The US assault on Venezuela is brazen and unlawful – yet our PM claims uncertainty. By refusing to confront Trump’s naked imperialism, Starmer abandons international law, mortgages British policy to Washington, and clears the ground for war, argues ANDREW MURRAY
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The US Republican Party slips deeper into the right-wing void
In an ominous move, the Republicans have unanimously elected the cartoonishly extreme ‘Maga Mike’ Johnson as their next speaker, writes MARK GRUENBERG
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talks with reporters ahead of the debate and vote on supplemental aid to Israel, at the US Capitol in Washington, November 2, 2023
RAINER RUPP examines former CIA analyst Larry Johnson’s description of the US operation to kidnap Nicolas Maduro as a tactically successful but strategically disastrous move, with shades of Bush’s disastrous intervention in Iraq
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western outrage was absolute. Yet today, the tone is markedly more subdued regarding US aggression against Venezuela. The manner in which the media and politicians frame this invasion exposes a profound ideological double standard, writes MARC VANDEPITTE
STEPHEN LOW looks at the SNP plans for public services
The Employment Rights Act 2025 marks the biggest expansion of workplace protections in a generation. But with key reforms delayed and crucial details still to be decided, unions must remain vigilant to ensure this landmark law fulfils its transformative promise, says ANDY McDONALD MP
After 15 years of spending cuts and regressive redistribution, the British economy is weaker, investment is still anaemic and living standards are stalled – yet all major parties remain committed to a policy that has repeatedly failed to deliver recovery, says MICHAEL BURKE
ON their fourth try, the House’s ruling Republicans finally elected a new speaker: Louisiana representative Mike Johnson — a man who not only denied Joe Biden’s election as president in the infamous events of January 6 2021, but before that rounded up other Republicans to support a Texas scheme to toss the 2020 election out.
With his elevation to the top job in Congress, no-one can argue that the Trumpite “Maga” (make America great again) faction of the Republican Party is just a fringe element. Maga is now in charge; this is Trump’s party, through and through.
Republicans have just unanimously elected a Speaker who is the architect of House Republican efforts to overturn the 2020 election, voted against the Violence Against Women Act, voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act, voted against legislation to codify marriage equality, authored federal legislation attempting to nationalise Florida’s infamous “don’t say gay” law, and co-sponsored legislation to turn health professionals who provide gender-affirming care into felons.
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The US president has cancelled all federal union contracts as ‘un-American,’ saying ‘It’s our dream to have everyone work in the private sector,’ writes MARK GRUENBERG
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