(2019-11-30). US cryptocurrency expert arrested for 'aiding adversary & sanctions violation' over North Korea trip. rt.com 
The FBI has arrested an American citizen accused of illicitly traveling to Pyongyang to give a talk on cryptocurrencies, claiming that the tech expert knowingly undermined Washington's efforts to isolate North Korea economically. | Virgil Griffith was taken into custody in Los Angeles over the trip to Pyongyang, where the Department of Justice says he gave "a presentation and technical advice on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology." | "Mr Griffith allegedly traveled to North Korea without permission from the federal government, and with knowledge [that] what he was doing was against the law," the De…
(2019-11-29). "You'll know the tree by the fruit it bears": Bernie Sanders' people powered campaign. nationofchange.org The fruit of Bernie Sanders' labors are not just in the realm of policy, they're also in the people who support him.
(2019-11-29). Why the UkraineGate Hearings Didn't Move the Dial. counterpunch.org CNN and MSDNC's talking heads seemed surprised and disappointed that the recent televised impeachment hearings do not appear to have moved any but a small number of Republicans into supporting the impeachment and removal of the demented fascist oligarch Donald Trump. Liberals roll their eyes while discussing surveys showing that Republican voters are unmoved by More
(2019-11-29). Controlling the Message in Bolivia, Silencing Dissent, Hardening Dictatorial Rule. globalresearch.ca The US-installed coup d'etat regime is going all out to solidify dictatorial power. | Top priorities are eliminating challenges to its tyrannical rule and silencing dissent. | Pro-democracy supporters, independent journalists, human rights workers, and others supporting equity and justice risk arrest …
(2019-11-29). Thanksgiving 2019: Where Are We Now? counterpunch.org Thanksgiving is a fine time to take stock. As it happens, this year, with Congress in recess and the president spending more time than usual mentally decomposing and sending out tweets too absurd to warrant a passing comment, it is an especially fine time to take stock of how matters stand with Democrats and Republicans, More
(2019-11-29). US 'Regime Changes': The Historical Record. globalresearch.ca First published on February 5, 2019 | As the US strives to overthrow the democratic and independent Venezuelan government, the historical record regarding the short, middle and long-term consequences are mixed. | We will proceed to examine the consequences and impact of …
(2019-11-29). Video: Is Northeastern Syria Turning into A Death Trap for Russia? globalresearch.ca The northeastern part of Syria remains one of the main hot points of the conflict despite the ceasefire regime formally declared in the region. | Clashes between Turkish-backed armed groups, on the one side, and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) …
(2019-11-29). Trump signs Hong Kong "democracy" bill. wsws.org Entitled the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act"—and passed by the US Congress with only one dissenting voice, making it veto-proof—the legislation has nothing to do with either.
(2019-11-29). Sri Lankan president appoints minority government and puts security forces on alert. wsws.org While the new administration will continue draconian "national security" measures, it confronts deep-seated popular opposition to the attacks on social and democratic rights.
(2019-11-29). What is Happening in Spain? counterpunch.org The transition from dictatorship to democracy in Spain (1978) was carried out under conditions very favorable to the profoundly conservative forces that controlled the Spanish state and the majority of the media. The democratic forces (lead by the clandestine left wing parties) were institutionally weak. It is true that popular resistance against the dictatorship had been strong primarily among the working class, the base of these parties. Spain had the largest number of political strikes in Europe during the transition period (1975-1979), which played an important role in forcing the end of the extremely repress…
(2019-11-29). Pete Buttigieg Panned for Ad Attacking Free College. truthdig.com The Democratic presidential campaign of South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Thursday launched a new ad in Iowa attacking the idea of tuition-free public college, sparking backlash from progressives who called Buttigieg's argument against the proposal "disingenuous" and reactionary. | "I believe we should move to make college affordable for everybody. There are some voices saying, 'Well that doesn't count unless you go even further, unless it's free even for the kids of millionaires,'" Buttigieg says in the 30-second spot, a clear s…
(2019-11-29). Spreading Democracy the American Way. globalresearch.ca That's the entire list. You can see that it's blank. But how can that be? We all know that the US has freed dozens of nations from their evil and repressive governments, and installed loving democracies where people lived happily …
(2019-11-29). Violence in DR Congo Ebola hotspot leaves people 'caught in crossfire'. news.un.org Attacks on communities in an Ebola outbreak hotspot in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have sparked a humanitarian crisis and threatened aid distribution, the UN said on Friday, amid reports of serious civil unrest.
(2019-11-29). David Byrne on His Broadway Show "American Utopia," Talking Heads, Reasons to Be Cheerful & More. democracynow.org 
An hour with David Byrne, the celebrated musician, artist, writer, cycling enthusiast, filmmaker and now Broadway star. He has a new hit Broadway show called "American Utopia." The show grew out of Byrne's recent world tour, which the British music publication NME said "may just be the best live show of all time." Byrne talks about the production, his time in the groundbreaking band Talking Heads, his website Reasons to Be Cheerful, Greta Thunberg and more.
(2019-11-29). New Poll Finds Majority of Americans Across Political Spectrum Back Warren's Ultra-Millionaire Tax. commondreams.org New polling finds broad support for Sen. Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax, with Americans across most demographic groups backing her plan to impose an annual two percent tax on wealth over $50 million. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1183832904_1_0.jpg …
(2019-11-29). Progressives Condemn 'Nonsensical and Dishonest' Pete Buttigieg Ad Attacking Free Public College. commondreams.org "This is such a disingenuous attack that can be used for literally any universal program." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pete_buttigieg_2.jpg …
(2019-11-29). WTO Shutdown: I Was Jane Doe #520. commondreams.org I'm glad that we were chanting "This is what democracy looks like" as they took as into custody for our non-violent protests. (Photo: Oakley Myers) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screengrab_2.png …
(2019-11-28). Spain: ERC Ratifies Abstention to Sanchez Investiture. telesurenglish.net The first meeting between the delegations of Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and Esquerra Republicana de Cataluña (ERC) held in Congress has concluded after two and a half hours of negotiations, made up of three representatives from each party. | RELATED: | Spain: Catalan Leaders Demand Dialogue to Support PM Sanchez | The result of the encounter was as expected: the abstention of the Republicans to the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. Both groups explained, through communiqués that…
(2019-11-28). Eating Is Profoundly Political. Which Food Future Will You Choose? commondreams.org Now the fastest-growing segment of the food economy, it is creating the alternative model of a local, sustainable, small-scale, community-based, organic, humane, healthy, democratic — and tasty! — food system for all. (Photo: PeopleImages/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/thanksgiving-petty_1.jpg …
(2019-11-28). Armed groups kill Ebola health workers in eastern DR Congo. news.un.org Deadly night-time attacks by armed groups have once again claimed the lives of frontline healthworkers helping to confront the deadly Ebola virus in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
(2019-11-28). Biden Claimed He Wanted to Earn Every Vote. thenation.com Biden Claimed He Wanted to Earn Every Vote…
(2019-11-28). Our History Is the Future: Lakota Historian Nick Estes on Thanksgiving & Indigenous Resistance. democracynow.org 
Lakota historian Nick Estes talks about Thanksgiving and his book "Our History Is the Future." He is a co-founder of the indigenous resistance group The Red Nation and a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
(2019-11-28). Arundhati Roy: It's Hard to Communicate the Scale and the Shape of This Shadow Taking India Over. democracynow.org 
Human rights groups are condemning the Indian government for carrying out widespread torture, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and other crimes in Kashmir after the region's special status was revoked in August. We speak to the acclaimed Indian author Arundhati Roy about the crackdown in Kashmir, rising authoritarianism in India and other issues.
(2019-11-28). America's presidential candidates hide the knives to deliver Thanksgiving messages. rt.com 
They say politics is a subject best avoided at the dinner table, and America's presidential hopefuls have taken this advice on board: abandoning the usual attacks to deliver the blandest Thanksgiving messages possible. | First into the dining room was President Trump – America's rowdy, unpredictable uncle. Though Trump seemingly out of nowhere tweeted a meme of his head photoshopped onto Sylvester Stallone's ripped 1980s body on Wednesday, and lit on Democrats during the traditional turkey pardoning, his Than…
(2019-11-28). Trump backs Hong Kong protesters, signs 'human rights' bill… 'out of respect for President Xi'? rt.com 
President Donald Trump has approved legislation backing Hong Kong's 'pro-democracy' protest movement, disregarding Beijing's repeated warnings for Washington to mind its own business and stop meddling in China's internal affairs. | Dubbed the 'Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act,' the bill blazed through both houses of Congress earlier this month with virtually unanimous consent from lawmakers. In addition to threatening sanctions over human rights violations, the law requires the State Department to "certify" once a year whether Hong Kong enjoys sufficient "autonomy," though exactly how officials will qu…
(2019-11-28). Trump's impeachment and the US 'national interest'. greenleft.org.au 
democracy Barry SheppardIssue 1247 United States Donald Trump impeachment Letter from the USNovember 28, 2019The Democratic impeachment inquiry began when a "whistleblower" revealed that US P…
(2019-11-28). 'An Unjust Society Is Far Costlier': AOC Says Beware the Deficit Scolds Who Only Complain About Paying for Stuff When It Benefits People. commondreams.org "I see decisions made every day that cost the American public billions of dollars a year for bogus reasons and nobody asks how we pay for it." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc_0.png …
(2019-11-27). Legalienate hails democratic coup in Bolivia. mronline.org 
Legalienate editors Frank Scott and Michael Smith, who declared themselves co-president of the United States in February, today hailed the self-proclaimed presidency of Jeanine Añez in Bolivia as a harbinger of democratic self-determination throughout the world. | Source
(2019-11-27). We're Still Waiting for 'Early and Often' Climate Debate Questions. fair.org 
As the Democratic Party prepared for its first presidential primary debates in June, climate activists pushed the DNC to schedule a single-issue debate on the climate crisis, given the urgency of the problem and the lack of attention given to it in previous debates. DNC chair Tom Perez refused, saying he had "the utmost confidence" that climate disruption would be discussed in the debates "early and often" (FAIR.org, 6/18/19). | Now that seven nights of debates have passed, and multiple…
(2019-11-27). Measles claims more than twice as many lives than Ebola in DR Congo. news.un.org Since the beginning of 2019, measles has taken more than 5,000 lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a top UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) official said on Wednesday, pointing out that over 90 per cent of the deaths were children under-five.
(2019-11-27). Democrats Want to End U.S. Support for the Yemen War — but They Might Continue Funding It Anyway. theintercept.com Progressives want to use the defense budget to stop support for Saudi Arabia's war, but are enough Democrats willing to take a stand?
(2019-11-27). Michael Bloomberg's Presidential Run Raises Serious Questions About Democracy. theantimedia.com Bloomberg has a long history of support for conservative positions, including endorsing George W. Bush's War on Terror.
(2019-11-27). 20 Years After The Battle of Seattle: Vandana Shiva & Lori Wallach on Historic 1999 WTO Protests. democracynow.org 
Twenty years ago this week, tens of thousands of activists gathered in Seattle to shut down a ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization. Grassroots organizers successfully blocked world leaders, government trade ministers and corporate executives from meeting to sign a global trade deal that many called deeply undemocratic, harmful to workers' rights, the environment and Indigenous people globally. On November 30, 1999, activists formed a human chain around the Seattle convention center and shut down the city's downtown. Police responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the mostly peaceful cro…
(2019-11-27). "Don't Hate the Media, Be the Media": Reflections on 20 Years of Indymedia, a Radical Media Movement. democracynow.org 
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the historic protests in Seattle that shut down a meeting of the World Trade Organization, but it also marks the time when the first Independent Media Center came to life. Amid the clouds of tear gas, hundreds of volunteer reporters documented what unfolded. That week indymedia.org received 1.5 million visitors — more than CNN — and produced a daily video report and newspaper. It was the first node in a global citizen journalist movement. | We speak with those who know the story best. Jill Friedberg is co-founder of the Seattle Independent Media Center and co-pr…
(2019-11-27). Headlines for November 27, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Knew of Whistleblower Complaint When He Released Ukraine Aid, Colombian Protesters Call for Second General Strike, Chilean President Seeks to Deploy Military to Streets Amid Protests, IACHR Says Commission Should Investigate Human Rights Abuse in Bolivia, Pompeo Calls on Egypt to Respect Press Freedom, After Raid of Mada Masr, Videos Emerge of Iran's Bloody Crackdown Against Protesters, Jeremy Corbyn Condemns Anti-Semitism, After Criticism from Top Rabbi, Chemical Plant Explodes in Texas; Wildfires Rage near Santa Barbara, CA, New York City Council Votes to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes…
(2019-11-27). Americans are 'sick and tired' of impeachment and 'grandstanding & chicanery' of both parties — Ron Paul. rt.com 
The Democrats are desperately trying to remove President Donald Trump from office or at least win back the presidency in 2020. Yet, all their efforts are seemingly having the opposite effect, former congressman Ron Paul told RT. | Under the present circumstances, the impeachment would be a "total negative for the Democrats" as it would be "squelched in the Senate," even if the Democrat-majority House approves it, Paul said on Tuesday. | More importantly, the whole process is apparently losing steam because people are "sick and tired" of the latest of many attempts to impeach Trump. | There is less enthusiasm f…
(2019-11-27). Inconvenient truths about the Greens. greenleft.org.au 
democracy politics Hall GreenlandIssue 1247 Australia The Greens NSW The Australian GreensNovember 27, 2019While there are serious fl…
(2019-11-27). Michael Bloomberg's President Run Raises Questions About Democracy and a Free Press. mintpressnews.com 
The New Yorker's presidential bid highlights the contradictions between both extreme wealth and a for-profit, corporate advertiser-driven media landscape and democracy and freedom of expression.
(2019-11-26). Murders of Latin American labor leaders anger unions and lawmakers. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (PAI)—It's still not safe to be a labor leader in Latin America, and that has Communications Workers President Chris Shelton, the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, and four pro-worker U.S. House Democrats hopping mad. As a result, all of them are demanding impartial investigations and changes in U.S. policy in response to the killings. The most …
(2019-11-26). Riding Out for Medicare for All with a Back Full of Arrows. progressive.org The barrage of false narratives being fired from influential Democrats, including Barack Obama, is obscuring Medicare for All's unique programmatic strength and broad political support in rhetorical smoke.
(2019-11-26). UN working to prevent attacks on civilians in eastern DR Congo. news.un.org Peacekeepers from the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were conducting extensive patrols in the east of the country on Tuesday, one day after demonstrators set fire to buildings to protest lack of civilian protection in the face of attacks by armed groups.
(2019-11-26). It's Past Time Congress Reined in the President's Emergency Powers. aclu.org The full Senate could soon consider legislation that would rein in the | president's emergency powers and bolster the principle of separation of | powers that underpins American democracy. This legislation, the ARTICLE | ONE Act as amended by a Senate committee, contains sensible reforms of the | National Emergencies Act of 1976 (NEA), the flawed and outdated law that | governs the emergency declaration process. | Under | the current national emergencies declaration process, Congress must muster a | veto-proof two-thirds supermaj…
(2019-11-26). Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Signs Anti-Protest Bill into Law. progressive.org Peaceful protestors can now be charged with a felony if they trespass on property owned, leased, or operated by companies engaged in the distribution of oil or petroleum.
(2019-11-26). Legalienate Hails Democratic Coup In Bolivia. dissidentvoice.org Legalienate editors Frank Scott and Michael Smith, who declared themselves co-president of the United States in February, today hailed the self-proclaimed presidency of Jeanine Añez in Bolivia as a harbinger of democratic self-determination throughout the world. "Juan Guaidó in Venezuela was just the beginning," exulted Smith. "On the eve of Thanksgiving, we are deeply grateful …
(2019-11-26). Immigrant Worker Deportations Hurt Us All. progressive.org Aggressive immigration law enforcement obstructs the protection of all workers, documented and undocumented alike. In November, Democratic lawmakers reintroduced legislation meant to protect them.
(2019-11-26). Pete Buttigieg Says Marijuana Arrests Signify "Systemic Racism." His South Bend Police Fit the Bill. theintercept.com A black South Bend resident was 4.3 times more likely to be arrested for possessing marijuana since 2012 than a white resident. Nationally, it was 3: 1.
(2019-11-26). "An Attack on the Human Rights Movement": Israel Deports Human Rights Watch Monitor. democracynow.org 
The Israeli government deported the director of Human Rights Watch's Israel and Palestine office, Omar Shakir, on Monday. The organization said the move places Israel in an "ugly club" of authoritarian regimes. Israel has accused Shakir of supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a nonviolent global campaign aiming to pressure Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. A 2017 Israeli law bans foreigners from Israel if they publicly support the BDS movement. Omar Shakir joins us from Stockholm to discuss his recent deportation and his plans to address the European Parliament regarding Israel's sy…
(2019-11-26). "Her Gallantry Remains": Oprah Winfrey Remembers Acclaimed Writer Toni Morrison. democracynow.org 
Last Thursday, literary luminaries and social leaders from around the country gathered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan to honor Toni Morrison, one of the nation's most influential writers. She died in August at the age of 88 from complications of pneumonia. In 1993, Morrison became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her classic work "Beloved." Much of Morrison's writing focused on the black female experience in America, and her writing style honored the rhythms of black oral tradition. In 2012, President Obama…
(2019-11-26). Iraqi Scholar Sinan Antoon: Anti-Government Protests Have Led to "Reclaiming of Iraqi Identity" democracynow.org 
In Iraq, more than 340 people have died since anti-government protests began in early October. More than 15,000 Iraqis have been injured. Tires were set on fire Monday and main roads and bridges were blocked in the cities of Basra and Nassiriya. Over the weekend, security forces opened fire on civilians in Baghdad and other cities. Demonstrators are protesting corruption and lack of jobs and basic services, including clean water and electricity. In Baghdad, many university students are taking part in the demonstrations. To talk more about the protests in Iraq we are joined by the Iraqi poet, novelist, translator,…
(2019-11-26). Headlines for November 26, 2019. democracynow.org Judge Rules Trump Can't Stop Officials from Testifying in Impeachment Inquiry, Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Disclosure of Trump's Financial Records, U.S. Troops Resume Combat Mission Against ISIS, U.N.: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Surged to Record-High Levels in 2018, 56 Killed in Landslides in Kenya, Leaked Documents Reveal China's "Brainwashing" of Uyghur Muslims, Duque Calls for "National Dialogue" as Protests Continue to Rock Colombia, Global Protests Mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Argentine Catholic Priests Sentenced to Prison for Raping Students, Water Protectors Block…
(2019-11-26). 'Pete Buttigieg is a lying MF' trends on Twitter after column on past 'racism' goes viral. rt.com 
While he may be enjoying a surge in the Iowa polls, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is trending on Twitter for an entirely different reason, after a column entitled 'Pete Buttigieg Is A Lying MF' went viral. | In the column for the Root, senior writer Michael Harriot scathingly addresses a recently resurfaced video of Buttigieg claiming that black kids in low-income neighborhoods fail at school in high numbers because there "isn't someone who they know personally who testifies to the value of education." Buttigieg made the comment in 2011, while he was running for mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
(2019-11-26). 'Vultures' already subpoenaed by Schiff: Trump trolls media & Democrats at traditional turkey pardoning ceremony. rt.com 
While "pardoning" a turkey ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, US President Donald Trump got in a few jabs at the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry and the media. | Two turkeys, named Bread and Butter, were presented to the president on Tuesday at the White House Rose Garden, and Butter received the traditional presidential pardon. With the ceremony itself being tongue-in-cheek, Trump used it to needle the impeachment inquiry, led by House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-California). | Bread and Butter "have already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff's basement on Thursday," he said. "It see…
(2019-11-26). 'Erdogan thumbs his nose at Trump': US senator says Turkey crossed 'another red line' with S-400 test, calls for new sanctions. rt.com 
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is mocking the US and has crossed a new "red line" as Ankara decided to start testing its S-400 air defense systems, a US senator said, calling for new sanctions against Turkey. | Turkey's persistence in its desire to actually use the armaments it procured from Russia was bemoaned by US Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen in a bitter tweet.The official said that Ankara's push for testing radars of the S-400 systems just two weeks a…
(2019-11-26). Media Wonder: Why Can't Venezuela Be More Like Bolivia? fair.org 
Western corporate media outlets have often cried foul when foreign elections don't go the way the US empire wants them to, and find roundabout ways to label the violent attempts by vocal right-wing minorities to use military forces to overthrow leftist governments as "protests" rather than coups (FAIR.org, 5/16/18, 5/1/19). But it's still rare to see them blatantly call for a right-wing coup without a hint of…
(2019-11-26). Talking Turkey About Impeachment Hearings – NYT coverage teaches us how not to discuss the end of democracy. fair.org 
Congratulations, you made it through the public hearings of the impeachment inquiry, one eye on the livestream and one eye on your work email, and somehow you met your deadlines even as you followed along blow by blow. So what are you going to say about it around the Thanksgiving dinner table? | There were certainly some moments designed to stoke feelings of patriotism as we head into the heavily mythologized, uniquely American holiday this week. Alexander Vindman (New York Times, 11/19/19): "The uniform I…
(2019-11-25). Obama is Wrong to Push Democratic Party Centrism. progressive.org Obama's recent comments highlight an important division in the Democratic Party, one that's prompted the recent emergence of two new candidates: Deval Patrick, the former governor of Massachusetts and personal friend of Obama, and Michael Bloomberg.
(2019-11-25). UN mission in DR Congo appeals for calm as violent protests continue. news.un.org The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has met with national authorities in the wake of an attack against its headquarters in Beni on Monday, which left the building badly damaged.
(2019-11-25). New York Democrats Just Passed a Measure That Could Take the Working Families Party Off the Ballot. theintercept.com At a meeting on Monday, a commission created to implement New York's public campaign finance system voted to pass a proposal that would make it significantly more difficult for alternative political parties to operate in the state. The proposal would change party qualification rules and, combined with an earlier measure to end fusion voting, is seen as part of a larger set of attacks by state Democrats, led by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on Cuomo's nemesi…
(2019-11-25). Washington's Right-Wing Consensus on Israel Faces a Reckoning in Three New York Congressional Races. theintercept.com Eliot Engel and Jerry Nadler, among the most pro-Israel Democrats, are facing primaries from the left. Nita Lowey, another pro-Israel hawk, is retiring.
(2019-11-25). USF students rally for more Black enrollment before meeting with administration. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On November 20, students at the University of South Florida (USF) gathered in front of Cooper Hall to demand that administration increases Black enrollment on campus. Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized and led the demonstration. | This event occurred in anticipation of an upcoming December 4 meeting with administration. SDS will be meeting with the Vice President of Student Success Paul Dosa, VP of Diversity and Inclusion Haywood Brown, Assistant VP of Admissions Glen Besterfield, and Dean of Students Danielle McDonald. The meeting will determine the future of how USF will add…
(2019-11-25). The President is a Domestic Enemy of the Constitution: Ellsberg Slams Trump For Pardoning War Crimes. democracynow.org 
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper demanded the resignation of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, one week after President Trump overruled military leaders and cleared three U.S. servicemembers accused or convicted of war crimes. The men included Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, who has been accused of multiple war crimes, including shooting two Iraqi civilians and fatally stabbing a captive teenager in the neck. Gallagher was convicted of posing with the teenage corpse but was acquitted of premeditated murder. Trump criticized the Navy on Thursday for moving toward holding a review hearing to decide if Gallagher should be…
(2019-11-25). Police Raid Egypt's Last Independent News Outlet Mada Masr Amid "Increasingly Hostile" Media Climate. democracynow.org 
Egyptian security forces raided the office of Mada Masr, the country's last independent media outlet, and arrested three of its journalists this weekend. The raid began Sunday afternoon, when nine plainclothes security officers entered the Mada Masr office in Cairo, seizing phones and laptops and holding the staff in the building for more than three hours. They then arrested editor-in-chief Lina Attalah, managing editor Mohamed Hamama and reporter Rana Mamdouh. It came just a day after security forces arrested senior editor Shady Zalat at his home. All four journalists were released from detention Sunday night. T…
(2019-11-25). Pope Francis Calls Nuclear Weapons Immoral as Catholic Activists Face Jail For U.S. Nuke Base Action. democracynow.org 
Over the weekend, Pope Francis visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the United States dropped the first atomic bombs in 1945, killing more than 200,000 people. Pope Francis said, "A world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary." The leader of the Cathoilc Church met with survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and declared the possession of nuclear weapons to be immoral. The Pope's visit comes as a group of seven Catholic peace activists are awaiting sentencing for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7,…
(2019-11-25). Headlines for November 25, 2019. democracynow.org Navy Secretary Ousted amid Dispute over Accused War Criminal Eddie Gallagher, Released State Dept. Emails Implicate Pompeo in Giuliani Ukraine Plot, Bloomberg Jumps into 2020 Race by Buying Millions in Campaign Ads, Sen. Graham Blocked Armenian Genocide Resolution at White House Request, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Released from Hospital in Good Health, Hong Kong: Pro-Democracy Candidates Win Nearly 90% Seats in Local Elections, Security Forces Raid Offices of Egypt's Last Independent Media Outlet, Iraqi Security Forces Kill 13 Protesters amid Anti-Government Demonstrations, Israel Deporting Head of Human Rights Watch's…
(2019-11-24). "We Are Still Here": Native Activists in Arizona Resist Trump's Border Wall. theintercept.com 
Nellie Jo David was holding forth in the shadow of the border wall. Tucked under her arm was a sign listing the dozens of federal laws that were waived during the building of the structure. With a megaphone gripped tight in her left hand, the 36-year-old read them off one by one. A crowd of protesters listened in. The sun, pouring through the steel slats of the towering 30-foot-tall partition, cast long shadows in the Arizona desert. David explained how the wall's expansion would drain the lands of precious water and its floodlights would blot out the stars. | "We need to stop this desecration," she said, before…
(2019-11-23). Humanitarian Volunteer Scott Warren Reflects on the Borderlands and Two Years of Government Persecution. theintercept.com 
A jury found Scott Warren not guilty in the government's second attempt to lock him up for providing humanitarian aid on the border in Arizona.
(2019-11-23). In Three Touchstone Speeches, Elizabeth Warren Grounds Her Campaign in a History of American Protest and Movement Building. theintercept.com 
Linking with women-led labor struggles is her way of answering those who want to push her away from economic policy and into a "women's issues" box.
(2019-11-23). CIA ayudó a convertir a serie 'Jack Ryan' en fantasía sobre cambio de régimen en Venezuela. thegrayzone.com Un análisis del investigador Tom Secker revela cómo la serie de Amazon sobre un cambio de régimen en Venezuela, "Jack…
(2019-11-23). Iran False Flag Prep, US Government's Staggering Bolivia Hypocrisy, Netanyahu Indicted & Patriot Act. 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 (11/22/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-22). CIA helped shape 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan' series into bigoted Venezuela regime change fantasy. thegrayzone.com Analysis by researcher Tom Secker reveals how Amazon's regime change fantasy "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" was shaped by CIA and…
(2019-11-22). Congress Quietly Unites To Extend "Temporary" Patriot Act Under Cover Of The Impeachment Distraction. thelastamericanvagabond.com The only time Republicans and Democrats can agree is when they are discussing the expansion of the permanent war and surveillance state. The Last American Vagabond takes a closer look at the many layers of deception about how legislation gets pushed through which contains buried provisions that further erode the U.S. Constitution and liberty. This is …
(2019-11-22). U.N. Rapporteur: Julian Assange Has Faced Psychological Torture; He Should Not Be Extradited to U.S. democracynow.org 
This week Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation into sexual assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, stemming from 2010. Assange, who has always denied the allegations, took refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for over seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on the charges. British authorities dragged him out of the Ecuadorian embassy in April and he has since been jailed in London's Belmarsh prison on charges related to skipping of bail in 2012, when he first entered the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden over the now-dropped sexual assault charges. The United States…
(2019-11-22). Hundreds of Thousands Join National Strike in Colombia in Rebuke to Right-Wing President Iván Duque. democracynow.org 
In Colombia, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Thursday in the largest national strike the country has seen in years. Labor unions, students, teachers, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian activists joined in peaceful marches across urban and rural Colombia as anger mounts against right-wing President Iván Duque and his cabinet. The protests were triggered by Duque's proposed labor reforms and cuts to the pension system, as well as a recent military airstrike against a camp of alleged dissident rebel drug traffickers, which killed eight children. Police responded to the movements with repressive tactic…
(2019-11-22). "In Defense of Julian Assange": Why WikiLeaks Founder's Case Threatens Press Freedom. democracynow.org 
This week Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation into sexual assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, stemming from 2010. Assange, who has always denied the allegations, took refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for over seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on the charges. British authorities dragged him out of the Ecuadorian embassy in April and he has since been jailed in London's Belmarsh prison on charges related to skipping of bail in 2012, when he first entered the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden over the now-dropped sexual assault charges. The United States…
(2019-11-22). Headlines for November 22, 2019. democracynow.org Ex-White House Adviser Warns Impeachment Probe of GOP's "Fictional Narrative" on Ukraine, Senate Republicans May Limit Trump's Impeachment Trial to Two Weeks, Mass Protests in Colombia Oppose Right-Wing Government, Bolivian Soldiers Tear Gas Funeral Procession for Slain Protesters, Iran Continues Internet Blackout After Violently Repressing Protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Indicted on Corruption Charges, Protesters Confront Joe Biden Over Obama-Era Deportations, Over 100 Lawmakers Call on President Trump to Fire Stephen Miller, Seven Arrested at UC Berkeley Protest of Ann Coulter Speech, Syracu…
(2019-11-21). Trump's Recognition of Israeli Settlements Is Rooted in Bipartisan Support. progressive.org Three previous U.S. administrations all ignored the gross power asymmetry between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
(2019-11-21). Klobuchar, Booker, Harris Turn Up the Temp in Democratic Debate Number Five. progressive.org In the most watchable of the five Democratic candidate debates so far, three candidates who have been running toward the back of the pack put in the best performances.
(2019-11-21). Julián Castro: Gordon Sondland's Testimony Is "Nail in the Coffin" of Trump's Defense. democracynow.org 
During Wednesday's impeachment hearing, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland told lawmakers that he was ordered by Trump to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Sondland also acknowledged there was a quid pro quo tying U.S. military aid to investigations, and said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence were aware of the Ukraine pressure campaign. Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro joins us to discuss these latest developments in the impeachment inquiry, which he describes as "blockbuster testimony" that could serve…
(2019-11-21). 2020 Candidates' Focus on Inequality Shows "Shift in the Conversation" Within Democratic Party. democracynow.org 
Ten Democratic candidates took the stage Wednesday for the party's fifth presidential debate, held in Atlanta, Georgia, and co-hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post. One of the most memorable moments of the night was a disagreement between Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker over Warren's proposed tax on the wealthiest Americans. Her proposed wealth tax would kick in on assets of $50 million and higher. Both candidates agreed that inequality is a major issue in the U.S., but Booker said wealth taxes in other countries have not been effective and that there are better ways to raise revenue. The issue of ec…
(2019-11-21). Joe Biden's and Pete Buttigieg's Records on Race Come Under Scrutiny at 5th Democratic Debate. democracynow.org 
Presidential candidate Joe Biden claimed on the Democratic debate stage Wednesday that he has broad support from black voters and the only black woman elected to the Senate, seemingly forgetting that 2020 candidate Kamala Harris is a California senator. Biden's comment came amid multiple blunders during the debate, hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post in Atlanta. For more on the 2020 candidates' discussion of race in their campaigns, we speak with Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, and Ryan Grim, D.C. bureau chief for The Intercept.
(2019-11-21). Bernie Sanders Criticizes U.S. Relationships with Saudi Arabia and Israel at Democratic Debate. democracynow.org 
Ten Democratic candidates took the stage in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday for the party's fifth presidential debate, co-hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post. Toward the end of the evening, Senator Bernie Sanders criticized former Vice President Joe Biden's support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and laid out his foreign policy vision, including strong criticism of traditional U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Israel. "It is no longer good enough for us to be pro-Israel — I am pro-Israel — but we must treat the Palestinians with the dignity they deserve," he said. We speak with Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at th…
(2019-11-21). Headlines for November 21, 2019. democracynow.org Gordon Sondland Says Trump Directed Ukraine Quid Pro Quo, Top 10 Democratic Candidates Hold Presidential Debate in Atlanta, Dozens of Guatemalan Migrants Freed from Locked Truck in Mexico, Humanitarian Volunteer Scott Warren Not Guilty of Felonies for Aiding Migrants, Ex-Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to Probation for Running Over Migrant, Syria: 22 Civilians Killed in Idlib; Israel Bombs Iranian Forces Near Damascus, Israel Headed for Another Election After Benny Gantz Fails to Form Government, U.S. Isolated at U.N. Security Council After Declaring Israeli Settlements Legal, U.N. Warns Planned Fossil Fuel Product…
(2019-11-21). Sondland Pressed Ukraine to Smear Biden at Trump's Direction, Diplomat Says. theintercept.com 
Donald Trump's point man on Ukraine, Gordon Sondland, admitted during a conversation in July that the president had directed him to press Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, to open a sham investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a State Department official testified on Thursday to the House impeachment inquiry. | The official, David Holmes, is a career foreign service officer who said in his opening statement that Sondland, the U.S.
(2019-11-20). Israel Carries Out 'Wide-Scale Strikes' In Syria, US Gov Withholds Food/Meds From Iran & Patriot Act. 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 (11/20/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-20). Transgender Day of Remembrance: "Celebrate the Living" While Honoring Loved Ones Lost to Hate. democracynow.org 
November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that honors the thousands of transgender and gender nonconforming people who have been killed around the world. The Day of Remembrance is also a celebration of the community's resistance and a call to action to fight for policies and a shift in culture that protects trans lives. At least 22 transgender and gender nonconforming people have been killed in the United States this year, and over 3,000 transgender and gender nonconforming lives have been taken since 2008 around the world. We speak with LaLa B Zannell, longtime transgender rights advocate and the co-p…
(2019-11-20). Iran: Over 100 Feared Dead in Protest Crackdown as Authorities Impose Internet Blackout. democracynow.org 
In Iran, Amnesty International reports over 100 protesters have been killed in 21 cities by security forces during ongoing nationwide demonstrations sparked by a sudden hike in fuel prices last week. The death count may be much higher, the report warns, with some suggesting as many as 200 have been killed. According to Iranian state media, over 1,000 people have been arrested. On Thursday, Iran announced a rise in the cost of gas ranging from 50% to 300%. Soon after protests broke out on Sunday, Iran imposed an almost complete internet blackout, making it nearly impossible for protesters use social media to share…
(2019-11-18). Don't Suppress Votes of New Citizens. progressive.org A new kind of voter suppression is being perpetrated by the federal government and flying largely under the radar: a multi-faceted effort to prevent legal immigrants from becoming citizens in time to vote.
(2019-11-18). US Says Israeli Settlements Are Legal, 23 Killed In Bolivia As Violent Coup Ignored & Venezuela Flop. 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 (11/18/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-17). Warren's Head Tax Is Not More Popular Than A Payroll Tax. peoplespolicyproject.org As we know by now, Elizabeth Warren's Medicare head tax proposal is a regressive mess ( I, II, III, IV). Warren's team knows this. The goal of the proposal i…
(2019-11-17). Bolivia's New US-Made Dictatorship, Netanyahu Wins As Gaza Loses & Iran's Protests Are Trump's Fault. 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 (11/16/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-17). CAP's Topher Spiro Is Trying to Deceive Journalists By Lying. peoplespolicyproject.org 
It's been fun to see how the Center for American Progress (CAP) navigates this year's presidential election. For insider political reasons, they can't support Biden or Sanders. But for a long time, it was unclear who the alternative candidate they could support would be. | When Kamala Harris was rising, CAP's staff was doing overtime boosting her on Twitter and in the press, including boosting Harris's absurd health care proposal. But Harris's collapse put an end to that strategy. Recently Warren has risen as the alternative and so CAP has been working to promote her campaign, which puts CAP in the comical positi…
(2019-11-16). Weekend Read: The importance of documenting racism in the White House. splcenter.org Earlier this week, the SPLC's Intelligence Project released the first two installments of an explosive four-part series examining more than 900 leaked emails between White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and an editor at the Breitbart News Network, a far-right website that its co-founder once dubbed the "platform for the alt-right."
(2019-11-15). Demands for Stephen Miller's Resignation Grow Following SPLC Report. splcenter.org Leaders of several Democratic caucuses became the latest voices demanding the resignation of White House senior adviser Stephen Miller after an SPLC investigation showed, through leaked emails, his affinity for white nationalism.
(2019-11-15). Israel Kills Over 30 In Gaza, Bolivia Coup About Lithium And More & Israeli Group Taking Syria's Oil. 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 (11/14/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-12). James Corbett Interview — ISIS Was Created, Armed And Funded By US/Israel & It's An Open Secret. thelastamericanvagabond.com The US government armed Osama Bin Laden; it armed Saddam Hussain with chemical weapons to be used against Iran in 1980; it armed the very groups that later became ISIS. Yet we are sold an entirely different yarn by the US government and its lap dog MSM. Today I have invited James Corbett on the …
(2019-11-12). Leaked Audio Recordings Implicate Cruz, Menendez And Rubio In Bolivia Coup & Veteran's Day Reality. 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 (11/11/19). 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 …
(2019-11-11). Turkey's Syria 'Ethnic Cleansing' In US Memo, US Can Shoot 'Any Syrian' Over Oil & A Bolivia Coup. 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 (11/6/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-09). Possible False Flag In Iraq, US Votes Against Anti-Nazi Res. & Pompeo's Iran Nuclear Lies Debunked. 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 (11/6/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-11-05). The Leisure Agenda Will Give Americans Less Work and More Free Time. peoplespolicyproject.org Read the Paper | People's Policy Project, in collaboration with the newly-formed Gravel Institute, has released its latest major paper: "The Leisure Agenda." Ryan Cooper authored the paper. Jon White designed the paper. | The paper begins by documenting how overworked Americans are relative to people in similarly-developed countries. The average American worker puts in 269 more market work hours each year than…
(2019-11-03). Warren's Medicare Head Tax Would Be About $9,500. peoplespolicyproject.org On Friday, I wrote a piece arguing that Elizabeth Warren's use of an employer head tax was not a good way to fund Medicare for All and that instead the more conventional choices of income and payroll taxes would be better. The reason they are better is because income and payroll taxes are based on how much income you receive while a head tax charges the same dollar amount for every worker regardless of their income, making it much more onerous on the lower and middle classes. | This point holds…