Merkel's Christian Democrats Have Strong Showing In Germany's Regional Election

German Chancellor Angela Merkel surely was smiling today, learning the results of France's presidential election. But Merkel had an even more important reason to celebrate over the "stunning triumph", writes the LA Times, of her Christian Democrats over the ruling center-left Social Democrats in Schleswig-Holstein, home to 2.3 million voters and 400,000 dairy cows. The win gives Merkel's Christian Democrats much-needed momentum in advance of next Sunday's regional election in Germany's most populous state -- North Rhine-Westphalia, with 13 million voters. 

Germany is not worried presently about a Marine Le Pen-like, nationalist confrontation among German voters, but Merkel has been at risk to her "colorful, straight-talking, multilingual challenger Social Democrat Martin Schulz" in the Sept. 24 election where she is seeking a fourth four-year term. Merkel's Christian Democrats beat the Social Democrats in Schleswig-Holstein by a margin of 32.5% vs 27%. Next week will give Merkel a comprehensive view of where she stands, although four months is forever in today's world. 

Smart Women Across America Are Asking: 'Where Is Ivanka When We Need Her?'

"The flaws in Ivanka Trump's feminism are, by now, well known, writes Sady Doyle for Elle.

The flaws in Ivanka Trump's feminism are, by now, well known. Any liberal woman under 35 could probably rattle off the list in her sleep: Her "parental leave" plan didn't provide enough parental leave. Her child care plan didn't actually cover the cost of child care. Her #WomenWhoWork campaign is an ad for dresses and handbags; her dresses and handbags are made at facilities that exploit female workers; her "feminist advocate" stance belies her role in an administration that actively seeks to strip funding and rights from women, and her choice to take a role in that administration (besides being a land mine for nepotism charges, the president is, y'know, her Dad) has enabled her to profit off the presidency.

The insults to Ivanka Trump are piling up in trailerloads. Sady Doyle's is one of countless, incredulous, scathing reviews of the pink frosted cupcakes baked from the wisdom of other people that America's First Daughter calls a book for working women. There is near-unanimous agreement that Ivanka Trump has a unique idea about the very word 'working'.  It's not the one that over 100 million of the rest of us relate to. 

One wonders if Ivanka isn't actually doing more damage than good with this book, even if the proceeds are going to charity. Personally, I thought Ivanka was smarter than the Stepford wife she projects in 'Women Who Work'.  Her prolific use of people's quotations, taking them out of context and giving them revised life through an Ivanka-envisioned hastag, implies a certain sympatico with her -- one that more often than not, doesn't exist at all. Ivanka Trump is smelling the roses in Hillary country, leaving many people not amused. 

When Ivanka takes Toni Morrison's 'Beloved' and its reflections on both freedom from physical slavery and a psychological prison living in the mind of its main character Sethe and applies it to the lives of well-off, working white women, our aggravation is beyond exasperation. She sounds like a heartless, clueless airhead -- or more like her father than we want to believe. 

As Gail Collins wrote in her New York Times column this weekend: 'Where's Ivanka When We Need Her?' This is our real world:

The reproductive rights war is always promoted publicly as a battle against abortion. But many religious conservatives hate birth control in general. Some just want to stop sex outside of marriage. Some don’t believe even married couples should use artificial methods like pills or condoms. Some believe that all fertilized eggs are humans and that many forms of contraception, from IUDs to morning-after pills, cause the equivalent of murder. It’s a theological principle that most Americans don’t accept. “Personhood” amendments giving the eggs constitutional rights have been defeated even in very conservative states.

Frankly, we don't care that Ivanka Trump didn't get her massages during the presidential campaign. The sky is falling on women's rights in this country, and this blond bombshell is redefining slavery for rich, white women with nannies. This is gross, frankly. Truly gross.

Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Girls Who Code tweeted at Ivanka Trump gelling her not to feature her story in 'Women Who Work' unless she is "going to stop being #complicit."

For a much more In-Depth look at Ivanka's new book, read AOC's: Hard Work Is All That Is Required, Says Ivanka Trump In A Book Drowning In Bad Reviews. 

Hillary Clinton Slams Trump Administration's Assault On Women's Reproductive Health

Hillary Clinton, speaking at the 100th anniversary gala honoring Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, slammed "groups of men" in Washington, DC who are deciding the future of women's health protections. Everyone in the room knew she was talking about the men of the Trump administration and now the anti-women lieutenants like Teresa Manning and Charmaine Yoest, hired to rollback women's health advancements over the last 50 years. 

The event was a star-studded affair. Clinton spoke after actress Meryl Streep (she met with Streep earlier in the day, a spokesman said) and producer Shonda Rhimes. Comedian and actress Tina Fey, comedian and actor Ed Helms and top Clinton donor and producer Harvey Weinstein were also in attendance.

While urging action, Clinton also pushed the attendees to try to understand the people who disagree with Planned Parenthood.

"After decades of arguing back and forth, I think it's safe to say that people of goodwill and good faith will continue to view this issue differently," she said. "So, yes, I believe we can and should respect the deeply held beliefs of our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens, even when they differ from our own. That's part of what should make America America."

The event was a star-studded affair. Clinton spoke after actress Meryl Streep, who she met with earlier in  the day, and producer Shonda Rhimes. Comedian and actress Tina Fey, comedian and actor Ed Helms and top Clinton donor and producer Harvey Weinstein were also in attendance.

While urging action, Clinton also pushed the attendees to try to understand the people who disagree with Planned Parenthood.

"After decades of arguing back and forth, I think it's safe to say that people of goodwill and good faith will continue to view this issue differently," the Democratic presidential candidate said. "So, yes, I believe we can and should respect the deeply held beliefs of our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens, even when they differ from our own. That's part of what should make America America."

However, Clinton added, activists should "never back down from our commitment to defend the ability of every woman to make these deeply personal decisions for herself."

Hillary closed her speech with a reference to "The Handmaid's Tale," a new Hulu show based on the 1985 book by Margaret Atwood where women's rights in a dystopian future erode.

"The show has prompted important conversation about women's rights and autonomy. In 'The Handmaid's Tale,' women's rights are gradually, slowly stripped away. As one character says, 'We didn't look up from our phones until it was too late,'" Clinton said. "It's not too late for us, but we have to encourage the millions of women and men who support Planned Parenthood's mission to keep fighting."