(2019-12-19). McConnell Blasts Trump Impeachment by House, Pledges Senate Action. truthdig.com 
Majority leader denounces House approval as "most unfair" and takes umbrage at Pelosi not saying when two articles will be sent for trial.
(2019-12-19). Nicola Sturgeon warns 'democracy will prevail' as she demands indyref2. thecanary.co 
Nicola Sturgeon has insisted "democracy must and will prevail" as she confirmed she has now written to Boris Johnson formally requesting the power for Holyrood to hold a second independence referendum.The SNP leader and Scottish first minister said that following last week's election victory in which her party took 47 of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster, the case for another referendum is "unarguable".Speaking at Bute House, her official residence in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said: "The alternative is a future that we have rejected being imposed upon us.Nicola Sturgeon has written to the PM to request the right to…
(2019-12-19). People's Action Endorses Bernie Sanders for President. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-12-19). Dem Controlled House Impeaches Trump. globalresearch.ca On Wednesday, House members impeached Trump on two counts as expected, politicized voting almost entirely along party lines — 230 — 197 for alleged abuse of power, 229 — 198 for alleged obstruction of Congress. | No Republicans supported the scam, …
(2019-12-19). Charged with abuse of power and obstruction of congress, Trump impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. nationofchange.org "Every single Republican in the House of Representatives became an accomplice to Trump's subversion of our democracy. By failing to impeach Donald Trump, GOP lawmakers showed their blind loyalty to their party and to a corrupt president—and history will remember them for the cowards they are."
(2019-12-19). Just Because Republicans Are Spewing Nonsense on Impeachment Doesn't Mean the "Big Lie" Won't Work. commondreams.org Protester holding a sign at a "Nobody Is Above the Law" rally in Times Square on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. Hundreds of thousands of Americans joined the coalition at more than 500 rallies planned around the country the day before Trump was officially impeached on Wednesday but the U.S. House of Representatives. (Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/impeach_trump_gop_big_lie.jpg …
(2019-12-19). A plague on both political parties. wsws.org Despite the ferocity of conflict over impeachment, the Democrats and Republicans represent the twin imperatives of American imperialism: the drive toward war and fascistic authoritarianism.
(2019-12-19). History Will Judge Republicans for Protecting an Impeached President. truthout.org Last night, Donald Trump became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House of Representatives. Two hundred and thirty members of Congress voted to impeach on abuse of power; 229 on the obstruction of Congress question. | A president who has built his entire business and political career on hyperbole, on bluster, on unfounded claims of being the best or…
(2019-12-19). After House Impeachment Vote, Trump's Case Headed for Possible "Kangaroo Court" truthout.org The trial to impeach President Trump could soon head to the Republican-controlled Senate, which requires a two-thirds supermajority vote to convict. Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell has said he is not an "impartial juror" and that he would closely coordinate a Senate impeachment trial with the White House Counsel's Office, leading Democrats to accuse McConnell of trying to preside over a sham trial. We speak with John Bonifaz, who spearheaded the push for impeachment with his gro…
(2019-12-19). Anti-labor USMCA NAFTA 2.0 With IAM Matt Mckinnon & LCLAA Al Rojas. indybay.org WorkWeek interviews IAM Legislative staff member Matt Mckinnon and LCLAA Sacramento Al Rojas about the effect of UMCA NAFTA 2.0 on working people in the US and Mexico. It is being supported by Trump, National Chamber of Commerce, Pelosi and most Democrats as well as AFL-CIO president Trumpka and the UAW, USWA and most unions.
(2019-12-19). WorkWeek On USMCA NAFTA 2.0 USMCA With UE Kari Thompson. indybay.org WorkWeek interviews UE International Strategies director Kari Thompson about United States Mexico Canada USMCS trade agreement which is known as NAFTA 2.0 by the Washington Post and other corporate media. She discusses how it will continue the anti-labor policies of corporate America both in the US and Mexico. The agreement is supported by Trump, the US corporations and billionaires, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats along with AFL-CIO president Trumpka along with all US unions except the IAM and UE.
(2019-12-19). House Passes USMCA Trade Deal With Broad Bipartisan Support. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — One day after its historic impeachment votes, the Democratic-led House gave President Donald Trump an overwhelming bipartisan victory Thursday on a renegotiated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. | By a 385-41 vote, the House approved a bill that puts in place terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. | The legislation passed after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her colleagues won key concessions from an administration anxious to pass the trade deal before next year's election season makes that task more…
(2019-12-19). Democratic Party candidates posture at union-sponsored education forum. wsws.org Both the presidential candidates and the teachers union officials present at the Pittsburgh forum have a proven track record of opposing and sabotaging teachers struggles.
(2019-12-19). Amid impeachment vote, Congress passes record military budget and funds Trump's border wall. wsws.org The right-wing basis on which the Democrats have impeached Trump is underscored by the bipartisan support for the fascistic president's political agenda demonstrated in the budget measures approved by Congress.
(2019-12-19). Queen's Speech unveils Boris Johnson's hardline plans to curtail Britain's democracy. thecanary.co Boris Johnson has unveiled a Queen's Speech with measures to toughen up criminal justice, limit parliamentary democracy and potentially weaken the scrutiny of government. | The government will look at whether the Official Secrets Act needs overhauling, which determines what protections and punishments whistleblowers are given. Whistleblowers are a critical check on power. It will also consider whether there is a case for updating the treason laws. | Work will be taken forward to repeal the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act — a move which would enable the prime minister to call an election without the consent of pa…
(2019-12-19). UN dispatches humanitarian aid to war-weary Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Thursday dispatched 32 truckloads of humanitarian aid to the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.The trucks passed through the Cilvegozu border gate in southern Turkey, with aid to be distributed to residents in urban areas of the war-torn province as well as the surrounding countryside.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a de…
(2019-12-19). Democrats Are Shifting on Foreign Policy — But Not Far Enough to End War. truthout.org After months of debate, the crowded Democratic primaries have begun to narrow. Major candidates have largely avoided foreign policy discussions, instead focusing on issues like health care, trade, immigration and gun control, which are seen as more important to the U.S. electorate. Although they have clear differences in vision, it is obvious that both progressives and traditionalists on the ticket see foreign policy as a secondary concern. This is standard for U.S. politics. Often, campaign staff…
(2019-12-19). Why Public College Should Be Free. thenation.com Why Public College Should Be Free…
(2019-12-19). When It Comes to Veterans, Democrats Parrot the Right Wing's Narrative. thenation.com When It Comes to Veterans, Democrats Parrot the Right Wing's Narrative…
(2019-12-19). The Democratic Leadership Strategy on Impeachment Is Doomed and Dangerous. thenation.com The Democratic Leadership Strategy on Impeachment Is Doomed and Dangerous…
(2019-12-19). Live Chat: Watch the Democratic Debates With 'The Nation'. thenation.com Live Chat: Watch the Democratic Debates With 'The Nation'
(2019-12-19). The Democratic Presidential Debate Must Address Poverty. thenation.com The Democratic Presidential Debate Must Address Poverty…
(2019-12-19). Tulsi Gabbard votes 'present' on both impeachment articles, stoking liberal ire on Twitter. rt.com 
Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard broke ranks with her party and voted "present" on two articles of impeachment, slamming the process as "partisan." The vote drew swift condemnation from Twitter's more progressive quarters. | Voting "present" instead of "yes" or "no" in Wednesday's full House vote for two impeachment articles passed in committee last week, Gabbard became one of only a tiny minority of Democrats to swim against the current in her own party. | "I could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by triba…
(2019-12-19). Trump taunts 'do-nothing' Democrats for stalling on sending impeachment articles to Senate. rt.com 
President Donald Trump slammed the "do-nothing" Democrats after party leaders said they would delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate until they could guarantee a "fair trial" in the Republican-controlled chamber. | "Now the Do Nothing Party want to Do Nothing with the Articles & not deliver them to the Senate," Trump tweeted a day after being impeached by the House of Representatives for "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." | I got Impeached last night without one Republican vote being cast with the Do Nothing Dems on their continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American histor…
(2019-12-19). House Democrats IMPEACH President Donald Trump, case now goes to US Senate. rt.com 
The US House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." The Republican-majority Senate will now take up the president's trial. | The outcome of Wednesday's vote came as little surprise, with the Democrat-controlled House voting along party lines in what their GOP opponents perceive as a partisan attack on a sitting US leader. | Trump thus becomes the third-ever US president to be impeached by the House, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Both were acquitted in the Senate, and remained in office till the end of their ter…
(2019-12-19). 'Political suicide march for Democratic Party': Trump chides House Dems after they vote to impeach him. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump came down hard on the Democrats after the House voted, mostly along party lines, to approve articles of impeachment, saying that with the vote they have declared their "disdain" for the American voters. | Also on rt.com | | By impeaching Trump, Democrats have made him more powerful than they could ever imagine | The House voted to impeach Trump for "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress" Wednesday evening, paving the way for a formal trial in the Republican-majority Senate, which is expected to throw the case…
(2019-12-19). Pelosi indefinitely delaying turnover of impeachment docs to Senate kicks trial up a notch in absurdity. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to say when she will turn over the articles of impeachment to the Senate, hinting it could be a while — at least until the Senate's "process" looks "fair" — and infuriating Republicans. | Pelosi declined to say when — or even if — she would deliver the articles the House approved on Wednesday night to the Senate, explaining after the vote that Democrats needed to "see what the process is on the Senate side" before they could even think of parting with the documents or naming the impeachment managers required to prosecute the case. | Also on rt.com…
(2019-12-19). "We Have to Hold This President Accountable": In Historic Vote, House Impeaches President Trump. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in a historic vote Wednesday, making him only the third president to be formally charged with high crimes and misdemeanors under the Constitution. By a vote of 230 to 197, the House passed the first article of impeachment, which accuses President Trump of abuse of power. The House also approved the second article, which charges him with obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment investigation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now says she will hold the articles back from being sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for a tria…
(2019-12-19). After House Impeachment Vote, Trump's Case Headed for Possible "Kangaroo Court" in Senate. democracynow.org 
The trial to impeach President Trump could soon head to the Republican-controlled Senate, which requires a two-thirds supermajority vote to convict. Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell has said he is not an "impartial juror" and that he would closely coordinate a Senate impeachment trial with the White House Counsel's Office, leading Democrats to accuse McConnell of trying to preside over a sham trial. We speak with John Bonifaz, who spearheaded the push for impeachment with his group, Free Speech for People. Bonifaz says that despite the low chance of conviction in the Senate, Wednesday's impeachme…
(2019-12-19). FBI Surveillance of Trump Aide Reflects Flaws in Secretive FISA System That Mostly Targets Muslims. democracynow.org 
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said Wednesday the FBI should have considered halting its surveillance of Trump's campaign aide Carter Page months before it did, after it was revealed that accusations against him may not be credible. Horowitz made the comments while testifying to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, saying the FBI used false information to obtain approval to wiretap Trump campaign adviser Carter Page and raising wider concerns about the agency's use of surveillance. He testified a day after the highly secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Co…
(2019-12-19). Headlines for December 19, 2019. democracynow.org President Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power & Obstruction of Congress, Trump Slams FBI, Democrats & Impeachment at Battle Creek Rally, McConnell Pushes Through 11 Federal Judge Nominations, DOJ Inspector General Testifies About FBI's Carter Page Surveillance, 7 Democratic Presidential Candidates to Take to Debate Stage in L.A. Tonight, Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Part of Affordable Care Act, Australia Protesters Pitch Tents Outside PM House over Climate Crisis, Report: U.N. Peacekeepers Fathered & Abandoned Hundreds of Children in Haiti, DRC: Families Sue Apple, Google, Microsoft over Children's Deaths in…
(2019-12-19). For 'Making Movement Politics Mainstream,' National Grassroots Group People's Action Endorses Bernie Sanders. commondreams.org Applauding Sen. Bernie Sanders for his leadership in forming a coalition of working people cutting across race, class, and generational divides, the national grassroots network People's Action announced its endorsement of the progressive 2020 Democratic candidate Thursday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_9_1.jpg …
(2019-12-19). Impeachment and the Democrat/Progressive United Front. zcomm.org Let's do all in our power to turn the Republican Party's unanimous kissing of Mafioso Don's ring in the House yesterday into a massive wave of popular revulsion and a progressive political landslide next November…
(2019-12-18). Buttigieg Campaign Failed to Disclose Power Brokers in Release of Big Donors. truthdig.com 
Among them are a hedge fund manager, a charter school founder and a lawyer who represented Wall Street banks.
(2019-12-18). We Must Come Together to Beat Back Neoliberal Fascism. truthdig.com 
This article was originally published on Truthout. | This week in the United States, the impeachment hearings made clear that President Trump abused his office and committed a crime against the Constitution. Not only did he attempt to pressure the Ukrainian government into investigating his presidential political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in exchange for military aid, Trump also used the power of his administration to pressure loyal followers, such as Rudy Giuliani (his personal lawyer) to…
(2019-12-18). 'No Choice' but to Impeach Trump, Pelosi Says. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON—A sample of the sights and sounds across Washington on a momentous day in Washington as the House lurches toward a Wednesday evening vote on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump (all times local): | 12: 35 p.m. | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump's actions have left the House with "no choice" but to act on impeachment. | Related Articles: …
(2019-12-18). Democratic Donor Gets Natural Gas "Bomb Train" Permit from Trump Admin. therealnews.com 
Earlier this month, the Trump Administration issued Energy Transport Solutions a special permit to ship up to 100 shipments per day of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, the first interstate permit of its type.
(2019-12-18). Tories spent over £950,000 on Facebook adverts in late election blitz. thecanary.co 
The Conservative Party spent more than any other party on Facebook and Instagram adverts in the run-up to last week's General Election, analysis by the PA news agency has found.It largely came in a spending blitz in the final two weeks of the campaign.Across their two main pages — named Conservatives and Boris Johnson — the party spent a total of £959,329 in the four weeks up to the vote.In comparison, Labour spent £552,035 on its Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn pages between 14 November and 12 December, the fourth most of the major UK parties.The Liberal Democrats were the second biggest spe…
(2019-12-18). Accusations of Anti-Semitism Against Bernie Sanders Draw Fire. truthdig.com 
Progressives are taking the initiative to destroy and defeat accusations that Sen. Bernie Sanders, a frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is running or at the least tolerating an anti-Semitic primary campaign—accusations that come while the right-wing sharpens its knives for the Vermont senator as he rises in the polls. | Attacks against Sanders began last week after U.K. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn suf…
(2019-12-18). The insider: How national security mandarins groomed Pete Buttigieg and managed his future. thegrayzone.com Pledging to "end endless wars," Pete Buttigieg claims he has "never been part of the Washington establishment." But years before…
(2019-12-18). Impeachment: What Lies Beneath? counterpunch.org The Democrats have now revealed the hand they're going to play for impeachment. I have been vehemently arguing against playing this game and pointing out how futile it is, but, seeing the two cards actually laid out on the table, even I am gobsmacked at what a loser of a hand they've got. More
(2019-12-18). First Palestinian Intifada. peoplesdispatch.org The Palestinian Uprising known as the "First Intifada" started against the Israeli occupation of Gaza and West Bank. The uprising was organised from the grass root mainly under the leadership of groups and organizations affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that operated within the Occupied Territories; Fatah, the Popular Front, the Democratic Front and the Palestine Communist Party. The uprising lasted from December 1987 until the Madrid Conference in 1991, and led to the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. Israeli occupation forces used brutal force against the protests, killing more than…
(2019-12-18). Trump makes fascistic appeal in impeachment letter. wsws.org While Trump is seeking to exploit the impeachment to rally a right-wing movement, the Democratic Party is fearful of and hostile to mobilizing mass popular opposition to Trump.
(2019-12-18). Mexico Finds "World's Largest Lithium Deposit" Just Before US Focus & $1.4 Trillion War-Aimed NDAA. 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 (12/17/19). 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 …
(2019-12-18). Will the Sanders/Warren Truce Hold on Debate Night? thenation.com Will the Sanders/Warren Truce Hold on Debate Night?
(2019-12-18). Poetic revenge: GOP's impeachment-themed Christmas POEM has Twitter spitting out its eggnog. rt.com 
Spreading some Christmas spirit, the GOP House Oversight Committee has posted a lengthy impeachment-themed holiday poem. While the verses may not pass muster with Yeats or Milton, Twitter received the gift with glee — mostly. | Written along the lines of Clement Clarke Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas,' the Republican committee shared the satirical poem to Twitter on Tuesday night in nine parts, poking fun at members of the Democratic "Coastal Impeachment Squad," and taking special pleasure in mocking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. | "'Twas the night before #impeachment and all through the House, P…
(2019-12-18). 'Our beautiful flag & republic': Pelosi panders patriotically in impeachment debate kickoff, triggering Republican rage. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waxed poetic about American democracy in her opening remarks to the House debate on the impeachment of President Donald Trump, infuriating Republicans (and the man himself), who slammed her "hypocrisy." | Pelosi warned that "our founders' vision of a republic is under threat from the White House," calling Trump "an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections, the basis of our democracy" as the House embarked on a six-hour debate that would culminate in voting on the articles of impeachment on Wednesday. | These were no mere opinions, the California D…
(2019-12-18). "Not the End of It": If GOP Senate Saves Trump, Rep. Al Green Says He Can Face Impeachment Again. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump is on the cusp of being impeached by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, with a historic vote set today on whether to formally accuse him of abusing his power in dealing with Ukraine to help himself politically, and then obstructing Congress by blocking their investigation. Trump lashed out directly at the vote on Tuesday, calling the proceedings to remove him from office an "attempted coup." Should the House approve either of the articles of impeachment, the Republican-controlled Senate will hold a trial with all 100 senators acting as jurors, with a two-thirds supermajority…
(2019-12-18). Impeachment Day? House Votes on Charging Trump with Abuse of Power & Obstruction of Justice. democracynow.org 
As thousands of protesters rally to impeach President Trump in cities across the country ahead of a vote today on impeachment by the full Democrat-controlled House, we hold a roundtable discussion with Rep. Al Green of Texas, who became the first member of Congress to call for impeachment from the floor of the House of Representatives in 2017; Dahlia Lithwick, senior legal correspondent and Supreme Court reporter for Slate, host of the "Amicus" podcast; and Mark Green, co-author of "Fake President: Decoding Trump's Gaslighting, Corruption, and General Bullsh*t."
(2019-12-18). Activists Cheer Approval of Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants in New York, New Jersey. democracynow.org 
People in New York and New Jersey are celebrating two victories for immigrants' rights. In New York, thousands of undocumented people waited in line for hours at Departments of Motor Vehicles on Monday to apply for a driver's license, as the "Green Light Law" went into effect six months after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it. The law allows undocumented people to apply for a driver's license using alternative forms of identification instead of providing a Social Security Number. Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of New Jersey, state lawmakers also passed a bill Monday to allow undocumented people to app…
(2019-12-18). Headlines for December 18, 2019. democracynow.org House to Hold Historic Impeachment Vote Today, Top U.S. Diplomat to Ukraine William Taylor to Step Down, Rick Gates Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail and $20,000 Fine, FISA Court Orders FBI to Change National Security Wiretaps After DOJ Report, Democratic Primary Debate to Go Forward After Labor Dispute Resolved, Senate Approves One of the Most Expensive Military Spending Bills in U.S. History, Trump Meets with Outgoing Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Indian Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Controversial Citizenship Law, Strikes Continue Nationwide in France over Pension Overhaul, Bolivia's Evo Morales Names Two…
(2019-12-17). ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚ÄãThe issue-less impeachment: the corporate democrats stand for nothing, so they impeach for nothing. mronline.org 
The corporate Democrats are effectively exonerating themselves and their Republican brethren of the full spectrum of lawlessness that is everyday politics in the belly of the racist, imperial beast. | Source
(2019-12-17). The real interest of the United States and transnational corporations in Latin America and the Caribbean. mronline.org 
What are the real interests of the U.S. and corporations in the region? Freedom, democracy, human rights? No. Their goal is to preserve imperialist domination of our natural resources. | Source
(2019-12-17). Five Years After Obama's Cuba Opening, Cubans Are Reeling From the "Trump Effect" dissidentvoice.org 
CODEPINK Cuba Delegation in Havana December 17, 2019, Havana, Cuba: Gloria Minor had been preparing her AirBnB in Havana for years, investing every penny her sister sent her from Miami in repairing and refurbishing her apartment. With President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro re-establishing relations five years ago, Minor was sure the expected flood of …
(2019-12-17). US Regime Change In Mexico, US Bombs Afghan Hospital, Saudis Get Involved In Syria & More OPCW Leaks. 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 (12/16/19). 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 …
(2019-12-17). Democrats Aren't Forcing Jeff Van Drew to Join the GOP. thenation.com Democrats Aren't Forcing Jeff Van Drew to Join the GOP…
(2019-12-17). 'Open war on American democracy': In harsh letter to Democrats, Trump denounces 'Impeachment Hoax'. rt.com US President Donald Trump has written a withering letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, denouncing the impeachment proceedings against him as an "illegal, partisan attempted coup" against American democracy and the 2016 election. | The articles of impeachment, adopted along partisan lines by the House Judiciary Committee last week, contain "no crimes, no misdemeanors, no offenses whatsoever," Trump wrote in the letter, made public by the White House on Tuesday. | By proceeding wit…
(2019-12-17). Democratic Candidates Focus on Public Education at Historic Forum with Civil Rights & Labor Groups. democracynow.org 
Ahead of the last Democratic presidential debate of the year this Thursday, seven candidates appeared Saturday at the historic Democratic Presidential Forum on Public Education in Pittsburgh, an event organized by public education organizations, unions, civil rights organizations and community groups. We play highlights from the forum and get response from Keron Blair, director of the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools in Atlanta; Jitu Brown, national director of the Journey for Justice Alliance; and Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education Action. She recently authored a report titled "S…
(2019-12-17). "A Spectacular Fall from Grace": Aung San Suu Kyi Denies Burmese Genocide of Rohingya at The Hague. democracynow.org 
Burma's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has asked the U.N. International Court of Justice to drop the genocide case against Myanmar, formerly Burma. Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who spent over a decade fighting against the Burmese military, which she is now defending. Last week, Suu Kyi appeared in person at the court to dispute the charges and called the allegations of genocide against Rohingya Muslims "incomplete and misleading." The Burmese military killed and raped thousands of Rohingya and forced more than 700,000 to flee into neighboring Bangladesh in a brutal army crackdown in 2017. Gambia brough…
(2019-12-17). "Police Brutality All Over": India Cracks Down on Protests Against Anti-Muslim Citizenship Law. democracynow.org 
Protests continue to erupt across India against a new anti-Muslim law that gives immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan a path to citizenship — unless they are Muslim. Police have responded with violence, leaving at least six dead. This comes amid a broader crackdown on India's Muslims. We get an on-the-ground update from New Delhi from Neha Dixit, an independent reporter who just received the 2019 International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.
(2019-12-17). Headlines for December 17, 2019. democracynow.org House to Vote Wednesday on Two Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, Democratic Candidates to Boycott Debate If Labor Dispute Not Resolved, Booker & Other Presidential Candidates Call on DNC to Change Debate Criteria, Sen. Graham Says Trump May Announce Drawdown of Troops in Afghanistan, Protests Against "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill Sweep India, Pakistan's Former Military Ruler Pervez Musharraf Sentenced to Death for Treason, China Cancels Soccer Broadcast over Player's Criticism on Uyghurs, Boeing Temporarily Suspends Production of 737 MAX Jet, Sacklers Withdrew $10B from Purdue Pharma Amid Scrutiny over Opio…
(2019-12-17). Labour chair has one simple message for those still trying to blame Corbyn for election disaster. thecanary.co The chair of the Labour Party has a simple message for those still trying to blame leader Jeremy Corbyn for 2019's disastrous election results. And it's a message all progressives need to listen to very carefully. | "Ignore democracy at your peril": | Speaking about Brexit's role in the election, Labour chair Ian Lavery said: | It's massively frustrating watching people rewrite their pre election stance on Brexit. | My view was always so…
(2019-12-16). Midwest Dispatch: Minnesota Runs a Huge Budget Surplus Amid Higher Education Cuts. progressive.org State Republicans want new tax breaks, not a strong university system.
(2019-12-16). Michael Bennet Keeps Going Backwards on Child Benefits. peoplespolicyproject.org Michael Bennet and Mitt Romney released a Child Tax Credit proposal last night. When reorganized logically, the proposed CTC has three pieces: | $1,000 CTC that phases in at a 15 percent rate for all children. | $1,000 CTC that is fully refundable for all children. | $500 CTC that is fully refundable for children ages 0 to 6. | Thus, young children would receive $1,500 in fully refundable benefits while older children would receive $1,000 in fully refundable benefits. Both would then re…
(2019-12-16). Millions Wasted on Charter Schools. progressive.org The Network for Public Education calls the findings in its recent report "nothing short of a national scandal."
(2019-12-16). Ralph Nader on Impeachment: Democrats Should Go After Trump's Full Corruption, Not Just Ukraine. democracynow.org 
Donald Trump is set to become the third president to be impeached when the Democrat-controlled House votes Wednesday on two charges related to his attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. The vote will send the charges to the Republican-controlled Senate, which will then hold a trial on whether to remove Trump from office. Witnesses who could be called to testify include former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Early Monday, the House Judiciary Committee released its full report on Trump's impeachment that is nearly 700 pag…
(2019-12-16). Boeing May Suspend 737 MAX, But Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader Wants a Total Recall of Deadly Planes. democracynow.org 
Executives at Boeing are reportedly considering ending production of the troubled 737 MAX passenger jet, which was grounded worldwide after two crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed all 346 people on board. Last week, former Boeing manager Edward Pierson testified to the House Transportation Committee that he tried to warn executives about safety concerns four months before the first deadly crash, as well as before the second crash, but his warnings were ignored. We continue our conversation with Ralph Nader, longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and three-time presidential candidate, whose great-n…
(2019-12-16). COP25 Was a Failure, But Activists' Collective Organizing at the Talks Was Unprecedented. democracynow.org 
The COP25 United Nations climate summit ended in failure Sunday, after negotiators failed to agree to a deal that would limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a key goal of the Paris Agreement. Scores of civil society groups condemned governments in the European Union, Australia, Canada and the U.S. for a deal that requires far less action than needed to avert catastrophic climate change. Indigenous leaders and environmentalists blasted the United Nations for marginalizing civil society groups over two weeks of negotiations at the climate summit, while welcoming polluters.
(2019-12-16). Headlines for December 16, 2019. democracynow.org U.N. Climate Talks End with Few of the Commitments Needed to Avert Catastrophe, Top Republicans Coordinating with White House on Senate Impeachment Trial, Trump Set to Withdraw 4,000 Troops from Afghanistan Amid Revelations About Failing War Effort, At Least 6 Dead in India as Protests Rage Against Anti-Muslim Citizenship Law, Fire Kills 10 at Bangladesh Factory with "No Safety Measures", Police in Lebanon Break Up Protests Against Corruption & Inequality, Judge Orders 234,000 Names Purged from Voter Rolls in Wisconsin, Key Battleground State, New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew to Join Republican Party After Meeting w…
(2019-12-15). US Threatens To Attack Iran Over Rockets Fired In Iraq & Assange Blocked From Seeing Key Evidence. 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 (12/14/19). 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 …
(2019-12-13). For WaPo's Centrist Sources, Progressive Politics Are 'Purity Tests'. fair.org 
The Washington Post's function as a bullhorn for centrist Democrats continues full force this week, with an article ( 12/11/19) headlined, "As Democrats Trade Barbs on Business Ties, Some Worry Purity Tests Are Going Too Far" (or, in the print edition, "Democrats' Purity Tests Over…
(2019-12-13). 'It's Not Just About Sanders and Warren, It's About the Issues They Represent' – CounterSpin interview with Julie Hollar about Election 2020. fair.org Janine Jackson interviewed FAIR's Julie Hollar about the 2020 election for the December 6, 2020, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2019-12-13). Foreign Correspondent: An Open Letter to a Trump-Supporting, Working-Class Friend. progressive.org Robby reflects the views of many older white workers who are critical of the system and blame Democrats and liberals for its breakdown.
(2019-12-13). Anakbayan-USA holds 3rd congress. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – On November 30, Anakbayan-USA had their Third Congress, with more than 200 members from 12 chapters across the country in attendance. They learned lessons on solidarity, talked about the economic situation in the United States and reported back on the progress being made on a national and local level. | Anakbayan-USA had three national organizations they invited to speak on their "International Solidarity" panel: the Palestinian Youth Movement, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, and National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). | CISPES and PYM spoke on bridging the gap…
(2019-12-13). UN Counters US Claims Of "Proof" Iran Attacked Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu Impunity & Turkey Sanctions. 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 (12/12/19). 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 …
(2019-12-13). "Dark Day for Everyone Who Believes in Justice": U.K. Tories Defeat Labour in Landslide Election. democracynow.org 
The British Conservative Party has won a decisive majority in Thursday's general election, winning seats in Labour Party strongholds and paving the way for Britain's exit from the European Union by January 31. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is projected to have 364 seats in the House of Commons compared to Labour's 203 seats. That would give the Conservatives about a 75-seat majority, the largest since Margaret Thatcher's landslide in the 1987 election. Johnson's message throughout the campaign was focused on "getting Brexit done," reflecting public exhaustion with the issue that has paralyzed British politics ever…
(2019-12-13). Climate Refugees: Climate-Fueled Drought, Sea Level Rise, Storms & Fires Displace Millions Worldwide. democracynow.org 
A new report reveals how long-term disasters, including sea level rise and desertification, and short-term disasters, such as storms and fires, are especially threatening to people living in the Global South and island nations. We speak with the co-author of a new study that finds the climate crisis is already leading to a massive increase in the number of refugees being displaced around the world. Hossein Ayazi is a policy analyst with the Global Justice Program at the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. We're also joined at the U.N. Climate Summit in Madrid by Saleemul Huq,…
(2019-12-13). COP25: Developing Countries Charge Ahead with Bold Climate Plans as Rich Countries Drag Their Feet. democracynow.org 
As this year's United Nations climate summit wraps up in Madrid, Spain, many activists, scientists, indigenous and grassroots climate leaders say that rich countries most responsible for the climate emergency have spent the talks dialing back ambition and blocking progress. This comes as deadly droughts, flooding, cyclones and wildfires rage around the world. This week, more than 70 developing countries have announced they will accelerate their climate plans, and 72 countries have signed onto goals to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But major emitters Australia, China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia have…
(2019-12-13). Headlines for December 13, 2019. democracynow.org Conservative Party Wins Landslide Victory in U.K. Elections, House Judiciary Committee to Vote on 2 Articles of Impeachment Today, Algeria: Thousands Protest Thursday's Presidential Election, Aung San Suu Kyi Asks ICJ to Drop Genocide Case Against Burma, India: Police Kill 2 People in Assam Amid Protests over Citizenship Bill, Thousands of Iraqis Gather in Tahrir Sq. to Demand Protest Movement Remain Peaceful, France: Unions Remain on Strike and Vow to Continue During Holiday Season, Thousands Take to Streets in Hong Kong, DHS Memo Reveals How ICE's Inadequate Medical Care Contributed to 4 Deaths, Trump Attacks 1…
(2019-12-12). MN withstands -10 windchill to demand human rights at home and abroad. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On December 10, 25 protesters rallied outside of Senator Amy Klobuchar's office to mark International Human Rights Day. After chanting outside the senator's office, Brad Sigal from the MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee addressed the crowd to draw attention to Trump's record of human rights abuses against immigrants. The protesters then marched in -10 degrees windchill to the legendary May Day Books in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. | Tracy Molm of the Anti-War Committee spoke at the closing rally inside the bookstore. "On Human Rights Day we come together to call attention to human rights…
(2019-12-12). A New Report Finds Massive Waste and Abuse in Federally Funded Charter Schools. progressive.org During the eight years that these federal grants were available, $504,517,391—28 percent of the total amount given out—went to charter schools that never opened or that have already closed.
(2019-12-12). Trump Signs EO Saying Judaism Is Now A Nationality, New Toothless NDAA Allows Yemen & Iran Wars. 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 (12/11/19). 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 …
(2019-12-12). "We Want People Power Solutions": Activists Ousted from COP25 for Protesting Corporations at Summit. democracynow.org 
Inside the halls of the U.N. climate summit, hundreds of activists gathered Wednesday to demand rich countries step up their efforts to finance climate action. The protest began just as Democracy Now! was finishing our live broadcast, and we spoke to some of the people there from around the world, including Rita Iyke-Uwaka of Friends of the Earth Nigeria; Angela Valenzuela of Fridays for Future in Santiago, Chile; Sandra Tukup of CONFENIAE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon); Amalen Sathananthar of Artivist Network; Brandon Wu of ActionAid USA; and Nina Gualinga, an indigenous lea…
(2019-12-12). Marshall Islands Climate Activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner Shares a Poem for Survival as Sea Levels Rise. democracynow.org 
Located in the central Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the Philippines, the Marshall Islands are one of the world's lowest-lying island nations and declared a national climate crisis emergency in October. "We're looking at changing the entire physical landscape of our island so we can stay above water," says Marshall Islands poet and climate activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner. She joins us to describe the impact on her country and read her newest poem.
(2019-12-12). Greta Thunberg Slams COP25, Says Response to Climate Crisis Is "Clever Accounting and Creative PR" democracynow.org 
At the U.N. climate summit in Madrid, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed world leaders Wednesday, hours after she was named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Thunberg came to the talks after a trip to meet with climate leaders across North America in anticipation of the scheduled climate conference in Santiago, Chile, before the talks were abruptly moved to the Spanish capital. In her address, Thunberg warned that the planet's carbon budget is down to just eight years, and urged bold action. "I still believe that the biggest danger is not inaction. The real danger is when politicians…
(2019-12-12). Uganda's First Fridays for Future Climate Striker, Vanessa Nakate, Joins COP25 Protests in Madrid. democracynow.org 
As we broadcast from the U.N. climate summit in Madrid, Spain, we speak with climate activist Vanessa Nakate, who was Uganda's first Fridays for Future climate striker. "I wanted to do something that would cause change to the lives of the people in my community and my country," she says. "My country heavily depends on agriculture, therefore most of the people depend on agriculture. If our farms are destroyed by floods, if the farms are destroyed by droughts and crop production is less, that means that the price of food is going to go high. So it will only be the most privileged who will be able to buy food."
(2019-12-12). Headlines for December 12, 2019. democracynow.org European Commission Proposes Sweeping European Green Deal, DOJ Inspector General Testifies to Senate Judiciary Committee, More Than 70 Troops Killed in Attack on Niger Military Camp, Demonstrations Sweep Algeria as Protesters Demand Boycott of Today's Election, Britain: Voters Head to Polls for Defining National Election Today, Aung San Suu Kyi Denies Genocide Against Muslim Rohingya at ICJ, India's Upper House Passes "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill, Israel Dissolves Knesset as Country Heads Toward 3rd Election This Year, French Workers Continue Strike After PM Unveils Details of Pension Overhaul, Hundreds of Acti…
(2019-12-11). Trump Impeachment: A Misguided Move? therealnews.com 
The Democrats claim their articles of impeachment against Trump are a solid case. The Nation and Grayzone contributor Aaron Maté argues that they are actually quite weak, and only serve corporate Democrats' interest in feeding Russiagate paranoia.
(2019-12-11). US Accuses Iran Of "Increasingly Sophisticated" ROCKET Attacks, Clinton Meddling & Afghan Implosion. 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 (12/10/19). 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 …
(2019-12-10). Sarasota students join global climate strike. liberationnews.org 
On Friday, 50 students and community members gathered at the Unconditional Surrender statue by Sarasota's bayfront to urge action on the global climate crisis.
(2019-12-09). Trump's New Trade Deal: NAFTA with Lipstick. progressive.org The buzz inside the Beltway is that "centrist" Democrats are desperate to pass the USMCA to signal they are getting things done.
(2019-12-09). Iran False Flag, Bolivia's Coup Gov Seeks Israel's Help, Israel's Been In Yemen 'Since Day One'. 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 (12/8/19). 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 …
(2019-12-08). Israel Bombs Gaza, Israeli Bot Group Caught Spreading Hate & US Admits Houthis Not "Iran Proxy" 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 (12/7/19). 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 …
(2019-12-07). US Claims "Fresh Intelligence" Of Iran Attacks Yet Provides Zero Evidence — MSM Blindly Regurgitates. thelastamericanvagabond.com Here we go again with "fresh intelligence" to justify the continued sanctions and destabilization of Iran. It's a plan that has been well documented even by their own writings (See Which Path to Persia? — 2009). Of course, complicating U.S. foreign policy is the involvement of Israel. The Last American Vagabond covers the latest political posturing, distortion, and general …
(2019-12-06). The US Is Manufacturing A War With Iran Under Cover Of The Impeachment Distraction. 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 (12/5/19). 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 …
(2019-12-05). CNN Says US Has "Fresh Intelligence" Of Iran Prepping Attack But Can't Show It & More NYT Propaganda. 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 (12/4/19). 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 …
(2019-12-03). Pompeo Says US Will "Help Prevent" Protests For "Legitimate" Governments & US Bombs Afghan Family. 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 (12/2/19). 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 …
(2019-12-02). Nicaragua Marked Next For US "Liberation", Trump Blames "Vicious World" For Khashoggi Murder & More. 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 (12/1/19). 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 …
(2019-12-02). Leonard Cohen: the poet, his muse and his penis. greenleft.org.au 
music Barry HealyIssue 1248 Australia Leonard CohenDecember 3, 2019Maryanne & Leonard, Words of Love
| Documentary film directed by Nick Broomfield
| In cinemas | As I emerged from the media preview for this film, I heard another viewer mutter that it was "the most self…
(2019-12-02). The Official Secrets Movie vs. Joe Biden's Lies About the Iraq War. zcomm.org As he pursues the presidency, Joe Biden is persisting with dismal innovations to falsify his record on the Iraq war. In the process, he's operating completely at odds with what the Official Secrets film and Katharine Gun are all about…