(2021-02-03). Joe Biden's Peace Force? A Multipoint Plan to End War as We Know It. juancole.com 
( Tomdispatch.com ) — When it comes to war, if personnel is policy, America is yet again in deep trouble. As retired Army Major Danny Sjursen recently pointed out at TomDispatch, when it comes to foreign policy, President Joe Biden's new cabinet and advisers are well stocked with retired generals, reconstituted neocons, unapologetic hawks, and …
(2021-02-03). Biden and Iran. counterpunch.org 
Last week's statements by the Biden appointees made the matter unnecessarily more complicated, sounding more like a continuation of the Trump policy rather than its refutation. In his confirmation hearing, Antony Blinken, Biden's choice for secretary of state, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the new administration believes that Iran needs to resume strict compliance with the nuclear agreement before the US contemplates a return to the JCPOA. In response to the question of lifting the economic sanctions that the previous administration imposed on Iran, Blinken told the committee that "we are a lon…
(2021-02-03). Poet Amanda Gorman's take on love as legacy points to youth's power to shape future generations. juancole.com 
By Heather Lawford, Heather L. Ramey and Jessica Riddell | — National youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman's recitation of "The Hill We Climb," at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration in the United States captured the attention of a nation and people globally. Gorman highlighted the power of poets in our current sociopolitical context to speak unique …
(2021-02-03). What does Pete Buttigieg's transportation secretary role mean for climate? peoplesworld.org 
The Senate confirmed Pete Buttigieg Tuesday as the next Transportation Secretary, inspiring hope among environmentalists that a clean and equitable transportation sector may be possible. Passing with a 86-13 vote, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, now has the authority to make decisions on how the country moves, builds, and travels, directing the department's 55,000 employees and a …
(2021-02-03). Warren Says Her First Move on Finance Committee Will Be a Wealth Tax. truthout.org 
On Tuesday, among a slate of other committee assignment announcements, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is going to be "I'm very pleased to join the Finance Committee, where I'll continue t…
(2021-02-03). A Coup in Burma: Did Military Seize Power to Avoid ICC Prosecution for Rohingya Genocide? democracynow.org 
We speak with a Burmese dissident about the military coup underway in Burma as de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been arrested. The coup unfolded hours before lawmakers were to take their seats in the opening of parliament, following a November election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party won over 80% of the contested seats in the Burmese parliament and the military made unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Hundreds of lawmakers, activists and human rights defenders have also been detained since the coup, and telecommunications have been cut in parts of Burma, which the military calls Myanmar. "The military decided…
(2021-02-03). Jeff Bezos to Quit as CEO, But Amazon's "Predatory Business Model" Will Continue Unless Lawmakers Act. democracynow.org 
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has announced he will step down as CEO and move into a new role as executive chairman later this year, giving up the reins after nearly three decades during which he grew Amazon from an online book retailer into a sprawling business empire and became one of the world's richest people in the process. Andy Jassy, the head of the company's cloud computing division, is set to take over the top job, but Bezos will continue to be the largest Amazon shareholder and remain on the board of directors. The news comes as calls continue to mount for lawmakers to break up Amazon and other tech giants.
(2021-02-03). Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tells why we can't just 'forgive and forget'. peoplesworld.org 
Following is the full text of a statement that the congresswoman sent out yesterday to the national media and elsewhere. It contains graphic descriptions of violence and abuse. Monday night, I hopped on IG live to talk about what happened at the Capitol. My story is one of many. It's not the only story or …
(2021-02-03). Meet the fascists' favorite members of Congress. liberationnews.org 
Photo: Marjorie Taylor Greene being sworn into office by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy Less than one month into its new session, the House of Representatives is faced with the question of whether or not to expel one of its own — Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia's 14th District. Rep. Greene's embrace of racist conspiracy …
(2021-02-03). Biden's Coronavirus Plan Will Not Prevent Death and Devastation. thenation.com Justin Feldman, Abigail Cartus, Seth J. Prins Biden's Coronavirus Plan Will Not Prevent Death and Devastation…
(2021-02-03). White New Yorkers Have Received Lion's Share Of COVID-19 Vaccine. popularresistance.org Three white residents receive a COVID-19 vaccine for every Black or Latino person in the city, according to new demographic data released by the mayor's office on Sunday. | At a press briefing, Mayor Bill de Blasio said there was a "profound disparity" about seven weeks into the city's vaccination program. | "Clearly, what we see is a particularly pronounced reality of many more people from white communities getting vaccination than folks from Black and Latino communities," de Blasio told reporters. The vast difference in vaccine coverage shows the city isn't meeting its pledge for equitable distribution. | The m…
(2021-02-03). I will not let this happen again. zcomm.org It's not about revenge, it's about creating safety. We are not safe with people who hold political power who are willing to endanger lives for political gain…
(2021-02-03). Where is Biden's Foreign Policy Headed? — Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson. theanalysis.news Biden has appointed many old guard interventionists and new Cold Warriors, but there is some hope for a better Iran policy. Watch out for attempts by Israel to scuttle the nuclear deal. A wide-ranging discussion with Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson on theAnalysis.news with Paul Jay.
(2021-02-03). Where is Biden's Foreign Policy Headed? — Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson. theanalysis.news Biden has appointed many old guard interventionists and new Cold Warriors, but there is some hope for a better Iran policy. Watch out for attempts by Israel to scuttle the nuclear deal. A wide-ranging discussion with Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson on theAnalysis.news with Paul Jay.
(2021-02-03). The Palestinian boycott of Israel is not racist, it is anti-racist. juancole.com ( Middle East Monitor ) — The claims made by Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang in a recent op-ed in the Jewish weekly The Forward, point to the prevailing ignorance that continues to dominate the US discourse on Palestine and Israel. Yang is a former Democratic Presidential candidate and is vying for …
(2021-02-03). How to Question William Burns, Biden's Pick to Head the CIA. counterpunch.org 
In virtually all previous confirmation hearings, there were virtually no probing questions on CIA transgressions or the purpose, role, and even necessity of the CIA in…
(2021-02-03). Supreme Court pauses Trump immigration cases, as Biden plans to overturn Trump policies & orders a review of 'kids in cages'. rt.com 
The US Supreme Court has canceled arguments on two Trump-era immigration and border security cases, as President Joe Biden eases Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policies. However, the controversial detention of minors continues. | The cases related to Trump's use of military funding to build his long-promised wall on the US-Mexico border, and his "remain in Mexico" asylum policy that required Central American migrants to wait in Mexico while their US asylum claims were processed. Both cases had been challenged by lower courts, and the Supreme Court was preparing to hear oral arguments in their favor until the…
(2021-02-03). GQ Magazine gives Joe Biden the virtual 'makeover' nobody asked for. rt.com 
After four quiet years, Joe Biden's return to the White House has woken America's lifestyle writers from their hibernation, and they're ready to shine his shoes with cringe-inducing content once more. | For the news industry, former president Donald Trump was good for business. His off-the-cuff remarks, personal feuds, and never-ending parade of scandals sold newspapers by the boatload and kept millions of eyes glued to cable TV. As journalists rushed to dig up dirt on the bombastic president, and every week broke new stories predicting his imminent downfall, one group of writers were left out in the cold: Ame…
(2021-02-03). Democrats and GOP strike power-sharing agreement, allowing Dems to take over key Senate committees. rt.com 
Democrats and Republicans have reached an agreement that will allow the Democrats to take control of several Senate committees. Though the party holds a slim majority, Republicans have until now held onto their committee seats. | "I am happy to report this morning that the leadership of both parties have finalized the organizing resolution for the Senate," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. "We will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels." | Control of the Sena…
(2021-02-03). 120 Democrats Demand Repeal of Millionaire Tax Cut GOP Buried in Last COVID Bill. truthout.org 
A group of 120 Democratic members of Congress is calling on their party's leadership to ensure that a
(2021-02-03). Immigration Advocates Urge Biden Administration for More Concrete Change. truthout.org 
Hundreds have been deported in the last week, even as President Biden signed several executive orders Tuesday to undo the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration policies. The orders include a push to reunify families torn apart under Trump's "zero tolerance" policy and a review of the Trump policy known as "Remain in Mexico" that requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as their immigration cases wind through court, leaving tens of thousands waiting in dangerous conditions al…
(2021-02-03). Immigration Advocates Welcome New "Tone" But Urge Biden Admin for More Concrete Change. democracynow.org 
Hundreds have been deported in the last week, even as President Biden signed several executive orders Tuesday to undo the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration policies. The orders include a push to reunify families torn apart under Trump's "zero tolerance" policy and a review of the Trump policy known as "Remain in Mexico" that requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as their immigration cases wind through court, leaving tens of thousands waiting in dangerous conditions along the border. Reporter Aura Bogado says that despite the Biden administration's new "tone," continued deportations…
(2021-02-03). After Most US Troops Pull Out of Somalia, Some Reenter for Training. anti-empire.com 
Editor's note: It appears the Pentagon never even fully withdrew as Trump had told them to, but kept some behind with an eye to Biden. |
| The U.S. military on Sunday held its first training engagement in Somalia after the recent drawdown of most American troops stationed there, Africa Command announced Monday. | "Our first engagement back into Somalia so quickly after the repositioning shows we remain committed to our Somali and regional partners and support their fight against violent extremism," U.S.
(2021-02-03). Biden discussing COVID-19 aid with Dems, wants fast action. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden panned a Republican alternative to his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan as insufficient as Senate Democrats pushed ahead, voting to launch a process that could approve his sweeping rescue package on their own if Republicans refuse to support it. Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined the Democratic senators for a private virtual …
(2021-02-03). Turning point in freedom road. peoplesworld.org 
This keynote, presented to the CPUSA National Committee on Jan. 23, 2021, has been updated with the input of NC members. It's hard to overstate the importance of last Wednesday's Inauguration. Trump's gone, the coup was averted, and democracy prevailed. The fascist danger experienced a setback — at least for now. For those who believed …
(2021-02-03). Jon Ossoff Victory Proves That the Israel Lobby Still Has an Iron Grip on Democrats. mintpressnews.com 
An analysis by the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs shows the pro-Israel lobby contributes significantly more money to Democrats than Republicans. And those campaign funds appear to be doing their job.
(2021-02-03). Medicare For All Reaches The Crossroads. popularresistance.org In 2021 the U.S. healthcare crisis has, again, reached a boiling point. It was already simmering in 2019 when the number of uninsured grew to 33 million. Covid then triggered a job crisis that added anywhere from 15 to 27 million to the ranks of the uninsured. The still-growing job crisis has pushed the number of uninsured near or beyond the 49 million uninsured that existed prior to Obamacare, whose goal was "universal healthcare." | It's no surprise then that Medicare For All emerged, pre-Covid, as the most popular policy during the Presidential Democratic primaries. But after the Democratic Party organized, on…
(2021-02-03). Headlines for February 3, 2021. democracynow.org Democrats Say Trump "Singularly Responsible" for Jan. 6 Insurrection in Impeachment Brief, U.S. to Start Sending Vaccines to Pharmacies; Single AstraZeneca Shot Cuts Transmission by 67%, Senate Confirms Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Chief, Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary, Senator Warren to Introduce Wealth Tax on Households Worth Over $50 Million, Kevin McCarthy Weighs Removing Marjorie Taylor Greene from Education Committee After Bipartisan Condemnation, Alexei Navalny Receives 3.5 Years in Prison Amid Mass Protests, Healthcare Workers in West Bank Receive Vaccines from Israel While Other Palestinians Mad…
(2021-02-03). Biden begins to dismantle Trump's anti-immigrant measures. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 2 (efe-epa).- US President Joe Biden acted Tuesday on his promise to dismantle the immigration policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump, by announcing a set of orders aimed to reunite separated families, restore the asylum system and address the causes of migration with regional partners. Biden signed the measures hours after the Senate …
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. thealtworld.com Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world. | Everyone across the world is talking about social media censorship after former US President Trump was deplatformed last month by the world's largest companies in this sphere following the…
(2021-02-03). Battling White Supremacy in the Ring. scheerpost.com Buy a copy of Horne's book "The Bittersweet Science: Racism, Racketeering, and the Political Economy of Boxing," By Gerald Horne Reviewed by Chris Hedges There were three nationally prominent Black men in the early twentieth century. Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee Institute; W. E. B. Du Bois, perhaps America's most important intellectual; and the world heavyweight boxing champion… |
(2021-02-03). Deposed Myanmar president moved to interrogation center. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Deposed Myanmar president Win Myint has been moved to an interrogation center in Yangon, sources close to the politician told EFE on Wednesday. Myint, 69, was detained on Monday by the military along with leader Aung San Suu Kyi and held under house arrest in the capital Naypyitaw. "President U …
(2021-02-03). Staff in more than 70 Myanmar hospitals strike to protest coup. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Staff from more than 70 hospitals and medical centers in Myanmar responded to calls for a civil disobedience campaign and stopped work on Wednesday to protest against the coup staged by the military earlier this week, the organizers said. Specialists, nurses, dentists, doctors and other health workers from 74 hospitals …
(2021-02-03). Biden, Putin extend New START at start of a difficult relationship. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have agreed to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty for another five years, making what appears to be a good start in a bilateral relationship that, by all accounts, will be a difficult one. "Especially during times of tension, verifiable limits …
(2021-02-03). Tackling Prison Profiteers Will Take More Than Banning Private Prisons. zcomm.org To fully address profit-driven punishment, the Biden administration will need to take aim at every tendril of the private prison industry — including immigration detention centers…
(2021-02-03). Joe Biden's Peace Force? zcomm.org …
(2021-02-03). Biden Doesn't Need and Shouldn't Want the Votes of the Sedition Caucus or the Obstructionists. thenation.com Biden Doesn't Need and Shouldn't Want the Votes of the Sedition Caucus or the Obstructionists…
(2021-02-03). Student Debt Relief Is Back on the Table. thenation.com Student Debt Relief Is Back on the Table…
(2021-02-03). Biden must inspect America's embrittled reactors. nationofchange.org Biden must act to prevent what would constitute nuclear suicide in the United States.
(2021-02-03). Immigration advocates welcome new 'tone' but urge Biden admin for more concrete change. nationofchange.org Despite the Biden administration's new "tone," continued deportations of vulnerable people demonstrate "a continuation of the same practices that happened under President Trump and previously under Obama."
(2021-02-03). Extremists and Disappearing Republican Moderates. counterpunch.org Donald Trump's extremist white supporters like the nationalist Proud Boys and the militant Oath Keepers who participated in the siege of the Capitol have virtually created a fifth column bent on subversive activities. These mostly armed Trump militia are anathema to America and its more than two centuries of government of the people, by the
(2021-02-03). Smart Ass Cripple: Biden's Low Priority, Our High Hopes. progressive.org It's still disturbing that disability rights was an afterthought for the Biden campaign.
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. oneworld.press Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world.
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. oneworld.press Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world.
(2021-02-02). The Imperial Presidency Comes Home to Roost. counterpunch.org 
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 was president. Born on July 20, 1944, I'm a little "young" to remember him, though I was a war baby in an era when Congress still sometimes declared war before America made it.
(2021-02-02). The Imperial Presidency Comes Home to Roost. counterpunch.org 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 was president. Born on July 20, 1944, I'm a little "young" to remember him, though I was a war baby in an era when Congress still sometimes declared war before America made it.
(2021-02-02). "We're in a national emergency," President Biden says. peoplesworld.org 
"We're in a national emergency. We need to act like we're in a national emergency." President Biden declared on Jan. 22. As he signed a flurry of sweeping executive orders. "Families are going hungry. People are at risk of being evicted." The orders increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school lunch assistance, require federal …
(2021-02-02). Putting Our Public Forests into Carbon Reserves. counterpunch.org 
The Biden Administration supports protecting 30% of US lands by 2030 or what is termed the 30 x 30 proposal. One of the best ways to meet that 30 by 30 goals would be to put all national forests and BLM lands off-limits to logging. Not only does this help to move the country closer
(2021-02-02). UAE confident F-35 jets sale will go through despite Biden review, says ambassador. middleeasteye.net 
UAE confident F-35 jets sale will go through despite Biden review, says ambassador | UAE ambassador to Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, says if US plans to pivot from Middle East to China it cannot 'take tools away from your partners' | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 15: 52 | The US agreed to sale of F-35 jets to Abu Dhabi following normalisation agreement between UAE and Israel (AFP) | The United Arab Emirates is confident t…
(2021-02-02). Catholic panel wrestles with gap between Biden, bishops on sexuality issues. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—When it comes to comprehensive immigration reform, combatting climate change, tackling endemic racism, and closing the yawning gap between the rich and the rest of us, the nation's Catholic bishops, its president who is a practicing Catholic, Joe Biden, and Pope Francis I are all on the same page. So are Biden, the bishops, and …
(2021-02-02). Latinx COVID Deaths Soar 1,000% in Los Angeles as Communities of Color Lag Behind in Vaccine Rollout. democracynow.org 
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Black and Latinx people in the United States have died at higher rates, and new data shows that they are getting vaccinated at much lower rates than white people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 60% of those vaccinated were white, while just 11.5% were Latinx, 6% were Asian, and just over 5% were Black. The CDC data is based on details gathered during the first month of the U.S. vaccination campaign that saw nearly 13 million Americans get a shot, though race and ethnicity was only known for about half of the recipients. Black and Latinx people…
(2021-02-02). Russia's Sputnik V Is Found to Be 91.6% Effective, Providing Boost for Global Vaccination Effort. democracynow.org 
Russia has been one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, recording about 73,000 deaths and over 3.8 million infections over the past year. Meanwhile, there is widespread skepticism over the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine, with many Russians reluctant to get the shot. Now a peer-reviewed study published in the respected Lancet medical journal has confirmed the vaccine's 91.6% efficacy, as developers of the shot have long maintained. "That's good news for the developers of the vaccine in Russia. That's good news for Russia writ large, which certainly has plenty of geopolitical ambitions surroundi…
(2021-02-02). The Heat: Myanmar military takeover. america.cgtn.com 
The military in Myanmar takes over after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders.
(2021-02-02). Biden's Green Energy Plans are just Market Wisdom: Norway's Investment Fund just Dumped $6 Bn. in Oil Stocks. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Some have questioned how realistic Biden's plans are to move the US rapidly off fossil fuels. In fact, it is the fossil fuels that are unrealistic. Burning petroleum and coal are bad for everyone's health and destined to make earth swelteringly hot, with lots of climate catastrophes and extreme weather. …
(2021-02-02). Everything About The Biden Administration Is Fake. thealtworld.com A new exclusive from The Daily Beast titled " "While it's a relief to see briefings return, particularly with a commitment to factual information, the press can't really do its job in the briefing room if the White House is picking and choosing the questions they want," one White House correspondent told The Daily Beast. "That's not real…
(2021-02-02). The Biden Government Running True to Form. dissidentvoice.org The least surprising news item in the past week was that the United States government under President Biden had decided that American troops would after all, despite Ex- President Trump's order, remain in Afghanistan. This breaks an agreement that had been reached by the Trump administration and the Taliban that US troops would all be …
(2021-02-02). White House Briefings for Children: Jen Psaki Circles Back. counterpunch.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 sessions 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
(2021-02-02). Don't Grade President Biden on a Curve. indybay.org Being better than Trump is a high jump over abysmal standards…
(2021-02-02). The nation can't afford Republicans' stimulus sabotage. peoplesworld.org 
In his first ten days in office, Joe Biden launched an intense effort to address the "cascading crises" that America faces. In addition to issuing executive orders to reverse several of Trump's most poisonous acts—ending federal contracting with private prisons, reviving enforcement of discrimination laws, ending the Muslim ban, re-entering the Paris Climate Accord, and …
(2021-02-02). Biden discusses Republican demands to drastically cut stimulus spending. wsws.org In what might be described as a demand for preemptive surrender, not negotiation, ten Republican senators are proposing a 70 percent cut in the Biden administration's COVID-19 relief package.
(2021-02-02). Biden's $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Is a Vital Beginning for a New New Deal. zcomm.org This reliance on big pocketed financiers will be a continuing obstacle to truly reorienting finance to serve society…
(2021-02-02). Polls Show Major Support for Biden's Stimulus Plan That GOP Wants to Undercut. truthout.org 
Two separate polls conducted recently show that the majority of the American public is in favor of passing a COVID-19 stimulus bill quickly and that they are largely supportive of Joe Biden's version of the bill. With Congress poised to pass Biden's stimulus through reconciliation soon, the polls show that bipartisan agreement among the public shows that
(2021-02-02). US General Manipulates Media To Push For War With Iran. popularresistance.org Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with investigative journalist Gareth Porter about his recent piece in The Grayzone which explores the role CENTCOM Chief General Kenneth McKenzie played in escalating tensions with Iran in the final days of the Trump Administration. Porter also discusses the role General McKenzie will have in the Biden Administration as well as the new president's Iran strategy.
(2021-02-02). Marjorie Greene Taylor hits back after Mitch McConnell dubs her 'GOP cancer,' says 'weak Republicans' will doom party & country. rt.com 
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has responded to a scathing attack by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — who dubbed her a "cancer" for the GOP — insisting that "weak" Republicans would be the country's downfall. | "The real cancer for the Republican Party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully," the freshman GOP congresswoman wrote in a tweet on Monday night. | This is why we are losing our country. | The real cancer for the Republican Party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully. | This is why we are losing our country.— Marjorie Taylor Greene &#…
(2021-02-02). New York Times calls for MINISTRY OF TRUTH, urging Biden to appoint a 'REALITY CZAR' to head up fight against 'misinformation'. rt.com 
Striving to silence voices with which the mainstream media disagrees, the New York Times has urged President Joe Biden to appoint a "reality czar" to lead the fight against "disinformation and domestic extremism." | And yes, George Orwell fans, America's supposed newspaper of record used the phrase
(2021-02-02). Conservative 'Avenger' Ted Cruz fights evil environmentalists and dastardly Democrats, gets ridiculed online. rt.com 
Texas senator and apparent superhero geek Ted Cruz has been roasted online for his peculiar takeaway from the smash-hit Marvel movies, namely that "rabid environmentalists" were the bad guys all along. | Speaking to conservative pundit Michael Knowles on Monday, Cruz complained that President Joe Biden's environmental crusade would cost jobs, and infringe on the freedom of Americans to work however they want. Biden's
(2021-02-02). Democrats seek to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene of House committee assignments to negate 'future harm' from 'QAnon Congresswoman'. rt.com 
Democrats are demanding the GOP purge Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from two House committees over her supposed "inflammatory and false statements," apparently with support of some Republicans. | Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida), Ted Deutch (D-Florida) and Jahana Hayes (D-Connecticut) submitted a resolution on Monday demanding Greene be removed from the House Education & Labor Committee and the House Budget Committee. | "Reducing the future harm that she can cause in Congress, and denying her a seat at committee tables where fact-based policies will be drafted, is both a suit…
(2021-02-02). 'Bravery' or 'manipulative'? AOC comes out as survivor of sexual assault while describing 'trauma' of Capitol riot. rt.com 
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) revealed she is a survivor of sexual assault while recounting last month's Capitol riot. Many hailed her for the deeply personal story, while others questioned her motives. | During a livestream on Instagram on Monday night, the progressive lawmaker pushed back against Republican colleagues and critics who have demanded an apology after she accused Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) of putting her life in danger by allegedly helping to incite the unrest in the capital on January 6. | .
(2021-02-02). Post-Trump slump? CNN's ratings nosedive in first week of Biden presidency. rt.com 
After four years of bitterly opposing Donald Trump, CNN has seen its ratings fall off a cliff since President Joe Biden took office. Seemingly, the leader CNN hated was great for business. | CNN's primetime ratings fell by around 44 percent during the last week in January, according to new analysis by
(2021-02-02). Ending the crisis in Yemen is a priority for Biden administration. juancole.com 
( Al-Bab.com) — Secretary of State Blinken: "It's vitally important that we do everything we can to get humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen." Photo: State Dept When Antony Blinken, the newly-appointed US Secretary of State, gave his first press briefing last Wednesday the first topic to come up was the war in Yemen. …
(2021-02-02). Biden Plans Task Force to Reunite Migrant Families Separated by Trump. truthout.org 
President Joe Biden is planning to sign three executive orders on Tuesday, meant to dismantle a number of actions from the previous administration that will, according to one official, make the process of migration to the U.S. more humane and fair. | Perhaps the most notable of these three orders will be Biden's call for the creation of a task force to reunite children who were separated from their families under a Trump administration policy that was called "zero tolerance." Ostensibly put into pla…
(2021-02-02). Alexei Navalny Faces "Kafkaesque" Charges in Russia for Breaking Parole While in Poison-Induced Coma. democracynow.org 
Russian authorities have arrested thousands of people during anti-government protests in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been held in jail since returning to Russia on January 17 after recovering in Germany from an attempt on his life in August using the nerve agent Novichok. Navalny has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind the poisoning that nearly killed him. While Navalny has emerged as Russia's leading opposition figure and anti-corruption campaigner, his political roots have links to right-wing nationalist and anti-immigrant causes. Joshua Yaffa, Moscow corresp…
(2021-02-02). Covid-19: Jamaal Bowman calls on Israel to vaccinate Palestinians. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Jamaal Bowman calls on Israel to vaccinate Palestinians | US congressman likens racial disparities in US and his own experiences as Black man to 'hopelessness' Palestinians face | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 18: 53 | Jamaal Bowman defeated staunch Israel supporter Eliot Engel, a senior Democrat, last year (AFP/File photo) | Congressman Jamaal Bowman, a first-term progressive Democrat, has called on the Israeli go…
(2021-02-02). Biden urged to publicly support rights of citizens to boycott Israel. middleeasteye.net 
Biden urged to publicly support rights of citizens to boycott Israel | Human Rights Watch calls on Biden administration to renounce Trump-era policy that labelled BDS movement as antisemitic | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 16: 47 | The BDS movement was founded in 2005 and modelled after a similar campaign credited with ending apartheid in South Africa (AFP/File photo) | A leading human rights group has called on US Presid…
(2021-02-02). Turkish official describes first contact with Biden administration as 'positive'. middleeasteye.net 
Turkish official describes first contact with Biden administration as 'positive' | Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed a wide range of issues in first contact since Biden took office | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 19: 48 | US Marines wait before arrival of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for meeting in Oval Office of White House in Washing…
(2021-02-02). The Politics of Debt Can Strangle a Society, Just Look at What Happened to Rome. counterpunch.org 
For the democratically ambitious, an obvious issue to focus on is debt. And I'm not talking about government debt, which is certainly part of the problem, but debt across the whole societal spectrum — corporate, personal, and government. At this point, one is tempted to throw out a bunch of numbers to make the case,
(2021-02-02). Latest Trump EPA rule to get tossed? The 'secret science' ban. peoplesworld.org 
Former President Donald Trump will forever leave his mark on the federal government, but some of his administration's rules aren't standing the test of time. President Biden wants to reconsider and possibly scrap more than 100 anti-environmental actions his predecessor took during his term, including Trump's efforts to weaken protections for migratory birds and gray wolves and …
(2021-02-02). After Trump, what prospects for Biden in the Global imperial disorder? mronline.org 
The United States seeks to regain its sagging world dominance by capturing wealth, quelling rebellions, and deterring competitors. It supports this operation with gigantic military power and a burdensome arms economy.
(2021-02-02). NYC cops Keep Rioting; Protesters Resist. dsausa.org 
In contrast to January 6 in Washington, DC, police in New York on Martin Luther King Jr. Day reverted to type. At least 29 people were arrested and multiple protesters were hospitalized when NYPD broke up a Black Lives Matter march held in honor of MLK Day, the Gothamist reported. As marchers streamed off the…
(2021-02-02). The 3rd Party Resurgence. realprogressives.org 
"The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth." H.L. Mencken | This article is part of a three-part series on the history of parties and partisan politics in America. "The Democratic Party is ideologically bankrupt. … They have no ideology. Their ideology is opportunism." Bernie Sanders | The millennium marked the beginning of the end for the duopoly. A third-party resurgence was, and is, underway. Here are just five party examples: | Green Party — 2001 | A federation…
(2021-02-02). Dreamers in Arizona Enthusiastically welcome Biden's immigration plan, but older Immigrants say it doesn't go far enough. juancole.com 
By Emma VandenEinde and Tyler Manion | — ( Cronkite News ) — PHOENIX — On his first day in office, President Joe Biden sent to Congress his plan to reform the U.S. immigration system. The bill includes preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, and outlines a path to permanent residence …
(2021-02-02). Lindsey Graham Under Fire for Latest Blockade of Merrick Garland's Senate Confirmation. commondreams.org "If Sen. Graham refuses to work in good faith to quickly confirm President Biden's highly qualified nominees, then it's time for him to step aside and let more serious legislators get to work." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/graham-garland-ag.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Biden's Nominee For New Cabinet-Level Science Position is Epstein-Linked Geneticist. thelastamericanvagabond.com CRISPR gene-editing expert Eric Lander, Biden's director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, is awaiting Senate confirmation to serve in a new Cabinet-level position in the Biden administration. Jeffrey Epstein, the eugenicist pedophile and sex trafficker, bragged about funding Lander's research and was photographed taking part in at least one meeting with him.
(2021-02-02). So-Called "Moderates" Always Say Helping the Poor Costs Too Much—But Their Lavish Gifts to the Rich Give Them Away. commondreams.org Are they totally without memory or shame? These are the same Republican senators who used reconciliation to pass the Trump tax cuts that larded billions in tax breaks on the richest Americans. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell-charleston-loophole.jpg …
(2021-02-02). 'Pressure Works. And He's Going to Need a Lot More': Manchin Backs Fast Track Process for Covid-19 Relief. commondreams.org The West Virginia senator also said he opposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15, setting up a potential clash with Sen. Bernie Sanders and other progressives. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/manchin_0.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Warren Blasts 'Unconscionable' $740 Billion Pentagon Budget While Millions Suffer From Poverty, Joblessness, and Covid-19. commondreams.org "A budget is about priorities," said the Democratic senator. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren_military_budget_0.png …
(2021-02-02). Headlines for February 2, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Tops 26 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Shots, Surpassing Confirmed Coronavirus Cases , Biden Takes Executive Action to Reverse Trump Immigration Policies as Deportations Continue, Senate Republicans Meet at White House to Press Far Smaller Coronavirus Relief Bill, South Africa Receives First COVID-19 Vaccines; New Variant Linked to Reinfections in Brazil, WHO Team Probes Virus Origins in Wuhan; Australia Puts Perth on Lockdown After Single COVID-19 Case, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Reveals She Is a Sexual Assault Survivor in Video Recalling Jan. 6 Capitol Attack, Trump Hires New Lawyers. One Declined to Prosecute Bil…
(2021-02-02). US workplace safety agency issues toothless COVID "guidance," while Biden continues Trump's designation of meatpacking as "critical infrastructure" wsws.org Signaling that the Biden administration will take no serious measures to protect workers from the spread of COVID, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued unenforceable "guidance."
(2021-02-02). Biden's Executive Order on Climate Crisis Exposes Need for Constitutional Change. commondreams.org Demands to abolish the Electoral College and restructure the U.S. Supreme Court can be pegged to substantive constitutional change. It's the role of movements to demand and make changes to the "applicable law," and its interpretation. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_drilling_fossil_fuels.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Atrocities of the Federal Death Penalty. aclu.org In just six months, the federal government conducted an unprecedented, unjust, and unlawful execution spree, taking the lives of 13 people. The record of injustice in those cases — the compelling claims for mercy and legal relief by those executed and the denial without fair consideration by the executive branch or by the Supreme Court — underscores the urgency for President Biden to grant row-wide clemency to the 49 people on the federal death row. | Although it was William Barr and Donald Trump who scheduled and pushed these executions amidst a deadly pandemic, it was the U.S. Supreme Court that fac…
(2021-02-02). The Oligarchy Knows Class Warfare Is the Real Fight—Why Don't Liberals? commondreams.org The Democrats and Republicans have legalized a level of greed and fraud that even heirs of the robber barons thought unsustainable. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12308997821.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Why arch-conservative Liz Cheney is now considered too liberal for some GOP extremists. salon.com The backlash against Cheney by pro-Trump Republicans has been intense…
(2021-02-02). Trump still has access to classified intelligence briefings. Biden's White House could cut him off. salon.com "It's something, obviously, that's under review," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said of Trump's…
(2021-02-02). 'We Will Hold Him Accountable Until He Does': 110+ Groups Demand Biden Close Gitmo Without Delay. commondreams.org Rights advocates urged the president to act "in a just manner that considers the harm done to the men who have been imprisoned without charge or fair trials for nearly 20 years." | www.flickr.com/photos/gregfoster/3378018795/…
(2021-02-02). Robinhood: Stealing From the Poor to Give to the Rich. strategic-culture.org By Thomas KNAPP | In late January, a band of merry men (and women) organized via Reddit and other Internet forums to stick it to The Man. They began buying shares of failing retail chain GameStop to drive its stock price up. | Their target: Wall Street hedge funds engaged in the tactic of "shorting" GameStop's stock. | Their main weapon: Robinhood, an app which allows pretty much anyone to buy stock in small amounts. Its stated mission is to "democratize finance for all." | You've probably read 20 explanations of "shorting" by now, so I'll keep it simple: To "short" a stock is to bet that its price will go down.
(2021-02-02). Happy Days Ahead for the Pentagon as Beacons Are Lit for the Military-Industrial Complex. strategic-culture.org President Biden's beacon has been deflected to the rugged trails of aggression, Brian Cloughley writes. | The Washington Post put it gleefully by
(2021-02-02). A Ten-Point Plan to Make Joe Biden a Peace-Time President. commondreams.org After two decades of war and four administrations, it won't be easy to work for peace—but it sure is worth the try. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2021-02-02_at_3.47.48_pm.png …
(2021-02-02). On Sunday Shows, the Only Biden 'Promise' That Matters Is Compromise. commondreams.org Democrats rode to victory in Georgia on a clear promise to give people $2,000 checks if they were given control of the Senate. But to hear corporate media tell it, the more important promise—and the only one they will hold him accountable for—is one Biden never even made. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12304265951.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Biden's Child Tax Credit Plan Could Right a Historical Wrong. commondreams.org One lesson from 2020 is that economic and racial inequality are intrinsic challenges that have been either swept under the rug or addressed at the margins for far too long. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/child_poverty.jpg …
(2021-02-02). Biden admin. makes contradictory remarks on JCPOA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 02 (MNA) — US special envoy for Iran said in an interview that Washington seeks to end its maximum pressure policy on the Islamic Republic of Iran.