2019-10-28: News Headlines

Staff (2019-10-28). Joe Biden's Acceptance of Super PAC Shows Campaign's Desperation. therealnews.com Joe Biden's presidential bid is in trouble. His polling numbers are dropping, and so is his fundraising, which is why he's no longer rejecting Super PAC support, says Norman Solomon.

RT (2019-10-28). Hillary Clinton thinks 'God put her on earth' to be president, former Bill Clinton adviser says. rt.com Despite a failed run at the presidency in 2016, one former adviser to Bill Clinton reckons Hillary is waiting in the wings for another try in 2020, claiming "She feels like God put her on the earth to do it." | Speaking to New York talk radio host John Catsimatidis on Sunday, Dick Morris said that Hillary Clinton is likely eyeing up Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, expecting the former vice president to drop out so she can take his place as the Democratic establishment's chosen candidate. | "My feeling is that she wants to," Morris said. "She feels entitled to do it. She feels compelled to do it. She feels that God…

Al Neal (2019-10-28). Auto worker resolve in long strike key to contract gains. peoplesworld.org WARREN—The midday sun burned bright above the clear blue horizon, blanketing the sprawling 710-acre campus of GM's Tech Center in warmth—uncommon for this time of year. Standing on the corner of South Civic Center Blvd. and Van Dyke Avenue, across from the Tech Center, the cacophony of car horns and screeching tires drew my attention …

The Canary (2019-10-28). Reporter accuses Hong Kong police of violence against media. thecanary.co A reporter has disrupted a police news conference in Hong Kong to protest against what she called escalating violence by officers against journalists covering the city's pro-democracy protests.The reporter interrupted the briefing on Monday by reading a statement alleging police mistreatment.Hong Kong police officers push back journalists during a rally in Hong Kong (AP/Kin Cheung)To emphasise her point, she used a high-powered strobing light similar to the ones police have used on photographers and video journalists.Five officers taking part in the news conference left the stage, leaving the reporter, identified…

Lee Fang (2019-10-28). Centrist Democrats, Led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, to Fundraise With Corporate Lobby Group Seeking to Defeat Democratic Agenda. theintercept.com Gottheimer and Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., are scheduled to appear at the fundraiser, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce PAC for the Problem Solvers Caucus.

Eric A. Gordon (2019-10-28). Reproductive rights in the 116th Congress: A clear partisan divide. peoplesworld.org Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood and on the ability of women to access abortion facilities and even accurate medical advice have captured headlines throughout the country. In one state after another, legislatures have passed restrictive laws that all but eliminate the right to terminate a pregnancy. The landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade …

RT (2019-10-28). Pelosi announces 'unnecessary' formal vote on impeachment as proceedings go public. rt.com House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced the House will finally hold a vote on impeachment proceedings, an effort to silence Republican complaints about secrecy — and force witnesses to respond to subpoenas. | A resolution "that affirms the ongoing, existing investigation that is currently being conducted by our committees" will be introduced in the House later this week to "eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives," Pelosi said in a statement rele…

Eoin Higgins (2019-10-28). "The ideas that I am fighting for now didn't come to me yesterday": Bernie Sanders calls his age a strength for 2020. nationofchange.org "What distinguishes my candidacy from the others is I have been fighting for the working families of this country for many, many decades."

Ruth Milka (2019-10-28). Bernie Sanders would legalize marijuana within his first 100 days in office. nationofchange.org "It is time to admit the criminalization of marijuana was a disaster, especially for communities of color, and allow those most impacted to move forward with their lives."

Peter Bloom (2019-10-28). Forget Russia, The Real Threat to Democracy Are Corporate Assets Like Clinton and Trump. commondreams.org Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) appearing on MSNBC earlier this year. (Photo: MSNBC) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/tulsi_gabbard_corporate_media1_0.jpg

R. Robertson (2019-10-28). 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…

Conor Lynch (2019-10-28). Who Deserves to Be Called a Progressive? truthdig.com Moderate Democrats like Biden are in denial that the sea change needed to reach goals can coexist with the status quo for the rich.

Akela Lacy (2019-10-28). Biden to Host High-Dollar Fundraiser With Pittsburgh-Area Real Estate Moguls. theintercept.com A co-chair of the Nov. 5 event told The Intercept he's happy Biden is "finally" taking PAC money. "He has to, you know, you gotta raise some funds."

Dean Baker (2019-10-28). Why Warren's Answer on Taxes and Medicare-for-All is Exactly Right. counterpunch.org When I first saw Senator Warren refuse to acknowledge that Medicare for All will mean higher taxes, I admired her political skills, but as an economist, I was annoyed at her evasion of an obvious truth. However, on further thought, I realize that she is exactly right and is doing a public service with her More

Staff (2019-10-28). Elizabeth Warren Thwarts Reporters' Attempts to Smear Medicare for All. truthout.org Many reporters express frustration over Sen. Elizabeth Warren's refusal to say that she will raise taxes to pay for her Medicare for All plan. Instead, she insists that total health care costs for middle-income families will go down. While this is not playing the reporters' game, Senator Warren is answering the correct question, even if the reporters refuse to ask it. | The reporters' game is…

WSWS (2019-10-28). German media gripped by war fever. wsws.org It is remarkable how little effort is made by the journalists to conceal their battle cries behind the usual phrases about "peace," "human rights," and "democracy."

teleSUR (2019-10-28). Democrat-led House to Vote on Next Steps for Trump Impeachment. telesurenglish.net Democrats in the United States House of Representatives set a Thursday vote to lay out the next steps for their impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, even as officials and Republican lawmakers refuse to cooperate. | RELATED: | US Senate Republicans Push Resolution Against Trump Impeachment Process | If the measure is approved on Thrusday it will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, w…

teleSUR (2019-10-28). Chileans Call for New Protests Even as Pinera Changes Ministers. telesurenglish.net Despite President Sebastian Pinera cabinet reshuffle Monday morning, Chileans angry at inequality called for more demonstrations this week in the biggest political crisis since the country's return to democracy in 1990. | RELATED: | Over 100,000 Chileans March Towards Congress | President Pinera replaced eight cabinet members Monday including his interior and finance ministers, a house-cleaning aimed at taming the biggest political crisis since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

WSWS (2019-10-28). Court ruling declares House impeachment inquiry to be legal. wsws.org The ruling by Judge Beryl A. Howell constitutes a rebuttal of the arguments made by the White House and congressional Republicans against the constitutionality of the impeachment inquiry.

Jeet Heer (2019-10-28). Biden's Campaign Is Running on Fumes. thenation.com Biden's Campaign Is Running on Fumes…

Staff (2019-10-28). The Death of al-Baghdadi: ISIS Grew Out of U.S. Invasion of Iraq. What Will Happen Next? democracynow.org President Trump announced Sunday that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. special forces raid on his compound in northwestern Syria. According to Trump, al-Baghdadi detonated an explosive vest he was wearing, killing himself and three of his children. The raid began early Sunday when eight U.S. military helicopters flew from a base near Erbil, Iraq, to northwestern Syria over airspace controlled by Syria and Russia. Baghdadi had led ISIS since 2010. In 2014, he proclaimed the creation of an Islamic State or caliphate during a speech in Mosul. At its peak, ISIS controlled a large swath of land ac…

Staff (2019-10-28). "People Have Reached the Limit": Lebanon Joins Wave of Anti-Government Protests Across Middle East. democracynow.org Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon joined hands on Sunday to form a human chain spanning north to south across the entire country. It was a symbolic display of unity across regional and sectarian divisions amid mass protests that have rocked the country in recent days. The protests sweeping Lebanon come amid a wave of similar anti-government protests in Iraq, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East. We speak with Rami Khouri, senior public policy fellow and journalist-in-residence at the American University of Beirut, and a columnist at The New Arab.

Staff (2019-10-28). One Million Take to Streets of Chile in the "Largest Mobilization Since the End of Dictatorship" democracynow.org Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has announced a major cabinet shuffle after more than one million people flooded the streets Friday in massive peaceful demonstrations over inequality, high cost of living and privatization. The protest drew more than 5% of Chile's population and followed days of widespread civil unrest that sparked a violent police and military crackdown across the country. At least 18 people have been killed and hundreds more have been shot and wounded since protests erupted Oct. 19. The protests in Chile began in response to a subway fare hike and have grown into a mass uprising against the g…

Staff (2019-10-28). Headlines for October 28, 2019. democracynow.org ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi Reportedly Dies in U.S. Raid in Syria, California Declares State of Emergency over Wildfires, Chile: Over One Million Take to Streets in Protest Against Inequality, Dozens Killed in Iraq Amid Latest Round of Anti-Government Protests, Lebanese Form Human Chain Across Country as Protests Continue, Alberto Fernandez Wins Argentine Election in Defeat for Right-Wing Incumbent, Brexit Deadline Extended Until Jan. 31, Trump Booed, Taunted at World Series Game, Pentagon Hands Microsoft a $10 Billion Contract, Chicago Teachers Strike Continues, While Support Staff Reach Tentative Deal, UAW and Gene…

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2019-10-28). 'Tax the Hell Out of Me,' Says Young Millionaire Google Exec at Prospect of a President Bernie Sanders. commondreams.org Channeling Sanders' call from earlier this month, Michael Sayman said that "sometimes you have to be willing to fight for someone else, fight for someone you don't know." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/michael_sayman1-tax-bernie.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-10-28). 'Look at My Record, Child,' Biden Tells Adult Climate Campaigner in Condescending Response to Super PAC Question. commondreams.org Former Vice President Joe Biden came under fire from progressives Monday as video footage circulated online showing his condescending response to a young woman who questioned him about abandoning his opposition to super PACs in the face of a cash-strapped presidential campaign. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/biden_again_0_0.jpg

John Feffer (2019-10-28). The Art of the Backpedal. counterpunch.org In the past, Trump has been forced to scale back on his proposals by the courts (Muslim ban), by Congress (the border wall), by lobbyists (gun control). Through it all, the Republican Party has gone along with varying degrees of enthusiasm ranging from mild toadyism to personality-cult devotion. But Trump's standing within his party after more than two years of see-no-evil and hear-no-evil compliance with the chief is finally begin to slip. More

RT (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…

RT (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…

Eric Zuesse (2019-10-27). Tulsi Gabbard's 'Hail-Mary Pass' Against Hillary Clinton Failed? globalresearch.ca For a few days, active Democrats were stunned by — and America's political news-media were focusing heavily upon — this string of tweets from Democratic Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard: | . | . | . | Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton. You, the …

teleSUR (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…

teleSUR (2019-10-27). Colombia's Local Elections, Far-Right Uribe Loses Major Cities. telesurenglish.net The Colombian National Registry announced ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äãthe results of the local and regional elections held Sunday with the center-left obtaining big wins across the country. | RELATED: | Colombia: Electoral Crimes Denounced During Local Polls | The outcome reveals the overwhelming defeat of the right-wing Democratic Center party led by former far-right president Alvaro Uribe. The party lost th…

teleSUR (2019-10-27). Syrian Kurdish Forces Leaving Turkish Border Area. telesurenglish.net The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Sunday that they had agreed to withdraw more than 30 kilometers from the Turkish border, an announcement welcomed by Damascus which said Turkey should now end its "aggression" in northeast Syria. | RELATED: | US Earns More Than US$30m Smuggling Syrian Oil: Russia | "The Self-Defense Forces are relocating to new positions far from the Syrian-Turkish border across northeastern Syria in order to stop the bloodshed and protect the inhabit…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2019-10-27). 'It Always Seems Impossible Until it Is Done': Bernie Sanders, at Detroit Rally With Rashida Tlaib, Calls on Audience to Believe in a Better Future. commondreams.org "Don't believe anyone that tells you that moving towards a society of justice is impossible." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_tlaib.jpg

WSWS (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Shawgi Tell (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 …

Julie Hollar (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:…

Tim Libretti (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 …

Forrest Hylton (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

Staff (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.

Staff (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.

splcenter (2019-10-25). Weekend Read: If your vote didn't matter, they wouldn't fight so hard to block it. splcenter.org At the intersection of race and politics in the United States lies voter suppression — the array of laws and election practices intended to make it harder for people of color to vote.

David Yearsley (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

Lee Fang (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.

Aída Chávez (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."

Fight Back (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Steve Phillips (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Rob Urie (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

Garry Leech (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…

Staff (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.

Akela Lacy (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.

Sara Flounders (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

Akela Lacy (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.

Simon Threlkeld (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 …

William Astore (2019-10-24). America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy. thenation.com America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy…

Staff (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…

Staff (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 $…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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?

Ryan Grim (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…

Aaron Maté (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…

Aída Chávez (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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."

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Staff (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…

Susan Price Testing (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…

Roger D. Harris (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."

Fight Back (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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."

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Staff (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…

Bryan Ellis (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

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….

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 …

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 …

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…

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 …

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?

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …