(2019-08-08). Republicans, Either Cowed or Clueless, Are Useless After a Mass Shooting. commondreams.org Ohio State. Rep. Candice Keller blamed recent mass shootings on gay marriage and drag queens, among other things. (Photo: Ohio House of Representatives)Read more here: www.miamiherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/leonard-pitts-jr/article233587172.html#storylink=cpy | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/keller.jpeg …
(2019-08-08). A Wretched Day for Democracy: Revocation of the Special Status of Kashmir. counterpunch.org 
The India that Jammu and Kashmir acceded to in 1947 had chosen democracy, secularism, and socialism as its goals. Although the Praja Parishad, predecessor of the RSS, was determined to foist a solution of the entire Kashmir issue along communal lines even prior to 1953, and its leaders had been vocal about their views, it was heartwarming that India had chosen democracy and secularism as its goals. More
(2019-08-08). Emergency Doctor to Trump: You Are Wrong, Mental Illness Is Not to Blame for Gun Violence Epidemic. democracynow.org 
President Trump went to Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, Wednesday, where he was met by hundreds of protesters condemning his presence after the mass shootings over the weekend, which killed at least 32 people. Prior to his visits, Trump hinted at the need to strengthen background checks for gun purchases, and doubled down on what some healthcare professionals say is dangerous rhetoric linking illness to mass shootings. Numerous other political figures have pointed to mental illness as a contributing factor in mass shootings. From Montreal, we speak with Dr. Megan Ranney, an associate professor of emergency medi…
(2019-08-08). House Democrats Hoarding Cash to Ward Off Progressive Upstarts. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON—Somewhere out there, the next Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lurks. So wary House Democrats are amassing campaign war chests to scare off progressive upstarts from challenging them in primaries — or trounce them if they try. | A look at 41 incumbent House Democrats who face potential 2020 party primary opponents shows 16 have already stockpiled over $1 million in campaign funds. The figures from Federal Election Commission reports for the first six months of this year show that 20 raised over $500,000 during that period alone. | Th…
(2019-08-08). Harry Reid Urges Democrats to Nuke the Filibuster. truthdig.com 
Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a message for his party: if you retake the upper chamber, kill the filibuster to tackle the climate crisis. | Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate from 1987 to 2017, made the comments to The Daily Beast reporter Sam Stein in an interview published Thursday. | "[T]he number one priority is climate change," said Reid. "There's nothing that affects my children, grandchildren, and their children, right now, more than climate." | Related Artic…
(2019-08-08). Kashmir Under Siege: India Moves to Annex Territory, Heightening Tensions with Nuclear Rival Pakistan. democracynow.org 
Tensions are escalating over the disputed region of Kashmir following India's revocation earlier this week of its special status, which granted the area some autonomy. Kashmir remains on lockdown, with internet and other communications blocked and leaders placed under house arrest. The Modi government has also deployed tens of thousands of additional troops in Kashmir. Pakistan announced Wednesday it would expel India's ambassador and stop its newly appointed envoy from assuming his position in New Delhi. It also announced it was cutting off all bilateral trade with India. We speak with three guests: Sanjay Kak,…
(2019-08-08). How much have the 2020 presidential candidates received from the healthcare industry? nationofchange.org Healthcare is a hot topic in the 2020 presidential campaign. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has pledged to take no money from Big Pharma or health insurers and has urged his fellow candidates to follow his lead. | So far the healthcare industry, which includes no only Big Pharma and health insurers but also doctors and hospitals, has contributed more than $5 million to the election across the more than 20 presidential candidates. | President Trump comes in as the top recipient of healthcare money, with $1.4 million donated to his campaign from the healthcare sector. | Bernie Sanders comes in at number f…
(2019-08-08). The Danger of Nancy Pelosi's Bad Attitude Toward Progressives. commondreams.org From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., gather in the Capitol before a rally with House Democrats on their first 200 days of the 116th Congress on Thursday, July 25, 2019. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/pelosi_hoyer_omar_2020_democrats.jpg …
(2019-08-08). Obama, Biden, Mattis and Clapper Expressed Skepticism on Syria, so Why Is Gabbard Singled Out? mintpressnews.com Why must Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard be smeared and attacked for questioning the mainstream narrative on Syria when even Barack Obama has done the same?
(2019-08-08). Foreign Correspondent: The U.S. Trade War with China is Not Going So Well. progressive.org For the past year, the U.S. has escalated economic warfare with grudging acceptance by high-level Democrats and Republicans.
(2019-08-08). Denver's City Council, Led by Democratic Socialist, Stuns For-Profit Prison Operators by Nuking Contracts. theintercept.com It wasn't about pulling money from the halfway houses but from "organizations that put kids in cages, run concentration camps," said one council member.
(2019-08-08). The DSA's dishonest and self-serving account of the US teachers' strikes. wsws.org A new book by Democratic Socialists of America member Eric Blanc reviewing the role of the DSA during the teacher strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona aims to boost the credibility of the unions and the Democratic Party.
(2019-08-08). Demonstrations Surrounded the Democratic Party Debates in Detroit. globalresearch.ca On July 30 and 31 the attention of the national media in the United States was focused on the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit where 20 Democratic Party candidates for the presidency debated various issues presented to them by anchors …
(2019-08-08). Biden Is Doubling Down on Iraq War Lies. truthout.org | | For the second consecutive Democratic debate, Joe Biden has failed to come to terms about his critical role in supporting the illegal, unnecessary, and predictably disastrous U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. | There is nothing new about this. Biden has a long history of inaccurate claims regarding that oil-rich country. For example, in the lead-up to the critical Senate vote authorizing the invasion, Biden used his role…
(2019-08-08). Headlines for August 8, 2019. democracynow.org U.N. Scientists Warn Rapid Global Warming Threatens Food Supply, 680 Mississippi Poultry Workers Arrested in Massive Immigration Raid, ICE Raids Targeted Company Whose Workers Won Discrimination Lawsuit, Trump Visits Dayton and El Paso, Sites of Weekend Mass Shootings, El Paso Protesters Link Trump's Racist Rhetoric to Gunman's Manifesto, Trump Supporter with Loaded Pistol, Knife Arrested Outside El Paso Immigrant Center, Trump Suggests Antifa Shares Equal Blame for Deadly Violence, Democratic Presidential Candidates Say Trump Enables White Supremacists, SPLC: State Department Employee Secretly Worked as White Na…
(2019-08-08). If Crimea Matters, Russia Should Support Kashmir. globalresearch.ca There are striking structural similarities between Kashmir and Crimea that should make Russian decision makers think twice before endorsing the unilateral actions of their decades-long Indian partners if they want to remain politically consistent. | Kashmir and Crimea share many structural …
(2019-08-08). Protesters condemn Trump as he visits cities rocked by gun massacres. thecanary.co Donald Trump has paid visits to two cities reeling from mass shootings that left 31 dead and dozens wounded, but his divisive words preceded him and prompted large protests and biting political attacks. | The president and first lady Melania Trump flew to El Paso, Texas, late on Wednesday after visiting the hospital in Dayton, Ohio, where many of the victims of Sunday's attack in that city were treated. | For most of the day, the Republican president was kept out of view of the reporters travelling with him, but the White House said the couple met hospital staff and first responders and spent time with wounded su…
(2019-08-08). A Wave of Trump-Fueled Republican Retirements Puts Texas in Play. truthout.org | | Strange things are afoot on the Republican side of the House of Representatives these days. At last count, 12 GOP House members have announced they will retire at the end of this term; 11 of them will play out the string until 2021, while Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania has already hauled buns like a bakery truck…
(2019-08-08). A New App Allows Readers in China to Bypass Censorship of The Intercept. theintercept.com Since June, people in China have been unable to read The Intercept, after the country's government apparently banned our website, along with those of several other media organizations. Today, we are happy to announce a workaround that will allow people in China to circumvent the restrictions, access our full site, and continue to read our award-winning journalism. | In partnership with Psiphon, an anti-censorship organization based in Canada, we are launching…
(2019-08-08). The Democratic Debates Don't Need to Be This Awful. thenation.com The Democratic Debates Don't Need to Be This Awful…
(2019-08-08). Vigil for Democracy Art Projections on SF Federal Building. indybay.org 1140 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103-1515. | We'll be on the sidewalk across from the Federal Building on Mission Street.
(2019-08-08). Large turnout to view George Washington murals slated for destruction. indybay.org Reese explains why all who defend democratic rights and artistic freedom must oppose the proposed destruction of the Victor Arnautoff murals at George Washington High School.
(2019-08-08). Inaugural International Teff Super Grain Day. indybay.org Everyone is invited to celebrate International Teff Super Grain Day with us or at an Ethiopian Restaurant in your community.
(2019-08-08). Boycott SoulCycle Presser at Castro & Market Streets. indybay.org SoulCycle, Castro and Market Streets, Harvey Milk Plaza…
(2019-08-08). Because the Climate Crisis Is the 'Number One Priority,' Says Harry Reid, Senate Democrats Must Kill Filibuster. commondreams.org "There's nothing that affects my children, grandchildren, and their children, right now, more than climate." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/reid.jpg …
(2019-08-07). 'Soviet' Bernie Sanders endorses crowd chanting 'Moscow Mitch' at campaign rally. rt.com 
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders agreed with the crowd at his campaign rally labeling the Senate leader as "Moscow Mitch," even though he honeymooned in the USSR and fundraised off Trump rally chants against Democrats.
(2019-08-07). Disclosure 2020? Bernie says he'll tell Americans about any UFO evidence if he becomes president. rt.com 
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has promised not to withhold any information he might learn about UFOs if he becomes president, explaining that his spouse would "demand" that he be forthcoming with the American people.
(2019-08-07). Steve Bullock's Attacks on Vitally-Needed Progressive Policies. counterpunch.org 
"Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not." —Robert Kennedy Montana's Gov. Steve Bullock got his moment on the debate stage with the host of other Democratic presidential hopefuls last week and played his part of the "moderate" to the hilt. But More
(2019-08-07). The mass democratic upsurge and the fight for unity. peoplesworld.org 
This is part 6 of the full main report, "Unity to save people and planet; For full equality, democracy, peace, and green socialism," to the 31st National Convention of the Communist Party USA held in Chicago, Illinois, June 21-23, 2019. Other installments available here. The abbreviated oral presentation is available here. John Bachtell served as CPUSA national …
(2019-08-07). "Toni Morrison Will Always Be with Us": Angela Davis, Nikki Giovanni & Sonia Sanchez Pay Tribute. democracynow.org 
Toni Morrison, one of the nation's most influential writers, died this week at the age of 88 from complications of pneumonia. In 1993, Morrison became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her classic work "Beloved." Much of Morrison's writing focused on the Black female experience in America, and her writing style honored the rhythms of Black oral tradition. Her work was deeply concerned with race and history, especially the sin of transatlantic slavery and the potentially restorative power of community. In 2012, President Obama awar…
(2019-08-07). Spooks behind Patriot Act, drone & torture programs unite to 'secure' US elections, free of charge. rt.com 
A group of former intelligence agency directors and other trustworthy cybersecurity pros has launched a charitable initiative to protect US elections against foreign interference. So who are these noble guardians of democracy?
(2019-08-07). The New Politics of the White (Supremacist) Evangelical Republican Party. counterpunch.org 
No matter what Donald Trump does or says, most Republicans and white evangelicals are not going to criticize or break from him in 2020. It is a fantasy if Democrats think that they can sway them, hoping that perhaps talking about jobs, prescription drug prices, or immigration reform will move these voters. It is also More
(2019-08-07). More Money, Fewer Jobs: the Stubborn Truth About Employment and the Defense Industry. counterpunch.org 
A Marilyn has once again seduced a president. This time, though, it's not a movie star; it's Marillyn Hewson, the head of Lockheed Martin, the nation's top defense contractor and the largest weapons producer in the world. In the last month, Donald Trump and Hewson have seemed inseparable. They "saved" jobs at a helicopter plant. More
(2019-08-07). These 7 Prominent Conservatives Have Nothing in Common With White Supremacists, Nothing at All. theintercept.com 
A man wears a MAGA hat during the Western Conservative Summit in Denver on July 12, 2019. | cool kid's philosopher" — took to Twitter to berate those who dare draw any kind of line between President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and U.S. conservatives on the one hand and white nationalist terrorists on the other. | So, we now have two separate NYT columnists arguing that all conservatives are basically violent white supremacists, but slightly more subtle. Let me put this gently: f*** yourselves.
(2019-08-07). Truth against the rules? Twitter censors videos of protesters threatening to KILL Mitch McConnell. rt.com 
After a mob of protesters surrounded Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's Kentucky home screaming death threats at the Republican, Twitter punished those who shared videos and quotes of the incident.
(2019-08-07). Climate Change Is a Key Issue for a Growing Number of Young Republicans. therealnews.com 
Republican strategists know the party will need to shift its climate platform to retain young voters, but federal Republican officials haven't caught up to the new trend, says The New York Times' Lisa Friedman…
(2019-08-07). From El Paso to the War on Terror, the Dangers of Historical Amnesia. theintercept.com 
When Monica Muñoz Martínez thinks about El Paso, Texas, she also thinks about Ciudad Juárez. It's the same process that happens when she thinks about Brownsville and Matamoros, or Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. They are clusters of human civilization that spill into one another, sharing space across a border drawn not that long ago, which has come to mean a lot in recent years. A historian, professor, and a native Texan, Muñoz Martínez knows the story well. She is the co-founder of Refusing to Forget, a collective project aimed at educating the public on a largely lost…
(2019-08-07). 'Abuse and threats' against Holiday Inn lead to cancellation of Chris Williamson event. thecanary.co The Holiday Inn Brighton cancelled a speaking event following a flurry of "abuse and threats". Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North, was due to speak about tackling "the outrageous levels of poverty and inequality" by way of "a democratic socialist economy". But the Holiday Inn Brighton informed the organisers on 6 August that it had no choice but to cancel the event. | "Abuse and threats from members of the public on the phone, on email, and on social media outlets": | According to an email from the Holiday Inn booking service to Greg Hadfield, the event's organiser, the hotel chose to cancel the event b…
(2019-08-07). What a Protest in Hong Kong Looks Like When Pro-Democracy Marchers Lose Their Fear of the Police. theintercept.com A video report from Hong Kong, where protests are planned for every weekend in August and calls to "liberate Hong Kong" have appeared on the city's walls.
(2019-08-07). House Committee Sues to Force Don McGahn to Testify. truthdig.com WASHINGTON—The House Judiciary Committee took another step toward possible impeachment proceedings, filing a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday aimed at forcing former White House counsel Donald McGahn to testify about his interactions with President Donald Trump. | McGahn was a star witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation who — under Trump's orders — has refused to testify before the panel. The Democratic lawsuit challenges the White House rationale that McGahn and other witnesses have "absolute immunity" from appearing and can defy subpoenas. | The legal action comes at a…
(2019-08-07). Bowing to House Democratic leadership, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez purges staff. wsws.org The purge came after staff members criticized Democratic Party leaders over the passage of a bill funding Trump's war on immigrants.
(2019-08-07). Democrats Are Resurfacing a Gun Control Bill That Contains an Anti-Immigrant Amendment. theintercept.com This weekend, there were back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. The accused shooter in El Paso, who appears to have published an anti-immigrant manifesto on 8chan declaring the attack a response to a "Hispanic invasion," killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more at a Walmart in what seems to be the worst anti-Latino attack in the country's history. On Monday, in light of these massacres, House Democrats called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up their gun control bill. Tucked into the bill, however, is an anti-immigrant amendment promoting deportation that Republ…
(2019-08-07). Headlines for August 7, 2019. democracynow.org Dems and Grieving Communities Voice Resistance to Trump Visits to El Paso and Dayton, FBI Investigating Gilroy Mass Shooting as Domestic Terror, Dems Call on Congressional Leaders to Pass Bills Addressing White Supremacy, Civil Rights Groups Rally Against Gun Violence and White Supremacy at White House, Walmart Workers Plan Walkout to Protest Gun Sales, Toni Morrison, Visionary Author and Nobel Laureate, Dies at 88, Nigerian Journalist and Political Activist Omoyele Sowore Arrested After Calling for Revolution, U.S Warns Turkey Against Syria Attacking Kurdish Forces in Syria, 25% of World's Population Under "Extr…
(2019-08-07). In the Face of McConnell's Inaction, Progressives Call for Gun Reform. truthout.org | | As the nation calls for gun control in the wake of two mass shootings in 14 hours over the weekend, Democrats and activists are taking aim at Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to take action on the continuing gun violence crisis. | McConnell has refused to move forward on a number of bills from the Democratic Party-controlled House that currently sit on his desk awaiting a Senate vote. | "This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legisl…
(2019-08-07). The DNC Confederacy of Dunces Is Back at It for 2020. commondreams.org Democratic presidential hopeful Former Vice President Joe Biden (C) gestures as he speaks flanked by US Senator from California Kamala Harris (R) and US Senator from New Jersey Cory Booker during the second round of the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by CNN at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan on July 31, 2019. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/cnn_debate_democrats_2020.jpg …
(2019-08-07). No Cause Has Achieved Combination of Deranged Views and Raw Power as the Modern American Right-Wing. commondreams.org Republican presidential hopefuls Donald Trump (L) and Jeb Bush high five during the Republican Presidential Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on September 16, 2015. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump stepped into a campaign hornet's nest as his rivals collectively turned their sights on the billionaire in the party's second debate of the 2016 presidential race. (Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/donald_trump_jeb_bush_deranged_gop.jp…
(2019-08-07). Assessing President Diaz-Canel's Commitment to the Ideals of the Cuban Revolution. globalresearch.ca Fidel Castro was an unparalleled leader. Although some of his adversaries had hoped that the ideals and objectives of the Cuban Revolution would die with him, they have in fact persevered, thereby supporting Fidel's view that 'a combatant may die, …
(2019-08-07). Russia Needs Its Own Bernie Sanders. thenation.com Russia Needs Its Own Bernie Sanders…
(2019-08-07). Democratic Socialists of America Seize the Day. thenation.com Democratic Socialists of America Seize the Day…
(2019-08-07). Inaugural International Teff Super Grain Day. indybay.org Everyone is invited to celebrate International Teff Super Grain Day with us or at an Ethiopian Restaurant in your community.
(2019-08-07). White Nationalist Shootings Should Make Us Rethink 'National Security'. truthdig.com 
After the El Paso massacre, the idea that white nationalist terrorism is a threat to U.S. national security is the new normal. Even President Trump felt obliged to mouth a bromide about white supremacy. | Outside of Trumpland, a new sort of consensus is taking hold. Bernie Sanders calls for " redirecting federal resources to address this threat to our national security." So do six former directors of counterterrorism at the National Security Council who served under Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump. | "[We] need to enhance efforts…
(2019-08-07). 'A Great Equalizer': Warren Unveils Plan for $110 Billion Investment in Public Broadband Access and Healthcare for Rural America. commondreams.org As she traveled to Iowa on the campaign trail on Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren outlined how a number of the proposals she's released during her 2020 presidential campaign would support rural communities across the country—as well as releasing a brand-new plan to greatly expand healthcare and broadband access in places she says have gone without it for too long. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-06-25_at_4.46.53_pm_0.jpg …
(2019-08-07). 'FAKE NEWS': Trump slams NYT for changing headline to appease 'radical left Democrats'. rt.com 
Donald Trump has castigated the "failing" New York Times for changing a headline that had been criticized for being too soft on the US president, describing the edit as proof of "fake news" targeting his administration.
(2019-08-07). Progressives Mock Outrage From the Right After Joaquin Castro Shares Publicly Available Trump Donor Information. commondreams.org "Conservatives are literally more offended by Castro 'targeting' voters than gunmen targeting children." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/joaquin.png …
(2019-08-06). 2020 elections and organizational questions dominate Democratic Socialists of America convention. peoplesworld.org 
ATLANTA—Over 1,000 members of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the fastest growing and largest socialist organization in the United States, convened their 2019 National Convention here over the weekend. Their goal: To forge a path forward for 2020 and beyond. DSA has seen dramatic growth since Bernie Sanders's 2016 campaign to win the Democratic Party's …
(2019-08-06). Hong Kong Democracy Protestors Launch General Strike. therealnews.com 
Thousands took part in protests that shut down roads, public transportation and cancelled hundreds of flights…
(2019-08-06). "Fascism Will Not Go Away by Itself": George Ciccariello-Maher on Confronting White Supremacy. democracynow.org 
Just before the mass shooting at a crowded El Paso Walmart this weekend, the gunman wrote in a lengthy manifesto saying that the massacre was in response to what he described as a "Hispanic invasion of Texas." He also prompted a white supremacist conspiracy theory known as "great replacement" that has been cited by other mass shooters. From Mexico City, we speak with George Ciccariello-Maher, visiting scholar at NYU's Hemispheric Institute. In December 2017, Ciccariello-Maher resigned from Drexel University after a year of harassment and death threats from right-wing white supremacists. The threats stemmed from a…
(2019-08-06). Democrats "Are Not Speaking to the Needs of Immigrants and Communities of Color" therealnews.com 
Immigrant communities and people of color in the US are highly suspicious of the Democratic Party. However, there is a group of young democratic politicians from members of these communities who are giving hope…
(2019-08-06). NYT changes front-page mass shootings headline after backlash from Dem 2020 hopefuls. rt.com 
The New York Times was forced to alter its front page headline after it was savaged online by high-profile Democrats who didn't like how the paper framed President Donald Trump's speech about mass shootings.
(2019-08-06). "We Can't Wait for McConnell": Advocates Call for Bold Action to Curb Gun Violence Epidemic. democracynow.org 
The death toll in Saturday's anti-immigrant shooting rampage at a Walmart in El Paso has risen to 22, after two more injured victims died Monday. Just before the shooting, the gunman published a manifesto claiming his actions were being done in response to what he described as a "Hispanic invasion of Texas." Most of the dead in El Paso were Latino, including eight Mexican nationals. Thirteen hours after the massacre in El Paso, a gunman in Dayton, Ohio, killed nine people, including his own sister, after opening fire outside a bar. We speak with Kris Brown, president of Brady, formerly the Brady Campaign to Preve…
(2019-08-06). Parents of Parkland Victim Planned to Unveil a Mural in El Paso. Then Another Mass Shooting Happened. democracynow.org 
During this weekend's deadly gun violence in El Paso, Texas, Manuel and Patricia Oliver were in the vicinity because they were planning on commemorating what would have been the 19th birthday of their son, Joaquin Oliver. Joaquin was one of the 17 people gunned down during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine's Day last year. Manuel and Patricia had traveled to Ciudad Juárez, across the U.S. border into Mexico, to visit an immigrant shelter in honor of their deceased son, saying no child should ever be separated from their parents by either gunfire or immigration ag…
(2019-08-06). Linda Sarsour Explains How "Fire Pantaleo!" Spontaneously Erupted at the Dem Debate. therealnews.com 
While activists say they will work to stop Trump, as organizers they must continue the fight for justice & keep Democratic candidates honest…
(2019-08-06). Puerto Rico in Political Crisis: Senate Sues over Appointment of New Governor Pierluisi. democracynow.org 
The political crisis in Puerto Rico continues as its Senate has sued against the appointment of Pedro Pierluisi as the new governor following Ricardo Rosselló's resignation last week. Pierluisi was sworn in despite not having been confirmed by the Puerto Rican Senate. But he argues that he is in the line of succession for governor after being nominated as secretary of state by Rosselló last week. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz also sued after his swearing-in. We speak with Democracy Now! co-host Juan González for his analysis of the current political climate.
(2019-08-06). Brother of Democratic presidential candidate doxxes Trump donors, says they're 'fueling hate'. rt.com 
Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) twin brother and campaign chair of Julian Castro, tweeted out a list of 44 individuals who donated to President Donald Trump's campaign, accusing them of "fueling hate" against Hispanics.
(2019-08-06). Bernie Sanders Boasts Zero Billionaire Donors. truthdig.com Not a single billionaire to date has donated to Sen. Bernie Sanders' run for the 2020 Democratic nomination, according to a new analysis, making him unique among primary frontrunners. | "Zero billionaire donors," wrote Splinter's Paul Blest. "None. Nada." | t.co/RdBffjODBk | Number of billionaire donors by candidate: | Pete Buttigieg: 23 | Cory Booker: 18 | Kamala Harris: 17 | Michael Bennett: 15 | Joe Biden: 13 | John Hickenlooper: 11 | Beto O'Rourke: 9 | Amy Klobuchar: 8…
(2019-08-06). Here is Exactly Why Congress Won't Act on Gun Violence, Climate Change, Impeaching Trump or Anything Else. counterpunch.org I'm from Dayton so I'm thinking about this today: Why hasn't Congress done anything to address our national epidemic of mass shootings, namely reviving the assault weapons ban? People—Democrats and not a few Republicans—ask me that all the time. I bet all left-leaning pundits get that question. The answer is simple. But it's not something most people want to More
(2019-08-06). Ohio GOP Governor Backs Gun Reform; Texas Democrats Balk at Trump Visit. truthdig.com Mike DeWine goes against his party after Dayton mass shooting; Beto O'Rourke and others tell the president to stay away from El Paso.
(2019-08-06). Headlines for August 6, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Condemns White Supremacy After El Paso Massacre Despite His Own Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, Trump Supporter Who Sent Pipe Bombs to CNN and Democrats Sentenced to 20 Years, Tensions Mount over Kashmir as Pakistan Reacts to Revocation of Special Status, Puerto Rican Senate, San Juan Mayor Sue over Pierluisi's Appointment as Governor, China Weakens Currency, Halts U.S. Crop Imports as Trade War Ratchets Up, U.S. Imposes Economic Embargo Against Venezuela, Drone Attack Kills 42 People in Libya, R. Kelly Charged with Prostitution and Solicitation of a Minor, Galveston Police Apologize for Shocking Photo Showing Mou…
(2019-08-06). John McDonnell says Labour 'would not block second Scottish independence referendum'. thecanary.co A future Labour government would not block a second Scottish independence referendum, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said. | "We would let the Scottish people decide. That's democracy.": | In an interview with journalist Iain Dale at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, McDonnell said any decision about holding a vote would be up to the Scottish parliament. | He said: It will be for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people to decide that. | We would not block something like that. We would let the Scottish people decide. That's democracy. | They will take a view about whether they want another refere…
(2019-08-06). Tens of thousands of workers strike throughout Hong Kong. wsws.org The ruling class throughout the world is deeply fearful of the spread of social discontent as the working class moves into open struggle for its democratic and social rights.
(2019-08-06). 'This Is Big': House Democrats Praised for Requesting Kavanaugh's Concealed Bush Admin Records. commondreams.org Progressive activists and groups praised two House Democrats Tuesday for formally requesting that the National Archives and Records Administration release records related to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's service in the George W. Bush White House which were not part of Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation process last year. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/snarl_kavanaugh_0.jpg …
(2019-08-06). Puerto Rican authorities scramble to provide democratic cover for installation of Wall Street's governor. wsws.org The attempt to install Pedro Pierluisi, lawyer for the US financial Junta, as Puerto Rico's new governor has further deepened the political crisis and mass social opposition.
(2019-08-06). Tainted Meat Market. counterpunch.org The Democratic Livestock Sales signal the start of our Presidential election root canal with its pimps and whores money scramble, evoking the pathos of a 4H sale of prize hogs and heifers. 4-H stock is pure blue ribbon, though, which can't be said of this sad herd of pampered bipeds, bawling and bellowing through their More
(2019-08-06). Trump, Republican Party Sue Over California Tax Return Law. truthdig.com The rule requiring presidential candidates to release such data to run in the primary is "a naked political attack" on Trump, lawsuits say.
(2019-08-06). Republican Retirements in Texas Could Finally Mean Change to Gun Laws. truthout.org | | Seven House Republicans have announced plans to retire in the last two weeks. Four are from Texas and their departures may be enough to turn the once Republican stronghold from red to purplish — and drastically change the long-stalled gun debate in America. | What was once a reliably Republican state has been steadily trending away from the Grand Old Party in recent years. Republicans lost more than a dozen state legislative seats in Texas in the 2018 midterms when former congressman an…
(2019-08-06). Irish government accused of breaking EU law by housing asylum seekers in 'inhumane' conditions. thecanary.co An NGO has called out the Irish government for its treatment of asylum seekers. The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland ( MASI) said the government is housing asylum seekers in "inhumane" conditions. And it argued that they lack food, proper healthcare, an…
(2019-08-06). The Battle for the Senate Demands Democrats' Fierce Focus. thenation.com The Battle for the Senate Demands Democrats' Fierce Focus…
(2019-08-06). The Play Challenging Us to See the Rot at the Heart of Our Democracy. thenation.com The Play Challenging Us to See the Rot at the Heart of Our Democracy…
(2019-08-06). McConnell's Inaction in the Face of Gun Violence Angers Democrats, Progressives Calling for Reform. commondreams.org "I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_guns.jpg …
(2019-08-05). We Desperately Need Marianne Williamson's Message. It's Ominous That We're Only Getting It From Marianne Williamson. theintercept.com 
It's alarming that only someone given to wild flights of irrationality believes that America can hear the truth about itself and respond rationally.
(2019-08-05). What the New Deal can teach us about winning a Green New Deal: Part I. mronline.org 
The New Deal has recently become a touchstone for many progressive efforts, illustrated by Bernie Sanders' recent embrace of its aims and accomplishments and the popularity of calls for a Green New Deal. | Source
(2019-08-05). After Dayton Shooting, Gun Violence Reporter Says Misogyny "Clear Link" Between Many Mass Shootings. democracynow.org 
Over the span of 13 hours, the country was shaken by two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, where a total of 29 people were killed. Shortly before the attack, the El Paso gunman posted an anti-immigrant manifesto on the far-right message board 8chan, while there is still no clear motive for the Dayton shooting. Senator Bernie Sanders and other Democratic leaders are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a special session of the Senate to vote on two gun safety bills recently passed in the House. This all comes as the National Rifle Association is imploding. We speak with Alex…
(2019-08-05). Bernie Sanders dominates as analyses of fundraising data show Vermont senator with widespread support across nation. mronline.org 
The data "contradicts both the mainstream narrative and some national polling data that suggest that only a centrist Democrat could succeed in this political environment." | Source
(2019-08-05). Texas Democratic Senate Candidate M.J. Hegar in 2017 on Gun Control: "You'll Have to Take Mine First" theintercept.com 
While critics wondered if Beto O'Rourke was too progressive for Texas, Hegar remained ambiguous on most policy, including gun violence, in her 2018 House campaign.
(2019-08-05). Amid Conservative Assault on Organized Labor, Democratic Lawmakers Are Advancing Laws to Expand Workers' Rights. theintercept.com 
Nevada and Delaware passed laws this summer giving public-sector workers the right to collectively bargain. Colorado is expected to follow suit next year.
(2019-08-05). Take Away My Employer-Based Health Insurance. Please. progressive.org Centrist Democrats like Joe Biden still aim to gin up mass fear over the prospect of leaving behind predatory insurers and the dizzying array of deductibles, co-pays, exclusions, humiliations, and rationing of care that characterizes our current syst…
(2019-08-05). US mass shootings, Democratic debates, America vs China. uwidata.com Mass shootings in the US Three mass shootings took place in the US in three different states — Texas, Ohio and Illinois. 29 people were killed in the attacks, while almost 50 were injured. On Saturday afternoon in El Paso, Texas, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius opened fire at a supermarket. In the wake of the tragedies, …
(2019-08-05). Headlines for August 5, 2019. democracynow.org White Supremacist Kills 20 People After Hate-Fueled Gun Rampage in El Paso, Gunman with Misogynistic Past Kills 9 People in Dayton, OH Shooting Spree, General Strike Grips Hong Kong as Protesters Refuse to Back Down, India Revokes Kashmir's Special Status as Tensions Mount in Disputed Region, Iran Seizes Tanker as Tensions Between Iran and U.S. Remain High, Russian Police Arrest 800+ Protesters as Crackdown on Dissent Continues, Sudan's Military Rulers and Opposition Leaders Sign Transition Agreement, 3 Mexican Journalists Killed in Under a Week, Pierluisi Sworn In as Puerto Rico's New Governor as San Juan Mayor…
(2019-08-05). Want to Tackle Unemployment? Reduce Military Spending. thenation.com Nia Harris, Cassandra Stimpson, Ben Freeman Want to Tackle Unemployment? Reduce Military Spending.
(2019-08-05). White Nationalism Is a Republican Crisis. thenation.com White Nationalism Is a Republican Crisis…
(2019-08-05). Ex-FBI Agent Speaks Out: Federal Authorities Have Downplayed White Supremacist Violence for Too Long. democracynow.org 
According to The New York Times, white extremist shooters have now killed at least 63 people in the United States over the past 18 months. Late last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that crime driven by racism and white supremacy was on the rise compared to the past nine months. But former FBI agents say there is reluctance within the agency to tackle white nationalist violence in part due to President Trump's rhetoric. We speak with Mike German, fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law. From 1988 to 2004, German served as an FBI agent…
(2019-08-05). El Paso Shooting Probed as Domestic Terrorism After Anti-Immigrant Gunman Kills 22 People. democracynow.org 
Over the span of 13 hours, the United States was shaken by two mass shootings. Saturday morning, a heavily armed gunman opened fire inside a crowded Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 people, including a number of Mexican nationals. Federal authorities are treating the El Paso attack as an act of domestic terrorism. The suspected gunman has been identified as a 21-year-old white man named Patrick Crusius, who lived 600 miles away in a suburb of Dallas. Shortly before the attack in El Paso, the gunman posted an anti-immigrant manifesto on the far-right message board 8chan. Some of the language in the manifesto…
(2019-08-04). Biden His Time. workers.org 
This column by political prisoner and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was posted on Prison Radio.com on July 24. The candidacy of Joseph R. Biden Jr. for President of the United States has caused multiple reactions across the land. Biden, who enters his 77th year of life, draws warm feelings from Blacks . . . | Continue reading Biden His Time at Workers.org
(2019-08-04). Trump's Five Strengths and Five Weaknesses. uwidata.com 
In 2020, the US will hold presidential elections. Voters will decide if Donald Trump will be re-elected for a second term as president or whether one of his democratic contenders will get an opportunity to occupy the White House. Trump has several strengths and weaknesses which will likely factor in to his chances in the …
(2019-08-03). Weekend Read: The SPLC fights an internal threat to our democracy. splcenter.org In his recent testimony before Congress, Special Counsel Robert Mueller pointedly warned the nation about Russia's ongoing attempts to meddle in our nation's elections.
(2019-08-02). Ex-Health Insurance Exec: Industry Is Using Decades-Old Scare Tactics to Fight Medicare for All. democracynow.org 
The Democratic presidential candidates remain deeply divided on how to expand healthcare to the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have both pushed for abolishing private health insurance and establishing a Medicare for All system. Their rivals have pushed a number of different, more incremental approaches. During the first night of the latest debates, Sanders pointed out that the country has taken sweeping action before to expand health coverage to millions of Americans, referring to the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Me…
(2019-08-02). 'Democracy Has Become a Joke on the Island' – CounterSpin interview with Ed Morales on Puerto Rican protest. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Ed Morales about the Puerto Rican protest movement for the July 26, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2019-08-02). Climate System "Getting Unhinged" as Massive Heat Wave Causes Record Melting of Greenland Ice Sheet. democracynow.org 
The massive heat dome that shattered all-time temperature records across much of Europe last week has settled in over Greenland, driving temperatures across the vast region to as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. In July, Greenland's ice sheet lost 197 billion tons of ice, the equivalent of around 80 million Olympic swimming pools. This comes as the World Meteorological Organization said Thursday that July was the warmest month in recorded human history. It followed the hottest June on record, as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels climbed to a record high of 415 parts per million earlier this year. We sp…
(2019-08-02). 2nd Dem Debate Pt 2: To Impeach, or Not to Impeach? That Is the Question. (4/4). therealnews.com 
While Democrats struggle with the question of impeachment, the healthcare debate is getting mired in minutiae and some voters are calling for a working class party. With Kimberly Moffitt, Jacqueline Luqman, and Marc Steiner as host…
(2019-08-02). CNN's Industry Spin Shows Need for Independent Debates. fair.org 
CNN painfully demonstrated this week why we need independently run presidential debates. With its ESPN-like introductions to the candidates, and its insistence on questions that pit candidates against each other, CNN took an approach to the debates more befitting a football game than an exercise in democracy. | The CNN hosts moderated as if they weren't even listening to what candidates were saying, inflexibly cutting them off after the inevitably too-short 30-to-60-second time limit—in order to offer another, often seemingly randomly selected, candida…