Plutocracy

TeleSur | – – The House of Representatives approved a bill that campaign finance refomers say will open the door to illegal influence on political campaigns. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to protect the identities of wealthy individuals and others who make anonymous, or “dark money,” donations to politically active nonprofit […]

Internet

In consumer victory over Telcoms, Fed Appeals court Upholds Net Neutrality

contributors

By Kit Walsh | (Electronic Frontier Foundation) | – – In a crucial win for Internet users, today a federal appeals court upheld [PDF] clear net neutrality rules that will let us all use and enjoy the Internet without unfair interference from Internet service providers. The rules will keep providers from blocking or slowing traffic, […]

Far Right

Koch Bros. Shill Glenn Beck suspended for agreeing with Brad Thor that Trump might have to be Taken Out

contributors

Joya Mia Italiano and Elliot Hill | (TheLipTV Video Report) | – – “Glenn Beck has been suspended from satellite radio company SiriusXM after one of his guests made a threat against Donald Trump. Fiction author Brad Thor appeared on The Glenn Beck Program last Wednesday and said the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is a […]

censorship

Does billionaire-funded lawsuit against Gawker create playbook for punishing press?

contributors

By Clay Calvert | (The Conversation) | – – Word last week that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel bankrolled wrestler Hulk Hogan’s invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Gawker added a wrinkle to a case already featuring colorful characters and a US$140 million jury verdict. At a sensational and personal level, the story highlights the animus between PayPal […]

Fossil Fuels

Future of Petro-States Dim as Oil Prices sink and Teslas are on Horizon

contributors

By Michael T. Klare | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – Pity the poor petro-states. Once so wealthy from oil sales that they could finance wars, mega-projects, and domestic social peace simultaneously, some of them are now beset by internal strife or are on the brink of collapse as oil prices remain at ruinously low levels. Unlike […]

Employment

Aside from Super-Rich, All Americans are poorer this century

contributors

TeleSur | – – Soon, researchers predict, the middle class will no longer be the largest class in the United States. Households in the United States made less money in 2014 than they did in 1999, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center, a decline that transcends class. According to the […]

Economy

Chomsky: Who Rules the World? (Hint: Not States any more)

contributors

By Noam Chomsky | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – [This piece, the first of two parts, is excerpted from Noam Chomsky’s new book, Who Rules the World? (Metropolitan Books). Part 2 will be posted on Tuesday morning.] When we ask “Who rules the world?” we commonly adopt the standard convention that the actors in world […]

Banking

When Corporations use havens, you Pay their taxes; & the leading Candidates have Havens

contributors

By Nomi Prins with Craig Wilson | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – There’s a pile of money hiding offshore. It’s true that jobs are also leaving the United States because American companies find it convenient to cut labor costs by moving manufacturing abroad, the economic issue you’re hearing most about in this election season. But the […]

Employment

Saudi Arabia’s Vision: Cut Subsidies to Workers, Middle Class, put Women to Work

contributors

Courtney Freer | (The Conversation) | – – Saudi Arabia has released details of its Vision 2030 – an immensely ambitious plan which Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says will end the Kingdom’s dependence on oil by 2020. To help reach that goal, the plan details major targets, such as the establishment of a […]