(2020-02-06). Trump slams Romney & Pelosi for faith-based hypocrisy during impeachment. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump took a veiled swipe at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the sole Republican senator to vote for his removal, Mitt Romney, slamming those who use their faith to justify "doing what they know is wrong." | Trump avoided calling the sanctimonious pair out by name during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, but everyone listening seemed to know which "very dishonest and corrupt people" he was referring to with his accusations of rank religious hypocrisy. | #NationalPrayerBreakfast pic.twitter.com/79XCLpD7GP— CSPAN (@cspan)
(2020-02-06). BlueGreen Alliance chief: PRO Act could create green union jobs. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Turning aside a multitude of Republican "poison pill" schemes, the Democratic-run U.S. House stands poised to pass the Protect The Right To Organize (PRO) Act, the nation's most-comprehensive pro-worker labor law reform in decades. As strenuous worker lobbying by e-mail and toll-free phone preceded the vote, the head of the labor-environmentalist BlueGreen Alliance said he …
(2020-02-06). PHONY liberal media turns Republican Romney into HERO for sticking it to Trump (just like it did McCain & Bush). rt.com 
Mitt Romney is the latest token Republican being hoisted up on the shoulders of the mainstream media thanks to his "courageous" decision to defy Donald Trump by voting with Democrats to impeach the president. | You would think the Utah senator single-handedly defeated Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and then rescued a few kittens out of trees on his way home the way the media is writing about him. | The New Yorker declared that the former presidential candidate "seized" a chance to "rewrite his own place in history" with his impeachment vote. | An opinion piece in the Washington Post deemed the decision "cou…
(2020-02-06). Historian: With Impeachment Acquittal, the GOP Has Given Trump a Blank Check to Do Anything He Wants. democracynow.org 
The U.S. Senate has acquitted President Trump of two impeachment charges in just the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Trump was accused of abusing power and obstructing Congress to aid his re-election campaign by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Every Democratic senator voted to remove President Trump from office, but they were joined by just one Republican: Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, who supported impeaching Trump on abuse of power. Romney became the first senator ever to vote against his own party's president in an impeachment trial. President Trump respond…
(2020-02-06). Chaos Continues in Iowa as Democrats Mistakenly Award Delegates for Bernie Sanders to Deval Patrick. democracynow.org 
Results from Monday's Iowa caucuses continue to trickle in, with 97% of precincts reporting as of Thursday morning. Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are now in a virtual tie. Sanders maintains a lead in the popular vote, but Buttigieg has a slight advantage in what's known as the "state delegate equivalent" race. Buttigieg has 26.2% of state delegate equivalents, while Sanders is at 26.1%. The New York Times is now predicting Sanders has a greater chance of winning overall, in part because of the Vermont senator's overwhelming strength in satellite caucuses. Responding to widespre…
(2020-02-06). Corporate Media Is Trying to Manufacture a Pete Buttigieg Win. truthdig.com 
The way media outlets are reporting the still incomplete Iowa caucus results to put the former South Bend mayor on top is confounding.
(2020-02-06). 'Must have studied theology at Trump University': Donald Jr. schooled after trying for Pelosi diss with Bible reference. rt.com 
Donald Trump Jr. got an unexpected Bible lesson when going after Nancy Pelosi with a Satan reference and learned that he didn't know the holy text well enough. | Don Jr. has plenty of reasons to insult Pelosi, but his latest diss didn't really hit the mark. | "Likelihood of Nancy Pelosi praying for Trump is about the same as the likelihood of Satan running around quoting the Scriptures," Trump Jr. tweeted in response to a video of his father at the National Prayer Breakfast criticizing people who "use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong." | Likelihood of Nancy Pelosi praying for Trum…
(2020-02-06). Erasing History: The National Archives Is Destroying Records About Victims of Trump's ICE Policies. democracynow.org 
Last month, the National Archives and Records Administration apologized for doctoring a photo of the 2017 Women's March to remove criticisms of President Trump. The shocking revelation that the agency had altered the image was first reported in The Washington Post. In an exhibit called "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote," the National Archives had displayed a large image of the first Women's March. But signs referencing Trump had been blurred to remove his name — including a poster reading "God Hates Trump" and another reading "Trump & GOP — Hands Off Women." Other signs in the photo refere…
(2020-02-06). 'Shame on you': Protests in Germany after surprise election of Thuringia's chief with AfD's support sparks uproar. rt.com 
Demonstrations were staged in German cities after the head of the state of Thuringia was elected with the backing of the anti-migrant AfD party. The vote created a fresh dent in the ruling coalition in Berlin. | Protesters gathered for a vigil outside the State Chancellery in Thuringia's capital Erfurt on Thursday to denounce pro-business Free Democratic Party's (FDP) Thomas Kemmerich, who was unexpectedly elected the region's Minister-President (MP) with the support of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). | The Left party and antifa groups began marching and rallying in front of the State Chancellery and region…
(2020-02-06). PM of Germany's Thuringia resigns, calls for dissolution of state parliament after scandalous vote brought him to power. rt.com 
The PM of the German state of Thuringia has called for the regional parliament to be dissolved after his election unleashed a massive scandal when Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU joined forces with right-wing AfD to support him. | A vote for Thuringia's new prime minister in the regional legislature sent shockwaves across Germany as an unlikely candidate was elected through a alliance of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and anti-establishment forces from Alternative for Germany (AfD), something widely considered taboo. | Last October's polls left Thuringia in a sort of limbo since the previous broad l…
(2020-02-06). 'Taboo gone': Ruling coalition in Germany shaken by fresh crisis after Merkel's CDU breaks ranks on not cooperating with AfD. rt.com 
Germany's Christian Democrats — the ruling party of Angela Merkel — have found themselves in a fresh crisis after members in the state of Thuringia defied 'recommendations' to avoid working with the anti-establishment AfD party. | The political mayhem stems from the election in eastern Germany's Thuringia region last October, when the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) more than doubled its support and came in second after the ruling Left Party. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), on the other hand, was left red-faced, losing 13 seats in regional parliament and finishing t…
(2020-02-06). A Neoliberal Legacy: America's Fascism Problem Runs Much Deeper Than Trump. mintpressnews.com 
In recent years, the press reports of racist young whites attracted to far-right persuasions including flirting with fascism. But are they the cause or the consequence?
(2020-02-06). Republican and Democratic Parties in Turmoil. counterpunch.org Stumbling into February, both major political parties in the U.S. are in disarray as they face uncertain, unplanned and uncontrollable futures going into a crucial election year. For Republicans, it's the dangerous and perhaps foolish choice to acquit a corrupt president who has been impeached. For Democrats, it's looking like Bernie Sanders, the Independent senator
(2020-02-06). Democrats Mistakenly Award Iowa Delegates for Bernie Sanders to Deval Patrick. truthout.org Results from Monday's Iowa caucuses continue to trickle in, with 97% of precincts reporting as of Thursday morning. Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg are now in a virtual tie. Sanders maintains a lead in the popular vote, but Buttigieg has a slight advantage in what's known as the "state delegate equivalent" race. Buttigieg has 26.2% of state delegate equivalents, while Sanders is at 26.1%. The New York Times is now predicting Sanders has a greater chance of winn…
(2020-02-06). With 97 Percent of Iowa Results in, Sanders Leads Buttigieg in Popular Vote. truthout.org A new batch of Iowa Democratic caucus results released in the early hours of Thursday morning showed Sen. Bernie Sanders almost completely wiping out Pete Buttigieg's narrow lead in state delegate equivalents while extending his popular vote lead over the former South Bend, Indiana mayor to With 97% of precincts reporting, Sanders trails Buttigieg by just three state delegate equivalents [mdash…
(2020-02-06). Bernie Sanders Reports Massive January Haul After Iowa Debacle. truthdig.com Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign announced Thursday that it raised a staggering $25 million in the month of January alone, by far the biggest fundraising month of the senator's campaign and a larger haul than his 2020 Democratic rivals posted in any full quarter of 2019. | The campaign said over 219,000 of the total 648,000 January donors were new, and the average donation was just over $18. Teacher was the most common profession of January donors and the most common employers were Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, the United States Postal Service, and Target. | More than 99.9% of Sanders' donors have not max…
(2020-02-06). How California Will Be Stolen From Bernie Sanders (Again). truthdig.com Given what just unfolded at the Iowa caucuses, not to mention in 2016, voters in the Golden State need to look out on Super Tuesday.
(2020-02-06). Iowa Fiasco Raises the Stakes for New Hampshire, Where Sanders Could Win Big. indybay.org Corporate Democrats are ready to escalate…
(2020-02-06). Video: Syrian Army Advance in Idlib Province. Netanyahu and Erdogan to the Rescue of Al Qaeda. globalresearch.ca In Greater Idlib the defences of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other favorites of the foreign powers supporting 'Syrian democracy' are collapsing. | On February 5, the Syrian Army, supported by Russian airpower, took control of a number of villages in southeastern …
(2020-02-06). Republicans Have Weakened Congress in Order to Protect Trump. truthout.org In the United States, money is synonymous with merit. There is a presumption at the core of capitalism's narrative that if you are wealthy, you earned it through virtue and "hard work," not theft or nepotism. This mythology helped fuel the deregulation that led to the financial crisis, and it is also part of President Trump's rise. Trump's wealth earned him prestige in the eyes of millions, who in turn handed him the power of the presidency. And Trump's wealth and power has now led Congress to declare him ab…
(2020-02-06). Trump's 'Red Meat' SOTU Speech: US Political Crisis Now Deepens. counterpunch.org If anyone thinks the recent impeachment and Senate trial was the high point of the growing conflict between the two political parties, Republican (correct that: Trumpublicans now) and Democrat, they haven't seen anything yet. The worst, much worse is yet to come in the months leading up to the November 2020 elections.
(2020-02-06). San Francisco In Nationwide Rejection of Senate Coverup. indybay.org Protest on Market Street against Republican Whitewash of Gangster President…
(2020-02-06). What's Next Front in Trump's Battle Over Presidential Powers?>. telesurenglish.net Both in Federal courts and in the Senate, U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyers have argued that the Constitution confers on a president broad protection from scrutiny by Congress, prosecutors, and the judiciary for his actions. | RELATED: | This expansive view of presidential powers may have helped the Republican president win acquittal, and for now, he is the first impeached president to seek re-election. | The final verd…
(2020-02-06). An American Drama: Republican Senators Sabotaged Donald Trump's Impeachment Trial. globalresearch.ca The die is cast. —History will record that Republican senators in the U.S. Senate used their majority to sabotage the impeachment trial of Donald Trump and, in so doing, de facto exonerated him of abuse of power and of obstruction …
(2020-02-06). DNC Calls for a 'Recanvass' of Iowa Results After Delays. truthdig.com "Enough is enough," party leader Tom Perez writes on Twitter, after days of chaos; Buttigieg and Sanders are nearly tied for first.
(2020-02-06). Biden's and Buttigieg's Top Fundraisers Come From the Finance Sector. truthout.org Beginning in the fall, the Revolving Door Project was one of a handful of voices drawing attention to Democratic primary candidates' failure to release the names of their most important fundraisers. In op-eds, newsletters, and across other forums throughout the fall we repeatedly made the case that this consequential information could not stay hidden. | Why were we so insistent? A candidate's list of top fundraisers, or bundlers, provides clearer insight than perhaps any other piece of campaign materia…
(2020-02-06). The Shambles of English Votes for English Laws. globalresearch.ca The idea of Scotland as a valued member of a Union based on consensus is in tatters. The idea of a parliament representing the whole of the United Kingdom is no longer credible. In a week in which Westminster democracy …
(2020-02-06). The Divided States of Trumpistan? counterpunch.org With the end of the Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump the partisan divide is deepened and acquittal a mere formality. Mitch McConnell promised to quickly acquit Trump of the charges, he did so with no witnesses or evidence provided. It leaves me wondering what this leaves of American democracy, the Constitution, and where is the
(2020-02-06). Trudeau Government's Effort to Overthrow Venezuelan Government. dissidentvoice.org What's more likely to shape Canadian policy in the Hemisphere: human rights and democracy or bankers' bottom-line? Last week Venezuelan politician Juan Guaidó was fêted in Ottawa. The self-declared president met Canada's Prime Minister, international development minister and foreign minister. Trudeau said, "I commend Interim President Guaidó for the courage and leadership he has shown …
(2020-02-06). Why are Democratic Candidates Taking Money From Union-Busting Lawyers? counterpunch.org The Iron Workers Union endorsed Joe Biden last week, citing his dedication to "defend rights and jobs of American workers", and calling him "a friend to union ironworkers". The union endorsement marks one of many that Democratic candidates are fighting for by unveiling detailed labor plans and promising to overturn "right-to work laws" that weaken
(2020-02-06). Democrats cover up extent of hexavalent chromium poisoning at public meeting in Detroit suburb. wsws.org At an informational meeting Monday evening in the Detroit suburb of Madison Heights officials sought to contain growing public anger over chemical contamination by a local industrial operator.
(2020-02-06). Trump emerges strengthened after Democrats' impeachment debacle. wsws.org From the beginning of the Trump presidency, the Democrats have worked to channel mass popular opposition to Trump behind their own right-wing, militarist agenda.
(2020-02-06). Emergency legislation for terror law offenders in UK sets anti-democratic precedent. wsws.org Whatever measures are used initially against terrorists will be deployed more widely against workers and youth who defy the class war offensive of the ruling elite.
(2020-02-06). Biden's and Buttegieg's Top Fundraisers Come From the Finance Sector. truthout.org Beginning in the fall, the Revolving Door Project was one of a handful of voices drawing attention to Democratic primary candidates' failure to release the names of their most important fundraisers. In op-eds, newsletters, and across other forums throughout the fall we repeatedly made the case that this consequential information could not stay hidden. | Why were we so insistent? A candidate's list of top fundraisers, or bundlers, provides clearer insight than perhaps any other piece of campaign materia…
(2020-02-06). Trump, Racism, and Fascism: More than Just Personality Disorders. dissidentvoice.org After the supposedly post-racial presidency of Barack Obama, what passes for the liberal punditry discovered racism had arisen in the homeland. They never felt so good feeling bad about racism, denouncing what they identified as its primal cause — Mr. Trump, who was sullying that "shining example" of the United States of America. Obscured were …
(2020-02-06). Tulsi Gabbard in New Hampshire. thenation.com Tulsi Gabbard in New Hampshire…
(2020-02-06). Impeachment Trial: A Timeline of How Democrats Tried and Failed to Remove Trump. sputniknews.com From a dramatic beginning to a predictable end, the Trump impeachment saga has been a sight to behold. But if Capitol Hill is just outside your news bubble, you might have missed a thing or two about the biggest crisis of Trump's presidency. Sputnik has followed the story closely and is ready to fill in the gaps.
(2020-02-06). 'Bad Day for Democracy': Merkel Slams Free Democrats Over AfD Backing in Thuringia Vote. sputniknews.com On Wednesday, Thomas Kemmerich of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) beat incumbent Left party candidate Bodo Ramelow 45 to 44 to become Thuringia state premier, gaining votes from the right-wing AfD.
(2020-02-06). Headlines for February 6, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Senate Acquits Trump of Two Impeachment Charges, Iowa Caucus: Sanders & Buttigieg Virtually Tied with 97% of Precincts Reporting | , Newborn Baby Becomes Youngest Person Diagnosed with Coronavirus as Death Toll in China Hits 560, Human Rights Watch: 138 Salvadoran Asylum Seekers Killed After Being Deported from U.S., DHS: New York Residents Can No Longer Participate in Trusted Traveler Programs | , Jair Bolsonaro Introduces Bill to Clear Way for Mining, Oil Extraction in Brazilian Amazon | , Nicolás Maduro: Trump Taking U.S. Toward "High-Level Conflict with Venezuela" | , Thousands Protest in Algeria for 50t…
(2020-02-05). Impeachment acquittal proves the Republican Party is guilty. peoplesworld.org 
Before the impeachment trial even began, the Republican leadership in the Senate made clear that the whole affair would be a sham. Evidence and witness testimony? Hearsay. The reports from the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees' extensive investigations? Irrelevant. The "transcript" of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Zelensky? A "perfect" call. In short, the verdict …
(2020-02-05). The facts about Ukraine that no one mentioned during the impeachment trial. peoplesworld.org 
As the Senate impeachment trial comes to its preordained conclusion, we need to keep a number of points in mind that no Democrat or Republican has been talking about during all these weeks and months of political drama—points related to the matter of Ukraine. The overwhelming majority of Americans would not question the competence, honesty, …
(2020-02-05). In State of the Union, Trump Celebrates Hate & Xenophobia While Touting "Great American Comeback" democracynow.org 
President Trump delivered his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, just a day before the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to vote to acquit him in the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Trump's speech, which focused heavily on the economy and immigration, sounded at times like a campaign rally, with Republican lawmakers chanting "Four more years!" He never once mentioned his impeachment trial. Prior to the speech, Trump refused to shake House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's hand, and once the speech was over, Pelosi was seen on television ripping up her copy of Trump's remarks. She la…
(2020-02-05). Sweet revenge? WATCH Pelosi tear up Trump's State of the Union speech after he snubs handshake. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up President Donald Trump's SOTU speech after fuming through the well-applauded yearly address. The gesture was met with cheers and jeers, divided along the usual partisan lines. | Pelosi looked barely able to contain her rage as she tore up what the White House has confirmed was Trump's 78-minute speech. While her supporters cheered the gesture of defiance — those who saw it, at least, and weren't boycotting the speech entirely — Republicans were appalled. |
(2020-02-05). 'Pete Buttigieg is the Juan Guaido of America': Lee Camp calls out conspiracy of 'intentional chaos' by Dem establishment. rt.com 
Democratic Party insiders bankrolled the defective vote-counting app that has delayed the reporting of Iowa caucus totals so as to deny likely winner Bernie Sanders a 'bump' and let Pete Buttigieg claim victory, Lee Camp told RT. | The party's establishment wing and its mainstream media stenographers are colluding to memory-hole the disastrous Iowa caucus vote and prop up their preferred candidates, muscling Sanders out of the way to position Buttigieg as the front-runner, Camp said on his Moment of Clarity podcast on Tuesday. | Describing the exhaustive establishment links to the faulty vote-reporting app…
(2020-02-05). Sanders & Buttigieg Lead in Early Iowa Results After Faulty App Leads to Catastrophe at Caucus. democracynow.org 
The final results of Monday's Democratic Iowa caucuses remain unknown, with 71% of precincts reporting the final tallies of the first 2020 presidential contest. Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in the popular vote, while former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a narrow lead of 26.8% of precincts — the state delegate equivalent traditionally used to determine the winner — followed by Sanders with 25.2%. Sanders won the popular vote in both the first and second rounds of voting, followed by Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Former Vice President Joe Biden placed fourth, followed by Senator Amy…
(2020-02-05). Roberto Lovato: Dems & GOP Share Same Playbook on Immigration, Foreign Policy & Corporate Domination. democracynow.org 
President Trump delivered his 2020 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. The speech reprised many of the themes of Trump's 2016 campaign, including demonization of immigrants. We continue our discussion with Lee Fang, investigative journalist at The Intercept, and Roberto Lovato, author of the forthcoming book "Unforgetting: A Memoir of Revolution and Redemption." About 10 Democrats skipped the speech and a few more walked out while it was in progress, but Lovato says the Democratic establishment doesn't differ with Trump on many key issues. "Nancy Pelosi may have ripped the speech…
(2020-02-05). Unleash the meme war! Pompeo mocks Pelosi's speech-tearing stunt with 'Simpsons' screenshot. rt.com 
The grandstanding between President Trump and Speaker Pelosi during the State of the Union address has triggered an avalanche of memes online, with Mike Pompeo taking part among others. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted a 'Simpsons' meme showing a tearful Lisa Simpson tearing papers into shreds in season 3 of the popular series. | The obvious dig at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who tore in half her…
(2020-02-05). Pelosi the paper (ripping) tiger: Pro-wrestling theatrics at SOTU fail to pull the wool in latest divide & conquer move. rt.com 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's speech-ripping performance at President Donald Trump's SOTU isn't fooling disaffected Democrats, who want a leader who actually stands up to the president, rather than #Resistance theatrics. | Pelosi's if-looks-could-kill glare and paper-tearing finale at the president's yearly address to Congress on Tuesday may have dominated the discussion on social media through the night, but for every blue-check cheering for "Nancy the Ripper," there was a jaded progressive wondering what happened to genuine opposition. | Democrats handed Trump a blank check to make war, a massive military bud…
(2020-02-05). Impeachment over: Senate votes to acquit Trump. rt.com 
The US Senate has voted to acquit President Donald Trump of impeachment charges brought by the House Democrats, ending the attempt to oust him from the White House ahead of the November 2020 elections. | The final vote on the first charge (abuse of power) was 52-48, with Mitt Romney (R-Utah) crossing the aisle to vote "guilty" alongside the Democrats. The vote on the second charge (obstruction of Congress) was 53-47, with Romney returning to the fold. It would have taken 67 votes to convict Trump on either count. | "Donald John Trump, president of the United States, is hereby acquitted," Chief Justice of the U…
(2020-02-05). Publisher Agrees to Boost Latinx Representation After Backlash to Whitewashed Novel "American Dirt" democracynow.org 
We look at the massive backlash and criticism against the novel "American Dirt" as a movement led by Latinx writers declares victory, demanding more representation in the publishing industry. Dignidad Literaria, or literary dignity, formed in response to the controversial immigration novel "American Dirt." The author, Jeanine Cummins, who is not Mexican, received a seven-figure advance for the book, and it was chosen for Oprah's Book Club. But its critics say "American Dirt" exploits and misrepresents Mexico and the experience of Mexican migrants. Critics also say the novel completely erases the voices of Central…
(2020-02-05). Elections 2020: Iowa Dems release partial Caucus results. peoplesworld.org 
Across the nation, all eyes and ears piqued with curiosity for the Monday night, Feb. 3, Iowa Democratic caucus results. The results itself would be either a bellwether for change, showing voters supporting more progressive presidential candidates, or a continuation of the status quo—a "traditional" liberal, center-left, "safe" candidate. This year's caucuses were slightly different …
(2020-02-05). Trump's State of the Union breaks his lies-per-minute record. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., had a great evaluation of GOP President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, even before he gave it. "I think we're going to hear lies," the Democrat from Chicago's North Side and adjoining suburbs said. She was right. Analysis of Trump's speech shows it was filled with omissions, slurs against …
(2020-02-05). 'The best is yet to come'? Defiant Trump doubles down in campaign rally-style State of the Union speech. rt.com 
Teased as "low key," US President Donald Trump's annual address to Congress was anything but, with several unprecedented symbolic gestures and a powerful assertion of American triumphalism that put his critics on the back foot. | Trump did not mention impeachment once in the 90-minute speech on Tuesday evening. Instead, he turned his persuasion skills up to eleven, painting a picture of America with a booming economy and infinite opportunities brought about by his administration, and contrasting that with Democrat proposals such as socialized healthcare and sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. | Amid the sta…
(2020-02-05). Don't be confused by Romney jumping ship — impeachment is about sticking to party lines. rt.com 
Impeachment supporters earned two more allies in Senators Mitt Romney and Doug Jones, but this process is about sticking to partisan camps when it comes to Donald Trump, not looking for truth. | Romney is the latest conservative hero to the left as he has announced he will vote to impeach the president on one of the two counts against him, abuse of power. Trump has been accused of attempting quid pro quo with Ukraine by withholding federal aid in exchange for an investigation into Joe Biden. | After an "unbiased look at the evidence," Romney says he has no choice but to follow his "conscience." | Since Romney…
(2020-02-05). After Iowa, Does Bernie Have What It Takes? counterpunch.org For Bernie Sanders supporters, the true debacle of the Iowa caucus meltdown was not the failure of the Shadow app, but rather their candidate's failure to claim victory when he had the chance. Instead he unwisely ceded that role to the corporate candidate extraordinaire, Pete Buttigieg. It stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump, who for all his faults would not have hesitated to declare victory, and who would have energized his supporters with the statement and cowed the party establishment.
(2020-02-05). Developer of Faulty Iowa Caucus App Was Entrenched in Democratic Establishment. truthout.org The final results of Monday's Democratic Iowa caucuses remain unknown, with 71% of precincts reporting the final tallies of the first 2020 presidential contest. Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in the popular vote, while former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a narrow lead of 26.8% of precincts — the state delegate equivalent traditionally used to determine the winner — followed by Sanders with 25.2%. Sanders won the popular vote in both the first and second rounds of voting,…
(2020-02-05). Dems and GOP Draw From Same Playbook on Immigration and Foreign Policy. truthout.org President Trump delivered his 2020 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. The speech reprised many of the themes of Trump's 2016 campaign, including demonization of immigrants. We continue our discussion with Lee Fang, investigative journalist at The Intercept, and Roberto Lovato, author of the forthcoming book Unforgetting: A Memoir of Revolution and Redemption. About 10 Democrats skipped the speech and a few more walked out while it was in progress, but Lovato says the…
(2020-02-05). Democrats' Wimpy Impeachment Has Made Trump Stronger Than Ever. counterpunch.org "Many Democrats fear that Trump may be laying an impeachment trap," Stephen Collins wrote for CNN last May. "It's possible that the wider political divides get, the more Trump benefits. The spectacle would help him charge up the political base he needs to turn out in droves in 2020 with claims their 2016 votes were
(2020-02-05). Senate Republicans Vote for Coverup of Trump Abuses of Power Denying Americans the Truth. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-02-05). Trump Gets Away With It: Senate Votes Against Impeachment. telesurenglish.net President Donald Trump was acquitted on Wednesday in his U.S. Senate impeachment trial, saved by fellow Republicans who rallied to protect him nine months before he asks voters in a deeply divided America to give him a second White House term. | RELATED: | The businessman-turned-reality tv star-turned-politician, 73, survived only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history – just lik…
(2020-02-05). Impeachment Is Over, But Don't Despair. commondreams.org Senate Republicans chose to stage a shameful cover-up and protect a lawless, corrupt president. (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/whitehouse_2.jpeg …
(2020-02-05). 280+ Protests Planned Across US as Senate GOP Prepares to Acquit Trump. truthout.org With the Senate expected to vote largely along party lines to acquit President Donald Trump on Wednesday, thousands of people are planning to take part in demonstrations at more than 270 locations across the U.S. to condemn Republican senators for turning what was supposed to be a trial into a "cover-up" by The "Reject t…
(2020-02-05). SOTU: Democratic "Resistance" Give Trump's Venezuela Aggression a Standing Ovation. mintpressnews.com Perhaps the loudest applause heard during Trump's State of the Union Address was reserved for Venezuala's Juan Guaidó, as Democrats and Republicans rose as one to salute the self-declared president.
(2020-02-05). Sanders & Buttigieg lead in early Iowa results after faulty app leads to catastrophe at caucus. nationofchange.org It is unclear when full results will be released and how the reporting problems will impact the Democratic race.
(2020-02-05). Headlines for February 5, 2020. democracynow.org Partial Results from Iowa Caucus Show Buttigieg Leading in Delegate Count, Democrats Boycott & Walk Out of Trump's State of the Union Address, Death Toll of Coronavirus Approaches 500, Report: Israel Pushes U.S. to Recognize Moroccan Sovereignty over Occupied Western Sahara, Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Rattles Puerto Rico, Canadian Court Dismisses Indigenous Challenge to Trans Mountain Pipeline, Homelessness Among School-Age Children Hits Decade-Long High, HBO Max Picks Up Documentary "On the Record", Judge Reverses Convictions of No More Deaths Volunteers…
(2020-02-05). The Democratic Party's "Civil War": Socialists vs. Centrists. Sabotaging Sanders. globalresearch.ca The shady developments surrounding the Iowa Caucus prove beyond any reasonable doubt that there's a civil war raging in the Democrat Party between socialists and centrists, one that's so fierce that it recently saw party insiders indirectly sabotaging what could …
(2020-02-05). Live From the Iowa Caucuses: In Search of Lost Time and Votes. counterpunch.org One of quirks of the caucuses is that the locations of the votes can and do change, even at the last minute. Talk to a group of Iowans about their "voting experience", and the first thing they will describe is how at the last minute the location of their caucus changed—American democracy as a variation on Three-card Monte.
(2020-02-05). Left Election Strategy: Lesser Evil or Independent Left? counterpunch.org A Response to Michael Albert's "Battle Strategically Everywhere" Michael Albert's safe states strategy says the Green presidential candidate should go into the battleground states to campaign for the Green program but then say vote for the Democratic ticket. Most people who hear that will wonder why the Greens are even bothering to campaign if they
(2020-02-05). Trump's SOTU 'Red Meat' Speech: US Political Crisis Now Deepens. globalresearch.ca Donald Trump delivered a State of the Union speech that revealed his election 2020 strategy, designed to roil and mobilize his political base, and to declare to the Democrats that his political war with them …
(2020-02-05). Coalition of Green Groups Calls on Congress to Pass Pro-Labor PRO Act. truthdig.com More than 60 environmental groups on Wednesday urged Democratic lawmakers to support the sweeping pro-union PRO Act as a bold step towards advancing an economy supportive of "both people and the planet." | Signed by organizations including ActionAid USA, NRDC, and Sunrise Movement, a new
(2020-02-05). Former leader of Germany's Social Democrats Sigmar Gabriel cashes in at Deutsche Bank. wsws.org Joining the Supervisory Board of the most powerful German bank is the logical step for Gabriel since he has always advanced the interests of German capital as SPD chair and as a minister.
(2020-02-05). Ecuador: CNE Starts Planning 2021 General Elections. telesurenglish.net The National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE) introduced the new Democracy Code ahead of 2021 general elections for both President and assembly. | RELATED: | Among the main changes in the code, there is gender parity in the formulation of electoral lists and the creation of a new computer system for the control of campaign spending. | Furthermore, the Contentious Electoral Tribunal does not have the power to dismi…
(2020-02-05). The US Is 'in Denial' About Levels of Poverty: Ocasio-Cortez. telesurenglish.net Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) testified Wednesday before her House committee about the United States government's intentional denial to acknowledge how many U.S. citizens are living in poverty. | RELATED: | AOC joined several anti-poverty campaigners in testifying at a hearing on the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies on child poverty, hunger, homelessness, and healthcare. | She called on the…
(2020-02-05). Republican Senators Just Sold Out Democracy. thenation.com Republican Senators Just Sold Out Democracy…
(2020-02-05). How I Learned to Stop Worrying About My Neighbors. thenation.com How I Learned to Stop Worrying About My Neighbors…
(2020-02-05). Senate Republicans Acquit Trump in 'Cowardly and Disgraceful Final Act to Their Show Trial'. commondreams.org "Make no mistake about it, this was nothing more than an attempted partisan coverup for the shameless and illegal conduct of Donald Trump." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump_acquitted.jpg …
(2020-02-05). 'America in a State of Denial About the Level of Poverty in This Country,' Says Ocasio-Cortez. commondreams.org Calling on her fellow lawmakers to pass legislation she put forward last year to fully recognize poverty in the U.S. and work to eradicate it, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez testified before her own House committee Wednesday about the U.S. government's willful failure to understand how many Americans are living in poverty. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12028253271.jpg …
(2020-02-05). Why House Democrats Passed Bills Reining in Trump's War Machine. commondreams.org Two of the most outspoken proponents of a more restrained U.S. foreign policy in the current House are Reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna. (Photo: Screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-02-05_at_11.22.52_am.png …
(2020-02-05). 'Trumpian': Biden Campaign Under Fire for Questioning Legitimacy of Iowa Results Showing Candidate in Distant Fourth Place. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/symmone.png …
(2020-02-04). 'Traitor': Rand Paul blows up liberal minds by 'identifying' whistleblower on Senate floor with clever stunt. rt.com 
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul made waves with both Republicans and Democrats when he named the whistleblower who originally accused US President Donald Trump of quid pro quo with Ukraine. | Speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Paul made it clear he was still upset over Chief Justice Roberts refusing to ask a question from him last week regarding the whistleblower whose report kicked off the current impeachment trial. | "The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted," Roberts told Paul after reading the question to himself. | Paul took his time speaking on Tuesday as his opportunity to final…
(2020-02-04). House tries again to stop Trump march to war on Iran. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—With bipartisan votes — more than a dozen Republicans joined all but a few ruling House Democrats — the House voted twice to again stop GOP President Donald Trump's march to war on Iran. First, lawmakers passed a measure dumping the 2002 Authorization to Use Military Force, which GOP President George W. Bush sought and …
(2020-02-04). Buttigieg leading, Sanders close 2nd in US Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses based on partial results. rt.com 
Pete Buttigieg is leading Bernie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, based on partial results from the first contest in the 2020 Democrat presidential nomination process, marred by confusion and chaos blamed on "coding errors." | The Iowa Democratic Party released the tally from 62 percent of the precincts in all of the state's 99 counties on Tuesday afternoon, almost an entire day after the caucuses ended. The South Bend, Indiana mayor had already declared victory in the media, while the Vermont senator's campaign said it had data showing otherwise. | The process was marred by chaos and confusion at multiple caucus…
(2020-02-04). State of the union 'boycott': AOC & Ayanna bravely skip, Ilhan & Tlaib bravely go, but either way it's #Resistance. rt.com 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley will skip Trump's State of the Union address, while Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib will attend as an act of "resistance." | It appears the congressional "squad" of freshman Democrats is divided on how best to resist President Donald Trump. | The New York Democrat known as AOC announced she will not be attending Tuesday night's State of the Union address from the president. She says her presence will "legitimize" Trump. | After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump's lawless conduct & subversion of the…
(2020-02-04). Can Bernie Sanders Defeat Trump? Jacobin's Bhaskar Sunkara & The Atlantic's David Frum Debate. democracynow.org 
After a chaotic night in Iowa, the focus of the Democratic race has now shifted to New Hampshire. Senator Bernie Sanders is leading in most New Hampshire polls a week ahead of the state's primary. While Sanders has been surging in popularity across parts of the country, the Democratic Party establishment is openly expressing concern that the self-described democratic socialist could win the nomination. While Bernie Sanders faces attacks from the corporate wing of the Democratic Party, many of his supporters say he is the candidate best suited to beat Trump in November. We host a debate with two guests who have di…
(2020-02-04). Chaos in Iowa: Caucus Results Delayed, But Bernie Sanders' Internal Data Shows He May Have Won. democracynow.org 
The Iowa Democratic Party delayed releasing results from Monday's caucuses after uncovering inconsistencies in the reporting of data. Caucuses were held in 1,600 precincts across the state on Monday, but many precincts had trouble reporting the delegate totals to the state Democratic Party. Part of the blame was placed on a new smartphone app designed to help precinct chairs tabulate and report the vote. Early Tuesday morning, Bernie Sanders's campaign released internal caucus numbers from 40% of the precincts in Iowa showing the Vermont senator was in first place with nearly 30% of the final count vote. Accordin…
(2020-02-04). 'You only have one job, Iowa': Delay with US Democratic Party's first caucuses results sparks anger and jokes online. rt.com 
The long-anticipated US Democratic Party's Iowa caucuses has turned into a confusing cliffhanger with officials deciding to delay reporting the results, spurring speculation and mockery online. | The announcement of the caucuses outcome was delayed on Monday night "due to quality checks," Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) Communications Director Mandy McClure said. | We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results. In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confiden…
(2020-02-04). Trump could 'offer Alaska to the Russians' in exchange for 2020 support — impeachment manager Schiff. rt.com 
California Democrat Adam Schiff painted a doomsday scenario if President Donald Trump is not impeached, including an all-powerful dictator ruling from Mar-a-Lago, letting his son-in-law run America, and trading Alaska to Russia. | Schiff's high fantasy came during the closing arguments of the Senate impeachment trial on Monday, after a series of procedural votes on Friday made it clear that Trump will not actually be convicted on charges brought on by the House of Representatives. | The president's lawyers argued that Trump could not be impeached since he committed no criminal act in his talks with the preside…
(2020-02-04). 'Why are you voting for Putin?' Tulsi Gabbard supporters harassed at Iowa caucuses. rt.com 
A Tulsi Gabbard supporter was physically attacked with a Sharpie marker and called a Russian terrorist after voicing support for the candidate at an Iowa caucus, one of several reports of Gabbard supporters being "abused." | Caucusing for the Hawaii congresswoman can be hazardous to one's health, if reports from Monday's botched vote in Iowa are any indication. Journalist Dack Rouleau accidentally triggered a supporter of billionaire candidate Tom Steyer into a full-on Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation culminating in physical attack when he casually mentioned that he would be voting for Gabbard. | The man on the…
(2020-02-04). Billionaire pro-Israel Buttigieg backer Seth Klarman funds group behind Iowa's disastrous voting app. thegrayzone.com Behind the app that delayed Iowa's voting results is a dark money operation funded by anti-Bernie Sanders billionaires. Its top…
(2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>
(2020-02-04). Muddling Democrats: Chaos in the Iowa Caucus. globalresearch.ca Whatever the claims by the Democratic pollsters on the ground, the party has all the work to do ahead of selecting a candidate to make a fist of it come November. Pity for them, then, that the opening in Iowa …
(2020-02-04). Headlines for February 4, 2020. democracynow.org Delay in Iowa Democratic Primary Results Causes Confusion, Mixed Messages, Final Arguments Made in Impeachment Trial of President Trump Ahead of SOTU, Hong Kong Medical Workers Demand Border Closure as Coronavirus Claims Life of Hong Kong Man, Leaked Audio Shows Iran Knew It Downed Ukraine Jet Despite Early Denials, Syrian and Turkish Forces Escalate Attacks as Turkey Suffers First Losses from Direct Combat, Massachusetts Prisoners Allege Violent Retaliatory Abuse by Guards, Trial Begins For Ex-CIA Software Engineer Accused of "Vault 7" Leak, Weinstein Rape Accuser Breaks Down During Harsh Questioning, Shooting a…
(2020-02-04). Elizabeth Warren Has a Movement. You Just Don't See It Yet. thenation.com Elizabeth Warren Has a Movement. You Just Don't See It Yet.
(2020-02-04). Selected Articles: The Future of Palestine. globalresearch.ca Our objective at Global Research is to recruit one thousand committed "volunteers" among our more than 50,000 Newsletter subscribers to support the distribution of Global Research articles (email lists, social media, crossposts). | Do not send us money. Under
(2020-02-04). With the establishment against him, Bernie Sanders may still pass the first 2020 election test. thecanary.co 
Recent polls
(2020-02-03). "A Grand Tragedy": Democrats Slam Republican Stonewalling in Senate Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org 
The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump in just the third impeachment trial in U.S. history, with a final vote on the two articles of impeachment scheduled for Wednesday. On Friday, the Senate voted 51 to 49 against calling witnesses to the Senate trial. Just two Republican senators supported calling for witnesses and collecting new evidence: Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine. Without new witnesses, Republicans have cleared the biggest hurdle in their drive to acquit President Trump on the two impeachment charges, which relate to his withholding of military aid to Uk…
(2020-02-03). ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans. democracynow.org 
The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries — most of which are African nations. Under the new restrictions, nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S., while Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be able to participate in the diversity visa lottery program. The ban, commonly referred to as the "Muslim ban," already affects citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people. Democrats say they will…
(2020-02-03). Laurie Garrett on How Trump Has Sabotaged America's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. democracynow.org 
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, the United States has declared a public health emergency and is barring foreign nationals who have recently traveled to China from entering the country. So far, there are 11 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. The virus has claimed at least 361 lives in China. A 44-year-old man in the Philippines became the first casualty of the disease outside of China Saturday, and over the weekend the number of confirmed cases worldwide rose to at least 17,205 across more than two dozen countries, with most of those cases occurring in China. U.S. citizens who have visited H…
(2020-02-03). Block the Vote: Voter Suppression in 2020. aclu.org 
Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. The goal is to manipulate political outcomes, and the result is a severely compromised democracy that doesn't reflect the will of the people. Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard. | Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. And long before election cycles ev…
(2020-02-03). As Bernie Sanders Surges Ahead of Iowa Caucus, DNC Under Fire for Changing Rules to Help Bloomberg. democracynow.org 
The Iowa caucuses take place today, kicking off the official start of the 2020 presidential election season. Democratic presidential candidates spent the weekend making last-minute pitches to voters at rallies across Iowa. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee is facing criticism for overhauling its rules, opening the door for billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is running a self-funded campaign, to take part in the next debate. This comes as fear is growing among some Democrats that Bernie Sanders might win the nomination. Politico reports a small group of DNC members have begun discussi…
