(2019-12-23). Impeachment Indicts Both Parties and Clarifies Our Tasks for 2020. dissidentvoice.org 
The Democratic Party's electoral strategy of impeaching Donald Trump is backfiring. Before impeachment, Trump was losing to each of the leading Democrats, but the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll finds for the first time Trump defeating all of the leading Democratic candidates. Gallup reports that Trump's approval has risen by six points since the launch of the impeachment inquiry. …
(2019-12-23). Corporate Media and 'Moderate' Democrats Are Defending the Oligarchy Against Bernie Sander. indybay.org Seeking "a more positive future" for the wealthy…
(2019-12-23). The Impeachment's Moral Hypocrisy. truthdig.com The impeachment process was a nauseating display of mortal hypocrisy. The sound bites by Republicans and Democrats swiftly became predictable. The Democrats, despite applauding the announcement of the voting results before being quickly silenced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sought to cloak themselves in gravitas and solemnity. Pelosi's calculated decision to open the impeachment proceedings with the 1954 "under God" version of the Pledge of Allegiance was an appropriate signal given the party's New McCarthyism. The Democrats posited themselves as saviors, the last line of defense between a constitutional democr…
(2019-12-23). The Democrats' Scarlet Letter Strategy. counterpunch.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has evidently decided not to turn over the articles of impeachment to the Senate until Congress resumes its work January 7. Some observers think that's a mistake that will cost Democrats on Election Day. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell seems to think so too, believing the longer the Democrats hold out, More
(2019-12-23). Let the Senate Impeachment Trial be Swift. counterpunch.org The Constitution says that the Senate, "shall have the sole power to try all impeachments." The immediate question before us is when? Speaker Nancy Pelosi initially said that she will hold up delivering their two articles of impeachment to the Senate until the democrats know what the rules will be. Reality is that the rules More
(2019-12-23). 2019 Sacramento Kwanzaa Pan African Unity. indybay.org Rancho Cordova Library Community Room | Sacramento, California…
(2019-12-23). In midst of impeachment, Pelosi honors Trump with State of the Union invitation. wsws.org The move makes clear that, despite the bitter foreign policy differences at the heart of the impeachment drive, the two parties of American capitalism are united on fundamental issues.
(2019-12-23). Stalled talks with US 'not good' for Pyongyang, S. Korea tells China. rt.com 
Stalled denuclearization talks and a recent flare-up in tension between Washington and Pyongyang are not beneficial for Pyongyang, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday. | North Korea has set a year-end deadline for the US to change what it says is a policy of hostility amid a stalemate in efforts to make progress on their pledge to end the North's nuclear program. | Xi told Moon that China supports South Korea's efforts to improve ties with North Korea and inject new impetus into promoting peace talks, Reuters reported. | Moon is visiting China for a trilate…
(2019-12-22). Boomers Wake Up! dissidentvoice.org 
I keep reading that polls show young people — the so-called Millennial Generation aged 23-38 — are overwhelmingly backing Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination (along with even younger voters) while the so-called Baby Boom Generation of people now aged roughly 55 to 75 are going for Joe Biden, Mike …
(2019-12-22). GOP Governors Grapple With Whether to Accept Refugees. truthdig.com 
LINCOLN, Neb. — An executive order by President Donald Trump giving states the right to refuse to take refugees is putting Republican governors in an uncomfortable position. | They're caught between immigration hardliners who want to shut the door and some Christian evangelicals who believe helping refugees is a moral obligation. Others say refugees are vital to fill jobs and keep rural communities afloat. | More than 30 governors have agreed to accept refugees, but about a dozen Republican governors have stayed silent as they face a decision that must be made by Jan. 21 so resettlement agencies can secure…
(2019-12-22). OK Boomers, Wake Up! commondreams.org Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders gestures after speaking during the 2019 J Street National Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on October 28, 2019. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_32_0.jpg …
(2019-12-22). Democrats Cave in Secret Budget Deal with Trump. commondreams.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) speak about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as the USMCA, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 2019. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/pelosi_usmca.jpg …
(2019-12-22). Seemingly Coordinated ISIS/al-Qaeda Attacks On Syrian Oil/Gas Fields & US' Russia/Libya Hypocrisy. 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 (12/21/19). 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 …
(2019-12-22). The White House Is Pretending Impeachment Didn't Happen. truthdig.com On December 18, minutes after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump two articles of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, CNN's Brian Stelter took to Twitter to announce "there is no way to deny: Trump has been impeached." | Reporting Saturday from CBS News, however, indicates that the White House may be about to do just that. | The administration is reportedly looking at claiming Trump was not impeached because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding back on sending the articles to the Senate until the upper chamber's Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lays out the rul…
(2019-12-22). Grassroots Democracy & the Social Production of Housing. zcomm.org Venezuela's cities have given birth to a powerful social movement aiming at urban reorganization through self-governed assembly processes…
(2019-12-22). Trump is 'Afraid of Strong Women': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. commondreams.org The New York Democrat made the comments in a Spanish-only interview with Noticias Telemundo. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc_venice.jpg …
(2019-12-22). 'Dithering' Over Medication Abortion Latest Evidence to Progressives of Buttigieg Reversing Previously-Held Position. commondreams.org "Those who have difficulty accessing medical care, including abortion care, are more likely to be impacted by these policies. This includes women of color, young people, folks in rural communities, and those with low incomes." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/buttigieg.jpg …
(2019-12-22). After Admitting "It's Always Been Republicans Suppressing Votes," Trump Advisor Says Party Will Get Even More Aggressive in 2020. commondreams.org "It's clear there's no law Donald Trump and his right-wing machine won't bend, break, or ignore to try to win the presidency." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/justin_clark.jpg …
(2019-12-21). Buttigieg Leads 2020 Rivals in Wall Street Contributions. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — The financial sector, blamed by progressives for spawning the 2008 economic collapse, is lining up behind Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. | The mayor of South Bend, Ind., has collected more campaign cash from donors and political action committees tied to the financial, insurance and real estate sector than any other White House hopeful, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. | The $3.06 million in contributions compares to $2.8 million directed toward former Vice President Joe Biden and $2.03 million for Sen. Cory Booker, whose home state of New Jersey has st…
(2019-12-21). House Vote Locks in Impeachment as Issue in '20 Hill Races. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — The day after nearly every House Democrat voted to impeach President Donald Trump, the chief of the House Republican campaign committee said the political fallout was clear. | "Last night their obsession with impeachment finally came to a head, and they basically ended their majority," Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer said Thursday. "Max Rose is done," he continued, listing him among freshmen Democrats from districts Trump captured in 2016 who he said won't survive next November's elections. | The feisty Rose, a Brooklyn native and Afgha…
(2019-12-21). PBS Decides What Debate Watchers Need Is More Talk From Pundits. commondreams.org Candidates participate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate at Loyola Marymount University on December 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/warren_pete.jpg …
(2019-12-21). ICC To Investigate Israeli Government War Crimes & UN Again Contradicts US Claims Of Iran "Proof" 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 (12/20/19). 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 …
(2019-12-21). Democratic debate: Candidates denounce Trump, ignore party votes for Trump's program. wsws.org The seven candidates said nothing about the fact that the impeachment of Trump was bracketed by congressional votes in which the Democratic Party endorsed Trump's key legislative priorities.
(2019-12-21). Fearing Kantian Globalization, Democracy, and Migration. dissidentvoice.org Globalization, Democracy, and Migration are themes which continually ignite both scholarly and non-scholarly debate. Not so surprisingly, none of this is new. In his own inimitable way, the German Enlightenment philosopher, Immanuel Kant, touched upon all these current hot topics and more. Kant's political writings have only relatively recently been appreciated by the likes of …
(2019-12-21). Trump signs Pentagon budget imposing new sanctions on Syria. wsws.org The record $738 billion National Defense Authorization Act was passed with the overwhelming support of House and Senate Democrats.
(2019-12-21). As Bernie and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rally in Los Angeles, Over 300 Prominent Californians Endorse Sanders Campaign. commondreams.org Over 300 prominent Democrats endorsed Sanders ahead of the event. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie-sanders-ocasio-cortez-queens-rally-endorsement-saturday_0.jpg …
(2019-12-21). Promising a 'Radical Realignment of Our Priorities,' Ocasio-Cortez Tells Los Angeles Crowd That the Sanders Campaign Can Change the Country. commondreams.org "For anyone that accuses us of instituting purity tests, it's called having values. It's called giving a damn." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc.jpeg …
(2019-12-20). As Democratic Field Gets Whiter, DNC Should "Press Pause" & Fix Process Shutting Out People of Color. democracynow.org 
Within a day of President Trump's impeachment, the Democratic presidential candidates held their final debate of the year at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. On the stage were Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, along with Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden, billionaire Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang. Amna Nawaz, the first Pakistani American and first Muslim American to moderate a presidential primary debate, questioned Yang about being the only nonwhite candidate on the stage. We get response from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers'
(2019-12-20). "Wine Cave Full of Crystals": Warren & Buttigieg Spar over Donors, But Poverty Is Left Out of Debate. democracynow.org 
During Thursday's Democratic debate, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Mayor Pete Buttigieg sparred over money's role in politics and who funds their campaigns. The main difference between their approaches to taking funding is that Warren's policies have been consistently clear on issues of inequality, while Buttigieg is "more of a cipher," says Heather McGhee, distinguished senior fellow and former president of Demos. Meanwhile, moderators did not ask candidates about their platforms to tackle poverty in the U.S. "The word 'poverty' has yet to be mentioned by a moderator, and this is not a matter just of semantics,"
(2019-12-20). Sanders, Warren keep class central to debate; raise opponents' reliance on billionaires. peoplesworld.org 
LOS ANGELES—It took an hour and a half for them to warm up and stop being too polite, but seven Democratic presidential hopefuls spent the last half of their Dec. 19 debate in Los Angeles mixing it up over campaign financing and health care, while one—Tom Steyer, the richest—made an unexpected (and unconvincing) bid for …
(2019-12-20). Joe Biden Criticized at Democratic Debate over Iraq, Afghanistan Wars & Failure to Close Gitmo. democracynow.org 
Former Vice President Joe Biden sparred with Senator Bernie Sanders about his support for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and faced scrutiny over his failure to close Guantánamo Bay during President Obama's tenure in the White House at Thursday night's Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles. We look at the candidates' foreign policy stances with award-winning investigative reporter Azmat Khan, a New York Times Magazine contributing writer and a Future of War fellow at the New America Foundation.
(2019-12-20). Trump gets Space Force as GOP, Dems pass $738b. war budget. peoplesworld.org 
Just before Washington shut down for the holidays, President Donald Trump signed a massive $738 billion defense spending bill that passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) covers military spending through Sept. 30 of next year and ups the Pentagon …
(2019-12-20). Activists Demand a Migrant Justice Platform as Democratic Candidates Discuss Immigration in Debate. democracynow.org 
Protesters for immigrant rights demonstrated outside the Democratic debate Thursday in Los Angeles, displaying a banner that read "Migrant Justice on Day One" and demanding a moratorium on deportations and immigrant worker protections. We look at how the candidates responded, with Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. "I'm really happy that immigration came up this time around," she notes. "In the past few debates, the issue didn't even come up."
(2019-12-20). Democrats Invoke Russiagate to Advance Bill Lobbied for by Big Oil. therealnews.com 
Two bills that would allow the United States to expand its fossil fuel infrastructure in the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries have advanced to the the Senate—and Democrats backing them have invoked "Russiagate" to push them through.
(2019-12-20). Impeachment: The road to nowhere leads to . . . nowhere. liberationnews.org 
Capping months of mind-numbingly repetitive "debates," the Democrats in the House of Representatives voted on Dec. 17 to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
(2019-12-20). The Real Reasons Tulsi Gabbard Did Not Vote to Impeach Donald Trump. mintpressnews.com Gabbard's decision had much more to do with a desire to censure Trump over his real crimes: carrying out wars without congressional approval, illegally "occupying and pillaging" Syria, " and continuing to support Saudi Arabia's "genocidal war" in Yemen.
(2019-12-20). More Fascist Nonsense from a Disgraced President. counterpunch.org In the demented mind of the disgraced fascist oligarch Donald "Perfect Call" Trump, "the Radical Left Democrats have been trying to impeach me from Day 1." This is nonsense on at least three levels. First, the reigning forces in the dismal, demobilizing, neoliberal and dollar-drenched Democratic Party are anything but radical or Left. They are More
(2019-12-20). Two tactics in the fight against Trump and the right. fightbacknews.org On December 18 the U.S. House of Representatives voted by a 230-197 margin to impeach President Donald Trump. The day before, thousands of people turned out at hundreds of protests across the country to support the impeachment effort. | Trump was impeached by a party-line vote on two counts: first, for abuse of power after he withheld military aid from the Ukraine in an effort to get the government there to investigate Joe Biden's son for corruption; and second, for obstruction of justice because of his campaign to cover up his actions. | What was not voted on were Trump's many other crimes against the people, in…
(2019-12-20). A Smaller, Whiter, Meaner Democratic Debate. progressive.org Yang made sense, Biden welcomed the hatred of billionaires, and Klobuchar made mincemeat of Buttigieg.
(2019-12-20). Israel Bombs Gaza, 2020 NDAA's Israel Focus, Iran Excuse Now In Afghanistan & West Bank Take Over. 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 (12/19/19). 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 …
(2019-12-20). "Doughnut Economics": Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist. globalresearch.ca Kate Raworth calls herself 'a renegade economist'. She was born in 1970 and earned a bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and then followed it with a master's degree in Economics for Development, both from Oxford University where she …
(2019-12-20). Capitalism and the Limits of Greening. counterpunch.org The idea of a Green New Deal, including the one proposed by a group of Democrats led by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is hardly novel on the world scene, though potentially consequential for American politics. European Green parties, for example, introduced far-reaching policies in support of an ecological (sustainable) model of development as early as 1980. A few other European leftist parties later arrived at their own "greening" initiatives to mitigate climate disruption. The much-smaller U.S. Greens followed suit. Even the authoritarian Chinese government has introduced its own program to curb green…
(2019-12-20). A Fair Chance at Opportunity: The U.S. Government Bans the Box. aclu.org When Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) reintroduced the Fair Chance Act earlier this year, he | said: "This bill would give individuals who are reentering society from prison | a fair chance at truly achieving the American dream." The Fair Chance Act would | ban the box that employers use to ask about arrest and conviction history on | job applications. It also requires that federal agencies and contr…
(2019-12-20). Trial and Error: Pelosi's Foolish Impeachment Ploy. counterpunch.org To the extent that the third presidential impeachment in US history is a "victory" — the public jury is still out on that question and likely to remain so for some time — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) seems determined to snatch defeat from its jaws. In a press conference following the House's vote to More
(2019-12-20). Elizabeth Warren Took On Corruption in Both Parties. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Took On Corruption in Both Parties…
(2019-12-20). How Amy Klobuchar Beat 'Wine Cave Pete' Buttigieg in the Debate. thenation.com How Amy Klobuchar Beat 'Wine Cave Pete' Buttigieg in the Debate…
(2019-12-20). It's Not Enough to Topple a Dictator. thenation.com It's Not Enough to Topple a Dictator…
(2019-12-20). Everybody Hates Pete. thenation.com Everybody Hates Pete…
(2019-12-20). Headlines for December 20, 2019. democracynow.org Pelosi Delays Sending Impeachment Articles to Senate, 7 Democratic Candidates Debate in Los Angeles, Senate Passes $1.4 Trillion Spending Package, House Passes USMCA to Replace NAFTA, Protests Erupt in Lebanon as President Names New Prime Minister, Number of Killings by Police Soars in Brazil, Sudan Protesters Mark Anniversary of Uprising That Ousted Omar al-Bashir, Report: WA Republican Rep. Matt Shea Participated in Domestic Terrorism, Amazon Facing Criticism over Data Breach with Ring Home Security System…
(2019-12-20). 'Biden impersonating child's stutter' fails to join long list of gaffes, as Huckabee Sanders bears brunt of online rage (VIDEO). rt.com 
Near the end of Thursday's Democratic debate, frontrunner Joe Biden impersonated a child's stutter while speaking about people he meets on the campaign, in a move initially seen as a gaffe by some. | Rather than the heartfelt moment he had perhaps intended, the mimicry seemingly missed the mark at first and confused both the audience and the online commentariat, rather than winning them over. | What is going on with Joe B…
(2019-12-20). Hard truth to spit out: Yang tells Dems to stop obsessing over impeachment & deal with issues that helped Trump get elected. rt.com 
Breaking away from his Democratic peers, Andrew Yang called on the party to get over impeachment and stop pretending like President Donald Trump or Russia — not their own policy failures — caused their 2016 election loss. | In his opening remarks at the last Democratic presidential debate of the year on Thursday, Yang attempted to give his colleagues, still gloating over Trump's impeachment in the House, a rare reality check, urging them to stop putting all their eggs in a basket that nobody cares about in the first place. | "We have to stop being obsessed over impeachment, which unfortunately stri…
(2019-12-20). 'I want immediate trial!' Trump takes aim at Dems for dragging out impeachment process in fresh attack. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has demanded that House Dems hand over impeachment to the Senate "immediately" so he can have a proper trial, while accusing them of stalling the proceedings. | Trump launched a fresh broadside at Democrats after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to say when she would turn over the articles of impeachment to the Senate, implying it might take a while. | Explaining her decision, Pelosi said that the documents would remain in the House until Democrats are satisfied with how the Republican-majority Senate will handle the trial. Trump argued that Democrats who have been rallying behind t…
(2019-12-20). #Resistance has 'come to Christ' moment after influential evangelical magazine pens scathing article supporting impeachment. rt.com 
Critics of US President Donald Trump have found an unlikely ally in Christianity Today — a popular evangelical magazine — after its top editor wrote a blistering column calling for the commander-in-chief's removal from office. | Taking aim at the president for "profoundly immoral" conduct, the magazine's editor-in-chief Mark Galli insisted impeachment was the right move, getting behind a Democrat-led effort still unfolding in Washington. | "This president has dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration," Galli wrote. "He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted crimin…
(2019-12-20). Pelosi & Trump make a show of SOTU business as usual as their supporters root for each to stab the other in the back. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has accepted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's invitation to give the annual State of the Union address, extended just two days after the House voted to impeach. Does she have something up her sleeve? Does he? | Trump accepted the invitation to deliver the yearly speech before Congress February 4, less than two hours after Pelosi sent it on Friday – an incongruously civil act of business-as-usual amid the chaos of impeachment that has seen both parties trade insults all week. The date could see Trump delivering the SOTU while the Senate oversees his trial, and falls the day after the first…
(2019-12-20). Schumer Revealed as Key Industry Ally in Defeat of Effort to Curb Surprise Billing. commondreams.org It was one of a series of lobbying victories by the healthcare industry in 2019 bolstered by top Democrats. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/schumer_neal.jpg …
(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). "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). 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). 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). 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). 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). The Democratic Presidential Debate Must Address Poverty. thenation.com The Democratic Presidential Debate Must Address Poverty…
(2019-12-19). The Democratic Leadership's Strategy on Impeachment Is Doomed and Dangerous. thenation.com The Democratic Leadership's Strategy on Impeachment Is Doomed and Dangerous…
(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). Live Chat: Watch the Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'. thenation.com Live Chat: Watch the Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'
(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). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). "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). 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). 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…
(2019-12-16). 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). 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). 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…
(2019-12-16). 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). 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.
(2019-12-15). 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 …
(2019-12-14). 188 Democrats Vote for Trump's Bloated Defense Budget. therealnews.com 
41 Democrats, 6 Republicans, and 1 Independent stood against a record $738 billion for defense, which gives Trump his space force and the right to launch more wars.
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2019-12-13). "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…
(2019-12-12). 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 …
(2019-12-11). 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). 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 …
(2019-12-09). 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.