US politics

( Tomdispatch.com) – It was August 2017 and Donald Trump had not yet warmed up to Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s portly dictator. In fact, in typical Trumpian fashion, he was pissed at the Korean leader and, no less typically, he lashed out verbally, threatening that country with a literal hell on Earth. As he put […]

Donald Trump

No, Iran is not near having a Nuke: Trump source tries Iraq Big Lie Playbook on Reuters, The Independent

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Trump administration is running the same scam on the public that George W. Bush & Co. ran on Iraq in 2002. Some creepy Trump swamp creature emerged to whisper anonymously in the ear of Reuters, which should be ashamed of acting as its stenographer: “The unnamed official told Reuters […]

Inequality

Stop Profiteering on Misery: Private Prisons must be ended Now

F. Douglas Stephenson

Gainesville, Florida (Special to Informed Comment) – Every state should follow California’s outstanding example by ending the obscene system of private prisons and privately-run immigration detention facilities. California will phase out the use of these for-profit, private detention facilities by 2028. The state prohibited renewing contracts or signing new contracts with a private prison company […]

African-Americans

Trump’s appeals to white anxiety are not ‘dog whistles’ – they’re racism

The Conversation

By Bethany Albertson | – President Donald Trump’s rhetoric is often referred to as “dog whistle politics.” In politician speak, a dog whistle is language that conveys a particular meaning to a group of potential supporters. The targeted group hears the “whistle” because of its shared cultural reference, but others cannot. In 2018, The Washington […]

Donald Trump

If McConnell Packs the Court on behalf of Minority Rule, Dems must Expand and Reform it

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was asked what he would do if there was a vacancy on the Supreme Court in 2020. He smirked like a mischievous turtle, and said unhesitatingly, “We’ll fill it.” By “we” he meant not the American people but the unrepresentative Republicans in the Senate. Russell […]

Feminism

How Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped shape the modern era of women’s rights – even before she went on the Supreme Court

The Conversation

By Jonathan Entin | – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday, the Supreme Court announced. Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement that “Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature.” Even before her appointment, she had reshaped American law. When he nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, President Bill Clinton compared […]

Donald Trump

Trump Knew COVID-19 Could Kill. He Just Didn’t Care

OtherWords

By Mitchell Zimmerman | – (Otherwords.org) – “Captain,” said the first mate, “we just crashed into an iceberg — the hull’s been breached!” “An iceberg. Deadly stuff,” said the captain. “Still, let’s play it down.” “What are your orders? We must warn the passengers.” “I’ll make an announcement… Attention all passengers, this is your captain […]

African-Americans

Trump doesn’t Understand History any more than he Understands Epidemics

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump has a long history of proclaiming that he understands things better than the people who are experts in those things. When Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control, testified to Congress that mask-wearing is even more effective against Covid-19 than a vaccine is likely to […]

African-Americans

Taking the Next Knee: Is this Athletic Revolt For Real and Is It a Danger to Donald Trump?

Tomdispatch

By Robert Lipsyte | – ( Tomdispatch.com ) – Last year, when LeBron James described some of President Trump’s public statements as “laughable and scary,” Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham ordered the basketball superstar to “shut up and dribble.” LeBron responded thoughtfully by saying that her comment “resonated with me, but I think it resonated […]