(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…
(2020-04-28). Bernie Sanders and the Future of the Movement. indybay.org Online…
(2020-04-28). Ranked-Choice Voting: An Idea Whose Time Has Come. counterpunch.org 
Climate activist Bill McKibben took to the New Yorker recently to advise me and the Green Party to stand down our presidential campaign and instead work for ranked-choice voting (RCV) so we don't "spoil" the election for Joe Biden ("Instead of Challenging Joe Biden, Maybe the Green Party Could Help Change Our Democracy," April 15).
(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…
(2020-04-28). 'I'm with her': Biden fuels VP rumors as Hillary Clinton endorses him at women's event. rt.com 
Failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be the special guest of the current Democrat contender Joe Biden at the online women's town hall, raising the spectre of a VP nomination and a 2016 rematch. | After Biden's campaign announced a women's town hall event on Tuesday afternoon, with a "special guest," Clinton tweeted a picture from the Oval Office of herself in the company of Biden and then-President Barack Obama, calling it a "little hint" as who the guest might be and that "she's excited." | @JoeBiden's 3pm ET town hall today: | (She's excited.) pic.twitter.c…
(2020-04-28). Elections are arenas of class struggle. peoplesworld.org 
As the 2020 election draws near sections of the American left are debating whether or not to support an establishment Democrat against a right-wing Republican. I first encountered this question during the 1964 presidential campaign, when I was still too young to vote, and have encountered it again in every election since. This question was …
(2020-04-28). As coronavirus still rages, debate over post-virus future heats up. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Even as the coronavirus pandemic still rages through the U.S., the debate over the shape of society and the economy, post-virus, is heating up. On one side, with the weight of wealth, clout, and the ruling Republican White House, are corporate and right-wing interests that want to take the country back to the days of …
(2020-04-28). Government Must Pay $12 Billion to Obamacare Insurers, Supreme Court Rules. truthout.org Insurance companies are entitled to recoup $12 billion from the federal government in unpaid Obamacare claims, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in an 8-1 vote. | The companies were shielded under the "risk corridor" provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which promised compensation for companies that incurred losses in the marketplaces created by the law. | The original remuneration period lasted three years, but Congressional Republicans capped payments between 2015 and 2017, which the insure…
(2020-04-28). The People's Choice Between Two Unacceptable Lessers for US President in November. globalresearch.ca What passes for US-style "democracy" would make some despots blush. | It's more fanciful than real, an illusion of what doesn't exist. | The nation was created to be run by its rich, well-born, and able, John Adams explained. | John Jay, the …
(2020-04-28). Will the Coronavirus Change the World? zcomm.org It is us, the people, and our true authentic voices – the 'organic intellectuals', not the celebrity philosophers – who have the right and the moral legitimacy to rise up to reclaim our democracy…
(2020-04-28). Nancy Pelosi endorses Biden. wsws.org The unity at the top has not resolved the Democratic Party's deep crisis.
(2020-04-28). 9/11 Truth and Giulietto Chiesa, 1940-2020. His Legacy Will Live. globalresearch.ca The 9/11 Consensus Panel mourns the loss of the great Italian journalist, Giulietto Chiesa, whose life was devoted to upholding the foundations of democracy, not just in his native Italy, but in Russia and worldwide. | The Consensus Panel was …
(2020-04-28). Democrats Poised to Propose Medicare for Those Who've Lost Health Coverage. truthout.org Democratic lawmakers are expected to announce a proposal this week for expanding Medicare to cover millions of people who lost their employer-sponsored health coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to health care advocates on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, public support for a Medicare for All universal health care system has surged during the COVID-19 outbreak. | An estimated 9.2 million workers likely lost health coverage sponsored by employers over the past month as workplaces shuttered d…
(2020-04-28). April 25, 2020: Nationwide Cancel Rents Protests. indybay.org We face a second rent day, May 1, when at least one third of renters nationwide will not be able to pay the rent due to the pandemic lockdown. Yet no governor, Democrat or Republican, has demanded that the rent be cancelled since the renters who live from paycheck to paycheck face immediate eviction when the lockdown ends as they cannot pay any back rent.
(2020-04-28). Is Sri Lankan President Rajapakse plotting a coup under cover of anti-pandemic measures? wsws.org The government is using the COVID-19 pandemic as the pretext to mount a power grab, insert the military into the running of the state, and run roughshod over working people's democratic rights.
(2020-04-28). Trump and Biden Trade China Hit Pieces: Distinctions without a Difference. counterpunch.org This season's sequel to the Game of Thrones features reality TV star and current occupant of the Oval Office versus the former Senator from MBNA and two-term VP. It's time to binge watch dueling hit pieces from the US electoral duopoly going at it. The narrower the distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, the more vociferous
(2020-04-28). Trump and McConnell Aren't Waging War on COVID. They're Waging War on Us. truthout.org Donald Trump and his top Republican allies in Congress are fighting a war, and the battle lines have begun to clarify themselves. Their war is not being waged against COVID-19, the pandemic that has killed tens of thousands in this nation alone. Their war is being waged against the nation itself, and specifically against areas of the nation that are heavy on population but light on Trump supporters. | In other words, the big-city blue states, whose governors have refused to fawn over Trump's gibberi…
(2020-04-28). Zionist min. expresses concern about Iran's launch of Noor-1 satellite. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 28 (MNA) — Zionist regime's minister of war Naftali Bennett expressed concern about Iran's launch of Noor-1 satellite and all the other improvements of the country.
(2020-04-28). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Kamala Harris. indybay.org Online via livestream…
(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…
(2020-04-28). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Amy Klobuchar. indybay.org Online via livestream…
(2020-04-28). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Elizabeth Warren. indybay.org Facebook livestream…
(2020-04-27). Defeating U.S. imperialism at Playa Girón. strategic-culture.org "We'd done some very important things, but we hadn't proclaimed ourselves as being socialists, or openly proclaimed Marxist-Leninist doctrines. Girón accelerated the revolutionary process." Cuban leader Fidel Castro's reflections about Playa Girón, discussed with Ignacio Ramonet during conversations which led to the publication of the revolutionary leader's autobiography, indicate the magnitude of defeat for U.S. imperialism at the Bay of Pigs invasion which lasted from April 17 until April 19, 1961. In less than 72 hours, the Cuban revolutionary forces had defeated the 1,500 CIA-trained infiltrators. | The U.S.
(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…
(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.
(2020-04-27). 'Babylon Berlin' and origin of German fascism; 'Superstore' in age of Amazon. peoplesworld.org 
Season three of the German mega-series Babylon Berlin continues the exploration of tensions in the Weimar Republic as it moves inexorably toward its demise and its replacement by fascism. The series centers around inspector Gereon Rath, a sometimes staunch defender of the democracy, and Charlotte Ritter—a vivacious character created for the series and not in …
(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."
(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…
(2020-04-28). Fiona Apple on Her New Album and Acknowledging Indigenous Lands. truthout.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,…
(2020-04-27). WATCH: Bernie Sanders to Host Livestream Discussion on the Coronavirus Pandemic and Undocumented Immigrants. commondreams.org Sen. Bernie Sanders will be joined by national immigrant rights advocates Monday evening for a livestream discussion about the effects of the coronavirus on undocumented immigrants in the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders_32_0_0.jpg …
(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.
(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…
(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…
(2020-04-27). Stand Up America: Senate Should Follow Pelosi's Lead on Vote-By-Mail. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-04-27). Trump and Biden Trade Hit Pieces: Distinctions without a Difference. mintpressnews.com This season's sequel to the "Game of Thrones" features reality TV star and the current occupant of the Oval Office versus the former Senator from The narrower the distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, the more vociferous they get in inflating those distinctions as if a distinction were really a difference. As liberation president of Tanzania Julius Nyerere famously observed,…
(2020-04-27). Cuba Plans National Production of Drug Against COVID-19. telesurenglish.net The Cuban pharmaceutic Company MedSol Laboratories develops antiretroviral Kaletra; this drug has been effectively used to treat COVID-19 infected patients. | RELATED: | MedSol research and development group, Novatec, is because of Kaletra's testing and production. According to Adalberto Izquierdo Castro, Novatec's manager, the drug is in the development stage. So far, Cuban laboratories produced three pilot batches and ca…
(2020-04-27). 'Democracy is Dead,' Declare Sanders Supporters After Bernie Taken Off New York Ballot. commondreams.org The decision was made by the New York Board of Elections, one of whom described holding the primary as a frivolous "beauty contest" for the Vermont lawmaker's supporters. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/sanders_33_0.jpeg …
(2020-04-27). 'Environmentally Just' Move Will Open 100 Miles of NYC Streets to Pedestrians as Social Distancing Enters Warmer Months. commondreams.org Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement of the new policy on Monday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/nyc_streets.jpg …
(2020-04-26). 'Just calm down': Pelosi fails to reassure with message for state and local governments battling Covid-19 and its economic fallout. rt.com 
As small businesses and state governments struggle amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Nancy Pelosi has dismissed accusations that she made an error by supporting an interim relief package, telling critics to "just calm down." | Speaker of the House Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received heavy criticism from progressives following their support of an interim coronavirus relief bill that did not include financial support for state and local governments, originally a sticking point for their party. | A second CARES Act has been promised, which will be a more expansive relief bill, though the inter…
(2020-04-26). A history of American protest music: Which Side Are You On? mronline.org 
Just as we were in the 1930s and '60s, America is suffering a moral crisis. We have to decide which side we are on: hate and exclusion, or justice, inclusion, and democracy?>
(2020-04-26). 'I haven't heard anything directly': Lindsey Graham makes headlines by weighing in on Kim Jong-un death rumours, but knows nothing. rt.com 
Media outlets keep sharing Senator Lindsey Graham's opinion on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health, even though there is no official information on the matter, and despite the fact Graham hasn't provided any evidence. | The South Carolina Republican senator, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, admitted to Fox News's Jeanine Pirro he has no direct knowledge of Kim's health — but weighed in anyway, calling North Korea a "cult." | "It's a closed society. I haven't heard anything directly, but I'll be shocked if he's not dead or in some incapacitated state, because you don't let rumors like this…
(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. | This is Dale Zorn. He is an elected member of the Michigan Senate. He wore a Confederate Flag mask on the floor of the Michigan Senate. Then he tried to tell us he didn't…
(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?
(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.
(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…
(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…
(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.
(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."
(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.
(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…
(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.
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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 …
(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.
(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."
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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…
(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.
(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."
(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.
(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.
(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…
(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, …
(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.
(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…
(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…
(2020-03-27). 'The universe is collapsing'. zcomm.org Bernie Sanders mocks Republicans over coronavirus aid…
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(2020-02-28). Carol Anderson on Voter Suppression. fair.org Media…
(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 …
(2020-02-08). Hasan Sits Down With Bernie Sanders. zcomm.org Interview on aging and retirement in America…
(2020-02-04). Biden Threatens Lawsuit to Halt Release of Real Iowa Caucus Results. theantimedia.com American democracy—ain't it grand?>
(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…
(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 …