Monday, September 29, 2025

Democracy Now! Zohran Mamdani on Trump's Meddling in Election as Eric Adams Drops Out

Sep 29, 2025 | In an exclusive interview just hours after incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams's decision to end his reelection bid, we sat down with Democratic nominee for mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to lay out his campaign and his vision for an affordable city. We discuss his platform, his support for Palestinian rights and why he identifies as democratic socialist. Mamdani also responds to Adams's decision to drop out, which is expected to help consolidate votes for Mamdani's main opponent, disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "The reason that Donald Trump is seeking to clear the lane for Andrew Cuomo is because he knows that Andrew Cuomo will clear the lane for Donald Trump's agenda," he says.


Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines

September 29, 2025


Democracy Now! can be supported here.

La Russie prévoit d’enrôler 135.000 hommes pour le service militaire

LE FIGARO : Depuis le début de son attaque à grande échelle contre l’Ukraine, en février 2022, l’armée russe assure que ces recrues ne sont pas déployées sur le champ de bataille contre les troupes ukrainiennes et effectuent des tâches subalternes en Russie.

La campagne de conscription militaire d'automne en Russie a pour objectif cette année de recruter 135.000 jeunes hommes âgés de 18 à 30 ans, selon un décret signé lundi 29 septembre par le président Vladimir Poutine. Ces soldats devront être recrutés entre le 1er octobre et le 31 décembre pour effectuer leur service militaire obligatoire, qui dure un an en Russie. Le pays organise chaque année deux campagnes d'enrôlement, l'une au printemps et l'autre à l'automne. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | lundi 29 septembre 2025

Why Finns Are Obsessed with Blueberries

Sep 27, 2025 | Blueberries are more than just a "superfood" in Finland — they’re a national obsession. Thanks to the country’s vast forests and the unique concept of "everyman's right," millions of Finns head out each summer to pick wild blueberries (mustikka) by hand. It’s estimated that up to 20 million kilograms of these antioxidant-rich berries are harvested annually. They end up in everything from breakfast porridge to blueberry pie (mustikkapiirakka), salads, smoothies and ice cream.

Unlike the larger, cultivated varieties such as the American blueberry, Finland’s wild blueberries are smaller, darker and packed with flavor and nutrients. They’re considered a true "superfruit" — high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants — and deeply-rooted in Finnish culinary traditions.


Putin's Recklessness Is Driving Europe to the Brink of ‘War' | Mark Galeotti

Sep 29, 2025 | “The more reckless the Russians are, the greater there is the chance for some kind of miscalculation that spirals upwards.”

Putin’s actions provide a firm reality check on the risk of “conflict escalation” in Europe, as the UK and other European nations may “already be at war with Russia”, says author and Russian Analyst Mark Galeotti.


Moldova’s Election Result Boosts Move Towards EU and Away from Moscow

THE GUARDIAN: Pro-European ruling party win comes after ‘massive pressure from Russia and its proxies’

Moldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.

With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties headed by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website.

Sandu’s PAS party outperformed pre-election polls, which predicted it would stay the largest party but risk losing its majority – a result that could have curbed her push to deliver EU membership within a decade.

The result marks a major victory for Sandu, who has staked her presidency on a pro-European course and accused Russia of deploying unprecedented underhand tactics to sway voters in the impoverished nation squeezed between Ukraine and Romania. » | Pjotr Sauer | Monday, September 29, 2025

Candidate Saikat Chakrabarti on a New Strategy for Returning Democrats to Majority Government.

Sep 29, 2025 | Congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti joins Anthony Davis to discuss strategy for returning Democrats to majority government, reconnect with voters and fill the leadership vacuum needed to counter Trumpism - during this unprecedented period in political history - only on The Weekend Show.


ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Figs in a Glass | My Greek Table with Diane Kochilas

n Chios, a local ritual: the making of Chian firewater, Souma, distilled from fermented figs. In this foray through Chios's traditions, Diane discovers delicious desserts, all part of the table for this feast. Chios is for food lovers, and Diane returns to her kitchen for some great island-inspired dishes. Eggplant pilaf and an aromatic meat-filled omelet are on the menu.

This season, it's Greece's coastal areas and islands. Mykonos shares its agrarian secrets. Tinos, we visited a marble sculptor and made pastels. Paros is about sustainable farming. Naxos is excellent meat and potatoes. Chios, its seductive mastiha and fig liqueur. Messinia, I see a friend's villa and meet up with an ultra-marathoner. The Athenian Riviera is all about international Greek food.


The Orange One

Gavin Newsom gives us the low down on this destructive and damaging man.

Why Trump Is Backing Argentina’s Thatcherite Economics

THE GUARDIAN: While Javier Milei’s shock therapy to tame inflation has won support from Washington and the IMF, ordinary Argentinians seem less impressed

“We’re backing him 100%. We think he’s done a fantastic job. Like us, he inherited a mess.” Donald Trump gave his enthusiastic endorsement to Javier Milei’s radical economic experiment when the pair met in New York last week.

The US has declared itself ready to offer more than rhetorical support to the chainsaw-wielding Argentinian president in the coming days, as Buenos Aires stands on the brink of a fresh financial crisis.

The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said the US was “ready to do what is needed”. He suggested the Federal Reserve could offer Buenos Aires a $20bn (£15bn) dollar swap line – a crucial crisis-fighting tool – or the US could even buy the country’s bonds directly.

US administrations have rallied support for Argentinian governments in the past – Bill Clinton was a fan of Carlos Menem’s 1990s reforms, for example. But Trump’s readiness to wade in directly is the latest example of his determination to use economic tools for political ends: in this case, propping up an ideological ally. » | Heather Stewart | Sunday, September 28, 2025

Russische Drohnen-Angriffe? Am Himmel über Europa tobt eine gefährliche Propagandaschlacht

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Russland testet den Westen mit Drohnen und Kampfjets, heißt es nach Vorfällen in Polen, Estland und Dänemark. Doch so einfach ist es nicht – EU und Nato beuten die Zwischenfälle für ihre Zwecke aus. Eine Kolumne.

Was haben Polen, Estland und Dänemark gemein? Auf den ersten Blick nicht viel. Alle drei Länder gehören zwar zu EU und Nato, doch geografisch und politisch liegen sie weit auseinander. Dennoch werden sie neuerdings oft in einem Atemzug genannt – als Beispiele für den „hybriden Krieg“, den Russland gegen Europa führt.

So glaubt EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen, ein Muster russischer Provokationen zu erkennen. Ob unbekannte Flugobjekte am Flughafen der dänischen Hauptstadt Kopenhagen, russische Kampfjets über der Ostsee bei Estland oder Drohnen in Polen – überall sieht sie den langen Arm von Wladimir Putin. » | Eric Bonse | Samstag, 27. September 2025

„Zeichen einer Wiedergeburt des Nazismus“: Lawrow kritisiert „Militarisierung“ Deutschlands

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Russlands Außenminister Sergej Lawrow wirft Deutschland einen „militaristischen“ Kurs vor. Dabei zieht er einen Vergleich zu Hitler.

Der russische Außenminister Sergej Lawrow hat der Bundesregierung einen „militaristischen“ Kurs vorgeworfen. Russland habe bereits wiederholt seine „sehr tiefen Besorgnisse“ über die „Militarisierung Deutschlands“ zum Ausdruck gebracht, sagte Lawrow am Samstag bei einer Pressekonferenz am Rande der UN-Generaldebatte in New York. Es ließen sich in Deutschland „unverhohlene Zeichen einer Wiedergeburt des Nazismus“ beobachten.

Die Entwicklungen in Deutschland hätten „wahrscheinlich das gleiche Ziel, das Hitler verfolgt hatte“, so der russische Außenminister. Hitler habe „ganz Europa unter seine Kontrolle bringen und der Sowjetunion eine strategische Niederlage zufügen wollen“, heute richteten sich die Ziele gegen Russland, sagte Lawrow weiter. » | AFP, Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 28. September 2025

Keir Starmer promet d’«affronter» le parti de Nigel Farage au Royaume-Uni, avant un congrès travailliste à haut risque

LE FIGARO : Le parti anti-immigration de Nigel Farage, Reform UK, poursuit son ascension dans les sondages, alors que le premier ministre accumule les déboires politiques.

Les travaillistes britanniques commencent à se réunir dimanche à Liverpool pour un congrès annuel à haut risque pour le premier ministre Keir Starmer, de plus en plus contesté dans son camp, qui tentera de convaincre qu’il est capable de mener le «combat» contre le parti anti-immigration de Nigel Farage. Quinze mois seulement après son arrivée au pouvoir, le chef du gouvernement accumule les déboires. L’économie est au ralenti, le chômage à son plus haut en quatre ans, l’immigration illégale bat des records, l’inflation reste plus élevée qu’ailleurs en Europe.

En parallèle, le parti de Nigel Farage, Reform UK, poursuit son ascension dans les sondages, capitalisant sur le rejet de l’immigration d’une partie des Britanniques. «Nous avons devant nous le combat de notre vie, nous devons affronter Reform, nous devons les battre», a martelé Keir Starmer dimanche dans une interview à la BBC. «Ils veulent déchirer ce pays», a-t-il ajouté, jugeant «raciste» et «immoral» leur projet d’obliger les migrants non-européens régularisés à refaire une demande à des conditions plus strictes. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 28 septembre 2025

Nigel Fags’ Britain: Muslim TV Presenter & Comedian Talks about the Increase in Hate Speech He Receives

Sep 28, 2025


Humpty Dumpty is rapidly turning America into a SHITHOLE. Now Nigel Fags wants to turn the UK into a SHITHOLE, too. Don’t let him! Resist at every turn! That man is a bloody menace! — © Mark Alexander

Steve Schmidt: “Donald Trump Is a Fascist”

He is also ”un-American".

The Man Leading Christian Nationalism’s Rise Under Trump | WSJ

Sep 26, 2025 | Pastor Doug Wilson is one of the most prominent advocates for Christian nationalism, the controversial movement to merge church and state. Wilson has spoken at the National Conservatism Conference and opened a branch of his church in Washington D.C., where one of his congregants is Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. But many worry his fringe ideologies are a threat to Democracy. WSJ’s Aaron Zitner sits down with him to discuss his growing influence under President Trump.


What this dude wants to do is turn America into a Christian version of Iran! Why is this crackpot being given the oxygen of publicity? — © Mark Alexander

Er fotografierte das Vernichtungslager in Aktion | Terra X

Sep 28, 2025 | Im Mai 1944 fotografiert SS-Mitglied Bernhard Walter die Ankunft und Ermordung ungarischer Juden in Auschwitz. Fotografieren ist im Konzentrationslager streng verboten. Warum darf Walter, was andere nicht dürfen?

In der Holocaust-Gedenkstätte in Yad Vashem in Israel liegt das "Auschwitz-Album". Es sind die einzig bekannten Fotos, die ein Vernichtungslager in Aktion zeigen. Ein wichtiges Zeugnis des Menschheitsverbrechen der Nationalsozialisten an den europäischen Juden und anderer von ihnen verfolgter Gruppen.

Wer machte die Fotos – und warum? Das blieb lange ein Rätsel. Die Fotos stammen von SS-Mann Bernhard Walter, aufgenommen im Mai 1944. Sie zeigen die "Selektion" einer großen Gruppe ungarischer Juden am Bahnsteig von Auschwitz-Birkenau, direkt nach ihrer Ankunft. Im Rahmen der "Umsiedlung der ungarischen Juden". Eigentlich ist Fotografieren im Lagerbereich streng verboten. Bernhard Walter macht es in diesen Tagen dennoch. Er fotografiert nicht nur Häftlinge, sondern auch die SS-Angehörigen selbst, den Kommandanten von Auschwitz, Rudolf Höß, und den SS-Arzt Josef Mengele, der grausame Experimente an Kindern durchführt. Warum darf Walter, was andere nicht dürfen? Und wie wurde der Fürther Stuckateur überhaupt Fotograf im Vernichtungslager Auschwitz-Birkenau?

Dieses Video ist eine Produktion des ZDF und eine kürzere Fassung der Dokumentation "Ein Tag in Auschwitz" aus 2020.


Are We in the Early Stages of What Historians Will Call WW3?

Sep 27, 2025 | Ben Hodges is a retired United States Army officer, who became commander of United States Army Europe in November 2014, and held that position for three years until retiring from the United States Army in January 2018. Until recently he was the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, specialising in NATO, Transatlantic relationship and international security.

Marxism and Elon Musk | Chris Hedges

Sep 27, 2025 | Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning author and journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times. He has covered numerous wars across the decades, written many books—including America: The Farewell Tour and American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America—and has been involved in work for prisoner advocacy. In this episode, Robinson and Chris discuss Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the rise of American fascism. More particularly, they address comparisons between Trump and Hitler, DOGE, the new crisis for the Democratic Party, Israel and Palestine, the Christian far right, Marxism, and more. Chris’s latest book is A Genocide Foretold (Penguin Random House, 2025).

Trump and Putin Are Carrying Out a Pincer Movement on Europe’s Democracies. Suddenly, It All Feels a Bit 1939

THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: Forget the US president’s seeming volte-face on Ukraine this week: he and Putin fundamentally agree that European liberal democracy is the problem

For many people in eastern Europe, August 1939 may not feel that long ago. That was the moment Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union secretly agreed to partition Poland and forcibly subsume the sovereign Baltic republics and Finland into their totalitarian “spheres of influence”. The world knows what came next.

Now the question arises: is it happening again? This time around, it’s Donald Trump’s United States and Vladimir Putin’s Russia making the big geopolitical power-play – and, once again, all of Europe is potential prey. Notwithstanding last week’s sparring over Ukraine, the two leaders’ core aims appear closely aligned.

Physical subjugation of the European continent is not a Trump objective (unlike, perhaps, in Venezuela, Canada or Greenland). But US efforts to dominate the continent through political interference, ideological subversion, economic blackmail, unregulated big-tech predation and the projection of conservative, Christian nationalist cultural beliefs amount to much the same thing.

Putin’s methods are cruder, yet his agenda mirrors Trump’s. He will not let go of Ukraine. He is intensifying, and leveraging, the Russian military threat, from the Baltic states to the Black Sea, including in Moldova, Romania and Georgia. Russian hybrid warfare – sabotage, cyber-attacks, online trolling and disinformation – is now a fact of daily western European life. » | Simon Tisdall | Sunday, September 28, 2025

Some Europeans Fear Trump Aides Want a Far-Right Takeover: The continent’s leaders have concerns that U.S. officials are pushing for parties that support their views of nationalism and traditional values to come into power. »