Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts

Saturday, February 08, 2025

Donald Trump Revokes Joe Biden’s Security Clearance in Latest Revenge Move

THE GUARDIAN: US president cites Biden’s removal of Trump’s security clearance in 2021 in the wake of the January 6 attacks and attempts to overturn the 2020 election result

President Donald Trump has said he’s revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance and ending the daily intelligence briefings he’s receiving, in payback for Biden doing the same to him in the wake of the January 6 attacks.

Trump announced his decision in a post saying: “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information. Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s security clearances, and stopping his daily intelligence briefings. » | Agencies | Saturday, February 8, 2025

Saturday, February 01, 2025

NZZ erklärt: Joe Biden scheiterte als Präsident – das waren die Gründe

Jan 18, 2025 | Joe Biden wollte Amerika einen und die Demokratie schützen. Stattdessen prägten seine Amtszeit wirtschaftliche Herausforderungen, eine ungelöste Migrationskrise und internationale Konflikte. Manche reden bei seiner Amtszeit von einem «Intermezzo der Trump-Ära».

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Biden Warns of American Oligarchy in Final Address

Jan 16, 2025 | President Joe Biden concluded his five-decade political career on Wednesday with a final Oval Office address, with a stark warning about the growing concentration of wealth in the United States.

He also cautioned against the rise of a "tech industrial complex," which he said is fueling an "avalanche of misinformation and disinformation" and enabling abuses of power. The free press, he added with concern, "is crumbling."



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Joe Biden Warns ‘Oligarchy Is Taking Shape in America’ in Farewell Address

THE GUARDIAN: President sounds alarm about growing power of ultra-wealthy before handing presidency back to Trump

Joe Biden’s final address to the nation struck an ominous tone after warning of the growing power of America’s ultra-wealthy, and cautioning that an emerging oligarchy threatens the foundations of US democracy.

The Wednesday prime-time Oval Office speech came as Biden prepares to hand the presidency back to Donald Trump, who he defeated in 2020 only to see return to power after Biden’s own dramatic exit from politics last summer.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. » | Joseph Gedeon in Washington | Thursday, January 16, 2025

America is ALREADY an oligarchy, Mr President. Oligarchy has been in the making for a very long time. America has been governed for the benefit of the rich for years. Trump has dotted all the 'i's' and crossed all the 't's'. He's completed the task.

Lincoln’s famous phrase, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people’ is passé now. Trump has changed all that. And it hasn’t taken him long to do so, either. From here on in, it’s ‘government of the superrich, by the superrich, for the superrich’. “The people” will get the crumbs that fall under their masters’ tables – if the are lucky!

The American political system has been usurped and poisoned, probably forever. Democracy has been supplanted by oligarchy. You call it oligarchy; I prefer to call it plutocracy, since it is a more accurate nomenclature.

In any case, darkness has befallen your nation, Mr President. America is no longer a “City upon a Hill” as has so often been quoted by many a president or a president-elect; it is no longer a beacon – a shining light in the distance; rather, it is a source of darkness in the distance. And that dark shadow will surely now be cast upon the rest of the free world. Enlightened thinking is already in the process of being replaced by benighted thinking. Ignorance is taking hold. It is already discernable right across the free world. Even here in Europe. Gee! Thanks America! You've done the free world proud. – © Mark Alexander

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Biden Expected to Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: During the final days of the Biden administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to issue a mandate for Very Low-Nicotine (VLN) products. The proposed rule could come as soon as Monday.

As tobacco is such a large part of North Carolina’s agricultural industry, the ban would significantly impact one of the state’s top crops. VLN products would lower the nicotine content by 96% as compared to the majority of cigarette brands dominating the market, according to the FDA.

“The Biden administration’s proposed menthol cigarette ban is a direct attack on North Carolina’s hardworking families, farmers, and small businesses,” said freshman Congressman Pat Harrigan, NC-10. “This ban threatens over 27,000 jobs in our state, many of which have been the backbone of our communities for generations. By eliminating the menthol cigarette industry, the government risks devastating our local economies, pushing products into the black market, and undermining the livelihoods of thousands who rely on this industry to support their families.” » | Katherine Zehnder | Monday, January 13, 2025

Leer en español aquí.

THE WASHINGTON POST :

The war on smoking turns to cigarettes with ultralow nicotine: The Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan ordering cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced dramatically. »

Wednesday, January 08, 2025

Biden FDA Moves Forward with Rule to Lower Nicotine in Cigarettes, a ‘Gift’ to Cartels, Critic Says

NEW YORK POST: WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is moving forward with plans to mandate lower nicotine levels in cigarettes in the final days of President Biden’s term, according to a new report, which critics say could cause Americans to smoke more and fuel organized crime cartels.

The plan, which is touted as a way to reduce the ability of cigarettes to hook casual users, cleared a regulatory review last week by the Food and Drug Administration, the agency told Fox News.

But opponents argue that the change could cause current smokers to use more cigarettes to compensate for the lower nicotine levels, negatively impacting their health, and that the plan could open an opportunity for black-market sales of standard-strength cigarettes.

“Biden’s ban is a gift with a bow and balloons to organized crime cartels with it, whether it’s cartels, Chinese organized crime, or Russian mafia,” Rich Marianos, a former assistant director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told Fox News.

It’s unclear if the FDA will issue a proposed rule outlining the looming regulation before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20. » | Steven Nelson | Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Why can’t politicians stop meddling? Whay can’t they leave things alone? Why do they always feel that they have to do something? They usually make things worse. – © Mark Alexander

Monday, December 23, 2024

Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Resume Federal Executions

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Those affected by the president’s action on Monday are still subject to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Three men will remain on federal death row.

President Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of nearly all prisoners on federal death row, sparing the lives of 37 men just a month before Donald J. Trump will return to the Oval Office with a promise to restart federal executions.

Those affected by Mr. Biden’s action, all of whom were convicted of murder, will serve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole instead of facing execution. Only three men, who each carried out notorious mass killings, will remain on federal death row.

The president campaigned in 2020 on ending the federal death penalty. Although proposed legislation to that effect failed to advance in Congress during his administration, Mr. Biden directed the Justice Department to issue a moratorium on federal executions. Thirteen prisoners on federal death row were put to death during Mr. Trump’s first term. » | Aishvarya Kavi, Reporting from Washington | Monday, December 23, 2024

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Biden Commutes 1,500 Sentences in Largest Single-day Act of Clemency

THE GUARDIAN: President also pardons 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and plans to wield clemency power again

Joe Biden has carried out the largest act of presidential clemency on a single day in modern US history, commuting the sentences of almost 1,500 people and pardoning 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the White House said that Biden’s sweeping act of clemency was designed to “help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society”.

The almost 1,500 commutations ordered by the president all relate to people who were released from prisons and placed in home confinement during the Covid pandemic. Thousands of prisoners were released to their homes as an emergency measure under the Cares Act to prevent the rapid spread of coronavirus through federal prisons. » | Ed Pilkington | Thursday, December 12, 2024

Friday, December 06, 2024

Biden Team Considers Blanket Pardons Before Trump’s Promised ‘Retribution’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: White House officials believe President-elect Donald J. Trump’s selection of partisan warriors for top law enforcement jobs indicates that he will pursue revenge against his perceived enemies.

Former Representative Liz Cheney, who was vice chair of the committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, is among those whose names have been floated for potential pardons. | Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Biden’s staff is debating whether he should issue blanket pardons for a swath of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s perceived enemies to protect them from the “retribution” he has threatened after he takes office, according to people familiar with the discussion.

The idea would be to pre-emptively extend executive clemency to a list of current and former government officials for any possible crimes over a period of years, effectively short-circuiting the next president’s promised campaign of reprisals.

White House officials do not believe the potential recipients have actually committed crimes, but they have grown increasingly worried that Mr. Trump’s selections for top Justice Department positions indicate that he will follow through on his repeated vows to seek revenge. Even an investigation that results in no charges could drag on for months or years, costing those people hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and crippling their career prospects. » | Peter Baker and Erica L. Green | Reporting from Washington | Thursday, December 5, 2024


Why on earth does 'The Donald' want to seek revenge? And in any case, I thought that he and his evangelical base believed that he was sent by Jesus to save America and the world! Did 'The Donald', therefore, never learn that Jesus wasn't big on revenge or retribution? Did 'The Donald' never learn that Jesus admonished His followers to turn the other cheek.
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:38-48 King James Version (KJV)
So, this preoccupation with retribution doesn't sit well with Biblical teachings, does it? – © Mark Alexander

Monday, December 02, 2024

Biden Issues a ‘Full and Unconditional Pardon’ of His Son Hunter Biden

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The pardon comes weeks before President Biden leaves office and transfers power to President-elect Donald J. Trump, who spent years attacking Hunter Biden over his legal and personal issues.

President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon of his son Hunter on Sunday night after repeatedly insisting he would not do so, using the power of his office to wave aside years of legal troubles, including a federal conviction for illegally buying a gun and for tax evasion.

In a statement issued by the White House, Mr. Biden said he had decided to issue the executive grant of clemency for his son “for those offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 1, 2024.”

He said he made the decision because the charges against Hunter were politically motivated and designed to hurt him politically.

“The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Mr. Biden said in the statement. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong.” » | Michael D. Shear and Zolan Kanno-Youngs | Reporting from Washington | Sunday, December 1, 2024

Read Joe Biden’s Statement and His Grant of Clemency: President Biden issued the statement after signing a pardon for Hunter Biden Sunday night. »

Hunter Biden Faced Prison Time for Tax and Gun Charges: The president’s son had pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges and was convicted of three felony counts for lying on a federal firearms application. »

In Pardoning His Son, Biden Echoes Some of Trump’s Complaints: President Biden complained about selective prosecution and political pressure in a system he has spent his public life defending. »

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Richard Wolff: The Final Case Against Donald J. Trump

Oct 20, 2024 | Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s fifth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. He and Robinson discussed some of the most profound criticisms of capitalism. They focused on the myths surrounding Marxism and Marx himself. They covered the Israel-Palestine conflict from a Marxist perspective.


Dr Richard Worlff is a Marxist economist. He has a brilliant mind. However, the mere fact that I am posting this discussion on my blog should IN NO WAY be construed as an endorsement of Marxism. It is not an endorsement; I do not endorse it. I do, however, find Dr Richard Wolff a fascinating character and a man who is extremely intelligent and insightful. Do I agree with his take on everything discussed in this video? Certainly not! But, as my regular visitors should know by now, I do not post videos on this blog simply because I agree with everything discussed in them. Were I to adopt that strategy, I should find it very difficult to post ANYTHING!

As a person, I like to have my thinking challenged. If I think something is particularly good, insightful, or interesting, then I usually post it. Even if the video is controversial. In fact, a little controversy can stimulate one’s thinking. Controversy is to thinking what spice is the food! I hope that you enjoy the discussion. – © Mark Alexander

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

'He Proved It. Events Prove It.': Woodward on Milley Calling Trump 'Fascist to His Core'

Oct 15, 2024 | MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell is joined by Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward to discuss the bombshell revelations about both the Trump and Biden presidencies in his new book "War" including Trump's former Joint Chiefs chair Gen. Mark Milley saying Trump is "dangerous" and "a total fascist."

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

US President Biden Gives Emotional "Farewell" Speech | DW News

Aug 20, 2024 | Joe Biden has given an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention to endorse Kamala Harris as the party's presidential candidate. Biden wiped away tears as he was brought to the podium by his daughter Ashley. He rallied the crowd around Harris's campaign, saying a vote for her was a vote for democracy. Just two months ago, Biden had expected to clinch the Democrats' nomination for a second term, but concerns about his fitness led the party to back Vice President Harris instead.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Biden Out, Harris In: “This Is Exactly What the Trump Team Feared” | Amanpour and Company

Jul 24, 2024 | Tim Alberta has had a front-row seat at what has been a dramatic turn of events for Donald Trump and his team. Alberta spent months behind the scenes of Trump's campaign, and just two weeks ago reported that they were planning for a landslide victory -- on the condition Joe Biden didn't drop out. Now that their worst fears have come true, Alberta discusses with us how the Trump campaign is shifting its approach to confront a new Democratic nominee. | Originally aired on July 24, 2024

Biden Says It Is Time to Step Aside for a Fresh, Younger Voice

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In an Oval Office address, President Biden praised Vice President Kamala Harris and said “it’s been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years.”

President Biden told the American public in an Oval Office address on Wednesday that he had abandoned his re-election campaign because there is “a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices — yes, younger voices.”

His words, lasting 11 minutes in all, were the first extensive ones from Mr. Biden since his decision to step aside, and expanded on his initial announcement, delivered in a post on social media on Sunday, that he was dropping out of the race. His tone was wistful and his speech was an early farewell.

“It’s been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years,” he said.

Sitting behind the Resolute Desk and surrounded by photos of his family, Mr. Biden ticked through the accomplishments of his term, ranging from the choice of the first Black woman to be a Supreme Court justice to pulling the country out of a paralyzing pandemic. He expressed gratitude to the American people for allowing a “kid with a stutter” from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pa., to reach the pinnacle of American politics.

Just beyond the camera, dozens of aides and several members of his family, including Jill Biden, the first lady, watched as Mr. Biden said he would walk away from the office they had worked to help him reach for decades. » | Katie Rogers, Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Listen to the address here.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Kamala Harris Speaks for the First Time since Biden Left the Presidential Race

Kamala Harris speaks.

Reaction: President Biden Drops Out | The Warning with Steve Schmidt

Jul 22, 2024 | With President Biden officially dropping out of the race, the door is wide open for the Democrats to regain their ground against Trump. Steve Schmidt breaks down the road ahead for the Democratic party and who stands the best chance to defeat Trump in November.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Biden Vows to Run as 8 More Democrats Call for Campaign's End

BBC: US President Joe Biden is looking forward to "getting back on the campaign trail next week", fortifying his commitment to stick in the race despite calls from top Democratic leaders to step aside as the party nominee.

The president referenced former President Donald Trump's Republican National Convention speech to say he will continue "exposing the threat" of the former president while "making the case" for his record.

"Donald Trump’s dark vision for the future is not who we are as Americans. Together, as a party and as a country, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box," he said in a statement.

“The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win," he added. » | Rachel Looker, BBC News, Washington | Friday, July 19, 2024

America! Stand by your President! The mere thought of a Trump presidency is too awful even to contemplate! Biden for a second term! The forces of evil must be vanquished. – © Mark Alexander

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Joe Biden Tests Positive for Covid and Cancels Campaign Event, White House Says

THE GUARDIAN: President, who has mild symptoms, returning to Delaware to self-isolate but will ‘continue to carry out full duties’

Joe Biden has caught Covid-19 and cancelled a speaking engagement at the last minute, before he was due to address a conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, the White House has confirmed.

The US president had developed symptoms, and just before he was going to address the UnidosUS annual conference in Nevada – after a long delay – the organization’s president and chief executive, Janet Murguía, told those gathered he would not be taking the podium.

Shortly afterwards, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, issued a statement saying, in part: “Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for Covid-19.”

She added: “He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The White House will provide regular updates on the president’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.” » | Maanvi Singh and Joanna Walters | Wednesday, July 17, 2024