Trump suggests he should have extra time as president, in rant over ‘dishonest fool’ Comey’s leaks

The dictator wannabe wants more time as president:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-suggests-could-serve-more-123946429.html

McConnell to Supreme Court: We won’t let Dems 'pack the court'

McConnell's hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me:

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/29/mitch-mcconnell-supreme-court-1477947

AOC says ad attacking her climate change warning actually helps spread her message

Yeah, this is more like an ad FOR AOC, not against her (except for the word "shallow"):

https://www.indy100.com/article/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-climate-change-ad-republican-own-aoc-9085126

UN draft climate report warns oceans rising, warming

It's looking bleak....

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/draft-climate-report-warns-oceans-rising-warming-190829132723704.html

Outlook For The Great Barrier Reef Is Now ‘Very Poor,’ Australian Government Says

This is heartbreaking. I remember spending a couple weeks on the Great Barrier Reef as a kid:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/great-barrier-reef-outlook-very-poor_n_5d68a900e4b02bc6bb372c4a

California joins a handful of other states that provide community college tuition-free

Now this is smart:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/28/us/california-free-community-college-tuition-trnd/index.html

Political Polarization Driven by Chance, Not Ideology

Hmm, not sure I buy this, but here it is anyway:

https://scitechdaily.com/political-polarization-driven-by-chance-not-ideology/

Trump Tweets ‘Fox Isn’t Working For Us’ After Amicable Interview With DNC Staffer

I guess it's true that Trump eventually turns on everyone, even his closest allies:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-tweets-fox-isnt-working-for-us-after-its-amicable-interview-with-dnc-staffer_n_5d66939ee4b01fcc690d2f5d

Trump suggests pardons for wall action

Trump said "Take the land." That'll go over well with Republicans and Libertarians:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-a0c3e931-4e23-4e15-953c-b5e5bab6c381.html?chunk=5&utm_term=emshare#story5

Climate Change Is Warming Europe Faster Than Expected

Looks like the safest places to be are Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, and a few parts of France, Spain and Germany. Stay away from most of France and Spain:

https://scitechdaily.com/climate-change-is-warming-europe-faster-than-expected/

Amazon Wildfires Are Horrifying, But They're Not Destroying Earth's Oxygen Supply

The fires in the Amazon are destroying biodiversity and producing carbon dioxide, but they are not reducing the oxygen content of our atmosphere:

https://www.livescience.com/amazon-fires-are-not-depleting-earth-oxygen.html

After Losing Ten Commandments Battle, NM City Tries Crowdfunding Legal Bills

It's expensive to be stupid:

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/08/25/after-losing-ten-commandments-battle-nm-city-tries-crowdfunding-legal-bills/

Trump Reportedly Discussed Nuking Hurricanes Headed To The United States

I can't keep up with the crazy:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-nuking-hurricanes-axios_n_5d632362e4b02cc97c8fbf9b

More on America’s Fading Faith

I don't have much problem with more liberal strains of Christianity or other religions than literalist zealots like evangelicals. And this shows that my position is well founded:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2019/08/more-on-americas-fading-faith/

Trump Administration Revives Clause That Kept Nazi-Era Refugees From the US

From our Dictator in Chief:

https://truthout.org/articles/trump-administration-revives-clause-that-kept-nazi-era-refugees-from-the-us/

These Fascists Inadvertently Raised Over $35,000 For A Cause They Hate

This is how it's done!

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/portland-fascists-donations-latino-immigrants_n_5d624b7fe4b0dfcbd48eae54

Don’t look now, but the U.S. Labor Dept. is privileging Christians

This is why separation of church and state are so important:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/godzooks/2019/08/religious-freedom-government-trump-atheism/

The Don who would be King

I'm SO glad government and society aren't letting him do what he wants:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/opinions/trump-reality-show-president-danger-avlon/index.html

Bernie Sanders Releases $16 Trillion Climate Plan That Declares Issue a National Emergency

Finally candidates are beginning to take climate change seriously:

https://time.com/5659372/bernie-sanders-climate-plan/

Trump tells Republicans he may begin cutting social security and Medicare if he wins in 2020

Oh this should go down REALLY well with seniors:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tells-republicans-may-begin-162457862.html

Democrats Cite ‘Evidence Of Possible Misconduct’ With Trump Tax Returns

This is good reason to go after his tax returns:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-tax-returns-whistleblower_n_5d5d9d27e4b0d043dd74965f

Trump's contradictions hit a fever pitch

Even a stupid person isn't this stupid:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/donald-trump-economy-guns-republicans-foreign-policy/index.html

Russian interference, 2020

Of course Russian interference had to have handed Trump the presidency, and he's incapable of doing what's best for the country, only himself:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-future-ee11316b-0a82-438c-b29c-ab91fa6bb950.html?chunk=0&utm_term=emshare#story0

Yes, Donald Trump really believes he is 'the chosen one'

The Narcissist in Chief (watch the video):

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/21/politics/donald-trump-chosen-one/index.html

Republican Group Urges GOP Senators To Stand Up To Mitch McConnell In Damning New Ads

I love seeing Republicans attack Republicans, and I REALLY hope this sinks Mitch:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-mitch-mcconnell-election-ads_n_5d5cce2ae4b0d1e11369ce03

Trump, the promise-maker

The promises he's kept are almost all the awful ones:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-d97f5ef2-1026-4ef8-b53c-af5b01f98138.html?chunk=0&utm_term=emshare#story0

Cruz: President Trump would nuke Denmark

Wow, who knew Ted Cruz was Nostrafuckingdamus back in 2016?

"I don’t know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves this way having his finger on the button,” Cruz continued. “I mean, we’re liable to wake up one morning and Donald, if he were president, would have nuked Denmark."

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/ted-cruz-donald-trump-denmark-218694

Fake News Can Lead to False Memories

One has to keep vigilant for one's own biases:

https://scitechdaily.com/fake-news-can-lead-to-false-memories/

Here’s what new tariffs will cost the average American household

Thanks a pant-load, Drumpf:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/19/heres-what-new-tariffs-will-cost-an-average-american-household.html

Why Some White Liberals Will Probably Vote For Donald Trump

Not all assholes are conservatives:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-liberals-racism-trump_n_5d5aaec5e4b056fafd0f07e1

European wind farms could meet global energy demand, researchers now say

"A new study found that maximizing onshore wind potential could enable Europe to generate 100 times more electricity than it currently does. That's enough to cover energy demand for the entire world from now until 2050, according to the researchers."

https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/europe-wind-potential

The new threat to capitalism

Capitalism may have to change:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-future-489aac29-de2c-4b91-bb92-dd90f2e6f68c.html?chunk=0&utm_term=twsocialshare#story0

Record-Breaking Temperatures Around the World Are 'Almost Entirely' Due to Climate Change

And there will be many more record-breaking Julys in the future:

https://time.com/5652972/july-2019-hottest-month/

Fracking boom tied to methane spike in Earth’s atmosphere

A good reason to phase out natural gas, too:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2019/08/fracking-boom-tied-methane-spike-earths-atmosphere

This Land Is the Only Land There Is

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/how-think-about-dire-new-ipcc-climate-report/595705/

Climate change: German MPs want higher meat tax

Well, this is the first of four climate change articles I'm posting (it's also the least depressing of them). Taxing climate-damaging products makes a lot of sense:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49281111

The Biggest News of the 21st Century

I am SO happy to see this and to be a part of it:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2019/08/the-biggest-news-of-the-21st-century/

The Coming Secular Era, Continued

This warms my heart. :-)

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2019/08/the-coming-secular-era-continued/

July 2019 Was the Earth's Hottest Month Ever Recorded, NOAA Says

This just keeps getting scarier:

https://time.com/5652972/july-2019-hottest-month/

Conspiracy Theories Can Have Dangerous Consequences. Here’s Why Experts Say We Can No Longer Ignore Them

About damn time:

https://time.com/5541411/conspiracy-theories-domestic-terrorism/

Everyone will eventually turn on Trump. Even Steve Doocy.

The feel good story of the day:

https://theweek.com/articles/858707/everyone-eventually-turn-trump-even-steve-doocy-

Except that isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/456997-scaramucci-fires-back-at-trump-he-will-turn-on-everyone-and-then

Extreme climate change is here

The East Coast and Southwest are in dire straights. Texas is schizophrenic:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-c5f11d78-b572-4f3b-9705-00b9b938948f.html?chunk=1&utm_term=emshare#story1

Climate Change Threatens the World’s Food Supply, United Nations Warns

This is bleak. Really bleak:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/climate/climate-change-food-supply.html

21 States Sue Trump Administration Over Relaxed Coal Restrictions, Citing 'Climate Crisis'

Good!

https://time.com/5651229/states-sue-trump-climate-rule/

Even a Small Change in Earth’s Carbon Dioxide Makes a Big Difference – Here’s Why

Interesting. I had no idea CO2 was only a fraction of one percent of our atmosphere...nor how little it takes to massively change our climate:

https://scitechdaily.com/even-a-small-change-in-earths-carbon-dioxide-makes-a-big-difference-heres-why/

Trump's trade war could spark a recession, Goldman Sachs warns

The shitbird is his own worst enemy, although we get the blowback:

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-s-trade-war-could-spark-recession-warns-goldman-sachs-n1041501

'A brutal dinner': celebrities talk about meeting Donald Trump

No surprises here:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/aug/12/celebrities-meeting-trump-stories-woody-harrelson

Trump Administration Weakens Endangered Species Act Amid Global Extinction Crisis

Yet another reason to despise Trump:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-endangered-species-rule_n_5cf7b7b4e4b01713bed4df9b

The rural America death spiral

One good thing about this is that it means Trump supporters are a dying breed:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-ba4976ca-244a-4d4b-a7fc-e5860caebd34.html?chunk=0&utm_term=emshare#story0

SE Cupp makes plea to her fellow Republicans

One of the few Republicans (and she claims to be an atheist) coming out for gun control:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/08/10/se-cupp-monologue-we-must-do-something-about-guns-unfiltered-vpx.cnn

New UN Report Puts A Dagger Through Climate Deniers’ Favorite Argument

No, rising CO2 levels won't help the world's crops:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ipcc-climate-report-co2-crop-yields_n_5d4de3d9e4b0fd2733f06150

Evangelical Christians Are the Least Trusted Religious Group in New Zealand

Well this is a nice switch to see--it's almost the opposite of the US:

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/08/09/evangelical-christians-are-the-least-trusted-religious-group-in-new-zealand/

Report: Trump Happily Employing Undocumented Workers While ICE Rounds Them Up

Just more Trump hypocrisy:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/trump-organization-undocumented-workers

How Trump Is Trying—And Failing—To Get Rich Off His Presidency

Old article but enjoyable:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2018/10/02/how-trump-is-tryingand-failingto-get-rich-off-his-presidency/#9cea063b1aa0

After Sandy Hook, we said never again. And then we let 2,179 mass shootings happen.

A very effective infographic:

https://www.vox.com/a/mass-shootings-america-sandy-hook-gun-violence

Nadler: ‘This is formal impeachment proceedings’

About damn time!

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/08/nadler-this-is-formal-impeachment-proceedings-1454360

Iraqi man dies after Trump administration deports him

This is just sad. How emblematic of the Trump administration:

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/07/iraqi-man-dies-deportation-trump-administration-1643512

‘We Are Being Eaten From Within.’ Why America Is Losing the Battle Against White Nationalist Terrorism

Yikes. US law enforcement is hobbled in its fight against white nationalist terrorists:

https://time.com/5647304/white-nationalist-terrorism-united-states/

If We Want to Stop Climate Change, Now is a Moment of Reckoning for How We Use the Planet, Warns U.N. Report

This is getting dire:

https://time.com/5646787/ipcc-climate-change-land-report/

It Might Be Time To Cut My Right-Wing, Trump-Loving In-Laws Out Of My Kids’ Lives

This hits close to home with my own experience with my father:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-cutting-off-relatives_n_5d448ed4e4b0ca604e31f5ba

'Good Guys With Guns' Can Rarely Stop Mass Shootings, and Texas and Ohio Show Why

Excellent point. I think banning semi-automatic weapons would make mass shootings much more difficult (revolvers and lever action rifles would be the fastest shooting weapons, with limited ammunition and relatively long reload times), while having essentially no negative impact on hunting or sport shooting.

https://time.com/5644578/good-guys-with-guns-el-paso-dayton/

Trump Sues California Over Law Requiring Candidates to Reveal Tax Returns

Of course Trump is suing. I REALLY hope he fails:

https://time.com/5645909/trump-sues-california-tax-returns/

These Countries Are the Most at Risk From a Water Crisis

Well, the US is reasonably safe, but a lot of Europe isn't. Neither is Chile, my birthplace. Canada, Brazil and parts of Africa look pretty safe:

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2019-countries-facing-water-crisis/

Excellent explanation for why climatologists accept human-caused climate change as real

Most profound point: “In the past, when CO2 levels rose higher than they are today, it often happened over millions of years and the various forms of life on earth were able to evolve and adapt. But there were a number of times when CO2 levels and temperatures rose as quickly as they have risen in the last 100 years. These changes had profound consequences leading to mass extinctions. For example, 252 million years ago there was a rapid rise in CO2 due to a series of volcano eruptions, and global temperatures rose 11 deg. C wiping out 95% of all species on earth.”

https://www.quora.com/Considering-that-the-Earth-has-always-warmed-and-cooled-naturally-do-you-believe-that-human-actions-are-mainly-responsible-for-present-day-accelerated-global-warming-Why-why-not/answer/Roger-Fjellstad-Olsen?ch=99&share=294aec04&srid=uBhZO

Mitch McConnell's obstruction in the spotlight following massacres

Finally there is at least SOME blowback against Mitch the Bitch:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/06/politics/mitch-mcconnell-gun-control/index.html

Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago

Their assessment in the 1970s was pretty much on the mark:

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15092015/Exxons-own-research-confirmed-fossil-fuels-role-in-global-warming

'Should Send Shockwaves Across the Nation': Grave Warnings as McConnell Accelerates Right-Wing Takeover of US Courts

Even if Mitch the Bitch is ousted in 2020, he's done SO MUCH damage to the courts already:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/01/should-send-shockwaves-across-nation-grave-warnings-mcconnell-accelerates-right-wing

Atmospheric carbon last year reached levels not seen in 800,000 years

Without technology to the rescue, we're screwed....

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08/atmospheric-carbon-last-year-reached-levels-not-seen-800000-years

The Race to Zero Emissions: how the US lost its battery lead

Well, we won't get back in the lead with this president....

https://qz.com/emails/the-race-to-zero-emissions/1679337/

The Return of Doomsday

As if we don't have enough to worry about, nuclear war is back on the table:

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-773cbba9-5fba-40cb-83a5-2a8643ef062d.html?chunk=3&utm_term=emshare#story3

Malaysian senator drops proposed anti-seduction law after backlash

Hard to believe there are still politicians in the world who think this way:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-harassement/malaysian-senator-drops-proposed-anti-seduction-law-after-backlash-idUSKCN1UR370?il=0