Daily Archives: December 12, 2020

2020-12-12: News Headlines

_____ (2020-12-12). Who The #Resistance Was Actually #Resisting These Last Four Years. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | After it was announced that the Biden camp had

Qiao Collective (2020-12-12). Qiao Collective on challenging U.S. aggression on China, the role of the Western left. mronline.org On the domestic front, the U.S. propaganda machine mostly works instead to position China as this great, menacing oriental Other. We've seen this during the COVID-19 pandemic in Trump's rhetoric about the "China virus" and in Biden's attempts at one-upmanship.

Richard Horton (2020-12-12). [Comment] Offline: The coming technocracy. thelancet.com As 2020 draws to a close, one trend among nations most severely hit by COVID-19 bears some discussion. It is that democracies are evolving into technocracies, by which I mean a form of governance where those with political power are appointed on the basis of their scientific expertise. It would be hard to deny that scientists have assumed a role in political decision making unparalleled in recent memory. The French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy was the first to raise the issue of medical power.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-12). Biden solidifying a more aggressive neoliberal and militarist administration. peoplesdispatch.org From former war commanders and representatives of the military-industrial complex to Clinton loyalists to oil lobby-funded, the appointments made so far gives us very little change to be expected from the upcoming Biden administration.

Eds. (2020-12-11). Silencing Black radicalism since the Cold War. mronline.org Describing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as socialist and accusing them of fomenting disorder in America's urban areas invoked racial disorder for the majority white voters who cast their ballots for an avowed white supremacist.

Manar Waheed (2020-12-11). Biden Must Restore Citizenship for Black and Brown People. aclu.org President Trump's relentless destruction of our immigration system is well documented. However, the myriad ways in which he attacked and targeted Black and Brown people seeking immigration benefits or citizenship, and even U.S. citizens is less discussed. , , There have been three substantial attacks on citizenship for Black and Brown immigrants: | Indefinite delays of immigration benefits, including citizenship, through the Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program (CARRP), which has targeted Muslims and people from Muslim-majority countries since 2008;Blocking the expedited path to citizenship fo…

Alan Macleod (2020-12-11). Critics Pan Time's Choice of Biden-Harris for 2020 Person of the Year Award. mintpressnews.com "This is Joe Biden's year. He not only managed to stay alive until the election, he also did other things, presumably." — YouTube creator Shaun…

Mark Fiore (2020-12-11). Screen Shot 2020-12-10 at 9.16.39 AM.png. progressive.org President Trump is trashing democracy on his way out the door and congressional Republicans are complicit.

Staff (2020-12-11). U.S. Recognizes Morocco's Occupation of Western Sahara in Latest Betrayal of Sahrawi People. democracynow.org We continue to examine the U.S.-brokered deal between Morocco and Israel to normalize relations. As part of the deal, the U.S. will become the first country in the world to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which Morocco has occupied since 1975 in defiance of the international community. We convene a roundtable to discuss developments: Mouloud Said, a representative of the Polisario Front in Washington; Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco; and Sahrawi journalist and activist Nazha El-Khalidi.

Stephen Lendman (2020-12-11). Biden to Mandate Mask Wearing, Mandatory Mass Vaxxing to Follow? globalresearch.ca Porous face masks offer no protection from minuscule covid spores. | Extended wearing is potentially hazardous to human health. | Mass vaxxing could be catastrophic if ordered. | Covid is a form of seasonal flu/influenza. | Protection comes from good health habits, including proper …

Jeffrey St. Clair (2020-12-11). Roaming Charges: Negative Creep. counterpunch.org Under Biden we're going to experience four years (if he lasts that long) of negative creep, a steady recrudescence of the same policies—economic, social, environmental and military—which led us to into the very quagmire where nearly all of us are now inexorably sinking.

Bryant Arroyo (2020-12-11). Titular Protocolos CO:VID-19 / Receta para desastre en las prisiones de Pensilvania. workers.org Los trabajadores encarcelados en Pensilvania exigen que el secretario del Departamento de Correcciones, John Wetzel, revoque su desastrosa decisión de comenzar los traslados masivos de prisioneros en medio de la pandemia de COVID-19. El siguiente comentario es del organizador de compañeros en la cárcel y ambientalista Bryant Arroyo, recluido en . . . |

Albert Bender (2020-12-11). Bolivia feeds its hungry while Republicans let Americans starve. peoplesworld.org It is a tale of two countries regarding how Bolivia and the United States treat their people. On the one hand, there is Bolivia, a country that has embraced socialism, has overwhelmingly elected a progressive, anti-imperialist president, Luis Arce, and a country that has just initiated a program of "Bonuses Against Hunger" to provide relief …

Claudia De la Cruz (2020-12-11). Biden's cabinet picks are a pittance—Representation in the capitalist government is not enough. liberationnews.org If we study the political careers of Kamala Harris and Avril Haines we find that these women have consistently made decisions that harm workers…

Chauncey K. Robinson, Matt Bernico (2020-12-11). PW Podcast: Rev. Liz Theoharis talks voter suppression and poverty. peoplesworld.org Beyond the Page is a companion podcast to the award-winning publication People's World. With every episode, we'll take you deeper into the topics covered at PeoplesWorld.org. Our program brings you in-depth interviews with journalists and activists on the most pressing stories in progressive politics, labor, and the struggle for socialism in the United States. As …

Ralph Nader (2020-12-11). Go Vote Yourself a Raise, Georgia — You've Long Earned It. counterpunch.org All political eyes are on Georgia's runoff election on January 5th, 2021. Two Senate seats are up for grabs and will decide whether the evil Trumpster and corporatist Senator Mitch McConnell stays in total control of the U.S. Senate or not. If the Democrats win both seats, the Senate would be split, 50-50. Vice President

John Stanton (2020-12-11). What is the United States of America? A Military Democracy. counterpunch.org "Military leader, council, assembly of the people are the organs of gentile society developed into military democracy — military, since war and organization for war have now become regular functions of national life. Their neighbors' wealth excites the greed of peoples who already see in the acquisition of wealth one of the main aims of

Heather Cox Richardson (2020-12-11). Thoughts on the Silence of Republican Lawmakers. indybay.org Coronavirus continues to devastate the country, with official deaths topping 281,000 today, but it turns out that the Trump administration did not actually have a plan for distribution of vaccines. Federal officials have drastically slashed the amount of vaccine they promised to states before the election. Instead of the 300 million doses, the plan is currently to distribute 35 to 40 million doses.

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-12-11). 'Harebrained' Texas Election Lawsuit a Serious GOP Attack on Democracy, Warn Experts. commondreams.org {olitical observers on Friday warned that Texas's legal challenge of the election results, which has garnered the support of more than 100 Republican officials, is nonetheless a sign that democracy is under significant attack in the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1219321528_1.jpg

Alfred de Zayas (2020-12-11). My Take on the US Elections: Voting for Corporate Figureheads is not Democracy. globalresearch.ca Interview with Prof. Dr. iur. et phil. Alfred de Zayas, international law expert and former UN mandate holder | *** | Thomas Kaiser: Zeitgeschehen im Fokus Professor de Zayas, you are an American citizen. What do you think about the course of …

Alex Henderson (2020-12-11). Rust Belt warning for the GOP: These 3 counties spell trouble for future Republican wins. salon.com If these counties are any indication, Republicans might run into problems in the Rust Belt in 2022 and 2024…

Amanda Marcotte (2020-12-11). Republicans want more than a coup: Trump's loyalty test exposes their hatred for democracy. salon.com More than half of House Republicans and 17 GOP attorneys general have outed themselves as traitors…

US Senate, Senator Johnson Objection (2020-12-11). 2020 National Juneteenth Holiday Bill still in process. indybay.org Texas Republican Senator Cornyn. As in legislative session, I ask unanimous | consent that the Senate Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. 4019; Juneteenth National Holiday; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

James M. Dorsey (2020-12-11). Saudi Arabia Sends Joe Biden Mixed Messages. globalresearch.ca Saudi Arabia appears to be drawing lines in the sand as the kingdom prepares for a new era in relations with the United States once President-elect Joe Biden assumes office in January. | In doing so, the kingdom is seemingly signaling …

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2020-12-11). Calls to "Abolish the Death Penalty" Grow as Trump's Last-Minute Execution Spree Kills Brandon Bernard. commondreams.org "In a world of incredible violence, the state should not be involved in premeditated murder," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/brandon_bernard.jpg

Peter Boyle (2020-12-11). Thai democracy activists defy escalating repression. greenleft.org.au Despite growing number of democracy activists facing charges under Thailand's notorious lèse majesté law, the youth-led movement keeps up its mass mobilisations, reports Peter Boyle.

Igor Derysh (2020-12-11). Mike Lee becomes lone Republican to block bipartisan bill creating American Women's History Museum. salon.com The Utah Republican's move to block the museum comes on the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage…

commondreams (2020-12-11). Social Security Beneficiaries and SSA Employees Agree: Joe Biden Needs to Clean House on Day One. commondreams.org ______________________________…

sputniknews (2020-12-11). 'Build an Inclusive Government': Asian Americans Urge for More Representation in Biden's Cabinet. sputniknews.com Projected US President-elect Joe Biden is currently in the process of assembling his Cabinet. Over the past week, Biden announced Denis McDonough as his pick for secretary of veterans affairs, Tom Vilsack for agriculture secretary and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) as secretary of housing and urban development.

Miles Mogulescu (2020-12-11). Want to Defund the Police? Then Vote for Loeffler and Perdue in Georgia Senate Run-Off Race. commondreams.org When police (and teachers and firefighters and other essential state and local government workers) are defunded and fired in the next few months, blame it on Republicans like Purdue and Loeffler. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/georgia_0.jpg

Dennis Argall (2020-12-11). The Approaching Crunch in US Policy Towards China. globalresearch.ca The Republican and Democrat leaders of the US Senate Intelligence Committee have issued a joint statement of intense hostility towards China. This posture is a threat to Australia's national security… and the world. An attempt to tear China down will …

Khubaka Michael Harris (2020-12-11). Thursday 12/10: 2020 Sacramento Kwanzaa Wakanda Project. indybay.org Florin Square | Florin Road Partnership | Sacramento, California…

Eli J. Campbell (2020-12-11). The upcoming battle over US student debt cancellation. nationofchange.org President-elect Biden will be able to cancel nearly all student debt without congressional approval. If he refuses, organized debtors are preparing to strike.

Orinoco Tribune (2020-12-10). Evo Morales: In Venezuela there was a Democratic 'Fiesta' on December 6. mronline.org "There is peace, tranquility and yesterday there was a great democratic 'fiesta'," the former president of Bolivia and international observer of Venezuela's elections, Evo Morales, emphasized this Monday.

Ramzy Baroud (2020-12-10). Shunned by Trump, Mahmoud Abbas Looks to Biden to Revive a Long Dead "Peace Process" mintpressnews.com When all hope seemed lost, where Abbas found himself desperate for political validation and funds, Biden arrived like a conquering knight on a white horse and swept the Palestinian leader away to safety.

Rob Harris (2020-12-10). In Paris, soccer players lay down 'marker' in fight against racism. peoplesworld.org AP—Players have taken a knee, unfurled slogans and demanded tougher action only to find soccer — their working environment — remains infected with racism. The tipping point might just have come, with elite players in Paris taking the extraordinary step of refusing to continue playing. At the end of a year of striking gestures against …

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-10). Will Joe Biden Stop Funding the Saudi-UAE War on Yemen? globalresearch.ca Pro-Yemeni activists hope that Biden will stay true to his prior promise to stop funding the GCC's War on Yemen, but even if he does what's arguably the morally right thing, he'll probably be doing it for geopolitical reasons even …

Ahmad Salah (2020-12-10). Will Joe Biden "Revise" U.S Agenda in Syria? Use Terrorism Pretext to "Keep Boots on the Ground"? globalresearch.ca The mayhem of the presidential elections left the American policy-makers locked in heated arguments about the future of the US domestic and foreign policy alike. One of the most pressing issues on the agenda is the Middle East developments, especially …

Belén Fernández (2020-12-10). Israel's Honeymoon with the United Arab Emirates Is Grotesque. globalresearch.ca Since normalizing relations in September, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have teamed up to do what both do best: trample on democratic freedoms, commit atrocities, and whitewash occupation. | *** | Back in 2010, the New York Times' Thomas Friedman …

Terrell Jermaine Starr (2020-12-10). Activists Fight Voter Suppression in Georgia Runoffs. zcomm.org Groups go to court to reverse wrongful purge of 200,000 voters that could have significant impact on the election's outcome…

Sarah Lazare (2020-12-10). Biden's Defense Secretary Pick Shows the Revolving Door for Military Contractors Remains. globalresearch.ca Pres ≠i ≠dent-elect Joe Biden has tapped retired Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III for the pow ≠er ≠ful role of defense sec ≠re ≠tary, news out ≠lets revealed Decem ≠ber 7. Spec ≠u ≠la ≠tion over who Biden would pick had been brew ≠ing for weeks. All three top con ≠tenders for …

Abayomi Azikiwe (2020-12-10). Lawsuit Filed to Halt Voter Suppression in the Runoff Senate Elections in Georgia. globalresearch.ca After the third certification of the results of the presidential elections in the state of Georgia, efforts are underway to ensure equal access to the franchise leading up to the pivotal race to determine the composition of the United States …

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-12-10). Biden Provokes Frustration by Sidestepping Rep. Fudge for USDA, Treating HUD as 'Consolation Prize'. commondreams.org "His transition team has made a completely avoidable, self-inflicted injury by appointing Tom Vilsack to USDA." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-5809665821_0.jpg

Patrick Stephens (2020-12-10). Let Everybody Vote, Even if They're Incarcerated. progressive.org What value is a democracy that actively seeks to silence the voices of its most vulnerable citizens?

Vania Leveille (2020-12-10). The Biden Administration's Disability Rights To-Do List. aclu.org People with disabilities face enormous barriers in the United States today — from a pandemic that is killing disabled people, especially those in institutions, at staggering rates; to schools that too often fail, traumatize, and criminalize students with disabilities; to a criminal legal system that unnecessarily targets, incarcerates, and kills Black and Brown people with mental disabilities. The administration must make disability rights a priority from day one, with a commitment to addressing head-on these harms and the intersection of discrimination and marginalization around disability, race, and po…

Pip Hinman (2020-12-10). Five reasons Australia is not a real democracy. greenleft.org.au Many Australians watched the shit-show of the recent United States elections and questioned the level of democracy in that country. Alex Bainbridge asks if there's much of a difference here.

MEE and agencies (2020-12-09). France's cabinet greenlights 'anti-separatism' bill amid human rights concerns. middleeasteye.net France's cabinet greenlights 'anti-separatism' bill amid human rights concerns | The draft law, renamed the bill 'to strengthen republican values' and seeking to crack down on 'radical Islamism', will head to parliament in 2021 | Wed, 12/09/2020 – 14: 14 | French Prime Minister Jean Castex at a news conference after cabinet meeting discussions over a bill to fight what Macron has called 'I…

Mohammed Amin (2020-12-09). Sudan's civilian rulers fear new body's powers may derail democracy hopes. middleeasteye.net Sudan's civilian rulers fear new body's powers may derail democracy hopes | Politicians and analysts warn of the risks of a coup in Sudan following creation of a ruling council by country's military chief | Wed, 12/09/2020 – 15: 49 | Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan attend the opening session of the First National Economic Conference i…

news.un (2020-12-09). UN's Bachelet slams 'reprehensible' political leadership during pandemic, sees hope in new US administration. news.un.org Some political leadership during the pandemic has been "reprehensible", UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday, while holding out hope of a better 2021 as US President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Tom Conway (2020-12-09). Why America's future depends on rebuilding our factories. nationofchange.org Biden's Build Back Better campaign will make commonsense investments in U.S. manufacturing that put millions to work and ensure a reliable, high-quality supply of critical goods.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-09). Nina Turner Files to Run for Congress in Ohio. commondreams.org The former Ohio state senator and Bernie Sanders 2020 national campaign co-chair filed the requisite FEC paperwork on Wednesday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/turner_1.jpg

Neil M. Maher (2020-12-09). Biden needs to go big to rebuild America. nationofchange.org While this perfect storm of social, economic, and environmental emergencies may feel unprecedented, Americans during the 1930s faced a similar triple threat.

2020-12-12: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

Many Workers at Largest Corporations in US Depend on Federal Benefits to Survive
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-12-12
Millions of Americans employed at some of the country's largest companies have had to rely on food stamps and Medicaid, with giants like Walmart and McDonald's employing the most workers whose income is subsidized by taxpayers, according to a new study. | The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, released a study commissioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., last month based on data provided by 11 states.
truthout.org/articles/many-workers-at-largest-corporations-in-us-depend-on-federal-benefits-to-survive/

Biden solidifying a more aggressive neoliberal and militarist administration
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-12-12
From former war commanders and representatives of the military-industrial complex to Clinton loyalists to oil lobby-funded, the appointments made so far gives us very little change to be expected from the upcoming Biden administration.
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/12/12/biden-solidifying-a-more-aggressive-neoliberal-and-militarist-administration/

Qiao Collective on challenging U.S. aggression on China, the role of the Western left
Qiao Collective | mronline.org | 2020-12-12
On the domestic front, the U.S. propaganda machine mostly works instead to position China as this great, menacing oriental Other. We've seen this during the COVID-19 pandemic in Trump's rhetoric about the "China virus" and in Biden's attempts at one-upmanship.
mronline.org/2020/12/12/qiao-collective-on-challenging-u-s-aggression-on-china-the-role-of-the-western-left/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=qiao-collective-on-challenging-u-s-aggression-on-china-the-role-of-the-western-left

[Comment] Offline: The coming technocracy
Richard Horton | thelancet.com | 2020-12-12
As 2020 draws to a close, one trend among nations most severely hit by COVID-19 bears some discussion. It is that democracies are evolving into technocracies, by which I mean a form of governance where those with political power are appointed on the basis of their scientific expertise. It would be hard to deny that scientists have assumed a role in political decision making unparalleled in recent memory. The French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy was the first to raise the issue of medical power.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32668-4/fulltext?rss=yes

Go Vote Yourself a Raise, Georgia — You've Long Earned It
Ralph Nader | counterpunch.org | 2020-12-11
All political eyes are on Georgia's runoff election on January 5th, 2021. Two Senate seats are up for grabs and will decide whether the evil Trumpster and corporatist Senator Mitch McConnell stays in total control of the U.S. Senate or not. If the Democrats win both seats, the Senate would be split, 50-50. Vice President…
counterpunch.org/2020/12/11/go-vote-yourself-a-raise-georgia-youve-long-earned-it/

Biden Must Restore Citizenship for Black and Brown People
Manar Waheed | aclu.org | 2020-12-11
President Trump's relentless destruction of our immigration system is well documented. However, the myriad ways in which he attacked and targeted Black and Brown people seeking immigration benefits or citizenship, and even U.S. citizens is less discussed. , , There have been three substantial attacks on citizenship for Black and Brown immigrants: | Indefinite delays of immigration benefits, including citizenship, through the Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program (CARRP), which has targeted Muslims and people from Muslim-majority countries since 2008;Blocking the expedited path to citizenship fo…
aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/biden-must-restore-citizenship-for-black-and-brown-people

Biden to Mandate Mask Wearing, Mandatory Mass Vaxxing to Follow?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-12-11
Porous face masks offer no protection from minuscule covid spores. | Extended wearing is potentially hazardous to human health. | Mass vaxxing could be catastrophic if ordered. | Covid is a form of seasonal flu/influenza. | Protection comes from good health habits, including proper …
globalresearch.ca/biden-mandate-mask-wearing-mandatory-mass-vaxxing-follow/5731964

Silencing Black radicalism since the Cold War
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-12-11
Describing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as socialist and accusing them of fomenting disorder in America's urban areas invoked racial disorder for the majority white voters who cast their ballots for an avowed white supremacist.
mronline.org/2020/12/11/silencing-black-radicalism-since-the-cold-war/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=silencing-black-radicalism-since-the-cold-war

Andrew Bacevich on Why Retired General and Raytheon Official Lloyd Austin Should Not Head Pentagon
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-12-11
Joe Biden's nominee for defense secretary, retired four-star Army General Lloyd Austin, would make history as the first African American to lead the Pentagon if confirmed by the Senate. But Austin can only be confirmed if he secures a waiver from Congress due to laws designed to preserve the civilian control of the military, and several leading Democratic senators have indicated they would oppose granting a waiver. Andrew Bacevich, president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, says he shares those concerns. "The general is not a civilian, and it seems to me if we're serious about ci…
www.democracynow.org/2020/12/11/joe_biden_lloyd_austin_pentagon

U.S. Recognizes Morocco's Occupation of Western Sahara in Latest Betrayal of Sahrawi People
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-12-11
We continue to examine the U.S.-brokered deal between Morocco and Israel to normalize relations. As part of the deal, the U.S. will become the first country in the world to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which Morocco has occupied since 1975 in defiance of the international community. We convene a roundtable to discuss developments: Mouloud Said, a representative of the Polisario Front in Washington; Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco; and Sahrawi journalist and activist Nazha El-Khalidi.
www.democracynow.org/2020/12/11/morocco_israel_western_sahara_sahrawi

Critics Pan Time's Choice of Biden-Harris for 2020 Person of the Year Award
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-12-11
"This is Joe Biden's year. He not only managed to stay alive until the election, he also did other things, presumably." — YouTube creator Shaun…
mintpressnews.com/critics-time-choice-of-joe-biden-kamala-harris-2020-person-of-the-year/273557/

Screen Shot 2020-12-10 at 9.16.39 AM.png
Mark Fiore | progressive.org | 2020-12-11
President Trump is trashing democracy on his way out the door and congressional Republicans are complicit.
progressive.org/dispatches/america-second-fiore-201211/

Roaming Charges: Negative Creep
Jeffrey St. Clair | counterpunch.org | 2020-12-11
Under Biden we're going to experience four years (if he lasts that long) of negative creep, a steady recrudescence of the same policies–economic, social, environmental and military–which led us to into the very quagmire where nearly all of us are now inexorably sinking.
counterpunch.org/2020/12/11/roaming-charges-9/

Thursday 12/10: 2020 Sacramento Kwanzaa Wakanda Project
Khubaka Michael Harris | indybay.org | 2020-12-11
Florin Square | Florin Road Partnership | Sacramento, California…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/12/09/18838873.php

'Harebrained' Texas Election Lawsuit a Serious GOP Attack on Democracy, Warn Experts
Julia Conley, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-12-11
{olitical observers on Friday warned that Texas's legal challenge of the election results, which has garnered the support of more than 100 Republican officials, is nonetheless a sign that democracy is under significant attack in the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1219321528_1.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/12/11/harebrained-texas-election-lawsuit-serious-gop-attack-democracy-warn-experts?cd-origin=rss

Republicans want more than a coup: Trump's loyalty test exposes their hatred for democracy
Amanda Marcotte | salon.com | 2020-12-11
More than half of House Republicans and 17 GOP attorneys general have outed themselves as traitors…
salon.com/2020/12/11/republicans-want-more-than-a-coup-trumps-loyalty-test-exposes-their-hatred-for-democracy/

Want to Defund the Police? Then Vote for Loeffler and Perdue in Georgia Senate Run-Off Race
Miles Mogulescu | commondreams.org | 2020-12-11
When police (and teachers and firefighters and other essential state and local government workers) are defunded and fired in the next few months, blame it on Republicans like Purdue and Loeffler. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/georgia_0.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/12/11/want-defund-police-then-vote-loeffler-and-perdue-georgia-senate-run-race?cd-origin=rss

The Approaching Crunch in US Policy Towards China
Dennis Argall | globalresearch.ca | 2020-12-11
The Republican and Democrat leaders of the US Senate Intelligence Committee have issued a joint statement of intense hostility towards China. This posture is a threat to Australia's national security… and the world. An attempt to tear China down will …
globalresearch.ca/approaching-crunch-us-policy-china/5731921

What is the United States of America? A Military Democracy
John Stanton | counterpunch.org | 2020-12-11
counterpunch.org/2020/12/11/what-is-the-united-states-of-america-a-military-democracy/

Thoughts on the Silence of Republican Lawmakers
Heather Cox Richardson | indybay.org | 2020-12-11
Coronavirus continues to devastate the country, with official deaths topping 281,000 today, but it turns out that the Trump administration did not actually have a plan for distribution of vaccines. Federal officials have drastically slashed the amount of vaccine they promised to states before the election. Instead of the 300 million doses, the plan is currently to distribute 35 to 40 million doses.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/12/10/18838892.php

'Build an Inclusive Government': Asian Americans Urge for More Representation in Biden's Cabinet
sputniknews.com | 2020-12-11
Projected US President-elect Joe Biden is currently in the process of assembling his Cabinet. Over the past week, Biden announced Denis McDonough as his pick for secretary of veterans affairs, Tom Vilsack for agriculture secretary and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) as secretary of housing and urban development.
sputniknews.com/us/202012111081433463-build-an-inclusive-government-asian-americans-urge-for-more-representation-in-bidens-cabinet/

Bolivia feeds its hungry while Republicans let Americans starve
Albert Bender | peoplesworld.org | 2020-12-11
It is a tale of two countries regarding how Bolivia and the United States treat their people. On the one hand, there is Bolivia, a country that has embraced socialism, has overwhelmingly elected a progressive, anti-imperialist president, Luis Arce, and a country that has just initiated a program of "Bonuses Against Hunger" to provide relief …
peoplesworld.org/article/bolivia-feeds-its-hungry-while-republicans-let-americans-starve/

Joe Biden Might Have Good Instincts, but His Foreign Policy Team Doesn't
_____ | strategic-culture.org | 2020-12-11
Ted Galen CARPENTER | Considerable controversy has emerged in both the foreign policy community and the news media over whether Joe Biden's administration will reflexively restore America's pre-Trump approach to international affairs. On no issue is that question more crucial than with respect to Syria, and on no issue is it more imperative that Biden repudiate the legacy of the Obama administration. A failure to take that step will cause the United States to become even more deeply mired in the Syrian quagmire. Not only would such an unwise course create another endless U.S. war similar to the interventions in A…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/12/11/joe-biden-might-have-good-instincts-but-his-foreign-policy-team-doesnt/

Thai democracy activists defy escalating repression
Peter Boyle | greenleft.org.au | 2020-12-11
Despite growing number of democracy activists facing charges under Thailand's notorious lèse majesté law, the youth-led movement keeps up its mass mobilisations, reports Peter Boyle.
greenleft.org.au/content/thai-democracy-activists-defy-escalating-repression

Social Security Beneficiaries and SSA Employees Agree: Joe Biden Needs to Clean House on Day One
commondreams.org | 2020-12-11
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commondreams.org/newswire/2020/12/11/social-security-beneficiaries-and-ssa-employees-agree-joe-biden-needs-clean?cd-origin=rss

Rust Belt warning for the GOP: These 3 counties spell trouble for future Republican wins