2021-02-01: News Headlines

Patrick Bond (2021-02-01). Biden-Kerry International Climate Politricks. counterpunch.org Is U.S. President Joe Biden's January 27 Executive Order to address 'climate crisis' as good as many activists claim, enough to reverse earlier scepticism? To be sure, it's great that the word crisis is consistently deployed, not just 'climate change.' Applause is due Biden's commands to halt fossil fuel subsidies and new oil and gas

Juan Cole (2021-02-01). Conservatives worked for Decades to build an Imperial Presidency, and it Gave them Trump and now Biden. juancole.com By Tom Engelhardt | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — Joe Biden's got a problem — and so do I. And so, in fact, do we. At 76 years old, you'd think I'd experienced it all when it comes to this country and its presidencies. Or most of it, anyway. I've been around since Franklin D. Roosevelt …

Umar A Farooq (2021-02-01). Rights groups say Biden should reveal vaccine plan for Guantanamo prisoners. middleeasteye.net Rights groups say Biden should reveal vaccine plan for Guantanamo prisoners | Pentagon decided to pause plan to offer coronavirus vaccines to Guantanamo detainees following criticism from Republican lawmaker | Mon, 02/01/2021 – 20: 38 | It is not known how many people at Guantanamo have contracted Covid-19 (AFP) | Rights groups are calling on the Biden administration to publicly reveal its Covid-19…

Staff (2021-02-01). Polls Show Support for Biden's Executive Orders, as Progressives Push for More. truthout.org President Joe Biden has issued

Staff (2021-02-01). White House Announces $231 Million Contract to Buy Rapid At-Home COVID Tests. truthout.org The Joe Biden administration announced on Monday a $231.8 million contract with Australian company Ellume to buy 8.5 million rapid at-home coronavirus tests. The test will be available for the public to take without a prescription and provides results within 15 minutes. | After the company announced that the tests were

Jonas Ecke (2021-02-01). The Appointment of Samantha Power is Bad News for USAID. counterpunch.org For all its faults, USAID — the US Agency for International Development — will be one of the most vitally important agencies of the Biden administration. The confluence of Covid-19, global warming, famines in the Horn of Africa, forced migration and a series of unending proxy wars in the Middle East is a perfect storm that

Staff (2021-02-01). Biden Condemns Burma Military Coup, as Critics Question Claims of Election Fraud. truthout.org President Joe Biden sent out a stern statement voicing consternation toward a military coup in Burma this week, threatening economic sanctions to the country if it did not return power to the duly elected government that was recently chosen by its people. | The coup in Burma (also known as Myanmar)

Staff (2021-02-01). Reaching Beyond "Black Faces in High Places": An Interview With Joy James. truthout.org With the advent of the Biden administration, it's a crucial time to examine the role anti-Blackness plays not only when it comes to overt white supremacist actions, but also the actions of the government — and other forces of power — more broadly. | What does Black suffering look like historically? What is the complex relationship between "progressive" racial politics and the subtle operations of capitalism? How is Black suffering monetized, especially within the context of celebrity ac…

Alan Macleod (2021-02-01). With Anti-IMF Candidate Surging in Polls, Ecuador's Moreno Flies To DC Amid Talk of Suspending Election. mintpressnews.com Adding to worries that a Bolivia-style coup might be imminent in Ecuador, Lenín Moreno will spend his final days in office in Washington, DC, where he's been meeting with members of the Biden administration.

Jonas Ecke (2021-02-01). The Appointment of Samantha Powers is Bad News for USAID. counterpunch.org For all its faults, USAID — the US Agency for International Development — will be one of the most vitally important agencies of the Biden administration. The confluence of Covid-19, global warming, famines in the Horn of Africa, forced migration and a series of unending proxy wars in the Middle East is a perfect storm that

Sonali Kolhatkar (2021-02-01). The COVID-19 Pandemic Can't Be Managed, It Has to Be Eradicated. counterpunch.org For millions of Americans who believe that COVID-19 is real, dangerous, and requires a plan of action, Joe Biden's election to the presidency has finally offered a path out of the seemingly never-ending pandemic. Indeed, compared to President Donald Trump's approach—which centered on financing the development of vaccines, but did little else to mitigate the

Staff (2021-02-01). The Assassination of Fred Hampton: New Documents Reveal Involvement of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. democracynow.org Newly unearthed documents have shed new light on the FBI's role in the murder of the 21-year-old Black Panther leader Fred Hampton on December 4, 1969, when Chicago police raided Hampton's apartment and shot and killed him in his bed, along with fellow Black Panther leader Mark Clark. Authorities initially claimed the Panthers had opened fire on the police who were there to serve a search warrant for weapons, but evidence later emerged that told a very different story: The FBI, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the Chicago police had conspired to assassinate Fred Hampton. FBI memos and reports obtaine…

Staff (2021-02-01). "Judas and the Black Messiah" Director Shaka King on Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers & COINTELPRO. democracynow.org A highly anticipated new feature film, "Judas and the Black Messiah," tells the story of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and William O'Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated the Illinois Black Panther Party to collect information that ultimately led to Hampton's killing in 1969 by law enforcement officers. The film is premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and stars Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton, LaKeith Stanfield as O'Neal and Martin Sheen as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Shaka King, the film's director and co-writer, says focusing on Hampton and O'Neal was a way "to make 'The Departed' inside the world of…

Staff (2021-02-01). Ilhan Omar Pushes Tax on All Stock Trades Amid GameStop Controversy. truthout.org Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) has renewed calls she's made in the past to place a small tax on Wall Street investors amid concerns that were exposed last week amid the GameStop trading frenzy. | "A small ta…

Staff (2021-02-01). All 10 GOP Senators Behind Skimpy COVID Proposal Gave the Military $740 Billion. truthout.org Each of the 10 Republican senators who threw their support behind a widely criticized $600 billion coronavirus relief proposal on Sunday "Every sin…

Byul Ryanim (2021-02-01). The Weekly Round-up: Employment Rights, 'Spy Cops', and Abandoned Rape Prosecutions. ukhumanrightsblog.com In the news: The week began with the first Opposition Day of 2021, with Labour choosing to put council tax and employment rights centre of the Parliamentary stage. This followed an admission last week by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng that the government was reviewing certain workers' rights which had been saved post-Brexit as retained EU employment law. Responding to allegations …

Editor (2021-02-01). Hedges: Papering Over the Rot. scheerpost.com By Chris Hedges / Original to ScheerPost The death spiral of the American Empire will not be halted with civility. It will not be halted with the 42 executive orders signed by Joe Biden, however welcome many are, especially since they can, with a new chief executive, be immediately revoked. It will not be halted by removing Donald Trump, and the crackpot conspiracy theorists… |

Norman Solomon (2021-02-01). Don't Grade President Biden on a Curve. zcomm.org To give high marks merely for excelling in comparison to right-wing Republicans is to cheer high jumps over very low standards…

Norman Solomon (2021-02-01). Don't Grade President Biden on a Curve. indybay.org Being better than Trump is a high jump over abysmal standards…

Karl Grossman, Harvey Wasserman (2021-02-01). Embrittlement in Nuclear Power Plants. counterpunch.org Of all the daunting tasks Joe Biden faces, especially vital is the inspection of dangerously embrittled atomic reactors still operating in the United States. A meltdown at any one of them would threaten the health and safety of millions of people while causing major impact to an already struggling economy. The COVID-19 pandemic would complicate

WSWS (2021-02-01). Triple shock of US sanctions, oil price collapse and the pandemic decimates Iranian living standards. wsws.org The "hardline" faction around the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is attacking the faction around President Hassan Rouhani who negotiated the nuclear agreement with the Obama administration, amid indications that the Biden administration intends to continue enforcing the "maximum pressure" campaign of draconian sanctions and military provocations against Iran.

Jack Delaney (2021-02-01). On The Green New Deal, Nationalization, & Class Politics. zcomm.org The current mode of production and distribution — of private ownership motivated by unlimited growth and profits — is incompatible with ensuring the survival of humanity, serving the common interest, and staving off ecological collapse…

Binoy Kampmark (2021-02-01). White House Briefings for Children: Jen Psaki Circles Back. dissidentvoice.org The Biden administration's first White House press secretary is keen that things will be done differently under her guidance. The jaw dropping, sniping essions between the press and government that were characteristic of the Trump administration were going to cease. "When the President asked me to serve in this role," Jen Psaki outlined in her …

John Nichols (2021-02-01). Cutting $2,000 Payments, and Limiting Who's Eligible for Them, Is Bad Economics and Loser Politics. thenation.com Cutting $2,000 Payments, and Limiting Who's Eligible for Them, Is Bad Economics and Loser Politics…

Johanna Kichton (2021-02-01). As Congress Negotiates COVID Relief Bill and Budget Reconciliation Process Begins, People's Action Announces Priorities to Protect Everyday People. peoplesaction.org In New Letter to Congressional Democratic Leaders, People's Action Demands Lawmakers Fight for Cash Payments, Vaccines for All, Rent Relief, Good Jobs and Pay, Debt Cancellation, and State Funding Contact: Johanna Kichton, 240.206.1145, press@peoplesaction.org WASHINGTON, D.C.—People's Action today sent a letter to congressional Democrat leadership demanding they protect everyday people in any new COVID relief …

Staff (2021-02-01). Headlines for February 1, 2021. democracynow.org CDC Orders Mask-Wearing on Public Transportation as Experts Urge Speedy Vaccination to Combat Variants, Johnson & Johnson Says One-Shot Vaccine Is Effective, Especially in Preventing Severe Cases, Major Racial Disparities Emerge in Vaccine Recipients as Latinx Deaths in L.A. Jump by 1,000%, Biden Meets with GOP Leaders to Discuss Stripped-Down Counter Bill to $1.9 Trillion Package, Burmese Military Stage Coup, Detain Aung San Suu Kyi, Police Arrest Over 5,100 in Pro-Navalny Protests Across Russia, Car Bomb Blasts Kill at Least 12 in Aleppo, Syria, U.N. Calls for Repatriation of 27,000 Children Stranded in al-Hol…

Jeet Heer (2021-02-01). Biden Should Reject the Latest GOP Bipartisan Fantasy. thenation.com Biden Should Reject the Latest GOP Bipartisan Fantasy…

RT (2021-02-01). Ukrainian President Zelensky admits he's 'angry' with Trump over leaked phone call, expresses hope Biden will help Kiev join NATO. rt.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized former US President Donald Trump for his move to release the transcript of an infamous 2019 phone call between the two leaders, calling the breach of privacy "totally wrong." | Speaking to US outlet Axios, Zelensky revealed the publication of the call made him a "little bit" angry. In his opinion, conversations between presidents should be kept secret and confidential. | "I think this is totally wrong," the president noted in the interview, recorded last week. "This was the first serious conversation between two presidents, between strategic partners. And i…

RT (2021-02-01). 'I don't really trust experts,' says New York Gov. Cuomo, as 9 health officials resign in protest over his Covid-19 'leadership'. rt.com A handful of top New York health officials have left their posts in protest over Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report that adds another layer to the Democrat's many controversies. | Cuomo has made his position on health experts clear in recent days, even saying during a Friday press conference that he doesn't "really trust them." | "When I say 'experts' in air quotes, it sounds like I'm saying I don't really trust the experts," the governor said. "Because I don't." | The quote now looks especially bad in the context of a new report from the New York Times, deta…

RT (2021-02-01). Facebook leak: Zuckerberg admits having TOO MUCH POWER but cheers new administration, seeks to WORK WITH BIDEN on key issues. rt.com Project Veritas has posted leaked videos exposing internal talks at Facebook lamenting the company's admittedly excessive power but at the same time seeking to use its influence to "work with" President Joe Biden's administration. | "These were all important and positive steps," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said of the executive orders on immigration, Covid-19 and other issues that Biden signed right after being inaugurated on January 20. "And I am looking forward to opportunities where Facebook is going to be able to work together with this new administration on some of their top priorities, starting with Cov…

RT (2021-02-01). WATCH Thai police clash with opponents of military coup outside Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok. rt.com Thai police have broken up a protest rally staged by the opponents of a military coup in neighboring Myanmar. The activists gathered outside the country's embassy in Bangkok. | Some 200 Myanmarese expats and local Thai activists gathered for a spontaneous protest outside Myanmar's embassy, the Bangkok Post reported, citing police. They held flags of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD), whose leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested by the military on Monday, as well as photos of Suu Kyi. | Students were seen distributing leaflets denouncing the coup. The Myanmarese constitute the largest migrant group in…

Staff (2021-02-01). 50 House Democrats Back Resolution to Remove Marjorie Taylor Greene From Office. truthout.org Image Credit: Facebook: Marjorie Taylor Greene | Republicans face increasing pressure to strip Georgia Congressmember Marjorie Taylor Greene of her post on the House Education Committee. Greene was elected in November 2020 and is a far-right conspiracy theorist who has promoted QAnon, supported the execution of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and claimed the school shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida, were staged — as was the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. She al…

Staff (2021-02-01). Biden Is Acting to Undo Trump's Toxic Immigration Legacy. Now Congress Must Act. truthout.org Since January 20, President Joe Biden has made it a political priority to rapidly dismantle as many of Trump's signature anti-immigration policies as possible.

Staff (2021-02-01). Is Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy Theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene the New Face of the GOP? democracynow.org Republicans face increasing pressure to strip Georgia Congressmember Marjorie Taylor Greene of her post on the House Education Committee. Greene was elected in November 2020 and is a far-right conspiracy theorist who has promoted QAnon, supported the execution of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and claimed the school shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida, were staged — as was the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. She also has a history of racist, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic comments. Bee Nguyen, a Democratic state representative in Georgia, recently joined other lawmakers in signing a…

Chris Gilbert (2021-02-01). Covid and Democracy, a Turning Point? counterpunch.org The Covid pandemic and crisis may have generated a range of responses, but there is one remarkable absence: the promotion of democracy. In politics around the world, both the Right and the Left increasingly favor technocratic governance and neither feels that the situation calls for an especially democratic response. For a Left that has historically

sputniknews (2021-02-01). Biden Asks US Supreme Court to Suspend Trump Immigration Cases. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The Biden administration has asked the US Supreme Court to cancel oral arguments scheduled in the coming weeks on Trump-era cases concerning border wall funding and the so-called "Remain in Mexico" asylum program, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), court documents revealed.

_____ (2021-02-01). Chris Hedges: Papering Over The Rot. popularresistance.org The death spiral of the American Empire will not be halted with civility. It will not be halted with the 42 executive orders signed by Joe Biden, however welcome many are, especially since they can, with a new chief executive, be immediately revoked. It will not be halted by removing Donald Trump, and the crackpot conspiracy theorists, Christian fascists and racists who support him, from social media. It will not be halted by locking up the Proud Boys and the clueless protestors who stormed the Congress on January 6 and took selfies in Mike Pence's Senate chair. It will not be halted by restoring the frayed allia…

Margaret Kimberley (2021-02-01). Pro-Biden Propaganda. "White Washed By the Democratic Party, A Very Dangerous President" globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The Democratic Party and its corporate media have already white-washed Biden, …

WSWS (2021-02-01). International Marxist Tendency on the storming of the US Capitol: "This was not an organized insurrectionary coup" wsws.org The IMT has distinguished itself throughout its existence by combining slavish subservience to the trade union bureaucracy and social democratic parties with revolutionary "Marxist" rhetoric designed to disorient and mislead workers and young people entering into struggle.

Leonard C. Goodman (2021-02-01). Don't be Fooled that Corporations' Motives are Moral. counterpunch.org The second impeachment of President Trump, this time for inciting a riot, got a big boost when dozens of large corporations endorsed the effort. Amazon, American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BP, BlackRock, Dow Chemical, Goldman Sachs, and other major companies announced their support for impeachment by stopping donations to Republicans who refused to certify

Norman Solomon (2021-02-01). Judging Biden by Low Standards Set by Trump Would Be an Unforgivable Catastrophe. commondreams.org We don't have any room to grade this administration on a curve. Progressives must push with everything they've got. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_pressure.png

WSWS (2021-02-01). Chicago educators call for a strike as district begins partial lockout. wsws.org In defying the dictates of the Chicago Democratic Party political machine, educators are giving voice to the strivings of millions of workers across the US and globally to implement measures to contain the pandemic and save lives.

WSWS (2021-02-01). Chicago educators call for a strike as district threatens lockout. wsws.org In defying the dictates of the Chicago Democratic Party political machine, educators are giving voice to the strivings of millions of workers across the US and globally to implement measures to contain the pandemic and save lives.

Robert Reich (2021-02-01). The Real Reason the GOP Don't Want Biden's Plan? They Fear It Will Work. commondreams.org Biden's success would put into sharp relief Trump and Republicans' utter failures on COVID and jobs. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell_15.jpg

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-02-01). 'That Hurricane Is Coming': Leading Expert Says More Contagious UK Covid-19 Variant Could Portend Deadliest US Surge Yet. commondreams.org "We are going to see something like we have not seen yet in this country," warned Dr. Michael Osterholm, who advised President Joe Biden's transition team. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/vax_0.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2021-02-01). All 10 GOP Senators Behind Skimpy $600 Billion Covid Relief Offer Happily Voted for $740 Billion Military Budget. commondreams.org "Every single one of these Senate Republicans voted to give the Pentagon billions more than what they're willing to give to the American people." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12305293411.jpg

Jake Johnson (2021-02-01). GOP senators behind skimpy $600 billion COVID relief happily voted for $740 billion military budget. salon.com These Senate Republicans voted to give the Pentagon billions more than what they're willing to give to Americans…

Josh Lappen (2021-02-01). Biden's First Climate Actions Are Missing Coal's Long Tail. thenation.com Biden's First Climate Actions Are Missing Coal's Long Tail…

Mandy Smithberger, William D. Hartung (2021-02-01). It's Time to Demilitarize Our Democracy. thenation.com It's Time to Demilitarize Our Democracy…

Pip Hinman (2021-02-01). Michael West: 'Independent media is the future'. greenleft.org.au Independent journalism has never been more important to democracy. What is independent journalism and how can it drive social change? Suzanne James interviewed Walkley Award-winning journalist Michael West and finds him surprisingly optimistic about the future of independent media.

sputniknews (2021-02-01). 'A True Legend': Tony Bennett Reveals His Struggle With Alzheimer's. sputniknews.com In response to the singer's revelation, numerous social media users rushed to wish him well and to praise him for being a gentleman.

sputniknews (2021-02-01). Myanmar's Military Shows NDL, Local Armed Groups That It Harnesses Full Power, Scholars Say. sputniknews.com On 1 February, Myanmar's Tatmadaw declared a year-long state of emergency and arrested National League for Democracy Party (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top government officials over alleged voter fraud. International observers have discussed potential scenarios in the wake of the military's takeover.

sputniknews (2021-02-01). India's Support for 'Democratic Forces' in Myanmar Turmoil May Affect Naga Deal, Says Army Veteran. sputniknews.com The Burmese Army on Monday launched a political coup in the country, as it arrested the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power for a year. India says it supports the "democratic forces", throwing its weight behind Suu Kyi. However, New Delhi taking sides in the coup could have implications for the Naga Deal.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2021-02-01). Biden should end US pretence over Israel's 'secret' nuclear weapons. zcomm.org The cover-up has to stop — and with it, the huge sums in aid for a country with oppressive policies towards Palestinians…

David Sirota (2021-02-01). Read My Lips: $2,000 Checks for All, Now. zcomm.org Democrats promised to provide a near-universal benefit of $2,000 checks. Billionaire-owned media is trying to convince them to ignore history and gut their proposal…

_____ (2021-02-01). Black Alliance For Peace Demands Biden Administration Abolish 1033 Program. popularresistance.org The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) calls U.S. President Joe Biden's executive order to alter the Department of Defense's 1033 program because of his supposed commitment to racial justice an affront. The gratuitous militarization of police forces across the United States through this program has helped to turn these agencies into brutal weapons of repression. Therefore, nothing short of complete abolition of this program is acceptable. | BAP has demanded abolition of the 1033 program since BAP's 2017 founding. It now asks the public to sign a petition demanding the Biden administration and Democrats commit to abol…

Tom Engelhardt (2021-02-01). The Imperial Presidency Under Joe Biden. commondreams.org Joe Biden may not believe in the imperial presidency, but it could be all he has. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_1_0.png

Robert Reich (2021-02-01). Sedition By Other Means: Corporate Executives and Lobbyists Routinely Undermine Democracy to Protect Their Bottom Line. commondreams.org The corporate assault on democracy hasn't been as violent as the pro-Trump mob who stormed the Capitol. And it's entirely legal. But it's arguably more damaging over the long term. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/jamie_dimon.jpg

Trita Parsi (2021-02-01). Biden's First JCPOA Hurdle. commondreams.org As simple as this formula is, it doesn't resolve the question of who should take the first step. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/hassan_rouhani.jpeg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2021-02-01). Bolstering Reconciliation Case, Study Shows $15 Wage Would Boost Federal Budget By $65 Billion. commondreams.org "My Republican colleagues used reconciliation to give almost $2 trillion in tax breaks to the rich and large corporations… You know what? I think we can use reconciliation to protect the needs of working families." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12987310611.jpg

commondreams (2021-02-01). Robinhood Highlights Dangers of Biden Administration Appointing Fintech-Tied Regulators. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Amanda Marcotte (2021-02-01). Sorry, Republicans, but there's no way to acquit Trump without endorsing his insurrection. salon.com Trump's new loyalty test makes it clear: Republicans who vote to acquit are siding with the insurrectionists…

Chauncey DeVega (2021-02-01). After Trump, the crisis: White America at the historical crossroads. salon.com Historian David Roediger on the choice facing white Americans: Social democracy, or follow Trump into the abyss…

Heather Digby Parton (2021-02-01). Trump just fired his legal team because he is trying to turn his impeachment trial into a circus. salon.com Trump sabotages Republicans' planned defense of his insurrection, tries to turn second impeachment into a sideshow…

Carl Pope (2021-02-01). Joe Biden and the climate crisis: What a difference two weeks makes. salon.com Biden's blitz on climate policy is impressive — but what it really reveals is a broad American consensus…

Igor Derysh (2021-02-01). Joe Manchin snipes at Kamala Harris for pressuring him to vote for coronavirus relief. salon.com "I couldn't believe it. No one called me," Manchin complains after Harris highlights crisis facing his state…

Fight Back (2021-02-01). Philippines: Mark the 50th anniversary of the Diliman Commune. fightbacknews.org Fight Back New Service is circulating the following February 1 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines. | Today we mark the 50th anniversary of the Diliman Commune, a 9-day uprising of the students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. The Diliman Commune was part of the widespread strikes and protest actions against oil price increases, imperialist control of the economy and police brutality under the Marcos regime. | The student uprising was part of the continuum of the surging national democratic mass movement of students and workers from the previous decade. It broke out…

news.un (2021-02-01). Arrests, military control 'a serious blow' to democratic reforms in Myanmar: UN chief. news.un.org The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned the detention of Myanmar's top political leaders and government officials, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, by the country's military.

John Nichols (2021-02-01). Why Biden Needs to Go Bold. progressive.org The worst mistake the Democrats could make is to seek the center—again.

Kit Knightly (2021-02-01). Six Warning Signs from Biden's First Week in Office. Vaccination Passports, Domestic Terrorism … globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | It's been a busy first week for the 46th President of …

WSWS (2021-02-01). This week in history: February 1-7. wsws.org 25 years ago: Ex-Stalinists, neo-fascists back interim Italian premier On February 1, 1996, merchant banker and two-time former cabinet minister Antonio Maccanico was named as interim prime minister of Italy. He was the first would-be premier to receive the support of both the ex-Stalinist PDS (Party of the Democratic Left) and the neo-fascist National Alliance, an event that marked a further stage in the rightward evolution of the remnants of the Italian Communist Party.

Shawgi Tell (2021-02-01). Will More Police-State Arrangements Foster Democracy? dissidentvoice.org The events of January 6, 2021 in Washington D.C. were historic and will be analyzed for some time to come. Many were rattled and shaken to their core by what unfolded that day in the nation's capital. Others were excited, relieved, and hopeful. Since then, all sorts of disinformation, confusion, and illusions have filled mainstream …

Phelan Acheson (2021-02-01). Freedom: The Burden of Accountability — Part 5. realprogressives.org "Great power involves great responsibility" -Franklin Delano Roosevelt | The following article is part of a larger, five—part series on accountability and reform as they pertain to freedom. Focusing primarily on American politics and history, the series draws on America's continual struggle towards that "more perfect society."Democrats prove over and over again that they are incapable of defending human rights of ordinary people but yet we are told that they are the only alternative. That is a lie. You don't have to collaborate with oppressive neoliberalism, support a party outside of the duop…

WSWS (2021-02-01). Leading German columnist Heribert Prantl denounces coronavirus lockdown measures. wsws.org Prantl's current invocation of basic rights has degenerated into mendacious hollow phrases that serve to protect the privileges of a rich minority and are directed against the democratic rights of the working class.

WSWS (2021-02-01). The media falsely claims schools are safe: What the science actually says. wsws.org The Democratic Party, the bourgeois press and the CDC are peddling pseudo-science as part of the campaign to force teachers back into the classrooms.

Jeffrey Sachs (2021-02-01). Trump's White Mob. indybay.org Trump may have been unusually heavy-handed in his race-baiting. But his approach fits perfectly with the party's approach, which it has taken at least since Republicans adopted the "Southern Strategy" in the 1968 election in the wake of the Civil Rights Acts.

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-01). What is happening in Myanmar? peoplesdispatch.org Myanmar's military has staged a coup and detained state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi along with other top leaders of the state, including president U Win Myint. The UN said that the coup was totally unacceptable as it is an "attempt to undermine democracy and rule of law."

Matt Sedlar (2021-02-01). Why Recent American Governments Have Fumbled Crises. cepr.net The American Prospect See article on original site President Joe Biden faces diverse crises, but they all share one thing in common: Solving them will require a federal government that is much better staffed than the one we have now. Former President Donald Trump's reign of terror over the federal workforce, in combination with the …

WSWS (2021-02-01). Trump fires team of defense lawyers in run-up to Senate trial. wsws.org The ex-president reportedly wanted his lawyers to defend his conduct before the January 6 mob attack on Congress by raising his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen by the Democrats.

Franklin Frederick (2021-02-01). O Perigoso Caminho da Suíàßa para a Extrema-Direita. globalresearch.ca No dia 25 de setembro de 2020 o Parlamento Suíàßo aprovou a revisà£o da lei federal de combate ao terrorismo. A nova lei provocou muitos protestos, incluindo o lanàßamento de um referendo popular, um dos principais instrumentos da democracia direta …

Fight Back (2021-02-01). Young workers in Milwaukee host online panel on new union organizing. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – On the evening of January 28, members of the Young Workers Committee (YWC) of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council (MALC) hosted an online discussion with workers that dealt with organizing unorganized workplaces. | Represented in this panel were Kellie Lutz, an organizer from the drive to unionize Stone Creek Coffee in the spring of 2019; Molly Kiefer, an employee at Wonderstate Coffee and new member of Teamsters Local 344; Ryan Jann and Brittany Walker, both new members of the International Association of Machinists at the Milwaukee Art Museum (IAM MAM); and Idalia Cervantes and Tommy Molina, worker…

WSWS (2021-02-01). Spanish fascists vote to save Podemos party's bank and corporate bailouts. wsws.org The vote exposes that the EU bailout policy, as well as the health and financial policies of the Podemos-social democrat government, enjoys the full support of the fascists.

Timothy Alexander Guzman (2021-02-01). Meet Mr. New World Order, Joe Biden. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Some call it the New World Order, others call it …

Mike Ervin (2021-02-01). Smart Ass Cripple: Speaking Up for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. progressive.org Biden's sign language interpreters let everyone in on the daily dreck.

Staff (2021-01-31). Biden's Hawkish Foreign Policy Could Derail Moves to Fight Austerity. truthout.org In his first days in office, President Joe Biden has signaled a willingness to disavow austerity policies and expand public benefits, sparking cautious optimism about whether his administration could succeed in minimizing damage done by the coronavirus pandemic. | But Biden is at risk of repeating similar mistakes made by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who promised more relief to the poor than he could deliver because of his decision to escalate conflict in Vietnam. | In 1964, Johnson won the presidenti…

The Conversation (2021-01-31). All Hands on Deck: Biden plans to fight climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before. juancole.com By Bill Ritter Jr. | — Joe Biden is preparing to deal with climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before — by mobilizing his entire administration to take on the challenge from every angle in a strategic, integrated way. The strategy is evident in the people Biden has chosen for his …

Jack Delaney (2021-01-31). On The Green New Deal, Nationalization, & Class Politics. counterpunch.org Humanity has precious time to drastically and uniformly act to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate carbon-intensive economic activity before ecological collapse materializes. However, the struggle presented is not that simple. The challenge also requires providing economic relief for workers and recognizing contradictions in the prevailing economic model that created the climate crisis when undertaking a

Grace Blakeley and Thomas Frank (2021-01-31). Pandemic leads to massive concentration in the marketplace. indybay.org "We need a much more democratic system, we need to democratize all bits of the state — we need collective power theface.com/culture/the-corona-crash-grace-blakeley-interview-coronavirus-economy-uk?token=44

_____ (2021-01-31). The People Of Ecuador Are Fighting To Recover Their Popular Sovereignty. popularresistance.org On 7 February, the citizens of Ecuador will express their constitutional right to popular sovereignty, electing a new president and National Assembly to carry the country out of its most severe crisis in a generation. Between violent crackdowns on IMF protests in 2019 to persistent threats to cancel next month's election, Ecuador's democracy is on the brink. The vigilance of the world will be critical to preserve it — and help restore democracy to a region in the midst of an authoritarian backslide. | Ecuador has been hit harder by the Covid-19 pandemic than almost any country in the world. The country has…

RT (2021-01-31). #BidenLied tops Twitter trends as president's loyalists try to hijack hashtag to switch conversation from disappointment to Trump. rt.com Joe Biden has been slammed from both left and right for not fulfilling at least one campaign promise, getting #BidenLied trending, triggering his supporters to try and hijack the hashtag to distract from the criticism. | After decades in politics, Biden being accused of lying to the public by critics is nothing new, but his first days as president have even some supporters questioning his honesty. | As numerous liberals called out Biden for his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus plan offering $1400 direct payments to Americans when he actually promised $2000 "immediately" after taking office (though he's attempte…

sputniknews (2021-01-31). #BidenLied: Netizens Blame POTUS for Deception Over $2,000 Stimulus Checks. sputniknews.com Despite continued debate over the coronavirus relief package in the US, the only thing that the former Republican president, Donald Trump, and the incumbent Democrat, Joe Biden, appear to agree on was that the $600 one-time stimulus payments are not enough.

David Soll (2021-01-31). Democrats, You PROMISED Survival Checks NOW! realprogressives.org On January 5 there was a special election held in Georgia where the two running Democrats ultimately won. How were they able to pull it off? No, the election was not stolen by Russia, China, Venezuela, or little green men. It was won because the Democrats promised the American people relief in the form of immediate distribution of $2000 survival checks! | These words were verbatim, by then Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, during an interview just days before the election,"We will be able to pass $2,000 dollar stimulus checks for the people next week when we win these races in Georgia and get economic relief direct…

RT (2021-01-31). 'He doesn't care': 10 Republicans praise Biden's call for 'unity', want to work 'in good faith' on new Covid-19 relief bill. rt.com Republican senators, including Mitt Romney and Susan Collins, sent a letter to Joe Biden on Sunday, requesting a meeting to discuss Covid-19 economic relief — but the attempt at bipartisanship is being eviscerated on social media. | The Republicans' specific plan will be unveiled on Monday, but they say it aligns with the president's "stated priorities" and could win "bipartisan support." | Biden's Covid-19 relief package is worth $1.9 trillion, a cost some critics have argued is too high. The plan also includes $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals. | Specifics for the Republican plan were not given in…

Staff (2021-01-31). Ilhan Omar Calls on Biden to Follow End of Keystone With End of Enbridge Line 3. truthout.org Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota traveled to the northern part of her state on Saturday to "We owe it to future generations, to the Indigenous communities we've signed treaties with, and to every living being on this pla…

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-01-31). 'We Should All Be Water Protectors': Ilhan Omar Visits #StopLine3 Organizers Day After Activists Block Enbridge Worksites. commondreams.org "We owe it to future generations, to the Indigenous communities we've signed treaties with, and to every living being on this planet to stop building fossil fuel infrastructure." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/line_3_jan2021.jpg

RT (2021-01-31). Massachusetts congressman tests positive for Covid-19 after getting 2 shots of Pfizer vaccine. rt.com Representative Stephen F. Lynch of Massachusetts has tested positive for Covid-19, his office said. The lawmaker received his second shot of the Pfizer vaccine before Joe Biden's inauguration. | The 65-year-old tested positive on Friday, his office said. A staff member in his Boston office tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week, spokesperson Molly Rose Tarpey added. | Lynch "had received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine and subsequently received a negative Covid-19 test prior to attending President Biden's Inauguration," on January 20, the statement added, without specifying the date. Lynch has no…

RT (2021-01-31). Anti-Trump Lincoln Project turns on 'predator' co-founder after he's accused of harassing 21 men, offering jobs for sex. rt.com Longtime GOP operative and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project John Weaver has been accused of sending unsolicited, sexually charged messages to over 20 men, including one who was only 14 when he first made contact. | Weaver had previously acknowledged sending inappropriate messages to men after multiple accusers came forward in recent weeks. The Republican, who has worked with John McCain, John Kasich, and numerous other conservatives, admitted to sending some of the messages and came out as gay in a statement, despite having a wife and two children. | "The truth is that I'm gay," he said. "And that…

RT (2021-01-31). 'There will be no full withdrawal': Troops to remain in Afghanistan past Trump-set deadline — report. rt.com According to a new report citing senior North American Treaty Organization (NATO) commanders, coalition forces will not be leaving Afghanistan by May, a deadline Donald Trump hoped to meet as president. | "There will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end," one NATO official told Reuters. | According to the source, "conditions have not been met" to justify a full-scale withdrawal, and the new administration will likely present "tweaks in policy." | "With the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and we could see a mu…

RT (2021-01-31). 'You got conned': Regretful Democrat volunteers cope with disappointment after Biden turns out to have misled about $2,000 checks. rt.com Americans who voted for President Biden in the November US presidential election expressed their regret at having volunteered for the Democrats, after the administration revealed it would not be giving out $2,000 relief checks. | The Democratic Party announced on Saturday that Americans would receive $1,400 coronavirus relief checks instead of the $2,000 promised by the party and Biden during their presidential campaign. | "I worked my ass off and knocked on well over 1000 doors promising ppl for $2000 checks. Where are they? You promised them. I hate lying to ppl," complained one self-proclaimed socialist on…

Ramona Wadi (2021-01-31). A return to the two-state politics without a historical reckoning spells loss for Palestinians. juancole.com (Middle East Monitor ) — US President Joe Biden announced the restoring of diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority and the resumption of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people, in a bid to bring the country back to international consensus after the Trump administration pursued a different form of diplomatic relations which culminated in the …