Welcome to The Now

 

 

 

 

  From Al-Jazeera : Israel has halted the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza and threatened Hamas with more “consequences” if the Palestinian group does not agree to extend the now-ended phase one of their fragile ceasefire agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday that “the entry of all goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip will be halted,” accusing Hamas of refusing to accept a framework for the continuation of talks proposed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff. The A.P. breaks down what this may mean : No word from the U.S. The ceasefire’s first phase ended early Sunday. Minutes later, Israel said it supported a new proposal to extend that phase through the Jewish holiday of Passover in mid-April. It called the proposal a U.S. one from Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Israel also warned it could resume the war after the first phase if it believes negotiations are ineffective. Negotiations on the second phase were meant to start a month ago, incre...

 File under, "Can't Make This Stuff Up:" And speaking of Bernie Sanders, latest attempt to recruit for Democrats using quasi-socialist rhetoric:  Seriously; compare Bernie Sanders' language to Kshama Sawant's:  Neither Democrats nor Republicans will save America. They both want to orchestrate the fall of China (and Russia), increase the country's imperial stranglehold on the planet and maintain the capitalistic oppression of their citizens. They may say different things and take different approaches, but the endgame is the same. 

Whether the United States could win World War III is uncertain, as it depends on many factors and different scenarios could lead to different outcomes.  Factors that could affect the outcomes. Technology The US has historically focused on being a generation ahead in technology, but its adversaries are growing their own technology.  Allies The US would likely have allies like NATO members in Europe and partners in Asia-Pacific, but these allies could be strained in a conflict.  Nuclear weapons All major powers are building new nuclear weapons, and an accidental war could occur.  Possible outcomes The US could help Taiwan defend itself, but lose many ships, aircraft, and personnel.  China could win a war.  A Trump loss in Ukraine could embolden other countries and lead to World War III.  Other considerations The US has spent a lot of money on defense planning, but its adversaries are also investing in their own defense.  The US is not alone in its e...

 

 

 

Democrats, whether elected, non-elected or unelected, think that the best way to wield and challenge power is via podcasts and social media shows:

 

 

 The first is for actor Gene Hackman (95) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (63). The second is for actress Michelle Trachtenberg (39).  

 

 Summary:  Eric Adams has a multitude of legal and political problems that have ended any political ambitions he may have had. Donald Trump may have kept him from going to jail, but in seeking a lifeline from a president hated by most New Yorkers, he has sealed his fate and will go down in history as the anti-Black, Black mayor. Full article by Margaret Kimberley here . 

 "The ease with which corporations shredded their DEI policies is why it’s important to note the fundamental differences between fighting to be included and fighting for autonomy and self-determination. Diversifying oppressive structures and seeking equity within corporatocracy is as limited as trying to do the same within representative governance. Before you demand a seat at the table, you should first ask if it’s a table worth being at in the first place . Let’s not pull up chairs at dinner parties that need to be destroyed . Unfortunately, that’s the standard response for a public hypnotized into thinking they have a collective stake in capitalism."   -- William C. Anderson, from his opinion article  Another Way Out: DEI and the Limits of Multicultural Consumerism . 

 

  Also, the tariffs (aka, import taxes) will help generate the "revenue" needed:

 Danny Haiphong and Richard Wolff discuss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  From WSWS : On February 25, over 40,000 East and Gulf Coast dockworkers will vote on a proposed six-year labor contract worked out by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). Almost a month after the last-minute announcement of the tentative agreement on January 8, the ILA released a 50-minute video, featuring pre-recorded statements by ILA President Harold J. Daggett and Vice President Dennis A. Daggett. While the video was ostensibly meant to play up the contract “highlights,” it shows in fact that the contract offer, which was reached to block a powerful strike, is a miserable sellout. Dockworkers must reject it by the widest possible margin, and organize themselves to prepare for action for a contract which actually meets their demands. The key issue which workers are prepared to strike over is the question of automation, which the port operators aim to use in order to cut thousands of jobs. They point to the far...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why else would they target medical devices?

 Probably just a coincidence, right?

 

 

 

 

"We share the pathologies of all dying empires with their mixture of buffoonery, rampant corruption, military fiascos, economic collapse and savage state repression." Chris Hedges, " The Empire Self Destructs "

 From Rachel Blevins:

 

 

 

Sanders would be better off joining independent or third-party based organizations who are already fighting against the oligarchy:

 

 

 

 

 "Please Hammer don't hurt him" was a plea, not a catchphrase. 

  Via USA Today :  The Trump administration rescinded firings of hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nation's arsenal of nuclear weapons, in a reversal that has fueled scrutiny over Elon Musk's efforts to cut the federal workforce. A spokesman for the Department of Energy, which the semi-autonomous NNSA falls under, told USA TODAY less than 50 workers had their jobs terminated. About 325 NNSA workers initially received notices late last week that they had been laid off, according to Reuters. The dismissals are part of Trump's wave of mass firings throughout the federal workforce, engineered by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The original notices prompted one senior NNSA staff member Friday to issue a public call to action before the terminations were halted . "We cannot expect to project strength, deterrence, and world dominance while simultaneously stripping away the federal workforce that provides ...

 

 

 Well, at least not for the Democratic Party:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 For those claiming that president Trump is a "peace president:" Ahmed Maeleninine, an Omani-born leader of Islamic State, was killed in U.S. airstrikes against the terror group in Somalia earlier this month, officials of the Puntland region said Wednesday. Maeleninine was the main target of the Feb. 1 airstrike against Islamic State hideouts in the semi-autonomous region of northern Somalia. In an interview with VOA Somali, the Puntland state minister for presidency, Abdifitah Mohamed Abdinur, said Somalia and its international security partners had been watching Maeleninine’s movements in the region. “He was an Omani-born man in his 40s who was wanted for international crimes and his movements and activities have been followed at least for the last two years, as he was hiding in the mountainous area of Puntland,” Abdinur said. “He was a thorn removed from the flesh of Somalis and the world population, and he eventually tasted what he deserved.” The U.S. Africa Command (AFR...

 Sure sounds like it:

 

From CBS News : A performer at Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show unfurled a flag emblazoned with the words Sudan and Gaza in a protest over the two wars roiling the Middle East. Security personnel at the stadium detained the performer shortly after the flag was waved atop a car used as a prop in the performance. New Orleans police said the man was ejected from the stadium after the incident, and no arrest or summons was issued.  The NFL said the person would be banned for life from NFL stadiums and events. "We commend security for quickly detaining the individual who displayed the flag. He was a part of the 400-member field cast. The individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show. No one involved with the production was aware of the individual's intent," the league said. The company behind the halftime show, Roc Nation, said the protest was "neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal." They then ...

 The former Vice President had to be edited to sound informed and prepared, and still failed on both counts: Harris' policy admission is around the 12-minute mark. 

In acknowledgement of viewers to this site from around the world, here's some stories involving their home countries: Bulgaria: Ukraine Backs Purchase of Soviet-designed nuclear reactors from Bulgaria .  Singapore: A pandan cake showdown . Also, teen detained for trying to start a "race war." Hong Kong: US tariffs are being challenged .  Slovenia: Is private 5G in the future ? Mexico: Also not a fan of the tariffs . Huh; maybe team up with Hong Kong, form an alliance?

 

 

 

 Black Agenda Report's Margaret Kimberly interviews Maurice Carney (Executive Director of Friends of the Congo ) about how issues in the Congo is impacting South Africa and Rwanda . 

 The warden doesn't give his prisoners a key to their cell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Wonder if Netanyahu will (allegedly) bring his laundry . 

 

 

 

 Rachel Blevins explains the CIA connection:

 

 

I don't think that the person who pushed Marianne Williamson should be snipping at AOC for "suddenly" criticizing Democrats, but whatever:  

 Hint: it can't.