Amid a three-day pause for humanitarian aid workers to vaccinate children in Palestine, the Israeli military bombed a school shelter in Gaza, killing at least 11 people. This attack, targeting a school used as a shelter, comes as part of an 11-month assault on Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction of healthcare infrastructure. The urgent polio vaccination campaign faces challenges due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, endangering efforts to prevent a potential outbreak of the disease. Despite continued attacks, aid workers were able to vaccinate around 87,000 children on the first day of the pause. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor expressed concerns…

Israel’s military unleashed a massive bombing campaign in southern Lebanon with 100 fighter jets, escalating tensions and risking a regional war. The airstrikes aimed to preempt a Hezbollah attack but could jeopardize cease-fire negotiations in Gaza. The back-and-forth between Israel and Hezbollah intensified, leaving three dead in Lebanon. Israel’s foreign minister sought global support against Hezbollah, while the White House monitored the situation closely. The U.S. did not receive advance notice of the attack. As Gaza suffered brutal attacks, cease-fire talks faced obstacles from Netanyahu’s hardline stance. High-level talks in Cairo aimed to break the Gaza deadlock. Amidst escalating violence,…

Bavarian Nordic’s pricing strategy for the mpox vaccine has raised concerns about global access to this essential treatment, risking a repeat of the vaccine apartheid seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A U.S.-based watchdog group criticized Bavarian Nordic for prioritizing profits over public health by refusing to address pricing concerns for the mpox vaccine, despite the recent global emergency declared by the World Health Organization due to the disease’s spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company’s lack of transparency in pricing negotiations with international organizations like the Pan American Health Organization has led to alarm, as mpox cases increase…

In recent months, progressives and tenant organizers have made housing a focal point of the 2024 campaign. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is unveiling a four-year housing plan aimed at constructing 3 million new units, offering significant down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, and eliminating tax incentives for corporate investors buying single-family homes. Harris’ comprehensive economic agenda, to be presented in North Carolina, includes measures to address the escalating housing crisis. Harris advocates for legislation to curb algorithmic price-setting by major landlords and prevent corporate investors from exploiting tax breaks. A report by the Government Accountability Office reveals that institutional investors…

The UAW strongly criticized John Deere for recent mass layoffs, citing the company’s high profits, generous payouts to investors, and CEO’s hefty compensation as evidence that the job cuts were unnecessary. The union representing over 10,000 John Deere employees across the US condemned the layoffs, insisting that there was no justification for outsourcing jobs to Mexico when the company is projected to earn $7 billion in profits this year. The UAW highlighted the billions spent on stock buybacks and dividends, arguing that there is enough profit to retain jobs in Iowa and Illinois. Despite facing significant backlash, John Deere proceeded…

Israeli forces have carried out a deadly massacre in the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 60 people in the past 24 hours. Despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s support, major U.S. newspapers have largely ignored the ongoing atrocities in favor of focusing on presidential politics. The coverage of the relentless war on Gaza has been overshadowed by other news, despite the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis. Recent Israeli airstrikes have targeted schools and killed innocent civilians, including children. The death toll continues to rise, with many bodies still missing under the rubble. Survivors of the attacks are left in dire conditions, living…

President Joe Biden responded defiantly to calls within the Democratic Party for him to drop out of the 2024 race, dismissing concerns about his age and cognitive health after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Despite pressure from activists and organizers, Biden declared his intention to stay in the race, emphasizing his qualifications for the presidency. Democratic lawmakers and donors have urged Biden to step aside to ensure Trump’s defeat in November, launching the “Pass the Torch” campaign. While some Democrats support Biden, others are concerned about his ability to win the election. Senator Bernie Sanders and House progressives…

The U.S. Supreme Court recently made a pivotal ruling against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the use of in-house legal proceedings to penalize fraudsters. In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority deemed the SEC’s in-house proceedings unconstitutional, supporting conservative radio host and hedge fund manager George Jarkesy in his case against the SEC. The ruling emphasized the limitations of the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial in civil cases, sparking concerns about its impact on federal agencies’ ability to combat corporate crime. Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the decision as a “power grab” with potentially drastic consequences, highlighting…

Senator Bernie Sanders released a report highlighting how right-wing billionaires are funding efforts to privatize U.S. public education through voucher programs that divert crucial funding from under-resourced public schools. The report exposes organizations like the American Federation for Children, backed by Betsy DeVos, for influencing state lawmakers to promote private school vouchers. The analysis reveals the influence of billionaires like the DeVos family, The Bradley Foundation, and the Koch-sponsored group, American Encore, in pushing for education privatization. Sanders emphasized the detrimental impact of school voucher programs, which primarily benefit wealthy families while undermining public education goals. In response, Sanders called…

Recent studies reveal that transitioning to Medicare for All could save both lives and hundreds of billions of dollars annually. A federal analysis released predicts that U.S. healthcare spending will reach $7.7 trillion by 2032, accounting for nearly 20% of the economy. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) project an annual increase of 5.6% in healthcare spending, with total expenditures hitting $7.7 trillion by 2032. Advocates for Medicare for All, like Robert Weissman from Public Citizen, argue that the rising healthcare costs are due to price-gouging and profit-driven practices by insurance companies and Big Pharma. Despite outspending other…