December 29, 2024 at 7:52 PM EST
A Kentuckian with rabies has died

A Northern Kentuckian has died from rabies, the Kentucky Department for Public Health announced Friday. It's unclear how the person contracted rabies, which is typically transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal.

December 29, 2024 at 7:46 PM EST
Jimmy Carter's idealism and humility left a lasting imprint on American life

Former US president Jimmy Carter, a man defined by his humility and idealism, has died at 100. Many US presidents come from modest upbringings. Born in Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter's Depression-era childhood was no exception. His home lacked running water and electricity, while his rural high school lacked a 12th grade.

December 29, 2024 at 7:43 PM EST
Jimmy Carter's lasting Cold War legacy: His human rights focus helped dismantle the Soviet Union

Former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29, 2024, at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, was a dark horse Democratic presidential candidate with little national recognition when he beat Republican incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976. The introspective former peanut farmer pledged a new era of honesty and forthrightness at home and abroad, a promise that resonated with voters eager for change following the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War.

December 29, 2024 at 7:39 PM EST
Progressives say GOP's Visa feud distracts from the real problem:

Progressive commentators on Saturday weighed in on a dayslong dispute between Republican President-elect Donald Trump's billionaire tech industry backers and far-right MAGA allies over the H-1B guest worker program""saying the program's right-wing supporters and detractors alike aim to distract from the real threat to workers: the billionaire CEOs who exploit both American employees and those who come from abroad. "Billionaires want you to wage a culture war while they win the class war," said Warren Gunnels, a top adviser to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), on Friday night.

December 29, 2024 at 4:36 PM EST
Why Jimmy Carter was actually one of the most consequential presidents in modern history

This commentary piece originally ran in 2019. There are at least two compelling reasons why this is a good time to reassess the presidency of Jimmy Carter. First, he is rapidly approaching his 95th birthday. On October 1, one month from today, he will solidify his record as America's longest living former president. Second, during a brief but revealing dust-up between Donald Trump and Jimmy Carter recently, the President of the United States told us he thought his predecessor was a "terrible" and "forgotten" president. Having served four years in the Carter-Mondale White House, I believe strongly both assertions are dead wrong, and will argue here that Carter's was one of the most consequential presidencies in recent history, particularly in his commitment to human rights.

December 29, 2024 at 4:30 PM EST
Jimmy Carter dead at 100: report

The 39th president of the United States, James Earl Carter Jr., reportedly died after receiving care at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he resided with his wife, Rosalynn Carter, until she succumbed on Sunday, November 19, 2023. On that day, the former President refused hospital care, saying he wanted to go out holding Rosalynn's hand, according to historian Michael Beschloss "Number one, this was one of the great marriages in American history, even if they weren't president and first lady," said Beschloss. "Not only the length of this marriage, (77 years) but the closeness of it -- that partnership. And you know, everyone who has said this in the last two minutes is absolutely right. They love most of all being with each other. I am told by someone who is very close to both Carters, that last winter, when Jimmy Carter was told that he was very sick and there was not very much that could be done for him, he was told, probably the best thing is for you to go into the hospital where you can get the best care. And I am told that President Carter said, no, I want to get home, and be in bed with Rosalynn, and just sit holding hands, and that's the way I'd like to close my life. And that's really the way it happened."

December 29, 2024 at 2:00 PM EST
Why critics who fear Republicans' plan to 'rewrite the Constitution' shouldn't fret just yet

As Donald Trump prepares to take office for the second time next month, Republicans have their eyes set on "a complete rewrite of the Constitution," MSNBC's Hayes Brown submits in a Sunday column. In 2022, The New York Times reported that Rep. Jody Arrington (R-TX) said, "I think the states are due a convention. It is time to rally the states and rein in Washington responsibly."

December 29, 2024 at 12:32 PM EST
'We helped get you in office': Trump voters fear they'll lose benefits under MAGA administration

Just one month after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, some of the president-elect's supporters in the small town of New Castle, Pennsylvania are concerned about whether or not their benefits are at risk under his incoming administration, The Washington Post reports. Per the report, part-time tax consultant Lori Mosura abandoned the Democratic Party and backed Trump because, in her opinion, "He is more attuned to the needs of everyone instead of just the rich."

December 29, 2024 at 12:28 PM EST
'Who the hell is this man?' MSNBC hosts issues Musk a scathing reminder

MSNBC host Michael Steele on Sunday criticized billionaire X owner Elon Musk over another online "war" he and fellow Donald Trump nominee Vivek Ramaswamy started in defense of the H-1B visa program, which, according to CBS News, tech businesses rely on to bring "thousands of foreign engineers and other skilled workers each year from India, China and other nations." CBS reports:

December 29, 2024 at 11:02 AM EST
Josh Hawley plans to kick-start a 'religious revival in America' with this man's help

Conservative H.W. Crocker III is concerned that America has lost sight of its "Christian moral compass" and become "too secular." And, according to the Kansas City Star, he's helping Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) push a "socially conservative political message driven by religion -- particularly Christianity." Hired as a "communications consultant for Sen. Josh Hawley's Senate campaign," according to the report, it's "unclear how large a role Crocker played in" in Hawley's reelection campaign, but the Missouri senator's campaign team "paid Crocker $55,000 for communications consulting between May and November, according to campaign finance records."

December 29, 2024 at 10:30 AM EST
Ex-GOP rep stuns MSNBC hosts with surprise candidate to replace Mike Johnson

During an appearance on MSNBC's "The Weekend," former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) was asked if there is a viable replacement for House speaker since it appears current Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may be in trouble with some of his colleagues. With at least four GOP House members sitting on the fence or outright saying they will not support Johnson in the closely divided legislative chamber, combined with Donald Trump keeping quiet,Walsh stunned the panel by suggesting retired former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for the job since there is no rule against a non-member holding the position.

December 29, 2024 at 8:44 AM EST
'The Bible affirms queer people' -- according to this Anglican group

One group is claiming that "the Bible affirms trans, intersex, and queer people," and providing evidence to back it up. According to Christian Post, LGBT Faith UK -- an Anglican group associated with the Church of England advocacy group "Changing Attitude" -- published a resource guide to its website, including information about how "The Bible affirms Gays and Lesbians," how "The Bible affirms Bisexuals," and how "The Bible affirms trans and queer people."