We Speak African: A Jazz Artist Speaks On U.S.-Cuba Relations

Arturo O’Farrill JazzTimes
A leader in the Afro-Cuban jazz movement, Arturo O'Farrill reflects on the tremendous potential he sees in the new opening to Cuba. “We will be forced to acknowledge that even though we have everything we are starving, and even though they have nothing they are gorging on the richest of all human achievements—love of pueblo, love of community.” Arturo is the son of legendary Cuban trumpeter/arranger Chico O’Farrill, who moved to New York from Havana in 1948.

Afghanistan: The Raped Girl

Alicia Ostriker Heart Journal Online
Ostriker's poem touches the heart of violence against women in a patriarchal culture.

End of Refinery Strike in Sight; Gas Prices May Fall

Tiffany Hsu Los Angeles Times
The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with Shell Oil as a pattern agreement for the rest of the industry.

Dr. Cheryl Chastine of South Wind Women’s Center Talks Reproductive Justice and Not Backing Down

Renee Bracey Sherman Rewire
Dr. Cheryl Chastine represents the future of abortion care; she infuses reproductive justice values and transgender patient care into her practice. She has given up a lot, personally and professionally, to provide care to her patients, but she refuses to back down due to threats or intimidation. She fights back by providing the best possible care to her patients.

Wind Could Power 35 Percent of U.S. Electricity by 2050

Bobby Magill Climate Central
That would be enough electricity to power nearly 100 million homes. As wind grows, investments in wind energy would reach as much as $70 billion annually by 2050, according to a new report, at which point the industry would support 600,000 jobs.

But Is Hillary Ready for Us?

William Greider The Nation
A profound crisis of identity burdens the Democratic Party. What does the party really believe? Whose interests will the nominee truly fight for? Democrats lost their old soul long ago. The 2016 election could become the decisive moment that either transforms the party with an aggressively liberal economic agenda or clings to the past and the “corporate-friendly” straddle devised a generation ago by Bill Clinton’s New Democrats.

Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief

Alex Gibney's documentary film (from HBO) casts a scathing eye on "the religion of the stars," which claims such prominent members as John Travolta and Tom Cruise. Gibney digs into the roots of Scientology's creation by scifi writer L. Ron Hubbard and recounts many reports of abusive Church practices.

Jimmy Kimmel: A Message for the Anti-Vaccine Movement

Jimmy feels that all of this anti-vaccination silliness is starting to snowball, so he invited some real doctors to address it. These are actual medical professionals so hear them out and then decide for yourself.