Plane Crash off Indonesian Coast Believed to Have Killed 189

Lion Air Flight 610, a domestic Indonesian flight, crashed off the country’s coast on Monday, with 181 passengers and 8 crew on board. Officials do not believe any people on board survived the crash.

The crash is Indonesia’s deadliest aviation in two decades, with the country having a mixed record on aviation safety in the past. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with Boeing, the maker of the 737 jet involved in the crash, also involved to investigate whether a mechanical failure was to blame.

Tsunami Kills at Least 420 in Indonesia

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia Friday, causing a 5 foot tsunami to hit the island of Sulawesi. At least 420 were killed in the monster waves, with the death toll expected to rise over the next few days.

The tsunami, while not as powerful and destructive as the 2004 tsunami that ravaged coasts along the Indian Ocean, caused severe destruction across the island. Numerous buildings in cities such as Palu were destroyed, along with roads being made impassable. The tsunami also cut off power to many areas on the island.

Elon Musk to Step Down as Chairman of Tesla After SEC Probe

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk will step down as chairman of the publicly traded electric car maker after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation into Musk’s handling of the company. The SEC had alleged that Musk had misled shareholders after he had said he would take Tesla private. Musk had also claimed he had already received such funding. No concrete evidence was ever provided of this, but Musk said Saudi investors had verbally agreed to do so.

While Musk has to give up his chairman of the board position, he still remains at the helm of the company as CEO.

Musk has faced several difficulties in the past year. Tesla has been plagued by production issues this year as well as volatility in its share price. Musk also faced controversy after his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in which he appeared to take puff a marijuana joint. The US Air Force threatened an investigation into it as government contractors (as Musk is one given his leadership of SpaceX) cannot use drugs even in states where it is legal.

Kavanaugh Confirmation Hits Snag as FBI Launches Probe

The confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, while expected to be narrow, was not much in doubt until a little over a week ago, when an allegation of sexual assault surfaced. In the allegation, university professor Christine Blasey Ford alleged that Kavanaugh had groped her and attempted to rape her at a party back in high school. While Kavanaugh had “unequivocally” denied the charge and Ford’s recollection of some of the details of the event were vague, distrust of the nominee’s moral character grew steadily, especially after another allegation surfaced soon after. In that second charge, a woman alleged that Kavanaugh had displayed his private parts to her during a party at Yale, where both attended college. A third woman, a client of Michael Avenatti, the lawyer who represented pornographic actress Stormy Daniels in her case against Trump, alleged that Kavanaugh had helped orchestrate gang rapes of women during high school and drugged women to make them more susceptible. None of these allegations have been corroborated by other witnesses at this time, though new evidence can come to light any time to help prove either side.

Kavanaugh’s nomination was reported out of the Judiciary Committee of an 11-10 party line vote Friday, one day after both Kavanaugh and Ford gave their testimony to the committee. However, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who voted for Kavanaugh in the committee vote, said he would not vote for Kavanaugh unless a new FBI probe was launched to investigate Ford’s claims. With the GOP majority in the Senate only 51-49, Flake’s vote is crucial for the nomination’s success. President Trump has since ordered the probe, which is expected to take around one week to complete.

Trump’s Lawyer’s Confession Causes Headaches for President

The past week has seen two of Trump’s former aides finding themselves convicted of crimes. In his former campaign chair Paul Manafort’s case, he was found guilty on a number of counts related to financial fraud. However, his former lawyer Michael Cohen’s plea deal confession may prove more damaging to Trump going forward.

In his confession, Cohen acknowledged wrongdoing in arranging hush money payments to two women who claimed to have had consensual affairs with Trump shortly after he married Melania Trump. While such payments are usually not illegal, because they occurred just prior to the election, they could be considered illegal campaign contributions meant to influence the election. Cohen claims he was reimbursed by the Trump Organization and worked at the direction of Trump himself. If true, it is the first concrete case that Trump knowingly broke the law during the 2016 election.

While legal experts say Trump is unlikely to face indictment by prosecutors given his status as president, it could add fuel to Democratic efforts to impeach him, especially if Democrats take back Congress in November.

John McCain: 1936-2018

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) died August 25 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. McCain, who represented the state of Arizona in the Senate since 1987 and in Congress since 1983, left a unmistakable mark on American politics and the US’s role in international affairs.

McCain, born in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, was both the son and grandson of Navy admirals. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and served as a pilot in the Vietnam War. He was shot down during the conflict and kept as a prisoner by the North Vietnamese in their capital Hanoi. As a result of the torture he received, he never was able to raise his arms over his head again.

McCain ran for and won an Arizona House seat in 1983 and became a US senator four years later. In the Senate he was known for his “maverick” approach in which he generally adhered to the conservative principles of the Republican Party but was willing to buck his party on certain issues, such as campaign finance and immigration. He was also a forceful proponent of using American military power abroad, seen in his advocacy for the Iraq War, intervention in the 2011 Libyan Civil War, and intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

McCain ran for president in 2000 and 2008, and he became the GOP nominee in the latter. After his defeat by Senator Barack Obama, he took a more conservative stance, becoming a major opponent of Obama’s health care law. McCain’s maverick reputation did seem to return in his last years, however, sparring with President Donald Trump, especially after Trump’s critical comments of his military service, and opposed the president’s efforts to repeal the individual mandate in Obamacare, known as the “skinny repeal.”

Shooting in Toronto Leaves 2 Dead, 13 Injured

A shooter in Toronto, Canada shot 15 people, leaving 2 dead and 13 injured before police killed him in an exchange of gunfire. The shooting took place 10 PM local time on Sunday. The shooter, who has not been identified personally but has been identified as a 29 year old male, opened fire at a plaza and was claimed by a witness to have shot around 30 shots before police were able to intercept him. Toronto Mayor John Tory called the shooting “despicable” and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his support for the victims and the city.

Toronto has experienced incidents of violence in the past. Back in April, a man committed a van attack, which killed 10 people and injured 16 more. The perpetrator, 24 year old Alek Minassian, was arrested and is still awaiting trial. His motives remain unclear, though a Facebook post mentioning that he was part of the “incel rebellion,” the first word meaning someone who has been unable to lose his virginity, may give clues. If this were his motive, it hearkens back to the 2014 shooting spree in California by Elliot Rodger, who expressed similar frustrations in his over 100 page long manifesto.

Trump, Putin Summit Leads to Political Controversy

President Trump’s recent Helsinki summit on July 16 with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to calm relations between the two countries, though the political response to it in the US has been often critical of the tone Trump took with Putin, especially during the joint press conference.

During the press conference, Trump did not explicitly reject the findings of several US intelligence agencies which said that the Russian government had meddled in the 2016 US Presidential election by purchasing advertisements and astroturfing rallies with the intent to help Trump win over Clinton. However, Trump emphasized Putin’s denial of any meddling, calling his denials “powerful.” He also said, “President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be.” He later walked back that comment, saying that he should have said “wouldn’t” rather than “would,” which would imply that he was more inclined to believe the Russians had meddled than had not. In addition, Trump had said that both countries were to blame for deteriorated relations, which faced heavy blowback in the American media which highlighted Russia’s 2008 and 2014 invasions of Georgia and Ukraine respectively, as well as its support for dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) both expressed their agreement with the US intelligence communities findings, but did not criticize Trump directly. Democrats took a much more combative tone, with some accusing the president of treason. One lawmaker, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) seemed to suggest a coup against Trump is warranted, tweeting, “Where are our military folks ?(sic) The Commander in Chief is in the hands of our enemy!” Cohen has denied such an intent.

Shooting at Maryland Newspaper Leaves Five Dead

A shooting at an Annapolis-area newspaper, Capital Gazette, left five dead and two more injured. The suspect, Jarrod Ramos, is believed to have had a long-running dispute with the newspaper over their coverage of a stalking case in which he was a suspect. Ramos had sued the paper, but had lost the case. Ramos had continually threatened the newspaper since the feud began in 2011. Ramos is currently being held on five charges of first degree murder.

The five killed were Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.

Kennedy’s Retirement Sets Up Battle over Future of Court

The retirement announcement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the Supreme Court sent shockwaves throughout the political world on Wednesday. Kennedy, who had been rumored about possibly retiring sometime during Trump’s first term, will leave the court on July 31.

Kennedy was known for much of his tenure as the swing vote on the court, was still considered a conservative justice, though he voted with the liberal bloc on issues such gay rights and abortion. On controversial issues, his vote usually determined the outcome of the case given the two blocs of normally liberal and normally conservative blocs (one major exception were the Obamacare cases, in which Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal bloc to uphold it, while Kennedy voted with the conservatives to overturn it).

If Trump manages to get his nominee confirmed, assuming the nominee is in the mold of his first nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who often votes with the conservative bloc and holds to the idea of interpreting the constitution as written, it could move the court further to a more conservative direction on most issues, such as abortion and labor issues. Democrats in Congress are expected to near-unanimously oppose whoever the nominee is, though some senators from states Trump won, such as Joe Donnelly from Indiana, Joe Machin from West Virginia, and Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, may vote for the eventual nominee; all three voted to confirm Gorsuch last year. However, Trump could lose support from moderate, pro-choice Republicans, such as Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine. In addition, John McCain’s possible absence because of brain cancer may mean one fewer Republican vote.

Supreme Court Rules in Labor, Travel Ban Cases

The Supreme Court issued two rulings this past week that delighted many conservatives and angered as many liberals. In the first case, the Supreme Court ruled that public sector unions could no longer involuntarily collect fees from non-union members for their bargaining services. Labor unions argued that these fees prevented free-riding from non-union members, as unions must represent all employees equally in their bargaining, not just their own members. At the heart of this case were the political activities of unions, which overwhelmingly support and donate to Democratic candidates, with which many public employees took issue. The ruling this week will likely mean less money in union coffers and thus less funding for political activities.

The second case dealt with Trump’s travel ban on people from several countries, most of them Muslim-majority. The Supreme Court argued in their decision that the President had the power to ban certain nationalities to protect national security, while the dissenting justices argued that the ban stemmed from prejudice given Trump’s campaign promise to ban Muslim immigration.

Roseanne Barr’s Tweet Causes Cancellation

The return of Roseanne to television saw big ratings, but the show could not survive the statements of its star. Barr’s tweet, which said that Valerie Jarrett, a former Obama adviser, seemed like the result of the Muslim Brotherhood and an ape mixing together, caused ABC to cancel the show. Barr has apologized for the remark, claiming the sleep drug Ambien caused her to make the statement (the maker of the drug denies such effects).

Barr, a strong supporter of President Trump, has said she may fight to keep the show on air. Trump did not defend her statement, but tweeted that ABC owes him an apology for what he views as negative coverage of his administration. Trump had earlier praised Barr for the success of her show.

Harvey Weinstein Indicted on Rape, Assault Charges

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on sexual assault charges. He was freed after posting a $1 million bail.

Weinstein was a major figure in Hollywood when multiple women came forth to accuse the executive of sexual harassment and assault over the years. Weinstein was removed from the company he founded with his brother, Bob, and has been stripped of his membership in the Academy. These charges in New York are the first to be pressed, with other charges possible, though some may be difficult to prove given the time that has elapsed between now and when the alleged actions took place.

US-North Korea Summit Still on Schedule, For Now

The summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Km Jung Un is still scheduled to occur on June 12, though whether it will occur is still a matter of debate. Dealings with the reclusive, repressive regime have been historically fraught with deceit and broken promises, most notably promises to not develop nuclear weapons.

The meeting was previously canceled by Trump earlier this month after North Korean threats to cancel the meeting and the absence of North Korean diplomats from preparation meetings. However, a secret meeting between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in helped to decrease tension between the two countries after North Korea criticized joint US-South Korean military drills (a reason it gave for why it may cancel the meeting). Trump backtracked, saying that the summit, to be held in Singapore, may still happen. US diplomats have continued to make preparations for the summit. However, the unpredictable nature of the North Korean government, as well as the personalities involved in the summit, could once again prevent it from occurring.

At the heart of the issue is the North Korean nuclear program which has been in development for over a decade. North Korea has missiles which can reach far beyond its own borders, threatening US allies such as Japan and South Korea as well as the US itself. President Trump was involved in a diplomatic spat with the North, calling Kim “rocket man” and saying the US nuclear arsenal was far superior than Kim’s. North Korea replied by calling Trump a “dotard.”

Bill Cosby Convicted on Sexual Assault Charges

Comedian and actor Bill Cosby was convicted last week of aggravated indecent assault, stemming from a 2004 case involving a woman, Andrea Constand, who went public with her allegations. She alleged that Cosby drugged her drink and proceeded to grope her. Cosby admitted to drugging women’s drinks in a 2005 deposition, but disputed the specific charges by Constand.

The jury found Cosby guilty on all three counts, which means the 80 year old, now nearly blind, could spend the rest of his life in prison if each sentence is served consecutively, with each carrying a maximum 10 year penalty. It  is still unclear if Cosby will serve the maximum and whether he will serve them consecutively or concurrently.

Korean Détente? Two Countries Could Achieve Some Form of Peace

In a series of unlikely events, the two Korean leaders talked peacefully and publicly, something that has not occurred since the Korean War in the 1950s. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in met at the border between the two countries on Friday, with Kim stepping into South Korea. The two leaders also announced their commitment to denuclearize the peninsula as well as formally ending the Korean War, which ended de facto in 1953. This comes after Kim’s announcement that the North will stop its missile testing.

These announcements also come after President Donald Trump announced earlier this year that he plans to meet with Kim, in which, if carried out, will make Trump the first sitting US president to meet with a North Korean leader. The meeting is currently scheduled to take place sometime next month or in early June.

The prospect for even the peace talks just a few months ago would have been almost unimaginable given the North’s increased frequency of missile tests and the bellicose rhetoric between Kim and Trump, in which the former called the latter a “dotard” and the latter called the former “rocket man.” For now, the insults have stopped, but the prospect of lasting peace is far from certain.

North Korea still possesses nuclear capability and the North may not truly be committed to denuclearization, which it promises only to proceed with if the US does not invade. Trump has implied that military action will not be off the table if the North does not move forward with eventual denuclearization.

Britain, Russia Face Diplomatic Spat over Attempted Killing

The United Kingdom and Russia are engaged in a diplomatic brawl after an attempted killing of a ex-spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter with a nerve agent. The former spy is a Russian who defected to the UK sometime prior, was poisoned on British soil on March the nerve agent, believed to have been manufactured in Russia. The niece of the poisoned man has said that both only have a slim chance of surviving, which would make the attempted killing an actual killing.

In response, Britain expelled  23 Russian diplomats from the country earlier this month. In addition, other countries have condemned the action and expelled Russian diplomats, including the United States, which is closing the Russian mission in Seattle.

Russia has responded, announcing that it will expel 50 British diplomats and diplomatic staff from the country, as well as diplomats from other countries. This comes as Russia has faced global criticism for its foreign policy, increasingly domestic authoritarianism, and its meddling in foreign elections.

Trump White House Faces Turnovers, Continuing Controversies

The Trump White House has continued to suffer staff turnover this month, with the secretary of state, secretary of veteran’s affairs, and national security adviser all fired this month. More strikingly, the announcements were made official, especially in the case of State Secretary Rex Tillerson, through tweets from the President himself.

None of the staff changes were completely unexpected. Tillerson and Trump had long had a rocky relationship, especially since Tillerson reportedly called Trump a “moron,” a charge Tillerson never completely denied. Both had disagreed over certain foreign policy issues, such as North Korea, publicly and often contradicted each other. Trump has nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed Tillerson.

VA Secretary David Shulkin, who faced criticism over his handling of the VA (much like his predecessors in the Obama administration, in which Shulkin served as deputy VA secretary), will be replaced (if confirmed) presidential physician Ronny Jackson.

National Security Adviser HR McMaster will also be leaving the Trump administration; he will be replaced by John Bolton, who served under George W. Bush as US ambassador to the UN. Bolton has remained an active figure in conservative circles, appearing at conferences and delivering commentary on Fox News. Bolton, known for his hawkish foreign policy views, does not require Senate confirmation.

Trump is also facing controversy over alleged payouts by his personal attorney to conceal an affair with pornographic actress Stephanie Clifford (professional name Stormy Daniels) . The affair allegedly occurred in 2006, when Trump had already married Melania. Trump has denied any affair took place.

Winter Olympics End, US Fails to Impress as Politics Took Center Stage

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea ended n Sunday, following two weeks of sporting events. Norway emerged the strongest nation, winning in both number of gold medals won (14) and total medals won (39). The US came in fourth in both categories, with 9 gold and 23 total. While the American performance was the worst in recent Winter Olympics, the women’s ice hockey team defeated Canada to win the first gold for the US in the sport since 1998.

Politics laid a cloud over this year’s games as well. While the North Korean and South Korean teams marched under a united flag at the opening ceremonies, as well as competed together in women’s ice hockey, tensions remain as North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, continues his nuclear weapons program and testing of rockets. His sister, Kim Yo-jung, made an appearance at the opening ceremony and stood near US Vice President Mike Pence. Some American media outlets were criticized for the positive coverage they gave her given her position as propaganda director for the brutal regime.

With Billy Graham’s Death, Many Remember His Legacy

Graham in 1966

The Reverend Billy Graham, who preached before hundreds of thousands in persona during his ministry, as well as to hundreds of millions more through broadcast feeds, died last week on February 21 as the age 99. Graham was born on November 7, 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and began his ministry in the 1940s. He began to be noted for his massive crusades, preaching around the worlds in tents and stadiums, often accompanied by the singer George Beverley Shea, who, by virtue of singing at Graham’s crusades, sang to more people live than any other person in history. Shea died in 2013 at 104.

Graham, who was known for trying to avoid the political battles that other preachers, such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, fought, nonetheless was known for his close relationships with many US presidents, having met every president from Truman to Trump (though he met with Trump in 2013 before he became president). He was known especially for his close relationship with Richard Nixon, a bond which would land him in controversy years later once tapes were revealed of conversations between the two in which Graham said derogatory comments about Jews and their control on the media. Graham had since profusely apologized for his remarks to Jewish leaders.

Graham’s health began to fail in the mid 2000s, preaching his last crusade in New York in 2005, his first being in 1947. Graham continued to make limited appearances, speaking with President Obama in 2010 and attending his 95th birthday party in 2013. Graham had been steadily losing his vision and hearing in the years prior to his death.

Graham was preceded in death by his wife Ruth, who died in 2007. His son Franklin Graham has long been the head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization and, unlike his father, has taken a more active role in the political arena and is known as a close ally of President Trump.

Graham’s funeral will take place in Charlotte on Friday. Billy Graham has been lying in the Capitol Rotunda, the first to do so since the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) in 2012 and an honor often reserved for only the most honorable Americans, especially in the case of private citizens.

Bombing in Kabul Kills 103, Injures 235 More

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, on January 27, which killed 103 and injured 235 more. The bomb, hidden in an ambulance, was one of the deadliest in recent Afghan history.

The attack comes as the Taliban terrorists are growing their reach in the country. The Taliban has an active presence in 70% of the country, according to a new BBC study, with outright control in 4%. As recently as October 2017, the Taliban only had a major presence in 44%. The Taliban’s struggle comes as the United States has ramped up its efforts to dislodge the group from influence in the country.

Trump’s State of the Union Lays Out New Goals for White House

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union as President on Tuesday, in which he laid out various proposals going forward along with touting what he views as the successes of his Presidency so far.

In the speech, Trump laid out a number of plans for the next year, most notably plans for massive infrastructure spending and immigration reform. With respect to infrastructure spending, Trump called for a $1.5 billion package which would work to build new and repair existing roads and bridges across the United States. The bill’s high cost would be paid through a combination of federal grants, state grants, and private partnerships.

In the way of immigration reform, Trump called for an end to “chain migration,” in which immigrants can work to bring their extended families to the United States. Trump’s proposal calls for such privileges to be limited to immediate family members. In addition, Trump’s plan calls for a path for citizenship, over twelve years, for the so-called “Dreamers,” who were children when their parents brought them to the US illegally. With this, Trump made clear that border security would need to be assured, most notably through his plan for a wall, at least in part.

Trump also praised the Republican tax bill passed late last year, saying it will increase the disposable income of millions of Americans and stimulate economic growth.

Trump May Push Infrastructure Plan After Tax Bill Win

The Trump administration is signaling that it may be willing to tackle an infrastructure plan following its success in pushing forward its tax plan this month. Moves for increases in infrastructure spending, unlike the GOP attempts at tax reform, have been supported by several Democrats and may have a chance to receive bipartisan support.

Trump may announce his plans for infrastructure in his upcoming State of the Union speech in 2018.

The infrastructure plan may cost upwards of $1 trillion, but will not all come out the federal treasury. A portion will be paid by the federal government, while state and local governments, along with private companies and investors, will also contribute to the projects laid out in any plan.

Increases in infrastructure spending have long been the goal of numerous politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, with projects including new roads, bridges, terminals, etc. However, concerns over increases to the national debt (already an issue with the recently passed tax bill) could pose an issue, especially with Republicans.

Republicans Pass Tax Law, What It Means for Americans

Republicans passed the first major overhaul to the United States tax code in over thirty years this month, with President Donald Trump saying the plan will “deliver more jobs, higher wages, and massive tax relief for American families and for American companies.”

The plan was pushed by Republican leaders after the GOP Congress wanted to deliver a major piece of legislation before the year’s end, and thus deliver Trump a legislative achievement in his first year, and to pass it while they still held a 52-48 majority in the Senate after they lost a seat as a result of the Alabama special election.

The new law reduces  the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, moving the rate from among the highest in the developed world to more in line with the tax rates of other countries. In addition, it shaves off the tax rate across the board while keeping the seven tax brackets. These cuts to the individual tax rates, unlike the corporate tax rate cut, is temporary and will expire in 2025.

It also caps deductions for local and state taxes at $10,000, which can lead to higher taxes for those living in highly taxed states, such as New York, California, and Illinois.

The bill was unanimously opposed by Democrats in both houses of Congress and was opposed by a number of Republicans in the House who came from highly taxed states.

The new tax cuts are projected to add more than $1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, accounting for lost revenues stemming from the lower rates but also possible increased revenue as businesses and individuals have more money to invest, thus increasing economic activity.

Fire in Bronx Kills 12, Worst in New York City in a Decade

A fire in an apartment complex in the Bronx killed 12 people after it broke out on Thursday night, injuring even more. The fire is the worst to break out in New York City since 2007, in which a fire, also in the Bronx, resulted from an overheated space heater cord killed 10.

The fire Thursday night is believed to have been caused by a child playing with a stove and causing a fire. The child escaped with his mother, but the fire soon spread across the apartment complex. Firefighters had difficulty fighting it as the cold weather had frozen the water for their hoses.

Zimbabwe Strongman Robert Mugabe Ousted

Longtime president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe resigned his position on November 21, ending his 37 year long hold on power on the African country. Mugabe had ruled the country since its transition from the white supremacist Rhodesia, which had declared its independence from Britain during the African decolonization period, and Mugabe was active in the struggle against the Rhodesian government.

Mugabe, who at 93 was the oldest head of state at his resignation, was at one time hailed as a leader of African nationalist politics for his role in establishing Zimbabwe. However, his management of the nation’s politics and economy led to massive corruption, economic decline, and hyperinflation. His land reform efforts, which took away land holdings from all white citizens and gave it to black citizens, many of whom had little farming experience, caused the nation to experience food shortages. However, his fatal error was his attempt to establish his wife, Grace, as his successor. Her unpopularity gave the military the needed support to stage a coup and lead to his former right hand man, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to succeed him.

Five Hundred Years Since Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Tuesday marks the 500th year anniversary of Martin Luther writing his Ninety Five Theses, which often cited as the starting point for the Protestant Reformation. Luther is believed to have posted his piece to the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany, where public displays were usually posted.

Copy of Luther's original 95 Theses

The Protestant Reformation threw the Western Christian world into tumult for centuries afterwards, as the Roman Catholic Church worked to respond to the movement and rise of new denominations, and the Protestant churches found both opposition and support among various monarchs in Europe (one of the most notable cases, King Henry VIII of England transitioned from Catholicism to Anglicanism after the pope would not approve a divorce from his first wife).

Terrorist Attack Kills at Least 8 in New York City

Likely terrorist attack in New York City
leaves at least 8 dead, 11 more injured
Credit: NYPD

An attack Tuesday in New York City has left at least eight dead after a man used a rented Home Deport truck to run into cyclists. The man suspect ran from the scene and was eventually apprehended after being shot by police.

Another 11 people have been injured.

According to several witnesses, the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, and social media accounts supporting the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have praised the attack.

The attack likely marks the latest in a string of global attacks by IS since 2015, following large scale attacks in Paris and Brussels and similar truck attacks in London, Berlin, and Nice.

Separatist Movements Face Defeats in Spain, Iraq

Separatist movements in Spain and Iraq begun actions over the past two months in attempts to achieve independence from their countries, though both are strongly opposed by the countries, leading to confrontation.

In Spain, Catalonian separatists pushed for a referendum asking whether the region, the wealthiest in Spain, should secede and become independent. The referendum as condemned as illegal by the Spanish government and boycotted by most pro-union people in the region. Because of this, the independence option was supported by just over 92% of the vote, but with only just over turnout. In addition, there were outbreaks of violence between Spanish police forces and pro-independence supporters during the vote.

Ignoring Spanish condemnations and threats to directly rule the region, Catalan leadership, led by pro-independence parties, recognized the results and declared independence on October 27, only to be taken over by the Spanish government shortly after with little resistance. Carles Puigdemont has left Spain for Belgium (though he claims he is not seeking asylum) and has called on Catalonians to accept the result of snap elections to replace the ousted Catalonian parliament on December 21.

In Iraq, the Kurdish referendum passed with nearly 93% of the vote, with nearly 73% turning out to vote. The result led to Iraq’s military pushing into Kurdish held land, taking back territory held since Kurdish forces took the land from the Islamic State. Iraqi forces have taken over border crossings between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey and Syria, and have taken back the city of Kirkuk.

Former Trump Campaign Chair Paul Manafort Indicted

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort turned himself in on Monday to the FBI after the probe by former FBI Director Robert Mueller pushed for charges related to Manafort’s lobbying work in Ukraine. The probe, which was directed to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, led to a raid on Manafort’s home in July and charges this week related to alleged money laundering. Manafort’s longtime associate Rick Gates was also charged.

Both have pled not guilty.

Mueller has also announced that Trump campaign staffer George Papadopoulos lied to the FBI about Russian attempts to contact the Trump campaign in 2016.

HHS Secretary Tom Price Resigns

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price resigned Friday, following reporting that revealed his travel expenses had added to over $1 million, often using private jets when cheaper modes of transportation likely would have sufficed. Price, who had the shortest tenure of any HHS secretary, adds to the list of Trump officials who have left the administration amid controversy, such as National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey, to whom Trump issued an abrupt dismissal. Price, an ardent opponent of Obamacare, was selected in part to begin dismantling the program amid GOP repeal efforts.

Roy Moore Wins Alabama Senate Primary

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in the Republican primary in Alabama for the special election triggered by Jeff Session’s resignation to become US attorney general. Moore defeated Luther 55-45% in the runoff, after coming in first in the primary in August. Luther was an appointee to fill Sessions’s seat until an election could be held.

Moore, who was noted for his refusals to remove the Ten Commandments from a courtroom or recognize the legality of same-sex marriage during his previous terms as chief justice (for both he was suspended by Alabama’s judiciary board), ran with the support of many of Trump’s supporters (such as Steve Bannon, Seb Gorka, and Nigel Farage), but not from Trump himself, who supported Strange. Though Trum is popular in Alabama, his support for Strange was not enough for his victory.

Trump has promised support for Moore in the general, which Moore has said he welcomes, and will face Democrat Doug Jones on December 12.

Attack in Charlottesville Causes Tragedy, Political Headaches

A white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend turned violent Saturday as twenty year old man, James Fields, drove his car into a crowd filled with counter-protesters, killing a woman, Heather Heyer, and injuring 19 more. Fields was taken into custody shortly after.

The protests began last Friday, as marchers including white supremacists and neo-Nazis marched to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue. A night march was led by Richard Spencer, a white nationalist and a self-proclaimed leader of the “at-right,” a movement which contains white supremacist elements. In the march, the demonstrators carried tiki torches and shouted chants, such as, “Jews will not replace us.”

The more violent clashes happened the next Saturday, as counterprotesters, including anti-racist demonstrators and far-left elements engaged in melee with the far-right. The police in Charlottesville has been criticized for not doing enough to ensure that the demonstrations did not give way to violence. While the cohort led by Spencer and his allies had a permit for the rally, the police attempted to disperse the protesters just prior to the car attack. The violence came to a head with the car attack, which is believed to been motivated by racism and likely a terrorist attack in itself. In addition, two Virginia State police officers died when their helicopter crashed while providing support to control the violence during the rally.

In response to the attack, President Donald Trump issued an initial statement, blaming the violence on both sides, saying “many sides” were at fault. Facing criticism from many, especially from fellow Republicans, he gave another statement the next day explicitly denouncing the “KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists.” Trump faced further criticism for a press conference on Tuesday, in which he implied there were good people on both sides of the demonstrations, and that the left-wing protesters, which he called the “alt-left,” shared as much blame for the violence as the far-right demonstrators.

Scaramucci Removed from White House Role

Scaramucci, pictured here in 2016, seemed to be bringing
a more cordial attitude to the White House communications
office before revealing his animosity towards then
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus in profane
conversation
Credit: Gage Skidmore

Anthony Scaramucci, a financier with a history of political involvement, was removed Monday by from his White House job as communications director before even formally stepping into the role. In a twist of fate, he was reportedly removed at the behest of the new White House chief of staff, former general and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who replaced Reince Priebus, who Scaramucci wanted gone.


Scaramucci's tenure coincided with a major shakeup in White House staff. Sean Spicer, who had been serving as acting White House communications director after his rocky tenure as press secretary (now filled by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee), resigned in protest following Scaramucci's hiring. Scaramucci played tribute to Spicer, and seemed to enjoy engaging with the White House press corps in his first press conference following the announcement of his hiring by the White House.

Scaramucci's profane rant to a reporter, in which he accused Priebus of being a leaker of confidential information and would be fired soon, no doubt contributed to his political demise. In addition, Scaramucci had boasted that he would only be reporting to Trump, and not to the chief of staff. Though Priebus was removed on Friday, Scaramucci was not far behind.

Scaramucci's actions and attitude simply proved too much for Kelly, who is seeking to exert control over the chaotic administration, which has suffered controversy after controversy relating to its relationship with the press, allegations of collusion with the Russian government during the 2016 campaign, and failure to pass a Republican-sponsored health care overhaul, a mainstay of Republican electoral promises for the past seven years.

GOP Health Care Effort Flounders

Republican efforts to repeal the Obama’s signature health care law, or at least make changes to it, has continued to fail to produce fruit as Democrats continue their steadfast opposition and Senate Republicans cannot reach a consensus on the path forward.

GOP moderates, especially Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), and conservatives such as Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have considered elements of the other side’s plans untenable in getting them for a final bill. Plans that would have repealed parts of the bill and replace them with GOP plans have failed, as have plans to repeal the plan without a replacement one waiting.

On early Friday morning, the Senate rejected a so-called “skinny repeal,” which would have repealed the individual mandate, the most hated part of Obamacare by many Republicans, and eliminated certain taxes. The bill was notable in that House Speaker Paul Ryan gave assurances to some senators that the House will not pass that bill, giving them clearance to vote for it without having to be held fully accountable if made law. Still, it failed, with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joining Collins and Murkowski in voting it down.

Trump Open to Opening More of Atlantic, Arctic to Drilling

The White House has sent signals that it could open up more of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans to oil exploration, which would reverse prior Obama administration policy prohibiting petroleum drilling in those areas. The Interior Department is also exploring opportunities to allow more drilling off the coast of most of the US mainland.

These steps comes as Trump aims to make the US a greater player in the world oil market, though the possible expansion in supply comes at a time when oil prices are at a low point. Additional increases in supply could translate into reduced costs in the rest of the economy, but greater losses for many oil producers.

British Exit Polling Threatens Hung Parliament, Results Begin to Come In

The snap general election in the UK called by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May back in April aimed to expand the Conservative majority in the British Parliament as the government heads into discussions with the European Union to begin Brexit negotiations. Her goal of a larger Conservative presence in Parliament does not seem to have been met, however, based on early returns and exit polling and predictions.

An exit poll released shortly after polls closed at 10 PM local time indicated that Conservatives would fall just short of a majority in Parliament, with 314 seats (out of 326 needed for a majority) with the Labour Party coming in second with 266. It predicted a sharp decline for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), with slight gains for the Liberal Democrats and a decline for the Scottish National Party (SNP).

If no party gains a majority, a party would be forced to form a coalition with smaller parties. The Liberal Democrats, who formed a coalition government with the Conservatives from 2010-2015, have sworn off such a solution involving them. The SNP has said it would join with Labour to form a coalition government should it be possible. The Conservatives can rely on two small center-right parties to create a coalition.

Results can be followed here. As of 2:48 local time, Conservatives have gained 6 seats, Labour 9. 

Trump Selects Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court

President Trump announced his selection for the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia last year, with Neil Gorsuch of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals as his pick. Trump said of Gorsuch at the announcement address, "The qualifications of Judge Gorsuch are beyond dispute. He is the man of our country and a man who our country really needs and needs badly to ensure the rule of law and the rule of justice."

Gorsuch has served on the Tenth Circuit Appeal Court since 2006, where he was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by voice vote. A native of Denver, Colorado, he is the son of  Anne Gorsuch Burford, Environmental Protection Agency head under Reagan. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, where he founded The Fed, a satirical newspaper, along with Andrew Levy, now a Fox News personality. He graduated from Harvard Law School and received a degree from the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar.

Calling Scalia a "lion of the law" at the announcement, Gorsuch is known for his advocacy an originalist, textualist approach in interpreting the Constitution, similar to that of Scalia. Gorsuch will likely most often side with the conservative side of the court should he be confirmed, giving the court a 5-4 conservative majority, with Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy (for whom Gorsuch had once clerked) as the swing vote.

Democrats have begun to announce their opposition to Gorsuch, many angered that Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, received no hearing or vote by the Republican Senate. Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-OR) released a press statement, saying, "This is a stolen seat being filled by an illegitimate and extreme nominee (Gorsuch), and I will do everything in my power to stand up against this assault on the Court.”

If more Democrats feel the same way, it could set a lengthy, tense confirmation battle in the weeks ahead.