A Congressional investigation has confirmed what Aram Roston reported last November in The Nation: US tax dollars go into the pockets of Afghan warlords in "a massive protection racket" which may lead back to Taliban hands.

"I know what a thug corporation looks like," says lawyer and radio host Mike Papantonio, who is busy building a RICO case against BP for the oil devastation in the Gulf. "These people are sociopaths and the GOP are apologizing for them."

BP's Tony Hayward has been yanked off spokesman duty after having the poor judgment to go yachting while the Gulf drowns in his company's oil. But according to the Annual World Wealth Report Hayward's not the only one yachting while the world burns. It's not just Brits, either. Sales of luxury boats were up 30% in the U.S. in the first quarter of the year. The ultra-rich, it seems, are getting their lives back. Lucky them.

Melissa Harris Lacewell quotes South Pacific, a progressive musical of its time, saying, “You have to be taught to hate and fear, you have to be taught from year to year, it has to be drummed in your dear little ear.” Alarmingly, schools in Arizona and Texas have incorporated Rogers and Hammerstein’s ideas into their educational policies

Despite the enormous growth under Andy Stern’s leadership, current president Mary Kay says that the SEIU is still fighting for paid sickdays. None of the laborers cleaning up the gulf coast are even under a union contract in the first place.

We heard the rallying cry with its cheap double entendre over and over during election season 2008. "Drill, baby, drill." Now, of course, the results of such a policy are coating the birds, fish, and coasts of the Gulf of Mexico: uncontrollable oil everywhere. Brave New Films is launching a new campaign for Power Without Petroleum, and you can join them on Facebook or on their website.

Republicans discuss their values as if they are defending small government and private property, but they’ve evolving much more towards being the defense line of corporate America in recent years.

Republicans discuss their values as if they are defending small government and private property, but they’ve evolving much more towards being the defense line of corporate America in recent years. Despite the enormous growth under Andy Stern’s leadership, current president Mary Kay says that the SEIU is still fighting for paid sickdays. None of the laborers cleaning up the gulf coast are even under a union contract in the first place.

Laura appeared on the Ed Show June 15th to discuss Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and more.

Stories about politics are rarely stories about people, but stories about people are often stories about politics. “Restrepo” is the title of a film by Tim Hetherington telling one of these stories.