Today's Liberal News

Colonization Fueled Ebola: Dr. Paul Farmer on “Fevers, Feuds & Diamonds” & Lessons from West Africa

We continue our conversation with medical anthropologist Dr. Paul Farmer, whose new book, “Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds,” tells the story of his efforts to fight Ebola in 2014 and how the history of slavery, colonialism and violence in West Africa exacerbated the outbreak. “Care for Ebola is not rocket science,” says Dr. Farmer, who notes that doctors know how to treat sick patients.

Dr. Paul Farmer: Centuries of Inequality in the U.S. Laid Groundwork for Pandemic Devastation

As the United States sets new records for COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, we speak with one of the world’s leading experts on infectious diseases, Dr. Paul Farmer, who says the devastating death toll in the U.S. reflects decades of underinvestment in public health and centuries of social inequality. “All the social pathologies of our nation come to the fore during epidemics,” says Dr.

Indian Farmers Lead Historic Strike & Protests Against Narendra Modi, Neoliberalism & Inequality

As COVID rages through India, which has the second-highest number of reported cases worldwide, hundreds of thousands of farmers are converging on the capital New Delhi to demand the government repeal new laws that deregulate agricultural markets, saying the reforms give major corporations power to set crop prices far below current rates and devastate the livelihoods of farmers. Agriculture is the leading source of income for more than half of India’s 1.3 billion people.

Ethnic Cleansing Feared as Ethiopia Wages War on Tigray Region Amid Communication Blackout

The United Nations has reached a deal with Ethiopia’s government to allow humanitarian access to the northern Tigray region and start providing aid. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched military action against regional forces one month ago, setting off a bloody conflict and adding to the already alarming number of displaced people and refugees in the country and neighboring nations.

Sunday Night Owls: Right-wing talk radio talkers launch four years of ‘stolen election’ raging

Night Owls, a themed open thread, appears at Daily Kos seven days a week

At The Baffler, Rafia Zakaria writes—Mad MAGA Men. Rage against the voting machines and floofy dresses on right-wing radio:

The conservative talk show game is like the Trump presidency, an entertainment enterprise. It follows, then, that the single swansong of a “stolen” election can only be played once every hour.

Nuts & Bolts: Inside the Democratic Party: Special Elections

It’s another Sunday, so for those who tune in, welcome to a diary discussing the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic campaign. If you’ve missed out, you can catch up any time: Just visit our group or follow the Nuts & Bolts Guide. Every week I try to tackle issues I’ve been asked about. With the help of other campaign workers and notes, we address how to improve and build better campaigns, or explain issues that impact our party.

Rep. Porter: Giving Americans money to pay for food and shelter and heat is not ‘stimulus’

On Wednesday, Rep. Katie Porter made waves when she grilled Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin on his counter-productive move to clawback hundreds of billions in stimulus money, pretending that the ongoing economic and public health crisis was somehow over. On Thursday, Chris Cuomo had Rep. Porter on his CNN show to ask her about Mnuchin and what she believes is the best course of action to take in regards to helping Americans through our continuing national crisis.

Nevada: Images of the Silver State

While 3 million people live in the state of Nevada—the seventh-largest state by area—nearly 75 percent of that population is concentrated in just one county, Clark County, home to the city of Las Vegas. From the Jarbidge Wilderness Area, through the Great Basin, to Lake Tahoe, and down to the Hoover Dam, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Nevada, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.

Pharaoh

Lucia Perillo was not quiet about the toll that multiple sclerosis took on her. In 1988, the year she was diagnosed, at the age of 30, she was leading visitors on nature walks up Mount Rainier between the creative-writing courses she taught at Saint Martin’s University. In the years that followed, she chronicled her growing discomfort, her fear, and the regular humiliations that came with losing control of her body.