Articles chosen with care. Your comments welcomed.
Linked articles in bold purple
◆ Dreamer Deal Possible: Chuck, Nancy and Donald agree to work on deal to avoid deportations (Washington Post)
The border wall is not included.
Democratic leaders announced late Wednesday that they agreed with President Trump to pursue a legislative deal that would protect hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation and enact border security measures that don’t include building a physical wall. –Washington Post
Republican leaders are on the outside, looking in.
And some of Trump’s base is furious.
In a sign of the potential trouble for the president, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), an immigration hard-liner and early Trump supporter, wrote that if reports of a potential immigration deal are accurate, the president’s “base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable, and disillusioned beyond repair. No promise is credible.” –Washington Post
◆ Post-Irma tragedy: Eight patients died in south Florida nursing home without power during sweltering heat (Orlando Sun-Sentinel)
Police have launched an investigation.
Comment: One larger policy issue: Why doesn’t Florida require nursing homes to have generators?
The Sun-Sentinel reports that 150 nursing homes (out of 700 in the state) are still without power.
◆ North Korea threats to reduce US to “ashes and darkness” and “sink Japan” (Reuters)
Regional tensions have risen markedly since the reclusive North conducted its sixth, and by far its most powerful, nuclear test on Sept. 3.
The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a U.S.-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions on Monday in response, banning North Korea’s textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral, and capping fuel supplies.
The North reacted to the latest action by the Security Council, which had the backing of veto-holding China and Russia, by reiterating threats to destroy the United States, Japan and South Korea. –Reuters
Comment: Meanwhile, there are reports North Korea is preparing another nuclear test.
◆ US News and World Report College Rankings
Familiar names, great schools. They compete hard against each other and are not just tops in the US, they are tops in the world (along with Oxford and Cambridge)
Two Comments: First, students can get a great education at many schools. The important thing is to find one that “fits.” Fit depends on your needs, your interests, and your personality, as well as the school’s strengths and weaknesses and the niches it provides for students.
Second, I don’t see how you can say Harvard ranks above or below, say, Stanford or Chicago. I think you can say that some schools rank in the very top-tier and others are a half-step back. Even that depends on whether you are interested in biology or French literature.
◆ You knew it was coming: CEO of Equifax called to testify before Congress (The Hill)
Prediction: Kabuki Theater. The CEO will be contrite, the Congressmen angry.
The CEO will say his company takes this very seriously, is really working on these problems, and will help those affected.
The Representatives will posture for the cameras, expressing the public’s genuine anger.
Meanwhile, this extraordinary piece of news about Equifax’s internal security:
◆ Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduces bill to make it easier to conduct medical marijuana research (The Verge)
The Marijuana Effective Drug Study Act of 2017 would streamline the process for approving research and increase the national marijuana quota for medical and scientific research. Marijuana has been shown to have potential health benefits such as treating seizures and managing pain. –The Verge
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Hat Tip to
◆ Mike Lipson for the Equifax BBC story