The Revolution Is Not Always Televised

But the World Cup is.....

Mark Halperin

Nov 28

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FEEL PHILLY

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Philly fans have perfected every possible troll

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ESSENTIAL READING

The Chinese government, per usual, is looking to use a combination of quiet and loud force to crush dissent.

Betting on liberty and freedom is always the right thing to do.

However, it is too soon still to say if this brave effort will expand or be snuffed out.

The Biden Administration will approach this cautiously and carefully and craftily.

* The Associated Press with the latest Chinese government moves:

BEIJING (AP) — Authorities eased anti-virus rules in scattered areas but affirmed China’s severe “zero- COVID” strategy Monday after crowds demanded President Xi Jinping resign during protests against controls that confine millions of people to their homes.
The government made no comment on the protests or criticism of Xi, the most widespread display of opposition to the ruling Communist Party in decades. There was no official word on how many people were detained after police used pepper spray against protesters in Shanghai and struggled to suppress demonstrations in other cities including Beijing, the capital.
The city government of Beijing announced it would no longer set up gates to block access to apartment compounds where infections are found. It made no mention of a deadly fire last week that set off the protests following angry questions online about whether firefighters or victims trying to escape were blocked by locked doors or other anti-virus controls.

* Another AP story focuses on the targeting of Mr. Xi:

SHANGHAI (AP) — Barely a month after granting himself new powers as China’s potential leader for life, Xi Jinping is facing a wave of public anger of the kind not seen for decades, sparked by his draconian “zero COVID” program that will soon enter its fourth year.
Demonstrators poured into the streets over the weekend in numerous cities including Shanghai and Beijing, chanting slogans and confronting police. A number of university campuses also experienced protests.
Such widespread demonstrations are unprecedented since the 1989 student-led pro-democracy movement centered on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square that was crushed with deadly force by the army.
Most people in the weekend protests focused their anger on rigid pandemic lockdowns, a form of virtual house arrest that can last for months and has been criticized as neither scientific nor effective.
But some also shouted for the downfall of Xi and of the Communist Party that has ruled China with an iron fist for 73 years, criticism that is deemed seditious and punishable by years in prison. Protesters expressed frustration over a system that is neither performing as promised or responding to their concerns.

* The Wall Street Journal:

BEIJING—Protests are erupting in major cities in China over President Xi Jinping‘s zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19, an unusual show of defiance in the country as the economic and social costs from snap lockdowns and other strict restrictions escalate.
Demonstrations occurred throughout the weekend in both Beijing and Shanghai. According to eyewitness accounts, there were also protests in the eastern city of Nanjing and in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic. Video footage and photos circulating on social media, which The Wall Street Journal wasn’t able to independently verify, suggest protests broke out in several other cities, including Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

* This new Associated Press story about Kevin McCarthy’s ongoing efforts to round up the votes for speaker is mostly essential as it gives you a perfect window into the view of the Gang of 500 – McCarthy will make it, but only after a lot of effort.

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BIDEN ‘24

This could be the beginnings of a re-elect slogan:

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @Noahpinion

Russia: Losing a war to a country 1/4 its size Iran: Massive protests China: Increasing protests, sputtering economy U.S.: Record low unemployment, election deniers lost midterms Europe, Japan, Korea: Economically resilient, politically stable Liberalism on its last legs, huh?

* The New York Times has a political memo that is very bullish on the Democrats getting over their concerns about four more years in the wake of the midterms. Team Biden-Harris will love the overall take here, which includes this nugget:

Mr. Biden’s political advisers have also been ramping up outreach to his early backers, and his team has scheduled a gathering for major supporters and key party figures to discuss the administration’s agenda on Dec. 15 at the White House.

* This week’s presidential schedule is a template for the most Rose Garden re-elect ever:

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TRUMP ‘24

* The semiotics of this tell us all a lot:

Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 @RonFilipkowski

Got to remember to stand up and clap while you’re eating if he walks in. His house, his rules.

* Politico assigned four reporters to go find all the indications that Donald Trump has lost his hold on the Republican Party and his strong frontrunner status for 2024 – and instead came back with a piece that is more about GOP sharpies David Kochel and Fergus Cullen warning that the situation might just be more about status quo than change.

Apparently:

Dinner with Ye + Fuentes = shooting someone on 5th Avenue

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