The Wrap for Thursday, 9/18

Notes from Bruce

• Feast or famine – that seems to be the news and commentary pattern these days. After a few lean Wraps (mmm, lean wraps 🌯), today’s edition is chock-full of news, analysis, commentary, and even a little humor. Find some stories you haven’t read and click those links!
• Have you read any of the “Cheers and Jeers” I’ve posted? Just wondering.
• And speaking of “have you read” – if you are a paying member, are you reading my Bruce’s Takes? Remember, you can get those in your inbox so you don’t have to remember to come to the site.
• Finally, I’ve got to remind everyone that we are only nine (9!) days from Summit ‘25. Get your ticket now, even if you can’t attend on that Saturday – the ticket gives you access to all the recordings for the next sixty days!

On to today’s Wrap ...

News and Analysis on Forward Kentucky

US rolls toward a ‘terrible’ government shutdown, no exit ramp in sight

Republicans refuse to talk with Democrats; Democrats demand changes to healthcare costs

Forward KentuckyKentucky Lantern

Trump axes climate reporting program, ignoring international courts and frontline communities

“There is an international responsibility here, even if the U.S. still tries to deny that there is one.”

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Auditor: KY Medicaid wasted $800 million. Health secretary: report contains ‘significant inaccuracies.’

Stack: Auditor’s report “contains significant inaccuracies, relies heavily on unsubstantiated assumptions, and fails to provide verifiable evidence of any substantial loss of taxpayer funds.”

Forward KentuckyKentucky Lantern

Is your hospital about to close?

Kentucky has more hospitals at risk of closing than any other state. And the Repubs’ Big Ugly Bill is just making the deaths come sooner.

Forward KentuckyBruce Maples

Trump officials nixed his security clearance. Now, this Kentucky Democrat is running for US Senate.

Willett is also a veteran and a former CEO.

Forward KentuckyBruce Maples

Foreign disinformation about Charlie Kirk’s killing seeks to widen US divisions

Russian, Chinese, and pro-Iranian agents all shared social media posts hoping to inflame the American political scene even more

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Bruce’s Take

More Dems for Senate? Really?

Where’s that bottle to catch that lightning?

Forward KentuckyBruce Maples

A historic moment?

We are seeing crumbling of the Constitution – and yesterday’s events broke off another chunk

Forward KentuckyBruce Maples

Everything Else Published Recently

What would Jesus do about immigrants? Actually, He told us.

And yet, many who claim to follow Jesus ignore what he said.

Forward KentuckyIvonne Rovira

Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy

The first step in addressing a crisis is naming it.

Forward KentuckyThe Conversation

‘The Rise and Fall of the American Empire’ — a story already being written

And the real villain is not who you think

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Louisville Republicans have a crime plan

Jazmin and Robert dig into the plan put forth by Louisville Metro Council Republicans and whether or not it actually addresses “crime,” and update several stories the show has been following.

Forward KentuckyRobert Kahne

Cheers and Jeers: Thursday

Cheers and Jeers is a weekday coping mechanism from the great state of Maine.

Forward KentuckyDaily Kos

Cheers and Jeers: Wednesday

Cheers and Jeers is a weekday coping mechanism from the great state of Maine.

Forward KentuckyDaily Kos

Stories from Other Sites

Franklin County Schools travel expenses called ‘jaw-dropping’ amid district budget crisis – Sen. Lindsey Tichenor pressed the superintendent on the district's credit card statements, calling its travel expenses “jaw-dropping.” (FOX 56 News)

[And also] FCPS board approves independent investigation into district spending – “I think the only way to bring back trust of people in this community is going to be to actually show them what happened.” (FOX 56 News)

NC man arrested in connection to threats made against UofL for graphic Charlie Kirk posters – A North Carolina man was arrested Sept. 12 after allegedly calling in a threat to the University of Louisville after graphic posters about the killing of Charlie Kirk appeared on campus. (Courier-Journal)

Kentucky lawmakers discuss eliminating processed foods in school – House Bill 439 would ban schools from selling and providing ultra-processed foods in the cafeteria, school store, and vending machines. (Spectrum News)

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