Sunday, June 19, 2016

Meet Brandon Davis, the new head of the Democratic National Committee

Hillary Clinton's campaign is taking the reins of the Democratic National Committee, installing a new top official on Thursday to oversee the party's day-to-day operations through the general election.

Brandon Davis, national political director for the Service Employees International Union, will become the general election chief of staff for the Democratic Party. His selection formalizes the coordination of the Clinton campaign and the committee

Davis, 38, oversees the political efforts at one of the country's largest labor unions. He has also worked as political director to Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

Wasserman Schultz welcomed Davis to party headquarters on Thursday morning. While she will remain in her position as the party's chairwoman, at least through the convention next month in Philadelphia, her role diminishes with the Clinton campaign's takeover of the committee.

The appointment of Davis is intended to allay some of the concerns about party leadership. It is a standard transition, as Clinton becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee.

[SOURCE]

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Meet Ibtihaj Muhammad: USA Fencing Team

I was talking to my daughter while we were getting something to eat and the store owner had up a picture of Ibtihaj Muhammad, a local and successful fencer from Maplewood NJ who is on the US National Team headed to the Rio Olympics. I asked my daughter if she knew who it was and she guessed that it might be one of Muhammad Ali's children. My wife and I laughed and then explained to her who it was. My daughter wondered how was she supposed to know who she was if nobody told her. I thought about that and decided she's quite right, so everybody meet Ibtihaj Muhammad.

HOMETOWN: Maplewood, N.J.

BIRTH YEAR: 1985

A five-time Senior World team medalist and 2014 Senior World Team Champion, Muhammad will make history in Rio as the first U.S. woman compete in the Olympic Game in hijab. Ranked as high as No. 7 in the world during the 2015-16 season, Muhammad has won both individual and team medals on the World Cup circuit.

Learn more about Ibihaj Muhammad: http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/700219-ibtihaj-muhammad

Common to Star in ‘Black Samurai’ TV Series

Common is set to star in a television adaptation of “Black Samurai,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The TV project, currently in development, is based on Marc Olden’s 1974 book series, which inspired the 1977 film of the same name. Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is attached as an exec producer.

Producers are currently shopping the project. Once a network is attached, the search for a writer and director will begin. With Common attached to star, the hot project is already garnering much interest.

“Black Samurai” follows the story of Robert Sand (played by Common) who is rescued by a Japanese samurai master and trained for seven years. After suffering from vicious racism in the military, and seeing his teacher and fellow samurai killed before his eyes by terrorists, Robert Sand becomes a killing machine, out to destroy the corrupt powers who had taken the lives of his friends.

Read more: Common to Star in ‘Black Samurai’ TV Series

Study slams troubled Oakland police department for racial bias

The Oakland police department’s history of misconduct — particularly involving African-Americans — has made it the subject of federal oversight for 13 years. Wednesday, Stanford researchers released the results of a two-year-long study into the department, confirming that Oakland officers exhibit significant racial biases in their day-to-day work.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Lawmaker wants the rich to be drug tested before receiving high-dollar tax deductions

A Congresswoman who is “sick and tired” of drug testing welfare recipients has introduced a bill in Congress that would subject the rich to many of those same requirements.

Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., unveiled Thursday the Top 1% Accountability Act, which would require those claiming itemized deductions of more than $150,000 on their tax returns to submit to drug tests or file for less generous tax deductions.

The proposal is a shot across the bow at Republican governors in states, including Moore’s home state of Wisconsin, that require the recipients of certain welfare benefit programs to be drug tested in order to remain eligible to receive assistance.

“As a strong advocate for social programs aimed at combating poverty, it deeply offends me that there is such a deep stigma surrounding those who depend on government benefits, especially as a former welfare recipient,” Moore said in a statement. “Sadly, Republicans across the country continue to implement discriminatory policies that criminalize the less fortunate and perpetuate false narratives about the most vulnerable among us.”

Moore, who represents Milwaukee, used welfare benefits to work herself out of poverty when she was younger and has said that her goal is to ensure others have the same opportunity.

“I’m grateful for the taxpayers for [welfare], and I have given back tenfold,” Moore told the Guardian. “I think everyone should have that same opportunity.”

Read more: Lawmaker wants the rich to be drug tested before receiving high-dollar tax deductions