(2021-12-16). British Court Trusts US to Protect Assange Even Though CIA Plotted to Kill Him. zcomm.org The Biden administration must immediately dismiss the indictment of Julian Assange and withdraw its extradition request. The life of Assange and investigative journalism as we know it hang in the balance.
(2021-12-16). A Litmus Test for Democracy? Democratic Deficits at the Summit for Democracy. orinocotribune.com By Alfred de Zayas — Dec 6, 2021 | The so-called "Summit for Democracy" should first agree on a definition of what democracy means. Whereas etymologically we know that the definition of democracy means rule by the people, instinctively we feel that people power must be more than a slogan, that it must be concretized by genuine public participation in the conduct of public affairs. | There are, of course, many manifestations or "models" of democracy, exercised nationally as well as locally in provinces and communities. The spectrum of democratic governance goes from direct democracy by way of citizen power of…
(2021-12-16). Biden presses forward with February 2022 resumption of student loan repayments. wsws.org The Biden administration is insisting that federal student loan repayments must be restarted on February 1, 2022, after being paused for nearly two years, despite the continuing spread of the pandemic.
(2021-12-16). 89-10: Senate sends record-high $768 billion war budget authorization to White House. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com The Senate vote was 89-10.The House vote was 363-70.It's the highest-ever Pentagon budget in current dollars and the largest since World War II in constant dollars. Russian military spending for 2020 was an estimated $61.7 billion, less than 1/12 of next year's U.S. defense spending. Senate Passes $768 Billion Defense Bill, Sending It to Biden …
(2021-12-16). "International solidarity once failed the people of Chile. It must not fail today." zcomm.org Parliamentarians and public figures from over 15 countries unite in defense of Chilean democracy ahead of 19 December elections.
(2021-12-16). Chile Is at the Political Crossroads: Social Renewal or Decades of Painful Neoliberal Policy. independentmediainstitute.org "If [Augusto] Pinochet were alive, he would vote for me," said José Antonio Kast in 2017, during the Chilean presidential election when he ran as an independent candidate. This was an especially provocative statement made by him out of the many he has made over the years—he had also said that "Chileans need God," during …
(2021-12-16). US Congress approves massive $770 billion war budget. wsws.org The strategic orientation of the huge military bill is to prepare for war against Russia, China or both. Coupled with Tuesday's vote to raise the debt ceiling, congressional Democrats have satisfied their two main constituencies: the Pentagon and Wall Street.
(2021-12-16). Elizabeth Warren Announces Support For Expanding The Supreme Court. zcomm.org "I come to this conclusion because I believe the current court threatens the democratic foundations of our nation," the senator said in an op-ed.
(2021-12-16). Estados Desunidos de América. globalizacion.ca Dos lugares comunes opacan nuestra visión sobre la que fuera la primera potencia del mundo. Uno, que su fuerza se debe a que permanecieron unidos. Dos, que debido al melting pot, la tendencia homogeneizadora de la democracia y de los…
(2021-12-15). Crunch time coming after Biden-Putin meet. asiatimes.com 
Moscow is reiterating its "red lines," seeking long-term legal guarantees against NATO's further advancement to the east and the deployment of weapons on Russia's western borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on December 10, putting on record its expectation that long-term legal guarantees must be given "within a specific timeframe and on the …
(2021-12-15). Will Ethiopia Become Biden's Libya 2.0 or a Driver for an African Renaissance? dissidentvoice.org 
Many westerners trying to make sense of the events in the "dark continent" of Africa have many barriers standing in the way of their minds and reality. This must be the case, for without such filters of spin proclaiming Africa's problems to be self-induced (or the consequence of Chinese debt slavery), we in the west, …
(2021-12-15). The Execution of Julian Assange. strategic-culture.org 
He committed empire's greatest sin. He exposed it as a criminal enterprise. And empires always kill those who inflict deep and serious wounds. | By Chris HEDGES | Let us name Julian Assange's executioners. Joe Biden. Boris Johnson. Scott Morrison. Theresa May. Lenin Moreno. Donald Trump. Barack Obama. Mike Pompeo. Hillary Clinton. Lord Chief Justice Ian Burnett and Justice Timothy Victor Holroyde. Crown Prosecutors James Lewis, Clair Dobbin and Joel Smith. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser. Assistant U.S, Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia Gordon Kromberg. William Burns, the director of the CIA. Ken McCa…
(2021-12-15). 'Summit for Democracy' — the Irony of an Empire in a Glass House. orinocotribune.com The following is a translation of the daily report of the Samuel Robinson Institute for December 13, 2021. | On December 9 and 10, US President Joe Biden chaired a meeting through videoconference, "The Summit for Democracy," the purpose of which was to "champion" the protection of voting rights and freedom of expression around the world. | The summit took place as the British High Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration's plea to extradite Julian Assange to the US, to face fabricated espionage charges that could result in a life term and even possible death sentence for Assange. | The US is persecuting A…
(2021-12-15). "These laws aim to keep us in the dark"—Australian SEP electoral members denounce new anti-democratic laws. wsws.org SEP electoral members speak on the link between Australia's party deregistration laws, the COVID-19 disaster and last week's British High Court ruling to extradite Julian Assange.
(2021-12-15). Biden's 'Summit for Democracy' is a vile circus for new Cold War. nationofchange.org The biggest enemy of the basic democratic rights is the U.S. government—and yet we have this Biden conference declaring support for democracy.
(2021-12-15). Headlines for December 15, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Tops 800,000 COVID Deaths as Officials Around the World Warn of Omicron's Rapid Spread, House Votes to Hold Mark Meadows in Contempt; D.C. Sues Oath Keepers, Proud Boys over Insurrection, Judge Dismisses Trump Attempt to Shield Tax Docs from House; NY Probe into Trump Org. Continues, Another GOP Rep. Attacks Ilhan Omar as House Passes Anti-Islamophobia Bill, Congress Votes to Increase Debt Ceiling by $2.5 Trillion, Averting Default, UAE Suspends Talks with U.S. on $23 Billion Arms Sale, Presidents Putin and Xi Meet Amid Mounting Tensions with U.S., Belarusian Opposition Leader Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison…
(2021-12-15). U.S. Cold War with China: First Stop, Equatorial Guinea. fpif.org In the first Cold War, the Last week's Democracy Summit,
(2021-12-15). America's struggle at home. nationofchange.org In the first year since the end of the Trump administration, the United States is still in the throes of a struggle to overcome decades of political corruption and social neglect.
(2021-12-15). Honduras' Left-Wing Breakthrough. orinocotribune.com By Francisco Dominguez — Dec 10, 2021 | Since a US-backed coup toppled Mel Zelaya in 2009, Honduras has faced a clampdown on democracy and serious human rights abuses. But the election of socialist Xiomara Castro is a chance to break the cycle. | What appeared impossible has been achieved: the people of Honduras have broken the perpetuation, through electoral fraud and thuggish violence, of a brutal, illegal, illegitimate, and criminal regime.By means of sheer resistance, resilience, mobilisation, and organisation, they have managed to defeat Juan Orlando Hernandez's narco-dictatorship at the ballot box. Xio…
(2021-12-15). People's Action: Manchin, Prove You Support Families. peoplesaction.org Contact: Johanna Kichton, press@peoplesaction.org, 202.660.0605 WASHINGTON, D.C.—People's Action released the following statement by Director of Federal Affairs Megan Essaheb amid news reports that a Senate vote on President Biden's Build Back Better Act would be pushed to 2022, in part due to Sen. Manchin's opposition to the inclusion of the Child Tax Credit: "Today is …
(2021-12-15). Casey Mulligan Says Build Back Better Will Raise Child Care Costs by $27,000. cepr.net Many people may remember University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan for his argument that unemployment in the Great Recession was caused largely by generous food stamp benefits. Well he's back, and telling us that the child care provisions in President Biden's Build Back Better (BBB) plan could raise the cost of child care by $27,000 …
(2021-12-15). Biden backs Kellogg's workers; Sanders takes fight to cereal giant's doorstep. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Democratic President Joe Biden is publicly and bluntly backing the 1,400 Kellogg's workers whom the cereal giant forced to strike weeks ago. And he opposes the firm's plan to permanently replace them. "Every employee has the right to collectively bargain. Full stop," Biden's first tweet on the months-old conflict declared. "I am deeply troubled by …
(2021-12-15). Putin-Biden Meeting Promises No Change to US Hypocrisy. journal-neo.org 
This past week saw the electronic meeting of Russia's president Vladimir Putin and United States president Joe Biden. It was billed as a head to head meeting of two of the world's most powerful political figures. In fact, Biden was supported by four of his top aides in foreign affairs. Their precise role was unclear. …
(2021-12-15). Iran Nuclear Talks Falter as Biden Admin Threatens "Alternatives" After Squandering Window for Diplomacy. democracynow.org 
The United States is continuing talks with Iran over its nuclear program after President Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. With a new Iranian administration after April's controversial election, many worry that if talks fail, tensions between the two countries could turn into military escalation fueled by pressure from Israel. "The new hard-line team has been coming in to the negotiation table with more demands than the previous administration," says Iranian American journalist Negar Mortazavi. "They want sanctions relief from the U.S. in exchange for them scaling back part of th…
(2021-12-15). Iran Nuclear Talks Falter as Biden Administration Squanders Window for Diplomacy. truthout.org 
The United States is continuing talks with Iran over its nuclear program after President Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. With a new Iranian administration after April's controversial election, many worry that if talks fail, tensions between the two countries could turn into military escalation fueled by pressure from Israel. "The new hard-line team has been coming in to the negotiation table with more demands than the previous administration," says Iranian…
(2021-12-15). Putin, Xi running circles around Biden's hybrid war. asiatimes.com 
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin spent an hour and 14 minutes in a video conversation on Wednesday. Geopolitically, paving the way for 2022, this is the one that really matters — much more than Putin-Biden a week ago. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, who generally carefully measures his words, had previously hinted that this …
(2021-12-15). Victory for Starbucks Workers United! workers.org 
Starbucks workers made history here Dec. 9 by winning the first union election at a corporate-owned Starbucks store in the United States. Starbucks Workers United gained a sweeping victory at the Elmwood Starbucks store with a greater than two-to-one margin (19 yes, 8 no). The win comes on the heels . . . |
(2021-12-15). Round 2: Bessemer Amazon workers headed for new union election. liberationnews.org 
Union organizers are gearing up for an election re-run at Amazon's fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama after objections filed by the RWDSU union charging that Amazon used blatantly illegal tactics…
(2021-12-15). Chile's Future at Stake: Runoff Election Pits Leftist Student Leader Against Far-Right Pinochet Defender. democracynow.org 
In Chile, voters this weekend will determine a close runoff election between far-right candidate José Antonio Kast and leftist Gabriel Boric, a former student leader. If Boric, who holds a narrow lead, wins the race, he would become Chile's youngest and most progressive president in years. Meanwhile, Kast's win would make him "an authoritarian taking power with anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, nationalistic and very hateful rhetoric in relation to everything that is progressive," says Chilean American author Ariel Dorfman.
(2021-12-15). Libya: Mass Demonstrations Demand Elections Not Be Postponed. libya360.wordpress.com The Independent High Electoral Commission in Libya announced on Wednesday that it had handed over the final report on the stage of electoral appeals to elect the president, to the committee formed by members of the House of Representatives concerned with following up the electoral process, coinciding with the outbreak of demonstrations in different parts…
(2021-12-15). Mark Meadows Held in Contempt of Congress as Jan. 6 Probe Expands. How Long Can Trump Hold Out? democracynow.org 
The U.S. House voted to recommend the Department of Justice charge former President Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows with criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. The vote came after the committee released a series of text messages from Republican lawmakers and Fox News hosts to Meadows on January 6 that begged him to convince Trump to tell his followers to leave the Capitol. The messages show that Trump and his inner circle were "in the know" in the plot to overturn the election, says Daily Beast reporter Jose Pagliery.
(2021-12-15). Federal Judge Rules Against Trump, Gives Congress Access to His Taxes. truthout.org 
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that Donald Trump's tax filings can be released by the Treasury Department, striking a death blow against the former president's years-long crusade to keep them hidden from public scrutiny. | The decision, handed down in a 45-page opinion by Judge Trevor McFadden of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, specifically gives the House Ways and Means Committee access to Trump's long-sought tax returns. The committee could then vote on whether to publici…
(2021-12-15). Ralph Nader: Has Trump's Next Coup Already Begun? scheerpost.com 
[ By Ralph Nader | "
(2021-12-15). The Meadows Texts May Be the Watergate Tapes of the 1/6 Inquiry. truthout.org 
More than a year into Donald Trump's increasingly disturbing post-defeat effort to topple the republic in the name of personal vengeance, it is easy to forget what an unmitigated clown show his administration was. Even amid the deliberately inflicted fascist chaos, there were plenty of moments when the White House couldn't manage the recipe for buttered bread. Mark Meadows is a shining example of that lot. | "The House on Tuesday voted to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal con…
(2021-12-15). In OtherWords: December 15, 2021. otherwords.org On December 15, the families of 65 million U.S. children received their last monthly payment under the expanded Child Tax Credit, which expires this month. | Those payments have kept millions out of poverty, writes West Virginia mom Kristen Olsen. Unfortunately, the GOP is unanimously opposed to extending them — and so far, they've had an ally in West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin. | Will the multimillionaire senator, Kristen wonders, really vote to send millions of kids back into poverty — including in his home state, whose kids are among the poorest in the country? The answer will have national impl…
(2021-12-15). "The emergency is over," declares Colorado Governor, as hospital system nears total collapse. wsws.org During an interview with Colorado Public Radio late last week, Democratic Governor Jared Polis doubled down on his declaration that he will not impose any statewide public health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
(2021-12-15). Democratic Party betrayal, abortion, and the Supreme Court. mronline.org 
" What about the Supreme Court?" Those words are used to thwart any discussion which questions support for the Democratic Party.
(2021-12-15). New York nurses' union stages impotent protests against understaffing. wsws.org At its "days of action," the union has proposed no actions other than fruitless appeals to Democratic politicians.
(2021-12-15). The only way to deal effectively with a pandemic is socialistic. moderndiplomacy.eu The two extremes of ideology are libertarianism (anarchy) versus government (socialism). (Pure embodiments of either are rare if not non-existent.) A democratic government represents the public; an aristocratic government represents the wealthiest 0.1% as its actual dictators and beneficiaries. The two types of libertarianism are: the pure form, in which everyone is free to destroy …
(2021-12-15). Hundreds Of Black Women In Georgia Will Get $850 Per Month Guaranteed Income To Tackle Racial Wealth Gap. moguldom.com A new guaranteed income program will give $850 dollars a month to Black women in Georgia. An initiative entitled "In Her Hands" is launching in early 2022 will send direct, no-strings-attached payments to up to 650 Black women across the state. The program will begin in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, where Dr. Martin Luther …
(2021-12-15). Omicron Variant Flares Up At Cornell University, Over 900 Students Infected with Covid-19. moguldom.com The omicron variant of covid-19 has flared up at Cornell University, which reported 930 coronavirus cases among faculty and students from Dec. 7-13 — most of them, omicron cases — university officials said. Of the 930 cases, 898 were students with no evidence of severe illness reported in any of the infected students to date. …
(2021-12-15). Congress Raises Debt Ceiling After Months of Republican Obstruction. truthout.org 
Congress voted to raise the debt limit on Tuesday after months of brinkmanship and Republican obstruction that threatened economic disaster. | The resolution raises the debt ceiling
(2021-12-15). Shuler, UMW's Roberts, Warren: Private hedge funds destroy workers and companies. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (PAI)—Continuing a decades-long record of predatory financial sector capitalism, multibillion-dollar hedge funds, accountable only to their secret investors, swoop in to devour companies, devastate workers, destroy jobs, and then escape with the profits. So say, in so many words, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sherrod …