• Good Morning, News: Gonzalez' Latest Cruel Power Grab, Cops Cost Portland Another Cool Million, and Trump Can't Stop Violating Gag Order

    by Wm. Steven Humphrey The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! It's Thursday, April 18, and HOW MANY SLICES OF PIZZA HAVE YOU CRAMMED IN YOUR MOUTH THIS WEEK? Since there are more than 50 local...

  • Josh Hawley Moves to End FBI 'Power Grab' in Spy Powers Bill

    Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) on Thursday said he introduced an amendment to end an FBI "power grab" in a spy powers bill that is meant to rein in government surveillance abuse.

  • National power depends on sea power, and sea power cannot be improvised

    [Sponsored] MQ-9B SeaGuardian®, built by San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is leading the way in transforming naval and maritime operations around the world.

  • EDITORIAL: Biden's internet power grab

    The Federal Communications Commission will vote next week on “net neutrality” rules designed to give the feds even more leverage than they already do over online platforms.

  • Dem Sen. Bennet: Iran Has More Power Than Before, But There's Blame on Trump, Obama Too

    During an interview aired on Tuesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) stated that “there should be criticism of administrations on both sides of the aisle” over how they handled Iran, and Iran has

  • Bill expanding emergency powers for Illinois state agency advances

    (The Center Square) – A measure now in the Illinois House says the Illinois Emergency Management Agency would be able to do “all things necessary, incidental, or appropriate for the implementation” of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Opponents of Senate Bill 3434 said Illinois’ emergency authority continues under the Pritzker administration and giving more power lacks proper oversight. State Sen. Win Stoller, R-Germantown Hills, said the bill grants extraordinary...

  • Moar Power: White House Considers Invoking "Unprecedented" Climate Emergency

    Moar Power: White House Considers Invoking "Unprecedented" Climate Emergency How best to grab power when there's no convenient emergency to use as excuse? Invent one! That's right: if you had 'climate emergency' on your 'list of disasters to prompt mail-in balloting' bingo card, you may soon be able to cross that square off. That's because the Biden administration is reportedly renewing discussions "about potentially declaring a national climate emergency," according to Bloomberg. ...

  • Ecuador rations power, declares emergency as drought limits hydro output

    The power cuts in Ecuador come days after dry weather forced Colombia’s capital city of Bogotá to ration water as its reservoirs reached record lows.

  • Trump likely won't have the power to pardon convicted Jan. 6 rioters: study

    Donald Trump has made numerous statements suggesting that he plans to pardon his supporters who've been convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In one interview from 2022, he said he's considering "full pardons with an apology to many" if he's elected president. But a new report suggests that may be wishful thinking. An analysis from the anti-authoritarianism group Protect Democracy says that even if Trump becomes president, he'll likely lack the power for such pardons since they...

    • MSNBC

    The troubling male insecurity fueling an increasingly powerful Trump-UFC alliance

    New analysis from The New Republic this week highlights the UFC’s deep links to Donald Trump — and conservative extremism more broadly. The influential mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, Sam Eagan writes, “is betting that it can leverage right-wing politics to become a massive sports organization. Trump, meanwhile, has embraced it as an extension of his own brash and violent brand — and as a means of reaching young men.” The UFC, and MMA in general, has long attracted right-wing fans....

  • Thomas Massie Implies Presidential Aspirations Fuel Mike Johnson's Power Grab

    Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) made an explosive allegation Thursday as some House Republicans fight to change House rules to protect Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

  • Powerful conservative funds hand out millions to pro-Trump far-right groups

    Groups led by Stephen Miller and Charlie Kirk among recipients of large sums from Bradley Foundation and Bradley Impact FundTwo powerful conservative non-profits have donated millions of dollars to a number of pro-Trump groups led by the key far-right allies Stephen Miller, Charlie Kirk and others that have promoted election denialism, extremist anti-immigrant policies and legal challenges to bolster the Maga movement.Based in Wisconsin, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Bradley...