2020-09-02: News Headlines

Staff (2020-09-02). "We Feel Betrayed": NYC Reaches Deal with Teachers to Reopen Schools & Avert Strike, But Is It Safe? democracynow.org New York unions representing teachers and principals have reached a deal with the city over how to reopen the largest public school system in the United States, averting a planned strike by educators. "We feel betrayed, and we feel as if it's an inadequate plan," says Aixa Rodriguez, a Bronx-based high school teacher. We also speak with education writer Eric Blanc, who says New York has failed to learn the lessons of other school districts that reopened too quickly without adequate safety measures in place against COVID-19. "When educators in New York are saying it's not safe to go back, that's not just born out…

Dave Lindorff (2020-09-02). If Social Security matters to you, can you trust Trump? zcomm.org Older Voters, especially Republicans, Need to Think Before They Vote…

Staff (2020-09-02). Headlines for September 2, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Refuses to Join Global Effort to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine, NIH Panel: No Evidence Convalescent Plasma Works Despite FDA Approval, Florida Cuts Ties to Quest Diagnostics over Delay in COVID-19 Tests, Faced with Possible Teacher Strike, NYC Delays Reopening Schools Until Sept. 21, Russia Surpasses 1 Million COVID Cases; India Becomes New Epicenter, Trump Travels to Kenosha But Never Says Name of Jacob Blake, Trump Spreads Conspiracy Theories About Biden, "Dark Shadows" & Thugs on Airplanes, Sheriff Deputies in L.A. Shoot Dead Black Bicyclist Stopped over Alleged Bike Violation, Over 50 Black Former Franchise O…

Staff (2020-09-02). Kenosha Journalist Quits over Coverage of Jacob Blake Protests, Citing Ignorance, Lack of Diversity. democracynow.org The mainstream media's role in perpetuating racism has come under increased scrutiny during the nationwide uprisings against injustice, leading to resignations and firings at news outlets across the country and calls for more diverse newsrooms. Daniel Thompson, the former digital editor at Kenosha News, says that's what led him to quit his job after his news outlet ran a misleading headline and article about a peaceful Jacob Blake protest that focused almost exclusively on one speaker's threat of violence. "Now more than ever for the media, it's important to try to give a full, accurate picture." says Thompson. "

Staff (2020-09-02). The End of Oil? Pandemic Adds to Fossil Fuel Glut, But COVID-19 Relief Money Flows to Oil Industry. democracynow.org As the coronavirus pandemic contributes to a glut of fossil fuels, groups like Greenpeace are calling on Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to ban fossil fuel interests from his campaign and administration, if he wins, even as he recently declared at a campaign stop that he "will not ban fracking." We discuss the politics of fossil fuels with reporter Antonia Juhasz, who says the end of oil could be near, and look at how the industry has profited from the COVID bailout. "The pandemic has taken essentially every weakness that already existed in the oil industry and then made each of them much, much worse,…

Prof. Marjorie Cohn (2020-09-02). If Trump Tries to Hijack the Election, We Must be Ready to Resist. globalresearch.ca We publish this incisive analysis by Dr. Marjorie Cohn with a view to encouraging debate on the 2020 elections. The broader issue is that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are a threat to democracy in the US. | *** | For …

Maxximilian Seijo (2020-09-02). Resisting Predatory Finance with Raúl Carrillo. mronline.org Organizer for economic justice and scholar of law, race, and money, Raúl Carrillo, joins Money on the Left to explore the promise of the public money framework for advancing antiracist, anti-imperialist, and democratic politics across the world. We discuss how the public money or MMT perspective shapes his work as an attorney fighting against predatory …

Editor (2020-09-02). EDITORIAL — Manifestantes de BLM protestan asesinato de Jacob Blake. workers.org La reciente convención republicana, encabezada por el supremacista blanco en jefe, actual presidente de Estados Unidos y enemigo del pueblo, reunió a sus tropas con tácticas racistas de miedo sobre los "disturbios civiles" de manifestantes de Black Lives Matter y activistas de izquierda. La convención demócrata ofreció una alternativa, pero . . . |

Staff (2020-09-02). Markey beats back Kennedy while Trump spins conspiracy theories about Black Lives Matter and Antifa. therealnews.com Progressives protect a key Senate seat despite a Pelosi-backed challenge as Trump visits Kenosha despite being asked to stay away one week after a teenage supporter shot dead two protestors…

James K. Galbraith (2020-09-02). Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Joe Biden to Think Very Differently Than 2009. zcomm.org It is a delusion to think that merely injecting money will bring back the happy mix of jobs and incomes we've lost in the Covid-19 pandemic…

yenisafak (2020-09-02). N.Korean troops, vehicles seen preparing for huge parade, US think-tank says. yenisafak.com Masses of North Korean troops and vehicles have been practicing for a major military parade despite the country's ongoing coronavirus restrictions, satellite imagery released by a U.S. think-tank shows.Commercial satellite imagery analysed by 38 North, a think-tank that specialises in North Korea, showed formations of troops and vehicles at the Mirim Parade Training Ground, in the suburbs of the capital city of Pyongyang on Monday."North Korea has been widely expected to hold a major military parade on October 10 this year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea," the 38 North report said. "Th…

yenisafak (2020-09-02). Trump overtakes Biden as favorite to win in November. yenisafak.com U.S. President Donald Trump has overtaken Democratic rival Joe Biden to stand as the favorite to win the 2020 U.S. Presidential election on Europe-based betting exchange Betfair, the exchange said on Wednesday.Trump's odds, reflecting wagers matched on the peer-to-peer betting network, stood at evens, Betfair Exchange said, versus 21-20 for Biden.Betfair Exchange said four bets of over 10,000 pounds ($13,362) were placed on the platform overnight, of which three were on Trump, while the biggest stake of the campaign so far, a 50,000-pound bet, was placed on the Republican nominee over the weekend.These bets in pa…

Robert Delaney (2020-09-02). US Seeks Formal Alliance Similar to NATO with India, Japan and Australia. globalresearch.ca Washington's goal is to get countries in the Indo-Pacific region to work together as a bulwark against 'a potential challenge from China', says the US official- He says the four nations are expected to meet in Delhi sometime this autumn…

Dave Lindorff (2020-09-01). Older Voters, Especially Republicans, Need to Think Before They Vote. counterpunch.org In 2016, exit polls show that Donald Trump won the over-50 vote by a big margin. With voters over the age of 50 accounting for 45% of voters that year, Trump, according to a study by AARP was the choice of 55% of that demographic, compared to 44% who voted for Hillary Clinton. Trump's margin was even

Staff (2020-09-01). Hurricane Laura Floods ICE Jails in Louisiana as Asylum Seekers from Cameroon Strike over Conditions. democracynow.org People held in immigration jails in Louisiana report horrific conditions and continued mistreatment after Hurricane Laura devastated the area. Immigrants detained at the LaSalle and Jackson Parish jails say that after the storm, the two facilities have flooded with urine and feces and lack electricity, clean food or water. Many of those protesting the conditions are from Cameroon, and refugee rights groups, including the Cameroon American Council, are demanding an investigation into conditions. "The current immigration system is based on the racist practices, the white supremacy of 400 years," says Sylvie Bello,…

Staff (2020-09-01). Meet the New Yes Man on Trump's COVID Task Force: Dr. Scott Atlas Wants U.S. to Adopt Herd Immunity. democracynow.org As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States passes 6 million, with a death toll of over 183,000, the Trump administration is loosening coronavirus restrictions, fast-tracking vaccine approval and disregarding safety tests, and now one of Trump's top medical advisers is pushing for the country to adopt a controversial "herd immunity" strategy, raising alarm among public health officials. Washington Post health reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb says Dr. Scott Atlas is not an epidemiologist and was brought on specifically because he would back President Trump's position "about how the pandemic was going,…

Staff (2020-09-01). Kenosha Police Under Scrutiny for 2018 Case of Chrystul Kizer, Black Teen Jailed for Killing Abuser. democracynow.org We look at how the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has brought renewed scrutiny to another case from 2018: that of Black teenager Chrystul Kizer, who faces charges of killing her alleged sex trafficker, a 34-year-old white man, when she was just 17 years old. Court records show Randall Volar had a history of sexually abusing underage Black girls that was known to the Kenosha police, but he remained free for months. In June 2018, Kizer says she shot and killed Volar in self-defense after he drugged her and tried to rape her. Kizer was freed from jail on $400,000 bail in June but is still figh…

Staff (2020-09-01). Headlines for September 1, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Heads to Kenosha, WI After Defending White Teen Who Killed Two People, Cops Who Kill, Biden Blames Trump for Recent Violence as Trump Defends Violent Supporters in Portland, Progressive Groups Call on Biden to Ban Fossil Fuel Interests from Campaign and Admin, KY Prosecutors Offer Breonna Taylor's Ex-Boyfriend Plea Deal to Name Taylor in Drug Case, Trump's Newest Pandemic Adviser Reportedly Pushing "Herd Immunity" Strategy, Honduran Man Dies of COVID-19 in ICE Jail, Reports: Hamas and Israel Reach Deal to Cease Hostilities, Imprisoned Turkish Human Rights Lawyer Dies After 7-Month Hunger Strike, EPA Rolls B…

Gary Leupp (2020-09-01). The Political Insights of MSNBC's Donny Deutsch. counterpunch.org MSNBC's Donny Deutsch is a Wall Street advertising executive and political commentator who can, I think, be relied upon to honestly convey the true thoughts of the Democratic National Committee. Three of his comments this year stand out. (1) First, he declared (February 20 on "Morning Joe") that he was "absolutely panicked" that Bernie Sanders

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2020-09-01). Proposed California Reparations Study leaves out Indigenous and Afro-Latino Heritage. indybay.org The State of California may make incremental steps to mitigate past egregious actions taken before, during and after US Statehood beginning September 9, 1850. AB 3121 chooses not to mention the "hidden figures" of our Indigenous / Afro Latino California Heritage, by design.

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-09-01). The Two Parties Have Failed Us, but the People Can Succeed. dissidentvoice.org The Republican and Democratic Party conventions showed that both major parties are failing to control the pandemic and protect people, address the climate crisis and clean up the environment, support families and businesses during the economic collapse, prevent police violence or deal with any of the other major problems we face. These were two substance-less …

Andrew Levine (2020-09-01). Biden, the Lesser Evil, is a Problem Too, But There are Reasons for Hope Nevertheless. counterpunch.org The prospect sickens, but for reasons that are widely understood, it would be irresponsible, this election season, not to pile on votes for Joe Biden. Even more than Hillary Clinton, and a whole lot more than Barack Obama, Biden is a living embodiment of all that makes the actually existing Democratic Party execrable. But we

Staff (2020-09-01). Kenosha, Wis.: Ground zero for vigilante murder, site of Trump's next visit. therealnews.com On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 1, President Donald Trump is set to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police officer Rusten Sheskey, and where, days later, teenage Trump supporter Kyle Rittenhouse killed two protesters. | Trump has refused to condemn growing right-wing violence, and there are calls for him to stay away from Kenosha: "Now is not the time for elected officials to ignore armed militants and out-of-state instigators who want to contribute to our anguish," warned Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a letter. | During a Fox News appearance the night before he…

Staff (2020-09-01). Trump visits Kenosha, scene of vigilante murder. therealnews.com On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 1, President Donald Trump is set to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police officer Rusten Sheskey, and where, days later, teenage Trump supporter Kyle Rittenhouse killed two protesters. | Trump has refused to condemn growing right-wing violence, and there are calls for him to stay away from Kenosha: "Now is not the time for elected officials to ignore armed militants and out-of-state instigators who want to contribute to our anguish," warned Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a letter. | During a Fox News appearance the night before he…

Jonah Raskin (2020-09-01). Babylon Berlin / Babylon Amerikka. counterpunch.org If you're still wondering if you'll vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in November—that is, if Trump doesn't crash the party in the next two months—you might watch the Netflix series, Babylon Berlin, which is set in Weimar Germany in the late 1920s. Based on the novels of German author Volker Kutscher, it was originally

Don Fitz (2020-09-01). What Can We Learn from Cuba? Medicare-for-All Is a Beginning, Not the End Point. dissidentvoice.org As a coup de grâce to the Bernie Sanders campaign Joe Biden declared that he would veto Medicare-for-All. This could drive a dedicated health care advocate to relentlessly pursue Med-4-All as a final goal. However, it is not the final goal. It should be the first step in a complete transformation of medicine which includes combining …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-09-01). Trump defends Kenosha killer; Biden says president is 'toxic'. peoplesworld.org PITTSBURGH—Having had it up to here with Donald Trump's lies, distortions, and disasters, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden took the gloves off and hit hard against the GOP Oval Office occupant, declaring Trump "a toxic presence" in the U.S. And the question the presidential election will answer, Biden declared, is whether voters will expel the …

RT (2020-09-01). 'Different rules for different folks': Nancy Pelosi caught getting hair done in closed salon amid Covid-19 restrictions. rt.com San Francisco has kept hair salons shut for months amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but that didn't stop House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from nipping in for a quick wash and blowout at a closed salon — without even wearing a mask. | Security footage obtained by Fox News and published on Tuesday, shows the Democrat walking through eSalon in San Francisco on Monday, while a stylist follows behind wearing a mask. | Salons in the city have been closed since March, but were notified they could reopen for outdoor services starting on September 1 — the same day the footage of Pelosi was released. Salon owner Erica…

RT (2020-09-01). Social justice warriors pillory GameSpot for National Guard ad; didn't they hear the military backs Biden now? rt.com Progressive-minded social justice gamers are up in arms over the videogame website GameSpot's ad partnership with the Army National Guard, apparently unaware the military is supposed to be on "their" side in the upcoming election. | Woke videogamer Twitter melted down on Tuesday over two tweets by GameSpot — not to be confused with the retailer GameStop — in which an Army National Guard sergeant talks about upcoming games, followed by a link to their esports page. | So this is what everyone is freaking out on

Philip Giraldi (2020-09-01). Vote-by-Mail Issue Could Lead to Violence. globalresearch.ca The debate over voting by mail in America in November generally is defined by the interests of the two major political parties. Democrats insist that such voting enfranchises large numbers of citizens who would not otherwise be able to vote …

Ralph Nader (2020-09-01). Democrats Must Demolish Trump's Delusional Law-Breaking Dystopia. zcomm.org Donald Trump continually breaks multiple laws. Yet the serial lawbreaking, lying Trump is playing the "law and order" card against street protestors reacting to fatal cases of police brutality…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-09-01). Opposition claims victory in Montenegro's parliamentary elections. peoplesdispatch.org Though the final results are yet to be declared formally, it is most likely the end of the three-decade rule of the Democratic Party of Socialists and its leader Milo Djukanovic…

WSWS (2020-09-01). First as Tragedy, Second as Farce: Marcos, Duterte and the Communist Parties of the Philippines. wsws.org On August 26, Dr. Joseph Scalice delivered this lecture at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore on the support given by the Communist Party of the Philippines, and the various organizations that follow its political line, for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.

John Stanton (2020-09-01). Life During a Trump Second Term: Paramilitary Democracy Accelerates. counterpunch.org "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place

WSWS (2020-09-01). Trump endorses right-wing violence in Kenosha, Portland. wsws.org While Trump seeks to mobilize fascistic elements, his Democratic opponent Joe Biden condemns "looting and rioting" and directs his main appeal to big business and the military.

UnDam the Klamath (2020-09-01). Tell Warren Buffett to Move Forward With Klamath Dam Removal Agreement. indybay.org Send Warren Buffett a message urging his company Berkshire Hathoway and its subsidiary, PacifiCorp to move forward with Klamath dam removal.

sputniknews (2020-09-01). Biden Presidential Campaign Unveils Official Virtual Yard Signs for Animal Crossing Video Game. sputniknews.com Former Vice President Joe Biden was officially selected by the Democratic National Convention as the party's nominee to take on incumbent Republican President Donald Trump in the November presidential election.

Staff (2020-09-01). Trump Pushes Baseless Conspiracy Theory Alleging "Dark Shadows" Control Biden. truthout.org During an interview with Fox News that aired on Monday evening, President Trump claimed that armed individuals wearing unspecified "gear" had boarded a plane last week with the intent of doing "damage" during the Republican National Convention (RNC). |

Staff (2020-09-01). Uprisings Against Evictions Are Sweeping the Country Today. truthout.org Organizers and community members in at least 15 cities across the United States are set to mobilize Tuesday to "storm the streets in front of the homes and offices of Republican leaders, occupy eviction courts, and hold teach-ins on tenant protections for a nationwide day of uprisings to protest the Senate's failures to provide relief during the biggest eviction crisis the U.S. has ever faced." | The

yenisafak (2020-09-01). Trump alleges plane 'loaded with thugs' sought to damage RNC. yenisafak.com U.S. President Donald Trump said authorities were investigating an alleged plot involving about seven people aboard a plane last weekend carrying unspecified "gear" and aiming to "damage" the Republican Party's recent convention, but offered no evidence and gave few details.In a Fox News interview that aired late Monday, Trump initially said one person had boarded the plane from a city that he did not name, then said the plane was "completely loaded with thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear and this and that.""There were like seven people on the plane like this person and then a lot of peop…

yenisafak (2020-09-01). US, UK, Norway welcome initial peace deal in Sudan. yenisafak.com The US, the UK and Norway said Wednesday that they welcome the peace agreement between Sudan's government and a rebel alliance, describing it as "the first step in a long process to rebuild hope and stability for conflict-affected communities in Sudan.""The peace agreement lays a foundation for sustainable peace and stability in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas that is critical for Sudan's democratic transition," a joint statement by the Troika countries said.They said they "recognise the concessions all have made to conclude these negotiations" and "call on all parties to implement the agreement in good…

Jim Hightower (2020-09-01). Six Ways the Right Is Shredding the Vote. commondreams.org "Republican officials are aggressively hostile to democracy generally and to voting rights specifically," writes Hightower, "while much of the Democratic establishment passively refuses to prioritize and vigorously fight to make voting easy and even joyful for all." (Photo: Steve Cup) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/polls.jpeg

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-09-01). 'Red Mirage': Democratic Data Firm Predicts Post-Election 'Chaos' Over False Trump Landslide. commondreams.org Hawkfish CEO says the preponderance of mail-in votes means early results may show Trump with a substantial lead that he'll likely lose as absentee ballots are tallied. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mail_0.jpg

Lisa Newcomb, staff writer (2020-09-01). Progressive Democrats Look to Massachusetts for Next 2020 Primary Night Victories. commondreams.org "Today we vote for a future where clean air, healthcare, and a quality education are considered a human right; not a privilege." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/getty-markey_elbow_bump.jpg

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-09-01). 'Dark Shadows' and 'Air Force One' Trend After Trump Floats Conspiracy Theories About Biden and Plane 'Full of Thugs' in Bizarre Fox Interview. commondreams.org The president also compared police shootings of Black people to golfers who "choke" under pressure. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump_af1_1.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-09-01). Poll Shows Number of Unemployed People Struggling to Cover Basic Needs Has Nearly Doubled Since GOP Killed $600 Federal Boost. commondreams.org After Senate Republicans allowed a $600-per-week boost to federal unemployment benefits to expire at the end of July, the share of jobless Americans struggling to afford basic necessities in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis nearly doubled, according to polling released Tuesday by Morning Consult. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12281347321.jpg

Staff (2020-08-31). White Supremacist in the White House: Ibram X. Kendi on Trump's Calls for "Law & Order" in Kenosha. democracynow.org In Part 2 of our interview with Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, we air excerpts from the families of Jacob Blake and George Floyd at the massive protest marking the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, and discuss President Trump's planned visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, as he blames Democrats for violence during protests there and in Portland, Oregon. "Racism has spread to every part of the body," says Kendi, comparing U.S. racism to cancer, "and then we have a president who is claiming that it doesn't exist."

Staff (2020-08-31). Headlines for August 31, 2020. democracynow.org Protests Continue in Kenosha as Officials Plead with Trump to Cancel Visit, One Dead in Portland as Pro-Trump Rally Clashes with Antiracist Protesters, U.S. COVID-19 Cases Top 6 Million, Deaths Top 183,000, Under Pressure from Trump, FDA Admits It Might Approve Vaccine Before Trials End, Gaza Extends Lockdown, India Reports Record Daily Numbers as Global COVID-19 Cases Top 25 Million, Chadwick Boseman, Beloved and Groundbreaking Actor, Dies at 43 After Battle with Cancer, "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" Rally Held on 57th Anniverary of March on Washington, Mustapha Adib Set to Become New Prime Minister of Lebanon,…

Staff (2020-08-31). Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of "Black Panther" Actor, Cancer & Antiracism. democracynow.org Tributes continue to pour in for beloved actor Chadwick Boseman after his death at age 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman is best known for his iconic role as King T'Challa in the groundbreaking "Black Panther" — the first mainstream Black superhero movie and a smash hit that earned more than $1 billion at the box office. He is also widely acclaimed for his portrayal of major historical figures such as Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson. Boseman's death has highlighted the higher rates of colon cancer among Black men and the links to systemic racism. "Cancer,…

Staff (2020-08-31). Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of "Black Panther" Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism. democracynow.org Tributes continue to pour in for beloved actor Chadwick Boseman after his death at age 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman is best known for his iconic role as King T'Challa in the groundbreaking "Black Panther" — the first mainstream Black superhero movie and a smash hit that earned more than $1 billion at the box office. He is also widely acclaimed for his portrayal of major historical figures such as Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson. Boseman's death has highlighted the higher rates of colon cancer among Black men and the links to systemic racism. "Cancer,…

Staff (2020-08-31). Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X Kendi on Legacy of "Black Panther" Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism. democracynow.org Tributes continue to pour in for beloved actor Chadwick Boseman after his death at age 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman is best known for his iconic role as King T'Challa in the groundbreaking "Black Panther" — the first mainstream Black superhero movie and a smash hit that earned more than $1 billion at the box office. He is also widely acclaimed for his portrayal of major historical figures such as Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson. Boseman's death has highlighted the higher rates of colon cancer among Black men and the links to systemic racism. "Cancer,…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). UN sends 16 truckloads of aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The UN on Monday sent 16 truckloads of humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria where millions of people are in need of assistance due to internal conflict.The trucks carrying supplies entered Idlib province through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's south.The aid will be distributed among residents of Idlib, and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by 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 ag…

Muhammed Shabeer (2020-08-31). India's Communist youth raise $1.4 million for COVID relief with recycling drive. peoplesworld.org KERALA STATE, India—Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, leftist youth organizations around the world have been in the forefront of both providing relief and resisting attempts to attack the rights of people. An instance of this has been the "Recycle Kerala" initiative launched by the communist Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which …

RT (2020-08-31). Maduro pardons 100+ opposition lawmakers to promote 'national reconciliation' in Venezuela. rt.com Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced pardons for 110 opposition lawmakers currently facing charges, saying this should promote democracy in the country currently under US sanctions and demands for regime change. | The intent of the pardons is to "promote national reconciliation and the search for peace," Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez announced on Monday in Caracas. | The measure was proposed by the Commission for Truth, Justice and Peace and seeks to strengthen democracy and "open channels of political action" within the framework of the Venezuelan Constitution, Rodriguez added. | The gover…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-08-31). Massachusetts primary pits progressives Markey and Morse vs. Kennedy and Neal. peoplesworld.org BOSTON—The Sept. 1 Democratic congressional primaries in Massachusetts feature what may be the last two rounds pitting progressives against challengers around the country—but with a twist. In one race, the progressive is the incumbent, Sen. Ed Markey. The challenger, Rep. Joe Kennedy III, claims it's time for a new generation of politicians in the Bay …

Patrick Cockburn (2020-08-31). Trump at the RNC: Echoes of Saddam. counterpunch.org The Republican convention was a nauseating performance even by the cess-pit standards of the Trump administration. In its cult-like obeisance to the supreme leader it reminds me of meetings of the Iraqi Baath Party that periodically endorsed Saddam Hussein as the national saviour. The only speeches acceptable in both cases were dollops of fawning praise. Speakers outdid each other in adulation, pretending that shambolic failures were triumphant successes.

Marshall Auerback — James Carden (2020-08-31). The Rotten Alliance of Liberals and Neocons Will Likely Shape U.S. Foreign Policy for Years to Come. counterpunch.org The emergence in recent weeks of a coalition of neocon Republicans and former national security officials who have thrown their support behind the candidacy of Joe Biden is an ominous development to those who believe U.S. foreign policy should be guided by the principles of realism and military restraint, rather than perpetual wars of choice.

_____ (2020-08-31). The Democrat Gambit to Destroy Trump Has Failed. Their Only Hope Now Is to Destroy America. strategic-culture.org Since 2016, the Democratic Party has been preoccupied with the single-minded goal of ousting Donald Trump, a political outsider who promised to drain the fetid swamp. But now that the Democrat's efforts have failed, the left seems perfectly content embracing a scorched-earth policy rather than face the prospect of defeat, or jail time, in 2020. | "In politics, nothing happens by accident," observed Franklin D. Roosevelt, the four-term Democratic president who certainly knew a thing or two about political predetermination. "If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." | FDR's quote perfectly sums up the la…

Mark Green, Ralph Nader (2020-08-31). The F-Word: No Other Way to Describe Trump's Fascism 2.0. commondreams.org "If we added up the anti-democracy maneuvers of the prior 10 presidents over the past 60 years, they wouldn't equal Trump alone in under four years," write the authors. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_17_0.jpg

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-31). US Elections 2020: Hillary Tells Jo Biden Don't Concede if You Lose. globalresearch.ca War goddess Hillary never left the political stage gently into that good night. | Eager to avenge her loss to Trump in 2016, she keeps resurfacing instead of fading away like old soldiers. | With Biden holding a commanding lead in most …

teleSUR (2020-08-31). Cali International Ballet Festival Pays Homage to Alicia Alonso. telesurenglish.net Given the complex global health scenario, the festival has opted to take place online through the Finbacali Youtube channel, among other social media platforms. | The virtual guest of honor is Cuba's National Ballet (BNC), one of many companies that regularly feature at the annual festival, directed by master Gloria Castro. | RELATED: | The festival includes an intervention from the director-general of the Cuban company, Viengsay Valdes, a le…

Jon Cohen (2020-08-31). Here's How the U.S. Could Release a COVID-19 Vaccine before the Election—and Why that Scares Some. globalresearch.ca When President Donald Trump accepted his party's nomination for another term last night at the Republican National Convention, he pledged that the push by his administration's Operation Warp Speed to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine would succeed "before the end of …

WSWS (2020-08-31). US military will not be involved in election crisis, top general claims. wsws.org The extraordinary statement by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff came in response to a letter from two Democratic congresswomen.

Frank Scott (2020-08-31). "Billionaires Lives Matter", Far More than Yours… The Capitalist Pandemic, Fake Democracy Goes Live? globalresearch.ca As we stagger towards the ultimate expression of our fake democracy in November it's important to acknowledge what won't be changing a bit whichever of the two parties of capital come out ahead with a minority of the American electorate's …

Timothy Alexander Guzman (2020-08-31). Who Will Win November's US Presidential Elections? … Israel? globalresearch.ca The US presidential elections coming this November will determine whether the current President Donald Trump or the Democratic nominee Joe Biden (if his mental capabilities are still intact) will run the White house. | But whether Trump or Biden becomes president, …

Christopher D. Cook (2020-08-31). New People's Party Rises Amid Grim Election Options. progressive.org Facing an election between a centrist Democrat and a fascist, the new Movement for a People's Party aims to prevent such sparse electoral choices in the future.

_____ (2020-08-31). Medicare For All Is A Beginning, Not The End Point. popularresistance.org As a coup de grâce to the Bernie Sanders campaign Joe Biden declared that he would veto Medicare-for-All. This could drive a dedicated health care advocate to relentlessly pursue Med-4-All as a final goal. However, it is not the final goal. It should be the first step in a complete transformation of medicine which includes combining community medicine with natural medicine and health-care-for-the-world. | Contrasting Cuban changes in medicine during the last 60 years with the US non-system of medical care gives a clear picture of why changes must be all-encompassing.

_____ (2020-08-31). Obama, Harris And The Ruse Of Racial Representation. popularresistance.org The nomination of Senator Kamala Harris to the position of Vice President of the United States has been widely recognized as a triumph for Black and Asian women in the country. Something similar happened twelve years ago when then-Senator Barack Obama accepted the nomination for President. | There is no doubt that representation in the media, politics, education, corporate leadership, sports, among so many other areas, matters. However, the more crucial questions are how does representation matter as well as for whom and for what does it matter. Without addressing these questions, representation can easily succum…

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Vote for Joe Biden or Democrats Would 'Conflict' with True Belief in Jesus Christ, Claims Pastor. sputniknews.com Earlier, Los Angeles County moved to hold John MacArthur, Grace Community Church pastor, in contempt of court after hosting three indoor services in August in defiance of a court order that his church must comply with California's coronavirus restrictions.

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Law & Order: How BLM Protests Can Improve Trump's Election Odds Instead of Axing His 2020 Bid. sputniknews.com Months of often-violent anti-racist protests which have engulfed the US from May threaten to pull rug out from under the Democrats, who closed their eyes to looting and rioting, say American observers outlining how Donald Trump can raise victorious and even receive a large share of the African American vote.

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Filmmaker Michael Moore Predicts Repeat of 2016, Claims Donald Trump Headed to Win 2020 Election. sputniknews.com Renowned filmmaker Michael Moore predicted in 2016 that Donald Trump would win the presidential election despite all leading US polls claiming otherwise and tipping Democrat Hillary Clinton as the hot favourite.

sputniknews (2020-08-31). Biden Accuses Trump of 'Fanning The Flames of Hate' Amid Continuing Portland Unrest. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has condemned the recent violence in Portland, blaming US President Donald Trump for fueling tensions.

Staff (2020-08-31). Trump Signals to His Followers That Violence Is His Best Hope for Reelection. truthout.org President Trump was having a normal one on Sunday morning, tweeting and retweeting 89 times over the course of three and a half hours. Many of them were tweets of polling numbers from obscure firms showing him in the lead after the Republican convention. But most of the tweets and retweets were incitement to violence among his true believers and complaints about "Democrat cities," an ongoing mantra which he seems to think is a slam dunk to get him re-elected. | He repeatedly insulted and mock…

Staff (2020-08-31). Trump Is Denying the US's Racism While Stoking Its Flames in Kenosha. truthout.org In Part Two of our interview with Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, we air excerpts from the families of Jacob Blake and George Floyd at the massive protest marking the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, and discuss President Trump's planned visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, as he blames Democrats for violence during protests there and in Portland, Oregon. "Racism has spread to every part of the body," says Kendi, comparing U.S. racism to cancer, "a…

Staff (2020-08-31). Republicans Praise "Citizen Soldiers" Waging Violence Against Protesters. truthout.org Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) has appeared to endorse violence against protesters while appearing on CNN, saying that "citizen soldiers" are needed to quash anti-racist protests across the country. His statement comes days after 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with murdering two Kenosha, Wisconsin, protesters and shooting a third. | Protests erupted in Kenosha about a week ago when Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back seven times by police officers as he was getting into his car…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). N.Macedonia gov't wins confidence vote. yenisafak.com North Macedonia's parliament has approved a new left-wing coalition government.The Social Democrats had declared victory in snap elections held on July 15, and late Sunday, after two days of debate, lawmakers voted 62-51 in favor of the new government led by Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, while seven members were absent.Zaev and his coalition partners won 62 of the parliament's 120 seats in the election which returns Zaev back at the prime minister's office.According to the power-sharing deal with the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration party, Zaev will hand the office over to an ethnic Albanian…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). Ankara slams terrorist YPG/PKK-affiliated visit to Moscow. yenisafak.com Turkey on Monday slammed a visit to Moscow by a terrorist YPG/PKK-affiliated group, saying Russia should avoid steps that serve the interests of terrorists who threaten both Turkey and Syria."We are concerned that a group consisting of elements of the so-called 'Syrian Democratic Council,' led by the terrorist group PKK/YPG, will be invited to the Russian Federation and accepted at a high level by Russian officials," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Reports since the statement indicate the meeting may have already happened."We expect the Russian Federation to act in accordance with the spirit of A…

yenisafak (2020-08-31). Trump slams Biden's response to 'anarchists'. yenisafak.com US President Donald Trump has criticized Democratic nominee Joe Biden for not controlling the "Anarchists, Thugs Agitators in ANTIFA," underlining the necessity of National Guard in protests-rocked states and cities that are mostly under the rule of Democrats. "When is Slow Joe Biden going to criticize the Anarchists, Thugs Agitators in ANTIFA?" Trump tweeted late Sunday. "When is he going to suggest bringing up the National Guard in BADLY RUN Crime Infested Democrat Cities States? Remember, he can't lose the Crazy Bernie Super Liberal vote!"Antifa, short for "antifascist," is a far-left anti-fascist political ac…

Fred Wertheimer (2020-08-31). How a Biden Win Can Sink One of Mcconnell's Top Priorities. commondreams.org "Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is the nation's leading opponent of Biden's public financing goal—and of just about every other campaign finance reform," writes Wertheimer. (Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images/adjusted with filter) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mitch_mcconnell_the_impaler_0.jpg

Lisa Newcomb, staff writer (2020-08-31). Despite Poll Showing Aggressive Climate Action a Winning Issue, Biden Boasts 'I Am Not Banning Fracking'. commondreams.org In response to Trump's claims Biden would ban fracking, the Democratic presidential nominee assured a crowd in Pennsylvania that he will not do away with the practice. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/getty-bidenevent_climate_protest.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-08-31). 'A Necessary Step': House Democrats to Subpoena Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for Withholding Documents. commondreams.org "He has repeatedly demonstrated an unwillingness to share documents and information with Congress, and we don't have time to wait for him to find a moral compass." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/louis_dejoy_0_0.jpg

Andrew Emett (2020-08-31). Elizabeth Warren and colleagues call for investigation into death of army sergeant. nationofchange.org "We must do more than grieve the loss of SGT Fernandes—we must seek justice and answers for his family. That starts with a full and complete investigation."

_____ (2020-08-30). Biden's Chances Rest on a John Podesta-Planned Military Coup, Ballot Harvesting, Police Shootings, and a False Flag. strategic-culture.org Our early August prognosis published by SCF on August 23rd, that Joe Biden would not concede the election even if Trump wins, was This piece will follow up on the strategy involved in that piece, and develop these in light of John Podesta's election war-game and the situation in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the Kenosha situation, we have armed groups on both sides, creating a volatile situation in wh…

Sean Callebs (2020-08-30). The Heat: Donald Trump's case for four more years. america.cgtn.com US President Donald Trump makes his case for four more years. We will take a look at the Republican National Convention and what can we expect if he gets re-elected.

Betsey Piette (2020-08-30). Trump's COVID-19 Rx: Less science, more politics. workers.org On the eve of the Republican National Convention, on Aug. 23, Trump took to the airwaves to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment. The previous day, Trump had accused the FDA of delaying the rollout of . . . |

Fight Back (2020-08-30). Kenosha march demands justice for Jacob Blake and victims of killer Kyle Rittenhouse. fightbacknews.org Kenosha, WI – On the evening of August 28, more than 200 people gathered outside the Kenosha Municipal Court building to demand justice for Jacob Blake and the victims of killer Kyle Rittenhouse. The rally was called for by the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, with support from UW-Parkside Students for a Democratic Society, Kenosha EquiTeens, Wisconsin Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Chicago Alliance. Many in the crowd held signs that read "Stop police crimes! Demand a civilian police accountability council!" | "I am tired. I am tired of seeing my people dying at the hands…

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Montenegro holds parliamentary polls amid pandemic. yenisafak.com More than half a million voters are expected to cast their ballots on Sunday in Montenegro's fifth parliamentary elections since independence.Candidates from 11 coalitions, six alliances, and five parties are vying for a place in the 81-seat parliament.The main contest is expected between President Milo Djukanovic's pro-West Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which has ruled the country for 30 years, and the opposition Democratic Front (DF), which leans more towards Russia and Serbia.However, neither of the two is projected to win a majority in parliament.Montenegrins can vote at 1,217 polling stations until 8…

splcenter (2020-08-30). Wisconsin Man Who Says He Marched With Rittenhouse in Kenosha Was Immersed in White Supremacist Propaganda. splcenter.org Ryan Balch, a 31-year-old Wisconsin man who joined Kyle Rittenhouse and a contingent of militia conducting armed patrols in Kenosha, used his social media accounts to link to a Nazi propaganda video, amplified white nationalist Richard Spencer, and uploaded symbols associated with the so-called boogaloo movement, Hatewatch determined.

Donald Monaco (2020-08-30). The Twilight of Democracy in the United States. Architecture of a Totalitarian Police State. globalresearch.ca The United States has erected the legal and institutional architecture of a totalitarian police state. | Institutionally, the national security autocracy has merged with the military, law enforcement and a vast private intelligence network to create a massive physical apparatus of …

Fight Back (2020-08-30). Tampa protest demands justice for Jacob Blake and community control of the police. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On August 28, around 70 protesters demanded justice for Jacob Blake at an event by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC). Blake was a Black man shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His murder sparked a massive rebellion in Kenosha and protests in other cities across the country. | In addition to demanding justice Jacob Blake, demonstrators also demanded justice for victims of police brutality in Tampa, including justice for Jonas Joseph, Josiah Pinner and Andrew Joseph III. | David Jones, member of TB…

Human Agenda (2020-08-30). Wednesday 9/2: Break the Mold: Questioning Capitalism: DEMOCRACY. indybay.org Zoom Conference ID: 513 856 6423 | us02web.zoom.us/j/5138566423 | Call in: +1 669-900-9128…

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2020-08-30). 2020 International Juneteenth Food and Wine Festival. indybay.org Together, we look forward to returning to Memphis, Tennessee, a birthplace of the Blues, reclaiming our ancient sacred mounds of Mississippian culture along "Ole Man River"

_____ (2020-08-30). Navajo Nation And White Mountain Apache Tribe Chase Down A Virus. popularresistance.org On a mild morning in April at Arizona's Whiteriver Indian Hospital, Dr. Ryan Close tested nasal swabs from two members of an eight-person household on the Fort Apache Reservation northwest of Phoenix. About half of the family had a runny nose and cough and had lost their sense of taste and smell — all symptoms of COVID-19 — and, by late morning, the two tests had come back positive. Close's contact-tracing work began. | For Close and his team, each day begins like this: with a list of new COVID-19 cases — new sources that may have spread the virus.

_____ (2020-08-30). Senate Democrats' New Climate Report Disappoints. popularresistance.org Senate Democrats released a climate action report earlier this week leaving green groups, environmental activists, and progressive campaigners disappointed. | Critics of the report are saying there is not nearly enough action involved to fight the threat of global heating that is caused by human activity. "The report fails to address the vital need to end the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels, and instead sees a future for fossil fuels tied to the false promise of carbon capture."

_____ (2020-08-30). Ghosts of the American Republic. strategic-culture.org Let us update the wisdom of Sigmund Freud to the Age of Marshall McLuhan and Philip K. Dick: Sometimes the image, or label of the cigar is far more important than any petty real cigar — especially if there are no cigars left in the world. | American democracy in the third decade of the 21st century is but a vague, fading shadow, a dimly receding echo of whatever it even was 40 or 50 years ago. The acclaimed "success" of the Democratic convention that was supposedly held "in" the city of Milwaukee in the Midwest state of Wisconsin is a perfect example of this strange post-reality echo. | The classic American…

sputniknews (2020-08-30). Black Panther Actor Boseman Had Close Bond with Late NBA Legend Kobe Bryant, He Told HBO Show. sputniknews.com After Kobe Bryant's death in January, Chadwick Boseman recalled how the two had planned a joint project, as the NBA pro had considered dipping his toe into something artistic, albeit also sports-related.

sputniknews (2020-08-30). Trump Crows Over New Poll Predicting Landslide Victory in November. sputniknews.com Previous polls have put Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the lead, but the new results show Donald Trump scoring heavily among "shy voters" who hide their intentions from Pollsters. The poll predicted a big victory for Trump in a repeat of the 2016 election which Hillary was hotly tipped to win.

yenisafak (2020-08-30). Burst of success for progressive challengers in US congressional races may fizzle in Massachusetts. yenisafak.com A solid year for progressive Democrats who have defeated at least three incumbents in the U.S. Congress in primaries could fizzle out this week in Massachusetts where three party stalwarts were set to fend off challengers.The progressive model for success has seen an array of mostly young candidates, sometimes minorities, toppling older establishment incumbents. But the most prominent race on Tuesday turns things upside down with an older, veteran lawmaker claiming the progressive mantle from his younger challenger.Senator Ed Markey, 74, appeared to be holding off 39-year-old Representative Joe Kennedy III by tou…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-08-30). Democrats Condemn 'Shocking Abdication' of Responsibility as Intelligence Officials Scale Back Election Security Briefings. commondreams.org House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) indicated on Sunday that his committee may subpoena intelligence officials, following Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe's announcement that regular election security briefings will be scaled back ahead of the general election. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/john_ratcliffe_ron_wyden_0.jpg

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-08-30). Michael Moore Provides 'Reality Check,' Warning Swing State Polls Signal Trump Could Pull Off Electoral Victory in November. commondreams.org Pointing to polls in swing states and the wide gap in enthusiasm between President Donald Trump's supporters and voters planning to cast a ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, progressive filmmaker Michael Moore warned Friday of signs that Trump may win the November general election. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/moore_0.png