(2018-10-20). In Bolsonaro's New Brazil, Far-Right Evangelical Billionaire Edir Macedo's Media Empire is Being Exploited to Investigate Journalists — Including The Intercept. theintercept.com To create a climate of intimidation, the vast resources of a pro-Bolsonaro "Bishop" are being used to deter investigations of Bolsonaro by targeting journalists and their families.
(2018-10-20). Environmental Emergency: 720,000 Lt. Oil Spill in Chile. telesurtv.net The spill is the largest ever registered in the region of Tierra del Fuego.
(2018-10-20). How Banks Slid Into the Payday Lending Business. truthout.org This article was published by TalkPoverty.org. | Meet the new payday loan. It looks a lot like the old payday loan. | Under the Obama administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau attempted to rein in abusive payday lending, by, among other measures, forcing lenders to ensure borrowers had the means to pay back their loans. The Trump administration, under interim CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney, is looking to roll back those rules and give payday lenders, who as an industry (2018-10-19). The New Politics of Climate Change. counterpunch.org As climate change accelerates, the political environment will start to boil. It's happening already. More and more ordinary people are beginning to connect the dots between extreme weather, rising climate related death tolls, collapsing ecosystems, refugee/resource crises, and other grave anomalies. The political outcome of all this will either be a reactionary or progressive response. More
(2018-10-19). Build More Gardens, Phase out Cars. counterpunch.org 
Because plants convert CO2 (a greenhouse gas) into oxygen, gardens combat global warming. Right? Isn't this, as Sherlock Holmes would say, elementary? So why then is the mayor of a major coastal city, one whose very existence is threatened by global warming, intent on destroying community gardens? Could it be because the mayor of New More
(2018-10-19). In the Wake of Nepal's Incomplete Revolution: Dispatch by a Far-Flung Bolivarian. counterpunch.org Revolutions and even near-revolutions are earthmoving events that leave a profound mark on any society. They change basic norms, redefining the social modus operandi, and just as often turn against their own children like the mythical Saturn. In Nepal, one can see how an almost-brought-to-completion revolution — led by a powerful and creative Maoist movement — More
(2018-10-19). The Climate Won't Stop Changing In 2100. thenation.com The Climate Won't Stop Changing In 2100…
(2018-10-19). Identity Crisis: Elizabeth Warren's Claims Cherokee Heritage. counterpunch.org 
Elizabeth Warren recently released DNA results as evidence she has a Native American ancestor. Trump, meanwhile, has been referring to Warren as "Pocahontas" to ridicule that claim. The two show useful examples of different kinds of racism. Trump's racism is obvious. He's using the name Pocahontas as a racial slur. He means to target Warren, More
(2018-10-19). Native American Sovereignty Is Under Attack. Here's How Elizabeth Warren's DNA Test Hurt Our Struggle. theintercept.com 
Elizabeth Warren took the bait on Donald Trump's racist "Pocahontas" DNA challenge. Her reaction hurt more than she might realize.
(2018-10-19). The Harvard case on racial preferences and the antidemocratic character of affirmative action. wsws.org Affirmative action policies seek to conceal the class division in society while permitting the political right to pose as defenders of equal protection.
(2018-10-19). Why Do Natural Disasters Turn into 'Poverty Disasters'? therealnews.com 
Using the examples of hurricane Michael in Florida, the recent Indonesian earthquake and tsunami, and hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Bill Black explains how it is that these natural disasters keep hitting the poor far more than anyone else
(2018-10-18). Native Americans React to Elizabeth Warren's DNA Test: Stop Making Native People "Political Fodder" democracynow.org 
Native Americans across the country are criticizing Senator Elizabeth Warren's decision to use a DNA test to assert her Native American heritage. Chuck Hoskin Jr., secretary of state of the Cherokee Nation, said, "Sovereign tribal nations set their own legal requirements for citizenship, and while DNA tests can be used to determine lineage, such as paternity to an individual, it is not evidence for tribal affiliation. Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong." We host a roundtable discussion of Native American activists a…
(2018-10-18). Trump plan to ramp up fracking, mining in National Forests threatens climate. peoplesworld.org 
Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups said in comments submitted Monday to the U.S. Forest Service. | "The Forest Service shouldn't be complicit in the Trump administration's assault on America's public lands at the behest of fossil-fu…
(2018-10-18). As 2018 Midterms Approach, Native American Women Are Running for Office in Record Numbers. democracynow.org 
A record number of Native American women are running for office in the midterm elections. At least four candidates are vying to become the first Native American women elected to Congress, including Deb Haaland in New Mexico and Sharice Davids in Kansas. Three Native women are running for governor, and 31 are running for seats in state legislatures. In Fargo, North Dakota, we speak with Tara Houska, national campaign director for Honor the Earth and an Ojibwe lawyer. In Anchorage, Alaska, we speak with Mark Trahant, editor of Indian Country Today. He's a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. In Seattle, Washingto…
(2018-10-18). Why Coverage of Indigenous Issues Is So Lousy. fair.org 
Long ago and far, far away, in a Canadian prairie city and a prior life as a local and regional reporter for TV news, I wondered why we covered Indigenous issues so badly. I presented this question to reporters, editors and producers in print and broadcast newsrooms, including my own, throughout the city. This in a city where roughly one-quarter of the local population was Indigenous, living literally on the other side of the tracks. | Not a single person I interviewed argued against my premise. Everyone agreed our coverage was "lousy," and got worse throughout the province, the further away from the city you wer…
(2018-10-18). Meet Edward Blum, the Man Who Wants to Kill Affirmative Action in Higher Education. aclu.org Activist Edward Blum has been trying to destroy race-conscious college admissions for a long time. | In a federal lawsuit that went to trial this week, the organization Students for Fair Admissions is challenging Harvard University's admissions practices, arguing that the consideration of race in the process violates the Equal Protection Clause. | So what's at stake in this case? A lot. | Just two years ago, in Fisher v. the University of Texas, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the consideration of race as part of a holistic admissions pr…
(2018-10-18). Sen. Warren's Claim to Native Heritage Didn't Aid Her Career, But Did It Keep Women of Color Out? democracynow.org 
Senator Elizabeth Warren has come under fire since releasing a DNA test Monday showing Native American ancestry. The announcement responded directly to President Trump, who has frequently attacked Senator Warren by calling her "Pocahontas." A Stanford professor of genetics says there is "strong evidence" of Native American lineage in Warren's family tree dating back six to 10 generations. At multiple points in her career, Warren identified as Native American, but she says she did not use the claim to advance her career. We speak with Annie Linskey, Washington, D.C., deputy bureau chief for The Boston Globe. She e…
(2018-10-18). Secret Government Report Shows Gaping Holes in Privacy Protections From U.S. Surveillance. aclu.org 
The Trump administration released a report from federal privacy watchdog after the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request. | On Tuesday, in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, a federal privacy watchdog released an important report about how the U.S. government handles people's personal information that it sweeps up in its surveillance. Despite requests from Senator Ron Wyden and the European Union, the Trump administration had refused to make the report public [m…
(2018-10-18). 'It'll change back?' Trump mocked for his 'natural instinct for science' on climate change. rt.com 
While a sobering new UN report on climate change indicates humans might have little time to change our ways to avoid environmental catastrophe, President Trump isn't worried, pointing to scientists "on both sides of the picture."
(2018-10-17). Rep. Lloyd Smucker Crusades Against the Federal Agency Investigating His Own Family's Drywall Business. theintercept.com Smucker's family company racked up at least seven OSHA violations for worker safety. Now, he's trying to roll back worker protections in Congress.
(2018-10-17). 'Their Policies Toward Indigenous People and Toward the Land Need to Change' – CounterSpin interview with Amrah Salomon on Indigenous Peoples Day. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Amrah Salomón about the limits of Indigenous Peoples Day for the October 12, 2018, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2018-10-16). Ari Berman: Republicans in North Dakota Are Attempting to Disenfranchise Thousands of Native Voters. democracynow.org 
The Supreme Court has ruled it will allow the state of North Dakota to enforce a new voter ID requirement that will make it harder for Native Americans to vote during the midterm elections. The state's new voter ID law requires voters to show identification demonstrating a residential street address, but this has already rendered many tribal IDs invalid, since many Native Americans who live on reservations depend on post office boxes to receive mail. The law could make a difference in the close race between Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp and her Republican challenger Kevin Cramer. The race is expected to help…
(2018-10-16). Why Aren't the Media Covering Climate Change All Day, Every Day? thenation.com Why Aren't the Media Covering Climate Change All Day, Every Day?
(2018-10-16). Chief spreading bull: Cherokee Nation rejects Elizabeth Warren's DNA results. rt.com 
The Cherokee Nation has rejected the DNA results of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), which showed distant Indian ancestry. Warren, they say, "is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage."
(2018-10-16). LA Voters to Consider Creating Nation's First Municipal Public Bank. therealnews.com 
A Los Angeles ballot measure could put the city one step closer to creating a public bank, which Phoenix Goodman of Public Bank LA says could help the city "transform banking from a source of evil" to a force that fights climate change and inequality
(2018-10-15). Headlines for October 15, 2018. democracynow.org Trump Rejects Ending Saudi Arms Sales over Journalist's Disappearance, Corporate Executives Pull Out of Saudi Investment Summit, Yemen: U.S.-Backed, Saudi-Led Airstrike Kills 19 and Injures 30, U.S. Death Toll from Hurricane Michael at 19 as Dozens Remain Missing, Trump Doubles Down on Climate Change Denial on "60 Minutes", Senate Confirms Former BP Oil Defender as Top Environmental Lawyer, Tens of Thousands March in Europe Demanding Action on Climate, Somalia: Al-Shabab Suicide Bombers Kill 20, Injure 40, Nigeria: Anti-Boko Haram Militia Releases Children It Held Captive, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill 7 Palestinians…
(2018-10-15). 'Strong evidence' Elizabeth Warren may be a little Native American after all. rt.com 
A DNA test, provided by Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren to the Boston Globe, proves she has a little Native American blood due to an ancestor some 6-10 generations ago.
(2018-10-14). Five Questions For: Author Suzanne Gordon on the VA as a 'Model for American Health Care'. progressive.org "Many liberals and progressives who don't buy the propaganda about climate, or about education, buy the propaganda about the VA."
(2018-10-12). Teresa Basilio on Puerto Rico Communication Failure, Amrah Salomon on Indigenous Peoples Day. fair.org 
Media…
(2018-10-11). Hurricane Michael Pummels Communities in Florida, a State Led by a Climate Change-Denying Governor. democracynow.org 
At least two people have died since Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida and Georgia on Wednesday. It is the third most powerful storm to ever hit the U.S. mainland, and meteorologists say it is supercharged by warmer-than-usual water in the Gulf of Mexico. But Florida Governor Rick Scott has a long history of denying climate change. In 2011, his administration reportedly banned state employees in Florida's Department of Environmental Protection from using the terms "climate change," "global warming" and "sea level rise." We speak with Gloria Horning, a social and environmental justice advocate. She serves…
(2018-10-10). Ex-NASA Scientist Dr. James Hansen: We Need to Act Now to Preserve Our Planet for Future Generations. democracynow.org 
As Hurricane Michael barreled down on Florida, famed climate scientist Dr. James Hansen traveled to Minnesota earlier this week to testify on the imminent danger of climate change. He was supposed to be an expert witness at the trial for the "valve turners," the anti-pipeline activists who staged an unprecedented coordinated action to shut down the flow of oil from Canada to the United States in 2016. But the judge ruled she would not allow witnesses like Dr. Hansen to testify on the clear and present danger posed by climate change. On Tuesday, valve turner activists Annette Klapstein and Emily Johnston were acqu…
(2018-10-10). Valve Turners on Trial: Judge Acquits Three Climate Activists Who Shut Down Tar Sands Pipelines. democracynow.org 
A month before the 2016 election, anti-pipeline activists staged an unprecedented coordinated action to shut down the flow of oil from Canada to the United States. On October 11, 2016, activists in North Dakota, Washington, Montana and Minnesota turned the manual safety valves on four pipelines, temporarily halting the flow of nearly 70 percent of the crude oil imported to the United States from Canada. They came to be known as the "valve turners." What followed was a lengthy legal battle that ended with some of the activists in jail. But on Tuesday, three valve turners who broke into an oil pipeline facility in…
(2018-10-10). Rashid Khalidi: From Iran to Palestine, Nikki Haley Put a Nice Face on Trump's "Horrific" U.S. Policies. democracynow.org 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning her post at the end of the year. The former South Carolina governor—one of the few women in Trump's Cabinet—gave no reason for her departure. During Nikki Haley's time as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord; the U.N. Human Rights Council; the Iran nuclear deal; UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians; and UNESCO, the U.N. educational and cultural agency. We speak with Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said professor of Arab studies at Columbia…
(2018-10-09). Climate Scientist: As U.N. Warns of Global Catastrophe, We Need a "Marshall Plan" for Climate Change. democracynow.org 
A new report from the United Nations' climate panel warns humanity has only a dozen years to mitigate global warming and limit the scope of global catastrophe. Otherwise, millions will be imperiled by increasing droughts, floods, fires and poverty. The sweeping report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change urges immediate and unprecedented changes to global policy in order to keep global warming at a maximum of 1.5 ∫C. We speak with Kevin Anderson, Zennstrà∂m professor in climate change leadership at the Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University and chair of ener…
(2018-10-08). Headlines for October 8, 2018. democracynow.org Kavanaugh Confirmed and Sworn In to SCOTUS After Bitter Fight, Mass Anti-Kavanaugh Protests Continue, with 164 Arrested in D.C., U.N. Climate Panel: Only 12 Years Left to Mitigate Climate Catastrophe, Indonesia Tsunami Death Toll Tops 1,900 with 5,000 Still Missing, Haiti: 12 Dead, 200 Injured After 5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Island, Brazil: Far-Right Bolsonaro Wins First Round of Presidential Election, Turkey Believes Missing Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Was Murdered, Afghanistan: 54 People Killed on 17th Anniversary of U.S. Invasion, Israeli Forces Kill 3 as Palestinians Protest Near Gaza Barrier, Sara N…
(2018-10-04). Venezuela to Donate US$10m to Indonesia Earthquake Victims. venezuelanalysis.com President Maduro confirms they will use funds from the "solidarity fund" to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the island of Celebes in late September.
(2018-10-02). Losing Legal Protections, Immigrants Facing Deportation Share Their Stories. progressive.org Many migrants with Temporary Protected Status have called the U.S. home for over a decade. Some have joined a twelve-week, cross-country "Journey for Justice" tour to let people know why they want to stay.