Frances Martel
Latest News
Euro Spring: Ukraine Revolt Could Cascade to More Post-Soviet States
Ukrainians taking to the streets to protest their government’s refusal to strike a trade deal with the European Union may be the first of several post-Soviet states facing the choice between Russia and Europe as Georgia and Moldova gear up for
NJ's Paper Criticizes Christie for Keeping 'Eyes on the Presidency'
Governor Chris Christie’s courting of national attention has proven dissatisfying to New Jerseyans of all political persuasions. In a column this weekend, the Star-Ledger editorial board accused him of “roll[ing] over Latinos” to win over GOP primary voters after refusing to
Croatians in France Sue Bob Dylan for 'Racism'
Bob Dylan might have to see the inside of a courtroom over comments he made about the relationship between Serbs and Croats to French Rolling Stone. The Council of Croats, a community association, has sued the singer and magazine alleging
Emboldened by Iran Deal, North Korea May Have Restarted Nuclear Reactor
It didn’t take long for concerns that the Iranian nuclear deal could embolden other rogue nations to materialize. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced Thursday satellite footage strongly indicates that North Korea has restarted a formerly shut down plutonium plant. The International
Report: Top US General in Afghanistan Apologized to Karzai After Drone Strike
A coalition source told the New York Times on Friday that the American and NATO commander in Afghanistan made a late-night phone call to Afghan premier Hamid Karzai to apologize for a series of raids and drone strikes that Karzai has railed
Amid Calls to Boycott Sochi, Where's the Outrage for the Qatar World Cup?
With the 2014 Winter Olympics looming, Americans of all stripes have called for boycotts and protests against Russia’s human rights abuses. But given the time they take to plan, change before the Games begin is an unreasonable goal. Instead, human
China's Airspace Declaration a Direct Threat to Taiwan
China began the week by escalating tensions with all its neighbors, declaring an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over islands belonging to Japan. Who this belligerence is meant to spook the most is still up for debate but, indisputably, the move poses its
62 Freed Terrorists Resettle in Spain After European Court Ruling
A European Court of Human Rights ruling from this autumn has triggered the release of dozens of convicted Basque separatist terrorists–56 in five weeks–admitting their guilt and speaking to the public as they begin resettling in Spain. What began as
New Jersey's Sandy Victims Struggle to Gather Thanksgiving Meals
A year after the storm ravaged the coast of New Jersey and the federal government dumped millions of dollars into aid and repair, victims of Hurricane Sandy are still having trouble putting together Thanksgiving meals. A report in Wednesday’s Star-Ledger chronicled
Larry King: Talk Radio 'Soapbox for Screaming, Yelling Idiots' Like Limbaugh
Larry King may have had his beginnings in talk radio, but he is gravely disappointed in what it has become. In an interview with comedian Marc Maron, King lamented the current state of talk radio as a sea of “yelling
Fitness Legend Richard Simmons: 'The Obamas Have Rejected Me'
Add to the chorus of celebrities piling on the Obamas this Thanksgiving the fitness legend Richard Simmons. Speaking to HuffPost Live Wednesday afternoon, Simmons lamented that while he “loved” Michelle Obama, he had been “totally” rejected by the White House.
GLAAD's Leniency with Alec Baldwin Confirms Ideological Double Standard
With Alec Baldwin calling them out directly post-MSNBC fiasco, GLAAD lamented that the actor had not been open to turning the event into an “opportunity for public education.” Why reach out so warmly to Baldwin, and why does GLAAD’s condemnation come so much swiftly
New Crackdown by Obama Administration Looms on Tax-Exempt Groups
With a happy Iran at the negotiating table and plenty of reasons to take the spotlight off health care, the Obama administration now seeks to tie the hands of political opponents by limiting spending by tax-exempt groups with political messages.
Honduras Election Chaos: Leftists Take to Streets to Protest Defeat
Hondurans went to the polls last weekend and elected a conservative candidate who created a military police to fight rampant gang warfare. His opponent–wife of deposed Chavez ally Manuel Zelaya–is now calling for mass upheaval to protest what the election tribunal calls
POTUS Cybersecurity Advisors: White House 'Rarely Follows' Best Safety Practices
“There is simply no excuse for the Federal Government to be such a poor leader” in cybersecurity, reads a newly-released report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, warning the government to update its systems. The Council, a
Bloomberg's Last Crusade: Banning Styrofoam Cups
With the sun finally setting on the Bloomberg empire, New York City’s fastidious mayor attempts to seal his legacy by tackling the most dangerous threat facing America’s largest city: styrofoam cups? Yes, it’s true–the non-biodegradable material is Public Enemy Number
Union Boss: NJ Proposal to Privatize Toll Collection 'Criminal'
A small-government move that could save the overtaxed state of New Jersey millions faces strident union opposition, as the authority governing paid highways considers privatizing toll collection in the state. According to the Star-Ledger, a meeting of the transit authority
SF Chronicle Column Links Tea Party, 'Today's Right-Wing Anger' to JFK Assassination
On the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, a San Francisco Chronicle contributor finds the real culprit: “right-wingers who despised Kennedy” in Texas, whose descendants, “the Tea Party Nation,” “seethe with vitriol” against Obama. In a Chronicle column Friday titled “JFK Assassination Reshaped
Venezuela's Maduro Somehow Becoming a Bigger Tyrant than Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chavez’s successor has essentially abolished his nation’s legislative process. Nicolás Maduro, a former bus driver turned senior official appointed to succeed the late Chavez, has called for expansive governing powers to combat the countries impending economic breakdown, finally collecting enough
Obama, 2005: Nuclear Option Will Make 'Bitterness and Gridlock' Worse
Amid the news of Sen. Harry Reid pushing through the so-called “nuclear option” that prevents filibusters for certain nominations–and President Obama’s statement supporting the new measures–the folks at the C-SPAN Video Library dug up an old clip of then-Senator Obama warning
Antonio Banderas Praises Hugo Chavez, Calls For Nationalizing Businesses
In an interview with CNN en Español’s Ana Pastor, actor Antonio Banderas lamented the power corporations have over political structures, arguing that government takeovers of corporations, “like Chavez did,” are the only solution. “What other way is there?” the actor
Women of MSNBC Silent on Martin Bashir's Palin Comments
It has been a week since MSNBC’s Martin Bashir took the network’s hatred of Sarah Palin one step further with a sexist rant suggesting someone defecate and urinate into the former Alaska governor’s mouth. Having apologized but received no discipline, his
CNN Panel on Baldwin's Homophobic Rant: 'If a Conservative Said That, They Would Be Finished'
Anderson Cooper and Andrew Sullivan tore into Alec Baldwin’s repeated use of homophobic slurs on the former’s CNN panel Monday night, expressing disgust at the idea that Baldwin could potentially get away with using said slurs because of his liberal
Cuban Regime May Have Intercepted Info On US Help To Dissidents
Hundreds of pages of detailed information on U.S. government programs to help Cuban dissident leaders may have fallen into the hands of the Cuban regime due to a failure to encrypt documents sent to Havana, a mistake one official called
