The Strangely Unscientific Masking Of America

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/political/strangely-unscientific-masking-america

Russia Ramps Up Ballistic & Hypersonic Missile Tests As START Treaty Expires

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-conducts-new-ballistic-hypersonic-missile-tests-new-start-about-expire

"Surreal Debt Tsunami": IIF Shocked To Forecast Global Debt Hitting $360 Trillion In Ten Years

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/surreal-debt-tsunami-iif-stunned-forecast-global-debt-hitting-360-trillion-ten-years

New Details Emerge About China's Super Secret "JH-XX" Stealth Bomber

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/new-details-emerge-about-chinas-super-secret-jh-xx-stealth-bomber

Iran Just Activated Formerly Banned High-Tech Uranium Centrifuges At The Same Site Trump Considered Attacking

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-just-activated-formerly-banned-high-tech-uranium-centrifuges-same-site-trump

Asia-Pacific Countries Sign World's Largest Free Trade Deal In "Coup For China"

 "Nothing less than a major milestone in global economic history and a huge victory for China over increasing US regional hegemony has been realized on Sunday with the signing of the biggest free trade deal ever among fifteen Asia Pacific Nations.

Called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, the agreement was signed virtually during the annual summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and effectively establishes the world's largest trading block that is expected to encompass almost one-third of all global economic activity, crucially without the United States..."

at 

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/asia-pacific-countries-sign-worlds-largest-free-trade-deal-coup-china

Navy Pushes Ahead With 500-Ship Plan To 'Counter China & Russia' In Wake Of Esper Firing

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/navy-pushes-ahead-500-ship-plan-counter-china-russia-wake-esper-firing

"Goodbye, Mr. Bond" - Sir Sean Connery Dies At 90

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/goodbye-mr-bond-sir-sean-connery-dies-90

US & China Hold Military Talks To Deescalate Ratcheting War Rhetoric

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-china-hold-military-talks-deescalate-ratcheting-war-rhetoric

A New World Monetary Order Is Coming

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/new-world-monetary-order-coming

Why Propaganda Is Vital In Upholding The Illusion Of A Democracy

" Authored by Cynthia Chung via The Saker blog,

“Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction having been given to public opinion. This is the weak point of our defenses, and the part to which the enemies of the system will direct all their attacks. Opinion can be so perverted as to cause the false to seem true; the enemy, a friend, and the friend, an enemy; the best interests of the nation to appear insignificant, and the trifles of moment; in a word, the right the wrong, the wrong the right. In a country where opinion has sway, to seize upon it, is to seize upon power. As it is a rule of humanity that the upright and well-intentioned are comparatively passive, while the designing, dishonest, and selfish are the most untiring in their efforts, the danger of public opinion’s getting a false direction is four-fold, since few men think for themselves.”

-James Fenimore Cooper

Democracy is something that has been completely taken for granted here in the West. There is an ongoing triumph over past laurels, without paying heed to the road we have strayed from. We criticize others for failing to uphold a standard we consider ourselves the leaders of, but democracy is not something simply “acquired” and subsequently “retained,” it is not a “possession.” This is because a system of democracy is at every moment of its existence defined by the character of its citizenry. Democracy only exists if it is upheld, and if a citizenry fails to do so, it renders itself defenseless to an ever-creeping tyranny.

For such a “creeping tyranny,” control is conditional to whether the citizenry is satisfied with an ever-growing “illusion of democracy.” Such a construct needs to give its subjects the impression that they have “free choice” in what shapes their future and their way of life, including: who will be their “friends” and who will be their “foes.”

And thus, War has always depended on a reliable system to spread its propaganda..."

at https://www.zerohedge.com/political/why-propaganda-vital-upholding-illusion-democracy

The Fed Will Monetize All Of The Debt Issuance

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/fed-will-monetize-all-debt-issuance

Is China An Existential Threat To America?

 at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/china-existential-threat-america