NYT pointed to the risks for the United States in the boycott by countries of the summit of the Americas

The possible refusal of the President of Mexico to come to the summit of the Americas will interfere with the intention of the Biden administration to conclude an agreement on illegal migration. The United States is also concerned about the likely non-participation of the President of Brazil in the meeting. pointed out the risks for the United States in a boycott of the Summit of the Americas by countries” />

Joe Biden

A growing number of Latin American and Caribbean heads of state are considering withdrawing from the Summit of the Americas due in Los Angeles in June, writes The New York Times.

Including — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the newspaper reported, citing Brazilian officials. According to the newspaper, the Brazilian leader has a cool relationship with Washington, and the summit was supposed to be Bolsonaro's first meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador may also miss the summit: he said he would not come to the meeting unless representatives of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua were invited to it. Juan González, senior director of Western Hemisphere affairs at the US National Security Council, had earlier suggested this possibility.

The Mexican president was supported by the leaders of Bolivia and Honduras. Countries— members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) also threatened to boycott the summit if Venezuela was represented at it not by President Nicolas Maduro, but by opposition leader Juan Guaido (the United States recognizes the latter as interim head of state).

As the newspaper notes, the boycott threats highlight the problems that the Biden administration is facing. Ahead of the mid-term elections to be held in the fall of 2022, the US administration is seeking an effective regional agreement on illegal migration, according to a New York Times source. The absence of the Mexican president from the summit will make his conclusion more difficult.

Bolsonaro's failure to attend the meeting jeopardizes the achievement of two other significant foreign policy goals of the Biden administration, which are related to the issue of climate change and the defense of democracy, the newspaper writes. The NYT notes that during the Biden presidency, Brazil moved closer to Russia, Bolsonaro expanded the deforestation of the Amazon and “questioned the integrity of elections in his own country.”

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At the meeting, the US and other countries could try to pressure Bolsonaro to “respect the democratic process”; and publicly supported his country's electoral system. However, according to the NYT source, the summit of the Americas is not on Bolsonaro's schedule. The fact that the Brazilian leader does not plan to participate in the meeting was also reported by Reuters.

Bolsonaro's administration told the newspaper that they had not received any information about the timing of the summit. Brazilian Vice President Amilton Mourán said Bolsonaro has not yet decided whether to attend the meeting.

The US authorities have not yet issued official invitations to the summit; The White House previously said they had not yet made a final decision on the guest list. A spokesman for the US National Security Council, who is helping organize the event, told the NYT that the upcoming summit— “the most important event for the Biden administration in our hemisphere,” and added that formal invitations would be sent out shortly. Both the NSC and the State Department declined to comment on boycott threats.

Summit of the Americas— organized under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS) meeting of the heads of state and government of America. Its goal is to form a common strategy in solving the problems facing the countries of the region. It was first held in 1994 in Miami. This year, the meeting is scheduled for June 6 & 10 in Los Angeles.

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Biden misspoke and named Kamala Harris President of the United States

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American President Joe Biden during his speech at the US summit— ASEAN made a reservation and named its Vice President Kamala Harris head of state.

During his speech, he called the Indo-Pacific region free, open, stable and prosperous. “That's why I asked President Harris to go there last August,” said Biden.

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The Foreign Ministry announced an attempt by the United States to recruit the head of the bureau of the Russian media

The FBI agents tried to recruit the head of the correspondence center of one of the Russian media, the Foreign Ministry said. Washington is also trying to interfere with the work of journalists who do not cover events the way the United States would like, according to the department

Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States tried to recruit the head of the correspondent office of one of the Russian media outlets in Washington, according to a comment by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

According to Zakharova, the United States is trying to make it as difficult as possible for the activities of Russian accredited journalists or intimidate them into leaving.

“The next example of this unprecedented pressure was two “approaches” agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the head of the bureau of one of the Russian media in Washington. The goal is obvious— unbalance the journalist and try to involve him in compromising “collaboration”,— said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Didn't work,” — she said.

The pressure, according to Zakharova, is subjected to correspondents who cover events “not in the way that Washington agitprop would like.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded an immediate end to the “treatment of Russian journalists” by providing them with normal working conditions in accordance with “free speech standards.”

In March, the Washington Post reported that the FBI used Russian-language advertising on social media Google platforms to persuade employees of the Russian embassy in Washington to cooperate. The secret service allegedly expects that some of the staff of the diplomatic mission does not support the military operation in Ukraine and therefore wants to help American intelligence.

Targeted advertising appeared when using mobile devices only on the territory of the embassy and in the immediate vicinity. A person interested in the advertisement can follow the link in the advertisement to the page of the FBI counterintelligence program, where potential informants are invited to visit the office of the bureau.

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The Pentagon called the Russian nuclear arsenal a problem for the United States

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin: Russia's nuclear arsenal is and will remain a threat According to Lloyd Austin, the threat from the Russian nuclear arsenal will not disappear in the future. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the West is talking about nuclear war, and Russia believes that there can be no winners in such a conflict

Lloyd Austin

The head of the US Department of Defense, Lloyd Austin, spoke of the “significant problems” posed to the United States by the Russian nuclear arsenal. This is stated in a statement by the head of the Pentagon at a hearing in the US House Appropriations Committee.

“As we have seen in recent weeks, Russia remains a strong threat that requires close and constant coordination within NATO to prevent further aggression in Europe. <…> Russia's nuclear potential also creates significant problems now and will create in the future, — Austin said.

According to him, Russia's actions in Ukraine pose a “threat to transatlantic security.”

Austin added that Washington sees a threat not only in Russia and, as previously stated, in China. “We must remain vigilant for other dangers as well. We face a constant threat from North Korea, its nuclear arsenal and missile programs under development, as well as from Iran, with its nuclear ambitions and support for groups that threaten the security of our forces and our allies. said the head of the Pentagon.

On February 27, a few days after the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin ordered the deterrence forces to be placed on a special alert regime due to the fact that “the highest officials of the leading NATO countries allow aggressive statements.” towards Russia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov then said that there was talk in the world about the possibility of nuclear war, but not by Russia, but by NATO, Western countries and Ukraine.

On March 24, The New York Times reported, citing sources, that the White House has formed a team of officials to develop a response plan for Washington and its allies in the event that Moscow uses nuclear weapons. At the same time, the publication quotes officials, the United States considers such a scenario unlikely.

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Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified on March 29 that Russia is not considering using nuclear weapons in connection with the operation in Ukraine. “We have a concept of security that states very clearly that only when there is a threat to the existence of our country, we can and will use nuclear weapons to eliminate this threat,” — he said.

The conditions for the use of nuclear weapons by Russia are described in paragraph 27 of the Military Doctrine. It states that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against Russia with the use of conventional weapons, “when the very existence of the state is threatened.” ;.

On May 6, Alexei Zaitsev, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a briefing that Russia would not violate scenarios for the possible use of nuclear weapons. “The scenarios for our possible use of nuclear weapons are clearly spelled out in Russian doctrinal documents. They are not applicable to the implementation of the tasks set in the course of a special military operation in Ukraine,»,— he explained.

According to Zaitsev, Moscow adheres to the idea that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should not be unleashed.

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Volodin accused the United States of coordinating Ukraine’s operations against Russia

According to him, Biden himself admitted this, demanding to stop the leaks about the exchange of intelligence data with Ukraine. Volodin recalled the participation of “foreign instructors” in the conflict and called the US leadership war criminals .jpg” alt=”Volodin accused the US of coordinating Ukraine's operations against Russia” />

Viacheslav Volodin

US President Joe Biden “confessed that Washington had declassified” when he demanded to stop leaks about intelligence sharing with Ukraine, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said. The United States is involved in the conflict in Ukraine and “essentially coordinates and develops” Ukrainian military operations directed against Russia, he wrote in his Telegram.

This, according to him, is not only about the supply of weapons and equipment and the participation in the conflict of “foreign advisers and instructors”: “the Kyiv Nazi regime was thrown to the aid of American intelligence forces,” the politician claims. He emphasizes that the American administration should be held accountable “for the crimes committed in Ukraine by the Kyiv Nazi regime” and add to the “list of war criminals”.

The fact that Biden at a meeting with CIA Director William Burns and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanded an end to leaks of information about the exchange of data between Ukrainian and American intelligence, NBC reported yesterday.

Prior to this, The New York Times wrote that the United States was transmitting intelligence to Ukraine about the expected movements of Russian troops— this information was used to strike at the Russian military. The sources of the publication said that before the United States authorities sought to keep most of the intelligence about the hostilities secret from Kyiv, fearing an escalation from Russia.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in early April that intelligence information, that the United States is transferring to Ukraine can be used both for defense and for offensive operations.

The Politico newspaper on May 1, citing retired military personnel and PMC employees, reported that trained Americans are participating in hostilities in Ukraine on the side of Kyiv. In the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ukraine was called “a place of accumulation of mercenaries of all stripes.” At the same time, the US authorities urged citizens not to participate in a military conflict.

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The Ministry of Defense of Poland announced the start of the exercises Defender Europe led by the United States

From May 1 to May 26, Defender Europe and Swift Response maneuvers will take place in Poland and eight other countries, 18 thousand military personnel from more than 20 states will take part in them

Military exercises began in Poland Defender Europe 2022, according to the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic.

The Defender Europe and Swift Response 2022 (airborne troops) maneuvers, which will take place from May 1 to 26 in Poland and eight other countries, will be attended by 18,000 military personnel from more than 20 states, including about 7,000 military personnel and 3 thousand pieces of equipment in Poland. In addition to Polish military personnel, military personnel from the US, France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and the UK will take part in them.

Defender Europe exercises will be held under the command of the 5th Corps of the US Army. “During the exercises, the ability of soldiers to interact in a joint combat operation will be tested,” — reported in the Polish Ministry of Defense. They include the movement of troops to overcome water barriers and fire training.

Defender Europe and Swift Response— defensive exercises that “are not directed against any country and are not related to the current geopolitical situation in the region,” the military department noted. They were planned for 2021.

On April 28, the Polish Ministry of Defense warned about the movement of military equipment due to exercises in the West Pomeranian, Lubusz, Wielkopolska, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Lodz, Mazowiecki, Lublin and Warmia-Mazury voivodeships. The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship borders on the Kaliningrad Region of Russia, West Pomeranian and Lubuskie— with Germany, Lublin— with Ukraine.

Great Britain intends to send about 8,000 troops for exercises in Eastern Europe, The Guardian newspaper wrote. The maneuvers will take place in the summer and will be one of the largest since the Cold War. Their goal— practicing actions to combat “Russian aggression”.

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According to the publication, exercises are planned in some countries from Finland to North Macedonia, they will involve tens of thousands of military personnel from NATO countries and the Joint Expeditionary Force (the alliance was created in 2014, in which Great Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden participate).

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Action plan of Ukraine and the United States in Transnistria revealed: explosion of warehouses

Washington wants to see Moscow's reaction to the aggravation: will there be a landing

The situation in Transnistria continues to heat up. A series of sabotage in Tiraspol and the Grigoriopol region continued. Now, according to reports from the field, a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group has been seen near the military warehouses in Kolbasna, and a drone has been seen over the largest arsenal in Europe. MK asked Vladimir Bruter, an expert from the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, to assess the situation.

Tiraspol. Photo: Global Look Press

– It's real. Actually, Zelensky's office today confirmed that they are ready to seize Transnistria. What doubts can there be?

Here is another question. Of course, the liquidation of Transnistria is not in Washington's plans at all. It is clear that the Transnistrian Republic can be liquidated fairly quickly. The question is, what will follow?

I think Washington plans to provoke Russia into more intense military action, or at least see how Russia will react to such provocations.

Washington, most likely, does not like the fact that they cannot understand the logic and timing of the current stage of the Russian special military operation. And that's why they want to “cheer up” the situation a little.

– Yes. They want to simulate the opening of a “second front” and see if the Russians will quickly break through to Odessa? Will they land troops? Will the number of combat sorties and missile attacks be increased? Well, and the like.

The point is that, strange as it may seem, Washington is also not interested in a very long delay in the Russian military operation. First of all, because if it is long and at the same time moves in favor of Russia, then this will greatly affect the autumn midterm elections in the United States.

The states need to decide: either they can impose on Russia some kind of losing for her tactics, or they need to switch to something else.

– I do not think that Transnistria has a serious chance against the Ukrainian military machine. The Ukrainian army is not as weak as many portray.

– It seems that the Ukrainians can simply try to provoke another series of explosions. They, in my opinion, are not even aware of how these ammunition correspond to the nomenclature that they need. Moreover, in order to capture this arsenal, it will take some time, forces are needed.

In the end, if there is a threat of capture, the Pridnestrovians themselves can blow it up to make it inaccessible to the Ukrainian army.

p>

Therefore, I think that control of this arsenal by the Ukrainian army is possible as an option, but still less likely than just creating general chaos. This chaos will be the basis for, for example, to send troops to Transnistria. It will be possible, in any case, to talk about it. Like, look, Pridnestrovie cannot cope, cannot ensure the security of the repository, and this is a threat to the whole world.

– This is quite possible. In any case, the fact that they sent drones towards the arsenals is a fact in itself indicative. This means that, most likely, they want to provoke something from the air, and are not planning a ground operation right now. But a ground operation cannot be ruled out either.

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Ambassador Antonov announced the closure of accounts of Russian consulates in the United States

Ambassador Antonov accused the US authorities of blocking the work of the Russian embassy Bank of America closed the accounts of two Russian consulates general, the work of the embassy in Washington was blocked, and diplomats receive threats, said Anatoly Antonov

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York, USA

The activities of the Russian embassy in the USA are “under blockade” from Washington, said on the air of the channel “Russia 1” head of the diplomatic mission Anatoly Antonov. “The accounts of our two consulates-general in Houston and New York have been closed by the Bank of America,” he said.

In addition, Antonov said, the embassy staff received threats, for some time they were blocked from leaving the diplomatic mission. “There were fairly numerous demonstrations, there were acts of vandalism, they poured paint over it,” — Ambassador added.

Last November, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that a total of six objects had been confiscated from Russia in the United States. In December 2016, the administration of President Barack Obama, as part of sanctions against Moscow, closed two country residences of Russian diplomats in New York and Maryland and expelled several dozen Russian diplomats. Under the next US President Donald Trump, the Russian consulates in San Francisco, Seattle and New York, as well as Russian trade missions, were closed.

As the Russian ministry pointed out, diplomats do not have access to these buildings and do not know the state of the utilities and the material values ​​​​left there, and the issue of blocked property in the United States remains a “sharp irritant”; for Moscow in relations with Washington.

Since April 2021, due to a new aggravation between the two countries, dozens of Russian diplomats have left the United States, in connection with which, according to Antonov, the Russian representation in the United States is facing a “serious personnel shortage.” Russia retaliated; in addition, President Vladimir Putin ordered to limit the admission of Russians or third-country nationals to work in the diplomatic missions of “unfriendly” Russia countries. The US State Department then stated that the embassy in Russia, due to a lack of staff, limited its work to the performance of technical functions: the staff of the embassy has been reduced from 1,200 to 120 people since 2017.

In January, Antonov said that the State Department had put the question of his departure from the country if Russia does not issue visas to the guards of the American ambassador in Moscow. A month later, according to the diplomat, the situation has not changed.

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A new “island” conflict flares up between China and the United States

Beijing's agreement with a small country in Oceania has caused Washington's displeasure

A new knot of geopolitical contradictions is being tied between the US and China. Their focus is not Taiwan or the disputed islands in East Asia, but the Solomon Islands, located in Oceania, which has concluded a security agreement with Beijing. This pact was of particular concern not only to neighboring Australia, but also to the United States.

Photo: Global Look Press

After Australia failed to convince the Solomon Islands to wreck a security deal with China, senior US officials planned to visit the island nation to try to revoke a security pact already signed, China's Global Times writes.

White House coordinator for the Indo-Pacific region Kurt Campbell and a senior State Department official for Asia will travel to the Solomon Islands, the White House said amid “concerns” that the Pacific island nation is striking a security pact with China, Reuters reported.

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Observers noted that the “concern” expressed by the US and Australia about the security pact indicates that they are using the South Pacific region as an “arena” to compete with Beijing and try to contain the development of China. Analysts predict that the US and Australia may increase military cooperation and civilian investment in the Solomon Islands and other South Pacific countries to counter growing Chinese influence, but history shows that US promises are often difficult to keep and such cooperation rarely brings real value. to ordinary people, Global Times notes.

Campbell's visit comes after Washington repeatedly warned the Solomon Islands about a security pact with China, and Australia made several threats under the guise of “concern” and sent to the island nation high-ranking officials.

Yang Honglian, senior fellow at the Pacific Islands Research Center at Fiji-based Liaocheng University, told the Global Times that in the mentality of the US and its Cold War successors in Australia, the South Pacific countries are always seen as “backyard.” They believe that controlling the island nations through military deployment can keep their influence in the region, so they suggested that Beijing would take the same step even if China did not conduct any military activities in the region. П

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele officially signed a framework agreement on security cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.

The signing of the security agreement provoked a hysterical reaction Washington after witnessing Canberra's failure to change China-Solomon Islands cooperation, said Chen Hong, president of the Chinese Association of Australian Studies and director of the Center for Australian Studies at East China Normal University.

The United States and its “agent” in the Asia-Pacific region – Australia – have repeatedly put pressure on the Solomon Islands. “This is not only interference in the internal affairs of the Solomon Islands, but also a provocation against Chinese diplomacy,” Chen told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The expert noted that Washington sees the South Pacific as an important “foothold” against China as it sought to further push its Indo-Pacific strategy across the region and put pressure on Beijing over the South China Sea and Taiwan. “But we see that the Solomon Islands have defended their sovereignty, independence and the right to make their own decisions, demonstrating political wisdom and determination. That is why the US is now putting Australia on the sidelines and intervening more directly in the region,” Chen said.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware is defending the security pact his government signed with China on Tuesday. He told Parliament that an agreement with Beijing was needed to address the country's “internal security situation.”

The Pacific island nation has long struggled with political unrest, most recently in November 2021 when protesters targeted the Chinese capital Honiara and tried to storm the prime minister's residence.

The Australian Police contingent helped restore stability at the request of the government. Australia also took the lead in the 2003 multilateral mission following violence and a coup in the late 1990s.

Canberra raised alarm about the pact with China when the draft agreement was leaked online in March and tried to encourage Sogaware to replay the plans . The United States and New Zealand have also raised concerns amid concerns that it could lead to China establishing a military outpost in the Pacific.

Mark Harrison, senior lecturer in Chinese studies at the University of Tasmania, told Al Jazeera that the PRC-Solomon Islands deal was a “disaster” for Australia, whose relationship with Beijing has long been strained. “This is another challenging step for Australia to reassess its future in a China-dominated region,” Harrison said. “Australia completely misjudged the impact of China's rise in the early 2010s and the reassessment has been slow and ambiguous and still has a long way to go.”

The Solomon Islands, with a population of less than 700,000, are a chain of hundreds of islands that lie east of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal, the site of a fierce battle between American and Japanese forces during World War II.

The former British colony has been facing unrest since the late 1990s as ethnic tensions turned violent, and in 2000 Sogaware first came to power in a coup. With the country on the brink of political and economic collapse, Australia and New Zealand sent in troops, stability was restored, and a peace agreement was signed. The calm did not last long.

Sogaware was re-elected as prime minister in 2019, and a few months later decided to break off the Solomon Islands' longstanding diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in favor of Beijing. The move did not sit well with everyone in the Solomon Islands and Daniel Suidani, premier of Malaita province, rejected the move, saying he would seek independence for Malaita, the country's largest province.

A leaked draft deal between Beijing and Honiara said the pact would allow Chinese warships to stop in the Solomon Islands and Chinese police would be deployed at the request of the island nation to maintain “public order.” Neither side will be allowed to publicly disclose mission information without the written consent of the other side.

Premier Sogaware explained to Parliament on Wednesday, saying the pact was in line with international and domestic law.

Sogaware had previously said that the Solomon Islands had “no intention of… asking China to build a military base,” and stressed on Wednesday that the deal was “guided by our national interest.”

Australia, which has had a security deal with Honiara since 2017, has become the loudest critic of the deal, but other Pacific nations, including the US and New Zealand, have also raised concerns. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is in the midst of a general election campaign, said Wednesday that the signing of the pact indicates “intense pressure” from China on the Pacific island nations.

In a statement Wednesday , officials from Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Japan expressed “general concern about the security system and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

China is already a major export destination for the Solomon Islands, buying about 65 percent of Honiara's exports in 2019, and the PRC is the source of just under a quarter of the island country's imports, followed by Australia with 13 percent.

In announcing the security deal, Beijing called it “normal exchange and cooperation between two sovereign and independent countries.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the Western powers were “deliberately exaggerating reveal tensions” in connection with the pact.

Источник www.mk.ru

The political scientist explained how the United States is enriched by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine

U.S. military stocks surged massively

The United States is the world's largest arms exporter, and its military-industrial complex has flourished even more under Joe Biden. Japanese political expert and analyst Jun Kitamura noted that the Americans are cashing in on the background of what is happening in Ukraine and can get even more benefits if the conflict flares up in Taiwan.

Photo: en.wikipedia.org

The words of the political scientist are reported by the Japanese edition of JB Press. The expert notes that over the past few years, the United States has provided almost 40% of the world's arms exports. At the same time, according to Kitamura, since the beginning of the special operation of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the shares of American military companies have jumped sharply. The expert noted that the leader was Lockheed Martin, whose shares rose by 30% from January to March, followed by Northrop Grumann and General Dynamics, which showed an increase of 20%, while Raytheon, in turn, rose by 10%. .

Kitamura explained that as of the beginning of the year, the shares of some of these companies had no growth, and some even went into the red. The expert noted that the interests of the capital that controls the United States are expressed by the current President Joe Biden. According to the political scientist, military aid worth $650 million was sent to Ukraine last year alone.

The expert asks whether the further enrichment of the American military-industrial complex is possible against the backdrop of a possible conflict in Taiwan. According to Kitamura, the prerequisites for this are observed in the fact that American politicians are “inflating hysteria” about China's actions, similar to how it was with accusations against Russia.

The political scientist noted that the United States has been exporting weapons to Taiwan for a long time, but the Americans lack a bloc similar to NATO to resolve the Taiwan issue. Therefore, according to Kitamura, the Americans are building a network to contain China, which involves Japan and their allies in the Asia-Pacific region, for example, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines and even India.

The expert predicts that the United States will to create and spread “pro-Taiwan and anti-Chinese” sentiments in the Indo-Pacific region, akin to what happened with Ukraine. At the same time, Kitamura emphasized that the main idea of ​​the United States in such conflicts is not to take personal part in them. The political scientist noted that in the event of an escalation in Taiwan, the US military would not enter into a direct confrontation, which is proved by the current US defense budget, where spending on the navy has been reduced in favor of other troops.

Kitamura noted that this shocked the US Navy , but demonstrated the strategy that the States have chosen. According to the political scientist, the course of the current administration is to avoid a direct military clash with China, no matter how the situation around Taiwan develops.

Read also:An expert said whether China will open “second front” because of Taiwan.

Источник www.mk.ru

American academic called sanctions against Russia harmful to the United States

photo pexels.com

As RT reports, academic and expert Edmund Gharib was skeptical of US pressure and sanctions policies aimed at attempting change Russia's actions.

Ultimately, according to the expert, the sanctions policy of the White House will lead to an increase in prices in the States themselves.

According to Gharib, even now in Washington the cost of gasoline of the &quot ;premium" went up to $5.20 a gallon.

“In other states, like California, the price could rise to more than $7.50, with consequences,” says the academic.

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Источник www.mk.ru

The prospect of a “hot” conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan is outlined

The Americans are provoking Beijing and pushing it towards Moscow

The arrival of a delegation of American congressmen to Taiwan was another reason for a serious aggravation between the authorities of the island and the United States, on the one hand, and China, on the other. In Beijing, the politicians' visit was regarded as a hostile move and, against this background, they announced military exercises near Taiwanese territory. Washington, which seemed to have “slowed down” just last week, did not abandon its course of escalation.

Photo: Global Look Press

Under these conditions, the question of the transition of the conflict around Taiwan into a “hot” one is increasingly being raised. stage — such a prospect, according to analysts, is now quite real. We figured out what the approaches of the US and China are based on, and how the Russian operation in Ukraine is connected with this.

As early as last week, Washington planned to send Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to visit Taipei. The possible arrival of such a significant (even in terms of media) figure caused the expected reaction from Beijing. The Chinese ministries of foreign affairs and defense said that the visit, if it takes place, will be regarded as hostile and will entail consequences, including with the participation of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) to protect the state sovereignty of the PRC.

The harsh rhetoric seemed to have had an effect. Pelosi's visit was cancelled, though only due to her positive coronavirus test result, according to official figures. It is symptomatic that at the same time, information appeared in the American press, citing anonymous sources, about the PLA planning exercises near Taiwan — in such an environment, the arrival of a high-ranking politician would be dangerous from any point of view.

However, a short lull turned into a new round of escalation: on April 15, a delegation of American congressmen arrived in Taipei, and the Chinese authorities forced the start of the PLA exercises, which was already presented as a response to US actions.

“We are categorically against any official contacts between Washington and Taipei, — Zhao Lijian, Chinese spokesman, said at a Friday briefing. — China will continue to take vigorous action and firmly uphold its sovereignty as well as its territorial integrity.” However, the speaker of the PRC Foreign Ministry has not yet begun to talk about specific reciprocal steps.

As noted in a conversation with “MK” Andrey Vinogradov, head of the Expert and Analytical Center for East and Southeast Asia at the Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Andrei Vinogradov, measures from China can be varied: “Beijing is able” in the first place to take symbolic steps, such as a ban on entry and issuance of visas to certain American personalities. At the same time, significant measures fraught with serious consequences are not ruled out, for example, the deployment of additional military contingents or missiles in Fujian (a southeastern province of China, separated from Taiwan only by a strait, and therefore of strategic importance. — « MK»).

Beijing also emphasized that Washington is violating at least three treaties from the 1970s and 1980s, according to which the American side consolidated the principle of the integrity of the PRC. The United States does not de jure recognize the territorial sovereignty of Taiwan, but at the same time regularly makes a statement about the inadmissibility of its actual reunification with mainland China by force and continues to supply Taiwanese forces with weapons.

And, according to the expert, Washington will not back down from its course: “Back in 1979, the United States recognized China and severed ties with Taiwan, within a year they withdrew their troops from there, and therefore there are no diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei, although there is an American representation, partially performing these functions. The fundamental issue is the US commitment to reduce arms supplies to Taiwan.

However, the language in the communiqué was very vague, limiting the supply, but not completely abolishing it. Therefore, Washington, providing weapons to the island, refers to the fact that it does not violate anything legally.

Against this background, the escalation of the aggravation up to the “hot” phase, especially given the ongoing PLA exercises, is not excluded. “Such a scenario is quite real, — Andrey Vinogradov is sure. — Beijing understands that Russia is viewed by the West as an immediate threat, while China — as strategic. Now the United States is forced to deal with Russian actions in Ukraine, postponing a decisive showdown with China.

The Chinese side is rapidly building up its armed forces and modernizing them; and in Washington they realized that they “overslept” this threat. Therefore, rather, active actions will now be from the American side. If five years ago, due to the situation in the South China Sea, the chances of a conflict were small, now, with increasing tension, the possibility of a collision has increased significantly. This is reflected in what the United States is doing within the framework of QUAD and AUKUS (military-political structures aimed at containing China; the first includes the USA, India, Australia and Japan, the second — US, UK and Australia. — «MK»)».

Although the Chinese Foreign Ministry called the parallels between the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and mainland China's relations with Taiwan untenable, analysts around the world directly say that that for the PRC now an important moment has come in the final solution of the issue of territorial integrity. This, in turn, cannot but worry the United States.

“The aggravation of the situation, of course, is directly related to the events in Ukraine, in the sense that it reflects a general trend: we see how the existing world order is now being destroyed at an accelerated pace. And each of the parties is in a hurry to take advantage of these processes, — emphasizes the expert. — The Chinese, of course, will not rush into action, but they understand that the moment is convenient for them.

As for the Americans — they also realize it. Both by their statements and by sending congressmen to Taiwan, the United States is trying to seize the initiative, because when the world system somehow stabilizes again, any such steps will require more effort than now.

In this sense, the movement of China and the United States over Taiwan — counter. But neither the Americans nor the Chinese, probably, yet imagine the possible consequences: not because they did not calculate them, but because of the dynamically changing situation.

The increased activity of Washington in the Asian direction, as noted by many — and what even American politicians themselves do not hide, — is also connected with the desire of the United States to force China to take a clear anti-Russian position in the Ukrainian crisis and to get some guarantees from Beijing that it will not help Moscow under sanctions.

However, Andrey Vinogradov is sure, the effect of Bely's actions home — directly opposite to his goals: “Of course, China will not change its position on Russia and Ukraine under pressure from the United States. Rather, on the contrary, Washington's actions are pushing Beijing towards Moscow.

Источник www.mk.ru

In the United States called the condition for the start of a dialogue on the lifting of sanctions against Russia

Washington said they could lift part of the sanctions if Moscow and Kiev reach an agreement

Washington is ready to start discussing the possible lifting of part of the anti-Russian sanctions if Moscow and Kyiv reach agreements during negotiations. This condition was announced today at the White House, TASS reports.

Photo: pixabay.com

At the same time, Washington emphasized that the United States is not directly involved in the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine.

“We were not direct participants in any negotiations, because we believe that this is where the Ukrainians should be at the head, and we should support them,” said US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

He added that Washington is now “aggressively” taking practical steps to help European countries “get rid of” Russian energy, including due to the supply of American liquefied natural gas to Europe.

Sullivan also added that US President Joe Biden is not planning a new conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

At the same time, the White House announced that the United States could announce measures against companies in Russia and other countries for circumventing Western sanctions in the next two weeks.

Источник www.mk.ru

The expert explained why Ukrainian refugees will be simplified entry into the United States

“Lucky with skin color”

The United States has officially received only 12 Ukrainian refugees so far instead of the promised 100,000. “Attraction of unheard of generosity” for fugitive Ukrainians was promised by President Joe Biden at the beginning of the Russian military special operation. However, the real scale of hospitality of the “world hegemon” turned out to be much more modest.

Photo: AP

“This is US policy in all situations — promise a lot and do nothing when it comes to really helping people. – the head of the International Action Center and the coordinator of the “Sanctions kill” campaign said on RT; Sarah Flounders.

She also recalled that the United States is no stranger to “feeding” refugees empty hopes. The White House followed the same pattern with refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Libya. In other words, “in any country where the United States instigates a war and supports it on  over the years,” Flounders emphasized. 

Despite the fact that the lion's share of Ukrainians poured into the countries of the Eurozone and Russia, they have much more chances to end up in the United States than the Syrians or Afghans. As explained by “MK” expert on migration processes, head of the Good Neighbor Foundation; Yuri Moskovsky, there are two reasons for this. The first in the spirit of “stars and stripes” – benefit for their own economy and the ability to print a new batch of dollars. The second is more in the tradition of those who at one time escaped the Nuremberg Tribunal and took refuge in the territory of America: Ukrainians were lucky with their skin color.

– Every refugee — this is a reason to allocate money from the budget and a stimulus for the development of the economy. Americans will simply print more money, integrate these people into their economy, and profit as a result. Refugees — it's a huge resource. But most importantly, although the United States does not declare this anywhere, both they and Canada informally prefer to host “whites”. The racial issue is very acute there. This is also evidenced by the reduction in the black population in the United States in recent years, – Yuri Moskovsky explained. only 12 people received by the White House from Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian special operation — according to the expert, they speak more about the bureaucratic difficulties of crossing the American border than about anything else.

– Now entry into the United States is possible only with a visa, so the official number of refugees is so small, – says Moskovsky, – Although in reality there may be more of these people. I believe that in the near future the Americans can establish purely technological processes and simplify entry. They benefit from refugees from Ukraine. Although people run first of all to where they have friends and where it is easier to get logistically. Therefore, the main flow goes to European countries and Russia.

According to the expert, there are now more than a million refugees from Ukraine in our country. Several tens of thousands of people are placed in temporary camps. The rest — this is about 95% – they traveled on their own.

– I have friends from Kyiv who traveled to Russia through the Baltic states. There was no other way to get — the borders are closed,” the expert said and stressed that many people who were forced to leave Ukraine for Russia due to hostilities are still in an illegal position.

Yuriy Moskovsky is sure that people who come from Ukraine should be given urgently the status of refugees and in a simplified, shortened procedure for two to three months to give Russian citizenship. Without refugee status, a person can only work on a patent, moreover, according to our laws, he can stay in the country for only 90 days within 180 days, otherwise – expulsion. Plus, for any two offenses, he will also be deported.

– If we give refugees a legal status, our economy will receive a huge boost. After the pandemic, she especially needs working hands. We are short of about 15 million workers, lamented a migration expert.

Источник www.mk.ru

Did Trump Forget About Banning TikTok?

The Trump administration has been taking L’s left and right. Between losing the election to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and accidentally booking a garden center to hold a press conference, it seems one of their more petty battles with Gen Z has been forgotten: banning TikTok.

Donald Trump had previously ordered a ban on the app due to national security concerns and set the ban for November 12, unless ByteDance was purchased by a US firm.

Related: TikTok’s Going to be Alright

However, TikTok hasn’t heard from the US government in two months.

“TikTok has actively engaged with CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) in good faith to address its national security concerns, even as we disagree with its assessment,” TikTok said in a statement.

One of the solution ideas was a deal between ByteDance, Oracle and Walmart. There aren’t many details yet, but the company added that it filed a court petition with the US Appeals Court to “defend our rights and those of our more than 1,500 employees in the US.”

Related: TikTok Is Safe, For Now

“In the nearly two months since the president gave his preliminary approval to our proposal to satisfy those concerns, we have offered detailed solutions to finalize that agreement but have received no substantive feedback on our extensive data privacy and security framework,” TikTok said.

Earlier this month there was a preliminary injunction against the TikTok ban after three TikTok stars sued the US government for putting their jobs at risk. Gen Z, it doesn’t look like you’ll be losing your favorite app just yet.

Photo via Getty

TikTok Is Safe, for Now

Another interesting development in the drama that is TikTok versus Donald Trump: a judge has blocked Trump’s attempt to ban the app in America at the last minute.

Back in August, Trump signed an executive order that would ban TikTok in the United States. He cited national security concerns that the Chinese-owned app could sell data about American users to the Chinese government.

However, Gen Z fans of TikTok will live to drown their time on the app another day. TikTok lawyers denied the app was doing anything of the sort, even pointing out that the president had no credible evidence to support the claims.

Related | PAPER People 2020: Meet 20 TikTokers We Love

After much deliberation, Federal Judge Carl Nichols of the US District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary reprieve for TikTok on Sunday, just before the ban was supposed to take effect. The judge also denied a request to extend the November 12 deadline for TikTok to sell its US operations to an American company.

“We will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees,” a spokeswoman for TikTok said in a statement. “At the same time, we will also maintain our ongoing dialogue with the government to turn our proposal, which the President gave his preliminary approval to last weekend, into an agreement.”

John Hall, an attorney representing TikTok, said the ban would have been an “extraordinary action at the very time when the need for free, open and accessible communication in America is at its zenith.”

So it looks like TikTok is safe for now, and we can all go back to learning dances and navigating our way through Draco Malfoy edits.

Photo via Shutterstock

Fake ‘Purge’ Videos Are Scaring Parents Shitless on TikTok

As if parents of Gen Z’ers now perpetually home from school due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the United States don’t have enough problems, now their kids are pulling terrifying and believable pranks. Remember that cheesy 2013 horror flick, The Purge, and its various sequels and prequels? Yeah, it’s that.

Related | The ‘For You’ Age: How TikTok Conquered 2019

Kids are hijacking their families’ Apple TVs and Google Chromecasts to play the infamous message used to announce the apocalyptic crime fests that take place in the Purge saga. Numerous TikToks show how the fake PSA causes immediate boomer panic.

@lexieabudayyeh

my sister deserves an Oscar for her acting skills ##fyp ##quarantine ##coronavirus ##covid19 ##prank ##purge ##purgesiren ##purgeprank ##foryoupage

♬ original sound – lexieabudayyeh

For a little bit of additional real-time flare, some kids are using an adapted announcement that features lines specific to coronavirus social distancing norms — including a fake “penalty” on those who leave their homes under quarantine. Naturally, parents who aren’t scrolling through TikTok each day and aren’t aware of the films that popularized the concept of a “purge” go from shocked to absolutely panicked at the sound of the siren supposedly kicking off the event, all while their kids try to mask their laughter as tears.

@slammmer

She was not happy. The comfort I get while I’m laughing has me dead. ##fy ##fyp ##quarantine ##coronavirus ##foryoupage

♬ original sound – slammmer

Some parents are more susceptible to the prank than others. Reactions range from mama bear instincts of holding their kids and calling in dad reinforcements all the way to full blown lockdowns. One video shows a mom texting her friends about the supposed purge before the siren even wails. While this type of prank might not have been believable in the slightest a few months ago, uncertainty and hysteria around COVID-19 provides the perfect platform to stage the prank. It also doesn’t help that the film has regained quite a bit of buzz lately due to its siren being used by police in Arcadia, Louisiana to enforce the city’s curfew.

You’ve got to give Gen Z’ers props, though. Once the prank is done, they’re still stuck with their parents until quarantines are lifted, and unlike Hollywood, they’re unlikely to fall for a sequel.

@micahpiowaty

I pulled the purge announcement on the parents ##fypage

♬ original sound – micahpiowaty

Photo via YouTube

Jane Fonda Takes Her VHS Workout Tapes to TikTok

Have you searched every cardboard box in your parents’ garage while locked away during quarantine and can’t seem to find those old Jane Fonda workout tapes? Don’t worry, Fonda herself has OK Boomer’d the concept of VHS tapes and decided to take her famous home workouts straight to TikTok, introducing a whole new audience to her signature hip thrusts and leg kicks — and it’s for a good cause!

Related | Jane Fonda Gets Arrested Again

“Hello TikTok!” a block of text reads over top of a video of Jane Fonda on her workout mat. Another block appears telling young viewers, “Google me.” Her followers are then treated to a clip from one of her classic videotapes before she vows to bring back the workouts, even in “sequestration” due to the outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the United States.

Fonda is giving her workouts a Gen Z facelift in the absence of physical rallies for Fire Drill Fridays to bring awareness to causes relating to climate justice and inequality under the Trump administration. Fonda has urged her followers on TikTok, instead, to join her for virtual rallies every Friday at 11AM PT. While this Friday’s virtual rally has passed, users can look forward to more Fonda TikToks and activist projects via Fire Drill Fridays’ Twitter account.

@janefonda

Hello Tik Tok! I’m bringing back the Jane Fonda Workout to fight the climate crisis. Join ##firedrillfriday 4/3 @ 11AMPT ##happyathome ##indoorworkout

♬ original sound – janefonda

The outspoken climate activist’s work has made headline after headline over the past year after getting arrested five times for her protests and demonstrations in Washington, DC. In light of the outbreak of the coronavirus and new social distancing measures, she’s taking her demonstrations to the web, holding conferences on Zoom for those alerted to the urgency of her cause.

Photo via Getty Images/ Ron Galella, Ltd.

Kim Gordon, M.I.A, Telfar Endorse Bernie Sanders

A platform called Artists4Bernie launched today, bearing the signatures of more than 1,200 artists who endorse Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Primary. Some of the bigger names include M.I.A, Sky Ferreira, Kim Gordon, Ezra Miller, Kara Walker, Telfar Clemons, Chloë Sevigny, Mykki Blanco and more.

“We are an international network of people that work within art and culture, and with this letter, we would like to declare our support for Senator Bernie Sanders and endorse his 2020 presidential campaign,” the letter begins, going on to cite Sanders’ anti-war, climate, Medicare for All, student debt, and free public college programs.

According to Dazed, the letter was organized by New York art collective DIS, New York artist Mohammed Salemy, and writer/curator Jennifer Teets.

Related | Why Everyone Is Thirst Trapping For Bernie Sanders

“Artists and cultural producers are largely precarity laborers – often struggling without benefits, financial security, at the whim of the market…” the letter continues. “We strongly feel that only Sanders represents the values and virtues which all of us as cultural producers have always hoped to strive for.

The authors also quote Sanders, saying: “You have my promise that as President, I will be an arts President. I will continue to advocate strongly for robust funding of the arts in our cities, schools and public spaces. Art is speech. Art is what life is about.”

Many of the artists are not actually American and can’t vote, but given their platforms and the global implications of Donald Trump’s presidency, believe the letter can still have an impact: “We hope to reach out to our American colleagues, friends, and families, and express our enthusiasm in supporting, and voting for, the only candidate we believe can unseat Donald Trump.”

The list of signees spans every cultural sphere. Aside from Walker, Nan Goldin, Chloe Wise, Chris Kraus, Bobbi Menuez, Jacolby Satterwhite and Ryan McGinley are all on the list, as well as designers such as Telfar Clemons, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta. It’s a who’s who of indie music royalty, including Holly Herndon, Devendra Banhart, Kelsey Lu, Juliana Huxtable, Ariel Reichstad, Ian Isaiah and others.

“We believe that a Sanders presidency will provide a serious and tangible chance for a redirection of the United States and perhaps the entire world from the wrong paths that have been followed for far too long. President Sanders will inaugurate a new era for America: one of peace, prosperity, and essential human dignity.”

Related | Hailey Bieber Is Voting for Bernie Sanders

The letter is open to any artist or cultural producer to publicly endorse Sanders for President of the United States. Read the full letter and sign your name here. Read about Bernie Sanders’ platform here and find out how to volunteer or donate to his campaign.

The Super Tuesday primaries (Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Democrats abroad) are coming up a week from today on March 3. Register to vote here.

Photo via Getty

All Your Faves Endorse Bernie

A platform called Artists4Bernie launched today, bearing the signatures of more than 1,200 artists who endorse Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Primary. Some of the bigger names include M.I.A, Sky Ferreira, Kim Gordon, Ezra Miller, Kara Walker, Telfar Clemons, Chloë Sevigny, Mykki Blanco and more.

“We are an international network of people that work within art and culture, and with this letter, we would like to declare our support for Senator Bernie Sanders and endorse his 2020 presidential campaign,” the letter begins, going on to cite Sanders’ anti-war, climate, Medicare for All, student debt, and free public college programs.

According to Dazed, the letter was organized by New York art collective DIS, New York artist Mohammed Salemy, and writer/curator Jennifer Teets.

Related | Why Everyone Is Thirst Trapping For Bernie Sanders

“Artists and cultural producers are largely precarity laborers – often struggling without benefits, financial security, at the whim of the market…” the letter continues. “We strongly feel that only Sanders represents the values and virtues which all of us as cultural producers have always hoped to strive for.

The authors also quote Sanders, saying: “You have my promise that as President, I will be an arts President. I will continue to advocate strongly for robust funding of the arts in our cities, schools and public spaces. Art is speech. Art is what life is about.”

Many of the artists are not actually American and can’t vote, but given their platforms and the global implications of Donald Trump’s presidency, believe the letter can still have an impact: “We hope to reach out to our American colleagues, friends, and families, and express our enthusiasm in supporting, and voting for, the only candidate we believe can unseat Donald Trump.”

The list of signees spans every cultural sphere. Aside from Walker, Nan Goldin, Chloe Wise, Chris Kraus, Bobbi Menuez, Jacolby Satterwhite and Ryan McGinley are all on the list, as well as designers such as Telfar Clemons, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta. It’s a who’s who of indie music royalty, including Holly Herndon, Devendra Banhart, Kelsey Lu, Juliana Huxtable, Ariel Reichstad, Ian Isaiah and others.

“We believe that a Sanders presidency will provide a serious and tangible chance for a redirection of the United States and perhaps the entire world from the wrong paths that have been followed for far too long. President Sanders will inaugurate a new era for America: one of peace, prosperity, and essential human dignity.”

Related | Hailey Bieber Is Voting for Bernie Sanders

The letter is open to any artist or cultural producer to publicly endorse Sanders for President of the United States. Read the full letter and sign your name here. Read about Bernie Sanders’ platform here and find out how to volunteer or donate to his campaign.

The Super Tuesday primaries (Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Democrats abroad) are coming up a week from today on March 3. Register to vote here.

Photo via Getty

Yellopain – My Vote Don’t Count Lyrics

[Intro]
Enough Electoral Vote. More than 270, more than enough to become the 44th President of the United States
He will be the first African-American President of the United States

[Verse]
Uh, I’ve been broke all my life
But I kept hope all them nice
You see business in my city
Yeah they closed all them twice
I was just riding down seeing all them pot holes
I can’t drive
I know y’all can fix it faster
But I know y’all won’t try
Nobody care about us
And that’s why I won’t vote
Voted for Obama back in 2012
I remember that’s when I had hope
He was saying, “Yes, we can!”
And everybody got less food stamps
And when I turn 21 I was still broke
God, I’ll never vote again
I don’t think I ever had a president made my life better
Did it all on my own, ain’t no politician ever do a nice gesture
I don’t even know the mayor name
I ain’t ever seen one time ever
Tell me how she gonna help the city
What I suppose to do, write letters?
What I suppose to do, blame Trump?
He ain’t never really give a uh
Ain’t nobody raise minimum wage
None of these jobs pay enough
I think they just wanna keep us broke
Cause they ain’t put none a place for us
This how all my people feel
But we gotta learn, we can complain enough
Let me change it up
Everything I just said, everybody I know think the same way
See, they don’t wanna see us vote
And we never do so we see the same thing
But all our votes really do count
And they never really let it show
Now I’m finna break it down
Cause if I don’t you would probably never know
Fist thing first, you know back in middle school
When they taught us, it was three branches of government?
We forgot it when we got older
It’s the Judicial, the Legislative, and the Executive
But all we know is the Executive
That’s the mayor, or governor, and the president
Now none of them three people make no laws, they just be checking ‘em
The laws come to they desk and all they do is say, “No” or “Yes” to it
So when the news station tell us that Barrack Obama couldn’t put us on
We was all salty at Obama when it was the Congress members all along
We gotta focus on the Legislative branch; yeah they the ones that make the Laws
Yeah they the ones that write how much food stamps money you get on the card
But when people that wanted to help us wanted the job
I know they probably lost
Cause we ain’t even know they name, we ain’t know they face, we ain’t know it all
So the Congress or the State House that’s the Legislative branch, they make Laws
So what we want from the President is what they do, okay y’all?
See they election every two years but we don’t ever even go to those
The Congress they could raise minimum wage but we ain’t even really know it thou
So you know how back in ’08, when we all voted for Obama
We was all supposed to go back in 2010 and voted for the Congress
Cause they the ones that make child support laws
They the ones choose if your kids at school get to eat steak or corn dog
The state house makes the courthouse
So if the country fail you can’t say it’s them its your fault
Cause ya ain’t know to know to vote for Congress members that was for y’all
And they don’t gotta leave at the four year and we just let ‘em sit
They don’t want to tell you this they want you to focus on the President
Now the third branch is the Judicial; that’s judges
They the reason why John Crawford and Trayvon had justice
So when Meek Mill got locked up just for popping wheelies we blam the judges
And not the city, when they let her get voted in
Cause they don’t know who to vote against
Imagine life on the other side; roles better, schools better
Everybody get they license back, grocery store food better
Custody of your kids back, homeless people get new shelters
If we gonna fix the US, we gotta start with them two letters
Me and you
Somebody told us that the government want to keep us broke
But the only reason why those people in the government is ‘cause we ain’t vote
And I ain’t talking about the President
I’m talking about the ones we ain’t know
See they was gonna try keep it low
But it’s gonna hurt ‘em when they see them polls

[Outro]
Every time you stay one someone is making a decision about you
Making about decision about the air you breath, the water you drink, the food your kids eat, and how much money you bring home very twice weeks
So every time you seat out an election, every time you don’t show up because you think it doesn’t matter, someone else is happy that you didn’t show up. So they can make that decision for you. Vote!

Houston Loves Megan Thee Stallion

On December 3rd, at White Oak Music Hall, I attended Megan Thee Stallion‘s last performance of 2019. Her Red Bull “Thee Outlaw” show was her homecoming in a sense — a triumphant return for Houston’s sweetheart, a young Black woman from Texas who brought the “motherfuckin Souf” to hundreds of festivals and venues throughout the United States over the past year. Kandy red hot slabs with sinister neon lights that glowed from their underbellies welcomed me as I arrived, alongside a “THIS WHY YA HOE MI55IN” sign bordered by white styrofoam cups of lean — the city’s unofficial drink.

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Related | Megan Thee Stallion Was Made For This

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It was an audiovisual reminder of the experience to come. Slab cars are physical embodiments of Houston’s rap culture — of Megan Thee Stallion’s origins and the city she calls home. Most importantly, they’re owned by CornBread aka Kandy Red Bread and Paul Wall , an early pioneer of Houston’s contemporary rap presence in mainstream hip-hop and Swishahouse fame.

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Houston loves Megan Thee Stallion. It was clear, when Texas Southern University’s drumline performed an HBCU interpretation of “Big Ole Freak”, that their presence was to honor an ex-student who’s proud of her alma mater. As Slim Thug and Paul Wall, two of the city’s living legends, opened her homecoming performance with a DJ set that paid homage to Houston’s forefathers like Lil Troy and Lil Keke, attendees chunked up the Deuce in respect to the North and South side. As a Texan native who resides out of state, there’s few experiences where I’ve felt at home, but in that music hall there was a resounding spirit of homecoming — a familiar aura as attendees encouraged each other to throw ass, reciting every word of Megan Thee Stallion’s discography, from her early mixtapes at 1501 Entertainment to the universally acclaimed Fever.

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The show felt like a thank you from Megan Thee Stallion to Houston — the city that supported her mom Holly Thomas’ rapping career, and prayed over her after Thomas died. The city that provided an only child with sisters in the music industry like Beyonce, Solange and Normani. The city that inspired Homecoming, Beyoncé’s Emmy-nominated documentary of her historical Coachella performance that transported audiences across the globe to an HBCU in the Dirty Dirty South. Megan Thee Stallion is Houston, and Houston is Megan Thee Stallion. She’s earned her role as the city’s ambassador from her early YouTube freestyles, especially the Dallas versus Houston, where she exterminated my hometown outside of our beloved Reunion Tower.

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Related | Megan Thee Stallion Is Bringing Hot Girl Texas Style to Your Wardrobe

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At a young age, Holly Thomas AKA Holly-Wood brought Megan Thee Stallion to studio sessions, where she was exposed to Biggie and Pimp C as her mother executed bars in the background. From 2001 – 2007, Holly-Wood achieved city-wide success through a tribute single to Houston legend DJ Screw that garnered heavy rotation on 97.9 The Box, a local hip-hop station. Her mother’s love for hip-hop inspired Megan Pete’s transformation into Megan Thee Stallion, and they found love in the exchange of verse, structures, and feedback on how to strengthen Megan Thee Stallion’s natural rapping abilities. We’ve witnessed the lineage of male rappers and their offspring for decades now, but Holly-Wood and Megan Thee Stallion reminded lovers of hip-hop about the genre’s maternal line.

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In the crowd at the Houston show were Southern rap elders Bun B and Devin The Dude, looking down in admiration as they saw Megan Thee Stallion flawlessly execute a headline set with active crowd participation, choreography, and stage design. As I looked at Bun B, I wondered what Megan Thee Stallion means to him. What she means to Texas hip-hop as a whole. As a demi-god in Southern Rap, B’s early career was characterized by the lack of respect afforded to Southern rappers from those based on the coasts. But Houston has produced generations of rappers who have contributed to the development of hip hop, and through Megan Thee Stallion the city has found another champion — alongside Maxo Kream and Travis Scott, her male counterparts who have achieved mainstream success.

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But who had every person across the United States saying “Hot Girl Summer” and “Real Fuckin Hot Girl Shit” all 2019? Meg. At 10 PM central time, saddled on a white horse, draped in white glitter and silver jewels with a matching cowboy hat and boots, welcomed by Ginuwine’s “Pony,” Megan Thee Stallion made her triumphant return.

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Megan Thee Stallion has the gift of turning any person into her trick, from celebrities such as Wiz Khalifa, Moneybagg Yo and Trey Songz to the “hotties” at her homecoming performance. Before she performed her feature on Gucci Mane’s Big Booty, she summoned for “five hot girls and one hot boy to show they motherfuckin ass,” and they appeared within seconds to twerk alongside her. After they left the stage, Megan Thee Stallion rallied her “hotties” again to continue the “Hot Girl” lifestyle, no matter the season, and transitioned into a performance of her Billboard-charting single with Nicki Minaj. A number of alter egos presented themselves throughout the set, from Hot Girl Coach, HTown Hottie, and Tina Show, before her current form as Hot Girl Meg from Fever. Reminiscent of Nicki Minaj’s alter egos from her Pink Friday era, Megan Thee Stallion is a student of contemporary womxn hip-hop, and that’s why she’s one of the best in the game.

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Related | Watch Normani and Megan Thee Stallion Do Marilyn Monroe

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Days after her headlining performance, Billboard Women In Music honored Megan Thee Stallion with a Powerhouse Award. “Everybody really knows that it’s women who’s running the scenes,” she said when accepting the award. “I’m just happy to be apart of it. I can’t believe that they let me up in here I’m 24, I’m from Texas and I really like to grind. I really like to work. I’m just getting started. Y’all gon’ see where I take it.” So far we’ve seen her bring in the New Year with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy, collaborate with Normani, and show appreciation towards her team by taking them on vacation to Cabo — like the Southern sweetheart Holly raised her to be.

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No other rapper right now has the sex appeal, freestyle ability and respect from her rap elders that Megan does. She’s known for being authentic to the game without selling out. Her debut album, scheduled to be released this year, could be one of the defining moments of the decade in pop culture and music. No matter the trajectory of her career, just remember her line from “Hot Girl”: “Bitch, I’m from Texas, we get rowdy.” Houston and the Lone Star State will go to war with any state, or coast, for our champion.

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Photos courtesy of Red Bull Music

Why #WWIII Trending Is No Laughing Matter

Today, Iranian military general Qassem Suleimani was killed by a drone strike in Baghdad ordered by President Trump. Head of the Quds Force, a division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Suleimani led battles against ISIS in Iraq.

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This follows the news of local protesters attacking the US Embassy in Iraq earlier this week. Suleimani’s death has escalated tensions between Iraq and the United States. Adding insult to injury, Trump tweeted a picture of the American flag, which catalyzed Twitter users to circulate memes speculating on what they would do if World War III did in fact commence. #WWIII is trending as a result.

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Related | Trump Announces the Death of ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi



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However, the strained relations between Iraq, Iran and the United States prove this turn of events is no laughing matter. In U.S. cities with large Iranian populations, police departments are tweeting about increased surveillance to protect them from potential xenophobic and racist hate crimes. Los Angeles, home to almost half a million Iranians, more than anywhere outside of Iran, is one place issuing protective notices.

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Related | The Future of DACA Recipients Is Now in Supreme Court Hands



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Before adding fuel to the #WWIII fires starting online, here are some key points to keep in mind.

Iran’s supreme leader seeks vengeance on the U.S.

On Friday, Iran’s leaders issued vociferous calls stating their need for revenge against the U.S. for Suleimani’s murder in an overnight airstrike at the Baghdad Airport. “His departure to God does not end his path or his mission, but a forceful revenge awaits the criminals who have his blood and the blood of the other martyrs last night on their hands,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader stated Friday after calling for three days of national mourning.

All American citizens have been ordered to evacuate Iraq 

The U.S. Embassy has urged all Americans to leave Iraq as quickly as they can, because of “heightened tensions” in Baghdad.

The U.S.-ordered drone strike also killed an Iraqi general

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed alongside Suleimani, was the deputy commander that oversaw Iraq’s militia groups. He was a veteran of the Iraq War, and has been a lifelong ally to Iran. According to AP News, Iraqi leaders and citizens are now also calling for revenge against the U.S.

The U.S. is trying to de-escalate the situation

According to U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo tweeted a video earlier today stating that people were dancing in Iraq and thankful that Suleimani was no longer a threat. While the general public and diplomats in Britain, China and Germany were made aware of Trump’s drone strike; according to The New York Times, they are now trying to make sure that there is no retaliation that would put all countries at the brink of another world war.

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Related| Maxine Waters Urges People To Confront Trump Officials

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Additionally, Congresswoman Maxine Waters issued a statement condemning the president’s actions, saying that while Iran is a “hostile adversary,” war is not in the nation’s best interests. “While no patriotic American laments the death of such a heinous individual […], we cannot allow this president and his administration to take impulsive actions that needlessly escalate tensions and start a deadly war with Iran,” she says.

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Photo via Getty




Sting & Shaggy – Dreaming In The U.S.A. lyrics

[Sting]
I was a boy, I was dreaming of the U.S.A.,
All the movies I see are from the same place
All the music I love is from the U.S.A.,
All the stars that I see have an American face

The only blue jeans I wear are from the U.S.A.,
The sneakers here on my feet, they are American made
Presley, Monroe and Dean are from the U.S.A.,
Louis Armstrong, Sinatra and Marvin Gaye

[Sting & Shaggy]
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the United States

[Shaggy]
You seek a visa, you’re dreaming of the U.S.A.,
It’s never easier looking for another way
God bless America, dreaming of the U.S.A.,
Are we hysterical, dreaming of the United States?

[Sting & Shaggy]
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the United States

[Sting]
Don’t stop dreaming…
Don’t stop dreaming…
Don’t stop dreaming…
Don’t stop dreaming…

[Sting]
And so they work in the fields across the U.S.A.,
The work nobody else wants to feed their family
They join the army, they’re fighting for the U.S.A.,
Here in the land of the brave, and the home of the free

[Sting & Shaggy]
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the U.S.A.,
Dreaming in the United States

[Shaggy]
Big up all the immigrants living and working right here inside of America
Get up every morning working two jobs to make it here in America
I’m a military man who carried arms and fight in defense of America
I await the day when we will all inhabit a better America

Overdrive Orchestra – American Dream lyrics

Welcome home to the land of the free
Free to lose your mind
A bill of rights, but who’s right to be so wrong?
Woken up again from an American Dream
Back to reality, a sad shadow of a nation long lost
Corrupt with power but not entitled to use it
Propaganda force fed to us like pigs prepared for a slaughter
While gluttonous hogs feast off our bones

If you’re wrong, take it out on me
And if you’re right, there’s nothing left to say
And if you’ve won, turn your rust to gold
But if you’re wrong, throw yourself away

Resurgence of the fourth reich here in America
Silently, swiftly, creepin’ through your area
Hysteria
No rights left from Miranda
As she feeds us propaganda like a fuckin’ cafeteria
Give us a voice just to zip up our lips
Given no choice but just to stick to the script
‘Cuz improvisation is a threat to the nation
An invasion on the United States of Corporation
A stain on the image they keep tryin’ to paint
The portrait of sinner, depicted as a saint
But a saint ain’t meant to be one to deceive
Abuse power and cease to occupy overseas
But when we as a people occupy Wall Street
We get beaten and sprayed, cuffed and taken away
Nothing less than Marshal Law with the ndaa
They just label us as terrorists and lock us in the bay

If you’re wrong, take it out on me
And if you’re right, there’s nothing left to say
And if you’ve won, turn your rust to gold
But if you’re wrong, throw yourself away

N.E.R.D – It’s In The Air lyrics

[Congressman Patrick Kennedy]
If anybody wants to know where cynicism is, cynicism is that there’s one, two, press people in this gallery. We’re talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV, we’re talking about war and peace, three billion dollars, a thousand lives and no press?! No press?! You wanna know why the American public is fit, they’re fit because they’re not seeing their congress do the work that they’re said to do. It’s because the press, the press of the United States is not covering the most significant issue of national importance, and that’s a laying of lives down in the nation, for the service of our country. It’s despicable, the national press core right now

[Pharrell]
Mmm Dada, I’m sure you can tell
It’s in the air, of our nation
It may shock ya, the maddest hallucination
But the dead people, they’ll be dressed well (yeah)
They say

[Shay Haley]
What’s yo’ name? You the one starin
Oh my God, lemme shake yo’ hand
Do it like this, do it like that
Can you switch it up? Send it right back
Frown to your back, smile to your face
Think I keep it real, but I keep it fake
Think I’m ahead, but I’m the ass
Man I’m really sick, I really need a mask
Woof!

[Hook]
And now it’s in the air, spreading everywhere
So you should be prepared
(Ain’t no pill or cough syrup)
(That can help so you better hurr’up)
Come on, come on, come on
Hey, hey, hey
It’s in the air
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, come on, come on
Hey, hey, hey
It’s in the air
Hey, hey, hey

[Pharrell]
To spread this thing, they don’t need a tongue
Instead they use the precious lungs
But the scariest thing, they don’t {?} kill ya
But they’re still dead people dancin’ like Thriller

[Shay Haley]
What’s yo’ name? You the one starin
Oh my God, lemme shake yo’ hand
Do it like this, do it like that
Can you switch it up? Send it right back
Frown to your back, smile to your face
Think I keep it real, but I keep it fake
Think I’m ahead, but I’m the ass
Man I’m really sick, I really need a mask
Woof!

[Hook]

[Pharrell]
They comin in, they get me now
What a shitstorm of the situation
But a maid and I, guns to the biggest cloud
Stop big brother and there’s invasion (yeah) come on

[Shay Haley]
What’s yo’ name? You the one starin
Oh my God, lemme shake yo’ hand
Do it like this, do it like that
Can you switch it up? Send it right back
Frown to your back, smile to your face
Think I keep it real, but I keep it fake
Think I’m the head, but I’m the ass
Man I’m really sick, I really need a mask
Woof!

[Hook]

Kendrick Lamar – FEAR. lyrics

[Intro]
Poverty’s paradise
I don’t think I could find a way to make it on this earth
I’ve been hungry all my life

[Voicemail: Carl Duckworth]
What’s up, family?
Yeah, it’s your cousin Carl, man, just givin’ you a call, man
I know you been havin’ a lot on yo mind lately
And I know you feel like, you know
People ain’t been prayin’ for you
But you have to understand this, man, that we are a cursed people Deuteronomy 28:28 says, “The Lord shall smite thee with madness And blindness, and astonishment of heart”
See, family, that’s why you feel like you feel
Like you got a chip on your shoulder
Until you finally get the memo, you will always feel like that…

[Bridge: Charles Edward Sydney Isom Jr. & Kendrick Lamar]
Why God, why God do I gotta suffer?
Pain in my heart carry burdens full of struggle
Why God, why God do I gotta bleed?
Every stone thrown at you restin’ at my feet
Why God, why God do I gotta suffer?
Earth is no more, won’t you burn this muh’fucka?
I don’t think I could find a way to make it on this earth
(Reversed)

[Verse 1]
I beat yo ass, keep talkin’ back
I beat yo ass, who bought you that?
You stole it, I beat yo ass if you say that game is broken
I beat yo ass if you jump on my couch
I beat yo ass if you walk in this house
With tears in your eyes, runnin’ from Poo Poo and Prentice
Go back outside, I beat yo ass, lil’ nigga
That homework better be finished, I beat yo ass
Your teachers better not be bitchin’ ’bout you in class
That pizza better not be wasted, you eat it all
That TV better not be loud if you got it on
Them Jordans better not get dirty when I just bought ’em
Better not hear ’bout you humpin’ on Keisha’s daughter
Better not hear you got caught up
I beat yo ass, you better not run to your father
I beat yo ass, you know my patience runnin’ thin
I got buku payments to make
County building’s on my ass, tryna take my food stamps away
I beat yo ass if you tell them social workers he live here
I beat yo ass if I beat yo ass twice and you still here
Seven years old, think you run this house by yourself?
Nigga, you gon’ fear me if you don’t fear no one else

[Chorus]
If I could smoke fear away, I’d roll that mothafucka up
And then I’d take two puffs
I’m high now, I’m high now
I’m high now, I’m high now
Life’s a bitch, pull them panties to the side now
I don’t think I could find a way to make it on this earth

[Verse 2]
I’ll prolly die anonymous, I’ll prolly die with promises
I’ll prolly die walkin’ back home from the candy house
I’ll prolly die because these colors are standin’ out
I’ll prolly die because I ain’t know Demarcus was snitchin’
I’ll prolly die at these house parties, fuckin’ with bitches
I’ll prolly die from witnesses leavin’ me falsed accused
I’ll prolly die from thinkin’ that me and your hood was cool
Or maybe die from pressin’ the line, actin’ too extra
Or maybe die because these smokers are more than desperate
I’ll prolly die from one of these bats and blue badges
Body-slammed on black and white paint, my bones snappin’
Or maybe die from panic or die from bein’ too lax
Or die from waitin’ on it, die ’cause I’m movin’ too fast
I’ll prolly die tryna buy weed at the apartments
I’ll prolly die tryna defuse two homies arguin’
I’ll prolly die ’cause that’s what you do when you’re 17
All worries in a hurry, I wish I controlled things

[Chorus]
If I could smoke fear away, I’d roll that mothafucka up
And then I’d take two puffs
I’ve been hungry all my life
I’m high now, I’m high now
I’m high now, I’m high now
Life’s a bitch, pull them panties to the side now
Now…

[Verse 3]
When I was 27, I grew accustomed to more fear
Accumulated 10 times over throughout the years
My newfound life made all of me magnified
How many accolades do I need to block denial?
The shock value of my success put bolts in me
All this money, is God playin’ a joke on me?
Is it for the moment, and will he see me as Job?
Take it from me and leave me worse than I was before?
At 27, my biggest fear was losin’ it all
Scared to spend money, had me sleepin’ from hall to hall
Scared to go back to Section 8 with my mama stressin’
30 shows a month and I still won’t buy me no Lexus
What is an advisor? Somebody that’s holdin’ my checks
Just to fuck me over and put my finances in debt?
I read a case about Rihanna’s accountant and wondered
How did the Bad Girl feel when she looked at them numbers?
The type of shit’ll make me flip out and just kill somethin’
Drill somethin’, get ill and fill ratchets with a lil’ somethin’
I practiced runnin’ from fear, guess I had some good luck
At 27 years old, my biggest fear was bein’ judged
How they look at me reflect on myself, my family, my city
What they say ’bout me reveal if my reputation would miss me
What they see from me would trickle down generations in time
What they hear from me would make ’em highlight my simplest lines

[Verse 4]
I’m talkin’ fear, fear of losin’ creativity
I’m talkin’ fear, fear of missin’ out on you and me
I’m talkin’ fear, fear of losin’ loyalty from pride
‘Cause my DNA won’t let me involve in the light of God
I’m talkin’ fear, fear that my humbleness is gone
I’m talkin’ fear, fear that love ain’t livin’ here no more
I’m talkin’ fear, fear that it’s wickedness or weakness
Fear, whatever it is, both is distinctive
Fear, what happens on Earth stays on Earth
And I can’t take these feelings with me, so hopefully they disperse
Within fourteen tracks, carried out over wax
Searchin’ for resolutions until somebody get back
Fear, what happens on Earth stays on Earth
And I can’t take these feelings with me, so hopefully they disperse
Within fourteen tracks, carried out over wax
Wonderin’ if I’m livin’ through fear or livin’ through rap
Damn

[Bridge: Bēkon]
God damn you, God damn me
God damn us, God damn we
God damn us all

[Outro: Carl Duckworth]
Verse 2 says, “You only have I known of all the families
Of the Earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities”
So until we come back to these commandments
Until you come back to these commandments
We’re gonna feel this way, we’re gonna be under this curse Because He said He’s gonna punish us
The so-called Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American Indians
Are the true children of Israel
We are the Israelites, according to the Bible
The children of Israel, He’s gonna punish us for our iniquities
For our disobedience, because we chose to follow other gods
That man chasten his son, so the Lord, thy God, chasten thee
So, just like you chasten your own son
He’s gonna chastise you because He loves you
So that’s why we get chastised
That’s why we’re in the position that we’re in
Until we come back to these laws, statutes, and commandments And do what the Lord says, these curses is gonna be upon us We’re gonna be at a lower state in this life that we live
Here in today, in the United States of America
I love you, family, and I pray for you
God bless you, Shalom

Shabazz Palaces – Welcome To Quazarz (Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines Album)

[Intro]
Behold the soft cyber caress
My television whose my lover
But jealous machines and devices
Struggle to find a light switch
Followers follow him, leading nowhere
Possible hope of a cyber safe house
Looming on the horizon behind us
Moving targets, targets
Moving targets for the markets
For the hopeless hopelessness prescribed – coping

[Verse]
Yeah
I’m from the United States of Amurderca myself
Now we post-language baby, we talk with guns, man
Guns keep us safe
We don’t imagine past the image
Please, you know us
We killed love, we killed money, we killed money
We killed prince
We killed shame
We killed hope
We killed sex
We killed pride
We killed style
We killed imagination
We killed fresh
We killed the game
We killed air
We killed dope
We killed dough
We killed death (body them, here he comes)
Shooting these rhymes
Bottling time
Falling in graces
It’s the coming of ageless
Turning the pages (flip)
Driving them ape shit
Recording with tape hiss
A glitch in the matrix

Pay attention close you kids
This the shit don’t got no lid
No gangster sound, no pop, no trend
My killer beat is not your friend
I come to throne to stop these things
I drop, they drop. they lose, we cruise
I give a fuck about some rules
We break em’ like we broke Don’s heart
I always roll the dice I’m cool
Could never follow crowds, too smart
I rock a big old jewel king crown
My girl be in a gorgeous queen gown
The filthier the word spreads round
I drown these clowns through my sound
Yo it’s going down (down, down)
Salute the noble sound (sound, clown)
I’ve been around the world ten times
I got the milky way crack flow
Me and my mother in Rio
Focus how I pop these rhymes

Lightning in a bottle
Rappers, it’s a slaughter
Styled up in my parlor (fresh)
Dressed up in my armor
Constellation squad up
Mashing on the throttle
I got pretty daughters
All the pretty daughters holla

We killed cyber
We killed rich
We killed time
We killed cameras
We killed nude
We killed space
We killed freedom
We killed obsessions
We killed facts
We killed attention
We killed the tension
We killed pardons
We killed
We killed
We killed

[Outro]
Clip love to the worldicidal maniacs
High up joints rolled off the consumer class
Dead dreams
Way up at the bottom in the green towers built with the data stones
Freaks of fear, drinking tears and stealing years