The Trump administration's efforts to criminalize opposition to fascism are taking effect overseas. Two banks are shutting down the accounts belonging to Rote Hilfe—a German legal aid organization over a century old—because of Trump designating so-called "Antifa Ost" as a "foreign terrorist organization."

The designation has no equivalent in German law. It's based on a single case with extremely questionable evidence. The German government has not adopted the designation, repeatedly emphasizing that the purely legal construct "Antifa East" poses no significant threat.

Nonetheless, these cowardly German banks are permitting Donald Trump to determine who they work with—despite the fact that the Trump administration has made it clear that not only do they oppose anti-fascism in general, they explicitly consider those who resisted the rise of Hitler to be "terrorists."

https://rote-hilfe.de/meldungen/kontokuendigung-wegen-antifa-banken-vollstrecken-us-politik-deutschland

Our latest piece on this year's CAR general election, scheduled for 28 December, highlights the challenges faced by the country amid ongoing insurgency, strained institutions, and President Touadera's bid for a third term in office.

https://africaelects.com/2025/12/23/inside-cars-2025-elections-weak-institutions-rebel-control-and-a-controversial-third-term/

Swiss Netflix (AI satire?)
https://schweizer.film/

Politische Theorie: Das ist unser Pol

Nimmt die Polarisierung zu, und gefährdet das die Demokratie? Nein und nein, behauptet der Soziologe Nils Kumkar. Das Problem sieht er woanders.

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via WOZ Die Wochenzeitung - Kultur / Wissen (author: Nelli Tügel)

Auf allen Kanälen: Gegen den Ausverkauf

Der mögliche Verkauf von «La Repubblica» und «La Stampa» hat in Italien Schockwellen ausgelöst. Redaktionen streiken, Politiker:innen warnen vor dem Ende journalistischer Vielfalt.

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via WOZ Die Wochenzeitung - Kultur / Wissen (author: Enrico Kampmann)