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November 22, 2011 :: The Editors :: No Comment Yet
Robert Reich explains how big money is taking over the privileges of democratic rights, to the exclusion of ordinary people, and to the detriment of citizens who seek to exercise their basic civil liberties. The violence of police against unarmed civilians is absolutely inexcusable, and it is motivated in part by a systemic disregard for [...]
September 20, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Today, the 20th of September, 2011, the discriminatory US military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, which required thousands of gay personnel to serve their country while keeping their private life secret. Honorable people were discharged only because someone else found out they were not heterosexual. In some cases, the ideal military officer for a highly skilled, difficult-to-fill position were discharged despite being the most qualified person for operationally vital positions.
August 21, 2011 :: staff :: One Comment
Reports from Tripoli, the capital of Libya, suggest rebel forces have taken territory inside the capital, and captured one of Qadhafi’s sons, after a top security official ordered troops to lay down arms and let the rebels in. There are reports of convoys of rebel soldiers moving into the capital, being welcomed and celebrated by unarmed civilians. Some news reports have talked of “uprisings” in the suburbs, and possibly within Tripoli itself.
July 21, 2011 :: The Editors :: No Comment Yet
When comedians are keeping watch over the deliberate falsehoods dispensed by “mainstream media”, there is something rotten in the culture of our free press. Not because comedians shouldn’t do that work—all citizens should—but because the mainstream media should be committed, at every level, to truth-telling and citizenship. Fox News, in light of the bribery, spying and coercion, scandal engulfing its parent company, has definitively shown how far from that mission its news operation is.
July 19, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Gordon Brown, the former UK prime minister and chancellor of the Exchequer denounces “the systematic criminality of News International”, accusing the media conglomerate of “lawbreaking on an industrial scale” and of abusing the rights of citizens, crime victims and the families of soldiers who lost their lives in war, for financial gain by the most [...]
July 6, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Today, at the White House, at 2pm EDT, Pres. Barack Obama became the first American president to “live tweet”, posting to his Twitter account the question, “in order to reduce the deficit,what costs would you cut and what investments would you keep”, signing it, simply “- bo”. The president then answered questions, selected by “curators” across the country, who sorted through tens of thousands of questions from Twitter users. He had no prior knowledge of the questions, nor did the moderator, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
May 3, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
April 28, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
In his weekly address, President Obama laid out his plans to address rising gas prices over the short and the long term. While there is no silver bullet to bring down prices right away, there are a few things we can do. This week, the Attorney General launched a task force dedicated to rooting out fraud or manipulations in the oil markets. The President called for finally ending the $4 billion in taxpayer money that the oil and gas companies receive annually. And, we need to continue safe, responsible production of oil at home. But in the long term, we need to invest in clean, renewable energy. That is why the President strongly disagrees with a proposal in Congress that cuts our investments in clean energy by 70 percent.
March 12, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) denounces the intent of Rep. Peter King’s (R-NY) “radicalization of American Muslims” hearings, which she says are a waste of time and counterproductive effort to promote religious and ethnic bias. At 5:10 into this video, Rep. Peter King is heard suddenly ordering Ms. Jackson Lee to end her statement at the very moment she decries the “lack of factual basis” for the hearings. King had earlier shouted down Rep. Jackson Lee when she suggested each member of the committee should be allowed to make a statement in support of or criticizing the nature and aim of the hearings.
March 12, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim-American in the United States Congress, spoke to the Congressional hearing chaired by Rep. Peter King (R-NY), examining the question of the “radicalization of American Muslims”. He told the story of a young, Muslim-American man who gave his life to save others on 11 September 2001. Rep. Ellison’s testimony was emotional, and he fought back tears nearly throughout the statement, telling of the young man’s sacrifice.
March 12, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
The Fukushima nuclear plant contains 5 nuclear reactors, which combine to produce the world’s largest concentrated power generation. At least one of the reactors is reported to have radiation levels 1,000 times normal inside one of its control rooms. Today, RussiaToday is reporting that white smoke seen rising from the plant may be due to an explosion. Authorities have warned that some radioactive material may have seeped out into the environment already. There is an ongoing concern that the plant may be vulnerable to meltdown, as plant operators have not been able to resume cooling of nuclear fuel.
March 12, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Google yesterday launched a “person finder” for Japan, to help people looking for relatives and loved ones who may be lost in a communications outage or in physical danger, due to the earthquake and tsunami. Facebook also has a disaster relief service at facebook.com/DisasterRelief. There is also a surge in information on Twitter at hash-tags like #tsunami or #sendai or Fukushima.
March 11, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Two nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan, are now reported to be unable to cool the nuclear fuel in their cores, and radioactive materials may have seeped into the environment. The reactors reportedly suffered service interruption after the worst earthquake in Japanese history. The magnitude 8.9 quake unleashed a massive tsunami the pushed far inland at Sendai, northeast of Tokyo.
March 10, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Rachel Maddow reports on the Michigan governor’s legislation giving himself emergency powers, including the power to dissolve local governments, take over cities, unincorporate entire municipalities —the equivalent of erasing them from the political map— and remove elected officials, replacing them with his own unilaterally appointed substitutes.
March 3, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Every wave on the ocean that has ever risen up and refused to lay back down has been dashed on the shore, but it is the very purpose of a wave to rise up, because once it rises up above the horizon it finally has the perspective to see that it’s not just a wave, that it’s a part of a mighty ocean. And the sharpest rock on the wildest shore can never break that ocean apart, they can never wear that ocean down, because it’s the ocean that shapes the shore.
February 26, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Last week, a man pretending to be oil billionaire David Koch, one of the major Republican donors thought to be behind the concerted operation by Republican governors to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights, spoke with Gov. Scott Walke by phone. During the conversation, Gov. Walker revealed much about his own thinking in relation to using the claim of a “budget crisis” to impose massive cuts on public servants’ compensation and to strip them of basic workplace fairness rights.
February 26, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
On Friday, Republicans in the Wisconsin state Assembly used unusual rules to push through legislation stripping public servants of collective bargaining rights, at 1:00 am. Opponents and Democrats chanted “Shame! Shame! Shame!” at the Republicans as they filed unceremoniously out of the chamber. The vote has been assailed by critics as a political assault on groups and individuals who don’t support the Republican party. Even FOX News has reported that the bill is “pure politics” and that the so-called “budget crisis” is a false claim being used by Republicans to attack their opponents.
February 25, 2011 :: staff :: One Comment
FOX News’ Shepard Smith has shocked the radical right-wing by telling the truth about Wisconsin. He explained on air that the motivation for Wisconsin’s governor was clearly not economic or budgetary. He explained that there is in fact no fiscal crisis in Wisconsin. The projected budget deficit is far smaller than what the governor claims. [...]
February 23, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators protesting the Ohio governor’s plan to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public servants were denied access to their state’s capitol. The refusal to allow them entry last for hours, until finally, thousands were able to enter. The governor has already been accused to trying to thwart opposition to his plan by blocking basic rights and denying the people access to their government.
February 22, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
This ad is now running statewide in Wisconsin. Firefighters and other public servants are joining together to oppose the campaign to eliminate collective bargaining rights in their state. They are calling on all Wisconsinites to stand with them in defense of basic civil rights.
February 14, 2011 :: The Editors :: No Comment Yet
Esperanza means hope, in Spanish. One year ago today, we posted Esperanza Spalding’s enrapturing performance of “Tell Him” at the 2009 White House poetry jam, and today we bring her back to the front page, to honor her for winning “best new artist” at the Grammys. But with all that’s taking place in the world, why write about Esperanza Spalding? Because her win is a sign there is hope we can be more thoughtful about how we make music and why.
February 13, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Jody Williams believes that peace is defined by human (not national) security and that it must be achieved through sustainable development, environmental justice, and meeting people’s basic needs. To this end, she co-founded the Nobel Women’s Initiative, endorsed by six of seven living female Peace laureates. She chairs the effort to support activists, researchers, and others working toward peace, justice, and equality for women and thus humanity. Williams also continues to fight for the total global eradication of landmines.
February 11, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
By stepping down, President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people’s hunger for change. But this is not the end of Egypt’s transition. It’s a beginning. I’m sure there will be difficult days ahead, and many questions remain unanswered. But I am confident that the people of Egypt can find the answers, and do so peacefully, constructively, and in the spirit of unity that has defined these last few weeks. For Egyptians have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day.
February 9, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
Wael Ghonim, the new face of the Egyptian protest movement, abducted on video in broad daylight by Mubarak’s security forces and held incommunicado for 12 days, addresses hundreds of thousands gathered at Tahrir Square. Ghonim told the massive crowd that now is not a time for parties and factions, but for the Egyptian people to speak with one voice, to put the good of the nation ahead of personal interest, and to demand the end of the regime.
February 8, 2011 :: staff :: 2 Comments
Central Cairo was again today the scene of a massive demonstration numbering in the hundreds of thousands, as ordinary Egyptians traveled to lend their support to the pro-democracy movement and call for the end of the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Thousands marched from Tahrir Square to the parliament, denouncing the parliament, which Mubarak filled with 83% membership from his own party in rigged elections last year, and calling for a new government.
February 8, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
This video shows the second segment of series of YouTube posts showing Egyptian democracy activist Wael Ghonim’s emotional interview with DreamTV, just hours after his release from 12 days of secret detention. Ghonim was abducted from a Cairo street in broad daylight on the 28th of January; on Sunday, Amnesty International published information it had received that Ghonim was still in custody of the secret police, was being set up for prosecution on false charges and was likely to face torture.
February 7, 2011 :: staff :: No Comment Yet
A video from Alexandria reportedly shows Mubarak’s police force shoot an unarmed pro-democracy demonstrator in cold blood. The man was walking in a street, and there were reportedly other demonstrators behind him, encouraging him to walk toward the armed police. The video clearly shows the man shot by the police, without any violent provocation whatsoever.
February 6, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Even as the government has begun to agree to concessions and to begin a process of democratization, there are concerns an employee of Google, reportedly abducted by the regime at the beginning of the pro-democracy protests, faces “serious risk of torture”. There is video showing the moment of his abduction by plainclothes security officers working for the Mubarak regime.
February 4, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Friday, for the planned “day of departure”, hundreds of thousands of non-violent pro-democracy demonstrators again massed at Midan Tahrir —Cairo’s Liberation Square—, despite two days of brutal pro-Mubarak militia attacks on demonstrators and journalists. The military today began to play a more active role in securing the square against armed gangs and pro-government cadres. They [...]
February 4, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Video from the Guardian newspaper shows massive crowds, described by some as the single largest public pro-democracy protest in the history of the Arab world, at Tahrir Square in central Cairo. Demonstrators urge embattled Pres. Hosni Mubarak to “please, leave now”; one says “Everything is destroyed. What more do you want? Just leave,” while another says “Please, Mr. Mubarak, if you love this country, leave this country.
February 4, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
The “Day of Departure” rally has swelled the ranks of pro-democracy demonstrators occupying Tahrir Square. Reuters reports the prime minister has instructed the army to “assist” journalists and protect them from the armed pro-Mubarak gangs roaming the city. The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont gave an interview describing a harrowing experience of being detained multiple times by armed men, some wielding machetes, being forced “to kneel in front of a wall”, being detained for 2 hours by the army, which he described as “polite and disciplined”.
February 3, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Pro-democracy demonstrator tells Al Jazeera about the senseless chaos at Tahrir Square. She explained that they cannot leave the square, because if they abandon the cause, they will be “hunted one by one”. She described watching a fellow demonstrator “shot right through the head”, and urged the military, which is on the scene but not intervening. She urged the military to stand with the people and for Egypt and the world to come together and persuade Mubarak to resign.
February 2, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Al Jazeera reports sounds of gunfire heard echoing across Tahrir Square, as “pro-Mubarak activists seize control of three military armored vehicles, escalating what appears to be a Mubarak-led crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. The assault on military personal may provoke a military response against the pro-Mubarak faction.
February 2, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
King Abdullah II of Jordan responded yesterday to mass pro-democracy demonstrations in his nation’s capital Amman by dismissing the unpopular government, as protesters had urged. The move is considered a “pre-emptive” maneuver designed to show the King aligned with the democratic rights and interests of the Jordanian people. In Yemen, today, the president, in power for 32 years, announced he would not seek another term in office.
February 2, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Less than 12 hours after Pres. Hosni Mubarak gave a defiant address on national television, and announced he would not seek another term as president but would remain in office until elections later this year, a group of “pro-Mubarak demonstrators” have reportedly clashed with pro-democracy demonstrators in Tahrir Square. Some are now calling the protest movement a “war of stamina”.
February 2, 2011 :: staff :: One Comment
Reporting from Tahrir Square in central Cairo, this reporter for Al Jazeera’s English service finds protesters are camped in the square and say they will not leave until more substantive change is made. Pres. Mubarak’s declarations last night are considered insufficient, and they say “nothing has come of this regime of 30 years”, that Mubarak [...]
January 29, 2011 :: staff :: 7 Comments
This video from Daily News Egypt shows a street leading to Tahrir Square, where early Saturday morning, demonstrators were confronted by armed police. The police fired shots into the air, apparently a warning to go no further. Three armored military personnel carriers are seen moving into position between the protesters and the police, apparently in an effort to prevent injury to demonstrators and/or to prevent an attack by police.
January 26, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
The following is an official White House transcript of Pres. Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address, as prepared for delivery in the well of the House of Representatives, 25 January 2011: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and [...]
January 12, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Imagine — imagine for a moment, here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that some day she, too, might play a part in shaping her nation’s future. She had been elected to her student council. She saw public service as something exciting and hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman, someone she was sure was good and important and might be a role model. She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted. I want to live up to her expectations. (Applause.) I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. (Applause.) All of us -– we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations. (Applause.)
January 9, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
Two days before she suffered a bullet wound the head in an assassination attempt, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords took to the floor of the House of Representatives to participate in the first-ever reading of the Constitution of the United States into the official record of House business. She read the First Amendment, which reads as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
January 4, 2011 :: staff :: Comments Off
In this 2007 TED talk, the novelist Isabel Allende speaks about passion as a guiding, even humanizing principle, about the “best four minutes” of her life, walking the Olympic stadium at the Torino Games, Rose Mapendo’s amazing story of struggle and survival, and the tragic inequity women suffer across the global economy. “Although women do two-thirds of the world’s labor, they own less than one percent of the world’s assets. They are paid less than men for the same work, if they are paid at all.”
December 23, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
William Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State for African Affairs, told the PBS NewsHour today that the United States fears a “brutal situation” could unfold in Ivory Coast, if Pres. Gbagbo, who lost a recent presidential run-off election, does not step down. At least 176 people have been reported killed, with dozens more reported to have been abducted or subjected to torture, in what appears to be an authoritarian crackdown against supporters of the victorious opposition leader.
December 22, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
[W]e are not a nation that says, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” We are a nation that says, “Out of many, we are one.” (Applause.) We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot. We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal. (Applause.) Those are the ideals that generations have fought for. Those are the ideals that we uphold today. And now, it is my honor to sign this bill into law.
December 11, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
Bernie Sanders, independent senator from Vermont, delivered an 8 and a half hour speech on the floor of the United States Senate today, an actual filibuster, in order to oppose the passage of a tax-cut plan worked out between Pres. Obama and the Republican leadership. Sanders not only challenged the Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress to stand against tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, he showed the both parties what a filibuster really is: an individual stands up and speaks, for as long as his mind and his health will allow, to prevent the close of debate.
October 31, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
Advertisement targets the following groups for spending millions in secret, undisclosed donations to fund campaign attack ads: Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Job Security, American Future Fund, American Crossroads GPS, American Action Network. The web ad was temporarily pulled from the Think Progress website, while lawyers reviewed its content. The ad has since been reposted.
October 30, 2010 :: J.E. Robertson :: Comments Off
The Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear), hosted by superstar comic news anchors Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert on the National Mall in Washington, DC, has drawn hundreds of thousands of people from across the country. Turnout was estimated at 300,000 beforehand, but images from the Mall show an edge-to-edge crowd filling the lawn from the stage at least as far back as the Washington Monument, meaning the total could well exceed 500,000 people.
October 26, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
Outside a debate between candidates for the Senate in Kentucky, Rand Paul (R) and Jack Conway (D), a gang of apparent supporters of Tea Party favorite Rand Paul brutally assaulted a woman representing the progressive organization MoveOn.org. The progressive activist was seized by Paul supporters, thrown to the ground, beaten and kicked; at least one Paul supporter is shown on video stomping on her neck and head with violent force.
October 25, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
Daniel Ellsberg —who worked for the State Department, the Pentagon and the RAND Corporation and who leaked secret documents (the ‘Pentagon Papers’) spanning the history of the Vietnam war and bringing to light the truth about behind-the-scenes planning that went on at the highest levels of the government— speaks to DemocracyNow! about the WikiLeaks release of over 391,000 secret documents relating to the prosecution of the Iraq war from 2004 through 2009.
October 25, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
This online advertisement is directed at motivating progressives and independents to vote in the 2010 presidential election. It is unique because it implements several of the tactical approaches of successful viral marketing campaigns, speaking directly to the viewer, putting known faces in humorous or startling situations, and calling attention to a perceived ongoing problem relating to the political sphere with hyperbole artfully used to represent serious policy issues.
September 1, 2010 :: staff :: Comments Off
The following is a transcript of remarks by President Obama, President Mubarak, His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas before a working dinner on Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations White House, East Room, 1 September 2010 7:05 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good evening, everyone. Tomorrow, after nearly two years, Israelis and Palestinians will resume [...]
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