(2019-10-08). Ocasio-Cortez Takes Aim at Crowley and Kennedy For Challenge to Green New Deal Co-Champion Ed Markey. commondreams.org "Joe Kennedy thinks that with the backing of the establishment and the old guard of the Democratic Party that he can beat a progressive champion for justice. Let's show Kennedy that he's wrong." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aocmarkey.jpeg …
(2019-10-08). As Trump spins out of control, support for impeachment swells. peoplesworld.org 
The latest Washington Post poll shows 58% of Americans supporting the impeachment inquiry against the president versus 38% opposed and, for the first time, even Republicans are joining those voices with 18% of them agreeing with the probe. The poll follows a scathing ruling from a federal judge yesterday that brushed aside claims by Trump …
(2019-10-08). Support for Trump's Impeachment Is Only Growing. truthdig.com 
A new poll finds 58 percent of the public, including 30 percent of Republicans, now say the House was right to launch a formal inquiry.
(2019-10-08). Native sovereignty and the struggle for democracy in 2020: Interview with Judith LeBlanc. peoplesworld.org 
Judith LeBlanc, Director of the Native Organizers Alliance (NOA), recently sat down with Organizing Upgrade's Jacob Swenson-Lengyel to discuss Native organizing, tribal sovereignty, and the recent Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum, the first presidential forum convened by Native communities and dedicated to discussing the issues that matter most to them, which Judith and NOA played a …
(2019-10-08). Laura Flanders Show: How Can Municipal Government Promote Economic Democracy? therealnews.com 
New York, NY…its a city with close to 100 billion dollar budget every year and 1 deputy mayor with some pretty creative plans for how to spend it. What can one city do? And what's it gonna take to create a non-racist democracy? J Phillip Thompson, NYC Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives is my…
(2019-10-08). 'Gift to Putin!' Meltdown as House Democrat claims Trump plans to ditch Open Skies treaty. rt.com 
The House Foreign Affairs Committee chair has sent a letter to the White House expressing concern over "reports" that President Donald Trump wants to abandon the Open Skies Treaty. Yet the only such report is his own. | Congressman Eliot Engel (D-New York) denounced on Monday "potential plans" to withdraw from the treaty, saying it would be "a blow to United States national security interests, endangering Ukraine and other key European allies."
(2019-10-08). Impeachment saga: Trump won't send EU envoy to stand before 'totally compromised KANGAROO COURT' but Dems say they will subpoena. rt.com 
The Trump administration wouldn't allow Gordon Sondland, a key figure in the Democrats' impeachment effort, to testify before the House's "kangaroo court" — but the chairmen of the committees leading the efforts plan to subpoena. | Democrat-led committees in the US House, which are in the process of collecting evidence to argue the impeachment case against Donald Trump, wanted to hear the testimony of Gordon Sondland, Washington's ambassador to the EU. His scheduled appearance, however, was blocked by the White House. | I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to te…
(2019-10-08). When Ukraine's Prosecutor came after his son's sponsor Joe Biden sprang into action. mronline.org 
There are some serious questions around the Biden family involvement in the Ukraine that the media have not picked up on. | Source
(2019-10-08). Bernie's Heart. And Ours. counterpunch.org Along with being where all blood goes, the heart is an enduring metaphor. As Bernie Sanders recovers from a heart attack, now might be a good time to consider some literal and symbolic meanings. Bernie immediately used his heart trouble to advance a central mission. From the hospital, he tweeted: "I'm fortunate to have good More
(2019-10-08). Critics Use Bernie Sanders's Heart Attack to Smear Medicare for All. truthout.org | | After presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack last week, he used the experience to explain why he is pushing so hard for his Medicare for All plan. Sanders's plan would expand and improve Medicare so it covers the whole country with no fees, co-pays or deductibles. | "I am more determined than ever to fight alongside you to make health care a human right," he said in a tweet. | Yet many critics of…
(2019-10-08). "You can't take on a corrupt system if you take its money": Bernie Sanders announces plan to get money out of politics. nationofchange.org "Our grassroots-funded campaign is proving every single day that you don't need billionaires and private fundraisers to run for president."
(2019-10-08). Collective Punishment Inside U.S. Prisons Must End! Mumia Abu-Jamal and Bryant Arroyo have filed Inmate Grievances. globalresearch.ca News from inside is that collective punishment is being rolled out across the state. Under the guise of their new "Violence Reduction Initiative" the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) has begun punishing all inmates "associated" or on the same …
(2019-10-08). "Meet the Press" anchor Chuck Todd grills senator: "You don't trust the FBI and CIA?" wsws.org An exchange between "Meet the Press" moderator Chuck Todd and Senator Ron Johnson sums up the right-wing basis on which the Democratic Party is conducting its impeachment drive against Trump.
(2019-10-08). Overreach, the Achilles Heel of Autocrats. counterpunch.org It Has Happened Here and Everywhere It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating the democratic wave sweeping Europe in the wake of the Soviet Union's collapse. It seems like yesterday that we hailed the Arab Spring and its potential for democratization across the Middle East. It seems like yesterday that we scoffed at More
(2019-10-08). State Department Blocks EU Ambassador's Deposition in Impeachment Inquiry. truthout.org | | The State Department directed U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland not to appear Tuesday morning for a scheduled hearing about President Donald Trump's communications with Ukraine. | Sondland, a key figure in the burgeoning scandal at the heart of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, had previously agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees behind closed-doors. | The decision to block the top diplomat from speaki…
(2019-10-08). Backlash against Koch agenda leads to recall drive against Alaska governor. nationofchange.org What a difference a few months makes in politics. | In May, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) reported on the enormous influence over the Alaska budget process exerted by the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP). | AFP organized field hearings on Governor Mike Dunleavy's proposed budget, with the sessions billed as "private events" on their website. AFP controlled attendance, and AFP imposed a gag rule barring protest signs and asserting strict co…
(2019-10-08). US Impeachment Campaign Escalates with Claim of Second Whistleblower. globalresearch.ca The conflict between President Trump and congressional Democrats escalated over the weekend, with attorneys for the CIA officer who triggered an impeachment inquiry declaring that there were other "whistleblowers" coming forward to provide testimony in support of his allegations against …
(2019-10-08). New Poll Shows Nearly 60 Percent of Americans Support Trump Impeachment Inquiry. truthout.org | | A new Washington Post/Schar School poll released Tuesday showed a majority of Americans approve of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, a dramatic jump in support for the proceedings in the wake of the whistleblower complaint over Trump's talks with Ukrai…
(2019-10-08). Australia's prisoner swap with Iran contrasts with persecution of Julian Assange. wsws.org The deal exposes the denial of basic legal and democratic rights by the Australian, British and US governments in the continued detention and psychological torture of the WikiLeaks founder.
(2019-10-08). Why Is Cory Booker Still Running For President? thenation.com Why Is Cory Booker Still Running For President?
(2019-10-08). Trump's Syria Pullout Will Destroy the Middle East's Only Woman-Led Democracy. thenation.com Trump's Syria Pullout Will Destroy the Middle East's Only Woman-Led Democracy…
(2019-10-08). This Is Not a Drill: 700+ Arrested as Extinction Rebellion Fights Climate Crisis with Direct Action. democracynow.org 
More than 700 people have been arrested in civil disobedience actions as the group Extinction Rebellion kicked off two weeks of protests in 60 cities worldwide, demanding urgent government action on the climate crisis. Its members have superglued themselves to government buildings, occupied public landmarks, shut down roads and taken to the streets to sound the alarm about the impending catastrophe of global warming. Extinction Rebellion, a nonpolitical movement, launched last year in the U.K. and rose to prominence in April, when it disrupted traffic in Central London for 11 days. For more about the significance…
(2019-10-08). Striking UAW Member: We'll Strike "As Long as It Takes" to Demand Fair Salaries and Benefits. democracynow.org 
About 48,000 workers at General Motors have entered their fourth week on strike. It is the longest national strike at GM by the United Auto Workers in nearly 50 years. Workers are seeking higher pay, protection of their healthcare benefits, greater job security and a commitment from GM to build more cars and parts in the United States. On Sunday, UAW officials announced they had rejected the company's latest offer, saying negotiations had "taken a turn for the worse." We speak with Steve Frisque, a striking GM worker and former president of UAW Local 722.
(2019-10-08). Will Chicago Teachers Be Next to Strike? Union Head Speaks Out as Walkout Date Approaches. democracynow.org 
In Chicago, union leaders and the nation's third-largest school district are racing to reach an agreement to avert a teachers' strike authorized to begin later this month. In late September, 25,000 educators voted overwhelmingly to authorize a work stoppage, demanding more staffing and lower class sizes. On Monday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused the union of not coming to the bargaining table with a proposal to counter the offers the district has made in recent weeks. This comes as about 7,000 school support staffers with the Service Employees International Union have also made preparations for a strike, as…
(2019-10-08). Headlines for October 8, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Touts "Great and Unmatched Wisdom" as U.S. Abandons Kurdish Allies, State Dept. Orders Ambassador Gordon Sondland Not to Testify to Impeachment Inquiry, Federal Judge Rejects Trump's "Repugnant" Argument Against Turning Over Tax Records, Ecuador's President Moves Government From Capital as Anti-Austerity Protests Grow, Bolivia Rains Quell Fires After 10 Million Amazon Acres Burn, 700+ Arrested as Extinction Rebellion Protests Demand Climate Action, Swedish Climate Activist Greta Thunberg to Visit Standing Rock Reservation, Supreme Court Opens New Term with Justice Clarence Thomas Absent, Asylum Seekers Esco…
(2019-10-08). 'Good!' Says Sanders as Lobbyists Lash Out at Proposal to End Corporate Domination of US Politics. commondreams.org "We welcome their hatred," said Sanders adviser Warren Gunnels | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_27.jpg …
(2019-10-08). As Democrats Threaten Subpoena for Sondland, Calls Grow for Contempt Order If He Refuses to Comply. commondreams.org Three House committees on Tuesday announced their intention to subpoena Gordon Sondland, President Donald Trump's ambassador to the European Union, hours after the White House blocked Sondland from testifying. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11798006421.jpg …
(2019-10-08). On the Bootlicking Cowardice of Republicans. commondreams.org Trump has rarely been held accountable for his bad behavior. He seems not to enjoy the experience. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/donaldtrump.png …
(2019-10-07). Campaign to impeach Trump accelerates. peoplesworld.org 
Behind closed doors and out in the streets, the campaign to get the U.S. House to officially impeach GOP President Donald Trump on national security grounds is accelerating, with one exception: Republicans, in polls, in the legislative houses, and in campaign cash. New strides toward impeachment will come this week, when the House Intelligence Committee …
(2019-10-07). Profit, Not Politics: Trump Allies Sought Ukraine Gas Deal. truthdig.com 
KYIV, Ukraine — As Rudy Giuliani was pushing Ukrainian officials last spring to investigate one of Donald Trump's main political rivals, a group of individuals with ties to the president and his personal lawyer were also active in the former Soviet republic. | Their aims were profit, not politics. This circle of businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to Giuliani and Trump while trying to install new management at the top of Ukraine's massive state gas company. Their plan was to then steer lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies, according to two people with knowledge of the…
(2019-10-07). We've Waited Too Long for Corporations to Fix the CEO Pay Problem on Their Own. counterpunch.org 
I went on CNBC's Squawk Box this week to talk about a new proposal from Senator Bernie Sanders to put tax penalties on corporations with extreme gaps between their CEO and worker pay. This is an issue I've been working on for many years. In fact, a dozen years ago, in August 2007, I had More
(2019-10-07). Ukrainegate goes to Pentagon: House Democrats subpoena DoD & OMB as part of Trump impeachment probe. rt.com 
Seeking to impeach President Donald Trump over allegedly using military aid to pressure Ukraine, House Democrats are demanding documents from the Pentagon and the Office of Management and Budget. | Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees of the US House of Representatives have sent out subpoenas, giving the Pentagon and the OMB a week to produce documents related to Trump's decision to freeze military aid to Ukraine. The deadline for compliance is October 15. | Trump "jeopardized national security by pressing Ukraine to interfere with our 2020 election and by withholding military assistance prov…
(2019-10-07). Murdoch-Funded Anti-Gerrymandering Group Hired Lobbyists With a History of Gerrymandering. theintercept.com It's not unusual for billionaires and lobbyists to set up political groups that masquerade as grassroots movements, but most of the time they make it slightly difficult for the rest of us to figure out what's going on. Other times, however, it's not that hard. | Take the curious case of Kathryn Murdoch and Pennsylvanians Against Gerrymandering. According to its incorporation papers, Pennsylvanians Against Gerrymandering was formed in early August by the Gober Group, an election law firm based in northern Virgi…
(2019-10-07). The political giving history of Trump's Ukraine diplomats. nationofchange.org A series of text messages between U.S. diplomats released Thursday night reveals an apparent effort to pressure Ukraine into performing an investigation that could prove harmful to President Donald Trump's potential 2020 opponent. | One of the diplomats involved has a lengthy history as a Republican donor, while another performed lobbying work for foreign clients and a major defense company. | In the exchanges, acting ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor asked Gordon Sondland, ambassador to the European Union, if U.S. secur…
(2019-10-07). US impeachment campaign escalates with claim of second whistleblower. wsws.org The Democratic Party continues to draw support from the intelligence agencies for its anti-Trump effort.
(2019-10-07). Kosovo Opposition Triumphs in Legislative Elections. telesurenglish.net Kosovo opposition parties Self-determination (Vetevendosje) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) triumphed in Sunday's legislative elections in the small East European country, according to figures from the Central Electoral Commission with more than 80 percent of the ballots counted. | RELATED: | 2nd Whistleblower in Trump-Ukraine Scandal Comes Forward | The Democratic Party of Kosovo, the largest political force in the outgoing government, came in in third place in the voting…
(2019-10-07). Ofcom to address the BBC's 'lack of transparency' in Naga Munchetty rulings. thecanary.co Ofcom will address the BBC's "lack of transparency as a matter of urgency" for failing to publish its reasoning for its initial decision over Naga Munchetty, and the Director-General's move to reverse it. | The BBC's executive complaints unit (ECU) last month ruled that BBC Breakfast presenter Munchetty breached editorial guidelines when she remarked on comments made by US president Donald Trump telling female Democrats to "go back" to where they came from. | The ruling was overturned last week by D-G Tony Hall following a large public backlash. | However, Ofcom has said that, following its own assessment, the Ju…
(2019-10-07). Trump Is Still Riding Herd Over the GOP. thenation.com Trump Is Still Riding Herd Over the GOP…
(2019-10-07). "We Have to Mass Mobilize": Laverne Cox & Chase Strangio Sound the Alarm on Major LGBTQ SCOTUS Cases. democracynow.org 
At the start of its new term, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday in three cases to determine whether LGBTQ people can be fired from their jobs due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers cannot discriminate against employees on the basis of sex, as well as race, color, national origin and religion, but the Trump administration claims the law does not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The cases mark the first time the Supreme Court will rule on LGBTQ rights since conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh re…
(2019-10-07). "A Backlash Against Our Existence": Laverne Cox Speaks Out on Violence Against Trans Women of Color. democracynow.org 
At least 19 transgender people have been killed in the United States in 2019 — most of them trans women of color. Last year, there were at least 26 killings of transgender people. The American Medical Association has declared the wave of violence an "epidemic." Laverne Cox, the award-winning transgender actress and longtime trans rights activist, says such violence has long been part of the lives of trans people. "For my entire life as a trans woman, for 21 years, I have been hearing about, witnessing, going to memorials [and] going to Trans Days of Remembrance," she says. Cox says the violence reflects a s…
(2019-10-07). "A Shakespearean Act of Betrayal": Trump Agrees to Let Turkey Invade Kurdish-Controlled Syrian Area. democracynow.org 
U.S. troops have begun withdrawing from northeast Syria as Turkey prepares to invade Kurdish-controlled areas of the country. For years, the Kurds have been close allies to the United States in the fight against ISIS. On Sunday, however, the White House released a statement that surprised many in the region, announcing that Turkey would be "moving forward with its long-planned operation in Northern Syria," following a phone call between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in that operation, and the United States forces, having…
(2019-10-07). Headlines for October 7, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Orders U.S. Troops to Step Aside for Turkish Assault on Kurdish Forces, 109 Killed and 6,000 Wounded as Anti-Government Protests Rage in Iraq, Second Whistleblower Has Firsthand Knowledge of Trump-Ukraine Scandal, Secretary of State Pompeo Calls Impeachment Inquiry "Silly Gotcha Game", Trump Calls GOP Senator Mitt Romney "Pompous" over Ukraine Rebuke, North Korea Calls Off Denuclearization Talks with the U.S., U.S. Meets with Taliban for First Time Since Trump Canceled Afghan Peace Talks, Israeli Forces Fire on Gaza Protesters, Killing One and Injuring Dozens, Protesters Call for Kavanaugh's Removal One Yea…
(2019-10-07). Why Are Americans So Confused About the Meaning of "Democratic Socialism"? dissidentvoice.org 
The meaning of democratic socialism‚Äïa mixture of political and economic democracy‚Äïshould be no mystery to Americans. After all, socialist programs have been adopted in most other democratic nations. And, in fact, Americans appear happy enough with a wide range of democratic socialist institutions in the United States, including public schools, public parks, minimum wage laws, Social Security, …
(2019-10-06). A Poor Perspective on the UBI. dissidentvoice.org 
Of late there has been a lot of ink spilled over the idea of a Universal Basic Income (UBI). Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang has made it the center of his campaign. Before going too far, it should be noted that there are legitimate questions to be answered with such a revolutionary proposal and many …
(2019-10-06). 2nd whistleblower 'comes forward' with more Ukrainegate 'proof' in Trump impeachment saga — report. rt.com 
The lawyer representing a whistleblower, whose complaint fueled the Democrats' attempt to impeach Trump for "pressuring" Ukraine, said that a second intelligence officer with "first-hand knowledge" of allegations has spoken up. | Attorney Mark Zaid told ABC News that he is now representing the second whistleblower, who had already been interviewed by Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Michael Atkinson. | Earlier, the New York Times reported that a second person may come forward and testify about the case, but it was not immediately clear whether Zaid's new client is the same person. | Zaid told me…
(2019-10-06). 'Biden family was PAID OFF, pure and simple!' Trump in latest rant over Ukrainegate. rt.com 
Attacking the Bidens, the Democrats and the "fake news" media in one powerful swipe, President Donald Trump has fired a volley of trademark Sunday tweets, calling Joe and Hunter Biden's involvement in Ukraine "inexcusable." | "It is INCREDIBLE to watch and read the Fake News and how they pull out all stops to protect Sleepy Joe Biden and his thrown out of the Military son, Hunter," Trump started out, before launching into a Twitterstorm of seemingly damning facts about the Bidens, Ukraine and China. | He brought up Hunter's "$100,000 a month (Plus,Plus)" income from the Ukrainian gas company Burisma "even thou…
(2019-10-05). Bernie Sanders says feeling 'great' after doctors confirm 78yo senator suffered heart attack. rt.com 
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack before his admission into the hospital this week, his campaign and doctors have confirmed, but the Democratic presidential contender said he will remain in the 2020 race. | The senator, 78, had a "myocardial infarction" — the medical term for a heart attack — before his hospital visit in Las Vegas on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by doctors through Sanders' campaign. | After leaving the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center on Friday, Sanders said he felt "great," and took to Twitter to confirm that he would continue campaigning for t…
(2019-10-05). 'Shifty Schiff' an anti-semitic slur?! The latest fabricated racism scandal targeting Trump. rt.com 
Democrats have called President Donald Trump every synonym for "racist" in the book. But if you assume Trump's insults — calling his rivals "shifty," and "savages" — are coded references to Jews, doesn't that make you the racist? | With Adam Schiff leading an impeachment drive against him, Trump has made no secret of his animosity towards the California Democrat, calling him a "shifty," "lowlife" who should be "questioned at the highest level for Fraud & Treason." The president has also turned his anger on fellow impeachment Democrat Jerry Nadler (D-New York) and socialist New York Congresswoman Al…
(2019-10-04). The Ukraine affair is damning, all right — just not in the way you're being told to think. rt.com 
Democrats say texts and transcripts involving US officials dealing with Ukraine prove President Donald Trump should be impeached. What they actually confirm, however, is the extent to which the US treats Ukraine as a vassal. | At the heart of the latest media firestorm are the text messages between US diplomats and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. House Democrats seeking to impeach Trump have already sent a subpoena to the White House seeking more documents, and their allies in the media have proclaimed the texts to be "damning." | Much of the brouhaha centers on messages from Bill Taylor, charge d'af…
(2019-10-04). UN highlights milestone of 1,000 Ebola survivors in DR Congo amid complex environment of conflict and mistrust. un.org One thousand people have survived the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): a testament to the strong leadership of the Congolese health authorities combined with the tireless efforts of thousands of local health workers and partners, United Nations agencies said on Friday.
(2019-10-04). From Trump to Nixon: "Watergate" Film Explains "How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President" democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump called openly Thursday for the leaders of Ukraine and China to investigate Trump's campaign rival Joe Biden and Biden's son Hunter for corruption. Trump's explicit remarks during a press conference came as leaders of the Democratic-led House pushed ahead rapidly with their impeachment investigation. President Trump is just the fourth U.S. president to face a formal impeachment inquiry, joining Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. We spend the hour looking at back at the Watergate scandal, which led to Nixon's resignation in 1974 and is the focus of a documentary titled "Watergate…
(2019-10-04). Headlines for October 4, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Publicly Calls on Ukraine and China to Investigate the Bidens, Trump Discussed Campaign Rivals in June Call with China's Xi Jinping, FEC Chair: Illegal for Candidates to Solicit Foreign Help in U.S. Elections, Messages Detail How U.S. Officials Pressured Ukraine on Trump's Behalf, IRS Whistleblower: Treasury Official Tried to Interfere with Trump or Pence Tax Audit, Trump Administration to Collect DNA of All Immigrants Jailed in U.S., Iraq Death Toll at 44 as Violent Repression of Protests Continues, Honduran President Denies Narcotrafficking Ties as His Brother Faces U.S. Trial, Protests Rock Ecuador as IM…
(2019-10-04). Echoing Trump, Russian TV Casts Joe Biden and Kurt Volker as Villains of Ukraine Saga. theintercept.com 
Russian television coverage of the unfolding scandal over Ukraine, which has focused on promoting smears against Joe Biden, has been fervently pro-Trump.
(2019-10-03). HELP FAIR: Want a Better World? Fight for Better Media. fair.org 
Dear FAIRites, FAIR holds firm to its belief that documenting and challenging corporate media is critically important to maintaining democratic values. The news industry's use of government officials, unnamed sources and right-wing think tank "experts" to distort the news needs to always be called out—now is not the time to let up on media activism. …
(2019-10-03). Trump vs. California: In Blow to Climate, U.S. Revokes State's Stricter Auto Emissions Standards. democracynow.org 
California is in a legal battle with the Trump administration over tailpipe emissions, air quality and climate change. California recently joined nearly two dozen other states to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it revoked the state's air pollution standards for cars and light trucks, in its latest regulatory rollback of laws aimed at slowing the climate crisis. Auto emissions are California's single largest source of greenhouse gases. From Los Angeles, we're joined by Mary Nichols, the longtime chair of the California Air Resources Board. She has led the board in crafting California's intern…
(2019-10-03). "Nothing Ends Homelessness Like a Home": Advocates Slam Trump's Attack on SF & Homeless People. democracynow.org 
President Trump is continuing an all-out attack on San Francisco's homeless population and political leaders. On Wednesday, the Trump administration filed an environmental notice of violation against San Francisco, falsely claiming that the city's homelessness crisis has caused water pollution. City officials have repeatedly rejected Trump's unfounded claims that homelessness is connected to water quality. California is home to 12% of the country's population but half of the country's unsheltered homeless people. President Trump has been pushing for a crackdown on the crisis for weeks and threatened to destroy ho…
(2019-10-03). As Man Dies in ICE Custody, California Moves to Ban For-Profit Prisons, Including Immigrant Jails. democracynow.org 
A Cameroonian immigrant died this week in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California. The man, identified as 37-year-old Nebane Abienwi, died on Tuesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage. This comes as California lawmakers passed a bill last month that would ban private prisons statewide, a major blow to the for-profit prison industry in the U.S. that is deeply entangled in immigration detention. The legislation also orders the closure of four ICE prisons that can jail up to 4,500 immigrants. The bill is currently awaiting the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, who said in his January…
(2019-10-03). Headlines for October 3, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats Prepare White House Subpoena in Impeachment Probe, Trump Rages Against Impeachment Probe with Profanity and Insults, Bernie Sanders Has Surgery to Clear Blocked Artery, Deaths and Injuries Mount as Iraqi Police and Soldiers Fire on Protesters, EU Officials Wary as British PM Boris Johnson Unveils Brexit Plan , Hong Kong Teen Shot During Protests Charged with Assaulting Officer, Record-Breaking Hurricane Lorenzo Lashes Azores, Heads for Ireland, London Climate Protesters Spray British Treasury with Fake Blood, Cameroonian Asylum Seeker Dies in For-Profit Immigration Jail, Plácido Domingo Quits L.A.
(2019-10-02). Hong Kong Youth Face Military Crackdown While Fighting "One of the Most Unequal Societies Anywhere" democracynow.org 
China held its largest military parades ever in Beijing this week to mark 70 years of Communist rule. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, police escalated violence Tuesday by firing live ammunition at demonstrators for the first time in the months-long protests. In a widely viewed video posted online, a riot police officer is seen firing his gun into the chest of 18-year-old protester Tsang Chi-kin. The teenager is reportedly in stable condition. Police also fired tear gas and water cannons, while protesters were seen throwing Molotov cocktails. Ninety-six protesters were arrested on Tuesday on rioting charges.‚Ä…
(2019-10-02). Botham Jean Family's Lawyer Hails White Cop's Murder Conviction as "Precedent-Setting Case" democracynow.org 
A white off-duty police officer who shot and killed a 26-year-old black man in his own home in Dallas in 2018 was convicted of murder on Tuesday. The officer, Amber Guyger, entered Botham Jean's apartment, mistaking it for her own, and shot and killed him. Jean's apartment was located one floor below Guyger's in the building. She claimed during trial to have believed Jean was an intruder. Guyger is the first Dallas police officer to be convicted of murder since the 1970s, according to The Dallas Morning News. For more on the case, we speak with Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the family of Botham Jean. He says th…
(2019-10-02). "Impunity & Corruption": Haiti Protesters Demand President MoàØse's Resignation Amid Failing Economy. democracynow.org 
In Haiti, massive anti-government protests calling for the resignation of U.S.-backed President Jovenel MoàØse continue to escalate. The worsening economic crisis, a shortage of fuel and food, and corruption allegations against MoàØse have sent protesters to the streets on and off for over a year. Hundreds demonstrated in the capital Port-au-Prince Monday, and another protest is scheduled for today. Much of Port-au-Prince has been on lockdown for the past two weeks, and at least four people have been killed in recent days after Haitian police opened fire on protesters, using live ammunition and tear…
(2019-10-02). Headlines for October 2, 2019. democracynow.org Report: Trump Pushed for Shooting Migrants and Placing Alligators & Snakes Along Border, Trump Claims Impeachment Inquiry Is "Coup" as Pompeo Blocks Officials from Testifying, Sen. Grassley Breaks from Trump to Support Protection of Whistleblower, In "Victory for Black People in America," Dallas Officer Convicted of Murdering Black Man Inside His Own Home, Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Georgia Abortion Law, U.S.-N. Korea Talks to Resume as Pyongyang Carries Out New Missile Test, Hong Kong Protesters Stage Sit-in Outside School of Student Shot by Police, Pretrial Hearings Begin in Netanyahu Corruption Case, Per…
(2019-10-01). Newark Water Crisis: Mayor Ras Baraka Responds to Critics & Promises City Is Working on Solution. democracynow.org 
Newark, New Jersey, city officials recently announced thousands of water filters handed out to residents have significantly reduced lead in drinking water to safe levels. Lead contamination has plagued the city for years, spiking even higher in 2019. Over the summer, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit against Newark, accusing it of violating federal safe drinking water laws. The crisis came to a head last month following revelations that water filters distributed to residents may not have been effective. Meanwhile, New Jersey officials have signed off on a $120 million bond with Essex County to…
(2019-10-01). To Impeach or Not to Impeach? Chris Hedges & John Bonifaz Debate What Congress Should Do Next. democracynow.org 
House Democrats subpoenaed President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani Monday, seeking documents related to his work in Ukraine. Last week, Guliani admitted on television that he had urged the Ukrainian government to investigate Trump's political rival and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. This comes as House Democrats continue to build their case for impeaching the president, following a whistleblower complaint focused on a phone call in which Trump asked the Ukranian president to do him a "favor" investigating the actions of Democrats, including Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Meanwhile, Trump…
(2019-10-01). Headlines for October 1, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats Subpoena Giuliani over Ukraine Work, Report: Trump Pressured Australia, Italy & U.K. to Help with Political Probes, Trump Renews Threats Against Schiff and Intelligence Whistleblower, Hong Kong Protests Escalate as Beijing Marks 70th Anniversary of People's Republic of China, Four Die in Ongoing Anti-Government Protests in Haiti, Somali Militants Attack U.S. Drone Base & Italian Military Convoy, Nigerian Journalist Omoyele Sowore Pleads Not Guilty, Remains Locked Up, U.S. Blocks Cuban Health Minister from Attending Regional WHO Meeting in D.C., GOP Congressmember Chris Collins Resigns over Insider…
(2019-09-30). Lancaster, PA march demands right to healthcare in the face of hospital closure, corporate profiteering. liberationnews.org 
Community members in Lancaster, Pennsylvania came into the streets on September 21 to march in the heat for the right to quality healthcare.
(2019-09-30). Reports on China 'organ harvesting' derive from front groups of far-right cult Falun Gong. thegrayzone.com A wave of corporate media reports on Chinese organ harvesting rely without acknowledgement on front groups connected to the far-right…
(2019-09-30). Snowden Reveals How He Secretly Exposed NSA Criminal Wrongdoing Without Getting Arrested. democracynow.org 
Edward Snowden talks about his decision to leak documents to journalists Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras rather than WikiLeaks, and the issues with the U.S. government's response to whistleblower disclosures. His recently published memoir, "Permanent Record," tells the story of his decision to expose the system of mass surveillance. "I think it's so obvious that no harm to national security has resulted from this process of disclosure. And yet, the same criticisms, the same allegations are made to me as have been every other whistleblower," Snowden says. "What we need to understand here is not my model of publi…
(2019-09-30). Edward Snowden: Private Contractors Play Key Role in U.S. Intelligence's "Creeping Authoritarianism" democracynow.org 
As a whistleblower complaint against President Trump rocks Washington, Democrats begin an impeachment inquiry and Trump threatens "big consequences" for the person who came forward, we continue our conversation with one of the world's most famous whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, now in exile in Russia. Six years ago, he shocked the world when he leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to collect every single phone call, text message and email, and pry into the private lives of every person on Earth. He has just published a memoir titled "Permanent R…
(2019-09-30). Whistleblower Edward Snowden on Trump, Obama & How He Ended Up in Russia to Avoid U.S. Extradition. democracynow.org 
We conclude our interview with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who has just published his memoir titled "Permanent Record." In 2013, after quitting his job at the NSA, Snowden attempted to fly from Hong Kong to Latin America in order to avoid being extradited to the United States. But the U.S. revoked his passport when he stopped through Russia, effectively stranding him there. Snowden has lived as an exile in Moscow ever since. He tells us his story.
(2019-09-30). Headlines for September 30, 2019. democracynow.org Facing Threats from Trump, Anonymous Whistleblower to Testify on Capitol Hill, Trump Warns Impeachment Could Lead to Civil War, Calls Critics "Savages", Pompeo Subpoenaed over Ukraine; Trump Envoy for Ukraine Resigns, More Than 2 Million Take Part in Global Climate Strike, Nearly 70 Arrested at New Hampshire Coal Plant Protest, Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration Effort to Indefinitely Detain Migrant Children, Low Turnout Reported on Election Day in Afghanistan, Egyptian Dissident Alaa Abd El-Fattah Arrested Amid Growing Crackdown, Houthis Claim to Have Killed 500 Saudi Soldiers in August Attack, El País: S…
(2019-09-29). SDS strengthens at 14th annual national convention. fightbacknews.org Jacksonville, FL — On September 20, New Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapters from across the United States convened at the University of North Florida to reaffirm their commitment to student organizing and to discuss ways to, "Stop Trump, Stop Racism, Stop U.S. Military and Police Terror." The conference peaked at over 80 students with a dozen chapters represented. | Speeches and applause rang through the halls all weekend. Students opened the conference chanting, "Dare to struggle, dare to win!" The conference ended with, "It is our duty to fight for each other, it is our duty to win!" | On Sat…
(2019-09-08). New Season of Amazon's Jack Ryan Focused on Venezuela Denounced as 'Over-the-Top and Ridiculous' US Propaganda. venezuelanalysis.com The upcoming season of Amazon's Jack Ryan could have been scripted by John Bolton.