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Could this be the end of "Big Media"?

Jul. 8, 2011 9:43 am

By louisehartmann

Media moguls like Rupert Murdoch suffered a blow yesterday in their bid to take over the nation’s news media. The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit struck down an FCC rule that allowed companies to own both a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market. Back in 1997 – the FCC relaxed laws regarding cross-ownership in the media.

Is wealth inequality in America hurdling our nation toward civil unrest?

Jul. 7, 2011 9:23 am

By louisehartmann

Is wealth inequality in America hurdling our nation toward civil unrest? In a television interview this morning – former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski warned that the growing wealth imbalance in America – now reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression – could lead to civil unrest in the streets. As the middle-class in America falls deeper and deeper into desperation – Brzezisnki said, “we’re

Let's not erode our legal system with Murdoch-style sensationalized infotainment

Jul. 6, 2011 9:25 am

By louisehartmann

Yesterday – 12 jurors in Florida found Casey Anthony not guilty of murdering her daughter. With it’s twists and turns – the trial gained nationwide notoriety – and dominated mainstream news reports for the better part of 3 years. Many were shocked by the verdict – as Anthony’s guilt was a foregone conclusion in most of the media.

If we're going to put illegal immigrants in a "tent city" prison w/ a temp of 145 degrees - shouldn't the CEOs that hired them be there too?

Jul. 5, 2011 9:10 am

By louisehartmann

You need to know this. Inhumane conditions plague Sherriff Joe Arpaio’s AZ's “tent-city” prison. On Saturday – temperatures at the outdoor prison housing 1,400 non-violent inmates shot up to 145 degrees – the hottest recorded so far this year.

Treasury Tim Geithner leaving...are the rats fleeing the sinking ship or will there be change we can believe in?

Jul. 1, 2011 8:57 am

By louisehartmann

Is Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner on his way out? According to senior White House officials – Geithner is considering leaving his post after the debt-limit fiasco is resolved. Geithner denied the reports, saying he plans to stay in his job for the “foreseeable future” – but a source at the White House says that Geithner has been discussing plans to leave since early this year. Secretary of Defense Robert Gate

Does President Obama’s have a secret weapon to force Republicans to come to the table?

Jun. 30, 2011 9:22 am

By louisehartmann

A group of 248 economist, six of whom are Nobel Prize winners, sent a letter to Congressional leaders yesterday demanding a clean vote to raise the debt-ceiling – arguing that failure to do so could have, “a substantial negative impact on economic growth.” The IMF issued a similar warning too. But as President Obama drew a line in the sand yesterday in debt-limit negotiations demanding that tax loopholes for millionaires,

Governor Rick Scott may have just won the race to the bottom

Jun. 29, 2011 9:31 am

By louisehartmann

The jobless are screwed in Florida. Governor Rick Scott may have just won the race to the bottom when it comes to unemployment insurance. Scott – one of America’s most disliked Governors – signed into law yesterday a huge reduction in Florida’s unemployment benefit system – cutting the number of weeks someone is eligible to collect unemployment from 26 down to just 12. The cut falls in line with Governor Scott’s prom

Another day – another Supreme Court decision in favor of big money in our politics...

Jun. 28, 2011 9:34 am

By louisehartmann

Another day – another Supreme Court decision in favor of big money in our politics. Yesterday – in another 5-4 ruling – the right-wing of the Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that provides public financing of elections. The law was intended to level the playing field between people with huge fortunes and rich friends – and just average folks running for office, by supplying matching public funds to candidates who a

The nuclear disaster in Nebraska just got worse

Jun. 27, 2011 8:33 am

By louisehartmann

You need to know this. The impending nuclear disaster in Nebraska just got worse. Over the weekend – a floodwall protecting the nuclear plant from the overflowing Missouri River gave way – inundating the facility in floodwater. The plant is less than 20 miles away from Omaha – Nebraska’s largest city – and is now cooling its reactors and spent fuel pools with back-up diesel powered generators.

Is it only a matter of time before Republican Governors get a rude awakening at the polls?

Jun. 24, 2011 9:06 am

By louisehartmann

You need to know this. The New Jersey State House passed a harsh anti-union bill yesterday – that shreds public employee benefits – cuts off cost-of-living increases for their pensions – and kills their collective bargaining rights. The bill includes the deepest cuts to public employee benefits in the state’s history – and will affect more than 750,000 public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers.