Democracy Now

Special Report: U.S. & Israel Launch Unprovoked Attack on Iran, Risking Broader Regional War
The U.S. and Israel launched a joint, unprovoked attack on Iran, leading to immediate Iranian retaliation across the Middle East and raising critical questions about international law, war objectives, and regional stability.

Jeremy Scahill: Despite Ongoing Talks, Trump Admin Is "Obsessed" with Destroying Iran
Jeremy Scahill reveals the Trump administration's alleged obsession with ending Iran's Islamic Revolution, detailing a massive military buildup and two potential US attack scenarios, despite ongoing negotiations.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — February 19, 2026
Global tensions escalate with US preparations for potential strikes on Iran, ongoing revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza amidst new reports of significantly higher death tolls.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — February 18, 2026
Global tensions escalate with US military strikes in Latin America, Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, and political turmoil in Peru, while domestic US news highlights controversial immigration policies and media censorship concerns.

Cuba's U.N. Ambassador Denounces U.S. Oil Blockade, Push to Topple Government
Cuba's UN Ambassador details the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the US oil blockade and economic embargo, highlighting widespread international condemnation and the US's historical efforts to destabilize the island.

"Hostile Takeovers": As U.S. Claims Venezuela's Oil, Trump Seeks "Vassal States" Across the World
The Trump administration implemented aggressive geopolitical and economic strategies in Latin America, transforming Venezuela into a 'vassal state' and pressuring Cuba through oil sanctions, raising concerns about international law and national sovereignty.

“An Abomination”: Yanis Varoufakis on Trump’s “Board of Peace” & Threat to Democratic World Order
Yanis Varoufakis dissects Trump's 'Board of Peace' as a corporate-driven attempt to dismantle the post-1945 international order, likening it to a modern East India Company.

Oxfam Warns of Rising Authoritarianism & Billionaire Boom
Oxfam International reveals how a massive surge in billionaire wealth is not just an economic issue, but a direct driver of political power, media control, and the erosion of democracy, leading to a global shift from democracies to oligarchies.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 21, 2026
Federal investigations, international tensions, and domestic protests mark a turbulent global landscape, with the Trump administration at the center of multiple controversies ranging from immigration enforcement to alleged financial misconduct.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 20, 2026
Global tensions escalate as President Trump threatens European allies over Greenland, faces domestic backlash for ICE crackdowns, and proposes a 'Board of Peace' to rival the UN, while an Oxfam report highlights record billionaire wealth and its impact on democracy.

"Empire in Decline": Historian Alfred McCoy on U.S. Aggression in Venezuela, Iran & Beyond
Historian Alfred McCoy argues the United States is an empire in decline, characterized by micromilitarism abroad and domestic instability, while China rapidly ascends to global hegemony through dominance in green energy and electric vehicle production.

"State of Siege": Iran Protest Death Toll Rises to 2,000 After U.S. Sanctions Spawn Economic Crisis
US sanctions have intensified Iran's economic crisis, fueling widespread anti-government protests where the death toll has reportedly reached 2,000, while direct US military intervention is deemed impractical.

Iran Escalates Deadly Crackdown on Mass Protests as Trump Threatens to Launch Military Attack
Amidst a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, the US and Israel issue military threats and support for protesters, while experts warn such foreign intervention exacerbates internal repression and endangers activists.

Trump Vows to “Indefinitely” Control Venezuela’s Oil
The US seized Venezuelan oil tankers and allegedly abducted President Maduro, with President Trump declaring indefinite control over Venezuela's oil sales, sparking debate over international law and internal Venezuelan dynamics.

Trump's Plan to Seize Greenland Would "Militarize the Arctic," Trample Indigenous Rights
The Trump administration's aggressive pursuit of Greenland, including potential military force, sparks international condemnation, threatens NATO, and highlights the disregard for indigenous sovereignty and international law.

"This Is Our Hemisphere": Report from Colombia on Trump's Escalating Threats to the Region
Donald Trump escalated threats against Venezuela and Colombia, claiming the right to Venezuelan oil and accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of drug trafficking, prompting a strong defense from a Colombian activist.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 7, 2026
A US military raid leads to the abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro, with President Trump claiming control over Venezuelan oil, while globally, the US pledges security to Ukraine and Israel faces accusations over hindering Gaza aid.

"Imperial Laboratory": Alexander Aviña on the "Donroe" Doctrine & U.S. Intervention in Latin America
Professor Alexander Aviña explains how Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' and military actions in Venezuela are a continuation of a bipartisan US imperial strategy in Latin America, often signaling US weakness rather than strength.

"It's All About the Oil, Stupid!": Mehdi Hasan on Trump Attacking Venezuela & Kidnapping Maduro
Mehdi Hassan argues that the US intervention in Venezuela, including the detention of President Maduro, was explicitly driven by oil interests, with President Trump openly admitting this motivation and briefing oil executives before Congress.

What’s Next in Trump’s War on Venezuela?
Experts dissect former President Trump's claims about Venezuelan oil and the broader US strategy in Latin America, revealing a complex web of resource interests, historical revisionism, and geopolitical maneuvering.

Report from Caracas on U.S. Attack & Maduro Abduction
The US launched a military attack on Venezuela, abducting President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, leading to international condemnation and a power vacuum in Caracas.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 5, 2026
The US military launched a large-scale attack on Venezuela, abducting President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, sparking international condemnation and threats of further military action against other nations.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 2, 2026
New York City swears in its youngest and first Muslim, South Asian, African-born mayor, Oran Mandani, as global headlines highlight escalating humanitarian crises, economic disparities, and geopolitical tensions.
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