Good Sahil Kapur piece about why Capitol Hill Republicans, especially in the House, are not going to allow any rehabilitation of the Voting Rights Act. The political gains of allowing the formerly covered states to back to the same old ways of limiting minority and poor voting are simply too great. The head of the relevant House Committee, Chairman Trent Franks told reporters “I am just of the opinion today that we should do as the court said and that is to not focus on punishing the past but on building a better future.” Read More

An new study released by the Associated Press: “Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.”

When I first read the headline of the piece, I thought the 4/5th part had been a typo.

Young Republican activist: “We don’t have to lose our principles. But we have to have a conversation on all these issues so we don’t leave Democrats to say we’re just old white men and racist, bigoted homophobes.”

Pope Francis: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis asked.