(2021-02-06). Biden's Executive Orders on Climate Change Aren't Upsetting Some Industry Giants. truthout.org 
President
(2021-02-06). Biden Aims for US to Produce Millions of At-Home COVID Tests by End of Summer. truthout.org 
President Biden's pandemic response team announced plans on Friday to use the Defense Production Act to help Pfizer manufacture more of its COVID vaccine, produce 61 million rapid at-home COVID tests over the next six months, and address shortages of personal protective equipment for health care workers. | The Defense Production Act gives the president emergency powers to compel private companies to prioritize supply lines and manufacturing for the benefit of national defense, in this case…
(2021-02-06). Biden Administration Rules Out Maduro Talks, Pledges Support for Guaido. venezuelanalysis.com State Department Spokesperson Ned Price indicated that the Biden White House will not change tack in its predecessor's Venezuela foreign policy.
(2021-02-06). Republicans Have Already Introduced Over 100 Voter Suppression Bills This Year. truthout.org 
Since former President Donald Trump failed to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, Republicans in more than two dozen states have introduced over 100 bills to restrict voting access, an alarming development that voting rights advocates have pointed to as yet another reason for Democrats to
(2021-02-06). US moves to revoke terror designation of Yemen's Houthis. middleeasteye.net 
US moves to revoke terror designation of Yemen's Houthis | State department cites humanitarian reasons as it begins process to reverse action by outgoing Trump administration | Sat, 02/06/2021 – 10: 46 | The Houthis have welcomed Biden's announcement to withdraw US support for the Saudi-led offensive (AFP)
| The US has moved to delist Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist organisation,…
(2021-02-06). 'Rules do not apply to her': GOP accuses Pelosi of breaking metal detector rule but not facing $5,000 fine like Republicans. rt.com 
After two Republican lawmakers were fined $5,000 each for avoiding security protocol in Congress, Nancy Pelosi was herself accused of doing the same thing, but will not be facing the consequences. | GOP members of the Committee on House Administration squealed on the House Speaker for allegedly avoiding going through a metal detector on Thursday when entering Congress, a new rule that two Republican congressmen are being docked thousands of dollars for breaking. | "Yesterday at approximately 9: 59 am multiple members observed the Speaker of the House entering the House Chamber without completing security screen…
(2021-02-06). Hunter Biden's newly announced memoir briefly makes it to #1 in 'Chinese biography bestsellers' on Amazon. rt.com 
President Joe Biden's son Hunter briefly hit bestseller status in Amazon's 'Chinese biography' section for a new memoir, for which he was reportedly paid $2 million by the same publisher who scrapped GOP Sen. Josh Hawley's book. | The 'Chinese biography'
(2021-02-06). Microsoft BANS donations to Republicans who objected to Biden victory & shifts lobbying focus to 'promoting democracy'. rt.com 
Microsoft said its political action committee will bar all donations to Republican lawmakers who refused to certify Joe Biden's election win, while announcing a change in focus to the "promotion of democracy." | The tech giant said on Friday that it will modify a
(2021-02-06). 'He might slip and say something': Biden thinks Trump should be denied traditional intel briefings for former presidents. rt.com 
US President Joe Biden has said that his predecessor Donald Trump is too "erratic" to be entrusted with classified information that is being traditionally provided to former presidents. | Biden was asked by Norah O'Donnell on CBS News whether Trump should get classified intelligence briefings. The president replied: "I think not." | Providing Trump with classified intelligence would be a bad idea "because of his erratic behavior, unrelated to the insurrection," Biden added, referring to the storming of the US Capitol building in Washington by a group of Trump supporters on January 6. | I just think that there…
(2021-02-06). Yes, Speech can Incite Violence: What Decades of Research Show about Trump's Impeachment Trial. juancole.com 
By Kurt Braddock | — Senators, acting in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump that begins on Feb. 9, will soon have to decide whether to convict the former president for inciting a deadly, violent insurrection at the Capitol building on Jan. 6. A majority of House members, including 10 Republicans, took the …
(2021-02-06). Betsy DeVos is out — but her right-wing agenda lives on. mronline.org 
Supporters of public education and school teachers were relieved to see Betsy DeVos leave her job as head of the Department of Education, knowing full well the education policies she and former President Trump supported would go nowhere in a President Biden administration.
(2021-02-06). Biden Says He's Ending The Yemen War. popularresistance.org The February 4 announcement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that President Biden would end U.S. support for "offensive operations" in Yemen was understandably met with celebration by those opposed to the war. Almost six years of the U.S.-Saudi‚ÄëU.A.E. war on Yemen have left the country devastated by humanitarian disaster and famine. Anti-war activists have spent these years‚Äâ—‚Äâfirst during the Obama-Biden administration, then the Trump-Pence administration, and now the Biden-Harris administration‚Äâ—…
(2021-02-06). Trump's Coup and Burma's Coup: What they have in Common. juancole.com The Asian country's military overthrew its government over baseless claims of voter fraud. Sound familiar? ( 48hills.org) — This week, military officers in Myanmar (formerly Burma) overthrew that nation's democratically elected government after the party it preferred lost the parliamentary elections. The military claimed voter fraud without presenting any proof. It tried to fill the …
(2021-02-06). Myanmar junta shuts Twitter and Instagram to curb protests. thecanary.co Military authorities in charge of Myanmar broadened a ban on social media following this week's coup. They've shut down Twitter and Instagram, as residents in the nation's biggest city again banged pots and plastic bottles to show their opposition to the army takeover. | It came as street protests continued to expand on Saturday 6 February. People gathered again to show their opposition to the army takeover. | Protests: | Around 1,000 protesters marched on Saturday morning through the streets of Yangon, the country's biggest city. Prominent among them were factory workers and students. | By noon, more tha…
(2021-02-06). Myanmar junta blocks internet countrywide as thousands protest military coup. laprensalatina.com Update 1: Adds nationwide internet outage, Amnesty International, Telenor Group quotes Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 6 (efe-epa).- Myanmar's military junta ordered a national scale internet outage Saturday, as massive demonstrations against Monday's coup were held, the country's Telenor Group communications service said in a statement. The live social network broadcast of the protests was suddenly interrupted, …
(2021-02-06). Thousands protest military coup in Myanmar's streets. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Feb 6 (efe-epa).- Thousands took Saturday to the streets of Yangon, Myanmar's former capital and largest city, to protest the coup the army launched earlier this week. A column of people marched down one of the main avenues of the city with proclamations in favor of democracy and in opposition to the military junta, …
(2021-02-06). [Articles] Bimekizumab versus ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (BE VIVID): efficacy and safety from a 52-week, multicentre, double-blind, active comparator and placebo controlled phase 3 trial. thelancet.com Bimekizumab was more efficacious than ustekinumab and placebo in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The bimekizumab safety profile was consistent with that observed in previous studies.
(2021-02-06). AOC's Powerful Plea for Republican Accountability Cannot Be Ignored. zcomm.org The congresswoman knows impunity for those who incited the Capitol attack just allows them to do the same, or worse, again. Impunity for the people who told the lie would amount to complicity in their conduct…
(2021-02-06). Have Democrats Finally Realized That Power Is Only Real If You Use It? zcomm.org I am cautiously daring to hope that Democrats are starting to realize that power exists only if you use it…
(2021-02-06). Are We Not All In Search Of Tomorrow. popularresistance.org In 2019, 613 million Indians voted to appoint their representatives to the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha). During the election campaign, the political parties spent Rs. 60,000 crores (around US $8 billion), 45% of which was spent by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the governing party; the BJP won 37% of the vote, which translated into 303 of the 545 seats in the Lok Sabha. A year later, a massive $14 billion was spent on the US presidential and congressional elections, with the winning Democrat Party dominating the spending. These are massive amounts of money, whose grip on the democratic process is quite clear…
(2021-02-06). Nevada Bill Would Allow Tech Companies To Create Governments. popularresistance.org Carson City, NV – Planned legislation to establish new business areas in Nevada would allow technology companies to effectively form separate local governments. | Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak announced a plan to launch so-called Innovation Zones in Nevada to jumpstart the state's economy by attracting technology firms, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Wednesday. | The zones would permit companies with large areas of land to form governments carrying the same authority as counties, including the ability to impose taxes, form school districts and courts and provide government services. | The measure to further ec…
(2021-02-06). Haitians Intensify Struggle Against President Jovenel MoàØse. popularresistance.org Haiti has been experiencing a new wave of protests against US-backed President Jovenel MoàØse. Since January 10, thousands of citizens, students, workers, members of various social movements and opposition political parties have been mobilizing across the country in rejection of MoàØse's decision to hold presidential and legislative elections on September 19 and a referendum to replace the current constitution, which is the main achievement of the democratic movement of 1986, on April 25. | Haitian citizens and the opposition denounced MoàØse's decision as an attempt to extend his term of off…
(2021-02-06). Standing Rock Lakota Youth Call For Biden To Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline. popularresistance.org Standing Rock – Today, Lakota youth from the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River tribal nations announced a plan to run over 93 miles back to the Oceti Sakowin Camp site to call on President Biden to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The youth are asking for everyone who stood with Standing Rock four years ago to participate by uploading their own #NoDAPL | The oil pipeline poses a grave threat to the safety and sanctity of the tribes' water, hunting and fishing rights, and cultural and religious practices. Federal courts have sided with the tribes on the years-long litigation and have revoked DAPL's fede…
(2021-02-06). Biden weighs easing pressure on Iran without lifting sanction. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 06 (MNA) — Biden administration is reportedly weighing ways to ease financial pressure on Iran without lifting economic sanctions including on oil sales.
(2021-02-06). Weekly News Review — What A Mess We're In. truepublica.org.uk TruePublica Editor: The Tories have been in power now for almost eleven years. In that time, Britain has gone from one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the democratic West — to one of the least. It has a populist in power and political factions within the government are driving wedges into …
(2021-02-06). 60+ groups and unions to Senate Democrats: End harmful 'gridlock and dysfunction' by eliminating the filibuster. nationofchange.org "People want a government that works for them, not just the wealthy, well-connected, and entrenched special interest groups."
(2021-02-05). Back to Cold War 2.0. counterpunch.org 
A fawning liberal media and a passel of well-endowed 'peace' organizations like Plowshares and Council for a Livable World and self-described "progressive" organizations like MoveOn have been hailing Biden's cabinet picks, many of them veterans of the Obama administration, claiming they will steer the US in a new direction under which diplomacy, not bluster and
(2021-02-05). Biden EPA nominee vows 'sense of urgency' on climate change. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's nominee to run the Environmental Protection Agency pledged Wednesday to "move with a sense of urgency on climate change" and other priorities, while working with lawmakers from both parties to protect the environment. Michael Regan told a Senate committee that under Biden the EPA "will stand up for environmental …
(2021-02-05). U.S. & Russia extend New START nuclear treaty for five years. peoplesworld.org 
Thanks to a process set in motion by the Biden administration on its first full day in office, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia, set to expire Feb. 5, has been extended for the maximum possible five years. The New START treaty, negotiated in 2010 under President Obama and …
(2021-02-05). China's Sea of Conflict. counterpunch.org 
Biden 's administration faces a host of difficult problems, but in foreign policy its thornist will be its relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). How it handles issues of trade, security and human rights will either allow both countries to hammer out a working relationship or pull the US into an expensive–and unwinnable–cold war that will shelve existential threats like climate change and nuclear war.
(2021-02-05). Biden Vows to Confront Russia, Enemy of Democracy, and China, Enemy of 'Global Governance'. anti-empire.com 
In his first major foreign policy address, President Joe Biden vowed to confront the enemies of 'democracy' globally, while seeking to reclaim America's 'moral credibility' and leadership in LGBT and climate change issues. | Speaking at the State Department headquarters in the nation's capital on Thursday, Biden outlined his foreign policy vision in a 20-minute address, laying out a sprawling list of priorities for his administration, among them countering supposed US "adversaries." | "American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival th…
(2021-02-05). The Heat: U.S. Foreign Policy. america.cgtn.com 
In a speech at the U.S. State Department, President Biden stressed the importance of diplomacy, engaging allies and competitors.
(2021-02-05). About Those Executive Orders… counterpunch.org 
A strange stasis now characterizes U.S. foreign affairs, while on the domestic front, Biden roars ahead. As of January 29, he had signed 42 executive orders. Not one addresses what the U.S. does abroad. True, Biden made the superb move of resuming negotiations over the START nuclear treaty with Russia, and he rejoined the Paris Accords and the World Health Organization. But otherwise, quiet blankets the foreign policy landscape.
(2021-02-05). Why A Minimum Acceptable Compromise Matters. realprogressives.org 
"Designed to leave the world's economic destiny at the mercy of bankers and multinational corporations, Globalization is a logical extension of imperialism, a victory of empire over republic, international finance capital over democracy." Michael Parenti, Against Empire | I want to start by defining a term. I know it is fully possible others have thought of this concept, but as of yet, I haven't seen the concept enter progressive, leftist, or mainstream discourse. The term is 'minimum acceptable compromise.' The definition I am coining is inherently tied to politics and the idea of progress. | Minim…
(2021-02-05). "A Moral Catastrophe": Africa CDC Head Says Lack of Vaccines for the Continent Will Imperil World. democracynow.org 
Countries across the African continent are facing a second COVID-19 outbreak, linked to a variant first found in South Africa that has been detected in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Comoros and Zambia and more than 20 non-African countries so far. There is concern new variants, which scientists believe are more infectious, could spread the virus further before widespread vaccination begins. More than 40 African countries have been hit by this second wave, and just six have received relatively small shipments of vaccines. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the world…
(2021-02-05). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. counterpunch.org Since 2015, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has ruled the Senate with an iron hand, describing himself as "the Guardian of Gridlock." He was Senator "NO," except for confirming over 200 mostly corporatist federal judges. Now comes a new challenge for Mitch McConnell as he leads 49 other Republican Senators, twenty of whom are up
(2021-02-05). It's Not Too Early to Criticize Joe Biden. counterpunch.org Censorship in mainstream corporate American media outlets is subtle. It's not so much that they spin the truth. It's that they omit pertinent facts and exclude relevant points of view. So it is with politics. Among the tools available to messaging and framing experts is "flooding the field" — dominating the news with a blizzard
(2021-02-05). Socialist Feminist Day School Session Two. dsausa.org The Socialist Feminist Working Group of the Democratic Socialists of America invites you to our second Day School session on February 13, at 4 PM EST/ 1PM PST. We will be discussing Socialism and Identity Politics, from identity politics' roots in the Black, lesbian socialist feminism of the Combahee River Collective to its modern manifestations…
(2021-02-05). Republicans in Congress engage in hateful Islamophobia to defend their Islamophobe, Greene. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — In attempting to defend Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican Far Right (a.k.a. the Republican Party) has actually just taken her own as a role. They are performing Greene. Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) introduced a bill to strip Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of her seat on the Foreign Affairs committee. Omar, …
(2021-02-05). The Economist: Democracy Index ranking for Britain rises!! truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: The 2020 Democracy Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit found that democracy had deteriorated in all seven regions of the world for the first time since 2010, driven by government measures to address the Covid-19 emergency. And while the biggest regressions were in authoritarian regions, the report said that — "the removal of …
(2021-02-05). CDC's COVID Death Count Sleight Of Hand & How Microsoft's ID2020 Is Being Fulfilled Because COVID. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (2/5/21). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth
(2021-02-05). The Danger Posed by Far Right to AOC and the Squad Is Very Real. zcomm.org The far right is dangerously obsessed with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow left-wing members of Congress. They deserve the Left's solidarity…
(2021-02-05). In powerful speeches to Congress, AOC & Rashida Tlaib demand accountability for Capitol attack. nationofchange.org "Some are already demanding that we move on or, worse, attempting to minimize, discredit or belittle the accounts of survivors."
(2021-02-05). You're Not A Radical, You're Just Sane. thealtworld.com In response to rumors that Bernie Sanders foreign policy advisor Matt Duss may be playing some role in the Joe Biden State Department, bloodthirsty psychopath Nikki Haley Which is of course ridiculous. Taken as a whole Biden's im…
(2021-02-05). Democrats Need to Make Good on Their Promises. thenation.com Democrats Need to Make Good on Their Promises…
(2021-02-05). Excessive Stimulus and Other Things Larry Summers Worries About. cepr.net 
It seems that Larry Summers is worried that the stimulus proposed by President Biden is too large. I will say at the onset that he could be right. However, at the most fundamental level, we have to ask what the relative risks are of too much relative to too little. If we actually are pushing …
(2021-02-05). Biden's $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Is Now Ready to Pass With or Without Republicans. truthout.org 
The Senate passed a budget resolution Friday morning that will allow for the passage of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package with a simple majority vote. | At around 5: 30 am, the resolution passed 51 to 50 along party lines with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaking vote. The vote unlocked reconciliation, which will allow the Democrats to bypass the filibuster in the Senate and cast a similar party-line vote to eventually pass the stimulus. This came after an a…
(2021-02-05). Biden rejects ex-Obama adviser Larry Summers' suggestion stimulus too big: "We can't do too much" salon.com Bipartisanship laughing off calls from Washington's consultant class to scale back the size of COVID stimulus…
(2021-02-05). 'Ignoring real war crimes': Netanyahu blasts International Criminal Court for claiming jurisdiction over Palestinian territories. rt.com 
The International Criminal Court has claimed jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, meaning it could probe war crimes there. Israel has objected to the move. | "Today, the International Criminal Court has proven once more that it is a political body and not a judicial institution," Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said after Friday's ruling. | Netanyahu accused the court of "ignoring the real war crimes and instead is pursuing Israel, a country with a strong democratic regime, that sanctifies the rule of law." He also said the decision "impairs the right…
(2021-02-05). Roaming Charges: Xenophobia With a Human Face. counterpunch.org 
+ As the Biden administration announced its intention to leave in place Trump's border rules "for now," it might be worth recalling when Biden's campaign manager derisively quipped that they didn't see Hispanics as part of their "path to victory." + 5500 children were separated at the border in the last four years, at least 628 of them
(2021-02-05). Cori Bush Demands Expulsion for Every Republican Who Incited the Capitol Siege. truthout.org 
Congresswoman Cori Bush of Missouri delivered an emotional speech on the House floor Thursday night detailing her experience of the January 6 mob invasion of the U.S. Capitol Building — which she called a "blatant, heinous, vile white supremacist attack" — and demanding that lawmakers take the basic step of holding to account those who abetted and incited the deadly violence. | The Missouri Democrat's remarks were part of a series of speeches organized by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-…
(2021-02-05). Biden Pledges End to US Offensive Support for Saudi-Led Assault on Yemen. truthout.org 
President Joe Biden has pledged to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, supported by both the Obama and Trump administrations, describing it as a "humanitarian and strategic catastrophe." The six-year war in Yemen has devastated the country, killing at least 100,000 people and pushing 80% of the country into instability requiring some form of aid or protection, according to the United Nations. Biden's remarks on Yemen come amid a freeze of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with similar sa…
(2021-02-05). Democrats Ramp Up Pressure on Biden to Cancel Student Debt. truthout.org 
Democrats in both chambers of Congress launched one of the first serious pressure campaigns on the new Biden administration, unveiling a formal resolution calling upon the president to use his executive authority to cancel $50,000 of student debt for each borrower. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, a former bankruptcy law professor who first proposed the
(2021-02-05). Education Will Be Critical in the Fight for Democracy and Anti-Racism. truthout.org 
What is the role of education in creating a critically-minded public that is unafraid to resist lies and deceptions perpetuated by anti-democratic forces? How do we best address the assumption that economically oppressed children can't learn? In what way does internalized racism impact students of color and how must this be addressed? In what ways should we rethink the aims of education beyond careerism? | To address these and other important questions, Truthout spoke with Pedro A. Noguera, who is t…
(2021-02-05). We Can't Just "Move On": AOC & Rashida Tlaib Demand Accountability for Deadly Capitol Attack. democracynow.org 
As the U.S Senate prepares its impeachment trial of President Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection, House lawmakers took to the floor Thursday to detail their experiences and demand accountability. We air excerpts from dramatic speeches by Democratic Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. "Some are already demanding that we move on or, worse, attempting to minimize, discredit or belittle the accounts of survivors," Ocasio-Cortez said. "In doing so, they not only further harm those who were there that day and provide cover for those responsible, but they also s…
(2021-02-05). Will Biden Admin Reverse Trump's "Dangerous" Recognition of Morocco's Occupation of Western Sahara? democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump broke with decades of U.S. foreign policy in the waning days of his administration and recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory the country has occupied since 1975 in defiance of the United Nations and the international community. U.S. recognition came as Morocco agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, becoming the fourth Arab nation to do so in recent months as part of a regional push by the Trump administration to strengthen Israel without addressing the Palestinian conflict. Now the Biden administration must weigh whether to reverse Trump's decision…
(2021-02-05). Yemen: Biden to End U.S. Offensive Support for Saudi-Led Assault, But Will the War Actually End? democracynow.org 
President Joe Biden has pledged to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, supported by both the Obama and Trump administrations, describing it as a "humanitarian and strategic catastrophe." The six-year war in Yemen has devastated the country, killing at least 100,000 people and pushing 80% of the country into instability requiring some form of aid or protection, according to the United Nations. Biden's remarks on Yemen come amid a freeze of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with similar sales to the United Arab Emirates also up for review. "This is the culmination of six years of activism and advocacy t…
(2021-02-05). In Powerful Speeches to Congress, AOC & Rashida Tlaib Demand Accountability for Capitol Attack. democracynow.org As the U.S Senate prepares its impeachment trial of President Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection, House lawmakers took to the floor Thursday to detail their experiences and demand accountability. We air excerpts from dramatic speeches by Democratic Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. "Some are already demanding that we move on or, worse, attempting to minimize, discredit or belittle the accounts of survivors," Ocasio-Cortez said. "In doing so, they not only further harm those who were there that day and provide cover for those responsible, but they also s…
(2021-02-05). Democrats rebuke Marjorie Taylor Greene, but Trumpism lives on. middleeasteye.net 
Democrats rebuke Marjorie Taylor Greene, but Trumpism lives on | US House passes resolution to strip Greene of committee assignments, but Republicans continue to defend her | Fri, 02/05/2021 – 20: 51 | Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene delivers defiant speech on Friday, rejecting vote against her (AFP) | Proverbially, crossing the aisle in American politics means reaching out to cooperate with the o…
(2021-02-05). Senior US House Democrat introduces Khashoggi Act to protect journalists. middleeasteye.net 
Senior US House Democrat introduces Khashoggi Act to protect journalists | Congressman Adam Schiff, chair of House Intelligence Committee, says legislation would 'hold to account those who would target journalists for violence and persecution' | Fri, 02/05/2021 – 15: 49 | California Congressman Adam Schiff is chair of House Intelligence Committee (AFP) | A senior US House Democrat introduced a bill on Thursday…
(2021-02-05). #AOCLied hashtag flooded with spam & puppies after PR team urges followers to help memory-hole her 'Smollett moment'. rt.com 
After New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez admitted she wasn't even inside the Capitol building during last month's raid she'd framed as a near-death experience, the Democrat convinced her fans to help bury the embarrassment. | Essentially summoning an army of human 'bots' to save face, AOC's team on Wednesday emailed her followers with a request to help "set the record straight" concerning 'negative' — i.e. realistic — posts about the congresswoman and her whereabouts on January 6. | This email is allegedly from "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress" | It instructs people to: | -Find social media…
(2021-02-05). Wisconsin governor reimposes Covid-19 mask mandate after Republican-led legislature votes to repeal it. rt.com 
Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin, a Democrat, issued a new statewide mask order an hour after the Republican-majority legislature voted to repeal his previous one saying he lacked the authority. | "If the legislature keeps playing politics and we don't keep wearing masks, we're going to see more preventable deaths, and it's going to take even longer to get our state and our economy back on track," Evers said on Thursday, announcing the order. | Since the beginning of this pandemic, I promised I would: | 1Ô∏è‚É£never play politics with your health | 2Ô∏è&sb…
(2021-02-05). 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry': US congressman tears up while apologizing for his 'white privilege' on House floor (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Democratic congressman teared up on the floor of the House of Representatives and offered a dramatic apology to his fellow elected officials for having not recognized his white privilege until the January 6 Capitol riot. | During a Thursday evening House discussion, in which members of Congress were invited to "share their stories" about the day Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, Rep. Dean Phillips recalled that he had asked his fellow Democrats to follow him to the Republican side of the chamber in an effort to "blend in" as conservatives. | "But within moments I recognized that blending in was…
(2021-02-05). OAN runs giant DISCLAIMER warning before airing MyPillow guy's documentary claiming to present '100% proof' of election fraud. rt.com 
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell aired his promised documentary alleging voter fraud against Donald Trump on Friday to a wave of mockery, with even One America News Network airing a telling major disclaimer before the show. | Many have publicly or privately backed off claims of voter fraud in the wake of the US Capitol riot on January 6, and voting machine manufacturer Dominion has threatened legal action against those tying them to unproven claims of rigging votes in Joe Biden's favor. But Lindell has
(2021-02-05). 'We gotta have them speaking about reparations': Rapper Ice Cube set to meet with Biden as US president vows 'racial equity'. rt.com 
As Joe Biden promises to make racial justice a top priority for his administration, rapper Ice Cube has revealed that he could soon be meeting with the US president to discuss reparations for black Americans. | In a radio interview, the iconic musical artist and actor revealed that Biden's team had reached out to him and that plans are in motion for a White House visit later this month. He said that while he recognizes that the new administration is "really into helping all minorities," Biden needed to back up his words by enacting "specialty programs." | "You know me, I'm all about reparations. It seems like…
(2021-02-05). Intruder gained access to base where Air Force One is kept day before Biden's inaugural flight. rt.com 
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is scrambling to determine how and why an intruder gained access to Joint Base Andrews, where Air Force One is stored, the day before President Joe Biden's inaugural flight. | Biden is scheduled to depart Joint Base Andrews for his home state of Delaware on Friday, but Air Force officials have confirmed that an intruder gained access to the base on Thursday. | Details are sparse and it is unclear how far the person got, whether the suspect managed to interfere with any aircraft at the facility, and whether they are in custody or not. | Also on rt.com…
(2021-02-05). AOC doubles down on Capitol riot story, says doubters are 'extremely damaging' to fellow 'survivors' of 'trauma'. rt.com 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has again responded to critics of her account of the Capitol riot on January 6, blasting them for "politicizing" her story and possibly preventing other "survivors" from coming forward. | "It's unfortunately kind of the spring to deny and to politicize our accounts," Ocasio-Cortez told 'CBS This Morning' on Friday when asked about people who have cast doubt on her story of fearing for her life during the Capitol riot last month. | The congresswoman said the fear of being "publicly doubted," along with security concerns, kept her from sharing her story immediately. She…
(2021-02-05). 'America is back!' Biden talks 'tough' on Russia and China, vows to reclaim 'moral leadership & defend democracy'. rt.com 
In his first major foreign policy address, President Joe Biden vowed to confront the enemies of 'democracy' globally, while seeking to reclaim America's 'moral credibility' and leadership in LGBT and climate change issues. | Speaking at the State Department headquarters in the nation's capital on Thursday, Biden outlined his foreign policy vision in a 20-minute address, laying out a sprawling list of priorities for his administration, among them countering supposed US "adversaries." | "American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival…
(2021-02-05). Van Jones told 'black community' doesn't 'TRUST' him, branded Trump's 'RACIAL COVER' as he refuses to atone for bipartisan work. rt.com 
Though he's a Democrat who has openly criticized Donald Trump, political pundit Van Jones was accused on 'The View' of losing the "trust" of black people for daring to work with the former president. | Appearing on 'The View' to chat about a documentary produced in cooperation with co-host Meghan McCain, Jones was confronted over his working with the Trump Administration on criminal justice reform. | "Now Van, you do spend a lot of time threading the middle and trying to unite people," co-host Sunny Hostin said. "But there are those who accuse you of being a political opportunist—a chameleon, so to speak&…
(2021-02-05). 'What if Trump had said it?' Joe Biden resurrects 'exaggerated' claim that he was shot at during trips to Iraq. rt.com 
President Joe Biden has dusted off an old story about how he came under fire while visiting Iraq, more than a decade after he admitted the claim was somewhat exaggerated. 'Where's the MSM outrage?' social media users have asked. | While addressing US State Department staff on Thursday, Biden hailed the diplomats for showing "great personal courage," which the new US president has purportedly seen first-hand. | "I've been with some of you when we've been shot at," he told the audience. | It's unclear what Biden meant by the passing remark, and the White House has not elaborated on the statement. | Read more…
(2021-02-05). Basav Sen on Biden Climate Policy, Hannah Sassaman on Prometheus v. FCC. fair.org 
(image: Institute for Policy Studies) | This week on CounterSpin: We know Biden will be better than Trump on climate policy, because a poke in the eye with a stick would be better. That media are
(2021-02-05). Each One Ask One or Two or Three: Recruitment Drive Exceeds Expectations. dsausa.org 
"It was very clear that the one-on-one relation building and just reaching out to people worked. It is obviously much more time consuming, but it overall has better results," Rogasner says. At the same time, she emphasizes, no matter what DSA members are doing, recruitment can be a part of it.
(2021-02-05). Yemen genocide: Biden pledges to end U.S. support for "offensive" Saudi operations. liberationnews.org 
As part of his first major speech on foreign policy since becoming president, Joe Biden announced yesterday a halt to U.S. support for "offensive operations" in Yemen, including "relevant arm[s] sales" to Saudi Arabia. Since 2015 during the Obama-Biden administration, the United States has been supporting, enabling and directly participating in the Saudi war of …
(2021-02-05). Biden boosts PRO Act on its formal introduction. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON —With a tweeted boost from Democratic President Joe Biden, House and Senate Democratic leaders formally introduced the PRO Act, the most-pro-worker labor law legislation in more than 85 years, on Feb. 4. The measure would overturn decades of anti-worker court and National Labor Relations Board rulings, and make organizing, winning elections, and bargaining first …
(2021-02-05). 01/06/21: The Insurrection that Wasn't. socialistproject.ca 
"Only the chief … can still save bourgeois society. Only theft can still save property; only perjury, religion; bastardy, the family; disorder, order!" Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte Trump is now gone. But his leaving was not without a certain drama. His legacy is about as tarnished as it is possible to …
(2021-02-05). So Much for Unity. progressive.org Sorry, Congressional Republicans lost their right to be advocates for unity and bipartisanship when they enabled Trump and his mob to attack the Capitol.
(2021-02-05). Dems Deride MTG for Supporting Conspiracies While Claiming Russia Was Behind Capitol Riots. thealtworld.com While Democrats may find some political capital in ridiculing QAnon, they have their own history of making outlandish claims. | MPN- The House of Representatives has stripped new Georgia official Marjorie Taylor Greene from two committees over her history of promoting conspiracy theories. Congress took the highly unusual step today in voting 230 to 199 in favor of removing her from the education and budget committees, limiting her abilities and powers. In response, the 46-year-old freshman congresswoman
(2021-02-05). After Court Rules Dakota Access Pipeline Operating Illegally, Dems Demand Biden It Shut Down. commondreams.org "You can continue to show your administration values the environment and the rights of Indigenous communities more than the profits of outdated fossil fuel industries." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-65144232211.jpg …
(2021-02-05). Are We Not All in Search of Tomorrow. zcomm.org Despite the hollowing out of democracy, elections remain one front in the political contest, and in that contest, the left fights to summon a democratic spirit…
(2021-02-05). Headlines for February 5, 2021. democracynow.org President Biden Pledges to End U.S. Support for "Catastrophic" War in Yemen, Johnson & Johnson Asks FDA for Emergency Authorization of Single-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine, Poll Reveals 25% of U.S. Adults Plan to Gather at Super Bowl Watch Parties, VP Harris Casts Tie-Breaking Vote to Move Ahead with Democratic COVID Relief Bill, Democrats Call on Biden to Cancel Student Debt Up to $50,000, House Removes Marjorie Taylor Greene from Committees over Violent, Bigoted Rhetoric, AOC Calls for Expulsion of Rep. Greene from House, Warns Against Dismissing Insurrection Survivors, Smartmatic Sues Fox News, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney P…
(2021-02-05). Rejecting Trump's "Callous Disregard for Human Life," Biden Significantly Raises Refugee Cap. commondreams.org "The action today by President Biden will save lives. It's that simple." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/biden-order-refugees.jpg …
(2021-02-05). Joe Biden's Two-Front Battle Against Covid and Climate Change May Trigger Severe Food Shortages for U.S. Consumers. strategic-culture.org In the United States, the local farmers, it seems, are being squeezed out of business, or paid not to grow food, while Big Agriculture is more concerned with exporting its supplies than keeping domestic food stocks safe and affordable. | In an effort to fight two wars at the same time — against a pandemic as well as purported climate change — the Biden administration risks putting the United States on a crash course with food shortages and soaring prices as early as this year. | Sealed up inside of his White House fortress, surrounded by a ring of steel and thousands of National Guardsmen, U.S. Presid…
(2021-02-05). 'Giant First Step': After 14+ Hours of Votes, Senate Approves Covid Relief Resolution With Zero GOP Support. commondreams.org "We have the opportunity to give hope to the American people and restore faith in our government by telling them that… we understand the pain that they are experiencing and we are gonna do something very significant about it," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12991108971.jpg …
(2021-02-05). In Fiery Floor Speech, Cori Bush Demands Accountability for Every Republican Who Incited 'Vile White Supremacist Attack' of January 6. commondreams.org "We can't build a better society if members are too scared to stand up and act to reject the white supremacist attack that happened right before our eyes." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screenshot_2021-02-05_watch_live_senate_debates_budget_amid_ongoing_negotiations_for_covid_relief1.png …
(2021-02-05). US House Passes Senate-Cleared Budget Resolution, Opens Path to Biden's COVID-19 Plan. sputniknews.com The House of Representatives vote followed an address by US President Joe Biden to the American public that underscored he would be pushing his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package through Congress with or without support from Republican lawmakers.
(2021-02-05). 'Definition of Malpractice': GOP Senators Under Fire for Obstructing Biden HHS Pick as Pandemic Rages. commondreams.org "Delaying a hearing for the head of Health and Human Services in the middle of a pandemic that has claimed more than 450,000 American lives is negligence in plain sight." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12300159661.jpg …
(2021-02-05). Fox News is flailing without Donald Trump: Right-wing media ramp up the culture wars in desperation. salon.com Without much by way of an agenda, Republicans and their right-wing media backers look to induce America's amnesia…
(2021-02-05). Why conservatives are now targeting the victims of the Capitol riot. salon.com Nancy Mace makes fun of AOC for being "triggered." Is sneering at people's pain the GOP's latest strategy?>
(2021-02-05). What Biden's Agenda Can Mean for Oppressed Uighurs. thenation.com What Biden's Agenda Can Mean for Oppressed Uighurs…
(2021-02-05). UN Security Council urges democratic return in Myanmar. yenisafak.com The UN Security Council voiced "deep concern" Thursday at the situation in Myanmar after the military overthrew the civilian government and jailed political and civil society leaders.The council decided what it said was the "arbitrary" detentions of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, as well as the military's unilateral imposition of a state of emergency. It called for the "immediate release" of all those swept up in military raids and urged a return to democratic norms."The members of the Security Council emphasized the need for the continued support of the democratic transition in Myanma…
(2021-02-05). Climate targets require plans, which is why Morrison doesn't want them. greenleft.org.au Pressure from the Biden administration's pledges on swift climate change action seems to have pushed Scott Morrison to mention he indeed has a plan to reduce emissions, writes Pip Hinman.
(2021-02-05). Myanmar arrests prominent political leader, close aide of Suu Kyi. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 5 (efe-epa).- Police in Myanmar arrested one of the main leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party and close aide of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, five days after a military coup. Win Htein was arrested after midnight at his daughter's house in Yangon, the country's former capital and …
(2021-02-05). 'Downright Scary': In 2021 Alone, GOP Introduces 100+ Voter Suppression Bills in 28 States. commondreams.org "Democrats have a clear choice. They can get rid of the filibuster to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act to stop GOP voter suppression, or they can allow the GOP to undermine democracy for the next decade." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/election_workers.jpg …
(2021-02-05). 60+ Groups and Unions to Senate Democrats: End Harmful 'Gridlock and Dysfunction' by Eliminating the Filibuster. commondreams.org "It is truly outrageous that we still allow a partisan minority to block legislation at will and wholly prevent our government from functioning. Kill the filibuster." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12309705921_0.jpg …
(2021-02-05). After Biden Move, Anti-War Groups Call on Boris Johnson to End UK Support for Saudi Assault on Yemen. commondreams.org "Johnson and Raab have blood on their hands. Their support for the carnage in Yemen must end immediately." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/caat.jpg …
(2021-02-05). 'This war has to end'. zcomm.org Biden halts U.S. support for offensive military operations in Yemen…
(2021-02-05). Sanders Rebuffs 'Partisanship' Complaints From GOP That Unilaterally Passed $1.9T Gift for Rich. zcomm.org "Eighty-three percent of the benefits of the Trump tax plan went to the 1% and large corporations… There was not one Democrat that voted for that bill."
(2021-02-05). Polls Show Support for Biden's Executive Orders, as Progressives Push for More. zcomm.org "I'm seeing too much hesitation. If they don't deliver amid these multiple crises, then Republicans will storm back into power in 2022."
(2021-02-05). Mike Pence to Launch Podcast Hosted by Conservative Youth Group. sputniknews.com Former US Vice President Mike Pence, a member of the Republican Party, served as the 48th vice president of the US between 2017 and 2021. Pence was also the 50th governor of Indiana between 2013 and 2017.
(2021-02-05). Joe Biden Is A White Supremacist War Hawk, Too. popularresistance.org The white hooligans who invaded Capitol Hill on January 6th set the stage for the U.S. ruling class to reinvigorate its most prized political narrative: American exceptionalism. Trump committed the most egregious crime of all in the eyes of the empire by encouraging his most loyal supporters to desecrate what one police officer on the scene called "the most sacredest place." His closing act paved an even smoother road for the incoming Biden administration to quickly militarize Washington D.C. and normalize a period of sustained crisis vis-à -vis cosmetic changes to the leadership of the empire. But as neoliberal…