(2021-12-17). Congress Passes Massive $778 Billion NDAA. popularresistance.org On Tuesday, the Senate passed the massive $778 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a vote of 89 to 10. | The legislation is a compromise version of the NDAA that was already passed by the House and now just needs President Biden's signature to become law. Congress added $25 billion more to the spending bill than Biden requested. | The bill authorizes $740.3 billion for the Pentagon, $27.8 billion for the Energy Department's nuclear weapons program, and $9.9 billion for "Defense-related Activities Outside NDAA Jurisdiction." | In September, the House passed a different version of the NDAA that inc…
(2021-12-17). Why We Must Defend Julian Assange. popularresistance.org Julian Assange is one of the political prisoners that the US claims not to have. The UK is again the good vassal, keeping him locked up until the Biden administration finds an opportune time to ship him off to a kangaroo court. Everyone who believes in press freedom and who opposes imperialism must be a staunch Assange defender.
(2021-12-17). They Won't Ever Find Us Because Our Love Is Bound to the Rocks. popularresistance.org At the US State Department's Summit for Democracy (9—10 December), US President Joe Biden announced a range of initiatives to 'bolster democracy and defend human rights globally'. These measures are to be funded by $424.4 million from the United States. This money will go towards the same institutions that have — for the past sixty years — intervened to undermine the sovereignty of democratic processes from Iran (1953) and Guatemala (1954) to Honduras (2009) and Bolivia (2019). The US focuses on falsely portraying governments that are unwilling to accept US leadership as corrupt — as was w…
(2021-12-17). Headlines for December 17, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Warns of "Winter of Severe Illness and Death" for Unvaccinated Americans, CDC Recommends Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines Over Johnson & Johnson, Citing Rare Blood Clots, Thousands of ICE Prisoners Denied Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters, FDA Relaxes Restrictions on Access to Abortion Pills , Federal Judge Throws Out Opioid Settlement That Shielded Sackler Family from Lawsuits, Lucía Hiriart, Widow of Chilean Dictator Pinochet, Dies on Eve of Presidential Election, At Least Seven Die as Super Typhoon Rai Slams Philippines with 160 MPH Winds, Workers at Candle Factory Destroyed by Tornado Sue Company over "Fla…
(2021-12-17). Poll Shows Kamala Harris Overwhelmingly Likely to Be the Next Democratic Presidential Nominee. moderndiplomacy.eu The Politico and Morning Consult Poll, published on December 15th, shows the following question and its answers, among the 1,998 U.S. registered voters sampled: [Question #5] If Joe Biden did not run for president in the 2024 election, for whom would you vote in a Democratic presidential primary? (N=916 [registered Democratic Party voters responding]) Cory …
(2021-12-17). Moussa Ibrahim: Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi has the Widest Support Heading into Libyan Elections. orinocotribune.com We speak to Moussa Ibrahim, the former spokesperson for late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He discusses the overturning of the decision banning Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi (the son of Muammar Gaddafi) from running in the Libyan Presidential elections, current polling for the elections and why he beli…
(2021-12-17). The Mark Meadows documents: The smoking gun of the January 6 coup plot. wsws.org Texts and emails turned over to the House Select Committee confirm the central role of Trump and his top White House aides in orchestrating the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election by force.
(2021-12-17). Pat O'Shane to stand in Leichhardt for the Socialist Alliance. greenleft.org.au Pat O'Shane, a Kuku Yalanji woman from Mossman, will run for the Socialist Alliance in the Far North Queensland lower house seat of Leichhardt in the federal election. Jonathan Strauss reports.
(2021-12-17). Know This, Trump's Attempted Coup on Jan. 6 Was Just Practice. zcomm.org What are the institutions—public and civic—that could roll back this fast-approaching U.S.-style fascism with the snarling visage of serial criminal and constitutional violator, Donald J. Trump?>
(2021-12-17). Strikers at Battle Creek Kellogg's stand strong, Bernie Sanders to join Friday rally. fightbacknews.org Battle Creek, MI – Kellogg's workers are continuing the fight after a rejection of a proposed contract last week. At the Battle Creek headquarters, there is determination to hold the line despite the company's plan to permanently replace 1400 workers. | Jason Rose, a mechanic who has worked at Kellogg's for 15 years, said the company is going to have a difficult time filling all the positions. In Battle Creek, the plant's downward trend in working conditions is well known. "They had a hard enough time hiring people in the first place," said Rose. | The strikers are asking to abolish the two-tier system of hiring…
(2021-12-17). Democracy not a one-size-fits-all product: Chinese envoy. ecns.cn Democracy is not a one-size-fits-all product that has only one model or configuration for the whole world, a senior Chinese envoy in Australia has said in an article published on The Canberra Times on Wednesday.
(2021-12-17). After working to the bone … German orchestra leader sacked following musicians' protest. wsws.org The response of the Social Democratic Party here, as in other areas of society, is typical. For many years the SPD has imposed austerity measures in cooperation with the trade unions while seeking to dissipate all opposition.
(2021-12-17). Black Feminist bell hooks's Trailblazing Critique of "Imperialist White Supremacist Heteropatriarchy" democracynow.org 
We look at the life and legacy of trailblazing Black feminist scholar and activist bell hooks, who died at the age of 69 on Wednesday. We speak with her longtime colleague Beverly Guy-Sheftall, professor of women's studies at Spelman College, who remembers her as "a person who would sit with young people and community people and students and help them understand this world in which we live, which is full of all kinds of domination." Working in the tradition of intersectionality and Black radical feminism, hooks's critiques of "imperialist white supremacist heteropatriarchy" called attention to the interlocking sy…
(2021-12-17). "She Should Be Found Guilty": Ben Crump on Trial of Ex-Cop Kim Potter for Killing Daunte Wright. democracynow.org 
The former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter, who faces manslaughter charges for fatally shooting 20-year-old Black man Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, is expected to take the stand in her own defense Friday. Potter claims she reached for her Taser and drew a pistol by mistake. "Black people should not be killed in America over misdemeanor, pretextual traffic stops," says Benjamin Crump, attorney for Wright's family.
(2021-12-17). Ben Crump: Derek Chauvin's Guilty Plea of Violating George Floyd's Civil Rights Sends Strong Message. democracynow.org 
Former police officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights, marking the first time he publicly admitted to his role in Floyd's death. Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes, killing him with the excessive use of force in 2019. Floyd's dying words, "I can't breathe," became a rallying cry for social justice protests and calls to defund the police across the country. Chauvin also pleaded guilty for violating the civil rights of a 14-year-old juvenile in 2017. "To be held accountable on both levels, on state level and federal level, we believe, sends a very clear m…
(2021-12-17). Bipartisanship at Whose Expense? Sen. Raphael Warnock Calls to End Filibuster, Pass Voting Rights Acts. democracynow.org 
Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia implored conservative members of his party to stop obstructing voting rights legislation in a powerful speech on the floor of the Senate Tuesday. While Warnock did not name Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, the two have come out against doing away with the filibuster in order to allow Democrats to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Warnock said there was no chance of Republicans joining the effort to safeguard democracy and that only a change to the filibuster could secure passage of the bills. "Who is being asked to…
(2021-12-17). "We Must See Action": Police Killings Continue as George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Languishes. democracynow.org 
The county of Williamson, Texas, has announced a settlement of $5 million in the wrongful death of Javier Ambler II in 2019. The 40-year-old Black man died after being repeatedly tased by police during a traffic stop. Police bodycam footage showed Ambler telling officers, "I have congestive heart failure," and "I can't breathe," as they continued to tase him. This comes as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act languishes in Congress and activists urgently demand lawmakers to vote to stop the nationwide police killings of people of color. "We must see action," says Benjamin Crump, attorney for Ambler's family.
(2021-12-16). Headlines for December 16, 2021. democracynow.org Unprecedented December Storms Hit Central U.S. as Biden Tours Kentucky Tornado Damage, U.K. and South Africa Set Coronavirus Records as Omicron Spreads Rapidly, Senate Approves Record $778 Billion Pentagon Budget, Build Back Better Act Stalls in Senate Again as Joe Manchin Rejects Expanded Child Tax Credit, Civil Rights Leaders Demand Senate Democrats Pass Federal Voting Rights Legislation, Democrats Call on Biden to Extend Student Loan Pause, Grant Debt Forgiveness, Syrian Conflict Has Stripped Civilians of Access to Healthcare, Created Humanitarian Disaster, Protesters Demand Mexico Decriminalize Immigration to…
(2021-12-16). House progressives, climate coalition demand end to 'fossil fuel handouts'. nationofchange.org Opposition to Build Back Better Act provisions that would benefit polluters comes amid reporting that Senate Democrats plan to delay a vote on the package until 2022.
(2021-12-16). The Tragic Opera Starring Joe Manchin Has Lasted Far Too Long. truthout.org 
With President Joe Biden's signature Build Back Better (BBB) Act once again It is a pointless endeavor from top to bottom, a snipe hunt ad infinitum. I'm not a goddamn theater cri…
(2021-12-16). Most of the Democratic Party Is Responsible for the Build Back Better Debacle. truthout.org 
Democrats are bracing for potentially huge losses in next year's midterm elections, and many believe the next few months will be the last chance for President Joe Biden to turn the tide back by passing major legislation. His signature bill, the Build Back Better Act, is currently being held up by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who is claiming that rising inflation and the level of federal debt is causing him to rethink his support for the bill. Progressives in the party have been sidelined,…
(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). US Announces Climate Leadership and AUKUS as 2021 Achievements. telesurenglish.net The Biden administration listed on its rank of foreign policy achievements in 2021, the development of the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) partnership, reclaiming global issues and climate leadership. | RELATED: | White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki took to Twitter to list as many as three of the accomplishments the White House is "proud of" this year, as a response to a journalist's question, referring to the single big…
(2021-12-16). 114 US Congressmen Urge Biden to Restore Engagement with Cuba. telesurenglish.net Led by Representatives Jim McGovern (MA), Barbara Lee (CA), Bobby Rush (IL) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (NY), 114 members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to advance a Cuba policy that addresses humanitarian needs, the economic crisis and engagement in areas of mutual interest. | "The Obama Administration's Cuba policy was very popular, not only among Americans in general, but also within the Cuban American community," 114 U.S. Congressional representatives wrote.
(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). First Buffalo, now Boston: More Starbucks workers file for union recognition. peoplesworld.org 
BOSTON (PAI)—Energized by the unionization vote win in Buffalo, N.Y., workers at two Starbucks cafes in Boston filed on Dec. 13 for union representation elections. And even as the Buffalo ballots were mailed in November, Starbucks workers in Mesa, Ariz., filed, too. Workers United, the Service Employees sector that won recognition in Buffalo, filed all …
(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). Libya Elections: A New Hope or Another Crisis in the Making? moderndiplomacy.eu After a decade of disastrous civil war, thousands of deaths and a complete collapse of the political system Libyans have finally seen a glimpse of light in the ongoing chaos — the nation is preparing to hold a general election. Those few with more optimistic expectations even foretell a new chapter in Libyan history, in …
(2021-12-16). Poll Affirms Lula Would Win in First Round of Brazil Elections. telesurenglish.net A new poll shows the former president as the winner with a 27-point lead over the current head of state. | The recent IPEC survey indicated that, considering two scenarios and taking into account only valid votes, former president Lula (2003-2010) has 56 percent of the electoral preference, so he would not need a runoff in order to win in 2022.
(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). MIDDAY POSTER: Pelosi Loves The Market. dailyposter.com 
(2021-12-16). Steve Coll on How the U.S. Pursued Withdrawal Over Peace in Afghanistan & Let the Taliban Take Over. democracynow.org 
As Afghanistan spirals into a humanitarian crisis after the abrupt U.S. withdrawal earlier this summer, we look at years of failed U.S. diplomacy that allowed the Taliban to seize power and leave the small nation in a state of disrepair. A New Yorker magazine investigation shows how the U.S. repeatedly undermined the Kabul-based government in a rush to leave the country. "I've been reporting in general and around Afghanistan for a long time. I was still shocked by the degree of cynicism that the United States often brought to this endeavor to seek peace, particularly during the Trump years," says New Yorker staff…
(2021-12-16). Jim Jordan Confirms He Wrote Text to Meadows Promoting Electoral College Scheme. truthout.org 
On Wednesday, the office of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) confirmed that he was one of the lawmakers who texted Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows regarding a scheme to subvert the January 6 certification of the Electoral College. | The text message was shared by the January 6 commission this week as evidence to justify a House vote
(2021-12-16). West Virginia mom asks Joe Manchin: Which side are you on? peoplesworld.org 
I work hard to make ends meet for my family. But as an educator in West Virginia, that's hard sometimes—especially with child care to pay for. Fortunately, the expanded Child Tax Credit that Democrats passed this spring has been a lifeline. Those monthly payments mean that my child has food, a roof, electricity, and heat. …
(2021-12-16). Uphold truth—by supporting People's World. peoplesworld.org 
Dear readers and friends, Our working class and people urgently need media that upholds the truth. People's World promotes solidarity. It gives voice to the heroic actions in defense of democracy, equality, and climate justice, that all of us, our fellow grassroots activists, neighbors, and co-workers are involved in. Please donate today to support the …
(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). Colombia and Venezuela: Where is There a Dictatorship? libya360.wordpress.com María Fernanda Barreto Photo: Carlos García Rawlins / Reuters What is democracy in the 21st century? Where is there a true democracy? They say that all comparisons are odious, but at the same time they are inevitable. In the case of Colombia and Venezuela, the comparison between their political systems is constantly made by the…
(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). "No Food Available": Afghanistan Faces Catastrophe as Donors Cut Humanitarian Aid to Taliban Gov't. democracynow.org 
Afghanistan under the new Taliban government faces a humanitarian catastrophe this winter as the United States and other donors have cut off financial aid. The United Nations warns nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan — or more than half the population — face potentially life-threatening food shortages, with nearly 9 million already on the brink of famine. In addition, people face lack of proper healthcare, unemployment and housing shortages. "The international aid organizations, for them, it's just another country … where they take pictures and make their careers out of it," says Pashtana Durran…
(2021-12-16). Sinema Imperils Voting Rights Push for the Sake of Archaic Filibuster Rule. truthout.org 
Right-wing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Wednesday cast further doubt on Democrats' nascent effort to pass voting rights legislation before the end of the year by reiterating her defense of the Senate's legislative filibuster, an archaic rule that the GOP minority has used to stonewall bills aimed at protecting the franchise. | Democratic leaders signaled Wednesday afternoon that they intend to shift their focus to a last-ditch voting rights push ahead of the new year after talks over the party's Buil…
(2021-12-16). As Omicron Spreads, 100+ Firms in Africa, Asia & Latin America Can Make mRNA Vaccine If Tech Shared. democracynow.org 
As the coronavirus variant Omicron spreads across the world at an unprecedented rate, a group of vaccine experts has just released a list of over 100 companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the potential to produce mRNA vaccine. They say it is the one of the most viable solutions to fight vaccine inequity around the world and combat the spread of coronavirus variants, including Omicron. We speak to Achal Prabhala, one of the vaccine experts who compiled the list. If mRNA technology could be shared with the listed companies, "we could vaccinate the world in as close to six months from now," says Prabhala.
(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…
(2021-12-16). Pastor Bernice King: How Can Any Leader Call For Unity And Reconciliation Without Economic Reparations To Black Americans? moguldom.com Minister Bernice King — the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — says there cannot be reconciliation in America without making reparations to Black Americans. "Reparations is a real, pressing need. And it is right and just," King tweeted on Friday, Dec. 3. "How can any leader in this nation …
(2021-12-16). Special Prosecutor Wants To Release Report After Jussie Smollett Guilty Verdict, Black America Responds. moguldom.com Jussie Smollett was found guilty of lying to police and filing a false report of a racist, homophobic hate crime last Thursday, Dec. 9. Now the special prosecutor in the case wants permission to release evidence he said is relevant to the case. Special Prosecutor Dan Webb has called for his full report on Cook …