Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
‘Climate crisis’ media coverage raises alarm about journalistic objectivity
With its town hall Wednesday on climate change, CNN joined nearly 200 media outlets vowing to increase their coverage of the "climate crisis," raising concerns that the real crisis may be less about rising temperatures than the erosion of journalistic objectivity. Published September 4, 2019
Boston judges reject prosecution’s bid to drop charges against protesters at Straight Pride Parade
Activists hoping to be let off with a slap on the wrist after being arrested for disrupting last weekend's Straight Pride Parade have run into resistance from Boston judges. Published September 4, 2019
Ayanna Pressley urged by police to pull support for activists arrested at antifa-fueled protest
A Boston police union leader on Tuesday urged Rep. Ayanna Pressley to withdraw her support for activists arrested at an antifa-fueled counter-protest, saying her support for a bail fund serves to "encourage criminal and disruptive behavior." Published September 3, 2019
Wildfire season lessened as Trump administration mobilizes to reduce risk
After years of destructive blazes, the U.S. wildfire season has been blessedly below average, and the Trump administration wants to keep it that way. Published September 2, 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley push fundraiser for arrested ‘Straight Pride’ protesters
The antifa activists arrested Saturday at Boston's Straight Pride Parade received a helping hand from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley. Published September 2, 2019
Seth Aaron Ator identified as Odessa shooter
Armed with an "AR-type weapon," the West Texas gunman was headed to a crowded movie theater in Odessa when police gunned him down. Published September 1, 2019
Rick Scott: ‘I don’t want to take guns away from law-abiding citizens’
Sen. Rick Scott rejected Sunday the concept of buying back firearms from gun owners, a proposal gaining support among Democrats this year after mass shootings. Published September 1, 2019
McAleenan calls mass shootings ‘absolutely’ a homeland security threat after Texas rampage
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said Sunday that mass shootings "absolutely are a homeland security threat" after the rampage in West Texas that left seven dead and 21 injured. Published September 1, 2019
Trump warns coastal residents to ‘be careful’ as Hurricane Dorian hits Category 5
President Trump added weatherman to his list of roles Sunday as he posted Hurricane Dorian updates and urged coastal residents to take care. Published September 1, 2019
FEMA chief: ‘Plenty of money’ for Hurricane Dorian despite budget transfer
Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas Sunday at Category 5 strength as debate raged over the Trump administration's decision to divert disaster-relief funds to immigration enforcement. Published September 1, 2019
Beto O’Rourke doubles down on mandatory buyback after shooting: ‘This is f——d up’
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas doubled down Sunday on his call for a mandatory buyback of "assault weapons," including AK-47 and AR-15 firearms, in response to the deadly shooting Saturday in West Texas. Published September 1, 2019
Facebook accused of censorship after cracking down on pro-life LiveAction
For years, pro-lifers have insisted that abortion is never medically necessary, arguing that the baby can be delivered preterm -- instead of being aborted -- in such emergency cases where the pregnant person's life is threatened, but Facebook disagrees. Published September 1, 2019
Greta Thunberg, teen climate activist, sails to U.S., ignites exploitation debate
She's the biggest climate celebrity since Al Gore, but Sweden's Greta Thunberg made her triumphant arrival in New York City for a month of activism amid rising concerns over whether the pig-tailed teen is a global-warming prophet or a political pawn. Published August 29, 2019
National Popular Vote referendum qualifies easily for Colorado 2020 ballot
Colorado voters will decide whether to remain in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact after a proposed referendum easily cleared the signature bar Thursday to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Published August 29, 2019
NASA: Area burned by global wildfires dropped by 25% since 2003
Climate activists often warn that global warming is stoking forest fires, but it turns out the amount of land burned by wildfires worldwide has plummeted by 25% since 2003, according to NASA. Published August 29, 2019
PragerU fights YouTube over ‘censoring’ of conservative videos
PragerU's videos are free of profanity, nudity and violence, but they keep landing on YouTube's restricted list -- including animated posts on five of the Ten Commandments -- a pattern the right-tilting content provider blames squarely on political bias. Published August 28, 2019
Six women candidates blast DSCC for endorsing Hickenlooper for Colorado Senate
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's early endorsement of former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is not sitting well with the women also seeking the party's nomination. Published August 27, 2019
Amazon fires ‘normal agriculture’ despite international outrage
Every year, farmers in the Amazon set fires to clear agricultural land during the dry season starting in August, but this year may be a record-setter, not for the number of fires, but for the global outrage. Published August 26, 2019
Macron, Madonna, DiCaprio share fake photos of Amazon rainforest fire
There were a couple of problems with the photo of this year's Amazon rainforest fires tweeted by French President Emmanuel Macron: It wasn't taken this year, and it may not be the Amazon rainforest. Published August 26, 2019
Jay Inslee joins Planned Parenthood, rejects Title X grant funds
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday his state is joining Planned Parenthood in pulling out of the Title X family-planning program rather than comply with abortion restrictions implemented by the Trump administration. Published August 22, 2019
