this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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Image is of President Vladimir Putin, with his cook Prigozhin, though he is more famous for other things.


I'm assuming we all know what a "Russia" and a "Putin" is, so I'm skipping the background section.

On March 15th, Putin handily won the presidential election. This is perhaps one of the least surprising things to happen in the last couple years, and all claims and debates about electoral corruption are missing the point (in this particular election at least). The reason why Putin won is not fascist brainwashing or Putin having a high Persuasion/Intimidation DC, and it's not even really about the laws that make opposing the Ukraine War illegal. Wages are up significantly, unemployment is at record lows (for the post-USSR period, of course), as is poverty, and the ruble is about as stable as it could be given what the West has tried to do to it. The government has been forced to massively intervene in the economy to keep things afloat, buying up properties that have been ditched by foreign and domestic billionaires, though obviously Russia's wealthy are still plenty powerful. Inflation is up, but wages are comfortably outpacing it. And the Communist Party remains a relic of a bygone era, disconnected from the young people who might hypothetically propel a revolution.

Russia is still in the transition from switching to a Western-oriented export economy to an Eastern-oriented one. Nonetheless, Russia is now China's single largest oil supplier (unseating Saudi Arabia), delivering half of all their oil to China, and trade between the two countries has massively increased. Where Western brands have retreated from Russia (and not many actually have), more Russia-friendly corporations, and Russian businesses themselves, have filled the gaps.

By going through the news, I've seen a lot of economies that are not doing well at all. Most countries seem to be in that category. Either they have general growth but a deeply struggling populace, or the government is trying to keep the population afloat but running up huge debts in the process, or the government is failing on both counts. Russia is one of the few countries on the planet that I can confidently state is actually doing quite well objectively, which means it's doing extremely well relatively. Considering the Western economists regularly delivering portents of doom in early 2022, and salivating over how they were going to divide the country following the inevitable economic collapse, this is a hilarious state of affairs.

In the long term, their predictions may come true. It is entirely possible that a post-war Russia will slump, returning to neoliberal policies and continuing their nonsensical allergy to budget deficits. Russia might not be a mere gas station, but a substantial amount of the economy is made up of fossil fuel exports, which might be troublesome in a greener future, especially as China, their main oil market, is one of the few countries on the planet that seems serious about renewable/nuclear energy. And the limited labour force means that long-term growth is inherently limited without some creative measures, even with the potential influx of whatever remains of the population and territory that Russia seizes in Ukraine. Perhaps it is in this crucible of disillusionment and hardship, after seeing that good things are indeed possible if the government wishes them to be so, that a socialist Russia could rise again. But we aren't there yet, and the growth continues for now.

Much of this information is, again, from Michael Roberts. It seems like we're both doing the same strategy of hopping from election to election.


Apologies for the lack of updates (again!), I've been going through book titles again for the reading list (I've probably got a thousand or more to get through) and also trying to touch grass more. I'm not very good at balancing things out, I tend to do the hyperfocus-on-one-thing-until-it's-done approach.


The COTW (Country of the Week) label is designed to spur discussion and debate about a specific country every week in order to help the community gain greater understanding of the domestic situation of often-understudied nations. If you've wanted to talk about the country or share your experiences, but have never found a relevant place to do so, now is your chance! However, don't worry - this is still a general news megathread where you can post about ongoing events from any country.

The Country of the Week is Russia! Feel free to chime in with books, essays, longform articles, even stories and anecdotes or rants. More detail here.

The bulletins site is here!
The RSS feed is here.
Last week's thread is here.

Israel-Palestine Conflict

If you have evidence of Israeli crimes and atrocities that you wish to preserve, there is a thread here in which to do so.

Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:

UNRWA daily-ish reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.

English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news (and has automated posting when the person running it goes to sleep).
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.

English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.

Various sources that are covering the Ukraine conflict are also covering the one in Palestine, like Rybar.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Sources:

Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful. Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.

Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.

Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:

Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.

https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.

Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:

Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.


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[–] jackmarxist@hexbear.net 42 points 8 months ago (5 children)

ISIS has bodycams? Have they ever done this before?

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[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 41 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Hunger Moves Thousands of Argentines to the Streets

Security Minister Bullrich threatened to activate her anti-riot protocol, which includes the intervention of federal forces.

On Monday, Argentinians will take to the streets of various cities to reject the situation of poverty to which far-right President Javier Milei and his policies have led.

"There's no margin left. Hunger in our neighborhoods is a limit," said the organizers, including the Union of Popular Economy Workers (UTEP), the Workers' Pole, and La Poderosa.

"For months, we have been suffering from food shortages in the thousands of community kitchens in the popular neighborhoods across the country, where socio-community workers are struggling to sustain the pots that feed millions of families who are going through very tough times," they added.

"Moreover, the government attacks and stigmatizes workers in the popular economy through an adjustment to 'Enhance Work,' a form of salary that was created for millions of people excluded from the formal system."

"In Argentina, actors take to the streets against President Javier Milei's cuts. Filmmakers, actors, students and other workers in the Argentine film industry clashed with police during a protest against budget cuts announced by Milei. On March 12, his administration announced drastic cuts to the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), with the suspension of financing programs, the non-renewal of labor contracts, and the elimination of overtime for all staff."

"And as if that weren't enough, they put an end to the socio-urban integration projects that families living in overcrowded and without basic services in our neighborhoods need."

It is expected that citizens will block streets in more than 500 locations across Argentina. In the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, the blockades will occur at the city entrances such as the Pueyrredon and Saavedra bridges, Liniers, Route 3, and General Paz.

"We are going to carry out a major protest action throughout the country so that thousands of people can shout to the Milei administration that 'hunger is the limit.' Enough of looting the popular kitchens," Workers' Pole leader Eduardo Belliboni said.

"The President lies when he says he delivers food... 45,000 popular kitchens that have run out of products as a result of the austerity policies of this brutal government," he added.

Previously, arguing the existence of alleged intermediaries and irregularities, Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello replaced traditional social programs with limited-reaching programs, suspended deliveries of medication for people with serious illnesses, closed ministry offices across the country, and canceled food deliveries to popular kitchens.

In response to today's mobilizations, Security Minister Patricia Bullrich threatened to activate her anti-riot protocol, which includes the intervention of federal forces to ensure "free circulation" in public spaces.

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[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 41 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Once again proving that the right in Latin America is really stupid. Mauro Sid, Bolsonaro's secretary, military officer and advisor during his presidency. From what I understand, basically in the purpose leaked an audio of him saying that the judges of the Supreme Court, the same ones that Bolsonaro openly said he would kill and have documents ordering their arrest and execution.

Are unfairly targeting him, and that while Bolsonaro is free, he, Mauro, continues to be fucked over and his life and that of his family is basically over because everyone in the army, on the right, in court, etc... hates him. And that he's the real victim because the federal police were too mean and "forced" a confession (which is a lie because everything he said, other people confirmed and documents, audios and videos were found to prove it).

What I believe he wanted was to win some points with Bolsonaro or whatever. What he won was that he lost the plea bargain, the evidence will still be used and now he will have to serve the full sentence, including being arrested again.

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[–] IceWallowCum@hexbear.net 41 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

President Vladimir Putin, with his co*k

That got me for a second

[–] sempersigh@hexbear.net 40 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

Rybar is a wild telegram because it will be post after post of detailed combat/geopolitical updates and analysis and then something completely insane like this will be posted

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[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 40 points 8 months ago (7 children)

Ancap Update: ancaptain

Peronism VS. Ancap

The governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, has responded to comments made by the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, in which he called for a "fiscal rebellion" against regional PBA taxes.

According to the governor, "it's absurd for a president to tell the population to break the law". Milei has made Kicillof his new target, following the defeat in the Senate of the mega DNU, signed in December/2023, and the return of the General Basic Law to the legislative committees.

DNU rejected, again.

By 42 votes to 25, the Argentine Senate rejected the DNU, the decree of necessity and urgency, signed by Javier Milei in 2023. The measure goes to the Chamber of Deputies, where it must be approved in order for the decree to be validated.

Image of the President of the Republic, Javier Milei: Negative 57.3% Positive 42.3%

econony

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[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 40 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

The judiciary issued a preventive detention order against Francisco Barreiro, the son of Vice President Veronica Abad, a far-right politician whom President Daniel Noboa sent to Israel as a "special ambassador."

I saw some people joking that Noboa hates his vice-president, who is an extreme right-wing politician, so much that he sent her to Israel in the hope that she would die there.

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[–] What_Religion_R_They@hexbear.net 40 points 8 months ago (3 children)

[CW Rape] An excerpt from the article:Watan-Palestinian activists quoted the husband of a woman who was raped by Israeli forces as saying that “They ordered her to undress and began to beat her… She told the military she was five months pregnant, not to beat her, but they continued to beat her.”

“After hours, they took out all the women except the pregnant woman, and her children… They took her in front of her husband and children and raped her, ordering the men not to close their eyes or they would be shot.”

Israeli troops rape Palestinian women before killing them in al-Shifa hospital: Eyewitness

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[–] CthulhusIntern@hexbear.net 40 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Bob Dole was ahead of Bob Dole's time by being a conservative who refused to use pronouns.

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[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 39 points 8 months ago

Cuba Protests for Interference Before US Chargé D'affaires

If Washington had a minimal concern for the Cubans' well-being, it would would end the persecution of fuel supplies that the country needs to import.

On Monday, Carlos Fernandez, the Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, summoned Benjamin Ziff, the United States Chargé d'Affaires in Havana.

He conveyed to the U.S. diplomat the Cuban nation's strong rejection of the U.S. interventionist behavior and slanderous messages regarding his country's internal affairs.

"By delivering a formal protest note, the U.S. diplomat was reminded of the minimum standards of decency and honesty expected from a diplomatic mission in any country, which the U.S. embassy in Cuba seems incapable of observing, while emphasizing that this diplomatic office and its personnel are obliged to behave in accordance with the norms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the Cuban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

During the meeting, Fernandez also highlighted the U.S. government's direct responsibility for the difficult economic situation currently faced by Cuba.

Specifically, the Cuban vice minister mentioned that the U.S. blockade has been designed and implemented to destroy the capabilities of the Cuban economy, which results in shortages of essential goods and services for the population.

He also denounced the U.S. government's blatant efforts to limit and hinder every effort of the Cuban State to find solutions and respond to the economic and social needs of the country.

"The destabilization plan and its execution are evident for all to see. It relies on the reinforcement of a ruthless economic war to provoke and exploit the population's natural irritation. It is funded annually with tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. federal budget," the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated, specifying that the destabilization attempt is supported by a powerful technological infrastructure that uses digital networks for aggressive purposes.

To this, the actions of transnational mainstream media and Florida-based people acting as mercenaries in the aggression against Cuba are added.

"If the U.S. government had even a minimal and honest concern for the well-being of the Cuban population, it would remove Cuba from the arbitrary list of states supposedly sponsoring terrorism; it would end the persecution of fuel supplies that the country needs to import," the Foreign Affairs Ministry stressed.

"It would end the persecution of every Cuban financial transaction in the world; it would end the gross persecution against Cuba's medical cooperation programs worldwide; it would stop intimidating entrepreneurs, visitors, artists, and every person who feels the interest and right to interact with the Cuban people," it also recalled.

[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 39 points 8 months ago (2 children)

President Maduro is the Candidate of the Great Patriotic Pole

"Let's consolidate a great union of progressive, anti-imperialist, popular, patriotic, nationalist, and democratic forces to confront the fascist threat," he said.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accepted to be the presidential candidate of the eleven left-wing political parties that make up the Simon Bolivar Great Patriotic Pole.

During a meeting with political leaders at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas, he highlighted the great unity among Venezuelan progressive forces.

"Let's consolidate a great union of progressive, anti-imperialist, popular, patriotic, nationalist, and democratic forces to confront the fascist threat they intend to expand from Argentina," Maduro said.

"Do you want them to impose far-right formulas like those of Javier Milei or Jair Bolsonaro in Venezuela? Do you want the Venezuelan political power to be captured by the Colombian oligarchy and puppets like Álvaro Uribe and Ivan Duque?" he asked.

"In Venezuela, the oligarchy and the extreme right will not return. The Simon Bolivar Great Patriotic Pole walks with all the force stemming from the left, progressive, revolutionary, and Chavista sectors, which are more united than ever," Maduro stressed.

Organizations such as the Venezuelan Communist Party (PCV), the People's Electoral Movement (MEP), Homeland for All (PPT), We Can (Podemos), Tupamaro, Venezuelan Popular Unity (UPV), We Are Venezuela, Alliance for Change, Green Party, and Authentic Renewal Organization (ORA) were present at the Caracas meeting.

During this event, Maduro presented the Plan for the Seven Transformations for the Homeland (7T), a document elaborated through grassroots organizations.

"I brought the first document that emerged from our people's consultation, debate, and action," the Bolivarian leader said, adding that the 7T Plan will allow Venezuela to achieve development.

"Despite sanctions and blockades, we have shown that we have grown and will continue to grow even more so as to build Venezuela's union, sovereignty, and prosperity."

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[–] zed_proclaimer@hexbear.net 39 points 8 months ago (3 children)

https://t.me/TXDPR/13180

Does anyone here know Chechen or Tajik? What language is the interpreter translating the Russian to in this clip?

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