Witnessing a war of words at a meeting on tackling militarism at The World Transformed, BEN COWLES spoke to a union rep who is organising against war from inside the arms industry itself, to hear about worker-led solutions to ending weapons production

THIS coming Tuesday evening, Democratic US voters will face a choice: whether to settle in front of their televisions with a large mug of strong coffee or a triple vodka tonic.
To watch or not to watch? That is indeed the question on November 5, when our own version of gunpowder, treason and plot could unfold, plunging the country into chaos and fascism should Republican Donald Trump defeat Democrat Kamala Harris and take back the White House.
Is it nobler to stay awake, optimistic in the belief that what passes for US democracy will survive? Or would it be better to sink quickly into alcohol-induced oblivion and hope that when dawn breaks — and despite the hangover — a vulgar, racist felon isn’t president and Harris is?

From terrifying the children of immigrants to pepper-spraying frogs, the US under Trump is rapidly descending into mayhem, writes Linda Pentz Gunter


