In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Torture] A new Senate Intelligence Committee report to be released today reportedly includes "graphic details about sexual threats and other harsh interrogation techniques the CIA meted out to captured militants. ...Some interrogation tactics meant to force detainees to divulge information on terrorist plots and cells, went beyond the harsh techniques authorized by White House, CIA and Justice Department lawyers working for President George W. Bush's Justice Department, according to the sources familiar with the report. ...The report, which took years to produce, charts the history of the CIA's 'Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation' program, which Bush authorized after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks."

[CN: Racism] Pew Research has found there are "sharp racial divisions" in the responses to grand juries failing to indict the police officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner. That is a nice way of saying that white supremacy is still incredibly powerful in this country. "Blacks and whites have starkly different views of the decisions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, and blacks are far more likely than whites to say that race was a major factor in both rulings."

[CN: Coercion] Progressive group MoveOn.org is fixing to spend $1 million on a pressure campaign to convince Senator Elizabeth Warren to run for president. I bet I'm not the only person who can think of better ways for progressives to spend $1 million than trying to coerce a woman into doing something she has repeatedly said she does not want to do.

[CN: War on agency] Hey, it turns out that abortion is actually really quite safe. Gee, it's almost like all those restrictions on abortion access being peddled by Republicans under the auspices of women's safety are complete bullshit or something!

[CN: Violence; self-harm; death] Stephanie Moseley, a model and dancer who starred in VH1's Hit the Floor, was killed by her husband Earl Hayes, a rapper, who then turned the gun on himself. Hayes reportedly killed Moseley because he was jealous over her relationship with the singer Trey Songz. This is a story we've heard all too many times—a man who murders because it turns out he doesn't own a woman's sexuality. I'm not linking to any articles about this, because I couldn't find one that didn't either imply rap is inherently violent, or didn't use language implicitly victim-blaming Moseley for having an affair.

[CN: Racism; violence] Once upon a time, Mark Walhberg made a violent, racist attack on a Vietnamese man, leaving him blind in one eye. Wahlberg served just 45 days for the incident, but it left him with a felony record. This was only one of multiple racist attacks he committed, but it's the one on his record and thus the one for which he now seeking a pardon, on the basis that he's a good Christian man now. Never mind that he has not apologized to his victim, and uses mealy-mouthed language in his request for a pardon: "I am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8, 1988, as well as for any lasting damage that I may have caused the victims." May have caused. To a man he blinded. If you're wondering why Walhberg is seeking a pardon, it's because he wants to expand Walhbergers, and a felony conviction would make it impossible to get a liquor license in some states.

[CN: Racism] In other white actors behaving badly news: Christian Bale, who has already said incredibly stupid things about his being cast as Moses, can't shut up: "I think that people, rather than pointing fingers, should ask themselves, are they being supportive of North African and Middle Eastern filmmakers and actors? ...The change will come from independent filmmaking, but audiences have to be there." So, it's audiences' fault, and independent filmmakers have work to do, and it is definitely not the responsibility of major studios or white filmmakers and actors. What a coincidence!

[CN: Racism; police brutality] LeBron James, along with several other NBA players, wore an "I Can't Breathe" shirt in Brooklyn before a game with the Nets. Cue the aggrieved outrage of white racists who say that a basketball game isn't the place for political statements. Guess what, assholes? Almost exclusively white owners, coaches, and other power brokers overseeing a sport of predominantly black men whose humanity is only worth as much as their sporting skill is a political statement. Every damn game is a political statement.

RIP Stella Young. My condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and fans.

Wow: "On Titan, mega winds have built sand dunes hundreds of feet high."

And finally! Here is a video of some rescued ducklings going for their first swim. Awwww.