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Lawmaker Testifies NYPD Commissioner Wanted to 'Instill Fear' in Black and Brown Men with Stop and Frisk

Cord Jefferson · 04/01/13 05:02PM

Ever since the New York City Police Department initiated its reviled stop-and-frisk technique, the force's laughable refrain has been that its officers are not engaging in racial profiling. It may not look like racial profiling to Mayor Michael Bloomberg or NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, who oversee stop and frisk, but to the millions of blacks and Latinos harassed by the NYPD over the years it is a blatant campaign against dark skin.

Whoops, Turns Out the Navy's $37 Billion Boat Is a Death Trap

Hamilton Nolan · 03/28/13 03:21PM

After 9/11, the US Navy launched a massive program to build a "Littoral Combat Ship" that could fight submarines, clear underwater mines, and perform other tasks close to shore, because, um... you never know where the terrorists might be, with snorkels. Astoundingly, it appears more and more like this boondoggle has become—you guessed it—a boondoggle.

Source: Justin Bieber Spit on His Neighbor Yesterday

Caity Weaver · 03/27/13 10:50AM

Yesterday it was reported that Justin Bieber was being investigated for battery after a neighbor claimed Bieber made physical contact with him during an argument that took place on the singer's property. (The neighbor's wife told KTLA that her husband went to Justin Bieber's home to complain because the 19-year-old had been racing his new Ferrari around their residential block early Tuesday morning.)

Robots Have Taken All the Good Jobs, Report Economists

Hamilton Nolan · 03/26/13 08:46AM

If you've been reading our unemployment stories—or if you've been out looking for a job lately—you know that many college graduates (and even advanced degree holders) are forced to accept low-skill jobs that don't put their degrees to use. One economist is now arguing that this state of affairs is the new normal.

Breaking Bad Script Stolen From Bryan Cranston's Car

Taylor Berman · 03/25/13 10:56PM

Depending on how you feel about spoilers, this could be bad news or good: Last December, someone broke into Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston's car in Albuquerque, where the show is filmed, stealing the actor's bag containing an iPad and a copy of a Breaking Bad script from one of the show's final episodes.

Michele Bachmann Faces Campaign Ethics Investigation as Former Staffers Lash Out

Taylor Berman · 03/25/13 09:22PM

The Daily Beast broke a fairly damning story Monday morning about Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann. The report reveals that federal investigators working on behalf of the Office of Congressional Ethics are investigating the congresswoman's campaign about potential intentional finance violations. According to former Bachmann staffers questioned by the investigators, the allegations include improper fund transfers and illegal payments made during Bachmann's failed 2012 presidential campaign. One such allegation is that Iowa state Senator Kent Sorenson, her Iowa campaign manager, received under the table payment for his support. Her lawyers, of course, are denying any wrongdoing, at least on Bachmann's part.

The 20 Best Trollings in Modern History

Hamilton Nolan · 03/25/13 04:00PM

From the Spanish-American War all the way up to the 40 Hottest Women in Tech, the past century has borne witness to some epic trolling, bro. This amoral art form—loosely defined as "the media fucking with you on purpose"—has defined our modern era of outrage. It is time that we honored the very best trollings of the past 115 years.

NBC Reportedly Axed Tweet of Support to Very Ill Robin Roberts for Fear of 'Aiding the Enemy'

Cord Jefferson · 03/25/13 03:20PM

New York magazine's lengthy dissection of the ultimate first-world problem that is morning-news drama is a good read, if you're into media navelgazing. Covering Matt Lauer's role as the villain in Ann Curry's unsentimental firing from the Today Show, and the Today Show's subsequent fall from grace, the piece contains a lot of interesting information that helps shed darkness on the sometimes frustratingly bouncy world of morning news programs.

Senator Claire McCaskill Announces Support of Gay Marriage

Taylor Berman · 03/24/13 10:38PM

This has been a big month for prominent politicians coming out in favor of gay marriage. First, Bill Clinton publicly disavowed the anti-gay marriage bill he signed into law in 1996. One week later, it was Republican Senator Rob Portman's turn, and just two years after his own son came out as gay. Then, last week, it was Hillary Clinton, which was surprising only because she hadn't already made such an announcement. And now Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill has announced her support, and via Tumblr, no less.

North Dakota Inching Ever Closer to Being First State to Enact Personhood Abortion Law

Cord Jefferson · 03/22/13 03:52PM

The North Dakota House passed a bill this afternoon that would define life as beginning at conception, effectively moving one step closer to banning all abortion in the state without exception for rape or incest. Approved by the state Senate last month, the bill will now go to voters as a ballot initiative. This latest restrictive measure comes only a week after North Dakota legislators approved bills that would ban abortion beyond six weeks into pregnancy and ban abortion in the case of genetic abnormality, like Downs Syndrome.

Bill Cosby's Lawyers Threaten to Sue Over 'Cosby Sweaters'

Camille Dodero · 03/22/13 03:51PM

This week, Bill Cosby was a guest on Letterman, where the 75-year-old made many jokes about being old. One Cosby admirer not watching was Kiley Kmiec, a Santa Monica resident who couldn't bring himself to witness the Coz's appearance "for fear of tossing shit at my TV."