Kevin McCarthy’s as-yet fruitless bid to become the GOP Speaker of the House is a once-in-a-century shitshow. The last time the House failed to select a Speaker on a single ballot was back in 1923.
McCarthy’s humiliation is historic, but it’s not out of keeping with a Republican party whose turbulent rule over the House of Representatives has been marred by crisis, coup attempts, and criminality since the 1990s.
The “Republican Revolution” of 1994 ended 40 years of Democratic dominance in the House. But it installed a party whose ideological...
McCarthy’s humiliation is historic, but it’s not out of keeping with a Republican party whose turbulent rule over the House of Representatives has been marred by crisis, coup attempts, and criminality since the 1990s.
The “Republican Revolution” of 1994 ended 40 years of Democratic dominance in the House. But it installed a party whose ideological...
- 1/6/2023
- by Tim Dickinson
- Rollingstone.com
The straw-man argument at the center of Truth to Power, a documentary about the art and activism of System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, is: “Can music change the world?” If you know anything about Tankian — or Fela Kuti, Pete Seeger, Billie Holiday, N.W.A, Ludwig van Beethoven, and on and on — the answer is self-evident. But once filmmaker Garin Hovannisian moves past this question and begins showing how Tankian and his bandmates have improved the status of their ancestral homeland, Armenia, the power of truth starts hitting its marks.
- 2/19/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
At first glance it’s tempting to call “Truth to Power,” a documentary about the music and activism of System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, the “Last Dance” of music docs. Impressive archival footage can’t disguise how overly reverential a treatment Garin Hovannisian’s film is. That’s not surprising considering that, like “The Last Dance,” its subject was an instrumental part of its making. Tankian reached out to Hovannisian to initiate the project, and had even scored two of Hovannisian’s previous movies. That cozy relationship has a cost: as with “The Last Dance,” “Truth to Power” is a promotional film, not a work of journalism.
But unlike “The Last Dance,” it doesn’t have an hours-long narrative worth losing yourself in to the point that you begin to forget those critiques. What you get instead is a Wikipedia-like blow-by-blow account of key moments in his...
But unlike “The Last Dance,” it doesn’t have an hours-long narrative worth losing yourself in to the point that you begin to forget those critiques. What you get instead is a Wikipedia-like blow-by-blow account of key moments in his...
- 2/19/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Late last week, Republican Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina briefly became the most detestable politician in America, at a time when public outrage toward politicians was at an all-time high.
Burr dumped hundreds of thousands (if not millions) worth of stocks after non-public briefings about the extent of the coronavirus crisis in the Senate Intelligence Committee.
At least four other Senators also dumped stock: Republicans Kelly Louffler and David Purdue of Georgia and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California. Two dozen members of the House...
Burr dumped hundreds of thousands (if not millions) worth of stocks after non-public briefings about the extent of the coronavirus crisis in the Senate Intelligence Committee.
At least four other Senators also dumped stock: Republicans Kelly Louffler and David Purdue of Georgia and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California. Two dozen members of the House...
- 3/24/2020
- by Matt Taibbi
- Rollingstone.com
On Thursday Newsweek published a lengthy piece about congressional dysfunction. The feature by Senior Writer Alexander Nazaryan included a unique twist, the first on the record comments by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert in two years. Hastert, who ruled the house from 1999 to 2007, largely fell out of public view after after admitting he had paid off various men who he sexually abused while working as a wrestling coach at a high school in Yorkville, Illinois. Hastert ultimately pleaded guilty to a felony crime of “structuring” or deliberately withdrawing specific amounts of cash in order in order to skirt federal...
- 10/13/2017
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine to a victims’ fund in a hush money case, which discovered that he was being accused of sexually abusing four boys, aged between 14 and 17. He also must report himself as a sex offender […]
The post Dennis Hastert, Former House Speaker, Sentenced To 15 Months In Federal Prison appeared first on uInterview.
The post Dennis Hastert, Former House Speaker, Sentenced To 15 Months In Federal Prison appeared first on uInterview.
- 4/28/2016
- by Stefan Oliva
- Uinterview
Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has been sentenced to 15 months in prison in a federal hush-money case involving allegations he sexually abused multiple students when he was a high school wrestling coach decades ago. The 74-year-old is also required to undergo sex offender treatment and to pay a $250,000 fine to a crime victims fund, federal judge Thomas M. Durkin ordered at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The sentencing concludes the ongoing case, which involved payments Hastert made to a former student he allegedly sexually abused during his time as...
- 4/27/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has been sentenced to 15 months in prison in a federal hush-money case involving allegations he sexually abused multiple students when he was a high school wrestling coach decades ago. The 74-year-old is also required to undergo sex offender treatment and to pay a $250,000 fine to a crime victims fund, federal judge Thomas M. Durkin ordered at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The sentencing concludes the ongoing case, which involved payments Hastert made to a former student he allegedly sexually abused during his time as...
- 4/27/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
A former student of Dennis Hastert filed a lawsuit Monday charging that the ex-House Speaker failed to pay more than $1.8 million of a $3.5 million agreement to compensate the man for sexual abuse Hastert allegedly committed against him decades ago. The former student, referred to in the lawsuit only as "James Doe," filed suit in county court in Yorkville, Illinois - the same town where Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School from 1965 to 1981 - demanding the ex-Speaker pay the remaining $1.8 million to settle the sexual abuse allegation. According to Politico, James Doe is the "Individual A...
- 4/27/2016
- by Tierney McAfee, @tierneymcafee
- PEOPLE.com
A former student of Dennis Hastert filed a lawsuit Monday charging that the ex-House Speaker failed to pay more than $1.8 million of a $3.5 million agreement to compensate the man for sexual abuse Hastert allegedly committed against him decades ago. The former student, referred to in the lawsuit only as "James Doe," filed suit in county court in Yorkville, Illinois - the same town where Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School from 1965 to 1981 - demanding the ex-Speaker pay the remaining $1.8 million to settle the sexual abuse allegation. According to Politico, James Doe is the "Individual A...
- 4/26/2016
- by Tierney McAfee, @tierneymcafee
- PEOPLE.com
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has been keeping a low profile for obvious reasons, but yesterday he finally made his appearance in court and pled not guilty to charges of bank fraud. Of course while the bank fraud is a problem -- on the federal level -- for Hastert, its the rumored payoff of at least one individual over possible sexual misconduct that took place while Hastert was a high school gym teacher and wrestling coach.
- 6/10/2015
- by Jamie Frevele
- Mediaite - TV
Dennis Hastert, former House Speaker, has been indicted after allegedly lying to the FBI to hide sexual misconduct with a student. Dennis Haster Sex Abuse Case Hastert, a Republican from Illinois, served in the House of Representatives for 20 years and was elected as Speaker of the House in 1999, a position he held until […]
The post Dennis Hastert Sexual Abuse Case: Former Speaker Indicted For Allegedly Covering Up Sexual Misconduct With Student appeared first on uInterview.
The post Dennis Hastert Sexual Abuse Case: Former Speaker Indicted For Allegedly Covering Up Sexual Misconduct With Student appeared first on uInterview.
- 5/29/2015
- by Olivia Truffaut-Wong
- Uinterview
WASHINGTON -- The MPAA is losing its chief lobbyist. The trade group said Wednesday that John Feehery is stepping down from his position as executive vp worldwide government affairs, effective immediately, and will become a consultant to the organization.
MPAA chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said he is taking over Feehery's responsibilities.
"John joined the MPAA during a period of great change for our organization and our industry," Glickman said. "He helped to fashion legislative support for a variety of measures of importance to our membership and in doing so brought valuable skills, insights and understanding about the legislative process. We are grateful for his service and glad that he will serve as a consultant to us as he considers his next challenge."
Feehery was a long-term Republican operative in Congress, working as spokesman for then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., before moving to the MPAA. Feehery's GOP credentials were thought to strengthen the trade association's ties with Republicans, who had dominated Congress for the past 12 years before the 2006 elections put the Democrats back in control.
MPAA chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said he is taking over Feehery's responsibilities.
"John joined the MPAA during a period of great change for our organization and our industry," Glickman said. "He helped to fashion legislative support for a variety of measures of importance to our membership and in doing so brought valuable skills, insights and understanding about the legislative process. We are grateful for his service and glad that he will serve as a consultant to us as he considers his next challenge."
Feehery was a long-term Republican operative in Congress, working as spokesman for then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., before moving to the MPAA. Feehery's GOP credentials were thought to strengthen the trade association's ties with Republicans, who had dominated Congress for the past 12 years before the 2006 elections put the Democrats back in control.
Maya Entertainment
NEW YORK -- "Screamers" documents the attempts of Armenian-American rock band System of a Down to bring the genocide committed by Turks on Armenians in 1915 to public awareness. Directed by Carla Garapedian ("Lifting the Veil"), it is a committed piece of agit-prop, which benefits from the passion of its protagonists. Followers of the band will need no introduction to the subject matter, which is referenced in their musical repertoire. The film also should play well with those interested in liberal causes.
The Armenian genocide was in the news recently, when France caused a diplomatic ruckus with Turkey by enshrining the event into law: It now is illegal in France to say it didn't happen. Although the Turks always have claimed otherwise, it is accepted by the U.S. and the rest of the world that Turkey murdered as many as 1.5 million Armenians during a forced racial deportation. The band -- whose ancestors were killed -- lobby the U.S. government to formally recognize the event as a genocide.
The format of the docu follows the band on a U.S. tour. In between gigs they try to mobilize public opinion and meet with politicians. There are some musical performances that play out as laments for a lost homeland and the victims. The political highlight is when singer Serj Tankian politely collars then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is responsible for blocking the passage of a resolution recognizing the killings as genocide. When Hastert discovers the band is more than just a bunch of long-haired noisemakers, he makes a speedy exit.
"Screamers" says that while the U.S. government accepts that the massacres happened, it is afraid to use the word "genocide." Politicians of all stripes are generally terrified of using the "g word," especially for current examples like Darfur. If they do, the public will expect them to do something. Garapedian's film argues that unless genocide is labeled as such, repressive governments will feel that they can avoid international condemnation for such acts, thus increasing the chances of more genocide.
NEW YORK -- "Screamers" documents the attempts of Armenian-American rock band System of a Down to bring the genocide committed by Turks on Armenians in 1915 to public awareness. Directed by Carla Garapedian ("Lifting the Veil"), it is a committed piece of agit-prop, which benefits from the passion of its protagonists. Followers of the band will need no introduction to the subject matter, which is referenced in their musical repertoire. The film also should play well with those interested in liberal causes.
The Armenian genocide was in the news recently, when France caused a diplomatic ruckus with Turkey by enshrining the event into law: It now is illegal in France to say it didn't happen. Although the Turks always have claimed otherwise, it is accepted by the U.S. and the rest of the world that Turkey murdered as many as 1.5 million Armenians during a forced racial deportation. The band -- whose ancestors were killed -- lobby the U.S. government to formally recognize the event as a genocide.
The format of the docu follows the band on a U.S. tour. In between gigs they try to mobilize public opinion and meet with politicians. There are some musical performances that play out as laments for a lost homeland and the victims. The political highlight is when singer Serj Tankian politely collars then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is responsible for blocking the passage of a resolution recognizing the killings as genocide. When Hastert discovers the band is more than just a bunch of long-haired noisemakers, he makes a speedy exit.
"Screamers" says that while the U.S. government accepts that the massacres happened, it is afraid to use the word "genocide." Politicians of all stripes are generally terrified of using the "g word," especially for current examples like Darfur. If they do, the public will expect them to do something. Garapedian's film argues that unless genocide is labeled as such, repressive governments will feel that they can avoid international condemnation for such acts, thus increasing the chances of more genocide.
- 12/13/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert is going to allow a vote on some measure containing a so-called "network neutrality" requirement, but it was unclear on which particular legislation lawmakers will get to cast ballots. The Illinois Republican expects the House Rules Committee to allow a vote on a portion of the net neutrality legislation pushed through the House Judiciary Committee by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., he told reporters Wednesday. "A piece of that will get a vote," Hastert said. "I don't think the whole bill will."...
A congressional aide being considered for a seat on the FCC withdrew her name on Thursday because of potential conflicts of interest arising from her politically connected husband's job, Senate aides said. The withdrawal of Christine Kurth, an aide to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), adds uncertainty to the prolonged process of filling a seat vacated when Kevin Martin, a Republican, moved from commissioner to chairman of the agency in March. Kurth's husband Tim Kurth is a former aide to the House speaker, Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), and his roster of clients has included such FCC-regulated firms as EchoStar, Sprint and Motorola.
- 6/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- In a move that could help show that the motion picture industry isn't anti-GOP, the MPAA announced that House Speaker Dennis Hastert's spokesman will head the trade organization's communications department. John Feehery served 15 years in a variety of GOP staff positions on Capitol Hill. Before working for Hastert, Feehery worked for former House Republican Leader Bob Michael and Majority Leader Tom DeLay. MPAA president and CEO Dan Glickman officially appointed Feehery executive vp and chief communications officer at the MPAA, a newly created position (HR 11/12). Richard Taylor, the organization's chief spokesman when it was run by Jack Valenti, was named senior vp external affairs and education, also a newly created position.
- 2/11/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- President Bush takes the oath of office for his second term at noon EST today amid security that has turned the city into a maze of concrete barriers and steel security fences and has raised questions about the cost of the inaugural celebration. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is suffering from thyroid cancer, is scheduled to swear in Bush, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is scheduled to swear in Vice President Dick Cheney. The U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, the U.S. Marine Band and mezzo-sopranos Denyce Graves and Susan Graham will perform, as will Guy Hovis, a vocalist from Tupelo, Miss., who performed on The Lawrence Welk Show. He will sing "Let the Eagles Soar," a song written by Attorney General John Ashcroft. Once the inauguration parade winds its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, the parties begin as the nine official inaugural balls kick off the evening.
- 1/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- John Feehery, who is leaving House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office at year's end, has been in discussions about a job at the MPAA, sources said. Feehery is a 15-year veteran of the House GOP leadership, having done stints with former GOP leader Bob Michael of Illinois and current Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. He is the chief spokesman for Hastert, R-Ill., but has announced that he will be leaving Capitol Hill for a job in the private sector. It is unclear exactly what Feehery would do at the MPAA as the organization already has a competent spokesman in the well-respected Rich Taylor. When asked what role Feehery would play at the MPAA, one GOP operative cryptically quipped, "Layers, layers". An MPAA spokesperson confirmed that the trade group's president and CEO Dan Glickman, a former Democratic congressman from Kansas and agriculture secretary under President Clinton, is interviewing candidates for what could be a new communications position. Hiring Feehery could help bolster Republican bona fides at the MPAA, which has been criticized for being too Democratic in what is becoming an increasingly Republican government. Some industry sources also have been muttering that the industry has particular problems with the House leadership. When contacted, Feehery said he could not comment on his situation. MPAA officials also declined comment.
- 12/19/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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