Shot and killed at least 12 Peaceful Protesters in lagos on tuesday. We will go to nigeria for the latest. Then as fighting continues in the south caucasus between armenia and azerbaijan we will look at the conflict which has already killed over 700 people. Cooks to put an end of the war controlledre by the major powers that is russia and also the u. S. Amy all that and more, coming up. Welcome toemocracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman. The confirmed u. S. Death toll from covid19 has topped 222,000 as a new report by Columbia University researchers blted the Trump Administration over its disastrous handling of the pandemic. The reports authors write we estimate that at least 130,000 deaths and perhaps as many as 210,000 could have been avoided with earlier policy interventions and more robust federal coordination and leadership. Even with the dramatic recent appearance of new covid19 waves globally, the abject failures of u. S. Government policies and crisis messaging persist. The report came as the centers for Disease Control and prevention warned the u. S. Is ading intohe most dangerous phase of the pandemic yet, with cold weather and holidays driving people to congregate indoors, where the virus spreads much more easily. Cdc Deputy Director jay butler spoke at a rare News Conference at the agencys atlanta headquarters. Unfortunately, we are seeing a distress in trends in the United States with covid19 cases increasing in nearly 75 of the country. Amy on wednesday, the cdc changed its definition of a close contact with an infectious person to include brief interactions totaling 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone over a oneday period. The recommendation will expand the number of people who should go into quarantine according to the cdc. A California Appeals Court has ordered prison authorities to cut the population of the overcrowded San Quentin State Prison in half following a massive coronavirus outbreak that killed 28 prisoners and infected 2200. About three quarters of the prison population. In the ruling, the court cited the states deliberate indifference to the plight of prisoners during the pandemic. Prison authorities are weighing whether to appeal the ruling which would force the transfer or parole of about 1100 people held at san quentin. In related news, the American Civil Liberties union has sued three federal agencies, including the federal bureau of prisons for documents related to what the aclu called the federal governments failed response to the spread of covid19 in prisons in jails. Donald trump and joe biden face off this evening in nashville, tennessee, for their second and final debate. The commission on president ial debates says it will mute the microphones of both candidates during parts of tonights Minute Program 90 Minute Program after President Trump interrupted biden at least 128 times during their first debate. The debate will also feature plexiglas barriers separating the candidates after President Trump held the last debate while he was likely infected with coronavirus. On wednesday, president barack obama headlined a drivein rally or biden in philadelphia, where he blasted trump for failing as president. Pres. Obama i did hope for the sake of the country that he might show some interest in taking the job seriously. But it has not happened. He has not shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends or treating the presidency like a reality show that he can use to get attention. Amy on wednesday, President Trump spoke to an estimated 15,000 people at a Campaign Rally in gastonia, north carolina, where few wore masks and no one practiced social distancing. The rally came amid a surge of covid19 cases in north carolina, where hospitalizations rapidly approaching a previous record high set in july. Democracy now will air tonights president ial debate uninterrupted for 90 minutest democracynow. Org beginning at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time. The New York Times reports President Trump has secretly maintained a bank account in china for years, even as he bashed joe biden for being weak on china. The times reveals trump paid nearly 200,000 in taxes to china while pursuing licensing deals therebetween to 2015. 2013 around the same time, trump paid little or no u. S. Income tax. In other election news, john ratcliffe, the director of National Intelligence accused russia and iran of taking actions to interfere in the u. S. Election in a hastily arranged Evening Press briefing where no questions were allowed. Fbi director christopher wray, who President Trump is considering firing, also spoke. Ratcliffe claimed russia and iran had obtained some Voter Registration information information which is often available publicly. This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate all information to registered voters that they hope sow chaos,confusion, and undermine your confidence in american democracy. To that end, we have already emailsan sending spoofed designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest, and damage President Trump. Amy while ratcliffe claimed iran was trying to damage trump, he offered no details backing up the claim. The one example he cited appeared to show intimidation of democratic voters. Ratcliffe accused iran of sending threatening fake emails to some democrats that were designed to look as if they were sent by the farright proud boys. Iran has denied being behind the emails. Intelligence sources told reuters that it is still unclear who sent them. Democrats on the Homeland SecurityCommittee Questioned the allegations. The committee initially tweeted do not listen to ratcliffe. Partisan hack. The tweet was later deleted. The Committee Also tweeted to clarify these election interference operations are clearly not meant to harm President Trump. This edit Judiciary Committee is set to vote today on judge Amy Coney Barretts nomination to the u. S. Supreme court. Democrats are boycotting the proceedings, which they say will deny the committee its required quorum. Theyre planning to fill their empty seats with photos of people impacted by the Affordable Care act. Republican Committee ChairLindsey Graham says hell hold a vote anyway and Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has promised a full senate vote on barretts confirmation on monday. If confirmed, barrett would likely rule on the fatof the Affordable Care act and could help settle any potential challenge student novembers Election Results before the supreme court. Purdue pharma has agreed to an 8 billion settlement with the Justice Department over its illegal marketing of the powerful opioid oxycontin. Under the deal, the purdue corporation will plead guilty to three criminal counts, but no one not even members of the billionaire Sackler Family who own purdue will face any jail time. Purdue pharma is in bankruptcy proceedings, making it likely the company will pay just a fraction of the 8 billion settlement. As opioid abuse surged across the United States, drug overdoses became the leading cause of death for americans under the age of 50 with more than 67,000 such deaths in 2018 alone. In a statement, the Advocacy Group p. A. I. N. Sackler wrote this proves that there are two justice systems in america one for billionaires and one for the rest of us. The sacklers walking away from purdue is a retirement, not a punishment. In a shift for the catholic church, pope francis has endorsed civil unions for samesex couples. In a new documentary, pope francis says homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They are children of god and have a right to a family. What we have to create is a civil union law. In the film, pope francis also criticizes the Trump Administrations family separation policy at the border, saying its cruelty, and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights. In mexico, protesters marched near the u. S. Border in tijuana wednesday, demanding the Trump Administration end its remain in mexico policy for people seeking asylum in the United States. Immigration activist Paulina Olvera says the policy has been especially cruel for asylumseekers during the pandemic. Because many of them have spent months here, some even a year waiting, and since the pandemic, the borderas been closed completely to asylumseekers and we are in legal limbo. They dont know when they will have the next hearing. They have no protection for mexico or the United States and i believe many are struggling even to just eat. It affects everything, even mental health. Amy in colombia, thousands of trade unionists, teachers and students joined an indigenousled National Strike wednesday, demanding an end to the killings of social Movement Leaders and to Police Violence. Colombias rightwing president ivan duque has refused protesters demands that he meet publicly with protest leaders, saying without evidence theyve been infiltrated by terrorists. This is protester harold arias. We are scared of going back to our territories without getting a dialogue with the president because there is the uncertainty that Indigenous Leaders are being murdered by a National Government that does not want to respect our rights. Amy in tulsa, oklahoma, archaeologists have found a mass grave containing at least 10 coffins during a seah for victims of one of the worst massacres of African Americans in u. S. History. In june 1921, a white mob burned to the ground tulsas affluent African American neighborhood of greenwood, known as black wall street, killing at least 300 residents. Investigators have not confirmed if the bodies in the unmarked grave are victims of the massacre. And here in new york, a federal judge has announced he will decide without hearing oral arguments whether President Trump can be privately sued for defamation for comments he made as president against e. Jean carroll, who accused trump of raping her in the 1990s. The Justice Department wants to crush the case by switching the defendant from trump to the United States government, arguing trumps denial of a rape accusation was done in his official capacity as president. Oral arguments were scheduled for wednesday but the Justice Departments lawyer, who traveled from virginia, was denied entry to the new york courtroom due to the states quarantine rules. The Justice Department then opted not to do oral arguments by phone. Jean carroll criticized the governments handling of the case. It was a stunning and shocking day. A woman who makes a complaint against a powerful man, women in this country must be assured that her case will not be tossed off to the doj. Amy tha is jean carroll who is accused donald trump of rape. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman in new york, joined remotely by my cohost nermeen shaikh. Hi, nermeen. Nermeen good morning, amy. Welcome to all of our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Amy a warning to our listeners and viewers, we turn now to a story that includes graphic video and accounts of state violence. We begin todays show in nigeria, where there is growing evidence to confirm Security Forces fired without warning on Peaceful Protesters tuesday night, killing at least 12 people as authorities imposed a curfew to clamp down on growing demonstrations against Police Brutality. Video shared widely on social media shows Security Forces in lagos firing directly into a crowd of demonstrators who wer singing Nigerias National anthem. Amy Amnesty International issued a report wednesday that it was nigerias Security Forces that fired on the protesters. U. N. High commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet issued a statement that there is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian Armed forces. Amnesty also said it received reports that shortly before the shootings, electricity was cut off for security cameras in the area where protesters had been camped. At least 56 people have died during two weeks of widespread denstrations in nigeria, including 38 on tuesday. The killings come two weeks after protests began against a branch of the Nigerian Police known as sars, the special antirobbery squad, which has long been accused of committing torture, murder, and extortion. The killings have sparked outrage from nigerians across the globe. The soccer star odion ighalo, who plays for manchester united, posted this video online. I dont know where to start from. Im not the kind of guy that talks about politics, but i cant keep quiet anymore. The Nigerian Government, killing own citizens, sending military to the streets to kill protesters because they are protesting for their rights . It is uncalled for. October 2020, you people will be remembered as the first killingnt take start their own citizens. Amy for more, we go to nigeria where we are joined by two guests. In abuja, Omoyele Sowore is a nigerian journalist and human rights activist, and the founder and publisher of sahara reporters. He also ran for president nigeria and has been imprisoned there. In lagos, the most populous city in nigeria and on the african continent, we are joined by aderonke ige, a human rights activist and lawyer who works with the Organization Corporate accountability and Public Participation africa. Ige has been participating in the endsars protests. We welcome both of you to democracy now were going to start in lagos where those fatal killings happen, the shootings happened on tuesday night. Aderonke ige, you have been out on the streets. Describe what has happened and talk about the level of peaceful protest that has been going on against this police unit and Police Brutality in general. Thank you. I cannot begin to try to describe in words the kind of barbaric action of the nigerian governnt that we sell play out on tuesday here in lagos. Beenhese protests have peaceful, have been the most a lot of people would say, oh, the leaders, all of that, but it has been one of the most coordinated protests or demonstrations ever without any type of leadership. That is how we have been conducting ourselves for the past two weeks. You could see there was raw passion, energy to savage the soul of our collective group, our country nigeria. A lot of young people have been at the forefront. Verybody demanding in unity what are we asking for . We are asking for justice. We are asking for our lives to be preserved, not to be killed by the officers of state called sars, but even beyond sars, the Nigerian Police and military. It looks like everything about forceful. Especially with this government, it is been full of impunity. That is all we have been asking for. It has been totally organized. That is what we have demonstrated. To the applause of everyone. But then the Nigerian Government taking action, just being responsible. What we saw was what we have seen over the years, now coming to the full glare of the globe. Now we have seen more governments and huge of these voices would rather turn against askingppress them for not to be intimidated. What happened on tuesday was the anticlimax of everything. In the last two weeks we have been on the streets chanting, making our voices heard, demanding what we have been asking for. The government, like a thief in in the went out early evening, around 4 00 or 3 00 p. M. , there have been messages. Officers captured some something official was going on here. It was later we realized they were going to cut off the cameras. Offtually as well, they cut the lights. We could have had access to