2020-10-28: News Headlines

Jasmine Norden (2020-10-28). Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation threatens the future of liberal America. thecanary.co Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed as a Supreme Court justice, marking a notable shift to the right for the US's ultimate judiciary. | Coney Barrett was Republican senator Susan Collins voted against Coney Barrett's appointment, citing concerns th…

_____ (2020-10-28). Whistleblower Sues EPA Over Retaliation. popularresistance.org An Environmental Protection Agency whistleblower, whose disclosures ultimately led to former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt's resignation, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging his free speech and due process rights were violated. | The lawsuit [PDF] says Kevin Chmielewski was a political appointee and worked as Pruitt's deputy chief of staff for operations. He faced a retaliatory investigation from the EPA's Office of the Inspector General that "falsely accused" him of "not having a security clearance and covering up a past arrest."

Andrew Corbley (2020-10-28). Congress Will Say Anything About Syria These Days. globalresearch.ca In a recent letter written to Secretary of State Pompeo, a number of Congressmen led by Eliot Engel (D—NY) and Michael McCaul (R—TX) expressed their "deep concern" as "strong supporters of the Syrian people" that various countries are attempting …

Arvind Dilawar (2020-10-27). The Very Human Labor That Powers Artificial Intelligence. thenation.com The Very Human Labor That Powers Artificial Intelligence…

Jack Rasmus (2020-10-27). Barrett Confirmed, Post-Election Chaos Will Ensue. counterpunch.org Yesterday Mitch McConnell's Republican Senate confirmed its third ultra conservative Supreme Court nominee, Amy Barrett, as Supreme Court Justice. Coming in the midst of America's current dual crisis—economic and Covid health—both now worsening, the Barrett appointment ensures the emergence of historic political instability in the USA. The dual crisis is about to become a triple

Staff (2020-10-27). Barrett's confirmation threatens fair election, healthcare, and women's rights. therealnews.com Hundreds at the White House celebrated the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court—just one month after her nomination became a COVID-19 superspreader event that infected the president and at least three dozen others.

Dr. Jack Rasmus (2020-10-27). Barrett Confirmed by US Senate: Post-Election Chaos Now Inevitable. globalresearch.ca Today Mitch McConnell's Republican Senate confirmed its third ultra conservative Supreme Court nominee, Amy Barrett, as Supreme Court Justice. Coming in the midst of America's current dual crisis—economic and Covid health—both now worsening, the Barrett appointment ensures the emergence …

James Bovard (2020-10-27). Will Democracy's Myths Doom Liberty? globalresearch.ca The Supreme Court declared in 1943, "There is no mysticism in the American concept of the State or of the nature or origin of its authority." In reality, the cardinal doctrines of contemporary democracy are layer upon layer of mystical …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-27). With Amy Coney Barrett, US Supreme Court lurches further to the right. peoplesdispatch.org Six of the nine judges in US Supreme Court are conservatives and Amy Coney Barrett is likely to be among the most extreme. This could have a massive impact on the upcoming elections and a host of issues, including abortion and healthcare…

jamanetwork (2020-10-27). The Physician's Responsibility. jamanetwork.com The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Nebraska, abstracted in the Medicolegal department of The Journal last week, is of importance and interest to practicing physicians, and especially to health officers…. The plaintiff, while stopping at a small hotel, consulted a local physician, the defendant, regarding some sores that had appeared on his body. After an examination, the physician told the plaintiff—his patient—that he believed the disease to be syphilis, but that it was impossible to make a positive diagnosis without a Wassermann test, for which he had no equipment. The defendant physician…

sputniknews (2020-10-27). Pennsylvania Officials Ask Barrett to Recuse Herself From Mail-In Case, Court Documents Reveal. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Pennsylvania officials are requesting that newly-confirmed US Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett recuse herself from an ongoing case related to limiting the receipt deadline for mail-in ballots in the November 3 election, court documents revealed.

Staff (2020-10-27). Now Is No Time for Cowardice. Abolish the Filibuster and Expand the Court. truthout.org Mitch McConnell and his cohort of conservative allies believe the elevation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is the capstone move in their long game. Between Barrett creating a meaty 6-3 conservative majority on the high court and the more than 200 right-wing judges the GOP senate has elevated to the bench, they think they have cemented the rule of a wealthy, white minority for another generation at least. | Who knows? They may even be right. | There is no doubt that Justice Barrett is a…

Elie Mystal (2020-10-27). Republicans Have Confirmed Amy Coney Barrett—and Officially Captured the Supreme Court. thenation.com Republicans Have Confirmed Amy Coney Barrett—and Officially Captured the Supreme Court…

sputniknews (2020-10-27). US Senate Confirms Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court, Establishes Firm Conservative Majority. sputniknews.com The US Senate confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday, making her the fifth woman to serve on the high court and giving conservatives a 6-3 majority there.

Marlee Kokotovic (2020-10-27). McConnell caught trying to sabotage Covid Relief agreement in order to prioritize Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation. nationofchange.org The window to hash out any details of a coronavirus relief deal is coming to an end as Election Day approaches even though there is a huge need for one.

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-10-27). 'We. Will. Vote. Her. Out.': Maine Progressives Not Fooled Even a Little Bit by Susan Collins' Cynical Vote on Barrett. commondreams.org Progressives in Maine and across the U.S. on Tuesday urged Sen. Susan Collins' constituents to reject her latest attempt to cast herself as a moderate Republican after the four-term senator voted against Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1181029825_1.png

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-27). The China-Russia "Threat to America": Biden's Intriguing "Attempt" to Unite Democrat and Republican Foreign Policy Hawks. globalresearch.ca Biden's description of Russia as "the biggest threat to America" and China as its "biggest competitor" is an intriguing attempt to unite the anti-Russian and anti-Chinese factions of America's permanent military, intelligence, and diplomatic bureaucracies ("deep state") even if it's …

WSWS (2020-10-27). Facebook deploying teams with advanced censorship tools in advance of the US election. wsws.org Citing concerns over election-related "chaos" and "violence," Facebook is preparing—in collaboration with the US intelligence state—advanced software tools for implementing a censorship regime during November 3 and its aftermath.

MEE staff (2020-10-26). US lawmakers urge Pompeo to speak out against allies restoring Syria ties. middleeasteye.net US lawmakers urge Pompeo to speak out against allies restoring Syria ties | More than 30 legislators, across both major parties, have warned against the trend of establishing relations with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad | Mon, 10/26/2020 – 20: 40 | People wave Syrian national flags and pictures of President Bashar al-Assad as they protest against US sanctions on the country, at Umayyad Square in central Dam…

MEE and agencies (2020-10-26). Iraq's Kurdish region says it foiled PKK plot to attack foreign diplomats. middleeasteye.net Iraq's Kurdish region says it foiled PKK plot to attack foreign diplomats | The statement from KRG intelligence service comes a year after the killing of a Turkish diplomat in Erbil | Mon, 10/26/2020 – 12: 31 | A picture shows a general view of Erbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region on 20 October 2020 (AFP) | Authorities in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region said…

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-26). Chileans Vote Up or Down for Constitutional Change. globalresearch.ca Since the CIA elevated Augusto Pinochet to power on an earlier 9/11 day of infamy in 1973 — replacing social democracy with tyrannical fascist rule — Pinochet's ghost still haunts most Chileans. | Billionaire Sebastian Pinera governs the country with an …

Gabriel Arkles (2020-10-26). Don't Let the Supreme Court Open the Door to More Discrimination Against LGBTQ People. aclu.org The Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in

Ray McGovern (2020-10-26). Former CIA: Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop is "Russiagate Disinformation" globalresearch.ca Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and …

Alastair Crooke (2020-10-26). Break in Relations With the EU? — 'If This Is the Way They Want It, So Be It'. thealtworld.com Is it surprising that Russia and China have come to their 'we have had enough' moment? | Wolfgang Munchau of Euro Intelligence has been suggesting recently that the EU is making mistakes born from listening only to its own (like-minded) echo chamber. Munchau was referring to how — when Boris Johnson had sought for a deal "to be in sight" by this month's EU summit, he was met with disdain. The Council said not only was there 'no deal in sight', but that there would be no acceleration of negotiations, and furthermore stuck rigidly to its three red-line, 'non-negotiables'. | Macron haughtily afterwards stated…

Staff (2020-10-26). Survivor Deported After Speaking Out About Medical Abuse in ICE Jails. truthout.org An independent medical review team has submitted a report to Congress on a lack of informed consent and "disturbing pattern" of questionable gynecological surgical procedures at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, after an account from a nurse whistleblower in September prompted congressional and federal investigations. At least 19 women, most of whom are Black and Latina, have come forward to allege they were pressured into "unnecessary" gynecological treatment and surgeries — includin…

_____ (2020-10-25). Blaming Moscow for Hunter Biden's Laptop Is Russiagate Disinformation. strategic-culture.org Aaron MATÉ | Former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders, and media outlets dismissing the Hunter Biden story as "Russian disinformation" are spreading more Russiagate disinformation, ex-CIA officer Ray McGovern says. | Media outlets are amplifying the claims of former intelligence officials, including John Brennan and James Clapper, as well as of top Democrats, including Joe Biden and Adam Schiff, that the Hunter Biden laptop revelations are "Russian disinformation." | They have done so even though no one from the Biden camp has disputed the authenticity of a single leaked email or document, or denied that…

_____ (2020-10-25). Federal Judges Block Efforts To Ease Rules For Mail-In Ballots. popularresistance.org In the final weeks of the 2020 election, Republican-appointed appellate judges have overturned rulings that required states to make mail-in voting easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of millions of ballots have already been cast, even as federal judges kept changing the rules. | These decisions could be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which will include a 6-3 conservative majority if nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed by the U.S. Senate next week as planned. So far, the court has ruled against voters in nearly every case it has reviewed.

sputniknews (2020-10-25). US Senate Votes to Limit Debate on Amy Coney Barrett's Nomination for Supreme Court Post – Video. sputniknews.com The final vote on 48-year-old Amy Coney Barrett's nomination as a new justice is expected to be held on 26 October.