(2019-07-17). US House votes to condemn Trump's tweets against congresswomen. thecanary.co 
The Democratic-led House of Representatives has voted to condemn US president Donald Trump's "racist comments" against four congresswomen, despite protestations by Trump that he has not got "a racist bone in my body".Two days after the president tweeted that four Democratic politicians should "go back" to their home countries — although all are citizens and three were born in the US — Democrats muscled the resolution through the chamber by 240-187 over strong Republican opposition.The rebuke was an embarrassing one for Trump, and he had appealed to Republican politicians not to go along — but four…
(2019-07-17). Maureen Dowd Asked Rahm Emanuel to Weigh In on an Immigration Debate. His Record Is Abysmal. theintercept.com 
When it comes to immigration, both the politics and the policy, perhaps no Democrat has been more destructive over the past 25 years than Rahm Emanuel.
(2019-07-17). Congresswomen condemn White House racism. workers.org 
As we go to press, the House of Representatives passed a resolution saying that Trump's tweets were racist. All Democrats and four Republicans voted for the resolution. More to come. The white supremacist and misogynist Trump has opened up another vicious, racist verbal war. This time it is against four . . . | Continue reading Congresswomen condemn White House racism at Workers.org
(2019-07-17). A Fearless and Free Press is Essential to Our Democracy. counterpunch.org "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." —Thomas Jefferson Make no mistake about it, the individual sitting in the highest office of our nation is trying to destroy the foundational institution upon which our democracy was founded — a fearless and free press. And why More
(2019-07-17). National strike against Ecuadorian government demands Assange's freedom. wsws.org The protests in defense of Assange and the recent five-day strike in Ecuador demonstrate that the only social basis for his liberation and the defense democratic rights is the international working class.
(2019-07-17). Resolution Condemning Trump's Racist Attacks 'Not Enough,' Say Progressives: 'We Must Impeach'. commondreams.org House Democrats, said CREDO Action, must "use all the power they have to try to remove a racist from the White House" | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/rashida_tlaib_2.jpg …
(2019-07-17). Houston African Forum Pre-Event to Sister Cities International Conference. indybay.org Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Texas Southern University, Houston…
(2019-07-17). 'We want to just FIGHT!' House protocol drama almost drowns out 'Trump's racist tweets' resolution. rt.com 
House Democrats and Republicans crossed swords over a resolution condemning Trump's 'racist' tweets — and whether they could even call the tweets racist — leading to a procedural battle that overshadowed the actual vote.
(2019-07-17). Santa Cruz Residents Protest the Recall at Petition Signing Locations. indybay.org Santa Cruz residents are resisting what they are calling an "anti-democratic" effort to recall Progressive City Counclimembers Drew Glover and Chris Krohn by protesting at signature gathering sites. On July 15, a signature gathering location operated on Pacific Avenue by Take Back Santa Cruz member Jane Becker was protested.
(2019-07-17). Election-meddling & 'good censorship': Google 'pushes the boundaries till its hand gets slapped'. rt.com 
Senate Republicans tore into Google during a hearing, demanding accountability for its biased, election-skewing algorithms, while Democrats ran interference, denying the company was censoring anyone — and suggesting it should.
(2019-07-17). 'C'mon Donald!' Joe Biden challenges Trump to PUSH UP competition. rt.com 
Former vice president Joe Biden has a novel challenge for Donald Trump: a pushup competition. Not to be left out of the senior athletics contest, Bernie Sanders also challenged the president to a mile-long run.
(2019-07-17). Twitter CEO maxes out donations to Tulsi Gabbard… conspiracy machine kicks into overdrive. rt.com 
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has donated thousands of dollars to anti-war Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard — and Twitter users and mainstream media journalists are (rather ironically) up in arms about it.
(2019-07-17). '4 horsewomen of the apocalypse': Trump renews attack on 'Dem Squad'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has tweeted out comments made by a Republican senator who branded the 'squad' of four freshman Democratic congresswoman who accused him of racism as "the four horsewomen of the apocalypse."
(2019-07-16). 'Rigged': Film targets the villains behind voter suppression. peoplesworld.org 
(2019-07-16). Sheriffs' Association Targets Trump With Ads to Stop Prescription Drug Imports. truthout.org Bringing in prescription drugs from other countries to reduce prices is an idea that has gained traction across the political spectrum, from Sen. Bernie Sanders to President Donald Trump. | But the proposal, generally criticized by pharmaceutical companies, has faced additional opposition on the airwaves in recent weeks from a different kind of…
(2019-07-16). House opposes Trump's Iran war threat, repeals Bush 'war on terror' authorization. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—By mostly party-line tallies, the Democratic-run U.S. House opposed President Donald Trump's presumed march towards war against Iran. Lawmakers also voted to repeal two prior war-making measures, approved in 2001 and 2002, originally OK'd for Republican President George W. Bush's so-called "war on terror" and his invasion of Iraq. The House vote against Trump's Iran …
(2019-07-16). 'Our Fight for Justice Is Far From Over': Bernie Sanders Thanks Cardi B for Backing 2020 Campaign. commondreams.org "This man been fighting for equal rights, HUMAN rights for such a long time." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1157281557.jpg …
(2019-07-16). Corbyn criticises Hunt and Johnson for failing to call Trump's attacks 'racist'. thecanary.co Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the Tory leadership candidates for failing to label Donald Trump's attacks as racist after the US President told four congresswomen of colour to "go back" to where they came from.Trump continued his belligerent remarks against the four Democratic politicians, ordering them to get out of the US "right now".The doubling down came after he told them to return to the "broken and crime infested places from which they came". All but one of the women were born in the US.Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez struck back at the president (J Scott Applewhite/AP…
(2019-07-16). "Our Squad Is Big": Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley Condemn Trump's Racist Attack. democracynow.org 
Congressmembers Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar condemned President Trump's spate of racist attacks against them in a news conference Monday. Their public rebuke followed Trump tweeting Sunday telling them to "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came." The comments have been widely condemned as racist and xenophobic. We hear from the progressive congresswomen in their own words.
(2019-07-16). Environmental reporting can help protect citizens in emerging democracies. nationofchange.org 
What happens when an illegally logged tree falls or poachers kill endangered brown bears in the forest, but there's no journalist to report it? | That's the situation in the Republic of Georgia, which faces challenges that include poaching, deteriorating air quality, habitat disruption from new hydropower dams, illegal logging and climate change. The effects cross national borders and affect economic and political relationships in the Caucasus and beyond. | I resea…
(2019-07-16). Julián Castro Is Running for President & Supporting Striking Amazon & McDonald's Workers. democracynow.org 
Amid labor strikes against poor working conditions and low wages for Amazon and McDonald's workers, we speak with 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro about workers' rights, fair pay and where he stands on foreign policy, from China to Israel.
(2019-07-16). Democratic Virtues in Electing a President. counterpunch.org 
Privatizing the US elections? I enjoyed listening to the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates speak of their hopes for the future of this country. What I did not like was the NBC umbrella over the aspiring candidates. Why should large TV monopolies run the presidential campaigns? Who gave this "media" money-machine the right to have its employees ask More
(2019-07-16). Democrats Have Facilitated Trump's Racist Attacks. truthdig.com 
What follows is a conversation between Gerald Horne, Kimberly Moffitt and Marc Steiner of The Real News Network. Read a transcript of their conversation below or watch the video at the bottom of…
(2019-07-16). House to vote on denouncing Trump's racist tweets. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—The Democratic-run U.S. House will vote to denounce Republican President Donald Trump for his racist rants and tweets against four first-year Democratic lawmakers, all women of color. The vote could occur as early as the afternoon of July 16. The denunciation is expected to pass. Trump, however, could care less—except to use his rants as …
(2019-07-16). 2020 Hopeful Julián Castro Vows to Break Up ICE & Calls Trump's New Asylum Rule Unconstitutional. democracynow.org 
As Trump faced national rebuke for his racist comments against four progressive congresswomen, his administration announced a new rule essentially banning most immigrants from seeking refuge in the United States. The rule, which the ACLU has already vowed to challenge in court, would deny asylum to any migrant who failed to apply for protection in another country they passed through on the way to the U.S. border—including children traveling alone. If enacted, the law would effectively block people from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, as well as Haitians, Cubans and many people from African countries, who…
(2019-07-16). Chile's Walmart Workers End Strike After Winning Pay Raise. telesurenglish.net Chilean employees of Walmart-owned companies have ended a six-day strike after winning significant concessions from their respective companies. | RELATED: | Bernie Sanders Slams Walmart Over 'Starvation Wages' at Firm's Shareholder Event | Over 17,000 Workers at three companies owned by U.S. corporation Walmart (Lider, Express de Lider and SuperBodega aCuenta) had been on strike since July 10, and have now returned to work as of midnight Monday. | Walmart has a…
(2019-07-16). ACTION ALERT: CNN Should Treat Left and Right Alike in Presidential Debates. fair.org 
by Julie Hollar | CNN is hosting the next Democratic primary debates on July 30 and 31. Three people have been selected to ask questions: CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Don Lemon, and CNN correspondent Dana Bash. | In the last presidential elections, the first Republican primary…
(2019-07-16). Free Speech Just isn't That Complicated. counterpunch.org It's hard to believe we need to have this conversation in this day and age. But if we don't keep having it, at some point we might not be allowed to have it. Question: What is free speech? Or, rather what is NOT free speech? In 2017, former Vermont governor, presidential candidate, and Democratic National More
(2019-07-16). House Condemn Trump Over 'Racist Comments' to Congresswomen. telesurenglish.net The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to condemn President Donald Trump for " racist comments" against four Democratic congresswomen, a symbolic vote aimed at shaming Trump and his fellow Republicans who stood by him. | RELATED: | Progressive Women 'Squad' Decries Trump's 'White Nationalism' After 'Go Back Home' Comments | The…
(2019-07-16). Ebola emergency meeting to go ahead as UNICEF warns of higher risk to very youngest children. un.org Ahead of a key expert meeting convened by the United Nations to decide whether to declare the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) an international health emergency, the UN Children's Fund UNICEF warned that the epidemic "is infecting more children" than earlier outbreaks.
(2019-07-16). Headlines for July 16, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Announces Radical Plan to Bar Almost All Migrants from Seeking Asylum at U.S. Border, Squad Rejects Trump's Racist Attacks & Calls for Impeachment as House Plans Resolution to Condemn, Protesters Call for Exit of Puerto Rican Gov. Rosselló After Leaked Text Messages, El Salvador Rape Survivor Being Retried for Homicide for Having Stillbirth, U.N. Report Accuses Venezuela's Special Forces of 1000s of Extrajudicial Killings, Workers and Activists Protest Amazon, Calling for an End to Labor Abuses, Collaboration with ICE, Washington Activist Protesting Immigrant Detention Shot Dead, Historian and Civil Rights…
(2019-07-16). Ebola Outbreak Reaches Eastern Congo's Main City. telesurenglish.net The first Ebola patient to be detected in Goma, one of the largest cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has died Tuesday according to the country's authorities. | RELATED: | 'More Urgency' Needed in AIDS Fight as Funding Fades: UN Report | The news of the death raised serious concerns over the potential wide and rapid spreading of the virus which…
(2019-07-16). Julián Castro: Trump's Asylum Ban Is Unconstitutional. truthout.org As Trump faced national rebuke for his racist comments against four progressive congresswomen, his administration announced a new rule essentially banning most immigrants from seeking refuge in the United States. The rule, which the ACLU has already vowed to challenge in court, would deny asylum to any migrant who failed to apply for protection in another country they passed through on the way to the U.S. border — including children traveling alone. If enacted, the law would effectively block people from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, as well as Haitians, Cubans and many people from African countries,…
(2019-07-16). The Case for a New Third Party in America. dissidentvoice.org In the late 1850s, the United States experienced a political realignment when the Whig Party disbanded and many of its members including Abraham Lincoln joined the nascent Republican Party because of the betrayal of the Whig leadership over the issue of slavery and its extension. American politics may be poised for a similar realignment today …
(2019-07-16). Here's Elizabeth Warren's plan to close the wage gap for women of color. nationofchange.org Presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren has released her plan to close the wage gap that women of color face in the workplace. | Titled "Valuing the work of Women of Color", Warren's article announcing her plan was published last week on Medium. | "I have a new plan: a set of executive actions I will take on day one of the Warren Administration to boost wages for women of color and open up new pathways to the leadership positions they deserve," writes Warren. | P…
(2019-07-16). Grieve accuses Johnson of Brexit 'radicalisation' over Irish backstop. thecanary.co 
Dominic Grieve has accused Boris Johnson of further radicalising on Brexit and leaving the UK with "starker" prospects by trying to appease hardliners in a strengthening of his stance on the Irish backstop.The former attorney general also accused the Tory leadership front-runner of making a "disgraceful" suggestion which would spell the end of democracy as we know it.On Tuesday, Grieve warned whoever becomes the next prime minister that their government will collapse if they pursue a no-deal departure from the EU.Conservative Party leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt during a head-to-head debate h…
(2019-07-16). Ruthless Philippine President's High Popularity Is the Result of Failed Democracy. therealnews.com 
As the death toll in President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on drugs keeps climbing, so does his popularity. How can this be? Walden Bello says it is the result of a failed liberal democracy in the Philippines…
(2019-07-16). Not One Republican Votes to Allow Debate on Resolution Condemning Trump's Racist Attacks. commondreams.org "House Democrats must stand together and listen to these new leaders in the party who are fighting for their communities by standing up to Trump's hate." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gop_house.jpg …
(2019-07-16). All Democratic 2020 Frontrunners But Biden Denounce DOJ for Failing to Hold Officer Accountable In Eric Garner's Death. commondreams.org With the exception of Joe Biden, by mid-day on Tuesday, most 2020 Democratic frontrunners had expressed support for Eric Garner's family and outrage over the Trump administration's decision not to prosecute the New York police officer accused of killing him in 2014. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/picmonkey_image27.jpg …
(2019-07-16). Pelosi's Feud Won't Stop the Squad. thenation.com Pelosi's Feud Won't Stop the Squad…
(2019-07-16). As Republicans Push Pro-Life Agenda, Maternal and Infant Death Rates Rise. therealnews.com 
Not only has maternal and infant health mortality rates increased in the U.S. but these rates are double for black women compared to their white counterparts—no matter what their education or income level. Community Doulas and midwives think they have part of the solution…
(2019-07-16). Trump's Racist Tweets Fan Hatred, Defining the Coming Election. therealnews.com 
Professors Gerald Horne and Kimberly Moffit examine how Trump's targeted tweet storm against progressive women of color who serve in Congress works to further divide the Democratic party, while dredging up America's racist settler-colonial past…
(2019-07-16). 'Good,' Says Elizabeth Warren, After Billionaire Right-Winger Peter Thiel Says She's 2020 Democrat He Is 'Most Scared By'. commondreams.org Sen. Elizabeth Warren had just one word to say on Tuesday after billionaire right-winger Peter Thiel said she was the "dangerous one" among all the current 2020 presidential candidates. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren.free_.college.jpg …
(2019-07-16). 'Not a racist bone in my body': Trump rejects claims of bigotry over 'go back' tweet. rt.com 
Responding to allegations of racism after he suggested a group of Democratic lawmakers should go back to their "crime infested" home countries, US President Donald Trump said he hasn't got a single bigoted bone in his body.
(2019-07-16). Amid Amazon Prime Day Protests, Sanders and Omar Lead Call for Probe of 'Brutal and Hazardous Working Conditions'. commondreams.org As protests of Amazon's 48-hour "Prime Day" continued Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders and a dozen House Democrats demanded a federal probe of workplace conditions employees have described as "grueling" and "unsafe." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-8253308141_0.jpg …
(2019-07-16). House Dems slap Trump with resolution condemning 'go back' tweets against congresswomen of color. rt.com 
House Democrats have rushed to table a resolution condemning Donald Trump for a series of angry tweets against four freshman congresswomen of color, which they said was a "blatant racist attack." |
(2019-07-15). "Fossil Fuel Stooges" Pence & Trump Deny Climate Crisis as Deadly Rains Slam Louisiana & South Asia. democracynow.org 
Ongoing heavy rain has killed at least 67 people in Nepal, 25 in India and 14 in Bangladesh as flooding from monsoons has displaced 1 million people in South Asia. This year's flooding in the region has been worse than ever before and is likely fueled by rising global temperatures, which have led to more extreme weather. Scientists warn that the risk of deadly floods is not over. In the United States, New Orleans residents managed to avoid the worst of Tropical Storm Barry, but 11 million people continued to be on flash flood warning as the storm slowly made its way through Louisiana over the weekend. President T…
(2019-07-15). How Some Florida Prosecutors Are Pushing Back Against GOP Voter Suppression Efforts. theintercept.com 
The GOP legislature is trying to take the vote away from people with past legal woes — and some prosecutors are looking for ways around a new restriction.
(2019-07-15). "We Are in Fear": Undocumented Immigrant in Sanctuary Responds to Raids from Colorado Church. democracynow.org 
As immigrant communities face ongoing raids across the country, we speak with Rosa Sabido, one of dozens of undocumented immigrants living in churches across the United States. She entered sanctuary in May 2017 in the fellowship hall at United Methodist Church in Mancos, Colorado, after being told that her latest request of stay of deportation had been denied by ICE. She first came to the U.S. on a visitor visa in 1987 to see her mother and stepfather, who are both naturalized U.S. citizens. "We are in fear. We are on guard," says Sabido. "We are on constant panic, and we don't know what's going to happen in our…
(2019-07-15). Cruelty Is the Point: Communities Fight Back as Threat of ICE Raids Terrorize Immigrant Families. democracynow.org 
This weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents launched a handful of raids across the country as part of President Trump's push to detain and deport thousands of undocumented migrants in 10 major cities. Agents in Chicago reportedly arrested a mother and her children only to quickly release them. Arrests were also attempted in New York City, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Harlem, where immigrants reportedly refused to open their doors to ICE agents because they did not have warrants. Authorities say more raids are planned this week, prompting fear but also generating mass protests on the ground. We speak…
(2019-07-15). 'We won't get to zero cases of Ebola without a big scale-up in funding,' UN relief chief warns. un.org Deadly, attacks on health workers in Ebola-hit areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including one at the weekend that left two dead, are an indication that combating the disease outbreak will require far greater international support, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said on Monday.
(2019-07-15). How to Serve Man? "The Narcotic Effect of Thinking We are a Democracy" globalresearch.ca Inspired by the 1962 Twilight Zone episode How to Serve Man this writer uses that to make some cogent points about our corporate and political system. We have (too) large corporations that do as little as possible to make we …
(2019-07-15). Kaepernick anthem-kneeling controversy was the work of 'Russian Bots' — Kamala Harris. rt.com 
What can't those dastardly Russian bots do? Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has blamed the media commotion surrounding former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling during the national anthem on the Kremlin's minions. |
(2019-07-15). Would Jay Inslee Take on the Military to Fight Climate Change? therealnews.com 
At Netroots Nation 2019, we asked Democratic presidential candidate Jay Inslee, focused on climate change, if he'd take on the largest institutional emitter of fossil fuels: the Pentagon…
(2019-07-15). How Quickly Would Julian Castro Transition the US to 100% Renewables? therealnews.com 
At Netroots Nation 2019, we ask Democratic Presidential candidate Julian Castro about his plan to transition off of fossil fuels and take on the oil and gas industry…
(2019-07-15). Netroots Nation: What does America's largest progressive conference mean for the 2020 race? rt.com 
With the Democratic party torn between the activist left and the establishment center, some of its leading figures competed to out-woke each other at Netroots Nation 2019. But will this bring victory in 2020 — or rule it out? |
(2019-07-15). 'If you're not happy, you can leave': Trump stands by his tweets slamming Dem Squad. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump ramped up his Twitter feud with four Democratic congresswomen who he says 'hate America,' accusing one of them of supporting Al-Qaeda and saying they are welcome to leave the country if they so wish.
(2019-07-14). Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden Condemn Israeli Occupation, as Young American Jews Urge Democrats to Press Israel. theintercept.com Young American Jews got two more presidential candidates, Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden, to denounce Israel's military rule over millions of Palestinians.
(2019-07-14). Activists in Oshkosh, WI call for closure of Trump's concentration camps. fightbacknews.org Oshkosh, WI – On the evening of July 12, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Students for a Democratic Society (UWO SDS) hosted a Lights for Liberty rally, demanding an end to the Trump administration's detention policy and the closure of the concentration camps, where tens of thousands of immigrants are being held in clear breach of international law. The call to action drew roughly 30 people from Oshkosh and the surrounding Fox Valley area. | The event started with a silent candlelight vigil to help bring awareness to the disastrous conditions in the camps. The action featured 12 different people speaking…
(2019-07-13). Why Does WaPo See Black as an 'Identity'—but Not Multi-Millionaire? fair.org by Julie Hollar The Washington Post's "identity politics" writer put out a piece this week ( 7/9/19) devoted to what Robert Johnson, the ultra-rich founder of Black Entertainment Television, thinks about the Democratic primary race. The piece leads off: Few demographic groups are more faithful to the Democratic Part…
(2019-07-13). Socialism 2019 in 'Red Chicago'. greenleft.org.au 
Chicago has a proud working-class history and this year elected six socialists to its City Council. At a time when social movements are on the rise and interest in socialist ideas in the United States is at an all time high, the "Windy City" was the perfect venue for the annual Socialism conference on July 4-7. | Socialism 2019 was profoundly shaped by two particular and interrelated developments. | First, the dramatic growth of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) following Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential primaries campaign, the polarisation generated by US…
(2019-07-12). The Glaring Holes in Michelle Bachelet's Venezuela Human Rights Report. mintpressnews.com 
UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's report on Venezuela echoes the US government's talking points, which are designed to terminate the two-decade-old Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. The report fails to acknowledge Venezuela's manifest accomplishments or even recognize victims of US-backed right-wing violence in Venezuela. The US economic war against Venezuela, US threats of a "military option," and opposition violence are treated in the Bachelet report as figments of the imagination, "alleged internal and external threats." | Mean…
(2019-07-12). Know Your Rights: How Immigrant Rights Activists Are Preparing for Looming ICE Deportation Raids. democracynow.org 
Immigrant communities across the country and their allies are preparing for nationwide raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement planned to begin Sunday that will target undocumented members of immigrant families in at least nine major cities. The cities where raids will take place are said to be Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. New Orleans had been on the list, but the city announced this weekend that ICE was temporarily postponing the raids due to Tropical Storm Barry. We speak with a roundtable of immigrants' rights activists: Adelina Nicholls, th…
(2019-07-12). 'This Is Designed to Shape the Electorate to Retain Political Power' – CounterSpin interview with Steven Rosenfeld on gerrymandering. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Steven Rosenfeld on the Supreme Court's gerrymandering decision for the July 5, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2019-07-12). Ousted Honduran President Zelaya: The 2009 U.S.-Backed Coup Helped Cause Today's Migrant Crisis. democracynow.org 
Since the 2009 U.S.-backed military coup in Honduras, extreme poverty and violence has skyrocketed in the country, forcing tens of thousands of Hondurans to flee to the U.S. with the hope of receiving political asylum. We speak with ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya in the capital of Tegucigalpa about the 10th anniversary of the coup in Honduras, U.S. intervention in Central America and its link to today's migration crisis.
(2019-07-12). Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost Was a Member of Secret Facebook Group. theintercept.com 
When news broke that thousands of current and former Border Patrol agents were members of a secret Facebook group filled with racist, vulgar, and sexist content, Carla Provost, chief of the agency, was quick to respond. "These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honor and integrity I see — and expect — from our agents day in and day out," Provost said in a statement. "Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable." | For Provost, a veteran of the Border Patrol who was named head of the agency in August 2018, the group's existence and content…
(2019-07-12). House Says Trump Can't Go to War With Iran Unless Congress Approves. theintercept.com Democrats in the House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment that would sharply restrict President Donald Trump's ability to attack Iran without congressional authorization, attaching the language to an annual must-pass defense bill. | The measure, which was sponsored by California Democrat Ro Khanna and Florida Republican Matthew Gaetz, would prohibit the Pentagon from spending money on any military action against Iran unless Congress has declared war or passed a resolution authorizing the administration to use force. The bill contains an exception for emergency situations in which U.S. armed forces a…
(2019-07-12). Weekend Read: Jim Crow's fingerprints are on Florida's new voting law. splcenter.org Voting is not a privilege but a right that is essential for a healthy, well-functioning democracy.
(2019-07-11). Cops' racism exposes driving while Latinx in Pennsylvania. workers.org 
On May 10, 2018, Rebecca Castro's car was stopped by a Pennsylvania State trooper who first inquired about her immigration status instead of asking for her license and registration. Castro is a U.S. citizen. The trooper then asked about the status of her two passengers; one was her fiancé Carlos . . . | Continue reading Cops' racism exposes driving while Latinx in Pennsylvania at Workers.org
(2019-07-11). "Unconscionable & Unacceptable": Rep. Barragán Decries Detention of Migrant Children in Prison Cells. democracynow.org 
Yazmin Juárez, the Guatemalan mother whose child died from a lung infection after being held in an ICE detention center, testified before members of a congressional panel Wednesday. She shared the story of her daughter, 19-month-old Mariee, who died last year shortly after being released from the South Texas Family Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. Juárez filed a $60 million lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of Health and Human Services. The House subcommittee convened to examine the treatment of refugees in U.S.
(2019-07-11). The U.S. Women's Soccer World Cup Win Was a Victory for Title IX & the Fight for Equal Pay. democracynow.org 
Thousands gathered in Manhattan Wednesday to celebrate the U.S. women's national soccer team's fourth World Cup championship at a ticker tape parade that stretched up Broadway and past Wall Street. Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle and their teammates rode floats through New York City's Canyon of Heroes, ending their celebrations at a ceremony at City Hall. Supporters chanted "U.S.A.!" and "Equal pay!" The U.S women's World Cup victory came just months after members of the 2015 women's team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation over gender discrimination. Their high-profile fight for pay equity is focusing the s…
(2019-07-11). Amy McGrath Is Challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. She's Everything Wrong With the Democratic Party. theintercept.com Amy McGrath is everything wrong with the Democratic Party. She launched her high-profile campaign Tuesday with a multimillion-dollar burst of fundraising, with Democrats across the country eager to see her upend Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. By Wednesday, she was apologizing for a bizarre flip-flop-flip on a question — Brett Kavanaugh's fitness for the Supreme Court — that seemed like a layup. In between, she told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that she was running on the mind-bending rationale that McConnell needs to go because he has been obstructing the agenda of Donald Trump. | Perhaps the strang…
(2019-07-11). As 2020 Primary Nears, Candidates Struggle with Positions on Charter Schools. progressive.org After years of avoidance, Democrats are being forced to take a stand charter schools—and most are straddling both sides.
(2019-07-11). How U.S. Tech Giants Are Helping to Build China's Surveillance State. theintercept.com A nonprofit led by Google and IBM executives is working with Semptian, whose technology is monitoring the internet activity of 200 million people in China.
(2019-07-10). John Carlos Frey: America's Deadly Stealth War on the Mexico Border Is Approaching Genocide. democracynow.org 
John Carlos Frey's new book, "Sand and Blood: America's Stealth War on the Mexico Border," chronicles how the U.S.-Mexico border became a war zone through decades of deadly bipartisan immigration policy. But it also examines the border through the personal history of his family. Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Frey moved to the U.S. with his family when he was a toddler in 1965. He grew up in southern San Diego, California, where he witnessed the effects of American immigration policy on the borderlands every day. His father was an American citizen. His mother was a Mexican immigrant. Frey's book is dedicated "To my mot…
(2019-07-10). How the Climate Crisis Is Pushing Central Americans Out of Their Homes Toward the U.S. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. continues to crack down on migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, we look at one of the underreported driving factors leading people to flee their home countries: the climate crisis. John Carlos Frey, author of "Sand and Blood: America's Stealth War on the Mexico Border," spent time with Central American climate refugees traveling in a caravan toward the United States. He says, "If this drought continues, we're looking at all-out famine from Central America. …That's one of the major reasons why they're coming. … The government doesn't even acknowledge the fact that there is a climate c…
(2019-07-10). Headlines for July 10, 2019. democracynow.org Children Recount Mistreatment, Sexual Abuse at Yuma, AZ Migrant Jail, Scabies, Shingles & Chickenpox Spreading Among Children at Clint, TX Migrant Jail, Jewish Activists Arrested After Protesting Migrant Detention on Capitol Hill, Judge Rejects DOJ Move to Replace Legal Team Charged with Census Citizenship Battle, Court Says Trump Cannot Block Critics on Twitter, U.K. Ambassador Resigns After Leaked Cables Scandal, Afghan Peace Talks Close as Deadly Attacks Continue, Appeals Court Hears Arguments on Constitutionality of Affordable Care Act, Megan Rapinoe to Trump: "Your Message Is Excluding People", Calls Grow fo…
(2019-07-09). "This Is Not a Surprise": U.S. Sanctions and Saber Rattling Led to Iran's Renewed Uranium Enrichment. democracynow.org 
In ongoing fallout from the Trump administration's decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear accord, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Monday that Iran has begun enriching uranium above the level agreed to by the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has threatened to continue to increase their production of enriched uranium if European signatories of the nuclear deal do not help ease the impact of the U.S. sanctions. We speak with Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the new think tank, the Quincy Institute, and author of "Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy."
(2019-07-09). The Book of Palestine: National Liberation vs Endless Negotiations. mintpressnews.com 
What will it take for the Palestinian government to abandon the American option and, instead, to develop a rounded strategy that is founded on national unity, democratic representation and international solidarity? asks Ramzy Baroud.
(2019-07-09). Despite Death Threats, Glenn Greenwald Speaks Out About Exposing Large Corruption Scandal in Brazil. democracynow.org 
A political crisis in Brazil is growing in the wake of The Intercept's investigation into a judge who likely aided federal prosecutors in their corruption case against former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Bolsonaro administration announced Monday that Brazilian Justice Minister Sérgio Moro has been granted a leave of absence from July 15-19 to "deal with personal matters." Leaked cellphone messages among Brazilian law enforcement officials and other data obtained by The Intercept point to an ongoing collaboration between then-Judge Sérgio Moro and the prosecutors investigating a sweeping corr…
(2019-07-08). As prosecutors vow retrial of Scott Warren, community vows to continue aiding migrants. liberationnews.org 
The further persecution of Warren is not having the cooling effect on border-activism that U.S. authorities intended it to have.
(2019-07-08). Charges Dropped Against Pregnant Shooting Victim Amid Outcry over the Criminalization of Pregnancy. democracynow.org 
Following immense public pressure, prosecutors in Alabama have dropped manslaughter changers against Marshae Jones, a 28-year-old African-American woman whose pregnancy ended after she was shot in the stomach by a coworker. Local police accused Jones of starting the fight that led to the shooting in the parking lot of a Dollar General store outside of Birmingham. A grand jury then indicted Jones on manslaughter but dismissed any charges against the shooter. The case drew national outcry from women's rights advocates concerned about the criminalization of pregnant women and the legal implications of so-called feta…
(2019-07-04). Reading Reuters between the Lines: Why the US Puppet President of Venezuela Is Toast. mintpressnews.com A critical reading between the lines of a Reuters article confirms that Washington has failed to cobble together a united opposition in Venezuela that is popular enough to win in the polls, likely signaling the end for Juan Guaido.
(2019-07-03). Buttigieg Goes for Big Bucks as NYT Oversells His Small-Donor Support. fair.org by Jim Naureckas On June 25, the day before the first Democratic presidential debates, Pete Buttigieg's average in polls of the race stood at 7.0 percent. Today, after the attention and considerable positive media reaction that he got after the debates, he's surged—to 5.2 percent. | Despite the fact that more people seeing him seems to have resulted in less people liking him, the media narrative about Buttigieg is that his is a campaign on the move—based almost entirely on his fun…
(2019-07-03). Thousands of Voices Are Telling the Supreme Court: Don't Roll Back LGBTQ Rights. aclu.org Businesses, women CEOs, civil rights organizations, Republicans tell the Supreme Court to protect LGBTQ employees like Aimee Stephens and Don Zarda. | President Trump has told the Supreme Court it should be legal to fire someone just because they're LGBTQ. The President may be a bully, but he's just one voice. Today, more than 2,000 voices from across the country joined together to tell the Supreme Court: Don't roll back our rights. | The message came in the form of friend-of-the-court briefs—nearly 50 in all—filed in a…
(2019-07-02). Warning to Progressive Dems: You're Leaving Corporate Media's Comfort Zone. fair.org by Julie Hollar After the first round of Democratic primary debates, the line from corporate media and their overwhelmingly centrist sources was clear: The Democrats are moving dangerously to the left, at their own peril. | Washington Post reporter Michael Scherer ( 6/30/19), under the headline "Democratic Candidates Veer Left, Leaving Behind Successful Midterm Strategy," pushed the media conventional wisd…
(2019-06-28). The Other Americans: Hondurans Look Back at the Political Coup that Undermined Their Democracy. progressive.org "I want my daughter to have a better life, I want her to walk."
(2019-06-27). SPLC: Supreme Court decision not to stop politicians from rigging voting maps hurts our democracy. splcenter.org The Supreme Court decided today that federal courts have no role in regulating state legislatures' gross abuses of power when drawing political lines.
