(2019-10-27). Lecturing the 'peons'? Pelosi mocked for blaming voter disenchantment on outside forces who 'poisoned' social media. rt.com 
Dark forces have tainted social media and turned optimistic, hopeful, Americans into unhappy voters, Nancy Pelosi has conveniently claimed. The House Speaker's explanation for the current political mood did not impress Twitter. | The senior Democratic lawmaker told a crowd in Iowa on Saturday that any negative or ambivalent feelings about US politics likely stems from actors "inside and outside" the country who have "poisoned" social media. | [They use social media to] undermine the mindset of what is America. America is optimistic, entrepreneurial, about the American dream and things can be better. And what t…
(2019-10-27). World leaders praise al-Baghdadi's death, warn fight not over, #resistance rages at Trump for talking to Russia. rt.com 
President Donald Trump cheered the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, but not everyone was in a celebratory mood. World leaders were cautiously optimistic, while the anti-Trump #resistance raged as usual. | On Sunday morning Trump revealed that the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) mastermind had met his demise the night before, detonating a suicide vest as American special forces entered his compound in northwestern Syria. The self-proclaimed caliph of a genocidal terrorist organization that once reigned over much of Iraq and Syria, Baghdadi's death was greeted with triumph by Trump, and caut…
(2019-10-27). Protests in Chile Against Neoliberal "Economic Medicine" globalresearch.ca Neoliberalism is all about serving privileged interests at the expense of ordinary people, exploiting them so the wealthy and powerful can benefit. | It's about dominance over democracy, profits over populism, and private interests over the public welfare — a zero-sum …
(2019-10-27). Calling for State Control of PG&E. indybay.org On October 25, PG&E admitted its electrical equipment may have ignited the Kincade (Sonoma County) fire. This despite blackouts imposed across Northern California to prevent blazes. In the San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay Democratic Socialists for America say we need to replace private utilities. A new group on the horizon, Utility Justice Campaign, will also call for state control of PG&E. | Photo of The Camp Fire of 2018 by Unicorn Riot…
(2019-10-27). Chile's Right-wing President on the Ropes. Sebastian Piñera. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published in 2011. | At the beginning of 2010, right-wing billionaire Sebastian Piñera Echenique defeated Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, candidate of the "Concertacion" coalition of social democrats and centrists, which has ruled Chile since the end of …
(2019-10-27). With Biden Floundering, Democratic Establishment Considers Clinton and Kerry. truthout.org If The New York Times has the right of it, the Democratic establishment is beginning to sweat live bullets over the gaseous anomaly that is the third-try presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, the Times ran a hilariously titled piece — "Anxious Democratic Establishment Asks, 'Is There…
(2019-10-27). Support for Chile's Pinera Lowest Since Pinochet Era: Poll. telesurenglish.net Support for Chile's Sebastian Pinera has plunged to just 14 percent amid recent unrest, according to a poll published Sunday, the lowest approval rating for a Chilean president since the country's return to democracy three decades ago. | RELATED: | Chile Protesters Tortured, Sexually Abused by Security Forces: Report | The survey, published in local daily La Tercera, was conducted by Chilean pollster Cadem between Wednesday and Thursday. It came just before a rally that sa…
(2019-10-27). A Veteran Reporter Helped Giuliani's Associates Launch the Ukraine Conspiracy. truthdig.com ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. | Last March, a veteran Washington reporter taped an interview with a Ukrainian prosecutor that sparked a disinformation campaign alleging Joe Biden pressured Ukrainians into removing a prosecutor investigating a company because of its ties to the former vice president's son. The interview and subsequent columns, conducted and written by a writer for The Hill newspaper, John Solomon, were the starting gun th…
(2019-10-26). Trump's Antiwar Speech Deserved a Better Reception. truthdig.com There were parts of President Trump's latest speech on Syria, which, if read without the sound of The Donald's gruff, bombastic voice, sounded a whole lot like Bernie Sanders might've delivered it. | That's right, sandwiched between Trump's standard braggadocio about how he single-handedly secured "a better future for Syria and for the Middle East," and his cynical pivot to decry his opponents' supposed desire to accept "unlimited migration from war-torn regions" across the U.S. border, was one of the s…
(2019-10-26). Hillary Clinton Spoils the Party. truthdig.com In the middle of October, Hillary Clinton managed to perform a minor political miracle. By baselessly speculating that Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was a "favorite of the Russians" and preparing to run as an independent, she revived one of the more quixotic, eccentric and moribund campaigns of this election cycle while spoiling a primary that has proved shockingly substantive for a major party in the United States. | Gabbard "clapped back," tweeting that Hillary was "the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party." The congresswoman then p…
(2019-10-26). Senator Warren is Exactly Right. commondreams.org Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaking at the Heartland Forum in Storm Lake, Iowa on March 31, 2019. (Photo: Lori Shaull/Flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/warren_donors_0.jpg …
(2019-10-26). Russia Has 'Proof' US Is Smuggling Oil In Syria & Did Israel/US Create A Civil War In Lebanon? 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 (10/26/19). 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 …
(2019-10-26). More Troops/Tanks To Syria Confirmed, OPCW Whistleblower, Barr's PreCrime & Mossad Clinton Blackmail. 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 (10/25/19). 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 …
(2019-10-26). Chicago Teachers Union and Democratic Party conspire to end Chicago teachers strike. wsws.org The powerful strike by 32,000 Chicago teachers is in danger of being isolated and betrayed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
(2019-10-26). Together, Trump Campaign and RNC Raised a Record-Breaking $334 Million. truthout.org Democrats are growing weary of the formidable fundraising machine at President Donald Trump's disposal. The Trump campaign, together with the Republican National Committee, have combined to raise a record-breaking $334 million to advance…
(2019-10-26). California: 2 Million People Without Electricity, 50,000 Evacuated. telesurenglish.net Firefighters in California continue to combat several fires that have burned already large areas and keep 50,000 people evacuated from the path of destruction; meanwhile Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) power company has cut off the energy supply to two million people. | RELATED: | US Senate Republicans Push Resolution Against Trump Impeachment Process | Northern California is under a red flag alert because of the risk of rapid fire spread between Saturday night and noon on Monda…
(2019-10-26). Argentina and Uruguay Voters Face Surge of Religious and Conservative Candidates. truthout.org Voters in both Argentina and Uruguay will go to the polls for national elections this Sunday, where they will face unprecedented numbers of religious, conservative or openly 'anti-gender' candidates. | An investigation from openDemocracy and Economía Feminista, a gender-focused data journalism platform in Argentina, has reviewed the positions of hundreds of candidates in both countries, on issues including legal abortion, sex education and LGBTI…
(2019-10-26). 'This Is Who I Am': Bernie Sanders, Citing Long Record of Fighting for Progressive Politics, Calls Age a Strength for 2020. commondreams.org "What distinguishes my candidacy from the others is I have been fighting for the working families of this country for many, many decades." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders.age_.jpg …
(2019-10-26). 'For Sale': News That Trump Selling DC Hotel Draws Criticism, Protest. commondreams.org "We've long known that Donald Trump has put our democracy up for sale." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tax_march_1.jpg …
(2019-10-26). Charter School Advocates Are Hypocritical and Out-of-Touch. dissidentvoice.org 
On Monday, October 21, 2019, democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren issued her plan for K-12 public education. In it, she outlines her opposition to charter schools. A brief excerpt from a section of the plan titled, Combating the Privatization and Corruption of Our Public Schools, states: To keep our traditional public school systems strong, we …
(2019-10-25). Who (besides the rich) actually thinks wealth taxes are a bad idea? peoplesworld.org 
The wealth taxes Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have proposed continue to provoke the malice of Wall Street, corporate Democrats, and now even other Democratic candidates running for president. As I have written in People's World (here and here), the intensity of the energy devoted to this criticism, combined with the lack of …
(2019-10-25). Fretting About Progressives' 'Electability,' Establishment Dems Are Really Worried About Their Power in the Party. fair.org 
by Julie Hollar | With Joe Biden struggling as frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, a surging Elizabeth Warren has begun to emerge as the party establishment's new bogeyman—and corporate media are ready and willing to transmit insiders' panicked calls for new "moderate" entrants to the race. | On the same day earlier this week, the Washington Post and the New York Times ran twin articles:…
(2019-10-25). Facebook's Threat to Democracy Could Motivate Redefinition of Anti-Trust Laws. therealnews.com 
Mark Zuckerberg's Capitol Hill testimony shows just how dangerous Facebook has become to democracy and the need for public debate around how to deal with the company.
(2019-10-25). Tulsi Gabbard ditches congressional race to focus on presidential — triggering #TulsiStein conspiracy theorists. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard has abandoned her race for re-election in Hawaii to focus on securing her party's presidential nomination, kicking the 'Russian asset' conspiracy theorizing into high gear. | Gabbard announced on Friday that she would not seek re-election to Congress, declaring she would focus instead on the presidential race. Promising to "end our interventionist foreign policy of being the world's police, toppling dictators and governments we don't like, and redirect our precious resources towards serving the needs of the people here at home," she "humbly" asked her Hawaii consti…
(2019-10-25). Judge Hands Democrats a Victory in Impeachment Inquiry. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — A judge on Friday ordered the Justice Department to give the House secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, handing a victory to Democrats as they gather evidence for the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. | In a ruling that also affirmed the legality of the impeachment inquiry itself, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the department to turn over the materials by Oct. 30. A Justice Department spokeswoman said it was reviewing the decision. The administration can appeal. | The ruling in favor of the House Judiciary Committee…
(2019-10-25). Colombia Diary: Higher Ed Under Threat. counterpunch.org 
Recent events in Chile and Ecuador reverberate throughout South America and indeed the world. Confronted with violent government repression, by insisting on reasoned argument, critical thinking, and mass direct action, non-violent student movements in South America offer hope at a time when authoritarianism threatens democratic citizenship worldwide. In Colombia, one of Washington's closest allies in More
(2019-10-25). Gabbard announces she won't seek re-election to Congress, says White House run is priority. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) said she will not vie for a seat in Congress for the fifth time, asking voters to support her bid for the Oval Office so she can end the US' "interventionist foreign policy." | In a six-minute video message released on Thursday, Gabbard said she was "grateful" to her constituents in Hawaii's second congressional district for making her their representative since 2012, but noted that she's amassed enough experience as a lawmaker and a soldier to assume the reigns in the White House. … best serve the people of Hawai ªi & our country as President and C…
(2019-10-25). Is Rikers Island Really Closing? Or is De Blasio Misrepresenting the NYC Council Vote? therealnews.com 
Eddie Conway spoke with organizer Albert Saint-Jean from Just Immigration about the impact of the NYC Council borough-based jail vote, about nonprofits that are funding more incarceration, and the misreporting of Rikers Jail closing.
(2019-10-25). Virginia races prove local elections matter. peoplesworld.org 
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va.—On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Virginians will vote for all 40 members of the state Senate and all 100 members of the lower house of the General Assembly, the House of Delegates. This legislative election has been seen as having national importance. The current Republican majority in both houses is razor thin. If …
(2019-10-25). Five Questions for Elizabeth Warren. counterpunch.org Dear Senator Warren, I'm not particularly interested in rehearsing old critiques of your life and work for their own sake, but I do think it's important that voters, just a few months away from the all-important Iowa and New Hampshire contests, get a better sense of your policy priorities and values. In the ongoing debates More
(2019-10-25). Trump To Send Possibly Thousands Of Troops & Tanks To "Secure Syria's Oil" & Iraq Goes To UN Over US. 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 (10/24/19). 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 …
(2019-10-25). Blame the Economic Policies, Not the Robots. counterpunch.org The claim that automation is responsible for massive job losses has been made in almost every one of the Democratic debates. In the last debate, technology entrepreneur Andrew Yang told of automation closing stores on Main Street and of self-driving trucks that would shortly displace "3.5 million truckers or the 7 million Americans who work More
(2019-10-25). Trade Unions Join Pharma to Attack Democrats Over Bill to Lower Drug Prices. theintercept.com A mailer, made by a coalition of construction unions and big pharma, claims that the drug-pricing bill would "eliminate millions of American jobs."
(2019-10-25). Tallahassee activists 'Say her name' and demand justice for victims of police crimes. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On October 22, a lively group rallied in the streets of the historic Florida capital city, chanting "Say her name," "Black lives matter" and "Justice for Atatiana." The action was a part of the National Day Against Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. | The protest brought attention to a recent case of police brutality: that of 28-year-old African American Atatiana Jefferson, who was shot in her own home by Fort Worth, Texas police officer Aaron Dean. | Tallahassee Community Action Committee and Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society organized the protest…
(2019-10-25). Joe Biden's Super PAC Is Being Organized by Corporate Lobbyists for Health Care Industry, Weapons Makers, Finance. theintercept.com Among the individuals are Steve Schale and Larry Rasky. The Super PAC could inject badly needed cash into the Biden campaign.
(2019-10-25). Joe Biden and the Lackawanna Blues. counterpunch.org On Wednesday morning Joe Biden shuffled into Scranton, Pennsylvania, a couple hours' drive south from my place in Ithaca, New York. He spoke at the city's Cultural Center housed in a monumental, neo-Gothic building that was once the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral, completed in 1928, the year before the Great Depression. Scranton, and More
(2019-10-25). Impeachment Polls Show Democrats Are Wooing the Wrong White People. thenation.com Impeachment Polls Show Democrats Are Wooing the Wrong White People…
(2019-10-25). "State of Emergency": Special Report on California's Criminalization of Growing Homeless Encampments. democracynow.org 
In a _Democracy Now!_ special report, we look at the rise in homelessness in many major cities across the United States. California has become…
(2019-10-25). Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Found Found Guilty of Conspiracy at Naval Base Housing Nuclear Arsenal. democracynow.org 
In Georgia, a federal grand jury on Thursday found seven Catholic peace activists guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor charge for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, entered the base armed with hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood, and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. The base is home to at least six nuclear ballistic missile submarines, each of which carries 20 Trident thermonuclear weapons. The activists said they were following the prophet Isaiah's com…
(2019-10-25). Rashida Tlaib to Mark Zuckerberg: Why Haven't You Stopped Hate Groups From Organizing on Facebook? democracynow.org 
We feature more highlights from the five-hour grilling of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week on Capitol Hill, where Michigan Congressmember Rashida Tlaib said she feared that far-right hate groups were using Facebook event pages to incite violence against Muslims and other minorities — including death threats directed at her office. Tlaib asked to be seen not only as a Congresswoman, but also as "a mother that is raising two Muslim boys in this pretty dark time in our world." Meanwhile, California Congressmember Katie Porter pinned Zuckerberg down on Facebook's privacy policies. "You are arguing in fede…
(2019-10-25). "You Won't Take Down Lies or You Will?": AOC Grills Facebook's Zuckerberg on Lies in Political Ads. democracynow.org 
This week, as Facebook said it will not fact check political ads or hold politicians to its usual content standards, the social media giant's CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled for more than five hours by lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the company's policy of allowing politicians to lie in political advertisements, as well as its role in facilitating election interference and housing discrimination. We play highlights from New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ohio Congressmember Joyce Beatty, who asked Zuckerberg about Facebook's record on civil rights, which she called "appalling and disgusting." Bea…
(2019-10-25). Headlines for October 25, 2019. democracynow.org Trump's Justice Department Opens Criminal Probe into Origins of Mueller Investigation, Trump Planning to Send Troops and Tanks to Eastern Syrian Oil Fields, U.N. to Probe Human Rights Abuses in Chile Amid Mass Protests, Ecuador's Indigenous Leaders Halt Talks with President Over Austerity Protests, Bolivia's Evo Morales Declares Election Victory as Opponents Cry Foul, Thousands March in Guinea to Oppose President's Bid for Third Term, Baltimore Congressmember Elijah Cummings Lies in State at U.S. Capitol, Joe Biden's Campaign Reverses Opposition to Super PACs, Protesters Demand New Jersey Offer Driver's Licenses…
(2019-10-25). House Dems Take Aim at 'Trust Fund Babies' With Estate Tax Designed to Combat Obscene Wealth Inequality. commondreams.org California Congressman Jimmy Gomez on Friday introduced legislation in the Democrat-controlled U.S. House that aims to address "our country's rapidly increasing wealth inequality by strengthening the estate tax and ensuring the wealthiest among us pay their fair share." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tax_rich_1.jpg …
(2019-10-25). Old White Men Like Me Need to Shut Up and Step Aside. counterpunch.org 
After more than 200 years of democracy in the United States and 400 years of global capitalism, the overwhelming majority of political and economic power still remains firmly entrenched in the hands of white males. This information isn't news to anyone; it has been widely known for a long time. And while older progressive white males, with the best intentions, often speak out in solidarity with marginalized populations, their voices are still the voices of privileged white males. Therefore, it's not only older conservative white males who need to shut up and step aside, it's ALL older white men. And that includes…
(2019-10-25). The DNC Versus Democracy. counterpunch.org 
With Bernie Sanders the people's choice for winner of the Democratic primary in terms of political organizing and campaign contributions, the powers-that-be in the DNC are putting out a call for establishment figures like Hillary Clinton or Michael Bloomberg to join the race. Not being 'reported' by the establishment press is that these same kingmakers 1) weighted the Democrat's choice against Mr. Sander's and towards Ms. Clinton in 2016 and lost and 2) chose Joe Biden as their 'heavyweight' candidate for 2020. More
(2019-10-25). Nothing shows how rubbish Boris Johnson is as PM better than his latest humiliation. thecanary.co 
Boris Johnson is pressing for a general election by Christmas. Unfortunately for him, he's just suffered a humiliation that shows how rubbish he is at being PM. | "Every confidence": | When Johnson became PM in July, he gave a speech outside Downing Street. In it, he criticised the "pessimists" who he said thought "we are incapable of honouring a democratic mandate" (i.e. Brexit). He vowed: I am standing before you today to tell you the British…
(2019-10-24). Warren rallies with striking teachers, calls for structural education reforms. peoplesworld.org 
CHICAGO — "Everyone in America should support this strike. Because when you fight, you don't just fight for yourselves. You fight for the children of this city and this country," declared Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren. "I believe in you. I believe in the work that you do every day." Warren stopped at Oscar …
(2019-10-24). Katie Hill hell breaks loose as GOP and Dem supporters clash over her naked pics, Nazi tattoo and affair with staffer. rt.com 
Photos of Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill smoking a bong in the nude – while sporting a Nazi symbol tattooed on her crotch – and making out with a staffer have thrown both Left and Right into a frenzy of blame and shame.
(2019-10-24). House Democrat to Mark Zuckerberg: Does Facebook Rent Blocks of Rooms in Trump's Hotel and Not Use Them? theintercept.com 
Rep. Madeleine Dean asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg whether his company had tried to curry favor with Donald Trump by doing business at his hotel.
(2019-10-24). Conflict Between Trump and Military-Diplomatic Establishment Is Full of Hypocrisy. therealnews.com 
We are living in a political world that seems turned on its head, with Democrats voting to stay in Syria and Republicans wanting to get out—but neither side is getting it right.
(2019-10-24). U.S. 'democracy' for $ale: Hong Kong protesters in NYC unmasked. workers.org 
'Rally in a box' being unpacked, Oct. 13, New York City. I watched as a prefab "rally in a box" about Hong Kong opened up here on Oct. 13. I don't know if this rally was funded directly by the notorious U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, a congressionally funded agency . . . | Continue reading U.S. 'democracy' for $ale: Hong Kong protesters in NYC unmasked at Workers.org
(2019-10-24). 'Fundamentally broken': Student loan official with Trump admin quits, calls for debt forgiveness and wants to be a senator. rt.com 
A Trump administration student loan official has left his post, blasting a "broken" loan system and calling for college debt forgiveness. Though it's is a popular progressive view, he's planning to run for office as Republican. | A. Wayne Johnson stepped down from his post at the Office of Federal Student Aid on Thursday, offering a blistering critique of a system that has saddled the average borrower with tens of thousands of dollars in debt that cannot be canceled or, increasingly, repaid. Americans owe $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, and 40 percent of them are expected to default on it by 2023. | Also o…
(2019-10-24). Ilhan Omar Explains Why She Endorsed Bernie Sanders — and Why She Blames Mark Zuckerberg for Enabling Threats Against Her. theintercept.com In an interview with The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan, Rep. Ilhan Omar said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg helped place a target on her back.
(2019-10-24). Let Juries Choose Public Officials. dissidentvoice.org We have been taught since childhood that popular election is essential for democracy. In reality, although it is much better than, for example, a military junta, it is a very problematic way to choose public officials and is 100% not necessary for democracy. The US political system would be far better and far more democratic …
(2019-10-24). Trump's Kurdish Betrayal Gives Peace a Bad Name. thenation.com Trump's Kurdish Betrayal Gives Peace a Bad Name…
(2019-10-24). America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy. thenation.com America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy…
(2019-10-24). Don't Count the Senate Out on Impeachment. thenation.com Don't Count the Senate Out on Impeachment…
(2019-10-24). Ending Endless War: Andrew Bacevich on How Reckless Use of U.S. Military Power Caused Today's Crisis. democracynow.org 
President Trump has announced sanctions will be lifted on Turkey as a ceasefire remains in place in northern Syria, where Turkey invaded earlier this month after Trump withdrew U.S. troops. On Tuesday Turkey reached an agreement with Russia that would force Syrian Kurdish forces to retreat from a wide swath of the Syrian-Turkish border. The United Nations is reporting Turkey's offensive in northern Syria has displaced over 176,000 people, including nearly 80,000 children. The Turkish assault also led to a number of former ISIS fighters escaping from jail in northern Syria. We speak with Andrew Bacevich, co-founde…
(2019-10-24). GOP Lawmakers Disrupt Impeachment Hearing As More Damaging Details Emerge About Trump's Misconduct. democracynow.org 
Republican lawmakers stormed a closed hearing room Wednesday, disrupting the House impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump and delaying a Pentagon official's testimony. In an extraordinary chain of events, dozens of Republican congressmembers pushed into a secure hearing room as Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify. A five-hour stand-off ensued. The spectacle unfolded one day after Tuesday's explosive testimony by William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine. Taylor told congressional lawmakers that the Trump administration held up $…
(2019-10-24). Headlines for October 24, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Lifts Sanctions on Turkey, Citing Ceasefire Agreement, Republican Lawmakers Disrupt Closed-Door Impeachment Hearing, Trump's Lawyer Argues the President Can't Be Prosecuted for Murder, Death Toll in Chile Protests Rises to 18 as Human Rights Groups Allege Torture, Spain Removes Remains of Francisco Franco from National Mausoleum, Julian Assange Appears Frail and Confused in London Court Hearing, 39 Bodies Found in Tractor-Trailer in Southeast England, Honduran Woman's Lawsuit Claims Years of Sexual Assault by ICE Agent, Immigrant Worker Injured in New Orleans Hotel Collapse Arrested by ICE, California Utili…
(2019-10-23). Republicans Storm Closed Door Impeachment Hearing. therealnews.com 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Cooper arrives to testify at deposition as part of Trump impeachment inquiry on Capitol Hill in Washington REUTERS/Carlos Jasso | Republicans stormed the House Intelligence Committee's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility on Wednesday as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper was due to testify at a closed-door deposition. Cooper's testimony, which was delayed as a result of Wednesday's actions but resumed later that afternoon, is part of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry. | It happened a day after William B. Taylor Jr., the acting U.S. ambassador to Uk…
(2019-10-23). Tulsi Gabbard Isn't a Russian Asset. It's More Complicated Than That. therealnews.com 
The Nation's Jeet Heer discusses Hillary Clinton's recent remarks toward Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Why do anti-war activists and the right wing seem to love her?
(2019-10-23). Bernie Sanders Vows to Revive Criminal Prosecutions of CEOs for Unfair Trade Practices. theintercept.com Bernie Sanders, if he were elected president, would revive the criminal provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act to prosecute CEOs who have illegally monopolized a market, he told The Intercept in an interview. | The Sherman Act is the Department of Justice's main tool for enforcing antitrust laws, which are meant to prevent monopolies from dominating an industry, which harms workers, consumers, and other businesses. It has both civil and criminal provisions, though in recent years, prosecutors have relied only on its civil provisions, with the intent of breaking up monopolies and opening markets. | Asked if the c…
(2019-10-23). Jill Stein: Hillary Clinton is still sabotaging progressives. thegrayzone.com Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein responds to Hillary Clinton calling her a "Russian asset" and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard…
(2019-10-23). Trump Says US War With Iran May Be Soon, Putin/Erdogan Syria Deal & Iraq Says No US Troops Allowed. 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 (10/22/19). 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 …
(2019-10-23). Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal Sides With Pharma and GOP Against Amendments to Strengthen Drug-Pricing Bill. theintercept.com Only three Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee voted for an amendment to make a drug-pricing bill more progressive. Neal was not one of them.
(2019-10-23). Anybody but Bernie—or Warren. thenation.com Anybody but Bernie—or Warren…
(2019-10-23). Workers Are Not Your Props. thenation.com Workers Are Not Your Props…
(2019-10-23). Big Tech Platforms Have Had a "Profound Negative Effect on Democracy." Is It Time to Break Them Up? democracynow.org 
Facebook continues to face growing criticism and demands that it be broken up. Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has repeatedly called for Facebook and other big tech companies to be broken up on antitrust grounds. Roger McNamee, a Silicon Valley investor who went from being an early supporter of Facebook to a vocal critic, speaks with us about 2020 candidates' platforms on big tech. Antitrust regulation is "the one issue that seems to cut across the entire political spectrum," McNamee says. "People of all political stripes understand that there's a problem here."
(2019-10-23). Zucked: Early Facebook Investor Roger McNamee on How the Company Became a Threat to Democracy. democracynow.org 
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying Wednesday on Capitol Hill as his company's actions face escalating criticism. The focus of today's House Financial Services Committee hearing is on Facebook's plan to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra that would reshape the world's financial system. Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that her probe of Facebook for violating antitrust regulations is now backed by attorneys general from 47 states and territories. Facebook is also facing criticism from several Democratic presidential candidates for refusing to ban political ads from cand…
(2019-10-23). Mark Zuckerberg's Former Mentor: I Tried to Raise Alarm Over Russian Interference But Was Ignored. democracynow.org 
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies on Capitol Hill Wednesday, where he is expected to face questioning about the company's cryptocurrency Libra, among other issues. Zuckerberg has faced scrutiny before, including for Facebook's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A former mentor of Zuckerberg and longtime Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee speaks out about the company's dismissal of Russian interference in the election. "They treated it like a PR problem, not a business issue," McNamee says.
(2019-10-23). Headlines for October 23, 2019. democracynow.org Taylor Testifies Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Investigation of Hunter Biden, Trump Tweets Impeachment is a "Lynching," Sparking Widespread Condemnation, Turkey and Russia Reach Agreement on Northern Syria, Protests Erupt in Bolivia Over Allegations of Election Rigging, Chilean President Announces Reforms Aimed to Curb Massive Protests, Boris Johnson Loses Critical Brexit Vote, Canada's New Anti-Immigrant Party Is Crushed in National Elections, UAW Member Dies After Being Struck by Car Near Picket Line, Chicago Teachers Head into Second Week of Strike, New York's Probe of Facebook Backed by 46 Attorneys General, Mexi…
(2019-10-23). Chile: Popular revolt exposes a violent economic system. greenleft.org.au 
democracy Pablo LeightonIssue 1242 Chile Latin America solidarity general strike 2019 Chile protestsOctober 23, 2019Cou…
(2019-10-22). Greater Middle East Project of Chaos: The Management of Savagery. mintpressnews.com 
The refugee crises coming out of the Middle East, generated by the forever wars and accompanying economic sanctions (more accurately, illegal unilateral coercive measures), have consequently fueled xenophobia both in the US and abroad. This, in turn, has fostered an ascendant wave of rightists. "Trump's election," author Max Blumenthal contends, "would not have been possible without 9/11 and the subsequent military interventionism conceived by the national security state."
(2019-10-22). US Stays In Syria, Kurds Call On Israel To Attack Turkey & US Says Israel Has 'Right' To Attack Iran. 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 (10/21/19). 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 …
(2019-10-22). Minnesota: Patriotic Chinese students oppose turmoil in Hong Kong. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On October 18, the five-starred flag of the People's Republic of China fluttered in the wind, as a group of patriotic Chinese international students marched in opposition to a reactionary demonstration billed as the "Liberty for Hong Kong March." | The reactionaries made their way through the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus "in solidarity with Hong Kong people against oppression on democracy and human rights." Many of the 'liberators' wore black, and the leaders of the demonstration donned yellow armbands and face masks. Their demonstration coincided with the House of Representatives…
(2019-10-22). "Unprecedented" Protests Rage Across Lebanon as People Demand PM's Resignation and End to Austerity. democracynow.org 
Mass protests in Lebanon have entered their sixth day as hundreds of thousands around the country are taking to the streets to demonstrate against dire economic conditions, austerity and corruption, demanding the country's leaders step down. The protests were sparked last week when the government announced a tax on WhatsApp calls, but the massive demonstrations have since grown into a call for revolution. More than a million demonstrators flooded the streets of Beirut, Tripoli and other cities over the weekend. Prime Minister Saad Hariri revoked the WhatsApp tax on Monday and announced a package of economic refor…
(2019-10-22). Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: Bernie Sanders Would "Transform the Lives of Poor and Working-Class People" democracynow.org 
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an assistant professor at Princeton University, has just published a book about the racial wealth gap and falling rate of homeownership by African Americans. Her book is titled "Race For Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Home Ownership." Taylor speaks with us about the 2020 presidential candidates' platforms, including Senator Bernie Sanders's proposed wealth tax. She says Sanders's policies bring "to light the connection between the systemic forces that drive inequality and the impact that they have in people's lives."
(2019-10-22). Race for Profit: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor on How Banks & Real Estate Biz Undermined Black Homeowners. democracynow.org 
Recent U.S. census data reveals the homeownership rate for African Americans has fallen to its lowest level since before the civil rights movement. In the second quarter of this year, the rate fell to just 40% — the lowest level since 1950. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor's new book, "Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Home Ownership," examines the roots of this crisis. The book has just come out and has been longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award. From Philadelphia, we speak with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an assistant professor at Princeton University.
(2019-10-22). Headlines for October 22, 2019. democracynow.org Erdogan Meets with Putin as Turkish Ceasefire in Syria Expires, William Taylor Testifies in Impeachment Hearings, NYT: U.S. Has Quietly Pulled Thousands of Troops Out of Afghanistan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Held onto Power in Tight Elections, Israel: Netanyahu Fails to Form Coalition Government, Massive Protests Continue in Chile, Northern Ireland Decriminalizes Abortion & Legalizes Marriage Equality, Indonesia: Former General Prabowo Subianto to Join the Cabinet, ExxonMobil Goes on Trial in New York over Climate Change, Four Drug Companies Reach Settlement with Two Ohio Counties, Macy's to Stop Se…
(2019-10-21). Right-wing enemy of Venezuela opens Sarasota lecture season. liberationnews.org 
On Wednesday, regime change advocate and former diplomat Diego Arria will be speaking in Sarasota. The talk, titled "Venezuela: A Real Threat in Our Backyard", is being held at Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida. It will be the first lecture in this year's high-profile foreign affairs lecture series, which Sarasota World Affairs Council (SWAC) has hosted annually since 2014.
(2019-10-21). Turkey Breaks Ceasefire, US "Secures Syria's Oil" & Assange's Torture & Violation Of Rights Exposed. 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 (10/19/19). 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 …
(2019-10-21). Bernie's Back: AOC Backs Sanders as 26,000 Rally in NYC at Largest Presidential Rally of 2019. democracynow.org 
Vermont independent senator and 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders held the largest campaign rally of the primary season so far on Saturday. An estimated 26,000 supporters packed into Queensbridge Park in New York City. The event was held in the shadow of the nation's largest public housing development. It was Sanders's first campaign rally since he suffered a heart attack earlier this month. Sanders was joined on stage by three prominent supporters: Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico; filmmaker Michael Moore; and Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who volunteered on Sanders's 201…
(2019-10-21). "We Want Democracy to Be Restored": Protesters in Chile Decry Inequality Amid Military Crackdown. democracynow.org 
In Chile, as many as eight people have died in widespread civil unrest that has brought Santiago to a standstill and sparked a violent police crackdown across the country. The protests began in response to a subway fare hike two weeks ago and have grown into a mass uprising against rising inequality, high cost of living and privatization. President Sebastián Piñera canceled the fee increase on Saturday, but protests are continuing, with a national strike called for today. Over the weekend, Piñera declared a state of emergency in Santiago and five other cities, imposing a curfew and sending the military into the s…
(2019-10-21). Kings Bay Plowshares 7: Trial Begins for Liz McAlister & Others for Breaking Into Nuke Sub Base. democracynow.org 
Seven Catholic peace activists are going on trial in Georgia today for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, who are known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The activists entered the base armed with just hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. Over the past four decades activists in the Plowshares movement have taken part in about 100 similar actions at nuclear arms facilities, beginning in 1980 at the General Electric nuclear mis…
(2019-10-21). Headlines for October 21, 2019. democracynow.org U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Headed for Iraq, Anti-Government Protests Sweep the Globe, Bolivia Presidential Election Appears to Head for a Runoff, Brother of Honduran President Found Guilty of Cocaine Trafficking, Trump Says G7 Will Not Be Held at His Private Golf Course, Hillary Clinton Accuses Jill Stein, Tulsi Gabbard of Being Linked to Russia, Landmark Trial over Opioid Epidemic in Cleveland, Ohio, Tornado Rages Through Dallas, Leaving 100,000 Without Power, Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Law Limiting Voting by Ex-Felons…
(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….
(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 …
(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 …
(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…
(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…
(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 …
(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…
(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%…
(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…
(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?
(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 …
(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.
(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…
(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 …