The Political Thread

[Samoa Looch]

German elections: Far right wins big — results in numbers – DW – 09/01/2024

Projected results put Germany's far-right AfD party ahead of its rivals in Thuringia and on course for a gain in Saxony. Here are the results and what they mean for the balance of power in the states' parliaments.

www.dw.com

Parliamentary elections in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia show large gains for the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party and the left-wing populist Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht party as well as losses for the left-wing and liberal parties of the governing coalition and for the socialist The Left party. In Thuringia, a far-right party comes in first place in a state election for the first time since World War II.

Yep... first time in 80 years that a far-right party is the strongest party in a German state election. It was almost two, but they came second with about 1,5% less votes in Saxony. The only good news is, that they won't govern in either of the two states, but they will get more "great" results when the next state election happens in Brandenburg in about three weeks.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

German elections: Far right wins big — results in numbers – DW – 09/01/2024

Projected results put Germany's far-right AfD party ahead of its rivals in Thuringia and on course for a gain in Saxony. Here are the results and what they mean for the balance of power in the states' parliaments.

www.dw.com

Yep... first time in 80 years that a far-right party is the strongest party in a German state election. It was almost two, but they came second with about 1,5% less votes in Saxony. The only good news is, that they won't govern in either of the two states, but they will get more "great" results when the next state election happens in Brandenburg in about three weeks.

First time since the end of world war in 1945. It's happening in all the Major Countries in Europe. Fascism's on the rise again and all moderate politicians are saying nothing, sadly.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

It is a fricking disgrace that it's aloud to happen in the first place @Death By Looch . You think that centre left and centre right SPD and CDU parties would have a better showing but that's what happens when they've got ALT Voting.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

I think the UK is one of the last major countries in Europe too have First past the post system. Which I'm thankful for as if the election just oast was anything too go by then with ALT voting in Nigel Farage Party would have a lot more than four seats as they got four million voters and they're not going to lose rather than gain more voters next time around. Which makes one sad and repulsed at the idea.

 

[Chris]

Israel-Gaza war – as it happened: Benjamin Netanyahu says he asked families of hostages for forgiveness as he holds press conference

aeli prime minister says ‘we were close but we didn’t achieve’ rescuing hostages alive as protests take place across country calling for ceasefire

www.theguardian.com

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is holding a press conference in Jerusalem as protests across the country pile pressure on him to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel “must stand united as one” as it faces a “vicious and brutal enemy that wishes to eradicate and kill all of us,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader said he had spoken with the family members of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza over the weekend. “The heart of the entire nation was shattered to pieces,” he said.

He said he asked the families for their forgiveness that the hostages were not rescued alive. “We were close, but we didn’t achieve it,” he said. “Hamas will pay a very heavy price for this.”

Israel “will not stand silently, doing nothing”, Netanyahu added.

 

[Leon TrotSky]

Speaking of Israel

Israeli match abandoned and 12 fans arrested after RIOTING with sticks

Chaos descended on a football match in the Israeli Premier League, with 12 arrests made during riots on the pitch. Fans of Bnei Sakhnin turned their backs on the Israeli national anthem.

www.dailymail.co.uk

A team supported by Israeli Arabs refused to stand for a national anthem that represents, on the global stage, a genocide of the Arab people. In response, the opposing fans rioted and beat them with sticks

This has never had anything to do with Hamas.

 

[Chris]

Russian missile strike kills 41 people and wounds 180 in Ukrainian city of Poltava, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that two Russian ballistic missiles have struck a military training facility and nearby hospital in a central-eastern region of Ukraine.

apnews.com

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military training facility and nearby hospital in a central-eastern region of Ukraine, killing at least 41 people and wounding 180 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

The strike occurred in the city of Poltava, the capital of the region of the same name, officials said. Poltava is located about 350 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Kyiv. The city is on the main highway and rail route between Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border.

The strike appeared to be one of the deadliest carried out by Russian forces since the war began more than 900 days ago on Feb. 24, 2022.

 

[Chris]

US charges Hamas leader, other militants in connection with Oct. 7 massacre in Israel

The Justice Department has announced criminal charges against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other militants in connection with the Oct. 7 rampage in Israel.

apnews.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department announced criminal charges Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior militants in connection with the Oct. 7, 2023, rampage in Israel, marking the first effort by American law enforcement to formally call out the masterminds of the attack.

The seven-count criminal complaint filed in federal court in New York City includes charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, resulting in death. It also accuses Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah of providing financial support and weapons, including rockets, and military supplies.

 

[Chris]

Cooper Union, NYC private college, makes tuition free for seniors

As Cooper Union college students head off to their first day of classes, their bags must feel a bit lighter knowing they won’t entirely be in massive student loan debt when they graduate. The private college located in Lower Manhattan announced Tuesday that seniors at The Cooper Union for the...

www.nbcnewyork.com

The private college located in Lower Manhattan announced Tuesday that seniors at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art won't have to pay tuition for the next four years. Any payments already made for the 2024 fall semester will be refunded, the school said, adding that first, second and third-year students will be receiving full scholarships in their final year.

"Thanks to the generosity of three extraordinary alumni donors, we are removing a major financial burden for our graduating classes and reaffirming the ideals that have been foundational to this institution since Peter Cooper opened its doors in 1859," President Laura Sparks said in the announcement.

 

[Chris]

Biden Administration May Cement Asylum Restrictions at the Border

The changes under consideration would build on the executive order that President Biden issued in June, which blocked a vast majority of asylum claims at the southern border.

www.nytimes.com

Senior Biden administration officials are considering actions that would make President Biden’s tough but temporary asylum restrictions almost impossible to lift, officials said Wednesday.

The move would essentially turn what had been a short-term fix into a central feature of the asylum system in America. And it would be yet another sign that the country is moving away from the traditional American practice of allowing anyone who steps foot on U.S. soil the opportunity to seek protection.

The changes under consideration would build on the executive order that Mr. Biden issued in June, which blocked a vast majority of asylum claims at the southern border and allowed border agents to turn people back quickly.

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/apalachee-high-school-shooting-georgia-09-04-24/index.html

• At least four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, according to law enforcement sources out of the state. About 30 more were injured, although it’s unclear how many of the injuries are from gunshot wounds, the sources said.
• A suspect is in custody, according to authorities.
• Video from outside the school, which is located in a community about an hour outside of Atlanta, shows several ambulances and a large active police presence.
• Grady Health System in Atlanta has received one gunshot wound patient from the shooting via helicopter, according to a hospital spokesperson.

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/apalachee-high-school-shooting-georgia-09-04-24/index.html

• At least four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, according to law enforcement sources out of the state. About 30 more were injured, although it’s unclear how many of the injuries are from gunshot wounds, the sources said.
• A suspect is in custody, according to authorities.
• Video from outside the school, which is located in a community about an hour outside of Atlanta, shows several ambulances and a large active police presence.
• Grady Health System in Atlanta has received one gunshot wound patient from the shooting via helicopter, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Police Interviewed Georgia Suspect About Shooting Threats in 2023

The 14-year-old student accused of killing four people with a military-style rifle at his Georgia high school was questioned about online threats last year, officials said.

www.nytimes.com

A 14-year-old student opened fire in the hallway of a Georgia high school on Wednesday, killing two students and two teachers, the authorities said. The attack also injured at least nine others and led to a frenzied scene as students fled the school and tried to reconnect with their families.

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

These Right-Wing Pundits Were Allegedly Funded By Russia—What To Know About DOJ Indictment

A DOJ indictment accuses the Kremlin of funneling $10 million into a U.S. media company whose description matches one linked to several prominent right-wing online figures including Tim Pool and Benny Johnson.

www.forbes.com

Whaaaaat, Tim Pool being a Russian shill? No wayyyyy. Who could have ever seen this coming.

 

[Chris]

Damn a whole indictment already

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

Nothing will probably come from it but like it's not surprising, Russia has already been proven in the past to be buying out right wing media analysts to push fascist and nazi ideology in an attempt to weaken American culture.