(2019-10-25). Centrists—Or Neoliberals—Control the Party and the Media and They're Risking Losing to Trump Again in 2020. commondreams.org When the centrist neoliberals tell you that change is incremental, what they're really saying is they don't want that much change. And the reason they don't is that they are beholden to corporations and rich folks. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/joebiden_2.jpeg …
(2019-10-25). Who (besides the rich) actually thinks wealth taxes are a bad idea? peoplesworld.org 
The wealth taxes Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have proposed continue to provoke the malice of Wall Street, corporate Democrats, and now even other Democratic candidates running for president. As I have written in People's World (here and here), the intensity of the energy devoted to this criticism, combined with the lack of …
(2019-10-25). Tulsi Gabbard ditches congressional race to focus on presidential — triggering #TulsiStein conspiracy theorists. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard has abandoned her race for re-election in Hawaii to focus on securing her party's presidential nomination, kicking the 'Russian asset' conspiracy theorizing into high gear. | Gabbard announced on Friday that she would not seek re-election to Congress, declaring she would focus instead on the presidential race. Promising to "end our interventionist foreign policy of being the world's police, toppling dictators and governments we don't like, and redirect our precious resources towards serving the needs of the people here at home," she "humbly" asked her Hawaii consti…
(2019-10-25). Gabbard announces she won't seek re-election to Congress, says White House run is priority. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) said she will not vie for a seat in Congress for the fifth time, asking voters to support her bid for the Oval Office so she can end the US' "interventionist foreign policy." | In a six-minute video message released on Thursday, Gabbard said she was "grateful" to her constituents in Hawaii's second congressional district for making her their representative since 2012, but noted that she's amassed enough experience as a lawmaker and a soldier to assume the reigns in the White House. … best serve the people of Hawai ªi & our country as President and C…
(2019-10-25). Is Rikers Island Really Closing? Or is De Blasio Misrepresenting the NYC Council Vote? therealnews.com 
Eddie Conway spoke with organizer Albert Saint-Jean from Just Immigration about the impact of the NYC Council borough-based jail vote, about nonprofits that are funding more incarceration, and the misreporting of Rikers Jail closing.
(2019-10-25). Colombia Diary: Higher Ed Under Threat. counterpunch.org 
Recent events in Chile and Ecuador reverberate throughout South America and indeed the world. Confronted with violent government repression, by insisting on reasoned argument, critical thinking, and mass direct action, non-violent student movements in South America offer hope at a time when authoritarianism threatens democratic citizenship worldwide. In Colombia, one of Washington's closest allies in More
(2019-10-25). Facebook's Threat to Democracy Could Motivate Redefinition of Anti-Trust Laws. therealnews.com 
Mark Zuckerberg's Capitol Hill testimony shows just how dangerous Facebook has become to democracy and the need for public debate around how to deal with the company.
(2019-10-25). Judge Hands Democrats a Victory in Impeachment Inquiry. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — A judge on Friday ordered the Justice Department to give the House secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, handing a victory to Democrats as they gather evidence for the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. | In a ruling that also affirmed the legality of the impeachment inquiry itself, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the department to turn over the materials by Oct. 30. A Justice Department spokeswoman said it was reviewing the decision. The administration can appeal. | The ruling in favor of the House Judiciary Committee…
(2019-10-25). Fretting About Progressives' 'Electability,' Establishment Dems Are Really Worried About Their Power in the Party. fair.org 
by Julie Hollar | With Joe Biden struggling as frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, a surging Elizabeth Warren has begun to emerge as the party establishment's new bogeyman—and corporate media are ready and willing to transmit insiders' panicked calls for new "moderate" entrants to the race. | On the same day earlier this week, the Washington Post and the New York Times ran twin articles:…
(2019-10-25). Virginia races prove local elections matter. peoplesworld.org 
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va.—On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Virginians will vote for all 40 members of the state Senate and all 100 members of the lower house of the General Assembly, the House of Delegates. This legislative election has been seen as having national importance. The current Republican majority in both houses is razor thin. If …
(2019-10-25). Blame the Economic Policies, Not the Robots. counterpunch.org The claim that automation is responsible for massive job losses has been made in almost every one of the Democratic debates. In the last debate, technology entrepreneur Andrew Yang told of automation closing stores on Main Street and of self-driving trucks that would shortly displace "3.5 million truckers or the 7 million Americans who work More
(2019-10-25). Trump To Send Possibly Thousands Of Troops & Tanks To "Secure Syria's Oil" & Iraq Goes To UN Over US. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/24/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-10-25). Trade Unions Join Pharma to Attack Democrats Over Bill to Lower Drug Prices. theintercept.com A mailer, made by a coalition of construction unions and big pharma, claims that the drug-pricing bill would "eliminate millions of American jobs."
(2019-10-25). Tallahassee activists 'Say her name' and demand justice for victims of police crimes. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On October 22, a lively group rallied in the streets of the historic Florida capital city, chanting "Say her name," "Black lives matter" and "Justice for Atatiana." The action was a part of the National Day Against Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. | The protest brought attention to a recent case of police brutality: that of 28-year-old African American Atatiana Jefferson, who was shot in her own home by Fort Worth, Texas police officer Aaron Dean. | Tallahassee Community Action Committee and Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society organized the protest…
(2019-10-25). The Demise of Democracy Under Trump Proves the Frankfurt School Right. truthout.org The conservative media-entertainment complex has transformed U.S. politics. It leverages traditional media, the IT "revolution" (and its associated social media), and official communications to provide a torrent of content aimed not to inform but rather to distract. To accomplish this, it strategically changes subjects, seeking to flatten and render meaningless all important factual and ethical distinctions. It heavily influences the rest of media and now threatens democracy. Can a theory explain th…
(2019-10-25). "Exporting Democracy" to Bolivia. globalresearch.ca On October 23rd, Bolivian president Evo Morales gave a press-conference in which he stated that a right-wing coup d'etat was underway in the country. With victory practically assured in the first round of the presidential election, the returning incumbent claimed …
(2019-10-25). Senate Democrats Release Clean Cars for America plan. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-10-25). Striking Chicago teachers confront Democratic Party machine and union's effort to isolate their struggle. wsws.org City officials are demanding new cuts while the Chicago Teachers Union seeks to isolate the teachers' struggle and prevent the active mobilization of mass support among workers and youth.
(2019-10-25). 2019 Veterans Day Weekend honoring Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers. indybay.org 2019 Veterans Day Weekend celebrating the Colonel Charles Young Memorial Highway Sign.
(2019-10-25). Biden Backer — Former Lockheed Leader — Convinces Joe Biden to Sell-Out. globalresearch.ca Bernard Schwartz, a former Vice Chairman and top investor in Lockheed Martin (which is by far the largest seller to the U.S. Government, and also the largest seller to most of America's allied Governments), is one of Joe Biden's …
(2019-10-25). Joe Biden and the Lackawanna Blues. counterpunch.org On Wednesday morning Joe Biden shuffled into Scranton, Pennsylvania, a couple hours' drive south from my place in Ithaca, New York. He spoke at the city's Cultural Center housed in a monumental, neo-Gothic building that was once the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral, completed in 1928, the year before the Great Depression. Scranton, and More
(2019-10-25). Joe Biden's Super PAC Is Being Organized by Corporate Lobbyists for Health Care Industry, Weapons Makers, Finance. theintercept.com Among the individuals are Steve Schale and Larry Rasky. The Super PAC could inject badly needed cash into the Biden campaign.
(2019-10-25). Department of Justice Opens Criminal Inquiry Into Russia Probe. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has shifted its review of the Russia probe to a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday, a move that is likely to raise concerns that President Donald Trump and his allies may be using the powers of the government to go after their opponents. | The revelation comes as Trump is already facing scrutiny about a potential abuse of power, including a House impeachment inquiry examining whether he withheld military aid in order to pressure the president of Ukraine to launch an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
(2019-10-25). The Long Fight to Use Student IDs to Vote in North Carolina. truthout.org When North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature passed the nation's most suppressive state voting law in 2013, college students were among the most vocal opponents. They viewed it as discriminatory because it required voters to show identification at the polls but excluded student IDs from the acceptable forms. | The law set off a legal and political fight over using student IDs to vote that's finally…
(2019-10-25). Five Questions for Elizabeth Warren. counterpunch.org Dear Senator Warren, I'm not particularly interested in rehearsing old critiques of your life and work for their own sake, but I do think it's important that voters, just a few months away from the all-important Iowa and New Hampshire contests, get a better sense of your policy priorities and values. In the ongoing debates More
(2019-10-25). Impeachment Polls Show Democrats Are Wooing the Wrong White People. thenation.com Impeachment Polls Show Democrats Are Wooing the Wrong White People…
(2019-10-25). House Dems Take Aim at 'Trust Fund Babies' With Estate Tax Designed to Combat Obscene Wealth Inequality. commondreams.org California Congressman Jimmy Gomez on Friday introduced legislation in the Democrat-controlled U.S. House that aims to address "our country's rapidly increasing wealth inequality by strengthening the estate tax and ensuring the wealthiest among us pay their fair share." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tax_rich_1.jpg …
(2019-10-25). Rashida Tlaib to Mark Zuckerberg: Why Haven't You Stopped Hate Groups From Organizing on Facebook? democracynow.org 
We feature more highlights from the five-hour grilling of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week on Capitol Hill, where Michigan Congressmember Rashida Tlaib said she feared that far-right hate groups were using Facebook event pages to incite violence against Muslims and other minorities — including death threats directed at her office. Tlaib asked to be seen not only as a Congresswoman, but also as "a mother that is raising two Muslim boys in this pretty dark time in our world." Meanwhile, California Congressmember Katie Porter pinned Zuckerberg down on Facebook's privacy policies. "You are arguing in fede…
(2019-10-25). "State of Emergency": Special Report on California's Criminalization of Growing Homeless Encampments. democracynow.org 
In a _Democracy Now!_ special report, we look at the rise in homelessness in many major cities across the United States. California has become…
(2019-10-25). "State of Emergency": Special Report on California's Criminalization of Growing Homeless Encampments. democracynow.org 
In a _Democracy Now!_ special report, we look at the rise in homelessness in many major cities across the United States. California has become…
(2019-10-25). Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Found Found Guilty of Conspiracy at Naval Base Housing Nuclear Arsenal. democracynow.org 
In Georgia, a federal grand jury on Thursday found seven Catholic peace activists guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor charge for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, entered the base armed with hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood, and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. The base is home to at least six nuclear ballistic missile submarines, each of which carries 20 Trident thermonuclear weapons. The activists said they were following the prophet Isaiah's com…
(2019-10-25). "You Won't Take Down Lies or You Will?": AOC Grills Facebook's Zuckerberg on Lies in Political Ads. democracynow.org 
This week, as Facebook said it will not fact check political ads or hold politicians to its usual content standards, the social media giant's CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled for more than five hours by lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the company's policy of allowing politicians to lie in political advertisements, as well as its role in facilitating election interference and housing discrimination. We play highlights from New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ohio Congressmember Joyce Beatty, who asked Zuckerberg about Facebook's record on civil rights, which she called "appalling and disgusting." Bea…
(2019-10-25). Headlines for October 25, 2019. democracynow.org Trump's Justice Department Opens Criminal Probe into Origins of Mueller Investigation, Trump Planning to Send Troops and Tanks to Eastern Syrian Oil Fields, U.N. to Probe Human Rights Abuses in Chile Amid Mass Protests, Ecuador's Indigenous Leaders Halt Talks with President Over Austerity Protests, Bolivia's Evo Morales Declares Election Victory as Opponents Cry Foul, Thousands March in Guinea to Oppose President's Bid for Third Term, Baltimore Congressmember Elijah Cummings Lies in State at U.S. Capitol, Joe Biden's Campaign Reverses Opposition to Super PACs, Protesters Demand New Jersey Offer Driver's Licenses…
(2019-10-25). The DNC Versus Democracy. counterpunch.org 
With Bernie Sanders the people's choice for winner of the Democratic primary in terms of political organizing and campaign contributions, the powers-that-be in the DNC are putting out a call for establishment figures like Hillary Clinton or Michael Bloomberg to join the race. Not being 'reported' by the establishment press is that these same kingmakers 1) weighted the Democrat's choice against Mr. Sander's and towards Ms. Clinton in 2016 and lost and 2) chose Joe Biden as their 'heavyweight' candidate for 2020. More
(2019-10-25). Old White Men Like Me Need to Shut Up and Step Aside. counterpunch.org 
After more than 200 years of democracy in the United States and 400 years of global capitalism, the overwhelming majority of political and economic power still remains firmly entrenched in the hands of white males. This information isn't news to anyone; it has been widely known for a long time. And while older progressive white males, with the best intentions, often speak out in solidarity with marginalized populations, their voices are still the voices of privileged white males. Therefore, it's not only older conservative white males who need to shut up and step aside, it's ALL older white men. And that includes…
(2019-10-25). LGBTQ Issues Missing in Presidential Campaign Coverage. commondreams.org CNN showed a split-second glimpse of trans protesters at its LGBTQ town hall (10/10/19) before cutting back to candidate Pete Buttigieg. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/cnn-trans-protest.png …
(2019-10-25). Nothing shows how rubbish Boris Johnson is as PM better than his latest humiliation. thecanary.co 
Boris Johnson is pressing for a general election by Christmas. Unfortunately for him, he's just suffered a humiliation that shows how rubbish he is at being PM. | "Every confidence": | When Johnson became PM in July, he gave a speech outside Downing Street. In it, he criticised the "pessimists" who he said thought "we are incapable of honouring a democratic mandate" (i.e. Brexit). He vowed: I am standing before you today to tell you the British…
(2019-10-24). U.S. 'democracy' for $ale: Hong Kong protesters in NYC unmasked. workers.org 
'Rally in a box' being unpacked, Oct. 13, New York City. I watched as a prefab "rally in a box" about Hong Kong opened up here on Oct. 13. I don't know if this rally was funded directly by the notorious U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, a congressionally funded agency . . . | Continue reading U.S. 'democracy' for $ale: Hong Kong protesters in NYC unmasked at Workers.org
(2019-10-24). House Democrat to Mark Zuckerberg: Does Facebook Rent Blocks of Rooms in Trump's Hotel and Not Use Them? theintercept.com 
Rep. Madeleine Dean asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg whether his company had tried to curry favor with Donald Trump by doing business at his hotel.
(2019-10-24). Katie Hill hell breaks loose as GOP and Dem supporters clash over her naked pics, Nazi tattoo and affair with staffer. rt.com 
Photos of Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill smoking a bong in the nude – while sporting a Nazi symbol tattooed on her crotch – and making out with a staffer have thrown both Left and Right into a frenzy of blame and shame.
(2019-10-24). Conflict Between Trump and Military-Diplomatic Establishment Is Full of Hypocrisy. therealnews.com 
We are living in a political world that seems turned on its head, with Democrats voting to stay in Syria and Republicans wanting to get out—but neither side is getting it right.
(2019-10-24). Warren rallies with striking teachers, calls for structural education reforms. peoplesworld.org 
CHICAGO — "Everyone in America should support this strike. Because when you fight, you don't just fight for yourselves. You fight for the children of this city and this country," declared Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren. "I believe in you. I believe in the work that you do every day." Warren stopped at Oscar …
(2019-10-24). 'Fundamentally broken': Student loan official with Trump admin quits, calls for debt forgiveness and wants to be a senator. rt.com 
A Trump administration student loan official has left his post, blasting a "broken" loan system and calling for college debt forgiveness. Though it's is a popular progressive view, he's planning to run for office as Republican. | A. Wayne Johnson stepped down from his post at the Office of Federal Student Aid on Thursday, offering a blistering critique of a system that has saddled the average borrower with tens of thousands of dollars in debt that cannot be canceled or, increasingly, repaid. Americans owe $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, and 40 percent of them are expected to default on it by 2023. | Also o…
(2019-10-24). Ilhan Omar Explains Why She Endorsed Bernie Sanders — and Why She Blames Mark Zuckerberg for Enabling Threats Against Her. theintercept.com In an interview with The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan, Rep. Ilhan Omar said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg helped place a target on her back.
(2019-10-24). Ecuador's Austerity Measures, Repression Based on Media Lies. globalresearch.ca Bernie Sanders tweeted an Associated Press article in the LA Times ( 10/14/19) about Ecuador's recent protests, in which eight protesters were killed in 11 days. "Economic elites keep pushing austerity worldwide, making life unbearable for working people," Sanders …
(2019-10-24). Tulsi a Russian Asset? Censored by Google and YouTube. globalresearch.ca Time and again, clear evidence proves democracy in America is pure fantasy — how it's been from inception, notably today under its money-controlled system, most politicians bought like toothpaste. | One-party rule with two extremist right wings serves privileged interests exclusively …
(2019-10-24). Clinton, Stein, Gabbard, and the Deconstruction of RussiaGate. commondreams.org Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at Georgetown University September 27, 2019 in Washington, DC .Clinton delivered remarks before recognizing the winners of the 2019 Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards for Advancing Women in Peace and Security. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/clinton_gabbard_russiagate.jpg …
(2019-10-24). Congress Bids a Tearful Farewell to Cummings, a 'Master of the House'. truthdig.com The Baltimore Democrat, the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, is lauded as "a quiet giant" whose words were heeded.
(2019-10-24). AOC Grills Facebook's Zuckerberg for 'Far-right Dinner Parties'. telesurenglish.net Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled by progressive U.S. lawmakers asking questions on election interference, free speech, hate groups and fake news. | RELATED: | teleSUR English Removed From Facebook for Second Time | "In order for us to make decisions about Libra, I think we need to kind of dig into your past behavior and Facebook's past behavior with respect to our democracy," New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, before asking Zuckerberg when he had first…
(2019-10-24). Chicago Public Schools teachers, staff and students oppose concessions. wsws.org Teachers, staff, parents and students spoke on their demands, the conditions in schools and their opposition to the Democratic Party's decades of attacks on public education.
(2019-10-24). Canada: NDP, unions eager to prop up Trudeau Liberal government. wsws.org The social-democratic politicians and their union allies intend to prop up the pro-austerity, pro-war Liberals under the guise of providing Canadians with "progressive" government.
(2019-10-24). US Senate Republicans Push Resolution Against Trump Impeachment. telesurenglish.net United States Republicans Thursday pressed their campaign to discredit the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, with an ally of the president introducing a U.S. Senate resolution calling the procedures used by House of Representatives Democrats unfair. | RELATED: | Unruly Bunch: US Republican Lawmakers Disrupt Trump Impeachment Inquiry | Forty-four of the 53 Republicans in the 100-seat Senate have signed on to the resolution, which urges the House to hold a formal vot…
(2019-10-24). Labour plan to safeguard NHS scuppered as Lib Dems revert to Coalition mode. thecanary.co The Liberal Democrats are facing a torrent of criticism after failing to support a vote to protect the NHS against US corporations. | Labour put forward the so-called 'regret motion' as an amendment to the Queen's Speech. It stated parliament's regret that the speech: [D]oes not repeal the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to restore a publicly provided and administered National Health Service and protect it from future trade agreements that would al…
(2019-10-24). Let Juries Choose Public Officials. dissidentvoice.org We have been taught since childhood that popular election is essential for democracy. In reality, although it is much better than, for example, a military junta, it is a very problematic way to choose public officials and is 100% not necessary for democracy. The US political system would be far better and far more democratic …
(2019-10-24). 2019 Veterans Day Weekend honoring Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers. indybay.org 2019 Veterans Day Weekend celebrating the Colonel Charles Young Memorial Highway Sign.
(2019-10-24). The Republican Party Is as Guilty as Trump. commondreams.org The stink of Trump's racist and misogynist hate, abject dishonesty and flagrant impunity over laws and the U.S. Constitution ought to follow every Trump supporter inside or outside government for the rest of their lives. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_34.jpeg …
(2019-10-24). Trump urges congressional Republicans to "take the gloves off" in impeachment crisis. wsws.org The White House has been panicked by signs of erosion of support against impeachment among congressional Republicans.
(2019-10-24). Why Did Republicans Storm a Closed Impeachment Hearing? truthout.org Republican lawmakers stormed a closed hearing room Wednesday, disrupting the House impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump and delaying a Pentagon official's testimony. In an extraordinary chain of events, dozens of Republican congressmembers pushed into a secure hearing room as Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify. A five-hour stand-off ensued. The spectacle unfolded one day after Tuesday's explosive testimony by William Taylor, the top U.S…
(2019-10-24). Trump's Kurdish Betrayal Gives Peace a Bad Name. thenation.com Trump's Kurdish Betrayal Gives Peace a Bad Name…
(2019-10-24). America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy. thenation.com America's Military Mania Is Hurting Democracy…
(2019-10-24). Don't Count the Senate Out on Impeachment. thenation.com Don't Count the Senate Out on Impeachment…
(2019-10-24). 'Too Many Lives Were Ruined': Bernie Sanders Releases Plan for Federal Legalization of Marijuana. commondreams.org "We will legalize marijuana and vacate and expunge past marijuana convictions." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_marijuana.jpg …
(2019-10-24). 'Utterly Disqualifying': Pete Buttigieg Panned for Praising Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. commondreams.org Progressives on Thursday piled on Pete Buttigieg—the mayor of South Bend, Indiana and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate—for praising former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in an interview with Cosmopolitan. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pete_buttigieg_0_0.jpg …
(2019-10-24). Led by Pharma-Friendly Rep. Richard Neal, Democrats Crush Progressive Amendments to Signature Drug Pricing Bill. commondreams.org Neal has received over $670,000 in campaign cash from pharmaceutical companies since 2007, according to Kaiser Health News | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/richard_neal_1.jpg …
(2019-10-24). Sanders Campaign Calls on Biden—and All 2020 Democrats—to Reject Any Help From Shadowy Super PACs. commondreams.org Such groups, said campaign manager Faiz Shakir, "exist for one reason and one reason only: to help billionaires and corporations bankroll a presidential campaign." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_joe_biden_3_0.jpg …
(2019-10-24). 'We Have to Get This Right': Historic Bill in US House Would Create Specific Protections for Climate Refugees. commondreams.org Rep. Nydia Vel√°zquez on Wednesday introduced historic legislation in the Democrat-controlled House that would establish formal federal protections in the United States for refugees fleeing impacts of the human-caused global climate crisis. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/refugeeswarming_0.jpg …
(2019-10-24). "That's Not How We Defeat Trump": Biden Campaign, Reversing Course, Will Work With Super PACs. commondreams.org "The former Vice President has been unable to generate grassroots support, and now his campaign is endorsing an effort to buy the primary through a super PAC that can rake in unlimited cash from billionaires and corporations." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/biden_iraq.jpg …
(2019-10-24). 'Not How We Defeat Trump,' Says Sanders Campaign After Biden Opens Door to Super PACs. commondreams.org "The former Vice President has been unable to generate grassroots support, and now his campaign is endorsing an effort to buy the primary through a super PAC that can rake in unlimited cash from billionaires and corporations." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/biden_iraq.jpg …
(2019-10-24). ACLU Celebrates Settlement Ending Unconstitutional Efforts to Silence Pipeline Protesters in South Dakota. commondreams.org The ACLU and environmental activists celebrated Thursday after reaching a settlement agreement with South Dakota's Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and state Attorney General Jason Ravnesborg to end what critics called "their unconstitutional attempts to silence pipeline protestors." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/keystone_xl_trump_0.jpg …
(2019-10-24). House Homeland Security Chair Demands Sergeant at Arms 'Take Action' Against Republicans Who Stormed Impeachment Hearing. commondreams.org Rep. Bennie Thompson called the GOP stunt an "unprecedented breach of security." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/republicans.jpg …
(2019-10-24). 'Lifeline for Millions': Sanders and Warren Urge Congress to Increase Community Health Center Funding Before It Expires Next Month. commondreams.org "Congress must expand—and not allow any cuts to—the comprehensive medical treatment that so many millions of people depend on through community health centers." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/community_health_center.jpg …
(2019-10-24). GOP Lawmakers Disrupt Impeachment Hearing As More Damaging Details Emerge About Trump's Misconduct. democracynow.org 
Republican lawmakers stormed a closed hearing room Wednesday, disrupting the House impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump and delaying a Pentagon official's testimony. In an extraordinary chain of events, dozens of Republican congressmembers pushed into a secure hearing room as Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify. A five-hour stand-off ensued. The spectacle unfolded one day after Tuesday's explosive testimony by William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine. Taylor told congressional lawmakers that the Trump administration held up $…
(2019-10-24). Ending Endless War: Andrew Bacevich on How Reckless Use of U.S. Military Power Caused Today's Crisis. democracynow.org 
President Trump has announced sanctions will be lifted on Turkey as a ceasefire remains in place in northern Syria, where Turkey invaded earlier this month after Trump withdrew U.S. troops. On Tuesday Turkey reached an agreement with Russia that would force Syrian Kurdish forces to retreat from a wide swath of the Syrian-Turkish border. The United Nations is reporting Turkey's offensive in northern Syria has displaced over 176,000 people, including nearly 80,000 children. The Turkish assault also led to a number of former ISIS fighters escaping from jail in northern Syria. We speak with Andrew Bacevich, co-founde…
(2019-10-24). Headlines for October 24, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Lifts Sanctions on Turkey, Citing Ceasefire Agreement, Republican Lawmakers Disrupt Closed-Door Impeachment Hearing, Trump's Lawyer Argues the President Can't Be Prosecuted for Murder, Death Toll in Chile Protests Rises to 18 as Human Rights Groups Allege Torture, Spain Removes Remains of Francisco Franco from National Mausoleum, Julian Assange Appears Frail and Confused in London Court Hearing, 39 Bodies Found in Tractor-Trailer in Southeast England, Honduran Woman's Lawsuit Claims Years of Sexual Assault by ICE Agent, Immigrant Worker Injured in New Orleans Hotel Collapse Arrested by ICE, California Utili…
(2019-10-23). Military Spending's Out of Control While Slashing It Could Easily Fund Medicare for All. counterpunch.org 
Something very unusual happened on Thursday, Oct. 17. The New York Times suddenly ran an article on its opinion page explaining how to cut $300 billion from the $1-trillion military budget — enough, the article explained, to fund Bernie Sanders' proposed program for an expanded Medicare program to cover all Americans without raising a dime More
(2019-10-23). Ecuador's Austerity Measures, Repression Based on Lies AP Happily Spread. fair.org 
AP piece in the LA Times ( 10/14/19) | Bernie Sanders tweeted an Associated Press article in the LA Times ( 10/14/19) about Ecuador's recent protests, in which eight protesters were killed in 11 days. "Economic elites ke…
(2019-10-23). 'Whoa,' tweets Snowden, as Bernie Sanders says he would not prosecute government whistleblowers under Espionage Act. rt.com 
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has said that he would not use the Espionage Act to prosecute government whistleblowers in a promise hailed by activists as crucial to maintaining press freedom. | The controversial 1917 law was rarely used in modern times until former US President Barack Obama dug it up to prosecute eight people accused of leaking to the media — more than all other US presidents combined. So far, Donald Trump has also used the law to prosecute eight whistleblowers, putting him on track to outdo Obama if he wins a second term in 2020. | "Whoa," tweeted NSA whistleblower Ed…
(2019-10-23). Tulsi Gabbard Isn't a Russian Asset. It's More Complicated Than That. therealnews.com 
The Nation's Jeet Heer discusses Hillary Clinton's recent remarks toward Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Why do anti-war activists and the right wing seem to love her?
(2019-10-23). Republicans Storm Closed Door Impeachment Hearing. therealnews.com 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Cooper arrives to testify at deposition as part of Trump impeachment inquiry on Capitol Hill in Washington REUTERS/Carlos Jasso | Republicans stormed the House Intelligence Committee's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility on Wednesday as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper was due to testify at a closed-door deposition. Cooper's testimony, which was delayed as a result of Wednesday's actions but resumed later that afternoon, is part of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry. | It happened a day after William B. Taylor Jr., the acting U.S. ambassador to Uk…
(2019-10-23). Republicans STORM secure Capitol chamber where Democrats held 'impeachment' hearing. rt.com 
Demanding transparency in the impeachment probe of US President Donald Trump, GOP lawmakers stormed the secure room inside the Capitol where Democrats were interrogating a Pentagon official, derailing the proceedings. | Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), two dozen Republican members of Congress made their way into the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) on Wednesday, as House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-California) was about to open a hearing where Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Laura Cooper was due to testify. | "Adam Schiff's impeachment inquiry has been marked by secret intervi…
(2019-10-23). The Democrats Helped Cultivate the Barbarism of ISIS. counterpunch.org 
There is something profoundly deceitful in the way the Democratic Party and the corporate media are framing Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria. One does not need to defend Trump's actions or ignore the dangers posed to the Kurds, at least in the short term, by the departure of US forces from More
(2019-10-23). Bernie Sanders Vows to Revive Criminal Prosecutions of CEOs for Unfair Trade Practices. theintercept.com Bernie Sanders, if he were elected president, would revive the criminal provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act to prosecute CEOs who have illegally monopolized a market, he told The Intercept in an interview. | The Sherman Act is the Department of Justice's main tool for enforcing antitrust laws, which are meant to prevent monopolies from dominating an industry, which harms workers, consumers, and other businesses. It has both civil and criminal provisions, though in recent years, prosecutors have relied only on its civil provisions, with the intent of breaking up monopolies and opening markets. | Asked if the c…
(2019-10-23). Jill Stein: Hillary Clinton is still sabotaging progressives. thegrayzone.com Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein responds to Hillary Clinton calling her a "Russian asset" and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard…
(2019-10-23). Trump Says US War With Iran May Be Soon, Putin/Erdogan Syria Deal & Iraq Says No US Troops Allowed. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/22/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-10-23). US Republican Lawmakers Disrupt Trump Impeachment Inquiry. telesurenglish.net United States Republican lawmakers, encouraged by President Donald Trump to fight Democrats' attempts to impeach him, disrupted Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry and prevented a Pentagon official from testifying. | RELATED: | Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Politically Motivated Probe: US Top Diplomat | The unruly bunch of Republican legislators stormed into the hearing room where the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters,…
(2019-10-23). Who is counting the ballots for the UAW-GM contract? wsws.org The UAW has decided the deal will pass and is running roughshod over the democratic rights of workers in order to end the strike on the company's terms.
(2019-10-23). Chile: General Strike Begins as Piñera Asks for Forgiveness. telesurenglish.net Chile's Workers' United Center (CUT) and over twenty national organizations began on Wednesday a 48-hour general strike to demand President Sebastian Piñera take the military out of the streets. | RELATED: | Chile: State Violence Leads to 1,420 Arrests and 11 Deaths | In Santiago, the country's capital, the strike began with a march from Italy Square towards The Heroes Square. | "Our goals are to say NO to the State of Emergency, recover peace and deepen democracy so that the people…
(2019-10-23). Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal Sides With Pharma and GOP Against Amendments to Strengthen Drug-Pricing Bill. theintercept.com Only three Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee voted for an amendment to make a drug-pricing bill more progressive. Neal was not one of them.
(2019-10-23). Trump faces backlash over 'lynching' claim. thecanary.co US President Donald Trump's comparison of the impeachment inquiry being conducted against him to a "lynching" has sparked a heated backlash. | Stirring painful memories of America's racist past, Trump tweeted in regard to the investigation into his dealings with Ukraine: "All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here — a lynching. But we will WIN!" | The comparison to lynching — a practice once widespread across the southern US in which angry mobs killed thousands of Black people — triggered an outcry from Democratic politicians and from outside Washington, but also some agreement…
(2019-10-23). Top US diplomat in Ukraine tells impeachment inquiry Trump tied military aid to Biden probe. wsws.org The effort to impeach Trump has gained steam in the aftermath of his decision to order the withdrawal of troops from northeastern Syria.
(2019-10-23). Workers Are Not Your Props. thenation.com Workers Are Not Your Props…
(2019-10-23). Anybody but Bernie—or Warren. thenation.com Anybody but Bernie—or Warren…
(2019-10-23). Chile: Popular revolt exposes a violent economic system. greenleft.org.au 
democracy Pablo LeightonIssue 1242 Chile Latin America solidarity general strike 2019 Chile protestsOctober 23, 2019Cou…
(2019-10-23). Headlines for October 23, 2019. democracynow.org Taylor Testifies Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Investigation of Hunter Biden, Trump Tweets Impeachment is a "Lynching," Sparking Widespread Condemnation, Turkey and Russia Reach Agreement on Northern Syria, Protests Erupt in Bolivia Over Allegations of Election Rigging, Chilean President Announces Reforms Aimed to Curb Massive Protests, Boris Johnson Loses Critical Brexit Vote, Canada's New Anti-Immigrant Party Is Crushed in National Elections, UAW Member Dies After Being Struck by Car Near Picket Line, Chicago Teachers Head into Second Week of Strike, New York's Probe of Facebook Backed by 46 Attorneys General, Mexi…
(2019-10-23). Big Tech Platforms Have Had a "Profound Negative Effect on Democracy." Is It Time to Break Them Up? democracynow.org 
Facebook continues to face growing criticism and demands that it be broken up. Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has repeatedly called for Facebook and other big tech companies to be broken up on antitrust grounds. Roger McNamee, a Silicon Valley investor who went from being an early supporter of Facebook to a vocal critic, speaks with us about 2020 candidates' platforms on big tech. Antitrust regulation is "the one issue that seems to cut across the entire political spectrum," McNamee says. "People of all political stripes understand that there's a problem here."
(2019-10-23). Zucked: Early Facebook Investor Roger McNamee on How the Company Became a Threat to Democracy. democracynow.org 
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying Wednesday on Capitol Hill as his company's actions face escalating criticism. The focus of today's House Financial Services Committee hearing is on Facebook's plan to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra that would reshape the world's financial system. Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that her probe of Facebook for violating antitrust regulations is now backed by attorneys general from 47 states and territories. Facebook is also facing criticism from several Democratic presidential candidates for refusing to ban political ads from cand…
(2019-10-23). Mark Zuckerberg's Former Mentor: I Tried to Raise Alarm Over Russian Interference But Was Ignored. democracynow.org 
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies on Capitol Hill Wednesday, where he is expected to face questioning about the company's cryptocurrency Libra, among other issues. Zuckerberg has faced scrutiny before, including for Facebook's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A former mentor of Zuckerberg and longtime Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee speaks out about the company's dismissal of Russian interference in the election. "They treated it like a PR problem, not a business issue," McNamee says.
(2019-10-23). Even CNN thinks Hillary Clinton has gone too far with her latest conspiracy theory. thecanary.co 
US Army veteran Tulsi Gabbard hopes to become the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in 2020. But because she firmly opposes devastating US regime-change wars abroad and tells the t…
(2019-10-22). 'Outrageous': Bernie rejects Hillary Clinton's 'foreign asset' smear on Tulsi Gabbard. rt.com 
Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has come to the defense of fellow Democratic contender Tulsi Gabbard, batting away claims — spread by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — that the dovish candidate is a "foreign asset." | The progressive stalwart from Vermont took to Twitter on Monday to reject any suggestion Gabbard worked for a foreign power, as Clinton implied in a recent interview, insisting her patriotic bonafides as a combat veteran were beyond question. | "Tulsi Gabbard has put her life on the line to defend…
(2019-10-22). Students ARRESTED after racial slur dare game is recorded & posted on Twitter. rt.com 
Two University of Connecticut students have been arrested after they were filmed trading racial slurs back and forth in what appeared to be a vulgar word game. The video was posted online and sparked protests on campus. | Jarred Karal and Ryan Mucaj, both 21, were arrested and charged with "ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality, or race," UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz announced on Monday as students and staff alike demanded "accountability." | The two white students had played a game where they uttered vulgar words at increasing volume as they walked through the campus pa…