(2020-12-25). The DC Political Monopoly Just Doesn't Get It. counterpunch.org 
The spectacle of political "leaders" disconnected from basic social realities survived Trump's defeat. He and his GOP had shown little grasp of the two great crises of 2020: the crash of capitalism and the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's resulting political defeat did not reconnect them. The Biden Democrats already show they learned little from Trump's loss; disconnection governs them too.
(2020-12-25). "The United States of America Has Gone Mad": John le Carré on Iraq War, Israel & U.S. Militarism. democracynow.org 
The legendary British author John le Carré has died at the age of 89. In the lead-up to the Iraq invasion, John le Carré was a fierce critic of President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. In January 2003, he published a widely read essay called "The United States of America Has Gone Mad." John le Carré read the essay during an appearance on Democracy Now! in 2010.
(2020-12-24). Colombia's President shows his disdain for democracy and Venezuelans. mronline.org 
On December 8, a Conviasa flight prepared to take off from Caracas, Venezuela, for Mexico City. It planned to carry 200 election observers and journalists who came to Venezuela from a range of countries to monitor the National Assembly elections that were held on December 6.
(2020-12-24). No Co-Sponsor Of 'Medicare For All' Has Lost Reelection In The Past Decade. popularresistance.org It's common sense: Democratic politicians who support "radical" notions like Medicare for All, free college, or preserving a habitable planet via a Green New Deal guarantee their own defeat. A recent New York Times interview with Pennsylvania Congressman and corporate Democrat Conor Lamb states simply that Medicare for All is "unpopular in swing districts," an idea presumably so obvious that it requires no documentation. Lamb asserts that opposition to Medicare for All and other progressive policies "separates a winner from a loser in a [swing] district like mine." | The Democratic Party's army of political strat…
(2020-12-24). Republicans in US Congress block bid to boost Covid-19 relief. laprensalatina.com Washington, Dec 24 (efe-epa).- Republicans in the US House of Representatives balked Thursday when the Democratic majority sought to pass by unanimous consent a measure increasing direct payments to households in the just-approved pandemic relief package, demanded by outgoing President Donald Trump as a condition for signing the bill. Few members were in the chamber …
(2020-12-24). Evo Morales Marks Christmas With Families of the Sacaba Massacre. telesurenglish.net Former President of Bolivia Evo Morales held a Christmas dinner on Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Sacaba massacre, voicing his unconditional support to the families in their quest for justice. | RELATED: | "The relatives of the victims of the Sacaba Massacre participate in the lunch that we organize in their honor. I tell them that they are not alone, that we have not forgotten those who gave their lives for democrac…
(2020-12-24). ICUs begin filling up in New York City as Cuomo, de Blasio dither on effective pandemic restrictions. wsws.org Some hospitals are over capacity in their ICUs, presaging a significant increase in deaths in the coming days and weeks.
(2020-12-24). Pardoning the Blackwater killers: It's a scandal, but not specific to Donald Trump. salon.com It was difficult to prosecute these 2007 war crimes, and Republicans were eager to whitewash them from the get-go…
(2020-12-24). 2020 Latin America and the Caribbean in Review: The Pink Tide May Rise Again. dissidentvoice.org The balance between the US drive to dominate Latin America and the Caribbean and its counterpart, the Bolivarian cause of regional independence and integration, tipped portside by year end 2020 with major popular victories, including reversal of the coup in Bolivia and the constitutional referendum in Chile. Central has been the persistence of Venezuela's Bolivarian …
(2020-12-24). Instead of Prosecuting Trump, Give Him the OJ Treatment. counterpunch.org Since well before Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, there's been talk of how outgoing president Donald Trump might be criminally prosecuted at the state or federal level for any of dozens of alleged crimes once he leaves office. Prosecutors in New York seem intent on bringing The Donald down one way or
(2020-12-24). Civil Rights Groups Denounce Georgia Officials For Closing Early Voting Sites Ahead of Senate Runoffs. commondreams.org Voting rights groups on Wednesday accused officials in at least two Georgia counties of voter suppression, pointing to the closures of several early voting locations in majority-Black and Latino communities ahead of two key runoff Senate elections. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1230129827_1.jpg …
(2020-12-24). Trump's last-minute pardon spree shows why Joe Biden just can't "move on" salon.com The country can't unite and heal if Republicans believe they have license to cheat in elections and commit crimes…
(2020-12-23). Why Progressives Must Not Give Biden a Political Honeymoon. counterpunch.org The third time would not be a charm. People on the left did very little to challenge Bill Clinton after he won the presidency in 1992. Two years later, a big Republican wave took control of Congress. People on the left did very little to challenge Barack Obama after he won the presidency in 2008.
(2020-12-23). Trump's Carnage: Testing America's "Democracy" counterpunch.org 
Benjamin Franklin, the most democratic of the Founding Fathers, was walking out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when a woman shouted, "Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replied, "A republic if you can keep it." Alexander Hamilton, one of the least democratic members among the Founding
(2020-12-23). Hollywood 'wouldn't touch' Khashoggi documentary, director says. middleeasteye.net 
Hollywood 'wouldn't touch' Khashoggi documentary, director says | Award-winning director Bryan Fogel says film distributors 'look the other way' when it comes to human rights abuses in kingdom | Wed, 12/23/2020 – 21: 51 | Fogel also slams media companies for making deals with Saudi companies or taking Saudi investment (AFP/File image) | The director of an upcoming documentary about slain Saudi journalist Jamal…
(2020-12-23). Trump & Democrats Make Strange Bedfellows in Calling for $2,000 Checks. sputniknews.com Richard Wolff—catastrophic coronavirus response due to capitalism; COVID-19 deal packaged with goodies—for everyone but the working class…
(2020-12-23). A Tale of Two Elections: U.S. and Bolivia. counterpunch.org 
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has been ridiculed, slathered with contempt, and repeatedly branded a "liar," as well as an existential threat to democracy in the United States, by the biggest media outlets in the country. This is in response to his attempts to reverse the results of the U.S. presidential election, and claiming—without evidence—that
(2020-12-23). The Final Days of Donald Trump, Absentee President. counterpunch.org Pardon my silence these last few days, but the out-of-control firehose that is the Trump White House has upped the water pressure with increased insanity, mendacity and just plain idiotic behavior. It can overwhelm. The soaking seems to get worse every hour and day that remains before the swearing-in of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,
(2020-12-23). VIPS MEMO: To Biden: Don't be Suckered on Russia. globalresearch.ca MEMORANDUM FOR: The President-elect | FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) | SUBJECT: Attempts to Sucker You Into Russia-Bashing | Dear President-elect Biden, | "Fool Me Once …" You may recall that President George W. Bush could not remember the last …
(2020-12-23). Pay Attention to the Risk of Martial Law. progressive.org The latest ravings of our tyrannical President highlight a true threat to democracy.
(2020-12-23). 'Long Awaited and Long Overdue Victory for Democracy' as New York Approves Automatic Voter Registration. commondreams.org "At a time in our country when voting rights are under assault, New York is living up to our potential as a progressive leader." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12294357871.jpg …
(2020-12-23). Ryabkov says Russia expect nothing good from Joe Biden gov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (MNA) — Russian deputy foreign minister says the country does not expect a positive change in Moscow-Washington relations during the Biden administration.
(2020-12-23). Green Social Democracy Offers the Most Viable Path Toward a Sustainable Future. zcomm.org If a period of green social democracy emerges in the next five or 10 years, we could see significant progress against global climate change and improvement in the lives of working people, young people and people of color…
(2020-12-22). Millions of India's Farmers Are in a Fight for Their Economic Lives. counterpunch.org 
India's farmers are revolting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in a mass movement that has drawn international attention. The world's largest democracy is witnessing a collective groundswell of protest as hundreds of thousands of farmers, largely from the states of Punjab and Haryana, have laid siege to the outskirts of the capital of New
(2020-12-22). 'No More Caving' to Austerity Warns Sanders After Biden Lauds Paltry Covid-19 Relief Deal as 'Model' Legislation. commondreams.org "If we allow Republicans to set the parameters of the debate going forward, like they did in this current Covid relief bill, the next two to four years are going to be a disaster." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_gunnels.jpg …
(2020-12-22). New Boss, Same Story. realprogressives.org Guess what? Joe Biden won the Electoral College vote, and now is officially the President-Elect! And it's about time too. What has it been, 3 years since his electors won the November election so they could put his name on their ballot? And still Donald Trump has not yet conceded to Joe's superior campaigning skills. Of course not, the Donald cannot imagine that anyone could do better at fooling the American electorate than himself. But when it comes to fooling the American electorate all we need to do is look at the biggest fool who served as President and his wise, but foolish words. "Fool me once, shame on…
(2020-12-22). The Dystopian Western World. globalresearch.ca As the second decade of the 21st century comes to an end, democracy and free speech no longer exist in the Western World. In all its respects, Western civilization no longer exists. | In the United States, which poses as the …
(2020-12-22). Is a Fascist Movement Developing Here? counterpunch.org Since the media declared that former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election, the nation has witnessed a proliferation of right-wing Trump rallies. Their message: the election was a fraud and Trump's win was stolen from him. Is this the beginning of a domestic fascist movement to discredit our democratic institutions? Historian Timothy Snyder
(2020-12-22). Dr. Leslie T. Fenwick for Secretary of Education. commondreams.org Leslie Fenwick knows that public schools are an essential element of American democracy. They are community institutions that belong to the public, not to entrepreneurs or corporate chains. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-1133872091.jpg …
