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Uprising’s guest expert Arun Gupta (sitting in for Robert Jensen), Independent Journalist and regular contributor to the Guardian, In These Times, The Progressive, and Truthout, and co-founder of the Occupied Wall Street Journal and the Indypendent, analyzes today’s news headlines:

The US Supreme Court has halted same-sex marriages in Utah, after about 1000 marriage licenses were already granted in the past 2 weeks. A US District judge in Utah on December 20th overturned the state’s marriage ban, justifying his actions by citing the Supreme Court’s decisions on gay marriage last year. But Utah’s attorney general requested the nation’s highest court order a stay on the decision. The court granted the stay with no dissent, confirming fears that justices are not quite ready to make marriage a universal federal right, especially in a conservative state like Utah. Click here for an LA Times article about the story.

Seattle swore in an openly socialist city council member for the first time in 100 years. Kshama Sawant, who ran on the ticket of party called Socialist Alternative, surprised many by winning her seat in such a major city last year. She ran on the platform of pushing for a minimum wage of $15 an hour and has credited the Occupy Wall Street movement for changing the dialogue on inequality. Sawant, a community college professor, has been hailed by progressives all over the country for her win. Click here for a Guardian article about the story.

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper has disappointed climate activists by insisting that the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline expected to carry tarsands from Alberta to the US Gulf Coast, will eventually be built. Speaking at an event in Vancouver, Harper said “I am confident that in due course …the project will one way or another proceed.” He was silently heckled by two climate activists who stood on stage with him and held up signs saying “Climate Justice Now.” President Obama is expected to make a decision on whether or not to approve the pipeline this year. Click here for a Guardian article about the story.