Even in an era when the discourse surrounding the presidency has been remarkable, this sentence in the White House press briefing room stands out.“There’s no indication whatsoever that he has any cognitive issues.”That was the assessment of Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the chief White House doctor, in discussing the health of President Trump.‘FIT FOR DUTY’Jackson fielded questions in a lengthy session with reporters on Tuesday on the well-being of the 71-year old president.The doctor said Trump is on the borderline of being obese and should lose as many as 15 pounds but still characterized his overall health as excellent. The report showed Trump as standing 6-feet-3 inches and weighing 239 pounds. His medications include aspirin and Crestor, a cholesterol-lowering medication for his heart, as well as Propecia to mitigate hair loss.And the admiral criticized what he called the current “tabloid psychiatry” about the president’s mental … [Read more...] about Essential Politics: When a president’s physical becomes big news
Politics
Norman Sherman: Hubert Humphrey exemplified the best in politics
Forty years ago this past week, Hubert Humphrey died. Many, if not most, Arizona voters will ask, “Who?” That is unfortunate, but not surprising. It’s a long time ago and he didn’t become president in 1968 when he lost to Richard Nixon by less than a single percentage point. Presidents are likely to be remembered. Losers are not. Humphrey was a student of the New Deal, having written his master’s thesis on it as well as seeing the devastating impact of the Great Depression on his rural South Dakota neighbors. He took Franklin Roosevelt’s words seriously: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, but whether we provide enough to those who have little.” He thought trickle-down economics invariably added to the fortunes of those who have much and worked to hurt those who had too little or were marginalized in our society. His presidential loss should not define or diminish the memory of … [Read more...] about Norman Sherman: Hubert Humphrey exemplified the best in politics
Politics in China weighs heavily on business
BEIJING — Politics weighs more heavily on foreign companies in China than it has in nearly three decades. The latest flashpoint was Beijing's fury last week at hotel keeper Marriott and other companies that labeled self-ruled Taiwan a country on websites or customer materials. But companies face pressure on many sides from President Xi Jinping's more nationalistic stance and twin campaigns to tighten the ruling Communist Party's political control and have it play a direct role in business. Businesspeople complain their operations are being hampered by internet disruptions due to Beijing's latest campaign since last year to tighten censorship of what the Chinese public sees online. They face pressure to promote initiatives such as helping potential Chinese rivals develop technology in fields including electric cars. Last year, Beijing destroyed South Korean retailer Lotte's business in China after the company sold land to the Seoul government to install an anti-missile system … [Read more...] about Politics in China weighs heavily on business
Firefighters aim to make state senator pay political price for union bill
By Jeremy Wallace, Houston Chronicle Updated 6:52 pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Photo: Courtesy Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 District 17 state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston District 17 state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston Photo: Courtesy Firefighters aim to make state senator pay political price for union bill 1 / 1 Back to Gallery AUSTIN -- A Houston Republican is starting to pay a hefty price as she runs for re-election for running afoul with police and firefighter unions in Texas. In the last to Legislature sessions, State Sen. Joan Huffman has sponsored legislation to make it harder for many public worker unions to collect membership dues. Now those groups are responding by funneling big money to help Fort Bend County Republican Kristin Tassin challenge Huffman in a primary on March 6 in one of the … [Read more...] about Firefighters aim to make state senator pay political price for union bill
In Theory: Political endorsements remain a no-no for nonprofits
One change made to the GOP tax bill before the president’s signature late last year removed language that would have repealed the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits including churches from making political endorsements.Such a change would have strengthened freedom of speech, according to GOP supporters of the repeal. “It’s really a carve-out to make sure, in the views of those who support it, that the pulpit is a free-speech zone,” said religious-liberty expert Charles Haynes in the Washington Post.Johnnie Moore, a co-chair of the president’s evangelical advisory group, seconded that position in an article published on Christianity Today: “Pastors ought to be able to speak openly and freely without fear or intimidation.”But the end-game of the proposed change would have meant regulation, Andrew L. Seidel writes in a Religion News Service commentary, explaining that churches, as recipients of donations, would have become … [Read more...] about In Theory: Political endorsements remain a no-no for nonprofits
Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirement plays to Trump base at little political risk
Kentucky is one of the poorest states in America, and its residents are among the sickest. Yet the governor's decision to force Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement — something that could take health coverage away from 100,000 people — is unlikely to carry any political repercussions for the GOP in this deeply red state. Democrats, with their eyes on the 2018 congressional elections and 2020 after that, are taking notes on every move Republicans make that reduces access to services for the poor. But in Kentucky, political operatives think the left will be disappointed. “If you can say, 'All we’re doing is requiring people to be more active participants in their health care and require some work-related activities,' I think the general population looks at that and says, ‘What’s the matter with that?”’ said Al Cross, editor and publisher of Kentucky Health News and a former state political reporter for the Louisville Courier … [Read more...] about Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirement plays to Trump base at little political risk
GOP access to FBI files rattles agents caught in political fight
Chris Strohm and Greg Farrell, Bloomberg Published 10:27 am, Tuesday, January 16, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery … [Read more...] about GOP access to FBI files rattles agents caught in political fight
8 charts and maps that show Africa’s incredible leaps in health, finance, and politics
Chris Weller, provided by Published 9:55 am, Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Max Roser President Donald Trump reportedly asked in a meeting last week why the United States accepts immigrants from "shithole countries," such as Haiti and nations in Africa. The comment drew fierce ire from politicians and advocacy groups, including the African Union, who demanded Trump retract the statement. Shortly after Trump's comment, Max Roser at Our World in Data compiled charts and maps that show how much progress African countries have made in health, economics, and politics over the past several decades. Take a look. Over the last 35 years, the rate of child death in African nations has plunged, thanks largely to early health interventions. Local Channel Now Playing: Now Playing Car drives off bridge near downtown S.A. during storm mysa Woman in England surprised with tickets to see Rascal Flatts at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo mysa San Antonio man … [Read more...] about 8 charts and maps that show Africa’s incredible leaps in health, finance, and politics
Inherent bias of identity politics creates cynics
What you describe as "solid reporting" that is "tough but fair" looks more like identity politics and finger-wagging elitism. This feckless sermonizing is characterized by an overreliance on "unnamed sources" (essentially, gossip); the glorification of certain causes; the deployment of so-called "experts" disguised as "fact checkers" to conclude that a challenged speaker's statement must be "false" if the "expert" disagrees; a complete lack of any context that refutes preordained conclusions, and a sanitization designed to eliminate any possibility of offending one identity group or another ... except possibly white heterosexual males. These inherent biases breed the cynicism you purport to loathe and drive people to alternate sources -- real or fake -- for the "truth." Admittedly -- and thankfully -- the Daily Herald refrains from this tendency in most of its local reporting; however, virtually all of its national and international stories are sourced verbatim from Bloomberg, … [Read more...] about Inherent bias of identity politics creates cynics
Obama will campaign more in second year off the job, but continue a low political profile
A year after leaving the White House, former president Barack Obama has been on the go, writing a memoir, giving paid speeches, passing the plate for his future presidential center in Chicago and even making a stop in the city for jury duty.Some of his closest allies predict he’ll ratchet up his activities during his second year off the job, even if specific plans remain under wraps.He’ll “continue to be politically active in 2018, with more endorsements and more campaigning,” his spokeswoman Katie Hill said. Still, he won’t maintain such a high profile, lest he risk taking political oxygen away from Democrats in a critical election year, associates said.Obama likely won’t ever take a day job, they said, and will keep carefully picking his spots when he disagrees with President Donald Trump, who has moved quickly to undo an array of Obama measures.A year after handing over the keys to the White House, the country’s 44th president is, in the … [Read more...] about Obama will campaign more in second year off the job, but continue a low political profile