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It’s been one year since the #MeToo movement went viral and conversations about sexual misconduct became more prevalent than ever in the media. In light of the movement, CBS recently asked Hillary Clinton about her support of former president Bill Clinton following his infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky and his…
What looks like a banana cake, tastes (kind of) like a banana cake, has the same ingredient list as a banana cake—but comes out lighter and bouncier, and makes you feel really weird while you’re making it?
When Senate Democrats negotiated that deal to allow 15 more Trump judicial nominees to be confirmed, before the Senate recessed for the midterms, they should have negotiated a complete recess. Because as it turns out, Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley are moving ahead on some controversial circuit court nominations whether or not Democrats can be at the hearings.
The nominees include positions on the 9th Circuit, a court that has reliably blocked Trump's worst efforts, including the Muslim ban. One, Eric Miller, is opposed by home-state senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and was not included in the recommendations of the state's bipartisan judicial-selection committee. Miller, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas, has a history of litigating cases against Native Nations. That could put his confirmation in trouble with Alaska's Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Aside from that, though, is the fact that Grassley has moved ahead on these hearings without any consultation from the Democrats on the committee. They fired back with a letter when he announced the hearings, writing that the "Committee has never before held nominations hearings while the Senate is in recess before an election. The handful of nominations hearings that have been held during a recess have been with the minority's consent, which is not the case here—in fact, we were not even consulted. They continue and point out that "three of us on the Democratic side represent the Ninth Circuit, and are unable to return to Washington for a day due to commitments in our states."
Grassley wrote back saying that ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (who along with fellow California Sen. Kamala Harris hasn't been consulted by the administration about any judges) had "specifically agreed not to object to these hearing dates when I rescheduled them at your request." Except that she agreed to those dates before the agreement was made to confirm judges and allow a recess before October 29. Because Democrats believed that when McConnell said "recess," he meant it. He lied. It's what he does.
Data scientist Neil Kaye made this map to show how much the popular Mercator projection distorts the sizes of many countries, particularly those in the Northern Hemisphere.
The distortion in the animated version is even clearer. Key takeaway: Africa is *enormous*.
See also the true size of things on world maps.
PSA for whiskey drinkers: Late last month, Tamari Bar, a new-ish and very good Japanese pub on Capitol Hill, installed a Suntory Whisky Toki Highball machine.
Though it only makes one humble beverage, this machine rules. Whiskey sodas normally reduce the power and authority of the booze, but the highball machine produces superfine, champagne-like bubbles that enhance the whiskey's flavor. The bartender at Tamari Bar drops a long, rectangular ice cube in a frosty mug, keeping the drink cool to its core. She also sticks a lemon swan on the rim, which is fun to tip into the drink. Lemon swans a-swimming! (Kill me.)
Though the Toki highball serves first and foremost as a refreshing summer drink, I'm definitely making it a year-round order. Its bright effervescence cuts through the izakaya's green bean poutine, sushi rolls topped with little slices of jalapeño, and any of the fried snacks on the menu. Plus, I can always use a taste of summer when the monocloud descends.
There are only two of these machines in Seattle and only 30 in the United States. At Tamari Bar, the drink costs $11. They're selling it for $15 over at The Nest, but that drink comes with a grapefruit peel and a view.