(2019-12-11). What Trump and the GOP Learned from Obama. commondreams.org Republicans have doubled down on efforts to keep black people from voting in key races. (Photo: DonkeyHotey/Flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/crime.jpeg …
(2019-12-11). Papers Owned by Oligarchs Unsurprisingly Oppose a Wealth Tax. fair.org 
When wealth-tax advocates like senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are two of the top three contenders for winning the 2020 Democratic primaries, you can bet that the US ruling class is terrified by the possibility of being slightly less rich (FAIR.org, 4/16/19). Notably, US oligarch Jeff Bezos (who ow…
(2019-12-11). Impeachment: It's not just about Trump but also deepening democracy. peoplesworld.org 
This is truly an extraordinary moment. Now, for only the fourth time in U.S. history, a president faces impeachment. Impeachment is a huge people's victory. And let's be clear—it is a victory born of struggle. The American people from many different walks of life compelled the House of Representatives to take this step. It may not …
(2019-12-11). House bill restores enforcement strength to Voting Rights Act. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to restore the full strength of the 54-year-old Voting Rights Act. So do Democratic Reps. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, Ala., who authored the bill that strengthened the law, and Marcia Fudge of Cleveland, who helped shepherd the measure through the U.S. House. And so do, strongly, U.S. unions …
(2019-12-11). Profit problem: If they can't kill it, capitalists will co-opt Green New Deal. peoplesworld.org 
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Sen. Bernie Sanders recently tweeted, "A Green New Deal is not radical or extreme. What's radical and extreme is allowing fossil fuel companies to cause the displacement and deaths of millions of people in order to turn a profit." The Vermont senator's tweet encapsulates the urgency of …
(2019-12-11). Will the Democratic Presidential Nomination Be Bought? indybay.org Billionaires on a shopping spree…
(2019-12-11). Plutocrats Are Trying to Buy the Democratic Nomination. truthdig.com From three different vectors, the oligarchy is on the march to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. Pete Buttigieg has made big gains. A timeworn ally of corporate power, Joe Biden, is on a campaign for his last hurrah. And Michael Bloomberg is swooping down from plutocratic heights. | Those three men are a team of rivals—each fiercely competitive for an individual triumph, yet arrayed against common ideological foes named Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. | The obvious differences between Buttigieg, Biden and Bloomberg are apt to distract from their underlying political similarities. Fundamen…
(2019-12-11). Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "Timely Visit" to Washington. Coincides with House Impeachment Procedure. Discusses "Russiagate" with Trump in Oval Office. globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov met with Pompeo at the State Department as well as Trump in the White House Oval Office. | Several issues discussed including "Russiagate" | [Careful timing?: | "House Democrats will begin work on completing their articles of …
(2019-12-11). Strikes continue in Finland after Social Democrat prime minister resigns. wsws.org The broad support for…
(2019-12-11). U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement—Weak Tea, at Best. globalresearch.ca The revised U.S.—Mexico—Canada Agreement (USMCA), announced today by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and endorsed by the AFL-CIO, represents a significant improvement on the draft agreement first released in 2017. Negotiators for labor and House Democrats strengthened the provisions …
(2019-12-11). Pelosi Backs Down After House Progressives Push to Strengthen Drug Pricing Bill. truthout.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, faced with a united front of progressive Democrats pushing back against a drug pricing bill seen as insufficient, blinked on Tuesday and handed her party's left flank a rare victory. | "This is what happens when progressives in Congress, backed by the grassroots, use their power to push for real change," political advocacy group Indivisible said on Twitter. | This is a BIG deal. We're glad to see that H.R. 3 has been improved to protect millions more people from…
(2019-12-11). Brazilian Workers Party backs Bolsonaro's draconian "anti-crime" bill. wsws.org The vote has shattered the year-long claim by Bolsonaro's opposition that it represents some kind of democratic "resistance".
(2019-12-11). The Reiss Center at NYU's Law School: A think tank for the national security establishment and the Democratic Party. wsws.org The Reiss Center embodies the convergence of the interests of finance capital, the Democratic Party, and the military and intelligence apparatus.
(2019-12-11). Watchdog Caught in Political Crossfire on His Russia Report. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's internal watchdog was caught in a political tug of war Wednesday as Republican and Democratic senators used his report on the origins of Russia investigation to back their views that it was an important and legitimate probe or a badly bungled farce. | Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his findings this week that while the FBI had a legitimate basis to launch the Russia investigation and was not motivated by political bia…
(2019-12-11). Are These Two Articles of Impeachment the Best the Democrats Can Do? truthout.org When the House Democratic leadership announced on Tuesday morning that only two articles of impeachment will be charged against Donald Trump — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — I was ready to start flipping tables and punching holes in the drywall. | After everything that has transpired in the three years since that wad of pub cheese first darkened the White House doorstep, after all the…
(2019-12-11). Labour is the only main UK party not paying to lie to people in this election. thecanary.co The Labour Party is the only main UK party not paying to lie to people in the general election. According to a study by First Draft, both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have paid for advertisements that contain misleading or factually wrong information. The Conservatives, in particular, to an extremely excessive degree. For the period it looked at in the study, the organisation couldn't find a single ad from Labour that spread lies or falsehoods to voters. | Trust is a major issue in this election. This study shows that, in terms of the nationwide parties and trust, Labour is the best choice for vote…
(2019-12-11). CrimethInc. presents: From Democracy to Freedom. indybay.org SubRosa Community Space | 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz…
(2019-12-11). Constitutional Accusation Against Chilean President Goes Ahead. telesurenglish.net A constitutional accusation filed by opposition parties against President Sebastian Piñera was approved today by a committee of deputies, as the first step in that process. | RELATED: | Chile Denounces Over 350 Eye Injuries On Human Rights Day | The Committee, formed by five legislators of the Socialist, Communist and Christian Democratic parties (opposition), as well as the National Renewal and Independent Democratic Union parties of the ruling coalition, supported by three votes…
(2019-12-11). Democrats release articles of impeachment against Trump on "national security" grounds. wsws.org The articles of impeachment assert that the president "betrayed the nation" and "compromised the national security of the United States" by temporarily delaying military aid to Ukraine.
(2019-12-11). 2019 Sacramento Pre-Kwanzaa Gala Celebration. indybay.org First Baptist Church of Sacramento | 2324 L Street | Sacramento, CA 95816…
(2019-12-11). Impeachment Eve Vigil. indybay.org Gateway Park, Castro Street and El Camino Real, Mountain View…
(2019-12-11). Trump-Pelosi Trade Maneuvers: The New NAFTA 2.0, China Tariffs, and Brazil-Argentina Steel. globalresearch.ca According to the corporate media, revisions to the USMCA demanded …
(2019-12-11). Warren vs. Buttigieg clash offers contrast with Bernie's consistency. nationofchange.org he finger-pointing by Warren and Buttigieg over their histories has helped showcase the one front runner whose history is consistent and progressive.
(2019-12-11). US Accuses Iran Of "Increasingly Sophisticated" ROCKET Attacks, Clinton Meddling & Afghan Implosion. 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 (12/10/19). 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 …
(2019-12-11). Joe Biden Can Do Better on Climate: 350 Action Launches Biden 2020 Petition. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-12-11). "The Most Extreme Fires We've Ever Seen": Record Climate-Fueled Wildfires Engulf Australia in Smoke. democracynow.org 
As world leaders gather to address the climate crisis in Madrid, massive wildfires have engulfed Australia in flames and smoke. More than 100 climate-fueled blazes have killed at least six people and pushed air quality levels in Sydney to 12 times hazardous levels. Thousands braved extreme air pollution Wednesday to protest the government's climate inaction outside Sydney Town Hall. As Democracy Now! broadcasts live from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, we speak with Australian environmental scientist Bill Hare, director of Climate Analytics and a coordinator of the Climate Ac…
(2019-12-11). Billionaire Presidential Hopeful Mike Bloomberg Addresses Press at COP25 But Won't Take Questions. democracynow.org 
Former New York mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg spoke at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday, saying he came to the climate talks because "no one from the White House" was there. The event was billed as a media opportunity, but Bloomberg refused to answer questions from the press. Bloomberg entered the presidential race in November and has since spent tens of millions of dollars of his own money on the race. Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman followed Bloomberg through the conference venue, asking how he would address issues of inequality and whether his strategy to win the presidency was to outs…
(2019-12-11). "Shame!" Indigenous Leaders & Delegates from Global South Stage Dramatic Protest at COP25 in Madrid. democracynow.org 
Democracy Now! was broadcasting live from the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain, when hundreds of climate advocates and people's movements at the U.N. climate action summit staged a protest inside the conference venue. As the demonstration unfolds, we speak with Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Karin Nansen, chair of Friends of the Earth International; Nigerian climate activist Nnimmo Bassey with Health of Mother Earth Foundation; and indigenous climate activist Daiara Tukano from Brazil.
(2019-12-11). Rep. Ro Khanna Urges "Universal Condemnation" of Trump as Democrats File Impeachment Charges. democracynow.org 
House Democrats have unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump that formally charge him with high crimes and misdemeanors after more than two months of investigation. On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined chairs of the impeachment inquiry committees to announce the charges of "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." Democrats allege Trump withheld congressionally directed taxpayer funding for Ukraine's military until the Ukrainian president agreed to do what Trump called a "favor" by announcing Ukraine was investigating his potential 2020 political rival Joe Biden. Democra…
(2019-12-11). Headlines for December 11, 2019. democracynow.org Democrats Charge Trump with Two Articles of Impeachment, Trump Meets with Russian Foreign Minister, Who Denies Russia Meddled in 2016 Election, Democrats Agree with Trump on New NAFTA, Federal Judge Blocks Trump from Diverting Funds to Border Wall, Mass Protests Continue in France Against Macron's Pensions Plan, British Voters Head to the Polls Thursday, Protesters at COP25 Continue Demands for Urgent Action: "You Can't Drink Oil, Keep It in the Soil!", Thousands Protest Australian Government's Inaction as Smoke from Wildfires Blankets Sydney, At Least 6 Dead, 3 Missing, After Volcano Erupts in New Zealand, Ethio…
(2019-12-11). Indigenous Leaders and Delegates From the Global South Stage Walkout at COP25. truthout.org Democracy Now! was broadcasting live from the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain, when hundreds of climate advocates and people's movements at the U.N. climate action summit staged a protest inside the conference venue. As the demonstration unfolds, we speak with Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Karin Nansen, chair of Friends of the Earth International; Nigerian climate activist Nnimmo Bassey with Health of Mother Earth Foundation; and indig…
(2019-12-11). Record Climate-Fueled Wildfires Engulf Australia in Smoke. truthout.org As world leaders gather to address the climate crisis in Madrid, massive wildfires have engulfed Australia in flames and smoke. More than 100 climate-fueled blazes have killed at least six people and pushed air quality levels in Sydney to 12 times hazardous levels. Thousands braved extreme air pollution Wednesday to protest the government's climate inaction outside Sydney Town Hall. As Democracy Now! broadcasts live from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, we speak with Austral…
(2019-12-11). Congress must investigate why America was lied to about Afghanistan for all these years — Gabbard. rt.com 
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard pledged to seek a congressional inquiry into the Afghanistan war after a damning report said US officials have been lying about what has been happening there since the US occupation began. | Gabbard, a military veteran who runs for the Democratic nomination on an anti-war platform, said there has to be "accountability for the lying" and the lives and taxpayer money lost in the longest military operation in the US history. | "The cost of this war and regime change wars and the nation-building that follows is immeasurable in many ways but it's measurable in the ways that have…
(2019-12-11). 'May the (Space) Force be with you,' Congress tells Trump in new Pentagon budget bill. rt.com 
US Space Force is about to become a sixth branch of the military, courtesy of Congress going along with President Donald Trump's popular campaign promise even as Democrats try to impeach him from office. | Included in the 3,500-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020 is the provision recognizing space as a warfighting domain and establishing the Space Force as a separate service branch. While it is a step up from the current Space Command, the USSF will still be embedded under the US Air Force, in an arrangement mirroring the relationship of the Marines and the Navy. | "Congress…
(2019-12-11). New California and National Polls Show Sanders Crushing 2020 Rivals Among Voters Under 45. commondreams.org New polling out of California reveals that although former Vice President Joe Biden narrowly edged out Sen. Bernie Sanders by one point in terms of overall support, the progressive senator is garnering the most support from young voters in the state and elicits the most enthusiasm from Californians. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-115765446911.jpg …
(2019-12-11). On Indivisible's 2020 Scorecard, Warren's Commitment to Democracy Reform and Sanders' Policy Platform Win High Marks. commondreams.org Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was ranked at the top of progressive group Indivisible's 2020 candidate scorecard on Wednesday, winning a score of 95%. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen20shot202019-12-1120at2012.21.1120pm.jpg …
(2019-12-11). 'Exactly Why Some People Hate Democrats': Progressives Rip Moderates for Proposal to Censure, But Not Impeach, Trump. commondreams.org Progressive Democrats in Congress directed outrage and disgust at several of their centrist colleagues, who held a meeting Monday where they discussed censuring President Donald Trump for his alleged attempt to bribe the Ukrainian government rather than impeaching him. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/32967395018_91653e4782_o11.jpg …
(2019-12-11). Sure, Impeach Trump, But Let's be Honest. counterpunch.org Sure, impeach Trump for legitimate reasons explicitly stated in the Constitution. But let's be honest that an 18th century document did not include slaveholding among high crimes against humanity, and certainly has no specific clauses covering modern war crimes and state terrorism. The New York Times has a recent article ("Republican Tactic: Using Impeachment Hearings More
(2019-12-10). In 2000, Pete Buttigieg Wrote an Essay Praising Bernie Sanders. What, Exactly, Did He Admire? theintercept.com 
Buttigieg's politics are the inverse of Sanders's ironclad democratic socialism, but spoken with the same resoluteness of tone and courage of conviction.
(2019-12-10). Over Machinists' objections, AFL-CIO backs revised 'New NAFTA' pact. peoplesworld.org 
(2019-12-10). Pete Buttigieg, in First Campaign for State Treasurer, Swore Off Bank Money, Citing "Conflict of Interest" theintercept.com 
But a review of his campaign disclosure records finds that Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign is awash in cash from bank executives.
(2019-12-10). Congress to Vote on $22 Billion Defense Increase One Week After Trump Slashed Food Stamps. theintercept.com Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna called the defense bill an example of "astonishing moral cowardice."
(2019-12-10). Trump vs. Democracy. counterpunch.org The US House of Representatives marked a milestone on November 6, 2019, as it decided to report out articles of impeachment on Trump. But there's a bigger picture to consider. The impeachment represents a new stage in the political 'food fight' between the two wings of the political-economic elite in the USA. It also represents More
(2019-12-10). A powerful show of solidarity for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party from America. thecanary.co With only 48 hours to go until the general election, the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) issued a powerful statement in support of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party. The PDA's Alan Minsky sent this letter to The Canary and it's a powerful and important show of solidarity. | The Canary is sharing the letter in full: | "A clear pathway to a more just and equitable society": | "On Thursday, the British public has a historic opportunity to elect a truly pro-worker, pro-environment, anti-war and anti-ra…
(2019-12-10). Report unmasks FBI intervention in 2016 elections. wsws.org The real threat to American democracy comes from the national-security state and the capitalist ruling elite, not from any foreign country.
(2019-12-10). Where Justice is a Game: Impeachment Hearings Redux. counterpunch.org The Monday, December 9th hearings were another repetition of the facts by Democrats and the ignoring of them by the trumpists. The hearings began with a so-called silent protest by the GOP. Despite this misappropriation of a popular tactic by the right wing, one has to admit it's nice when they keep their mouths shut. More
(2019-12-10). Was Trump Looking for Corruption or a Personal Favor? counterpunch.org Congress's first round of impeachment hearings wound up largely focused on whether President Trump had offered a quid pro quo for receiving a favor from Ukraine, i.e. Trump would release held up military aid and other signs of US support only after Ukraine investigated a particular company that employed Joe Biden's son, and the former More
(2019-12-10). The Voter Suppression Playbook Is Britain's Latest Toxic Import From the US. thenation.com The Voter Suppression Playbook Is Britain's Latest Toxic Import From the US…
(2019-12-10). Asad Rehman on the U.K.'s "Climate Election" & Explosive Afghanistan Papers Revelations. democracynow.org 
We get response from London-based Asad Rehman, executive director of War on Want, on two major news developments: The United Kingdom — which will head the COP next year — is set to vote Thursday in what some are calling "the climate election," and the Washington Post has published a confidential trove of documents that reveal how senior U.S. officials have lied throughout the 18-year war in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history, while hiding evidence the war had become unwinnable.
(2019-12-10). The U.S. Has Almost No Official Presence at COP25 But Is Still "Obstructing Any Progress" democracynow.org 
This week, Democracy Now! is broadcasting from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, where representatives from almost 200 countries have gathered to negotiate solutions to the climate crisis. Known as COP25 for "conference of parties," the summit offers a rare opportunity for all countries, especially those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, to have an equal say in negotiations. It comes four years after the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2 degrees Celsius," or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. But as the summit heads into its final days, represen…
(2019-12-10). "Listen to Mother Earth": Indigenous Youth Leaders at COP25 in Madrid Protest Fossil Fuel Extraction. democracynow.org 
"Our movements must be bigger than recycling and braver than holding signs," said Rose Whipple, a member of the Santee Dakota and Ho-Chunk, and youth delegate with SustainUS, who joined a panel of youth climate activists at the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain. Indigenous peoples from Canada and the United States are at the summit, speaking out against extraction, new pipeline projects and the environmental devastation of their territories, and calling for movements to center the rights of indigenous peoples.
(2019-12-10). Amazonian Forest Protectors Rally Outside COP25 Amid Death of Two Indigenous Chiefs. democracynow.org 
On Monday, indigenous activists from the Brazilian, Colombian and Ecuadorian Amazon rallied outside the COP25 venue to protest the targeting of indigenous forest protectors and the destruction of their lands, known as the "lungs of the Earth." Their protest came just days after two indigenous chiefs, Firmino Prexede Guajajara and Raimundo Guajajara, were gunned down in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Brazil.
(2019-12-10). Indigenous Youth & Elders at COP25 Protest Canada's Support of Dirty Tar Sands Projects. democracynow.org 
Indigenous women protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday morning to demand action to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across North America. Madrid police shut down the protest within minutes. On Monday, indigenous youth and elders gathered outside the Canadian Embassy in Madrid to protest the Canadian government's support of the Alberta tar sands extraction and new fossil fuel infrastructure, including a pipeline that would cut through indigenous lands to carry tar sands oil from Alberta to Wisconsin. We speak with one of those demonstrators: Eriel Dera…
(2019-12-10). Headlines for December 10, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats to Unveil Articles of Impeachment Today, WaPo: Secret Afghanistan Papers Reveal How U.S. Officials Lied About War, Sanders & Khanna Urge Lawmakers to Vote Against National Defense Authorization Act, Russia and Ukraine Agree to Ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, India's Lower House Passes "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill, Protests Continue in Madrid, Spain, Amid COP25, Denmark Passes Climate Act to Reduce Emissions by 70% by 2030, More Than 100 Blazes Rage Across Australia Amid Worst Fire Season in History, Iraq: One Journalist Killed and a Second Disappeared After Covering Protests, Aung San Suu Kyi Arri…
(2019-12-10). 'What's next, accuse Russian diplomats of doping?' Lavrov mocks absurd media storm over his 'secret' meeting with Trump. rt.com 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took a moment to poke fun at US media and members of Congress obsessing about his 'secret' meeting with US President Donald Trump, while throwing shade on WADA for the Russian sports ban. | On a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC on Tuesday, Lavrov met with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo as well as Trump, behind closed doors at the White House. Congressman Adam Schiff (D-California), House Democrats' point man for Trump impeachment, called it a "success of Russian propaganda." | Just had a very good meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and representatives of Russia.
(2019-12-10). 'Abuse of power' & 'obstruction of Congress': Democrats unveil charges in Trump impeachment. rt.com 
US House Judiciary Panel chairman Jerry Nadler has announced that two articles of impeachment will be introduced against President Donald Trump, including one for abuse of power. | Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nadler said Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine and that he has "declared himself above accountability." | No one, not even the president, is above the law. | He said the second article of impeachment will be for obstruction of Congress. The Judiciary Committee will meet later this week to consider the articles. | Nadler also claimed that lawmakers must "act now" because the integrity of th…
(2019-12-09). Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren Team Up With House Progressives to Challenge Nancy Pelosi on Drug-Pricing Bill. theintercept.com The Progressive Caucus is threatening to vote down a drug-pricing bill important to Nancy Pelosi. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have backed them up.
(2019-12-09). Trump's New Trade Deal: NAFTA with Lipstick. progressive.org The buzz inside the Beltway is that "centrist" Democrats are desperate to pass the USMCA to signal they are getting things done.
(2019-12-09). Controversy Erupts After Elizabeth Warren Reveals Millions in Corporate Consulting Income. theantimedia.com Elizabeth Warren revealed on Sunday night that she made nearly $2 million from legal consulting for corporate clients.
(2019-12-09). Iran False Flag, Bolivia's Coup Gov Seeks Israel's Help, Israel's Been In Yemen 'Since Day One'. 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 (12/8/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-09). Michael Bloomberg Has an Anti-Democratic Streak. thenation.com Michael Bloomberg Has an Anti-Democratic Streak…
(2019-12-09). Whose Name Is on the Bullet? thenation.com Whose Name Is on the Bullet?
(2019-12-09). Three Ways the "Fairness for All Act" Doesn't Protect LGBTQ People from Discrimination. aclu.org On Friday, Congressman Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and | several of his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced | the so-called "Fairness for All Act." The bill is being described by its | supporters as a compromise that protects both LGBTQ people and religious | liberty. | In reality, the bill facilitates the Trump | administration's ongoing efforts to give a greenlight to those who would turn | LGBTQ people away from jobs, health care, housing, even taxpayer-funded | programs, simply because of who they are. The bill also weakens some | longstanding protections in federal and state laws…
(2019-12-09). Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron & BP Could Be Legally & Morally Liable for Climate Crisis in Philippines. democracynow.org 
The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines has just determined that 47 major companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Total, could be found legally and morally liable for human rights harms to Filipinos resulting from climate change. The commission found the companies could be held accountable under civil and criminal laws. Climate activists have hailed the decision as a landmark victory for climate justice. According to Greenpeace, this marks the first time big polluting companies have been found responsible for human rights harms resulting from the climate crisis. We speak to Yeb Saño, exe…
(2019-12-09). Police Halt Activist-Led "Toxic Tour" of Spain's "Dirtiest" Corporate Polluters Sponsoring COP25. democracynow.org 
In Spain, the country's biggest fossil fuel polluters are also some of the most generous sponsors for this year's U.N. climate talks. On Saturday, we joined activists on a "toxic tour" of Madrid from the Madrid stock exchange to Santander Bank. Activists explained that when Spanish President Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain would host COP25, he went to IBEX 35 — the 35 biggest listed companies in the Spanish stock exchange — offering them a 90% tax break on a $2 million sponsorship. Advocates say that these same companies "have deep and dirty links to the fossil fuel industry." But midway through, t…
(2019-12-09). Greta Thunberg at Madrid March: Hope in the Streets, Not the U.N. Climate Summit. democracynow.org 
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg also addressed Friday's climate march in Madrid. "The hope is not within the walls of COP25; the hope is out here with you," said Thunberg, who inspired the global youth strike movement.
(2019-12-09). At Major March in Madrid, Indigenous & Youth Activists Slam Global Leaders for Climate Inaction. democracynow.org 
We broadcast from Madrid, Spain, where the 25th United Nations climate conference is in its second week and representatives from almost 200 countries have gathered for the final days of negotiations. The summit — known as COP25, or conference of parties — has so far focused on meeting the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2 degrees Celsius," or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. But climate scientists say the talks are failing to produce the drastic measures necessary to address the climate crisis. Since the Paris Agreement four years ago, greenhouse gas emissions have risen by…
(2019-12-09). Greta Thunberg, Rose Whipple & Eriel Deranger on Listening to Indigenous People Amid Climate Crisis. democracynow.org 
At the end of Friday's major climate rally in Madrid, a group of indigenous activists took the stage to sing and give speeches, but after some speeches their microphone was cut and the lights on stage were shut off as they spoke. Democracy Now! spoke to Eriel Deranger of Indigenous Climate Action and later asked Greta Thunberg and Rose Whipple about the importance of listening to indigenous voices.
(2019-12-09). Meet the Climbing Kids: 8- & 11-Year-Old Siblings Who Rappel from Bridge Demanding Climate Action. democracynow.org 
As hundreds of thousands marched to the main stage during Friday's climate march in Madrid, two young children — a brother and sister aged 8 and 11 — staged an act of civil disobedience from a bridge overlooking the protest. While demonstrators marched beneath them, the two children rappelled from an overpass, dangling from ropes in mid-air to hang a banner calling for climate action. Democracy Now! briefly spoke to them after their action.
(2019-12-09). Indigenous Leader Sà¥nia Guajajara: The Amazon Is Burning & Its Defenders Are Being Assassinated. democracynow.org 
Speakers at Friday's climate march in Madrid included Brazilian indigenous leader Sà¥nia Guajajara. A day after she spoke, two indigenous chiefs — Firmino Prexede Guajajara and Raimundo Guajajara — were gunned down in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Brazil.
(2019-12-09). Spanish Actor Javier Bardem: We Need Urgency, Ambition & Reduction to Confront Climate Crisis. democracynow.org 
Speakers at Friday's massive climate march in Madrid included the actor Javier Bardem. In 2007, he became the first Spanish actor to win an Academy Award for acting for his supporting role in "No Country for Old Men." He addressed the crowd in Spanish.
(2019-12-09). Headlines for December 9, 2019. democracynow.org House Judiciary Committee Holds Impeachment Hearing Today, FBI Opens Terrorism Probe into Air Base Shooting That Killed 3 Sailors, Hundreds of Thousands March in Madrid as COP25 Enters Second Week, Iraq: Gunmen Kill 25 Anti-Government Protesters in Baghdad, India: 43 People Killed in a Fire in Factory in Delhi, Evo Morales Travels to Cuba for Medical Appointment, Protests Against Economic Inequality Continue in Chile & Colombia, Two Brazilian Indigenous Leaders Killed, Hundreds of Thousands Pour into Streets for Pro-Democracy March in Hong Kong, France: Protests Continue Against Macron's Pension Overhaul, Finland…
(2019-12-08). The "Bernie Blackout" Is in Effect — and It Could Help Sanders Win. theintercept.com Sen. Bernie Sanders faced a media blackout that helped sink his 2016 run for president. Ahead of 2020, the trend continues: Sanders gets less media coverage and a higher rate of negative coverage than his top rivals for the Democratic nomination. But this time, says The Intercept's D.C. Bureau Chief Ryan Grim, the blackout could actually help Bernie win.
(2019-12-08). Israel Bombs Gaza, Israeli Bot Group Caught Spreading Hate & US Admits Houthis Not "Iran Proxy" 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 (12/7/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-07). How Media Turn Support for Public Schools Into Opposition to Children of Color. fair.org by Julie Hollar | Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic presidential candidates are rejecting the Obama administration's embrace of charter schools, and media observers aren't taking kindly to it. "Minority Voters Chafe as Democratic Candidates Abandon Charter Schools," blared a recent New York Times headline ( 11/26/19). "The front-runners for the presidential nomination are moving away from the charter school movement, and black and Latino families ask why…
(2019-12-07). The Origins of Democratic Socialism: Robert Owen and Worker Cooperatives. dissidentvoice.org Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — and its two predecessor organizations, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM) — emerged in the early 1970s, during a long-term rightist movement in the United States. The DSA's contribution to the American Left was its new founded identity as a radical organization born …
(2019-12-07). Some False Statements Made in the Trump-Impeachment Hearings. dissidentvoice.org In the December 4th statement that was made by Stanford University law professor Pamela Karlan was this: We have become the shining city on a hill. We have become the nation that leads the world in understanding what democracy is. One of the things we understand most profoundly is it's not a real democracy, it's …
(2019-12-07). US Claims "Fresh Intelligence" Of Iran Attacks Yet Provides Zero Evidence — MSM Blindly Regurgitates. thelastamericanvagabond.com Here we go again with "fresh intelligence" to justify the continued sanctions and destabilization of Iran. It's a plan that has been well documented even by their own writings (See Which Path to Persia? — 2009). Of course, complicating U.S. foreign policy is the involvement of Israel. The Last American Vagabond covers the latest political posturing, distortion, and general …
(2019-12-07). Even Hunter Biden Admits His Work in Ukraine Was a Mistake. Why Can't His Father Say That? theintercept.com Biden's bizarre claim that "no one has said my son did anything wrong" in Ukraine reveals an inability to accept that legal behavior can also be unethical.
(2019-12-06). Hillary Casually Drops 'Russian Asset' Smear on Bernie Sanders in New Interview. theantimedia.com Are we just going to ignore that Hillary Clinton, today, just implied that Bernie Sanders is also a Russian asset?>
(2019-12-06). The US Is Manufacturing A War With Iran Under Cover Of The Impeachment Distraction. 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 (12/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-06). "It's Our Future": Meet the Youth Activists Behind Fridays for Future Movements in Uganda and Chile. democracynow.org 
In Spain, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in Madrid to take part in today's strike as well as a major march set for 6 p.m. local time. Greta began the climate strike movement last year when she started skipping school every Friday to stand in front of the Swedish parliament, demanding action to prevent catastrophic climate change. Her protest spread, quickly going global. We speak with two youth climate strikers: Hilda Flavia Nakabuye is the founder of Fridays for Future Uganda and Angela Valenzuela is a coordinator with Fridays for Future in Chile, where this year's U.N. clima…
(2019-12-06). Why Are Some of Spain's Biggest Polluters Sponsoring U.N. Climate Summit? democracynow.org 
A group of climate activists walked out of a panel at the U.N. climate summit in Madrid on Thursday to protest the presence of Shell, BP and Chevron. Representatives from the oil companies were taking part in an event organized by the International Emissions Trading Association. This comes as the Spanish government is facing criticism for reaching out to Endesa, Spain's biggest corporate greenhouse gas polluter, to sponsor the U.N. climate talks. We speak with Pascoe Sabido, a researcher and campaigner for the Corporate Europe Observatory, who has been organizing toxic tours of Madrid to expose the corporations a…
(2019-12-06). COP25: Alternative Climate Summit Honors Those "Suffering the Crimes of Transnational Corporations" democracynow.org 
We broadcast from Madrid, Spain, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP25, began Monday and will continue through next week, as environmental leaders from around the world gather to negotiate global solutions to the climate crisis. Activists have converged on Madrid for the conference and are hosting an alternative summit of their own: Cumbre Social por el Clima — the Social Summit for the Climate. The alternative summit has been organized by social justice and environmental groups to draw attention to the ongoing political repression in Chile, corporate influence on the climate su…
(2019-12-06). Headlines for December 6, 2019. democracynow.org Pelosi Calls On Democrats to Proceed With Drafting Articles of Impeachment, Joe Biden Lashes Out at Iowa Town Hall over His Son Hunter's Work in Ukraine, Pentagon Weighs Sending Up to 14,000 More U.S. Troops to Middle East, Saudi Aramco Raises $25.6 Billion in Historic IPO, 140,000 Died Globally from Measles in 2018, 62 Refugees Died after Boat Capsized off Coast of Mauritania, Shocking Video Shows How Border Patrol Let Teenage Asylum Seeker Die in Custody, French Workers Continue National Strike into Second Day, Uber Says It Received 3,000 Reports of Sexual Assault in U.S. in 2018, The Guardian: Ilhan Omar and R…
(2019-12-06). With People in the Streets Worldwide, Media Focus Uniquely on Hong Kong. fair.org 
Unlike protests against US client states, the Hong Kong demonstrations were frequently given the approving "pro-democracy" label (CNN, 8/30/19). | 2019 may be remembered as the year of the protest, as demonstrations are engulfing the world. From the Yellow Vests in France to demonstrations in Lebanon, Gaza, Chile, Ecuador and Haiti, sustained movements all over the planet have taken to the street demanding change. Yet US corporate media have been disproportionately interested in only one: the Hong Kong protests.
(2019-12-05). CNN Says US Has "Fresh Intelligence" Of Iran Prepping Attack But Can't Show It & More NYT Propaganda. 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 (12/4/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-05). Judge Orders Hunter Biden to Reveal How Much He Made at Ukrainian Oil Company. theantimedia.com Hunter Biden has been ordered by an Arkansas judge to produce five years of financial records in his paternity case.
(2019-12-05). Sweden Provides Free Higher Education, Universal Healthcare, Free Daycare — Why Can't the U.S.? democracynow.org 
Medicare for All and tuition-free universities have been at the core of the 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns, creating a stark division between progressive candidates and their centrist counterparts. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have proposed to make Medicare for All and public universities cost-free by taxing massive corporations and the super wealthy, and earlier this year, Sanders introduced legislation that would cancel student loan debt. His plan would be paid for with a new tax on Wall Street, he says. It would also make public universities and community colleges free — a key pil…
(2019-12-04). The DNC: Finding Your Perfect Match! progressive.org We're in the business of creating the perfect Democratic nominee.
(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). 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.
(2019-12-02). 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). Leonard Cohen: the poet, his muse and his penis. greenleft.org.au 
music Barry HealyIssue 1248 Australia Leonard CohenDecember 3, 2019Maryanne & Leonard, Words of Love
| Documentary film directed by Nick Broomfield
| In cinemas | As I emerged from the media preview for this film, I heard another viewer mutter that it was "the most self…
(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…
(2019-11-23). 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 …
(2019-11-20). 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 …
(2019-11-18). 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 …