'Culture of Fear' Claims as Javid Confronts PM over Adviser's Sacking

THE GUARDIAN: Dominic Cummings tells advisers he’s ‘pissed off’ about briefings on pay and gender balance – report

A furious Sajid Javid confronted Boris Johnson on Friday and demanded an explanation of why his media adviser was sacked without his knowledge, amid claims that a deep “culture of fear” has taken hold within the government.

Sonia Khan, Javid’s media adviser, was escorted from No 10 by an armed police officer after a meeting with Johnson’s top strategist, Dominic Cummings, in which she was accused of being dishonest about her contact with the former chancellor Philip Hammond and one of his ex-advisers, who have been trying to block a no-deal Brexit.

Khan is the second adviser working for the chancellor to be sacked by No 10. She is also the fourth young woman in a month to be axed from the prime minister’s network of advisers and senior staffers. » | Kate Proctor, Political correspondent | Friday, August 30, 2019

Lord Heseltine: No Deal Brexit a 'Grotesque Act of National Self-harm'

Lord Heseltine tells Sky News that there is "no parliamentary majority for what this government is preparing to do".

One on One: Omar Suleiman

TRT World’s Abubakr Al-Shamahi speaks to Omar Suleiman, an imam from America, about the rise of xenophobia in the United States, religion and social activism and what it means to be an American Muslim under the current administration.

Is a No-deal Brexit Inevitable? | Inside Story

British MPs are crying foul after the Prime Minister suspended parliament just weeks before Brexit. Some members of Boris Johnson's own party have resigned, while others are calling the move "undemocratic" and a "political coup".

The suspension leaves politicians with little time to prevent the UK leaving the European Union in October without a deal. The government denies it's trying to limit debate. But with Brexit only two months away, is a no-deal exit now inevitable?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Asa Bennett - Brexit Commissioning Editor at the Telegraph; Pieter Cleppe - Head of the Brussels Office at the Open Europe think tank; Jonathan Lis - Deputy Director of British Influence

Trump Ends Birthright Citizenship for Children of Troops Overseas

Donald Trump’s administration is once again flouting the law in order to appease their base. The administration has now ended birthright citizenship to children born overseas to members of the military and US officials stationed outside the country. These children, under law, are US citizens, but not in the eyes of the Trump administration, and they will now have to go through the standard immigration process and apply for citizenship. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Brexit : l’« outrage constitutionnel » de Boris Johnson

LE MONDE: Editorial. Le premier ministre britannique ne trompe personne : ce qu’il veut en réalité à travers la suspension du parlement, c’est empêcher les députés de s’organiser pour faire échec à un Brexit sans accord avec l’Union.

Editorial du « Monde ». Il y a plusieurs Boris Johnson. Il y a le pur produit de l’élite britannique, qu’il est intrinsèquement. Il y a le bouffon, qui a fait rire de bon cœur lorsqu’il était maire de Londres. Il y a le menteur, qui n’a pas hésité à faire campagne pour le Brexit en 2016 sur des arguments fallacieux. Il y a le dilettante, chef de la diplomatie de passage dans le gouvernement de Theresa May. Il y a l’homme d’Etat courtois et responsable que l’on a vu au G7 à Biarritz.

Et puis il y a le premier ministre populiste, cynique et brutal, décidé à tout, y compris à forcer la reine à suspendre la démocratie parlementaire britannique, pour parvenir à ses fins : faire sortir le Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne le 31 octobre. Cette sortie se ferait « coûte que coûte », avait-il promis en prenant ses fonctions. » | Editorial | jeudi 29 août 2019

Why Comparisons between Boris Johnson and Charles I Aren’t Just Lazy Rhetoric

THE GUARDIAN: He may not be the absolutist king, but Johnson is isolated and autocratic – and we’ve seen that before

When a prime minister who hasn’t faced a general election gains the assent of an unelected monarch to prorogue parliament, it is inevitable that some parallels will be found with Charles I’s dismissal of MPs in the mid-17th century.

Only yesterday, Labour’s Margaret Beckett made exactly the comparison, noting that it didn’t end well. But are there really any similarities, or is this just lazy history and easy rhetoric?

Certainly, in the most famous case of Charles I’s decision to dismiss parliament in 1629, the result was an 11-year dictatorship, decoratively known to history as the “personal rule” – and the imprisonment in the Tower of London of those who opposed him. Presumably not even Dominic Cummings is planning that fate for Jeremy Corbyn.

But while we might not be on the verge of an absolutist King Boris dictatorship, some deeper parallels are worth investigating. » | John Rees | Thursday, August 29, 2019

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

Trump, the NRA, and the Republican Party keep talking about mental illness as the core of our problem right now in America. And, indeed, we have a major mental illness problem in our country right now. It’s in the White House.

Our president is mentally ill, and until we recognize that, acknowledge that, and begin a national conversation about it there can be no solution.

Donald Trump lies, he continuously contradictions himself, and his erratic behavior are all symptoms of his severe mental illness.

Many of America‘s mental health professionals have recognized this, but a serious discussion of the president’s mental illness has not yet moved out of the realm of mental health professionals and into our mainstream discussions.

Sturgeon Likens Suspending Parliament to a 'Dictatorship'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has likened the prorogation of Parliament to a "dictatorship" and says it is reasonable to describe the act as a coup d'état.

The Queen has approved Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament from the middle of next month, which will restrict MPs' ability to block a no-deal Brexit.

In a move prompting a furious political row, parliament will be prorogued in the week beginning 9 September until 14 October.

Trump Pushes Doral for G7, Swats at Bed Bug Infestation Reports | The Beat with Ari Melber | MSNBC

Despite reports of settling a lawsuit in 2017 for bed bugs claims, Trump is pushing his Doral resort for next year’s G-7 summit. Former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance critiques Trump’s 'for profit presidency' saying, Trump continues to use the office 'to advertise for these businesses that create income for him and his family.'

EU Condemns ‘Sinister’ Move to Suspend UK Parliament

THE GUARDIAN: Guy Verhofstadt says five-week suspension unlikely to deliver stable future relationship

European sources have warned that Boris Johnson’s move to suspend parliament for five weeks has increased the chances of a no-deal Brexit, while a leading MEP said: “Taking back control has never looked so sinister.”

The plan to suspend parliament for five weeks, which would drastically reduce MPs’ ability to influence changes to the withdrawal agreement or seek a delay, is seen in Brussels as a move to overpower rebels and force through Johnson’s Brexit agenda.

The European parliament’s coordinator on Brexit, Guy Verhofstadt, said the move was unlikely to deliver a stable future relationship. “‘Taking back control’ has never looked so sinister,” he wrote. “As a fellow parliamentarian, my solidarity with those fighting for their voices to be heard. Suppressing debate on profound choices is unlikely to help deliver a stable future EU-UK relationship.” » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Trump's Instability Threatens to Deprive Him of One of His Arguments Re-Election | Deadline | MSNBC

WaPo’s Phil Rucker, Politico’s Anna Palmer, Real Clear Politics’ A.B. Stoddard, and NPR’s Maria Hinojosa on how Trump’s back and forth on trade has led to global market instability

New Polls: Trump Disapproval Skyrockets in Key States | The Last Word | MSNBC

Donald Trump’s disapproval is now above 50% in Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Ohio. Lawrence discusses with John Heilemann and former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill.

Eugene Robinson: ‘Trump’s Obama Envy Is Getting Even Worse’ | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Eugene Robinson joins Morning Joe to talk about his new op-ed in The Washington Post about Trump’s obsession with comparing himself to President Obama and his behavior at the G-7 meeting.

Cuomo Fact-checks Trump's Claims of Genius

CNN's Chris Cuomo examines President Trump's claims of genius and instances where he says he knows more than anyone on particular subjects.

Americans need to vote Trump out of office – “do or die”! – Mark

How the World Is Moving On from US Leadership | Deadline | MSNBC

NBC and MSNBC’s John Heilemann, Georgetown University’s Elise Labott, former deputy national security advisor for President Obama Ben Rhodes, and former congressman David Jolly on how the other members of the G-7 dealt with Trump at the global summit, as he went out of his way to excuse the actions of some of America’s adversaries

Will Iran Respond to Israel's attacks? | Inside Story

Israel has been blamed for a string of attacks against Iranian-allied forces in three countries over the weekend. That has raised tensions across the Middle East.

Early on Monday, three Israeli air strikes reportedly hit a base belonging to a Palestinian group in Lebanon - in the town of Qusaya, near the border with Syria.

Those attacks came a day after two Israeli drones caused damage in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. One hit a building housing the media office of Iranian-backed Hezbollah in the city's southern suburbs. Another Israeli drone exploded in the air, in the same area. And on Saturday, Israeli forces carried out drone attacks in Iraq and Syria.

One is reported to have killed a fighter from Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces. Israel did not respond to accusations that its assault killed at least one fighter from Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces. But Benjamin Netanyahu says an operation in Damascus which triggered Syrian anti-aircraft fire, was to prevent a drone attack on Israel by Iran.

So, why is Benjamin Netanyahu escalating tension with Tehran?

Presenter: Martine Dennis | Guests: Seth Frantzman, Middle East Analyst for the Jerusalem Post; Mohammad Marandi, Iranian Political Analyst and Professor at University of Tehran; Sami Hamdi, Editor-in-Chief of the National Interest journal

Boris Johnson: Donald Trump 'Out Of His Mind' over Radicalised London Comments (2015)

Science in a Golden Age – Astronomy: The Science of the Stars

Former Fox News Reporter Unloads on Trump’s Embarrassing Conduct | The Beat with Ari Melber | MSNBC

President Trump is heading to France for the G-7 to meet with national allies and wondering what will happen this year. In this video, you’ll see past Trump debacles on the world stage. Former Fox News political reporter Carl Cameron says the visit brings international pressure as “we have to think about our national reputation, worldwide now” as Trump is consider a “world leader” but is not “leading.”