Sales for me, tariffs for thee? Trump says US 'OPEN FOR BUSINESS' & blasts China trade restrictions… as tariffs remain in place
rt.com | 2020-02-18
President Donald Trump has unloaded on a series of measures that would restrict the sale of US goods to China, saying national security is no "excuse" for disrupting business. Meanwhile, Chinese imports remain penalized. | "The United States cannot, and will not, become such a difficult place to deal with in terms of foreign countries buying our product," Trump tweeted on Tuesday, "including for the always used National Security excuse." | The United States cannot, & will not, become such a difficult place to deal with in terms of foreign countries buying our product, including for the always used National Sec…
rt.com/usa/481125-trump-china-trade-restrictions/

Happy Presidents' Day! Obama & Trump argue over who gets credit for saving Wall St… err, US economy
rt.com | 2020-02-18
With many Americans enjoying the day off in honor of their first president, the two most recent ones seized the moment to get into a fight over who should get the credit for the nation's economic recovery. | "Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history," Barack Obama tweeted on Monday, along with a photo of his signature on the bill that pumped an estimated $831 billion into Wall Street. | Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the…
rt.com/usa/481062-trump-obama-us-economy/

Politico reporter mercilessly mocked for tweeting that traffic jams at busy Bernie Sanders rally 'not a good look'
rt.com | 2020-02-18
US media has often been accused of playing down the popularity of Bernie Sanders

But will he pardon Roger Stone? Trump clemency for Blagojevich, Kerik, Milken & DeBartolo fuel speculation
rt.com | 2020-02-18
US President Donald Trump has surprised everyone with a series of pardons that

But will he pardon Roger Stone? Trump clemency for Blagojevich, Kerik, Milken & DeBartolo fuel speculation
rt.com | 2020-02-18
US President Donald Trump has surprised everyone with a series of pardons that

Brilliant New $5.34 Ladder Defeats Not So Brilliant $2.5 Billion Trump Fever Dream
Abby Zimet | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-18
Thanks to his ineffable stupidity

Twitter down across eastern US and parts of Europe in latest major outage
rt.com | 2020-02-18
Hundreds of users have reported issues with the Twitter website Tuesday afternoon, while the mobile app appears to be largely unaffected. Twitter has not given any explanation for the mysterious outage at time of writing. | The reported issue with the site began at approximately 2: 34pm UK time according to popular crowdsourcing site DownDetector, which logged some 1,844 incidents of outages from around the globe. | While the vast majority of complaints were about the website, some eight percent of reports related to iphone or ipad users, indicating the outage may be spreading. | Think your friends would be int…
rt.com/news/481116-twitter-down-global-outage/

Head of Wuhan hospital dies of coronavirus as global death toll rises to nearly 1,900
rt.com | 2020-02-18
The director of a hospital at the epicenter of China's coronavirus outbreak has died, according to state media, marking the latest death as Beijing scrambles to contain the virus. | Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died on Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. | Liu's death was initially announced on Monday night in a social media post by the Hubei Health Commission. However, in a follow-up message the commission said that the hospital director was alive and battling the virus. | At least six other medical workers in China have died from…
rt.com/news/481067-head-of-wuhan-hospital-dies/

Buying Elections: The Bloomberg Meme Campaign
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-18
Interfering, corrupting and altering the views of electors is apparently frowned upon. But it all depends on who that manipulating source is. The Russians might be condemned for being meddlers of minds in the US electorate, but an American billionaire who hires battalions of influencing agents to get his word across on social media platforms…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/18/buying-elections-the-bloomberg-meme-campaign/

Wake Up Call for Zuck
Leon Kunstenaar | indybay.org | 2020-02-18
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg gets food for thought at a brunch time demonstration…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/17/18830746.php

Alleged ethnic discrimination left Gypsies and Travellers out in Storm Dennis
Fréa Lockley | thecanary.co | 2020-02-18
Reports have emerged suggesting that a group of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) young people were denied entry to a nightclub on 15 February. It also alleges further discrimination from the local police force. This comes amid wider attacks against GRT communities from Boris Johnson's government. | Ethnic discrimination: | A Facebook post from Progress in Dialogue showed pictures of young people allegedly denied entry to Fever Nightclub in Nuneaton after "every…
thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2020/02/18/alleged-ethnic-discrimination-left-gypsies-and-travellers-out-in-storm-dennis/

We Shouldn't Have to Beg Mark Zuckerberg to Respect Democracy
Dean Baker | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-18
Last month George Soros had a New York Times column arguing that Mark Zuckerberg should not be running Facebook. (Does the NYT reserve space on its opinion page for billionaires?) The gist of Soros' piece is that Zuckerberg has made a deal with Trump. He will allow all manner of outrageous lies to be spread…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/18/we-shouldnt-have-to-beg-mark-zuckerberg-to-respect-democracy/

We Shouldn't Have to Beg Mark Zuckerberg to Respect Democracy
Dean Baker | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-18
Last month George Soros had a New York Times column arguing that Mark Zuckerberg should not be running Facebook. (Does the NYT reserve space on its opinion page for billionaires?) The gist of Soros' piece is that Zuckerberg has made a deal with Trump. He will allow all manner of outrageous lies to be spread…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/18/we-shouldnt-have-to-beg-mark-zuckerberg-to-respect-democracy/

'Will Reincarnate as B***hes': Indian Godman Outrages Twitter by Period Shaming Women
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-18
New Delhi (Sputnik): Menstruation continues to be a stigma in different sections of society around the world. Many people view it as an impure occurrence and thus exclude menstruating women from social and religious events, denying entry into places of worship. At many places in India, they are barred from entering shrines and even kitchens.
sputniknews.com/india/202002181078341649-will-reincarnate-as-bhes-indian-godman-outrages-twitter-by-period-shaming-women/

Chemical Factory on Outskirts of Mumbai Bursts Into Flames – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-18
New Delhi (Sputnik): Eye-popping videos of a major fire outbreak in a chemical factory in the Indian economic capital of Mumbai have gone viral on social media as locals shared the visuals seeking professional help.
sputniknews.com/india/202002181078342369-chemical-factory-on-outskirts-of-mumbai-bursts-into-flames—video/

Soros, Trump's DNA For Sale? Anonymous Group Claims to Sell Genetic Material From Davos Forum Guests
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-18
Tech giants already have access to personal information about millions of people, who often voluntarily share information about their life. An organisation called the Earnest Project fears that one day our genetic information could end up in the hands of corporations. To stop this, they've decided to encourage world leaders to act.
sputniknews.com/viral/202002181078342179-soros-trumps-dna-sale-davos-forum-guests/

Michael Bloomberg Qualifies for Democratic Presidential Debates in Nevada
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-18
The billionaire and ex-New York City mayor joined the race at the very last moment, launching a vast ad campaign on Facebook and Instagram. According to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released on Tuesday, he had the support of 19 percent of respondents, coming in 2nd after Senator Bernie Sanders.
sputniknews.com/us/202002181078341717-michael-bloomberg-qualifies-for-democratic-presidential-debates-in-nevada/

'This guy is a joke': Sadiq Khan triggers Twitter after saying 'heartbroken' Londoners should be able to keep EU citizenship
rt.com | 2020-02-18
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is urging the UK government to allow Londoners and other British nationals who are upset over Brexit to retain "associate citizenship" of the EU, provoking both anger and praise on social media. | Ahead of his visit to Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the issue with senior EU officials, Khan claimed he could not think of a better way of resolving differences between 'Leavers' and 'Remainers' than to allow UK citizens who still feel European to keep their…
rt.com/uk/481097-khan-london-eu-citizenship-brexit/

Selected Articles: America "Down the Rabbit Hole"
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-18
Kill the Culture, Destroy a Nation | By Timothy Alexander Guzman, February 17, 2020 | Just last month, if you remember, U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened Iran in a barrage of tweets that his regime "have targeted 52 Iranian sites …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-us-further-down-rabbit-hole/5703892

Wrong kind of 'energy'? Bloomberg takes on the 'Bernie Bros'… using Hillary Clinton-style tactics
rt.com | 2020-02-17
Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg has deployed a new tactic against Bernie Sanders: accuse his supporters of harassment and mean tweets. Hillary Clinton used the same strategy in 2016, and suffered a devastating loss. | In little over two weeks, the race for the Democratic nomination has shifted to Bernie Sanders versus everyone else. Destroying former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, the progressive senator from Vermont is now the frontrunner in nearly every national poll, with centrists like Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and now former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, ni…
rt.com/usa/481043-bernie-bros-mike-bloomberg/

300 Cruise Passengers Are Quarantined at U.S. Military Bases
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-02-17
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.

John Pienaar leaves the BBC to join Times Radio
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-02-17
BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar is leaving the broadcaster to join Times Radio. | Pienaar, 63, said he was quitting after nearly three decades at the BBC. | His announcement follows reports that Times Radio, a new station from Rupert Murdoch's News UK, is making big-money offers to hire BBC stars. | Personal news: after nearly three decades at the BBC I am leaving to join the soon-to-be-launched Times Radio as Drive Time presenter. 1/2 |

Members of Narco-Paramilitary 'Rastrojos' Captured in Venezuela
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-17
Venezuelan authorities reported Monday the capture of 14 members of the narco-paramilitary group 'Los Rastrojos', in the city of Boca de Grita, in the state of Tachira, bordering Colombia. | RELATED: | 'Bolivarian Shield 2020' Successfully Completed In Venezuela | Socialist leader and protector of the Venezuelan state of Tachira Freddy Bernal announced the result of the operation on his Twitter account, saying that during the operation 22,200 liters of oil were captured from a clan…
telesurenglish.net/news/paramilitaries-of-los-rastrojos-captured-in-venezuela-20200217-0013.html

'De Facto Gov't Has Destroyed Everything We Built': Evo Morales
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-17
The democratically elected Presient of Bolivia, Evo Morales, stated on Twitter that the de facto government of Jeanine àÅñez has destroyed "everything we built with the Bolivian people under our government". | RELATED: | Evo Morales Calls for National Reconciliation in Bolivia | The former president pointed out the elimination of other economic and social projects by the de facto government. In the same case is the Metropolitan Train, a public and ecological work with a cost o…
telesurenglish.net/news/evo-morales-in-only-three-months-the-de-facto-government-of-anez-has-destroyed-everything-we-have-built-with-the-people-20200217-0010.html

Michael Bloomberg's Racism Goes Well Beyond Stop-and-Frisk
Ilana Novick | truthdig.com | 2020-02-17
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is using his billions to pay for his presidential campaign ads, blanketing television, radio and social media feeds across the country. As pundits, including CNN's Brian Stelter, suggest, this national visibility blitz may have boosted Bloomberg's standing in national polls; it rose to 15% in a Quinnipiac survey last week. With that polling boost however, comes an increase in media and voter scrutiny

After 'Former GOP Oligarch' Bloomberg Airs Ad Criticizing Online Vulgarity, Progressives Point to Former Mayor's Long Record of Bigotry
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-17
"Speaking for myself, I'd rather be insulted on Twitter by random, anonymous users (something that has happened often from non-Sanders-supporters) than subjected to stop-and-frisk, workplace harassment, indiscriminate Israeli bombing, mass surveillance, and other Bloomberg policies." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/michaelbloomberg.jpeg …
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/17/after-former-gop-oligarch-bloomberg-airs-ad-criticizing-online-vulgarity?cd-origin=rss

Labour leadership candidates call for action to 'diversify' the press
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-02-16
Labour leadership candidates have spoken out to condemn mainstream media behaviour.Labour leadership contender Sir Keir Starmer has signalled he would take action to "diversify" the press if he won the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.Following the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack, who took her own life, Sir Keir said the wider media had been responsible for "amplifying" the messages coming from social media.Speaking at the latest leadership hustings in London, he condemned the constant "vilification" of Labour politicians in the press.He said that both the traditional media and social media companies needed to…
thecanary.co/breaking-news/2020/02/16/labour-leadership-candidate-calls-for-action-to-diversify-the-press/

Hillary for VP is 'speculation'? Bloomberg campaign brushes aside, but stops short of denying, Clinton 'running mate' claim
rt.com | 2020-02-15
A spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg has brushed off a report he's considering taking on Hillary Clinton as a running mate without denying the rumor, and reaction on Twitter was unstoppable. | Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report claimed on Saturday that Bloomberg's campaign considers the idea of a Mike/Hillary ticket a "formidable force." Citing sources "close to" the campaign, Drudge said that Bloomberg would go as far as changing his official residence from New York to one of his properties in Colorado or Florida, "since the electoral college makes it hard for a POTUS and VPOTUS from…
rt.com/usa/480941-bloomberg-hillary-running-mate-report/

Major anti-war groups join the Coalition to March on the DNC
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-02-14
Milwaukee, WI – As the July 13 start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) draws closer, the Coalition to March on the DNC has risen to the occasion. Since the start of the new year, the coalition has seen tremendous gains. | Between leading a 2000-person demonstration against Donald Trump when he visited Milwaukee on January 14 and butting heads with the city while trying to host a press conference to announce a lawsuit for our right to protest, traffic to the Facebook page has increased dramatically, including numerous inquiries about how people can get more involved. | Perhaps the most significant indica…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/2/13/major-anti-war-groups-join-coalition-march-dnc

Triggered liberal laments 'damage' done by 'South Park,' completely misses why it's the show this culture needs
rt.com | 2020-02-14
A string of tweets from writer Dana Schwartz slamming the "cultural damage" done by 'South Park' have gone viral, and now fans are defending the controversial show, saying it's exactly what today's bubble-wrapped culture needs. | Don't count 'She-Hulk' writer Dana Schwartz as a 'South Park' fan anytime soon. | "It seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by 'South Park,'" Schwartz tweeted this week. She continued by saying the show, which has aired 23 seasons since 1997, "portrayed earnestness as the only sin and taught that mockery is the ultimate inoculation against all criticism." | In retrosp…
rt.com/usa/480884-south-park-cultural-damage-twitter/

US Senate strikes symbolic blow against Trump by limiting war powers toward Iran with new resolution
rt.com | 2020-02-13
The US Senate has passed a resolution limiting President Donald Trump's war powers in the case of Iran. The measure would only allow the president authority to strike in the case of self-defense or an imminent attack. | Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure, which was passed 55-45. The resolution fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, meaning this resolution is more symbolic than anything. | The president made his feelings on the War Powers Resolution clear on Wednesday when he tweeted that Iran would "have a field day" if his hands "were tied" due…
rt.com/usa/480793-war-powers-trump-senate/

Meet the Journalist Who Exposed Bloomberg's Racist Defense of Targeting Black & Brown Youth
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-12
"#BloombergIsRacist." That's the hashtag that's trending on Twitter since audio of remarks made by 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg surfaced earlier this week. In the clip from the 2015 Aspen Institute, Bloomberg is heard defending the New York City Police Department's controversial "stop-and-frisk" policies, saying, "Ninety-five percent of your murders and murderers and murdered victims fit one MO. You can just take the description, xerox it and pass it out to all the cops." He continues, "They are male minorities, 15 to 25. That's true in New York. It's true…
www.democracynow.org/2020/2/12/michael_bloomberg_aspen_2015_unearthed_audio