Friday, January 15, 2021

Saukälte in Sibirien: Minus-Rekord - Temperatur sinkt auf minus 49 Grad

Kalt, kälter, am kältesten: Im Süden und Westen Sibiriens haben Meteorologen neue Kälterekorde gemessen. Im Dorf Teguldet nahe der Großstadt Tomsk sei das Thermometer am Wochenende auf minus 49 Grad gesunken, sagte ein Wetterexperte am Montag der russischen Staatsagentur Tass. «Westsibirien hat die Meteorologen tief beeindruckt.»

In Nowosibirsk wurden demnach zwischen minus 37 und minus 41 Grad gemessen. Frühere Rekorde in Sibiriens größter Stadt seien um 5 Grad getoppt worden. In anderen Regionen sei es so kalt gewesen wie in den vergangenen 50 bis 100 Jahren nicht mehr, sagte der Sprecher. Nach Angaben der Behörden mussten viele Menschen mit Erfrierungen behandelt werden. Außerdem habe es zahlreiche Verkehrsunfälle und Flugausfälle gegeben.


Jacob Rees-Mogg Says British Fish Are 'Happier' because of Brexit Deal

The leader of the House of Commons claimed fish delayed for export because of the introduction of the post-Brexit fishing regime were 'happier' because they are now British. 'The key is we’ve got our fish back,' he told MPs. 'They’re now British fish and they’re better and happier fish for it'


Jacob Rees-Mogg? What a tw*t! (Please insert the vowel of your own choosing.) – Mark

Former Spanish King's Ex-lover Says She Was Threatened by Spy Chief

THE GUARDIAN: Corinna Larsen tells court ‘chilling’ warning to her and her children came on the orders of King Juan Carlos

The ex-lover of Spain’s former king Juan Carlos has told a court in Madrid of the “chilling” moment when she claimed the head of the country’s intelligence services threatened her and her children on the monarch’s orders.

Corinna Larsen told the court Félix Sanz Roldán met her in London after her relationship with the king had ended to warn her that if she did not follow his instructions he could not guarantee her safety. She claimed she later returned to her home in Switzerland where she discovered a book about the death of Princess Diana and subsequently received a cryptic phone call about tunnels, which she took to be an allusion to the princess’s fatal accident in 1997. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Friday, January 15, 2021

Philipp Blom: Wie sieht unser Lebensmodell nach Corona aus? | Sternstunde Philosophie | SRF Kultur

Für den Bestsellerautor, Historiker und Philosoph Philipp Blom ist klar: Unser Selbstbild und unser Wirtschaftssystem sind bankrott. Wir brauchen ein neues Lebensmodell für die Zukunft. Denn wir Menschen stehen nicht über der Natur. Wir sind Teil von ihr, abhängig und verletzlich. Das zeigt die Pandemie ebenso wie die Klimakrise.

«Menschen lernen nicht aus der Geschichte, aber sie reagieren auf Traumata», schreibt der deutsche Historiker und Philosoph Philipp Blom. Hinterlässt die Pandemie ein solches Trauma? Oder die Klimakrise?

Nach Blom befinden wir uns derzeit am Ende von 3000 Jahren Kulturgeschichte. Am Anfang stand das göttliche Gebot: Macht euch die Erde untertan! Aufklärung, Industrialisierung und Kolonialismus folgten diesem Glauben.


Sternstunde Philosophie vom 10.01.2021


Thursday, January 14, 2021

Zucker – Die süsse Droge | Wie Zucker unsere Gesundheit gefährdet | Doku | SRF DOK

Vier von zehn Schweizern sind übergewichtig. Unter anderem ist auch der zu hohe Zuckerkonsum daran schuld. Überall ist Zucker drin. Selbst dort, wo wir es nicht für möglich halten. Eine fünfköpfige Familie aus dem Aargau hat einen Monat lang zuckerfrei gelebt. Mit überraschenden Erkenntnissen.

«Zucker macht süchtig, denn Zucker aktiviert im Hirn die gleichen Rezeptoren wie andere Drogen», sagt die Basler Ärztin Bettina Wölnerhanssen. Darum sei es auch so schwierig, Eigenverantwortung zu übernehmen, und den eigenen Zuckerkonsum zu reduzieren. Wir alle lieben Süsses. Auch die Familie Rechsteiner mit drei Kindern im Teenageralter aus Döttingen ist der süssen Verführung nicht abgeneigt. Allerdings will die Familie nun herausfinden, was der Zuckerkonsum bei ihnen bewirkt, und lässt sich auf einen Versuch ein: Alle fünf Familienmitglieder wollen einen ganzen Monat lang auf Lebensmittel mit zugefügtem Zucker verzichten. Das ist einfacher gesagt als getan. Denn in vier von fünf Lebensmitteln versteckt sich zugefügter Zucker. Selbst in solchen, die gar nicht besonders süss schmecken.

In der Schweiz ist jedes sechste Kind zu dick. Eine halbe Million Schweizerinnen und Schweizer leiden an Diabetes. Vielen Menschen ist zu wenig bewusst, dass sie Zucker aus gesundheitlichen Überlegungen meiden oder nur in geringen Mengen konsumieren sollten. Eine staatlich verordnete Zuckerreduktion stösst auf wenig Akzeptanz: 2019 wurde die Einführung einer Zuckersteuer von den eidgenössischen Räten abgelehnt. In England hingegen hat man das Problem erkannt und reagiert. Mit der Einführung einer happigen Zuckersteuer konnte dort der Zuckergehalt in Süssgetränken massiv gesenkt werden. Heute enthält beispielsweise eine Orangenlimonade in London nur noch halb so viel Zucker wie eine Limonade derselben Marke in Zürich oder Genf.

Erwachsenen Menschen empfiehlt die Weltgesundheits-Organisation nicht mehr als 50 Gramm Zucker pro Tag. Für Kinder die Hälfte. In der Schweiz sind wir mit der doppelten Zuckermenge alarmierend weit von den WHO-Richtwerten entfernt. Die Politik macht wenig Druck auf die Nahrungsmittelproduzenten. Sie setzt auf die Eigenverantwortung der Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten. Wie schwierig das ist, musste auch Familie Rechsteiner feststellen.



Dieser Dokumentarfilm ist zum grossen Teil in Schyzertüütsch (Schweizerdeutsch) übertragen worden. – Mark

Trump 'Refusing to Pay' Rudy Giuliani's Legal Fees after Falling Out

THE GUARDIAN: President said to be offended by personal lawyer’s demand for a reported $20,000 a day

Donald Trump has fallen out with his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and is refusing to pay the former New York mayor’s legal bills, it was reported, with the president feeling abandoned and frustrated during his last days in office.

Giuliani played a key role in Trump’s failed attempts to overturn the results of November’s presidential election through the courts. The lawyer mounted numerous spurious legal challenges, travelling to swing states won by Joe Biden, and spread false claims the vote was rigged.

According to the Washington Post, relations between Trump and Giuliani have dramatically cooled. Trump has instructed his aides not to pay Giuliani’s outstanding fees. The president is reportedly offended by Giuliani’s demand for $20,000 a day – a figure the lawyer denies, but which is apparently in writing. White House officials have even been told not to put through any of Giuliani’s calls. » | Luke Harding | Thursday, January 14, 2021

The Last Days of Pompeo: Secretary of State Lashes Out as Reign Comes to an End

THE GUARDIAN: Trump’s foreign policy chief has pursued confrontation with Iran and other perceived enemies, but his efforts to disrupt diplomacy will end in failure

The finale of Mike Pompeo’s reign at the state department has been as controversial and clamorous as the rest of his 32-month tenure, but it is unclear what traces will remain after he has gone.

The last days of Pompeo have been played out in a blizzard of self-congratulatory tweets, at the rate of two dozen a day, as he seeks to write his own first draft of history.

The former Kansas congressman, with evident ambitions for a presidential run in 2024, has accented his claims of success by frequent derogatory references to the previous administration, portrayed as hapless appeasers. The political point-scoring and aggrandizement have made the use of the megaphone provided by a government Twitter account, with 3 million followers. » | Julian Borger in Washington | Thursday, January 14, 2021

Gay Hollywood: The Last Taboo (2009 – Documentary*

This documentary looks at the challenges facing gay artists in Hollywood past and present. Hollywood in the 1920s was the most homosexual-friendly place to be as most of the behind-the-camera staff were gay. However, for those in front of the camera there was no tolerance from the movie-going public. Any homosexual who wanted to maintain a career had to remain in a well-locked closet. During the 1950s, the studios provided their own "police" who would be the first to arrive at any scene of an "indiscretion" or other scandalous act. Their task was to collect and remove any evidence and then call the real police if necessary. The studios, wanting to safeguard their investments, even forced male gay actors, like Rock Hudson and Cary Grant, into sham marriages.

Watch the documentary HERE »

* This documentary is age-restricted, so it cannot be embedded. It must be watched on YouTube.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Trump Impeached Again

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The House voted on an article of impeachment that accuses President Trump of “incitement of insurrection,” and 10 Republicans supported the move. Senator Mitch McConnell said he would not agree to use emergency powers to bring the Senate back into session for a trial before Jan. 19. » | ohn Eligon and Thomas Kaplan | Nicholas Fandos and Glenn Thrush contributed reporting | Wednesday, January 13, 2021

“American Abyss”: Fascism Historian Tim Snyder on Trump’s Coup Attempt, Impeachment & What’s Next

As the House votes to impeach President Trump, the FBI warns there could be a repeat of the violent insurrection he encouraged on January 6, with Trump loyalists planning to hold armed protests nationwide ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration. We speak with Timothy Snyder, a historian of fascism, who says the riot at the U.S. Capitol was “completely and utterly predictable” given President Trump’s record of stoking extremism and undermining democratic institutions. “The American republic is hanging by a thread because the president of the United States has sought to use violence to stay in power and essentially to overthrow our constitutional system,” says Snyder.

Nahtoderfahrungen | Was passiert, wenn wir sterben? | Reportage | SRF DOK

Menschen mit Nahtoderfahrungen berichten darüber, wie es ist, mit einem Fuss im Jenseits stehen. Was passiert, wenn wir sterben? Sie reden darüber, wieso sie keine Angst mehr haben vor dem Tod. Und wie ihre Nahtoderfahrung ihr weiteres Leben verändert hat.

Andrea Pfeifer war 26 Jahre alt, als sie im Urlaub eine Lebensmittelvergiftung bekam, an der sie beinahe gestorben wäre. Was sie erlebte, als sie mit einem Fuss im Jenseits stand, behielt sie für sich. «Ich habe es ganz lange niemandem erzählt, weil man automatisch in eine Schiene reingedrängt wird: In eine spirituelle oder religiöse Schiene, wo ich überhaupt nicht hingehöre.» Heute kann sie von dem erzählen, was in jener Nacht passiert ist: «Es gab einen Moment, als etwas in meinem Körper zum Stillstand gekommen ist. Als wäre ich ein Uhrwerk: Plötzlich rastete es ein. Da wusste ich: Jetzt ist es gar nicht mehr gut.» Dann habe sie eine Bewegung wahrgenommen. «Ich habe den Kopf gedreht. Es sass jemand neben meinem Bett: ein junger Mann. Aber er war ganz etherisch, ausgefüllt mit Licht.»

Rund fünf Prozent der Menschen machen im Laufe ihres Lebens eine sogenannte Nahtoderfahrung. Aber nur wenige reden darüber – oft aus Angst, nicht ernst genommen zu werden. Bei jenen, die davon erzählen, lassen viele wiederkehrende Elemente identifizieren: Sie erleben bewusstes Sein ohne physischen Körper, berichten von einem Tunnel, von Licht, von tiefen Gefühlen des Friedens und der Liebe – und von Lichtwesen oder verstorbenen Angehörigen, mit denen sie kommunizieren konnten. Viele Schulmedizinerinnen und -mediziner sind indes überzeugt, dass es ganz simple Erklärungen gebe für solche Erfahrungen: etwa Sauerstoffmangel, zu viel Kohlendioxid oder chemische Reaktionen im Gehirn. Andrea Pfeifer kann darüber nur lächeln: «Was ich erlebt habe, ist so viel grösser als alles, was wir uns vorstellen können: Ich bin in einer Ekstase explodiert und zu Licht geworden. Es war pures Glück.»

Viele sagen, die Nahtoderfahrung habe sie verändert. «Ich habe den Eindruck, ich wurde intuitiver», erzählt die promovierte Historikerin Magdalen Bless, «ich hatte plötzlich Vorahnungen, die ich mir nicht erklären konnte.» Dem Hauswart Marcel Gasser geht es ähnlich: «Plötzlich habe ich Bauchweh. Oder Krämpfe. Mir wird schlecht. Dann ist etwas. Oder es kommt etwas.» Bei Ramón Gartmann, der als sogenannter «Lebenscoach» sein Geld verdient, gehen die Veränderungen noch weiter: «Wenn ich jemanden ansehe, sehe ich verschiedene Schichten von Energien um die Person herum.» Allen gemeinsam ist, dass das Ende des Lebens für sie den Schrecken verloren hat. «Ich freue mich auf den Tod, auch wenn ich ihn noch nicht will», sagt Magdalen Bless. «Der Tod ist ein grossartiger Übergang, in dem sich die Rätsel des Universums entschlüsseln.»



Dieser Dokumentarfilm ist zum Teil in Deutsch aber zum großen Teil in Schwyzertüütsch. – Mark

De Blasio: City of New York Severing All Contracts with Trump Organization | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Mayor Bill de Blasio, D-NY, joins Morning Joe to discuss why New York City is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization and what it means. Aired on 1/13/2021.

George Conway: Trump Is Leaving in Complete Disgrace | Morning Joe | MSNBC

A growing number of Republican lawmakers publicly endorsed impeaching President Donald Trump ahead of a Wednesday vote in the House. Attorney George Conway says support for Trump is collapsing and he compares and contrasts Trump with Richard Nixon. Aired on 1/13/2021.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Mike Pompeo Claims without Evidence That Iran Is Al-Qaida's New 'Home Base'

THE GUARDIAN: Move seems designed to restrict Biden administration’s options as secretary of state confirms killing of al-Qaida leader in August

The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has claimed, without providing evidence, that al-Qaida leaders have established a new “home base” in the Iran, in what appeared to be his latest effort to raise the political cost of the next administration reviving the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Speaking with just eight days left in office, Pompeo alleged that Iran was “the new Afghanistan”, telling a news conference in Washington: “Unlike in Afghanistan, when al-Qaida was hiding in the mountains, al-Qaida today is operating under the hard shell of the Iranian regime’s protection.” » | Julian Borger in Washington | Tuesday, January 12, 2021

This assertion appears to be manifestly absurd! Al-Qaeda is a Sunni terrorist group. Iran is Shia. Sunnis and Shiites hate each other with a vengeance. This alone makes Pompeo’s assertion highly unlikely to be true. Pompeo is playing to people’s ignorance. He, in his position, should know better than this. The man needs to go back to school! – ©Mark Alexander

The Guardian View on Covid's Widening Gaps: The Rich Are Getting Richer

THE GUARDIAN: Rishi Sunak ought to make it clear that it is the real economy that needs rescuing, not the City

For speculators, the cryptocurrency party was just starting. At the beginning of last year one bitcoin was worth £5,614 before almost reaching £30,000 at the end of last week. On Monday, Britain’s financial watchdog took the punch bowl away, by warning bitcoin investors that they could lose all their money. While it may sober up a few of the partygoers many will find solace in their bank balances. Anyone who bought cryptoassets at the beginning of the year was sitting potentially on a 400% gain, an extraordinary return in a year when a health crisis has morphed into an economic one.

Thanks to the government’s actions, owners of assets have had a very good pandemic. Shares in London are back to where they were in late February last year. House prices in 2020 rose by 6%, helped by the chancellor’s temporary stamp duty holiday. Economic euphoria needs a drug. It turns out that the dealer with the best supply of credit is the government. Its central bank has flooded the financial system with cash meant to be loaned to chase a positive rate of return. In Britain’s distorted economy investors, even in the midst of Covid, prefer to make outlandish short-term capital gains rather than income from productive investment. » | Editorial | Monday, January 11, 2021

Monday, January 11, 2021

Ex-Melania Trump Adviser: First Lady Is President's Enabler

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, author and former senior adviser to first lady Melania Trump, speaks to CNN's Brianna Keilar about her article in The Daily Beast where she writes that Melania and the President "lack character, and have no moral compass."

Turkish Televangelist Sentenced to 1,075 Years for Sex Crimes

THE GUARDIAN: Adnan Oktar was detained in 2018 along with more than 200 other suspects in his group

A Turkish court has sentenced a Muslim televangelist who surrounded himself with scantily clad women he called “kittens” to more than 1,000 years in jail for sex crimes

. Adnan Oktar preached creationism and conservative values while women in revealing outfits – many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery – danced around him to upbeat music in the TV studio.

The bearded 64-year-old was detained in 2018 along with more than 200 other suspects as part of a crackdown on his group by the financial crimes unit of the Istanbul police.

He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported. » | AFP in Istanbul | Monday, January 11, 2021

Republicans Beg Democrats Not to Impeach Trump Again

Republicans are now claiming that impeaching Donald Trump for a second time would just be too darn divisive at a time when the country just needs to heal. The real reason they are against impeachment is because it is going to put them in the tough position of having to publicly stand up to the President, or publicly admit (with their vote) that they are secretly ok with everything he has done. Ring of Fire's Farron Cousins discusses this.

Governor Schwarzenegger's Message Following This Week's Attack on the Capitol

This is my message to my fellow Americans and my friends around the world after January 6, 2021.

Trump Impeachment: Democrats Formally Charge President with Inciting Insurrection

THE GUARDIAN: Trump set to become the first president to be impeached twice / Pelosi: Trump a ‘deranged, unhinged, dangerous president’

Donald Trump is set to become the first US president to be impeached twice, after Democrats in the House of Representatives formally charged him with one count of “incitement of insurrection”, over the Capitol Hill riot.

Five people died in the attack last week, which Trump prompted when he told supporters to “fight like hell” in his attempt to overturn election defeat by Joe Biden.

On Monday, as security officials scrambled to ensure that the inauguration next week would not be marred by violence attached to protests planned for the day, Democrats in the House moved swiftly.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who in an interview on Sunday called Trump “a deranged, unhinged, dangerous president”, initiated a plan in two parts.

An initial resolution called on Vice-President Mike Pence to support removing Trump under the 25th amendment. » | Tom McCarthy, national affairs correspondent | Monday, January 11, 2021

Dutch Officials Seize Ham Sandwiches from British Drivers

THE GUARDIAN: Personal imports of meat and dairy products banned from EU since Brexit transition ended

Dutch TV news has aired footage of customs officers confiscating ham sandwiches from drivers arriving by ferry from the UK under post-Brexit rules banning personal imports of meat and dairy products into the EU.

Officials wearing high-visibility jackets are shown explaining to startled car and lorry drivers at the Hook of Holland ferry terminal that since Brexit, “you are no longer allowed to bring certain foods to Europe, like meat, fruit, vegetables, fish, that kind of stuff.”

To a bemused driver with several sandwiches wrapped in tin foil who asked if he could maybe surrender the meat and keep just the bread, one customs officer replied: “No, everything will be confiscated. Welcome to Brexit, sir, I’m sorry.” » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondent | Monday, January 11, 2021

So Brexiteers can't have their cake and eat it too after all! Who would have 'thunk' it! Unfortunately, sensible Brits will now have to pay for the shortsightedness of these people who are stuck in the twentieth century. Fossils and fools all! – ©Mark

Nach Gewalt am Kapitol: Melania Trump „enttäuscht und entmutigt“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Melania Trump hat ihr Schweigen seit dem Gewaltausbruch am Kapitol gebrochen. Gewalt sei niemals zulässig, sagt sie. Und: „Es war die Ehre meines Lebens, als Ihre First Lady zu dienen.“

Amerikas First Lady Melania Trump hat ihr Schweigen seit dem Gewaltausbruch von Anhängern des abgewählten Präsidenten Donald Trump am Kapitol gebrochen. „Ich bin enttäuscht und entmutigt über das, was letzte Woche passiert ist“, erklärte sie am Montag in einer ausführlichen Mitteilung. „Es ist erbaulich zu sehen, dass so viele eine Leidenschaft und Begeisterung für die Teilnahme an einer Wahl gefunden haben, aber wir dürfen nicht zulassen, dass Leidenschaft in Gewalt umschlägt. Unser Weg nach vorne besteht darin, unsere Gemeinsamkeiten zu finden und die freundlichen und starken Menschen zu sein, von denen ich weiß, dass wir es r />
sind.“

Melania Trump drückte den Angehörigen der Toten im Zusammenhang der gewalttätigen Erstürmung des Kapitols ihr Mitgefühl aus, wobei sie zuerst die gestorbenen Teilnehmer nannte und dann die beiden Polizisten, von denen einer außerhalb des Dienstes starb. » | Quelle: dpa | Montag, 11. Januar 2021

Melania Trump pays tribute to dead of Capitol attack but casts herself as victim »

How White Evangelicals Sold Their Soul to Donald Trump to Bring About Armageddon (2018)

Frank Schaeffer, former Evangelical explains how white evangelicals in the United States put faith before country, before human rights, in making a "Devil's Bargain" to support Donald Trump despite his less than Christian actions, for a handful of policy and power goals, namely moving the United States embassy into deputed Jerusalem, all of this to bring about the end of days foretold in the book of Revelations, Armageddon!

Nancy Pelosi: The 2021 60 Minutes Interview

Days after her own office was ransacked by Trump supporters, the speaker of the House talks to Lesley Stahl about what she experienced that day and more.

US Democrats Move Forward with Second Impeachment of President Trump | DW News

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that she was ready to begin the second impeachment proceedings against US President Donald Trump if his cabinet fails to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment. The Democratic lawmaker said that the House will try to pass legislation on Monday urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and "declare the president incapable of executing the duties of his office." If that fails — which is considered the most likely outcome — Pelosi said that the House would move ahead with impeachment proceedings, although she did not say when that would be. "In protecting our Constitution and our Democracy, we will act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both,'' the House speaker said.

Trump, who is scheduled to leave office on January 20, has received sharp criticism following the violence in and around the US Capitol building on Wednesday. Trump has been accused of inciting the violence, by addressing a large rally on the National Mall in front of the US Capitol, saying he would join them when they "walk down to the Capitol" earlier that day. Since losing the Nov. 3 election, Trump has falsely claimed he was the victim of widespread fraud. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told American broadcaster CBS in an interview that will air Sunday that "the person that's running the executive branch is a deranged, unhinged, dangerous president of the United States." Trump was previously impeached under two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in regards to allegations that Trump sought to discredit then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the lead up to the 2020 US presidential election. The articles were written up in 2019 and the trial was held in January 2020.

The Republican-controlled Senate did not find him guilty of either article. A two-thirds majority is required for a conviction.


Sunday, January 10, 2021

Trump Got Crushed Worse Than Any President in 100 Years

According to the numbers, the last time a political party lost the White House, the House, and the Senate in a single term was in 1932, meaning that the Republican Party being ruled by Donald Trump was the biggest political loser in the past 100 years. This isn't surprising in the least, as the Party hasn't had a new idea in 40 years, and the public is quickly catching onto that. Ring of Fire's Farron Cousins discusses this.

Trump Fear of Prison Could Push Him Toward Resignation and a Pence Pardon | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Rachel Maddow points out that of the myriad ways that Donald Trump could be made to leave office early before he can do any more damage to the United States, one he may actually pursue on his own is resignation if he sees it as a way to avoid criminal prosecution. Aired on 1/9/2021.

Capehart to Trump: If You Want to Make America Great Again, Leave | MSNBC

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and more Republicans are called out, in the wake of the Capitol insurrection by a pro-Trump mob, by Jonathan Capehart in his weekly analysis, ‘The Bye Line.’»

Schwarzenegger Rebukes Trump and Compares Capitol Riot to Kristallnacht

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-Republican governor of California compares breach to night in 1938 when Nazi thugs attacked Jewish Germans and their property

Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump on Sunday, comparing the riot at the US Capitol which the president incited to Kristallnacht, the night in November 1938 when Nazi thugs attacked Jewish Germans and their property, a harbinger of horrors to come.

He also compared American democracy to a weapon he wielded onscreen as Conan the Barbarian nearly 40 years ago, saying: “Our democracy is like the steel of this sword. The more it is tempered, the stronger it becomes.”

In a video posted to social media and scored to rousing classical music, the 73-year-old former Republican governor of California said he “would like to say a few words to my fellow Americans and to our friends around the world about the events of recent days”.

“I grew up in Austria and was very aware of Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass,” he said. “It was a night of rampage against the Jews carried out [by] the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys [a quasi-fascist group of Trump supporters].” » | Martin Pengelly | Sunday, January 10, 2021

Saturday, January 09, 2021

Le couvre-feu avancé à 18 heures dans les Bouches-du-Rhône

LE POINT: Le Premier ministre Jean Castex a annoncé que huit nouveaux départements étaient concernés par le couvre-feu avancé à 18 heures à partir de dimanche.

Alors que le Covid-19 circule très activement dans certains territoires, notamment dans le Grand Est, en Bourgogne-Franche-Comté et dans la région Sud, Jean Castex a annoncé que huit nouveaux départements basculeront dimanche 10 janvier sur un couvre-feu avancé à 18 heures. À cette heure, la mesure a été confirmée pour les Bouches-du-Rhône ainsi que pour le Bas-Rhin et pour le département voisin du Haut-Rhin, où le taux d'incidence atteint 229 pour 100 000 habitants et 251 pour les personnes de plus de 65 ans, précise la préfecture. » | LePoint.fr (avec AFP) | Publié : vendredi 8 janvier 2021 ; modifié : samedi 9 janvier 2021

Bouches-du-Rhône »

What Began the Rise of Fascism in Europe? | Titans of the 20th Century | Timeline

Winston Churchill struggles to resume a political career; Gandhi begins the fight that will bring his people their freedom; Major Dwight D. Eisenhower serves as Gen. Douglas MacArthur's chief of staff; Ho Chi Minh in Paris; Mussolini grabs power.

Kampfansage aus Nordkorea: Kim Jong-un: «USA bleiben unser grösster Feind»

TAGES ANZEIGER: Nordkoreas Machthaber Kim Jong Un hält staatlichen Medien zufolge an seiner feindlichen Politik gegenüber den USA fest.

Vor dem Regierungswechsel in den USA fordert Nordkoreas Machthaber Kim Jong. Un mit neuen Kampfansagen den künftigen amerikanischen Präsidenten Joe Biden heraus.

Beim achten Kongress der herrschenden Arbeiterpartei in Pjöngjang bezeichnete Kim die Supermacht USA als «grössten Feind» und kündigte den Ausbau des Atomwaffenarsenals seines Landes an. «Die aussenpolitischen Aktivitäten müssen sich darauf konzentrieren, die USA zu unterwerfen», zitierten ihn die Staatsmedien am Samstag. Den USA warf er erneut eine feindselige Politik vor. » | sda/oli | Samstag, 9. Januar 2021

Nach dem Sturm auf das Capitol: Auf Trump wartet ein zweites Impeachment

TAGES ANZEIGER: Die Demokraten scheinen fest entschlossen zu sein, Donald Trump aus dem Amt zu entfernen. Künftige Kandidaturen könnten ihm so verwehrt bleiben. Dafür müssten aber auch die Republikaner mitmachen.

Nancy Pelosi, die mächtige demokratische Sprecherin des Abgeordnetenhauses, Nummer drei in der politischen Rangfolge nach dem Präsidenten und dessen Vize, scheint fest entschlossen zu sein, Donald Trump für den Sturm auf das Capitol am Mittwoch zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen. Am Freitag sprach Pelosi eine Drohung aus, die kaum zurückzunehmen sein wird: Wenn Trump nicht «unverzüglich» zurücktrete oder sein Vize Mike Pence nicht ebenso unverzüglich ein Amtsenthebungsverfahren nach Zusatzartikel 25 der Verfassung einleite, dann werde der Kongress ein zweites Amtsenthebungsverfahren gegen Trump beginnen. » | Thorsten Denkler, New York | Samstag, 9. Januar 2021

Extended Conversation with Vicky Ward on “Kushner, Inc.” (2019)

Web-only extended interview with investigative journalist Vicky Ward, author of “Kushner, Inc.: Greed. Ambition. Corruption. The Extraordinary Story of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.”

Rep. Adam Schiff: 'We Can Move Swiftly ... to Impeach This Man' | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Rep. Adam Schiff, who was the lead impeachment manager for Donald Trump's first impeachment, emphasizes the determination of the Democratic caucus to protect the United States from further damage by removing Trump from office. Aired on 1/9/2021.

Pelosi Calls Trump “Deranged, Unhinged, Dangerous” and Says He Should Be Prosecuted

Lesley Stahl interviewed the speaker of the House for a story airing Sunday night on 60 Minutes.

Lawrence: “We Learned Nothing New about Donald Trump This Week” | The Last Word | MSNBC

Donald Trump’s message to American Nazis this week was “we love you.” Aired on 1/9/2021.

Fmr. Top Pence Aide: 'It Is a Party of Extremism Right Now' | Zerlina. | The Choice

Olivia Troye, former top aide to Vice President Mike Pence, joins Zerlina Maxwell to discuss the consequences of the Capitol riots and the future of the Republican Party.

These Are the Legal Probes Facing Trump When He Leaves Office

CNN correspondent Randi Kaye looks into the legal probes President Donald Trump faces after he leaves the White House.

Friday, January 08, 2021

Keilar: After Everything, Ted Cruz Has the Gall to Say This

CNN's Brianna Keilar rolls the tape on all the times President Trump has embraced violence and the way Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has tried to rewrite his past support of Trump since the riot at the Capitol.

House Democrats Plan to Impeach Trump, Again

House Democrats are currently planning to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump as soon as Monday, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. That could set up a vote in the House early to the middle of next week. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has not explicitly said when this will go to the floor. This would be the second time the House has unveiled articles of impeachment against President Trump. In December 2019, the House impeached Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted him on both charges last February.

Kasparov: Impeachment Now Is the Best Protection against a Future Trump | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Garry Kasparov, Richard Haass and Neal Katyal join Morning Joe to discuss this week's riot at the D.C. Capitol, preventing the next demagogic president and the DOJ being open to pursuing charges against Trump for Wednesday's riot. Aired on 01/08/2021.

The Failure of the First Queen Speech | Elizabeth: Our Queen | Channel 5

In the late 1950s technology was changing throughout the world. Queen Elizabeth II wanted to change people's perception of the monarchy through television. In 1957 Queen Elizabeth II made her first-ever Queen speech at Christmas on the BBC. Watch Elizabeth: Our Queen and see how the first-ever televised Queen speech had a bad reaction from the viewers.

Pelosi Says House Will Move to Impeach Trump If He Doesn’t Resign Immediately

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on Friday that the House would move to impeach President Trump over his role in inciting a violent mob attack on the Capitol if he did not resign “immediately,” appealing to Republicans to join the push to force him from office.

In a letter to members of the House, the speaker invoked the resignation of Richard M. Nixon amid the Watergate scandal, when Republicans prevailed upon the president to resign and avoid the ignominy of an impeachment, calling Mr. Trump’s actions a “horrific assault on our democracy.” » | Nicholas Fandos and Luke Broadwater | Friday, January 8, 2021

Trump Announces He Will Not Attend Biden's Inauguration | Hallie Jackson | MSNBC

President Trump has announced via tweet that he will not be attending the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports on the significance of this decision. Aired on 1/8/2021.

The White House Slips Deeper into Crisis in the Final Days of the Trump Presidency

THE NEW YORK TIMES: What was already shaping up as a volatile final stretch to the Trump presidency took on an air of national emergency as the White House emptied out and some Republicans joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a cascade of Democrats calling for Mr. Trump to be removed from office without waiting the 13 days until the inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.

The prospect of actually short-circuiting Mr. Trump’s tenure in its last days appeared remote. Vice President Mike Pence privately ruled out invoking the disability clause of the 25th Amendment to sideline the president, as many had urged that he and the cabinet do, according to officials. » | Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman | Friday, January 8, 2021

Trump Enablers Resign after Capitol Violence | The Mehdi Hasan Show

Pod Save America Co-Host Tommy Vietor joins Mehdi Hasan to break down how GOP hacks are trying to dodge accountability for buoying Trump.