CNN:  "Twelve million people are facing a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, and they are in desperate need of help.  The United Nations declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia, calling for a widespread international response to end the suffering.  Thousands of Somalis have been fleeing the country each week in search … Continue reading Famine in East Africa: How you can help

The Deacon's Bench: As the 51st governor of New York from 1975 through 1982, Mr. Carey led a small group of public servants who vanquished the fiscal crisis that threatened New York City and the state — the direst emergency a governor had faced since the Depression — by taking on powers over the city’s … Continue reading RIP Hugh Carey: pro-choice pol who became pro-life

Washington Post: "U.S. forces in Afghanistan suffered the deadliest day of the decade-long war Saturday when insurgents shot down an American helicopter, killing 30 U.S. servicemen and eight Afghans in the latest of a series of setbacks for coalition forces whose numbers are set to decline over the coming months."

The White House: "President Obama is directing a comprehensive review to strengthen the United States’ ability to prevent mass atrocities.  The President’s directive creates an important new tool in this effort, establishing a standing interagency Atrocities Prevention Board with the authority to develop prevention strategies and to ensure that concerns are elevated for senior decision-making … Continue reading President Obama Directs New Steps to Prevent Mass Atrocities

NY Times: "Norway suffered dual attacks on Friday when powerful explosions shook the government center here and, shortly after, a gunman stalked youths at an island summer camp for young members of the governing Labor Party. The police arrested a Norwegian in connection with both attacks, which killed at least 87 people and stunned this … Continue reading At Least 80 Are Dead in Norway Shooting

Norman J. Ornstein: "The Republican proposal would cap spending each year at 18 percent of gross domestic product. Because the formula is based on a previous year’s economy, it would mean, according to Republican economist Don Marron, a cap of more like 16.7 percent of GDP. This in turn means that the House-passed budget proposed … Continue reading Why a balanced-budget amendment is too risky

Nate Silver: "Much to the chagrin of many Democrats, the mix of spending cuts and tax increases that Mr. Obama is offering is quite close to, or perhaps even a little to the right of, what the average Republican voter wants, let alone the average American. However, all but 7 Republicans in the House of … Continue reading G.O.P.’s No-Tax Stance Is Outside Political Mainstream

EJ Dionne: "The unseemly love affair some American politicians have with the death penalty is bad for justice and bad for our country’s standing in the world. It inflicts a wholly unnecessary moral stain on a nation that rightly preaches the rule of law to everyone else."

CBS: "The Obama administration today strongly condemned what it called the "outrageous use of violence" by the Syrian government and demanded an immediate end to its brutality."