| | 14 JUL 2021 | Facts, not fear. | | | TRENDING TOPICS
Ceasing vaccine outreach • Texas abortion ban • Teen firearm ownership • US-Turkey ambassador • Inflation surprise jump | | FEATURED UNDER-REPORTED STORIES
Using sunlight locally • Hair relaxer cancer risk • Meaning of addresses | |  | | |
TRENDING TOPICS, MOST CREDIBLE STORIES | | #1 in U.S. News • 29 articles Why is Tennessee's Department of Health ceasing vaccine outreach to minors? |  | |
Top from last 48 hrs
Tennessee abandons vaccine outreach to minors — not just for Covid-19.
The Tennessean (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 83% • 7 min read
The Tennessee Department of Health will take steps to ensure it no longer sends postcards or other notices reminding teenagers to get their second dose of the coronavirus vaccines. Postcards will still be sent to adults, but teens will be excluded from the mailing list so the postcards are not "potentially interpreted as solicitation to minors."
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The health department's spokesperson confirmed the agency would end Covid-19 vaccination events at schools, in a part because of low demand [and] because vaccination efforts were "perceived by some to give the wrong impression regarding parental consent."
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Decisions to ratchet back outreach comes amid pressure from conservative lawmakers, who have embraced misinformation about the coronavirus vaccine, said Dr. Michelle Fiscus, Tennessee's former top vaccine official. Fiscus was fired without explanation on Monday. Fiscus said she was scapegoated to appease lawmakers, who had described routine vaccine outreach as "reprehensible."
- Top from different political viewpoint
Tennessee to halt vaccine outreach to teens amid conservative backlash.
The Guardian (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 80% • 3 min read - Top long-read
Faith, freedom, fear: rural America's covid vaccine skeptics.
New York Times (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 87% • 11 min read
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| | #2 in U.S. News • 17 articles Why are abortion rights groups suing Texas? |  | |
Top from last 48 hrs
Abortion rights groups sue to block Texas law allowing citizens to sue providers.
NBC News (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 79% • 3 min read
The law, known as S.B. 8, bans abortions in Texas as early as six weeks into pregnancy — before many women even know they are pregnant. It includes first-of-its-kind language that allows anyone, even someone outside Texas, to sue an abortion provider or anyone else who helped someone get an abortion after the six-week limit for up to $10,000 per defendant.
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The language would apply not just to clinics that provide actual abortion services, but to abortion funds and practical support organizations that provide women in need with money, transportation, lodging, recovery care, child care and [more].
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The groups who filed the suit allege that the law violates Texans' "constitutional right to privacy and liberty as established by Roe v. Wade" as well as the "constitutional rights of abortion providers and supporters, including their right to equal protection under the law, and their First Amendment rights to free speech and access to the courts."
- Top from different political viewpoint
Abortion groups file lawsuit directed at Texas heartbeat bill.
Daily Wire (Right) • Factual Grade 76% • 4 min read - Top long-read
There has never been an anti-abortion law like the one just passed in Texas.
The Lily (Left) • Factual Grade 77% • 6 min read
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| | TODAY'S POLL Should abortions be banned after 6 weeks of pregnancy? All votes are anonymous. This poll closes at: 9:00 PST
| | YESTERDAY'S POLL Is walking away from the legislature an acceptable strategy to stop a vote? 644 votes, 100 comments Context: Texas Democrats walk out of legislature to prevent vote on elections reforms bill. HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTS " No - Democracy means that sometimes your side doesn't get its way. The opposition party can and should fight legislation they disapprove of through fierce debate, both within the legislature and in public. They should make great efforts to keep odious bills in the public spotlight and to rally public support to their side. But taking the ball and going home is a schoolyard tactic, not a democratic one." " Yes - It is a type of fillibuster that refuses to allow the body to continue. It would be better to stay and work toward a resolution if possible. But the publicity from the walkout may bring attention to the issues of voter suppression that the Democrats are concerned with. But it requires a having a counter plan and a media strategy." " Unsure - While in principle I would say running away like this is cowardly and counter-productive, the reality seems to be that both major political parties have decided compromise in any form is a sign of weakness. If the Texas GOP had any desire to include the Democrat minority then the lawmakers should have stayed but this unfortunately is not the case." | | | #3 in U.S. News • 9 articles Why did a federal court rule against restricting firearm sales to young adults? |  | |
Top from last 48 hrs
Barely legal teens can legally buy guns, appeals court says.
Reason (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 76% • 5 min read
Federal restrictions [that ban federally licensed firearm dealers from selling handguns and handgun ammunition to 18–20 year olds] have been on the books since 1968.
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The 4th Circuit, in a 2-1 decision written by Judge Julius Richardson, saw no particular reason why that age group of adults should lack the same Second Amendment rights possessed by those aged 21 and over. "Our nation's most cherished constitutional rights vest no later than 18," the ruling said. "And the Second Amendment [...] is no different."
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The federal government defended the measures in part by citing the supposed increased dangers of gun violence from those [18–20 year olds]. Richardson disagreed. "Around 0.3% and definitely less than 1%, of the 13 million young adults in this group" are known to commit violent crimes, the decision noted. And "the evidence does not sufficiently link purchases from licensed dealers to crimes committed by youth."
- Top from different political viewpoint
Law banning handgun sales to Americans under 21 violates Second Amendment, court rules.
USA Today (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 74% • 2 min read - Top long-read
When it comes to guns, how young is too young? (2013)
NPR (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 78% • 5 min read
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| | #1 in World News • 17 articles Why was Senator Jeff Flake tapped to be the U.S. ambassador to Turkey? |  | |
Top from last 48 hrs
Biden taps former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake to be US ambassador to Turkey amid growing tensions with Erdoğan.
Business Insider (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 71% • 2 min read
If confirmed by the Senate for the ambassadorship, Flake would assume the role at a time when US-Turkey relations have hit a historic low. Flake wrote: "With this nomination, the Biden Administration reaffirms the best tradition of American foreign policy and diplomacy: the credo that partisan politics should stop at the water's edge. U.S. foreign policy can and should be bipartisan."
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Various foreign-policy moves Erdoğan has taken, such as targeting the US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria and purchasing the Russian S-400 missile-defense system, have exacerbated the tensions. Biden's formal recognition of the Armenian genocide in April also infuriated Erdoğan, with Turkey saying the move created a "deep wound" in relations.
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The US considers Turkey an important NATO ally, and Biden and his Turkish counterpart appeared to get along when they met face-to-face in Brussels last month for the first time since Biden's inauguration. Biden said they had a "good" meeting.
- Top from different political viewpoint
Biden names Arizona Republican Jeff Flake as his ambassador pick for Turkey.
Arizona Republic (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 66% • 6 min read - Top long-read
How Joe Biden can put US-Turkey relations back on track. (2020)
Atlantic Council (Center) • Factual Grade 77% • 9 min read
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| | #1 in Business News • 38 articles What are the largest contributors to increased consumer prices? |  | |
Top from last 48 hrs
The cost of living posts biggest surge since 2008, U.S. CPI shows, as inflation spreads through economy.
MarketWatch (Center) • Factual Grade 81% • 4 min read
The consumer price index climbed 0.9% last month. The cost of used cars accounted for more than one-third of the increase, but prices for food, energy, clothing, plane tickets and hotels also rose sharply. Businesses can't get enough supplies or labor to keep up with surging sales, forcing them to pay higher prices for almost everything. In turn, they are trying to pass those extra costs onto customers.
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The Federal Reserve has repeatedly referred to the sharp increase in prices as "transitory" and predicted inflation would taper off toward its 2% target by next year. Yet even the Fed admits it was caught off guard. There's a risk inflation could stay higher for longer than it expected, according to minutes of the Fed's most recent strategy session.
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Still, much of the increase in consumer prices last month was concentrated in goods and services whose prices fell sharply in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic last year. These price increases are likely to subside soon, giving support to the Fed's argument.
- Top from different political viewpoint
Inflation accelerates again in June as economic recovery continues.
Wall Street Journal (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 67% • 5 min read - Top long-read
Is inflation back for good?
Reason (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 80% • 6 min read
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