Secret meeting with Pope
Davis’ lawyers claims that she had a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican Embassy in Washington D.C on Sept 24. Davis says she was “humbled” and never thought she would be granted an audience. She and the pontiff hugged, and he presented her and her husband with two rosaries, which she is giving to her parents, who are Catholic.
Who am I to have this rare opportunity? I am just a county clerk who loves Jesus and desires with all my heart to serve him. Pope Francis was kind, genuinely caring, and very personable. He even asked me to pray for him. Pope Francis thanked me for my courage and told me to ‘stay strong’.
House Oversight Committee hearing
U.S. congressional Republicans challenge Planned Parenthood’s eligibility for federal funds, while Richards states that defunding it would restrict women’s access to care and disproportionately hurt low-income patients. Chairman Chaffetz:
As far as I can tell … this is an organization that doesn’t need federal subsidy
Richards also admits, in an exchange with Love that Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms.
We do not have mammogram machines at our health centers. And we’ve never stated that we did. As I think has been — was mentioned earlier, for women who go for a breast exam, just as I got for my annual, you get a breast exam, and if you need a mammogram, you’re referred to a radiological clinic, and that’s what we do at Planned Parenthood.
Joins Twitter
Snowden joins Twitter. He only follows a single account, the NSA.
Can you hear me now?
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
Comments on gay marriage licences, abuse victims, women priests
While returning from his visit to the US, the pontiff tells reporters aboard the papal plane that anyone who prevents others from exercising their religious freedom is denying them a human right.
If a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right…It is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right. It is a human right.
He also says he says he understands the anger of people abused by clergy.
I met a woman who told me ‘when my mother found out that I had been abused, she became blasphemous, she lost her faith and she died an atheist’. I understand that woman. I understand her. I pray for them. And I don’t judge them.
Francis also rules out the idea of the Catholic church following the Anglican example of women priests.
Not because women don’t have the capacity. Look, in the church women are more important than men, because the church is a woman. It is ‘la’ [female] church, not ‘il’ [masculine] church. The church is the bride of Jesus Christ. And the Madonna is more important than popes and bishops and priests.
‘I’m a Laker’
In the midst of recent speculation, including that of Coach Jackson, that he would finish his NBA career elsewhere, Bryant states that he doesn’t plan to play for anyone but the Lakers.
A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships. I’m a Laker, man. I’m a Laker for better or worse…How many times do I have to say that? Dude, I bleed purple and gold.
Putin, Obama meet
Obama meets Putin for the first time in more than two years. On the biggest issue that divides them in Syria, the U.S. still insists Syria’s future cannot include Assad, while Putin appears to only want to bolster the standing of his longtime ally, casting him as the best defense against Islamic States militants. Putin:
Strange is it may seem, there were many common points. There were also disagreements which we agreed to work together. I hope this work will be constructive.
New York Times interview
Waters is interviewed by the New York Times, where he discusses The Wall.
Maybe the making of the piece was my way of escaping from the cell of isolation I found myself in as a young man. I’ve spent my life trying to find the courage to expose myself to other people in order that they may love me or not, and to discover who other people are and get them to expose themselves to me. Which is tearing down walls.
He says that after the final performance of The Wall in 2103 he decided to visit his father and grandfather’s graves.
I had an absolute need to go and visit my grandfather’s grave, because I’d never been. And I knew I wanted my three children to be with me; I wanted them standing by that grave with me. And I knew I had to go and visit the memorial to my father, which was in Monte Cassino, because I’d never been to that garden, either. Here I was, 70 years old, and I had never done it, so I had to do it. And I thought, This is what the movie’s about, so we will film it.
He says he is working on a new album, with the working title Lay Down Jerusalem, the story of a boy who has nightmares and asks his grandfather, “Why are they killing the children?”
The grandfather promises that they will find out the answer to that question, and so they go looking. And, of course, they don’t find that answer because it’s too difficult.
Defends gay actor comments
In an interview with DeGeneres on The Ellen Show, Damon defends comments he made in The Guardian about gay actors.
I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery. Right? And somebody picked it up and said I said gay actors should get back in the closet. Which is like I mean it’s stupid, but it is painful when things get said that you don’t believe…In the blogosphere there’s no real penalty for just taking the ball and running with it,” Damon said. “You know what I mean? You’re just trying to click on your thing. So.
Norquist endorses tax plan
Norquist endorses Trump’s tax plan. However, Norquist’s American’s for Tax Reform has some concerns:
Trump’s plan is certainly consistent with the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Trump has said he opposes net tax hikes and has made clear that the real problem is spending. This plan is a reform, not a tax hike…The most disappointing part of the Trump plan is that the tax system would move no closer to full expensing of business fixed investment. Businesses would still be saddled with the complex, distorting, and growth-inhibiting ‘depreciation’ regime where an asset is deducted over several or even many years.
.The @realDonaldTrump tax plan cuts business tax from 35% to 15%. This makes us competitive worldwide. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.
— Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) September 28, 2015
Releases tax plan
Trump releases his tax plan, which reduces rates for corporations and the middle class, while eliminating tax deductions for the country’s wealthiest earners. The tax code will be simplified into four levels – 25 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent and zero. Single individuals making $25,000 or less a year and couples filing jointly who have a combined annual income of $50,000 or less would pay no federal income taxes while those making more would graduate up the scale base on their earnings. People who fall under the no tax bracket will get to send a one-page letter to the IRS that says “I Win”. The plan eliminates many tax loopholes, with the notable exceptions of the mortgage interest and charitable deductions, and will end tax breaks on carried interest. No business would pay more than 15 percent of its business income in taxes under Trump’s proposed plan.
There will be a major tax reduction, it will simplify the tax code, it will grow the American economy in ways we have not seen for decades…No, I’m not a populist. I’d say I’m a man of great common sense.
Flowing water found on Mars
NASA says ‘dark finger-style’ marks that change with the seasons and were first spotted in 2011 by Ojha, using images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, are signs of water flowing under the surface of Mars. Ojha investigated the composition of these seasonal flows by studying their infrared wavelengths. In each location researchers found the presence of hydrated salts during the times when the flows are most extensive – suggesting a link between the two. In particular, evidence was found for sodium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate and magnesium chlorate which are thought to be left behind when brine evaporates. Ohta:
The only thing we can really assert is that the places we’re finding are probably more habitable than the rest of the planet, which is bone dry.
Philadelphia open air mass
Francis conducts an open-air mass in Philadelphia. Crowds fill Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Pope’s last official event before he returns to Italy.
[Your presence is] a kind of miracle in today’s world. Would that all of us could be open to miracles of love for the sake of all the families of the world.
He talks about little gestures of kindness:
These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children. They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion.
And ends with:
I ask you to pray for me. Don’t forget!
Rejects BBC local journalists plan
Highfield responds to the BBC’s suggestion that it would fund 100 local reporters to provide public service material for regional papers.
[It’s not an olive branch], More like an olive leaf. It looked to us like BBC imperialism through the back door. The whole idea was flawed. Essentially, by hiring more journalists, it meant the BBC putting another workforce into the regions who could well end up competing with us. We are worried about the BBC’s plans to get more local, as per their charter announcements, and worried also about their false belief that there is a market failure [by us] which gives them the right to fill the vacuum.
Rejecting the 100 reporters idea, the publishers prefer a quota system in which 25% of the BBC budget spent on regional news would be made available for publishers to fund their own journalists to provide content for newspapers and the BBC.
There are issues around impartiality, but our guys can write impartial copy. It is solvable. And it would be an attractive proposition for our staff to have the chance to appear on camera. It will make working for the local media more attractive. I believe we can find a symbiotic win-win relationship. The BBC can take our content and pay for it. And we can take BBC content and extend our audiences. What’s not to like?
He also addresses the conflict addresses the conflicts arising from his role as a member of the advisory panel created by the government to review the BBC.
I’ve been absolutely transparent about it. John [Whittingdale] knows I have views on how the BBC should work with regional publishers. But that is being dealt with through a clear and separate channel, so no one can be in any doubt about the situation. I’m extremely proud of having worked there…I’m a big fan of the BBC. It’s simply about finding the right ecosystem.
The Guardian interview
Damon is interviewed by The Guardian. He talks about The Martian, Robin Williams and about rumors he and Ben Affleck were gay:
It’s just like any piece of gossip… and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean? Which was then really deeply offensive. I don’t want to, like [imply] it’s some sort of disease—then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus. But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy—more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor—it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out. I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly. But in terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.
Compares LGBT community to KKK
Banks compares the LGBT community to the Ku Klux Klan.
LGBT community are like the gay white KKK’s. Get some pink hoods and unicorns and rally down rodeo drive.
60 Minutes interview
Trump is interviewed by Pelley on 60 minutes. He talks about his upcoming tax plan:
Some very wealthy are going to be raised. Some people that are getting unfair deductions are going to be raised. But overall it’s going to be a tremendous incentive to grow the economy and we’re going to take in the same or more money. And I think we’re going to have something that’s going to be spectacular…I don’t want to have certain people on Wall Street getting away with paying no tax.
He also says NAFTA is “a disaster”:
We will either renegotiate it or we will break it. Because, you know, every agreement has an end…Every agreement has an end. Every agreement has to be fair. Every agreement has a defraud clause. We’re being defrauded by all these countries.
On illegal immigrants:
We’re rounding ’em up in a very humane way, in a very nice way. And they’re going to be happy because they want to be legalized. And, by the way, I know it doesn’t sound nice. But not everything is nice.
Meets church child abuse victims
Francis meets with five victims of child sexual abuse and tells them he is “deeply sorry” for the times they came forward to tell their stories and weren’t believed. He assures them that he believes them and that bishops who covered up for abusers will be made to answer for what they did.
I pledge to you that we will follow the path of truth wherever it may lead. Clergy and bishops will be held accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children.
Soon after he tells a meeting of bishops from the U.S. and around the world the same thing.
God weeps [over what was done to the youngsters].
The pope has agreed to create a new Vatican tribunal to prosecute bishops who failed to protect their flock, and he has accepted the resignations of three U.S. bishops accused of mishandling abuse cases.
No government shutdown
Boehner says to Dickerson on Face the Nation that there will be no government shutdown.
The Senate is expected to pass a continuing resolution next week, the House will take up the Senate bill.
Boehner said he’s certain the continuing resolution will require Democratic votes to pass, expects Democrats will want to keep the government open. Boehner also says said the House will establish a special committee to investigate the videos of abortion clinics
[They] really raise questions about the use of federal funds and raise questions about aborted fetuses and born-alive.
Republican claims are ‘conspiracy theory’
During an interview with Todd on Meet the Press, Clinton is asked if she decided to use a homebrew server to keep her emails out of the hands of Republicans, congressional investigators and those filing Freedom of Information Act requests.
Another conspiracy theory? It’s totally ridiculous…I have, as you’re rightly pointing out, been involved from the receiving side, in a lot of these accusations,’ Clinton continued. ‘In fact, as you might remember during the ’90s there were a lot of them. All of them turned out to be not true. That was the outcome.
Clinton tells Todd that despite earlier allegations, she was able to win voters over anyway when she ran for U.S. Senate in 2000.
They overlooked all of that and they looked at my record and they looked at what I would do for them and I was elected Senator, after going through years of this kind of back and forth,’ she said. ‘And it is regrettable. But it’s part of the system.
Clinton also says that the discrepancy in the Petraeus emails was due to a “transition period”. She also talks about her changing views on gay marriage and the Keystone XL pipeline.
Apologizes to Cook
Sorkin apologizes to Cook
I think that Tim Cook and I probably both went a little too far. And I apologize to Tim Cook. I hope when he sees the movie, he enjoys it as much as I enjoy his products.