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Is Iran softening its stance on the election results? On the one hand, the Guardian Council—a group of clerics more powerful than the President—is pledging to recount some votes, in what seems like a concession to the popular unrest over the election. But the regime is also expelling foreign press and imprisoning important reform leaders. There's a possibility the Council could call for a run-off vote between Mousavi and Ahmadinejad, but if the Council backtracks on its stance that the election was free and fair, it may irreparably damage Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's image as the all-powerful religious authority. And Mousavi's popularity rivals Khamenei's, which is another strike against him with the Council. On the political front here in the U.S., George Packer wrote that the events offer a window into the twisted logic of many foreign policy thinkers who wish for an Ahmadinejad victory only as a political expedient. Packer exhorts intellectuals and journalists to "trust their eyes" (even after the deception of the Bush years) and condemn the oppression of the protesters.
President Obama extended some benefits to the unmarried partners of federal workers Wednesday, but gay advocacy groups say there's still a long way to go on the road to equality. Though the partners of gay federal employees will enjoy some benefits, the Defense of Marriage Act prevents the government from extending health or life insurance to them. Obama said Wednesday the memorandum is "just a start" and reiterated his commitment to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act with the help of Congress. A Department of Justice memo from earlier this week defended the 1996 law, causing several prominent gay rights advocates to back out of a big Democratic fundraiser.
The House of Representatives passed a bill today that will fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through September to the tune of $106 billion, The Washington Post reports. A vote for the bill came as a sign of support for President Obama, if not his strategy for increasing troops in Afghanistan. “We are in the process of wrapping up the wars. The president needed our support,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Republican who initially opposed the spending but voted for it. "But the substance still sucks." The bill includes $7.7 million in pandemic flu provisions. Its $80 million initiative to close Guantanamo Bay, however, was removed by Congress. The Senate may pass the bill later this week, but many are expected to oppose the included $1 billion program that would provide vouchers to people looking to trade in old cars for fuel-efficient upgrades.
Republican Senator John Ensign publicly admitted Tuesday to having an affair with a campaign staffer, and sources say blackmail was involved in his decision to own up to the indiscretion. In a press conference in Las Vegas, the prominent Nevada Senator expressed deep regret and apologized for his actions. Politico reports that after Ensign reconciled with his wife, he gave the aide he had an affair with a severance package. Later, the Senator met with the aide's husband, who asked for a substantial amount of money, which is when Ensign decided to make the affair public. Ensign’s current aide (who asked to remain anonymous) said the affair lasted from December 2007 to August 2008, and that the woman was married to another of Ensign’s employees. The Senator is considered a rising star of the Republican party, and there were rumors he was planning a presidential bid for 2012.
Suddenly, Twitter doesn't seem so narcissistic. The State Department specifically asked Twitter to postpone scheduled maintenance that would have temporarily shut down the service, as it has emerged as an indispensable source of information for those following the protests, including the U.S., which has no embassy in Iran. But some Twitter feeds are being flooded with false rumors. Earlier today, tweets hysterically warned that the army was coming to Tehran. "RT From Iran: CONFIRMED!! Army moving into Tehran against protesters! PLEASE RT! URGENT!" And the tweets continue, apparently spreading via people outside Tehran. People have been trying to weed out the extra noise by continuously changing their hash tags so earnest users can still get information. "If you want to help Iranians, stop spreading lies #tehran #iranelection," read one tweet. Another user, with a following of over 20,000, asked people to hold their tweets until he gave them a new hash tag. There are warnings not to use real names or search for each other via Twitter. Another rally is scheduled for 4 pm tomorrow in central Tehran, according to the latest reports. But phones are reportedly completely down in a neighborhood in western Tehran and cell phones have been down for days—which begs the question, who are these wizards still tweeting? Reliable messages from email and Facebook have been all but silent today.
President Obama killed two birds with one press conference: Appearing with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, he discussed both North Korea and Iran. He called a nuclear-armed North Korea a “grave threat” and "We will pursue denuclearization on the Korean peninsula vigorously." On Iran, he said that the supreme leader’s actions show “deep concerns” about the elections, but that it would not help things if the United States appeared to be “meddling” in the affair.
Sarah Palin certainly doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to attorneys general, so there’s no knowing whether this one will last. The Alaskan governor announced Tuesday that she nominated Daniel S. Sullivan, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, as Alaska’s Attorney General. Palin fell under fire for dismissing attorney general Talis Colberg, her last nomination embroiled in the Troopergate scandal, and NRA director Wayne Anthony Ross was rejected by state lawmakers in April, for, among other reasons, calling gays "immoral" and "degenerate." Third time's the charm?
The world hasn't heard the last of Carrie Prejean. The ex-Miss California and her lawyer, Charles LiMandri, are threatening to sue the pageant organization, saying Prejean was “set up" for failure. According to LiMandri, the pageant and director Keith Lewis gave Prejean an impossible list of events to attend, including the premiere of a movie that supported gay marriage rights, a topic Prejean has spoken out against publicly. “There was really a lack for trust and a lack of respect," LiMandri said. “He was trying to set her up. Keith Lewis and [pageant coordinator] Shanna Moakler wanted her out, pure and simple. They finally found a way to get their way.” Lewis fired back at the accusations, saying that Prejean didn’t uphold her contract and missed more than 30 scheduled events.
Pay cuts are one thing, but working for free? That’s what British Airways has asked its staff of 40,000 to agree to—for up to a month. The airline publicized their plea in the latest issue of an in-house magazine, writing, “From tomorrow, people will be able to opt for blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months, wherever possible.” British Airways recently reported a pre-tax loss of over $660 million. Surprisingly, hundreds of employees actually offered to work for no pay before the initiative was formally announced, which means one of two things, according to a professor at King’s College in London: “Either they have high levels of commitment to the firm, or they have high levels of insecurity."
Saying "We've just entered a North Korean courtyard without permission,'' may make for high drama, but it might not be too smart. The state-run media of North Korea says that it caught the two imprisoned American journalists preparing "a smear campaign" that would highlight the country's dreadful human-rights record. The pair was caught on the wrong side of the China/North Korea border, and filmed their illegal entry, even picking up a stone as a "memento," the Associated Press reports. The journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were recently sentenced to 12 years in the nightmarish North Korean labor camps in a closed trial. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she is using all diplomatic channels available to try and secure the daring journalists' release.
A new Wall Street Journal column that began today takes on a new topic: complaining to the ones you love. While the markets are in meltdown and the world stage is on high alert, the business paper of record is exploring how stress has become our default emotion—to the point that it’s become a competitive game to one-up each other. “Some say the pressure may be turning us into narcissists: To protect ourselves, we push others away,” writes Elizabeth Bernstein. Relationships are turning into an elaborate game of misery poker and “as times get tougher, complaining is starting to look more like a blood sport than a coping mechanism.” A few offered solutions to counterproductive temper tantrums are taking a break, using positive terms, or, if all else fails, just being quiet.
Guess the recession has everyone pinched for cash these days: Lindsay Lohan is currently under investigation by Scotland Yard for the disappearance of a set of Dior diamond earrings and a necklace, estimated to be worth $400,000. Representatives from both Elle U.K and the Westminster Police confirmed the disappearance of the jewelry, which was on loan for the magazine's June 6th photoshoot. "Inquiries are continuing and no arrests have been made," the police spokeswoman tells People, adding, "we will be speaking to a number of people in connection with the inquiry and don't discuss the identity of the people we are planning to interview. Lohan's rep was less stingy with details: "We inquired and everyone from the shoot is being questioned," Lohan's rep tells People. "Hair, make up, stylist ... even photographers. Lindsay hopes they find the jewels. She is happy to cooperate." As for Lohan's involvement, though the starlet was the last one wearing the jewelry, the Elle UK spokeswoman states, "Elle has no reason to believe that Lindsay Lohan was in any way responsible and has no further comment to make."
The Democratic National Committee was all geared up for a big fundraiser coordinated with the LGBT community on June 25 until two prominent gay men decided to voice their displeasure with the administration. Growing tired of inaction on issues such as gay marriage, the activist David Mixner and blogger Andy Towle have both publicly snubbed the Obama administration. "How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us?" Mixner wrote. Other gay activists are now pushing for those who do attend the fundraiser to "turn up the heat" on the Democrats in attendance who "run for cover" whenever gay rights issues come to the fore.
Industry insiders were once worried that Pixar’s Up would do less well than the company’s previous efforts, given its unmarketable main characters. They were wrong: The film is on pace to become Pixar’s second-highest grossing of all time, beating all previous efforts except for Finding Nemo. Through Sunday, the film’s domestic total was $187.4 million. Though only 40 percent of theaters are showing Up in 3-D, those theaters have accounted for 60 percent of its gross. In order to move into second place, it is expected to beat The Incredibles' $261.4 million take.
Research telling you what you already knew: According to a new study, New Yorkers are the “angriest and most aggressive” drivers in the country. Surprisingly, they’re new to the title: In the previous four years, Miami drivers had topped the survey of the nation’s 25 largest metropolitan areas. Dallas/Fort Worth was second, while Baltimore, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh had the most-pleasant drivers.
President Obama is looking out for the little guy: He will call for the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency as part of his regulatory overhaul on Wednesday. The independent agency will protect consumers on matters like credit cards, with “a very clear line of accountability around products that they deem abusive of consumers, or misleading,” an administration official tells Politico. The larger plan will not create a new “super-regulator,” but will instead give more power to the Federal Reserve.
Brett Favre just isn’t cut out for retirement: The former NFL quarterback said he will consider coming out of retirement (again) if his surgically repaired arm holds up, and that he’s spoken with the Minnesota Vikings about a return. On Joe Buck Live, Favre said "If it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then the biggest question mark is out of the way.” It should be another four to five weeks before Favre can test the condition of his arm.
Stoners rejoice: the economic crisis and the worsening drug war in Mexico are giving a boost to the crusade for the decriminalization of marijuana. Pot proponents argue the benefits of legalizing the drug would reach far and wide by weakening Mexican cartels that are fueled largely by marijuana use in the United States, saving the country at least $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs, and making more than $6 billion in tax revenue if it were taxed in the same manner as cigarettes and alcohol. But total legalization is unlikely, despite the fact that 13 states have legalized medicinal marijuana and as many as 50 percent of Americans and some high-profile politicians are open to its regulated sale. Opponents say legalization will lead to an increase in child users. “Legalization of marijuana, no matter how it begins, will come at the expense of our children and public safety,” a DEA document says.
It was a good day for President Obama’s plans to close Guantánamo. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has agreed to take three detainees from Guantánamo after meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office Monday. Also on Monday, the European Union agreed to take 10 prisoners on a case-to-case basis, and other prisoners have been transferred to New York, Chad, Iraq, Bermuda and Saudi Arabia. The president has struggled to find homes for the detainees since vowing to close the prison by the end of the year. There will now be 226 remaining prisoners at Guantánamo, including some who haven’t been charged with crimes and are considered “at war” with the U.S. Congress strongly opposed Obama’s plan to transfer detainees to U.S. prisons in order to close the facility.
Did waterboarding work? “Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed told U.S. military officials that he had lied to the CIA after being abused, according to documents made public Monday,” according to the Los Angeles Times. During hearings at Guantanamo Bay, Mohammed said "I make up stories.” Describing his interrogation over Osama bin Laden’s investigation, he said, "Where is he? I don't know. Then, he torture me," Mohammed said of his interrogator. "Then I said, 'Yes, he is in this area.'” Mohammed, who was waterboarded 183 times, also said he fingered innocent people as al Qaeda members in order to avoid abuse.
The victims of Bernie Madoff’s infamous $65 billion Ponzi scheme sent over 100 letters and emails to Judge Denny Chin venting their anger at the fraudster. “Sentence this monster named Madoff to the most severe punishment within your abilities,” wrote Randy Baird, a California lawyer. “We are too old to make up what we lost. We have to start over.” Many of the victims are elderly and retired. “At the age of 89, I find myself and my wife [86] devoid of future hope,” wrote one. “I find it hard to believe what he did to us and...all the charities affected by this bastard.” Investigators are currently seizing assets of the Madoff family and liquidating them.
It may be hard to imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger on the breadline, but California officials came to the White House “hat in hand”—and were rejected. The Obama administration turned away California’s request for emergency aid, saying that it would only prompt requests from other states in need. Timothy Geithner and other top officials say that California—whose economy is the eighth-largest in the world, bigger than Canada’s or Brazil’s—should work on its budget before applying for federal aid. But an administration official told The Washington Post that the government will consider giving aid if California’s situation significantly worsens, but will administer in it in a way that would make federal loans unattractive to other states. Said one state congressman: “This matters for the U.S., not just for California.”
Iran may be convulsing with violence, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is proceeding as if nothing's wrong. He arrived in Russia for a summit of regional leaders on Tuesday, where Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao rushed to congratulate him on his re-election. The controversial president then spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but made no mention of mass protests—or allegations that he'd rigged the election—in his country. "America is in the grip of political and economic crisis," he said at the summit. "The United States and its allies are unable to deal with the crisis." He added: "It is absolutely obvious that the age of empires has ended and its revival will not take place."
The Iranian government has tried to block Twitter and SMS since the presidential election on Friday – and now it's taking censorship one step further. The government has now officially banned international press in Tehran, saying that reports and videos have been biased towards supporters of Mousavi. All foreign press will be banned from covering protests on Tuesday, and only the government-run media will be permitted to report from the streets. "No journalist has permission to report or film or take pictures in the city,” the Culture Ministry said.
The quiet Mrs. Tom Cruise may be finally coming out of her shell: Katie Holmes is reportedly filming So You Think You Can Dance, the high-intensity celebrity dance competition. And it’s been a long-time coming: she’s apparently rehearsed long and hard for this, working with choreographer Tyce Diorio, and is finally scheduled to tape the episode Tuesday. While it’s still a rumor, SYTYCD insiders say Holmes is "killing it" on the dance floor, and that Fox is trying to hold the Holmes episode for its 100th performance on July 8.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won't be in town for today's protests: The disputed president has left Iran in order to attend a conference in Russia. Meanwhile, the government’s powerful Guardian Council has reversed itself and announced that it will recount votes from Friday’s election in areas contested by the losing candidates. But now, an opposition official says Mir Hossein Mousavi has rejected a recount, calling instead for an entirely new election. President Obama also spoke up on the controversy, pronouncing himself “troubled,” saying “I think it’s important that, moving forward, whatever investigations take place are done in a way that is not resulting in bloodshed and is not resulting in people being stifled in expressing their views. ”Mousavi has consistently encouraged peaceful demonstrations, and it is now reported that he is trying to thwart scheduled demonstrations on Tuesday in order to avoid more violence.
The pitbull with lipstick has let go of the bone. David Letterman issued his (second) long apology to the Alaskan governor on The Late Show on Monday night, repeating that he had been misunderstood which Palin daughter was at the baseball game with her parents. "I'm sorry about it, and I'll try to do better in the future," he said. And now, Palin has issued a surprise response: apology accepted! But, in a statement released Tuesday, she made it clear that she is accepting his apology "on behalf of all young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve." She also thanked U.S. troops for securing "America's right to free speech."
A new report from federal scientists does not mince words in demandingaction on climate change. Though the info in the report, titled "GlobalClimate Change Impacts in the United States," is nothing new, the sizeof the report, its timing, and the clear language used are all notable,The Washington Post reports. "Climate change over this century willchallenge the ability of society and natural systems to adapt," thereport says, which was released as Congress begins to consider a billthat would include drastic measures such as the first national cap onemissions. Some of the more ominous findings in the report includeaverage temperatures having risen two degrees over the last 50 years, aswell as heavy storms in the Northeast being 67 percent heavier.
Might this be the first time that a man has stripped down for GQ’s cover? Sacha Baron Cohen, as Bruno, is in the buff in the latest issue of the men’s magazine, and he also sits down for an interview in character. Is “manscaping” okay? “Be careful if you do it yourself, though—yesterday ich tried to self-wax mein arschenhaller und glued meinself to ze bed. Manscaping ist important, but not as crucial as getting regular anal bleaching.” How does he feel about President Obama? “it gives me great hope zat, after years of struggle, someone can at last get to ze White House, despite being incredibly hot. On ze other hand, it’s slightly disappointing that he needed zat beard, Michelle, to help him—but vone shtep at a time.”
With the new, harsh crackdown on foreign media, might the coverage of the protests in Iran play out entirely via Twitter and YouTube? Witnesses on the ground in northern Tehran are telling the BBC that a rally even larger than Monday's is currently taking place. Because of the media crackdown, the size of the gathering cannot be confirmed, (nor can its actual existence). If true, the rally is occurring despite calls by Mir Hossein Mousavi to not stage another protest for fear of further violence. Supporters of President Ahmadinejad also rallied Tuesday in central Tehran, setting the stage for a possible confrontation. The BBC reports that eight people died during the massive protests on Monday.
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