(2020-12-26). The DC Political Monopoly Just Doesn't Get It. popularresistance.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. | A basic social reality of the United States is its capitalist economic system that organizes enterprises internally into a small minority (employers) dominating the majority (employees), with markets to distribute resources and pr…
(2020-12-26). Dairyland in denial: Red states & the myth of the real American. nationofchange.org Unless or until progressives start to recognize the cost of losing the underpopulated red states in Middle America, ultra-right-wing Republicans will continue to have power in Washington all out of proportion to the popular will.
(2020-12-25). Restoring the Soul of America. counterpunch.org "One major difference between GOP and Dems is that [Republicans] leverage their right flank to gain policy concessions and generate enthusiasm, while Dems lock their left flank in the basement [because] they think that will make Republicans be nicer to them." Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez nailed it once again, tweeting her frustration and despair a few days ago
(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). Bolivia: President Arce Calls for Peace, Unity Among the People. telesurenglish.net Bolivia's President Luis Arce Friday called for peace and unity two months after the country took back its democracy from the coup-born regime led by Jeanine Añez (2019-2020). | RELATED: | "Unity is more important than ever now that we are rebuilding the country after the coup and the COVID-19 pandemic," he said on the occasion of Christmas and New Year's celebrations. | Arce highlighted the people's role in restorin…
(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.
(2020-12-25). Minority Rule in America? counterpunch.org On October 7, 2020, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah tweeted, "Democracy isn't the objective; liberty, peace, and prospefity are. We want the human condition to flourish. Rank democracy can thwart that." Rank? Lee is saying that if all eligible voters are allowed to do so, they will thwart "prospefity"? Who knew? For an American politician
(2020-12-25). 'Always Together': Vanessa Bryant Shares Touching Christmas Family Photo. sputniknews.com This is the first Christmas holiday that Bryant is spending without her husband and daughter, who died in a helicopter crash in January.
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2020-12-24). 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 …
(2020-12-23). 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). [Research Paper] Consequences to patients, clinicians, and manufacturers when very serious adverse drug reactions are identified (1997—2019): A qualitative analysis from the Southern Network on Adverse Reactions (SONAR). thelancet.com Because very serious ADRs impacts are so large, policy makers should consider developing independently funded pharmacovigilance centers of excellence to assist with clinician investigations.
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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…