(2021-08-24). American Billionaires Got 62% Richer During Pandemic — Almost All That Wealth Growth Will Go Income-Tax Free, Showing Need For Biden's Tax Reforms & Investment Plans. ips-dc.org 
Billionaires' Collective Fortune Grew $1.8 Trillion Over 17 Months, Enough to Pay for Over Half of Biden's Proposed $3.5 Trillion Investment in Healthcare, Education & More…
(2021-08-24). Biden, European powers in crisis talks over Afghan evacuation policy. wsws.org A G-7 virtual summit opens amid mounting demands from right-wing circles in the US for a more aggressive deployment of US military forces at the Kabul airport.
(2021-08-24). U.S. Military Bases Around the World: At What Cost? libya360.wordpress.com Mision Verdad U.S. Soldiers leaving Afghanistan (Photo: U.S. Navy) On April 14, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military in Afghanistan will withdraw by September 11, 2021. Its departure from the territory has occurred in a disorderly and hasty manner, revealing the failure of the military invasion of twenty years ago. However, Washington…
(2021-08-24). The War in Afghanistan is Dead. Long Live the War on Terror! counterpunch.org Although President Biden has held fast on his commitment to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, he has thrown a few bones to advocates of U.S. power projection. One, in particular, stands out, and that is Biden's promise to use our "counterterrorism over-the-horizon capability" in Afghanistan and the wider region if necessary. What does this mean?
(2021-08-24). What Will the Taliban Do? It's Up to Us. counterpunch.org How will the Taliban govern Afghanistan? It may be up to us. The U.S. is out, but what the Biden Administration and its Western allies do in the weeks and months ahead will have a big influence on whether the Central Asian country reverts to the insular medieval barbarism of the 1990s or modernizes in
(2021-08-24). U.N. Warns of "Humanitarian Catastrophe" in Afghanistan Amid Political Turmoil, Economic Crisis & Drought. democracynow.org 
The United Nations warns Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, as the country faces political upheaval, a worsening economic crisis and a devastating drought. Humanitarian groups are vowing to keep working in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, but they are facing new hurdles, from working under Taliban rule to concerns about the international community providing much needed foreign aid to restrictions at the Kabul airport. "Today in Afghanistan, we're seeing a potential humanitarian catastrophe," says Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanita…
(2021-08-24). Headlines for August 24, 2021. democracynow.org G7 Leaders Urge Biden to Delay Withdrawal from Afghanistan as Taliban Warns of "Consequences", WHO Calls for Two-Month Pause on Booster Shots Amid Stark Vaccine Inequity, FDA Fully Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Prompting Vaccine Mandates, Florida Doctors Hold Protest as Students Return to Classes Amid Massive COVID-19 Surge, Haiti's Earthquake Death Toll Rises to Over 2,200 with Thousands Still Homeless, Kathy Hochul Sworn In as New York Governor as Andrew Cuomo Resigns, Weather Underground Radical David Gilbert Granted Clemency, North Carolina Court Restores Voting Rights to Tens of Thousands with F…
(2021-08-24). Reforma económica, tiempos políticos y democratización en Cuba. globalizacion.ca Este artículo es un ejercicio de los derechos y libertades que consagra la Constitución de la República de Cuba. Es plausible estimar que con el paquete de medidas recién aprobadas, el Gobierno cubano apuesta más a aliviar la presión que…
(2021-08-24). Expectations at rock bottom as Bennett heads to Washington. electronicintifada.net Biden offers little to alter unsustainable status quo.
(2021-08-24). Will Senate Democrats Stoop to Confirming Rahm Emanuel as Ambassador? counterpunch.org When President Biden announced late Friday afternoon that he will nominate Rahm Emanuel to be the U.S. ambassador to Japan, the timing just before the weekend was clearly intended to minimize attention to the swift rebukes that were sure to come. The White House described Emanuel as having "a distinguished career in public service," but several progressive
(2021-08-24). Will Investing In Community Groups Keep Immigrants Out Of Detention? popularresistance.org Nonetheless, the U.S. government is making an important shift, advocates told Capital & Main. This year, Biden's administration will test a new method for distributing money to community groups already providing help. If the government learns from past pitfalls and promising international models, the new approach could help transform the country's immigration system, advocates said.
(2021-08-24). Tomgram: Michael Klare, Is a Cold War Still Possible in an Overheating World? warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Think of it as an irony of the first order that Joe Biden's foreign-policy team came into office promoting new cold-war policies against the rising power on this planet, China. After all, even if it is that, it's …
(2021-08-24). Financial Capitalism, Black Rock and Political Power in the Biden Administration. zcomm.org Biden has enlisted some of the world's most ruthless capitalists and its henchmen, as the willing executors who will help him to serve financial capitalism…
(2021-08-24). Voting Rights Groups Launch Civil Disobedience Campaign at the White House Urging End to Filibuster. democracynow.org 
With the Democratic-led House of Representatives expected to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, pressure is growing on the Biden administration and Senate Democrats to abolish the filibuster, without which new voting rights legislation and other Democratic priorities have no hope of passing the Senate. We speak with Ben Jealous, president of People for the American Way and former president of the NAACP, as voting rights groups protest in front of the White House. Jealous says the action is intended to "up the pressure on Biden" to call on the Senate to get rid of the filibuster. "The filibuster was the insula…
(2021-08-24). Nicaragua: the right to live in peace. peoplesdispatch.org "Sovereignty is not argued about, It is defended" — Cesar Augusto Sandino | It is an irrefutable fact that the United States orchestrated, financed and unleashed the violent coup attempt in 2018 against the democratically elected FSLN government. Spokespeople of the US establishment, from former president Trump, extreme right-wing senators and deputies, all the way down the food chain of its formidable 'regime change' machinery, including National Security Advisor John Bolton, the CIA, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and, of course, USAID, repeatedly stated their aim was to bring about 'regime ch…
(2021-08-24). New York Democrats and unions prepare to herd unvaccinated children into school buildings. wsws.org The United Federation of Teachers and the New York Teachers Union are preparing to help the Democratic city and state governments in New York reopen schools to millions of children and staff as the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreads.
(2021-08-24). Justice, Impoverishment and Fear. indybay.org The defense of the welfare state is the defense of democracy… | Democracy is as strong as it is fragile. It is strong when it is defended. It is strong when we do not allow ourselves to be fobbed off with answers that do not tolerate questions. But it disappears immediately when we have become indifferent to it.
(2021-08-24). Doctors Without Borders: U.S. Should Force Pfizer to Share COVID Vaccine Technology with Africa. democracynow.org 
In response to the Food and Drug Administration's full authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for U.S. residents aged 16 and over, Doctors Without Borders is calling on Pfizer-BioNTech to immediately share the vaccine technology with manufacturers on the African continent, where less than 2% of the population is fully vaccinated. Dr. Manuel Martin, a policy adviser at Doctors Without Borders, says it's "regrettable but understandable" for rich countries to limit how many doses they export abroad, but "it's completely unacceptable for countries to refuse to share the technology." He also says rich c…
(2021-08-24). David Gilbert, Ex-Weather Underground Member, Granted Clemency by Cuomo. Will Parole Board Free Him? democracynow.org 
Outgoing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used his final hours in office to grant clemency to six men, including former Weather Underground member David Gilbert, who was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for his role in a 1981 robbery of an armored truck that left a security guard and two police officers dead. Gilbert, who is 76 years old and has been incarcerated for four decades, will now be able to apply for parole. "Now it's a matter of hoping that the parole board will do the right thing," says Steve Zeidman, Gilbert's lawyer, who also represents four of the other men granted clemency. "They recognize th…
(2021-08-24). Ben Jealous: Rev. Jesse Jackson Is Hospitalized with COVID-19. "We're All Praying for Him." democracynow.org 
Civil rights and voting rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Chicago. Jackson is fully vaccinated and has Parkinson's disease. During the pandemic, he has pushed for healthcare for all, and said in a statement, "After 400 years of slavery, segregation and discrimination, why would anybody be shocked that African Americans are dying disproportionately from the coronavirus?" We speak with Jackson's friend, Ben Jealous, president of People for the American Way and former president of the NAACP. "This is a guy who for 60, 70 years has done nothing but serve the people of…
(2021-08-24). Making Space for Grief in Academia. jamanetwork.com In this narrative medicine essay, a geriatrician and researcher recounts how through the losses she faced in short succession she felt expected to return to work with the "hardship invisible" and suggests that employers allow time off for grief much as they do for becoming a new parent.
(2021-08-24). Smoking Gun: What Republicans Believe. progressive.org Donald Trump's four years as President and his ongoing status as de facto leader of the GOP have brought the party beyond the brink of actual madness. Here are some of the signposts:…
(2021-08-24). If California Governor Is Replaced With Republican, Senate Could Swing to GOP. zcomm.org If Gov. Gavin Newsom is recalled, the health, civil rights and future of Californians — and people across the country — will be profoundly threatened…
(2021-08-24). Video: Prominent Pathologist: What These Jabs Do to the Brain and Other Organs. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Russia, China And Iran To Hold Joint Military Drills In The Coming Months. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Russia said it will hold joint maritime exercises with China and Iran in the coming months, in an announcement timed to show support from Moscow and Beijing to Tehran. | Russia's ambassador to Tehran, Levan Dzhagaryan, said the drills would be held in the Persian Gulf in late 2021 or early 2022."The annual joint naval exercises CHIRU will be held in the Persian Gulf region," Dzhagaryan was quoted by Russian Sputnik news agency as saying. "Russian, Iranian and Chinese warships are taking part…
(2021-08-23). Headlines for August 23, 2021. democracynow.org Chaos and Desperation Reign at Kabul Airport as Afghans Try to Evacuate Taliban Takeover, Taliban Leader Arrives for Talks in Kabul as Afghans Demand Security and Jobs, U.S. Tops 1,000 Daily COVID-19 Deaths for First Time Since March, Sri Lanka Locks Down for 10 Days Amid Worst COVID-19 Surge of Pandemic, India and Taiwan Roll Out Domestically Produced COVID Vaccines Despite Lack of Trial Data, Death Toll from Tennessee Flash Floods Rises to 22; Hurricane Grace Kills at Least 8 in Mexico, More Than 50 Feared Dead After Boat Carrying Refugees Capsizes En Route to Canary Islands, UNICEF Says Fighting in Syria Is In…
(2021-08-23). Boris Johnson Will Plead With Biden To Delay Withdrawal, As Taliban Warn Not To Prolong It. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | UK Prime Minister plans to personally plead with Joe Biden to extend a deadline for US troops leaving Afghanistan to allow more people to flee the "reign of terror" of the Taliban. | The prime minister will use an emergency G7 summit of the world's most powerful leaders to appeal to the president to delay the August 31st deadline. | Biden signalled he could be willing to bow to demands for an extension, revealing discussions were already under way and saying he…
(2021-08-23). The Weekly Round-Up: Afghanistan, disability equality, and unregulated accommodation. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news: On 15 August the Taliban took control of Kabul, following the collapse of the Afghan government and its President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country. In a news conference, a Taliban spokesman said women would be allowed to work and have rights "within the framework of Islam". The Taliban also said it wanted …
(2021-08-23). Biden's Botched Withdrawal From Afghanistan is Consistent With Two Decades of America's Missteps There. counterpunch.org President Joe Biden is under a tremendous amount of pressure from his own Democratic Party and the liberal media establishment for daring to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and allowing the country to fall back into the hands of the fundamentalist Taliban regime. Biden, in a statement on August 14, said, "One more year, or
(2021-08-23). After Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, Is It Credible to Trust the Intel Agencies on Wuhan? counterpunch.org "Surely, President Biden, you must be joking"! On May 26, these words should have poured forth from the White House Press Corps and the mainstream Commentariat when Joe Biden declared that he was placing the question of Covid-19's origins securely in the hands of the "National Intel Agencies." They were to report back in 90
(2021-08-23). The Taliban's Resurgence Was Years in Making & Aided by Trump, Who Sidelined Afghan Gov't in Talks. democracynow.org 
Concern is growing over a broader humanitarian crisis across Afghanistan as people continue to crowd the Kabul airport to flee after the Taliban takeover of the country. The World Health Organization says about one-half of Afghanistan's population, including nearly 10 million children, already need humanitarian assistance, and the numbers are expected to soar as Afghanistan's economic crisis intensifies. The Taliban is now under intense pressure, says Emran Feroz, an Austro-Afghan journalist and author. "They know that any kind of Afghan state in future will be dependent on foreign money, which includes American…
(2021-08-23). Car Bomb Explosion Rocked Town Of Azaz In Syria's Aleppo (Video). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 23rd, an explosion took place in the town of Aazaz, in the Syrian province of Aleppo. According to preliminary data, a car bomb explosion injured at least seven civilians. | The town of Azaz is under control of Turkish-backed militant groups, which operate in the northern part of Aleppo province. It regularly suffers from terrorist attacks carried out within "democratic competition" for power between Turkish proxies. |
(2021-08-23). Biden, Sanders & LGBTQ+ Oppose Republican Recall. indybay.org Pres. Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders and LGBTQ+ are all strongly in opposition to the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom, set for Sept 14, with vote by mail ballots received by all registered voters. Do your part to save our state and Vote No on the Recall Today.
(2021-08-23). So-called Democratic 'moderates' trying hard to sink Biden agenda. peoplesworld.org 
Nine "moderate" House Democrats have joined powerful conservative forces trying to undo President Joe Biden's multi-trillion-dollar domestic agenda. They are demanding that the House pass the bi-partisan infrastructure deal approved by the Senate before any vote on the president's $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which would allow for passage of Biden's sweeping human infrastructure plan, the …
(2021-08-23). The Infrastructure Plan Is a Return to What We Need from Government. progressive.org Though the Biden Administration has carried forward some of Trump's worst policies, investing in infrastructure breaks with forty years of Reagan-style cuts to public services.
(2021-08-23). Primary Challenger Hits Henry Cuellar for Trying to Tank Biden Agenda. commondreams.org "Can't be long 'til Trump tweets out his support" for the conservative House Democrats, said progressive Rep. Mark Pocan.
(2021-08-23). The Biggest Gamble of Nancy Pelosi's Life. truthout.org 
The final act of a showdown between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine rebellious "moderate" House Democrats is coming to a head this week, as the chamber barrels toward a procedural vote that will either forward or doom President Biden's $4 trillion infrastructure/budget plan. If the plans pass the procedural vote, the infrastructure and budget bills will be drafted over the course of many weeks. If the procedural vote goes down, it may be damn near political Armageddon for the Biden administration and the Democrats in genera…
(2021-08-23). What is Redistricting and Why Should We Care? aclu.org Redistricting is the process of drawing the lines of districts from which public officials are elected. When it's conducted fairly, it accurately reflects population changes and racial diversity, and is used by legislators to equitably allocate representation in Congress and state legislatures. When politicians use redistricting to manipulate the outcome of elections, however, it's called gerrymandering — a practice that undermines democracy and stifles the voice of voters. Voters should be picking their politicians. Not the other way around. | Sophia Lakin, Deputy Director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Pr…
(2021-08-23). Morrison gov't pushes on religious discrimination bill. greenleft.org.au While the church hierarchy enjoys access to influence the federal govenrment on its Religious Freedom Bill, those wanting to stay democratic and secular, are left out in the cold. Suzanne James reports.
(2021-08-23). 'The Answer Is No': Taliban Reject Idea of US Extending Exit Deadline. commondreams.org "If those in power cannot handle actual democracy they should never have had it," said one critic.
(2021-08-23). Cal Recall Impacts Nation; Repub Elder's Anti-Pregnant Workers. indybay.org The Sept 14 Governor Recall will drag the US government and economy to the reactionary, economic deep hole of Nazi Trump if it succeeds. The Trump Republican Larry Elder wants female employees to be required to notify their employer when they plan to get pregnant. He is also anti-mask and anti-vaccine in this COVID19 pandemic. This is not about the Democrats; this is about our lives.
(2021-08-23). Proud Boys & Far-Right Groups Tied to Jan. 6 Attack Reporters & Others at Anti-Mask, Anti-Vax Rally. democracynow.org 
As COVID-19 cases surge in the United States, anti-mask and anti-vaccine protests are continuing nationwide, with some turning violent. In a shocking story out of California, at least one person was stabbed and two journalists were attacked while covering an anti-vaccine, anti-mask demonstration outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday, August 14. The protest was attended by members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing groups. A Southern California mortgage broker named Tony Moon, who also participated in the deadly January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was videotaped attacking the independent journalist…
(2021-08-23). Peter Edelman: What Democrats Did to Welfare Is Coming Back to Haunt Them. scheerpost.com Lawyer and former member of the Clinton administration, Peter Edelman. [Georgetown University Law] | Click to subscribe on: A recent piece in the Washington Post titled "
(2021-08-23). Buffalo's Democratic Establishment Still Trying to Defeat Socialist India Walton. commondreams.org "Once again, Rep. Cuellar has made clear that his priorities are serving his corporate donors—not the people of South Texas," said Jessica Cisneros, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Texas' 28th district.
(2021-08-23). 'Extreme Weather' Ads Target Democrats Defending Fossil Fuel Subsidies. commondreams.org America's liberal imperialist doctrine has been responsible for appalling carnage in places like Vietnam, Iraq, and Central America. But America has also produced a liberal anti-imperialist doctrine that remains ensconced in a TV series that has been captivating US audiences since 1966.
(2021-08-23). "Threat to world order based on rules and principles": NATO demands Russia leave Crimea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Deputy Secretary General: NATO will never recognize annexation of Crimea "Ukrainians chose the path of freedom, democracy, and Euro-Atlantic integration, and NATO is completely on Ukraine's side. NATO condemns and will never recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. Crimea is the territory of Ukraine, and we call on Russia to return control over the peninsula …
(2021-08-23). Georgia Republicans seek control over Atlanta-area elections as Democrats abandon defense of democratic rights. wsws.org The state government is invoking a newly passed law to take the first step in taking over election administration in the heavily Democratic county that includes Atlanta.
(2021-08-23). How California's Top Democrats Paved the Way for a Republican Governor This Fall. indybay.org Looking out for the 1 percent…
(2021-08-23). CAM Back to School Special: Major Midwest University Hires Former Under-Secretary of Defense and Under-Secretary of the Army as President. covertactionmagazine.com Exemplifies Growth of Military-Industrial-Academic Complex That Is Destroying U.S. Democracy The University of Tulsa (TU) is one of Oklahoma's premier …
(2021-08-23). Carbon Dividends Provide a Win-Win Solution for People and the Climate. commondreams.org If Democrats want to govern for a generation instead of winning one-off races by slim margins, we will need to mend the deep tears among the American electorate and reckon with the injustices that were sewn into the fabric of our flag.
(2021-08-23). Rev. Jesse Jackson And His Wife Are Hospitalized, Under Observation For Covid-19. moguldom.com Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, were hospitalized Saturday after testing positive for covid-19, according to a statement. The famous civil rights leader is 79 and his wife is 77. They are being treated at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The two remain hospitalized, but their son, Jonathan Jackson, told ABC7 the couple is responding …
(2021-08-23). Key 'Milestone' in Pandemic Fight as FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer's Covid Vaccine. commondreams.org "If you believe Black lives indeed matter, then the Senate must reject his appointment immediately," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib in response to the announcement.
(2021-08-23). Black Man In Tampa: My Child Has Covid Because Of FL Gov. DeSantis Mask Policy, Political Opportunism. moguldom.com Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has sparked a heated debate over mask mandates in school. He's opposed while many parents and educators who put the safety of children first are calling for masks. Last week, three Florida county school boards voted to require nearly all of their students to wear masks at school despite DeSantis's objections. In …
(2021-08-23). Republicans Rush to Squash Local Control in Fight Against COVID. truthout.org 
Not too long ago, there was a time when Republicans insisted that they were against Big Government and wanted to push it down as much as possible to local control. They extolled the virtues of town councils, school boards and community commissions for being close to the people and, therefore, more responsive to the needs of their constituents. Government officials were neighbors and co-workers and friends so they had a better chance of truly understanding the issues people care about. | But it was always…