November 30, 2019

Hard Rock hotel collapse whistle-blower deported to Honduras. “Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma had reported potentially dangerous lapses in construction safety to his supervisors before the collapse, according to lawyers working on his immigration case and a civil complaint filed by Ramirez Palma and several other workers against hotel developers.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/30/whistleblower-in-new-orleans-hotel-collapse-is-deported-to-honduras

Man accused of drinking alcohol at a bus stop is hospitalized after being thrown to the curb by Chicago police officer. “Police say the officer performed an emergency takedown after the man spat in the officer’s face and threatened him.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/29/us/chicago-arrest-body-slam-video/index.html Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Drm8p0PPro Excessive force? You decide.

Republican opponent of Ilhan Omar has her Twitter account suspended after suggesting the Minnesota congresswoman ‘be tried for treason and hanged’. “My suspension for advocating for the enforcement of federal code proves Twitter will always side with and fight to protect terrorists, traitors, pedophiles and rapists.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ilhan-omar-challenger-suspended-from-twitter-after-tweeting-omar-could-be-hanged-for-treason

Former San Francisco Giants baseball player Aubrey Huff says he wants his children to learn how to shoot guns ‘in the unlikely event Bernie Sanders beats Donald Trump in 2020’. “…knowing how to effectively use a gun under socialism will be a must.” https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/nov/27/aubrey-huff-bernie-sanders-shooting-range-baseball Who are they going to shoot, the people who administer Medicare, after it replaces the for-profit health insurance that bankrupts 1/2 million Americans a year?

Some California beaches closed after Laguna Beach city pipeline leaks an estimated 1.4 million gallons of raw sewage. “In a statement, Nichole Quick, an Orange County health officer, emphasized that exposure to untreated sewage ‘can be harmful and result in very serious illness with potentially severe effects’.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-29/4-million-gallon-sewage-spill-prompts-closure-of-bay-and-ocean-water-from-crystal-cove-to-dana-point

Chicago settles with police shooting witness who claims detectives tried to bully her into changing her story. “It felt like I was in a lion’s cage.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-laquan-mcdonald-shooting-witness-lawsuit-settled-20191129-mzsuqg3ncncptpxdtzm5ebniyi-story.html

Mexico’s president rejects the idea of a U.S. ‘war on terror’ against drug cartels. “Since 1914, there hasn’t been a foreign intervention in Mexico and we cannot permit that,” Lopez Obrador said on Friday at a regular news conference…. “Armed foreigners cannot intervene in our territory.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/mexico-invasion-trump-comments-191129163017229.html

Former leader of Suriname found guilty of rounding up and murdering his political opponents. “The court ruled that (Desi) Bouterse had overseen an operation (in 1982) in which soldiers under his command abducted 16 leading government critics – including lawyers, journalists and university teachers – from their homes and killed 15 of them at a colonial fortress in the capital Paramaribo.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-suriname-court/suriname-court-convicts-president-bouterse-of-murder-for-1982-executions-idUSKBN1Y327O

European parliament passes ‘climate and environmental emergency’ declaration. “The fact that Europe is the first continent to declare climate and environmental emergency, just before COP25, when the new commission takes office, and three weeks after Donald Trump confirmed the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris agreement, is a strong message sent to citizens and the rest of the world.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/28/eu-parliament-declares-climate-emergency

Scientists say Earth approaching climate ‘tipping point’. “… interactions between a variety of climate change factors, such as the loss or weakening of carbon sinks, forest dieback, ice retreat and increased bacteria respiration, could combine to form a feedback loop which accelerates climate change.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/28/health/climate-crisis-global-tipping-point-intl-hnk/index.html And forest ‘cut-back’ and ‘burn-back’! Not to mention methane gas that is being released as arctic permafrost melts.

Glenpool, Oklahoma Starbucks employee fired after printing ‘PIG’ on coffee ordered by police officer. “The coffee company called the incident ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and said it is ‘deeply sorry to the law enforcement officer who experienced this’.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/30/us/oklahoma-police-starbucks-pig-label-fired-coffee-with-a-cop-trnd/index.html Another evil Starbucks barista bullying the cops and hurting their feelings!

Workers at Amazon distribution centers in Spain, Germany and the U.K. go on strike. “(… in Germany) more than 2,200 strikers joined the protest, with employees walking out from distribution centers in Leipzig, Bad Hersfeld, Koblenz, Rheinberg, Werne, and Graben, affecting just shy of half the country’s total warehouses.” https://gizmodo.com/for-black-friday-strikers-across-europe-demand-amazon-1840098263

Trump administration invokes ‘indefinite detention’ clause of the USA Patriot Act for the first time in U.S. history, to continue holding Palestinian man who donated money to banned Muslim charities. “(Adham Amin Hassoun) feels quite a bit of angst over [the fact that] he had served his sentence and feels like he should be released,” (Nicole) Hallett said. “He’s worried about dying in prison.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-invokes-patriot-act-to-detain-palestinian-adham-amin-hassoun-forever

45 more protesters killed in Iraq on Thursday. “At least 29 people died in the southern city of Nassiriya when troops opened fire on demonstrators who blocked a bridge before dawn on Thursday and later gathered outside a police station.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-protests/iraqi-forces-kill-45-protesters-after-iranian-consulate-torched-idUKKBN1Y20TY

Family says they are facing detention and deportation after relative detonated pipe bomb in subway station. “…in April 2019, Ahsan (Ullah) received a letter out of the blue from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the (Department of Homeland Security), stating that the agency planned to cancel his US citizenship on the grounds it was not lawfully obtained.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/30/trump-immigration-citizenship-green-cards-face-deportation

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November 28, 2019

Governor of Indiana accused of canceling Amazon workplace safety fines. “In 2017, maintenance worker Phillip Lee Terry was crushed to death by a forklift while working at an Amazon warehouse in Plainfield, Indiana. A state investigator found that Amazon was at fault…. Indiana governor Eric Holcomb quietly overturned those citations to lure Amazon’s second headquarters to Indiana.” https://www.gq.com/story/amazon-indiana-hq2-employee-death?mbid=synd_yahoo_rss

California town cracks down on people living on boats because they can’t afford high rents. “While some contend ‘anchor-outs’ add to the color and character of this artsy tourist town, others see an eyesore, and argue it’s unfair for law-abiding taxpayers to continually support a community living illegally and off the grid.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/californians-land-afford-water An upscale version of living in your car.

Life in a developed market economy: Burning Texas chemical plant causes second explosion, nearby residents told to evacuate. “City of Port Neches police said that blast caused ‘extensive damage’ throughout the city.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/27/us/port-neches-plant-explosion/index.html 60,000 residents reportedly evacuated. “On Wednesday afternoon, there was a second massive explosion, forcing officials to issue a mandatory evacuation for the four-mile radius surrounding the plant.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/explosion-texas-plant-port-neches-chemical-plant-texas-tcp-fire-lanxess-charleston-south-carolina-emergency-today/

NORAD says D.C. airspace violation that scrambled military aircraft and locked down or evacuated government buildings was a false alarm. “Objects spotted in the air on radar are sometimes weather balloons or flocks of birds, the NORAD spokesman said, noting that it’s still unknown what caused this particular scare.” https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Airspace-Violation-Reported-in-Washington-DC-Fighter-Jets-Scrambled-NBC-News-Reports-565474112.html So an aircraft, a flock of birds and a weather balloon all look the same on the radar they use to protect the White House and the Capitol? I believe that. (sarcasm) “Security officials received different information regarding the location and speed of the object in question. Officials heard it was ‘hovering’ and were even given ‘knots’ measuring its speed, sources said.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/officials-still-puzzled-about-hovering-object-that-prompted-lockdown-in-dc

Iran claims to have arrested 8 ‘CIA-trained citizen-journalists’ in connection with fuel price hike protests. “(Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli) said demonstrators damaged more than 50 police stations, as well as 34 ambulances, 731 banks and 70 gas stations in the country.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/iran-cia-links-arrested-inciting-deadly-protests-191127170333511.html Banks?

Cops arrest 11 in Tucson accused of participating in UPS drug smuggling ring. “Investigators say the suspects moved thousands of pounds of marijuana and other drugs into the U.S. from Mexico each week using the company’s standard cardboard boxes, bypassing security measures.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/ups-employees-drug-trafficking-ring-decade According to the story, they have allegedly been evading customs controls for ten years using this ingenious scheme. Kind of hard to believe. Sounds like they had ‘protection’.

President Trump signs Hong Kong sanctions bill. “The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 allows the United States to level sanctions on individuals who carry out human rights violations in Hong Kong…. The legislation also requires the State Department’s annual certification to Congress that Hong Kong is ‘upholding the rule of law and protecting rights’ before continuing the city’s special (trade) relationship with the U.S.” https://www.npr.org/2019/11/28/783529916/trump-angers-china-by-signing-law-backing-hong-kong-protesters

Iraqi protesters in Najaf burn Iranian consulate. “The demonstrators removed the Iranian flag from the building and replaced it with an Iraqi one.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/27/protesters-burn-down-iranian-consulate-in-southern-iraq

The case for protectionism (and/or massive public spending). “…the opening up of Eastern Europe, China, and India added more than a billion workers to the world’s labor pool under a single global capitalist system…. At the same time, a series of US-led trade and investment agreements—most notably, permanently normalizing trade relations with China in 2001—lifted the floodgates on foreign investment. As US companies moved factories overseas en masse, American manufacturing employment imploded.” https://qz.com/1752676/the-job-quality-index-is-the-economic-indicator-weve-been-missing/

Turkish-backed fighters accused of war crimes in northern Syria. “… Human Rights Watch claims it has ‘damming evidence’ showing the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army is engaged in summary executions, pillaging, seizing properties, and preventing the return of people to their homes.” https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/turkish-ally-accused-widespread-rights-abuses-syria

Indian diplomat sparks controversy after proposing ‘Israeli model’ for colonizing Kashmir with Hindus. “If the Israeli people can do it, we can also do it.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/india-consul-general-united-states-calls-israeli-solution-kashmir

Russia proposes extending the ‘New START’ nuclear arms treaty. “The New START accord, which is due to expire in February 2021, is the last major nuclear arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington. It limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads they can deploy to 1,550 each.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-usa-missiles/russia-urges-u-s-to-extend-nuclear-pact-due-to-expire-in-2021-idUKKBN1Y1240

Amnesty International accuses the Egyptian security service of abusing anti-terror laws to stifle dissent. “The SSSP has become a central tool of repression whose primary goal appears to be arbitrarily detaining and intimidating critics, all in the name of counter-terrorism.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-accused-creating-parallel-justice-system-crackdown-sisi-critics

More than 7,000 arrested during protests, claims Iranian legislator. “Iran has yet to offer any definitive statistics for the unrest, which began November 15 when officials sharply raised government-set gasoline prices.” https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/11/27/more-than-7-000-arrested-in-iran-protests-official

Turkish prosecutor wants Amnesty International official charged with being a member of a terrorist group. “(Taner) Kilic is on trial with 10 other human rights activists, arrested in 2017 after holding a workshop on an island off Istanbul, the AFP news agency reported.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-prosecutor-calls-terror-conviction-senior-amnesty-representative

Coldplay postpones world tour to study environmental impact. “(Chris) Martin said if the band do eventually hit the road for the new release, they hope the tour could be entirely carbon neutral.” https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/245521-coldplay-cancels-tour-environmental-concerns

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says leaked documents show Conservatives considering opening up the country’s National Health Service to privatization by U.S. firms. “During a press conference, Corbyn said the Trump administration’s negotiators are ‘demanding’ that the NHS be put ‘on the table’ in talks over a possible post-Brexit trade pact between the U.S. and U.K.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/27/their-secret-agenda-today-exposed-corbyn-says-leaked-trade-docs-show-tory-plan This would be like a foreign country demanding that Social Security be ‘put on the table’ as part of a trade deal.

U.S. and Chinese emissions of greenhouses gases are rising instead of falling. “The United Nations issued a bleak warning Tuesday about the prospects of reducing the impact of climate change, reporting that two of the world’s biggest polluters, the United States and China, have emitted more greenhouse gases in the past year.” https://www.courthousenews.com/un-report-finds-rise-in-emissions-from-china-and-us/

November 27, 2019

UFO approaching U.S. Capitol triggers lock down, sources say it may have been ‘a flock of birds’ or ‘a weather anomaly’. “Senior national security officials across the agencies convened to coordinate and monitor the situation after the mysterious ‘blob’ was seen on radar at the Capitol Police command center flying just south of the National Mall, according to a law enforcement source. Military aircraft were scrambled in response.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/26/politics/white-house-lockdown-airspace/index.html Legislators upset that no security alert was sent out to personal devices, as is usually the case. “It’s remarkable how many alerts go out about forgotten backpacks. Yet on Tuesday… nothing.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/capitol-evacuation-causes-consternation-we-still-dont-know-what-the-hell-it-was

Michael Bloomberg and his Super PAC have made generous donations to the Republican Party and its candidates. “Federal records show that political committees funded by Mr. Bloomberg have spent more than $86 million since 2012 — the bulk devoted to promoting Democrats. Yet more than $17 million went to boost Republicans. In addition, Mr. Bloomberg has personally donated another $950,000 to Republican campaigns and political action committees.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-republicans-donations.html

Historians, archeologist and native tribes filling in details about the first Thanksgiving. “(Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe) said the feast was a diplomatic effort for peace after the Wampanoag spotted Pilgrims in a field shooting muskets for practice. He said Massasoit sent 90 men their way — only to find out ‘what they were doing was planning on how to take us out. They said, ‘Let’s sit down and talk about peace.'” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/26/native-americans-dominated-first-thanksgiving-feast-plymouth/4248526002/

World governments are off track, unlikely to hit climate change goals. “Countries must triple the ambition of their Paris pledges to achieve the below 2 degrees goal and increase their targets five-fold to hit the more ambitious 1.5 degrees level.” https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/bleak-un-climate-report-says-countries-now-must-cut-emissions-deeper-and-faster-to-paris-goals

Life in a developed market economy: Contractor-employed school bus driver in Aurora, Illinois arrested for drinking while driving. “Video from the school bus appears to show (Michelle) Passley placing the beer can into a brown paper bag and drinking from it while driving as many as 32 elementary school children on the bus… Police credited the alert gas station clerk for contacting East Aurora School District 131 after selling beer to the driver and watching her drive off in the bus.” https://abc7chicago.com/video-aurora-school-bus-driver-drank-beer-while-picking-up-students-police-say/5720798/

Consumer groups say FAA emergency evacuation testing of smaller seats with less leg room is a sham, doesn’t reflect real-world conditions. “Airline seat width is down as much as four inches over the last 30 years to as little as 16 inches wide. And seat pitch has shrunk from about 35 inches to 31 inches and in some cases as little as 28 inches.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airplane-seat-size-faa-tests-safe-seat-size-space-between-rows-for-first-time/

Life in a developed market economy (with the world’s most expensive health care): New Jersey hospital gives wrong patient kidney transplant. “The mix-up occurred at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden on Nov. 18 when a 51-year-old patient on a transplant list underwent a kidney transplant, the hospital said in a statement. The next day, a hospital staffer discovered the organ went to the wrong patient.” https://www.nj.com/news/2019/11/nj-hospital-admits-transplanting-kidney-into-the-wrong-patient.html

TikTok suspends user who posted video about Uighur detention camps, company says it’s just a coincidence. “In this case, the user’s previous account and associated device were banned after she posted a video of Osama Bin Laden, which is a violation of TikTok’s ban on promoting terrorists.” https://www.businessinsider.com/china-uighur-protest-tiktok-suspend-feroza-aziz-2019-11

Brazil’s economy minister threatens martial law in response to protests. “‘Don’t be startled then if someone asks for an AI-5,’ (Paulo) Guedes said, referring to a decree passed during the 1964 to 1985 dictatorship, which permitted the closing down of Congress as well as censorship and torture.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/brazil-outrage-minister-references-authoritarian-ai-5-decree-191126155856668.html

Airline catering workers protest low wages at airports around the country, many are arrested. “Over 500 demonstrators took part in the protest (at JFK airport in New York). 53 people were arrested for disorderly conduct.” https://abc7ny.com/society/dozens-arrested-as-airline-workers-protest-at-jfk-for-higher-pay/5720663/

Life in a developed market economy: Huge explosion rocks Port Neches, Texas chemical plant, injuring three. “Video posted to social media showed a large fireball explode over the plant. Others shared images of glass windows at homes and local businesses blown out from the explosion. Locked doors were also reportedly blown off their hinges from the strength of the blast.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-chemical-plant-explosion-port-neches-jefferson-county

Human Rights Watch accuses Chile’s national police of ‘serious human rights violations’. “The New York-based right group had received hundreds of disturbing reports of abuse, including cases of beatings and sexual assault, Jose Miguel Vivanco, HRW’s director for the Americas, told a press conference in Santiago.” https://sg.news.yahoo.com/serious-rights-violations-during-chile-protests-human-rights-230110354.html

Three Maltese cabinet officials resign in connection with investigation into murder of journalist. “The ministerial departures on Tuesday followed a series of arrests in the hunt for those behind the assassination of Caruana Galizia, a renowned investigative reporter who was killed by a car bomb near her home in October 2017.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/26/third-maltese-minister-quits-amid-fallout-from-journalists

‘Men in suits’ confiscated UFO videos, say Navy officers. “Several Navy officers who witnessed the now-famous Nimitz UFO encounter in 2004 say ‘unknown individuals’ showed up after the event and made them turn over data recordings and videos…” https://www.space.com/navy-witnesses-nimitz-encounter.html

November 26, 2019

Three black Maryland men convicted of murder are exonerated and released after 36 years in prison. “An assistant prosecutor working on the case told the court in 1984 that the state did not have any reports that would have raised doubts about the defendants’ guilt even though police records had statements involving (a different) 18-year-old suspect and also showed trial witnesses had failed to identify the teenagers in photo lineups.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/3-maryland-men-jailed-for-36-years-over-killing-are-exonerated-released-from-prison

Elizabeth Warren may not be for real. “…Warren confirmed that while in theory she supported single-payer healthcare, it would not be one of her primary initiatives, and she would initially push for a more moderate proposal similar to those advocated by Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/24/elizabeth-warren-not-progressive

Michael Bloomberg has critics from his time as mayor of New York City. “I can’t believe he’s running for president. The list of things that he did to transfer wealth to the richest New Yorkers and away from the poorest New Yorkers is so long.” https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2019/11/25/bloombergs-presidential-run-met-with-a-groan-on-new-yorks-left-1229483

Richard Nixon’s former lawyer reacts to Rudy Giuliani’s claim that he won’t get ‘thrown under the bus’ by President Trump because he has ‘insurance’. “Trump’s presidency is like a Mafia soap opera!” https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/471934-john-dean-on-giuliani-insurance-comment-trump-presidency-is

Internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee calls for more government regulation of internet firms. “… (Contract for the Web) proposes a framework for protecting online privacy and personal data with clearly defined national laws that give individuals greater control over the data collected about them. Independent, well-resourced regulators would offer the public effective means for redress.” https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/web-inventor-has-ambitious-plan-take-back-net-n1090366

Almost half of American Rhodes Scholars for 2020 are ‘first generation Americans’, which means they are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. “Collectively, the 32 winners mark the third consecutive year that the majority (of the winners) are minorities, and nearly half are first-generation Americans, according to the trust.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/25/us/rhodes-scholars-us-2020-trnd/index.html

‘More than sixty’ doctors say Julian Assange could die if he is not given medical treatment. “In the letter, (Dr. Lissa) Johnson and the other doctors from a range of different countries warn that, in their opinion, if Assange does not receive the medical attention they say he requires, ‘we have real concerns, on the evidence currently available, that Mr Assange could die in prison’.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/julian-assange-could-die-in-prison-health-hospital-doctors-open-letter-uk-authorities-today-2019-11-25/

Colombia imposes curfew in the country’s capital, Bogota. “President Ivan Duque, a social conservative who came to power in August 2018, faces widespread discontent over rising unemployment, economic reforms and a deteriorating security situation.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/23/americas/bogota-colombia-curfew-protests-intl/index.html

CO2 level hit 407.8 parts per million in 2018, the highest level in about 3 million years. “It is worth recalling that the last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO₂ was 3-5 million years ago,” (World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri) Taalas said. “Back then, the temperature was 2 to 3 degrees [centigrade] warmer, [and] sea level was 10 to 20 meters higher than now.” https://www.salon.com/2019/11/25/earths-carbon-dioxide-levels-hit-a-3-million-year-high/

Germany’s economy minister compares possibility of Chinese government spying to actual U.S. government spying. “…Economy Minister Peter Altmaier defended the government’s decision not to impose a ban on Huawei, saying it didn’t issue a ‘boycott’ of U.S. companies in the wake of espionage accusations by the U.S. National Security Agency dating to 2013.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-25/germany-s-altmaier-defends-huawei-with-jab-at-u-s-spies-on-tv ‘Your prime minister’s phone is belong to us.’

Google says fired workers violated its data security policies, workers say they were fired for union organizing. “With these firings, Google is ramping up its illegal retaliation,” according to a statement from workers who are organizing at the company. “This is classic union busting dressed up in tech industry jargon, and we won’t stand for it.” https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-fires-four-employees-citing-214809319.html

McDonald’s of California settles unpaid wages lawsuit for $26 million. “The agreement includes compensation for unpaid overnight overtime, missed breaks, back wages, and unreimbursed time and expenses for uniform maintenance, according to the AP, as well as (for) periodic training for crew members and managers at corporate-owned locations.” https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/471982-mcdonalds-agrees-to-26m-settlement-in-lawsuit-over-wages-work

Amazon warehouse workers reportedly face higher than average risk of injury. “Reveal amassed internal injury records from 23 of the company’s 110 fulfillment centers nationwide. Taken together, the rate of serious injuries for those facilities was more than double the national average for the warehousing industry: 9.6 serious injuries per 100 full-time workers in 2018, compared with an industry average that year of 4.” https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/11/amazon-warehouse-reports-show-worker-injuries/602530/

Cummins to layoff 2,000 employees amid weak demand for semi engines. “According to the most recent data from FTR Transportation Intelligence, October orders of heavy-duty trucks were down by 51% from last year.” https://www.businessinsider.com/cummins-confirms-2000-layoffs-at-truck-engine-manufacturer-trucking-downturn-2019-11

Canada’s current health care system provides window into proposed Medicare for All plans. “No one… agonizes over whether they can afford to see a doctor, or take their child to the emergency room. No one faces bankruptcy, or loses their home, because of medical debt.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/americans-have-questions-about-medicare-for-all-canadians-have-answers/2019/11/18/7971c78e-d4d6-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html

Iraqi government accused of restricting news coverage of anti-government protests. “The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has ordered closing 12 TV channels and four radio stations over ‘publishing content inciting violence’ while covering of the nationwide anti-government protests.” https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/EN/Story/44799/Twelve-TV-and-radio-stations-closed-over-inciting-violence

Afghanistan’s government has reportedly received $7.9 billion from the U.S. in the last nine years to fund its air force, but only has 158 operational aircraft. “The report says the ($1.7 billion in) funds allocated to the Afghan Air Force in 2019 was $295.4 million more than the money allocated to other elements of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, or ANDSF.” https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan/us-provided-79b-afghan-air-force-2010-sigar

Turkish police reportedly used tear gas to disperse Women’s Day protesters in Istanbul. “Some 2,000 people, mostly women, took part in the march to mark the UN-backed International Day for Eliminating Violence against Women.” https://sg.news.yahoo.com/turkish-police-fire-teargas-disperse-womens-day-rally-194517518.html

Death toll in Iran protest hits at least 143. “Citing eyewitness accounts and videos, Amnesty (International) said Iranian forces fired from close range at unarmed civilians who posed no real security threat.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/Iran-protests-ruthless-unarmed-demonstrators-amnesty-death-toll-rises

Amnesty International says activists jailed after exposing child sex abuse ring. “The London-based rights group released a statement Monday saying Musa Mahmudi and Ehsanullah Hamidi were detained last week (by Afghanistan’s intelligence agency).” https://apnews.com/0a27205332544b1f92b7ecb151d39045

Federal judge says White House officials are not exempt from testifying before Congress. “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s ruling says former White House counsel Donald McGahn must comply with a congressional subpoena and testify to impeachment investigators about President Trump’s efforts to obstruct the Mueller inquiry.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/11/26/headlines/judge_rules_trump_can_t_stop_officials_from_testifying_in_impeachment_inquiry

How about replacing ride share companies with driver co-ops? “When regulators in Austin, Texas decided to run Uber out of town, local drivers set up their own app called RideAustin. In 2017, the New Economics Foundation launched a project called CabFair which sought to create a driver-owned alternative to Uber in London.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/26/uber-london-taxi-app-drivers-cities

The wealth of the 400 richest Americans has more than doubled in just 10 years. “A blend of factors which included the rapid growth of the stock market, the nation’s economic recovery after the Great Recession, the unfettered growth of large corporations, and declining tax rates fostered a favorable environment for a surge in the wealth held by the Forbes 400, Zucman said.” https://www.businessinsider.com/forbes-400-wealth-doubled-last-decade-as-tax-rate-fell-2019-11

Researchers suggest drug abuse, obesity and lack of access to affordable health care may be factors in rise in U.S. mortality rates for working age adults. “The study, one of the most comprehensive modern examinations of mortality rates across the United States, reports that Americans between the ages of 25 and 64 are dying at younger ages more frequently than in living memory.” https://www.courthousenews.com/dying-too-young-deaths-spike-among-working-age-us-adults/

Americans unmoved by Trump impeachment hearings. “The CNN poll found half of Americans believe Trump should be impeached and removed from office while 43% are opposed. Both numbers are identical to CNN’s polling in October, prior to the start of public impeachment hearings.” https://www.courthousenews.com/poll-public-hearings-did-not-move-needle-on-impeachment-support/

California’s supreme court strikes down rule that allowed police searches of vehicles. “While illegal in other states, California did allow police to search vehicles if motorists were unable to furnish the license or registration, relying on a 2002 California Supreme Court decision that created what is known as the Arturo exception.” https://www.courthousenews.com/california-supreme-court-overturns-exception-to-search-warrant-requirement/

November 25, 2019

Billionaire former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, enters Democratic Party presidential race. “After defending it for years, Bloomberg apologized last week at a predominantly African American church for implementing the controversial (‘stop and frisk’) policy.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/24/politics/michael-bloomberg-2020-election/index.html Biden is a bumbler, Sanders is a socialist, Warren, Harris, Klobuchar and Gabbard are women, Booker is black, Buttigieg is gay, Yang is Asian, Castro is Hispanic, so we need another candidate! (sarcasm) But there’s already a white, male billionaire – Tom Steyer!

Observers suspect President Trump is lying about his health. “…there is no such thing as a ‘phased physical exam’, as Trump had described it in his tweet from last weekend…. ‘It doesn’t make a lot of sense, you know, to do that kind of testing at Walter Reed without, really without provocation,’ said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, cardiologist to former Vice President Dick Cheney.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/24/health/trump-hospital-gupta-analysis/index.html

Navy Secretary forced out after dispute over President Trump’s pardon of court martialed SEAL officer. “(Richard) Spencer’s resignation letter, dated Sunday, said he regarded good order and discipline throughout the Navy’s ranks to be ‘deadly serious business’.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/us/politics/navy-secretary-richard-spencer-resign.html

At least 13 more protesters killed by security forces in Iraq. “Since the anti-government protests broke out in early October, at least 342 people have been killed and thousands more wounded in Baghdad and various southern provinces.” https://www.foxnews.com/world/iraq-worst-protest-days-13-killed

After Iranian government reconnects country to the internet, users post videos of protest violence. “One video from Shiraz, some 680 kilometers (420 miles) south of Tehran, purports to show a crowd of over 100 people scatter as gunfire erupts from a police station in the city…. followed by a burst of machine gun fire.” https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/internet-restored-online-iran-protest-videos-show-chaos-67270416

Koalas being wiped out by Australian wildfires. “Deborah Tabart, the chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation, estimated that over 1,000 koalas have been killed from the fires, and as much as 80 percent of their habitat has been destroyed…” https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/471809-australian-koala-population-hit-as-wildfires-rage

Egyptian police raid news office, arrest journalists. “Plain-clothes security forces have raided Mada Masr’s office in Cairo. Staff are currently being held inside, and their phones have been switched off.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/egypt-police-raid-independent-news-outlet-journalist-arrest-191124134624112.html

Life in a developed market economy: Major grocery chains hit by romaine lettuce recall. “Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Aldi, Sam’s Club and others acted on warnings from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when at least 40 cases of E. Coli infection were reported nationwide from products likely harvested in the Salinas area.” https://www.foxla.com/news/target-joins-walmart-in-tainted-lettuce-recall-as-thanksgiving-nears

Federal Reserve secretary says economic recovery finally reaching working class Americans. “Back in August, at an annual gathering of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell began his speech by observing how the U.S. economic expansion — the longest on record — was finally benefiting working people, through higher pay and more plentiful job opportunities.” https://apnews.com/2c5f47bb54fa4b03937450d9c43290a6 Higher wages? Low unemployment? Time to outsource more production to low wage countries, or increase immigration to boost the labor supply! We have an obligation to our shareholders to maximize profits. (sarcasm)

Life in a developed market economy: Four employees injured in explosion at Kentucky ice cream factory on Friday, few details available days later. “No word yet on how badly the people were hurt or what caused the explosion.” https://abc13.com/explosion-at-dippin-dots-ice-cream-factory-leaves-4-injured/5715727/

Life in a developed market economy: News article provides list of recalled food products to avoid using in your Thanksgiving dinner. “Romaine lettuce…. Raw pork products…. Chicken fried rice…. Cheese Nips…. Cottage cheese…. Blackberries.” https://pix11.com/2019/11/24/if-youre-hosting-thanksgiving-dinner-check-your-pantry-and-fridge-for-these-recalled-foods/

Indiana to lose 300 manufacturing jobs. “Indianapolis-based apparel maker Motionwear has notified state officials that it plans to permanently close its production facilities early next year and eliminate almost 150 jobs…. Power tools maker Stanley Black & Decker is planning to permanently lay off about 140 workers from its factory in Greenfield…” https://www.wthr.com/article/nearly-300-jobs-being-cut-2-central-indiana-manufacturers

Australian man who was approached by people he suspected were Chinese agents found dead after reporting the incident to Australian security services. “They allegedly offered (Nick Zhao) A$1m (£520,000; $680,000) to fund his run for a Melbourne seat as a candidate for the ruling Liberal Party, of which Mr Zhao was already a member…. He was found dead in a hotel room in Melbourne in March.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50541082

Chemical weapons inspector says final version of report on alleged chemical weapons incident in Douma, Syria was edited in such a way that it was misleading. “Describing the levels as ‘high’ likely overstates the extent of levels of chlorinated organic derivatives detected. They were, in most cases, present only in parts per billion range, as low as 1-2 ppb, which is essentially trace quantities.” https://news.antiwar.com/2019/11/24/opcw-accused-of-manipulating-syrian-chemical-attack-report/

Pennsylvania’s supreme court rules that suspects can’t be compelled to turn over their computer passwords to the police. “Wednesday’s decision is only the latest of many court rulings on whether compelled password disclosure is a form of self-testimony that’s barred by the Fifth Amendment.” https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/11/police-cant-force-child-porn-suspect-to-reveal-his-password-court-rules/2/

Pro-democracy candidates control 18 of 19 Hong Kong district councils after landslide election win. “We do not accept Hong Kong becoming a police state and an authoritarian city.” https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/25/hong-kong-district-council-election-democrats-take-control-17-18-councils-landslide-victory/

12 Arizona anti-prison protesters facing felony rioting charges for being noisy, setting off fireworks. “‘It’s pretty outrageous. They were all on the sidewalk, no one told them to leave, and they were walking away.’… The idea that the noise demonstration rose to such a level of threat is, for (Civil rights lawyer Paul) Gattone, ‘ridiculous’.” https://theintercept.com/2019/11/22/tucson-12-protest-felony-riot/

Researchers explore archives of MKULTRA researcher Louis Jolyon West. “The (CIA) hoped to produce couriers who could embed hidden messages in their brains, to implant false memories and remove true ones in people without their awareness, to convert groups to opposing ideologies, and more. The loftiest objective was the creation of hypno-programmed assassins.” https://theintercept.com/2019/11/24/cia-mkultra-louis-jolyon-west/

Economist Joseph Stiglitz points out that statistics like GDP (gross domestic product, or how much an economy produces) do not really tell us much about the health of a society. “So what if GDP goes up, if most citizens are worse off? In the first three years of the so-called recovery from the financial crisis, about 91% of the gains went to the top 1%. No wonder that many people doubted the claims of politicians who were then saying the economy was well on the way to a robust recovery.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/24/metrics-gdp-economic-performance-social-progress

November 24, 2019

Climate change protesters occupy Yale-Harvard football field at half-time, demand divestment from fossil fuel industry. “An estimated 500 students and alumni gathered and… sat down at mid-field, holding signs that condemned Harvard and Yale for being ‘complicit in climate injustice’ and chanting ‘fossil fuels have got to go!'” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/23/incredible-hundreds-harvard-and-yale-students-storm-football-field-demanding

Andrew Yang accuses MSNBC of pattern of omissions. “They’ve omitted me from their graphics 12+ times, called me John Yang on air, and given me a fraction of the speaking time over 2 debates despite my polling higher than other candidates on stage. At some point you have to call it.” https://deadline.com/2019/11/andrew-yang-refuses-to-appear-on-msnbc-1202793929/

Protesters in Paris march against domestic violence. “A 2014 EU survey of 42,000 women across all 28 member states found that 26% of French respondents said they been abused by a partner since age 15, either physically or sexually. That’s below the global average of 30%, according to UN Women.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paris-protesters-march-against-deadly-domestic-violence-france-2019-11-23/

Data on 1.2 billion people found on unprotected Google Cloud drive were likely ‘non-consensual profiles’. “The data merges home and cell numbers, social media profiles, work histories and email addresses…. PDL founder Sean Thorne hypothesized that some of the data his company non-consensually gathered on 1.5 billion people was sold to a normal customer who mishandled it, and that is ‘their responsibility’.” https://boingboing.net/2019/11/23/nuclear-waste-brokers.html

Pope Francis calls on countries with nuclear weapons to give them up. “In a world where millions of children and families live in inhumane conditions, the money that is squandered and the fortunes made through the manufacture, upgrading, maintenance and sale of ever more destructive weapons, are an affront crying out to heaven.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/pope-francis-calls-for-a-world-without-nuclear-weapons-during-nagasaki-visit

Much higher than normal turnout for Hong Kong district council elections. “In past years the elections have seen low turnout, with disciplined and well-funded pro-Beijing groups winning easy control of almost all councils.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/hong-kong-protests-prompt-huge-turnout-for-local-elections

Solar company accused of firing workers who wanted a union. “On Monday, their employer Bright Power fired its entire in-house construction crew and announced that those workers, in the midst of negotiations for their first contract, would be replaced with subcontractors.” https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evjenn/this-solar-energy-company-fired-its-construction-crew-after-they-unionized

Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act protects service providers from liability for the content posted by their users. Free speech supporters say this is a good thing. “Without Section 230, it would be hard for companies to avoid lawsuits and criminal charges without either becoming cesspools of totally unmoderated speech or banning user-generated speech entirely.” https://reason.com/video/politicians-want-to-destroy-section-230-the-internets-first-amendment/

Prisoners in West Virginia will be charged 3 cents a minute to read books on tablet computers. “The Prison Policy Initiative estimated in 2017 that wages in West Virginia prisons range between $0.04 and $0.58 an hour.” https://reason.com/2019/11/22/west-virginia-inmates-will-be-charged-by-the-minute-to-read-e-books-on-tablets/

November 23, 2019

National Archives has blood-spattered pink suit Jackie Kennedy was wearing during the John F. Kennedy assassination, won’t be on display until at least 2103 (that’s not a typo). “She had the suit on during the swearing in of President Lyndon B. Johnson on Air Force One on the way back to Washington D.C., about two hours after her husband was assassinated. Though she was urged multiple times to change out of the suit, which was covered in President Kennedy’s blood, Mrs. Kennedy insisted, ‘Let them see what they’ve done’.” https://people.com/politics/jackie-kennedy-pink-suit-assassination-locked-away-until-2103/ Who was this ‘them’ she was referring to? If it was the Mafia, Russians, Cubans or deranged right or left-wing terrorists (Lee Harvey Oswald was apparently working both sides of the street), why does the suit need to be hidden away? “Antonio Veciana is an 88-year-old great-grandfather living out his retirement in Miami. Yet in his prime, he was at the heart of some of the most momentous events in modern US history. These included the CIA’s anti-Castro operations and anti-communist covert plans in Latin America, as well as inadvertently witnessing the meeting of a top CIA operative with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to the assassination of President John F Kennedy.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/john-f-kennedy-assasination-cuba-cia-lee-harvey-oswald-antonio-veciana-a7957481.html Now that would be embarrassing!

Two San Diego County sheriff’s deputies charged in connection with firearms trafficking, including ‘off-roster’ firearms not allowed to be sold to the public. “Between March 2013 and February 2019, (Sheriff’s Department captain Marco) Garmo acquired about 146 guns and sold or transferred 104 of them, the US Attorney’s Office said.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/22/us/san-diego-illegal-gun-trafficking/index.html Senior cops trafficking restricted firearms? Sounds pretty bad, but after doing a little web surfing… “California’s already limited and constantly shrinking roster of approved guns has created a high demand, according to C.D. Michel, a California attorney whose clients include the National Rifle Association of America and the California Rifle and Pistol Foundation…. ‘The retailer can only sell an off-roster gun (one not certified by the State of California as ‘safe’) to a law enforcement officer, but the law enforcement officer can sell it to a private party,’ Michel said. ‘It’s not illegal if you buy them for yourself and you go out and shoot it and decide you don’t like it, and you want to sell it. You just can’t have the intention to sell it to someone else when you buy it.'” https://www.sgvtribune.com/2017/05/04/heres-all-of-the-guns-the-atf-took-from-pasadena-police-lieutenants-sierra-madre-home/

U.S. Attorney General William Barr calls Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide ‘a perfect storm of screw-ups’. “(Epstein) was taken off suicide watch about a week before his death, though kept on a heightened watch that required him to have a cellmate. But his cellmate was transferred on 9 August to another prison, a day before Epstein’s death…” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50520742

Life in a liberal democracy: Possible Democratic Party presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has reportedly arranged to buy $31.5 million in TV ads, Bernie Sanders cries foul. “I’m disgusted by the idea that Michael Bloomberg or any other billionaire thinks they can circumvent the political process and spend tens of millions of dollars to buy our elections. It’s just the latest example of a rigged political system that we are going to change when we’re in the White House.” https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/471733-sanders-says-hes-disgusted-by-bloombergs-30-million-ad-buy

Republican National Committee reportedly bought $94,800 worth of Donald Trump Jr.’s new book, Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us. “The Republican National Committee also sent an email to supporters the day (Trump Jr’s) book came out, giving away signed copies in exchange for a donation of at least $50.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rnc-bought-95000-worth-of-copies-of-donald-trump-jr-s-new-book/ It better be a picture book, or Trump supporters aren’t going to buy it! Stick figures of Antifa attacking ‘conservative thinkers’ (surrounded by Confederate flags and guys wearing Nazi armbands)?

President Trump signs short-term spending bill that also reauthorizes Patriot Act. “In addition to the funding extension, the spending legislation includes a grab-bag of other provisions, including a 3.1 percent military pay raise and money to conduct the Census. It also extends some expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/11/21/senate-passes-short-term-spending-bill-sending-legislation-trump-hours-ahead-shutdown-deadline/ Those are the last two sentences in the article!

Life in a liberal democracy: Montgomery, Alabama police officer found guilty of manslaughter in shooting death of man who fled ‘stop and frisk’. “The Montgomery Police Department, other law enforcement, and other government officials should take proactive steps to implement reforms that limit when and how police use lethal force and ensure that officers prioritize de-escalation. Everyone deserves to be treated with the dignity and respect that Aaron Smith denied to Greg Gunn.” https://www.wsfa.com/2019/11/22/montgomery-police-officer-aaron-cody-smith-convicted-manslaughter/

No results yet in Afghan election held two months ago. “While disputes in previous elections were over millions of stuffed ballots, the turnout this time was below two million, and the current, intense fight centers on about 300,000 votes that could decide whether Mr. Ghani or Mr. Abdullah won a majority in the first round or whether the election must go to a runoff.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/world/asia/afghanistan-election-ghani-abdullah.html

Life in a developed market economy: Salad products recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. “The products were sold on Oct. 14 through Oct. 16 in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.” https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/salad-product-recall-over-e-coli-bacteria-impacts-22-states

Uber’s co-founder has reportedly cashed out $1.5 billion in company stock. “In the past few weeks, (Travis) Kalanick… has sold slightly more than half of his holdings in the company.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uber-founder-travis-kalanick-sells-shares/

Life in a liberal democracy: Palo Alto, California settles excessive force lawsuit for $572,500. “(Gustavo Alvarez’) suit, which was filed against the city, its police department and six of its employees in April, claimed that in February 2018 officers kicked down his front door, dragged him out of his house, slammed his head against a car windshield and arrested him for driving with a suspended license, without probable cause…” https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/11/20/a-gay-man-sued-palo-alto-police-now-every-officer-will-undergo-lgbtq-training/

Life in a liberal democracy: Former Millville, New Jersey police officer pleads guilty to excessive force charges. “During his use-of-force report, (Joseph) Dixon stated that no injuries had occurred (during the DUI arrest), failing to mention the woman’s complaints, according to the attorney general. The woman in the case had actually suffered seven broken ribs, one of which had to be removed.” https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Former-NJ-Officer-Admits-to-Using-Excessive-Force-In-Arrests-of-Two-Women-565264071.html

Life in a liberal democracy: Citrus Heights, California settled excessive force lawsuit for $1.2 million, required victim to sign non-disclosure agreement. “(James Nelson) was held face down on the pavement – handcuffed – on that 100 degree afternoon for approximately five minutes as he screamed and flailed about. By the time Nelson got to the UC Davis Medical Center, his body temperature was 108 degrees, and he had second- and third-degree burns over 20 percent of his body. He suffered kidney failure, shock and permanent disfigurement.” https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article237488949.html

Life in a liberal democracy: Man sues Gwinnett County, Georgia after he is tasered three times during jaywalking arrest. “This video is a classic case of police brutality,” his attorney, Jackie Patterson, told the news station. “All you had to do was write him a ticket and let him go.” https://www.ajc.com/news/crime–law/man-claims-excessive-force-after-gwinnett-cops-use-stun-gun-during-jaywalking-arrest/2BkcsUeW39SDT0BiukgKuK/ You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dexTvSbRz3E

14 more protesters killed in Iraq. “In all, at least 340 protesters have been killed and thousands have been wounded since unrest in Iraq began on October 1, when demonstrators took to the streets in Baghdad and across Iraq’s mainly Shiite south to decry rampant government corruption and lack of basic services despite Iraq’s oil wealth.” https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-protesters-killed-raising-death-toll-in-fierce-baghdad-clashes/

Iran claims to have arrested 1,000 protesters. “A large number of people arrested who had taken part in the protests but did not take part in causing damage or setting fires have been released, judiciary spokesman (Gholamhossein) Esmaili said…” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-gasoline-protests-arrests/irans-revolutionary-guards-arrest-about-100-protest-leaders-iranian-judiciary-idUKKBN1XW1W6

Three of the twelve Trump impeachment witnesses were immigrants. “The witnesses followed in a long tradition in American public service that includes Henry Kissinger, a former secretary of state born in Germany, and the late Zbigniew Brzezinski, an ex-national security adviser born in Poland.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/23/trump-impeachment-inquiry-immigrants-vindman-hill Is this because immigrants are more qualified for these positions, or because Americans are steering clear of them?

Coal researcher warned of global warming in 1966. “There is evidence that the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere is increasing rapidly as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels,” (James) Garvey wrote. “If the future rate of increase continues as it is at the present, it has been predicted that, because the CO2 envelope reduces radiation, the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere will increase and that vast changes in the climates of the earth will result.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/22/coal-knew-too-explosive-report-shows-industry-was-aware-climate-threat-far-back-1966

After Justice Department lifts National Security Letter gag orders, many companies, especially credit rating agencies and telecommunications firms, are remaining silent. “The data (released in response to the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s lawsuit) showed 760 gag orders were lifted out of 11,874 reviewed (between February 2016 to September 2017), and 126 companies had at least one gag order lifted during that time period…. Between 2015 and 2017, the government issued more than 37,000 National Security Letters seeking customer records from companies.” https://www.courthousenews.com/companies-staying-mum-on-fbi-surveillance-of-customers-records-show/

$1 million Trump donor pleads guilty to concealing his lobbying for foreign governments. “Imaad Zuberi, 49, contributed large sums of money to both Republicans and Democrats, including $600,000 to then-candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, as well as to Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky. But federal prosecutors say that money came from foreign entities.” https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-donor-pleads-guilty-to-acting-as-foreign-agent/

No comprehensive ‘Green New Deal’ bill on the horizon in Congress, laments activist. “…despite the extensive discussion of a Green New Deal, there is still no bill to vote on; nor, does it seem like there would be time for one to pass the 116th Congress before the 2020 election.” https://consortiumnews.com/2019/11/21/theres-still-no-green-new-deal-bill-in-congress/

November 22, 2019

Las Vegas police officer shoots man after fight with police officers at airport. “(Capt. Nichole) Splinter said the man started attacking the officers and knocked one unconscious. A second officer attempted to use ‘less than lethal means to safely deescalate the situation’ and was also attacked by the man, Splinter told reporters. The man also tried to attack a third officer, who fired two rounds, striking him.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-shot-tarmac-las-vegas-airport-after-attacking-officers-police-n1089091 Three cops couldn’t arrest an unarmed man without shooting him? Is he Jason Bourne?

Economists worried by spike in ‘personal loans’. “More than 20 million Americans have these unsecured loans, TransUnion found, double the number of people that had this type of debt in 2012.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/11/21/personal-loans-are-growing-like-weed-potential-warning-sign-us-economy/

U.S. and U.K. allegedly set up secret prisons after invasion of Iraq, hid prisoners from Red Cross. “One of the two secret prisons that were the subject of the military lawyer’s complaint was inside a joint US-UK forward operating base known as H1, located at an airfield and oil pipeline pumping station in Iraq’s Western Desert. The second, outside the town of al-Qaim near the Syrian border, was known to coalition forces as Station 22.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-and-us-forces-ran-secret-prisons-iraq-after-2003-invasion

November 21, 2019

In fifth Democratic presidential candidate debate, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar say national health insurance, like they have in Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Scandinavia and the U.K., is unrealistic. “Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., raised the issue unprompted, arguing that his policy of ‘Medicare for all who want it’ would be ‘a governing strategy we can unify the American people around’.” https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-20/democratic-debate-medicare-for-all There’s a problem with this approach, however. The younger, healthier people end up being covered by for-profit insurance through their employers, which is profitable because these healthy people make fewer claims, while the older, sicker people end up on Medicare, and this becomes financially unsustainable when only older, sicker people are in the coverage pool. Everyone needs to be in the same plan to spread the risk and make it work financially.

Utah woman charged for being topless in her garage in front of her step-children. “Tilli Buchanan, 28, was working with her husband in their garage in late 2017 or early 2018 when they both removed their shirts to prevent dust from getting on them, The Associated Press reported…. The stepmother was charged in February with three counts of misdemeanor lewdness involving a child. The husband faces no charges.” https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/utah-stepmom-went-topless-in-front-of-stepkids-now-facing-charges-authorities-say Does the district attorney also consider National Geographic to be porn?

Bill removing marijuana from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act passes in House Judiciary Committee. “The legislation, which passed 24 to 10, has a high chance of approval in the full House where Democrats control the chamber with 234 seats.” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/20/house-committee-approves-bill-decriminalizing-marijuana-on-the-federal-level.html

Federal judge blocks resumption of federal executions after 16 year break. “(Attorney General William) Barr proposed a simplified method of lethal injection using a single drug, pentobarbital, rather than using a three-drug cocktail. The problem with this policy, (U.S. District Judge Tanya) Chutkan wrote, is that appears to contradict the Federal Death Penalty Act’s requirement that death row inmates be executed ‘in the manner prescribed by the state of conviction’.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/21/william-barr-death-penalty-halted-federal-judge/

African American cemetery discovered under Florida high school. “Ridgewood Cemetery was opened by the city in 1942 and sold to a private company only 15 years later…. The property was sold to the school district in 1959…” https://www.newsweek.com/florida-high-school-discovers-nearly-150-coffins-buried-property-1473158

11 arrested in Pittsboro, North Carolina after protesters for and against removal of ‘Silent Sam’ Confederate statue clash, statue is removed. “We encourage all members of the public to treat each other with respect and refrain from aggressive conduct toward one another.” https://abc11.com/11-arrested-in-brawl-near-confederate-statue-in-pittsboro/5702504/ and https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/20/us/north-carolina-confederate-monument-removal-pittsboro/index.html

Government rockets hit Syrian refugee camp, damaging maternity hospital. “At least 16 people were killed and scores wounded when a ground-to-ground missile struck a camp for displaced people in the village of Qah on Wednesday, said Ahmed Yarji, a spokesman for Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/syria-idlib-idp-camp-hit-deadly-missile-attack-191121065039126.html

Death toll in Bolivian protests rises to at least 31. “An interim government has taken power and vowed to hold new elections at ‘the earliest possible time’, but Morales’ supporters have echoed the longtime leader’s claim that he was the victim of a coup — and have since taken to the streets, where they’ve faced riot police and the military.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/20/americas/bolivia-unrest-intl-hnk/index.html

Iran disconnected from internet for fourth day. “People can still access domestic websites that are connected to this (intranet) network, which means that Iranian apps can work, (and Iranian) websites can work although there’s no [international] internet access.” https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50490898

50 students arrested in India during fee hike protest. “Police erected barricades around the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as hundreds of students marched down the campus seeking the rollback of a hike in annual fees they say would make education there unaffordable for many.” https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/police-students-india-capital-fee-protests-grow-191118143247467.html

President of United Auto Workers, Gary Jones, steps down. “The news of Jones’ resignation came shortly after the UAW’s International Executive Board filed paperwork to expel him and Regional Director Vance Pearson from the union over allegations raised by a federal investigation into union corruption that has resulted in multiple arrests starting in 2017.” https://www.marketwatch.com/story/uaw-president-gary-jones-resigns-after-gm-sues-rival-over-union-bribery-2019-11-20

Amnesty International slams Google and Facebook for violating their users’ privacy. “The abuse of privacy that is core to Facebook and Google’s surveillance-based business model is starkly demonstrated by the companies’ long history of privacy scandals.” https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/21/amnesty-international-latest-to-slam-surveillance-giants-facebook-and-google-as-incompatible-with-human-rights/

‘Vulture’ hedge fund buys 25% share of Tribune Publishing, which owns multiple media outlets. “…Digital First Media has a particularly bitter reputation for cutting costs at its papers.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/hedge-fund-alden-becomes-tribunes-largest-shareholder/2019/11/20/79c3a3b2-0bc5-11ea-8054-289aef6e38a3_story.html

Jury finds former JPMorgan currency trader guilty of conspiring to rig foreign exchange trades. “Barclays Plc, BNP Paribas SA, Citigroup Inc, JPMorgan, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc and UBS Group AG have entered related guilty pleas, and been collectively fined more than $2.8 billion.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-forex-manipulation/ex-jpmorgan-trader-found-guilty-in-u-s-currency-rigging-trial-idUSKBN1XU2TY

Justice Department reportedly investigating FBI official who may have altered Russiagate document. “The possibility of a substantive change to an investigative document is likely to fuel accusations from President Donald Trump and his allies that the FBI committed wrongdoing in its investigation of connections between Russian election meddling and the Trump campaign.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/21/politics/fbi-fisa-russia-investigation/index.html

Both sides accused of targeting medical facilities in Yemen. “The Yemen Archive said that the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-aligned rebels was allegedly responsible for 72 attacks, while the rebels, known as Houthis, were blamed for at least 52 attacks.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/report-over-130-attacks-medical-182035351.html

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit with multiple corruption charges. “Following the announcement, Netanyahu called the indictment ‘an attempted coup’ against him, and that the process was meant to topple him.” https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-charged-bribery-fraud-corruption-israel-election-1.8137771

Will the publishers of the Chinese government’s leaked Uighur documents be extradited to China, like in the case of Julian Assange? “(Julian Assange) has been charged (by the United States) with 17 counts of espionage for publishing the government’s documents revealing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and torture in Guantanamo Bay.” https://original.antiwar.com/Nozomi_Hayase/2019/11/20/the-prosecution-of-julian-assange-calls-for-the-publics-defense-of-free-speech/

Turkey reportedly arrests lawyer helping investigate asylum seekers for German government. “Between January and October this year some 9,500 Turks applied for asylum in Germany, up 8% from the same period last year, official figures show, making Turks the third-largest group of asylum seekers after Syrians and Iraqis.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-turkey/turkey-arrests-lawyer-hired-by-german-embassy-idUKKBN1XU2NG

Legislators on the left and right working out a common position on stopping the government’s mass surveillance programs . “Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and conservative House Freedom Caucus signed onto a letter calling for ‘meaningful, bipartisan surveillance reform’ just as Congress voted to extend those controversial provisions for another three months.” https://thehill.com/policy/technology/471309-dozens-of-lawmakers-call-for-government-surveillance-reforms

Body of Mexican defender of indigenous rights found in shallow grave. “Authorities found the body of Arnulfo Cerón Soriano, indigenous human rights defender, on 20 November in a clandestine grave near the city of Tlapa, Guerrero state in western Mexico.” https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr41/1453/2019/en/ and https://kvia.com/news/us-world/2019/11/20/missing-activist-found-dead-in-mexicos-troubled-guerrero/

Former Border Patrol agent gets fine and probation for running over migrant. “…a federal judge in Tucson sentenced former Arizona Border Patrol agent Matthew Bowen Wednesday to three years of supervised release and an $8,000 fine for intentionally running over a Guatemalan migrant with a pickup truck in 2017 — and then falsifying records about the assault.” https://www.democracynow.org/2019/11/21/headlines/ex_border_patrol_agent_sentenced_to_probation_for_running_over_migrant

More than 1,000 protest Ann Coulter speech at U.C. Berkeley. “…several protesters who were blocking the entrances to the event described being assaulted by people who wanted to get inside to hear Coulter’s speech.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/21/ann-coulter-berkeley-protesters-arrests

Hundreds of thousands of protesters march across Colombia. “The national strike was prompted by proposed cuts to pensions weeks ago…. Protesters also expressed anger at the perceived slow-walking of the rollout of the country’s historic 2016 peace deal with the leftist (FARC) rebel group.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/21/colombia-protests-ivan-duque-government

EPA rolls back disaster rules for chemical and petroleum plants. “Safety requirements at these facilities should be stepped up, not rolled back,” (Ken) Cook added. “But this is what we’ve come to expect from the Trump EPA.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/21/environmental-justice-advocates-blast-trump-epa-dangerous-rollback-chemical-disaster

Photojournalists sue over government harassment along Mexican border. “Five journalists who were tracked, detained, and interrogated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for reporting on conditions at the southern border in 2018 and 2019 brought a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday for what the ACLU called an ‘unprecedented, coordinated attack on the freedom of the press’.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/21/targeted-my-own-government-journalists-sue-trump-dhs-over-coordinated-attack-press

Arizona jury finds man who helped stranded migrants not guilty of human trafficking charges. “The Trump administration is wrong to try to prosecute people who are only trying to save lives. By threatening Dr. (Scott) Warren with a decade in prison, the U.S. government sought to criminalize compassion and weaponize the deadly desert against people who make the perilous journey to the United States in search of safety.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/21/attempt-criminalize-basic-human-kindness-fails-activist-scott-warren-found-not

Monsanto reaches plea deal with federal prosecutors, will pay $10.2 million settlement for pesticide violations. “Monsanto admitted it used Penncap-M despite knowing of its 2013 prohibition by the Environmental Protection Agency. The company also admitted that it told employees to re-enter the sprayed fields seven days later even though it knew that workers should have been prohibited from entering the area for 31 days.” https://www.courthousenews.com/monsanto-fined-10-million-in-plea-deal-over-use-of-banned-pesticide/

Survey finds high rates of anti-Semitism in some eastern European countries. “The poll of 14 European countries, done for the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, found anti-Semitic attitudes most prevalent in Poland, where such sentiment rose to 48% of the population from 37% in 2015; and Ukraine, where the rise was even greater— to 46% from 32% in 2016. Anti-Semitic views in Hungary were little changed but remained high, increasing from 40% to 42%.” https://www.courthousenews.com/survey-finds-1-in-4-europeans-hold-anti-semitic-beliefs/

November 20, 2019

Prison guards monitoring Jeffrey Epstein charged with falsifying records. “The indictment charges that (Tova) Noel and (Michael) Thomas repeatedly signed false ‘count slips’ even though they failed to conduct the required counts at midnight, 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. They also (allegedly) failed to check more frequently on Epstein, as had been ordered by higher-ups at the jail…” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/two-jail-workers-charged-with-falsifying-records-of-checks-on-jeffrey-epstein-the-night-he-died/2019/11/19/f6e22158-0ae8-11ea-97ac-a7ccc8dd1ebc_story.html

Rep. Ilhan Omar asks judge to show mercy on man who called her a terrorist, threatened to shoot her. “Punishing the defendant with a lengthy prison sentence or a burdensome financial fine would not rehabilitate him.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ilhan-omar-compassion-carlineo

Des Plaines, Illinois police officer fatally shoots bank robbery suspect during gun battle, but seriously wounds piano student. “A 15-year-old boy, who was in the music store for a piano lesson, was also shot in the arm and abdomen…. Chicago Fire Department officials… said he was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in serious condition.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-officer-shot-kennedy-expy-20191120-737kr77rwnaotohi2yxyvlpupi-story.html

10 charged in death of Ohio University fraternity pledge. “A lawsuit filed by (Collin Wiant’s) parents in February alleges he was subjected to severe hazing including being beaten with a belt, punched, made to take drugs, forced to drink a gallon of alcohol in an hour and deprived of sleep. The lawsuit cites a toxicology report that showed he died of nitrous oxide ingestion.” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/20/us/ohio-university-fraternity-pledge-indictments/index.html

News organizations issue retractions after report on U.S. detention of children is found to have used figures from Obama administration. “The story quoted an independent expert working with the U.N. human rights office saying that over 100,000 children are currently being held. But that figure refers to the total number of U.S. child detentions for the year 2015, according to the U.N. refugee agency.” https://www.foxnews.com/media/obama-era-child-detention-statistics-trump-retractions

Hong Kong employee of British Consulate says he was tortured while visiting mainland China. “In an 8,000 word description of his experiences, (Simon) Cheng relates a nightmare of repeated physical abuse, threats and questioning about Britain’s alleged meddling in the protests.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain/china-tortured-me-over-hong-kong-says-former-british-consulate-employee-idUSKBN1XU0R4

Mass arrests at Hong Kong university protest. “More than 1,000 protesters who had spent the previous day clashing with the police were detained after heavily armed officers surrounded the school on Sunday and gave the protesters few options but to surrender and face arrest.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/world/asia/hong-kong-protests.html

More than 106 dead during Iran fuel price hike protests. “Snipers have shot into crowds of protesters from rooftops and, in one case, from a helicopter, Amnesty (International) said.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iran-unrest-protest-deaths_n_5dd454dae4b010f3f1ceb58b

Sweden ends Julian Assange rape investigation. “Elisabet Massi Fritz, a lawyer for the accuser, said she and her client would discuss whether to request a review of the decision to drop the case.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/julian-assange-rape-charge-dropped-sweden-191119140206831.html

Riot police in Georgia (the country, not the state) attack peaceful pro-democracy protesters outside national legislature. “Local media reported several arrests and injuries after Monday’s crackdown on the protesters who called for an early parliamentary election after the ruling party backtracked on its promise of reforming the election system.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/tear-gas-water-cannon-disperse-peaceful-rally-georgia-191118135631612.html

Chick-fil-A says it will stop making donations to Christian groups that oppose gay marriage. “In 2017 and 2018, the Chick-fil-A Foundation gave $2.4 million to the Missouri-based Fellowship of Christian Athletes for sports camps for under-served youth and $165,000 to the Salvation Army to buy Christmas gifts for needy children. The foundation also gave $6,000 to the Paul Anderson Youth Homes.” https://www.newser.com/story/283252/chick-fil-a-ends-donations-to-groups-against-gay-marriage.html

Massachusetts Sen. Edward J. Markey asked Amazon what kind of precautions the company was taking to prevent law enforcement agencies from violating people’s civil rights with Ring doorbell videos. “In two responses from Amazon’s vice president of public policy, Brian Huseman, which Markey’s office made public Tuesday, the company said it placed few restrictions on how police used or shared the videos offered up by homeowners…. Police are required to include a case number for the crime they are investigating, but not any other details or evidence related to the crime or their request.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/11/19/police-can-keep-ring-camera-video-forever-share-with-whomever-theyd-like-company-tells-senator/

Israel launches strikes against Iranian forces in Syria. “The message from Israel to Tehran is clear. Any attacks out of Syria will be met by a disproportionate response.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50485521

Guantanamo detainee knocks The Report, says victims were not interviewed by Senate investigators and that CIA reports do not reveal the actual severity of the torture meted out to them. “There is no explanation why Daniel Jones only reviewed CIA documents and never spoke to us, the victims of torture.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/11/19/guantanamo-bay-detainee-cia-report-movie-terrorism-pakistan-torture-column/4181382002/

United Nations and International Red Cross say U.S. move does not make Israeli settlements legal. “The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 – which both the United States and Israel have ratified – lays down that an occupying power shall not transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, (U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville) said.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-israel-usa-un/u-n-red-cross-say-israeli-settlements-are-still-unlawful-idUKKBN1XT1DC

Egypt accused of targeting families of exiled activists. “According to Human Rights Watch, at least 28 Egyptian government critics who live abroad have complained that their family members in Egypt have been harassed by security services, apparently in order to silence their relatives.” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/families-exiled-dissidents-targeted-egypt-hrw

‘Hundreds’ of American citizens reportedly traveled to Syria to live under Islamic State regime. “(Lirim) Sulejmani is one of hundreds of American citizens believed to have joined Islamic State in Iraq and Syria since 2014…. With a background in civil engineering from the University of Illinois, Chicago, perhaps he could help build the caliphate’s buildings, he said.” https://thedefensepost.com/2019/11/19/us-citizen-isis-syria-lirim-sulejmani/

Video allegedly shows Russian security contractors torturing and killing Syrian conscript accused of trying to desert. “The video shows Russian-speaking fighters striking the man with a sledgehammer before decapitating him and lynching his body, Orient News reported.” https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/11/19/russian-mercenaries-behead-syrian-refugee-in-gruesome-leaked-video

More than 120 Turkish journalists still imprisoned. “Journalists were jailed ‘as a consequence of an extended, politically motivated crackdown against the media’, the report said, adding that Turkey has been the world’s ‘undisputed leading jailor of journalists’ for almost a decade.” https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-security-media/more-than-120-journalists-still-jailed-in-turkey-international-press-institute-idUKKBN1XT26X

U.S. ambassador says he believes there was a ‘quid pro quo’ deal between the Trump administration and Ukraine’s president. “Mr Giuliani’s requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit for President Zelenskiy,” (Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon) Sondland said. “Mr Giuliani demanded that Ukraine make a public statement announcing investigations of the 2016 election/DNC server and Burisma. Mr Giuliani was expressing the desires of the president of the United States, and we knew that these investigations were important to the president.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/20/trump-impeachment-hearings-gordon-sondland-testimony

Maltese businessman arrested on his yacht, in connection with assassination of journalist. “The arrest (of Yorgen Fenech) came less than 24 hours after Malta’s prime minister offered immunity from prosecution to an alleged middleman in exchange for information about those who ordered the murder of (journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia) two years ago.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/20/daphne-caruana-galizia-police-arrest-businessman-on-yacht

Democratic Party-controlled House of Representatives passes Patriot Act extension. “This was a major capitulation…. (The Progressive Caucus) didn’t lift a finger. Democratic leadership rammed this down their throats.” https://newrepublic.com/article/155793/hell-democrats-just-extend-patriot-act

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