François Dubet, Université de Bordeaux Although they never fail to take us aback, French riots have followed the same distinct pattern ever since protests broke out in the Eastern suburbs of Lyon in 1981, an episode known as the “summer of Minguettes”: a young person is killed or seriously injured by the police, triggering an outpouring of violence in the affected … [Read more...] about French riots follow decades-old pattern of rage, with no resolution in sight
“The Chains Are Broken.” Dutch King Acknowledges and Apologizes for Slavery
The Dutch call it de Gouden Eeuw (the Golden Century), a period in the history of the Netherlands – then known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands -- roughly spanning the era from 1588 to 1672. It was truly a golden era for the Dutch as the Dutch Republic -- one of the smallest countries in Europe -- became one of the most powerful and wealthiest nations in the … [Read more...] about “The Chains Are Broken.” Dutch King Acknowledges and Apologizes for Slavery
Now that President Biden’s student loan cancellation program has been canceled, here’s what’s next
The Supreme Court rejected President Joe Biden’s plan to eliminate $430 billion in student loan debt. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images William Chittenden, Texas State University The Supreme Court has struck down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. In Biden v. Nebraska, the court ruled 6-3 on June 30, 2023, that the secretary … [Read more...] about Now that President Biden’s student loan cancellation program has been canceled, here’s what’s next
US Supreme Court steers society sharp right
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - One year after its ruling to erase abortion rights, the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court has underscored its determination to push society sharply to the right by scrapping long-established progressive policies. In emphatic rulings this week the court banned universities from giving minorities priority in admissions -- so-called … [Read more...] about US Supreme Court steers society sharp right
THE ANIMALS ARE UPSET
by Don Hermann Columnist The Elephant. One of the smartest animals on the face of the earth. They’ve had it with the Republicans. They’re going to take them to court. Their long memories tell them that the Republicans are giving them a bad name. As far as they’re concerned, the Republicans are just a bunch of chickens. A flock of chickens. In this case, yellow … [Read more...] about THE ANIMALS ARE UPSET
AFFIRMATIVE CLARENCE (CARTOON)
Visit Clay Jones' website and email him at Clay#claytoonz.com. … [Read more...] about AFFIRMATIVE CLARENCE (CARTOON)
Wokeness Knows No Boundaries
by Thomas Hoffman A wave of “Wokeness” has been spreading throughout society. Many media outlets are being pressured to make politically correct modifications to their outputs. One recent change was in Walt Disney World, where Splash Mountain has been replaced because it is based on the film Song of the South. Disneyland’s counterpart followed shortly after. Some claim … [Read more...] about Wokeness Knows No Boundaries
TROLLING THE TROLL FARM (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
I previously wrote about the young man I met on the Sloop John B. Amtrak ride from Hell who told me he read on the “internet” that President Biden had been diagnosed with dementia. This young man wasn’t stupid or uneducated and I believe he truly did read what he claimed on the internet. The problem is, the claim isn’t true. I think it’s educational to talk to people like … [Read more...] about TROLLING THE TROLL FARM (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
DOWNSIZING PUTIN (CARTOON)
Supreme Court says state lawmakers can’t just ignore state law when drawing voting districts or choosing presidential electors
North Carolina’s election districts have been under debate and review for years. AP Photo/Gerry Broome Henry L. Chambers Jr., University of Richmond For months, legislators, legal scholars and people simply interested in democracy and elections were fixated on a case before the Supreme Court, Moore v. Harper. Those following the case, which asked the … [Read more...] about Supreme Court says state lawmakers can’t just ignore state law when drawing voting districts or choosing presidential electors
LITTLE TINY RONNIE
by Don Hermann It’s not difficult to figure what Little Tiny Ronnie DeSantis is about. He comes out of the Trump playbook of communicating. Fake this. Fake that. Act tough. Take on Minority Groups. Make it tough for them to vote. Interfere with the curriculum at schools. Rewrite books to minimize African American History. Do the same with the horror stories about the … [Read more...] about LITTLE TINY RONNIE
Russian instability could open Pandora’s Box for Biden
The armed rebellion against Russia’s military establishment of which Vladimir Putin is the supreme commander should be an eye-opener for President Joe Biden and his NATO allies. It may also add value to Biden’s opportunistic embrace of India’s Narendra Modi because he will need an influential friend in the Global South if serious instability engulfs Russia and throws a pall … [Read more...] about Russian instability could open Pandora’s Box for Biden
Christianity is fine; Christians are the problem.
Christianity is fine; Christians are the problem. The preceding sentence may be disturbing to people who claim to be Christians, but it summarizes what plenty of non-Christians around the world are saying. If you want proof, then visit websites and Internet discussion boards that are dominated by people who identify themselves as being atheists, agnostics, non-religious or … [Read more...] about Christianity is fine; Christians are the problem.
What the Wagner Group revolt in Russia could mean for the war in Ukraine
A man takes down a poster reading Join us at Wagner in Russian amid an insurrection by the Wagner Group, a private military contractor, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 24. (AP Photo) James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, staged a revolt against Russia after claiming the Russian army … [Read more...] about What the Wagner Group revolt in Russia could mean for the war in Ukraine
QUOTE OF THE DAY: CHRIS CHRISTIE ON DONALD TRUMP MAKING FUN OF CHRISTIE’S WEIGHT
Our Quote of the Day comes from former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who is seeking the 2024 Republican nomination responding to former President Donald Trump making many jokes about Christie's weight: “Like he’s some kind of Adonis? Please. He should take a look in the mirror every once in a while. Maybe he’d drop the weight thing off of his list of criticisms.” … [Read more...] about QUOTE OF THE DAY: CHRIS CHRISTIE ON DONALD TRUMP MAKING FUN OF CHRISTIE’S WEIGHT
Wagner’s mutiny punctured Putin’s ‘strongman’ image and exposed cracks in his rule
Open defiance in Rostov-on-Don. Feodor Larin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University Less than 24 hours after the mutiny began, it was over. As the rebelling Wagner column bore down on Moscow, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko brokered a deal under which Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to drop criminal … [Read more...] about Wagner’s mutiny punctured Putin’s ‘strongman’ image and exposed cracks in his rule
Preserving Democracy: An Ongoing Struggle
by Emmet Pierce Guest Commentator Americans can be forgiven if they’re feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. As the 2024 presidential election draws near: •Right-wing extremists are encouraging acts of violence against their opponents. •Political pundits are using mass media to promote conspiracy theories and attack minority groups. •People of color are facing … [Read more...] about Preserving Democracy: An Ongoing Struggle
CABLE NEWS’ TEPID COVERAGE OF BREAKING NEWS RUSSIAN COUP ATTEMPT: FAIL
Friends, Americans and countrymen: lend me your eyes. I have come to criticize cable news, not to praise it. Cable news' news values and its assignment editors don't look like they're doing too well as America heads further into the 21st century. To put it precisely: the greatest generation of journalists, they ain't. The biggest international story of the day (the … [Read more...] about CABLE NEWS’ TEPID COVERAGE OF BREAKING NEWS RUSSIAN COUP ATTEMPT: FAIL
All five on Titanic sub dead after ‘catastrophic’ implosion
Published by AFPBoston (AFP) - All five people aboard a submersible missing near the wreck of the Titanic died -- likely in an instant -- after their vessel suffered what the US Coast Guard said Thursday was a "catastrophic implosion" in the ocean depths. The somber announcement ended a multinational search-and-rescue operation that captivated the world since the tiny tourist … [Read more...] about All five on Titanic sub dead after ‘catastrophic’ implosion
THE FOLLOWERS OF TRUMP: MISGUIDED?
by Don Hermann Perhaps it’s out of ignorance. Or just not paying much attention to what’s going on politically. There could be justification for that. If this is a wake up call, take off the blinders and open your mind. To start, Trump in his clumsy way was an admirer of Hitler. He was known to have said Hitler did many good things. In World War II, we lost 306,005 … [Read more...] about THE FOLLOWERS OF TRUMP: MISGUIDED?