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On this Day: Thomas Nast, often cited as the father of the American political cartoon, was born on this day in 1840. Nast is credited with popularizing the elephant as a symbol of the Republican Party and our modern representation of Santa Claus. Some of his work was racist towards the Irish and other ethnic groups, but he was an ardent critic of slavery, crime and corruption. About these illustrations: Thomas Nast self portrait (right). White League and Ku Klux Klan terrorize African Americans during Reconstruction. Photo credit: Thomas Nast / Library of Congress and Harper's Weekly / Library of Congress

Establishment Deepens Ties/Trump’s SCOTUS Choice/And More

‘Mein Kampf’ Available in Texas Prisons ; Trump’s Plan for Restraining the Press ; Jill Stein Escorted Off of Hofstra Campus During Debate ...and More Picks

‘Mein Kampf’ Available in Texas Prisons ; Trump’s Plan for Restraining the Press ; Jill Stein Escorted Off of Hofstra Campus During Debate ...and More Picks

PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.

Trump SCOTUS Choice and His ‘Unconventional Views’ (Russ)

Sen. Mike Lee thinks child labor laws, medicare and social security are….unconstitutional.

Lots of Books Are Banned in Texas Prisons, but Not ‘Mein Kampf’ (Klaus)

Prisoners in Texas are prohibited from reading thousands of books, but lots of white supremacist literature is not banned.

Trump Plan for Restraining the Press (Russ)

Hopes to bring back “seditious libel” — this is a huge deal.

What Mexico and Mexicans Think About NAFTA (Dan)

The infamous trade deal has helped grow the major cities, but does it translate into wealth for the country and the people?

Jill Stein Escorted Off Hofstra (Trevin)

Stopped while on her way to do an interview with MSNBC, Stein was soon loaded into a van which took her off campus, and was told “not to do any more press.” She then answered debate questions via Twitter and Facebook.

Rebels and Government Reach Peace Accord (Jesse)

Colombia’s largest rebel movement, the leftist guerilla group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), has signed an historic — albeit shaky — internationally brokered peace deal with the Colombian government.

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