Israel
It would seem that Lyndon Johnson’s decision to embrace Israel, which arguably provoked Sirhan Sirhan to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy,[1] came in stark contrast to the policies of his predecessor.[2]
Derek Leebaert, “When Eisenhower Republicans Censured Israel—Three Times,” American Conservative, August 22, 2019, https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/when-eisenhower-republicans-censured-israel-three-times/
Brexit
Amy Davidson Sorkin covers some of the ground[3] I covered a while ago. There is still no realistic alternative to the Irish backstop,[4] and Boris Johnson is bluffing, if you can call it that, with an empty hand,[5] while Britain hurtles toward the legal default: a hard Brexit.[6] One has to suspect that Johnson is every bit as delusional as Donald Trump.
Amy Davidson Sorkin, “The Double Dishonesty of Boris Johnson’s Brexit Proposals,” New Yorker, August 22, 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-double-dishonesty-of-boris-johnsons-brexit-proposals
Gig economy
Several other companies [besides Amazon] have come under fire for similar tip-taking practices, including Instacart and DoorDash. The latter is still dipping into driver tips about a month after announcing it would stop, but it said Thursday that practice will end next month with the implementation of a new pay structure that will also feature higher base pay.[7]
Johana Bhuiyan, “Amazon ends practice of dipping into drivers’ tips to meet their wage guarantees,” Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2019, https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2019-08-22/amazon-flex-fares-tips
Alyse Stanley, “DoorDash Announces It’s Replacing That Whole Tip-Skimming Scheme Thing,” Gizmodo, August 23, 2019, https://gizmodo.com/doordash-announces-its-replacing-that-whole-tip-skimmin-1837492337
Pittsburgh
Today, another violent act downtown. On duty Officer was less than 1000 ft away. Police Mini-station was across the street. Back-up Officers arrived in less than 2 mins. Actor apprehended in less than 3 mins, victim ok. Downtown safety requires multiple partners, not just police.
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) August 24, 2019
So this is where we’re at in downtown #Pittsburgh now. Don’t walk alone. https://t.co/DAmLJeAcaB
— David Benfell, Ph.D. (@n4rky) August 24, 2019
Yes. In fact, in all Central Business Districts, across our country. Services to the homeless, addicted, need of mental health, residents of our region are concentrated in CBDs. At same time State & Fed govt is cutting funding for those who need help. That’s where we are.
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) August 24, 2019
I’ve never had to think twice about walking alone in a downtown district before.
Yes, I’m favor of all the services you list. And no, I don’t think police are the solution.
But forgive my shock.
— David Benfell, Ph.D. (@n4rky) August 24, 2019
Paul Guggenheimer, “Woman stabbed in Downtown is Pittsburgh’s 3rd stabbing this month,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 23, 2019, https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/woman-stabbed-in-downtown-pittsburghs-third-stabbing-this-month/
- [1]Thaddeus Russell, “Does U.S. Support for Israel Threaten American Safety?” Daily Beast, July 14, 2017, https://www.thedailybeast.com/thaddeus-russell-does-us-support-for-israel-threaten-american-safety↩
- [2]Derek Leebaert, “When Eisenhower Republicans Censured Israel—Three Times,” American Conservative, August 22, 2019, https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/when-eisenhower-republicans-censured-israel-three-times/↩
- [3]Amy Davidson Sorkin, “The Double Dishonesty of Boris Johnson’s Brexit Proposals,” New Yorker, August 22, 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-double-dishonesty-of-boris-johnsons-brexit-proposals↩
- [4]Karla Adam and William Booth, “Could Boris Johnson’s ‘no-deal’ Brexit break up the United Kingdom?” Washington Post, July 29, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/could-boris-johnsons-no-deal-brexit-crack-up-the-united-kingdom/2019/07/29/b871ebac-b1e6-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html; Daniel Boffey, “However you look at it, the logic of a Brexit backstop refuses to yield,” Guardian, June 24, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/24/however-look-logic-brexit-backstop-refuses-to-yield-irish; British Broadcasting Corporation, “Irish deputy PM Coveney: No deal Brexit would mean customs checks in Ireland,” July 21, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-49062367/irish-deputy-pm-coveney-no-deal-brexit-would-mean-customs-checks-in-ireland; Amanda Ferguson and William Booth, “Northern Ireland’s politicians don’t agree on much. Except that Boris Johnson’s no-deal Brexit would be a disaster,” Washington Post, July 31, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/northern-irelands-politicians-dont-agree-on-much-except-that-boris-johnsons-no-deal-brexit-would-be-a-disaster/2019/07/31/c209affa-b2eb-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html; Peter Foster and Camilla Tominey, “Boris Johnson warned that ‘no deal’ Brexit will require return of ‘direct rule’ in Northern Ireland,” Telegraph, July 26, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/26/boris-johnson-warned-no-deal-brexit-will-require-return-direct/; Katy Hayward, “Can technology and ‘max fac’ solve the Irish border question? Expert explains,” Conversation, May 23, 2018, http://theconversation.com/can-technology-and-max-fac-solve-the-irish-border-question-expert-explains-96735; Conor Humphries, “Irish PM says hard Brexit would raise issue of Irish unification,” Telegraph, July 27, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-ireland-nireland-idUSKCN1UL280; Séamas O’Reilly, “Hard Brexiters’ stance on the Irish border is nonsense – I can tell you, I grew up there,” Guardian, August 7, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/northern-ireland-hard-border-brexit-customs; Steven Swinford and Henry Zeffman, “Backstop protects stability in Ireland, Macron tells PM,” Times, August 22, 2019, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/find-an-alternative-to-irish-backstop-and-brexit-deal-is-possible-angela-merkel-tells-boris-johnson-dmtfzf9gz↩
- [5]David Benfell, “Boris Johnson might think he’s playing poker with the European Union, but he’s actually playing ‘chicken’—with a brick wall,” Not Housebroken, August 2, 2019, https://disunitedstates.org/2019/08/02/boris-johnson-might-think-hes-playing-poker-with-the-european-union-but-hes-actually-playing-chicken-with-a-brick-wall/↩
- [6]Jack Maidment, “Brexit latest news: Theresa May’s deal defeated again by 58 votes – PM hints at general election to break deadlock,” Telegraph, March 29, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/29/brexit-latest-news-theresa-may-final-push-mps-prepare-vote-withdrawal/; Peter Walker, “Could parliament’s latest amendment stop no-deal Brexit?” Guardian, July 18, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/18/could-parliaments-latest-amendment-stop-no-deal-brexit; Josh Wilson, “No-deal Brexit odds: Latest predictions on leaving the EU without a deal,” Telegraph, August 2, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/no-deal-brexit-odds-latest-predictions-leaving-eu-without-deal/↩
- [7]Johana Bhuiyan, “Amazon ends practice of dipping into drivers’ tips to meet their wage guarantees,” Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2019, https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2019-08-22/amazon-flex-fares-tips↩