(2020-03-13). Class Conflict is Stronger than Clan Conflict. counterpunch.org 
The Democratic party elites have shown that they prefer Trump to Sanders. That is, they prefer the real risk of a second Trump mandate to the real risk of a Sanders presidency. How else can we explain the sudden coordinated rally around Biden, whose weakness and liabilities are obvious to all? No need to recount
(2020-03-13). A Machine to Beat President Trump. counterpunch.org 
As different as night from day yet there's one way that Bernie Sanders and President Trump are alike, and Joe Biden is different from both. President Trump runs a one man show with a supporting cast. As we know from very recent history of this presidency, this liege cast either pays homage to President Trump
(2020-03-13). Biden's Victory: A Blessing in Disguise? counterpunch.org 
It has been years since I last saw the great Alain Resnais film "La Guerre Est Finie" (The War Is Over, 1966), starring Yves Montand and Ingrid Thulin, in which, decades after the anti-fascists lost, a Communist veteran of the Spanish Civil War, still fighting the good fight, confronts the moral and political ambiguities of
(2020-03-13). Louisiana becomes 1st state to postpone Democratic primary, delaying for 2 months due to coronavirus outbreak. rt.com 
Louisiana has postponed its 2020 presidential primaries, initially scheduled for next month, until June 20 a spokesman for the secretary of state told CNBC, citing concerns over the coronavirus epidemic. | The state becomes the first to postpone its primaries amid worries over the virus, which has caused schools and businesses to shut down across the nation. The presidential primary was originally scheduled for April 4. | Municipal elections, scheduled for May 9, will also be postponed until July 25. | "We want to protect the health and safety of all Louisianans by doing our part to prevent the spread of this…
(2020-03-13). "We Are Way, Way Behind": U.S. Lags on Coronavirus Testing & Medical Experts Warn "No One Is Immune" democracynow.org 
It has been seven weeks since the first case of the new coronavirus was reported in the United States. President Trump is claiming, "Anybody that needs a test gets a test," but this is simply untrue. There have been just 11,000 tests so far throughout the United States since the coronavirus outbreak began, compared to nearly 20,000 tests for coronavirus every day in South Korea alone. We spend the hour looking at how the Trump administration has failed to account for what may be thousands of infections because of ongoing problems with access to testing, and how other countries have responded. We also discuss meas…
(2020-03-13). The Rise and Fall of the Work Society. dissidentvoice.org The victories of Bernie Sanders in the early primaries had people talking about socialist revolutions, while Biden's wins on Super Tuesday (in largely conservatives states) have tempered that enthusiasm. This is an important reminder of something we all need to remember: The Capitalists already won. There may still be a few scattered enclaves of subsistence …
(2020-03-13). The Grayzone and CODEPINK ask why OAS doesn't monitor badly flawed US Democratic primary. thegrayzone.com Watch The Grayzone and CODEPINK ask the Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro why he won't send election…
(2020-03-13). Headlines for March 13, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Infections Around the Globe Reach 135,000 People, Nearly 5,000 Dead, U.S. Coronavirus Infections Rise to 1,650 as Actual Number Believed to Be Higher | , Dow Jones Plummets 10% in Biggest Drop Since 1987 | , Trump Administration Faces Backlash for Handling of Coronavirus Outbreak, Testing | , Brazilian President Bolsonaro's Aide Tests Positive for COVID-19 Days After Meeting with Trump, Philippines President Duterte Orders Lockdown in Manila Amid Coronavirus Pandemic | , Advocates Afraid of Deadly Coronavirus Outbreak in Immigration Jails Plagued by Medical Neglect, Democratic Presidential Debate Relo…
(2020-03-13). Warren Isn't A Snake, She's Just Misreading Hegel. counterpunch.org Bernie Bros, but especially sisters and non-binary siblings who dare to stand up to the billionaire class are being accused of calling former Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren a snake. The mainstream media is horrified by this "uncivil" behavior but apparently not horrified by Ms. Warren's decision to go to an oil super PAC in her
(2020-03-13). Moderately Liberal, Extremely Dystopian: Establishment Democrats and Big Brained Centrism. dissidentvoice.org As we approach the middle of March 2020 with Super Tuesday behind us, the moderate candidacy of Joe Biden has gained momentum, notching ten victories. The recent spat of moderate candidates dropping out (Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Bloomberg, Steyer) alongside Elizabeth Warren's decision to stay in for Super Tuesday (and dropping out right after) boosted Biden into …
(2020-03-13). Biden, Sanders appeal for joint action with Republicans over coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org In separate speeches, the two Democratic presidential candidates auditioned for the role of commander-in-chief for American capitalism in the midst of a deepening global crisis.
(2020-03-13). 2020 Negro Bar Stakeholder Meeting. indybay.org California State Parks | Gold Rush District Office | 7755 Folsom-Auburn Road | Folsom, CA 95630…
(2020-03-13). UAW Michigan Workers On Elections, Coronavirus, GM Strike, Democracy & Internationalism. indybay.org Pacifica and WorkWeek reporter Steve Zeltzer interviews UAW 909 Detroit retiree Frank Hammer and UAW 598 Flint Truck Assembly worker Sean Crawford about primary elections in Michigan as well as the struggles for auto workers. They also discuss the lack of protection from the coronavirus epidemic expanding into US auto plants. They also discuss the corruption crisis in the UAW, green technology and international solidarity efforts by auto workers.
(2020-03-13). "Now, Voyager" in Reverse. counterpunch.org The untold want, by life and land ne'er granted, Now, Voyager, sail thou forth to seek and find. — Walt Whitman. Recent events in the 2020 democrat campaigns for president have led my mind back to memories of the film "Now, Voyager" from 1942. The film is about an "ugly duckling"s transformation and personal liberation
(2020-03-13). Chile: Piñera Celebrates 'Democracy' As Police Mistreat People. telesurenglish.net Chile's President Sebastian Piñera Thursday commemorated 30 years of "democracy" and two years in office, as the people took to the streets to demand his resignation. | RELATED: | Meanwhile, the people crowded into the Alameda, Santiago's main avenue, and the Military Police brutally repressed the demonstrators. "Step out Piñera," the crowd repeated. | In an empty speech, he acknowledged that "although these were…
(2020-03-13). Sri Lankan president militarises administration to stop strikes and civil unrest. wsws.org Ex-military officers appointed by Rajapakse to civil sector posts have begun openly expressing their hostility to fundamental democratic rights.
(2020-03-13). French female lawyers publish open letter defending filmmaker Roman Polanski and the presumption of innocence. wsws.org In its defense of democratic rights, the letter is an indictment not only of the anti-Polanski witch-hunt, but the entire #MeToo campaign that began in the US two years ago.
(2020-03-13). Bill de Blasio, Climate Troll. counterpunch.org Bike ticket sting at 59th and 1st Avenue. Two cops ticketing, I think, when folks turn right on red coming south/off the Queensboro Bridge. Good lord, how do you schedule the spring ticket traps at the same time as you tell people to bike to work? Those tweets, from a bicycle commuter and local journalist,
(2020-03-13). Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 12, 2020 — In response to reports that the U.S. has carried out five airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraq, Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action, released the following statement: "At a time of one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, it is shocking that the Trump …
(2020-03-13). The Coronavirus Emergency Is a Moment for Extraordinary Moral Courage. indybay.org 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco…
(2020-03-13). (Trump's) Coronavirus Denial Won't Make It Go Away. indybay.org 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco…
(2020-03-13). US: 'Over 100K people have coronavirus in Ohio'. yenisafak.com The U.S. state of Ohio is estimated to have more than 100,000 people infected with the coronavirus, according to Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton.Speaking alongside the state's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in a press conference on Thursday, Acton said they know "at least 1% at the very least, 1% of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today.""We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly," she added. | The official went on to say that the shortage of test kits across the country, and the state, makes…
(2020-03-13). Krugman Disses Sanders and Embraces Biden While Distorting the Obama Record. counterpunch.org 
Paul Krugman, a past winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, wrote a recent New York Times column with the title "Bernie Sanders is Going for Broke." He criticizes Sanders for his politics which are characterized as a "go-for-broke maximalism" "without compromise" described as: "a maximalist agenda on all fronts: complete elimination of private health
(2020-03-13). Dear Berners: Dementia Joe is How Much "Your" Party HATES You. counterpunch.org 
"You Have Owners" "Mr. [Bernie] Sanders," the New York Times reported last Tuesday, "has built a following of voters who want and expect more from their [Democratic] party, from their government, and from their country." That's true enough, with some key qualifications: it's not "their party" any more than it's "their government" or "their country."
(2020-03-12). "You like Trump" — Biden, Sanders, socialism, and the Black vote. peoplesworld.org 
Years ago, during the early days of the Clinton administration, I was outraged, first by the Sistah Souljah episode, and later by the president's treatment of Lani Guinier, who became the object of a vicious red-baiting campaign. Guinier had been nominated to become the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, until a gigantic whispering campaign …
(2020-03-12). Bernie Sanders: We Are Winning "Ideological" & "Generational" Debate, Now Need to Win "Electability" democracynow.org 
After a disappointing showing in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential primaries, Senator Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he will stay in the race. In his address from Burlington, Vermont, Sanders challenged his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, to address key issues like economic inequality, healthcare access and the climate crisis. Sanders is set to debate Biden this Sunday in Arizona. "It is not just the ideological debate that our progressive movement is winning. We are winning the generational debate," Sanders said. "While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those peopl…
(2020-03-12). Elite Media Dismiss Voter Suppression on Grounds That It's 'Complicated'. fair.org 
Some voters—disproportionately black and brown ones—waited in line for several hours on Super Tuesday to cast their ballots in the Democratic primary, and media paid attention. But their love for a good visual doesn't always correspond with a love for connecting the dots, and so most of the coverage downplayed any suggestion that there might be voter suppression going on in 2020. The New York Times ( "Why Did It…
(2020-03-12). Trump says trade will 'in no way' be affected by Europe travel ban in apparent about-face after markets crash. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump said that trade in "no way" will be impacted by the 30-day Europe travel ban, despite saying less than an hour earlier the restrictive measures would apply to a "tremendous amount of trade and cargo." | Trump has baffled traders and ordinary netizens after he took to Twitter in the wake of his national address earlier on Wednesday to assure the public that his order to suspend all travel from Europe pertains only to the movement of people, but not goods. | Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countrie…
(2020-03-12). Lack of Paid Sick Leave Makes It Difficult for Many Workers to Comply with CDC Advice to Stay Home. democracynow.org 
As the number of coronavirus cases in the United States passes 1,300 cases with 38 deaths, more than 30 million workers lack access to paid sick leave. President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying he will expand sick leave as part of emergency response to the virus. But the same day, Republican senators blocked an attempt by Senate Democrats to quickly pass legislation requiring employers to grant paid sick leave. Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives will debate a package of bills Thursday to give workers 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical…
(2020-03-12). Trump Calls COVID-19 "Foreign Virus" as Lack of Universal Healthcare Makes the Pandemic Worse. democracynow.org 
After downplaying the threat of coronavirus for days, President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling COVID-19 a "foreign virus" and announcing an unprecedented travel ban from most of Europe to the U.S. He also said he will expand sick leave. This comes as Senate Republicans blocked paid sick leave legislation. Robert Pollin, distinguished university professor of economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, says the lack of universal healthcare in the U.S. is exacerbating the coronavirus crisis due to "the ab…
(2020-03-12). Italy's "Darkest Hour": Life Grinds to a Halt Amid COVID-19 Lockdown, as Death Toll Spikes. democracynow.org 
We get an update from Italy, where 60 million people are under an unprecedented nationwide lockdown and the death toll has increased to at least 827, rising by 31% in just 24 hours. Authorities ordered all shops closed except food markets and pharmacies. Italy's economy has all but ground to a halt, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte describing the outbreak as the country's "darkest hour." Italian journalist Antonella Serrecchia joins us from Milan, where she is a reporter for the online magazine The Vision.
(2020-03-12). Coronavirus response: Lawmakers prefer helping workers but Trump pushes tax cuts. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—With the coronavirus threat to the U.S., including the U.S. economy, spreading, lawmakers and GOP President Donald Trump went in two very different directions about how to help people nationwide. For lawmakers, especially the House's ruling Democrats, the chief object was to make sure there are ways to both minimize the circumstances that could put …
(2020-03-12). Sanders most popular Democratic candidate in exit polls among 'swing voters'. nationofchange.org Where exit polls are conducted, Bernie Sanders is the favored Democratic candidate in 13 out of the 16 states. This means that those Americans who are independent voters or "swing voters" are more likely to vote for Sanders as opposed to former Vice President Joe Biden come November. Independent voters are also referred to as …
(2020-03-12). Headlines for March 12, 2020. democracynow.org World Health Organization Declares Coronavirus Pandemic, Top Italian Health Official Among 827 Coronavirus Dead as Italy Faces "Darkest Hour", Iran Condemns U.S. Sanctions as "Medical Terrorism" as Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 429, President Trump Announces Europe Travel Ban in Error-Laden Oval Office Speech, U.S. Labs Face Shortage of Supplies Needed to Test for Coronavirus, Sen. Lamar Alexander Blocks Quick Passage of Paid Sick Leave Bill, School Closures from Coronavirus Affecting Over 1 Million K-12 Students Nationwide, Bernie Sanders Promises to Question Biden Over Progressive Policies at Next Debate, Joe Bid…
(2020-03-12). Everything Is Impossible Until It Happens—US Foreign Policy as Bernie's Next Frontier. commondreams.org A Bernie foreign policy would make the world a far better place. (Photo: Bernie Sanders/Facebook) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_6_0.jpeg …
(2020-03-12). Sanders Addresses Health Crisis in US as Coronavirus Cases Soar. telesurenglish.net Presidential hopeful and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke Thursday on the "health and economic crisis" facing the United States (U.S.) as the coronavirus spreads in the country. | RELATED: "Now is the time for solidarity," Sanders said. "Now is the time to come together with love and compassion for all, including the most vulnerable people in our society." | The Vermont senator demanded that President Donald Trump de…
(2020-03-12). Venezuela: FRSO meets National Electoral Council president. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) labor delegation met today with Tibisay Lucena, president of the CNE (the National Electoral Council) to discuss the upcoming elections. Lucena spoke about this election as very important in the face of U.S aggression and the economic war. | Lucena explained the electoral processes in Venezuela are a result of democratic changes put forward in the 1999 Constitution after President Chavez was elected. The CNE is a new branch of government, the electoral branch, that oversees a fair and democratic process. This is in addition to the legislative, ju…
(2020-03-12). As Biden Racks up Delegates the Crisis Among Black Folks and Democrat Party Deepens. dissidentvoice.org Biden wins key state of Michigan and the Democrat Party establishment can barely contain its joy. I am happy also but for a different reason. No matter what happens with this twisted Democrat Party nomination drama, I welcome this period as a period of absolute political clarity. Why? Because for the internal debate and struggles …
(2020-03-12). Sanders Isn't Backing Out Before Sunday Debate — and He Has Questions for Biden. truthout.org After disappointing
(2020-03-12). Joe Biden Pays Lip Service to Climate But Has Fallen Short on Action. truthout.org As Joe Biden's chances of clinching the Democratic nomination continue to rise, environmentalists are absorbing the possibility that they may eventually be faced with the challenge of trying to exert pressure on a nominee with deep ties to the fossil fuel industry. | Though awareness of the climate crisis among the public has
(2020-03-12). Combining Medicare for All and the Biden healthcare plan. nationofchange.org If Biden is going to be nominated, then Bernie and his supporters need to work hard to get the platform improved and make sure that Biden commits to the changes required under the platform.
(2020-03-12). Anti-Union Attorneys Love Joe Biden. truthout.org In the week since his strong showing on Super Tuesday, Joe Biden has collected a raft of new labor union endorsements. As voters in more states head to the polls, it is worth remembering that Biden launched his campaign with a fundraiser co-hosted by the head of an anti-union law firm. | On April 24, 2019, Biden
(2020-03-12). In Stunning Bipartisan Rebuke of DeVos, Senate Overturns Anti-Student Rule. truthout.org In a stunning bipartisan rebuke of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the Senate this week voted 53-42 to overturn a new Department of Education rule that would make it nearly impossible for students ripped off by their colleges to have their federal student loans cancelled. | Ten Republicans Senators — Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Joni Ernst (IA), Josh Hawley (MO), Cory Gardner (CO), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Dan Sullivan (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Todd Young (IN), Martha McSally (AZ), and Rob P…
(2020-03-12). Trump Calls COVID-19 "Foreign Virus" as US Fails to Curtail Its Spread. truthout.org After downplaying the threat of coronavirus for days, President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling COVID-19 a "foreign virus" and announcing an unprecedented travel ban from most of Europe to the U.S. He also said he will expand sick leave. This comes as Senate Republicans blocked paid sick leave legislation. Robert Pollin, distinguished university professor of economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts…
(2020-03-12). Lack of Paid Sick Leave Prevents Workers From Complying With CDC Advice. truthout.org As the number of coronavirus cases in the United States passes 1,300 cases with 38 deaths, more than 30 million workers lack access to paid sick leave. President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying he will expand sick leave as part of emergency response to the virus. But the same day, Republican senators blocked an attempt by Senate Democrats to quickly pass legislation requiring employers to grant paid sick leave. Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives will debate a pack…
(2020-03-12). Sanders Won Michigan in 2016. Biden Won Every County in 2020. Why? thenation.com Sanders Won Michigan in 2016. Biden Won Every County in 2020. Why?
(2020-03-12). Youth Coalition Demands 'Serious Discussion' of Key Progressive Issues at Democratic Presidential Debate. commondreams.org Ahead of Sunday's Democratic presidential primary debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, a coalition of youth advocacy organizations on Thursday issued a pair of demands pressuring the Democratic National Committee and moderators to prioritize key progressive issues that haven't received much attention at past debates. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/dnc_1.jpg …
(2020-03-12). As GOP Rejects Economic Relief for Working People, Fed's $1.5 Trillion Stock Market Injection Would Cover 'Almost All Student Loan Debt in the US'. commondreams.org Hours after Republican leaders in Congress derided a Democratic proposal to provide healthcare and economic relief to Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic as a burdensome, "ideological wish list", the Federal Reserve moved to inject $1.5 trillion into the bond market to keep the financial system stable. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/picmonkey_image_2.jpg …
(2020-03-12). 'Not the Time for Half-Measures': Progressives Demand Far-Reaching Economic and Public Health Assistance as Coronavirus Spreads. commondreams.org As Democratic leaders released a plan to provide economic relief to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., progressives pushed to provide Americans with bold, ambitious solutions as the first layoffs resulting from the outbreak were reported. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/ilhan_omar_1_0_0.jpg …
(2020-03-11). Biden projected to carry Mississippi and Missouri. rt.com 
The first round of 'Big Tuesday' polls have closed, with Democrat front-runner Joe Biden projected as the victor in the Mississippi and Missouri primaries, according to media reports. | Polls closed at 8pm Eastern Time (midnight GMT) in three states, and early projections favor Biden to win the majority of Mississippi's 36 delegates and Missouri's 68. Exit polls showed the former vice president coming out of Mississippi with more than three times the votes of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and leading in Missouri by over 20 points. | Exit poll points to something like 77-20 in Mississippi for Biden; Missouri…
(2020-03-11). The Corporate Media Celebrates After Handing Joe Biden Another Win. mintpressnews.com 
Biden has deliberately refrained from public or media appearances due to his propensity for making egregious errors, but that hasn't stopped the media from paving the way for a Biden vs Trump contest.
(2020-03-11). Are the gloves coming off? Sanders campaign ratchets up the rhetoric (and snark) as Biden surges in primaries. rt.com 
After a poor showing in the latest primaries, Bernie Sanders' campaign has adopted a more aggressive approach to highlighting Joe Biden's shortcomings — ahead of what could be a make-or-break debate for the Vermont senator. | Biden scored victories in Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, and Michigan on Tuesday, knocking the wind out of Team Sanders, which has billed itself as a political movement serving working-class Americans. The tough race appears to have motivated Sanders' staff to take up a more combative strategy when it comes to pointing out their opponent's foibles. Campaign manager Faiz Shakir fired…
(2020-03-11). Biden projected to prevail in Idaho after winning Michigan in a major blow for Sanders. rt.com Democratic Party front-runner Joe Biden seems to have edged out socialist Bernie Sanders in the primary in Idaho, while the two are tied in Washington. Many votes are coming in via mail due to fears of coronavirus. | A total of 109 delegates — 20 in Idaho and 89 in Washington — are at stake in the two western states. Sanders carried both in 2016 when he ran against another establishment favorite, Hillary Clinton. | Having suffered a night of
(2020-03-11). Not feelin' the Bern? Biden scores more states in latest primaries — but Sanders is still in the battle. rt.com Former Vice President Joe Biden has widened his lead against Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, claiming four of six states in the latest round of contests, including the key state of Michigan. | Biden took Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi and Michigan while Sanders netted North Dakota and Washington, where the vote count is still underway. | The loss of Michigan — which aside from its 125 delegates is viewed as a barometer to test the political leanings of blue-collar workers — was a huge blow to the Vermont senator, who has campaigned on a platform to serve the needs of working-class Americans…
(2020-03-11). Biden Wins, Sanders Lags: Naomi Klein & Alicia Garza on Calls to Shut Down Primaries & Debates. democracynow.org 
Former Vice President Joe Biden scored decisive primary victories Tuesday night in the key state of Michigan, along with Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho. Sanders won North Dakota and holds a lead in Washington state, but votes are still being counted, and the races are still too close to call. While Biden is less than halfway to the delegates he would need to secure the Democratic nomination, Sanders faces a decision about whether to continue his increasingly uphill fight for the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination. This comes as Biden and Sanders called off their planned campaign rallies in Cleveland…
(2020-03-11). Biden projected to take Michigan, as he seeks to widen his lead over Sanders. rt.com Exit polls from Michigan show Joe Biden ahead of Bernie Sanders in the state's primary contest, cementing the former VP's position as the front-runner in the Democrat presidential race. Sanders won the state back in 2016. | Democratic Party frontrunner Joe Biden edged out rival Bernie Sanders as polls closed in Michigan, with early counts giving him 52.1 percent of the vote. Voters in some cities were still waiting to cast their ballots, however, with some waiting an average of three hours. | Polls are officially closed in Michigan, but the East Lansing city clerks office is still packed with students who have…
(2020-03-11). Elusive bipartisan cooperation spotted in House leaders' daring last-minute rescue of controversial warrantless wiretapping powers. rt.com 
Democrat and Republican House leaders have paused their partisan sniping to do the real work of governing: keeping unpopular surveillance programs, including roving NSA wiretaps and access to metadata, alive indefinitely. | With just four days to go before congressional authorization for the controversial provisions expires, a bipartisan contingent has swooped in to save the NSA from experiencing one second of separation anxiety from Americans' private communications. Committee heads from both sides of the aisle wrangled enough votes within their own parties to deliver a reauthorization bill on Tuesday night w…
(2020-03-11). Media malfunction as Sanders notes positive aspects of Latin American socialism. mronline.org 
When 60 Minutes (2/24/20) asked Sen. Bernie Sanders about his past support for aspects of Cuba's socialist revolution, as well as for Nicaragua's 1979—90 leftist Sandinista government, Sanders responded by saying he opposes what he described as the "authoritarian" features of the Cuban government, while noting that after the 1959 revolution, Cuba launched "a massive […] |
(2020-03-11). Nurses on the Frontlines of Coronavirus Pandemic Demand More Protection & Medicare for All. democracynow.org 
The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has passed 1,000 Tuesday, with the rate of infections likely increasing. Despite this, the U.S. continues to lag on testing, and healthcare workers say they lack adequate protection and protocols to allow them to safely care for infected patients. They also say the country's hospitals are woefully unprepared to handle the crisis. Nurses in the hot zones of California and Washington had already reported having to beg for face masks and lacking guidance on how to address the virus. We are joined by Jean Ross, president of National Nurses United, the largest organ…
(2020-03-11). Headlines for March 11, 2020. democracynow.org National Guard Deployed to Coronavirus "Containment Area" Outside New York City, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Bans Public Gatherings of 250+, Classes and Sporting Events Canceled as Coronavirus Spreads Across U.S., Top U.S. Health Official: Start Taking Coronavirus Seriously, Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Top 121,000, Trump Floats $700 Billion Payroll Tax Cut Decried as Stealth Attack on Social Security , Joe Biden Wins Four States Including Michigan, Building Primary Lead Over Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden Threatens Detroit Autoworker, Calls Him "Full of Sh**" in Argument over Guns, Bernie Sanders Calls Long Lines at Mi…
(2020-03-11). Tallahassee International Women's Day. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – In honor of International Women's Day, Tallahassee residents attended a panel discussion on the origins and impacts of the socialist holiday. | Regina Joseph of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) shared a short video on the history of the day and facilitated a panel of five leaders representing over ten active local organizations. | The panelists were all people of color, ranging in age from 20 to 55: Valentina Beron, FSU student and organizer with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Veg FSU; Delilah Pierre,…
(2020-03-11). US activists call for election monitors as elitist Joe Biden keeps advancing. thecanary.co Former vice president
(2020-03-11). Palestinian FM Denounces Israeli Plans for So-Called "Sovereignty Road" imemc.org The Palestinian Foreign Ministry, on Monday, strongly condemned the announcement by Israeli Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett of his intention to build, what he described as "sovereignty road" in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry stated that it "condemns in the strongest …
(2020-03-11). Democracy is sliding away in Myanmar, warns top rights investigator. news.un.org Daily fighting in Myanmar, widespread internet blackouts and reporting restrictions, indicate that the shift to more democratic rule is "sliding away", a senior UN-appointed independent rights investigator said on Wednesday.
(2020-03-11). Peace Action: Congress Sends Bipartisan Bill to Trump Rebuking Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 11, 2020 — In response to the House passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Both chambers and …
(2020-03-11). Is It Too Late for Bernie Sanders to Win Over Black Voters? thenation.com Is It Too Late for Bernie Sanders to Win Over Black Voters?
(2020-03-11). Bernie Sanders: Now More Than Ever. thenation.com Bernie Sanders: Now More Than Ever…
(2020-03-11). It Looks Like Biden or Trump. So What About Foreign Policies? iranian.com Now that mega-billionaire Bloomberg has realised the impossibility of being president of the United States, he has put his money behind Democrat and former vice-president Joe Biden who looks likely to be going to-to-toe with Trump for election in November. At first glance, he seems a reasonable enough candidate, as Bernie Sanders, who is now …
(2020-03-10). Voters face delays, untested new procedures in Michigan, Missouri, Washington, Mississippi, Idaho, and North Dakota. rt.com As primary voters streamed to the polls in six US states, they encountered system failures, missing ballots, disqualifying technicalities, and other unexpected roadblocks. One mayor was even turned away from his polling station. | Former vice president Joe Biden leads the Democratic field going into Tuesday's contests, in which the candidates will compete for 352 party delegates. While Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders began the nomination season strong, handily taking the first three states, Biden surged to the forefront on Super Tuesday – though some have raised alarms about vote-counting abnormalities in sever…
(2020-03-10). Prisons Worldwide Face Coronavirus Crisis: Overcrowding, Lack of Sanitation & Labor at Slave Wages. democracynow.org 
As Italy went on lockdown, nearly 30 prisons across the country broke into riots Sunday and Monday after visitation rights were suspended in response to the outbreak. In a prison in southern Italy, a riot left at least six incarcerated people dead and caused 50 people to escape. Prisoners have reportedly lit fires, charged guards and even escaped at multiple facilities. This comes as the United Nations confirmed that coronavirus had reached Iran's prisons, as the number of cases there continues to soar. Iran has temporarily freed some 70,000 prisoners in response to the coronavirus. And concerns are growing about…
(2020-03-10). Coronavirus Pandemic in U.S. Fueled by Stunted CDC Budget & Lack of Access to Healthcare, Insurance. democracynow.org 
The coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 113,000 people worldwide, and killed more than 4,000. We are joined by two epidemiologists to examine the response so far around the world and in the United States. Thomas Bollyky is director of the global health program, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the book "Plagues and the Paradox of Progress: Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome Ways." We're also joined by Alfredo Morabia, professor of epidemiology at the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at Queens College, City University of New York, and edit…
(2020-03-10). Immigrants in WA Detention Center Demand Protection from Coronavirus, Not Posters in English. democracynow.org 
As the world responds to the COVID-19 outbreak, we look at how the Trump administration's immigration policies may put everyone at risk. We go to Seattle, Washington, not far from the Life Care Center in the suburb of Kirkland, which was the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak. In nearby Tacoma, Washington, our guest says she saw posters in English only when she went to visit immigrants held in the Northwest Detention Center, which is run by private prison company GEO Group. We speak with Maru Mora-Villalpando, an activist and undocumented immigrant with the groups La Resistencia and Mijente, who issued a…
(2020-03-10). Italy Is Now a Red Zone: Student at Bocconi U. Describes Strict Measures Taken to Contain COVID-19. democracynow.org 
The entire country of Italy has been placed on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, impacting 60 million people. People in the nationwide red zone will only be allowed to travel for work, medical reasons or emergencies until early next month. All schools and universities will also remain closed, major sporting events are suspended, and airline passengers now have to justify their reasons for traveling. We go to Italy to speak with Romy Kool, an international student at Bocconi University in Milan, where courses are now being taught online amid the coronavirus outbreak. We are als…
(2020-03-10). Headlines for March 10, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 4,000 with Over 113,000 Confirmed Infections as Italy Goes into Nationwide Lockdown, Six States Head to Polls as Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden Battle for 352 Delegates , Women Strike in Mexico, Take to Streets in Chile and Argentina to Demand Equality and an End to Violence, U.S. Begins Afghan Troop Withdrawal Amid Political Leadership Crisis | , New Reports Find Boeing at Fault for Fatal Crashes of Boeing 737 MAX Jets, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Puerto Rican Revolutionary, Dies at 89 | , 2020 Izzy Awards Honor Journalist Matt Taibbi, News Inside and The Center for Investigative Journalism…
(2020-03-10). SYRIZA's Betrayal of Greece is a Spectre haunting the Left. dissidentvoice.org 'Super Tuesday' in the 2020 presidential election season is over and Senator Bernie Sanders's time as the unlikely frontrunner for the Democratic nomination may have stopped just as quick as it began. Despite an unprecedented smear campaign coordinated by the party leadership and corporate media against him, the self-described "democratic socialist" not only managed to …
(2020-03-10). Burundi election countdown amid 'deteriorating' human rights situation. news.un.org Two months ahead of Burundi's planned local and presidential elections, senior UN-appointed independent rights investigators have urged the Government to reopen the "democratic, civil and political space" there.
(2020-03-10). 'Missing the mark': Ex-Warren staffers face outrage over campaign tattoos eerily similar to Holocaust concentration camp numbers. rt.com 
Former staffers for Elizabeth Warren have been taken to the woodshed over tattoos meant to memorialize her ill-fated campaign — which just happen to closely resemble markings given to Holocaust concentration camp prisoners. Oops! | Intending to commemorate the Democratic senator's failed bid for the presidency, at least two former Warren staffers thought tattoos displaying the hex code for the campaign's "Liberty Green" theme would be a clever tribute — until Twitter caught wind of it. In an avalanche of criticism, netizens wasted no time in pointing out the obvious — albeit accidental — r…
(2020-03-09). "Afghanistan Papers" Reveal How Presidents & Generals Misled the American Public on War's Progress. democracynow.org 
Washington Post reporter Craig Whitlock has just won a George Polk Award for Military Reporting for his in-depth investigation called "The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War." He joins us to describe how, after getting a tip, he fought for three years to get the federal government to release a trove of confidential interviews it conducted with people directly involved in the nearly two-decade-long war. He ultimately obtained more than 2,000 documents that revealed how presidents, generals and diplomats across three administrations had intentionally misled the American public about the longest war in…
(2020-03-09). Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Recruited Spies to Infiltrate Progressive Groups with Project Veritas. democracynow.org 
Erik Prince, the founder of the mercenary firm Blackwater and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, helped recruit former spies to infiltrate and gather intelligence about Democratic campaigns and labor organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, according to an explosive report by The New York Times. The story exposes previously unreported details about the ties between Prince and Project Veritas, a right-wing group that often sets up sting operations targeting the media and journalists by recording covert videos. According to documents and interviews, one former spy recruited by Erik Pri…
(2020-03-09). "It's a Real Mess": Afghan Rivals Both Claim Presidency as Ongoing Attacks Could Derail Peace Deal. democracynow.org 
Since last month's U.S.-Taliban peace plan, there have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan. The violence could derail the deal that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw over the next 14 months. This comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and top political leader Abdullah Abdullah both claimed that they won the presidential election at dual inauguration ceremonies today in Kabul, and members of the Taliban and the Afghan government were set to start direct negotiations on Tuesday. We speak with Washington Post reporter Craig Whitlock, who recently won the George Polk Award for Military Reporting for his in-depth in…
(2020-03-09). Headlines for March 9, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Cases Surge Worldwide, But True Numbers in U.S. Unknown Due to Lack of Testing, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders Rack Up Endorsements, Appeal to Voters Ahead of New Wave of Voting, NYT: Erik Prince Recruited Spies to Infiltrate Democratic Campaign and Teachers' Union, Tensions High in Lesbos as Asylum Center Burns Down, Greek Authorities Attack Refugees, Millions Take to Streets Around the World for International Women's Day, Guatemalan Woman Dies in ICE Custody, Trump Taps Rep. Mark Meadows as New Chief of Staff, House Dems Ask Court to Reconsider Enforcing Subpoena for Don McGahn, Bernie Sanders Release…
(2020-03-09). The Grayzone and CODEPINK demand emergency OAS election observers in 2020 Democratic presidential primary. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone and CODEPINK call on the Organization of American States (OAS) to provide emergency international election observers in the…
(2020-03-09). Grayzone y CODEPINK exigen a la OEA observadores electorales internacionales de emergencia en la primaria presidencial demócrata de 2020. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone y CODEPINK hacen un llamado a la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) a proporcionar observadores electorales internacionales…
(2020-03-07). TEXAS 2020 DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARY. tdmsresearch.com Exit Poll Versus Reported Vote Count By Theodore de Macedo Soares The 2020 Texas Democratic Party presidential primary was held on March 3, 2020. Election results from the computerized vote counts differed significantly from the results projected by the exit poll conducted by Edison Research and published by CNN at poll's closing. According to the exit poll Sanders was tied with Biden but lost in the unobservable computer counts by 4.5%. In this election candidate Sanders saw the largest
(2020-03-06). "Supreme Inequality": Author Adam Cohen on the Supreme Court's 50-Year Battle Against Justice. democracynow.org 
The makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court has come under intense criticism in recent years after two Trump-nominated justices joined the bench. Senate Republicans confirmed Neil Gorsuch in 2017 after having refused to consider President Barack Obama's nominee in his final year in office, and they confirmed Brett Kavanaugh a year later despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against the judge. During the 2020 Democratic presidential contest, several candidates floated the idea of "packing the court" — appointing more than nine justices — in order to counter the court's rightward drift. But while t…
(2020-03-06). Headlines for March 6, 2020. democracynow.org 3,500 Cruise Ship Passengers Quarantined Off California Coast over Coronavirus Fears, Seattle Area Residents Urged to Work from Home as Coronavirus Spreads Across U.S., World Health Organization's Coronavirus Warning: "This Is Not a Drill", Stocks Tumble as Coronavirus Rattles Global Economy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Suspends 2020 Presidential Bid, Bernie Sanders Campaign Rally Disrupted by Protester with Nazi Flag, Russia and Turkey Agree to a Ceasefire in Syria's War-Torn Idlib, Israel Accused of Collective Punishment After Demolishing Palestinian Homes, Israeli Opposition Parties Bidding to Unseat Netanyahu After…
(2020-03-06). If Sanders forms a real Alliance with Warren, their Popular Policies Can Win. zcomm.org Conventional wisdom is that a presidential candidate should pick an opposite or contrasting vice presidential running mate, to create a perception of a balanced ticket. But this is not a conventional time or race, Bernie is offering a clear and practical progressive choice to fix the USA. So his running mate needs to be a
(2020-03-05). Roundtable: Coronavirus Is Best Case for Medicare for All. democracynow.org 
On Wednesday, House lawmakers passed an $8.3 billion emergency spending package for combating coronavirus, as the death toll from coronavirus has reached 11 in the United States. California recorded its first coronavirus death yesterday. The virus has also spread to New York, where Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a directive requiring health insurers to waive cost sharing for coronavirus tests. We go to two ground zeroes of the COVID-19 outbreak — New York and Seattle — and host a roundtable on whether coronavirus presents a clear argument for healthcare for all. We are joined by Dr. Steffie Woolhandler,…
(2020-03-05). The New Poll Tax? Long Lines, Closed Polling Stations Hurt Black, Latinx & Student Voters in TX, CA. democracynow.org 
Long wait times plagued polling places in Texas throughout Super Tuesday, especially in districts with high numbers of black and Latinx voters and college students. Many voters reported waiting in line for more than three hours to cast a ballot. At least 750 Texas polling sites have been shuttered since 2013, when the Supreme Court slashed federal oversight of Texas and other Southern states under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. There were long lines, too, in Los Angeles, where many polling places reported problems with a brand-new $300 million voting system. The Sanders campaign sued to keep polling places open a…
(2020-03-05). Headlines for March 5, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Cases Near 100,000 Worldwide as U.S. Death Toll Reaches 11, President Trump Contradicts WHO's Warning over Coronavirus Death Rate, Billionaire Mike Bloomberg Ends Presidential Bid, Endorses Joe Biden, Bernie Bashes Biden's Billionaire Backers as Healthcare Stocks Surge Post-Super Tuesday, International Criminal Court to Investigate Taliban, Afghan and U.S. Troops for War Crimes, 15 Civilians Killed in Latest Syrian Airstrikes in Idlib, Turkey Accuses Greece of Killing Migrant as Greek Riot Police Fire Tear Gas at Border, EU Ministers Support Greek Crackdown on Asylum Seekers Despite Protests, Federal…
(2020-03-04). After Biden's Super Tuesday Surge, Sanders Campaign Faces Questions About African-American Support. democracynow.org 
On Super Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden swept the South and Midwest, winning Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas, propelled by a huge majority of African-American votes in several states. We host a roundtable discussion on the results with Barbara Ransby, historian, author and activist; Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign and president of Repairers of the Breach; and Elie Mystal, the justice correspondent for The Nation.
(2020-03-04). The Case Against Joe Biden: Former VP's Long Career Shows a Recurring Theme of "Appeasing the Right" democracynow.org 
Following his Super Tuesday wins, we look closely at the record of former Vice President Joe Biden, from his central role in supporting the Iraq War to expanding the so-called war on drugs. We speak with Branko Marcetic, the author of "Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden." Biden's approach to politics is based on "appeasing the right" and "taking the platform of his Republican opponent and trying to make it his own," Marcetic says.
(2020-03-02). The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org "If there is going to be class warfare in this country," Bernie Sanders told the Iowa AFL-CIO convention last summer, "it's time that the working class of this country won that war and not just the corporate elite."
(2020-03-02). Sanders Threatens the Establishment by Inspiring Popular Movements. zcomm.org Inspiring a popular movement that violates these norms is a serious attack on democracy, so conceived, an intolerable assault against good order…
(2020-02-28). Carol Anderson on Voter Suppression. fair.org Media…
(2020-02-28). Emails Reveal Identity of Longtime White Nationalist Propagandist as Onetime Conservative Insider. splcenter.org Months before the "alt-right" became a household name, the nebulous band of white power activists seized upon their digital prowess to popularize a slur that would soon become a mainstay in the Republican infighting that defined the 2016 presidential election.
(2020-02-26). As Alabama primary nears, voter suppression is alive and well. splcenter.org All across this country, the right to vote is under attack. But with your support, we're fighting back in Southern courts and state legislatures with a newly formed team of legal, policy, and grassroots advocates.
(2020-02-14). Jim Naureckas on Democratic Primaries, Nina Luo on Decriminalizing Sex Work. fair.org 
Media…
(2020-02-13). Peace Action: Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2020 — In response to the Senate passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "It's about time …
(2020-02-08). Hasan Sits Down With Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Interview on aging and retirement in America…