Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
The Importance of Women’s Reproductive Freedom
Women have been fighting for fair and equal rights for two centuries, with the first Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. At the convention, the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, much like the Declaration of Independence, which “demanded equality with men before the law, in education and employment.” (Imbornoni, n.d.). The struggle for equal rights did not go without violence, protests, resistance, and retaliation, which eventually led to hard-earned victories such as the right to vote; Colorado being the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote in 1893. 21st century women have been fighting a controversial battle in recent decades, regarding reproductive freedom and being denied the right to access healthcare regarding their reproductive health. Denying women the right to make their own personal and private choices regarding their reproductive health can lead women of all ages, races, and ethnicities to make dangerous, uninformed decisions regarding unwanted pregnancies due to lack of professional assistance and care.
By Jess Didway8 years ago in The Swamp
'Narcocapitalism,' by Laurent de Sutter
I have this (bad?) habit of reading several books at the same time and hence sometimes ideas from different books interweave in my head creating strange patrons. While reading Narcocapitalism (Polity, 2017) by Laurent de Sutter, I also started reading a book about cinema titled Slow Movies’ by Ira Jaffe. In the introduction, Jaffe explains how Gilles Deleuze encountered in Italian neorealism and later in Michelangelo Antonioni, a more real cinema, closer to the experience of time as we live it, as opposed to Hollywood films and its saturation of time and space, its sometimes but not always welcomed unreality.
By Guillermo Fernandez8 years ago in The Swamp
Why I Kept My Promise and Moved to New Zealand When Trump Was Elected
Why I Kept My Promise and Moved to New Zealand When Trump was Elected I have been telling lies. Not ones to harm anyone and not straight up lies, more white laced lies. With politics right now being so emotionally charged and unfashionable, it is much easier to say "I moved to New Zealand for [insert here 'family lifestyle, an adventure, the beauty]..." and the list goes on. While there is truth there, the raw, unclean answer is the 2016 election determined everything for us.
By Tiffany Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
Alone in it
I have observed over the last almost two years how the issues we are trying so hard to avoid in conversations, as well as down play through bogus infallible reasons, to explain why they are not as “deep” as being professed has caused a greater divide of truth in historical facts. It has sparked high priority in the twisted opinions of those who speak about these atrocities in a mellow dramatic moniker. To say the least, all those that have quietly and openly addressed these matters head-on are then showered with the approach of backlash in how the action was executed to bring attention and awareness. For example, the blatant disrespect from the American leader and supposed example of “leadership," Trump, calling the NFL players “sons of bitches” at his Alabama rally, and the barrage of tweets blasting NFL owners for allowing the players to “disrespect the flag, military, and anthem” by kneeling or sitting. He lays it on even thicker by steering focus to NFL ratings, low ticket sales, and home viewer participation. Obviously, disrespect must be a rule, because these and all actions leading up to this point defines every aspect of the word.
By Lashandra Willis8 years ago in The Swamp
US-Mexico Relations & the Avocado. Top Story - December 2017.
If you’re a millennial, chances are you love avocado and will never be able to afford a house. I can’t take credit for this idea — it came from Tim Gurner, an Australian millionaire who, earlier this year, claimed that millennials will be unable to ever buy a house because they buy “smashed avocado for nineteen bucks.” But I digress. The moral of the story is that avocado everything (from the world’s first "avocado bar" in New York City, to the all-avocado restaurant "The Avocado Show" in Amsterdam) has become a phenomenon, and at a price. If you’re an avocado lover like me, you were probably disappointed to see avocado prices skyrocket this summer. Thankfully this has calmed down somewhat, but at the very root of this issue — and many other avocado-related incidents over the past century — there is a deep-seated linkage to the historic relationship between the United States and Mexico. This relationship has returned to the forefront of public consciousness under the leadership of Donald Trump, but is by no means new. How is it that everyone’s favourite green fruit (yes, it’s actually classified as a berry) is so highly politicized, and so closely linked to US-Mexico relations? Allow me to explain.
By Logan Carmichael8 years ago in The Swamp
UCLA Basketball Players Arrested in China
ESPN reported that three UCLA basketball players were arrested in China in November on shoplifting charges.The three basketball players include LiAngelo Ball (18) — who is the younger brother of Lonzo Ball, a Los Angeles Lakers point guard — along with Cody Riley (19), and Jalen Hill (17).These three freshman were accused of shopping lifting sunglasses on Tuesday at a Louis Vuitton store in the Chinese City of Hangzhou. Surveillance cameras caught the three players near the high-end stores counting Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Yues Saint Laurent, and Salvatore Ferragamo. The UCLA basketball team is in China to play its season opener against Georgia Tech in Shanghai, China. It is safe to say this would not be happening Saturday. After being questioned about stealing the sunglasses, the three players were released on bail early Wednesday morning, but were to go to their hotel rooms and wait for the legal process. The case had been reported to the U.S. authorities by Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry.
By Sydney Kennemore8 years ago in The Swamp
'Designated Survivor' Losing More Than Just A Senator — And Twitter Is Mourning The Loss
Any fan of ABC political drama Designated Survivor will tell you that Speaker of the House Kimble Hookstraten owned her role as the designated survivor of the Republican party. A formidable opponent for anyone who dared to cross her path, Hookstraten never backed down from a battle. At no time during her tenure could the term "weaker sex" apply.
By Rachel Carrington8 years ago in The Swamp
The Internet Is Taking a Stand Against Net Neutrality Changes and This Is Important for Home Entertainment
There's no doubt if you are reading this, that the internet is something of an importance to you today. Whether you are working on write-ups, working on a spreadsheet for your job, or even sending emails for correspondence; there's no doubt you are using the internet in some way. When you're in your free time, there's probably no doubt that you are possibly watching a YouTube video, listening to the radio on Spotify, streaming a show on Netflix, or even playing your favorite online games.
By Dustin Murphy8 years ago in The Swamp
It Won't Be The O-val Office: Oprah Is Closing The Book On A Political Run
Despite speculation that Oprah might be considering a run for presidency, following the election of another media figure without traditional political experience, the talk show tycoon just confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that she would never take that step:
By Rachel Carrington8 years ago in The Swamp
The Internet Thinks Emmanuel Macron Is James Bond — And There's a Photoshop War to Prove It
Ever woken up and found out that your nation's leader is now an international spy? This is what happened to the nation of France when it woke up Tuesday morning to find photos of President Emmanuel Macron being received onto a French nuclear sub named Le Terrible from a helicopter. With the image splashed across the internet, people are now comparing Macron to 007, a.k.a James Bond.
By Dustin Murphy8 years ago in The Swamp
Black Robes, White Justice Part 1:
As you are reading this article from the palm of your hand or on the screen of your computer, take a trip with me down memory lane. Think back to when you were in college, or younger, or not as socially refined as you are now and may have broken the law. Whether the crime was in the benign class of a misdemeanor or a felony, think about how the entire trajectory of your life would’ve been altered if you were caught in the act of say, joy-riding in a stolen car, or purchasing drugs, or having a bar fight. Imagine how much more impacted your life would have been if the car you were in was chased and accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian; someone overdosed on the drugs you shared, or if that fight accidentally ended someone’s life. Imagine what it would be like if the entire sum of your life was evaluated, scrutinized, and discriminated against because you were convicted.
By Louis L Reed8 years ago in The Swamp
4 Political Podcasts to Get You Through 2018
Slate's Political Gabfest: Three more delightful hosts couldn't be found in David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson. Their podcast features intelligent banter and at times heated debates over the politics of today. Even better than the chemistry between these three is their credibility. Plotz is the current CEO of Atlas Obscura, which produces a guidebook to bizarre and unusual sites all over the world. He previously was an editor for Slate and has years of experience covering politics. Bazelon is a staff writer for the The New York Times Magazine when she is not appearing on the podcast; she also served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. Her presence on Gabfest allows for some of the muddy waters regarding the legality of certain government actions to be parted. Dickerson is renowned for his utterly professional and statesman-like qualities when interviewing guests on CBS' program Face the Nation. In addition to Gabfest, Dickerson conducts his own podcast Whistlestop, which revives presidential campaigns of the past with fresh rhetoric and imbues American history with a new sense of vitality. A formidable trio indeed, but the beauty of Gabfest lies in its hosts' ability to dissect tumultuous and even boring political events in a way that a listener, who has never dived into these waters, can obtain knowledge of what is happening in the White House and understand why it is so. NPR Politics Podcast: A platfrom that is inviting yet still devoid of any political siding and allows its listeners to gather information without feeling swayed towards one way or another of the political aisle has been perfected in NPR's Politics Podcast. The show is manned by NPR's political reporters, congressional reporter Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and congressional correspondent Susan Davis. These hosts do what they do best: report. Mind that these are no dry or monotone accounts of America's twisting, surprising, and complex inner workings. Detrow, Keith, and Davis share a camaraderie that alleviates any dead weight off the subject at hand; they grant their listeners the opportunity to truly engage in national debates by drawing them in with their lively discussions that serve as conduits for political facts. Their clear explanations and upbeat energy transform political minutia into easily digestible pieces of knowledge for the average listener. KCRW's Left Right and Center: Diversity is what makes America great; the same can be said for this podcast hosted by Josh Barro, senior editor for Business Insider. Moderates, liberals, and conservatives are all welcome and encouraged to share their opinions on a show that strives for polite, in depth, and illuminating discussions regarding the American political theater. Like Slate's Gabfest, heated arguments can be heard from time to time, but Barro is an excellent moderator and the guests always treat their ideological opposites with respect. The result of such communication is a window for listeners to view a dazzling spectrum of political attitudes. Regular guests on the show include Keli Goff, an excellent writer for the Daily Beast, Rich Lowry, the editor for the National Review, and Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation. Their repartee is essential to any and all who wish to fully indulge themselves in the wide expanse of American politics. The Editors: Rich Lowry appears once again in this article in the role of host for the National Review's podcast. He is joined regularly by Reihan Salam, Charles C. W. Cooke, and Michael Brendan Dougherty, all accomplished writers with a long history of political commentary. Well-spoken and precise, the four hosts are less shocked by the many strange events occurring in Washington on a daily basis than their compatriots and take them in stride. While not quaking in their boots over every political misstep, the show's hosts are unafraid to critique the blunders of the Republican party. Listeners who enjoy more left leaning shows will benefit from adding this podcast to their diet. The fact that these hosts do not lose their composure over every new Trump tweet or wild development of some sort is to their credit. The listener can then truly appreciate the moments when these hosts do concede concern or alarm over particular actions.
By Laura DiNovis Berry8 years ago in The Swamp
