Politics
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro calls demonstrators “terrorists,” threatens military repression
By Miguel Andrade, 6 June 2020
Gen. Hamilton Mourão viciously attacked protests against the murder of George Floyd and social inequality, calling for the arrest of demonstrators.
Australian governments try to block demonstrations against police violence
By Oscar Grenfell, 6 June 2020
The bans and police threats are outright attacks on the right to protest, a basic democratic right, aimed at establishing a precedent for suppressing mounting social and political opposition.
UK: Prime Minister’s Questions reveals Labour’s complicity in Tory back-to-school campaign
By Thomas Scripps, 6 June 2020
Every capitalist party in the world is working on behalf of the corporations to impose a reckless return to “the new normal.”
New York Times in crisis over op-ed backing military takeover
By Patrick Martin, 6 June 2020
In publishing a fascistic diatribe by Senator Tom Cotton, headlined, “Send in the troops,” the Times editorial page tacitly sided with a military takeover of the United States.
Trump intensifies campaign to brand domestic opposition as terrorism
By Patrick Martin, 5 June 2020
The White House’s planned use of anti-terrorism units to apprehend “agitators” is aimed at criminalizing opposition to police violence and the policies of the oligarchy.
Trump escalates anti-China campaign
By Peter Symonds, 30 May 2020
US President Trump dramatically escalated his reckless anti-China campaign yesterday, making clear that a dangerous confrontation between the two countries is all but inevitable.
US Justice Department drops insider trading investigation of three senators
By Jacob Crosse, 30 May 2020
The three senators, along with a fourth who remains under investigation, dumped large stock holdings based on classified briefings in January about the impending coronavirus disaster.
UK: Official figures inflate COVID-19 testing rate by more than a million
By Alice Summers, 30 May 2020
The Johnson government is again seeking to cover up criminal inaction that has led to tens of thousands of deaths.
Australia’s “national cabinet” declared permanent
By Oscar Grenfell, 30 May 2020
The purpose of the new body is to suppress widespread social and political opposition, and create the conditions for a further pro-business restructuring of the economy.
Russia’s right-wing opposition tries to gain from COVID-19 crisis
By Andrea Peters, 29 May 2020
As President Vladimir Putin’s poll numbers fall to historically low levels, right-wing opposition leader Alexei Navalny seeks to present himself as a defender of health care workers and “the people.”
British ruling class fears Dominic Cummings crisis undermines “social contract”
By Thomas Scripps, 28 May 2020
Johnson used the phrase “move on” five times in 20 minutes when appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee.
As Brazil leads world in new COVID-19 deaths, Workers Party and pseudo-lefts rally behind capitalist state
By Miguel Andrade, 28 May 2020
The so-called opposition has brought impeachment articles against Bolsonaro for harming “internal security” in his handling of the pandemic.
Coronavirus pandemic spreads across the US South
Hospitals overwhelmed in California and Alabama as national death toll approaches 100,000
By Bryan Dyne, 23 May 2020
The spike in cases in such divergent areas of the country is another indication that, contrary to official policy, the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is not slowing but increasing.
Hydroxychloroquine: New scientific study refutes the quack-in-chief
By Benjamin Mateus, 23 May 2020
President Trump claimed this week he had been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure. His statements demonstrate both ignorance and hostility to science.
UK local councils face financial collapse due to pandemic
By Dennis Moore, 23 May 2020
Social care spending could face a shortfall of £3.5 billion, placing up to 225,000 adult social care places at risk in the coming year.
Representatives from Germany’s parliamentary parties support far-right protests against coronavirus policies
By Christoph Vandreier, 23 May 2020
The far-right demonstrations in Germany are being used to drum up support for the dangerous policy of easing coronavirus pandemic restrictions and intimidate all opposition.
Widespread opposition to unsafe reopening of schools and day-care facilities in Germany
By Andy Niklaus and Ulrich Rippert, 23 May 2020
Social distancing has been abandoned in schools and no safety measures such as face masks are being provided.
US Agriculture Department outlines program to aid farmers hit by pandemic
By Alex Findijs, 23 May 2020
The design of the program will inevitably lead to a disproportionate share of funding flowing to large firms.
Australian governments fully reopen schools despite intense opposition
By Erika Zimmer, 23 May 2020
The danger of sending up to a million children back full-time in New South Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic is compounded by the public transport crisis.
Oppose the Trump administration’s deportation of 1,000 immigrant children!
By Norissa Santa Cruz—SEP candidate for US vice president, 23 May 2020
International laws and statutes that once offered special protections for immigrant youth seeking asylum have been made a dead letter by the Trump administration.
Bernie Sanders threatens delegates with removal if they criticize Biden
By Genevieve Leigh, 23 May 2020
Since ending his second bid for the presidency, Sanders has worked to browbeat his supporters into backing Joe Biden.
“Obamagate” claims spark new round in internal US political warfare
By Patrick Martin, 22 May 2020
There is no progressive or democratic side in the conflict between Trump and the Democrats.
No to the anti-China campaign! For international solidarity against the pandemic and capitalism!
By Joseph Kishore—Socialist Equality Party candidate for president, 22 May 2020
The SEP rejects the chauvinistic attacks by the Trump administration and Democrats aimed at shifting responsibility for the mass death due to the coronavirus pandemic from the American ruling class.
Trump threatens to cut all ties with China
By Peter Symonds, 16 May 2020
The US president’s phony allegations—that China failed to prevent COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic—have been integrated into Washington’s trade war measures.
US House passes $3 trillion coronavirus “relief” bill
By Jacob Crosse, 16 May 2020
In a near party-line vote, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a fourth stimulus bill that has no chance of being approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.
US Senate reauthorizes domestic surveillance, allows access to internet histories
By Kevin Reed, 16 May 2020
The Senate voted 80 to 16 to reauthorize the domestic surveillance provisions of the USA Freedom Act, including rejection of an amendment that would have barred law enforcement from accessing the internet browsing and search histories of citizens.
Washington places Cuba and Venezuela on “terror” list
By Bill Van Auken, 16 May 2020
After fostering an abortive mercenary invasion aimed at overthrowing Venezuela’s government and murdering its president, the US placed Caracas on a list of governments deemed uncooperative in the “war on terrorism.”
UK government ties Transport for London bailout to “back to work” drive
By Jean Shaoul, 16 May 2020
TfL, which runs the London Underground, bus and rail services, faced bankruptcy, threatening the Johnson government’s efforts to restore corporate profits.
Budget shortfalls and planned cuts threaten higher education across the US
By Alexander Fangmann, 16 May 2020
Colleges and universities across the US are announcing layoffs and eliminating programs in response to declines in state revenue and financial pressures from dormitory refunds and other costs incurred as they moved classes online.
Canadian unions cement anti-worker corporatist alliance with government and big business
By Roger Jordan and Keith Jones, 16 May 2020
The unions’ alliance with big business was epitomized by a joint statement from the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Australian governments exploit mass unemployment to coerce workers into unsafe workplaces
By Mike Head, 16 May 2020
Nearly half a million workers dropped out of the workforce in April, yet unemployment and underemployment still reached a record total of 19.9 percent.
The murderous pseudoscience of “herd immunity”
By Andre Damon, 16 May 2020
Proponents of “herd immunity” argue that measures to contain COVID-19 should be abandoned, allowing the disease to infect billions of people and kill countless millions.
German politicians and media laud right-wing demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions
By Christoph Vandreier, 13 May 2020
The ruling elite is now mobilising the right-wing dregs of society in the “corona” demonstrations to intimidate the population and enforce their back-to-work campaign.
Australian university union agrees to unprecedented pay and job cuts
By Mike Head, 13 May 2020
The agreement shatters the NTEU’s claim that it volunteered sacrifices of wages and conditions to “protect jobs” from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump crony appointed as new head of US Postal Service
By Kayla Costa, 12 May 2020
Louis DeJoy, the recently appointed US postmaster general, has donated millions of dollars to the Republican Party and reaped immense profits from sitting atop private logistics corporations and investment firms.
Macron government ending coronavirus lockdown beginning this Monday
By Alex Lantier, 9 May 2020
The government’s reckless decision, in line with similar measures underway across Europe and the US, puts countless lives at risk.
French Senate votes to give officials legal indemnity over coronavirus infections
By Jacques Valentin, 9 May 2020
The provisions cover the entire period since the state declared a national health emergency in March, and apply to elected representatives, ministers, civil servants and employers.
At Trump’s urging: US Justice Department quashes Flynn prosecution
By Patrick Martin, 9 May 2020
The dropping of perjury charges against retired General Flynn—to which he had already pled guilty—is a further step toward the consolidation of an authoritarian regime in Washington.
Tamil National Alliance backs Sri Lanka’s Rajapakse regime on COVID-19
By Athiyan Silva, 9 May 2020
TNA leader M.A. Sumanthiran declared that he does not “allow political opinions or differences…not only in our country but throughout the world.”
Australian governments pushing workers back on the job amid pandemic
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 May 2020
Mass unemployment is being used as a battering ram to push financially devastated workers back into workplaces, regardless of their safety fears.
New Iraq government faces economy in freefall amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Jean Shaoul, 8 May 2020
Prime Minister Al-Khadimi will uphold the political sectarian system known as muhasasa and work with Washington in the “strategic dialogue” over relations between the two countries.
A video sermon from war criminal George W. Bush on compassion, empathy and kindness
By Jacob Crosse, 7 May 2020
Bush’s call for national unity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic received a hostile reaction from thousands of social media users.
US Senate reconvenes to push return to work and social cuts
By Barry Grey, 5 May 2020
The Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are demanding that a new pandemic relief bill provide businesses with legal immunity for causing disease or death to employees by failing to provide a safe work environment.
Trump escalates attacks on China over COVID-19
By Peter Symonds, 2 May 2020
US President Trump has stepped up his propaganda war and threats against China, blaming it for the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that has cost the lives of more than 230,000 people internationally.
Australian government places country on frontline of anti-China witch hunt
By Mike Head, 2 May 2020
Australia unilaterally called for an international inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting the Trump administration’s unsubstantiated accusations against China.
Trump tweets support for armed right-wing protesters in Michigan
By Kevin Reed, 2 May 2020
The right-wing demonstration in the Michigan state Capitol is part of a high-level campaign to force a return to work in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
German government accelerates its deadly back-to-work initiative
By Johannes Stern, 2 May 2020
Despite the continuing spread of the COVID-19 internationally, the German government is accelerating its lifting of the limited restrictions imposed to prevent transmission of the virus.
Trump blocks federal funeral aid to families of COVID-19 victims
By Jacob Crosse, 2 May 2020
While $45 billion has been allocated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the CARES Act, a memo from Trump bans the agency giving burial funds to thousands of victims.
Australian government fast-tracks review of lockdown measures
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 May 2020
New clusters have emerged, including among meat workers in Melbourne, as governments seek to prematurely end social-distancing measures.
Biden denies sexual assault allegation, but Democrats’ nervousness about his candidacy grows
By David Walsh, 2 May 2020
The deaths of 65,000 people and the collapse of jobs and incomes have not shaken the Democrats, who are as callous as Donald Trump, but a sex scandal is another matter.
Former top officials in Bernie Sanders campaign form super PAC to back Joe Biden
By Genevieve Leigh, 2 May 2020
Despite his long record of opposition to super PACs, Sanders has remained silent on the creation of the “Future to Believe In” political action committee.
Senate Majority Leader McConnell calls for states to declare bankruptcy and gut pensions
By Barry Grey, 25 April 2020
Declaring bankruptcy would allow state governments to override laws and state constitutional provisions that guarantee the pension benefits of retired public workers.
Spain: Podemos Labour Ministry accepts that hundreds of thousands will die from COVID-19
By Alejandro López, 25 April 2020
Podemos bases its policy of forcing nonessential workers back to work in Spain on its willingness to accept millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Macron government uses more lies to push May 11 return to work
By Will Morrow, 25 April 2020
The government is downplaying the disastrous impact that an end to confinement will have on the spread of COVID-19.
Scottish National Party spearheads UK-wide return to work campaign
By Robert Stevens, 25 April 2020
First Minister Sturgeon’s supposed “progressive” credentials, backed in Scotland, England and Wales by Labour and the trade unions, offer an avenue for big business and banks to engineer a political shift towards a return to work.
Australia’s national cabinet targets teachers to ramp up back-to-work drive
By Mike Head, 25 April 2020
Prime Minister Scott Morrison took direct aim at school teachers, falsely alleging they were not “going to work.”
Los Angeles mayor releases plan for massive budget cutting and city worker furloughs
By Dan Conway, 25 April 2020
The cuts announced by the Democratic mayor herald an onslaught of similar measures in other US cities and states.
As coronavirus cases climb, Chicago city council expands mayor’s emergency powers
By Kristina Betinis, 25 April 2020
After a procedural delay, a vote to approve the measure that gives Lightfoot substantial sway over the city budget took place Friday.
Rasputin in the White House
By Eric London and David North, 25 April 2020
Ignorance, cronyism and gangsterism at the pinnacle of the American state.
Former leaders of Students for a Democratic Society try to drum up support for Biden
By Genevieve Leigh, 25 April 2020
Last week the Nation magazine published an open letter, signed by 60 former leaders of the Students for a Democratic Society, which calls on Bernie Sanders supporters to vote for Joe Biden.
European Union summit argues over corona bonds
By Peter Schwarz, 23 April 2020
A bitter struggle is raging between the EU member states over how the trillions should be distributed and who will pay for it.
Canada: British Columbia’s New Democrat government defends corporate interests as coronavirus runs rampant
By Penny Smith, 17 April 2020
As confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 1,500 and the death toll mounts, BC’s NDP government is proving incapable of protecting the population from the devastating medical and economic effects of the pandemic.
TNA offers a “democratic” veneer to Sri Lankan president’s coronavirus emergency powers
By S. Jayanth, 17 April 2020
The Tamil National Alliance is providing political cover for Rajapakse’s rapid moves towards a presidential dictatorship.
South Korea’s Democratic Party wins general election in landslide
By Ben McGrath, 17 April 2020
The supposed success of the government’s response to COVID-19 benefited the Democratic Party, but the attacks on the working class will grow as the economy declines.
Sanders tells supporters: It is “irresponsible” not to campaign for Biden
By Joseph Kishore—SEP candidate for US president, 17 April 2020
As in 2016, but now under much more explosive social and political conditions, Sanders is exchanging his “political revolution against the establishment” for the thin gruel of “lesser evil” politics.
COVID-19 and the role of Labor and the unions in Australia
By Mike Head, 16 April 2020
In fighting against mass unemployment, financial ruin and the danger to their very health and lives in many workplaces, the chief political obstacle confronting the working class is the Labor and union apparatus.
Trump defunds the World Health Organization: A “crime against humanity”
By Bryan Dyne, 16 April 2020
Public health experts have warned that Trump’s move would leave developing countries in the crosshairs of COVID-19 defenseless.
Spanish government to force workers in non-essential industries back to work
By Alejandro López, 11 April 2020
Podemos and the Spanish social democrats are needlessly sacrificing thousands of workers’ lives in order to boost corporate profits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledges stepped-up “anti-Semitism” witch-hunt
By Thomas Scripps, 11 April 2020
Even prior to his election, Starmer was at pains to reposition himself to be acceptable to the Zionist and Blairite right.
Against rising social opposition, Sri Lankan prime minister calls for “unity” against COVID-19
By K. Ratnayake, 11 April 2020
Hundreds of thousands of workers have no income and poor farmers in the rural areas have no means of selling what they grow.
Trump’s campaign to reopen businesses risks hundreds of thousands of lives
Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 11 April 2020
By the US government’s own calculations, a premature return to work could lead to 140,000 additional deaths.
The end of Sanders’ campaign deepens crisis in Democratic Socialists of America
By Eric London, 11 April 2020
The main purpose of a recent forum hosted by Jacobin magazine was to answer the question “Where to go next?” with a definitive: “Nowhere, stay in the Democratic Party.”
A year since the arrest of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 April 2020
Assange’s arrest was an historic crime, setting a precedent for escalating attacks on press freedom and the democratic rights of the working class.
Wolves guard the hen house: Who is overseeing the $2 trillion stimulus package?
By Genevieve Leigh, 11 April 2020
The mechanisms established to manage stimulus money primarily exist to bail out the major corporations, further enrich the banks, and to secure Wall Street.
A modest proposal from Thomas Friedman
New York Times columnist urges Biden “national unity” cabinet
By Patrick Martin, 10 April 2020
Friedman's proposal for a Biden “national unity cabinet” is only the crudest expression of the right-wing embrace of the Democratic nominee.
Pandemic accelerates union-government-employer collaboration in Australia
By Mike Head, 4 April 2020
ACTU leader Sally McManus is being feted by the corporate media as a “star” of the deepening coronavirus crisis.
Coronavirus freezes Democratic presidential campaign as states postpone primaries
By Trévon Austin and Patrick Martin, 2 April 2020
Fourteen states have either delayed presidential primaries or extended deadlines for voting by mail.
As COVID-19 pandemic exposes failure of capitalism, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shifts to the right
By Genevieve Leigh, 2 April 2020
Ocasio-Cortez is increasingly lining up behind the Democratic Party establishment at the very point that the coronavirus catastrophe is demonstrating the failure of the capitalist system and discrediting all of its political parties and representatives.
Top US health adviser predicts millions will contract COVID-19 and 100,000–200,000 will die
By Bryan Dyne and Barry Grey, 30 March 2020
As Trump’s top health advisers warn of a rapid escalation of infections and deaths across the country, the White House, visibly in crisis, shifts from one stop-gap policy to another.
House passes Senate “rescue” bill
Democrats unite with Trump to enact massive corporate bailout
By Barry Grey, 28 March 2020
The bill amounts to virtually unlimited funding for the corporate and financial aristocracy, with no real strings attached.
As General Motors demands profits, ventilator shortage in US threatens tens of thousands of lives
By Andre Damon, 28 March 2020
The capitalist system has proven entirely unable to provide the most basic necessities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic—including ventilators and protective equipment—threatening hundreds of thousands of lives.
Democratic Socialists of America, Haymarket Books hold online event to boost Democratic Party amid coronavirus crisis
By Eric London, 28 March 2020
The event was called to paper over the role of the Democratic Party in creating conditions for the coronavirus to wreak havoc on the population of the US.
As US cases of COVID-19 surpass all other countries
Trump’s “Get back to work” demagogy aids the spread of the pandemic
By Joseph Kishore, 27 March 2020
Amidst an expanding pandemic, which is still in its early stages, the Trump administration is intensifying its efforts to force a return to work, which would endanger the lives of millions of workers.
As big business parties near deal on $2 trillion corporate bailout
Trump calls for lifting COVID-19 restrictions by Easter
By Barry Grey, 25 March 2020
With the US death toll from COVID-19 nearing 700 and infections surging, President Trump on Tuesday pledged to “open up” the country and force workers back to work by Easter.
Socialist Alternative town hall injects racial politics into COVID-19 pandemic
By Genevieve Leigh, 25 March 2020
The event was an attempt to cover over the conventional Democratic Party politics of Socialist Alternative and the DSA with anti-capitalist rhetoric and empty slogans. This was combined with the foul injection of racial politics, a hallmark of the Democratic Party.
While dumping their stock, US senators misled the public on coronavirus crisis
By Jacob Crosse, 21 March 2020
After receiving classified intelligence briefings, at least four US senators sold millions of dollars worth of stock while downplaying the severity of the virus to the public.
California governor orders statewide lockdown as US coronavirus deaths top 200
By Patrick Martin, 20 March 2020
The number of Americans with coronavirus is nearing 15,000, and more than 200 have died.
Bernie Sanders draws his campaign to an end: The political lessons
Joseph Kishore—Socialist Equality Party candidate for US president, 19 March 2020
For the second time in four years, Sanders has diverted popular hostility to the capitalist system back within the framework of the corporate-controlled two-party system.
Biden sweeps three primaries amid coronavirus crisis
By Patrick Martin, 18 March 2020
The former vice president extended his lead over Bernie Sanders to more than 300 delegates, while voter turnout plunged.
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.
New York Times hypocritically accuses Russia of “weaponizing race” in 2020 elections
By Eric London, 14 March 2020
The purpose of the article, published by the primary purveyors of racial politics, is to advance an anti-Russia foreign policy and deny the existence of real social divisions in America.
Sanders begins campaign to drag his supporters behind Biden
By Patrick Martin, 12 March 2020
Sanders’ 10-minute speech on Wednesday, after which he took no questions, effectively conceded the Democratic nomination to the former vice president.
Biden racks up decisive victories over Sanders in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi primaries
By Niles Niemuth, 11 March 2020
The former vice president has a lead of nearly 150 delegates in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“They want to keep the working class divided along racial and ethnic lines to keep all of the money to themselves”
Sanders rally attendees in Michigan discuss socialism and the Democratic Party
By our reporters, 9 March 2020
At each rally, it was evident that the majority of Sanders’ supporters are far to the left of him politically.
The Democratic Party rallies behind Biden
By Patrick Martin, 9 March 2020
In its support for this corrupt, senile figurehead, the Democratic Party is demonstrating the political bankruptcy of Sanders’ campaign.
On the eve of Michigan primary
Another corporate media smear against Bernie Sanders
By Patrick Martin, 7 March 2020
A New York Times article claims that Soviet officials saw cultivating ties with Sanders in the 1980s as a political “opportunity.”
After Super Tuesday primaries, Warren drops out, Sanders tacks to the right
By Barry Grey, 6 March 2020
Sanders began running a campaign ad Tuesday consisting entirely of former President Barack Obama speaking in glowing terms of the Vermont senator.
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.
Democratic Party leaders engineer Biden victory in most Super Tuesday states
By Patrick Martin, 4 March 2020
The outcome is a rebuff to the claims by Bernie Sanders that the Democratic Party can become the vehicle of a political revolution in America.
Federal appeals court rules Congress cannot enforce White House subpoena
By John Burton, 4 March 2020
The DC Circuit ruling, if it stands, is expected to affect a number of other congressional inquiries, including ongoing House efforts to obtain Trump’s tax returns.
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