(2021-08-11). US Senate passes infrastructure bill, moves on to budget. wsws.org The Senate bill is being used to promote the notion that the nation can be united on the basis of bipartisanship—even as the Republican Party continues to back Trump and oppose any investigation of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6.
(2021-08-11). Biden Must Call Off the B-52s Bombing Afghan Cities. towardfreedom.org The lesson of the United States' experience in Afghanistan should be a new "Afghanistan syndrome," a public aversion to war that prevents future U.S. military attacks and invasions, rejects attempts to socially engineer the governments of other nations, and leads to a new and active U.S. commitment to peace, diplomacy, and disarmament.
(2021-08-11). Taliban seizes 8th provincial capital amid massive offensive as Biden calls on Afghans to 'fight for themselves'. rt.com 
The Taliban has seized two more provincial capitals in Afghanistan, taking control of eight major cities in just four days amid a relentless wave of attacks as US President Joe Biden urges Afghans to fight for their country. | After a series of attacks on Tuesday, the militant group captured Farah city in the southwest — capital of the province of the same name — as well as the capital of Baghlan province, Pul-e-Khumri, located just 125 miles (200km) from the national capital of Kabul. Local officials confirmed that both cities had fallen to reporters with Al Jazeera and AFP. | "The Taliban are now i…
(2021-08-11). Taliban's Sweeping Offensive in Afghanistan Was "Inevitable" and Stems from Brutal U.S. War. ips-dc.org Phyllis Bennis joins Democracy Now! to discuss the latest from Afghanistan, including the Taliban's recent capture of three more provincial capitals.
(2021-08-11). Afghanistan: a Tale of never ending Tragedy. globalresearch.ca This incisive and carefully research article was first published by Global Research on July 19, 2006 | It's now approaching five years since the Taliban government in Afghanistan was deposed by American bombing and the reoccupation of the country with the …
(2021-08-11). Headlines for August 11, 2021. democracynow.org Senate Dems Approve $3.5 Trillion Budget Hours After Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns, Continues to Faces Ongoing Probes and Possible Impeachment, Cases Spike in Tacoma ICE Jail; TX Counties Can Bypass Mask Mandate Ban as Delta COVID Cases Surge, COVID-19 Surges in Mexico; Bangladesh Launches Rohingya Refugee Vaccination Drive, Taliban Claim More Territory, Seizing Three More Afghan Cities, Ethiopian PM Calls for Citizens to Join Fight Against Tigray Forces as Humanitarian Disaster Grows, U.S. Appeals Ruling That Blocked Julian Assange's Extradition, Algerian Wildfires Kill 42…
(2021-08-11). Russian Orlan-10 Drone Crashed In Northeastern Syria, Fourth This Year. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image. Source: the internet. | On August 11, a Russian Orlan-10 drone crash landed in the northern countryside of al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria. | The drone crashed in the vicinity of the town of al-Matmurah. At the time, fighters the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were clashing with Turkish forces in nearby areas. At least two Turkish-backed militants were killed in the clashes. The drone may have been shot down by mistake. | The Orlan-10 has a f…
(2021-08-11). The Nature of Prosecutors. popularresistance.org Above Photo: Statue of Blind Justice statue outside the Albert V. Bryan U.S. courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. (Tim Evanson, Flickr) Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg went after Daniel Hale and leads the extradition case against Julian Assange. People should know what he and other prosecutors can really be like. For the past two weeks I've …
(2021-08-11). Democrats Propose Medicare for a Few More Instead of Demanding Medicare for All. zcomm.org Passing H.R.1976, the Medicare for All Act of 2021, is the kind of history-making this country needs from Democrats right now. The pandemic is still here, and we cannot delay any longer…
(2021-08-11). 'Coercive Measures' Against Venezuela Will Continue, Reaffirms the US. orinocotribune.com New plots against Venezuela are being hatched in the US, as indicated by Juan González, National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere in the Joe Biden administration. Ratifying the ongoing interventionist White House stance, González claimed that the US, together with its allies, would continue to exert pressure on Venezuela until "free and fair elections" are held in the country. | These statements come after Mexican President López Obrador's recent announcement that his government will host a negotiation between diverse political sectors of Venezuela, to aid in achieving a possible peacef…
(2021-08-11). TX Voting Rights Fight Takes Ugly Turn as House GOP Vote to Arrest Dem Lawmakers. truthout.org 
Texas lawmakers in the state's House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to order state law enforcement to forcibly return Democrats to the legislative chamber, including potentially arresting them, in order to force a vote on implementing restrictive voting provisions in future elections in the state. |
(2021-08-11). Texas House Speaker Signs Arrest Warrants for 52 Democrats Who Fled to DC Over Voting Bill. sputniknews.com Last month, 52 Texas Democrats fled the state in an attempt to block a vote on an election bill that envisaged tougher voting requirements – a measure Democrats view as harming minorities and abusing voting rights.
(2021-08-11). Your Vote Needed to Stop Sept 14 Governor Recall. indybay.org The County Voter Handbooks are arriving this week describing the fascist Trump Republican recall election set for September 14, 2021, and how we can vote by mail within 30 days of that election. Every registered voter will receive a vote by mail ballot. Since there is no Electoral College for this, we need every single vote against this recall to avoid the horror of a Trump Republican governor.
(2021-08-11). More Cheap Fun: Job Growth, Trump v. Biden. counterpunch.org Another jobs report, another cheap shot at the former guy. As I always say, this sort of comparison is silly because so many things beyond the president's control affect job growth and the economy. But, you know that if the situation were reversed, we would be hearing this comparison endlessly. Donald Trump Jr. would probably
(2021-08-11). Intelligence probe of COVID-19 origins unlikely to end with high-confidence result: officials. ecns.cn A 90-day intelligence review into the origins of COVID-19 ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to end largely where it began, without high confidence in how the coronavirus first emerged.
(2021-08-11). Biden speaks to Pacific Islands Forum to counter China. wsws.org Biden's address to the forum—a first for a sitting US president—featured the declaration that the US was a "proud Pacific power" and signalled Washington's determination to maintain its dominant position in the region.
(2021-08-11). Fiscal Tyranny: Biden Threatens to Withhold Federal Funding from Universities, Nursing Homes and Other Federally-funded Institutions if They Don't Hit Mandatory COVID Vaccination Quotas. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-11). Tara Reade: Cuomo's resignation a 'good first step.' 'Now, let's do Biden'. therealnews.com 
At the very moment
(2021-08-11). Biden Made Big Compromises on Climate. zcomm.org And Movements That Backed Him Are Livid…
(2021-08-11). Biden Has Abandoned His Covid Worker Safety Pledge. zcomm.org Biden's much-anticipated workplace safety rule excludes most workers—and some in the labor movement are not happy…
(2021-08-11). As DeSantis Bans Mask Mandates, Florida Asks Feds for Help With Covid Surge. commondreams.org "The Biden administration promised a wartime response to the global vaccine effort. It's time to deliver."
(2021-08-11). 'Utter Lack of Credibility as a Climate Leader': Biden Pressures OPEC to Pump More Oil. commondreams.org "You can't even keep these files because there's potential for abuse," said the ACLU of Tennessee.
(2021-08-11). Wealthiest Netted Billions From Trump Tax Cut They Helped Write: Report. commondreams.org "This disingenuous appeal should be dismissed by the court and President Biden should take the opportunity to drop these politically motivated charges."
(2021-08-11). Poll: Majority of US Voters Want Biden to 'Fight' for Key Voting Rights Bill. commondreams.org "Maybe instead of boosting oil production, President Biden should have pushed for more electric vehicle and transit spending in the infrastructure bill?"
(2021-08-11). Pandemic Shows Why We Need a Global Green New Deal. commondreams.org "Biden and Senate Democrats need to tell us what their plan to pass S. 1 is—before it's too late."
(2021-08-11). America has arrived at one of history's great crossroads. zcomm.org If the neoliberals win and Biden and the Democrats back down, it's unlikely America will simply slide back into a "friendly neoliberalism" like we had before the Trump presidency…
(2021-08-11). 200+ Scientists, Groups Implore Biden to Ramp Up mRNA Vaccine Production for the World. commondreams.org The United Nation's latest climate report says capping global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C target is imperative—and still within reach through immediate, aggressive action.
(2021-08-11). UN Official Decries Biden's 'Troubling' Deportations Under Pretext of Pandemic. commondreams.org A Golden State union leader called the governor's move "an appropriate next step to ensure the safety of our school communities and to protect our youngest learners."
(2021-08-11). Corporate Liberalism Is No Match for Trumpism. indybay.org Our entire democracy is now at risk…
(2021-08-11). Brazil: Tanks on the Streets — Attacks on the International Left. libya360.wordpress.com Who Will Laugh Last? Brian MierBrazilians woke up yesterday to visions of a nightmare they thought would never return: military tanks and armored vehicles rolling down the national mall in Brasilia, past the Congress and Supreme Court Buildings in an attempt, admitted by top aides of far right President Jair Bolsonaro, to scare Brazil's democratic…
(2021-08-11). "The End of Neoliberalism": Rep. Ro Khanna Hails "Historic" $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan. democracynow.org 
Senate Democrats passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution early Wednesday morning that would vastly expand the social safety net, increase taxes on the rich and corporations, improve worker rights and include measures to combat the climate crisis. The budget blueprint passed 50-49, less than 24 hours after a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill was approved 69-30 in the Senate. Both spending packages now go to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she will not bring the bipartisan bill to the House floor unless the reconciliation bill is considered at the same time. Califo…
(2021-08-11). Gov. Cuomo Resigns After Sexual Harassment Probe; Critic Says He Is "Still Gaslighting New Yorkers" democracynow.org 
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced his resignation, effective August 24, after a week of intense pressure from fellow Democrats for him to step down. Cuomo, who has been in office since 2011, had few allies left after an investigation by New York's attorney general found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women — allegations he continues to deny. "Governor Cuomo is still gaslighting New Yorkers," says Yuh-Line Niou, a member of the New York State Assembly representing Manhattan, who says Cuomo must still be impeached. "Impeachment means that New York will not be paying Andrew Cuomo's pension for…
(2021-08-11). "A Petty Tyrant with Too Much Power": Former Cuomo Rival Zephyr Teachout Responds to Resignation. democracynow.org 
Law professor Zephyr Teachout, who challenged Cuomo for the New York Democratic nomination for governor in 2014, describes Cuomo as "extraordinarily vengeful" and applauds the bravery of the women who spoke up about his behavior. "He never hesitated to use the power of the state, state resources, to serve his own ends," says Teachout.
(2021-08-11). International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples toward 2021 California Admission Day. indybay.org The living legacy of Indigenous people throughout the Great State of California legacy will no longer be discounted and/or discredited. Generational Genocide, Slavery and Disparaging treatment cannot be ignored any longer. Together, we can and must form a more perfect union by facing "what really happened" and Build Back Better in 2021.
(2021-08-11). Sen. Booker's enthusiastic 'embrace' of anti-defund the police measure riles activists & BLM (VIDEO). rt.com 
Senator Cory Booker (D-New York), a vocal proponent of criminal justice reform in the US, has rubbed some people the wrong way with a sarcasm-dripping endorsement of a measure against defunding the police. | Booker delivered an impassioned short speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday as the chamber worked through a grueling 13-hour vote-a-rama on hundreds of proposed amendments to the bipartisan infrastructure bill. He offered a full-throated backing to a "gift" of a proposal to "establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to decreasing federal funding for local jurisdictions that defund the police." | pi…
(2021-08-11). Medicare Won't Cover Most Vision, Dental and Hearing. Dems Want to Change That. truthout.org 
Sorry, Joe Namath. Despite what you keep saying in those TV ads, under Medicare, seniors are not "entitled to eliminate copays and get dental care, dentures, eyeglasses, prescription drug coverage, in-home aides, unlimited transportation and home-delivered meals, all at no additional cost." But if Democratic lawmakers in Congress have their say, seniors could soon be entitled to some of those services. | Namath's commercial is hawking private Medicare Advantage plans, which frequently do offer…
(2021-08-11). New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns After Sexual Harassment Probe. truthout.org 
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced his resignation, effective August 24, after a week of intense pressure from fellow Democrats for him to step down. Cuomo, who has been in office since 2011, had few allies left after an investigation by New York's attorney general found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women — allegations he continues to deny. "Governor Cuomo is still gaslighting New Yorkers," says Yuh-Line Niou, a member of the New York State Assembly representing Manhattan, who says Cu…
(2021-08-11). California Gubernatorial Recall Could See Newsom Replaced by a Republican. truthout.org 
California stands on the cusp of an absurdity. | In
(2021-08-11). Good Fire / Bad Fire: a False Paradigm. counterpunch.org There has been a spate of pronouncements from politicians as different politically as Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines to California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom arguing that we need more "active forest management" to reduce "fuel" as a means of precluding large blazes. The assumption is that fuels are the problem is widespread and repeated over and over by the media and agency folks so this mantra is nearly internalized in the public mind.
(2021-08-11). When States Take Over School Districts, the Community Loses. progressive.org While the impacts of state takeovers on academics are uncertain, the negative effects on local democratic governance are clear.
(2021-08-11). Comment: The End of School 'Reform'. progressive.org Whatever leadership imperatives become the new driving force behind the next education policy directives, they are doomed to irrelevance if they ignore the needs and interests of teachers.
(2021-08-11). Gerrymandering: The Upcoming Redistricting Battle. commondreams.org "As other state legislatures continue to work tirelessly to pass anti-voter laws, the federal government must work even harder to stop these nefarious efforts in their tracks."
(2021-08-11). Thwarting the Republican Backlash Against Democracy. thenation.com Thwarting the Republican Backlash Against Democracy…
(2021-08-11). Koch Network Infiltration of Public Schools 'Harms Students, Teachers, and Our Democracy': Report. commondreams.org Federal legislation is clearly needed to help stop partisan gerrymandering, and time is of the essence.
(2021-08-11). Ten years after the London riots: More cuts and state repression. wsws.org The riots blew the lid off a society wracked by poverty and inequality and the collapse of any concern for democracy in the ruling class. A decade later, both of Britain's main parties are led by politicians who cut their teeth in the mass repression of working-class youth which followed.
(2021-08-11). Brasil: escena de república bananera. globalizacion.ca Una escena patética: cuando por la tarde el Congreso brasileño iba a derrotar la propuesta del presidente Jair Bolsonaro de cambiar la urna eletrónica por el voto en papel, 150 vehiculos militares, gran parte de ellos tanques, cruzaron la Esplanada…
(2021-08-11). Without Single GOP Vote, Senate Approves $3.5 Trillion Budget Blueprint. commondreams.org The state health department's request for 300 ventilators came as the Republican governor continued to fight to prevent school districts from requiring masks.
(2021-08-11). Democracy's Money Problem. thenation.com Democracy's Money Problem…
(2021-08-10). Afghan Tragedy: Still Relevant Today As it Was Analyzed 15 Years Ago. covertactionmagazine.com By every measure, the Afghan War has been a failure for America. But it has been a $5 trillion success for American corporations like Lockheed Martin, DynCorp, General Dynamics, Black & Veatch, Halliburton and the oil companies which shipped half-a-million gallons of fuel a day…
(2021-08-10). Headlines for August 10, 2021. democracynow.org Pentagon Will Require All Military Personnel to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19, Florida Reopens Schools, with Masks Optional, as State Becomes Coronavirus Epicenter, Canada Reopens Border to Vaccinated U.S. Travelers, California Officials Warn Record-Shattering Wildfire Could Burn for Weeks, Greek Prime Minister Apologizes Amid Protests over Government's Handling of Wildfires, Germany Sets Up 30 Million Euro Recovery Fund After Devastating Floods, Small Island States Warn Climate Crisis Threatens "Our Very Future", Sixth Afghan Provincial Capital Falls to Taliban , Indigenous Brazilians Seek Genocide Charges Aga…
(2021-08-10). How the U.S. Government Is Using the Internet to Silence Cubans. progressive.org The Biden Administration is considering a plan to export U.S. Internet service to Cuba. But why?
(2021-08-10). Cuban Scientists Pen Letter to Biden Rejecting 'Failed State' Claim. libya360.wordpress.com Kawsachun News Cuban scientists held a press conference in Havana on Tuesday, August 10th. A broad representation of Cuban scientists will address a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden evidencing Cuba's scientific and political capacity to face Covid-19, in an altruistic manner, despite the limitations of the U.S. blockade. The missive, to be written by top Cuban…
(2021-08-10). United States: Biden panders to right-wing Cuban Americans. greenleft.org.au United States president Joe Biden has imposed further sanctions on Cuba — targetting two leaders of the Cuban national police as well as the organisation as a whole, reports Ian Ellis-Jones.
(2021-08-10). Indigenous communities occupy Bonafont bottling plant in Mexico and other stories. peoplesdispatch.org In today's episode of the Daily Round-up we take a look at the ongoing protests by local communities in Mexico's Puebla region against water extraction by the Bonafont company; protests in Thailand against the government's pandemic response and the continued demands for democracy; the new UN IPCC report on global warming; and the surge in Covid-19 cases in the US just as vaccination rates cross 50%.
(2021-08-10). First Results from PSUV Primaries: Democratic Victory as 21N Mega-Elections Approach. orinocotribune.com 
At 2: 12 a.m. this Monday, August 9, the Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, presented the first results from the party's primary elections, including those for the governorships of Venezuela's 23 states and the Mayor's Office of the municipality of Libertador in Caracas. Carmen Meléndez, Rafael Lacava, Héctor Rodríguez, Jehyson Guzmán, and Freddy Bernal are among the candidates whose victories are assured. | The results were announced at a press conference, after the national board of directors and the electoral commission of the political party received partial res…
(2021-08-10). Nicaragua Congratulates Venezuela for PSUV Primaries. orinocotribune.com 
This Monday, August 9, the government of the Republic of Nicaragua congratulated the Venezuelan people, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and the authorities of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) for holding the Open Primary Elections to choose the candidates who will represent this political organization in Venezuela's regional elections scheduled for November 21. | Last Sunday, August 8, the PSUV held its primaries, aimed at securing the best candidates for the upcoming regional elections. More than 5.5 million voters were mobilized for the democratic fiesta, and…
(2021-08-10). Stop playing political games with COVID. workers.org 
Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' role with regard to COVID-19 deserves a closer look, as it affects the overall approach to the pandemic. DeSantis is poised to run for reelection in 2022. Reports in the media say he's aiming for the presidency in 2024. About 50 people gathered outside the . . . |
(2021-08-10). Biden Must Reverse Immigration Rule. progressive.org Biden must end the cruel policies of his predecessors.
(2021-08-10). On human infrastructure and Biden budget, heavy lifting remains. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Even with the Senate voting 69 to 30 to approve a $1 trillion bill to reconstruct or replace the nation's crumbling roads, failing bridges, elderly subways, and lead-lined water pipes, while adding affordable broadband for everybody, there's a caution flag: There's a lot of heavy lifting still to come on the two big spending bills …
(2021-08-10). Biden Admin Offers Hand of Friendship to Bolsonaro. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-10). Groups Issue Bold Demands for Biden Officials Crafting New Climate Finance Strategy. commondreams.org As we address the needs of working families, and combat climate change, we are going to create millions of good paying jobs, many of them union jobs.
(2021-08-10). Why Has Israel Got an Arsenal of Nuclear Weapons? strategic-culture.org It is far from inconceivable that Israel would employ its nuclear arsenal. After all, for what other reason does it have ninety nuclear weapons? | The main result of the meeting between Presidents Putin and Biden in Geneva on June 16 was the joint
(2021-08-10). Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill With Some GOP Support. Don't Get Too Excited. truthout.org 
Like wet molasses getting pushed up a sandy hill, President Biden's two-pronged $4.7 trillion infrastructure package is wending its incremental way toward finally becoming reality. | This first portion, a $1.2 trillion package aimed at modernizing the country's moldering public works and power grids,
(2021-08-10). Tenants Aren't Waiting for the Biden Admin to Save Them. zcomm.org Here's how tenant organizers are mobilizing locally to stem the housing crisis…
(2021-08-10). The Anti-Democratic Chaos Democrats Are Sowing. commondreams.org "President Obama opened the investigation into Julian Assange. President Trump brought the charges against him. It is now time for President Biden to do the right thing."
(2021-08-10). Senate Pushes New Sanctions on Nicaragua. latinorebels.com The law, called the RENACER Act (Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform), would allow the Biden administration to impose targeted sanctions against "Nicaraguan officials who seek to derail the country's electoral process."
(2021-08-10). Pennsylvania Mack Trucks worker responds to President Joseph Biden's visit to truck plant. wsws.org "Biden's visit in July was both a show of force against workers at the company and an effort to stir up competition against our working class brothers and sisters in other countries."
(2021-08-10). Biden's Totally Failing Foreign Policies. southfront.org 
Illustrative Image | Written by Eric Zuesse, originally posted at Joe Biden came into the U.S. White House promising to change Donald Trump's foreign policies, but didn't even try to change them, and instead he has continued them, and has failed with them exactly as Trump did when he was the President. Here are some examples: | The nuclear agreement with Iran (the Obama-negotiated "JCPOA" for I…
(2021-08-10). Salesforce Client is Republican Party. indybay.org San Francisco's very own tech giant, Salesforce, continues to do the bidding of its client, the Republican Party, also known as the Republican National Committee, despite the Jan. 6, 2021 seditious insurrection by Nazi Trump thugs to overthrow the government by force and violence to install Nazi Trump as dictator. See www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-salesforce-emails_n_610c3d0de4b041dfbaa71051…
(2021-08-10). Texas Supreme Court thwarts Democrat effort to overturn governor's veto that blocked legislative funding. rt.com 
The Texas Supreme Court has blocked a challenge by state Democrats seeking to overturn a move by Governor Greg Abbott that could deprive the legislature of funds for the next two years as part of a standoff over voting laws. | The all-Republican state Supreme Court The judges argued that the funding issue "continues to exist not because…
(2021-08-10). 'Democrats Should Leave the State Immediately': Texas Supreme Court OKs Lawmaker Arrests. commondreams.org Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed Republicans for complaining about Democrats' use of budget reconciliation, noting that the GOP recently used the same process to force through massive tax cuts for the rich.
(2021-08-10). "Unfit to Lead": NY State Sen. Biaggi Says Gov. Cuomo Impeachment Proceedings Should Start Now. democracynow.org 
Lawmakers in New York are preparing impeachment proceedings against Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo after the state attorney general found Cuomo harassed at least 11 women in violation of the law — including unwanted touching and kissing, and inappropriate remarks. Cuomo's former executive assistant, Brittany Commisso, has filed a criminal complaint against him, and other cases are expected to follow. "The governor is unfit to lead," says New York state Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who first called on Cuomo to resign in February. She says the damage Cuomo has inflicted goes beyond sexual harassment and inclu…
(2021-08-10). Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten on Why She Now Supports Vaccine Mandates for Teachers. democracynow.org 
We continue to look at the state of school reopenings amid a surge in COVID-19 infections among children in the U.S. with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten, who had favored voluntary vaccinations for teachers, now backs a vaccine mandate for educators because the Delta variant "significantly changes the circumstances." Weingarten notes that almost 90% of teachers represented by the American Federation of Teachers are already vaccinated, saying it's time to stop "scapegoating" teachers for the challenges in reopening schools. "The teachers in the country understand the…
(2021-08-10). Gov. Abbott Is a "Direct Threat" to the Children of Texas: Houston Doctor on Mask Bans, Kids & COVID. democracynow.org 
As the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread, many hospitals are reporting record numbers of children being hospitalized, especially in areas with low vaccination rates, including Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Texas. Dr. Christina Propst, a pediatrician in Houston, says children under 12 who are still ineligible for COVID-19 vaccines are at risk. "They are currently our most vulnerable population, just as this highly transmissible variant is surging across the country," Propst says. She says Texas Governor Greg Abbott's order banning mask mandates in schools is a purely political decision that ign…
(2021-08-10). 'New' Counter-Terror Policy In Africa Lacks Political Will To Change Course. popularresistance.org Last month the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program Act of 2021" with strong bipartisan support. Current U.S. policies have been counterproductive and a new U.S. policy is desperately needed in Africa and elsewhere in the global south. However, the proposals outlined in this bill — while welcome — risk being nothing more than a change of sentiment. | Sponsored by seven Republicans and five Democrats, H.R. 567 garnered the votes of 214 Democrats and 181 Republicans on June 29. Acknowledging the failure of U.S. counterterrorism policies in North and…
(2021-08-10). Fallacies of Political Labelism. counterpunch.org Alexander Burns is a leading political affairs analyst for the New York Times. Unfortunately, even he has accepted the ill-defined political labelism swallowed wholesale by his journalistic colleagues. Words to describe Democratic politicians as "moderate," "centrist," "center-left," "center-right," "leftist," or House Democratic Caucus Chair, Hakeem Jeffries' recent denunciatory nomenclature of "extreme left" Democratic candidates — are often recklessly bandied about.
(2021-08-10). North Korea vows to boost pre-emptive strike capability in response to 'self-destructive' US-South Korea war games. rt.com 
North Korea has pledged to improve its ability to launch "pre-emptive" strikes as joint war games kick off between Seoul and Washington, insisting the yearly drills only threaten stability and propel tensions in the region. | Kim Yo-jong, sister to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a top official in the ruling Workers Party, condemned the military drills on Tuesday, saying they demonstrate a "hostile policy" by the US and South Korea and effectively simulate an invasion of the north. She added that Pyongyang would expand its defensive capabilities in response. | "[The drills are] an unwelcome, self-destructi…
(2021-08-10). Missouri's GOP Governor Forced to Expand Medicaid Access Following Court Ruling. truthout.org 
A Missouri judge has ruled that state lawmakers, including Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Parson, can no longer deny adults who are newly eligible for Medicaid from accessing the program. | Cole County Judge Jon Beetem,
(2021-08-10). New Warren Bill Proposes Taxing Real Company Profits, Not What's Reported to IRS. truthout.org 
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a tax on corporate profits that she says could help raise hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue for the government. | The bill,
(2021-08-10). DeSantis Threatens to Withhold Pay of School Officials If They Follow CDC Rules. truthout.org 
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis's office on Monday suggested that he may take punitive action against local school district officials if they decide to move forward on requiring masks in their schools for the upcoming academic year. | A small number of school districts in the state
(2021-08-10). Jackson Browne still asking questions on Downhill from Everywhere. wsws.org Jackson Browne has released a new album written and recorded before the pandemic where he looks back on his career and asks questions about immigration, the environment, poverty, inequality and the future of democracy.
(2021-08-10). Covid Cases Spike In Martha's Vineyard, Site Of Obama Celebrity Democrat Party. moguldom.com Covid-19 cases have spiked in Martha's Vineyard as they have nationwide, but what makes this significant is that former President Barack Obama recently held a massive, star-studded 60th birthday party on the island. While party organizers say they scaled back the number of attendees, which at one point was at 700 guests, and that masks …
(2021-08-10). Popular MAGA Pastor Gets Spooky: You Don't Need Mask Or Vaccine Because You Have Jesus. moguldom.com Despite a staggering surge in covid-19 cases, a popular right-wing, MAGA pastor encouraged his in-person and television congregation not to wear masks or get vaccinated against covid-19 because they "got Jesus." In a video clip that was reposted to Twitter by Right Wing Watch, Pastor Joshua Feuerstein passionately advocates his anti-mask, anti-vaccine position. "Let me …
(2021-08-10). Democrat Playboy Cuomo Goes Down With Resignation After NY AG Letitia James Investigation. moguldom.com New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave two weeks' notice and resigned Tuesday — a decision that's expected to lead to his impeachment and conviction in the State Legislature — after the state's attorney general documented multiple accusations of him sexually harassing women. Cuomo initially ignored demands that he resign after he was hit with sexual …
(2021-08-10). Video: Prominent Pathologist: What These Jabs Do to the Brain and Other Organs. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-10). 75 Groups Ask DOJ to Oppose 'Racist' Anti-Protest Laws. commondreams.org Lessons on defending democracy.
(2021-08-10). Electric School Bus Proponents Decry Infrastructure Bill's Shortcomings. commondreams.org After the high court's ruling, Texas House Republicans approved a motion directing state law enforcement to track down quorum-breaking Democrats blocking voter suppression legislation.
(2021-08-10). "Democrats Need to Vote Like Democrats" thenation.com "Democrats Need to Vote Like Democrats"
(2021-08-10). Groups to Congress: Include $34 Billion for Global Vaccine Production in $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan. commondreams.org "The bipartisan bill will only be passed if a package of social, human, and climate infrastructure—reflecting long-standing Democratic priorities—is passed simultaneously through budget reconciliation."
(2021-08-10). Tuesday 8/10: Voting Rights Now! Democracy Can't Wait Virtual Rally & Actions. indybay.org Virtual rally and voting rights actions event…