Philadelphia Reporter Fired After Caught On Videotape Abusing Police

campbell7n-1-webA Philadelphia reporter, Colleen Campbell, 28, is not only out of job but perhaps a profession after a video of her berating police officers went viral.  Campbell is shown below in cuffs after being removed from the Helium Comedy Club on Sunday night.  She was asked to leave for disrupting comedian Craig Robinson by her loud whispering.  It then went from bad to worse (Warning: the video below contains foul language)

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Will There’s A Will, There’s A Wray: Trump Selects Former AAG and Christie Lawyer For FBI Director

136px-US-FBI-ShadedSeal_svgDonald Trump has made his selection for the replacement of former Director James Comey.  He notably did not select an FBI career person but did go with a former Assistant Attorney General. He is Christopher Wray.

His resume is strikingly similar to another prior FBI Director: James Comey.  The White House clearly wanted to show that it was picking a professional with impeccable credentials and independent judgment.  It succeeded and showed that it was still possible to repair some of the damage from the Comey debacle.

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Report: Comey Asked Sessions Not To Leave Him Alone With Trump

donald_trump_president-elect_portrait_cropped440px-Comey-FBI-PortraitIt appears that President Donald Trump’s instilled a virtually phobic reaction in former FBI Director James Comey after his allegedly inappropriate pitch to terminate the investigation of former National Security Advisor Micheal Flynn.  According to the New York Times, Comey asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to leave him alone with Trump.  If true, the request for a type of chaperone in the Oval Office would represent a new low for the White House.  In the meantime (and equally embarrassing if true), ABC reports that Sessions actually asked Trump if he should resign due to his own deteriorating relationship with the President (who was reportedly still angry at Sessions for recusing himself from the Russian investigation). Notably, the White House declined to say whether Trump still has faith in Sessions at the White House press conference.

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Spicer Declares Trump Tweets To Be “Official Statements” After Conway Chides Media For Taking Tweets So Seriously

Kellyanne_Conway_with_Trump_lettersean_spicerOne can certainly understand if the media is a tad confused.  This week, Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway chided media for taking President Donald Trump’s tweets so seriously and denied that tweets are one of his preferred methods of communication.  Shortly thereafter White House press secretary Sean Spicer reminded media that Trump’s tweets are “official statements” and thus serious articulations of policy.

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Supreme Court Deliberates As Trump Becomes Witness Against Himself

donald_trump_president-elect_portrait_croppedTwitter LogoBelow is my column in The Hill Newspaper on the impact of President Donald Trump’s latest tweets on the pending motion and appeal before the United States Supreme Court. My view expressed in the column is apparently shared by George Conway, the husband of Trump Adviser Kellyanne Conway. He tweeted “These tweets may make some people feel better, but they certainly won’t help (the Office of the Solicitor General) get 5 votes in SCOTUS, which is what actually matters. Sad.” Conway was once believed in line for a position as Assistant Attorney General. He has now decided to stay in private practice. Continue reading “Supreme Court Deliberates As Trump Becomes Witness Against Himself”

Three Out Of Four African-American Boys In California Fail To Meet Minimal Reading and Writing Standards

download-1The latest data from the California Department of Education indicates that three out of four African-American failed to meet reading and writing standards.  We have previously discussed how our schools continue to fail to educate minority students despite large budgetary allotments.  The problem is clearly money.  I have long advocated more funding but schools must also be held accountable for this appalling performance.  These kids are entering society with a huge disadvantage in seeking employment and advancement.

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NSA Contractor Had History Of Anti-Trump Comments

17437825_1828484937393397_1642020504690753536_n1Reality Leigh Winner, of Augusta, Georgia has the unfortunate distinction of being the first leaker caught by the Trump Administration.  With members like Jason Chaffetz saying “I want to see people in handcuffs,” the 25-year-old federal contract worker could be facing some serious jail time.  In addition, she seems to fulfill the image advanced President Trump as a liberal, anti-Trump advocate within the system.  What will be interesting is the sentence sought by the Administration after high-ranking officials have been given no criminal charges or misdemeanors for removing classified information and other related charges.

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Albany Law Professor Challenges Women-Only Screenings of Wonder Woman

Wonder_Woman_(2017_film)ClarkStephen_150wAlbany Law Professor Stephen Clark has taken on case with truly heroic dimensions.  Clark has challenged the decision of Alamo Drafthouse to hold showings of the movie Wonder Woman in a female-only event.  Clark, 48, has said that as a gay man he is sympathetic with efforts to help disadvantaged groups, but he viewed the event as per se unlawful.

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NYPD Arrests Man Shown Beating 90-Year-Old Man

Tweet Storm: Trump Attacks Position Of His Own Lawyers on Twitter On The Eve Of Supreme Court Decision

donald_trump_president-elect_portrait_croppedThis weekend I discussed how President Donald Trump’s own words had been the primary problem for lawyers seeking to advance his agenda.  Trump’s comment and tweets have routinely undermined defenses and alienated allies.  The column was prompted by Trump’s London tweets. While discussed for their triggering outrage across the political spectrum in Great Britain, one of the most controversial tweets also contained references to the immigration order as a “travel ban.”  It was a remarkably ill-considered tweet. However, on Monday morning, President Trump doubled down and actually attacked his own lawyers at the Justice Department and directly contradicted their position in court.  As I mentioned earlier, government counsel must feel like they have a daily Perry Mason moment with their client jumping up in court screaming incriminating things. The only logical conclusion that can be reached is that Trump really does not care if he wins the case.  The problem is that there is a large and talented team at the Justice Department that is still laboring under the assumption that the President does want to prevail before the Supreme Court.

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May Calls For Free Speech Controls on the Internet In Response To London Attacks

Theresa_MayWe have previously discussed how politicians often attack free speech and other rights to show that they are “tough” on terror after attacks.  Prime Minister Theresa May however may have set a record.  May did not hesitate in immediately blaming the Internet and calling for government regulation of free speech to combat attacks like the one in London.  Of course, if these terrorists were connected to ISIS (or inspired by ISIS), their extremism was not caused by free speech on the Internet.  Indeed, the Internet often allows security to track extremists on the web.

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Evergreen State College Faculty Sign Letter Supporting Students Accused Of Abusing Professor

theevergreenstate640_c0-0-640-373_s885x516We previously discussed the proposal at Evergreen State College to have all white faculty, staff, and students leave campus for a day as part of a “Day of Absence” to raise awareness of the contribution of the black community.   Evergreen State College biology professor Bret Weinstein made a reasoned objection to the plan for this year’s “Day of Absence.” As shown in a videotape, there was a mob scene around Weinstein as students called him a racist and called for his resignation.  Protests have denounced his “anti-blackness” and demanded his removal from teaching.  Now, the faculty at Evergreen State College has sent a letter to students supporting the protesters and their demands for  disciplinary action of Prof. Weinstein.

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Muslims Arrested For Praying In Myanmar After Closing Of Muslim Schools

7d105fbdbaf8a63bf70b1c645c99ebd1We previously discussed the crushing abuse and discrimination faced by Muslims in Myanmar.  The Rohingya are denied basic rights and face continued violence in the country.  The most recent outrage was the arrest of three Muslims for holding Ramadan prayers in the street.  Recently, their local school was closed by a nationalist mob.

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