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"The Trump administration's slavish devotion to corporate profits and their contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world is beyond appalling," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote. (Photo: National People's Action/flickr)
Bernie Sanders: Trump Attack on Breastfeeding Resolution Shows White House's "Slavish Devotion to Corporate Profits"
The Vermont senator said the administration's attempt to undercut the World Health Assembly resolution also further displays the White House's "contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world."
Jul 09, 2018
After reporting by the New York Times on Sunday detailed the Trump administration's attempt to reward infant formula manufacturers by opposing a World Health Assembly resolution that called on nations to "protect, promote, and support breastfeeding" as the healthiest option for children, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the White House's efforts clearly show its "slavish devotion to corporate profits."
The Trump administration's attempts to "water down" the resolution, as well as its threats to withdraw aid from nations that supported it, also provide further evidence of the White House's "contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world," Sanders argued.
\u201cThe Trump administration's slavish devotion to corporate profits and their contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world is beyond appalling. https://t.co/tVMocW1wDj\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1531081200
The resolution was ultimately approved even in the face of U.S. opposition, but the Trump administration successfully stripped out language that called for the World Health Organization to support nations working to crack down on "inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it."
--Dr. Gretchen Goldman, Union of Concerned Scientists
As an investigation by the Guardian and Save the Children published in February makes clear, such inappropriate and deceptive promotion is pervasive in poor nations, where companies like Nestle and Mead Johnson deploy "aggressive, clandestine, and often illegal methods to target mothers" and "encourage them to choose powdered milk over breastfeeding."
"Representatives from Nestle, Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Wyeth (now owned by Nestle) were described as a constant presence in hospitals in the Philippines, where only 34 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed in the first six months," the investigation found. "Here, they reportedly hand out 'infant nutrition' pamphlets to mothers, which appear to be medical advice but in fact recommend specific formula brands and sometimes have money-off coupons."
Dr. Gretchen Goldman, research director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, concluded that the Trump administration's attempts to block the breastfeeding resolution "goes against the science and doesn't bode well for the baby food/formula industry's influence on the upcoming dietary guidelines process."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it," Goldman wrote on Twitter.
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After reporting by the New York Times on Sunday detailed the Trump administration's attempt to reward infant formula manufacturers by opposing a World Health Assembly resolution that called on nations to "protect, promote, and support breastfeeding" as the healthiest option for children, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the White House's efforts clearly show its "slavish devotion to corporate profits."
The Trump administration's attempts to "water down" the resolution, as well as its threats to withdraw aid from nations that supported it, also provide further evidence of the White House's "contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world," Sanders argued.
\u201cThe Trump administration's slavish devotion to corporate profits and their contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world is beyond appalling. https://t.co/tVMocW1wDj\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1531081200
The resolution was ultimately approved even in the face of U.S. opposition, but the Trump administration successfully stripped out language that called for the World Health Organization to support nations working to crack down on "inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it."
--Dr. Gretchen Goldman, Union of Concerned Scientists
As an investigation by the Guardian and Save the Children published in February makes clear, such inappropriate and deceptive promotion is pervasive in poor nations, where companies like Nestle and Mead Johnson deploy "aggressive, clandestine, and often illegal methods to target mothers" and "encourage them to choose powdered milk over breastfeeding."
"Representatives from Nestle, Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Wyeth (now owned by Nestle) were described as a constant presence in hospitals in the Philippines, where only 34 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed in the first six months," the investigation found. "Here, they reportedly hand out 'infant nutrition' pamphlets to mothers, which appear to be medical advice but in fact recommend specific formula brands and sometimes have money-off coupons."
Dr. Gretchen Goldman, research director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, concluded that the Trump administration's attempts to block the breastfeeding resolution "goes against the science and doesn't bode well for the baby food/formula industry's influence on the upcoming dietary guidelines process."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it," Goldman wrote on Twitter.
After reporting by the New York Times on Sunday detailed the Trump administration's attempt to reward infant formula manufacturers by opposing a World Health Assembly resolution that called on nations to "protect, promote, and support breastfeeding" as the healthiest option for children, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the White House's efforts clearly show its "slavish devotion to corporate profits."
The Trump administration's attempts to "water down" the resolution, as well as its threats to withdraw aid from nations that supported it, also provide further evidence of the White House's "contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world," Sanders argued.
\u201cThe Trump administration's slavish devotion to corporate profits and their contempt for the health and well-being of Americans and people throughout the world is beyond appalling. https://t.co/tVMocW1wDj\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1531081200
The resolution was ultimately approved even in the face of U.S. opposition, but the Trump administration successfully stripped out language that called for the World Health Organization to support nations working to crack down on "inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it."
--Dr. Gretchen Goldman, Union of Concerned Scientists
As an investigation by the Guardian and Save the Children published in February makes clear, such inappropriate and deceptive promotion is pervasive in poor nations, where companies like Nestle and Mead Johnson deploy "aggressive, clandestine, and often illegal methods to target mothers" and "encourage them to choose powdered milk over breastfeeding."
"Representatives from Nestle, Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Wyeth (now owned by Nestle) were described as a constant presence in hospitals in the Philippines, where only 34 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed in the first six months," the investigation found. "Here, they reportedly hand out 'infant nutrition' pamphlets to mothers, which appear to be medical advice but in fact recommend specific formula brands and sometimes have money-off coupons."
Dr. Gretchen Goldman, research director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, concluded that the Trump administration's attempts to block the breastfeeding resolution "goes against the science and doesn't bode well for the baby food/formula industry's influence on the upcoming dietary guidelines process."
"We need a government willing to counter misinformation from the baby food and formula industry, not one that caters to it," Goldman wrote on Twitter.
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LATEST NEWS
ICE-IRS Deal Blasted as 'Bad Policy. Bad Economics. And Cruel.'
"The administration is shattering what little trust remains between immigrant communities and the government and putting critical revenue streams at risk," said one critic.
Apr 08, 2025
Migrant and privacy rights advocates this week are sounding the alarm over a deal signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to hand sensitive taxpayer data over to immigration authorities as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's mass deportation effort.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) "to establish a clear and secure process to support law enforcement's efforts to combat illegal immigration," a Treasury Department spokesperson told Fox News, which reported on the development after a late Monday court filing.
"The bases for this MOU are founded in long-standing authorities granted by Congress, which serve to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans while streamlining the ability to pursue criminals," the spokesperson said. "After four years of [former President] Joe Biden flooding the nation with illegal aliens, President Trump's highest priority is to ensure the safety of the American people."
After weeks of warnings about a potential data transfer deal, it was revealed as part of a legal case brought by Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, Inclusive Action for the City, and Somos Un Pueblo Unido, which are represented by Alan Morrison, Public Citizen Litigation Group, and Raise the Floor Alliance.
"Taxpayer privacy is a cornerstone of the U.S. tax system," Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert said in a Tuesday statement. "This move by the IRS is an unprecedented breach of taxpayer privacy laws and confidentiality, which has been respected by both political parties for decades."
"The Trump administration's terror tactic of using immigrants' tax data against them will drive some of our most vulnerable communities further underground," she warned. "If this taxpayer information isn't safe from the prying eyes of the Trump administration's goons, then no one's taxpayer information is safe."
Juliette Kayyem, a former Department of Homeland Security official now lecturing at the Harvard Kennedy School, wrote on social media: "Bad policy. Bad economics. And cruel. They are so desperate to get their deportation numbers up that they are doing this."
Multiple members of Congress also blasted the move. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) said that "the IRS should NEVER be weaponized to target immigrant families. This backdoor deal with ICE shatters decades of trust—and may be illegal."
"I will fight this with everything I've got," vowed Gomez, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. "No one should fear that filing taxes puts their family at risk."
Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) was among the critics who emphasized that the MOU doesn't just affect migrants.
"First things first: The impact of folks not filing their taxes because they are afraid of deportation would be detrimental to our economy," he explained. "Two: Immigrants pay taxes but do not benefit from the social programs that most taxpayers do. Three: Everyone should be concerned about the privacy implications here. This sets the precedent that the federal government can arbitrarily share your personal information with law enforcement. And it's just wrong."
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) similarly said: "For decades, undocumented immigrants have trusted the IRS when it encouraged them to file. They've paid taxes in good faith, contributing nearly $100 BILLION per year and supporting social services they can't even access. Not only is this a total betrayal, but it's also illegal. We'll fight this."
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy also highlighted that "turning the IRS away from its job (collecting taxes) to instead focus on mass deportation efforts will mean less tax revenue collected on top of the harm done to families and communities affected by deportations."
In response to The New York Times' reporting on the deal, American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick pointed out on social media that the MOU "is, on its face, limited to criminal investigations (not deportation investigations)."
"There are many questions raised about this new [agreement], which seems to violate previous understandings of the laws requiring IRS not to share taxpayer information," he continued. "But at its heart it does not seem that the MOU permits ICE to ask for taxpayer data for deportation reasons."
"It seems primarily to be aimed at criminal investigations for willful failure to depart after the issuance of a removal order, a crime on the books which (until now) is virtually never prosecuted," Reichlin-Melnick added. "Despite the fact that this MOU is limited only to criminal law enforcement, it will likely have a chilling effect on undocumented taxpayers."
How the Trump administration actually proceeds remains to be seen. The court filing says no information has been shared between the agenices yet—but the deal comes as part of a wave of anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric from the president and his officials.
"With the Supreme Court greenlighting Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act and the administration now gaining access to sensitive IRS data, we continue to slip into a new era of authoritarianism in America," Beatriz Lopez, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub, said a Tuesday statement "The digital and physical dragnets that Trump is building mean millions of immigrants—many of whom have followed the law and paid their taxes for decades—are now vulnerable to indiscriminate brutality and quiet erasure with little opportunity for redress."
Lopez stressed that "undocumented immigrants already contribute billions to our economy—often paying a higher effective tax rate than 55 major corporations and some of the wealthiest individuals in America. By weaponizing private taxpayer data, the administration is shattering what little trust remains between immigrant communities and the government and putting critical revenue streams at risk."
"Coupled with Trump's xenophobic tariff threats and a $350 billion demand to fund mass disappearances and deportations, this is more than an attack on immigrants—it's a calculated effort to destabilize the country and remake its image," she concluded. "Congress must reject this funding and the authoritarian playbook behind it. This is not policy. It's punishment."
Keystone, 'Safest Pipeline in the World,' Ruptures—Again
President Donald Trump wants to revive Keystone XL, a highly controversial extension of the tar sands pipeline system, despite three massive leaks over the past eight years.
Apr 08, 2025
This is a developing story... Please check back for possible updates...
The Keystone pipeline—which carries hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil nearly 2,700 miles from the Alberta tar sands to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma daily—was abruptly shut down Tuesday morning following a rupture in North Dakota, marking yet another accident along what proponents have called the "safest pipeline in the world."
South Bow, the Canadian company that manages the Keystone system, said it shut down the pipeline—which transports an average of around 624,000 barrels of crude oil per day—after detection systems sounded the alarm on a pressure drop. The company said the spill is confined to an agricultural field about 60 miles southwest of Fargo.
"The affected segment has been isolated, and operations and containment resources have been mobilized to site," the company said, according to The Associated Press. "Our primary focus right now is the safety of onsite personnel and mitigating risk to the environment."
As the AP reported:
It wasn't clear what caused the rupture of the underground pipeline or the amount of crude oil released into the field. An employee working at the site near Fort Ransom heard a "mechanical bang" and shut down the pipeline within about two minutes, said Bill Suess, spill investigation program manager with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Oil surfaced about 300 yards (274 meters) south of the pump station in a field and emergency personnel responded, Suess said.
A proposed extension known as Keystone XL would have carried more tar sands oil—widely considered the world's dirtiest fuel—to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. Opponents warned of the danger of leaks, with a 2021 report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office noting that there were 22 accidents along the conduit between 2010 and 2020. These include leaks of more than 100,000 gallons per spill in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
"Keystone's incident history illustrates the problematic pipeline's systemic issues," Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, said in a statement Tuesday. "The Keystone pipeline appears to be on track to hit its average of about a significant failure every year. It's time to address this pipeline's shortcomings."
Following more than a decade of pressure from climate, environmental, Indigenous, and other groups, then-President Joe Biden revoked Keystone XL's permit on his first day in office in January 2021. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a "drill, baby, drill" platform, now wants to revive Keystone XL.
Trump's Vision for US Now Includes Allowing Gun Sellers to Skip Background Checks
"These aren't just policy changes—they're deliberate choices that prioritize gun industry profits over American lives," said one gun violence prevention advocate.
Apr 08, 2025
A reported Trump administration plan to eliminate a "zero tolerance" policy for firearm sellers who violate gun safety regulations is aimed at benefiting two groups, said one gun violence prevention advocate: "The gun sellers knowingly endangering communities, and the gun CEOs getting rich off of weapons sales to criminals."
"It absolutely does not benefit the American people," said Emma Brown, executive director of Giffords.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is expected this week to announce the reversal of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) policy, which was implemented by the Biden administration to hold gun sellers accountable for falsifying records, skipping background checks, and otherwise disobeying regulations meant to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a danger to others or themselves.
As The New York Times reported Monday, President Donald Trump plans to order FBI Director Kash Patel, the interim leader of ATF, to move toward eliminating a ban on pistol braces, which can convert handguns to weapons that resemble rifles, and a rule requiring background checks for private gun sales.
Enforcement of the rules has been down since Trump took office in January, with federal courts moving to freeze and weaken the two ATF rules.
"This administration is systematically dismantling the safeguards designed to keep weapons out of dangerous hands."
But Brown said the official repeal of the regulations would embolden "reckless" gun sellers.
"The impact here is simple: Putting gun dealers who break the law back in business will increase crime," said Brown. "Dealers who are willing to sell guns to traffickers and criminals have been given our president's seal of approval at the cost of Americans' safety."
Under the Biden administration, the rules helped empower the ATF to revoke 170 gun seller licenses—more than the agency revoked in the previous three years combined, said Giffords.
"With the reversal of the 'zero tolerance' policy federal firearms licensees who are violating the law will stay in business, allowing more illegal firearms to flow into communities," warned the group.
The gun violence prevention group Brady called the planned repeal "a gift to the gun industry," noting that homicide rates soared during Trump's first term and projecting that gun crimes will once again "skyrocket" after Bondi ends the zero tolerance policy.
"The data is clear and compelling—90% of crime guns come from just 5% of dealers," said Kris Brown, president of Brady. "By dismantling this policy, the Trump administration is deliberately empowering these irresponsible gun dealers to operate without accountability, effectively arming criminals who will use these weapons to terrorize our communities."
"This administration is systematically dismantling the safeguards designed to keep weapons out of dangerous hands," she added. "These aren't just policy changes—they're deliberate choices that prioritize gun industry profits over American lives."
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