2019-11-08: News Headlines

Staff (2019-11-09). Why Does the New York Times Hate the Democratic Base? truthdig.com Progressive proposals have proved wildly popular, yet the Gray Lady remains convinced that only a centrist can beat Donald Trump in 2020.

Norman Solomon (2019-11-08). The Crass Warfare of Billionaires Against Sanders and Warren. counterpunch.org For many decades, any politician daring to fight for economic justice was liable to be denounced for engaging in "class warfare." It was always a grimly laughable accusation, coming from wealthy elites as well as their functionaries in corporate media and elective office. In the real world, class warfare — or whatever you want to More

Alicia Jrapko (2019-11-08). Hundreds Stand Tall in Solidarity with the People of Latin America at Havana Conference. dissidentvoice.org Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (Photo by Bill Hackwell) From November 1-3 more than 1,350 delegates from 86 countries representing 789 organizations, came to Havana to participate in the Anti-imperialist Conference of Solidarity, for Democracy and Against Neoliberalism. Delegates traveled from all continents, particularly from Latin …

Louis Proyect (2019-11-08). A Socialist Party in Our Time? counterpunch.org Nearly two years ago, Eric Blanc wrote an article for Jacobin that justified socialists running on the Democratic Party primary ballot as a "dirty break" from the two-party system. Eugene V. Debs's Socialist Party, to which Jacobin pays lip-service, instead supported a "clean break", as did the Communist Party until Stalin ordered it to back More

WSWS (2019-11-08). Bernie Sanders unveils immigration plan. wsws.org The Democratic presidential candidate rhetorically attacks theworst of Trump's immigration policies but would keep the border regimeintact.

Staff (2019-11-08). Bernie Sanders: Bloomberg's 2020 Bid Shows "Billionaire Class Is Scared" truthout.org Sen. Bernie Sanders said Thursday night that America's billionaire class is "scared," and rightly so, after numerous outlets reported that former New York City mayor and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is actively planning to make a late entry into the 2020 Democratic presidential race. | "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared," tweeted Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, apparently…

Norman Solomon (2019-11-08). The Crass Warfare of Billionaires Against Sanders and Warren. indybay.org An existential crisis for ruling circles…

Norman Solomon (2019-11-08). The crass warfare of billionaires against Sanders and Warren. nationofchange.org The fight happening now for the Democratic presidential nomination largely amounts to class warfare.

Staff (2019-11-08). Ralph Nader: The World Is Waiting for America to Rise Up. truthdig.com Student debt is out of control, voter suppression is rampant, and millions are living in poverty. What will it take for us to fight back?

Ralph Nader (2019-11-08). America's Streets and Squares Are Waiting: Massive Rallies Work! counterpunch.org Around the world people are marching, rallying, and demonstrating in huge numbers. Some of these countries are ruled by dictators or plutocratic regimes, others are considered democracies. Despite the peril of protest, people are seeking justice, freedom, and decent livelihoods. Many boast about the United States being the oldest democracy in the world. While there More

Ralph Nader (2019-11-08). Massive Rallies Work! dissidentvoice.org Around the world people are marching, rallying, and demonstrating in huge numbers. Some of these countries are ruled by dictators or plutocratic regimes, others are considered democracies. Despite the peril of protest, people are seeking justice, freedom, and decent livelihoods. Many boast about the United States being the oldest democracy in the world. While there …

Ryan Grim (2019-11-08). A Facebook Ban on Political Ads Would Be a Major Blow to the Left. Just Look at AOC's Campaign. theintercept.com AOC fueled her rise, and the rise of a movement, by deftly combining on-the-ground organizing with sophisticated targeting on Facebook.

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2019-11-08). California Buffalo Soldiers Project ~ 2019 National Buffalo Soldiers Study Celebration. indybay.org Three Rivers Historical Society and Museum | 42268 Sierra Dr. | Three Rivers, CA 93271…

Roger Harris (2019-11-08). Sierra Club Takes a Commendable Turn on Population, Climate Change, and Inequality. counterpunch.org The Sierra Club — long a retrograde proponent of saving the planet by driving a Tesla, eating wild caught salmon, and voting blue — took positive environmental leadership with their end of the year issue of the Sierra magazine. Stating it is "time to fix the population fixation," they examine the interactions of population, climate More

Jessica Corbett (2019-11-08). 'Huge win for democracy': Nationwide celebrations as NYC residents approve ranked-choice voting ballot measure. nationofchange.org With the new system, said one supporter, "candidates will have to knock on the door of not just a certain plurality, but on the diverse doors of NYC's mosaic majority."

WSWS (2019-11-08). Beijing looks to end Hong Kong protest movement. wsws.org Youth and students fighting to defend democratic rights in Hong Kong must turn to the international working class as their only allies in this struggle.

WSWS (2019-11-08). Spanish election candidates denounce socialism, back repression in TV debate. wsws.org As Podemos and the social democrats back austerity, nationalism and militarism, the ruling class is creating the conditions for the fascistic Vox party to rise rapidly.

Mark Weisbrot (2019-11-08). The Trump Administration Is Undercutting Democracy in Bolivia. thenation.com The Trump Administration Is Undercutting Democracy in Bolivia…

Robert L. Borosage (2019-11-08). Elizabeth Warren Won't Back Down on Medicare for All. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Won't Back Down on Medicare for All…

Jeet Heer (2019-11-08). Michael Bloomberg Should Stay Home—and Pay His Taxes. thenation.com Michael Bloomberg Should Stay Home—and Pay His Taxes…

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-11-08). Bernie Sanders Says Bloomberg's Moves Toward 2020 Bid Shows 'Billionaire Class Is Scared'. commondreams.org "They should be scared," added Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/michael_bloomberg.jpg

Julia Conley, staff writer (2019-11-08). Democratic Victory in Virginia Paves Way for Final Approval of Equal Rights Amendment. commondreams.org House Democrats wasted no time Friday preparing to allow for the Equal Rights Amendment to enter into force, just three days after Democrats won control of Virginia's legislature—making it likely that it will soon become the 38th state to ratify the amendment. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11460991601.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-11-08). As PBS Did With Nixon, Bill Moyers Calls for Primetime Airing of Trump Impeachment Hearings. commondreams.org "Pull out the stops once again, and for the sake of the nation, throw away the schedule," writes luminary of public broadcast journalism in full-page ad. "Who wins? Democracy—and viewers like you." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/nixon_0.jpg

Staff (2019-11-08). Warren, Booker & Steyer to Take Part in First-Ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice. democracynow.org We broadcast live from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, where tonight the first-ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice will be held. Six presidential candidates — Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, Tom Steyer, Marianne Williamson, John Delaney and Joe Sestak — are participating. The forum is hosted by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and leaders from frontline communities. South Carolina is a crucial state for the 2020 presidential race and one of the first that will have a Democratic primary, following New Hampshire and caucuses in Iowa and Nevada. The re…

Staff (2019-11-08). "We Can't Afford to Wait for the DNC": Why Black Lawmakers Organized an Environmental Justice Forum. democracynow.org The first-ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice takes place tonight in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where six presidential candidates will take to the stage at South Carolina State University. African-American communities and people of color on the frontlines in South Carolina have been fighting for justice in the face of extreme environmental racism for years. We host a roundtable with local leaders and environmental justice advocates to talk about the significance of the event, the issues their communities face and the 2020 candidates' platforms on environmental justice. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, president o…

Staff (2019-11-08). Remembering the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre When Police Shot Dead Three Unarmed Black Students. democracynow.org The 1968 Orangeburg massacre is one of the most violent and least remembered events of the civil rights movement. A crowd of students gathered on the campus of South Carolina State University to protest segregation at Orangeburg's only bowling alley. After days of escalating tensions, students started a bonfire and held a vigil on the campus to protest. Dozens of police arrived on the scene, and state troopers fired live ammunition into the crowd. When the shooting stopped, three students were dead and 28 wounded. Although the tragedy predated the Kent State shootings and Jackson State killings and it was the fir…

Staff (2019-11-08). Headlines for November 8, 2019. democracynow.org George Kent: Giuliani Carried Out Smear Campaign Against U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, U.S. and China Aim to Roll Back Some Tariffs, "A Warning": Anonymous Senior Official Slams Trump in New Book, Michael Bloomberg Preparing to Jump Into 2020 Race, Sanders Immigration Plan: Abolish ICE & Create Path to Citizenship, Undocumented Students to Stage Walkout to Support DACA, Report: DHS to Have Biometric Data on 260 Million People, Iraq: Security Forces Continue Bloody Crackdown on Anti-Government Protesters, Tensions Rise in Bolivia over Disputed Presidential Election, Brazil Sides with U.S. at U.N. Vote Condemning U.S…

Staff (2019-11-07). Off-Year Election Pushes Republicans Back, Are Political Winds Shifting? therealnews.com The Nation's John Nichols looks at lessons learned in Virginia, why Kentucky might be a bellwether, and the progressive battles taking place in our cities.

RT (2019-11-07). Democrats turn on Bill Gates after billionaire hints he's not a fan of Warren's wealth tax. rt.com Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates was eviscerated on social media after balking at some Democratic candidates' wealth tax and hinting he'd vote for whoever is "more professional," which some took as a dog whistle for Trump. | Gates expressed some apprehension about the "wealth tax" proposed by Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, admitting he'd only be willing to fork over so much of his massive fortune. "I've paid over $10 billion in taxes, I've paid more than anyone in taxes! I'm glad to have—If I had to pay $20 billion, it's fine," he told the New York Times DealBook Conference on Wednesday.

Janine Jackson (2019-11-07). 'This Is a Huge Opportunity to Create an Energy System Rooted in Climate Justice' – CounterSpin interview with Johanna Bozuwa on public utilities. fair.org Janine Jackson interviewed the Democracy Collaborative's Johanna Bozuwa about public utilities for the November 1, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…

Aída Chávez (2019-11-07). With Bold Immigration Plan, Bernie Sanders Becomes the Only Candidate to Call for Break Up of ICE and CBP. theintercept.com The plan, released Thursday, also calls to improve conditions in industries that rely on immigrants, including instating a domestic workers' bill of rights.

Stephen Lendman (2019-11-07). Anti-Trump Impeachment Scam Ignores What US Military Aid to Ukraine Goes For. globalresearch.ca Ukraine is a US client state, established by the Obama regime's 2014 coup — replacing democratic governance with a government integrated by Nazi elements. . | The US FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $250 million in military aid …

Akela Lacy (2019-11-07). Speaking at a K Street Lobby Powerhouse, Joe Biden Renewed His Medicare for All Feud With Elizabeth Warren. theintercept.com On Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden held a fundraiser at Sidley Austin, a notorious and influential K Street law firm.

Roger D. Harris (2019-11-07). Sierra Club Takes a Commendable Turn on Population, Climate Change, and Inequality. dissidentvoice.org The Sierra Club — long a retrograde proponent of saving the planet by driving a Tesla, eating wild caught salmon, and voting blue — took positive environmental leadership with their end of the year issue of the Sierra magazine. Stating it is "time to fix the population fixation," they examine the interactions of population, climate …

WSWS (2019-11-07). Democrats' gains in Tuesday's elections reflect shifts within the upper-middle class. wsws.org In Tuesday's state and local elections, Democrats made their biggest gains in upscale suburban areas.

Joseph N. DiStefano (2019-11-07). Joe Biden's Friends and Backers Come Out on Top—at the Expense of the Middle Class. thenation.com Joe Biden's Friends and Backers Come Out on Top—at the Expense of the Middle Class…

Staff (2019-11-07). Ex-Twitter Workers Charged with Spying for Saudis as Part of Kingdom's Growing Crackdown on Dissent. democracynow.org The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two former Twitter employees with helping Saudi Arabia spy on thousands of the kingdom's critics. Ali Alzabarah and Ahmad Abouammo are accused of giving the Saudi government detailed information about users, including telephone numbers and email addresses linked to the accounts, as well as internet protocol addresses that could be used to identify a user's location. The charges are being filed just over a year after the brutal murder of Saudi journalist and critic Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey. A new report by Human Rights Watch fin…

Staff (2019-11-07). "The Pollinators": New Film Shows How Decline of Bee Colonies Could Mean Collapse of Food Chain. democracynow.org A documentary film "The Pollinators" tells the story of the world's yellow-black jacketed honey bees, whose existence may determine the future of human survival. The insects pollinate nearly all the fruits, vegetables and nuts we consume, and some experts estimate one out of every three bites of food we eat depends on the work of honey bees. However, the future of the insects is now in peril with widespread reports of bee colony collapses. In the last decade and a half, beekeepers have reported staggering declines in their bee populations due to pesticides, parasites and loss of habitat. Scientists warn climate c…

Staff (2019-11-07). Algerian Protesters Are Still in the Streets, Months After Pushing Out Longtime President Bouteflika. democracynow.org In Algeria, protests against corruption, the jailing of opposition leaders and the army's powerful role in national politics have entered their ninth month. Tens of thousands filled the streets of the capital Algiers last Friday to mark the 65th anniversary of the war of independence from France and to demand a "new revolution" rather than an upcoming election they say will be rigged. Over 100 student protesters were arrested last night as the Algerian government intensified its crackdown on demonstrators ahead of the upcoming polls. Interim President Abdelkader Bensalah announced the country will hold a presiden…

Staff (2019-11-07). Headlines for November 7, 2019. democracynow.org Televised Impeachment Hearings Begin Next Week, Sessions to Run for Old Senate Seat; Pressley Endorses Warren, Trump Expands Military Mission in Syria Aimed at Controlling Oil Fields, Esper to Urge Trump Not to Intervene in Cases of Soldiers Accused of Murder, Judge Voids Trump Rule Allowing Medical Workers to Deny Care on Religious Grounds, ProPublica: Pence's Office Meddled in Foreign Aid Money to Favor Christians, DOJ Charges Ex-Twitter Employees; California Investigates Facebook, New Zealand Approves Landmark Climate Legislation Aimed at Zero Carbon Emissions, U.S.-Manufactured Ammunition Used in Massacre of…

Aída Chávez (2019-11-06). The GOP's Fearmongering Over Abortion Flopped in Kentucky and Virginia. theintercept.com On Tuesday night in Kentucky and Virginia, abortion was a losing issue for Republicans. | Republicans in both states went all in on the issue of abortion to save their candidates, believing that painting their Democratic opponents as proponents of "infanticide" would be enough to win. Democrats claimed victories anyway in the Kentucky gubernatorial race and in Virginia, where they now control the state House and Senate for the first time in over two decades. | In Kentucky, where just one abortion clinic remains, Attorney General Andy Beshear ousted Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, despite anti-abortion groups massivel…

RT (2019-11-06). 'I served in the war she championed!': Tulsi & The View's Behar face off in tense exchange over Clinton & 'Russian asset' smears. rt.com Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard faced off in a fiery exchange with The View's Joy Behar after taking issue with being branded a "useful idiot" by the co-host on a previous episode of the show. | A clearly fed up Gabbard confronted the hosts who have previously maligned her as a Russian asset and "Assad apologist" over her views on the war in Syria. The anti-Gabbard media hysteria was kicked up a notch after failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also suggested she was being groomed by Moscow to run as a third party disrupter candidate. | "You are implying that I am too stupid, and too na…

RT (2019-11-06). 'Ban things I don't like': Elizabeth Warren slams Twitter's new ban on political ads after urging Facebook to censor opponents. rt.com Democratic 2020 hopeful Elizabeth Warren can't seem to make up her mind on the correct course for big tech, first attacking Facebook's ad policies as too lax, then Twitter's as too strict. Perhaps they should make her CEO. | Senator Warren (D-Massachusetts), who has vowed to break up tech giants she deems too large or powerful, took to Twitter on Tuesday to denounce the platform's upcoming policy change banning all political ads, arguing the new rule helps the spread of misinformation about climate change. | "Twitter's new ad policy will allow fossil fuel companies to buy ads defending themselves and spreading…

Lee Fang (2019-11-06). Democratic Sweep Sets Up Confrontation With Corporate Giant That Has Loomed Over Virginia Politics for a Century. theintercept.com The election results forecast a brutal legislative fight in 2020 over the future of energy policy between Dominion Energy and Democrats.

Fight Back (2019-11-06). FRSO condemns wave of repression against trade unionists, progressive activists in Philippines. fightbacknews.org Freedom Road Socialist Organization stands in opposition to the wave of political repression that is being unleashed in the Philippines. The U.S.-backed regime of President Duterte has carried out a series of raids on homes and offices, jailing more than 60 participants in the progressive and national democratic movement. | According to reports, among those arrested in the raids were 40 members of the militant labor movement Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)/May First Movement. Leaders of the KMU have toured the U.S. in the past, speaking of their struggle for justice and a better way of life. They need our solidarity now.

Staff (2019-11-06). Is Texas About to Execute an Innocent Man? Rodney Reed's Family Demands Retrial Amid New Evidence. democracynow.org The state of Texas is facing growing calls to halt the upcoming execution of Rodney Reed, an African-American man who has spent over 20 years on death row for a rape and murder he says he did not commit. A group of 26 Texas lawmakers — including both Democrats and Republicans — have written a letter this week to Governor Greg Abbott to stop the execution planned for November 20. More than 1.4 million people have signed an online petition to save Reed's life. Supporters include celebrities Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna and Meek Mill. Reed was sentenced to die after being convicted of the 1996 murder of…

Staff (2019-11-06). Dems Win Big on Election Day, Flipping Virginia Legislature & Ousting Trump-Backed Kentucky Gov. democracynow.org Results are coming in after Tuesday's elections, with major wins for Democrats in several crucial states. In Virginia, the party gained control of both legislative houses for the first time in 25 years. In Kentucky, Democratic challenger state Attorney General Andy Beshear has ousted Trump-backed Republican incumbent Matt Bevin in a tightly contested run for governor. In Mississippi, Republican Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves defeated Democratic state Attorney General Jim Hood in the governor's race. | Several local candidates across the country made history. In Scranton, Pennsylvania, Paige Cognetti was elected…

Staff (2019-11-06). Headlines for November 6, 2019. democracynow.org Democrats Take Virginia Legislature & Beat Trump-Backed Governor in Kentucky, NYC Approves Ranked-Choice Voting; Tucson Voters Reject Sanctuary City Measure, JPMorgan CEO Accuses Warren of "Vilifying" Richest Americans, Sondland Now Says There Was Quid Pro Quo on Ukraine, Scientists: Humanity Risks "Untold Suffering" from Climate Change, Brazilians Protest the Largest Oil Auction in Brazilian History, Activists Arrested After Blockading Port of Vancouver in Pipeline Protest, 9 Members of Mormon Family Murdered in Mexico, Pro-Beijing Lawmaker Stabbed in Hong Kong, Israeli Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Expelling…

Emily Apple (2019-11-06). People taking the mick out of Jo Swinson's battle bus is just beautiful. thecanary.co It's officially an election now that the first battle bus has been revealed. Unfortunately for Jo Swinson and the Liberal Democrats, though, the big reveal got off to a bad start; because people soon took to social media to take the piss. Fortunately for the rest of us, it provided some much-needed comic relief at the expense of the party that just can't seem to stop misleading voters about marginal constituencies or fabricating quotes. | It's a failed band!: | The bus, e…

Editor (2019-11-06). Impeachment is not enough. workers.org There are so many reasons to get Donald Trump out of the White House that it is not surprising at all that a movement has begun in the House of Representatives to impeach him. At this point, it is a wholly partisan effort, with almost all the Democrats for impeachment . . . | Continue reading Impeachment is not enough at Workers.org

RT (2019-11-05). Diplomat suddenly 'remembers' personally delivering Ukrainian 'quid pro quo' AFTER reading Trump impeachment testimonies. rt.com The US ambassador to the EU has suddenly remembered he did notify Kiev that military aid was contingent on launching a corruption probe into the gas company that employed Hunter Biden, his memory jogged by impeachment testimonies. | Ambassador Gordon Sondland said he did, after all, tell an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that US military aid to the country depended on Zelensky publicly pledging to open a corruption investigation into Burisma Holdings, the natural gas company which had hired Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden's son onto its board of directors. Sondland recalled this i…

RT (2019-11-05). Is collusion still a thing? Washington Post publishing 'illustrated Mueller report' book. rt.com Haven't got enough 'Russiagate' already? Need the ideal Christmas gift for the unsatisfied Democrat in your life? Well how about a copy of the Mueller report, soon available in graphic novel form! | Special Counsel Robert Mueller's two-year probe found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election, and insufficient evidence that Trump obstructed the investigation itself. Though Trump declared "case closed," the mainstream media that banked on Mueller so heavily isn't quite ready to let it go yet. | Case in point: 'The Mueller Report Illustrated,' a graphic no…

David Daley (2019-11-05). Secret Gerrymandering Files Can Now Be Made Public, Court Rules. theintercept.com Eight years ago, when Thomas Hofeller addressed state legislators from across the country in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., he cautioned elected officials working on redistricting to "make sure your computer is in a private location" and warned them not to "walk away from it and leave your work exposed." | "Remember," one slide from his presentation reads, "A journey to legal HELL starts with but a single misstatement OR a stupid email!" | Hofeller, a veteran Republi…

Jason Ditz (2019-11-05). Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Bill to Withdraw Troops From Syria. theantimedia.com The idea of the bill is to remove any troops in Syria that do not have Congressional approval to be there, which is all of them.

Aída Chávez (2019-11-05). Washington Democrats Recruited Colorado's John Hickenlooper for Senate Nomination Despite Looming Ethics Investigation. theintercept.com The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission is expected to release an investigative report this week into allegations that John Hickenlooper, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2020, violated state law by receiving free private jet rides and other gifts from corporations when he served as governor. While Hickenlooper has denied any wrongdoing, and last year the Denver Post editorial board said the complaint consisted of "politically motivated lies," there are fears that the investigation stands to damage Hickenlooper's chances in Colorado. | The ethics complaint, which was filed last year by former Republican stat…

Jeff Bryant (2019-11-05). Investigations Unearth Systemic Corruption in K-12 School Leadership—and Students and Teachers Lose Out. progressive.org Much of the blame lies with an education reform movement that has exhorted schools to operate more like businesses and mimic corporate hiring processes.

Fight Back (2019-11-05). Tallahassee public housing tenants face displacement due to redevelopment. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – November 5 marked the due date for 2019 applications to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. This year the city of Tallahassee has submitted two applications along with $1.3 million to secure funding for the redevelopment of Orange Avenue Apartments, currently the largest public housing community in Tallahassee, a 200-unit complex is on Tallahassee's Southside. | The redevelopment effort is being led in part by Purpose Built Communities, an Atlanta non-profit founded by billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Julian Robertson, along with the wealthy Atlanta real estate developer Tom Cousins…

Staff (2019-11-05). Colorado Has One of the Highest Voter Turnouts in the Country. Here's How They Did It. democracynow.org As local elections take place nationwide, voters in Colorado are enjoying greater access to the ballot than ever as the state's vote-by-mail system allows residents to bypass long lines at polling places. The state also has voting measures which include automatic voter registration with driver's license services, an extension of the vote to parolees, and allowance for some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections. Colorado is considered an example for states needing to expand voter access at a time when Republican legislatures and statehouses across the country are attempting to suppress the vote. We speak with…

Staff (2019-11-05). NYC Voters to Decide Today to Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting in Municipal Elections. democracynow.org Voters across the U.S. head to the polls today for statewide elections that will be seen as a measure of Donald Trump's influence in the Republican Party as he faces an impeachment inquiry. In New York City, a major ballot measure could change the way voters select their candidates in future elections. New Yorkers will decide whether to move from electing candidates by a plurality of votes to ranked-choice voting, a system in which voters rank their favorite candidates in order and the person with the most top-ranked votes wins. Proponents of the initiative say it will help underrepresented voters and candidates…

Staff (2019-11-05). "Release My Mother": A Yale Student Fights to Halt Deportation of His Mother with Stage IV Cancer. democracynow.org Tania Romero, an undocumented mother from Honduras and survivor of stage IV cancer, is fighting to remain in the United States with her four children. Two months ago, Romero was imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the privately owned Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, interrupting her life-saving medical treatments. In mid-August, Romero was pulled over for a minor traffic infraction and arrested for not having a driver's license. Tania Romero's attorney requested a stay of deportation on humanitarian grounds because of her fragile health, but it was denied in September. Her son, Cristian…

Staff (2019-11-05). Bill McKibben on U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Accord, California Fires, Climate Refugees & More. democracynow.org The Trump administration notified the United Nations Monday that it would withdraw the U.S. from the historic Paris climate agreement, starting a year-long process to leave the international pact to fight the climate crisis. The United States — the world's largest historic greenhouse gas emitter — will become the only country outside the accord. Trump's announcement of the withdrawal came on the first day possible under the agreement's rules. From Middlebury, Vermont, we speak with Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org. "The decision of the United States to be the only country on Earth … unwilling to…

Staff (2019-11-05). Headlines for November 5, 2019. democracynow.org U.S. Formalizes Withdrawal from Historic Paris Climate Agreement, Democrats Begin to Release Impeachment Inquiry Transcripts, Voters Head to the Polls for Statewide Elections Today, E. Jean Carroll, Who Accuses Trump of Raping Her, Sues President for Defamation, Court Rejects Trump's Efforts to Fight NY Subpoena for Tax Returns, Trump Threatens to Cut Off Federal Funding for California's Wildfires, Thousands of Academics Demand Chile End Violent Crackdown Against Protests, Iraqi Authorities Cut Internet Access Amid Ongoing Anti-Government Protests, Two Indonesian Journalists Found Dead at Illegal Palm Oil Plantat…

RT (2019-11-05). Dems think Bernie better on MOST policy issues, but will vote for Biden in hopes he dethrones Trump — poll. rt.com Bernie Sanders's progressive agenda has struck a chord with Democrats who now think he is the best on healthcare and climate, and on par with Joe Biden on economy and immigration. However, Biden remains their preferred candidate. | While the independent Vermont senator is trailing Biden in the polls, his take on key US policies is shared by more constituents than that of the former vice president, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between November 1-4 has revealed. | Asked about what candidate they think is the best on environment, 24 percent of prospective Democratic voters went for Sanders against 17 percen…

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-05). Media Conceal Chile's State Criminality, Delegitimize Bolivian Democracy. fair.org by Lucas Koerner Chilean protester beaten by government forces (Twitter, 10/21/19) | Chile's anti-neoliberal rebellion is entering its third week, and the brutal crackdown continues. Hard-right President Sebastian Piñera and his generals have effectively decreed the country's oligarch-dominated democracy out of existence by sending soldiers into the streets to kill, maim and torture their own people. | And, for the most part, the Western corporate media blackout persists unabated. | October 25's historic 1.2 million—person march in Sa…

Alan Macleod (2019-11-05). #Bernieblackout: The Media Isn't Even Hiding Its Anti-Bernie Bias Anymore. mintpressnews.com From blackouts to cheap visual editing to outright hostility, the corporate media is pulling no punches in its effort to undermine Bernie Sanders and his egalitarian message.

Staff (2019-11-04). GOP Voter Suppression Campaign Continues in Georgia. therealnews.com The GOP barely won the Georgia statehouse despite their campaign of suppressing 1.4 million votes. Jacqueline Luqman talks to Anoa Changa about how a new round of voter registration purges is a continuation of the same campaign.

Akela Lacy (2019-11-04). Two Surging Candidates Could Make Philadelphia Far More Progressive. Democrats Are Going to War to Stop Them. [UPDATED]. theintercept.com The Democratic Party is less than enthusiastic about two rising third-party campaigns, echoing national tensions between progressives and the establishment.

Staff (2019-11-04). Pushed Out, Attacked & Criminalized: San Francisco's Unhoused People Speak Out Amid Housing Crisis. democracynow.org Amid skyrocketing housing prices and rising inequality, the number of unhoused people across California is booming. Homelessness in San Francisco has spiked at least 30% since 2017. In Oakland, it's grown by nearly 50%. As more people have been forced onto the streets, encampments have popped up from Los Angeles to the Bay Area and in other city centers. But while advocates push for more affordable housing solutions, instead city governments have been cracking down on unhoused people with increasingly punitive measures that criminalize homelessness. In a special report, Democracy Now! traveled to San Francisco to…

Staff (2019-11-04). Remembering the Greensboro Massacre of 1979, When KKK & Nazis Killed 5 People in Broad Daylight. democracynow.org Hundreds gathered this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the Greensboro massacre, when 40 Ku Klux Klansmen and American Nazis opened fire on an anti-Klan demonstration in Greensboro, North Carolina, killing five anti-racist activists in a span of 88 seconds. Those killed were members of the Communist Workers' Party. Ten other activists were injured. No one was convicted in the massacre, but a jury did find the Greensboro police liable for cooperating with the Ku Klux Klan in a wrongful death. Local pastors in Greensboro are now calling on the City Council to issue an apology for the events that led to the 1…

Staff (2019-11-04). Emboldened by Bolsonaro, Illegal Loggers in Amazon Kill Indigenous Leader Paulo Paulino Guajajara. democracynow.org An indigenous forest protector named Paulo Paulino Guajajara was shot dead in the Amazon by illegal loggers on Saturday. It is the latest incident in a wave of violence targeting indigenous land protectors since the election of Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro last year. Guajajara was killed when he and another forest protector were ambushed by a group of illegal loggers inside the Araribóia reservation in the northeastern state of Maranhà£o. We speak with Joà£o Coimbra Sousa, a field coordinator and legal adviser for Amazon Watch, in Sà£o Luís in the northeastern state of Maranhà&pou…

Staff (2019-11-04). Headlines for November 4, 2019. democracynow.org Four White House Officials Refused to Testify in Impeachment Hearings, Turkish-Backed Forces Accused of War Crimes in Northern Syria, Sen. Warren Releases Details on Her Medicare for All Plan, Trump to Nominate Dr. Stephen Hahn to Lead FDA, EPA Slated to Roll Back Rules to Protect Waterways from Toxic Coal Ash, Group of Automakers Sides with Trump Admin in Fight over Fuel-Efficiency Standards, NYT: Major U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Treaty Could Expire Without Being Replaced, Mali: Over 50 Soldiers Killed in Attack on Military Post, Anti-Government Protests Continue to Sweep Iraq, Lebanon & Algeria, Brazilian Indigen…

Ryan Cristián (2019-11-03). "White Helmets Are Preparing New Chemical Provocations In Syria," France Bombs Iraq & Oil Occupation. 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 (11/2/19). 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 …

Fight Back (2019-11-03). Sean O'Brien addresses TDU Convention. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Frontrunning candidate for the next general president of the Teamsters, Sean O'Brien, addressed the convention of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), November 2. O'Brien, who currently leads Local 25, spoke about the future of the Teamsters. The election will take place in 2021.

Ryan Cristián (2019-11-02). Baghdadi Deception Exposed, Israel Bombs Gaza After Phantom Rocket & US Violates Own Syria Sanctions. 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 (11/1/19). 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 (2019-11-01). Headlines for November 1, 2019. democracynow.org House Votes to Formalize Impeachment Inquiry Into President Trump , Trump Will Avoid State Income Taxes After Declaring Florida Residency, CIA-Backed Afghan Forces Commit Atrocities, Says Human Rights Watch, Iraqi Prime Minister Offers to Resign Amid Anti-Government Protests, Thousands March in Argentina Against IMF-Imposed Austerity, Spain to Replace Chile as Host of COP25 U.N. Climate Conference, Rex Tillerson Denies Exxon Misled Investors Over Climate Risks, Greta Thunberg Turns Down Environment Prize for Her Climate Activism, New California Wildfire Burns Homes in San Bernardino, Keystone Pipeline Spill in No…

Reese Erlich (2019-11-01). Foreign Correspondent: Boris, Brexit, and the British Elections. progressive.org Brexit presents a serious conundrum for left and progressive forces. Liberals and social democrats suddenly find themselves in bed with Britain's largest capitalist corporations.

Staff (2019-11-01). Five Indigenous Leaders Massacred in Colombia; New Wave of Violence Feared as 2,500 Troops Deployed. democracynow.org The massacre of five Indigenous leaders in Colombia has shocked the country. The killings took place in the southwestern region of Cauca. Among the victims was Cristina Bautista, the leader of the semi-autonomous Indigenous reservation of Nasa Tacueyó. Four of the community's unarmed guards were also killed, while six others were wounded. A group of U.N. experts have denounced the massacre and demanded the Colombian government to take urgent measures in cooperation with Indigenous authorities to investigate the murders. Police have made no arrests and no suspects have been named in the massacre. Since the signing…

Staff (2019-11-01). "This Is a Win for Our City": Chicago Teachers Celebrate End of Historic Strike After 11 Days. democracynow.org Teachers in Chicago are heading back to school Friday, marking the end of a historic 11-day strike that had shut down the country's third-largest school district. After weeks of tense negotiations, the city agreed to reduce class sizes, increase salaries by 16% over the next five years and bring on hundreds more social workers, nurses and librarians. The union demanded that teachers be able to make up the full eleven days of school before agreeing to return to work and eventually settled with the city on five days. Earlier this week, 7,500 public school workers with the Service Employees International Union, who…

Staff (2019-11-01). "It Was Necessary": Gambian Beauty Queen Returns Home to Testify About Rape By Former Dictator. democracynow.org In Gambia, a former beauty queen who says the president raped her when she was 18 years old has testified before a public truth and reconciliation commission that is investigating the atrocities of former president Yahya Jammeh. Fatou "Toufah" Jallow has become a leading voice against the former president, who ruled the West African country of 2 million people for 22 years before his regime ended in 2017. Two other women have also come forward to accuse the former president of rape and sexual assault. Survivors of the regime have also testified during the hearings, which have been live streamed across the country…

Staff (2019-11-01). Chicago Teachers and UAW Members Show That Labor Movement Is Back After "Decades of Concessions" democracynow.org The end of the Chicago teachers' strike comes amid a wave of labor movements, including the longest United Auto Workers strike in almost 50 years. We speak with labor journalist Sarah Jaffe about the historical importance of unions, the rise of worker participation in strike actions and the significance of the Labour Party's organizing in the United Kingdom. Jaffe says workers "are fighting back in the face of decades and decades of concessions, decades and decades of give-backs," and "understanding that unionizing is a way that they have power on the job." She is the author of _Necessary Trouble: Americans in Re…

Miko Peled (2019-10-30). At This Year's J Street Conference, "Progressive" Pols Bow to Israel While Preaching Peace. mintpressnews.com Progressive politicians like Bernie Sanders should be credited for finally offering solutions to decades-old Israeli Human rights violations, but those solutions are often little more than talking points designed to placate their base and appease Israel.

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-30). The Baghdadi "DNA Test" Was Done BEFORE The Raid By The SDF Using His Underwear. 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 (10/29/19). 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 (2019-10-29). Distracting With Baghdadi Psyop, US Sends "Withdrawn" Troops Back Into Syria, Along With MANY More. 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 (10/28/19). 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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-04). MSM "Protects" Fake Whistleblower, Twitter Bans Egypt Activists & Iraq In Chaos After Naming Israel. 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 (10/3/19). 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 (2019-10-04). US Caught Meddling In Tunisian Election, Israel Politician Likens Israel To Nazi Germany & Hypocrisy. 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 (10/4/19). 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 …