Follow the money behind AI fear: this analysis examines whether dramatic warnings can shape rules, raise barriers for rivals, and shift the cost of failure onto the public.
General News
Houston’s $300 Million Question: Public Safety Grant or Immigration Enforcement?
A proposed DOJ grant could bring Houston major public-safety funds—and new federal conditions. Neil Aquino explains the questions City Council must answer.
Why Karl Rove Is Voting for a Texas Democrat After Three Decades of GOP Loyalty
Karl Rove calls Bo French a bigot and crosses party lines for Jon Rosenthal. The rare vote spotlights race, belonging, and accountability in Texas politics.
AI Companies Want Government to Save Their Business Model—Not Humanity
AI giants warn government that advanced models threaten humanity. But soaring costs, cyber failures, competition and weak profits raise another question: who really needs saving?
Salazar Breaks Ranks on Immigration Crackdowns After Years of Ignoring Deadly Enforcements
Salazar says Trump’s immigration crackdown went too far. Her warning matters—but so does her vote to fund the enforcement operations she now criticizes.
The Hartmann Report
“Free Trade” Has Put America & Democracy At the Mercy of China
Bringing our manufacturing back from overseas will reverse the 40-year-long slide of the American middle class and rebuild our nation’s security & economy. China is threatening the United States: this could get very ugly, very quickly. Here’s what’s happening. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning a trip to Taiwan, the first for a Speaker in […]
How Will Trump’s Deadly Sabotage Of America End?
use he has not been held to account, Trumpism has spread across the US landscape like metastasized cancer, with GOP politicians who aspire to corrupt strongman status emulating him in every state
The Abortion Firestorm is also a White Freak-out About the Browning of America
America is no longer all-white or all-under-white-control and white supremacists on the Court are bound and determined to do something about it
Guest Bloggers
A public offer to Lt. Gov. Patrick: Enroll In My Texas History Class
See the letter I sent to the Chronicle on Friday, just after the Alamo story initially appeared. The CEO of the Alamo Trust quit the next day. Let’s see if they will run it.
Blood As Money
Imagine a vampire that uses you as its host. He comes to you in the night to feed, draining you of your blood, leaving you weak and vulnerable. He doesn’t feed on you every night, for he has many hosts.
League of Independent Voters of Texas
Imperial Governance and Constitutional Wreckage • LIV News, July 29, 2021
Are imperial governance and the related constitutional wreckage taking Texans down a dangerous path to a constitutional crisis?
The elephant in the Texas voting booth that neither party wants to talk about.
The elephant in the Texas voting booth that neither party wants to talk about is the suppression of a plurality of Texas voters. Surprise! There are more non-aligned and independent Texans than Democrats or Republicans.
Egberto Mentioned In Media
The Tribune Newspaper Article On The Firework Attack On My Home
The Tribune emailed me with several questions for this article. I am satisfied that no attempt was made to change what actually occurred or what I said. Thank you. My Book: As I See It: Class Warfare The Only Resort To Right Wing Doom Hardcopy: http://amzn.to/dt72c7 Kindle: http://amzn.to/lUFQCV Twitter: http://twitter.com/egbertowillies
Kingwood Area Democrats To Host Candidate Brunch–Kingwood Observer Article 2012-01-25
My Book: As I See It: Class Warfare The Only Resort To Right Wing Doom Hardcopy: http://amzn.to/dt72c7 Kindle: http://amzn.to/lUFQCV Twitter: http://twitter.com/egbertowillies
Egberto On TV
Egberto on CNN on Should Embargo on Cuba be lifted
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. There are very specific reasons why we should drop the embargo on Cuba.
Egberto On CNN com Debating Healthcare Reform
Egberto’s Published Articles
Is Net Neutrality Really Necessary? You’re Damn Right!
by Egberto Willies and Keyan Bliss (Originally Published at Common Dreams) Three weeks after Christmas, the American judiciary gave telecommunications corporations a huge present. On January 14 a federal appeals court decided to weaken the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Internet Neutrality policy by striking down the rules it adopted in 2010 to regulate Internet service […]
Egberto Willies: Wendy Davis’ life story provides empathy necessary to be governor – Kingwood Observer
It seems like I chose just about the right time to write an article on Wendy Davis. She finds herself under attack not only by the entire Right Wing establishment, but from the traditional media as well. She happens to be the story to balance the myriad of bad acts by Republicans. There is a […]
Battleground Texas
Support continues to build for Judge William ‘Bill’ McLeod
Judge McLeod turned around his office in two months. McLeod and his staff accomplished more in 2 months than his predecessor did in two years.
Occupy Movement
OccupyHouston A Resounding Success – Large Orderly, Intelligent, & Organized Crowds
I attended the OccupyHouston event on October 6th, 2011 taped some of the event and interviewed several people. The event was orderly, well organized, intelligent, and orderly. One could not be prouder of how well the youth leaders (20s and 30s) kept control of the crowds and event. Most interesting is that the crowds were […]
Netroots Nation
Detroit Activist Maureen Taylor’s message to those who think it’s only those people’s problem
Maureen Taylor’s message is succinct and prescient There was a gem that many missed at Netroots Nation 2014. That gem was a well-received speech by Detroit activist Maureen Taylor. I recorded her on Thursday of the event, uploaded it to YouTube, and then went on to another panel. As I recorded I remember thinking that […]
Coffee Party Posts
Coffee Party USA Board of Directors 2016 Meeting in Blue Ridge, Georgia
The Coffee Party USA board of directors coalesced around a strong voter education and turnout strategy that we will be releasing in the forthcoming weeks.
Columnists
Young column: As American as — Bad Bunny
As American as -- Bad Bunny I didn’t know him from Yosemite Sam. But here’s the thing: The only reason I watched the Super Bowl was Bad Bunny. I don’t dig his genre. I didn’t understand a word.
Young column: Stephen Miller makes a name for himself
Stephen Miller makes a name for himself Their claim was self-defense, sir.Just don’t believe your eyes.It’s our blood and bonesAnd these whistles and phonesAgainst Miller and Noem’s dirty
Young column: Cover-ups are what he does best
“Either you want to advance the cover-up or you want the truth to come out.” – Congressman Jamie Raskin. Multiple choice. Was he referring to: A) A cover-up to mask extensive engagement with
Young column: ‘Riots!’ in Portland and fake news on Fox
I saw the president call the ABC reporter “fake news.” That’s a laugh. The reporter was asking about his obsequiousness with murderous Saudi dictator Mohammed bin Salman while Don and Eric, aka
Young column: Cover-ups are what he does best
“Either you want to advance the cover-up or you want the truth to come out.” – Congressman Jamie Raskin. Multiple choice. Was he referring to: A) A cover-up to mask extensive engagement with
Young column: High ketchup alert at MAGA home office
Maybe it was all that sledgehammering of White House walls. Hard labor at 79. Maybe it was partying like the devil Halloween night while government stood still. (Did they check the ages of those
A Few Takes
Original Sin? Or Original Choice?
I subscribe to a lot of newsletters. I don’t always get around to reading them daily, just like I am sure many cannot read every one of my “Egberto Off The Record” newsletters. After all, I send out 1 to 5 every day, depending on the day’s news. I served on the Coffee Party USA […]
Joy-Ann Reid did the best job of covering the real TikTok narrative, the hidden billionaires.
Joy-Ann Reid and Robert Reich provided the best coverage of the insane TikTok fiasco. Unlike the shallow coverage elsewhere, they hit the real issues.
Maddow Blog: Stefanik picks the wrong fight, asks whether we were better off in 2020
But the idea that conditions in the United States got worse after Trump left the White House is demonstrably ridiculous.
People Making a difference
My brother-in-law’s journey inspires stroke victims, giving advice, hope, & purpose.
This is an inspiring story about my brother-in-law’s recovery from a recent stroke that should give stroke victims hope, purpose, and direction.
Ashley Mosley, staying in her community to make a difference
Our communities would do well having more people like Ashley Mosley. She stayed in community where many have left intentionally.
Local News
Texas Ethics Commission Investigating Houston Mayor John Whitmire
The Texas Ethics Commission has accepted jurisdiction over the allegation of impropriety with Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s $60,000+ “901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor’s Office” podcast.
RESOLUTION OF ENDORSEMENT MORATORIUM FOR MAYOR JOHN WHITMIRE
The resolution condemns John Whitmire for aiding GOP power, legitimizing authoritarian politics, and violating Democratic values, calling for accountability and denial of future party endorsements.
PanTex’s celebration of Latin American and American veterans over the weekend is unmatched.
Panama Texas Connection Foundation, aka PanTex, celebrated it’s Veterans’ Day Weekend with The “Cuerpo de Bomberos” from Panamá who participated in our gala and picnic culminating with the parade.
Houston Chronicle Endorses State Senator Molly Cook for reelection to SD-15.
Congratulations to State Senator Molly Cook (@MollyforTexas) for earning the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle for reelection to Senate District 15.
Entertainment
Chris Rock used his new Netflix skit Selective Outrage to slam Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
I watched Chris Rock on Netflix this morning. It was clear that the Will Smith slap at the Oscars has affected Chris Rock’s comedy.
The movie “Honk For Jesus” brought back memories of a CNN iReport I did on Bishop Eddie Long.
Just got back from the movie “Honk for Jesus.” It felt familiar. A woman told my wife, “That’s the Eddie Long story.” Yes, it is similar to the iReport I did in 2010.
Message To Garth Brooks: Took this superfan lots of money & attempts to finally see you in Houston.
Garth Brooks super fan Debra Willey finally got to see you in Houston, TX, after several attempts and several thousand dollars — a shoutout maybe to her?
Environment
Is it true the northern lights will be more intense over the next 50 years.
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true the northern lights will be more intense over the next 50 years, and if so, why? Will this have any negative effect on our environment? — H. Binger, via e-mail
What can we do to make our neighborhoods more walkable?
Dear EarthTalk: What can we do to make our neighborhoods more walkable? – D.F., New York, NY
Sports
Texans Win. But why do it the hard way?
The Texans vs Bills game was exciting but it should have ended in regulation. Bill O’Brien is lucky to have stellar players.
Simone Biles named female athlete of the year | khou.com
Simone Biles continues to make Houston proud as she wins female athlete of the year. Congratulations! COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Gymnastics powerhouse Simone Biles has been named the 2019 Team USA Female Olympic Athlete of the Year after another record-setting performance in competition this year. Biles topped a list of award-winners of the honors presented […]
Move To Amend
Move to Amend’s Daniel Lee: Transcending political parties at the People’s Convention (VIDEO)
Many grassroots organizations have converged on Philadelphia, PA using the Democratic National Convention as the catalyst to organize for a better America.