Dr. Flowers @AlliFlowers@talkedabout.social

May you prevail Ukraine 🇺🇦

After the New York Times exposed George Santos, an incoming House Republican, as a fabulist, he did something very curious: He revived the dissolved mystery company through which he had claimed to have earned between $3.5 million and $11 million. A big question is the source of Santos' millions. He had no assets & a $55K salary in 2020 but seven-figures in income in 2021/22. It all has to do with a mystery firm he has not fully explained. Read our piece:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/12/scandal-struck-gop-congressman-george-santos-revived-the-firm-that-netted-him-mystery-millions/

Jack Shafer says journalists should shrink Elon news to a little “Shit Musk Said” box.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/21/elon-musk-twitter-press-00074881

I agree.

Shafer also says, "Musk is now the greatest press manipulator since Donald Trump inhabited the White House."

No.

If you're quite rich, and a jerk, and willing to make an ass of yourself in public, then it's EASY to draw press attention. That doesn't make you a master manipulator. Just means you lack the gene for shame, and can withstand a lot of humiliation.

#journalists

Perhaps we shouldn’t spend upwards of $1.7 trillion on a failed F-35 fighter jet program when 94% of public school teachers are forced to spend their own money on school supplies?

I’m just the last few years we’ve added hundreds of billions of dollars to our military budget.

There is almost no public discussion of why this increase is necessary OR why it should take precedence over other concerns, like child poverty.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the next US aid package to #Ukraine includes Patriots
https://www.state.gov/1-85-billion-in-additional-u-s-military-assistance-including-the-first-transfer-of-patriot-air-defense-system/

Germany returns looted artifacts to Nigeria to rectify a 'dark colonial history' - This week's handover is Germany's first step in fulfilling its agreement with Nigeria to release all 1,130 Benin Bronzes from German museums. #npr

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1144666811/germany-nigeria-returns-benin-bronzes-looted

Dolphins show hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, new study suggests - The brains of three species of dolphin found stranded along the Scottish coast have shown the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, according to new research, providing greater insight into the disease in species other than humans. #cnn

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/uk/dolphins-alzheimers-disease-scn-scli-gbr-intl/index.html

Rest In Power to Franco Harris

#RIP #FrancoHarris #Steelers

Biden administration offers to release Tamiflu from Strategic National Stockpile - With an early and severe flu season straining resources, the Biden administration says it will release the prescription antiviral Tamiflu from the Strategic National Stockpile to states and territories that request it. #cnn

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/health/tamiflu-flu-antiviral-stockpile-release/index.html

Compromise is a necessary part of life, and stubbornness can cause more problems than it's worth. But there can be no compromise with bigotry, with hate, no matter how much easier it may seem to stay silent. Against these be steadfast, be stubborn, be a true warrior.

Something is wrong with a country that easily passes an $858 billion defense budget with no real debate but fails to raise the minimum wage for over a decade despite nearly two-thirds of its citizens living paycheck-to-paycheck.