Topic: politics

Florida Candidate Says She’s ‘Endorsed By Jesus Christ’

A downside to encouraging more women to run for office is that we’ll have to see more female candidates behaving like complete nutbags. More »

Meet The Employees Who Have Been Making $2.13 An Hour For 22 Years

When 42-year-old Gina Deluca was working as a waitress in California, she made $6.75 an hour plus tips — not enough to buy a mansion, but enough to get by. When she moved to New Mexico, however, her hourly wage fell to $2.13 an hour. “The difference in San Francisco was that I felt valued,” Deluca tells Bloomberg. “I always had a base wage that I could count on. … That brought a little bit of stability and security.” She’s far from alone.
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There Are Still 29 US States Where You Can Be Fired For Being Gay

There are 29 states in America where it’s totally legal to fire workers just for being gay, but one lawmaker is trying to do something to change that. More »

This Is Why Women Don’t Run For Office

It’s catchy, but let’s face it: Beyoncé’s song, “Who Run the World? (Girls)” is way off.

Women hold just 18.1% of congressional seats, 23.4% of statewide elected positions, 24% of state legislative positions and 12% of mayorships in the 100 largest U.S. cities. It was seen as cataclysmic last fall when 20 women headed to the Senate. More »

Margaret Thatcher Did More For Women Than We Will Ever Know

Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of England, died yesterday of a stroke at the age of 87. Clearly Thatcher was considered a force of nature in politics. With a nickname like “The Iron Lady,” how could she not be? In fact, Hillary Clinton modeled herself after Thatcher, specifically focusing on her toughness, when she ran for President in 2008. More »

25-Year-Old Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff Tragically Killed In Afghanistan

25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff had a passion for working overseas since she was a young girl growing up in suburban Chicago. Right after college, she joined the US Foreign Service, and had already completed a stint in dangerous Caracas, Venezuela, and then volunteered to go to Afghanistan. She died Saturday attempting to deliver schoolbooks to children. More »

Five Things You Need To Know About Julia Pierson, First Female Director Of The Secret Service

This week, President Obama appointed the first woman to head the Secret Service in its 148-year history. That makes Julia Pierson the first woman to be considered responsible for the safety of the president and his family. Find out more about this tough lady, including her time spent in costume at Disney World. More »

Two Big Career Moves For Kennedy Women

This was a big week for the careers of two Kennedy women. Maria Shriver lands back on TV for the first time in a decade, and meanwhile, her cousin Caroline Kennedy awaits the opportunity to become an ambassador. More »

Elizabeth Warren: Minimum Wage Should Be $22 An Hour

President Obama has been suggesting lately he’d like to see Congress raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour. Senator Elizabeth Warren just leapfrogged right over him, suggesting that the federal minimum wage would be almost $22 an hour right now if it had kept up with worker productivity. Is a $22 an hour minimum wage realistic?
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What We're Reading:

Hillary Clinton Announces Her Support For Gay Marriage

Former Secretary of State and potential presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed gay marriage on Monday, making her announcement in a new six-minute video released by the Human Rights Campaign. More »

Clinton-Obama 2016? (Hillary And Michelle, That Is)

Hillary Clinton stepped down as Secretary of State earlier this year. Michelle Obama’s gig as first lady will expire at the end of her husband’s current term as president. You know what that means: Let the speculation about a Hillary-Michelle presidential ticket begin! More »

Senator To Mansplaining Colleague: ‘I Am Not A 6th Grader’

Do not mess with Senator Dianne Feinstein. During a committee hearing on gun control yesterday, brand-new Texas senator Ted Cruz tried to lecture her on the Bill of Rights. It was a classic case of mansplaining, and Feinstein, who has been in the Senate for more than 20 years, was not having it: “I’m not a sixth grader,” she retorted. “It’s fine you want to lecture me on the Constitution. I appreciate it. Just know I’ve been here a long time.” More »

Smarting From A Shrunken Paycheck? 5 Tips To Soften The Blow

If you cringed when you saw your first paycheck in 2013, you’re not alone.

As we previously reported, the increase in payroll taxes that hit on January 1 meant that workers making $41,000, the average nationwide salary, saw $64 less in take-home pay a month, translating to nearly $770 less for the year.
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Tammy Duckworth Will Tell You What’s Sexist

When Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was sworn into Congress last month, she became the first disabled woman in the House of Representatives. A veteran of the war in Iraq, she lost both her legs in combat as a helicopter pilot. After returning to the US, she served in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and then launched her successful campaign for Congress. She was also the subject of a great interview in the New York Times magazine this week that made clear: You do not mess with Tammy Duckworth. Here are our favorite three questions and answers, in which Duckworth explains what’s sexist, what’s sexual harassment, and why whining against women in combat “doesn’t make any sense at all.” More »

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