(2019-09-05). Sanders wants to fund abortions in 'poor countries' to fight climate change. rt.com 
US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said he would support using taxpayer money to fund abortions in foreign countries as a means of population control in the face of climate change. | Sanders merged the hot-button issues of climate change and abortion rights, at the same time singling out developing nations as the culprits overpopulating Earth, during a six-and-a-half-hour CNN townhall on climate change on Wednesday. While his supporters appeared galvanized, the proposal invoked the wrath of his detractors online. | pic.twitter.com/DDSq9PacgB— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) (2019-09-05). The Problem With Warren. counterpunch.org 
A new poll shows that support for former vice president Joe Biden is falling. The survey, produced by Monmouth University, shows Biden dropping from 32 percent amongst Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters in June — when Monmouth produced its last poll — to below 19 percent now. The stats, meanwhile, place Biden's two progressive competitors, Bernie More
(2019-09-05). Wall Street Journal and Senator Barrasso still peddling Koch's electric car myths. nationofchange.org 
Senator John Barrasso and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial board are once again attacking the federal electric vehicle tax credit, and are once again relying on easily debunked talking points born of the Koch network's influence machine. Senator Barrasso has reportedly sent a letter to Republican colleagues in the Senate, advising them not to extend the electric vehicle …
(2019-09-05). Come Home to Montana, Wanderin' Steve Bullock, There's Work to Do. counterpunch.org 
It's not unusual for politicians in one elected office to seek higher office and that's just what Montana's Gov. Steve Bullock has been doing for much of the last few months. But reality has a way of chiming in on political ambition and given that Bullock will not make the next Democratic debate due to More
(2019-09-05). Millennial workers who question capitalism are on to something. peoplesworld.org 
The following editorial was published by Press Associates Union News Service. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka often cites a Harvard University study of millennials which found that only 30% say democracy is important. He repeated that at his annual Labor Day evaluation with reporters—but linked them to something larger, much larger: Questioning the whole capitalist system. …
(2019-09-05). Progressives Can't Play Nice With Democrats Anymore. truthdig.com Progressive activists often see a frustrating pattern. Many Democrats in office are good at liberal platitudes but don't really fight for what we need. Even when constituents organize to lobby or protest, they have little leverage compared to big campaign donors, party leaders and corporate media spin. Activist efforts routinely fall short because—while propelled by facts and passion—they lack power. | Right now, in dozens of Democratic congressional districts, the most effective way for progressives to "lobby" their inadequate representatives would be to "primary" them. Activists may flatter themselv…
(2019-09-05). Should US Nationalize Fossil Fuel Industry? Warren Says No, Sanders Says Yes. truthout.org | | While 2020 hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders often aligned on climate policy at CNN's climate crisis town hall Wednesday evening, the candidates diverged on the question of nationalizing public utilities. Bernie is for the proposal, while Warren is against. We speak with journalist Kate Aronoff. | TRANSCRIPT: | NERMEEN SHAIKH: Well, let's turn to an audience member questioning Senator Elizabeth Warren. | ROBERT WOOD: Bernie Sanders has endorsed the idea of the public owne…
(2019-09-05). Confronting the Climate Crisis—Why We Need Bernie Sanders' Green New Deal. commondreams.org The Green New Deal put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, explains, Schlosberg, "explicitly bans fracking, prevents all new pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure, bans all fossil fuel exports, and directly challenges this poisoning industry. And it enables a fair and just transition for workers and frontline communities by taxing the accumulated wealth and income of industries that profit off of polluting our planet. No other climate plan does all of these things." (Image: BernieSanders.com) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie_san…
(2019-09-05). Watch dying activist Andy Barkan's "heartfelt" and "moving" conversation with Bernie Sanders on the fight for medicare for all. nationofchange.org Progressive activist Ady Barkan didn't let losing his voice to ALS stop him from launching a new series of interviews with presidential candidates that seeks to go beyond "debate stage quips" to highlight the deeply personal impact of American healthcare policy. On Tuesday, Barkan—who relies on a computer that tracks his eye movements and converts …
(2019-09-05). Bernie leads bipartisan effort to end US involvement in Saudi war in Yemen. nationofchange.org In a recent letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the armed service committees in the U.S. House and Senate, Sen. Bernie Sanders along with a bipartisan group of 43 other lawmakers urged Congress to defund unauthorized U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Instead of withdrawing all support to Saudi Arabia …
(2019-09-05). Education exchange a focus of Pan African Global Trade and Investment Week. indybay.org Sharing the legacy of Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. will help facilitate educational exchange between California's educational institutions (public colleges in the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges) and private institutions studying and embarking on study trips to African and Caribbean educational institutions for cultural and economic reasons.
(2019-09-05). California Ethiopian Sister State Relationship will strengthen African Union Headquarters. indybay.org Proud to stand in solidarity doing our part. The Ethiopian Embassy to the United States in Washington D.C. and the Ethiopian Consulate General in Los Angeles, which covers the western half of the United States, including California, as its consular district, have expressed interest in the creation of sister state relationships between the State of California and the Ethiopian regional states of Amhara, Oromia, Somali, the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, and Tigray…
(2019-09-05). Elizabeth Warren adopts $3 trillion climate crisis plan, challenges all 2020 candidates to do same. nationofchange.org Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that she would adopt Gov. Jay Inslee's climate crisis plan and add in a $1 trillion in investments to help protect workers and to fund a dramatic shift in infrastructure away from fossil fuels if she is elected president, as CNN reported. Warren said her plan includes a "federal investment of $3 trillion" and "will leverage additional …
(2019-09-05). The 2020 Candidates Must Not Ignore Indian Country. truthout.org | | Janine Jackson: The Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum in Sioux City, Iowa, was a long overdue spotlight on Native American communities and concerns, and was attended by top-tier candidates. So what happens now? What sort of questions should we (and journalists) be asking to distinguish between candidates' talk and their walk on issues of importance for indigenous communities?
(2019-09-05). Turkey's warning to NATO. uwidata.com àúnal àáevikà∂z, the deputy opposition leader of the main opposition party in Turkey, the Republican People's Party (RPP, Turk. CHP), commented on President Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan's recent trip to Russia, saying: "We are concerned that if Turkey, a member of NATO, continues to purchase weapons that are not can be integrated into the Alliance system, …
(2019-09-05). Your Vote, Your Voice: Don't Waste It. counterpunch.org More than a year out from the 2020 presidential election, we're already starting to see "spoiler" fear-mongering from supporters of America's two largest political parties and their candidates. Will formerly Republican congressman Justin Amash of Michigan run for president as a Libertarian or independent in 2020? How about formerly Republican, formerly Democrat, formerly independent, former More
(2019-09-05). Five Star-Democrat coalition government announced in Italy. wsws.org Cobbled together in backroom deals to avoid elections while continuing austerity and attacks on refugees, this government is no alternative to its far-right predecessor.
(2019-09-05). Elections in Germany, Split in the Italian Government, US-China Trade War. uwidata.com Elections in Germany Angela Merkel's the Christian Democratic Union came out victorious in the elections which took place in Brandenburg and Saxony. However, the party was followed closely by the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). According to preliminary data, in Saxony, the right-wing formation received 27.5% of the vote, while the CDU received 32.1%. …
(2019-09-05). The EU's Ursula von der Leyen: Who Voted for Her? counterpunch.org July heatwave luckily distracted public attention in Europe from disruption in another area: democracy. Few hot and bothered Europeans noticed that the political line they had been fed for at least three years had just been dropped. The media, busy with other investigations, did not try hard to alert them. Hundreds of millions of European More
(2019-09-05). Costa Rican government imposes ban on political strikes. wsws.org Thousands of public sector workers, including teachers, doctors, nurses, electricians, trash collectors and others went on a national strike on Tuesday to oppose this historic attack on democratic rights.
(2019-09-05). Puerto Rico, Military Schools to Lose Money for Trump's Border Fencing. truthdig.com The Pentagon says it will divert $3.6 billion from projects in the U.S. and overseas; outraged Democrats say they won't re-fund them.
(2019-09-05). Mexican president used spy agency to monitor immigrant caravans. wsws.org After claiming that Mexico's spy agency would be dismantled and immigrants protected, AMLO has escalated attacks on democratic rights.
(2019-09-05). East Timor's mass poverty, unemployment belie promises of "national liberation" wsws.org The creation of the new capitalist state did nothing to advance the social interests and democratic rights of the Timorese working class and rural poor.
(2019-09-05). Neoliberal Democrats Need to Stop Blaming the Internet and Take Some Responsibility for 2016. commondreams.org A prominent Donald Trump sign on display in West Des Moines, Iowa in 2016. (Photo: Tony Webster/cc/flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_yard_sign_west_des_moines_iowa.jpg …
(2019-09-05). Sanders Shines and Biden Crumbles During Epic Town Hall on Climate Crisis. truthout.org | | Adding climate change to school curriculums. Geoengineering. Thorium fuel reactors. A Blue New Deal. The Syrian war was a climate war. Climate distress included in asylum petitions. Food deserts. Climate denial is a l…
(2019-09-05). Joe Biden Doesn't Sound Very Serious About the Climate Crisis. thenation.com 
CNN's climate change town hall was a good moment for activists—and a rough one for the Democratic front-runner.
(2019-09-05). Climate Crisis: Should U.S. Nationalize Fossil Fuel Industry? Warren Says No, Sanders Says Yes. democracynow.org 
While 2020 hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders often aligned on climate policy at CNN's climate crisis town hall Wednesday evening, the candidates diverged on the question of nationalizing public utilities. Bernie is for the proposal, while Warren is against. We speak with journalist Kate Aronoff.
(2019-09-05). Last Night, Biden Touted His Climate Plan. Tonight, He'll Attend a Fossil Fuel Exec's Fundraiser. democracynow.org 
Former Vice President Joe Biden is facing scrutiny after being questioned about his relationship with the fossil fuel industry at CNN's town hall on the climate crisis Wednesday. An audience member asked Biden about his plans to attend a fundraiser hosted by fossil fuel executive Andrew Goldman the day after the town hall, despite taking a pledge to reject oil and gas money. Biden initially denied Goldman's ties to the fossil fuel industry, despite Goldman co-founding a natural gas company called Western LNG. When pressed by Anderson Cooper, Biden said he would look into the matter further. We host a roundtable w…
(2019-09-05). Nearly 2 Million People in India Could Lose Citizenship in Biggest Disenfranchisement in History. democracynow.org 
Nearly 2 million people in the northeast state of Assam are at risk of being rendered stateless in India after the government published its National Register of Citizens list Saturday. The highly contested register was first created in 1951 and lists people who are able to prove they came to the state by March 24, 1971 — the day before neighboring Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, declared independence from Pakistan. The Indian government says the list helps identify Bangladeshi migrants who are not legal residents. Critics have denounced the register as an attempt to deport millions of Muslims. Residents sus…
(2019-09-05). After DNC Rejects Climate Debate, Candidates Discuss Green New Deal, Environmental Justice at Forum. democracynow.org 
Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls took to the stage in New York City Wednesday night for a climate town hall hosted by CNN. The event was held less than two weeks after the Democratic National Committee rejected a resolution that would have allowed candidates to participate in a debate focused on the climate crisis. For months, the Sunrise Movement and other environmental groups pushed the DNC to hold a climate debate, but the party refused. We host a roundtable with former EPA official Mustafa Ali, journalist Kate Aronoff and Sunrise Movement digital director Mattias Lehman.
(2019-09-05). Headlines for September 5, 2019. democracynow.org 2020 Dem Candidates Talk Fracking, Green New Deal, Nuclear Energy & More at Climate Crisis Town Hall, Brexit Battle Heats Up as Lawmakers Vote to Block "No-Deal" Scenario, Trump Shows Doctored Hurricane Map as Dorian Hits U.S. Coast After Ravaging Bahamas, Report: FBI Tracking Immigration Activists Who Oppose Trump Policies, Aid Groups Uncover More Human Remains at Arizona-Mexico Border, State Dept. Official Offered Millions to Captain of Iranian Oil Tanker to Divert Vessel, Mexico: Main Suspect in 2014 Ayotzinapa Student Disappearance Acquitted, Denmark Bans PFAS from Food Packaging, Germany Announces Glyphosate…
(2019-09-05). 'Vision for Justice': 117 Rights Groups Offer Roadmap to Transform US Criminal-Legal System. commondreams.org "The American criminal-legal system is a stain on our democracy," declares a new policy platform from human and civil rights groups who aim to transform the existing system into one of respect and justice. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/criminal-law-reform_1.jpg …
(2019-09-05). Over 120 Groups Call on Congress to Back Constitutional Amendment Overturning Citizens United. commondreams.org More than 120 organizations on Thursday urged members of the U.S. House to support a constitutional amendment that aims to reverse the damage done to American democracy by Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that effectively enabled corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence political elections. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-4618966721.jpg …
(2019-09-05). 'This Is Incredible,' Says Corbyn, as Voter Registration Surges Amid Boris Johnson's Chaotic Lurch Towards UK General Election. commondreams.org Labour politicians and pro-democracy groups applauded reports on Wednesday that amid mounting chaos in the U.K. government, more than 100,000 people registered to vote in a 48-hour period this week in anticipation of a possible general election in October. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/48654886217_aa9eab61ce_o1.jpg …
(2019-09-05). Excessive state surveillance is now 'undermining British democracy'. mronline.org 
Kevin Blowe is the coordinator of the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) from 2014 when it began focusing on the policing of opposition to fracking across the country. He regularly contributes to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's work on protecting rights to freedom of assembly and spent 25 years as a campaigner […] | Source
(2019-09-05). As Luciana Berger becomes the latest arrival, the Lib Dems get caught out lying. thecanary.co 
The ranks of the Liberal Democrats have swelled further with the arrival of Luciana Berger. But even as the party celebrated, people were quick to point out that it had overstated its hand. | In February 2019, Berger was one of the founders o…
(2019-09-05). 'Organizing Works': Advocates Credit Pressure Campaign With Forcing High-Ranking Democrat Hakeem Jeffries to Back Medicare for All. commondreams.org Following months of dogged campaigning by National Nurses United and other Medicare for All advocates, one of the top Democrats in the U.S. House on Thursday became one of highest-ranking lawmakers to sign on as a co-sponsor of the progressive proposal. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1073873934.png …
(2019-09-05). New Season of Amazon's Jack Ryan Focused on Venezuela Denounced as 'Over-the-Top and Ridiculous' US Propaganda. commondreams.org "No matter how cynical you might be about propagandistic American media, you are not prepared for how much watching this trailer is like snorting 100% pure John Bolton." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/jack_ryan_jim_venezuela.png …
(2019-09-04). EPI report: Forced arbitration to cover 80% of private sector workers by 2024. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (PAI)—Thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court pro-business ruling, some 80% of private-sector U.S. workers will be forced into arbitration with their bosses by 2024, a new report predicts. The report, by the Economic Policy Institute and the Center for Popular Democracy, paints a stark picture of what would happen to workers at the …
(2019-09-04). Hong Kong leader withdraws extradition bill that sparked protests. thecanary.co 
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has announced the government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that sparked months of demonstrations.The move bows to one of the protesters' demands in the hope of ending the unrest.But a pro-government politician warned that the bill's withdrawal was not enough to end the protests, which have increasingly focused on greater democracy and demands for Lam's resignation.The bill would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trials.People block policemen trying to arrest protesters near the airport in Hong Kong on Sunday (Vincent Yu/AP)It has pr…
(2019-09-04). Is OK Good Enough for an Incumbent in the Face of the Climate Crisis? theintercept.com 
The transformation of the American economy has taken a toll on this Illinois district. Rachel Ventura is challenging the incumbent Democrat, arguing that only a Green New Deal can turn it around.
(2019-09-04). In Buffalo, N.Y., embattled baristas vote for a union. workers.org 
The workers at SPoT Coffee, a Toronto-based coffee shop with locations in Buffalo, N.Y., voted overwhelmingly for union representation on Aug. 20. This came after nearly two months of worker-led protests against SPoT's decision in late June to fire two union organizers and one store manager who refused to cooperate . . . | Continue reading In Buffalo, N.Y., embattled baristas vote for a union at Workers.org
(2019-09-04). The Impossibility of Intransigent Transcendence. counterpunch.org On Thursday, August 22, 2019, the Resolutions Committee of the Democrat's National Committee (of Super-delegates) voted 17 to 8 against the possibility of a debate between their presidential candidates focussed on climate change. That means that slightly over 2/3rds of the Resolution Committee opposes such a debate. On Saturday, August 24, 2019, the DNC (of More
(2019-09-04). After Climate Forum, Biden Heads to a Fundraiser Co-Hosted by a Fossil Fuel Executive. theintercept.com Andrew Goldman, co-founder of Western LNG, was a top fundraiser for Biden's last presidential campaign and is raising money for him again.
(2019-09-04). North Carolina Has Won a Huge Victory in the Fight Against Rigged Elections. thenation.com North Carolina Has Won a Huge Victory in the Fight Against Rigged Elections…
(2019-09-04). Nigerian Journalist & Activist Omoyele Sowore Remains Jailed for Calling for Peaceful Protests. democracynow.org 
Journalist and pro-democracy activist Omoyele Sowore is entering his second month in jail for calling for peaceful nationwide protests against the government. Sowore called his movement "Revolution Now" and mobilized activists to take to the streets August 5. But just two days before the protests were set to begin, Sowore was arrested by the state and accused of attempting to take over the government. He's been imprisoned for more than a month now as human rights groups continue to call for his immediate release. We speak with his wife Opeyemi Sowore and Nani Jansen Reventlow, one of the attorneys representing Om…
(2019-09-04). U.S. Journalist & Activist Brandon Lee Shot in Philippines After Being Called "Enemy of the State" democracynow.org 
American journalist and indigenous and environmental rights activist Brandon Lee remains in critical condition in the Philippines more than four weeks after being shot multiple times outside his home in the northern region of the country in early August. Lee was shot at least four times in the back and face on August 6 in what his family and advocates say was an attempt by the Philippines government to kill him. Brandon Lee is a Chinese American born and raised in San Francisco, but he has spent the last decade in the Philippines, where he has a wife and young daughter. He is a correspondent for the weekly newspa…
(2019-09-04). "This Is a Climate Emergency": Devastated by Dorian, the Bahamas Are on Frontlines of a Dying Planet. democracynow.org 
It is a scene of utter devastation after the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas. Residents of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are now bracing for the storm, which has been downgraded to Category 2. The official death in the Bahamas is at seven but is expected to rise. On the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, as many as 13,000 homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Rescue efforts have been hampered by widespread flooding. Some reports say 70 to 80% of the affected areas remains underwater, including the Grand Bahama International Airport. The Bahamas Red Cross and other relief groups are sc…
(2019-09-04). Headlines for September 4, 2019. democracynow.org 13,000 Homes Destroyed, At Least 7 Dead as Hurricane Dorian Devastates Bahamas, Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Withdraws Extradition Bill After Months of Protest, Boris Johnson Faces Crushing Blow to Brexit Plan as MPs Rebel Against No-Deal Exit from EU, Walmart Will Stop Selling Assault Weapon Ammunition Following Spate of Deadly Mass Shootings, 14-Year-Old Alabama Teen Shoots and Kills 5 Family Members, Trump Admin Diverts $3.6 Billion from Defense Budget to Build Border Wall, Trump Admin Partially Backtracks on Plan to Deport Immigrants with Serious Health Conditions, Guatemalan Presidential Runner-Up and Ex-Firs…
(2019-09-04). Hong Kong: Google censors China. workers.org 
Google stripped away the illusion that the continuing protests in Hong Kong are about democracy when on Aug. 20 the internet monopoly suspended 936 Twitter accounts and disabled 210 YouTube channels, charging them with seeking to "discredit Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and sow political discord in the city." (theguardian.com, Aug. . . . | Continue reading Hong Kong: Google censors China at Workers.org
(2019-09-03). Sen. Joe Manchin Is Out, but an Actual Progressive Is Making a Serious Run for West Virginia Governor. theintercept.com 
Stephen Smith's anti-establishment campaign for governor recently out-raised all of its Republican opponents — including the incumbent — combined.
(2019-09-03). Workers Need More Rights and Economic Democracy. dissidentvoice.org As someone who has been a union member since I was a Marine with the American Servicemen's Union until I retired last year as a Teamster as well as a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, I have lived the reality of mistreatment of workers in the United States. It is good to …
(2019-09-03). Here's How Much the Democratic Party Charges to Be on Each House Committee. theintercept.com House Democrats are woefully behind on dues owed to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to an internal party document provided to The Intercept. The rank-and-file's lagging participation in the party's money chase is being made up for, however, by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's prolific buckraking. By the end of June, she had raised the DCCC more than $43,000,000. | Otherwise, only 11 party members had paid their dues in full, according to the document, a July draft of the "Member Dues Report" for…
(2019-09-03). Democracy Dies From Bad Fact-Checking. thenation.com Democracy Dies From Bad Fact-Checking…
(2019-09-03). Do Joe Biden's Mistakes Matter? thenation.com Do Joe Biden's Mistakes Matter?
(2019-09-03). Texas Weakens Gun Laws One Day After Odessa Massacre Leaves 7 Dead, 22 Injured. democracynow.org 
A gunman killed seven people and injured 22 others on Saturday, including a 17-month-old girl. Police have identified the shooter as 36-year-old Seth Ator. He went on the rampage just hours after being fired from his trucking job. The deadly string of events began when a Midland police officer pulled over Ator for failing to use his signal. Police say Ator then opened fire using an AR-15-style weapon before speeding away. He then began shooting at random residents and motorists. The rampage ended 20 miles away when the gunman died in a shootout with police outside a movie theater in Odessa. Meanwhile, eight new l…
(2019-09-03). Hong Kong's "Father of Democracy" Martin Lee Calls on Gov't to Heed Demonstrators' Demands. democracynow.org 
Following another weekend of mass protests in Hong Kong, this marks 13 weeks of protesters calling for greater political freedom and the scrapping of a controversial extradition bill with China. For the past two days, thousands of students have boycotted the beginning of classes. On Sunday, protesters returned to Hong Kong's airport, where they barricaded roads in an attempt to shut down the airport again. On Saturday, police fired tear gas and water cannons during a chaotic night of street demonstrations. Some masked protesters were seen throwing Molotov cocktails at the police. Earlier today, Carrie Lam denied…
(2019-09-03). Fueled by Climate Change, Hurricane Dorian Devastates the Bahamas in "Unprecedented Disaster" democracynow.org 
Hurricane Dorian is continuing to wreak havoc in the Bahamas, where massive storms and flooding have killed five people and left many stranded on the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands over the weekend. The Category 3 storm pummeled the islands throughout Monday with up to 180-mile-per-hour winds and continued to be stalled in the region Tuesday. Hurricane Dorian is one of the strongest recorded storms to ever strike the Atlantic, and is expected to continue a destructive path toward Florida and then onward to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. It made landfall as a Category 5 storm in the Bahamas Sunday. We s…
(2019-09-03). Headlines for September 3, 2019. democracynow.org Gunman Kills 7 People, Injures 22 in West Texas as State Enacts New Pro-Gun Legislation, Federal Court Rules Victims of 2015 Charleston Mass Shooting Can Sue U.S. Gov't, Hurricane Dorian Pummels Bahamas, Killing 5 People, Kabul Bomb Attack Kills At Least 16 as U.S. Announces Draft Peace Plan with Taliban, 2 Million People in Assam Face Statelessness, Imprisonment After India Publishes Citizens Register, Hong Kong Protesters Take to Streets as Chinese Media Ramps Up Threatening Rhetoric, U.K. PM Boris Johnson Threatens Snap Election as Labour Hopes to Force Brexit Extension, Far-Right Party Makes Gains But Fails t…
(2019-09-02). Death and Resistance on the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Democracy Now! Special. democracynow.org 
Democracy Now! travels to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona to follow the humanitarian activist Scott Warren into the Sonoran Desert as he accompanies other No More Deaths volunteers as they leave water and food for migrants making the treacherous journey north. Warren is currently facing up to 10 years in prison for his humanitarian work in the Sonoran Desert, where the bodies and bones of more than 3,000 people — nearly all migrants — have been found since 2001. We also speak to the Tucson-based artist Alvaro Enciso, creator of the project Where Dreams Die. He has built and installed over 900 crosse…
(2019-08-31). Why Are Hong Kong Protesters Asking Trump for Help? therealnews.com 
Journalist Ilaria Maria Sala discusses the arrest and release of demonstration "leaders," the history of Hong Kong's struggle for democracy, American involvement in the protests, and the complexity of the current movement…
(2019-08-31). Hausmann hypocrisy: Guaido coup official raked in dollars from dictators and banking behemoths while promoting 'democracy' for Venezuela. thegrayzone.com Ricardo Hausmann slammed banks for doing business with Venezuela's elected government. But financial disclosure forms filed with Harvard show the…
(2019-08-31). Chicago students say, 'CIA off campus!'. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – On the afternoon of August 28, members of Students for a Democratic Society and AnakBayan Chicago, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, passed out flyers on the quad to oppose the partnership that the university has with the CIA. SDS members held a banner reading "CIA off campus," the slogan that has been used in past decades by student activists around the country in similar campaigns. Protesters held signs each detailing a different CIA operation and the number of deaths it caused. | In February 2018, the UIC announced that they had become a CIA Signature School. Only three months later, Gina…
(2019-08-30). Is it Cynical to Believe the System is Corrupt? therealnews.com 
While a new poll shows most US citizens believe the political and economic system is rigged against them, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren also echo this sentiment. Some conservatives are now pushing back. But what says the evidence? Bill Black analyzes the situation…
(2019-08-30). How Larry Fink, Joe Biden's Wall Street Ally, Profits From Amazon Cattle Ranching, a Force Behind Deforestation. theintercept.com The giant investment firm BlackRock has contributed to the climate crisis by investing in a Brazilian meatpacker, JBS, linked to Amazon deforestation.
(2019-08-30). Family of Mexican Teenager Slain by Border Agent Awaits SCOTUS Ruling to Determine If They Can Sue. democracynow.org 
This fall, the Supreme Court will decide whether the parents of Sergio Hernández Gàºereca, a 15-year-old Mexican teen killed by a Border Patrol agent in 2010, can sue the American agent in a U.S. federal court. It's been nearly 10 years since Border Patrol agent Jesus Mesa Jr. shot across the El Paso-Juárez border and struck Hernández Gàºereca in the head. The central question in the case is whether a Mexican citizen killed on Mexican soil by a U.S. border agent is protected by the U.S. Constitution — allowing for the family members of victims to file civil lawsuits. If the Supreme Court rules in…
(2019-08-30). "All-Out Attack": Trump's Anti-Immigrant Policies Target Children, Cancer Patients & Servicemembers. democracynow.org 
On Tuesday, the Trump administration reportedly ended its "medical deferred action" program, which allows immigrants with serious health problems to stay in the U.S. for up to two years beyond the terms of their visas to receive critical treatment. Just one day later, it announced that some children born to U.S. servicemembers and government employees stationed overseas will no longer automatically receive citizenship. The policy changes come days after the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to allow the Trump administration to implement its rule banning almost all migrants from seeking asylum in the Unit…
(2019-08-30). Border Patrol Has Killed At Least 97 People Since 2003. Hear Some of Their Victims' Stories. democracynow.org 
U.S. Border Patrol agents have killed 97 people since 2003, including at least six Mexicans on Mexican soil. Democracy Now! traveled to the borderlands of Arizona earlier this month to cover one of these killings: the death of José Antonio Elena Rodríguez, who was gunned down by a Border Patrol agent in 2012. We met with Richard Boren of the Border Patrol Victims Network in Nogales, Arizona, at exactly the spot where agent Lonnie Swartz pointed his gun through the border wall to shoot and kill José Antonio. At this site, Richard Boren displayed a banner with images of José Antonio and other victims of Border Patr…
(2019-08-30). Justice for José Antonio: Family Demands Accountability for Mexican Teen Killed by U.S. Border Agent. democracynow.org 
Nearly seven years ago, 16-year-old José Antonio Elena Rodríguez was killed in Nogales, Mexico, by U.S. Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz, who fired his gun from the U.S. side of the border. The teenager — who was unarmed — died face-down on the sidewalk just a couple of blocks from his home. Border Patrol has for years been plagued with hundreds of allegations of abuse and unnecessary use of deadly force, including the cross-border killings of at least six people on Mexican soil. Most cases are not investigated, and border agents are rarely criminally charged for using violent force. After nearly fiv…
(2019-08-30). Headlines for August 30, 2019. democracynow.org Florida Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Justice Department: Comey Violated FBI Rules But Will Not Face Charges, Former FARC Rebels to Take Up Arms Again in Colombia, Report: Indian Forces Are Beating and Torturing Kashmiris in Detention, UAE Accused of Bombing Saudi-Backed Forces in Yemen, Prominent Pro-Democracy Activists Arrested Ahead of Saturday's Protest, Scottish Judge Refused to Block Boris Johnson's Plan to Suspend Parliament, Ebola Death Toll Tops 2,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Environmental Groups Threaten to Sue Trump over Methane Rules, NAACP Calls for Alabama Gov. t…
(2019-08-30). Rojava: Human shields defy threats of Turkish invasion. greenleft.org.au 
Rojava revolutionIssue 1235 Northern Syria Turkish military Democratic Federation of Northern SyriaAugust 30, 2019The people of Rojava in Northern Syria are continuing human shield actions along the Syria-Turkey border, to prevent an invasi…
(2019-08-29). How Ohio's Chamber of Commerce Killed an Anti-Pollution Bill of Rights. theintercept.com 
Emails reveal that the Ohio Chamber of Commerce enlisted a key Republican lawmaker in a successful effort to nullify the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.
(2019-08-29). Senate Democrats' Campaign Arm Is Pressuring Consultants Not to Work With Leading Progressive Candidate in Colorado. theintercept.com 
Andrew Romanoff said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pressured a number of firms not to work with his Senate campaign.
(2019-08-29). Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives in NYC to Fight "Biggest Crisis Humanity Has Ever Faced" democracynow.org 
Following weeks of anticipation, Swedish climate justice activist Greta Thunberg arrived on the shores of Lower Manhattan Wednesday afternoon after a 15-day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in an emissions-free yacht. She was welcomed on land by hundreds of supporters at the North Cove Marina. As Thunberg's yacht sailed over the horizon and past the Statue of Liberty, youth climate activists chanted "The sea levels are rising, and so are we!" and "We are unstoppable! Another world is possible!" The 16-year-old climate activist is kickstarting a months-long tour of the Americas. For her first action, she will be j…
(2019-08-29). Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit in "Shameless and Brazen Attack" on U.K. Democracy. democracynow.org 
The United Kingdom is in uproar after Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the queen to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament from mid-September to mid-October, leaving little time for lawmakers to avoid a disastrous no-deal Brexit when the country exits the European Union on October 31. Thousands took to the streets in London and across the country Wednesday to protest the move. We speak with Ash Sarkar, senior editor at Novara Media, who describes Johnson's latest move as unprecedented, calling it "the most shameless and brazen attack on the British democratic process" in decades. "The unspoken rule of the British con…
(2019-08-29). Remembering Legendary Peace Activist Frances Crowe, Who Died at 100 After Decades of Resisting War. democracynow.org 
The legendary peace activist Frances Crowe died this week at the age of 100 in Northampton, Massachusetts. Over the past seven decades, Frances had been arrested countless times while protesting war, nuclear weapons, nuclear power and the construction of new pipelines. She is survived by her two sons, a daughter and an international community of peace activists. We revisit a 2005 interview of Frances Crowe by Amy Goodman and recognize her lifetime of advocacy.
(2019-08-29). Headlines for August 29, 2019. democracynow.org EPA to Roll Back Methane Regulations in Blow to Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Trump Moves to Allow Logging in World's Largest Intact Temperate Rainforest, Hurricane Dorian Gains Strength, Threatens Bahamas & Florida, Swedish Youth Climate Justice Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives in NYC After 15-Day Boat Trip, Gillibrand Drops Out of 2020 Race as Just 10 Dems Qualify for Sept. Debate, Thousands Protest "Coup" in U.K. as Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit, New Coalition Government May Be Formed in Italy, Italian Humanitarian Ship Rescues 100 Migrants Off Coast of Libya, Separatists & Government-B…
(2019-08-28). When Ilhan Omar Is Accused of Anti-Semitism, It's News. When a Republican Smears Muslims, There's Silence. theintercept.com 
Rep. Ilhan Omar participates in a panel discussion during the Muslim Collective for Equitable Democracy Conference and Presidential Forum at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2019. | the Benjamins, baby." | That is, of course, what Rep. Ilhan Omar famously tweeted on February 10, in response to a tweet from my colleague Glenn Greenwald decrying "how much time U.S. political leaders spend defending a foreign nation" — namely, the state of Israel. Then, when a journalist followed up by asking Omar w…
(2019-08-28). Fidel Castro's prescient warning on climate change. liberationnews.org 
Fidel Castro Ruz, historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, warned almost 30 years ago that collective and urgent action was needed to combat the destruction of the Earth's environment.
(2019-08-28). Israeli drone attack on Beirut suburb. fightbacknews.org Washington, DC – Israel launched a drone attack in Beirut's southern suburb, Dahiyeh, August 24, targeting the media offices of the national democratic political party Hezbollah. Lebanese politicians denounced the attacks as "acts of war," and Hezbollah stated it will respond. | Hezbollah reports that one of the Israelis drones exploded and the other did not – due to a technical failure. Of the drone that failed to blow up, Hezbollah stated "it was laden with a bomb which was professionally wrapped and isolated," made up of C4 explosives. | In recent days, Israel has launched attacks on Syria, Iraq, Gaza, and ea…
(2019-08-28). How Bolsonaro's Climate Change Denial & Anti-Indigenous Policies Led to Massive Fires in the Amazon. democracynow.org 
In Brazil, fires continue to rage in the Amazon, and new drone footage shows the smoke and flames gathering strength. A vast plume of smoke has spread across South America and the Atlantic Ocean and is visible from space. The fires are also destroying large swaths of land in Bolivia. The fires are unprecedented in recorded history, and environmentalists say most of the fires were deliberately set by illegal miners and cattle ranchers. So far this year, there have been nearly 73,000 fires in Brazil, with over half of them in the Amazon region — an 83% increase from the same period last year. Far-right Brazil…
(2019-08-28). Airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria & Iraq Mark Dangerous Escalation in Decades-Long Israeli Aggression. democracynow.org 
Tensions are mounting across the Middle East following a series of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Lebanese President Michel Aoun likened the recent Israeli attacks to a "declaration of war." Israeli drones bombed targets in Lebanon on both Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, some Iraqi lawmakers are calling on the United States to fully withdraw its troops following a series of Israeli air raids conducted by Israel. Israel has only claimed responsibility for an attack on Syria Saturday, which they said targeted an Iranian-operated base that was preparing to launch a drone assault on Israel. We speak wi…
(2019-08-27). A Top Financier of Trump and McConnell Is a Driving Force Behind Amazon Deforestation. theintercept.com 
Steve Schwarzman is the CEO of the Blackstone Group, which partially owns a Brazilian firm that is helping transform the Amazon from jungle to farmland.
(2019-08-27). New Resource Tool Sheds Light on Government's Prepublication Review System. aclu.org Millions of current and former government employees are subjected to this far-reaching censorship system. | This piece was originally published in Just Security. | For more than three years, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University have been litigating a series of Freedom of Information Act requests relating to "prepublication review." Under this far-reaching censorship system, millions of current and former government employees, con…
(2019-08-26). Rogues' Gallery: A Sober Look at the "Progressive" Democratic Presidential Candidates. mintpressnews.com 
Unless someone new enters the race or one of the existing candidates is stricken on the road to Damascus, there will be no genuinely progressive foreign policy offered by either of the two major political parties in the 2020 presidential election.
(2019-08-26). Before Kamala Harris Soured on Bernie Sanders's Medicare for All Bill, She Grew Her Email List From It. theintercept.com Kamala Harris distanced herself from Bernie Sanders's Medicare for All bill at an event with large-dollar donors two weeks after her campaign ran those ads.
(2019-08-21). An Arizona Law Requires Surveillance of People Who Are Presumed Innocent. aclu.org The government cannot take shortcuts around constitutional rights. | A pillar of our democracy is the presumption of innocence: before a person has been convicted of a crime, they are considered completely innocent under the law. Yet across the country, people who have not been convicted are punished—both explicitly and implicitly—based on the mistaken assumption that they are dangerous, purely on the basis of an accusation. We do not live in a society where you can be incarcerated or monitored simply because you have been accused of a crime. Doing so violates constitutional rights, fuels mass incarce…
(2019-08-20). Maryland teacher incorporates hard lessons about slavery into public school curriculum. splcenter.org At a workshop for teachers about educating children on American slavery, one instructor grew angry and insisted that Thomas Jefferson — who fathered biracial children with an enslaved woman on one of his plantations — was an advocate for racial equality.
(2019-08-20). Joe Biden's Wife Says Vote for Husband Even If You Like Other Candidates More. theantimedia.com "Jill Biden may have settled for her husband, but I'm not sure why anyone else should."
(2019-08-01). Kamala Harris Team Accused of "Inventing Conspiracies" About Tulsi Gabbard. theantimedia.com The Kamala Harris' campaign jumped to tie Gabbard and her campaign to a nebulously defined and unclear Russian conspiracy.