University of Michigan doctor allegedly sexually abused students

Three wrestlers at the University of Michigan said that University Doctor Robert Anderson, who died in 2008, molested them during medical examinations during the time he worked at the school (1968-2003). A wrestler named Tad Deluca claims that when he went to Dr. Anderson for injuries, he would just sexually abuse him. Deluca claims he wrote a nine-page letter about these allegations in 1975 and gave it to his wrestling coach. The wrestling coach then ignored him, kicked him off the team, and got his scholarship revoked. Deluca also claims that he wrote again to the University in 2018 after hearing about similar cases in other universities, but the letter got ignored again. After Deluca refused to be ignored once again at a conference today, The University of Michigan officials asked anyone else who was a victim of Doctor Anderson to contact them. Deluca was then joined by two other wrestlers and one wrestler claimed that during his freshman year, his teammates warned him about how inappropriate Doctor Anderson was. Their attorney’s goal is to get the truth of the story, give victims opportunities to speak, and hold the university accountable. They plan to meet with the university but they have not filed a lawsuit.

Article Link

Questions:

1. Do you believe that the wrestlers are telling the truth about this? Why come forward years after?

2. If this is true, what could be done to bring the wrestlers and other victims justice?

3. Since Doctor Robert Anderson is no longer alive, how should this situation be handled?

Will the Tokyo Olympics Be Cancelled? 🥇

Source

With the Tokyo Olympics set to begin soon, fears of the Coronavirus continue to spur. There are just over 170 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in Japan with currently no sign of slowing. The Tokyo Olympics are estimated to cost Japan 26 billion US dollars to host the event, therefore a cancellation would be devastating. Dick Pound of the International Olympics Committee said to the associated press that the “outright cancellation of the Games, rather than postponement or relocation, would be likely if the disease proved too dangerous for the event.”(AP) Despite this, for fiscal reasons Japan and the Olympics Committee are still scheduled to hold the event. “Our basic thoughts are that we will go ahead with the Olympic and Paralympic Games as scheduled,” Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo organizing committee.” Despite the seeming ‘go-ahead’ on the event, there is a chance that Olympians will withdraw. During the 2016 Olympics, concerns of the Zika virus caused Olympians of the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Rory Mcllroy, and Jason Day to withdraw from the competition. Australia's “federal sports minister says the nation's athletes could be pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics”. So far, many sources believe that since the virus is fairly new, “It is far too early to get in a panic over the fate of the Tokyo Olympics.”(UT) A decision is to be made by May.

If you got tickets to go to the Tokyo Olympics, would you still go? (based on current knowledge)

Do you believe a cancellation is possible? Why or why not?

If the virus becomes a pandemic, is it insensitive of the Committee to continue with the Competition?

Canada Oil-Sands Plan Collapses Over Politics and Economics

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/business/energy-environment/frontier-oil-sands-canada.html

Canadian mining company Teck Resources has recently abandoned a major oil-sands mining expansion proposal that was scheduled for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's approval. This frees the leader from a choice that could have caused a deadlock between environmental and energy interest groups. Proponents of the oil-sands proposal cited its potential economic boons, including new job opportunities in Alberta and increased global oil exports. Meanwhile, opponents drew attention to environmental costs such as deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions, along with resistance from Indigenous groups. This issue is especially relevant, as Canada is currently the world's fourth largest oil producer, contributing over 60 percent of American oil imports. But at the same time, facing the challenges of tomorrow calls for a shift to environmentally-friendly plans that honor climate change policies such as the Paris Climate Agreement.

Needless to say, this is a multifaceted issue that touches on the "economy vs. environment" debate. But maybe it isn't a debate after all… Maybe both sides could win.

1. Do you think it was wise for Teck Resources to abandon its oil-sands mining project?
2. What do you believe was the greatest motivating factor behind Teck Resources' decision?
3. Do you think there exists an energy plan that is beneficial for the both the economy and the environment?

Northrop Grumman and Axiom Space Take Next Steps in Space Exploration

This is a combination of two different events that happened shortly after one another.

Mission Extension Vehicle

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/space-logistics-services/
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/NASA_Partnership_Gives_Satellites_a_New_Lease_on_Life

IntelSat 901 was launched in 2001 and now sits in a graveyard orbit, 300km above geostationary. While its radio equipment is expected to remain functional for several more years, its engines are out of fuel for station keeping, meaning the radio equipment is useless. This is where Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle, launched aboard a Russian Proton rocket, comes in. It will soon dock with IntelSat, where its extremely efficient ion thrusters will act as the engine in order to make use of the remaining years of service life on IntelSat's radios. Once the radios fail, it can then pull it to a graveyard orbit and attach to a different satellite. This maneuver marks the first unmanned "rescue" of a satellite, previously done by an entire Space Shuttle with a crew of three astronauts. It is also interesting that such experimental technology would be launched aboard a Proton rocket rather than an American rocket.

Axiom Space

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-first-commercial-destination-module-for-international-space-station
https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/27/nasa-taps-startup-axiom-space-for-the-first-habitable-commercial-module-for-the-space-station/

From 2024 to 2028, Axiom Space will send up a series of four modules to the ISS before detaching them, creating their own space station. The Axiom modules differ significantly from existing ISS modules in that they include a luxurious habitation space and viewing deck, meant for space tourists rather than scientists. The launch will be significant for another reason too: it marks the first time a space station will assemble and launch another artificial satellite.

These two missions may be part of the beginning of the second phase of space exploration. We are not just reaching into space but taking the first steps towards establishing a permanent presence: being able to repair and build structures in space. This is similar to the way that colonists followed explorers into the New World.

1. What is the role of the government in science? Should they be involved in routine procedures such as putting up communications satellites or servicing space stations? Should they be focusing on new research that is not necessarily profitable?
2. What reasons might a commercial company have for pursuing scientific missions?
3. Should space be commercialized? How is the balance between environmental and commercial interests determined on Earth? Is space debris an environmental issue?
4. What did farmer John say when his neighbor asked him if he had enough crops to feed his family?
        "There's barley enough."

Roger Stone Sentenced To More Than 3 Years Amid Furor Over Trump And DOJ

Article Link.

Consequence arises amid the Trump administrations controversy when Roger Stone, convicted of lying to congress, obstructing justice, and witness tampering. Stone initially served as a direct line between the Trump administration and Wikileaks, intending on released controversial material on other politicians. His role led to several false statements on important documents for a House Intelligence Committee investigation. Roger Stone's case became especially controversial when Attorney General William Barr ordered the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington DC to file a second memo for less prison time. This was thrown into further uproar when the President himself went on twitter to criticizing the initial sentence and praising Barr. Key to the controversy is DJT's interference with the Judicial branch, which is largely protected from executive interference through precedent and expectation, not constitutional language. Following the controversy, more than 1,000 former Justice Department lawyers and employees and a variety of Democrat Senators have begun calling for Barr to resign due to overstepping his role.

Questions:

1. Was the Stone sentence too lenient? Should stone be given more time for treason?
2. Did DJT overstep in the judicial branch? What further action by the rest of the US government should be taken?
3. Should William Barr follow the calls and step down from his position as Attorney General?
4. What does this mean for the future of the Trump Administration?

The 11 Criminals Granted Clemency by Trump Had One Thing in Common: Connections

Article

President Trump has once again made a controversial move, deciding to grant clemency to several criminals. However, the controversy stems from both the decisions themselves as well as the method. Rather than those unlawfully convicted, Trump decided to pardon several notable white-collar criminals including financier Michael R. Milken and New York City police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik. As a result, many pointed to the various political and social connections that existed between them and the president. Some of the criminals granted clemency were given personal pleas by those close to the president, while others called in previous favors or close ties. However, defendants of Trump's actions argue that he is bypassing the "broken system" on purpose, in order to bring justice back into the system. 

Questions

1.  While Trump has been known to make controversial moves, this is within his power as the president. Do you think there is another motive for this decision, or is it just for the sake of showing his power to "improve" the justice system?

2.  White-collar crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, can often be more harmful to a larger group of people than for example blue-collar crimes. With Trump granting clemency to white collar criminals, could this set a negative precedent for future would-be criminals?

Bloomberg to join Democratic debate amid poll surge

Link

Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is set to participate in his first
Democratic debate on Wednesday, February 19 in Nevada, despite not being on the Nevada
or South Carolina ballot. He has instead chosen to enter the race on March 3 (Super Tuesday)
when states such as California and Texas will hold their presidential primaries. According to a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Maris poll, Bloomberg is ranked 2nd with support from 19% of those
surveyed, compared to Bernie Sanders with 31%, Joe Biden with 15% and Elizabeth Warren with 12%. I was personally not surprised at his fairly high approval rating, because his absence during confrontational debates has left his campaign pretty much unchallenged. However, Bloomberg has been criticized outside the debates by fellow Democratic candidates for attempting to buy the White House, as he has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on digital ads for his campaign. He has also been criticized in the media for past sexually inappropriate comments regarding women, as well as for his controversial ‘stop-and-frisk’ policy directed disproportionately towards Black and Latino people. Each candidate has the power to drastically change the course of America and its relationship with other nations, but many are still unsure of what Bloomberg’s true stances are.  

Questions: 

1) Other candidates have had the chance to voice their opinions and stand firm on certain
issues they prioritize. Will Bloomberg be at a disadvantage in this election for not having more
opportunities to do so? Why or why not?

2). The minority vote has proven to be crucial in presidential elections, and Bloomberg has
attempted to appeal to this group of people. Do you believe Bloomberg’s past racist comments
will significantly impact his ability to secure the minority vote?

3) Are people right to be concerned about Bloomberg’s excessive use of his wealth to win
the election?

Guns rights activist Kaitlin Bennett swarmed by student protesters during surprise Ohio University visit

Article Link

Another related article

 In 2018, now Ohio University alumna, Kaitlin Bennett, a conservative gun-rights activist, shared graduation photos of her on campus with an AR strapped across her back and carrying her cap that said: "Come and take it." During her time as a student, she challenged a Parkland survivor to an arm-wrestling match on Twitter to determine the fate of the Second Amendment. On Presidents Day, she decided to go back to campus with a bodyguard to ask students questions about the holiday for her Libertarian group "Liberty Hangout." Many more left-leaning students were not happy with her surprise visit and left class to see her and protest. As she was driving her truck surrounded by protesters in the parking lot, she filmed some students throwing water at the windows. Later she tweeted, "This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at [the university] started a riot when [we] showed up, and the [university police] let it happen." The University police reported that there were no injuries or violent outbreaks during the protest and that everyone was just exercising their First Amendment rights.

Questions:

1. Ohio University prohibits its students from carrying firearms on campus, but after Kaitlin graduated, she was legally allowed to bring the firearm to campus to take her photos because she was a visitor. What do you think about the university's policy? How do you think the fact that the university is public affects any changes people might want to make to the policy?

2. Do you think her arm-wrestling challenge to the Parkland survivor is morally justified?

3. Any other thoughts?

Senate Passes Iran War Powers Resolution Despite Trump Opposition

Image Link

NY Times Article

CNN Article

Summary:

This morning, February 13th, 2020, the Senate passed the Iran War Powers resolution to try and rein in President Trump’s powers after he escalated tensions with Iran. The resolution had bipartisan support, with a 55-45 victory in favor of the document’s passing. Besides the large amount of Democrats that voted in favor of it, eight other Republican senators supported it as well, including the likes of Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy. Similar to the War Powers Act, this resolution specifically prevents the president from executing orders in the Armed Forces for hostilities towards the Islamic Republic of Iran without authorization.

In response to the passing of this resolution, President Trump responded on Twitter claiming that limiting his power would leave Iran to have a “field day.” Additionally, despite gaining some support by Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell strongly opposes the measure. Senator Tim Kaine, the main author of the resolution, explained later that the resolution was not specifically guided towards President Trump. Rather, it would apply equally to every president. Fundamentally, its purpose is to give Congress the responsibility of the “most significant decision [they] should ever have to make.”


Reaction:

I support the Senate movement on this resolution. I find that it is a necessary and proper measure of checks and balances that would limit the power of the executive branch and give the rightful authority to Congress. Furthermore, this resolution only reinforces language within the Constitution itself that gives Congress the power to declare war, not the president. Trump’s action in Tehran was not in accordance with war power laws in the US, so it is rightful that the Senate pass such a resolution to prevent it from happening in the future. 

Questions:

1. Do you think the Senate made the right call to pass this resolution?
2. How do you think this resolution will affect Trump’s control of the situation in Iran?

Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary

Article Link

Summary

Multiple news outlets have now called the New Hampshire primary for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). He was followed closely by Pete Buttigieg, with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) rounding out the top three candidates in the primary. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Vice President Joe Biden both had disappointing showings, coming in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Sanders also won the New Hampshire primary in 2016, and was expected to win again, although his campaign had faced many doubts throughout 2019. After failing to garner major support in either of the first two primaries, both businessman Andrew Yang and Senator Michael Bennet (D-Col.) have dropped out.

This represents a win for the progressive wing of the party, though moderates such as Buttigieg and Klobuchar also had extremely strong performances. Sanders has a path to the nomination, with more diverse support compared to his 2016 run, and strong support among young voters. 

Reaction

I think that the Democratic primaries are now in an interesting place. Many more candidates, such as Andrew Yang, are starting to drop out, and those previously thought to be strong such as Biden and Warren are showing their weaknesses. I think that it will be interesting to see how Buttigieg and Klobuchar perform in more diverse states, with both of them struggling to get minority support. Both Iowa and New Hampshire have been close, but I think Bernie Sanders is in a very strong position right now.

Questions

1. Given the lack of diversity in both Iowa and New Hampshire, how well do you think they will predict results in more diverse primaries such as South Carolina and California?
2. How strong of a position do you see Sanders in currently? 
3. What candidates do you expect to drop out in the near future? What do you think their failures were in running their campaigns?

Trump Cuts Social Economic Services

Article Link

Summary:

President Trump has proposed many budget cuts for social welfare programs such as food stamps, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, and even social security payments. Congress has struck down many of his propositions, but some of them are being enacted by regulation. Trump argues for the need for disabled individuals to join the labor force once again, and emphasizes the need to motivate the unemployed to find jobs. The program is expected to save $75 billion between 2021 and 2023. In addition, cuts to SNAP benefits (food stamps) could be lost by more than 700,000 people in the US. The cuts would also place work-training requirements on all adults 18-65 in order to encourage employment, regardless of whether those individuals have children or not. Failure to find employment within a given time frame would result in further reduction of the SNAP benefits people receive. These, among other social welfare programs, would face dramatic cuts in order to make room for military spending and expand border control efforts. Some economists have commented that the program would ultimately be beneficial, and assist the unemployed with becoming financially independent, while others have predicted that it will continue to widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor. These cuts would ultimately be contradictory to his original promises to protect social welfare programs during his presidency.

Questions:

1. Do you think Trump is justified in cutting social welfare in order to allocate funds for military spending?
2. Do you think Trump's plans to help the unemployed get jobs will be successful?
3. Unemployment is certainly an issue in the US, so how would you change or criticize Trump's attempts to get the unemployed into jobs?

United States Uses Quarantine Power to Halt Spread of Corona Virus

Sources: LA Times, NPR, CDC

Starting on January 28th the United States mandated a 14-day quarantine for all Americans returning from China’s Hubei Provence, the epicenter of the Coronavirus outbreak. These individuals are housed in various air bases and are kept under close medical watch. This was the first time that the CDC had used its quarantine power since a Smallpox outbreak in the 1960s. On January 31st President Trump banned entry into the United States for anyone traveling from China who isn’t a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident or a family member of either. Experts disagree as to whether these measures are necessary. Some say that they are essential for stopping an epidemic in the United States. Others, including the WHO, say that quarantines and travel bans have historically been ineffective since they create a false sense of security. There are also concerns that these actions may harm U.S.-China relations, therefore impeding the collaboration of health officials.

Questions:

1. Was the CDC (Center for Disease Control) justified in using its quarantine power to halt the Coronavirus from spreading to the United States?
2. How may these actions affect U.S. China relations, in particular in the context of current trade negotiations?

US and China Trade Deal Moves Forward

Article

Back in January, President Trump reached an agreement with China regarding a trade deal, which comes nearly two years after a trade war broke out between the two largest economies in the world. The deal entailed the reduction of US tariffs on $120 billion in Chinese products from 15% to 7.5%. In return, China promised to buy approximately $200 billion in American goods over two years. On February 6th, China lowered their tariffs on US goods, such as cars, crude oil, and soybeans, in response to the US cuts on tariffs in January. While this is an important step in mending the economic relations between the two, Beijing has yet to uphold the crucial part of the deal of buying $200 billion of US goods. This can prove to be a hard task for them as many parts of the nation have faced lockdowns due to the outbreak of the coronavirus all throughout the country, causing flights to China to be cancelled and forcing factories to temporarily close. However, China may be more incentivized to buy more US agricultural products in light of the food shortages and rising grocery costs that can be caused by the outbreak.

Questions:

1. What do you think will be the effects of the coronavirus’ outbreak on China’s ability to hold up their end of the trade deal?
2. Although this move was widely predicted, do you believe that China’s tariff cuts can indicate meaningful movement in advancing US-China economic relations?
3. Some have cited China’s history of finding excuses to reject American farm goods, stating that this trade deal will not change much. How much of an impact do you foresee this deal having?

Nancy Pelosi Defends Ripping State of the Union Speech

On Tuesday, February 4, President Trump presented the annual State of the Union Address and throughout his speech he touched on various topics. The night began with Trump declining to shake Nancy Pelosi’s, member of the House of Representatives, hand, and throughout the evening it was evident that she wasn’t too pleased with what Trump had to say. Pelosi seemed visibly unsettled while Trump discussed his expansion of Social Security and Medicare as she started biting her lips and shuffling papers. As Trump finished presenting his speech, Pelosi was quick to tear up the President’s speech right behind his back. Many questioned whether this was an impulsive decision or if this had been built up anger from the past years of Trump being in office. Some saw this action of ripping this speech as inappropriate; however, Pelosi saw no problem with what she did. The reasoning behind tearing the speech in half was solely because she believed it was a collection of false statements and that it was necessary to get the attention of the people to have similar views on Trump as she does. 

1. Do you think Pelosi ripping the speech is justified? 

2. What message do you believe Pelosi is trying to send? 

3. Do you think the media is giving this action too much attention? 

Source

Trump Aquitted of Impeachment Charges

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

To almost no one's surprise, President Trump was acquitted of two impeachment charges on Wednesday, February fifth. The five months of investigations and hearings over the Ukraine allegations did nothing to sway Senators across party lines as every single Democrat voted Trump guilty on both counts and all but one Republican found him innocent. The lone holdout was Mitt Romney, who found him guilty of abuse of power but not of obstruction of Congress. Romney was the first senator to vote to remove a president of his own party. He was promptly attacked by the President (on Twitter of course) for being a "Democratic secret asset." Democrats are not recognizing the acquittal as valid, especially since it is the first impeachment proceeding in American history to reach a verdict without calling witnesses. The president is set to make a statement about “our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax” on Thursday.

1. What, if anything, can/will Democrats do to combat the acquittal?

2. What impact could the acquittal have on the 2020 election?

3. Do you believe standards for impeachment should be changed? Why or why not? If so, how?

Rush Limbaugh Awarded Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Link to Article

Summary

         On February 4th, 2020, President Trump gave his annual state of the union. As expected, Trump talked about the accomplishments that his administration has achieved in the last years. Trump also discussed the many issues that he will focus on this year. Everything was going as planned when Trump announced that Rush Limbaugh, an American radio personality, conservative political commentator, author, and former television show host, would be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. 

         On Monday 3rd, 2020, Limbaugh announced that he's currently battling advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh has been working as a radio host for many years now and in Trump's words: "He's the greatest fighter and winner that [he'll] ever meet." 

         Besides his work as an entertainer, Limbaugh is also known to be a devoted Republican and as one of the main people credited in helping the Republicans take over Congress in 1994. He's also known as a loyal Trump supporter. 

Reaction:

         Although I wasn't very pleased with everything that President Trump was saying during his speech, I was very moved with this action. Having a President get out of his/her speech to put the spotlight on someone else is something I truly respect. It doesn't matter if we agree or don't agree with everything because in the end, we're all humans and we must always try to show huge gratitude to everyone around us. 

Questions:

1. Does having President Trump interrupting his speech to award Limbaugh change any negative stigma you might have on him?
2. Do you believe that Limbaugh truly deserves the award?
3. In your opinion, what actions from a person should be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom?