New Legal Troubles for Dennis Hastert, Kazakhstan’s Sleeping Villages, and Remembering Sandra Bland

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July 27, 2015

Top Stories


There May Be More Legal Trouble On The Horizon For Dennis Hastert

The Gist: A lawsuit accusing the former House Speaker of misappropriating public funds for private business has been reopened.

Vote To Repeal Obamacare Fails In The Senate

The Gist: The Senate failed to pass an amendment repealing the Affordable Care Act in its first vote on the law since the GOP took control of both houses in January. 

Hundreds Attend Sandra Bland Funeral In Illinois

The Gist:  Hundreds of supporters showed up at the funeral of a social justice activist who was found dead in a Texas jail cell.

From The Reporter's Notebook


TPM’s Sara Jerde wrote about a woman who was arrested in Colorado for burning the Confederate flag on suspicion of arson. The flag was burned in a pavilion in a public park, which police said posed a danger to the property and citizens in the area. She was arrested this week, though the event was held earlier this month. Police were aware of the event as it was going on, but were responding to a house fire down the street and did not stop the flag burning.

Agree or Disagree?


"When we focus on whether the police acted lawfully, we are missing the chance to ask whether they acted appropriately." – Seth Stoughton

Say What?!


"I can’t believe I’m in second place. Folks, will you please put me in first place so I feel better?"

– Trump attacked Scott Walker after a fundraiser email referred to him as a "DumbDumb."

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From a TPM Prime member: "I'll just say that on the macro level, I consider the flags over state capitols, and any similar sort of state-sponsored endorsement of the Confederacy in a category of their own, separate from street or park names, old statues, and so forth. The former is an active advertisement by the government here and now, whereas names and monuments are simply relics of the past. So, removal of Confederate flags from government property doesn't necessarily mean that all names and monuments should be scrubbed from existence. It's up to each community to consider on a case-by-case basis whether a particular monument or name needs removal or new context. If I were in Charleston, I'd want Calhoun's statue relocated to a museum with proper context. The street name I'd be less worked-up about. But that's just me."

Related: A South Carolina Representative reminded conservatives that Robert E. Lee requested the Confederate flag be stowed away after his surrender.

Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here.

What We're Reading


There are plenty of theories as to why the residents of a mining village in Kazakhstan fall asleep for days at a time, but no answers. (Buzzfeed)

Many of the racial injustices we associate with the South are actually worse in the North. (The Washington Post)

The MTV documentary "White People" attempts to get them to reckon with their own privilege. (New York Magazine)


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