News and Issues: Sanna Marin, 34, Finland's New Prime Minister, Heads a Government Coalition With Four Other Female Leaders
In 1906, Finland became the first country in the world to grant full political rights to women – they gained the right to vote (a first in Europe) and also the right to run for office. Marin is the third woman to hold the office of prime minister in Finland. She has had a quick rise to the top level of Finnish politics. A Social Democrat, is set to lead a five-party coalition government. The other four parties also are led by women. All but one of the party leaders are under the age of 35. Marin took over as city council leader in her hometown when she was 27. She became a national lawmaker in 2015, at the age of 30.
Book Reviews: Jo Freeman's Book Review: Give Me Liberty: A History of America’s Exceptional Idea
Jo Freeman Reviews: The desire for liberty is at the core of the United States — which Brookhiser calls America — from long before there were any states. In 13 detailed case studies ranging from 1619 to 1987, the author identifies instances in which the pursuit of liberty has framed the future. There is an unintended subtheme. Culture change is slow. Even when lighted by the lamp of liberty, ending slavery and giving women the vote took a long time. If you like to re-live historical moments, you will enjoy this book. Brookhiser takes you inside, using words to help you feel and see what it was like to be there.
Money and Computing: The Uber and Lyft of Dog Walking Fight State Oversight
The gig-economy model for pet care has disrupted a standing industry in somewhat the same way that ride-hailing services upended the taxi industry. And just like in those cases, cities and states are scrambling to make their regulations fit. In addition to Connecticut, many other states and cities, including Colorado, Massachusetts and California, are grappling with overseeing the pet care platforms, whether by implementing new statutes or considering legislation that specifically addresses how they do business.
History: The Judiciary is Introducing Two Articles of Impeachment Charging the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, With Committing High Crimes and Misdemeanors
"The first article is for Abuse of Power. It is an impeachable offense for the President to exercise the powers of his public office to obtain an improper personal benefit, while ignoring or injuring the national interest. "That is exactly what President Trump did when he solicited and pressured Ukraine to interfere in our 2020 Presidential Election — thus damaging our national security, undermining the integrity of the next election, and violating his oath to the American people. These actions, moreover, were consistent with President Trump’s previous invitations of foreign interference in our 2016 Presidential election.... "And when he was caught — when the House investigated and opened an impeachment inquiry — President Trump engaged in unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of the impeachment inquiry. "This gives rise to the second article of impeachment for Obstruction of Congress. Here, too, we see a familiar pattern in President Trump’s misconduct. A President who declares himself above accountability, above the American people, and above Congress’s power of impeachment — which is meant to protect against threats to our democratic institutions — is a President who sees himself as above the law."
Health, Fitness and Style: 4.7 Million Uninsured People Nationally Could Get a No-Premium Bronze Plan in the ACA Marketplace, Though Deductibles Would be High
A bronze plan could provide the uninsured with access to some primary care, no-cost preventive services, and financial protection against high health costs, though they come with very high annual deductibles ($6,506 on average in 2020). Consumers may want to consider paying a premium for a silver plan instead so that they can benefit from cost-sharing subsidies available under the ACA. The ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies are available to people with incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level who sign up for a silver plan, resulting in deductibles ranging from $209 to $3,268 depending on income level. In most states, potential customers have until Sunday, Dec. 15 to sign up for a marketplace plan, though a few states that run their own marketplaces have extended open enrollment periods.
Employment: An Example of Whistleblower Rights and Protections from the US Department of Justice
"Whistleblowers perform an important service for the public and the Department of Justice (DOJ) when they report evidence of wrongdoing. All DOJ employees, contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services contractors are protected from retaliation for making a protected disclosure. Reports concerning wrongdoing by DOJ employees or within DOJ programs can always be submitted directly to the OIG Hotline."
News and Issues: Monday, Dec.9th, 2019: House Judiciary Hearing to Receive Counsel Presentations of Evidence in the Impeachment Inquiry of President Donald Trump
House Judiciary Committee Releases Staff Report on Constitutional Grounds for Impeachment: "To assist the Committee in its deliberations, we address six issues of potential relevance: (1) the law that governs House procedures for impeachment; (2) the law that governs the evaluation of evidence, including where the President orders defiance of House subpoenas; (3) whether the President can be impeached for abuse of his executive powers; (4) whether the President’s claims regarding his motives must be accepted at face value; (5) whether the President is immune from impeachment if he attempts an impeachable offense but is caught before he completes it; and (6) whether it is preferable to await the next election when a President has sought to corrupt that very same election."
Culture and Arts: Making Marvels: Science and Splendor at the Courts of Europe; Don't Miss The Draughtsman-Writer
The exhibition features clocks, automata, furniture, scientific instruments, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, print media, and more — from The Met collection and more than 50 lenders. Among the many loans will be silver furniture from the Esterházy Treasury; the alchemistic table bell of Emperor Rudolf II; a large wire-drawing bench made for Elector Augustus of Saxony; a rare example of an early equation clock by Jost Bürgi; and a reconstruction of a late 18th-century semi-automaton chess player, known as “The Turk,” that once famously caught Napoleon Bonaparte cheating.






