-
7 votes
-
Stefan Löfven steps down as Sweden's prime minister after seven years – finance minister Magdalena Andersson widely tipped to be his successor as leader of Socialdemokraterna
8 votes -
Morten Messerschmidt, a leading right-wing Danish politician, has been convicted of fraudulently receiving funds from the European Union
9 votes -
From child refugee to politician – Suldaan Said Ahmed, whose family fled the civil war in Somalia, is intent on driving out racism in Finland
3 votes -
New vote totals show tighter Democratic race for New York City mayor
5 votes -
Sweden's Vänsterpartiet said it would seek to oust PM Stefan Löfven if the government didn't drop or change plans for the abolition of rent controls on new-build properties
7 votes -
Denmark's secret service helped the US spy on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014
5 votes -
I am getting sick of writing these pieces to respond to people like Rick Santorum
13 votes -
Keir Starmer struggles to counter Boris Johnson’s ‘vaccine bounce’ as UK polls loom
5 votes -
Alexei Navalny reaches fourteenth day of hunger strike as officials threaten force-feeding
15 votes -
Andrew Yang’s Asian American superpower
11 votes -
Finland's women-led government targeted by online harassment – the online attacks have left some female politicians afraid to speak out
14 votes -
Why Vladimir Putin wants Alexei Navalny dead
8 votes -
Inger Støjberg quits the Venstre party ahead of her impeachment trial – she is accused of unlawfully ordering the separation of asylum-seeking couples arriving from Syria
5 votes -
In Tunisia, some wonder if the revolution was worth it: Tunisians are putting their hard-won right to criticize the government to good use. They just wish there was less to protest.
10 votes -
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declares China's treatment of Uighurs 'genocide'
15 votes -
Partner of Norway's former justice minister has been found guilty of threatening democracy – she faked attacks on her family home and the torching of her car
10 votes -
Andrew Yang is running for Mayor of New York City
26 votes -
Denmark will hold its first political trial in three decades after the country's ruling party supported a vote to impeach ex-immigration minister Inger Støjberg
6 votes -
Leading politicians in Finland have expressed outrage after former prime minister Juha Sipilä was assaulted outside the country's Parliament building
9 votes -
In Georgia Runoff Elections, (D) Warnock wins vs (R) Loeffler, (D) Ossof very likely wins vs (R) Purdue
Text post because the big news companies are cowards playing it safe and not calling Ossof yet, though it's basically over Warnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority (AP News) My...
Text post because the big news companies are
cowardsplaying it safe and not calling Ossof yet, though it's basically overWarnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority (AP News)
My takes below:
What does this mean?
This gives Democrats a thin majority in the senate. Does it mean they have free reign? No, the party is not that unified. In particular, as you probably have heard his name many many times now, Manchin, the "conservative Democrat" from WV is likely to be the kingmaker in votes. So it's not like just anything can get passed, and Manchin will not eliminate the filibuster easily.
So is it pointless?
ABSOLUTELY NOT
It's a huge victory nonetheless for Democrats. Remember, with control of the Senate, Chuck Schumer will be Senate Majority Leader, who controls what legislation the senate votes on. Even bipartisan bills were consistently torpedoed by McConnell who would refuse to even have a vote on it. Now, there is politics that can be done - deals, compromise, whatever. If you can't vote on something, nothing can be done. Things that are overall popular like increased stimulus are also going to pass.
Additionally, perhaps an even bigger deal, Biden can get his nominations through for cabinet and judges. There's an insane amount of unfilled heads of state departments right now, and the rest are filled with people absolutely unfit for the job. Having a real human being be the head of the EPA, or Department of Education, or the Department of Energy, and so forth is a big deal.
It also means that Justice Breyer can safely retire and have another "liberal" Justice take his place.
It's not sweeping control over the government, but it's a immensely superior political situation to McConnell stone walling anything he doesn't want, and Biden having to haggle with McConnell over how incompetent his cabinet needs to be.
48 votes -
Pennsylvania Republicans block seating of Democratic state senator, take control from lieutenant governor
20 votes -
Andrew Yang files paperwork to run for New York City mayor
26 votes -
Dianne Feinstein’s missteps raise a painful age question among US Senate Democrats
15 votes -
Belgium has expelled five Danish far-right activists and banned them for a year over their plans to burn a Quran in a mainly-Muslim area of Brussels
10 votes -
Violence erupts in Malmö after anti-Muslim activity – right-wing extremists had burned a copy of the Quran and a Danish politician was barred from entering the country
9 votes -
Boris Johnson's new Brexit trade advisor is former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott
10 votes -
US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's response to colleague who called her a misogynistic slur
42 votes -
KnowYourVote - An aggregated source for info about US candidates
4 votes -
Sen. Hawley introduces bill to fine American companies relying on Chinese slave labor
17 votes -
The second defeat of Bernie Sanders
16 votes -
The time Bernie Sanders almost ran against Barack Obama, explained
5 votes -
Amy McGrath wins close Kentucky Senate primary
11 votes -
Rasmus Paludan, head of Denmark's far-right Stram Kurs party, has been given a month in jail for a string of offences including racism
7 votes -
New Zealand opposition leader ousted as PM Ardern's popularity soars
12 votes -
Joe Biden asks Amy Klobuchar to undergo vetting as possible running mate
9 votes -
Twitter’s Jack Dorsey is giving Andrew Yang $5 million to build the case for a US universal basic income
13 votes -
Bernie Sanders says another US presidential run is 'very, very unlikely'
10 votes -
Republican Mitt Romney sides with Democrats calling for $12 hourly raises for essential workers in the US
22 votes -
The UK Labour party has a new leader: Keir Starmer
12 votes -
Why Mitch Mcconnell wants US states to go bankrupt
15 votes -
Brazilian superminister Sérgio Moro resigns after Jair Bolsonaro fires federal police chief Maurício Valeixo
6 votes -
Bernie Sanders endorses Joe Biden
39 votes -
Elizabeth Warren has a plan for this, too
8 votes -
White House, US Senate agree to $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package
25 votes -
Time’s Up said it could not fund a #metoo allegation against Joe Biden
12 votes -
What if Andrew Yang was right? Mitt Romney has joined the chorus of voices calling for all Americans to receive free money directly from the government
21 votes -
Joe Biden, not Bernie Sanders, is the true Scandinavian – Sanders totally misunderstands what's behind Denmark's safety net
8 votes -
Pete Buttigieg: 'Time for rethinking what campaigning looks like' amid coronavirus
9 votes -
Fixing the debates: A better way to interrupt?
5 votes