Distinctions Without Difference: The Security Council on Gaza Passes

Source: CounterPunch
by Binoy Kampmark

“The UN Security Council presents one of the great contradictions of power in the international system. On the one hand vested with enormous latitude in order to preserve international peace and security, it remains checked, limited and, it can be argued, crippled by an all too regular use of the veto by members of the permanent five powers (US, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France). When it comes to the bleeding and crushing of human life in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Forces (32,300 dead Palestinians and rising), resolutions demanding a cease fire of a conflict that began with the attack on Israeli soil by Hamas militants have tended to pass into voting oblivion. The United States, Israel’s great power patron and defender, has been consistent in using its veto power to ensure it, exercising it on no less than three occasions since October 7. On March 25, a change of heart was registered.” (03/28/24)

https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/03/28/distinctions-without-difference-the-security-council-on-gaza-passes/

Of Life & Lithium: Why the “White Gold” Rush Won’t Save This Planet

Source: TomDispatch
by Joshua Frank

“With his perfect tan and slicked-back hair, California Governor Gavin Newsom stood at a podium at Sacramento’s Cal Expo in late September 2020 and announced an executive order requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035. With the global Covid pandemic then at its height, Newsom was struggling to inject a bit of hope into the future, emphasizing that his order would prove a crucial step in the fight against climate change while serving as a major boon to the state’s economy. Later approved by the California Air Resources Board, his order is now being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. For his part, President Biden has moved to tighten regulations on tailpipe exhaust, a not-so-subtle way of pushing car manufacturers to go electric.” (03/28/24)

https://tomdispatch.com/of-life-and-lithium/

SEC’s new climate disclosure rules may have limited impact on emissions reduction

Source: Niskanen Center
by Shutin Pomerlau

“The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved rules requiring large publicly-traded companies to disclose certain climate-related information. These new rules aim to leverage investors to encourage public companies to address climate risks and reduce emissions. … Although well-intentioned, these rules are unlikely to make a meaningful long-term impact on emissions reduction.” (03/28/24)

https://www.niskanencenter.org/secs-new-climate-disclosure-rules-may-have-limited-impact-on-emissions-reduction/

Five Reasons Biden Should Negotiate a Deal to Free Assange

Source: Common Dreams
by Bill Blum

“The British High Court of Justice in London has given WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a significant reprieve in his fight against extradition to the United States on charges of espionage. In a 66-page judgment issued on March 26, a two-judge panel stopped short of granting Assange outright permission to appeal the extradition order signed in 2022 by the British Home Secretary. But the panel held that permission will be granted unless the U.S. provides assurances that if Assange is sent to the United States, he will be ‘permitted to rely on the First Amendment, that [he] … is not prejudiced at trial (including sentence) by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed.'” (03/28/24)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/5-reasons-biden-free-assange

Lloyd’s boss: Baltimore disaster may be the largest-ever marine insurance payout

Source: CNBC

“The collapse of a major Baltimore bridge and its knock-on effects could result in the biggest-ever marine insurance payout, the chair of insurance giant Lloyd’s of London said on Thursday. Analysts have forecast that insured losses from the disaster would amount to a figure in the single-digit billions, after a huge cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. Six people were presumed dead. … Baltimore is the 11th biggest port in the U.S. and the country’s busiest for the import and export of autos and light trucks. Supply chain operators are scrambling to minimize the impact on trade. Morningstar DBRS analysts said in a Wednesday note that insured losses could total between $2 billion and $4 billion, depending on the length of time that the port is blocked.” (03/28/24)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/28/baltimore-disaster-may-be-largest-ever-marine-insurance-payout-lloyds-.html

Now For Something Completely Different with Brian Wilson, season 3, episode 12

Source: Now For Something Completely Different with Brian Wilson

“The Return of the Two and Only! Talk radio’s Brian Wilson (back from surgery) and author Jim Bovard (back from book signing), eviscerate Government attacks on Free Speech, Gun Control and citizen surveillance — and have a good time doing it!” (03/27/24)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-two-and-only-brian-wilson-and-james-bovard-s3-ep12/id1638506178?i=1000650652460

Is America a Rogue Superpower?

Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Snider

“‘Unipolar’ used to mean that the United States was, at least in theory, alone in leading the world. Now ‘unipolar’ means that the United States is alone and isolated in opposition to the world. In global affairs, a hegemon is a nation that leads because it has the consent of the other nations who believe in its goals and values. The United States has recently demonstrated, though, that it has given up any pretense of using its leadership to pursue the goals of the global community, and instead is openly using the global community to pursue its own goals.” (03/29/24)

https://original.antiwar.com/ted_snider/2024/03/27/is-america-a-rogue-superpower/

Tipping Point: CBO Director’s Warning on America’s Fiscal Path

Source: Independent Institute
by Craig Eyermann

“The director of the Congressional Budget Office is sounding the alarm on the U.S. government’s unsustainable fiscal path. … Swagel’s bigger message is that the growing cost of financing the national debt increases the risk of a government-debt-induced fiscal crisis in the United States. The ‘snap back,’ he fears, would be in the form of a sharp increase in interest rates should the bond market become reluctant to loan money to Uncle Sam. That scenario played out in the United Kingdom in 2022 under Prime Minister Liz Truss, which led to her resignation in very short order. Can something similar happen in the U.S.? It may be more likely than many would like to admit.” (03/28/24)

https://blog.independent.org/2024/03/28/tipping-point-cbo-directors-warning-on-americas-fiscal-path/

Kennedy picked running mate Nicole Shanahan for one big reason: Money

Source: Washington Post
by Karen Tumulty

“To paraphrase the memorable words of a notable figure who once ran for vice president on a third-party ticket: Who is she? Why is she here? With apologies to Adm. James Stockdale, a man with a distinguished military career who lightheartedly posed those questions about himself as Ross Perot’s running mate during his opening statement at the 1992 vice-presidential debate, they are worth asking in all seriousness about the selection that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday. … Whatever Shanahan’s other virtues, the most important reason for her selection is that she is worth a fortune as the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin …. Now that Shanahan is on the ticket with Kennedy, campaign finance law allows her to pour unlimited amounts of money into his campaign — something he badly needs.” (03/27/24)

https://archive.is/DPVjV