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Archives for June 2015

Review: HBO’s Newest Satire ‘The Brink’ Hits Close to Home

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In a review of HBO’s new series “The Brink,” Nukes of Hazard Blog explores the “frighteningly realistic” nature of the pilot episode.

“The show kicks off with a nightmarish scenario in which the fraying threads of Pakistani political control officially unravel, leaving the country’s hundred-some nuclear warheads dangerously unsupervised.”

“The writers of Brink cooked up an entertaining story, but the best—and perhaps most disturbing—part about any satire is that somewhere buried beneath all the hilarity, there’s always a shred of truth.”

Read the full review at nukesofhazzardblog.com: HBO’s Newest Satire Brink Hits Close to Home

President Obama delivers powerful eulogy for Charleston shooting victim

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President Barack Obama delivered an inspirational eulogy at the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the North Carolina state senator and pastor who was one of nine black church-goers fatally shot in Charleston last week.

“By taking down that flag, we express God’s grace,” President Obama expressed to the thousands of mourners who joined in TD Arena. “For too long we were blind to the pain that the Confederate flag stirred in too many of our citizens.”

Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, postponed a fundraiser in Philadelphia to be able to attend. She was the only presidential candidate in attendance.

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley traveled to Charleston on Wednesday to pay respects to the victims of the tragic shooting. Other candidates have called for the removal of the Confederate flag including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Despite debate that has been sparked in the wake of the racially fueled attack, the flag continued to fly above the South Carolina state capitol even as Reverend Pinckney laid in state there earlier this week.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has also been outspoken for removal of the flag, is expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination next week.

Hillary Comes to Virginia

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Hillary Clinton will headline the Democratic Party of Virginia’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at George Mason University’s Patriot Center in Fairfax this coming Friday, June 26. This will be her first campaign stop in the state since announcing her presidential campaign.

The event, usually hosted in Richmond, will instead take place in the highly populated and diverse Northern Virginia. President Obama and the former Secretary of State both spoke at the dinner in 2008, days before Virginia Democrats sided with Obama for the February primary.

Clinton is moving into Virginia with momentum. According to a recent Wall Street Journal and NBC national poll, Clinton has a 60 point margin ahead of her closest Democratic opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, and substantial leads against her Republican counterparts. The poll also showed that 92% of Democratic primary voters see themselves supporting her.

Virginia is an historically swing state. In both the 2008 and 2012 presidential general elections, however, the state voted blue for President Obama, while Virginia Democrats have not lost a statewide election since 2009.

George Mason University and its Patriot Center have hosted presidential hopefuls in the past. Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee recently announced that he would seek the 2016 Democratic Party presidential nomination at George Mason University’s Arlington campus on June 3, 2015. In 2012, Former Governor and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney held a rally at the Patriot Center on the eve of the presidential general election. President Obama also chose the venue for a last chance rally before the controversial health care reform vote in 2010.

To purchase tickets, visit virginiademshrc.tumblr.com. For any questions or inquiries, email events@vademocrats.org. All funds will benefit the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Tauscher: Triumph over tragedy, reimagining Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry

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Ellen-Tauscher-272x408Former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher is chair of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. She recently published an op-ed in the Financial Times:

“Last year, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that her vision for the Bangladesh ready-made garment (RMG) sector was to reach $50bn in exports by 2021. It is an important and ambitious goal for a nation that has worked hard to develop a brighter economic future. With the RMG sector accounting for 81 per cent of Bangladesh’s overall exports, reaching such a milestone could help the nation substantially reduce poverty and strengthen economic outcomes for millions of people.

“Transforming industries and economies requires dedication and commitment from numerous stakeholders, ranging from the government to the private sector. That’s why the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh—two coalitions of brands that source garments from Bangladesh—have undertaken an enormous and unprecedented effort to inspect every factory from which their members source, and to ensure that safety issues are thoroughly addressed.”

Read the full op-ed on ft.com: Triumph over tragedy: reimagining Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry

Sean Parker unveils social network for politics

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“Silicon Valley billionaire Sean Parker is taking the wraps off his long-awaited social network for politics, Brigade, saying it is one step toward tackling a problem that his former company, Facebook, hasn’t managed to solve.

“When it comes to your civic identity or your political identity or your charitable identity, frankly you don’t want to express that side of yourself on Facebook. It’s not the right medium to do it.”

Read more on politico.com: Sean Parker unveils social network for politics

White House defends private party

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The White House is defending a private concert held over the weekend featuring Prince and Stevie Wonder, saying the Obamas paid for it themselves.

While it is estimated that 500 were in attendance, many are surprised by how little publicity and social media activity the event generated.

Attendees included Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, singer Ciara, Rev. Al Sharpton, Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein, American Express CEO Ken Chenault, entrepreneur and philanthropist Connie Milstein, and former White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard.

Read more via nytimes.com: Invitations to a White House Party: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, but Private
Read more via thehill.com: White House defends private Prince party

Countdown to the series premiere of HBO’s ‘The Brink’

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HBO’s The Brink premieres June 21 on HBO. This new half-hour dark comedy series focuses on a geopolitical crisis and its effect on three disparate and desperate men.

Tim Robbins recently sat down with Huff Post Live to preview the series.

More coverage:
Aasif Mandvi spoke with Newsday about his transition from The Daily Show to The Brink.

Jack Black, Aasif Mandvi on Balancing Geopolitics and Comedy in HBO’s ‘The Brink’

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Tammy Haddad (consultant to HBO’s The Brink) with Aasif Mandvi (The Brink co-producer, writer and cast member) at the 2015 White House Correspondents Brunch

 
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The Brink’s Carla Gugino with Alfre Woodard at the 2015 White House Correspondents Brunch

 
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Haddad with Roberto Benabib and Kim Benabib, creators of HBO’s The Brink

Veep Season 4 Finale: ‘Jonad Files’ and Memorable Insults

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Photo: Tammy Haddad and Timothy Simons (Veep’s ‘Jonah Ryan’) at the 2015 White House Correspondents Brunch

HBO’s Veep heads into its fourth season finale this Sunday. The insults are flying as President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her administration are under investigation by the House Judiciary Committee for illegal lobbying and data breaches. From the Jonad Files to the cast’s favorite put downs, this season’s finale promises to not pull any punches.

Simons made DRUDGE REPORT headlines at the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner when he announced his endorsement of Martin O’Malley while walking the red carpet.

Tune in Sunday, June 14 on HBO.

Meet-Up for Childhood Freedom

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2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, is joining supporters to celebrate freedom for the world’s children — freedom from slavery, labor, childhood hunger, trafficking and illiteracy. This peaceful gathering will honor the collective work being accomplished combined with a reminder of the significant work ahead to make childhood freedom a priority on both national and international agendas.

The meet-up will take place Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 4 pm at the Lincoln Memorial. All are welcome. More information at lincoln.satyarthi.org.