Monthly Archives: April 2020

2020-04-30: News Headlines

Seth Adler (2020-04-30). How Biden Clipped Sanders on Race. counterpunch.org After the South Carolina loss to Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders' opponents effectively used the African American vote against him. The political moves that clipped his chances of winning, revolved around the following opportunistic argument: because Sanders ran a campaign with a racial justice and anti-racist approach that lost to huge African American majorities, how could

WSWS (2020-04-30). New York state cancels Democratic presidential primary. wsws.org The action is an effort to block the election of a sizeable delegation pledged to Bernie Sanders.

Norman Solomon (2020-04-30). Joe Biden Needs an Intervention. zcomm.org An Open Letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez…

Staff (2020-04-30). Ryan Grim: Dems' Coronavirus Response Repeats Past Blunders. therealnews.com Sanders is out of the race, but the fight over the future of the Democratic part continues, says Ryan Grim, author of We've Got People: From Jesse Jackson to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the End of Big Money and the Rise of a Movement.

RT (2020-04-30). China declares 'no interest' in meddling in US elections after Trump says Beijing is doing 'anything it can' to oust him from WH. rt.com China has rejected any allegations it planned to meddle in the US election in November after the US president accused the Chinese of favouring his rival, Joe Biden, given Trump's rhetoric over Covid-19 origins and trade relations. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a daily briefing that "the US presidential election is an internal affair, we have no interest in interfering in it," adding "we hope the people of the US will not drag China into its election politics." | In an interview on Wednesday, President Trump claimed Beijing wanted his opponent, Joe Biden, to take the White House t…

RT (2020-04-30). 'I can do a lot': Trump blames China for Covid-19 & seeking to 'undermine' his re-election. rt.com US President Donald Trump believes China "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid, pointing to Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 60,000 Americans already. | Taking aim at Beijing, Trump told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that the country would prefer to see his Democratic rival Joe Biden take the Oval Office in November, stating it would pull out all the stops to see him win — though the former VP would first need to secure his party's nomination. | China will do anything they can to have me lose this race. | Exclusive: Trump says China 'wil…

Jackie Salo (2020-04-30). Lockdowns-Boosting WHO Now Lauds Sweden as a 'Model' for Other Countries to Copy Going Forward. anti-empire.com The World Health Organization lauded Sweden as a "model" for battling the coronavirus as countries lift lockdowns — after the nation Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergencies expert, said Wednesday there are "lessons to be learned" from the Scandinavian nation, which has largely relied on citizens to self-regulate. [This would be the same Mike Ryan who argued authorities would need to enter people's homes and forcefully take away infected fami…

WSWS (2020-04-30). Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden. wsws.org Coming one day after the endorsement of Biden by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the event signaled the alignment of all factions of the Democratic Party behind the most right-wing of the major contestants in this year's Democratic primaries.

WSWS (2020-04-30). "Back to work" campaign extends to 21 US states as working-class opposition grows. wsws.org Democratic and Republican governors across the country are moving forward with back-to-work initiatives regardless of the deadly dangers to workers.

Michael Schwalbe (2020-04-30). Uncivil Corporate Discourse. counterpunch.org Solving social problems democratically requires well-informed citizens who can reason together despite differences in outlook. It requires, in short, rational public discourse. Making this happen has never been easy, and today it seems to be getting harder. Architects of the new Program for Public Discourse at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill believe they know

WSWS (2020-04-30). "Progressive" Tennessee Democratic mayor uses COVID-19 crisis to push budget cuts. wsws.org In early April, Lee Harris, Democratic mayor of Shelby County, released a budget resolution that would slash essential services.

MDAEFG (2020-04-30). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Kamala Harris. indybay.org Online via livestream…

MDAEFG (2020-04-30). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Amy Klobuchar. indybay.org Online via livestream…

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-30). Dismantling The Superficial "China Did It" Narrative (Origin Unknown) & CDC "Suspends" Flu Reporting. 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 (4/29/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

MDAEFG (2020-04-30). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Elizabeth Warren. indybay.org Facebook livestream…

Philip Giraldi (2020-04-29). George Soros Wants You to Believe Russia Is a Danger to World Peace, Turkey's Erdogan an Angel. thealtworld.com George Soros is a billionaire Hungarian-born investor who is extremely controversial due to his promotion of what he chooses to define as democracy and free-trade movements, primarily conducted through the Open Society Foundations, which he founded and has funded with $32 billion, according to one estimate. He contributed to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which has in part led to conservative politicians in the United States and elsewhere frequently citing Soros when complaining about politically motivated interference in support of a progressive agenda for the United States and also globally.

Staff (2020-04-29). Headlines for April 29, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops Number of Americans Killed in Vietnam War, Trump Orders Meat Plants to Remain Open as Worker Coronavirus Deaths Mount, Mayor of San Juan Says Puerto Ricans Haven't Received Relief Funds, Workers Plan May Day "People's Strike" to Demand Safer Workplaces, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Lends Support to May 1st Rent Strike, Report: 90% of Minority-Owned Businesses Shut Out of Paycheck Protection Program, U.S. House Cancels Plans to Reconvene in May as D.C. Remains COVID-19 Hot Spot, Pence Refuses to Wear Face Mask During Tour of Mayo Clinic, Riots, Escape Attempts Reported in U.S. Juv…

Alan MacLeod (2020-04-29). "We are so F****d": Joe Biden Town Hall Sparks Fears of a Clinton Rerun. thealtworld.com Some are describing the prospect of Biden-Clinton ticket as a "kiss of death" for the Biden campaign. | MPN— Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden held a public online discussion with 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton yesterday, where she officially endorsed him for president. The 55-minute long event was branded a "women's town hall," as the two veteran Washington insiders discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has hit women in particular. | Throughout the conversation, where Biden positioned himself as a champion of women and an ally to the #MeToo movement, neither Clinton or Biden…

Staff (2020-04-29). Education Crisis: From Pre-K to Higher Ed, Students Face Unequal Access During Coronavirus Shutdown. democracynow.org We look at the impact of the pandemic on schools, universities, students, parents, teachers and professors — and who is at the table to shape what happens next. "We now have an economic crisis on top of the public health crisis, and the ways that we're choosing to educate children is simply unequal and is going to lead to an educational crisis," says education scholar and Cornell University professor Noliwe Rooks, author of "Cutting School: Privatization, Segregation, and the End of Public Education."

Staff (2020-04-29). Vote by Mail: Head of Postal Union Says Mailed Ballots Are Best Way to Secure 2020 Election. democracynow.org President Trump calls the U.S. Postal Service "a joke," and as millions face orders to stay home, his attacks on the agency could also threaten efforts to vote by mail, a method Trump has called "a terrible thing." "We're talking now about basic access to the ballot box," says American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein, who notes "

Staff (2020-04-29). Trump Attacks Post Office While Carriers & Clerks Die from COVID-19. democracynow.org President Trump has lashed out at the U.S. Postal Service as the pandemic brings it to the brink of collapse and more people than ever are relying on the mail. Trump claims the agency is only losing money because it is undercharging Amazon and other companies for shipping. "It just isn't true," says American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein.

Ramzy Baroud (2020-04-29). Hating Arabs as a Common Ground: Why Israel's Coalition Government is Likely to Survive. dissidentvoice.org Shortly after an agreement to form a "national emergency government" in Israel, leader of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) party, Benny Gantz, tweeted triumphantly that 'democracy' in Israel has been 'safeguarded'. But how is a deal that would grant Israel's right-wing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a veto power over the very judicial system which …

Ramzy Baroud (2020-04-29). Hate as a Common Ground: Why Israel's Coalition Government Is Likely to Survive. mintpressnews.com Israeli leaders insist that democracy, transparency, and inclusion are achievable, even when millions of the country's Arab citizens are marginalized and continue to be victims of institutional racism that dates back to the very foundation of Israel.

Mark Gruenberg (2020-04-29). Democratic leaders line up behind Biden; Sanders criticizes N.Y. primary cancellation. peoplesworld.org Top Democratic Party leaders—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal, and 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in that order—fell into line behind presumptive 2020 nominee Joe Biden from April 26-28. The endorsements are a further indication that unlike in 2016, the party leadership and its allies are united and ready for an …

Staff (2020-04-29). Ryan Grim: Dems Will Back Biden As Long As They Think He'll Beat Trump. therealnews.com The Intercept's Ryan Grim discusses the latest developments in Tara Reade's assault allegations against Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton's endorsement.

RT (2020-04-29). #Resistance & MAGA crew both lose it over independent US congressman's third-party presidential bid. rt.com Liberals and conservatives have finally agreed on something about the 2020 US presidential election — neither want ex-Republican (and current independent) Michigan Congressman Justin Amash to run on the Libertarian ticket. | Amash announced on Tuesday night via Twitter that he was forming an "exploratory committee" to look into running for president under the Libertarian Party's banner. Posting a link to a campaign website that featured little beyond a "DONATE" button, the newly-minted candidate vowed to bring "practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people" to the table. | Today, I launc…

RT (2020-04-29). NYC mayor blasted for 'anti-Semitism' after threatening to arrest Jews for flouting Covid-19 distancing rules at rabbi's funeral. rt.com A tightly-packed funeral procession of Orthodox Jews attracted the ire of Bill de Blasio, but netizens had something to say about the mayor's own distancing policy and said his outburst had "invited anti-Semitism." | The New York City mayor tweeted his anger at members of Brooklyn's Jewish community who gathered on Tuesday night for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz. "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," he wrote. | Photos of the procession were circulated in the media, with many of the participants visibly defying social distancing rules, w…

graham (2020-04-29). Democracy: Just five Lords debated the Second Reading of the telecoms infrastructure bill. truepublica.org.uk By Darren Hughes — Electoral Reform Society: It was a Parliamentary first — and it went without a hitch. On Wednesday, viewers and MPs tuned in to the first-ever 'virtual' Prime Minister's Questions. Voters had an insight into MPs' spare rooms and art choices — but more importantly, they were represented. It was a rare …

graham (2020-04-29). Massive global crime syndicate in UK operates with impunity. truepublica.org.uk By Rob Woodward — TruePublica: If you were the PM of a government in a normal Western country, with normal democratic and law-abiding principles and a report came through from the intelligence services of an impending massive new crime wave — it's quite likely you would do something about it. You send a request to …

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-29). 'Coronavirus used as excuse to roll back Colombia's peace process and democracy'. colombiareports.com President Ivan Duque and his far-right party are using the coronavirus to cover up "assaults" on Colombia's peace process while promoting authoritarianism, the country's peace movement told the United Nations…

teleSUR (2020-04-29). Biden Says He Would Restore Relations With Cuba If Elected. telesurenglish.net United States presidential candidate for the Democratic Party and former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday he would go back to former President Barack Obama's policies toward Cuba if he wins the presidential election in November. | RELATED: | "In large part, I would go back," Biden said in an interview with CBS. "I'd still insist they keep the commitments they said they would make when we, in fact, set the policy…

Staff (2020-04-29). Kelli Ward's Call for "Reopen" Protesters to Dress as Nurses Reveals GOP Cruelty. truthout.org Kelli Ward, former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, is messing with medical professionals in the middle of a global pandemic to get some ink for herself and maybe a fawning tweet from the president. I have personal reasons to have a serious problem with that. | Three years ago nearly to the day, I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the local hospital here with pneumonia in both lungs and a larger infection running like wildfire through my body. I sto…

Kanya Bennett (2020-04-29). Federal Bill Would Release Vulnerable People from Prisons to Help Stop Spread of COVID-19. aclu.org A month ago, Congress gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

Staff (2020-04-29). Social Distancing Doesn't Matter When It Comes to Racist, Aggressive Policing. truthout.org Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have implored New Yorkers to keep respectable distances from one another, with the hopes of stopping the spread of the virus. The state's and city's economies were grounded to a halt as all kinds of businesses were ordered to shut their doors. Schools have been closed since March, and de Blasio recently announced that they will remain closed for the remainder of the year. Court affairs are being condu…

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-29). Israel Attacks Syria, US OKs Annexation, OPCW Caught Again & Impending (Already Here) Bio False Flag. 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 (4/28/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Yang Liu, Zhonglei Gu, Shang Xia, Benyun Shi, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Yong Shi, Jiming Liu (2020-04-29). What are the underlying transmission patterns of COVID-19 outbreak? An age-specific social contact characterization. thelancet.com With an in-depth characterization of age-specific social contact-based transmission, the retrospective and prospective situations of the disease outbreak, including the past and future transmission risks, the effectiveness of different interventions, and the disease transmission risks of restoring normal social activities, are computationally analyzed and reasonably explained. The conclusions drawn from the study not only provide a comprehensive explanation of the underlying COVID-19 transmission patterns in China, but more importantly, offer the social contact-based risk analysis methods that can readily be appl…

Staff (2020-04-28). Headlines for April 28, 2020. democracynow.org Known U.S. Deaths Top 56,000 as New Study Shows True Number Likely Much Higher, Trump Ignored Early Intelligence Reports as Coronavirus Spread, Trump Denies Responsibility for Spike in Disinfectant Poisonings, Texas Reopens Businesses, California Warns Against Violating Restrictions | , Trump's Plan to Give Commencement Address at West Point Could Bring Back 1,000 Cadets to Campus, NY Cancels Primary After Removing Bernie Sanders from the Ballot , U.N. Calls for Release of Immigrant Prisoners as San Diego Facility Refuses to Allow Face Mask Delivery, More Cases Reported at Prisons as New Study Shows 96% of Inmate…

Staff (2020-04-28). In Her Own Words: Fiona Apple on New Album "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" & Acknowledging Indigenous Lands. democracynow.org In a broadcast exclusive, world-renowned singer-songwriter Fiona Apple joins Democracy Now! for the hour to discuss her critically acclaimed new album, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters," which was released early amid the pandemic. "I've heard that it's actually making people feel free and happy," Apple says, "and it might be helping people feel alive or feel their anger or feel creative. And that's the best thing that I could hope for." Her record includes an acknowledgment that the album was "Made on unceded Tongva, Mescalero Apache, and Suma territories." We also speak with Native American activist Eryn Wise, an organiz…

Fight Back (2020-04-28). Minnesotans protest Trump's threats on Iran. fightbacknews.org St. Paul, MN – Over 30 cars occupied the parking lot of Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, April 26, to call on her to denounce President Trump's attacks and sanctions on Iran. Trump has escalated the threats against Iran by announcing on Twitter, April 22, that he told the Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Unlike Minnesota's Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Smith has remained silent while Trump again threatened Iran with further acts of war. | The safe-distance car protest was the first Twin Cities anti-war action during the coronavirus pandemic. It was o…

RT (2020-04-28). 'Did Biden's lawyer write this?' WaPo receives 'Noble' for 'embarrassing' attempt to obfuscate sexual assault claim in headline. rt.com The Washington Post was lambasted on social media after running a bizarrely tortured headline that took great pains to avoid direct mention of sexual assault allegations dogging Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee. | "Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior," read…

Staff (2020-04-28). Stir Crazy! Episode #23: The Empire State. therealnews.com On today's show: TRNN Digital Director Charles Lenchner. We're also joined by founding member of the Chinatown Collective which hosts the Charm City Night Market Leandro Lagera and Democratic State Committeeman and activist from Manhattan's 66th Assembly District Ben Yee. Hosted by Kim Brown.

teleSUR (2020-04-28). Chaos and Fear in Latin America's Prisons as COVID-19 Spreads. telesurenglish.net As the coronavirus pandemic is starting to spread across Latin America's massively overcrowded prisons, putting the lives of tens of thousands at risk, riots have been reported in almost all the region's countries as inmates say their fundamental rights to safety and protection are being violated. | RELATED: | A riot was reported Monday in the Castro Castro prison in Peru's capital, Lima, resulting in a fire and the d…

Andrey Areshev (2020-04-28). 'Calexit' May Be a Long Way Off, but Balkanization Won't Be. strategic-culture.org Darel E. PAUL | Every American Governor thinks his or her state is special, but only California Governor Gavin Newsom regularly refers to his as a " The coronavirus pandemic has provided a high-profile stage for Newsom to play out his ambitions. He was the first governor in the country to issue a statewide lockdown. Together with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, he became the first to issue an official "roadmap" for ending it. Joining Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Newsom also…

Staff (2020-04-27). 'A Progressive Bailout Includes A Freeze On Rent, Mortgages, And Utilities'. therealnews.com Public educator Jamaal Bowman wants to win the congressional seat of hawkish 30-year incumbent Eliot Engel. Justice Democrats, the group that helped elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are with him.

Staff (2020-04-27). "Never Rarely Sometimes Always": New Film Follows Teenager's Perilous Journey to Access Abortion. democracynow.org As multiple states have moved to further restrict access to abortions during the pandemic, a powerful new dramatic film follows a 17-year-old girl as she travels from her small town in Pennsylvania to New York City to get an abortion without having to notify her parents. "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" director and writer Eliza Hittman joins us to discuss the making of the film, which is being distributed online while cinemas remain closed in most states due to the pandemic.

Staff (2020-04-27). "Unconscionable": Planned Parenthood Pres. Condemns States Using Pandemic to Limit Abortion Access. democracynow.org As much of the U.S. remains on lockdown, abortion rights are under attack nationwide. We get an update on the fight for abortion access with Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Our bodies have literally been deemed essential," she says, "and yet the control of our bodies and the right to control our own bodies has not."

Staff (2020-04-27). Scientific American: As Trump Touts Dangerous Cures, Here's What We Know About COVID-19 Drug Tests. democracynow.org President Trump dangerously suggested injecting disinfectants could help patients sick with the coronavirus, then said he was being "sarcastic." But his remarks led to a spike in calls to helplines about taking disinfectants. We look at "What We Know About the Most Touted Drugs Tested for COVID-19" with Tanya Lewis, associate editor for health and medicine at Scientific American.

Staff (2020-04-27). Headlines for April 27, 2020. democracynow.org Global Coronavirus Deaths Top 207,000 as Hard-Hit European Nations Start Relaxing Lockdowns, States Prepare to Reopen Economies as Cases Continue to Mount, Doctors See Rise in Strokes Caused by Coronavirus; CDC Expands List of Possible Symptoms, Oakland Police Tackle and Detain Unhoused Outreach Workers, Poison Control Center Calls Spike After President Trump Suggests Injections of Disinfectant, WHO Warns Against Issuing "Immunity Passports", Activists Hold "Cancel the Rent" Protests Around the Country, Coronavirus Outbreak Reported at Tyson Foods Meat Processing Plant, "Larry King Live" Tape from 1993 Supports T…

RT (2020-04-27). Schumer wants to wipe Trump's name off stimulus checks, accuses president of 'exploitation'. rt.com In a classic piece of Washington partisanship, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will introduce legislation to remove President Trump's signature from stimulus checks, accusing Trump of pushing his "political interests." | A $1,200 payment from the federal government, part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed into law by President Donald Trump last month, is supposed to reach approximately 150 million Americans. For the roughly 70 million whose paper checks are currently in the mail, the check will be signed by Trump, and will be accompanied by a letter from the president. | Attaching his name to th…

RT (2020-04-27). Rules for you, but not for us: DeBlasio appoints wife 'equity' czar & strolls in park while New York City remains on lockdown. rt.com Ethics or strict lockdown rules did not prevent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from traveling from Manhattan to Brooklyn to soak up some sunshine with his wife, or from appointing her 'equity and racial inclusion' overseer. | "New Yorkers are doing a great job with social distancing but we know warmer weather will bring real challenges," the tone-deaf De Blasio Even as Hizzoner was twee…

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-26). Evidence US Gov Knew Of COVID Before November 2019 & Anti-China Talking Points Expose CV Cover Up. 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 (4/25/19). 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 …

Staff (2020-04-24). New $484B Relief Bill Lacks Funds for Food Aid, Rent Relief, US Postal Service, Election Protection. democracynow.org As the House passes a new $484 Billion coronavirus relief bill, Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the sole Democrat to vote no, saying it falls far short, failing to protect those at greatest health risk, including essential frontline workers, and could let millions go hungry. We get response from The American Prospect's David Dayen.

Staff (2020-04-24). "We Don't Have the Capacity to Treat": Palestinian-Canadian Doctor Says Israel Must Lift Gaza Siege. democracynow.org As fears continue to grow about what a rampant outbreak of the coronavirus might do to the occupied Palestinian territory, already crippled by years of Israeli sanctions, we get an update from Dr. Tarek Loubani, Palestinian-Canadian doctor and emergency physician who volunteers in the Gaza Strip and returned from a trip there last month. "Testing is severely limited," he says. "There have been fewer tests in Gaza so far throughout the entire pandemic than there were in South Korea yesterday."

Staff (2020-04-24). Organizer: Domestic Workers Make All Work Possible, But the Coronavirus Relief Bill Discounts Them. democracynow.org To talk more about how the coronavirus relief bills have affected essential workers, we speak with an organizer in Queens, New York, the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic. "Things are being done, but it's not enough to serve the domestic workers who are essential workers and keep this city running," says Riya Ortiz, lead organizer and case manager for the nonprofit Damayan Migrant Workers Association in New York City.

Staff (2020-04-24). Headlines for April 24, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Nears 50,000, as Pandemic Leaves 26 Million Unemployed, House Approves $484 Billion in Additional Coronavirus Relief Funding, House Members Wear Masks During Historic Vote as COVID-19 Impacts Lawmakers' Families, Trump Suggests Injecting COVID-19 Patients with Disinfectant, Leaving Doctors Aghast, "Trump Lies People Die": Protesters Dump Body Bags in Front of Trump D.C. Hotel, New York Governor Says 1 in 5 NYC Residents Have Coronavirus Antibodies in Blood, As Georgia Reopens Businesses, Hospitals Brace for New Wave of Coronavirus Deaths, Gov. Newsom Keeps Lockdown in Place as California…

Staff (2020-04-24). "Nobody Wants to Do This": Georgia Reopens Nonessential Businesses Despite Public Health Warnings. democracynow.org We go to Georgia, which is reopening nonessential businesses today — hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and massage therapists — despite a rising number of COVID-19 deaths. The governor is opening the state over the objections of mayors in Savannah, Atlanta and Augusta. "This order has nothing to do with public health. It has everything to do with the financial health of the state," says George Chidi, columnist for Decaturish, and public policy director for PadSplit, an Atlanta-based affordable housing organization.

Joshua Cho (2020-04-24). Corporate Media Deny Their Own Existence, Despite Driving Biden's Primary Victory. fair.org If someone were to tell you that major and influential business sectors like the fossil fuel and health insurance industries simply don't exist, or imply that major corporations like ExxonMobil and Cigna don't try to manipulate public opinion and advance a political agenda in order to protect and maximize their profits, you might find it hard to contain your laughter. | But looking at corporate media's coverage of corporate media, one gets the sense that anyone who dares to suggest that media corporations like Comcast-owned MSNBC, AT&T-owned CNN or News Corp…

Ruth Conniff (2020-04-24). What is the Republican Position on the Pandemic? No, Really. progressive.org New polls show the Party of Death thing is not a hit with swing state voters.

Maria Demarco, Noorie Hyun, Olivia Carter-Pokras, Tina R. Raine-Bennett, Li Cheung, Xiaojian Chen, Anne Hammer, Nicole Campos, Walter Kinney, Julia C. Gage, Brian Befano, Rebecca B. Perkins, Xin He, Cher Dallal, Jie Chen, Nancy Poitras, Marie-Helene Mayrand, Francois Coutlee, Robert D. Burk, Thomas Lorey, Philip E. Castle, Nicolas Wentzensen, Mark Schiffman (2020-04-24). [Research Paper] A study of type-specific HPV natural history and implications for contemporary cervical cancer screening programs. thelancet.com HPV type and persistence are the major predictors of progression to CIN3+; at a minimum, distinguishing HPV16 is clinically important. Dividing the other HPV types into three risk-groups is worth considering.

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-24). Dr. Rashid Buttar Interview — Why COVID-19 Is Not What You Think. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today to discuss further some of the very relevant and important points we went over during our recent roundtable (www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2Fh3ThKoE) is Dr. Rashid Buttar. We discuss the very obvious way in which it seems we are all being deceived, and the many and varied ways in which that deception is taking place. (d.tube/c/tlavagabond) …

Staff (2020-04-23). Global Health Doctor: Hire 1000s of Contact Tracers to Stop COVID-19, Save Lives and the Economy. democracynow.org As parts of the United States and Europe consider reopening, most of the world's population remains susceptible to the coronavirus. We look at new efforts to stop the deadly spread of COVID-19 with contact tracing — finding who infected patients have been in contact with so they can get tested and isolated. We'll speak with global health expert Dr. Joia Mukherjee, with Partners in Health, about a contact tracing project she is working on now in Massachusetts.

Staff (2020-04-23). "The Virus Is Still Out There": Infectious Disease Expert Warns Against Reopening States Too Soon. democracynow.org Despite strong objections of public health officials, governors in Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina still plan to reopen parks, beaches and nonessential businesses. Even Trump reversed his support. Increased testing is critical for the whole country. But where are the tests? We look at the path ahead with Dr. Syra Madad, infectious disease specialist and special pathogens expert, who was recently featured in the Netflix docuseries "Pandemic."

Staff (2020-04-23). Headlines for April 23, 2020. democracynow.org ACLU Warns Spread of Coronavirus in Jails Could Add 100,000 Deaths to U.S. Toll, Government Scientist Claims Reprisal for Opposing Trump's Unproven Coronavirus Treatment, As Coronavirus Reached the U.S., Trump Admin Tapped Ex-Labradoodle Breeder to Lead Task Force, President Trump "Disagrees Strongly" with Governor's Plans to Reopen Georgia, Scientists Skeptical of Reports of High Rates of Coronavirus Antibodies in California Residents, Funeral Directors Association Warns U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Are Underreported, Doctors Report Life-Threatening Blood Clotting in COVID-19 Patients, More Human Trials of Experimental…

Jon Rainwater (2020-04-23). A Myriad of Ways to Wage Peace During These Times. peaceaction.org As we shelter in our homes to protect ourselves from this global pandemic, we wanted to share some of the many ways you can remain active and impactful in the work for a more peaceful world. Peace Action has long been a leader in organizing international conferences, marches, and rallies around the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty …

Staff (2020-04-23). Kweisi Mfume Calls Himself A 'Progressive Moderate.' What Does That Mean? therealnews.com Kweisi Mfume wants to return to Congress representing Maryland's 7th District. He discusses the 2020 elections, the Democratic Party, how governments should respond to COVID-19, and the fifth anniversary of Freddie Gray's death.

Paul Buhle (2020-04-22). Bernie Sanders and Our Day of Destiny. progressive.org New books explore the future of U.S. socialism.

Staff (2020-04-22). Headlines for April 22, 2020. democracynow.org U.N. Warns Pandemic May Unleash "Multiple Famines of Biblical Proportions", $484 Billion U.S. Coronavirus Bill Won't Fund Relief Checks, Food Stamps or State Aid, Trump Organization Asks Trump Administration for Rent Relief for D.C. Hotel, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Trump Agree to Expand Coronavirus Testing in New York, Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Linked to In-Person Voting During April 7 Election, More Slaughterhouse Workers Contract COVID-19, Anti-Quarantine Protesters, Backed by Far-Right Groups, Flout Social Distancing, At White House Protest, Nurses Read Names of Colleagues Who Died of COVID-19, California Confirms…

Staff (2020-04-22). Greta Thunberg: Climate Activists Have Not Lost Hope Amid Pandemic. We're Changing How We Organize. democracynow.org Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke in an Earth Day live stream hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum about how the Fridays for Future school strikes movement she launched is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "Within the Fridays for Future movement, there's still this sort of big sense of resistance, and people are thinking, 'We will get out of this. And when we do, we will continue, and we will do everything we can that is possible in that situation to continue to push even harder,'" says Thunberg. "I feel like many people have not lost their sense of hope. We have just changed the way we do things. W…

Staff (2020-04-22). "Frightening Moment": On Earth Day, Kumi Naidoo on Africa's Twin Pandemics of Coronavirus & Hunger. democracynow.org Some 265 million people are expected to face acute hunger as the coronavirus crisis could trigger a second pandemic of hunger. The crisis is projected to disproportionately affect Africa, where there is already widespread hunger. This comes as the World Health Organization estimates the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa could rise to 10 million in the next three to six months. Ten African countries don't have a single ventilator. "This is an extremely terrifying and frightening moment for the people of Africa. … We were already facing a major food crisis — that was before the coronavirus hit," says lifel…

Staff (2020-04-22). Chileans Who Took to Streets Against Inequality & Climate Crisis Say Virus Lockdowns Won't Stop Them. democracynow.org Months ago, the streets of Santiago and other Chilean cities were alive with a vibrant mass protest movement that drew hundreds of thousands and even led the U.N. climate summit to be relocated to Madrid, Spain, last December. Now the public spaces of Santiago are largely empty as citizens shelter in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the protest movement against austerity and right-wing President Sebastián Piñera lives on as activists find new ways to organize online. We go to Santiago, Chile, to speak with Angela Valenzuela, a 350.org organizer who has been active both in the country's uprising and in…

Staff (2020-04-22). Bill McKibben on Earth Day at 50: We Must Stop Subsidizing Fossil Fuel Industry Wrecking the Planet. democracynow.org Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, when more than 20 million Americans joined in actions to protect the environment — 10% of the U.S. population at the time. Half a century later, in the middle of a pandemic, protests planned around the world have moved online, and the Trump administration has gutted the Environmental Protection Agency — established not long after Earth Day — rolled back fuel economy standards and eased the enforcement of pollution regulations. "The countries that flattened the coronavirus curve early on are doing far better than those like ours, which delayed," says…

Ruth Conniff (2020-04-22). Wisconsin Republicans Sue to Dump Safety Rules. progressive.org The GOP-controlled legislature is asking the state's conservative-dominated Supreme Court to end the governor's ability to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-22). "Artificial Intelligence Plan" That Became "Coronavirus Plan" & "China Did It" Narrative Is WMDs 2.0. 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 (4/21/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Staff (2020-04-21). Death Trap Jail: Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside. democracynow.org We look at the mounting number of COVID-19 cases inside immigration jails across the country and one of the largest outbreaks at the Otay Mesa Detention Center near San Diego, run by private prison company CoreCivic. Prisoners were told to sign contracts, written only in English, in exchange for receiving face masks. When some refused to sign, guards pepper-sprayed them. This comes as activists say hundreds imprisoned in detention centers in California are on hunger strike. We get an update from Ruth Mendez, community activist and volunteer with Otay Mesa Detention Resistance.

Staff (2020-04-21). Coronavirus Relief Bills Bail Out Corporations as Small Businesses & Workers Suffer. democracynow.org As the White House and Democrats near a deal on a $450 billion coronavirus relief package, members of the Progressive Caucus say it bails out businesses once again and fails to protect working people. "In general, there's been kind of a disproportionate response that is reflected in the CARES Act. For individuals, for small businesses, it's very hard to get relief," says The American Prospect's executive editor, David Dayen. "But if you're a big corporation, the Federal Reserve has $4.5 trillion in reserves ready for you."

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-20). The Top Ten Marijuana Myths That No One Should Believe. thelastamericanvagabond.com Originally published on October 16, 2016 Even today, with 80% of states legalizing cannabis in some form, and half the country legalizing it for medical purposes, I have been called a lunatic for ever thinking that cannabis would be recognized for the miracle plant that it is. Shockingly enough many have yet to see through …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-20). Coronavirus Roundtable With Dr. Buttar & Dr. Mikovits — How Your System Is Being Used Against You. thelastamericanvagabond.com I was honored to be a part of a Coronavirus roundtable discussion with Dr. Rashid Buttar & Dr. Judy Mikovits recently where we discussed many different aspects of COVID-19 and the lies and misinformation surrounding this topic. We also discussed the legal and constitutional ramifications of the current government response. This discussion was hosted by …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-18). David Meiswinkle Interview — Ongoing Suppression Of 9/11 Truth & Proof Of Controlled Demolition. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry, David R. Meiswinkle, Esq. David is a retired New Brunswick police officer and a United States Army veteran, as well as a criminal defense attorney. He is here today to discuss the continuing cover up of 9/11 truth, and …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-16). In Coronavirus We Trust: Medical Surveillance State For A Gov That's Experimented On You 239 Times. 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 (4/14/19). 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 …

Matt Bruenig (2020-04-16). Should Sanders Have Campaigned Like Warren? peoplespolicyproject.org In the past couple of weeks, supporters of Elizabeth Warren have

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-15). From Anthrax To Coronavirus: Same 9/11 False Flag Players, New COVID-19 Boogeyman. 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 (4/14/19). 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 …

Matt Bruenig (2020-04-14). An Incremental Expansion of Medicare Should Begin With Kids. peoplespolicyproject.org Joe Biden announced on Thursday his intention to When thinking about expanding Medicare, I believe it is useful to start with the below graph, which breaks down insurance status at every age. To produce this graph, I average every ag…

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-12). Robert Inlakesh Interview — Israel Uses Palestinians As Human Experiments, COVID-19 Is No Different. thelastamericanvagabond.com I find it incredibly insulting that the western mainstream world can willfully ignore places like Gaza and Yemen, even while they have been suffering intentionally created humanitarian crises at the hands of the "good guys" for years. And many out there still lost to the two-party deception simply toe the line and act like it's …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-12). Derrick Broze Interview — Government Induced Coronavirus Fear, Removal Of Your Rights & SOLUTIONS. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today is the founder of The Conscious Resistance, activist, researcher and author Derrick Broze. He is here today to discuss his outstanding work on the Coronavirus event, his coverage of 5G (both as it pertains to Coronavirus and just its inherent dangers as a technology) and the real world solutions for the many …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-09). "COVID-19" Whatever It Is, Was Here Before 2020 & Clear Evidence Death Numbers Are Being Manipulated. 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 (4/9/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-08). US Gov Gives 1M Masks To Israel During Shortage, Coronavirus Censorship & Trump 'Holds' WHO Funding. 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 (4/7/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-07). Coronavirus Is Being Covered Up & Suppressed Just Like The 1918 Spanish (Kansas) Flu. 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 (4/6/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-05). US Gov Accused Of 'Hijacking' Coronavirus PPE, Medical Martial Law Is Here & US Uses COVID19 For War. 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 (4/4/19). 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 …

Susan L Erikson, Leigh Johnson (2020-03-30). [Comment] Will financial innovation transform pandemic response? thelancet.com The mounting death toll from COVID-19 recently prompted The Guardian to declare, "The World Bank's $500m pandemic scheme accused of 'waiting for people to die'".1 Similarly, as the number of deaths from Ebola increased in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there was outrage in prominent journals. "The World Bank has the money to fight Ebola but won't use it" wrote Garrett in Foreign Policy.2 Others3—7 too describe the malfeasance of the financial innovation called the pandemic bond. Hailed by former World Bank president Jim Kim as an instrument that "would rapidly respond to future outbreaks by deliver…

Bernie Sanders (2020-03-27). 'The universe is collapsing'. zcomm.org Bernie Sanders mocks Republicans over coronavirus aid…

Lilly Dragnev (2020-03-20). Peace Action Supports Wyden-Klobuchar Bill to Protect Democracy and Ensure Safe Elections. peaceaction.org Statement of Jon Rainwater, Executive Director, Peace Action, on the introduction of the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act (NDEBA) by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This bill would help ensure that elections can take place in a safe and secure way throughout the pandemic and beyond. March 19, 2020 Peace Action …

Lilly Dragnev (2020-03-13). Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 12, 2020 — In response to reports that the U.S. has carried out five airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraq, Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action, released the following statement: "At a time of one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, it is shocking that the Trump …

Brandon Michael Henry (2020-03-13). [Correspondence] COVID-19, ECMO, and lymphopenia: a word of caution. thelancet.com Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can serve as life-saving rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure in the setting of acute respiratory distress syndrome, such as that induced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the study by Yang and colleagues,1 who compared clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19, five (83%) of six patients receiving ECMO died. Although this sample was small, and specific baseline characteristics and disease courses were almost unknown, it raises concerns about potential harms of ECMO therapy for COVID-19.

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-03-11). Congress Sends Bipartisan Bill to Trump Rebuking Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 11, 2020 — In response to the House passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Both chambers and …

Lei Fang, George Karakiulakis, Michael Roth (2020-03-11). [Correspondence] Are patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus at increased risk for COVID-19 infection? thelancet.com The most distinctive comorbidities of 32 non-survivors from a group of 52 intensive care unit patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the study by Xiaobo Yang and colleagues1 were cerebrovascular diseases (22%) and diabetes (22%). Another study2 included 1099 patients with confirmed COVID-19, of whom 173 had severe disease with comorbidities of hypertension (23 ∑7%), diabetes mellitus (16 ∑2%), coronary heart diseases (5 ∑8%), and cerebrovascular disease (2 ∑3%). In a third study,3 of 140 patients who were admitted to hospital with COVID-19, 30% had hypertension and 12% had diab…

Seth Ackerman (2020-03-05). Study Showing Bernie Needs Huge Youth Turnout Is Nonsense. peoplespolicyproject.org In the 1980s, the economist Robert Solow quipped that "you can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics." There's a similar dynamic going on in the Democratic primaries. Doubts about Bernie Sanders' electability are legion among political observers, yet polls regularly show him performing near the top of the 2020 pack in matchups against Trump. | Polls go up and down, of course, but over the past two months Sanders' average performance in matchups against Trump, according to Real Clear Politics, generally stood above those of Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Warren, and Klobuchar, and typically jus…

Silvio A àëamendys-Silva (2020-03-05). [Correspondence] Respiratory support for patients with COVID-19 infection. thelancet.com As of Feb 27, 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected 47 countries and territories around the world.1 Xiaobo Yang and colleagues2 described 52 of 710 patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Wuhan, China. 29 (56%) of 52 patients were given non-invasive ventilation at ICU admission, of whom 22 (76%) required further orotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. The ICU mortality rate among those who required non-invasive ventilation was 23 (79%) of 29 and among those who required invasive mechanical ventilation was 19 (86%) of 22.

CounterSpin (2020-02-28). Carol Anderson on Voter Suppression. fair.org Media…

thelancet (2020-02-28). [Corrections] Correction to Lancet Respir Med 2020; published online Feb 21. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30079-5. thelancet.com Yang X, Yu Y, Xu J, et al. Clinical course and outcomes of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a single-centred, retrospective, observational study. Lancet Respir Med 2020; published online Feb 21. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30079-5—In this Article, Tables 1, 2, and 3 have been updated. These corrections have been made to the online version as of Feb 28, 2020, and will be made to the printed version.

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-02-13). Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2020 — In response to the Senate passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "It's about time …

2020-04-30: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

How Biden Clipped Sanders on Race
Seth Adler | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-30
After the South Carolina loss to Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders' opponents effectively used the African American vote against him. The political moves that clipped his chances of winning, revolved around the following opportunistic argument: because Sanders ran a campaign with a racial justice and anti-racist approach that lost to huge African American majorities, how could…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/30/how-biden-clipped-sanders-on-race/

New York state cancels Democratic presidential primary
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
The action is an effort to block the election of a sizeable delegation pledged to Bernie Sanders.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/nyca-a30.html

Joe Biden Needs an Intervention
Norman Solomon | zcomm.org | 2020-04-30
An Open Letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/joe-biden-needs-an-intervention/

Is Kim Dead? Your Guess Is as Good as Western Media's
Julianne Tveten | fair.org | 2020-04-30
"Monitoring intelligence" is journalese for "aware of rumors" (CNN, 4/20/20). | If CNN is to be believed, Kim Jong-un is in critical condition–or he isn't. | Recently, the network published an article ( 4/20/20) whose headline stated that the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known in the West as North Korea, was in "grave danger" following cardiovascular surgery and an absence at an April 15 even…
fair.org/home/is-kim-dead-your-guess-is-as-good-as-western-medias/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-kim-dead-your-guess-is-as-good-as-western-medias

Ryan Grim: Dems' Coronavirus Response Repeats Past Blunders
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-30
Sanders is out of the race, but the fight over the future of the Democratic part continues, says Ryan Grim, author of We've Got People: From Jesse Jackson to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the End of Big Money and the Rise of a Movement.
therealnews.com/stories/ryan-grim-dems-coronavirus-response-repeats-past-blunders

China declares 'no interest' in meddling in US elections after Trump says Beijing is doing 'anything it can' to oust him from WH
rt.com | 2020-04-30
China has rejected any allegations it planned to meddle in the US election in November after the US president accused the Chinese of favouring his rival, Joe Biden, given Trump's rhetoric over Covid-19 origins and trade relations. | Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a daily briefing that "the US presidential election is an internal affair, we have no interest in interfering in it," adding "we hope the people of the US will not drag China into its election politics." | In an interview on Wednesday, President Trump claimed Beijing wanted his opponent, Joe Biden, to take the White House t…
rt.com/usa/487346-trump-china-covid-blame-us-elections/

Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
Coming one day after the endorsement of Biden by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the event signaled the alignment of all factions of the Democratic Party behind the most right-wing of the major contestants in this year's Democratic primaries.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/clin-a30.html

Uncivil Corporate Discourse
Michael Schwalbe | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-30
Solving social problems democratically requires well-informed citizens who can reason together despite differences in outlook. It requires, in short, rational public discourse. Making this happen has never been easy, and today it seems to be getting harder. Architects of the new Program for Public Discourse at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill believe they know…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/30/uncivil-corporate-discourse/

"Progressive" Tennessee Democratic mayor uses COVID-19 crisis to push budget cuts
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
In early April, Lee Harris, Democratic mayor of Shelby County, released a budget resolution that would slash essential services.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/harr-a30.html

"Back to work" campaign extends to 21 US states as working-class opposition grows
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
Democratic and Republican governors across the country are moving forward with back-to-work initiatives regardless of the deadly dangers to workers.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/barr-a30.html

'I can do a lot': Trump blames China for Covid-19 & seeking to 'undermine' his re-election
rt.com | 2020-04-30
US President Donald Trump believes China "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid, pointing to Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 60,000 Americans already. | Taking aim at Beijing, Trump told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that the country would prefer to see his Democratic rival Joe Biden take the Oval Office in November, stating it would pull out all the stops to see him win

Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Kamala Harris
MDAEFG | indybay.org | 2020-04-30
Online via livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/28/18832672.php

Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Amy Klobuchar
MDAEFG | indybay.org | 2020-04-30
Online via livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/28/18832671.php

Dismantling The Superficial "China Did It" Narrative (Origin Unknown) & CDC "Suspends" Flu Reporting
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-30
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 (4/29/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/dismantling-superficial-china-did-narrative-origin-unknown-cdc-suspends-flu-reporting/

Lockdowns-Boosting WHO Now Lauds Sweden as a 'Model' for Other Countries to Copy Going Forward
Jackie Salo | anti-empire.com | 2020-04-30
The World Health Organization lauded Sweden as a "model" for battling the coronavirus as countries lift lockdowns

Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Elizabeth Warren
MDAEFG | indybay.org | 2020-04-30
Facebook livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/28/18832670.php

Education Crisis: From Pre-K to Higher Ed, Students Face Unequal Access During Coronavirus Shutdown
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-29
We look at the impact of the pandemic on schools, universities, students, parents, teachers and professors

Vote by Mail: Head of Postal Union Says Mailed Ballots Are Best Way to Secure 2020 Election
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-29
President Trump calls the U.S. Postal Service "a joke," and as millions face orders to stay home, his attacks on the agency could also threaten efforts to vote by mail, a method Trump has called "a terrible thing." "We're talking now about basic access to the ballot box," says American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein, who notes "
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/29/trump_vote_by_mail_2020_election

Trump Attacks Post Office While Carriers & Clerks Die from COVID-19
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-29
President Trump has lashed out at the U.S. Postal Service as the pandemic brings it to the brink of collapse and more people than ever are relying on the mail. Trump claims the agency is only losing money because it is undercharging Amazon and other companies for shipping. "It just isn't true," says American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/29/mark_dimondstein_american_postal_workers_union

"We are so F****d": Joe Biden Town Hall Sparks Fears of a Clinton Rerun
Alan MacLeod | thealtworld.com | 2020-04-29
Some are describing the prospect of Biden-Clinton ticket as a "kiss of death" for the Biden campaign. | MPN– Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden held a public online discussion with 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton yesterday, where she officially endorsed him for president. The 55-minute long event was branded a "women's town hall," as the two veteran Washington insiders discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has hit women in particular. | Throughout the conversation, where Biden positioned himself as a champion of women and an ally to the #MeToo movement, neither Clinton or Biden…
thealtworld.com/alan_macleod/we-are-so-fd-joe-biden-town-hall-sparks-fears-of-a-clinton-rerun

"We are so F****d": Joe Biden Town Hall Sparks Fears of a Clinton Rerun
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-04-29
Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden held a public online discussion with 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton yesterday, where she officially endorsed him for president. The 55-minute long event was branded a "women's town hall," as the two veteran Washington insiders discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has hit women in particular. | "I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president," Clinton announced from her home. "Just think what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science

Hate as a Common Ground: Why Israel's Coalition Government Is Likely to Survive
Ramzy Baroud | mintpressnews.com | 2020-04-29
Israeli leaders insist that democracy, transparency, and inclusion are achievable, even when millions of the country's Arab citizens are marginalized and continue to be victims of institutional racism that dates back to the very foundation of Israel.
mintpressnews.com/hate-as-a-common-ground-israel-coalition-government-survive/267091/

Hating Arabs as a Common Ground: Why Israel's Coalition Government is Likely to Survive
Ramzy Baroud | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-29
Shortly after an agreement to form a "national emergency government" in Israel, leader of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) party, Benny Gantz, tweeted triumphantly that 'democracy' in Israel has been 'safeguarded'. But how is a deal that would grant Israel's right-wing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a veto power over the very judicial system which …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/04/hating-arabs-as-a-common-ground-why-israels-coalition-government-is-likely-to-survive/

George Soros Wants You to Believe Russia Is a Danger to World Peace, Turkey's Erdogan an Angel
Philip Giraldi | thealtworld.com | 2020-04-29
George Soros is a billionaire Hungarian-born investor who is extremely controversial due to his promotion of what he chooses to define as democracy and free-trade movements, primarily conducted through the Open Society Foundations, which he founded and has funded with $32 billion, according to one estimate. He contributed to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which has in part led to conservative politicians in the United States and elsewhere frequently citing Soros when complaining about politically motivated interference in support of a progressive agenda for the United States and also globally.
thealtworld.com/philip_giraldi/george-soros-wants-you-to-believe-russia-is-a-danger-to-world-peace-turkeys-erdogan-an-angel

Democratic leaders line up behind Biden; Sanders criticizes N.Y. primary cancellation
Mark Gruenberg | peoplesworld.org | 2020-04-29
Top Democratic Party leaders–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal, and 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in that order–fell into line behind presumptive 2020 nominee Joe Biden from April 26-28. The endorsements are a further indication that unlike in 2016, the party leadership and its allies are united and ready for an …
peoplesworld.org/article/democratic-leaders-line-up-behind-biden-sanders-criticizes-n-y-primary-cancellation/

BRICS Countries Seek Ways to Mitigate COVID-19's Impact
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
The BRICS countries discussed on Tuesday night the actions to be taken by the bloc's member nations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. | RELATED: | G20 Summit: BRICS Pushes For 'Democratic International Order' | The debate took place during the Extraordinary Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BRICS countries, held on the evening of Tuesday 28 April via videoconference. | The virtual meeting was chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. | The Ministers of F…
telesurenglish.net/news/brics-countries-seek-ways-to-mitigate-covid19s-impact-20200429-0003.html

Democracy: Just five Lords debated the Second Reading of the telecoms infrastructure bill
graham | truepublica.org.uk | 2020-04-29
By Darren Hughes

Biden Says He Would Restore Relations With Cuba If Elected
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
United States presidential candidate for the Democratic Party and former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday he would go back to former President Barack Obama's policies toward Cuba if he wins the presidential election in November. | RELATED: | French NGO Nominates Cuban Medical Brigades For Nobel Peace Prize | "In large part, I would go back," Biden said in an interview with CBS. "I'd still insist they keep the commitments they said they would make when we, in fact, set the policy…
telesurenglish.net/news/Biden-Says-He-Would-Restore-Relations-With-Cuba-If-Elected-20200429-0018.html

'Coronavirus used as excuse to roll back Colombia's peace process and democracy'
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-29
President Ivan Duque and his far-right party are using the coronavirus to cover up "assaults" on Colombia's peace process while promoting authoritarianism, the country's peace movement told the United Nations…
colombiareports.com/coronavirus-used-as-excuse-to-roll-back-colombias-peace-process-and-democracy/

Ryan Grim: Dems Will Back Biden As Long As They Think He'll Beat Trump
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-29
The Intercept's Ryan Grim discusses the latest developments in Tara Reade's assault allegations against Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton's endorsement.
therealnews.com/stories/ryan-grim-democrats-back-biden-trump-hillary-clinton-endorse

Massive global crime syndicate in UK operates with impunity
graham | truepublica.org.uk | 2020-04-29
By Rob Woodward

#Resistance & MAGA crew both lose it over independent US congressman's third-party presidential bid
rt.com | 2020-04-29
Liberals and conservatives have finally agreed on something about the 2020 US presidential election

Kelli Ward's Call for "Reopen" Protesters to Dress as Nurses Reveals GOP Cruelty
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-29
Kelli Ward, former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, is messing with medical professionals in the middle of a global pandemic to get some ink for herself and maybe a fawning tweet from the president. I have personal reasons to have a serious problem with that. | Three years ago nearly to the day, I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the local hospital here with pneumonia in both lungs and a larger infection running like wildfire through my body. I sto…
truthout.org/articles/kelli-wards-call-for-reopen-protesters-to-pose-as-nurses-reveals-gop-cruelty/

Federal Bill Would Release Vulnerable People from Prisons to Help Stop Spread of COVID-19
Kanya Bennett | aclu.org | 2020-04-29
A month ago, Congress gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) increased authority to reduce the federal prison population. On March 29th, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act), providing DOJ and BOP with the ability to expand home confinement eligibility. Then, Attorney General William Barr "applaud[ed] the substantial steps ta…
aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/federal-bill-would-release-vulnerable-people-from-prisons-to-help-stop-spread-of-covid-19

Social Distancing Doesn't Matter When It Comes to Racist, Aggressive Policing
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-29
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have implored New Yorkers to keep respectable distances from one another, with the hopes of stopping the spread of the virus. The state's and city's economies were grounded to a halt as all kinds of businesses were ordered to shut their doors. Schools have been closed since March, and de Blasio recently announced that they will remain closed for the remainder of the year. Court affairs are being condu…
truthout.org/articles/social-distancing-doesnt-matter-when-it-comes-to-racist-aggressive-policing/

NYC mayor blasted for 'anti-Semitism' after threatening to arrest Jews for flouting Covid-19 distancing rules at rabbi's funeral
rt.com | 2020-04-29
A tightly-packed funeral procession of Orthodox Jews attracted the ire of Bill de Blasio, but netizens had something to say about the mayor's own distancing policy and said his outburst had "invited anti-Semitism." | The New York City mayor tweeted his anger at members of Brooklyn's Jewish community who gathered on Tuesday night for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz. "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," he wrote. | Photos of the procession were circulated in the media, with many of the participants visibly defying social distancing rules, w…
rt.com/usa/487184-de-blasio-coronavirus-jews/

Israel Attacks Syria, US OKs Annexation, OPCW Caught Again & Impending (Already Here) Bio False Flag
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-29
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 (4/28/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/israel-attacks-syria-us-oks-annexation-opcw-caught-again-impending-already-here-bio-false-flag/

What are the underlying transmission patterns of COVID-19 outbreak? An age-specific social contact characterization
Yang Liu, Zhonglei Gu, Shang Xia, Benyun Shi, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Yong Shi, Jiming Liu | thelancet.com | 2020-04-29
With an in-depth characterization of age-specific social contact-based transmission, the retrospective and prospective situations of the disease outbreak, including the past and future transmission risks, the effectiveness of different interventions, and the disease transmission risks of restoring normal social activities, are computationally analyzed and reasonably explained. The conclusions drawn from the study not only provide a comprehensive explanation of the underlying COVID-19 transmission patterns in China, but more importantly, offer the social contact-based risk analysis methods that can readily be appl…
thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30098-5/fulltext?rss=yes

New book gives eyewitness acount of Hong Kong protests
Stuart Munckton | greenleft.org.au | 2020-04-29
Democracy Alex SalmonIssue 1263 China Hong KongApril 29, 2020City on Fire: The Fight for Hong Kong | By Anthony Daripan | Scribe Publications, 2020 | 320pp, $35 | "Heung gong jan, gaa jau!" (Hong Kongers, add oil) is a rallying cry that could be translated to mean "Go…
greenleft.org.au/content/new-book-gives-eyewitness-acount-hong-kong-protests

In Her Own Words: Fiona Apple on New Album "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" & Acknowledging Indigenous Lands
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-28
In a broadcast exclusive, world-renowned singer-songwriter Fiona Apple joins Democracy Now! for the hour to discuss her critically acclaimed new album, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters," which was released early amid the pandemic. "I've heard that it's actually making people feel free and happy," Apple says, "and it might be helping people feel alive or feel their anger or feel creative. And that's the best thing that I could hope for." Her record includes an acknowledgment that the album was "Made on unceded Tongva, Mescalero Apache, and Suma territories." We also speak with Native American activist Eryn Wise, an organiz…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/28/fiona_apple_fetch_the_bolt_cutters

Minnesotans protest Trump's threats on Iran
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-28
St. Paul, MN – Over 30 cars occupied the parking lot of Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, April 26, to call on her to denounce President Trump's attacks and sanctions on Iran. Trump has escalated the threats against Iran by announcing on Twitter, April 22, that he told the Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Unlike Minnesota's Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Smith has remained silent while Trump again threatened Iran with further acts of war. | The safe-distance car protest was the first Twin Cities anti-war action during the coronavirus pandemic. It was o…
fightbacknews.org/2020/4/28/minnesotans-protest-trump-s-threats-iran

Stir Crazy! Episode #23: The Empire State
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-28
On today's show: TRNN Digital Director Charles Lenchner. We're also joined by founding member of the Chinatown Collective which hosts the Charm City Night Market Leandro Lagera and Democratic State Committeeman and activist from Manhattan's 66th Assembly District Ben Yee. Hosted by Kim Brown.
therealnews.com/stories/stir-crazy-episode-23-the-empire-state

'Did Biden's lawyer write this?' WaPo receives 'Noble' for 'embarrassing' attempt to obfuscate sexual assault claim in headline
rt.com | 2020-04-28
The Washington Post was lambasted on social media after running a bizarrely tortured headline that took great pains to avoid direct mention of sexual assault allegations dogging Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee. | "Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior," read…
rt.com/usa/487075-washington-post-biden-headline/

Chaos and Fear in Latin America's Prisons as COVID-19 Spreads
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-28
As the coronavirus pandemic is starting to spread across Latin America's massively overcrowded prisons, putting the lives of tens of thousands at risk, riots have been reported in almost all the region's countries as inmates say their fundamental rights to safety and protection are being violated. | RELATED: | Cuban News Agency Reporter Arrested in Chile for 'No Reason' | A riot was reported Monday in the Castro Castro prison in Peru's capital, Lima, resulting in a fire and the d…
telesurenglish.net/news/Terror-in-Latin-Americas-Prisons-as-COVID-19-Spreads–20200428-0020.html

'Calexit' May Be a Long Way Off, but Balkanization Won't Be
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-04-28
Darel E. PAUL | Every American Governor thinks his or her state is special, but only California Governor Gavin Newsom regularly refers to his as a " nation-state." | The coronavirus pandemic has provided a high-profile stage for Newsom to play out his ambitions. He was the first governor in the country to issue a statewide lockdown. Together with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, he became the first to issue an official "roadmap" for ending it. Joining Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Newsom also…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/04/28/calexit-may-be-long-way-off-but-balkanization-wont-be/

"Unconscionable": Planned Parenthood Pres. Condemns States Using Pandemic to Limit Abortion Access
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-27
As much of the U.S. remains on lockdown, abortion rights are under attack nationwide. We get an update on the fight for abortion access with Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Our bodies have literally been deemed essential," she says, "and yet the control of our bodies and the right to control our own bodies has not."
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/27/coronavirus_us_abortion_access_texas_alabama

"Never Rarely Sometimes Always": New Film Follows Teenager's Perilous Journey to Access Abortion
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-27
As multiple states have moved to further restrict access to abortions during the pandemic, a powerful new dramatic film follows a 17-year-old girl as she travels from her small town in Pennsylvania to New York City to get an abortion without having to notify her parents. "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" director and writer Eliza Hittman joins us to discuss the making of the film, which is being distributed online while cinemas remain closed in most states due to the pandemic.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/27/eliza_hittman_never_rarely_sometimes_always

Scientific American: As Trump Touts Dangerous Cures, Here's What We Know About COVID-19 Drug Tests
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-27
President Trump dangerously suggested injecting disinfectants could help patients sick with the coronavirus, then said he was being "sarcastic." But his remarks led to a spike in calls to helplines about taking disinfectants. We look at "What We Know About the Most Touted Drugs Tested for COVID-19" with Tanya Lewis, associate editor for health and medicine at Scientific American.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/27/tanya_lewis_covid_19_drugs

'A Progressive Bailout Includes A Freeze On Rent, Mortgages, And Utilities'
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-27
Public educator Jamaal Bowman wants to win the congressional seat of hawkish 30-year incumbent Eliot Engel. Justice Democrats, the group that helped elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are with him.
therealnews.com/stories/jamaal-bowman-progressive-justice-democrats-bailout-rent-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-new-york

Schumer wants to wipe Trump's name off stimulus checks, accuses president of 'exploitation'
rt.com | 2020-04-27
In a classic piece of Washington partisanship, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will introduce legislation to remove President Trump's signature from stimulus checks, accusing Trump of pushing his "political interests." | A $1,200 payment from the federal government, part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed into law by President Donald Trump last month, is supposed to reach approximately 150 million Americans. For the roughly 70 million whose paper checks are currently in the mail, the check will be signed by Trump, and will be accompanied by a letter from the president. | Attaching his name to th…
rt.com/usa/487053-schumer-trump-stimulus-checks/

Rules for you, but not for us: DeBlasio appoints wife 'equity' czar & strolls in park while New York City remains on lockdown
rt.com | 2020-04-27
Ethics or strict lockdown rules did not prevent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from traveling from Manhattan to Brooklyn to soak up some sunshine with his wife, or from appointing her 'equity and racial inclusion' overseer. | "New Yorkers are doing a great job with social distancing but we know warmer weather will bring real challenges," the tone-deaf De Blasio tweeted on Monday, announcing that the city council is working "to create more open streets for New Yorkers to enjoy safely." | Even as Hizzoner was twee…
rt.com/usa/487068-deblasio-hypocrisy-new-york-lockdown/

Evidence US Gov Knew Of COVID Before November 2019 & Anti-China Talking Points Expose CV Cover Up
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-26
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 (4/25/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/evidence-us-gov-knew-of-covid-before-november-2019-anti-china-talking-points-expose-cv-cover-up/

New $484B Relief Bill Lacks Funds for Food Aid, Rent Relief, US Postal Service, Election Protection
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-24
As the House passes a new $484 Billion coronavirus relief bill, Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the sole Democrat to vote no, saying it falls far short, failing to protect those at greatest health risk, including essential frontline workers, and could let millions go hungry. We get response from The American Prospect's David Dayen.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/24/480_billion_coronavirus_relief_package

"We Don't Have the Capacity to Treat": Palestinian-Canadian Doctor Says Israel Must Lift Gaza Siege
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-24
As fears continue to grow about what a rampant outbreak of the coronavirus might do to the occupied Palestinian territory, already crippled by years of Israeli sanctions, we get an update from Dr. Tarek Loubani, Palestinian-Canadian doctor and emergency physician who volunteers in the Gaza Strip and returned from a trip there last month. "Testing is severely limited," he says. "There have been fewer tests in Gaza so far throughout the entire pandemic than there were in South Korea yesterday."
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/24/tarek_loubani_palestinian_canadian_doctor_gaza

Organizer: Domestic Workers Make All Work Possible, But the Coronavirus Relief Bill Discounts Them
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-24
To talk more about how the coronavirus relief bills have affected essential workers, we speak with an organizer in Queens, New York, the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic. "Things are being done, but it's not enough to serve the domestic workers who are essential workers and keep this city running," says Riya Ortiz, lead organizer and case manager for the nonprofit Damayan Migrant Workers Association in New York City.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/24/coronavirus_essential_workers

"Nobody Wants to Do This": Georgia Reopens Nonessential Businesses Despite Public Health Warnings
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-24
We go to Georgia, which is reopening nonessential businesses today

What is the Republican Position on the Pandemic? No, Really
Ruth Conniff | progressive.org | 2020-04-24
New polls show the Party of Death thing is not a hit with swing state voters.
progressive.org/dispatches/what-is-republican-position-on-pandemic-conniff-200424/

[Research Paper] A study of type-specific HPV natural history and implications for contemporary cervical cancer screening programs
Maria Demarco, Noorie Hyun, Olivia Carter-Pokras, Tina R. Raine-Bennett, Li Cheung, Xiaojian Chen, Anne Hammer, Nicole Campos, Walter Kinney, Julia C. Gage, Brian Befano, Rebecca B. Perkins, Xin He, Cher Dallal, Jie Chen, Nancy Poitras, Marie-Helene Mayrand, Francois Coutlee, Robert D. Burk, Thomas Lorey, Philip E. Castle, Nicolas Wentzensen, Mark Schiffman | thelancet.com | 2020-04-24
HPV type and persistence are the major predictors of progression to CIN3+; at a minimum, distinguishing HPV16 is clinically important. Dividing the other HPV types into three risk-groups is worth considering.
thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30037-7/fulltext?rss=yes

Corporate Media Deny Their Own Existence, Despite Driving Biden's Primary Victory
Joshua Cho | fair.org | 2020-04-24
If someone were to tell you that major and influential business sectors like the fossil fuel and health insurance industries simply don't exist, or imply that major corporations like ExxonMobil and Cigna don't try to manipulate public opinion and advance a political agenda in order to protect and maximize their profits, you might find it hard to contain your laughter. | But looking at corporate media's coverage of corporate media, one gets the sense that anyone who dares to suggest that media corporations like Comcast-owned MSNBC, AT&T-owned CNN or News Corp…
fair.org/home/corporate-media-deny-their-own-existence-despite-driving-bidens-primary-victory/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=corporate-media-deny-their-own-existence-despite-driving-bidens-primary-victory

"The Virus Is Still Out There": Infectious Disease Expert Warns Against Reopening States Too Soon
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-23
Despite strong objections of public health officials, governors in Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina still plan to reopen parks, beaches and nonessential businesses. Even Trump reversed his support. Increased testing is critical for the whole country. But where are the tests? We look at the path ahead with Dr. Syra Madad, infectious disease specialist and special pathogens expert, who was recently featured in the Netflix docuseries "Pandemic."
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/23/dr_syra_madad

Global Health Doctor: Hire 1000s of Contact Tracers to Stop COVID-19, Save Lives and the Economy
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-23
As parts of the United States and Europe consider reopening, most of the world's population remains susceptible to the coronavirus. We look at new efforts to stop the deadly spread of COVID-19 with contact tracing

A Myriad of Ways to Wage Peace During These Times
Jon Rainwater | peaceaction.org | 2020-04-23
As we shelter in our homes to protect ourselves from this global pandemic, we wanted to share some of the many ways you can remain active and impactful in the work for a more peaceful world. Peace Action has long been a leader in organizing international conferences, marches, and rallies around the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty …
peaceaction.org/2020/04/23/wage-peace-during-pandemic/

'Public Ownership Can Eliminate Some of Those Warped Incentives Associated With Monopoly' – CounterSpin interview with Johanna Bozuwa on public utilities and wildfires
Janine Jackson | fair.org | 2020-04-23
The April 17, 2020, episode of CounterSpin included an archived interview with Democracy Collaborative's Johanna Bozuwa about public utilities and wildfires, which originally aired November 1, 2019. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
fair.org/home/public-ownership-can-eliminate-some-of-those-warped-incentives-associated-with-monopoly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=public-ownership-can-eliminate-some-of-those-warped-incentives-associated-with-monopoly

Kweisi Mfume Calls Himself A 'Progressive Moderate.' What Does That Mean?
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-23
Kweisi Mfume wants to return to Congress representing Maryland's 7th District. He discusses the 2020 elections, the Democratic Party, how governments should respond to COVID-19, and the fifth anniversary of Freddie Gray's death.
therealnews.com/stories/kweisi-mfume-progressive-moderate-congress-maryland

Bernie Sanders and Our Day of Destiny
Paul Buhle | progressive.org | 2020-04-22
New books explore the future of U.S. socialism.
progressive.org/dispatches/bernie-sanders-and-our-day-of-destiny-buhle-200422/

Wisconsin Republicans Sue to Dump Safety Rules
Ruth Conniff | progressive.org | 2020-04-22
The GOP-controlled legislature is asking the state's conservative-dominated Supreme Court to end the governor's ability to curb the spread of COVID-19.
progressive.org/dispatches/wisconsin-republicans-dump-safety-rules-conniff-200422/

"Frightening Moment": On Earth Day, Kumi Naidoo on Africa's Twin Pandemics of Coronavirus & Hunger
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-22
Some 265 million people are expected to face acute hunger as the coronavirus crisis could trigger a second pandemic of hunger. The crisis is projected to disproportionately affect Africa, where there is already widespread hunger. This comes as the World Health Organization estimates the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa could rise to 10 million in the next three to six months. Ten African countries don't have a single ventilator. "This is an extremely terrifying and frightening moment for the people of Africa. … We were already facing a major food crisis

Bill McKibben on Earth Day at 50: We Must Stop Subsidizing Fossil Fuel Industry Wrecking the Planet
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-22
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, when more than 20 million Americans joined in actions to protect the environment

Greta Thunberg: Climate Activists Have Not Lost Hope Amid Pandemic. We're Changing How We Organize
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-22
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke in an Earth Day live stream hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum about how the Fridays for Future school strikes movement she launched is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "Within the Fridays for Future movement, there's still this sort of big sense of resistance, and people are thinking, 'We will get out of this. And when we do, we will continue, and we will do everything we can that is possible in that situation to continue to push even harder,'" says Thunberg. "I feel like many people have not lost their sense of hope. We have just changed the way we do things. W…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/22/greta_thunberg_earth_day_2020

Chileans Who Took to Streets Against Inequality & Climate Crisis Say Virus Lockdowns Won't Stop Them
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-22
Months ago, the streets of Santiago and other Chilean cities were alive with a vibrant mass protest movement that drew hundreds of thousands and even led the U.N. climate summit to be relocated to Madrid, Spain, last December. Now the public spaces of Santiago are largely empty as citizens shelter in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the protest movement against austerity and right-wing President Sebastián Piñera lives on as activists find new ways to organize online. We go to Santiago, Chile, to speak with Angela Valenzuela, a 350.org organizer who has been active both in the country's uprising and in…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/22/angela_valenzuela_chile

"Artificial Intelligence Plan" That Became "Coronavirus Plan" & "China Did It" Narrative Is WMDs 2.0
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-22
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 (4/21/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/artificial-intelligence-plan-that-became-coronavirus-plan-china-did-it-narrative-wmds-2-0/

Death Trap Jail: Pepper-Sprayed, Otay Mesa Detainees Demand Release as COVID-19 Spreads Inside
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
We look at the mounting number of COVID-19 cases inside immigration jails across the country and one of the largest outbreaks at the Otay Mesa Detention Center near San Diego, run by private prison company CoreCivic. Prisoners were told to sign contracts, written only in English, in exchange for receiving face masks. When some refused to sign, guards pepper-sprayed them. This comes as activists say hundreds imprisoned in detention centers in California are on hunger strike. We get an update from Ruth Mendez, community activist and volunteer with Otay Mesa Detention Resistance.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/otay_mesa_immigrant_detention_center_coronavirus

Coronavirus Relief Bills Bail Out Corporations as Small Businesses & Workers Suffer
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
As the White House and Democrats near a deal on a $450 billion coronavirus relief package, members of the Progressive Caucus say it bails out businesses once again and fails to protect working people. "In general, there's been kind of a disproportionate response that is reflected in the CARES Act. For individuals, for small businesses, it's very hard to get relief," says The American Prospect's executive editor, David Dayen. "But if you're a big corporation, the Federal Reserve has $4.5 trillion in reserves ready for you."
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/david_dayen_coronavirus_stimulus

The Top Ten Marijuana Myths That No One Should Believe
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-20
Originally published on October 16, 2016 Even today, with 80% of states legalizing cannabis in some form, and half the country legalizing it for medical purposes, I have been called a lunatic for ever thinking that cannabis would be recognized for the miracle plant that it is. Shockingly enough many have yet to see through …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/podcast/the-top-ten-marijuana-myths-that-no-one-should-believe/

Should Sanders Have Campaigned Like Warren?
Matt Bruenig | peoplespolicyproject.org | 2020-04-16
In the past couple of weeks, supporters of Elizabeth Warren have ventured out into the media outlets to say that the reason Bernie Sanders failed is because he tried to appeal to working class voters rather than college-educated voters and suburban voters. This seems like a flawed analysis in my opinion because Elizabeth Warren tried to appeal to college-educated and suburban voters and did v…
peoplespolicyproject.org/2020/04/16/should-bernie-sanders-have-campaigned-like-elizabeth-warren/

In Coronavirus We Trust: Medical Surveillance State For A Gov That's Experimented On You 239 Times
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-16
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 (4/14/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/coronavirus-we-trust-medical-surveillance-state-for-gov-thats-experimented-on-you-239-times/

From Anthrax To Coronavirus: Same 9/11 False Flag Players, New COVID-19 Boogeyman
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-15
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 (4/14/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/from-anthrax-to-coronavirus-same-9-11-false-flag-players-new-covid-19-boogeyman/

An Incremental Expansion of Medicare Should Begin With Kids
Matt Bruenig | peoplespolicyproject.org | 2020-04-14
Joe Biden announced on Thursday his intention to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. This was presented as a unifying gesture towards the left, but it doesn't really make sense for that purpose or on the merits. Any age-based incremental expansion of Medicare should start with children, not with older working-age Americans. | When thinking about expanding Medicare, I believe it is useful to start with the below graph, which breaks down insurance status at every age. To produce this graph, I average every ag…
peoplespolicyproject.org/2020/04/14/an-incremental-expansion-of-medicare-should-begin-with-kids/

"COVID-19" Whatever It Is, Was Here Before 2020 & Clear Evidence Death Numbers Are Being Manipulated
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-09
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 (4/9/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/covid-19-was-here-before-2020-clear-evidence-death-numbers-being-manipulated/

US Gov Gives 1M Masks To Israel During Shortage, Coronavirus Censorship & Trump 'Holds' WHO Funding
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-08
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 (4/7/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/us-gov-gives-1m-masks-israel-during-shortage-coronavirus-censorship-trump-holds-who-funding/

Coronavirus Is Being Covered Up & Suppressed Just Like The 1918 Spanish (Kansas) Flu
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-07
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 (4/6/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/coronavirus-being-covered-up-suppressed-like-1918-spanish-kansas-flu/

US Gov Accused Of 'Hijacking' Coronavirus PPE, Medical Martial Law Is Here & US Uses COVID19 For War
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-05
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 (4/4/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/us-gov-accused-hijacking-coronavirus-ppe-medical-martial-law-here-us-uses-covid19-for-war/

[Comment] Will financial innovation transform pandemic response?
Susan L Erikson, Leigh Johnson | thelancet.com | 2020-03-30
The mounting death toll from COVID-19 recently prompted The Guardian to declare, "The World Bank's $500m pandemic scheme accused of 'waiting for people to die'".1 Similarly, as the number of deaths from Ebola increased in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there was outrage in prominent journals. "The World Bank has the money to fight Ebola but won't use it" wrote Garrett in Foreign Policy.2 Others3–7 too describe the malfeasance of the financial innovation called the pandemic bond. Hailed by former World Bank president Jim Kim as an instrument that "would rapidly respond to future outbreaks by deliver…
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