October 31, 2019

Jeffrey Epstein’s death looks like a murder, says forensic pathologist, based on bone fractures. “‘…the two guards who were supposed to be working in that area of the prison had allegedly fallen asleep and hadn’t made their 30-minute rounds for more than three hours,’ (Michael Baden) said. Security cameras that were supposed to be recording the cell and the hallway outside, to see who went in and out, both apparently malfunctioned.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12281052

Fox Business host blames environmentalists for California wildfires, defends power company whose power lines and management practices have generally been blamed. “They’re not allowed to clear dead trees near their power lines…. The ‘greens’ insist on minimal forest management. PG&E is forced to spend billions buying expensive wind and solar power … an extra $2.2 billion each and every year — money that cannot be spent on fireproofing,” (Stuart) Varney said…. “…the problem… is California’s far-left climate change politics.” https://www.foxnews.com/media/varney-blames-california-wildfires-far-left-political-climate This would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

Barack Obama chides people who are overly critical of political leaders. “This idea of purity, and you’re never compromised, and you’re always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/clarissajanlim/obama-call-out-culture-yara-shahidi So we sold you out with free trade deals that moved your jobs overseas, militarized the police and secretly spied on you. So we invaded a few countries, tortured a few people, killed a few thousand civilians and spent a few trillion dollars propping up corrupt regimes and enriching military contractors. And adopted policies that favored the wealthy and the business community instead of the public. And undermined your constitutional rights. No one is freaking perfect, you politically correct losers! What do you want? National health insurance? Peace? Humane law enforcement? Clean energy? Money out of politics? Better working conditions and pay? In your twisted little fantasy worlds!

As predicted, more corrected details emerge on al-Baghdadi raid. “Baghdadi ‘may have fired from his hole in his last moments’ before killing himself… Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said in a Pentagon briefing…. McKenzie said U.S. forces now know for certain that there were two children with Baghdadi ‘under the age of 12’…. The dog was thought to have been injured in the collapse of the tunnel. But McKenzie said the dog’s injuries resulted from coming in contact with live electrical wires.” https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/30/baghdadi-may-have-fired-back-us-troops-exploding-suicide-vest-centcom-commander.html Trump says there was a military robot available to send after IS leader, because they were worried al-Baghdadi might be wearing an explosive vest. “When a reporter later asked Trump if the robot followed the ISIS leader into the tunnel where he eventually killed himself, Trump responded that ‘the robot was set to but we didn’t hook it up because we were too — they were moving too fast’.” https://futurism.com/trump-troops-robot-kill-isis-leader Al-Baghdadi reportedly betrayed by one of his own officials, who was secretly working with Kurdish leftists. “He was, you could say, a security official,” (commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Gen. Mazloum Abdi) said. “A personal security official for al-Baghdadi himself, in charge of al-Baghdadi’s movements.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/islamic-state-spy-who-betrayed-baghdadi-was-motivated-revenge-n1074206

Security guard claims he saw police officer suspected of involvement in the murder of a leftist politician arrive at Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s gated community. “The report alleged the suspected killers of Marielle Franco… gunned down in March 2018 – had met at Bolsonaro’s seaside compound in Rio de Janeiro in the hours before her murder.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/30/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-marielle-franco-murder-suspects

Many Chilean protesters have reportedly been injured by police anti-riot weapons. “More than 140 people have suffered eye injuries since protests started Oct. 18, human-rights advocates say. At least 26 have completely lost vision in one eye, according to the Salvador Hospital ophthalmology unit in Santiago, and many others still are being treated.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-30/dozens-blinded-by-chile-police-in-violent-crackdown-on-protests

Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again. “…consumers are now spending less than before, just as manufacturing continues to contract and investment spending by businesses continues to decline.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/30/economy/federal-reserve-rate-decision-october/index.html You could always boost demand by creating a national health insurance program, which would save people thousands of dollars a year that they could then spend on other things. Or maybe reparations for indigenous and African Americans? Or you could do what George W. Bush did, and send every taxpayer a check for $100. Or you could spend some money on public works or renewable energy infrastructure.

Ford and auto workers union reach a tentative deal, avoiding a costly strike. “The four-year deal includes $6 billion in new investments from Ford and the creation or retention of 8,500 U.S. jobs, according to the union.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/30/ford-reaches-tentative-labor-contract-with-uaw-avoids-union-strike.html Sounds like Ford is going to be spending a lot of money on automation. $6 billion is only going to create 8,500 jobs?

YouTuber’s Team Trees project has received enough pledges so far to pay for 10 million trees to be planted around the world. “Team Trees is working with the Arbor Day Foundation, because it is the longest-running NGO working on this matter, with 47 years of experience. All donations go to the Arbor Day Foundation and funds will go toward tree planting.” https://cleantechnica.com/2019/10/30/elon-musk-is-now-treelon/

Keystone pipeline spills oil in North Dakota, amount of oil leaked has not been determined. “State Environmental Quality Chief Dave Glatt told The Associated Press that regulators were notified late Tuesday night of the leak near Edinburg, in Walsh County.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/keystone-pipeline-leaks-unknown-amount-of-oil-north-dakota-today-2019-10-30/

Facebook agrees to pay U.K. regulator $643,000 to settle Cambridge Analytica’s misuse of Facebook users’ data. “In its investigation, the ICO found that Facebook breached data protection laws by failing to keep users’ personal information secure, allowing Cambridge Analytica to harvest the data of up to 87 million people without their consent worldwide.” https://www.npr.org/2019/10/30/774749376/facebook-pays-643-000-fine-for-role-in-cambridge-analytica-scandal

Michael Moore calls for boycott of automakers siding with Trump administration in opposing allowing states to set stricter emissions rules. “(General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota) filed papers in federal court this week seeking to join a lawsuit that the Trump administration is bringing against California over whether the state can set auto emission rules for itself and (the) 13 other states (which follow California’s lead,) that would be the strictest in the country.” https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/10/30/michael-moore-calls-for-boycott-of-gm-chrysler-toyota-over-trump-emissions-rules/ I’m probably going to get flak for citing a Breitbart article, but that’s what the search engine pulled up and the article seems fairly objective.

42,700 people are now suing Bayer over its glyphosate-based weedkillers, which include Roundup. “Analysts said the (company’s approximately 30%) knocked-down share price reflects market expectations for the lawsuits to eventually cost as much as $20 billion.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bayer-results/bayer-says-us-glyphosate-plaintiffs-more-than-double-since-july-idUSKBN1X90K1

Kurdish leftists decline Syrian government’s offer to merge their forces. “(The SDF) said, ‘a unity of ranks must proceed from a political settlement that recognises and preserves the SDF’s special status and structure’.” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/kurdish-force-rejects-call-to-join-syrian-army-and-fight-one-enemy-turkey

Human Rights Watch accuses CIA-directed Afghan special forces of war crimes. “In case after case, these forces have simply shot people in their custody and consigned entire communities to the terror of abusive night raids and indiscriminate airstrikes.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/cia-backed-afghan-forces-possibly-committing-war-crimes-hrw-191030185021910.html

CIA-directed Afghan special forces accused of murdering aid workers. “In one of the most egregious (incidents), soldiers believed by NGO staff to belong to (Special Unit) 01 raided a clinic in Wardak’s Tangi Saidan…, forcing their way into the clinic and shooting a person accompanying a patient. Four others were taken outside and three, including two SCA employees, were executed…” https://theintercept.com/2019/10/30/afghanistan-health-clinics-airstrikes-taliban/

Myanmar comedy troupe that made fun of the military sentenced to 1 year of hard labor. “The five were arrested after taking part in Thangyat, a centuries-old tradition during Myanmar’s new year water festival in April. It pokes fun at the flaws and foibles of the social and political system.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-performers/myanmar-court-jails-satirical-performers-idUSKBN1X91K3

Son of Weather Underground members is running for San Francisco district attorney. “(Chesa Boudin) is the child of Weather Underground activists Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, who were imprisoned when Boudin was still a toddler. Gilbert remains in prison.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/10/30/chesa_boudin_san_francisco_district_attorney

PBS documentary Decade of Fire examines wave of fires in the Bronx in the 1970s. “Eighty percent of our housing stock was destroyed. And we also experienced 40 fires, on average, a day and night.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/10/30/decade_of_fire_film_1970s_bronx

Young climate activists occupy Nancy Pelosi’s D.C. office. “After taking over Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) office earlier in the day, the climate activists from the Sunrise Movement proceeded to Pelosi’s office where they displayed signs reading ‘What Is Your Plan?’ and sang ‘Which Side Are You On?’” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/30/step-or-step-aside-california-engulfed-flames-climate-activists-occupy-nancy-pelosis

House farmworker bill would provide path to citizenship. “The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is the result of months of negotiations between the agricultural industry representatives and labor groups who sought to modernize the H-2 guest worker program and ensure fair wages and safe working conditions.” https://www.courthousenews.com/bipartisan-bill-with-pathway-to-citizenship-for-farmworkers-introduced/

Oklahoma to allow its residents to carry concealed weapons in public without a license. “(The new law) will allow Oklahomans older than 21 years to carry openly or concealed without a permit or training. Military members over the age of 18 years are included, as well.” https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-refuses-request-to-halt-oklahoma-constitutional-carry-law/

>>> Progressive News Service does not receive any funding from the ads which appear on this website, nor does it have any control over which ads appear. These are ads placed by WordPress for the financial benefit of WordPress. <<<

October 30, 2019

Federal judge blocks Alabama law that outlaws abortions starting from conception, threatens doctors with up to 99 years in prison for performing them. “(Alabama’s law) made abortion illegal from conception, except when the mother’s health is in serious danger or the fetus is not viable, …with no exceptions for rape or incest…” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/alabama-abortion-ban-blocked-strict-laws-status.html

Federal judge dismisses Antwon Rose wrongful death lawsuit against East Pittsburgh police officer and county government, was killed while fleeing a traffic stop. “Rose was unarmed when he was shot in his face, right arm and the middle of his back, according to the criminal complaint.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/29/us/antwon-rose-wrongful-death-case-dismissed/index.html The police officer, Michael Rosfeld, was found not guilty in a previous criminal trial. “Antwon Rose was shot in his back. … He was unarmed, and he did not pose a threat to the officer or to the community, and the verdict today says that is OK, that is acceptable behavior from a police officer.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/23/us/antwon-rose-officer-acquittal-response/index.html East Pittsburgh has reportedly reached a settlement with Antwon’s family. “The law firms who represented the teenager’s parents will receive $400,000 each as well as reimbursement costs, while the remaining $1.1 million will go to Antwon’s estate, the Post-Gazette reported.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/paper-family-suit-police-shooting-222720534.html

Georgia to notify 315,000 inactive voters that they need to respond to stay registered for the 2020 election. “People have 30 days to return the notice.” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/georgia-plans-remove-over-300-000-inactive-voters-its-rolls-n1073626

Man trolls Facebook by registering to run for governor of California, and then attempting to run false ads. “(Adriel) Hampton had pulled the stunt with the hope of forcing the company to change its policy and stop allowing politicians to run false ads…. ‘I believe that Facebook has the power to shift elections.'” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/29/tech/facebook-california-candidate-false-ads/ Under Facebook’s current policy, Adolph Hitler would have been allowed to run ads accusing Jews of ‘stabbing Germany in the back’ during the First World War. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda

North Carolina court rules that Republican-drawn U.S. congressional election districts are probably unconstitutional, on multiple grounds. “This skewed map, the court ruled, ran afoul of the North Carolina Constitution’s free elections clause by seeking to ‘dilute and devalue votes of some citizens compared to others’. It also infringed upon the state constitution’s equal protection clause, which protects citizens’ ‘right to vote on equal terms’.” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/north-carolina-court-kills-republican-gerrymander.html

Pennsylvania judge rules that cities in that state are prohibited from passing their own firearms laws, striking down Pittsburgh ordinances. “The three (laws) restrict the use of assault weapons, extended magazines and armor-piercing ammunition in public places within the city of Pittsburgh, and allow courts to temporarily take guns away from individuals deemed to pose a significant danger to themselves or others.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/29/us/pittsburgh-assault-weapons-tree-of-life-synagogue/

Britain to hold general election, hoping to break Brexit deadlock. “Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who originally opposed a snap election, said that his party dropped its opposition after a ‘no-deal’ Brexit — essentially leaving the EU without conditions — was taken off the table.” https://www.npr.org/2019/10/29/774573501/britain-braces-for-new-vote-in-december-that-could-ease-the-path-to-brexit

Hundreds of millions of people to lose their homes due to climate change. “New research suggests that 300 million homes will be affected by coastal flooding in the next 30 years.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rising-sea-levels-on-track-to-destroy-homes-of-300-million-people-by-2050/

Chicago police claim they have no idea how often they raid the wrong homes. “The CBS Chicago investigation found over 11,000 search warrants were approved by the state attorney’s office since 2016. But police are not keeping track of how many times their department gets it wrong.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-police-raided-these-childrens-homes-but-they-had-the-wrong-address-2019-10-29/ Eight year-old handcuffed by Chicago cops during raid on home that was conducted to search a visitor, no violations were discovered. “The video the police department released doesn’t include the first 20 minutes of the raid, when the Wilson family said they were ordered out of their home gunpoint…. ‘They’re hiding that they put rifles to me and my children’s heads,’ Domonique (Wilson) said.” https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/10/28/body-camera-video-8-year-old-boy-handcuffed-wrong-raid-royal-wilson/

House of Representatives votes in favor of condemning genocide committed against Armenians living in Turkey. “Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered. This was a genocide — and it’s important that we call this crime what it was.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/llhan-omar-armenian-genocide-bill-congress-acknowledge-other-mass-slaughters Ilhan Omar votes ‘present’, questions whether there is an academic consensus that the mass murder of Armenians actually occurred.

Boeing CEO grilled by U.S. senators. “Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Boeing executives came to his office after the crashes and said they were the result of ‘pilot error’. Blumenthal called the crashes ‘the result of a pattern of deliberate concealment’ by Boeing.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/29/boeing-tells-lawmakers-that-safety-assessments-of-737-max-fell-short.html

In extremely rare move, Navy’s top admiral spares SEAL a reduction in rank to seaman recruit for his ‘trophy’ photo with body of dead prisoner. “(Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher’s) lawyers said that retiring from the Navy at that rank could have cost him nearly $1 million in retirement pay, compared with what he would have expected to receive after retiring as a chief.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/navy-seal-gallagher-clemency.html

Bill to sanction Turkey for invasion of Syria easily passes U.S. House with bipartisan support. “…lawmakers approved the Syria sanctions by a lopsided 403-16. Republicans supported the measure by a 12-to-1 margin, joining virtually all Democrats.” https://time.com/5713595/house-turkey-syria-incursion/

Some Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters are comparing their struggle to the movie Joker. “The movie is about a minority in society constantly being ignored by those who hold the resources,” (Deacon Lui) told CNN. “They do not have the proper way to express their anger or such negative emotions … I think it’s out of desperation that (the Joker) went crazy and chose to rebel.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/29/asia/hong-kong-protests-joker-intl-hnk-scli/index.html This is what happens when there is no peaceful path to change, or when a push for change is repressed by the authorities. Instead of a moderate, democratic and accountable opposition that can peacefully and successfully operate within the political system, you have street violence, charismatic leaders, desperation and extremism.

‘Pay day lenders’ reportedly backing Trump campaign. “The Sept. 24 webinar sponsored by Borrow Smart Compliance, an industry consultant, gives surprisingly frank insight into the payday lending industry’s strategy to push for weaker government regulations by forging a tight relationship with the Trump administration and the president’s campaign.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/29/payday-lenders-discussed-raising-money-trumps-campaign-fend-off-regulation-audio-reveals/

Facebook sues cyber-spying firm for allegedly hacking WhatsApp. “…the suit alleges that from January 2018 to May 2019, NSO created bogus WhatsApp accounts using phone numbers from different countries…. the suit additionally claimed, NSO used those accounts to place calls that deployed malware to ‘attorneys, journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, diplomats, and other senior foreign government officials’ via… remote servers.” https://gizmodo.com/facebook-sues-shadowy-israeli-cyberweapons-firm-nso-gro-1839456470

App-based firms to sponsor California ballot measure that would reclassify their gig employees as ‘independent contractors’. “The proposal, which Uber, Lyft and DoorDash intend to qualify for the statewide ballot next November, states that an ‘app-based driver is an independent contractor’ as long as a series of conditions are met by a company.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/uber-lyft-doordash-fight-california-labor-law-ab5 Good luck with that! How out of touch with the public can they be?

Chairman of New York state’s Democratic Party proposes raising the number of signatures that parties besides the Democrats and Republicans need to gather for the privilege of appearing on the ballot. “(Jay) Jacobs, in a private email to a group of state commissioners reviewing parts of New York election law, proposed raising the number to roughly 250,000.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/nyregion/election-third-party-ny.html When Russian candidates are kept off the ballot because they can’t collect enough signatures, it’s a scandal. But when it happens in the U.S. it’s considered normal.

Turkish and Syrian armies clash. “The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that ‘heavy fighting erupted for the first time between the Syrian and Turkish armies’, adding that six Syrian soldiers were killed near the key border town of Ras al-Ain.” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/syrian-and-turkish-forces-involved-in-deadly-border-clash-as-kurds-withdraw

Democratic Party ‘centrists’ losing their grip on power, claims writer. “Even if they didn’t start the war on terror or the war on the poor, they utterly failed to stop them. The time has come to pay up for those mistakes…. Those who view socialism as an awful fate are searching in every phone booth for a capitalist Superman to renew the tastefulness of the White House while also calming down the unnerving calls for the sort of equality that can cost a lot of money.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/30/democratic-party-2020-centrist-candidate Never underestimate the power of big money. I’m sure there’s a training camp out there somewhere for attractive, Ivy League graduates, grooming the next Bill Clinton or Barack Obama or Pete Buttigieg.

Witness to phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian leader claims there are gaps in the published transcript. “…three sources familiar with Alexander Vindman’s testimony on Tuesday… said the omissions included Donald Trump making reference to recordings of the former vice-president Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskiy making reference to Burisma, the company for which Biden’s son Hunter worked.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/29/army-officer-alexander-vindman-impeachment-testimony-republicans-quandary

Former California governor Jerry Brown unhappy about Trump administration’s attempt to roll back automobile efficiency standards. “This is not about me. I’m older than all of you guys, I’ll be dead. But your kids are going to be alive and they’re going to face a terrible future. And if you don’t face the reality and do something about it, you are complicit.” https://www.courthousenews.com/ex-california-governor-warns-congress-of-terrible-future-for-earth/

Federal court tells family whose home was destroyed by police that they have no right to compensation. “On June 3, 2015, the Greenwood Village Police Department responded to a call of a man shoplifting two belts and a shirt from an area Walmart. The suspect, Jonathan Seacat, shot at police as he fled and then randomly picked the home of Leo and Alfonsia Lech to hide (in).” https://www.courthousenews.com/no-relief-for-family-whose-home-was-destroyed-in-police-raid/

American students under-performing on skills tests. “Nationwide, a little more than one-third of eighth-graders are proficient in reading and math. About a one-third of fourth-graders are proficient in reading, while more than 40% of fourth-graders are proficient in math.” https://www.courthousenews.com/student-performance-lags-on-nations-report-card/

October 29, 2019

New York City reportedly exporting its homeless and providing them with one year’s rent – in other cities. “City taxpayers have spent $89 million on rent alone since the program’s August 2017 inception to export 5,074 homeless families — 12,482 individuals — to places as close as Newark and as far as the South Pacific, according to Department of Homeless Services data obtained by The (New York) Post.” https://nypost.com/2019/10/26/nyc-homeless-initiative-sends-people-across-us-without-telling-receiving-cities/

Gradual hike in New York state’s minimum wage to $15/hour has not had an adverse impact on restaurant industry so far, according to report. “The New York State minimum wage rose in phases from $7.25 an hour at the end of 2013 to $13.50 during 2018. During this period, New York City has seen a strong economic expansion of the restaurant industry, outpacing national growth in employment, annual wages, and the number of both limited- and full-service restaurant establishments.” http://www.centernyc.org/new-york-citys-15-minimum-wage

Investment fund manager claims Federal Reserve has created a huge economic bubble that will cause economic devastation when it pops. “It’s (Quantitative Easing) on steroids,” (Michael Pento) said. “Everybody knows that this QE is permanent just like any banana republic would do, or has done.” https://www.marketwatch.com/story/qe-on-steroids-could-lead-to-a-depression-warns-money-manager-who-compares-the-us-to-a-banana-republic-2019-10-28

New York City police officer hit in the head with a chair is released from the hospital, the man he shot is still dead. “The nail salon encounter was the fourth fatal NYPD-involved shooting in less than two weeks.” https://patch.com/new-york/brownsville/cop-injured-brownsville-shooting-released-hospital

Democratic Party insiders and elected officials whose voting power is greatly magnified, known as super-delegates, may get to chose the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, again. “If the nomination is contested at the convention, their ballots could become critical. Superdelegates are (now only) allowed to vote on the second (or subsequent ballots) at a contested national convention.” https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/28/democrats-2020-long-primary-057751

Journalist arrested, accused of assaulting anti-Maduro protesters outside Venezuela’s D.C. embassy almost six months ago. “This charge is a 100 percent false, fabricated, bogus, untrue, and malicious lie,” (Max) Blumenthal declared. “It is clearly part of a campaign of political persecution designed to silence me and the The Grayzone for our factual journalism exposing the deceptions, corruption and violence of the far-right Venezuelan opposition.” https://thegrayzone.com/2019/10/28/this-charge-is-one-hundred-percent-false-grayzone-editor-max-blumenthal-arrested-months-after-reporting-on-venezuelan-opposition-violence/

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist blocked from running for office. “The government cited statements by (Joshua) Wong’s political organization that the future of Hong Kong should be determined by its people, and independence is a possible option. An official said those statements were incompatible with the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, which states that the semi-autonomous city is part of China.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/world/asia/joshua-wong-hong-kong-protests.html

18 reportedly killed, 800 wounded by Iraqi police gunfire in Karbala. “Security officials said Tuesday’s attack happened in Karbala’s Education Square… where protesters had set up tents for their sit-in.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/karbala-iraq-reports-protesters-shot-dead-holy-city-disputed-today-2019-10-29/

U.S. intelligence reveals Turkish military build-up on Syrian border, indicating possibility of plans for an ethnic cleansing campaign. “Turkey and its allies are deploying larger forces and bringing more significant weapons to the field than would be necessary to complete their publicly-stated mission.” https://time.com/5711596/syria-war-crimes/

President Trump’s plan to ‘keep’ Syria’s oil fields is a violation of international law. “Pillaging is illegal under international law, explicitly prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which the U.S. ratified as a treaty in 1955.” https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/keeping-oil-syria-trump-considered-war-crime/story?id=66589757

Australian government agency sues Google, alleging the company misled Android users about personal data collection. “Google’s conduct caused users to understand that personal data about their location was not being obtained … by Google when in fact personal data was being obtained.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-google-regulator/australian-regulator-files-lawsuit-against-google-for-data-collection-idUSKBN1X804X

Defense Department to buy 478 more F-35 fighters at more than $71 million apiece. “The latest agreement brings to about 978 the number of U.S. and allied jets on contract out of a planned total of at least 3,100.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/lockheed-to-get-dollar34-billion-for-f-35-as-pentagon-announces-award/ar-AAJuaZH Germany had the best tanks in the world during WWII, but they lost the war. The U.S. and Russia built tens of thousands of cheap tanks, instead of a few thousand really expensive ones.

Humanity faced extinction in 1962, according to CIA analyst turned peace activist. “…Soviet submarine B-59 (was) readying a 10-kiloton nuclear torpedo to fire at the USS Randolph task force near Cuba without the required authorization from Moscow. Communications links with naval headquarters were down, and (Navy Captain) Arkhipov’s colleagues were convinced WWIII had already begun…. On that same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended an all-out invasion of Cuba to destroy the newly emplaced Soviet missile bases there…. US intelligence (did not) know that the Russians had already mounted nuclear warheads on some of the missiles installed in Cuba…” https://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2019/10/28/thanks-to-a-soviet-navy-captain-we-survived-1962/

Villagers say civilians killed during attack on al-Baghdadi’s hideout. “Residents (of Barisha) told NHK that two civilians in the van were killed and another was seriously injured.” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191028_07/

Centrist Democrats reportedly pressuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to block President Trump’s new NAFTA deal. “Pelosi’s office said the speaker did not intend to allow the trade agreement to move forward without addressing concerns from environmental, labor, and patients’ rights groups.” https://theintercept.com/2019/10/29/usmca-deal-cheri-bustos-dccc/ “The pact, which took effect on Jan. 1, 1994, created the world’s largest free-trade zone…. Its passage marked one of (Bill) Clinton’s first major legislative victories — although in both the Senate and the House more Republicans than Democrats voted for passage.” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/08/clinton-signs-nafta-into-law-dec-8-1993-1040789

Germany charges former Syrian security officers with crimes against humanity. “Substantial evidence against the men was gathered as a result of the exhibition of so-called Caesar photographs in the UN headquarters in New York in March 2015, which depicted the corpses of thousands of torture victims alongside personal testimonies.” https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/oct/29/germany-charges-two-syrians-with-crimes-against-humanity

Facebook employees speak out against allowing politicians to run deceptive ads. “Free speech and paid speech are not the same thing.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/28/hundreds-facebook-employees-ceo-zuckerberg-free-speech-and-paid-speech-are-not-same

President Trump announces plan to put even more military equipment into the hands of police officers. “To help keep you safe, I’ve made $600 million-worth of surplus military equipment available to local law enforcement,” Trump told the audience of police chiefs. “If you remember, the previous administration didn’t want to do that…” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/28/call-it-surge-vowing-nationwide-crackdown-trump-touts-tougher-and-more-militarized

Millennials and Generation Z are up for socialism. “A survey released Monday revealed that 70 percent of U.S. millennials—those between the ages of 23 and 38 in 2019—would support a socialist candidate for president, a result which a number of progressives viewed as an outgrowth of the damage wrought in recent decades by neoliberal capitalism…” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/28/poll-sponsored-anti-communists-discovers-70-us-millennials-ready-ditch-capitalism

October 28, 2019

President Trump’s account of al-Baghdadi raid differs wildly from that given previously by Pentagon sources, which had claimed no children were killed and Baghdadi’s two wives blew themselves up with suicide vests. “Baghdadi died after running into a dead-end tunnel with three of his children, ‘whimpering and crying and screaming all the way’, said Trump. He detonated a suicide vest, bringing the tunnel down around him and killing himself and the three children…. Trump said that two of Baghdadi’s wives were killed. They were wearing suicide vests, which were never detonated.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/oct/27/abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-islamic-state-leader-trump-syria?page=with:block-5db5a6568f08142786c515e9#block-5db5a6568f08142786c515e9 I’m sure more details will dribble out over the years, as they did after the assassination raid on Osama bin Laden. Who tries to escape through a dead-end tunnel? Was the complex really obliterated after the raid?

Progressive Michigan congressman who represented his Detroit-area district for 53 years, John Conyers, Jr., dies at 90. “Conyers was the longest-serving African American lawmaker in congressional history, a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus and a fierce champion for civil rights.” https://www.npr.org/2019/10/27/773919009/john-conyers-jr-who-represented-michigan-for-5-decades-dies-at-90

Democratic congresswoman from California, Katie Hill, resigns amid sex scandal. “…the House Committee on Ethics announced Wednesday it was opening an investigation into allegations Hill engaged in an improper relationship with a congressional staffer in possible violation of House rules which were changed last year to ban relationships between members and their staff…. a conservative blog released intimate photos of Hill, alleging she and her husband had a separate relationship with an unnamed female campaign staffer.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/27/politics/katie-hill-announces-resignation/index.html I don’t see ‘Teflon Don’, a.k.a. President Trump, resigning, after multiple, credible accusations of sexual assault and infidelity.

Argentina’s voters fire president blamed for neo-liberal austerity measures. “Opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez swept Argentina’s presidential election on Sunday, ousting pro-market incumbent Mauricio Macri and tilting the nation back toward left-wing populism at a time of economic crisis.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-28/fernandez-wins-in-argentina-as-voters-rebuff-macri-s-austerity

Trump suggests having an American oil company operate Syrian oil fields. ““What I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an ExxonMobil or one of our great companies to go in there and do it properly…” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-baghdadi-oil/trump-suggestion-of-taking-syrian-oil-draws-rebukes-idUSKBN1X60RM And what does Syria have to say about this?

Financial experts express concern over huge Federal Reserve cash injections into financial markets, some calling it ‘stealth intervention’ to keep interest rates low. “I’ll go out on a limb here,” said (market strategist Sven) Heinreich, “but a financial system that requires over $100B of liquidity injections every day, temporary, permanent or otherwise, has major issues.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/27/what-fed-not-telling-us-fears-economic-instability-after-central-bank-intervention

Democratic presidential candidates propose criminal justice reforms at Justice Forum. “‘The primary goal of a criminal justice system should not be punishment, but whenever possible, rehabilitation,’ Mr. Sanders said.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/us/criminal-justice-democrats-south-carolina.html

Oklahoma district attorney accused of ordering illegal investigation into activist group. “In the claim, (county investigator William) Muller alleges that (David) Prater targeted the group Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform because of his opposition to its proposals.” https://www.courthousenews.com/ex-worker-says-oklahoma-prosecutor-ordered-illegal-probe/

Kansas Supreme Court rules that state law criminalizing ‘reckless threats’ is unconstitutional. “The justices said that part of the (2010 Kansas) law is so broad that it might apply to the speech of political protesters, violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution…. the state still can prosecute people who intentionally threaten (others with) violence.” https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/10/25/us/ap-us-kansas-criminal-threat-law.html

October 27, 2019

Video shows San Bernardino police officer shooting unarmed suspect with his hands up. “The shooting of Richard John Sanchez on September 28, 2018, occurred after a member of his family called 911 to report Sanchez was threatening family members with a gun.” https://laist.com/2019/10/25/san-bernardino-police-shooting-richard-sanchez-officer-disciplined.php

Complaint alleges multi-million dollar government contract was awarded to a company that President Trump’s brother has a financial interest in. “(U.S. Marshals spokesman Drew) Wade added that the Marshals Service had no knowledge of the allegations that a member of the president’s family has a financial interest in CertiPath or that a complaint has been made to the inspector general.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/company-with-ties-to-trumps-brother-robert-awarded-33-million-government-contract/2019/10/26/f67164d2-f688-11e9-829d-87b12c2f85dd_story.html

‘Far left radicals’ in Congress are fighting to take the country back to where it was under Republican presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, suggests author. “After the creation of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965, the rate of uninsured Americans plummeted below 15 percent. Unsatisfied with the existence of any American without access to quality health care, President Richard Nixon — not exactly Eugene Debs — proposed a universal health care program… offering a buy-in rate closely connected to personal income…. It was not until the 1980s that college tuition began its upward trajectory toward rates of highway robbery.” https://www.salon.com/2019/10/26/the-conservatism-of-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-and-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/ Richard Nixon’s universal health care plan was basically Obamacare with Medicare expansion, so the author is overstating his case a little.

Secretary of Education fined $100,000 by federal judge for failing to end student loan collection efforts against former students of bankrupt Corinthian Colleges. “A report the department filed last month to show its compliance with the judge’s order to cease the debt collections instead explained that the department seized tax refunds and wages from at least 1,808 people.” https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-25/betsy-devos-contempt-corinthian-student-loans

Most white Americans oppose paying reparations over slavery, while most African Americans are in favor. “Support for reparations was largely split along racial lines, as 74 percent of black respondents support them compared to 15 percent of white respondents…. 35 percent of white, 77 percent of black and 64 percent of Hispanic respondents believe there should be an apology.” https://thehill.com/policy/finance/467451-most-oppose-reparations-for-slavery-poll Come on white Americans, not even an apology? That’s a symptom of a country in denial. “Raised welts and strafe marks crisscrossed his back. The marks extended from his buttocks to his shoulders, calling to mind the viciousness and power with which he had been beaten. It was a hideous constellation of scars: visual proof of the brutality of slavery.” https://www.history.com/news/whipped-peter-slavery-photo-scourged-back-real-story-civil-war

Military claims IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up during U.S. raid in Syria. “According to Pentagon sources, no children were harmed in the raid but two Baghdadi wives were killed after detonating their own explosive vests.” https://www.newsweek.com/trump-approves-special-ops-raid-targeting-isis-leader-baghdadi-1467982

Death toll in latest wave of Iraq anti-government protests rises to 63. “The spontaneous, leaderless protests are directed at the political establishment that came to power after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which many blame for spiraling corruption and poor public services.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-death-toll-climbs-in-second-day-of-protests-2019-10-26/

New Hong Kong law makes it illegal to post photos of police officers or publish their personal details. “Hong Kong’s police have already faced criticism for hiding their identities during clashes (with protesters) by removing warrant card numbers from their uniforms, as well as using face masks and shining bright (flashlights) at reporters.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/26/hong-kong-bans-publication-of-police-personal-details-including-photos

Report reveals details of FBI investigations of advocacy and protest groups. “These FBI documents show two things: First, that the FBI used its counter-terrorism authority to monitor the Occupy movement. Second, they prove the FBI unquestionably knew the Occupy movement was nonviolent. What then justified a counter-terrorism investigation? The FBI expressed concern that hypothetical individuals with ‘violent tendencies’ could join the movement. Additionally, the FBI claimed it was concerned that the social movement against economic inequality could be an ‘an outlet for a lone offender exploiting the movement for reasons associated with general government dissatisfaction’. It’s important to note how insidious this logic is. Hypothetical individuals with violent tendencies could attend any public event or link up with any group.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z-i_XCoZub8ISKEe5DzjoMh0bPS5u1Xm/view

Secret U.S. drone surveillance reportedly targeted Kurdish leftists in northern Iraq on behalf of Turkey. “What little public information exists on Nomad Shadow shows that it was created in 2007 using MQ-1 Predator drones based in Iraq to assist Turkey in preparing for an invasion into Iraq to suppress the powerful Kurdish separatist movement known as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).” https://truthout.org/articles/us-drone-program-may-have-helped-turkey-kill-kurds-for-over-a-decade/

No one knows how many protesters have been injured by Chilean security forces during massive protests. “From the first moment, the hospital directors refused to provide information. Our [medical] colleagues have, in part, been intimidated not to provide information,” said Izkia Siches, president of the Chilean Medical Association. “There is a substantial under-reporting of the injured…” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/27/chile-hundreds-shot-and-beaten-street-protests

11 year-old elementary school student taken down by Farmington, New Mexico school resource officer after she’s accused of misbehaving in the cafeteria, leaving school without permission. “…she went straight to the cafeteria, she took more milks than she was supposed to, she threw a milk on the ground. I mean, they try to say something, she just walks off.” https://www.fox7austin.com/news/new-mexico-officer-resigns-after-excessive-force-on-11-year-old-girl-who-allegedly-took-too-much-milk You can watch some of the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84pNRJjifs

Parents, teachers and staff protesting school closures claim Oakland police used excessive force against them at school board meeting. “Video quickly emerged after the meeting showing police pushing and striking protesters with batons. Six people were arrested.” https://www.ktvu.com/news/school-board-meeting-protesters-to-sue-oakland-unified-schools-for-excessive-force-by-police Video of the incident here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odaY83SmHsw

Thornton, Colorado settles police shooting lawsuit for $1.25 million. “Specifically, the complaint states, Husk and the other officers advanced on (Jaime) Ceballos with weapons on display, repeatedly yelling, ‘Drop the bat or we’ll shoot’. To that, Ceballos said, ‘Fuck you, shoot me then!’ — and Husk did, squeezing off six rounds in rapid succession.” https://www.westword.com/news/jaime-ceballos-killing-by-police-costs-thornton-125-million-11514790

October 26, 2019

President Trump speaks at ‘historically black college’, only 10 students get tickets. “Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Stephen Benjamin told CNN that out of the more than 200 invitees to the President’s (Benedict College) speech, only about 10 were actual students from the college. The others, Benjamin said, were ‘brought in’ from somewhere else.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/politics/donald-trump-hbcu-speech/index.html Students were reportedly asked to remain in their dorms during the event. “Classes were canceled, and students were served lunch inside their dorms from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/25/trump-speaks-hbcu-benedict-college-students-asked-stay-dorms/2462497001/

Man who intervened in public urination arrest shot dead by New York City police when he hit one of the officers with a chair after being tasered. “(Kwesi) Ashun ‘engaged in a violent struggle with the uniformed officers. One of the officers deployed a Taser but it was ineffective in stopping the threat.” https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-brooklyn-cop-involved-shooting-20191025-xe6uduhheja6flxws5ib4ije5e-story.html I suspect this whole incident got started when the nail salon where this occurred refused to let someone use their restroom. But that’s not what the New York Daily News story says. “…a man walked in and asked to use the bathroom. Then, he urinated in the middle of the salon, said police.” ‘Sure, you can use our bathroom!’ (Businesses in major U.S. cities are world-famous for their willingness to let people off the street use their restrooms.) ‘No thanks, I just decided that I’d rather pee right here in the middle of your store instead.’ It could happen!

Federal judge temporarily blocks suspension of student who posted warning about a rapist in Maine high school restroom. “U.S. District Judge Lance Walker granted the 15-year-old student’s request for a temporary restraining order and wrote that she showed a likelihood of success if the matter is fully litigated.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-blocks-maine-student-s-suspension-over-note-about-rapist-n1072386

Millions of Californians facing possible power outages during period of ‘historic and extreme’ winds. “What’s making this event really substantial and historic is the amount of time that these winds are going to remain.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-25/northern-california-prepares-for-epic-winds-epic-blackouts

Russian NRA supporter Maria Butina released and deported. “Judge Tanya Chutkan, who sentenced Butina earlier this year, said she engaged in work on behalf of a Russian official that was both ‘sophisticated’ and ‘dangerous’.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/politics/maria-butina-released/index.html This whole episode sends a clear message to people studying or living abroad – get involved in local politics at your own risk, because you may be accused of being a foreign agent.

Liberal group tests Facebook’s policy of not vetting political ads. “The video includes generic remarks about the environment from prominent Republicans like former President Ronald Reagan and former President Richard Nixon before turning to modern-day GOP politicians, including (Lindsey) Graham…. “Simply put, we believe in the Green New Deal.” https://www.newsweek.com/fake-facebook-ad-claiming-lindsey-graham-backs-green-new-deal-actually-test-zuckerberg-1467864 You can watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/theleftyleague/videos/397135591235835/

At least thirty dead, ‘thousands’ wounded in new round of protests in Iraq. “Nearly three-fifths of Iraq’s 40 million people live on less than six dollars a day, World Bank figures show, despite the country housing the world’s fifth-largest proven reserves of oil.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/dozens-killed-fierce-anti-government-demonstrations-sweep-iraq-191025171801458.html

GM workers return to assembly plants after union members OK deal. “The contract was supported by 57% of members who voted, according to final results from the union.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/25/uaw-members-approve-new-labor-contract-with-gm-ending-40-day-strike.html

U.S. sends undisclosed number of B1 bombers to Saudi Arabia. “(Prince Sultan Air Base) has seen significant buildup from U.S. troops in recent months in response to Iranian provocations.” https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/25/bombers-have-landed-b-1s-arrive-saudi-arabia-part-us-buildup.html

Seven Plowshares anti-war activists found guilty of trespassing at nuclear submarine base, face up to 20 years in prison. “Steve Kelly, a Jesuit priest who has already spent ten years in prison for protesting nuclear weapons, returned, in shackles, to the local jail.” https://original.antiwar.com/kelly/2019/10/25/trident-is-the-crime/

More than 1 million protesters demand resignation of Chilean president. “For the past week, Chileans’ pent-up anger has spilled over in the form of protests against a socio-economic structure that many feel has left them by the wayside, with low wages and pensions, costly health care and education, and a big gap between rich and poor.” https://sg.news.yahoo.com/drivers-clog-roads-chile-join-protests-over-economy-155918558.html

62 protesters and 5 police officers killed during Ethiopia unrest. “Thirteen died from bullet wounds and the rest from injuries caused by stones, he said.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ethiopia-politics-casualties/67-people-killed-in-protests-in-ethiopias-oromiya-region-police-idUKKBN1X4269 Wait just a minute. Either the police killed protesters with stones, or protesters killed other protesters with stones. Both seem unlikely. OK, this explains it… “At least six people were killed in the town of Ambo, west of Addis, after security forces opened fire on protesters, Fisseha said. Ethnic and religious violence has been reported in the towns and cities of Dodola, Harar, Bale Robe and Adama.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/25/ethiopia-protests-violence-nobel-peace-prize-prime-minister

77 protesters injured in Gaza. “Israeli Forces shot and wounded 31 Gazans on Friday during protests along the border, the health ministry in the Strip said, adding that a total of 77 people were hurt in the clashes.” https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-israeli-army-wounds-50-confronting-weekly-gaza-border-protest-1.8026955

Egyptian political prisoner Gehad el-Haddad kept in solitary confinement, reportedly unable to walk after beating by guards over New York Times op-ed. “At least 60,000 political prisoners have been detained since Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power in 2013, according to human rights groups.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/young-political-prisoner-gehad-el-haddad-lost-ability-walk-says-family

Democracy Now! investigates homelessness in California. “The state is home to 12% of the country’s population but half of the country’s unsheltered people.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/10/25/state_of_emergency_special_report_on

Lobbyists reportedly involved in setting up Joe Biden Super PAC. “Rasky Partners lists a number of successful client campaigns on its website, touting efforts to win congressional support for banks and defense contractors.” https://theintercept.com/2019/10/25/joe-biden-super-pac/

Kentucky miners who blocked coal trains after their paychecks bounced to received unpaid wages from mining company. “Agreements filed in U.S. District Court this week will pay out nearly $5.5 million in back pay to miners from Blackjewel LLC’s eastern mines.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/25/talk-about-direct-action-getting-results-bankrupt-blackjewel-agrees-pay-over-5

Economists claim that if the cost of private health insurance is considered to be a tax paid by employees, then Medicare for All would result in a big tax cut for most workers. “Take again the case of a secretary earning $50,000 in (wages) and currently contributing $15,000 through her employer to an insurance company. With (Medicare for All instead of employer subsidized private insurance), her (wages) would rise to $65,000 – her full labor compensation. With (a 6% increase in the current Medicare payroll tax) – which, if applied to a base large enough, would be enough to fund universal health insurance – she would have to pay about $4,000 more in (payroll) tax. But the net gain would be enormous: $11,000. Instead of taking home $50,000, the secretary would take home $61,000.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/25/medicare-for-all-taxes-saez-zucman

Court in the Netherlands reverses course, releases jailed journalist who refused to identify a source. “Robert Bas, a TV reporter for the Dutch public broadcaster NOS, was summed to court on Thursday to testify in (a) murder trial… Bas refused to testify, citing his right as a journalist to protect sources.” https://www.courthousenews.com/dutch-court-frees-reporter-jailed-for-refusing-to-reveal-source/

October 25, 2019

Unarmed mobile crisis team responding to mental health-related emergency calls. “CAHOOTS was founded in 1989. Last year, they responded to nearly 23,000 calls in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mental-health-team-responds-to-emergencies-oregon-alternative-to-police-2019-10-23/

Video shows Fresno police officer shooting unarmed, fleeing 16 year-old in the back of the head after he jumps a fence and runs while trying to pull up his pants. “An investigation into the 2017 shooting in Fresno, Calif., found that the officer who fired the shot, named in court documents as Sgt. Ray Villalvazo, was justified, and that he feared for his life because the unarmed teen had reached for his waistband.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/24/shooting-an-unarmed-teen-back-head-was-justified-police-said-then-video-emerged/

Joe Biden campaign seeking help from Super PACs. “The former Vice President has been unable to generate grassroots support, and now his campaign is endorsing an effort to buy the primary through a super PAC that can rake in unlimited cash from billionaires and corporations.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/in-a-reversal-joe-biden-wants-a-super-pac_n_5db1fdc8e4b03285e87bf882

Bernie Sanders pledges to legalize marijuana at the federal level. “As president, according to the plan, Sanders would issue an executive order directing his attorney general to declassify marijuana as a controlled substance.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-sanders/bernie-sanders-promises-to-use-executive-order-to-legalize-marijuana-idUSKBN1X32L0

President Trump’s lawyer claims sitting presidents have immunity from prosecution for any crime. “President Donald Trump’s lawyers argued on Wednesday that he could not be investigated or criminally prosecuted if he shot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue in New York City.” https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/trumps-lawyers-say-he-couldnt-be-investigated-or-prosecuted-if-he-shot-someone-on-5th-avenue/articleshow/71729368.cms

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer proposes rebate for drivers who switch from gasoline to electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell cars. “…his plan, which would provide rebates of $3,000 or more to individual buyers, would help transition 25% of the U.S. fleet, or 63 million vehicles, away from traditional internal combustion-engine vehicles within 10 years.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-emissions-congress/senate-democrat-schumer-proposes-plan-to-swap-gas-cars-for-electric-vehicles-idUSKBN1X403N

California man threatens to set himself on fire, police officer shoots him with taser, man bursts into flames. “Hall’s nephew, Spencer Hall, said he witnessed the confrontation and told the newspaper that the officer used the stun gun after his uncle refused to drop the lighter he was holding.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-covered-flammable-liquid-set-fire-cop-s-stun-n1071766

Anti-government protests resume in Baghdad. “At least one person was killed and more than 200 wounded.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/iraqi-police-open-fire-disperse-protesters-baghdad-streets-191025075732647.html

Celebrity website employee reportedly emailed Secret Service about rapper’s lyrics. “…their interest in speaking with (Eminem) was based on ‘threatening lyrics’ from his rap ‘Framed’ that appeared on Revival…. (A TMZ employee) sent the Secret Service an email with a link to an article in the Hill about the song.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/eminem-secret-service-trump-ivanka-tmz

U.S. troops headed back into Syria to secure oil fields that President Trump had declared secured. “A Defense Department official said the Pentagon is sending additional forces to northeastern Syria to prevent the oil fields from falling back into the hands of ISIS.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/24/pentagon-planning-send-tanks-armor-syria-protect-oil-fields/4089195002/

18 deaths after week of anti-austerity protests in Chile. “Chile’s National Institute of Human Rights says police or soldiers have killed at least five of the protesters.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/10/24/headlines/death_toll_in_chile_protests_rises_to_18_as_human_rights_groups_allege_torture

ACLU reaches settlement with South Dakota over its anti-protest and ‘riot-boosting’ laws. “This settlement helps ensure that no one has to fear the government coming after them for exercising their First Amendment right to protest.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/24/aclu-celebrates-settlement-ending-unconstitutional-efforts-silence-pipeline

Uighur intellectual Ilham Tohti wins European Parliament’s human rights award, Chinese government spokesperson calls him a ‘terrorist’. “Tohti was convicted of ‘separatism’ in a trial that provoked outcry from foreign governments and human rights organizations.” https://www.courthousenews.com/china-calls-human-rights-award-winner-a-terrorist/ How about those imprisoned Catalan independence activists in Spain?

October 24, 2019

How Joe Biden made America safe for credit card companies, by tightening up bankruptcy laws. “Find any bill that sticks it to the ordinary folk on behalf of the Money Power and you’ll likely detect Biden’s hand at work.” https://www.gq.com/story/joe-biden-bankruptcy-bill

Money – it’s how corporations get what they want from politicians. “The following charts will illustrate why ‘economic elites’—i.e., big business and wealthy donors—have ‘substantial’ impacts on our political process and you don’t.” https://www.alternet.org/2019/10/these-7-charts-show-how-legalized-political-corruption-is-so-much-bigger-than-trump/

No charges for ICE detention center guard who drove into Rhode Island protesters, or for the other guards who pepper sprayed them after the accident, which injured five. “If I drove my car into anybody for any purpose planning to hurt them, I would have been arrested on the spot. If I were a person of color, I would have been shot.” https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/rhode-island/2019/10/23/charges-against-wyatt-correctional-officers-after-officer-drove-car-into-protesters/t6yXVXCMB5wdqoQMaxE3cK/story.html

47 states have not turned over their driver’s license records to the Census Bureau yet, 3 others are refusing to comment. “The Census Bureau said in its requests that the driver’s license records would be used, in part, to help build a statistical model for calculating the number of citizens and non-citizens in the U.S.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/most-states-are-not-giving-washington-their-driver-s-license-n1070881 Which three states refused to comment? The story doesn’t tell us!

Edward Snowden says mass surveillance programs were even worse under Obama administration. “…the president went through two full terms and did not fix the problem, but in fact made it worse.” https://www.foxnews.com/media/edward-snowden-obama-surveillance-worse

Edward Snowden say he found no evidence of government contact with aliens. “…I had ridiculous access to the networks of the NSA, the CIA, the military, all these groups. I couldn’t find anything,” he continued. “So if it’s hidden, and it could be hidden, it’s hidden really damn well, even from people who are on the inside.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/23/us/edward-snowden-joe-rogan-conspiracies-trnd/index.html Yes, it’s hidden really damn well. Along with the JFK, RFK and MLK assassination files. But despite CNN’s assertion that U.S. government contact with aliens is a ‘conspiracy theory’, former U.S. military and government whistle-blowers like Clifford Stone disagree. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJjhIzfyt8o

U.S. House passes bill outlawing animal cruelty. “The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT Act, bans abusive behavior including crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling and other bodily injury toward any non-humans.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/animal-cruelty-bill-house-passes-pact-act-that-makes-animal-cruelty-a-federal-felony/

Was Mark Zuckerberg really inspired to start Facebook by campus controversy over the invasion of Iraq? One of the first participants is doubtful. “Zuckerberg was nine months away from creating a website where students could vote on the attractiveness of women on campus. It was an idea that eventually led to Facebook…. (Ruben) Gallego blasted Zuckerberg’s (Iraq invasion) recollection as an attempt to redraw the company’s image as altruistic in the face of growing scrutiny…” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/22/iraq-war-protests-inspired-facebook-zuckerburg-says-lawmaker-who-was-there-says-thats-false/

FDA presses breast implant manufacturers to provide stronger warnings to potential customers. “We have heard from many women that they are not fully informed of the risks when considering breast implants.” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/fda-wants-stronger-warning-breast-implants-about-risks-n1070996

Federal Reserve boosts short-term liquidity intervention to $120 billion A DAY! “A mid-September cash crunch in the repo, or repurchase, market led the Fed to conduct a series of repo and term repo operations to make sure that banks have the overnight funding they need at rates within the central bank’s intended parameters.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/23/fed-repo-overnight-operations-level-to-increase-to-120-billion.html Wouldn’t want those poor bankers to have to pay high overnight interest rates! Quick, do something! How about a huge infusion of federal cash?

Julian Assange supporter and former diplomat Craig Murray writes that U.S. government representatives seemed to be directing the prosecution at his recent U.K. extradition hearing, that the judge summarily dismissed defense claims that the country’s laws forbid extraditing prisoners over political charges, and that Assange looked like a disoriented torture victim. “… having attended the trials in Uzbekistan of several victims of extreme torture, and having worked with survivors from Sierra Leone and elsewhere, I can tell you that… Julian exhibited exactly the symptoms of a torture victim brought blinking into the light, particularly in terms of disorientation, confusion, and the real struggle to assert free will through the fog of learned helplessness.” https://original.antiwar.com/Craig_Murray/2019/10/22/assange-in-court-what-i-saw/

Amnesty International accuses Myanmar’s military of torture. “Human rights experts have spoken of a pattern of abuses by Myanmar regiments, including detaining and torturing men and boys on the basis of their ethnicity.” https://sg.news.yahoo.com/myanmar-military-continues-committing-atrocities-230100154.html

Amnesty International urges Jordon to drop ‘male guardianship’ system. “Imprisoning women for defying male authority amounts to ‘a violation of their human rights’, said the report.” https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/24/jordan-urged-to-stop-imprisoning-women-for-defying-the-wishes-of-men

Residents of America’s wealthiest 1% neighborhoods are backing centrist Democrats. “Residents of these bastions of actual limousine liberals – including Westchester, New York, Beverly Hills, and Greenwich, Connecticut – have ponied up nearly $880,000 for Senator Harris and nearly $600,000 for Mayor Buttigieg. (Senator) Booker and… former vice-president Biden raised more than half a million dollars each…. (Bernie) Sanders… has received just $59,130 from donors in these areas.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/24/us-elections-2020-richest-zip-codes-fundraising

Federal judge compares plaintiff’s rejected bus ad on racial disparities in mortgage lending to ad promoting hate group. “Shouldn’t there be a way SEPTA can reject an ad that says ‘support the Ku Klux Klan’,” said Greenberg, a Ronald Regan appointee who (phoned) in to arguments. “That’s a viewpoint.”… (the plaintiff’s attorney, Molly) Tack-Hooper (responded), “Their ad was not rejected because it would incite violence, but because it was deemed political.” https://www.courthousenews.com/transit-authoritys-politics-ban-spurs-pushback-at-3rd-circuit/

State cuts to higher education disproportionately hurt low income students, either pricing them out of college or burdening them with huge debts. “Between 2008 and 2018, for example, Arizona cut 55% of funding to state colleges while tuition rose by 93%.” https://www.courthousenews.com/study-state-cuts-to-college-funds-limits-public-access/

Maryland’s attorney general accuses President’s Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner of being a slum lord. “Attorney General Brian Frosh’s office said in a statement that Westminster Management, one of 26 companies named in the complaint, ‘routinely failed to address hazardous conditions in the properties, including rodent and vermin infestations, water leaks, and mold growth, forcing tenants to vacate their homes or live in unsanitary conditions’.” https://www.courthousenews.com/kushner-apartment-firm-accused-of-ripping-off-maryland-renters/

Federal judge awards legal publication attorney fees in battle over prison ban. “A federal judge Tuesday awarded Prison Legal News $1.2 million in attorneys’ fees and costs for its successful, 8-year-old lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections…” https://www.courthousenews.com/attorney-fees-16/

October 23, 2019

Mortality rate rising for less-educated, white, middle-aged American men, unlike downward trends for all other demographic groups and in all other developed countries. “Women and blacks became more optimistic over time, beginning in the 1970’s when gender and civil rights improved,” Graham wrote in the report. “The one group that experienced drops in optimism around the same time were less-than-college-educated white males, not coincidentally when the decline in manufacturing began.” https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/deaths-of-despair-why-this-group-of-americans-has-higher-mortality-rates-130633528.html “Free trade is good for America!” Not to mention the construction bust after the 2008 financial crisis.

FBI anti-terror investigations focusing on activist groups. “Since 2010, the FBI has surveilled black activists and Muslim Americans, Palestinian solidarity and peace activists, Abolish ICE protesters, Occupy Wall Street, environmentalists, Cuba and Iran normalization proponents, and protesters at the Republican National Convention. And that is just the surveillance we know of…” https://theintercept.com/2019/10/22/terrorism-fbi-political-dissent/ And before 2010, law enforcement agencies spied on peace activists, indigenous Americans, animal rights activists, groups opposed to the death penalty, African American and Muslim civil rights groups, environmentalist groups, groups that protest police brutality, anarchists, groups harboring refugees from Central American civil wars, New Year’s Day parade organizers, groups opposed to military recruiting at schools, labor striker solidarity groups, groups opposed to nuclear weapons, protesters opposed to oil companies, anti-Columbus Day protesters, groups critical of the FBI, homeless advocacy groups, the Green Party, groups opposed to free trade agreements, groups opposed to training foreign military officers for counter-insurgency campaigns, farm worker solidarity activists, left-wing book stores, people who order books about Islam, groups protesting the Republican Party, anti-pesticide groups, pacifists, pro-education protesters, anti-gun activists, circus protesters, gay rights events, hip-hop groups, journalists, family planning groups, historically black colleges, protesters opposed to port militarization, artists and photographers, people making Freedom of Information Act requests, groups advocating job creation, political coffee shops, anti-globalization protesters, presidential inauguration protesters, pro- and anti-abortion groups, veterans groups, pro-diversity groups, leftist lawyers group and student groups. https://www.aclu.org/report/policing-free-speech-police-surveillance-and-obstruction-first-amendment-protected-activity

More American pedestrians are ending up as road-kill. “S.U.V.s and light trucks are more prone than cars are to run over pedestrians, rather than throw them up over the hood…. Distracted driving probably plays a part as well, researchers said. About 10 percent of fatal crashes involve a distracted driver…” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/pedestrian-cyclist-deaths-traffic.html

‘Proud Boys’ get four year sentences for attack on protesters. “Maxwell Hare, 27, and John Kinsman, 40, were convicted in August on charges stemming from the October 2018 fight between members of the Proud Boys and the loosely organized anti-fascist group known as Antifa after a speech by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes.” https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/proud-boys-members-sentenced-years-nyc-melee-66451375

Life in a developed market economy: Federal investigation blames faulty design and lack of oversight in Miami pedestrian bridge collapse that killed six. “The National Transportation Safety Board members concluded that the design firm FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc. underestimated the load of the bridge and overestimated its strength in a critical section that splintered, dropping a 174-foot-long (53-meter-long) span onto eight cars on March 15, 2018.” https://www.miamiherald.com/news/article236524698.html

Wave of evictions reported in Los Angeles ahead of California rent control law that goes into effect on January 1st. “…as long as the notice to vacate expires before Jan. 1, property owners can still remove low-paying tenants and significantly raise rents for good, because state law gives landlords the right to set rent when a unit is vacant.” https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-22/los-angeles-eviction-moratorium

149 protesters killed by Iraqi security forces, according to report. “Two Iraqi security officials had told Reuters last week that Iran-backed militias deployed snipers on Baghdad rooftops during what became Iraq’s deadliest anti-government protests for years.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests/iraqi-security-forces-killed-149-protesters-most-by-shots-to-head-chest-government-inquiry-idUSKBN1X116T

Northern Syria ceasefire extended, Russian troops to patrol 10 km zone along Turkish border. “The accord, which expands on a U.S.-brokered deal last week, also underlines Putin’s dominant influence in Syria and seals the return of his ally President Bashar al-Assad’s forces to northeast Syria for the first time in years, by endorsing the deployment of Syrian border guards from noon (0900 GMT) on Wednesday.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security/russia-warns-syrian-kurdish-ypg-must-pull-back-or-face-turkish-army-idUSKBN1X20YN

Government of Hong Kong reverses course on extradition bill. “Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets since June, originally due to the bill that would have allowed Hong Kong nationals to be sent to mainland China to be tried in Communist party-controlled court. The rallies have continued and now protesters demand political reforms and police accountability.” https://www.foxnews.com/world/hong-kong-formally-withdraws-extradition-bill

Life in a developed market economy: Federal regulators release findings of asbestos in baby powder 13 days after CEO testifies that the product is safe. “(Johnson & Johnson Chief Executive Alex) Gorsky, citing ‘thousands of tests and studies’ to support his testimony, said: ‘I’m not aware of our baby powder or talc containing asbestos.'” https://www.foxbusiness.com/healthcare/johnson-johnson-ceo-testified-baby-powder-was-safe-days-before-fda-bombshell

UAW striker dies after being hit by vehicle. “(Roy) McCombs was struck by an automobile traveling near the entrance to the GM plant in Spring Hill, south of Nashville.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gm-worker-killed-picket-line_n_5daf5d76e4b0422422cd3370

Multiple, conflicting reports on death five years ago of journalist covering Turkey’s involvement in Syria. “(Serena Shim) had recently reported for the Iranian-backed Press TV about Turkey’s role in smuggling IS fighters into Syria on World Food Programme trucks.” https://whowhatwhy.org/2019/10/21/serena-shim-the-life-and-unexplained-death-of-a-syria-war-reporter/

Turkey replaces 12 more mayors linked to opposition political party. “Prior to the March municipal polls, around 100 mayors in towns held by the HDP had been replaced by state officials.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-security-kurds/turkey-replaces-four-more-pro-kurdish-mayors-as-crackdown-widens-idUKKBN1X10QO

59 Palestinian websites reportedly blocked by Palestinian Authority. “The prosecution, in its petition to the court, argued that the sites disseminate harmful content about the PA and its officials and are likely to be used to incite lawlessness.” https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-pa-blocks-59-palestinian-websites-blogs-facebook-pages-critical-of-abbas-1.8016398

Veteran claims FBI used him as an informant to monitor militia group for four years, despite lack of evidence that any laws were being broken. “The more time (Chris) Stevens spent with the militia members, the more he began to question why he was there at all. Some of these people seemed to have mental illnesses and a few of them were racists, he told the FBI, but no one was committing crimes in his presence.” https://theintercept.com/2019/10/20/fbi-informant-domestic-terrorism/

U.K. musicians’ union says workplace harassment is a major problem. “In a survey conducted by the union – which represents more than 31,000 musicians, 90% of whom are freelancers – 48% of respondents said they had experienced workplace harassment. More than four in five (85%) did not report it.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/artists-quitting-music-business-abuse-and-sexism-says-musicians-union

Bernie Sanders pledges to stop prosecuting whistle-blowers if elected. “Whistle-blowers have a very important role to play in the political process and I am very supportive of the courage of that whistle-blower, whoever he or she may be.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/23/whoa-says-edward-snowden-sanders-vows-end-prosecution-whistleblowers-under-espionage

Environmental group asks federal judge to stop wildlife slaughter by federal agency. “…in Washington state last year, employees of the federal Wildlife Services agency shot, trapped, (or) gassed six black bears, 397 beavers, 376 coyotes, 429 marmots, 448 squirrels and thousands of other creatures, according to its (own) data.” https://www.courthousenews.com/conservationists-target-feds-slaughter-of-washington-state-wildlife/

October 22, 2019

U.K. judge denies Julian Assange more time to prepare his defense against U.S. extradition request. “Lawyer Mark Summers, representing Assange, told (District Judge Vanessa Baraitser) that more time was needed to prepare Assange’s defence because the case has many facets, including the very rare use of espionage charges against a journalist…. ‘Our case will be that this is a political attempt to signal to journalists the consequences of publishing information. It is legally unprecedented.'” https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-loses-bid-delay-extradition-hearing-in-uk

Bernie Sanders says he’ll back whoever the Democratic Party nominates. “We’re going to rally around whoever that candidate is.” https://nypost.com/2019/10/21/bernie-sanders-says-hed-back-joe-biden-or-any-other-dem-nominee/ Bernie may, but will his supporters? Or will many of them just not vote, or vote for the Green Party candidate, like they did in 2016?

California’s governor calls for investigation into possible price fixing by gasoline suppliers. “Researchers found Chevron’s retail gasoline sales in California resulted in almost $1.6 billion in revenue in 2018, more than double what those sales generated in 2010. Shell’s total retail sales hit $818 million in 2018, up from $421 million in 2010.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-21/gavin-newsom-california-high-gas-prices-should-be-investigated

Benjamin Netanyahu fails to put together a ruling coalition, now opposition party leader will try. “(Benny) Gantz is a former head of the Israeli military, and served in that role while Mr Netanyahu was prime minster. He was propelled to political leadership after forming his party in February, saying that the country had ‘lost its way’.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50132760

Credit Suisse: The world’s wealthiest 1% control 44% of the world’s wealth, while the bottom 56% control less than 2% of the world’s wealth. “…the annual Global Wealth Report released Monday by Credit Suisse… found that the number of millionaires in the world grew to 47 million between mid-2018 and mid-2019, with the United States leading the world in both new and total millionaires.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/22/global-millionaires-just-09-population-now-own-nearly-half-worlds-361-trillion

Russia accused of purging its human rights council. “The five people being removed from the council include its veteran head Mikhail Fedotov, according to the presidential decree on the government website…. They will be replaced by current and former state media employees…” https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-removes-critical-voices-rights-council-191015762.html

Businessman with links to government officials charged in murder of Slovakian journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. “Prosecutors say (Marian) Kocner, a subject of Kuciak’s reporting on corruption, had contracted out the killing. Kocner has denied any wrongdoing.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-slovakia-crime/four-charged-in-slovak-journalist-murder-that-brought-down-prime-minister-idUKKBN1X012I

Seven Catholic peace activists go on trial for trespassing on nuclear sub base. “If the munitions on those Trident submarines are ever used, that’s the end of life on Earth…. I have to say no to that. We don’t have that right to destroy God’s creation.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/10/21/kingsbay_plowshares_seven_activists_trial

President Trump calls impeachment proceedings a ‘lynching’. “All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/22/trump-impeachment-inquiry-lynching-tweet

Federal appeals court rules against four U.S. citizens on ‘no-fly list’. “These citizens have never been charged with a crime and asked for fair notice and a fair process to clear their names and regain rights most Americans take for granted. Instead, the court has left them trapped in an indefinite Kafkaesque nightmare.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/21/rejecting-challenge-no-fly-list-federal-appeals-court-leaves-men-charged-no-crime

	January 21, 2023… on Six years after death of unnam…
	December 4, 2022… on Six years after death of unnam…
	May 9, 2022 –… on March 7, 2022
	April 9, 2022… on Six years after death of unnam…
	December 17, 2021… on Six years after death of unnam…