Ron Reagan on Trump’s Behavior: ‘It’s Only Going to Get Worse’ | Hardball | MSNBC

Rattled by the US economy, and his prospects for reelection, an unhinged President Trump is stumbling through a week of self-induced chaos.

President Donald Trump’s Actions Create Obstacles for Trump Campaign | The Last Word | MSNBC

Donald Trump has worried U.S. allies with comments he's made regarding trade, manufacturing, and foreign policy and it’s hurting his campaign too. Renee Graham and Rick Wilson discuss what's next for impeaching Trump now that 130 dems are now supporting an inquiry.

Ex-Advisers Worried about Trump's Behavior, NYT Reports

The New York Times reports that those who know President Trump are worried about his erratic recent behavior.

Rejected Trump Cancels State Visit to Denmark | DW News

US President Donald Trump has canceled an official state visit to Denmark because the Danish prime minister has refused to consider selling Greenland to the US, describing the proposal as "absurd". Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory rich in natural resources - and is also the world's biggest island, strategically located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

Brexit: Macron Warns Johnson That Irish Backstop Is 'Indispensable'

On the face of it - there were all the signs of an Entente Cordiale between Boris Johnson and the French President Emmanuel Macron as the pair met in Paris for talks on Brexit - with smiles, handshakes and jokes about Mr Johnson putting his feet up on the Elysee furniture.

But behind all that bonhomie - a stern line from Mr Macron - who warned the Irish backstop was "indispensable" - telling the PM to set out his alternatives to the mechanism as soon as possible.

Psychiatrist on ‘The Essential Emptiness of President Donald Trump’ | The Last Word | MSNBC

Dr. Lance Dodes, one of the first mental health professionals who questioned Donald Trump's stability, discusses with Lawrence O'Donnell how Trump has devolved since the beginning of his presidency.

Trump Calls Danish Prime Minister's Statement 'Nasty'

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to cancel his trip to Denmark, saying that the Danish Prime Minister's comments this week were "nasty" and "inappropriate" while speaking to reporters at the White House.

Trump Cancels Denmark Trip as Greenland Says It’s Not for Sale

The Danish Prime Minister says she is "annoyed" that Donald Trump has cancelled his state visit to Denmark, after he was told that Greenland is not for sale.

Mette Fredriksen said the US is still a close ally, but last week described President Trump's proposal as "absurd". Today he said the Prime Minister's comment was "nasty".


THE GUARDIAN: Greenlanders on Trump: ‘We are neither for sale nor can be bought’ »

THE GUARDIAN: The Guardian view on Trump and Greenland: no sale » | Editorial

Former US Ambassador to Denmark: 'This Is Not the Way You Treat an Ally'

Former US Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford lambasted President Donald Trump for his decision to cancel a trip to the country after its leader declined to discuss Trump's interest in purchasing Greenland during the visit, saying the move is "not the way you treat an ally."

Brexit: Merkel Gives Johnson 30 Days to Find Backstop Solution

Ahead of Boris Johnson's arrival in Berlin, the prospect of progress on a renegotiated deal had not looked great.

The EU has always insisted that the backstop is the only solution for avoiding a hard border in Ireland - and they had no intention of scrapping it as the Prime Minister had demanded.

Angela Merkel's suggestion that the issue can be solved in 30 days does not fly in the face of that - she says perhaps a long term solution to the border problem can be found. But its taken months to get to this point, will one more make a difference?

Joram van Klaveren: Why I Left the Far-Right

From extreme nationalism and far-right politics to compassion and empathy, watch the incredible transformation story of Joram van Klaveren, a former Dutch parliamentarian.

Joram van Klaveren is now the president of the Anthony Janszoon Association. The English translation of his book, Apostate, will be published towards the end of the year by 't Kennishuys.

From Critic to Convert | The Joram van Klaveren Story: From Islamophobe to Believer

Sidi Joram van Klaveren shares his remarkable personal journey as a former far-right Dutch lawmaker who had been fiercely critical of Islam and why he chose to became a Muslim in 2019 while he had been penning a book meant to be anti-Islam.

Joram van Klaveren was a lawmaker in the Party of Freedom, led by Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders, from 2010 to 2014. During that time, he advocated a burqa ban, a ban on masjid minarets and a ‘de-Islamization‘ of the Netherlands.

In February 2019, he announced his religious conversion to Islam. The Islamophobic polemic he had been penning morphed into a rousing defense the the faith.

In Denmark, Bewilderment and Anger Over Trump’s Canceled Visit

THE NEW YORK TIMES: ODENSE, Denmark — The astonishment in Denmark over President Trump’s apparent desire to buy Greenland turned to bewilderment and anger on Wednesday after the American leader abruptly scrapped a state visit because the Danes have no desire to sell.

The cancellation was a rare snub of Denmark’s head of state, Queen Margrethe II, who had extended the invitation to the president and would have hosted him and the first lady.

News that Mr. Trump is not coming “came as a surprise,” the Royal House’s communications director told the state broadcaster, adding, “That’s all we have to say about that.”

Others, however, had more to say. “Is this some sort of joke?” Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former prime minister, wrote on Twitter. “Deeply insulting to the people of Greenland and Denmark.”

It was not a joke. A day earlier, Mr. Trump said on Twitter that Denmark was “a very special country with incredible people” but added that he was abandoning plans to visit because of the country’s refusal to sell Greenland, a semiautonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark. » | Martin Selsoe Sorensen | Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise | Official Music Video

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson and the EU: He Cannot Be Serious

THE GUARDIAN: The PM’s letter to Donald Tusk is a reckless and detail-free approach to the new deal with Europe that he claims to want

If there is any fragile encouragement to be squeezed out of Boris Johnson’s letter to the European Union this week, it is perhaps the fact that he wrote it at all. After four weeks of acting as if the EU does not exist, the existence of the letter is at least an implied recognition that the relationship with the EU matters. For nearly a month, Mr Johnson’s government has also promoted the fiction that a no-deal Brexit is an acceptable prospect for Britain. So when Mr Johnson starts his letter by saying that he very much hopes the UK will be leaving with a deal, it is just about possible to muster some carefully guarded optimism that he may actually mean it.

Yet the content of what he wrote makes a mockery of any such conclusion. In fact it is difficult to see how Mr Johnson could have done less than he does in the letter to Donald Tusk. At the core of the letter is the statement that the Irish backstop is not viable. The letter then excoriates the backstop as undemocratic, a brake on UK trade and regulatory policy and a threat to the Northern Ireland peace process. In most respects, this is the opposite of the truth. In some ways it is downright mischievous. The letter is more like one of Mr Johnson’s fact-free and irresponsible newspaper concoctions than a serious diplomatic approach to solving an impasse that imminently threatens British economic stability, trade, jobs, constitutional cohesion and security. » | Editorial | Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Donald Trump’s UK Trade Promises Are Hot Air – His Aim Is Brexit Chaos

THE GUARDIAN: If Boris Johnson seriously believes the US will shower rewards on Britain after leaving the EU he is mistaken

As the UK races towards a potential no-deal Brexit, President Donald Trump is cheering it on. But Brexit – especially without a deal in place with the European Union – would be bad for the US-UK special relationship and would make the UK a much less important US ally.

The ramifications of Brexit – in particular without a deal with the EU that pleases everyone – could be explosive. It could hurt the UK economy at a time when Trump’s trade war and economic policies are increasing the risk of a global recession, and threaten the very integrity of the UK amid growing signals that Northern Ireland and Scotland would consider breaking away. Boris Johnson appears willing to drive Britain off this cliff come hell or high water, threatening a no-deal Brexit and saying that the UK will leave the EU by the end of October, “do or die”. Everyone hopes that the UK finds a way out of this mess, but the past few years haven’t provided much evidence to believe that it will end well. » | Michael H Fuchs | Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Donald Tusk Rejects Boris Johnson Request to Remove Backstop

THE GUARDIAN: European council president says call for removal without alternative proposal signals support for hard border

Donald Tusk has rejected Boris Johnson’s request to strip the backstop out of the Brexit deal, with a thinly-veiled message that the British government was refusing to admit the lack of realistic alternatives.

Tusk, the president of the European council, issued the EU’s first official response, after Johnson published his letter on Monday night, calling for the “undemocratic” backstop to be scrapped.

The EU response underscores the stalemate over the backstop, a policy intended to avoid the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. The UK government agreed the backstop under Theresa May, but hardline Brexiters have long called for it to be scrapped or subject to a time limit.

Tusk wrote: “The backstop is an insurance to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland unless and until an alternative is found. Those against the backstop and not proposing realistic alternatives in fact support re-establishing a border. Even if they do not admit it.” » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Brexit Curse in the Caribbean | DW Documentary

Great Britain is not the only country gripped with uncertainty over the outcome of Brexit. The Caribbean island of Anguilla, a British overseas territory and former British colony, would lose its status as an associate member.

Anguilla, a popular holiday destination, is 6,500 kilometers away from Britain, but just a 20-minute boat ride from the half-French, half-Dutch island of Saint Martin. Relations between both islands are like a smaller, Caribbean version of the EU-Brexit tugging war. ‘Saint Martin is our downtown, that’s where we go shopping, or see a doctor’, says the Premier of Anguilla, Victor Banks. ‘What will happen to my EU passport?’, worries DJ Hammer. He fears the consequences of Brexit will be even worse than Hurricane Irma, which devastated the island in 2017. Will theater director Felix Fleming still be able to visit his family - and his father’s grave - in Saint Martin without applying for a visa and queuing at the border each time? What will become of the turtles in the Marine Park, currently subsidized by EU funding? How has the Anguillan blogger Shellecia Brooks-Johnson been experiencing the mood in England since she moved to Cambridge six months ago? One thing is for sure: Although residents of Anguilla were not entitled to vote in the Brexit referendum, they will still suffer the consequences.

Brexit and its impact on the Caribbean: This film looks at Europe’s thorniest current issue from a more unusual perspective.

The Guardian View on Violence against Public Figures: The Threat Is Growing

THE GUARDIAN: Donald Trump’s hostility to the press is so far unmatched in the UK. But the targeting of Owen Jones and others by far-right activists is deeply concerning

Any unprovoked violent attack is disturbing. Thuggish behaviour is repellent, all the more so when an individual is targeted by a group. When a person is singled out because of their political beliefs, or due to their assailants’ hatred of a particular group or minority, the crime has additional significance. With a police investigation ongoing, it is too soon to draw conclusions about the motives of the men who attacked Guardian journalist and activist Owen Jones outside a London pub in the early hours of Saturday. But given that Jones has previously been accosted by far-right activists, targeted with threatening social media posts and subjected to homophobic abuse, there was already cause for concern. » | Editorial | Monday, August 19, 2019

Prince Andrew 'Appalled' by Epstein Sex Abuse Claims

THE GUARDIAN: Royal makes statement following release of video showing him in paedophile’s mansion in 2010

The Duke of York has said he is “appalled” by recent sex abuse claims surrounding his former friend Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew released a statement after new footage emerged showing him inside the convicted paedophile’s Manhattan mansion in 2010.

The video, obtained by MailOnline, was reportedly shot on December 6 2010, around the time Andrew was photographed with the disgraced billionaire in New York’s Central Park. It shows the duke looking out from a large door of the mansion waving goodbye to a woman after Epstein leaves and enters a chauffeur-driven car.

A Buckingham Palace statement said: “The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes. His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.” » | PA Media | Sunday, August 18, 2019

Overthrow: 100 Years of US Meddling & Régime Change, from Iran to Nicaragua to Hawaii to Cuba (March 2018)

As special counsel Robert Mueller continues his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, we take a look back at Washington’s record of meddling in elections across the globe. By one count, the United States has interfered in more than 80 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000. And that doesn’t count U.S.-backed coups and invasions. We speak to former New York Times reporter Stephen Kinzer, author of “Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.”

Inside America's Meddling Machine: NED, the US-Funded Org Interfering in Elections Across the Globe (2018)

In this Grayzone special, Max Blumenthal attends a Capitol Hill gathering of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and explores the group's destabilizing global campaign to meddle in other countries' affairs. The report covers the NED's interference in foreign elections in Russia and Mongolia, its participation in coup attempts from Haiti to Venezuela to Nicaragua, and its escalating public relations efforts against China and North Korea.

Trump Starves Venezuela, Democrats Are Silent

The Trump administration is intensifying its economic warfare on the people of Venezuela with a crippling embargo -- and facing no resistance from the Democratic Party. Aaron Maté takes a look.

No Justice for Epstein Accusers as Queen Denies Ties – Galloway

As the news of Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and death rocked the international media, his ties to the UK’s Prince Andrew came to the surface as photos of him with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, a then-underage Epstein accuser, entered public light. Former UK MP George Galloway shares his insights.

A Trade Deal with Trump Will Change Britain for the Worse

THE OBSERVER: The EU has opposed brutal animal welfare and rampant tech monopolies. Post-Brexit Britain will be exposed to both

A trade deal with the US would be a defining moment for the UK. It is not an exaggeration to say it would reveal the country’s direction of travel more than any other decision in the aftermath of Britain quitting the European Union.

Amid the confusing array of government pledges – more police and more spending on the regions while also cutting taxes for the better off (mostly in London and the home counties) – it is the basics of any trade deal that will set Britain’s course for decades to come.

The most emotive questions apply to agriculture, and not just in the UK. It’s fair to say that American farmers can get very emotional about access to foreign markets, especially when they have put more time and effort into producing cheap food than probably anyone else in the world.

US policymakers have long understood that cheap food and cheap energy are the bedrocks of a flourishing economy. In the modern era, they are the keys to higher disposable incomes when wages are flat. They allow workers to maintain some semblance of their living standards from year to year while the producers and owners of capital walk off with the bulk of any gains. » | Phillip Inman | Saturday, August 17, 2019

'Friends, You're Going to Love Greenland. I Was There on 9/11'

THE GUARDIAN: Manhattan? I’d’ve got Staten Island too for half the guilders. Louisiana? Bum deal. But Alaska? I’m giving that back to Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump tweeted today he had purchased Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark for $15bn plus Kanye West and the state of Massachusetts.

Still, the announcement has been questioned abroad. Prime minister of Greenland Kim Kielsen, reached this morning before the sun set for the winter, commented: “Clearly, the president’s mind is melting faster than our ice sheet.”

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen tried to strike a diplomatic note, saying: “May God deliver us from this delusional maniac.”

These comments did not stop the president taking a victory lap before an enthusiastic audience at a campaign-style rally in West Virginia. » | Lawrence Douglas and Nancy Pick | Saturday, August 17, 2019

Palestinian Lawmaker: Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Were Kept Out to Hide Israeli Apartheid

Israel announced that it would bar Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib — the two first Muslim Congresswomen — from entering the country, sparking outcry from Democratic leaders and Palestinians. Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, says Israel blocked the two progressive politicians because their trip would have risked "exposing" Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and what he calls "the worst apartheid ever, where racial discrimination is practiced against Palestinians in the worst possible way."

Alaska for $7m, Anyone?

Danish Politicians Mock Trump as Crazy over His Idea to Buy Greenland

Germany Will Urge EU Allies to Hold Firm on No-deal Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Berlin prepared for UK to crash out as leak suggests Boris Johnson’s threat has fallen flat

Germany is ready for a likely no-deal Brexit and will encourage its fellow EU member states to hold their nerve and refuse to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement, according to a leaked German government paper.

The document prepared by officials for the German finance minister, Olaf Scholz, before talks in Berlin with the chancellor of the exchequer, Sajid Javid, suggests that the UK’s threats to leave without a deal are falling flat.

Boris Johnson, who is expected to visit Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday and Angela Merkel on Wednesday, has insisted it is vital for the UK to appear ready to crash out if it is to secure a new and better deal without the Irish backstop. The new prime minister has accused those who oppose that policy of collaborating with Brussels. He will also have phone calls with the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, and Donald Tusk, president of the European council, EU sources said. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Friday, August 16, 2019

No Thanks, We're Not For Sale, Aghast Greenland Tells Trump

THE GUARDIAN: Danish politicians dismiss US president’s apparent interest in island as ‘hopefully a joke’

Donald Trump may have expressed an interest in acquiring Greenland for the US, but Denmark thinks the idea is frankly insane and Greenlanders have pointed out their home is not actually for sale.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US president has asked his aides and the White House counsel to look into the possibility of buying the world’s largest island, a largely autonomous country of the kingdom of Denmark.

The Greenland government was diplomatic, saying it had a good working relationship with the US and saw the inquiry as “an expression of general greater interest in investing in our country and its opportunities”. But it added firmly: “Greenland is obviously not for sale.”

In comments echoed in somewhat stronger terms by other politicians in both Greenland and Denmark, Ane Lone Bagger, Greenland’s foreign minister, confirmed the country was “open for business, but not for sale”. » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondence | Friday, August 16, 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 16, 2019

George Galloway on Jeffrey Epstein: It Ain’t No Conspiracy Bruv!

'It ain't no conspiracy bruv!' George Galloway asks the questions you've all been thinking about Jeffrey Epstein.

Juden in Deutschland: „Kippa tragen auf deutschen Straßen ist gefährlich“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Bespuckt, beschimpft oder verletzt: In den letzten Wochen gab es mehrere antisemitische Angriffe in Deutschland. Gady Gronich, Generalsekretär der Europäischen Rabbinerkonferenz zeigt sich besorgt – und fordert Prävention an Schulen.

Herr Gronich, wie reagieren in Deutschland lebende Juden auf die steigende Zahl antisemitischer Angriffe?

Die Angst nimmt spürbar zu. Juden in Deutschland sind sehr besorgt, denn antisemitische Angriffe werden mehr und mehr zur Normalität. Wenn ein Gläubiger mit Kippa auf die Straße geht, muss er sich immer wieder umdrehen und schauen, ob ihn jemand verfolgt. Wer offen als Jude erkennbar ist, kann plötzlich in Gefahr geraten.

Ein Problem ist auch, dass die Angriffe Nachahmern Mut machen. Besonders, wenn sie sehen, dass die Strafen nur gering ausfallen. Viele Juden fühlen sich in Deutschland zuhause, doch was ihnen fehlt ist das Gefühl von Sicherheit und die Möglichkeit ihre Religion frei ausüben zu können. » | von Nadine Graf | Freitag, 16. August 2019

Trump Tweets, Then Netanyahu Bans Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from Israel

Jim Zogby and Phyllis Bennis discuss the Trump-Netanyahu dynamic, the diminishing power of AIPAC, and the political battle against Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib

L’Allemagne face au risque d’une terreur brune

LE MONDE: Editorial. Face à l’inquiétante hausse des violences liées à l’extrême droite, qui ciblent les élus et les étrangers, Angela Merkel se doit d’agir.

L’Allemagne avait été stupéfaite en apprenant la mort, le 2 juin, de Walter Lübcke, préfet de l’arrondissement de Kassel (Hesse), tué d’une balle dans la tête sur sa terrasse. Sur les réseaux sociaux, plusieurs comptes proches de l’extrême droite s’étaient réjouis de la disparition de ce chrétien-démocrate de 65 ans qui, en 2015, avait résolument soutenu la politique d’accueil des réfugiés décidée par Angela Merkel. Un suspect est aujourd’hui en détention provisoire : il s’agit d’un néonazi de 45 ans déjà emprisonné dans les années 1990 pour avoir fait exploser une bombe devant un foyer d’étrangers. » | Éditorial | jeudi 15 août 2019

Trumps Sicherheitsberater: Der mit dem großen Hammer

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die amerikanische Regierung würde einen harten Brexit „begeistert“ unterstützen, verkündet Trumps Sicherheitsberater John Bolton. Es macht einen fassungslos, wie ein solcher Mann an das Ohr des Präsidenten gelangen konnte.

John Bolton sitzt an einer Schlüsselstellung im amerikanischen Machtapparat. Er ist Sicherheitsberater des Präsidenten und damit für Fragen von Krieg und Frieden nicht ganz unbedeutend. Bolton ist Nationalist vom Scheitel bis zur Sohle, einer, dem die Unbegrenztheit amerikanischer Macht über alles geht und für den Verträge, welche die Handlungsfreiheit der Vereinigten Staaten einhegen könnten, des Teufels sind. Wo ein Nagel ist, also ein Problem, ist der amerikanische Hammer das Werkzeug der Wahl; wo kein Nagel ist, auch.

John Bolton hatte auch in der Regierung von George W. Bush hohe Ämter bekleidet. Und auch schon damals war er dadurch aufgefallen, dass er die EU verabscheut – aus ideologischen Gründen und weil ja nicht auszuschließen war, dass diese EU gegenüber den Vereinigten Staaten „frech“ werden könnte, dass sie stark werden und ihre Interessen gegenüber Amerika selbstbewusst vertreten würde. Widerworte – das ist nicht das, was Bolton von „Europa“ erwartet, sondern Gefolgschaft. » | Ein Kommentar von Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger \ Dienstag, 15. August 2019

Jeffrey Epstein Kept Super Creepy Painting of Bill Clinton in Manhattan Townhouse

The searches of Jeffrey Epstein’s homes and his private island were bound to uncover some seriously bizarre items, but the painting of Bill Clinton that Epstein had hanging in his Manhattan townhouse might already be the weirdest thing. The oil painting features Bill Clinton sitting in a chair, pointing at the artist while wearing a blue dress and high heels. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins attempts to make sense of the painting and why Epstein had it in the first place.

No Chance of US-UK Deal If Northern Ireland Peace At Risk - Pelosi

THE GUARDIAN: Senior US politician says Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil Good Friday agreement

There is no chance that a trade agreement between the United States and Britain will pass Congress if Brexit undermines the Good Friday peace agreement between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has said.

“Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday agreement, including the seamless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland,” Pelosi said. » | Staff and agencies | Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Jailed Saudi Feminist Refuses to Deny Torture to Secure Release

THE GUARDIAN: Loujain al-Hathloul will not retract electric shock and sexual assault claims, family says

The prominent Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has rejected a proposal to secure her release from prison in exchange for a video statement denying reports she was tortured in custody, her family said.

Hathloul was arrested more than a year ago with at least a dozen other women’s rights activists as Saudi Arabia ended a ban on women driving cars, which many of the detainees had long campaigned for.

Some of the women appeared in court earlier this year to face charges related to human rights work and contacts with foreign journalists and diplomats, but the trial has not convened in months.

The case has drawn global criticism and provoked anger in European capitals and the US Congress after the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents inside the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate last year.

Rights groups say at least three of the women, including Hathloul, were held in solitary confinement for months and subjected to abuse including electric shocks, flogging and sexual assault. » | Reuters | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Tom Watson Urges Labour to Work with Lib Dems to Stop No-deal Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Labour deputy leader says union with Jo Swinson only way to block no-deal Brexit

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has urged his party to work with the Liberal Democrats in order to stop a no-deal Brexit, as the party’s new leader Jo Swinson made clear she would work with Watson, despite having ruled out an alliance with Jeremy Corbyn.

The remarks by the two senior politicians at a round table on Wednesday are likely to spark anger from the Labour leadership. Swinson has previously ruled out working with the Labour leader, branding him a Brexiter who could not be trusted to fight for a second referendum to keep the UK in the EU. » | Jessica Elgot | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Lili'uokalani – Hawaii's Last Queen | Documentary Excerpt

WIKIPEDIA: Queen Lili'uokalani »

THE PALACE: Iolani Palace »

7 Remarkable Things About Khadija, Wife of Prophet Muhammad

FAIR OBSERVER°: Khadija was one of history’s most remarkable women.

I often get into debates with people about women in Islam. How we dress. How we don’t dress. What we think or don’t think or should be thinking.

I also get into debates about feminism. What it is and what it isn’t. I think I’ve spawned permanent foes because I don’t care to apply the label, feminist, to describe myself. (I’m not one for labels, sorry. But if it’s even required of me, “Muslim woman” suits me just fine.)

But if we could agree for a moment that there exists a pure definition of the word feminist — to mean awesomely fierce to the millionth degree — then I’d like to introduce you to Islam’s first feminist: Khadija bint Khuwaylid.

Khadija was the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And she is one of the people I think about when I face or debate issues surrounding women today. Khadija’s existence precedes mine by more than 1,400 years. But if I can, at the very least, continuously strive to emulate her character, I will consider myself a success in life.

Seven things you might not know about the awesomely fierce Khadija (may God be pleased with her): » | Yasmina Blackman | Thursday, April 23, 2015

Sir Winston Churchill 's Family Feared He Might Convert to Islam

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The discovery of a letter to Sir Winston Churchill from his future sister-in-law has thrown new light on his fascination with Islam and Muslim culture

He is indelibly associated with the fight to preserve Britain and its Empire from Nazi invasion and his subsequent denouncement of Soviet totalitarianism’s Iron Curtain.

In the public eye, Sir Winston Churchill’s long political career earned him a place among the greatest of Britons.

But what may come as a surprise is that he was a strong admirer of Islam and the culture of the Orient — such was his regard for the Muslim faith that relatives feared he might convert.

The revelation comes with the discovery of a letter to Churchill from his future sister-in-law, Lady Gwendoline Bertie, written in August 1907, in which she urges him to rein in his enthusiasm.

In the letter, discovered by Warren Dockter, a history research fellow at Cambridge University, she pleads: “Please don’t become converted to Islam; I have noticed in your disposition a tendency to orientalise [fascination with the Orient and Islam], Pasha-like tendencies, I really have.”

Lady Gwendoline, who married Churchill’s brother Jack, adds: “If you come into contact with Islam your conversion might be effected with greater ease than you might have supposed, call of the blood, don’t you know what I mean, do fight against it.” » | Patrick Sawer | Sunday, December 28, 2014

John Bolton Doesn’t Want a Trade Deal with the UK – He Wants to Colonise Us

THE GUARDIAN: Trump’s national security adviser wants the UK to be beholden to the US for its daily bread, making the country a timid American outpost

John Bolton doesn’t do free trade. He does regime change in countries such as North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba. He does military interventions, notoriously in Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011. He does punitive sanctions and embargoes. He does spite.

Bolton’s speciality is tearing up multilateral agreements, such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, which he claims undermine US national sovereignty. For the same reason, he reviles the very idea of the UN, international law and the international criminal court (ICC).

So when Bolton, whose actual job is national security adviser to Donald Trump, came to London this week to meet Boris Johnson and senior ministers, the real focus of his visit, despite the Whitehall briefings, was not on a post-Brexit bilateral trade deal. It was on regime change in the UK. Bolton, a lifelong neoconservative ideologue, Muslim-baiting thinktanker and erstwhile Fox News commentator, does not give a hormone-filled sausage or chlorine-rinsed chicken wing for a free trade pact, fair or otherwise. Midwest wheat and soya exports are not his thing. What Bolton really does care about is exploiting the UK’s recent governmental upheaval, which almost anywhere else would be described as a rightwing coup, to America’s, and Trump’s, advantage. In short, the former colonies are out to colonise the UK. » | Simon Tisdall | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 13, 2019

Of Course the US Supports a No Deal – It Makes a Minnow Out of Britain

THE GUARDIAN: After Trump security adviser John Bolton’s visit it’s clear the price of US backing will be paid both in trade and foreign policy

If you thought it was bad enough when Donald Trump held a reluctant Theresa May’s hand, then look away now. For things are about to get sweatier.

The president’s clammy embrace of the British right continued this week with the arrival of his national security adviser John Bolton in London, to declare the most isolationist US regime in living memory would “enthusiastically” support a no-deal Brexit.

A weakened country, desperate for a trade deal and in no position to refuse Donald Trump’s demands not just to lower our stringent standards or hamstring our car industry but on foreign policy too? Step right this way, sir! No wonder Bolton talks of us being at the front of the queue for trade talks, a line every bit as clearly crafted to help Downing Street as President Obama’s suggestion during the 2016 referendum that Brexit would push us to the back of it. And if these presidents can’t both be right, then arguably neither can the two very different British Conservative administrations responsible for ghostwriting their respective lines. » | Gaby Hinsliff | Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Special Report: Death of Jeffrey Epstein

Manila Chan (in for Rick Sanchez) anchors a special newscast on the apparent suicide of infamous pedophile and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. RT America’s Trinity Chavez reports on the latest twist in the Epstein saga. Then Mike Papantonio, host of “America’s Lawyer,” shares his expertise. RT America’s John Huddy discusses Epstein’s personal history, his association with Donald Trump and his mysterious private island in the Caribbean. RT America’s Michele Greenstein breaks down the timeline of the struggle to bring Epstein to justice and analyst Steve Malzberg addresses the media coverage of Epstein’s trial and sudden death. Finally attorney and conservative commentator Rory Riley-Topping weighs in on Epstein’s many victims.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 12, 2019

British Diplomats to Pull Out from EU Decision-making Meetings within Days

THE GUARDIAN: Critics say No 10 move to quit bloc’s institutional structures leaves UK blindsided

British diplomats will pull out from the EU’s institutional structures of power in Brussels within days, under plans being drawn up by Downing Street.

In an attempt to reinforce the message that the UK is leaving the EU by 31 October, “do or die”, the UK will stop attending the day-to-day meetings that inform the bloc’s decision-making.

The move under discussion is said by UK officials to be in line with Boris Johnson’s first statement in the House of Commons, in which he said he would “unshackle” British diplomacy from EU affairs.

Critics have countered that the symbolic walkout would merely leave the UK blindsided on decisions and ultimately damage the national interest.

…

“Haughty grandstanding like this undermines our place in the world and will be treated as a snub by our European neighbours and allies, who we should be working with to address shared challenges.

“Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill would be appalled by this short-sightedness. We should be leading in Europe, not undermining our own interests.

“To be outside the room while our shared security interests are being discussed shows weakness and pettiness, not strength. Brexit is not inevitable; this national humiliation must end alongside this rotten Conservative government.” » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Monday, August 12, 2019

Winston Churchill | A Giant in the Century [With Spanish Subtitles]

US Security Adviser in Britain to Discuss Iran, Huawei – and Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: John Bolton expected to urge tougher UK stance towards Tehran and Chinese firm

John Bolton, Donald Trump’s national security adviser, has arrived in London for talks at which he is expected to urge Britain to toughen its stance on Iran and Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei.

As the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union on 31 October, many diplomats expect London to become increasingly reliant on the United States.

Bolton arrived on Sunday night and will hold talks on Monday and Tuesday. They will include a heavy focus on Brexit, reflecting the Trump White House’s attempts to solidify ties with Boris Johnson’s new government after Trump’s strained relationship with his predecessor Theresa May.

The hardliner is expected to urge British officials to align policy on Iran more closely with that of Washington, which has pressured Tehran with an increase in sanctions after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. » | Reuters | Sunday, August 11, 2019

B-off back to the States, Mr. Bolton, you're not wanted or needed here! – Mark Alexander

Fascist Anthem Played as Bullfighting Returns to Mallorca

THE GUARDIAN: Far-right Vox leader shows support while animal welfare activists protest

Hundreds of animal rights activists protested outside the bullring in Palma de Mallorca at the weekend as bullfighting returned to the island for the first time since it was outlawed in 2017.

Around 400 protestors chanted: “It’s not art, it’s torture” and “No to bullfighting”, while inside the ring 12,000 people waited to watch some of Spain’s top toreros (bullfighters) enter the ring.

Bullfight supporters chanted: “Freedom” while the arena’s loudspeaker system drowned out the protesters, first with the song Viva España, and then a rendition of the banned fascist anthem Cara al Sol (Facing the Sun). » | Stephen Burgen in Barcelona | Sunday, August 11, 2019

Ireland Tells Boris Johnson There Will Be No Backstop Renegotiation

THE GUARDIAN: Irish government says there is no prospect of rethink in Brexit stalemate

The Brexit stalemate looks set to continue after the Irish government said the backstop would not be up for renegotiation at a planned meeting between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar.

The two prime ministers will meet early next month but a spokesman for Varadkar said there was no prospect of a rethink on the most contentious part of the withdrawal agreement.

Johnson has been invited by the taoiseach to Dublin with “no preconditions” but the Irish government is keen to avoid any ambiguity. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Sunday, August 11, 2019

Heseltine: Imposing No-deal Brexit 'Intolerable' Attack on Democracy

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Large’ number of Tory MPs set to vote against party, which would also lose ground to Lib Dems

The Conservatives will lose significant votes to the Liberal Democrats or other remain parties if they force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of parliament, the party stalwart Lord Heseltine has warned.

Imposing a no-deal departure without MPs’ consent was “an intolerable position for democracy”, the former deputy prime minister, who is heavily critical of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s lead adviser and Brexit enforcer, said.

“It is absolutely central that parliament should be able to call to account people who represent them as ministers, and at the moment we’re being told by a particular figure, who’s proud of it, that he’s more or less running the show,” Heseltine said on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show.

In response, the policing minister, Kit Malthouse, a longtime ally of Johnson, accused Heseltine of being among ageing Conservative figures who had “never quite reconciled themselves to the idea” of Brexit.

Heseltine, whose near-30 year frontbench career culminated in him serving as deputy PM under John Major, has been a persistent critic of Brexit and lost the Conservative whip after saying he had voted Lib Dem in the European elections in May.

In a joint comment piece in the Sunday Times with the Labour peer Betty Boothroyd, Heseltine argued a no-deal departure would be a “grotesque act of national self-harm”. » | Peter Walker, Political correspondent | Sunday, August 11, 2019

Caesar’s Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus – Official Version

Children of Abraham: Part Three | Religious History Documentary | Timeline

Children of Abraham: Part Two | Religious History Documentary | Timeline

New Documents Reveal Blurred Lines with US & Saudi Arabia Relationship

Via America’s Lawyer: Mike Papantonio and RT Correspondent Brigida Santos walk us through a report published by the House Committee of Oversight & Government Reform, which details how President Trump and close allies have lobbied for nuclear technology transfer to Saudi Arabia IRRESPECTIVE of non-proliferation rules. This harrowing report shows a clear prioritization of profit over the safety & security of American citizens.

Coca-Cola Advert for Gay Tolerance Prompts Boycott Call in Hungary

Advertisements by Coca-Cola that promote gay acceptance have prompted a boycott call from a senior member of the Hungary’s right-wing ruling party.


THE NEW YORK TIMES: Coke Ad Riles Hungary Conservatives, Part of Larger Gay Rights Battle » | Marc Santora | Friday, August 9, 2019

Brexit Enforcer Cummings’ Farm Took €235,000 in EU Handouts

THE OBSERVER: Boris Johnson aide accused of hypocrisy over payments

Boris Johnson’s controversial enforcer, Dominic Cummings, an architect of Brexit and a fierce critic of Brussels, is co-owner of a farm that has received €250,000 (£235,000) in EU farming subsidies, the Observer can reveal.

The revelation is a potential embarrassment for the mastermind behind Johnson’s push to leave the EU by 31 October. Since being appointed as Johnson’s chief adviser, Cummings has presented the battle to leave the EU as one between the people and the politicians. He positions himself as an outsider who wants to demolish elites, end the “absurd subsidies” paid out by the EU and liberate the UK from its arcane rules and regulations.

But his critics say the revelation that Cummings has benefited from the system he intends to smash underscores how many British farmers are reliant on EU money that would evaporate if the UK leaves. » | Jamie Doward and Josh Sandiford | Saturday, August 10, 2019

Did Jesus Die on the Cross? | BBC Four Documentary

Jeffrey Epstein Dies after Apparent Suicide in New York Jail

THE GUARDIAN: Wealthy financier, 66, had been accused of sex trafficking and was being held without bail after being arrested on 6 July

Wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein has killed himself at a New York jail, according to authorities in New York and media reports.

“Saturday, August 10, 2019, at approximately 6.30am, inmate Jeffrey Edward Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell … subsequently pronounced dead by hospital staff,” reads a statement from the Metropolitan Correctional Center where Epstein, 66, had been held without bail since his arrest on 6 July on charges of sex trafficking girls as young as 14.

Multiple media reports said Epstein had died by suicide.

Lawyers for several of Epstein’s alleged victims, including Virginia Giuffre, whose depositions detailing her experience as one of the financiers’ “slaves” when she was just 14 years old were released yesterday, called for the investigations into his crimes to continue, despite his death. » | Edward Helmore in New York | Saturday, August 10, 2019

THE GUARDIAN: Who were the rich and powerful people in Jeffrey Epstein's circle? » | Edward Helmore in New York | Saturday, August 10, 2019

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Jeffrey Epstein Dead in Suicide at Manhattan Jail, Officials Say » | William K. Rashbaum, Benjamin Weiser and Michael Gold \ \ Saturday, August 10, 2019

Children of Abraham: Part One | Religious History Documentary | Timeline

In the post 9/11 world, entrenched religious belief is often seen as a key factor in a "clash of civilisations" - Christians, Muslims and Jews locked into an age-old struggle.

In this thought-provoking three-part series, Mark Dowd, a Catholic who trained to be a Dominican Friar, embarks on a very personal journey to the Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey, Bosnia and the USA to explore the shared roots and deep enmities of the three faiths, and to discover if there is hope in a shared future. The prophet Abraham is central to the three great monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Yet, despite these shared origins, and the reconciliatory promise to Abraham that "all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed by you", his descendants have often resembled a squabbling, dysfunctional family. Dowd's journey of discovery is an attempt to grapple with the big questions: Why, if there is one God, are there three so-called monotheistic faiths? Why do some people abuse religion to demonise their enemies while others build bridges to them? And why have the "children of Abraham" often fallen so short of the legacy of unity that was promised to the prophet?

Uncle Hitler | Hitler's Family Documentary | Timeline

THE NEW YORKER: Hitler’s Lost Family » | Timothy W. Ryback | Sunday, July 9, 2000

Wall Street Banks Just Rolled on Trump and His Kids

Major Wall Street banks began handing over volumes of data and documents this week about Donald Trump, his children, his business, and everything he’s ever touched as part of an ongoing investigation in New York State, as well as investigations in the House of Representatives. These documents detail the extensive links between the family and Russian oligarchs, and could potentially reveal evidence of criminal activity. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains what’s happening.

Leonard Cohen – Dance Me to the End of Love

Eric Holder Exposed In Attack On Obama’s Legacy

Via America’s Lawyer: Trial Magazines Editor Farron Cousins joins Mike Papantonio to discuss former attorney general Eric Holder and his sweeping failures to prosecute white-collar crime under President Obama, allowing Wall Street moguls to carry on profiting with total abandon.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 9, 2019

The Crisis of the Modern West

Jacob and Alex begin a series of videocasts with a discussion of the modern West's identity crisis, political and social anomie, as well as the contemporary relevance of Islam and Orthodox Christianity.

Islam and the West

Islam and Western Civilization, Friends or Foes?

Are the core teachings of Islam compatible with Western Civilization? Author Jacob Williams, of First Things, seems to think so.

FIRST THINGS: Why I Became Muslim » | Jacob Williams *

* Jacob Williams is a writer living in London, England.

Fox's Tucker Carlson Calls White Supremacy Problem a Hoax

CNN's Daniel Dale fact checks Fox News host Tucker Carlson's claim that America's white supremacy problem "is a hoax." This claim came after several days of scrutiny of the El Paso suspect's racist views and the forces that may have radicalized him. News outlets have pointed out that some of the anti-immigrant "invasion" language in the manifesto published online shortly before the attack mirrors what is frequently heard on far-right-wing talk shows and websites. And many prominent politicians have warned about the growing threat of white nationalist violence.

What President Donald Trump Was Really Doing During El Paso Visit | The Last Word | MSNBC

While Donald Trump bragged about his crowd size to hospital staff after the shooting in El Paso, the Trump administration was conducting massive ICE raids in Mississippi leaving terrified children in tears and without their parents.

Independence for Scotland Is Inevitable – We Need a Plan for It

THE GUARDIAN: If I were a Scot I’d vote for independence tomorrow. This crisis is Nicola Sturgeon’s opportunity

Ihope Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon realise how much they may yet owe Boris Johnson. If I were a Scot, I would vote for independence tomorrow. I would want nothing more to do with the shambles of today’s Westminster parliament, which goes on holiday for a month during the worst political crisis in a generation. Labour’s John McDonnell is entirely correct to reassure the Scots of their right to secede from the United Kingdom. The supreme civil right is that to self-government, and the inferior tier of a federation is entitled to claim it, not the superior one to permit.

Scotland has now voted itself a separatist Scottish National party local government unchallenged for 12 years. The party is 20 points ahead in the polls, while support for independence has topped 52%, the same percentage that voted for Brexit across the UK in 2016.

Johnson’s sidekick Dominic Cummings this week warned politicians that they “don’t get to choose which votes they respect”. That is exactly what Cummings and Johnson are doing. They are choosing to ignore the Brexit referendum pledge of frictionless trade, and Johnson is refusing to allow Sturgeon a referendum on independence. Sauce for the Brexit goose is sauce for the tartan gander. No wonder Johnson was about as welcome in Edinburgh last week as Donald Trump in El Paso. » | Simon Jenkins | Friday, August 9, 2019

See Ex-Obama Adviser's Blunt Response When Asked about Fox Host

Former national security adviser Susan Rice says white supremacy in the US is a real and growing problem.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 8, 2019

Was Donald Trump Trafficking Cocaine? (w/ David Cay Johnston)

David Cay Johnston points out that in his opinion Donald Trump was in the cocaine trade back in the 1980s. Would this explain his bizarre behavior?

Wall Street Confident That Trump Not Smart Enough To End Trade War

Goldman Sachs circulated a memo to their top investors on Monday warning them that Donald Trump isn’t likely to reach a trade deal with China before the 2020 election, and he certainly won’t end his trade war without that new deal. This means that they have to dig in their heels and expect a major economic downturn as a result of the ongoing trade wars, and they’d also better prepare themselves for a new administration if the dummy in the Oval Office doesn’t wise up. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

We Do Have a Mental Illness Problem & It's In the White House

The Guardian View on British Foreign Policy: The Lost Art of Diplomacy

THE GUARDIAN: Boris Johnson’s cabinet is sulking at Brussels and sycophantic in Washington. Neither approach advances Britain’s interests as it faces Brexit

During the EU referendum campaign Barack Obama warned that Brexit put Britain at risk of relegation as a global trading power. Boris Johnson, then mayor of London, hit back, attributing the US president’s view to “ancestral” dislike of the UK, rooted in “part-Kenyan” heritage. It is not unusual for British politicians to resent being reminded of their country’s junior status in relations with the US (although most manage to express that frustration without nasty racial insinuations). There is no symmetry of clout in the “special relationship”. One side is a superpower, the other is not. Inability to grasp that disparity is a weakness among Eurosceptics. » | Editorial | Wednesday, August 7, 2019

New Rebel Bid to Halt No-deal Brexit amid Fury at PM’s Enforcer

THE GUARDIAN: Alarm is mounting about Dominic Cummings and his willingness to defy parliament

Rebel MPs are working on a plan to thwart Boris Johnson pursuing a no-deal Brexit on 31 October that involves forcing parliament to sit through the autumn recess, amid growing outrage about the power and influence of his controversial aide, Dominic Cummings.

The cross-party group of MPs is looking at legislative options with mounting urgency because of the hardline tactics of Cummings, who one Conservative insider described as running a “reign of terror” in No 10 aimed at achieving Brexit on 31 October at any cost.

Three MPs have told the Guardian that one method under discussion is for members to amend the motion needed for parliament to break for party conferences in mid-September. This could give MPs another three weeks of sitting time to stop a no-deal and potentially open the door for days to be set aside for rebels to control parliamentary business. The ultimate aim would be to pass a bill forcing the government to request an extension to article 50 from Brussels. » | Rowena Mason and Jessica Elgot | Thursday, August 8, 2019

World Exclusive: Dubai Royal Insider Breaks Silence on Escaped Princesses | 60 Minutes Australia

For the first time, Dubai royal family member and palace insider, Marcus Essabri, exposes what life is like inside the royal family. In a world exclusive interview with 60 Minutes, he says the freedoms of women are severely restricted, and there are torturous consequences for those who dare to defy those in power.

How Sanctions Affect Iran... in Five Objects – BBC News

It's a year since President Donald Trump began re-imposing sanctions on Iran, three months after announcing the US was withdrawing from the landmark nuclear deal. The Trump administration has called these "the toughest ever" sanctions imposed on the country. It says they are only aimed at the government, not ordinary Iranians. But sanctions are affecting day-to-day life in Iran and these five items help explain the impact. Produced by Elise Wicker, Camelia Sadeghzadeh and Derrick Evans; art direction by Alice Grenié; executive production by Charlie Newland

Police Break Down Door of Bahrain Embassy in UK after Roof Protester ‘Threatened’

Moosa Mohammed was so keen to protest the imminent execution of two men in Bahrain last month that he climbed onto the roof of the Bahraini embassy in London to unfurl a banner.

Then, as other protestors and police watched from below, the embassy staff appeared to struggle with him. In an unprecedented move police broke in and arrested him. He claims the Bahrainis threatened his life, the Bahrainis say that's ridiculous and claim they called the police fearing a terrorist attack. Mr Mohammed has spoken to our Senior Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Israel who has been investigating what really happened.

'You're Not Welcome Here': Trump Faces Backlash over Ohio and Texas Visits

Donald Trump will receive a frosty reception when he arrives in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday afternoon, three days after the cities were struck by mass shootings. A gunman who invoked the language of white supremacy killed 22 people when he attacked an El Paso Walmart. Local politicians have linked the shooting to Trump's rhetoric about immigrants. The president could also face protests in Dayton, where another gunman killed nine, over his failure to change gun control legislation.

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Do something’: protesters greet Trump as he visits Dayton and El Paso » | Sabrina Siddiqui in Washington and Edward Helmore in New York | Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Unter den Linden vor Ort - Die Wannseekonferenz und der geplante Massenmord

Dieses Programm wurde im TV So. 22.01.17 als "Deportation, Ghetto, Vernichtung - die Wannseekonferenz und der geplante Massenmord" ausgestrahlt.

Michaela Kolster diskutiert mit ihren Gästen Julius H. Schoeps (Historiker und Gründungsdirektor Moses Mendelssohn Zentrum für europäisch-jüdische Studien) und Prof. Peter Longerich (Historiker).

Die Wannseekonferenz vom 20. Januar 1942 gilt gemeinhin als der Ausgangspunkt für die von Nazi-Deutschland organisierte Vernichtung der Juden in Deutschland und Europa. In einer Villa am Berliner Wannsee kamen seinerzeit 15 hochrangige Vertreter des NS-Regimes und der SS zusammen, um unter dem Vorsitz von Reinhard Heydrich den Holocaust an den Juden im Detail zu koordinieren.

Allerdings hatte die Deportation jüdischer Bürger aus dem Deutschen Reich und den besetzen Gebieten und die Errichtung jüdischer Ghettos schon deutlich früher begonnen – wenn auch nicht in den „geordneten“ Bahnen, die die Konferenz nun festlegte.

Welchen Stellenwert hat die Wannseekonferenz in der Genese des Holocausts nach neuester Forschung? Was macht die Einzigartigkeit dieses Völkermordes aus? Und wer waren die entscheidenden Köpfe hinter dem organisierten Massenmord?

2020 Dems Say Donald Trump’s Rhetoric Shares Blame For Shootings | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

President Trump is deflecting criticism and condemning the mass shootings that occurred over the weekend, but instead of being asked what actions he plans to make, some are asking: did his words contribute to the carnage? Stephanie Ruhle analyzes the president’s rhetoric amid all of this tragedy. Weighing in: Washington Post Bureau Chief Philip Rucker, PBS Newshour National Correspondent Amna Nawaz, former Deputy Labor Secretary under President Obama Chris Lu, the Storm Lake Times’ Art Cullen, journalist Ron Fournier, and New York Times op-ed columnist Bret Stephens.

El Paso Residents To Donald Trump: “You Are Not Welcome Here” | The Last Word | MSNBC

Organizations from around El Paso are calling on the president to not visit their community in the wake of the mass shooting there. That sentiment was echoed by Rep. Veronica Escobar, who said that victims in the hospital told her to tell the president not to come. Lawrence discusses with J.J. Martinez, Richard Parker, and Maria Teresa Kumar.

Gove Says EU ‘Refusing to Negotiate’ on Brexit

The government says it does still want to negotiate a new Brexit deal with the EU. But the minister in charge of no deal preparations, Michael Gove, says Brussels isn't interested.

'John Bolton Tried to Assassinate Me': Interview with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal sits down with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. We discuss the plots to kill him, US sanctions on food distribution, corruption allegations, and the corporate media's industrial grade demonization campaign against him and his elected government.

Trump Has Run 2,200 Facebook Ads Featuring The Word “Invasion”

Donald Trump is still refusing to own up to his role in spreading hate across the country and the deadly consequences that this language has, but a new analysis by Media Matters has found that his campaign has used the word “invasion” in at least 2,200 Facebook ads in the past year. That same word is being used by Fox News today and we have seen what happens as a result of this. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

White Nationalist Terror Attack in El Paso Was Not an Isolated Incident

Gerald Horn and Arun Gupta outline the history of white terror in America and what its modern manifestation means for our future

Amanpour Clashes with Conway over Trump's Rhetoric

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, counselor to President Trump Kellyanne Conway would not commit to the President toning down his rhetoric on Twitter and at his rallies. The conversation took place following a deadly mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, after police say a 21-year-old white supremacist suspected of carrying out the deadly shooting wanted to stop a "Hispanic invasion of Texas," according to a political document police believe he wrote.

Joe: US Must Show Donald Trump White Supremacy A Dead-End Road | Morning Joe | MSNBC

The Morning Joe panel discusses the lack of Republican response to the latest tragic shootings and what will encourage Donald Trump to change his anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Ivanka Trump Condemns White Supremacy – But Her Actions Tell Another Story

THE GUARDIAN: The president’s daughter said on Sunday that white supremacy is evil, but she has helped sanitise her father’s racist rhetoric

Ivanka Trump is very concerned that the US may have a white supremacist problem. On Sunday, as the country reeled from two mass shootings that killed at least 31 people, she implored her fellow Americans not just to pray for the victims, but to “raise our voices in rejection of these heinous and cowardly acts of hate, terror and violence”. She further tweeted: “White supremacy, like all other forms of terrorism, is an evil that must be destroyed.”

I had to sit down in shock after reading that tweet. The unthinkable had happened; for the first time in my life, I agreed with Ivanka. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the first daughter for bravely pointing out the obvious: white supremacy is terrorism. I would also like to point out the obvious: if Ivanka gave a damn about the rise of white supremacy, she could stroll over to her father’s office and have a word with him. She might suggest, for example, that Trump stop using the term “invasion” to describe asylum seekers and migrants. She might suggest that he not refer to Mexicans as “rapists”. She might suggest that he stop telling congresswoman of colour to “go back” to their countries. » | Arwa Mahdawi | Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Jair Bolsonaro Says Criminals Will 'Die Like Cockroaches' under Proposed New Laws

THE GUARDIAN: Brazil’s president calls for security forces and citizens who shoot alleged offenders to be shielded from prosecution

Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has said he hopes criminals will “die in the streets like cockroaches” as a result of hard-line legislation he is pushing to shield security forces and citizens who shoot alleged offenders from prosecution. In an interview broadcast on Monday, Bolsonaro said he hoped Congress would approve his controversial plans to expand the so-called excludente de ilicitude – an article in Brazil’s criminal code that makes some normally illegal acts permissible. » | Tom Phillips, Latin America correspondent | Tuesday, August 6, 2019

'Trump Is on a Collision Course with Himself': Robert Malley on US Policy in the Middle East

"The Middle East is both the most polarised region in the world - meaning you have all these divisions, all these axes - but also the most integrated, which means that what happens in Syria matters to Saudi Arabia, matters to Iran, matters to Israel," says Middle East analyst and former Obama-administration adviser, Robert Malley. "And so you cannot have an uprising that simply lives on, on its own."

Formerly a White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf Region, Malley now heads leading think-tank, the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Under Barack Obama, Malley was part of the team that crafted the Iran nuclear deal - the one Donald Trump's White House then withdrew from in 2018, calling it "defective".

"His [Trump's] criticisms are either deliberately dishonest, or he hasn't read the deal or he doesn't know what's in it," Malley tells Al Jazeera.

He says Trump decided to withdraw from the deal to get a better deal and to curb Iran's behaviour in the region. But "what have we seen a year later? Iran is now itself moving away from the deal, so its nuclear activities are worse than they were under the deal."

"It could well lead to a war that I am profoundly convinced the president doesn't want," he says. "But I think he [Trump] is on a collision course with himself because his policies - whether he is aware of it or not - are leading towards the possibility of military confrontation that his instincts oppose."

Under the Obama administration, the US also got involved in Saudi's war in Yemen. In April, Malley wrote in the Atlantic: "For an American who had a hand in shaping US Mideast policy during the Barack Obama years, coming to Yemen has the unpleasant feel of visiting the scene of a tragedy one helped co-write."

He tells Al Jazeera that despite the US having "huge reservations", they agreed to get involved in the Yemen conflict in 2015 to support an ally, Saudi Arabia. "The feeling was we can't afford another rupture with Saudi Arabia - which could be a major one - after coming in the wake of the Iran negotiations. So the president [Obama] had this view of, we can help Saudi Arabia defend its security, defend its borders, defend its territorial integrity while trying not to get too involved in the war with the Houthis," he says.

"But in a way that was getting half pregnant. Because once you support Saudi Arabia - once you support the Saudi-led coalition - support is fungible. And the US became complicit in what today the United Nations says is the worst humanitarian crisis we face. So this is a case of tragedy in which US fingerprints are very present."

On US interests elsewhere in the region, Malley feels "the world is spending too much time talking about this 'deal of the century'" that Trump has proposed to solve the Israel-Palestinian crisis.

"We know that if and when this is put on the table, the Palestinians will say no," he says." Because even if it's slightly better than people expect, it's going to be far less than what President Clinton proposed to the Palestinians in 2000, less than what was on offer during the George W Bush presidency, less than what was on offer for the Palestinians during the Barack Obama presidency, so there is no way they are going to say yes.

"The gaps between the parties on the central issues of identity, of territory, of refugees, of security, of settlements, all those gaps are very wide. And it will take ... a very strong third party to try to get the parties where they need to go," Malley says.

Although he believes the two-state solution is "still the best possible outcome" for the region, he concedes that it's becoming harder to see it as the most realistic option.

"It's pretty easy today to say that the two-state solution is more and more a thing of the past," he says. "It's not very easy to say what's a thing of the present or the future."

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 5, 2019