(2020-01-17). A Trump impeachment trial primer—How it will proceed (or not). peoplesworld.org 
The seven prosecutors—Democratic House members who will serve as impeachment managers—have been selected, and all of them are experienced litigators to one degree or another. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has taken the oath as trial adjudicator, and all 100 U.S. Senators have been sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial of …
(2020-01-17). Interpretation Crisis at the Border Leads to Deportation of Mayan-Language Speakers Seeking Refuge. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. continues to use hostile policies to stop people from seeking refuge and asylum in the United States, we look at a key problem that is preventing migrants from getting due process, and in many cases getting them deported: inadequate interpretation for indigenous asylum seekers who speak Mayan languages. Guatemala has a population of 15 million people, and at least 40% of them are indigenous. In the past year, a quarter of a million Guatemalan migrants have been apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. At least half of them are Mayan. Many speak little or no Spanish. This is the focus of a new report in…
(2020-01-17). 'Remember the past & honor the dead': Former president Walesa slams Poland's failure to commemorate Warsaw's WWII liberation. rt.com 
While the anniversary of Warsaw's liberation is largely overlooked in modern-day Poland, it's worth paying respect to the sacrifice of the Red Army, former president and democracy hero Lech Walesa acknowledged on RT. | It's been exactly 75 years since the Soviet Union's 1st Byelorussian Front and the allied Polish 1st Army defeated the last remaining pocket of Nazi resistance, ending the five-year occupation of Warsaw. But the milestone event, in which 22,000 Soviet and 3,100 Polish soldiers lost their lives, is no longer an occasion for Poland to celebrate, it seems. | While local press maintained a deafening…
(2020-01-17). Claims that the 'NAFTA 2' Agreement is Better are a Macabre Joke. counterpunch.org 
Democratic Party House representatives have voted by a wide margin to approve version 2 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Even Rose DeLauro of Connecticut, in the past a strong leader within Congress in the fight against so-called "free trade" agreements, is on board with this one. Representative More
(2020-01-17). 'Rigging election again': Trump says impeachment all a ploy to… shaft Bernie Sanders. rt.com 
The impeachment trial against Donald Trump is not just a "witch hunt," but a ploy to "rig" the Democratic nomination against Bernie Sanders and in favor of Joe Biden, the US president has claimed. | "They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously," Trump tweeted on Friday. | They are rigging the election again against Bernie Sanders, just like last time, only even more obviously. They are bringing him out of so important Iowa in order that, as a Senator, he sit through the Impeachment Hoax Trial. Crazy Nancy thereby gives the strong edge to Sleepy…[m…
(2020-01-17). "They Must Conduct a Full and Fair Trial": Senators Sworn In for Historic Trump Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org 
For just the third time in history, the U.S. Senate has opened a trial to determine if a sitting president should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached President Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the impeachment trial in the Senate, later swore in senators who will serve as jurors when the trial officially begins on Tuesday. This comes as more information is coming to light about the actions of President Trump and his associates. On Thursday, the nonpartisan Governmen…
(2020-01-17). Joe Biden Can't Outrun His Record on Social Security. truthdig.com 
As a senator of Delaware, he repeatedly tried to freeze federal spending. Democrats would be suicidal to nominate him against Donald Trump.
(2020-01-17). Bernie Sanders Leads in New Post-Debate National Poll. truthdig.com 
Amid a series of endorsements in key primary states, the Vermont senator pulls ahead of Joe Biden for the first time this election cycle.
(2020-01-17). Not Bernie, Us. Not Warren, Us. Their Clash Underscores the Need for Grassroots Wisdom. counterpunch.org 
The dismal conflict that erupted this week between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren should never have happened. But now that it has, supporters must provide grassroots leadership to mitigate the dangerous mess. The argument that broke out between Warren and Sanders last weekend and escalated in recent days is already history that threatens to foreshadow More
(2020-01-17). California Bill Would Raise Taxes on Corporations With Large CEO-Worker Pay Gaps. truthout.org A bill to raise taxes on corporations with large gaps between CEO and worker pay moved forward in the California state senate Wednesday after a hearing that drew sharp lines between labor and anti-poverty supporters and corporate and Wall Street opponents. | The California proposal is similar to legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress last November by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Representatives Barbara Lee and Rashida Tlaib, and 18 other House members. | Under the Ca…
(2020-01-17). Dr. Stephen Zunes speaks on Trump's Mideast Policy. indybay.org Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo | 300 E. Santa Inez Avenue | San Mateo, CA 94401…
(2020-01-17). Moustache of Discord: South Koreans Find US Ambassador's Facial Hair Disrespectful. sputniknews.com Apart from his personal appearance Harry Harris has angered South Koreans with his support for Donald Trump's demands to increase payment for US military protection to $5 million, as the country hosts more than 28,000 American servicemen.
(2020-01-17). Exploring California Pan African Heritage in Elk Grove, California. indybay.org 2020 Black History Month, Early California Pan African Heritage…
(2020-01-17). 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day. indybay.org 20 years later the struggle continues in the City of Sacramento to honor the "Patron Saint" of the Women's Political Council who later became the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." Thankfully, Attorney Fred Gray, Esq. is still on the case and preparing to join us MLK 50 Anniversary – Sacramento Public Library.
(2020-01-17). The impeachment trial begins as Trump escalates fascistic appeals. wsws.org The Democratic impeachment process will not stop Trump's increasingly blatant assault on the constitutional foundations of basic democratic rights.
(2020-01-17). Uniting "Progressives" Instead of Democrats. counterpunch.org It seems that people who identify themselves as "progressive democrats" are hellbent on solidifying a tendency which I continue to resist — despite the seeming avalanche of proofs which they and their democratrepublican limiting mentalities continue to shove in my face. The most prominent message within — and as a result of — these unwanted More
(2020-01-17). The Business Party Syndicate. counterpunch.org Each year Leftist Democrats, Socialists and Radicals are asked to hold their noses and vote for the lesser-of-two-evils. This is a false choice because we live in a rigged One-Party state — a plutocracy run by the Business Party, a Syndicate with Democratic and Republican wings. "Syndicate" is the proper word for our corrupt One-Party More
(2020-01-17). Canada Opposed Iranian Democracy. globalresearch.ca To understand where you are, it is necessary to know where you have been. To understand current Canadian policy towards the 18th most populous country in the world, it is necessary to look at the history of Ottawa's relations …
(2020-01-17). Headlines for January 17, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Impeachment Trial Opens as Accountability Office Says Trump Broke Law by Withholding Aid, Pentagon Contradicts Trump and Says 11 U.S. Troops Injured in Iranian Strikes, Senate Votes to Approve USMCA, Report: Six Banks Reaped $18 Billion Last Year from Trump Tax Cuts, Guatemalan Protesters Demand Outgoing President Be Arrested for Corruption, Deported Immigrant Rights Leader Jean Montrevil Sues U.S. Government, FBI Arrests 3 Suspected Neo-Nazis Ahead of Pro-Gun Rally in Richmond, Virginia, Florida Supreme Court Upholds Law Limiting Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions, Harvard Law Students Prote…
(2020-01-17). Assassination of Congolese independence leader and revolutionary Patrice Lumumba. peoplesdispatch.org On January 17, 1961, Congolese independence leader, Patrice Lumumba was assassinated by counter-revolutionary forces, backed by the US and Belgium. He was the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo). He played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic. Ideologically an African nationalist and Pan-Africanist, he led the Congolese National Movement (MNC) party from 1958 until his assassination.
(2020-01-17). As Senators Are Sworn In, Calls for a Full for Impeachment Trial Intensify. truthout.org For just the third time in history, the U.S. Senate has opened a trial to determine if a sitting president should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached President Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the impeachment trial in the Senate, later swore in senators who will serve as jurors when the trial officially begins on Tuesday. This comes as more inf…
(2020-01-17). The World Looks to Abandon the Dollar as US Sanctions Tighten Their Grip. globalresearch.ca When the US places financial sanctions on one country, it de facto sanctions many other countries as well — including many of its allies. | This is because not all countries and firms are interested in participating in the US sanctions-based …
(2020-01-17). The Market in this New Decade. globalresearch.ca On January first of this new decade, 2020 the Dow Jones was at a record high; $28,634. What does that mean? | Since the great depression of 1929 there have been 13 severe downturns revealing time and again that the market …
(2020-01-17). Israel Bombs Gaza And Syria Killing 3 & Iran Says US Sabotage/Cyberattack Likely Behind 737 Downing. 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 (1/16/19). 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 …
(2020-01-17). Democrats Should Embrace the Politics of Impeachment. thenation.com Democrats Should Embrace the Politics of Impeachment…
(2020-01-17). Thanks to Republicans, Iran Is Another Iraq Waiting to Happen. thenation.com Thanks to Republicans, Iran Is Another Iraq Waiting to Happen…
(2020-01-17). Republicans Are About to Show Just How Low They'll Go to Save Trump. thenation.com Republicans Are About to Show Just How Low They'll Go to Save Trump…
(2020-01-17). 4 Years Seeking Justice: Daughter of Slain Indigenous Environmental Leader Berta Cáceres Speaks Out. democracynow.org 
In Honduras, a new report by the Violence Observatory at the Honduran National Autonomous University says that at least 15 women have been murdered in the first 14 days of this year. Violence against women, LGBTQ people, indigenous leaders and environmental activists has skyrocketed in Honduras under the U.S.-backed government of President Juan Orlando Hernández. The report comes nearly four years after the Honduran indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres was shot dead inside her home in La Esperanza, Honduras, by hired hitmen. Last month in the capital of Tegucigalpa, seven men were sentenced to up to 50…
(2020-01-17). Pentagon gets request to build roughly 270 miles of Trump border wall. yenisafak.com The Pentagon has received a request from within the Trump administration to build roughly 270 miles (435 km) of wall on the border with Mexico and is evaluating its cost and viability, a senior Defense Department official said on Thursday.The disclosure of the request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sets up another showdown with Democrats in Congress, who oppose President Donald Trump's past diversion of billions of dollars in military spending to bolster security on the border.The senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to speculate on the costs of the project but noted i…
(2020-01-17). Hijacking the Struggles of Others, Elizabeth Warren Style. counterpunch.org 
To say Elizabeth Warren is a political opportunist is not giving her enough credit. She has taken the struggles, as well as the identities of others (women, school teachers, Native Americans, public school supporters, people who are able to tweet with humor, actual humans) and has weaponized these categories until the meaning of it all is lost. More
(2020-01-16). Trump Becomes Just Third U.S. President to Face Impeachment Trial as Case Moves to the Senate. democracynow.org 
In a historic move, the House of Representatives presented articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate Wednesday. It marks only the third presidential impeachment trial in all of U.S. history. Earlier Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a news conference with the seven impeachment managers. The House vote to send articles of impeachment to the Senate comes as The Washington Post reports explosive new information at the center of the impeachment inquiry. New material released by House Democrats shows text messages between former Giuliani associate Lev Parnas and Robert Hyde, a Republican c…
(2020-01-16). We Can't Be Silent Anymore: Rev. Barber & Poor People's Campaign Push Presidential Debate on Poverty. democracynow.org 
As the final Democratic debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses took place Tuesday night in Des Moines, Iowa, more than 100 protesters gathered outside the debate venue at Drake University to demand a televised presidential debate on poverty. Led by Reverend William Barber, demonstrators carried a coffin to honor the 250,000 people who die every year from the impacts of poverty. According to the Poor People's Campaign, 140 million Americans — over 43% of the population — can't pay basic living expenses. In Iowa, 630,000 workers — 45% of the state's workforce — make less than $15 an hour. We're j…
(2020-01-16). Putin Proposes Sweeping Changes to Russian Constitution, Possibly Prolonging His Grip on Power. democracynow.org 
In Russia, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned Wednesday along with his entire Cabinet in a move that surprised many in Moscow and abroad. The move came as Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes to expand the power of the parliament and the State Council while weakening the presidency. Critics of Putin say the proposals could help him keep power after his final presidential term ends in 2024. The Russian parliament is expected to vote today to confirm Putin's pick for new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a bureaucrat who runs Russia's tax service. The Russian newspaper Kom…
(2020-01-16). Tanks & AR-15s: Moms 4 Housing Speaks Out After Militarized Eviction from Vacant Oakland House. democracynow.org 
We look at the fight for affordable housing in the Bay Area with Moms 4 Housing, the unhoused and insecurely housed mothers who were evicted Tuesday by a militarized police force from a vacant home they had been occupying in Oakland, California. The action ended a two-month standoff between the mothers and real estate developer Wedgewood Properties when sheriff's deputies arrested two mothers and two of their supporters. All four were released on bail Tuesday afternoon. We speak to Misty Cross, one of the moms who was arrested, and her daughter Destiny Johnson. "It was never about trying to stay in that house," s…
(2020-01-16). Planned picket line against CNN would have stopped Des Moines Democratic debate. peoplesworld.org 
DES MOINES, Iowa (PAI)—The Jan. 14 debate between six Democratic presidential hopefuls in Des Moines, Iowa, almost fell through. The reason it didn't was pressure on its broadcaster, the Cable News Network (CNN), by Democratic National Chairman Thomas Perez, a former Obama administration Labor Secretary, and the promise by the six not to cross a …
(2020-01-16). 'You're a liberal hack!' GOP Senator snubs CNN journo at impeachment trial — then tweets the insult (VIDEO). rt.com 
With the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump officially underway, not everyone involved is keen to give the liberal media soundbites. Arizona Senator Martha McSally let CNN's Manu Raju know exactly what she thought of him. | Following the delivery of the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Thursday and the swearing-in of Senators, CNN's Manu Raju waited in the halls of the US Capitol to ask Republicans whether the Senate should permit new evidence against Trump to be admitted, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier it should. | "Senator McSally, should the Senate consider new evidence as part…
(2020-01-16). Pelosi wants new impeachment witnesses, says Trump broke the law in withholding Ukraine aid. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused US President Donald Trump of breaking the law by delaying military aid to Ukraine. One day after submitting articles of impeachment to the Senate, Pelosi now wants to call more witnesses. | Her calls come on foot of a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which claims Trump broke the law by temporarily withholding military aid to Ukraine last year. According to the report, Trump held up the aid based on "his own policy priorities," in violation of the Impoundment Control Act. | Pelosi, who on Wednesday announced her team of prosecutors who will lead t…
(2020-01-16). Jimmy Dore Interview — Voting In A Broken System, The Two-Party Illusion & Tulsi Gabbard. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is political commentator, and self-styled "jagoff nightclub comedian" yet, in truth, one of the most important voices of today in reaching the masses that are still lost to the comforting suffocation of the mainstream propaganda, and that of course is Jimmy Dore. (d.tube/c/tlavagabond) Bitcoin Donations Are Appreciated: www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/bitcoin-donation (3FSozj9gQ1UniHvEiRmkPnXzHSVMc68U9f)…
(2020-01-16). Trump steps up attacks on Bernie Sanders, showing just how scared he really is. thecanary.co With the US presidential election approaching in 11 months' time, Donald Trump is going into attack mode. But he has a new target. Whereas previously he and his backers were focusing on Democratic Party establishment favourite Joe Biden, they are now homing in on democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. This can only mean one thing: they fear that he will wi…
(2020-01-16). Mideast war threat overshadows Democratic debate. wsws.org All six candidates—including the nominal "socialist" Bernie Sanders—criticized Trump's actions from the standpoint of advocating a more carefully considered strategy to advance the interests of American imperialism.
(2020-01-16). 'Fueling Warren-Sanders Discord Will Serve Trump': Ilhan Omar. telesurenglish.net Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar urged Wednesday supporters of Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to resist fighting online after they appeared resolved to escalate a disagreement between the two 2020 Democratic presidential candidates over a private meeting they had last before the beginning of their campaigns. | RELATED: | Elizabeth Warren Held Secret Talks With Hillary Clinton: Report | As the party's primary votes are approaching, Omar said the spat between bo…
(2020-01-16). Not Bernie, Us. Not Warren, Us. zcomm.org Their Clash Underscores the Need for Grassroots Wisdom…
(2020-01-16). Bernie and AOC urge Trump to stop delaying disaster relief aid for Puerto Rico. nationofchange.org "Let us be clear: Postponing the disbursement of this vital assistance any longer—in the face of the humanitarian needs of Puerto Rico—is simply shameful."
(2020-01-16). What Separates Sanders From Warren (and Everybody Else). truthdig.com In America, the term "middle class" has long been used to describe the majority of wage and salary earners, from those receiving a median annual income of around $50,000 to those who earn three or four times that amount. Whether Democrat or Republican, politicians from across the political aisle claim to represent the middle class—that vast-yet-amorphous segment of the population where the managers and the managed all seem to fit together. | The term has always been somewhat problematic when it comes to politics. As Joan C. Williams observes in her 2017 book, "White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluelessn…
(2020-01-16). Milwaukee meets Trump with huge protest. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI — As President Donald Trump took the stage at the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Arena on the evening of January 14, over 2000 rallied and marched against his visit and his reactionary agenda. The action was led by the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention, a growing group of nearly 20 organizations that has come together to march and protest at the Democratic Convention which will be in Milwaukee this summer. | Omar Flores, a leader with the coalition, served as the press representative for the action and also spoke at the rally before the mass march. Afterward, he explained why the…
(2020-01-16). Headlines for January 16, 2020. democracynow.org House Lawmakers Deliver Articles of Impeachment to Senate, Ex-Giuliani Associate Says Trump Knew of Ukraine Pressure Campaign, U.S. Troops Resume Iraq Operations Despite Parliament's Expulsion Order, Afghan Reconstruction Watchdog Tells Congress of U.S. "Mendacity" and "Lies", Trump Signs "Phase 1" Agreement with China, Easing Trade War, Russian Government Resigns as Vladimir Putin Seeks to Retain Power Beyond 2024, At Least 21 Killed in Idlib Amid Syrian, Russian Airstrikes, Court Blocks Trump Order Allowing Local Leaders to Refuse Refugees, ACLU Sues to End Trump's Policy of Sending Asylum Seekers to Guatemala,…
(2020-01-16). 'CNN Is Truly a Terrible Influence on This Country'. zcomm.org Democratic Debate Moderators Pilloried for Centrist Talking Points and Anti-Sanders Bias…
(2020-01-16). The Biggest Loser in the Iowa Debate? CNN's Reputation. commondreams.org Six candidates out of the field qualified for the first Democratic presidential primary debate of 2020, hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register on Jan. 14. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-11995510881_2.jpg …
(2020-01-16). Broad Bipartisan Congressional Votes on Revised NAFTA Cement New Floor for Trade Pacts: Pharma Giveaways, Extreme Investor Rights in Past Pacts Are Out, Better Labor and Environmental Terms In After Democrats Forced Trump to Redo His 2018 NAFTA 2.0 Deal. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-01-16). Robert Reich: Facebook Is Failing the American People. truthdig.com Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he'll run political ads even if false. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey says he'll stop running political ads. | Dorsey has the correct approach, but this entire debate about ads skirts the bigger question: Who's responsible for protecting democracy from big, dangerous lies? | Donald Trump lies like most people breathe, and his lies have grown more vicious and dangerous as he's been cornered — conjuring up conspiracies, spewing hate, and saying established facts are lies, and lies are truths. | This would be hard enough for a democracy to handle, but Zuckerberg's Facebook sends Trum…
(2020-01-16). The White House's Dangerously Expansive Views on Trump's Powers That You Can't See. aclu.org A basic legal consensus about our democracy is that the Constitution assigns the " power of the purse" to Congress. Turning this edict on its head, White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) lawyers reportedly concocted a legal theory that President Trump can override Congress's foreign policy spending decisions enshrined in law. If such a dangerously expansive proposal exists as a full legal opinion, it…
(2020-01-16). Trump Was on Board With the Plan to Use Ukraine to Torpedo Biden, Parnas Says. truthout.org Lev Parnas, a close associate of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, claimed in a series of interviews that aired on Wednesday and Thursday that the president and top aides were aware of and on board with the plot to use Ukraine to torpedo former Vice President Joe Biden's chances in the 2020 election. | Parnas made the claims on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show, CNN's New Day, and to the New York Times. | "I am betting my whole life that Trump knew exactly everything that was g…
(2020-01-16). Senate Urged to Convict Trump After GAO Says Freezing Ukraine Aid Was Illegal. truthout.org Sparking fresh calls for the Republican-controlled Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office, a federal watchdog agency announced Thursday that the White House violated the law by withholding congressionally approved U.S. military aid to Ukraine — a decision at the center of the impeachment probe. | In its official decision on the matter, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) — an independent agency that repor…
(2020-01-16). Group Behind Wisconsin Voter Purge Lawsuit Has Strong GOP Ties. commondreams.org Considered the "MVP" of the right-wing infrastructure built in the state over the past decade, WILL's leaders and funders include many of Wisconsin's heaviest Republican hitters and have collectively poured at least $12 million into the Wisconsin GOP and its candidates over the past two decades. (Photo: Creative Commons) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/respect-wisconsin-voters-900×508.jpeg …
(2020-01-16). Pelosi Pushes for a Real Impeachment Trial With Witnesses and Cross-Examination. truthout.org In a historic move, the House of Representatives presented articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate Wednesday. It marks only the third presidential impeachment trial in all of U.S. history. Earlier Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a news conference with the seven impeachment managers. The House vote to send articles of impeachment to the Senate comes as The Washington Post reports explosive new information at the center of the impeachment inquiry. New material r…
(2020-01-16). Bernie Is Less Sexist Than American Voters. thenation.com Bernie Is Less Sexist Than American Voters…
(2020-01-16). 'The New York Times' Is Enabling Republican Lies. thenation.com 'The New York Times' Is Enabling Republican Lies…
(2020-01-16). 'I Made a Lot of Bankers Look Very Good,' Brags Trump as Wall Street Titans Enjoy $32 Billion Tax Bonanza. commondreams.org "It looks like Trump just let the six largest banks 'get away with murder' something he promised he wouldn't do as president," said a senior advisor to Bernie Sanders in response. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-6341888501.jpg …
(2020-01-16). Schumer Praised for Joining Sanders in Voting Against Trump Trade Deal That Ignores Climate Crisis. commondreams.org Environmentalists and progressives nationwide praised Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday for voting against President Donald Trump's new trade deal because it ignored the human-caused climate crisis. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-6873969301.jpg …
(2020-01-16). Senate Urged to Convict Trump After GAO Says White House Broke Law by Freezing Ukraine Aid. commondreams.org Sparking fresh calls for the Republican-controlled Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office, a federal watchdog agency announced Thursday that the White House violated the law by withholding congressionally approved U.S. military aid to Ukraine—a decision at the center of the impeachment probe. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mulvaney_trump_0.jpg …
(2020-01-16). Right-Wing 'Review Boards' in Missouri Would Pave Way for Arresting Librarians Over Books Deemed 'Inappropriate'. commondreams.org The Missouri Library Association says it is monitoring a bill put forward in the state House by a Republican lawmaker, which, if passed, could create committees across the state with the power to jail librarians for distributing material the panels deem "inappropriate." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/4296033560_7f60636867_o_1.jpg …
(2020-01-16). The Warren-Sanders Squabble is Foolish. commondreams.org The current kerfuffle between Warren and Sanders has almost nothing to do with the real issues at stake in this election and even this primary. (Photo: Joe Skipper/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_1.png …
(2020-01-15). #CNNisTrash unites political rivals after network hammers Sanders in Democratic debate. rt.com 
It's not just the right who accuse CNN of peddling 'fake news'. After the network's treatment of Bernie Sanders in a recent Iowa debate, the left joined them on Twitter. | With the field of Democratic hopefuls whittled down, six frontrunners took to the stage in Des Moines on Tuesday night, with polls putting four of them as frontrunners: Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden, and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Hosted by CNN, the debate was the final Democratic head-to-head before next month's Iowa caucuses. | Tensions between Sanders and Warren were hi…
(2020-01-15). 'Even Hillary and Trump shook hands': Warren snubs Sanders handshake after tense Democratic debate (VIDEO). rt.com 
Tuesday night's Democratic debate was marked by an ever-widening schism between long-time 'friends' turned rivals, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, which culminated in a spurned handshake which has become the talk of Twitter. | The talking match was punctuated by several increasingly tense and bitter exchanges between the pair as the night wore on. Roughly 45 minutes into the discussion, CNN moderator Abby Phillip asked Sanders to respond to reports he told Warren that a woman couldn't win the 2020 election. | Handshake: REJECTED pic.twitter.com/LUA49Z0JCc— Timot…
(2020-01-15). Phyllis Bennis on Dem Debate: Support for Combat Troop Withdrawal Is Not Enough to Stop Endless Wars. democracynow.org 
Six Democratic presidential candidates sparred on Tuesday night in Des Moines, the last debate before the crucial Iowa caucuses. The debate, hosted by CNN and The Des Moines Register, focused heavily on foreign policy and rising tensions with Iran following the U.S. assassination of that country's top military commander, Qassem Soleimani. As the presidential field continues to narrow, the U.S. Senate is preparing for the historic impeachment trial of President Trump, for which Senators Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar are all expected to leave the campaign trail to serve their role as jurors.
(2020-01-15). Democrats Debate Wealth Tax, Free Public College & Student Debt Relief as Part of New Economic Plan. democracynow.org 
At Tuesday's Democratic debate, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg repeated his criticism of plans for tuition-free public college and wiping out student debt, supported by both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Activist and Truthout contributor Alexis Goldstein says the dispute highlights a philosophical split within the Democratic Party. "We essentially have a disagreement between the progressive candidates and the moderate candidates about whether or not we want to pursue a universal benefit for higher education and make it a public good, much in the way that K-12 education is treated as a public good,"
(2020-01-15). People Want a Wealth Tax, but Many Politicians Oppose It. therealnews.com 
Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are practically the only major politicians supporting a wealth tax to reduce inequality and fund government programs, even though polling shows nearly two-thirds of Americans support it.
(2020-01-15). In First All-White Democratic Debate, CNN Didn't Ask a Single Question About Immigration. democracynow.org 
As the federal government plans to divert an additional $7.2 billion from the military budget for the construction of President Trump's promised border wall, and tens of thousands of asylum seekers from Central America, the Caribbean and other regions are stranded throughout the U.S.-Mexico border, CNN moderators failed to question Democratic presidential candidates on border and immigration issues. We speak to Julio Ricardo Varela, co-host of the Latinx political podcast "In the Thick" and founder of Latino Rebels. "Anyone who thinks that a wall is going to protect us, the statistics aren't there. … But that i…
(2020-01-15). Trump's war on Iran, health care loom large at Dem debate. peoplesworld.org 
DES MOINES, Iowa — It was clear at the last Democratic debate before the Feb. 3 caucuses here that if any one of the six participating candidates were in the White House there would be a world of difference between what that president does and what we see today from Donald Trump. Whether it was …
(2020-01-15). Pelosi announces impeachment managers, House votes to send articles to Senate for trial (VIDEO). rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has named the House Democrats who will serve as seven impeachment managers — or prosecutors outlining the case — in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump. | The case against Trump will be led by California Rep. Adam Schiff, who as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee led the initial impeachment inquiry against Trump. House Judiciary chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY) will act as Schiff's second in command. A long-time opponent of Trump, Nadler's committee drafted the articles of impeachment following Schiff's inquiry. | Democratic Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA),…
(2020-01-15). Sanders and Warren Openly Spar as Some Progressives Fear Fighting Could Help Centrist Democrats. democracynow.org 
At Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren openly sparred for the first time when asked about Warren's claim that Sanders told her in a private 2018 meeting that a woman could not win the presidential election. Sanders again denied the accusation when asked about it by CNN's Abby Phillip. Warren maintained her claim. At the end of the night, Warren also apparently refused to shake Sanders's hand. We speak with journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat, activist and Truthout contributor Alexis Goldstein and Larry Hamm of People's Organization for Prog…
(2020-01-15). Iran-Iraq solidarity grows amid U.S. threats. workers.org 
United States policy toward both Iran and Iraq is based not on "bad advice" or howling blunders by President Donald Trump, as Democratic Party pundits claim. It is not just a "mismanaged" foreign policy. Times Square protest, Jan. 8, New York City. (WW photo: Brenda Ryan) Washington's miscalculations of the . . . | Continue reading Iran-Iraq solidarity grows amid U.S. threats at Workers.org
(2020-01-15). CNN Attacks Sanders in Iowa Dem Debate. therealnews.com 
The Warren/Sanders feud is splitting progressives. Can Sanders unite the working class with anti-war policies and Medicare for All?
(2020-01-15). CNN, Warren's Sexism Jibe Against Sanders Backfires as #CNNisTrash Trends on Twitter. mintpressnews.com CNN has been widely criticized for its perceived bias in moderating yesterday's Democratic presidential debate in Iowa. With just three weeks before the first primaries, six leading candidates descended upon Des Moines last night to take part. But, as with previous debates, much of the public discussion centered on the organization, framing and bias of the organizers and moderators. | CNN asked Bernie Sanders, the most left-leaning of the candidates, if he thought he "owed voters an explanation" on how much his health plan would cost them…
(2020-01-15). Headlines for January 15, 2020. democracynow.org House to Vote to Send Impeachment Articles to Senate, WaPo: Threatening Text Messages Show Yovanovitch Was Under Surveillance, War Powers Resolution Limiting Trump on Iran Could Pass Senate | , Six Democratic Candidates Took Stage in Des Moines, Iowa, 5,000 Puerto Ricans Still Homeless After 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake, HRW Blasts China for Human Rights Violations Against Uyghurs & Protesters | , 15 Women Murdered in Honduras in First 2 Weeks of This Year, American Citizen Moustafa Kassem Dies in Egyptian Prison After Hunger Strike, Seattle Bans Foreign-Influenced Companies from Political Spending, "Jeopardy!" Apolo…
(2020-01-15). Tampa students rally against aggressions towards Iran. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – At the University of South Florida, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held their second rally against the President Trump's and U.S. aggression towards Iran. The protest, attended by around 20 students on campus on January 14, has come in the wake of the assassination of a high-ranking Iranian military figure, Qassem Soleimani. | Along with the threat of more U.S. troops to the region and further hostilities, Iran has been hit by U.S. economic sanctions since 2010. An SDS member told the crowd, "The sanctions have greatly limited the amount of medical resources that Iran can get. This has result…
(2020-01-15). Trump Escalates Authoritarian Tone in Milwaukee Rally. progressive.org In the President's view, the Democratic Party is a malicious, disloyal force with sinister and destructive plans for the nation.
(2020-01-15). Thousands protest Trump visit in Milwaukee. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI — More than 2000 people joined to protest President Trump as he visited here, January 14. The protest was organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC. | One of the protest organizers, Ryan Hamann, stated, "Trump is the main enemy of the working class and other oppressed people."
(2020-01-15). Video Shows TWO Missiles Bringing Down Iran 737, Second Plane Reported & Iraq And Syria Under Attack. 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 (1/14/19). 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 …
(2020-01-15). In Iowa Debate, Progressives Resist Efforts to Divide Them. progressive.org The moderators did all they could to start a fight, but Sanders and Warren refused to bite.
(2020-01-15). Pete and Amy Needed to Crush the Iowa Debate. They Did Not. thenation.com 
Buttigieg and Klobuchar have to do well in their neighboring Midwestern state's caucus to advance, and their mediocre nights didn't help them.
(2020-01-15). Bernie Sanders Won't Play Your Game. thenation.com Bernie Sanders Won't Play Your Game…
(2020-01-15). Why Was Pete Buttigieg Still on the Debate Stage—and Kamala Harris Wasn't? thenation.com Why Was Pete Buttigieg Still on the Debate Stage—and Kamala Harris Wasn't?
(2020-01-14). CLEAN Future Act Is 'Shameful' and 'Greenwashing,' say Climate Justice Groups. therealnews.com 
Democrats' CLEAN Future Act calls for "net zero" carbon emissions by 2050 but doesn't require a fossil fuel industry phaseout. Critics say the bill lacks ambition and ignores the short timeline for radical action dictated by climate science.
(2020-01-14). "Morir Soñando": Martín Espada Reads Poem About Luis Garden Acosta, Young Lord & Community Activist. democracynow.org 
Last week marked the first anniversary of the passing of Luis Garden Acosta, the founder and longtime president of the nationally known El Puente youth and community leadership program in Brooklyn. Long regarded as one of New York City's foremost human rights and Latino community activists, Garden Acosta died last January at the age of 72. A former seminarian who had been active in the Catholic antiwar movement, Garden Acosta joined the Young Lords Party in 1970 and later founded that group's Massachusetts chapter while he was still a student at Harvard Medical School. He went on to pioneer successful nonviolent…
(2020-01-14). Moms 4 Housing: Meet the Oakland Mothers Facing Eviction After Two Months Occupying Vacant House. democracynow.org 
In Oakland, California, a group of mothers fighting homelessness is waging a battle against real estate speculators and demanding permanent solutions to the Bay Area housing crisis by occupying a vacant house with their children. The struggle began in November, when working mothers in West Oakland moved into 2928 Magnolia Street, a vacant house owned by real estate investment firm Wedgewood Properties. The firm tried to evict them, claiming they were illegally squatting on private property, but the mothers went to court and filed a "right to possession" claim, saying housing is a human right. Their name is Moms 4…
(2020-01-14). Hear no evil, see no evil, print no evil? MSM warn journalists away from Burisma/Biden info after 'hack' report. rt.com 
The US political and media elite have warned any journalist who might think of publishing (or even looking at) material potentially hacked from Ukrainian gas firm Burisma that they're essentially handing 2020's election to Russia. | Burisma Holdings – the Ukrainian company where Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden's son Hunter served as a director – has been hacked, cybersecurity firm Area 1 announced on Tuesday. Area 1 has ties to both the NSA and Crowdstrike, the firm behind 2016's still-unproven "Russian hacking" allegations, and has…
(2020-01-14). "Floaters": Martín Espada Pays Tribute to Salvadoran Father & Daughter Who Drowned at U.S. Border. democracynow.org 
Acclaimed poet Martín Espada pays tribute to àìscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his 23-month old daughter Angie Valeria, who drowned in the Rio Grande river in June 2019 trying to cross into the United States. A photo of the drowned Salvadoran father and daughter caused widespread outrage at the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border and also raised questions about the ethics of exploiting such images in the press. Espada's poem "Floaters" meditates on their passing and its aftermath.
(2020-01-14). GOP Debate on Impeachment Witnesses Intensifies as Pelosi Prepares to Send Articles to Senate. democracynow.org 
The impeachment trial of President Trump is anticipated to proceed this week, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to send the two articles of impeachment to the Senate as early as Wednesday. The House impeached Trump in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. A growing number of Republican senators are pushing for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a vote on whether to allow witnesses to speak at the Senate trial. The timing of the Senate impeachment trial could impact the 2020 presidentia…
(2020-01-14). Headlines for January 14, 2020. democracynow.org "It Doesn't Really Matter": Trump Changes Story on Soleimani Killing, Six Democratic Candidates Will Take Stage for Debate in Iowa Tonight, Sanders Refutes Warren's Charge That He Said a Woman Couldn't Win in 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Launching New PAC to Support Progressive Democrats, Trump Plans to Divert Additional $7.2 Billion from Military Budget to Border Wall, Turkey and Russia Broker Ceasefire for Idlib, Syria, France to Send More Troops to West Africa Amid Rising Violence in Sahel, 55 Die in Avalanches in Pakistan, Study: 2019 Was Hottest Year for World's Oceans on Record, AG Barr and Apple Face Off…
(2020-01-14). Pundits Go Nuts Over New Russian Hacking Conspiracy. theantimedia.com (CJ Opinion) — The New York Times reports that GRU operatives launched a successful "phishing attack" on the Ukrainian gas company at the heart of scandalous allegations about Joe Biden, and establishment pundits are falling all over themselves to tweet the hottest take on this exciting new Russia conspiracy. The story itself fails the smell test on a …
(2020-01-14). Israel Provided The Intel To Kill Soleimani & A Cyberattack May Have Been Behind Iran's 737 Downing. 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 (1/13/19). 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 …
(2020-01-14). Live Chat: Watch the 7th Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'. thenation.com Live Chat: Watch the 7th Democratic Debate With 'The Nation'
(2020-01-14). Mass Media Attacks on a Surging Sanders. dissidentvoice.org 
CNN (1/13/19) has an anonymously sourced hit piece out today on Bernie Sanders, claiming that at a meeting in Elizabeth Warren's home on December 18, 2018, he told her "a woman can't win" the presidency. The article, by CNN correspondent MJ Lee, is so journalistically shoddy that someone reading only the first few paragraphs would …
(2020-01-13). "Stop the Money Pipeline": 150 Arrested at Protests Exposing Wall Street's Link to Climate Crisis. democracynow.org 
Nearly 150 people were arrested on Capitol Hill Friday in a climate protest led by Academy Award-winning actor and activist Jane Fonda. Fonda has been leading weekly climate demonstrations in Washington, D.C., known as "Fire Drill Fridays," since October. For her last and 14th protest, actors Martin Sheen and Joaquin Phoenix, indigenous anti-pipeline activist Tara Houska, journalist Naomi Klein and dozens more lined up to get arrested as they demanded a mass uprising and swift political action to thwart the climate crisis. Fonda then marched with supporters down Pennsylvania Avenue to a Chase Bank branch where en…
(2020-01-13). Democratic Debate: Will Progressives Highlight the Cost of War? therealnews.com 
Senators Sanders and Warren could have their best opportunity yet to argue that if the U.S. has trillions to pay for war abroad, it can invest in healthcare, education, and infrastructure at home.
(2020-01-13). "America Exists Today to Make War": Lawrence Wilkerson on Endless War & American Empire. democracynow.org 
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff from 2002 to 2005, says the escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran today is a continuation of two decades of U.S. policy disasters in the Middle East, starting with the 2003 run-up to war with Iraq under the Bush administration. "America exists today to make war. How else do we interpret 19 straight years of war and no end in sight? It's part of who we are. It's part of what the American Empire is," says Wilkerson. "We are going to cheat and steal to do whatever it is we have to do to continue th…
(2020-01-13). "A System Failure": Iran Admits to Downing Airplane, Sparking Renewed Anti-Government Protests. democracynow.org 
Iranian protesters have taken to the streets for a third day, after the Iranian military acknowledged it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner last week, killing all 176 people on board, including 82 Iranians and 57 Canadians. Iran initially denied downing the plane, but Iran's Revolutionary Guard took responsibility for what authorities now describe as a "disastrous mistake." The plane was downed hours after Iranian forces fired 22 rockets at military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, in retaliation for the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Millions of Iranians took to the streets la…
(2020-01-13). Calling Bernie Sanders Anti-Semitic Is Islamophobic. therealnews.com 
Sahar Aziz discusses her article from The New Arab, "Accusing Bernie Sanders of anti-Semitism is nothing but thinly veiled Islamophobia." The accusation of anti-Semitism has been weaponized to attack people who promote solidarity with Muslim Americans and who demand sustainable foreign policy towards the Middle East.
(2020-01-13). Headlines for January 13, 2020. democracynow.org Esper Says He Did Not See Specific Evidence Soleimani Was Planning Embassy Attacks, Iran Admits It Mistakenly Shot Down Plane Last Week, Sparking Protests, House Expected to Vote to Send Articles of Impeachment to Senate This Week, Coveted New Hampshire Union SEIU Local Endorses Sanders, White House Press Secretary Under Pressure to Hold Press Briefing, Volcanic Eruption in Philippines Forces Residents to Evacuate Homes, French Government Backing Down on Efforts to Raise Retirement Age, Taiwan: Voters Re-elect President Tsai Ing-wen in Rebuke to Beijing, Malta: New Prime Minister to Be Sworn In, After Journalist'