One of Putin's judges has accused an anti-torture group of trying to change state policy. This is an admission, in effect, that torture is state policy in Russia. But Putin does not want to admit that.

The US has at least admitted that torture was state policy, which is the first step towards making sure it won't recur. (The next step is to punish the torturers.)

Of course, the idea that it is a crime to try to change state policy is directly against democracy. By making that an accusation, Putin commits an even larger crime.

Scientists: Earth Endangered by New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans.

The conviction of Megan Rice and other protesters against nuclear weapons have been reversed on appeal.

The judges ruled that the protesters' symbolic acts, followed by surrender, could not be considered a serious attempt to harm US national security.

They rejected the government's outrageous claims, such as that putting up a banner, hammering on a concrete building, or embarrassing the government for its incompetence, can count as damaging national security. However, the fact that officials made such claims is damning in itself. Those officials are trying to make the US a police state.

The Department of Transportation's new rules for oil tank cars are weak and inadequate to prevent fires.

Greece should drop the euro rather than surrender to euro-austerity; in a few years it will be better off out.