2020-01-26: News Headlines

Staff (2020-01-26). The Failure to Deliver Reparations. truthdig.com "Repair: Redeeming the Promise of Abolition" | In July 2019, on a stage cluttered with nine other Democratic presidential candidates, Marianne Williamson broke with her normal jargon of cosmos to present a plan for reparations to black Americans. After translating 40 acres and a mule into a modern-day equivalent, she proposed from $200 billion to $500 billion for reparations programs, along with some "deep truth telling" in America. Her reference to "truth telling" likely refers to this natio…

RT (2020-01-26). 'It's just crazy': LeBron James surpasses Kobe Bryant for third place in NBA's all-time scorers list. rt.com NBA superstar LeBron James achieved another career milestone on Saturday night as he eclipsed Kobe Bryant's mark to move up to third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. | James hit a third-period layup to take his career total to 33,644 points, one ahead of Bryant, as he moved into the rarified air of the NBA's all-time top three points scorers. | Despite Los Angeles Lakers star James' achievement coming on the Philadelphia 76ers' home court, the Sixers' fans paid tribute to James with a standing ovation for reaching his milestone. | By the end of the game, the Sixers fans were still in celebratory mood,…

Stephen Lendman (2020-01-26). "War on Dissent" Threatens Speech, Media and Academic Freedoms. globalresearch.ca Censorship is the new normal in America and the West, wanting the message controlled, targeting what conflicts with it for elimination, notably on major geopolitical issues. | Digital democracy is the last frontier of free and open expression. | It's threatened by …

sputniknews (2020-01-26). Mystery as Anonymous Seller Puts up for Auction JFK Assassination Docs. sputniknews.com Kennedy's murder in November 1963 prompted numerous conspiracy theories with people saying the government covered up crucial information. According to the most popular theories the 35th president was killed by the CIA, the mob, or on orders of the-then Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Aaron Maté (2020-01-25). Suing Hillary Clinton, Tulsi Gabbard stands up to the Russiagate smear machine. thegrayzone.com As Bernie Sanders ignores Hillary Clinton's attacks, Tulsi Gabbard is fighting back. Gabbard has filed a $50 million defamation suit…

Julie Hollar (2020-01-25). For Corporate Media, Bernie Sanders Is Bigger Threat Than Donald Trump. commondreams.org Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, pumps his fist in the air toward supporters as he arrives to speak during a campaign rally at Civic Center Park on September 9, 2019 in Denver. (Photo: Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump-sanders-equivalence.jpg

Staff (2020-01-25). Hedge Fund Billionaires and Former GOP Megadonors Power New Democratic Super PAC. truthout.org This article was produced by A new super PAC that says it will spend $75 million to support Democrats in 2020 is funded in large part by billionaires who run hedge funds, including some with a history of supporting Republicans…

Peter Cary (2020-01-25). The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a case study of how lawmakers can make themselves richer with the bills they pass. nationofchange.org Republicans passed tax cuts — then profited…

Alex Bradbury (2020-01-25). XR: the case for deliberative democracy. zcomm.org Climate Assembly UK begins this weekend. It's a good start, but does not meet XR's third demand for a Government-commissioned Citizens' Assembly…

WSWS (2020-01-25). Trump steps up attacks on immigrants, democratic rights in midst of impeachment trial. wsws.org Trump railed against the "far left" in the first speech by a president at the annual anti-abortion March for Life rally in Washington DC.

Staff (2020-01-25). Trump Lawyers Argue Democrats Just Want to Overturn Election. truthdig.com The impeachment defense team reserves bulk of its case for Monday, focusing just two hours on what they call "politically motivated" effort.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-01-25). Up Six Points as Buttigieg and Biden Stall, Sanders Takes Commanding Lead in New Iowa Poll. commondreams.org The new Times poll showed Sanders with 25 percent of the Iowa vote and 40 percent of support from those under 30 in the state. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders-surges-iowa-poll.jpg

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-01-25). Rep. Jerry Nadler: Trump a 'Dictator' Whose Behavior 'Has No Analog' in US History. commondreams.org The New York Democrat's accusation came a day after he said Trump's behavior "puts even President Nixon to shame." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/nadler-trump-dictator.jpg

RT (2020-01-25). Impeachment: Democrats cry 'dictator' while Team Trump cries 'election interference'. rt.com After three days of Democrat offensive, President Donald Trump's defense team have laid out their arguments. The Democrats, they said, are trying to commit their own brand of election interference by removing Trump from office. | The Senate impeachment trial of President Trump opened on Tuesday, and the Democrats' chosen team of prosecutors, or impeachment managers, spent much of this week reiterating their long-standing argument: Trump abused his office by withholding military aid for Ukraine to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky into reopening a corruption investigation into the business activities of Joe…

Staff (2020-01-24). Law Professor: Trump Could Also Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations & Corruption. democracynow.org Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. On Thursday, House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made the case that a president can…

John Bachtell (2020-01-24). Iowa voters weigh many factors as they decide who to support. peoplesworld.org DES MOINES, Iowa — Harold Lanning is a retired factory worker. He's supporting Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, but he was attending an Elizabeth Warren rally when People's World caught up with him. "There are so darn many good candidates it's hard to lock in on one particular one. I'm open to listening to …

Victor Grossman (2020-01-24). Could Bernie Sanders, like Jeremy Corbyn, be accused of anti-Semitism? peoplesworld.org

Staff (2020-01-24). Oakland Moms Who Occupied Vacant Property to Highlight Housing Crisis Celebrate Unexpected Victory. democracynow.org In Oakland, California, a months-long struggle between a group of unhoused mothers occupying a vacant home and the real estate firm that owned it ended with an unexpected offer to purchase the property earlier this week. The major win in the mothers' fight against homelessness and real estate speculation comes just a week after Wedgewood Properties forcibly evicted the families — known as Moms 4 Housing — from the home they were living in for more than two months. Two mothers and two of their supporters were arrested in the early-morning eviction after armed police officers battered down the door. The…

Staff (2020-01-24). International Court of Justice Orders Burmese Authorities to Protect Rohingya Muslims from Genocide. democracynow.org In a major ruling, the U.N. International Court of Justice at The Hague has ordered Burma to "take all measures within its power" to protect Rohingya Muslims from genocide. The court issued the ruling Thursday, calling the 600,000 Rohingya remaining in Burma, also known as Myanmar, "extremely vulnerable" to military violence. The court ordered Burma to report regularly to the tribunal about its progress. The ruling is a sharp rebuke of Burma's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who last month asked the court to drop the genocide case against Burma. Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who spent over a decade figh…

Staff (2020-01-24). Chris Hedges: Democrats Have No Moral Authority on Impeachment. truthdig.com "He obstructed us. He is trying to obstruct you. And he has violated the Constitution," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., As Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges argues in a new interview with "Rising's" Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti, the Democratic Party has been "selective" in its assessment of what rises to a const…

Ralph Nader (2020-01-24). Pelosi's Choice: Enough for Trump's Impeachment but not going All Out for Removal. counterpunch.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her reasons for limiting her impeachment articles to offenses stemming from the abuses and violations related to Ukraine. Unfortunately, she declined to pursue a broader impeachment approach that recognizes multiple provable, serious violations of the Constitution. Speaker Pelosi overruled Chairs of Committees, including the Judiciary Committee, and other senior lawmakers

Ramzy Baroud (2020-01-24). In the Name of "Israel's Security": Retreating US Gives Israel Billions More in Military Funding. counterpunch.org Billions of US tax-payers' money will continue to be funneled into Israel in the next fiscal year, and for many years in the foreseeable future. Republican and Democratic Senators have recently achieved just that, passing a bill aimed at providing Israel with $3.3 billion in annual aid. The Bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Senator, Chris Coons

Staff (2020-01-24). Trump Could Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations and Corruption. truthout.org Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic pr…

Jeremy Kuzmarov (2020-01-24). Biden's Shameful Foreign Policy Record Extends Well Beyond Iraq. counterpunch.org Presidential contender Joe Biden has come under fire for his support for the 2003 Iraq War, but continues to tout his foreign policy experience as a key selling point for his candidacy. His foreign policy record is shameful, though, extending well beyond his Iraq War vote. After opposing the Vietnam and first Persian Gulf Wars,

Staff (2020-01-24). Headlines for January 24, 2020. democracynow.org Impeachment Managers Continue Opening Arguments in Trump's Senate Trial, 33 Million on Lockdown in Chinese Cities as Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads, Hundreds of Thousands of Iraqis March to Demand U.S. Troop Withdrawal, Trump Invites Israeli Leaders to White House for "Peace Plan" Unveiling, Mexican Soldiers Attack Central American Migrant Caravan, Arresting 800, U.S. to Send Ambassador to Bolivia After Coup That Ousted Evo Morales, Puerto Rican Protesters Demand Ouster of Gov. Wanda Vázquez, SC Official Switches Presidential Endorsement from Biden to Sanders, National Archives Replaces Doctored Women's March Photo…

WSWS (2020-01-24). As extradition hearing dates are set, US Department of Justice argues Assange has no First Amendment rights. wsws.org The latest evidence submitted by the US government underscores the fundamental democratic issues at stake in the decade-long illegal persecution and witch-hunting of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.

Gideon Polya (2020-01-24). "One World Digital Dictatorship" A Digital Nightmare. globalresearch.ca Danish writer Soren Korsgaard (editor of Crime & Power) has written a very long and detailed account entitled "One World Digital Dictatorship" that describes the accelerating movement by both Western-style democracies and one-party states (notably China) towards world-wide Digital Dictatorship …

Roger D. Harris (2020-01-24). Three Years into Trump's Presidency, What's Left of the American Left? mintpressnews.com Democrats, despite their attempts at impeachment and boisterous haranguing of all things Trump, have consistently supported the President's "defense" policy and destruction of what remains of America's social safety nets.

Yves Engler (2020-01-24). Canada's Justin Trudeau Toes the Imperial Line on Iran. dissidentvoice.org While the current Liberal government claims to be progressive and in favour of a rules-based international order, promotion of democracy and world peace, its actions regarding Iran demonstrate that the primary drivers of Canadian foreign policy remain US geo-political interests and the interests of the rich and powerful. (This previous article argues this has long been the …

Jess Franklin (2020-01-24). Globalizing the War on Indigenous People: Bolsonaro and Modi. counterpunch.org A man who has repeatedly romanticized dictatorship and advocated the use of torture seems like an odd choice for guest of honor at the annual celebration of the constitution in the biggest democracy in the world. However, it makes perfect sense that Brazil's notorious President, Jair Bolsonaro, has been invited to India's Republic Day parade

teleSUR (2020-01-24). Trump Impeachment: What Happens Next?>. telesurenglish.net Here is what to look out for next: | FRIDAY | * The Democratic House managers present the final chunk of their 24 hours of arguments against Trump that began on Wednesday. | * During the arguments, senators sit as jurors and are not allowed to speak unless they are in a closed session. | RELATED: | SATURDAY | * The president's team will likely have its first opportunity to present its opening arguments. Senat…

Nick Pemberton (2020-01-24). AK-46: The Case Against Amy Klobuchar. counterpunch.org "First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more

Ken Klippenstein (2020-01-24). The Biden Campaign Pushed Iowa Staffers to Drive in Dangerous Weather. thenation.com The Biden Campaign Pushed Iowa Staffers to Drive in Dangerous Weather…

Democracy Now! (2020-01-24). Law Professor: Trump Could Also Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations, and Corruption. commondreams.org Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/cohn_dn.jpg

Mark Gruenberg (2020-01-23). Trump impeachment trial starts as several unions speak out. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON —The Republican-run Senate's impeachment trial of GOP President Donald Trump opened Jan. 21 with heated verbal jousting from lawyers — as several unions have spoken out. National Nurses United, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, and Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry strongly supported the impeachment process, but haven't taken a position on the actual …

John Wojcik (2020-01-23). GOP senators look down in embarrassment as prosecutors make their case. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON — It was lucky for GOP senators at the impeachment trial yesterday that press cameras had been banned from the chamber and that only the stationary Senate cameras were running. Otherwise, images of them fidgeting, squirming and looking down in embarrassment as House prosecutors spoke would have been beamed into the homes of American …

Staff (2020-01-23). Trump Brags About Withholding Evidence as Democratic Impeachment Managers Lay Out Case in the Senate. democracynow.org During the opening day of oral arguments in the impeachment trial, President Trump was accused of abusing his office to "cheat an election." House impeachment managers spent about eight hours on Wednesday laying out their case for why President Trump should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. While the impeachment trial was taking place in the Senate, Presiden…

Staff (2020-01-23). Tim Robbins: Bernie Sanders Is the Best Shot We Have to Defeat Donald Trump. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with Academy Award-winning actor and director Tim Robbins, whose recent projects include the new film "Dark Waters" and a play about immigration called "The New Colossus." He recently endorsed Vermont senator and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders for president. "I believe he is the only one of them that can defeat Trump," Robbins says.

Eds. (2020-01-23). Democrats invoke Cold War narrative to push impeachment. mronline.org Jason Crow, the ex-Army Ranger turned congressman whom Nancy Pelosi has named as one of seven impeachment managers in the trial of Donald Trump, has dropped a broad hint about what angle Democratic prosecutors will pursue: it will be about national security and protecting our troops. |

Staff (2020-01-23). "The New Colossus": In New Play, Tim Robbins Tackles Immigration & Xenophobia. democracynow.org President Trump said Wednesday that he would expand his highly controversial travel ban, which already bars citizens from seven countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations — Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela — from entering the United States. Politico reports that the expanded ban could implement immigration restrictions on seven more countries: Belarus, Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to two sources. We speak with acclaimed actor, director and activist Tim Robbins, whose recent work has focused on immigration to the United S…

Staff (2020-01-23). "Dark Waters": Meet the Lawyer Whose 20-Year Fight Against DuPont Inspired the New Film. democracynow.org The new film "Dark Waters" tells the story of attorney Rob Bilott's 20-year battle with DuPont over contaminated drinking water in West Virginia from toxic chemicals used to make Teflon. The Environmental Working Group credited Billot with "uncovering the most heinous corporate environmental conspiracy in history," and the issue of contaminated water from the plastics industry continues to devastate areas across the country. On Wednesday, the Environmental Working Group released a shocking report about how toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS have been found in the drinking water of dozens of U.S. cities, in…

RT (2020-01-23). Defamation suit aims to stop Hillary and her 'powerful elite friends' from silencing patriotic Americans, Gabbard says. rt.com Suing Hillary Clinton for defamation is necessary in order to keep the former first lady and her powerful allies from smearing Americans who seek "peace and freedom" for all, Tulsi Gabbard has argued. | The Democratic presidential hopeful released a scathing statement in defense of her suit against Clinton, noting that the former secretary of state's attempt to smear her as "the favorite of the Russians" would have far-reaching consequences if left unchallenged. | "If Hillary Clinton and her allies can successfully destroy my reputation — even though I'm a war veteran and a sitting member of Congress &#15…

Vijay Prashad (2020-01-23). What the Right Wing in Latin America means by democracy is violence. mronline.org It was a curious exchange. Frustrated by the attacks on his party—the Movement for Socialism (MAS)—former president of Bolivia Evo Morales made an audio recording in which he called upon his supporters to form militias. Maximilian Heath of Reuters went to Argentina to speak with Morales about this leaked recording. |

Staff (2020-01-23). Headlines for January 23, 2020. democracynow.org Democrats Accuse Trump of Trying to "Cheat" Upcoming Election, Supreme Court Decides Not to Fast-Track Obamacare Case, D.C. Sues Trump's Inaugural Committee over $1M Rental of Trump Hotel Ballroom, ICJ Orders Burma to Protect Rohingya from Genocide, Trump Says He's Planning to Add More Countries to Travel Ban, State Department to Make It More Difficult for Pregnant Women to Receive Visas, Trump Says He May Cut Medicare, Social Security, Trump Plans to Speak at Anti-Choice March for Life Friday, Chinese Authorities Seal Off City of Wudan as Coronavirus Spreads, Tulsi Gabbard Sues Clinton for Defamation, U.N.: Clim…

Anya Parampil (2020-01-23). The Grayzone's Anya Parampil slams mainstream media's anti-Sanders bias on Tucker Carlson Tonight. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone's Anya Parampil joined Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News to discuss the media and democratic establishment's attack on…

Roger D. Harris (2020-01-23). Now Three Years into the Reign of Trump, What's Left? dissidentvoice.org On January 20, Donald G. Trump completed his third year in office. My one blog that received five-digit Facebook shares predicted Trump would lose in 2016. I was spectacularly wrong but not alone. Even the Las Vegas bookies thought Clinton was a shoo-in with her unbeatable two-punch knockout of (1) I'm not Trump and (2) …

Steve Phillips (2020-01-23). 12 States Where Democrats Could Flip the Senate. thenation.com 12 States Where Democrats Could Flip the Senate…

Ross Barkan (2020-01-23). Voter, Beware: Oppo Dump Season Is Upon Us. thenation.com Voter, Beware: Oppo Dump Season Is Upon Us…

Richard Parker (2020-01-23). Why I Support Elizabeth Warren for President. thenation.com Why I Support Elizabeth Warren for President…

RT (2020-01-22). Senate approves Trump impeachment trial rules after grueling 12-hour session. rt.com Senate Republicans have pushed through ground rules for President Trump's impeachment trial, ending more than 12 hours of contentious debate with their Democratic rivals over guidelines for the proceedings. | Approved by a party-line vote of 53 to 47, the rules give House prosecutors and Trump's legal team 24 hours each to argue their cases for and against impeachment. The opening statements are scheduled to begin on Wednesday afternoon. | After each side makes their case, senators will have 16 hours to submit questions in writing. The Senate will then consider subpoenaing witnesses or relevant documents. | Al…

Staff (2020-01-22). "The Senate Voted for a Cover-Up": GOP Senators Tilt Impeachment Trial in Trump's Favor. democracynow.org After the first marathon day leading up to President Trump's impeachment trial, we speak with Vince Warren and Baher Azmy, executive director and legal director, respectively, of the Center for Constitutional Rights. In a 13-hour session, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate approved rules for the impeachment trial that Vince Warren says are tantamount to a "cover-up." Under the rules, each side will be given 24 hours over a three-day period for opening arguments. Senators also agreed to automatically admit evidence from the House inquiry into the trial record. Republicans rejected 11 amendments from Democrats t…

Staff (2020-01-22). "Andrew Johnson Was a Lot Like Trump": Echoes of 1868 in Trump's Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org After a nearly 13-hour marathon session, the U.S. Senate approved by a party-line vote the rules for the impeachment trial of President Trump. This marks just the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Under the rules, each side will be given 24 hours over a three-day period for opening arguments. Senators also agreed to automatically admit evidence from the House inquiry into the trial record. Republicans rejected 11 amendments from Democrats to subpoena witnesses and…

Joshua Cho (2020-01-22). 23 Headlines Obscure Biden's Lies About Cutting Social Security. fair.org Here's something many Americans would be very interested to know: Is a leading candidate in the Democratic primary a liar? And since a

Staff (2020-01-22). Criminalizing Reporting: Glenn Greenwald Faces Cybercrime Complaint After Exposing Scandal in Brazil. democracynow.org In Brazil, federal prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint against journalist and Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald in connection to a major investigation he spearheaded that exposed misconduct among federal prosecutors and a former judge. Called "The Secret Brazil Archive," the series of pieces published in The Intercept and The Intercept Brasil used a trove of documents to offer new and damning insight into the sweeping anti-corruption campaign that brought down former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and paved the way for the election of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation used pre…

RT (2020-01-22). 'Obvious malicious intent': Tulsi Gabbard hits Clinton with defamation suit over 'Russian asset' smear. rt.com Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard is suing two-time White House runner-up Hillary Clinton over her claim that Gabbard was a "Russian asset," alleging that the lie hurt not just her campaign but the entire election. | Clinton "lied about her perceived rival Tulsi Gabbard… publicly, unambiguously, and with obvious malicious intent" when she claimed Gabbard was "the favorite of the Russians," the campaign alleges in the

Staff (2020-01-22). A Torturer Meets His Victims: CIA Psychologist Defends Brutal Methods at Guantánamo Military Hearing. democracynow.org On Tuesday, the psychologist identified as the "architect" of the CIA's torture program testified for the first time to the war court at Guantánamo Bay. James Mitchell was in the courtroom for a pretrial hearing for five 9/11 suspects who had been subject to torture, euphemistically called "enhanced interrogation techniques." Mitchell and his partner, Dr. Bruce Jessen, were paid $81 million to help design the CIA's torture methods, including some of the agency's most abusive tactics. The pair had no prior experience in interrogation. At the hearing, Mitchell reportedly told defense lawyers he only came to Guantán…

Staff (2020-01-22). Headlines for January 22, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Approves Rules for Trump's Impeachment Trial, Spain Declares Climate Emergency & Readies Climate Legislation, Australian Wildfires Release Massive Amounts of Greenhouse Gas, Airstrikes in Syria Kill 40 People, Including Children, in Idlib, Protesters Denounce Lebanon's Newly Formed Government, U.S. Deports Honduran Children Seeking Asylum to Guatemala Despite Being Ill, Hillary Clinton Slams Bernie Sanders in New Documentary But Says She Will Support Democratic Nominee, Architect of CIA's Torture Program Testifies in War Court at Guantánamo Bay, The Guardian: Bezos's Cellphone Was Allegedly Hacked by Saudi…

Fight Back (2020-01-22). Denver students say: No war on Iran! fightbacknews.org Denver, CO – Students from Denver Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) met on campus
| January 21 to continue the rallying against U.S. aggression towards Iran and the U.S.
| occupation of Iraq. This action comes after the illegal act of war of the Trump
| regime in which Qassem Soleimani was assassinated in the Baghdad International Airport. | The U.S. has claimed that they are backing off from war at this time, but will continue to add
| sanctions against Iran which will harm the people of Iran. One SDS member noted
| in his speech, "Sanctions are an act of war; countless citizens died in…

Shawgi Tell (2020-01-22). Seventeen Charter Schools Siphon $155 Million from Buffalo Public School System. dissidentvoice.org To the shock of many, the Buffalo News, Buffalo's main newspaper, recently published an article exposing serious problems with charter schools. Like Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle, the Buffalo News usually goes out of its way to provide biased reporting on charter schools, almost always presenting them in the most favorable light possible, while consistently ignoring …

Staff (2020-01-21). Greta Thunberg Addresses Global Elite at Davos: Our House Is Still on Fire. democracynow.org The 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg delivered a speech Tuesday to the world leaders and global elite gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, one year after she first condemned the forum for its inaction on climate change. "We don't need a 'low-carbon economy.' We don't need to 'lower emissions.' Our emissions have to stop," Thunberg said. "And until we have the technologies that at scale can put our emissions to minus, then we must forget about net zero. We need real zero."

RT (2020-01-21). Trump lawyers & intel committee head Schiff accuse each other of obstructing as Senate impeachment trial begins. rt.com House intel committee head Adam Schiff clashed with President Donald Trump's attorneys as the Senate impeachment trial began, attempting to spin his party's lackluster articles of impeachment as dire crimes and getting cut down. | Even while insisting the evidence presented during the House hearings was "more than enough" for the Senate to convict Trump, Schiff maintained that failing to include all the witnesses, documents, and other material the Democrats had tried (and failed) to shoehorn into those hearings "only rewards the president's obstruction." | Trump's "refusal to obey subpoenas" was allowing him t…

Staff (2020-01-21). National Archives Doctored Photo of 2017 Women's March to Blur Messages Critical of Trump. democracynow.org The National Archives and Records Administration apologized Saturday for doctoring a photo of the 2017 Women's March to remove criticisms of President Trump. In an exhibit called "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote," the National Archives had displayed a large image of the first Women's March. But at least four signs referencing Trump had been blurred to remove his name, including a poster reading "God Hates Trump." Signs in the photo referencing female anatomy were also blurred. The shocking revelation that the archives — which calls itself the country's "record keeper" — had altered the im…

Staff (2020-01-21). Voting Rights Advocate: The Impeachment of Trump Is Needed to Protect Our Elections & Democracy. democracynow.org The impeachment trial begins its proceedings in the Senate today amid accusations of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attempting to rush the impeachment process. Senators will have 16 hours for questions and four hours for debate, after 24 hours for opening arguments on each side. We speak with Rick Perlstein, historian and author, and Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Clarke says that thanks to the rules set by McConnell, Trump's impeachment trial could be over within a week, with much of the debate taking place in the evening. The proces…

Staff (2020-01-21). A Show Trial? As Trump Impeachment Trial Begins, Mitch McConnell Accused of Staging a Cover-Up. democracynow.org The Senate opens the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president in the country's history Tuesday, marking a historic day in Washington. Under proposed rules by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, each side will be given 24 hours over two days for opening arguments, after which senators will have 16 hours for questions and four hours for debate. The Senate will then vote on whether to hear from any new witnesses. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said McConnell is trying to rush the impeachment process, while House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, who is one of the impeachment managers, has accused the…

Eoin Higgins (2020-01-21). "Nobody Likes Him": Hillary Clinton Not Sure She'll Endorse Bernie Sanders. theantimedia.com (CD) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter released Tuesday that she would not commit to endorse or support Sen. Bernie Sanders should he win the Democratic nomination later this year and stood by comments in a forthcoming Hulu documentary that "nobody likes" the Vermont senator. Progressives were unimpressed with the remarks by Clinton, whose …

Gerald E. Scorse (2020-01-21). Even the Democrats Do Favors for the Rich. dissidentvoice.org In 2017 a Republican-controlled Congress passed a tax cut hugely tilted to corporations and the wealthy. In the waning days of 2019, the Democratic-controlled House did a kind of me-too. It pushed through a retirement bill with a provision that gives billions to those in the upper tiers. The House's gift to the well-off was …

Staff (2020-01-21). Headlines for January 21, 2020. democracynow.org Impeachment Trial Opens as Democrats Accuse GOP of "Cover-Up", Trump and Greta Thunberg Address Elites at Davos as Oxfam Condemns Mounting Inequality, NYT Endorses Senators Warren, Klobuchar, as Sanders Gets Backing from Reps. Jayapal and Pocan, Puerto Ricans Call on Governor Vázquez to Resign After Viral Video Shows Unused Emergency Supplies, Attack Kills 100 Soldiers in Yemen, Police Injure Hundreds in Lebanese Anti-Government Protests, At Least 4 Killed, Dozens Injured in Iraq as Popular Protests Mount Nationwide, Racist Treatment of Meghan Markle Highlighted as Plans for "Megxit" Move Forward, 10,000s Attend…

Staff (2020-01-20). SPECIAL: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in His Own Words. democracynow.org Today is the federal holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was born January 15, 1929. He was assassinated April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was just 39 years old. While Dr. King is primarily remembered as a civil rights leader, he also championed the cause of the poor and organized the Poor People's Campaign to address issues of economic justice. Dr. King was also a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy and the Vietnam War. We play his "Beyond Vietnam" speech, which he delivered at New York City's Riverside Church on April 4, 1967, as well as his last speech, "I've Been to…

Aaron Maté (2020-01-19). Ex-UN weapons inspector: Biden's Iraq war vote excuse a 'bald-faced lie'. thegrayzone.com Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter dismantles Joe Biden's explanation for his Iraq war vote and recounts Biden's long record…

Staff (2020-01-17). Interpretation Crisis at the Border Leads to Deportation of Mayan-Language Speakers Seeking Refuge. democracynow.org As the U.S. continues to use hostile policies to stop people from seeking refuge and asylum in the United States, we look at a key problem that is preventing migrants from getting due process, and in many cases getting them deported: inadequate interpretation for indigenous asylum seekers who speak Mayan languages. Guatemala has a population of 15 million people, and at least 40% of them are indigenous. In the past year, a quarter of a million Guatemalan migrants have been apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. At least half of them are Mayan. Many speak little or no Spanish. This is the focus of a new report in…

Staff (2020-01-17). Headlines for January 17, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Impeachment Trial Opens as Accountability Office Says Trump Broke Law by Withholding Aid, Pentagon Contradicts Trump and Says 11 U.S. Troops Injured in Iranian Strikes, Senate Votes to Approve USMCA, Report: Six Banks Reaped $18 Billion Last Year from Trump Tax Cuts, Guatemalan Protesters Demand Outgoing President Be Arrested for Corruption, Deported Immigrant Rights Leader Jean Montrevil Sues U.S. Government, FBI Arrests 3 Suspected Neo-Nazis Ahead of Pro-Gun Rally in Richmond, Virginia, Florida Supreme Court Upholds Law Limiting Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions, Harvard Law Students Prote…

Staff (2020-01-17). 4 Years Seeking Justice: Daughter of Slain Indigenous Environmental Leader Berta Cáceres Speaks Out. democracynow.org In Honduras, a new report by the Violence Observatory at the Honduran National Autonomous University says that at least 15 women have been murdered in the first 14 days of this year. Violence against women, LGBTQ people, indigenous leaders and environmental activists has skyrocketed in Honduras under the U.S.-backed government of President Juan Orlando Hernández. The report comes nearly four years after the Honduran indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres was shot dead inside her home in La Esperanza, Honduras, by hired hitmen. Last month in the capital of Tegucigalpa, seven men were sentenced to up to 50…

Staff (2020-01-16). Tanks & AR-15s: Moms 4 Housing Speaks Out After Militarized Eviction from Vacant Oakland House. democracynow.org We look at the fight for affordable housing in the Bay Area with Moms 4 Housing, the unhoused and insecurely housed mothers who were evicted Tuesday by a militarized police force from a vacant home they had been occupying in Oakland, California. The action ended a two-month standoff between the mothers and real estate developer Wedgewood Properties when sheriff's deputies arrested two mothers and two of their supporters. All four were released on bail Tuesday afternoon. We speak to Misty Cross, one of the moms who was arrested, and her daughter Destiny Johnson. "It was never about trying to stay in that house," s…

Kate Oh (2020-01-16). The White House's Dangerously Expansive Views on Trump's Powers That You Can't See. aclu.org A basic legal consensus about our democracy is that the Constitution assigns the "

splcenter (2020-01-13). Miller Dismisses DACA in Emails, Mirroring Anti-Immigrant Extremists' Views. splcenter.org White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller went against many Republicans when siding with white nationalists and other extremists on the issue of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, more commonly known as DACA, emails show.

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…

Norman Solomon (2019-12-02). The Official Secrets Movie vs. Joe Biden's Lies About the Iraq War. zcomm.org As he pursues the presidency, Joe Biden is persisting with dismal innovations to falsify his record on the Iraq war. In the process, he's operating completely at odds with what the Official Secrets film and Katharine Gun are all about…

Noam Chomsky (2019-12-02). The Foreign Policy of a Con Man. zcomm.org The Republican "radical insurgency," as it was called several years ago by Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, has gone far off the traditional rails under Trump…

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …

Peace Action (2019-07-11). Peace Action Endorses 'the Squad' — Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2019 — Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, has endorsed four progressive champions for the House of Representatives in the 2020 election, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York's 14th district, Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts' 7th district, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-06-28). Most Senators Oppose War with Iran Without Congressional Approval. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 28, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting 50-40 in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block funding for military action against Iran without congressional approval, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Jon Rainwater (2019-06-20). Striking Iran Now Could Spark a Major War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 20, 2019 — In response to reports that the Trump administration is considering strikes on Iran in response to the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action, released the following statement: "The United States has stumbled into a perilous situation. If, for example, the U.S. …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-06-20). Senate Votes to Block Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 20, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting to block arms sales involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "When Trump vetoed legislation earlier this year to end U.S. involvement …