DAILY BELLWETHER 09/21/2018 STATE LEAVING 'COMMON CORE' EDUCATION IN DROVES!

Google Staff Worked to Oppose Trump in Search Results Shortly after President Donald Trump issued his first travel ban in 2017, some Google workers discussed manipulating search results to counter "algorithmic biased results for" terms such as Islam, Iran, Muslim and so forth, and direct users on how to contribute to pro-immigration organizations, according to internal emails obtained by The Wall Street Journal. One employee suggested promoting links to organizations like the ACLU, the National Immigration Law Center, the Immigration Defense Project, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, all organizations opposed to Trump's immigration policies. Other ideas included actively countering "prejudiced, algorithmically biased results from search terms 'Islam,' 'Muslim,' 'Iran,' 'Mexico,' 'Hispanic,' 'Latino,' etc." "I know this would ... Read More

Christine Blasey Ford Says She Will Testify to Senate, but She Has Stipulations Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyer said Thursday she does want to testify to the Senate next week about her allegations against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, as long as she is given assurances about her safety and the fairness of the proceedings. But she said Monday won’t work for Ms. Blasey Ford due to security concerns, rejecting the day Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley has set for the showdown. Instead, she is eyeing Thursday. “She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety,” Debra Katz, Ms. Blasey Ford’s attorney wrote in an email to ... Read More

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Mueller Grills Cohen about all of Trump's Dealings with Russia President Trump’s longtime fixer Michael Cohen is reportedly cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, offering details on the president’s business dealings in Russia. ABC News first reported Thursday that investigators have asked Cohen about any interactions between Mr. Trump and Russia, including business transactions and ones made during the presidential campaign. They have also asked whether Mr. Trump ever discussed a pardon for Cohen, who pleaded guilty last month to eight charges, including campaign finance violations. A pardon discussion may lead to obstruction of justice charges, along with ... Read More

Pro-Trumpers Turn to GoFundMe to Build Border Wall Fed up with the slow pace of progress in building President Trump’s border wall, some enterprising citizens have decided to take matters into their own hands. Dozens of people have launched GoFundMe accounts to raise money that they say they will make sure is used to push the president’s plans for his “great, beautiful wall.” Not to be outdone, illegal immigrant “Dreamers” have also turned to “crowdfunding” to raise money, asking for donations to pay their fees as they rush to apply for renewed status under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that keeps them from being deported. Americans have opened their wallets, donating ... Read More

Why States Are Leaving Common Core in Droves After less than 10 years in the classroom, Common Core could soon be on its way out. The Obama administration introduced Common Core in 2010, imposing burdensome new standards and tests in an attempt to create uniform educational content across the nation. Despite loud objections from parents, teachers, school leaders, and state officials, 46 states ultimately adopted the standards due to a combination of funding carrots and regulatory sticks. But over the past few years, states have begun to reclaim their authority to set educational standards. Approximately a quarter of participating states have either downgraded their participation or withdrawn completely from the two new testing ... Read More