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Earthquake Rocks Bangkok: Building Collapses with 40 people inside
The one that surprised me the most was the Park Origin where you can see the buildings sway as they are designed to do but once you connect a bridge between them surely you're asking for trouble. -
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Democrats Secretly Planned for Biden’s Exit or Death in Office as Early as 2023
Ruthless. No loyalty in the democrat party -
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Why Europe's Far Right Remains Untamed
Trump's policies are not far right. Tariffs are left wing.- 1
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Democrats Secretly Planned for Biden’s Exit or Death in Office as Early as 2023
Democrats Secretly Planned for Biden’s Exit or Death in Office as Early as 2023, New Book Alleges A newly released book claims that Democratic leaders began making contingency plans for President Joe Biden’s potential withdrawal from the 2024 race—or even his death in office—long before the election year began. While public narratives from the White House and media figures like MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough insisted on Biden’s capability to serve, behind the scenes, key Democratic officials were reportedly preparing for alternative outcomes. According to Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, aides to Vice President Kamala Harris were particularly engaged in strategizing around the possibility that Biden might not be able to complete his term. The Guardian’s preview of the book details how these discussions, which began in 2023, reflected deep concerns within Democratic circles. Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials were also involved in these secret preparations. The authors state that private discussions were held to explore various scenarios, including Biden stepping down before the primaries, withdrawing after securing primary victories, or even dropping out after winning enough delegates to secure the nomination. Another possibility considered was Biden leaving the race after officially becoming the party’s nominee. Two sources familiar with these talks confirmed that the party wanted to be prepared for every conceivable situation. Ultimately, Biden, 82, withdrew from the race on July 21, 2024, following significant internal pressure from the Democratic Party. His decision came after a disastrous June 27 debate against Donald Trump, where he struggled to articulate his thoughts clearly, raising concerns among supporters and party leaders. Inside the White House, Harris’ then-communications director, Jamal Simmons, played a key role in contingency planning. According to the book, Simmons had even compiled a “death-pool roster” of judges who could be called upon to swear in Harris immediately if Biden passed away while in office. Though he left his role in early January 2023, he remained involved in discussions regarding Biden’s future. The book claims that while Simmons never informed Harris about the list before leaving his position, he insisted on being notified immediately if anything happened to Biden, as he had developed a comprehensive communications strategy for such an event. Simmons later made headlines following Trump’s victory in the 2024 election when he publicly suggested that Biden should resign before the inauguration, allowing Harris to make history as the first female president. “Joe Biden’s been a phenomenal president, he’s lived up to so many of the promises he’s made. There’s one promise left that he could fulfill: Being a transitional figure,” Simmons told CNN at the time. “He could resign the presidency in the next 30 days, make Kamala Harris president of the United States.” However, Biden did not follow that advice. Despite the fallout from his debate performance, he initially intended to remain in the race. But the intense reaction from his party and the broader public ultimately forced him to step aside, bringing an end to his reelection campaign. Based on a report by NYP 2025-03-29 -
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Why Europe's Far Right Remains Untamed
As the far-right movement surges across the Atlantic, European liberal democrats are scrambling for a strategy to contain its influence. Some argue that firewalls must be built to prevent far-right parties from gaining political power by refusing to enter coalitions with them. Others, like Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, have suggested that engaging with certain far-right leaders could temper their extremism by offering them a seat at the table. Still, there remains a belief among centrists that once far-right populists assume office and face the complex realities of governance, they will inevitably shift toward the center. Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s far-right prime minister, has often been cited as proof of this theory. When she took power in 2022, many feared her leadership due to her open admiration for Benito Mussolini and her party’s fascist roots. However, she quickly moved to assuage concerns, maintaining Italy’s support for Ukraine and reaffirming its commitment to NATO. Some European officials even hoped Meloni could serve as a mediator with Donald Trump, should he return to the U.S. presidency. Trump himself has praised Meloni, stating in December that they could “straighten out the world a little bit” if they worked together. However, the expectation that Meloni would moderate her stance has proven false. As the global political climate becomes increasingly receptive to far-right ideologies, she has gradually reverted to her more radical positions. There is no real evidence that governing has tempered Meloni; instead, since mid-2024, it has become clear that her centrist shift was merely a strategic move. European liberals must abandon the notion that engaging with far-right figures will mitigate Trump’s influence over Europe. Instead, they should highlight the consequences of turning away from European unity and recognize that Trump is not a reliable ally. During her decade in opposition, Meloni was a vocal critic of the European Union, advocating for Italy’s exit from the eurozone and attacking Brussels’ bureaucracy. Yet, after becoming prime minister, she appeared to soften her stance, supporting Ukraine’s EU membership and building strong ties with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This apparent shift reassured many observers, including U.S. President Joe Biden, who praised her commitment to transatlantic relations. For some, Meloni became a model of how the far right could be integrated and neutralized within mainstream politics. As far-right parties gained traction across Europe—in Austria, France, Germany, and beyond—many traditional leaders debated whether working with them was a more effective strategy than outright opposition. Some center-right governments, such as those in Belgium, Finland, and the Netherlands, followed Italy’s example by forming coalitions with far-right parties. But this optimism was premature. Meloni continued pursuing a nationalist and socially conservative domestic agenda. In 2023, her government prohibited local authorities from registering children born to same-sex couples. Her seemingly centrist foreign policy was not a sign of moderation but a way to deflect criticism while advancing a hard-right agenda at home. Meloni’s true intentions became evident as she gradually moved further right. She sought to increase control over Italy’s judiciary, cracked down on independent media, and proposed constitutional reforms to consolidate power in the prime minister’s office. By 2024, as Trump’s reelection loomed, she pivoted further, praising U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s critique of Europe and attacking progressive ideologies in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Her shift has been particularly stark regarding Ukraine. Initially, her strong support for Ukraine helped her gain credibility among moderate European leaders. But once she had secured their trust, she began subtly distancing herself from Ukraine’s cause. By early 2025, her party abstained from a European Parliament vote supporting Kyiv, and she refused to commit Italian troops to any potential peacekeeping mission unless it was sanctioned by the UN Security Council—where Russia holds veto power. This gradual but deliberate rightward drift is strategic. Rather than making abrupt moves that would spark backlash, Meloni carefully tests the waters before proceeding further. Her approach ensures that her transformation remains largely unnoticed by those who expect far-right leaders to be more overtly extreme. The growing presence of far-right politicians in European governments has only emboldened Meloni. In 2023, Hungary’s Viktor Orban was her only far-right ally in power. By 2024, far-right parties had entered eight European governments, with more expected to follow. Meloni now feels less pressure to maintain a pro-European façade. Unlike Orban, she does not call for Italy to leave the EU, recognizing the economic benefits of membership—especially given Italy’s reliance on EU financial aid. However, she actively works to reshape the EU from within, opposing progressive policies and advocating for less regulation, greater national sovereignty, and weaker climate laws. The assumption that far-right leaders like Meloni can be integrated into mainstream politics and moderated is deeply flawed. Populist leaders rarely change; instead, they use gradual shifts to avoid alarming their opponents while steadily advancing their agendas. This pattern has been seen before, with figures like Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan presenting themselves as reformers early in their rule before veering toward authoritarianism. European centrists who collaborate with the far right often find themselves dominated rather than influencing these leaders. Italy serves as a prime example: once a center-right stronghold, the country’s political landscape has now been reshaped by Meloni’s far-right party. Similar trends are unfolding in Austria, France, and the Netherlands. While Meloni supports transatlantic cooperation, her vision aligns with an ethnonationalist worldview that prioritizes a Christian, white West. This ideology inherently conflicts with the realities of global politics, where nationalist movements often struggle to maintain cohesion. Trump’s second presidency is expected to further strain these alliances. His policies are already proving detrimental to Europe, with tariffs on EU goods and demands for increased European defense spending placing Italy in a precarious position. Despite her ideological alignment with Trump, Meloni faces a dilemma. As Trump actively undermines European security and economic stability, far-right European leaders will be forced to choose between aligning with him or preserving their nations’ interests. The contradictions within their nationalist ideology will become increasingly evident. European moderates cannot afford to stand by or attempt to co-opt figures like Meloni as mediators with Trump. Instead, they must expose the inconsistencies in far-right rhetoric. While these leaders claim to represent the people, their alignment with Trump’s agenda undermines Europe’s security and prosperity. Only by highlighting these contradictions and emphasizing the dangers of a fragmented Europe can liberal democrats counteract the far-right’s growing influence and protect the continent’s future. Based on a report by Foreign Affairs 2025-03-29
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