Cryptocurrency backers have spent years insisting that bitcoin, ethereum and other digital coins could revolutionize the world of finance. Finally, they’re getting their moment. What’s happening: The Wall Street debut of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase on Wednesday was a massive success, with the company’s valuation at one point topping $100 billion. Shares finished the trading session…… MORE
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Capitol Police inspector general to testify about lapses in planning ahead of Capitol ‘takeover’
The inspector general overseeing a probe into the United States Capitol Police’s preparation for and response to the January 6 insurrection is set to detail critical lapses in planning, policies and procedures resulting in the catastrophic failure that killed five people, including one of their own, Officer Brian Sicknick. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton’s…… MORE
This record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation would affect minors the most
Thirty-three states have introduced more than 100 bills that aim to curb the rights of transgender people across the country, with advocacy groups calling 2021 a record-breaking year for such legislation.  Many of these bills are rapidly making their way through state legislatures. On April 6, Arkansas became the first state to outlaw providing gender-affirming…… MORE
Secretary of State Blinken visits Afghanistan day after US announces plans for withdrawal
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday in an unannounced visit to the country where US troops have been fighting for nearly 20 years. Blinken touched down in the Afghan capital less than 24 hours after the United States and the NATO coalition formally announced they would withdraw their troops from the…… MORE
What to make of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause? Dr. Wen, who got J&J herself, says not to worry
The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that they were recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. The agencies cited the cases of six women between the ages of 18 and 48 who had developed a rare and severe condition…… MORE
Why Mars? The fascination with exploring the red planet
The mystique of Mars is one that humans can’t seem to resist. The red planet has easily captured our interest for centuries, heavily featured in science fiction books and films and the subject of robotic exploration since the 1960s. In February, three spacecraft arrived at Mars after departing from different launch points on Earth in…… MORE
Jamie Dimon says ‘American dream is fraying’
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is bullish about the economy, but he remains concerned about the growing wealth gap, particularly for Black people, in the United States. “The American dream is fraying and income inequality is like the fault line,” Dimon said in an interview with David Axelrod, the founder and director of the University…… MORE
5 things to know for April 15: Covid, White House, voter suppression, Russia, China
It’s Tax Day in the US, but don’t freak out! You still have a month to file your 2020 return. There are other changes to this tax season you should know about, too. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can also get “5 Things…… MORE
The art of persuasion: How past presidents have tried to nudge Supreme Court justices off the bench
Early in President Barack Obama’s second term, while fellow Democrats still controlled the Senate, the President asked Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to a private lunch at the White House. At the time, some liberals were calling for Ginsburg to step down to allow Obama to name a younger liberal, just as some Democrats today are…… MORE
Infrastructure negotiations: 4 things to watch on Capitol Hill
Congressional Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden‘s roughly $2 trillion proposal focused on infrastructure and the climate crisis as a far-reaching wish list of liberal priorities and have taken issue with how the plan would be paid for. At the same time, however, they have made clear they do believe there is room for bipartisan…… MORE
