French philosopher Voltaire famously quipped: “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” Something similar can be said of modern monetary theory, also known as MMT, because it may be the economy’s only hope to get through the pandemic. Coined by Australian economist Bill Mitchell and...
The Debate: Can Politicians Block You on Social Media?
Point: Officials Who Block People on Social Media Violate the First Amendment In the social media age, numerous politicians have come under fire for blocking critics from following them on Twitter. The latest is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who recently settled a lawsuit brought by Dov Hikind, a former...
Elizabeth Heng Behind AOC Video Sparking Debate
The biggest explosion from Thursday's Democratic presidential debate didn't take place on the stage in Houston. It took place during one of the ad breaks. New Faces GOP PAC aired a video featuring the face of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) burning into flames, transitioning into horrific images of the...
AOC Excites Fresno Democrats With Local National Parks Visit
AOC mania is taking shape in the Valley. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) posted pictures and video on Instagram, showing her at Kings Canyon National Park. She also posted a video of her near The House trees at Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. The word is, she was spotted...
Balch Exits Mayoral Race, Citing Family Priorities
Elliott Balch, the chief operating officer of the Central Valley Community Foundation, pulled the plug on his Fresno mayoral campaign Tuesday night. Balch's exit, along with Mayor Lee Brand's earlier decision to not seek reelection, reduces the field to just two candidates, county prosecutor Andrew Janz and police chief Jerry...
Will Council Override Brand Veto? Would be First in 12 Years.
After five years of a mayor not executing a veto, Lee Brand in 2019 issued three. And, he may suffer his first veto override at Thursday's council meeting. If the council is successful, it would be the first veto override since 2007. The council reversed then-mayor Alan Autry's plan to save...
Costa Explains Vote Opposing the Israel Boycott Movement
In a rare showing of bipartisan agreement, the Valley's congressional delegation unanimously approved a non-binding resolution opposing the Israel boycott movement Tuesday. The tally in the House: 398 for the resolution, 17 opposed. "The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is an overt attempt to isolate and weaken our ally, and should...
Trump Blasts 4 Congresswomen; Crowd Roars, 'Send Her Back!'
WASHINGTON — A few Republicans on Thursday criticized the chants of "send her back" by President Donald Trump's rally crowd after he assailed a young Democratic congresswoman who he's suggested should leave the U.S. But so far, no GOP lawmakers are directly taking on Trump, who did nothing to restrain...
House Condemns Trump's 'Racist' Words. 4 GOP Join Dems in Vote.
WASHINGTON — In a remarkable political repudiation, the Democratic-led House voted Tuesday night to condemn President Donald Trump's "racist comments" against four congresswomen of color, despite protestations by Trump's Republican congressional allies and his own insistence he hasn't "a racist bone in my body." Two days after Trump tweeted that...
Facing Censure, Trump Insists 'Not a Racist Bone in My Body'
WASHINGTON — Defiant in the face of widespread censure, President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that his tweets suggesting four Democratic congresswomen of color return to their countries "were NOT Racist," and he appealed to fellow Republicans to "not show weakness" and to resist a House resolution condemning his words. "I don't have...