International Politics and Economy

By Norman Solomon | – [Today’s piece is adapted from the introduction to Norman Solomon’s book War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine (The New Press, 2023).] ( Tomdispatch.com) – The day after the U.S. government began routinely bombing faraway places, the lead editorial in the New York Times […]

Authoritarianism

Saudi Reforms are softening Wahhabi Islam’s Role, but Critics warn the Kingdom will Still Quash Dissent

The Conversation

By Nathan French, Miami University | – (The Conversation) – The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, or “MBS,” is bringing a new vision of a “moderate, balanced” Saudi Islam by minimizing the role of Saudi religious institutions once seen as critical to the monarchy. For decades, Saudi kings provided support to religious […]

Drone Warfare

The Rules of Engagement of Violent Islamophobia: 22 Years of Drone Warfare and No End in Sight

Tomdispatch

By Maha Hilal | – ( Tomdispatch.com ) – “I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer gray skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are gray.” That’s what a young Pakistani boy named Zubair told members of Congress at a hearing on drones in October 2013. That hearing was during […]

Corruption

Clarence Thomas Acknowledges Undisclosed Real Estate Deal With Harlan Crow and Discloses Private Jet Flights

ProPublica

by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski ( ProPublica ) – Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ decadeslong friendship with real estate tycoon Harlan Crow and Samuel Alito’s luxury travel with billionaire Paul Singer have raised questions about influence and ethics at the nation’s highest court. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for the first time […]

art and photography

Iran’s Street Art shows Defiance, Resistance and Resilience

The Conversation

By Pouya Afshar, UMass Lowell | – (The Conversation) – A recent rise in activism in Iran has added a new chapter to the country’s long-standing history of murals and other public art. But as the sentiments being expressed in those works have changed, the government’s view of them has shifted, too. The ancient Persians, […]

Africa

African and Maghrebi “Migrants” versus Ukrainian “Refugees”: Europe’s Racial Tunnel Vision Creates discriminatory, and deadly, Policies

Mohamed Jegham

Sousse, Tunisia (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – The Mediterranean Sea route is still the most dangerous immigration route in the world. Since 2014, the UN has registered more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Immigration to Europe is not a new phenomenon. Still, the numbers of immigrants have increased substantially […]

Constitution

Trump Isn’t too Big to Jail — if we are a Nation of Laws

OtherWords

By Mitchell Zimmerman The day after Donald Trump was arraigned for his alleged effort to steal the 2020 election, he posted a naked threat: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” That followed his federal indictment. After he was indicted in Georgia, Trump openly warned a witness not to testify. “I am reading […]

Crime

Trump joins a long Line of Thuggish Racketeers who took a Defiant Mug Shot that did them no Good, including Al Capone

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The tactic of staring sternly into the camera in defiance when having a mug shot taken after being charged and arrested as a criminal is hardly new with Donald John Trump, who surrendered to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia, Thursday. Article continues after bonus IC video The Young Turks: “Donald […]

Propaganda

Saudi Arabia’s Pro League is taking Advantage of Football’s Greed and Inequality

The Conversation

By Alan McDougall, University of Guelph | – (The Conversation) – For Liverpool supporters like me, Jordan Henderson was one of football’s good guys. He was the club captain who fundraised for the UK’s National Health Service during the COVID-19 pandemic and vocally supported Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ community. However, in July 2023, after 12 years at […]