(2020-03-17). Top candidate for Merkel ¥s successor Friedrich Merz tests positive for coronavirus. rt.com 
Friedrich Merz, a former Christian Democratic faction leader in the Bundestag, who is now seen as the most likely successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, has revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus. | Merz has emerged as a grassroots favorite in the race for the top post in Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and was considered one of the frontrunners. This came after the chancellor's protege, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, abruptly resigned following a political scandal in the eastern region of Thuringia. | However, the 64-year-old now faces a fight for more than just his political career. "My Sund…
(2020-03-17). Together, Biden and Sanders COVID-19 plans provide immediate and systemic response. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—If you want the global view of how the U.S. health care non-system is ill-equipped to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vt., has a solution for you. It's in his speech on March 12. If you want point-by-point, detail-by-detail proposals on what the federal government can and …
(2020-03-17). The neoliberal era is ending. What comes next? peoplesworld.org 
This op-ed by long-time activist and radical historian Max Elbaum originally appeared at Organizing Upgrade. It was submitted to People's World for consideration. We publish it here as part of the wide-ranging discussion currently going on around the 2020 elections, the Democratic primary, and progressive strategy and tactics in the current period. Like all opinion …
(2020-03-17). Is the DNC Once Again Orchestrating the Defeat of a Socialist Candidate? globalresearch.ca In 1944, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) ensured that socialist Henry Wallace would not succeed Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) as president. Is history repeating itself in 2020? | Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders received the most votes in the first three primary …
(2020-03-17). Socialists for Biden — and the Power of Corporate Media. zcomm.org The next few weeks offer the Bernie Sanders movement perhaps its last chance to win over — mostly through electronic means — Democratic primary voters…
(2020-03-17). "Zionist" Biden in His Own Words: "My Name is Joe Biden, and Everybody Knows I Love Israel" dissidentvoice.org "I am a Zionist. You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist," current Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, said in April 2007, soon before he was chosen to be Barack Obama's running mate in the 2008 elections. Biden is, of course, correct, because Zionism is a political movement that is rooted in …
(2020-03-17). US Indifference to Public Health: The Shame of the Nation. globalresearch.ca Both right wings of the US one-party state serve privileged interests exclusively at the expense of public health and welfare. | It's been this way throughout the nation's history, notably since the neoliberal 90s, especially post-9/11 when Republicans and undemocratic Dems …
(2020-03-17). Sanders Endorses Biden? It's Coming…. globalresearch.ca You heard it here first. No, Sanders hasn't formally endorsed Biden yet, but make no mistake. It's coming — guaranteed, maybe before month's end. | Just like he endorsed legally challenged war criminal, racketeer, perjurer Hillary, a Biden endorsement is virtually …
(2020-03-17). Bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee introduces bill that censors online content and attacks encryption. wsws.org Leading Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee formally introduced the EARN IT Act, which attacks First and Fourth Amendment rights under the guise of fighting online child sexual exploitation.
(2020-03-17). Democratic Party debate dominated by coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org The exchanges between the candidates had been rendered largely irrelevant by consolidation of the Democratic Party behind Biden, making him the presumptive nominee.
(2020-03-17). Plagues, Pandemics, Paintings, and Personal Gain. counterpunch.org After a lot of Trump Administration obfuscation, dillydallying, denial, sloppy planning, incompetence, inaction, and indecision about the spread and the combatting of the Coronavirus in the United States, and, after much criticism by Democrat politicians and the "liberal" media, the White House apprised the nation that at 9: 00 p.m. EDT, March 11, 2020, President Donald
(2020-03-17). Only 20% of American Workers Covered by Pelosi's Sick Leave Bill. indybay.org The House of Representatives, under the direction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, cobbled together a bill this week calling on employers to provide paid sick leave to their workers. See http: //clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll102.xml However, the 54% of American workers who work for companies with more than 500 employees, such as Amazon, McDonald's, etc. are not covered. Small companies with less than 50 employees can obtain emergency exemptions. That leaves only 20% covered by this bill.
(2020-03-17). The Senate Must Pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. truthout.org The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare how ill-prepared the U.S. is to address basic human needs. Unlike every other wealthy nation, the U.S. fails to provide access to health care for everyone, paid time off for workers who are sick, safety standards to protect health workers, adequate payment to caregivers for people with disabilities, or financial support for businesses in times of natural disasters or widespread illness. | The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative R…
(2020-03-17). As Ohio Postpones Its Primary, COVID-19 Pandemic Wreaks Election Havoc. truthout.org After covering presidential elections, primaries and politics for the last 20 years, I've gotten used to days when the story changes before I can finish typing a sentence. The days after this year's South Carolina primary are a perfect example. Super Tuesday preview done, think I'll make a sandwich, wait, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg just dropped out and endorsed Joe Biden, oh well, NO SANDWICH FOR ME. | It's the nature of the beast: The only constant is change. If you're not ready to turn on a…
(2020-03-17). Temporary work stoppage at Fiat Chrysler's Warren Truck plant as wildcat strikes spread in global auto industry. wsws.org Actions against continued production during the coronavirus pandemic have spread from Italy to Spain, Canada and now the United States.
(2020-03-17). 3 Tips for White Women to Win Over Black and Brown Women Voters. thenation.com 3 Tips for White Women to Win Over Black and Brown Women Voters…
(2020-03-17). Many European Countries Impose Quarantines as the US Declares State of Emergency. sputniknews.com On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon & Lee Stranahan discussed the coronavirus after the US declared a state of emergency and countries in the European Union have imposed increasingly tight restrictions on travel. We also talked about last night's Democratic debates.
(2020-03-17). Spain Nationalizes Health Care as Its Coronavirus Cases Double. truthout.org Europe is the epicenter of coronavirus, and Spain now has the second most cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 new cases in 24 hours and the number of deaths doubled. We'll go to Madrid for an update, where more than half of the country's cases have been reported. This comes as the Spanish government announced it is nationalizing hospitals and private healthcare companies to better manage the pandemic. We are joined by María Carrión, a freelance journalist and former Democracy Now! producer who is also execu…
(2020-03-16). "Something Is Wrong in America": Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor & Michael Eric Dyson Debate Sanders v Biden. democracynow.org 
Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders faced off in their first one-on-one debate Sunday night in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, with 3,600 reported COVID-19 cases, 61 deaths so far, 33 states closing schools and mass shutdowns in major cities. The rivals clashed on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Medicare for All, the climate crisis, Joe Biden's record and whether or not the U.S. needs a revolution. We play highlights from the debate and get responses from scholars Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Michael Eric Dyson. Taylor is assistant professor of African-America…
(2020-03-16). Biden and Sanders push credentials to lead US against coronavirus. thecanary.co 
Former vice president Joe Biden and senator Bernie Sanders used Sunday's Democratic debate to cast themselves as best-positioned person to lead the United States through a global pandemic.In the latest debate in the race to decide the Democrats' nominee to run for president, the pair were united in their criticism of president Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus but diverged on how they would confront the spiralling public health and economic crisis.Biden pledged to deploy the US military to help with recovery efforts and warned a federal financial bail-out may be necessary to stabilise the economy.The two…
(2020-03-16). As Biden racks up delegates the crisis among Black folks and Democrat Party deepens. mronline.org 
Slick operatives among the Black Misleadership Class have made an electoral pact with big capitalists that is totally against the interests of the Black working class. |
(2020-03-16). One-on-one debate sees Biden, Sanders emphasize differences on coronavirus. peoplesworld.org 
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(2020-03-16). Pompeo tells China to quit spreading 'outlandish rumors' and blaming US for Covid-19 pandemic. rt.com 
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned China not to spread "outlandish rumors" about the Covid-19 virus and accused China of trying to shift the blame for the pandemic onto the US. | In a phone call with China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi, Pompeo relayed "strong US objections" to China's recent suggestion that the virus could have been brought into the country by the US military. | Pompeo stressed to Jiechi that "this is not the time to spread disinformation and outlandish rumors," a State Department spokesperson said. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lijian Zhao said last week that it mi…
(2020-03-16). Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Michael Eric Dyson Debate Sanders vs. Biden. truthout.org Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders faced off in their first one-on-one debate Sunday night in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, with 3,600 reported COVID-19 cases, 61 deaths so far, 33 states closing schools and mass shutdowns in major cities. The rivals clashed on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Medicare for All, the climate crisis, Joe Biden's record and whether or not the U.S. needs a revolution. We play highlights from the debate and get respon…
(2020-03-16). Coronavirus Takes Center Stage in Sanders, Biden Debate. telesurenglish.net Presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden took to the stage Sunday night for the first one-to-one debate of the 2020 Democratic race. | RELATED: | The much-anticipated encounter came as four states will head to the polls Tuesday to chose their nominee. Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona will collectively award 577 pledged delegates. | Taking place without a live audien…
(2020-03-16). Headlines for March 16, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Pandemic Death Toll Tops 6,500 Worldwide, About 170,000 Confirmed Cases, U.S. Coronavirus Cases Reach 3,600 as True Number of Infections Continues to be Unknown, Trump Tests Negative for Coronavirus After Being in Contact with Brazilian Official Infected with COVID-19, States Across U.S. Ramp Up Measures to Control Spread of Coronavirus, Including Massive School, Business Closures, Federal Judge Blocks Trump Rule That Would Have Thrown 700,000 People Off Food Stamps, AOC Confronts ICE Agent at LaGuardia Airport as 6 Migrant Children Detained in Texas Were Relocated to New York, Sanders, Biden Faced Of…
(2020-03-16). The Long Arm of the American Nazi Party Reaches the 2020 Illinois Primary. truthout.org Republicans voting on Tuesday in Illinois's 3rd congressional district primary will get to decide if they want Art Jones, a lifelong white supremacist, to be their candidate. The state's GOP is actively campaigning against him. They are still embarrassed that Jones was their 2018 candidate, after the party had forgotten to field a primary opponent to ensure that he wasn't their candidate in the general election in a strongly Democratic district. And later that year, despite ample publicity of hi…
(2020-03-16). Legal experts call on Mayor Lightfoot to enact the Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) ordinance. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – In a statement delivered to Lori Lightfoot. March 13, 31 law professors from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University law schools are calling on the mayor to pass the Civilian Police Accountability Council, or CPAC, ordinance. CPAC would give communities in Chicago the democratic right to elect police accountability representatives with the power to control the Chicago Police Department (CPD), including having final say over discipline in misconduct cases and setting department policy. | Citing the crisis in the Chicago Police Department — including the shooting of an unarmed pass…
(2020-03-16). "A Time to Rethink America": Sanders Sets Tone at Coronavirus Debate. truthout.org The final Democratic presidential debate of 2020 was a dispiriting affair for reasons that went far beyond the politics of it. The specter of COVID-19 lent a stark gloominess to the occasion, as did the seeming emptiness of the room itself: three CNN moderators, two men and the cameras. I never thought I'd miss a debate audience, but the energy was gone from that room, and the brightly lit set could not make up for it. | And then there's this: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended…
(2020-03-16). Democratic Socialism Can Prevent the Catastrophe. dissidentvoice.org Capitalism gathered together resources, labor, and capital to start an industrial revolution that brought prosperity and elevated standards of living to much of the earth's inhabitants. Once in motion it generated additional capital that gathered more labor and more resources in a perpetual cycle of increased production that constantly benefitted populations. The achievements did not …
(2020-03-16). The RNC Gave Massive Contracts to Companies Linked to its Chairwoman's Husband and Political Backers. truthdig.com The Republican National Committee has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to contractors closely connected to the organization's chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel. | One contract went to her husband's insurance company. Two others went to businesses whose executives recently donated to Ronna for Chair, a largely inactive political action committee that McDaniel controls. She had set it up in 2015, when she successfully ran for chair of the Republican Party in Michigan, her home state. | The companies won the contracts soon after McDaniel became the party's top official. She was picked for the position by President Don…
(2020-03-16). In Conflict of Interest, Interior Secretary Met With Halliburton Lobbyists. truthout.org When Ryan Zinke was forced to resign from the Interior Department in December 2018, it was a conflict-of-interest scandal involving the chairman of oilfield services giant Halliburton t…
(2020-03-16). Biden's Promise to Choose a Female Vice President Is Why He's Winning. thenation.com Biden's Promise to Choose a Female Vice President Is Why He's Winning…
(2020-03-16). The Vice Presidential Nominee Should Be a Woman of Color. thenation.com The Vice Presidential Nominee Should Be a Woman of Color…
(2020-03-16). Pelosi's Coronavirus Compromise Has Left Even Tom Cotton Saying This Bill 'Doesn't Go Far Enough and Fast Enough'. commondreams.org At least two Senate Republicans said publicly after lawmakers began considering the House coronavirus relief bill that bolder initiatives offering direct assistance to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic should be included in a relief package. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1206754522_1.jpg …
(2020-03-16). Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What's Included and Who Got Left Out. commondreams.org U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) makes a statement at the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2020 in Washington, DC. Speaker Pelosi spoke on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that the House will vote later on. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-03-16_at_1.40.47_pm.png …
(2020-03-15). LIVE CHAT: Watch the 11th #DemDebate With 'The Nation'. thenation.com LIVE CHAT: Watch the 11th #DemDebate With 'The Nation'
(2020-03-14). 'Nationalize factories & industries!' De Blasio kicks panic up to 11, calling coronavirus 'war-like situation'. rt.com 
New York City mayor and failed presidential candidate Bill de Blasio jumped on MSNBC to compare the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic to war and claim that "nationalization" would fix the US' "Mar-a-Lago attitude" toward the disease. | "Here's the reality, this is a war-like situation," De Blasio told MSNBC's Joy Reid on Saturday morning when criticizing the federal government's response to the coronavirus. The mayor claims he has been "pleading for weeks" for coronavirus test kits to be more widely available to citizens. | "We're in a war-time scenario with a Mar-a-Lago attitude being used by the federal governme…
(2020-03-14). COVID-19: Ecuador, New York Order Businesses to Close. telesurenglish.net Update 21: 00 | Ecuador and New York City among the latest to order the shutdown of businesses | Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno announced Sunday night that a partial quarantine will go into force on March 17 as businesses are ordered to shut down, except those that expend basic necessities such as food and medicines. | A partial mobilty-ban will also go into effect as people can only go to work and back and be in the streets for emergency reasons. | New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced late on Sunday that he had made the decision, though not lightly, to close "Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater…
(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). 'Free tests for everyone': Pelosi announces Democrats reach deal with White House on coronavirus relief. rt.com 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that she has struck a deal with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin over a coronavirus relief plan that President Donald Trump had previously opposed as overreach. | "We are proud to have reached an agreement with the administration to resolve outstanding challenges, and now will soon pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act," Pelosi (D-California) said in a letter to House Democrats, made public early on Friday evening. | "This legislation is about testing, testing, testing," she wrote, saying it seeks to make coronavirus tests available for free to anyone who…
(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). Weekend Read: 2020 Census safe and easy, helps communities. splcenter.org This month kicks off a major — and vital — process that is fundamental to the success of our Democracy.
(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). Peak 'Florida Man'? Ex-Tallahassee mayor denies using crystal meth after he was found in hotel room with overdosed male escort. rt.com 
Florida Democrat Andrew Gillum is taking a break from public life after police walked in on what has been described as a crystal meth-fueled orgy – but which he insists was just a wedding celebration where he drank too much. | Gillum was "unable to communicate with officers due to his inebriated state" when police chanced upon him in a hotel room at Miami's South Beach Mondrian on Thursday night, responding to another man's "possible drug overdose," revealed the police report, leaked via Twitter on Friday. | The police were concerned enough to request a second "welfare check" on Gillum, while they took his str…
(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). 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 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2020-03-11). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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 …
(2020-03-10). 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). 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). 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). 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…
(2020-03-09). "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). "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). 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). 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). Progressives Urge Elizabeth Warren to Rally Behind Bernie Sanders After She Drops Out of 2020 Race. democracynow.org 
Senator Elizabeth Warren suspended her bid for the presidency Thursday, leaving the 2020 Democratic presidential race down to two older white men: former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders. Warren's decision to end her campaign comes after she failed to perform as well as she had hoped in early primary states and on Super Tuesday, including placing third in her home state of Massachusetts. Warren gave no indication whether she will endorse either of her former rivals. Supporters of Sanders say they hope she will throw her support behind their candidate in order to form a united "progressive front…
(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). 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…
(2020-03-02). 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). 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…
(2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>
(2020-02-01). The Times They Are a-Changin: Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Sometimes it feels like our world is falling apart, but real change is all around us…
(2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …
(2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …
(2019-07-11). Peace Action Endorses 'the Squad' — Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2019 — Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, has endorsed four progressive champions for the House of Representatives in the 2020 election, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York's 14th district, Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts' 7th district, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib …
(2019-06-28). Most Senators Oppose War with Iran Without Congressional Approval. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 28, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting 50-40 in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block funding for military action against Iran without congressional approval, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because …