Daily Archives: February 19, 2020

2020-02-19: News Headlines

Ishmael Reed (2020-02-19). Social Media: The New Grapevine Telegraph. counterpunch.org During the weekend of February 9th, MSNBC regular Tiffany Cross blurted out the conditions under which MSNBC black pundits work. She said, "If I said a lot of the things that I really think, I would get filtered–we just can't say that, we have to filter our own voices." This explains why the black women on Joy Reid's show can weigh in on the stupid sexist brutish moves of some black athletes and entertainers, but can't discuss the effect of Michael Bloomberg's Stop and Frisk policy on black and brown women. They can't address the rampant sexism at NBC, where, according to journalist Ronan Farrow, wealthy white p…

RT (2020-02-19). U-turn: Ex-Democratic candidate Andrew Yang joins CNN as political commentator. rt.com Fresh from abandoning his dreams of presidential glory, entrepreneur and failed presidential hopeful Andrew Yang has lowered his sights to the corridors of CNN's newsrooms instead, joining the network as a political commentator. | Yang announced he was ending his long-shot campaign following last week's New Hampshire primary in which he finished in eighth place. "I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race that we will not win," he said graciously. | It wasn't long, however, before Yang had found another route to political stardom: a cushy commentator job with CNN. | I'm excited to joi…

Howard Lisnoff (2020-02-19). The Wealth That's Killing Us Will Save Us: Politics Through the Looking-Glass. counterpunch.org The Bloomberg for President campaign office looks like a complete anachronism in the heart of Harlem in New York City. The office is located on Harlem's famous 125th Street near the Metro North commuter railway station. The Bloomberg campaign office, a space that has the depth of a bowling alley, has a few campaign staffers

Tim Libretti (2020-02-19). To compete in global economy, Trump says workers' lives have to get worse. peoplesworld.org What if America competed with other nations to have the best universal healthcare system or the best public education system? If we competed to be the leader in creating a green economy to address climate change? If we competed to end poverty and inequality? Donald Trump wants America to compete in the global economy, but …

WSWS (2020-02-19). Russian state frame-up results in draconian prison sentences for left-wing youth. wsws.org Under conditions of staggering social inequality and rising class tensions, the harsh punishment is aimed at intimidating all opposition to the Russian state from the left.

WSWS (2020-02-19). At least 2.5 million children in Germany live in poverty. wsws.org In Germany, one of the richest countries in the world, more than 1.5 million children live in families dependent on welfare, and many more in families considered to be working poor.

Staff (2020-02-19). Millionaires Have Officially Stopped Paying Into Social Security. truthdig.com Not even two full months into 2020, wealthy Americans stop contributing to Social Security for the year due to the program's payroll tax cap.

WSWS (2020-02-19). Markets soar as companies announce mass layoffs. wsws.org The impoverishment of the working class is not an accidental outcome of the accumulation of wealth by a rapacious financial oligarchy—the two are directly linked.

yenisafak (2020-02-19). US Secretary of State encourages Africa to liberalize. yenisafak.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday encouraged African countries to liberalize their economies, which he said is the only option out of poverty.Pompeo made the remarks in his brief policy speech "Liberating Africa's Entrepreneurs" at the UN Economic Commission for Africa meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, addressing African policy makers, academia, businesspeople and politicians as well as representatives of regional and international organizations."Centralized planning hasn't worked — look at the failed socialist experiments of years past in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and right here in Eth…

Steve Topple (2020-02-19). Scotland is putting the Tories to shame over women's rights. thecanary.co Scotland could well be about to lead the way in an area of women's rights. If the move happens, it will put the Westminster, Conservative-led government to shame. But the deal is not a done one just yet. | Period poverty: | Period poverty is when girls and women can't afford sanitary products. As the website Global Women Connected

Norman Solomon (2020-02-18). The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders. counterpunch.org More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats

Staff (2020-02-14). Detroit Overtaxed Residents by $600M, Causing Foreclosure Crisis. Residents Are Now Fighting Back. democracynow.org In Detroit, a showdown between progressive lawmakers and the city is taking on racist housing policies that robbed African Americans in Detroit of their homes and widened the racial wealth gap. On Thursday, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice announced a class-action lawsuit against the city of Detroit, Wayne County and the state of Michigan in response to unfair property tax foreclosures. One in four Detroit properties have been subject to property tax foreclosure, a level comparable only to tax foreclosure rates during the Great Depression. According to legal experts, many of the foreclosures were caused by…

Staff (2020-02-12). Headlines for February 12, 2020. democracynow.org Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary, Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet Drop Out of Presidential Race, Federal Prosecutors Quit Roger Stone Case Amid Fight with DOJ Officials, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Rejects Trump's Middle East Plan in U.N. Speech, Trump Conditionally Approves Peace Deal with the Taliban, WHO Warns Coronavirus Poses "Grave Threat" to World, Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó Heckled and Protested Upon Return to Venezuela, Report: 40% of Guatemalan, Honduran & Salvadoran Migrants Fled After Relatives Killed, WSJ: ICE & CPB Use Cellphone Location Data from Games, Apps to Arrest Immigrants,…

2020-02-19: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Russian state frame-up results in draconian prison sentences for left-wing youth
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Under conditions of staggering social inequality and rising class tensions, the harsh punishment is aimed at intimidating all opposition to the Russian state from the left.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/russ-f19.html

To compete in global economy, Trump says workers' lives have to get worse
Tim Libretti | peoplesworld.org | 2020-02-19
What if America competed with other nations to have the best universal healthcare system or the best public education system? If we competed to be the leader in creating a green economy to address climate change? If we competed to end poverty and inequality? Donald Trump wants America to compete in the global economy, but …
peoplesworld.org/article/to-compete-in-global-economy-trump-says-workers-lives-have-to-get-worse/

Russian state frame-up results in draconian prison sentences for left-wing youth
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
Under conditions of staggering social inequality and rising class tensions, the harsh punishment is aimed at intimidating all opposition to the Russian state from the left.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/russ-f19.html

U-turn: Ex-Democratic candidate Andrew Yang joins CNN as political commentator
rt.com | 2020-02-19
Fresh from abandoning his dreams of presidential glory, entrepreneur and failed presidential hopeful Andrew Yang has lowered his sights to the corridors of CNN's newsrooms instead, joining the network as a political commentator. | Yang announced he was ending his long-shot campaign following last week's New Hampshire primary in which he finished in eighth place. "I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race that we will not win," he said graciously. | It wasn't long, however, before Yang had found another route to political stardom: a cushy commentator job with CNN. | I'm excited to joi…
rt.com/usa/481236-andrew-yang-joins-cnn/

At least 2.5 million children in Germany live in poverty
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
In Germany, one of the richest countries in the world, more than 1.5 million children live in families dependent on welfare, and many more in families considered to be working poor.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/pove-f19.html

Scotland is putting the Tories to shame over women's rights
Steve Topple | thecanary.co | 2020-02-19
Scotland could well be about to lead the way in an area of women's rights. If the move happens, it will put the Westminster, Conservative-led government to shame. But the deal is not a done one just yet. | Period poverty: | Period poverty is when girls and women can't afford sanitary products. As the website Global Women Connected noted, it's a major issue across the UK. This is because: |
thecanary.co/trending/2020/02/19/scotland-is-putting-the-tories-to-shame-over-womens-rights/

At least 2.5 million children in Germany live in poverty
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
In Germany, one of the richest countries in the world, more than 1.5 million children live in families dependent on welfare, and many more in families considered to be working poor.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/pove-f19.html

The Wealth That's Killing Us Will Save Us: Politics Through the Looking-Glass
Howard Lisnoff | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-19
The Bloomberg for President campaign office looks like a complete anachronism in the heart of Harlem in New York City. The office is located on Harlem's famous 125th Street near the Metro North commuter railway station. The Bloomberg campaign office, a space that has the depth of a bowling alley, has a few campaign staffers…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/19/the-wealth-thats-killing-us-will-save-us-politics-through-the-looking-glass/

Millionaires Have Officially Stopped Paying Into Social Security
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-02-19
Not even two full months into 2020, wealthy Americans stop contributing to Social Security for the year due to the program's payroll tax cap.
truthdig.com/articles/millionaires-have-officially-stopped-paying-into-social-security/

Markets soar as companies announce mass layoffs
wsws.org | 2020-02-19
The impoverishment of the working class is not an accidental outcome of the accumulation of wealth by a rapacious financial oligarchy–the two are directly linked.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/19/pers-f19.html

Social Media: The New Grapevine Telegraph
Ishmael Reed | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-19
During the weekend of February 9th, MSNBC regular Tiffany Cross blurted out the conditions under which MSNBC black pundits work. She said, "If I said a lot of the things that I really think, I would get filtered–we just can't say that, we have to filter our own voices." This explains why the black women on Joy Reid's show can weigh in on the stupid sexist brutish moves of some black athletes and entertainers, but can't discuss the effect of Michael Bloomberg's Stop and Frisk policy on black and brown women. They can't address the rampant sexism at NBC, where, according to journalist Ronan Farrow, wealthy white p…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/19/social-media-the-new-grapevine-telegraph/

US Secretary of State encourages Africa to liberalize
yenisafak.com | 2020-02-19
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday encouraged African countries to liberalize their economies, which he said is the only option out of poverty.Pompeo made the remarks in his brief policy speech "Liberating Africa's Entrepreneurs" at the UN Economic Commission for Africa meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, addressing African policy makers, academia, businesspeople and politicians as well as representatives of regional and international organizations."Centralized planning hasn't worked

The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders
Norman Solomon | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-18
More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats

The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders
Norman Solomon | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-18
More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats

Detroit Overtaxed Residents by $600M, Causing Foreclosure Crisis. Residents Are Now Fighting Back
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-14
In Detroit, a showdown between progressive lawmakers and the city is taking on racist housing policies that robbed African Americans in Detroit of their homes and widened the racial wealth gap. On Thursday, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice announced a class-action lawsuit against the city of Detroit, Wayne County and the state of Michigan in response to unfair property tax foreclosures. One in four Detroit properties have been subject to property tax foreclosure, a level comparable only to tax foreclosure rates during the Great Depression. According to legal experts, many of the foreclosures were caused by…
www.democracynow.org/2020/2/14/detroit_class_action_lawsuit_foreclosures

They have no shame!
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-02-14
Chicago, IL – The latest episode in the Jussie Smollett saga continues to unfold as the campaign to rid Cook County of the first honest, progressive, Black woman state's attorney in county history, Kim Foxx, reaches lower and lower into the barrel of dirty tricks, a la Roger Stone and Donald Trump. And make no mistake about it: this is not about rooting out favoritism to the wealthy in the state's attorney's office, as cynically declared by Bill Conway, the billionaire Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) candidate running against her. It's about getting rid of the first state's attorney in Cook County history who has…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/2/13/they-have-no-shame