Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Beto O’Rourke doubles down on mandatory buyback after shooting: ‘This is f——d up’
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas doubled down Sunday on his call for a mandatory buyback of "assault weapons," including AK-47 and AR-15 firearms, in response to the deadly shooting Saturday in West Texas. Published September 1, 2019
Facebook accused of censorship after cracking down on pro-life LiveAction
For years, pro-lifers have insisted that abortion is never medically necessary, arguing that the baby can be delivered preterm -- instead of being aborted -- in such emergency cases where the pregnant person's life is threatened, but Facebook disagrees. Published September 1, 2019
Greta Thunberg, teen climate activist, sails to U.S., ignites exploitation debate
She's the biggest climate celebrity since Al Gore, but Sweden's Greta Thunberg made her triumphant arrival in New York City for a month of activism amid rising concerns over whether the pig-tailed teen is a global-warming prophet or a political pawn. Published August 29, 2019
National Popular Vote referendum qualifies easily for Colorado 2020 ballot
Colorado voters will decide whether to remain in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact after a proposed referendum easily cleared the signature bar Thursday to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Published August 29, 2019
NASA: Area burned by global wildfires dropped by 25% since 2003
Climate activists often warn that global warming is stoking forest fires, but it turns out the amount of land burned by wildfires worldwide has plummeted by 25% since 2003, according to NASA. Published August 29, 2019
PragerU fights YouTube over ‘censoring’ of conservative videos
PragerU's videos are free of profanity, nudity and violence, but they keep landing on YouTube's restricted list -- including animated posts on five of the Ten Commandments -- a pattern the right-tilting content provider blames squarely on political bias. Published August 28, 2019
Six women candidates blast DSCC for endorsing Hickenlooper for Colorado Senate
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's early endorsement of former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is not sitting well with the women also seeking the party's nomination. Published August 27, 2019
Amazon fires ‘normal agriculture’ despite international outrage
Every year, farmers in the Amazon set fires to clear agricultural land during the dry season starting in August, but this year may be a record-setter, not for the number of fires, but for the global outrage. Published August 26, 2019
Macron, Madonna, DiCaprio share fake photos of Amazon rainforest fire
There were a couple of problems with the photo of this year's Amazon rainforest fires tweeted by French President Emmanuel Macron: It wasn't taken this year, and it may not be the Amazon rainforest. Published August 26, 2019
Jay Inslee joins Planned Parenthood, rejects Title X grant funds
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday his state is joining Planned Parenthood in pulling out of the Title X family-planning program rather than comply with abortion restrictions implemented by the Trump administration. Published August 22, 2019
Donald Trump divides LGBTQ movement along party lines
Nowhere is the divide on President Trump more pronounced than in the LGBT community, where his administration has been both condemned as the worst and hailed as the best in modern history on gay rights. Published August 22, 2019
John Hickenlooper enters Colorado Senate race after insisting, ‘I’m not cut out to be a senator’
He once said he wasn't "cut out to be senator," but former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday jumped into the state's crowded Democratic Senate primary field, a week after giving up his long-shot bid for the 2020 presidential nomination. Published August 22, 2019
San Francisco turns felons into ‘returning residents’ by scrubbing ‘dehumanizing’ labels
That tough customer with the teardrop tattoo is no longer an ex-con: He's a "formerly incarcerated individual," a "returning resident," or simply "justice involved." Published August 22, 2019
Bernie Sanders unveils $16.3 trillion Green New Deal that will ‘pay for itself’
Sen. Bernie Sanders unveiled Thursday his own Green New Deal, setting a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030 with a sweeping climate and social-justice overhaul that he promised would "pay for itself." Published August 22, 2019
Betsy DeVos touts rising support for school choice, charter schools as families seek ‘more control’
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a huge proponent of school choice, and it turns out she's not alone. Published August 21, 2019
Big Tech antitrust concerns draw state AGs’ attention
Add a cohort of state attorneys general to the growing list of government gumshoes pursuing the nation's tech giants over whether their market clout has stifled competition and innovation. Published August 20, 2019
Ilhan Omar blasts Israel after Palestinian Authority cracks down on LGBT rights
The crackdown by the Palestinian Authority on gay rights Monday created an awkward moment for its Democratic supporters, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, who responded by blasting Israel. Published August 20, 2019
Planned Parenthood pulls out of Title X over Trump administration abortion restrictions
Planned Parenthood made good Monday on its threat to pull out of the Title X family-planning program, leaving about $60 million on the table rather than comply with the Trump administration's newly enacted restrictions on abortion funding. Published August 19, 2019
Colin Kaepernick urges kneelers to ‘stay strong’ as protests shift to getting him an NFL job
Colin Kaepernick is encouraging players to keep kneeling despite the league's numerous social-justice initiatives, fueling debate over whether the protests have become less about oppression and more about getting the multi-millionaire quarterback an NFL job. Published August 19, 2019
Ted Cruz: New York Times ‘destroying itself’ with ‘Trump hatred’
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, said Sunday that the New York Times is "destroying itself" with its hatred of President Trump, referring to its reported pivot from Russia to racism. Published August 18, 2019
