Supreme Court justices battle over execution delays
wsws.org | 2019-05-20
In opinions last week, the three most extreme right-wing Supreme Court justices lashed out at two fellow members of the five-vote right-wing bloc.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/20/cour-m20.html

Alabama's Abortion Ban Is a Political Stunt That Will Cost Its Taxpayers
aclu.org | 2019-05-20
The draconian law is a flagrantly unconstitutional attack on more than 40 years of established Supreme Court precedent. | This piece originally appeared at the Alabama Political Reporter. | For years, the Alabama legislature has been passing laws that push abortion out of reach. Now politicians have finally shown their true colors and are trying to ban abortion outright. | On Wednesday, Governor Ivey signed H.B. 314 — one of the most extreme attacks on the ri…
aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/abortion/alabamas-abortion-ban-political-stunt-will-cost-its-taxpayers

Trump Appointees Refuse to Say They Support Brown v. Board of Education
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-05-20
65 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 to end school segregation. Now Trump's appointees to the federal bench and Department of Justice refuse to say they support it. What does the future hold?
therealnews.com/stories/trump-appointees-refuse-to-say-they-support-brown-v-board-of-education

"Defending Julian Assange requires the mobilisation of the working class in a struggle against capitalism"
wsws.org | 2019-05-20
We are publishing the speech of Ulrich Rippert, chairman of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) in Germany, at the May 12 public meeting in London in defence of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/20/ursp-m20.html

Iraq All Over Again? And Where Is Katharine Gun
Marcia Mitchell | commondreams.org | 2019-05-20
Whistleblower and former employee of Britain's global surveillance center GCHQ (Government Communications Head Quarters) Katharine Gun smiles as she speaks to the media during a press conference February 25, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/katharine_gun_iraq_iran.png…
commondreams.org/views/2019/05/20/iraq-all-over-again-and-where-katharine-gun?cd-origin=rss

'Dangerous, disturbing': Whistleblower raided by US police for refusing to reveal source talks to RT
rt.com | 2019-05-20
After trying to break in with a sledgehammer, cops eventually raided the home of freelance reporter Bryan Carmody, seizing property and handcuffing him. RT spoke with Carmody about the raid, and its implications for press freedom. | …
rt.com/usa/459831-whistleblower-raid-refuses-reveal-source/

Bottle of Lies: How Poor FDA Oversight & Fraud in Generic Drug Industry Threaten Patients' Health
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-20
Generic drugs amount to 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., most of them made in plants in India and China. Generic drugs can be more affordable, but in her new explosive book "Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom," investigative journalist Katherine Eban works with two industry whistleblowers to expose how some manufacturers are cutting corners at the cost of quality and safety. This comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just issued its own update on the state of pharmaceutical quality that found the drug quality of factories in India and China scored below the world averag…
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/20/bottle_of_lies_how_poor_fda

How Poor Oversight and Fraud in Generic Drug Industry Threatens Patients' Health
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-05-20
Generic drugs amount to 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., most of them made in plants in India and China. Generic drugs can be more affordable, but in her new explosive book Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom, investigative journalist Katherine Eban works with two industry whistleblowers to expose how some manufacturers are cutting corners at the cost of quality and safety. This comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just issued its own update on the state of pharmaceutical quality that found the drug quality of factories in India and China scored below the world avera…
truthout.org/video/how-poor-oversight-and-fraud-in-generic-drug-industry-threatens-patients-health/

Republican Congressman Justin Amash Breaks Party Ranks to Call Trump's Conduct Impeachable
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2019-05-20
Republican Congressman Justin Amash Breaks Party Ranks to Call Trump's Conduct Impeachable…
thenation.com/article/republican-justin-amash-trump-impeachment-mueller-barr/

'This Is the Cover-Up': Trump DOJ Instructs McGahn to Disregard Subpoena by House Judiciary
Common Dreams staff | commondreams.org | 2019-05-20
"Our democracy is built on an understanding that one branch of government won't systematically obstruct another," said Rep. Ro Khanna. "Mueller named McGahn as a critical witness: the American people need to hear his testimony." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcgahn_subpoena.jpg…
commondreams.org/news/2019/05/20/cover-trump-doj-instructs-mcgahn-disregard-subpoena-house-judiciary?cd-origin=rss

Fire the Nutcases Leading Us to War
Eric Margolis | commondreams.org | 2019-05-20
National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talk before the start of a joint news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House June 7, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bolton_2.jpg…
commondreams.org/views/2019/05/20/fire-nutcases-leading-us-war?cd-origin=rss

Sweden Files Request to Detain Assange Over Rape Case
telesurenglish.net | 2019-05-20
Swedish prosectors have filed a request with their district courts Monday to detain Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as part of their ongoing investigation into sexual assault allegations. | RELATED: | Sweden Requests Assange Be Extradited To Stand Trial | In an announcement this morning, the deputy director of public prosecutions in Sweden said: "I request the District Court to detain Assange in his absence, on probable cause suspected for rape (less serious crime). If the court decid…
telesurenglish.net/news/Sweden-Files-Request-to-Detain-Assange-Over-Rape-Case-20190520-0002.html

Emergency Action: No U.S. Extradition of Julian Assange – Free Speech
BAACFJA | indybay.org | 2019-05-20
Federal Building | 90 7th St. | San Francisco…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/05/18/18823502.php

Socialist Equality Party holds rally in Berlin to demand freedom for Assange and Manning
wsws.org | 2019-05-20
Some 300 people attended the demonstration and heard greetings and speeches from representatives of the Socialist Equality Parties in Germany, Britain, the US and Australia.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/20/rall-m20.html

SEP campaign teams in UK win support for Assange and Manning
wsws.org | 2019-05-20
The campaigns followed last week's public meeting in London that resolved to redouble efforts to secure Assange and Manning's freedom.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/20/assa-m20.html

Swedish Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for Julian Assange
plenglish.com | 2019-05-20
Stockholm, May 20 ( Prensa Latina) The Swedish Public Prosecutor"s Office filed an arrest warrant this Monday against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for alleged sexual offences he denies.
www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=42171&SEO=swedish-prosecutor-requests-arrest-warrant-for-julian-assange

Trump manoeuvres in economic war against China
wsws.org | 2019-05-20
US intelligence chiefs have held meetings with major American companies, providing them with classified information, to warn of the dangers of doing business in China.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/20/usch-m20.html

New Abortion Laws 'Go Against Common Sense'
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-05-19
Conservatives have launched a new attack on abortion rights, which go against both medical science and common sense, says Anoa Changa, but the point is to bring the issue to the new conservative Supreme Court majority…
therealnews.com/stories/new-abortion-laws-go-against-common-sense

The Truth-Teller: From the Pentagon Papers to the Doomsday Machine
Daniel Ellsberg | globalresearch.ca | 2019-05-19
The growth of the military-industrial complex poses an existential threat to humanity. Daniel Ellsberg, peace activist and Vietnam War whistleblower discusses with Tellus Senior Fellow Allen White the continuing existential threat posed by the military-industrial complex–and what needs to be …
globalresearch.ca/pentagon-papers-doomsday-machine/5677848

China Urges US to Avoid Further Damage of Bilateral Ties
telesurenglish.net | 2019-05-19
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States (U.S.) government on Saturday not to go too far in its damaging moves against Chinese interests in a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to state media. | RELATED: | China Vows To Never Surrender To US Threats | "We urge the U.S. side not to go too far," Wang told Pompeo, adding that the U.S should change its course as soon as possible so as to avoid further damage of bilateral ties and…
telesurenglish.net/news/China-Urges-US-to-Avoid-Further-Damage-of-Bilateral-Ties-20190519-0014.html

For the Latest News on WikiLeaks Watch the 30th Online Vigil
consortiumnews.com | 2019-05-18
Host Elizabeth Vos led a discussion with author George Szamuely on Chelsea Manning returning to prison; Sweden reopening its case against Assange and the other big headlines of the week. Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/05/18/for-the-latest-news-on-wikileaks-and-assange-watch-the-30th-online-vigil-live/

'This was treason:' Trump hints at 'long jail sentences' over 'FBI spying' on his campaign
rt.com | 2019-05-17
President Donald Trump has hit back at the FBI and Justice Department officials accused of spying on his 2016 campaign, calling the actions "treason" and suggesting serious jail time may be in order. | …
rt.com/usa/459584-trump-treason-jail-election/

What Does a Post-Roe America Look Like? As Anti-Choice Laws Multiply, Many Already Are Living In It
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-17
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer issued what many considered a dire warning from the bench this week, implying that Roe v. Wade — the landmark ruling that recognizes the constitutional right to an abortion — is in danger. He wrote the comments in a dissent for an unrelated case in which the court voted to overturn a 40 year-old precedent. Breyer wrote "Today's decision can only cause one to wonder which cases the Court will overrule next." We speak to journalist Robin Marty about what a post-Roe America would look like, and how many people are already cut off from abortion access across the countr…
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/17/what_does_a_post_roe_america

Border Official Admits Targeting Journalists and Human Rights Advocates With Smuggling Investigations
Ryan Devereaux | theintercept.com | 2019-05-17
When first confronted with evidence that it was collaborating with Mexican law enforcement in a sweeping intelligence-gathering operation targeting journalists, activists and attorneys along the U.S.-Mexico divide, Customs and Border Protection was silent. When still more evidence emerged, in the form of documents leaked by a Department of Homeland Security whistleblower, the agency dismissed the significance of the revelations as routine law enforcement work. | Now, more than four months after the story broke, CBP is owning up to its operations — in a way — and raising new questions about its treatme…
theintercept.com/2019/05/17/border-smuggling-journalists-activists/

Trump and the Middle East: a Long Record of Personal Failure
Melvin Goodman | counterpunch.org | 2019-05-17
Many American presidents have blundered in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, but Donald Trump's personal involvement in the region has been particularly disastrous. President Eisenhower introduced the CIA to the world of covert action, when he ordered the overthrow of the legitimate government of Iran in 1953. President Reagan endorsed a U.S. troop presence in Lebanon in 1982 in order to pull Israeli chestnuts out of the fire there due to their war crimes in Beirut, offering proof to the Arab nations of Washington's one-sided support for Israel. President George H.W. Bush went ahead with Desert Storm in 1991…
counterpunch.org/2019/05/17/trump-and-the-middle-east-a-long-record-of-personal-failure/

2020 Elections: It's Militarism and the Military Budget Stupid!
Ajamu Baraka | counterpunch.org | 2019-05-17
U.S. ships are involved in provocative "freedom of navigation" exercises in the South China Sea and other ships gather ominously in the Mediterranean Sea while National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo along with convicted war criminal Elliot Abrams conspire to save the people of Venezuela with another illegal "regime change"
counterpunch.org/2019/05/17/2020-elections-its-militarism-and-the-military-budget-stupid/

Trump May Not Want War With Iran–but the Coalition of the Killing May Give Him One
Bob Dreyfuss | thenation.com | 2019-05-17
Trump May Not Want War With Iran–but the Coalition of the Killing May Give Him One…
thenation.com/article/iran-bolton-war-fever-trump-pompeo/

Chelsea Manning Back in Prison After Refusing to Testify
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-05-17
Freed eight days ago, Manning was subpoenaed before a new grand jury investigating Assange. Despite grave danger to her health, she refused to testify, saying she would rather die in prison than change her principles…
therealnews.com/stories/chelsea-manning-back-in-prison-after-refusing-to-testify

Chelsea Manning jailed again after telling judge she'd rather 'starve to death' than cooperate with grand jury
John McEvoy | thecanary.co | 2019-05-17
After just six days of freedom, former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning was remanded into custody on 16 May for refusing to testify before a federal Grand Jury. | Manning will be held in confinement for the entire investigation. And Judge Anthon…
thecanary.co/trending/2019/05/17/chelsea-manning-jailed-again-after-telling-judge-shed-rather-starve-to-death-than-cooperate-with-grand-jury/

Uncle Sam Needs Our Help Again?
Ron Jacobs | counterpunch.org | 2019-05-17
Earlier in 2019, the US Congress utilized its power to wage or not wage war and voted to end US involvement in the Saudi Arabian war in Yemen. Donald Trump vetoed the bill and it died. Meanwhile, the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies were ramping up pressure on the nations of Venezuela and Iran. Other…
counterpunch.org/2019/05/17/uncle-sam-needs-our-help-again/

Fight Against Voter Suppression Continues in Georgia
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-05-16
Plaintiffs argue before the GA Supreme Court that malfunctioning voting machines caused tens of thousands of missing votes in the Georgia Lt. Gov. race. What could it mean if this case goes forward?
therealnews.com/stories/fight-against-voter-suppression-continues-in-georgia

NAACP Opposes Wendy Vitter and all Nominees Who Refuse to Affirm Brown v Board of Education
Aba Blankson | naacp.org | 2019-05-14
BALTIMORE — Today, the NAACP announced its opposition to the nomination of Wendy Vitter to the Eastern District of Louisiana and all nominees refusing to endorse the Supreme Court's seminal ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. "This week, we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-opposes-wendy-vitter-nominees-refuse-affirm-brown-v-board-education/

ACTION ALERT: WaPo Must Acknowledge CIA Role in Pakistan Polio Crisis
Adam Johnson | fair.org | 2019-05-14
In commenting on what's holding back the conquest of polio, the Washington Post ( 5/10/19) didn't mention the humans at the CIA. | See " ACTIVISM UPDATE: WaPo Editor Responds on Polio, Pakistan and the CIA." | If the last three years have taught us anything, it's that it's much easier to blame "f…
fair.org/home/action-alert-wapo-must-acknowledge-cia-role-in-pakistan-polio-crisis/

After Assange, Ecuador's Lenin Moreno escalates persecution of critics and perceived foes
Denis Rogatyuk | thegrayzone.com | 2019-05-13
The US-backed, neoliberal Ecuadorian leader is persecuting Swedish software developer Ola Bini for his political sympathies, censoring critical media, and…
thegrayzone.com/2019/05/12/lenin-moreno-persecution-ola-bini/

Arundhati Roy on Why She Admires WikiLeaks & Opposes Assange's Extradition to the U.S
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-05-13
In Sweden, prosecutors are reopening an investigation into sexual assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and are seeking his extradition to face charges in Sweden. Prosecutors had dropped the investigation in 2017 because they said the case could not proceed while Assange was holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he lived for seven years before being forcibly removed by British police last month. Assange has since been sentenced to 50 weeks in jail in Britain for skipping bail in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange has denied the sexual assault accusations. Assange pr…
www.democracynow.org/2019/5/13/arundhati_roy_on_why_she_admires

Weekend Read: Brown v. Board of Education and modern-day segregation
splcenter.org | 2019-05-10
Friday marks the 65th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the unanimous ruling that outlawed racial segregation in public schools as a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
splcenter.org/news/2019/05/11/weekend-read-brown-v-board-education-and-modern-day-segregation

Trump Administration Charges Drone Whistleblower With Allegedly Violating Espionage Act
Kevin Gosztola | shadowproof.com | 2019-05-09
Trump DOJ Charges Drone Whistleblower | *Listen to this story by clicking the above player. | A former language analyst for the United States Air Force, who worked for the National Security Agency, was arrested and charged with violating the Espionage Act and other offenses. | According to the indictment filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, Daniel Hale allegedly disclosed eleven classified documents to a reporter…
shadowproof.com/2019/05/09/trump-administration-charges-alleged-drone-whistleblower-with-violating-espionage-act/

Transgender People's Rights Are in Peril
Karen Dolan | progressive.org | 2019-05-08
The majority-conservative Supreme Court is poised to review the rules on discriminating against trans people in the workplace.
progressive.org/op-eds/transgender-peoples-rights-in-peril-dolan-190508/

NAACP Opposes Michael Park's Nomination to Second Circuit, Says Failure to Support Brown V. Board is Disqualifying
Austyn Ross | naacp.org | 2019-05-06
Today, the NAACP announced its opposition to the nomination of Michael Park to the U.S Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. The Senate will vote on Mr. Park's nomination later this week. Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, made the following statement: "Next week, we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Supreme Court's seminal decision in …
naacp.org/latest/naacp-opposes-michael-parks-nomination-second-circuit-says-failure-support-brown-v-board-disqualifying/

Rachel Maddow endorses regime change in Venezuela to "push Russia back," sympathizes with Bolton and Pompeo
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-05-06
The top rated MSNBC host took her trademark brand of liberal militarism to new levels by branding efforts to avert…
thegrayzone.com/2019/05/06/rachel-maddow-endorses-war-venezuela/

Venezuelans Hold Rival Marches for Workers' Day as Pompeo Threatens 'Military Action'
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-05-01
Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for "escalating strikes" following Tuesday's failed military putsch.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14458