In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: War] What is even going on with IS these days? Well: "White House officials insist their twin strategy of air strikes and support for local ground forces is still working despite advances by [the Islamic State] outside Baghdad and in the Syrian town of Kobani, but concede they will consider calls for additional bombing if requested by the Pentagon. In the last two days alone, the US has conducted 21 separate air strikes on IS forces in and around Kobani and recently deployed Apache attack helicopters to repel advances on Baghdad airport. Yet the latest damage assessment released by the Pentagon on Tuesday focused primarily on damage to IS 'staging locations' and buildings rather than claiming much success against fighters on the ground who are dispersed in urban areas and much harder to target using current tactics. 'I am confident the president would want to reserve that option dependent on the advice he gets from his military planners,' the White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, told reporters when asked whether Obama was willing to escalate the air campaign against IS." That all sounds terrific. Sob.

[CN: War on agency] In good news: "The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed more than a dozen Texas abortion clinics to reopen, blocking a state law that had imposed strict requirements on abortion providers. Had the law been allowed to stand, it would have caused all but eight of the state's abortion clinics to close and would have required many women to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest abortion provider."

[CN: Disenfranchisement] In bad news: "A U.S. Appeals Court has ruled to put Texas's strict voter ID law back in place for the upcoming election. ...A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday afternoon unanimously stayed an order issued Saturday by U.S. District Court Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos that had blocked the controversial law. Gonzales Ramos last week struck down the law, finding that it discriminates against racial minorities under the Voting Rights Act."

If you live and vote in Texas, and want to make sure you've got the ID you need, go here.

[CN: War on agency] The indispensable Robin Marty: "A personhood amendment by any other name would still ban abortion: Voters don't like laws that would eliminate methods of birth control and fertility treatments. So 'pro-lifers' are rebranding." But it's all just the same shitty semantic games as always. Not that we could expect anything else from people who ruin women's lives but call themselves 'pro-life' without a trace of fucking irony.

[CN: Violence] Debbie Dunnegan, the Republican Recorder of Deeds for Jefferson County, Missouri, says she "meant no ill intent toward the president" when she asked on her Facebook page why no military action "is being taken against our domestic enemy," i.e. President Barack Obama. Okay, player. She also says she hasn't taken down the post, because "I think it could hurt it as much as it could help" her reelection bid.

Coming soon to a TV near you: "ABC has closed a deal for Men in Shorts, a single-camera comedy inspired by the life of professional soccer player Robbie Rogers, who became the first openly gay man to compete in a top North American professional sports league. [The show] centers on a young pro soccer player who takes one small step out of the closet and one giant leap into the spotlight."

[CN: Misogyny] Speaking of soccer, Jessica Luther has written a great piece about women being forced to play on artificial turf and female players bringing a suit against FIFA's "second-class" treatment of women in the sport.

For a mere $95 million, spectacular views from the penthouse of Manhattan's new 432 Park residential tower can be yours!

You can't even get Jay Leno to go away, so don't even try.

[CN: Misogyny] Meanwhile, Steve Harvey continues to be the absolute woooooooooorst.

And finally! Here is a video of a pug who has some very important and dramatic peeing to do. Enjoy!