NEW THINGS: @7:30, , 7/5/21

Biden Celebrates Progress Against Virus, but Acknowledges Hurdles Ahead

The White House hosted an Independence Day event to signal the administration’s headway against the pandemic, but it was still far from a victory pronouncement. read more

All true.

NYT > U.S. > Politics14 hours ago

Pentagon Seeks to Soften Blow of U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan

Keeping the top commander in the country longer is part of an effort to reassure Afghans as the Taliban step up their offensive. read more

The U.S. has promises to keep.

The Taliban will kill all those it sees as "Unbelievers".

Ian Welsh17 hours ago

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 4, 2021

[image: Story 450157186] Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 4, 2021 by Tony Wikrent *Strategic Political Economy* Techno-Feudalism Is Taking Over Yanis Varoufakis [Project Syndicate, via Naked Capitalism 06-30-2021] Then, after 2008, everything changed. Ever since the G7’s central banks coalesced in April 2009 to use their money printing capacity to re-float global finance, a deep discontinuity emerged. Today, the global economy is powered by the constant generation of central bank money, not by private profit. Meanwhile, value extraction has increasingly shifted away from ... read more

All money is fiat money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maynard_Keynes

NYT > U.S. > Politics19 hours ago

Why America’s Politics Are Stubbornly Fixed, Despite Momentous Changes

The country is recovering from a pandemic and an economic crisis, and its former president is in legal and financial peril. But no political realignment appears to be at hand. read more

Half the U.S. bought the Heritage Foundation program.

It has been a disaster.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heritage_Foundation

NYT > U.S. > Politics1 day ago

Trump Holds Rally in Florida, Across State From Building Disaster

Aides to Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned Trump associates about whether the event on Saturday night in Sarasota should proceed given the scope of the tragedy in Surfside. read more

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_rule

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarian_democracy

NYT > U.S. > Politics1 day ago

11 Arrested in Armed Roadside Standoff in Massachusetts

The men, who wore military-style gear and claimed to be “foreign nationals,” were part of an hourslong standoff with police officers. read more

Black Lives Matter is a statement of fact.

The Republican party does not believe it.

"The pesants are revolting. What is new?"

NYT > U.S. > Politics1 day ago

Biden Thanks New Citizens for Picking U.S. at Naturalization Ceremony

The event was part of an effort by the federal government to swear in almost 10,000 new citizens in celebration of Fourth of July. read more

Inbreeding has not helped the U.S.

NYT > U.S. > Politics1 day ago

Democrats Face High New Bar in Opposing Voting Laws

Democrats and voting rights groups say they can no longer count on the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, to serve as a backstop for preventing racially discriminatory voting restrictions. read more

Passive resistance means register and vote.

Organize early and often.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Is Biden Declaring ‘Independence From the Coronavirus’ Too Soon?

Less than half the country is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and the contagious Delta variant is

Read the constitution as modified on 7/4.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

F.D.A. Releases Another Batch of Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine

The move brings the total number of Johnson & Johnson doses made at the troubled plant and cleared by the F.D.A. to roughly 40 million. read more

Any jab that works.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Trump Is Said to Have Called Arizona Official After Election Loss

Donald Trump tried to reach the top Republican in metropolitan Phoenix as his allies were trying to overturn the state’s 2020 results, according to the official, who said he did not pick up the calls. read more

Another crime if it can be proven.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Biden Sends Dueling Messages on Afghanistan

The administration has sought to reassure Americans that it is ending “forever wars” while signaling to Afghans that the U.S. is not abandoning the beleaguered country. read more

The Afghans don't believe.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Biden Supports Changing Military Law on Sexual Assault Cases

A growing movement supports independent investigations and prosecutions of sexual assault cases, outside of the military chain of command. read more

Congress is doing nothing to the rules.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Biden Names UPenn President as Ambassador to Germany

Amy Gutmann, a political science professor, would be the first woman in that post. She also helped hire Biden to a lucrative university job after the Obama administration. read more

A good choice.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

2020 Election Spurs Resignations and Retirements of Officials

The draining work of 2020 has spurred resignations and retirements. In a recent survey, one in three officials said they felt unsafe in the jobs. read more

Trump lost the election.

Ian Welsh2 days ago

Open Thread

[image: Story 449342071] To avoid off-topic comments on the admin thread below, and because I don’t think I’ll be posting anything non-admin related today, I’m putting up the open thread a day early this week. Use it for comments unrelated to recent posts! Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn read more

Negotiation comes first.

Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.

Ian Welsh2 days ago

A Quick Note To Email Subscribers

[image: Story 449341995] Since this blog started, I’ve used Feedburner to send out emails. Google bought it and recently shut it down. I’ve transferred over to a different service (follow.it) and in the process I messed up and entered the comments feed as well, so those of you e-mail subscribe will have received an email with recent comments. SORRY! It should be all fixed now, no more comments (you’re welcome to come to the blog and read them. Some comments are great, some are unpleasant since I only moderate lightly—you have been warned!) and emails should go out once a day if t... read more

https://follow.it/blog/feedburner-stops-email-services-switch-to-follow-it-now/

I speak in words and gestures.

NYT > U.S. > Politics2 days ago

Justice Dept. Pauses Federal Executions, Reversing Trump Policy

As a candidate, President Biden said that he would work to abolish federal executions and incentivize states to follow suit. read more

It is hard to keep a promise.

NYT > U.S. > Politics3 days ago

Is Biden Declaring ‘Independence From the Virus’ Too Soon?

Less than half the country is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and the contagious Delta variant is spreading. Still, the White House is putting together an “America’s Back Together” celebration for July 4. read more

A declaration is only an intention.

NYT > U.S. > Politics3 days ago

Military and V.A. Struggle With Vaccination Rates in Their Ranks

President Biden could legally require members of the military to get vaccinated, but so far he has declined to do so. read more

Trump has the loyalty of many.