(2020-09-18). Be It Trump Or Biden, Iraq is Doomed. counterpunch.org 
It was announced on September 9 that the U.S. Administration would reduce troop numbers in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 by the end of the month. The commander Central Command, General McKenzie, said the withdrawal was to take place because of "the great progress the Iraqi forces have made" and that the "ultimate goal" was having local forces who were capable of preventing a resurgence of Islamic State in the country."
(2020-09-18). Germany: US Nuclear Weapons Shamed in Nationwide Debate. counterpunch.org 
We need a broad public debate … about the sense and nonsense of nuclear deterrence. —Rolf Mutzenich, German Social Democratic Party Leader Public criticism of the US nuclear weapons deployed in Germany bloomed into a vigorous nationwide debate this past spring and summer focused on the controversial scheme known diplomatically as "nuclear sharing" or "nuclear
(2020-09-18). Surprise! Still No Economic Relief from Washington. counterpunch.org 
With tens of millions unemployed, inevitable eviction merely postponed for a few months and low-wage jobs and small businesses drying up like the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque, you'd think the federal government could negotiate some help for stranded Americans. Democrats had a bill ready back in May. But it just sat on Mitch McConnell's
(2020-09-18). Democrats: Can't Live With 'Em, Can't Live Without 'Em. counterpunch.org 
Like HIV or COVID-19, the Democratic Party is likely to be with us for some time to come. The best we can hope for is that it becomes more manageable. This is already the case with HIV, and there is reason to think that, despite Donald Trump's depraved indifference, the worst and most debilitating ravages
(2020-09-18). Changing the Washington Guard: What a Democratic Sweep in November Portends. counterpunch.org At the risk of counting chickens before they hatch, what would the return of Team Blue portend? As is patently obvious, the US is in trouble. Climate driven heat waves and fires grip the nation. An already faltering economy with deep contradictions could only tank given the shock of the pandemic that has necessitated varying
(2020-09-18). Saturday 9/19: Build Back Better with Justice, Equality, Reform, Democracy, Truth… indybay.org San Mateo Community College, Upper Hillside Parking Lot…
(2020-09-18). "These Are Climate Fires": Oregon Firefighter Ecologist Says Devastating Blazes Are a Wake-Up Call. indybay.org President Trump has said little about the wildfires raging in California, Oregon and Washington for three weeks, other than to suggest poor forest management was primarily to blame. But the states' governors are pushing back and directly linking the fires to the climate crisis. "These are climate fires," says Timothy Ingalsbee, an Oregon-based wildland fire ecologist and former wildland firefighter who now directs Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology. "Though some scientists hesitate to attribute a single event to climate change, these are exactly the conditions predicted by climatologists."
(2020-09-18). More Anti-Democratic Nonsense By KPFA LSB Board Majority & KPFA LSB Secretary Carol Wolfle. indybay.org The KPFA LSB board majority and their LSB secretary Carol Wolfley are working to prevent democratic participation in the LSB meetings. Their corporatist operation of the station local board is connected to their failure to do any evaluations of the manager Quincy McCoy or Program Director They have been rubber stamps to the unilateral of programs at KPFA and support by the station management.
(2020-09-18). Joe Biden blasts Donald Trump's 'criminal' pandemic response. thecanary.co The Democratic presidential nominee held his first town hall on Thursday. | By | Joe Biden on Thursday went after President Donald Trump again and again over his handling of Covid-19, calling the president's downplaying of the pandemic "criminal". | "You've got to level with the American people — shoot from the shoulder. There's not been a time they've not been able to step up. The president should step down," the Democratic presidential nominee said to applause from a CNN drive-in town hall crowd in Moosic, outside his hometown of Scrant…
(2020-09-18). American Athletes Can Decide This Year's Election. thenation.com American Athletes Can Decide This Year's Election…
(2020-09-17). Daniel Ellsberg Warns U.S. Press Freedom Under Attack in WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Extradition Case. democracynow.org 
Legendary Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg says Julian Assange's extradition hearing in London could have far-reaching consequences for press freedoms. The WikiLeaks founder faces an ever-evolving array of espionage and hacking charges related to the release of diplomatic cables that revealed war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Assange faces almost certain conviction, if extradited, and 175 years in prison. "The American press has remained in kind of a state of denial for 40 years, really, since my case, that the Espionage Act has wording in it that could be aimed directly at…
(2020-09-17). A Crisis Made in America: Yemen on Brink of Famine After U.S. Cuts Aid While Fueling War. democracynow.org 
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is deepening amid the pandemic and cuts to international aid from the United States and its allies, leaving millions of Yemenis facing famine after years of a brutal U.S.-backed, Saudi-led bombing campaign that has devastated the country. CNN's senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir says what is happening in Yemen is not a natural disaster but a "man-made catastrophe" directly tied to U.S. policies. Elbagir says, "Not only is the U.S. profiting from the war by selling weapons to the UAE and Saudi Arabia," but it is also ignoring the impact on civilians. We also feature he…
(2020-09-17). After Fire Destroys Moria Refugee Camp in Greece, Demands Grow for Relocation, Not Another Camp. democracynow.org 
We get an update on the massive fire at the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, which has left 13,000 refugees and migrants from Afghanistan, African countries and Syria without access to shelter, food or sanitation. The fire has raised concerns about a coronavirus outbreak and comes as migrants protest their living conditions during the pandemic. Some of the asylum seekers — many of them women and children — are demanding they be allowed to leave the island of Lesbos, but the Greek government is refusing to relocate most people displaced by the fire to the mainland. "The calculation of the Greek go…
(2020-09-17). Suspect arrested in murder of 17-year-old staffer of GOP challenger to Ilhan Omar. rt.com 
A suspect was arrested on Thursday morning in connection with the murder of a teenage staffer for Lacy Johnson, the Republican challenger to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota). The shooting is not believed to be politically motivated. | The suspect was taken into custody after a high speed pursuit, according to the Minneapolis Police Department. Officers attempted to pull them over, but they fled, leading to the car chase which ended with the suspect crashing their vehicle. | The shooting occurred on Monday at a service station where the assailant approached two Johnson staffers, who were among a group of people. B…
(2020-09-17). US lawmakers call on Trump administration to restore aid to Yemen. middleeasteye.net 
US lawmakers call on Trump administration to restore aid to Yemen | Citing coronavirus concerns, Democrats in both the House and Senate describe a dire need for aid in war-torn Yemen, where virus mortality rates remain around 25 percent | Thu, 09/17/2020 – 18: 40 | Hashem Mahmoud Atin, a ten-month-old displaced Yemeni child suffering from acute malnutrition and who is unable to reach a hospital for treatment,…
(2020-09-17). Senate Democrats want $350 billion to prepare for war with China. liberationnews.org 
Democrats in the Senate announced September 17 a massive spending bill aimed at stepping up U.S. hostility towards China to the tune of $350 billion. Introduced by leading imperialist war hawks Chuck Schumer and Bob Menendez, the legislation is intended to shore up U.S. dominance in strategic sectors of the world economy through huge government …
(2020-09-17). But 'What is the Economy, Stupid?'. peoplesworld.org 
Polling indicates that Americans still give Donald Trump an edge over Joe Biden when it comes to their faith in either candidate's ability to manage the economy. While it's true that, according to a late-August Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump's approval rating on the economy has dipped 14% since March, putting him in negative territory with 47% …
(2020-09-17). GOP election sabotage scheme using Wisconsin Green Party stalls. peoplesworld.org 
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Sept. 14 against placing the Green Party on the 2020 election ballot. The decision vacated a hold the same court had put on sending ballots to municipalities and 1 million absentee ballots to voters last week. Under Wisconsin law, election officials must send more than a million requested mail-in ballots …
(2020-09-17). 'Abject incompetence': NYC mayor postpones school opening at last minute AGAIN, triggering parental rage. rt.com 
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has postponed school reopening for most students a second time, just days before kids were set to return. Parents and teachers who already planned their lives around the schedule aren't happy. | Instead of returning to the classroom on Monday, elementary school students will come back on September 29, de Blasio announced in a Thursday press briefing, enraging parents and teachers alike with the eleventh-hour delay. Middle and high school students won't return until October 1 under the new schedule. | It's not the first time de Blasio has pushed school reopening dates forward.
(2020-09-17). Why the Left Must Reject and Elect Biden at the Same Time. zcomm.org To organize against a government headed by Trump is to push against a thick stone wall. To organize against a government headed by Biden holds out the real potential of progressive breakthroughs…
(2020-09-17). Trump's Climate Denial Gains Strength If We're in Denial About His Neo-Fascism. commondreams.org "Trump's right-wing base and leading Republicans are in lockstep with both types of denial. They embrace the most absurd claims about climate … And they refuse to recognize or deplore his autocratic moves," writes Solomon. (Photo: Oil Change International/Twitter) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_climate_hotel_0_1.jpeg …
(2020-09-17). Weed Killers: Bowing to Blue Dogs, Democratic Leadership Delays 'Enormously Popular' Marijuana Legalization Bill Until After Election. commondreams.org "If you're trying to punt it as a result of a political calculation, I disagree with that calculation," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said earlier of the MORE Act. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc_10.jpg …
(2020-09-17). Who Will Win — a Conscious People or Anti-Democratic Elites? zcomm.org Interview about the state of the peoples' movement…
(2020-09-17). New York City ruling elite warns Mayor de Blasio of "widespread anxiety" wsws.org The corporate elite is demanding an intensified back-to-work drive, and is fearful that the "progressive" mayor may not be able to keep the lid on growing social discontent.
(2020-09-17). Opposition mounts as thousands of University of Illinois at Chicago nurses and workers continue strike. wsws.org The university administration and the Democratic Party are increasingly nervous over the support striking workers have elicited.
(2020-09-17). Trump repeats threats of post-election military repression as Barr calls for charging protesters with "sedition" wsws.org While Trump and his political aides and advisers openly speak of civil war and martial law, the Democrats are largely ignoring and covering up the moves toward dictatorial forms of rule.
(2020-09-17). House report on Boeing 737 Max crashes: Corporate criminality, FAA complicity, but no accountability. wsws.org Despite the incriminating evidence, the Democrats propose no actions to hold either Boeing or the FAA accountable for the deaths of 346 men, women and children.
(2020-09-17). A Huge Number of Medical Doctors Ask for a Reassessment of the Corona Measures. globalresearch.ca Globally, we are seeing a massive campaign of disinformation on the main stream media that sets aside all the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. | While a great number of colleagues doctors present with different …
(2020-09-17). Is Repealing Section 230 the Way to Fix Facebook? zcomm.org We should never be in the position of having to rely on the goodwill of a billionaire to allow democracy to work…
(2020-09-17). Build Back Better with Reform, Justice, Equality, Democracy, Truth… indybay.org Want reform, equality, justice, liberty? Want Black Lives to Matter?Learn about how you can help Biden and Harris Build Back Better.
(2020-09-17). Build Back Better with Reform, Justice, Equality, Democracy, Rights… indybay.org Want reform, equality, justice, liberty? Want Black Lives to Matter? Learn about how you can help Biden and Harris Build Back Better.
(2020-09-17). Trump's Caudillismo Support Among Wealthy Latin American Expatriates. strategic-culture.org The U.S. political class of pundits, pollsters, columnists, and endless cable news blathering talking heads are currently putting forth the notion that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is having a problem with support from the Hispanic community. This argument is based on a disingenuously false premise that the Hispanic community is a political monolith that is gravitating, as it has in recent years, to Republican candidates. To be sure, there is a conservative base to the Hispanic vote among the mostly white European exiles in South Florida, who came to the United States to flee, along with their offs…
(2020-09-17). Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Announced That No Major Defense Cuts to the US Budget are Expected. sputniknews.com On this edition of The Critical Hour, host Garland Nixon talks to Scott Ritter about Biden's plans to supports a sustained U.S. military footprint of up to 1,500-2,000 on the ground — primarily for special operations against Daesh and other terror threats — in the war that began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks 19 years ago.
(2020-09-17). Another Day of COVID, Another Failed Stimulus, Another Thousand Deaths. truthout.org Another COVID day of death and dismay, another day of Republican indifference, greed and spite. | "Democrats are 'heartless,'" Donald Trump
(2020-09-17). Biden's Big Test: Selecting a White House Chief of Staff. cepr.net The American Prospect See article on original site Vice President Joe Biden was angry. It was 2013, and Ron Klain, his trusted chief of staff, was leaving for the private sector. Biden needed someone dependable to replace him during the second term. But David Plouffe, President Obama's campaign guru and top political adviser, kept shooting …
(2020-09-17). Sign of Things to Come: Biden Patronizes Britain over Brexit. globalresearch.ca Besides former President Obama's supposed "goodwill," Joe Biden has nothing to show for his performance as former vice president, except for frequent gaffes and fake dentures. He is the weakest Democratic presidential candidate in decades and doesn't stand a chance …
(2020-09-17). Letters from Australia, the US and New Zealand defending Philippine historian Dr. Joseph Scalice. wsws.org The Communist Party of the Philippines "is scapegoating an historian for having the principles and courage to tell the truth to the whole world about the anti-democratic and anti-working class role of the Stalinists."
(2020-09-17). 'A Recipe for Disaster': Democrats Worry Biden Campaign Missing in Action in Battleground States. commondreams.org The Democratic candidate's campaign is sparking concern that a redux of 2016—including a lack of outreach and a dearth of voter excitement—is now underway. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/getty-biden-michigan.jpg …
(2020-09-17). With Eye on Biden Victory, Warren and Schumer Unveil Plan to Cancel Up to $50,000 for Federal Student Loan Borrowers. commondreams.org "Broadly cancelling student loan debt would be a game-changer for millions of people in this country and a lifeline when they desperately need it." | www.flickr.com/photos/sdmc/21502010111…
(2020-09-17). House Passes 'Historic' Legislation to Protect Pregnant Workers From Discrimination, Prompting Calls for Senate to Follow Suit. commondreams.org Labor rights and women's rights advocates called on the U.S. Senate to follow suit on Thursday after the Democratic-led House passed an historic bipartisan bill to protect the rights of pregnant workers—but expressed little hope that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would prioritize the legislation. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-533768447_1.jpg …
(2020-09-17). 'Existential Threat to Our Democracy': Trump Openly Telegraphs Intent (Once Again) to Delegitimize 2020 Election Results. commondreams.org The president's latest baseless attack on mail-in ballots drew yet another warning from Twitter. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/twitter_trump_0.jpg …
(2020-09-17). Do Florida Democrats Want to Win the State Senate This Year? thenation.com Do Florida Democrats Want to Win the State Senate This Year?
(2020-09-17). Of Course Republicans Want to Suppress the Youth Vote. thenation.com Of Course Republicans Want to Suppress the Youth Vote…
(2020-09-17). What Is Critical Race Theory and Why Is Trump Afraid of It? thenation.com What Is Critical Race Theory and Why Is Trump Afraid of It?
(2020-09-16). Noura Erakat: Trump's Bahrain-UAE-Israel Deal Won't Advance Palestinian Peace & Will Up Repression. democracynow.org 
As the Trump administration celebrates deals establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, we speak with Palestinian American legal scholar Noura Erakat, who says Trump's "peace" agreements are a sham. "This is not about advancing any kind of meaningful, enduring peace, but instead about entrenching a geopolitical alliance that would otherwise increase oppression for people of the Middle East," says Erakat, assistant professor at Rutgers University and author of "Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine."
(2020-09-16). Democrats Ignore U.S. Military's Refutation of 'Russian Bounties' Story. strategic-culture.org 
Caitlin JOHNSTONE | NBC News Two months after top Pentagon officials vowed to get to the bottom of whether the Russian government bribed the Taliban to kill American service members, the commander of troops in the region says a detailed review of all available intelligence has not been able to corroborate the existence of such a program. | "It just has not been proved to a level of certainty that satisfies me," Gen. Frank McKenzie, comm…
(2020-09-16). Mychal Denzel Smith on Breonna Taylor, Defunding Police, Systemic Racism & His Trump-Era Depression. democracynow.org 
Journalist and author Mychal Denzel Smith joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on the uprising against racist police, the upcoming presidential election and why he says a Biden win won't cure his Trump-era depression, and his new book, "Stakes Is High: Life after the American Dream." Denzel Smith questions whether arresting and charging the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor, a core demand of many protests in the wake of her death, represents justice, despite the historic settlement between Louisville and her family. "The only way to prevent another instance of the situation that took Breonna Taylor's li…
(2020-09-16). Continue to Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor's Family Wants Cops Arrested After Historic $12M Settlement. democracynow.org 
The city of Louisville, Kentucky, will pay a historic $12 million settlement to the family of Breonna Taylor, more than six months after police shot and killed the 26-year-old Black emergency room technician in her own apartment and Taylor became a household name as part of the nationwide uprising in defense of Black lives. It is one of the largest payouts ever for a police killing of a Black person in the U.S. The city will also institute major reforms to the police department responsible for Taylor's death. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced the settlement at a press conference, where he was joined by memb…
(2020-09-16). Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and the Power of the US Dollar in the World Economy (Part 1). dissidentvoice.org Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) has become popularized by some of the liberal-left because it offers an explanation how to achieve full employment, national health insurance, free college education, and the Green New Deal without raising taxes. Political leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have espoused MMT. Economist Stephanie Kelton, a leading spokesperson of the theory, …
(2020-09-16). UN sends six aid trucks to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Wednesday dispatched six trucks with humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria, where millions of people remain in need of assistance due to internal conflict.The trucks crossed over into Syria's Idlib province from the Cilvegozu border gate in 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-escal…
(2020-09-16). Idaho's Indigenous Senate candidate Paulette Jordan challenges entrenched Republican power. peoplesworld.org 
A U.S. Senate race in the state of Idaho could bring about sweeping change to the current Republican-controlled Senate and correct a longstanding historical wrong if it's won by the Democratic opponent to incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Risch. "I'm Paulette Jordan, and I'm running to be the first female senator from the state of Idaho and the first …
(2020-09-16). Maduro security forces committed crimes against humanity: UN. yenisafak.com Venezuelan security forces and allied groups have committed systematic human rights violations including killings and torture amounting to crimes against humanity, U.N. investigators said on Wednesday.Reasonable grounds existed to believe that President Nicolas Maduro and his interior and defence ministers ordered or contributed to the crimes documented in the report in order to silence opposition, they said.Most unlawful executions by state agents have not been prosecuted in Venezuela, where the rule of law and democratic institutions have broken down, they added.The U.N. fact-finding mission said other national…
(2020-09-16). Biden tells UAW he plans clean energy factory future. peoplesworld.org 
WARREN, Mich.—Joe Biden envisions a clean energy factory future for U.S. workers, with a million new jobs for auto workers making electric vehicles, thousands of electrical workers making chargers for them, tax credits for firms that bring jobs back to the U.S., and tax penalties, big time, for companies that ship U.S. jobs abroad. And …
(2020-09-16). How Were 46 Million People Trapped by Student Debt? The History of an Unfulfilled Promise. counterpunch.org 
The democratic principle of tuition-free education in our country pre-dates the founding of the United States. The first public primary education was offered in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635, and its legislature created Harvard College the following year to make education available to all qualified students. Even before the Constitution was ratified, the Confederation
(2020-09-16). Protests for Daniel Prude in second week in Rochester, N.Y. workers.org 
Sept. 13 — Nearly six months ago, Daniel Prude was murdered by police officers in Rochester, N.Y., while experiencing a mental health crisis. Initially, the details of the case were swept under the rug by Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary and Mayor Lovely Warren. However, on Sept. 2, body camera . . . |
(2020-09-16). Prisoners denied the right to vote, a new form of poll tax — WW commentary. workers.org 
Voting in Lower Peach Tree, Ala., in Wilcox County, on May 3, 1966, after passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Voter suppression in the United States is as "American as apple pie," especially when it comes to Black, Brown and other marginalized communities. Despite the passing of the Voting . . . |
(2020-09-16). 'So it's verboten?': Fox News panelist STOPS Newt Gingrich from discussing 'Soros-elected' district attorneys. rt.com 
A Fox News host and a former CIA spokesperson ganged up on former House speaker and Republican pundit Newt Gingrich when he brought up the undisputed fact that George Soros funded candidates for prosecutors in riot-struck cities. | "The number one problem in almost all the cities is George Soros-elected, left-wing, anti-police, pro-criminal district attorneys who refuse to keep people locked up," Gingrich told the hosts of 'Outnumbered' on Wednesday. | "Both [Kamala] Harris and [Joe] Biden have talked very proudly about what they call progressive district attorneys," he continued. "Progressive district attorne…
(2020-09-16). Kamala Harris' Timberland boots make unlikely headlines as Biden campaign struggles to create excitement. rt.com 
Footage of Democratic VP candidate Kamala Harris sauntering out of a plane in Timberland boots has Biden campaign supporters all aflutter — but even many on the Left are rolling their eyes at the brand name fetishism. | "Kamala Harris may have made Timberland boots cool again," gushed a Yahoo! News headline, one of several touting the VP pick's footwear as she alighted from a plane to visit firefighters and those displaced by the devastating wildfires in Fresno, California. | Called "Timbs" for short, the boots were ubiquitous during the 1990s and early 2000s, worn by men and women and especially popular…
(2020-09-16). NYC Mayor de Blasio to furlough HIMSELF & nearly 500 staff for week amid revenue shortfall, blames Congress for lack of stimulus. rt.com 
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and nearly 500 city staffers will be furloughed for one week to help the city deal with a $9 billion revenue shortfall due to the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. | The week-long furlough will save the city $860,000. | In his announcement on Wednesday, the mayor said no pay cuts are planned at this time, but he admitted the city will be facing a "horrible budget situation" for years, and that it was heightened by the economic shutdown in March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic. | "We're going to be in a horrible budget situation for years, so this borrowing capacity is to…
(2020-09-16). New Japanese Prime Minister expected to continue far-right policies of predecessor. liberationnews.org 
Veteran right wing politician Yoshihide Suga took power as the new Prime Minister of Japan September 16. While his ascension to office ends the administration of Shinzo Abe, the far right policies that characterized the Abe administration are all but certain to continue under new management. Suga is a long-time leader of the Liberal Democratic …
(2020-09-16). US congresswoman honored for helping Palestine. yenisafak.com A US congresswoman has been honored for defending the rights of Palestinians in the face of Israeli human rights abuses."Honored to receive the Champion of Palestinian Rights Award from @AMPalestine today as part of Palestine Advocacy Day," US Democratic Representative Betty McCollum said Tuesday on Twitter, referring to the group American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)."Advancing peace human rights for Palestinian children all children should be a shared priority! #HR2407."House of Representatives Resolution 2407 is the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, a…
(2020-09-16). No One is "Mentally Fit" to be President. counterpunch.org "Most voters in six 2020 swing states," an early September CNBC/Change Research poll finds, "do not consider either President Donald Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden mentally fit to be president." In Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, 51% consider Trump mentally unfit for the office, while 52% feel the same way
(2020-09-16). Democrats Campaigning To Keep Green Party Off The Ballot. popularresistance.org The 2020 presidential election is already underway — or, at least, it should be. Because of an ongoing legal battle, none of Pennsylvania's 67 counties will be sending out mail-in ballots today like they were originally scheduled to. Democrats are attempting to remove Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins from the ballot because of an alleged procedural mistake his running mate Angela Walker made when informing election authorities about a change in her South Carolina address. A similar battle is raging between the two parties in Wisconsin, another key battleground state.
(2020-09-16). Isolation And Opioids During The Pandemic. popularresistance.org In our new era of nearly unparalleled upheaval, as a pandemic ravages the bodies of some and the minds of nearly everyone, as the associated economic damage disposes of the livelihoods of many, and as even the promise of democracy fades, the people whose lives were already on a razor's edge — who were vulnerable and isolated before the advent of Covid-19 — are in far greater danger than ever before. | Against this backdrop, many of us are scanning the news for any sign of hope, any small flicker of light whose gleam could indicate that everything, somehow, is going to be okay.
(2020-09-16). Another step towards real democracy. nationofchange.org At least some of us are open to change…
(2020-09-16). Strike by University of Illinois at Chicago nurses and workers continues, as Illinois Democratic governor threatens to decimate state budget. wsws.org A virtual blackout of the strikes at UIC and its hospital in the national press indicates the growing fear in ruling circles over the development of working class opposition.
(2020-09-16). Voting in the United States: A Constant Uphill Battle. progressive.org A new documentary produced by Stacey Abrams explores the history of voter suppression, today's tactics, and what we need to do to fight it.
(2020-09-16). How a dire shortage of poll workers imperils American democracy. nationofchange.org COVID-19 exacerbated the shortages of poll workers that states and counties already face in every election.
(2020-09-16). NYC Mayor's Office Furloughed to Help Tackle City's Budget Deficit. sputniknews.com No exception was made for Mayor Bill de Blasio as well, who said that his office team had been working hard and he did not want them to go a week without pay, but the situation demands "tough choices".
(2020-09-16). Scientific American Breaks With 175-Year Precedent to Endorse Biden. truthout.org Scientific American has "We do not do this lightly," the editors write. "The eviden…
(2020-09-16). How to Do More Than Panic About Voter Suppression. truthout.org Trump's attacks on Black protesters and Black people are inextricably bound to the arguments he will make to try to invalidate the election. In this episode, Truthout's Kelly Hayes talks with voting rights activist Anoa Changa about how you can defend voting rights in the homestretch of the presidential race. | Note: This is a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity. Copy may not be in its final form. | TRANSCRIPT: | Kelly Hayes: Welcome to Movement Memos, a Truthout podcast about things you should…
(2020-09-16). The Democrat Ticket Is Puzzling. thealtworld.com I am puzzled, as I assume my readers are, why the powers-that-be chose the two least electable candidates for the Democrat nominations for president and vice president. It makes no sense to choose people who have little chance of winning—unless the globalists intend to rig the election and elect them, or install them after a color revolution, in order to make the US a laughing stock throughout the world as a way of removing the US, a hegemonic power, as an obstacle to the global elite. | Really, once you see Biden in action, it is difficult to believe that even white liberals can vote for the Democrat ticke…
(2020-09-16). Turkish president congratulates new Japanese premier. yenisafak.com Turkey's president on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to Japan's new prime minister.Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent best wishes to Yoshihide Suga, the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Turkey's Communications Directorate. | Suga replaces longtime Premier Shinzo Abe, who stepped down over health issues.Pointing to how Turkish-Japanese diplomatic relations sprang from the aftermath of the tragic Sept. 16, 1890 shipwreck of the Ertugrul frigate, and Japan's rescue efforts and the hospitality it showed the survivors, Erdogan said the date of Suga's election is meaningful and significant for bi…
(2020-09-16). Journalists Need to Be Clear About a Clear Threat to Democracy. commondreams.org "Trump is already notorious for lying, cheating and stealing, and has every motive to steal the election because he's behind in the polls, and once he leaves office faces the possibility of prosecution for crimes he has already confessed to committing," writes Cho. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_south_lawn.jpg …
(2020-09-16). 'Just… Tax the Rich' to Avoid Austerity, Patriotic Millionaires Tells NY Gov. Cuomo After Mayor de Blasio Cuts City Spending. commondreams.org "The people of New York have sacrificed enough during this pandemic—it's depraved to ask them to sacrifice even more to close our state's budget gap while wealthy New Yorkers are richer now than they've ever been." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/marchonbillionaires.jpg …
(2020-09-16). Jails Are Designed to Keep Inmates Hidden. thenation.com Jails Are Designed to Keep Inmates Hidden…
(2020-09-15). Pandemic Profiteering: Amazon Caught Price Gouging as Jeff Bezos's Wealth Soared to $200 Billion. democracynow.org 
The online giant Amazon has made an extraordinary amount of money during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people shelter at home and shop online. A new Public Citizen report documents how Amazon set prices for essential products during the crisis at levels that would violate price gouging laws in many states, and marked up some products by as much as 1,000%. "This is an ongoing thing. They are doing this currently. They've been doing it throughout the pandemic," says Alex Harman, competition policy advocate for Public Citizen and author of the report. "They are looking to maximize profit during a pandemic."
(2020-09-15). Colonization Made California a Tinderbox: Why Indigenous Land Stewardship Would Help Combat Climate Fires. democracynow.org 
We examine California's history of forest management and how a century of fire suppression has made the current climate fires even more destructive. For thousands of years, Native American tribes in California would regularly burn the landscape to steward the land, but colonization led to the suppression of these tactics and decades of misguided policy. A return to these Indigenous practices could help better steward the land and foster greater climate resiliency, says Don Hankins, a pyrogeographer and Plains Miwok fire expert who teaches geography and planning at California State University, Chico. "If we all wo…
(2020-09-15). "Mass Voter Disenfranchisement": GOP Ramps Up Assault on Voting Rights Across U.S. Ahead of Election. democracynow.org 
With just seven weeks to go before the U.S. presidential election, the battle for the White House is increasingly being fought in courts across the country. From Wisconsin to Florida, Pennsylvania to Colorado, judges are making major rulings deciding who gets on the ballot, how a record number of mail-in ballots are handled and distributed, and who ultimately gets to vote on November 3. Ari Berman, senior writer at Mother Jones and author of "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America," says Republicans are carrying out a nationwide attack on voting rights aimed at keeping a shrinking wh…
(2020-09-15). Democrats Ignore US Military's Refutation Of 'Russian Bounties' Story. thealtworld.com 
The US military has been unable to find any evidence that the Russian government paid bounties on US troops to Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan, confirming what was already obvious to anyone who hasn't had their brain stem hijacked by mass media-induced Russophobia. | NBC News Two months after top Pentagon officials vowed to get to the bottom of whether the Russian government bribed the Taliban to kill American service…
(2020-09-15). Headlines for September 15, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Doubles Down on Climate Crisis Denial as West Coast Burns, World's Largest Vaccine Maker Says It Could Take 5 Years for Universal COVID-19 Vaccination, Trump Calls COVID-19 "The Plague" in April Interview with Woodward as He Called for U.S. to Reopen, Nevada City Fines Venue That Hosted Trump Rally Which Violated State's Coronavirus Restrictions, Appeals Court Gives Trump Greenlight to End Immigration Protections for 400,000 TPS Holders, Whistleblowing Nurse Says Georgia Immigration Jail Performing Forced Hysterectomies, Palestinians Form Unified Front as Israel, UAE and Bahrain Sign Deal Normalizing Relati…
(2020-09-15). Sen. Bernie Sanders combats argument that Green New Deal is too expensive. nationofchange.org There are people in Washington who say the Green New Deal is too expensive and we can't afford it. What is the alternative? A planet which is burning up?>
(2020-09-15). It's crunchtime: Rolling up our sleeves to beat Trump. peoplesworld.org 
We are in an unprecedented moment in our country's history. Will we move toward a more right-wing authoritarian fascist state, or will we defeat this threat? What we do between now and November 3 will answer that question. Miles Taylor, former Republican chief of staff of Homeland Security under Trump, described a meeting with a …
(2020-09-15). We as workers are powerful'. workers.org 
By Dominic Harris The following article is based on a talk given during a Sept. 10 webinar,"Workers Defend Black lives," sponsored by Workers World Party. Dominic Harris is president of UE Local 150, Charlotte, N.C. United Electrical Workers has been in the leadership of U.S. labor organizing to defend Black . . . |
(2020-09-15). Kamala turns heads by referring to 'the Harris administration… together with Joe Biden'. rt.com 
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) is being accused of making a rather odd "Freudian slip" during a virtual roundtable where she quickly referred to a Joe Biden administration as her own. | "A Harris administration, together with Joe Biden as the president of the United States," the vice presidential nominee said during a virtual roundtable on the economy with small business owners in Arizona. | Harris quickly readjusted herself and tried to get back on track. | "The Biden-Harris administration," she clarified, "will provide access to $100 billion in low-interest loans and investments from minority business own…
(2020-09-15). Dems and linked officials kick Green Party off presidential ballots in swing states, sparking concerns of political machination. rt.com 
The Democratic Party in the US has been blasted online for allegedly trying to disenfranchise the Green Party, which is facing an all-out political attack, losing places on several states' presidential ballots. | The Supreme Courts of Wisconsin and Montana on Monday decided against the Green Party's nominee Howie Hawkins' presence on the ballot list for the November election. In both instances, court officials linked to the Democratic Party were responsible. | This coincided with Philadelphia's Democrats currently being in a legal battle with the Greens to try and prevent Hawkins from appearing on the ballots…
(2020-09-15). Congressmen demand Justice Dept INVESTIGATE Netflix over Cuties 'child exploitation'. rt.com 
Republican congressmen from Arizona and Colorado have demanded an investigation of "potential exploitation of children" in the now-infamous twerking-preteens film Cuties, arguing it encourages child sexual exploitation. | Reps. Andy Biggs (Arizona) and Ken Buck (Colorado) have urged the Justice Department to "open an investigation to ensure the film and its production uphold federal laws protecting children from exploitation," expressing their concerns in a letter to Attorney General William Barr. Buck shared the letter with his followers on Twitter on Tuesday. | "Cuties" creates an environment that encourages…
(2020-09-15). 2020 Elections: Democrats Go All-Out for Israel. globalresearch.ca Those of us who have longed for an end to America's military engagement in the Middle East have hoped for a candidate who was not tied hand and foot to Israel, which is the root cause of the badly-broken and …
(2020-09-15). 'Outrageous': Sanders blasts AstraZeneca for raising drug prices despite $1.2 billion from taxpayers for Covid-19 vaccine. nationofchange.org "Big drug companies don't need more subsidies. We need to end their greed." —Sen. Bernie Sanders…
(2020-09-15). Bernie Sanders offers left gloss to Biden's right-wing campaign. wsws.org With polls tightening, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders urged the Biden campaign to do a better job of selling its right-wing program to workers and youth.
(2020-09-15). Time For Unions To Give The Democratic Party An Ultimatum. popularresistance.org On Labor Day, Joe Biden did an online event with AFL-CIO pres ≠i ≠dent Richard Trum ≠ka to talk up unions. At this point in his polit ≠i ≠cal career, Biden can do these things in his sleep. His well rehearsed grab bag of pro-union lines ("My uncle in Scran ≠ton, Uncle Ed, used to say, 'Joe, you're labor from belt buck ≠le to shoe sole'") flow out eas ≠i ≠ly. The ques ≠tion for America's union mem ≠bers is whether any ≠thing tan ≠gi ≠ble will flow back to us if Biden is elect ≠ed, or if we will‚Äâ—‚Äâas has ha…
(2020-09-15). Donald Trump: The Frenemy of the Islamic World. globalresearch.ca In the Republican primaries of the 2016 US presidential elections, Mitt Romney severely castigated Trump, calling him a phony and a fraud. When Trump was elected president, he dangled the carrot of the secretary of state appointment to Romney, invited …
(2020-09-15). "The Armageddon Election". Deep Polarization of American Society. globalresearch.ca During the weeks of uncertainty that followed the 2000 presidential election, as the tension grew amongst supporters of George W. Bush and Al Gore, my brother John Zogby conducted a poll to see how Democrats and Republicans were viewing the …
(2020-09-15). As Bloomberg pledges $100 million, Wall Street boosts Biden campaign. wsws.org Bloomberg's announcement is only the largest pledge of support from the financial oligarchy for the Democratic campaign.
(2020-09-15). Scientific American Endorses Democratic Candidate Joe Biden. telesurenglish.net For the first time in its 175-year history, the Scientific American (SciAm) magazine decided to position itself politically in the U.S. presidential elections and support Democratic candidate Joe Biden given that Republican candidate Donald Trump rejects the evidence of science. | RELATED: | "Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people — because he rejects evidence and science. The most devastating example i…
(2020-09-15). Mounting opposition to school reopenings as 55 New York City teachers test positive for COVID-19. wsws.org Public school educators in New York City have conducted protests and written petitions in the last several days to oppose the reckless reopening of schools by Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio.
(2020-09-15). How to Negotiate With People Who Don't Care If You Die. zcomm.org To win another stimulus bill, the Democrats need to embrace chaos…
(2020-09-15). 9/14/20 Trump Fund Raises in Cal While Learning of Fire Damage. indybay.org On 9/14/20, Republican Trump plans to land in Sacramento to be briefed on fire damage which has caused most of us to choke on the smoke for 28 days. Since he is cutting his staff's salaries, this can only be a fundraising trip to a wealthy state where he has no chance of winning Electoral College votes. See abc7news.com/trump-to-visit-fire-ravaged-california-monday/6420211/…
(2020-09-15). Allende's Political Program as Reference for a Sustainable Chile. strategic-culture.org This September marked 50 years since Salvador Allende's Unidad Popular triumphed in the country's democratic elections. On September 4, 1970, despite the CIA's funding of right-wing politics to sabotage the electoral process, Chile chose socialism and was well on the way to prove that revolution could be carried out through democratic means — a process that created yet another hindrance for U.S. plans in the region. Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. was concerned that Cuban influence would ripple through the region, but it had not considered that the people would overtly choose to free its…
(2020-09-15). Biden has more chances of winning in Wisconsin, Arizona. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 15 (MNA) — The results of latest polls in the United States indicate that the Democratic Party candidate has more chance of winning than Donald Trump in November presidential election.