Hagia Sophia: Jewel of the Byzantines

A documentary on the grandest Byzantine church of them all: the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Erdogan per Dekret: Hagia Sophia wird wieder Moschee | DW Nachrichten

Seit Tagen hatte der türkische Präsident Erdogan angekündigt, die weltberühmte Hagia Sophia in Istanbul wieder in eine Moschee umzuwandeln. Nun hat das Oberste Verwaltungs-Gericht seinen Wunsch bestätigt. Damit annulierte es eine Entscheidung von 1934. Damals war das Gebäude in ein Museum umgewandelt worden. Als neutrale kulturelle Stätte brachte es den Besuchern seitdem die wechselhafte Geschichte zwischen Christentum und Islam nahe. Wenige Minuten nach der Entscheidung unterzeichnete Erdogan das passende Dekret.

Trump Commutes Roger Stone's Sentence. Here's Why He Did It

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the prison sentence of his longtime friend Roger Stone, who was convicted of crimes that included lying to Congress in part, prosecutors said, to protect the President. The announcement came just days before Stone was set to report to a federal prison in Georgia.

Stone was convicted in November of seven charges -- including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing a congressional committee proceeding -- as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Among the things he misled Congress about were his communications with Trump campaign officials -- communications that prosecutors said Stone hid out of his desire to protect Trump.

Trump's decision to pardon his friend and political adviser is the crescendo of a months-long effort to rewrite the history of the Mueller investigation. This has included selective declassification of intelligence materials, a ramped-up counter-investigation into the origins of the Russia probe and attempts to drop the case against Michael Flynn.

"Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency," said Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary. "There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia."

What Are the Questions for Ghislaine Maxwell? - BBC News

The arrest of Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell has reignited interest in her and her alleged role in Epstein's abuse of minors. She’s facing charges relating to the events of 1994-97, when she was among Epstein’s closest associates. Ros Atkins has taken a look at the many remaining questions for Ghislaine Maxwell, in the latest of his weekly reports for the BBC News YouTube channel.

Turkish Court Rules Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Can Revert to a Mosque | DW News

Turkey's highest administrative court has issued a ruling that paves the way for the government to convert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque. The ruling annulled a 1934 government decree that turned the UNESCO Word Heritage Site, and Istanbul's most iconic landmark, into a museum. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pushed to restore its status as a mosque. He said that international pressure to keep it a museum was a violation of Turkey's national sovereignty. The Russian Orthodox Church has called the move unacceptable.

Arabs in Spain – Award Winning Documentary

Fascinating and beautifully shot documentary which examines the spread of Islam and how its crusaders finally took most of Spain, arriving from Morocco in 711. In one summer the "Arabs had taken half of the peninsular and in five years controlled almost all of the country".

Kanye West Declares He Will Run for US President in 2020

THE GUARDIAN: Rapper uses Independence Day to make announcement, but it’s not clear if he has filed any official paperwork to appear on ballots

Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any weirder, rapper Kanye West declared his candidacy for US president.

The unlikely challenger to Donald Trump – of whom he has been a vocal supporter – and Joe Biden, chose American independence day to make the surprise announcement on Twitter, triggering a social media storm.

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future,” West wrote. “I am running for president of the United States.” » | David Smith in Washington | Sunday, July 5, 2020


Just when you thought America couldn’t get any crazier! From reality TV star to rapper? What a sick joke America has become! – ©Mark

'Step-up Prince Andrew' Says Gloria Allred, Lawyer for Epstein Victims'

Retired Four Star General: ‘In 50 Years I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’ | Deadline | MSNBC

Former National Security Council member General Barry McCaffrey and former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Brett McGurk on why they believe the national security process is broken amid reports the U.S. had intelligence that Russia offered and paid the Taliban bounty to kill U.S. troops. Aired on 6/30/2020.

Maria Ressa, Journalist and CEO of Rappler – BBC HARDtalk

No world leader better epitomises the strong man style of political leadership than President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. One hallmark of his rule? A visceral dislike of scrutiny from the independent media. HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur speaks to journalist Maria Ressa who founded the Rappler news website and has just been convicted of cyber-libel in a case that has raised worldwide concern. Is press freedom being strangled by populist politics?

Europeans' Trust in US as World Leader Collapses during Pandemic

THE GUARDIAN: Many citizens appalled by Donald Trump’s handling of coronavirus crisis, study finds

The coronavirus crisis has caused a dramatic deterioration in the European public perception of the US, extensive new polling reveals.

More than 60% of respondents in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and Portugal said they had lost trust in the United States as a global leader.

A report based on the survey’s findings argues that the shock of the pandemic has “traumatised” European citizens, leaving them feeling “alone and vulnerable”.

In almost every country surveyed, a majority of people said their perception of the US had deteriorated since the outbreak. Negative attitudes of the US were most marked in Denmark (71%) Portugal (70%), France (68%), Germany (65%) and Spain (64%). In France, 46% and in Germany 42% said their view of the US had worsened “a lot” during the pandemic. » | Katherine Butler | Monday, June 29, 2020

America is no longer the real leader of the free world. America is in chaos! Countries in chaos cannot lead effectively, especially when they are led by a president who is inexperienced in matters of international politics. We Europeans should aim for a ‘United States of Europe’ instead. Britain should reverse its decision to leave the European Union and it should become a major player in Europe. Europe needs Britain just as Britain needs Europe. Britain’s destiny lies in Europe, not in America. Brexit was a mad idea then, it is still a mad idea, and it will remain a mad idea! – ©Mark

Iran Issues Arrest Warrant for Donald Trump over Qassem Suleimani Killing

THE GUARDIAN: The leader of the Quds Force was killed in a drone strike in Iraq on 3 January

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump and 35 others over the killing of top general Qassem Suleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency.

The United States killed Suleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, with a drone strike in Iraq on 3 January. Washington accused Suleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Alqasimehr said the warrants had been issued on charges of murder and terrorist action. He said Iran had asked Interpol to issue a “red notice” for Trump and the other individuals the Islamic Republic accuses of taking part in the killing of Suleimani. » | Reuters, Monday, June 29, 2020

Hayes Calls for Trump to Resign: 'Urgent Matter of Public Health, Public Safety’ | All In | MSNBC

Chris Hayes on why Trump must resign: “If this presidency had creditors, the virus' resurgence this week would have been a default event. Only it is not his creditors who are suffering. It is us.” Aired on 06/26/2020.

How Damaging Is John Bolton's Scathing Account of Donald Trump's Presidency?

The publication of John Bolton’s White House memoir has caused a sensation. Jonathan Freedland assesses the lurid claims of cosying up to authoritarian leaders as well as descriptions of ‘stunning’ ignorance
Despite a last-ditch attempt to prevent publication, John Bolton’s tell-all book about his time in Donald Trump’s White House has landed with a bang. He claimed that as well as witnessing ‘stunning’ ignorance from the president, he also saw up close how Trump tried to ingratiate himself with authoritarian leaders, at the expense of the US.

The Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland has been reporting on US politics for years and tells Anushka Asthana that even knowing what we do about the Trump administration, this account still has the ability to shock.

Listen to the podcast here » | Thursday, June 25, 2020

Dr. Gupta: US in the Middle of a Coronavirus Storm

CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta raises the alarm with New Day's Alisyn Camerota over the rising state of the novel coronavirus in the nation.

Phillip Schofield Grills Lady Colin Campbell on Royal 'Gossip' of Prince Harry and Meghan | This Morning

Is Meghan Markle really planning to run for President? Apparently so, according to Lady Colin Campbell’s new book, ‘Meghan and Harry: The Real Story’. Released on Thursday, the controversial ‘expose’ accuses the duchess of tempers, tantrums and ruthless ambition. And it even describes Harry as ‘desperate for love’. Lady C joins us from her castle to tell all, and to respond to claims that her book is purely based on ‘idle gossip’. Broadcast on 23/06/20

Ehrman-Licona Debate on Proving Jesus Rose from Dead

Bart Ehrman flew to Kansas City, Missouri where he debated Christian apologist Mike R. Licona on the topic, "Can Historians Prove that Jesus Rose from the Dead." Is there historical evidence that Jesus rose from the dead? The event took place on February 28, 2008 at 7 p.m. held at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. R. Philip Roberts, the seminary's president and the debate's moderator commented previous of the event, "We are thrilled to have both Bart D. Ehrman and Mike R. Licona on campus addressing the questions many people ask these days. Apologetics, the science of defending the Christian faith, are very important. Our culture is looking for an answer. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Christian community and others to learn if the claims of Christ are defensible."

The debate is discussed in the book "Come Let Us Reason: New Essays in Christian Apologetics" edited by Paul Copan, William Lane Craig. Chapter 9 is written by Michael Licona, which reviews this debate extensively from his perspective.

Bolton Says He Hopes Trump Is 1-term President, Warns Country Imperiled by His Reelection

In New Interview Clip, Bolton Says He Could See 'Evidence' of Obstruction | ABC News

ABC's chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz discusses her interview with former national security adviser John Bolton and shares a new clip from the interview on "This Week."

Bolton Claims Trump Is ‘Stunningly Uninformed’ on Foreign Affairs

The former national security adviser tells Martha Raddatz that intelligence briefings did not occur daily during his time in the White House.

‘Unbelievable Scenes’: Hundreds of Party-goers Clash with Police, Loot Shops in German City

German authorities expressed shock Sunday over a rampage of an "unprecedented scale" overnight in the city centre of Stuttgart, where hundreds of party-goers ran riot, attacking police and plundering stores after smashing shop windows.

Will Trump Drag the World into WW3 in 2020? | Kalima Horra on Al Mayadeen

Trump Rally Fizzles as Attendance Falls Short of Campaign’s Expectations

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election bid sputtered badly as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months but found a small crowd and delivered a disjointed speech.

TULSA, Okla. — President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election campaign sputtered badly on Saturday night as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months and found a far smaller crowd than his aides had promised him, then delivered a disjointed speech that did not address the multiple crises facing the nation or scandals battering him in Washington.

The weakness of Mr. Trump’s drawing power and political skills, in a state that voted for him overwhelmingly and in a format that he favors, raised new questions about his electoral prospects for a second term at a time when his poll numbers were already falling. And rather than speak to the wide cross-section of Americans who say they are concerned about police violence and systemic racism, he continued to use racist language, describing the coronavirus as “Kung Flu.”

While the president’s campaign had claimed that more than a million people had sought tickets for the rally, the 19,000-seat BOK Center was at least one-third empty during the rally. A second, outdoor venue was so sparsely attended that he and Vice President Mike Pence both canceled appearances there. » | Michael D. Shear, Maggie Haberman and Astead W. Herndon | Saturday, June 20, 2020

Donald Trump Holds Rally in Tulsa amid Coronavirus Fears

Ugh ! – Mark

Prince Andrew: Top US Prosecutor Leading Inquiry into Epstein Links Refuses to Quit

THE OBSERVER: Geoffrey Berman says he will continue to investigate duke’s relationship with sex offender despite pressure to resign

The senior US prosecutor investigating links between Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein has vowed to carry on with his enquiries despite a dramatic attempt by the Trump administration to force him to resign.

In a late-night announcement on Friday, US attorney general William Barr declared Geoffrey Berman was stepping down, a development seen by critics as designed to benefit Trump politically and challenge the independence of the Justice Department.

But it also comes at a delicate time in the inquiry led by Berman, the US attorney in Manhattan, into Prince Andrew’s links to convicted sex offender Epstein.

Berman and the Duke of York have become embroiled in a series of public rows over what the US prosecutor alleges is his refusal to answer questions in their investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and other crimes against Epstein. » | Mark Townsend, Saturday, June 20, 2020

Christians Converted to Islam in Modern Mediterranean World – Noel Malcolm

A lecture by Noel Malcolm, Senior Researcher at the All Souls College (University of Oxford ), in the framework of the Aula Mediterrània 2019-2020 series of lectures.

The lecture was organised by the IEMed and the Master en Història i Identitats de la Mediterrània Occidental Segles XV-XIX, UB/Universitat d’Alacant/Universitat de València/Universitat Jaume I

The event was presented by Xavier Gil, Full Professor of Modern History (University of Barcelona).

John Bolton Book: Obstruction of Justice 'A Way of Life’ in Trump White House – Day That Was | MSNBC

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s new book contains several explosive accounts of President Trump’s behavior. Among them are statements that Trump appealed to China’s ruler Xi Jinping for help winning the next election, and that Trump did in fact directly tie aid to Ukraine to obtaining dirt on Trump’s political rivals. But why did Bolton save it for his book - which the Trump administration is now trying to block - instead of testifying at the impeachment trial? Impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff tweeted: “Bolton may be an author, but he’s no patriot.” Aired on 6/17/2020.

Dame Vera Lynn, Singer and 'Forces' Sweetheart', Dies Aged 103

THE GUARDIAN: Much-loved entertainer, whose voice brought Britain together during the second world war, has died

Dame Vera Lynn, whose song We’ll Meet Again became an anthem of hope and resilience during the second world war, has died aged 103.

Her family said they were “deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers”, and that they were with her when she died at her East Sussex home.

Boris Johnson paid tribute, saying: “Dame Vera Lynn’s charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours. Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come.” Labour politician Angela Rayner called Lynn “a beautiful person who will be sadly missed by all who her knew her”. » | Ben Beaumont-Thomas | Thursday, June 18, 2020


Dame Vera Lynn obituary »
The passing of a national treasure and legend. Requiescat in pace – Mark

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Vera Lynn, Singer Whose Wartime Ballads Uplifted U.K., Dies at 103 »

Trump Was Willing to Halt Criminal Investigations as 'Favor' to Dictators, Bolton Book Says

THE GUARDIAN: Trump pleaded with China’s Xi to help re-election effort / President urged Xi to build concentration camps for Muslims / White House has fought to stop book’s release

Donald Trump was willing to halt criminal investigations to “give personal favors to dictators he liked”, according to a new book written by his former national security adviser John Bolton.

After excerpts from the memoir, which is due to be published later this month, were printed in various news outlets, the Trump administration applied for an emergency temporary restraining order against Bolton on Wednesday night in an attempt to block the book’s release.

Trump himself tweeted that the book was “made up of lies & fake stories” and called Bolton a “disgruntled boring fool who only wanted to go to war”.

Bolton alleges that Trump pleaded with China’s President Xi Jinping to help him get re-elected by buying more US agricultural products, according to accounts of his forthcoming memoir.

In his pursuit of a good personal relationship with Xi, Trump is described as brushing aside human rights issues, even providing encouragement to the communist leader to continue to build concentration camps for China’s Muslim Uighur population. » | Julian Borger in Washington and Maanvi Singh in Oakland | Thursday, June 18, 2020

John Bolton’s bombshell Trump book: eight of its most stunning claims »

Reverend Reveals What Evangelicals Say Privately about Trump

Reverend Rob Schenck, a former evangelical activist, discusses President Trump's photo-op after police forcibly moved protesters and what evangelicals are now saying about Trump.

South Korea Promises to React Strongly If North Korea Furthers Tensions

South Korea says it will respond strongly if North Korea keeps raising tensions after Pyongyang blew up a liaison office in the border town of Kaesong. It comes after days of threats of military action by the North Korean leadership. Al Jazeera's Rob McBride reports from Seoul.

Pete Buttigieg: Supreme Court Ruling Is a Big Step Forward

Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg reacts to the Supreme Court decision prohibiting discrimination against gay and transgender people.

Syrian Protesters Call for Assad's Downfall as Economic Crisis Deepens

THE GUARDIAN: Marches held on streets of Sweida amid soaring food prices and disillusion with corruption

A town in regime-controlled Syria is set for fresh protests this weekend as a burgeoning economic crisis engulfing even Bashar al-Assad’s most loyal supporters is now posing the biggest challenge to his grip on the country in years.

Food is now more expensive than at any other time during the nine-year conflict, triggering scenes reminiscent of the Arab spring protests of 2011 on the streets of the nominally government-loyal town of Sweida this week.

“We don’t want to live, we want to die in dignity,” and “He who starves his people is a traitor,” protesters chanted as they marched for consecutive days in the southern city, calling for the president’s downfall. Another march is scheduled for Saturday. » | Bethan McKernan, Middle East correspondent | Friday, June 12, 2020

Großbritannien lehnt Brexit-Fristverlängerung endgültig ab

ZEIT ONLINE: Trotz der Corona-Krise will Großbritannien die EU am 1. Januar 2021 verlassen. Damit steigt der Druck auf die Verhandlungspartner, sonst droht ein harter Bruch.

Die britische Regierung hat eine Fristverlängerung für den Brexit ausgeschlossen. Sie will mit der EU nicht über das Jahresende hinaus über die Beziehungen nach dem Brexit verhandeln. Der britische Staatssekretär für Kabinettsangelegenheiten Michael Gove schrieb auf Twitter, er habe heute bei Beratungen mit der EU "formal bestätigt, dass das Vereinigte Königreich die Übergangsphase nicht verlängern wird."

"Die Zeit für eine Verlängerung ist nun vorbei", schrieb er weiter. Großbritannienwerde am 1. Januar 2021 "die Kontrolle zurückerhalten" und seine politische und wirtschaftliche Unabhängigkeit wiedergewinnen, schrieb der britische Unterhändler. » | Quelle: Zeit Online, AFP, dpa | Freitag, 12. Juni 2020

Prof. Christian Troll: Als Christ dem Islam begegnen

Knapp sechshundert Jahre nach Entstehung des Christentums tauchte der Islam auf, mit dem Anspruch, das Christentum zu korrigieren und zu ersetzen. Muslime sind überzeugt, durch den Propheten Mohammed zur letztgültigen und einzig wahren Religion geführt worden zu sein. Sie glauben, von Gott den Auftrag erhalten zu haben, eine weltweite islamische Ordnung zu errichten, in der die von Gott offenbarten Gesetze gelten. Wie sollten Christen auf den Absolutheitsanspruch des Islam und seinen religiös-politischen Anspruch reagieren? Sind Konkurrenz und Konflikte zwischen diesen beiden Weltreligionen unvermeidlich? Oder kann es auch Wege einer Zusammenarbeit im Dienst einer gerechten Gesellschaft und friedlichen Koexistenz geben? Antworten gibt Prof. Dr. Christian Troll, einer der renommiertesten Islamwissenschaftler der katholischen Kirche, der seit Jahrzehnten im christlich-islamischen Dialog engagiert ist.

Boris Johnson's US Trade Deal Will Make Britain a Paradise for Disaster Capitalists

THE GUARDIAN: Chlorinated chicken is just the start. The government intends to rip up food standards, public services and public protections

The Conservative manifesto made a clear promise. It pledged that in the government’s trade talks, “we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards”. Just six months after the election, the promise has been ditched. Our government is now proposing that chlorine-washed chicken, beef treated with growth hormones, pork from animals injected with a drug that makes their meat leaner, called ractopamine, and scores of other foods produced in the United States by dangerous, cruel and disgusting means will be allowed into this country, as long as higher trade taxes (tariffs) are applied to them.

The trade secretary, Liz Truss, has made it clear that any such tariffs would be removed within 10 years. It’s impossible to see the American trade negotiators allowing them to pass in the first place. The US intends to secure “comprehensive” access to our food markets, while “reducing or eliminating tariffs”. This nonsense about higher tariffs is a blatant attempt to soften us up, to sugar the toxic pill of US imports that don’t meet our standards. When I say sugar, I mean high-fructose corn syrup. » | George Monbiot | Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Brexit was such a stupid idea! Just look at those faces! Two blond idiots working in harmony to destroy our food standards. – Mark

Schmidt: ‘Republicans Signed Up to Be Foot Soldiers in a Cult of Personality for Trump’ | MSNBC

We are seeing more Republicans and former military leaders becoming more vocal about their differences with President Trump, but what does this really mean for the country and upcoming election? Former Republican Strategist Steve Schmidt joins Stephanie Ruhle to break it down. Aired on 06/08/2020.

Get rid of Trump asap! – Mark

Robert Reich: The Deadly Fox News-Trump Syndicate

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich exposes Fox News’ endless circuit of lies. As the coronavirus crisis rages on and protests against police killings and centuries of Black oppression sweep the country, Fox News is contributing almost as much to the deaths, disease, and brutal treatment of protesters as is Trump’s White House.

Trump spouts a shocking amount of misinformation from his bully pulpit, but it’s Fox News’ equally misleading coverage of the dual crises that closes the lethal circuit of lies.

Fox News called white protesters with AR-15s demanding haircuts "patriots"; they called Black protesters demanding an overhaul of our racist systems of oppression "thugs" and "looters". And their biased coverage of the protests hasn't stopped them from continuing to spew lie after lie about the coronavirus pandemic, even as the death toll surpasses 100,000.

Trump's propaganda machine is a clear and present danger to the United States. It's up to us to shut it down.


What a wonderful world it would be without Trump and Fox News! – Mark

'Revolting': Trump Condemned for Saying George Floyd Is Praising US Economy

THE GUARDIAN: President made the comments after better-than-expected jobs report showed national unemployment rate falling

Donald Trump was condemned on Friday for making the “revolting, enraging, disrespectful” claim that George Floyd, an African American man killed by police, is looking down from heaven and praising the US economy.

The president attempted to take a victory lap after a better-than-expected jobs report showed the national unemployment rate falling to 13.3% last month, with 2.5m jobs gained. But there was a slight uptick in African American joblessness.

In White House remarks that folded digressions within digressions, Trump declared: “Today is probably, if you think of it, the greatest comeback in American history.”

Speaking after the 10th night of mass anti-racism protests across the country, Trump suggested that Floyd, who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes, would be happy about the figures. » | David Smith in Washington and Dominic Rushe in New York | Friday, June 5, 2020

This so-called president is VILE and DISGUSTING! For Christ's sake, vote the SOB out of office asap! – Mark

Mark Alexander on Trump’s America: A Grave Situation

The way things are going in the US at the moment, it is not impossible that the country will descend into civil war. If Americans retain Trump as their president, he will keep on fanning the flames, keep pouring petrol on the fire. That sounds melodramatic, but if the flames continue to be fanned, God only knows where it will all end. This is the height of irresponsible ‘leadership’. Whilst I don’t condone violence and looting, far from it actually, these people have genuine grievances, and they aren’t being addressed; on the contrary, they are being brushed aside and ignored. Add to this mess, the racism, the pandemic, the millions who have lost their jobs, the poverty, the staggering wealth and income inequalities, lack of universal healthcare, and an impending economic depression and they have a very dangerous cocktail indeed on their hands. – ©Mark

US Proteste: Demonstranten ignorieren Ausgangssperren | DW Nachrichten

Seit der schwarze US-Bürger George Floyd durch Polizeigewalt getötet wurde, wird die Spaltung der USA immer deutlicher und es vergeht keine Nacht ohne Proteste, kein Tag ohne Trauer und Wut. US Präsident Donald Trump droht mit dem Militär, aber die Demonstrierenden wollen sich nicht zum Schweigen bringen lassen. Ausgangssperren werden verhängt. Bei Protesten in einem Vorort von Chicago kamen zwei Menschen ums Leben. Auch in anderen Städten gibt es Gewalt.

Megan Phelps-Roper on Westboro Baptist Church and "Trying to Make Amends" - BBC HARDtalk (2019)

Holding placards outside the funerals of dead soldiers and celebrating the deaths of children after school massacres, Westboro Baptist Church has been called the ‘most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America’. From the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper had stood on the picket lines, and carried those hate-filled signs. But, as an adult firing off tweets to her online critics, Megan began to doubt. Can she really still regard those who abused her mind and taught her to hate, as her ‘beloved’ parents? She talks to Shaun Ley.

Fire, Pestilence and a Country At War with Itself: The Trump Presidency Is Over

THE GUARDIAN: A pandemic unabated, an economy in meltdown, cities in chaos over police killings. All our supposed leader does is tweet

You’d be forgiven if you hadn’t noticed. His verbal bombshells are louder than ever, but Donald J Trump is no longer president of the United States.

By having no constructive response to any of the monumental crises now convulsing America, Trump has abdicated his office.

He is not governing. He’s golfing, watching cable TV and tweeting.

How has Trump responded to the widespread unrest following the murder in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for minutes as he was handcuffed on the ground?

Trump called the protesters “thugs” and threatened to have them shot. “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” he tweeted, parroting a former Miami police chief whose words spurred race riots in the late 1960s.

On Saturday, he gloated about “the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons” awaiting protesters outside the White House, should they ever break through Secret Service lines.

Trump’s response to the last three ghastly months of mounting disease and death has been just as heedless. Since claiming Covid-19 was a “Democratic hoax” and muzzling public health officials, he has punted management of the coronavirus to the states. » | Robert Reich | Sunday, May 31, 2020

George Floyd: Donald Trump Under Fire as Violence Flares across America

THE GUARDIAN: President tweets from White House as cities struggle / Democrat Val Demings: ‘We need leadership’

The chaos and crisis engulfing America came to the president’s doorstep on Saturday night, as protesters chanting “I can’t breathe” and “Fuck Donald Trump!” clashed with the Secret Service and police outside the White House.

It was a visceral warning that after three years of relative peace and prosperity, Trump is in danger of being overwhelmed by cascading disasters: the coronavirus pandemic, which has taken more than 100,000 lives, an economic slump that has cost 40m jobs, and rising social unrest. » | David Smith in Washington | Sunday, May 31, 2020

For the sake of world peace (and our sanity), get rid of this orange monstrosity from the White House asap! – Mark

How Divisive Is Politics in the United States? I Inside Story

Running battles with the police, fires burning, lootings and protesters arrested. Riots over the death of George Floyd have spread across dozens of US cities, and close to President Donald Trump's doorstep at the White House.

Governors have imposed curfews and dispatched National Guards. The Floyd case has reignited rage over the deaths of black Americans at the hands of police and racial inequality. It's also opened a divisive political debate between Democrats and Republicans.

President Donald Trump has promised to put an end to what he calls 'mob violence'. Trump says healing is needed, but he's accused of the opposite - igniting tension. So can America overcome its divisions?

Presenter: Kim Vinell | Guests: Maurice Jackson, an Associate Professor in the History Department and African American Studies at Georgetown University; Kevin Powell, author and civil rights activist; Sahar Aziz, professor of law & Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar at Rutgers University

Don Lemon Calls Out Hollywood Elite: Where Are You During Protests?

CNN's Don Lemon calls celebrities of all races to step up a show public support for protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd.

Trump Demands Protesters Be Murdered

Donald Trump demands protesters be murdered while addressing Minneapolis protests on Twitter. John Iadarola and Ana Kasparian break it down on The Damage Report.