New Today -- 19 December 2016

Perspective

Ahead of Electoral College vote: Democrats intensify McCarthyite campaign against Russia

The campaign by the Democrats against Trump is not over the far-right character of his cabinet, but his insufficiently aggressive attitude toward Russia.

News & Analysis

US deaths from synthetic opioids surge by 72 percent

CDC research shows that heroin overdose deaths in the US have reached epidemic proportions, surpassing 30,000 in one year for the first time in recent history.

Trump names hard-line "deficit hawk" to head budget office

Thousands suffer as dangerous cold blankets US Midwest

US coal miners hit by sharp rise in deadliest black lung disease

Justice Department report estimates nearly 2,000 "arrest-related deaths" annually in US

China accuses US of using undersea drone to spy

Police break up opposition-led blockade of Polish parliament

Berlin's Humboldt University plans massive job cuts

Terror attack claims at least 15 lives in central Turkey

UN agency says government torture and abductions continue in Sri Lanka

Australian politician jailed in bid to restore "confidence" in political establishment

Papua New Guinea troops to protect huge Exxon-Mobil gas project

Socialist Equality Party

David North speaks in London on Donald Trump's election

Workers, youth at London meeting respond to David North's analysis of Trump's victory

Arts

Four hundred years since William Shakespeare's deathPart 1

This week in history: December 19-25