Futures, Global Markets Rise With US Markets Closed For President's Day

On February 28th, President Trump bypassed Congress and started the biggest war perhaps since Vietnam against an Iran that had neither attacked nor threatened the United States. Censorship and propaganda have converged to deliver the false narrative that this will be another “Venezuela” in and out operation. But the numbers do not support the thesis. […]

Authoritarianism Doesn't Arrive With A Coup... It Arrives With A Login Authored by Sam Lowry via dailysceptic.org, Authoritarianism doesn’t usually arrive with a coup. It arrives with a login, a compliance form, a penalty notice for keeping records in the wrong format. It comes with a quietly extended electoral term, a cancelled bank account, a prison sentence for a social media post. Each measure has a reasonable-sounding justification. The problem is the direction — and how far it has already travelled. Power is migrating from the visible arena of democratic politics to the...

Trump Blinks Again, Unilaterally Extends Iran Ceasefire After Pakistan Talks Fail To Launch Summary Trump unilaterally extends ceasefire after Vance calls off trip to Pakistan - says Iranian port blockade to remain in place. Tasnim says Iran's 'final decision' is to not attend talks. Trump warns: 'Expect...bombs' & urges Tehran "release women" said to be on death row. Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani in Indo-Pac region: CENTCOM As just 12 ships have gone through Hormuz Strait in last 24 hours, Iran claims one...