(2018-10-16). Fifty Years of Mexican October. counterpunch.org 
In understanding contemporary Mexican politics and society, the careful observer might well draw a line before and after October 2, 1968. That was the day when Mexican soldiers killed, wounded and detained hundreds of students and civilians who had peacefully assembled in the Tlatelolco section of Mexico City to demand a more democratic government and More
(2018-10-16). OSHA Investigator/Lawyer Darrell Whitman, OSC, Culture Of Corruption, GAP & The Democrats. indybay.org Federal OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program investigator and lawyer Darrell Whitman discusses his effort to defend fellow workers at OSHA WPP. He also discusses the systemic effort to cover-up the retaliation of OSHA whistleblowers from companies like FedEx, Wells Fargo, PG&E, Test American and Lockheed Martin. He reports that he went to many politicians including Diane Feinstein and Congresswoman Barbara Lee about these conditions not only at OSHA about violations of civil rights including the murder of Alan Blueford. He learned that not only were OSHA officials and the Department of Labor DOL Secretary Tom Pe…
(2018-10-16). US Sanctions Threats 'Unexpectedly' Led To Deeper Economic Ties Between Iran And Russia. iranian.com US sanctions are causing further global regionalization and have boosted Iranian-Russian relations. According to a report by Israeli political analyst Dana Weiss, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a secret document that describes Russia's plan to aid Iran in subverting the incoming US Sanctions on the Islamic Republic's oil exports. According to Weiss, Iran […]
(2018-10-16). Trump, Iran and Sanctions. counterpunch.org 
Representatives from the nations that, along with the United States, signed on to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPOA), are still trying desperately to salvage the agreement, which is on life support since the U.S. pulled out of it. The latest attempt concerns SWIFT, and Iranian access to it. SWIFT, officially the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a secure messaging service that transmits millions of instructions per day to banks and other financial institutions. Among the many sanctions that Trump is re-imposing on November 5, in violation of an international agreement to w…
(2018-10-16). Two Koreas Advance Peace Without Trump's 'Approval'. therealnews.com 
North and South Korea are moving ahead with plans to build road and rail links as part of their historic peace talks. But the U.S. is standing in the way, as Trump refuses to lift sanctions and claims that the South Koreans "do nothing without our approval." We speak to Col. Lawrence Wilkerson
(2018-10-16). Spain Pushes Dialogue Instead of Sanctions Against Venezuela. telesurtv.net The policy represents a radical change from the sanctions wanted by previous Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, imposed by Brussels last January, and reinforced last June.
(2018-10-16). Humanitarian Bombs. counterpunch.org One should not sell bombs to a government that abuses human rights, which means murders a man without using one of the bombs. If Saudi Arabia had murdered a man using a bomb, it would be fine to sell Saudi Arabia more bombs. But Saudi Arabia murdered with a non-bomb weapon, and so shouldn't have More
(2018-10-16). Two Koreas Advance Peace Without Trump's 'Approval'. therealnews.com North and South Korea are moving ahead with plans to build road and rail links as part of their historic peace talks. But the U.S. is standing in the way, as Trump refuses to lift sanctions and claims that the South Koreans "do nothing without our approval." We speak to Col. Lawrence Wilkerson
(2018-10-16). High Prices Helping Iran Make Up For Loss Of Half Of Oil Exports, VP Says. iranian.com Iran has lost some customers for its oil because of looming U.S. sanctions, but high prices are making up for the lost sales, Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has said. "While some countries have stopped buying oil from Iran, we have found new partners," he was quoted as saying by Iran's IRIB broadcaster on October […]
(2018-10-15). Evacuating Nauru: Médecins Sans Frontières and Australia's Refugee Dilemma. counterpunch.org It is an organisation not without its problems. Conceived in the heat of idealism, and promoted as the vanguard of medical rescue and human rights advocacy, Médecins Sans Frontières has had its faults. Its co-founder Bernard Kouchner went a bit awry when he turned such advocacy into full blown interventionism. As Nicolas Sarkozy's foreign minister, More
(2018-10-15). Here's the Real Reason Conservatives Are 'Terrified' of the So-Called Left-Wing 'Mob'. alternet.org 
Trump voting right-wingers are not actually afraid. They're playing the victim to own the libs. | I hear that the angry mob is on the march getting ready to take to the streets and destroy everything that God-fearing Real Americans care about. Again. This latest iteration of the perennial right-wing fear-mongering began when survivors and women's rights activists came to Washington to protest the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. These frightening revolutiona. . .
(2018-10-15). Supreme Court Freezes Deportation of Detained American Student. imemc.org The Israeli Supreme Court froze, on Sunday, deportation measures against American student Lara al-Qasem, who was barred entry to Israel over alleged ties to the BDS movement. The court will convene on Wednesday, to determine whether or not it will grant Al-Qasem permission to file an appeal against her detention […]…
(2018-10-15). US Sanctions on Riyadh Would Mean Washington Is Stabbing Itself. globalresearch.ca I read the Saudi statement in response to the American proposals regarding sanctions on Saudi Arabia. The information circulating within decision-making circles within the kingdom have gone beyond the language used in the statement and discuss more than 30 potential …
(2018-10-15). Trump Administration Hints It May Resume Family Separation at Border. truthout.org The Trump administration is reportedly considering plans to resume its policy of forcibly separating migrant children from their families along the US-Mexico border, even as the full number of people torn apart the last time it carried out the widely condemned practice remains unclear. A new report by Amnesty International suggests immigration officials separated some 6,000 families between April and August, a far higher number of children and parents torn apart than previously thought. Trump administration officials are now considering plans to detain asylum-seeking families together for up to 20 days, and th…
(2018-10-15). Angered By Saudi Plan to Purchase Russian S-400, Trump Admin Exploiting Khashoggi Disappearance to Force Saudis to "Buy American" mintpressnews.com 
The response of the Trump administration and many U.S. politicians to Khashoggi's disappearance is largely being guided by the military-industrial complex — in this case Lockheed Martin — but masquerading as a response motivated by "human rights."
(2018-10-15). Why Trump bears responsibility for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. peoplesworld.org 
European nations, including Germany, France, and Britain, are calling for a "credible investigation" of the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and never came out. Turkey said he was tortured, killed, and dismembered by a S…
(2018-10-15). Vatican Canonizes Salvadoran Archbishop àìscar Romero, Who Was Killed by a U.S.-Backed Death Squad. democracynow.org 
Pope Francis has named Salvadoran Archbishop àìscar Romero a saint. Romero was a champion for the poor and oppressed who was murdered by a U.S.-backed right-wing death squad in 1980 at the beginning of the brutal U.S.-backed military campaign in El Salvador. Wearing the blood-stained rope belt that Romero wore when he was assassinated, Pope Francis praised Romero for disregarding his own life "to be close to the poor and to his people." We speak with Matt Eisenbrandt, a human rights lawyer and the author of "Assassination of a Saint: The Plot to Murder àìscar Romero and the Quest to Bring His Killer…
(2018-10-15). Trump Admin Hints It May Resume Family Separation at Border; ACLU Says "Public Outcry Is Critical" democracynow.org 
The Trump administration is reportedly considering plans to resume its policy of forcibly separating migrant children from their families along the U.S.-Mexico border, even as the full number of people torn apart the last time it carried out the widely condemned practice remains unclear. A new report by Amnesty International suggests immigration officials separated some 6,000 families between April and August, a far higher number of children and parents torn apart than previously thought. Trump administration officials are now considering plans to detain asylum-seeking families together for up to 20 days and then…
(2018-10-15). Fox News Host Deletes Tweet After Getting Mocked for Complaining Interviewer 'Peppered' Trump 'Endlessly' with Questions. alternet.org 
That's kind of Lesley Stahl's job. . . | Fox News Monday morning did its usual propaganda pitch for President Trump, defending the lying leader's responses during his rare "60 Minutes" interview which aired Sunda. . .
(2018-10-15). Back in the (Great) Game: The Revenge of Eurasian Land Powers. globalresearch.ca Get ready for a major geopolitical chessboard rumble: from now on, every butterfly fluttering its wings and setting off a tornado directly connects to the battle between Eurasia integration and Western sanctions as foreign policy. | It is the paradigm shift …
(2018-10-15). Georgia Hijinks Are Part of a Larger Attack on Our Democracy. truthdig.com Republican Brian Kemp has purged tens of thousands of black voters from the rolls. Civil rights groups fear it's a sign of things to come.
(2018-10-15). Denounced by UN on Humanitarian Grounds, US Sanctions Amount to 'Psychological and Economic Warfare,' Rouhani Says. mintpressnews.com "In the past 40 years, there has not been a more spiteful team than the current U.S. government team toward Iran, Iranians and the Islamic Republic."
(2018-10-15). Rogue killers or state murder? Riyadh gets benefit of doubt from Trump where Russia doesn't. rt.com 
Washington has reacted with uncharacteristic calm following the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Instead of slapping Riyadh with sanctions and tearing up deals, Trump has refused to pin the blame on anyone.
(2018-10-15). New Trump immigration rules put wealthy at front of the line. peoplesworld.org 
Response has been swift to new immigration regulations made public by the Department of Homeland Security Sept. 22 and formally proposed Oct. 10. If confirmed following a two-month public comment period, the regulations would greatly expand "public charge" stipulations that put immigra…
(2018-10-12). Israeli Authorities Step Up anti-BDS Policies: Political Test to Enter Israel. therealnews.com 
Israel border authorities have detained US-Palestinian student for her alleged Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism, denying her entry into Israel, despite having a visa. Tallie Ben-Daniel of Jewish voice for Peace discusses the case and what it means for the BDS movement
(2018-10-12). Police Brutality Against Black Kansas City Man Caught on Video. aclu.org 
Police encounters too often turn violent or deadly for people of color across the nation. | Black people in Missouri are disproportionately stopped or harassed by police. Twenty years of collected data shows Black drivers are stopped at a rate 85 percent higher than white drivers. And too many police departments across the state regularly use disproportionate force in dealing with (2018-10-12). Israeli Authorities Step Up anti-BDS Policies: Political Test to Enter Israel. therealnews.com Israel border authorities have detained US-Palestinian student for her alleged Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism, denying her entry into Israel, despite having a visa. Tallie Ben-Daniel of Jewish voice for Peace discusses the case and what it means for the BDS movement
(2018-10-12). NAACP Monitoring Possible Voter Suppression Tactics in Georgia Governor Race. naacp.org Over 53,000 Voter Registration Applications on Hold in Secretary of State Kemp's Office BALTIMORE—The nation's foremost civil rights organization is closely monitoring possible voter suppression in the state of Georgia stemming from Secretary of State Brian Kemp's ongoing failure to process over 53,000 voter registration applications. "It's a stain on our system of democracy when less than a month before an […]
(2018-10-12). Jamal Khashoggi Wasn't the First — Saudi Arabia Has Been Going After Dissidents Abroad for Decades. theintercept.com 
The story of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance and possible murder has riveted the world's attention with its macabre, and mysterious, details. The soft-spoken but sharply critical Saudi journalist vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2. Theories about his fate include the horrifying possibility that Khashoggi was murdered — and perhaps even tortured and dismembered — at the hands of the Saudi state. (The Saudi government continues to vehemently deny these charges.) Should these allegations prove true, Khashoggi's fate could have vast ramifications for the reputati…
(2018-10-12). "Educators Who Bravely Act on Principle Should be Championed, Not Punished" bdsmovement.net 
"Educators Who Bravely Act on Principle Should be Championed, Not Punished": UpdatePalestinian civil society responds to efforts by the University of Michigan to silence teachers who act in support of Palestinian human rights: "As long as Israeli universi…
(2018-10-12). For Popular Sovereignty, Beyond Absurdity. counterpunch.org 
Troubling as the noxious Kavanaugh's personal history and untruthfulness are, however, it was even more depressing to see the highly personalized soap opera over his past behavior trump momentous questions of law and policy (including sexist and patriarchal law and policy) — abortion rights, presidential immunity from prosecution, torture, and more in his nomination fight. More
(2018-10-12). Supreme Court Enables Mass Disenfranchisement of North Dakota's Native Americans. aclu.org A restrictive law will make it hard to vote for people who live on reservations in rural areas and don't have street addresses. | On Tuesday, the Supreme Court chose to stand by and allow the war against voting to continue. Just a little less than a month before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, the court decided not to block North Dakota's restrictive voter ID law, which will make it harder for people in that state to cast their ballots. | Republicans in the state legislature insist that the l…
(2018-10-12). Rep. Ro Khanna Condemns Saudi Barbarity from Disappearance of Saudi Journalist to War in Yemen. democracynow.org 
President Donald Trump is rejecting calls to cut off arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the disappearance and probable murder of the Saudi-born Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post is reporting the Turkish government told U.S. officials it has audio and video evidence that Khashoggi was killed last week inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Officials say the recordings confirm that a Saudi security team detained Khashoggi after he walked into the consulate on October 2, before killing him and dismembering his body. We speak with Ro Khanna, Democratic congressmember from California.
(2018-10-12). Rep. Ro Khanna Introduces Internet Bill of Rights as Facebook & Google Admit Privacy Breaches. democracynow.org 
Facebook and Google recently admitted major privacy breaches. Facebook says the personal information of nearly 50 million users were exposed after an online attack. Meanwhile, Google is shutting down its social network Google Plus after revelations of a data breach that exposed the private data of hundreds of thousands of users. The breach was discovered in March but was not disclosed to the public. We speak to Rep. Ro Khanna, who recently introduced an Internet Bill of Rights.
(2018-10-12). Weekend Read: For immigrant survivors of sexual assault, support is off the books. splcenter.org President Trump has now appointed two men to the Supreme Court. During an oral argument this week, one of them, Justice Neil Gorsuch, seemed concerned about the expansive use of government power to detain immigrants.
(2018-10-11). "Something Out of a Horror Movie": Egyptian Security Forces Tortured and Raped American-Citizen Detainee, Rights Group Says. theintercept.com 
Khaled Hassan's case is the most brazen example of Egypt abusing a U.S. citizen. But he's not alone.
(2018-10-11). Jury Sends Wisconsin a $780,000 Bill for Denying Health Care to Two Transgender Workers. aclu.org A growing number of courts are ruling that transgender public employees should have access to transition-related health care. | Shannon Andrews just helped bring comprehensive health care coverage to transgender state employees across Wisconsin. Even more reassuring, she proved that average Americans understand that discrimination against transgender people comes with a cost. | Shannon supervises a cancer research lab at the University of Wisconsin. Like other state employees, she gets health care insurance through the state. But as a transgender woman, Shannon faced state rules that specifically excluded coverag…
(2018-10-11). Oops — Did Police Accidentally Reveal Unconstitutional Surveillance When They Tweeted a Screenshot? aclu.org 
We're demanding Mass. state police release their browser history and bookmarks to see if they're targeting progressive protesters for surveillance. | On September 13, dozens of natural gas explosions hit three towns north of Boston, killing one person and impacting thousands more. In the first few hectic hours after the blasts, the Massachusetts State Police official Twitter account posted a tweet reading: | Updated plotting of confirmed fires and explosions by MSP Watch Center. 39 locations confirmed thus far. Number will grow. New responses ongoing. Reminder: all residents of Lawrence/Andover/N Andover who have…
(2018-10-11). Venezuela Takes Center Stage in Brazilian Far Right Presidential Campaign. venezuelanalysis.com Frontrunner Bolsonaro has vowed to sever diplomatic relations with Caracas and back sanctions while establishing closer ties with the ultra-right government in Israel.
(2018-10-10). Rashid Khalidi: From Iran to Palestine, Nikki Haley Put a Nice Face on Trump's "Horrific" U.S. Policies. democracynow.org 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning her post at the end of the year. The former South Carolina governor—one of the few women in Trump's Cabinet—gave no reason for her departure. During Nikki Haley's time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Iran nuclear deal; UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians; and UNESCO, the U.N. educational and cultural agency. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of Arab studies at Columbia…
(2018-10-10). Hatewatch Headlines 10/11/2018. splcenter.org The GOP wants to lock up liberal women; Georgia governor's race about voting rights; Kent State grad sticks school with bill for gun rally; and more.
(2018-10-10). US senators demand Magnitsky Act probe, sanctions on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi disappearance. rt.com 
A group of Republican and Democrat senators united to demand an investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a consulate in Turkey. This could lead to sanctions against Saudi Arabia within 120 days.
(2018-10-10). With Hurricane Michael Barreling Down on Gulf Coast, Florida Unconstitutionally Refuses to Extend Voter Registration Deadline. aclu.org Florida is putting tens of thousands of people at risk of disenfranchisement for no good reason. | Voters should not have to risk their lives in order to register to vote. Yet, in Florida, that's exactly the position that the state has chosen to put tens of thousands of people in. Despite the state's Oct. 9 deadline to register to vote arriving amidst a looming Category 4 hurricane, Florida has refused to grant an adequate extension for Floridians to register to vote. | Hurricane Michael threatens to lash Florida with a life-threatening storm surge, maximum wind speeds of 145 mph, and flash floods. Prolonge…
(2018-10-09). Headlines for October 9, 2018. democracynow.org Hurricane Michael Kills 13 in Central America, Approaches U.S. Coast, Trump Apologizes to Kavanaugh During Ceremonial SCOTUS Swearing-In, Beijing Strikes Hostile Tone at Pompeo Visit Amid U.S.-China Tensions, China Detains Interpol Police Chief, Accusing Him of Corruption, NYT: Ex-Trump Campaign Aide Rick Gates Was In Touch with Israeli Psy-Group, Turkey Searching for Van in Case of Missing Saudi Journalist, Social Network Google+ to Shut Down After Massive Data Breach, NYC Vigil Held for Uber Driver Who Died by Suicide, Owner of Company Behind Deadly NY Limo Crash Was FBI Informant, New York Governor Cuomo, Pres…
(2018-10-09). On the far right, neo-Nazis, racists hail Brett Kavanaugh's elevation to Supreme Court as open season on women, minority rights in America. splcenter.org To neo-Nazi-in-hiding Andrew Anglin, the elevation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court is a milestone, one that he hopes will result in an end to women's rights across the country.
(2018-10-06). Statement on Kavanaugh Senate Confirmation. naacp.org NAACP President Calls Kavanaugh Confirmation "Devasting Blow" Move Signals Dark Days Ahead for Civil Rights Communities — America Deserves Better BALTIMORE (October 6, 2018)—NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson released the following remarks regarding the Senate confirmation of nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate's decision today to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme […]
(2018-10-05). Eve Ensler: Nobel Peace Prize for Mukwege & Murad Is an Award for Every Rape Survivor in the World. democracynow.org 
After a landmark year for the "Me Too" movement, which ignited an international conversation on sexual assault, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday morning to two champions of women's rights who have built their careers fighting sexual violence: physician Denis Mukwege and human rights activist Nadia Murad. Dr. Denis Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999. The clinic receives thousands of women each year, many of them requiring surgery as a result of sexual violence. Nadia Murad is a 25-year-old Yazidi Kurdish human rights activist from Iraq. She was kidnapped and held…
(2018-10-05). Nobel Prize Winner Supports BDS Movement For Palestinian Rights, Ending Military Aid to Israel. bdsmovement.net 
Nobel Prize Winner Supports BDS Movement For Palestinian Rights, Ending Military Aid to Israel: UpdateA Nobel Prize has been awarded to George P. Smith, a renowned scientist and longtime advocate for Palestinian rights who suppor…
(2018-10-04). Headlines for October 4, 2018. democracynow.org As FBI Probe Wraps Up, Senate Could Vote on Kavanaugh on Saturday, Key GOP Senators Criticize Trump for Mocking Christine Blasey Ford, Over 1,200 Law Professors Sign Letter Opposing Kavanaugh Nomination, U.N.: Yemen Sees 10,000+ New Cases of Cholera Every Week, Trump Suggests Saudi Monarchy Would Collapse Without U.S. Support, Saudi Dissident Journalist Missing After Visit to Consulate in Turkey, Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Teenager at Gaza Protest, U.S. Quits 1955 Iran Treaty After U.N. Court Rules Against Sanctions, Judge Halts Termination of Protected Status for 300,000 Immigrants, Report: DHS Was Unprepar…
(2018-10-04). 'How Many Other Laquan MacDonalds Are There?'. fair.org 
Janine Jackson featured two archival interviews on Chicago police violence on the September 28, 2018, episode of CounterSpin: a conversation with John Conroy on torturer Jon Burge, originally aired December 21, 2007; and a talk with Jamie Kalven about police victim Laquan McDonald, from December…