All posts tagged: d.C

Satirical Sculptures Appear in Washington D.C. Ahead of Election

Satirical Sculptures Appear in Washington D.C. Ahead of Election

Published by skeptic

Two politically charged statues have appeared in Washington, D.C., sparking public interest and discussion just days before the election, according to CNN.  One statue, a bronze replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk topped with a large, emoji-style poop, was placed near the Capitol along the National Mall last week. The other, a bronze tiki torch statue titled The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame, was set up at Freedom Plaza, close to the White House, on Monday. Both works appear to critique past actions of former President and current Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Related Articles The plaque below the Pelosi desk sculpture reads, “This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021, to loot, urinate and defecate … in order to overturn an election,” a reference to the Capitol insurrection on that day. The work sarcastically calls these individuals “unbelievable patriots” and “warriors,” mirroring Trump’s past praise for the rioters. The sculpture, titled The Resolute Desk, has been described as symbolizing the resilience of democratic principles, …

Darren Walker to Helm the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Darren Walker to Helm the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Published by skeptic

Former Ford Foundation president Darren Walker has been elected president of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.—effective immediately—the institution announced Tuesday. Walker, who has been a board member of the National Gallery since 2019, is perhaps best known for his 11-year tenure at the helm of one of the nation’s largest and most influential philanthropies, the Ford Foundation. There, he shifted the institution’s focus towards inequality and oversaw the distribution of $7 billion in grant funding. As a National Gallery trustee, Walker established and has continued to build an art acquisition fund dedicated to excellence and diversity through the Ford Foundation. The fund provided support for the exhibition “Afro-Atlantic Histories” in 2022 and facilitated the acquisition of the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American photographs in 2023. Related Articles Walker also serves on a number of boards, among them, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the High Line, Art Bridges, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies. He has received 17 honorary degrees and such awards as the …

Netanyahu heads to D.C. after Biden withdraws from presidential race

Netanyahu heads to D.C. after Biden withdraws from presidential race

Published by Sam

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to land Monday in a Washington consumed by political turmoil, creating further uncertainty about U.S.-Israeli relations at a crucial moment in the Gaza war. President Biden — who announced the end of his reelection bid on the eve of Netanyahu’s departure — has both championed Israel’s right to wage war against Hamas and chided the prime minister for his management of the conflict. Israeli officials didn’t confirm that the prime minister would meet with the president as planned until the day before takeoff; they now don’t know what the dramatic campaign upheaval will mean for the future. President Biden announced July 21 he will drop out of the 2024 presidential race. He quickly endorsed Vice President Harris as his replacement. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post) Immediately after Biden’s announcement, a person familiar with deliberations in Netanyahu’s office said it was “too early” to say how the trip, and Israel’s war effort, might be affected. Like others in this story, they spoke on the …

A Driver Dies After Crashing Into a Security Barrier Around the White House Complex, Authorities Say

A Driver Dies After Crashing Into a Security Barrier Around the White House Complex, Authorities Say

Published by skeptic

WASHINGTON (AP) — A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a traffic crash, police said. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no threat to the White House. The male driver, who was not immediately identified, was found dead in the vehicle following the crash shortly before 10:30 p.m., according to a Secret Service statement. The Metropolitan Police Department said the vehicle crashed into a security barrier at the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Police were called to the scene at 10:46 p.m. and said one adult male was pronounced dead from the crash into a security barrier around the complex. The Secret Service said security protocols were put in place and that there was no threat to the White House. The Secret Service and police will continue to investigate. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, …

D.C. appeals court temporarily suspends ex-Trump lawyer’s law license 

D.C. appeals court temporarily suspends ex-Trump lawyer’s law license 

Published by skeptic

The D.C. Court of Appeals has temporarily suspended the law license of former President Trump’s ex-lawyer following a similar order made in late March by a California State Bar Court.  Former Trump attorney John Eastman’s license is suspended in D.C. pending a final disposition in the California court proceedings, chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, said in an order filed on Friday.  A California judge in late March recommended disbarring Eastman due to his “false and misleading statements” regarding his claims of 2020 election fraud and the role of “provoking” the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. State Bar Judge Yvette Roland also recommended that he pay $10,000 in monetary sanctions.  This week, Roland shut down Eastman’s request to remove the suspension of his license, stating on Wednesday he was not able to prove he’s not a “threat to the public.”  The California Supreme Court will give a ruling regarding the case which Eastman, Chapman Law School’s former dean, can appeal.  Roland, the California judge, found him guilty of 10 …

Robert Marks Discusses Artificial Intelligence in D.C.

Robert Marks Discusses Artificial Intelligence in D.C.

Published by skeptic

Peter Biles <!– –> April 30, 2024 2 Artificial Intelligence Marks is making the rounds talking about AI and his new book. Peter Biles <!– –> April 30, 2024 2 Artificial Intelligence Robert J. Marks, the director of the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence, is an expert on artificial intelligence and had the chance recently to share his thoughts on the topic with congressmen in Washington D.C. Marks met with Congressmen Dunn (Fla) and Murphy (NC) during his visit to the nation’s capital. Dunn sits on the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and so was interested in speaking with Dr. Marks for his insight and expertise on the topic. Dunn also co-sponsored legislation aimed at curtailing deep fakes with mandatory watermarking, which is highly relevant to current copyright lawsuits and companies like Getty Images who are having their material “scraped” by AI. Marks was also able to share his 2022 book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will with Congressman Dunn. “I gave Congressman Dunn a copy of my AI …

News Anchor Poppy Harlow Announces Departure From CNN

News Anchor Poppy Harlow Announces Departure From CNN

Published by skeptic

ATLANTA (AP) — Anchor Poppy Harlow is leaving CNN, according to the network. Harlow, who joined CNN in 2008 and most recently co-hosted “CNN This Morning,” announced her parting from the cable news giant in an email to colleagues. She called her time at CNN “a gift.” “I have been inspired by you and learned so much from you – who are (and will remain) dear friends,” Harlow wrote. “This place has shaped me as a leader, taught me resilience, shown me the value of perspective and how to make hard decisions.” At CNN, Harlow reported on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the 2015 Paris terror attacks, among other stories. “I got to experience what makes this country great,” Harlow wrote in her email. “I sat with people in their best moments and in their hardest. They taught me about the human condition and what binds us.” Photos You Should See – April 2024 Earlier this year, CNN announced changes to the time slot for “CNN This Morning” and moved it to Washington. CNN …

A D.C. surgeon on treating young shooting victims and the toll it takes

A D.C. surgeon on treating young shooting victims and the toll it takes

Published by skeptic

Dr. Mikael Petrosyan, associate chief of general and thoracic surgery, poses for a portrait in his office at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. on November 13, 2023. Eric Lee for NPR hide caption toggle caption Eric Lee for NPR Dr. Mikael Petrosyan, associate chief of general and thoracic surgery, poses for a portrait in his office at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. on November 13, 2023. Eric Lee for NPR Treating gunshot wounds on children was not what Mikael Petrosyan expected when he entered pediatrics. Petrosyan has been working as a pediatric surgeon at the Children’s National Hospital for more than a decade, and he has treated many children injured by guns. He hasn’t been able to save them all and has had to tell parents that their children have died from gunshot wounds. “It’s a devastating thing to do, to lose a child for something that has been caused by guns,” Petrosyan said. “It’s not an accident. It was totally preventable in many ways.” Last year, 106 juveniles were registered as gun …

Beloved Japanese cherry blossom tree ‘Stumpy’ makes its last bloom in Washington, D.C.

Beloved Japanese cherry blossom tree ‘Stumpy’ makes its last bloom in Washington, D.C.

Published by skeptic

Much like the spindly Charlie Brown Christmas tree that sparked new life into a listless holiday season, the little tree that could has become a sort of Washington icon as the warmth of spring rekindles its sparse branches and pink flowers emerge. As word about Stumpy’s fate has gotten out, many fans have made their way to the Tidal Basin to see it one last time.  “In each succeeding year, we have seen more and more people come down asking for Stumpy, lining up to get pictures,” said Mike Litterst, a park service spokesman. “Of course, this year, it’s through the roof.” Next month, the park service will take clippings from Stumpy and the other cherry trees scheduled for elimination and use them to grow more Stumpies and more of its less famous brethren. Then the dead trees will be turned to mulch that will be spread around those still standing on the National Mall.  The cherry tree affectionally nicknamed “Stumpy” in Washington on Monday.Frank Thorp V / NBC News “If we wanted to, we …