(2019-11-15). Labor Opponents of Single Payer Don't Speak For Low Wage Union Members. counterpunch.org As popular support grows for replacing private insurance plans with Medicare for All, critics of the single-payer approach have been playing up the fact that some top union officials, and their political allies, don't want to do away with job-based medical coverage. "There's no question that ultimately we need to establish a single payer system," More
(2019-11-15). Boris Johnson appears to forget his party has run the NHS for the last 10 years. thecanary.co Boris Johnson appeared to have a memory lapse and forgot his party has been in charge for the last decade. Johnson claimed the Tories "have got to do better" on the NHS after key figures showed the service was performing at the worst level on record. | Johnson told BBC Breakfast: We have got to do better, I don't deny that | Health secretary Matt Hancock was accused of being "staggeringly out of touch" after he claimed on Thursday that the NHS was performing "better than it ever has". | After official figures showed a record 4.42 million people were waiting for treatment, the prime minister said they had to do mor…
(2019-11-14). 'The captain is well, very well': Cristiano Ronaldo 'very fit' despite Juventus saying he's nursing knee injury. rt.com 
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has issued an assurance regarding his health ahead of a crucial Euro 2020 qualifier amid reports that Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri has withdrawn him from recent games due to knee trouble. | Ronaldo was substituted during each of Juventus' last two games, with the player appearing unable to disguise his displeasure with his coach's decision during Sunday's 1-0 win against Milan. | Reports suggest that such was Ronaldo's unhappiness with the call that he disregarded convention and exited the stadium prior to the end of the game, a move which reportedly angered the club's hierar…
(2019-11-14). Trump's V-Day visit to Moscow would be 'the right thing to do' even during election season — Putin. rt.com 
As Russia prepares to celebrate the May 2020 anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, President Vladimir Putin said that a visit from Donald Trump would be "the right thing to do," even during an election campaign.
(2019-11-14). To Confront Climate Change Humanity Needs Socialism. counterpunch.org 
Humans may not survive. Reports from the UN's Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change provoke images of land masses drowning, fleeing populations, starvation, terrible droughts, terrible storms, migrating diseases, new deserts, and intolerable heat. It's an "ecological Armageddon," says one expert. We hear about "the sixth extinction," the geologic epoch that is our own. It's called More
(2019-11-14). Why Aren't People in the US Rising Up Like Those Elsewhere in the World? commondreams.org Demonstrators wave flags as they take part during the day of cultural activities 'El Derecho a Vivir en Paz' called by 'Movimiento Unidad Social' at Plaza O'Higgins on October 27, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. Unidad Social, an organization conformed by various social groups, has called society to be part of cultural activities in defence of human rights and against abuses, under the slogan #NoMasAbusos (No more abuses) people demand Sebastian Pi√±era's Government attention to issues such as health care, pension system, privatization of water, public transport, education, social mobili…
(2019-11-14). Latin American Youth Demand Gender Equality, Sexual Rights. telesurenglish.net A group of young Latin American activists has called on world leaders to fight for sexual and reproductive health services, for the rights of people with disabilities and the right to abortion at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) in Kenya. | RELATED: | Latin American Women Mark International Safe Abortion Day | Working with Kenya and Denmark, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has organized the ICPD25 summit which runs until Thursday with represen…
(2019-11-14). Bloomberg and his fellow oligarchs lay down the law: Not a penny more in taxes. wsws.org The American financial oligarchy is indignant over any possibility of having to give up a part of their fortune to pay for things such as health care, education, housing and a livable environment.
(2019-11-14). UN mosquito sterilization technology set for global testing, in battle against malaria, dengue. un.org With more than half the world now at risk from mosquito-transmitted dengue fever, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN has taken the lead on a global effort to eradicate the disease — and many others — by measuring the impact of releasing millions of sterilized pests across several continents, it announced on Thursday.
(2019-11-14). Bernie introduces tax excessive CEO pay act. nationofchange.org "Corporate greed is a disease that has long inflicted this country — income inequality and the pay gap between CEOs and their employees are just two of its symptoms that are harming everyday people."
(2019-11-14). Zero new confirmed cholera cases in Haiti for nine months: UN envoy. un.org Although Haiti is in the "homestretch" of defeating a cholera outbreak first declared nine years ago, the battle is far from over before the country is free of the deadly disease.
(2019-11-14). As Superbugs Infect Millions and Kill Tens of Thousands Each Year, CDC Chief Warns Post-Antibiotic Era 'Already Here'. commondreams.org Bolstering concerns about the "continuing threat" that so-called superbugs pose to human health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Wednesday that found antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States alone each year. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2019-11-14). New Global Health and Climate Crisis Report Warns of Future 'Where a Child Has to Fight Simply to Survive'. commondreams.org A report published Wednesday in medical journal The Lancet warns that the human-caused climate crisis is already disproportionately affecting children worldwide and "will define the health profile of current and future generations" if left unabated. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2019-11-13). Google wades into banking even as it faces new federal probe into shady medical data collection. rt.com 
Google wants you to trust it with your money, even as its latest privacy scandal, where millions of Americans' medical records were covertly slurped up to power a secret AI project, has triggered another federal investigation. | Google is rolling out a consumer finance division, currently codenamed Cache, in partnership with Citigroup and a Stanford University credit union, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Wednesday. The search behemoth will begin offering checking accounts to customers next year, muscling into yet another market, despite a mounting stack of federal investigations targeting potential antitr…
(2019-11-13). Montana's Radioactive Waste Legacy. counterpunch.org 
One label Montana's Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock won't have to worry about being stuck with is "environmentalist." His outdated support for coal in the face of a global warming crisis and his "leadership" on the massive and ongoing deforestation of public lands under the phony rubric of the Bush-era "Healthy Forests Initiative" are bad enough. More
(2019-11-13). Revealed: danger and squalor for cleaners who remove human waste by hand. un.org The plight of sanitation workers in the developing world should be addressed urgently, the UN said on Thursday, warning that their rights, health and dignity are at risk.
(2019-11-13). UN leads bid for cheaper insulin, expanding access for diabetics worldwide. un.org Overly expensive insulin could be a thing of the past — and life-changing news — for millions of diabetics under a plan launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday to diversify production globally, just ahead of World Diabetes Day.
(2019-11-13). As Israel Pounds The Gaza Strip, Death Toll Reaches 32. telesurenglish.net Israel has been heavily bombing the besieged Gaza Strip Wednesday for the second day in the most violent onslaught in months. The death toll from the air campaign increased to 32 Palestinians, including three minors; while at least 70 others including 30 children were wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. | RELATED: | Israeli Soldier Who Killed Palestinian Teen Gets 1-Month Sentence | In the eastern part of the enclave, Ayyad, a 54-year-old farmer, and Amir, 8,…
(2019-11-13). Headlines for November 13, 2019. democracynow.org Televised Impeachment Hearings Begin Today, Right-Wing Senator Declares Herself President of Bolivia, Turkish President Erdogan Visiting Trump at White House, Supreme Court Heard Oral Arguments over DACA Program, Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case of Mexican Teen Killed by U.S. Border Agent, Supreme Court Clears Way for Sandy Hook Families to Sue Gun Manufacturer, Federal Court Rules Warrantless Searches of Phones at Airport Are Unconstitutional, HHS Probes Google's Program to Collect Healthcare Data of Americans, U.S. Government Detained Record Number of Migrant Children in 2019, SPLC: Stephen Miller Sought t…
(2019-11-13). Boris Johnson lays out his plan to wreck the NHS, in 40 seconds. thecanary.co Healthcare is the single biggest issue for voters this election, bar Brexit. In 40 seconds of footage that should end Boris Johnson's campaign, he seems to have forgotten that. Asked not once, but twice, if he will rule out selling off more of our NHS, he refuses to say yes. | The 40 seconds that should end Boris Johnson's campaign: | These are the most important 40 seconds of this entire General Election. Twice the BBC asked…
(2019-11-12). Google sucks up & analyzes healthcare data on millions of Americans in secret AI project… after voluntary opt-in flops. rt.com 
Google has teamed up with one of the largest health providers in the US to gather detailed medical records on millions of patients across the country without their knowledge, in a secret project the firm tried to keep under wraps. | Dubbed "Project Nightingale," the secretive program brought together Google and healthcare giant Ascension in an effort to collect medical records on patients across 21 states, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The data sharing began last year, and has only accelerated in recent months. | At least 150 employees at Google's Cloud division now have access to the bulk…
(2019-11-12). 'Forgotten' pneumonia epidemic kills more children than any other disease. un.org Pneumonia, an entirely preventable disease, kills more children than any other illness in the world, one child every 39 seconds. But although that statistic is well known, funding to improve survival rates continues to come up short, the UN and partners warned on Tuesday, World Pneumonia Day.
(2019-11-12). Tuesday's Daily Brief: 'Forgotten' pneumonia epidemic, experts urge vigilance over Australia wildfires, Ebola vaccine breakthrough‚ÄØ. un.org A recap of Tuesday's top stories: Pneumonia number one killer of children; Australia's wildfires rage on; Ebola vaccine gets green light;‚ÄØnew child‚ÄØlabour‚ÄØand trafficking study;‚ÄØMalnutrition soars in Latin America and Caribbean; Intellectual Property chief encourages innovation.
(2019-11-12). Headlines for November 12, 2019. democracynow.org Longtime Bolivian President Evo Morales Takes Asylum in Mexico, Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on DACA Cases, Televised Impeachment Hearings to Start Tomorrow, Former MA Gov. Deval Patrick May Jump Into 2020 Race, NY Republican Congressman Peter King Retires, Donald Trump Jr. Heckled Off Stage by His Own Supporters, EPA to Restrict Scientific Research Used to Write Public Health Regulations, Israeli Military Kills Palestinian Commander in Targeted Assassination in Gaza, Afghan Government & Taliban Agree on Prisoner Exchange, Chilean Government Bows to Protests & Agrees to Rewrite Constitution, 260 Arrested in…
(2019-11-11). Monday's Daily Brief: Guterres on Bolivia and multilateralism, Syria and Iraq's displaced, forest initiative, the healing arts. un.org A recap of Monday's stories in brief: UN chief spotlights multilateralism at peace forum; Bolivian authorities must uphold safety of citizens; new programme to feed Kenya's children; experts concerned for detained in Syria and Iraq; UN forest management project fights climate crisis; and, from Warhol to the Wiggles — the role of art in keeping you healthy.
(2019-11-11). Mitch McConnell Faces Threat From Populist Challenger Charles Booker in Kentucky Senate Race. theintercept.com Sen. Mitch McConnell faces a new 2020 threat, as Kentucky state Rep. Charles Booker announced the formation of an exploratory committee on Monday. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, is already being challenged by Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, who ran and lost a winnable race for a Lexington-area House seat in 2018. | In the Democratic primary, Booker, who backs progressive policies like a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and a living wage, plans to run as a contrast to McGrath, who is running more to the center or the center-right. | In a 2018 run for Congress, her opponent, Rep. Andy Barr, made devastat…
(2019-11-11). Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Environmental Justice, Shutting Down Pipelines, Capitalism & Billionaires. democracynow.org 
Six 2020 presidential candidates — Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, and Tom Steyer, Marianne Williamson, John Delaney and Joe Sestak — participated in the first-ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on November 8. Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and former EPA official Mustafa Santiago Ali co-moderated the event, which took place at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. We air highlights of Warren speaking about the climate crisis, public health, shutting down pipelines, capitalism, the order of primary states and more.
(2019-11-07). Speaking at a K Street Lobby Powerhouse, Joe Biden Renewed His Medicare for All Feud With Elizabeth Warren. theintercept.com On Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden held a fundraiser at Sidley Austin, a notorious and influential K Street law firm.
(2019-11-05). How Peter Morley Turns Pain into Purpose Fighting for Health Care. progressive.org If the Trump Administration had its way, Americans would be completely unaware that the 2020 ACA enrollment period began on Friday, November 1. Enter Peter Morley.
(2019-11-05). Trump Wants to Allow Discrimination with Billions of Dollars of Federal Funding. aclu.org Last Friday, the Trump administration announced | an alarming new proposal that would strip away critical protections against discrimination | in grants funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. | Initially, we thought this proposal would serve to fulfill Trump's promise to give taxpayer-funded child welfare agencies a license to discriminate. This proposal does…
(2019-11-03). Warren's Medicare Head Tax Would Be About $9,500. peoplespolicyproject.org On Friday, I wrote a piece arguing that Elizabeth Warren's use of an employer head tax was not a good way to fund Medicare for All and that instead the more conventional choices of income and payroll taxes would be better. The reason they are better is because income and payroll taxes are based on how much income you receive while a head tax charges the same dollar amount for every worker regardless of their income, making it much more onerous on the lower and middle classes. | This point holds…
(2019-11-02). What Is a Middle Class Tax Hike? Am I Losing My Mind? peoplespolicyproject.org I have been swimming in the Medicare for All waters for over a decade now, going back to when I worked on the Ralph Nader presidential campaign that made Medicare for All its number one issue. And during this time, I developed a specific understanding of what we might call the M4A Financing Problem. | The Problem: | The M4A Financing Problem, in simple terms, is that even if you bring in existing federal spending on health care, existing state spending on health care, and a bunch of new rich-people taxes, you still fall short of financing the program. Thus to actually complete the financing, you have to u…
(2019-11-01). Warren's Perpetual Medicare Head Tax Is Unworkable and Bad. peoplespolicyproject.org 
Elizabeth Warren released her Medicare for All financing plan today. The main purpose of the proposal appears to be to find a plan that you can message as "not increasing middle class taxes," which is of course a nonsensical goal insofar, as Warren herself has said, what matters is middle class health care costs, not whether you categorize those costs as premiums, taxes, or out-of-pocket expenses. | Nonetheless, bowing to the stupid media discourse on this, Warren put forward a financing pro…
(2019-10-24). New Poll Finds Voters Strongly Oppose Employer Insurance. peoplespolicyproject.org Many centrist pundits have convinced themselves that Medicare for All (M4A) is unpopular because, when you include certain details about M4A in polling questions, support levels drop significantly. But in convincing themselves of this, centrist pundits seem remarkably incurious about whether this same thing occurs for employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) when you include certain details about it in polling questions. | Earlier this week, Emerson Polling helped answer this question when it aske…
(2019-10-16). The Urban Institute Report Did Not Score Medicare for All. peoplespolicyproject.org The Urban Institute and The Commonwealth Fund put out a report today that provided cost estimates for 8 different health care reforms. One of those eight reforms, which is called "Single Payer Enhanced," describes a comprehensive, no-cost-sharing, national health plan similar to Medicare for All (M4A). However, the Urban plan uses hospital reimbursement rates that are 15 percent higher than the rates in the M4A legislation, meaning that its cost estimates are much…
(2019-10-12). Turkey Attacks US Troops, Iran Tanker Bombed No One Cares, CIA "Whistleblower" & Terrorism Vaccine. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/11/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-10-08). The Benefits of Medical Marijuana for Mesothelioma Patients. thelastamericanvagabond.com When traditional medicines stop working, doctors can only do so much to treat their patients. Patients who become desperate often turn to other possible solutions for their treatment. This desperation is the case for most mesothelioma patients. Many of them report relief from taking medical marijuana. Despite the approval of the use of medical marijuana …
(2019-06-19). House Casts Historic Vote to Repeal Authorization for Endless War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 19, 2019 — In response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 2740 (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020), which includes language to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) eight months after …