56 +0000

Our top choices from our feature Below The Fold where we seek out news that highlights the crazy, the frustrating and even the hopeful. Plus bonus predictions for U.S. elections in 2012.

Arizona

The continuing saga of Sherrif Arpaio and Direct to TV master Seagal

Official suckatude: Canada and the U.S. destroy the world

mattman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:00:41 +0000

It's official. The Harper government, which has always shown disdain for the Kyoto Protocol, works to make the climate crises worse. At least they are coming clean about something. The U.S. government is officially giving itself the right to arrest and indefinitely detain its citizens, jeopardizing rights enshrined in the Magna Carta, let alone the 6th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Sadly, as Glen Greenwald points out, this new law will really only make things official that Obama has been pushing to increase his indefinite detainment power for some time now.

Democracy on the run: The Occupiers are told they can't, the U.S. 'supercommittee' isn't

mattman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:03:24 +0000

Democracy is on the run, but is it away from pepper-spraying cops or toward new opportunities? Maybe both. We talk Occupy and even when we say we shouldn't focus on police brutality, well we kind of do. Plus who could have predicted that the "super committee" in the U.S. was going to fail? Someone the world keeps going. And Matt challenges Stephen to explain what is going on in Italy with their technocratic government. Stephen lived there for a few months 20 years ago, so that's fair isn't it?

And as always our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed":

That's rich - carbon emissions and the wealthy

A taxing conversation: Changing the tax debate

mattman — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:14:06 +0000

Did you know 50 per cent of Americans don't pay tax? Neither do we, because despite what right-wing talking heads say, it isn't true. In fact a lot of tax talk is misdirection, trying to get people to focus on anything but the lack of progressive taxation and the amazing trick of the rich and large corporations not to pay their fair share. Some governments can't even collect it, hell, in Canada cities can't even do what many cities do around the world -- that is implement an income tax.

Plus, our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed."

World of class warfare

mattman — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:36:25 +0000

What does it mean when millionaire news pundits and millionaire politicians proclaim holding Wall Street to account and raising the marginal tax rate is "class warfare?" Democracy in the streets is a good thing, and if people start talking about class, and other privileges, it will be a good thing, though you wouldn't know it from the pundits. Plus, news you might have missed "Below the fold":

Fear and loathing, eh? Canadian PM brings the hate, where's the security?

mattman — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:25:16 +0000

The PM goes all in with the hate, but where is the love for building communities and actually protecting citizens? You want to save lives?

Tar sands go to Washington, but will Perry?

mattman — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:57:12 +0000

The U.S. media has finally realized that the tar sands are a story and that is because of civil disobedience pressuring Obama from people who care about climate change and the environment. Meanwhile Texan Rick Perry says climate change is a hoax and other stunners. We take a look at the growing weirdness that is Perry. We also finish with a few words about the passing of Jack Layton. As always we have "Below the Fold: News you might have missed."

Fun in the Sun? Take a coffee with you.

Appreciation not appreciated

Are the kids all riot?

mattman — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:26:00 +0000

Cameron, the British PM, is wagging his finger at parents and kids but, of course, the idea of simple thuggery doesn't cut it. And we wag our fingers at Iowa straw poll winner and sponsor of the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act Michelle Bachmann for being unfit for president. Plus we take a brief look at Gov. Perry from Texas breaking his first promise -- not to run for president. We finish with a brief discussion on what people mean when they say someone votes "against their interest."

Of course we have "Below the fold: News you might have missed."

Noah gets a tax break

Court says,"Rights are rights"

How low can we go: Ceilings and floors of public policy

mattman — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:17:20 +0000

The war on the city continues in Toronto where the mayor and company continue to attack the idea of a city, as many politicians around the world attack the idea of a public commons and instead worship at the alter of public policy as business. How low can this go? Perhaps only in the U.S. (and maybe because it is only here that a "debt-ceiling" exists) can a ceiling be a floor. The general public welfare isn't the debate, it is: how many cuts can we make?

Plus of course our feature, Below the fold: News you might have missed.

Class dismissed: Justices against justice

mattman — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:50:12 +0000

Class-action lawsuits have been taking a beating by SCOTUS, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas continues with some ethically challenging practices. Speaking of ethically challenging, Obama goes the Bush route and thumbs his nose at the War Powers Act. And we revisit the question of the divorce rate featuring dueling articles and "stats".

Delivering the mail and the crazy: The attack on unions and the attack on sense

mattman — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:38:48 +0000

Canadian postal workers go on strike for the first time in 15 years and you would think they were burning flags. Matt and Stephen discuss the attack on unions in the U.S. and Canada and how crazy it is try to drive down wages and workplace democracy. Speaking of crazy, we swore we would not talk about what passes for electoral politics now in the U.S. so much, but when you have the media and the Democrats in a tizzy over a non-sex scandal and a Congresswoman who believes there are traitors in Congress declaring her run for the presidency, it is hard to pass up.

Plus, we lose our way and talk about the divorce rate (where Stephen doubts Matt at his peril and will be called out on this issue next episode), Newt Gingrich, and three-page pieces of legislation.

The hatetriots act: From bad laws to strange primaries to bi-partisan problems

mattman — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:50:53 +0000

IRTN heads off to Russia, or at least one of us does, and returns to tell a tale of chain resturants and worse. Plus, we look at the strange art project known as the GOP primaries and the bi-partisan work of Democrats and Republicans to strip Americans of their rights while cheering on a foreign power. Of course we also have our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed."

Tea-party gives seniors group the boot from their town hall

Members of the US Senate and Congress getting inside information?

Death throes of democracy: On elections and the rule of law

mattman — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:07:24 +0000

That was some election here in Canada, one that especially highlights what a democratic deficit Canada has when it come to the make-up of Parliament. Stephen and Matt talk about the fall-out and then move on to the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the reaction of which puzzles your hosts and brings up questions about the rule of law. We finish with a "spot the fake conspiracy" quiz. Matt nails it.

And as (almost always) there is our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed," featuring:

Banks don't check who signs your cheques

Can the orange crush the blue wave? Elections, polls, pols and politics

mattman — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:18:08 +0000

OK we didn't see this coming, and what is worse it might not come at all; yes, Donald Trump for president. No, we did see that coming; it is the dramatic rise of the NDP that we missed (but so did you). Your ex-American pat hosts try to explain the situation to the U.S. listeners, cheer on Canadian democracy, make a prediction or two, complain about how hard it is to make a prediction, and hope for the best on Monday. We also just can't resist a short-form discussion on the long-form and the crazy whose name is Donald. And we have an abbreviated version of "Below the fold: News you might have missed":

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/27/970624/-Supreme-Court-rules-aga... ">The Supremes tell the class (action suit) to take a hike

Got good government? Not here

mattman — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:42:31 +0000

With an historical contempt finding, the Canadian government isn't looking so great and the election could mean things only get worse. The sad news is that until there is electoral reform it is hard to have tons of hope about Canadian democracy. At least the Canadian government is running, the U.S. government might shut down and no matter how much tea you drink, it isn't because of the budget. Plus our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed."

38% of Americans fail their own citizenship test

Political and energy overreach

mattman — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:08:57 +0000

It turns out that maybe you can reach too far out over that political cliff as the 2011 season of politicians doing the overreach has hit a fevered pitch. You have governors gone crazy in the American Midwest, you have Obama pulling a Bush and you have a Conservative government's contempt being called, what's the word, oh yeah "contempt." Some are going to pay the price more than others and Matt and Stephen are scratching their heads at some of these political tactics. We also talk about the overreach with nuclear power. America has the most nuclear power plants in the world and want to build more with even some environmentalists onside. The tragedy in Japan should give us pause to think of other options and do some real cost accounting.

Labour pains and DOMA doom

mattman — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:10:49 +0000

The assault on unions ramps up even more in the U.S. but this time labour and friends (perhaps inspired by world events) respond with big democractic numbers. But what about the practice of withholding participation in the democractic practice of legislating as representatives flee the state to hold a vote? And what about blaming workers for a mess that they didn't make? Matt and Stephen discuss bad taxes, good politics and public policy including the recent move by Obama that may result in the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

We drew some interesting statistics from Rober Reich's piece The Republican Strategy.

Below the fold: News you might have missed, Valentine's edition

mattman — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:17:17 +0000

We have a love for the news (OK that is our only Valentine's Day reference) but this week is a doozy. We have Superbowl champs supporting unionized workers, corporations going after a journalist, a disturbing abortion bill, a silent justice, some bad environmental news, some good lawsuit news and a license plate that just isn't right. Links to the stories we discuss are below:

Superbowl champs root for public workers.

The attack on Glenn Greenwald and Wikileaks

Hypocrisy on democracy: Fear of a free Egypt and other mindbenders

mattman — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:17:20 +0000

Democracy is all well and good unless it happens elsewhere, then it can be a threat to 'freedom loving people'. Or something like that. Plus the waft of growing hypocrisy on health care in the U.S. is getting stronger. When mandatory insurance was the Republican plan all was well but now they celebrate the health care act being declared "unconstitutional".

Of course we have our feature ‘Below the fold: news you might have missed':

Dear Stimulus: I just can't quit loving you. Yours, Governor Rick Perry

Bad deal: Nasty trade agreements and nasty arguments

mattman — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:00:07 +0000

In this episode we talk abut the bad trade deal that most haven't heard of (CETA), why things are so nasty in Arizona and elsewhere plus news on volcanos (featuring the correct pronunciation of Eyjafjallajökull), India, state bankruptcy and more. And as always we have our feature Below The Fold: News you might have missed with sources listed here:

The carbon neutral volcano

Africa is Breaking Up!

Cougars at risk in B.C

Below the fold: News you might have missed in 2010

mattman — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:21:35 +0000

From stoning killer whales, to mine fires that won't die, to terminator seeds, birthers gone even more crazy, to Chuck Norris (need we say more?), to oil spills not in the gulf, to a problematic museum of tolerance and more, your sometimes intrepid hosts take a look back at some of their favourite (or important) news updates from the IRTN feature "below the fold." Plus Stephen gives us the numbers on the news we didn't miss.

As always with this feature we list the links to the story we are citing:

Christian group calls for stoning to death of whale

NRA calls Chuck Norris out

Unabridged edition: The almost free association show

mattman — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:56:31 +0000

Political news is coming fast and furious in the new year and we respond with what could be generously called an unfocused reply. We got political hypocrisy, constitutional troubles, Harper's new policeman, Obama's new friend, G8 accountability and of course our feature Below the Fold (news you might have missed) which actually starts with some good news:

Ducks and Leaks: A departing Congress, an important website and more

mattman — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:46:50 +0000

Media and politicians are putting out a lot of misinformation on Wikileaks and the UN investigates the U.S. on the alleged leaker Bradley Manning. Wikileaks may be fairly new to the scene (but not to regular IRTN listeners) but they are acting like, what's it called again, oh yeah, an investigative newspaper. The media get even the story about the media wrong on that one. And Obama finishes fairly strong with a lame duck Congress, including finally getting DADT repealed. Plus our feature Below the Fold: News you might have missed:

New York progressives look to get back the tax cut for the rich

Groping for the truth: Election hangover and the TSA

mattman — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:06:43 +0000

Yes, the airport procedures seem like theatre and may have little to do security but aren't there other civil liberty issues that might be a bit more pressing? And Matt and Stephen can't get too worked up about the U.S election, and in fact are loving the losses by the blue dogs. And of course our feature "Below the Fold" -- news you might have missed (featuring a caution from Stephen on one of Matt's stories and breaking news (shocking!) that Bush lied about the war:

Has-been action heroes join Sheriff to fight illegal immigration

Circling the drain: A certain mayor, elections in general and our general attitude

mattman — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:29:00 +0000

As the folks in Toronto can tell you the The Angry Voter TM is not just for tea-parties anymore, the rally for sanity shows that irony is not quite dead, plus Germany struggles with multi-culturalism and the media yawns at the content of the wikileaks leak. Stephen and Matt try to out depress each other and it all gets started with "Below the Fold" - some news you might have missed:

Europol documents terrorist attacks in Europe and declares out of hundreds of acts in 2009 the total done by someone of Muslim heritage was one.

Doubting Thomases: Judges, polls and politics

mattman — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:18:48 +0000

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thomas might be married to his own conflict of interest (his partner is breaking new ground in political activism), but what are the rules about justices and potential conflicts of interest? Not pretty. Plus why dredge up the Anita Hill story at this time? Stephen shares an interesting theory. And then we are off to the polls, wondering if we should trust them and if we should even do them. And of course our feature "Below The Fold: news you might have missed":

Anti-Sex politician sells sex products

A new low in voter suppression