The Obamacare Challenge We Need? Improved, Expanded Medicare for All

As a primary care pediatrician who sees children of low-income families in Washington, D.C., I am reminded every day of the vulnerability of our children’s health to the ill-informed whims of our lawmakers and courts. Those children will be on my mind as I gather with others outside the Supreme Court today. Just yesterday, I saw my 16-year-old patient Mary, …

Obama Initiative Seeks to Get 4 Million Fourth Graders Exploring America’s Public Lands

With the backing of President Obama, the National Park Foundation has launched a new program encouraging kids to get outside to play, learn and explore. The initiative, Every Kid in a Park, seeks to connect 4 million fourth graders and their families to enjoy America’s public lands and waters. In their campaign message, they put the onus on adults by reminding them that—via our tax dollars—we actually …

Surveillance Valley: Why Google Is Eager to Align Itself With America’s Military Industrial Complex

The following is an excerpt from Yasha Levine’s ongoing investigative project, Surveillance Valley, which you can help support on KickStarter [3]. Oakland, California: On February 18, 2014, several hundred privacy, labor, civil rights activists packed Oakland’s city hall. It was a rowdy crowd, and there was a heavy police presence. The people were there to protest the construction of a citywide surveillance center …

Black Agenda Radio – 03.02.15

Triumph for Internet Neutrality The Federal Communications Commission last week ruled that the Internet should be regulated like a public utility, with no fast or slow traffic lanes. “The Verizons and Comcasts of the world wanted to create a class system on the Internet,” said Kevin Zeese, of Popular Resistance. Far from opening the way for a government “takeover” of …

Eight Lessons for Progressives Inspired by Syriza

You can’t watch what is unfolding in Greece and not marvel at the clarity, fortitude and nerve of the new government there. In fact, we’re pretty sure that many progressives across North America are saying to themselves, even if just quietly, “We’d sure like to do that.” And who wouldn’t? Syriza is standing up to the powers-that-be in European capitalism in …

4 Things more Dangerous to Israel than Iran’s civilian Nuclear Enrichment

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s strident and continual harping on the alleged dangers of Iran to Israel’s security has become like an old song. Netanyahu has raised this issue repeatedly over the past 20 years, often predicting that Iran was as little as a year away from having a nuclear warhead. Decades later, it does not, and Israel is still …

In “Unprecedented Move” Nobel Peace Prize Chairman Demoted For Decision To Give Obama 2009 Award

Back in 2009, just months after his swearing in, president Barack Obama was crowned with an unexpected glory: he won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 due to “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Back then there was little indication that just a few years after his crowning achievement of “ending the war” in and returning US …

Congress Cheers Netanyahu’s Hatred of Iran

Addressing Congress in the style of a State of the Union speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won 41 rounds of applause as U.S. lawmakers eagerly enlisted in the Israeli-Saudi conflict against Iran and its allies – an enthusiasm that may well entangle the U.S. military in more wars in the Middle East. Speaking to a joint session of Congress for the third time – …

Leid Stories – 03.02.15

Nukes & Reactionaries: Boehner, Netanhayu and the Real Nuclear Threat Chicago Hope: “Chuy” García’s Historic Challenge to Big-Money Politics Download this episode (right click and save) Attempting to lessen the presumed impact of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu’s barnstorming speech before Congress tomorrow, the White House has published a brief touting “5 Things You Need to Know About the U.S.-Israel Relationship Under …