Politics
Spain’s rich and powerful secretly monopolised COVID-19 vaccines
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 23 January 2021
The ruling class orders workers and youth back to work and school, knowing thousands will get sick and die, knowing they can illegally obtain the vaccine for themselves.
For a full, immediate investigation into death threats against Kshama Sawant!
By Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 23 January 2021
The threats to assassinate Socialist Alternative leader and Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant came from a city government email address. The city must take all necessary measures to protect Sawant, her family and her aides.
Who is responsible for Canada’s second, deadlier, wave of COVID-19?
By Frédéric Charlebois, 23 January 2021
So as to ensure Canada’s ruling elite continues to accumulate obscene wealth, the federal Liberal and provincial governments have sabotaged implementation of the measures urgently needed to halt the spread of COVID-19.
Threat of fascistic coup grows in Brazil amid COVID vaccination failure
By Tomas Castanheira, 23 January 2021
“We the military are the last obstacle to socialism. Who decides whether a people will live in democracy or dictatorship is their Armed Forces,” declared fascistic President Bolsonaro.
Australian Labor leader hails US alliance as Biden is inaugurated
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 January 2021
Albanese’s line was that a Labor government would be best placed to deepen the US-Australia alliance under the new Democratic Party administration, as it prepares for war with China.
Yellen takes aggressive stance on China in treasury secretary confirmation hearing
By Nick Beams, 21 January 2021
Yellen’s nomination seems assured, as she enjoys support from both the Republicans and Wall Street.
Oregon faces legal challenges after establishing blacks-only COVID-19 relief fund
By Dominic Gustavo, 21 January 2021
The Oregon Cares Fund revived criteria similar to the racist “one drop” rule to determine eligibility to receive financial aid.
Weakened Italian government clings to power
By Peter Schwarz, 21 January 2021
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte survived confidence votes in both chambers of the Italian parliament and now heads a minority government.
UK: Investment banker adviser to Tory government appointed BBC chair
By Paul Bond, 21 January 2021
Sharp’s appointment demonstrates that the BBC’s long and carefully constructed fiction of impartiality is now increasingly rejected by the ruling class, who want more open support for their anti-democratic and repressive measures, and less airing of dissent and criticism.
Free COVID-19 whistleblower Rebekah Jones!
By Bryan Dyne, 18 January 2021
Jones is being prosecuted by the state of Florida for exposing its effort to cover up cases of COVID-19 and opposing the state’s policy of prematurely reopening schools.
999 Biden and Democrats downplay coup attempt
18 January 2021
New Zealand PM silent on Trump’s culpability for Washington coup
By John Braddock, 16 January 2021
Labour Party Prime Minister Ardern has deliberately evaded criticising President Trump’s role in the attempted fascist coup in the US.
Renzi’s resignation threatens to bring down the Italian government
By Alex Lantier, 15 January 2021
The Italian government faces collapse amid mounting social anger at “herd immunity” policies and political uncertainty after the January 6 fascist coup in Washington.
The pandemic and Trump’s coup attempt
By Andre Damon, 15 January 2021
To implement its homicidal policy of herd immunity, the ruling class is resorting to ever more violent and dictatorial forms of rule.
Britain’s Socialist Workers Party and Counterfire apply political chloroform over Trump’s coup
By Chris Marsden, 14 January 2021
Callinicos and the Socialist Workers Party have spent months minimising the threat from Trump, despite mounting evidence that he was planning a coup.
After Trump’s coup attempt: German politicians call for massive military build-up
By Johannes Stern, 14 January 2021
While the ruling class in Germany reacts with a mixture of shock, nervousness and aggression to the fascist coup attempt in the US, all the establishment parties are intensifying their great power offensive.
India’s Supreme Court feigns concern for farmers, while laying groundwork for illegalizing seven-week mass protest
By Wasantha Rupasinghe and Keith Jones, 14 January 2021
The Supreme Court ruling is aimed at ensnaring the farmers’ in a phony mediation process that is rigged against them, while laying the ground for outlawing their struggle if it is not shifted to an alternate site or sites.
Canada deepens support for US-led anti-China offensive
By Laurent Lafrance and Roger Jordan, 14 January 2021
Tensions between Canada and China are growing sharper as Ottawa swings ever more openly behind US imperialism’s aggressive diplomatic, economic and military-strategic offensive against Beijing.
999 More info emerges about Trump coup attempt
11 January 2021
New details about January 6 riot reveal need for full-scale investigation
By Eric London, 11 January 2021
Trump’s January 6 fascistic insurrection had high level support from within the Republican Party and critical sections of the police and military-intelligence apparatus.
Bolsonaro endorses Trump coup, threatens to do same in Brazil’s 2022 election
By Miguel Andrade, 11 January 2021
It is no secret that the fascistic Bolsonaro sees in the January 6 putsch a blueprint for his own takeover in 2022.
New Zealand inquiry covers up police dismissal of anti-Muslim threats prior to 2019 terror attack
By Tom Peters, 11 January 2021
The royal commission accepted all the claims by Australian and New Zealand agencies that they could not have prevented the Christchurch terror attack, and dismissed evidence to the contrary.
Canada’s political leaders nervously downplay Trump’s coup attempt, claim US democracy strong
By Roger Jordan and Keith Jones, 9 January 2021
Canada’s political leaders all blurred over the most salient fact: that the coup attempt was organized by Trump with the complicity of the Republican Party leadership and sections of the security apparatus.
Australian political and media establishment responds nervously to Trump coup attempt
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 January 2021
The Australian ruling class is fearful of the domestic and international implications of intense political instability and upheaval in the US, the centre of world capitalism and Australia’s chief strategic ally since World War II.
Biden names conservative appeals court judge Merrick Garland as attorney general
By Jacob Crosse, 9 January 2021
Freezing out Bernie Sanders and Sanders’ fellow “progressives,” President-elect Joe Biden rounded out his right-wing cabinet by selecting Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as secretary of commerce and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as labor secretary.
999 NPA downplays fascist coup in Washington
9 January 2021
Modi boasts about “Indian” vaccines as COVID-19 virus rages through the country
By Saman Gunadasa, 8 January 2021
Workers and the poor continue to be the primary victims of the pandemic, while India’s media focuses on vaccinations.
“It’s going to take the working class to stop them”
Workers denounce Trump’s coup
By our reporters, 8 January 2021
Autoworkers, teachers, retirees and other sections of the working class reacted with outrage as fascist supporters of President Trump stormed the US Capitol Wednesday afternoon, forcibly disrupting the certification of Biden’s presidential victory.
Hong Kong police carry out largest arrests since imposition of national security law
By Ben McGrath, 8 January 2021
Beijing’s primary fear is that the working class will start to fight for its own class interests in Hong Kong and opposition will spread throughout the rest of China.
European politicians and media downplay coup in the United States
By Peter Schwarz, 8 January 2021
The central concern within ruling circles is that the advanced decomposition of American democracy could strengthen opposition to similar developments in Europe.
Republican state senators in Pennsylvania refuse to seat reelected Democrat
By Our reporter, 7 January 2021
Democratic state senators, after scattered protests, allowed the anti-democratic farce to proceed.
UK government refuses to publish list of airstrikes in Yemen involving civilian casualties
By Jean Shaoul, 7 January 2021
While the UK’s Ministry of Defence has listed a staggering 516 potential International Humanitarian Law violations by the coalition of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the real number is far higher.
Tape reveals Trump gangster methods in pursuing election coup
By Patrick Martin, 4 January 2021
The US president demanded Georgia state officials “find” the votes required to overturn the result of the November 3 election, threatening retaliation if they refused.
999 Election of Pelosi/ForcetheVote
4 January 2021
Spanish officers plot fascist coup to impose “herd immunity” COVID-19 policy
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 31 December 2020
The “left populist” Podemos party and its ruling social-democratic allies are hushing up active plotting for a coup that has taken place throughout virtually the entire year.
As scientific council warns of “uncontrolled resurgence of epidemic”
Macron government rejects national lock-down in France
By Samuel Tissot, 31 December 2020
Ignoring the recommendations of scientists, the government has determined to reopen schools and workplaces in the New Year
999 California voters reject affirmative action proposition
20 November 2020
Johnson government’s war on migrants turns English Channel into a “graveyard for children”
By Laura Tiernan, 29 October 2020
Driven from their homes by British imperialism’s wars of aggression across the Middle East, these persecuted people have become the latest victims of the Johnson government’s xenophobic “deterrence” regime against immigrants and refugees.
Australian budget based on shaky foundations
By Nick Beams, 10 October 2020
One of the key assumptions of the Australian budget is that an effective COVID-19 vaccine will be developed and available to the population by the end of 2021.
Lukashenko regime, Belarusian opposition seek to stifle mass strike movement
By Clara Weiss, 22 August 2020
Whatever the tactical differences between the opposition and the government, they share a common goal: ending the strike movement as quickly as possible.
140 Trump admin sanctions ICC officials
15 June 2020
German Left Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht calls for de-globalisation
By Peter Schwarz, 11 June 2020
“Protecting workers and domestic suppliers from cheap imports and hostile takeovers is not nationalist, but a democratic duty,” Wagenknecht declares.
US capitalism’s response to the pandemic: Nothing for health care, unlimited cash for Wall Street
By Andre Damon, 16 March 2020
US President Trump announced another massive handout to the financial oligarchy Sunday night, even as congressional Democrats made clear they would offer no paid sick leave to workers affected by the pandemic.
The political lessons of Sanders’ Super Tuesday defeat
By Eric London, 5 March 2020
Biden’s victory shows once again it is impossible to transform the capitalist Democratic Party into a vehicle for socialist politics.
US refuses to extradite spy’s wife to UK over death of Harry Dunn
By Barry Mason, 29 January 2020
The UK government have gone into full damage-limitation mode over the explosive conflict, but US Secretary of State Pompeo will not be fooled by such theatrics and will dismiss any appeals regarding Sacoolas, knowing they are made purely for the record.
US House approves bill for record military spending
By Patrick Martin, 12 December 2019
The National Defense Authorization Act passed by a huge bipartisan majority, with 188 Democrats and 189 Republicans supporting it.
Trump fires Bolton as national security advisor
By Patrick Martin, 11 September 2019
Disagreement over a proposed deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan was apparently the final straw in the internal White House conflict.
Washington Post pushes xenophobic campaign against Chinese-Americans
By Andre Damon, 10 September 2019
The Washington Post has published an editorial giving its stamp of approval to a report by the Hoover institution arguing that Chinese nationals and ethnic Chinese Americans potentially pose a national security threat to the United States.
New York court hears argument from “John Doe” that documents related to Jeffrey Epstein should remain sealed
By Kevin Reed, 7 September 2019
In a hearing before a Manhattan judge, arguments were presented on Wednesday for keeping the identity of individuals named in the court record of a defamation lawsuit filed against a confidante of Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 either sealed or redacted.
Former Fed official calls on central bank to end accommodation to Trump
By Nick Beams, 31 August 2019
An extraordinary intervention by former New York Federal Reserve president Bill Dudley reflects rising political tensions, fuelled by the growing prospect of a US recession.
Trump again “jokes” about extending his presidency
By Patrick Martin, 15 August 2019
There is nothing funny about an American president publicly mulling over the prospects for becoming dictator-for-life.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: #MeToo, McCarthyism and machine politics
By Josh Varlin, 12 August 2019
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s campaign, combining feminism and anti-Russia witch-hunting, has yet to mobilize significant support.
Donald Trump’s fascist strategy
By Eric London, 17 July 2019
Trump is proceeding according to a deliberate political strategy worked out with the White House’s fascist brain trust.
House Democrats ratify $733 billion for US military
By Patrick Martin, 15 July 2019
The bill was passed with more than a dozen amendments, all of which will eventually be removed, to ensure the support of Democratic “progressives.”
The Democratic presidential candidates: A socialist appraisal
Pete Buttigieg: The made-to-order political “outsider”
By Tom Hall, 15 July 2019
The sudden elevation of Buttigieg is an effort to shift the Democratic presidential campaign to the right, particularly on issues related to national security.
Trump’s nominee for top US military commander calls for nuclear buildup to confront China
By Bill Van Auken, 13 July 2019
General Milley, tapped as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, predicted that the US would be in confrontation with China for the next 100 years.
Trump’s Fourth of July: The militarist bombast of a crisis-ridden system
By Joseph Kishore, 6 July 2019
Intended as a demonstration of the eternal power and greatness of American capitalism, what was instead exposed in the grotesque spectacle is a beleaguered and isolated ruling class.
American injustice: Trump and cronies protect a murderous US Navy SEAL
By Jacob Crosse, 6 July 2019
In the months leading up to Edward Gallagher’s acquittal, several members of his defense team were revealed to have close ties to the White House.
Trump unleashes torrent of militarism in Fourth of July speech
By Tom Hall, 5 July 2019
Trump’s hour-long paean to the military was designed to further elevate the military as the supreme arbiter of American politics and buttress of his own personalist rule.
Democrats back Trump’s massive “World War III” military budget
By Andre Damon, 1 July 2019
Senate Democrats voted overwhelmingly for the largest US military budget ever in a bill that gives Trump a green light for war with Iran and backs his “state of emergency” on the border.
The class issues in the fight to free Julian Assange
By Joseph Kishore, 25 May 2019
Assange is the victim of one of the most massive political frame-ups in modern history, which has received the active support of the entire political establishment and the media.
Trump, Democrats clash over investigations
By Patrick Martin, 23 May 2019
Trump has issued an unprecedented ultimatum: Halt investigations or no political business will be done in Washington.
As more Democrats call for impeachment inquiry
Former White House counsel refuses to testify before House committee
By Barry Grey, 22 May 2019
The Democrats are warning about a “constitutional crisis” and the threat of dictatorship, but their own fecklessness is bound up with the reactionary basis of their opposition to Trump.
Kicking off his presidential campaign
Biden makes right-wing plea for “unity” with Republicans
By Patrick Martin, 20 May 2019
At the kickoff rally for his campaign, the Democratic frontrunner avoided any mention of the growth of social inequality or the domination of a financial aristocracy over America.
Democrats back trade war with China
By Patrick Martin, 18 May 2019
The main criticism of Trump’s trade policy by congressional Democrats and most presidential candidates is that the president should focus exclusively on China and enlist Canada, Mexico and the European Union in an anti-China coalition.
Trump says he reported $1.17 billion in losses over 10 years to evade paying taxes
By E.P. Milligan, 14 May 2019
Trump’s statement that he claimed losses in order to evade taxes is tantamount to an admission of tax fraud.
The working class and the threat of dictatorship in the US
By Patrick Martin, 13 May 2019
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats admit that there is a “constitutional crisis” but refuse to conduct a serious struggle against Trump’s authoritarian actions.
Trump rally roars approval for call to “shoot” immigrants
By Eric London, 10 May 2019
When an audience member at a Trump rally Wednesday yelled that the US should “shoot” immigrants, Trump laughed. Meanwhile, the government is arresting record numbers of families at the border.
US tariff hike against China goes ahead
By Nick Beams, 10 May 2019
Trump said talks with Chinese representatives would proceed, but “I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
House committee votes contempt charge against Trump’s attorney general William Barr
By Patrick Martin, 9 May 2019
The conflict between Congress and the White House represents the breakdown of the institutional framework through which American capitalist politics has operated for more than two centuries.
Trump floats proposal to cancel 2020 elections
By Eric London, 8 May 2019
Bourgeois politics has degenerated to such a degree that political and legal norms considered fundamental since the American Revolution are now challenged by presidential tweet.
Former Trump chief of staff John Kelly joins board of migrant detention firm
By Genevieve Leigh, 8 May 2019
The retired general and anti-immigrant demagogue is profiting from the draconian policies he helped implement while working in the Trump administration.
Georgia governor signs “heartbeat” anti-abortion legislation
By Kate Randall, 8 May 2019
The “Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act” marks a new stage in an orchestrated campaign to outlaw abortion.
Washington political warfare intensifies with lawsuits, looming contempt charges
By Patrick Martin, 4 May 2019
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which would handle impeachment proceedings, warned that “the system of not having a president as a dictator is very much at stake.”
US-China trade talks enter final phase
By Nick Beams, 4 May 2019
One of the main sticking points is agreement on the procedure by which US tariffs imposed on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods would be lifted if a trade agreement is reached.
US attorney general refuses to testify before House Judiciary Committee
By Patrick Martin, 2 May 2019
Barr’s decision came after a contentious day-long hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he took questions on his handling of the report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Biden holds first campaign rally in Pittsburgh-area union hall
By Patrick Martin, 30 April 2019
The former vice president appealed for support from working-class voters while embracing the organizations that have betrayed them.
Trump orders officials to refuse congressional subpoenas
By Eric London, 29 April 2019
The Democrats have responded by threatening to withhold funds from noncomplying agencies and to jail administration officials who are in contempt of Congress.
Fascist gunman attacks California synagogue
By Patrick Martin, 29 April 2019
President Trump is the moral author of this latest expression of fascistic violence in America and internationally.
Trump administration escalates threats against Cuba
By Alexander Fangmann, 20 April 2019
The Trump administration is imposing unilateral sanctions aimed at punishing foreign corporations, particularly European and Canadian, with investments in Cuba.
US preparing more charges against Julian Assange
By Kristina Betinis, 19 April 2019
A report by CNN confirms the warnings made by the WSWS that if the journalist is extradited to the United States, additional, possibly capital, charges would be brought against him.
Trump, ultra-right media target Representative Ilhan Omar
By Patrick Martin, 15 April 2019
The ongoing campaign of anti-Muslim vilification is an incitement to violence.
Trump officials discussed using troops to run migrant detention camps
By Barry Grey, 13 April 2019
Trump has been able to carry through his anti-immigrant program, despite popular opposition, because the Democrats have done nothing to seriously oppose it.
The dictatorial impulse behind Trump’s political purge
By Patrick Martin, 9 April 2019
The abrupt firing of the DHS secretary and Secret Service chief are part of an effort to surround Trump with a loyal praetorian guard.
Socialism haunts the American ruling class
By Andre Damon, 8 April 2019
Since Donald Trump vowed in his State of the Union address that “America will never be a socialist country,” the president has embraced anti-socialism as the defining theme of his 2020 reelection campaign.
Obama, Pelosi push Democrats further to the right
By Patrick Martin, 8 April 2019
Obama, who headed a thoroughly right-wing imperialist government, and House speaker Pelosi, who is married to a multi-millionaire real estate developer, have been working together in a joint effort to curb the activities of the “lefts” in the House Democratic caucus.
Trump visits border to step up attack on immigrants
By Dan Conway, 6 April 2019
Trump’s visit took place two days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 280 immigrant workers in a raid on an electronics plant in Texas.
Beloit College students protest speech by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, prompting cancellation
By Jacob Crosse, 2 April 2019
The founder of the notorious mercenary group had been invited to speak at the private liberal arts school in Wisconsin by the local chapter of Young Americans for Freedom.
Trump administration ordered jails to hold thousands of US citizens for deportation
By Norisa Diaz, 30 March 2019
ICE sent the Miami-Dade County jails 420 detainer requests for US citizens over a two-year period, but across the country the numbers are in the unknown thousands.
Trump rants against socialism, but his administration’s crisis deepens
By Barry Grey, 30 March 2019
Behind Trump’s fascistic tirades and his gloating at the expense of the Democrats lie desperation and fear at the growth of social opposition in the working class.
Free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning!
By Andre Damon, 28 March 2019
The fate of these political prisoners must be a focus of attention of the entire working class and all those who defend democratic rights.
Trump, Bolsonaro and the danger of fascism
By Patrick Martin, 20 March 2019
Trump hailed the “shared values” between his government and that of a former military officer, who praises the Brazilian military dictatorship that jailed, tortured and murdered tens of thousands of workers and students.
In vetoing bill to overturn national emergency, Trump makes fascist appeal
By Barry Grey, 16 March 2019
Trump is seeking to establish an authoritarian regime outside of the normal constitutional and political channels and largely independent of both traditional big-business parties.
US Senate votes to overturn Trump emergency decree
By Patrick Martin, 15 March 2019
The resolution has no immediate practical effect, because Trump will veto it and there is little prospect of an override by Congress, which requires a two-thirds vote.
Pelosi dismisses efforts to impeach President Trump
By Patrick Martin, 14 March 2019
The top Democrat in the House is wary of the political upheaval that impeachment could spark under conditions of a growing movement of the American working class.
A US budget for worldwide war
By Patrick Martin, 12 March 2019
The Trump administration is seeking a record $750 billion in military spending, more than the next 14 countries combined.
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