Do you think you have a good handle on this week’s top news stories? Are you a regular RantCrush reader? Well, it’s time to test yourself and figure it out with our weekly news quiz! Check out the quiz below, and if you’re not already signed up to receive RantCrush each work day, click here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post News Quiz, News Quiz, Get Your News Quiz! appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Celebrities Protest at Trump Tower After Outrageous Press Conference

Last night, Michael Moore invited the audience that attended his Broadway play “The Terms of My Surrender,” featuring Mark Ruffalo, to join them at a protest outside the Trump Tower in New York. He then bussed 200 people in double-decker buses over to the tower and encouraged the rest of the audience to walk over. The protest was also a vigil in honor of counter-protester Heather Heyer. Ruffalo opened with a speech urging people to say her name. Actors Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge joined the protest right after they finished their Broadway show, “1984,” and led some chants.

.@MMFlint and @MarkRuffalo are leading a Trump Tower protest with #1984Play‘s Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge in tow https://t.co/PFfJ08I54a pic.twitter.com/rqf62i5qwS

— Ashley Lee (@cashleelee) August 16, 2017

The outrage aimed at President Donald Trump increased yesterday, after he defended his initial remarks regarding Charlottesville, when he said that “many sides” were responsible for the violence. Yesterday, he repeated that claim, and said the “alt-left” groups that attended the rally were “very, very violent” and that the blame is on “both sides.” People were shocked by the callous comments, and former KKK leader David Duke thanked the president on Twitter.

No words. https://t.co/pCSYUE5iZN

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) August 15, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: August 16, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Do you think you have a good handle on this week’s top news stories? Are you a regular RantCrush reader? Well, it’s time to test yourself and figure it out with our weekly news quiz! Check out the quiz below, and if you’re not already signed up to receive RantCrush each work day, click here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post The RantCrush News Quiz appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

North Korea is Threatening a Strike on Guam After Trump’s Warning

North Korean officials say they are considering a missile strike against Guam, a U.S. territory, after President Trump issued a warning against the North that any threat to the U.S. would be met with “fire and fury.” After Trump’s harsh words, experts warned against taking part in rhetorical arguments with Kim Jong Un. North Korea has also claimed that the U.S. is planning a “preventive war” and if that becomes reality, Pyongyang will begin an “all-out war wiping out all the strongholds of enemies, including the U.S. mainland.”

About 163,000 people live on Guam, but it’s also the base of a submarine squadron, an airbase, and a Coast Guard group. U.S. officials have said they would prefer to use diplomatic means to solve any conflicts, but would not hesitate to use force if needed. However, Guam’s governor, Eddie Calvo, dismissed the threat and said the island is prepared for “any eventuality.”

North Korea says seriously considering plan to strike Guam: KCNA https://t.co/XLxpImmfG4 pic.twitter.com/qOiy7PJ0i0

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) August 9, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: August 9, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Do you think you have a good handle on this week’s top news stories? Are you a regular RantCrush reader? Well, it’s time to test yourself and figure it out with our weekly news quiz! Check out the quiz below, and if you’re not already signed up to receive RantCrush each work day, click here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post How Much Do You Know About this Week’s News? appeared first on Law Street.

Do you think you have a good handle on this week’s top news stories? Are you a regular RantCrush reader? Well, it’s time to test yourself and figure it out with our weekly news quiz! Check out the quiz below, and if you’re not already signed up to receive RantCrush each work day, click here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post The Ultimate News Quiz: June 16, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

12 Arrested After London Terror Attack

On Saturday evening, Britain suffered its third terrorist attack in just a few months. This time, a van drove into a crowd of people on the London Bridge. Then, three men jumped out and started stabbing people at the nearby Borough Market. Seven people died and at least 50 were injured. Police shot and killed the three attackers. A day after the attack, Islamic State took responsibility. Yesterday, 12 people were arrested in connection with the attack and this morning, police raided two addresses in East London. Now a lot of people are questioning Britain’s counterterrorism capabilities, and many are criticizing Prime Minister Theresa May for not doing enough. The latest tragedy comes only a few days before Britain holds its general election on Thursday.

The President is taking the London Mayor’s comments out of context to attack him—just days after his city experienced a terror attack. https://t.co/IW2CHewKCz

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 5, 2017

President Donald Trump condemned the attack on Twitter, but also mocked London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, further straining the relationship between the two countries. He also pointed to Saturday’s attack as justification for his travel ban, which is currently held up in court. His attack on the mayor was internationally criticized, and several Democrats have slammed the idea of a travel ban in the wake of the attack.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: June 5, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome back to another round of our RantCrush news quiz! Each Friday we put out this post quizzing our lovely readers on the big stories of the week. Every story can be found in our RantCrush Daily Newsletter. If you’re not getting our newsletter click here to sign up, and enjoy the quiz below!

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post How Newsy Are You?: June 2, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome back to our RantCrush weekly news quiz! We launched this new feature last week and you can check it out here if you missed it last go around. Can you spot the correct answers to these questions? Check out the quiz below, and if you’re not already signed up to receive RantCrush each work day, click here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Are You on Top of the News?: May 26, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Your topic of the day: voter fraud. It was a hot debate during the election, and President Donald Trump has falsely claimed “millions of people” voted illegally. Now the Supreme Court has announced it will not hear an appeal from Texas officials right now, who wanted to reinstate a controversial voter ID law. The law has been deemed unconstitutional by a lower court, but could still end up in front of the Supreme Court at a later date.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Trump Was Serious About the Border Wall, Okays Controversial Pipelines

Today, President Donald Trump will begin taking steps toward actually building that wall along the Mexican border. This undertaking would be financed with federal money. But it’s unclear when the project will start, how long the wall would be, and where exactly the money would come from. This was the first campaign promise Trump made, back when he announced he would run for president in 2015. The wall proposal has been cheered by his fans and harshly criticized by his opponents. But the former Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Gil Kerlikowske, doesn’t see the point of a physical wall. “The border and migration issues are just unbelievably complex,” he said to CNN. “And a simple answer to a complex problem is most assuredly the wrong answer.”

Donald Trump could announce that the wall has been completed, Mexico paid for it, and it’s invisible.
20% of Americans would believe him.

— Luke Adams (@luketadams) January 25, 2017

Trump also cleared the Keystone and Dakota oil pipeline projects that had been halted by President Barack Obama. This doesn’t really come as a surprise as Trump has reportedly close ties with the gas industry, and even owned stocks in the company constructing the Dakota pipeline. The Dakota pipeline has been the focus of massive protests all fall and winter–it’s likely those protests will continue.

A few hundred people are outside the White House now protesting Trump’s executive actions on #KeystoneXL and #DakotaPipeline pic.twitter.com/TUjUmkecOr

— Kira Lerner (@kira_lerner) January 24, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: January 25, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

It’s inauguration week, but there are a lot of other things going on too. For example, the Air Force just relaxed its rules for recruits who have used marijuana before enlisting. Read more about that here. And that’s good news! Now check out some rant-worthy news. Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Just Days Before his Inauguration, Trump is Sued for Defamation

With only a few days left until his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit by a former contestant on his TV show “The Apprentice.” Last year, Summer Zervos, who participated in the reality show in 2006, accused Trump of aggressively kissing and groping her when he met with her a year after she was on the show. In response, Trump claimed that she was a liar and made the whole thing up. Zervos is now saying that Trump defamed her by doing so. She says that she will retract her lawsuit and not seek any monetary damages if Trump takes his statement back and admits that what she said was true.

BREAKING: Former ‘Apprentice’ candidate Summer Zervos files defamation lawsuit against Donald Trumphttps://t.co/S3vTcKPB9P pic.twitter.com/XUHXCFiEDR

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) January 17, 2017

Gloria Allred took the case and is also representing three other women who have accused Trump of similar behavior. “Enough is enough,” Allred said. “Truth matters. Women matter, those who allege they were victims of sexual misconduct or sexual assault by Mr. Trump matter.” Trump has already settled several lawsuits to avoid legal issues while in office, but those settlements have not required him to admit wrongdoing. Given that this lawsuit could be resolved without money, it will be interesting to see what his response will be.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: January 18, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

Last night, Obama gave his last speech as POTUS, and today, Trump held his first news conference in 167 days. Read on to find out what they said! Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Obama’s Moving Farewell Speech

Last night, President Barack Obama gave his last speech before leaving the White House, and it’s safe to say that there was not a dry eye in the place. Though he admitted that his job hasn’t been easy, and that he’s seen a lot of setbacks, he hasn’t lost hope. Obama urged his supporters to not give in to fear, guard their values, and be open-minded. The crowd cheered loudly enough to drown out his words, and when he paid tribute to Michelle, many people stood up. “You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor,” he said, wiping his eyes. And of course he mentioned his BFF, VP Joe Biden, and said, “You were the first decision I made as a nominee, and it was the best, not just because you have been a great Vice President, but because in the bargain I gained a brother.”

But where was his youngest daughter, Sasha, during all of this? It turns out that she missed the speech because it was a school night and she had a test in the morning. Now that’s discipline!

#WhereIsSasha Hopefully blocking the driveway to the White House pic.twitter.com/NodjX8x4tB

— Sabra Berger (@SabraBerger) January 11, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: January 11, 2017 appeared first on Law Street.

It’s the day before New Year’s Eve, and 2016 is about to be officially over. If you’re happy to see it go, check out this parody horror movie trailer someone made about the past year. This is the last RantCrush of 2016 but we’ll see you again on January 3, 2017. Happy New Year! Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

The U.S.-Russia Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

President Barack Obama was not happy when it became clear that Russia had in fact tampered with the U.S. election. Yesterday afternoon, he ordered 35 Russian diplomats, residing in Washington and San Francisco, to leave the country. He also imposed sanctions on Russia and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland. These actions were reportedly part of a series of consequences for the Russian election hacking and interference. But U.S. officials also blamed Russian harassment of American diplomats and officials in Moscow.

“The actions would amount to the strongest American response ever taken to a state-sponsored cyberattack.” https://t.co/TI9P1G7quj

— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) December 29, 2016

Then came reports that Russia would reciprocate by expelling the same number of American diplomats. But only hours after that proclamation, President Vladimir Putin said that he wouldn’t expel any American diplomats, which was a surprising announcement considering the diplomatic tradition of reciprocal punishment. He said that he wants to restore the Russian-American relationship once President-elect Donald Trump takes power. It remains to be seen what he actually means by that.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: December 30, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Hey everyone, happy winter solstice! Today marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. But…that also means it’s only going to get better (and lighter) moving forward! So lean back and enjoy today’s RantCrush. Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

ISIS Claims Responsibility for the Berlin attack

Yesterday, German officials released the suspect in the truck attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, as there was no hard evidence linking him to the attack. Also yesterday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that a lone “soldier” acted on the group’s behalf. The statement didn’t specify if the man was simply inspired by the group, or if he was directly affiliated with it. Either way, this means that the perpetrator is still at large, and German police launched a countrywide search. However, late last night, a warrant was issued for a 24-year-old Tunisian-born man whose residence permit was found in the truck used in the attack.

#BREAKING German officials confirm to @ABC that manhunt for perpetrator of #Christmas Market attack is 24 y/o Tunisian man pic.twitter.com/ZRFnoND23s

— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) December 21, 2016

At the same time, the far right in Germany blamed Chancellor Angela Merkel for the attack, claiming that her generous immigration policies are the problem.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: December 21, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Motive For OSU Attack Still Unclear

Yesterday, a student at Ohio State University posted a rant online saying “America! Stop interfering with other countries, especially Muslim Ummah [community]. We are not weak. We are not weak, remember that.” Then he drove a car straight into a crowd at Ohio State, before getting out and stabbing multiple people. Abdul Razak Ali Artan was only 18 years old and police are still investigating a possible motive for the deed. None of Artan’s victims died, but 11 people were taken to the hospital and Artan was killed by the police.

Now many people fear that this will increase tensions between the left and right and that Islamophobia and anti-refugee sentiments will get a boost, as Artan was a Somali refugee. And certain controversial political figures got in on that debate right away:

Brutal attack on Americans by Somali refugee today demands urgent electoral reform! Next time, we must be allowed to vote for Trump twice.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 29, 2016

Watch as Ohio State University stops trending now that twitter knows it was a Somali Muslim refugee student taking an Americans kid’s spot

— Jared Wyand (@JaredWyand) November 28, 2016

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post RantCrush Top 5: November 29, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

This. Is. Really. Happening.

Yesterday was a dark day. Hillary Clinton delivered a classy but painful concession speech, saying, “this is not the outcome that we wanted and we worked so hard for, and I am sorry that we did not win this election.” She spoke to supporters and campaign staff in New York about how she did not manage to break the glass ceiling and become the first female president, but that someday, someone will.

Five moments from Hillary Clinton’s concession speech that will break her supporters’ hearts. pic.twitter.com/FjDLpaAwto

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 9, 2016

Clinton and her listeners were emotional, and many people cried. But she kept a positive and dignified tone, ending with the words: “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.”

Thank you @HillaryClinton for your speech and for your endless bravery. We are stronger together.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 9, 2016

And today President Obama is meeting with Trump in DC to go over practical matters. He also kept it cool by telling people, “We’re all on the same team,” referring to our hope that the country will be governed in a good way. Let’s hope that can happen.

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: November 10, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Middle Eastern Cookies Cause Bomb Scare

Last week a gas station, a nursery, and a road were shut down after a community in Pennsylvania was alerted to a “suspicious” box. The box had Arabic writing on it and had been left at a gas pump, so a bomb unit from Scranton came to investigate. The bomb unit found no bomb but instead discovered that the box was filled with cookies. The Halwani Bros Maamoul Date Filled Cookies had Arabic and English writing on the box. Can these people not read? But many people agreed that it was always better to say something when you see something, especially after last week’s attacks in New York and New Jersey. Police are still investigating.

This cookie box was left at a pump at Gulf Station near E. Stroudsburg. Bomb squad was called to check it. @WNEP pic.twitter.com/qN9tJofLpn

— Carmella Mataloni (@Carmella_News) September 19, 2016

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: September 26, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

If The Teenage Ninja Turtles Made Meth…

A meth lab was uncovered in Amherst, New York, but this wasn’t just any meth lab, it was an underground operation, built underneath a Walmart parking lot (enter meth-head stereotypes) surrounded by a busy intersection. A state police hazmat team descended into a manhole and found tons of incriminating evidence, “including pop bottles, suspected methamphetamine, spray paint cans, and other meth-making materials.” Police think the mad scientists in question entered the lab through a sewer.

All that’s left now is to find them.

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: August 10, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included Yelp users getting sued for negative reviews, RantCrush’s top five controversial stories from August 1, and North Korea continuing to test missiles. ICYMI–Check out the top stories from Law Street below!

1. Yelp Users Getting Sued for Negative Reviews

Do you love to bash bad companies and restaurants on Yelp? You’d better be careful, because now you could be sued for posting a negative review online. Over the past few months there has been a surge in businesses suing Yelp reviewers for nasty reviews. In February, a Texas couple was sued for leaving a negative review of a pet sitting company. Read the full article here.

2. RantCrush Top 5: August 1, 2016

The top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy last week included Donald Trump’s controversial stance on Crimea,  suspicions that Hillary Clinton’s emails were hacked by Russian spies have been confirmed, The Satanic Temple seeks after school programs in public elementary schools, and more. Read the full article here.

3. North Korea Continues to Test Missiles; Emergency U.N. Meeting Called

With its recent series of missile tests and blustery rhetoric, North Korea is cultivating an atmosphere of paranoia in the Pacific and prompting America to collaborate more closely with its Pacific allies. The nuclear nation’s latest provocation came at dawn on Wednesday, when two Rodong missiles launched from a province in the west toward the Sea of Japan in the east. Read the full article here.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post ICYMI: Best of the Week appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Let The Sexist Commentary Begin!

Last night at the DNC, Hillary Clinton officially accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. Many viewers, including myself, were in awe of such a historic moment. I’m sure the opposition seized in disbelief. We all have a lot to say about what went on last night, from Katy Perry’s performance to Hillary Clinton’s killer white pantsuit (loved it!). But for some reason, the hot topic this morning is not what Hillary said during her acceptance speech, but how she sounded.

James Naughtie, a BBC commentator on the “Today Programme,” responded to a question about whether Clinton had a “woman problem” saying:

 She does. There’s something about her which puts some people off. It’s partly the history. It’s partly the slightly shrill tone which she tends to adopt sometimes in speeches.

And during her speech on Thursday night, many on Twitter couldn’t resist telling Clinton to smile and commenting about her voice. I guess we’ve got a lot of sexist coverage to look forward to.

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 29, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Wikileaks Strikes Again With New DNC Leak

Here we go again! Wikileaks, the ever controversial leaking organization, released a series of voicemails from the recent Democratic National Committee hack showing some donors asking party officials for favors. One of the voicemails, highlighted by CNN, has a woman addressing the DNC’s financial director:

I’m furious about what you are doing for Bernie Sanders, he’s getting way too much influence. I’m on a fixed income, I spent over $300, donated to Hillary, what I see is the DNC bending over backwards for Bernie and Bernie is the worst person in the world to even be running in the Democratic Party, because he’s not a Democrat.

Other voicemails have callers, some of them ambassadors and big time donors trying to get perks or special treatment out of the DNC. Of course, these voicemails are seemingly harmless. No one can really grasp any under-the-table wrongdoing from this aspect of the leak. It’s just one piece to a very large puzzle.

Now investigators are asking whether Wikileaks has a hand in strategically leaking this information to try and manipulate the elections.

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 28, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Sarah Silverman Goes Off Script at DNC

Despite having declared how much she loved Bernie Sanders, Sarah Silverman is definitely “With Her.” Last night at the Democratic National Convention, Silverman and Al Franken took to the stage for convention comedy where Silverman vowed to vote for Hillary Clinton. She was loudly booed and on Twitter, she was called a traitor by some of the most ferocious Sanders supporters. However, in a completely off-script moment, the comedienne had some choice words for those #BernieOrBust people:

Watch comedian Sarah Silverman call “Bernie or bust” people “ridiculous” at the #DemConvention.https://t.co/brCGhiUyj8— AJ+ (@ajplus) July 26, 2016

DNC watchers from home were like:

via GIPHY

OH MAN SARAH SILVERMAN JUST HIT THE PARKING BRAKE AND POWER SLID THIS CONVENTION

— TALK ABOUT YR GLUTES (@edsbs) July 26, 2016

For more DNC coverage, follow us on Twitter and check out the site for our continuing coverage. Here’s our roundup from Day 1.

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 26, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Bernie is Having a Hard Time Reconnecting on the Hill

Senator Bernie Sanders went to a meeting with House Democrats on the Hill, and it apparently didn’t go so well. According to reports, Sanders was booed by several lawmakers after he said “the goal isn’t to win elections, the goal is to transform America.” Lawmakers in the meeting are claiming the exchange was more pleasant than that, and just featured some “expressions of disagreement.” But given that the rift between Sanders and Clinton threatens to split the party come November, should we really be surprised that not everyone is “feeling the Bern?”

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 7, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Looks like the Red Cross Made A Racist Mistake?

Earlier this month, the Red Cross released posters for pool safety depicting ‘cool’ and ‘uncool’ ways to act around a pool. While pool safety is very important, the imagery used in this particular poster is very worrisome. Only children of color are shown as being unruly and uncool but white children are shown being safe and calm. Why? Because prejudice! People on social media were so ready to call them out:

Hey, @RedCross, send a new pool poster to @SalidaRec bc the current one they have w your name on it is super racist pic.twitter.com/TY8MmFB3Qk

— John Sawyer (@JSawyer330) June 21, 2016

Seriously…did no one #AmericanRedCross see the #unconsciousbias in this ‘super racist’ pool poster https://t.co/Ks7xyMiGZx

— Star Jones (@StarJonesEsq) June 27, 2016

The Red Cross has since ceased production of the posters and issued an official apology. Yikes!

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The post RantCrush Top 5: June 28, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Last week’s top stories on Law Street included SCOTUS ruling that evidence obtained illegally can be used in court, new FAA rules for commercial drones, and RantCrush’s top stories from June 23. ICYMI, check out the top stories below.

1. Utah v. Strieff: SCOTUS Narrows Fourth Amendment Protections

A verdict in Utah v. Strieff was handed down by the Supreme Court yesterday, weighing in on how the Fourth Amendment applies to illegal searches. In a 5 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court reversed a ruling from the Utah Supreme Court, concluding that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be used in court. Read the full article here.

2. FAA Issues New Rules for Commercial Drones

The U.S. government issued new rules on Tuesday regarding the flying of commercial drones, opening up a ton of business opportunities. Drones–small, unmanned aircraft–can be used for taking photos, to survey damage done by natural disasters, and plenty more. But using drones for delivering packages, as e-commerce giant Amazon plans on doing, will not be possible under the new rules. Read the full article here.

3. RantCrush Top 5: June 23, 2016

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post ICYMI: Best of the Week appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Gay Blood Donors Barred From Giving To Orlando Shooting Victims

Today hundreds lined up at blood banks all over Orlando in support of the injured victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Many do-gooders, however, will be turned away due to a ban the FDA has enforced on the gay community. Gay and bisexual men who have had sex with another man in the past 12 months are not permitted to give blood. This has outraged some in the community who simply want to support their LGBT “brothers and sisters” who were injured in the massacre. Sunday’s attack is said to be the worst mass shooting in American history, leaving forty-nine people dead and many grieving.

Blood banks in Orlando are overwhelmed by people queuing for hours. – but many gay man cannot donate blood.https://t.co/C1AA8BI61R

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 13, 2016

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Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

BREAKING: Brock Turner Just Got A Mass Hex

Whether you believe in black magic or not, it’s out there! Brock Turner, now referred to by the media as a “sex offender,” was just hexed by hundreds of witches. The witches came together Tuesday night through the power of social media to hex the hell out of the ex-Stanford student. At 10pm the witches purged themselves of anger and sadness through rituals using pictures and effigies of Turner. Their hope was to condemn him for the pain he caused despite his short prison sentence. I must say, I’m getting goosebumps!

600 witches join forces to hex Stanford rapist Brock Turner:https://t.co/IuGFR4ciu6pic.twitter.com/X897pv5Dv9

— Dazed (@Dazed) June 10, 2016

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Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Cambridge Professor: “Netflix & Chill” Is A Lie

Sorry, not sorry, says Cambridge Professor David Spiegelhalter. The expert bashed all our dreams by explaining that while it may seem like “Netflix and Chill” leads to more sex, people between the ages of 16 and 64 are actually having less sex than just a few years ago.

15 minutes into Netflix and chill and we are still watching Netflix. #notcomplaining

— The *Zack* Impact (@zackdelveaux) June 7, 2016

Speigelhalter predicts that at this rate couples in the year 2030 might not be getting down at all. The reason? Couples now spend too much time binge-watching shows. Oh what a terrible, frightful future!

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Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Trump Pisses Off Buzzfeed, You’ll Never Guess What Happens Next

Online news, quiz, and listicle giant Buzzfeed is pulling out of a massive $1.3 million advertising deal with the Republican National Committee to protest Donald Trump’s rhetoric. Buzzfeed’s CEO, Jonah Peretti stated:

Earlier today, BuzzFeed informed the RNC that we would not accept Trump for President ads and that we would be terminating our agreement with them. The Trump campaign is directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States and around the world and in some cases, such as his proposed ban on international travel for Muslims, would make it impossible for our employees to do their jobs.

Peretti also said:

However, in some cases we must make business exceptions: we don’t run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won’t accept Trump ads for the exact same reason.

Good for you, Buzzfeed!

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RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

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Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

#JusticeForHarambe: Silverback Gorilla Killed Over Poor Security

#JusticeForHarambe tops the charts today as outrage grows over the killing of a Cincinnati Zoo silverback gorilla named Harambe. This past weekend a three-year-old boy fell into Harambe’s enclosure. Fearing for the child’s life in the hands of a 450-pound animal, zoo officials shot and killed the gorilla and saved the child. While some applaud the zoo’s actions, many others, including conservationist Jeff Corwin, are disgusted with the event, and blame the child’s parents for not watching out for the boy.

Disgusting how this endangered and amazing animal had to die due to the negligence of a parent! #JusticeForHarambepic.twitter.com/vHUV80tKDh

— J (@JStahh_) May 31, 2016

World Renowned Physicist Doesn’t Get Trump’s Rise

Even Stephen Hawking, the great explainer of the universe, can’t explain why Trump is Trumping right now. But he did deliver a pretty good burn when he said: “[Trump] is a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator.” According to math and Urban Dictionary, this makes Trump the king of dumbasses. Hawking ended his comments by warning about the imminent threat of climate change, which Trump continues to publicly deny.

Stephen Hawking said he cannot work out why Donald Trump is so popular. Because only morons get it. Trump is the Jimi Hendrix for Morons.

— Kevin Flood (@FLOOKLYN) May 31, 2016

LGBTQ Equality May Be Coming to Pixar

As rumors tend to do, the idea that Pixar’s “Finding Dory” may feature a lesbian couple has spread like wildfire across the interwebs. And as always with controversial news, people either really love it or really hate it. In a recently released trailer, fans are speculating that the two women shown pushing a baby in a stroller are a couple. With the premiere only weeks away, Pixar should brace for some public outrage. But such is the price you pay for making (awesome) history!

ppl are freaking out bc a lesbian couple is in Finding Dory but no one cared when a girl fell in love with a bee smh pic.twitter.com/fHbiwSKYXp

— Dory (@Dory) May 31, 2016

Oh My Data: MySpace Breach Could Be Biggest Ever

This week, the old social media network was hacked. MySpace was compromised along with 417 million passwords and emails. Even though MySpace isn’t very popular anymore, information on any account made prior to 2013 can be used to leverage other attacks. And let’s be real, everyone had a Myspace. The hacker known as Peace has since listed the stolen information for sale on the Deep Web. This has got to be the most 2000s thing to happen this week.

.@Myspace hacked: info on millions of users stolen, Time Inc. confirms https://t.co/poOZJfHtoLpic.twitter.com/9HfPzfQ0Ss

— Variety (@Variety) May 31, 2016

#BernieInOakland: Protesters Get Carried Away

Why is #BernieInOakland trending? A few protesters at Sanders’ rally in Oakland Monday attempted to storm the stage. Swiftly, Secret Service managed to stop them before they made it there. Now unlike those violent Trump folk, these guys were cute and fluffy and meant no real harm. Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights group, just wanted Sanders to expand his platform on radical animal rights, just as Hillary has done. They thought that this would be the best way to get Sanders to notice them. Were they right? Well, no. But this video is still pretty thrilling to watch:

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Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Tommy Chong: Comedian Says Being Dropped From Bernie Sanders’ Event Is an ‘Insult’

At this point, can Bernie Sanders afford any more enemies? After Sanders took back his invite to have Tommy Chong, famous for his weed advocacy, speak at an LA rally, Chong took to social media to express how hurt he was to have been “burned” by his preferred candidate. Later it was discovered that the Sanders campaign dropped Chong due to a scheduling conflict. But I’m certain Chong will find ways to cope.

These Writers Have Some Serious Fightin’ Words for Trump

Renowned writers like Stephen King, Junot Diaz, Amy Tan, and Dave Eggars are standing up against Trump. As a lover of books and everything literary, it’s awesome to see the writing world stand up to this nasty businessman. If you too want to see Trump go down by way of America’s best authors, check out this kickass petition letter and join me in my happy dance.

State Department Slams Hillary with Cybersecurity Audit

Remember that email thing that’s become the proverbial monkey on Hillary Clinton’s back? A report sent to Congress by the State Department’s inspector general states that the former Secretary of State “disregarded cybersecurity guidelines.”

And it wasn’t just Hillary! Looks like this is a “longstanding” issue. Previous SOSs have done a poor job at managing computer information. This isn’t surprising because all Secretary of States are kind of ancient and therefore tech illiterate. Right?

When you email on a private server and it’s completely against State Dept rules: pic.twitter.com/IIH7HV3xFg

— Zachary T. Osborne (@ZTOESQ) May 25, 2016

Charlie Baker : Governor of Massachusetts Says He Does Not ‘Plan to Vote for President’

Can you do that? Can you just NOT VOTE for president? Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker thinks so. He voiced his opinion on the Boston Herald Radio today and told the host that he vows not to vote for Clinton or Trump. Even the Libertarian ticket is leaving a bad taste in his mouth. If you’re also fed up with the candidates, call up Charlie Baker for drinks on election day.

Chris Kyle: Late Navy SEAL and Subject of ‘American Sniper’ Embellished Military Record, Report Says

In a report released by The Intercept, late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is said to have stretched the truth regarding his military record–essentially how many honors and medals he received during his career. An anonymous interviewer said: “The SEAL leadership was aware of the embellishment, but didn’t want to correct the record because Kyle’s celebrity status reflected well on the command.” These embellishments are found in Kyle’s autobiography, “American Sniper,” which was made into a film of the same name.

Rant Crush

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The post RantCrush Top 5: May 25, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Officer Involved in Freddie Grey Death Acquitted of All Charges

The recent news that Edward Nero, one of the officers that may have been involved in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, has been found not guilty, struck some as a relief and  filled others with fear and anger. Since his death, Freddie Gray’s name has become a rallying cry for the fight against police brutality and for the Black Lives Matter movements. Despite the verdict, the story is far from over. Nero remains on administrative duty while the Baltimore Police Department continues an internal investigation on him and the five other police officers involved. Whether this event was a race and/or police brutality issue remains up for debate.

Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero enters courthouse. Judge expected to issue verdict in Freddie Gray death trial.https://t.co/CawQGWcUQC

— AJ+ (@ajplus) May 23, 2016

Hollywood: A Haven For Pedophiles?

Not everything can be like they are in the movies, not even in Hollywood. This comes as no surprise to Elijah Wood, a former child star, best known for his role in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, who claims Hollywood has a problem with child predators. The shocking allegations first appeared in this weekend’s edition of the Sunday Times when the actor said “that Hollywood is in the grip of a child sexual abuse epidemic, with rich and powerful industry figures abusing child actors with impunity.” 

Elijah Wood honestly comments on the reality of abuse of child stars in Hollywood: https://t.co/lIuAW1JPNR pic.twitter.com/7KUveiKC3q

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 23, 2016

Bernie Sanders Pits Self against the Democratic Establishment

Bernie Sanders is shaking up the establishment. I mean, no surprise, that’s his whole shtick, right? But now he has officially declared war on the DNC by endorsing Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s opponent Tim Canova, furthering an all-out divide in the Democratic party. Some worry that this divide leaves all hope for defeating Donald Trump teetering at the edge. Even some Bernie-or-Bust supporters are shaking in their boots and wondering where  quirky, cute old man Bernie went. One thing is for sure, tensions have skyrocketed.

.@BernieSanders: If I’m elected, the DNC chair is out https://t.co/Xzga5cCku3

— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) May 23, 2016

Four Die on Mount Everest

OMG. Like if you know you might die on the mountain, why the f*** climb the mountain? Four brave souls were taken by the formidable Mount Everest over the past weekend. More than 250 people have died on Everest since its first recorded ascent in 1953. The most common cause of death is altitude sickness from the infamously thin mountain air, or fatal swelling of the brain.

Scumbag Leo Takes Private Jet to Accept “Green” Award

We all know Leo DiCaprio, the guy who recently snagged an Oscar for “The Revenant” and never misses an opportunity to plug human and environmental rights whenever he’s in front of a mic. His Instagram is completely dedicated to supporting ocean wildlife and climate change yet, this week he is being called a huge hypocrite.

Why? For cashing in 8,000 miles in private jet time between New York and France while accepting awards and honors for environmental advocacy along the way. Lifestyles of the rich and famous activists are quite busy but was this just a major dick move?

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RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: May 23, 2015 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Kanye West: “Sorry Daytime Television. Sorry for The Realness.”

You all may be thinking, man, here we go again. What did Kanye do now? Known for his 2009 VMA diss of Taylor Swift diss and numerous other social faux pas since then, Kanye sat in on the Ellen DeGeneres Show Show and took everyone on a wild, weird, and touching ride through his mind. Which, by the way, seems like a very scary place because, I mean, the man wore platinum white contacts to the Met Gala. Horrifying! Love him or hate him, he might be one of those misunderstood geniuses, or is that acid?

 Hat Says “America Was Never Great” And People Try to Silence the Hat 

This 22-year-old Home Depot employee is causing quite the stir online after sporting a pretty badass hat that says “America Was Never Great” on it. This, of course, channels a lot of anti-Trump energy and, also not a surprise, ended up pissing some people off. The young woman who wore the cap has since been reprimanded and will not be allowed to wear it to work again. Although, she says, others have been allowed to wear Trump pins and the like.

Photo Of Home Depot Employee Wearing “America Was Never Great” Hat Sparks Outrage https://t.co/tETQhxAQEJ pic.twitter.com/43EFTT6q9A

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) May 19, 2016

Hampden-Sydney College Professor Fired for Trans Bathroom Comments (and Promptly Rehired)

Retired Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin, a professor at Hampden-Sydney College, was terminated from for a comment that he claims sent the LGBT community on a mission against him. The comment:

…the first man who goes in the restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery.

This quickly created a war of words between conservatives and liberals over PC culture and freedom of speech. Boykin was reportedly fired on Tuesday and released a statement on Facebook saying he did not agree with transgender bathroom policies and feared that “perverts” would take advantage of them. But the ensuing conservative backlash may have gotten its way in the end, as the college ended up reversing its decision and renewed Boykin’s contract. 

The  Apprentice: Trump Wanted to Do a Season That Separated Teams By Race

Several years ago, Donald Trump proposed a season of “The Apprentice” where successful black entrepreneurs compete with successful whites. While Trump acknowledged that the idea was “fairly controversial” and would be “reflective of our very vicious world,” it was not well received–at all! And so have many of Trump’s ideas since then. This is our presumptive Republican nominee, everyone, and it may be too late.

So What? Blake Lively Got Cake Topped with a Bit of 90210

We can all agree that Blake Lively is pretty hot. Most people on television are. The Gossip Girl veteran and new mother caused quite a bit of social media outrage this week after she posted an IG pic of herself captioned: “L.A. Face With an Oakland Booty.” A lot of people are saying she’s racist–appropriating features that aren’t her own. But maybe we should cut Lively some slack and let the woman celebrate her body.

L.A. face with an Oakland booty
A photo posted by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on May 17, 2016 at 5:04pm PDT

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The post RantCrush Top 5: May 20, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

Ugh, George Zimmerman Actually Sold the Gun

Last week we talked about how atrocious it was that George Zimmerman was trying to auction off the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin. While the original auction Zimmerman set up was taken down, he successfully sold the weapon through the United Gun Group. Some sources report that the final offer was almost $140,000,  but it’s unclear if that was legitimate information. However according to United Gun Group, it appears to have certainly been sold:

pic.twitter.com/wYTCTcIjJZ

— United Gun Group (@UnitedGunGroup) May 18, 2016

What Happened to Egypt Air MS804? Trump is Certain He Knows

Tragically, Egypt Air MS804 disappeared late last night, en route from Paris to Cairo. The flight was carrying 66 people and disappeared close to Greece. While circumstances are unknown, the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has of course proclaimed he knows exactly what’s going on: terrorism.

Looks like yet another terrorist attack. Airplane departed from Paris. When will we get tough, smart and vigilant? Great hate and sickness!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2016

While terrorism may very well  be the cause, do we really want a president who jumps to conclusions so publicly?

Speaking of Trump…

If you want to read a truly badass rant today, check out Robert Kagan’s piece in the Washington Post on Trump’s rise entitled “This is How Facism Comes to America.” It’s a powerful look at how Trump’s rhetoric and machismo threaten to take over the country. As Kagan points out:

And is a man like Trump, with infinitely greater power in his hands, likely to become more humble, more judicious, more generous, less vengeful than he is today, than he has been his whole life? Does vast power un-corrupt?

Context is Always Important, Guys

People got pretty mad at rapper Waka Flocka Flame after he posted a video on his Snapchat of a little girl locked in a dog cage. The little girl is crying, and the rapper jokes about “bonding her out.”
Social media followers, of course, immediately exploded in anger, claiming that he had committed some sort of child abuse.

But don’t worry, it turns out the little girl was just his niece who had locked herself in by accident, and Waka was just letting her out. He also posted a pretty angry response video, pointing out that he absolutely does not lock children in cages.

We Need to Work on Our Civics Education

Puerto Rico has been in the news a lot lately over its financial troubles. But it turns out that a terrifyingly large chunk of Americans don’t know that Puerto Rico is actually a U.S. territory. Only 43 percent of Americans know that Puerto Ricans are actually American citizens.

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: May 19, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

WTF is a “Renegade Jew?”

According to Breitbart, William Kristol is a ‘renegade jew’ for not backing Donald Trump and Twitter can’t decide if that’s an insult or a badass nickname. The term trended Sunday night into Monday after Breitbart published an article criticizing William Kristol for supporting a third party bid despite his conservative ties. The article at no point referenced Kristol’s faith. But Twitter is going wild nevertheless.

If we’re being real tho, “Renegade Jew” would be a title for Drake’s next album.

— Jon Schneidman (@RealSchneidman) May 16, 2016

A Very Specific Scientific Breakthrough

Other advances in modern medicine will never match this: the first penis transplant in the US. So crazy, it just might work! And guess what? It did. Thomas Manning, 64, who received the Genitourinary Vascularized Composite Allograft (Penile) Transplant, is recovering well. Manning was given the transplant from a deceased donor and is thanking his doctors and Massachusetts General hospital for improving his quality of life.

What? Lmao RT @pzf: Man receives the first penis transplant in the United States. https://t.co/Fzp0OfGyMw pic.twitter.com/ewaf0mzNGx

— GOD (@MarckAnthony_) May 16, 2016

SCOTUS Sends Back Birth Control Decision

The Supreme Court dodged a ruling on the controversial issue of contraceptive coverage for religiously affiliated nonprofits by pushing the case back to a lower court. Yet, there is a glimmer of compromise that would allow employees to receive Obamacare coverage for birth control without requiring the non-profits to play any role in providing it. In any case, while many of these religious groups are pleased with the decision, a lot of others feel it is a cop out on the part of SCOTUS.

Don’t Worry, It’s All Good

Popular Irish artist Sinead O’Connor was found after she went missing just outside of Chicago. The singer had last been seen going for a 6am bike ride and did not return. Concern for her well-being and safety spurred from a previous incident where she allegedly overdosed and claimed had she not written a Facebook status about it her family wouldn’t have known or cared. No one knows if today’s incident was a genuine cry for help or O’Connor just returned from a refreshing 36-hour bike ride. 

All in the Family

Hillary Clinton is a pro. A pandering pro! At a recent rally in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Clinton told supporters she would put husband Bill Clinton in charge of economic revitalization “because you know he’s good at that stuff.” In between cheers, she added that this was especially important in coal country and inner cities. While I don’t disagree, I can’t help but feel like Hillary is planning an epic 90’s party and Bill is the DJ. See for yourself:

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: May 16, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to the RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through the top five controversial and crazy stories in the world of law and policy each day. So who is ranting and who is raving today? Check it out below:

George Zimmerman Auctioning off Gun Used to Kill Trayvon Martin

Yes, you read that right. The listing for the 9 mm Kel-Tec PF-9 pistol used to kill Martin went live today on gunbroker.com. The starting bid? $5,000. The news has inspired many passionate people. Some are outraged by the fact that the DOJ returned the gun to Zimmerman, others are anxious to get their hands on it. All proceeds, however, will not be going to Zimmerman’s own fortune but to “fight BLM (Black Lives Matter) violence against Law Enforcement officers” as well as “ensure the demise of … Hillary Clinton’s anti-firearm rhetoric.” Yep. 

National Parks open to proposal of corporate sponsorships

National Parks may soon have corporate sponsors: https://t.co/FoAwfmiRFX pic.twitter.com/pWud0nIQYk

— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) May 12, 2016

America’s national parks are insanely broke. It’s sad because a lot of that land is used to preserve natural monuments and precious wildlife. But there is a solution: to allow for limited corporate sponsorship, meaning corporations could fund national parks in exchange for marketing plugs. The proposal is still up for heated debate but you can see some national treasures reimagined with popular brands here.

Europe’s leaders diss Trump and it’s kind of beautiful

If the leaders of the world made a “Mean Girls” movie, it would look something like this. Sadiq Khan, newly elected mayor of London and Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, have teamed up against Trump and it is literally squad goals.

Bye, bye Regina George, I mean, Trump.

Hillary Clinton’s Awkward Email Scandal Continues

Listen, we’ve all been there. We’ve lost emails, accidentally deleted them, sent them to the wrong person, wiped servers, and burned them in gallons of kerosene. But when you’re Secretary of State, the whole correspondence thing is taken way more seriously. This time it isn’t Clinton but Clinton’s IT staffer who has come under scrutiny for a year’s worth of email files gone missing. The State Department says it can’t find the file. So, either they’re incompetent or someone’s trying to keep something under wraps. The scandal continues to be a huge vulnerability for the Clinton campaign, and one which it refuses to truly respond to the press about.

Four years’ worth of State Department emails from Clinton’s top IT staffer, Bryan Pagliano, can’t be found#Hillary pic.twitter.com/8sK0ym6YLi

— ginny j. (@ncginny) May 10, 2016

Woody Allen’s son not buying into Woody Allen’s innocence amidst abuse allegations

Anyone who’s seen a Woody Allen film would find it hard to believe that the famous director is facing allegations of sexual abuse. How could you, given that no one really talks about it?

But this week, Rowan Farrow, Woody Allen’s estranged son, blasted the film community in a Hollywood Reporter piece for remaining silent and continue to praise Allen, despite the abuse he allgedly inflicted on his daughter. The Hollywood Reporter has since been banned from the Cannes’ Luncheon. What do you think?

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: May 12, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.