(2020-06-25). Protests Propel Charles Booker in Close Kentucky Senate Race. zcomm.org "It wasn't just Black people, look around this crowd," Booker said Tuesday night. "We're in this together. You hurt one of us, you hurt all of us."
(2020-06-25). Why Democratic and Republican Parties Don't Dare Let the People Decide. zcomm.org Our nation's leaders are finally being forced to listen to concerns raised by people in the streets. Their initial response of symbolic gestures and tokenism is not encouraging…
(2020-06-25). Obamacare upgrade: House Democrats roll out Affordable Care Act improvements bill. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Sixty-two times since right-wing Republicans rode to congressional power in the 2010 election, they tried—and failed—to kill the Affordable Care Act. Now the House's ruling Democrats are trying to improve it, or so they contend. In statements at a virtual press conference June 24, party leaders, including the chairs of the three committees that deal …
(2020-06-25). Role of sanctions in U.S. plan for world domination — a commentary. workers.org 
By Samuel Thomas Sanctions: This is the well-known method of spreading democracy and prosperity through death, starvation, shortages and economic collapse. Throughout U.S. history, this method of regime change, ostensibly intended to be implemented against countries at war or allied to a country at war with the U.S., they are . . . |
(2020-06-25). Progressives Must Fight With — and In — the Democratic Party. zcomm.org In the electoral arena, the goal is not only about winning elections. It's also about replacing the top-down weight of entrenched politicians with the bottom-up power of grassroots activism…
(2020-06-25). Beyond COVID-19 Aid, Ethiopia Hoists Africa's Flag. globalresearch.ca Ethiopia, by all standards, is a reputable country in East Africa. It gains popularly from different angles. In terms of politics, Ethiopia has been touted as a country with an excellent model of democracy in Africa. For his efforts in …
(2020-06-25). Capitalism and the Throttling of Democracy in India. globalresearch.ca The deregulation of international capital flows (financial liberalisation) has effectively turned the planet into a free-for-all bonanza for the world's richest capitalists. Under…
(2020-06-25). "Referendum in Russia exposes the sham of bourgeois democracy" peoplesdispatch.org Roman Kononenko from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation talks about the ongoing referendum in Russia on the constitutional reforms proposed by president Vladimir Putin. He also talks about how the country handled the COVID-19 pandemic…
(2020-06-25). India's internal emergency: A brutal chapter in authoritarianism. peoplesdispatch.org On the 45th anniversary of the imposition of India's notorious internal emergency, we take a look at what led to that decision and the impact it had on the country's democracy…
(2020-06-25). Biden surges to double point lead over Trump. But here's why that's nothing to celebrate. thecanary.co Presumptive Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden now holds a double-digit
(2020-06-25). Freedom Rider: Democrats move right and towards defeat. mronline.org 
Besides not being Trump, the Democrats offer nothing, but think they can win with a candidate who has no constituency, charisma or any platform positions that would attract more voters.
(2020-06-25). Democratizing Energy To Counter The Climate Catastrophe. popularresistance.org Youth climate activists have been striking to demand immediate climate action from political powers. They conjoined the issues of climate and labor by calling for a global climate strike in September, 2019, in which a historic 7.6 million schoolkids, (grand)parents and workers from 185 countries participated. Over 70 trade unions around the world supported the strike and the number of climate groups that are demanding a just transition for fossil fuel workers are also steadily increasing. | The European landscape of climate activism is becoming densely populated. Numerous communities are defending nature together…
(2020-06-25). WHO says 10th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is over. yenisafak.com A World Health Organization official announced Thursday the end of the 10th Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as no new cases were reported for more than 50 days.During a media briefing on COVID-19 and Ebola in Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, commended the "leadership of the DRC president, and the sacrifice and perseverance of 16,000 front line responders and communities … who have brought about the end of this 10th Ebola outbreak in the country!"Moeti also thanked the people, health workers, including WHO experts, who either got ill, were injured or lo…
(2020-06-25). How U.S. and Brazil Leadership That "Neglects Science" Led to Hemisphere's Worst Coronavirus Crises. democracynow.org 
As coronavirus infections worldwide approach 10 million, nearly half can be found in the two largest countries in the Americas: the United States and Brazil, which now has the worst infection rate in the world and could surpass the U.S. death toll next month. "What we see in the country is a reflection of the leadership that we have," says Marcia Castro, professor of demography, chair of the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-chair of Harvard's Brazil Studies Program, noting far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the pandemic's severity an…
(2020-06-25). Headlines for June 25, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surge to Highest Daily Level Since Pandemic Began, WHO Warns Coronavirus Has Yet to Peak in the Americas, Kellyanne Conway Defends Trump's Use of "Kung Flu," Weeks After Calling the Term "Highly Offensive", Protesters Camp Outside New York City Hall Demanding $1B in Cuts to NYPD Budget, Democrats Halt Senate Police Bill, Saying Reforms Don't Go Far Enough, Colorado Lawmakers Demand Investigation into Police Killing of Elijah McClain, Family Demands Justice for Queens Man Tasered to Death by Police in His Own Home, NYPD Officer David Afanador to Face Strangulation Charges for Using Banned Ch…
(2020-06-25). Repair & Revive: Rev. William Barber on Fighting Racism, Poverty, Climate Change, War & Nationalism. democracynow.org 
The Poor People's Campaign offered a counterpoint to President Trump's sparsely attended Tulsa campaign rally with a mass digital gathering that unveiled a policy platform to spur "transformative action" on five key issues of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and the threat of religious nationalism. "We have to repair and revive," says Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. "That has to be a part of if we're truly going to ever be the democracy we claim to be on paper."
(2020-06-25). A stock market boom amidst a real economy crisis. mronline.org 
Altogether, as philosopher Cornel West put it, the U.S. is showing every sign of being a "failed social experiment". And yet there is a veritable boom in the U.S. stock market. The stock market index Nasdaq has increased by more than 40 per cent since March 23 and is now "within striking distance of all …
(2020-06-25). US Government Expands Assange Indictment to Criminalize Assistance Provided to Edward Snowden. globalresearch.ca The United States government expanded their indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to criminalize the assistance WikiLeaks provided to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden when staff helped him leave Hong Kong. | Sarah Harrison, who was a section editor for WikiLeaks, …
(2020-06-25). Brazilian oligarchs sacrifice people for profit. zcomm.org Business leaders are using social media and political influence to spread coronavirus disinformation — and endangering thousands of lives…
(2020-06-24). NYPD Enforcement Of Low-Level Offenses Accounts For Huge Department Expenditures, Racial Disparities. popularresistance.org New York City criminalizes drugs and low-level broken windows offenses at a startling rate, with enforcement in these areas accounting for a vast proportion of the NYPD's policing activities and the city's budget, according to a new brief from Drug Policy Alliance. DPA released the brief in support of the Communities United for Police Reform coalition call for Mayor de Blasio and the NYC Council to cut the FY21 NYPD expense budget by $1 billion and redirect savings to core needs in Black, Latinx and other NYC communities of color that have long been the target of the drug war and racist policing. | The brief, "NY…
(2020-06-24). Tennessee legislature passes anti-abortion "heartbeat" bill. wsws.org The Republican-backed bill would require doctors to refuse to provide abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detectable.
(2020-06-24). Republican Police Reform Bill Fails to Pass US Senate Vote. sputniknews.com The GOP initiative was announced last week by President Donald Trump in response to the protests over the death of George Floyd that have been ongoing for weeks and demands to "defund the police". Trump refused to cut the funds, suggesting instead an array of measures aimed at preventing new cases of police brutality.
(2020-06-24). Republican police reform bill fails in Senate due to Democrat opposition. rt.com 
A police reform bill proposed by Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) failed on a procedural vote due to opposition from Democrats, who said it does not go far enough. | Wednesday's vote on the cloture motion was 55 in favor and 45 against, with 60 votes needed to move the bill forward. | Scott, who is African-American, pleaded with his colleagues to not think of this as a Republican or Democrat issue, but something that would start addressing the issues that have plagued the country for decades. | Democrats countered that Scott's proposal didn't ban chokeholds or no-knock warrants and failed to hold police ac…
(2020-06-24). Progressives rack up impressive victories in June 23 Democratic primaries. peoplesworld.org 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rolled to a blowout victory in her Democratic primary yesterday in her New York City Congressional District that covers parts of the Bronx and Queens. AOC, as she is popularly known across the country, trounced three opponents in New York's 14th Congressional District, garnering what looks like more than 81% of the …
(2020-06-24). Coalition to March on the DNC plans Trump protest in Green Bay, WI. fightbacknews.org Green Bay, WI – Last week, it was announced that President Donald Trump would be visiting Marinette in the northern part of the state on June 25, and will hold a "town hall meeting" at a Green Bay airport at 7 p.m. The Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention – a collection of over 50 organizations that's planning a demonstration on the first day of the DNC in Milwaukee – has called for a protest of Trump's visit. | "We met Trump with more than 2000 people when he came to Milwaukee at the start of the year," said Ryan Hamann, co-chair of the Coalition. "Together with our allies in Green Bay, we're…
(2020-06-24). Democrats Are Moving to the Right Again and Towards Another Defeat. mintpressnews.com "We can disagree in the margins but the truth of the matter is it's all within our wheelhouse and nobody has to be punished. No one's standard of living will change, nothing would fundamentally change." – Joe Biden…
(2020-06-24). U.S. must return political prisoner Simón Trinidad to Colombia. peoplesworld.org 
Murderous violence and oligarchy were at the center of Colombian political life during the 20th century. Colombians by the millions were marginalized, impoverished, and/or displaced from small land holdings. Violence and the failings of liberal democracy turned Simón Trinidad into a revolutionary. Few in the United States and Europe know about him. Colombia's allies in …
(2020-06-24). Canada's New Democrats prop up pro-austerity, pro-war Liberals. wsws.org Underscoring its support for the government's $650 billion corporate bailout, the NDP again voted to keep the Liberals in office.
(2020-06-24). The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed why we urgently need to re-imagine democracy. truepublica.org.uk By Dr Clodagh Harris and Ian Hughes: The Covid-19 pandemic has spawned a rash of articles speculating about how our world will change in the aftermath of the virus. Indian author and political activist Arundhati Roy has described the pandemic as a portal, an opportunity for humanity collectively to break with the past, leaving our 'dead …
(2020-06-24). Behind the Veil of the Protest Movement, the War on the American People Is Gaining Pace. globalresearch.ca "This is not a momentary civil disturbance. This is a serious, and highly organized political movement…It is deep and profound and has vast political ambitions. It is insidious, it will grow. It's goal is to end liberal democracy and challenge …
(2020-06-24). Jessy Dayane: "Bolsonaro has never tried to hide his authoritarian project" peoplesdispatch.org The coup d'état in 2016 which overthrew Dilma Rouseff of the Workers' Party of Brazil, marked a new period in Brazil characterized by the attack on democracy. The illegal maneuvering to eliminate popular leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from the 2018 elections and effectively solidify the election of far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro was another step in this process. | Under the leadership of Bolsonaro, Brazilian state institutions and programs have been systematically dismantled, funding for public education and health has been cut, and tensions within Brazilian society have been heightened. | In this context, the…
(2020-06-24). The Anti-American Universities Are a Much Greater Threat to Us than Putin and China. thealtworld.com This is an introduction to a letter written by a black American professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He says that the University no longer serves scholarship and has become a servant to the Democratic Party and Black Lives Matter. He says that the university is akin to a suppressive regime that crushes real diversity and exiles free debate. At the end of his letter, he damns the University of California regents and the Berkely history department for eulogizing George Floyd, a depraved, drug-ridden thug "who hurt women. A man who hurt black women. With the full collaboration of the UCB history depa…
(2020-06-24). Between Mystery and Social Democracy: A Journey Through Scandinavian Crime Novels. thenation.com Between Mystery and Social Democracy: A Journey Through Scandinavian Crime Novels…
(2020-06-24). As the pandemic spirals out of control, Trump attacks testing, holds indoor rally in Phoenix. wsws.org The deadly back-to-work drive is bipartisan, with Democratic governors and mayors taking the lead in reopening businesses and forcing workers back on the job without any real protection.
(2020-06-24). US: Progressive leads old guard in NY Democratic race. yenisafak.com In a notch for US progressive Democrats over the party establishment, Jamaal Bowman looks set to trounce Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a New York primary.Bowman, a middle school principal from the Bronx, garnered 61% of the vote early Wednesday, leading Engel's 36% by double digits with 85% of precincts reporting, according to US news outlet The Hill.Progressives' bids got a boost from nationwide protests over the death in police custody of George Floyd, helping Bowman become the possible second New York progressive to defeat a senior lawmaker since fire…
(2020-06-24). Jamaal Bowman Is on Track to Score AOC-Type Win Over 16-Term Congressman Engel. truthout.org Jamaal Bowman, a former educator and school principal from the Bronx in New York, appears to have defeated 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for that seat in Congress. | Although votes were still being counted due to the large volume of absentee ballots, many news agencies
(2020-06-24). Outbreak at San Quentin: COVID Is Skyrocketing in CA Prisons. Why Haven't More People Been Released? democracynow.org 
As coronavirus rapidly spreads through California's overcrowded prisons, 400 people have tested positive for the virus at San Quentin State Prison. Advocates and incarcerated people warn conditions behind bars make it nearly impossible to stop the virus once it enters. We speak with Adnan Khan, executive director of Re: Store Justice, an organization that advocates for policy and alternative responses to violence and life sentences. He links inhumane prison conditions to the mass uprising in the streets against systemic racism and state violence. "There are literally millions of people in prison based on the 'cred…
(2020-06-24). Headlines for June 24, 2020. democracynow.org Dr. Anthony Fauci Warns of "Disturbing Surge" of U.S. COVID-19 Cases, Trump on Claim He Tried to Slow Coronavirus Testing: "I Don't Kid", Latin America Tops 100,000 Coronavirus Deaths as Brazilian President Ordered to Wear Mask in Public, Kentucky Slashes Polling Places by 95%, Causing Election Day Chaos, Progressive Challenger Jamaal Bowman Poised to Upset 16-Term Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel, 3,000 Pack Indoor Trump Rally in Arizona as COVID-19 Cases Surge to Record High, Student-Led March in Oakland Calls for End to Police in Schools, Louisville Police Department Fires Officer Who Shot Breonna Taylor, Two New Y…
(2020-06-24). Palestinian Scholar Noura Erakat: Israeli Forces Killed My Cousin on His Sister's Wedding Day. democracynow.org 
Israeli soldiers on Tuesday killed 27-year-old Ahmed Erekat at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank as he was on his way to pick up his sister, who was set to be married that night. Ahmed Erekat is the nephew of senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and cousin of Palestinian American legal scholar Noura Erakat, who says Israeli claims that Ahmed was attempting a car-ramming attack on soldiers are completely unfounded. "What we understand is that Ahmed lost control of his car or was confused while he was in his car. That was all it took to have a kne…
(2020-06-24). The Next AOC? Progressive Insurgent Jamaal Bowman Takes Big Lead Over Rep. Eliot Engel in NY Primary. democracynow.org 
In what could be one of the biggest progressive upsets of the year, Jamaal Bowman, an African American former middle school principal, appears headed to victory over 16-term Democratic Congressmember Eliot Engel in Tuesday's New York primary election. The race has not been called, but Bowman has a large lead over Engel, the powerful chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee known for his support of Israel. Bowman supports a Green New Deal, Medicare for All and defunding the police. We air his remarks from a campaign party late Tuesday.
(2020-06-24). Seven years after Shelby County vs. Holder, voter suppression permeates the South. splcenter.org …
(2020-06-24). [Research Paper] COVID-19 in Wuhan: Sociodemographic characteristics and hospital support measures associated with the immediate psychological impact on healthcare workers. thelancet.com Women and those who have more than 10 years of working, concomitant chronic diseases, history of mental disorders, and family members or relatives confirmed or suspected are susceptible to stress, depression and anxiety among HWs during the pandemic. In addition, since HWs often have a greater stigma against mental problems than the general public, it is worthwhile to address the needs of the HWs during this pandemic and to provide appropriate psychological supports for those people at high risk of mental problems.
(2020-06-24). For a Racism-Free 22nd Century, We Need a Billionaire-Free 21st. counterpunch.org 
The novel coronavirus just keeps coming — and so do the billions for America's top billionaires. The nation's five richest — Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, and Larry Ellison — have added a combined $101.7 billion to their net worth since the virus hit hard nationally in March. These five exceedingly affluent
(2020-06-24). Honoring Che: Revolutionary hero, internationalist. workers.org 
Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. "If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine." Those are the words of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, anti-imperialist, guerrilla fighter and a leader of the Cuban revolution. This working-class hero is revered by revolutionaries and oppressed peoples worldwide. Che . . . |
(2020-06-24). Biden Can Reverse Trump's Failures on Iran. commondreams.org By January 2021, the U.S. is likely to have been in material breach of the JCPOA for 32 months and will have very little credibility or leverage to insist on changes to the agreement or a grand bargain addressing all of the international community's concerns about Iran. (Photo: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-06-24_at_12.36.13_pm.png …
(2020-06-24). Will Biden Remain Tone Deaf to Palestinian Rights? dissidentvoice.org 
Joe Biden wants you to believe that he is opposed to Israel's likely annexation of parts of the West Bank that Netanyahu plans to carry out in July. "I do not support annexation," he said during a call with American Jewish donors on June 16. But only a month ago, Biden senior foreign policy advisor …
(2020-06-24). Disease, Power and Capitalism. indybay.org Have you tried DeepL.com, academia.edu, grin.com or grammarly.com? Send me your comments and/or discoveries – as we await the reopening of the libraries and the Biden landslide! Will the great comedian Stephan Colbert be the dark horse candidate at the last moment? Marc…
(2020-06-24). Wrongfully Arrested Because Face Recognition Can't Tell Black People Apart. aclu.org 
Early this year, Detroit police arrested Robert Williams — a Black man living in a Detroit suburb — on his front lawn in front of his wife and two little daughters (ages 2 and 5). Robert was hauled off and locked up for nearly 30 hours. His crime? Face recognition software owned by Michigan State Police told the cops that Robert Williams was the watch thief they were on the hunt for., , There was just one problem: Face recognition technology can't tell Black people apart. That includes Robert Williams, whose only thing in common with the suspect caught by the watch shop's surveillance feed is that…
(2020-06-24). Alabama League of the South Member Ryan King Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges. splcenter.org Ryan Matthew King, 42, of Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested June 20 on two charges of 3rd degree domestic violence, according to the Autauga County, Alabama, Sheriff's Office website.
(2020-06-24). We Are Witnessing A Nightmarish Technocratic Reengineering Of Our Lives Under The Guise Of COVID-19. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (6/24/20). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-06-23). 'If we can't sleep, you won't sleep': New Yorkers hold noisy protest against illegal fireworks outside Mayor de Blasio's home. rt.com 
New Yorkers assembled outside Bill de Blasio's home to express their anger over the city's unwillingness to crack down on an epidemic of illegal fireworks usage. The demonstrators tried to disrupt the mayor's sleep as payback. | A huge line of cars honked their horns near the mayor's residence, Gracie Mansion, on Monday night as part of the organized demonstration. Videos on social media show the street near de Blasio's house flooded with automobiles and frustrated residents. Many of the demonstrators were from New York's Orthodox Jewish community. Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who attended the rally, said he want…
(2020-06-23). De Blasio planning HUGE STING OPERATION to catch illegal fireworks sellers after noisy protest at his NYC mansion. rt.com 
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is forming a "fireworks task force" of over 40 officers from the police and fire departments after irate residents demanding action on the problem staged a noisy protest outside his home. | In what must be record timing for city government, de Blasio announced the new fireworks unit on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after a gathering of angry sleep-deprived New Yorkers gathered outside his Gracie Mansion residence to honk their horns, rev their engines, and loudly lecture him about civic responsibility and the importance of a good night's sleep. | The task force will involve "underco…
(2020-06-23). Oppose all public education budget cuts, layoffs and the unsafe reopening of schools! For a socialist program to fully fund and vastly expand public education! wsws.org As the Socialist Equality Party's candidate for president in the 2020 US elections, I condemn the widespread attacks on public education implemented by Democrats and Republicans.
(2020-06-23). Bolton appeals for right-wing Republicans to break with Trump on foreign policy. wsws.org The former Trump national security advisor has given numerous anti-Trump press interviews to promote his newly launched—and lucrative—White House memoir.
(2020-06-23). PFAW: Senators Must Vote No on Republican Policing Bill. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-06-23). 'Gotta get Trump out of office!' Project Veritas insider exposes anti-Republican bias among Facebook moderators. rt.com 
A former Facebook moderator says the company has a blatant anti-convervative agenda in removing posts from the platform, as revealed by a new Project Veritas report questioning Facebook's commitment to being politically unbiased. | Zach McElroy was a content moderator at Cognizant, a company hired by Facebook to monitor content on its platform, when he started to become concerned about politically targeted moderation of Facebook posts. He noticed that in Cognizant's so-called 'Civic Harassment queue' — a list of Facebook posts that get flagged by a special algorithm due to possible violations of the platf…
(2020-06-23). UN condemns killing of Indonesian peacekeeper in DR Congo. news.un.org The United Nations has strongly condemned an attack believed to be carried out by rebel militia on peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), which left one Indonesian 'blue helmet' dead, and another injured.
(2020-06-23). Why Is GOP Money Going to Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel? thenation.com Why Is GOP Money Going to Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel?
(2020-06-23). Will White People Self-Destruct? thealtworld.com The November presidential election has been racialized by the Democrats, media, white liberal elites, and the George Floyd protests. The racialization makes this election a watershed. | The Democrats, media, and white liberal elites have placed the responsibility for the multi-city rioting and looting by blacks on white Americans for being racist. Although the evidence is clear that Floyd died from a fatal dose of the opioid on which he was strung out, his death is falsely attributed to strangulation by white police. Thousands of businesses in many cities have been damaged, looted, or destroyed. People have been…
(2020-06-23). Let Legislative Juries Decide Laws. dissidentvoice.org 
It would be far better and far more democratic if laws are decided by legislative juries rather than by elected politicians. By a legislative jury, which can also be called a legislative minipublic, I mean a representative random sample of the public that meets to make an informed decision about a proposed law. Such randomly …
(2020-06-23). WATCH LIVE: Fauci and Redfield Testify Before Congress on Failures of Trump Response to Covid-19. commondreams.org "There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic," said one Democratic lawmaker ahead of the hearing. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/fauci_testimony.jpg …
(2020-06-23). Ministers in Westminster bubble believe voters trust them. truepublica.org.uk By Josiah Mortimer: Speaking in the House of Lords on last week, Green peer Baroness Natalie Bennett raised the idea that countries with more cooperative, democratic political systems have higher levels of public trust in politics — and in their governments' handling of the current pandemic. Cabinet Office minister Lord True replied: "I strongly disagree …
(2020-06-23). Arizona mired in pandemic as governor puts profits before people. peoplesworld.org 
"Arizona is the new national hotspot for COVID-19" tweeted Arizona Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton on June 14. The enormous rise of COVID cases and hospitalizations in the Grand Canyon State has put Arizona into the national and global spotlight as a case study of how not to handle a global pandemic. Every week, Arizona is breaking …
(2020-06-23). The Global Reset: Unplugged. dissidentvoice.org Imagine, you are living in a world that you are told is a democracy — and you may even believe it — but, in fact, your life and fate is in the hands of a few ultra-rich, ultra-powerful and ultra-inhuman oligarchs. They may be called Deep State, Illuminati, or simply the Beast, or anything else …
(2020-06-23). Health experts blast Trump order to cut down coronavirus testing. peoplesworld.org 
TULSA, Okla.—GOP President Donald Trump's order to cut down coronavirus testing—because, in so many words, the results would make him look bad—is drawing flak from health experts and top congressional Democrats. Trump boasted about his order at his half-filled controversial rally on June 20 in Tulsa, Okla. Health experts, both nationally and in the Sooner …
(2020-06-23). Turkish students commemorate anniversary of Korean war. yenisafak.com Yunus Emre Institute in Seoul has prepared a memorial video with Turkish students living in South Korea on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.In a written statement, the Yunus Emre Institute said the video also included Sude Kaya Surenoglu, the granddaughter of Korean War veteran Rafet Surenoglu and currently a student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.Speaking in Korean, Turkish students in the video said: "Today is the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, which displayed South Korea's struggle to become a strong democratic country. As Turkey, exactly 70 years ago from today, we proudly…
(2020-06-23). Farage investigated by US Homeland Security over trip to attend Trump Tulsa rally. rt.com 
A US congressman who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security has launched an investigation into Nigel Farage after the Brexit Party leader apparently flew to America to attend a Donald Trump rally during the Covid-19 pandemic. | US Democrat representative Bennie G Thompson sent a
(2020-06-23). Democrat Rep. calls for police after being attacked in short-lived 'autonomous zone' near White House. rt.com 
A Democrat lawmaker and an MSNBC reporter have been left wondering where the police were, after they were apparently attacked in a fledgling 'autonomous zone' near the White House. | Perhaps spurred on by activists in Seattle's 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone', a group of protesters in Washington, DC occupied a street near the White House this weekend, declaring it the 'Black House Autonomous Zone'. Though police cleared the street of tents and trash on Tuesday, a large crowd remained, and Democrat Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton was on the street to talk to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. | The interview was cut short when…
(2020-06-23). Meet Brandon Saenz: Dallas Protester Who Lost Eye After Police Shot Him with "Less Lethal" Projectile. democracynow.org 
As a new Amnesty International report documents at least 125 instances of police violence against Black Lives Matters protesters in 40 states from May 26 to June 5, we speak with Brandon Saenz, a 26-year-old Black man shot in the face by Dallas police with so-called less-lethal ammunition that shattered his left eye and fractured his face. We also speak with his lawyer, Daryl Washington, about how he has since helped to win a 90-day preliminary injunction against the police use of chemical agents and rubber bullets in Dallas.
(2020-06-23). Trump Attacks Anti-Fascists But Is Silent on Boogaloo & Far-Right Groups Engaged in Deadly Violence. democracynow.org 
President Trump claims without evidence that anti-fascists are inciting riots at protests against police brutality, but has downplayed groups like the "boogaloo" movement, which are using the protests as cover to carry out violence, even murder. "We know that in this country the far right holds a monopoly on political violence and that since September 11th, far-right extremists have killed far more people than members of any other ideology," says Cassie Miller, senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center. We also speak with journalist Ali Winston about a new BBC investigation into how the neo-Nazi…
(2020-06-23). A New Voting Crisis: Kentucky Closes 95% of Polling Places, Leaving Louisville with Just One. democracynow.org 
As primary voters head to the polls in New York, Kentucky and Virginia, they face long lines, even as President Trump continues to attack mail-in voting, falsely claiming it leads to fraud. Kentucky has reduced the number of polling places from 3,700 to just 170 — a 95% reduction. "There's the potential for record turnout," notes Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, despite such suppression tactics.
(2020-06-23). Headlines for June 23, 2020. democracynow.org COVID-19 on the Rise in 29 States; Immigrant and Communities of Color Carry Brunt of Devastation, Coronavirus Continues to Devastate Latin America; South Korea in Midst of Second Wave, Trump Issues Ban on H-1B Visas and Green Cards Through 2020, KY Slashes Primary Polling Sites as Key Races Pit Progressives and Establishment Dems in KY, NY, VA, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan Shutting Down CHOP, Says Police Will Return, Bridgeport Council Agrees to Shift Police Funding After Mass Protests, NYPD Says Officers Who Plowed SUVs into Protesters Were Not at Fault, Funeral for Rayshard Brooks Held in Atlanta, NAACP Lawsuit:…
(2020-06-23). DNC 'Snubs' Climate Movement Just as Greenpeace Endorses Democratic Panel's Visionary Plan. commondreams.org Despite mounting pressure on Democrats to craft a 2020 platform that includes ambitious climate policies, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez on Monday announced a drafting committee that "snubs progressive climate activists again," in the words of journalist Emily Atkin. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/tom_perez_dnc_climate_debate_0.jpg …
(2020-06-23). Alternatives to Policing: Putting the Power and Money Back Into Our Communities. projectcensored.org Project Censored researcher and author Amber Yang, a Restorative Justice and Wellness Coordinator at Novato High School in Marin County, California rejoins the show along with Phoebe Smith, a long-time…
(2020-06-23). Stop the Madness of Congressional. strategic-culture.org Stephen MOORE | The coronavirus shutdown has flattened multiple industries across America — everything from airlines and manufacturers to hospitals, retailers, oil and gas producers, and restaurants. Many of the 30 million small and large businesses in the country have reported a 30% reduction in revenues. Amid the carnage, one sector of the economy is thriving like never before in the history of the republic: the government. | Congress has already spent more than $2 trillion on phases one, two, three and 3 1/2 of coronavirus relief packages. The irresponsible bill from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would rais…
(2020-06-23). Hunter's millions: Ukrainian MP reveals new 'Biden-Poroshenko' tapes, claims VP's son was paid 'protection money' by Burisma. rt.com 
More tapes of what appear to be Joe Biden's phone calls with the former president of Ukraine have surfaced, along with documents showing how much his son Hunter was paid by Burisma, a gas company desperate to avoid prosecution. | Ledgers show payments of $3.4 million from Burisma to Rosemont Seneca Bohai, the company co-founded by Hunter Biden, for "consulting services," former prosecutor Konstantin Kulyk and Ukrainian MP Andrii Derkach revealed on Monday in Kiev. | Kulyk added that these services clearly amounted to "political protection of Burisma" and its owner Mykola Zlochevsky by US vice president at the…
(2020-06-23). Sins of "The Father" Torn Down, A New Way Forward At Hand. indybay.org Be ye not afraid, "the nakedness and drunkenness of our fathers" can no longer be tolerated as a bastardized translation of a moral compass of divinity.
(2020-06-23). Evanston's Road to Reparations. zcomm.org Compensating African Americans for the wrongs of history has been a political nonstarter for decades. Then, last November, one Chicago suburb made it a reality…
(2020-06-22). Outcry & cheers as Teddy Roosevelt statue in NYC to be dismantled over 'depicting black & indigenous people as racially inferior'. rt.com 
The New York mayor ordered the removal of a statue of Theodore Roosevelt on horseback, flanked by a Native American man and an African man, arguing it feeds into racial stereotypes. | "The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement on Sunday. | De Blasio noted that the city authorities sided with the museum, calling the idea to get rid of the "problematic" statue, "the right decision" at the "right time." The NYC mayor was ap…
(2020-06-22). Spokesperson Refutes Story That Bolton Will Vote For Democrat Biden Over Trump. sputniknews.com The former Trump appointee is set to release a memoir on Tuesday detailing his days as the national security adviser for US President Donald Trump. Excerpts of the book have already sparked a wave of criticism against his former boss.
(2020-06-22). If You Want Joe Biden to Govern More Like FDR Than Jamie Dimon, Vote for Bernie Sanders on Tuesday in New York and Kentucky. commondreams.org Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) holds hands with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) during his speech at a campaign rally in Queensbridge Park on October 19, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bernie-sanders-ocasio-cortez-queens-rally-endorsement-saturday.jpg …
(2020-06-22). Tampa Bay community honors life of murdered Tallahassee activist Oluwatoyin Salau. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On June 20, Tampa Bay community members gathered at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square to honor the life of Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, who was sexually assaulted, abducted and murdered. Salau was a known Black Lives Matter activist in Tallahassee, Florida. Her death follows a recent wave of violence against, and murder of, Black people in the United States committed by the police, white vigilantes and others. | The vigil began at 7 p.m. and was co-hosted by the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC), Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Intersections of Tampa Advocates (ITA…
(2020-06-22). Algerian court sentences prominent Hirak activist to one year imprisonment. peoplesdispatch.org Amira Bouraoui, who has been convicted for her Facebook post, is part of the popular ongoing Hirak movement which calls for large-scale democratic reforms in Algeria…
(2020-06-22). The Rhetoric of Democracy-building in Ukraine. NATO and the Militarization of Eastern Europe. globalresearch.ca Buying Freedom on the Free Market | Obscured by the mythology of pursuing economic and political autonomy, Ukraine plays the latest role in a long, unfolding process of western corporate, political and military interests establishing the "territorial integrity" not of independent …
(2020-06-22). New Colorado Law Ends Immunity For Police. popularresistance.org Colorado Governor Jared Polis on Friday signed into law a bill to remove the shield of legal immunity that has long protected police officers from civil suits for on-the-job misconduct, a measure civil libertarians hailed as landmark legislation. | The Colorado state legislature passed the sweeping police accountability bill last week in the wake of nationwide protests over unfair treatment of racial minorities by law enforcement, sparked by the death of an unarmed Black man under the knee of a white Minneapolis policeman last month. | Polis, a first-term Democrat, took the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, celebr…
(2020-06-22). Turkey sends 6 truckloads of aid to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com Two Turkish charities on Monday sent six trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Idlib, northwestern Syria, where millions of people are in need of assistance due to internal conflict in the country.Truckloads of supplies, including flour, clothing and dry food, by Adana Dosteller and Eskisehir Gunisigi charities, entered Idlib through the Yayladagi border crossing of Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed among families living in tents in Idlib.Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people h…
(2020-06-22). UN dispatches 36 trucks carrying aid to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday dispatched a total of 36 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for needy people in Idlib city of northwestern Syria.Truckloads of supplies entered the Syrian city through the Cilvegozu border crossing of Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed among residents of Idlib and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreement…
(2020-06-22). Trump walks back Maduro olive branch after Biden challenges his commitment to Venezuelan regime change. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed support for his administration's regime change policy in Venezuela, reversing course on negotiation after Democratic rival Joe Biden attacked his "admiration" for "dictator" Nicolas Maduro. | Trump would "only meet with Maduro to discuss one thing: a peaceful exit from power!" the president tweeted on Monday, walking back comments he made in an Axios interview, where he hinted he would "maybe think about" meeting with the Venezuelan leader. | "Unlike the radical left, I will ALWAYS stand against socialism and with the people of Venezuela," Trump added, proclaiming his o…
(2020-06-22). Fake news or about-face? Bolton DENIES he's voting for Biden after the Telegraph reports him saying so in interview. rt.com 
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has refuted a report by the Telegraph that he plans to cast his ballot for Joe Biden, the Democrat rival of his former boss, as he continues to tout his tell-all book in the media.
(2020-06-22). Amy Klobuchar ends bid to become Biden's running mate in favor of a "woman of color" indybay.org Who will be Biden's running mate now that Amy Klobuchar is out of contention? The political record and background of the leading candidates reveals that nearly every one of them is a "law and order" Democrat with a record of defending the police.
(2020-06-22). Trump's Reelection Playbook: Racist Tropes & Downplaying COVID Pandemic by Slowing Down Testing. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 nears 120,000 and mass protests against police brutality and racism continue, President Trump faces condemnation for his remarks at his poorly attended campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he repeated racist terms like "kung flu" and lashed out at protesters. "You just see this tremendous impulse to divide," says Emily Bazelon, staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. "This is what has worked for Trump in the past. He is not going to change now."
(2020-06-22). "Robert E. Lee Was a Brutal Slave Master": Activist's Call to Rename Louisiana School Goes Viral. democracynow.org 
We play a video that has now gone viral from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where community activist Gary Chambers Jr. calls out members of the Lee High School school board for their racism during a June 18 meeting to discuss a resolution to rename the school, which is named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Chambers urged members to choose a name in honor of people who fought slavery and racism, not someone who defended it, and addressed board member Connie Bernard, who had defended Robert E. Lee and was seen shopping on her computer during the meeting.
(2020-06-22). Headlines for June 22, 2020. democracynow.org AG Barr Under Fire as Dems Launch Investigation into Firing of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, Coronavirus Cases Surging in U.S. and Around the World, Antiracism Uprising Continues as Demonstrators Celebrate Juneteenth, Dept. of Homeland Security Spied on Protesters in 15+ U.S. Cities, More Confederate and Racist Statues Fall Across the Country, Protesters Call for Justice After Fatal Shooting of 18-Year-Old Andres Guardado in Gardena, CA, Louisville Police Chief Moves to Fire Officer Who Shot and Killed Breonna Taylor, 19-Year-Old Killed in Shooting in Seattle's Autonomous "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest" Zone, No…
(2020-06-22). Five Black & Brown Men Have Been Recently Found Hanged in Public. Were Some of Them Lynched? democracynow.org 
As mass protests against racism and police brutality continue, at least five men — four Black and one Latinx — have been found hanging in public across the U.S. in recent weeks. We speak with Jacqueline Olive, director of "Always in Season," a documentary that examines the history of lynchings through the story of Lennon Lacy, an African American teenager who was found hanged from a swing set in 2014. "They deserve a full investigation," Olive says of the recent hangings, "and given the context of this history … that we look at them more than three days, and then that they are looked at as a whole."
(2020-06-22). Trump Fires Top U.S. Prosecutor as William Barr Moves to Expand "Imperial Presidency" democracynow.org 
After a dramatic weekend showdown, the Trump administration has ousted Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan who led multiple prosecutions and investigations into allies of the president. We look at the extraordinary measures U.S. Attorney General William Barr took to protect Trump, with New York Times Magazine writer Emily Bazelon, who has profiled Barr. "He believes in a very strong executive presidency, a kind of imperial presidency in which a huge amount of power resides in the president," she says of the attorney general.
(2020-06-22). House Dems Introduce Bill to Prevent Big Pharma Price-Gouging During Covid-19 Pandemic. commondreams.org On the heels of polling that showed 88% of Americans worry Big Pharma will exploit the ongoing pandemic to hike drug prices, House Democrats on Monday introduced two bipartisan bills to prevent price-gouging for Covid-19 treatments and vaccines and to strengthen oversight of federal spending on coronavirus research and development. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12137062381_1.jpg …
(2020-06-22). Top 6 Reasons Trump's Racist Attack on Ilhan Omar at Empty Stadium Is a Lie. commondreams.org African Muslims have been central to American history and American success. Ilhan Omar has been an American citizen longer than Melania Trump, and stands in a tradition of contributing to this country. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/ilhan_omar-trump-incite-violence_0.jpg …
(2020-06-22). Voter suppression looms over the 2020 election. peoplesworld.org 
ATLANTA—You've heard or read about a wide range of ways the right wing is suppressing the votes of people it hates, but this takes the cake: Postage stamps, or lack of them, for absentee voters in the entire state of Georgia. It's as bad as having one polling place for a county with 767,000 people …
(2020-06-22). Seoul says military option on the table over Pyongyang's plans to drop leaflets prompted by its people's 'unquenchable anger'. rt.com 
South Korea has warned it's ready for an armed response against the North's plans to drop leaflets if it violates the two states' military agreement. Equipment is reportedly being set up to spread the leaflets "deep inside South." | South Korean defense authorities said on Monday they are closely watching Pyongyang's leafleting methods and are leaving a military response option on the table. Kim Jun-rak, the spokesperson of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed that Seoul was prepared to take military action if any aerial vehicle is flown over the Demilitarized Zone, which would violate the 2018 inter-Ko…
(2020-06-22). How to Defeat Trump Without Campaigning for Biden. zcomm.org Socialists and other Bernie Sanders supporters can play a critical role in defeating right-wing populism while building a left-wing alternative for the long term—by going down-ballot.