In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today!

Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie admits defeat by withdrawing the state's appeal of the ruling allowing same-sex marriage.

[Content Note: Classism] The Koch Brothers, who are billionaire conservative garbage funders, are spending millions of dollars to try to deny healthcare to low-income USians. They are terrible, cruel, anti-democratic scoundrels, and I am sick to the teeth of people who have more than they could ever need using their wealth to dismantle the tattered remnants of our national social safety net. Fuck off.

[CN: Food insecurity; classism] In related news: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, aka food stamps), will "scale back benefits for all recipients" starting November 1 because "a recession-era boost in benefits is expiring. The cut comes as lawmakers also are considering billions of dollars of reductions to the overall SNAP program, which has grown substantially in recent years amid the weak economy and high unemployment." THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THINKS PEOPLE ARE NOT ENTITLED TO FOOD.

President Obama is set to "declare the glitches in a new healthcare website 'unacceptable' on Monday and outline ways for consumers to sign up for insurance while his team scrambles to fix problems that have tainted the rollout of his signature healthcare law." Meanwhile: Here's Why Healthcare.gov Broke Down. (FYI: A friend of mine who is in this field says that, as usual, some conservatives are overstating their case. Like, the report about 5 million lines of code needing fixed? "Stretching the bounds of credulity," she says.)

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, of the Conservative Nightmare Bushes, says that the Republican Party should "have a little bit of self-restraint" in trying to destroy Obamacare. Ha ha terrific advice! I am continuing to enjoy all the old school Republicans lecture the new school Tea Partiers on how they need to stop being so nakedly honest about their destructive ideology. "Tone it down, noobs! That shit don't play in Peoria! We've got to sneak in our class warfare and social Darwinism beneath populist rhetoric and thinly-veiled racism delivered with a smile! Haven't you ever heard of RONALD REAGAN?!"

[CN: War] Sure: Killer robots with automatic rifles could be on the battlefield in 5 years. Drones + robot armies. What could possibly go wrong?

White House photographer Pete Souza, who has taken so many amazing pictures of President Obama's campaign and presidency, as well as private(ish) moments in the First Family's life in the White House, wed his partner Patti Lease in the Rose Garden this weekend. But who was the wedding photographer?!

Melissa McCarthy's Bridesmaids co-star Rose Byrne may join the cast of Susan Cooper. Neat!