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Since the beginning of 2026, Zohran Mamdani has been mayor of New York City. The democratic socialist ran on a clear platform and is now starting to implement it. After around 100 days in office, the first figures show the direction: from autumn 2026 there will be 2,000 free kindergarten places, and a new tax on luxury real estate is expected to generate around $500 million annually.
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- Category: USA
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Elon Musk is more than an eccentric entrepreneur. In “Muskism”, journalist Ben Tarnoff and historian Quinn Slobodian describe him as a political actor and a symbol of a new ideology: the fusion of technology, capital and power. In an interview with Kontrast, they explain how Musk, through platforms like X, not only dominates markets but also radicalises public debate. Their argument: he promises “independence” through technology but in reality creates new dependencies and undermines democracy. With AI tools like Grok, Musk seeks to shape what we know, write and read – yet he may be more vulnerable than he appears.
Read more: Muskism: How Elon Musk’s Tech Empire Shapes Politics, Power and Public Discourse
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Young, charismatic, progressive, and at the same time deeply rooted in the Christian faith. Texan James Talarico is a rare combination within the Democratic Party. Yet this is exactly what convinces many people who are not core Democratic voters. The young preacher is running for the U.S. Senate and could help stop the increasingly fascist policies of Donald Trump.
Read more: James Talarico: The Young Progressive Preacher Challenging Trump
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A new drug could revolutionise the fight against HIV: studies show it offers almost complete protection. Yet, of all things, the high price of the injection threatened to slow down its roll-out. The pharmaceutical company that developed the drug was charging $14,000 per dose. However, the health initiative ‘Unitaid’ has now announced that it will make a generic version – that is, a cheaper alternative to the drug – available from 2027. It is expected to cost just €20 per dose. Another notable feature: “Unitaid” is funded through solidarity levies on airline tickets, which some countries collect. Anyone who has bought a flight ticket has therefore, indirectly, helped make a vital HIV drug accessible.
Read more: $20 Instead of $14,000: Breakthrough Preventative HIV Drug to Become Affordable in 2027
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- Category: USA
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Jason Stanley is not surprised, astonished, or speechless when following the policies of Donald Trump and his inner circle. He is a philosopher, a theorist of fascism, and has taught at Yale University for many years. “Donald Trump is an autocrat” – for Stanley, this is beyond dispute. He goes even further. Whereas just a few years ago he warned of fascist tendencies in Trump’s policies during his first presidency, he now states clearly: what we are seeing and experiencing in the US today is fascism. We spoke to Jason Stanley about the US and why he no longer feels safe there. About promises of peace that are worthless – and why it gives him hope when resistance to an apparent superior force is forming in cities like Minneapolis.