Just Ask The Question News 9.24.22
Is the U.S. destined to be an authoritarian state?
Welcome back to the Just Ask the Question newsletter where we share insights on the White House and politics in general through podcast interviews, original articles and commentary.
And because everyone deserves a break now and then from all that is D.C., we will also share the lighter side of the news with exclusive interviews from leading pop culture figures. sign up here
It's a scary time in America — but know this: Donald Trump is finished
As Trump goes full QAnon and his fellow Republicans turn to ever greater cruelty, there are real signs of hope
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the first post-pandemic meeting of the General Assembly in New York this week warning that the world is in a dangerous place: more divided than ever, teetering on the edge of totalitarianism due to economic inequity and facing a mountain of problems due to climate change. "Divides are growing deeper. Inequalities are growing wider," he said. "And challenges are spreading farther."
We all know the source of the great divide in the United States: former President Donald Trump. He's the large rock thrown into the world's political ocean, causing tsunamis and ripple effects that can tear nations asunder.
God bless his pointed, dyed and empty head, he's still hard at it. A few days earlier, Trump held a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, before his faithful QAnon followers in a half-empty arena. They raised a one-finger salute to him at such an angle that for many it invited comparison to the Nazi salute. To me it looked more like something from a Three Stooges skit. And no, it wasn't "that" finger.
Op-Ed: Lebanon is not getting the attention it deserves
Last week, a woman, frustrated with the ability to access her bank funds, walked into a bank in Beirut with a gun and robbed the bank– of her money.
The story played out as a somewhat amusing anecdote in the United States – but missed the bigger point regarding the problems inside Lebanon: Two years after a horrible explosion at the port in Beirut, little of the horrific damage has been repaired. Government offices and businesses near the port remain closed.
Fifty years after a civil war began, various groups inside and outside of the country fought and settled some of their differences with one another. The city once referred to as “The Paris of the Middle East,” is devastated.
Garbage, abandoned buildings and decay are endemic. Beggars swarm cars in certain parts of the city, desperate for any hand out. More than 40% of the country lives beneath the poverty level. There is no running water and no electricity. Public education is nearly non-existent. There are no city lights at night, and few services available by the day. Healthcare is “Pay only” and hospitals are woefully understaffed. If you have money in the banks, chances are you can’t get it out – unless you show up armed and determined.
Episode 141: Ruth Ben-Ghiat - Is the U.S. destined to be an authoritarian state?
On this week's episode we are joined by guest Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a college professor, historian, MSNBC analyst, and author of the book "Strong Men". She's here this week to discuss the coming Fall midterm elections and their impact on the U.S.
Uncle Joe believes: Behind the scenes, Democrats clearly now think they can win
A puzzling White House event this week sent a clear signal under the surface: Democratic confidence is soaring
The gathering on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday was billed as a celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act — a bill President Biden signed a month ago.
On the very day of the event, ironically enough, the latest economic numbers make clear that inflation is still with us. Never mind: Biden plunged into the event with gusto. Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Harris spoke before Levette Jacobs, an IBEW apprentice from Boston, took the stage and introduced the president.
It was a mixed-bag event with a variety of messages. Perhaps because of the news that morning, the warm-up acts celebrated organized labor, the president's accomplishments on infrastructure and his purported bipartisan appeal, and also addressed continuing problems with climate change and the continuing domestic threats against democracy.
Episode 142: Just Ask The Press - The DOJ appeal of the special master, and the Queens coverage
This week on Just Ask The Press . . . The DOJ appeal of the special master, and the wall to wall coverage of the Queen sucks . . . plus much more.