Taiwan President Meets With Ted Cruz, China Not Thrilled
Climate Deniers Love Trump’s EPA Pick ; Chris Hedges on Alleged Russian Hacking ...and more Picks for 1/10.
Taiwan Prez Meets Ted Cruz ; Climate Deniers Love Trump’s EPA Pick ; Chris Hedges on Alleged Russian Hacking ...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.
Climate Deniers Loving Trump’s EPA Pick (Jeff C.)
Scott Pruitt has been a longtime opponent of federal environmental regulations and a denier of climate change. Here is what some of his biggest fans have to say about him being chosen to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sauna Bathing Drops Risk of Dementia, Heart Disease (Milicent)
A Finnish study found that men who take sauna baths 4-7 times a week over a period of 20 years were 66% less likely to have developed dementia. And previous studies by the same researchers found that frequent sauna bathing also reduces heart disease.
Opinion: Real Purpose of Gov’t Report on Alleged Russian Hacking (Trevin)
According to Chris Hedges, who has a show on Russia Today — of which the report devotes almost half its pages — the main objective was to discredit Trump, then “to bolster the McCarthyist smear campaign against independent media.” Expanding NATO beyond Germany, and giving “plausible cover” to the Democratic Party for its loss to Trump are also mentioned.
Taiwan President Meets Ted Cruz Amidst Chinese Objections (Dan)
Republicans continue the Trump initiative of assisting the Taiwanese independence movement while also angering Beijing.
Little-Known House Rule Won’t Make Prosecutors Happy (Celia)
The Office of Congressional Ethics was saved, but a new rule was included under the radar concerning ownership of records from a congressional office of a member. The rule is likely to hamper disclosure of such documents in prosecution cases.
Video: Abby Martin from RT News on ICA Intelligence Report (Jimmy)
Russia Today news was mentioned prominently in the recent Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) report, including Abby Martin’s show Breaking the Set (which went offline two years ago), as examples of Russia’s attempt to influence US elections. She responds in a video interview on RT.
Trump Wants Son-in-law Jared Kushner as WH Advisor (Jimmy)
If Trump’s intended appointment of Jared Kushner (Ivanka Trump’s husband) as senior White House advisor goes through, he will likely be in violation of a 1967 anti-nepotism law.
