• The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is looking to flex its military muscle in the Persian Gulf and the greater Middle East. Today, Dubai is mostly known for its glitzy skyscrapers, but the kingdom’s leaders are looking to establish a powerful presence in a volatile region. With only a million people, the UAE has expanded its arms industry and attracted lots of buyers.
(“New Arab Force to Military Reckon With,” CS Monitor, Feb. 28, 2019)
• Through the early days of the 2020 presidential campaign, Democrats are repeatedly asked about reparations to compensate African-Americans for slavery and decades of racism. Several candidates, including Elizabeth Warren and Julian Castro back reparations without offering a specific plan.
(“Bernie Sanders Asks the Right Question About Reparations,” Intercept, Feb. 26, 2019; “Beyond the Rising Tide: Reparations for Slavery Have to Be More Than a Symbol,” Intercept, Feb. 20, 2019)
• Expectations were high that public sector unions would collapse after the US Supreme Court ruled that workers could opt out of “fair share fees” to pay for collective bargaining. Months after the historic ruling, public sector unions were doing better than expected, with minimal loss of membership, as union leaders rallied their rank and file members.
(“After Janus,” In These Times, Jan. 10, 2019)
This week’s News Summary was narrated by Elaine Osowski.
