(2020-10-25). Nothing Will Fundamentally Change: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com A propaganda machine that can make people worry about foreign governments while their own government is destroying lives in their own country and all over the world is a propaganda machine that can make people believe anything. | ~ | Americans are hurt by their own government infinitely more than they are hurt by Russia, China and Iran. People around the world are hurt by the US government far more than Americans are hurt by their own government. Stop worrying about foreigners, America. It serves only the powerful. | ~ | Joe Biden: Nothing will fundamentally change. | Liberals: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION…
(2020-10-25). Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop Is Russiagate Disinformation. strategic-culture.org Aaron MATÉ | Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and James Clapper, as well as of top Democrats, including Joe Biden and Adam Schiff, that the Hunter Biden laptop revelations are "Russian disinformation." | They have done so even though no one from the Biden camp has disputed the authenticity of a single leaked email or document, or denied that…
(2020-10-25). Call for Prosecution of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide Crime in DRC. indybay.org "Congo Week," the annual series of forums, films, and conversation organized by Washington D.C.-based Friends of the Congo was, like so much else, a virtual event this year. It concluded today with the presentation of humanitarian awards to two Congolese groups defending human rights, and to Dr. Denis Mukwege, the world renowned gynecologist and Nobel Prize Winner who founded Panzi Hospital to treat women victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mukwege called for prosecution of the 617 war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide crimes documented i…
(2020-10-25). After Socialist Victory in Bolivia, Media Still Whitewash Coup. commondreams.org Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism party celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca early on October 19, 2020 in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bolivia_democracy_arce.jpg …
(2020-10-25). Thai protesters rally in their thousands ahead of parliamentary debate. thecanary.co 
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital. They're seeking to keep up pressure on the government a day ahead of a special parliament session aimed at easing political tensions.Pressure: The rally took place on 25 October at the busy Rajprasong intersection, in the heart of Bangkok's shopping district. Few protesters turned out in the first hour of the rally but their numbers later swelled to several thousand. They listened to rude denunciations of the government in chants, speeches, and songs.Pro-democracy activists display a placard with Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-och…
(2020-10-25). Death, Money, and the Dueling Frauds: Trump and Biden. dissidentvoice.org 
When the New York Times and CNN recently referred to the staged town hall spectacles of Biden and Trump as dueling events, they inadvertently revealed the truth that U.S. presidential elections are America's favorite movie and that the corporate media is in the entertainment business. While it is ludicrous to imagine these tottering actors crossing …
(2020-10-25). "Democracy" vs. COVID: A No-Go. The Great Reset is the Antidote of Democracy. globalresearch.ca On 21 October 2020, the German Press Agency (dpa) reports that Germany pledges NATO soldiers for possible Covid-19 operations: | "German soldiers could be sent on crisis missions to other NATO and partner countries during the second wave of the Corona …
(2020-10-25). Federal Judges Block Efforts To Ease Rules For Mail-In Ballots. popularresistance.org In the final weeks of the 2020 election, Republican-appointed appellate judges have overturned rulings that required states to make mail-in voting easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of millions of ballots have already been cast, even as federal judges kept changing the rules. | These decisions could be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which will include a 6-3 conservative majority if nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed by the U.S. Senate next week as planned. So far, the court has ruled against voters in nearly every case it has reviewed.
(2020-10-25). Google under fire in US for predatory monopoly practices. peoplesdispatch.org Tech monopolies are increasingly being acknowledged as a danger to people, other companies and even to democracy. The regulatory worm seems to be turning in many countries, even in the US where it had gone into hibernation…
(2020-10-25). Calls intensify for resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro. peoplesdispatch.org Progressive movements across Latin America have called for the resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro, pointing to his role in the coup in Bolivia in 2019 and in destabilizing democracy in the country…
(2020-10-25). The 2020 Election: Nothing Will Change. globalresearch.ca With the first of three scheduled presidential debates (aka brawl) between President Donald Trump and his opponent, former vice-president Joe Biden, now history, the pundits will fall all over themselves to determine what it all means. Who won? Did …
(2020-10-25). 'Democrats and Republicans are two pillars of the Pentagon'. peoplesdispatch.org Gloria La Riva, the presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and LIberation in the US, spoke to Peoples Dispatch about the upcoming elections. She talked about how these elections are different, what important issues are being ignored by Trump and Biden, and how people are recognising that capitalism is not working.
(2020-10-25). The Chilean referendum: getting rid of the shadow of Pinochet's dictatorship. zcomm.org Twelve months after the violent protests broke out, the Chilean people are preparing for an unprecedented process: voting to decide whether to begin drafting a new Constitution, which should be more socially equitable and economically inclusive…
(2020-10-25). What We Are Up Against: Fascism In The United States. popularresistance.org Last week, I wrote about what is needed in this moment and urged people to look more deeply, beyond the Biden-Trump spectacle, to understand where we are as a country and what we must do to change course. I cited the work of Gabriel Rockhill. Read his three recent articles in Counterpunch and the fourth in the series here at Black Agenda Report for an enhanced understanding of how we got here and what we are up against. | This week, I delve more deeply into the question of where we are and what Rockhill means when he writes that "…liberalism and fascism…
(2020-10-25). Sit-in on SF Market Street by March For Democracy. indybay.org Rally at Mission High School steps, | followed by a march to San Francisco City Hall…
(2020-10-25). To Defeat Fascism, We Must Recognize It's a Failed Response to Capitalist Crisis. truthout.org Few would disagree in light of recent events that the Trump regime, its most diehard extreme-right, white supremacist supporters, and elements of the Republican Party are bidding for a fascist putsch. Whether this putsch remains insurgent or is beaten back will depend on how events unfold in the November 3 election and its aftermath, and especially on the ability of left and progressive forces to mobilize to defend democracy and to push forward a social justice agenda as a counterweight to…
(2020-10-25). Bombing kills 3 in southwest Pakistan. yenisafak.com At least three people were killed and several others injured in an explosion in southwest Pakistan on Sunday, local media reported.The blast — latest in a string of improvised explosive device explosions — occurred in a Shia-dominated locality in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.The bomb was planted in a motorcycle, it added.The incident coincided with an 11-party opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement — rally in Quetta, which was part of the opposition's ongoing anti-government campaign.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for t…
(2020-10-25). Guinean president Conde wins presidential elections after first round. yenisafak.com Guinean President Alpha Conde was re-elected for a third term after winning the country's presidential elections held on Oct. 18 with 59,49% of the vote.The results were announced after the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) concluded the vote-counting process.International observers that monitored the elections said it was carried out properly, giving it a positive grade.Cellou Dalein Diallo, the main rival and leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), got 33.5% of votes, the election commission said.None of the other 10 candidates exceeded the 5% threshold.Third term as…
(2020-10-24). The Squad Calls for UN Inquiry Into Alleged Human Rights Abuses at Trump's DHS. truthout.org The four first-term progressive congresswomen collectively called the Squad led a letter Friday calling for independent international investigation of "recent, ongoing, and credible allegations of egregious human rights abuses by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), its components, and its private contractors." | "From the unwanted and unnecessary hysterectomies of migrant women, to the forced separation of children from their families, to the indefinite detention of immi…
(2020-10-24). The Heat: Trump, Biden final debate. america.cgtn.com 
US President Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden clash over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in their final debate.
(2020-10-24). 'Who said she had our vote?' Liberals OUTRAGED that undecided black voters won't automatically back Kamala Harris. rt.com 
Undecided black voters shouldn't examine vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris' record, and shouldn't be given airtime if they don't back Joe Biden — this appears to be the liberal consensus in comments on a recent MSNBC clip. | When MSNBC's Chris Jansing sat down with three undecided black women voters on Friday, they told her that neither President Donald Trump nor Biden had made a convincing enough case for their vote. After they took issue with Biden's sponsorship of a controversial crime bill in 1994, Jansing asked whether the presence of Harris on Biden's ticket swayed them at all. | three unde…
(2020-10-24). Trump critics lose it as 'permanent manned presence on the Moon' and trip to Mars listed as Republican priorities. rt.com 
Space exploration doesn't seem to hold much interest for President Donald Trump's critics, as they've blasted the Republican Party's announcement of prioritizing manned missions to the Moon and Mars as "out of touch." | According to a Friday tweet from the Republican Party's Twitter account, some of President Trump's priorities for a second term include a "permanent presence" on the Moon and the first manned mission to Mars. | Pres. Trump is fighting for YOU! Here are some of his priorities for a 2nd term: | *Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon | *Send the 1st Manned Mission to Mars | *Build World'
(2020-10-24). Florida factory worker fired for talking to TV station about letter from boss warning of layoffs if Biden wins election — report. rt.com 
A Florida man has reportedly been sacked by Daniels Manufacturing Corp. (DMC), a maker of aircraft and aerospace tools, after speaking to a news outlet about his boss warning of job cuts if Joe Biden is elected president. | The man, Stan Smith, told Orlando's NBC affiliate (WESH 2 News) that he was fired on Thursday, presumably because DMC President George Daniels didn't like his comments to the station earlier this week. Smith told WESH on October 19 that a letter from Daniels saying permanent layoffs would likely be necessary in the event Biden wins the November 3 election was inappropriate. | Also on rt.com…
(2020-10-24). 'Cold as ice': Birthday boy Alexander Volkov celebrates in style with second-round finish of Walt Harris at UFC 254. rt.com 
Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov celebrated his 32nd birthday in style with a TKO finish of Walt Harris on the main card of UFC 254 on "Fight Island." | Volkov's last fight, a loss against Curtis Blaydes back in June, was a frustrating one for the Moscow native as he spent much of the contest fighting off takedown attempts from the American wrestler. | Saturday's comeback fight against Harris saw Volkov in far more familiar territory as he dominated every aspect of the striking en route to a win which once again places his name among the heavyweight division's list of contenders. | Also on rt.com | |
(2020-10-24). Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7: An important historical episode. wsws.org The film deals with the court proceedings in 1969—70 in which organizers of protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago faced charges of conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intent to incite a riot.
(2020-10-24). Activist with ties to Ohio Republican legislators plotted to kidnap and kill Governor Mike DeWine. wsws.org Renea Turner is a Trump supporter linked to a group of state legislators who have threatened to impeach DeWine or have him "arrested" for his coronavirus lockdown actions.
(2020-10-24). Commentary on Bolivia: How a coup failed. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – On November 10, 2019, a hastily-assembled coalition of generals, middle class liberals and fascist paramilitaries overthrew the democratic government of Evo Morales in Bolivia. Coming on the heels of a coup attempt in Venezuela and the vicious repression of a people's uprising in Chile, it seemed to many that the continental struggle against U.S. imperialism had reached a tipping point in the empire's favor. | Today, not even a year later, the official results for Bolivia's presidential elections were announced. Evo's comrade and successor Luis "Lucho" Arce received a resounding 55% of the vote…
(2020-10-24). Video: Second 2020 Presidential Debate: Joe Biden and Donald Trump. globalresearch.ca …
(2020-10-24). What Canvassing in Nevada Amid a Pandemic Has Taught Me. scheerpost.com Anthony Quintano / CC BY 2.0] By Rebecca Gordon / TomDispatch "Look, folks, the air quality is in the red zone today. The EPA says that means people with lung or heart issues should avoid prolonged activity outdoors." That was J.R. de Vera, one of two directors of UNITE-HERE!'s independent expenditure campaign to elect Biden and Harris in Reno, Nevada. UNITE-HERE! is a union representing 300… |
(2020-10-24). We Finally Won Just Cause Protection at The New Yorker after AOC and Warren Refused to Cross Our Picket Line. zcomm.org After 95 years, at-will employment is over at The New Yorker. Our union finally won just cause in our first contract…
(2020-10-24). Biden And Liberal Censorship. popularresistance.org We can thank liberals for turning social media platforms into the biggest champions of censorship in the country. Frustrated in the wake of the 2016 election debacle, they rushed to cover up for their own failures and used Russia as their scapegoat. Russiagate began even while the campaign was still in progress, as Hillary Clinton tried unsuccessfully to label Donald Trump a "Putin puppet" and worked with surveillance state insiders to make their tall tale appear real. | The country has never recovered from this scheme. The Democrats repeated incessantly that foreign interference lost them the election.
(2020-10-24). Tuesday 10/27: Panel-SEIU, Union Democracy, Union Elections & The Rank & File. indybay.org Zoom Panel | us02web.zoom.us/j/82188245989?pwd=aEJ5b2ZkcXNSYVVDemlZK0JxWnpidz09…
(2020-10-24). [World Report] US election 2020: research and health institutions. thelancet.com How will the NIH, CDC, and FDA change if President Donald Trump wins a second term or if his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, defeats him? Susan Jaffe reports from Washington, DC.
(2020-10-24). Debate Victory May Have Sealed It for Biden. strategic-culture.org Donald Trump learned his lesson to appear gentlemanly before a national audience at long last. But too late. That is the Big Takeaway from the Second Trump-Biden presidential debate on Thursday night. | Before the debate, opinion polls consistently reported Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden enjoyed a 10 percent lead over Trump across the United States: It is likely to grow wider now. | There are still 10 days to go as I write this before the presidential election is officially held on November 3. But Trump has already run out of time. | Around one third of estimated voters have already voted — 35…
(2020-10-24). 50 Cent's Ex Says Reminded Rapper 'He Was Black' as Fiddy Expresses Support For Trump. sputniknews.com In the run-up to the US presidential election, rapper 50 Cent made headlines this week after he criticized Joe Biden's tax plans and called on fans to vote for President Donald Trump because he doesn't "want to be 20 cent". In response, ex-girlfriend and comedian Chelsea Handler promised to pay the rapper's taxes if he withdraws support for Trump.
(2020-10-24). Trump Casts Ballot as Final Week of US Election Campaign Nears. sputniknews.com With the US presidential election entering its final week, Donald Trump is gearing up for a punishing tempo of massive campaign rallies across key battleground states – including three in one day next Tuesday. Meanwhile Democrat Joe Biden is sticking to his socially-distanced drive-in events.
(2020-10-24). Like Sanders and Warren, I'm Backing Biden. commondreams.org Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raise their hands during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Texas Southern University's Health and PE Center on September 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_warren_biden.jpg …
(2020-10-24). Anti-war activists grade foreign policies of Trump, Biden. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On October 20, the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) held an online discussion on the foreign policies of President Donald Trump and his rival in the upcoming election, former Vice President Joe Biden. Members of the longstanding Twin Cities-based street protest group compared the platforms and records of each candidate from an anti-war perspective. | Overall, the group condemned U.S. interventions abroad under Trump's leadership, and affirmed the need for change. But panelists agreed that the anti-war movement would need to push back against a Biden administration for similar reasons. | "Trump…
(2020-10-24). Australia: University of Melbourne IYSSE holds successful AGM despite anti-democratic measures. wsws.org Held amid a COVID-19 lockdown, the meeting reflected the growing radicalisation among youth and students.
(2020-10-24). 'Very Dark Moment for the Senate': Republicans Block Consideration of Covid Relief While Rushing Ahead With Barrett Confirmation. commondreams.org "Two hundred twenty thousand Americans have died from Covid, but the Senate GOP only seems to care about forcing Trump's nominee through an illegitimate process." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_barrett_0.jpg …
(2020-10-24). 'This Is Not Normal': McConnell Keeps Senate in Session Over Weekend to Shut Down Debate on Barrett, Set Stage for Confirmation Vote. commondreams.org Sen. Jeff Merkley warned that Republicans "are hellbent on ramming through this nomination even if it means torching Senate's traditions, rules, and integrity." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_barrett.jpg …
(2020-10-24). 'We're Rounding the Corner Beautifully,' Trump Lies Just Before US Hits Another Record: 85,000+ New Covid-19 Cases. commondreams.org "Trump's lies and his rejection of science have cost us tens of thousands of lives. We need a new president," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/donald_trump_coronavirus_6.jpg …
(2020-10-23). Biden Admits Past Mistake Supporting Crime Bill as Trump Defends Attacks on Black Lives Matter. democracynow.org 
President Trump and Joe Biden sparred on their records over race and criminal justice in Thursday's presidential debate. Trump simultaneously promoted his criminal justice reform efforts while continuing to lean on "tough on crime" rhetoric. Trump also criticized Biden for authoring the 1994 crime bill and supporting other laws that intensified mass incarceration in the U.S., which Biden acknowledged was "a mistake." Rashad Robinson, spokesperson for Color of Change PAC, says Biden's admission highlights the importance of continued pressure on politicians on racial justice issues. "The Democrats can't just make t…
(2020-10-23). "It's Criminal": Biden Slams Trump as Gov't Can't Find Parents of 545 Children Separated at Border. democracynow.org 
During the second and final presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump and Biden about immigration and family separation. Trump deflected questions during the debate, repeatedly stating that the Obama-Biden administration "built the cages" and falsely claiming that kids seeking asylum in the U.S. are "well taken care of." However, the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy "took children away from their families at the border," says Erika Andiola, advocacy chief at RAICES Action, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. "He's not owning up t…
(2020-10-23). Trump Lies About COVID-19 Risks & Vaccine at Debate as Pandemic Is Tied to 300K Excess U.S. Deaths. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday in the second and final debate of the 2020 campaign. It was a more subdued debate than their first clash, when Trump refused to abide by the rules and interrupted Biden at least 128 times. Thursday's debate was moderated by NBC's Kristen Welker, who began by asking the candidates about COVID-19. Biden criticized Trump for repeatedly downplaying the severity of the pandemic, while the president boasted about his handling of the crisis, falsely claiming a vaccine was "ready" to be deployed within weeks. Epidemiologis…
(2020-10-23). Headlines for October 23, 2020. democracynow.org Donald Trump and Joe Biden Meet for Final Debate of 2020 Campaign, U.S. Confirms Over 71,000 Daily Coronavirus Cases as Some Hospitals Near Capacity, FDA Approves Remdesivir for COVID-19 Despite WHO Study Showing No Benefit, France Extends Curfew and Czech Republic Locks Down as COVID-19 Surges Across Europe, India's BJP Party Promises Free COVID-19 Vaccines But Only If It Wins Regional Election, Senate Democrats Boycott as Judiciary Committee Advances Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation, Rocky Mountain National Park Closes as Colorado Experiences Two Largest Wildfires on Record, Asylum Seekers Say ICE Agents Tortur…
(2020-10-23). A clear Choice on Climate. zcomm.org Trump wants to Wreck the Planet; Biden has taken strides toward a Green Vision…
(2020-10-23). Top 10 People to Blame if Joe Biden Loses (It's Not The Left). counterpunch.org So, Joseph Biden, AKA "Kid Senile," leads in the polls against Donald Trump, AKA "Kid Fascist Lunatic," by such a large margin that it resembles a horse race in which one of the horses is an aged wiener dog with three legs. Right now, even though the polling does not account for the millions of voters who
(2020-10-23). Trump Smears Victims of Mass Family Separations as "Bad People" truthout.org Pressed during Thursday night's final 2020 presidential debate to account for his administration's record of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump repeatedly attempted to evade responsibility by lying about the origins of the inhumane practice, smearing those harmed by it, and attempting to shift blame onto Democratic opponent Joe Biden. | In response to a question about the more than 500 parents who have yet to be found after they were separated from their children…
(2020-10-23). Gloria La Riva responds to second Biden vs. Trump presidential debate: The two capitalist parties offer workers nothing. liberationnews.org 
The second debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was one of the closing events of a presidential campaign that has been an utter insult to the working class.
(2020-10-23). Obama returns to campaign trail to help crush Trump. peoplesworld.org 
PHILADELPHIA—Say one thing for former Democratic President Barack Obama: He can still fire up a crowd, even if they're stuck in parked cars at a Philadelphia stadium lot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because that's what Obama did in a rousing Oct. 21 speech at Lincoln Financial Field, to a chorus of shouted cheers and …
(2020-10-23). The Role Of Capital In the US Elections. thealtworld.com 
Money plays a key role in US election campaigns. It is spent on advertising, consultants' salaries and PR firms. In addition, the Democrats' strategy shows that funding goes towards street protests. Since their confrontational approach is adopted in advance and involves provoking people into mass protests, it is a technique that also requires serious investment. | Let us explore the different fundraising mechanisms for election campaigns and the interests of various financial groups (individuals). | Political action committees: | Since 1976, political action committees (PACs) have been used in the US to r…
(2020-10-23). Wrecking America: How Trump's Lawbreaking and Lies Betray All. counterpunch.org 
Political analysts of all stripes have concluded that President Trump has a base of supporters who are credulous, immovable, and unpersuadable. Allow us to briefly test that hypothesis, but to ignore the skins-shirts labels — Left-Right, Democrat-Republican — that often though not always determine how a person votes. Instead, we'd like to ask sincere Trump voters
(2020-10-23). Early Voting, Long Lines, and Voter Suppression. dissidentvoice.org 
November 3rd, Election Day in America, is rapidly approaching. However, early in-person voting has started in several states across the country and there are some concerning issues already coming to light this election year. Videos by voters have been circulating on social media sites such as Twitter, showing extremely long lines and long waiting periods. …
(2020-10-23). Trump and Biden agree: U.S. empire should reign supreme. liberationnews.org 
On matters of war and empire, Donald Trump and Joe Biden fundamentally agree.
(2020-10-23). Trump offers lies, distortions, and excuses during last debate. peoplesworld.org 
Yesterday, when a record 77,000 people in one day were infected with the coronavirus President Trump, offering no plan to deal with it, said only, "We are learning to live with it." "Come on," Joe Biden, his debate opponent responded, "We're dying with it." Biden explained, during the debate segment on the pandemic, detailed plans …
(2020-10-23). Who is 'the least racist person in the room'? therealnews.com 
Burn It Down with Kim Brown — airing live on 10/23/2020. As YouTube restricts embedding for new channels, please click over to the YouTube link below. | Trump and Biden traded blows over each other's character, and what they would do for the country. Our panel discusses the final 2020 presidential debate, along with the recent developments in the fight against voter suppression.
(2020-10-23). Ex-President Obama: Ten Ironies. counterpunch.org 
The irony on Thursday morning cable news was too delicious not to savor. MSDNC anchor Halle Jackson could barely contain her glee over how former president Barack Obama had finally "taken the gloves off" and gone after Donald Trump by name while campaigning for Joe Biden the previous day. I have no idea if Obama really did "take the gloves off" on Wednesday. I have my doubts. But whatever he did, he may have answered the bell too late.
(2020-10-23). We Can Do Better Than Capitalist Formal "Democracy" counterpunch.org 
An article I read shortly after Jacinda Ardern's re-election in New Zealand noted, with a touch of weariness, that Labour's victory came after a campaign measured in "weeks." Folks there ought to count themselves lucky — the United States has endured years of campaigning in what has proved, to the surprise of no one, its nastiest
(2020-10-23). Advertising vs. Democracy: An Interview with Jean Kilbourne. counterpunch.org 
There it is, on page 56 of Jean Kilbourne's book Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel: the graphic that stopped me cold and made me realize just how prophetic was her work (originally published in hardcover in 1999 as Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the
(2020-10-23). 19yo man with van full of guns & explosives arrested, was plotting to assassinate Joe Biden. rt.com 
Newly-released court documents show a man was arrested in Kannapolis, North Carolina in possession of firearms and explosives. He had reportedly researched how to kill presidential candidate Joe Biden. | A van belonging to Alexander Hillel Treisman, 19, was found at a Kannapolis bank filled with guns, books on making bombs, explosive materials, multiple driver's licenses, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. | The van was abandoned and towed at the request of the bank, and then subsequently searched by police officers. | Court docs say Alexander Treisman left this van at a Kannapolis Fifth Third Bank.
(2020-10-23). FBI asks to interview former Hunter Biden business partner after he said Joe Biden was involved in son's foreign business dealings. rt.com 
The FBI has asked to interview investor Tony Bobulinski, the ex-business partner of Hunter Biden who alleged Thursday that Joe Biden was involved in his son's overseas deals, contrary to the presidential candidate's statements. | The Senate Homeland Security Committee
(2020-10-23). 'That's not a plan, dude': Biden ripped for saying best way to battle Covid-19 is to 'wear a mask all the time'. rt.com 
While criticizing President Donald Trump's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Joe Biden recommended people wearing masks "all the time," setting off critics on social media. | "I would make sure everyone was encouraged to wear a mask all the time," Biden said during Thursday's presidential debate while discussing his potential plans for ending the pandemic, which includes more rapid testing and national standards for states reopening their economies. | Trump has mocked Biden for his near-constant mask wearing in the past. While the president walked onto the debate stage not wearing a mask, Biden did. He also h…
(2020-10-23). Biden claims he never said he'd ban fracking, despite video, admits he wants to 'transition' away from oil industry. rt.com 
Joe Biden said he wants to "transition" away from oil and have all industries at "net zero emissions" by 2035. He also claimed he's never said he would ban fracking, despite video evidence of him saying just that. | "Would he close down the oil industry?" President Donald Trump asked of Biden at Thursday's presidential debate. "Would you close down the oil industry?" | "I would transition from the oil industry, yes," Biden admitted, a statement Trump called "big" and critics latched onto on social media, taking it as an admission he would destroy an industry vitally important to the economies of many states.
(2020-10-23). Biden calls Rudy Giuliani 'Russian pawn' as he & Trump accuse each other of taking over foreign money in debate. rt.com 
Democratic hopeful Joe Biden has alleged that Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's lawyer, is working as a "Russian pawn" to help his client win the 2020 race, as both candidates accuse each other of taking foreign cash. | Also on rt.com | | "[Trump's] own national security adviser told him that what is happening with his buddy — oh, I shouldn't… well, I will — his buddy Rudy Giuliani. He's being used as a Russian pawn. He's being fed information that is Ru…
(2020-10-23). 'We had a good relationship with Hitler': Biden slams Trump for meeting Kim Jong-un, compares North Korea to Nazi Germany. rt.com 
Slamming President Donald Trump's "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Joe Biden confused debate viewers by referring to a "good relationship" between the US and Adolf Hitler. | Calling Kim a "different kind of guy" during a discussion on North Korea, Trump touted his ability to talk to the controversial leader and said his civil relationship with him has helped the two countries avoid a nuclear war. | "We're not in a war. We have a good relationship… Having a good relationship with leaders of other countries is a good thing," Trump said during the Thursday night debate. Biden slammed th…
(2020-10-23). Biden called out for 'lying' that Republican Congress obstructed criminal justice reforms under Obama. rt.com 
Presidential candidate Joe Biden claimed at the final debate with Donald Trump that the Democrats couldn't pass criminal justice reform as the GOP controlled Congress, prompting online posters to point out it wasn't the case. | President Trump took a jab at his electoral challenger during the Thursday debate, asking, "Why didn't you get [criminal justice reform] done? … You know why, Joe? Because you're all talk and no action." | Biden was quick to defend the former Democratic administration's supposed inaction on the issue, saying he and former president Barack Obama's "had a Republican Congress," which hin…
(2020-10-23). 'Pragmatic conservative' Putin rejects totalitarian rule, but won't embrace Western liberal democracy as Russia goes its own way. rt.com 
Western pundits use Vladimir Putin's rejection of the idea of Western liberal democracy as a universal model to imply he rejects the concept of democracy outright. His latest comments reveal the reality is rather more complex. | On Thursday, the Russian president gave his annual speech to the gathering of the Valdai Discussion Club — a select group of Russian and foreign experts who meet once a year to ponder the fate of the world. The 2020 event, normally held in Sochi, was staged online, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. | Putin's address, and his answers to the questions that followed, wandered far and wid…
(2020-10-23). Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, and Tlaib Lead Call for UN Probe Into Alleged DHS Human Rights Abuses. commondreams.org "Our government cannot be allowed to commit human rights atrocities or escape investigation, oversight, or criticism based on its powerful geopolitical position, as it so often has." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/omar_pressley_aoc_tlaib_0.jpg …
(2020-10-23). Biden Appeals to Bosnian Muslim and Albanian Voters. Reveal Democrats' Plans in the Balkans. globalresearch.ca U.S. Democrat Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has been on a whirlwind campaign in an attempt to defeat President Donald Trump in next month's election. Published policy papers has shown Biden's strong support for Greece, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Albania …
(2020-10-23). "A Barrett Confirmation Is a Catastrophe" zcomm.org What Democrats Can Do to Block Trump's Supreme Court Pick…
(2020-10-23). Constitutional Law Experts Endorse Democrats' Bill to Create 18-Year Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices. commondreams.org The called it "a critical piece in prescribing how our country's leaders can work to depoliticize the Supreme Court and its confirmation process." | www.flickr.com/photos/44768401@N07/4122928968/in…
(2020-10-23). Hope Prevails Over Fear in Final Debate. progressive.org Biden delivers a strong performance as Trump displays his sneering lack of empathy.
(2020-10-23). Mexico at the OAS General Assembly: Almagro undermined the OAS Charter and Damaged Bolivia's Democracy. cepr.net This week in Washington, D.C. the Organization of American States (OAS) held their 50th Regular Session of the General Assembly. In these meetings the General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the OAS, is tasked with debating the organization's course of action for the next year, as well as setting the standards of governance for …
(2020-10-23). Make America Jeffersonian Again. thealtworld.com A messianic bent leads Americans to dismiss as malign actors every nation deviating from 'self-evident truths' | The whole planet has every reason to be terminally puzzled at how all those lofty Enlightenment ideals Thomas Jefferson embedded in the 1776 Declaration of Independence ended up with…Trump vs. Biden. | Jefferson borrowed freely from Locke, Rousseau, Hume to come up with an eminently quotable Greatest Hits, featuring "self-evident" truths such as "all men are created equal", "unalienable rights", and that searing "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." | Well, Baudrillard would have dubbed the e…
(2020-10-23). US Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Took Center Stage at Debate. telesurenglish.net Democratic candidate Joe Biden slammed President Donald Trump for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic at the final presidential debate on Thursday night. | RELATED: | "We're in a circumstance where the president thus far still has no plan, no comprehensive plan," Biden said and noted that the death toll had already surpassed 220,000 in the U.S., with 1,000 new deaths per day, accusing Trump of intentionally playing down the thre…
(2020-10-23). 'Friends, Not Masters': Is Biden a Frenemy of Islamic World? globalresearch.ca During the presidential debate alongside Donald Trump in September, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden uttered the invocative Islamic expression "Inshallah," meaning "God willing," to woo the Muslim American voters, which was cheered by Democratic supporters across the Islamic World. | Being …
(2020-10-23). Corporate America puts its money on Biden and the Democrats. wsws.org Biden and the Democrats have significantly outraised Trump and the Republicans, with cash from Wall Street and Silicon Valley accounting for much of the difference.
(2020-10-23). US: Trump and Biden Respectful During Last Presidential Debate. telesurenglish.net President Donald Trump and former Vice-president Joe Biden faced each other during the last debate ahead of the elections on November 3 during a conversation less offensive than the previous debate but also longer than the established 90 minutes. | RELATED: | NBC News' White House correspondent Kristen Welker clarified that the candidates would have their microphones cut off if they did not allow each other to answer the questions and alt…
(2020-10-23). 'Mar-a-Lago' Will Be A Ghost Town, NYC Mayor Replies to Trump. telesurenglish.net New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks during the last presidential debate when he assured that New York had become a "ghost town." | RELATED: | "The only 'ghost town' will be Mar-a-Lago once you're forced into retirement after losing the elections," De Blasio assured alluding to Trump's private Florida resort. | "New Yorkers are bringing our city back stronger than ever. It's noth…
(2020-10-23). Tampa students rally against cuts to education, demand defunding of USF police department. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On October 20, around 40 students and community members protested against the University of South Florida's (USF) budget cuts and demanded defunding the campus police. Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held the protest as part of their Chop from the Top and the Cops campaign and a new demand for USF to keep the College of Education after recent news of the department's closure. | The reason for ending undergraduate education programs, according to USF, is that attendance has been low and that ending the program will save the school about $6.8 million. This decision is the beginning of…
(2020-10-23). How BlackRock is on Track to Infiltrate a Biden Administration. counterpunch.org The Democratic base, still scarred from the 2016 election, is frantic not to count its chickens before they hatch. But Wall Street and corporate America have no such qualms. As Joe Biden leads in national polls and swing states, the most powerful firms in the country are seeking assurances that his administration won't crack down
(2020-10-23). Over 100 teachers launch wildcat sickout strike in Houston. wsws.org The drive by Texas Democrats to reopen Houston schools coincides with the platform of the Biden-Harris campaign, which fraudulently claim that this can be done "safely" while the pandemic spirals out of control.
(2020-10-23). The Biden Tax Plan: The More Progressives Look, the More Progressives Like. zcomm.org This package of serious tax-the-rich proposals will have no easy road through Congress…
(2020-10-23). A New Democracy Movement in Thailand. zcomm.org Thailand's conservative middle classes are now joining populists in a movement against their military-backed system…
(2020-10-23). Movement Towards Socialism Wins Landslide Victory In Bolivia. popularresistance.org After 11 months of being ruled by a repressive coup-regime, Bolivians have finally recovered democracy. After five days of counting, the official results of the Bolivian presidential elections are finally in. The Movement Towards Socialism's (MAS) presidential ticket with Luis Arce and David Choquehuanca won 55.1% of the vote share while Carlos Mesa's Citizen Community party won just 28.83% of the vote share. The MAS also won the parliamentary elections, bagging 73 out of the 130 seats in the lower house of parliament and 21 of the 36 seats in the Senate.
(2020-10-23). Tuesday 10/27: Images, Memory and Justice with Bryan Stevenson. indybay.org Online Event | ias.ucsc.edu/events/2020/images-memory-and-justice-bryan-stevenson-october-27-2020…
(2020-10-23). [Research Paper] Gun violence in the U.S.: It is past time we listen to the voices of women and black communities. thelancet.com The United States (U.S.) presidential election is upon us at a time when the nation faces increasing polarization on many issues, including guns and violence, and our presidential candidates reflect this polarization. The incumbent Republican Nominee, Donald Trump, warns voters that his opponent will "take away your guns (and) destroy your Second Amendment," which secures the right of the people to keep and bear firearms [1]. Democratic nominee and former Vice President under Barack Obama, Joe Biden, in fact includes in his platform a commitment to effective gun control policies, including banning assault weapons…
(2020-10-23). Russiagate, The Sequel: Democrats Resurrect 'Russia Bogeyman' Ruse to Cover Joe and Hunter Biden's Foreign Misconduct. strategic-culture.org If a U.S. political giant falls in Washington, D.C. but nobody is around to hear it, did Russia do it? Judging by the way the Democrats have been overplaying the anti-Russia card for the past four years, we already know the answer to that question. | Last week, the New York Post fired off a bombshell story that exposed emails allegedly belonging to U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The messages — discovered on a laptop that the younger Biden had reportedly dropped off at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 — point to a level of corruption and nepotism that is shockin…
(2020-10-23). 'Please Be Responsible': Actress Jennifer Aniston Tells Americans Voting for Kanye West 'Not Funny'. sputniknews.com In the run-up to the 3 November presidential election in the United States, candidates are contesting to be the voice of America. Besides the two main candidates, sitting Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden, US rapper Kanye West joined the White House race at the last minute.
(2020-10-23). Can Biden and the Media Keep Ignoring Tony Bobulinski? sputniknews.com On today's episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events, including the media ignoring the Hunter Biden story, Joe Biden denying taking foreign money ever in his life, Sudan announcing normalization with Israel, the Senate confirming Judge Barrett, and former Biden associate Tony Bobulinski being interviewed by the FBI.
(2020-10-23). Court Docs Reveal US Republican State Senate Candidate Booted From School Over KKK Halloween Regalia. sputniknews.com A Republican running for the Arkansas Senate was dismissed from the Mississippi high school he attended nearly two decades ago after allegedly dressing up as a member of the Ku Klux Klan during a school-sponsored Halloween event.
(2020-10-23). Shh We're Debating!; MAS Fights for Peace in Bolivia; Nigeria on Fire. sputniknews.com Biden, Trump hold final, quieter debate; Nigerian civil unrests leaves 50+ dead; Will Sanders serve as Labor Secretary in Biden's cabinet?
(2020-10-23). Trump May Fire Barr and FBI Director for Not Investigating Biden. truthout.org President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed firing FBI Director Christopher Wray after the election — and officials are concerned he may also oust Attorney General Bill Barr, according to Trump has been unhappy that Wray and Barr have not publicly announced an investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, his son…
(2020-10-23). Biden Acknowledged Crime Bill "Mistake" Because of Massive Grassroots Pressure. truthout.org President Trump and Joe Biden sparred on their records over race and criminal justice in Thursday's presidential debate. Trump simultaneously promoted his criminal justice reform efforts while continuing to lean on "tough on crime" rhetoric. Trump also criticized Biden for authoring the 1994 crime bill and supporting other laws that intensified mass incarceration in the U.S., which Biden acknowledged was "a mistake." Rashad Robinson, spokesperson for Color of Change PAC, says Biden's admission h…
(2020-10-23). Trump's Lawyers Want Trump's Judges to Limit Voting. truthout.org This article was originally published by the In March, President Donald Trump phoned into the show "Fox & Friends" on Fox News to talk about his negotiations over a coronavirus aid bill. Democrats in Congress had been pushing to include billions to assist states in expanding mail-in voting, ensuring voters wouldn't have to risk exposure to the virus on Election Day. | Trump was…
(2020-10-23). Takeaways From the Last Biden-Trump Presidential Debate. telesurenglish.net If there was one takeaway for the second presidential debate it's that the difference between the two candidates is minimum, especially concerning foreign policy. | RELATED: | Both Trump and Biden boosted over and over again that they are more belligerent than their opponents concerning countries considered to be U.S adversaries. | Biden for instance claimed that as vice president he stood up to the Chinese with regards to their claims in…
(2020-10-23). 'Unlawful Abuse of Power': NYC, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon Sue DOJ Over 'Anarchist' Designation. commondreams.org "The only anarchy in this country is coming from the White House," quipped New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/nyc.jpg …
(2020-10-23). Joe Biden is Finally Talking About Fossil Fuels—That's a Good Thing. commondreams.org Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding his campaign plane at Nashville International Airport on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Biden is traveling to Nashville, Tennessee for the final presidential debate with President Donald Trump. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_fossil_fuels.jpg …
(2020-10-23). Thailand's Free Youth movement defies regime with nightly mobilisations. greenleft.org.au A week after the Thai regime issued an emergency decree banning gatherings of more than five people, Peter Boyle reports the Free Youth student-led democracy movement has been staging nightly mass gatherings around the country.