Trump fraud trial opens in Manhattan
By Patrick Martin On Monday, the first of seven civil and criminal cases against ex-president Donald Trump began in Manhattan, with Trump facing a lawsuit by the New York attorney general Letitia James, seeking $250 million in damages for the Trump Organization systematically overvaluing major real estate properties in order to
Police “Torture warehouse” exposed in Louisiana lawsuits
By Emma Arceneaux Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have been operating a secret torture warehouse, according to multiple lawsuits filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department. The City of Baton Rouge, the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Police Chief Murphy Paul and multiple officers are also defendants in the lawsuits. The warehouse,
Fed pauses rate increases but indicates more to come
By Nick Beams The US Federal Reserve decided not to lift interest rates at its meeting yesterday, in line with market expectations. However, it signalled it could raise them again in at least one of its two scheduled meetings remaining for this year. After instituting a steep climb in rates, from near
Impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Paxton ends in acquittal
By Andy Hartmann On Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on 16 impeachment counts by the Texas State Senate. The remaining four counts were dismissed by a vote of the Senate. Each article was voted on separately. All but two of the Republicans in the Senate, who control 19 of the 31
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife paid by Billionaire in advance of Citizens United decision
By Jacob Crosse On Sunday, September 10, Politico reported extensive and damning revelations on the longstanding connections between Virginia Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, billionaire Nazi artifact collector Harlan Crow, and Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society. Their relationship, which included Crow’s funneling of hundreds of thousands of dollars
Democratic rights targeted by South Korean government
By Ben McGrath In recent weeks, the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stepped up its anti-democratic attacks on government critics. In language reminiscent of the country’s past dictatorships, Yoon has denounced opposition to the government as the result of “communist totalitarianism” influence and “anti-state forces.” The Yoon administration and
Federal judge orders Texas to remove floating barrier in Rio Grande, appellate court stays order
By Trévon Austin Nearly three months after Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a fascistic acolyte of former president Donald Trump, deployed a 1,000-foot-long barrier of buoys accompanied by traps of razor wire in the Rio Grande, a federal judge in Austin ordered the state t6xo remove the obstruction and stop building
Report to G20 summit glosses over problems in global financial system
By Nick Beams Sometimes it is hard to know whether statements issued by financial authorities are aimed at fooling themselves, the organisations to which they are being delivered or whether, they consider it best not to say too much in public documents lest this “frightens the horses.” This is the case regarding
Share buybacks and the parasitism of US capitalism
By Nick Beams The economist William Lazonick is a long-time campaigner against share buybacks by major corporations which he rightly regards as an extreme form of parasitism, financial plundering and a major factor in social inequality. His political perspective is, however, an entirely reformist one. He would like to see increased regulation,
Leaked inquiry report into aborted Australian #MeToo trial deepens legal crisis
By Cheryl Crisp The leaking of the report from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Board of Inquiry into the Criminal Justice System held to investigate the conduct of one of the most highly publicised #MeToo rape trials in Australia has intensified, rather than ameliorated, the crisis surrounding the case. The trial