September 3, 2010. The Koch Brothers, the richest oil barons in the country, have joined the two Texas oil companies that launched the fight against California's climate law — the one passed by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. And yes, these are the same multi-billionaires funding groups that train and organize "tea party" activists across the country. Of course the climate bill would reduce California's use of oil, so the Kochs do have a legitimate financial interest the matter. story

August 19, 2010. The Fox poll asked two questions: (1) Do you think the Muslim group has a right to build a mosque there? 61% said yes and 34% No. Obama said "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, and that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan in accordance with local laws and ordinances. ... The writ of the Founders must endure."

Question (2): "Should the Muslim group locate so provocatively close to ground zero?" 64% said No. Obama said he would not comment on "the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there."

Republicans, especially two already running for president, attacked Obama for being insensitive and waffling. But Americans understand that having a right, does not mean it's a good idea. And many Muslims are saying it's not a good idea, even though they have the right.

June 28, 2010. Half of those who write to me about the national debt think the country has been bad and needs to be punished. And that means "cut government spending," which means fewer jobs. Fewer jobs! Can you think of a worse time to cut back on jobs? Well, can you? This is well-meaning, moralistic nonsense. If someone's back goes out ... more

May 29, 2010. The Ahmadi movement stresses non-violence and tolerance of other faiths, but that's not the only reason the Taliban slaughtered 93 Ahmadi Muslims in their place of worship. It was also because the Ahmadis believe their founder was a prophet. That's a no-no according to other Muslims, even though the Ahmadi's insist that he was not a "law-giving" prophet and his job was only to propagate the laws enunciated by Islam's Prophet Mohammad.

Since this is not a good enough excuse, Pakistan's 2nd Constitutional amendment declared them to be non-Muslims, and they have been persecuted in the extreme ever since. As far as I can tell, most Muslims are quite reasonable, but I think it's time for them to speak up.

May 28, 2010. Unlikely, and that should not be it's job. The real problem was the $75 million cap ... more>>

May 21, 2010.  He's just the kind of politician the T-Party say's their against — weasels. Check YouTube "Rachel Maddow v Rand Paul. He obviously believes business should be allowed to discriminate. That's right. No need to serve blacks at the lunch counter. But he won't say it. Backbone? I guess not. So now he gets whacked for the view he's to embarrassed to say, and for being too embarrassed. Smart?

March 6, 2010.     Checking the Vets' YouTube Video

Not quite. The US DOE says Iran had net oil export revenues of $55B in 2009, and their average price was $60 (DOE). So they make only $0.9B not $1.5B extra per year when the price goes up $1/barrel. Did the Vets lie? Not ... more>>

January 04, 2010  The Pakistan government complains publicly that the U.S. has violated its sovereignty each time a drone attack strikes down another handful of terrorists. But by all accounts, Pakistan authorizes, and provides intelligence for, these strikes. The complaint is just for show.

Drone Attacks are extremely difficult to research, but Farhat Taj has done it. She's a researcher with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research in Oslo, so you can be pretty sure she's no right winger, and probably not too pro-U.S. So when she tells us the drone attacks are very popular with the tribes-people of Waziristan, I think you can believe her. It makes sense. If I lived under the Taliban and Al Qaeda, I'm sure I'd be more than a little pleased every time one of those bloody bombers of Mosques, volley ball games and girls schools got blown to pieces. So read her and see if she does not give you a new perspective: Drone Attacks.

March 24, 2010.  Meanwhile, Gallup poll shows that a majority of Americans approve of the health-care bill. And, of course some of those who don't wanted a stronger bill.

December 12, 2009.  James Hansen, the most famous climate scientist, has just published a book for the public. He explains the new evidence for global warming, published in a 2008 scientific journal. zFacts got an early copy of the book and worked out the simplest explanation anywhere. No big models, just good data from the end of the last ice age, and logic.

August 13, 2009.  Conservatives are pretending people trust business and not the government so we should let big insurance companies completely control health care and not have one insurance plan sponsored by the government. That's what Obama proposes—one government plan so you can choose it if you want. see the polls

Aug 7, 2009.   There's a lot of crazy talk about the cost of cap and trade. But you don't need a big government model to check it yourself. I'll show you how ... more >>

August 6, 2009. The four lines on this graph are wind, nuclear, conservation and biofuels—not in that order. The graph shows how the Waxman-Markey bill increases their role through 2030. Find out which is which.  more >>

August 5, 2009 The Deptartment of Energy has found that Waxman bill's cap overshadows the RES. So RES will do nothing at all. more >>

August 1, 2009. ZFacts never recommends TV programs, but you've got to watch this. An insider explains how the Insurance companies control health-care politics. He's incredibly reasonable, has the facts, and understands the economics. It's fast moving and fascinating.

July 24, 2009. It's pretty sure the worst recession since 1938 ended on June 30. That's the end of the last quarter of declining GDP. Probably. But companies won't start hiring till they've bounce back quite a bit, so ... more >>

July 18, 2009  For 12 years the plan has been to get China and India to agree to caps. They've said no to capping their citizens far below ours. We emit 18 tons per person and India emits 1.1. Finally the U.S. is catching on -- no caps.

So then what? This leaves half the world's emissions uncapped and growing 7 times faster than the rich half ... more >>

July 27, 2009. A zFacts Op-Ed in the Christian Science Monitor explains that the cap-and-trade part of the Waxman-Markey bill will pay $13B/year, and rising, to developing countries for "offsets." India and China are pleased. But they would lose some or most of it if they agreed to a cap. Here's why.

July 19, 2009.  In this AP report, “India stands firm against emissions limits,” Clinton is quoted as saying she’s “in favor of every country doing its part.” The problem here is Clinton, not India. India has never objected ... more >>

July 10, 2009. Job losses peaked as Bush left office, but the economy is still losing jobs faster than at the worst point (October 2001) in the first Bush recession. ... more >>

July 13, 2009. UNICEF reports that it's helping to build 72 new schools, but that in 2008 there were 283 violent attacks on schools, killing 92 and injuring ... more >>

June 20, 2009  Mousavi called off Saturday's demonstration with good reason. Violence keeps away most who wish to protest and helps Khamanei. Mix a mass demonstration with rush-hour crowds. No one can tell who's who. The effect is amplified, ... more >>