Current Events

By Brittany Richman ‘Twas the night before voting, and all through the land,Every candidate was stirring, each taking a stand. Banners were hung by polling places with care,In hopes that the outcome would be honest and fair. The pundits were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of polls danced around in their heads. And I, in my PJs, with ice cream piled high,Looked at my ballot and wanted to cry. When out on Instagram there arose such a clatter,I sprang to my phone to see what was the matter. Away to the comment section I flew in a flash,Watching memes of attack ads and political bash.   The moon on campaign signs, full of slogans and names,Cast a glow on the promises that all sounded the same. Then, what to my weary eyes should appear,But arguments still buzzing in my feed of much fear. With cable news anchors, who often fear monger,I thought, “Was this real life? Isn’t anyone stronger?” Both sides seemed so certain the other’d bring doom.But I wanted hope, not more gut-wrenching gloom. They stood at the podiums, their words they did spin,I couldn’t help but wonder, how does anyone win? Up at the debate stage […]

Sure, you can argue that THE only real important date in the election this year is Election Day itself: November 3rd. But if you really want to be informed and do your part, other dates matter as well. It’s all part of the political process. Every Thursday, from now until November 3, look for our Instagram posts regarding Election Day. We’ll be posting an update on the presidential campaign along with a countdown. The goal isn’t simply to inform you that Election Day is drawing nearer, it’s to motivate you to do your part this year. Every Thursday, look for our Instagram posts regarding Election Day 2020. You’ll see not only updates, but also a countdown. For example, “200 days until Election Day.” That number isn’t there simply to inform you. It’s there to motivate you. It doesn’t just mean you only have 200 more days until you vote. It means you ONLY have 200 more days to decide who you want to vote for and do something about it: volunteer on a campaign, donate, register your neighbors to vote, educate yourself about issues, etc. Your duty as a U.S. citizen requires more than just voting.

Impeachment. It may conjure images of distrust and scandal, it’s a topic you’d rather just avoid, and it is almost always confusing. If those are thoughts coming from adults, then what are kids supposed to think about it? Whether or not you choose to bring it up for discussion, they’ll likely have heard something about it already, from social media, the news, or even at school. So what’s a parent to do? Here’s some tips for discussing it with your children.

While my children got ready for school this morning, the coverage of President George H.W. Bush’s funeral was on throughout our house. We rarely have TV on these days, but it was important to me that my kids see it. Why? Years ago, when I was just a kid, I was home sick from school watching TV on the couch. All that was on that day was the funeral coverage of former President Richard Nixon. I was glued to it. I had never seen anything like it and I was immediately fascinated by the not only the funeral coverage itself but by the stories of President Nixon and what his life meant to America. It’s my earliest memory of being struck by what patriotism meant. It was America coming together and pausing for a few moments to reflect. It was beautiful. My own kids live in a world where talk of politics is ugly. Animosity has taken over something that should be respected. When a U.S. president passes away though, that animosity pauses and Americans remember what it means to be an American. Instead of seeing Washington at its worst, they see Washington at its finest. When that happens, moments of […]

  If you’re anything like us, you’re never quite sure how to approach sensitive topics with your kids. For instance, how do you talk to them about things like the deadly church shooting that happened in Texas over the weekend? Do you say anything at all? What if their friends talk to them about it first? If you’re looking for a helpful resource to get you started, we’ve got you covered.

“Can you believe they’d hang a sign like that in an elementary school?!” my neighbor fumed. I was embarrassed to admit that I had a hard time noticing what was wrong with the sign. “Hate has no home here,” it read. The sign hung prominently in the lobby of our neighborhood elementary school. It seemed like an okay message to me to spread to a bunch of kids… hate is never the answer. So why not teach the kids such a valuable life lesson? What was wrong with that?

Inscribed on the fireplace mantel in the dining room of the White House is a prayer from former president John Adams. I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof. We hold our elected officials to a high standard–as we should. But then the dirty business of politics gets in the way. The result? Officials, even our presidents, who mess up. It’s nothing new. In fact, history often repeats itself. So, when a journalist claims something is “unprecedented” or “unheard of” it often only takes a little research to realize that almost nothing is “unprecedented” when it comes to our government. The latest FBI investigation into the Trump administration (well, his campaign staff) has reporters claiming all of those things.

Meet your newest United States Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch. He was nominated to fill the spot of Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in February 2016. Name: Neil Gorsuch 

  A few days ago, I received an email from the White House inviting me to share my “Obamacare disaster” story. So, I did. I explained how Obamacare has affected my husband’s pay. He’s in the medical field and, along with his colleagues, was furious when the bill outlined how certain medical professionals should be paid for their work, as if lawmakers know anything about how medical professionals should be billed. Turns out, no one really feels that bad for those who actually work in the healthcare industry, even though the healthcare law affects everyone, practitioners and patients alike. This debate is about the cost to patients. You and me. All this healthcare business can be incredibly wonky and confusing (I know I’m not the only one), so let me fill you in real quick…

Do you know how much money reporters make straight out of college? Go ahead and take a guess. Journalism is so glamorous, the salary has got to be sustainable, right? Wrong. Most journalists make jack squat. I know all too well. I used to be one. My first reporting gig I made a whopping 18k a year. My salary jumped to 23k when I took my second reporting job and I thought I had hit the jackpot. The environment, the pressure, the demand… I often felt like a walking ulcer. There’s a reason so many call it quits after just a few years on the job. Unless you’re truly passionate and can overlook the pay, the field is merciless and it hardly seems worth it. You may have noticed that reporters are attacked pretty ruthlessly these days, and not only by conservative citizens who are sick of liberal slants. They’ve also become quite the target for the President of the United States.