Tired of ads? Want to support our progressive journalism? Click to learn more.LEARN MORE
Enjoy good journalism?
… then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.
Raw Story is independent. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.
We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.
Value Raw Story?
… then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.
Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.
  |  |
Report typos and corrections to: corrections@rawstory.com.
A federal judge has denied the social media platform Parler's request to force Amazon Web Services to put its site back online while a lawsuit against the company is ongoing, Forbes reports. According to the court, the platform favored by right-wing users has "fallen far short" of proving the credibility of its legal claims.
"The Court explicitly rejects any suggestion" by Parler that Amaon is obligated "to host the kind of abusive, violent content at issue in this case, particularly in light of the recent riots at the U.S. Capitol," U.S. District Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein wrote in her ruling. "That event was a tragic reminder that inflammatory rhetoric can—more swiftly and easily than many of us would have hoped—turn a lawful protest into a violent insurrection."
<p>Amazon <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/01/10/parler-at-risk-of-going-offline-after-bans-from-amazon-apple-and-google/?sh=41dab8ec312b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/01/10/parler-at-risk-of-going-offline-after-bans-from-amazon-apple-and-google/?sh=41dab8ec312b">took Parler</a> removed Parler from its servers after similar actions were taken by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/01/09/apple-suspends-parler-from-app-store-until-dangerous-and-harmful-content-resolved/?sh=302aa765448f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/01/09/apple-suspends-parler-from-app-store-until-dangerous-and-harmful-content-resolved/?sh=302aa765448f">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/01/08/report-apple-tells-parler-to-come-up-with-a-moderation-plan-or-be-kicked-off-app-store/?sh=17baa1aa4ed6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/01/08/report-apple-tells-parler-to-come-up-with-a-moderation-plan-or-be-kicked-off-app-store/?sh=17baa1aa4ed6">Google</a>. </p><p>Read the full report over at <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/01/21/court-strikes-down-parler-request-asking-amazon-to-put-site-back-online/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Gordie&fbclid=IwAR0dG8SP3lVl1K1mTKJix1HP8XdKMo1vJR1lbPBVvDYrIJU0yOB3hN22Vxo&sh=5065e1654c11" target="_blank">Forbes</a>. </p>
CONTINUE READING
Show less
'A hugely consequential first move': Biden offers to extend nuclear START treaty with Russia
January 21, 2021
In a move applauded by anti-war activists, U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday reportedly offered Russian President Vladimir Putin a five-year extension of the New START treaty just days before the pact—the only remaining nuclear arms control agreement regulating the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world—is set to expire.
"President Biden's offer signals a welcome return to serious diplomacy that provides a path to a safer and more secure future for all."
—Derek Johnson, Global Zero
<p>If the White House and Russia cannot settle on a mutually agreed-upon plan to extend the New START treaty, which caps the number of offensively-deployed nuclear weapons that each country is allowed to have at 1,550, the deal will expire on February 5, 2021.</p><p>Letting the treaty expire could unleash "a full-blown nuclear arms race that exposes the whole world to an intolerable level of risk," Derek Johnson, chief executive officer of Global Zero, an international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons, said in a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/01/21/global-zero-applauds-offer-extend-new-start-calls-rapid-relaunch-negotiations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a> on Thursday.</p><p>"After four years of efforts to kill arms control and chase the false security of nuclear dominance, the U.S. is coming back to its senses," said Johnson. "Extending New START is a hugely consequential first move by the Biden administration."</p><p>In response to Biden's proposed extension of the New START treaty, Paul Kawika Martin, senior director for policy and political affairs at Peace Action, said in a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/01/21/extending-nuclear-weapons-treaty-makes-everyone-safer-what-about-exploding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a> that after years of former President Donald Trump "putting Americans in harm's way by decimating international agreements, we can all breathe a bit easier now that he cannot start a nuclear war within minutes." </p><p>Trump "tried to conclude a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-scrambles-to-do-nuclear-deal-with-russia-before-election-issuing-ultimatum/2020/09/22/fe4769f2-fc38-11ea-830c-a160b331ca62_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shorter extension</a> with Moscow in the final months of his presidency, but he failed to reach an agreement after his nuclear envoy spent months trying to persuade China to join the accord before dropping that demand," <em>The Washington Post</em> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-russia-nuclear-treaty-extension/2021/01/21/4667a11e-5b40-11eb-aaad-93988621dd28_story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reported</a> Thursday. </p><p>As<em> The Moscow Times</em> <a href="https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/01/20/russia-urges-biden-to-be-more-constructive-over-arms-treaty-a72675" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reported</a> on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the Trump administration of "'deliberately and intentionally' dismantling international arms control agreements," interpreting "its 'counterproductive and openly aggressive' approach in talks" as an indication that Washington was not interested in extending New START.</p><p>Now that Biden is in office, Moscow expects the U.S. to "take a more constructive approach in its dialogue with us," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a<a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/4529343" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> statement</a>. "We are ready for such work on principles of equal rights and taking mutual interests into account."</p><p>According to <em>The Moscow Times</em>:</p><blockquote>The Russian Foreign Ministry said the treaty should be extended in its current version and "without any pre-conditions," adding that prolonging the arms pact for five years would be "preferable."<br/>"This would allow Russia and the United States to seriously begin a joint search for responses to the issues of international security and strategic stability that are now arising," the ministry said in the statement.<br/>"At the same time the current level of transparency and predictability in relation to New START would remain in place which would be in the interests of security of both our countries and the whole world."<br/></blockquote><p>While Putin is seeking an unconditional extension of the treaty, <em>The Post</em> reported that the Biden administration "is preparing to impose new costs on Russia pending a newly requested intelligence assessment of its recent activities."</p><p>Two senior U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, told the newspaper that "Biden is ruling out a 'reset' in bilateral relations with Moscow as many new U.S. presidents have done since the end of the Cold War."</p><p><em>The Post</em> noted that "Biden's plans for potential punitive actions toward Russia at the outset of the administration is unique among his recent predecessors, all of whom attempted to turn a new page with the Kremlin in the hopes of encouraging a more productive relationship."</p><p>While the White House's specific terms are not yet clear, <em>The Post</em> reported that unlike his predecessor, Biden "is not interested in holding an extension of New START hostage to China."</p><p>Johnson of Global Zero said that "the treaty is an essential guardrail against nuclear arms-racing that imposes equal limits on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons. Both countries are in full compliance with the agreement, and its intrusive verification provisions ensure neither side can cheat without detection."</p><p>"President Biden's offer signals a welcome return to serious diplomacy that provides a path to a safer and more secure future for all," Johnson added. "Unless you're a defense contractor, this is good news for everyone."</p>
CONTINUE READING
Show less
Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley facing ‘expulsion or censure’ after Ethics complaint filed: report
January 21, 2021
Senate Democrat filed ethics complaints against Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) after their unsuccessful effort to overthrow the 2020 election.
A letter sent to the Ethics Committee chairs Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and James Lankford (R-OK) requested "expulsion or censure" for the members after their election overthrow attempts spun a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
<p>"By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mob's cause and made future violence more likely," the <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000177-26cf-d167-a57f-27ef49590000" target="_blank">letter</a> said. </p><p>Hawley in particular was seen raising a fist in solidarity to those who ultimately attacked the building. Many opponents, including hometown newspaper, <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article248317375.html" target="_blank">the Kansas City Star,</a> has said he has "blood on his hands" and called for him to resign. </p><p>The anti-Donald Trump PAC Really American launched a video that has been viewed over 3 million times demanding that both men be expelled from the Senate. </p><p>"The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is clear: No American who is engaged in insurrection or rebellion is allowed to hold office," the ad says. <br/></p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1df70d3cf05fb218677f40a207a1b64f" id="260f4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1350962976342347781"><div style="margin:1em 0">NEW VIDEO📽️: The 14th Amendment is clear. No American engaged in insurrection or rebellion are allowed to hold offi… https://t.co/S8EKillEou</div> — ReallyAmerican.com 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican.com 🇺🇸)<a href="https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/statuses/1350962976342347781">1610929647.0</a></blockquote></div>
CONTINUE READING
Show less
Trending
Latest
Videos
Copyright © 2021 Raw Story Media, Inc. PO Box 21050, Washington, D.C. 20009 | Masthead | Privacy Policy | For corrections or concerns, please email corrections@rawstory.com.