Samuel Knight

Using data from the twelve months leading up to July, the Census Bureau found today that North Dakota is the fastest growing state in the union. Its population grew by over 2.2 percent. At 699,628 residents, however, its is still the third smallest state in the country. The growth is largely thanks to a massive […]

-Gareth Porter, writing for Truthout, details how General Petraeus managed “the war of perceptions” in Afghanistan after taking over there in July 2010. Porter’s report includes details about how the General cited a controversial IED statistic and an outright false number of Taliban leaders captured by American troops. –Salon’s David Sitora commends Sens. McCain, Feinstein, […]

When one thinks of labor exploitation, PBS doesn’t typically come to mind. Yet an unpaid intern named Lucy Bickerton filed a class action suit against Charlie Rose’s production company earlier this year, alleging that it violated New York state labor law. Today, the New York Times’ Steven Greenhouse reported that Rose is settling for up […]

The nation’s response to the Sandy Hook school shootings is beginning to materialize less than a week after the fact. Today, Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to travel to Newtown to meet with local law enforcement officials and investigators looking into the killings. Meanwhile, the NRA plans on holding a “major” press conference on […]

Here’s a friendly reminder why anyone with a shred of decency will be delighted to see the back of war criminal one term Congressman Allen West in January. Yesterday, on Fox News, the Islamophobic bigot and soon to be former legislator suggested that Hillary Clinton’s recent concussion was part of the grand Benghazi cover up […]

Michael Biasotti, president of the New York State Chiefs of Police, has a modest approach to combating gun violence, which probably deserves nationwide attention. In a letter to the New York Daily News on Monday, Biasotti offered a two pronged proposal. Of particular interest, is how he would improve the way we as a nation […]

-Good economic news: according to the Department of Commerce, GDP is estimated to have grown by 3.1% in the the third quarter. That calculation exceeds Bloomberg’s 2.7% prediction. -Scott Brown, perhaps with an eye on Massachusetts’ forthcoming special election, said that he supports a federal ban on assault weapons. –Mother Jones’ Adam Serwer explains how […]

An independent commission released a report today on State Department shortcomings related to the fatal September 11 Benghazi consulate attack. Since then, three officials have tendered their resignations. Investigators, according to The Guardian, criticized State for its “confusion, lack of transparency and inadequate leadership at senior levels,” and for relying on Libyan militiamen for security. […]

Fannie Mae and Freddie may have lost more than $3 billion because of LIBOR manipulation between 2008 and 2010, according to an internal Federal Housing Finance Agency report obtained by the Wall Street Journal. The FHFA report encourages the GSEs to consider taking legal action against the banks responsible. Its a reminder why this scandal […]

More thoughts on today’s White House presser: While gun control is an important issue, and one that clearly needs addressing after the depraved Newtown massacre, criticism of reporters’ fiscal cliff questions was a touch harsh. For one, the President has just proposed to cut Social Security, and deserves to held to account. Budget woes might […]