Author Archives: Nika Knight

GOP proposes ‘draconian’ bills to criminalize millions of immigrants

The legislation would "turn millions of Americans into criminals overnight," says Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.)

The Republican Party is proposing three draconian bills that critics say will turn millions of immigrants into criminals overnight, and also empower Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to enact mass deportations. Continue reading

For first time ever, majority of House Dems support ‘Medicare-for-All’ bill

A record-breaking 104 House Democrats are co-sponsoring a Medicare-for-All bill

As President Donald Trump and the GOP attempt once again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a much crueler bill, House Democrats are pushing in the total opposite direction: as of Thursday, a record 104 have signed on to co-sponsor a Medicare-for-All bill. Continue reading

Federal judge blocks Pence’s ‘extreme’ anti-abortion Indiana law

Vice President Mike Pence signed the draconian legislation 'with a prayer' as governor of Indiana last year

A federal judge on Friday blocked a core provision of Indiana abortion legislation that Vice President Mike Pence lauded when he signed it into law “with a prayer” last year, the Associated Press reported Monday. Continue reading

The Netherlands to counter Trump’s ‘global gag rule’ with international abortion fund

Fearing for women's health, Dutch government steps forward to ensure reproductive healthcare programs around the world remain funded

The world has responded with fear and outrage to many of President Donald Trump’s repressive actions since taking office, and the Dutch government immediately announced plans to counter one: the reinstatement of the “global gag rule” which cuts off U.S. funding to any NGO around the world that mentions abortions. Continue reading

Trump advisor calls press secretary’s falsehoods ‘alternative facts’

‘Sean Spicer gave alternative facts,’ Kellyanne Conway said, in response to outrage over White House press secretary's false claims about inauguration crowd size

After President Donald Trump spent his first full day in the White House attacking the press, deploying White House press secretary Sean Spicer to falsely claim the media underreported the size of his inauguration crowds, top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway doubled-down on those statements on Meet the Press early Sunday. Continue reading

Obama commutes Chelsea Manning’s sentence

Whistleblower to be released from military prison in May

President Barack Obama has commuted noted whistleblower Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence, and Manning will be released on May 17 of this year. Continue reading

Drone operators’ brains may be zapped with electricity to ‘improve performance’

U.S. Air Force finds electric pulses to the brain an effective technique for keeping soldiers on task.

In a report reminiscent of science fiction, U.S. Air Force scientists said this week that sending electric pulses to soldier’s brains is an effective technique to improve attention span and cognitive ability. Continue reading

Florida’s “deceptive” solar initiative, backed by utilities companies, loses support

‘It's a monopoly wolf in solar sheep's clothing’

As utilities companies funnel millions of dollars into a last-ditch effort to convince Florida voters to pass an anti-solar initiative, the latest polling data shows support for the measure falling. Continue reading

Court rejects Dakota Access injunction, but Standing Rock Sioux vow ‘this is not the end’

'This ruling puts 17 million people who rely on the Missouri River at serious risk'

A U.S. federal court of appeals ruled against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe late Sunday evening and denied its request for an emergency injunction against the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. Continue reading

TTIP 2.0? New leak exposes threats of lesser-known TISA trade deal

'The deal, a spiritual and practical sibling of the much-maligned TTIP and TPP free trade agreements, is designed to drive deregulation across the vast global services sector'

Greenpeace Netherlands exposed the threats to democracy and climate action contained within the little-known Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) on Tuesday with new leaks divulging several chapters of the clandestine global trade agreement. Continue reading

Peaceful Dakota access protesters face felony charges, escalating police action

Law enforcement appears to act on behalf of private industry with crackdown on peaceful water protectors in North Dakota

Water protectors battling the notorious Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota are now facing felony charges for peaceful direct actions that halted construction at two sites on Tuesday and Wednesday—a sign that law enforcement appears to be escalating its response to the water protectors. Continue reading

TTIP has ‘de facto failed,’ says German economic minister

'Negotiations with the U.S. have de facto failed, because of course as Europeans we couldn't allow ourselves to submit to American demands'

Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Economic Minister said that the controversial Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has “de facto failed,” admitting that negotiations between the U.S. and E.U. have completely stalled. Continue reading

Obama provokes progressive outrage with all-out TPP push

Groups warn that President Obama will help Donald Trump in November with nationwide events promoting unpopular trade deal

In defiant opposition to this election’s anti-trade sentiment, President Barack Obama is provoking progressive outrage with events around the country in an “all-out push,” as Politico puts it, to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress. Continue reading