Is Trump Impeachment Trial Coverage Crowding Out Other News?

Is the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate crowding out other news coverage? The average person in the United States may remember little about any other news story in recent days.

Actually even persons who only briefly follow the news may still have gotten a bit of news about a few other stories like the upcoming Democratic primaries and the outbreak in China of a new type of coronavirus, in addition to the impeachment coverage. But what about other stories?

What about the horrible locust infestation in Kenya[1] that may lead to enormous hunger in that nation? How about the recent earthquake in Turkey[2] or the recent warehouse explosion in Houston[3]?

You probably remember little about the three incidents in the last paragraph, and they did at least get significant coverage on many major newscasts. Lots of other news stories got little or no attention in recent days or weeks.

Limitations on Media News Coverage

The news media, in the United States at least, often seems to focus on one story or a few stories at the expense of not covering many other newsworthy things.

For one thing, the news media focuses on the unusual, what is out of the ordinary. Therefore, the new coronavirus outbreak in China is news, whereas the daily deaths from heart disease and cancer of thousands of people are less newsworthy.

Furthermore, a radio newscast of five minutes, three minutes, or one minute can only cover a few things. Even a thirty-minute television network newscast covers relatively few stories after allowing for commercials and some entertainment-related news that may be fluff but attract audiences. Persons depending on social media sources like Facebook and Twitter get even less hard news.

Those who read daily newspapers thoroughly and/or take the time to read many stories on major established news websites like the Associated Press, Reuters, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and CNN are probably better informed, especially if they seek both liberal and conservative viewpoints, as well as unbiased reporting.

News sites like the DrudgeReport that feature many stories from various sources help also. But even major news media outlets that cover many stories typically put the impeachment as the feature or lead story, with things like the Chinese virus outbreak and Democratic primary close behind.   

Much news gets little attention, especially when there is an ongoing major story like the impeachment trial. Even when there is no major ongoing breaking news story, much news is never reported. Additionally, much of what is reported seems buried on the inside pages of newspapers, on secondary screens on websites, and in brief mentions on newscasts.

Monopolizing Senate Business

In addition to the effect on news coverage, the Senate trial virtually monopolizes the United States Senate’s work, so any other Senate activity is basically postponed while the trial goes on. Maybe this is as it should be, since allotting only half of a day’s work to the trial and allotting the other half to other duties might unnecessarily distract Senators and affect the Senate negatively unless something urgent were pending.

But what if something urgent were to come up? Would the trial recess? Would it be allotted only a few hours a day of the Senate’s time? I don’t know, but I’m confident there are procedures for such a contingency.

Some Good News

Some good news in this era of the Internet and cell phones with cameras is that if something newsworthy happens somewhere where a human is, there is a good probably that someone will photograph and report it somewhere.

Sifting the significant hard news out of billions of online posts isn’t easy though. I urge readers to seek out unbiased hard news and to pray for God’s perfect will in all things. Even if something doesn’t make the mass media news reports, praying for God’s perfect will can help make the situation work out well whatever it is. Prayer is the greatest power we humans have on Earth. Let’s seek to use it regularly.

ENDNOTES:

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[1] “Kenya suffers worst locust infestation in 70 years as millions of insects swarm farmland”; Associated Press article accessed on the website of The Guardian; January 25, 2020; webpage accessed January 26, 2020; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/26/kenya-suffers-worst-locust-infestation-in-70-years-as-millions-of-insects-swarm-farmland

[2] Isil Sariyuce, Hamdi Alkhshali and Amir Vera; “Death toll rises to 36 and at least 1,607 hospitalized in Turkey earthquake”; CNN; updated January 26, 2020; webpage accessed January 26, 2020; https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/europe/turkey-earthquake-intl/index.html 

[3] St. John Barned-Smith, Jay R. Jordan and Nancy Sarnoff; “Massive west Houston explosion claims two lives, devastates Gessner-area neighborhoods”; Houston Chronicle; January 24, 2020; webpage accessed January 26, 2020; https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Massive-explosion-rocks-west-Houston-Friday-15000793.php

NOTE:

This article being submitted to Google Blogger on January 26, 2020 is virtually identical to an article the author submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by his friend Paul Craft, early the same day, January 26, 2020.

Reform the U.S. Justice System: Let's Realize the Need

Many innocent persons stay in jails or prisons for days, weeks, months, or even years waiting for trial because they can’t afford to pay the cash bail required to release them until their trial.

The right to a speedy trial supposedly guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, seems to not be fulfilled in a lot of cases.    

Do you think much about the justice system in the United States? If you are a typical person, my guess is that you give little thought to it.

Issues like prison conditions, injustice in the bail system, and other aspects of our legal system often get scant attention in the average individual’s thoughts as a law-abiding citizen. Yet such issues do concern us.

At some point we or someone we know may experience the injustices of the system firsthand. And we do face the enormous costs to taxpayers and society of the system.

Some of the Problems

According to data accessed in 2020, the United States had more persons in prisons and jails than any other country in the world, over two million people, according to World Prison Brief Data[1]. The United States was second to China when I accessed World Prison Brief Data[1] again on March 28, 2023. That's U.S. progress, but not much.

The United States also had the most prisoners per capita, 655 persons per 100,000 population in July 2019 according to Statista.com[2]. In January 2023 the U.S. was down to 505 persons per 100,000 according to Statstica.com[2], which was still one of the highest in the world, though not #1. Again, that's progress, but not much. 

A PrisonPolicy.org report[3] states that our “system of mass incarceration costs the government and families of justice-involved people at least 182 billion dollars a year,” as of some years ago. Figures are probably significantly higher now.

Taxpayers pay enormous amounts for our justice system, but other “hidden costs of incarceration” paid by family members, etc., add additional huge amounts. A New York Times article[4] is one of many that discuss some of these hidden costs.

Overcrowding of jails and prisons and staff shortages are big problems. Also, far too much criminal activity occurs inside these incarceration facilities: drug abuse, violence against inmates and guards, etc.

Prisoners deserve to be treated fairly and rehabilitated, not to suffer inhumane treatment. Among the many articles about inhumane conditions prisoners endure are the two linked to in this sentence on USAToday.com[5] and NewRepublic.com.[6].

Our bail system, which I mentioned briefly in the first sentence of this article, is one of the big problems.

Bail Reform

We must “reform a bail system that is discriminatory and wasteful” states a nicely written 2017 New York Times Op-Ed piece,[7] co-written by two United States Senators (California Senator Kamala Harris and Rand Paul from my home state of Kentucky). Those two senators sponsored the Pretrial Integrity & Safety Act of 2017[8], which seemed to be a good idea, but as far as I know has never passed or even been voted on by the Senate. Bail reform is a major need.

The original purpose of setting cash bail was probably to ensure that defendants appeared at their trial instead of skipping town. A defendant wouldn’t want to lose the money they’d put up. But the way bail is administered is unjust and ineffective. Read the Senators’ op-ed piece linked to above for some details on this injustice.

Overall Criminal Justice Reform

Congress passed and then President Trump signed into law in 2019 “The First Step Act” which Vox.com[9] calls “the most significant criminal justice reform legislation in years.” This seems to be a good “first step,” but it leaves much room for further reform. And it only covers the federal prison system, not state or local prisons and jails.

The United States is in need of major criminal justice reform:

·      One need is to better instill morals in young people so they don’t embark on criminal activity.

·         We also need bail reform and sentencing reform to reduce the number of inmates.

·      We need to improve conditions in prisons and jails so inmates get reasonably good food, health care, and overall living conditions with much less crime and violence. Adding more staffing and better quality staffing are two keys toward attaining this. Better rehabilitation programs that reduce recidivism is another key; helping inmates improve their education and work skills can help them.

Improving the care of inmates and reducing the number of inmates helps them and us. If fewer persons are in prison and more are outside working, it increases tax revenue while decreasing tax expenditures on the prison system.

Reforming the expensive, time consuming appeals process is another need. It may take many years for a case to get all the way from a person being charged, to being tried, and then the case appealed all the way to the United States Supreme Court for consideration, then being heard there and a final decision made. Below is a photo of the Supreme Court building I took on June 22, 2017.

Relatively few of those in our prison system are guilty of violent crimes or pose a major risk if released. Indeed, due to the way our bail system works, many of them have not yet been tried or found guilty or innocent. Allowing their release would be a step in the proper direction. Seeking to reduce the lengthy periods before trials in many cases is another need.  

Many inmates are treated well, but many are not. I support major criminal justice reform for the United States. Do you agree?

ENDNOTES:

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[1] “Highest to Lowest—Prison Population Total”; World Prison Brief, Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, PrisonStudies.org; webpage accessed January 18, 2020, and again on March 28, 2023; https://www.prisonstudies.org/highest-to-lowest/prison-population-total?field_region_taxonomy_tid=All

[2] “Countries with the largest number of prisoners per 100,000 of the national population, as of July 2019”; Statista.com; webpage accessed January 18, 2020, and again on March 28, 2023; https://www.statista.com/statistics/262962/countries-with-the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants/the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants/

[3] Peter Wagner and Bernadette Rabuy; “Following the Money of Mass Incarceration”; January 25, 2017; PrisonPolicy.org; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/money.html

[4] Nicole Lewis and Beatrix Lockwood; “How Families Cope With the Hidden Costs of Incarceration for the Holidays”;  New York Times; December 17, 2019, updated December 20, 2019; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/us/incarceration-holidays-family-costs.html

[5] DeAnna R. Hoskins and Vivian D. Nixon; “Freezing temps, contaminated water are inhumane; people in prison deserve better”; USAToday.com; February 21, 2019; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2019/02/21/congress-must-exercise-oversight-end-inhumane-conditions-inmates/2909122002/

[6] Matt Ford; “The Everyday Brutality of America’s Prisons”; NewRepublic; April 5, 2019; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://newrepublic.com/article/153473/everyday-brutality-americas-prisons

[7] Kamala D. Harris and Rand Paul; “To Shrink Jails, Let’s Reform Bail”; New York Times Op-Ed piece; July 20, 2017; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/opinion/kamala-harris-and-rand-paul-lets-reform-bail.html

[8] “Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017”; S. 1593, Congress.gov; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1593/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Pretrial+integrity+and+Safety+Act%22%5D%7D&r=1 

[9] German Lopez; “The First Step Act, explained”; Vox.com; updated February 5, 2019; webpage accessed January 18, 2020; https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/12/18/18140973/state-of-the-union-trump-first-step-act-criminal-justice-reform

NOTE:

This article submitted to Google Blogger on January 19, 2020 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by his friend Paul Craft, on January 18, 2020.

This artilce was last revised on March 28, 2023.

Peace Opportunity for Iran and U.S. Comes from Ukrainian Jet Tragedy

Iran’s accidental destruction of a Ukrainian passenger jet offers an opportunity to achieve peace between the United States and Iran.

Iran’s acknowledgement of the mistake is a step in the correct direction. Reuters[1], the Washington Post,[2] and other news sources reported that Iran’s government invited Boeing to send someone to help study the plane’s black box recorders. This is another step in the correct direction.

July 3, 1988 U.S. Accidental Destruction of Iranian Passenger Jet 

Furthermore, as numerous news stories have mentioned, there are parallels between Iran’s mistake and the United States military accidentally shooting down an Iranian passenger jet that was flying in Iranian air space on July 3, 1988.

In that case the U.S. initially claimed that the United States Navy vessel USS Vincennes was in international waters when it fired on the Iranian passenger jet, then later acknowledged the ship was in Iranian waters.  The U.S. also initially claimed the Iranian passenger jet was descending toward the USS Vincennes, but “a U.S. Navy report” stated that the Iranian passenger jet was actually ascending “within the established air route” according to Britannica.com.[3]

All 290 on board the aircraft died. Iran sued the United States government in the International Court of Justice. A settlement reached between Iran and the United States resulted in the U.S. paying millions of dollars to victims’ families according to CNN[4] and other news sources.

The U.S. has an excellent opportunity to offer empathy and sympathy.   

Opportunity for Peace

Both Iran and the United States have extra incentive to end the conflict between the two nations.

Protests by many Iranians furious at initial denials by Iran’s leaders of culpability in the disaster as well as at the disaster itself put pressure on Iran’s leadership. “Riot police have been deployed in Tehran after tear gas was used to clear the streets of protesters” according to the Guardian.[5]

Western nations (including the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain) had reported the likelihood of an accidental shoot down by Iran’s military days before Iran did. This delay by Iran in acknowledging the error infuriates many Iranians.

Some Iranian protesters are even urging the resignation of Iran’s leaders according to various news sources including AlJazeera.[6]

France24[7] and other news sources cited “many chanting ‘Death to the dictator’ ” in a reference to Iran’s leader Khamenei. In addition to protesters against Iran’s government, there were Iranian protesters against the United States and Great Britain according to CBSNews[8] and other sources.

Iran’s economy and thus its residents face difficulties partially due to U.S. economic sanctions. If Iran and the U.S. can work out a solution to their conflict that allows both sides to save face, it will be great. Perhaps an intermediary can help with this. The Swiss embassy in Iran has helped resolve conflicts between the U.S. and Iran in the past by relaying messages between the countries, including in the aftermath of the recent U.S. assassination of Iranian general Soleimani according to a Wall Street Journal article.[9]

Iran’s leadership is under pressure to improve the economy and take corrective action for this terrible accident. The United States under Trump prefers to avoid war as well.

The biggest obstacle to peace may be the perception by the United States (and Israel) that Iran seeks nuclear weaponry. While Iran denies it, it seems common sense that Iran would seek such weapons as a way to stop United States interference in its country. The UN Security Council’s permanent members, arguably the UN’s most influential members, are nations with nuclear weapons. Sadly, military weaponry is what leads to peace too often. And the United States is hypocritical in condemning what it perceives as Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons while maintaining its own huge arsenal of them.

If the United States succeeds in convincing Iran it will cease seeking to interfere in selfish ways in the Middle East, and Iran sincerely seeks to avoid its alleged support for various so-called terrorist groups, peace is possible.

How Iran responds to the protesters, and how both nations respond to the recent military actions of the two nations, remains to be seen. But cooperation in investigating the Ukrainian aircraft’s black box recorders can be a step toward cooperation in other areas.

Will Iran and the United States take advantage of this opportunity to seek a just and lasting peace? Time will tell. 

ENDNOTES:

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[1] Alexander Cornwell, Parisa Hafezi; “Iran to probe black boxes after missile blamed for plane crash”; Reuters; January 10, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/iran-to-probe-black-boxes-after-missile-blamed-for-plane-crash-idUSKBN1Z9250

[2] Isabelle Khurshudyan and Erin Cunningham; “Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian passenger jet because of ‘human error’ ”; Washington Post; January 10, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/iran-to-probe-black-boxes-after-missile-blamed-for-plane-crash-idUSKBN1Z9250

[3] “Iran Air flight 655”; Britanica.com; last updated January 8, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-Air-flight-655

[4] Brad Lendon; “In 1988, a US Navy warship shot down an Iranian passenger plane in the heat of battle”; CNN; updated January 10, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/middleeast/iran-air-flight-655-us-military-intl-hnk/index.html

[5] Michael Safi; “Iran deploys riot police as backlash against government grows”; The Guardian; January 12, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/iran-riot-police-anti-government-backlash-ukraine

[6] “Anger after Iran admits downing plane: All the latest updates”;  AlJazeera; January 12, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/protests-iran-admits-downing-plane-latest-updates-200112055030204.html

[7] “Furious protesters call for Iran’s Supreme Leader to step down in wake of downed Ukrainian plane”; France24; January 12, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.france24.com/en/20200112-students-gather-tehran-mourn-victims-protest-iran-officials-response-downed-plane 

[8] “Protests continue into second day in Tehran after Iran admits it mistakenly shot down plane”; CBSNews; January 12, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-plane-crash-tehran-protesters-defy-police-in-second-day-of-demonstrations-live-updates-2020-01-12/

[9] Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson and Benoit Faucon; “Swiss Back Channel Helped Defuse U.S.-Iran Crisis”; Wall Street Journal; January 12, 2020; webpage accessed January 12, 2020; https://www.wsj.com/articles/swiss-back-channel-helped-defuse-u-s-iran-crisis-11578702290

NOTE:

This article being submitted to Google Blogger on January 12, 2020 is virtually identical to one submitted earlier the same day to Craft News Report, a website operated by the author’s friend Paul Craft.

The World and the United States Are Getting Better--Despite What You Read in the News

Both the world and the United States are getting better, despite what you read in the news. Certainly many problems exist, and I’ll briefly discuss a few of those at the end of this article. But, overall, things are improving. I want to focus on that.

Life Expectancies Are Increasing

The average life expectancy for a person in every country in the world was estimated to be under 40 years in the late 1700s and beginning of the 1800s by OurWorldInData.org[1]. According to the United Nations World Mortality 2019 Data Book[2], “worldwide, life expectancy at birth . . . reached 73 years in 2019.” This 2019 figure is apparently a record since statistics began being kept.

In the last few years the life expectancy in the United States has decreased, but this is attributed primarily to preventable deaths from suicides and drug abuse according to a Centers for Disease Control report discussed in a CNBC article[3] and other news sources.

Future projections are subject to change, but the United Nations projects life expectancies to continue to increase through the year 2100, the last year mentioned in a chart in its “World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights[4]” publication.

Fewer Abortions in the United States

Abortion became legal nationwide in the United States in 1973. Guttmacher.org reports[5] that in 2017 (the most recent year with available statistics) there were “13.5 abortions performed per 1,000 women aged 15-44. . . . This is the lowest rate ever observed in the United States.”

This decline in abortions is great news for pro-life persons like myself. And even pro-choice persons would prefer to avoid the pain, expense, and health risks of an abortion.

With increased practice of sexual abstinence, more consistent and effective use of contraceptives, and potentially reversing the United States Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, the number of abortions is likely to continue decreasing.

Fewer U.S. Combat Deaths in Recent U.S. Wars and No New World War

I hate war and would love for all conflicts to be resolved peacefully. But recent United States wars have resulted in far fewer U.S. deaths than past wars, as indicated by data on Statista.com.[6] This is a step in the correct direction.

Furthermore, there has not been a world war since the end of World War II in 1945.

Steps Are Being Taken to Reduce Pollution

The air and water are cleaner and safer to breathe and drink in the United States than during my childhood in the 1950s-1970s.

Progress toward renewable energy sources and electric motor vehicles indicate to me that air quality improvements will occur worldwide in the future. Countries like Norway are ahead of the United States on this issue, but even big polluters like China[7] and India[8] are taking corrective steps that should pay dividends in the future.

There is evidence that in recent years United States air quality has declined some though, based on EPA data the Associated Press analyzed.[9] And much remains to be done worldwide to improve air quality and water quality for all. But big steps are being taken worldwide than weren’t decades ago.

Overall Worldwide Poverty Is Declining According to a UN Measurement

While poverty rates are not declining everywhere or as fast as in past years, the United Nations reports[10] that “global poverty rates, measured as the proportion of people living below the $1.90 a day international poverty line, have continued to decline.”  Admittedly much remains to be done and that dollar figure must be adjusted for various economic conditions, but progress is being made.

Communication Improvements Are Occurring

Cheaper phone rates locally, nationally, and internationally, combined with email, Facebook, Twitter, etc., make it cheaper, easier, and faster to communicate with others. It’s easier to keep in contact with friends, relatives, neighbors, business associates, etc.

Language Barriers Are Being Overcome

Language translation devices available online that work with numerous languages enable one to translate material in seconds from one language to another. And this works on cell phones, too, which helps tourists, immigrants, international businesspersons, etc.

There’s Much Room for Improvement

Though I’m confident world conditions are improving overall, there remains much room for improvement. Conflicts remain between countries, political parties, and religious groups. Too many people remain in poverty, and pollution remains far too high.

Plans for the United Methodist Church to split, the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, and various other issues indicate divisions and problems that will I hope be resolved at some point.

We can and should work to correct the problems that we can in a reasonable way, but let’s recognize that we are better off than past generations. I certainly appreciate my cell phone, computer, air conditioning, radio, television, buses, rental cars, the Internet, word processing software, an abundant variety of quality food at reasonable prices in supermarkets near me, etc.

ENDNOTES:           

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[1] Max Roser, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, and Hannah Ritchie; “Life Expectancy”; OurWorldInData.org; First published in 2013, last revised in October 2019; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy

[2] “World Mortality 2019, Data Book”; United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; 2019; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/mortality/WMR2019/WorldMortality2019DataBooklet.pdf

[3] Upton Saiidi; “US life expectancy has been declining. Here’s why”; CNBC.com; July 9, 2019; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/us-life-expectancy-has-been-declining-heres-why.html

[4] “World Population Prospects 2019 Highlights”; United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; 2019; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://population.un.org/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2019_Highlights.pdf

[5] “September 2019 Fact Sheet, Induced Abortion in the United States”; Guttmacher Institute; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states

[6] “Number of killed soldiers in U.S. wars since World War I as of November 2019”; Statista.com; webpage accessed January 5, 2020: https://www.statista.com/statistics/265977/us-wars-number-of-casualties/

[7] Jack Guy; “China has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by reducing air pollution, study says”; CNN; November 19, 2010; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/19/asia/china-air-pollution-study-scli-intl-scn/index.html

[8] Anjali Jaiswal and Kim Knowlton and Vijay Limaye; “Highlighting City Actions to Reduce Air Pollution in India”; NRDC.org; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.nrdc.org/experts/vijay-limaye/highlighting-city-actions-reduce-air-pollution-india

[9] Seth Borenstein and Nicky Forster; “US air quality is slipping after years of improvement”; Associated Press; June 18, 2019; https://apnews.com/d3515b79af1246d08f7978f026c9092b

[10] “World Economic Situation and Prospects: October 2019 Briefing, No. 131”; United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Economic Analysis; October 1, 2019; webpage accessed January 5, 2020; https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-october-2019-briefing-no-131/

NOTE:

This article being submitted to Google Blogger on January 6, 2020 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report (a website operated by his friend Paul Craft) on January 5, 2020.