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Slate Magazine
Trump Now Shares One More Thing in Common With History’s Worst Dictators
This sort of behavior is alien to a republic and a democracy. It is common, however, in dictatorships.
Glossary
 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5656051-joyce-beatty-disputes-kennedy-center-vote/ The US tradition in naming institutions after people is to honor a great person who is already dead or at least out of power. But the wrecker uses his power to have things named after him now. When the new magat board members voted to add his name to
civicshout.com
Tell the EPA: Restore the Truth About Climate Change
The EPA just erased the truth — and handed polluters a massive gift. Overnight, the agency scrubbed its website of clear statements that foss...
 US citizens: call on the EPA to restore the truth about climate [disaster] on its web sites.
Glossary
the Guardian
Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say
Move comes as union representing US diplomats said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the process, which could ‘politicise’ foreign service
Glossary
 The magats plan to replace 30 heads of US embassies, who normally aim to be apolitical, with people who are personally loyal to the saboteur in chief.
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Carolina Public Press
New GOP-controlled local election boards reject early voting sites on some NC college campuses
Newly GOP-controlled election boards in Jackson, Cumberland and Guilford counties weigh changes related to campus early voting sites.
 https://stateline.org/2025/12/10/republicans-in-congress-eye-more-power-for-states-to-remove-voters/ https://www.wpr.org/news/gop-bill-ban-ballot-drop-boxes-wisconsin-intraparty-debate https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/trump
2025: September - December Political Notes
 In the
the Guardian
EU’s Ukraine loan may have been Plan B, but don’t underestimate its significance to the bloc
This €90bn agreement won out over a plan to use frozen Russian assets, but has been hailed a ‘huge deal for the EU’
2025: September - December Political Notes
 The EU found an alternative method to fund Ukraine's defense, satisfying Belgium's objections to putting Belgium on the spot. However, the outcome highlights the harm that Putin's client states in the EU do.
the Guardian
Food becoming more calorific but less nutritious due to rising carbon dioxide
Researchers noticed ‘dramatic’ changes in nutrients in crops, including drop in zinc and rise in lead
 *More carbon dioxide in the environment is making food more calorific but less nutritious – and also potentially more toxic (due to an increase in lead content).* *[For instance], zinc in chickpeas would be expected to plummet by up to 37.5%, with a “significant” decrease in protein, zinc and iron in essential crops such as rice and wheat.*
the Guardian
New hate speech laws cracking down on ‘dehumanising’ rhetoric will go to constitutional limit, Tony Burke says
Home affairs minister would not say whether specific phrases such as ‘globalise the intifada’ would be banned under proposed laws
 The Australian government has prohibited using force or violence against people based on their religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and nationality, national or ethnic origin or political opinion. I wonder if this is enforced against agents of the state.
The Lever
The Decades-Long Plan To Rob FEMA To Pay ICE
Trump is using regulatory tricks to funnel disaster-relief funds to immigration enforcement, even as climate disasters threaten millions.
 *[The deportation thugs are] siphoning ever more resources and personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).* We have seen much proof that the wrecker wants to engage lots of untrained agents to grab and deport, and separately wants to incapacitate FEMA. With this trick he can do both at once.
the Guardian
Santas and elves rob Montreal grocery store to ‘give food to the needy’
Group called Robins des Ruelles later said in statement stunt was intended to highlight cost of living crisis
 *Santas and elves rob Montreal grocery store to "give food to the needy."* This isn't the ideal system for helping the poor, but it is better than failing to do the job.
The Lever
Confessions Of The Retired And Powerless
Mitt Romney’s reversal on taxes comes only after he's given up the power to fix the problem he fortified.
 *Why is it that powerful people typically wait until they have no power [before they] take the right position and effectively admit they were wrong when they had more power to do something about it?*