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Democracy

All articles tagged with #democracy

Democrats deploy a multi‑platform counter‑rebuttal to Trump’s address
politics10 hours ago

Democrats deploy a multi‑platform counter‑rebuttal to Trump’s address

Democrats staged a two‑front media counterattack to Trump’s address: a live, Capitol-front rally dubbed the “People’s State of the Union” organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch, and a humorous “State of the Swamp” rebuttal at the National Press Club with Defiance.org and Courier, all while maintaining traditional rebuttals (spanishing Spanberger and Padilla) afterward. The effort leverages left‑leaning media ecosystems and viral clips (Epstein messaging, ICE, affordability) to widen reach beyond TV, with hundreds of thousands or millions tuning in online. It signals Democrats treating information warfare as a key tactic, though it remains unclear whether these parallel broadcasts will sway voters in the midterms.

Venezuela’s Recovery Hinges on a Cross-Party Pact, Not Just Oil
world2 days ago

Venezuela’s Recovery Hinges on a Cross-Party Pact, Not Just Oil

Venezuela’s post‑Maduro rebound could be durable only if a credible, inclusive political settlement is reached between the government and opposition to rebuild institutions, secure property rights, and implement reforms to debt and inflation. Without a broad political bargain and rule‑of‑law guarantees, an oil‑led recovery will remain fragile and vulnerable to reversals, even as international actors should support a balanced, inclusive path rather than a rushed electoral fix.

Poll finds waning checks and balances as Trump expands presidential power
politics2 days ago

Poll finds waning checks and balances as Trump expands presidential power

A PBS News/NPR/Marist poll taken Jan. 27–30, 2026 finds about two-thirds of Americans say the system of checks and balances isn’t working well, up sharply across parties as Trump expands executive power. Despite a Supreme Court ruling striking down his tariffs, most see Trump’s policies changing the country for the worse (55%). Analysts differ on whether this signals constitutional erosion or a return to pre-Watergate norms. The survey, which included 1,462 adults and 1,326 registered voters, notes Trump has signed 243 executive orders this term, and it comes ahead of his State of the Union and the midterms.

Trump's Self-Made Myth: A Modern Cult of Personality
politics10 days ago

Trump's Self-Made Myth: A Modern Cult of Personality

An opinion piece contends that President Trump’s relentless self-glorification—from branding to monuments to calls for foreign endorsement—has escalated into a modern cult of personality that could expand presidential power and threaten democratic norms, drawing comparisons to authoritarian regimes and warning of a drift toward electoral autocracy.

AOC: Democracies must deliver for workers to ward off authoritarians
world11 days ago

AOC: Democracies must deliver for workers to ward off authoritarians

At the Munich Security Conference, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that Western democracies must deliver tangible gains for the working class to counter rising authoritarianism, faulting past policies like NAFTA and the Iraq War, and urging urgent wealth‑tax action. She stressed that elites who don’t deliver economic improvements threaten the rules‑based order, noted the broader foreign‑policy context and debates on allies, Taiwan, and Iran, and hinted at her ongoing political ascent amid speculation about a possible presidential bid.

Lula Gets 22-Metre Carnival Tribute as Rio Parade Opens
world11 days ago

Lula Gets 22-Metre Carnival Tribute as Rio Parade Opens

A 22-metre metal effigy of Lula will lead the Acadêmicos de Niterói’s Rio carnival parade, celebrating the former Lula da Silva’s rise from poverty to Brazil’s presidency and highlighting education access and democracy; it marks the first time a serving president is honored on Rio’s carnival stage, a move critics call potential electioneering amid Lula’s bid for a fourth term in 2026.

When Democracies Adopt Tyranny: The Quiet Spread of State Terror
opinion17 days ago

When Democracies Adopt Tyranny: The Quiet Spread of State Terror

Veteran war correspondent Janine di Giovanni argues that state terror is seeping into democracies, with security rhetoric normalizing abuses and eroding civil liberties. Citing Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Chechnya, and Israel/Palestine, she says legalistic and bureaucratic mechanisms—surveillance, punitive funding, and restrictive immigration enforcement—mirror tyrannies, turning fear into policy and weakening democratic legitimacy. She urges urgent attention to hundreds of survivor testimonies and warns that once democracies adopt these methods, they become less secure and less trustworthy.

Sen. Gallego proposes national strike to defend midterms from Trump interference
politics19 days ago

Sen. Gallego proposes national strike to defend midterms from Trump interference

Arizona senator Ruben Gallego urged a nationwide general strike if Trump attempts to disrupt the November midterms, arguing that Americans should stay home to prevent any subversion of the vote. The remark follows Trump’s calls to nationalise voting in some locations and comes amid ongoing DOJ actions and an FBI search related to the 2020 election, with mixed responses from White House figures and Trump allies.

Virginia Democrats unveil aggressive 10–1 congressional map amid court battles
politics19 days ago

Virginia Democrats unveil aggressive 10–1 congressional map amid court battles

Virginia Democrats released a 10–1 congressional map intended to tilt 10 of Virginia’s 11 districts toward their party, concentrating changes in Northern and central Virginia while preserving the 9th and 2nd districts. The plan comes despite a court halt on redistricting and ahead of an April referendum, with Republicans blasting it as political gerrymandering and Democrats arguing it counters GOP redistricting in other states and reflects voter oversight. The governor’s position remains nuanced, and the fate of the map hinges on the courts and the referendum.

Democracy Under Siege: HRW Warns Global Rights Are at Risk
world21 days ago

Democracy Under Siege: HRW Warns Global Rights Are at Risk

HRW’s annual report warns a global democratic recession has left about 72% of the world’s population living under autocracy, with the Trump administration and ongoing actions by Russia and China threatening the rules-based order; it urges democracies to form a strategic alliance to defend rights, while also highlighting domestic rights concerns in the UK and ongoing civil society protests.

Epstein files lay bare a deeper rot in the American elite
opinion22 days ago

Epstein files lay bare a deeper rot in the American elite

The Financial Times opinion piece argues that the Epstein dossier widens public outrage into a critique of America’s ruling class, revealing an expansive network across presidents, financiers, royals, and celebrities. It contends that only full disclosure of the remaining files can usher accountability and restore a culture of shame, as the Epstein affair exposes systemic enablement rather than isolated misconduct.