(2020-01-16). Duterte jokes about peeing on Taal volcano, says 'beautiful women' make his problems disappear. rt.com 
Philippines President Rodgrigo Duterte made some characteristically brash remarks prior to and during his visit to areas affected by the Taal eruption, saying he would extinguish the volcano by peeing on it. | "I'll eat that ashfall, even Taal, I'll pee on it, goddamn it," Duterte said on Monday ahead of his first public appearance since the Taal Volcano began erupting this month. | The firebrand president had withdrawn from the public eye several times in the past year, often for weeks at a time, citing health problems, including spinal injuries from past motorcycle accidents. | Brgy. Aya, Talisay, Batangas,…
(2020-01-16). Pakistan's ex-president Musharraf appeals to Supreme Court over special tribunal's guilty verdict in treason case. rt.com 
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has petitioned Pakistan's highest judiciary body to overturn his guilty verdict in a treason case conducted by a special court. | In his legal filing to the Supreme Court, Musharraf argued that his absence from the special tribunal was due to health reasons and that he had been granted permission to travel abroad to receive medical assistance. He is currently undergoing treatment in Dubai. | He also denied running from the law and insisted that the prosecution had failed to prove the treason charges against him. The petition further states that the Pakistani government ha…
(2020-01-16). At least 313 civilians killed in Idlib since Nov. 2019 in Syria. yenisafak.com More and more civilians are losing their lives or getting displaced in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib as the regime, Iran-backed groups and Russia intensify airstrikes. | A total of 313 civilians, including 100 children, were killed, 1,843 others injured and 382,466 Syrians were forced to flee their homes since November 2019, according to data provided by the Coordinators of Interventions in Syria, a local rights group. | The strikes also targeted many civilian buildings including 48 mosques, three civil defense centers, one ambulance, nine health teams, 15 health facilities, 11 tent cities, eight water s…
(2020-01-16). Japan becomes 2nd to confirm Wuhan virus outside China. yenisafak.com Japan on Thursday announced that the first case of a new coronavirus had been found in the country, becoming the second nation to report such a case outside of China where the virus was recently discovered.Japanese health officials said one Chinese patient living in the eastern Kanagawa Prefecture contracted the virus when he traveled to Wuhan province
(2020-01-16). Why Health, Crime and Brexit Will Be Big Issues When Ireland Goes to the Polls Next Month. sputniknews.com Voters in the Republic of Ireland will go to the polls on 8 February. So what chance has Leo Varadkar – who has never fought an election as prime minister – of retaining the top job?
(2020-01-15). Sanders and Warren Openly Spar as Some Progressives Fear Fighting Could Help Centrist Democrats. democracynow.org 
At Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren openly sparred for the first time when asked about Warren's claim that Sanders told her in a private 2018 meeting that a woman could not win the presidential election. Sanders again denied the accusation when asked about it by CNN's Abby Phillip. Warren maintained her claim. At the end of the night, Warren also apparently refused to shake Sanders's hand. We speak with journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat, activist and Truthout contributor Alexis Goldstein and Larry Hamm of People's Organization for Prog…
(2020-01-15). VIDEOS show airplane dumping JET FUEL on Los Angeles schools, resulting in 60 injuries. rt.com 
Sixty people were treated for injuries after a passenger plane dumped jet fuel over several schools while making an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Videos show the release of the unusual payload. | According to the airline, the Delta jet experienced an engine issue shortly after departing from Los Angeles, and was forced to return quickly to the airport. Following safety procedures, the Boeing 777-200 released fuel in order to reach a safe landing weight. | The excess fuel, however, caused a health emergency among at least six Los Angeles schools, where children found themselves d…
(2020-01-15). Steelworkers sue Trump EPA to save anti-chemical disaster rule. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Imagine putting the lives and health of 177 million U.S. residents — one of every two — at risk. That's what greens contend GOP President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency is planning to do, and the United Steelworkers (USW) have gone to federal court to stop the scheme. At issue: An EPA plan to "amend" …
(2020-01-15). Trump's war on Iran, health care loom large at Dem debate. peoplesworld.org 
DES MOINES, Iowa — It was clear at the last Democratic debate before the Feb. 3 caucuses here that if any one of the six participating candidates were in the White House there would be a world of difference between what that president does and what we see today from Donald Trump. Whether it was …
(2020-01-15). CNN Attacks Sanders in Iowa Dem Debate. therealnews.com 
The Warren/Sanders feud is splitting progressives. Can Sanders unite the working class with anti-war policies and Medicare for All?
(2020-01-15). A Truly Antiwar Agenda Must Include Free College and Medicare for All. truthout.org Last night's debate brought home a reality for me: A truly antiwar agenda is not confined to priorities traditionally seen as "foreign policy." It must include bold plans to address climate change, education, institutional racism and sexism, health care and immigration justice. And our movements must reflect that broad-based vision. | The recent assassination of Iran's top Gen. Qassim Suleimani was a frightening reminder of the undemocratic and reckless approach of those who currently rule the U.S.
(2020-01-15). Gone Fishing? No Fish but Plenty of Pesticides and a Public Health Crisis. globalresearch.ca There is mounting evidence that a healthy soil microbiome protects plants from pests and diseases. One of the greatest natural assets that humankind has is soil. But when you drench it with proprietary synthetic chemicals or continuously monocrop as part …
(2020-01-15). Raising the Minimum Wage Can Save Lives. progressive.org A new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests a relatively simple way to reduce the number of people who take their own lives: raise the minimum wage.
(2020-01-15). Sanders and Warren Show Differences on Trade and Health Care in Debate. truthout.org The final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucus had moments that further highlighted the distinctions between the leading candidates on issues like free public college and health care but for the most part it covered familiar ground. | However, the candidates closest in policy — Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren — had moments when the distinctions in their strategic approaches shone through: Warren described her approach as fighting for smaller reforms to get relief to as…
(2020-01-15). CNN, Warren's Sexism Jibe Against Sanders Backfires as #CNNisTrash Trends on Twitter. mintpressnews.com CNN has been widely criticized for its perceived bias in moderating yesterday's Democratic presidential debate in Iowa. With just three weeks before the first primaries, six leading candidates descended upon Des Moines last night to take part. But, as with previous debates, much of the public discussion centered on the organization, framing and bias of the organizers and moderators. | CNN asked Bernie Sanders, the most left-leaning of the candidates, if he thought he "owed voters an explanation" on how much his health plan would cost them…
(2020-01-15). Sudan: Lives of traumatized, displaced women in West Darfur under threat. news.un.org Ongoing instability in Sudan's West Darfur region has left the lives, health and safety of thousands of women hanging in the balance, according to the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.
(2020-01-15). Florida Won't Cover Transgender Health Care. Two Trans Women Are Suing. truthout.org Two transgender women are suing Florida government agencies for being denied gender-affirming health care under the state employee health plan's exclusion for "gender reassignment or modification services or supplies." | It's the latest legal challenge to state health plans that deny coverage for gender-affirming procedures. | The Florida lawsuit, filed Monday, argues that the state's exclusion of gender-affirming care violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution's equal prote…
(2020-01-15). It Is Clear the Establishment and Corporate Media Would Prefer Trump Reelection to President Bernie Sanders. commondreams.org Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) addresses the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals at the Mohegan Sun Pocono on April 15, 2019 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. One of Sanders' proposals for his presidential bids is Medicare for all. (Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-01-15). CNN Moderators Fixate on Cost of Medicare for All, Ignore Price of Endless War. truthout.org Democrats onstage Tuesday night at the CNN/Des Moines Register debate in Iowa were challenged repeatedly by moderators on the cost of major plans like Sen. Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All — scrutiny that was missing in the first half hour when the questions focused on endless war and a potential attack on Iran. | "Wonder if CNN asked how much going to potential war with Iran cost?" asked artist Karla Ortiz. | Quest…
(2020-01-15). Hospital CEO Admits For-Profit Healthcare Industry Is 'Number One Cause of Personal Bankruptcy" commondreams.org At the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, one CEO of a Utah-based hospital system admitted Tuesday that the U.S. healthcare industry is responsible for American families' financial struggles. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-01-15). Study Shows Being Rich Buys 9 Extra Years of 'Healthy' Living in US and UK. commondreams.org A new study that highlights the serious impacts of wealth inequality in the United Kingdom and United States suggests that being rich can add about nine "healthy" years to a person's life. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-01-15). Brexiteer MP Francois predicts success for Big Ben Brexit bong campaign as top crowdfunder 'reaches £215'. thecanary.co A Brexiteer Tory has predicted that the £500,000 needed to get Big Ben to ring for Brexit will be raised within days. | Mark Francois, who has promised £1,000, said "I think we will get it within 48 hours" — but accused the House of Commons authorities of exaggerating the cost of bringing the currently silent bell back into operation. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock also backed the campaign, saying he would "love to hear the Big Ben bong on Brexit day". | So far, prime minister Boris Johnson's "bung a bob for a Big Ben bong" proposal to get the bell to ring on Brexit night is attracting muted su…
(2020-01-14). UN moves to tackle 'hidden abuse' and violence against Europe's children. news.un.org Each year, at least 55 million children in Europe suffer some form of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological violence, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.
(2020-01-13). Democratic Debate: Will Progressives Highlight the Cost of War? therealnews.com 
Senators Sanders and Warren could have their best opportunity yet to argue that if the U.S. has trillions to pay for war abroad, it can invest in healthcare, education, and infrastructure at home.
(2020-01-13). During Yemen's Annual Martyr Week, Anti-American Sentiment Prevails. mintpressnews.com 
SANA'A, SADAA, YEMEN — As the ongoing war and blockade against their country enters its sixth year, Yemenis are commemorating the annual Martyr Week amid an increasing feeling of hatred and resentment towards the United States, a feeling never seen at this level in the war-torn country. | In Yemen, a country far from the prosperous and bustling United States, the size of cemeteries has increased dramatically in the past five years, with new burial sites springing up to house victims of the weapons supplied by western countries, particularly by the United States, as well as the blockade, hunger, and disease…
(2020-01-13). Philippines: Communists mobilizing to help after volcano eruption. fightbacknews.org The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is urging revolutionary mass organizations in Calabarzon to assist those affected by Taal volcano's ash explosion. A more dangerous eruption is also forecast, requiring emergency response and relief preparations, including those that address the disaster's health implications. | The U.S.-backed regime of President Rodrigo Duterte is well known for its incompetence and indifference to people's needs in the wake of natural disasters. | According to a statement from the CPP, "Civic organizations are also urged to coordinate with peasant and fisherfolk families from seve…
(2020-01-13). 'No shortcuts to a healthier world': WHO chief sets out health priorities for the decade. news.un.org The head of the UN health agency, WHO, has set out his urgent global health challenges for the next ten years — designated the "Decade of Action" by the UN General Assembly" — and underscored the importance of investing in public health, in a statement released on Monday.
(2020-01-13). UN health agency urges China to continue search for source of new virus, as Thailand case emerges. news.un.org It is "essential" for China to continue investigating the source of a previously unknown strain of coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Monday, following confirmation that an infected patient is being treated in Thailand.
(2020-01-10). Pregnant Workers Are Still Fighting for the Right to Work. aclu.org In 2015, | Michelle Durham, an ACLU client, was faced with an impossible choice: | continue working and risk the health of her pregnancy or give up her paycheck. | She was working | as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Rural/Metro Corporation, a company | in Alabama that provides emergency medical care to people living in areas that | lack basic medical services. Shortly after joining Rural/Metro Corporation in | Alabama, Michelle learned she was pregnant with her first child and was advised | by her health professional not to lift more than 50 pounds. She was confident | the company would grant her a…
(2020-01-10). Headlines for January 10, 2020. democracynow.org House Approves Resolution Aimed at Limiting Trump's War Powers, NYT: Video Appears to Show Iranian Missile Hitting Jet Before Tehran Crash, Internal Emails Show Boeing Workers Mocked Regulators & 737 MAX Jet Designers, Trump Seeks to Exempt Large Projects from Some Environmental Review, Mexican Asylum Seeker Dies by Suicide After Being Denied Entry into U.S., Six Democratic Candidates Will Debate in Iowa Next Week, Ahead of Caucus, Transport Workers' Strike Becomes Longest in French History, Health and Human Services Declares Public Health Emergency for Puerto Rico, Grand Jury Indicts Hanukkah Attack Suspect on M…
(2020-01-08). $71 Million for More Cops; Not A Dime for Jobs and Healthcare. therealnews.com 
Operation Relentless Pursuit is a Department of Justice initiative to combat crime through a "surge in federal resources." We talked with Brandon Walker of the Ujima People's Progress Party about what's really needed to combat crime and empower neighborhoods in places like Baltimore, one of the seven cities targeted by the plan.
(2019-11-17). Warren's Head Tax Is Not More Popular Than A Payroll Tax. peoplespolicyproject.org As we know by now, Elizabeth Warren's Medicare head tax proposal is a regressive mess ( I, II, III, IV). Warren's team knows this. The goal of the proposal i…
(2019-11-17). CAP's Topher Spiro Is Trying to Deceive Journalists By Lying. peoplespolicyproject.org 
It's been fun to see how the Center for American Progress (CAP) navigates this year's presidential election. For insider political reasons, they can't support Biden or Sanders. But for a long time, it was unclear who the alternative candidate they could support would be. | When Kamala Harris was rising, CAP's staff was doing overtime boosting her on Twitter and in the press, including boosting Harris's absurd health care proposal. But Harris's collapse put an end to that strategy. Recently Warren has risen as the alternative and so CAP has been working to promote her campaign, which puts CAP in the comical positi…
(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…
