Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan to remain blocked, federal judge orders

Source: CNBC

“A federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order against the Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness plan, threatening the White House hope to provide financial relief to tens of millions of Americans ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential elections. U.S. District Judge Randal Hall, appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, said on Wednesday that he would maintain the order blocking the Biden administration from forgiving student debt for an additional 14 days. In the meantime, Hall said the could would review the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction against the Biden’s relief plan, and the Biden administration’s request to dismiss the case. The continuation of the restraining order is the latest setback to the Biden administration’s efforts to cancel people’s federal student loans. President Joe Biden began promising to alleviate people’s education debts during his 2020 campaign bid, but Republican legal challenges have consistently stymied his attempts.” (09/19/24)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/19/biden-student-debt-forgiveness-ruling.html

The real 2024 election divide is the Catastrophists vs. the Casuals

Source: The Hill
by Steve Krakauer

“Yes, 2024 is a battle between the Democrats and Republicans, but it also has exacerbated the divide between two other camps — a reframing of the division in America. On one side are ‘the Catastrophists’ — those who feel the election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris represents an existential moment in American history. On the other side are ‘the Casuals,’ who see the stakes as far less consequential. This divide can be seen on the biggest stages of culture, media and politics, or in everyday life. Catastrophists and Casuals exist on both left and right. In many ways, Catastrophists who believe Trump must win and those who believe Trump must lose have more in common with each other than with the Casuals who favor the Democrats or Republicans.” (09/19/24)

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4886872-the-real-2024-election-divide-is-the-catastrophists-vs-the-casuals/

Disgraced former president preemptively blames Jews for potential election loss

Source: Axios

“Former President Trump said at a D.C. event on combating antisemitism that ‘any Jewish person’ who votes for Vice President Kamala Harris ‘should have their head examined.’ The big picture: Trump received a warm reception at the ‘Fighting Antisemitism in America’ event, but he was accused outside of the summit of ‘dangerous antisemitism’ for saying ‘if I don’t win this election,’ then ‘the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss.’ … ‘If I don’t win this election — and Jewish people would have a lot to do with that, 60% are voting for the enemy — Israel will cease to exist in two years,’ Trump said at the Israeli-American Council event. … Trump received fierce backlash from Democratic Congress members in March after saying ‘any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion.'” (09/19/24)

https://www.axios.com/2024/09/20/trump-jewish-voters-antisemitism-election

Why the Trump-Harris Silence on Cuba?

Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger

“For more than 60 years, the U.S. national-security state has been waging a brutal war against the Cuban people with its economic embargo. Yet, neither the Cuban government nor the Cuban people has ever attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. In the decades-long U.S. war against the Cuban people, it has always been the U.S. national-security state that has been the aggressor. Yet, notice that there is no discussion about this war in the presidential race. That’s because everyone understands that the Pentagon, the CIA, and the NSA are committed to this war forever or until the Cuban regime becomes, once again, a pro-U.S. regime, one that is eager and willing to do the bidding of the U.S. national-security establishment. No one, including Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, is going to buck the national-security establishment when it comes to Cuba. Moreover, everyone knows what happened to the last president who did that — John F. Kennedy.” (09/19/24)

https://www.fff.org/2024/09/19/why-the-trump-harris-silence-on-cuba/

On War Crimes And Western Hypocrisy

Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone

“The death toll has risen to 12 from Israel’s terror [sic] attack in Lebanon on Tuesday which detonated explosive materials hidden in thousands of pagers. Another 20 people were then killed in another attack on Wednesday with a second wave of explosions, this time using walkie talkies and home solar energy systems. The total death toll now sits at 32. Two children and four healthcare workers are among the dead. Thousands have been injured. As you would expect, western empire managers are getting really squirmy about this. White House spokesman John Kirby adamantly refused to answer any questions involving Israel’s responsibility for the attacks during a press conference on Wednesday, despite Israel being widely reported as the responsible party, with outlets like The New York Times citing US officials as their source.” (09/19/24)

https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2024/09/19/on-war-crimes-and-western-hypocrisy/

Tunisia: Presidential candidate sentenced to 20 months vows to campaign from prison

Source: ABC News

“One of the candidates challenging Tunisian President Kais Saied in the country’s presidential election next month has been sentenced to prison on fraud charges that his attorney decried as politically motivated. Two weeks after his arrest, a court in the city of Jendouba handed down a 20-month sentence for Ayachi Zammel on Wednesday evening, after convicting him of falsifying the signatures he gathered to file the candidacy papers needed to run for president. Zammel faces more than 20 charges in jurisdictions throughout Tunisia, including four that will be heard on Thursday. The little-known businessman and head of Tunisia’s Azimoun party is one of two candidates challenging Saied in the North African nation’s Oct. 6 election. His attorney Abdessattar Messaoudi said Zammel planned to conduct his campaign from behind bars.” (09/19/24)

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/tunisian-presidential-candidate-sentenced-20-months-vows-campaign-113839356

UK: Bank of England holds interest rate steady at 5%

Source: Semafor

“The Bank of England held interest rates steady at 5% Thursday, adding that the cost of borrowing would be cut in the future, ‘gradually over time.’ Traders are now betting that the UK’s central bank will make its next cut in November. Prices in the UK have continued to rise higher than the Bank’s goal of 2%, and the bank’s governor, Andrew Bailey, said officials were moving cautiously so as to ‘not cut too fast or by too much.’ The decision comes after the US Federal Reserve announced a half a percentage point cut Wednesday. Following the UK bank’s announcement Thursday, the pound spiked to 1.33 against the US dollar — its highest since March 2022 — a rally ‘propelled by the widening interest rate divergence between the BoE and the Federal Reserve,’ Euronews noted.” (09/19/24)

https://www.semafor.com/article/09/19/2024/bank-england-steady-interest-rate-inflation