(2020-01-03). Liberal Democrat comes out as UK's first 'pansexual' MP, stirs up social media. rt.com 
Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat hotly tipped to enter the race to become the party's next leader, has caused a stir on social media after revealing that she identifies as "pansexual" — the first MP to do so. | The 37 year-old British lawmaker told PinkNews on Thursday that she was "surprised" to find herself attracted to women, but claimed she was not comfortable with being labelled "bisexual" or "gay." Instead, Moran would prefer to be identified as "pansexual," as it refers to the idea of love for a person for who they are rather than their gender. | "Sometimes, when you meet the right person, it jus…
(2020-01-03). Pompeo in Iran damage control? US 'committed to de-escalation,' Soleimani killing 'saved American lives'. rt.com 
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured everyone that Washington wants to ease the tensions in the Middle East, while defending the killing of Iranian elite Quds Force commander as "defensive action." | Pompeo made his remarks after speaking over the phone with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Yang Jiechi, the head of the Chinese ruling Communist Party's Foreign Affairs Commission. | "The US remains committed to de-escalation," Pompeo said. | A US drone strike killed Major General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad's airport on Friday morning. The Pentagon later reveale…
(2020-01-03). Democratic lawmakers score Trump for drone strike killing of Suleimani. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Many congressional Democrats—along with party presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Elizabeth Warren—are warning that President Donald Trump's targeted drone assassination strike in Iraq that killed top Iranian military leader Gen. Qassim Suleimani will trigger Iranian retaliation, a regional war in the Middle East, or both. And experts in the region add Trump ordered …
(2020-01-03). Hustler's Xmas card depicts Trump being ASSASSINATED, bringing conservative horror & liberal joy. rt.com 
Hustler magazine sent Christmas cards to members of the US Congress which depict President Donald Trump lying in a pool of blood as people cheer 'Merry Christmas!', sparking a mix of outrage and hilarity. | The cards depict an unnamed cartoon assassin aping comments Trump made on the 2016 campaign trail as it says, "I just shot Donald Trump on Fifth Avenue and no one arrested me," with a smoking gun in hand. Trump famously bragged that such was his support, he could literally get away with murder on the streets of NY and still be elected. | Republican Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson shared an image of the card he…
(2020-01-03). U.S. Assassination of Soleimani Could Spark "Another Round of Civil War" in Iraq. democracynow.org 
After the United States assassinated Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in a major escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States, which now threatens to engulf Iraq and the Middle East, we get response from Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, who says the U.S. killing of Soleimani was reckless. "Did anyone consult Iraqis about the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil?" he asks. "We don't want another round of civil war."
(2020-01-03). The Democratic Party's Campaign to Re-Elect President Trump. counterpunch.org 
Anyone who hoped that the terrible experience of a neofascistic presidency might jolt the Democratic Party media and politics establishment into embracing the basic lesson of the 2016 election — that running a dismal, dollar-drenched centrist well to the right of the citizenry for president just guarantees right-wing control of the United States' executive branch More
(2020-01-03). Rep. Ro Khanna on Qassem Soleimani Assassination: Trump's Actions Are Unconstitutional. democracynow.org 
We continue our discussion of the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani with Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna of California. Khanna says he believes the assassination was planned for some time and that Congress has failed to hold the Trump administration accountable. "I believe that the president's policies are putting us in tremendous danger, and the motives are almost not relevant. What's relevant is that he acted in a way that's unconstitutional," Khanna says.
(2020-01-03). "This Country Is a Tinderbox": Australia Braces for More Devastation as Gov't Denies Climate Crisis. democracynow.org 
Australia is bracing for what is expected to be the worst weekend yet in an already devastating climate-fueled wildfire season that has ravaged the southeastern part of the country, killed at least 18 people and nearly half a billion animals, and destroyed 14.5 million acres of land. As thousands of evacuees fled to the beaches, conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing growing outrage for his inaction on climate and close ties with the coal industry. As fires blazed in December, the prime minister went on a holiday to Hawaii. He told reporters this week that fighting the fires — not climate chan…
(2020-01-03). 'Trump just threw a dynamite stick into a tinderbox': US Democrats savage US strike that killed Iranian Quds chief Soleimani. rt.com 
High-ranking US Democrats have warned that the killing of Iran's elite Quds Force chief, Qassem Soleimani, will invite retaliatory attacks from Tehran and bring the two nations to the brink of a major war in the Middle East. | Former vice president and one of the top Democrat contenders in the 2020 presidential race Joe Biden called the airstrike in Iraq "a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region" that will likely provoke "future attacks by Iran" instead of deterring them. | President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox… We could be on the brink of a major conflict in the Mid…
(2020-01-03). 'De facto state of war': DeBlasio warns New Yorkers of 'new reality' in wake of the killing of Iran's Soleimani. rt.com 
New York mayor Bill de Blasio warned the city that attempted terrorist attacks may follow the US strike on Iranian commander Soleimani, anticipating never-before-seen threats would be unleashed — but told citizens not to panic. | After the strike on Baghdad airport "we are dealing with a different reality," de Blasio told a press conference on Friday, admitting that "none of us know how this will play out," as it has been decades since the US confronted "the reality of a war with the government of a large country with an international terror network at its behest." Previous terror attacks on New York, he…
(2020-01-03). America Is a Democracy in Name Only. truthdig.com One hundred years ago, women won the right to vote in the United States. The women's suffrage movement took decades of organizing to achieve success, from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to mass civil disobedience and protest leading up to the adoption and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Now, a century later, the right to vote is on perilous ground, with aggressive and systematic efforts to disenfranchise voters in states across the country. | Voter suppression has long been a central strategy of the Republican party. In 1980, Paul Weyrich, a conservative Republican activist who founded right-win…
(2020-01-03). Bernie Sanders Condemns Trump for Putting US on Path to "Another Disastrous War" truthout.org Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders denounced President Donald Trump late Thursday night for giving the order to assassinate Iran's Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force — calling the move a "dangerous escalation" that brings the United States "closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars." | In a statement responding to what other critics decried as…
(2020-01-03). Senator Bernie Sanders leads preliminary Democratic fundraising totals for fourth quarter and all of 2019. wsws.org The support for Sanders shows that American population is moving to the left, even as the Democrats move further to the right.
(2020-01-03). Buttigieg and Biden Are Masters of Evasion. indybay.org Serving economic elites…
(2020-01-03). Headlines for January 3, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Assassinates Powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport, New Emails Show Trump Directly Ordered Hold on Ukraine Aid, Julián Castro Drops Out of Presidential Race, Sanders Campaign Raised $34.5 Million in Third Quarter, Australia Braces for "Blast Furnace" as Heat & Winds Fuel Wildfires, Amazon Threatens to Fire Workers over Environmental Activism…
(2020-01-03). The Real Reason Trump Assassinated Qassem Soleimani. truthdig.com Ann Arbor — The madman in the White House has been sulking and raging for weeks about his impeachment proceedings, tweeting manically on some days more than 100 times. With the release by JustSecurity.org of unredacted emails on the Ukraine scandal showing that Trump personally (and illegally) withheld congressionally mandated military aid to an ally, the Republican defense of the president is collapsing. Some GOP senators such as Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski seem to be weak…
(2020-01-03). One million march in Hong Kong on New Year's Day. wsws.org To develop a genuine struggle for democratic rights, workers, students and young people must break the bonds that have been placed on the movement by various factions of the capitalist class.
(2020-01-03). BACKSTORY OF U.S. POWER BROKERS THAT NEVER GETS TOLD. truthdig.com THE BACKSTORY THAT DEFINES AMERICA BUT IS NEVER TOLD- MUST COME TO THE FOREFRONT IN 2020 : THERE HAS LONG BEEN A COVERT STRATEGY CONCEIVED OF BY WEALTHY EXTREME RIGHT WING OPERATIVES, THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS REPLACING OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WITH A HYBRID FORM OF PLUTOCRACY. FDR WAS WELL AWARE OF IT AND SPOKE …
(2020-01-03). 'Centuries of women's struggles threatened in Modi regime in India'. peoplesdispatch.org The 12th National Conference of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) took place in Mumbai from 27-30 December, 2019. The conference raised the slogan, 'Safeguard our Constitution, Uphold Women's Rights.' Over 700 delegates attended the conference from across the country and debated how to fight the current onslaught of constitutional rights which also poses a grave threat to the rights gained by women through centuries of struggles. The delegates also talk about the struggles they have successfully led in their states.
(2020-01-03). US Gov Airstrikes Kill PMU Officials & IRGC General Soleimani, As US Claims "Preemptive" Defense. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/2/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-01-03). 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California. indybay.org We are proud to continue the work this 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California. Her birthday celebration is a special opportunity to recognize the profound changes throughout our society and reflect upon unfinished work toward forming a more perfect union, by ensuring her courage and her activism lives on.
(2020-01-03). Pompeo, after strike kills Iranian commander, says US committed to de-escalation. yenisafak.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday reiterated Washington's commitment to de-escalation with Iran, following the killing of an Iranian top commander in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq's capital Baghdad."I spoke today with Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi to discuss [U.S. President] @realDonaldTrump's decision to eliminate [Qasem] Soleimani in response to imminent threats to American lives," Pompeo said on Twitter."I reiterated our commitment to de-escalation," he added.Pompeo said he also discussed the situation with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, thanking t…
(2020-01-03). Trita Parsi: U.S. Assassination of Iranian General Is Major Escalation & Will Make America Less Safe. democracynow.org 
The United States has assassinated Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in a major escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States, which now threatens to engulf Iraq and the Middle East. President Trump authorized the drone strike that killed Soleimani at the Baghdad International Airport and four other people, including a high-level Iraqi militia chief, Thursday night U.S. time, Friday morning in Baghdad. Iran called Soleimani's assassination an act of "international terrorism." Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, "The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue…
(2020-01-03). "Right-Wing Populists Will Sweep the Elections": U.S. Killing of Soleimani Helps Hard-Liners in Iran. democracynow.org 
We host a roundtable discussion on the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, who has long been one of the most powerful figures in Iran. He was the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force — Iran's powerful foreign military force, similar to a combination of the CIA and U.S. Special Forces. Iran called Soleimani's assassination an act of "international terrorism." "It was probably the best, the fastest, the quickest way to have a unifying rallying cry for the Iranian political establishment," notes Iranian journalist Negar Mortazavi. We are also joined by…
(2020-01-03). 'A Dangerous Escalation': Bernie Sanders, in Iowa, Addresses Iran Crisis. commondreams.org "As we all remember, Trump promised to end endless wars. Tragically, his actions now put us on the path to another war." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_16_0.jpg …
(2020-01-03). Praising Indigenous 'Understanding About Sustainability,' Bernie Sanders Tells Native Community in Iowa 'They Will be Part of Discussion'. commondreams.org "Young people all over the world are looking to the Native American community for leadership." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_green_new_deal_1.jpg …
(2020-01-03). Bernie Sanders Condemns Trump for Putting US on Path to 'Another Disastrous War in the Middle East'. commondreams.org "Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one," 2020 Democratic candidate said of Trump's order to assassinate top Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_iran_trump.jpg …
(2020-01-03). Bombshell Report on Emails About Ukraine Aid Freeze Provokes Fresh Calls for Fair Senate Impeachment Trial. commondreams.org Top Democrats in Congress are pointing to a bombshell report published Thursday by Just Security about unredacted emails that "tell the behind-the-scenes story of the defense and budget officials who had to carry out the president's unexplained hold on military aid to Ukraine" as the latest evidence of the need for the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate to hold a comprehensive, fair, and transparent impeachment trial. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/redacted_email.jpg …
(2020-01-03). World Gone Wrong: an Environmental Diary of 2019. counterpunch.org 
January, 2019 + Ryan Zinke, under investigation for trying to enrich himself in office, refused to step down from his post at the Interior Department until he could have a Christmas party with lobbyists and take pictures in front of a stuffed polar bear… + Zinke's greed was largely personal. His likely replacement David Bernahrdt, a former More
(2020-01-03). 'Right Now Is the Moment to Decide If You Are Pro-Peace or Not': Ocasio-Cortez Joins Progressive Chorus Against War With Iran. commondreams.org "Congress now has a moral and legal obligation to reassert its power to stop this war and protect innocent people from horrific consequences." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc.png …
(2020-01-02). 'Only Latino candidate' Julian Castro drops out of US presidential race. rt.com 
Former Obama housing secretary Julian Castro has dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after failing to crack 1 percent in most polls. His platform lives on in how it pushed other candidates leftward. | Castro released a video on Thursday thanking his supporters and promising to "keep fighting for an America where everyone counts." Touting his record of "speaking up for the most vulnerable folks in this country," the former San Antonio mayor boasted of "shaping the conversation" in the 2020 race, but admitted that he had realized "it simply isn't our time," with just a month to go…
(2020-01-02). "The Genocidal Regime Is Still in Power": Assad Forces Push into Idlib, Last Rebel Stronghold. democracynow.org 
The United Nations says a quarter of a million people have fled the Russian-backed Syrian government offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib. Aid groups are now warning the offensive in Idlib could become the worst humanitarian crisis in the nine-year war in Syria. Nearly 200,000 Syrian civilians have fled toward the Turkish border as Syrian government ground troops advance into Idlib, the last major rebel-held territory, where about 3 million people live. Displaced civilians have sought refuge in several camps along the border, where they struggle with harsh winter conditions, flooding and mud due to hea…
(2020-01-02). Could a "New Civil War" Erupt in Iraq as U.S. and Iran Fight for Influence in the Country? democracynow.org 
In Iraq, Iran-backed militia members withdrew from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone on Wednesday after being tear-gassed by American security forces. Their withdrawal ended a tense standoff that began Tuesday when militia members broke through the embassy's reception area chanting "Death to America" while thousands rallied outside to protest a slew of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that killed at least 24 members of the Iranian-backed militia Kata'ib Hezbollah. The U.S. airstrikes came after an American contractor was killed in a rocket attack in Kirkuk, Iraq, Friday. The embassy withdr…
(2020-01-02). Death Toll Rises in India as Protests Against Modi Government's Citizenship Law Intensify. democracynow.org 
In India, the death toll amid the government's crackdown on widespread protests has risen to at least 27 people, and over 1,000 more have been arrested. The protests are against a controversial new citizenship law, which provides a path to Indian citizenship for undocumented immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan — unless they are Muslim. Opponents of the law say it's a step toward the official marginalization of India's 200 million Muslims. Paramilitary and police forces were deployed in response to the demonstrations in Muslim-majority districts in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, and the intern…
(2020-01-02). Pizzagate part 2? Bill de Blasio schooled on Twitter after calling out Domino's for selling $30 pizzas on New Year's Eve. rt.com 
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was harshly panned online after accusing the Domino's pizza chain of "exploiting" New Yorkers with $30 pies on New Year's Eve, with netizens giving the city manager a lesson in supply and demand. | De Blasio called out the company in a tweet on Wednesday, outraged about its New Year's Eve prices for those celebrating the holiday in Times Square, and encouraging New Yorkers to ditch the corporate franchise for local eateries. | "Jacking up your prices on people trying to celebrate the holidays? Classy, Domino's," he said. "To the thousands who came to Times Square last night to rin…
(2020-01-02). Federal judge blocks NC's voter id law, citing state's 'sordid history' of racist voter suppression. nationofchange.org Judge Loretta Biggs said the law's provision preventing voters from showing public assistance ID cards to vote was "particularly suspect."
(2020-01-02). Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg Are Not to Be Trusted. commondreams.org South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg shakes hands with former Vice President Joe Biden after a Democratic debate in Ohio last year. (Photo: John Minchillo / AP) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/joe_1.jpeg …
(2020-01-02). Failure of Trump-Kim Dialogue: North Korea to Continue Developing Strategic Nuclear Weapons and Missiles. globalresearch.ca In remarks during Pyongyang's yearend Plenary Meeting, Kim Jong-un said his government will continue development of strategic weapons because of US hostility toward the country, adding he'll no longer be bound by an ICBM test moratorium. | Pyongyang's KCNA news agency …
(2020-01-02). Democrat Julián Castro Drops Out of 2020 Presidential Race. truthdig.com AUSTIN, Texas — Former Obama housing secretary Julián Castro, the only Latino in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race, on Thursday ended his campaign that had pushed the field on immigration and swung hard at rivals on the debate stage but never found a foothold to climb from the back of the pack. | "I'm so proud of the campaign we've run together. We've shaped the conversation on so many important issues in this race, stood up for the most vulnerable people and given a voice to those who are often forgotten," Castro said in an online video. "But with only a month until the Iowa caucuses, and given…
(2020-01-02). Julian Castro's Story Should Cause the Democratic Party to Reflect on How It Chooses Candidates. commondreams.org Somebody who's still in the race should say it as bravely as Julian Castro did. (Photo: Chip SomodevillaGetty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/ccastro-1577980102.jpeg …
(2020-01-02). Julián Castro Ends 2020 Bid by Listing Names of People of Color Killed by Police. truthout.org Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, who was the only Latino candidate in the Democratic presidential field, announced that he would end his 2020 campaign on Thursday. | Castro, who is also a former mayor of San Antonio, formally announced that he would drop his primary bid after failing to qualify for the last two Democratic debates. | "I've determined that it simply isn't our time," Castro said in a campaign video. "Today, it's with a heavy heart and profound gr…
(2020-01-02). Sanchez on His Way to Investiture: ERC Will Abstain. telesurenglish.net After months of dialogue with the Government, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) finally decided it would abstain during the Spanish parliament's upcoming vote to confirm Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez as prime minister, potentially ending the prolonged national political deadlock. | RELATED: | Spain Coalition Govt Plans Hike on Taxes for Rich, Minimum Wage | This move would end the unstable political situation which ruled the country throughout 2019, with two inconclusive…
(2020-01-02). 2 Democrats Join Republicans to Ask Top Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade. truthdig.com This article was originally published on Common Dreams. | Reproductive rights advocates on Thursday seized on an amicus brief signed by more than 200 members of Congress, including two conservative Democrats, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe vs. Wade. | The brief was signed by 168 members of the House and 39 senators. The two House Demo…
(2020-01-02). Headlines for January 2, 2020. democracynow.org Iranian-Backed Militia Withdraws After Standoff at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Reports: 9 Civilians Killed in Syrian Government Strike on School in Idlib, Wildfires Rage in Australia; Floods Kill 16 in Indonesia, Tens of Thousands Protest in Hong Kong on New Year's Day, Thousands March in Santiago, Chile, Against Austerity on New Year's Day, French Rail Workers' Strike Now Longest Since 1968, Netanyahu Asks Parliament for Immunity in Corruption Cases, 16 People Killed in Prison Riot in Zacatecas, Mexico, Pope Francis Condemns Violence Against Women in New Year's Day Speech, Scores of New Laws Take Effect Across the…
(2020-01-02). The Decline of Democracy in the 21st Century. globalresearch.ca "In general, unfortunately, the qualifications required to gain power and keep it have almost no connection with those required to govern with competence and impartiality." — Jean-Franàßois Revel (1924-2006), French author and philosopher. (In 'Ni Marx ni Jésus', 1970, p. …
(2020-01-02). IACHR Requests Precautionary Measures for Former Ecuadorean VP. telesurenglish.net The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) requested Thursday precautionary measures in favor of former Vice President of Ecuador Jorge Glas, jailed since October 2017 after being sentenced to six years in prison as part of a case linked to the bribe plot of the Brazilian company Odebrecht which Glas denies to have taken part of. | RELATED: | Pabon: Fear and Persecution Can Hurt the Pillars of Democracy | Glas' attorney Fausto Jarrin announced it with a photograph that sho…
(2020-01-02). Africa in Review 2019, From Internal Crises and Conflict to Internationalism. globalresearch.ca Since mid-2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been stricken with another Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak largely impacting the northeastern region of the vast mineral-rich nation in Central Africa. | EVD has its origins in the DRC during the …
(2020-01-02). Russiagate Investigation Now Endangers Obama. dissidentvoice.org Former U.S. President Barack Obama is now in severe legal jeopardy, because the Russiagate investigation has turned 180 degrees; and he, instead of the current President, Donald Trump, is in its cross-hairs. The biggest crime that a U.S. President can commit is to try to defeat American democracy (the Constitutional functioning of the U.S. Government) …
(2020-01-02). Evo Morales: An Indian out of place. zcomm.org The dramatic events in Bolivia in recent months have followed an imperial script that Latin Americans are becoming more and more familiar with, and which consists in paving the way for the replacing of a democratic government deemed hostile to the interests of the United States…
(2020-01-02). After Year-Long Run as Outspoken Advocate for Immigrants and the Poor, Juli√°n Castro Suspends Presidential Campaign. commondreams.org Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced Thursday he was suspending his presidential campaign, pledging to continue fighting for working people, immigrants' rights, and to combat wealth inequality. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/48539345196_dd0ff1df79_o1.jpg …
(2020-01-02). With New Plan, Warren Pledges to End 'Shameful' Economic Injustices for Americans With Disabilities. commondreams.org A number of disability rights advocates on Thursday praised Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the workplace, schools, and across American life—calling the proposal "thoughtful" and "comprehensive." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-01-02_at_12.06.03_pm.jpg …
(2020-01-02). Two Right-Wing Democrats Join Republicans in Asking Supreme Court to Consider Overturning Roe v. Wade. commondreams.org Reproductive rights advocates on Thursday seized on an amicus brief signed by more than 200 members of Congress, including two conservative Democrats, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe vs. Wade. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/undueburden_0_0.jpg …
(2020-01-02). The Last Decade Brought the Conflict to the U.S., and That Is Progress. commondreams.org Rep. Rashida Tlaib addressing the House of Representatives on H.Res.326. (Photo: Screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/tlaib.png …
(2020-01-02). A New Year's Resolution For Democrats. truthdig.com 
If the party has any hope of defeating Donald Trump and his agenda in 2020, it needs to stop making excuses for why it lost in 2016.
(2020-01-01). Cuba: 61 years of socialist victory. liberationnews.org 
Exactly 61 years ago today, Cubans poured into the streets to cheer the triumph of the Rebel Army led by Fidel Castro.
(2020-01-01). 'Reckless escalation' or 'No more Benghazis'? Dems jeer & GOP cheers as Trump points finger at Tehran after Baghdad embassy attack. rt.com 
A major partisan divide has formed around President Trump's handling of the situation in Iraq, with several Democrats blasting recent US airstrikes and troop deployments, and some in the GOP lining up to voice support. | Massachusetts senator and Democratic 2020 hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday took aim at the president for a US bombing raid ordered on an Iraqi militia over the weekend. American officials accused the group — Kataib Hezbollah — of carrying out a rocket attack on a US base with Iranian backing, which killed one American contractor, though they have yet to offer any evidence for the…
(2020-01-01). First Lady of the World: Eleanor Roosevelt's Impact on New Deal to U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. democracynow.org 
2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote, and we begin the new decade with a New Year's Day special about one of the most influential women in U.S. politics: first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1933, when her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, until his death during his fourth term in office in 1945. She went on to serve as United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and spearheaded the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. President Harry Truman later called her the "First Lady…
(2020-01-01). UN chief 'deeply concerned' following end of DPRK nuclear test moratorium. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ended a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, his spokesman said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
(2020-01-01). US Gov Blames Iraqi Protests On Iran With No Evidence, Despite The US Bombing Of The Iraqi Military. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/31/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-01-01). AOC Tells Democrats How to Get It Right in 2020. thenation.com AOC Tells Democrats How to Get It Right in 2020…
(2020-01-01). The Legend Of Bernie Sanders Song. zcomm.org The Legend of Bernie Sanders was originally written for the Bernie documentary called BERN THE MOVIE and is a compendium of Bernie Sanders's life leading into the OUR REVOLUTION movement…
(2019-12-31). Dangerous Women Embracing Risk to Change the World: Ava DuVernay, Ai-jen Poo, Abigail Disney & More. democracynow.org 
Media trailblazer Pat Mitchell is a person of many firsts. She was the first woman president of PBS, CNN Productions and the Paley Center for Media, formerly known as the Museum of Television & Radio. She is chair of the Sundance Institute and the Women's Media Center. Mitchell tells her story in her new memoir, "Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World," and speaks with us about some of the women she chose to profile. "Being the first or the only person in any situation that looks like you is always an additional challenge because there is a harsher spotlight," she says. "For women leaders,…
(2019-12-31). The Key to the Environmental Crisis Is Beneath Our Feet. dissidentvoice.org The Green New Deal resolution that was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in February hit a wall in the Senate, where it was called unrealistic and unaffordable. In a Washington Post article titled "The Green New Deal Sets Us Up for Failure. We Need a Better Approach," former Colorado governor and Democratic presidential candidate John …
(2019-12-31). Headlines for December 31, 2019. democracynow.org Protests Rage Outside U.S. Embassy in Iraq After U.S. Airstrikes Kill 24, Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Suspect in Hanukkah Stabbing in NY, Texas Church Shooter Had Long Criminal History, NYT: Top Officials Failed to Convince Trump to Release Withheld Ukraine Aid, Death Toll from Crackdown on Protests in India Rises to 27, Five Kashmiri Political Leaders Released from Detention, Sudanese Court Sentences 29 to Death for Killing Teacher in Anti-Protest Crackdown, Thousands Flee to the Ocean to Escape Australia Wildfires, Former Nissan Head Flees Japan to Lebanon to Escape Trial on Financial Crimes, New York Sett…
(2019-12-31). US Gov's "Iran Rocket" False Flag Falls Apart In Less Than 24hrs, As The World Sees Right Through It. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/30/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-31). The Impeachment Deadlock Is an Opportunity Democrats Should Seize. thenation.com The Impeachment Deadlock Is an Opportunity Democrats Should Seize…
(2019-12-31). France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights. thenation.com France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights…
(2019-12-31). Union busting? It's a crime! — a WW editorial. workers.org 
The corporate media constantly tell us that the United States is a great democracy because of its "free elections." Never mind that Donald Trump became president with fewer votes than his main opponent. Never mind that the U.S. Senate has long been described as a "millionaires' club." And never mind . . . | Continue reading Union busting? It's a crime! — a WW editorial at Workers.org
(2019-12-31). Cubicle 2020? Internet field day after Mike Bloomberg promises 'open office plan' for White House East Room if he wins presidency. rt.com 
Billionaire ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg has exposed himself to torrents of Twitter snark, after pledging that as president he would convert the East Room in the White House into a soulless maze of cubicles. 'Why?' many asked. | The presidential contender found it necessary — for reasons which may forever remain a mystery — to announce that he will turn the White House's historic East Room into an "open office" if he secures the Democratic nomination and defeats Donald Trump in 2020. | The former New York City mayor said that by doing so, he'll be able to "sit with our team" — presumably as he jud…
(2019-12-30). Trump tied with Obama for 'most admired man' of the year. rt.com 
Despite years of 'Russiagate' accusations and an ongoing impeachment drive against him, President Donald Trump has tied with former President Barack Obama as America's most admired man of 2019, according to a new poll. | In the survey, published by Gallup on Monday, 18 percent of respondents named the current occupant of the White House as their most admired man, while another 18 percent named his predecessor. No other man – in a top ten that included entrepreneur Elon Musk, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Dalai Lama – scored higher than two percent. | 2019 marks Obama's 12th year in the top spot, but…
(2019-12-30). Plane carrying Kansas basketball team forced to make emergency landing after engine SPITS FIRE (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Swift Air 737 passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines malfunctioned and began spitting fire, as terrifying eyewitness video taken on board shows. | The plane was forced to turn around 20 minutes into its flight, having just departed Mineta San Jose International Airport on Sunday. The University of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team was on board and their senior associate athletic director, Ryan White, shared shocking video of one of the plane's engines belching blazing fire. | @KUHoops plane blows engine…
(2019-12-30). Kim Jong-unbelievable: Trump's national security adviser forgets how to say North Korean leader's name. rt.com 
President Trump's national security adviser is a trusted source of counsel when dealing with adversaries like North Korea. Surprisingly, knowing the name of the North Korean leader doesn't seem to be a job requirement. | Despite a series of high-profile meetings between President Donald Trump and chairman Kim Jong-un, tensions between the US and North Korea are returning to old highs. Pyongyang wants Washington to drop its calls for denuclearization, and Kim has given the US a year-end deadline to meet this request, while issuing cryptic threats of a "christmas gift" for America. | Against this background, Nat…
(2019-12-30). The spooks' choice: Coup plotters and CIA agents fill Pete Buttigieg's list of national security endorsers. thegrayzone.com Why are so many intelligence veterans throwing their weight behind a young Indiana mayor with such a thin foreign policy…
(2019-12-30). Headlines for December 30, 2019. democracynow.org Man Stabs 5 Jewish Worshipers Celebrating Hanukkah at Rabbi's Home in New York, Gunman Shoots and Kills 2 Worshipers During Church Service in Texas, U.S. Launches Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria After U.S. Contractor Killed in Iraq, 250,000 People Flee Syrian Government Offensive in Idlib, Bombing Kills 79 in Mogadishu, Somalia, Taliban Agrees to Temporary Ceasefire in Afghanistan, 10 Killed in Strike on Military Parade in Southern Yemen, Politico: Democratic Party Insiders Now Think Sanders Could Win Nomination, WaPo: Giuliani Held Back-Channel Call with Maduro, France: Strikes Against Pension Overhaul Enter 25th Day…
(2019-12-30). US Gov Bombs Iraq & Syria Citing Baseless Claims That Iran Fired ROCKETS At US Locations. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/29/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-30). The Democrats' School Choice Problem. thenation.com The Democrats' School Choice Problem…
(2019-12-30). Michael Moore on Trump, 2020 & Why "the Old, Angry White Guy" Doesn't Represent the Working Class. democracynow.org 
Last week on Democracy Now!, acclaimed filmmaker "Michael Moore predicted": www.democracynow.org/2019/12/26/michael_moore_donald_trump_impeachment Donald Trump would win re-election if Democrats don't choose a candidate to run against him who excites their base of voters. His comments prompted President Donald Trump to respond on Twitter, "He made [the] same prediction in 2016. Nobody ever said Michael was stupid!" But Moore's comments went further than Trump's tweet alluded to. He said the working class in the United States is mostly women, people of color and young people — all groups who tend to v…
(2019-12-29). US Military Contractors Exposed For Paying Taliban At US Gov Instruction & Iran False Flag Continues. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/28/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-28). Potential False Flag In Iraq Kills American & New OPCW Leak Exposes Deliberate Coverup And Deception. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/27/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-28). Farewell to Australian hero Bill Ryan 1922-2019. greenleft.org.au 
obituary David LoweIssue 1248 Australia coal seam gas Environment climate emergencyDecember 28, 2019One of Australia's foremost env…
(2019-12-27). "Bedlam": Film Shows How Decades of Healthcare Underfunding Made Jails "De Facto Mental Asylums" democracynow.org 
Are prisons and jails America's "new asylums"? A new documentary looks at how a disproportionate number of underserved people facing mental health challenges have been swept into the criminal justice system, where they lack adequate treatment. Nearly 15% of men and more than 30% of women in jails have a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. For many of them, jail is their first point of entry into mental health treatment. The documentary "Bedlam" was filmed over five years in Los Angeles County's overwhelmed and vastly under-resourced Emergency Psychiatry Services, a…
(2019-12-27). We are the ones who will awaken the dawn. mronline.org Millions of people are on the streets, from India to Chile. Democracy is both their promise and it is what has betrayed them. They aspire to the democratic spirit but find that democratic institutions—saturated by money and power—are inadequate. They are on the streets for more democracy, deeper democracy, a different kind of democracy. | Source
(2019-12-27). Headlines for December 27, 2019. democracynow.org In Confidential Videos, Navy SEALs Say Gallagher Was "Toxic" & "Freaking Evil", Hospitals & Health Clinics Shuttered by Heavy Bombing in Idlib, Syria, Japan to Deploy Destroyer to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions in Gulf of Oman, Nigerian-American Journalist Omoyele Sowore Released from Prison, In India, Protests Rage Against "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Law, Netanyahu Staves Off Party Leadership Challenge Ahead of General Election, Mexico to Bring Complaint Against Bolivia's Interim Government to ICJ, Congolese Asylum Seeker Died in Border Patrol Custody on Christmas Day, Los Angeles Prosecutors Consider Filing Cri…
(2019-12-27). Israel Bombs Gaza For Xmas, Israel Threatens To Attack All Helping Iran & Saudis Bomb Yemen Market. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/26/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-27). William Greider Knew What Ailed the Democratic Party. thenation.com William Greider Knew What Ailed the Democratic Party…
(2019-12-26). Michael Moore: Republicans Who Oppose Impeachment Are "Dying Dinosaurs," But Trump Could Win in 2020. democracynow.org 
As the Senate attempts to set rules for President Trump's impeachment trial, at least one Republican is expressing concern about the proceedings. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in an interview Tuesday that she was disturbed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's promise of "total coordination" with the White House. Murkowski's comments mark a rare instance of dissent for the Republican Party, which has been unified behind President Trump until now. McConnell needs 51 votes to set the rules for the hearing. Republicans have a thin majority of 53 seats in the Senate. Last week, Oscar-winning…
(2019-12-26). Michael Moore: Americans Pay More for Healthcare Than Others, But "We Don't Call It a Tax" democracynow.org 
We continue our interview with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore about election 2020 and some of the major issues for voters. Long before Medicare for All became a rallying cry in the Democratic Party, Moore's 2007 film "Sicko" diagnosed the shortcomings of the for-profit American healthcare system and called for a system of universal healthcare. "The real question never gets asked. They always want to pin them on how much is it going to cost in taxes," Moore says of debate moderators who ask whether Democratic presidential candidates will raise taxes to pay for Medicare for All.
(2019-12-26). After Democrats Push Bill to Send Fracked Gas to EU, Trump Includes in Budget. therealnews.com 
The European Energy Security and Diversification Act, legislation offering $1B to promote sending U.S. fracked gas to EU countries, was inserted into the federal budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump. Democrats invoked "Russiagate" in their PR push for the bill.
(2019-12-26). Headlines for December 26, 2019. democracynow.org Murkowski "Disturbed" by McConnell's "Coordination" with White House for Impeachment Trial, Trump Attacks Windmills with a Series of False Claims, The Intercept: Bloomberg Used Prison Labor to Make 2020 Campaign Calls, Thousands of Syrian Civilians Flee Government Offensive in Idlib, 35 Civilians Killed in Attack in Burkina Faso, China Calls on U.S. to Take "Concrete Steps" Toward Peace with North Korea, At Least 21 Killed as Typhoon Phanfone Slams into the Philippines, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Recalled After Criticizing Criminalization of Homosexuality, Evo Morales Vows to Return to Bolivia by Next Christmas, H…
(2019-12-25). Celebrating the Life of Toni Morrison with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, Ta-Nehisi Coates & More. democracynow.org 
In special broadcast, we spend the hour remembering Toni Morrison, one of the nation's most influential writers, who died in August at the age of 88 from complications of pneumonia. In 1993, Toni Morrison became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her classic work "Beloved." Toni Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio, in 1931. She did not publish her first novel, "The Bluest Eye," until she was 39 years old. She wrote it while taking care of her two young sons as a single mother and juggling a day job as a book editor at Random House. A…
(2019-12-24). "Becoming a Dangerous Woman": Media Legend Pat Mitchell on Embracing Risk to Change the World. democracynow.org 
Media legend Pat Mitchell is the author of a new book, "Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World." In it, she shares her life story, rising from her grandparents' small cotton farm with no electricity to become the first woman president of PBS, CNN Productions and the Paley Center for Media. Mitchell includes in her book the voices of other "dangerous" women: Stacey Abrams, Ai-jen Poo, Ava DuVernay, Mary Robinson, Abigail Disney, Christine Schuler Deschryver, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Zoya, Monique Wilson, Laura Flanders, Jacqueline Novogratz, Sandi Toksvig, Ruth Ann Harnisch and Meagan Fallone. Pa…
(2019-12-24). Jane Fonda Arrested: We Are in a Climate Emergency. I Have No Choice But to Put My Body on the Line. democracynow.org 
A new round of protests, Fire Drill Fridays, led by actress Jane Fonda are calling for action to address the climate crisis, as bushfires fueled by a historic heat wave threaten Australia, high tides threaten to flood Venice, and the Philippines prepares for a Christmas typhoon. Last Friday, a day before Jane Fonda's 82nd birthday, the longtime political activist, feminist and two-time Academy Award winner was arrested for the fifth time, as she has been nearly every Friday in Washington since she started Fire Drill Fridays, inspired in part by the Swedish youth climate activist Greta Thunberg. She was arrested a…
(2019-12-24). Headlines for December 24, 2019. democracynow.org House Could Bring Additional Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, Boeing Fires CEO Dennis Muilenburg over 737 MAX Jet Controversy, NYT: Pentagon May Withdraw U.S. Troops from West Africa, Syria: Up to 100,000 Civilians Forced to Flee Intensification of Fighting in Idlib, Asian Leaders Urge U.S. & North Korea to Move Toward Peace, Report: Canadian Police Were Prepared to Use Lethal Force Against Indigenous Land Defenders, Trump Met with Accused War Criminal Eddie Gallagher, Nigerian Man Dies in ICE Custody in Maryland, Colorado Governor Pardons Woman Who Took Sanctuary to Fight Her Deportation, Former Black Pant…
(2019-12-24). Israel AGAIN Attacks Syria Over Christmas, Khashoggi Trial Theater & MSM N Korea Xmas Fear-Mongering. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/24/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-23). The Last Democratic Debate And The Future Of The Democratic Party. therealnews.com 
Last week's debate didn't connect with viewers or mobilize the base.
(2019-12-23). "The First Cell": Dr. Azra Raza on Why the "Slash-Poison-Burn Approach" to Cancer Has Failed. democracynow.org 
Slash, poison, burn. That's what a leading cancer doctor calls the protocol of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We spend $150 billion each year treating cancer, yet a patient with cancer is as likely to die of it today — with a few exceptions — as one was 50 years ago. Today we spend the hour with renowned cancer doctor, Dr. Azra Raza, author of the new book, "The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last." She argues that experiments and the funding for eradicating cancer look at the disease when it is in its later stages, when the cancer has grown and spread. Instead, she sa…
(2019-12-23). Headlines for December 23, 2019. democracynow.org White House Halted Ukraine Aid 91 Minutes After Trump & Zelensky Phone Call, U.S. Considering Plan to Deport Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, WaPo: White House Pushes to Use Migrant Children to Ensnare Parents, Saudi Arabia Sentences 5 People to Death for Khashoggi's Murder, ICC Takes Step to Investigating Israel for War Crimes, India: Protests Continue as Modi Defends "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Law, Iraq: Thousands Demand Appointment of Independent Prime Minister, Reuters: Up to 1,500 Dead in Iran's Bloody Crackdown Against Nov. Protests, Pentagon: U.S. Soldier Killed in Afghanistan, French Unions Continue St…
(2019-12-22). Seemingly Coordinated ISIS/al-Qaeda Attacks On Syrian Oil/Gas Fields & US' Russia/Libya Hypocrisy. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/21/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-21). ICC To Investigate Israeli Government War Crimes & UN Again Contradicts US Claims Of Iran "Proof" thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/20/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-20). Democrats Invoke Russiagate to Advance Bill Lobbied for by Big Oil. therealnews.com 
Two bills that would allow the United States to expand its fossil fuel infrastructure in the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries have advanced to the the Senate—and Democrats backing them have invoked "Russiagate" to push them through.