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Jan 14, 2025 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
CITY AFLAME Los Angeles’ cataclysm was seemingly foretold by the hundreds of disaster films cranked out by Hollywood — save that this one is the real deal. But instead of politicians uniting to support the city’s citizens, they are blaming one another for how the disaster has been dealt with.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
GEOPOLITICS Through his campaign and afterwards, Donald Trump has articulated a foreign policy of bluster and easy catchphrases. But in just over a week, the next US president must deal for real with the Ukrainian war and the overlapping challenges in the Middle East.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
allafrica.com | J Brooks Spector
opinion As the Trump administration begins to take shape before it comes into office in just a few days, even before it takes over, the chasms between different clans of supporters are becoming public and acrimonious. In addition, the bases of the ideas of Elon Musk, the Trump whisperer, deserve serious examination. Less than two weeks prior to being sworn in as president , Donald Trump held what he called a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
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Jan 11, 2025 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | Stephen Grootes |J Brooks Spector |Peter Fabricius |Michael le Cordeur
Government realities hit the GNU Cabinet ministers. Trump’s Maga base shows cracks. And South Africa’s clivias are being targeted.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
INTERNATIONAL As the Trump administration begins to take shape before it comes into office in just a few days, even before it takes over, the chasms between different clans of supporters are becoming public and acrimonious. In addition, the bases of the ideas of Elon Musk, the Trump whisperer, deserve serious examination. Less than two weeks prior to being sworn in as president , Donald Trump held what he called a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
BOOK REVIEWS Two new books exploring South Africa’s tempestuous history illuminate the challenges to education and the political education and progress of one of South Africa’s most interesting political figures. History is never boring — although some people can make it seem that way.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | Stephen Grootes |Janet Heard |Ferial Haffajee |J Brooks Spector
Zuma’s improbable return, Jordaan’s descent from grace, and the TikTok sunscreen debate. Jacob Zuma’s own weaknesses and choice of strategy make it almost impossible for him to again win mass support across the country.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
THANKSGIVING AFTERMATH While J. BROOKS SPECTOR stayed away from stores and malls on Black Friday, the origin of the term provides an opportunity to unravel fact from fiction and look at the way myths emerge. All around the world, people have hurled themselves at the just-opening doors of stores, shopping malls and – increasingly – online shopping sites to participate in a global celebration of the unbridled consumerism of Black Friday.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
REPORT CARD We offer our first effort of an evaluation — including an end-of-term report card — of the Biden presidency. We have now reached the penultimate scene of Joe Biden’s presidency. As of this writing, he will still be president for fewer than two more months before the final scene occurs.
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Nov 18, 2024 | 
dailymaverick.co.za | J Brooks Spector
US ELECTIONS ANALYSIS The US has entered the transition process from the Biden administration to Trump 2.0. Trump is moving quickly to determine his choices for senior positions, with loyalty as his key criterion. The outcome of the recent general election in the United States reminds me of a story told about the renowned theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein.
