An interactive timeline of America’s ongoing attempts (and subsequent failures) to enact health-care reform to provide universal health benefits to Americans. Will this all finally just be consigned to ancient history?
United States
Iran’s opposition protests return: a live blog
Iranian opposition protesters are again taking to the streets, as officials mark the 30th anniversary of the US embassy in Tehran being taken hostage. Protesters are being reportedly beaten, injured and arrested. The Guardian live blogs the uprising.
Time for Obama to start taking some risks
The four major issues that dominated the Obama campaign were the economy, healthcare, climate change and foreign policy and Obama has struggled with them all throughout his presidency. Is the US too divided to agree on anything?
How Uncle Sam blew the trillion-dollar trade of century
Sure, the White House had no choice but to step in to save banks in the wake of the financial crisis, says Mark Fisher, but it failed to see the opportunity to make the trade of the century for the American taxpayer.
America’s belief in global warming plummets
The number of Americans who believe in global warming has dropped from 77% to only 57% in just two years, with the decline sharpest amongst independent voters and Republicans, according to a new Pew study.
The deep-fried wonderland that is the Texas State Fair
Set your arteries to “harden”: the AV Club samples chicken-fried bacon, fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches, deep-fried butter, and other culinary delights of the Texas State Fair
Bono: How the world can learn to love America
Americans are like singers, says Bono: they just want to be loved. But before that can happen, the country is in need of a serious image makeover. The man who wears sunglasses indoors, at night, has some ideas.
US economy blows another bubble
The great market bubble goes on as cheap credit, blinkered managements and greedy investors continue to power markets higher to unsustainable levels.
America and Israel take a leak on Russia and Iran
Judging Sarah Palin’s new book by its cover
The cover image of Sarah Palin’s much-hyped new memoirs, Going Rogue, has been released. Jezebel provides an incredibly detailed (and snarky) analysis of the subliminal messages Palin is trying to send with her artistic choices.
America’s big Olympic sook
How could Chicago not get the 2016 Olympic Games? cries the US media. They had Oprah! And the Obamas! And the Northern Hemisphere! At least they won one thing, says Mike Hegedus: a gold medal in naivete.
Starbucks goes instant
In the recession-racked US, knocking back $5 Venti Peppermint Mocha Twist Frappuccinos isn’t as popular as it once was. So Starbucks is now entering a more GFC-friendly market: instant coffee. One problem: it’s awful.
The ultimate guide to the American hamburger
In the U-S-of-A, burgers ain’t burgers: a definitive guide to the myriad styles of burgers available throughout the States, from sliders to stacked to steamed to stuffed to slugs to… you get the idea.
Timor history gets a Howard washing: spin and deny
Ex PM John Howard rewrote history with the claims of his and Downer’s secret support of East Timor’s independence, says Bruce Haigh. What about public opinion and the actions of the US?
US scrubs up nicely for UN talks
America’s global image is looking a lot shiner since President Barack Obama took the reigns of power — but that doesn’t mean other world leaders are actually listening to him.
Meghan McCain: new media darling Business as usual on Wall St
It’s now a year since Lehman Brothers collapsed and the world was plunged into financial crisis. So how has Wall St changed and grown from the crash to prevent future economic disaster? It hasn’t.
Diary of a Surgeon: What Australia could learn from the US health system
It’s now 40 years since America introduced a landmark health reform that improved access for many disadvantaged groups, and it is only now starting to gain traction in Australia, writes Guy Maddern.
How Dave Letterman grew up
In the battle of the US late-night TV hosts, Jay Leno may have the ratings, but Dave Letterman has the credibility. New York looks at how, after over 30 years on the small screen, the comedian has finally hit his stride as the elder statesman of American television.
US unemployment a social powder keg
On the surface, the latest US unemployment data is better than expected, but it hides the real continuing pain and agony across thousands of American cities and towns.
LEAKED: How the US press became Blago’s best friend
After he was arrested for corruption last year, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich took a hammering in the US press as a dodgy slimeball. But behind the scenes, emails leaked to Gawker reveal the press-pack engaged in some serious brown-nosing to score an interview.
New from the House of Harvard
Want the look of an American Ivy League University student without the hefty fees or required academic prowess? Faced with financial woes, Harvard has lent its prestigious name to a high-end fashion line, featuring a frankly alarming amount of plaid, tartan and beige.
Pilger: Megrahi was framed
Suppressed evidence shows Abdel Bassest Megrahi, the man jailed over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, is innocent, says John Pilger, but both Britain and the US have too much at stake in the conviction to have ever allowed a fair trial.
In the battle of Johnston vs. Palin, the winner is Vanity Fair
America’s favourite redneck and former-future-son-in-law of Sarah Palin, Levi Johnston, has been making waves in the media with a candid interview for Vanity Fair. But the media is divided over whether his “expose” justice served or just sleaze.
