Trump s desire for wild protest sparks fear among US officials
One observer noted that Trump will fail in Congress, but the greater danger is on the streets, where pro-Trump forces are already threatening chaos.
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he departs the White House on Dec. 12, 2020.Al Drago / Getty Images file
Dec. 28, 2020, 1:40 PM UTC
BySteve Benen
It was nine days ago when Donald Trump announced via Twitter that there would be a wild protest in the nation s capital on Jan. 6, the day Congress will formally certify President-elect Joe Biden s victory. The Republican has referenced the gathering while insisting he won the election he lost, and Trump has returned to the subject several times since, including in a weekend tweet in which the outgoing president declared, Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with then-US Vice President Joe Biden in 2013. REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool/File Photo
Chinese negotiators surprised their European Union counterparts this week with key market-access concessions following long months of intransigence that could allow the two parties to reach an agreement on a historic investment deal by year’s end.
Though EU officials haven’t yet revealed the details, one senior EU diplomat said the agreement goes beyond anything Beijing has offered any foreign partner previously, both in the level of market access and legal and other guarantees.
EU officials aren’t naïve about the deal’s historic timing or political significance. It would come shortly after Americans elected Joe Biden in early November, following a campaign during which he pledged to rally allies in Europe and Asia to work in common cause to counteract the unfair practices of China’s authoritarian capitalist system.
Ten Lessons in Intelligence
December 19, 2020
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here is no shortage of intelligence-themed or spy-related books on the market. From titles claiming something akin to “spy skills that will save your life” to “how do detect deception in your spouse”, there is a public appetite for a peek behind the curtain at the clandestine world. These typically trend more James Bond than George Smiley; more action than introspection, often resembling potboiler thrillers found in pharmacies and airport terminals alike.
They offer the reader a glimpse into the clandestine lives of spies, allowing them to insert themselves into the darkened alleys of European capitals or the slums of a conflict hot spot. How would I react in this situation? How would I handle being tailed? Where is the best place for a dead drop? The likelihood that suburban moms and dads will ever find themselves needing the skills outlined by the authors is decidedly slim. Perhaps some international travelers will fin