Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Hobby Lobby FAQs, GI Bill Investigation, and Facebook Outrage
The Supreme Court ruled today that Hobby Lobby does not have to cover contraception for employees for religious reasons. A look at the family behind Hobby Lobby and the organization that recruited them. Next, the University of Phoenix and GI Bill tuition money. Also filmmaker Doug Block on his new documentary 112 Weddings. Last, Facebook ran an experiment on users in 2012, but didn’t get permission from the users.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenThe Supreme Court ruled today that Hobby Lobby does not have to cover contraception for employees through the Affordable Care Act for religious reasons. First, we’ll define some of the key terms in the case and answer some of the questions that result from the ruling. Then, we’ll take a look at the family behind Hobby Lobby and the organization that recruited them to protest contraception. Next, the University of Phoenix in San Diego is the biggest recipient of GI Bill tuition money in the country. But the quality of education doesn’t measure up to some state and national measures. Next, filmmaker Doug Block on his new documentary 112 Weddings, which airs tonight on HBO. Finally, Facebook ran an experiment on users in 2012, but didn’t get permission from the users.
Photo Credit: DangApricot - Own work
In this episode
5 storiesHobby Lobby FAQs
The Supreme Court ruled today that Hobby Lobby can decline to offer contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act for religious reasons. But now that we have the ruling, we’re left with many questions. Like, what is a closely held corporation? Will the ruling also allow certain corporations to not hire gays and lesbians?
Read the story8 minHobby Lobby Family
Just how did the family behind Hobby Lobby become the poster child for religious freedom and the Affordable Care Act? Turns out they were recruited by a conservative advocacy firm called the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. And the Becket Fund is not done with pushing cases its leaders say violate the rights of Christians in America.
Read the story9 minGI Bill Treasure Chest
When the GI Bill was reauthorized in 2008, the idea was to ensure a middle-class lifestyle for troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. But unlike the veterans of WWII, who spent their GI Bill money on universities like Harvard, Yale and UC Berkeley, the new wave of veterans are largely attending for-profit colleges.
Read the story8 min112 Weddings
Wedding videographer Doug Block has shot 112 weddings since he decided documentary filmmaking was not going to pay the bills. But the itch to tell stories on screen was always with him.
Read the story14 minFacebook Fiddles with Our Brains
Back in 2012, Facebook conducted a mass experiment on users. Some users had more positive, happy posts removed from their news feeds. Others had more negative posts removed. Facebook wanted to see how the posts of our friends and colleagues affected our own behaviors on the social network.
Read the story8 min
