Around the Web: Saving Government Data from the Trumpocalypse by John Dupuis: “While I’m working on a major update to my Documenting the Donald Trump War on Science: Pre-Inauguration Edition and preparing for the first of the post-inauguration posts, I thought I’d whet everyone’s appetite with a post celebrating all the various efforts to save… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: January 2017
UK research project documents decline of statistics and rise of big data
“How statistics lost their power – and why we should fear what comes next,” by William Davies, The Guardian: “The ability of statistics to accurately represent the world is declining. In its wake, a new age of big data controlled by private companies is taking over – and putting democracy in peril…In theory, statistics should… Continue Reading
Touring some of our nation’s presidential libraries
Via CBSNews: “As a new president is about to start making history, the legacies of our former leaders are enshrined in presidential libraries. There are now 13 libraries across the country, and President Obama’s in Chicago will be the 14th. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg joins “CBS This Morning: Saturday” to share some of… Continue Reading
Advocacy group sues Trump over emoluments
Follow-up to to previous posting – Brookings Paper – The Emoluments Clause: Its Text, Meaning, and Application to Donald J. Trump – this news release dated 1/2//2017: “Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is bringing a federal lawsuit to stop President Trump from violating the Constitution by illegally receiving payments from foreign governments.… Continue Reading
Study harnesses big data to analyze 150 years of UK newspapers
Content analysis of 150 years of British periodicals – Published online before print January 9, 2017, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1606380114. PNAS January 9, 2017 “The use of large datasets has revolutionized the natural sciences and is widely believed to have the potential to do so with the social and human sciences. Many digitization efforts are underway, but… Continue Reading
ACLU FOIA Request Seeks Information About New President’s Conflicts of Interests
Letter dated January 19, 2017 from the ACLU to the FOIA Officer, Office of Government Ethics: “The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (together, the “ACLU”) submit this Freedom of lnformation Act (“FOIA”) request (the “Request”) for records pertaining to financial and other ethical conflicts of interest in connection with… Continue Reading
GAO: Summary of Performance and Financial Information Fiscal Year 2016
GAO: Summary of Performance and Financial Information Fiscal Year 2016 – Budget, Performance, and Financial Snapshot 2016. “In fiscal year 2016, we documented $63.4 billion in financial benefits for the government—a return of about $112 for every dollar invested in us. Key examples of our work that contributed to these benefits included (1) reducing improper… Continue Reading
Uber Agrees to Pay $20 Million to Settle FTC Charges
“Uber Technologies, the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company, has agreed to pay $20 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that it misled prospective drivers with exaggerated earning claims and claims about financing through its Vehicle Solutions Program. The $20 million will be used to provide refunds to affected drivers across the country. “Many consumers sign… Continue Reading
Women’s March Biggest Protest In US History – Estimated 2.9 Million March
PoliticusUSA- Jason Easley: “Millions of Americans have taken to the streets from New York to Los Angeles and everywhere in between as the Women’s Marches on Washington is estimated to be the biggest one-day protest in US history. UConn professor Jeremy Pressman is keeping a running total of crowd estimates across the United States in… Continue Reading
Climate Change removed from new White House website
HuffPo: “The White House website has removed the page devoted to climate change action and posted newly sworn-in President Donald Trump’s pledge to undo environmental regulations and “revive America’s coal industry.” The 361-word policy outline on the new page, titled “America First Energy Plan,” makes no reference to global warming or climate change, except to… Continue Reading
Politico – Trump signs sweeping order that could gut Obamacare
Politico, 1/20/17: “A few hours after taking the oath of office, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order that encourages federal agencies to dismantle large parts of Obamacare, possibly including the hugely unpopular mandate requiring most Americans to purchase insurance. While only Congress can repeal the law, the nine-paragraph order effectively tells the federal… Continue Reading
EPIC Sues FBI for Details of Russian Interference with 2016 Election
“EPIC today filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation in federal district court in Washington, DC. The case is designated EPIC v. FBI, No. 17-127 (D.D.C. filed Jan. 18, 2017). The complaint states “EPIC challenges the FBI’s failure to make a timely decision concerning EPIC’s request for expedited processing… Continue Reading
