SEATTLE RED

An intimate view of a great American

May 19, 2020, 3:44 PM | Updated: May 20, 2020, 10:08 am

Based on 30 hours of intimate interviews, the superb new PBS documentary Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words allows the Supreme Court Justice to tell his remarkable story, just as he’d narrate it to family members or close friends. His recollections come alive through expertly edited still photos and film footage, showing his rise from desperate poverty in the segregated South to appointment to the nation’s highest court.

His confirmation process — nearly derailed by last-minute, clearly dubious charges by one-time aide Anita Hill — makes for riveting viewing, highlighting a much-younger Joe Biden’s bumbling role as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The two-hour film is rated PG-13 for some of the salacious aspects of Anita Hill’s testimony, but viewers of all ages will feel inspired by the heartfelt patriotism, and deep religious faith that allowed Justice Thomas to transcend every obstacle. Created Equal, a masterful piece of work, clearly counts among the year’s best films.

Ed Westrick, 59, adjusts a roof on a small building at his rural home near Commerce, Texas, Friday,...

Associated Press

Economic frustration tests Trump’s standing with rural voters, new AP-KFF poll finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — About half of rural American voters believe the economy is worse off now than when President Donald Trump returned to office, according to a new survey that points to economic frustration among a key group that has backed Trump and other Republicans in recent elections. The Associated Press, in partnership with KFF, […]

13 minutes ago

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., walks onto the stage during a Get Out the Vote campaign event supportin...

Associated Press

Sen. Bernie Sanders unveils bill to ban artificial superintelligence and create Department of AI

Washington (AP) — Two leading progressive lawmakers, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar, are unveiling legislation Wednesday that would ban artificial superintelligence and create a federal agency to oversee advanced AI as some of the industry’s own leaders urge Congress to impose guardrails on the advancing technology. The bill, provided first to The Associated […]

1 hour ago

Deoujahne Darc performs during Skid Row's first annual talent show in downtown Los Angeles, Saturda...

Associated Press

At a talent show on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, the performers are all part of the homeless community

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wearing shiny heels, a thrifted dress and a red rose in her hair, Deoujahne Darc belted out an original song on a small, makeshift stage in the heart of Los Angeles’ Skid Row. “I saw the Lord in the face of a homeless man,” she sang, as the crowd swayed along. […]

2 hours ago

FILE- A worker passes by robots from Chinese company Lens at the China International Supply Chain E...

Associated Press

A look at AI doomsday scenarios that researchers say could put humanity at risk

For years, artificial intelligence researchers have warned of ways the technology could wipe out humanity: AI bots could design an unstoppable disease, unleash a nuclear war, or transform all of Earth into paper clip factories, as one thought experiment goes. Debates inside the AI industry and beyond over the plausibility of these doomsday scenarios have […]

3 hours ago

An individual watches a protester scale a light pole and unfurl a banner to protest the upcoming St...

Associated Press

Taiwan is watching closely as Xi and Trump meet and hopes US will keep up its arms sales

TAINAN, Taiwan (AP) — As China’s Xi Jinping arrives in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, Taiwan expressed confidence that U.S. arms sales to the island that Beijing claims as its own will continue — despite China’s pressure. China has pressed Washington to halt the arms sales, most prominently during a summit in […]

3 hours ago

A screen shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), the foreign exchange rate between U.S...

Associated Press

Asian shares are mixed and oil prices fall after Trump says US and Iran met at the UN

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street held near its record and oil prices fell following U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that United States and Iranian officials had a “very good” meeting Tuesday on the sidelines at the United Nations. U.S. futures were higher. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.5% to […]

4 hours ago

An intimate view of a great American