On the Borderline

Thursday, November 29, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

As stated in recent reports, we are now on the borderline of a climate disaster. The horror of the Paradise Fire has gotten the public to pay attention. But the migrant caravan at the southern border has erupted into violence, allowing Trump to divert media coverage to his priority, a border wall. So far the media has mostly failed to recognize the caravan as climate refugees.

Here are some of the videos for next weeks meeting:

• ‘It’s happening, it’s now,’ says U.S. government report on climate change
• Tensions rise in violence at border town of Tijuana
• Climate Change-Fueled Drought Drives Thousands from Central America

---------------------------------------------- Updated 11/30/18 --------------------------------------------

Here is other video shown at the meeting:

• Trauma, loss and logistics plague communities hit by wildfire

Trump Goes to France

Thursday, November 15, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
Meeting Cancelled due to bad weather

Trump went to France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1. The other countries used the occasion to promote international cooperation, but Trump ignored this theme. Instead he sent nasty tweets about the California fires and the election results.

Here are some of the videos for the next meeting:

• A Century After End of WWI, Trump Snubs Peace Summit
• CNN meteorologist debunks Trump on wildfires
• A Show of Character from GOP in Arizona Race

Election Results

Thursday, November 8, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the next meeting, we will discuss the results of the midterm election. Hopefully we will know the results by Thursday, but the final results may not be known for months. In any case, we should know if Democrats who feared an upset were justified, as shown in this SNL skit:

• Midterm Ad - SNL

----------------------------------------- Updated 11/8/18 ------------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the Meeting:

• Midterms 2018 How the Night Unfolded
• Democrats take control of House, GOP holds Senate
• Midterms Produce Divided Congress
• Meet the History Makers
• Young voters had low turnout
• Republican-led Senate planning to reshape the judiciary
• Major ballot measures that passed
• Could Florida Measure Restoring Vote to Former Felons Swing State Blue
• Trump May Flex Presidential Muscle on Foreign Stage
• Trump’s Heated Post-Midterm Press Conference
• Late-night laughs: The midterm election

The Shooting in Pittsburg

Thursday, November 1, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For our next meeting, we will cover the mass shooting in Pittsburg and its impact on the upcoming election. Here is the first video:

• How the Tree of Life shooting reflects American anti-Semitism

-------------------------------------------- Updated 11/1/18 ----------------------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Trump pays respects in Pittsburgh
• HIAS Responds to Synagogue Massacre
• Debunking the myths surrounding George Soros
• Peak Florida

Two Stories

Thursday, October 25, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For our next meeting, we will discuss the two stories which have dominated the news this week, the Saudi murder plot and the migrant caravan. Both are still developing, so I will select the news videos later. But here are some videos which provide some background information:

• How this young prince seized power in Saudi Arabia
• Central American refugees flee violence

----------------------------------------- Updated 10/26/18 -------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Trump blasts 'worst cover-up ever'
• Migrant caravan raises Trump's ire again
• Mexicans rally to migrant caravan
• How U.S. Involvement in Central America Led to a Border Crisis

Foreign Relations

Thursday, October 18, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the past few weeks, the focus has been on domestic affairs, particularly on the midterm elections and the Kavanaugh confirmation. But last week a murder in the Saudi consulate in Turkey has gotten attention because of its gruesome details. Meanwhile, the trade war with China escalates and may continued into the upcoming climate talks in December.

Here are the videos for the meeting:

• Saudi Arabia: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Fareed: How Trump can win cold war with China
• China vs US on climate change policy going into 2018
• UN report predicts grim outlook for 2040 if carbon emissions rise

---------------------------- Updated 10/18/18 ---------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• China has world's largest nuclear power capacity under construction
• Bill Gates explains why China might build the first fourth generation nuclear reactor

Kavanaugh Aftermath

Thursday, October 11, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Kavanaugh is now the new SCOTUS justice; so now what. There is the immediate impact on next month's election. Both side see this as a winning issue, so we can expect the Kavanaugh controversy to continue until then. There there is the long term impact on how SCOTUS cases will be decided and the impact on our lives. It seems that the Red-Blue divide will just get worst, for now and for decades to come.

But maybe a true global threat might force us to work together. Yesterday, the IPCC released a special report saying that the climate change needs drastic action now. Recent extreme weather has made this report credible. Distraction may no longer be an option.

Here are the videos for the next meeting:

• Democrats and Republicans Focus on Midterms After Kavanaugh Confirmation
• How Kavanaugh will change the Supreme Court
• World needs to make near-revolutionary change to avoid imminent climate disaster