“Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can.” -- Mark Twain
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| DAILY SPECIALS |
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| GAMES & SPORTS |
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| EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE |
Group calls on
Congress to pass 'Right to Try.' Americans
for Prosperity, the libertarian political advocacy group founded by David and
Charles Koch and Karl Rove, today launched a six-figure national media campaign
in support of the long-stalled legislation. The bill would allow very sick
patients to request access to experimental drugs without going through the
FDA.[ POLITICO Pulse, April 26, 2018]
DEATH BY CLEAN CAR?
In his efforts to overturn California’s requirements
for greater fuel economy for new cars, EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt has dusted off an old argument: smaller,
lighter cars kill people.
As Evan Halper wrote, independent analysts, including some who once warned about the downside of lighter vehicles, now say that argument is outmoded. But Pruitt hasn’t let it go.
Despite some talk of compromise, the Trump administration and California still appear to be on a collision course over fuel economy. The tough requirements put in place by California and a dozen other states are key to efforts to combat global warming, supporters say.
Pruitt also continues to be dogged by ethical issues. This week, the government’s fiscal watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, said EPA broke the law with its efforts to build Pruitt a $43,000 phone booth for his office. Pruitt said he needed the booth to make secure, classified calls. [LA TIMES, Essential Politics, April 20, 2018]
As Evan Halper wrote, independent analysts, including some who once warned about the downside of lighter vehicles, now say that argument is outmoded. But Pruitt hasn’t let it go.
Despite some talk of compromise, the Trump administration and California still appear to be on a collision course over fuel economy. The tough requirements put in place by California and a dozen other states are key to efforts to combat global warming, supporters say.
Pruitt also continues to be dogged by ethical issues. This week, the government’s fiscal watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, said EPA broke the law with its efforts to build Pruitt a $43,000 phone booth for his office. Pruitt said he needed the booth to make secure, classified calls. [LA TIMES, Essential Politics, April 20, 2018]
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| ENVIRONMENT |
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| ELECTIONS |
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| JAMES COMEY |
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and
my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to
keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
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| TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE |
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| PAUL MANAFORT |
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| SCREEN |
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| POLITICS |
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| NATO |
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| ENERGY |
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| EDUCATION |
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| PUBLIC LANDS |
Ryan Zinke: is the interior secretary a friend
or foe of public lands?
Who is Ryan
Zinke?
Is the US interior secretary the man who proclaims his love of public lands and once signed on to a letter saying that “the clean energy and climate challenge is America’s new space race”? Or is he the man prioritizing drilling and mining over conservation of the nation’s protected landscapes?
It’s clear what he is not.
As CNN reported this week, he’s described himself at least 40 times in public settings as a “geologist”, although in reality his only experience in the field is a 34-year-old undergraduate degree. Other controversies have surrounded his use of chartered flights – which an investigator recently found to be acceptable – and his choice of staff.
We revealed that one of his key officials has been scheduling large numbers of meeting with extractive-industry groups that later benefit from weakened wildlife and wilderness protections. And, we noted in a later story, the outdoor industry wants to organize “like the NRA” to defeat such efforts. We’ll have more for you on these issues over the coming months.
I’m always happy to receive tips and pitches at publiclands@theguardian.com. You can follow me on Twitter: @alastairgee.
– Alastair Gee, public lands editor [The Guardian, April 19, 2018]
Is the US interior secretary the man who proclaims his love of public lands and once signed on to a letter saying that “the clean energy and climate challenge is America’s new space race”? Or is he the man prioritizing drilling and mining over conservation of the nation’s protected landscapes?
It’s clear what he is not.
As CNN reported this week, he’s described himself at least 40 times in public settings as a “geologist”, although in reality his only experience in the field is a 34-year-old undergraduate degree. Other controversies have surrounded his use of chartered flights – which an investigator recently found to be acceptable – and his choice of staff.
We revealed that one of his key officials has been scheduling large numbers of meeting with extractive-industry groups that later benefit from weakened wildlife and wilderness protections. And, we noted in a later story, the outdoor industry wants to organize “like the NRA” to defeat such efforts. We’ll have more for you on these issues over the coming months.
I’m always happy to receive tips and pitches at publiclands@theguardian.com. You can follow me on Twitter: @alastairgee.
– Alastair Gee, public lands editor [The Guardian, April 19, 2018]
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| CYBERSECURITY |
CYBER MAKES THE CUT AT G-7 MEETING - The
Group of Seven industrialized nations remain hopeful that the United Nations
can be a forum for productive discussions about international cyber norms,
despite a highly publicized setback last year. In a statement published Monday, a G-7 cyber working group said
its participants "expressed regret" that the U.N. Group of
Governmental Experts was unable to reach consensus about how international law
applied to key cyber concepts during a 2017 meeting. The GGE process fell apart because several countries, including Cuba and likely
Russia and China, opposed the U.S.'s views about armed conflict in cyberspace.
But the members of the G-7 Ise-Shima Cyber Group - named after a region in
Japan, whose government convened the first meeting - "decided to continue
to support" the GGE effort and similar multilateral attempts to develop
cyber norms.
In addition, "G-7 partners committed to
continuing the development of mechanisms for coordinated responses to malicious
cyber acts," including "mechanisms to signal clearly our
understanding of what constitutes unacceptable behaviour in cyberspace." [POLITICO's Morning Cybersecurity, April 25, 2018]
NOTE: The news sources here vary. Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here. This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased. Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value. Thank you
NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives.
Any commercial or business interest information shared is purely informational, not an endorsement. I have no connection with any such commercial or business interest.
Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post. Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse. They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended.
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