Daily Archives: October 27, 2020

2020-10-27: News Headlines

Staff (2020-10-27). Barrett Confirmed: Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Alicia Garza on GOP's Supreme Court Power Grab. democracynow.org As right-wing judge Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in as the ninth justice to the Supreme Court of the United States, just 30 days after President Trump announced her nomination and eight days ahead of the November 3 election, we speak with Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, who says the rushed confirmation shows that the Supreme Court "is not a neutral body — it is incredibly political." Barrett's confirmation to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six weeks after her death seals the court's 6-3 conservative majority potentially for decades to come and could have major consequences for reproducti…

yenisafak (2020-10-27). US relief bill talks hit wall over COVID-19 differences. yenisafak.com The much-anticipated $2.2 trillion US relief bill negotiations between Democrats and Republicans have hit a wall on Monday amid party differences for nationwide testing plans against COVID-19.US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued her weeks-long talks with White House top negotiator Steven Mnuchin on the stimulus package, but released a letter with a harsh tone criticizing the Republicans."The Republicans' continued surrender to the virus — particularly amid the recent wave of cases — is official malfeasance," the top Democrat wrote in the letter."Unless we have a national plan for testing,…

Staff (2020-10-27). Kavanaugh Issues Ominous Opinion Regurgitating Trump Mail-In Ballot Lies. truthout.org The U.S. Supreme Court late Monday delivered a victory for the Republican Party by barring the crucial battleground state of Wisconsin from extending its Election Day deadline for the arrival of absentee ballots amid the pandemic, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh issuing an ominous concurring opinion that echoes President Donald Trump's false narrative on mail-in voting. | The 5-3 decision along ideological lines — with the court's five conservatives in the majority — blocked a request by…

Communist Party USA (2020-10-27). CPUSA: Electoral uprising shatters records, signals possible democratic breakthrough. peoplesworld.org The popular chant, "This is what democracy looks like!" can mean many things: people hitting the streets, getting arrested in peaceful protest, organizing themselves into unions, lobbying their elected officials, and yes, even the "simple" act of voting. The yearning for more democracy is reflected in what can only be described as an electoral upsurge that's …

James J. Zogby (2020-10-27). Using Arabs or Muslims as Scapegoats Has a History. globalresearch.ca During the past century, we have witnessed a long and tragic history of domestic policies that have targeted persons of Arab descent. We have been subjected to discriminatory treatment by law enforcement, immigration authorities, and by both Democratic and Republican …

Andrew Levine (2020-10-27). Get Trump, But Biden is Next, So Lose the Kumbayas. counterpunch.org Inasmuch as even the hyperbolic, overused expression "existential threat" doesn't quite capture the nature and extent of the "clear and present danger" that a second Trump term would pose, dispatching Donald Trump is and ought to be Job Number One. This means voting for, and even piling votes on for, Joe Biden. Biden has been

_____ (2020-10-27). Republicans and Democrats Will Never Deliver Peace. strategic-culture.org The Libertarian Party presidential candidate makes her case for why a third party is needed to bring the troops home. | Jo JORGENSEN | The 2016 Republican presidential primary debates revealed a sea change. From 2008 to 2012, then-congressman Ron Paul was routinely booed for his criticism of America's foreign policy. It was even common to hear Republican office holders, commentators, and activists say they "agreed with Ron Paul on everything but foreign policy." Yet in 2016, candidate Donald Trump was cheered for calling the Iraq war the biggest blunder in American history. | One would have thought Trump's victor…

Elie Mystal (2020-10-27). Republicans Have Confirmed Amy Coney Barrett—and Officially Captured the Supreme Court. thenation.com Republicans Have Confirmed Amy Coney Barrett—and Officially Captured the Supreme Court…

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-27). The China-Russia "Threat to America": Biden's Intriguing "Attempt" to Unite Democrat and Republican Foreign Policy Hawks. globalresearch.ca Biden's description of Russia as "the biggest threat to America" and China as its "biggest competitor" is an intriguing attempt to unite the anti-Russian and anti-Chinese factions of America's permanent military, intelligence, and diplomatic bureaucracies ("deep state") even if it's …

WSWS (2020-10-27). Trump escalates coup plotting with swearing-in of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. wsws.org The installation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, without significant resistance by the Democrats, is a key step in Trump's plans to hijack the presidential election.

Sharon Kelly (2020-10-27). Trump pledges to 'save your fracking' and Biden says no ban — but most Pennsylvania voters oppose fracking. nationofchange.org Voters in Pennsylvania have turned against fracking after over a decade of experience with shale drilling in the region.

Mark Gruenberg (2020-10-27). AFT warns Trump: We'll take to the streets to defend democracy. peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

Staff (2020-10-27). AOC Pushes for Dems to "Expand the Court" After Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation. truthout.org Following the confirmation by the United States Senate of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) sent out a tweet that expressed her view of how Democrats should proceed from this moment onward. | "Expand the court," The congresswoman elaborated on the point in a second tweet, explaining that increasing the number of sitting justices on the high court was n…

Staff (2020-10-27). Headlines for October 27, 2020. democracynow.org Amy Coney Barrett Sworn In, Giving SCOTUS Heavy Conservative Majority Ahead of Pivotal Cases, SCOTUS Rules Wisconsin Cannot Count Ballots Received After Election Day, Surging COVID-19 Cases Trigger Curfews; Doctors Say 800,000 Children Have Been Infected, China Testing 5 Million People After One Asymptomatic Case in Xinjiang, New Lockdowns in Germany, Mask Orders in Russia as COVID-19 Cases Surge, Oxford Vaccine Shows Promising Results as New Data Suggests Antibodies in Recovered Cases Don't Last, U.S. Imposes Harsh New Sanctions on Iranian Oil, Airstrikes Kill Dozens at Training Camp in Idlib, Syria, Explosion a…

Sarah Anderson (2020-10-27). The Trump Tax Reform Helped the Billionaire Class, Not the Working Class. counterpunch.org "We gave you the greatest, biggest tax cut in history!" crowed President Trump at a recent rally in Prescott, Arizona. If that rally crowd had been packed with billionaires, they would've had good reason to applaud. But for ordinary working families, the 2017 Republican tax law is nothing to cheer about. Trump's tax cuts for

Rajan Menon (2020-10-27). If Trump Loses, He Will Be A Ruthless Lame Duck. thenation.com If Trump Loses, He Will Be A Ruthless Lame Duck…

WSWS (2020-10-27). Right-wing recall campaign seeks to remove Socialist Alternative's Kshama Sawant from Seattle City Council. wsws.org The campaign to recall Kshama Sawant is led by the Democratic Party with the active support of Republican and far-right elements.

Staff (2020-10-27). Alicia Garza on Being Targeted in Armed White Supremacist Plot as Trump Stokes Fires of Racism. democracynow.org This election season, Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza says President Trump is "stoking fires he has no intention of controlling" and inciting far-right extremists. She was recently approached by the FBI after agents found her name on a list in the home of a white supremacist in Idaho who was arrested on weapons charges. "Racial terror has always been used as a form of control, particularly during periods of people fighting for social change," she says.

Jack Rasmus (2020-10-27). Barrett Confirmed, Post-Election Chaos Will Ensue. counterpunch.org Yesterday Mitch McConnell's Republican Senate confirmed its third ultra conservative Supreme Court nominee, Amy Barrett, as Supreme Court Justice. Coming in the midst of America's current dual crisis—economic and Covid health—both now worsening, the Barrett appointment ensures the emergence of historic political instability in the USA. The dual crisis is about to become a triple

Staff (2020-10-27). "Movements Are Not Just About Protests": BLM Co-Founder Alicia Garza on How to Build & Wield Power. democracynow.org In her new book, "The Purpose of Power," Black Lives Matter co-creator Alicia Garza lays out how people can build power and effect change. "Movements are not just about protests," she says. "Movements are absolutely about how we get more power into the hands of more people."

Jarvis Tyner (2020-10-27). The role of the Left in the 2020 elections. peoplesworld.org Support of a broad anti-Trump coalition is building momentum for the Biden-Harris ticket in this historic 2020 presidential election, now just days away. If the effects of important grassroots work continues, and the huge Democratic registration and early voting tallies up, then Trump's monstrous reign will end. This is not just a battle of Democrats …

James Bovard (2020-10-27). Will Democracy's Myths Doom Liberty? globalresearch.ca The Supreme Court declared in 1943, "There is no mysticism in the American concept of the State or of the nature or origin of its authority." In reality, the cardinal doctrines of contemporary democracy are layer upon layer of mystical …

WSWS (2020-10-26). Whose Vote Counts, Explained: Netflix series examines voting rights in America. wsws.org Like all basic democratic rights, the right to vote can only be defended through the independent political struggle of the working class.

Dean Baker (2020-10-26). Red State Governors Still Flunk Coronavirus Testing. cepr.net A few weeks back I did a post noting that states governed by Republicans had the highest positive test rates, while the states with the lowest positive rates were mostly governed by Democrats. I argued that positive test rates are a good measure of how serious the governors are in trying to bring the pandemic …

Ann Garrison (2020-10-26). Call for Prosecution of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide Crime in DRC. indybay.org "Congo Week," the annual series of forums, films, and conversation organized by Washington D.C.-based Friends of the Congo was, like so much else, a virtual event this year. It concluded today with the presentation of humanitarian awards to two Congolese groups defending human rights, and to Dr. Denis Mukwege, the world renowned gynecologist and Nobel Prize Winner who founded Panzi Hospital to treat women victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mukwege called for prosecution of the 617 war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide crimes documented i…

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-26). Chileans Vote Up or Down for Constitutional Change. globalresearch.ca Since the CIA elevated Augusto Pinochet to power on an earlier 9/11 day of infamy in 1973 — replacing social democracy with tyrannical fascist rule — Pinochet's ghost still haunts most Chileans. | Billionaire Sebastian Pinera governs the country with an …

Jacques Servin (2020-10-26). Elect Biden, Then Give Him Power. progressive.org Despite Biden's surprisingly progressive platform, he will need pressure to level the economic playing field, and guarantee basic services like health care and education.

RT (2020-10-26). 'Four more years of George': Biden mistakes Trump for Bush during campaign event (VIDEO). rt.com Former US Vice President Joe Biden appeared, awkwardly, to have mistaken his rival Donald Trump for George Bush as he delivered an address to his supporters over the weekend. | Speaking at the 'I Will Vote' concert on Sunday, Biden touched upon the importance of the upcoming presidential vote on November 3. He then stumbled, seemingly forgetting Trump's name. | "The character of the country, in my view, is literally on the ballot. What kind of country are we going to be? Four more years of George, um… George, um…" Biden said as he appeared seated next to his wife Jill. | Joe Biden confuses President Trump…

Rajan Menon (2020-10-26). So Trump Loses to Biden….Then What? commondreams.org He will want only one thing: to see his successor fail. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump-kids-immune-who-chief-no.jpg

Finian Cunningham (2020-10-26). Russia's Threat… Of Peace. thealtworld.com Here we go again. Joe Biden is whipping up Russophobia by claiming that Russia is the "biggest threat" to American security. | In a media interview at the weekend, the Democrat politician said: "I think the biggest threat to America right now in terms of breaking up our — our security and our alliances is Russia." | That a presidential candidate can

Liberation Staff (2020-10-26). Gloria La Riva responds to second Biden vs. Trump presidential debate: The two capitalist parties offer workers nothing. liberationnews.org The second debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was one of the closing events of a presidential campaign that has been an utter insult to the working class.

RT (2020-10-26). "Four more years of… George" Bush or Lopez? Liberals and conservatives clash over who Biden referred to in suspected gaffe. rt.com Liberal pundits and Joe Biden supporters are explaining that the former vice president seemingly saying he was running against George W. Bush was actually him referring to comedian host George Lopez, but critics are not convinced. | During a virtual event on Sunday, Biden referred to "four more years of George," leading many, including President Donald Trump, to accuse the Democrat of forgetting who exactly he was running against as he was seemingly referring to either former President George W. Bush or his father, who was president from 1989 to 1993. | "The character of the country, in my view, is literally o…

Staff (2020-10-26). Amid Staff COVID Outbreak, Democrats Call on Pence to Stop Presiding Over Senate. truthout.org With multiple members of Vice President Mike Pence's senior staff now confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus — and Senate Republicans scheduled to ram through the final confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as early as Monday afternoon or evening — Democratic leaders in the Senate are calling on Pence to forgo his plans to preside over the chamber in the name of public health and out of concern for all who work there. | With at least five members…

RT (2020-10-26). Woman says her DYING pro-Trump dad voted for Biden because 'it matters to his girls,' but not everybody feels the inspiration. rt.com A TikToker says her critically ill dad was going to vote for Donald Trump, but went for Joe Biden to please his kids after "intense exchanges" over politics. The supposedly inspirational message was lost on many, however. | A video blogger who goes by the name 'Erleepen' on TikTok shared an emotional story about her father, who she says has a few months to live at most and voted for the Democratic presidential candidate instead of his preferred choice — Trump — after his children prodded him into changing his mind. | THIS!!! Wait for it üò≠‚ù§Ô∏&egr…

yenisafak (2020-10-26). US House head Pelosi poised for new term after polls. yenisafak.com US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would seek another term if Democrats keep control of the lower chamber, as widely expected."Yes I am," Pelosi told CNN on Sunda when asked if she would seek the House speakership after the Nov. 3 election, with most seats in Congress at stake as well as the presidency."Let me also say we [Democrats] have to win the Senate."Pelosi in 2007 became the first woman House speaker in US history, a post she held for two terms until 2011 when a Republican minority swept in. She was reelected speaker in 2019 when Democrats took back the chamber in the 2018 midterm e…

RT (2020-10-26). 'F**k Sleepy Joe!' Rapper Lil Pump records VIDEO endorsing Trump & blasting Biden's tax plan. rt.com Rapper Lil Pump has backed the 'Trump 2020' message in an emotional, profanity-laden video, while seemingly taking issue with Joe Biden's plan to increase some of the tax rates if elected president. | The 20-year-old hip hop star, who released his second studio album, 'Harverd Dropout', last year, made his endorsement in a short clip posted on social media. | "What I gotta say is 'Trump 2020', b***h!" the artist said is an expletive-ridden tirade. He referred to Biden as 'Sleepy Joe' — a nickname for the former vice president coined by Trump. | üòÇüòÇ&…

_____ (2020-10-26). The Supremely Undemocratic Court. popularresistance.org In this first installment of the Deception 2020 Series, we dig into that most supreme of undemocratic courts – just as Amy Coney Barrett looms over a smooth confirmation. Could the Democrats have stopped her? Then, we sit down with Dan Kovalik, human rights lawyer and author, for his take on the court, RBG, and more.

sputniknews (2020-10-26). France, Turkey at Odds; China Hits US Arms Makers; No Stopping COVID. sputniknews.com Senator Chuck Schumer offers a perfect example of how his party fails Americans as the New York Times joins in election fear-mongering.

Robert S. Becker (2020-10-26). Weaponizing the Trump rout to throttle the Republican scourge. nationofchange.org Trump is the disintegrating, self-destructive meteor aimed directly at the heart of the Republican brand.

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-10-26). 'Prove Him Wrong': Progressives Demand Democrats Accept McConnell's Challenge, Expand Supreme Court If They Win Elections. commondreams.org Bolstered by some apparent support in the Senate Democratic caucus, progressive advocates on Monday demanded that the Democratic Party prove Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wrong about their commitment to remaking the judiciary. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1229137686.png

Paul Craig Roberts (2020-10-26). November's Choice: Trump or the Establishment. thealtworld.com The November presidential election is not about a choice between a Republican and a Democrat, Trump or Biden/Kamala. It is about a choice between Trump and the Establishment. | You are voting for or against the Establishment. | If you vote against Trump, you are voting for your continued dispossession of your personal freedom, your independence, your income and wealth if any, your integrity, the First and Second Amendments, and any hope for your future and the future of your country. It is as simple as that. | Approximately half of the American population are too indoctrinated and brainwashed to understand what i…

_____ (2020-10-26). Why We Need To End Capitalism To Defeat Fascism. popularresistance.org With the presidential election coming up, there is a lot of focus on how the election will go and who will win. One thing is certain, no matter which corporate candidate wins, the people and the planet will lose. To understand where we are and how we got here, I speak with Gabriel Rockhill, a philosopher, author and activist. He explains the connections between our governance structure and capitalism and how both liberal democracy and fascism in a sort of good cop/bad cop relationship are used to protect the profits of the few while exploiting the many.

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-10-26). As Senate Dems Hold Talkathon in Protest, Warren Condemns GOP Vote on Barrett as 'Last Gasp of a Desperate Party'. commondreams.org Continuing a protest on the floor of the Senate that had begun late Sunday night, Senate Democrats on Monday morning embarked on a "talkathon" to speak out against the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to go ahead Monday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/warren_coney_barrett.jpg

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-10-26). International Study Finds US Republican Party Heading Towards Becoming One of World's Most Authoritarian Factions. commondreams.org "Disrespect of political opponents, the encouragement of violence, and also the violation of minority rights… they have all clearly increased with the Republican Party in recent years," said one of the lead authors. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/modi_2_0.jpg

Stephen R. Shalom (2020-10-26). Once More on the Greater Evil. zcomm.org Voting for Biden in a swing state, and calling on others to do the same, is a recognition of the realities we face and of the fact that a Trump victory would have incalculable consequences for the left, for all Americans, and for our planet…

RT (2020-10-26). 'He couldn't remember my name': Trump mocks Biden for confusing him with George Bush, accuses media of 'covering up' incident. rt.com Donald Trump has ridiculed Democratic challenger Joe Biden for apparently confusing him with former President George Bush during a virtual media event and accused journalists of helping "cover" for him. | "Joe Biden called me George yesterday. Couldn't remember my name," Trump tweeted on Monday morning. The president also accused "The Fake News Cartel" of being in cahoots with the Democrats and "working overtime" to cover the incident up. | Joe Biden called me George yesterday. Couldn't remember my name. Got some help from the anchor to get him through the interview. The Fake News Cartel is working overtime to…

Ariel Dorfman (2020-10-26). A New Constitution: What the United States Can Learn From Chile. thenation.com A New Constitution: What the United States Can Learn From Chile…

Press Room (2020-10-26). 'The Nation' Launches 'System Check,' A New Podcast With Melissa Harris-Perry and Dorian Warren. thenation.com 'The Nation' Launches 'System Check,' A New Podcast With Melissa Harris-Perry and Dorian Warren…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-10-26). In 'Partisan Power Grab,' Republican Senators Confirm Third Trump Nominee Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court. commondreams.org Critics warn that she "will only embolden the court's most conservative judges to further gut protections for Americans' healthcare, free speech, and the environment, and unleash a new wave of corporate greed." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12292984741.jpg

yenisafak (2020-10-26). Hindu festival worsens Indian capital's air pollution woes. yenisafak.com New Delhi's appalling air quality turned a lot worse over the weekend as Hindus in India's capital burned effigies of the mythological demon king Ravana and lit firecrackers to celebrate the triumph of good over evil during the Dussehra festival.As pollution spiked on Monday morning, India Gate – a monument near the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office – was blanketed in smog, and the mega-city's 20 million people breathed in "very poor" air, even "hazardous" in some places.U.S. President Donald Trump cited India for its "filthy" air during the final presidential debate last week, prompting Democratic rival Joe…

John Nichols (2020-10-26). The Election Isn't Over Until Trump's Gone. thenation.com The Election Isn't Over Until Trump's Gone…

Kim Petersen (2020-10-26). 70 Years after China and the DPRK Defeated the United States in Korea. dissidentvoice.org There is a piece of news on an important anniversary missing from western state and corporate news. This year, 2020, is the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to help in, what the Chinese call, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. …

Jan Oberg (2020-10-26). At 75 — A U.N. of the Future in a Globalized Democracy. globalresearch.ca 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the world's most important and visionary organisation, the United Nations. Everything TFF has done during its 35 years of existence has been based on one mission — namely, to promote the UN Charter's Article …

Howie Hawkins (2020-10-26). Whatever Happened to Left Solidarity? counterpunch.org In 2004, a number of prominent progressives issued statements calling on people to vote for Democrat John Kerry in the close states and the Green Party candidate in the so-called safe states where the outcome would not be close. In 2020, many of these same people have moved further to the right and call for

Ray McGovern (2020-10-26). Former CIA: Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop is "Russiagate Disinformation" globalresearch.ca Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and …

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-10-26). Sit-in on SF Market Street by March For Democracy. indybay.org Rally at Mission High School steps, | followed by a march to San Francisco City Hall…

Kevin Martin (2020-10-26). Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty Enters Into Force. peaceaction.org Peace Action Statement on the Entry Into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action and Peace Action Education Fund, issued the following statement: "A distinct honor in my work is representing Peace Action at peace and disarmament conferences at the United Nations. I was there in …

Anish R (2020-10-26). How to make sense of US elections. peoplesdispatch.org Despite its repercussions on global politics, elections in the United States are seldom understood by people outside its borders. Even less understood is how and why the two-party system is so well entrenched. There are two main candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, representing the two major parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, respectively. But what is the system behind this ritual? | With less than two weeks away from the presidential election, here is what you need to know about what goes behind it and what is happening in the upcoming election season. | How is a US president elected? | Unlike most…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-10-26). With Covid-19 Rife Among VP Staffers, Democrats Says Pence Presiding Over Senate a 'Violation of Common Decency'. commondreams.org "Your presence alone could be very dangerous to many people—not just Senators, but to all the truly essential staff—both Democratic and Republican—who must be physically present inside the U.S. Capitol for it to function." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pence_senate_covid-19.jpg

Pip Hinman (2020-10-26). Shaoquett Moselmane, Dan Oakes and Julian Assange: What price justice? greenleft.org.au Under the guise of a phenomenon called security, anti-democratic acts designed to instill fear are being committed, argues Stuart Rees.

RT (2020-10-26). Make America neutral again: Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen wants to turn USA into a large, nuclear-armed Switzerland. rt.com She may have no chance of getting her hands on the keys to the White House next month, but a growing number of Americans are coming around to her limited government, anti-interventionist, decentralized vision for the US. | Jo Jorgensen feels Donald Trump and Joe Biden are scared to debate her. The Libertarian candidate points to Speaking to RT on the way to a campaign event in Milwaukee, she said: "They are the ones in power and they will…

_____ (2020-10-26). NPR, CNN, NYT, Wa-Po, MSNBC, Twitter, Facebook, Google Presstitutes Covering Up Biden Scandals by Refusing to Report on Them. strategic-culture.org Paul Craig ROBERTS | The New York Post's report that the FBI has laptops belonging to Hunter Biden that contain emails showing Hunter and Joe Biden's use of the Vice Presidency for business deals that amount to influence peddling and money laundering was banned from Twitter, Facebook, and Google. The New York Times, Washington Post and other of the press prostitutes tried to discredit the story with the fake news that it was Russian disinformation to help Trump win the election. National Public Radio refused to mention the story other than to brand it a story that is not really a story, simply a waste of "listene…

Staff (2020-10-26). "They Wanted to Take My Womb Out": Survivor of Medical Abuse in ICE Jail Deported After Speaking Out. democracynow.org An independent medical review team has submitted a report to Congress on a lack of informed consent and "disturbing pattern" of questionable gynecological surgical procedures at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, after an account from a nurse whistleblower in September prompted congressional and federal investigations. At least 19 women, most of whom are Black and Latina, have come forward to allege they were pressured into "unnecessary" gynecological treatment and surgeries — including procedures that left them sterile — while they were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We s…

commondreams (2020-10-26). Facebook Demands End to NYU Program That Has Exposed Social Media Giant's Failures to Uphold Commitments to Safeguard Democracy. commondreams.org ______________________________…

William i. Robinson (2020-10-26). To Defeat Fascism, We Must Recognize It's a Failed Response to Capitalist Crisis. zcomm.org Fascism seeks to violently restore capital accumulation, establish new forms of state legitimacy and suppress threats from below unencumbered by democratic constraints…

sputniknews (2020-10-26). Twitter, Facebook Chose Poorly in Blocking Access to Hunter Biden Email Story. sputniknews.com Facebook reduced the presence of the New York Post's Hunter Biden email story in users' feeds until fact-checkers had looked into the matter, while Twitter initially stopped it from being posted, shared or sent via direct message.

Julia Rock, Harry August (2020-10-26). Progressive Democrats Sweep Rhode Island. thenation.com Challengers from the left ousted eight incumbents in the state's Democratic primaries, and five more won open seats.

RT (2020-10-26). 'I was born for that': Hillary Clinton says she'd handle Covid-19 better, but Trump & Russian media 'stole' election from her. rt.com Failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is claiming Trump "basically stole the election" from her four years after her loss, a statement that is earning her plenty of ridicule on social media. | In an interview with journalist Kara Swisher's podcast for the New York Times Opinions network released on Monday, Clinton spoke about losing in 2016 because of a "disinformation campaign" run by then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and "Russian media." She even claimed the election was "stolen" from her. | "I think that Trump and a lot of the people around him know that his victory was not on the up and u…

RT (2020-10-26). 'So cringeworthy': Kamala Harris accused of 'pandering' after doing a promo about her sneakers amid election campaign. rt.com Kamala Harris garnered quite a few haters after "going sneaker shopping" with a pop culture outlet as a campaign promotional event, with viewers seeing the move as unserious and "pandering." | Harris was probed about her footwear in a video released on Monday by lifestyle outlet Complex. | "I love my chucks," the California senator

sputniknews (2020-10-26). Media Silence on Hunter Biden. sputniknews.com On today's episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events, including Rasmussen's polling having President Trump ahead, 44 states' rising COVID-19 cases, Tropical Storm Zeta hitting the Gulf, Judge Barrett being confirmed by the Senate, and the LA Dodgers leading the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in the World Series.

Mark Gruenberg (2020-10-26). People's World Town Hall reflects national movement to oust Trump. peoplesworld.org Voters, especially voters of color, are highly motivated to oust GOP occupant Donald Trump from the Oval Office this fall, speakers at a special People's World "People Have The Power Town Hall" said Sunday night. And that includes actions to protect U.S. democracy from the dictatorial threat of Trump and to protect voters against white …

Nathan Robinson (2020-10-26). The Chomsky Position On Voting. zcomm.org It's important to vote Democratic, but we should be under no illusions that voting Democratic will save us. Voting is a small part of our political lives…

Melissa Harris-Perry, Dorian T. Warren (2020-10-26). Checking the Systems That Hold Us Back. thenation.com Checking the Systems That Hold Us Back…

Thom Hartmann (2020-10-26). Because We Don't Have a Right to Vote…. commondreams.org Republicans can't win elections on their "ideas" of tax cuts for billionaires and eliminating protective regulations on polluting corporations. (Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-8571555561_1.jpg

Staff (2020-10-26). Muslims in Trump Country: "Natours Grocery" Tells Story of Palestinian American Family in Virginia. democracynow.org As the presidential race enters its final full week, we speak with filmmaker Nadine Natour about "Natours Grocery," her new documentary short that tells the story of her Palestinian American family living in Trump's America. Natour's immigrant parents own a store in the highly conservative town of Appomattox, Virginia, which voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in 2016. The Natours say they don't talk about politics or religion with their customers to avoid confrontation, but as they strive to build bridges with their neighbors, President Trump's anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric inspires a backlash in Appoma…

Vijay Prashad (2020-10-26). Argentina's Veteran Ambassador Makes a Stand for the Sovereignty of Latin America. counterpunch.org Alicia Castro does not shy away from her views. She came to diplomacy from the trade union movement, where she was a leader when she was a flight attendant with Aerolíneas Argentinas. Castro spent eight years as a member of parliament in the Argentine National Congress, where she fought for the rights of working people.

yenisafak (2020-10-26). Kremlin accuses Joe Biden of spreading hatred of Russia with threat talk. yenisafak.com The Kremlin said on Monday that U.S. Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden's assessment of Russia as the biggest threat to U.S. national security was wrong and encouraged hatred of Russia.The comments come just over a week before Biden faces Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election. Biden is ahead in the polls."We absolutely do not agree," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call, when asked to comment on Biden's assessment."We can only regret that absolute hatred of the Russian Federation is spread in this way."Moscow's ties with Washington sank to post-Cold War low…

Thomas Mountain (2020-10-26). "Democratic" Means Social Equality. counterpunch.org Pundits in the international media and political classes twist an distort the word "democratic" until it has no resemblance to the actual meaning of the word. Start with "democracy" from which "democratic" is born. "Government by the people exercised either directly…? or by elected representatives" and later "the principles of social equality and individual rights".

WSWS (2020-10-26). Jacobin hails New Zealand Labour government's re-election. wsws.org Jacobin magazine, a pseudo-left publication that supports the US Democratic Party, has joined in the international media chorus falsely portraying Jacinda Ardern's anti-working class and pro-imperialist government as progressive.

_____ (2020-10-26). Early Leaders of India and Pakistan Ignored Religious Extremism Warnings. strategic-culture.org Indian Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various Muslim extremist political leaders of Pakistan represent the sum of all fears expressed by leaders of princely states and their governments at the dawn of India and Pakistan in the late 1940s. Secular political leaders, including the Indian National Congress (INC) leader Jawaharlal Nehru and All-India Muslim League leader Mohammed Ali Jinnah, claimed there was nothing to worry about since both majority Hindu India and majority Muslim Pakistan would be secular republics governed by leaders committed to democratic rule, not by dictates from Hindu nat…

Robert Fantina (2020-10-25). The 2020 Election: Nothing Will Change. globalresearch.ca With the first of three scheduled presidential debates (aka brawl) between President Donald Trump and his opponent, former vice-president Joe Biden, now history, the pundits will fall all over themselves to determine what it all means. Who won? Did …

_____ (2020-10-25). Federal Judges Block Efforts To Ease Rules For Mail-In Ballots. popularresistance.org In the final weeks of the 2020 election, Republican-appointed appellate judges have overturned rulings that required states to make mail-in voting easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of millions of ballots have already been cast, even as federal judges kept changing the rules. | These decisions could be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which will include a 6-3 conservative majority if nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed by the U.S. Senate next week as planned. So far, the court has ruled against voters in nearly every case it has reviewed.

Edward Curtin (2020-10-25). Death, Money, and the Dueling Frauds: Trump and Biden. dissidentvoice.org When the New York Times and CNN recently referred to the staged town hall spectacles of Biden and Trump as dueling events, they inadvertently revealed the truth that U.S. presidential elections are America's favorite movie and that the corporate media is in the entertainment business. While it is ludicrous to imagine these tottering actors crossing …

Bryce Greene (2020-10-25). After Socialist Victory in Bolivia, Media Still Whitewash Coup. commondreams.org Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism party celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca early on October 19, 2020 in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bolivia_democracy_arce.jpg

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-25). 'Democrats and Republicans are two pillars of the Pentagon'. peoplesdispatch.org Gloria La Riva, the presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and LIberation in the US, spoke to Peoples Dispatch about the upcoming elections. She talked about how these elections are different, what important issues are being ignored by Trump and Biden, and how people are recognising that capitalism is not working.

Democracia Abierta (2020-10-25). The Chilean referendum: getting rid of the shadow of Pinochet's dictatorship. zcomm.org Twelve months after the violent protests broke out, the Chilean people are preparing for an unprecedented process: voting to decide whether to begin drafting a new Constitution, which should be more socially equitable and economically inclusive…

RT (2020-10-25). Reddit censors alleged Hunter Biden 'sex tape' shared on video hosting subsidiary of Chinese firm co-founded by Steve Bannon. rt.com Social media websites, including Reddit, have taken to censoring the sharing of an alleged Hunter Biden sex tape published on the platform of a Chinese media company connected to Steve Bannon. | Joe Biden's son Hunter has become even more of a focus for critics after an alleged sex tape involving "crack" usage was published on Saturday night. | The video, along with several images, were put out through GTV, a subsidiary of GTV Media Group, which was founded in April of this year by Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, a fugitive in China for fraud, and Steve Bannon, a former advisor to President Donald Trump. | Ban…

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Guinean president Conde wins presidential elections after first round. yenisafak.com Guinean President Alpha Conde was re-elected for a third term after winning the country's presidential elections held on Oct. 18 with 59,49% of the vote.The results were announced after the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) concluded the vote-counting process.International observers that monitored the elections said it was carried out properly, giving it a positive grade.Cellou Dalein Diallo, the main rival and leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), got 33.5% of votes, the election commission said.None of the other 10 candidates exceeded the 5% threshold.Third term as…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-25). Calls intensify for resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro. peoplesdispatch.org Progressive movements across Latin America have called for the resignation of OAS secretary general Luis Almagro, pointing to his role in the coup in Bolivia in 2019 and in destabilizing democracy in the country…

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-10-25). Google under fire in US for predatory monopoly practices. peoplesdispatch.org Tech monopolies are increasingly being acknowledged as a danger to people, other companies and even to democracy. The regulatory worm seems to be turning in many countries, even in the US where it had gone into hibernation…

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-10-25). Nothing Will Fundamentally Change: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com A propaganda machine that can make people worry about foreign governments while their own government is destroying lives in their own country and all over the world is a propaganda machine that can make people believe anything. | ~ | Americans are hurt by their own government infinitely more than they are hurt by Russia, China and Iran. People around the world are hurt by the US government far more than Americans are hurt by their own government. Stop worrying about foreigners, America. It serves only the powerful. | ~ | Joe Biden: Nothing will fundamentally change. | Liberals: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION…

sputniknews (2020-10-25). Video: NYPD Commissioner, Mayor Condemn Officer Filmed Blaring 'Trump 2020' on Patrol Car Speaker. sputniknews.com The incident, which took place on Saturday night in New York City's borough of Brooklyn, comes in the run-up to the 3 November presidential election in the United States, in which Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, seek to gain the White House.

Peter Koenig (2020-10-25). "Democracy" vs. COVID: A No-Go. The Great Reset is the Antidote of Democracy. globalresearch.ca On 21 October 2020, the German Press Agency (dpa) reports that Germany pledges NATO soldiers for possible Covid-19 operations: | "German soldiers could be sent on crisis missions to other NATO and partner countries during the second wave of the Corona …

RT (2020-10-25). 'Rigged election?' Trump seizes on Biden's latest gaffe, boasting about 'most extensive and inclusive VOTER FRAUD' organization. rt.com Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's remark that his party has created "the most extensive voter fraud organization" has reinforced the former VP's "gaffe-machine" status, giving the Republicans a free gotcha moment. | Wait… What? | "We're in a situation where we have put together — and you guys did it for our admi … the president, Obama's administration before this — we have put toge…

sputniknews (2020-10-25). Twitter Bans Users Posting Links to Site Claiming to Show Hunter Biden's Alleged Sex and Drug Pics. sputniknews.com Taiwanese website GTV published what it claimed were photos of Hunter Biden nude, masturbating, having sex with young women and using drugs on Sunday. Twitter users attempting share the links quickly found them removed for breaching 'community standards'.

yenisafak (2020-10-25). Bombing kills 3 in southwest Pakistan. yenisafak.com At least three people were killed and several others injured in an explosion in southwest Pakistan on Sunday, local media reported.The blast — latest in a string of improvised explosive device explosions — occurred in a Shia-dominated locality in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.The bomb was planted in a motorcycle, it added.The incident coincided with an 11-party opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement — rally in Quetta, which was part of the opposition's ongoing anti-government campaign.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for t…

The Canary (2020-10-25). Thai protesters rally in their thousands ahead of parliamentary debate. thecanary.co Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital. They're seeking to keep up pressure on the government a day ahead of a special parliament session aimed at easing political tensions.Pressure: The rally took place on 25 October at the busy Rajprasong intersection, in the heart of Bangkok's shopping district. Few protesters turned out in the first hour of the rally but their numbers later swelled to several thousand. They listened to rude denunciations of the government in chants, speeches, and songs.Pro-democracy activists display a placard with Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-och…

_____ (2020-10-25). Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop Is Russiagate Disinformation. strategic-culture.org Aaron MATÉ | Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and James Clapper, as well as of top Democrats, including Joe Biden and Adam Schiff, that the Hunter Biden laptop revelations are "Russian disinformation." | They have done so even though no one from the Biden camp has disputed the authenticity of a single leaked email or document, or denied that…

Tom Weis (2020-10-24). Like Sanders and Warren, I'm Backing Biden. commondreams.org Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raise their hands during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Texas Southern University's Health and PE Center on September 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_warren_biden.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2020-10-24). 'This Is Not Normal': McConnell Keeps Senate in Session Over Weekend to Shut Down Debate on Barrett, Set Stage for Confirmation Vote. commondreams.org Sen. Jeff Merkley warned that Republicans "are hellbent on ramming through this nomination even if it means torching Senate's traditions, rules, and integrity." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_barrett.jpg