Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold (right in 2014) says that if three Republican women senators -- Collins, Murkowski, and Capito -- were men, he would challenge them to a duel for their actions in stopping the repeal of Obamacare.

What do you think? I just suggested to my W. VA Dem friends, who are doing such a bang-up job at organizing in Trump country, that they respond to the big shot Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold, who says if the three Republican women Senators were men, he would challenge them to duels -- and presumably be the last man standing, writes the Texas Tribune.

If you remember, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of W. Va brought the Senate health care strategy to a screeching halt last week. Interviewed by local Corpus Christi radio host Bob Jones on Friday, Farenthold said: "Some of the people that are opposed to this, there are female senators from the Northeast... If it was a guy from South Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style."

I'm not sure the way to repeal Obamacare is by holding a gun to people's heads, but we all know gunslingers get their way in Texas. Apparently, Congressman Farenthold is a colorful Texan -- as many are -- having been charged with sexual harassment in 2014, writes ProgressTexas. I'll bet the 3 Republican women senators are just shaking in their high heels right now, reading about Farenthold's desire to shoot them dead..

If Texas Republican men hadn't raised maternal death rates in the state to third-world country levels, I could laugh over this nonsense. But you are looking at the dudes who make it their business to control the lives, bodies and most every move of Texas women -- and American women nationwide. This East coast elitist is not impressed. Gross!

At least in W. Va, my friends might take him out without firing a shot, given how strategic and successful they are at organizing. Brains over brawn, a true battle of the sexes, and may the ladies take out Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold! ~ Anne

Activism has a new style, writes Politico. The lab-coat liberals are marching on Washington.

Aghast at Trump's hostility to science in almost every form from climate science to the health benefits of exercise, Democrats and Independents are looking into a black hole of disinformation, as Trump's alt-right Republicans take Washington, accompanied by educated Democrats who know better.

Researchers traditionally avoided wading into politics, preferring not to rock their funding boats from one political administration to another. Now, as winds of anti-intellectualism sweep America, they are testing whether a significant number in their ranks can win elective office, with the goal of keep science and innovation alive in America.

Recent research at Pew Research confirmed that 58% of Republicans believe that colleges and universities are bad for America. This Trump tidal wave of disinformation and attempts to discredit research has increased almost 20 points in two years.

“It is past time for scientists to step up and get involved … because that is the only way that we are going to change the course,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, a cancer researcher-turned-business owner who twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Pennsylvania. She is the founder of 314 Action, a political action committee that helps people with scientific backgrounds run for office. “Traditionally, the attitude has been that science is above politics, and by getting involved in politics, it could possibly pollute science. My response to that is, ‘How’s that working for you?'”

To understand the degree to which disinformation and a rejection of science is sweeping the Republican, read my July 2017 In-Depth essay America's Rejection Of Science, Rational Thinking, Institutions & Perceived Reality Is Epic & Dangerous.