Alex Trebek, longtime and iconic Jeopardy! Host, announced his possible retirement on Sunday. At 78 years old and recently having had brain surgery, Trebek told Fox News that he is “50-50” for remaining host after his contract expires in 2020. Trebek’s departure, of course, wouldn’t be the end of the show, but it would leave […]
Blog: TAPPED
Posted inEconomic Policy
With Massive Merger, the Prison Phone Industry Could Become Even More Lucrative
The prison phone industry, which has come under fire for the exorbitant fees it charges prisoners calling home, may be set to become even more profitable. This month, the giant inmate phone services company Securus petitioned the FCC to approve its plan to buy a smaller competitor, ICSolutions. If the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
The Nation’s Youth Demand Action on Climate Change
Dreary weather and constant rain did not stop hundreds from turning out for Saturday’s Youth Climate March in Washington, D.C. The diverse crowd included families from Kansas City, youth who protested the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock Reservation, and residents of the Marshall Islands who have seen firsthand how rising sea levels threaten […]
Posted inEconomic Policy
A Nonprofit Group (and Not the Government) Saves SNAP at Farmers Markets—For Now
Food justice advocates breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as a pending disruption in farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits was narrowly averted for the time being. Has the Trump administration stepped in and provided a solution to the markets nationwide that were threatened? Of course not! A nonprofit group has cleaned up after the government’s […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Trump Didn’t Flout GOP Norms — He Epitomized Them
When the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed, the American Right was faced with a conundrum. For most of the 20th century, it had defined itself by its anti-communism, the sole idea on which all wings of the disparate conservative community could agree. Moreover, anti-communism gave the Republicans a handy club with which […]
Posted inBooks, Arts and Culture
NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly Goes Ballistic in Interview with London Mayor Sadiq Khan
On July 13, an NPR interview with London Mayor Sadiq Khan turned into a debate over the right to peaceful protest. While the topic of the interview was purportedly Trump’s U.K. visit and his harsh criticisms of Khan, reporter Mary Louise Kelly instead used the opportunity to pick a fight with the mayor over whether […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Putin Must Love Having Trump on His Side
It must be nice to have Washington on your side. Vladimir Putin has to be heading home scratching his head. His meeting with Trump was choreographed to be cordial. But why on earth did Trump need to repeat, in even stronger terms, that he believes Putin’s denials over the extensive investigations of the entire U.S. […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Nebraska Voters Could Decide to Expand Medicaid
While many Republican governors have refused to expand Medicaid, some conservative-led states may have to resign themselves to letting direct democracy decide the question, thanks to the efforts of advocacy groups across the country. In Nebraska last week, advocacy group Insure the Good Life announced that it had received the number of required signatures for […]
Posted inLaw and Justice
Jeff Sessions Does Not Understand Domestic Violence
As the Trump administration half-heartedly attempts to clean up the mess that its family separation policy created, another regressive policy that alters who can seek asylum in the United States is now in effect. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a directive in mid-June that severely restricts the ability of asylum seekers to gain entry into […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Maryland Democrats Still Split Over Gerrymandering after Supreme Court Punts
While the Texas gerrymandering decision commanded the country’s attention, the Supreme Court also dodged partisan gerrymandering questions in the Maryland case, Benisek v. Lamone. But Maryland’s anti-gerrymandering advocates weren’t surprised by the decision to send Benisek back to a lower court. Instead, voting rights advocates stayed focused on their ongoing efforts to end the democracy-eroding […]
