Democratic Party

Progressive Dem Caucus Chair Condemns Israel as a Racist State, says Palestinian Statehood increasingly “not Possible”

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Update: See Rep. Jayapal’s clarification below. Remarks Saturday by Rep. Pramila Jayapal may signal the end of the “liberal except on Palestine” ploy of most Congressional Democrats, who decry police brutality against US minorities but are perfectly all right with Israeli government repression of the Palestinians being kept stateless and […]

Antisemitism

When it Comes to Defining Antisemitism, it’s Official: the IHRA, which forbids Criticizing Israel, is no Longer the only Game in Town

Georgia Recorder

Joe Sterling ( Georgia Recorder ) – The battle over a controversial definition of antisemitism that forbids criticism of Israel has taken a new turn in Georgia and the rest of the country, thanks to the Biden administration. That’s good news for those of us who oppose giving that one definition the force of law. […]

Donald Trump

Iran confirms it is Talking with the Biden Administration about Nuclear Enrichment, Prisoners and Regional Relations

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – It is coming out that the US and Iran have been talking privately in Oman about a range of bilateral issues, including prisoner exchanges and Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program. This news emerged, according to Barak Ravid at Axios in the form of a complaint from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin […]

Democratic Party

With Two Damaging Trump Trials during the Campaign, did Joe Biden just become a Shoo-in in 2024?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump’s two indictments will likely throw the 2024 election to Joe Biden. Assuming Biden remains in good health and there isn’t a dramatic foreign policy reversal or a prolonged economic crisis, he is now a shoo-in. He may be a shoo-in no matter what, since the alternative will be so […]

Bernie Sanders

As Bernie Sanders warns against Tribalism in America, Who will Stand Up to do the Right Thing?

Peter G. Prontzos

Vancouver (Special to Informed Comment) – It is, unfortunately, not an understatement to say that our world that is becoming increasingly divided, increasingly tribalized. Tribalism is also growing within the United States of course,: racism, homophobia, blue states versus red states, neo-nazis declaring, “Jews will not replace us!”, and simmering anger — dramatically illustrated by […]

Corporations

Biden, McCarthy say they have brokered a Debt Limit Deal to avert U.S. Default, but it Imposes Work Requirements on Benefits

Florida Phoenix

By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa – WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced a deal in principle Saturday night that would stave off a first-ever default on the nation’s debt as long as it can clear both chambers of Congress before June 5. The agreement would address the nation’s debt limit and include […]

European Union

The European Union is Struggling to Respond to Biden’s Subsidies for Green Energy

China Dialogue

By Anna Gumbau ( China Dialogue ) – After the economic crisis caused by Covid-19 and the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European unity is being tested once again, this time by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). When President Joe Biden signed the IRA into law in August 2022, European leaders […]

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders unveils push for $17-an-hour federal minimum wage, citing state increases

Florida Phoenix

By Ariana Figueroa ( Florida Phoenix ) WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday announced Democrats’ plans to mark up legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour, pointing to an increase in the cost of living. Outside the U.S. Capitol, Sanders, a Vermont independent and chairman of the Health, […]