(2020-09-21). From Mass Incarceration to Plan Colombia: Biden's Role in the Failed War on Drugs. mintpressnews.com Former vice president Biden has a sordid history of opposing progressive criminal justice legislation, spearheading draconian police and immigration measures, and playing a central role in waging America's failed war on drugs.
(2020-09-21). "RBG": Film Director Reflects on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Lifelong Fight for Gender Equity. democracynow.org 
In her later years, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was internationally known simply as her initials — RBG — and a 2018 documentary film by the same name about Ginsburg's legal career, personal history and unexpected celebrity became a surprise smash hit. We speak with Julie Cohen, co-director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary "RBG," about Ginsburg's early years and leadership in fighting for equal rights for women, including arguing a case before the Supreme Court with all male justices who were condescending to her. "She never let that condescension get her down," notes Cohen. "Sh…
(2020-09-21). Headlines for September 21, 2020. democracynow.org Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87, Sparking a Deluge of Tributes and a Fierce Succession Battle, U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Poised to Top 200,000, U.N. Says 150 Million More Children May Face Poverty as Global Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 1 Million, California Grapples with Evacuations, Toxic Air as Record-Breaking Wildfires Continue to Blaze, Trump Announces $13 Billion for Puerto Rico, as Elections Near and 3 Years After Hurricane Maria, Leaked Docs Show Major Banks Helped Criminals Launder Billions of Dollars, International Community Counters Trump over U.N. Iran Sanctions, Peru's President Survives Impeach…
(2020-09-21). Remembering RBG: Legal Giant's Death Sparks Furious Fight in D.C. over Vacant Supreme Court Seat. democracynow.org 
We look at the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as the future of the Supreme Court, in a wide-ranging interview with Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate, where she is the senior legal correspondent and Supreme Court reporter. Ginsburg died September 18 at the age of 87 after serving 27 years as a Supreme Court justice, where she became the most prominent member of the court's liberal wing. Her death just 46 days before the November election sets up a major political battle over her replacement, with President Trump and many Senate Republicans vowing to nominate and confirm a right-wing judge to…
(2020-09-21). "A National Tragedy": Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Friend & "Favorite Client" Remembers the Legal Icon. democracynow.org 
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg first gained fame in the 1970s when she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and argued six gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court. One of those cases was Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld, which centered on a widower who was refused Social Security benefits after his wife died during childbirth. We speak with Stephen Wiesenfeld, who was told his gender made him ineligible and that only women were entitled to survivor's benefits. Ginsburg argued in the Supreme Court that denying fathers benefits because of their sex was unc…
(2020-09-21). Kevin Cooper: Surviving Death Row and COVID-19 in San Quentin. counterpunch.org 
Kevin Cooper has been incarcerated for over 37 years (35 years on death Row) for the murder of the Ryan family and child guest Christopher Hughes, a brutal crime he doggedly maintains he did not commit. Currently, having exhausted appeals through the courts, Kevin is requesting that Governor Newsom order an innocence investigation to consider all the evidence that points to others and exonerates Kevin Cooper. Gov. Newsom has ordered DNA testing which has almost been completed at this time.
(2020-09-21). RBG's death: A time to mourn but also to organize. peoplesworld.org 
Immediately upon hearing of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the night of Rosh Hashanah, thousands massed spontaneously in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington to mourn. They recognized, and on Sunday Joe Biden reminded us, that the first person to die in the Jewish New Year is a soul of …
(2020-09-21). Tediously analyzing Biden won't get us far; it's time to mobilize and organize. peoplesworld.org 
Knocking on doors in my diverse, low- to middle-income working-class neighborhood, almost everyone I talk to says they will vote to dump Trump and elect Biden-Harris. The next six weeks will see a struggle critical to the future of our country and all of humanity. Claims to leadership in…
(2020-09-21). The possibility that Trump will not voluntarily leave. peoplesworld.org 
Yes. This is a presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Yes. This is an election about health care, education, the economy, climate change, criminal justice, and so many other important issues. More importantly, however, this is an election about whether or not we retain American democracy. This is an election we must not …
(2020-09-21). Iran will not renegotiate nuclear deal if Biden wins US presidency, Zarif says. middleeasteye.net 
Iran will not renegotiate nuclear deal if Biden wins US presidency, Zarif says | Iranian foreign minister said returning to the terms of the accord should happen 'without conditions' | Mon, 09/21/2020 – 18: 06 | Iran's foreign minister said the outcome of the US election was irrelevant to returning to the 2015 nuclear deal (AFP/File photo) | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that Teh…
(2020-09-21). The Creeping Socialism Republicans Cannot Understand. strategic-culture.org 
Having a foreign-born U.S. citizen come on stage at the Republican National Convention to praise the greatness of the Republican view of the American experience is a fantastic idea. It is easy to believe in the religion or state ideology that you are born into, it is another thing entirely to completely change your views and consciously commit to a new set of beliefs as an adult. Essentially, converts tend to be more hardcore, which is a great reason to have this type of person give an impassioned personal speech at your big party gathering. The problem is when the focus of American superiority is so narrowly and…
(2020-09-21). Amy McGrath raised millions after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Is it all wasted? therealnews.com 
After the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democrats around the country began donating to Senate races in an effort to remove McConnell as majority leader.
(2020-09-21). AOC Urges Democrats to Prevent Trump From Filling Ginsburg Vacancy. truthout.org With President Donald Trump expected to nominate a successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday evening "It's extraordinarily important that we understand the stakes of this vacancy," sai…
(2020-09-21). Socialists Have Long Fought to Disempower the Supreme Court. zcomm.org The Supreme Court has been a reactionary institution for most of its history. We need to take on its power and fight for real democracy in the United States…
(2020-09-21). Next President Must Fill Ginsburg Seat. progressive.org If our democracy is going to survive, Trump must not be allowed to pick her successor to the U.S. Supreme Court, unless he wins the next election.
(2020-09-21). Trump Spreads Misinformation With Claim That Dems Wrote Ginsburg's Dying Wish. truthout.org President Trump made false assertions on Monday regarding the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish, insinuating that her request to have her successor named after the election was crafted by leading Democrats in Congress. | The president did not provide any evidence to back up his claim. | Trump made the statement during an interview on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program while discussing Ginsburg's passing over the weekend. When one of the hosts mentioned the late justic…
(2020-09-21). Trump says he will announce US Supreme Court nominee Friday or Saturday. yenisafak.com President Donald Trump said on Monday he is looking at four or five jurists to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court and he will announce his nominee on Friday or Saturday.The Republican president said in an interview with Fox News that he wanted to wait out of respect for Ginsburg, a liberal justice who died on Friday at age 87. "We should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg," he said.
(2020-09-21). "Unethical" and "astonishing" — Serco lands another £45m for 'failing' COVID Test and Trace scheme. truepublica.org.uk By Caroline Malloy: The outsourcing giant Serco has won an additional £45m to provide COVID test centres, openDemocracy reveals. The multi-million-pound deal has not been made public but provides a major additional role for the controversial firm in the UK's troubled Test and Trace scheme, which has come under fire as infection rates rise across …
(2020-09-21). In the Night Kitchen of the Next Election: a Parody. counterpunch.org With apologies to Maurice Sendak. Did you ever hear of Mickey, how he heard a racket in the election year (Trump) (Sanders, Bloomberg, Warren) (Biden) and shouted QUIET DOWN THERE! And fell through the spectacle, out of his discernment Past the skepticism & the citizens sleeping tight (Oh) (Aah) (Ooh) (Democrats! Republicans!) Into the dark
(2020-09-21). Trump's Destruction of America Started With Reagan. counterpunch.org Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are letting America die. The billionaires who make their money from fossil fuels have bought off Trump and Republicans so that they're denying climate change while a dozen states in the West burn and the Gulf Coast is repeatedly ravaged by hurricanes. Firefighters are using dogs to identify the
(2020-09-21). Dry weather continues to fuel historic wildfires in California, rains bring new dangers to Pacific Northwest. wsws.org While fires continue to burn, destroying homes and displacing thousands, the Democrats and Republicans each seek to pass the blame onto each other.
(2020-09-21). Bridging Individualism and Community to Sustain our Democracy. counterpunch.org The U.S. stands out since its creation as championing the rights of all individuals, as proclaimed in the Declaration that Jefferson wrote for the new nation. Always clever, Jefferson substituted "pursuit of happiness" for "possessing property" in order to cast a wider net. Although initially those who did not own enough property, or were women
(2020-09-21). Weighing the Pros and Cons of The Proposed New Pacifica Bylaws Ôªø. indybay.org The aim of the proposed New Day Pacifica Bylaws is to simplify, democratize, and stabilize the governance structure of Pacifica to keep it from evaporating in April 2021, when its $3.2 million balloon payment becomes due.
(2020-09-21). Trump Praises "Good Genes" of Minnesotans, Highlighting His Eugenics Fixation. truthout.org Over the past five years or so, I've had no problem using the "F" word (fascism) to describe what's been happening under President Trump and the Republican Party.
(2020-09-21). The Many Ugly Faces of Climate Science Denial. commondreams.org "Fox News, the Republican Party, and the right edge of evangelicalism take the lead, often inspiring each other to new levels of extremism." (Photo: Screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/lauragreta.png …
(2020-09-21). Progressives Slam Biden's Foreign Policy Team. thenation.com Progressives Slam Biden's Foreign Policy Team…
(2020-09-20). Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg's Death and Trump's Emerging "Legal" Coup d'Etat. Unprecedented Political Crisis. globalresearch.ca Yesterday Supreme Ct. Justice, Ginsburg, died. McConnell & Trump now moving rapidly to replace with 3rd right wing nominee to SCOTUS. Democrats mount feeble and futile defense, saying McConnell should not proceed with nomination based on McConnell's own argument back …
(2020-09-20). Biden's Foreign Policy Advisors Show Loyalty to Israel, Defense Contractors. counterpunch.org 
When Donald Trump was elected president, the foreign policy apparatus that Barack Obama's administration built did not disappear. The power brokers went to think tanks and lobbying firms, cashing in on the uncertainty with help from defense contractors and other corporations. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's potential foreign policy would likely be a continuation of
(2020-09-20). 'Big, fat shots in the ass': Trump again suggests Biden is on energizing DRUGS. rt.com 
Donald Trump has mercilessly taunted Joe Biden, telling supporters that his Democratic nemesis must be taking performance-enhancing substances and should undergo a drug test. | Trump reiterated previous casual accusations that Biden is too senile to be a good fit for the US president's office while talking to a crowd of supporters in Fayetteville, North Carolina. | Using his nickname for his Democratic opponent, Trump said that "Sleepy Joe" is appearing conspicuously efficient during debates and public events. | "Don't underestimate [him], he's been doing this for 47 years. And I got a debate coming up with th…
(2020-09-20). A senior moment or a secret code? Twitter puzzled over Sen. Chuck Grassley's ramblings about 'dead pet pidgin'. rt.com 
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has triggered an avalanche of speculation and snark after announcing that he found someone's lifeless pet bird in his front yard. He followed up by reminiscing about a time he hit a deer with his car. | Using his unique style of social media prose, the 87-year-old Republican lawmaker informed the world about his troubling discovery. | "If u lost ur pet pidgin /it's dead in front yard my Iowa farm JUST DISCOVERED here," he
(2020-09-20). From honoring Ginsburg's 'final wish' to easing political strife, Biden counts reasons HE should nominate next Supreme Court judge. rt.com 
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden urged Senate Republicans to block efforts to push through a new Supreme Court justice before the November election, warning of "irreversible damage" if President Donald Trump gets his way. | "Don't vote to confirm anyone nominated under the circumstances that President Trump and Senator [Mitch] McConnell have created," Biden said on Sunday in his first major speech since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday. | Don't go there. Hold your constitutional duty and your conscience. Let the people speak. Cool the flames that have been engulfing our country. | The speech…
(2020-09-20). Venezuela: A Tribute for Her Endless Pursuit of Democracy. dissidentvoice.org Venezuela is again the shining light of Democracy — pushing ahead with the 6 December 2020 National Assembly (NA) elections despite the endless challenges of covid, of sanctions, of embargos, of confiscation of foreign assets, and even of a totally illicit blockage of reserve currencies — Venezuela's gold — naturally in the world's protectorate of …
(2020-09-20). Venezuela — A Tribute for Her Endless Pursuit of Democracy. globalresearch.ca Venezuela is again the shining light of Democracy — pushing ahead with the 6 December 2020 National Assembly (NA) elections — despite the endless challenges of covid — of sanctions, of embargos, of confiscation of foreign assets, and even of …
(2020-09-20). Biden Calls For Postponement of Senate Vote on Supreme Court Nominee. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is calling for waiting until after the November election to fill the Supreme Court vacancy after the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
(2020-09-20). "Billionaires Lives Matter", Far More than Yours… The Capitalist Pandemic, Fake Democracy Goes Live? globalresearch.ca First published on August 31, 2020 | 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 …
(2020-09-20). Democrat's Climate Change Lies. popularresistance.org In recent weeks a combination of drought and record breaking heat have accelerated wildfire season to historic levels of devastation. More than 4.6 million acres have burned in the states of California, Oregon and Washington. Skies are colored orange and red, the air is unbreathable, lives have been lost and entire towns have been destroyed. | The connection between heat waves, droughts, and human made climate change are clear and the solution is known to every school child. There must be a drastic reduction in the production of fossil fuels.
(2020-09-20). Will California Restore Affirmative Action? globalresearch.ca As everyone knows, over the last couple of decades California has become a one-party Democratic state. Democrats hold a better than three-fourths hyper-majority in the State Assembly and their control is nearly as overwhelming in the State Senate. California has …
(2020-09-20). Political Trials And Electoral Bans. popularresistance.org Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno and his allies have gone to great lengths to prevent former president Rafael Correa and his political movement from returning to power. | In order to achieve this goal, the current government has persecuted opponents and barred candidates from running. Moreno's authoritarianism has, so far, gone largely unnoticed internationally. With elections scheduled for February 2021, it is crucial that the international community keeps a vigilant eye on the Ecuadorian government's persistent attempts at perverting the course of democracy.
(2020-09-20). Justice Ginsburg's replacement. zcomm.org Every issue we care about is at stake: abortion rights, campaign finance reform, voting rights, workers' rights, health care, LGBTQ rights, climate change, environmental rights, gun safety and more.
(2020-09-20). Labor Must Make Defense Of Black Lives Its Own Imperative. popularresistance.org Black trade unionists across the U.S. are calling on the labor movement to defend Black Lives Matter protesters and to fight racism in their own ranks. The attacks by police and increasingly violent armed racist militias evoke the memory of many such violent incidents against Black people in earlier periods, from slavery to segregation to the civil rights era. | For Labor Day 2020, Truthout reached out to Christopher Silvera, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 808 in Long Island City, NY; Elise Bryant, executive director of Labor Heritage Foundation and president of the Communication Workers of America's Coal…
(2020-09-20). For Kashmiris born in last 3 decades, peace far-fetched dream. yenisafak.com When my seven-year-old son's Skype class started on Thursday, a disturbing message popped up in the chat box.A parent of one of his classmates said his son could not attend the class because their neighborhood in Sringar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, was tense.Police had claimed killing three militants in Batamaloo, a warren of densely populated streets inhabited by pro-freedom people. A woman was also fatally shot while accompanying her baker son to his shop.As a general practice, authorities shut internet services after such incidents to block news from spreading through social media and as a res…
(2020-09-20). Dems Pressured to 'Pick a Fight for Once' Over RBG Seat as Collins and Murkowski Oppose Pre-Election Vote. commondreams.org "To pretend that norms will constrain Trump or McConnell would be folly, yes. But for Democrats, the media, and the public to concede the ground in advance is to do their dirty work for them." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1228596796.png …
(2020-09-20). Democrats, It's Time for Constitutional Jiujitsu. commondreams.org Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is flanked by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) while speaking to the media about President Donald Trump's Proposed FY 2018 budget May 23, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
(2020-09-20). Republicans Aren't Hypocrites: A Lesson in Power in the Aftermath of RBG's Death. commondreams.org President Donald Trump greets Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) after the State of the Union address on Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-10942242861_0.jpg …
(2020-09-20). Irish republican prisoners in Belfast go on hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian activist. thecanary.co As
(2020-09-19). Thai protesters hold rally urging democratic reforms. thecanary.co 
As many as 50,000 people are expected to show up for a march seeking democratic reforms. | By | Protesters have gathered in Bangkok for the most ambitious rally so far in a pro-democracy campaign that has shaken the government and Thailand's conservative establishment.Mobilised support: Organisers predicted as many as 50,000 people will show up and march over two days in an area of the capital historically associated with political protests. An estimated 10,000 people turned out for the last major rally on 16 August. This time, oppositio…
(2020-09-19). Tulsi Gabbard goes OFF MESSAGE from fellow Dems again, introduces bipartisan bill to deter fraud with mail-in ballots. rt.com 
Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, branded a "Russian asset" by Hillary Clinton for her anti-war views, is again refusing to blindly follow her party's talking points — this time over fears of election fraud. | "Whether in the midst of a pandemic, as we are now, where mail-in voting is likely to drastically increase, or even in a normal election, no one should get in between a voter and the ballot box," the Hawaii congresswoman said Friday on Twitter. | Banning ballot harvesting is not a partisan issue. It's been used & abused in states like North Carolina and California & is ripe fo…
(2020-09-19). Obama urges GOP-led Senate to leave Supreme Court seat empty until after 2020 race following death of Justice Ginsburg. rt.com 
Former US President Barack Obama has called on the Republican-controlled Senate to delay its confirmation vote to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, citing the GOP's own playbook during his administration. | Celebrating Ginsburg's lengthy career on the court following her death on Friday, Obama said that even in her final days, the justice showed an "unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals." Going forward, however, the former president said Ginsburg's empty seat should not be filled until after the 2020 election, pointing to a principle invoked by the Republicans following the death of…
(2020-09-19). For the Planet, There Is No "Lesser Evil" popularresistance.org By now, most people in the United States recognize that the climate crisis poses the greatest threat to humanity and nature. Faced with a president who continually dismisses the dangers of global warming and has taken numerous measures to expand fossil fuel production, many progressives and even some on the Left have declared the need to vote for Biden as the "lesser evil" in November. Noam Chomsky went so far as to label the Republicans "the most dangerous organization in human history" because of Trump's aggressive pro-fossil fuel agenda.
(2020-09-19). Socialist Strategy and the Biden Debate. zcomm.org The left forces whose strategy translates into sending the first message have much better prospects to grow their ranks and expand their influence, power and coalition relationships…
(2020-09-19). White House Calls on Joe Biden to Release Supreme Court Nominee List. sputniknews.com Last week, President Donald Trump released his own list of possible Ginsburg replacements on the Supreme Court, calling on the former vice president to do the same.
(2020-09-19). With the Passing of Justice Ginsburg, Democracy Just Got Harder, Again. truthout.org "If an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process is started, we'll wait to the next election." — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), on filling a Supreme Court vacancy right before an election, October 2018 | Right. Ol' Lindsey nearly broke both legs
(2020-09-19). Poorly protected postal workers are catching COVID-19 by the thousands. it's one more threat to voting by mail. nationofchange.org More than 50,000 workers have taken time off for virus-related reasons, slowing mail delivery.
(2020-09-19). Casualties of "herd immunity": Three new teacher deaths in one week as US schools reopen. wsws.org The deaths are a direct result of the criminal actions by Democratic and Republican governors, as well as the Trump administration.
(2020-09-19). Biden in Minnesota: A phony "pro-worker" spin on a right-wing campaign. wsws.org On the basis of economic nationalism, Biden is doubling down on his ludicrous self-promotion as a "working stiff" from "hard-scrabble" Scranton, Pennsylvania.
(2020-09-19). Another Day of COVID, Another Failed Stimulus, Another Thousand Deaths. zcomm.org With an election looming just 47 tiny days away, fury at vicious Republican intransigence has begun to give way to something close to horrified awe…
(2020-09-19). Extinction Rebellion is showing Britain what real democracy could look like. zcomm.org The protest movement's call for meaningful participation highlights the failings of dysfunctional Westminster politics…
(2020-09-19). "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."
(2020-09-19). [Perspectives] Human rights parables for a post-pandemic world. thelancet.com Before the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the structural inequalities across societies, there were diverging parables in human rights. One narrative identified the populist challenge to human rights and juxtaposed it with the cosmopolitan ideal of a multilateral order. An alternative narrative viewed populism as the symptom of democratic failure more than the cause and argued that the crisis of legitimacy facing the neoliberal, multilateral order was inextricably connected to a world where capitalist democracies have become "mere faàßade democracies", as Jàºrgen Habermas has asserted.
(2020-09-19). Personality Expert Predicts Trump's 'Eagle' Could Held Victory Over Biden's 'Dove' Side in Election. sputniknews.com The expert alleges that no matter what policies candidates pursue, or what the current political situation in the world is, certain personalities are set to win the people's vote.
(2020-09-19). GOP's Strategy for 2020 Election Looks Like an All-Out Assault on Voting Rights. truthout.org The Republican Party and its allies have relied on voter suppression tactics for decades, but this year they are pulling out all the stops. | "
(2020-09-19). 2020 Election Could Decide Whether US Pursues Nuclear Escalation or Arms Control. truthout.org In these final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign, U.S. voters' attention is being consumed by a maelstrom of crises — a merciless pandemic, a battered economy, a society ruptured by racist police violence and deadly structural inequalities, climate chaos and a fragile democracy. | Who has time to worry about nuclear war? | But just as warnings of a climate crisis and pandemics have been borne out, experts have long sounded the alarm about nuclear weapons, whether their use is…
(2020-09-18). Assange 'offered win-win deal by Trump to avoid extradition. thecanary.co The WikiLeaks founder's extradition hearing was told that Trump associates sought the source of leaks from the Democratic National Committee. | By | WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was offered a "win-win" deal by Donald Trump to avoid extradition by revealing the source of the hacking of Democratic party emails, a court has heard. | Trump approval: | Barrister Jennifer Robinson said she was asked to attend the meeting by her client, Assange, with Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Trump associate Charles Johnson at the Ecuador…
(2020-09-18). Trump vs. Masks: Attacks on CDC, Doctors & Scientists Undermine a "Pillar of Pandemic Control" democracynow.org 
As the official United States death toll from COVID-19 approaches 200,000 people, we speak with infectious disease expert Dr. Monica Gandhi, who says President Trump's refusal to promote face masks has made the pandemic much worse. "Masks are a pillar of pandemic control. They are incredibly important," says Dr. Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as a division head at San Francisco General Hospital. "There is no country in the world right now that has been fighting masks like this, especially at the presidential level. If we could have started mask wearing, con…
(2020-09-18). Trump Calls Howard Zinn's Work "Propaganda." Hear the Legendary Historian in His Own Words. democracynow.org 
This week President Trump described the work of the legendary historian Howard Zinn, who died in 2010, as "propaganda" meant to "make students ashamed of their own history." But Zinn believed the opposite, that teaching the unvarnished truth about history was the best way to combat propaganda and unexamined received wisdom. We air excerpts from a 2009 interview with Zinn in which he explained his approach to education. "We should be honest with young people; we should not deceive them. We should be honest about the history of our country," Zinn said.
(2020-09-18). Headlines for September 18, 2020. democracynow.org White House Scuttled Plan to Mail 650 Million Face Masks to U.S. Households, NYC Schools Delay In-Person Classes Amid Staffing Shortages and Coronavirus Fears, CDC Watered Down Coronavirus Testing Guidelines Over Objections of Scientists, Trump Coronavirus Adviser Threatens to Sue Stanford Doctors over Criticism, WHO Warns of "Alarming" Coronavirus Transmission Rates Across Europe, U.S. Billionaires Added $845B to Net Worth Since March as Pandemic Exposed Racial Inequities, Court Halts "Drastic Operational Changes" at USPS, Warning of Widespread Disenfranchisement, Ex-Coronavirus Task Force Aide Endorses Biden, C…
(2020-09-18). As Fires Rage Across the West, Trump Bails Out Big Oil & Picks Climate Denier for Top Role at NOAA. democracynow.org 
As climate-fueled wildfires continue to ravage the West, the Trump administration has tapped a well-known climate change denier for a top position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. University of Delaware professor David Legates has written papers calling for more fossil fuel emissions and has had his work supported by the Robert Mercer-funded Heartland Institute and Koch Industries, as well as major gas companies. He was recently hired as NOAA's deputy assistant secretary of commerce for observation and prediction. We speak with David Goodrich, a former top climate scientist at the National…
(2020-09-18). Venezuela's President Maduro Calls Pompeo's 'War-Mongering' Tour a 'Failure'. sputniknews.com The US Department of State earlier announced Pompeo would be visiting South America with the aim of showing support for local democracies and containing the "threat" coming from "Maduro's illegitimate regime".
(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). Medicare-for-All is a beginning, not the end point. mronline.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.
(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). The Final Nail: COVID-19 Marks the End of Democratic Socialism in Sweden. mintpressnews.com 
Eleanor Goldfield reports from Stockholm on how COVID-19 has laid bare the US-style capitalist reality taking hold in Sweden and how the pandemic ushered in the end of democratic socialism in the country.
(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). Democrats engineer removal of Green Party presidential candidates from Pennsylvania ballot. wsws.org The Pennsylvania Supreme Court kicked the Green Party off the November presidential ballot on Thursday on the basis of undemocratic procedural considerations.
(2020-09-18). New York City Democratic mayor delays school opening a second time. wsws.org Bill de Blasio, the "progressive" mayor of New York City, announced a new date for a "phased reopening" of the city's public schools.
(2020-09-18). Governments Will Impose New Lockdowns if They Think They Can Get Away with It. globalresearch.ca This year's stay-at-home orders and lockdowns imposed by governments on their populations represent a watershed moment in the history of the modern state. | Before March 2020, it is unlikely that many politicians—let alone many ordinary people—thought it would be feasible …
(2020-09-18). Austerity at Home and Imperialism Abroad: What a Joe Biden Win Would Mean for America. mintpressnews.com If past performance is any indicator of future outcomes, a brief look at past Democratic presidencies offers insights into what a Biden win could mean for America and the world.
(2020-09-18). 'This Is What Voter Suppression Looks Like'. popularresistance.org Two tribes in South Dakota and a voting rights group are suing four state officials, accusing them of failing to offer adequate voter registration services. | The complaint says South Dakota "is depriving thousand of tribal members and other citizens of their federally guaranteed opportunities to register to vote and to change their voter registration addresses when these citizens interact with state agencies." | The Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Four Directions filed a federal court complaint on Wednesday.
(2020-09-18). Political Trials and Electoral Bans: the Battle for Democracy in Ecuador. cepr.net OpenDemocracy See article on original site Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno and his allies have gone to great lengths to prevent former president Rafael Correa and his political movement from returning to power. In order to achieve this goal, the current government has persecuted opponents and barred candidates from running. Moreno's authoritarianism has, so far, gone …
(2020-09-18). What the OAS Did to Bolivia. cepr.net The Guardian See article on original site Bolivia has descended into a nightmare of political repression and racist state violence since the democratically elected government of Evo Morales was overthrown by the military on November 10. That month was "the second-deadliest month, in terms of civilian deaths committed by state forces, since Bolivia became a …
(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). Scientific American endorses a presidential candidate for the first time in its history: Joe Biden. nationofchange.org "We've never backed a presidential candidate in our 175-year history—until now."
(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). 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). US State Dept. Hands Over 16,000 Pages of Biden Probe Records to House Panel – Chairman. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON, September 19 (Sputnik) – The panel's subpoena is part of the committee's investigation of Pompeo's alleged use of State Department resources to smear Biden.
(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). 'Climate Floods. Climate Droughts. Climate Fires': Interactive Map Illustrates How Planetary Crisis Threatens Every Corner of US. commondreams.org Taking a cue from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, an outspoken climate action advocate who this week referred to the wildfires which have burned through hundreds of thousands of acres in his state as "climate fires," two New York Times journalists on Friday offered a visual of how the climate crisis is expected to affect every part of the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1273051424_1.jpg …
(2020-09-18). Right-Wing Operatives Accused of Trying to Entrap Progressive Pro-Democracy Groups in North Carolina to Undermine Their Election Work. commondreams.org "Common Cause may be the target, but the attack is on our democracy and on the right of every eligible voter to have a say in the future for our families, communities, and country." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-09-18_at_4.34.48_pm.png …
(2020-09-18). Voters Should be Wary of USA Today's False Balance on Election 2020. commondreams.org "The [USA Today] headline directly suggests that 'voters' are equally wary of both candidates," writes Hollar. (Photo: USA Today) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_biden_usatoday.jpg …
(2020-09-18). Ex-Pence Aide, Covid Task Force Member, Denounces Trump's 'Flat-Out Disregard for Human Life' in Biden Defection Video. commondreams.org Olivia Troye—a self-described lifelong Republican—is the first member of the president's Coronavirus Task Force to speak out publicly against him. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/troye.jpg …
(2020-09-18). Common Cause Targeted—Democracy Attacked. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-09-18). What Was Trump Thinking When He Appointed an Enemy To Head The FBI? thealtworld.com As I wrote in 2016, Trump had no idea who to appoint to his government. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, it is Russia, not the Democrats, Antifa, and Black Lives Matter, who "sows divisiveness and discord" among Americans. | Wray says that it is the Russians who "trash Democratic nominee Joe Biden." | How can Trump hope to survive when he appoints to the FBI, CIA, and Pentagon his enemies? He appoints enemies to the Department of Justice who somehow just…
(2020-09-18). American Athletes Can Decide This Year's Election. thenation.com American Athletes Can Decide This Year's Election…
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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…