2020-02-14: News Headlines

Staff (2020-02-14). Rep. Rashida Tlaib: Trump's "Racist" Plan Would Legalize the Theft of Palestinian Land. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress. She responds to President Trump's Middle East plan, under which Israel would 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 would be allowed to remain in their homes. Tlaib says the plan was formulated with a "racist lens" that ignores Palestinian lives and aspirations. Tlaib says she wants people "to know what the human impact is of taking people's land, taking people's…

David Rosen (2020-02-14). Sanders vs. the Establishment Democrats: McGovern All Over Again? counterpunch.org It's a perfect time to recall a famous quote from one of the nation's foremost philosophers, Yogi Berra: Its "déjà vu all over again." Is the Democratic Party replaying the lost saga of 2016 but with a very 2020 twist? Bernie Sander (D-VT) appears to have been robbed of the 2016 nomination, beaten out by Hillary Clinton (Sec. of

Staff (2020-02-14). Post-Impeachment, House Democrats Set Sights on Barr. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — House Democrats frustrated over Democrats have demanded more information about Barr's intervention in the case of Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant who was

Special to People's World (2020-02-14). Sanders says his health plan would protect culinary workers in Nevada. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday issued a statement saying his Medicare for All plan would protect the benefits workers with good union-negotiated health plans currently have. He issued the statement after Culinary Workers Union Local 226 announced it would not endorse in the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucus: "I very much appreciate the struggle …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-14). Senate follows House in banning money for Trump war on Iran. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—By a bipartisan 55-45 vote on Feb. 13, the GOP-run Senate followed the Democratic-run House and barred saber-rattling Donald Trump from spending any military money to make war on Iran. Eight Republicans joined all 45 Democrats and both independents in voting against Trump and against war on Iran. One of the eight, Maine's Susan Collins, …

Robert Reich (2020-02-14). Robert Reich: Bloomberg Wants to Buy Our Democracy. truthdig.com If the former mayor of New York prevails in November, he could usher in a new American oligarchy. Let's hope it never comes to that.

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-14). Warren calls for impeachment of the Attorney General. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has become the first prominent lawmaker to demand House impeachment of GOP President Donald Trump's attorney general, William Barr, for Barr's kowtowing to Trump's demand to cut the court sentence of convicted top Trump campaign fixer and lackey Roger Stone. Together, the Trump-Barr sequence represents "a descent into …

Staff (2020-02-14). Detroit Overtaxed Residents by $600M, Causing Foreclosure Crisis. Residents Are Now Fighting Back. democracynow.org In Detroit, a showdown between progressive lawmakers and the city is taking on racist housing policies that robbed African Americans in Detroit of their homes and widened the racial wealth gap. On Thursday, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice announced a class-action lawsuit against the city of Detroit, Wayne County and the state of Michigan in response to unfair property tax foreclosures. One in four Detroit properties have been subject to property tax foreclosure, a level comparable only to tax foreclosure rates during the Great Depression. According to legal experts, many of the foreclosures were caused by…

Mike Miller (2020-02-14). Race and Class: Overcoming the Divides. counterpunch.org Preface The forthcoming 2020 election is again highlighting the country's apparently deep divides on race and class. A common formulation is that a hopelessly racist White working class is locked into the new Trump Republican Party which consciously has adopted a divide-and-conquer strategy based on race. The mainstream Democratic Party hope is that an electoral

Staff (2020-02-14). One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence. democracynow.org This Valentine's Day, people around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance as part of a global movement called One Billion Rising. The movement takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. One Billion Rising started on Valentine's Day 2012 and has continued to grow every year since. Participants say they won't stop dancing until violence…

RT (2020-02-14). Prank call Greta strikes again: Bernie 'agrees' to rap collaboration with Eilish & West, but smells a rat over 'KGB sleeper agent'. rt.com Bernie Sanders would apparently wear a gold chain and rap in front of posh cars in order to battle climate change, an idea suggested by Russian pranksters. But being called a KGB sleeper agent proved to be too much. | The Democratic primary frontrunner seems to be the latest target of the comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who have for years been playing pranks on the world's leading politicians. Their latest hoax was to phone people while posing as Greta Thunberg, the teen climate activist, and her father. Representative Maxine Waters and actor Joaquin Phoenix were previously pranked by the fake Greta, and now it wa…

Joseph Natoli (2020-02-14). Vichy Democrats vs. the Master Voice. counterpunch.org One reading of the present shows us a hyped economic reality but also political and cultural realities hyped so far that simulacra is quite easily digested and regurgitated as reality. In a world of simulacra, reality is not only a vacated former presence, like a former tenant, but unrecognizable in any reappearance. It's a war

Julie Hollar (2020-02-14). Pundits Look to Bloomberg as Their Anti-Sanders Savior. fair.org by Julie Hollar | Coming out of the first two Democratic primary states, with Bernie Sanders leading in votes and Pete Buttigieg leading in delegates, who is "starting to dominate the national political debate like no one in the past five years other than President Donald Trump"? | According to NBC's Jonathan Allen (

Russell Mokhiber (2020-02-14). NPR and the Escalating Attack on Single-Payer Health Care. counterpunch.org National Public Radio's Mara Liasson this weekend entered a new term into the corporate liberal establishment's attack on single payer healthcare. Mandatory Medicare for All. As in — do you want Bernie Sanders' Mandatory Medicare for All — or Mayor Pete Buttigieg's Voluntary Medicare for Those Who Want It? It was the first time that

RT (2020-02-14). US 'ready to help' N. Korea combat virus — State Department. rt.com The United States expressed deep concern about North Korea's vulnerability to the outbreak of a new virus and said it was ready to support efforts by aid organizations to contain the spread of the illness in the country. | Pyongyang has moved to strengthen quarantines and other preventive measures after the illness outbreak in China, North Korea's neighbor and closest ally. | "We strongly support and encourage the work of US and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus" in North Korea, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "The United States is rea…

Staff (2020-02-14). Being Joe Biden's Brother Is Highly Lucrative. truthdig.com Jim Biden has been at his sibling's side from the very start. He's also exploited Joe's fame and connections for his own financial gain.

Andrew Levine (2020-02-14). Mayor Mike, Worse Than Mayor Pete. counterpunch.org Michael Bloomberg is essentially an old school Republican. He hates Trump, the worst American president ever, but he loved George W. Bush, the second worst president in modern times. He may honestly think that black and brown lives matter, but, as mayor of New York City, he showed, time and again, that, for him gentrification — and its concomitants, mass incarceration of young black and Latino men, and brutal "law and order" policing

RT (2020-02-14). Information wars: GOP lawmaker on quest to officially declare CNN and the Washington Post 'fake news'. rt.com In these times of political division, Americans on the far ends of the political spectrum often accuse each other of misinformation — but one GOP lawmaker wants CNN and the Washington Post to be officially declared "fake news." | Micah Van Huss, a Republican state lawmaker from Tennessee, has introduced a

Michael Brennan (2020-02-14). Timeline: How the DNC Manipulated 2016 Presidential Race. counterpunch.org December 16, 2014: President Obama signs into law omnibus spending bill that increases maximum possible individual political contributions from $129,600 annually to $777,600, substantially increasing the amount of money flowing through party committees. (Congressional Research Services) April 7, 2015: A Clinton campaign memo to the DNC articulates "Pied Piper" strategy to elevate the most extreme Republican candidates: "Our hope

William Kaufman (2020-02-14). Tulsi Gabbard: A Political Postmortem. counterpunch.org The all-or-nothing New Hampshire gamble of Tulsi Gabbard has come up snake eyes. As I write, with 97 percent of the vote tallied, she is in seventh place, with a meager 3.3 percent of the vote, behind Tom Steyer. It is hard to imagine any path forward for her. And, frankly, one must acknowledge that

Staff (2020-02-14). Bernie Sanders Takes Lead in Texas Primary Poll, Doubling Support Since October. truthout.org A University of Texas/Texas Tribune The survey, conducted between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9, showed Sanders with 24% support among likely Texas Democratic primary voters. Former Vice Preside…

WSWS (2020-02-14). Letter to members of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA). wsws.org Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America say it is possible to fight for socialism from within the Democratic Party. Such a political program is not real socialism and can only lead to disaster.

Jeff Cohen (2020-02-14). Bernie Sanders Faces a Media Rigged Against Him. truthdig.com CNN routinely features guests who are critical of the Vermont senator. What it fails to mention is that many are major corporate lobbyists.

David Swanson (2020-02-14). Why This Election Is Different. counterpunch.org Elections, I think most of us can agree, usually bring out the idiocy, superficiality, and illogic in everyone who can muster any. Imagine supporting, as many did, Sanders and then Trump because they were both "outsiders." On Tuesday, I heard somebody on CNN announce that Sanders and Klobuchar were both "change candidates" (because you'd have

WSWS (2020-02-14). Sanders tells New York Times he would consider a preemptive strike against Iran or North Korea. wsws.org The answers given by Sanders' campaign to a foreign policy survey published this month by the Times provides a revealing picture of the attitude of the self-styled "democratic socialist" to American imperialism and war.

WSWS (2020-02-14). Black Democrats endorse Bloomberg after release of racist boasts on "stop-and-frisk" wsws.org The immediate response of elected African-American Democrats to the exposure of the billionaire Bloomberg's racist remarks was to boost him as the only candidate who can defeat President Donald Trump in November.

Prof. Joseph H. Chung (2020-02-14). The Political Economy of Corruption: Corruption Kills People, Ruins the Economy, Violates Human Rights. globalresearch.ca The whole world is facing the deepening and widening corruption which challenges the very survival of the free democracy and the free market economy. | Korea has been suffering for last 70 years from the corruption culture. But owing to courageous …

Meagan Day (2020-02-14). Michael Bloomberg's Campaign Is an Insult to Democracy. zcomm.org When newly released audio of Michael Bloomberg defending his racist policing policies was circulated this week, the mainstream media had his back…

Staff (2020-02-14). Klobuchar Has Pushed Extreme Right-Wing Policy on Israel/Palestine. truthout.org In recent days, much of the mainstream media has been focusing on the rise of centrist Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar as a serious contender in the Democratic presidential primary. Many in the more progressive wing of the party have been criticizing her positions on

WSWS (2020-02-14). Workers at GM's Silao, Mexico plant charge union with stuffing ballots during recognition vote. wsws.org The effort by General Motors and the Confederation of Mexican Workers to certify their contract at the Silao complex is a warning to workers across Mexico about the anti-democratic content of the government's supposed labor reforms.

WSWS (2020-02-14). Growth of fascistic attacks on refugees in Greece. wsws.org A thousand threads tie the fascistic thugs on the streets hunting down refugees to the ruling Greek capitalist party, New Democracy.

WSWS (2020-02-14). Sound the alarm! Political conspiracy and the resurgence of fascism in Germany. wsws.org Last week's decision by the Christian Democratic Union in the federal state of Thuringia to elect a state premier together with the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany exposes the filthy state of German politics.

Staff (2020-02-14). Headlines for February 14, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Passes Resolution Limiting Trump's War Powers Authority, Attorney General William Barr Criticizes Trump's Tweets, Bloomberg Criticized for Falsely Blaming 2008 Crisis on End of Redlining, Top Wall Street Executives on Biden Guest List for Manhattan Fundraiser, Ex-Ohio State Wrestler Says Rep. Jim Jordan Begged Him to Cover Up Sexual Abuse, Last Month Was Hottest January on Record, Indigenous Anti-Pipeline Blockades Cripple Canada's Rail Transportation, Intercept: Canadian Fossil Fuel Company "Bought" Oregon Sheriff Department Unit, Judge Temporarily Blocks Microsoft-Pentagon Contract After Amazon Lawsuit,…

Fight Back (2020-02-14). Major anti-war groups join the Coalition to March on the DNC. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – As the July 13 start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) draws closer, the Coalition to March on the DNC has risen to the occasion. Since the start of the new year, the coalition has seen tremendous gains. | Between leading a 2000-person demonstration against Donald Trump when he visited Milwaukee on January 14 and butting heads with the city while trying to host a press conference to announce a lawsuit for our right to protest, traffic to the Facebook page has increased dramatically, including numerous inquiries about how people can get more involved. | Perhaps the most significant indica…

Andre Damon (2020-02-14). Trump Pledges to Veto Senate "War Powers Resolution", Uses Pentagon Funds to Build Border Wall. globalresearch.ca Strengthened by the failure of the Democrats' impeachment drive, President Donald Trump has accelerated his efforts to expand the powers of the presidency in every sphere. | On Thursday, the Senate approved a symbolic bill instructing the White House to "terminate …

WSWS (2020-02-14). Trump pledges to veto war powers resolution, uses Pentagon funds to build border wall. wsws.org Strengthened by the failure of the Democrats' impeachment drive, President Trump has accelerated his efforts to expand the powers of the presidency in every sphere.

Michael Harris (2020-02-14). California – Pan African Agribusiness Trade – 2020 World Ag Expo. indybay.org 2020 World Ag Expo offers tangible solutions to assist the African Continential Free Trade Area achieve 2025 goals. The California Black Agriculture Working Group remains committed and fully engaged to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Robert L. Borosage (2020-02-14). What We Already Owe to Bernie Sanders. thenation.com What We Already Owe to Bernie Sanders…

Jeet Heer (2020-02-14). How Can Warren Win? By Attacking Bloomberg. thenation.com How Can Warren Win? By Attacking Bloomberg.

Eric Alterman (2020-02-14). The Modern GOP Is Built on Lies. thenation.com The Modern GOP Is Built on Lies…

Sasha Abramsky (2020-02-14). Republicans Have Made It Clear They Will Let Trump Become a Dictator. Will We? thenation.com Republicans Have Made It Clear They Will Let Trump Become a Dictator. Will We?

sputniknews (2020-02-14). Trump Gets Bashed Online After Claiming Pelosi Had 'Venom & Hatred Coming Out of Her Ears'. sputniknews.com The US president also reportedly labelled Pelosi a "person that started an impeachment and lost", adding that she "goes down as a loser, which she is".

Staff (2020-02-14). The Corporate Media Is Directly Profiting from Mike Bloomberg's Rise as He Spends Fortune on TV Ads. democracynow.org Billionaire Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is rising in the polls in the wake of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Democracy Now! co-host Juan González speaks with us about Bloomberg's approach to campaign spending, the administration's policies during his three terms as mayor of New York City and the scores of lawsuits filed against Bloomberg and his company. "It's amazing to me that Michael Bloomberg is getting as much attention as he is," González says.

CounterSpin (2020-02-14). Jim Naureckas on Democratic Primaries, Nina Luo on Decriminalizing Sex Work. fair.org Media…

Nick Pemberton (2020-02-14). The Overwhelming Sex Appeal Of Bernie Sanders. counterpunch.org "the obligation to confess is now relayed through so many different points…that we no longer perceive it as the effect of a power that constrains us" —Michel Foucault Happy Valentines Day to all Bernie Bros, Bernie Gals, and non-binary Berners. The first time I heard the Daddy component of Bernie Sanders explained was when Jeffrey

Michael Pappas (2020-02-13). Democrats Team Up With Trump to Maintain Disastrous Healthcare System. dissidentvoice.org On Tuesday, February 4, Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union (SOTU) address. As expected, it was filled with contradictions, falsehoods, and distortions. Among other things, Trump spoke for close to ten minutes about health care in the U.S., claiming that he "will always protect Medicare." However, neither Trump and the Republicans, nor …

Staff (2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Send an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? Questions Mount over Her Record as DA. democracynow.org After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burrell, an African-American teenager who was sentenced to life in prison over the 2002 murder of 11-year-old Tye…

Staff (2020-02-13). The Wet'suwet'en Fight Against New Pipeline Spreads Across Canada with Blockades & Occupations. democracynow.org A major anti-pipeline struggle continues in Canada, where protests have broken out across the country in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en land defenders whose sovereign land in northern British Columbia was raided last week and over the weekend by Canadian police. Dozens were arrested in the days-long raid of unceded indigenous territories, where hereditary chiefs have been in a protracted battle to protect their land from the construction of TransCanada's 400-mile, $4.7 billion Coastal GasLink pipeline. The raids took place about 700 miles north of Vancouver and sparked outrage across the country. In Ontario, a Moha…

Staff (2020-02-13). Time's Up for Harvey Weinstein? Closing Arguments Begin in Rape Trial in NYC. democracynow.org Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in the trial of disgraced Hollywood mogul and accused sexual predator Harvey Weinstein. The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday. Weinstein faces five felonies based on accusations by two women and, if convicted, could face up to life in prison. The trial comes more than two years after initial accusations against the film producer were published in The New Yorker and The New York Times, fueling the #MeToo movement that swept Hollywood and beyond. Since then, over 100 women have accused Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. During t…

Leonard C. Goodman (2020-02-13). The Iowa fiasco and the Democrats' shadowy plot to stop Bernie. mronline.org Yogi Berra, the great Yankees catcher, had the memorable line, "It's like deja vu all over again." Bernie Sanders supporters might have been thinking the same thing after the fiasco of the Iowa caucuses. |

RT (2020-02-13). US Senate strikes symbolic blow against Trump by limiting war powers toward Iran with new resolution. rt.com The US Senate has passed a resolution limiting President Donald Trump's war powers in the case of Iran. The measure would only allow the president authority to strike in the case of self-defense or an imminent attack. | Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure, which was passed 55-45. The resolution fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, meaning this resolution is more symbolic than anything. | The president made his feelings on the War Powers Resolution clear on Wednesday when he tweeted that Iran would "have a field day" if his hands "were tied" due…

Staff (2020-02-13). "Traumatizing from the Get-Go": Weinstein Trial Exposes Flawed Approach to Sexual Assault Cases. democracynow.org We continue our conversation about the trial of alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, ahead of the scheduled start of opening arguments today. Weinstein is facing five felony charges, based on accusations brought forth by two women in the case, and, if convicted, could face up to life in prison. Last week, one of his accusers, Jessica Mann, broke down and went into an apparent panic attack during questioning from Weinstein's lawyers, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings for the day. Mann was made to read past emails to a boyfriend, in which she disclosed she had been sexually assaulted before meeting Wein…

Staff (2020-02-13). Sanders and AOC's Fracking Ban Angers Centrists and Their Fossil Fuel Backers. truthout.org House Democrats have finally unveiled a flurry of climate bills aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but activists say only one proposal represents the "gold standard" for tackling the climate crisis: Legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that would ban fracking nationwide. While none of these bills are likely to become law under President Trump, together they form the contours of a fierce debate among Democrats and environmentalists over the f…

Staff (2020-02-13). Company Behind Iowa Caucus App Has a Deeply Troubling Plan to Manipulate Voters. truthout.org Those gathered to see the Iowa caucus results roll in on February 4 were sorely disappointed — the vote-counting process had been disrupted by a malfunctioning app, delaying the announcement of the final results. The botched voting process caused uproar online, sparking rumors about another Democratic National Committee effort to sideline Sen. Bernie Sanders. The debacle also brought scrutiny to Shadow, the company that created the app, which bills itself as a "progressive digital co…

Staff (2020-02-13). Democrats' Shadowy Plot to Stop Bernie Sanders. truthdig.com Yogi Berra, the great Yankees catcher, had the memorable line, "It's like deja vu all over again." | Bernie Sanders supporters might have been thinking the same thing after the fiasco of the Iowa caucuses. | It was just four years ago that the corporate hacks who run the Democratic Party rigged the 2016 primary election process to favor Hillary Clinton and stop Sanders: The Democratic National Committee, which is supposed to stay neutral in a primary, secretly funneled party funds to Hillary's campaign, fed Hillary debate questions before a CNN town hall, and selected superdelegates who pledged their votes to Hil…

Ted Morgan (2020-02-13). Why the Democrats Should Back Bernie Sanders: And Why They Won't, If They Can Possibly Help It. commondreams.org The real hope represented by Bernie Sanders' campaign is that he can pull together these sharply separated populations—in the process shifting the focus to the elite forces whose propaganda has kept them apart. (Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie_sanders_26.jpg

Peter Bolton (2020-02-13). Sanders is currently the 2020 frontrunner — but could it be 2016 all over again? thecanary.co Bernie Sanders has won the most votes in the Outright victory in New Hampshire. But not in Iowa…: | On 11 February, pr…

Stephen Lendman (2020-02-13). Dems Phony War Powers Resolution. globalresearch.ca US 20th and 21st century history shows Dems more hellbent for war than Republicans. | In 1916, Dem Woodrow Wilson was reelected on a pledge of: "He Kept Us Out of War." | Straightaway, he began planning US involvement in Europe's war …

Staff (2020-02-13). Trump Says His Budget Doesn't Cut Social Security — But Mnuchin Admits It Does. truthout.org During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin — using euphemistic language Democratic lawmakers described as "

Fight Back (2020-02-13). Duterte continues US military control of the Philippines despite VFA termination notice. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following February 11 statement By Jose Maria Sison, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Chief Political Consultant. | The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) notice of termination takes effect after 180 days. The people cannot be sure that Duterte will not change his mind within that lengthy period. Previously, Duterte postured about terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement but after a few months allowed Balikatan exercises under VFA. | In the meantime, there are other military treaties with the US: Mutual Defense Treaty, Mutual Logistics Support Agreement…

teleSUR (2020-02-13). Trump Asks $3.8 Billion From Military for Mexico Border Wall. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Defense Department asked Congress to reprogram more than $3.8 billion from funding for the National Guard and weapons programs to pay for a wall on the border with Mexico, setting another possible confrontation with Democrats, Reuters News Agency reported. | RELATED: | Three years after arriving at the presidency, Donald Trump is keeping his central promise of building a wall on the southern border of the nation and heads h…

Robert C. Koehler (2020-02-13). The Wall: Separating Democracy From Voters. 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/billionaires.jpg

teleSUR (2020-02-13). US Senate Approves to Limit Trump's War Power on Iran. telesurenglish.net The United States Senate approved legislation Thursday to limit President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran in order to prevent any further escalation of broader regional conflict. | RELATED: | Eight of Trump's fellow Republicans joined Democrats to pass the war powers resolution by 55-45. The measure would require Trump to remove U.S. troops engaged in hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or pas…

Alexander Rubinstein (2020-02-13). State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'. thegrayzone.com In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a Western government-backed information warfare shop smeared…

Staff (2020-02-13). Michael Bloomberg's Stop-and-Frisk Apology Tour Is Too Little, Too Late. truthdig.com The former mayor of New York City spent years pursuing and defending a racist policy. For Democratic voters, it should be disqualifying.

WSWS (2020-02-13). Trump continues post-impeachment power grab with Roger Stone intervention. wsws.org Following the Democrats' failed impeachment drive, President Trump is moving to consolidate his personal control over the government and surround himself with officials directly dependent on his approval.

teleSUR (2020-02-13). AOC Blasts Bloomberg Over 'Racist' Stop and Frisk Policy. telesurenglish.net United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Thursday Democratic presidential candidate and businessman Michael Bloomberg over his record as the mayor of New York City and the contentious "stop and frisk" policy he backed while in office. | RELATED: | Ocasio-Cortez said Bloomberg is "just a billionaire trying to cover up authoritarian and racist policy," if he does not take action to provide relief to…

Staff (2020-02-13). Headlines for February 13, 2020. democracynow.org Attorney General William Barr to Testify Before House Judiciary Committee, Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus Skyrocket in Hubei, China, Bloomberg Would Pay Billions Less Under His Tax Plan Than Sanders', U.N. Releases List of 100 Companies Linked to Israeli-Occupied West Bank Settlements, Mexico: Outrage over Murder of 25-Year-Old Ingrid Escamilla, Former Guatemalan Presidential Candidate Sentenced to 15 Years by U.S. Court, 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill May Have Been 30% Bigger Than Thought, New York Has Highest Number of Premature Deaths from Out-of-State Air Pollution, El Paso Walmart Shooter Pleads Not Guilty…

teleSUR-age (2020-02-13). Democratic Party Asks to Investigate Trump for Abuse of Power. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Democratic Party is calling for an investigation into President Donald Trump's influence on the Justice Department's decision to lower the sentencing recommendation for White House leader's friend Roger Stone, who was found guilty last year of lying to Congress, obstruction, and manipulation of witnesses. | RELATED: | The sudden decision by U.S. Attorney General William Barr to request a lighter prison term f…

WSWS (2020-02-13). New York City police in open revolt against Mayor de Blasio. wsws.org Two shooting incidents by a single individual against New York officers have been used as a pretext to conduct a vicious, right-wing campaign against democratic rights.

Conor Lynch (2020-02-13). Only Sanders Can Challenge Trump's Predatory Budget Plan. truthdig.com Amid the Democratic presidential primaries and the impeachment fallout, the Trump administration released its

Staff (2020-02-13). Biden Has Raised the Most From Nevada Donors, But Sanders Leads in the Polls. truthout.org Democratic presidential candidates who received the greatest amount of donations from Iowa and New Hampshire residents also finished at the top of the polls in the two early primaries. | If those results are any indication of what can be expected from the upcoming Nevada caucuses, then this time, it's former Vice President Biden has raised almo…

Staff (2020-02-13). Bloomberg Once Blamed End of 'Redlining' for 2008 Collapse. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — At the height of the 2008 economic collapse, then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the elimination of a discriminatory housing practice known as "redlining" was responsible for instigating the meltdown. | "It all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone," Bloomberg, now a Democratic presidential candidate,

WSWS (2020-02-13). Justice Department sues New Jersey and Washington state county over "sanctuary" policies. wsws.org The lawsuits are a new stage in President Trump's campaign of anti-immigrant bigotry. In their public responses to the lawsuits, Democratic officials from New Jersey and Washington state revealed their own willingness to trade away immigrants' rights.

Staff (2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Condemn an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? truthout.org After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burre…

Staff (2020-02-13). Devin Nunes Is Leading Republicans in a Post-Impeachment "Strike" truthout.org Less than a week after President Trump All nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee were absent for a Wednesday morning hearing on the development of artificial intelligence for the purposes of national sec…

commondreams (2020-02-13). Peace Action: Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Joan Walsh (2020-02-13). Democrats Should Welcome Michael Bloomberg to Their Debates—ASAP. thenation.com Democrats Should Welcome Michael Bloomberg to Their Debates—ASAP…

Democracy Now! (2020-02-13). First Nations Pipeline Protest: 14 Land Protectors Arrested as Canadian Police Raid Indigenous Camp. dissidentvoice.org In Canada, armed forces raided native Wet'suwet'en territory in British Columbia Monday, with at least 14 arrests being reported. Land defenders faced off with Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the police breached two checkpoints set up to keep pipeline workers out of protected territory. Indigenous leaders are reportedly being blocked from their territory. TransCanada Corporation …

Susan Price (2020-02-13). United States: Sanders versus the Democratic establishment. greenleft.org.au In the presidential contest between Republican George W Bush and the Democratic Party's Al Gore in 2000, confusing layouts on ballots in Florida — where Bush's younger brother Jeb was governor — resulte…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-02-13). 'Never Trump' Republican Operative Known for Anti-Semitic Attacks on George Soros Now Working to Defeat Sanders in Democratic Primary. commondreams.org "Forty years of dancing with the devil and all of a sudden centrist GOP voters want to switch sides so they can poison the Democratic Party too? Thanks, no thanks." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tim_miller_0.png

RT (2020-02-12). What about stopping endless wars? Trump urges GOP to vote down Iran war resolution because it's a partisan ploy by Democrats. rt.com US President Donald Trump says the resolution that would block him from using force against Iran is a partisan trick by Democrats, even though he campaigned on a peace platform and some of his closest allies support the proposal. | "We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness," Trump tweeted on Wednesday, adding that Tehran would "have a field day" if his hands were tied. | "The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don't let it happen!" he urged the GOP majority. ….If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad s…

RT (2020-02-12). 'I'm not one to accept donations in a race I can't win': Yang quits presidential bid as polls close in New Hampshire. rt.com Entrepreneur Andrew Yang has bowed out of the presidential race after early results suggested the Democratic candidate failed to win delegates in the New Hampshire primary. | As early results started pouring in from the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday night, the Democratic field lost yet another hopeful as sources close to the Yang campaign confirmed that the entrepreneur-turned-politician would be ending his presidential bid. | Commenting on his decision to pull the plug on his campaign, Yang said that he does not want to continue taking money from his supporters knowing that he will not deliver victory.

RT (2020-02-12). Sanders edges out Buttigieg to win New Hampshire primary after neck-and-neck race — projections. rt.com Senator Bernie Sanders came out on top in the hotly contested Democratic primary in New Hampshire on Tuesday, with South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg finishing second, projections show. | The Vermont independent claimed victory in the New Hampshire primary after multiple outlets called the vote in his favor. | Addressing his supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, Sanders described US President Donald Trump "as the most dangerous president in the history of this country," vowing to stop him from keeping the Oval Office for four more years. | "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Sande…

Staff (2020-02-12). South Bend Politician: I Worked with Pete Buttigieg. He Did Not Respect Black Residents' Struggles. democracynow.org 2020 presidential candidate and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg has surprised many with his strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, two of the country's whitest states. But as the race moves on to South Carolina and Nevada, Buttigieg continues to poll extremely low with African-American voters. His own former constituents are condemning his treatment of the black community in South Bend during his time as mayor, calling out systemic racism in the police force. During Buttigieg's tenure, black residents were 4.3 times more likely to be arrested for possessing marijuana than white people. We…

Staff (2020-02-12). Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary with Key Support from Youth Voters. democracynow.org Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has won the New Hampshire primary a week after he won the popular vote in Iowa. As of Wednesday morning, with 89% of precincts reporting, Sanders has 25.8% of the vote, narrowly beating former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is at 24.4%. Senator Amy Klobuchar placed third with nearly 20% of the vote. Both Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden received under 10% of the vote, after seeing their support plummet in recent weeks and months. At a celebration in Manchester, Bernie Sanders said his victory in New Hampshire is the beginning of the end for Donal…

Staff (2020-02-12). Feminist Scholar Barbara Smith on Identity Politics & Why She Supports Bernie Sanders for President. democracynow.org We speak with the legendary African-American feminist scholar Barbara Smith. She is a founder of the Combahee River Collective and of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. Barbara Smith recently wrote a column in The Guardian newspaper titled "I helped coin the term 'identity politics'. I'm endorsing Bernie Sanders." Her latest book is "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith."

Staff (2020-02-12). Meet the Journalist Who Exposed Bloomberg's Racist Defense of Targeting Black & Brown Youth. democracynow.org "#BloombergIsRacist." That's the hashtag that's trending on Twitter since audio of remarks made by 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg surfaced earlier this week. In the clip from the 2015 Aspen Institute, Bloomberg is heard defending the New York City Police Department's controversial "stop-and-frisk" policies, saying, "Ninety-five percent of your murders and murderers and murdered victims fit one MO. You can just take the description, xerox it and pass it out to all the cops." He continues, "They are male minorities, 15 to 25. That's true in New York. It's true…

RT (2020-02-12). Iowa Democratic Party chair RESIGNS over caucus disaster. rt.com The Iowa caucuses fiasco has cost the state's Democratic Party chair Troy Price his job, as the final results are still unavailable due to recanvass and recount bids by frustrated candidates. | "While it is my desire to stay in this role and see this process through to completion, I do believe it is time for the Iowa Democratic Party to begin looking forward, and my presence in my current role makes that more difficult," Price wrote on Wednesday to the state party's Central Committee. | Troy Price will resign as the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. This is his letter of resignation sent to the state central…

RT (2020-02-12). Former Goldman Sachs CEO says Sanders presidency would 'ruin our economy,' gets blasted on Twitter. rt.com An ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs who helped cause the 2008 financial crisis has claimed Bernie Sanders would ruin the economy and "screw up the US" if elected president, prompting Twitter to remind him of the Great Recession. | Billionaire Lloyd Blankfein tweeted on Wednesday that Sanders is "just as polarizing as Trump AND he'll ruin [the American] economy and doesn't care about [the American] military," before adding: "If I'm Russian, I go with Sanders this time around." | If Dems go on to nominate Sanders, the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the US. Sanders is just as polarizing…

Staff (2020-02-12). Headlines for February 12, 2020. democracynow.org Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary, Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet Drop Out of Presidential Race, Federal Prosecutors Quit Roger Stone Case Amid Fight with DOJ Officials, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Rejects Trump's Middle East Plan in U.N. Speech, Trump Conditionally Approves Peace Deal with the Taliban, WHO Warns Coronavirus Poses "Grave Threat" to World, Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó Heckled and Protested Upon Return to Venezuela, Report: 40% of Guatemalan, Honduran & Salvadoran Migrants Fled After Relatives Killed, WSJ: ICE & CPB Use Cellphone Location Data from Games, Apps to Arrest Immigrants,…

Alan Macleod (2020-02-12). New Hampshire Primaries Paint a Picture of Modern Day Class War in America. mintpressnews.com While the primary totals for Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were relatively close, their support came from radically different segments of the population.

news.un (2020-02-12). DR Congo Ebola outbreak still an international public health concern. news.un.org The Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains an international public health concern, experts meeting in Geneva concluded on Wednesday.

Neema Singh Guliani (2020-02-12). Deadline Looming, Strongest Surveillance Reform Bill Yet Emerges. aclu.org Congress has just five weeks to decide the fate of key foreign | intelligence surveillance powers — forcing a showdown between surveillance | reformers and defenders. And now, a group of Republicans and Democrats have | unveiled the strongest comprehensive reform proposal that we have seen | yet. | The Safeguarding Americans' Private Records Act of 2020, introduced by a

John Nichols (2020-02-12). Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire. thenation.com Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire…

Jeffrey Cox (2020-02-12). The Disastrous Iowa Caucuses Were Just the Beginning. thenation.com The Disastrous Iowa Caucuses Were Just the Beginning…

Jeet Heer (2020-02-12). The Primaries Are Protecting Trump. thenation.com The Primaries Are Protecting Trump…

Elie Mystal (2020-02-12). They Rocked New Hampshire—but Pete and Amy Still Can't Win Over Black Voters. thenation.com They Rocked New Hampshire—but Pete and Amy Still Can't Win Over Black Voters…

RT (2020-02-12). 'Too polite'? Bette Midler says Dems must 'toughen up' in wake of car attack on GOP volunteers. rt.com One of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics, actress and musician Bette Midler, thinks Democrats need to "toughen up" in their fight against the GOP, even after a Florida man was jailed for physically attacking Republicans. | During one of her anti-Trump tirades on Tuesday night — calling him a "fascist" and "dictator" this time — Midler lashed out at her own party as well. | "Democrats haven't learned a goddamned thing," she tweeted, shaming the party for being "too polite" and urging them to "toughen up" when taking on conservatives. "They play dirty," she said of Republicans, before addin…

Staff (2020-02-11). Trump's New Budget Funds Endless War & Nuclear Weapons While Slashing Aid to Poor & Hungry Americans. democracynow.org President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget request Monday, proposing massive cuts to Medicaid and food stamps while increasing spending on the military and his border wall. The $4.8 trillion budget would slash Environmental Protection Agency spending by more than a quarter while allocating $18 billion for Trump's newly established Space Force. Trump is also requesting billions more for nuclear weapons, including a new submarine-launched nuclear warhead. Experts and Democratic lawmakers warn that increasing the nuclear stockpile will increase the likelihood of nuclear war and defy international agreements. Democrats…