(2022-02-28). Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Forces on High Alert as Resistance to Ukraine Invasion Grows. democracynow.org 
Following a wave of peace rallies held across the globe this weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to diplomatic talks with Russia. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin placed Russia's nuclear forces on high alert on Sunday, citing increasingly tightened international sanctions. We speak with Anatol Lieven, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, who says it's not clear whether Putin is using a nuclear threat to topple the Ukrainian government or pressure them into a deal. Lieven also speaks about Belarus's support of the Russian invasion…
(2022-02-28). Spain proposes closing ports to 'Russian oligarchs' over Ukraine. rt.com 
Russian millionaires should not enjoy prosperity brought by democracy and peace, Spanish FM says | The Spanish Foreign Minister has proposed closing European ports to Russian ships as part of sanctions punishing Moscow for its attack on Ukraine. This would make "Russian oligarchs" pay their share of the prices of Russian foreign policy, Jose Manuel Albares told Radio Nacional de Espana on Monday. | The minister was explaining the EU's use of individual sanctions against Russian citizens. The minister said he proposed to his EU counterparts "to close the ports of Europe to those yachts of millionaire oligarchs"
(2022-02-28). Activist explains why anti-war movement wants U.S. out of Ukraine. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Fight Back! News interviewed Meredith Aby-Keirstead, a founding member of the MN Anti-War Committee, on February 27 for her anti-war perspective on the crisis in the Ukraine and the proxy war developing between the U.S./NATO and Russia. | Fight Back!: Why should Americans join with the anti-war movement right now? | Meredith Aby-Keirstead: This is a critical time to stop the U.S. as it fans the flames of war. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress want to send more weapons and more military support to Ukraine, which would be like pouring gasoline on this fire. Not only would it kill any dipl…
(2022-02-28). Sanders-linked US group blasts NATO's 'imperialist expansion'. rt.com 
The Democratic Socialists of America claimed the US and NATO "set the stage for this conflict" | In a statement released on Saturday, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) blamed actions by the US and NATO for having helped to spark the Russian invasion of Ukraine, sparking condemnation from other Democrats. | "DSA reaffirms our call for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist expansionism that set the stage for this conflict," the group said in a press release. | "While the failures of neoliberal order are clear to everyone, the ruling class is trying to build a new world, through a dysto…
(2022-02-28). Everyone loses in the conflict over Ukraine. canadiandimension.com 
Firefighters inspecting the damage at a building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, February 2022. Photo courtesy Ukrainian Police Department Press Service. | When two scorpions are in a bottle, they both lose. This is the preventable danger that is growing daily, with no end game in sight between the two nuclear superpowers, led by dictator Vladimir Putin and de facto sole decider, Joe Biden. | Putin's first argument is, Washington invented the model of aggressive, illegal invasions, and destruction of distant countries that never threatened US security. Mil…
(2022-02-28). In the Footsteps of Constance Motley Brown, Supreme Court Pick Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes History. democracynow.org 
President Biden on Friday nominated federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill Justice Stephen Breyer's pending vacancy. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice. We speak with Harvard constitutional law professor Tomiko Brown-Nagin about the nomination of the 51-year-old federal judge and the parallels between her and the first Black woman federal judge and civil rights legal icon Constance Baker Motley, who was at one point eyed for a Supreme Court nomination.
(2022-02-28). Biden Believes COVID-19 Is What Stops Americans From Feeling Happy About 'Fastest Growing Economy'. sputniknews.com In just over a year in office, the president has faced many crises, both domestically and internationally. The failure of the Democratic Party to advance some of Biden's key sweeping bills on their agenda has also sown seeds of discontent even among his loyal voters.
(2022-02-28). Poll: Biden's Approval Rating Still Below 40% as Midterms Near, Raising Chances For Republicans. sputniknews.com Biden surely has a lot of problems that are keeping his approval numbers low, such as his handling of the Ukraine situation, the pandemic response, a border crisis, and low ratings for personal qualities like leadership, crisis management, and mental sharpness.
(2022-02-28). Belarusians vote for constitutional amendments. rt.com 
Election commission announced that over 65% voted in favor | In a referendum held on Sunday, Belarusian citizens have approved amendments to the constitution. The new changes could pave the way for long-standing president Alexander Lukashenko to leave office. | "65.16% of the participants of the referendum that were in the voting lists have voted in favor of accepting changes and amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus", the head of the election commission Igor Karpenko announced on Monday night. | Critics have claimed that the process was not conducted democratically. Before the vote, Wester…
(2022-02-28). South Korean presidential candidates stoke anti-Chinese sentiment. wsws.org Both of the main candidates in the March election are attempting to prepare the country for conflict while projecting social tensions outwards.
(2022-02-28). Republicans share their visions for the country at CPAC 2022. america.cgtn.com 
The biggest gathering of conservatives in the U.S. took place this weekend in Orlando, Florida. CGTN's Nitza Soledad Perez visited and got a sense of what voters and activists care about during this coming election cycle.
(2022-02-28). Over 65% of Belarusian Citizens Vote in Favor of Constitutional Amendments. sputniknews.com MINSK (Sputnik) – More than 65 percent of Belarusian citizens have voted in favor of constitutional amendments during a referendum held on Sunday, the head of the Belarusian Central Election Commission (CEC), Igor Karpenko, said.
(2022-02-28). Tomgram: Liz Theoharis, Poverty is the Sin, Not Poor People. warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Yes, there had been rich American presidents before, but never a billionaire. And it wasn't a mistake either that this country — already in a nosedive of inequality — elected Donald Trump president in 2016 (though who knows …
(2022-02-28). CPAC, America First conferences: A snapshot of the fascist transformation of the Republican Party. wsws.org Two conferences held over the weekend in Orlando, Florida—the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC)—demonstrated the fascist transformation of the Republican Party under Donald Trump.
(2022-02-28). Bill McKibben on Dire IPCC Climate Report & How Oil and Gas Are Fueling Putin's Ukraine Invasion. democracynow.org 
We speak with climate author, journalist and movement leader Bill McKibben upon the release of the highly anticipated U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2022 report, which finds the impacts of the climate crisis are already worse than predicted, driving poverty, hunger, disease and species extinction. McKibben also speaks about how global dependency on oil and gas empowers autocrats like President Vladimir Putin and is helping fuel the Russian war in Ukraine. Renewable energy could help defeat fascism and deter some of "the worst people on Earth" if deployed at scale, he says.
(2022-02-28). Tuesday 3/8: Represent Women: 2022 Solutions Summit for Building a 21st Century Democracy (Day 1). indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2022-02-28). Thursday 3/10: Represent Women: 2022 Solutions Summit for Building a 21st Century Democracy (Day 3). indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2022-02-28). War In Ukraine, The West's Propaganda War Is The End Of Democracy. southfront.org 
Tianjin explosion in China | Written by Piero Messina | Vladimir Putin has become "Putler", something halfway between Putin and Hitler. For the less aggressive, the Russian president is Vlad the Mad. "There has never been a genocide against the pro-Russian populations in Donbass. Nazi formations do not exist and have never existed in Ukraine and there has been no massacre in Odessa. Putin threatens the world and must be stopped." Western media is treating the Ukrainian crisis as if it were selling soap bars w…
(2022-02-28). Report from Kyiv: LGBTQ Activist Says Ukrainians Are United in Resisting Russian Invasion. democracynow.org 
Ukraine is demanding an immediate ceasefire and for all Russian troops to leave the country as they report more than 350 Ukrainian civilians have so far been killed in President Putin's invasion, which entered its fifth day Monday. The United Nations is also reporting more than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine and another 100,000 are internally displaced. This all comes as the Russian military has so far failed in its attempts to seize Kyiv and other large Ukrainian cites despite the capital remaining surrounded by Russian troops. We go to Kyiv to speak with Olena Shevchenko, a Ukrainian human rights and LG…
(2022-02-28). Headlines for February 28, 2022. democracynow.org Ukraine Demands Ceasefire as Casualties Mount, Ukrainian and Russian Delegations Meet in Belarus, Belarus Could Join Russian Invasion as Putin Puts Nuclear Forces on High Alert in Latest Escalation, 500,000+ Ukrainians Become Refugees as Families Torn Apart by War, International Community Send Military Assistance, Up Sanctions on Russia
| , Protests Around the World Condemn Invasion of Ukraine; Russian Police Arrest Thousands, U.S. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Accepts Historic Supreme Court Nomination, U.N. Report Warns Climate Crisis Is Driving Hunger, Poverty, Disease and Species Loss, El Salvador Ex-Presid…
(2022-02-28). Wednesday 3/9: Represent Women: 2022 Solutions Summit for Building a 21st Century Democracy (Day 2). indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2022-02-28). In mid-winter, New York politicians act to drive the homeless off the trains. wsws.org Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have initiated a police-led crackdown on the homeless in New York City subways.
(2022-02-28). 200th Anniversary of Harriet Tubman and the connections to the Negro Pioneer Gold Book. indybay.org 1849 Gold Mining Town of Negro Bar, Sacramento County has a profound connection with the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom our California State Parks Strategic Planning chooses not to consider. California State University Sacramento houses essential primary source documents as does the intersection of the California State Library and California State Archives, soon apart of the Negro Bar State Historic Park* offerings…
(2022-02-27). Putin Assures Israel's Bennett Russia Ready to Talk to Ukraine, Says Kiev Showing 'Inconsistency'. sputniknews.com Russia summoned Israel's ambassador to Moscow on Friday top ask why Tel Aviv "supports neo-Nazis" in Kiev after Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid blasted the Russian military operation in Ukraine as a 'grave violation of the international order'.
(2022-02-27). Minneapolis protest calls for U.S. de-escalation in Ukraine. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – On February 24, around 30 people demonstrated outside U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's office in downtown Minneapolis with signs and banners calling for no war with Russia and an end to U.S. intervention in Ukraine. Held less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine, the protest came amidst a jingoistic frenzy of calls by Western governments and media for actions against Russia. | Protesters emphasized the role that the U.S. and NATO played for years in escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. In 2014, the elected Ukrainian government was overth…
(2022-02-27). US sanctions on Russia over Ukraine also target Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba. multipolarista.com 
President Joe Biden's top Latin America advisor, Juan S. Gonzalez, admitted that US sanctions against Russia aim to hurt Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba as well. The three socialist governments condemned NATO aggression for creating the crisis in Ukraine.
(2022-02-27). Trump says NATO & US acted 'dumb'. rt.com 
The former president suggested the US' chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan prompted the Russian offensive in Ukraine | Former US President Donald Trump has argued that President Joe Biden and NATO had acted "dumb" compared to his "smart" one time Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and claimed Moscow's attack on Ukraine would not have happened under his presidency. | Trump made the comments during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday. Addressing his supporters, Trump noted that he was the only US president of the 21st century to not oversee Russia's military action abroad.
(2022-02-27). Woman's Quest To Safeguard Funds To Clean Up Oil And Gas Industry's Mess. popularresistance.org After the Biden administration's bipartisan infrastructure law was passed, the administration hailed the bill's $4.7 billion package to cap orphaned oil and gas wells as a move to tackle "super-polluting methane emissions," saying it will combat the climate crisis and create jobs. But it is possible that, without tight rules, these public funds could be spent in ways that contradict those goals — and go to the very entities that enabled these environmental messes in the first place. | Though the administration claims it will establish safeguards, currently there are no rules to compel state oil and gas regu…
(2022-02-27). Las sanciones de EEUU a Rusia por Ucrania apuntan a Venezuela, Nicaragua y Cuba. multipolarista.com El principal asesor para América Latina del presidente Joe Biden, Juan S. González, admitió que las sanciones de Estados Unidos contra Rusia también tienen como objetivo dañar a Venezuela, Nicaragua y Cuba. Los tres gobiernos socialistas condenaron la agresión de la OTAN por crear la crisis en Ucrania.
(2022-02-27). Biden tells to impose full blocking sanctions on Russian Direct Investment Fund. tass.com According to the official, "sanctioning this entity will further curtail [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's strategic ambitions to expand the instruments of war and repression"
(2022-02-27). LIVE: Russia – Ukraine Negotiations Have Started in Belarus. telesurenglish.net Russian Central Bank announces easing on loans to borrowers due to sanctions – Biden to discuss common response to Russian military operation in Ukraine with allies – European Union formalizes closure of its airspace to Russian airlines – Ukraine-Russia Talks To Begin on Monday Morning | Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have begun in Belarus…
(2022-02-27). Beijing Blasts US Over Ukraine Crisis, Tells Washington to 'Ask Itself' Who's to Blame for Disaster. sputniknews.com US President Joe Biden warned Thursday that any nation that doesn't condemn Moscow's military operation in Ukraine would be "stained by association." On Friday, US media reported that US officials had held six urgent meetings with senior Chinese officials to try to force Beijing to pressure Russia into changing course.
(2022-02-27). 'He Gave $417 Million. What The Hell is Going On?' Trump Urges Audit of Zuckerberg Election Funding. sputniknews.com Last October former POTUS Donald Trump insisted new analysis showed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's donation of roughly $419.5 million to election offices through a pair of nonprofits was "illegal", having purportedly boosted Democratic turnout in key areas.
(2022-02-27). Uttar Pradesh Polls: Voting Underway For Crucial Phase in BJP's Stronghold Ayodhya Temple Region. sputniknews.com India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, currently governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is having assembly polls in seven phases. The elections are seen as a litmus test for the Narendra Modi-led federal government's policies and popularity.
(2022-02-27). Why Colombia's moderates are infighting again. colombiareports.com Colombia's coalition of moderate election candidates has all but fallen apart. Social democratic candidate Jorge Robledo said he lost faith in his liberal counterpart Alejandro Gaviria on Thursday. The latest…
(2022-02-27). 'Mothers And Fathers March' Stands Behind Youth Resisting Coup. popularresistance.org On Saturday, February 26, thousands of elderly people in Sudan took part in the 'Mothers and Fathers march' to voice their support for the youth who, organized under the neighborhood Resistance Committees (RCs), continue resisting the military junta daily on the streets. The security forces attacked this demonstration, injuring at least 34 people, said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD). | At least 83 pro-democracy protesters have been killed by security forces, and more than 3,000 have been injured in the four months since the coup by army chief Abdel Fattah al Burhan on October 25, 2021. | Over 45…
(2022-02-27). Thursday 3/3: Women Who Are Powering Voting Rights & Democracy w/ LWV. indybay.org Online event…
(2022-02-27). Suicide Drone Hit Kurdish-Held Town In Northern Syria. southfront.org 
File image. | On February 27, a suicide drone targeted the town of Tell Rifaat in the northern Aleppo countryside, which is held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). | The drone hit the town's main hill, where troops from the Syrian Arab Army are allegedly deployed. No casualties or material losses were reported. The army is present in Tell Rifaat and several other SDF-held towns and villages in the northern Aleppo countryside to deter the Turkish military and its proxies. Several units of the Russian…
(2022-02-27). Germany to hike defense spending, buy new weapons. rt.com 
Berlin has until now avoided rebuilding its armed forces | German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that he'll invest –Ñ100 billion ($113 billion) in weaponry and hike defense spending to 2% of GDP, in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Successive German governments have resisted investing in the country's military, at times angering the US. | "It's clear we need to invest significantly more in the security of our country, in order to protect our freedom and our democracy," the left-wing leader told a special sitting of the Bundestag (the German Parliament). Promising to reverse decades…
(2022-02-27). Peruvian President Calls to Activate OAS Democratic Charter. telesurenglish.net This Saturday, the President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, demanded through his Twitter account that the Inter-American Democratic Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) be activated in view of the risk of a coup d'état against the "Government of the People". | RELATED: | Castillo's statements come after businesswoman Karelim Lopez, who is currently under investigation for participating in alleged acts of corruption, pointe…
(2022-02-27). US Condemns Pyongyang's Latest Missile Launch. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States condemns North Korea's ballistic missile test carried out on Sunday, the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said.
(2022-02-27). Corea del Norte lanza misil balístico hacia el mar del Este. telesurtv.net El Estado Mayor Conjunto surcoreano anunció que detectó el lanzamiento desde el área de Sunan, en Pyongyang, en torno a las 07H52.
(2022-02-27). North Korea weighs in on Ukraine. rt.com 
Pyongyang accused Washington of pursuing "military supremacy" at the expense of Moscow's "legitimate" security demands | North Korea's Foreign Ministry has defended Russia and fingered the behavior of the US as the "root cause" of the conflict in Ukraine, in its first official response to Moscow's ongoing military offensive. | "The root cause of the Ukrainian crisis also lies in the high-handedness and arbitrariness of the US," a commentary posted to North Korea's Foreign Ministry website on Saturday reads. | The statement argues that Washington has pursued "military supremacy in disregard of the legitimate de…