(2018-12-08). Mexico's Court Blocks AMLO Bill to Cut Public Sector Salaries. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Supreme Court (SCJN) suspended a new bill that reduces payments for high level officers in the public sector, temporarily frustrating one of the main campaign promises of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. | RELATED: | Mexico to Include Domestic Workers in Social Security Institute | The bill, named "Law of Remunerations of Public Servants," was promulgated in November by Lopez Obrador's National Regeneration Movement (Morena) and stipulates that no public servant c…
(2018-12-08). How George HW Bush's 1989 invasion of Panama set the stage for US wars to come. greenleft.org.au 
The death of George H.W. Bush has dominated the U.S. news for days, but little attention has been paid to the defining event of Bush's first year in office: the invasion of Panama. On December 19, 1989, Bush Sr. sent tens of thousands of troops into Panama, ostensibly to execute an arrest warrant against its leader, Manuel Noriega, on charges of drug trafficking. General Noriega was once a close ally to Washington and on the CIA payroll. | In a nationally televised address, Bush claimed the invasion was needed to defend democracy in Panama. During the attack, the U.S. unleashed a force of 24,000 troops equipped w…
(2018-12-08). Chipotle Manager-Turned-Whistleblower Exposes Company's Use of Cruel Factory Farms. indybay.org "Humane Washing" Deceives Consumers, Employees into Supporting Animal Cruelty, Activists Say…
(2018-12-08). Mueller lauds former Trump lawyer Cohen for providing "useful and relevant" information. wsws.org The central concern of the Democrats is to force Trump to assume an even more belligerent and aggressive posture toward Moscow.
(2018-12-08). How George H.W. Bush Rode a Fake National Security Scandal to the Top of the CIA. theintercept.com 
The killing of a CIA agent in Greece was used to thwart reforms as Bush became the first openly partisan director of the spy agency in 1976.
(2018-12-08). Former Trump campaign adviser targeted by Mueller for his appearances on RT. rt.com 
London-based academic Ted Malloch has come under scrutiny by Russiagate investigators for his appearances on RT, the Guardian reports. Malloch denies the claim.
(2018-12-08). Mueller accuses Manafort of 'multiple discernible lies' & plea violation. rt.com 
Special counsel Robert Mueller has accused former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort of making false statements in the "Russiagate" investigation, including about a man Mueller insinuated might be a Russian spy.
(2018-12-07). The McCain and Bush Death Tours: Establishment Rituals in How to be a Proper Ruler. counterpunch.org 
The prolonged nationally televised commemorations of the racist, corporatist, and imperialist killers John McCain and George H.W. Bush — both privileged sons of the United States military industrial complex — have been nauseating for any decent and historically knowledgeable human being to behold. But the national rituals attached to the deaths of these monstrous butchers More
(2018-12-07). The Bomb that Did Not Detonate: Julian Assange, Manafort and The Guardian. counterpunch.org 
"This is going to be one of the most infamous news disasters since Stern published the 'Hitler Diaries.'" — WikiLeaks, Twitter, Nov 27, 2018 Those at The Guardian certainly felt they were onto something. It would be a scoop that would have consequences on a range of fronts featuring President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul More
(2018-12-07). Dead of Night Redux: A Zombie Rises, A Spook Falls. counterpunch.org Instead of participating in a televised gathering of un-dead presidents and plutocrats for a Deep State funeral, we should be watching 'Dead of Night' (1974). It's hard to think of another film that so precisely (and presciently) envisioned the unintended consequences of war, namely its pox on casualties and survivors alike. So just what does More
(2018-12-07). No Relief: William Barr Is as Bad as Jeff Sessions — if Not Worse. aclu.org Barr's record suggests he will continue the former attorney general's worst policies while promoting a sweeping view of executive power. | Donald Trump's nomination of William Barr to succeed Jeff Sessions as attorney general ought to raise alarm bells across the country. Barr is as bad as Sessions was on the full range of civil rights issues that fall with the Justice Department's purview. And he's a longstanding advocate of expansive executive power. | It's almost certainly the latter view that attracted President Trump, whose own power is likely to be called into question should the Mueller investigation…
(2018-12-07). Spare Me the American Tears for the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi. counterpunch.org 
Can I be the only one — apart from his own sycophants — to find the sight of America's finest Republicans and Democrats condemning the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for murdering Jamal Khashoggi a bit sickening? "Crazy". "Dangerous". A "wrecking ball". A "smoking saw". These guys are angry. CIA director Gina Haspel, who was More
(2018-12-07). Watch Vigil for Assange. consortiumnews.com ConsortiumNews broadcast the latest vigil for Julian Assange as the publisher comes under new pressure to be expelled from Ecuador's London embassy, while charges await him in the United States. The broadcast was Friday night. With Ray McGovern, Chris Hedges,… Read more →
(2018-12-07). Jury fails to agree on verdict in trial of Kurdish journalist. greenleft.org.au 
NSW Supreme Court judge Lucy McCallum discharged the jury on December 6 after it failed to agree on a verdict in the trial of Kurdish journalist Renas Lelikan on "foreign fighter" charges under Australia's draconian "anti-terrorism" laws. | Lelikan denied this charge, insisting he was not a combatant but a journalist reporting on the Kurdish liberation struggle. | A February 15 hearing will be told if the prosecution intends to ask for a re-trial. Lelikan remains free on bail, with relaxed conditions. | The case had been going on for nine weeks, four of which have been taken up with the jury's deliberation. | Phi…
(2018-12-07). Mexico to Include Domestic Workers in Social Security Institute. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice approved a bill forcing employees to grant domestic workers a social security number, citing discriminatory practices – and gave the institute six months to develop a program for them. | RELATED: | Ecuador Women Blaze Trail in Scoring Labor Rights for Domestic Workers | The bill, proposed by Minister Alberto Perez Dayan, brands as "discriminatory" the fact that domestic workers are excluded from the Federal Law of Work and the legal framework of t…
(2018-12-07). Sean Penn Smeared In Arabic Press As "Muslim Brotherhood" Agent. iranian.com The October 2 murder of dissident Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is still shrouded in some mystery despite extensive leaks by Turkish intelligence and the CIA/ NSA. The Arabic press is reporting that actor Sean Penn has shown up outside the consulate where Khashoggi was murdered with a film crew of ten. They are […]
(2018-12-07). Ecuadorian president hints again at moves to renege on Julian Assange's asylum. wsws.org The fight for the freedom of Assange is a matter of fundamental political principle.
(2018-12-07). 'Dumb as a rock' & 'lazy as hell': Trump destroys Rex Tillerson in tweet praising Pompeo. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump lashed out at his first secretary of state, calling Rex Tillerson dumb and lazy after an interview in which Tillerson complained about his time at the State Department.
(2018-12-07). Prosecutors request 'substantial term of imprisonment' for ex-Trump lawyer Cohen. rt.com 
Trump lawyer turned federal informant Michael Cohen may be going to jail for a long time. New York prosecutors and "Russiagate" special counsel Robert Mueller both released their separate sentencing recommendations on Friday.
(2018-12-06). Headlines for December 6, 2018. democracynow.org Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rise to Record High in 2018, WHO Says Meeting Paris Climate Goal Would Save Millions of Lives, Quebec Youth Sue Canada, Citing Gross Negligence on Climate Change, Barclays Customers Demand Divestment from Tar Sands Pipelines, George H.W. Bush Remembered at Washington National Cathedral, Canada Arrests Huawei Executive for Extradition to U.S., Trump Praises Chinese Death Penalty for Drug Dealers, Wisconsin Republicans Complete Legislative Power Grab, Michigan Republicans Move to Limit Power of Incoming Democratic Leaders, NYT: Paul Manafort Discussed Deal to Seize Julian Assange, Sa…
(2018-12-06). Artificial Intelligence Experts Issue Urgent Warning Against Facial Scanning With a "Dangerous History" theintercept.com Facial recognition has quickly shifted from techno-novelty to fact of life for many, with millions around the world at least willing to put up with their faces scanned by software at the airport, their iPhones, or Facebook's server farms. But researchers at New York University's AI Now Institute have issued a strong warning against not only ubiquitous facial recognition, but its more sinister cousin: so-called affect recognition, technology that claims it can find hidden meaning in the shape of your nose, the contours of your mouth, and the way you smile. If that sounds like something dredged up from the 19th cen…
(2018-12-05). Trump's Timidity is Letting Comey Off the Hook. consortiumnews.com With just a few days left before Congress adjourns, House Republicans, like their President, have pretty much let the clock run out. There's little chance now in "taking on the intelligence community," says Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern Special to… Read more →
(2018-12-05). Headlines for December 5, 2018. democracynow.org Senators Say Crown Prince Is Guilty in Khashoggi Murder After CIA Briefing, Mueller Not Seeking Jail Time for Flynn, Cites "Substantial Assistance", Politico: NRCC Emails Hacked in 2018 Midterms, Georgia Voters Elect Republican Secretary of State, Congressmembers Call for Labor Sec. Acosta Probe over Epstein Plea Deal, DOJ Senior Official Allowed to Get Away with Sexual Assault, Federal Gov. Shuts Down for Nat'l Day of Mourning, Somalia: U.S. Reopens Permanent Diplomatic Presence, Pompeo Gives Russia 60 Days to Comply with Nuclear Treaty, West Bank: Israeli Forces Kill Disabled Palestinian in Overnight Raid, Moro…
(2018-12-04). Headlines for December 4, 2018. democracynow.org Wisconsin: Protesters Take to the Capitol to Oppose GOP Power Grab, North Carolina Investigating Election Fraud in Congressional Race, Trump Praises Stone for Refusal to Testify in Mueller Probe, CIA Director Haspel to Brief Top Senators on Khashoggi Murder, Spain: Far-Right Vox Party Makes Gains in Regional Elections, France: Fuel Tax Hikes Suspended Amid Growing Unrest, Qatar Withdraws from OPEC, Mexico's AMLO Creates Truth Commission over 2014 Student Disappearance, Philippines: Indicted Rappler Editor Posts Bail, Vows to Keep Reporting, Reports: U.S Admiral in Middle East Died by Suicide, Texas: Calls Grow to…
(2018-12-04). The Guardian's Vilification of Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com The Guardian did not make a mistake in vilifying Assange without a shred of evidence. It did what it is designed to do, says Jonathan Cook. By Jonathan Cook Johanthan-Cook.net It is welcome that finally there has been a little… Read more →
(2018-12-04). Greg Grandin: George H.W. Bush's 1989 Invasion of Panama Set the Stage for U.S. Wars to Come. democracynow.org 
The death of George H.W. Bush has dominated the U.S. news for days, but little attention has been paid to the defining event of Bush's first year in office: the invasion of Panama. On December 19, 1989, Bush Sr. sent tens of thousands of troops into Panama, ostensibly to execute an arrest warrant against its leader, Manuel Noriega, on charges of drug trafficking. General Noriega was once a close ally to Washington and on the CIA payroll. In a nationally televised address, Bush claimed the invasion was needed to defend democracy in Panama. During the attack, the U.S. unleashed a force of 24,000 troops equipped wit…
(2018-12-04). Ariel Dorfman: George H.W. Bush Is Alive in His Many Victims Across the Globe, Including Me. democracynow.org 
George H.W. Bush was the only president in U.S. history to serve as CIA director, a role that would come to define his career and politics. He once described the intelligence agency as "part of my heartbeat." Bush Sr. was at the helm of the CIA from January 1976 to January 1977. We speak with Ariel Dorfman, best-selling author, playwright, poet and activist, who teaches at Duke University. In 1973, he served as a cultural adviser to Chilean President Salvador Allende's chief of staff. He says George H.W. Bush was "presiding over the CIA when Pinochet, the dictator of Chile, had concentration camps open. They were…
(2018-12-04). The Effects of the Muslim Ban One Year Later. aclu.org We've had one year of the Muslim ban. Congress must ensure it's the last. | Exactly one year ago today, the Supreme Court allowed the full implementation of Trump's Muslim ban. It would be months still before it heard oral arguments in Hawaii v. Trump and issued its ruling on June 26, allowing the ban to remain in place. But on Dec. 4, 2017, America began to ban millions of Muslims from the United States, even if they have family members, jobs, academic spots, or other compelling connections here, and even if they would otherwise be fully…
(2018-12-03). Mehdi Hasan on George H.W. Bush's Ignored Legacy: War Crimes, Racism and Obstruction of Justice. democracynow.org 
George H.W. Bush died in Houston on Friday night at the age of 94. Bush was elected the 41st president of the United States in 1988, becoming the first and only former CIA director to lead the country. He served as Ronald Reagan's vice president from 1981 to 1989. Since Bush's death, the media has honored the former president by focusing on his years of service and his call as president for a kinder, gentler America. But the headlines have largely glossed over and ignored other parts of Bush's legacy. We look at the 1991 Gulf War, Bush's pardoning of six Reagan officials involved in the Iran-Contra scandal and ho…
(2018-12-03). Misreporting Manafort: A Case Study in Journalistic Malpractice. fair.org 
The Guardian ( 11/27/18) added "sources say" to the headline after publication. | In what has been described as potentially the biggest story of the year, the Guardian's Luke Harding ( 11/27/18) reported last week that Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, he…
(2018-12-01). George H.W. Bush, the CIA and a Case of State-Sponsored Terrorism. consortiumnews.com Forty-two years ago, a car-bomb exploded in Washington killing Chile's ex-Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier, an act of state terrorism that the CIA and its director George H.W. Bush tried to cover up, Robert Parry reported on Sept. 23, 2000. By… Read more →
(2018-11-29). On Julian Assange and the Political Economy & future of Europe. zcomm.org Interview on the socio-economic transformations taking place within the core of the European Union and how much time is left until it disintegrates…
(2018-11-26). Crucifying Julian Assange. zcomm.org Chris Hedges and Joe Lauria, journalist and editor-in-chief, Consortium, discuss efforts to force #WikiLeaks publisher, #JulianAssange, out of the Ecuador Embassy in London and extradite him to the USA to stand trial.