It seems that streaming music service Tidal is continuing to flounder, as the news has surfaced that it has lost yet another CEO. Jeff Toig has been gone from the company since March reports Billboard, and it means that Tidal is now looking for its fourth CEO in a period of only two years. This comes after recent troubles including … Continue reading
The crisis surrounding the Trump White House and its possible ties to Russia deepened with the disclosure of unreported meetings between the Russian ambassador and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. The disclosure raises questions about whether Kushner was intentionally concealing the meetings and, if so, why? Meanwhile, President Trump is reportedly retaining private legal counsel and considering a major staff shakeup.
The Washington Post reported Friday that Kushner proposed setting up a back-door channel to the Russians using their facilities during the transition. He did so in a meeting last December with Russian Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak and Michael Flynn, who served as national security adviser to the president briefly before he was fired. The Washington Post reported that Kushner’s proposal took Kislyak by surprise. A former U.S. intelligence official quoted in the paper called Kushner’s idea, “extremely naive or absolutely crazy.”
Meanwhile, the Senate Intelligence Committee has stepped up its inquiry into Russian interference into the 2016 presidential race by requesting all Russian related documents, emails and phone records beginning June 2015 from the Trump organization, according to the Post. Investigations are being conducted by committees in the Senate and House, as well as by the FBI.
The number of leaks pertaining to these investigations is extraordinary, and some appear to come from within the White House. Below the surface members of Trump’s team have been deeply divided, which is not surprising given Trump’s management style. Moreover, the sheer weight of these daily revelations is taking attention away from other issues, and they have disrupted any progress with Trump’s agenda.
The Russians want economic sanctions imposed on it by the U.S. eased, including those imposed by President Obama for its meddling in the U.S. elections. In a meeting during the transition last December, Mike Flynn gave the Russian ambassador the impression that sanctions could be revisited after Trump took office. U.S. intelligence has concluded that the Russians interfered in the November election to tip the scales in favor of Trump over Hillary Clinton. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Clinton of being behind anti-government protests in his country and tough on sanctions.
Kushner also held a previously undisclosed meeting with Russian banker Sergey Gorkov, who is chairman of VneshEconomBank, a Russian government institution that is under U.S. sanctions. Putin used that bank to finance the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, which cost a record $50 billion, and he and Gorkov are close.
In March, Reuters reported that, “at least 63 individuals with Russian passports or addresses have bought at least $98.4 million worth of property in seven Trump-branded towers in southern Florida.” Both Kushner and Trump have had to raise money to fund their extensive real estate businesses. Last week, The Washington Post revealed, “The investigative work now being done by the FBI also includes determining whether any financial crimes were committed by people close to the president.” In a written statement, Kushner’s attorney said, “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry.”
President Trump held no news conferences during his just completed trip overseas, leaving his aides to fend with reporter questions about Russia. Conservative Bill Kristol tweeted Saturday, “It’s not only that the Trump administration wanted a back channel to Russia, it’s that the Trump family did.”
Next week President Trump will have many tough issues to deal with. They include his unrealistic and callous budget proposal, his ineptness in dealing with health insurance, and whether the U.S. should withdraw from the Paris Accord on climate change. But no issues will be more difficult than the intensifying investigations into Russian interference in the U.S. election, questions about Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey, and Russia’s relationships with the Trump administration and family.
Not even a staff shakeup will bring the president any relief.
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In this week’s episode of “Scheer Intelligence” Robert Scheer speaks with documentarian John Scheinfeld about his latest film, “Chasing Trane” about jazz icon John Coltrane. The two also discuss Scheinfeld’s earlier film, “The U.S. vs. John Lennon,” and Lennon’s political activism during the Vietnam War.
The conversation begins with a look at the parallels between Lennon and Coltrane. Noting that the two music legends “overlapped in time,” Scheer tells Scheinfeld: “What you capture in both stories is a search for integrity and rebellion.”
After delving into Lennon’s political activism during and after the Vietnam War, the two discuss Coltrane’s legacy. Scheinfeld notes that Coltrane was a “practice nut” who would practice “hours and hours every day.”
“Yes, jazz exists today, but it’s not the same thing,” Scheer says.
Scheinfeld explains Coltrane’s background and musical process, and the two agree that his music defied any genre.
“He seemed to always be learning and seeking the truth,” Scheinfeld says. “I didn’t want to make a jazz film. In fact, I think the word ‘jazz’ appears in ‘Chasing Trane’ maybe five times. This is a journey film … it’s a portrait of this remarkable artist.”
Listen to the full conversation and listen to past editions of “Scheer Intelligence” here.
— Adapted from Truthdig.com
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Gregg Allman, one of the two brothers from legendary rock band the Allman Brothers Band, has died. He was 69.
He “passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia,” according to a statement on Allman’s official website. “Gregg struggled with many health issues over the past several years. During that time, Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.”
Allman was born on Dec. 8, 1947, in Nashville. He was also born a ramblin’ man, if his band’s 1973 classic rock hit was any indication. He, along with his brother Duane, helped to create one of the most successful classic rock bands of all time. With that came not just music, but drugs, women and ― at times ― tragedy, including the early death of Duane.
In his later years, Allman developed hepatitis C, and suffered from an irregular heartbeat and a respiratory infection and had to have a liver transplant. In 2017, he canceled a planned summer tour, sparking worries about his health.
Allman was born to Willis Allman, a WWII veteran who stormed Normandy Beach, came back to his bride after the war, and had two sons. His father’s life was cut short when Gregg was just 2 years old. After Willis Allman offered a stranger a ride home from a bar one night, the man fatally shot him in the back.
Neither Gregg nor Duane showed any interest in emulating their father’s military career. The boys hated the military school their mother sent them to, but found their footing in music while there, according to Rolling Stone.
“I learned to play mostly from black people,” Allman told The Guardian in 2015. “We used to listen to a station that called itself ‘The black spot on your dial.’ It played Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and it hit Duane and me like spaghetti hitting a wall.”
By the time the Allman Brothers Band was formed in 1969, Gregg and Duane were legitimate country hippies ― long-haired, drug-smoking free-loving spirits. Duane played guitar, with Gregg on vocals. Other founding members of the band included drummers “Butch” Trucks and Jai “Jaimoe” Johnny Johnson, along with “Dickey” Betts on guitar and Berry Oakley on bass.
The Allman Brothers Band blended country, jazz, blues and Southern rock in such seamless riffs, pounding drums and twangy vocals that it earned them a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and a Lifetime Achievement award at the Grammys in 2012. The movie “Almost Famous” was also, in part, inspired by the band.
The Allman Brothers Band produced their biggest hits in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, including “Ramblin’ Man,” “Midnight Rider” and “Whipping Post.” During this time, the band experimented heavily with drugs and attracted many groupies on tour.
“Gregg was just a pretty boy,” drummer Butch Trucks told Rolling Stone in 1999. “He had blond hair, and the girls were hanging all over him.”
In his book My Cross To Bear, Gregg bragged about his sexual exploits.
“I would have women in four or five different rooms,” Allman wrote about staying in hotels while on tour. “Mind you, I wouldn’t lie to anybody; I’d just say, ‘I’ll be right back.’”
During those earlier years, he and his bandmates were also experimenting with drugs, including (but not limited to) PCP, cocaine and speed. The band loved psychedelic mushrooms so much, they made them their unofficial logo and tattooed a mushroom on each of their calves, according to Rolling Stone.
In 1971, just as the band found itself being propelled into stardom, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident. He was 24.
“Duane was the king of laughter, always making jokes,” Gregg Allman told The Guardian in 2015. “You’ve got to keep laughing. It was what Duane would have done, and wanted us to do.”
At Duane’s funeral, Gregg played songs on his older brother’s antique guitar.
“This is a very old guitar, a very beautiful piece,” he said to a crowd of 300. “It was made in 1920 and I’m very proud to have it. And I’m very proud that you all came.”
In 1975, Allman married singer Cher in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted nine days, ending after Allman allegedly pulled a knife on her while trying to score heroin. They reconciled after learning Cher was pregnant with their son, Elijah Blue.
In 1977, Cher divorced Allman for good. The final straw was reportedly at an awards show, when Allman passed out face-first in a plate of spaghetti.
“Every now and then,” Allman wrote in his 2012 memoir, “I’ll think of all the hell I caused other people over the years.”
Allman eventually embraced sobriety.
“I’m doing great,” Allman told the Savannah Morning News in 2013. “I’ve been clean and sober for 19 years.”
Rest easy, midnight rider.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story gave the wrong year of Allman’s birth. Language has also been changed regarding Allman’s role in “Rambling Man.”
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SIGONELLA, Italy – President Donald Trump came overseas, he saw and he conquered – at least in his own mind, as he declared success Saturday to hundreds of U.S. service members before heading home from his first foreign trip.
“I think we hit a home run no matter where we are,” Trump said in a speech at the Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily.
Trump did open and close his 25-minutes of remarks thanking the uniformed personnel and their families for their service on the first day of the Memorial Day weekend.
“A very proud nation salutes you,” he said. “You are the metal spine forged out of the fire of American strength.”
But nearly half of that speech was spent recounting his perceived accomplishments, from concluding an arms deal with Saudi Arabia (it had been years in the making) to forcing NATO allies to increase how much they spend on defense (a commitment they agreed to in 2014, under former President Barack Obama).
Of the arms sales, he said he had agreed to “massive economic development deals, the likes of which there has never been, that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States building the equipment that has just been ordered by Saudi Arabia.”
And on NATO: “Other nations must pay more!”
Within minutes of wrapping up his speech in an aircraft hangar, he climbed aboard Air Force One and was quickly airborne for the 10-hour flight home, his nine-day inaugural foreign trip done.
For Trump, the best days of his time abroad may have been the first ones, in Saudi Arabia where King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud Salman feted him like a conquering hero. Knowing the president’s receptivity to flattery, the Saudis pulled out all the stops and gave Trump a red-carpet welcome, a horse-borne escort on his trip to the royal palace and a lavish party that included a traditional sword dance.
For his part, Trump announced the completion of a massive deal to sell Saudi Arabia U.S. weapons, and in his remarks made it plain that he wasn’t interested so much in human rights in the region so long as leaders joined the U.S.-led fight against Islamist terrorism. It was a message the region’s autocratic leaders were pleased to hear following eight years of criticism on the issue from Obama.
His next stop, in Jerusalem, was still friendly territory for him. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had a chilly relationship with Obama, welcomed Trump as a true friend to Israel.
Things started going downhill for Trump, though, in Rome. For the first time, there were protests against him, albeit not very large, thanks to the mayor whose party leader, Beppe Grillo, admires Trump. And although the White House got the Vatican audience it wanted, Pope Francis’ dour facial expressions likely were not the images it had hoped for.
Those first three stops, though, was largely ceremonial – added relatively late as a way to emphasize Trump’s respect for the three Abrahamic religions. It was the long-scheduled meetings in Brussels, Belgium, and Taormina, Italy, where both Trump’s message and delivery left raw feelings.
At the unveiling of a memorial at NATO headquarters to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Trump used the occasion to scorch America’s military allies for failing to spend as much on defense in recent years as Trump would have wanted. In his view, their failure to do so unfairly burdened U.S. taxpayers – an opinion other NATO members do not share, a sentiment made clear by their facial expressions as he spoke.
(Trump then generated unflattering headlines for himself by shoving aside the leader of Montenegro, NATO’s newest member, so he could take his assigned spot for a group photo, and, later, by reportedly calling Germany “bad” for selling so many cars in the United States.)
Finally, at the G-7 meeting of the world’s largest democratically run economies, Trump would not commit to honor the United States’ participation in the 2015 agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to slow climate change, which the other six nations badly wanted the world’s largest economy to remain part of. Even as Trump deferred a decision on that point, he continued complaints that the United States is running trade deficits with European nations.
“The president does not like having large trade deficits,” top economic adviser Gary Cohn said at a news conference at the close of the summit.
Trump personally did not participate in any news conferences at all during the trip, and only took the occasional shouted question from reporters. The decision may have been based on the continued stream of news reports from Washington during his overseas jaunt about the ongoing FBI investigation into his campaign’s contacts with Russia.
Both Cohn and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster refused to take questions about the latest Russia-related news report alleging Trump son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner had discussed setting up a secret back channel with Russia during the transition period.
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Box office numbers prove Disney knew what it was doing when the studio decided to make the fifth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
“Dead Men Tell No Tales” opened on Friday and is leading the Memorial Day-weekend box office with about $110 million in ticket sales worldwide. About $23.4 million comes from domestic ticket sales. The film had a production budget of $230 million and is well on its way to making that back.
The film, which again stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and other franchise favorites Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Keira Knightley, has been largely panned by critics and currently has a 32 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In a scathing New York Times review, A.O. Scott wrote, “This movie would be a rip-off even if someone paid you to see it. Because, to be honest, it’s barely a movie at all.”
But reviews like these (and there are many) haven’t kept the viewing public out of their seats or from enjoying the film. The movie currently has a 78 percent fresh rating from audiences.
While “Pirates” is expected to sail through to a $275 million opening-weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter, “Baywatch” is drowning after it opened with only $4.6 million in ticket sales on Thursday. Disappointing sales followed on Friday, when the film, which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron, took in around $5.7 million.
Like “Pirates 5,” “Baywatch” was also trashed by critics and its fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from professional reviewers currently sits at 19 percent. Audiences ― the few who have seen the movie anyway ― appear to enjoy the film much more. The audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes is currently at 71 percent fresh.
But even if “Baywatch” is drowning, it’s not completely dead in the water. According to Deadline, the film is on track to earn around $26.8 million over the four-day weekend. Considering it cost less that $70 million to make, the film will more than likely make its money back, especially once it opens in foreign markets. That’s why producers are already talking about a sequel.
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News of Gregg Allman’s death was met with an outpouring of grief on Saturday.
The legendary musician “passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia,” according to a statement on Allman’s official website, which noted his family planned on releasing their own statement soon. “Gregg struggled with many health issues over the past several years. During that time, Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.”
Celebrities and friends, including Allman’s ex-wife Cher, took to social media to remember the singer:
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Saturday saw the official opening of Apple‘s new retail store in Singapore, also marking the first Apple Store to open in Southeast Asia. Officially known as Apple Orchard Road, the store is the latest of Apple’s next-generation retail stores, feature design elements like a large, all-glass front, open spaces to be used for community-focused events such as Today at Apple, … Continue reading
By Robert H. Scott III, Monmouth University and Steven Pressman, Colorado State University
A college education is increasingly necessary for success in today’s economy. It’s also increasingly expensive.
Americans with a college degree earn, on average, US$1 million more over the course of their lives than those without one. At the same time, the cost to attend a four-year school has been climbing 2 percent to 3 percent a year above the rate of inflation.
Unfortunately, American families are not saving enough to cover these rising costs. More than half have no college savings at all. Those that do typically don’t set aside nearly enough to pay for even one child to attend college for one year.
A few decades ago Michigan tried to change this by helping state residents save for college. This eventually morphed into the 529 plan. Yet after more than 20 years, only 2.5 percent of households have one.
Part of the failure is a lack of communication, which is why most states celebrate “529 Day” on May 29 to try to raise awareness about this college savings option. The real reason so few families use them, however, is that 529s don’t actually make college more affordable.
The rising cost of a college education – coupled with the lack of adequate savings – means that students are graduating with a great deal of debt.
Total student debt rose to a record $1.44 trillion in March, about $33,000 per borrower, more than double the level in 2008.
This has both personal and economy-wide consequences, from credit-ruining defaults and significant financial stress to impairing the ability to save enough to buy a home or retire. Money spent repaying these loans means less consumer spending, thus slowing economic growth.
Enter the 529. The plan’s name comes from section 529 of the U.S. tax code, which created it.
In 1986, before 529s existed, Michigan sought to help state residents deal with the rising cost of college by letting them prepay. A tussle over whether Michigan’s plans qualified for a tax exemption led Congress to pass section 529 in 1996, which exempted earnings in these plans from federal taxes.
Today all 50 states offer a 529 plan. Families can put after-tax income in a college savings plan that then grows tax-free. Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Pennsylvania also offer state income tax deductions for money put into a 529 savings plan.
While their intention was good, in practice they’ve done little for those who need the most help paying for college.
For starters, half of families saving for college don’t even know 529s exist, and those that do say they don’t understand them because the investment options are too complex.
More importantly, 529 plans are poorly designed to help low- and middle-income families. Their main selling point is their tax savings, but this doesn’t help families that don’t make a lot of money and thus don’t have a large tax liability. Savings in a 529 also count against families when they apply for financial aid, and there are tax penalties if the money is not used to pay for college expenses.
That’s why only 0.3 percent of households in the bottom half of the income distribution (under $56,516 in 2015) have 529 accounts, while 16 percent of the top 5 percent do.
In addition to all this, 529 plans cost the federal government close to $2 billion per year in lost tax revenue for a benefit that mostly helps upper-income families.
That’s why President Obama proposed eliminating the 529 tax break in 2015. He quickly dropped the idea, however, after encountering strong bipartisan opposition.
While it may have been bad politics to propose killing 529s without replacing them with something else, in our view ending the plans is the right thing to do. There are better ways for the federal government to invest $2 billion and make college more affordable.
One excellent way would be to increase the Pell Grant – currently $5,920 – which has been shown to increase college enrollment rates for students who do not come from wealthy households.
Another option is to follow the example of New York, which recently made tuition free at state public colleges for residents with household incomes below $125,000. A program in Tennessee provides free community college to all state high school students, which has significantly increased enrollment rates.
In sum, 529 plans have failed to help low- and middle-income households pay for college. Instead, these plans benefit the financial industry (via the high management fees) and wealthy families that do not need the help.
It is time to replace them with something that will actually help make college more affordable.
Robert H. Scott III, Associate Professor of Economics, Monmouth University and Steven Pressman, Professor of Economics, Colorado State University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
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Burgers and hot dogs are great, but it’s the sides and salads that make cookouts extra special. From Cilantro Lime Sweet Corn to Minted Cucumber Salad, you’ll be making these crowd-pleasing dishes all summer long.
This recipe from Vivian Howard’s Deep Run Roots features sweet summer corn with lime, cilantro and cayenne pepper. It’s got far more oomph than corn-on-the-cob, plus you can make it ahead of time. GET THE RECIPE
2. Peaches, Burrata & Prosciutto with White Balsamic Vinaigrette
This combination of sweet peaches, burrata, and salty prosciutto is a fun play on caprese. With a bottle of chilled rosé, it’s the perfect dish to kick off the summer. GET THE RECIPE
3. Black Bean & Corn Salad with Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
AKA “veggie crack” because it’s so addictive, this is make-ahead salad is one of my most popular recipes. Whether you serve it as a side dish or a dip with tortilla chips (highly recommend!), the bowl is always empty and the mouths are always full. GET THE RECIPE
4. Baby Spinach Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese
Usually we think of fresh berries as something to eat for breakfast or dessert, but here they make an elegant addition to a salad of baby spinach, pecans and goat cheese. The colors of red, white and blue make it perfect for Memorial Day! GET THE RECIPE
5. Sautéed Zucchini & Cherry Tomatoes
Crisp zucchini, burst cherry tomatoes and meltingly sweet red onions make an easy but elegant side dish for a party. Make it ahead and pair it with grilled chicken, salmon or steak. GET THE RECIPE
These tender and sweet cornbread muffins are the perfect accompaniment to any Southern barbecue or Southwestern-style dish. My kids love them so much that I’m constantly swatting their little hands away from the bread basket so they don’t fill up. GET THE RECIPE
7. Roasted Pepper Salad with Feta, Pine Nuts & Basil
Next time you’re asked to bring a veggie or salad to a summer party, try these sweet and smoky bell peppers topped with feta, toasted pine nuts, basil and olives. It looks gorgeous on a platter, and is delicious served with toasted pita bread, grilled lamb burgers or chicken kebabs. GET THE RECIPE
In this make-ahead dish, shredded roasted chicken and noodles are tossed in a punchy soy, ginger and peanut dressing, and then brightened up with a colorful mix of veggies. Chopped peanuts and sesame seeds add welcome crunch. GET THE RECIPE
Refreshing and light, this tangy and sweet cucumber salad satisfies on a hot day. It’s tailor made for BBQ chicken or ribs. GET THE RECIPE
10. Grilled Baby Potatoes with Dijon Mustard & Herbs
My husband, Michael, grills these potatoes whenever we have people over for a cookout. (READ: they’re easy!) The thick Dijon mustard marinade gives them a crispy texture and bold flavor. GET THE RECIPE
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