Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

A Year of Empty Threats and a "Smokescreen" Policy: How the State Department Let Israel Get Away With Horrors in Gaza
ProPublica | Brett Murphy | 01/15/25

In early November, a small group of senior U.S. human rights diplomats met with a top official in President Joe Biden's State Department to make one final, emphatic plea: We must keep our word.

Weeks before, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the administration delivered their most explicit ultimatum yet to Israel, demanding the Israel Defense Forces allow hundreds more trucksloads of food and medicine into Gaza every day - or else. American law and Biden's own policies prohibit arms sales to countries that restrict humanitarian aid. Israel had 30 days to comply.

In the month that followed, the IDF was accused of roundly defying the U.S., its most important ally. The Israeli military tightened its grip, continued to restrict desperately needed aid trucks and displaced 100,000 Palestinians from North Gaza, humanitarian groups found, exacerbating what was already a dire crisis "to its worst point since the war began." ... Read more

Israeli security cabinet approves Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal
Axios | Barak Ravid | 01/17/25

The Israeli cabinet will convene on Friday to approve the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, which the smaller security cabinet has already approved.

Why it matters: Approval by the full cabinet is the final hurdle before the deal can be implemented. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said the ceasefire and the process of freeing hostages are expected to start on Sunday at 4pm local time (9am ET).

State of play: The cabinet meeting was moved up from Saturday night at the urging of the director of Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency, Ronen Bar, according to an Israeli official.

That timeline would have meant the deal couldn't be implemented until Monday, and Bar urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move more quickly to avoid unexpected complications. ... Read more

Trump's "drill, baby, drill" problem
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Axios | Ben Geman | 01/16/25

This chart helps explain why President-elect Trump won't have an easy time delivering on pledges to surge U.S. oil production - at least anytime soon.

State of play: The latest analysis from the Energy Department's independent stats arm sees just modest output growth this year and next (albeit from already record levels).

It sees production rising less than 1% in 2026 "as operators slow activity due to price pressures."

Why it matters: Market fundamentals hold the cards on producers' decisions - and for now, they probably work against a U.S. surge. ... Read more

The new risks under Trump that preoccupy CEOs
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Axios | Felix Salmon | 01/15 25

The world's CEOs are much more worried about global trade wars now that Donald Trump has been elected president than they were a year ago, according to a new survey from the Conference Board.

Why it matters: While no one knows exactly what tariffs the upcoming Trump administration is going to impose on which countries, the one certainty is that substantially all such tariffs will be met with retaliatory counter-tariffs. Or more simply: a trade war.

As Axios noted on Monday, rapidly introduced tariffs could trigger speedy retaliation from major allies, including a broad-based 25% Canadian tariff on all U.S. imports. ... Read more

I’m a climate scientist and my house in LA burned down. My work has never been more real
The Guardian | Benjamin Hamlington | 01/15/25

My house in Altadena burned down in the wildfires on Wednesday. It all happened quickly. On Tuesday around 7pm, my wife and daughters went to a hotel as a precaution. I left the house with the dogs when the mandatory evacuation order came in around 3am. As best as I can put the timeline together, our home burned down around the same time that the sun came up, and I was able to drive in and see the damage around 2pm.

Neighbors that went in after said it looked like a “war zone”. I have never been in a war zone thankfully, but I didn’t think so. There was nothing violent or chaotic about it. No one stopped me from driving in. There were no sirens. I stood alone - no one else around - in front of my house that was at that point just a fireplace and chimney. The house across the street was about halfway done with burning down, and the house behind ours had just started to burn. ... Read more

Maps and images reveal scale of LA wildfire devastation
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BBC | Visual Journalism Team | 01/15/25

Firefighters are battling to control huge wildfires in Los Angeles that have killed at least 25 people, devoured thousands of buildings and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

It's a rapidly changing situation - these maps and pictures show the scale of the challenge, where the fires are and the damage they have caused.

The largest blaze, in the Pacific Palisades area is the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. More than 23,000 acres have now burnt. ... Read more

New, rare fire warning issued in Southern California
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Axios | Andrew Freedman | 01/13/25

Weather forecasters have only more bad news for firefighters battling the Los Angeles area fires.

Threat level: The National Weather Service's LA forecast office Sunday evening issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning lasting until Wednesday at noon for parts of LA and Ventura counties, warning that high winds could cause "explosive fire growth."

The weather service advises residents "to have multiple ways to receive evacuation information" and to "not do anything that could spark a fire."

Areas under this warning don't include the Eaton Fire but cover western Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Porter Ranch, Ventura and other parts of the hard-hit region. ... Read more

Top 5 takeaways from Jack Smith's final report on Trump's Jan. 6 case
Axios | Ivana Saric | 01/14/25

President-elect Trump engaged in an "unprecedented criminal effort" to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Special Counsel Jack Smith alleged in the final report of his investigation into Trump's election subversion case.

Why it matters: The report's release early Tuesday came despite Trump's legal efforts to block it, making the Justice Department's findings public less than a week before Trump's inauguration.

What they're saying: Trump lambasted the report in a Truth Social post Tuesday, claiming he was "totally innocent" and calling Smith a "lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election."

State of play: Trump was indicted and charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and other counts for his purported role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the events leading up to it.

However, the case was dismissed in November following Trump's 2024 victory, in light of longstanding DOJ policy that a sitting president can't be prosecuted.

Here are the top takeaways from the 174-page report: ... Read more

FINAL REPORT, Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol | 12/22/22 | pdf

American workers' enthusiasm for their jobs falls to a 10-year low
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Axios | Emily Peck | 01/14/24

Gallup measures engagement by surveying full-time and part-time workers across 12 measures, including whether they're satisfied with their workplace, know what's expected of them, and feel like they have the opportunity to "do what I do best every day."

Fewer employees said they clearly know what is expected of them at work, down 10 points from a high of 56%.

Only 39% of workers feel strongly that someone cares about them as a person at work, down from 47%.

Only 30% said that someone encourages their development, down from 36%. ... Read more

Trump sentencing live updates: Judge sentences Trump to 'unconditional discharge' in hush money case
NBC News | By NBC News | 01/10/25

The sentence means the conviction stands without any further penalties, making the president-elect a convicted felon just days ahead of his inauguration.

What to know as Trump is sentenced:

1. President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced to an "unconditional discharge" in the New York hush money case, making him the first president to have been sentenced for a criminal conviction once he's sworn into office Jan. 20.
2. The unconditional discharge, which state Judge Juan Merchan said he was likely to impose, allows the conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to stand with no further penalties, such as jail time.
3. The sentencing was allowed to go forward after the Supreme Court decided 5-4 yesterday to reject Trump's request to drop the proceeding. Trump said he thought it was a "fair decision" and referred to possible further appeals, such as of the verdict.
4. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying records related to hush money that his then-attorney Michael Cohen paid adult film star Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential election. Daniels testified that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he has denied.
...

President Trump's Guilty Verdict Is a U.S. First. Globally, He Joins a List of Convicted Ex-Leaders
Time | Koh Ewe | 05/31/24

Donald Trump made U.S. history Thursday as the first former President to be criminally convicted after he was found guilty by a Manhattan jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star. But compared to his counterparts around the world, Trump’s not alone, joining a long list of heads of states who have been found guilty of crimes, ranging from corruption to abuse of power.

Here are some other countries that have convicted their former leaders, and what happened to them:

Argentina

Former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who led the country from 2007 to 2015, was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from holding public office in 2022, after being convicted in a billion-dollar fraud case. Fernandez de Kirchner, who said that she would appeal the verdict, continued to serve as Vice President until her term ended last December. ... Read more

L.A. area braces for more devastation as wildfires remain uncontained
Axios | Rebecca Falconer,Andrew Freedman,Ivana Saric | 01/09/25

Rapidly spreading wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County into Thursday have left at least five people dead, destroyed at least 2,000 structures and forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.

The latest: Two of the biggest blazes remained zero percent contained as of Thursday morning. The National Weather Service's L.A. office expects the strong winds that have driven the fires to pick back up Thursday afternoon and into Friday.

The Sunset Fire ignited just before 6pm local time Wednesday and grew to an estimated 43 acres by Thursday morning.

At least five people died in the Eaton Fire, in northeast L.A. County, officials said at a Wednesday evening briefing.

L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Wednesday briefing that there were a "high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate" from the Palisades Fire.

Fire officials estimated the blaze had grown to 17,234 acres between Malibu and Santa Monica as of Thursday morning, and remained 0% contained. ... ... ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: Trump's ever-expansive power
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 01/09/25

President-elect Trump - whose power was immense after his comeback win, enhanced by the coming full Republican control of Congress - has expanded that power substantially in the nine weeks since his victory.

Why it matters: It's rare, if not unprecedented, for a newly elected leader to have so many world leaders and CEOs shift their policies or posture so blatantly during the transition to curry favor with a new president.

Trump will start his presidency with a very loyal GOP Senate and House, a vastly empowered MAGA-friendly media and information ecosystem, businesses scrambling to make amends or further improve cozy relationships, and money flowing fast into his family's business endeavors.

His Democratic opposition is weak and largely powerless - although Republicans' tiny margin in the House will be a constant threat. ... ... ... Read more

New York court declines to block sentencing in Trump's hush-money case
TheGuardian | Joan E Greve | 01/09/25

New York's highest court declined to block Donald Trump's upcoming sentencing in his hush-money case on Thursday, leaving the US supreme court as the president-elect's likely last option to prevent the hearing from taking place on Friday. One judge on the New York court of appeals issued a brief order declining to grant a hearing to Trump's legal team. "Your proposed order to show cause was reviewed by Judge Rivera, who declined to sign the order," the court's chief clerk wrote to Todd Blanche, one of Trump's lawyers. "As a result of the Judge's determination, no motion is pending in the above title at the Court of Appeals." The news comes less than a week after the judge who presided over Trump's trial, Juan Merchan, denied the president-elect's motion to dismiss the case. Trump's legal team had argued that the presidential transition process should be allowed to continue without the disruption of a criminal sentencing hearing, but Merchan disputed that logic. ... Read more

LA's wildfire onslaught driven by confluence of climate-related factors
Axios | Andrew Freedman | 01/08/25

At least three destructive, fast-moving wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles metro area early Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of people evacuated, some having run on foot to flee oncoming flames.

The big picture: The wildfires are the result of an unheard-of combination of factors at this time of year - the worst high wind event in Southern California since 2011, plus some of the driest conditions on record for early January.

Downtown LA has received just 0.16 inches of rain since May 6 of last year, making it the second-driest period on record for May 6 to Dec 31, according to the National Weather Service.

Bone-dry conditions in Southern California contrast with the northern parts of the state, where atmospheric rivers have squelched fire risks.

Even worse, the region had an unusually hot summer that dried out vegetation even further. ... Read more

GOP roadblocks start to emerge on big Trump agenda bill
Axios | Andrew Solender | 01/08/24

House Republicans are already laying down potential dealbreakers for the massive fiscal legislation President-elect Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) are planning.

Why it matters: The chamber is set to have a roughly two-vote majority when the package is voted on, meaning just a handful of GOP defections could sink the entire initiative.

Republican factions - both in the House and Senate - are already at each others' throats on whether the package should consist of one bill or two, with Trump wavering on the topic.

State of play: Republican leadership could run into an issue with its fiscally conservative wing if it tries to advance one sprawling bill that includes a measure to raise the debt ceiling.

The bill is set to include an extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts that could cost as much as $5 trillion over 10 years, in addition to funding for border security and an immigration crackdown. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: The new gatekeepers
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 01/07/25

Never has it been easier to spread misinformation at scale - with less concern about media meaningfully policing it, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column.

Why it matters: Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are of one mind. The most powerful global information platforms should be governed by free speech - and the people - not by the platforms themselves.

Both concluded it's too hard, too inherently biased, and too restrictive to put limits on speech. It's also cheaper to stop trying - and convenient to switch as Washington goes all-in on MAGA.

A decade ago, the mainstream media played the role of spotting and exposing misinformation spread under the guise of legitimate free speech. But faith in the traditional media is in the dumpster. ... Read more

How top Fed bank cop's resignation limits Trump's options
Axios | Neil Irwin | 01/07/25

Monday's decision by the Federal Reserve's top bank regulator to step down from his job — but not from the Fed entirely - is simultaneously less and more than meets the eye.

Why it matters: Michael Barr's self-demotion clears the way for President-elect Trump to appoint a vice chair for supervision. It is no radical departure from past precedent: Fed governors have, in the past, stepped aside on the principle that a new president should get to appoint their own chief financial regulator.

Historically, the Fed's regulatory side pays greater deference to the wishes of the president and Congress, in contrast to monetary policy, in which political independence is fiercely guarded. ... Read more

Major winter storm to usher in Arctic blast for 230 million people
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Axios | Andrew Freedman | 01/03/25

The much-advertised, long-lasting Arctic outbreak with ties to the polar vortex will be accompanied by a significant winter storm over the weekend.

Threat level: The storm is set to deliver upwards of a foot of snow in parts of the Plains, Midwest and Appalachians, with somewhat lower amounts for Washington, D.C., Baltimore and potentially Philadelphia as well.

Multiple states are forecast to see a destructive ice storm that could lead to widespread, enduring power outages. The ice zone will stretch from parts of Nebraska eastward to Kentucky and West Virginia.

"Treacherous travel conditions are expected with power outages likely in areas that receive over a quarter-inch of ice accumulation," the National Weather Service said via X on Thursday evening. ... Read more

Biden blocks Nippon's takeover of U.S. Steel
Axios | Dan Primack | 01/03/25

Why it matters: U.S. Steel's shares were down as much as 9% in pre-market trading Friday on the news. The company has warned that a deal failure would cause it to close some operations in Pennsylvania, where it employs around 4,000 people.

What he's saying: "Without domestic steel production and domestic steel workers, our nation is less strong and less secure," Biden said in a statement Friday.

But...

Most threatened if the company does downsize is believed to be Mon Valley Works, which has more than 3,000 workers.

U.S. Steel also said it might relocate its Pittsburgh headquarters.

Nippon had pledged to invest $2.7 billion into U.S. Steel facilities, including Mon Valley Works. ... Read more

"BE CAREFUL! This Is Serious..." - Richard Wolff's WARNING | 12/24/24 | 28:50

U.S. on edge after New Orleans attack, Las Vegas Cybertruck bomb
Axios | Mike Allen | 01/02/25

Seven hours and two time zones apart, the New Year's Day pickup-truck attack in New Orleans and Tesla Cybertruck bomb in Las Vegas meant a violent, frightening start to 2025.

The big picture: President Biden said in televised remarks last evening that law enforcement officers were investigating whether there was "any possible connection": "Thus far, there's nothing to report on that."

Driving the news: In what could be either a coincidence or a systemic vulnerability, both vehicles were rented through Turo, a "peer-to-peer" vehicle-sharing app where renters connect directly with owners.

Turo said it's working with law enforcement: "We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related." ... Read more

DemocracyNow U.S. and World Headlines
DemocracyNow(.com) | Amy Goodman | 01/02/25

President elect Trump responded on social media writing when I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country that statement was constantly refuted by democrats and the fake news media, but it turned out to be true Trump wrote.

However President Biden revealed the suspect is a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas named shamsu dinin Jabar who was born in Texas he served in the United States Army on active duty for many years. He also served in the Army Reserve until a few years ago.

Now who is CONSTANTLY spreading LIES??? ... Click to enlarge

Arctic blast tied to polar vortex puts U.S., Europe in deep freeze
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Axios | Andrew Freedman | 01/02/25

An Arctic outbreak featuring punishing cold weather is beginning across much of the U.S. at the same time that Europe prepares for plunging temperatures.

Why it matters: About three weeks of cold east of the Rocky Mountains — potentially accompanied by major winter storms - will boost natural gas prices, pose a risk of power outages and disrupt travel.

Threat level: The cold will hit the U.S. in waves, with the first moving in this week, a second early next week on the heels of a significant Plains to Mid-Atlantic winter storm, and additional ones after that.

Each push is likely to be colder than the one preceding it.

By early next week, daily high temperatures may be stuck in the single digits across parts of the Midwest, with the possibility of temperatures dropping to 32°F all the way to the Gulf Coast. ... Read more

The biggest S&P 500 winners and losers of 2024
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 01/01/25

It was a good year for AI-linked companies in 2024, as they led the stock market with eye-watering returns.

Execution problems plagued some well-known businesses, though, causing their shares to sink.

Why it matters: Those AI names helped the S&P 500 to its best two-year gain since the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s.

By the numbers: Nine S&P 500 stocks doubled in value (or more) this year, while four lost at least half their value.

Three AI-linked stocks topped the list: Software company Palantir gained more than 340%; Vistra, a power producer that serves data centers, rose almost 260%; and chipmaker Nvidia gained more than 170%. ... Read more

'Trump is a little guy, Musk is a big guy': historian predicts trouble for president-elect
TheGuardian | Martin Pengelly | 01/01/25

Allies and aides to Donald Trump should be increasingly concerned by Elon Musk’s proximity to and influence on the US president-elect, the Yale historian and bestselling author Timothy Snyder said.

"Trump is a little guy, and Musk is a big guy when it actually comes to having money," Snyder said. "And I think if you were a friend of Trump, you would be worried."

The author of bestsellers including On Tyranny (2017) and On Freedom (2024) was speaking to the Guardian about issues including his work in Ukraine, where he has teamed up with the Star Wars actor Mark Hamill to raise funds to buy robots to clear landmines laid by Russian invaders. ... Read more