(2020-05-17). Big Oil Takes $1.9 Billion in CARES Act Tax Breaks Intended for Small Businesses. truthout.org Sen. Bernie Sanders was among critics outraged that the fossil fuel industry is using tax breaks in the CARES Act meant to help businesses keep workers employed to avoid paying millions of dollars in taxes — and then delivering that money to executives. | "Good thing President Trump is looking out for the real victims of the coronavirus: fossil fuel executives," Sanders tweeted sarcastically Friday. | t.co/4sj6gT53f9 | — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) (2020-05-17). Grading the States' Coronavirus Control. fair.org 
I recently wrote a Twitter thread ( The good idea, which appears on the Times' "Coronavirus in the US"
(2020-05-17). One of the world's biggest arms companies just tried pushing its progressive credentials. It didn't end well. thecanary.co 
One of the world's So BAE Systems took to Twitter to s…
(2020-05-17). Colombia discards international flights 'on the short term' amid doubts about restarting economy. colombiareports.com Colombia's President Ivan Duque said Saturday that he doesn't believe he'll allow international air travel "in the short term" amid failures to contain the coronavirus. In his daily Facebook live…
(2020-05-16). Trump vows to strip 'radical left' of 'TOTAL COMMAND' over FB, IG, Twitter & Google. rt.com 
President Donald Trump has vowed to break the "radical left's" apparent control of social media platforms. Earlier, the president thanked his "keyboard warriors" for their support, as they accused the tech firms of censorship. | "The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google," Trump tweeted on Saturday. "The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tuned, and send names & events." | The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google. The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tun…
(2020-05-16). Hungary's Orban says Budapest lockdown will now be gradually lifted amid Covid-19 powers row with EU. rt.com 
The gradual removal of coronavirus restrictions will begin in Budapest from Monday, bringing Hungarian PM Victor Orban closer to fulfilling his promise to give up the emergency powers that had angered the EU. | "It has become clear that we have managed to curb the epidemic in Budapest as well…and thus we can lift the lockdown," Orban announced in a video address on his Facebook page. | However, the prime minister pointed out that the government will be moving "cautiously" towards what he called the second phase of defense against the virus in Hungary's capital and largest city, which has a population of mor…
(2020-05-16). POLAND would gladly host American nukes if Germany refuses, US envoy claims, fanning 'Cuban missile crisis 2.0'. rt.com 
As the US ambassador to Germany — and acting spy chief — tried persuading Berlin to keep hosting US nuclear weapons, his colleague in Warsaw suggested Poland would be willing to take them instead, an act sure to provoke Moscow. | "If Germany wants to diminish nuclear capability and weaken NATO, perhaps Poland — which pays its fair share, understands the risks, and is on NATO's eastern flank — could house the capabilities here," Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher tweeted on Friday. | If Germany wants to diminish nuclear capability and weaken NATO, perhaps Poland – which pays its fair share, un…
(2020-05-16). 'We surrender!' Roscosmos chief taunts Trump for bragging about 'super-duper' US missile. rt.com 
The head of Russia's space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, fired off a tongue-in-cheek tweet in response to Donald Trump's brag about the uber-powerful missile that he alleges leaves Russian or Chinese analogues far behind. | While unveiling the flag of the Space Force in the Oval Office on Friday, US President Donald Trump made some headline-grabbing remarks. | "We have no choice. We have to do it, with the adversaries we have out there…I call it the super-duper missile, and I heard the other night [it's] 17 times faster than what they have right now," Trump bragged. | The US president didn't give away a single clu…
(2020-05-16). Missing the Context of De Blasio's 'Jewish Community' Tweet. fair.org 
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's tweet ( Time for a Yiddish lesson: Shanda, meaning a shame or disgrace; a scandal. | Right-wing voices throughout the media thought they found one with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's tweet ( The background is this: Some Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, members of a strictly Ort…
(2020-05-16). 'Unreliable for allies, dangerous for rivals': Tehran blasts 'mindless' trio of Trump, Pompeo & US Iran envoy. rt.com 
A high-ranking Iranian politician has unloaded on three of the top US officials, saying their "mindless" behavior paints the US government as being dangerous for rivals, unreliable for allies and incompetent for the people. | Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council took aim at US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook in a series of tweets on Friday. | "The rule of the incompetent and mindless is only a source of danger," Shamkhani said before proceeding to call the Americans by name. | The Trump-Pompeo-Hook triangl…
(2020-05-16). 'A bad joke': Trio held after police raid admit to photo-bombing Russian WWII honor-roll site with Nazi pics. rt.com 
Three suspects have admitted to uploading photos of Third Reich leaders to a website honoring Soviet veterans of World War II. They admitted it was a lame joke — after getting arrested and facing criminal charges. | The suspects were detained in a series of raids this week in the cities of Perm, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Volgograd — the latter being the scene of WWII's bloodiest engagement, the Battle of Stalingrad. | | Screenshot from YouTube © Russia's Investigative Committee | Faced with the evidence, three of the four suspects confessed to putting photos of the likes of Adolf Hitler, SS chief…
(2020-05-16). 'A bad joke': Trio admits to photo-bombing Russian WWII site with Nazi pics after police raid. rt.com 
Three suspects have admitted to uploading photos of Third Reich leaders onto a website honoring Soviet veterans of World War II. They admitted it was a lame joke — after getting arrested and facing criminal charges. | The suspects were detained in a series of raids this week in the cities of Perm, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Volgograd — the latter being the scene of the world's bloodiest WWII Battle of Stalingrad. | | Screenshot from YouTube © Russia's Investigative Committee | Faced with the evidence, three of the four suspects have confessed to putting up the photos of the likes of Adolf Hitler,…
(2020-05-15). Facebook deactivates dozens of accounts of Palestinian journalists and activists. mronline.org 
At least 52 Palestinians have been affected by Facebook's deactivation sweep, according to data collected by Middle East Eye…
(2020-05-15). Up to Five Iranian Tankers en Route to Venezuela Carrying Much-Needed Gasoline. anti-empire.com 
An Iranian tanker loaded with gasoline has set sail for Venezuela, Reuters reports, citing tanker tracking data. The cargo should help alleviate a growing shortage of gasoline in the sanctions-stricken South American country. | The Clavel, a medium tanker, loaded in March at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, and this week passed the Suez Canal, the data showed. | TankerTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani confirmed the data to Oilprice.com, noting that there were several vessels en route from Iran to Venezuela, with the cargo all or mostly gasoline. |
(2020-05-15). WATCH F-22 Raptor CRASH & pilot eject near busy Florida highway. rt.com 
A US Air Force F-22 Raptor jet has crashed during a training flight in northwest Florida. The pilot survived after ejecting safely. The dramatic moment was captured on video by a motorist from a nearby highway. | The crash took place Friday morning local time near the Eglin Air Force Base, east of Pensacola. The video that appeared later in the day shows the moment the yet-unnamed pilot decided to ditch the $143 million jet and parachute to safety. | #US Air Force has crashed in Florida during a routine flight. | The pilot ejected and was able to land safely. pic.twitter.c…
(2020-05-15). Trump salutes his 'keyboard warriors,' but has he actually curtailed corporate online censorship? rt.com 
President Donald Trump has paid his respects to the legions of online meme-makers and "keyboard warriors" who helped him get elected. But among these netizens, many feel the president hasn't done enough to fight online censorship. | "Thank you to all of my great Keyboard Warriors," Trump tweeted on Friday. "You are better, and far more brilliant, than anyone on Madison Avenue (Ad Agencies). There is nobody like you!" | Thank you to all of my great Keyboard Warriors. You are better, and far more brilliant, than anyone on Madison Avenue (Ad Agencies). There is nobody like you!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonald…
(2020-05-15). 'Disturbing': Messi freaks out fans with sloppy music video kiss with wife Antonela Roccuzzo (VIDEO). rt.com 
Lionel Messi can curl in free-kicks from 30 yards but his kissing skills leave a lot to be desired, if the reaction to a clumsy viral smooch with wife Antonela Roccuzzo is anything to go by. | Messi and partner Roccuzzo were filmed locking lips for the latest video by Puerto Rican rapper Residente. | The track – titled 'Before the World Ends' – features couples canoodling all around the world, including famous faces such as Hollywood star Ben Affleck and actress partner Ana de Armas, and Mexican boxer Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and his beau Fernanda Gómez. | But it's the appearance of six-time Ballon d'Or wi…
(2020-05-15). 'Boogaloo Boy' Arrested in Texas, Charged With Plotting To Murder Cops on Facebook Live. splcenter.org "Boogaloo Boys" — individuals associated with an online community characterized by calls for civil strife and ownership of firearms and tactical gear — have advocated for an armed revolution online and at public rallies for months. On April 11, one self-proclaimed "Boogaloo Boy" allegedly used Facebook Live to show himself attempting to murder police.
(2020-05-15). Video: Ted Cruz to Zuckerberg: Is There Facebook Political Bias? globalresearch.ca Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) pressed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on whether or not there is a political bias at the social media giant. | . | . | . …
(2020-05-15). National Nurses Day: Not all heroes wear capes. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Photo and article are courtesy of Mayo Clinic News Center andMayo Clinic Employee Facebook. Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear scrubs, protective equipment and step out in difficult times to be there for others. As COVID-19 continues to spread and people heed notices to socially distance themselves and hunker down in their homes, there …
(2020-05-12). Delayed Antibiotic Prescriptions in Ambulatory Care—Reconsidering a Problematic Practice. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint discusses the unintended adverse consequences of delayed antibiotic prescribing—provision of an antibiotic prescription to be filled at a later date if a patient's condition has not improved—and calls on clinicians to avoid the practice in patients who have self-limited conditions with likely viral etiologies.
(2020-05-12). Pharmacologic Treatments for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). jamanetwork.com This narrative review summarizes what is currently known about how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells and causes disease as a basis for considering whether chloroquine, remdisivir and other antivirals, or other existing drugs might be effective treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
(2020-05-11). "Weaponized and Racialized": Police Departments Use COVID-19 to Target Black & Brown Communities. democracynow.org 
Viral images have shone a spotlight on uneven policing. Some show police officers distributing masks to White residents in crowded New York City parks — and apparently arresting no one. Meanwhile, videos have emerged of violent crackdowns on social distancing measures in Black and Latinx neighborhoods. We continue our look at how Black and Brown communities are being disproportionately targeted and policed in New York City's enforcement measures during the pandemic, and also discuss how officers have ordered protesters to disband, citing executive orders from the mayor and the governor that ban "any non-ess…
(2020-05-11). Saturday, May 16, Second Webinar: Disarm and Divest During Covid-19. kingsbayplowshares7.org Disarm & Divest During COVID19 Last KBP 7 Webinar Before Sentencing SATURDAY, MAY 16 The recording of the webinar can be viewed on Facebook now. Eventually we hope to have an edited version up on the KBP Youtube channel and will post link. In it current form we recommend that you skip the first…
(2020-05-08). HIGH-FREQUENCY failure of combination antiretroviral therapy in paediatric HIV infection is associated with unmet maternal needs causing maternal NON-ADHERENCE. thelancet.com The success of early infant testing and cART initiation strategies is severely limited by subsequent cART non-adherence in HIV-infected children. Although there are practical challenges to administering paediatric cART formulations, these are overcome by mothers who themselves are cART-adherent. These findings point to the ongoing obligation to address the unmet needs of the mothers. Eliminating the particular barriers preventing adequate treatment for these vulnerable women and infants need to be prioritised in order to achieve durable suppression of viraemia on cART, let alone HIV cure/remission, in HIV-infecte…
(2020-05-05). New PSL book: 'Climate Solutions: Beyond Capitalism'. liberationnews.org 
"It is a small book, but expansive in outlook in a way that echoes the holistic eco-socialist society we will need…"
(2020-05-04). Facebook Is Go-To Platform For Organizing Protests Against Social Distancing. splcenter.org As COVID-19 continues to pose a lethal threat worldwide, fringe, right-wing activists are using Facebook to mobilize protests of stay-at-home orders in several states.
(2020-04-24). Dr. Rashid Buttar Interview — Why COVID-19 Is Not What You Think. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today to discuss further some of the very relevant and important points we went over during our recent roundtable (www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2Fh3ThKoE) is Dr. Rashid Buttar. We discuss the very obvious way in which it seems we are all being deceived, and the many and varied ways in which that deception is taking place. (d.tube/c/tlavagabond) …
(2020-04-23). Oath Keepers Chaplain Quits Over Leader's COVID Response. splcenter.org Chuck Baldwin, who has served as the national chaplain of the antigovernment Oath Keepers since 2013, announced his resignation early Tuesday morning on Facebook.
(2020-05-15). Jailing people who use Covid-19 as bioweapon would be 'discrimination.' So better lock up everyone instead? rt.com 
Accidentally spreading Covid-19 is wanting grandma dead, say opponents of ending lockdowns. Yet activists now worry that proposed laws to punish those who threaten to spread it deliberately would discriminate against minorities. | A Florida man spat and coughed on a police officer responding to a domestic violence call, and faces up to five years in prison on a federal charge of biological weapons hoax (he was negative for Covid-19). Another man in Texas, who falsely claimed on Facebook that he paid someone to spread the virus at local grocery stores, was charged with the same thing. A Michigan man who wiped h…
(2020-04-22). Is Trump's "Shoot Down And Destroy" Tweet About Boosting Oil Prices Or A Harbinger Of War With Iran? thelastamericanvagabond.com Trump's recent tweet to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships" has sparked concern over a new war in the Middle East. However, the more immediate effect of Trump's tweet has been a big boost in oil prices and a rise in the stock market. Was that Trump's …