Argentina's Milei Vows More Reforms after Election Triumph

Oct 27, 2025 | Argentina's President Javier Milei said his party's big victory in the nation's midterm elections marked a turning point and vowed to pursue reforms his government still considers necessary.

'Today we pass through a turning point,' Milei said after the results. Milei's party cruised to victory in midterm legislative elections as voters backed his free-market reforms and deep austerity measures, providing a mandate for him to push forward with his radical overhaul of the economy. The results will also likely be welcome news to US president Donald Trump, whose administration recently provided Argentina with a hefty financial bailout but had threatened to pull away if Milei did not do well.


Little good will come of this clown's reforms. They will enrich the superrich of Argentina and impoverish the masses. How Argentinians can vote for this madman is beyond my comprehension. — © Mark Alexander

Milei’s Win in Argentina Had Trump’s Fingerprints All Over It. But Just How Long Will Their Friendship Last?

THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: The Argentine president’s libertarian experiment is in tatters, and his hold on power seems increasingly dependent on volatile US support

In 1946, Argentina was emerging from military rule, an empowered labour movement was reshaping politics and Col Juan Perón, a leftwing leader who had introduced a raft of popular workers’ rights decrees, was rising fast in the polls. The then US ambassador, Spruille Braden, had other ideas about who should win the national election that year, and he openly campaigned against Perón in Buenos Aires. Braden’s action stands out as one of the most brazen instances of US interference in Argentina’s politics. Until now.

The Argentine president, Javier Milei, who won a resounding midterm victory on Sunday, has received ample support from Donald Trump. Ahead of the congressional elections, Trump endorsed Milei and warned: “If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina.” Washington extended a $20bn currency swap line to the government – money aimed at stabilising financial volatility that would have undermined Milei’s chances. The US treasury even intervened directly, buying more than a billion dollars of pesos to slow the currency’s freefall in recent weeks. » | Jordana Timerman | Monday, October 27, 2025

Milei’s Party Wins High-stakes Argentina Elections, Early Results Show

Oct 27, 2025 | The party of Argentinian President Javier Milei has won midterm elections clinching a crucial vote of confidence in his free-market reforms and deep austerity measures.

Early results show Milei's Libertarian Party secured more than 40 percent of votes.

Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Life in Lebanon as the Country Falls

Oct 23, 2025 | Lebanon, the former “Switzerland of the Middle East”, stands on the brink of becoming a failed state. Years of civil war, border conflicts and corrupt government has left the country bankrupt and spiralling into chaos. The Beirut port explosion reduced the capital to tatters and exposed the utter failure of sectarianism politics. Lebanon now finds itself more vulnerable than ever to foreign influence, once again a key stake for international powers playing out their broader ambitions across the Mideast. But in this deeply divided country, a young generation is ready to battle for reform.

At the supermarkets in Beirut, hyperinflation has led to the food changing price every day. Lilian, 24, hoped to become a diplomat but the economic crisis forced her to quit her studies. Now she is has joined the protest movement and pawns her clothes to buy food. The man most people blame for this desperate situation is Riad Salameh, head of the central bank for the past three decades and accused of embezzling close to a billion dollars. The IMF and World Bank has offered to bail out Lebanon if the central bank opens up its account books. Something that Salameh – with the support of the whole political class – absolutely refuses to do.

Yet economic collapse isn’t the only cause of the country’s woes. In southern Lebanon, safety risks along the border with Israel are a main source of instability. This is a stronghold for Hezbollah, which operates as a state within a state, providing for every aspect of daily life in exchange for absolute loyalty. Further north, the Bekaa valley is the other Hezbollah stronghold. But it is also home to one of Lebanon’s most serious problems the Syrian refugee crisis. The mass arrival of 1.5 million Syrian refugees has further destabilised a nation long distrustful of Syria. Everything is done to hide the Syrian problem. Large international NGO are prevented from working here and the refugees themselves, like 12-year-old Abdelfateh, are forced to slave long hours to survive.

No population census has been held for decades in Lebanon to avoid threatening the fragile balance of sectarian powers. But the sunnis are convinced they form the largest section of the population.They feel oppressed and increasingly look towards Saudi Arabia or Turkey’s Muslim brotherhood for help. But despite everything, people like Lilian are determined to confront these endemic problems. “My destiny is to stay here and engage in political action…. The proverb “Lebanese love life” is very true, we love life despite everything!”

This documentary was produced by Kaliste Productions and directed by Alfred de Montesquiou. It was first released in 2021.

Ben Norton: The Shocking Truth about America’s Plans for Venezuela

Oct 24, 2025 | Geopolitical Analyst Ben Norton joins the show to discuss Venezuela

Why Trump's $20 Billion Bailout of Argentina Might Not Be Enough to Rescue Milei | DW News

Oct 26, 2025 | Voting is underway in Argentina as people head to the polls in critical midterm elections. Sunday's vote is seen as a test for President Javier Milei and his austerity policies. Inflation has fallen significantly in recent months, but so has Milei's popularity. Around half of the seats in the lower chambers and a third of those in the upper chamber are up for grabs.

Crise de 1929 : l’effondrement de Wall Street et le début d'un monde en crise - Documentaire - RP

Oct 23, 2025 | Quand la Bourse s’effondre, c’est tout un monde qui bascule…

Trump Raises Tariffs on Canada by 10% in Retaliation for Anti-tariff TV Ad

THE GUARDIAN: Move is response to ad sponsored by Ontario that referenced Ronald Reagan’s support for free trade

Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will raise US tariffs on Canada by 10% in retaliation for an anti-tariff advertisement sponsored by the Ontario government, which has further strained one of the world’s largest trade partnerships.

The statement, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, came after several days of public disputes over the ad, which referenced Ronald Reagan’s support for free trade and provoked the US president’s anger.

“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” Trump said Saturday on social media. » | Marina Dunbar | Saturday, October 25, 2025

Why Support for Argentina's Milei Is Waning | DW News

Oct 25, 2025 | Argentina is preparing to vote in a mid-term election test on Sunday for President Javier Milei’s radical free-market experiment. Since taking office he's cut spending and slashed inflation. But scandals and austerity have fueled discontent. And then there's the added complication of Milei's ally Donald Trump, who has tied US aid to Milei's success at the ballot box. Young people, who had catapulted him to power in 2023, are now divided between support, disillusionment, and a loss of enthusiasm following widespread adjustments ranging from universities to disability benefits.

Argentinians have placed their trust in a madman! Unfortunately, Javier Milei has virually zero chance of fixing Argentina's economic woes. Fixing Argentina's economy requires a leader with a level head and sound, sensible, and fair economic policies. Milei's radical, anarcho-capitalistic policies are neither sound nor sensible nor fair! — © Mark Alexander

Trump Says He’s Cutting Off Trade Negotiations With Canada

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The president said he was motivated by an ad, paid for by the province of Ontario, that featured Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs in a 1987 radio address.

President Trump said late Thursday that he was terminating negotiations with Canada over the high tariffs that he imposed on its steel, auto parts and other major exports, adding new uncertainty to the relationship with America’s second-biggest trading partner.

On Truth Social, the president said he was ending all trade negotiations with Canada because of a video ad, paid for by the province of Ontario, that featured former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.,” Mr. Trump wrote. “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

Mr. Trump claimed that the ad was fake and said that it had been placed “to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court,” which is currently considering a legal challenge to many of Mr. Trump’s tariffs. » | Ana Swanson and Matina Stevis-Gridneff | Reporting from Washington and Toronto | Thursday, October 23, 2025

Generally speaking, tariffs are passé. They are the economic tool of old-fashioned thinkers and of people who do not understand economics. They are not an economic tool useful in generating or furthering prosperity. Further, having a tantrum is not going to make Trump’s tariffs bring about prosperity, neither for Americans nor for the rest of the world. — © Mark Alexander

European Central Banker Lagarde Argues "We're Yet to Feel the Pain" on Trump's Tariffs

Oct 19, 2025 | European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde predicted on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that more of the costs of President Trump's tariffs could be passed on from businesses to consumers. And she weighed in on the increasingly tense U.S.-China trade talks.

"Face the Nation" is America's premier Sunday morning public affairs program. The broadcast is one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television, having debuted Nov. 7, 1954, on CBS. Every Sunday, "Face the Nation" moderator and CBS News senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan welcomes leaders, newsmakers, and experts to a lively round table discussion of current events and the latest news.

Andrew Ross Sorkin Explains the 1929 Financial Crash and Lessons for Today | Amanpour & Company

Oct 20, 2025 | It was the moment that sent the U.S. into a panic and drew the Roaring 20s to a close. The 1929 Wall Street crash, which led to the Great Depression, was the most devastating financial collapse in history. This disaster is the focus of Andrew Ross Sorkin's new book. The author joins the show to talk about what led to the financial shipwreck, and what we can learn from it nearly a century later.| Originally aired on October 20, 2025

Putin Envoy Suggests Elon Musk Could Build a Russia-Alaska Tunnel

Oct 19, 2025 | “It’s his job to dangle really tantalising business proposals in front of Trump.”

A Putin envoy proposed involving Elon Musk’s Boring Company in a far-fetched plan for a Russia-Alaska tunnel: a play for postwar US business, says former Moscow Times journalist Charles Hecker.

100 Years of Margaret Thatcher | UK Politics | The New Statesman

Oct 18, 2025

Here in Wales, when I was in school, we weren't given skimmed milk; each child was given a third of a pint of whole milk. Skimmed milk wasn't much of a thing when I was in school. Further, the milk wasn't usually warm, either. Unless, perhaps,, in summer, of course. I think Charles Moore must have ‘misremembered’ this!

I’m sure that for parents today who struggle to be able to afford to nourish their children, free milk in school would go a long way to help them. Milk for growing children helps develop strong bones and teeth. And please remind me: How much did ‘Thatcher the Milk Snatcher ‘ save for the Treasury with thus mean-minded decision? Governments waste so much money in other ways that it is hard to see how much she gained from this. She certainly lost popularity through this measure. — © Mark Alexander

Why Is Trump Bailing Out Argentina's President Milei While Firing Thousands of Workers in US?

Oct 16, 2025 | We speak to Argentine journalist Pablo Calvi about the U.S. government's multibillion-dollar bailout for Argentina, which could grow from $20 billion to $40 billion as Argentina is rocked by an ongoing economic crisis. "I don't see that the bailout would benefit the Argentine people or the American people, for that matter," says Calvi. Instead, he believes the tech industry will reap the financial rewards from its ties to U.S. President Trump and his ally, far-right Argentine President Javier Milei, who attended the conservative CPAC conference in the U.S., where he gifted billionaire Elon Musk a chain saw.

Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Thom Hartmann: The US Recession Has Begun

Trump has zero understanding of macro-economics; and it shows in his dumb policies. He inherited a great economy from Joe Biden and he’s screwed it up. Like everything else he touches.

Why Trump’s $20B Argentina Bailout May Be Doomed to Fail | WSJ

Oct 15, 2025 | President Trump recently announced a $20 billion deal to rescue Argentina and President Javier Milei, angering U.S. farmers and putting American taxpayers at risk. On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump Administration was also assembling an additional $20 billion aid in a private finance facility that could act as a backstop for Argentina's debt.

German Retirees Who Continue Working Set to Earn €2,000 a Month Tax-free

THE GUARDIAN: Active pension scheme expected to start in January is part of chancellor’s ‘autumn of reforms’ to tackle economic stagnation

Germans who continue in the labour market beyond retirement age will be able to earn up to €2,000 (£1,750) a month tax-free on top of their pension under a scheme aimed at boosting economic growth and labour force participation rates.

The “Aktivrente”, or active pension scheme, due to come into force in January, was promised on the campaign trail by the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, before he came into office five months ago.

The government, a coalition of Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and junior partners the Social Democrats (SPD), hopes the plan will incentivise post-retirement working.

A draft law is expected to be approved by the cabinet on Wednesday – after Merz won over his Social Democrat sceptics earlier this month – then debated in the Bundestag. » | Kate Connolly in Berlin | Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Was Life Better 50 Years Ago? | Sen. Bernie Sanders

Oct 15, 2025 | Despite huge advancements in technology & worker productivity since the 1970s, wages for American workers have remained stagnant and almost all new wealth has gone to the people on top.

Will it be any different with AI and robotics? I don’t think so. Maybe even worse.

Andrew Ross Sorkin: So Many Parallels between 1929 and Now That I Worry About

Oct 14, 2025 | Andrew Ross Sorkin joins ‘Morning Joe’ to discuss his new book 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation.