• Wed, December 18, 2024

by: ABC News

Democracies across the globe are at a crossroads, as authoritarians seek to chip away at freedoms

Still, there is a clear silver lining for democracy. The same Pew poll that found its appeal slipping also found that it remains by far the preferred system of government worldwide. And people turned out to demonstrate that, during elections and in protest ...

by: The Independent

Musk and Farage have handed Starmer a golden chance to clean up political murky money

It's in the Labour Party's interest to have a cap on individual donations, otherwise Musk's attempt to buy votes could put Reform in the running for the next election, writes Andrew Grice

by: Daily Express

Lee Anderson's scathing two-word attack on Keir Starmer after PM 'told lies to pensioners'

The outspoken Reform MP spoke out as details Labour backtracking on pledges to pensioners and WASPI women have emerged.

by: syracuse.com

Congress unveils funding deal with more than $100 billion in disaster aid

Washington — Congressional leaders have unveiled a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in emergency aid to help states and local communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.

by: The Scranton Times-Tribune

Musk and Trump are viewed roughly the same by Americans, new poll finds

Musk's attachment to Trump has created an alliance between America's most powerful politician and its richest businessman — and roughly the same percentages of Americans have favorable views of each, according to a new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

by: WESA

Pa. casts 19 Electoral College votes for Donald Trump

Pennsylvania's 19 Republican electors submitted ballots in support of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on Tuesday at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. The largely ceremonial vote brings the country one step closer to a nationwide congressional certification in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.

by: KXXV News Channel 25

Texas school districts asked to return $16 million in federal funding for special education services

The request comes after an audit found Texas improperly billed the federal government for reimbursements related to Medicaid-eligible students.

by: BBC

Badenoch attacks PM over 'cruel' Winter Fuel Payment cuts in final PMQs of year

by: The Daily Mirror

Map shows how many WASPI women missed out in your area and how much they would have got

Keir Starmer faces fury over Labour's decision to reject compensation for over 3.5million women in spite of a bombshell watchdog report calling for payouts of nearly £3,000

by: WLRN

'Culture for Service and Service for Humanity': Phi Beta Sigma Way touches down in Miami Gardens

The City of Miami Gardens will rename a section of Northwest 191st Street "Phi Beta Sigma Way" on Dec. 19. The Rho Sigma Chapter, established in 1927, has played a pivotal role in South Florida, advocating for education and social justice.

by: Yahoo News UK

Why has Elon Musk met Nigel Farage and what could it mean for Reform UK?

The billionaire owner of X is reportedly keen to influence UK politics, but would the current rules allow him to?

by: The Hill

Congress strikes deal to avert government shutdown

Congressional leaders have struck a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded beyond a looming Dec. 20 shutdown deadline. Legislation rolled out by leadership on Tuesday would kick the Friday

by: ktvq

Congress would get pay raise if lawmakers pass government funding bill

If the funding bill passes, members of Congress could receive a raise of up to 3.8%, or about $6,600 annually. Congress has to pass the bill, which also includes $100 billion for disaster relief, before Saturday to avoid a partial government shutdown.

by: Governing

Who Depends Most on Washington? Rural Counties That Voted Heavily for Trump

More than anything it's the simple result of Americans growing older, a fact of life we haven't come to grips with politically.

by: PBS

Senate defense bill to raise troop pay and bar trans care for minors to receive final vote

Lawmakers said those were key to improving the quality of life of service members at a time when many military families rely on food banks and other government assistance programs to make ends meet. "It includes major quality of life improvements ...

by: Mother Jones

Trump's Billionaire Cabinet Is Unprecedented

The president-elect has tapped five reported billionaires for cabinet posts: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for interior secretary, hedge funder Scott Bessent for treasury secretary, Cantor Fitzgerald chief Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary,

by: USA Today

Larry Bucshon says he's figured out his post-Congress career

It's a well-worn and not necessarily surprising path 8th District Rep. Larry Bucshon will follow when he leaves Congress next month after 14 years.

by: The Daily Telegraph

Scottish Labour leader attacks Starmer's 'deeply disappointing' Waspi women decision

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, said: "Anas Sarwar thought he would stroll into Bute House in 2026, but Sir Keir Starmer is wrecking Scottish Labour's campaign by breaking every promise he made before the general election and betraying pensioners, farmers, businesses and workers."

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Why my bosses are both out of a job. But spa builders are doing OK

What's in a job title? Everything, if your job just happened to disappear as part of a major revamp by the bureau of statistics of the nation's thousands of occupations.

by: PBS

Congress nears funding deal with more than $100 billion in disaster aid, avoiding government shutdown

Congressional leaders have unveiled legislation that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in emergency aid to help states and local communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.

by: MSN

UN calls for 'free and fair' elections in Syria

The UN envoy to Syria called on Wednesday for "free and fair" elections after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, as he voiced hope for a political solution for Kurdish-held areas. "A new Syria

by: MSN

LIVE at 3PM: Gov. Pillen and local leaders to share updates on the 2025 summer EBT program

Gov. Jim Pillen is set to join local leaders to talk about the 2025 summer EBT program on Wednesday at 3 p.m. You can watch the news conference when it begins in the video player above. Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi and Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher and others are joining Gov.

by: MSN

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport breaks ground on $4.1 million curbside canopy project

The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is making upgrades to its site with a $4.1 million canopy project.

by: MSN

Anti-vax philanthropy and legal fees: How RFK Jr. makes his millions

by: MSN

'You're A Political Extremist, Aren't You?': John Kennedy Loses It On Witness During Senate Hearing

During the Senate hearing on the effects of climate change on increasing insurance prices, Senator John Kennedy lost it on a witness, stating "you're a political extremist, aren't you?"

by: MSN

North East Waspi women slam 'betrayal' as Labour Government refuses compensation

Labour announced on Tuesday that the Government would not be paying out compensation to millions of women born in the 1950s who were not properly informed about increases to their state pension age

by: MSN

SA and Mozambique in pact to 'mitigate disruption' at ports of entry after trade plummets

Ministers from South Africa and Mozambique said the post-election unrest in Mozambique has had a 'significant negative impact' on trade, warning of 'great danger' of food and energy insecurity if the crisis persists.

by: MSN

State Department 'censorship' office finds lifeline in 1,500 page spending bill

by: MSN

Kari Lake to Norwegian popstars: 5 stories that defined Arizona's year in politics

With abortion, fake electors and Ruben Gallego's Senate run, Arizona stayed in the national spotlight in 2024. Here are the Top 5 moments in politics.

by: MSN

Idaho officially casts Electoral College votes for Trump and Vance

Idaho's four presidential electors officially cast their ballots in the Electoral College for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.

by: MSN

Owners of derelict shops and car parks will be forced to sell to build new homes

Councils will be given new powers to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy disused sites as Labour pushes to meet its target of building 1.5m new homes

by: MSN

Order of Canada goes to advocates, athletes, scientists and Deadpool

More than 40 years after being told she was a threat to Canada because of her sexuality, Diane Pitre is being given one of the country's top honours.

by: MSN

'Unreal!' Jim Acosta Laughs Out Loud At Brutal Exchange Between Dem Senator And CNN's Manu Raju

CNN anchor Jim Acosta laughed at an "unreal" exchange between Manu Raju and Sen. Dick Durbin over a congressional pay raise that turned into a brutal zingfest. The post 'Unreal!' Jim Acosta Laughs Out Loud At Brutal Exchange Between Dem Senator And CNN's Manu Raju first appeared on Mediaite.

by: MSN

Gov. Kevin Stitt fills final spot on Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board

Malloy is the second person chosen by the governor for the five-member board this month. On Dec. 6, Stitt appointed Tulsa lawyer Susan H. Stava.

by: MSN

Attorneys for Orange County and Elections Office meet for hearing Wednesday

Attorneys for Orange County and the Supervisor of Elections went before a judge Wednesday morning as more issues arise in a spending scandal.

by: MSN

A Guide to Some of the Key Movers and Influencers in Trump's Orbit

Feature / While showboats like Elon Musk and RFK Jr. get all the attention, the real power in a second Trump term is likely to be wielded by quietly effective bureaucrats and policy intellectuals like these men and women.

by: MSN

Biden Slaps Down Trump and Explains the Mystery Drones

President Joe Biden on Tuesday made his first public comments about recent reports of unexplained drone sightings in the northeast. Asked by reporters what was behind the drones, Biden answered: "Nothing nefarious,

by: MSN

The president has a right to confidential and intelligence funds

I HAVE been accused by Duterte loyalists, both of the ex-president and the incumbent vice president, of being a blind apologist of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Someone even alleged that among political analysts and columnists,

by: MSN

Trump team to reverse Biden EV and emissions initiatives -report

The transition team's recommendations include bolstering measures to block automotive imports from China and imposing global tariffs on battery materials.

by: MSN

Keir Starmer, David Lammy and Ed Miliband are begging you to punish Labour Party

As the Labour Party breaks yet another promise, it's worth reminding us that the betrayal of WASPI women isn't the only thing we should remember.

by: MSN

China has expanded its nuclear force and strengthened ties to Russia, the Pentagon says

China is expanding its nuclear force, has increased military pressure against Taiwan and has strengthened its ties with Russia over the past year, according to a Pentagon report Wednesday that details actions accelerating key areas of conflict with the United States.

by: MSN

House reverses course and plans to release Matt Gaetz ethics report

House reverses course and plans to release Matt Gaetz ethics report - Now-former congressman at center of years-long probe into allegations of sexual misconduct

by: MSN

Gov. Holcomb's tenure: Growth, controversy and future plans

News had a final sit-down interview with Holcomb, reflecting on the past eight years and looking forward to the future.

by: MSN

Trump says U.S. government "knows" where mysterious NJ drones came from

President-elect Donald Trump said the federal government knows where the drones spotted over New Jersey originated from, but he didn't offer evidence to support the claim.

by: MSN

MSNBC's Joy Reid calls out Democratic Party for being run like a 'gerontrocracy' of consultants and donors

MSNBC host Joy Reid criticized the Democratic Party for refusing to allow younger voices like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a chance to take leadership roles.

by: MSN

Red, Blue, And You: New Tool Lets Homebuyers Check Neighbors' Politics

Homebuyers are increasingly considering political leanings when choosing neighborhoods, according to a brand-new report. Real estate agents note that clients prioritize communities aligning with their political views, seeking compatibility beyond ...

by: MSN

Australian Embassy to return to Kyiv and operate fully from next month

The Australian Embassy in Ukraine was temporarily relocated from Kyiv to Lviv on Feb. 13, 2022, due to the Russian military buildup, and was then closed on Feb. 22 after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin recognized the "L/DPR" militant groups in Donbas.

by: MSN

New mission for longtime Trump ally and friend Herschel Walker

President-elect Donald Trump has a new game plan for Herschel Walker, naming the former football star and Republican Senate candidate as ambassador to the Bahamas.

Democracies across the globe are at a crossroads, as authoritarians seek to chip away at freedoms

Still, there is a clear silver lining for democracy. The same Pew poll that found its appeal slipping also found that it remains by far the preferred system of government worldwide. And people turned out to demonstrate that, during elections and in protest ...
The article from ABC News discusses the global state of democracy, highlighting that democracies worldwide are at a critical juncture as authoritarian regimes attempt to undermine freedoms and democratic processes. It points out that while there is a pushback against authoritarianism in some regions, the overall trend shows a decline in democratic norms. Key issues include the manipulation of elections, suppression of free speech, and the erosion of judicial independence. The piece references the V-Dem Institute's report, which indicates that more than half of the world's population now lives in autocracies, with countries like India experiencing significant democratic backsliding. Additionally, it mentions efforts by some democratic leaders to strengthen international alliances to counter these trends, emphasizing the importance of supporting civil liberties, free media, and fair elections to preserve democracy.

Read the Full ABC News Article at:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/democracies-globe-crossroads-authoritarians-seek-chip-freedoms-116900174

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