Authoritarianism

TeleSur | – – A Turkish court has handed down a two-year, nine-month and 22-day jail sentence to a Kurdish artist because of her painting of a Kurdish village being razed by Turkish security forces. Turkish Artist Zehra Doğan Sentenced to Prison for Painting of Kurdish Town Attack — Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) March 24, 2017 […]

Authoritarianism

I Am an Enemy of the People (Feffer)

Juan Cole

By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) | – – If Trump cracks down on journalists, there might be less uproar than you’d think. Even before the election of Donald Trump — and his extraordinary declaration that the media are the “enemies of the people” — U.S. journalism was in trouble. According […]

Authoritarianism

Making us Less Safe: Trump bloating Pentagon Budget, cutting Diplomacy, Science

contributors

By Miriam Pemberton | OtherWords | – – Throwing money at the Pentagon while gutting other programs that protect Americans shouldn’t make anyone feel safer. Millions of Americans are feeling uneasy, disgruntled, and insecure. That message sounded loud and clear throughout our turbulent election year. The Trump administration’s latest budget proposal isn’t likely to change […]

Authoritarianism

Turkey’s Erdogan trolls Germany with “Fascist” Charge

contributors

By Joel Schalit | EURACTIV | – – Normally, the accusation is reversed. Erdogan undoubtedly knew that when he accused Germany on Sunday of “fascist actions” typical of the Nazi era, for cancelling rallies to drive support for an April referendum granting himself broad new powers. Yet, the significance of reversing the hackneyed War on […]

Authoritarianism

Is Russian Interference the greatest Threat to Western Democracy?

contributors

By Richard Maher | (The Conversation) | – – With important national elections scheduled this year in the Netherlands, France and Germany, European officials on edge about possible Russian interference are pursuing various measures to counter it. But with a daily onslaught of fake and misleading news, repeated attempts to hack computer systems of “anti-Moscow” […]

Authoritarianism

Spurned Reporters should dump Trump Briefings, turn to Investigative Journalism

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Donald Trump was unhappy Saturday that the major media had neglected to report a point made by Herman Cain in an interview on Fox. Cain alleged that in Barack Obama’s first month, the Federal budget deficit rose $200 bn., but in Trump’s first month it fell […]

Authoritarianism

Did White House interfere with FBI Probe of Russia Ties?

contributors

By Nika Knight, staff writer | ( Commondreams.org ) | – – Brazen attempt at political interference provokes comparisons to Watergate White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus attempted to interfere with an FBI investigation into the White House, CNN reported Thursday. (Photo: Getty) White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus contacted the FBI and […]

Authoritarianism

Danger as Turkey votes on Presidential System while in State of Emergency

contributors

By Arzu Geybullayeva | (Globalvoices.org) | – – On April 16, Turks will head to polls to yay or nay constitutional amendments which have been approved by the 550 seat parliament where the majority of seats (317) belong to the ruling party of Justice and Development (AKP) under the control of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. […]

Authoritarianism

Trump & Co.: The weak of will, the strong of arm, the clown?

contributors

By David Faris | (Informed Comment) | – – WHERE are Elmer, Herman, Bert, Tom and Charley, The weak of will, the strong of arm, the clown, the boozer, the fighter? All, all, are sleeping on the hill. – Edgar Lee Masters, “The Hill,” Spoon River Anthology Since the election, many observers have rightly worried […]