Daily Archives: July 22, 2019

2019-07-22: News Headlines

Staff (2019-07-22). EPA Refuses to Ban Dangerous Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Linked to Brain Damage in Children. democracynow.org The Environmental Protection Agency will not ban the widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos—even though the agency's own research shows that it can cause brain damage in children. The substance is sold under the commercial name Lorsban and is banned for household use. But it's still used by farmers on more than 50 fruit, nuts, cereal and vegetable crops. The announcement came Thursday. The Obama administration said it would ban the use of the toxic chemical in 2015, but the rule never took effect. It was suspended in 2017 by then-EPA head Scott Pruitt. We go to Seattle to speak with Patti Goldman, a managing at…

Staff (2019-07-22). "If Not Now, When Will We Stand?" Native Hawaiians Fight Construction of Telescope on Mauna Kea. democracynow.org A historic indigenous resistance is unfolding on the Big Island of Hawaii, where thousands have descended on Mauna Kea, a sacred Native site, to defend it from the construction of a $1.4 billion telescope. Scientists say the Thirty Meter Telescope will help them peer into the deepest corners of space, but indigenous resisters say the construction was approved without their consent and will desecrate their sacred lands. Last week, police arrested 33 people—most of them Hawaiian elders—as they blocked a road to prevent work crews from reaching the site of the telescope being planned atop Mauna Kea. And…

Staff (2019-07-22). "All Sides Need to Begin to De-escalate": Tensions Between Iran, U.K. & U.S. Spark Fears of War. democracynow.org In Iran, authorities say they've arrested 17 Iranian citizens and charged them with being CIA-trained spies for the United States. Iranian media reports that some have already been executed. This comes as tensions in the Persian Gulf continued to mount over the weekend following Iran's seizure of a British oil tanker and its 23 crew members Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it seized the tanker in retaliation for the British impounding of an Iranian tanker earlier this month off the coast of Gibraltar. The Iranian National Guard released video Sunday showing the vessel flying an Iranian flag. Britain says…

Staff (2019-07-22). Illinois GOP Posts Facebook Meme Calling Four Congresswomen "The Jihad Squad" truthout.org | | Top leaders of the Illinois Republican Party sought to reverse damage on Sunday after posting and then deleting a movie-style poster on Facebook that depicted four progressive congresswomen who have been repeatedly attacked by President Donald Trump in recent days as "The Jihad Squad."

Staff (2019-07-22). Headlines for July 22, 2019. democracynow.org Iran Says It Has Captured and Killed Spies as Oil Tanker Standoff Intensifies, Trump Revs Up Racist Attacks on Squad as AOC Hits Back: "We're Not Going Anywhere", Heat Wave Grips U.S. as July on Track for Hottest Month Ever Recorded, Fire Breaks Out at Brooklyn Jail as Prisoners Face Dangerous Heat Without Relief, Puerto Ricans Continue Mass Protests as Gov. Rosselló Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Boris Johnson Expected to Become New U.K. Prime Minister, Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters Face Police Tear Gas and Violent Mob, Israel Begins Razing Palestinian Homes in West Bank, Mueller to Testify Before House…

RT (2019-07-22). 'Jihad Squad' meme with Omar & co. on Illinois GOP page angers Democrats. rt.com A Republican group has distanced itself from an altered movie poster that appeared on its Facebook page, depicting four progressive congresswomen as 'The Jihad Squad'.

James L Cowan (2019-07-22). The Immigrant Crisis and the Democratic Party. indybay.org Redstone Building (room TBA) 2940 16th St., San Francisco…

Staff (2019-07-22). Republicans Are Transforming Federal Courts for the Next Generation. therealnews.com The Nation's Elie Mystal says Conservative think tanks and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are creating a right-wing federal court system with Trump's help that will affect generations to come…

WSWS Repost (2019-07-22). Kamala Harris: Law-and-order with a dose of identity politics. indybay.org The World Socialist Web Site takes a close look at the political career of California Senator Kamala Harris.

Curt Wechsler (2019-07-22). Sounding the Alarm Against a Fascist Regime. indybay.org Sports Basement | 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco | Elevator access…

Jeet Heer (2019-07-22). Donald Trump Is Remaking the GOP. thenation.com Donald Trump Is Remaking the GOP…

Joan Walsh (2019-07-22). Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War. thenation.com Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War…

RT (2019-07-22). MSNBC panelist slammed for saying Bernie Sanders 'makes my skin crawl', is anti-woman (VIDEO). rt.com Former assistant US attorney Mimi Rocah claimed that Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders "makes [her] skin crawl" and suggested he's not a "pro-woman candidate" while appearing on MSNBC.

RT (2019-07-22). As Mueller's 'book' becomes a live show from The Hill, is America sick of 'Russiagate'? rt.com With former special counsel Robert Mueller set to testify before two Congressional committees and Democratic lawmakers talking impeachment, has America finally moved on?

Staff (2019-07-21). Which 2020 Democrats Are Taking Money From the Health Care Industry? truthout.org | | Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called on fellow Democratic presidential candidates to reject contributions from the healthcare industry last week, a renewed effort to distinguish himself from a progressive field that has often adopted his policy positions. | The Vermont senator's announcement came days after campaig…

teleSUR (2019-07-21). Israel Arrests More Than 900 Palestinians in Jerusalem. telesurenglish.net More than 900 Palestinians , including several minors, were arrested by Israeli forces in the city of Jerusalem during the first half of 2019, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies (PPCS). | RELATED: | Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill Backing Pro-Palestine BDS Movement | This figure represents a considerable increase, according to a PPCS report presented on Saturday. | The PPCS spokesperson, Riad al-Ashqar, said that last February…

teleSUR (2019-07-21). Japan's Ruling Party to Get Majority. telesurenglish.net Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc is set to keep a solid majority in Japan's upper house election on Sunday and with allies could seal the two-thirds majority needed to keep alive his dream of revising the pacifist constitution, an NHK exit poll showed. | RELATED: | Abe, who took office in December 2012 pledging to restart the economy and bolster defence, is already on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier if he stays on until November, a stunning comeback after he abruptly ended a first, troubled one-year term in 2007. | Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, the Komeit…

RT (2019-07-21). And now 'apologize to Israel': Trump in new rant on 'weak, insecure' Omar, Tlaib & co. rt.com President Donald Trump is unshaken by the accusations of "racism" he faces amid a feud with the Democratic Party's 'Squad,' slamming them for being "hateful" and demanding an apology to the US — and Israel.

Staff (2019-07-20). Our Last Shot at Democracy. truthdig.com "The House of the Pain of Others: Chronicle of a Small Genocide" | Purchase in the Truthdig Bazaar | "Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone" | A book by Astra Taylor | In Anna Burns's Man Booker Prize-winning novel, "Milkman," the main character—"middle sister"—learns about two-thirds of the way through the book that she has been defined as a "beyond-the-pale" in her co…

Maj. Danny Sjursen (2019-07-20). American History for Truthdiggers: Bill Clinton, the 'New Democrat'. truthdig.com Editor's note: The past is prologue. The stories we tell about ourselves and our forebears inform the sort of country we think we are and help determine public policy. As our current president promises to "make America great again," this moment is an appropriate time to reconsider our past, look back at various eras of United States history and re-evaluate America's origins. When, exactly, were we "great"? | Below is the 35th installment of the "American History for Truthdiggers" series, a pull-no-punches appraisal of our shared, if flawed, past. The author of the series, Danny Sjursen, who retired recently as a…

Staff (2019-07-20). Trump's Racist Lies About Ilhan Omar Define the Republican Party. therealnews.com The Ilhan Omar quote Trump bastardized came from her conversation with John Nichols, who joins us to look at US history for inspiration and understanding…

Sarah Jaffe (2019-07-19). The Real Trouble with Ilhan Omar. progressive.org While others on the left waffle on questions of imperial power and foreign relations, the freshman Democrat takes on American hegemony.

Anthony DiMaggio (2019-07-19). System Capture 2020: The Role of the Upper-Class in Shaping Democratic Primary Politics. counterpunch.org The Democratic primary season is upon us, and the party's candidate list is a useful starting point for assessing the impact of affluence on American politics. Classic works by sociologists of decades past, including C. Wright Mills and G. William Domhoff, posited that U.S. political institutions were captured by elite economic actors, who seek to enhance their own material positions at the expense of the many. More

Staff (2019-07-19). Anti-Racist Historian: Attacks on Rep. Omar Rooted in Belief "America Is for White People" democracynow.org On Thursday, President Trump attempted to distance himself from the racist chant of "send her back" about Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a Trump campaign rally Wednesday in North Carolina. The chants rang across the rally in response to Trump's own verbal attack against the congresswoman. He did nothing to intervene. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution condemning Trump's racist remarks against Congressmembers Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. We speak with Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at A…

Staff (2019-07-19). Headlines for July 19, 2019. democracynow.org 70 Catholics Arrested in Capitol Hill Protest of Trump's Immigration Policies, Asylum Seekers in Texas ICE Jail Launch Hunger Strike, House Democrats Grill Acting DHS Chief over Migrant Deaths and Squalid Jails, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Confronts DHS Chief over Racist & Sexist Border Patrol Posts, Trump Disavows "Send Her Home" Chant After Racist Attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ilhan Omar Greeted in Minnesota with Chants of "Welcome Home", House Approves Minimum Wage Hike to $15 an Hour, Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Would Bring Overtime Pay, Union Rights, Trump to Nominate Anti-Union Lawyer Eugene Scalia as Labor S…

Michael Sainato (2019-07-19). The Billionaires v. Bernie. progressive.org The democratic socialist candidate is under attack from the super rich, their corporations, lobbyists, and think tanks. Some are even backing his 2020 Democratic primary rivals.

Staff (2019-07-19). In 2003, This U.K. Whistleblower Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion. A New Film Tells Her Story. democracynow.org In 2003, Katharine Gun, a young specialist working for Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, exposed a highly confidential memo that revealed the United States' collaboration with Britain in collecting sensitive information on United Nations Security Council members in order to pressure them into supporting the Iraq invasion. Gun leaked the memo to the press, setting off a chain of events that jeopardized her freedom and safety, but also opened the door to putting the entire legality of the Iraq invasion on trial. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsb…

RT (2019-07-19). Republicans introduce resolution to designate Antifa 'domestic terrorist organization'. rt.com Two Republican senators have introduced a resolution to "properly identify" Antifa as "domestic terrorists" who use violence against their opponents while being protected by "liberal privilege."

Staff (2019-07-19). Kamala Harris Goes After the Black Vote With a Homeownership Plan. therealnews.com Will Kamala Harris' home ownership proposal address the persistent issue of the racial homeownership and wealth gap, or will her plan create more problems for the very people she aims to help?

RT (2019-07-19). Groupthink or bust: House Democrats want to look united, delete tweets attacking each other. rt.com US House Democrats' progressive and establishment wings have pledged not to let their political convictions get in the way of attacking President Donald Trump, uniting in a "collective de-escalation" to squelch intraparty drama.

Jeffrey St. Clair (2019-07-19). Roaming Charges: Big Man, Pig Man. counterpunch.org + After the scenes of mass psychosis in North Carolina on Wednesday night, you'd think the Democrats would finally extinguish their happy trope about "bringing the country together", concentrate on protecting their most valuable assets (the 4 Horsewomen of the Political Apocalypse), and throw themselves into taking POWER. As Hobbes, the English Machiavelli understood perhaps More

Elie Mystal (2019-07-19). Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now. thenation.com Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now…

Andrew Levine (2019-07-19). South Carolina Speaks for Whom? counterpunch.org Because the African American vote is crucial, the conventional wisdom nowadays is that for Democrats to end up with a nominee who can defeat Donald Trump, Democratic candidates must win over African Americans' hearts and minds. This is a rare case in which the conventional wisdom is spot on. Because South Carolina will be the More

Staff (2019-07-18). Headlines for July 18, 2019. democracynow.org House Lawmakers Vote to Table Trump Impeachment Resolution, Trump Renews Racist Attacks on Four Progressive Congresswomen, Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill Affirming the Right to Boycott, House Votes to Bar Trump's Planned Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, U.S. to Deploy 500 Troops to Saudi Air Base, Sudan's Military Rulers Agree to Share Power with Civilian Protesters, United Nations Declares Global Health Emergency as Ebola Spreads, Puerto Ricans Demand Resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló over Hateful Messages, AG Barr & Commerce Secretary Ross Held in Contempt of Congress, Sen. Rand Paul Blocks Vote on S…

Staff (2019-07-18). "It Is Not Just War. It Is Life": Acclaimed Doc "For Sama" Offers Rare Glimpse into War-Torn Syria. democracynow.org We look at the award-winning documentary feature titled "For Sama," a devastating account of war-torn Syria told through the eyes of director Waad al-Kateab. She filmed hundreds of hours of footage in her native Aleppo to create a stunning depiction of life during wartime. Amid airstrikes and attacks on hospitals, Waad falls in love with one of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo, gets married and has a baby girl, Sama, to whom the film is dedicated. When protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad first began in 2011, Waad al-Kateab was a young economics student who began filming on a cellphone. Fo…

Staff (2019-07-18). Nearly 100,000 in Puerto Rico Protest Demanding Gov. Rosselló Resign over Lewd Texts & Corruption. democracynow.org Close to 100,000 Puerto Ricans took to the streets Wednesday chanting "Ricky Renuncia!" as they called for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, following the leak by Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism of hundreds of misogynistic, homophobic and violent text messages between Rosselló and members of his Cabinet. On Monday, Denis Márquez of the Puerto Rican Independence Party introduced formal complaints against the governor and called for his impeachment. All of this comes as former Education Secretary Julia Keleher and five others have been arrested on charges of steering federal money to u…

Staff (2019-07-17). Happiest Place on Earth? Meet the Disney Heiress Speaking Out Against Disneyland's Abuse of Workers. democracynow.org Abigail Disney, the heiress of the Disney fortune, is once again speaking out against the company's unfair labor and wage practices. She recently spoke to Disneyland employees in California, where they shared their experiences with the theme park's work environment. In the past, Abigail Disney has criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger's obscene salary and the drastic pay gap between Iger and other Disney employees. Abigail Disney also testified in May at the House Committee on Financial Services during a hearing on strengthening the rights and protections of workers. We speak with Abigail Disney, filmmaker and granddaug…

Staff (2019-07-17). "They Didn't Do Their Job": Eric Garner Family Outraged DOJ Won't Prosecute His Death by Police. democracynow.org It's been five years since Eric Garner, an African-American father of six, was killed when a white New York City police officer wrestled him to the ground and applied a fatal chokehold, while Garner, who was unarmed, said "I can't breathe" 11 times. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced they will not bring civil rights charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer implicated in Garner's death. The move reportedly came after Attorney General William Barr ordered that the case be dropped. Earlier this year, a medical examiner testified that it was a chokehold that triggered an asthma attack that led to Ga…

Alan MacLeod (2019-07-17). To Media, No Democrat Can Possibly Be Right-Wing. fair.org The 2020 presidential candidacy race is in full (absurdly early) swing, and there is a clear and obvious internal battle currently raging for the soul of the Democratic Party. One faction is attempting to pull the party in a more populist, social-democratic direction, while another favors maintaining a neoliberal, pro-business course. | We all know the most prominent members of the first group: The likes of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and freshmen representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley are constantly referred to (accurately) as representing the left o…

Alan MacLeod (2019-07-17). To Media, No Democrat Can Possibly Be Right-Wing. fair.org by Alan MacLeod The 2020 presidential candidacy race is in full (absurdly early) swing, and there is a clear and obvious internal battle currently raging for the soul of the Democratic Party. One faction is attempting to pull the party in a more populist, social-democratic direction, while another favors maintaining a neoliberal, pro-business course. | We all know the most prominent members of the first group: The likes of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and freshmen representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley are constantly referred to (accurately) as represen…

Staff (2019-07-17). Amazon Workers Demand Fair Pay & Conditions as Company Continues Undercutting Rivals. democracynow.org While online shoppers around the world flocked to Amazon's mega-sale "Prime Day" this week, the retail giant faced growing outrage from protesters, workers and lawmakers for its unsafe working conditions and collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Demonstrators in Seattle delivered a petition with over 270,000 signatures to Amazon headquarters demanding it stop exploiting workers and cooperating with ICE. Lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ilhan Omar, co-signed a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demanding a full investigation into Amazon's wor…

Staff (2019-07-17). Headlines for July 17, 2019. democracynow.org House Votes to Condemn Trump's Racist Tweets, Rep. Al Green Introduces Impeachment Articles, Kellyanne Conway to Reporter Asking About Trump's Racism: "What's Your Ethnicity?", Rights Groups File Lawsuits to Stop Trump's Draconian New Asylum Rule, White Police Officer Who Killed Eric Garner Will Not Face Federal Charges, Ex-Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Arrested in California over Corruption Scandal, Press Freedom Advocates Call for Release of Yemeni Journalist Yahya al-Sawari, Planned Parenthood Removes President Dr. Leana Wen over Disagreements on Direction of Org., Organizations Say They Will Not Comply…

John Nichols (2019-07-17). The Republican Party Is Aggressively Repositioning Itself as the Party of Trump's Racism. thenation.com The Republican Party Is Aggressively Repositioning Itself as the Party of Trump's Racism…

Dan Simon (2019-07-17). Reading Buttigieg Told Me Everything I Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Race. thenation.com Reading Buttigieg Told Me Everything I Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Race…

Staff (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.

Staff (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.

Staff (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…

Julie Hollar (2019-07-16). ACTION ALERT: CNN Should Treat Left and Right Alike in Presidential Debates. fair.org 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 debate CNN hos…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Julie Hollar (2019-07-13). Why Does WaPo See Black as an 'Identity'—but Not Multi-Millionaire? fair.org 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 Party than black Am…

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Janine Jackson (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…

Roger D. Harris (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…

splcenter (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.

Jake Jacobs (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.

2019-07-22: Social Media Postees

Illinois GOP Posts Facebook Meme Calling Four Congresswomen "The Jihad Squad"
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-22
| Top leaders of the Illinois Republican Party sought to reverse damage on Sunday after posting and then deleting a movie-style poster on Facebook that depicted four progressive congresswomen who have been repeatedly attacked by President Donald Trump in recent days as "The Jihad Squad."
truthout.org/articles/illinois-gop-posts-facebook-meme-calling-four-congresswomen-the-jihad-squad/

Illinois GOP Posts Facebook Meme Calling Four Congresswomen "The Jihad Squad"
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-22
| Top leaders of the Illinois Republican Party sought to reverse damage on Sunday after posting and then deleting a movie-style poster on Facebook that depicted four progressive congresswomen who have been repeatedly attacked by President Donald Trump in recent days as "The Jihad Squad."
truthout.org/articles/illinois-gop-posts-facebook-meme-calling-four-congresswomen-the-jihad-squad/

"If Not Now, When Will We Stand?" Native Hawaiians Fight Construction of Telescope on Mauna Kea
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-22
A historic indigenous resistance is unfolding on the Big Island of Hawaii, where thousands have descended on Mauna Kea, a sacred Native site, to defend it from the construction of a $1.4 billion telescope. Scientists say the Thirty Meter Telescope will help them peer into the deepest corners of space, but indigenous resisters say the construction was approved without their consent and will desecrate their sacred lands. Last week, police arrested 33 people–most of them Hawaiian elders–as they blocked a road to prevent work crews from reaching the site of the telescope being planned atop Mauna Kea. And…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/22/mauna_kea_thirty_meter_telescope_resistance

"If Not Now, When Will We Stand?" Native Hawaiians Fight Construction of Telescope on Mauna Kea
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-22
A historic indigenous resistance is unfolding on the Big Island of Hawaii, where thousands have descended on Mauna Kea, a sacred Native site, to defend it from the construction of a $1.4 billion telescope. Scientists say the Thirty Meter Telescope will help them peer into the deepest corners of space, but indigenous resisters say the construction was approved without their consent and will desecrate their sacred lands. Last week, police arrested 33 people–most of them Hawaiian elders–as they blocked a road to prevent work crews from reaching the site of the telescope being planned atop Mauna Kea. And…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/22/mauna_kea_thirty_meter_telescope_resistance

"All Sides Need to Begin to De-escalate": Tensions Between Iran, U.K. & U.S. Spark Fears of War
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-22
In Iran, authorities say they've arrested 17 Iranian citizens and charged them with being CIA-trained spies for the United States. Iranian media reports that some have already been executed. This comes as tensions in the Persian Gulf continued to mount over the weekend following Iran's seizure of a British oil tanker and its 23 crew members Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it seized the tanker in retaliation for the British impounding of an Iranian tanker earlier this month off the coast of Gibraltar. The Iranian National Guard released video Sunday showing the vessel flying an Iranian flag. Britain says…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/22/iran_strait_hormuz_tensions_us_uk

EPA Refuses to Ban Dangerous Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Linked to Brain Damage in Children
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-22
The Environmental Protection Agency will not ban the widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos–even though the agency's own research shows that it can cause brain damage in children. The substance is sold under the commercial name Lorsban and is banned for household use. But it's still used by farmers on more than 50 fruit, nuts, cereal and vegetable crops. The announcement came Thursday. The Obama administration said it would ban the use of the toxic chemical in 2015, but the rule never took effect. It was suspended in 2017 by then-EPA head Scott Pruitt. We go to Seattle to speak with Patti Goldman, a managing at…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/22/epa_refuses_to_ban_chlorpyrifos_pesticide

Kamala Harris: Law-and-order with a dose of identity politics
WSWS Repost | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
The World Socialist Web Site takes a close look at the political career of California Senator Kamala Harris.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/19/18824845.php

'Jihad Squad' meme with Omar & co. on Illinois GOP page angers Democrats
rt.com | 2019-07-22
A Republican group has distanced itself from an altered movie poster that appeared on its Facebook page, depicting four progressive congresswomen as 'The Jihad Squad'.
rt.com/usa/464712-jihad-squad-poster-outrage/

Republicans Are Transforming Federal Courts for the Next Generation
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-07-22
The Nation's Elie Mystal says Conservative think tanks and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are creating a right-wing federal court system with Trump's help that will affect generations to come…
therealnews.com/stories/republicans-are-transforming-federal-courts-for-the-next-generation

Sounding the Alarm Against a Fascist Regime
Curt Wechsler | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
Sports Basement | 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco | Elevator access…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/21/18824899.php

Donald Trump Is Remaking the GOP
Jeet Heer | thenation.com | 2019-07-22
Donald Trump Is Remaking the GOP…
thenation.com/article/donald-trump-gop-republicans-hawley-wax/

The Immigrant Crisis and the Democratic Party
James L Cowan | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
Redstone Building (room TBA) 2940 16th St., San Francisco…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/18/18824838.php

As Mueller's 'book' becomes a live show from The Hill, is America sick of 'Russiagate'?
rt.com | 2019-07-22
With former special counsel Robert Mueller set to testify before two Congressional committees and Democratic lawmakers talking impeachment, has America finally moved on? | …
rt.com/usa/464784-mueller-testimony-nadler-russiagate/

Republicans Are Transforming Federal Courts for the Next Generation
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-07-22
The Nation's Elie Mystal says Conservative think tanks and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are creating a right-wing federal court system with Trump's help that will affect generations to come…
therealnews.com/stories/republicans-are-transforming-federal-courts-for-the-next-generation

Kamala Harris: Law-and-order with a dose of identity politics
WSWS Repost | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
The World Socialist Web Site takes a close look at the political career of California Senator Kamala Harris.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/19/18824845.php

MSNBC panelist slammed for saying Bernie Sanders 'makes my skin crawl', is anti-woman (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2019-07-22
Former assistant US attorney Mimi Rocah claimed that Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders "makes [her] skin crawl" and suggested he's not a "pro-woman candidate" while appearing on MSNBC. | …
rt.com/usa/464747-bernie-skin-crawl-mimi-rocah/

Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War
Joan Walsh | thenation.com | 2019-07-22
Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War…
thenation.com/article/house-democrats-twitter-pramila-jayapal/

The Immigrant Crisis and the Democratic Party
James L Cowan | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
Redstone Building (room TBA) 2940 16th St., San Francisco…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/18/18824838.php

Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War
Joan Walsh | thenation.com | 2019-07-22
Behind the Scenes of the House Democrats' Twitter War…
thenation.com/article/house-democrats-twitter-pramila-jayapal/

Sounding the Alarm Against a Fascist Regime
Curt Wechsler | indybay.org | 2019-07-22
Sports Basement | 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco | Elevator access…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/07/21/18824899.php

Which 2020 Democrats Are Taking Money From the Health Care Industry?
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-21
| Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called on fellow Democratic presidential candidates to reject contributions from the healthcare industry last week, a renewed effort to distinguish himself from a progressive field that has often adopted his policy positions. | The Vermont senator's announcement came days after campaig…
truthout.org/articles/which-2020-democrats-are-taking-money-from-the-health-care-industry/

Japan's Ruling Party to Get Majority
telesurenglish.net | 2019-07-21
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc is set to keep a solid majority in Japan's upper house election on Sunday and with allies could seal the two-thirds majority needed to keep alive his dream of revising the pacifist constitution, an NHK exit poll showed. | RELATED: | Abe, who took office in December 2012 pledging to restart the economy and bolster defence, is already on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier if he stays on until November, a stunning comeback after he abruptly ended a first, troubled one-year term in 2007. | Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, the Komeit…
telesurenglish.net/news/Japans-Ruling-Party-to-Get-Majority-20190721-0004.html

And now 'apologize to Israel': Trump in new rant on 'weak, insecure' Omar, Tlaib & co
rt.com | 2019-07-21
President Donald Trump is unshaken by the accusations of "racism" he faces amid a feud with the Democratic Party's 'Squad,' slamming them for being "hateful" and demanding an apology to the US — and Israel. | …
rt.com/usa/464698-trump-dems-israel-apology/

Our Last Shot at Democracy
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-07-20
"The House of the Pain of Others: Chronicle of a Small Genocide" | Purchase in the Truthdig Bazaar | "Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone" | A book by Astra Taylor | In Anna Burns's Man Booker Prize-winning novel, "Milkman," the main character–"middle sister"–learns about two-thirds of the way through the book that she has been defined as a "beyond-the-pale" in her co…
truthdig.com/articles/our-last-shot-at-democracy/

American History for Truthdiggers: Bill Clinton, the 'New Democrat'
Maj. Danny Sjursen | truthdig.com | 2019-07-20
Editor's note: The past is prologue. The stories we tell about ourselves and our forebears inform the sort of country we think we are and help determine public policy. As our current president promises to "make America great again," this moment is an appropriate time to reconsider our past, look back at various eras of United States history and re-evaluate America's origins. When, exactly, were we "great"? | Below is the 35th installment of the "American History for Truthdiggers" series, a pull-no-punches appraisal of our shared, if flawed, past. The author of the series, Danny Sjursen, who retired recently as a…
truthdig.com/articles/american-history-for-truthdiggers-bill-clinton-the-new-democrat/

Trump's Racist Lies About Ilhan Omar Define the Republican Party
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-07-20
The Ilhan Omar quote Trump bastardized came from her conversation with John Nichols, who joins us to look at US history for inspiration and understanding…
therealnews.com/stories/trumps-racist-lies-about-ilhan-omar-define-the-republican-party

The Billionaires v. Bernie
Michael Sainato | progressive.org | 2019-07-19
The democratic socialist candidate is under attack from the super rich, their corporations, lobbyists, and think tanks. Some are even backing his 2020 Democratic primary rivals.
progressive.org/dispatches/billionaires-v-bernie-sainato-190719/

Anti-Racist Historian: Attacks on Rep. Omar Rooted in Belief "America Is for White People"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-19
On Thursday, President Trump attempted to distance himself from the racist chant of "send her back" about Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a Trump campaign rally Wednesday in North Carolina. The chants rang across the rally in response to Trump's own verbal attack against the congresswoman. He did nothing to intervene. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution condemning Trump's racist remarks against Congressmembers Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. We speak with Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at A…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/donald_trump_ilhan_omar_racist_attacks

Anti-Racist Historian: Attacks on Rep. Omar Rooted in Belief "America Is for White People"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-19
On Thursday, President Trump attempted to distance himself from the racist chant of "send her back" about Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a Trump campaign rally Wednesday in North Carolina. The chants rang across the rally in response to Trump's own verbal attack against the congresswoman. He did nothing to intervene. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution condemning Trump's racist remarks against Congressmembers Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. We speak with Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at A…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/donald_trump_ilhan_omar_racist_attacks

The Real Trouble with Ilhan Omar
Sarah Jaffe | progressive.org | 2019-07-19
While others on the left waffle on questions of imperial power and foreign relations, the freshman Democrat takes on American hegemony.
progressive.org/dispatches/the-real-trouble-with-ilhan-omar-jaffe-190719/

South Carolina Speaks for Whom?
Andrew Levine | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-19
Because the African American vote is crucial, the conventional wisdom nowadays is that for Democrats to end up with a nominee who can defeat Donald Trump, Democratic candidates must win over African Americans' hearts and minds. This is a rare case in which the conventional wisdom is spot on. Because South Carolina will be the…
counterpunch.org/2019/07/19/south-carolina-speaks-for-whom/

In 2003, This U.K. Whistleblower Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion. A New Film Tells Her Story
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-19
In 2003, Katharine Gun, a young specialist working for Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, exposed a highly confidential memo that revealed the United States' collaboration with Britain in collecting sensitive information on United Nations Security Council members in order to pressure them into supporting the Iraq invasion. Gun leaked the memo to the press, setting off a chain of events that jeopardized her freedom and safety, but also opened the door to putting the entire legality of the Iraq invasion on trial. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsb…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/katharine_gun_whistleblower_official_secrets_movie

System Capture 2020: The Role of the Upper-Class in Shaping Democratic Primary Politics
Anthony DiMaggio | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-19
The Democratic primary season is upon us, and the party's candidate list is a useful starting point for assessing the impact of affluence on American politics. Classic works by sociologists of decades past, including C. Wright Mills and G. William Domhoff, posited that U.S. political institutions were captured by elite economic actors, who seek to enhance their own material positions at the expense of the many.
counterpunch.org/2019/07/19/system-capture-2020-the-role-of-the-upper-class-in-shaping-democratic-primary-politics/

In 2003, This U.K. Whistleblower Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion. A New Film Tells Her Story
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-19
In 2003, Katharine Gun, a young specialist working for Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, exposed a highly confidential memo that revealed the United States' collaboration with Britain in collecting sensitive information on United Nations Security Council members in order to pressure them into supporting the Iraq invasion. Gun leaked the memo to the press, setting off a chain of events that jeopardized her freedom and safety, but also opened the door to putting the entire legality of the Iraq invasion on trial. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsb…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/19/katharine_gun_whistleblower_official_secrets_movie

System Capture 2020: The Role of the Upper-Class in Shaping Democratic Primary Politics
Anthony DiMaggio | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-19
The Democratic primary season is upon us, and the party's candidate list is a useful starting point for assessing the impact of affluence on American politics. Classic works by sociologists of decades past, including C. Wright Mills and G. William Domhoff, posited that U.S. political institutions were captured by elite economic actors, who seek to enhance their own material positions at the expense of the many.
counterpunch.org/2019/07/19/system-capture-2020-the-role-of-the-upper-class-in-shaping-democratic-primary-politics/

Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2019-07-19
Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now…
thenation.com/article/tom-friedman-moderate-democrats-versus-progressives/

Republicans introduce resolution to designate Antifa 'domestic terrorist organization'
rt.com | 2019-07-19
Two Republican senators have introduced a resolution to "properly identify" Antifa as "domestic terrorists" who use violence against their opponents while being protected by "liberal privilege." | …
rt.com/usa/464520-antifa-terrorst-organization-resolution/

Roaming Charges: Big Man, Pig Man
Jeffrey St. Clair | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-19
+ After the scenes of mass psychosis in North Carolina on Wednesday night, you'd think the Democrats would finally extinguish their happy trope about "bringing the country together", concentrate on protecting their most valuable assets (the 4 Horsewomen of the Political Apocalypse), and throw themselves into taking POWER. As Hobbes, the English Machiavelli understood perhaps…
counterpunch.org/2019/07/19/roaming-charges-big-man-pig-man/

Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2019-07-19
Every Pundit Urging Moderation Was Wrong in 2016, and They're Wrong Now…
thenation.com/article/tom-friedman-moderate-democrats-versus-progressives/

Kamala Harris Goes After the Black Vote With a Homeownership Plan
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-07-19
Will Kamala Harris' home ownership proposal address the persistent issue of the racial homeownership and wealth gap, or will her plan create more problems for the very people she aims to help?
therealnews.com/stories/kamala-harris-goes-after-the-black-vote-with-a-homeownership-plan

Roaming Charges: Big Man, Pig Man
Jeffrey St. Clair | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-19
+ After the scenes of mass psychosis in North Carolina on Wednesday night, you'd think the Democrats would finally extinguish their happy trope about "bringing the country together", concentrate on protecting their most valuable assets (the 4 Horsewomen of the Political Apocalypse), and throw themselves into taking POWER. As Hobbes, the English Machiavelli understood perhaps…
counterpunch.org/2019/07/19/roaming-charges-big-man-pig-man/

Groupthink or bust: House Democrats want to look united, delete tweets attacking each other
rt.com | 2019-07-19
US House Democrats' progressive and establishment wings have pledged not to let their political convictions get in the way of attacking President Donald Trump, uniting in a "collective de-escalation" to squelch intraparty drama. | …
rt.com/usa/464522-house-democrats-ideological-lockstep-pledge/

Nearly 100,000 in Puerto Rico Protest Demanding Gov. Rosselló Resign over Lewd Texts & Corruption
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-18
Close to 100,000 Puerto Ricans took to the streets Wednesday chanting "Ricky Renuncia!" as they called for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, following the leak by Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism of hundreds of misogynistic, homophobic and violent text messages between Rosselló and members of his Cabinet. On Monday, Denis Márquez of the Puerto Rican Independence Party introduced formal complaints against the governor and called for his impeachment. All of this comes as former Education Secretary Julia Keleher and five others have been arrested on charges of steering federal money to u…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/18/seg_1_puerto_rico

"It Is Not Just War. It Is Life": Acclaimed Doc "For Sama" Offers Rare Glimpse into War-Torn Syria
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-18
We look at the award-winning documentary feature titled "For Sama," a devastating account of war-torn Syria told through the eyes of director Waad al-Kateab. She filmed hundreds of hours of footage in her native Aleppo to create a stunning depiction of life during wartime. Amid airstrikes and attacks on hospitals, Waad falls in love with one of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo, gets married and has a baby girl, Sama, to whom the film is dedicated. When protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad first began in 2011, Waad al-Kateab was a young economics student who began filming on a cellphone. Fo…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/18/for_sama_award_winning_documentary_syria

Nearly 100,000 in Puerto Rico Protest Demanding Gov. Rosselló Resign over Lewd Texts & Corruption
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-18
Close to 100,000 Puerto Ricans took to the streets Wednesday chanting "Ricky Renuncia!" as they called for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, following the leak by Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism of hundreds of misogynistic, homophobic and violent text messages between Rosselló and members of his Cabinet. On Monday, Denis Márquez of the Puerto Rican Independence Party introduced formal complaints against the governor and called for his impeachment. All of this comes as former Education Secretary Julia Keleher and five others have been arrested on charges of steering federal money to u…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/18/seg_1_puerto_rico

"It Is Not Just War. It Is Life": Acclaimed Doc "For Sama" Offers Rare Glimpse into War-Torn Syria
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-18
We look at the award-winning documentary feature titled "For Sama," a devastating account of war-torn Syria told through the eyes of director Waad al-Kateab. She filmed hundreds of hours of footage in her native Aleppo to create a stunning depiction of life during wartime. Amid airstrikes and attacks on hospitals, Waad falls in love with one of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo, gets married and has a baby girl, Sama, to whom the film is dedicated. When protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad first began in 2011, Waad al-Kateab was a young economics student who began filming on a cellphone. Fo…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/18/for_sama_award_winning_documentary_syria

Amazon Workers Demand Fair Pay & Conditions as Company Continues Undercutting Rivals
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-17
While online shoppers around the world flocked to Amazon's mega-sale "Prime Day" this week, the retail giant faced growing outrage from protesters, workers and lawmakers for its unsafe working conditions and collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Demonstrators in Seattle delivered a petition with over 270,000 signatures to Amazon headquarters demanding it stop exploiting workers and cooperating with ICE. Lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ilhan Omar, co-signed a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demanding a full investigation into Amazon's wor…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/17/amazon_workers_prime_day_strike

To Media, No Democrat Can Possibly Be Right-Wing
Alan MacLeod | fair.org | 2019-07-17
by Alan MacLeod The 2020 presidential candidacy race is in full (absurdly early) swing, and there is a clear and obvious internal battle currently raging for the soul of the Democratic Party. One faction is attempting to pull the party in a more populist, social-democratic direction, while another favors maintaining a neoliberal, pro-business course. | We all know the most prominent members of the first group: The likes of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and freshmen representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley are constantly referred to (accurately) as represen…
fair.org/home/to-media-no-democrat-can-possibly-be-right-wing/

To Media, No Democrat Can Possibly Be Right-Wing
Alan MacLeod | fair.org | 2019-07-17
The 2020 presidential candidacy race is in full (absurdly early) swing, and there is a clear and obvious internal battle currently raging for the soul of the Democratic Party. One faction is attempting to pull the party in a more populist, social-democratic direction, while another favors maintaining a neoliberal, pro-business course. | We all know the most prominent members of the first group: The likes of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and freshmen representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley are constantly referred to (accurately) as representing the left o…
fair.org/home/to-media-no-democrat-can-possibly-be-right-wing/

Happiest Place on Earth? Meet the Disney Heiress Speaking Out Against Disneyland's Abuse of Workers
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-17
Abigail Disney, the heiress of the Disney fortune, is once again speaking out against the company's unfair labor and wage practices. She recently spoke to Disneyland employees in California, where they shared their experiences with the theme park's work environment. In the past, Abigail Disney has criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger's obscene salary and the drastic pay gap between Iger and other Disney employees. Abigail Disney also testified in May at the House Committee on Financial Services during a hearing on strengthening the rights and protections of workers. We speak with Abigail Disney, filmmaker and granddaug…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/17/abigail_disney_criticism_of_disney_company

"They Didn't Do Their Job": Eric Garner Family Outraged DOJ Won't Prosecute His Death by Police
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-17
It's been five years since Eric Garner, an African-American father of six, was killed when a white New York City police officer wrestled him to the ground and applied a fatal chokehold, while Garner, who was unarmed, said "I can't breathe" 11 times. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced they will not bring civil rights charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer implicated in Garner's death. The move reportedly came after Attorney General William Barr ordered that the case be dropped. Earlier this year, a medical examiner testified that it was a chokehold that triggered an asthma attack that led to Ga…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/17/eric_garner_justice_dept_no_charges

"They Didn't Do Their Job": Eric Garner Family Outraged DOJ Won't Prosecute His Death by Police
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-17
It's been five years since Eric Garner, an African-American father of six, was killed when a white New York City police officer wrestled him to the ground and applied a fatal chokehold, while Garner, who was unarmed, said "I can't breathe" 11 times. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced they will not bring civil rights charges against Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer implicated in Garner's death. The move reportedly came after Attorney General William Barr ordered that the case be dropped. Earlier this year, a medical examiner testified that it was a chokehold that triggered an asthma attack that led to Ga…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/17/eric_garner_justice_dept_no_charges

Reading Buttigieg Told Me Everything I Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Race
Dan Simon | thenation.com | 2019-07-17
Reading Buttigieg Told Me Everything I Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Race…
thenation.com/article/pete-buttigieg-south-bend-shortest-way-home/

The Republican Party Is Aggressively Repositioning Itself as the Party of Trump's Racism
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2019-07-17
The Republican Party Is Aggressively Repositioning Itself as the Party of Trump's Racism…
thenation.com/article/republican-party-repositioning-trump-racism/

"Our Squad Is Big": Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley Condemn Trump's Racist Attack
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-16
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/16/trump_racist_attacks_congresswomen_of_color

ACTION ALERT: CNN Should Treat Left and Right Alike in Presidential Debates
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2019-07-16
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 debate CNN hos…
fair.org/home/action-alert-cnn-should-treat-left-and-right-alike-in-presidential-debates/

ACTION ALERT: CNN Should Treat Left and Right Alike in Presidential Debates
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2019-07-16
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 debate CNN hos…
fair.org/home/action-alert-cnn-should-treat-left-and-right-alike-in-presidential-debates/

2020 Hopeful Julián Castro Vows to Break Up ICE & Calls Trump's New Asylum Rule Unconstitutional
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-16
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/16/julian_castro_trump_racist_attacks

Julián Castro Is Running for President & Supporting Striking Amazon & McDonald's Workers
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-16
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/16/julian_castro_immigration

Julián Castro Is Running for President & Supporting Striking Amazon & McDonald's Workers
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-16
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/16/julian_castro_immigration

"We Are in Fear": Undocumented Immigrant in Sanctuary Responds to Raids from Colorado Church
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-15
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/15/rosa_sabido_immigrants_in_sanctuary_seg2

Cruelty Is the Point: Communities Fight Back as Threat of ICE Raids Terrorize Immigrant Families
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-15
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/15/immigration_detention_ice_raids_elora_mukherjee

"Fossil Fuel Stooges" Pence & Trump Deny Climate Crisis as Deadly Rains Slam Louisiana & South Asia
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-15
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/15/nepal_india_bangladesh_flooding_climate_crisis

"We Are in Fear": Undocumented Immigrant in Sanctuary Responds to Raids from Colorado Church
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-15
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/15/rosa_sabido_immigrants_in_sanctuary_seg2

"Fossil Fuel Stooges" Pence & Trump Deny Climate Crisis as Deadly Rains Slam Louisiana & South Asia
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-15
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/15/nepal_india_bangladesh_flooding_climate_crisis

Why Does WaPo See Black as an 'Identity'–but Not Multi-Millionaire?
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2019-07-13
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 Party than black Am…
fair.org/home/why-does-wapo-see-black-as-an-identity-but-not-multi-millionaire/

Why Does WaPo See Black as an 'Identity'–but Not Multi-Millionaire?
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2019-07-13
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 Party than black Am…
fair.org/home/why-does-wapo-see-black-as-an-identity-but-not-multi-millionaire/

'This Is Designed to Shape the Electorate to Retain Political Power' – CounterSpin interview with Steven Rosenfeld on gerrymandering
Janine Jackson | fair.org | 2019-07-12
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…
fair.org/home/this-is-designed-to-shape-the-electorate-to-retain-political-power/

The Glaring Holes in Michelle Bachelet's Venezuela Human Rights Report
Roger D. Harris | mintpressnews.com | 2019-07-12
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…
mintpressnews.com/glaring-holes-michelle-bachelet-venezuela-human-rights-report/260552/

Know Your Rights: How Immigrant Rights Activists Are Preparing for Looming ICE Deportation Raids
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-12
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/12/trump_ice_raids_know_your_rights

Weekend Read: Jim Crow's fingerprints are on Florida's new voting law
splcenter.org | 2019-07-12
Voting is not a privilege but a right that is essential for a healthy, well-functioning democracy.
splcenter.org/news/2019/07/12/weekend-read-jim-crows-fingerprints-are-floridas-new-voting-law

Ousted Honduran President Zelaya: The 2009 U.S.-Backed Coup Helped Cause Today's Migrant Crisis
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-12
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/12/manuel_zelaya_honduras_coup_immigration_crisis

Know Your Rights: How Immigrant Rights Activists Are Preparing for Looming ICE Deportation Raids
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-12
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/12/trump_ice_raids_know_your_rights

As 2020 Primary Nears, Candidates Struggle with Positions on Charter Schools
Jake Jacobs | progressive.org | 2019-07-11
After years of avoidance, Democrats are being forced to take a stand charter schools–and most are straddling both sides.
progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/2020-candidates-struggle-charter-schools-jacobs-190711/