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Archiv: best ideas ever / beste Ideen überhaupt
The Case for California’s Billionaire Wealth Tax
(May 26, 2026)
A California ballot initiative that will be put to voters in November would tax just 5 percent of billionaires’ fortunes over five years. This trailblazing wealth tax would be a small (for the ultrawealthy) but important (for everyone else) step toward raising needed tax revenue and curbing the state’s runaway inequality.
The billionaire class in California includes roughly 250 households, a mere 0.001 percent of the state’s families. Yet its wealth now amounts to more than half of California’s entire annual economic output.
This means that if these billionaires spent all of their wealth, they could buy more than half of the goods and services produced in a year in the entire state.
Protester Blasts Trump In Washington DC Bridge Stunt: ‘Illegal’
Guido Reichstadter spoke from atop the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge after disrupting peak-hour traffic, telling NewsNation he was calling for “an immediate end to the Trump regime’s illegal war on Iran” through mass nonviolent action.
Hegseth orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany
The drawdown, which comes after the country’s leader sparred with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, leaves about 33,000 troops there.
Anordnung von Hegseth: USA ziehen 5.000 Soldaten aus Deutschland ab
US-Verteidigungsminister Pete Hegseth hat den Abzug von etwa 5.000 US-Soldaten aus Deutschland angeordnet. Man gehe davon aus, dass der Abzug innerhalb der nächsten sechs bis zwölf Monate abgeschlossen sein werde, teilte ein Sprecher des Pentagons mit.
Trump threatens to pull some US troops from Germany, Italy and Spain amid spat over Iran war
“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Wednesday night.
On Thursday, he expanded his threat to Italy and Spain. “I mean, they haven’t been exactly on board,” Trump answered, when asked about the possibility of cuts to troop levels in the two countries. “Yeah, probably will,” Trump added, “Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely.”
Trump asks Iran to release 8 women ahead of negotiations
“To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!” he said on Truth Social with a screenshot of photos of eight women.
One of the pictured women has previously been identified by Fox News and others as Bita Hemmati, a female protester tied to the January 2026 uprising in Tehran. It’s unclear who the other women are, but Trump has criticized the Iranian regime for the imprisonment and execution of protestors.
China and Cuba’s solar revolution: solidarity in practice
As a result, Cuba’s share of solar in total electricity generation has risen from 5.8 per cent a year ago to over 20 per cent today.
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Battery storage–currently in place at only four of Cuba’s 55 solar parks–will need to be expanded significantly to address the evening peak demand. Wind energy will also make a growing contribution, with 19 wind farms totaling 415 MW currently being built, again with Chinese support. But the pace of the solar buildout, measured against where Cuba was just months ago, is already extraordinary.
Exclusive: Trump weighs pulling some US troops from Europe amid NATO strains, official says
No decision has been made, and the White House has not directed the Pentagon to draw up concrete plans for a troop reduction on the continent, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
A Bid to Use Force to Open Strait of Hormuz Hits Roadblocks at U.N. Security Council
The actual vote on the resolution, which was drafted by Bahrain with the support of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, is expected to be scheduled for Friday. But it remained unclear whether extra hours of diplomacy would bring the three veto-holding countries on board.
Russia, China and France are among the five permanent members of the council with veto power. There were also divisions over the resolution among the 10 nonpermanent members, according to diplomats.
Russia, China, France veto UNSC resolution to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Arab nations, led by Bahrain, seeking UN Security Council authorisation for military intervention to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have faced a major setback as Russia, China and France vetoed the proposed resolution.
The strategic Strait of Hormuz—through which approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies transit—was closed by Iran on 28 February 2026 amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel.
It is time for the world to move on without the United States
In between these two violent attacks, US President Donald Trump withdrew from 66 international organisations, including 31 UN entities, and launched the Board of Peace, a new institution he chairs personally that he suggested might replace the UN.
These and other developments in recent years demonstrate that the world order the US helped establish in 1945 no longer serves its interests.
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A powerful first step would be relocating the UN headquarters from New York as an acknowledgment of reality. Why should the world body remain in a nation that is withdrawing from so many of its parts and building alternatives?
Madrid denies White House claim that Spain has ‘agreed to cooperate with the US military’
But Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, rejected this statement just a few minutes later. ”I categorically deny it. The Spanish government’s position on the war in the Middle East, the bombings in Iran, and the use of our bases has not changed one iota,” he said in a radio interview on Cadena SER.
Spain’s position had been summarized by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that morning in an official statement: “No to war.” Albares said that he has “no idea” what Leavitt was referring to.
Merzens dreifacher Kotau in Washington
Merz’ Washington-Besuch macht zugleich deutlich, was zum Minimalprogramm der Wiederherstellung demokratischer Souveränität in Deutschland gehört. Ohne eine Kündigung der US-Basen – insbesondere von Ramstein, über die der völkerrechtswidrige Angriffskrieg gegen den Iran mit geführt wird – ist dies nicht zu erreichen. Was die NATO angeht, zeigen Trumps Drohungen im Zusammenhang mit Militärbasen eindeutig, dass allein ein Austritt aus dem Militärpakt der jeweiligen europäischen Regierung die Möglichkeit eröffnet, eigenständig über die Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik ihres Landes zu entscheiden.
Tax billionaires. Stop the healthcare collapse.
How it Works
Paid only by Californians worth more than $1 billion—about 200 people who together hold $2 trillion in wealth, most of which will never be taxed in their lifetimes due to loopholes in state and federal tax laws.
Raises about $100 billion to replace lost federal dollars and protect essential services. Directs 90% of funds to healthcare and 10% to public K-14 education and state food assistance programs.
No new taxes on the middle class, small businesses, or homeowners.
What it does for Californians
Keeps hospital ERs, clinics, nursing homes, and home care open and staffed in every community.
Stabilizes premiums and coverage, so families can see a doctor when they need one.
Protects healthcare jobs and the middle-class economy they support.
Funds public K-14 education to keep classrooms staffed, protect programs, and ensure every child gets a quality education.
Funds state food assistance programs to keep millions of Californians from losing access to food and support school nutrition programs.
What we want is simple
Protect our fragile healthcare system from collapse so our families can get the care we need.
Billionaires doing their part to support California and contribute to the social safety nets and public infrastructure that enabled their wealth accumulation.
A state with a strong middle class where everyone can thrive.
California Billionaire Tax Act
California Billionaire Tax Act
A statewide ballot initiative to enact an emergency tax on billionaires to save California’s healthcare system from collapse
Massive cuts to federal healthcare funding are driving California towards a healthcare collapse. The federal funding cuts will strip roughly $100 billion from California healthcare over the next five years, leading to:
Short-staffed shifts: Skeleton crews left on the front lines as 145,000 healthcare jobs disappear
Higher costs and lost coverage: Insurance premiums go up for everyone, and millions of Californians lose coverage altogether.
Facility closures and reduced services: Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care will be forced to reduce services or close down.
Our solution: The California Billionaire Tax Act
Should billionaires pay more? California unions want voters to decide
(October 24, 2025)
The proposed initiative would tax the 2025 net worth of billionaires residing in California, allowing them to pay off the obligation over five years. The revenue would go into a special fund with 90% reserved for health care spending and 10% reserved for K-12 education spending.
It needs 874,641 signatures to be placed before voters on the 2026 ballot, a number that the groups are confident they can reach. Getting voters to ultimately approve the tax, however, could be a hard sell.
President Abbas issues decree ordering publication of first draft of interim constitution
RAMALLAH, February 9, 2026 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday issued a presidential decree ordering the publication of the first draft of the Interim Constitution of the State of Palestine.
The draft will be made available for public review through the electronic platform designated by the National Committee for Drafting the Constitution, as well as through the means of publication determined by the Committee.
The decree aims to expand community participation in drafting the Interim Constitution by inviting citizens, civil society institutions (CSOs), political factions, experts, and academics to submit their comments and proposals on the draft within sixty days as from the date of publication of the decree.
Danish troops were ‚combat ready‘ in Greenland
(January 23, 2026)
DR said a Danish military order last week said soldiers in Greenland should be equipped with live ammunition.
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The deployment was officially a part of the Danish-led military exercise Arctic Endurance — which Copenhagen has said will continue „throughout large parts of the coming year.“
A few days after Trump announced that the United States would get Greenland „one way or the other“, eight European countries sent several dozen troops to Greenland, officially to prepare for the exercise.
Some have since departed, including a group of about 15 Germans and some Swedes, while others continue to arrive.
Alle Optionen bleiben denkbar – 3 strategische Ziele: So agiert Dänemark gegen Trumps Grönland-Drohungen
Obwohl ein direkter militärischer Konflikt zwischen Nato-Partnern bisher als undenkbar galt, hat die dänische Ministerpräsidentin Mette Frederiksen klargestellt, dass man nach Trumps Weigerung, militärische Gewalt auszuschließen, keine Option mehr ignorieren könne. Die Stationierung von Soldaten erhöht daher die „politischen Kosten“ für die USA massiv.
Ein Angriff auf Grönland würde nun bedeuten, dass US-Truppen direkt gegen Soldaten anderer Nato-Länder kämpfen müssten.
Ein solches Szenario würde in den USA vermutlich auf massiven innenpolitischen und womöglich militärischen Widerstand stoßen.
Die Hoffnung Kopenhagens ist, dass diese politische Hürde schwerer wiegt als die abstrakte Sorge vor einem Zusammenbruch der Nato.
Denmark sends more troops to Greenland
(January 19, 2026)
With Donald Trump continuing to ramp up pressure in his bid to annex Greenland, Denmark on Monday is boosting its military presence on the Arctic island, according to local press reports.
A „substantial contribution“ of Danish combat soldiers is expected to arrive in Kangerlussuaq, the location of Greenland’s main international airport, on Monday evening, according to Danish broadcaster TV2.
Danish fighter jets and French tanker in Nato drills over Greenland as Arctic tensions soar
Danish F-35 fighter jets and a French MRTT tanker have been seen conducting drills over south east Greenland.
France to step up Greenland deployment with land, air and sea forces
France began deploying troops to Greenland on Thursday and said it would send additional „land, air and sea“ forces in the coming days, confirming the presence of high-mountain specialists from the French army on the ground as part of a European military exercise after inconclusive talks in Washington.
France to send extra ‚land, air, and sea‘ forces to Greenland in coming days, says Macron
„A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets,“ Macron told troops during a speech to start the new year.
„France and the Europeans must continue to be present wherever their interests are threatened — without escalation, but uncompromising when it comes to respect for territorial sovereignty,“ he added.
Vorhut der dänischen Streitkräfte in Grönland eingetroffen
Nach Informationen von DR handelt es sich zunächst um ein sogenanntes Vorauskommando. Ihre Aufgabe ist es vor allem, Logistik und Infrastruktur vorzubereiten, um später weitere Truppen aufnehmen zu können. Zu den entsandten Kräften gehören demnach auch Soldaten aus Einheiten des Heeres, die die militärische Präsenz Dänemarks in Grönland verstärken sollen.
Trump ‘Wages War’ On Greenland, NATO Fires Back; France, Germany, Sweden, Norway Put Boots On Ground
NATO allies are moving troops and military assets to Greenland as tensions rise in the Arctic. Denmark announced it is boosting its military presence on the island with aircraft, naval vessels, and soldiers, while Sweden confirmed it is sending officers at Copenhagen’s request. France, Norway, and Netherlands have also stepped in.
France to send troops to Greenland for joint exercise with several European countries
France, the European Union‘s only nuclear power, also confirmed that it would send troops to Greenland..