Politics

NEWS · OPINION

PRESENTED BY

A symbolic digital illustration featuring a split-screen design. On one side, a silhouette of a politician speaks into a microphone, while on the other, a social media feed displays exaggerated headlines and out-of-context quotes. The background includes abstract digital elements such as floating text, news articles, and a distorted magnifying glass, symbolizing misinformation and political manipulation.

The D Files: Haley’s Role Model

Did Nikki Haley really call Hillary Clinton her “role model”? A political ad says yes—but the truth tells a different story. This fact-check uncovers the selective editing, logical fallacies, and the role of social media in distorting political narratives.

An oil drilling rig with a large red "NO" sign over it, symbolizing Big Oil's reluctance to expand drilling, with executives in a corporate boardroom analyzing financial charts in the background.

To ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Big Oil Is Saying ‘No, Thanks’

Despite political calls for more drilling, Big Oil is resisting. Instead of expanding operations, major oil companies are prioritizing stock buybacks, dividends, and a cautious approach to long-term investments. Learn why the oil industry is reluctant to drill more, even as energy prices remain high.

A red MAGA hat on a cracked foundation with a fading American flag in the background, symbolizing the short-term appeal and long-term consequences of MAGA policies.

The Short-Term Appeal and Long-Term Risks of MAGA Policies

MAGA policies are designed to deliver immediate emotional appeal—whether through tax cuts, immigration crackdowns, or nationalist rhetoric. However, beneath the surface, these policies create long-term risks, from economic instability to weakened global influence. Discover the hidden costs of instant-gratification politics and why America’s future depends on strategic, forward-thinking leadership.

Biden's Investment in American Infrastructure is Not Why The Price of Eggs is High

Biden’s Investment in American Infrastructure is Not Why The Price of Eggs is High

In recent months, Americans have faced an unprecedented rise in the price of eggs, leaving many households feeling the pinch at the grocery store. While some pundits have pointed fingers in various directions, including at President Biden’s infrastructure investments, it’s crucial to understand that these projects are not the culprits behind the escalating cost of this everyday staple. Instead, factors such as the avian influenza outbreak, rising feed and fuel costs, and general inflationary pressures have driven the surge in egg prices. Understanding these real causes is essential for addressing the challenges effectively.

Read the full article to learn more about the true reasons behind the high cost of eggs and why infrastructure investments are not to blame.

Sign up for the Smoking Chair Weekly newsletter!

A weekly roundup of all your top news, entertainment, and promotional offers

☑️ I agree to the Terms & Conditions

5 Reasons Why Biden's Investments in the Electric Vehicle Industry May Have Saved America's Future Economy

5 Reasons Why Biden’s Investments in the Electric Vehicle Industry May Have Saved America’s Future Economy

President Joe Biden’s strategic investments in the electric vehicle (EV) industry are more than an environmental initiative; they are a critical move to secure America’s economic future. These investments are driving job creation, fostering technological innovation, enhancing environmental sustainability, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring global competitiveness. As the world shifts towards cleaner, more advanced transportation, Biden’s policies position the United States as a leader in this transformative era.

Putin's Russia: A Country at War with Itself

Video: A Country at War with Itself | Putin’s Russia

Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought war back to Europe and is transforming Russia itself— dissent is crushed, propaganda is raging and fear is everywhere. Filmed over 12 months with unparalleled access, VICE News documents how this war is pushing the country from authoritarianism to dictatorship.

Dark Brandon

Preventing a cobalt crisis in Congo

Rebels in eastern Congo and the Congolese army have been fighting since the 1990s. The fighting escalated in 2022 as Rwanda-backed rebels, known as M23, invaded and took over several villages. The violence escalated further last summer when M23 moved closer to the area near Goma, one of the largest cities in the region. A war between Congo and Rwanda would not only be a humanitarian disaster, but it would upend the administration’s efforts to get into the cobalt market — a key component for electric vehicle batteries. Congo is home to about 70 percent of the world’s cobalt reserves, and China, one of Washington’s biggest trade competitors, is its main producer and is supporting M23 with drones.

Leveraging Public Streets CCTV and AI Technologies to Enhance Public Safety and Reduce Law Enforcement Costs | Crime in America

Tech firms face new international restrictions on data and privacy

The rapid growth of e-commerce in recent decades has been accompanied by an increase in digital trade barriers. Those include requirements for companies to store their data in the country where it is collected or to hand over their source code to a joint venture partner in order to do business in a particular market. Until now, the United States has been a leading voice on the international stage pushing back against such provisions, which it argued not only hurt big tech companies but small and medium-size companies that increasingly rely on the internet to do business.

Dark Brandon

Biden moves to bring microchip production home

The Covid pandemic sharpened bipartisan fears in Washington about U.S. reliance on microchips produced overseas — primarily in China or Taiwan. As factories shut down in Asia and supply chains snarled, U.S. automakers and other manufacturers were unable to get the chips they needed, idling their plants and spiking prices for cars and other goods. That led the Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties to consider policies to bring production of the most advanced microchips back to the U.S.

cannabis | marijuana | richtea360

Biden recommends loosening federal restrictions on marijuana

Since the Nixon administration, marijuana has been classified in federal law in the same category as LSD and heroin — drugs categorized as having a high propensity for addiction and no known medical value. In October 2022, as more and more states have moved to legalize cannabis, Biden issued an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a review of all available cannabis science and recommend whether the classification of marijuana should be changed.

Dark Brandon

A new agency to investigate cyberattacks

Organizations that fall victim to hacks often keep tight-lipped about what happened due to fear of legal liability or brand damage. But cybersecurity experts have long warned that the country will never break free from an endless cycle of computer breaches unless companies and government agencies become more transparent about how they got infiltrated. The danger was underscored in 2020 when a sophisticated Russian hack breached nine federal agencies.

sexy girl | Alex Azabache | https://unsplash.com/@alexazabache

Giving smaller food producers a boost

Soaring food prices and supply chain crunches for meat and other staples during the Covid-19 pandemic drew attention to the highly consolidated agriculture sector, in which key sectors like meatpacking are dominated by a handful of “Big Ag” behemoths. Biden entered office promising to crack down on food monopolies and support small and midsize U.S. farmers, whose numbers have cratered in recent decades.

fallacies of logic and reasoning

Navigating the Maze: Unraveling the Web of Fallacies in Logic and Reasoning

Explore the intricate landscape of logical fallacies with our comprehensive guide. From Ad Hominem to Fallacy of Equivocation, this article unveils 52 common reasoning pitfalls, shedding light on the subtle nuances that can compromise the clarity and validity of arguments. Arm yourself with the knowledge to navigate discussions, fostering a culture of critical thinking and reasoned discourse.

Sexy Girl | Dainis Graveris | https://unsplash.com/@dainisgraveris

First over-the-counter birth control pill to hit U.S. stores in 2024

The push to make an oral contraceptive available without a prescription predates Biden’s presidency. But the issue took on fresh urgency when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, particularly as conservatives openly questioned the legal precedent establishing the right to privacy for birth control access. Within weeks of the ruling, a contraceptive maker, which had spent more than six years studying consumers’ ability to use the product correctly without a doctor’s supervision, applied to the FDA for over-the-counter approval.

Appeal to Belief Fallacy

Unraveling the Appeal to Belief Fallacy: Navigating the Perils of Popular Opinion

Dive into the intricacies of the Appeal to Belief fallacy, where the allure of popular opinion can cloud rational judgment. Explore real-world examples and understand the implications of prioritizing consensus over evidence. Uncover the importance of critical thinking in navigating the complexities of belief systems and fostering intellectual integrity.

biden's infrastructure accomplishments

Infrastructure Law Transforms American Airports with $25 Billion Investment | #BidenDidThat

Explore the transformative impact of Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s investment into America’s airports, including groundbreaking funding for major terminals. Discover how the Biden-Harris Administration is reshaping America’s air travel landscape, with the Airport Terminal Program and 70 projects in construction. From safety enhancements to economic growth, witness the comprehensive efforts underway to modernize and revitalize airport infrastructure nationwide.

The Bandwagon Fallacy: When the Popular Opinion Isn't Always Right

The Bandwagon Fallacy: When the Popular Opinion Isn’t Always Right

Explore the Bandwagon Fallacy: Uncover the pitfalls of relying on popularity as a measure of truth. Learn how this common logical error influences opinions, advertising, and even political discourse. Enhance your critical thinking skills to navigate a world where the number of believers doesn’t necessarily validate an argument.

Dark Brandon

Cracking down on cyberattacks

During Biden’s first six months in office, government agencies and critical companies were beset by cyberattacks. These incidents included the SolarWinds hack, which involved Russian government hackers infiltrating around a dozen agencies for at least a year. Ransomware attacks were also a major source of concern, with the administration forced to reckon with Colonial Pipeline, the source of almost half of the East Coast’s fuel supply, shutting down operations in May 2021. In the years since, cybersecurity concerns have only increased, including a Chinese-linked breach last year that impacted email accounts at the Commerce and State departments, skyrocketing new vulnerabilities opened up by the use of artificial intelligence technologies, and new geopolitical-linked targeting of critical systems.

The Biden administration helps broker a deal to save the Colorado River | Biden Accomplishments

The Biden administration helps broker a deal to save the Colorado River

Climate change and decades of overuse have shrunk the Colorado River and are forcing the seven states that use the river to negotiate how to divvy up cuts or risk it going dry. At stake is the water for 40 million people from Wyoming to the U.S.-Mexico border as well as powerhouse farming operations that irrigate some of the country’s most productive farmland.

Building armies of drones to counter China

Building armies of drones to counter China

Defense officials have for years talked about how drones will play a central role in future wars, but other than fiddling at the margins, little has been done to build a large, AI-enabled network of military uncrewed vehicles. The worry in Washington has been that Beijing is ahead of the United States in developing the military use of drones and its growing drone fleets could swarm and confuse the radars and air defenses of U.S. warships, and critical bases in Guam and Japan.