2019-10-15: News Headlines

Max Blumenthal (2019-10-15). The Legal Biden Family Corruption Democrats Refuse to Acknowledge. truthdig.com This piece originally appeared on The Grayzone. | With its relentless focus on corruption in Russia and Ukraine, the Atlantic Council has distinguished itself from other top-flight think tanks in Washington. Over the past several years, it has held innumerable conferences and panel discussions, issued a string of reports, and published literally hundreds of essays on Russia's "kleptocracy" and the scourge of Kremlin disinformation. | At the same time,…

Ron Jacobs (2019-10-15). Betrayal in the Levant. counterpunch.org Confusion reigns in certain left-leaning and anarchist circles. Pat Robertson tells Trump he will lose his mandate of heaven if he really does pull the US troops occupying northern Syria from their positions. Democrats, Republicans, neocons and neoliberals join the Pentagon and the mainstream US media to decry this possible troop redeployment. Turkey assembles its military More

Staff (2019-10-15). Will Trump Go Down as a Worse President Than Bush? truthdig.com Though George W. Bush still has an edge, the current president may yet do more harm to the planet than his Republican predecessor.

Victor Grossman (2019-10-15). Thirty years later the Berlin Wall is again being "remembered" peoplesworld.org BERLIN — Remembrance Days are rewarding for journalists, especially since Google made research digging so easy. And how the German media love such days! Their favorite dates recall four events: June 17, 1953, the "Uprising" (or whatever it's labeled) by East German workers in the birthing period of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the building …

Victor Grossman (2019-10-15). The Berlin Wall, Thirty Years Later. counterpunch.org Remembrance Days are rewarding for journalists, especially since Google made research digging so easy. And how the German media love such days! Their favorite dates recall four events: June 17, 1953, the "Uprising" (or whatever it's labeled) by East German workers in the birthing period of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the building of the Berlin Wall More

The Canary (2019-10-15). SNP deputy attacks 'voter suppression initiatives' of Westminster Government. thecanary.co A second Scottish independence referendum must not feature the "voter suppression initiatives" being put forward by Boris Johnson's government, SNP depute [deputy] leader Keith Brown said.While he said independence supporters were "closer now than we have ever been" to achieving their goal, he warned of the impact it could have if voters had to produce ID when they turn up at polling stations.In the Queen's speech on Monday the UK government outlined plans to require people to bring photographic proof of identity with them when they go to cast their ballot. | Brown noted that legislation setting out the rules and…

Norman Solomon (2019-10-15). The More Joe Biden Stumbles, the More Corporate Democrats Freak Out. counterpunch.org The Democratic Party's most powerful donors are running out of options in the presidential race. Their warhorse Joe Biden is stumbling, while the other corporate-minded candidates lag far behind. For party elites, with less than four months to go before voting starts in caucuses and primaries, 2020 looks like Biden or bust. A key problem More

Norman Solomon (2019-10-15). The More Joe Biden Stumbles, the More Corporate Democrats Freak Out. indybay.org Harvesting big checks isn't getting the job done…

Democratic Socialists of America Santa Cruz (2019-10-15). NO "Green" Capitalism. indybay.org Louden Nelson Community Center | 301 Center St, Santa Cruz…

Staff (2019-10-15). Hunter Biden: Role at Ukraine Firm Wasn't 'Improper' but a 'Mistake'. truthdig.com "I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father," presidential candidate's son says.

WSWS (2019-10-15). US Supreme Court term begins with new threats to democratic rights. wsws.org The newly consolidated 5-4 far-right majority on the court is poised to hand down rulings imposing further restrictions on abortion rights, gay rights and basic civil liberties.

WSWS (2019-10-15). Trump conference video incites violence against opponents. wsws.org The gruesome video imagines Trump using guns, knives, spears and other weapons to slaughter his critics in the media and the Democratic Party.

Staff (2019-10-15). Debate Moderators Need to Ask Different Questions on Medicare for All. truthout.org | | In every single Democratic debate this year, the same ridiculous question has been posed to at least one of the candidates supporting Medicare for All: "Will you raise middle class taxes to pay for it?" | Most recently, the question was aimed at Sen. Elizabeth Warren, by ABC News moderator George Stephanopoulos. She explained, much more politely than I would have, that Medicare for All would save the vast majority of American families' money, while asking for a bit more from corporations and…

Fight Back (2019-10-15). Coalition to March on the DNC 2020 gets off to a good start with its first action. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – The first meeting for the Coalition to March on the DNC took place on the evening of October 11, concluding with a demonstration and rally. The coalition is comprised of many progressive activist groups united around nine demands – or points of unity – that serve as a basis and also a guide to action. Some of these points are "Legalization for all; no more deportations" and "Fight to expand union and worker rights." | The coalition plans to march during the Democratic National Convention next July. Though a request for a permit to march has been submitted, the coalition is still awaiting a respons…

commondreams (2019-10-15). Democracy First, Senator Warren's New Plan. commondreams.org ______________________________…

South Front (2019-10-15). Video: Turkish Offensive in Northern Syria Pushed Kurds into Hands of Assad and Moscow. War Report. globalresearch.ca The defense of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is steadily collapsing under pressure from the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish-backed militant groups, branded as the National Syrian Army. | Since the start of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey-led forces have captured …

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2019-10-15). California organizing to show support for HE Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, AU Ambassador. indybay.org Full Moon, Maafa Commemoration and 2019 Pan African Global Trade and Investment Week are aligned to show broadbased support for Her Excellency Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador to the United States of America…

Michael Harris (2019-10-15). State Capitol Camellia Grove – Pan African Global Trade and Investment Press Conference. indybay.org California State Capitol Park | Pioneer Camellia Grove | Near L Street and 12th Street | Sacramento, California…

Calvin Trillin (2019-10-15). On Trump Asking China to Investigate the Bidens. thenation.com On Trump Asking China to Investigate the Bidens…

Katrina vanden Heuvel (2019-10-15). Sanders and Warren Are Widening the Democratic Party's Left Lane. thenation.com Sanders and Warren Are Widening the Democratic Party's Left Lane…

Jen Sorensen (2019-10-15). Fear of a Female Wonk. thenation.com Fear of a Female Wonk…

Staff (2019-10-15). Homewreckers: How Wall Street, Banks & Trump's Inner Circle Used the 2008 Housing Crash to Get Rich. democracynow.org We speak with investigative reporter Aaron Glantz about his new book "Homewreckers," which looks at the devastating legacy of the foreclosure crisis and how much of the so-called recovery is a result of large private equity firms buying up hundreds of thousands of foreclosed homes. "Homewreckers: How a Gang of Wall Street Kingpins, Hedge Fund Magnates, Crooked Banks, and Vulture Capitalists Suckered Millions Out of Their Homes and Demolished the American Dream" reveals how the 2008 housing crash decimated millions of Americans' family wealth but enriched President Donald Trump's inner circle, including Trump Cabi…

Staff (2019-10-15). Botham Jean, Then Atatiana Jefferson: Outrage in Texas as Police Kill Another Black Resident at Home. democracynow.org A white police officer in Fort Worth, Texas, has been arrested and charged with murder, after he shot and killed an African-American woman who was inside her own home. Officer Aaron Dean was responding to a non-emergency call for a wellness check after a neighbor had called the Fort Worth police to report that 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson's front door was open at around 2: 30 in the morning on Saturday. Soon after the officers arrived, Dean, who never identified himself to be a police officer, shouted through Jefferson's bedroom window to put her hands up, and then immediately opened fire, killing her. Minutes b…

Staff (2019-10-15). Headlines for October 15, 2019. democracynow.org Syrian Troops Advance Across Northern Syria After Deal with Kurds, Ex-Top Russia Adviser Testified Bolton Called Giuliani a "Hand Grenade", 12 Democrats Will Take the Stage for Presidential Debate in Ohio Tonight, Fort Worth Cop Charged for Murder After Killing Atatiana Jefferson, Judge: Trump Broke Law by Declaring Emergency to Secure Border Funding, Arizona: Bulldozers Destroyed Protected Cacti to Clear Way for Trump Wall, 8-Year-Old Girl Easily Scales Replica of Trump's "Impenetrable" Border Wall, Protests Erupt at Barcelona Airport over Sentencing of Catalan Leaders, Mexico: 14 Police Officers Killed in Ambus…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2019-10-15). Advocacy Group Calls On Democratic Candidates to Share How They Would Remake Judiciary to Work for All Americans—Not Corporations. commondreams.org The advocacy group Demand Justice on Tuesday urged Democratic presidential candidates to apply the same focus on the future U.S. Supreme Court and the entire judicial branch that President Donald Trump did in 2016—allowing him to immediately begin shaping the federal courts for generations to come when he took office. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/32517811281_be97bf5d20_o1.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-10-15). Despite Obstruction by Capitol Police, Progressive Groups Deliver 2.2 Million Petitions to Democrats Still Not Backing Medicare for All. commondreams.org "Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and our members will continue to push for it until we get it over the finish line." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/medicare_for_all_protest.jpg

Robert McChesney (2019-10-15). Means Testing: Sanders vs. Warren on the Single Most Important Policy Idea for Progressive Success. commondreams.org Sens. Elizabeth Warren, left, and Bernie Sanders speak at the NALEO Candidate Forum in Miami, Fla., on June 21, 2019. (Photo: Joe Skipper/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-06-21_at_2.26.11_pm_0.png

Rebecca Gordon (2019-10-15). The True High Crimes and Misdemeanors of Donald J. Trump. commondreams.org Despite Trump's frequently voiced desire "to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home," he may yet do more harm than his Republican predecessor. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/donald_trump_0_0.png

John Feffer (2019-10-14). Trump's Undeclared State of Emergency. counterpunch.org Trump's public appeal to China last week to help with uncovering dirt on the Biden family was both a brazen flouting of the law and (it pains me to say) an astute political tactic. "China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened More

Dean Baker (2019-10-14). The Economics and Politics of Financial Transactions Taxes and Wealth Taxes. counterpunch.org Last month, the Washington Post reported that Joe Biden is considering including a financial transactions tax (FTT) as part of his campaign for the Democratic nomination. For those of us who have long advocated such a tax, this is very good news. On this issue, Bernie Sanders has taken the lead among presidential candidates, including More

The Canary (2019-10-14). Pro-independence Catalan figures convicted in controversial Spanish trial. thecanary.co A dozen Catalan politicians and activists have been convicted on charges of sedition, misuse of public funds and disobedience for their role in a failed secession attempt for the northeastern region of Spain in 2017. The trial is considered the most important for the country since democracy was restored following the death of fascist dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975.Profound and long-lasting repercussions: Former regional vice presiden…

RT (2019-10-14). Media uproar as video depicting Trump massacring news orgs shown at conservative event. rt.com US media is up in arms after reports that a video depicting Donald Trump massacring 'fake news' agencies and his political rivals was shown at an event held at one of his resorts. | The video in question is a remake of a scene from the 2014 dark comedy 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' where Trump's head is superimposed on the main character, played by Colin Firth. It was aired at an event held by the conservative group American Priority at the Trump National Doral Miami last week. The video was first posted online in 2018. | The fake Trump is shown shooting, stabbing, and killing Democrats like Barack Obama, Hil…

Staff (2019-10-14). Sanders Wants to Give Workers Corporate Board Seats and Reverse Trump Tax Cuts. truthout.org | | Taking aim at the vast inequities produced by America's business-dominated economic system, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday unveiled a far-reaching proposal that would roll back President Donald Trump's tax cuts and transfer more power to U.S. workers by giving them seats on corporate boards and ownership shares in their companies. | "The establishment tells us there is no alternative to unfettered c…

Max Blumenthal (2019-10-14). DC's Atlantic Council raked in funding from Hunter Biden's corruption-stained employer while courting his VP father. thegrayzone.com The shady arrangement between the Atlantic Council and Burisma — the gas company at the center of the 'Ukrainegate' scandal…

Ryan Grim (2019-10-14). In Midst of Bankruptcy Fight, Elizabeth Warren Said "Joe Biden Should Not Be Allowed to Sell Out Women" theintercept.com Warren repeatedly singled out Biden, arguing he "should not be allowed to sell out women in the morning and be heralded as their friend in the evening."

Clay Bennett (2019-10-14). How Many Does It Take? thenation.com How Many Does It Take?

Staff (2019-10-14). "We're Still Here": Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration Reflects Ongoing Resistance to Colonization. democracynow.org Christopher Columbus arrived in the Bahamas 527 years ago this week, unleashing a brutal genocide that killed tens of millions of Native people across the hemisphere. Cities and states across the country are acknowledging this devastating history by rejecting the federal holiday of Columbus Day and celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day instead to honor centuries of indigenous resistance. Alaska, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin have all officially recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day. So have more than 130 cities and counties, from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas…

Staff (2019-10-14). Kurds Turn to Bashar al-Assad for Protection as U.S. Abandons Former Allies to Turkish Assault. democracynow.org Syrian troops are massing near the Turkish border, one day after Bashar al-Assad's government reached a deal to help protect the Kurds from Turkey's deadly air and ground assault. On Sunday, the Kurds agreed, in a deal brokered by Russia, to hand over two border towns to the Syrian government in exchange for protection. The Kurds had been allied with the United States up until last week, when President Trump abruptly pulled U.S. troops from northern Syria, paving the way for Turkey's assault. More than 130,000 people have already been displaced over the past five days since Turkey invaded northern Syria. The deat…

Staff (2019-10-14). Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, Awarded Nobel Prize, Celebrated for "Remarkable Change" in Horn of Africa. democracynow.org Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the 100th Nobel Peace Prize in an announcement Friday morning. The prime minister last year helped broker a historic peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea, where leaders of the neighboring countries signed a "Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship" and declared an end to nearly two decades of a "state of war" that lasted from 1998 to 2000 and killed 70,000 people. Soon after the peace declaration was signed, the first direct flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 20 years took off from Addis Ababa, headed to Eritrea's capital Asmara. Ahmed has also lifted the…

Staff (2019-10-14). Headlines for October 14, 2019. democracynow.org Syrian Troops Mass at Turkish Border After Striking Deal with Kurds, Pentagon Deploying Additional 1,800 Troops to Saudi Arabia, NYT: Russian Warplanes Bomb 4 Hospitals in Syria over 12 Hours, Appeals Court Rules Trump Must Turn Over Financial Records, Video Shows Fake Trump Shooting Journalists, Political Rivals, Fox News' Shepard Smith Has Quit Network, Hunter Biden to Step Down from Chinese Company Board, White Cop Kills Black Woman by Shooting Through Her Bedroom Window, Japan: 40 Have Died in Typhoon Hagibis, Ecuador: Indigenous Protests Force Government to Reinstate Fuel Subsidies, Uganda LGBT Activists Fig…

Fight Back (2019-10-14). Tampa Bay demands Supreme Court uphold LGBT job rights. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On October 7 and 8, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied against the lack of federal job protections for LGBT workers. On October 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) began discussions on three cases that relate to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects against job discrimination on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," in order to decide whether sexual orientation and gender identity are also protected under Title VII. Tampa Bay SDS held two rallies in response to this, as a part of a National SDS call to action. SDS demanded that…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2019-10-14). As Democrats Head to Debate Stage, Buttigieg Attacks Warren and Sanders—Who Have Outearned Him—for Small-Dollar Donations. commondreams.org A day before 12 candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates take the stage in the fourth debate of the primary, Mayor Pete Buttigieg criticized three of his opponents for their reliance on grassroots, small-dollar fundraising and bold policy proposals—despite the broad popularity of both. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/picmonkey_image3_0.jpg

RT (2019-10-13). 'She is a capitalist through her bones and I'm not': Sanders hits out at Warren's effort to fight sameness. rt.com Being progressive and bashing big companies is a hot trend among hopefuls for the Democratic nomination, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been doing just that. But her rival Bernie Sanders called her "capitalist through her bones." | Self-styled democratic socialist Sanders made progressive ideas popular in 2016 race. In the current election cycle, they have gone mainstream and Warren has been capitalizing on promises of breaking up big tech, taxing the rich, providing Medicare for all. She is now almost tied with former vice president Joe Biden, while Sanders is coming third in recent polls. | "There are differe…

RT (2019-10-13). Hunter Biden calls Trump's accusations 'a barrage of false charges'… and resigns from Chinese equity firm. rt.com Hunter Biden, son of 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden, has stepped down from the board of a Chinese equity company while defending his work in Ukraine — the work that President Donald Trump said was "crooked." | "He never anticipated the barrage of false charges against both him and his father by the President of the United States," Biden's lawyer George Mesires wrote in a statement released on Sunday. | Speaking through Mesires, Biden said that he is to resign from the board of a Chinese-backed private equity company, and would also "forego all foreign work" if his father is elected president next ye…

Ed Sykes (2019-10-13). Labour has the perfect response to Jo Swinson's terrible take on Jeremy Corbyn. thecanary.co Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has adopted an extreme opposition to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party since assuming her role earlier this year. And on 13 October, she kept up her sectarian stance by again suggesting that there's no way she'd ever work with Corbyn. Labour's response to this, meanwhile, was pure gold. | Sky's Sophy Ridge asked Swinson: Are there any circumstances that you would back a Jeremy Corbyn government? | Swinson answered: No. | Millions of workers are in poverty because Jo Swinson went against raising minimum…

The Real News Network (2019-10-12). IRS Audits Poor People Far More Often Than the Wealthy. dissidentvoice.org Republicans gutted the IRS with New Democrat support. It ensured that the wealthy can cheat our nation with impunity, says Bill Black.

John Wojcik (2019-10-11). Giuliani's mobster pals arrested on campaign finance violations. peoplesworld.org Two Florida-based mobsters who funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into a Trump PAC and tens of thousands of additional dollars into the coffers of top Republican lawmakers were arrested Wednesday night as they were attempting to flee the country. They were nabbed only hours after having lunch with Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, …

John Wojcik (2019-10-11). Montgomery, Alabama has first Black mayor in its two-century history. peoplesworld.org

Staff (2019-10-11). IRS Audits Poor People Far More Often Than the Wealthy. therealnews.com Republicans gutted the IRS with New Democrat support. It ensured that the wealthy can cheat our nation with impunity, says Bill Black.

Staff (2019-10-11). Will Impeachment Change Anything for the Masses? therealnews.com Eddie Conway talks to patrons at Conscious Heads barbershop about impeachment, the rift between the Democratic and Republican Parties, whether it all just boils down to corporate interests, and if it will change things for anyone who is not a member of the 1 percent.

Staff (2019-10-11). The Stanford Sexual Assault Case Made Her "Emily Doe." In New Memoir, Chanel Miller Tells Her Story. democracynow.org We spend the hour with author Chanel Miller speaking about her recently published remarkable memoir, "Know My Name." The book chronicles how Miller reclaimed her name, her story and her life after being sexually assaulted by Brock Turner, a member of the Stanford University swim team, in 2015. At the time, she was known as "Emily Doe." The case gained national prominence when a California judge sentence Turner to just six months in a county jail after he was convicted of three counts of felony sexual assault. He ended up spending only three months locked up. The sentencing sparked outrage. Voters in California la…

Staff (2019-10-11). Headlines for October 11, 2019. democracynow.org Civilians Killed & Forced to Flee Turkish Military Offensive in Northern Syria, Two Associates of Trump's Lawyer Rudy Giuliani Arrested at Dulles Airport, Prince Estate Slams Trump for Using "Purple Rain" at Minneapolis Rally, "Trans Lives Matter": Activists Interrupt CNN Democratic Town Hall, Ethiopian Prime Minister Wins 100th Nobel Peace Prize, Olga Tokarczuk & Peter Handke Win Nobel Prize for Literature, Iranian Oil Tanker Struck in Red Sea, Ecuador: Five Killed Amid Anti-Austerity Protests, News Outlet Splinter Shutting Down, Asylum Seekers Protest "Remain in Mexico" Policy on Brownsville Bridge, Gymnast Sim…

Staff (2019-10-10). As Dems Focus on Impeachment, Trump Heads to "Imperial Governance" therealnews.com The Trump administration is undermining our nation from immigration to the environment, while his tweets and impeachment distract us. Add it all up, says our guest, we can see how he threatens what remains of U.S. democracy.

Ryan Grim (2019-10-10). The Actual Laws Trump Has Broken, Just With the Ukraine and China Affairs, Could Land Him 10 Years in Prison. theintercept.com Take 18 U.S. Code ß 872: "Extortion by officers or employees of the United States." Or 18 U.S. Code ß 610: "Coercion of political activity."

Staff (2019-10-10). After Trump Abandoned Kurds, Turkish Invasion Raises Fear of Kurdish Genocide & ISIS Resurgence. democracynow.org Turkey has launched an aerial and ground assault on northern Syria targeting Kurdish-controlled areas. The offensive began Wednesday, just days after President Trump ordered U.S. troops to fall back from their positions on the Turkish-Syrian border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports at least 16 Kurds have been killed so far. Turkey is claiming the death toll is far higher. The Trump administration has faced widespread criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for abandoning the stateless Kurds who had helped the U.S. fight ISIS. Turkey is claiming the assault is needed to establish a "

Staff (2019-10-10). Turkey Moves to Crush Rojava, the Kurds' Radical Experiment Based on Democracy, Feminism & Ecology. democracynow.org As Turkey launches an aerial and ground assault on northern Syria targeting Kurdish-controlled areas, we look at how the offensive threatens the Kurdish region of Rojava with Debbie Bookchin, co-founder of the Emergency Committee for Rojava. She is a journalist and author who co-edited a book of essays by her father, Murray Bookchin, "The Next Revolution: Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy." We also speak with Elif Sarican, a Kurdish Women's Movement activist and anthropologist at the London School of Economics, and Ertuƒürul Kàºrkàßàº, honorary chair of the pro-Kurdi…

Staff (2019-10-10). Justice for Kaysera: Native Teen's Mysterious Death Highlights Epidemic of Murdered Indigenous Women. democracynow.org The family of Native American teenager Kaysera Stops Pretty Places is demanding justice after she was found dead in Hardin, Montana, in late August, just two weeks after her 18th birthday. Kaysera was a member of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribal communities in Montana. She lived with her grandmother. According to her family, Kaysera was reported missing after she never came home on the night of August 24. On August 29, the body of a young woman was found in the town of Hardin. It wasn't until two weeks later that local law enforcement confirmed it was Kaysera. The circumstances surrounding her death and disa…

Staff (2019-10-10). Headlines for October 10, 2019. democracynow.org Turkey Launches Ground Offensive in Northern Syria, WH Budget Office Refuses to Comply with Subpoena for Impeachment Probe, Biden Joins Majority of 2020 Field in Calling for Trump's Impeachment, Trump Faces Dozens of New Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Matt Lauer Denies Raping NBC Producer Brooke Nevils in 2014, Germany: 2 Killed in Anti-Semitic Attack Outside Temple on Yom Kippur, U.N.: U.S. Military Killed 30+ Afghan Civilians in Airstrikes in May, Amnesty: Death Toll in Anti-Government Protests in Iraq Surpasses 150, Protests Erupt in Algeria over Corruption & Army's Role in Politics, Egyptian Dissident Alaa…

susan_p (2019-10-10). Trump impeachment inquiry reveals deep ruling class divisions. greenleft.org.au US politics Barry SheppardIssue 1240 United States Donald Trump impeachmentOctober 10, 2019The House of Representatives impeachment inquiry into United States President Donald Trump was launched by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on September 24 an…

Rachel M. Cohen (2019-10-09). Ohio Progressive Morgan Harper Raised $323,000 in First Quarter of House Race. theintercept.com "What candidates like Morgan Harper and Jessica Cisneros are saying is that any Democrat representing a safe Democratic district should be put on watch."

Akela Lacy (2019-10-09). Mark Zuckerberg Buckles and Will Testify to Congress on Facebook's Cryptocurrency. theintercept.com The hearing comes after Chair Maxine Waters and committee Democrats sent a letter to Facebook calling on the company to suspend plans to launch the cryptocurrency, Libra.

Staff (2019-10-09). Divided Supreme Court Hears Landmark LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Case. democracynow.org The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in three cases that will determine whether LGBTQ people can be fired from their jobs due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Among the court's conservative justices, only Neil Gorsuch appeared open to prohibiting such workplace discrimination. One of the cases centers on a transgender woman from Michigan named Aimee Stephens, who was fired from her job at a funeral home in 2013. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in the three cases by early next summer. We speak to James Esseks, director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, who attended Tu…

Staff (2019-10-09). Julián Castro Backs Impeachment Effort & Condemns Trump's "Betrayal" of Kurds in Northern Syria. democracynow.org Turkey's government says its troops are prepared for an imminent assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, after President Trump ordered U.S. troops to fall back from their positions on the Turkish-Syrian border. Kurdish fighters said they're bracing for a "humanitarian catastrophe." This follows warnings that former Kurdish allies of the U.S. who feel betrayed by President Trump will abandon thousands of prisoners captured during the U.S.-backed war against ISIS over the past two years. We speak to former housing secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro, who says Trump's move is a…

Staff (2019-10-09). Julián Castro Slams Trump's "Deranged" Immigration Policies After Escorting Asylum Seekers to Border. democracynow.org On Monday, 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro escorted a dozen asylum seekers to the U.S. port of entry at Brownsville, Texas, in a challenge to President Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy. The group included a disabled Salvadoran woman and her relatives, as well as nine LGBTQ people from Cuba, Guatemala and Honduras. Many of them report they've been threatened and assaulted while they've been forced to wait in the Mexican border city of Matamoros. The asylum seekers were refused entry into the United States. Castro speaks with us from San Antonio, where he served as mayor from 2009 to 2014.

Staff (2019-10-09). Indigenous-Led Anti-Austerity Protests Shut Down Quito Forcing Ecuadorian Government to Move Capital. democracynow.org Tens of thousands of people, led by indigenous leaders, are expected to again bring Ecuador to a standstill today in massive ongoing anti-government protests. Demonstrators flooded the streets of Quito Tuesday to decry government-imposed austerity measures and a steep hike in fuel prices, despite a severe police crackdown. Civil unrest has been growing since President Lenín Moreno ended a decades-old fuel subsidy program last week as part of a so-called reform plan imposed by the International Monetary Fund after Ecuador took a $4.2 billion loan from the IMF earlier this year. Hundreds of people have been arreste…

Staff (2019-10-09). Headlines for October 9, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Won't Cooperate with Impeachment Probe, Prompting Constitutional Crisis, Turkish Attack on Kurds in Syria Imminent After U.S. Steps Aside, Afghanistan Claims al-Qaeda Leader Died in U.S.-Led Attack That Killed 40 Civilians, Trump Admin Planning Withdrawal from Open Skies Treaty, Wife of U.S. Diplomat Claims Immunity After Crash That Killed Motorcyclist, Supreme Court Hears Arguments in LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Cases, 800,000 Californians Face Blackouts as PG&E Cuts Power Amid Wildfire Fears, Steven Reed Elected First Black Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, NBC Producer Says Matt Lauer Raped Her in 2014, U…

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Ryan Gebhardt (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.

Eoin Higgins, Common Dreams (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.