As an amateur scholar of the War of 1812, I am pleased as grog punch that the poem F.S. Key penned while watching the Battle of Baltimore and finally became the American national anthem in 1931 is getting so much attention. I just wish the attention wasn't drummed up by the Trumpster's nativist thinking and small-minded definition of what it means to be an American.
The big questions surrounding the flag, is this a one-weekend revolt or something more? Is America on the verge of civil discontent not seen since 1968? Are America's playing fields and courts the new campaign trail?
Make time to watch this today = Shannon Sharpe on why the NFL finally responded to one of Trump’s doltish outbursts = https://goo.gl/vRqHf8
The governor of Puerto Rico warned of a “humanitarian crisis” after Hurricane Maria. Here's how you can help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico = https://goo.gl/uqz1pS
Not going to happen. Senator Susan Collins joined John McCain and Rand Paul in saying she would not support the latest Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The bill appears to be dead. Time for the GOP controlled government to move onto tax reform.
With the Spanish PM meeting with Trump at the White House today, will DJT make a statement against the independence of Catalonia?
Did Trump declare war via the Twitter machine? North Kores says yes.
Fantastic talking point - South Korea says winter Olympics will be safe despite the nuclear threat.
Do you want to win in the marketplace? Think entertainment, experience, and education. Just ask Disney and Gene Simmons.
EQ beats IQ when it comes to entrepreneurship.
From the department of whatever it takes. Chinese FA Super League team Henan Jianye asked Taoist priests to perform an on-pitch ritual. The club invited 15 Taoist priests onto the pitch to pray for a good result in Sunday's match with Shandong Luneng, Henan went on to win 2-1.
I will be in NYC late next week - ping me if you want to chat global business at the intersection of politics and policy. I'll buy the coffee.
Audio: Caracal Business Insider | September 25, 2017
Here's today's audio version of Caracal Business Insider - the one stop shop for global Politics, Policy, + Profits.
You can listen here.
Ross Rant | September 25, 2017
Angela Merkel is back and will be the chancellor of Germany for the fourth time. However, the big news coming out of Germany is how the established parties suffered steep losses and voters turned to populist upstarts - including the deep right-wing party AfD - Alternative for Germany.
The coalition that Merkel creates to govern the nation is currently unclear. She can expect long and arduous coalition talks that could hamper politics in Germany for months. A combination of the CDU, the Greens, and the FDP — dubbed the "Jamaica" coalition because the colors of the different parties match those of the Jamaican flag — gives Merkel the most likely route to a parliamentary majority.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called a snap election and will dissolve parliament on Thursday. No formal date has been set, but many expect the election to be held in late October.
Obama personally warned Zuckerberg over fake news. The conversation took place on the sidelines of a meeting of global leaders two months ahead of Trump's inauguration and days after Zuckerberg had dismissed as "crazy" the idea that inaccurate stories driven by Russian operatives had made a major impact on the outcome of the vote.
How Obama handled the shenanigans of Election 2016 is a major problem for the former president. When did he know it and what did he do about it is overhanging the investigations. Obama won't come out looking good in the end. Leaking this story is his team's first move in the COA public relations campaign.
Four days after Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico, the storm has left the entire island in a communications and power blackout.
Things to do that are nearly impossible as POTUS = embarrass the Boy Scouts, taunt the NFL, piss off two NBA MVPs - all have been achieved by the Trumpster.
Merger Monday with Unilever and ABB making multi-billion purchases.
Vanity with Chinese characteristics - Plastic surgery is booming in China, fuelled by rising incomes, growing Western influences, and the imperative of looking good on social media.
The NFL is now the place to talk about racism, freedom of speech, and police violence.
