FASCIST
The Young Il Duce
In 1912 he became editor of Avanti! (Forward!), the official daily newspaper of Italy’s Socialist Party. But he was expelled from the party two years later over his support for World War I. By 1919 a radically changed Mussolini had founded the fascist movement, which would later become the Fascist Party.
IL DUCE PART II
From 1920 to 1922, armed fascist squads faced minimal interference from the police or army as they roamed the country causing property damage and killing an estimated 2,000 political opponents. Many other citizens were beaten up or forced to drink castor oil.
Mussolini did not take power in a coup.
With Italy’s leading non-fascist politicians hopelessly divided and with the threat of violence in the air, on October 29 the king offered Mussolini the chance to form a coalition government. But although the premiership was now his, Il Duce—a master of propaganda who claimed the backing of 300,000 fascist militiamen when the real number was probably far lower—wanted to make a show of force. As a result, he joined armed supporters who flooded the streets of Rome the following day. Mussolini would later mythologize the March on Rome’s importance.
THE NEW PRIME MINISTER
After becoming prime minister, Mussolini reduced the influence of the judiciary, muzzled a free press, arrested political opponents, continued condoning fascist squad violence and otherwise consolidated his hold on power.
British News
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- Royal Mail seeks record number of Christmas temps October 25, 2020A surge in demand from online shoppers means the company is looking for 33,000 temporary workers.
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- Paul Harvey: Single gives 'new lease of life' to composer with dementia October 25, 2020The BBC Philharmonic orchestra records Paul Harvey's song after a clip of his piano playing went viral.
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- Covid: Spain imposes national night-time curfew to curb infections October 25, 2020As well as a night-time curfew, travel between regions can be banned under the emergency measures.
- World Series 2020: Tampa Bay Rays beat LA Dodgers in extraordinary finale to game four October 25, 2020Watch the extraordinary finale to game four of the World Series as a comedy of errors from the Los Angeles Dodgers hands the Tampa Bay Rays an unlikely victory.
- Wales national lockdown in new year 'likely', says minister October 25, 2020The current 17-day lockdown could be followed by another in January or February, minister says.
Texas Tribune
- Here's what early voting in Texas looks like during an election unlike any other October 24, 2020Extended by a week because of the pandemic, early voting has been marked by extraordinary turnout, long, socially distanced lines and masked voters. Our photographers have fanned out across the state to capture Texans as they cast their ballots.Texas Tribune Photo Team
- He had a state-issued voter ID and says he still got flagged casting his ballot October 24, 2020Mike Wright says nothing made sense, and even the poll workers couldn’t explain it. But like millions of Texas voters this cycle, Wright says he was determined to cast his ballot. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.Alana Rocha, Todd Wiseman and Justin Dehn
- Pointing to pandemic and election controversies, Democrats make their case for Texas Supreme Court October 24, 2020Democrats argue the high court's pandemic-related decisions show GOP incumbents should be unseated in November. Republicans say the virus is another argument for sticking with the status quo.Emma Platoff
- Democratic state Rep. Senfronia Thompson files to run for speaker of the Texas House October 23, 2020Thompson would be the first woman elected speaker. She filed less than two weeks before an election in which Democrats hope to gain control of the chamber.Cassandra Pollock
- Sick Texans seeking late absentee ballots still need a doctor’s note, Texas appeals court rules October 23, 2020A state district court judge had ruled against the longstanding requirement for a doctor's note to ask for an emergency absentee ballot, saying many people who test positive for the coronavirus don’t interact with a physician.Jolie McCullough