Daily Archives: September 8, 2019

2019-09-08: News Headlines

Maj. Danny Sjursen (2019-09-08). The Madness of James Mattis. truthdig.com Last week, in a well-received Wall Street Journal op-ed, former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis delivered a critique of Donald Trump that was as hollow as it was self-righteous. Explaining his decision to resign from the administration, the retired marine general known as "Mad Dog" eagerly declared himself "apolitical," peppering his narrative with cheerful vignettes about his much beloved grunts. "We all know that we're better than our current politics," he observed solemnly. "Tribalism must not be allowe…

RT (2019-09-08). Hillary Clinton & Elizabeth Warren's 'secret talks' ignite outrage, mockery on social media. rt.com Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren is reportedly in talks with failed presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, a move that's at odds with Warren's progressive image, and people really aren't happy about it. | The two have been in communication since the Massachusetts senator announced her presidential run, although both are keeping quiet about it, NBC reports, citing several people who wished to remain anonymous. | pic.twitter.com/pm4FPOttz…

Reese Erlich (2019-09-08). Foreign Correspondent: Will Trump Bring Peace to Afghanistan? commondreams.org U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting at The Venetian Las Vegas on April 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_afghan.jpg

STRUT (2019-09-08). Angels at the Front: Border Angels and Color Bloq. indybay.org trut, 470 Castro St, San Francisco 94114…

Santa Cruz News Network (2019-09-08). Tom Noddy Explains How the Santa Cruz Recall is Undemocratic. indybay.org Known world-wide as a performing artist for his enchanting "Bubble-Magic" show, Santa Cruz's Tom Noddy explains why he believes the campaign to recall Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover is "an effort to reverse the results of the election through a less democratic process". In a recent post on his Facebook page, Noddy states: "the two progressives, in order to hold their seats, must receive 50% +1 of the electorate and if they don't, they will be replaced by one of the field of opponents who will win the seat if they get the most votes of any of the opponents in the field running against t…

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2019-09-08). Historic California Gold Rush Mining Town of Negro Bar 170th Anniversary. indybay.org Negro Bar California State Park, Folsom, CA…

Lynda Carson (2019-09-08). Fascist NRA gun organization labeled a domestic terrorist organization. indybay.org On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, a resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors declared that the fascist right-wing extremist National Rifle Association of America (NRA), a very troubled organization that supports the Trump regime and Republicans with major political campaign contributions, is a domestic terrorist organization!

Jan Lightfoot (2019-09-08). Potatoes and Rice. indybay.org Information, as menu, is gathered from"Democracy NOW". It on PBS. | The information was on the program, "Democracy Now." Its a news program on PBS.

Ryan Grim (2019-09-07). The Washington Post Nominated Glenn Kessler for a Pulitzer Prize. theintercept.com Earlier this year, the Washington Post nominated Glenn Kessler and his "Fact Checker" team for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in the National Reporting category. Kessler was not named as a finalist by the Pulitzer committee, which meant that the nomination was never made public. Marty Baron,…

Esha Krishnaswamy (2019-09-07). Climate Minimizers Don't Deny Climate Change—But Find Endless Reasons to Reject Sanders' Plan to Stop It. commondreams.org Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie_sanders_media.jpg

Scott Goodstein (2019-09-07). Democratic Candidates Must Communicate Differently to Impress a New Generation of Voters. commondreams.org Democrats need to use the tools available in a rapidly changing digital landscape to reach 2020 voters. (Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/social_media_0.jpg

WSWS (2019-09-07). Another police-state raid in Australia to protect spy agencies. wsws.org The Morrison government is stepping-up an offensive on democratic rights at the Trump administration's behest.

Staff (2019-09-07). Trump Rakes in Fossil Fuel Money While Some Democrats Skirt Donation Pledge. truthout.org | | Against the backdrop of intensifying global heat waves, a burning Amazon forest, and melting arctic ice caps, the question of how to respond to the global climate crisis, and a candidate's relationship to the fossil fuel industry, are assuming center stage in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. | At one end, you have Donald Trump, the near-certain Republican nominee, who has taken huge amounts of money from the fossil fuel industry. The Trump administration has rolled back climate regu…

WSWS (2019-09-07). Peter Greste's panel discussion in Sydney: Support for censorship and throwing Assange to the wolves. wsws.org Greste advocates the anti-democratic conception that a "responsible journalist" censors information that is deemed too controversial for the population to know.

WSWS (2019-09-07). Jury finds one defendant not guilty, deadlocked on second in 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse fire case. wsws.org The criminal trial of two defendants, Derrick Almena and Max Harris, charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, has come to an end with a deadlock and an acquittal.

Jake Johnson (2019-09-07). 'No fossil fuel money!': Protests outside big-money fundraiser for Biden co-hosted by natural gas executive. nationofchange.org "Biden can't expect to convince Americans that he's a leader on climate if he's also cozying up to fossil fuel power players."

The Canary (2019-09-07). Pro and anti-Brexit demonstrators clash on Parliament Square. thecanary.co Two groups of pro and anti-Brexit protesters have clashed on Parliament Square. | About 200 people joined a pro-Brexit demonstration organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) on Saturday morning. | When members of the anti-Brexit group March for Change began to set up for a rally of their own, some members of the DFLA approached and began shouting. | A beer can was thrown towards about 10 people from the March for Change protest, before police on horseback intervened. | Police knew about both protests prior to Saturday. | A blimp in the shape of Boris Johnson had been set to fly at the March for C…

commondreams (2019-09-07). Ahead of Standing Ovation at New Hampshire Democratic Convention, Sanders Camp Announces Endorsements From 53 State Dems. commondreams.org "This latest round of endorsements shows we are not only retaining and engaging supporters from 2016, but building new support from a broad swath of leaders from around the state." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders_0.png

Staff (2019-09-06). North Carolina Did What SCOTUS Wouldn't — Ended GOP Gerrymandering. therealnews.com A North Carolina state court panel stopped the GOP's gerrymandering plan by ruling that the maps drawn for GOP-dominated voting districts were in violating of the state's constitution, and of the rights of North Carolina voters…

RT (2019-09-06). 'Jack Ryan' TV show means US coup in Venezuela is toast. rt.com CIA agent Jack Ryan will tackle 'nuclear-armed' Venezuela in the next season of the Amazon streaming show. That is perhaps the clearest admission that Washington's attempt at regime change in Caracas has failed. | Amazon teased the second season of 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan' this week, ahead of its premiere in November. The 90-second trailer shows the title character on a mission to Venezuela, which may have secretly obtained nuclear weapons from the evil Russians (who else?), or something to that effect. | Needless to say, this has been met with everything from raised eyebrows to outright derision by journalist…

RT (2019-09-06). Trump is going after Democrats' favorite lawfare tactic, AG Barr signals. rt.com US President Donald Trump has already faced nearly 40 nationwide injunctions against his policies, issued by federal judges following complaints by Democrats. Now his Justice Department is saying it might move against the tactic. | Remember the "Muslim ban"? One of Trump's first executive actions was to suspend travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries, only to see it immediately blocked by federal judges in Hawaii and California. The expanded and revised travel ban was eventually upheld by the US Supreme Court, but only after more than a year of litigation. | The same scenario has played out wit…

Staff (2019-09-06). Climate Forum Shows Candidates' Key Differences. therealnews.com At CNN's seven-hour climate town hall, ten Democratic candidates disagreed about fracking, nuclear power, and how much to fund the Pentagon. TRNN's Marc Steiner, Dharna Noor, and Steve Horn discuss.

Mark Gruenberg (2019-09-06). On pensions and other issues, Democratic hopefuls disappoint Teamsters' Hoffa—so far. peoplesworld.org DETROIT—Teamsters President Jim Hoffa is disappointed by the lack of discussion of kitchen-table issues by Democratic presidential hopefuls, so far. In a column on the union website, posted after the second Democratic debate in his hometown of Detroit, Hoffa particularly dinged the Dems for not even discussing pensions and retirement security. "To call that an …

Julie Hollar (2019-09-06). CNN Town Hall Went Deep on Climate Crisis—but Was Anyone Listening? fair.org Given the Democratic National Committee's refusal to allow its party's presidential hopefuls to take part in a televised climate debate, CNN (and, later this month, MSNBC) agreed to host "town halls" on the climate crisis—events with one candidate at a time on stage, fielding questions from network hosts as well as network-selected audience members. | CNN's climate crisis town hall ( 9/4/19) showed that, when it's not setting up mock combat among candidates, the network can actuall…

Mark Gruenberg (2019-09-06). Rating the presidential hopefuls: Only a few support unions in public. peoplesworld.org Labor Day is now past and the madcap race for the Democratic presidential nomination enters the fall, though with fewer hopefuls in the running. That's because the Democratic National Committee, sponsor of the series of nationally-televised debates between the aspirants, has imposed higher criteria for those who seek to qualify for the third round, in …

Staff (2019-09-06). Joni Ernst Says the Quiet Part Loud. truthdig.com Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, just said out loud what Republican politicians usually only talk about in secret meetings with their billionaire donors: The GOP wants to cut our earned Social Security benefits—and they want to do it behind closed doors so that they don't have to pay the political price. | At a recent town hall, Ernst stated that Congress needs to "sit down behind closed doors" to "address Social Security." She vaguely asserted, "A lot of changes need to be made in this syst…

commondreams (2019-09-06). Democratic Socialists of America Take to the Streets to Elect Bernie Sanders. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Stephen Lendman (2019-09-06). Trump Regime Training Paramilitaries to Attack Venezuela? globalresearch.ca Washington wants Bolivarian Venezuela transformed into a US vassal state — to eliminate its social democracy and gain control over its vast oil reserves, the world's largest. | On Wednesday, the Trump regime earmarked over $120 million for Colombia. | Masquerading as …

Staff (2019-09-06). Ex-Starbucks CEO Schultz Rules Out Independent 2020 Bid. truthdig.com WASHINGTON—Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he's no longer considering an independent presidential bid. | Schultz said Friday in a letter posted on his website, "I have concluded that an independent campaign for the White House is not how I can best serve our country at this time." | Schultz faced intense resistance from Democratic activists who feared an independent run would give President Donald Trump an easier path to reelection. Schultz says not enough people are willing to back an independent because they fear doing so "might lea…

Kate Aronoff (2019-09-06). Exxon Mobil Is Funding Centrist Democratic Think Tank, Disclosures Reveal. theintercept.com The Progressive Policy Institute, a centrist Democratic think tank that grew out of the party's pro-business wing in the 1980s and '90s, received $50,000 from Exxon Mobil in 2018 via its parent organization, the Third Way Foundation, according to the oil giant's 2018 Worldwide Giving Report. | Exxon Mobil did not return The Intercept's multiple requests for comment. In an email, PPI Executive Director Lindsay Lewis said the money was used for general support and that "we only accept general support funding from corporate interests, we do not do paid for work/research or have any donor run programs." | Lewis also…

Aaron Maté (2019-09-06). Embassy insider exposes CNN lies about Julian Assange. thegrayzone.com A "bombshell" CNN report claimed to show how Wikileaks founder Julian Assange published stolen Democratic Party emails in 2016 in…

teleSUR (2019-09-06). Swedish FM to Resign from Her Post. telesurenglish.net Swedish Foreign MInister Margot Wallstrom has announced Friday her intention to resign from her post in favor of spending more time with her family. | RELATED: | Sweden Rebuffs Trump Over A$AP Rocky Charges | Wallstrom, who spearheaded Sweden's most feminist foreign policy when she took office in 2014, has received praise for her work in the international community, especially at the United Nations. | The Social Democrat politician was also the United Nations Special Representative, dealing with…

Robert Mackey (2019-09-06). Joe Biden Is Proud of His Record on Iraq, but His Plan to Segregate It Would Have Unleashed Chaos. theintercept.com Joe Biden has defended his vote in favor of the Iraq War, but his plan to divide the country along sectarian lines might have made a bad situation worse.

unitedEditor (2019-09-06). NATO Deep State in Turkey. 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, …

Jeet Heer (2019-09-06). The Problem With Our Climate Debate Is That Only Democrats Are Showing Up. thenation.com The Problem With Our Climate Debate Is That Only Democrats Are Showing Up…

The Canary (2019-09-06). Opposition parties will not back Boris Johnson's attempt to force election. thecanary.co Boris Johnson's demand for a general election on his own terms became increasingly far-fetched when opposition leaders agreed to not vote with the prime minister during his fresh bid.Jeremy Corbyn spoke with the leaders of the main opposition parties on Friday to discuss their resistance to holding a vote before the prospect of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October is eliminated.Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru are all understood to be planning on voting against or abstaining from the Fixed-Term Parliament Act when it returns to the Commons on Monday.Jeremy Corbyn spoke with opposition leaders (Jon…

Staff (2019-09-06). Headlines for September 6, 2019. democracynow.org Hurricane Dorian Death Toll in Bahamas Rises to 30, Likely Far Higher, Trump Personally Altered Map to Promote False Hurricane Threat to Alabama, Brazilian Archbishops Denounce Amazon Fires, Brazil's President Taunts U.N. Human Rights Chief over Her Family's Torture by Pinochet, Taliban Suicide Blast Kills 12 in Afghan Capital, Including Two NATO Soldiers, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean Liberation Fighter Turned Dictator, Dies at 95, Mike Pence Stayed in Trump Golf Resort 180+ Miles from Talks with Irish Leaders, Brother of British PM Boris Johnson Quits Parliament over Brexit, Federal Judge Rules Federal Terrorism Wa…

Eds. (2019-09-06). Dissent is being criminalized right under our noses. mronline.org I read with interest a recent press release of Rep. Michael McCaul—the Republican incumbent in the Texas 10th Congressional District and my opponent in the 2018 election—in which he announced a new bill to respond to domestic terrorism. | Source

Staff (2019-09-06). Shut It Down: Veteran Organizer Lisa Fithian Offers a Guide to Resistance in Era of Climate Crisis. democracynow.org Lisa Fithian is a longtime organizer and nonviolent direct action trainer since the 1970s. She has shut down the CIA. She has occupied Wall Street, disrupted the World Trade Organization and stood her ground in Tahrir Square. She has walked in solidarity with the tribal leaders at Standing Rock and defended communities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She joined us at the Democracy Now! studio to talk about her new book, which was published this week, titled "Shut It Down: Stories from a Fierce, Loving Resistance." Fithian is currently on a book tour and doing a new workshop called "Escalating Resistance: Mass R…

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-09-06). 'Shameful': Warren Warns Trump Plan to Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Would Make Housing Crisis Worse. commondreams.org "The Trump administration wants to make it harder for creditworthy working families—especially families of color—to buy a home and build wealth." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/elizabeth_warren_7.jpg

Staff (2019-09-06). Robert Mugabe, Ousted Zimbabwean President & Liberation Leader, Dies at 95. democracynow.org Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, Robert Mugabe, has died at the age of 95. In 1963, he helped found the Zimbabwe African National Union in an effort to liberate the country from decades of white-minority rule. He was jailed from 1963 to 1974. Once freed, Mugabe became a leader of the liberation movement which successfully led to the formation of an independent Zimbabwe in 1979. He became Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980, but he would continue ruling the country for the next 37 years. While Mugabe has been hailed as one of the most significant anti-colonial leaders of the 20th century, he was wide…

Staff (2019-09-06). "Staggering" Death Toll Feared in Bahamas as Thousands Remain Missing After Hurricane Dorian. democracynow.org As Hurricane Dorian lashes North Carolina and continues its path north, the death toll in the Bahamas has risen to 30 people. The actual number is expected to be far higher, with hundreds, if not thousands, still missing in the island nation. We speak to Susan Mangicaro, senior adviser for emergency response at the International Medical Corps, about ongoing rescue efforts in the Bahamas.

Staff (2019-09-06). "We Are on the Frontline": Despite Tiny Carbon Footprint, Bahamas Is Ground Zero of Climate Crisis. democracynow.org Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm over the weekend, lingering for days and leaving nearly unimaginable destruction in its path. The airport on Grand Bahama Island has been completely decimated, and entire neighborhoods have been razed. Hundreds, if not thousands, remain missing. We speak with University of Miami assistant professor Erica Moiah James about the climate change-fueled hurricane and how the people in the Bahamas are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Jeffrey St. Clair (2019-09-06). Roaming Charges: Blood in the Eye of the Storm. counterpunch.org + Joe Biden, who is now claiming he opposed the Iraq War from Day One, (after speaking on the senate floor in favor of it and then voting for it) on September 9, 2003, 6 months after the first bombs fell on Baghdad. Fareed Zakaria: "You supported the war. Are you having any second thoughts?" Biden: More

Paul Street (2019-09-06). No Joe: On Character, Quality and Authenticity. counterpunch.org The Democratic Party establishment might want to heed Santayana's warning about how people who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. One of the many lessons of the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign is that your candidate better damn well possess strong quality and character if you are going to run on, well, candidate quality and character. More

RT (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. | Bernie Sanders wants to take taxpayer money and use it to fund abortions in "poor countrie…

unitedEditor (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%. …

Zoà´ Carpenter (2019-09-05). Joe Biden Doesn't Sound Very Serious About the Climate Crisis. thenation.com Joe Biden Doesn't Sound Very Serious About the Climate Crisis…

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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.

Kate Aronoff (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.

Sara Flounders (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. 23) Twitter . . . | Continue reading Hong Kong: Google censors China at Workers.org

Akela Lacy (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.

John Nichols (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…

Mehdi Hasan (2019-09-04). Conservative Revolt Against Boris Johnson Exposes Republicans' Complicity in the Cult of Trump. theintercept.com U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speak before a working breakfast at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 25, 2019. | Donald Trump, brothers in chaos," read a headline in the Los Angeles Times over the weekend. | Chaos, indeed. The two right-wing soul mates seem to be competing with one another to see who can do more damage to the political, economic, and social fabric of their respective countries. The American president and British prime…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Aída Chávez (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.

Ryan Grim (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…

Howie Hawkins (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 …

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Fight Back (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…

Robert Mackey (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.

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

Aída Chávez (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.

Staff (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.

Fidel Castro Ruz (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.

ACLU (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…

Ken Freeland (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.

ACLU (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…

Brad Bennett (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.

Common Dreams (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."

Eoin Higgins (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.

2019-09-08: Social Media Postees

Foreign Correspondent: Will Trump Bring Peace to Afghanistan?
Reese Erlich | commondreams.org | 2019-09-08
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting at The Venetian Las Vegas on April 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_afghan.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/09/08/foreign-correspondent-will-trump-bring-peace-afghanistan?cd-origin=rss

Angels at the Front: Border Angels and Color Bloq
STRUT | indybay.org | 2019-09-08
trut, 470 Castro St, San Francisco 94114…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/07/18826075.php

Hillary Clinton & Elizabeth Warren's 'secret talks' ignite outrage, mockery on social media
rt.com | 2019-09-08
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren is reportedly in talks with failed presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, a move that's at odds with Warren's progressive image, and people really aren't happy about it. | The two have been in communication since the Massachusetts senator announced her presidential run, although both are keeping quiet about it, NBC reports, citing several people who wished to remain anonymous. | pic.twitter.com/pm4FPOttz…
rt.com/usa/468349-warren-clinton-talks-reaction/

Tom Noddy Explains How the Santa Cruz Recall is Undemocratic
Santa Cruz News Network | indybay.org | 2019-09-08
Known world-wide as a performing artist for his enchanting "Bubble-Magic" show, Santa Cruz's Tom Noddy explains why he believes the campaign to recall Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover is "an effort to reverse the results of the election through a less democratic process". In a recent post on his Facebook page, Noddy states: "the two progressives, in order to hold their seats, must receive 50% +1 of the electorate and if they don't, they will be replaced by one of the field of opponents who will win the seat if they get the most votes of any of the opponents in the field running against t…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/07/18826067.php

Historic California Gold Rush Mining Town of Negro Bar 170th Anniversary
Khubaka, Michael Harris | indybay.org | 2019-09-08
Negro Bar California State Park, Folsom, CA…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/06/18826049.php

Fascist NRA gun organization labeled a domestic terrorist organization
Lynda Carson | indybay.org | 2019-09-08
On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, a resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors declared that the fascist right-wing extremist National Rifle Association of America (NRA), a very troubled organization that supports the Trump regime and Republicans with major political campaign contributions, is a domestic terrorist organization!
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/05/18826041.php

Potatoes and Rice
Jan Lightfoot | indybay.org | 2019-09-08
Information, as menu, is gathered from"Democracy NOW". It on PBS. | The information was on the program, "Democracy Now." Its a news program on PBS.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/06/18826055.php

Climate Minimizers Don't Deny Climate Change—But Find Endless Reasons to Reject Sanders' Plan to Stop It
Esha Krishnaswamy | commondreams.org | 2019-09-07
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie_sanders_media.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/09/07/climate-minimizers-dont-deny-climate-change-find-endless-reasons-reject-sanders?cd-origin=rss

The Washington Post Nominated Glenn Kessler for a Pulitzer Prize
Ryan Grim | theintercept.com | 2019-09-07
Earlier this year, the Washington Post nominated Glenn Kessler and his "Fact Checker" team for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in the National Reporting category. Kessler was not named as a finalist by the Pulitzer committee, which meant that the nomination was never made public. Marty Baron,…
theintercept.com/2019/09/07/glenn-kessler-fact-checker-washington-post-pulitzer/

Trump Rakes in Fossil Fuel Money While Some Democrats Skirt Donation Pledge
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-09-07
| Against the backdrop of intensifying global heat waves, a burning Amazon forest, and melting arctic ice caps, the question of how to respond to the global climate crisis, and a candidate's relationship to the fossil fuel industry, are assuming center stage in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. | At one end, you have Donald Trump, the near-certain Republican nominee, who has taken huge amounts of money from the fossil fuel industry. The Trump administration has rolled back climate regu…
truthout.org/articles/trump-rakes-in-fossil-fuel-money-while-some-democrats-skirt-donation-pledge/

Democratic Candidates Must Communicate Differently to Impress a New Generation of Voters
Scott Goodstein | commondreams.org | 2019-09-07
Democrats need to use the tools available in a rapidly changing digital landscape to reach 2020 voters. (Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/social_media_0.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/09/07/democratic-candidates-must-communicate-differently-impress-new-generation-voters?cd-origin=rss

Peter Greste's panel discussion in Sydney: Support for censorship and throwing Assange to the wolves
wsws.org | 2019-09-07
Greste advocates the anti-democratic conception that a "responsible journalist" censors information that is deemed too controversial for the population to know.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/07/jour-s07.html

Ahead of Standing Ovation at New Hampshire Democratic Convention, Sanders Camp Announces Endorsements From 53 State Dems
commondreams.org | 2019-09-07
"This latest round of endorsements shows we are not only retaining and engaging supporters from 2016, but building new support from a broad swath of leaders from around the state." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders_0.png
commondreams.org/news/2019/09/07/ahead-standing-ovation-new-hampshire-democratic-convention-sanders-camp-announces-0?cd-origin=rss

Another police-state raid in Australia to protect spy agencies
wsws.org | 2019-09-07
The Morrison government is stepping-up an offensive on democratic rights at the Trump administration's behest.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/07/raid-s07.html

Jury finds one defendant not guilty, deadlocked on second in 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse fire case
wsws.org | 2019-09-07
The criminal trial of two defendants, Derrick Almena and Max Harris, charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, has come to an end with a deadlock and an acquittal.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/07/ship-s07.html

'No fossil fuel money!': Protests outside big-money fundraiser for Biden co-hosted by natural gas executive
Jake Johnson | nationofchange.org | 2019-09-07
"Biden can't expect to convince Americans that he's a leader on climate if he's also cozying up to fossil fuel power players."
nationofchange.org/2019/09/07/no-fossil-fuel-money-protests-outside-big-money-fundraiser-for-biden-co-hosted-by-natural-gas-executive/

Pro and anti-Brexit demonstrators clash on Parliament Square
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-07
Two groups of pro and anti-Brexit protesters have clashed on Parliament Square. | About 200 people joined a pro-Brexit demonstration organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) on Saturday morning. | When members of the anti-Brexit group March for Change began to set up for a rally of their own, some members of the DFLA approached and began shouting. | A beer can was thrown towards about 10 people from the March for Change protest, before police on horseback intervened. | Police knew about both protests prior to Saturday. | A blimp in the shape of Boris Johnson had been set to fly at the March for C…
thecanary.co/breaking-news/2019/09/07/pro-and-anti-brexit-demonstrators-clash-on-parliament-square/

North Carolina Did What SCOTUS Wouldn't — Ended GOP Gerrymandering
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-09-06
A North Carolina state court panel stopped the GOP's gerrymandering plan by ruling that the maps drawn for GOP-dominated voting districts were in violating of the state's constitution, and of the rights of North Carolina voters…
therealnews.com/stories/north-carolina-did-what-scotus-wouldnt-ended-gop-gerrymandering

Democratic Socialists of America Take to the Streets to Elect Bernie Sanders
commondreams.org | 2019-09-06
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2019/09/06/democratic-socialists-america-take-streets-elect-bernie-sanders?cd-origin=rss

Trump Regime Training Paramilitaries to Attack Venezuela?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-06
Washington wants Bolivarian Venezuela transformed into a US vassal state — to eliminate its social democracy and gain control over its vast oil reserves, the world's largest. | On Wednesday, the Trump regime earmarked over $120 million for Colombia. | Masquerading as …
globalresearch.ca/trump-regime-training-paramilitaries-attack-venezuela/5688315

No Joe: On Character, Quality and Authenticity
Paul Street | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-06
The Democratic Party establishment might want to heed Santayana's warning about how people who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. One of the many lessons of the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign is that your candidate better damn well possess strong quality and character if you are going to run on, well, candidate quality and character.
counterpunch.org/2019/09/06/no-joe-on-character-quality-and-authenticity/

'Jack Ryan' TV show means US coup in Venezuela is toast
rt.com | 2019-09-06
CIA agent Jack Ryan will tackle 'nuclear-armed' Venezuela in the next season of the Amazon streaming show. That is perhaps the clearest admission that Washington's attempt at regime change in Caracas has failed. | Amazon teased the second season of 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan' this week, ahead of its premiere in November. The 90-second trailer shows the title character on a mission to Venezuela, which may have secretly obtained nuclear weapons from the evil Russians (who else?), or something to that effect. | Needless to say, this has been met with everything from raised eyebrows to outright derision by journalist…
rt.com/usa/468209-jack-ryan-venezuela-trailer/

CNN Town Hall Went Deep on Climate Crisis–but Was Anyone Listening?
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2019-09-06
Given the Democratic National Committee's refusal to allow its party's presidential hopefuls to take part in a televised climate debate, CNN (and, later this month, MSNBC) agreed to host "town halls" on the climate crisis–events with one candidate at a time on stage, fielding questions from network hosts as well as network-selected audience members. | CNN's climate crisis town hall ( 9/4/19) showed that, when it's not setting up mock combat among candidates, the network can actuall…
fair.org/home/cnn-town-hall-went-deep-on-climate-crisis-but-was-anyone-listening/

Swedish FM to Resign from Her Post
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-06
Swedish Foreign MInister Margot Wallstrom has announced Friday her intention to resign from her post in favor of spending more time with her family. | RELATED: | Sweden Rebuffs Trump Over A$AP Rocky Charges | Wallstrom, who spearheaded Sweden's most feminist foreign policy when she took office in 2014, has received praise for her work in the international community, especially at the United Nations. | The Social Democrat politician was also the United Nations Special Representative, dealing with…
telesurenglish.net/news/Swedish-FM-to-Resign-from-Her-Post-20190906-0006.html

On pensions and other issues, Democratic hopefuls disappoint Teamsters' Hoffa–so far
Mark Gruenberg | peoplesworld.org | 2019-09-06
DETROIT–Teamsters President Jim Hoffa is disappointed by the lack of discussion of kitchen-table issues by Democratic presidential hopefuls, so far. In a column on the union website, posted after the second Democratic debate in his hometown of Detroit, Hoffa particularly dinged the Dems for not even discussing pensions and retirement security. "To call that an …
peoplesworld.org/article/on-pensions-and-other-issues-democratic-hopefuls-disappoint-teamsters-hoffa-so-far/

Trump is going after Democrats' favorite lawfare tactic, AG Barr signals
rt.com | 2019-09-06
US President Donald Trump has already faced nearly 40 nationwide injunctions against his policies, issued by federal judges following complaints by Democrats. Now his Justice Department is saying it might move against the tactic. | Remember the "Muslim ban"? One of Trump's first executive actions was to suspend travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries, only to see it immediately blocked by federal judges in Hawaii and California. The expanded and revised travel ban was eventually upheld by the US Supreme Court, but only after more than a year of litigation. | The same scenario has played out wit…
rt.com/usa/468220-barr-trump-injunctions-lawfare/

With hurricane destruction as backdrop, Democratic aspirants address climate change
John Bachtell | peoplesworld.org | 2019-09-06
Hurricane Dorian, with its decimating fury unleashed on the Bahamas and the Southeastern U.S. seacoast, became the latest red alert warning of the rapidly mounting effects of climate change. It was also the backdrop for a historic Democratic presidential town hall forum on the climate crisis. The forum was nationally televised on Sept. 4 by …
peoplesworld.org/article/with-hurricane-destruction-as-backdrop-democratic-aspirants-address-climate-change/

Embassy insider exposes CNN lies about Julian Assange
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-09-06
A "bombshell" CNN report claimed to show how Wikileaks founder Julian Assange published stolen Democratic Party emails in 2016 in…
thegrayzone.com/2019/09/06/embassy-insider-exposes-cnn-lies-about-julian-assange/

Rating the presidential hopefuls: Only a few support unions in public
Mark Gruenberg | peoplesworld.org | 2019-09-06
Labor Day is now past and the madcap race for the Democratic presidential nomination enters the fall, though with fewer hopefuls in the running. That's because the Democratic National Committee, sponsor of the series of nationally-televised debates between the aspirants, has imposed higher criteria for those who seek to qualify for the third round, in …
peoplesworld.org/article/rating-the-presidential-hopefuls-only-a-few-support-unions-in-public/

Ex-Starbucks CEO Schultz Rules Out Independent 2020 Bid
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-09-06
WASHINGTON–Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he's no longer considering an independent presidential bid. | Schultz said Friday in a letter posted on his website, "I have concluded that an independent campaign for the White House is not how I can best serve our country at this time." | Schultz faced intense resistance from Democratic activists who feared an independent run would give President Donald Trump an easier path to reelection. Schultz says not enough people are willing to back an independent because they fear doing so "might lea…
truthdig.com/articles/ex-starbucks-ceo-schultz-rules-out-independent-2020-bid/

Exxon Mobil Is Funding Centrist Democratic Think Tank, Disclosures Reveal
Kate Aronoff | theintercept.com | 2019-09-06
The Progressive Policy Institute, a centrist Democratic think tank that grew out of the party's pro-business wing in the 1980s and '90s, received $50,000 from Exxon Mobil in 2018 via its parent organization, the Third Way Foundation, according to the oil giant's 2018 Worldwide Giving Report. | Exxon Mobil did not return The Intercept's multiple requests for comment. In an email, PPI Executive Director Lindsay Lewis said the money was used for general support and that "we only accept general support funding from corporate interests, we do not do paid for work/research or have any donor run programs." | Lewis also…
theintercept.com/2019/09/06/exxon-mobil-progressive-policy-institute-climate/

Climate Forum Shows Candidates' Key Differences
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-09-06
At CNN's seven-hour climate town hall, ten Democratic candidates disagreed about fracking, nuclear power, and how much to fund the Pentagon. TRNN's Marc Steiner, Dharna Noor, and Steve Horn discuss.
therealnews.com/stories/climate-forum-shows-candidates-key-differences

Joe Biden Is Proud of His Record on Iraq, but His Plan to Segregate It Would Have Unleashed Chaos
Robert Mackey | theintercept.com | 2019-09-06
Joe Biden has defended his vote in favor of the Iraq War, but his plan to divide the country along sectarian lines might have made a bad situation worse.
theintercept.com/2019/09/06/joe-biden-defends-record-iraq-including-plan-divide-along-sectarian-lines/

NATO Deep State in Turkey
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-06
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, …
uwidata.com/5228-turkeys-warning-to-nato/

Joni Ernst Says the Quiet Part Loud
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-09-06
Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, just said out loud what Republican politicians usually only talk about in secret meetings with their billionaire donors: The GOP wants to cut our earned Social Security benefits–and they want to do it behind closed doors so that they don't have to pay the political price. | At a recent town hall, Ernst stated that Congress needs to "sit down behind closed doors" to "address Social Security." She vaguely asserted, "A lot of changes need to be made in this syst…
truthdig.com/articles/joni-ernst-says-the-quiet-part-loud/

The Problem With Our Climate Debate Is That Only Democrats Are Showing Up
Jeet Heer | thenation.com | 2019-09-06
The Problem With Our Climate Debate Is That Only Democrats Are Showing Up…
thenation.com/article/climate-change-democrats-townhall/

Opposition parties will not back Boris Johnson's attempt to force election
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-06
Boris Johnson's demand for a general election on his own terms became increasingly far-fetched when opposition leaders agreed to not vote with the prime minister during his fresh bid.Jeremy Corbyn spoke with the leaders of the main opposition parties on Friday to discuss their resistance to holding a vote before the prospect of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October is eliminated.Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru are all understood to be planning on voting against or abstaining from the Fixed-Term Parliament Act when it returns to the Commons on Monday.Jeremy Corbyn spoke with opposition leaders (Jon…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/09/06/opposition-parties-will-not-back-boris-johnsons-attempt-to-force-election/

Dissent is being criminalized right under our noses
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-09-06
I read with interest a recent press release of Rep. Michael McCaul–the Republican incumbent in the Texas 10th Congressional District and my opponent in the 2018 election–in which he announced a new bill to respond to domestic terrorism. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/09/06/dissent-is-being-criminalized-right-under-our-noses/

Shut It Down: Veteran Organizer Lisa Fithian Offers a Guide to Resistance in Era of Climate Crisis
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-06
Lisa Fithian is a longtime organizer and nonviolent direct action trainer since the 1970s. She has shut down the CIA. She has occupied Wall Street, disrupted the World Trade Organization and stood her ground in Tahrir Square. She has walked in solidarity with the tribal leaders at Standing Rock and defended communities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She joined us at the Democracy Now! studio to talk about her new book, which was published this week, titled "Shut It Down: Stories from a Fierce, Loving Resistance." Fithian is currently on a book tour and doing a new workshop called "Escalating Resistance: Mass R…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/6/lisa_fithian_activism_shut_it_down

'Shameful': Warren Warns Trump Plan to Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Would Make Housing Crisis Worse
Jake Johnson, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-09-06
"The Trump administration wants to make it harder for creditworthy working families—especially families of color—to buy a home and build wealth." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/elizabeth_warren_7.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/09/06/shameful-warren-warns-trump-plan-privatize-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-would-make?cd-origin=rss

"Staggering" Death Toll Feared in Bahamas as Thousands Remain Missing After Hurricane Dorian
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-06
As Hurricane Dorian lashes North Carolina and continues its path north, the death toll in the Bahamas has risen to 30 people. The actual number is expected to be far higher, with hundreds, if not thousands, still missing in the island nation. We speak to Susan Mangicaro, senior adviser for emergency response at the International Medical Corps, about ongoing rescue efforts in the Bahamas.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/6/hurricane_dorian_bahamas_rescue_efforts

Robert Mugabe, Ousted Zimbabwean President & Liberation Leader, Dies at 95
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-06
Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, Robert Mugabe, has died at the age of 95. In 1963, he helped found the Zimbabwe African National Union in an effort to liberate the country from decades of white-minority rule. He was jailed from 1963 to 1974. Once freed, Mugabe became a leader of the liberation movement which successfully led to the formation of an independent Zimbabwe in 1979. He became Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980, but he would continue ruling the country for the next 37 years. While Mugabe has been hailed as one of the most significant anti-colonial leaders of the 20th century, he was wide…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/6/zimbabwe_robert_mugabe_horace_campbell

"We Are on the Frontline": Despite Tiny Carbon Footprint, Bahamas Is Ground Zero of Climate Crisis
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-06
Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm over the weekend, lingering for days and leaving nearly unimaginable destruction in its path. The airport on Grand Bahama Island has been completely decimated, and entire neighborhoods have been razed. Hundreds, if not thousands, remain missing. We speak with University of Miami assistant professor Erica Moiah James about the climate change-fueled hurricane and how the people in the Bahamas are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/6/dorian_bahamas_climate_crisis

Roaming Charges: Blood in the Eye of the Storm
Jeffrey St. Clair | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-06
+ Joe Biden, who is now claiming he opposed the Iraq War from Day One, (after speaking on the senate floor in favor of it and then voting for it) on September 9, 2003, 6 months after the first bombs fell on Baghdad. Fareed Zakaria: "You supported the war. Are you having any second thoughts?" Biden:…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/06/roaming-charges-blood-in-the-eye-of-the-storm/

Sanders wants to fund abortions in 'poor countries' to fight climate change
rt.com | 2019-09-05
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. | Bernie Sanders wants to take taxpayer money and use it to fund abortions in "poor countrie…
rt.com/usa/468094-sanders-abortions-climate-change/

Elections in Germany, Split in the Italian Government, US-China Trade War
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-05
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%. …
uwidata.com/5227-elections-in-germany-split-in-the-italian-government-us-china-trade-war/

Joe Biden Doesn't Sound Very Serious About the Climate Crisis
Zoà´ Carpenter | thenation.com | 2019-09-05
Joe Biden Doesn't Sound Very Serious About the Climate Crisis…
thenation.com/article/climate-change-town-hall-biden/

Climate Crisis: Should U.S. Nationalize Fossil Fuel Industry? Warren Says No, Sanders Says Yes
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-05
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/5/climate_crisis_should_us_nationalize_fossil

Nearly 2 Million People in India Could Lose Citizenship in Biggest Disenfranchisement in History
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-05
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/5/siddhartha_deb_assam_national_register_of

Last Night, Biden Touted His Climate Plan. Tonight, He'll Attend a Fossil Fuel Exec's Fundraiser
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-05
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/5/biden_fossil_fuels

After DNC Rejects Climate Debate, Candidates Discuss Green New Deal, Environmental Justice at Forum
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-05
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/5/after_dnc_rejects_climate_debate_candidates

Hong Kong: Google censors China
Sara Flounders | workers.org | 2019-09-04
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. 23) Twitter . . . | Continue reading Hong Kong: Google censors China at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/09/04/hong-kong-google-censors-china/

Is OK Good Enough for an Incumbent in the Face of the Climate Crisis?
Kate Aronoff | theintercept.com | 2019-09-04
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.
theintercept.com/2019/09/04/illinois-bill-foster-congress-rachel-ventura/

After Climate Forum, Biden Heads to a Fundraiser Co-Hosted by a Fossil Fuel Executive
Akela Lacy | theintercept.com | 2019-09-04
Andrew Goldman, co-founder of Western LNG, was a top fundraiser for Biden's last presidential campaign and is raising money for him again.
theintercept.com/2019/09/04/after-climate-forum-biden-heads-to-a-fundraiser-co-hosted-by-a-fossil-fuel-executive/

North Carolina Has Won a Huge Victory in the Fight Against Rigged Elections
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2019-09-04
North Carolina Has Won a Huge Victory in the Fight Against Rigged Elections…
thenation.com/article/north-carolina-gerrymandering-2020/

Conservative Revolt Against Boris Johnson Exposes Republicans' Complicity in the Cult of Trump
Mehdi Hasan | theintercept.com | 2019-09-04
U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speak before a working breakfast at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 25, 2019. | Donald Trump, brothers in chaos," read a headline in the Los Angeles Times over the weekend. | Chaos, indeed. The two right-wing soul mates seem to be competing with one another to see who can do more damage to the political, economic, and social fabric of their respective countries. The American president and British prime…
theintercept.com/2019/09/04/boris-johnson-brexit-trump/

U.S. Journalist & Activist Brandon Lee Shot in Philippines After Being Called "Enemy of the State"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-04
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/4/journalist_brandon_lee_shot_in_philippines

"This Is a Climate Emergency": Devastated by Dorian, the Bahamas Are on Frontlines of a Dying Planet
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-04
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/4/dorian

Nigerian Journalist & Activist Omoyele Sowore Remains Jailed for Calling for Peaceful Protests
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-04
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/4/nigerian_journalist_activist_omoyele_sowore_jailed

Here's How Much the Democratic Party Charges to Be on Each House Committee
Ryan Grim | theintercept.com | 2019-09-03
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…
theintercept.com/2019/09/03/dccc-house-committees-dues/

Workers Need More Rights and Economic Democracy
Howie Hawkins | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-03
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 …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/09/workers-need-more-rights-and-economic-democracy/

Sen. Joe Manchin Is Out, but an Actual Progressive Is Making a Serious Run for West Virginia Governor
Aída Chávez | theintercept.com | 2019-09-03
Stephen Smith's anti-establishment campaign for governor recently out-raised all of its Republican opponents — including the incumbent — combined.
theintercept.com/2019/09/03/joe-manchin-governor-stephen-smith/

Hong Kong's "Father of Democracy" Martin Lee Calls on Gov't to Heed Demonstrators' Demands
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-03
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/3/hong_kong

Fueled by Climate Change, Hurricane Dorian Devastates the Bahamas in "Unprecedented Disaster"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-03
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/3/hurricane_dorian

Texas Weakens Gun Laws One Day After Odessa Massacre Leaves 7 Dead, 22 Injured
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-03
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/3/texas_shooting

Death and Resistance on the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Democracy Now! Special
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-02
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/2/death_and_resistance_on_the_us

Chicago students say, 'CIA off campus!'
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-08-31
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…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/8/31/chicago-students-say-cia-campus

How Larry Fink, Joe Biden's Wall Street Ally, Profits From Amazon Cattle Ranching, a Force Behind Deforestation
Robert Mackey | theintercept.com | 2019-08-30
The giant investment firm BlackRock has contributed to the climate crisis by investing in a Brazilian meatpacker, JBS, linked to Amazon deforestation.
theintercept.com/2019/08/30/amazon-rainforest-fire-blackrock-jbs/

Border Patrol Has Killed At Least 97 People Since 2003. Hear Some of Their Victims' Stories
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/30/richard_boren_border_patrol_victims_network

"All-Out Attack": Trump's Anti-Immigrant Policies Target Children, Cancer Patients & Servicemembers
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/30/lee_gelernt_aclu_immigrant_rights

Justice for José Antonio: Family Demands Accountability for Mexican Teen Killed by U.S. Border Agent
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/30/jose_antonio_elena_rodriguez_border_patrol

Family of Mexican Teenager Slain by Border Agent Awaits SCOTUS Ruling to Determine If They Can Sue
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/30/scotus_case_border_patrol_killings_mexico

Headlines for August 30, 2019
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/30/headlines

Senate Democrats' Campaign Arm Is Pressuring Consultants Not to Work With Leading Progressive Candidate in Colorado
Aída Chávez | theintercept.com | 2019-08-29
Andrew Romanoff said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pressured a number of firms not to work with his Senate campaign.
theintercept.com/2019/08/29/dscc-colorado-senate-democrats/

Remembering Legendary Peace Activist Frances Crowe, Who Died at 100 After Decades of Resisting War
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-29
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.
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/29/remembering_legendary_peace_activist_frances_crowe

Fidel Castro's prescient warning on climate change
Fidel Castro Ruz | liberationnews.org | 2019-08-28
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.
liberationnews.org/fidel-castros-prescient-warning-on-climate-change/

New Resource Tool Sheds Light on Government's Prepublication Review System
aclu.org | 2019-08-27
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…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/employee-speech-and-whistleblowers/new-resource-tool-sheds-light-governments

Rogues' Gallery: A Sober Look at the "Progressive" Democratic Presidential Candidates
Ken Freeland | mintpressnews.com | 2019-08-26
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.
mintpressnews.com/rogues-gallery-sober-look-progressive-democratic-presidential-candidates/261498/

An Arizona Law Requires Surveillance of People Who Are Presumed Innocent
aclu.org | 2019-08-21
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…
aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/arizona-law-requires-surveillance-people-who-are

Maryland teacher incorporates hard lessons about slavery into public school curriculum
Brad Bennett | splcenter.org | 2019-08-20
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.
splcenter.org/news/2019/08/20/maryland-teacher-incorporates-hard-lessons-about-slavery-public-school-curriculum

Joe Biden's Wife Says Vote for Husband Even If You Like Other Candidates More
Common Dreams | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-20
"Jill Biden may have settled for her husband, but I'm not sure why anyone else should."

Joe Biden's Wife Says Vote for Husband Even If You Like Other Candidates More