District Sentinel Radio

-Dems are upset at the Treasury Secretary for not using his power to stop layoffs, but they didn’t force him to when writing coronavirus relief legislation -Worm Caucus: Steny Hoyer is attending a fundraiser for Joe Kennedy III -Pentagon classifies full extent of recent violence in Afghanistan, but acknowledges that it’s bad -Chinese company sanctioned by Treasury Dept for Iran airline ties -It’s looking like Missouri will execute an innocent man tonight Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Oil companies are in deep trouble and banks aren’t lending to them, Trump’s energy secretary compares the situation to redlining -FBI cracks Pensacola AQAP shooter iPhone, DOJ calls on Congress to undermine data security -Attorney General Barr says “Obamagate” prosecutions of Obama and Biden are unlikely -State Department inspector general fired while probing legality of Saudi arms transfers: NBC News Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In the latest edition of Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons tackles the "intrigue" of "Obamagate" Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Fed Vice Chair says emergency relief shouldn’t “crowd out that private sector financing” -More signs of a big recession: BLS data shows largest one month core inflation drop since 1957 -Dems “Rooseveltian” package includes bailout for lobbyists and landlords, plus the restoration of SALT deductions that benefit the wealthy -Coronavirus task force member promises Bernie he will fight for universal vaccines -SCOTUS hears oral arguments in cases on investigating President Trump -Mitch McConnell trying to slip through expansion of warrantless surveillance program targeting web browser data Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Democratic “Rooseveltian” stimulus proposal includes handwringing about welfare benefit overlap, plus another measly one-time check -Sioux nations, South Dakota square off over covid-19 checkpoints, as Supreme Court hears case involving tribal sovereignty in Oklahoma -US government continues to be dickish on world stage, vetoes UN resolution on covid de-escalation -Federal Reserve ties state and local government aid to credit ratings Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

Journalist Chip Gibbons breaks down the wild story of an attempted mercenary coup in Venezuela...

-Rep. John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick to be next White House intelligence chief, says torture is fine -For the second time since 2013, SCOTUS hears challenge of law forcing non-profits to denounce sex work -EPA ignores watchdog warning on water utilities climate resiliency -Yearly data once again confirms that many common jobs are more dangerous than police work Subscribe on Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-J.Crew files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, becomes the first major corporate victim of the Plague Recession -OSHA inspections down 70 percent despite spike in covid-19 complaints In Saudi nuclear talks, the Trump administration considered a loophole on non-proliferation required by US law, GAO says -War of words escalates: Secretary of State blames “a Chinese lab” for the coronavirus, offers no proof Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In the latest edition of Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons discusses the latest FISA revelations.

-Corporate America to get $500 billion in Federal Reserve cash with no restrictions on stock buybacks or layoffs -Washington Post: Senate Dems agreed to no-strings rules on bond purchases in exchange for oversight (House Dems can subpoena anything they want, at any time) -AFL-CIO pushes Trump admin on workplace safety, White House pushes for coronavirus liability shield for bosses -US government set to approve Israeli annexation of West Bank -Merger moratorium proposed by AOC, Elizabeth Warren, with a lull before a possible takeover frenzy Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Treasury, SBA confirm that companies with more than 500 workers (like chain restaurants) are eligible for paycheck protection bailouts -State Department claims Iranian space launch poses threat despite scoffing from US military -Pelosi deferring to Republicans on proxy votes even though House rules are set by the majority -2019 was a record year for the number of electronic devices seized at ports of entry Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In this week’s Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons takes on the rightwing protests across the nation against state pandemic lockdown orders. The protests reveal deep bias in how the media and police treat dissent in the country. Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Days after Biden ad bashing Chinese people, Trump promises executive order suspending immigration to fight “the invisible disease” -AP report shows Small Business Administration doling out millions to publicly traded companies -Dems cave on food stamp demands, as Congress looks set to top up the small business bailout fund -“How much will it cost,” asks nobody, as Trump promises oil and gas industry bailout -EPA issues final rule dialing back clean water protections for wetlands and streams -GAO details uptick in detention of pregnant women by immigration agents under Trump Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Congress, White House close to deal on $300 billion more for the SBA paycheck protection program -Safeguards on small business fund still lacking despite revelations of Ruths Chris steakhouse and Shake Shack bailouts -Only six states have kids hunger relief programs approved by USDA under “phase two” of the Congressional coronavirus bills -Expiring contracts send oil down to $-37 per barrel on the West Texas Index -Federal Reserve limits emergency local government aid from “phase 3” to 10 cities, 15 counties Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

In a new edition of Chip Chat, journalist Chip Gibbons tell us about how the US empire is applying its boot on the necks of countries already struggling to contain the coronavirus. Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-43,000 people making more than $1 million are set to get $74 billion in tax cuts next year because of the coronavirus stimulus - Congressional watchdog -Federal appellate court okays “retaliatory investigations” under the Whistleblower Protection Act -Investment firms are looking at getting money from the Small Business Admin payroll protection program -“Anti-virus kits,” silicone face brushes, and IV doses of Vitamin C: FTC cracks down on more coronavirus scammers Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Supreme Court to hear oral arguments via teleconference -Caseload includes litigation on subpoenas of President Trump’s personal financial information and state laws binding electoral college votes to the popular vote -Labor Department accused of restricting supplemental unemployment benefits, keeping COVID program too narrow -Relaxing risk exposure rules on banks could increase leverage by $1.6 trillion, Fed estimates -DeVos reaches settlement with students who sued her for withdrawing debt relief program Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

Journalist Chip Gibbons joins us for another edition of Chip Chat. We discuss Chip's latest report on a troubling FBI probe into a domestic Palestinian solidarity group: https://theintercept.com/2020/04/05/israel-palestine-fbi-terrorism-investigation/

-Supreme Court conservatives downplay the threat of voter suppression, block attempt to extend mail in voting for Wisconsin primary -RBG pens dissent, contrasts sharply with Biden’s reckless statements on pandemic voting -Mitch McConnell itching to ram through another round of $200 billion in small business bailouts -Trump removes pick to oversee the coronavirus stimulus bailout, ratcheting up conflict with interagency council of inspectors general Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The Department of Labor says workers can’t sue businesses with under 50 employees for sick leave under coronavirus relief legislation -HHS Inspector General details strain on hospitals across the country, report raises questions of medical equipment price gouging -Supreme Court sides with Kansas 8-1 in traffic stop case, Sotomayor decries majority reliance on “common sense inference” and big data -Plus, Wisconsin primary polls finally called off. Sentinel Radio pal Matt Sostock (@msostock) brings us an update from the Badger State Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

Hosts Sam Sacks and Sam Knight sit down with Chip Gibbons for a new edition of Chip Chat.

-Secretary of State castigates US enemies for spending money on defense over civilian needs during the COVID-19 crisis, like buddy….you know which country you represent, right? -Can we not launch huge construction projects during a pandemic, please? Trump calls for Phase 4 of the stimulus to be infrastructure week -Supreme Court grants new case in isolation, takes up plea for immunity from FBI agent and local cop who beat, arrested, and charged the wrong guy in pursuit of a fugitive -NLRB ploughs forward with bogus union-busting “free choice” rule Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The coronavirus bailout law allows the Treasury Secretary to exempt companies from restrictions on stock buybacks and shareholder dividend payments “to protect the interests of the Federal Government” -The law also leaves the short-staffed Postal Service wholly dependent on debt, while private air cargo companies are getting their employees’ salaries paid -Some bright spots: landlords with federally-backed loans are banned from carrying out evictions for 120 days. Plus, expanded unemployment benefits -Executive pay restrictions are a joke, though: bailed out CEOs can still make millions -Amazon and Instacart today, Whole Foods tomorrow: Workers all over the country are taking action against unsafe conditions and insulting levels of pay -Any excuse to be sketchy: The FBI is only taking written FOIA requests right now, despite most federal agencies asking for only digital submissions Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSetinel

This interview aired on Friday's subscriber-only District Sentinel Radio. Given the topic, we've pulled it from behind the paywall so that everyone can now listen. To hear the rest of Friday's show, subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel -People have every right to be angry and scared of getting evicted during a pandemic. But rent strikes might not be the most effective way of fighting back right now. Stephanie Bastek from the DC Tenants Union and Stomp Out Slumlords joins us to explain. -Washington residents: Sign the DCTU petition to cancel rent and mortgages during the crisis. This can happen. The Fed is making the money printer go brrrr. Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cancel-rent/

-ICE is putting detainees in quarantine, buying tens of thousands of respirators, and using sensitive intelligence units to track COVID -Reporter Ken Klippenstein broke the news. He joins us to talk about his latest findings, and how privatization makes the coronavirus nightmare even worse for detainees -Dem Senators asked for info from major for-profit prison company GEO Group, and were told to take their questions to the Bureau of Prisons Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Democrats secure bailout oversight modeled after 2008 Wall Street rescue fund, which left banks bigger than ever -Stop encouraging people to get each other sick: the Fed and the Treasury are preparing up to $4 trillion in emergency loans for businesses -Stress test framework relaxed on federal home loan banks, just in time for the huge unfolding crisis -More patchwork infrastructure: Senators propose $2 billion for rural ISPs; local governments are banned from offering public broadband in most states -FBI fails test on tracking its own ammunition and explosives: DOJ inspector general -The Secret Service spent almost $10,000 at Trump’s golf course in Scotland: DHS inspector general Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Schumer notes improvements on GOP coronavirus stimulus bill, with safeguards on bailout money not among them -Not a great start to the week for libertarianism: Rand Paul swam in the Senate pool on the same day he tested positive for coronavirus -HHS Inspector General to investigate why officials were dispatched without protective equipment to deal with coronavirus evacuees -Supreme Court votes 6-3 to upend insanity pleas; dissent says decision goes against “seven hundred years of Anglo-American legal history” -Appellate court upholds ruling against Trump blocking people on Twitter, citing official nature of January posts threatening Iran Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Pelosi, Schumer embarrassingly lag behind high profile Republicans in boldness of coronavirus relief proposals, though some Dems are pushing for comprehensive aid -Maxine Waters calls on financial services committee Dems to back package including $2000 monthly to every individual, and a prohibition on debt collection and repossession -Tulsi Gabbard proves she never had any principles whatsoever, drops out and endorses Joe Biden -Most Senate Republicans reject Rand Paul push to demonize undocumented immigrants during sick leave debate--but that’s probably because Paul’s amendment called for a withdrawal from Afghanistan Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The folks who brought you “post-truth Dangerous Donald” want you to vote (for Joe Biden) against the advice of public health officials -Ohio’s Republican governor shutdowns polling places, calls for vote to be held in June -Total mess in the works in Illinois, Arizona, and Florida -Pelosi and Republican leaders ram through watering down of sick leave bill after calling changes “technical corrections” -Congress reauthorizes warrantless spying powers minus the telephone records program exposed by Edward Snowden -White House seeking bailouts for buyback-happy airlines, considering $1,000 checks to Americans for immediate relief Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-The two Sams are recording from separate locations now -Lyin’ Joe Biden’s new debate strategy: incessantly lying about his record to stave off brain short circuits -Per the CDC guidance: tomorrow’s primaries should be postponed -Stock market plummets again today; Pelosi’s atrocious attempt at emergency relief calms no jitters -Liberals once again ill-equipped to deal with far-right, give Tom Cotton room to pretend like he is pro-worker -GAO: The F-35’s guidance system gets poor internet connection -Trump admin pushes ahead with first border wall contract after DHS obliterated procurement regulations Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Bernie losses suggest “Never Trump” neocons have poisoned the well -Sanders has made missteps, but right-wing entryism makes the Democratic Party toxic -Keep knocking doors for Bernie, but become a dues paying member of a left-wing organization if you haven’t Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Trump promises bailouts for airline industry and cruise liners after payroll tax cut proposal yields short-lived stock market boost -No urgency for Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting despite underlying corporate credit problems -Federal government covering up coronavirus, ripping down sanitation posters in immigration courts -The CDC is a mess and for-profit healthcare vampires aren’t helping -Another fake accounts scandal: Fifth Third Bank accused of enabling systematic fraud through rotten incentives -Somebody think of the neverending war! Dems getting testy over Afghan troop withdrawal proposal Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Stock markets around the world routed, NYSE 7-percent loss “circuit breakers” suspend trading minutes after opening bell -Biggest one-day oil price drop since the First Gulf War amid Saudi-Russia price war -The real horseshoe theory: Crystal people and prepper types involved in coronavirus scams, FTC warns -Biden names possible cabinet full of Wall Street people and Elizabeth Warren; still no Sanders endorsement because having principles is actually bad, apparently -We’re ready to hear both sides of the coronavirus debate, as Ted Cruz self-quarantines Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-It ain’t over by a longshot, even if Bernie underperformed on Super Tuesday -Sanders cruising in California, splitting in Texas puts him in position to win -Bloomberg out, endorses incompetent guy who made him initially get in the race -Bernie on the offensive, calling out Biden for his long history of pining for Social Security cuts -Shahid Buttar advances to challenge Pelosi from the left in November Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Bernie can still win big tonight and go on to clinch the nomination, despite the establishment whipping for Biden -Fed lowers interest rates by 0.50 points in emergency coronavirus response, the largest cut since the Great Recession. Stocks still trend downward anyway. -Dems still aching to give President Trump a huge stimulus and an Infrastructure Week in an election year -Supreme Court hears oral arguments in case over CFPB structure -Bureau of Prisons failing to keep tabs on contractors who sell them bogus food products -GAO details increase in airline disability accommodation complaints Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Buttigieg drops out, Klobuchar follows suit, both endorse Biden as establishment looks to stop Bernie -It didn’t bring down her campaign like it should have: The Senate should investigate Klobuchar for abusing staffers -Contrary to Dem consultant talking points, Biden would be a disaster for down ballot Democrats. He’s obsessed with appealing to Republicans. Bernie would bring new voters into the fold. -Trump’s big peace deal in Afghanistan fell to pieces in just 48 hours -Ken Cuccinelli stripped of acting USCIS directorship by federal judge, locks Twitter account and changes bio -House looks set to pass another short-term extension of warrantless surveillance powers

-Trump says he disagrees with top health officials over likelihood of major coronavirus outbreak; stocks slide for sixth consecutive day -After ironing out kinks, CDC diagnostic testing to be fully operational this weekend -Betsy DeVos grilled on charter school corruption, her own ties to charters -FTC sues to stop Wyoming coal merger -Under Siege: Steven Seagall faces SEC charges for cryptocurrency promotion Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-US struggles with surgical mask supply amid coronavirus crisis -Congress unimpressed with the meager emergency budget request by the Trump administration -Supreme Court affirms dismissal of lawsuit against Border Patrol agent who killed Mexican teenager -Resurgence of black lung cases threatens coal miner trust fund, GAO warns -Appellate judges side with Trump admin on holding DOJ money from sanctuary cities Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

We talk with journalist Chip Gibbons about the return of RUSSIAGATE and how it's being deployed against Bernie Sanders.

-Spread of coronavirus causes stock markets to tumble; airlines and retail hurting -Xenophobic, elitist “public charge” rule takes effect today -Documented immigration down 10 percent under the Trump administration -US fails to cite any harm done by Assange at London extradition hearing -Rant Line: That sound you’re hearing is thousands of knees bending Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-President side-steps Congressional authority, names far-right loyalist Richard Grennell as White House intelligence adviser -Grennell interfered in domestic politics as ambassador to Germany, praised far-right parties; Germany plagued by far-right terrorism, including deadly attack last night -Federal prisons failing inmates with Hepatitis C -Bloomberg racks up three endorsements from House Dems after awful debate performance; Gottheimer, Lowey, and Aguilar have personal and financial ties to the oligarch -FTC says checks are in the mail from Office Depot to those ripped off by a fake malware scam Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Oligarch takes stage tonight in first competitive debate since 2009, when his base consisted of future Trump fans on Staten Island -Another anti-Bernie PAC created with ties to Joe Manchin’s world -President Trump accused of pardon quid pro quo in Julian Assange case -IRS goes after rich people not paying their taxes...by giving them free tax consulting services Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Beat Bernie Super PAC shares address with Mylan PAC -Company led by Heather Bresch, Joe Manchin’s daughter; Sanders has blasted Mylan for pharmaceutical price gouging -Bloomberg spends $400 million for the chance to get humiliated at tomorrow night’s debate -Recession watch: HSBC cutting one-third of its US branches, Apple to take second quarter coronavirus hit, Japan output drops dramatically before outbreak -Still plugging away at regime change, Trump admin sanctions Russian oil company for doing business in Venezuela Subscribe on Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Washington Super PAC launched to fight “a rogue army of online supporters who threaten, insult, and bully anyone who dares to question Sanders” -Senate passes non-binding resolution aimed at curtailing Trump’s ability to start a war with Iran -Head of US Strategic Command: We can launch nukes at people who have no intention of nuking us -Republican Senator, Trump cabinet official dishonestly criticize Medicare for All sounding just like Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar -Trump attempting to divert more money for the wall, but at least some of it would come from the F-35 Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

--Elizabeth Warren has an awful night in New Hampshire; no less than she deserves for boosting Amy Klobuchar all week --Buttigieg, leaning on the Harry Reid machine, launches crooked attack on Medicare for All in Nevada --Trump now calling any shot he wants at the Justice Department after GOP Senators signaled they will let him do anything --Fed Chair Jay Powell unconcerned with renewed complexity on Wall Street, stands ready to bail out banks again --Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin defends Trump admin slasher budget proposal --State Department asks for emergency approval to advance anti-immigrant “public charge” rule so consular officials fall in line with the goons at Homeland Security Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Centrists are so desperate to steal this from Bernie, he might be the only one to leave NH with delegates tonight -Buttigieg might feel the squeeze: Voters are writing in Bloomberg, after the oligarch flooded the airwaves and social media with hundreds of millions in spending -Rashida Tlaib grills Fed Chair Jay Powell on lack of emergency money for Detroit and Puerto Rico while Wall Street gets bailed out -Hope your Trump Hotel cocktails tasted like piss: Insufferable T-Mobile CEO gets his wish with hack judge approving Sprint acquisition -Department of Energy proposes ramping up approval of gas exports, with the planet currently needing the opposite of that -Watchdog overseeing war in Afghanistan tabulates thousands of casualties in reconstruction efforts Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Pete Buttgieg calls the manager, asks Tom Perez to step in after Bernie cleans up satellite caucuses by reaching out to working class people and immigrants -Perez calls for recount mere minutes before Sanders was set to take the stage to declare victory by every measure -Trump admin retaliates against New York state for law stopping ICE from accessing driver data -Two corporate union-busters poised for Labor Department role with power to audit union finances -CFPB head Kathy Kraninger explains decision to ease off abusive practice charges, saying banks can take “reasonable advantages” of customers Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Top Fed Chrstopher Wray attacks encryption, says it’s good that Facebook can read all your messages -Jared Kushner’s fake peace plan ripped by EU official decrying approval of Israeli annexation -FDIC inconsistent on cost-benefit analysis, agency failed to score roll-back of enhanced supervision implemented after 2008 crash -Anti-aging scam sees company hit with FTC penalties Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Buttigieg plus the old CIA move of declaring himself “victorious” in Iowa before any vote tallies are released -Process in total disarray, though it seems almost certain that Bernie won and Biden was waxed -With either incompetence or malice, the party denied Sanders his victory lap and gave Biden cover for crashing -Judgment Day looms for Biden in South Carolina, where Bernie is closing the gap Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel

-Chinese stock market firesale doesn’t spread to New York this morning, but Wall Street vampires might smash that “sell” button tonight -AOC and Bernie introduce legislation to ban fracking by 2025 -Betsy DeVos ignoring House Oversight Committee requests, skips town to campaign for Trump -FTC sues to stop merger of major razor retailers Subscribe at Patreon.com/DistrictSentinel