Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian Archives

Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded Ads Flout Democracy

30Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Democracy, Types of News: Analysis, United States

Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded Ads Flout Democracy

The Strange Irony of Using Government Funds for Self-Promotion Ads Against ‘Communism’ and ‘War’ President Trump is using $20 million from the Homeland Security Department to finance political ads promoting himself ahead of the midterm elections. September 30, 2026—Democracy is built on the notion that the government represents the will of the people in a system of checks-and-balances and adheres to a rule-of-law. It is not a given that democracies survive. In fact, modern-day dilemmas such as corruption, the increasing power of technologies and the firms that run them, and consolidation of power in the executive branch of government test the foundation. In the lead up to the nationwide November elections for Congress, President Donald Trump is also pushing the limits of what is a...

Democratic World Order is ‘Crushed,’ Human Rights Watch Reports

4Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Democracy, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

Democratic World Order is ‘Crushed,’ Human Rights Watch Reports

February 4, 2026—Democracy is in retreat around the world, driven in large part by a “downward spiral” in the United States, according to the 2026 report by the Human Rights Watch, a nonprofit organization based in New York City. “Under relentless pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, and persistently undermined by China and Russia, the rules-based international order is being crushed, threatening to take with it the architecture human rights defenders have come to rely on to advance norms and protect freedoms,” Philippe Bolopion, HRW executive director. Democratic rights are at risk in the United States and around the world. Photo from Human Rights Watch video. Democratic Retreat While once viewed as a champion of democratic freedoms, the United States now leads the world...

Tesla’s Interesting Timing On A New Factory In Mexico

28Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Democracy, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Tesla’s Interesting Timing On A New Factory In Mexico

AMLO Welcomes The Deal, Rails Against U.S. Government And Critics Of Electoral Law Feb. 28, 2023—Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced today that Tesla plans to build a new electric vehicle plant in Monterrey, Mexico, the second largest city in the country. He hailed the investment as something that would bring well-paid jobs to the region. The new Mexico-based factory will join a Tesla fleet of factories: four in the United States, one in China, and one in Germany. Furthermore, it will benefit from $369 billion worth of U.S. subsidies for clean energy that Congress included as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The company is likely to announce more details Wednesday during its planned "Investors Day." The news comes as countries and companies recalibrate...

In Communist China, Xi Is Completely And Unquestionably In Charge

7Nov

By Patti Mohr1 Comment

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Types of News: Analysis

In Communist China, Xi Is Completely And Unquestionably In Charge

Xi's in charge. Communism vs. Democracy: Why It Matter November 7, 2022—If you want to know what communism looks like, you don't need to spend time in China, Cuba, Laos, or Vietnam. You don't even need to spend hours watching the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the twice-a-decade gathering that selects the country's highest rulers. All you need to see is one minute of the final ceremony right before officials announce the new leaders. It was at that moment that party members came for former President Hu Jintao. Note, the 79-year-old Hu served as China's president from 2003 to 2013. As a leader, he served during unprecedented growth that cemented China's status as a world power. But that record didn't secure him much dignity to let him stay seated during the anno...

As Nicaragua Invites Russian Troops To Central America, U.S. Responds

17Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Geopolitics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

As Nicaragua Invites Russian Troops To Central America, U.S. Responds

U.S. Treasury Sanctions State-Owned Gold Mining Firm June 17, 2022—Citing Nicaragua's closer ties with Russia and political oppression at home, the U.S. Treasury issued new sanctions today targeting a Nicaraguan mining company and a government official. Specifically, it targets Empresa Nicaraguense de Minas (ENIMINAS), a state-owned gold-mining company, and Ruy Lopez Delgado, the head of the enterprise. Nicaragua Welcomes Russian Military The sanctions action comes just days after Nicaragua's parliament approved a decree to allow Russian troops to enter the Central American country. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega invited Russian troops into his country to carry out law enforcement duties and conduct joint military exercises, ABC News reported earlier this month. On J...

Venezuela’s Communist Control Of The Economy Cracks Open An Inch

10Jun

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Types of News: Analysis

Venezuela’s Communist Control Of The Economy Cracks Open An Inch

Editor's Note: The Venezuelan economy is one of the most repressed in the world. In fact, the country ranks next to last on the Heritage Foundation's 2022 Economic Freedom Index. The only country with worse rankings is North Korea. But there are a few signs the country's leaders are seeing at least some value in the capitalist model. Even as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro courts despots in Iran and Algeria, he is opening up the government's ownership of some parts of the economy, at least a crack. The story below is by Ernesto Rodriguez. Source: My Expat Diary June 10, 2022—If you’ve been following Venezuela’s and Latin America’s news, you might have seen something extremely curious: Predictions of growth from the Venezuelan economy. They come from various places: the Intern...

Protests And Political Imprisonment In Russia

4Mar

By Jacob DavenportNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Eastern Europe, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

Protests And Political Imprisonment In Russia

Photo by @Martin_camera Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny Calls For Anti-War Protests Editor's Note: As Russian President Vladimir Putin accelerates its war against Ukrainians, world leaders and foreign policy watchers are increasingly counting on Russian citizens to take responsibility for ending the war. Mohr Media's intern Jacob Davenport reports on the unfolding developments and some background. March 4, 2022--In response to the military invasion of Ukraine, Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny encouraged his fellow citizens to continue protesting against the war. From Prison, Navalny Says 'Go Protest' Navalny said Russian citizens should be prepared to “fill prisons and paddy wagons” as a means of demonstration and protest in response to “Moscow’s unprovoked...

Unsealed Document Reveals New Twist In The Alex Saab Story

18Feb

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Human rights, Types of News: Analysis

Unsealed Document Reveals New Twist In The Alex Saab Story

International Corruption Case Spanning Two Continents And Two Decades Grows Even More Intriguing By Ernesto Rodgriguez @Ernestoalexan February 18, 2022—Since 2018, the mere mention of the name Alex Saab to Venezuelans at home and abroad evokes bad memories of rotten food and rice with metal. For the rest of the world, here’s a bit of background that puts this week’s revelations in perspective. Saab is the Columbian businessman who cheated Venezuela’s starving population during the worst point of an economic and political crisis that continues to this day. A Corrupt Food Program In terms of international intrigue, the Saab story is one for the ages. It was in 2018 when an investigations team at ArmandoInfo published a piece about corruption inside the food Ven...

Latin America: What’s Ahead in 2022 & What Happened in 2021

14Jan

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Democracy, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Latin America: What’s Ahead in 2022 & What Happened in 2021

By Ernesto Rodriguez Welcome to pandemic year three! So 2021 wasn't really what everyone wanted it to be: A year where human ingenuity and science beat a pandemic, letting everybody go back to normal. Not quite. That being said, there was something that felt more normal: Politics. Or, at least in the case of Latin American politics, it was as normal as politics ever gets. A Marked Shift Left The region dealt with the aftermath of unrest that’s happened in the last few years. And political observers saw a marked shift to left-leaning or far-left leaders taking power. That includes Peru's Pedro Castillo and Chile's Gabriel Boric winning their respective elections. It's a trend that could continue this year, with Lula Da Silva being the favorite to win the Brazilian election next Oct...

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

10Dec

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, authoritarian, Types of News: Analysis

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

Editor's Note: The elections this Fall in Venezuela marked the first time in four years the opposition took part. The Opposition represents the interim government led by Juan Guaidó, who is recognized by the United States and 50 other countries as the rightful leader of the country in the aftermath of the 2018 fraudulent election. The opposition boycotted the 2018 and 2020 elections. But with recent talks between the opposition and the government in Mexico, they are engaging more in politics For many of the nearly 6 million expats who left the country in the wake of political and economic crises since 2015, the hope is for a new government and a better life for the Venezuelans left behind. Ernesto Rodriguez, one of those expats, analysizes the outlook for that in the essay below. By ...