Being Mrs. McCain

Staff / Truthdig Feb 5, 2008 The UK's Times Online certainly chose a very particular frame for its profile of John McCain's wife, Cindy, as evidenced by the headline: "Flawed Cindy McCain Has a Grudge List." Further down, Mrs. McCain gets a bit more credit when writer Tony Allen-Mills predicts she'd make a "formidable but flawed first lady." There appears to be a pattern at work here. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Meet Frank Giustra, Mining Magnate and Clinton Chum

Staff / Truthdig Jan 31, 2008 The name Frank Giustra may not ring any bells with those outside the international mining industry, but Thursday's New York Times brings Giustra (pictured with Clinton) out of relative obscurity into sharp focus with its startling report about the Canadian entrepreneur, who boldly inserted himself into the uranium business in Kazakhstan (!) and into Bill Clinton's inner circle. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Former Congressman Charged With Funding Terrorist

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2008 Mark Deli Siljander, a former Republican congressman, has been indicted for allegedly helping an Islamic charity fund Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a vicious Afghan militant leader with ties to al-Qaida. According to the book "Charlie Wilson's War," Hekmatyar was the largest recipient of U.S. weapons during the Afghan war with the Soviets. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Selective Charity

Staff / Truthdig Nov 2, 2007 The Onion targets religious hypocrisy with this satirical interview with the head of a mock Christian charity that provides relief to heterosexual Africans: "As long as you're not gay, we welcome you with open arms." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bill Clinton on ‘The Daily Show’

Staff / Truthdig Sep 22, 2007 The former president tells Jon Stewart about his new book, his wife's quest to get back to "the best public housing in America," why he might slit his throat if she's successful, and how naps can save our democracy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Giving’ and Taking

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Sep 17, 2007 Bill Clinton has written a new book about charity, a fitting subject for a president who betrayed the poor and led his party into the arms of corporate America. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Al Gore: Rock ‘n’ Roll Impresario

Staff / Truthdig Jul 7, 2007 Why run for president when you can jet-set around the world mingling with rock stars? Al Gore seems to have found a third way for his career prospects by spicing up his global warming outreach with a series of concerts called "Live Earth." The tour launches from Sydney and will feature appearances by Madonna, the Police, Garth Brooks and a group of Antarctic scientists performing via satellite in front of icebergs. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vatican Shuns Amnesty International

Staff / Truthdig Jun 14, 2007 The Vatican is urging Catholics not to donate to Amnesty International because, it says, the group selectively promotes abortion. The human rights organization says the church has misrepresented its policy and, in the process, imperiled human rights. The World Health Organization estimates that 70,000 women die every year from unsafe abortions. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘American Idol’ Tackles Poverty

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Apr 24, 2007 There's something obnoxious about a hugely popular TV show suddenly developing a social conscience, but it could be worse -- they could just go on not giving a damn. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

In Orlando, Charity Can Be a Crime

Staff / Truthdig Apr 6, 2007 A 21-year-old Floridian was arrested in Orlando for feeding a group of 30 homeless people. It is illegal in Orlando to feed more than 25 destitute people without a permit, which can be obtained only twice a year. As if to drive home the absurdity of the law, authorities took a sample of Eric Montanez's illegal stew for evidence. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

United Farm Workers Cleared of Wrongdoing

Staff / Truthdig Dec 28, 2006 The California state attorney general's office has found no wrongdoing in the United Farm Workers Union's handling of its affiliated charities. The probe was launched in response to allegations raised by a series of articles published in the Los Angeles Times. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

GOP-Linked Nonprofits Sold Clout to Abramoff

Staff / Truthdig Oct 13, 2006 From the Wash Po: "Five conservative nonprofit organizations, including one run by prominent Republican Grover Norquist, 'perpetrated a fraud' on taxpayers by selling their clout to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Senate investigators said in a report issued today." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )