19 h. ago Democrats’ deference to Biden was a disaster. They still haven’t learned their lesson | Norman Solomon

Conformity and fear of party leadership are impairing Democrats’ ability to fight Trump and drive a progressive agendaJoe Biden’s insistence on running for re-election was certainly disastrous. It kept credible contenders out of the Democratic presidential primaries and prevented the selection of a nominee who had gained momentum in the winnowing process. Even after his stunningly feeble debate performance on 27 June last year, Biden took several weeks before finally opting out of the race. That left Kamala Harris a mere 107 days between the launch of her campaign and election day.Ample evidence shows that the Biden team was riddled with obstinate denial and misrepresentation aimed at the public. But tales of tragic egomania in high places can take us only so far. What’s essential is to scrutinize how – and why – the Democratic party, its leaders and its prominent supporters enabled Biden and his inner circle to get away with such momentous stonewalling for so long. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump task force to review Harvard's funding after Columbia bows to federal demands

Harvard University has become the latest target in the Trump administration’s approach to fight campus antisemitism

Politics

3 d. ago Hamas issues worldwide 'call to arms' to fight Trump's plan to relocate two million Gazans

Netanyahu has said Israel is working towards a plan proposed by Trump to displace Gazans to other countries, which could include Egypt and Jordan.

Politics

4 d. ago Vance’s posturing in Greenland was not just morally wrong. It was strategically disastrous | Timothy Snyder

Thanks to Trump’s administration, the US could soon have to fight wars to get things that, just a few weeks ago, were there for the askingNo one would allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit of his office.” – Hans Christian Andersen, The Emperor’s New ClothesElon Musk and Donald Trump inherited a state with unprecedented power and functionality, and are taking it apart. They also inherited a set of alliances and relationships that underpinned the largest economy in world history. This too they are breaking. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Plan to modernise the law of ‘tacit relocation’ is long overdue

The termination of commercial leases in Scotland is influenced by the principle of “tacit relocation”, a concept I frequently find myself explaining to clients, surveyors, and fellow solicitors.

Society

5 d. ago Keir Starmer urged to get tough with Trump as US tariff threat looms

PM told to be as robust as Canada with the US president as the UK stages last-ditch talks to strike trade dealKeir Starmer should fight back strongly against Donald Trump if he imposes punitive tariffs on British exports, senior UK and EU diplomats said on Saturday night, amid heightened fears that the US president could trigger a global trade war with devastating effects on the UK economy.British government officials in London and Washington are working frantically this weekend to try to persuade Trump not to slap duties on more key UK industries on what he is calling “liberation day” on Wednesday. The US president has already announced plans for 25% levies on imports of cars, steel and aluminium to the US. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Elton John declares he will 'fight' President Donald Trump over cuts to AIDS relief spending as he warns 'people's lives are at stake'

Sir Elton John said he is ready to 'fight' and go 'face to face' with President Trump over cuts to AIDS relief spending.

Events

7 d. ago Civil rights groups say push to dismantle Education Department will undue hard

President Donald Trump has reopened a debate in the fight over the federal government’s role in education policy after signing an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Education Department

Politics

7 d. ago Trump administration backs down in legal fight to shutter Radio Free Europe

Kari Lake’s decision to reinstate a grant to Radio Free Europe comes after a federal judge signaled that he would side with the broadcaster in its lawsuit against the administration

Politics

8 d. ago Team Trump picks a fight over the Signal chat. Republicans play ignorant

Analysis: Republicans who risked their credibility to get Fox News host Pete Hegseth over the finish line now have to deal with the fallout from the Signal scandal, Eric Garcia writes

Politics

9 d. ago ‘There has to be a turn around’: Sanders on Democrats’ next steps amid Trump blitzkrieg

The independent senator from Vermont has been rallying the resistance on a cross-country ‘Fight Oligarchy’ tourBernie Sanders said Donald Trump has “absolutely” created a constitutional crisis in the United States and is pushing the country “very rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society”.The independent senator from Vermont has been rallying the anti-Trump resistance on a cross-country “Fight Oligarchy” tour, drawing some of the largest crowds of his decades-long political career as he taps into rising anger over the president’s stunning power grabs. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago ‘The Democratic party has no grassroots’: Bernie Sanders on how to fight the Trump blitzkrieg

In an interview on his cross-country tour, the senator said Americans are ‘very disturbed’ by the chaos in WashingtonBernie Sanders said Donald Trump has “absolutely” created a constitutional crisis in the United States and is pushing the country “very rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society”.The independent senator from Vermont has been rallying the anti-Trump resistance on a cross-country “Fight Oligarchy” tour, drawing some of the largest crowds of his decades-long political career as he taps into rising anger over the president’s stunning power grabs. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Democrats’ US tour gathers support in fight against Trump: ‘Get angry, man’

Community impact hearings offer outlet for grievances and gather evidence for ongoing lawsuits, totaling 10 so farUS politics live – latest updatesA Minnesota veteran who found work at the Veterans Benefits Administration after suffering two traumatic brain injuries on overseas deployments stood in front of hundreds of people and five Democratic state attorneys general on Thursday night and recalled the moment she learned she lost her job.“All I was given was a Post-it note,” Joy Marver said, inspiring gasps and boos from a raucous crowd. “The Post-it note contained just the HR email address and my supervisor’s phone number. This came from an external source. Doge terminated me. No one in my chain of command knew I was being terminated. No one knew. It took two weeks to get my termination email sent to me.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago 67,000 white South Africans have expressed interest in Trump's plan to give them refugee status

The U.S. Embassy in South Africa says it has received a list of nearly 70,000 people interested in refugee status in the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate members of a white minority group he claims are victims of racial discrimination by their Black-led government

Events

2 w. ago US universities face choice to surrender or fight back against Trump’s takeover

‘Extraordinary fear’ takes hold at universities as Trump campaign threatens investigations or loss of federal fundsThe Trump administration’s unprecedented pressure campaign on American higher education – which is forcing major universities to bow to its demands or risk investigations and the loss of millions of dollars in federal money – is so far facing little pushback from the schools affected.That campaign escalated earlier this month, when the US government cancelled $400m in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University. In a subsequent letter, representatives of three federal agencies said they would reconsider that freeze only if Columbia agreed to conditions including more aggressively disciplining students who engage in pro-Palestinian disruptions, planning “comprehensive” reform of the school’s admissions policies, and placing one of school’s area studies departments under “academic receivership” – meaning under the control of an outside chair. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago UK's military would be 'worldwide laughing stock' if 'pampered' Gen

Britain's armed forces would be a "worldwide laughing stock" if its ranks were filled with "pampered" Gen-Z conscripts, a decorated former tank commander has warned

Events

2 w. ago Columbia has a day to decide: Agree to Trump demands in antisemitism fight or lose $400 million

Academics around the country are watching the case of the Ivy League school, as Trump administration threatens sweeping consequences against universities over alleged antisemitism

Politics

2 w. ago Israel issues 'final warning' to Gazans and says it will strike Hamas with 'strength never seen before' amid new ground offensive

Protesters filled the streets on Wednesday between Israel 's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem and Netanyahu's house.

Events

2 w. ago Israel issues 'final warning' to Gazans and says it will act against Hamas with 'strength never seen before' amid new ground offensive

Protesters filled the streets on Wednesday between Israel 's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem and Netanyahu's house.

Events

2 w. ago Hamas issues chilling 'death sentence' warning for remaining hostages after its 'PM was killed in massive IDF airstrikes'

The Israeli military said it hit dozens of targets overnight and warned the attacks would continue for as long as necessary and extend beyond airstrikes. Hamas accused Israel of breaching the truce.

Events