We previously discussed the controversial decisions to drop the “Fighting Sioux” and “Chief Illini” and the Pioneers and the Aztecs. I have been critical of some of these moves in cases where the schools honored the history of different groups. Indeed, schools like Illinois had a student work for a couple years in understanding Chief Illini and the history before their name. While I was more sympathetic to objections to the name of the team, I also opposed the effort of the government to strip the Redskins of trademark protections. Despite the opposition, I supported the decision of the Cleveland Indians to drop the Chief Wahoo logo, though I do not support demands that they change their team name. Now, however, some have called for the dropping of the famous Blackhawk logo — perhaps the most recognizable and legendary symbol in hockey. Since I am an unabashed Blackhawks fans, this will likely be dismissed as the bias of a Chicago native but I fail to see the compelling rationale for such a change.
Category: Society
The plot thickened last night over the anticipated release of a four-page memo from the House Intelligence Committee. California Rep. Adam Schiff (D) publicly accused House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) of giving President Trump a “secretly altered” version of the memo to review for possible release. The Schiff allegation raises an interesting issue under the House that could theoretically warrant judicial review (though the outcome is far from certain). The Committee staff is arguing that the changes were minor edits, including grammatical changes.
There is another disturbing report alleging that, despite all of the damage caused by President Donald Trump allegedly asking former FBI Director for a pledge of loyalty, he asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein whether he was “on my team” before Rosenstein testified before Congress. Notably, in the hearing, Rosenstein was asked “Is it ever appropriate for a president of the United States to demand a Department of Justice official or FBI director to take a loyalty pledge?” He replied “I don’t have any opinion about that. Nobody has asked me to take a loyalty pledge other than the oath of office.”
A District Court judge in Kansas has handed down a major free speech victory this week in striking down the state law requiring all state contractors “to certify that they are not engaged in a boycott of Israel.” We have previously discussed these laws and my view that they impinge upon the first amendment. The laws include making victims of natural disasters attest that they do not support a boycott of Israel as well as similar bans on student groups. Now the Kansas law has been struck down as a denial of free speech by District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree. It is the Koontz case that we previously discussed.
Continue reading “Federal Court Strikes Down Kansas Law Against Israeli Boycotters”
Many of us have noticed a sharp increase in the number of animals on planes. These “comfort” or emotional support animals used to be small dogs but now people are bringing on not just large dogs but a wide variety of animals including small ponies, turkeys, pigs, and snakes. When airlines have balked at some of the animals, they have been threatened with disability lawsuits. United Airlines however drew the line recently when a woman showed up with this large peacock as her therapy animal at Newark Liberty International Airport.
According to Bloomberg, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the White House he opposes the release of controversial four-page memo from the House Intelligence Committee. What is notable about the report is that the objection is allegedly due to what Wray views as a false and inaccurate narrative. However, that should not be a reason alone to classify and withhold a document under Rule X.
Continue reading “Report: Wray Opposes Release of Nunes Memo”
Attorney Nichole Collins has been suspended by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after she was accused of breaking into her firm, stealing credit cards from fellow employees, and vandalizing equipment. She is facing charges that include burglary, forgery, access device fraud and theft by unlawful taking. It is remarkable that the Board views this as a suspension case as opposed to a disbarment case, but it could seek a more permanent action against Collins. Making this all the more awkward: she is married to Deputy District Attorney Joel Hogentogler.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Lawyer Arrested In Bizarre Crime Spree”
The early departure of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has led to a spasm of speculation and criticism ranging from Comey’s warning of the destruction of FBI knuckling under President Donald Trump to overwrought analogies to the rise of Hitler by one CNN commentator. However, there are indications that McCabe may have been shown the door by FBI Director Chris Wray and even told that he faced demotion in light of an internal investigation. Notably, on the eve of this disclosure a story was leaked that detailed the conversation between McCabe and Trump where Trump taunts McCabe about his wife being a political “loser.” If true, the comments were shocking and distasteful but the emergence of these conflicting accounts show the intense struggle in Washington to control the narrative following McCabe taking leave pending his retirement. There have also been allegations of leaks by McCabe as both sides seeks to frame this controversy.
What is also notable is the continued leaks from Trump’s inner circle. A new report describes Trump having a “tirade” on Air Force One because a top Justice Department official objected to the release of the four-page memo. The content and speed of his leak is clearly meant to damage Trump and has to be coming from within his close staff — a recurring problem. The motivation behind these leaks is an interesting question. It is not clear if it is meant to simply damage or somehow to deter the President .
Continue reading “CNN: McCabe’s Abrupt Departure May Be Tied To Internal Investigation Findings”
There is a disturbing study by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution which found that there is a chronic problem at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities with shockingly low graduation rates. The newspaper found that the six-year graduation rates at 20 schools were 20 percent or lower in 2015. Some of the schools showed a rate of only five percent — raising serious questions over not just the performance of these schools but the treatment of their students.
According to the Daily Beast, a top Swiss police investigator identified only as Victor K was fired last week in a case that some are describing as an effort by Russians to make him a virtual double agent. Against the direct orders of his superiors, Victor went to Russia and was put up in a luxury hotel to meet with the office that allegedly offered dirt on Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump Jr. in the infamous Trump Tower meeting. In Washington, he was promptly put into a meeting with the main figure from the Trump Tower: Natalia Veselnitskaya. Once again, she wanted to talk about the whole Magnitsky controversy where huge amounts of money reportedly were generated for powerful Russian figures in a $230 million fraud scheme. The Swiss were zeroing in on that money which may have been laundered through Swiss accounts.
Below is my column in the Hill Newspaper on the news that former FBI Director James Comey will be teaching a course at William & Mary on “ethical leadership.” While I believe that having their alum teach a class would be a terrific opportunity for their students, this particular subject is obviously controversial. Moreover, it seems to fit an agenda by Comey to address criticism over his ethical choices. There is nothing in Comey’s past that would have made this an obvious choice for his expertise that clearly encompasses national security, surveillance, privacy, and other area of constitutional and criminal law. Curriculum should not be a vehicle for public relations.
Here is the column
Continue reading “Professor Comey? Ex-FBI Chief To Teach Ethics Course Amid Scrutiny”
For many, the recent video of Hillary Clinton thanking “activist bitches supporting bitches” was a cringe-worthy moment as Clinton continues to struggle to be accepted as a leader (or even a plausible member of) the “resistance.” What is curious is that there seems to be a conscious decision in the Democratic ranks to become more profane. DNC Chair Tom Perez has clearly used profanity as a way of connecting with the younger generation. As people on this blog are aware, I am admittedly a bit old-fashioned about crude language used publicly by public figures and politicians. I find it truly off-putting but I recognize that the rising generation does not share that inclination. Indeed, there is a new book calling for the use of more profanity.
We have previously seen protests on colleges to end yoga classes as “cultural appropriation.” Now Michigan State University professor Shreena Gandhi has written a long critique of white people who practice yoga as promulgating a “system of power, privilege, and oppression.” Gandhi insists that yoga is an extension of white supremacy and the “yoga industrial complex.” Ganhdi co-authored the piece with Lillie Wolff who describes herself as “an antiracist white Jewish organizer, facilitator, and healer.” Wolff has called for “decolonizing” yoga.
A privately owned, New Zealand-based space company in under fire after after it secretively put a satellite that will function like a giant disco ball in orbit. Critics have likened the act to “space graffiti” and the launching should trigger an international conference on preventing such unilateral actions in the future.
Continue reading “New Zealand Company Under Fire For “Space Graffiti””
Carrie Underwood achieved great success with her hit “Jesus Take The Wheel” (“Jesus, take the wheel; Take it from my hands; ‘Cause I can’t do this on my own; I’m letting go “) It didn’t quite work that way for Chad England, 33, who was arrested after flipping his car over five times — an accident preceded by his letting Jesus drive him home.