PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Decline of the American Empire with Alfred McCoy” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges ☮

Alfred McCoy, Harrington Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains the decline of the United States as a global power and the rise of the Chinese empire.

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Army Lifts Ban on Recruits with Histories of Self-Harm, Depression” / Ring of Fire / Farron Cousins ☮

In a shocking move, the US Army has announced that they will no longer be turning away recruits who have a history of mental health issues like depression or self-mutilation in an effort to help bolster their dwindling ranks. Given what we know about former military members turning violent back at home and how poorly the US cares for its veterans, this decision will almost certainly end in a tragically predictable way.