Where to now for the left?
With the right in ascendancy throughout the Western World what does the left do to change this?
International
us politics
Trump Whitehouse bans critical media from briefing
It is day 37 of Donald Trump’s reign as POTUS. Today he decided to attack elements of the press that have been critical of him by banning them from a press conference.
Australia’s war
Surprising no one: “A newly declassified report obtained by Fairfax Media reveals Australia’s role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq was undertaken solely to enhance our alliance with the US.”
1984
That Orwell was ahead of his time.
The Trump bump
This week’s Economist looks at the resurgence in the business of the more effective mainstream media in the US. But the effect reaches all the way over here. Even I’m reading more on a the ongoing debacle that is the incompetent Trump White House. Good reporting and perfect reading for the summer season and I suspect that it is impacting all of the blogs at present.
The new world order
With former adversaries USA and Russia now the best of friends and with China now emerging again as the preeminent economy in the world the question is will the transition of power be handled smoothly?
Watching the journalists
“The obligation of a journalist is to serve the public”
John Oliver returns – calls Trump ‘a pathological liar’
Our long Oliver-less nightmare is over.
Hypocrisy watch – Michael Flynn
Over in the United States of Trumpsville National Security Advisor to the Trump White House Mike Flynn, who famously said that Hillary Clinton should be locked up for threatening national security by having a private email server, has been sacked for threatening national security and for lying to the vice president.
New Zealand Second?
Trump handed his own arse by appeals court
The stay on Trump’s Muslim Ban is upheld. He took it about as well as you would expect.
Key gives up on us, keeps International Democratic Union.
The Herald informs us that Key is going on the speaking circuit and will go back into finance (not that he ever left). Like John Howard before him, he also intends to carry on chairing the International Democratic Union of right-wing parties. Not a surprise.
Sad
Ad wonders how left wing Trump supporters are now feeling.
The dynamic of vindictive winners
If you can’t punish the Liberal power-holders in society directly, what do you do?
Rogue MP publicly disagrees with leader – party in disarray!
With these deep divisions exposed the party is clearly in total disarray.
Low bar diplomacy
So apparently the PM managed to get through a 15 minute call without “upsetting” Trump. That’s where we set the bar these days.
Kansas ANZUS.
What to do when your erstwhile ally loses the plot?
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Ouch Ouch Ouch!
Diplomacy in the age of Trump is going to be a real blast. Just ask Australia.
The constitution is screwed
Trump goes full fascist and fires the acting Attorney General for daring to question his Muslim Ban order.
Shock after shock
Understanding shock events is part of the solution.
Then hope
Hope and action are also part of the solution.
Justin Lester: No matter where you come from, you are welcome here
The PM may not know where he stands but the Mayor of Wellington does.
Will English speak up on Trump’s ban?
World leaders are condemning Trump’s Muslim ban. What does the PM of our country have to say on the matter?
Trump’s Muslim travel ban
Welcome to the new America.
Maybe Trump is what the left needed
Donald Trump’s ascendancy to power presents the left with the chance of showing that progressive politics is a much better choice than the alternative.
Punching Nazis, and practicing resistance
Being human, Linda Tirado, and lessons for New Zealand.
Special Relationship 2
The Bush Blair “special relationship” was a geopolitical disaster of epic proportions. Get ready for Round 2, Trump May.
Postcards from the Trumpocalypse
This is what an unfettered right-wing government looks like.
Godzone for billionaires
Peter Thiel’s fast tracking of his citizenship application needs some explaining by the Government.
Trump’s global gag law on abortion
“Donald Trump signs anti-abortion executive order surrounded by men”
The inauguration of Trump: Jonathan Pie reacts
Jonathan Pie gets angry at Trump’s treatment of the media.
RIP TPP
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and leaving the agreement effectively dead in its tracks.
Everything Contained. Everyone Led.
So what’s important? Millions on the streets and what might become of that, or how many more or fewer people attended a given President’s big day? Just asking…
Starting out with an obvious lie
The Trump / Spicer claim that the inauguration crowds were “the largest audience ever to witness and inauguration, period” are such an obvious lie that it seems unhinged. But there could be method to the madness.
(Update: Apparently in Trump speak these are “alternative facts”.)
Protest Marches
The Sister Marches have been a huge success worldwide.
T Day
Donald Trump has now been sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. And we are in unchartered territory.