(2020-02-07). Bloomberg becoming Oligarch-in-Chief of Democratic Party. mronline.org 
If Sanders wins the nomination, Michael Bloomberg and his filthy rich brethren are already preparing to fund and erect an alternative structure of dependable corporate governance. |
(2020-02-07). Enemies of Democracy: Neoliberalism and Authoritarian Finance. counterpunch.org 
Democracy is supposed to mean rule by people. In the West, it means rule by upper classes via periodic representational charades in which candidates represent corporate interests and occasionally throw crumbs to the public to pre-empt full-scale revolution. But now even establishment institutions are worried about the implications of the lack of genuine democracy in
(2020-02-07). Shadow Coding: the Iowa Caucus and Carl Jung. counterpunch.org 
Political observers, media commentators, politicians, citizens. Everybody seemed to have choice words for the 2020 Iowa caucus: Disaster. Meltdown. Debacle. The Iowa Democratic Party had commissioned a new mobile app, a data synchronization platform, which was supposed to report the voting counts. As we know, what ensued were delays, inconsistencies, chaos, and confusion. Frustrated presidential candidates,
(2020-02-07). Laurie Garrett: World Can't Let Racist Attitudes Impact Handling of Coronavirus Outbreak. democracynow.org 
The Chinese doctor who warned the government about a possible coronavirus outbreak has died after contracting the virus while working at Wuhan Central Hospital. Thirty-four-year-old ophthalmologist Li Wenliang warned his fellow medical workers about coronavirus on December 30. He was then investigated by police and accused of "making false comments." His death has sparked a wave of anger and outrage in China, where the hashtag "We want freedom of speech" went viral on Chinese social media site Weibo this week. The death toll from the coronavirus has now topped 630 people in China, with more than 31,000 confirmed…
(2020-02-07). Trump says Democrats should 'expunge' his impeachment. rt.com 
Still in a celebratory mood after his acquittal in the Senate, US President Donald Trump said Democrats should 'expunge' his impeachment, as their accusations against him were false. | "That's a very good question," Trump said when asked by a journalist whether the Democrats should "expunge" his impeachment in the House. | The president expressed confidence that "they should, because it was a hoax; it was a total political hoax." | He ripped into his Democratic opponents, saying that "they've gone totally crazy" and claiming they suffer from a "bad case" of "Trump derangement syndrome." | There's a lot of evil…
(2020-02-07). Risk of Nuclear War Rises as U.S. Deploys a New Nuclear Weapon for the First Time Since the Cold War. democracynow.org 
The Federation of American Scientists revealed in late January that the U.S. Navy had deployed for the first time a submarine armed with a low-yield Trident nuclear warhead. The USS Tennessee deployed from Kings Bay Submarine Base in Georgia in late 2019. The W76-2 warhead, which is facing criticism at home and abroad, is estimated to have about a third of the explosive power of the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) called the news "an alarming development that heightens the risk of nuclear war." We're joined by William Arkin, longtime reporter…
(2020-02-07). Dems must focus on removing Trump from the White House. peoplesworld.org 
DES MOINES, Iowa — Confusion surrounding the Iowa Caucus results continued Feb. 6 after Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez called for a re-canvass of votes to ensure their full integrity. The chaos is likely the final nail in the coffin of the Iowa caucus, long criticized as undemocratic and unrepresentative of Democratic base voters. …
(2020-02-07). Targeting Gender Nonconforming Youth. counterpunch.org 
The U.S. has been a battlefield over cultural values for nearly 50 years. In states throughout the country, the religious right — together with local Republicans — have built an influential political movement to impose their moral values. Donald Trump's appointment of two conservatives to the Supreme Court has emboldened the religious right to press
(2020-02-07). Trump, Racism, and Fascism — More than Just Personality Disorders. counterpunch.org 
After the supposedly post-racial presidency of Barack Obama, what passes for the liberal punditry discovered racism had arisen in the homeland. They never felt so good feeling bad about racism, denouncing what they identified as its primal cause — Mr. Trump, who was sullying that "shining example" of the United States of America. Obscured were
(2020-02-07). Jacobin's Bhaskar Sunkara on the Iowa caucuses: Don't lose faith in the Democrats. wsws.org Writing in the Guardian, Sunkara claims that "we should have confidence" in the "integrity" of the vote in Iowa, arguing that the DNC will not "steal the election from Bernie Sanders."
(2020-02-07). Lee Camp: They're Going to Try to Steal California From Sanders (Again). mintpressnews.com Californians should be forewarned that if they want to vote for someone outside the centrists — say, Bernie Sanders — they need to change their party affiliation to either Democrat or No Party Preference. But it gets even worse, writes Lee Camp.
(2020-02-07). The Clinton Machine Will Do Anything to Stop Bernie Sanders. truthdig.com The
(2020-02-07). The DNC Can't Slow Bernie Sanders' Momentum. truthdig.com Committee Chair Tom Perez is making a big push to prevent the Vermont senator from securing the nomination. It may be too little too late.
(2020-02-07). Democrats seek to suppress Sanders victory in Iowa. wsws.org The effort to conceal or suppress reports of Senator Bernie Sanders' victory in the Iowa caucuses reached a new stage Thursday with DNC Chairman Tom Perez calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to recanvass the state.
(2020-02-07). Don't Let Corporate Media or DNC Fool You — Sanders Scored a Big Win in Iowa. truthout.org Bernie Sanders's supporters remain justifiably outraged at the way the results of the Iowa caucus were reported and misreported. Yet, there is much for these supporters to celebrate. Sanders, who declared victory in the Iowa caucus yesterday, leaves Iowa as the likely front-runner in the race for the 2020 Democratic primary. The corporate media will do everything they can to avoid acknowledging this, but the data do not leave room for any other logical conclusion. | Under tremendous pressure, em…
(2020-02-07). Iowa debacle fueled by anti-Bernie billionaires, Russiagate hucksters, failed DNC elites. thegrayzone.com Max Blumenthal breaks down the shadowy network of billionaires, Democratic elites, and Russiagate profiteers behind the Shadow app that ruined…
(2020-02-07). Headlines for February 7, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Lashed Out at "Evil" Lawmakers Who Voted to Impeach Him, Sanders and Buttigieg Virtually Tied with 100% of Iowa Precincts Reporting, Buttigieg Campaign Moves to Cut Ties with Head of Data Company That Contracts with ICE, Chinese Doctor Who Raised Alarm of Coronavirus Has Died, Trump Says Pentagon Killed Leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Israeli Forces Kill 3 More Palestinians Amid Growing Protests, Canadian Police Raid Indigenous Wet'suwet'en Protest Camp, 20 Miners Trapped in Underground Mine in Zimbabwe, Brazilian Judge Declines to Pursue Charges Against Glenn Greenwald, El Salvador Says It Is…
(2020-02-07). Sanders Campaign Found More Than a Dozen "Discrepancies" in Iowa Delegate Data. truthout.org Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and CNN came under fire late Thursday for uncritically boosting the latest batch of Iowa Democratic caucus results, which — as documented by news outlets and observers — contained a number of glaring errors that the Iowa Democratic Party has yet to fix. | After CNN anchor Chris Cuomo
(2020-02-07). Pete Buttigieg Blasted for Declaring Himself 'Official' Victor in Iowa. truthdig.com Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and CNN came under fire late Thursday for uncritically boosting the latest batch of Iowa Democratic caucus results, which—as documented by news outlets and observers—contained a number of glaring errors that the Iowa Democratic Party has yet to fix. | After CNN anchor Chris Cuomo
(2020-02-07). Democratic governor gives right-wing response to Trump State of the Union address. wsws.org The Democratic Party rebuttal included hypocritical invocations of democracy, demagogic appeals to struggling workers and falsification of the party's reactionary record.
(2020-02-07). Election Politics: From Chaos to an Emerging Political Consciousness? globalresearch.ca The disintegration of Iowa's Democratic caucus before the nation's disbelieving eyes could not be a better metaphor for what some are calling the Evolutionary Shift of the Ages. In a nutshell, a shift in the nature of reality is underway …
(2020-02-07). Failed Prosecutions: Donald Trump Survives the Senate. globalresearch.ca Never undertake a prosecution unless you have good grounds, and prospects, for a solid conviction. In the case against President Donald Trump, there was never a serious prospect that the Senate would cool sufficiently to give the Democrats the …
(2020-02-07). Media, Democratic Establishment Panics as Sanders Predicted to Sweep All 50 States. mintpressnews.com No matter how much mainstream media and establishment Democratic pols attempt to spin the results, Iowa has many of those in the establishment very worried, to say the least.
(2020-02-07). The Census Is Not Safe From Donald Trump. truthdig.com When the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Trump administration could not place a citizenship question on the 2020 census, civil rights advocates breathed a sigh of relief. | Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, called the outcome "a victory for democracy." | "The administration deliberately sought to increase the political power of whites at the expense of already underrepresented communities," Johnson said in a Trump administration officials h…
(2020-02-07). J31 "Fare Strike" Protest at New York's Grand Central Station. globalresearch.ca Just a few hours before the J31 Fare Strike convened at Grand Central Station, I had the opportunity to speak with Mayor de Blasio as a call-in to the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. I alerted the Mayor to the …
(2020-02-07). To Quit or Not to Acquit, That Was the Question. counterpunch.org "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins" — John Locke Two Treatises of Government February 5, 2020. Think of it as "a day which will live in infamy." It is, of course, the day the Republican majority in the U.S Senate decided to quit the Constitution rather than not to acquit a tyrannical president. Is it not a
(2020-02-07). Trump May Not be a Dictator, But He Has a Despot's Sense of Impunity. counterpunch.org Now that President Trump has been "acquitted" in a sham trial by the Republican-controlled Senate and given unfettered license to act as he pleases, is there a real danger that he will become a dictator? According to Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the House impeachment managers,
(2020-02-07). San Francisco In Nationwide Rejection of Senate Coverup. indybay.org Protest on Market Street against Republican Whitewash of Gangster President…
(2020-02-07). Universal Coverage Is Not Only Realistic, It's a Better System. thenation.com Universal Coverage Is Not Only Realistic, It's a Better System…
(2020-02-07). Sanders Surged in Iowa on a Wave of New Voters. thenation.com Sanders Surged in Iowa on a Wave of New Voters…
(2020-02-07). Tracking Down Mayor Pete's Black Voter Problem. thenation.com Tracking Down Mayor Pete's Black Voter Problem…
(2020-02-07). Live Chat: Watch the 8th Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'. thenation.com Live Chat: Watch the 8th Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'
(2020-02-07). The Erasure of Elizabeth Warren Continues. thenation.com The Erasure of Elizabeth Warren Continues…
(2020-02-07). Former Republican lawmaker Walsh ends bid to challenge Trump for White House. yenisafak.com "I can't stop him in a Republican primary, but I can sure do my level best to try to stop him … by bringing people together," Walsh told CNN in an interview on Friday.
(2020-02-07). Joe Walsh Ends Republican Primary Challenge Against Trump: 'No One Can Defeat Him'. sputniknews.com The decision comes after Joe Walsh obtained merely one percent of the vote in the 2020 Iowa Republican caucuses on 3 February.
(2020-02-07). "The Squad" Joins Town Hall With Grassroots Activists on Critical Issues of 2020. truthout.org The live streamed event will proudly feature four of the bravest and most progressive voices for change the U.S. Congress has seen in decades: Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as well as prominent artists, activists and organizers. | We are pleased to partner with the award-winning team at Democracy Now! To publicize this event. Author and Democracy Now co-host Nermeen Shaikh will moderate. | We will also be joined by activists hosting watch part…
(2020-02-07). Roaming Charges: When Satan Quotes Scripture. counterpunch.org 
The caucus system has been fetishized by the political pundit class for decades as an example of small state "town hall" style democracy in action. In fact, they're anti-democratic, often controlled by party bosses, where, lacking secret ballots, people bullied into voting with the mob. Less than 10 percent of registered Democrats turn out for these spectacles, far less than 60 percent you'd expect to vote in a primary. In the last few election cycles, however, Obama, Ron Paul and Sanders figured out how to exploit some of the weaknesses of the caucus system to defeat the bosses, which has resulted in the party t…
(2020-02-07). Human Rights Watch: 200 Salvadoran Asylum Seekers Killed, Raped or Tortured After U.S. Deportation. democracynow.org 
A shocking new report says at least 200 Salvadoran asylum seekers were either killed, raped or tortured after being deported from the United States back to El Salvador. Human Rights Watch found that some 138 people deported to El Salvador were murdered by gang members, police, soldiers, death squads or ex-partners between 2013 and 2019. The report says most of the victims were killed within two years after being deported, by the same perpetrators the asylum seekers had fled from. From Denver, Colorado, we speak to Clara Long, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch. And joining us from El Salvador, we speak to "
(2020-02-06). Sanders declares victory in Iowa as DNC demands a 'recanvass'. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has declared victory in the Iowa caucus after three days of chaotic counting and recounting, calling the popular vote in his own favor with 97 percent of precincts reporting. | "What I want to do is thank the people of Iowa for the victory they gave us on Monday night," Sanders said in a press conference on Thursday. With some 97 percent of precincts reporting, the Vermont senator is ahead in the popular vote by over 6,000, but still lags slightly in delegates behind South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg. | Thank you Iowa for bringing our campaign to victory! W…
(2020-02-06). Feel the Bern? Sanders takes lead in New Hampshire, him & Buttigieg gain ground nationwide after Iowa caucus fail — polls. rt.com 
Following the Iowa caucus fiasco — the results of which are still unclear— Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders have gained support, with the latter taking quite a solid lead in New Hampshire, fresh polls indicate. | All eyes are now on New Hampshire, where the next Democratic primary is set to take place on Tuesday. | Sanders enjoys 24 percent support in the state, according to a poll by Monmouth University released on Thursday. This gives him a solid lead over the rest of the Democratic candidates with former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Buttigieg in second place with 20 percent support, while former Vic…
(2020-02-06). Chaos Continues in Iowa as Democrats Mistakenly Award Delegates for Bernie Sanders to Deval Patrick. democracynow.org 
Results from Monday's Iowa caucuses continue to trickle in, with 97% of precincts reporting as of Thursday morning. Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are now in a virtual tie. Sanders maintains a lead in the popular vote, but Buttigieg has a slight advantage in what's known as the "state delegate equivalent" race. Buttigieg has 26.2% of state delegate equivalents, while Sanders is at 26.1%. The New York Times is now predicting Sanders has a greater chance of winning overall, in part because of the Vermont senator's overwhelming strength in satellite caucuses. Responding to widespre…
(2020-02-06). Coronavirus kills 69 more people in China's Hubei as total cases soar beyond 31,000. rt.com 
China's Hubei province, the epicenter of a lethal viral outbreak, has reported just shy of 2,500 additional cases of the illness and 69 new deaths, bringing the worldwide disease toll to over 31,000, with at least 639 fatalities. | As the spread of the novel coronavirus begins to slow in Hubei, the World Health Organization said on Thursday that it was too early to conclude that the outbreak had reached its peak, with the executive director of the agency's Health Emergencies Program, Mike Ryan, telling a conference in Geneva it was "too early to make predictions on numbers." The day before marked one of the de…
(2020-02-06). Historian: With Impeachment Acquittal, the GOP Has Given Trump a Blank Check to Do Anything He Wants. democracynow.org 
The U.S. Senate has acquitted President Trump of two impeachment charges in just the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Trump was accused of abusing power and obstructing Congress to aid his re-election campaign by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Every Democratic senator voted to remove President Trump from office, but they were joined by just one Republican: Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, who supported impeaching Trump on abuse of power. Romney became the first senator ever to vote against his own party's president in an impeachment trial. President Trump respond…
(2020-02-06). Erasing History: The National Archives Is Destroying Records About Victims of Trump's ICE Policies. democracynow.org 
Last month, the National Archives and Records Administration apologized for doctoring a photo of the 2017 Women's March to remove criticisms of President Trump. The shocking revelation that the agency had altered the image was first reported in The Washington Post. 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 signs referencing Trump had been blurred to remove his name — including a poster reading "God Hates Trump" and another reading "Trump & GOP — Hands Off Women." Other signs in the photo refere…
(2020-02-06). PRO Act passes; BlueGreen Alliance says green union jobs possible. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Turning aside a multitude of Republican "poison pill" schemes, the Democratic-run U.S. House passed the Protect The Right To Organize (PRO) Act, the nation's most-comprehensive pro-worker labor law reform in decades, 224-194. Five Republicans and 219 Democrats voted for it. And as strenuous worker lobbying by e-mail and toll-free phone preceded the Feb. 6 late-evening …
(2020-02-06). PHONY liberal media turns Republican Romney into HERO for sticking it to Trump (just like it did McCain & Bush). rt.com 
Mitt Romney is the latest token Republican being hoisted up on the shoulders of the mainstream media thanks to his "courageous" decision to defy Donald Trump by voting with Democrats to impeach the president. | You would think the Utah senator single-handedly defeated Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and then rescued a few kittens out of trees on his way home the way the media is writing about him. | The New Yorker declared that the former presidential candidate "seized" a chance to "rewrite his own place in history" with his impeachment vote. | An opinion piece in the Washington Post deemed the decision "cou…
(2020-02-06). Trump slams Romney & Pelosi for faith-based hypocrisy during impeachment. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump took a veiled swipe at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the sole Republican senator to vote for his removal, Mitt Romney, slamming those who use their faith to justify "doing what they know is wrong." | Trump avoided calling the sanctimonious pair out by name during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, but everyone listening seemed to know which "very dishonest and corrupt people" he was referring to with his accusations of rank religious hypocrisy. | President Trump: "I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like…
(2020-02-06). 'Must have studied theology at Trump University': Donald Jr. schooled after trying for Pelosi diss with Bible reference. rt.com 
Donald Trump Jr. got an unexpected Bible lesson when going after Nancy Pelosi with a Satan reference and learned that he didn't know the holy text well enough. | Don Jr. has plenty of reasons to insult Pelosi, but his latest diss didn't really hit the mark. | "Likelihood of Nancy Pelosi praying for Trump is about the same as the likelihood of Satan running around quoting the Scriptures," Trump Jr. tweeted in response to a video of his father at the National Prayer Breakfast criticizing people who "use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong." | Likelihood of Nancy Pelosi praying for Trum…
(2020-02-06). A Neoliberal Legacy: America's Fascism Problem Runs Much Deeper Than Trump. mintpressnews.com 
In recent years, the press reports of racist young whites attracted to far-right persuasions including flirting with fascism. But are they the cause or the consequence?
(2020-02-06). With 97 Percent of Iowa Results in, Sanders Leads Buttigieg in Popular Vote. truthout.org A new batch of Iowa Democratic caucus results released in the early hours of Thursday morning showed Sen. Bernie Sanders almost completely wiping out Pete Buttigieg's narrow lead in state delegate equivalents while extending his popular vote lead over the former South Bend, Indiana mayor to With 97% of precincts reporting, Sanders trails Buttigieg by just three state delegate equivalents [mdash…
(2020-02-06). Sanders Claims Victory in Iowa With 97 Percent of Precincts In. telesurenglish.net The office of Senator Bernie Sanders reported the victory of the candidate in the caucus of the Democratic Party in Iowa, almost completely wiping out Pete Buttigieg's narrow lead in state delegate equivalents while extending his popular vote lead to more than 2,500 votes. | RELATED: | After projecting late Wednesday that Buttigieg would "very likely" emerge victorious from the Iowa debacle, the New York Times drastica…
(2020-02-06). Democrats Mistakenly Award Iowa Delegates for Bernie Sanders to Deval Patrick. truthout.org Results from Monday's Iowa caucuses continue to trickle in, with 97% of precincts reporting as of Thursday morning. Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are now in a virtual tie. Sanders maintains a lead in the popular vote, but Buttigieg has a slight advantage in what's known as the "state delegate equivalent" race. Buttigieg has 26.2% of state delegate equivalents, while Sanders is at 26.1%. The New York Times is now predicting Sanders has a greater chance of winn…
(2020-02-06). Bernie Sanders Reports Massive January Haul After Iowa Debacle. truthdig.com Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign announced Thursday that it raised a staggering $25 million in the month of January alone, by far the biggest fundraising month of the senator's campaign and a larger haul than his 2020 Democratic rivals posted in any full quarter of 2019. | The campaign said over 219,000 of the total 648,000 January donors were new, and the average donation was just over $18. Teacher was the most common profession of January donors and the most common employers were Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, the United States Postal Service, and Target. | More than 99.9% of Sanders' donors have not max…
(2020-02-06). Video: Syrian Army Advance in Idlib Province. Netanyahu and Erdogan to the Rescue of Al Qaeda. globalresearch.ca In Greater Idlib the defences of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other favorites of the foreign powers supporting 'Syrian democracy' are collapsing. | On February 5, the Syrian Army, supported by Russian airpower, took control of a number of villages in southeastern …
(2020-02-06). DNC Calls for a 'Recanvass' of Iowa Results After Delays. truthdig.com "Enough is enough," party leader Tom Perez writes on Twitter, after days of chaos; Buttigieg and Sanders are nearly tied for first.
(2020-02-06). The Shambles of English Votes for English Laws. globalresearch.ca The idea of Scotland as a valued member of a Union based on consensus is in tatters. The idea of a parliament representing the whole of the United Kingdom is no longer credible. In a week in which Westminster democracy …
(2020-02-06). Trudeau Government's Effort to Overthrow Venezuelan Government. dissidentvoice.org What's more likely to shape Canadian policy in the Hemisphere: human rights and democracy or bankers' bottom-line? Last week Venezuelan politician Juan Guaidó was fêted in Ottawa. The self-declared president met Canada's Prime Minister, international development minister and foreign minister. Trudeau said, "I commend Interim President Guaidó for the courage and leadership he has shown …
(2020-02-06). Of Course Bloomberg's an Oligarch—and He's Coming For Your Social Security. commondreams.org Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg speaks during the kickoff of his "Get it Done Express" bus tour as a protester holds up a sign reading "Billionaires Should Not Buy Elections" at the Dollarhide Community Center in Compton, California on February 3, 2020. (Photo: Frederic J. Bown / AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bloomberg_social_security_2020.jpg …
(2020-02-06). An American Drama: Republican Senators Sabotaged Donald Trump's Impeachment Trial. globalresearch.ca The die is cast. —History will record that Republican senators in the U.S. Senate used their majority to sabotage the impeachment trial of Donald Trump and, in so doing, de facto exonerated him of abuse of power and of obstruction …
(2020-02-06). What's Next Front in Trump's Battle Over Presidential Powers?>. telesurenglish.net Both in Federal courts and in the Senate, U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyers have argued that the Constitution confers on a president broad protection from scrutiny by Congress, prosecutors, and the judiciary for his actions. | RELATED: | This expansive view of presidential powers may have helped the Republican president win acquittal, and for now, he is the first impeached president to seek re-election. | The final verd…
(2020-02-06). Republicans Have Weakened Congress in Order to Protect Trump. truthout.org In the United States, money is synonymous with merit. There is a presumption at the core of capitalism's narrative that if you are wealthy, you earned it through virtue and "hard work," not theft or nepotism. This mythology helped fuel the deregulation that led to the financial crisis, and it is also part of President Trump's rise. Trump's wealth earned him prestige in the eyes of millions, who in turn handed him the power of the presidency. And Trump's wealth and power has now led Congress to declare him ab…
(2020-02-06). Organizers Won't Let Trump Dismantle Medicaid. commondreams.org Organizers rally to protect access to affordable health care. (Photo: New Jersey Organizing Project.) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/unnamed_1_0.jpg …
(2020-02-06). Trump, Racism, and Fascism: More than Just Personality Disorders. dissidentvoice.org After the supposedly post-racial presidency of Barack Obama, what passes for the liberal punditry discovered racism had arisen in the homeland. They never felt so good feeling bad about racism, denouncing what they identified as its primal cause — Mr. Trump, who was sullying that "shining example" of the United States of America. Obscured were …
(2020-02-06). Tulsi Gabbard in New Hampshire. thenation.com Tulsi Gabbard in New Hampshire…
(2020-02-06). Headlines for February 6, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Senate Acquits Trump of Two Impeachment Charges, Iowa Caucus: Sanders & Buttigieg Virtually Tied with 97% of Precincts Reporting | , Newborn Baby Becomes Youngest Person Diagnosed with Coronavirus as Death Toll in China Hits 560, Human Rights Watch: 138 Salvadoran Asylum Seekers Killed After Being Deported from U.S., DHS: New York Residents Can No Longer Participate in Trusted Traveler Programs | , Jair Bolsonaro Introduces Bill to Clear Way for Mining, Oil Extraction in Brazilian Amazon | , Nicolás Maduro: Trump Taking U.S. Toward "High-Level Conflict with Venezuela" | , Thousands Protest in Algeria for 50t…
(2020-02-06). #BernieWonIA Trending as Bernie Supporters Take Messaging Into Their Own Hands Amid Iowa Debacle. commondreams.org Buttigieg "is not a victim here," said journalist and commentator Krystal Ball. "Pete got three days of saying he was the winner." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/iowa_caucus_shit_show.jpg …
(2020-02-06). 'In Law School They Called This Conflict of Interest': Tlaib Objects to Paid Bloomberg Staffers on DNC Committees. commondreams.org Rep. Rashida Tlaib accused the Democratic National Committee and two members of its rules committees of having a conflict of interest following reports that the members are also working on former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/rashida_tlaib_4_0.jpg …
(2020-02-06). The Time Is NOW For The PRO Act To Protect Workers. commondreams.org Jennifer Epps-Addison, Rahna Epting, George Goehl, Leah Greenberg, et al. | "In 2018, Democrats promised working people that they would take action to strengthen our democracy and boost our paychecks," write the authors. "Passing labor law reform is the surest way to deliver on that promise. Working people have never stopped fighting for their rights. Now it's time for Congress to join their fight." (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/workers_0.png …
(2020-02-05). Sanders & Buttigieg Lead in Early Iowa Results After Faulty App Leads to Catastrophe at Caucus. democracynow.org 
The final results of Monday's Democratic Iowa caucuses remain unknown, with 71% of precincts reporting the final tallies of the first 2020 presidential contest. Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in the popular vote, while former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a narrow lead of 26.8% of precincts — the state delegate equivalent traditionally used to determine the winner — followed by Sanders with 25.2%. Sanders won the popular vote in both the first and second rounds of voting, followed by Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Former Vice President Joe Biden placed fourth, followed by Senator Amy…
(2020-02-05). 'Pete Buttigieg is the Juan Guaido of America': Lee Camp calls out conspiracy of 'intentional chaos' by Dem establishment. rt.com 
Democratic Party insiders bankrolled the defective vote-counting app that has delayed the reporting of Iowa caucus totals so as to deny likely winner Bernie Sanders a 'bump' and let Pete Buttigieg claim victory, Lee Camp told RT. | The party's establishment wing and its mainstream media stenographers are colluding to memory-hole the disastrous Iowa caucus vote and prop up their preferred candidates, muscling Sanders out of the way to position Buttigieg as the front-runner, Camp said on his Moment of Clarity podcast on Tuesday. | Describing the exhaustive establishment links to the faulty vote-reporting app…
(2020-02-05). Don't be confused by Romney jumping ship — impeachment is about sticking to party lines. rt.com 
Impeachment supporters earned two more allies in Senators Mitt Romney and Doug Jones, but this process is about sticking to partisan camps when it comes to Donald Trump, not looking for truth. | Romney is the latest conservative hero to the left as he has announced he will vote to impeach the president on one of the two counts against him, abuse of power. Trump has been accused of attempting quid pro quo with Ukraine by withholding federal aid in exchange for an investigation into Joe Biden. | After an "unbiased look at the evidence," Romney says he has no choice but to follow his "conscience." | Since Romney…
(2020-02-05). Elections 2020: Iowa Dems release partial Caucus results. peoplesworld.org 
Across the nation, all eyes and ears piqued with curiosity for the Monday night, Feb. 3, Iowa Democratic caucus results. The results itself would be either a bellwether for change, showing voters supporting more progressive presidential candidates, or a continuation of the status quo—a "traditional" liberal, center-left, "safe" candidate. This year's caucuses were slightly different …
(2020-02-05). Impeachment over: Senate votes to acquit Trump. rt.com 
The US Senate has voted to acquit President Donald Trump of impeachment charges brought by the House Democrats, ending the attempt to oust him from the White House ahead of the November 2020 elections. | The final vote on the first charge (abuse of power) was 52-48, with Mitt Romney (R-Utah) crossing the aisle to vote "guilty" alongside the Democrats. The vote on the second charge (obstruction of Congress) was 53-47, with Romney returning to the fold. It would have taken 67 votes to convict Trump on either count. | "Donald John Trump, president of the United States, is hereby acquitted," Chief Justice of the U…
(2020-02-05). Trump's State of the Union breaks his lies-per-minute record. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., had a great evaluation of GOP President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, even before he gave it. "I think we're going to hear lies," the Democrat from Chicago's North Side and adjoining suburbs said. She was right. Analysis of Trump's speech shows it was filled with omissions, slurs against …
(2020-02-05). Publisher Agrees to Boost Latinx Representation After Backlash to Whitewashed Novel "American Dirt" democracynow.org 
We look at the massive backlash and criticism against the novel "American Dirt" as a movement led by Latinx writers declares victory, demanding more representation in the publishing industry. Dignidad Literaria, or literary dignity, formed in response to the controversial immigration novel "American Dirt." The author, Jeanine Cummins, who is not Mexican, received a seven-figure advance for the book, and it was chosen for Oprah's Book Club. But its critics say "American Dirt" exploits and misrepresents Mexico and the experience of Mexican migrants. Critics also say the novel completely erases the voices of Central…
(2020-02-05). Roberto Lovato: Dems & GOP Share Same Playbook on Immigration, Foreign Policy & Corporate Domination. democracynow.org 
President Trump delivered his 2020 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. The speech reprised many of the themes of Trump's 2016 campaign, including demonization of immigrants. We continue our discussion with Lee Fang, investigative journalist at The Intercept, and Roberto Lovato, author of the forthcoming book "Unforgetting: A Memoir of Revolution and Redemption." About 10 Democrats skipped the speech and a few more walked out while it was in progress, but Lovato says the Democratic establishment doesn't differ with Trump on many key issues. "Nancy Pelosi may have ripped the speech…
(2020-02-05). Pelosi the paper (ripping) tiger: Pro-wrestling theatrics at SOTU fail to pull the wool in latest divide & conquer move. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's speech-ripping performance at President Donald Trump's SOTU isn't fooling disaffected Democrats, who want a leader who actually stands up to the president, rather than #Resistance theatrics. | Pelosi's if-looks-could-kill glare and paper-tearing finale at the president's yearly address to Congress on Tuesday may have dominated the discussion on social media through the night, but for every blue-check cheering for "Nancy the Ripper," there was a jaded progressive wondering what happened to genuine opposition. | Democrats handed Trump a blank check to make war, a massive military bud…
(2020-02-05). The facts about Ukraine that no one mentioned during the impeachment trial. peoplesworld.org 
As the Senate impeachment trial comes to its preordained conclusion, we need to keep a number of points in mind that no Democrat or Republican has been talking about during all these weeks and months of political drama—points related to the matter of Ukraine. The overwhelming majority of Americans would not question the competence, honesty, …
(2020-02-05). 'The best is yet to come'? Defiant Trump doubles down in campaign rally-style State of the Union speech. rt.com 
Teased as "low key," US President Donald Trump's annual address to Congress was anything but, with several unprecedented symbolic gestures and a powerful assertion of American triumphalism that put his critics on the back foot. | Trump did not mention impeachment once in the 90-minute speech on Tuesday evening. Instead, he turned his persuasion skills up to eleven, painting a picture of America with a booming economy and infinite opportunities brought about by his administration, and contrasting that with Democrat proposals such as socialized healthcare and sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. | Amid the sta…
(2020-02-05). In State of the Union, Trump Celebrates Hate & Xenophobia While Touting "Great American Comeback" democracynow.org 
President Trump delivered his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, just a day before the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to vote to acquit him in the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Trump's speech, which focused heavily on the economy and immigration, sounded at times like a campaign rally, with Republican lawmakers chanting "Four more years!" He never once mentioned his impeachment trial. Prior to the speech, Trump refused to shake House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's hand, and once the speech was over, Pelosi was seen on television ripping up her copy of Trump's remarks. She la…
(2020-02-05). Sweet revenge? WATCH Pelosi tear up Trump's State of the Union speech after he snubs handshake. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up President Donald Trump's SOTU speech after fuming through the well-applauded yearly address. The gesture was met with cheers and jeers, divided along the usual partisan lines. | Pelosi looked barely able to contain her rage as she tore up what the White House has confirmed was Trump's 78-minute speech. While her supporters cheered the gesture of defiance — those who saw it, at least, and weren't boycotting the speech entirely — Republicans were appalled. |
(2020-02-05). Unleash the meme war! Pompeo mocks Pelosi's speech-tearing stunt with 'Simpsons' screenshot. rt.com 
The grandstanding between President Trump and Speaker Pelosi during the State of the Union address has triggered an avalanche of memes online, with Mike Pompeo taking part among others. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted a 'Simpsons' meme showing a tearful Lisa Simpson tearing papers into shreds in season 3 of the popular series. | The obvious dig at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who tore in half her…
(2020-02-05). Headlines for February 5, 2020. democracynow.org Partial Results from Iowa Caucus Show Buttigieg Leading in Delegate Count, Democrats Boycott & Walk Out of Trump's State of the Union Address, Death Toll of Coronavirus Approaches 500, Report: Israel Pushes U.S. to Recognize Moroccan Sovereignty over Occupied Western Sahara, Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Rattles Puerto Rico, Canadian Court Dismisses Indigenous Challenge to Trans Mountain Pipeline, Homelessness Among School-Age Children Hits Decade-Long High, HBO Max Picks Up Documentary "On the Record", Judge Reverses Convictions of No More Deaths Volunteers…
(2020-02-05). Ecuador: CNE Starts Planning 2021 General Elections. telesurenglish.net The National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE) introduced the new Democracy Code ahead of 2021 general elections for both President and assembly. | RELATED: | Among the main changes in the code, there is gender parity in the formulation of electoral lists and the creation of a new computer system for the control of campaign spending. | Furthermore, the Contentious Electoral Tribunal does not have the power to dismi…
(2020-02-05). SOTU: Democratic "Resistance" Give Trump's Venezuela Aggression a Standing Ovation. mintpressnews.com Perhaps the loudest applause heard during Trump's State of the Union Address was reserved for Venezuala's Juan Guaidó, as Democrats and Republicans rose as one to salute the self-declared president.
(2020-02-05). The US Is 'in Denial' About Levels of Poverty: Ocasio-Cortez. telesurenglish.net Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) testified Wednesday before her House committee about the United States government's intentional denial to acknowledge how many U.S. citizens are living in poverty. | RELATED: | AOC joined several anti-poverty campaigners in testifying at a hearing on the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies on child poverty, hunger, homelessness, and healthcare. | She called on the…
(2020-02-05). Republican Senators Just Sold Out Democracy. thenation.com Republican Senators Just Sold Out Democracy…
(2020-02-04). 'Why are you voting for Putin?' Tulsi Gabbard supporters harassed at Iowa caucuses. rt.com 
A Tulsi Gabbard supporter was physically attacked with a Sharpie marker and called a Russian terrorist after voicing support for the candidate at an Iowa caucus, one of several reports of Gabbard supporters being "abused." | Caucusing for the Hawaii congresswoman can be hazardous to one's health, if reports from Monday's botched vote in Iowa are any indication. Journalist Dack Rouleau accidentally triggered a supporter of billionaire candidate Tom Steyer into a full-on Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation culminating in physical attack when he casually mentioned that he would be voting for Gabbard. | The man on the…
(2020-02-04). Buttigieg leading, Sanders close 2nd in US Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses based on partial results. rt.com 
Pete Buttigieg is leading Bernie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, based on partial results from the first contest in the 2020 Democrat presidential nomination process, marred by confusion and chaos blamed on "coding errors." | The Iowa Democratic Party released the tally from 62 percent of the precincts in all of the state's 99 counties on Tuesday afternoon, almost an entire day after the caucuses ended. The South Bend, Indiana mayor had already declared victory in the media, while the Vermont senator's campaign said it had data showing otherwise. | The process was marred by chaos and confusion at multiple caucus…
(2020-02-04). Can Bernie Sanders Defeat Trump? Jacobin's Bhaskar Sunkara & The Atlantic's David Frum Debate. democracynow.org 
After a chaotic night in Iowa, the focus of the Democratic race has now shifted to New Hampshire. Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in most New Hampshire polls a week ahead of the state's primary. While Sanders has been surging in popularity across parts of the country, the Democratic Party establishment is openly expressing concern that the self-described democratic socialist could win the nomination. While Bernie Sanders faces attacks from the corporate wing of the Democratic Party, many of his supporters say he is the candidate best suited to beat Trump in November. We host a debate with two guests who have di…
(2020-02-04). Chaos in Iowa: Caucus Results Delayed, But Bernie Sanders' Internal Data Shows He May Have Won. democracynow.org 
The Iowa Democratic Party delayed releasing results from Monday's caucuses after uncovering inconsistencies in the reporting of data. Caucuses were held in 1,600 precincts across the state on Monday, but many precincts had trouble reporting the delegate totals to the state Democratic Party. Part of the blame was placed on a new smartphone app designed to help precinct chairs tabulate and report the vote. Early Tuesday morning, Bernie Sanders's campaign released internal caucus numbers from 40% of the precincts in Iowa showing the Vermont senator was in first place with nearly 30% of the final count vote. Accordin…
(2020-02-04). State of the union 'boycott': AOC & Ayanna bravely skip, Ilhan & Tlaib bravely go, but either way it's #Resistance. rt.com 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley will skip Trump's State of the Union address, while Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib will attend as an act of "resistance." | It appears the congressional "squad" of freshman Democrats is divided on how best to resist President Donald Trump. | The New York Democrat known as AOC announced she will not be attending Tuesday night's State of the Union address from the president. She says her presence will "legitimize" Trump. | After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump's lawless conduct & subversion of the…
(2020-02-04). 'Traitor': Rand Paul blows up liberal minds by 'identifying' whistleblower on Senate floor with clever stunt. rt.com 
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul made waves with both Republicans and Democrats when he named the whistleblower who originally accused US President Donald Trump of quid pro quo with Ukraine. | Speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Paul made it clear he was still upset over Chief Justice Roberts refusing to ask a question from him last week regarding the whistleblower whose report kicked off the current impeachment trial. | "The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted," Roberts told Paul after reading the question to himself. | Paul took his time speaking on Tuesday as his opportunity to final…
(2020-02-04). Billionaire pro-Israel Buttigieg backer Seth Klarman funds 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-Bernie Sanders billionaires. Its top…
(2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>
(2020-02-04). Headlines for February 4, 2020. democracynow.org Delay in Iowa Democratic Primary Results Causes Confusion, Mixed Messages, Final Arguments Made in Impeachment Trial of President Trump Ahead of SOTU, Hong Kong Medical Workers Demand Border Closure as Coronavirus Claims Life of Hong Kong Man, Leaked Audio Shows Iran Knew It Downed Ukraine Jet Despite Early Denials, Syrian and Turkish Forces Escalate Attacks as Turkey Suffers First Losses from Direct Combat, Massachusetts Prisoners Allege Violent Retaliatory Abuse by Guards, Trial Begins For Ex-CIA Software Engineer Accused of "Vault 7" Leak, Weinstein Rape Accuser Breaks Down During Harsh Questioning, Shooting a…
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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…