• Thu, February 13, 2025

by: CounterPunch

High-Tech Capitalism and Neo-Feudalism

This oligarchy/plutocracy constitutes 0.1% of the American population. It owns 14% of the nation's wealth, $22 trillion in stocks, bonds and real estate, while 50% of Americans own 2.4% of the national wealth ($4 trillion).

by: Forbes

5 Must-Read Books To Understand Russia And The War In Ukraine

Recently published books can help readers better understand Russia and the war in Ukraine. Here is a list of must-read books.

by: STAT

The biotech news stories you need to read today

The risk of pharma bribery, the risk of brain drain, and other risks (and rewards) in the biotech landscape this week.

by: katv

'Waste, fraud, and abuse': National Taxpayers Union praises DOGE efforts

A DOGE subcommittee held its first hearing focused on "improper payments" as the group takes a deeper look at how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

by: NPR

Covering the dismantling of federal agencies

Covering the paralyzation or drastic reduction of entire government departments requires a different approach.

by: Reuters

Musk will face consequences for meddling in German politics, election frontrunner warns

Elon Musk will face consequences for meddling in Germany's election campaign, Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become the country's next chancellor, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday.

by: CNN

'People are just flipping out': Billions in federal funding remain frozen despite court orders to keep the taps open

Federal agencies across Washington are finding ways to keep funding frozen even after judges last month temporarily blocked the White House's effort to pause trillions of dollars in federal assistance.

by: KUOW

Drive a Tesla and have big feelings about it? KUOW wants to hear from you

KUOW wants to know what it's been like to drive a Tesla around the Seattle area during this time of sweeping and contentious political change. Get in touch with KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone via email at sgreenstone@kuow.

by: Politico

What DOGE is really up to: A Silicon Valley take

If you go take over a company, you have to go fast, you have to go early and you have to go with some level of certainty that you are right, because you can't wait. You don't dilly-dally trying to follow processes and procedures, because if you do that, nothing gets done.

by: ABC

Tesla shares have plunged while Musk takes on Washington. Is that the reason?

Shares of Elon Musk's Tesla electric car company have fallen sharply, leading some investors to wonder if the drop is related to his cost-cutting work in Washington.

by: CNN

Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary

The Senate voted on Thursday to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health and Human Services secretary, a victory for President Donald Trump after Kennedy faced intense scrutiny over his controversial views on vaccines and public health policy.

by: Reuters

Exclusive: JPMorgan CEO Dimon derides in-office work pushback, demands efficiency

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon scorned calls from some employees to soften the bank's five-day return-to-office policy in an animated town hall meeting on Wednesday, according to a recording reviewed by Reuters.

by: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency: Modi's visit, expected new tariffs and RFK Jr.'s confirmation vote

President Donald Trump is expected to announce new tariffs Thursday and meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House as his Cabinet picks face key votes. Meanwhile, court hearings on challenges to the president's changes to USAID and ICE are set to take place.

by: CNN

In Congress, what's the difference between a budget resolution, reconciliation and spending bills?

There's understandable confusion over Capitol Hill lingo discussing the budget process and appropriations/spending process — which are two distinct things.

by: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency: Modi's visit, new tariffs expected and RFK Jr.'s confirmation vote

President Donald Trump is expected to announce new tariffs Thursday and meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House as his Cabinet picks face key votes. Meanwhile, court hearings on challenges to the president's changes to USAID and ICE are set to take place.

by: MSN

14 states file a lawsuit arguing Elon Musk's authority at DOGE is unconstitutional

The new lawsuit is one of several accusing President Donald Trump of skirting the Constitution and Musk of operating with unchecked power.

by: MSN

Trump targets allies and adversaries with 'reciprocal' tariffs in new executive order

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order implementing reciprocal tariffs on US trade partners and adversaries as he pushes to eliminate trade imbalances with Washington. View on euronews

by: MSN

Canada makes sweeping changes to First Nations child services program

Canada has announced sweeping changes to a program designed to ensure First Nations kids get the care and supports they need, when they need them.

by: MSN

Donald Trump Calls Senator Mitch McConnell 'Not Mentally' Equipped After He Voted Against Confirming Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Donald Trump called former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell not equipped "mentally" after he voted against confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence ...

by: MSN

Trump slams India's "high tariffs", says reciprocal tariffs will boost US jobs and production

An hour before his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump again commented on India's tariff structure, saying "they have the highest tariffs" and "it is a hard place to do business".

by: MSN

US Senate confirms Robert F Kennedy Jr as Health and Human Services Secretary

The US Senate on Thursday voted to confirm Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine activist as US Health and Human Services Secretary, NBC News reported. He was confirmed as US Health and Human Services Secretary with a vote of 52-48.

by: MSN

Trump and Musk Are Going to War Against Military Veterans

The president's new exec order gives Musk and DOGE carte blanche and sets limits on hiring veterans and transitioning active duty military personnel

by: MSN

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed and sworn in as the nation's health secretary

The Senate on Thursday confirmed vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration.

by: MSN

Guwahati: Assam Minister launches Online Building Permission System

Assam Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday ceremonially launched the Online Building Permission System (OBPS) during a programme held in Guwahati. The OBPS will be available in 32 Municipalities across the state.

by: MSN

Rep. Mike Lawler slams Gov. Hochul's 'gimmick' stance on NY Con Ed rate hikes in vicious takedown: 'Fake and political'

A Republican rival to Kathy Hochul blasted the governor's stance against massive Con Edison rate hikes — calling it a "gimmick" as he blamed her green energy policies for the sticker shock. Rep. Mike Lawler,

by: MSN

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Trump administration's Health and Human Services Secretary with a vote of 52 to 48. Kennedy will oversee about 80,000 employees with agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

by: MSN

White House attacks judges as Trump, Musk flout checks and balances

But their approach — which one prominent Democrat characterized as "flagrantly violating the law" — is drawing legal challenges and carries political risks.

by: MSN

Who is Paula White-Cain, Trump's faith adviser, and what's her connection to Polk County?

And Trump also issued an executive order forming a White House faith office and appointed controversial Florida pastor Paula White-Cain to lead it. White-Cain, a pastor at StoryLife Church and president of Paula White Ministries,

by: MSN

Trump and Putin to begin negotiations on ending Ukraine war

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said that in addition to plans for him and Mr Putin to visit one another,

by: MSN

Musk's 'ignorance' is setting Trump up for a fall: columnist

President Donald Trump's decision to let billionaire Elon Musk enforce his agenda by dismantling the government and gutting popular programs will likely come back to haunt him. That is the opinion of the Washington Post's Philip Bump who suggested that the man who bought Twitter,

by: MSN

Americans skeptical of Trump's tariffs on foreign goods

Americans do not believe that imposing tariffs on foreign products will help the US economy. Nearly half of those surveyed think that actions taken by Donald Trump could actually harm the American economy.

by: MSN

Nepal's social media bill raises free speech concerns

Critics argue that Nepal's proposed social media bill could stifle free speech, with provisions that grant the government sweeping powers to regulate online content.

by: MSN

US judge allows Trump to proceed with government employee buyout

A U.S. judge on Wednesday allowed Donald Trump's administration to move ahead with a buyout program for federal workers that could usher tens of thousands of workers off government payrolls as part of a sweeping effort to downsize the U.

by: MSN

USAID employees want a judge to keep blocking Trump's effort to pull most of them off the job

Employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development are asking a federal judge on Thursday to keep blocking an effort by President Donald Trump's administration meant to pull all but a fraction of worldwide staffers off the job.

by: MSN

'Panic, confusion and anger': Federal workers 'flipping out' over Trump's 'brazen' attacks

Federal agencies are trying to keep funding frozen despite court orders temporarily blocking Donald Trump's executive orders pausing trillions of dollars in government assistance. Administration officials insist the suspensions are lawful,

by: MSN

'BJP and NDA won't form government in Bihar after state polls', claims Lalu

Earlier, his son and leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav said the BJP "should not get too excited" about its win in Delhi because "it's difficult to understand Bihar".

by: MSN

Elon Musk calls for US to 'delete entire agencies' from federal government

Musk's comments came during his video call with the World Governments Summit in Dubai, in which he also made several references to "thermonuclear warfare" and the potential risks of artificial intelligence.

by: MSN

Elon Musk's takeover of federal systems could blow cover of American spies: report

President Donald Trump's close associate and billionaire benefactor Elon Musk is doing more than crippling the civil service and infiltrating government IT networks with his Department of Government Efficiency project,

by: MSN

What to know about the federal workforce under Trump

Since President Donald Trump began his second term last month, he has focused on dramatically reducing the federal workforce at a breakneck pace.

by: MSN

"What happened with us, Kejriwal, could happen with Nitish and...": Aaditya Thackeray alleges EVM fraud

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday said that the future of the country is in doubt as the BJP's dream is to break up and finish off every regional party in the country.Addressing a press conference here today,

by: MSN

US Congressman says Trump's aid freeze SA is 'driven by racist information and political bias'

Congressman Jonathan L Jackson condemns President Trump's decision to freeze financial aid to South Africa, labelling it as racially motivated and harmful to vital healthcare programmes.

by: MSN

Raila Odinga's AU Commission dream: 100 MPs in Addis Ababa, cost of flights and accommodation

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga is intensifying his bid for the AU Commission chairmanship. At least 100 MPs will travel to Addis Ababa to support him.

by: MSN

Behind the Curtain: Trump and Musk's masculine maximalism reshapes government

President Trump and Elon Musk, arguably the two most unorthodox and influential American leaders of the 21st century, are practicing and fine-tuning a fused theory of governing power: Masculine maximalism.

by: MSN

Ukraine's return to pre-2014 borders and NATO membership are 'unrealistic,' Hegseth tells allies

An argument escalated into a violence when a man attacked another with a meat cleaver near Jalan Meldrum, Johor Baru on Tuesday (Feb 11) afternoon. Police investigation indicated that the fight stemmed from a heated argument while both were inebriated. Read more at WATCH MORE: SUBSCRIBE: LIKE:

by: MSN

Priyanka Gandhi attacks BJP-led government, says border security rules changed for Adani's energy park

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday questioned the BJP-led government over a media report concerning the relaxation of protocols for a renewable energy park near the Pakistan border being developed by Adani Group and asked if "one person's business interest bigger than the question of national security".

by: MSN

Elon Musk calls for US government to 'delete entire agencies'

Elon Musk called Thursday to "delete entire agencies" from the United States' federal government as part of his push under President Donald Trump to radically cut spending and restructure its priorities.

by: MSN

Clinics to close, doctors and nurses to lose jobs as a result of Donald Trump's funding cuts

US President Donald Trump's decision to cut funding in South Africa will severely effect health and environmental initiatives which receive almost $320 million annually for essential services, says Stellenbosch University Health Professor Emeritus,

by: MSN

Clinics to close, doctors and nurses to lose jobs as a result of Trump's funding cuts

US President Donald Trump's decision to cut funding in South Africa will severely effect health and environmental initiatives which receive almost $320 million annually for essential services, says Stellenbosch University Health Professor Emeritus,

High-Tech Capitalism and Neo-Feudalism

This oligarchy/plutocracy constitutes 0.1% of the American population. It owns 14% of the nation's wealth, $22 trillion in stocks, bonds and real estate, while 50% of Americans own 2.4% of the national wealth ($4 trillion).
The article "High-Tech Capitalism and Neo-Feudalism" by Michael Hudson discusses how modern capitalism, driven by high-tech industries, is morphing into a form of neo-feudalism. Hudson argues that today's economic landscape, characterized by monopolistic tech giants, financialization, and the privatization of public goods, mirrors the feudal systems of the past where wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of a few. He critiques the current economic system for creating a new class of rentiers who extract wealth through monopolies, intellectual property rights, and financial mechanisms rather than through productive labor or innovation. This shift, according to Hudson, leads to increasing inequality, where the majority are left to pay rents to these modern-day lords, essentially turning into serfs. He points out that this economic structure not only stifles competition and innovation but also undermines democracy by concentrating political power alongside economic power, thus creating a society where economic freedom is curtailed, and social mobility is severely limited.

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