CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION COMPLEX: “The American Christian Victim Complex” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

Many, many Christians believe they are subject to religious discrimination in the United States. A new report from the Public Religion Research Institute and Brookings offers evidence: Almost half of Americans say discrimination against Christians is as big of a problem as discrimination against other groups, including blacks and minorities. Three-quarters of Republicans and Trump supporters said this, and so did nearly eight out of 10 white evangelical Protestants. Of the latter group, six in 10 believe that although America once was a Christian nation, it is no longer—a huge jump from 2012.

POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “GOP Wants FBI Director Comey to Testify Over Clinton E-mail Probe” / RT America / Ed Schultz ☮

The Justice Department’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s storage of classified emails on a private server is closed and no criminal charges will brought against the former Secretary of State. The House GOP has asked FBI director James Comey to testify before congress tomorrow. Republicans are also trying to reconcile Clinton’s statements throughout the investigation that she did not email any classified materials with Comey’s statements that 110 emails contained classified information.

RIGHT-WING AUTHORITATIVE NATIONALISM: “Illinois Man Arrested for Burning American Flag” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

An Illinois-based man was arrested after he set the US flag on fire and posted photos on the social networking site Facebook, a media report said on Tuesday.

Bryton Mellott, 22, posted several photos on Facebook earlier this week, showing him with a burning flag. He also posted a statement why he is “not proud” to be an American, Fox59.com report

EXCECUTION BY COP: “Another Day, Another Black Man Murdered by Cop” / Thom Hartmann ☮

Thom speaks with Benjamin Dixon, host of the Benjamin Dixon Show, about the latest police shooting of an African-American man, North Carolina’s new ‘Blue Lives Matter’ law, and the court of public opinion.

BRITISH POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “The Iraq War, the Chilcot Inquiry and Tony Blair” / Owen Jones ☮

The Iraq Inquiry, led by Sir John Chilcot, could hardly have been more critical of Tony Blair and the New Labour government, which led us into that calamity. Many feared it would be a whitewash but in the end, it pulled no punches. From the intelligence dossier that led to Tony Blair claiming Saddam Hussein could launch WMDs within 45 minutes to the claims that the UK and US had exhausted their diplomatic options, Chilcot eviscerated those in charge. But, of course, to those of us who marched against the war, much of what the Chilcot Inquiry told us, we already knew.

THE POWER ELITE: “FBI: Hillary Broke the Law but There will be No Indictment” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, on Tuesday recommended no criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information while she was secretary of state, lifting an enormous legal cloud from her presidential campaign less than two hours before she boarded Air Force One for her first joint campaign appearance with President Obama.

WHISTLEBLOWER INJUSTICE: “American Hero, Chelsea Manning Hospitalized in Possible Suicide Attempt” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

Chelsea Manning, the military whistleblower serving a 35 year sentence, has been rushed to hospital after reportedly trying to take her own life.