Daily Archives: January 7, 2019

2019-01-07: News Headlines

Ricardo Vaz (2019-01-07). US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela. globalresearch.ca US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with allies in a tour of Latin America this week, in which he talked about stepping up US-led efforts against Venezuela. | The Trump administration has been increasingly hostile towards the Caribbean nation, escalating …

Daniel Larison (2019-01-07). An Iran Policy of Regime Change in All But Name. globalresearch.ca Mike Pompeo removes any doubt about the purpose of the administration's Iran policy of regime change in all but name: | U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that "the sanctions on Iran have an ultimate goal" of "creating an …

teleSUR (2019-01-07). 'A People That Chose to Be Free': Venezuela's Maduro Says as He Prepares for Jan. 10 Ingauration. telesurenglish.net President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela tweeted a message of unity just as he was about to take office for his second six-year term saying that the "Bolivarian Revolution is about more that one man: it's about a people that chose to be free." | RELATED | ALBA Countries Condemn Interference by US and Latam Allies | On Jan. 10, Maduro will assume his mandate as president for the 2019-2025 constitutional term, swearing his oath of office before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), after hi…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-01-07). Supreme Court Blocks ExxonMobil's Effort to Conceal Decades of Documents in Probe of Oil Giant's Climate Deception. commondreams.org In a win for climate campaigners and Massachusetts' Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected ExxonMobil's attempt to block Healey's demand for documents related to her state's ongoing investigation into allegations that one of the world's largest oil and gas corporations deceived the public and investors for decades about how fossil fuels drive global warming. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-643780060_0_0.jpg

commondreams (2019-01-07). CIEL Response to US Supreme Court's Rejection of ExxonMobil's Appeal to Block MA Attorney General Consumer Protection Probe. commondreams.org ______________________________…

commondreams (2019-01-07). 350.org on U.S. Supreme Court Rejecting Exxon's Appeal in Mass. Investigation. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Tyler Durden (2019-01-07). Ginsburg to Unexpectedly Miss Supreme Court Arguments for First Time Ever. theantimedia.com (ZH) — The Supreme Court announced on Monday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will miss arguments for the first time in more than 25 years while she recovers from cancer surgery in December. The 85-year-old Clinton appointee will work from home following the removal of two malignant cancerous growths from her left lung on Dec. 21 according to court …

aljazeera (2019-01-07). Venezuela: Ex-Supreme Court judge flees to US, denounces Maduro. aljazeera.com Christian Zerpa says Venezuela's Supreme Court is 'an appendage' of Nicolas Maduro's government.

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-01-07). With Mueller Report Expected Soon, Trump Team May Claim Executive Privilege to Block Public Release. commondreams.org With Special Counsel Robert Mueller expected to put out a report detailing his findings from the ongoing probe into alleged Russian election interference and any collusion or obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump's campaign or administration as early as next month, the president's legal team may move to block parts of it from Congress and the public on the grounds of executive privilege. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mueller_special_prosecutor_0_3.jpg

Elmar Altvater and Christian Schroeppel (2019-01-07). Capitalism means Crisis and Trade War. indybay.org Capitalism contains crisis as rainclouds contain rain, said Jean Jaures, 19th-century French socialist. Big Pharma, Big Wall Street, and Big Military Industrial Complex have armies of lobbyists. False concepts that financial markets are efficient and tend to equilibrium still rule economics. We the People should govern and politics should control economics. Fighting poverty should be part of public interest.

KPFA WorkWeek Radio (2019-01-07). Fed Gov Shutdown & SF Hunters Point Treasure Island Whistleblowers Face Cover-up/Corruption. indybay.org KPFA WorkWeek radio covers the government shutdown and threats to our public services and health and safety in the air transportation system. Next it looks at the growing scandal and cover-up of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Treasure Island cleanup. Over $1 billion has been spent to supposedly remediate the sites but there continue to be dangerous radioactive contamination and Tetra Tech and Test American fired OSHA and health and safety whistleblowers. The program looks at the failure of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and California State Department of Public Health that will now be run by…

teleSUR (2019-01-06). ALBA Countries Condemn Interference by US and Latam Allies. telesurenglish.net The Union for Social and Popular Movements (ALBA) issued on Sunday a statement admonishing U.S. actions against Venezuela and its people, and condemning the recent statement issued by the Lima Group. | RELATED: | Venezuela Rejects Interventionist Comments by Pompeo in Brazil | ALBA expressed "concerns" in a seven-point statement in support of "the unite…

RT (2019-01-06). 'Gender parity in torture': Twitter unimpressed as Maddow celebrates CIA's all-female leadership. rt.com Women now control all three directorates of the CIA — a historic milestone for gender equality in the clandestine regime change/assassination sector. Rachel Maddow seems to be celebrating, but why is Twitter full of party poopers?

WSWS (2019-01-05). Ecuador unveils "special examination" of Julian Assange's asylum. wsws.org The Moreno government's investigation into the granting of the WikiLeaks founder's asylum and Ecuadorian citizenship is clearly designed to repudiate both.

WSWS (2019-01-05). NBC journalist resigns, blasting media as "defender of Washington and the system" wsws.org William Arkin, a veteran reporter and security consultant for NBC, delivered a scathing critique of the corporate media as stenographer and apologist for the military-intelligence apparatus.

Alexander Rubinstein (2019-01-04). Elizabeth Warren and the Military Industrial Complex. mintpressnews.com Warren's views on countries in the crosshairs of the US State Department largely conform to those of her colleagues on Capitol Hill: Iran is a "bad actor," Russia and China "are working to undermine the basic human rights we hold dear," and so on.

Consortiumnews (2019-01-04). Watch the 11th Online Vigil for Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com Consortium News broadcast the 11th Unity4J vigil for WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange on Friday night. You can watch it here. Ecuador tries to find a legal way out of its commitment to Assange's asylum in its London embassy, while Trump lawyer… Read more →

Dave Lindorff (2019-01-04). Surprise Ruling Opens New Avenue for Mumia to Win New Trial on his Murder Conviction. counterpunch.org In a surprise order signed Dec. 27, a Philadelphia Common Pleas supervising judge has offered a new chance for Mumia Abu-Jamal to challenge his 1982 conviction for the murder of white Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Specifically, Judge Leon Tucker has ordered the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reconsider four Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) hearings More

ACLU (2019-01-04). Rhode Island Supreme Court Allows Unfairly Shut Down Strip Club to Reopen. aclu.org Providence's licensing board, we argue, violated the club's rights when it was shut down based solely on allegations of solicitation of prostitution. | Imagine a symphony orchestra barred by the state from performing again because a musician was found to have sold marijuana to a colleague backstage. Imagine a bookstore being shuttered by the government because peace activists planned acts of civil disobedience in a backroom. Imagine a movie theater permanently closed because an employee assaulted a patron. | In Providence, Rhode Island, you don't have to imagine it, because it happened to a strip club c…

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-01-04). AI Should Improve Quality of Life, Not Make Capitalists Rich — Lester Earnest on RAI (5/5). therealnews.com Artificial Intelligence can make the world better or be a tool for war — says Lester Earnest, founder of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford, on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay

Consortiumnews (2019-01-03). Has Trump Been Outmaneuvered on Syria Troop Withdrawal? consortiumnews.com Trump's possible backtracking on withdrawal from Syria means he may have been once again outmaneuvered by the Deep State, says Virginia State Senator Dick Black. Following the outcry after President Donald Trump's announcement that he was pulling U.S. troops from Syria,… Read more →

Ricardo Vaz (2019-01-03). US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com US allies Brazil and Colombia have repeatedly voiced support for regime change efforts.

Democracy Now! (2019-01-02). Headlines for January 2, 2019. democracynow.org Brazil Swears In Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro, Gov't Shutdown Enters 12th Day, Causing Chaos for Workers, Border Agents Tear-Gas Migrants at U.S.-Mexico Border, Texas: Activists Block Access to Tornillo Youth Immigration Jail, AZ: Prosecutors to Investigate Child Abuse at Immigrant Prison, Sec. of State Pompeo Reaffirms U.S. Military Relationship with Israel, Israeli PM: Bolsonaro Pledged to Move Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Man at Protest, U.S. and Israel Formally Leave UNESCO, North Korea: Kim Jong-un Offers Both Threats and Peaceful Overtures to U.S., Netflix Pull…

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-01-02). Billionaires Shouldn't Control Artificial Intelligence — Lester Earnest on RAI (4/5). therealnews.com "Patents block progress" — says Lester Earnest, founder of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford, on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay

Glenn Greenwald (2019-01-02). Five Weeks After The Guardian's Viral Blockbuster Assange-Manafort Scoop, No Evidence Has Emerged — Just Stonewalling. theintercept.com The U.S. media is very adept at being outraged when they're denounced as "fake news." They should think more about why that attack resonates for so many.

Consortiumnews (2018-12-31). Giuliani Says Assange Should Not Be Prosecuted. consortiumnews.com Donald Trump's lawyer said on Monday that WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange should not be prosecuted and he compared WikiLeaks publications to the Pentagon Papers. By Joe Lauria Special to Consortium News Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, said… Read more →

Human Rights Watch (2018-12-31). UAE: Rights Defender's Conviction Upheld. hrw.org | | Ahmed Mansoor speaks to Reuters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2011. | © 2011 Reuters | The United Arab Emirates Federal Supreme Court, the country's court of last resort in state security cases, on December 31, 2018, upheld a 10-year sentence for Ahmed Mansoor, an award-winning human rights activist, Human Rights Watch said today. | In May, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced Mansoor to 10 years in prison for "defaming" the UAE on s…

Democracy Now! (2018-12-28). A Path to Freedom? Journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal Wins Chance to Reargue Appeal in 1981 Police Killing. democracynow.org Former Black Panther and award-winning journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner but has always maintained his innocence. On Thursday, a Philadelphia judge ruled Abu-Jamal can reargue his appeal in the case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The judge cited then-Chief Justice Ronald Castille's failure to recuse himself from the case due to his prior role as Philadelphia district attorney when Abu-Jamal was appealing. We get an update from Johanna Fernández, professor of history at Baruch College-CUNY and one of the coordinators of the Campaign t…

Democracy Now! (2018-12-27). "RBG": As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Recovers from Surgery, a Remarkable Film Charts Her Trajectory. democracynow.org Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been discharged from the hospital following surgery that removed two malignant growths in her left lung. Doctors called the surgery a success and said there's no sign that Ginsburg's cancer has spread. The health of the liberal 85-year-old justice—the oldest sitting justice on the Supreme Court bench—has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. In November, she was hospitalized after a fall that resulted in three fractured ribs. She previously fractured two ribs in 2012 and has twice survived cancer—pancreatic cancer in 2009 and colon cancer in…

Melissa Crow, Senior Supervising Attorney of the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project (2018-12-21). SPLC statement on Supreme Court's denial of Trump administration's request to immediately enforce asylum ban. splcenter.org

stuart_m (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…

peter_b (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…

Paul Kawika Martin (2018-12-04). With INF Ultimatum, Trump's Maximalist Approach Strikes Again. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — December 4, 2018 — In response to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement that the U.S. will formally announce its intention to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 60 days if Russia does not come into compliance with the treaty by then, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy […]

Yanis Varoufakis (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…

Chris Hedges (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.

2019-01-07: Social Media Postees

US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela
Ricardo Vaz | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-07
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with allies in a tour of Latin America this week, in which he talked about stepping up US-led efforts against Venezuela. | The Trump administration has been increasingly hostile towards the Caribbean nation, escalating … | The post US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-enlists-allies-to-return-democracy-to-venezuela/5664831

An Iran Policy of Regime Change in All But Name
Daniel Larison | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-07
Mike Pompeo removes any doubt about the purpose of the administration's Iran policy of regime change in all but name: | U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that "the sanctions on Iran have an ultimate goal" of "creating an | … | The post An Iran Policy of Regime Change in All But Name appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/an-iran-policy-of-regime-change-in-all-but-name/5664834

Venezuela: Ex-Supreme Court judge flees to US, denounces Maduro
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-01-07
Christian Zerpa says Venezuela's Supreme Court is 'an appendage' of Nicolas Maduro's government.
aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/venezuela-supreme-court-judge-flees-denounces-maduro-190107141336762.html

350.org on U.S. Supreme Court Rejecting Exxon's Appeal in Mass. Investigation
commondreams | commondreams.org | 2019-01-07
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/07/350org-us-supreme-court-rejecting-exxons-appeal-mass-investigation?cd-origin=rss

Ginsburg to Unexpectedly Miss Supreme Court Arguments for First Time Ever
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-01-07
(ZH) — The Supreme Court announced on Monday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will miss arguments for the first time in more than 25 years while she recovers from cancer surgery in December. The 85-year-old Clinton appointee will work from home following the removal of two malignant cancerous growths from her left lung on Dec. 21 according to court …

Ginsburg to Unexpectedly Miss Supreme Court Arguments for First Time Ever

Supreme Court Blocks ExxonMobil's Effort to Conceal Decades of Documents in Probe of Oil Giant's Climate Deception
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-01-07
In a win for climate campaigners and Massachusetts' Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected ExxonMobil's attempt to block Healey's demand for documents related to her state's ongoing investigation into allegations that one of the world's largest oil and gas corporations deceived the public and investors for decades about how fossil fuels drive global warming. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-643780060_0_0.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/07/supreme-court-blocks-exxonmobils-effort-conceal-decades-documents-probe-oil-giants?cd-origin=rss

CIEL Response to US Supreme Court's Rejection of ExxonMobil's Appeal to Block MA Attorney General Consumer Protection Probe
commondreams | commondreams.org | 2019-01-07
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/07/ciel-response-us-supreme-courts-rejection-exxonmobils-appeal-block-ma-attorney?cd-origin=rss

'A People That Chose to Be Free': Venezuela's Maduro Says as He Prepares for Jan. 10 Ingauration
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-07
President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela tweeted a message of unity just as he was about to take office for his second six-year term saying that the "Bolivarian Revolution is about more that one man: it's about a people that chose to be free." | RELATED | ALBA Countries Condemn Interference by US and Latam Allies | On Jan. 10, Maduro will assume his mandate as president for the 2019-2025 constitutional term, swearing his oath of office before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), after hi…
telesurenglish.net/news/A-People-That-Chose-to-Be-Free-Venezuelas-Maduro-Says-as-He-Prepares-for-Jan.-10-Ingauration-20190107-0015.html

With Mueller Report Expected Soon, Trump Team May Claim Executive Privilege to Block Public Release
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-01-07
With Special Counsel Robert Mueller expected to put out a report detailing his findings from the ongoing probe into alleged Russian election interference and any collusion or obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump's campaign or administration as early as next month, the president's legal team may move to block parts of it from Congress and the public on the grounds of executive privilege. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mueller_special_prosecutor_0_3.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/07/mueller-report-expected-soon-trump-team-may-claim-executive-privilege-block-public?cd-origin=rss

Capitalism means Crisis and Trade War
Elmar Altvater and Christian Schroeppel | indybay.org | 2019-01-07
Capitalism contains crisis as rainclouds contain rain, said Jean Jaures, 19th-century French socialist. Big Pharma, Big Wall Street, and Big Military Industrial Complex have armies of lobbyists. False concepts that financial markets are efficient and tend to equilibrium still rule economics. We the People should govern and politics should control economics. Fighting poverty should be part of public interest.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/01/02/18820058.php

Fed Gov Shutdown & SF Hunters Point Treasure Island Whistleblowers Face Cover-up/Corruption
KPFA WorkWeek Radio | indybay.org | 2019-01-07
KPFA WorkWeek radio covers the government shutdown and threats to our public services and health and safety in the air transportation system. Next it looks at the growing scandal and cover-up of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Treasure Island cleanup. Over $1 billion has been spent to supposedly remediate the sites but there continue to be dangerous radioactive contamination and Tetra Tech and Test American fired OSHA and health and safety whistleblowers. The program looks at the failure of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and California State Department of Public Health that will now be run by…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/01/02/18820075.php

ALBA Countries Condemn Interference by US and Latam Allies
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-06
The Union for Social and Popular Movements (ALBA) issued on Sunday a statement admonishing U.S. actions against Venezuela and its people, and condemning the recent statement issued by the Lima Group. | RELATED: | Venezuela Rejects Interventionist Comments by Pompeo in Brazil | ALBA expressed "concerns" in a seven-point statement in support of "the unite…
telesurenglish.net/news/ALBA-Countries-Condemn-Interference-by-US-and-Latam-Allies-20190106-0020.html

A Tough Time to Be a Spy, NPR Reports – Current and former CIA officials are only sources for story on espionage getting harder
Belen Fernandez | fair.org | 2019-01-06
by Belén Fernández NPR ( 1/3/19) reports on the CIA finding it harder to sneak into other countries to commit espionage. | Imagine, for a moment, that a prominent media outlet in Iran decided to produce a story about the trials of being an Iranian spy in this technological day and age–in which the all-pervasiveness of surveillance mechanisms and social media complicates slightly the process of entering other countries under false identities. | It's safe to assume that the United State…
fair.org/home/a-tough-time-to-be-a-spy-npr-reports/

'Gender parity in torture': Twitter unimpressed as Maddow celebrates CIA's all-female leadership
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-06
Women now control all three directorates of the CIA — a historic milestone for gender equality in the clandestine regime change/assassination sector. Rachel Maddow seems to be celebrating, but why is Twitter full of party poopers? | …
rt.com/usa/448210-maddow-cia-female-leadership/

Ecuador unveils "special examination" of Julian Assange's asylum
WSWS | wsws.org | 2019-01-05
The Moreno government's investigation into the granting of the WikiLeaks founder's asylum and Ecuadorian citizenship is clearly designed to repudiate both.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/01/05/assa-j05.html

NBC journalist resigns, blasting media as "defender of Washington and the system"
WSWS | wsws.org | 2019-01-05
William Arkin, a veteran reporter and security consultant for NBC, delivered a scathing critique of the corporate media as stenographer and apologist for the military-intelligence apparatus.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/01/05/arki-j05.html

Elizabeth Warren and the Military Industrial Complex
Alexander Rubinstein | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-04
Warren's views on countries in the crosshairs of the US State Department largely conform to those of her colleagues on Capitol Hill: Iran is a "bad actor," Russia and China "are working to undermine the basic human rights we hold dear," and so on. | The post Elizabeth Warren and the Military Industrial Complex appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/shes-hot-and-shes-cold-elizabeth-warren-and-the-military-industrial-complex/253542/

Watch the 11th Online Vigil for Julian Assange
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-01-04
Consortium News broadcast the 11th Unity4J vigil for WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange on Friday night. You can watch it here. Ecuador tries to find a legal way out of its commitment to Assange's asylum in its London embassy, while Trump lawyer… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/01/04/watch-the-11th-online-vigil-for-julian-assange-live-on-friday-night/

Surprise Ruling Opens New Avenue for Mumia to Win New Trial on his Murder Conviction
Dave Lindorff | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-04
In a surprise order signed Dec. 27, a Philadelphia Common Pleas supervising judge has offered a new chance for Mumia Abu-Jamal to challenge his 1982 conviction for the murder of white Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Specifically, Judge Leon Tucker has ordered the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reconsider four Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) hearings…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/04/surprise-ruling-opens-new-avenue-for-mumia-to-win-new-trial-on-his-murder-conviction-2/

Rhode Island Supreme Court Allows Unfairly Shut Down Strip Club to Reopen
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-04
Providence's licensing board, we argue, violated the club's rights when it was shut down based solely on allegations of solicitation of prostitution. | Imagine a symphony orchestra barred by the state from performing again because a musician was found to have sold marijuana to a colleague backstage. Imagine a bookstore being shuttered by the government because peace activists planned acts of civil disobedience in a backroom. Imagine a movie theater permanently closed because an employee assaulted a patron. | In Providence, Rhode Island, you don't have to imagine it, because it happened to a strip club c…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/rhode-island-supreme-court-allows-unfairly-shut-down-strip-club-reopen

AI Should Improve Quality of Life, Not Make Capitalists Rich — Lester Earnest on RAI (5/5)
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-04
Artificial Intelligence can make the world better or be a tool for war — says Lester Earnest, founder of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford, on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay | The post AI Should Improve Quality of Life, Not Make Capitalists Rich — Lester Earnest on RAI (5/5) appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/ai-should-improve-quality-of-life-not-make-capitalists-rich-lester-earnest-on-rai-5-5

US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-03
US allies Brazil and Colombia have repeatedly voiced support for regime change efforts.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14202

Has Trump Been Outmaneuvered on Syria Troop Withdrawal?
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-01-03
Trump's possible backtracking on withdrawal from Syria means he may have been once again outmaneuvered by the Deep State, says Virginia State Senator Dick Black. Following the outcry after President Donald Trump's announcement that he was pulling U.S. troops from Syria,… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/01/03/has-trump-been-outmaneuvered-on-syria-troop-withdrawal/

Billionaires Shouldn't Control Artificial Intelligence — Lester Earnest on RAI (4/5)
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-02
"Patents block progress" — says Lester Earnest, founder of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford, on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay | The post Billionaires Shouldn't Control Artificial Intelligence — Lester Earnest on RAI (4/5) appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/billionaires-shouldnt-control-artificial-intelligence-lester-earnest-on-rai-4-5

Five Weeks After The Guardian's Viral Blockbuster Assange-Manafort Scoop, No Evidence Has Emerged — Just Stonewalling
Glenn Greenwald | theintercept.com | 2019-01-02
The U.S. media is very adept at being outraged when they're denounced as "fake news." They should think more about why that attack resonates for so many. | The post Five Weeks After The Guardian's Viral Blockbuster Assange-Manafort Scoop, No Evidence Has Emerged — Just Stonewalling appeared first on The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2019/01/02/five-weeks-after-the-guardians-viral-blockbuster-assangemanafort-scoop-no-evidence-has-emerged-just-stonewalling/

Giuliani Says Assange Should Not Be Prosecuted
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2018-12-31
Donald Trump's lawyer said on Monday that WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange should not be prosecuted and he compared WikiLeaks publications to the Pentagon Papers. By Joe Lauria Special to Consortium News Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, said… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2018/12/31/giuliani-says-assange-should-not-be-prosecuted/

UAE: Rights Defender's Conviction Upheld
Human Rights Watch | hrw.org | 2018-12-31
Ahmed Mansoor speaks to Reuters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2011. | © 2011 Reuters | The United Arab Emirates Federal Supreme Court, the country's court of last resort in state security cases, on December 31, 2018, upheld a 10-year sentence for Ahmed Mansoor, an award-winning human rights activist, Human Rights Watch said today. | In May, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced Mansoor to 10 years in prison for "defaming" the UAE on s…
hrw.org/news/2018/12/31/uae-rights-defenders-conviction-upheld

A Path to Freedom? Journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal Wins Chance to Reargue Appeal in 1981 Police Killing
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-12-28
Former Black Panther and award-winning journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner but has always maintained his innocence. On Thursday, a Philadelphia judge ruled Abu-Jamal can reargue his appeal in the case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The judge cited then-Chief Justice Ronald Castille's failure to recuse himself from the case due to his prior role as Philadelphia district attorney when Abu-Jamal was appealing. We get an update from Johanna Fernández, professor of history at Baruch College-CUNY and one of the coordinators of the Campaign t…
www.democracynow.org/2018/12/28/a_path_to_freedom_journalist_mumia

"RBG": As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Recovers from Surgery, a Remarkable Film Charts Her Trajectory
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-12-27
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been discharged from the hospital following surgery that removed two malignant growths in her left lung. Doctors called the surgery a success and said there's no sign that Ginsburg's cancer has spread. The health of the liberal 85-year-old justice–the oldest sitting justice on the Supreme Court bench–has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. In November, she was hospitalized after a fall that resulted in three fractured ribs. She previously fractured two ribs in 2012 and has twice survived cancer–pancreatic cancer in 2009 and colon cancer in…
www.democracynow.org/2018/12/27/rbg_as_justice_ruth_bader_ginsburg

SPLC statement on Supreme Court's denial of Trump administration's request to immediately enforce asylum ban
Melissa Crow, Senior Supervising Attorney of the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project | splcenter.org | 2018-12-21
splcenter.org/news/2018/12/21/splc-statement-supreme-court-denial-asylum-ban

How George HW Bush's 1989 invasion of Panama set the stage for US wars to come
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2018-12-08
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…
greenleft.org.au/content/how-george-hw-bush%E2%80%99s-1989-invasion-panama-set-stage-us-wars-come

Jury fails to agree on verdict in trial of Kurdish journalist
peter_b | greenleft.org.au | 2018-12-07
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…
greenleft.org.au/content/jury-fails-agree-verdict-trial-kurdish-journalist