Category Archives: Banana republic

The Trump White House Is Upending Decades of Policy-Making Procedures

The Trump Administration really is making things up as it goes along.

Brexit: Can Anyone Take the Wheel From Johnson?

Johnson is committing the UK to a no deal Brexit. What could stop him?

The “Existential Battle” Is for Control of the Democratic Party

Democratic Party operatives would have voters focus on Trump, as opposed to the batttle within their party over the Sanders-led effort to implement policies that serve Americans broadly, not the top 10% .

Carmakers and California Agree on Emissions Rules

Carmakers agree to comply “voluntarily” with California’s tightened emissions standards – thus thwarting Trump plans to rollback proposed nationwide rules.

‘People are Dying’: Bernie Sanders Heads to Canada With an Insulin Caravan

Sanders puts the hot lights on the disgrace of insulin prices in the US.

As Risky Finances Alienate Investors, Fracking Companies Look to Retirement Funds for Cash

Latest DeSmogBlog coverage of fracking follies: the still unprofitable industry turns to pension funds and private equity for capital.

How the Government Can Steal Your Stuff: 6 Questions About Civil Asset Forfeiture Answered

Sad but necessary, a primer on civil asset forfeiture.

Brexit: Boris Johnson’s Impossibility Theorem

No one is blinking in the Brexit staredown.

Trump Promised Massive Infrastructure Projects—Instead We’ve Gotten Nothing

Even budget hawks ought to embrace infrastructure spending, since those projects typically produce $3 of tax revenues for every $1 spent when there’s a backlog, as we clearly have in the US. So what is Trump’s excuse?

Nobel Economist Angus Deaton: Inequality is Destroying Democratic Capitalism

Angus Deaton argues that the present level of inequality is a threat to “democratic capitalism” but contends that historically, even more severe inequality has been reversed.

The Politics of CEOs

Quelle surprise! CEOs back parties with an eye to increasing their own power.

John Helmer: MH17 Evidence Tampering Revealed by Malaysia – FBI Attempt To Seize Black Boxes; Dutch Cover-Up of Forged Telephone Tapes; Ukrainian Air Force Hid Radar Records; Crash Site Witness Testimony Misreported

The Malaysian government has come out against the findings of the JIT in the MH17 crash, charging US, Urkainian, and other offiicials with lying and engaging in evidence suppression and tampering.

Syriza, R.I.P.

The rule of the “radical left” Greek party Syriza came to an end earlier this month after it had abandoned its promise of reform.

Trump’s Peace Plan and the Future of Palestine

Trying to cut through the noise of Trump’s Palestine deal-making efforts.

“The Ten Brexit Questions No-One’s Giving a Straight Answer To”

A short Brexit update and some questions on the state of Labour.