It was an attempted auto-coup: The Cline Center’s Coup d’État project categorizes the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol Cline Center for Advanced Social Research December 15, 2022
Using the Cline Center’s Coup d’État Project definitions, the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 was an attempted coup d’état: an organized, illegal attempt to intervene in the presidential transition by displacing the power of the Congress to certify the election. In terms of the type of coup attempt, the complex nature of this event leads it to be categorized as both an attempted auto-coup and as an attempted dissident coup, reflecting the distinctive activities of different actors involved in the event.
Four people charged over Qatar’s alleged bribing of EU officials Sam Jones, Helena Smith, and Jennifer Rankin Guardian December 11, 2022
Charges come after Belgian police made six arrests and seized phones, computers and €600,000 in cash.
The Cienfuegos Affair: Inside the case that upended the drug war in Mexico Tim Golden New York Times December 8, 2022
A Times Magazine-ProPublica investigation reveals how the U.S. painstakingly built a case against a Mexican general suspected of links to organized crime — and then decided to let him go.
ILO report reveals deepening cuts in real wages Nick Beams WSWS.org December 6, 2022
Labor historians’ “open letter” to Biden falls on deaf ears Tom Mackaman WSWS.org December 5, 2022
Scores of American labor historians last week signed an open letter to President Biden imploring him not to impose a contract on railroad workers against their will, and thereby outlaw the right to strike.
Mexico’s planned GM corn ban ‘deep concern’ for US Vanessa Buschschlüter BBC News December 1, 2022
Citing Orwell, judge blocks ‘positively dystopian’ censorship law backed by DeSantis Jake Johnson Common Dreams November 17, 2022 The federal judge lambasted Florida officials’ argument that “professors enjoy ‘academic freedom’ so long as they express only those viewpoints of which the state approves.”
How Russia pays for war Lazaro Gamio and Ana Swanson New York Times October 30, 2022
Biden’s National Security Strategy Is a defense of US domination, not democracy Ashley Smith Truthout October 17, 2022
There Is absolutely nothing to support the ‘independent state legislature’ theory J. Michael Luttig The Atlantic October 3, 2022
Such a doctrine would be antithetical to the Framers’ intent, and to the text, fundamental design, and architecture of the Constitution.
How France underdevelops Africa Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Inter Press Service August 30, 2022
The march towards U.S. fascism began with the corporate hijacking of democracy Thom Hartmann Common Dreams August 24, 2022
Political corruption and the idea that corporations can be people are the cancer at the core of our national crisis.
The Supreme Court rolls back a right and inflames a divided country Dan Baltz Washington Post June 24, 2022
The implications are both staggering and impossible to predict, other than that ending the right to abortion will have profound effects on women while adding to the cultural and political balkanization of America.
South Africa’s corruption inquiry leaves few of the nation’s powerful unscathed Lynsey Chutel New York Times June 23, 2022
The final portion of a three-year investigation reported graft on a massive scale under former President Jacob Zuma, but also found the current president’s actions wanting.
The American retirement system is built for the rich Daniel Hemmel Washington Post April 20, 2022
Lawmakers proclaim they want to help the middle class save. But that’s not who benefits most from IRAs and 401(k) plans.
Before giving billions to Jared Kushner, Saudi investment fund had big doubts David D. Kirkpatrick and Kate Kelly New York Times April 10, 2022
Before committing $2 billion to Mr. Kushner’s fledgling firm, officials at a fund led by the Saudi crown prince questioned taking such a big risk…. But days later the full board of the $620 billion Public Investment Fund — led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler and a beneficiary of Mr. Kushner’s support when he worked as a White House adviser — overruled the panel.
Ilhan Omar introduces bill to guarantee housing as a human right Sharon Zhang Truthout March 25, 2022 The bill would repeal the Faircloth Amendment, which places a hard limit on the amount of public housing in the country.
This judge is one of the last U.S. allies in the Guatemala corruption fight. Politicians keep trying to sideline her. Kevin Sieff Washington Post February 19, 2022
In an uneven fight with China, a tiny country’s brand becomes toxic Andrew Higgins New York Times February 21, 2022
After Lithuania dared to seek closer ties with Taiwan, China cut off trade — even blocking imports of products from other countries with Lithuanian parts.
Biden’s decision on frozen funds stokes anger among Afghans Christina Goldbaum, Safiullah Padshah and Taimoor Shah New York Times Feb. 13, 2022
“It is a cruel act and a betrayal,” one shopkeeper said of the White House’s move, which could effectively bankrupt the Afghan central bank.
Can Haiti rebuild a food system broken by disaster, historical injustice, and neglect? Sara Jean, Evens Mary, and Thin Lei Win New Humanitarian February 3, 2022
‘You see your family out there trying to work the land every day, but in the end they don’t make anything significant out of it.’
Cuba: 60 years of a brutal, vindictive, and pointless embargo Peter Kornbluh The Nation January 26, 2022
Where Obama was willing to try “engagement,” Biden administration policy remains mired in Cold War clichés. The Nation has always believed there is a better way.
Afghanistan faces widespread hunger amid worsening humanitarian crisis Ruby Mellen and Júlia Ledur Washington Post January 24, 2022
Since the fall of Kabul in August and the withdrawal of U.S. troops, the Taliban-controlled government has been choked off from the international economy, resulting in a currency crisis, extensive poverty and the collapse of key public services such as health care. “Yes, it was terrible prior to August,” Aken [Afghanistan director of the International Rescue Committee] said. ″But when the development funding was cut off on Aug. 15 and the sanctions were imposed and the assets frozen, that really took the situation from very bad to an extreme.”