Democracy Now

"Sigh of Relief": U.S. & Iran Agree to 2-Week Ceasefire, But Israel Keeps Bombing Lebanon
A two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, has brought a temporary halt to hostilities and reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but its fragility is underscored by ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and severe economic and social devastation within Iran.

Crude Capitalism: Trump's War on Iran Disrupts Global Systems, from Agriculture to Oil to Shipping
The US-Israeli war on Iran and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz are not just impacting oil prices, but are creating widespread global economic and humanitarian crises by disrupting critical supply chains for chemicals, fertilizers, and shipping logistics.

Iran War & Strait of Hormuz Energy Crisis Reveal Decline of U.S. Empire: Historian Alfred McCoy
Historian Alfred McCoy argues that Iran's strategic closure of the Strait of Hormuz, mirroring Egypt's Suez Canal move in 1956, signals a rapid decline in US global hegemony and exposes critical vulnerabilities in American military and economic strategy.

Agnès Callamard on Iran War, Global Fight for Gender Justice & Killing of Yanar Mohammed
Amnesty International's Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemns the US-Israeli war in Iran, arguing it harms civilians and human rights, while highlighting global attacks on gender justice and the instrumentalization of women's rights for war.

Iranian American Scholar Narges Bajoghli on the History of U.S.-Iran Relations
An Iranian American scholar details how escalating US-Israel military actions and Trump-era sanctions have fueled extreme polarization within Iran, strengthened nationalism, and led to a global economic counter-strategy focused on oil markets.

A War for Oil: Economist Michael Hudson on U.S. Quest to Control the World's Oil Trade
Economist Michael Hudson argues that US foreign policy, particularly actions against Iran and Russia, is fundamentally driven by a decades-long strategy to control global oil trade and maintain dollar hegemony, not by stated concerns like nuclear proliferation or democracy.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 2, 2026
A US-Israeli military assault on Iran triggers widespread retaliatory strikes, global economic disruption, and international condemnation, escalating conflicts across the Middle East and impacting domestic US politics.

Rep. Summer Lee on Boycotting Trump Speech, Jesse Jackson, Voting Rights, “Endless Wars” & More
Congresswoman Summer Lee explains her boycott of Trump's State of the Union, criticizing his administration's policies on voting rights, foreign policy, and attacks on civil rights legacies.

Top U.S. & World Headlines — February 25, 2026
A comprehensive news roundup details President Trump's contentious State of the Union, the Pentagon's aggressive stance on AI access, a growing measles outbreak amid altered vaccine policies, and several international flashpoints.

"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.
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