News & Comment

Major setback for TransCanada and Trump, as scrappy environmental groups win ruling that upholds lower court injunction, blocking KeystoneXL construction….--credit due to lawyer Steve Volker and activist Frank Egger of the North Coast Rivers Alliance for fighting
--federal appeals court for 6th circuit says flipping the bird is protected free speech
--Beto O’Rourke edged out Bernie Sanders in first 24 hours of fundraising after announcement
--we get comments on Beto from his former DC roommate, Rep. Jared Huffman, in fresh interview released today

Accused shooter in attack on mosques streamed the mayhem live, and in online manifesto, he identifies as fascist, white nationalist…--hours after the murders, grisly video was still available on YouTube

O’Rourke’s loss to Ted Cruz sets up totally unconventional candidacy, but Beto has exceptional political skills, some of Obama’s traits….
Breaking:  Senate votes 59-41 to reject Trump's emergency declaration to fund border wall
--in his launch video, O’Rourke frames his run on the twin crises of climate change and political division, says it’s our last chance to fix them
--Florida Mayor Wayne Messam announces longshot bid based on canceling student debt
--Senate votes again to end US role in Yemen war, and GOP maneuvers to kill it

Gov. Newsom orders moratorium on all executions while he’s in office, and shuts down the death chamber at San Quentin….--this is great news for PBC’s friend James P. Anderson, who has been on death row for 40 years and has always claimed he’s innocent
--Australian cardinal George Pell gets 6 years for molesting choir boys
--former NJ priest who was accused by more than 20 victims is found dead in his home near Las Vegas
--in second sentencing, Paul Manafort gets more prison time, now totaling about 7.5 years

Speaker Pelosi says Trump impeachment would be divisive distraction, and “he’s just not worth it” ; even ambiguity would be better….--in his latest clear-eyed look at Russiagate, The Nation’s Aaron Maté shows that Mueller has not alleged that any of his suspects conspired with Russia
--Trump is impeachable for obstruction and corruption, and NY state attorney general is investigating Deutsche Bank after Cohen exposed loan fraud

NY Times coverage of Venezuela is mostly slanted toward regime change, but it exposes false reports on “humanitarian aid” torching….--the report on February 23 “false flag” is here
--Glenn Greenwald’s searing critique is here
--Greenwald is also asking, “what happened to Tony Podesta?”

Manning refuses to testify before WikiLeaks grand jury, and is jailed indefinitely; it appears the investigation is not about Russiagate...--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola offers excellent coverage and reaction

While the amended resolution rejects all forms of hate, it’s clearly driven by false claims of anti-Semitism, proving Israeli influence….--confusion continues as leaders want to vote today to avoid distraction from election reform bill that is dead on arrival

Driven by AIPAC and allies, Democratic leaders press for rebuke of Rep. Ilhan Omar for “anti-Semitic” comments she’s never made….--after contentious meeting, resolution adds rejection of Islamaphobia and vote is delayed
--Trump retweets demand from anti-Muslim groups that Omar be bounced from Foreign Affairs Committee

Adviser to GOP House leader says NSA phone metadata analysis program has been suspended and may not be resumed….--read the NY Times report here
--but the Post Office hasn’t stopped scanning your mail, reveals John Kiriakou at ConsortiumNews