2020-10-13: News Headlines

Staff (2020-10-13). "Let the People Decide!" Protests at Amy Coney Barrett Hearing Decry GOP Power Grab, Attack on ACA. democracynow.org Hundreds protested outside the Senate Monday against the confirmation hearing for President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. At least 21 were arrested after staging a sit-in to oppose the Senate pushing through Barrett's nomination in the middle of the presidential election. Senate Democrats warn the federal judge's record suggests she would overturn the Affordable Care Act and threaten reproductive rights if she takes the seat left vacant by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "Trump and the Republicans are trying to execute a power grab," says Ana María Archila, co-executive director of…

Staff (2020-10-13). Packing the Courts: How Republicans Spent Decades Installing Judges to Cement Minority Rule. democracynow.org Amid Senate confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, we look at how conservatives have used dark money to push to seat her on the Supreme Court before the November 3 election, following a decades-long project by conservatives to install right-wing judges across the federal judiciary. "There's no doubt that what we're facing is, increasingly, rule by a minority," says former Senate Judiciary Committee staffer Lisa Graves, executive director of True North Research. "When people say that the court needs to be packed, it really needs to be unpacked."

Anand Naidoo (2020-10-13). The Heat: Supreme Court battle and US presidential race. america.cgtn.com The US Supreme Court battle begins in Washington. Judge Amy Coney Barrett appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to formally introduce herself to the American people.

Nick Licata (2020-10-13). Democrats Have Been a Minority on the Supreme Court Since 1970. counterpunch.org National polls have shown that most citizens do not wish her, or anyone, to be appointed until after the presidential election. A few Democrats have argued that if Barrett is appointed, seats should be added to the Supreme Court to balance its philosophical views. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both asked their Democratic opponents

_____ (2020-10-13). Scheer Intelligence: Wrestling Back Privacy From The Jaws Of Big Tech. popularresistance.org Over the course of just a few decades, technology has come to play a role in nearly every single aspect of our lives. While there have been undeniable benefits to technological advances, one of the main concerns that has grown alongside its presence in daily life is how tech companies collect, use and profit from our data in ways we're often unaware of. James Steyer, a professor at Stanford University and the founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a leading consumer advocacy group that promotes safe media and technology for families, joins Robert Scheer on this week's installment of "Scheer Intelligence" to discu…

WSWS (2020-10-13). Democratic Party House antitrust report calls for breakup of big tech monopolies. wsws.org The Democrats have mounted their antitrust initiative as a means of persuading the tech firms to work more closely with their faction of the political and intelligence establishment.

Fidel Narváez (2020-10-12). El 'juicio del siglo' contra Julian Assange: 10 razones para salvar el futuro del periodismo. thegrayzone.com El ex diplomático ecuatoriano que le dio asilo político a Julian Assange informa sobre la audiencia de extradición del periodista de WikiLeaks, y explica por qué es "el caso más importante contra la libertad de expresión de toda una generación". Por Fidel Narváez Read this article in English here. Nota del editor: Fidel Narváez fue el consul de Ecuador en el Reino Unido entre 2010 y 2018. Ayudó a darle el asilo político a Julian Assange, y se comunicaba regularmente …

Fidel Narváez (2020-10-12). Julian Assange faces the 'trial of the century': 10 reasons why it threatens freedom of speech. thegrayzone.com The Ecuadorian diplomat who gave Julian Assange political asylum reports from the extradition hearing against the WikiLeaks journalist, and explains why it is "the most important case against the freedom of expression in an entire generation." By Fidel Narváez Translated by Ben Norton Puedes leer este artículo en español aquí. Editor's note: Fidel Narváez served as Ecuador's consul in the UK from 2010 until July 2018. He helped get Julian Assange political asylum, and regularly communicated with the WikiLeaks publisher …

Stephen Sefton (2020-10-12). On How Julian Assange Is Made Invisible. telesurenglish.net Over thirty years ago, the moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre noted that an inability to engage competing rationalities critically disables the proponents of the moral and intellectual tradition failing to do so. That kind of fundamental, banal critical failure has always characterized the societies of the Western imperialist powers, in every sphere of intellectual and moral life. | RELATED: | It may have been les…

Ron Ridenour (2020-10-12). The Tortured Trial of Julian Assange. counterpunch.org Most people might be excused for not knowing it, because the story is mainly ignored, or is shamelessly misreported in the corporate media when it does get any attention. A courageous Australian journalist, abandoned by his own country, is being railroaded by a British court towards extradition to the US where he could face life

Staff (2020-10-12). Indigenous Children Could Be in Danger With an Amy Coney Barrett Nomination. truthout.org President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, is raising red flags for supporters of a federal law designed to preserve Native American families and culture. | The Indian Child Welfare Act is not currently before the nation's top court, but there is a very real possibility it could end up there. | The constitutionality of the 1978 law — which aims to keep Native American children from being adopted or placed in foster care outside their families, t…

Staff (2020-10-12). Trump's narcissism has become a monster Republicans can't control. therealnews.com Jim Zogby talks about the impact of Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis on the Supreme Court, the stimulus package, and potential violence leading up to the election.

Sameena Rahman (2020-10-12). Barrett confirmation hearings begin: Far right looks to lock in stranglehold over Supreme Court. liberationnews.org Today marks the beginning of the confirmation hearings of President Trump's nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee headed by Republican Lindsey Graham. This nomination for the Supreme Court position, recently vacated by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, comes less than a month away from the presidential election and a potentially …

RT (2020-10-12). White House Chief of Staff Meadows bashed for refusing to speak to press with a mask on in hectic exchange. rt.com Amid multiple confirmed cases of Covid-19 inside the White House, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was blasted online for taking off his face mask and then refusing to speak to reporters in an overall frantic encounter. | Mark Meadows was approached by Capitol reporters on Monday, just outside Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing. | In a somewhat hectic exchange with the press Meadows decided to "pull away" the stationary microphone to supposedly get "more than ten feet away" from the reporters and be able to more safely speak to them without a face mask. | A disapproving "Oh" could be heard…

teleSUR (2020-10-12). US Senate Hearing for Trump's Supreme Court Nominee Kicks Off. telesurenglish.net The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday began a confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, as Republicans push for a final floor vote amidst a raging partisan battle over the open seat at the high court. | RELATED: | The Republican leader nominated the conservative federal appellate judge last month to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Gi…

Matthew M. Heidtmann (2020-10-12). Howard Zinn Was Right: We Need To Stop Obsessing Over The Supreme Court. dissidentvoice.org The death of Supreme Court Justice and liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg left a gaping hole on America's highest court. The question over her replacement has quickly become a hotly contested issue which will define the coming weeks and perhaps even months. Mere days after Ginsburg's death, Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett, a federal judge …

Women's March (2020-10-12). Saturday 10/17: Alameda: Women's March for Saving the Supreme Court Seat Now! indybay.org Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 | NOTE: Masks and Social Distancing…

sputniknews (2020-10-12). Over 20 Arrested During Demonstrations Held Amid Barrett's Confirmation Hearings – Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – More than 20 demonstrators were arrested in Washington DC during the Senate judiciary committee's confirmation hearings of US President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Fox News reports.

sputniknews (2020-10-12). Netizens Clash Online as Senate Confirmation Hearings for Barrett Go On. sputniknews.com As netizens proceeded to express their opinions on Barrett's nomination, issues like the fate of the Affordable Care Act and even the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court ended up being brought into the equation.

Staff (2020-10-12). Protesters Block the Entrance to Senate Building During First Barrett Hearing. truthout.org Dozens of demonstrators blocked the entrance to the Hart Senate Office Building Monday morning to protest the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee's decision to hold the first confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's right-wing Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett with less than a month to go before the pivotal November election. | Chanting "Whose court? Our court!" and "Let the people decide," the protesters gathered minutes before Barrett's first confirmation hearin…

Rania Khalek (2020-10-11). Aaron Maté On Western Countries Attacking OPCW Syria Testimony At The UN. thealtworld.com OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and former OPCW director José Bustani, who testified before the UN Security Council, were attacked by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany during two UN Security Council meetings in which they provided testimony. | Bustani was blocked from reading his prepared statement on the OPCW's cover-up of what they uncovered when investigators examined the scene of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, in April 2018. | Henderson was accused of being part of a "disinformation exercise," even though he was personally involved as an investigator, and physicist Ted Posto…

Staff (2020-10-11). Assange Faces Extradition for Exposing US War Crimes. truthout.org Three weeks of testimony in Julian Assange's extradition hearing in London underscored WikiLeaks's extraordinary revelation of U.S. war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay. But the Trump administration is seeking to extradite Assange to the United States to stand trial for charges under the Espionage Act that could cause him to spend 175 years in prison. | Assange founded WikiLeaks during the Bush administration's "war on terror," which was used as a pretext to start two illegal wars and carry out a wides…

RT (2020-10-11). 'Our region is not Switzerland,' Israeli minister says amid concerns Qatar may buy F-35 jets from US. rt.com Israel will oppose any deal to sell US-made F-35 fighter jets to Qatar, the country's intelligence minister said. Doha has reportedly already submitted a formal request to Washington to greenlight such a deal. | Speaking to Israeli Army Radio on Sunday, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said Tel Aviv would firmly oppose the sale of the 5th-generation stealth jets to the Gulf state. | "Our security and military superiority in the region are the most significant things for us," Cohen stressed. | Our region has still not turned into Switzerland. | Qatar's formal request for the jets was reported on Wednesday by Reu…

Abdel Bari Atwan (2020-10-11). The Saudi campaign against the Palestinians. thealtworld.com A concerted effort is underway to prepare public opinion for normalization with Israel | In June 2006, about a week after Israel's assault on Lebanon began, a Saudi delegation visited Washington and met with President George Bush Jr., who made an exception to receive them at the White House on a Sunday. The delegation was led by the then foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, and included the national security advisor and former ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin-Sultan, and the serving ambassador and ex-intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal. | The day after that meeting, the three princes sent a…

Staff (2020-10-11). Several GOP State Legislators Up for Reelection Have Nice Words for the KKK. truthout.org QAnon — the far-right conspiracy theory that falsely claims President Trump is battling "deep state" Satan-worshiping pedophiles who are running a global child sex-trafficking ring and plotting against him — made headlines recently when adherent Marjorie Taylor Greene

sputniknews (2020-10-10). Joe Biden Says Voters 'Don't Deserve' to Know His Stance on Supreme Court Packing. sputniknews.com The issue of court packing – an idea supported by many in the Democratic party – has been one of those most acute for Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his campaign, as he has consistently been reluctant to outline his position on extending the number of Supreme Court judges.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-10-09). 'Be Afraid—Be Very Afraid': Methane Ruling Seen as Ominous Sign With Barrett Poised to Join Supreme Court. commondreams.org The judge delivered a "puzzling and unsupported conclusion that the Bureau of Land Management can't limit methane waste because that would reduce greenhouse gas pollution." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/be-afraid-court-strike-down-methane-rule.jpg

WSWS (2020-10-09). After the Assange hearing—the fight against imperialism. wsws.org What took place at London's Old Bailey was a process of vicious retribution against a journalist who exposed the barbarism of the ruling class before the world.

pip.hinman (2020-10-09). Greg Barnes: 'The government must act to help Julian Assange'. greenleft.org.au

Jonathan Cook (2020-10-09). George Monbiot's Excuses for Not Speaking Out Loudly in Defense of Assange Simply Won't Wash. counterpunch.org Faced with a barrage of criticism from some of his followers, George Monbiot, the Guardian's supposedly fearless, leftwing columnist, offered up two extraordinarily feeble excuses this week for failing to provide more than cursory support for Julian Assange over the past month, as the Wikileaks founder has endured extradition hearings in a London courtroom. The

RT (2020-10-09). 'Imagine': Ex-CIA director Brennan dreams of Navalny becoming president of Russia AND befriending Joe Biden. rt.com Apparently ditching all tradecraft, former CIA chief and godfather of Russiagate John Brennan "imagined" Joe Biden in the White House and Alexey Navalny in the Kremlin as part of a (partisan) birthday tribute to John Lennon. | "Imagine prospects for world peace, prosperity, and security if Joe Biden were president of the United States and Alexei Navalny the president of Russia," Brennan "We'll soon be half…

Marlee Kokotovic (2020-10-09). Texas Supreme Court denies mail-in ballot application request form Houston. nationofchange.org "It is disappointing that the Court has sided with political forces seeking to limit voter access this November."

sputniknews (2020-10-09). 'Data Speaks': Dr Fauci Calls Supreme Court Nomination Event at White House COVID-19 'Superspreader'. sputniknews.com On 2 October, US President Donald Trump announced that just a few days following a White House event where the president revealed his Supreme Court nominee, he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had contracted the coronavirus disease. At least 37 White House staffers and "other contacts" have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Bill Moyers, Lisa Graves (2020-10-09). Will Amy Coney Barrett Stand by Her Man? He's Betting a Second Term On It. commondreams.org Amy Coney Barrett (R), President Donald Trump's nominee for associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, listens as Trump speaks during an announcement ceremony at the White House on September 26, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chen Mengtong/China News Service via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/150-groups-letter-oppose-coney-barrett.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-10-09). Warning Fundamental Rights and American Lives at Stake, 5,000+ Lawyers Urge Senate to Reject Barrett. commondreams.org "Rushing to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett will cause irreparable damage to the public's faith in the Supreme Court, the rule of law, and our democracy." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12288032741.jpg

Rev. Susan K. Williams Smith (2020-10-09). Amy Coney Barrett Has No Business Ruling on This Election. counterpunch.org Well before Amy Coney Barrett was nominated to the United States Supreme Court, every step in the frenzied process had seemed terribly amiss. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his party are playing by two sets of rules, ramming through Donald Trump's nomination to fill a Supreme Court vacancy during an election year, despite McConnell's

sputniknews (2020-10-09). Pompeo Pushes to Release Clinton's Emails Before November Election. sputniknews.com The controversy around the e-mail correspondence of former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was sparked after a 2015 report by the NYT claimed that she had used a private e-mail server for much of her online correspondence, instead of that of the government, with many suggesting that she had broken a federal law.