2020-02-04: News Headlines

Staff (2020-02-04). Amid Iowa Results Debacle, Sanders Campaign Signals Victory. truthdig.com After a " "We recognize that this does not replace the full data from the Iowa Democratic Par…

RT (2020-02-04). Only one who can claim 'very big victory' in Iowa's chaotic caucuses is 'Trump', US President tweets. rt.com US President Donald Trump savaged the Democratic Party on Twitter after their much-awaited Iowa caucuses unexpectedly stalled due to "inconsistencies" in vote-counting.

Staff (2020-02-04). U.S. Looks to Iowa to Help Clarify Democratic Field. truthdig.com DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Democrats anxious for fundamental political change headed toward caucus centers late Monday to decide the opening contest in the 2020 presidential primary season. It could bring new clarity to a field that still features nearly a dozen White House contenders vying for the chance to take on President Donald Trump. | In the hours before the evening caucuses, candidates gave last-minute pep talks and pitches, while hundreds of volunteers pressed on statewide. By day's end, tens of thousands of Democrats were to have gathered at community centers, high school gyms and more than 1,600 oth…

RT (2020-02-04). Trump could 'offer Alaska to the Russians' in exchange for 2020 support — impeachment manager Schiff. rt.com California Democrat Adam Schiff painted a doomsday scenario if President Donald Trump is not impeached, including an all-powerful dictator ruling from Mar-a-Lago, letting his son-in-law run America, and trading Alaska to Russia. | Schiff's high fantasy came during the closing arguments of the Senate impeachment trial on Monday, after a series of procedural votes on Friday made it clear that Trump will not actually be convicted on charges brought on by the House of Representatives. | The president's lawyers argued that Trump could not be impeached since he committed no criminal act in his talks with the preside…

RT (2020-02-04). 'You only have one job, Iowa': Delay with US Democratic Party's first caucuses results sparks anger and jokes online. rt.com The long-anticipated US Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses has turned into a confusing cliffhanger with officials deciding to delay reporting the results, spurring speculation and mockery online. | The announcement of the caucuses outcome was delayed on Monday night "due to quality checks," Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) Communications Director Mandy McClure said. | We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results. In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confiden…

Juan Cole (2020-02-04). On the Big Issues, Bernie Sanders is the Only one who Can Save America. zcomm.org Bernie Sanders is the only candidate running whose climate action plan is at all equal to the challenge…

Norman Solomon (2020-02-04). Iowa Fiasco Raises the Stakes for New Hampshire, Where Sanders Could Win Big. zcomm.org Only the power of people, determined and mobilized, can overcome the forces arrayed against the Bernie Sanders campaign and the movements supporting him at this pivotal historic moment…

Max Blumenthal (2020-02-04). Pro-Israel Buttigieg backer Seth Klarman is top funder of group behind Iowa's disastrous voting app. thegrayzone.com Behind the app that delayed Iowa's voting results is a dark money operation funded by anti-Sanders billionaires. Its top donor,…

Gary Leupp (2020-02-04). NATO and the Impeachment Trial. counterpunch.org Is it not clear? The impeachment trial underway is all about cementing support for the foreign policy most clearly espoused by (the grotesque) Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), an impeachment manager now appearing all too frequently on cable news. His foreign policy—meaning that of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Joe Biden and all the

Julia Conley (2020-02-04). "We Have to Be Dangerous Too" zcomm.org Ocasio-Cortez said Martin Luther King Jr. would disagree with establishment Democrats who believe "we can capitalism our way out of poverty."

WSWS (2020-02-04). Democrats double down on anti-Russia war-mongering in impeachment arguments. wsws.org The Democrats' final arguments only underscored the reactionary basis of their impeachment drive.

WSWS (2020-02-04). White supremacist Coast Guard officer sentenced to thirteen years in federal prison after plotting massacre of Democrats and "leftists in general" wsws.org Christopher Hasson, a fascist Coast Guard Lieutenant who had amassed an arsenal in his Silver Spring, Maryland home, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to firearm and drug charges.

Register Peace & Freedom or Green (2020-02-04). 2019 Cal Tax Table and Most Tax Forms Not Online. indybay.org For 2019, unlike all previous years, we have to Email the Franchise Tax Board for the California Tax Table and most tax forms, except the 540, because they are not online. We cannot complete the 540 without this crucial table. The Email cannot be read or downloaded on many computers so one must then look to the email on your cell phone and get the magnifier to highlight the line you need for your tax due. This insanity and inefficiency is brought to us by Democratic Gov Newsom and his supermajority Democratic legislature.

WSWS (2020-02-04). With Sanders headed to victory, Iowa Democratic Party blocks release of caucus results. wsws.org The action, which was clearly directed from the top, comes amidst an unprecedented intervention from the Democratic Party leadership against the Sanders campaign.

sputniknews (2020-02-04). Sanders Campaign Publishes Own Numbers at Iowa Caucus As Official Results Delayed. sputniknews.com DES MOINES, United States (Sputnik) – The presidential campaign of US Senator Bernie Sanders early on Tuesday published their own numbers from the Democratic caucus in the state of Iowa as the official results were delayed over technical difficulties.

sputniknews (2020-02-04). Calvin Harris's Allegedly Leaked Nudes Leave Fans Open-Mouthed. sputniknews.com Scotland-born producer and DJ Calvin Harris has allegedly fallen victim to a leak with alleged intimate photos circulating online. However, the musician has not officially confirmed that the pics in question, which indicate a substantial physical endowment, are really of him.

sputniknews (2020-02-04). Assange's Treatment Threatens the 'Future of Our Democracies', Says UN Torture Expert. sputniknews.com Professor Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, says that the governments of the US, Sweden and the UK have shown "bad faith" in failing to address evidence that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been subjected to torture.

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-02-04). Amid Iowa Results Debacle, Sanders Campaign Signals Victory by Releasing Portion of Its Internal Caucus Data. commondreams.org "We recognize that this does not replace the full data from the Iowa Democratic Party, but we believe firmly that our supporters worked too hard for too long to have the results of that work delayed," said senior campaign advisor Jeff Weaver. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_46.jpg

The Canary (2020-02-03). Teacher's photos document virus-hit Chinese city. thecanary.co A teacher who was starting a new life with his wife in the Chinese industrial centre of Wuhan when a viral outbreak spread across the city has documented the coronavirus fallout in a series of photos.Poland native Arek Rataj had recently taken a position teaching visual communication at Jianghan University, but almost immediately the metropolis of 11 million people, which had been teeming with Lunar New Year holiday revelry, turned quiet.A girl wears a face mask as she plays on a swing near the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan (Arek Rataj/AP)Arek and his wife Jenina bought face masks for protection and ke…

Staff (2020-02-03). As Bernie Sanders Surges Ahead of Iowa Caucus, DNC Under Fire for Changing Rules to Help Bloomberg. democracynow.org The Iowa caucuses take place today, kicking off the official start of the 2020 presidential election season. Democratic presidential candidates spent the weekend making last-minute pitches to voters at rallies across Iowa. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee is facing criticism for overhauling its rules, opening the door for billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is running a self-funded campaign, to take part in the next debate. This comes as fear is growing among some Democrats that Bernie Sanders might win the nomination. Politico reports a small group of DNC members have begun discussi…

Leila Rafei (2020-02-03). Block the Vote: Voter Suppression in 2020. aclu.org Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. The goal is to manipulate political outcomes, and the result is a severely compromised democracy that doesn't reflect the will of the people. Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard. | Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. And long before election cycles ev…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-03). Warren introduces repeal of federal OK of RTW laws. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—As the Democratic-run U.S. House plans to vote on the Protect The Right To Organize (Pro) Act, the most-comprehensive pro-worker labor law reform in decades, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., split out a key anti-worker provision and introduced her own legislation to deal with it: Repeal of federal approval of states' infamous so-called "right to work" …

John Bachtell (2020-02-03). Democrats seek unity against Trump as Iowa caucuses launch nominating process. peoplesworld.org

Staff (2020-02-03). The False Choice Democrats Can't Afford to Fall For. truthdig.com Democrats suggest we can either vote for climate or against Trump, but only one candidate in the running can deliver on both goals.

Staff (2020-02-03). ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans. democracynow.org The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries — most of which are African nations. Under the new restrictions, nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S., while Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be able to participate in the diversity visa lottery program. The ban, commonly referred to as the "Muslim ban," already affects citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people. Democrats say they will…

Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker (2020-02-03). Trump trial closing arguments focus on voters, history. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON (AP) — Closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial unfolded Monday more for history than to sway votes, one final chance to influence public opinion and set the record ahead of his expected acquittal in the Republican-led Senate. The House Democratic prosecutors drew on history, the Founding Fathers and common sense to urge …

Staff (2020-02-03). Laurie Garrett on How Trump Has Sabotaged America's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. democracynow.org As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, the United States has declared a public health emergency and is barring foreign nationals who have recently traveled to China from entering the country. So far, there are 11 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. The virus has claimed at least 361 lives in China. A 44-year-old man in the Philippines became the first casualty of the disease outside of China Saturday, and over the weekend the number of confirmed cases worldwide rose to at least 17,205 across more than two dozen countries, with most of those cases occurring in China. U.S. citizens who have visited H…

Staff (2020-02-03). "A Grand Tragedy": Democrats Slam Republican Stonewalling in Senate Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump in just the third impeachment trial in U.S. history, with a final vote on the two articles of impeachment scheduled for Wednesday. On Friday, the Senate voted 51 to 49 against calling witnesses to the Senate trial. Just two Republican senators supported calling for witnesses and collecting new evidence: Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine. Without new witnesses, Republicans have cleared the biggest hurdle in their drive to acquit President Trump on the two impeachment charges, which relate to his withholding of military aid to Uk…

Staff (2020-02-03). Noam Chomsky: Sanders Threatens the Establishment by Inspiring Popular Movements. truthout.org The impeachment trial of Donald Trump for power abuses is winding down, with his acquittal all but ensured when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday to vote on the articles of impeachment. Yet, his real crimes continue to receive scant attention, and it is Sen. Bernie Sanders who is regarded by the political establishment as the most dangerous politician because of his commitment to a just and equitable social order and a sustainable future. Meanwhile, the conclusion of the Davos meeting in…

Alan Macleod (2020-02-03). As Bernie Sanders Surges, DNC Launches "Troll Army" Ahead of Iowa Caucus. mintpressnews.com Nell Thomas, the only member of the cyber task force willing to make their participation public, was previously employed with the online arm of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

Staff (2020-02-03). Youth Climate Activists Have Endorsed Bernie Sanders. Can It Tip the Scales? truthout.org A recent wave of endorsements reflects the Vermont Senator's appeal for younger voters who are concerned with climate. | As sparring continues within the ranks of the Democratic Party, a certain voting bloc — one that didn't yet exist during the 2016 presidential election because its members were in middle school and had not yet learned about climate breakdown — remains unified and outspoken as to who will get its vote in this election cycle. | "We're in a climate emergency, so the…

Staff (2020-02-03). Financial Transactions Taxes Are No Longer a "Fringe" Idea. truthout.org I have been a proponent of financial transactions taxes (FTT) since I first came to Washington more than a quarter-century ago. Back then, the idea of taxing Wall Street was considered pretty ridiculous. Among elected members of Congress, only then-Rep. Bernie Sanders and a few other progressive types were willing to publicly get behind the idea. | Things have changed. Most of the candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination, including all three of the leading contenders, have made FTT part of their agen…

Norman Solomon (2020-02-03). The Creation Myth of the Buttigieg Campaign. counterpunch.org This weekend, Pete Buttigieg told supporters that he became a viable candidate for president "on the strength of our vision" and "the urgency of our convictions." Such rhetoric fits snugly into a creation myth about his campaign that Buttigieg has been promoting since early 2019. Summing up the gist of that myth, Buttigieg began this

Ralph Nader (2020-02-03). Misleading Categories and Trump's Swamps. counterpunch.org It is remarkable how the Democratic Presidential candidates allow themselves to be pigeon-holed by the media as "moderate," "centrist," "extreme," "left-wing," and other abstract fact-deprived nomenclature. It is also astonishing that the Democratic operatives have made something called "electability" a yardstick for deciding who to vote for in the primaries. This is particularly ironic considering

IMEMC News & Agencies (2020-02-03). Entry of Cement to Gaza Suspended. imemc.org Israeli War Minister Naftali Bennett decided, last night, to freeze entry of cement shipments to the besieged Gaza Strip, in response to what he called daily Palestinian attacks on Israeli areas. According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli army gave instructions, at the behest of Bennett, to suspend cement exports to …

Matthew Stevenson (2020-02-03). Live From Iowa: Caucus Night. counterpunch.org This is the second part of periodic reports from the primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire, and perhaps beyond, should the republic last until South Carolina and Nevada. This was written before the voting in Iowa. With the three horse-persons of the impeachment—Senators Sanders, Warren, and Klobuchar—glued to their desks during last week's trial, I

WSWS (2020-02-03). Corporate media and Democratic establishment target Sanders. wsws.org Sanders' response to the barrage of smears was to reiterate his support for whoever wins the Democratic nomination.

Staff (2020-02-03). Democrats Slam Republican Stonewalling in Senate Impeachment Trial. truthout.org The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump in just the third impeachment trial in U.S. history, with a final vote on the two articles of impeachment scheduled for Wednesday. On Friday, the Senate voted 51 to 49 against calling witnesses to the Senate trial. Just two Republican senators supported calling for witnesses and collecting new evidence: Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine. Without new witnesses, Republicans have cleared the biggest hurdle in their drive t…

Michael Winship (2020-02-03). At a Church and on Capitol Hill, The Battle for Democracy. commondreams.org In Washington, two events on the same day show the promise of American democracy — and the mortal danger to it.

Staff (2020-02-03). Headlines for February 3, 2020. democracynow.org GOP Refuses to Call Witnesses in Impeachment Trial, Paving Way for Trump's Acquittal, Iowa Caucuses Kick Off 2020 Elections as DNC Loosens Rules to Let Bloomberg into Debates, Trump Expands Racist, Anti-Muslim Travel Ban, Coronavirus Claims First Victim Outside of China as Death Toll Tops 360, Hospitals in Syria Targeted as 100,000s of Civilians Forced to Flee, Palestinian Authority Cuts Ties with U.S. and Israel over Trump Middle East Plan, Iraqi Protesters Slam Appointment of Establishment Prime Minister-Designate, Dept. of Defense: U.S. Dropped 7,500 Bombs on Afghanistan in 2019, 6 Indigenous Leaders Killed in…

Staff (2020-02-03). With Medicare for All on the Table, Iowans Are Caucusing for Their Lives. truthout.org Democrats in Iowa are voting for their lives as they gather for the presidential caucuses today. Besides beating President Trump,

Global Research News (2020-02-03). VIDEO: Watch the Impeachment Trial Live. Trump Acquittal "All But Certain" globalresearch.ca A majority of Republican Senators are firmly behind Donald Trump. Trump's acquittal is imminent. | . | "Led by intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff the managers pleaded with Republicans to find Trump guilty of the charges in the two articles of impeachment: …

Staff (2020-02-03). Lamar Alexander Is Retiring, But He'll Live in Infamy Forever for Saving Trump. truthout.org Good old Lamar! That would be Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee — known for that exclamation point after his name, his plaid shirts and his quixotic presidential campaigns. Well, Lamar! threw his reputation and legacy into the fetid compost heap of Donald Trump's presidency last Friday. Alexander is retiring after this term, so I guess Republicans figured he was the most expendable human sacrifice to step into the breach and betray his oath by casting the deciding vote refus…

Robert S. Becker (2020-02-03). Republicans screw themselves: Damned if they do, damned if they don't! nationofchange.org With modest audacity, I project February 2020 could in a few years represent the peak of national Republican power.

Tana Ganeva (2020-02-03). Can Democrats Win Back Trump Voters—Without Compromising Their Soul? thenation.com Can Democrats Win Back Trump Voters—Without Compromising Their Soul?

Jeet Heer (2020-02-03). Michael Bloomberg Is the Rich Man's Donald Trump. thenation.com Michael Bloomberg Is the Rich Man's Donald Trump…

Fight Back (2020-02-03). Kenosha, WI: Students plan rally in support of Chrystul Kizer outside DA Graveley's classroom. fightbacknews.org Kenosha, WI – As the semester approaches, members of the UW-Parkside chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) have been hard at work. Kicking off the new year, SDS is leading a rally in support of the release of Chrystul Kizer, a Milwaukee teenager accused of killing her sex trafficker, Randall Volar III. | Upon learning that Kenosha's district attorney, Michael Graveley, would be teaching a class at their campus, the students of the organization knew they had to act. | "I felt angry knowing that Graveley will be showing his face at Parkside," said Lana Akindes, a member of SDS. "He's proudly vouching f…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-02-03). Despite Impeachment and Family Being Targeted, Joe Biden Still Believes He Can Work With Republicans. commondreams.org The former vice president made the comments Monday morning in an interview with NBC News. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/joe_biden_1_0_0.jpeg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-02-03). 'Saudi Arabia Must Be Held Accountable': Jamal Khashoggi's Fiancée to Attend State of the Union as Congressman's Guest. commondreams.org In an effort to pressure President Donald Trump to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the brutal 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Democratic congressman announced Monday that his guest for Tuesday night's State of the Union speech will be Khashoggi's fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1145326901.png

RT (2020-02-02). Twitter bombarded with conspiracy theories after release of final Iowa poll AXED ahead of Democratic caucuses. rt.com The decision to cancel publication of the final Iowa poll before the Democratic caucuses has led to incendiary accusations that organizers had no legitimate reason to pull the survey and simply wanted to suppress its results. | A methodological error has been cited as the reason why the highly-anticipated final poll, originally scheduled to be released on the eve of Iowa's Democratic caucuses, would not be made public. | The CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom survey, conducted by respected polling agency Selzer & Co, is viewed as one of the most accurate — and important — polls during the presidentia…

Eoin Higgins (2020-02-02). Des Moines Register Cancels Gold-Standard Iowa Poll, Angering Bernie Supporters. theantimedia.com Bernie Sanders was expected to place first in the "gold standard" Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll, but the poll was shelved.

Norman Solomon (2020-02-02). War with Iran Is at Stake—and Democrats' High Jumps Over Low Standards Aren't Helping. zcomm.org The huge crisis with Iran is more dangerous because so many Democrats have been talking out of both sides of their mouths…

Joan Walsh (2020-02-02). Anything Could Happen at the Iowa Caucuses. thenation.com Anything Could Happen at the Iowa Caucuses…

RT (2020-02-01). Tlaib forced to apologize for booing Hillary Clinton mention as Dems pressure Bernie to disown the 'squad'. rt.com Supporters of Hillary Clinton have rounded on Sen. Bernie Sanders, calling on the Democratic front-runner to disavow his campaign surrogates, after Rep. Rashida Tlaib booed Clinton at a campaign rally. The knives are out. | The race for the democratic nomination has become something of a rerun of 2016, with Hillary Clinton returning to the public eye to bash Sanders, the primary rival she narrowly edged out four years ago with the help of the Democratic National Committee. In recent weeks, Clinton has publicly claimed that "nobody likes" Sanders, and accused the Vermont Senator of failing to properly support h…

RT (2020-02-01). Object-lesson in ruling class privilege? Democrats ditch donor threshold for primary debates so Bloomberg can participate. rt.com The Democratic National Committee is loosening its debate qualifying criteria, opening the door to billionaire establishment darling Michael Bloomberg and angering candidates that had been excluded from prior events. | The same DNC that has held fast to its rules while one candidate after another complained about the seemingly arbitrary means of deciding which polls would count toward a qualifying threshold has opted to discard its individual donor requirement starting with the February debate. The rule had prevented former New York Mayor and billionaire media mogul Bloomberg from joining the previous forums.

Various Contributors (2020-02-01). The Times They Are a-Changin: Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Sometimes it feels like our world is falling apart, but real change is all around us…

Staff (2020-01-31). Inappropriate, Not Impeachable: Key GOP Senator's "Astonishing" Statement Clears Way for Acquittal. democracynow.org The Republican-led Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump as early as today in his historic impeachment trial. On Thursday night, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee announced he would vote against calling witnesses. Alexander said it was "inappropriate" for Trump to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political rival, but he went on to say "there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution's high bar for an impeachable offense." Democrats need four Republican senators to support calling for witnesses, bu…

RT (2020-01-31). Senate votes down Democrats' witness demand in Trump impeachment trial. rt.com The Republican-majority Senate has rejected Democrats' demand for additional witnesses in the impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump, paving the way for the likely acquittal verdict expected sometime next week. | Senators voted 51-49 not to call on more witnesses beyond the 18 that testified in the proceedings led by the House Democrats last year. | Two Republicans, Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), joined the Democrats in calling for additional witnesses — such as former national security adviser John Bolton. The rest of the GOP sided with the president's lawyers, who argued that…

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …

Fight Back (2020-01-31). Minnesotans tell Klobuchar to drop White House run. Reports say she sent innocent Black teen to prison for life. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – "A young African American man by the name of Myon Burrell has spent more than half of his life incarcerated in Minnesota prisons under the leadership of Amy Klobuchar. She was the Hennepin County Attorney and she played a role in Myon Burrell being prosecuted for a crime that he did not commit," said Nekima Levy Pounds of Racial Justice Network, as she opened a press conference on January 29. "We want to lift up family of Tyesha Edwards, who was the victim in this case, an 11-year-old innocent child who was shot and killed. The incident that happened to Tyesha is extremely devastating. It sent s…

Binoy Kampmark (2020-01-31). Paranoid Groundings and Technocratic States: Hillary Clinton versus Mark Zuckerberg. dissidentvoice.org It is another one of those contests and disagreements where the contestants should all loose, or at the very least, be subjected to a torturous stalemate. Hillary Clinton remains the nasty sprinkle on the Democratic Party in the United States, ever hopeful that some door might open to enable her to come sliding in, taking …

Staff (2020-01-31). Headlines for January 31, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Poised to Acquit President Trump in Impeachment Trial, World Health Organization Declares International Public Health Emergency, U.S. Special Envoy Warns of International Crisis in Idlib, Syria, Britain Formally Withdrawing from European Union Tonight, Pentagon Deploys 1st Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead-Armed Submarine, Trump Admin Poised to Loosen Restrictions on Use of Landmines, Human Rights Groups Condemn Mexico for Crackdown on Central American Migrants, Mexican Butterfly Conservationist Found Dead, Bolivia's Movement for Socialism Candidate Luis Arce Returns to Bolivia, U.S. Pushes EU to End Ban on Chemic…

Sasha Abramsky (2020-01-31). Our Courts Are a Growing Threat to Democracy. thenation.com Our Courts Are a Growing Threat to Democracy…

Aaron Maté (2020-01-31). Democrats Need to Break Their Cold War—Addled Impeachment Fever. thenation.com Democrats Need to Break Their Cold War—Addled Impeachment Fever…

Staff (2020-01-30). Ex-Solicitor General: Alan Dershowitz Is Wrong. Trump Is Not Above the Law & Should Be Impeached. democracynow.org President Trump's legal team offered an extraordinary new defense during Trump's impeachment trial on Wednesday. Attorney Alan Dershowitz said that a sitting president could take any action to boost his re-election chances if he felt his re-election was in the public interest. "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment," Dershowitz said. Trump was impeached by the House last month for freezing military aid to Ukraine in an effort to pressure Ukraine to open an investigation of Trump's politi…

Andre Vltchek (2020-01-30). How is Washington "Liberating" Free Countries. dissidentvoice.org There are obviously some serious linguistic issues and disagreements between the West and the rest of the world. Essential terms like "freedom", "democracy", "liberation", even "terrorism", are all mixed up and confused; they mean something absolutely different in New York, London, Berlin, and in the rest of the world. Before we begin analyzing, let us …

Staff (2020-01-30). Headlines for January 30, 2020. democracynow.org Rev. William Barber: Mitch McConnell Is Bringing Old Southern Justice to U.S. Senate, European Parliament Votes to Ratify Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 170, Racial Justice Groups Call on Klobuchar to Suspend Campaign, French Firefighters Clash with Riot Police in Latest Protests Against Pension Overhaul, Cuban Man Dies in ICE Custody, Marking 6th Death Since October, Salvadoran General Admits U.S.-Trained Forces Carried Out 1981 Massacre, South Dakota Passes Bill Criminalizing Gender-Affirming Surgery, #DignidadLiteraria: Latino Writers Launch Campaign in Response to "American Dirt"

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…

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…

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). 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…

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,

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Kevin Gosztola (2020-01-27). To rig primary against Bernie, DNC chair Tom Perez nominates regime-change agents, Israel lobbyists, and Wall Street consultants. thegrayzone.com With Senator Bernie Sanders surging in the polls, DNC chair Tom Perez has put forward a cartoonishly neoliberal cast of…

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…

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…

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…

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. …