2020-01-29: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-29). 'I'm an old guy, vote for someone else': Biden's latest gaffes include odd sales pitch to voter & head-scratching demands for VP. rt.com Former Vice President Joe Biden's odd strategy for winning over voters continues as video of him scolding one goes viral, and recent comments about his age raises alarm. | Though Biden continues to poll at the top of the Democrats fighting for their party's presidential nomination — a Wednesday Monmouth University

RT (2020-01-29). 'We would be in World War Six by now' if Bolton were still in the WH, says Trump in scathing tweets. rt.com US President Donald Trump has hit back at John Bolton, his former national security advisor, accusing him of writing a "nasty & untrue" book and saying the warmongering Republican could have led us into "World War Six." | While Bolton has become something of a hero to Trump's critics thanks to leaks from his upcoming book 'The Room Where it Happened', which seemingly confirm accusations that the president withheld foreign aid to Ukraine in the hopes they would investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, conservatives have begun to turn on the man, chief among them the president himself. | "For a guy who could…

RT (2020-01-29). Gold price will skyrocket if Bernie Sanders wins 2020 presidential election, says Peter Schiff. rt.com The price of gold, which hit its highest level in seven years, reaching almost $1,600 an ounce this week, will continue to rally, says veteran stock broker Peter Schiff. | According to him, gold bugs may see further gains thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders. | The Democratic Party 2020 hopeful's chances are on the rise, a Fox News poll released on Sunday showed. It found that 23 percent of Democratic primary voters prefer the Vermont senator, up from 20 percent in December. He matched up favorably against President Donald Trump, leading 48 percent to 42 percent in a head-to-head matchup. Former Vice President Joe…

Staff (2020-01-29). Mehdi Hasan: The Impeachment Trial Has Been a Farce Since Day One Filled with GOP Lies. democracynow.org At the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Republican senators in a private meeting Tuesday that he does not yet have enough votes to block Democrats from calling impeachment witnesses. Democrats have pushed for former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. On Sunday night, The New York Times published details about a draft of Bolton's forthcoming book, in which he claims Trump personally told him in August he wanted to maintain a freeze on $391 million in military aid to Ukraine until Ukraine turned over materials related to former Vice Presi…

RT (2020-01-29). Lawmakers heckle governor in India's Kerala regional parliament in protest against citizenship law (VIDEO). rt.com MPs in India's Kerala State parliament have protested against the governor's support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). New Delhi has repeatedly insisted that the law is not discriminatory and serves to protect minorities. | White-clad lawmakers from the bloc United Democratic Front (UDF) blocked Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's approach to the podium on Wednesday morning. They held placards with anti-CAA slogans and demands for Khan to be recalled, as the governor waited patiently for his way to be cleared. |

RT (2020-01-29). Democracy in meltdown: In almost every country, people's faith in democratic systems is at rock-bottom levels. rt.com A new study has delivered a huge reality shock to career politicians and liberal elites—that dissatisfaction with democracy has been rising for decades, and especially in the developed world is approaching an all-time global high. | World leaders love to toot the horn of democracy. To take just three recent examples,

Staff (2020-01-29). Mehdi Hasan: Trump's Middle East Plan Is a Policy of Apartheid & Settler Colonialism. democracynow.org We continue our discussion of President Trump's long-awaited Middle East plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he has described as the "deal of the century." The plan was drafted by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner without any input from Palestinians and would give Israel sovereignty over large areas of the occupied West Bank, control over all of Jerusalem, and keep all illegal settlements built in the occupied West Bank. We speak with Mehdi Hasan, senior columnist at The Intercept, and Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University. Khalidi's latest book is…

Staff (2020-01-29). "Yet Another Declaration of War on Palestinians": Rashid Khalidi on Trump's Middle East "Peace" Plan. democracynow.org Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to annex about 30% of the occupied West Bank, after Israel was given the green light to do so by the United States. On Tuesday, President Trump — with Netanyahu by his side — unveiled a so-called Middle East peace plan that was drafted by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner without any input from Palestinians. Under the plan, Israel will gain sovereignty over large areas of the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem would be under total Israeli control, and all Jewish settlers in the occupied territory will be allowed to remain in their homes. The plan…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-01-29). SEIU's Henry demands Senate impeachment trial call witnesses. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON —In her second comment on the Senate impeachment trial of GOP President Donald Trump, Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry is demanding lawmakers call live witnesses to ensure a fair trial. And those senators who don't want witnesses, she adds, are "playing political games with issues serious for our democracy and the sanctity of …

Jefferson Morley (2020-01-29). Weakest Link: Impeachment and National Security. counterpunch.org In the summer of 2016 President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump didn't agree about much, except for one obscure issue of U.S. foreign policy: lethal military aid to Ukraine. As commander in chief, Obama objected to such assistance, even in the face of a Russian proxy war. So did candidate Trump. On

Roger D. Harris (2020-01-29). The Liberal Establishment is Already Warning Third Parties Not to Ruin the 2020 Election. mintpressnews.com Prominent liberal personalities, including Noam Chomsky, issued an open letter imploring third parties to "remove themselves as a factor" in the 2020 presidential election to "benefit all humanity and a good part of the biosphere."

Alan Minsky (2020-01-29). Bernie Sanders' Political Revolution Is Long Overdue. truthdig.com His movement is built upon four central tenets: | The American political system is currently broken, unable to respond to the needs of the people and the planet. | There needs to be a political realignment along lines of economic self-interest, uniting the working class. | That realignment, combined with…

Eoin Higgins (2020-01-29). Sunrise Movement to Host Nationwide House Parties. zcomm.org Youth led climate advocacy group the Sunrise Movement is asking supporters to host launch parties on Wednesday for the 2020 effort to pass the Green New Deal and back the presidential candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders…

Staff (2020-01-29). Pro-Israel Group Behind Latest Attack Ads on Sanders. truthdig.com A right-wing AIPAC-affiliated group is airing ads targeting Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa in an attempt to stop the increasing success of his presidential campaign days before the state's voters caucus to kick off the 2020 Democratic primary. | The Democratic Majority for Israel, a group tied to AIPAC, sponsored the ad. | "This is dishonest, disgusting, and discrediting," said Sanders surrogate James Zogby, founder of the Arab-American Institute. | This is dishonest, disgusting, & discrediting of ⁦

teleSUR (2020-01-29). Israeli Defense Minister Wants Annexation of Occupied West Bank. telesurenglish.net Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex over a third of the occupied West Bank shorlty after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called "Deal of the Century" plan on Middle East peace. | RELATED: | "Yesterday evening, history knocked on our door and granted us a one-time opportunity to apply Israel law on all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan…

Staff (2020-01-29). Dershowitz Is Wrong — Abuse of Power Is Grounds for Impeachment. truthout.org Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard emeritus law professor who is serving as a hired gun for Team Trump, is arguing that even if John Bolton testifies that Trump admitted the quid pro quo with Ukraine to him, the Senate could not remove the president from office. Dershowitz has gone so far as to say that even if Trump told Bolton he was withholding the congressionally authorized military aid to Ukraine until it helped him with an investigation of the Bidens, that is still not impeachable conduct. | Contrary to the…

WSWS (2020-01-29). Italian ruling parties defeat far-right Lega in Emilia-Romagna elections. wsws.org While the candidate of the extreme right-wing Lega was clearly defeated in the Emilia-Romagna elections by the candidate of the Democrats, the rise of the right-wing extremists has by no means been stopped.

Steve Martinot (2020-01-29). The ProDemocracy Project: Improving Public Comment. indybay.org Tara Pitman Library, South Berkeley | MLK & Russell, Berkeley, CA…

WSWS (2020-01-29). In impeachment crisis, Trump continues fascistic appeals, Democrats promote warmonger John Bolton. wsws.org An architect of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bolton has advocated wars for regime change in Iran, Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen and North Korea.

Jeff Schuhrke (2020-01-29). Hundreds of Canadian Workers Are Blockading an Oil Refinery Right Now. zcomm.org The Canadian union Unifor is currently blockading an oil refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan. It's an important example of what democratic, militant, and solidarity-based unionism can look like…

Santa Cruz Election News (2020-01-29). Local Dems Say City Council Candidate Renée Golder was a Registered Republican Until 2018. indybay.org Local Democrats have checked official voting records and are reporting that Santa Cruz City Council recall candidate Renée Golder was a registered Republican until April of 2018. They say voting records indicate Golder registered as a Republican in 2000 and voted in multiple primary elections as a Republican, until she switched her party affiliation to Democratic in 2018. Presently, Golder is running as a "pro-recall" Santa Cruz City Council candidate against Progressives in the March 2020 election.

Staff (2020-01-29). The Impeachment Trial Has Been a Farce Staged by the GOP Since Day One. truthout.org At the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Republican senators in a private meeting Tuesday that he does not yet have enough votes to block Democrats from calling impeachment witnesses. Democrats have pushed for former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. On Sunday night, The New York Times published details about a draft of Bolton's forthcoming book, in which he claims Trump personally told him in August he wanted to maintain a…

Staff (2020-01-29). Headlines for January 29, 2020. democracynow.org McConnell Tries to Secure Votes to Block Impeachment Witnesses, "Our Rights Are Not for Sale": Palestinians Reject Trump's Middle East Plan, Trump Praises Pompeo for Shouting and Cursing at NPR Reporter, WaPo Reinstates Reporter Suspended for Tweeting About Kobe Rape Case, Death Toll from Coronavirus Virus Hits 132, with 6,000 Infected, Over 100,000 Syrian Civilians Flee Regime Offensive in Idlib, Floods Kill 30, Displace 16,000 in Madagascar, Mississippi to Shut Down Unit of Parchman Prison After Deaths of 9 Prisoners, Maryland Cop Charged with Murder for Killing Handcuffed Man in Police Car…

Staff (2020-01-29). GOP Doesn't Have Votes Yet to Block Bolton, McConnell Concedes. truthdig.com Republican senators mulling impeachment meet after defense rests; Trump's hopes to end the trial with a quick acquittal could be imperiled.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-01-29). Trump's Failed Bullying: Britain Accepts 5G Huawei Technology. globalresearch.ca It is strikingly bullying and bullish. US officials have been less than reserved in their threats about what Britain's proposed dealings with Huawei over admitting it to its 5G network might entail. Three Republican Senators — Tom Cotton of Arkansas, …

WSWS (2020-01-29). The sudden death of basketball great Kobe Bryant produces shock and tributes worldwide. wsws.org The retired basketball star and his teenage daughter were among nine victims of a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.

Jeet Heer (2020-01-29). The Electability Argument Is Really About Party Unity. thenation.com The Electability Argument Is Really About Party Unity…

Jennifer Bernstein (2020-01-29). Tennessee's Chemical Castration Bill Shows Local Republicans Have One Thing on Their Minds. thenation.com Tennessee's Chemical Castration Bill Shows Local Republicans Have One Thing on Their Minds…

yenisafak (2020-01-29). Final moments of Kobe Bryant's fatal helicopter crash revealed by investigators. yenisafak.com Moments before Los Angeles basketball great Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and the seven others perished in a helicopter crash, the pilot had tried to climb out of layer of clouds, but the aircraft then banked sharply and lurched toward the ground.The twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B slammed into a hillside 60 seconds later and burst into flames, killing all nine people on board, according to details of Sunday's crash revealed on Tuesday by federal aviation safety officials.The death of Bryant, 41, an 18-time NBA all-star and one of the most admired athletes around the globe, sent shockwaves through the sports a…

sputniknews (2020-01-29). Democrat Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg Invents Unusual Way to Greet a Dog – Video. sputniknews.com The former New York mayor was visiting Burlington, Vermont for a campaign event on Monday when he had a remarkable encounter with a dog.

RT (2020-01-29). 'Goodbye!' Farage trolls EU Parliament with Brexit one last time, waving Union Jack flag before mic is cut off for 'hate'. rt.com Brexit Party leader and MEP Nigel Farage gave his final speech in the European Parliament, denouncing the EU as an anti-democratic experiment. He waved the Union Jack flag to cheers from his UK colleagues as he said goodbye. | As the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the agreement that would let Britain leave on January 31, Farage rose one last time to cap his 20-year term in the forum with a speech declaring victory and wishing the EU good riddance. | Once we've left, we are never coming back. | After 25 years of fighting for independence, this is my final contribution in the European Parlia…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-01-28). Interviews with New Hampshire voters show Bernie, Biden the favorites. peoplesworld.org MANCHESTER, N.H.—With two weeks to go before the key New Hampshire primary, there's at least one certain point you can make about the Democratic presidential nomination race here: Bernie Sanders is the favorite among younger voters, Joe Biden is the favorite among older ones. But that goes only for the people who have made up …

Glen Ford (2020-01-28). Shaky Joe Biden, Billionaire Bloomberg, and the global race to the bottom. mronline.org Bloomberg has put himself and his fortune into the contest to rally his (ruling) classmates to the task of shoring up corporate control of the Party if Sanders seizes the top spot. |

Alan MacLeod (2020-01-28). It's Media—Not Bernie Sanders—That Have an Antisemitism Problem. fair.org Have you heard the news? Democratic presidential frontrunner Bernie Sanders is antisemitic. Yes, yes, he's Jewish, and has a So goes the story in several prominent media outlets, who accuse him of leading "the most antisemitic [campaign] in decades" (Washington Examiner,

Eds. (2020-01-28). To rig primary against Bernie, DNC chair Tom Perez nominates regime-change agents, Israel lobbyists, and Wall Street consultants. mronline.org With Senator Bernie Sanders surging in the polls, DNC chair Tom Perez has put forward a cartoonishly neoliberal cast of foreign policy hacks and corporate lobbyists to sabotage his nomination. |

Staff (2020-01-28). Trump's Expansive Claims of Executive Privilege Pose "Very Serious Constitutional Crisis" democracynow.org During eight hours of oral arguments at the president's impeachment trial on Monday, President Trump's legal team repeatedly said that he has done nothing wrong, and largely ignored the explosive revelations made by Trump's former national security adviser. The president's case was made on Monday by a team of lawyers including Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, whose probe led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton. In an upcoming book, former national security adviser John Bolton says Trump told him the withholding of $391 million in military aid to Ukraine…

Staff (2020-01-28). Murder of Mexican Artist Isabel Cabanillas Highlights Endemic Issue of Femicide in Ciudad Juárez. democracynow.org Isabel Cabanillas, a 26-year-old beloved feminist activist and artist, was recently assassinated in Ciudad Juárez, resurfacing the border city's painful legacy of femicides and violence against women. Cabanillas was reported missing on social media by her friends on Saturday, January 18, after she never returned home. On that same day, she was found shot to death on a sidewalk next to her bicycle in downtown Juárez. We speak with Nana Rebell, a feminist activist in Ciudad Juárez and a member of the Juárez feminist collective Hijas de su Maquilera Madre, about Cabanillas's life and the endemic issue of femicide in…

Geoff Dutton (2020-01-28). Where Was Rudy Giuliani When Democrats Needed Him? counterpunch.org Help me get this straight. Rudolph Giuliani is the President's private attorney, or at least he still seems to be. According to CNN on 10/11/19: "Rudy Giuliani is still President Trump's personal attorney but will not be dealing with matters involving Ukraine, a source close to Trump's legal team told CNN. Earlier today, Trump wouldn't

Staff (2020-01-28). Chinese Artist & Filmmaker Ai Weiwei on State Violence from Mexico to Hong Kong to Xinjiang. democracynow.org In 2014, 43 students from Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College disappeared after they were abducted in Iguala, Mexico. More than five years after their disappearance, the families of the students are still fighting for justice. The story is the subject of a stunning new documentary by the world-renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. The film, "Vivos," follows the families of the disappeared students in their daily lives as they grapple with the absence of their loved ones and attempt to hold the Mexican government accountable for their disappearance. We sat down with Ai Weiwei earlier this week at the Sund…

RT (2020-01-28). DNC chair names John Podesta & other Clinton loyalists to Convention Committee, triggering revolt from voters fearing 2016 2.0. rt.com Democrats hoping their party learned from its 2016 failure have been horrified to discover many of those behind Hillary Clinton's losing campaign — including John Podesta of hacked email fame — have major Convention posts. | Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez has unveiled a 2020 Democratic Convention lousy with Clinton loyalists — Podesta merely the most notorious among them — alongside former Obama administration officials and corporate lobbyists. Democrats hoping the centrist old guard had relinquished its death-grip on the party are livid, and at least one campaign is pushin…

Staff (2020-01-28). Biden Won't Say Whether Sanders Could Unify Democrats as Nominee. truthdig.com MUSCATINE, Iowa — Former Vice President Joe Biden wouldn't say Tuesday whether he thinks Bernie Sanders could effectively unify the Democrats if the Vermont senator wins the party's presidential nomination. | "We have to unite," Biden told reporters in Muscatine, six days before the Iowa caucuses. "I'm not going make judgments now. I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee." | Biden has previously promised to support the Democratic nominee, regardless of who it is. At some stops along the campaign trail, Biden has pledged to "work like hell" to hel…

Staff (2020-01-28). Pro-Sanders Youth Movement Is Changing the Political Landscape in New Hampshire. truthout.org Fifty-two years after young people changed history with the New Hampshire primary election, a new generation is ready to do it again — this time by mobilizing behind Bernie Sanders. | During early 1968, thousands of young people volunteered in New Hampshire to help the insurgent presidential campaign of Democratic Sen. Eugene McCarthy — who went on to stun the party establishment by winning 42 percent of the state's primary vote against President Lyndon Johnson's 49 percent. Three weeks lat…

Staff (2020-01-28). To Cancel Student Debt, You Don't Need Congress. truthout.org The 2020 Democratic primary elevated the student debt debate to the national stage and has sparked discussion at dinner tables and workplaces across the country. Americans are asking themselves and the candidates: how much student debt should we cancel, and how shall we cancel it? Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to cancel it all — and has introduced legislation to do so. Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants to cancel up to $50,000 in debt for households making less than $250,000 on Day 1 of the next administration. Warren recently…

Stansfield Smith (2020-01-28). Chomsky and other Liberal Intellectuals ask us to Join them in Throwing in the Towel. dissidentvoice.org Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, Bill Fletcher, Leslie Cagan, Ron Daniels, Kathy Kelly, Norman Solomon, Cynthia Peters, and Michael Albert wrote an Open Letter to the Green Party, asking them to support the 2020 Democratic candidate regardless who wins the nomination. It was in response to an article well worth reading by Howie Hawkins, "The Green …

Fight Back (2020-01-28). FRSO Venezuela delegation meets with women in Bolivarian Militia. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – During the World Anti-Imperialist Congress, members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) delegation talked with women in the Bolivarian Militia. The Bolivarian Militia was created in 2005 in response to U.S. intervention. As of December 2019, President Maduro said he is moving toward making the Militia into "combat units" within the Armed Forces. In 2019, with multiple U.S.-backed coup attempts to install Juan Guaidó in place of democratically elected President Maduro, the Bolivarian Militia nearly doubled to 3.3 million members in a country of around 30 million people. Their rol…

commondreams (2020-01-28). House Democrats' Climate Plan is Wholly Inadequate Response to Climate Crisis. commondreams.org ______________________________…

WSWS (2020-01-28). German government bans neo-Nazi group "Combat 18 Deutschland" wsws.org It was above all the fact that the close links between the militant neo-Nazi scene, the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground (NSU) and the secret service could not be so easily covered up after the murder of leading Christian Democrat Walter Làºbcke that persuaded Seehofer to take action.

Staff (2020-01-28). Headlines for January 28, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Lawyers Says He Did No Wrong as Calls Mount for Bolton and Other Witnesses to Testify | , Trump to Unveil Middle East "Peace Plan" as Netanyahu Indicted over Corruption, SCOTUS Allows Trump's "Public Charge" Rule Targeting Low-Income Immigrants to Take Effect, State Dept. Bars NPR Reporter from Upcoming Pompeo Trip, Washington Post Suspends Reporter for Tweet About Kobe Bryant Rape Allegation, Mixed Accounts After U.S. Military Plane Crashes in Afghanistan, Torrential Rains and Landslides Kill At Least 46 People in Brazil, Nigerian Journalist Maxwell Nashan Killed, 2nd Accuser Testifies in Weinstein Trial a…

WSWS (2020-01-28). Democrats embrace war hawk Bolton in Trump impeachment trial. wsws.org The carefully timed leak of Bolton's White House revelations has overshadowed the defense mounted by Trump's attorneys in the Senate impeachment trial.

Fight Back (2020-01-28). Milwaukee: Rally against war on Iraq, Iran. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – On January 25, around 40 people gathered at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and North Avenue to protest the ongoing U.S. war in Iraq and the threat of war with Iran. The protesters occupied each of the four street corners and took to chanting before running through a short lineup of speakers. | "Organization and numbers are the two greatest weapons at the disposal of the working class. We must use them if we're gonna win," said Ryan Hamann, a speaker from Freedom Road Socialist Organization. "Here's to building a strong, united, firmly anti-imperialist anti-war movement in Mi…

Ryan Grim (2020-01-28). Sanders Campaign Tells Volunteers to Back Off Phone Calls. zcomm.org It is far more effective, campaign leaders have argued, to have friends and relatives urge those close to them to come out to caucus than to carpet bomb phone lines…

John Nichols (2020-01-28). Bernie Sanders Is Rising on the Strength of His Anti-War Stance. thenation.com Bernie Sanders Is Rising on the Strength of His Anti-War Stance…

Joan Walsh (2020-01-28). Trump Can't Stop Bolton From Testifying. Only Cowardly Senate Republicans Can. thenation.com Trump Can't Stop Bolton From Testifying. Only Cowardly Senate Republicans Can.

Aaron Ross Coleman (2020-01-28). Kobe Bryant: America's Imperfect Icon. thenation.com Kobe Bryant: America's Imperfect Icon…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-01-28). 'Green New Dud, Not a Green New Deal': Climate Groups Denounce Draft Bill From House Democrats. commondreams.org Environmental advocacy groups issued mixed responses Tuesday after Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee released the legislative text of a draft bill for a national climate plan, with critics charging that the proposal isn't ambitious enough to address the planetary crisis. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/campfire-climate-crisis_0.jpg

Jeremy Kuzmarov (2020-01-28). Truth a Major Casualty of Impeachment Hearings. counterpunch.org As in any political battle, truth has been one of the major casualties of the impeachment proceedings against President Donald J. Trump. While the Democratic impeachment managers have accused Trump repeatedly of dishonesty — often with good reason — they themselves have twisted the truth to serve their own political agenda.

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-01-28). New Poll Shows Bernie Sanders With More Than Double the Support of Joe Biden in New Hampshire. commondreams.org Running away from the pack, Sanders leads former vice president by 15 points and holds double-digit lead over all his Democratic rivals in the key early voting state. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_labor_day.png

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-01-28). Denouncing Trump Plan as 'Unacceptable,' Sanders Declares It Is Time to 'End the Israeli Occupation'. commondreams.org After U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his long-awaited "peace deal" for the Israel-Palestine conflict, Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned the proposal as "unacceptable" and called for an end to Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_anti_endorsements_0.png

Staff (2020-01-27). Explosive Bolton Book Allegations Spark New Calls for Witnesses to Testify at Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org Calls are growing for the Senate to call witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial, after The New York Times published details about former national security adviser John Bolton's forthcoming book. In the book, Bolton writes that President Trump personally told him in August that he wanted to maintain a freeze on $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until Ukraine turned over materials related to former Vice President Joe Biden and supporters of Hillary Clinton in Ukraine. The New York Times broke the story on Sunday, one day after President Trump's legal team began its defense of the president. D…

Staff (2020-01-27). Under Pressure in Impeachment Trial, Trump Steps Up Attacks on Reproductive Rights. democracynow.org Donald Trump on Friday became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend the so-called March for Life, the annual anti-abortion rally held in Washington, D.C., that draws thousands of participants. President Trump — who once described himself as "pro-choice in every respect" — accused Democrats of infanticide and falsely stated that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam supports an abortion bill that would "execute a baby after birth." The March for Life began in 1974 in response to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion. Past…

RT (2020-01-27). 'Bombshell' or nothing to see here? Dems clamor for Bolton impeachment testimony as manuscript claims Trump-Ukraine quid-pro-quo. rt.com Ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton's book claims Donald Trump admitted a Ukraine quid-pro-quo, prompting Democrats to declare it's game-over for the US president, as his supporters dismiss it as yet another nothingburger. | Democrats have renewed their demands for Bolton to testify in the Senate impeachment trial after a manuscript of the inveterate hawk's new tell-all book on his time in the White House asserted Trump had told Bolton the administration should keep sitting on $391 million in military aid to Ukraine until Kiev reopened an investigation of Burisma Holdings, the natural gas firm tied to for…

The Canary (2020-01-27). Italy's regional voters thwart hopes of Matteo Salvini's League party. thecanary.co Italian voters have thwarted right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini's hopes of turning an election in a key northern region into a springboard for regaining national power.Nearly complete results from Sunday's election for the governorship of the prosperous Emilia-Romagna region had his League party candidate winning only 43.7% of support to the 51.4% garnered by the incumbent governor Stefano Bonaccini from the centre-left Democrats.The Democrats are in Italy's national coalition government led by premier Giuseppe Conte. | Italy, Emilia-Romagna regional election, 61.5% counted: | Bonaccini (CSX-LEFT | S&D | G/E…

Staff (2020-01-27). Kobe Bryant Dead at 41: Remembering Basketball Star's Legacy On and Off the Court. democracynow.org Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles at the age of 41. The crash killed all nine people on board, including Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna and beloved college baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa. They were heading to a youth basketball game. Bryant won five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals and was crowned an All-Star 18 times. He played for the L.A. Lakers for 20 years before retiring in 2016. Gianna Bryant reportedly hoped to one day play for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team. Tribute…

RT (2020-01-27). Never-Trumper strategist launches #ILefttheGOP campaign just in time for Senate impeachment votes. rt.com Disaffected ex-Republicans are sharing their stories on social media as the seemingly-unbreakable two-party duopoly approaches peak unpopularity with American voters with less than a year to go before the 2020 election. | The hashtag #ILefttheGOP was trending on Monday as self-described former Republicans shared what made them exit party ranks – whether to join the Democrats, or to vote independently. It was created by former Republican strategist Cheri Jacobus, who left the party after a disastrous encounter with the president's 2016 campaign and has been a strident "never-Trumper" ever since. | Perhaps predi…

RT (2020-01-27). 'Poor judgement': WaPo suspends reporter for Kobe Bryant rape case link tweeted HOURS after his death. rt.com The Washington Post has suspended one of its reporters after she posted a link to a story about a 2016 rape case involving Kobe Bryant just hours after the basketball star's death in a helicopter crash. | Felicia Sonmez posted the link not long after the news of Bryant's death broke on Sunday and faced furious backlash online, with tweeters accusing her of "disgusting" insensitivity, particularly in light of the fact that the crash also took the lives of Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.

RT (2020-01-27). Kobe Bryant's fateful helicopter flight details REVEALED online as authorities work to ID victims (VIDEO). rt.com New details have emerged about the helicopter crash in California that took the life of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight others, including an audio recording from the pilot. As of Monday, three bodies have been recovered. | The authorities have said they will not identify anyone involved in the Sunday crash until a coroner's report comes in and the bodies are fully recovered. Thus far, only three bodies have been recovered, according to the LA County Coroner's Office. | However, multiple outlets have reported the identities of the the passengers besides Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and the pilot, i…

Staff (2020-01-27). Headlines for January 27, 2020. democracynow.org Impeachment Trial Resumes as Leaked Bolton Manuscript Bolsters Democrats' Case, Coronavirus Death Toll Reaches 81 in China as Disease Spreads Around the World, Pentagon: 34 U.S. Troops Have Brain Injuries After Iranian Attack on Iraqi Airbase, Deadly Crackdown on Iraqi Protests Continue as 100,000s March Against U.S. Military Presence, Turkey Earthquake Kills 38; At Least 1,600 Hospitalized, Ugandan Activist Vanessa Nakate Slams Racist Media After Being Cropped from Photo with White Activists, Trump Attends Anti-Abortion "March for Life" as Admin Continues Assault on Reproductive Rights, High-Ranking Pharma Exec…

John Nichols (2020-01-27). Elizabeth Warren Got More Than an Endorsement From 'The Des Moines Register'. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Got More Than an Endorsement From 'The Des Moines Register'

Susan Price (2020-01-27). United States: As Iowa caucuses approach, Democratic battle lines emerge. greenleft.org.au

Staff (2020-01-27). "Ours to Tell": New Film Highlights Personal Stories About the Importance of Abortion Access. democracynow.org As Roe v. Wade faces unprecedented attacks, the new short film "Ours to Tell" puts a human face to the fight for reproductive justice and highlights those whose stories are often sidelined by the media: LGBTQ communities and communities of color. The film focuses on Ylonda, Nick, Hannah and Brittany, four people who discuss how having access to abortion shaped their lives. The film was directed by Rayka Zehtabchi and was created by Planned Parenthood and We Testify. For more on the film, as well as the state of reproductive rights in the United States, we speak with Renee Bracey Sherman, founder and executive dir…

Julie Hollar (2020-01-27). Corporate media equate Sanders to Trump—because for them, Sanders is the bigger threat. mronline.org As Bernie Sanders emerged as a threat to Hillary Clinton's presidential nomination in 2016, media began liberally tossing around articles equating Sanders and Donald Trump (FAIR.org, 4/15/16, 12/9/16). |

RT (2020-01-26). VIDEOS show scene of California helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant. rt.com Footage has emerged showing the aftermath of the helicopter crash in California that reportedly took the life of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight others. | First videos and photos of the crash site show smoke and debris scattered around the area, and emergency services arriving to the scene. The accident reportedly started from a fire onboard Kobe Bryant's private helicopter which made it spiral out of control before crashing over Calabasas. | The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed there were no survivors left at the crash site. They have said they will not confirm the identity of the eight o…

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…

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…

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…

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). 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). 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…

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 …

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.

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…

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…

news.un (2020-01-23). Myanmar: Departing UN rights expert still hopeful for democratic transition. news.un.org An independent human rights expert said she has not given up hope for a democratic transition in Myanmar even though the country has yet to address "grave allegations" of international crimes, including possible genocide.

news.un (2020-01-23). 75 years after Auschwitz liberation, antisemitism still threatens 'foundations of democratic societies'. news.un.org Commemorating 75 years since the liberation of the notorious Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, independent UN rights experts said on Thursday that "urgent action" is needed to combat mounting antisemitism.

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) …

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). "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…

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). 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). 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…

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…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-01-22). In the Name of "Israel's Security": Retreating US Gives Israel Billions More in Military Funding. dissidentvoice.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 (2020-01-21). 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."

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…

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 …

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…