Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
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
Donald Trump accuses New York Times of leading ‘Racism Witch Hunt’ after staff meeting leak
President Trump on Sunday accused the "Failing New York Times" of launching a "Racism Witch Hunt" after a leaked recording allegedly showed the newspaper discussing a pivot from focusing on the Russia collusion investigation to racism and Mr. Trump. Published August 18, 2019
Democrats fuel attacks on police, ICE with incendiary political rhetoric, critics charge
From dousing police with water to doxxing immigration agents to attacking detention centers, it's been a long, hot summer for law enforcement, and the inflammatory political rhetoric on the left isn't helping. Published August 15, 2019
Trump administration pushes religious protections for contractors, incurs LGBTQ wrath
The Trump administration moved Wednesday to expand faith protections for federal contractors, the latest front in the ongoing battle between LGBTQ groups fighting discrimination and employers seeking to operate in accordance with their religious principles. Published August 14, 2019
California ethnic-studies model scrapped, decried as anti-Semitic, left-wing ‘propaganda’
The California Board of Education has decided to scrap a proposed ethnic-studies curriculum after a groundswell of opposition over the draft's allegedly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel content. Published August 13, 2019
Jeffrey Epstein connection a problem for Democrats, Hollywood
Democrats and Hollywood may have another #MeToo problem on their hands with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Published August 13, 2019
Endangered Species Act revisions by Donald Trump decried
The Trump administration moved to "bring the Act into the 21st century" by finalizing sweeping revisions that maintain the "best available science" standard while placing limits on the designation of critical habitat, streamlining the listings process and making clear the costs of such designations. Published August 12, 2019
California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum decried as anti-Semitic
A proposed ethnic-studies curriculum developed for California public high schools has ignited outrage over its shabby treatment of Jewish Americans and Israel, leading to fears that students could soon receive a crash course in anti-Semitism. Published August 11, 2019
