Daily Archives: May 1, 2020

2020-05-01: News Headlines

Bruce E. Levine (2020-05-01). If Trump is a Pathological Liar, What Type of Liar is Biden? counterpunch.org Bernie Sanders has routinely called Trump a "pathological liar." The term pathological liar, a controversial one for psychiatrists, in common usage coveys someone who is an extraordinarily unrestrained liar. And so, Bernie knows that it is in no way radical to use this term to describe the unrelentingly self-serving Trump who unhesitatingly lies if he

Norman Solomon (2020-05-01). Joe Biden Needs an Intervention: An Open Letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez. indybay.org "It takes two wings to fly."

WSWS (2020-05-01). Detroit mayor pushes back-to-work agenda as COVID-19 cases rise across Michigan. wsws.org The number of confirmed cases and deaths across the state of Michigan continues rising as Democratic Governor Whitmer and Mayor Mike Duggan push for a rapid reopening of Detroit.

WSWS (2020-05-01). Democrats, unions set trap for workers with phony May Day Amazon strike. wsws.org The WSWS and International Amazon Workers Voice spoke to dozens of Amazon and logistics workers, none of whom had heard of or had any say in planning this protest.

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

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

RT (2020-04-30). 'Joe Biden is Joe Biden': Democratic establishment clashes with progressives over lockstep defense on Tara Reade allegations. rt.com House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "boys will be boys"-type defense of 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden has half the internet raging at the party's "hypocrisy," while the other half demand the heads of the candidate's critics. | Pelosi delivered a tart rebuke on Thursday to a reporter's query about how the party was (mis)handling former Senate staffer Tara Reade's sexual assault allegations against Biden. | Speaker Pelosi: "I have complete respect for the whole

RT (2020-04-30). Democrats fume as armed protesters descend on Michigan Capitol to protest lockdown. rt.com Crowds of protesters, some carrying weapons, descended on the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, as legislators considered extending Covid-19 lockdown measures. Democrats blamed President Donald Trump. | Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order late last month, as the coronavirus epidemic took hold in her state. When the governor — a Democrat and fierce critic of Trump — extended the order by 15 days last week, a group of residents filed a lawsuit claiming Whitmer had infringed their constitutional rights. | After the Michigan Court of Claims rejected the suit, the state legislature sat…

Staff (2020-04-30). WHO Adviser on Meat Plants: If We're at War, the Weapons We Need Are Tests and PPE, Not Pork. democracynow.org As President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to bar local governments from closing meatpacking plants around the United States, we get response from a longtime adviser to the World Health Organization. "When Congress passed that act, it certainly did not have in mind that the president has the power or the right to put workers' lives and health at risk," says Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of the World Health Organization Center on National and Global Health Law. Gostin also discusses why he joined 40 leading center directors in a declaration this we…

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

Staff (2020-04-30). Economist Thomas Piketty: Coronavirus Pandemic Has Exposed the "Violence of Social Inequality" democracynow.org As nearly 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment in just six weeks and millions worldwide face hunger and poverty, we look at the global economic catastrophe triggered by the pandemic and its impact on the most vulnerable. As the World Food Programme warns of a massive spike in global hunger and more than 100 million people in cities worldwide could fall into poverty, can this crisis be a catalyst for change? We ask French economist Thomas Piketty. His 2014 internationally best-selling book, "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," looked at economic inequality and the necessity of wealth taxes. His new b…

Leela Anand (2020-04-30). Biden and Trump compete to produce most misleading, racist anti-China ad. liberationnews.org Both political parties in the U.S. seek to make a national enemy out of China. But the U.S. working class has more to gain from friendship, solidarity and exchange of knowledge with China and the Chinese people.

Staff (2020-04-30). Stir Crazy! Episode #25: Schools Out For…Ever? therealnews.com On today's show: TRNN Executive Producer Lisa Snowden-McCray, "By Any Means Necessary" co-host Jacqueline Luqman, and special guest Center for American Progress Managing Director for K-12 Education Policy Dr. Khalilah Harris. Hosted by Kim Brown.

Staff (2020-04-30). Headlines for April 30, 2020. democracynow.org Jared Kushner Hails "Great Success Story" as U.S. Deaths Top 60,000, Dozens of Decomposing Bodies Found in Trucks Outside Brooklyn Funeral Home, President Trump Claims Coronavirus Will Be "Eradicated" from U.S. | , FDA to Approve Emergency Use of Remdesivir After the Drug Shows Promise Treating COVID-19, More Than 30 Million U.S. Workers File Unemployment Claims in Just Six Weeks, International Labour Organization Warns Pandemic Threatens Livelihoods of 1.6 Billion, South Korea Reports No New Domestic Coronavirus Cases , U.K. Now Has Europe's Second-Highest COVID-19 Death Toll | , Femicides and Domestic Violence…

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

Staff (2020-04-30). Trump Reportedly Lashed Out at His Campaign Manager Over Grim Reelection Polls. truthout.org President Donald Trump is denying reports that he erupted last week at his own campaign manager over numbers that showed he was down in the polls in a head-to-head general election matchup against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. | Trump, during a phone conversation with campaign manager Brad Parscale on Friday,

Roger D. Harris (2020-04-30). Baby Boomers for Biden Recant Left Legacy. dissidentvoice.org Former members of the leading Vietnam War-era peace organization in the US, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), recently circulated an open letter warning today's young activists to — as the adage goes — do as I say and not as I did. Back in the '60s and '70s, these former leaders led the way …

Andrey Areshev (2020-04-30). Army May Have Hosted Largest Gathering During Pandemic. strategic-culture.org The Pentagon "failed to adequately respond" to the COVID-19 pandemic, charged ten Democratic lawmakers in a letter sent to the Pentagon Monday. The lawmakers say "lack of clear guidance" from Defense Secretary Mark Esper has put service members at risk because there has not been a clear coronavirus policy across the Defense Department.

Roger D. Harris (2020-04-30). Et tu? Progressive Boomers Are Now Preaching Pro-Biden Lesser-Evilism. mintpressnews.com At a time when an independent progressive movement is needed more than ever, the sheepdogs of a bygone era are trying to herd a new generation of activists into the Democratic Party.

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-04-30). The Way Liberals Smear Tara Reade Is Everything Rape Survivors Fear. thealtworld.com Former Georgia state congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who is on the Joe Biden running mate short list and "The New York Time…

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

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

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

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

Joan Walsh (2020-05-01). 'If Not Now, When?' Behind the Growing Push for a Black Woman VP Nominee. thenation.com 'If Not Now, When?' Behind the Growing Push for a Black Woman VP Nominee.

yenisafak (2020-05-01). Democratic presidential candidate Biden says sexual assault 'never happened'. yenisafak.com U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday denied that he sexually assaulted a former Senate aide in 1993, his first public remarks on the subject after he faced intense pressure to address the allegation."I want to address allegations by a former staffer that I engaged in misconduct 27 years ago," Biden said in an emailed statement. "They aren't true. This never happened."

sputniknews (2020-05-01). US Presidential Hopeful Joe Biden Denies Allegations of Sexual Misconduct. sputniknews.com Former Senate staffer Tara Reade previously accused Biden of sexual misconduct saying that she filed a complaint back in 1993.

teleSUR (2020-04-30). Biden to Respond to Sex Assault Allegation in Interview Friday. telesurenglish.net Presumptive Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden for the first time on Friday is set to personally address a former Senate aide's accusation that he sexually assaulted her in 1993 – a claim that his campaign has denied. | RELATED: | Biden is scheduled to be interviewed about the matter on the MSNBC program "Morning Joe," the cable TV network said on Twitter on Thursday. Biden's campaign did not respond to a request…

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-04-30). #FireChrisHayes Trends as MSNBC Anchor Attacked for Covering Biden Accuser Story. commondreams.org Journalist Glenn Greenwald said the reaction to Hayes reporting on a news story which reflects poorly on the former vice president "shows what MSNBC has cultivated." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-04-30_at_10.56.12_am.png

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-04-30). 'Anyone But Elizabeth': With Bernie Out, Big-Dollar Biden Donors Aim to Nix Warren as VP Choice. commondreams.org "Wall Street donors are pressuring Joe Biden not to pick Elizabeth Warren for VP. That's as good a reason as any to do it." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren-tops-national-average-polls_1.jpg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staff (2020-04-28). 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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staff (2020-04-27). 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…

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

Staff (2020-04-24). "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."

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…

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.

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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staff (2020-04-22). "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). 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). 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…

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

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

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

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 …

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

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…

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 …

2020-05-01: 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.)

If Trump is a Pathological Liar, What Type of Liar is Biden?
Bruce E. Levine | counterpunch.org | 2020-05-01
Bernie Sanders has routinely called Trump a "pathological liar." The term pathological liar, a controversial one for psychiatrists, in common usage coveys someone who is an extraordinarily unrestrained liar. And so, Bernie knows that it is in no way radical to use this term to describe the unrelentingly self-serving Trump who unhesitatingly lies if he…
counterpunch.org/2020/05/01/if-trump-is-a-pathological-liar-what-type-of-liar-is-biden/

Joe Biden Needs an Intervention: An Open Letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez
Norman Solomon | indybay.org | 2020-05-01
"It takes two wings to fly."
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/30/18832705.php

Hating Arabs as a Common Ground: Why Israel's Coalition Government is Likely to Survive
Ramzy Baroud | counterpunch.org | 2020-05-01
Shortly after an agreement to form a "national emergency government" in Israel, leader of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) party, Benny Gantz, tweeted triumphantly that 'democracy' in Israel has been 'safeguarded'. But how is a deal that would grant Israel's right-wing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a veto power over the very judicial system which…
counterpunch.org/2020/05/01/hating-arabs-as-a-common-ground-why-israels-coalition-government-is-likely-to-survive/

Democrats, unions set trap for workers with phony May Day Amazon strike
wsws.org | 2020-05-01
The WSWS and International Amazon Workers Voice spoke to dozens of Amazon and logistics workers, none of whom had heard of or had any say in planning this protest.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/01/amaz-m01.html

Detroit mayor pushes back-to-work agenda as COVID-19 cases rise across Michigan
wsws.org | 2020-05-01
The number of confirmed cases and deaths across the state of Michigan continues rising as Democratic Governor Whitmer and Mayor Mike Duggan push for a rapid reopening of Detroit.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/01/dugg-m01.html

Joe Biden Needs an Intervention: An Open Letter to DNC Chair Tom Perez
Norman Solomon | commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
Then US Vice President Joe Biden (L) smiles with former labor secretary Tom Perez, currently the chair of Democratic National Committee, as he arrives to address the Apprenticeship Summit at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2015. (Photo: Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_perez.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/30/joe-biden-needs-intervention-open-letter-dnc-chair-tom-perez?cd-origin=rss

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

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

Economist Thomas Piketty: Coronavirus Pandemic Has Exposed the "Violence of Social Inequality"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-30
As nearly 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment in just six weeks and millions worldwide face hunger and poverty, we look at the global economic catastrophe triggered by the pandemic and its impact on the most vulnerable. As the World Food Programme warns of a massive spike in global hunger and more than 100 million people in cities worldwide could fall into poverty, can this crisis be a catalyst for change? We ask French economist Thomas Piketty. His 2014 internationally best-selling book, "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," looked at economic inequality and the necessity of wealth taxes. His new b…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/30/thomas_piketty

WHO Adviser on Meat Plants: If We're at War, the Weapons We Need Are Tests and PPE, Not Pork
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-30
As President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to bar local governments from closing meatpacking plants around the United States, we get response from a longtime adviser to the World Health Organization. "When Congress passed that act, it certainly did not have in mind that the president has the power or the right to put workers' lives and health at risk," says Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of the World Health Organization Center on National and Global Health Law. Gostin also discusses why he joined 40 leading center directors in a declaration this we…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/30/lawrence_gostin_covid_19

Headlines for April 30, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-30
Jared Kushner Hails "Great Success Story" as U.S. Deaths Top 60,000, Dozens of Decomposing Bodies Found in Trucks Outside Brooklyn Funeral Home, President Trump Claims Coronavirus Will Be "Eradicated" from U.S. | , FDA to Approve Emergency Use of Remdesivir After the Drug Shows Promise Treating COVID-19, More Than 30 Million U.S. Workers File Unemployment Claims in Just Six Weeks, International Labour Organization Warns Pandemic Threatens Livelihoods of 1.6 Billion, South Korea Reports No New Domestic Coronavirus Cases , U.K. Now Has Europe's Second-Highest COVID-19 Death Toll | , Femicides and Domestic Violence…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/30/headlines

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

'Joe Biden is Joe Biden': Democratic establishment clashes with progressives over lockstep defense on Tara Reade allegations
rt.com | 2020-04-30
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "boys will be boys"-type defense of 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden has half the internet raging at the party's "hypocrisy," while the other half demand the heads of the candidate's critics. | Pelosi delivered a tart rebuke on Thursday to a reporter's query about how the party was (mis)handling former Senate staffer Tara Reade's sexual assault allegations against Biden. | Speaker Pelosi: "I have complete respect for the whole #MeToo movement…there's also due process…Joe Biden is Joe Biden…There…
rt.com/usa/487477-biden-democrats-reade-sexual/

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

Trump Reportedly Lashed Out at His Campaign Manager Over Grim Reelection Polls
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-04-30
President Donald Trump is denying reports that he erupted last week at his own campaign manager over numbers that showed he was down in the polls in a head-to-head general election matchup against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. | Trump, during a phone conversation with campaign manager Brad Parscale on Friday, reportedly ran the gamut of emotions when confronted with the data, berati…
truthout.org/articles/trump-reportedly-lashed-out-at-his-campaign-manager-over-grim-reelection-polls/

Et tu? Progressive Boomers Are Now Preaching Pro-Biden Lesser-Evilism
Roger D. Harris | mintpressnews.com | 2020-04-30
At a time when an independent progressive movement is needed more than ever, the sheepdogs of a bygone era are trying to herd a new generation of activists into the Democratic Party.
mintpressnews.com/et-tu-progressive-boomers-now-preaching-pro-joe-biden-lesser-evilism/267141/

Army May Have Hosted Largest Gathering During Pandemic
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-04-30
The Pentagon "failed to adequately respond" to the COVID-19 pandemic, charged ten Democratic lawmakers in a letter sent to the Pentagon Monday. The lawmakers say "lack of clear guidance" from Defense Secretary Mark Esper has put service members at risk because there has not been a clear coronavirus policy across the Defense Department.
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/04/30/army-may-have-hosted-largest-gathering-during-pandemic/

Baby Boomers for Biden Recant Left Legacy
Roger D. Harris | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-30
Former members of the leading Vietnam War-era peace organization in the US, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), recently circulated an open letter warning today's young activists to

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

Democrats fume as armed protesters descend on Michigan Capitol to protest lockdown
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Crowds of protesters, some carrying weapons, descended on the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, as legislators considered extending Covid-19 lockdown measures. Democrats blamed President Donald Trump. | Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order late last month, as the coronavirus epidemic took hold in her state. When the governor

Biden and Trump compete to produce most misleading, racist anti-China ad
Leela Anand | liberationnews.org | 2020-04-30
Both political parties in the U.S. seek to make a national enemy out of China. But the U.S. working class has more to gain from friendship, solidarity and exchange of knowledge with China and the Chinese people.
liberationnews.org/biden-and-trump-compete-to-produce-most-misleading-racist-anti-china-ad/

The Way Liberals Smear Tara Reade Is Everything Rape Survivors Fear
Caitlin Johnstone | thealtworld.com | 2020-04-30
Former Georgia state congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who is on the Joe Biden running mate short list and making no secret of her desire for the job, said on CNN Tuesday night that she did not believe rape allegations against Biden to be credible. | "The New York Time…
thealtworld.com/caitlin_johnston/the-way-liberals-smear-tara-reade-is-everything-rape-survivors-fear

Stir Crazy! Episode #25: Schools Out For…Ever?
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-04-30
On today's show: TRNN Executive Producer Lisa Snowden-McCray, "By Any Means Necessary" co-host Jacqueline Luqman, and special guest Center for American Progress Managing Director for K-12 Education Policy Dr. Khalilah Harris. Hosted by Kim Brown.
therealnews.com/stories/stir-crazy-episode-25-schools-out-for-ever

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

'If Not Now, When?' Behind the Growing Push for a Black Woman VP Nominee
Joan Walsh | thenation.com | 2020-05-01
'If Not Now, When?' Behind the Growing Push for a Black Woman VP Nominee.
thenation.com/article/politics/joe-biden-vice-president-black-woman/

Democratic presidential candidate Biden says sexual assault 'never happened'
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-01
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday denied that he sexually assaulted a former Senate aide in 1993, his first public remarks on the subject after he faced intense pressure to address the allegation."I want to address allegations by a former staffer that I engaged in misconduct 27 years ago," Biden said in an emailed statement. "They aren't true. This never happened."
yenisafak.com/en/world/democratic-presidential-candidate-biden-says-sexual-assault-never-happened-3518400

US Presidential Hopeful Joe Biden Denies Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-01
Former Senate staffer Tara Reade previously accused Biden of sexual misconduct saying that she filed a complaint back in 1993.
sputniknews.com/us/202005011079159817-us-presidential-hopeful-joe-biden-denies-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct/

Biden to Respond to Sex Assault Allegation in Interview Friday
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-30
Presumptive Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden for the first time on Friday is set to personally address a former Senate aide's accusation that he sexually assaulted her in 1993 – a claim that his campaign has denied. | RELATED: | Sanders Endorses Biden to 'Bring Democrats Against Trump' | Biden is scheduled to be interviewed about the matter on the MSNBC program "Morning Joe," the cable TV network said on Twitter on Thursday. Biden's campaign did not respond to a request…
telesurenglish.net/news/Biden-to-Respond-to-Sex-Assault-Allegation-in-Interview-Friday-20200430-0017.html

#FireChrisHayes Trends as MSNBC Anchor Attacked for Covering Biden Accuser Story
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
Journalist Glenn Greenwald said the reaction to Hayes reporting on a news story which reflects poorly on the former vice president "shows what MSNBC has cultivated." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-04-30_at_10.56.12_am.png
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/30/firechrishayes-trends-msnbc-anchor-attacked-covering-biden-accuser-story?cd-origin=rss

'Anyone But Elizabeth': With Bernie Out, Big-Dollar Biden Donors Aim to Nix Warren as VP Choice
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-30
"Wall Street donors are pressuring Joe Biden not to pick Elizabeth Warren for VP. That's as good a reason as any to do it." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren-tops-national-average-polls_1.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/30/anyone-elizabeth-bernie-out-big-dollar-biden-donors-aim-nix-warren-vp-choice?cd-origin=rss

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

Headlines for April 29, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-29
U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops Number of Americans Killed in Vietnam War, Trump Orders Meat Plants to Remain Open as Worker Coronavirus Deaths Mount, Mayor of San Juan Says Puerto Ricans Haven't Received Relief Funds, Workers Plan May Day "People's Strike" to Demand Safer Workplaces, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Lends Support to May 1st Rent Strike, Report: 90% of Minority-Owned Businesses Shut Out of Paycheck Protection Program, U.S. House Cancels Plans to Reconvene in May as D.C. Remains COVID-19 Hot Spot, Pence Refuses to Wear Face Mask During Tour of Mayo Clinic, Riots, Escape Attempts Reported in U.S. Juv…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/29/headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Headlines for April 28, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-28
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/28/headlines

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

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

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

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

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

Headlines for April 27, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-27
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/27/headlines

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

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

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

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

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

Headlines for April 24, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-24
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/24/headlines

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

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

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

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

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

Headlines for April 23, 2020
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-04-23
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/4/23/headlines

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/

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

"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

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

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

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

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

FAMILY Act Would Deny Benefits to One-Third of New Parents
Matt Bruenig | peoplespolicyproject.org | 2020-03-08
Regular readers will know that I have long had problems with the FAMILY Act, which is the leading paid leave proposal within the Democratic party. One of those problems, which I've never been able to quantify, is that the FAMILY Act's eligibility requirements clearly exclude a large share of new parents from the program's benefits. Earlier last month, the CBO confirmed this reality and put a hard number on it for the first time: 30 percent. That's the percentage of new p…
peoplespolicyproject.org/2020/03/08/family-act-would-deny-benefits-to-one-third-of-new-parents/

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