(2019-12-03). Saving the minor leagues: Bernie Sanders jumps into the fight. peoplesworld.org 
Bernie Sanders is a baseball fan. How couldn't he be? Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, the Dodgers baseball club was a part of everyday life. Well, that was the case up until the fall of 1957 when team owner Walter O'Malley announced the team's move over to the West Coast of California. It was …
(2019-12-03). Monty Python's North Korea? Comedian's book is surprisingly objective look at DPRK. peoplesworld.org 
Many readers might know Michael Palin. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. His antics were quite hilarious, and his work has been shown around the world. In later years, he also became a well-known BBC personality. In 2018, he took a camera crew to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (otherwise …
(2019-12-03). Virginia labor targets 'right to work'; governor may stand in the way. peoplesworld.org 
The victory of Democrats in Virginia state legislative elections on Nov. 5 has opened the door to many new legislative struggles. The mood in organized labor and progressive political circles is decidedly upbeat. For unions and their members, labor law reform, and particularly the repeal of the state's "right to work" law is the highest …
(2019-12-03). For Corporate Media, It's 'Anybody But Sanders or Warren'. indybay.org Journalism that can't stand progressive populism…
(2019-12-03). For Corporate Media, It's 'Anybody But Sanders or Warren'. counterpunch.org Anyone who's been paying attention should get the picture by now. Overall, in subtle and sledgehammer ways, the mass media of the United States — owned and sponsored by corporate giants — are in the midst of a siege against the two progressive Democratic candidates who have a real chance to be elected president in More
(2019-12-03). China Retaliates Against Hostile US Legislation. globalresearch.ca In late November, House and Senate members unanimously passed the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) of 2019. | Trump signed the measure into law, along with a companion bill, restricting exports of US crowd control devices to …
(2019-12-03). The DSA on impeachment or: How the DSA learned to stop worrying and love Bolton. wsws.org The Democratic Socialists of America has given its full support to the impeachment campaign, lining up behind John Bolton and the other reactionaries promoted by the Democratic Party.
(2019-12-03). Kamala Harris Ends Run for President. truthdig.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sen. Kamala Harris told supporters on Tuesday that she was ending her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. | "I've taken stock and looked at this from every angle, and over the last few days have come to one of the hardest decisions of my life," the California Democrat said. "My campaign for president simply doesn't have the financial resources we need to continue." | A senior campaign aide said Harris made the decision Monday after discussing the path forward with family and other top officials over the Thanksgiving holiday. | Her abrupt withdrawal marked a dramatic fal…
(2019-12-03). Why Have No Republicans Turned on Trump? truthdig.com If the last three years have taught us anything, it's that the GOP will tolerate all manner of corruption so long as the cash is flowing.
(2019-12-03). After Meeting With Pharma-Backed Rep, Trump Scraps Support for Lower Drug Prices. truthout.org This article was produced by Sludge, an independent, ad-free investigative news site covering money in politics. Click here to support Sludge. | Since his 2016 campaign, President Trump has rhetorically stood against most Republicans by supporting a plan to have the government negotiate with pharmaceutical companie…
(2019-12-03). Right-wing extremist Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter is expected to plead guilty. indybay.org According to the Department of Justice on August 21, 2018, "U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter and his wife, Margaret E. Hunter, were indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges that they converted more than $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and filed false campaign finance records with the Federal Election Commission.
(2019-12-03). UN to Resolve the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis. globalresearch.ca The Rohingya refugees have, for decades now, been fleeing their homeland, the Rakhine province in Myanmar. Mostly through Yangon's inaction, elements of the military and members of the majority Buddhist population were left to run rampage amongst this helpless Muslim …
(2019-12-03). Lesson in Diplomacy for India's Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty. counterpunch.org It is detrimental to democracy when the Consul General of India to New York, Sandeep Chakravorty, asserts that in order to facilitate the return of the displaced Pandit community, India will build settlements in Kashmir. This sort of deleterious rhetoric, when employed by diplomats and policy makers, becomes the authoritative discourse of officialdom. In the current More
(2019-12-03). Trump Impeachment Report Released by Dem. House Panel. telesurenglish.net The United States House Intelligence Committee released Tuesday the report documenting the impeachment case against President Donald Trump, laying out the conclusions of its inquiry into allegations that he abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. | RELATED: | White House Won't Participate In Next Trump Impeachment Hearing
(2019-12-03). Retiring Chicago Police Chief Superintendent fired after video shows police body-slamming a mentally ill man. wsws.org Democratic mayor Lori Lightfoot offered a standard prepared statement noting that the ensuing investigation "will be comprehensive and expedited so that the public may gain a complete picture."
(2019-12-03). Pompeo: US Will Prevent Cuba, Venezuela From 'Hijacking' Protests in Latin America. theantimedia.com Pompeo positioned the US as in favor of "democratic" protests in the region, while accusing Cuba and Venezuela of trying to "hijack" them.
(2019-12-03). Middle America: The Danger for Democrats. commondreams.org It's too late to turn back the page to the soft, centrist, consensus politics of the era before Trump. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden-climate-draft-policy-panned_0.jpg …
(2019-12-03). House Democrats begin next phase of impeachment drive. wsws.org The White House is refusing to participate in the first formal impeachment hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, set for Wednesday.
(2019-12-03). Hong Kong —— Pure Western Insanity. globalresearch.ca The impunity with which the US aggresses Hong Kong is insane. Equally or more insane is western media coverage of what is going on in Hong Kong. Not one word on how the incredible "pro-democracy" vote of the rather unimportant …
(2019-12-03). New leadership in German SPD: Fresh faces—same right-wing policies. wsws.org Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken have been elected as the new co-leaders of the Social Democratic Party. They unexpectedly defeated the current vice-chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
(2019-12-03). Pelosi Stalls Pro-Labor Bill While Pushing Trump's Trade Deal. truthout.org Progressives on Monday criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for reportedly leaving a broadly popular bill boosting union membership on her desk for months while pushing for the passage of one of President Donald Trump's legislative priorities, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, by Christmas. | "I don't know exactly what the holdup is," said Rep. Pramila Jayapa (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, "it is taking longer than it should given the number of co-sponsors that we have." | Pelosi's d…
(2019-12-03). Israeli Minister of Defense to Impose Sanctions on Palestinian 'Militants' Abroad. imemc.org Israeli Minister of Defense, Naftali Bennett, on Tuesday, issued a written order imposing international economic sanctions on Palestinian militants abroad, The Palestinian News and Info Agency reported. Hebrew media outlets broadcast Bennett's decision, pointing out that this move has never been attempted before. Bennett issued his first order against Jamil …
(2019-12-03). Pete Buttigieg Isn't Fooling Black America. truthdig.com What follows is a conversation between activist Bill Fletcher and The Real News Network's Jacquelyn Luqman and Marc Steiner. Read a transcript of their conversation below or watch the video at the bottom of…
(2019-12-03). Hunter Biden an Embarrassment to His Father and Dead Brother. globalresearch.ca Before becoming Barak Obama's Vice President, Joe Biden was a senator from Delaware. Delaware is a small state of 961,000, where everyone knows everyone else and everyone knows all the major office holders. Here, all politics are local and Joe …
(2019-12-03). Think You're Tired of the Ukraine Scandal? So Are the Ukrainians! progressive.org Biden, Burisma, and the US impeachment hearings have crowded out media coverage of pressing domestic issues in Ukraine.
(2019-12-03). Pompeo Says US Will "Help Prevent" Protests For "Legitimate" Governments & US Bombs Afghan Family. 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 (12/2/19). 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 …
(2019-12-03). Republican Attacks on Abortion Don't Send Democrats Running Scared Anymore. thenation.com Republican Attacks on Abortion Don't Send Democrats Running Scared Anymore…
(2019-12-03). Why Are Big-Money Democrats Turning Their Fire on Progressives? thenation.com Why Are Big-Money Democrats Turning Their Fire on Progressives?
(2019-12-03). Where Billionaires Stand on the Presidency. thenation.com Where Billionaires Stand on the Presidency…
(2019-12-03). Climate commando Schwarzenegger prevented from attending COP25 climate summit due to US storms. rt.com 
Actor and former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger was scheduled to attend the COP25 summit on climate change in Madrid, but couldn't make it because of rampant storms across the US. | The news was broken by Sebastián Navarro, secretary-general of Capital Cities to Combat Climate Change (CC35), who said the 'Terminator' star could not attend for "personal reasons," adding that the US was experiencing a high number of storms which have precluded the Last Action Hero from flying to Madrid. | Schwarzenegger is a founding member of the World War Zero group established by former US Secr…
(2019-12-03). Dueling impeachment reports: Democrats claim 'evidence' of Trump misconduct, Republicans say there isn't any (READ HERE). rt.com 
Impeachment hearings have shown evidence that US President Donald Trump solicited election interference from Ukraine for personal gain, says a new report by the House Democrats. Republicans say that no such evidence was given. | House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-California) published a 300-page report on Tuesday, as part of the official impeachment inquiry authorized in October despite bipartisan opposition. The report claims that both the secret depositions and the public hearings held over the past month have shown ev…
(2019-12-03). 'Standing With Bernie Because Bernie Stands With Us': Iowa's Largest Progressive Group Endorses Sanders. commondreams.org With only about two months left before Iowa's first-in-the-nation 2020 caucuses, the political arm of the state's largest grassroots progressive group endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Monday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_26_0.jpg …
(2019-12-03). Kamala Harris to End Her 2020 Presidential Campaign, Leaving Third Way Dems 'Stunned and Disappointed'. commondreams.org Harris leaves the race after failing to gain traction with voters. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/ka_mala_harris_0.jpg …
(2019-12-03). US Navy Places $22 Billion Cyber Monday Order for Nuclear Submarines, But Who Is Asking How We Gonna Pay For It? commondreams.org "$22 billion could fund a lot of kids learning," said Albert Lee, a Democrat running for Congress in Oregon. "We need an education race; not a wasted arms race." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/how_you_gonna_pay_for_it.jpg …
(2019-12-03). Meet Yetnebersh Nigussie: A Blind Ethiopian Lawyer Fighting for Global Disability Rights. democracynow.org 
December 3 is International Day of Persons With Disabilities. "Unfortunately, disability-based discrimination is still a global phenomenon," says Yetnebersh Nigussie, a lawyer and disability rights activist from Ethiopia who in 2017 received the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." Nigussie is the director for advocacy and rights at Light for the World and the former chair of the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind women's wing. She has been blind since the age of five. Yetnebersh Nigussie speaks with us in Stockholm. She is one of many former Right Livelihood Award recipie…
(2019-12-03). My Generation Needs to Say "Enough": A Swedish Climate Striker Speaks Out About Fridays For Future. democracynow.org 
From Stockholm, Sweden, we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Awards, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." This year's recipients include 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose school strike for climate started in Stockholm when she began standing outside the Parliament building every school day to demand bold climate action more than a year ago. Her act of resistance soon became a global movement, with millions of youth around the world leaving school and taking to the streets to demand swift action to halt the climate crisis. Greta has just arrived in Lisbon,…
(2019-12-03). "We Are Facing a Global Emergency": Greta Thunberg Arrives Back in Europe to Attend Climate Talks. democracynow.org 
From Stockholm, Sweden, we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Awards, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." This year's recipients include 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived Tuesday in Lisbon, Portugal, after traveling for three weeks across the Atlantic in the 48-foot catamaran La Vagabonde, refusing to fly because of the high carbon footprint of air travel. Thunberg was on her way to attend COP25 in Santiago, Chile, when the conference was abruptly relocated due to mass demonstrations against a proposed subway fare hike. She sounded a rallying cry to…
(2019-12-03). Indigenous Protectors Are Defending the Amazon and "Paying With Their Lives" democracynow.org 
This week we're on the road in Stockholm, Sweden, where we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." One of this year's recipients of the award is Yanomami indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa and the organization he co-founded, Hutukara Yanomami Association. The Right Livelihood Foundation has praised them for "their courageous determination to protect the forests and biodiversity of the Amazon, and the lands and culture of its indigenous peoples." The award comes as indigenous forest protectors and uncontacted tribes in Brazil are increasingly unde…
(2019-12-03). Headlines for December 3, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats May Widen Impeachment Inquiry, Trump Lashes Out at Macron Amid NATO Summit, Rep. Duncan Hunter Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Violations, Supreme Court Hears Arguments over Arsenic Pollution in Montana, Half a Million Forced to Evacuate as Typhoon Kammuri Slams Philippines, Amnesty Says Over 200 Killed in Iran's Crackdown Against Nov. Protests, 7 Men Sentenced for Murder of Honduran Environmental Activist Berta Cáceres, Honduran TV Host José Aritas Murdered in Puerto Cortés, Guatemala: Ex-Military Official to be Tried for Genocide Against Ixil Mayans, White House Quietly Releases $105 Million i…
(2019-12-03). Social crises, crises of Democracy, neoliberalism in crisis. mronline.org 
The current global social tensions have in common the rejection of inequality and the loss of democratic control. The engine driving these challenges may well be the fading relevance of neoliberalism, which is aggravating its own crisis and opening the door to confrontation. | Source
(2019-12-03). Critics Decry 'Publicity Stunt With Genuine Consequences' as Trump Deploys 'Surge' of Park Rangers to Patrol Southern Border. commondreams.org Critics of the Trump administration's immigration policies raised alarm Tuesday over a so-called "surge" of park rangers that the Interior Department is deploying to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border as House Democrats refuse to fund President Donald Trump's long-promised border wall. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1125974665.png …
(2019-12-02). Pete Buttigieg says marijuana arrests signify "systemic racism." His South Bend Police fit the bill. mronline.org 
PETE BUTTIGIEG wasn't much of a pot smoker in college. But coming home from a party one evening, he bumped into a friend of a friend smoking a joint. Buttigieg later recalled that he acted out of curiosity. | Source
(2019-12-02). Nancy Pelosi Pushes the House to Pass USMCA, but Neglects a Bill With Broad Support to Strengthen Unions. theintercept.com 
The PRO Act, which has 215 co-sponsors, would be the most comprehensive rewrite of U.S. labor law in decades. Pelosi hasn't brought it to the floor.
(2019-12-02). Ukraine, the New Cold War and the Politics of Impeachment. counterpunch.org In October 2019, with the impeachment of Donald Trump already underway, wealthy 'centrist' Democratic Party donors began to fret over the Democrat's prospects in the 2020 election. Since then Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick, both Wall Street Democrats with deep pockets, have entered the race. Meanwhile, the Senate impeachment schedule will keep Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in Washington— and away from the campaign trail, well into the early state primaries. More
(2019-12-02). Obama spearheads campaign against Sanders' nomination as Democratic presidential candidate. wsws.org The Democratic Party establishment wants to ensure that issues of social inequality are not a focal point in the elections, even in the toothless form represented by Sanders and Warren.
(2019-12-02). New Anti-UN Protests in DR Congo Kill One, Wound Five. telesurenglish.net One man was killed and five were wounded Monday in the eastern town of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where new protests broke out to demand the United Nations mission's departure from the city. | RELATED: | Ebola Virus Contained in DRC: WHO | Police blocked hundreds of people from reaching the U.N. compound – one of two U.N. bases in the area – located inside the airport in the north of Beni. | In its bid to disperse protesters, the police repeatedly fired shots, a reporter from AFP said,…
(2019-12-02). Non-Intervention: an Imperfect Solution to a Terrible Problem. counterpunch.org On November 27, US president Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The bill, passed by veto-proof majorities in Congress amid large protests in the "special administrative region," allows the president to impose sanctions on officials who violate human rights there, and requires various US government departments to annually review Hong More
(2019-12-02). Chilean President Piñera Has Lowest Approval Rating Ever. telesurenglish.net Many Chileans are wondering just how much further Chilean President Sebastian Piñera's popularity can fall, after polls revealed the lowest approval ratings for a president since the country's return to democracy. | RELATED: | Chile: Municipalities Call Citizens to Independent Consultation | The Pulso Ciudadano poll, conducted by consulting firm Criteria Research, and that undertaken by Cadem's Plaza Pública, differ in terms of the ratings of the president's administration, but…
(2019-12-02). US Threatens to Continue Intervening in Latin American Protests. telesurenglish.net United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Monday that Washington would "support" aligned governments trying to prevent protests in the region from turning into "riots." | RELATED: | 'We Lied, Cheated and Stole': Pompeo Comes Clean About CIA | "We'll work with legitimate (governments) to prevent protests from morphing into riots and violence that don't reflect the democratic will of the people," Pompeo told an audience at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky. | The Trump…
(2019-12-02). Pro-Beijing parties suffer heavy defeat in Hong Kong district elections. wsws.org The victory of the so-called pro-democracy camp also revealed widespread alienation from the major pan-democrat parties, which continue to hold political sway, however, in the absence of a socialist alternative.
(2019-12-02). Morales Vows To Do What's Best for Bolivia, Not Afraid of Jail. telesurenglish.net The democratically elected President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, said Sunday that he would value the option of being imprisoned in Bolivia, if that action helps the Bolivian people, who suffer from a climate of anxiety and instability after the coup d'etat driven by the right of the South American country. | RELATED: | The Pro-Evo Upheaval in Bolivia: How is it Affecting the Canadian Political Scene? | "For the Bolivian people, for the political instrument, for t…
(2019-12-02). White House Won't Participate In Next Trump Impeachment Hearing. telesurenglish.net The White House told Democratic lawmakers Sunday that President Donald Trump and his lawyers would not participate in an impeachment hearing in Congress this week, citing a lack of "fundamental justice." | RELATED: | Trump Accuses Impeachment Witness Of Lying, Defends Giuliani | Trump's aides responded defiantly to the first of two crucial deadlines he faces in Congress this week as Democrats prepare to shift the focus of their fact-finding probe to the consideration of possible ch…
(2019-12-02). Tariq Ali on U.K. Elections, Corbyn's "Radical Social-Democratic Program" & Rise of Extreme Right. counterpunch.org …
(2019-12-02). Nicaragua Marked Next For US "Liberation", Trump Blames "Vicious World" For Khashoggi Murder & 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 (12/1/19). 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 …
(2019-12-02). 'Troubling and wrong': Trump blacklists Bloomberg News from covering campaign over bias for billionaire Democrat boss. rt.com 
President Donald Trump's re-election campaign has barred Bloomberg News from covering rallies and events, citing the outlet's overt bias for their boss, a billionaire seeking the Democrat presidential nomination. | "We are accustomed to unfair reporting practices but most news organizations don't announce their biases so publicly," Trump 2020 manager Brad Parscale said Monday, describing as "troubling and wrong" the outlet's decision to "formalize preferential reporting policies." | The campaign will decide whether to deal with individual reporters and will answer inquiries on a case-by-case basis, Parscale ad…
(2019-12-02). Tariq Ali on U.K. Elections, Corbyn's "Radical Social-Democratic Program" & Rise of Extreme Right. democracynow.org 
The British general election is just 10 days away and will have huge implications for the future of the country as well as Brexit. When voters cast their ballots later this month, they will choose between two dramatically different candidates: right-wing Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson and left-wing Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn recently unveiled an ambitious election manifesto promising to transform the country and resuscitate its public sector. The plan proposed a $100-billion tax increase on the wealthy to fund investment in infrastructure as well as increased spending on education and heal…
(2019-12-02). A World in Revolt Against Neoliberalism & Corruption: Tariq Ali on the Roots of Today's Uprisings. democracynow.org 
The historian and activist Tariq Ali talks about the uprisings that are happening around the world, from Chile and Colombia to Iraq and Lebanon. "It's extremely significant because what it reveals is a new generation completely alienated from the political structures of their societies," Ali says.
(2019-12-02). Youth-Led Protests Topple Iraqi PM as Demonstrations Calling for Overhaul of Government Continue. democracynow.org 
Anti-government protests are continuing in Iraq one day after the Iraqi parliament voted to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. On Saturday, protesters set off fireworks in Baghdad's Tahrir Square when Abdul Mahdi announced he would submit his resignation, though he will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. The resignation came two days after Iraqi security forces killed at least 44 people in the southern cities of Nasiriya and Najaf after the Iranian consulate was burned down on Wednesday night. Following the bloody crackdown, Iraq's Shi'ite spiritual leader Gra…
(2019-12-02). Headlines for December 2, 2019. democracynow.org COP25 Opens in Madrid Amid Dire Warnings About Climate Change, House Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing in Impeachment Inquiry, 3 Women Accuse Ambassador Sondland of Sexual Misconduct, Iraqi Prime Minister Resigns Amid Anti-Government Protests, Malta Prime Minister Resigns amid Probe of Journalist's Murder, Three More Egyptian Journalists Arrested, Attack on London Bridge Kills 2 Cambridge Graduates, Trump Visits Afghanistan in Surprise Thanksgiving Trip, Supreme Court to Hear First Major Gun Case in Nearly a Decade, Twitter Suspends Account of Ilhan Omar's Challenger, Sestak and Bullock Drop Out of 2020 Preside…
(2019-12-02). What Seattle Has Wrought. counterpunch.org A year after the WTO protests rocked Seattle, Alexander Cockburn and I assessed the damage to global capitalism and its emissaries in the Democratic Party — JSC Exactly this time a year ago a truly prescient person monitoring bus,car and plane traffic into the city of Seattle could have predicted that Al Gore's presidential bid faced More
(2019-12-01). Ilhan Omar and the Politics of 'Radical Love'. progressive.org The Minnesota Congresswoman wants to redefine U.S. foreign policy as we know it.
(2019-12-01). Middle America: The Danger for Democrats. progressive.org To insist that not coming on too strong is what's needed in 2020 is to miss the whole lesson of the rightwing populist rise of Trump.
(2019-12-01). How We Win via NVDA Campaigning. dissidentvoice.org 
Long-time peace, justice, democracy and lgbtq activist and trainer George Lakey has written a book, How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning, about the strategic centrality to movement-building of the approach of nonviolent direct action campaigning. Built upon his decades of organizing experience going back to the '60s civil rights movement, there …
(2019-12-01). The Usual Incoherence on Student Benefits Is Back. peoplespolicyproject.org 
Of all the welfare state topics, student benefits manages to consistently attract the most incoherent and weird arguments, and the recent spate of arguments on this front are no exception. In the last week, a student benefit dustup has been instigated by Pete Buttigieg ostensibly being against free public college for millionaires and billionaires while Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are ostensibly for it. | This has set off the usual round of commentary about how Buttigieg is arguing for means-testing while Warren and Sanders are arguing f…
(2019-11-30). DPRK tests new weapon system and strengthens defenses. fightbacknews.org Washington DC — The Democratic People's Republic of Korea tested a new rocket launching system on November 29. | According to a report from the Korean Central News Agency, "Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, inspected the test-fire of the super-large multiple launch rocket system conducted by the Academy of Defense Science." | In a related development, Kim Kye Gwan, advisor to the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK, commented on past meetin…
(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). 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.
(2019-11-28). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2019-11-27). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). "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). "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). 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). 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…
(2019-11-26). 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…
(2019-11-25). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2019-11-23). 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). 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). "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). 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…