• Wed, December 11, 2024

by: The Economist

British politics enters the "death zone"

In British politics the death zone is less visceral, but no less serious. Any party that spends too long in the 20s or below in the polls is in deep trouble. Usually only one major party is unlucky enough to be so disliked.

by: Daily Express

Take back criminals or lose out on foreign aid and visa deals, countries told

The Shadow Justice Secretary said deporting 10,500 foreign national offenders is the "number one thing we can do to free-up prison capacity".

by: London Evening Standard

Two Government ministers to sit on assisted dying Bill scrutiny committee

The Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live be legally allowed to end their lives.

by: FOX59 News

Nation's largest labor union for federal employees rebukes GOP's efforts to end telework

AFGE, the country's largest labor union for federal employees, is fighting back against Republican criticisms that government workers are abusing remote work policies.

by: The West Australian

Katina Curtis: Politicians need both style and substance in their toolkits

Too far towards style-only and you fall into #scottyfrommarketing territory. Too far the other way and people feel abandoned no matter what practical actions leaders are taking.

by: Toronto Star

Ford government's bill to clamp down on homeless encampments to be introduced Thursday

NDP Leader Marit Stiles, whose Davenport riding includes Toronto's largest encampment in Dufferin-Grove Park, noted the premier's "legacy is homelessness and encampments in every community" since he was elected in 2018.

by: boston25news

The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises

But a funny thing happened on Trump's way back to the White House: The Biden and Trump national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife's edge.

by: BBC

Government recommends 2.8% pay rise for public sector

Government departments have recommended a pay rise of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers including teachers, NHS staff and senior civil servants next year. Unions responded by saying the proposed pay increase was too low, with one threatening strike action.

by: Mint

Politics News News Today Live: Sitharaman rejects Rahul Gandhi's claim that PSBs only helping the rich

Stay engaged with the latest in politics, covering government policies, political debates, and legislative updates. From breaking developments in national governance to international diplomatic relations,

by: THE WEEK

Inside Trump's billionaire Cabinet

A billionaire himself, Trump's decision to staff his pending White House with fellow ten-figure figures (eight so far) has made his administration worth "more than the GDP of 169 different countries," at least $350 billion,

by: Oregonian

New Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read hires top staff from treasury, Senate

Tobias Read, a Democrat elected in November, spent the past eight years as state treasurer before being elected secretary of state.

by: coloradopolitics

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis criticized for blaming wolf reintroduction program costs on ranchers

Governor Jared Polis faces backlash for blaming ranchers for the cost of Colorado's wolf reintroduction program.

by: Pew Research Center

Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption

Voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in what turned out to be a difficult year for incumbents and traditional political parties.

by: Time

The History of North Carolina Exposes the Truth About Swing States

Tight electoral margins might be thought to foster centrism. In reality, partisan power grabs are incentivized.

by: Time

Trump's and Biden's Advisers Had the Same Problem: a Stubborn Candidate

Take the Democrats. Jen O'Malley Dillon, who ran Joe Biden's 2020 presidential race and served as the deputy chief of staff in the West Wing, was dispatched to reprise the role earlier this year, despite widespread concerns that his age, among other concerns, would keep him from drawing the support he needed.

by: The New York Times

How Romania's Fascist and Communist Pasts Haunt Its Politics

An ultranationalist politician's surge shows how many people would rather forget the country's fascist past, experts say. On Wednesday, a new government was announced that pledged a pro-European path.

by: Sydney Morning Herald

As Dutton goes low, Albanese goes nowhere. We're trapped in an era of one-and-done PMs

Shifting and dodging is working for Peter Dutton, even if it foreshadows a Bizarro World election and a dog's breakfast of policies should the Coalition win.

by: MSN

Trump to end ban on migrant arrests at churches and hospitals: report

Donald Trump's incoming administration plans to scrap a long-standing policy keeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from arresting immigrants at churches, hospitals and family events without approval from supervisors.

by: MSN

Schumer torpedoed by Manchin and Sinema on crucial NLRB vote

Senate Republicans defeated a last-minute effort by outgoing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) to ensure a Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board for the first two years of Trump's presidency.

by: MSN

The global players in Syria before and after Assad

The overthrow followed a 13-year civil war, which started after Assad crushed pro-democracy protests, killing more than half a million people and displacing millions more, and embroiled international powers and their proxies.

by: MSN

Joe Biden approves national security memo on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia ahead of Donald Trump's return

President Biden has approved a national security memorandum to guide the incoming Trump administration on countering growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The classified memo recommends improved interagency cooperation,

by: MSN

EU weighing first sanctions against Russia for misinformation, election interference and cyber attacks

The European Union is considering sanctions against Russian hybrid threats — a first-time move intended to curb alleged cyber attacks, election interference, and other acts of sabotage that have reportedly increased since the invasion of Ukraine.

by: MSN

802 News: How to fix and fund Vermont K-12 education

Outrage over double-digit property tax increases and a record number of school budget defeats this spring prompted the Legislature to agree to examine the state's education system and how it's financed.

by: MSN

Starmer and farmers locked in deadlock over tax changes after hundreds of tractors descend on Westminster

Starmer and farmers locked in deadlock over tax changes after hundreds of tractors descend on Westminster - Hundreds of farmers brought their tractors to Westminster for a day of protest - but the Lab

by: MSN

Judge tosses Michael Flynn's $50 million lawsuit that claimed he was prosecuted to 'derail and discredit' Trump's 2020 presidential bid

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn that claimed he was maliciously prosecuted by Robert Mueller's team The post Judge tosses Michael Flynn's $50 million lawsuit that claimed he was prosecuted to 'derail and discredit' Trump's 2020 presidential bid first appeared on Law & Crime.

by: MSN

Why 'ideological and policy disagreements' are expected in Trump's Cabinet: analysis

As Donald Trump continues to make filling his Cabinet one of his first priorities, a number of the controversial picks were once publicly critical of the president-elect. Miami Herald reports several political experts spoke with McClatchy News about what this could mean for the incoming president.

by: MSN

Trump's Cabinet And Key Jobs: Kimberly Guilfoyle, Tom Barrack And Andrew Ferguson Selected As Latest Picks

Kimberly Guilfoyle . Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancée, was nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle is a television pe

by: MSN

Bill Clinton 'thinks' Donald Trump won election 'fair and square' on The View

Bill Clinton raised some eyebrows with a comment about Donald Trump winning the 2024 election while on The View.

by: MSN

Listening and leading: Those who know Ron deHarte best describe what to expect from city's next mayor

With a rich background in community service and advocacy, those we spoke to say deHarte will champion inclusivity in city governance as he becomes the 25th mayor.

by: MSN

EU supports denial of asylum to migrants used by Russia and Belarus for pressure

The European Commission has recognised certain restrictions on the rights of migrants, which Russia and Belarus use as part of their migration pressure on EU member states, as acceptable. Source: a statement by the European Commission on 11 December,

by: MSN

China's customs chief and trade warrior Yu Jianhua dies aged 63 after sudden illness

China's customs chief Yu Jianhua, who helped China fight its trade war with the US during Donald Trump's first term in the White House, has died suddenly aged 63. Yu was suddenly taken ill on Tuesday and died despite receiving emergency treatment,

by: MSN

Scott urges investigation into Chinese garlic, cites human waste and forced labor concerns

We have already seen numerous instances of Chinese food products, such as fish, chicken, and even baby formula, causing harm to consumers in the U.S.," Scott wrote in the let

by: MSN

New Jersey Governor Signs New Law to Limit Book Bans and Protect Librarians

Librarians and schools weary from escalating efforts to ban books have new protections under legislation Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Monday. The "Freedom to Read Act" limits book bans in public schools and libraries and shields librarians from lawsuits and criminal charges filed by folks who find library materials obscene or otherwise objectionable.

by: MSN

Assad's fall, Romania's canceled election, Trump's Taiwan approach, and more: Your questions, answered

How did Bashar Assad get driven out of Syria after more than 20 years in power? What are your thoughts on his replacements? I was surprised that Assad fell. He's been such an important client for both Iran and Russia for decades and received their immediate support when the rebels began their offensive.

by: MSN

OPAPRU set to become national peace institute in 2025

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) is expected to be converted into a national peace institute in 2025 to gather research data and promote peace education across the country,

by: MSN

Nevada Judge Rules Against Rubert Murdoch's Bid to Alter Family Trust and Cement Lachlan's Control of Fox News, Calls It 'Carefully Crafted Charade.'

Nevada Probate Commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. has ruled against Rupert Murdoch's attempt to amend his family trust to secure control of Fox News for his son, Lachlan Murdoch. Gorman Jr. called the effort a "carefully crafted charade" and found both Murdoch and his son acted in "bad faith.

by: MSN

Trump's Department of Government Efficiency applicants waiting weeks to hear back: WSJ

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, there is no shortage of applicants to be part of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's fledgling "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) being created by Donald Trump's administration which has been taking online applications for weeks.

by: MSN

Pag-asa Islanders wish for peace and aid as BFAR delivers some Christmas cheer

If there is one wish that Pag-asa Island coordinator Ronnie Cojamco would like to come true this Christmas, it is for the Chinese to stop harassing Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea. Cojamco has been living on the island since 1999 and as years go by,

by: MSN

Will Trump ban H-1B visas? The issue could divide him and Elon Musk

Immigration attorneys are bracing for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the restrictive immigration policies of his first term, including a 2020 attempt to ban H-1B visas, the temporary work visa for high-skilled foreign workers.

by: MSN

Here's how much Ted Cruz and Colin Allred have raised in their U.S. Senate race

In 2024, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred have collectively raised almost $193 million for the U.S. Senate race, making it the most expensive Senate race in the nation.

by: MSN

Governor Moore backs lifting Maryland's ban on grocery store beer and wine sales

Imagine heading into a grocery store to pick up what you need for dinner, maybe some snacks, and beer. Or maybe a bottle of wine. For most Americans, that may n

by: MSN

Scholz confirms Ukraine will receive sixth IRIS-T system and Patriot launchers by year-end

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Germany's total assistance to Ukraine has reached 37 billion euros, the largest of any European country. He thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's security,

by: MSN

Bill Clinton and James Patterson Announce New Thriller "The First Gentleman": 'We Really Take the Gloves Off'

The First Gentleman,' a stand-alone novel, follows the cowriters' previous books, including 'The President is Missing'

by: MSN

Ford government faces constitutional challenge over bike lane law

Cycle Toronto has launched a charter challenge claiming the Ford government is engaging in a "legislative campaign against people who ride bikes"

by: MSN

DOJ Misled Courts To Spy On Lawmakers And Staff During 'Russiagate' Probe, Watchdog Finds

Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has revealed that DOJ personnel misled courts in order to obtain gag orders that prevented dozens of elected officials and Congressional staffers from knowing they were being spied on during the Russiagate investigation.

by: MSN

Kemp lists hurricane relief and lawsuit limits as top 2025 priorities

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told lawmakers Tuesday that he will emphasize relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and attempts to limit lawsuit verdicts in the state legislative session that begins Jan. 13.

by: MSN

Parliament denies asking EACC to vet Fred Matiang'i, Mutahi Kagwe and 3 others for CS posts: "Fake"

The National Assembly flagged as fake a letter purported to have come from it and addressed to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for vetting.

by: MSN

What is medical misogyny? Government and NHS face 'urgent wake-up call' on women's health services

What is medical misogyny? Government and NHS face 'urgent wake-up call' on women's health services - A cross-party group is calling for an overhaul of women's reproductive health services

British politics enters the "death zone"

In British politics the death zone is less visceral, but no less serious. Any party that spends too long in the 20s or below in the polls is in deep trouble. Usually only one major party is unlucky enough to be so disliked.
The article from *The Economist* discusses the current state of British politics, describing it as entering a "death zone" where the political atmosphere is fraught with challenges and uncertainties. It highlights the Conservative Party's struggles with internal divisions, leadership instability, and policy failures, particularly in managing the economy and public services post-Brexit. The opposition, led by Labour, is also facing its own set of issues, including defining its stance on key issues like Brexit and economic policy, amidst a backdrop of voter disillusionment. The piece suggests that the upcoming elections could be pivotal, with the potential for significant shifts in political power, but also warns of the dangers of political gridlock and the rise of populist sentiments. The overall tone conveys a sense of urgency and concern about the future direction of British governance.

Read the Full The Economist Article at:
https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/12/11/british-politics-enters-the-death-zone