The News
April 14, 2017
It’s finally Friday! Yesterday, the U.S. military dropped “the mother of all bombs” in Afghanistan by detonating the Pentagon’s largest non-nuclear weapon into the tunnels of territory controlled by the Islamic State. In other headline news, Canada’s parliament will debate legislation legalizing recreational use of cannabis.
Lastly, we’ve released our preview of the playoffs in the NBA Eastern Conference, which tips off tomorrow and continues on Easter Sunday.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the continued playoffs and Easter break.
Cheers,
The Wonks Team
Politics and Business
- FiveThirtyEight profiles House Representative Maxine Waters of California’s 43rd District, noting the congresswoman’s firebrand reputation with the Democratic Party base and unapologetic calls for impeaching President Trump.
- The New York Times examines the appeal and influence of Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly, remarking on his abilities as an interviewer, as well as his earnings from his personal branding empire as a book publisher and public speaker.
Public Policy
- The Washington Post reports that President Trump signed a bill into law allowing states to ban using federal funds to organizations that provide family planning or abortion services…
- …and the Post reports that the Environmental Protection Agency halted the implementation of an Obama administration rule preventing utility providers from dumping toxic waste into waterways.
Science and Health
- Bloomberg News writes about NASA’s discovery of an environmental surface hospitable for life on Saturn’s moon of Enceladus, observing the presence of hydrogen, oceans, and the temperate climate all necessary for sustaining life.
Sports
- Zach Lowe of ESPN submits his end of season NBA individual and team awards ballot, explaining in depth his picks for MVP, coach of the year, all-NBA teams, and more.
- The Wonks preview the round one of the NBA playoffs for the Eastern Conference.
Culture
- Chris Klimek of NPR reviews “The Fate of the Furious,” the eighth installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, criticizing the film’s lack of originality and the over-involvement of its star Vin Diesel in the movie’s production.
