Author: Talia Baroncelli

Inflation Control and Curbing Workers’ Power in the Neoliberal Era – Bob Pollin Pt. 1/2

Inflation Control and Curbing Workers’ Power in the Neoliberal Era – Bob Pollin Pt. 1/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

Following the inflationary period of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation is largely down and currently at 2.1% in the U.S. Bob Pollin, economist, and Co-Director at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), explains the causes of inflation, including demand-side and supply-side factors. He illustrates how the economic models used to tackle inflation are essentially tools to chip away at workers’ bargaining power. Pollin recounts the history of policies of inflation control, tracing their development to the era of globalization and neoliberalism championed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan.

Class Struggle and Palestinian Self-Determination – MK Ofer Cassif part 2/2

Class Struggle and Palestinian Self-Determination – MK Ofer Cassif part 2/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

In part 2, Member of Israeli Knesset Dr. Ofer Cassif discusses the regional class interests that actively oppose Palestinian statehood and equality for Israelis and Palestinians. He describes the U.S.-backed bilateral Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE, and Israel and Bahrain, as agreements to further entrench class inequalities and capitalist military-industrial interests in the Middle East and foreclose the possibility of Palestinian self-determination.

America’s Twisted Iran Policy – Barbara Slavin
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America’s Twisted Iran Policy – Barbara Slavin

ByTalia Baroncelli

The Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), which the United States was a signatory to but abandoned under former President Trump, is unlikely to be revived. Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center and journalist with extensive experience reporting from Iran, underscores Iran’s desperate need for sanctions relief. She argues that the JCPOA is an outdated framework, given President Biden’s refusal to sign an executive order to bring the U.S. back into the deal, and that current twisted American foreign policy greenlights Israel’s maniacal plans to target Iran.  

Member of Israeli Parliament: “After Sinwar’s Killing, Netanyahu Doubles Down on Genocide” – MK Ofer Cassif Pt. 1/2

Member of Israeli Parliament: “After Sinwar’s Killing, Netanyahu Doubles Down on Genocide” – MK Ofer Cassif Pt. 1/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

Following Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Sinwar’s death could represent an opportunity to reach a political settlement in Gaza. Yet member of Israeli Knesset Dr. Ofer Cassif argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will continue his spree of massacring Palestinians and Lebanese with impunity. Cassif represents the Hadash-Ta’al political faction, which is a union of the Arab-Jewish far-left party Hadash, and the Arab nationalist party Ta’al – comprising the only remaining opposition in Israel’s right-wing political sphere.

U.S. Approval of Israel’s Assassinations Enabling War Against Iran – Richard Silverstein part 2/2

U.S. Approval of Israel’s Assassinations Enabling War Against Iran – Richard Silverstein part 2/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

In part 2, Richard Silverstein, analyst and author of the Israeli security state blog Tikun Olam, breaks down the Biden administration’s explicit support for Israel’s war crimes in Lebanon and efforts to eliminate Hezbollah. Unlawful U.S. approval for Israel’s extrajudicial killings of Iranian IRGC leader in Lebanon and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil propelled Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel, which inconveniently degraded Israeli military assets. Will Israel now strike Iran’s nuclear facilities?

IDF to Eliminate Palestinians from Northern Gaza – Richard Silverstein part 1/2

IDF to Eliminate Palestinians from Northern Gaza – Richard Silverstein part 1/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza continues unabated and has been expanded to a second front in Lebanon. American writer Richard Silverstein, author of Tikun Olam, a blog reporting on the Israeli security state, describes how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is weaponizing national grief over the attacks of October 7 to legitimize its murderous regional project. He reports on IDF general Giora Eiland’s blueprint to eliminate Palestinians from the north of Gaza and ultimately build illegal Israeli settlements. 

Wilkerson: U.S. Fuels Netanyahu’s Criminal War Machine

Wilkerson: U.S. Fuels Netanyahu’s Criminal War Machine

ByTalia Baroncelli

The Biden administration has been pursuing a reckless policy in the Middle East in which Israel’s massacres in Gaza and now in Lebanon are unconditionally supported with deliveries of 2,000 lb bunker-busting bombs and diplomatic cover. Col. Larry Wilkerson, who served as former Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, discusses Iran’s policy of strategic patience in which a response to Israel’s extra-judicial killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, as well as a fatal strike on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, possibly came too late according to Iran’s hardliners. 

Price Gouging, Greedflation, and Monopolization – Bob Pollin part 2/2
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Price Gouging, Greedflation, and Monopolization – Bob Pollin part 2/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

Given voters’ concerns over rising food and housing costs, Kamala Harris has pledged to combat price gouging if elected president, though she has yet to clearly lay out the hallmarks of the rest of her economic policy. In part 2, Bob Pollin, economist and advisor to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal on Medicare For All, explains the meaning of price gouging and delves into the causes of inflation during the COVID pandemic. 

Dark Money Aligned with Neofascists in Catholic Church – Matthew Fox (former Catholic priest) part 2/2

Dark Money Aligned with Neofascists in Catholic Church – Matthew Fox (former Catholic priest) part 2/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

In part two, American theologian and priest Matthew Fox traces out the links between the fascist wing of the Catholic Church, Opus Dei, American Cardinal Burke, and Steve Bannon, former Trump advisor and former Executive Chairman at Breitbart News. He explains how Cardinal Burke and other neofascists in the Catholic Church opposed the Second Vatican Council, which sought to update the Catholic Church. He then explains how both Co-Chairman of the Federalist Society, Leonard Leo, who drew up lists of potential conservative judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court, and President of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts, share a right-wing Catholic ideology.

The Political Economy of Saving the Planet – Bob Pollin part 1/2
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The Political Economy of Saving the Planet – Bob Pollin part 1/2

ByTalia Baroncelli

The issue of banning (or not banning) fracking has been at the forefront of the 2024 presidential debates between former President Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Fracking, a technique that involves horizontal drilling to extract gas and oil from shale rock, risks methane leaks and other environmental hazards. Professor Bob Pollin, economist and Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), lays out the elements of a Global Green New Deal to avert climate catastrophe and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Can we frack and still reach this goal? 

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