Author: Dino Grandoni

Stat of the Day

41.5% of Former U.S. House Staffers Go On to Work in Lobbying

Wikimedia Commons

If you follow Washington politics, something you've likely suspected can now be confirmed. According to a new analysis, around two in five ex-staffers of U.S. representatives took their next job in one of the most unlikeable of industries: lobbying. 

By Dino Grandoni

12:23 PM ET

Buenos Aires Mass Transit Has a Bad Record of Accidents

In news that ought to give pause to mass transit commuters everywhere, 49 are reportedly dead and 550 injured in a gruesome-looking (and sadly not unusual) train crash this morning in Buenos Aires.

Comments | 959 Views

By Dino Grandoni

9:38 AM ET

UN Inspectors in Iran Throw Up Their Hands

It's official: The United Nations nuclear inspections many thought Iran wouldn't let happen, didn't happen.

Comments | 339 Views

By Dino Grandoni

8:27 AM ET

Jon Stewart on Why Virginia Is Not for Lovers of Women's Rights

Continuing with his "Punanny State" segment, Jon Stewart last night turned his attention to Virginia, which is set to require pregnant women to undergo "trans-vaginal ultrasounds" if they want abortions.

Comments | 1,356 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Chart of the Day

California Is America's Least Favorite State

Today in questions you didn't ask but are damn well getting the answers to, a Public Policy Polling survey ranked the 50 U.S. states by popularity among voters nationwide. And while Hawaii placing No. 1 in this little popularity contest wasn't a shock, that the Golden State ranked last was.

Comments | 5,031 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Stat of the Day

Cell Networks Lost $13.9 Billion to Social Media Apps in 2011

Proving yet again that the Internet offers free alternatives for things one used to have to pay for (see: the newspaper), a new report today says that cell phone networks lost $13.9 billion worth of revenue to free social media apps in 2011. 

Comments | 1,070 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Dow Breaks 13,000 for the First Time Since Start of Recession

Yes, 13,000 points is an arbitrary threshold, but the fact this morning that the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached that mark for the first time since May 2008 lets Obama paint a rosier economic picture just in time for reelection, doesn't it?

Comments | 395 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Rick Santorum: GOP Underdog Frontrunner

The good news for Rick Santorum is that the latest poll numbers from Gallup have him leading Mitt Romney by 10 points; the bad news is that respondents also think Romney, not Santorum, is the GOP's best shot at beating Barack Obama.

Comments | 113 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Silicon Valley's Baby CEOs Are Younger and Richer Than You

"While little data on the phenomenon exists, venture capitalists say they are funding more chief executives under age 21 than ever before," reports Reuters' Sarah McBride.

Comments | 1,187 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Rich Gingrich Donor Says He Doesn't Like Rich Donors

If Sheldon Adelson is to be believed, expect Newt Gingrich to stay an advertising feature in the race for a long time with up to $100 million in super PAC donations, even though Adelson himself says he doesn't like the influence of rich donors.

Comments | 395 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 21, 2012

Jon Stewart Gives One for the Ladies

Rep. Darrell Issa's all male debate on contraception raised plenty of eyebrows (including our own) and on Monday night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart weighed in as well.

Comments | 5,709 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 17, 2012

Chart of the Day

The Celebrity Charity Auction Index

How much would you pay to spend time with Samuel L. Jackson? Jeremy Lin? Snoop Dogg? Karl Rove? These don't have to be hypothetical questions. You actually can pay to meet them and other marquee names. For charity, of course.

Comments | 1,004 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 17, 2012

House Makes Good on Pay Roll Tax Deal

Though it took some teeth-pulling, House Republicans made official the deal reached Monday to extend unemployment benefits and  the payroll tax cut by another 10 months with a 293-132 vote today.

Comments | 282 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 17, 2012

Casino Mogul Doubles Down on Risky Gingrich Bet

Though it seemed like he might be wavering, casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson has decided to let another $10 million ride on Newt Gingrich's flailing bid for president.

Comments | 791 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 17, 2012

'Get Off My Mountain,' Demands Utah Mountain Man

If this were a fun-loving cartoon bear breaking into campers' cabins and stealing food, we'd laugh. But it isn't funny when a well-armed and apparently deranged mountain man does it as one is in southwestern Utah.

Comments | 5,935 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 17, 2012

Jon Stewart Tries Not to Make a 'Santorum' Joke

The Daily Show host promised several episodes ago to permanently shelf jokes on the other meaning of the word "Santorum," but recent coverage of the candidate made that awfully difficult last night.

Comments | 3,674 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 16, 2012

Michelle Obama Surprises Some White House Visitors More Than Others

Visitors to the White House know that their tours rarely bring them into contact with its famous residents, but today, First Lady Michelle Obama (and First Dog Bo) surprised visitors with a hug-filled meet-and-greet.

Comments | 3,787 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 16, 2012

Stat of the Day

8.4 Percent of All Marriages Are Interracial Now

Those searching for more signs of "how far American has come" from its ugly racist past have a new statistic to latch onto today.

Comments | 1,300 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 16, 2012

Meet the FedEx Employee Who Knew Jeremy Lin Would Be a Star

You can't help but feel some vicarious vindication for Ed Weiland, the low-key FedEx employee who saw Jeremy Lin's potential when so many NBA GMs didn't.

Comments | 1,922 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 16, 2012

Workers Get $7,000 Paydays After GM's Most Profitable Year

General Motors has posted its most profitable year ever in 2011, coming a long way since being bailed out in 2008 and going bankrupt in 2009.

Comments | 2,091 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 16, 2012

Jon Stewart Asks: Is Congressional Insider Trading Unethical If It's Legal?

On The Daily Show last night, Jon Stewart made easy work of a little loophole in insider-trading law for the folks who represent us in Congress.

Comments | 3,900 Views

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