2019-10-20: News Headlines

Staff (2019-10-20). Ocasio-Cortez Backs Sanders at Packed NYC Rally. truthdig.com "I am back," Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said Saturday, as he spoke to over 25,000 people at a rally in New York City that featured Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed the Vermont senator's White House bid. | Watch video of the event below: | The "Bernie's Back" event, which kicked off shortly after 1 pm in Queensbridge Park in Queens, marked the campaign's first rally since Sanders was hospitalized for a heart attack earlier this month. Sanders told the crowd he was "more ready than ever to carry on with you the epic struggle that we face today" and "more than ready to assume the of…

RT (2019-10-20). 'Hillary's gone Crazy!' Russian puppet Trump (almost) blows his cover standing up for Kremlin assets Gabbard & Stein. rt.com The US president has openly admitted to being a Russian puppet (not really, but who cares)! In his latest tweet, Donald Trump sympathized with Tulsi Gabbard and Jill Stein, whom Hillary Clinton called Kremlin assets and tools. | In case anyone forgot, the White House is Kremlin-controlled territory right now, and the US leader was just one tiny step away from openly admitting it by showing compassion for collateral victims of the Russiagate craze — the Green Party's Jill Stein, and the Hawaiian congresswoman and 2020 Democratic hopeful, Tulsi Gabbard. | So now Crooked Hillary is at it again! She is callin…

Roger D. Harris (2019-10-20). Greater Middle East Project of Chaos. dissidentvoice.org Destination Afghanistan was known as the big easy back in the halcyon days of the late 1960s. Hippies from throughout the affluent West hitchhiked to the capital, Kabul, where crash pads and hashish were cheap, and the locals were tolerant. Life appeared to be mellow in the scenic shadow of the Hindu Kush Himalayans. That …

The Canary (2019-10-20). Confronted by impeachment, Trump adds to the chaos. thecanary.co The impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump has thrust Washington into a political crisis. And Trump keeps adding to the chaos.In the four weeks since house speaker Nancy Pelosi launched the investigation, Trump has taken steps that have drawn more criticism, not less, repeatedly testing the loyalty of his stalwart Republican allies. His actions have both intensified the questions at the centre of the inquiry and opened new areas of concern.Trump angered GOP leaders and US allies by clearing the way for Turkish attacks on Syrian Kurdish fighters, key American partners in the fight against Daesh (Isi…

Aaron Maté (2019-10-20). Max Blumenthal on why Hillary Clinton smeared Tulsi Gabbard and Jill Stein. thegrayzone.com Hillary Clinton has smeared Tulsi Gabbard and Jill Stein as Russian assets, and almost no Democratic politicians are pushing back….

Roger D. Harris (2019-10-20). Greater Middle East Project of Chaos: The Management of Savagery. globalresearch.ca Destination Afghanistan was known as the big easy back in the halcyon days of the late 1960s. Hippies from throughout the affluent West hitchhiked to the capital, Kabul, where crash pads and hashish were cheap, and the locals were tolerant. …

3rdi films (2019-10-20). 3rd i's San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival 2019. indybay.org New People Cinema, Castro Theater and Palo Alto Art Center…

Ryan Grim (2019-10-20). Sanders: I Wouldn't Make Obama's Mistake of Shutting Down Grassroots Pressure on Washington. theintercept.com Sanders said Congress will need to be as progressive as possible to pass bold legislation, but he waved off talk of endorsing specific primary challenges.

The Canary (2019-10-20). 'In the chaos of a full-scale war, it can be hard to get clear answers'. UK Internationalists shed light on the deal with Assad. thecanary.co This is the second piece The Canary is publishing from British Internationalists currently volunteering in north east Syria (Rojava). It's written by Berivan Qereàßox and Natalia Szarek. | On 14 October, a military agreement was announced between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the fo…

Myles Hoenig (2019-10-20). Reflections on Elijah Cummings. dissidentvoice.org There aren't many politicians in America who deserve the praise that Elijah Cummings had earned over the years. He was respected by all in Congress, and by many of his Republican rivals. He was a fighter for civil right all his life, and represented the most economically exploited citizens of Baltimore, first as a member …

Nellie Bailey (2019-10-20). Phony progressives follow Trump lead on Venezuela. mronline.org So-called progressives sound just like Donald Trump when they describe Venezuela's elected government as a "dictatorship," said Nicholas Evan Ayala, co-editor of Anti-Conquista. "A lot of Democrats pretend to be anti-war, yet fail to see that every intervention they advocate follows a long history of US evil…leading to the deaths of millions of people," said […] | Source

RT (2019-10-19). #IamTulsi trending after Gabbard hands Hillary Clinton brutal smackdown. rt.com 2020 candidate Tulsi Gabbard is trending on Twitter, after the Hawaiian lawmaker scorched Hillary Clinton with a devastating put-down. Nevertheless, Hillary fans still maintain Tulsi's popularity is the work of 'Russian bots'. | Gabbard unloaded on Clinton on Friday, after the failed 2016 presidential contender suggested that "the Russians" were "grooming" her to run as a third-party candidate next year to split the Democratic vote. | "Great! Thank you Hillary Clinton," Gabbard tweeted in response. "You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Dem…

Staff (2019-10-19). Gabbard Fires Back at Clinton Suggestion That She's Russia's Pawn. truthdig.com The former secretary of state says she believes Russians are grooming someone in the Democratic primary "to be the third-party candidate."

Douglas Grant (2019-10-19). Only One View at The View: Biden Not So Bad. fair.org by Douglas Grant When the then—Democratic frontrunner stopped by the table of The View on April 26 for his first interview since announcing his presidential run, he was afforded an honorific rarely applied to US vice presidents: "The legendary Joe Biden!" | It was a warm homecoming. They called him Joe; he called them friends. Meghan McCain asked him, "What took so long to get into the race? We're so happy you finally announced." | When the subject turned to Biden's handling of the 1991 Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings, Joy Behar joked, "Wel…

WSWS (2019-10-19). Hillary Clinton slanders Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Green Party candidate Jill Stein as Russian spies. wsws.org Clinton's claims, made without the slightest factual substantiation, are an attempt to criminalize the anti-war statements of the two candidates as treasonous.

Ed Sykes (2019-10-19). Here's why the establishment media is openly smearing anti-war Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. thecanary.co Establishment media outlets are openly smearing Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard. Why? Because the army veteran firmly opposes devastating US regime-change wars abroad, and sh…

teleSUR -EF (2019-10-19). US: AOC Endorses Sanders at 'Bernie's Back' Rally in Queens, NY. telesurenglish.net U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the leaders of the party's progressives and a frequent target of Trump attacks, joined the "Bernie's Back" rally in Queensbridge Park and formally endorsed Sanders for the White House. | RELATED: | Squad's Ilhan Omar, AOC Endorse Bernie Sanders for President | The rally was Sanders' first event on the campaign trail since Oct. 1 when he had cardiovascular issues. The U.S. senator had returned to his home in Burlington, Vermont, t…

Stephen Lendman (2019-10-19). Aggression Only OK for US If Led by the Pentagon and Partners. globalresearch.ca When US forces rape and destroy nonbelligerent nations threatening no one, it's called humanitarian intervention, responsibility to protect, and democracy building — notions Washington's power elites abhor. | When victimized nations defend themselves lawfully against Pentagon terror-bombing and atrocities by ISIS …

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-19). Donald Best Interview — The Systematic Eradication Of Independent Media & Independent Thought. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is investigator and former police officer Donald Best, who I recently mentioned in my interview with Aaron Maté, as they are working on a special that will expose corruption at the highest levels of the judicial system. Today, we are going to be discussing freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and …

WSWS (2019-10-19). As Chicago teachers strike completes second day, union and Democratic Party working together to shut it down. wsws.org What is happening behind the scenes is not a genuine fight between the Lightfoot administration and the CTU and SEIU, but a discussion of tactics and plans to best ram through another sellout contract.

Frances Moore Lappé (2019-10-19). We're Not "Polarized" Everywhere. In Maine, Democracy and Green Energy Win Big. commondreams.org State Rep. Chloe Maxmin and allies celebrate the Maine AFL-CIO signing onto the Green New Deal in April of 2019. (Photo: Maxmin's Twitter) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/maine.gnd_.aflcio_0.jpg

WSWS (2019-10-19). Democrats link Trump impeachment drive to dissent in military over Syria pullback. wsws.org Retired Special Operations Commander William McRaven published an op-ed piece in the New York Times Thursday calling for Trump's removal "the sooner, the better."

Harvey Wasserman (2019-10-19). Ohio's Fascist Pro-Nuke Attack on Democracy Comes Due on Monday. commondreams.org Demonstrators hold signs against HB6, which the author describes as "a massive bailout scheme designed to subsidize the Perry and Davis-Besse nukes, plus two fifty-year-old coal burners." (Photo: Becker1999/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/hb6-ohio.jpg

WSWS (2019-10-19). Sri Lankan SEP and IYSSE hold successful meeting on India's Kashmir lockdown. wsws.org "The Modi government's anti-democratic moves are not just directed against the Kashmiri people, although they are the immediate target, but against the working class as a whole."

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2019-10-19). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Backs Bernie Sanders at Packed NYC Rally. commondreams.org "With Alexandria, with Ilhan, and others on board, we're going to put together a coalition that is going to win and win big," Sanders said ahead of the event. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie-sanders-ocasio-cortez-queens-rally-endorsement-saturday.jpg

Sam Adler-Bell (2019-10-19). Democrats Want to be Economic Populists. Why Are They Clinging to a Flawed Reagan-Era Tax Credit? theintercept.com Most Democratic candidates want to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. But the EITC excludes the neediest Americans and may not live up to its promises.

Staff (2019-10-18). How Would Sanders Give Workers Power? therealnews.com Bernie Sanders has a new plan to transfer corporate shares and board seats to workers. Bill Black describes what's included—and what's not.

RT (2019-10-18). 'Queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption': Tulsi Gabbard DRAGS Hillary Clinton after 'Russian asset' claim. rt.com Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) has accused Hillary Clinton of being behind a 'concerted campaign' to destroy her reputation and challenged her to stop hiding and enter the 2020 presidential race. | "Great! Thank you Hillary Clinton," Gabbard tweeted on Friday afternoon. "You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain." | "From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why. Now we…

RT (2019-10-18). You didn't really think all Russian assets & Kremlin puppets in the US have already been exposed, did you? rt.com The 2020 presidential election is still more than a year away, but you wouldn't know that to look at all the Russian plots to subvert it breathlessly discussed in US media. Who are these recently exposed Kremlin agents? | READ MORE: Russian assets in America. A field guide | Ever since the election of Donald Trump as president in 2016, the US media has been ferreting out the Russian meddlers within the country, as it's their patriotic duty to do. Not even the disappointment of the Mueller report finding no Russian collusion could stop them &#150…

Andrew Levine (2019-10-18). What's So Awful About Foreign Interference? counterpunch.org The idea that our "democracy" is under attack by foreign adversaries rings hollow to anyone who thinks about it for more than a second or two, or rather it should. The reason is obvious: we don't have a democracy to attack. What we have are more or less — generally less — democratic elections. For More

C.J. Atkins (2019-10-18). Canadian election: How long can Trudeau's Liberals wear a left disguise? peoplesworld.org TORONTO—Justin Trudeau won in 2015 on a left-leaning platform filled with pledges to tax the rich, make elections more democratic, and save the world from climate change. But four years, a number of scandals, and several broken promises later, it's getting harder for his Liberal Party to make Canadians think it's the modern progressive force …

Jeremy Kuzmarov (2019-10-18). Russophobia at Democratic Party Debate. counterpunch.org Russophobia was on full display during Tuesday night's Democratic Party debate, with ominous repercussions for the future of American foreign policy. When asked what he would do to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Beto O'Rourke stated that we "must hold Russia accountable for invading the world's greatest democracy and being able to do More

Tim Wheeler (2019-10-18). "Stand up for this democracy": My congressman, Elijah Cummings. peoplesworld.org I am mourning the untimely death of Rep. Elijah Cummings who was our congressman when my wife Joyce and I lived in Baltimore. He was an unwavering progressive and, in recent months, played a leading role in exposing the criminal, unconstitutional abuses of power by President Donald Trump. I covered Cummings as a correspondent for …

Derek Royden (2019-10-18). Bernie Sanders: From (potential) heartbreak to hope? nationofchange.org On October 1st, while taking questions from a crowd in Las Vegas, Senator Bernie Sanders did something unusual for those of us who have been following his rallies and town halls for many months now: he asked for a chair and did most of the Q & A while seated. At the time, none of …

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-18). Kurds Say Turkey Used Chem Weapons & US Announces Syria Ceasefire That Turkey Says Isn't A Ceasefire. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/17/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

United Nations (2019-10-18). Anti-Semitism 'toxic to democracy', UN expert warns, calling for better education. un.org To counter anti-Semitism, which is "toxic to democracy" and poses "a threat to all societies if left unaddressed", countries must invest more in education, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has warned, speaking at UN headquarters in New York.

WSWS (2019-10-18). More than 30,000 teachers and staff strike in Chicago, Illinois. wsws.org The Chicago Teachers Union is working closely with Democratic Party politicians who control the city to shut down the strike as quickly as possible and impose an agreement that conforms to the city's demands.

United Nations (2019-10-18). UN Committee says Ebola in DR Congo still an international public health emergency. un.org The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) officially remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, experts meeting in Geneva said on Friday.

Akela Lacy (2019-10-18). Senate Republicans to Hold "Save the Senate" Retreat at Trump Hotel. theintercept.com The Senate Republicans' campaign arm is hosting a multi-day retreat at the Trump International Hotel next month, the latest in a series of GOP events that have the added purpose of enriching the president's company. | The National Republican Senatorial Committee is hosting a "Save the Senate" retreat from November 7 to 8 at the Washington, D.C., hotel. Listed on the invitation as attending are Donald Tr…

Aaron Maté (2019-10-18). Ukrainegate Risks Handing Trump Another Gift. thenation.com Ukrainegate Risks Handing Trump Another Gift…

Jeet Heer (2019-10-18). We're Gonna Need a Bigger Impeachment. thenation.com We're Gonna Need a Bigger Impeachment…

susan_p (2019-10-18). Danish Red-Green Alliance congress: Organising for climate and social justice. greenleft.org.au Dick NicholsIssue 1241 DenmarkOctober 18, 2019Denmark's Red-Green Alliance (RGA) held its 30th congress in Copenhagen on October 5-6, in a political context that contrasted strongly with that of its previous congress. | Eighteen months ago the party's 300-plus congress delegates were preparing for a general election they hoped would lift the RGA into the role of main challenger to the Social Democrats for he…

Staff (2019-10-18). Headlines for October 18, 2019. democracynow.org Under U.S. Deal, Turkish Occupation of Northern Syria Continues; Ethnic Cleansing Feared, "We Do That All the Time": Mulvaney Admits to Quid Pro Quo over Ukraine, Ambassador Sondland Confirms Giuliani Pushed Ukraine Policy, Energy Secretary Rick Perry to Resign, U.S. to Host G7 at Trump Resort in Possible Violation of Constitution, Civilian Casualties Reach New High in Afghanistan, Corbyn Urges Labour Party Members to Reject New Brexit Deal, Chicago Teacher Strike Enters Second Day, NYC City Council Backs Plan to Close Rikers as Activists Call for No New Jails, Cuban Asylum Seeker Dies in Solitary Confinement in…

Staff (2019-10-18). Sentenced to Life in Prison as a Teen, How Cyntoia Brown Survived Sex Trafficking & Won Her Freedom. democracynow.org At the age of 16, she was arrested for killing a man who had picked her up for sex, after she had been forced into sexual slavery as a child. She was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for shooting the man who bought her for sex when she feared for her life. Today Cyntoia Brown-Long joins us to share her experience, what has happened in the 15 years she was incarcerated, and how she won her release. In an incredible development, after a years-long campaign to win her freedom, Cyntoia was granted clemency in January after former Tennessee Governor Bill Ha…

Jeffrey St. Clair (2019-10-18). Roaming Charges: Where's the Beef With Billionaires? counterpunch.org Another Democratic debate, another wasted day and wasted night. These episodes of tedium and mental torment might be more tolerable on LSD. The problem is that they last longer than the average acid trip and you wouldn't want to risk coming down to the sound of Kamala Harris' hectoring voice. That would be a hard landing, indeed. More

Paul Street (2019-10-18). Bernie in the Deep Shit: Dismal Dem Debate Reflections. counterpunch.org Unfettered Capitalism To anyone who watched the latest Democratic presidential candidate circus ("debate") without a right-leaning bias last Tuesday, there was a clear winner: the social democrat Bernie Sanders. Smiling and confident in the wake of his recent mild heart attack, the progressive Senator from Vermont spoke eloquently against American economic inequality so extreme that More

John Klyczek (2019-10-18). To Think or to Work? That Is the Question. dissidentvoice.org On both sides of the political aisle, workforce-training reforms are being touted as the be-all, end-all of America's public education system. Right-wing "school choice" proponents, such as President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, push corporate charter school programs with workforce-training curriculums. Left-wing "community schooling" advocates, such as Democratic Presidential candidates Joe Biden and …

Christopher Fons — Conor McMullen (2019-10-18). The Centrism of Elizabeth Warren. counterpunch.org The mainstream media, and elite opinion, seem to be coming to a consensus on who's going to be the next president of the United States and they seem to be breaking for Elizabeth Warren. Warren was given by far the most speaking time at CNN's most recent debate and the overall treatment of her in More

Jonathan Cook (2019-10-18). US Democrats Cultivated the Barbarism of Isis. dissidentvoice.org There is something profoundly deceitful in the Democratic Party and corporate media's framing of Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria. One does not need to like Trump or ignore the dangers posed to the Kurds, at least in the short term, by the sudden departure of US forces from northern Syria to …

Julie Hollar (2019-10-17). In Ohio Debate, Media Stuck to an Increasingly Rigid Script. fair.org by Julie Hollar | This week's Democratic presidential debate, hosted in Westerville, Ohio, by CNN and the New York Times, confirmed that media are stuck in a fairly rigid debate script that elevates questions about healthcare and the economy above all else, and leaves many pressing topics deeply underexplored. | The October 15 debate focused heavily on the economy, which made up 30% of all the questions. The next most frequent topic? Non-policy issues (17%), w…

RT (2019-10-17). Stuck in a Russiagate-collusion rut: Putin 'owns Doral' & other #Resistance pearls after G7 location announced. rt.com Critics of US President Donald Trump went into full-on meltdown mode after the White House announced that the US will host next year's G7 summit at the Trump-owned Miami resort. | White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday that the gathering of international leaders will be held at the Trump National Doral resort on June 10-12, which he said was "far and away the best place" to host the event. | Even before his press conference was done, Democrats waxed outraged about a potential conflict of interest, even calling for other countries to boycott the G7 if Trump went ahead with his venue…

Staff (2019-10-17). Can the US Protect the Kurds Without Using Military Force? therealnews.com The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Trump's troop withdrawal from Syria, making it look like Democrats are wedded to military intervention. Is there an alternative that protects the Kurds without the use of the U.S. military?

RT (2019-10-17). Agreement to pause Turkey's campaign in Syria destroys US credibility, top Democrats say, despite demanding it. rt.com Can Trump do anything right? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer don't seem to think so, calling his agreement to pause Turkey's military campaign in northeastern Syria a "sham." | The US-Turkey agreement to pause Ankara's operation "seriously undermines the credibility of America's foreign policy and sends a dangerous message to our allies and adversaries alike that our word cannot be trusted," Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement on Thursday. | President Erdogan has given up nothing, and President Trump has given him everything. | Just last week, however, the pair were teari…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-17). Iran 'Has Evidence' US, Israel, Saudis Attacked Tanker & Why The Kurds In Syria Are Just Terrorists. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/16/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Clay Bennett (2019-10-17). Unhinged, Supported by the Unethical. thenation.com Unhinged, Supported by the Unethical…

Elie Mystal (2019-10-17). Centrist Democrats Want You to Think They're the Big Boys on the Stage. thenation.com Centrist Democrats Want You to Think They're the Big Boys on the Stage…

Staff (2019-10-17). Headlines for October 17, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Has "Meltdown" After Lawmakers Rebuke His Actions on Syria, Gordon Sondland to Testify in Impeachment Inquiry Today, Britain and European Union Reach Brexit Deal, Protests Continue in Catalonia After Sentencing of Separatist Leaders, Trump Admin Proposes Opening Up Tongass National Forest to Logging, 500,000 Kids Could Lose Free School Lunches Under Changes to Food Stamp Program, Chicago Public School Teachers on Strike Today, General Motors and UAW Reach Tentative Deal Aimed at Ending Strike, NYC Council Slated to Vote on $8 Billion Plan to Close Rikers & Build New Jails, Maryland Congressmember Elijah Cum…

Staff (2019-10-17). Rep. Ro Khanna: We Need a Responsible Withdrawal from Syria, Not One Oblivious to Human Life. democracynow.org As hundreds of thousands of civilians face displacement and violence amid Turkey's assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria, the House of Representatives voted to condemn Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. support for the Kurds on Wednesday. The measure passed 354 to 60. We speak with Representative Ro Khanna, who says, "We can't just get involved in a place and then walk away and not have some moral responsibility. We have a moral responsibility not just to the Kurds who fought with us against ISIS. We have a moral responsibility to accept Syrian refugees. We have a moral responsibility to help rebui…

Staff (2019-10-17). 30,000+ Chicago Teachers & Support Staff Go on Strike Calling on City to Invest More in Schools. democracynow.org More than 30,000 workers are walking out of Chicago Public Schools today to demand better pay and benefits, smaller class sizes and more nurses, counselors, social workers and librarians. The historic strike has brought the country's third-largest school system to a standstill, with classes canceled for more than 350,000 students. The strike was confirmed Wednesday when the Chicago Teachers Union rejected a final offer by the city's new mayor, Lori Lightfoot, following months of labor negotiations. The city offered pay raises of 16% over a five-year period, while union representatives have been calling for a 15%…

Staff (2019-10-17). "Meltdown": Trump Defends Syria Withdrawal as House Votes 354 to 60 to Condemn His Actions. democracynow.org As the displacement of 300,000 civilians over Turkey's assault on Kurdish-controlled areas continues in northern Syria, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to condemn President Trump's actions. Turkey invaded the region on October 9, shortly after Trump virtually greenlit the Turkey assault by abruptly withdrawing a small number of U.S. troops who were protecting Kurdish areas in northern Syria. Since then, the Kurds have aligned themselves with the Syrian government, and a number of former ISIS fighters who were being held by the Kurds have escaped. We speak with Ozlem Goner, assistant professor of soci…

Robert Mackey (2019-10-17). Is a Ukrainian Oligarch Helping Trump Smear Biden to Evade U.S. Corruption Charges? theintercept.com Why did Ukrainian billionaire Dmytro Firtash, who is facing U.S. extradition on corruption charges, get involved in Trump's effort to smear Joe Biden?

Rachel M. Cohen (2019-10-16). Bernie Sanders Stood Up to Teach for America When Congress Wouldn't. theintercept.com "When we have highly qualified teachers, we don't want all of those teachers being in upper-middle-class neighborhoods educating kids to go to Harvard and Yale."

Staff (2019-10-16). As Democrats Look for Unity, Debate Displays Party's Division. therealnews.com The fourth Democratic Party presidential candidate debate featured a whopping 12 candidates, leaving even less time for substance. Despite the limitations, the debate showed substantive differences on a few issues.

Jon Schwarz (2019-10-16). What I Learned From the Debate: Democrats Still Can't Level With Voters About the American Empire. theintercept.com In the past few years, the Democratic Party has started dealing with reality on domestic policy. Largely thanks to leadership from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, actual solutions to actual problems are now on the agenda: Medicare for All, a big minimum wage hike, a Green New Deal, and the most radical, important idea — changes in who runs corporations. | Unfortunately, the presidential debate in Ohio on Tuesday night showed that Democrats are still a million miles a…

Ramzy Baroud (2019-10-16). The Last Lifeline: The Real Reason Mahmoud Abbas Called for Palestinian Elections. mintpressnews.com The call by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for elections in the Occupied Territories is a political ploy. There will be no true, democratic elections under Abbas' leadership. The real question is: why did he make the call in the first place?

United Nations (2019-10-16). Ingredients for a new life: how cooking helps refugees and migrants blend in. un.org On a Friday afternoon, in a small restaurant kitchen in the New York borough of Brooklyn, head chef Alexander Harris is giving instructions to his attentive team, preparing them for the busy evening ahead. So far, the tables are empty, but the small, popular space, with just a handful of tables – and some stools around the bar – will soon be bustling with the evening crowd.

Ryan Grim (2019-10-16). Joe Biden, in Stumbling Debate Performance, Claims Credit for Elizabeth Warren's Signature Achievement. theintercept.com "You did a hell of a job at your job," Biden told Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in a remark that couldn't have been more patronizing if he tried.

Ryan Grim (2019-10-16). Joe Biden's Mysterious Claim That He Whipped Votes for the CFPB. theintercept.com In typical debate prep, candidates try to game out what questions might come from moderators, and what attacks might come from rivals, to have responses at the ready. | But there are always moments that are impossible to anticipate. It's unlikely, for instance, that anyone on Sen. Elizabeth Warren's prep team had considered the scenario that arose Tuesday night: What if former Vice President Joe Biden angrily takes credit for your signature achievement? | After Biden said on stage that he was the only one who had gotten big things done, Warren noted that she had ushered into being the Consumer Financial Protectio…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-16). Peter Santenello Interview — The Truth About Iran & Its Sharp Contrast With The MSM Narrative. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is a guest that I have been greatly looking forward to speaking with, an individual that continually takes on some of the most contentious topics in one of the most politically chaotic times in living memory, braves the unavoidable criticism that will always follow, and as I see it, seeks out the …

Joan Walsh (2019-10-16). Elizabeth Warren Learns That Being a Front-Runner Isn't All Fun and Games. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Learns That Being a Front-Runner Isn't All Fun and Games…

Tom Tomorrow (2019-10-16). The Case Against Impeachment (According to Republicans). thenation.com The Case Against Impeachment (According to Republicans)…

Esteban Guevara (2019-10-16). Newark protesters: Democratic Party machine an accomplice in Trump's war on immigrants. liberationnews.org Protesters gathered in Newark, New Jersey for a rally and 3-mile march up to the detention center organized by the Resist the Deportation Machine Network on Oct. 12 to demand the closure of the ICE concentration camp in Essex county.

Staff (2019-10-16). Mehdi Hasan: "There Should Only Be Two Front-Runners Right Now: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren" democracynow.org Twelve candidates took to the stage for the fourth round of the Democratic presidential debate in Westerville, Ohio, Tuesday to spar over healthcare, foreign policy, impeachment, gun violence, economic inequality and more. Senator Elizabeth Warren — who is now leading some national polls — repeatedly came under attack from her rivals. In the first debate since Senator Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack two weeks ago, the Vermont senator advocated for a Green New Deal, Medicare for All and a wealth tax. Former Vice President Joe Biden attacked the proposals of both Sanders and Warren and faced scru…

Staff (2019-10-16). Warren and Sanders: A Wealth Tax Is Needed to Address Staggering Inequality. democracynow.org 2020 progressive front-runners Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren pushed for a wealth tax at the fourth Democratic debate Tuesday night. We speak with senior contributor at The Intercept, Mehdi Hasan, who hosts their "Deconstructed" podcast, and David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. He is the founder and editor of DCReport.org.

Staff (2019-10-16). Dem Debate: "Disingenuous" Attacks on Medicare for All Distract from Cost of Today's Broken System. democracynow.org Democratic candidates sparred at Tuesday's debate over their healthcare platforms and Medicare for All. We speak with Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a professor at CUNY-Hunter College and the co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program. Moderators in the CNN and New York Times debate repeatedly pressed Elizabeth Warren on whether taxes would increase under Medicare for All. "The framing of that question is crazy," says Dr. Woolhandler. "What really matters is how much a household is paying."

Staff (2019-10-16). It Was the Longest Debate So Far, But CNN & NYT Asked No Questions on Climate Crisis & Immigration. democracynow.org Despite ongoing climate chaos and a sustained humanitarian disaster at the southern border, The New York Times and CNN failed to ask candidates directly about immigration or the climate crisis at Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate. We speak with Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, who says the lack of attention to immigraton "was a major gap in the three-hour debate." We also speak with journalist Kate Aronoff about the debate's failure to address the climate crisis.

Staff (2019-10-16). Democrats Decry Trump's Syria Policy But Fail to Address Palestine, Yemen, China & Other Issues. democracynow.org At Tuesday's debate, Democratic candidates took aim at President Trump's recent move to withdraw support from the Kurds in northern Syria, paving the way for Turkey to invade the region. We speak with Intercept contributor Mehdi Hasan, host of the "Deconstructed" podcast, about the candidates' foreign policy proposals.

Staff (2019-10-16). Headlines for October 16, 2019. democracynow.org 12 Democratic Candidates Take to the Stage in Ohio, Pence Heads to Turkey as Erdogan Vows No Ceasefire in Northern Syria, State Dept. Official: White House Put "Three Amigos" in Charge of Ukraine Policy, Activists Arrested in D.C. over Trump Plan to Gut Refugee Resettlement, British Family Detained for a Week After Mistakenly Driving Across U.S.-Canada Border, Egypt Tortured Journalist & Activist Esraa Abdel Fattah in Custody, Worst Fires in Decades Rage Across Lebanon, Mexican Senate Slated to Vote on Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Man Launches Hunger Strike Amid Mohawk Land Dispute with Real Estate Developers, Cal…

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…

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). 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). 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…

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."

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…

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). "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). 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…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-12). Turkey Attacks US Troops, Iran Tanker Bombed No One Cares, CIA "Whistleblower" & Terrorism Vaccine. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/11/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

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). 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). 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). 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…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-09). US 'Walks Back' Syria "Withdrawal," Kurd's '10,000 ISIS' Warning & The FBI 'Violated Privacy Rights'. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/8/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-08). US Openly Destabilizes Iraq, Trump Threatens To "Obliterate" Turkish Economy & Erdogan Attacks Syria. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/7/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-06). Over 100 Dead As Iraqis Call For Gov't Resignation, Rockets and Bombs In Palestine & Israel's US War. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …