November 25, 2017


News and Views


THIS STORY IS ABOUT ANOTHER RELIGIOUSLY BASED MASSACRE. WHEN RELIGIONS WAR WITH EACH OTHER, IT IS ALWAYS IRRATIONAL, EXCEPTIONALLY VICIOUS AND IS LIKELY TO GO ON FOR MANY CENTURIES. IT IS KING OF THE MOUNTAIN ON STEROIDS. RELIGION SHOULD INSPIRE CONTEMPLATION, BUT TOO OFTEN IT MERELY PRODUCES AN EXCESS OF EMOTION. FOR THIS REASON, I WANT NO LINK BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT AT ALL – NO TAX WRITE-OFFS AND NO MANDATED DOCTRINES. A SPIRITUAL SOUL AND A SECULAR GOVERNMENT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE.

IT’S EASY TO CRITICIZE ISLAMIC GROUPS FOR THEIR VIOLENCE, BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT OUR GROUP; BUT CHRISTIANITY IN THE PAST HAS PRODUCED SIMILAR HATRED, BASED ON WHAT IS NOW BEING CALLED “TRIBALISM.” LOOK AT THE WARS IN EUROPE BETWEEN THE CATHOLICS AND THOSE NEW UPSTARTS, THE PROTESTANTS – OF WHICH THERE WERE A SURPRISING VARIETY. AN INTERESTING THING TO RESEARCH ON THE NET IS THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH DOGMA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_Ecumenical_Councils; https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arianism; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_movement.
http://bigthink.com/risk-reason-and-reality/how-tribalism-overrules-reason-and-makes-risky-times-more-dangerous.

RELIGIOUS WAR IS THE GROUPTHINK IMPULSE GONE ROGUE. THE WHOLE CONCEPT, “THE WISDOM OF THE CROWD,” IS TO ME THE OPPOSITE OF ANY KIND OF “WISDOM,” AND THE CAUSE OF EVERY POGROM THROUGHOUT TIME. IF THE RELIGIOUS GROUP IS PEACEABLE, NOT ONLY WITHIN BUT IN RELATION TO THE WHOLE SOCIETY, THEN I APPROVE OF IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I ESPECIALLY LIKE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE QUAKERS AND THE MODERN-DAY UU CHURCHES. THEY WAR WITH NOBODY AND THEY ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT AND LIFELONG LEARNING. INDIVIDUALISM CAN PRODUCE SIN AND HORROR, TOO, BUT IT IS RARELY SO DOWNRIGHT BLOODY AND HORRIFIC AS WHEN THE GROUP INSTINCT OVERCOMES GOOD COMMON SENSE. IN MY VIEW, THE ONLY REAL “THOUGHT” IS AN INDIVIDUAL MATTER, AND THE OPEN DISCUSSION OF AN IDEA WITH NO REQUIREMENT OF A SPECIFIC RESPONSE. IF PEOPLE WILL LISTEN AS WELL AS TALK, AND THEN MOVE TO CARING ACTION, THAT IS A GOOD THING.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/235-killed-blast-shooting-egypt-mosque/story?id=51359689
Egypt mosque attackers carried ISIS flags, death toll rises to 305: chief prosecutor
By RANDA ALITARA FOWLER Nov 25, 2017, 8:09 AM ET

WATCH: At least 235 killed in blast, shooting at Egypt mosque

The militants who carried out an attack during Friday prayers at a mosque in Egypt's Sinai peninsula were carrying ISIS flags, the country's chief prosecutor, Nabil Sadeq, said Saturday.

Sadeq also said that the death toll has risen to 305 worshipers, including 27 children -- a dramatic increase from the previously announced 235 fatalities. Another 128 were injured, he added.

The attack was carried out by 25-30 militants who arrived at the mosque in five all-terrain vehicles, Sadeq said. They also torched seven cars belonging to the worshipers that were parked outside, he added.

Worshipers told Sadeq's office that some of the attackers wore masks, but all wore military-like uniforms.

Emblazoned on the ISIS flags was the phrase, "There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God," according to survivors of the attack.

PHOTO: People walk outside a mosque that was attacked in the northern city of Arish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017.STR/EPA

An eyewitness described the perpetrators as having stationed themselves at the mosque's three exits and deliberately attacking those who tried to escape the building, as well as passing vehicles, after first shooting some who were "kneeling in prayer."

"The sight was horrific," the witness, Ibrahim Shetewy, told ABC News in Arabic, adding, "We carried whoever we found alive and took them in pickups and private cars until more ambulances could come and help."

Shetewy described the mosque in question as one frequented by travelers on their way in and out of the area. He said the building is "huge" and was lined with bodies and a large quantity of shell casings following the attack.

"There was a woman waiting outside for her husband and young child to finish praying; she came inside and found them dead next to each other," Shetewy said.

He added that people are lined up at a local hospital to donate blood.

Photograph -- Relatives of Sheikh Sulieman Ghanem, 75, center, surround him as he receives medical treatment at Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, after he was injured during an attack on a mosque. Militants attacked a crowdeThe Associated Press

Photograph -- Relatives of Sheikh Sulieman Ghanem, 75, center, surround him as he receives medical treatment at Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia, Egypt, Friday,

An additional local resident present at the Beir El-Abd hospital, which received victims in the aftermath, described the wounded arriving at a rate beyond the capacity of the hospital, which is between 25 to 30 miles away from the targeted mosque. The resident added that urgent cases are being sent to another hospital in Ismailia, almost 75 miles away.

Photograph -- Abdallah Abdel Nasser, 14, receives medical treatment at Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, after he was in injured during an attack on a mosque. Militants attacked a crowded mosque during Friday prayers in the The Associated Press

The Egyptian Armed Forces posted to Facebook on Saturday a video of its aircraft targeting "terrorist spots" in northern Sinai.

"The law enforcement forces continued to pursue the elements responsible for the brutal terrorist incident targeting the worshipers in Northern Sinai, and based on confirmed intelligence ... the Air Force has over the past hours eliminated a number of spots," read the post. "The law enforcement forces, in cooperation with the air force, continue to carry out their operations and have established an intensive perimeter to scour the area around the event in search of the remaining terrorist elements."

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the attack via Twitter Friday morning, writing that it was a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers."

"The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!" he continued.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!
10:27 AM - Nov 24, 2017
15,809 15,809 Replies 31,276 31,276 Retweets 130,280 130,280 likes
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Trump announced Friday afternoon that he planned to call Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss the attack.

Two photographs taken after the attack each show more than a dozen bloodstained bodies lined up on the ground of a building as those who appear uninjured tend to them.

PHOTO: Graphic content warning.ABC News
Graphic content warning.
PHOTO: People sit next to bodies of worshipers killed in attack on mosque in the northern city of Arish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017.STR/EPA
People sit next to bodies of worshipers killed in attack on mosque in the northern city of Arish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017.more +
PHOTO: People stand over bodies of worshipers killed in attack on mosque in the northern city of Arish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017.STR/EPA
People stand over bodies of worshipers killed in attack on mosque in the northern city of Arish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2017.more +
The Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark Friday night to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.
PHOTO: The lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris are switched off in tribute to the victims of the deadly attack on a mosque in Egypts Sinai, Nov. 24, 2017.Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images



THIS CONFLICT REPRESENTED IN THE NEXT ARTICLE DOESN’T HAPPEN MUCH IN A SOCIETY GOVERNED BY LAW, BECAUSE RULES FOR HOW THESE THINGS WORK ARE USUALLY CLEAR-CUT. THIS TIME THERE ARE TWO HOLY TEXTS IN USE, THE FEDERAL VACANCIES REFORM ACT AND THE DODD-FRANK ACT, AND BOTH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO DIRECT CONFLICT BY THE TRUMP PARTY’S MANEUVERINGS. I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE CBS ARTICLES, THEN LISTEN TO THE VIDEOS, THOUGH THE FIRST SEEMS MOST INFORMATIVE TO ME. THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY LOOKED TO ME LIKE TRUMP OVERSTEPPING HIS BOUNDS, BUT THE OTHER SIDE – THE REPUBLICANS – BEG TO DIFFER AND THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR THE TWO VIEWS.

CORDRAY, A DEMOCRAT, HAS ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE POWER OF THE BUREAU DURING HIS TENURE AND MAKE IT A TRUE WATCHDOG FOR THE CONSUMERS, AS WOULD ANY GOOD DEMOCRAT, WHILE THE TRUMP-LED STRONG ARM MANEUVER HERE IS AIMED AT STRIPPING THE BUREAU OF ITS’ POWER, THUS TAMING IT INTO A NICE DOCILE RUBBER STAMP FOR THE PRESIDENT’S USE. IT SEEMS THAT CFPB HAS BEEN INTERFERING TOO MUCH WITH HOW BANKS AND MORTGAGE LENDERS MAKE MORE AND MORE MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE.

SO, IT’S JUST PARTY POLITICS AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME IT’S A MORE SERIOUS MATTER FOR THE AVERAGE MAN ON THE STREET. THE CONFLICT PRODUCED BY THIS AUTHORITY SPLIT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL VACANCIES REFORM ACT AND THE DODD-FRANK ACT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED AND RESOLVED FORTHWITH, HOWEVER, AND THAT INCH OF LEEWAY TAKEN AWAY. “GIVE’EM AN INCH AND THEY’LL TAKE A MILE” IS THE RULE OF THUMB HERE.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cfpb-chief-names-successor-trump-names-different-acting-director/
CBS/AP November 25, 2017, 10:04 AM
Consumer watchdog head's departure leads to showdown between his successor pick and Trump's

The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Friday and named his own successor, leading to an open conflict with President Trump — who announced a different person as acting head of the agency later in the day.

That means there are now effectively two acting directors of the CFPB, when there should only be one.

OMB's Mulvaney says admin. wants tax bill to pass with or without repeal of Obamacare mandate

Typically an acting director position would be filled according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. But Richard Cordray, along with his resignation, elevated Leandra English, who was the agency's chief of staff, into the deputy director position.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act that created the CFPB, English would become acting director. Cordray — an Obama appointee — specifically cited the law when he moved English, a longtime CFPB employee and ally of his, into that position.

Within a few hours, Mr. Trump announced his own acting director of the agency, Mick Mulvaney, who is currently director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mulvaney had widely been expected to be Trump's temporary pick for the bureau until a permanent one could be found.

On Saturday, senior administration officials held a call with reporters to bolster Mulvaney's selection over English's. They said they expect Mulvaney to show up and lead CFPB come Monday, and expect English to remain on as an agency executive.

"We expect her to show up on Monday," one senior administration official said.

One official said it's a "pretty clear cut legal question," and it's the "longstanding position of the executive branch" that the president has the authority to do this.

The Federal Vacancies Reform Act, the officials said, allows the president to "supersede" another move, if necessary. The administration consulted with the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel before moving forward with the Mulvaney designation, and the OLC signed off on the decision, according to one official. The OLC will issue an opinion on the matter soon.

Mulvaney is a long-time critic of the CFPB, and has wanted the agency's authority significantly curtailed. So the difference between English and Mulvaney running the agency would be significant. The senior administration officials did not have a clear-cut timeline for when Mr. Trump might select a permanent replacement.

"The president will be making a decision in the upcoming weeks on who that person will be," one official said Saturday.

The person nominated to be director of the CFPB requires confirmation by the Senate, and it could be many weeks or months before the person would be able to step into the role permanently. Cordray's move was aimed at allowing his favored successor to keep running the agency for as long as possible before a Trump appointee is confirmed by the Senate.

Cordray had announced earlier this month that he would resign by the end of this month. There is wide speculation that Cordray, a Democrat, is resigning in order to run for governor in his home state of Ohio.

The CFPB was created as part of the laws passed following the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. The agency was given a broad mandate to be a watchdog for consumers when they deal with banks and credit card, student loan and mortgage companies, as well as debt collectors and payday lenders. Nearly every American who deals with banks or a credit card company or has a mortgage has been affected by new rules the agency put in place.

Cordray used that mandate aggressively as its first director, which often made him a target for the banking industry's Washington lobbyists and Congressional Republicans who believed Cordray was overreaching in his role, calling the CFPB a "rogue agency."

As director, he also was able to extract billions of dollars in settlements from banks, debt collectors and other financial services companies for wrongdoing. When Wells Fargo was found to have opened millions of phony accounts for its customers, the CFPB fined the bank $100 million, the agency's largest penalty to date.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



THIS STATEMENT, ISSUED BY CAMP TRUMP ABOUT FOUR HOURS AFTER THE FIRST, PAPERS OVER THE CONFLICT, ASSURING THE PUBLIC THAT BOTH INDIVIDUALS WILL RETAIN SOME POSITION, THOUGH MULVANEY WILL BE THE REAL BOSS. RIGHT. I WONDER WHAT THE NEXT STEP WILL BE? THIS CAN’T BE THE END OF THE STORY.

THIS RIGHT OF A PRESIDENT TO SUPERSEDE THAT OF THE OUTGOING HEAD TO NOMINATE HIS OWN INTERIM SUCCESSOR, SOUNDS UNFAIR TO ME, AND THE ARTICLE ABOVE STATED THAT IT IS “THE LONGSTANDING POSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH” – NOT THE SAME THING AS A CLEAR RIGHT. IT’S JUST TRADITION.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whos-the-boss-come-monday-at-consumer-agency/
AP November 25, 2017, 2:37 PM
Who's the boss come Monday at consumer agency?

Who's the boss? That's the awkward question after the departing head of a government agency charged with looking after consumers' rights appointed a deputy to temporarily fill his spot. The White House then named its own interim leader.

So come Monday, who will be leading what Congressional Republicans had called a "rogue agency"?

Senior Trump administration officials said Saturday that they expect no trouble when President Donald Trump's pick for temporary director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows up for work, despite the clash on who should take over.

Mulvaney says admin. wants tax bill to pass with or without repeal of Obamacare mandate

Both departing director Richard Cordray -- an Obama appointee long criticized by Congressional Republicans as overzealous -- and the White House say they have the right to designate an interim leader until a permanent one is approved by Congress.

When Cordray tendered his resignation on Friday, he elevated Leandra English, who was the agency's chief of staff, into the deputy director position. Under the Dodd-Frank Act that created the CFPB, English would become acting director in Cordray's absence. Cordray specifically cited the law when he moved English, an ally of his, into that position.

That set up the battle with the White House, as Corday's move was clearly seen an attempt to stop Trump from shaping the agency in the months ahead. Getting a permanent replacement approved by the Senate could take months.

The president's pick for temporary appointee, Mick Mulvaney, had been widely anticipated. Mulvaney, cur rently director of the Office of Management and Budget, has been an outspoken critic of the agency and is expected to pull back on many of Cordray's actions in the six years since he was appointed.

Trump announced he was picking Mulvaney within a few hours of Cordray's announcement on Friday.

The administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the White House's thinking, called Trump's appointment of an acting director a "routine move" and cited the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, a different one than Cordray cited. They said the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has already approved Trump's appointment of Mulvaney and will issue a written legal opinion soon.

The clashing appointments raise the question of what happens when the two new heads show up and try to sit at the same desk and give orders?

One of the administrative officials, pressed about the awkward situation on Saturday, said she didn't anticipate Mulvaney would have any trouble when he started working Monday. Referring to Cordray's pick, the official added that English was expected to also show up, too -- but as deputy director.

The choice for a temporary appointment may seem a small matter, but the agency has been tangled in in partisan politics since its creation, and the attitudes of the two toward it differ sharply.

English is a trusted lieutenant of Cordray's who has helped investigate and punish financial companies in ways that many Republicans, Mulvaney in particular, think go too far. In his announcement Friday, Cordray praised English by highlighting her "in-depth" knowledge of the agency's operations and its staff. Before joining the CFPB, English served at the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management.

"Leandra is a seasoned professional who has spent her career of public service focused on promoting smooth and efficient operations," Cordray said in the statement.

Mulvaney was a South Carolina representative to the House before becoming head of the budget office. A founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, he was elected in 2010 as part of a tea party wave that brought many critics of the U.S. budget deficit to office. He has taken a hard line on federal spending matters, routinely voting against increasing the government's borrowing cap and pressing for major cuts to benefit programs as the path to balancing the budget.

He also has been unsparing in his criticism of the CFPB, and Democrats has seized upon his words in criticizing his appointment by Trump to the agency.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of California, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services committee, issued a statement Saturday calling Mulvaney "unacceptable" to lead the CFPB because of his "noxious" views toward its mission to protect consumers.

"As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Mr. Mulvaney called the Consumer Bureau a 'joke,'" Waters wrote. "He was also the original co-sponsor of a bill to completely eliminate the Consumer Bureau, and supported other legislation to harmfully roll back Wall Street reform."

© 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



EVERY REPUBLICAN WILL TRY TO DIMINISH THE STRENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET, BUT IF THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS, THE ELDERLY AND INFIRM, ARE PUT IN SERIOUS DISTRESS BECAUSE OF IT, IT BECOMES OUR BOUNDEN DUTY AND OUR PLEDGE OF HONOR TO HOLD THEM BACK AT THE GATES. IT’S OUR SOLEMN DUTY TO CARE ABOUT THE NEEDY. THAT’S WHY WE, THE PROGRESSIVES AND THE DEMS, NEED TO KEEP OURSELVES ATTRACTIVE AS A PARTY SO THAT THOSE NEEDY VOTERS WILL COME TO US RATHER THAN TO A LYING SCOUNDREL PROMISING A GET RICH QUICK SCHEME AND MORE “RESPECT.” OF COURSE, I’M NOT ACCUSING ANYONE, YOU UNDERSTAND.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-will-become-of-welfare-under-trump/
AP November 25, 2017, 2:23 PM
What will become of welfare under Trump?

Photograph -- U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

Overhauling welfare was one of the defining goals of Bill Clinton's presidency, starting with a campaign promise to "end welfare as we know it," continuing with a bitter policy fight and producing change that remains hotly debated 20 years later.

Now, President Donald Trump wants to put his stamp on the welfare system, apparently in favor of a more restrictive policy. He says "people are taking advantage of the system."

Mr. Trump, who has been signaling interest in the issue for some time, said this past week that he wants to tackle the issue after the tax overhaul he is seeking by the end of the year. He said changes were "desperately needed in our country" and that his administration would soon offer plans.

For now, the president has not offered details. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said more specifics were likely early next year. But the groundwork has already begun at the White House and Mr. Trump has made his interest known to Republican lawmakers.

Paul Winfree, director of budget policy and deputy director of Trump's Domestic Policy Council, told a recent gathering at the conservative Heritage Foundation that he and another staffer had been charged with "working on a major welfare reform proposal." He said they have drafted an executive order on the topic that would outline administration principles and direct agencies to come up with recommendations.

"The president really wants to lead on this," Winfree said. "He has delivered that message loud and clear to us. We've opened conversations with leadership in Congress to let them know that that is the direction we are heading."

Mr. Trump said in October that welfare was "becoming a very, very big subject, and people are taking advantage of the system."

Clinton ran in 1992 on a promise to change the system but struggled to get consensus on a bill, with Democrats divided and Republicans pushing aggressive changes. Four years later, he signed a law that replaced a federal entitlement with grants to the states, placed a time limit on how long families could get aid and required recipients to go to work eventually.

It has drawn criticism from some liberal quarters ever since. During her presidential campaign last year, Democrat Hillary Clinton faced activists who argued that the law fought for by her husband punished poor people.

Kathryn Edin, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who has been studying welfare since the 1990s, said the law's legacy has been to limit the cash assistance available to the very poor and has never become a "springboard to work." She questioned what kinds of changes could be made, arguing that welfare benefits are minimal in many states and there is little evidence of fraud in other anti-poverty programs.

Still, Edin said that welfare has "never been popular even from its inception. It doesn't sit well with Americans in general."

Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at Heritage, said he would like to see more work requirements for a range of anti-poverty programs and stronger marriage incentives, as well as strategies to improve results for social programs and to limit waste. He said while the administration could make some adjustments through executive order, legislation would be required for any major change.

"This is a good system," Rector said. "We just need to make this system better."

Administration officials have already suggested they are eyeing anti-poverty programs. Trump's initial 2018 budget proposal, outlined in March, sought to sharply reduce spending for Medicaid, food stamps and student loan subsidies, among other programs.

Budget director Mick Mulvaney said this year, "If you are on food stamps and you are able-bodied, we need you to go to work."

© 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



“.... BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/youth-pastor-christopher-gattis-accused-fatally-shooting-family-thanksgiving/
CBS NEWS November 25, 2017, 4:59 PM
Youth pastor accused of fatally shooting family on Thanksgiving

Photograph -- Christopher Gattis WTVR

CHESTER, Va. -- Police have arrested a youth pastor in Virginia for allegedly murdering his family on Thanksgiving night, CBS affiliate WTVR reports.

Christopher Gattis, 58, was arrested at his residence in Chester and taken into custody without incident, officials said. Gattis has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He's being held at a county jail without bond.

Police said 58-year-old Jeanett Gattis and her daughter 30-year-old Candice Kunze were discovered inside the residence and Kunze's boyfriend 36-year-old Andrew Buthorn was found outside.

Neighbors told WTVR that many people knew the suspect as well as the victims.

"We were all friends. We hang out sometimes [and] cook out in the back," neighbor Mike Brown told the station. "I mean every time I see them, they're always the same way. [I] had no clue that they were having problems that I knew of, but behind closed doors is behind closed doors."

Gattis is a youth pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Chester. The church issued a statement on Friday evening asking the community and congregation to pray for everyone involved in the tragedy. "Grace Lutheran Church has experienced many hardships over the years, but this heartbreak has unique challenges," the statement said.

Neighbors who spoke to the Richmond Times-Dispatch said that Kunze recently moved back home from Oregon and brought her boyfriend with her. Police said their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



“THE MOST IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT DID SAY DROPPING OFF MALIA AT HARVARD IN AUGUST "WAS A LITTLE LIKE HAVING OPEN HEART SURGERY."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ivanka-trump-chelsea-clinton-defend-malia-obama/
By KATHRYN WATSON CBS NEWS November 25, 2017, 11:21 AM
Ivanka Trump, Chelsea Clinton defend Malia Obama's privacy

Photograph -- In this June 19, 2015, file image, Malia Obama smiles as she serves food during a lunch at the U.S. and NATO military base in Vicenza. GETTY

Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton have rushed to the defense of Malia Obama after videos appearing to show the 19-year-old former first daughter kissing a young man and smoking began circulating on the Internet.

The video and images of the Harvard University freshman soon sparked outrage online, with people on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook calling on their fellow web users and the media to leave former President Barack Obama's elder daughter alone. The Trump and Clinton daughters — who know what it's like to be in the White House spotlight — added to that sentiment on Friday.

"Malia Obama should be allowed the same privacy as her school-aged peers," Trump, who serves as an assistant to the president, wrote on Twitter. "She is a young adult and private citizen, and should be OFF limits."


Ivanka Trump
✔
@IvankaTrump
Malia Obama should be allowed the same privacy as her school aged peers. She is a young adult and private citizen, and should be OFF limits.
12:17 PM - Nov 24, 2017
4,551 4,551 Replies 36,717 36,717 Retweets 202,392 202,392 likes
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Clinton also soon chimed in, writing, "Malia Obama's private life, as a young woman, a college student, a private citizen, should not be your clickbait. Be better."


Chelsea Clinton
✔
@ChelseaClinton
Malia Obama’s private life, as a young woman, a college student, a private citizen, should not be your clickbait. Be better.
12:55 PM - Nov 24, 2017
3,600 3,600 Replies 87,879 87,879 Retweets 381,065 381,065 likes
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The Clinton daughter also came to the defense of Barron Trump, President Trump's youngest son, earlier this year, when a Daily Caller post criticized the 11-year-old for his casual attire. First Lady Melania Trump thanked Clinton for her response at the time.

Former President Barack Obama made a point of trying to keep his daughters out of the news cycle. When images of the elder daughter on a spring break trip to Mexico surfaced online in 2013, the White House chastised the press for paying attention to them.

"From the beginning of the administration, the White House has asked news outlets not to report on or photograph the Obama children when they are not with their parents and there is no vital news interest," Kristina Schake, then the spokeswoman for first lady Michelle Obama, said in a statement at the time. "We have reminded outlets of this request in order to protect the privacy and security of these girls."

The most immediate past president did say dropping off Malia at Harvard in August "was a little like having open heart surgery."

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.


WE DINE TOGETHER

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spreading-the-message-that-nobody-should-have-to-dine-alone/
By STEVE HARTMAN CBS NEWS November 24, 2017, 6:50 PM
High schooler spreads the message that nobody should have to dine alone

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- When the lunch bell rings at Boca Raton High School in Florida, 3,400 kids spill into the courtyard and split into their social groups.

But not everyone gets included. As we first reported in March, here at Boca High and at schools across the country, someone always sits alone.

"It's not a good feeling, like you're by yourself. And that's something that I don't want anybody to go through," said Denis Estimon.

hartman-we-dine-together-2-2017-11-24.jpg
At most high schools, there's always someone who sits alone during lunch. CBS NEWS
Denis is a Haitian immigrant. When he came here in first grade, he says he felt isolated -- especially at lunch.

Now he's popular. But he has not forgotten that first-grade feeling.

"To me it's like, if we don't try to go make that change, who's going to do it?" Denis said.

d2-hartman-we-dine-together-0310en-transfer.jpg
Denis Estimon CBS NEWS
So with some friends, Denis started a club called "We Dine Together."

Their mission is to go into the courtyard at lunchtime to make sure no one is starving for company.

For new kids especially, the club is a godsend. Since it started last year, hundreds of friendships have formed -- some very unlikely.

d2-hartman-we-dine-together-0310en-transfer4.jpg
Members of We Dine Together work the courtyard CBS NEWS
Jean Max Meradieu said he met kids he would never "ever" meet on the football team.

Jean actually quit the football team -- gave up all perks that come with it -- just so he could spend more time with this club.

"I don't mind not getting a football scholarship," Jean said. "This is what I really want to do."

Just imagine how different your teenage years would have been, if the coolest kids in school all of a sudden decided you mattered.

"We'll get to know each other better," Jean told one student.

It obviously takes a lot of empathy to devote your lunch period to this. Either that, or firsthand experience.

"I went from coming from a school where I always had friends, to coming to where I had nobody," said club member Allie Sealy.

hartman-we-dine-together-2017-11-24.jpg
The courtyard at Boca High in Boca Raton, Florida. CBS NEWS
Allie transferred a few ago. She says with no one to sit next to, lunch can be the most excruciating part of the day.

"It seems really unfair. It's honestly an issue," Allie said. "Meeting someone who actually cares and listens to what you have to say, really makes a difference. And that can happen at lunch, that can happen at our club."

Since we first told this story, Denis has graduated from high school -- but not from this mission.

hartman-we-dine-together-3-2017-11-24.jpg
Denis Estimon is spreading the message of "We Dine Together." CBS NEWS
He's now travelling the country, opening "We Dine Together" chapters at other schools -- 15 so far, with more than 100 slated for the new year.

And if we're lucky, when he's done showing kids how to make outsiders feel accepted, he can teach the rest of us.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us: OnTheRoad@cbsnews.com

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



THIS SITUATION ALWAYS SADDENS ME, BECAUSE A GOOD UNIVERSITY EDUCATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO IS INTELLECTUALLY INCLINED. LIKEWISE, A PROFESSIONAL COURSE OF SOME KIND FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANT A LEG UP ON THE ECONOMIC LADDER NEEDS TO BE THERE FOR EVERYONE. WHY? BECAUSE IN THIS COUNTRY, THE GOOD CITIZENS AMONG US WANT EVERY LIVING PERSON TO HAVE THE BASICS OF A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE LIFE, AND THAT PRETTY MUCH MEANS COLLEGE.

COLLEGE IS ALSO USUALLY A YOUNG PERSON’S FIRST BIG STEP AWAY FROM THE FAMILY HOME. AS SUCH IT IS EXCITING AND JOYOUS. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MAKE IT TRAGIC INSTEAD, HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD STEP UP FOR THE STUDENT. AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE TIME, THAT WON’T HAPPEN. COLLEGE IS AS MUCH BIG BUSINESS AS IS WALL STREET. IN A SCANDAL THE PERSON OF MOST TENUOUS STATUS WILL BE DISCARDED AND THE STRONGER, EVEN IF HE OR SHE IS A SEXUAL ABUSER, WILL SURVIVE. AT LEAST THAT’S THE OLD RULE.

THE FACT THAT THESE 400 PROFESSORS HAVE SIGNED SUCH A LETTER DOES GIVE ME HOPE THAT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY CARES ENOUGH TO TRY TO MAKE CHANGES, AND THAT IS WONDERFUL. FROM THIS AND SEVERAL OTHER ARTICLES IN REACTION TO SEXUAL ABUSE IN SEMI-DEPENDENT SITUATIONS, I AM GETTING A FEELING THAT A POSITIVE NEW CONSENSUS IS PROBABLY FORMING. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL CONTINUE.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boycott-urged-for-university-of-rochester-in-response-to-professors-behavior/
By JERICKA DUNCAN CBS NEWS November 24, 2017, 7:15 PM
Professors urge boycott of University of Rochester over allegations of misconduct

In what may be an unprecedented move, more than 400 college professors from all over the world have written an open letter calling for a boycott of the University of Rochester, where a professor is accused of preying on female students.

The open letter expresses "disappointment" with the University of Rochester "in their response to allegations of misconduct " by brain and cognitive sciences professor Dr. Florian Jaeger.

400 professors urge students to avoid University of Rochester, saying it's not safe
It criticizes the university for "supporting the predator and intimidating the victims and advocates in this case."

jaeger.jpg
University of Rochester Professor T. Florian Jaeger

And in bold print, the professors further state they will not "encourage students to pursue educational or employment opportunities" at the university.

Professor Elizabeth Bonawitz of New Jersey's Rutgers University was the 49th to sign.

"It's really horrifying," Bonawitz said. "It sends the message that the university is more interested in saving face than protecting its most vulnerable population."

In September, eight current and former Rochester researchers filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It claims that school officials were not protecting students. The 111-page complaint alleges Jaeger used overtly sexual language with his students, used his influence to sleep with female graduates and even pressured a student to live with him.

That student is Dr. Celeste Kidd, now a professor at the university.

"He made it clear, explicitly by telling me, that if I had a problem with him and I expressed that, there would be professional consequences," she said.

duncan-rochester-2017-11-25.jpg
University of Rochester. CBS NEWS

In a statement to CBS News, university officials said "the fact is that many students, faculty, and administrators at the university do not recognize the institution described in the letter circulating on the internet."

"The sort of response we are seeing from the administration to suppress this to the point of actually putting those victims at risk -- I think was most troubling to me," Bonawitz said.

Jaeger remains on paid administrative leave. He did not respond to our request for comment. The university has launched an independent investigation since the EEOC complaint.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.


NOW THIS IS A MYSTERY, NOT BECAUSE THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, BUT BECAUSE THE LIKELIHOOD IS HIGHER THAN AVERAGE THAT IT IS JUST THAT. WE’VE GOT MOTIVE, AND THAT INTERESTING ELEMENT, TIMING. THE SIMPLEST THING WOULD BE TO HIRE AN ASSASSIN OFF THE STREET WHO WOULD KILL FOR SOME CASH, AND THEN KILL HIM AFTERWARDS TO COVER OUR TRACKS; BUT THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THAT A VILLAIN IN HIDING HAS BEEN FLUSHED OUT. I DO HOPE THAT THIS KILLER WILL BE IDENTIFIED, AND IF THERE IS A SCANDAL LARGER THAN THAT, THEN AN INQUIRY SHOULD BE HELD.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-questions-in-death-of-baltimore-detective-killed-1-day-before-testimony/
By KRIS VAN CLEAVE CBS NEWS November 24, 2017, 6:37 PM
New questions in death of Baltimore detective, killed 1 day before testifying

BALTIMORE -- There are new questions about the murder of Baltimore Det. Sean Suiter, who was gunned down last week, one day before he was set to testify in a federal corruption case against fellow officers.

The FBI is trying to enhance what is believed to be Suiter's final radio call to look for any clues about the suspect who managed to wrestle away Suiter's gun and shoot the 18-year veteran officer in the head at close range.

Baltimore remembers Detective Sean Suiter, cop killed in shooting

"We don't know exactly what he said, but he was clearly in distress," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.

Suiter, a father of five, was killed the day before he was set to testify in a federal corruption case against eight Baltimore police officers.

van-cleave-sean-suiter-2017-11-24.jpg
Baltimore Det. Sean Suiter. CBS NEWS

"People have asked me, how can it be possible that Det. Suiter was shot and killed on the eve of his grand jury testimony and for that murder not to have anything to do with the grand jury testimony, and people will say, is that possible? And the answer is, of course it's possible," Davis said.

Police don't have much on the suspect, but police say Suiter noticed a man acting suspiciously and went to check it out. Investigators do have unreleased video showing his partner taking cover at the sound of gunfire and calling for help.

Suiter's murder prompted a city-wide manhunt and the lockdown of the neighborhood where it occurred.

A small memorial now sits at the scene, where some are offering prayers.

"He deserved that prayer," said one person at the memorial. "The family deserved that prayer. Our city of Baltimore deserved that prayer."

The reward for information leading to an arrest sits at more $200,000. Suiter's funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



MAKING LOVE IN A MUTUALLY DESIRABLE SITUATION WILL ALWAYS BE A PLEASURE, AND WITHOUT THE MUTUAL DESIRE, IT WILL BE ABUSIVE AND DISGUSTING. THAT’S THE TRUE RULE, IN MY BOOK. I DON’T THINK LINKING UP IN A WORK SITUATION IS VERY OFTEN AT ALL A SMART THING TO DO, IF ONLY BECAUSE OF THE GOSSIP THAT WILL OCCUR, AND BECAUSE WHEN THE LOVE GOES AWAY, SO MAY THE JOB.

NONE OF THIS HAS CHANGED. WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IS THAT BOSSES NEED TO BE ENJOINED FROM FIRING AN EMPLOYEE OVER A SEXUAL MATTER UNLESS IT IS ONE OF ABUSE, AND THE ONE FIRED SHOULD BE THE ABUSER RATHER THAN JUST THE WOMAN. IF THAT WERE ALWAYS THE CASE, I WOULD NOT COMPLAIN. THAT’S AS “EQUAL” AS THE SITUATION CAN BE. SO, WHOEVER IS DOING THE CHASING, THAT’S THE AGGRESSOR.

WHEN THE GUY GETS TO KEEP HIS JOB AND THE WOMAN LOSES HERS, THAT’S A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE, AND EVERY WOMAN IN THAT SITUATION SHOULD SUE THE COMPANY AND THE UNWELCOME SUITOR AS WELL. WHEN THEIR INTERACTIONS BECOME “A DISTRACTION” IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, AS POLITICIANS HAVE BECOME FOND OF SAYING, THEN THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE GROUNDS FOR FIRING THEM BOTH, BUT NOT JUST ONE.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-female-lobbyist-offers-her-take-on-sexual-harassment/
By STEVE CHAGGARIS CBS NEWS November 24, 2017, 6:00 AM
Top female lobbyist offers her take on sexual harassment

In the current climate of sexual harassment allegations affecting a wide swath of industries, including politics, a top female Washington lobbyist says it's time for leaders to "foster a culture of respect."

"When I got here fresh out of the University of Iowa as a new, young congressional staffer, I think the general sentiment, it was sort of passed along from woman to woman, was 'boys will be boys and women have to manage that. And you should always be alert and avoid being in situations that are uncomfortable,'" Susan Neely, the president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, told CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett and Political Director Steve Chaggaris on this week's episode of "The Takeout."

Listen to this episode on Stitcher “THE FACTS, MA’AM – LOBBYIST SUSAN NEELY,” DURATION, 39:05.

"That approach works pretty well until you get some outlier that's a jackass and actually abusive and uses their position of power to be abusive," Neely added.

Three CBS employees accuse Charlie Rose of sexual harassment
Harvey Weinstein announces leave of absence amid sexual harassment allegations

"That's what I welcome about all of this massive public conversation were having now. It gives us a chance to talk about the culture needs to change. And all of us who lead organizations, women and men, need to foster a culture of respect."

"All of us who are in leadership need to help change that, we need to respect each other. You don't assume every guy's a bad guy, that was far from my experience. The vast majority of guys are great guys and are respectful. But we need to give a voice to that and to be consciously modeling the behaviors that are the right ones," Neely said.

For more from Major and Steve's conversation with Susan Neely, who also weighed in on the Republicans' tax reform effort, how President Trump's "swamp" drainage is going, and issues the soft drink beverage industry is dealing with, download "The Takeout" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify. New episodes are available every Friday morning.

Also, you can watch "The Takeout" on CBSN Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm ET/PT. For a full archive of "The Takeout" episodes, visit www.takeoutpodcast.com.



I LIKE COMEDIAN BILLY EICHNER’S TWEET BEST. A LITTLE HUMOR IMPROVES THE MOST DEPRESSING SITUATION.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/time-magazine-disputes-trumps-person-of-the-year-tweet/
CBS/AP November 24, 2017, 9:39 PM
Time magazine disputes Trump's "Person of the Year" tweet

Photograph -- President-elect Donald Trump poses for photographer Nadav Kander for the cover of the issue of Time magazine naming him its Person of the Year in a picture provided by the publication in New York Dec. 7, 2016. TIME MAGAZINE HANDOUT/VIA REUTERS

Time magazine is disputing President Trump's account of how he rejected the magazine's request for an interview and photo sessions ahead of its "Person of the Year" issue.

In a Friday evening tweet, Mr. Trump wrote the magazine informed him he was "probably" going to be granted the title for the second year in a row. He tweets: "I said probably is no good and took a pass."


Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
5:40 PM - Nov 24, 2017
93,274 93,274 Replies 36,512 36,512 Retweets 132,926 132,926 likes
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Later that evening, Time tweeted that Mr. Trump "is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year." The magazine says it doesn't comment on its choice until publication.


TIME
✔
@TIME
The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.
8:27 PM - Nov 24, 2017
17,989 17,989 Replies 143,157 143,157 Retweets 366,522 366,522 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

Mr. Trump frequently brags about his cover appearances in the iconic magazine. He has falsely claimed to hold the record of cover appearances. In 2015, Mr. Trump tweeted that he was a "big favorite" for Time's Person of the Year, but the magazine "would never pick me."


Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany
8:53 AM - Dec 9, 2015
4,385 4,385 Replies 7,930 7,930 Retweets 10,495 10,495 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

The magazine will unveil its Person of the Year on Dec. 6.

Mr. Trump's tweet spawned many knock-offs, with even tennis star Andy Murray and comedian Billy Eichner weighing in.


Andy Murray
✔
@andy_murray
Bbc just called to say I was PROBABLY going to be named sports personality of the year but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!
6:43 PM - Nov 24, 2017
3,335 3,335 Replies 52,644 52,644 Retweets 222,949 222,949 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

billy eichner
✔
@billyeichner
Time Magazine called me a few weeks ago too. This led to us texting and then, of course, sexting. We hooked up a few times, which was fun. But, ultimately, it didn't seem like an ideal match. It's too bad though because Time Magazine is really hot. Oh well. Thanks anyway!
8:49 PM - Nov 24, 2017
102 102 Replies 2,105 2,105 Retweets 18,852 18,852 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT USE OF AN EDUCATION IS TO INFORM OUR INNER BEING AND TO SHARE OUR THOUGHTS WITH THOSE WHO CARE, OR SHOULD CARE. THE BEST EDUCATION IS THE SORT THAT IMMEDIATELY JUMPS FROM THE PRINTED PAGE TO LIFE. THAT’S HOW WE CAN PRODUCE A BETTER SOCIETY AND MAKE AMERICA EVER GREATER DAY BY DAY. THAT’S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR WHAT WE ARE HOLDING UP AS THE MODEL OF “AN EDUCATION” TO INCLUDE THE ARTS AND SCIENCES IN GENERAL.

I AM ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN A GROUP CALLED TED. I FIRST HEARD OF THEM ON PBS TELEVISION. I WOULD SEE THE NAME “TED TALK” ON THE TV GUIDE LISTING AND WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE. FINALLY, I TUNED IN AND FOUND AVERAGE LOOKING PEOPLE GIVING TALKS WOVEN TOGETHER FROM THEIR PERSONAL LIVES INTO SOMETHING THAT HELPS PEOPLE OR THE WORLD. A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS WHO LIKE GARDENING COULD LEAD TO A MARKET FOR FRESH VEGETABLES IN THE INNER CITY, FOR INSTANCE. THAT USES IDEAS AND EFFORT AS CURRENCY TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD OF THE TED TALKS. TED STANDS FOR TECHNOLOGY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND DESIGN. THEIR TALKS ARE UNPREDICTABLE IN SUBJECT MATTER, USUALLY PERSONAL IN NATURE, AND THEREFORE ALWAYS INTERESTING. THE ORGANIZATION IS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

SEE THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE BELOW; AND THEN GO TO THE ITEM ON A TED ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE INFAMOUS PRISON CALLED SINGSING. THIS IS ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT I THINK WE NEED DESPERATELY IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. OUR PRISONS, INSTEAD OF BEING SIMPLY A WAY OF KEEPING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, SHOULD BE MAKING A SERIOUS EFFORT TO REHABILITATE CRIMINALS.

ONE SUCH PROGRAM THAT I’VE SEEN ALLOWS SOME TRUSTWORTHY PRISONERS TO BE GIVEN VOLUNTARY WORK WITH ANIMALS. TOUCHING AND COMMUNICATING WITH ANIMALS KICKSTARTS THE HOPE THAT WE NEED TO WARM UP THE INNER FIRES THAT LIVE IN THE BREAST OF A “LIFER.” LIFE IN PRISON TENDS TO KILL THAT, BUT IT ISN’T ENTIRELY DEAD UNTIL OUR BODY IS; OR SO I BELIEVE. IT IS A SHAME THAT WE INCARCERATE SO MANY AND DO ALMOST NOTHING TO REHABILITATE THEM.

THE TED ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES IN OTHER AREAS OF HUMAN NEED. THAT IS THE KIND OF NON-PROFIT THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN A TAX DEDUCTION FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES, NOT SOME COVER FOR A POLITICAL ACTIVITY GROUP AND SLUSH FUND. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM, GO TO THEIR WEBSITE BELOW:
https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TEDxEvents/about/?ref=page_internal
https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/tedx-program
https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/10820
FOR THE SITE ON THE SINGSING PRISON PROJECT, GO TO https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/10820
TEDxSingSing

x = independently organized TED event
Theme: Creating Healthy Communities

Speakers will explore this theme from a variety of perspectives, including individual, physical, mental, and emotional health, and how to work together to build a nourishing and supportive community, no matter where you might be; even in a maximum security prison like Sing Sing.

This event occurred INSIDE THE PRISON SINGSING
December 3, 2014
8:30am - 4:00pm EST
(UTC -5hrs)
Ossining, New York
United States

Our organization

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

Our Mission: Spread ideas

TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we're building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long.

In fact, everything we do — from our Conferences to our TED Talks to the projects sparked by the TED Prize, from the global TEDx community to the TED-Ed lesson series — is driven by this goal: How can we best spread great ideas?

TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. Our agenda is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.