Tag Archives: United States Constitution

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Affordable Care Act …


By

The Affordable Care Act’s Dramatic Impact On The Uninsured, In One Chart

Yesterday we wrote about some of the GOP health care myths that have been busted with the latest good news from research on how the Affordable Care Act is working. Well, right after that, another great piece of new evidence showed up. This time (with consideration for your Friday afternoon), we can summarize it in a single chart:

gallup

As the chart above reveals, according to the latest polling by Gallup, the rate of Americans without insurance dropped by 3.7 points between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the second quarter of 2014, from 17.1 percent to 13.4 percent. That is a dramatic decline that directly coincides with the open enrollment period for new plans under the ACA.

How’s that for some good news?

BOTTOM LINE: The evidence continues to roll in. Millions of Americans are getting covered thanks to the Affordable Care Act — including huge numbers of individuals who were previously uninsured.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cable News Has A Big Problem


 MediaMattersweekly_email_header_logo_alt

Some other things I’ve read this week: Linda Marsa on a new frontier of inequality, Simon Parkin on mapping the galaxy, Elizabeth Spiers on a publisher challenging the culture, and Joseph Stiglitz on the myth of the past.

John Whitehouse
Twitter: @existentialfish

This Is A Big Problem

GuestsPolls regularly show that Americans’ top issue is the economy. And yet when cable news shows discuss economic issues, two-thirds of the guests are men. http://mm4a.org/1n8AL6s
Related: Cable news economic guests are not experts either: only 3% of economic guests are actual economists: http://mm4a.org/1jlLUGo

Climate Denialists Party In Vegas

VEGASThis week was the big climate change denial conference put on by the Heartland Institute. We’ve put together the complete dossier of those attending, including their ties to the oil industry: http://mm4a.org/1m8xecX

FEATURED VIDEO

IngrahamThe xenophobic and nativist rhetoric of right-wing anti-immigrant protesters is straight from conservative media figures: http://mm4a.org/1xNcBGN

THEY JUST IGNORE IT

GregoryThe June jobs report showed that the economy was picking up, with almost 300,000 jobs created. So why did the Sunday shows ignore it? http://mm4a.org/1mBkDA1

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Fox do's and don'ts
How Fox News Covers Women’s Issues
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

drought season … in Seattle


Summer drought season has begun

A drought season in Seattle of all places? You read that right. Cliff Mass, our own world-famous meteorologist, goes into some great detail about our dry season here in Seattle. Did you know in July, Seattle is drier than Phoenix?
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

L.A. controller says he won’t pay


L.A. controller says he won’t pay millions owed to DWP groups

Los Angeles Times | July 9, 2014 | 11:15 AM

Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin announced today that he will refuse to pay nearly $4 million that the city owes two controversial nonprofits affiliated with the Department of Water and Power, saying he can’t write the checks in “good conscience” because the groups have refused to show what they’ve done with more than $40 million in previous payments.

“As the city controller, I have a duty to protect the public’s money and to ensure that city funds are spent appropriately,” Galperin wrote in an email to the Los Angeles Times.

For the latest information go to www.latimes.com.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the White House in action …


Julián Castro Confirmed by the Senate as the Next HUD Secretary

This afternoon, the Senate overwhelmingly approved San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to be the next Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The vote was 71-26.

READ MORE

States Lead on Minimum Wage. Is Congress Listening?

Congress is back in session this week, and if members have been listening to their constituents, they will move quickly to raise the federal minimum wage, which has lost 20 percent of its purchasing power since the 1980s. But absent action from Capitol Hill, states are taking up the slack.

READ MORE

Here’s What You Missed: Fourth of July at the White House

It was a busy Fourth of July at the White House. The President began the day by speaking at a naturalization ceremony for active-duty service members and civilians. Later, he and the First Lady hosted military heroes and their families to the White House for a special Independence Day event, including a USO program featuring Grammy award-winning recording artist Pitbull. And it all culminated with a spectacular fireworks display on the National Mall.

READ MORE