2020-01-08: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-08). Israel will shoot down rockets with space-age 'LASER SWORD'. rt.com Israel announced an upcoming addition to its aerial defense systems: a laser weapon that the country's defense minister says will be able to intercept rockets, guided missiles, and other projectiles lobbed at the Jewish state. | Israel has been developing laser weapons since the mid-1990s, yet the most promising such weapon — the US-Israeli-developed Nautilus Tactical High Energy Laser — was shelved in 2006 in favor of continued reliance on the Iron Dome missile batteries. | However, research has continued in the meantime, and Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Wednesday that a fun…

Staff (2020-01-08). Deadly Earthquake Rocks Puerto Rico, Causing Mass Power Outages and "Infrastructural Aftershocks" democracynow.org A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Puerto Rico early Tuesday, killing at least one person and plunging nearly the entire population into darkness in a mass power outage. It is the largest earthquake to hit the island in more than 100 years and follows a series of strong quakes that have rattled the island in recent days. A 5.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday, damaging the coastal town of Guánica. Damage from the earthquakes has left nearly 350 people homeless and at least 300,000 without drinking water. Governor Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency Tuesday. The devastation comes as Puerto Rico continues to…

Nathan Raia (2020-01-08). Democracy: when the opposition is the Media. mronline.org One more court case has been opened against the former Ecuadorian president, Rafael Correa. The elite with the help of the corporate media are trying to get him behind bars. Also, a council has been created, by the executive, to control the judiciary, proving that there is no impartial process for the victims of lawfare. | Source

Staff (2020-01-08). Juan Cole: U.S.-Iran Conflict Enters Unprecedented Territory with Assassinations & Military Attacks. democracynow.org Iran's retaliatory missile strikes on bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, following the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, have dramatically raised tensions in the Middle East. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called the missile strike a "slap in the face" of the Americans and called for U.S. troops to leave the Middle East. The Iranian missile strikes come just days after the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel all foreign military forces from Iraq. We speak with Juan Cole, professor of history at the University of Michigan.

Staff (2020-01-08). A View from Tehran: Iranian Professor Condemns U.S. Aggression & Warns U.S.-Backed Gulf States. democracynow.org Iranian forces fired 22 ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq early Wednesday in what Iran described as "fierce revenge" for the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week at the Baghdad airport. The Iranian missiles targeted the Al Asad Airbase in Anbar province and a base in Erbil. There were no initial reports of U.S. or Iraqi casualties. Shortly after the attacks, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted, "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." Earlier today, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali…

Staff (2020-01-08). Deadly Earthquake Rocks Puerto Rico, Causing Mass Power Outages and "Infrastructure Aftershocks" democracynow.org A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Puerto Rico early Tuesday, killing at least one person and plunging nearly the entire population into darkness in a mass power outage. It is the largest earthquake to hit the island in more than 100 years and follows a series of strong quakes that have rattled the island in recent days. A 5.8 magnitude quake struck on Monday, damaging the coastal town of Guánica. Damage from the earthquakes has left nearly 350 people homeless and at least 300,000 without drinking water. Governor Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency Tuesday. The devastation comes as Puerto Rico continues to…

Staff (2020-01-08). Blowback? U.S. Assassination of Soleimani May Weaken Growing Protest Movement in Iran. democracynow.org Protests broke out in Iran in November in response to high fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in dozens of cities around the country. The protesters have demanded economic relief and denounced corruption. More than 1,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the protests and a violent crackdown by security forces. The rise in tensions between Iran and the United States, triggered by the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, could weaken that protest movement, says Ali Kadivar, assistant professor of sociology and international studies at Boston College who was active in Iran's st…

Staff (2020-01-08). Iranian-American Lawmaker Warns of Rising Xenophobia as U.S.-Iran Tension Escalates. democracynow.org In the midst of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Border Patrol has been detaining Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border. At least 100 people were delayed at ports of entry along the border over the weekend, following the U.S. assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3. For response, we speak with Anna Eskamani, Florida Democratic state representative of Orlando. She is the first Iranian American to be elected to any public office in Florida. "The reality is that when we see the potential war rise in countries like Iran … we'll see xenophobia rise right here locally" in the U.S., Eskamani says.

Staff (2020-01-08). Proof Bernie Sanders Has the Billionaire Class' Attention. truthdig.com Billionaire Jeff Gundlach told fellow wealthy investors late Tuesday that Sen. Bernie Sanders is the "odds-on favorite" to win the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination—and warned the senator's potential general election victory could pose a serious threat to Wall Street profits. | "Bernie is stronger than people think," Gundlach, who correctly predicted Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton in the 2…

Norman Solomon (2020-01-08). Biden and Buttigieg Are Showing How Corporatism and 'the Madness of Militarism' Go Together. indybay.org Marketing nonstop war…

Staff (2020-01-08). Headlines for January 8, 2020. democracynow.org Iran Strikes 2 Iraqi Bases in Retaliation for Soleimani's Assassination, McConnell Says He Has Enough Votes to Open Impeachment Trial Without Witnesses, Trump Declares Emergency for Puerto Rico Following Earthquake, Spain Poised to Form First Progressive Coalition Government Since 1930s, Argentina Deals Blow to Legitimacy of Venezuela's U.S.-Backed Opposition, Indian Workers & Students Launch Strike to Protest Privatization, Wet'suwet'en Nation Issues Eviction Notice to Workers of Pipeline Company in Canada, Planned Parenthood Attacked with Incendiary Device in Delaware, NYT: More Than 20 Shootings at After Schoo…

Staff (2020-01-08). Democratic Party Backs ALEC Alumnus Congressman Against Progressive Challenger. truthout.org This article was produced by Sludge, an independent, ad-free investigative news site covering money in politics. Click here to support Sludge. | UPDATE: O'Halleran's office told Sludge that the representative does not pay dues to ALEC and that they are asking to have his name removed from ALEC's website. This article has been up…

Staff (2020-01-08). Border Patrol Detains Iranian Americans at US-Canada Border as Xenophobia Rises. truthout.org In the midst of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Border Patrol has been detaining Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border. At least 100 people were delayed at ports of entry along the border over the weekend, following the U.S. assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3. For response, we speak with Anna Eskamani, Florida Democratic state representative of Orlando. She is the first Iranian American to be elected to any public office in Florida. "The reality is that when we see the potent…

WSWS (2020-01-08). Germany: Greens join Saxony coalition government's right-wing agenda. wsws.org Shortly before the end of the year, the new state government in Saxony was sworn in. For the first time, a coalition of Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and Greens is taking over the government in the East German state.

MoveOn, Indivisible, Others (2020-01-08). No War With Iran! Protest Vigil in Mountain View. indybay.org Gateway Park, intersection of W. El Camino Real and Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94040…

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-08). Iran Attacks US in Iraq, Soleimani's Diplomatic Mission & Trump Had Marines "Kill Protesters" 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 (1/7/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

James Carden (2020-01-08). Will This Billionaire-Funded Think Tank Get Its War With Iran? thenation.com Will This Billionaire-Funded Think Tank Get Its War With Iran?

Mark Harris (2020-01-08). Spray Now, Ask Questions Later. zcomm.org Over the course of time industrial capitalism has exposed humans to leaded gasoline, asbestos, cigarettes, DDT, smog, toxic chemicals in water and food, and fossil fuel pollution that now threatens to denigrate the climate to the point of no return…

Staff (2020-01-07). "The Great Hack": Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020? democracynow.org The documentary "The Great Hack," which was shortlisted for the Oscars, explores how the data firm Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cambridge Analytica collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent. Cambridge Analytica then used the data to sway voters to support President Trump during the 2016 campaign. We speak with "The Great Hack" co-directors Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, as well as Cambridge Analytica whistle…

Staff (2020-01-07). Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters. democracynow.org We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation — practices used by firms like Cambridge Analytica. The secretive data firm collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent to sway voters to support Trump during the 2016 campaign. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. We speak wit…

Norman Solomon (2020-01-07). The Democratic Party's Militarism Rears Its Ugly Head. truthdig.com There's nothing like an illegal and utterly reckless U.S. act of war to illuminate the political character of presidential candidates. In the days since the assassination of Iran's top military official, two of the highest-polling Democratic contenders have displayed the kind of moral cowardice that got the United States into—and kept it in —horrific wars from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq. | Eager to hedge their bets, Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg have offered merely tactical critiques of President Trump's decision to kill Qassim Suleimani. In sharp contrast to Elizabeth Warren and especially Bernie…

Staff (2020-01-07). McConnell Says He'll Start Impeachment Trial, Delay Decision on Witnesses. truthdig.com The trial is expected to begin as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

RT (2020-01-07). Ms. Ocasio-Cortez Goes to Washington: AOC shamed into un-liking antiwar journalist's tweet, apologizing for wrongthink. rt.com New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez learned the hard way about the phalanx of thought-police waiting to pounce on politicians' 'wrongthink' when she was shamed into un-liking a tweet from an antiwar journalist. | Ocasio-Cortez (AOC, for short) stepped a little too far outside the mainstream when she clicked 'like' on a tweet by journalist Rania Khalek about US fears of Iranian retaliation over the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. An army of blue-checks and their enforcers quickly encircled her to point out the error of her ways, gloating when she finally knuckled under and apologized. | Last ni…

John Wojcik (2020-01-07). Sanders criticizes Biden's record on the Mideast. peoplesworld.org The Trump-ordered killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iran's second in command, has made its way into the 2020 presidential campaign, with Bernie Sanders, on national television yesterday, stepping up his sharp criticism of former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders singled out Biden's record on foreign policy for special condemnation, saying Biden was not the person …

Tracy Keeling (2020-01-07). Ilhan Omar just pointed out one really f**ked up detail about Trump's war on Iran. thecanary.co Donald Trump effectively started a war with Iran on 3 January by assassinating one of the country's top generals. As would be the case with virtually any other regional power, Iran has vowed to respond. | Congresswoman Ilhan Omar took to Twitter on 6 January and pointed out one sobering, maddening, and…

IMEMC News & Agencies (2020-01-07). Fateh Official: Israel's Settlement Colonization is an Illegal Presence That Must Be Removed. imemc.org Fateh spokesman and member of its Revolutionary Council, Osama al-Qawasmi, said that Israel's settlement colonization of Palestinian occupied land is the illegal presence that must be removed, and not the Palestinian buildings and properties. He said, in response to statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, in which he […] | | On Monday morning, Christmas…

news.un (2020-01-07). More international support needed to curb deadly measles outbreak in DR Congo. news.un.org Countries are being asked to step up assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which is facing the world's worst measles epidemic, with more than 6,000 deaths since the start of last year.

teleSUR (2020-01-07). US Senate Republicans Ready for Trump Impeachment Trial. telesurenglish.net United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he had enough support from his fellow Republicans to set the rules for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, with witnesses' testimonies still unlikely to be included. | RELATED: | US President Trump Impeached By Democratic-led House of Reps | "We've got the votes necessary to start the trial us…

Staff (2020-01-07). Headlines for January 7, 2020. democracynow.org John Bolton Willing to Testify in Senate Impeachment Trial, Confusion in Pentagon & Trump Administration over U.S. Policy on Iran, Julián Castro Endorses Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Can Now Deport Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, Wildfires Rage in Australia; India Suffered Hottest Decade on Record, Harvey Weinstein Charged with Rape in Los Angeles County, Mexico: 60,000 People Disappeared Since U.S.-Backed Drug War Began, Bolivia Sets May 3 Date for New Election, After Morales's Ouster, Confusion over Leader of National Assembly Reigns in Venezuela, Earthquake Knocks Out Power Across Puerto Rico, Men Sue Boy Scout…

Michael Hudson (2020-01-07). America Escalates Its "Democratic" Oil War in the Near East. peoplesdispatch.org The mainstream media are carefully sidestepping the method behind America's seeming madness in assassinating Islamic Revolutionary Guard general Qassim Suleimani to start the New Year. The logic behind the assassination was a long-standing application of U.S. global policy, not just a personality quirk of Donald Trump's impulsive action. His assassination of Iranian military leader Suleimani was indeed a unilateral act of war in violation of international law, but it was a logical step in a long-standing U.S. strategy. It was explicitly authorized by the Senate in the funding bill for the Pentagon that it passed…

Steven Sahiounie (2020-01-07). "Yankee Go Home" Is Chanted in Baghdad after Parliament Asks for US Troop Expulsion. globalresearch.ca Iraq's parliament met on Sunday and passed a resolution asking all 5,200 US troops to be expelled. After hearing of the Iraqi decision, US President Trump refused the request, balking at the democratic process of an elected body of a …

commondreams (2020-01-07). Trump's NEPA Environmental Review Rollback Should Alarm Republicans Too. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Ryan Costello (2020-01-07). Trump and His Team Are Lying Their Way to War with Iran. globalresearch.ca President Trump ordering the killing of Qassem Soleimani is troubling on several fronts. The assassination has been treated as an act of war in Iran, uniting disparate political factions after a brutal crackdown on protesters in November. Now, U.S. forces …

Activist Post (2020-01-07). Ryan Cristián — The Last American Vagabond — on the Assassination of Soleimani, What You Need to Know. thelastamericanvagabond.com Ryan Cristián of The Last American Vagabond joins James Corbett of the Corbett Report to discuss his ongoing coverage of the situation surrounding the events that led to the assassination of Soleimani. What is the context of this event, how are we being lied to, and what does it mean for the future of the Middle …

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-07). War on Drugs or War on Freedom: One Nation's Perception/Deception of Cannabis. thelastamericanvagabond.com Note from the Author: It is easy in this unruly and manipulated time to be labeled "un-American" simply for choosing to speak out. Admittedly, I have some views that many may find "outside the box," to put it lightly, but that does not mean I am anti-America or against America. It is exactly our right …

John Nichols (2020-01-07). 'What You're Seeing From Mitch McConnell Is Disgusting'. thenation.com 'What You're Seeing From Mitch McConnell Is Disgusting'

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-01-07). 'Biden Bait': New Warren Bankruptcy Reform Plan Reignites 2005 Fight With 2020 Rival. commondreams.org Elizabeth Warren, who spent decades as a bankruptcy law professor before becoming a U.S. senator, introduced her long-awaited plan to fix the country's bankruptcy system on Tuesday and reignited a 15-year-old fight with former Vice President Joe Biden, one of her rivals in the Democratic Party's presidential primary race. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren-tops-national-average-polls_0.jpg

Staff (2020-01-07). Meet Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Releasing Troves of New Files from Data Firm. democracynow.org New details are emerging about how the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica worked to manipulate voters across the globe, from the 2016 election in the United States to the Brexit campaign in Britain and elections in over 60 other countries, including Malaysia, Kenya and Brazil. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. The documents come from Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser, who worked at the firm for three-and-a-half yea…

Ilana Novick (2020-01-07). Are Establishment Democrats Running Out of Ways to Sabotage Bernie Sanders? commondreams.org Supporters cheer as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the crowd at a campaign rally on July 26, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie_sanders_0.png

RT (2020-01-06). 'We're not allowed to talk about anything wrong in the party': AOC trashes the Democratic establishment. rt.com Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the chief architects of the Democrats' leftward shift, has hit out at her party for fielding candidates like the centrist Joe Biden, and said "we're not allowed to talk" about party division. | Ocasio-Cortez considers herself "one of the most hated people in America," she told New York Magazine in an interview published on Monday. Since a surprise electoral victory over a 10-term incumbent Democrat in 2018, she's since become the face of her party's emboldened progressive wing, alongside 'The Squad' of fellow Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) and Ma…

RT (2020-01-06). Conservative satire as popular as mainstream news, journalists and cyberwarriors furious. rt.com A satirical article claiming the Democratic Party is officially mourning the death of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani has been shared more times than most CNN and New York Times articles, annoying the joke police. | Soleimani, who commanded the Iranian military Quds Force, was killed in an American airstrike last week, an assassination which raised already high tensions between Washington and Tehran to boiling point. Democrats criticized Trump for ordering Soleimani's killing, prompting conservative satire site the Babylon Bee to put its own spin on events. | "Democrats call for flags to be flown a…

RT (2020-01-06). 'Innocent mistake'? CNBC replaces Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard with generic Asian man, white senator. rt.com CNBC has poured gasoline on the theory MSM is deliberately marginalizing certain 2020 Democratic candidates, swapping photos of businessman Andrew Yang and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with bizarre substitutes. | The candidates got an unwitting makeover during the network's Squawk Box program on Monday, as the show was covering fourth-quarter fundraising totals. Yang's face was replaced with a similarly-named Asian businessman, founding partner of Redpoint Ventures Geoff Yang. Gabbard was replaced, even more confusingly, by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand — once a primary candidate herself, until she dro…

RT (2020-01-06). FBI conducted record number of gun sale background checks in 2019, as Democrats promise gun control. rt.com The FBI carried out a record 28 million background checks on firearms purchases in 2019, as Americans rushed to buy weapons amid calls for tougher gun laws. | According to FBI data, 28,369,750 background checks were performed in 2019, smashing the previous record of 27 million in 2016. The agency ran 202,465 checks on Black Friday alone. The Christmas period was a festive one for firearms retailers, with just under three million checks carried out in December, the second-highest month since the National Instant Criminal…

Staff (2020-01-06). Former Top Bush Official: I Saw the March to War in 2003. I'm Seeing the Same Thing with Iran Now. democracynow.org We look at the Trump administration's assassination of Iran's top military commander Qassem Soleimani with Lawrence Wilkerson, a retired United States Army colonel who served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff from 2002 to 2005. On February 5, 2003, he watched as Powell made the case for war in a speech to the United Nations. He has since become an outspoken critic of U.S. intervention in the Middle East. In 2018, Wilkerson wrote an article for The New York Times titled "I Helped Sell the False Choice of War Once. It's Happening Again."

Staff (2020-01-06). Soleimani's Death Could Galvanize Shia Coalitions Against One "Foreign Aggressor" — The U.S. democracynow.org Fallout continues to mount following the U.S. assassination of Iran's top military commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last week. Iranian media reports that over a million mourners took to the streets of Tehran today for the funeral of Soleimani, who headed Iran's elite Quds Force. On Sunday, Iran announced it would suspend its commitments under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which the U.S. pulled out of in 2018. Trump has also threatened to target 52 locations in Iran, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates against the U.S. The targeting of cultural sites is widely viewed as an international war crime.

RT (2020-01-06). Democrats to introduce House resolution limiting Trump's military actions against Iran. rt.com The House will vote on a resolution to restrict Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said, arguing that Congress must prevent the White House from endangering American lives. | In a letter to her Democratic colleagues, Pelosi stressed that Congress had a "responsibility" to stop a "serious escalation" with Tehran that could endanger US diplomats and service members. She said the House will introduce a vote on a War Powers resolution later this week that aims to "limit the President's…

Eds. (2020-01-06). WhatsApp and fake news, or how to kill democracy. mronline.org Fears and anxieties are used to create and diffuse fake news and manipulate the electorate. This is what happened at the last Brazilian election. A group of researchers studied the case in order to develop a method to deal with fake news. | Source

Staff (2020-01-06). Trump's Killing of Qassem Soleimani Means "Rules of the Game Have Totally Changed" in Middle East. democracynow.org The Iraqi Parliament voted Sunday to expel all U.S. military forces from Iraq. President Trump responded by threatening to impose sanctions on Iraq "like they've never seen before." Iraq has already been the target of some of the harshest sanctions the world has even seen. U.S.-backed sanctions killed more than a million Iraqis, including over 500,000 children, between 1990 and 2003. From Baghdad, we talk to Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, correspondent for The Guardian newspaper.

RT (2020-01-06). Even CNN is tired of Joe Biden lying about having been against the Iraq War. rt.com CNN has blasted Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden for claiming once again that he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning, when in fact he was an advocate of the war, speaking in favor of it many times. | In a piece published on CNN's 'Facts First' blog Biden was scolded for "dishonestly" claiming he opposed the invasion of Iraq. The fact-check came after Biden told a voter in Iowa at the weekend that he was against the war "from the very moment" George W. Bush launched it. In re…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-01-06). Amid rising protests, House plans vote against Trump war on Iran. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Amid rising protests in the streets and online against President Donald Trump's looming war on Iran, the Democratic-run U.S. House plans to vote on a measure banning that war without congressional approval. The resolution, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues, will invoke the 1973 War Powers Act and order Trump not to go to …

John Ryan (2020-01-06). Censorship in Canada? Vanessa Beeley's Talks on Syria. dissidentvoice.org White Helmets Vanessa Beeley is a British journalist who was invited to Canada in the fall of 2019 to present talks in seven cities on the conflict in Syria. The sponsors of her speaking tour were several anti-war groups, including the Geopolitical Economy Research Group, the Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, and Peace Alliance …

Eds. (2020-01-06). Dem candidates are critical of Trump's drone strike…but mostly are criticizing the Iranian general he killed. mronline.org "No American will mourn Qassem Suleimani's passing," begins former Vice President Joe Biden's statement, "He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos." | Source

Staff (2020-01-06). Headlines for January 6, 2020. democracynow.org Iraqi Parliament Votes to Oust U.S. Military; Trump Threatens Sanctions, In Dozens of U.S. Cities, Protesters Say No War with Iran, Elizabeth Warren Accuses Trump of Killing Soleimani to Distract from Impeachment, Al-Shabab Kills U.S. Soldier and 2 U.S. Contractors in Attack in Kenya, 17 Killed, Dozens Wounded in Airstrike in Tripoli, Libya, 14 Killed, including 7 Children, in IED Attack in Burkina Faso, Australia Deploys Military as Unprecedented Wildfires Rage, Death Toll in Jakarta Flooding & Landslides Rises to 53, Masked Men Attack Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, 36 Killed in Collapse of Ho…

John Klyczek (2020-01-06). Community Schools Are Not the Antidote to Charter Schools. dissidentvoice.org Democratic presidential candidates, such as Elizabeth Warren, have pledged to fix the American education system by replacing privatized charter schools with "community schools" that incorporate "socioemotional-learning (SEL)" programs. These "Democratic" community schools, which teach "social skills" and "emotional competencies," might sound like "liberal" or "leftwing" education reforms. But don't be fooled by the pathos of …

The Canary (2020-01-06). The holiday's over: Trump returns to face Iran fallout and impeachment trial. thecanary.co President Donald Trump has returned to the White House after his 17-day Florida holiday facing twin challenges: the fallout from the strike he ordered to kill an Iranian general and his looming impeachment trial in the Senate. | The issues will shape a defining month of Trump's presidency, one that comes just before the first votes of the 2020 campaign are cast. | Trump is facing growing questions from Democrats fearful that the killing of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani endangered Americans in the region and may have been an effort to distract from the president's political crisis back home. | "Next…

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-06). More Rockets Fired At US Embassy, US Iranians Detained & Trump Says Twitter Is "Notifying Congress" 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 (1/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Jeet Heer (2020-01-06). Bernie Sanders Is the Anti-War Candidate. thenation.com Bernie Sanders Is the Anti-War Candidate…

Staff (2020-01-06). AOC Condemns Killing of Soleimani: This Was an Act of Aggression Committed by the United States. democracynow.org Over the weekend, Democracy Now! spoke with New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and asked her response to the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani. "We need to be tactical about how we can actively resist further escalation on already an unprecedented level of escalation and aggression by the president, and therefore by the United States," Ocasio-Cortez said. "He did this on behalf of our entire country. And that's what makes the potential illegality of his action so flagrant, because he did not consult Congress and this was not done with the support of the United States."

Tracy Keeling (2020-01-06). More student protests erupt in India after 'state-sponsored' attack on a university. thecanary.co Student protests are taking place across India after an attack on a university that an opposition party has branded "state-sponsored terrorism". The protests follow weeks of unrest in India over a new citizenship law which discriminates against the 200 million Muslims in the country. At least 27 people have reportedly died during the government's crackdown on these protests. | The brutal attack on JNU students & teachers by masked thugs, that ha…

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-05). Rockets Fired At US Bases, US Gov Immediately Bombs Iraq & Syria & Their False Claims Exposed. 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 (1/4/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Whitney Webb (2020-01-04). Why a Shadowy Tech Firm With Ties to Israeli Intelligence Is Running Doomsday Election Simulations. mintpressnews.com A shadowy tech firm with deep ties to Israeli intelligence and newly inked contracts to protect Pentagon computers is partnering with Lockheed Martin to gain unprecedented access to the heart of America's democracy.

Julie Hollar (2020-01-04). Media Leave Yang Out of Candidate Conversations. fair.org The Democratic primary field may be narrowing, but Andrew Yang still can't get the media's attention. According to the New York Times ( 12/19/19), which breaks down the debates by speaking minutes, Yang, polling at fifth of the seven participating candidates, with an average of 3.5%, came in last in the December debate at 10 minutes, 56 se…

Aaron Maté (2020-01-04). Trump's march to war on Iran aided by Democrats' weakness on sanctions, nuclear deal. thegrayzone.com The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, is the culmination of three years of Trump administration…

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-04). Round Two: New US Drone Strikes Kill 6 In Iraq After Targeting Two Vehicles Carrying PMU Officials. 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 (1/3.5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Staff (2020-01-03). U.S. Assassination of Soleimani Could Spark "Another Round of Civil War" in Iraq. democracynow.org After the United States assassinated Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in a major escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States, which now threatens to engulf Iraq and the Middle East, we get response from Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, who says the U.S. killing of Soleimani was reckless. "Did anyone consult Iraqis about the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil?" he asks. "We don't want another round of civil war."

Staff (2020-01-03). Rep. Ro Khanna on Qassem Soleimani Assassination: Trump's Actions Are Unconstitutional. democracynow.org We continue our discussion of the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani with Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna of California. Khanna says he believes the assassination was planned for some time and that Congress has failed to hold the Trump administration accountable. "I believe that the president's policies are putting us in tremendous danger, and the motives are almost not relevant. What's relevant is that he acted in a way that's unconstitutional," Khanna says.

Staff (2020-01-03). "This Country Is a Tinderbox": Australia Braces for More Devastation as Gov't Denies Climate Crisis. democracynow.org Australia is bracing for what is expected to be the worst weekend yet in an already devastating climate-fueled wildfire season that has ravaged the southeastern part of the country, killed at least 18 people and nearly half a billion animals, and destroyed 14.5 million acres of land. As thousands of evacuees fled to the beaches, conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing growing outrage for his inaction on climate and close ties with the coal industry. As fires blazed in December, the prime minister went on a holiday to Hawaii. He told reporters this week that fighting the fires — not climate chan…

Staff (2020-01-03). Headlines for January 3, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Assassinates Powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport, New Emails Show Trump Directly Ordered Hold on Ukraine Aid, Julián Castro Drops Out of Presidential Race, Sanders Campaign Raised $34.5 Million in Third Quarter, Australia Braces for "Blast Furnace" as Heat & Winds Fuel Wildfires, Amazon Threatens to Fire Workers over Environmental Activism…

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-03). False Reports Of Missiles Hitting US Base, As US Gov Says Soleimani Killing Was "Preemptive" Defense. 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 (1/3/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-03). US Gov Airstrikes Kill PMU Officials & IRGC General Soleimani, As US Claims "Preemptive" Defense. 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 (1/2/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Staff (2020-01-03). Trita Parsi: U.S. Assassination of Iranian General Is Major Escalation & Will Make America Less Safe. democracynow.org The United States has assassinated Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in a major escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States, which now threatens to engulf Iraq and the Middle East. President Trump authorized the drone strike that killed Soleimani at the Baghdad International Airport and four other people, including a high-level Iraqi militia chief, Thursday night U.S. time, Friday morning in Baghdad. Iran called Soleimani's assassination an act of "international terrorism." Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, "The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue…

Staff (2020-01-03). "Right-Wing Populists Will Sweep the Elections": U.S. Killing of Soleimani Helps Hard-Liners in Iran. democracynow.org We host a roundtable discussion on the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, who has long been one of the most powerful figures in Iran. He was the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force — Iran's powerful foreign military force, similar to a combination of the CIA and U.S. Special Forces. Iran called Soleimani's assassination an act of "international terrorism." "It was probably the best, the fastest, the quickest way to have a unifying rallying cry for the Iranian political establishment," notes Iranian journalist Negar Mortazavi. We are also joined by…

Staff (2020-01-02). "The Genocidal Regime Is Still in Power": Assad Forces Push into Idlib, Last Rebel Stronghold. democracynow.org The United Nations says a quarter of a million people have fled the Russian-backed Syrian government offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib. Aid groups are now warning the offensive in Idlib could become the worst humanitarian crisis in the nine-year war in Syria. Nearly 200,000 Syrian civilians have fled toward the Turkish border as Syrian government ground troops advance into Idlib, the last major rebel-held territory, where about 3 million people live. Displaced civilians have sought refuge in several camps along the border, where they struggle with harsh winter conditions, flooding and mud due to hea…

Staff (2020-01-02). Could a "New Civil War" Erupt in Iraq as U.S. and Iran Fight for Influence in the Country? democracynow.org In Iraq, Iran-backed militia members withdrew from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone on Wednesday after being tear-gassed by American security forces. Their withdrawal ended a tense standoff that began Tuesday when militia members broke through the embassy's reception area chanting "Death to America" while thousands rallied outside to protest a slew of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that killed at least 24 members of the Iranian-backed militia Kata'ib Hezbollah. The U.S. airstrikes came after an American contractor was killed in a rocket attack in Kirkuk, Iraq, Friday. The embassy withdr…

Staff (2020-01-02). Death Toll Rises in India as Protests Against Modi Government's Citizenship Law Intensify. democracynow.org In India, the death toll amid the government's crackdown on widespread protests has risen to at least 27 people, and over 1,000 more have been arrested. The protests are against a controversial new citizenship law, which provides a path to Indian citizenship for undocumented immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan — unless they are Muslim. Opponents of the law say it's a step toward the official marginalization of India's 200 million Muslims. Paramilitary and police forces were deployed in response to the demonstrations in Muslim-majority districts in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, and the intern…

Staff (2020-01-02). Headlines for January 2, 2020. democracynow.org Iranian-Backed Militia Withdraws After Standoff at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Reports: 9 Civilians Killed in Syrian Government Strike on School in Idlib, Wildfires Rage in Australia; Floods Kill 16 in Indonesia, Tens of Thousands Protest in Hong Kong on New Year's Day, Thousands March in Santiago, Chile, Against Austerity on New Year's Day, French Rail Workers' Strike Now Longest Since 1968, Netanyahu Asks Parliament for Immunity in Corruption Cases, 16 People Killed in Prison Riot in Zacatecas, Mexico, Pope Francis Condemns Violence Against Women in New Year's Day Speech, Scores of New Laws Take Effect Across the…

Staff (2020-01-01). First Lady of the World: Eleanor Roosevelt's Impact on New Deal to U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. democracynow.org 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote, and we begin the new decade with a New Year's Day special about one of the most influential women in U.S. politics: first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1933, when her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, until his death during his fourth term in office in 1945. She went on to serve as United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and spearheaded the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. President Harry Truman later called her the "First Lady…

Party for Socialism and Liberation (2020-01-01). Cuba: 61 years of socialist victory. liberationnews.org Exactly 61 years ago today, Cubans poured into the streets to cheer the triumph of the Rebel Army led by Fidel Castro.

news.un (2020-01-01). UN chief 'deeply concerned' following end of DPRK nuclear test moratorium. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ended a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, his spokesman said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Ryan Cristián (2020-01-01). US Gov Blames Iraqi Protests On Iran With No Evidence, Despite The US Bombing Of The Iraqi Military. 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 (12/31/19). 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 …

EIGHTY Bug (2020-01-01). The Legend Of Bernie Sanders Song. zcomm.org The Legend of Bernie Sanders was originally written for the Bernie documentary called BERN THE MOVIE and is a compendium of Bernie Sanders's life leading into the OUR REVOLUTION movement…

Staff (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,…

Staff (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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…

Samuel D. Finkelstein (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Ryan Cristián (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 …

pip.hinman (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…

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Staff (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Richard Becker (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.

Kanya Bennett (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…

Ruth Conniff (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.