Daily Archives: April 25, 2020

2020-04-25: News Headlines

Peter Bolton (2020-04-25). As the dust settles over the Corbyn and Sanders era, we must remember one crucial reality. thecanary.co It seemed almost celestially ordained that Corbyn's term as leader of the Labour Party in the UK and Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential run in the US would come to

Eds. (2020-04-25). Joe Biden: no lesser, just evil. mronline.org The only thing Joe Biden and Donald Trump should be battling over is the top bunk of a prison cell. Instead, these two crooks are vying for the presidency of the United States. If Biden is this year's lesser evil, he is sorely testing the meaning of "lesser". No Democratic politician has worked longer and …

RT (2020-04-25). Senator hands outrage culture a win, apologizes for wearing Confederate flag face mask after defending it only a day earlier. rt.com A Michigan state senator gave in to triggered critics by apologizing for wearing a mask resembling the Confederate flag. A day earlier he ardently defended it, saying history should be taught so as not to repeat itself. | Republican Dale Zorn was photographed wearing the mask while in the Michigan state chamber on Friday to vote on bills seeking to limit the emergency powers of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. | pic.twitter.com/uTOaBzweTO— Bryan Newland (@RealBNewland) April 25, 20…

RT (2020-04-25). Blast from the past: Recording of a call to Larry King bolsters Tara Reade's claim Joe Biden sexually assaulted her. rt.com The mainstream media's dismissal of Tara Reade's claims she was sexually assaulted by then-Senator Joe Biden just became more awkward after a video emerged of her mother's 1993 call into CNN's Larry King Live. | The minute-long clip that surfaced on Friday shows a female called into Larry King Live from San Luis Obispo, California on August 11, 1993, seeking advice about her daughter who just left Washington after having "problems" with "a prominent senator." | BREAKING: Is this the mother of Joe Biden's accuser talking to CNN in 1993?

Jeff Bryant (2020-04-25). How a Trump administration official is quietly exploiting the pandemic to advance her family business — and right-wing agenda. mronline.org As school districts reported huge problems with converting classroom learning into online instruction delivered to students' homes, often due to lack of funding for internet-capable devices and Wi-Fi hotspots, charter school proponents spread the news of how their industry could take advantage of emergency aid.

WSWS (2020-04-25). Los Angeles mayor releases plan for massive budget cutting and city worker furloughs. wsws.org The cuts announced by the Democratic mayor herald an onslaught of similar measures in other US cities and states.

WSWS (2020-04-25). Hong Kong arrests prominent pan-democrat activists. wsws.org Washington is attempting to exploit the arrests to further whip up tensions with Beijing and paint China as a threat.

WSWS (2020-04-25). German government endangers the health and lives of millions with return to work and schools. wsws.org A number of state governments—including the Social Democrat/Left Party/Green government in Berlin—forced thousands of students back to school earlier this week to sit their final exams.

WSWS (2020-04-25). Tennessee state government plans to lift social-distancing measures as health care crisis looms. wsws.org While Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Lee claims the number of cases were leveling off, physicians have described the virus trajectory as "saw-toothed" with no real sign of flattening or subsiding.

Joshua Cho (2020-04-25). Corporate Media Deny Their Own Existence. zcomm.org Despite Driving Biden's Primary Victory…

Ryan Heath (2020-04-25). UN Chief Says There's a Bigger Threat than Coronavirus. zcomm.org In Earth Day speech, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres challenges President Donald Trump on fossil fuel subsidies and climate change…

Bob Fitrakis, Harvey Wasserman (2020-04-24). Election Protection in 12-18 States Will Decide the Fate of the Earth. counterpunch.org The 12-18 states that will decide the presidency this fall are already being primed for voter suppression and election theft by the Trump GOP. Our ability to overcome will decide the fate of the Earth. Donald Trump is in the White House because in 2016 the vote count was stolen in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania

Sam Hitt (2020-04-24). A Light Against the Darkness. counterpunch.org Bernie Sanders claimed to have won the war of ideas in his unsuccessful quest for the Democratic Presidential nomination by introducing new concepts like class struggle to our political vocabulary and making universal health care and debt-free higher education subject to mainstream debate. If this is victory, then we have a long road ahead. America

Jeffrey C. Isaac (2020-04-24). Why the Democratic Party Must Support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. commondreams.org AOC symbolizes integrity, the courage of her political convictions, and the kind of passionate egalitarianism that the Democratic party must nourish if it is to have a future. (Photo: Senate Democrats/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/10th-debate-climate-aoc.jpg

Staff (2020-04-24). New Relief Bill Lacks Funds for Food Aid, Rent Relief, Election Protection. truthout.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. | TRANSCRIPT: | This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. | AMY GOODMAN: Members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C., Thursday…

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). 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). "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.

RT (2020-04-24). CNN claims Trump can't postpone election because then we get PRESIDENT PELOSI, but quickly 'updates' report after getting schooled. rt.com After Joe Biden claimed President Donald Trump could use the Covid-19 pandemic to postpone the 2020 election, CNN alleged Nancy Pelosi could become POTUS for months in such a scenario — but faceplanted when confronted with facts. | "If the election were postponed, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence would no longer have their jobs," CNN editor-at-large Chris Cillizza wrote on Friday, in a piece humoring Biden's warning this week that the president could delay the November presidential election. | "Because of the line of succession," Cillizza continued, "Pelosi, as likely Speaker of the House in 2021, wou…

RT (2020-04-24). Dem legislator accuses Trump of taking over US Postal Service to 'interfere' with 2020 election. rt.com Democrats have largely been in support of mail-in voting and Republicans against it, but one congressman believes Donald Trump is trying to take control of…

RT (2020-04-24). Even Biden's WIFE is rooting for Michelle Obama as VP (so who cares if the former First Lady doesn't want it?). rt.com Joe Biden's wife Jill is the latest Democrat to openly wish for Michelle Obama to be on the 2020 ticket as her husband's vice president — despite the fact that the former first lady appears to have zero interest in the job.

M.G. (2020-04-24). I Believe Tara Reade for the Reasons You Don't. counterpunch.org George Orwell wrote in his novel, 1984: "If you want to keep a secret, you must hide it from yourself." There is a credible rape accusation against Joe Biden, a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. Again, with emphasis, there is a credible rape accusation against the man the Democratic Party's preferred choice

Mark Gruenberg (2020-04-24). Illinois, Michigan governors hit Trump response to coronavirus pandemic. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Democratic Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan have been targets of GOP President Donald Trump's incendiary tweets during the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday, they got a chance to hit back. They did, Whitmer politely, Pritzker less so. The two governors head states whose big cities, Chicago and Detroit, have been hard-hit by …

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…

commondreams (2020-04-24). Nearly 50 Progressive Groups Urge Pelosi and Schumer to Pursue Bold Relief Package. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Morris Pearl (2020-04-24). Democrats Are Insulting American People by Repeatedly Saying 'Next Time' on Real Covid-19 Relief. commondreams.org Wearing a scarf over her mouth and nose, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is surrounded by security and staff as she arrives for her weekly news conference during the novel coronavirus pandemic at the U.S. Capitol April 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/democratic_failure.jpg

Steve Sweeney (2020-04-24). India's Communist-governed Kerala state is beating COVID-19. peoplesworld.org Morning StarLike free stuff? So do we. Here at People's World, we believe strongly in the mission of keeping the labor and democratic movements informed so they are prepared for the struggle. But we need your help. While our content is free for readers (something we are proud of) it takes money — a lot of it — to produce and cover the stories you see in our pages. Only you, our readers and supporters, can keep us going. Only you can make sure we keep the news that matters free of paywalls and advertisements. If you enjoy reading People's World and the stories we bring you, 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.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-04-24). AOC Takes Brave, Lonely Stand Against 'Unconscionable' Covid-19 Relief Package That Doesn't Sufficiently Help Those Hurt the Most. commondreams.org "We are so grateful for the unapologetic moral clarity and political courage," said Sunrise Movement, questioning when House Democrats will "use their leverage to fight for us." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc-house-covid3.5.jpg

Fight Back (2020-04-24). Philippines: Martial Law or Peace Talks? fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Luis Jalandoni, Member, Executive Committee and National Council, National Democratic Front of the Philippines. | The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) vigorously condemns President Rodrigo Duterte for threatening the imposition of martial law against the Filipino people to force them to comply with his disastrous anti-people policies in his alleged combating of the Covid-19 pandemic. | On television on April 16, 2020, he made this threat declaring that the people had better comply because he is ordering the Armed Forces of the…

James Cusick (2020-04-24). Britain's NHS Using 'Flawed' COVID-19 Test. globalresearch.ca NHS laboratories are using a flawed test for coronavirus, according to a leaked Public Health England document seen by openDemocracy. Experts warn that the test fails to detect up to 25% of positive COVID-19 results. | Although the current test is …

Fight Back (2020-04-24). Tampa students say no to unfair summer tuition fees. fightbacknews.org Tampa, Fl – On April 21 Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) had its most recent email-in for the University of South Florida (USF) to end unnecessary summer tuition fees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person classes and certain activities at the USF are canceled for the summer semester. Instead of canceling additional tuition fees, USF is planning to charge them at a reduced rate. One of the fees Tampa Bay SDS demands be removed is the distance learning fee, which is a fee per credit hour of online courses. Tampa Bay SDS demands USF remove these unfair fees entirely for summer tuition due to the…

Kyla Bennett (2020-04-24). EPA Is Abandoning Those Suffering From Toxic PFAS Pollution. commondreams.org PFAS do not break down in the environment and bioaccumulate in the food chain. They are associated with birth defects and developmental damage to infants, the liver, kidneys and immune system, as well as cancer risk. (Photo: Getty) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/epaexterior042320.jpg

Staff (2020-04-24). Disinfectant Manufacturers Warn Consumers Not to Heed Trump's "Injection" Remark. truthout.org President Donald Trump on Thursday made alarming comments about the possibility of using disinfectants in order to treat the coronavirus that were immediately dismissed by both medical professionals and the companies that create such products. | During a White House press briefing, William N. Bryan, head of the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division, said that he had seen evidence that the disease doesn't live as long in tropical climates and humid temperatures.

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-04-24). Larry Summers as Joe Biden Advisor Adding to 'Major Trust Gap' Between Dem Nominee and Progressives. commondreams.org "If Summers were to land a top job in the Biden administration it would signal a clear shift to the right." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/summers.jpg

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). 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…

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."

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 …

RT (2020-04-23). House passes $484bn coronavirus relief bill for small businesses in bipartisan vote as Dems launch PROBE into Trump's response. rt.com The US Congress has passed a Covid-19 aid package worth almost $500 billion, as House Democrats voted to set up a panel to look into the administration's handling of the outbreak — a move blasted as "purely political" by the GOP.

RT (2020-04-23). 'I strongly disagree': Trump says Georgia lifting Covid-19 lockdown 'too fast,' but governor REFUSES to back down. rt.com US President Donald Trump said Georgia is scaling back its coronavirus lockdown measures too quickly, voicing disapproval for the state's aggressive timetable for reopening, but Governor Brian Kemp held firm to his plan. | "I told the governor of Georgia that I disagree strongly with his decision to reopen certain facilities… which are in violation of the federal phase one guidelines," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, adding that the state should "wait a little longer." | Although the president took issue with the Republican governor's decision, which has drawn major backlash from…

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-04-22). 2020 Election Year Is an Opportunity for Transformational Change If We Embrace Our Power. dissidentvoice.org Although we do not tie our organizing to the election cycle, the 2020 election is an opportunity for the people to set the agenda for the 2020s. We need to show that whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden are elected, the people will rule from below. We need to build our power to demand the transformational …

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). 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…

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). 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…

RT (2020-04-22). Let them eat… fireworks? Mayor's tone-deaf remarks on 4th of July CELEBRATIONS anger broke & locked-down New Yorkers. rt.com New York mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to hold the city's Fourth of July celebrations in a "safe, smart" way, even if the city remains locked down. His constituents, worried about rent and feeding their families, were not amused. | "One way or another, we're going to celebrate the Fourth of July in a very special way in New York City," de Blasio declared, during a Wednesday press conference, touting the city's "special" relationship with iconic department store Macy's, which conducts the massive annual fireworks display traditionally held above the East River between Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. | "One way…

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-04-22). Israel's Defense Minister to Stop Conducting Coronavirus Tests for Gaza. imemc.org Israeli Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, reportedly decided on Wednesday, that Israel will stop providing the necessary Coronavirus tests for cases from the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli media reports said that Bennet's decision came following a series of discussions among Israeli army officials that have so far failed to approve conducting …

Staff (2020-04-21). Headlines for April 21, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Says He Will Shut Down All Immigration to the U.S. Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Southern States to Reopen Businesses Despite Mounting COVID-19 Cases | , Coronavirus Cases Surging in Massachusetts , NY Nurses Sue over Lack of Protection Against Coronavirus, MTA Moves Ahead with Increase in Police Force Despite Financial Hardship and Drop in Riders | , Federal Judge Orders ICE to Consider Releasing Immigrants Vulnerable to COVID-19, SCOTUS to Consider Crucial Role of DACA First Responders, Airline Industry Receives $3 Billion in Gov't Funds as Flight Attendants Denounce Working Conditions, Disney to Stop Paying…

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."

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). NYC Immigrant Communities Fight Hunger, Exploitation & Invisibility Through Mutual Aid. democracynow.org We look at how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting undocumented people here in New York City, where the coronavirus has hit immigrant communities the hardest, even as the numbers of daily deaths statewide has declined in recent days. As reports of widespread poverty and hunger continue in the immigrant communities, people are also organizing and helping each other through mutual aid despite extraordinarily difficult circumstances. We are joined by Juan Carlos Ruiz, Lutheran pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Brooklyn and co-founder of the national New Sanctuary Movement and the New Sanctuary Coalition here in Ne…

Staff (2020-04-21). Juan González: "Make No Mistake: This Country Is Edging Closer to Neo-Fascist Authoritarianism" democracynow.org We get an update from Democracy Now! co-host Juan González about his mother and wife, who were infected with COVID-19, and discuss how right-wing Trump supporters are brandishing automatic weapons at protests to demand an end to coronavirus shutdowns and are being egged on by the president. "We should make no mistake, that this country is edging closer and closer to neo-fascist authoritarianism," says González, expressing concern these actions will become normalized in the lead-up to a bitter national election in November.

Julie Hollar (2020-04-21). Media Fail to Identify Xenophobia as Biden Says Trump 'Rolled Over for Chinese'. fair.org Election Focus 2020: Rather than respond by focusing blame for the crisis squarely where it belongs—on Trump's incompetent, reckless and self-centered management—and working to beat back the dangerously rising anti-Asian sentiment in this country, Biden and some of his supporting super PACs are choosing to adopt rather than challenge the anti-China premise of the attacks.

news.un (2020-04-21). Assistance ramped up to DR Congo's South Kivu as floods kill dozens. news.un.org Aid is being rushed to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where deadly flooding has swept away people and homes and affected tens of thousands more, including many displaced by violence, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday…

Matt Sedlar (2020-04-20). Want to Push Biden Left? Focus on These Appointments. cepr.net In These Times See article on original site Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign but assured his supporters that "the struggle continues." And he's right. In the coming weeks and months, the struggle will continue in the streets (although perhaps in cars for the time being), at the ballot box, in workplaces, …

Staff (2020-04-20). Essential or Expendable? Gig Workers at Instacart & Grocery Stores Demand Safety Gear & Hazard Pay. democracynow.org Grocery stores are one of the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, with store workers and gig economy shoppers often working without protection, as demand for groceries soars and millions of Americans stay home. "At first, when the adrenaline was still there, we were essential. We were prideful. And now, as we get more into it, that's wearing off, and it's seeming more like expendable," says Matthew Telles, a member of the Gig Workers Collective, who is a personal shopper who helped organize a strike by Instacart workers in March to demand the company implement appropriate safety measures and give them hazard…

Staff (2020-04-20). Handcuffed: Black Miami Doctor Who Works with Homeless Says He Was Racially Profiled by Police. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with Dr. Armen Henderson, an African-American doctor in Miami who was handcuffed outside his home while preparing for a volunteer shift to help protect homeless people from the spread of COVID-19. The encounter has sparked widespread outrage, and Miami's police chief has now tested positive for COVID-19 and is in self-isolation. Dr Henderson has taken a test himself and is waiting for results — and accountability.

Staff (2020-04-20). Headlines for April 20, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Fatalities Top 40,000; Nursing Homes Hit Hard as Death Tolls Soar | , Trump and Governors at Odds over Coronavirus Testing as Uneven Reopening of States Commences, Right-Wing Groups Organize Anti-Lockdown Protests Around the Country | , New Deal on Relief for Small Businesses Could Be Imminent But May Lack Key Democratic Provisions, Immigrant Prisoners at Otay Mesa Launch Hunger Strike, Denounce Inhumane Treatment | , Michael Cohen to Be Released from Federal Detention as Prisoners Nationwide Face Mounting Coronavirus Risk, Italy Records Lowest Daily Death Toll in a Week; Spain & France Also Show Signs of Pr…

Staff (2020-04-17). Headlines for April 17, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Surge to New Record High as 4,500+ People Die in 24 Hours, New York COVID-19 Death Toll Surpasses 12,000 While Hospitalizations Continue to Fall | , CDC Investigating SD Pork Processing Plant, Single Biggest COVID-19 Hot Spot in U.S. | , Nurses Suspended in CA for Refusing to Treat COVID-19 Patients Without N95 Masks | , $349B Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses Exhausted | , USAA Will No Longer Seize Stimulus Checks; ProPublica Finds Landlords Violated Eviction Ban, NY Gov. Cuomo Rules Out Relief for Undocumented Residents | , UnitedHealth Group Profits Surge as Coronavirus Spre…

Staff (2020-04-17). Frontline Medical Workers Protest New NYC Policy Demanding Doctor's Notes When They Are Sick. democracynow.org A new policy at New York City's public hospitals requires medical workers who call in sick to produce a doctor's note. "We know that people just need a mental health day," says Sean Petty, a registered nurse at a public hospital in the Bronx who is organizing a protest against the policy. "Thousands of us have been exposed. Health workers are the least tested group of people in this city." Petty is a member of the board of directors of the New York State Nurses Association.

Staff (2020-04-17). "Gangster in the White House": Noam Chomsky on COVID-19, WHO, China, Gaza and Global Capitalism. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with world-renowned political dissident, linguist and author Noam Chomsky. He responds to President Trump's cuts to U.S. support for the World Health Organization and the surge in deaths in the United States to another record high, and discusses conditions in Gaza, the rise of authoritarianism around the world, and the progressive response. "This is typical behavior of autocrats and dictators. When you make colossal errors which are killing thousands of people, find somebody else to blame," say Chomsky. "In the United States, it's unfortunately the case, for well over a century, centu…

Staff (2020-04-16). Pandemic Is a Portal: Arundhati Roy on COVID-19 in India, Imagining Another World & Fighting for It. democracynow.org Officials in India say six major cities are coronavirus hot spots, including the capital city, New Delhi. We go there to speak with writer and activist Arundhati Roy, who has a new essay on how "The Pandemic Is a Portal." She says, "You have the sense that you're sitting on some kind of explosive substance," and describes how the government of Narendra Modi is using the pandemic to crack down on opponents and dissidents.

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

Bernie Sanders (2020-02-08). Hasan Sits Down With Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Interview on aging and retirement in America…

Tyler Durden (2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>

Various Contributors (2020-02-01). The Times They Are a-Changin: Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Sometimes it feels like our world is falling apart, but real change is all around us…

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …

2020-04-25: 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.)

As the dust settles over the Corbyn and Sanders era, we must remember one crucial reality
Peter Bolton | thecanary.co | 2020-04-25
It seemed almost celestially ordained that Corbyn's term as leader of the Labour Party in the UK and Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential run in the US would come to an end on almost exactly the same date. There were multiple similarities between the two men and the political movements they spearheaded…
thecanary.co/opinion/2020/04/25/as-the-dust-settles-over-the-corbyn-and-sanders-era-we-must-remember-one-crucial-reality/

A Decade on the Left
Leo Panitch | zcomm.org | 2020-04-25
Interview on the lessons learned from the last decade on the Left

Hong Kong arrests prominent pan-democrat activists
wsws.org | 2020-04-25
Washington is attempting to exploit the arrests to further whip up tensions with Beijing and paint China as a threat.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/25/hong-a25.html

Los Angeles mayor releases plan for massive budget cutting and city worker furloughs
wsws.org | 2020-04-25
The cuts announced by the Democratic mayor herald an onslaught of similar measures in other US cities and states.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/25/garc-a25.html

German government endangers the health and lives of millions with return to work and schools
wsws.org | 2020-04-25
A number of state governments–including the Social Democrat/Left Party/Green government in Berlin–forced thousands of students back to school earlier this week to sit their final exams.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/25/germ-a25.html

Joe Biden: no lesser, just evil
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-04-25
The only thing Joe Biden and Donald Trump should be battling over is the top bunk of a prison cell. Instead, these two crooks are vying for the presidency of the United States. If Biden is this year's lesser evil, he is sorely testing the meaning of "lesser". No Democratic politician has worked longer and …
mronline.org/2020/04/25/joe-biden-no-lesser-just-evil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=joe-biden-no-lesser-just-evil

Tennessee state government plans to lift social-distancing measures as health care crisis looms
wsws.org | 2020-04-25
While Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Lee claims the number of cases were leveling off, physicians have described the virus trajectory as "saw-toothed" with no real sign of flattening or subsiding.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/25/tenn-a25.html

Senator hands outrage culture a win, apologizes for wearing Confederate flag face mask after defending it only a day earlier
rt.com | 2020-04-25
A Michigan state senator gave in to triggered critics by apologizing for wearing a mask resembling the Confederate flag. A day earlier he ardently defended it, saying history should be taught so as not to repeat itself. | Republican Dale Zorn was photographed wearing the mask while in the Michigan state chamber on Friday to vote on bills seeking to limit the emergency powers of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. | pic.twitter.com/uTOaBzweTO– Bryan Newland (@RealBNewland) April 25, 20…
rt.com/usa/486901-michigan-senator-confederate-mask/

Blast from the past: Recording of a call to Larry King bolsters Tara Reade's claim Joe Biden sexually assaulted her
rt.com | 2020-04-25
The mainstream media's dismissal of Tara Reade's claims she was sexually assaulted by then-Senator Joe Biden just became more awkward after a video emerged of her mother's 1993 call into CNN's Larry King Live. | The minute-long clip that surfaced on Friday shows a female called into Larry King Live from San Luis Obispo, California on August 11, 1993, seeking advice about her daughter who just left Washington after having "problems" with "a prominent senator." | BREAKING: Is this the mother of Joe Biden's accuser talking to CNN in 1993? pic.twitter.com/rF7jw35s2F– Med…
rt.com/usa/486862-reade-biden-cnn-video/

Corporate Media Deny Their Own Existence
Joshua Cho | zcomm.org | 2020-04-25
Despite Driving Biden's Primary Victory…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/corporate-media-deny-their-own-existence/

UN Chief Says There's a Bigger Threat than Coronavirus
Ryan Heath | zcomm.org | 2020-04-25
In Earth Day speech, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres challenges President Donald Trump on fossil fuel subsidies and climate change…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/un-chief-says-theres-a-bigger-threat-than-coronavirus/

Election Protection in 12-18 States Will Decide the Fate of the Earth
Bob Fitrakis, Harvey Wasserman | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
The 12-18 states that will decide the presidency this fall are already being primed for voter suppression and election theft by the Trump GOP. Our ability to overcome will decide the fate of the Earth. Donald Trump is in the White House because in 2016 the vote count was stolen in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/election-protection-in-12-18-states-will-decide-the-fate-of-the-earth/

Joe or No?
Jim Kavanagh | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
Here we go again. Now that Bernie Sanders has completed his predictable circuit of loss and capitulation, leftists–those who stand for socialist and anti-imperialist, or even serious social-democratic and antiwar, politics–again confront the quadrennial quandary: Must one vote for the thoroughly neo-liberal and imperialist Democratic presidential nominee? "The lesser evil is still evil."
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/joe-or-no/

Joe or No?
Jim Kavanagh | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
Here we go again. Now that Bernie Sanders has completed his predictable circuit of loss and capitulation, leftists–those who stand for socialist and anti-imperialist, or even serious social-democratic and antiwar, politics–again confront the quadrennial quandary: Must one vote for the thoroughly neo-liberal and imperialist Democratic presidential nominee? "The lesser evil is still evil."
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/joe-or-no/

A Light Against the Darkness
Sam Hitt | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
Bernie Sanders claimed to have won the war of ideas in his unsuccessful quest for the Democratic Presidential nomination by introducing new concepts like class struggle to our political vocabulary and making universal health care and debt-free higher education subject to mainstream debate. If this is victory, then we have a long road ahead. America…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/a-light-against-the-darkness/

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

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

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

"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

"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

Why the Democratic Party Must Support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Jeffrey C. Isaac | commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
AOC symbolizes integrity, the courage of her political convictions, and the kind of passionate egalitarianism that the Democratic party must nourish if it is to have a future. (Photo: Senate Democrats/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/10th-debate-climate-aoc.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/24/why-democratic-party-must-support-alexandria-ocasio-cortez?cd-origin=rss

New Relief Bill Lacks Funds for Food Aid, Rent Relief, Election Protection
Staff | truthout.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. | TRANSCRIPT: | This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. | AMY GOODMAN: Members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C., Thursday…
truthout.org/video/new-relief-bill-lacks-funds-for-food-aid-rent-relief-election-protection/

CNN claims Trump can't postpone election because then we get PRESIDENT PELOSI, but quickly 'updates' report after getting schooled
rt.com | 2020-04-24
After Joe Biden claimed President Donald Trump could use the Covid-19 pandemic to postpone the 2020 election, CNN alleged Nancy Pelosi could become POTUS for months in such a scenario

Democrats Are Insulting American People by Repeatedly Saying 'Next Time' on Real Covid-19 Relief
Morris Pearl | commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
Wearing a scarf over her mouth and nose, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is surrounded by security and staff as she arrives for her weekly news conference during the novel coronavirus pandemic at the U.S. Capitol April 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/democratic_failure.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/24/democrats-are-insulting-american-people-repeatedly-saying-next-time-real-covid-19?cd-origin=rss

Nearly 50 Progressive Groups Urge Pelosi and Schumer to Pursue Bold Relief Package
commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2020/04/24/nearly-50-progressive-groups-urge-pelosi-and-schumer-pursue-bold-relief-package?cd-origin=rss

CNN claims Trump can't postpone election because then we get PRESIDENT PELOSI, but quickly 'updates' report after getting schooled
rt.com | 2020-04-24
After Joe Biden claimed President Donald Trump could use the Covid-19 pandemic to postpone the 2020 election, CNN alleged Nancy Pelosi could become POTUS for months in such a scenario

Dem legislator accuses Trump of taking over US Postal Service to 'interfere' with 2020 election
rt.com | 2020-04-24
Democrats have largely been in support of mail-in voting and Republicans against it, but one congressman believes Donald Trump is trying to take control of…
rt.com/usa/486852-trump-post-office-mail-in-voting/

Tampa students say no to unfair summer tuition fees
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-24
Tampa, Fl – On April 21 Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) had its most recent email-in for the University of South Florida (USF) to end unnecessary summer tuition fees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person classes and certain activities at the USF are canceled for the summer semester. Instead of canceling additional tuition fees, USF is planning to charge them at a reduced rate. One of the fees Tampa Bay SDS demands be removed is the distance learning fee, which is a fee per credit hour of online courses. Tampa Bay SDS demands USF remove these unfair fees entirely for summer tuition due to the…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/4/24/tampa-students-say-no-unfair-summer-tuition-fees

I Believe Tara Reade for the Reasons You Don't
M.G. | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
George Orwell wrote in his novel, 1984: "If you want to keep a secret, you must hide it from yourself." There is a credible rape accusation against Joe Biden, a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. Again, with emphasis, there is a credible rape accusation against the man the Democratic Party's preferred choice…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/i-believe-tara-reade-for-the-reasons-you-dont/

AOC Takes Brave, Lonely Stand Against 'Unconscionable' Covid-19 Relief Package That Doesn't Sufficiently Help Those Hurt the Most
Andrea Germanos, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
"We are so grateful for the unapologetic moral clarity and political courage," said Sunrise Movement, questioning when House Democrats will "use their leverage to fight for us." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc-house-covid3.5.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/24/aoc-takes-brave-lonely-stand-against-unconscionable-covid-19-relief-package-doesnt?cd-origin=rss

Even Biden's WIFE is rooting for Michelle Obama as VP (so who cares if the former First Lady doesn't want it?)
rt.com | 2020-04-24
Joe Biden's wife Jill is the latest Democrat to openly wish for Michelle Obama to be on the 2020 ticket as her husband's vice president

Britain's NHS Using 'Flawed' COVID-19 Test
James Cusick | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-24
NHS laboratories are using a flawed test for coronavirus, according to a leaked Public Health England document seen by openDemocracy. Experts warn that the test fails to detect up to 25% of positive COVID-19 results. | Although the current test is …
globalresearch.ca/nhs-using-flawed-covid-19-test-missing-25-positives/5710677

Philippines: Martial Law or Peace Talks?
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-24
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Luis Jalandoni, Member, Executive Committee and National Council, National Democratic Front of the Philippines. | The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) vigorously condemns President Rodrigo Duterte for threatening the imposition of martial law against the Filipino people to force them to comply with his disastrous anti-people policies in his alleged combating of the Covid-19 pandemic. | On television on April 16, 2020, he made this threat declaring that the people had better comply because he is ordering the Armed Forces of the…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/4/24/philippines-martial-law-or-peace-talks

Illinois, Michigan governors hit Trump response to coronavirus pandemic
Mark Gruenberg | peoplesworld.org | 2020-04-24
WASHINGTON–Democratic Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan have been targets of GOP President Donald Trump's incendiary tweets during the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday, they got a chance to hit back. They did, Whitmer politely, Pritzker less so. The two governors head states whose big cities, Chicago and Detroit, have been hard-hit by …
peoplesworld.org/article/illinois-michigan-governors-hit-trump-response-to-coronavirus-pandemic/

I Believe Tara Reade for the Reasons You Don't
M.G. | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-24
George Orwell wrote in his novel, 1984: "If you want to keep a secret, you must hide it from yourself." There is a credible rape accusation against Joe Biden, a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. Again, with emphasis, there is a credible rape accusation against the man the Democratic Party's preferred choice…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/24/i-believe-tara-reade-for-the-reasons-you-dont/

Even Biden's WIFE is rooting for Michelle Obama as VP (so who cares if the former First Lady doesn't want it?)
rt.com | 2020-04-24
Joe Biden's wife Jill is the latest Democrat to openly wish for Michelle Obama to be on the 2020 ticket as her husband's vice president

EPA Is Abandoning Those Suffering From Toxic PFAS Pollution
Kyla Bennett | commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
PFAS do not break down in the environment and bioaccumulate in the food chain. They are associated with birth defects and developmental damage to infants, the liver, kidneys and immune system, as well as cancer risk. (Photo: Getty) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/epaexterior042320.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/24/epa-abandoning-those-suffering-toxic-pfas-pollution?cd-origin=rss

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

Disinfectant Manufacturers Warn Consumers Not to Heed Trump's "Injection" Remark
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-24
President Donald Trump on Thursday made alarming comments about the possibility of using disinfectants in order to treat the coronavirus that were immediately dismissed by both medical professionals and the companies that create such products. | During a White House press briefing, William N. Bryan, head of the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division, said that he had seen evidence that the disease doesn't live as long in tropical climates and humid temperatures.
truthout.org/articles/disinfectant-manufacturers-warn-consumers-not-to-heed-trumps-injection-remark/

Larry Summers as Joe Biden Advisor Adding to 'Major Trust Gap' Between Dem Nominee and Progressives
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-24
"If Summers were to land a top job in the Biden administration it would signal a clear shift to the right." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/summers.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/24/larry-summers-joe-biden-advisor-adding-major-trust-gap-between-dem-nominee-and?cd-origin=rss

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

"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

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

House passes $484bn coronavirus relief bill for small businesses in bipartisan vote as Dems launch PROBE into Trump's response
rt.com | 2020-04-23
The US Congress has passed a Covid-19 aid package worth almost $500 billion, as House Democrats voted to set up a panel to look into the administration's handling of the outbreak

House passes $484bn coronavirus relief bill for small businesses in bipartisan vote as Dems launch PROBE into Trump's response
rt.com | 2020-04-23
The US Congress has passed a Covid-19 aid package worth almost $500 billion, as House Democrats voted to set up a panel to look into the administration's handling of the outbreak

'I strongly disagree': Trump says Georgia lifting Covid-19 lockdown 'too fast,' but governor REFUSES to back down
rt.com | 2020-04-23
US President Donald Trump said Georgia is scaling back its coronavirus lockdown measures too quickly, voicing disapproval for the state's aggressive timetable for reopening, but Governor Brian Kemp held firm to his plan. | "I told the governor of Georgia that I disagree strongly with his decision to reopen certain facilities… which are in violation of the federal phase one guidelines," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, adding that the state should "wait a little longer." | Although the president took issue with the Republican governor's decision, which has drawn major backlash from…
rt.com/usa/486609-trump-disagree-georgia-reopening/

'I strongly disagree': Trump says Georgia lifting Covid-19 lockdown 'too fast,' but governor REFUSES to back down
rt.com | 2020-04-23
US President Donald Trump said Georgia is scaling back its coronavirus lockdown measures too quickly, voicing disapproval for the state's aggressive timetable for reopening, but Governor Brian Kemp held firm to his plan. | "I told the governor of Georgia that I disagree strongly with his decision to reopen certain facilities… which are in violation of the federal phase one guidelines," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, adding that the state should "wait a little longer." | Although the president took issue with the Republican governor's decision, which has drawn major backlash from…
rt.com/usa/486609-trump-disagree-georgia-reopening/

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

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

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

"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

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

2020 Election Year Is an Opportunity for Transformational Change If We Embrace Our Power
Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-22
Although we do not tie our organizing to the election cycle, the 2020 election is an opportunity for the people to set the agenda for the 2020s. We need to show that whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden are elected, the people will rule from below. We need to build our power to demand the transformational …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/04/2020-election-year-is-an-opportunity-for-transformational-change-if-we-embrace-our-power/

The desperate Telegraph just ripped off a story from independent media
Steve Topple | thecanary.co | 2020-04-22
'Desperate times call for desperate measures', as the saying goes. And there's none more desperate than the UK's corporate press. Not least among these is the Telegraph, which seems to have just ripped off an article from an independent media outlet without so much as a 'thank you'. | 'Carbon copying'…?: | Mary Fitzgerald is the editor-in-chief of openDemocracy. It's an ind…
thecanary.co/trending/2020/04/22/the-desperate-telegraph-just-ripped-off-a-story-from-independent-media/

Israel's Defense Minister to Stop Conducting Coronavirus Tests for Gaza
IMEMC & Agencies | imemc.org | 2020-04-22
Israeli Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, reportedly decided on Wednesday, that Israel will stop providing the necessary Coronavirus tests for cases from the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli media reports said that Bennet's decision came following a series of discussions among Israeli army officials that have so far failed to approve conducting …
imemc.org/article/israels-defense-minister-to-stop-conducting-coronavirus-tests-for-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=israels-defense-minister-to-stop-conducting-coronavirus-tests-for-gaza

Let them eat… fireworks? Mayor's tone-deaf remarks on 4th of July CELEBRATIONS anger broke & locked-down New Yorkers
rt.com | 2020-04-22
New York mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to hold the city's Fourth of July celebrations in a "safe, smart" way, even if the city remains locked down. His constituents, worried about rent and feeding their families, were not amused. | "One way or another, we're going to celebrate the Fourth of July in a very special way in New York City," de Blasio declared, during a Wednesday press conference, touting the city's "special" relationship with iconic department store Macy's, which conducts the massive annual fireworks display traditionally held above the East River between Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. | "One way…
rt.com/usa/486592-deblasio-fireworks-display-lockdown-rent/

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

NYC Immigrant Communities Fight Hunger, Exploitation & Invisibility Through Mutual Aid
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
We look at how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting undocumented people here in New York City, where the coronavirus has hit immigrant communities the hardest, even as the numbers of daily deaths statewide has declined in recent days. As reports of widespread poverty and hunger continue in the immigrant communities, people are also organizing and helping each other through mutual aid despite extraordinarily difficult circumstances. We are joined by Juan Carlos Ruiz, Lutheran pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Brooklyn and co-founder of the national New Sanctuary Movement and the New Sanctuary Coalition here in Ne…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/migrants_in_queens

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

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

Juan González: "Make No Mistake: This Country Is Edging Closer to Neo-Fascist Authoritarianism"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
We get an update from Democracy Now! co-host Juan González about his mother and wife, who were infected with COVID-19, and discuss how right-wing Trump supporters are brandishing automatic weapons at protests to demand an end to coronavirus shutdowns and are being egged on by the president. "We should make no mistake, that this country is edging closer and closer to neo-fascist authoritarianism," says González, expressing concern these actions will become normalized in the lead-up to a bitter national election in November.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/juan_gonzalez_coronavirus_update

Juan González: "Make No Mistake: This Country Is Edging Closer to Neo-Fascist Authoritarianism"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-21
We get an update from Democracy Now! co-host Juan González about his mother and wife, who were infected with COVID-19, and discuss how right-wing Trump supporters are brandishing automatic weapons at protests to demand an end to coronavirus shutdowns and are being egged on by the president. "We should make no mistake, that this country is edging closer and closer to neo-fascist authoritarianism," says González, expressing concern these actions will become normalized in the lead-up to a bitter national election in November.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/21/juan_gonzalez_coronavirus_update

Assistance ramped up to DR Congo's South Kivu as floods kill dozens
news.un.org | 2020-04-21
Aid is being rushed to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where deadly flooding has swept away people and homes and affected tens of thousands more, including many displaced by violence, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/04/1062242

Media Fail to Identify Xenophobia as Biden Says Trump 'Rolled Over for Chinese'
Julie Hollar | fair.org | 2020-04-21
Election Focus 2020: Rather than respond by focusing blame for the crisis squarely where it belongs–on Trump's incompetent, reckless and self-centered management–and working to beat back the dangerously rising anti-Asian sentiment in this country, Biden and some of his supporting super PACs are choosing to adopt rather than challenge the anti-China premise of the attacks.
fair.org/home/media-fail-to-identify-xenophobia-as-biden-says-trump-rolled-over-for-chinese/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=media-fail-to-identify-xenophobia-as-biden-says-trump-rolled-over-for-chinese

Want to Push Biden Left? Focus on These Appointments
Matt Sedlar | cepr.net | 2020-04-20
In These Times See article on original site Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign but assured his supporters that "the struggle continues." And he's right. In the coming weeks and months, the struggle will continue in the streets (although perhaps in cars for the time being), at the ballot box, in workplaces, …
cepr.net/want-to-push-biden-left-focus-on-these-appointments/

Handcuffed: Black Miami Doctor Who Works with Homeless Says He Was Racially Profiled by Police
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-20
We continue our conversation with Dr. Armen Henderson, an African-American doctor in Miami who was handcuffed outside his home while preparing for a volunteer shift to help protect homeless people from the spread of COVID-19. The encounter has sparked widespread outrage, and Miami's police chief has now tested positive for COVID-19 and is in self-isolation. Dr Henderson has taken a test himself and is waiting for results

Essential or Expendable? Gig Workers at Instacart & Grocery Stores Demand Safety Gear & Hazard Pay
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-20
Grocery stores are one of the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, with store workers and gig economy shoppers often working without protection, as demand for groceries soars and millions of Americans stay home. "At first, when the adrenaline was still there, we were essential. We were prideful. And now, as we get more into it, that's wearing off, and it's seeming more like expendable," says Matthew Telles, a member of the Gig Workers Collective, who is a personal shopper who helped organize a strike by Instacart workers in March to demand the company implement appropriate safety measures and give them hazard…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/20/matthew_telles_instacart_gig_workers

Handcuffed: Black Miami Doctor Who Works with Homeless Says He Was Racially Profiled by Police
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-20
We continue our conversation with Dr. Armen Henderson, an African-American doctor in Miami who was handcuffed outside his home while preparing for a volunteer shift to help protect homeless people from the spread of COVID-19. The encounter has sparked widespread outrage, and Miami's police chief has now tested positive for COVID-19 and is in self-isolation. Dr Henderson has taken a test himself and is waiting for results

Essential or Expendable? Gig Workers at Instacart & Grocery Stores Demand Safety Gear & Hazard Pay
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-20
Grocery stores are one of the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, with store workers and gig economy shoppers often working without protection, as demand for groceries soars and millions of Americans stay home. "At first, when the adrenaline was still there, we were essential. We were prideful. And now, as we get more into it, that's wearing off, and it's seeming more like expendable," says Matthew Telles, a member of the Gig Workers Collective, who is a personal shopper who helped organize a strike by Instacart workers in March to demand the company implement appropriate safety measures and give them hazard…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/20/matthew_telles_instacart_gig_workers

"Gangster in the White House": Noam Chomsky on COVID-19, WHO, China, Gaza and Global Capitalism
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-17
We continue our conversation with world-renowned political dissident, linguist and author Noam Chomsky. He responds to President Trump's cuts to U.S. support for the World Health Organization and the surge in deaths in the United States to another record high, and discusses conditions in Gaza, the rise of authoritarianism around the world, and the progressive response. "This is typical behavior of autocrats and dictators. When you make colossal errors which are killing thousands of people, find somebody else to blame," say Chomsky. "In the United States, it's unfortunately the case, for well over a century, centu…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/17/noam_chomsky_coronavirus_trump_gaza_palestine

Frontline Medical Workers Protest New NYC Policy Demanding Doctor's Notes When They Are Sick
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-17
A new policy at New York City's public hospitals requires medical workers who call in sick to produce a doctor's note. "We know that people just need a mental health day," says Sean Petty, a registered nurse at a public hospital in the Bronx who is organizing a protest against the policy. "Thousands of us have been exposed. Health workers are the least tested group of people in this city." Petty is a member of the board of directors of the New York State Nurses Association.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/17/nyc_nurse_sean_petty_doctors_notes

Frontline Medical Workers Protest New NYC Policy Demanding Doctor's Notes When They Are Sick
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-17
A new policy at New York City's public hospitals requires medical workers who call in sick to produce a doctor's note. "We know that people just need a mental health day," says Sean Petty, a registered nurse at a public hospital in the Bronx who is organizing a protest against the policy. "Thousands of us have been exposed. Health workers are the least tested group of people in this city." Petty is a member of the board of directors of the New York State Nurses Association.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/17/nyc_nurse_sean_petty_doctors_notes

United States: Sanders suspends campaign
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-04-16
Elections Kshama SawantIssue 1261 United States Bernie Sanders 2020 US election SeattleApril 16, 2020On April 8, Bernie Sanders…
greenleft.org.au/content/sanders-suspends-campaign-working-people-need-own-party

Pandemic Is a Portal: Arundhati Roy on COVID-19 in India, Imagining Another World & Fighting for It
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-16
Officials in India say six major cities are coronavirus hot spots, including the capital city, New Delhi. We go there to speak with writer and activist Arundhati Roy, who has a new essay on how "The Pandemic Is a Portal." She says, "You have the sense that you're sitting on some kind of explosive substance," and describes how the government of Narendra Modi is using the pandemic to crack down on opponents and dissidents.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/16/arundhati_roy_coronavirus_india

Pandemic Is a Portal: Arundhati Roy on COVID-19 in India, Imagining Another World & Fighting for It
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-16
Officials in India say six major cities are coronavirus hot spots, including the capital city, New Delhi. We go there to speak with writer and activist Arundhati Roy, who has a new essay on how "The Pandemic Is a Portal." She says, "You have the sense that you're sitting on some kind of explosive substance," and describes how the government of Narendra Modi is using the pandemic to crack down on opponents and dissidents.
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/16/arundhati_roy_coronavirus_india

'The universe is collapsing'
Bernie Sanders | zcomm.org | 2020-03-27
Bernie Sanders mocks Republicans over coronavirus aid…
zcomm.org/zvideo/the-universe-is-collapsing/