Mon, December 9, 2024

by: The Bulwark

Stay on the Road to Damascus

Syrians gather at Umayyad Square to celebrate the collapse of 61 years of Baath Party rule in Damascus, Syria on December 9, 2024. (Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images.)

by: New York Sun

Greater Idaho Movement and Other Secessionist Groups Look to Trump 2.0 as Their Time

Campaigns to change state borders or form new states speak to the divide among rural and urban, red and blue, that the 2024 election map showcases.

by: WLRN

Lara Trump steps down as RNC co-chair and addresses speculation about Florida Senate seat

Lara Trump will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. One of her potential next steps is replacing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump tapped to be the next secretary of state.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

'I did some exercise': Albanese returns serve over tennis photos

The prime minister said he had already visited a synagogue and had six hours of meetings before he was photographed playing tennis on Saturday afternoon.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Australia spends $140m to China-proof Nauru

China will be blocked from striking any security or telecommunications deals with Nauru in exchange for $140 million from Australian taxpayers.

by: NBC News

'It's like Game of Thrones': Inside the jockeying for Trump administration jobs

Trump has moved quickly to identify top officials for his next administration, but it hasn't all gone smoothly.

by: Prime Minister of India

PM addresses the programme organised by Ramakrishna Math in Gujarat

Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi extended his greetings to the revered Shrimat Swami Gautamananda Ji Maharaj, revered saints of Ramakrishna Math and Mission from India and abroad, the Chief Minister of Gujarat,

by: Business Standard

Who is George Soros, the man at the centre of political debate in India?

The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of links to an organisation funded by the George Soros Foundation, which supports the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Travel warning for Jewish visitors to Australia after synagogue attack

Anthony Albanese announced a new taskforce to tackle antisemitism, but the US-based Jewish human rights organisation still issued a warning.

by: ABC12

Trump lays out sweeping early acts on deportation and January 6 pardons

President-elect Donald Trump in a television interview that aired Sunday previewed a sweeping agenda for his first days in office, outlining how his administration will prioritize deporting migrants w

by: Mother Jones

What Local Texans Pay to Subsidize New Gas Terminals: $4 Million Per Job

The tax breaks that Gulf Coast communities hope will attract investment and employment mainly help the developers, a new analysis finds.

by: Brisbane Times

The LNP MPs paid extra to lead scrutiny of the government's new laws

While those elevated to chair parliamentary committees may get less attention than ministers or opposition frontbenchers, they wield a lot of influence.

by: ABC

Biden says fall of Assad regime in Syria is a 'historic opportunity'

The current and next president responded to the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime after he fled the country as rebels advanced into Damascus.

by: MSN

Auchincloss: Syrian government collapse is a 'potential win' but 'not uncomplicated'

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) said on Sunday that the collapse of the Syrian government is a "potential win" for the U.S. but noted the dynamic is more complicated since the rebel forces are still "some pretty bad guys.

by: MSN

From eye doctor to brutal dictator: The rise (and fall) of Syria's Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad never intended to go into politics. He became one of the world's most brutal dictators whose thuggish rule ended abruptly when rebels stormed into Damascus Saturday night, causing his army − and him − to flee.

by: MSN

Syrian premier says government still functioning but challenges loom

But there were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country, which is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance.

by: The Indian Express

Decode Politics: Who is 'Telangana Thalli', why there is a row over her statue

The Revanth Reddy government has received flak from the BRS and the BJP for tweaking the design of Telangana Thalli, or the mother of Telangana, with the move labelled an attack on the state's cultural identity.

by: The Mirror

Labour echoes Dominic Cummings' drive to recruit 'weirdos and misfits' into Whitehall

In a speech on shaking up Whitehall, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden pointed to Dominic Cummings' callout for 'super-talented weirdos' to work for Boris Johnson back in 2020

by: The New York Times

New York Times - Top Stories

Rebels stormed the Syrian capital on Sunday without encountering any significant resistance from government forces. Assad's Whereabouts Are Unclear 1 min read Who Is the Leader of Syria's ...

by: Mediaite

'Wants to Protect His Child': Durbin Defends Biden as Tapper Grills Him On Hunter Pardon President 'Said Again and Again' He Wouldn't Do

Joe Biden's unconditional pardon of Hunter covers any crimes his son might have committed dating back to 2014, which Durbin said is just being a loving dad.

by: Associated Press

How some legislatures are undercutting their voters, plus Trump's negotiations with world leaders

This newsletter was originally sent out via email to our Ground Game subscribers on Dec. 9. You can subscribe at any time at apnews.com/newsletters.

by: The New York Times

A Century-Old Law's Aftershocks Are Still Felt at the Supreme Court

Congress let the justices choose the cases they would decide. That change "continues to prompt political contention and crisis," a scholar argues.

by: MSN

Civil Service needs 'innovators and disrupters', McFadden says

Civil Service needs 'innovators and disrupters', McFadden says - The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster cited Airbnb, WhatsApp and Spotify as examples of start-ups the Civil Service could emulate.

by: CounterPunch

How Republics Succeed, Falter, and Fail

The U.S. enjoys many strengths that give it an edge over other republics, such as a decentralized and innovative economy that draws global talent and

by: MSN

Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria?

Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria? - The Home Secretary can decide to lift a ban on a proscribed organisation.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

'The fear is palpable': Australian women and children trapped in Syria afraid for their lives

Australia has had five years to repatriate dozens of women and children who went to Syria under Islamic State.

by: Mises Institute

The Study Supporting California's $20 Minimum Wage is Just Politics as Usual

A new study from the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at UC Berkeley claims that California's new $20 fast food minimum wage has had no adverse

by: Buffalo News

Movers and shakers: Report outlines Buffalo's power structure, offers guide for how to navigate it

Our City Action Buffalo last month released a set of reports aimed at helping seasoned organizers and people looking to become civically engaged alike − a guide for understanding and challenging the well-established power structures in Buffalo and Western New York.

by: Government Executive

Politics vs. Policy: Building partnerships with new appointees

Among other things, they bring new political appointees to leadership positions in an agency or program, and they will supervise or oversee career civil servants. The latter are duty-bound to follow the lawful orders of the former.
Sun, December 8, 2024

by: World Socialist Web Site

Fluoridation of community water and the politics of disinformation

Robert F Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has promised to end water fluoridation, a program which has been called one of the ten greatest achievements in public health.

by: The Daily Star

Three pro-BNP bodies march towards Indian mission

Three pro-BNP organisations yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, demanding the stop of misinformation about Bangladesh and ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi missions in India.

by: ABC

Biden says fall of Assad regime a 'historic opportunity'

The current and next president responded to the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime after he fled the country as rebels advanced into Damascus.

by: Newsroom

Climate politics matures with Greens emissions plan

Analysis: The Green Party's alternative emissions reduction plan can serve as the platform for a substantive debate on climate, Marc Daalder writes.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

ALP desperately needs Gen Z voters. Too bad Albanese just drove us further away

The PM will spend much of his time on the campaign trail arguing his government has served young Australians well - a statement that was largely true until last week.

by: Philadelphia Inquirer

Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a U.S. withdrawal from NATO is possible

Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire went beyond the public policy stands taken by the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. It also marks Trump wading unusually deeply into efforts before his Jan. 20 inauguration to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration.

by: Reuters

Trump aims to deport all immigrants in the US illegally

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump aims to deport all immigrants in the U.S. illegally over his four-year term but wants a deal to protect so-called "Dreamer" immigrants, he said in an interview that aired on Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.

by: The West Australian

Newspoll: Voters rate Anthony Albanese as weakest leader in decades

Mr Albanese unveiled the opening of a major train line in Perth's north on Sunday, where the booming outer suburbs helped to fuel the red wave that had Labor pick up five seats and secure majority government in 2022. Mr Dutton, in the crucial swing seat ...

by: The New York Times

What to Know: How Rebels Toppled the Syrian Government and Deposed Assad

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, whose name means Organization for the Liberation of the Levant, began to form at the beginning of Syria's civil war, when jihadists formed the Al Nusra Front to fight pro-Assad forces with hundreds of insurgent and suicide attacks.

by: Sky News Australia

Sydney Trains officials warn commuters of service reductions and cancellations on Monday after industrial action over pay

Train commuters are being urged to reconsider their travel plans on Monday due to major cancellations and reduced services following industrial action by rail unions.

by: CNN

Trump previews immigration actions and January 6 pardons in first TV interview since election

President-elect Donald Trump previewed immigration actions he plans to take in his first days in office and outlined how he expects his Justice Department to handle investigations into his political opponents and the criminal cases against January 6 rioters in his first major television interview since winning November's presidential election.

by: Cfr.org

After Fall of Assad Dynasty, Syria's Risky New Moment

The swift collapse of Syria's regime brings a humiliating end to Russia's and Iran's sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Dutton takes the lead, but is he defying gravity?

The opposition leader is now ahead in the opinion polls at a time of deep unrest over the cost of living when he has no significant public plan to fix the problem.

by: Charlotte Observer

Biden to push for Austin Tice return as Assad flees Syria: 'We think we can get him back'

Assad's regime could present an opportunity to bring home the journalist more than 12 years after he traveled to Syria to cover its descent into war.

by: MSN

Starmer welcomes fall of Assad's 'barbaric regime' and aims to 'restore stability' in Syria and provide 'essential aid'

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the fall of Bashar Assad's "barbaric regime" in Syria, following a dramatic rebel takeover of Damascus. The development marks an unprecedented shift in Syria's political landscape,

by: MSN

Netanyahu says Assad regime fell because of Israeli strikes on Iran and Hezbollah

by: MSN

'Speedos, chandeliers and a jacuzzi': Inside Assad's abandoned presidential palaces

Assad's abandoned presidential palaces, looting the dictator's belongings and posing behind his desk. As rebel groups take control of the capital Damascus, videos emerging online show both fighters and civilians entering a sprawling complex and combing through its rooms and grounds.

by: MSN

Waltz says DOGE cutting trillions of government spending is 'practical' outlook

Rep. Mike Walz (R-FL) expressed his confidence in the Department of Government Efficiency to keep the U.S. from falling "off the financial cliff." In the weeks since President-elect Donald Trump won the Oval Office,

by: Newstalk ZB

Dr Leon Goldsmith: Bashar Al-Assad was 'vulnerable and exposed'

Rebel forces in Syria say they have ended Bashar Al-Assad's rule as the government's troops withdraw from Damascus. Otago University Professor for Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics Leon Goldsmith joins Early Edition.

A Century-Old Law's Aftershocks Are Still Felt at the Supreme Court

Congress let the justices choose the cases they would decide. That change "continues to prompt political contention and crisis," a scholar argues.

The article from The New York Times, published on December 9, 2024, discusses the Supreme Court's decision to review the Judiciary Act of 2024. This act, passed by Congress, aims to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court from nine to thirteen. The move has sparked significant controversy, with supporters arguing that it's necessary to balance the court's ideological makeup, which they claim has become too conservative. Critics, however, see it as an unconstitutional power grab by the legislative branch, potentially undermining the court's independence. The Supreme Court's decision to take up the case could have profound implications for the balance of power in the U.S. government, the court's legitimacy, and the future of judicial appointments. Legal experts are divided, with some believing the court might strike down the act on constitutional grounds, while others think the justices might uphold it, citing historical precedents where Congress has altered the court's size.

Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/us/politics/supreme-court-judiciary-act.html