(2019-12-31). The Key to the Environmental Crisis is Beneath Our Feet. counterpunch.org 
The Green New Deal resolution that was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in February hit a wall in the Senate, where it was called unrealistic and unaffordable. In a Washington Post article titled "The Green New Deal Sets Us Up for Failure. We Need a Better Approach," former Colorado governor and Democratic presidential candidate John More
(2019-12-31). India's Democracy is Facing an Existential Threat. counterpunch.org 
Peaceful protests have been taking place across India. Every public event seems to be transformed into a demonstration against not only these laws, but the government itself. In Kolkata — from where I write these words — the annual Rainbow Pride Walk combined Gay Pride with opposition to these laws. Signs at the march read, 'No CAA' and 'No to Fascism.' The Indian flag — not often seen at these events — was everywhere, a symbol of the fight over how 'India' should be understood. More
(2019-12-31). Dangerous Women Embracing Risk to Change the World: Ava DuVernay, Ai-jen Poo, Abigail Disney & More. democracynow.org 
Media trailblazer Pat Mitchell is a person of many firsts. She was the first woman president of PBS, CNN Productions and the Paley Center for Media, formerly known as the Museum of Television & Radio. She is chair of the Sundance Institute and the Women's Media Center. Mitchell tells her story in her new memoir, "Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World," and speaks with us about some of the women she chose to profile. "Being the first or the only person in any situation that looks like you is always an additional challenge because there is a harsher spotlight," she says. "For women leaders,…
(2019-12-31). "Then, I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President." — "King" Donald Trump. counterpunch.org Against Donald J. Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wanted narrow impeachment charges, despite key House Committee Chairs' arguments for broadening the impeachment charges. These veteran lawmakers, led by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, urged Speaker Pelosi to include the ten obstructions of justice documented in the Mueller Report. These House Committee Chairs also wanted More
(2019-12-31). US Gov's "Iran Rocket" False Flag Falls Apart In Less Than 24hrs, As The World Sees Right Through It. 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 (12/30/19). 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 …
(2019-12-31). Greta Thunberg offers advice to young people, dismisses climate-denying politicians in BBC radio program. nationofchange.org "Be an active democratic citizen…because democracy is not only on election day, it's happening all the time."
(2019-12-31). IACHR Identified 68 Thousand Twitter Accounts Created in Support of Bolivia's de Facto Government. globalresearch.ca The Commission (an appendage of OAS) explained that since the (forced) resignation of Evo Morales, the accounts have supported hashtags such as #BoliviaLibreyDemocratica and #NoHayGolpeEnBolivia. | *** | The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) detected, as part of the campaign to …
(2019-12-31). The Key to the Environmental Crisis Is Beneath Our Feet. dissidentvoice.org The Green New Deal resolution that was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in February hit a wall in the Senate, where it was called unrealistic and unaffordable. In a Washington Post article titled "The Green New Deal Sets Us Up for Failure. We Need a Better Approach," former Colorado governor and Democratic presidential candidate John …
(2019-12-31). ALEC, Lumina & The Downsizing & Corporatization of City College of San Francisco. indybay.org In a report on San Francisco Community College a panel talk about the corporatization and organized destruction of the college by the Chancellor Mark Rocha. The panel looks at how this is being organized by. the California Democrats in the legislature who have been colluding with ALEC and the Lumina Foundation.
(2019-12-31). Evo Morales Condemns Expulsion of Diplomats from Bolivia. telesurenglish.net The expulsion of diplomats from Mexico and Spain by the de facto Bolivian regime is an act of contempt for international law, the democratically elected President Evo Morales said on Tuesday. Morales condemned the move by "the coup plotters," highlighting the fact that they have been hurting the Andean nation's diplomatic ties. | RELATED: | Spain Expels 3 Bolivian Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move | "The coup plotters seek legitimacy, but only exert violence against sister countries," Mora…
(2019-12-31). India Is Teetering on the Brink of Fascism. truthdig.com If the Bharatiya Janata Party succeeds in passing a pair of discriminatory laws, it could spell the end of the nation's secular democracy.
(2019-12-31). Headlines for December 31, 2019. democracynow.org Protests Rage Outside U.S. Embassy in Iraq After U.S. Airstrikes Kill 24, Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Suspect in Hanukkah Stabbing in NY, Texas Church Shooter Had Long Criminal History, NYT: Top Officials Failed to Convince Trump to Release Withheld Ukraine Aid, Death Toll from Crackdown on Protests in India Rises to 27, Five Kashmiri Political Leaders Released from Detention, Sudanese Court Sentences 29 to Death for Killing Teacher in Anti-Protest Crackdown, Thousands Flee to the Ocean to Escape Australia Wildfires, Former Nissan Head Flees Japan to Lebanon to Escape Trial on Financial Crimes, New York Sett…
(2019-12-31). This F&$%ing Decade. thenation.com 
For years, media and political elites refused to acknowledge the growing racism and radicalism of the Republican party. Their "both-sidesism" led to Trump's GOP takeover.
(2019-12-31). France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights. thenation.com France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights…
(2019-12-31). The Impeachment Deadlock Is an Opportunity Democrats Should Seize. thenation.com The Impeachment Deadlock Is an Opportunity Democrats Should Seize…
(2019-12-31). 'Fight Hard and Win': In New Year's Eve Speech, Warren Calls on Voters to Imagine a Better World. commondreams.org Marking the end of the year and the one-year anniversary of the day she began her 2020 presidential campaign, Sen. Elizabeth Warren challenged voters to imagine a country that puts the needs and priorities of working people ahead of corporate profits in an hour-long speech in Boston. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/elizabeth_warren_7_0.jpg …
(2019-12-31). India's Democracy is Facing an Existential Threat. zcomm.org Peaceful protests have been taking place across the country. Every public event seems to be transformed into a demonstration against not only these laws, but the government itself…
(2019-12-31). How Trump's impeachment trial would differ from a criminal one. yenisafak.com U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 19 became the third U.S. president to be impeached when the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted to charge him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Republican-controlled Senate is due to weigh these charges in a trial in January.In the unlikely event he is found guilty, Trump would be removed from office.Trump and his Republican allies have attacked the impeachment effort as illegitimate, invoking concepts like "due process" and "hearsay" that are commonly associated with criminal cases.While U.S. senators will serve as jurors, legal experts say…
(2019-12-31). Mothers' sit-in against YPG/PKK marks four months in Turkey. yenisafak.com Dozens of mothers in Turkey's southeast have been continuing to stage sit-in protest for around four months against the terrorist group YPG/PKK, who they say kidnapped their children.The protest started on Sept. 3 outside the offices of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party accused by the government of having links to the terrorist YPG/PKK, in Diyarbakir when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer said their children had been forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists.Since then, the number of protesting mothers has been growing, as they demand the return of their children, who, they say, were dec…
(2019-12-31). Union busting? It's a crime! — a WW editorial. workers.org 
The corporate media constantly tell us that the United States is a great democracy because of its "free elections." Never mind that Donald Trump became president with fewer votes than his main opponent. Never mind that the U.S. Senate has long been described as a "millionaires' club." And never mind . . . | Continue reading Union busting? It's a crime! — a WW editorial at Workers.org
(2019-12-31). Cubicle 2020? Internet field day after Mike Bloomberg promises 'open office plan' for White House East Room if he wins presidency. rt.com 
Billionaire ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg has exposed himself to torrents of Twitter snark, after pledging that as president he would convert the East Room in the White House into a soulless maze of cubicles. 'Why?' many asked. | The presidential contender found it necessary — for reasons which may forever remain a mystery — to announce that he will turn the White House's historic East Room into an "open office" if he secures the Democratic nomination and defeats Donald Trump in 2020. | The former New York City mayor said that by doing so, he'll be able to "sit with our team" — presumably as he jud…
(2019-12-31). The Decade Republicans Hijacked American Democracy. truthdig.com 
This article originally appeared on Salon. | As this decade comes to a close, 59 million Americans live in a state where one or both chambers of the state legislature is controlled by the party that got fewer votes in the 2018 election. | In Wisconsin in 2018, voters elected a Democratic U.S. senator, defeated an incumbent Republican governor, picked Democrats for every statewide office, and favored Democratic candidates for the state assembly by more than 200,000 ballots. Republicans nevertheless cont…
(2019-12-30). Red No Matter Who. counterpunch.org 
We all know the question one is asked by liberal Democrats during the primary season. It is not: which candidate do you support? It is rather: will you vote for the Democratic candidate, no matter who it is? Now this presumes two unexpected assumptions, both of which are in support of Bernie Sanders. The first assumption is that you (common person) support Bernie Sanders. The second assumption is that even though this is true Bernie will not win the nomination (the system is not democratic). More
(2019-12-30). Get Ready for a Stop-Bernie Onslaught Like You've Never Seen. counterpunch.org 
A central premise of conventional media wisdom has collapsed. On Thursday, both the New York Times and Politico published major articles reporting that Bernie Sanders really could win the Democratic presidential nomination. Such acknowledgments will add to the momentum of the Bernie 2020 campaign as the new year begins — but they foreshadow a massive escalation of anti-Sanders misinformation More
(2019-12-30). 50 days of coup d'état in Bolivia. peoplesdispatch.org 
This is part of Peoples Dispatch's year-ender series for 2019. For the complete series, click here | December 30 marks 50 days since the civic-military coup d'état was carried out against democratically elected President Evo Morales and the installation of the dictatorship led by far-right Jeanine àÅñez. The coup regime, backed by the United States government and the Organization of American States (OAS), has been denounced by international human rights organizations and institutions for committing grave human rights violations and per…
(2019-12-30). Did Sanders Play a Role in Hillary's 2016 Defeat? counterpunch.org Hillary Clinton has once again stirred the pot. In an appearance on the Howard Stern show on December 4, 2019, she claimed — without any substantiation — that Bernie Sanders hurt her chances of being elected in 2016. In effect, Hillary regurgitated the flawed talking point of the Democratic establishment that Bernie somehow contributed to her defeat More
(2019-12-30). The Main Result of the Impeachment Process. counterpunch.org The House Democrats have impeached the president, but the Senate will surely acquit him Thus the wistful plan to turn enough Republicans to make a difference won't work. Meanwhile, Trump's base has remained at around 42% throughout. The hearings appear to have consolidated the Trump base. Fundraising has reportedly "gone through the roof." In short, More
(2019-12-30). US Gov Bombs Iraq & Syria Citing Baseless Claims That Iran Fired ROCKETS At US Locations. 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 (12/29/19). 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 …
(2019-12-30). Hasidic Jews injured in machete attack in Rockland County, New York. wsws.org The attack Saturday was the latest in a growing number of hate crimes occurring within a climate of racial tension encouraged by both Trump and the Democrats.
(2019-12-30). Headlines for December 30, 2019. democracynow.org Man Stabs 5 Jewish Worshipers Celebrating Hanukkah at Rabbi's Home in New York, Gunman Shoots and Kills 2 Worshipers During Church Service in Texas, U.S. Launches Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria After U.S. Contractor Killed in Iraq, 250,000 People Flee Syrian Government Offensive in Idlib, Bombing Kills 79 in Mogadishu, Somalia, Taliban Agrees to Temporary Ceasefire in Afghanistan, 10 Killed in Strike on Military Parade in Southern Yemen, Politico: Democratic Party Insiders Now Think Sanders Could Win Nomination, WaPo: Giuliani Held Back-Channel Call with Maduro, France: Strikes Against Pension Overhaul Enter 25th Day…
(2019-12-30). ADF Rebels 'Hacked' 23 Civilians to Death in Eastern DR Congo. telesurenglish.net At least 23 people were killed Monday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in an overnight raid by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on Apetina-Sana in the conflict-ridden eastern region of Beni, according to local authorities and police. | RELATED: | At least 22 Killed in Eastern DR Congo ADF Rebel Attack | The region's administrator Donat Kibwana told AFP that the ADF hacked civilians to death in the settlement, which lies 16 kilometers west of Oicha, the chief administrative…
(2019-12-30). The spooks' choice: Coup plotters and CIA agents fill Pete Buttigieg's list of national security endorsers. thegrayzone.com Why are so many intelligence veterans throwing their weight behind a young Indiana mayor with such a thin foreign policy…
(2019-12-30). The Democrats' School Choice Problem. thenation.com The Democrats' School Choice Problem…
(2019-12-30). Bolstered by People-Powered 'WV Can't Wait' Campaign, Gubernatorial Hopeful Stephen Smith Proposes First State-Level Wealth Tax. commondreams.org Based on thousands of conversations with West Virginians from all walks of life about their top concerns, community organizer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith on Sunday released his proposal for the first state-level wealth tax in the nation. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-12-30_at_12.36.55_pm1.jpg …
(2019-12-30). Kim Jong-unbelievable: Trump's national security adviser forgets how to say North Korean leader's name. rt.com 
President Trump's national security adviser is a trusted source of counsel when dealing with adversaries like North Korea. Surprisingly, knowing the name of the North Korean leader doesn't seem to be a job requirement. | Despite a series of high-profile meetings between President Donald Trump and chairman Kim Jong-un, tensions between the US and North Korea are returning to old highs. Pyongyang wants Washington to drop its calls for denuclearization, and Kim has given the US a year-end deadline to meet this request, while issuing cryptic threats of a "christmas gift" for America. | Against this background, Nat…
(2019-12-30). Trump tied with Obama for 'most admired man' of the year. rt.com 
Despite years of 'Russiagate' accusations and an ongoing impeachment drive against him, President Donald Trump has tied with former President Barack Obama as America's most admired man of 2019, according to a new poll. | In the survey, published by Gallup on Monday, 18 percent of respondents named the current occupant of the White House as their most admired man, while another 18 percent named his predecessor. No other man – in a top ten that included entrepreneur Elon Musk, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Dalai Lama – scored higher than two percent. | 2019 marks Obama's 12th year in the top spot, but…
(2019-12-30). Plane carrying Kansas basketball team forced to make emergency landing after engine SPITS FIRE (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Swift Air 737 passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines malfunctioned and began spitting fire, as terrifying eyewitness video taken on board shows. | The plane was forced to turn around 20 minutes into its flight, having just departed Mineta San Jose International Airport on Sunday. The University of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team was on board and their senior associate athletic director, Ryan White, shared shocking video of one of the plane's engines belching blazing fire. | @KUHoops plane blows engine…
(2019-12-30). Michael Moore on Trump, 2020 & Why "the Old, Angry White Guy" Doesn't Represent the Working Class. democracynow.org 
Last week on Democracy Now!, acclaimed filmmaker "Michael Moore predicted": www.democracynow.org/2019/12/26/michael_moore_donald_trump_impeachment Donald Trump would win re-election if Democrats don't choose a candidate to run against him who excites their base of voters. His comments prompted President Donald Trump to respond on Twitter, "He made [the] same prediction in 2016. Nobody ever said Michael was stupid!" But Moore's comments went further than Trump's tweet alluded to. He said the working class in the United States is mostly women, people of color and young people — all groups who tend to v…
(2019-12-30). Michael Moore: Democrats Must Not Ignore Voters of Color. truthout.org Last week on Democracy Now!, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore predicted Donald Trump would win re-election if Democrats don't choose a candidate to run against him who excites their base of voters. His comments prompted President Donald Trump to respond on Twitter, "He made [the] same prediction in 2016. Nobody ever said Michael was stupid!" But Moore's comments went further than Trump's tweet alluded to. He said the workin…
(2019-12-30). The Future of Trade Deals. counterpunch.org 
Last week, to take some of the sting off his impeachment, Donald Trump was celebrating his trade deals as evidence of the great success of his presidency. Specially, he has touted his revised NAFTA, which the Democratic leadership agreed to, and his first round trade agreement with China. Neither deal is likely to have a More
(2019-12-29). US Military Contractors Exposed For Paying Taliban At US Gov Instruction & Iran False Flag Continues. 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 (12/28/19). 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 …
(2019-12-28). Potential False Flag In Iraq Kills American & New OPCW Leak Exposes Deliberate Coverup And Deception. 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 (12/27/19). 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 …
(2019-12-28). 'It's about Trump, not me!' Biden explains his plan to ditch Senate's subpoena in impeachment trial. rt.com 
Democratic presidential race front-runner Joe Biden said that he would snub a subpoena by the Republican-controlled Senate to testify in the impeachment trial because it would allegedly draw attention away from Donald Trump. | On Friday, Biden said he would defy an order of the US Senate to testify as a witness during the impeachment process that was started after Democrats had accused the US President of pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart to start probe into the activities of Hunter Biden who got at a cushy job at a local oil company while his father served as vice president for Barack Obama. | Also on rt.c…
(2019-12-28). Farewell to Australian hero Bill Ryan 1922-2019. greenleft.org.au 
obituary David LoweIssue 1248 Australia coal seam gas Environment climate emergencyDecember 28, 2019One of Australia's foremost env…
(2019-12-28). Ralph Nader on Impeachment: Democrats Should Go After Trump's Full Corruption, Not Just Ukraine. counterpunch.org 
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(2019-12-27). "Bedlam": Film Shows How Decades of Healthcare Underfunding Made Jails "De Facto Mental Asylums" democracynow.org 
Are prisons and jails America's "new asylums"? A new documentary looks at how a disproportionate number of underserved people facing mental health challenges have been swept into the criminal justice system, where they lack adequate treatment. Nearly 15% of men and more than 30% of women in jails have a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. For many of them, jail is their first point of entry into mental health treatment. The documentary "Bedlam" was filmed over five years in Los Angeles County's overwhelmed and vastly under-resourced Emergency Psychiatry Services, a…
(2019-12-27). We are the ones who will awaken the dawn. mronline.org Millions of people are on the streets, from India to Chile. Democracy is both their promise and it is what has betrayed them. They aspire to the democratic spirit but find that democratic institutions—saturated by money and power—are inadequate. They are on the streets for more democracy, deeper democracy, a different kind of democracy. | Source
(2019-12-27). Israel Bombs Gaza For Xmas, Israel Threatens To Attack All Helping Iran & Saudis Bomb Yemen Market. 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 (12/26/19). 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 …
(2019-12-27). Headlines for December 27, 2019. democracynow.org In Confidential Videos, Navy SEALs Say Gallagher Was "Toxic" & "Freaking Evil", Hospitals & Health Clinics Shuttered by Heavy Bombing in Idlib, Syria, Japan to Deploy Destroyer to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions in Gulf of Oman, Nigerian-American Journalist Omoyele Sowore Released from Prison, In India, Protests Rage Against "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Law, Netanyahu Staves Off Party Leadership Challenge Ahead of General Election, Mexico to Bring Complaint Against Bolivia's Interim Government to ICJ, Congolese Asylum Seeker Died in Border Patrol Custody on Christmas Day, Los Angeles Prosecutors Consider Filing Cri…
(2019-12-27). Take Their Temperature. thenation.com 
The GOP has a blinding fever.
(2019-12-27). William Greider Knew What Ailed the Democratic Party. thenation.com William Greider Knew What Ailed the Democratic Party…
(2019-12-26). Michael Moore: Republicans Who Oppose Impeachment Are "Dying Dinosaurs," But Trump Could Win in 2020. democracynow.org 
As the Senate attempts to set rules for President Trump's impeachment trial, at least one Republican is expressing concern about the proceedings. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in an interview Tuesday that she was disturbed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's promise of "total coordination" with the White House. Murkowski's comments mark a rare instance of dissent for the Republican Party, which has been unified behind President Trump until now. McConnell needs 51 votes to set the rules for the hearing. Republicans have a thin majority of 53 seats in the Senate. Last week, Oscar-winning…
(2019-12-26). After Democrats Push Bill to Send Fracked Gas to EU, Trump Includes in Budget. therealnews.com 
The European Energy Security and Diversification Act, legislation offering $1B to promote sending U.S. fracked gas to EU countries, was inserted into the federal budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump. Democrats invoked "Russiagate" in their PR push for the bill.
(2019-12-26). Michael Moore: Americans Pay More for Healthcare Than Others, But "We Don't Call It a Tax" democracynow.org 
We continue our interview with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore about election 2020 and some of the major issues for voters. Long before Medicare for All became a rallying cry in the Democratic Party, Moore's 2007 film "Sicko" diagnosed the shortcomings of the for-profit American healthcare system and called for a system of universal healthcare. "The real question never gets asked. They always want to pin them on how much is it going to cost in taxes," Moore says of debate moderators who ask whether Democratic presidential candidates will raise taxes to pay for Medicare for All.
(2019-12-26). A reading from Mao for Mao's birthday. fightbacknews.org To mark the 126th anniversary of the birth of Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, Dec. 26, Fight Back News Service is circulating his oft-quoted 1945 speech to the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of China, "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains." | We have had a very successful congress. We have done three things. First, we have decided on the line of our Party, which is boldly to mobilize the masses and expand the people's forces so that, under the leadership of our Party, they will defeat the Japanese aggressors, liberate the whole people and build a new-democratic China. Second, we have adapted…
(2019-12-26). Headlines for December 26, 2019. democracynow.org Murkowski "Disturbed" by McConnell's "Coordination" with White House for Impeachment Trial, Trump Attacks Windmills with a Series of False Claims, The Intercept: Bloomberg Used Prison Labor to Make 2020 Campaign Calls, Thousands of Syrian Civilians Flee Government Offensive in Idlib, 35 Civilians Killed in Attack in Burkina Faso, China Calls on U.S. to Take "Concrete Steps" Toward Peace with North Korea, At Least 21 Killed as Typhoon Phanfone Slams into the Philippines, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Recalled After Criticizing Criminalization of Homosexuality, Evo Morales Vows to Return to Bolivia by Next Christmas, H…
(2019-12-25). Celebrating the Life of Toni Morrison with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, Ta-Nehisi Coates & More. democracynow.org 
In special broadcast, we spend the hour remembering Toni Morrison, one of the nation's most influential writers, who died in August at the age of 88 from complications of pneumonia. In 1993, Toni Morrison became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her classic work "Beloved." Toni Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio, in 1931. She did not publish her first novel, "The Bluest Eye," until she was 39 years old. She wrote it while taking care of her two young sons as a single mother and juggling a day job as a book editor at Random House. A…
(2019-12-24). Jane Fonda Arrested: We Are in a Climate Emergency. I Have No Choice But to Put My Body on the Line. democracynow.org 
A new round of protests, Fire Drill Fridays, led by actress Jane Fonda are calling for action to address the climate crisis, as bushfires fueled by a historic heat wave threaten Australia, high tides threaten to flood Venice, and the Philippines prepares for a Christmas typhoon. Last Friday, a day before Jane Fonda's 82nd birthday, the longtime political activist, feminist and two-time Academy Award winner was arrested for the fifth time, as she has been nearly every Friday in Washington since she started Fire Drill Fridays, inspired in part by the Swedish youth climate activist Greta Thunberg. She was arrested a…
(2019-12-24). "Becoming a Dangerous Woman": Media Legend Pat Mitchell on Embracing Risk to Change the World. democracynow.org 
Media legend Pat Mitchell is the author of a new book, "Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World." In it, she shares her life story, rising from her grandparents' small cotton farm with no electricity to become the first woman president of PBS, CNN Productions and the Paley Center for Media. Mitchell includes in her book the voices of other "dangerous" women: Stacey Abrams, Ai-jen Poo, Ava DuVernay, Mary Robinson, Abigail Disney, Christine Schuler Deschryver, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Zoya, Monique Wilson, Laura Flanders, Jacqueline Novogratz, Sandi Toksvig, Ruth Ann Harnisch and Meagan Fallone. Pa…
(2019-12-24). Anti-war leader blasts Klobuchar for backing U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN — Amy Klobuchar, a 'centrist' who is trying to become the Democratic Party standard-bearer in the upcoming elections for president, states that she will not reverse Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. There has long been a consensus among most Republican and Democratic politicians to support the Zionist occupation of Palestine. | Meredith Aby-Keirstead, a leader of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee responded, "It doesn't surprise any of us in the anti-war movement that Klobuchar doesn't want to reverse Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy fr…
(2019-12-24). Commentary: 'Ukrainegate' and impeachment. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – Near the end of August, a whistleblower released a document uncovering a private conversation between U.S. president Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fact that the two of them were talking is not newsworthy; what was revealed and is of some import, however, was the specific content of their exchange. | The whistleblower's report lays out how Trump attempted to strongarm Zelensky and the Ukrainian government into reopening an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The younger Biden was involved in a number of questionable…
(2019-12-24). Israel AGAIN Attacks Syria Over Christmas, Khashoggi Trial Theater & MSM N Korea Xmas Fear-Mongering. 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 (12/24/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-24). Greetings from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) on the CPP's 51st Anniversary. fightbacknews.org Dear Comrades: | We convey our warmest revolutionary greetings on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Your achievements are many and we stand with you in your struggle to liberate the Philippines from the yoke of U.S. imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism. We are sure you will win many more victories in the coming period. | The Communist Party of the Philippines is in the leadership of a great people's war that is inspiration to working and oppressed people everywhere. The people's democratic revolution, with socialist orientation, will t…
(2019-12-24). Headlines for December 24, 2019. democracynow.org House Could Bring Additional Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, Boeing Fires CEO Dennis Muilenburg over 737 MAX Jet Controversy, NYT: Pentagon May Withdraw U.S. Troops from West Africa, Syria: Up to 100,000 Civilians Forced to Flee Intensification of Fighting in Idlib, Asian Leaders Urge U.S. & North Korea to Move Toward Peace, Report: Canadian Police Were Prepared to Use Lethal Force Against Indigenous Land Defenders, Trump Met with Accused War Criminal Eddie Gallagher, Nigerian Man Dies in ICE Custody in Maryland, Colorado Governor Pardons Woman Who Took Sanctuary to Fight Her Deportation, Former Black Pant…
(2019-12-23). The Last Democratic Debate And The Future Of The Democratic Party. therealnews.com 
Last week's debate didn't connect with viewers or mobilize the base.
(2019-12-23). "The First Cell": Dr. Azra Raza on Why the "Slash-Poison-Burn Approach" to Cancer Has Failed. democracynow.org 
Slash, poison, burn. That's what a leading cancer doctor calls the protocol of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We spend $150 billion each year treating cancer, yet a patient with cancer is as likely to die of it today — with a few exceptions — as one was 50 years ago. Today we spend the hour with renowned cancer doctor, Dr. Azra Raza, author of the new book, "The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last." She argues that experiments and the funding for eradicating cancer look at the disease when it is in its later stages, when the cancer has grown and spread. Instead, she sa…
(2019-12-23). Headlines for December 23, 2019. democracynow.org White House Halted Ukraine Aid 91 Minutes After Trump & Zelensky Phone Call, U.S. Considering Plan to Deport Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, WaPo: White House Pushes to Use Migrant Children to Ensnare Parents, Saudi Arabia Sentences 5 People to Death for Khashoggi's Murder, ICC Takes Step to Investigating Israel for War Crimes, India: Protests Continue as Modi Defends "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Law, Iraq: Thousands Demand Appointment of Independent Prime Minister, Reuters: Up to 1,500 Dead in Iran's Bloody Crackdown Against Nov. Protests, Pentagon: U.S. Soldier Killed in Afghanistan, French Unions Continue St…
(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 …
(2019-12-21). 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 …
(2019-12-20). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2019-12-19). "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). 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). 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…
(2019-12-18). 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). 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). 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 …
(2019-12-17). 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 …
(2019-12-16). 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."
(2019-12-15). 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). 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 …
(2019-12-12). 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). 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.