Colin Kaepernick, Ted Cruz, Frederick Douglass and the Meaning of Patriotism
Nicholas Buccola | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-12
"Ted Cruz schools Colin Kaepernick on 'context' of Frederick Douglass quote." So read a headline in the Washington Times last week. The story that followed was about a twitter exchange between the athlete-activist and the junior senator from Texas. On Independence Day, Mr. Kaepernick tweeted out a quotation from Douglass's famous…
counterpunch.org/2019/07/12/colin-kaepernick-ted-cruz-frederick-douglass-and-the-meaning-of-patriotism/
Colin Kaepernick, Ted Cruz, Frederick Douglass and the Meaning of Patriotism
Nicholas Buccola | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-12
"Ted Cruz schools Colin Kaepernick on 'context' of Frederick Douglass quote." So read a headline in the Washington Times last week. The story that followed was about a twitter exchange between the athlete-activist and the junior senator from Texas. On Independence Day, Mr. Kaepernick tweeted out a quotation from Douglass's famous…
counterpunch.org/2019/07/12/colin-kaepernick-ted-cruz-frederick-douglass-and-the-meaning-of-patriotism/
The Climate Crisis Has Made Breathing Smoke Normal in Pacific Northwest
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-12
You can't accuse Grace Stahre of not working to turn climate change around. She's fought the fossil fuel industry in court, on the streets, in kayaks and on social media. She has rallied to stop new coal terminals and helped pass a moratorium on new gas pipeline infrastructure. And she has lobbied for investment in renewable energy in Seattle, Washington, the city she calls home. | Stahre knew an increase in wildfires for the Pacific Northwest was predicted as a major consequence of climate change 20 years ago. What she didn't know is how quickly wildfires would bring catastrophic climate change to her doorste…
truthout.org/articles/the-climate-crisis-has-made-breathing-smoke-normal-in-pacific-northwest/
The Climate Crisis Has Made Breathing Smoke Normal in Pacific Northwest
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-12
You can't accuse Grace Stahre of not working to turn climate change around. She's fought the fossil fuel industry in court, on the streets, in kayaks and on social media. She has rallied to stop new coal terminals and helped pass a moratorium on new gas pipeline infrastructure. And she has lobbied for investment in renewable energy in Seattle, Washington, the city she calls home. | Stahre knew an increase in wildfires for the Pacific Northwest was predicted as a major consequence of climate change 20 years ago. What she didn't know is how quickly wildfires would bring catastrophic climate change to her doorste…
truthout.org/articles/the-climate-crisis-has-made-breathing-smoke-normal-in-pacific-northwest/
FTC Reportedly Approves $5 Billion Settlement With Facebook
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-07-12
The record-setting fine for privacy violations wouldn't have much of an effect on the company with nearly $56 billion in revenue last year.
truthdig.com/articles/ftc-reportedly-approves-5-billion-settlement-with-facebook/
Facebook fined around $5bn over privacy violations
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-07-12
The US Federal Trade Commission has voted to approve a fine of about 5 billion dollars for Facebook over privacy violations, the Wall Street Journal has reported. | Facebook declined to comment on the story which said the 3-2 vote broke along party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition to the fine. | The FTC report has been moved to the Justice Department for review, per the report. It is not clear how long it will take to finalise. | The fine would be the largest the FTC has levied on a technology company. | But it will not make much of a dent for Facebook, which had nearly 56 billion do…
thecanary.co/us/us-news-us/2019/07/12/facebook-fined-around-5bn-over-privacy-violations/
YouTube won't ban drill music videos, says UK boss
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-07-12
YouTube will not remove drill music videos from the platform because they "provide a place for those too often without a voice", the UK head of the site has said. | Ben McOwen Wilson said the Google-owned platform supports openness and a range of opinions being allowed online but that it must work with government and regulators to find a balance on removing content. | The allegedly 'controversial' form of rap music often includes references to real-life events including stabbings, and some have urged removal of such videos, warning that they could encourage further violence. | Writing in the Daily Telegraph, McOw…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2019/07/12/youtube-wont-ban-drill-music-videos-says-uk-boss/
US regulator whacks Facebook with largest-ever $5bn fine over privacy violations
rt.com | 2019-07-12
Facebook will pay $5 billion and submit to "government restrictions" on its treatment of users' private data under the terms of the largest-ever Federal Trade Commission settlement imposed for privacy violations, sources said. | …
rt.com/usa/464057-ftc-facebook-fine-cambridge-analytica/
'They can't stop all of us!' 350k+ people volunteer to storm Area 51 to 'see them aliens'
rt.com | 2019-07-12
Nearly 400,000 alien-hunters are plotting an early-morning mass invasion of top-secret Nevada military site Area 51, hoping to overwhelm security by force of sheer numbers… at least, that's what their Facebook event page says. | …
rt.com/usa/463975-area-51-incursion-facebook-aliens/
Venezuelan Armed Forces Guarantee a Free Venezuela, Maduro Says
telesurenglish.net | 2019-07-11
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ratified on Thursday the cohesion in the ranks of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) as a guarantee for the defense of peace and sovereignty of the country. | RELATED: | Venezuela: US Trying to Destroy Political Dialogue in Barbados | In a message published on Twitter, the President assured that the military corps is made up of men and women prepared in a civil-military union to protect the r…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuelan-Armed-Forces-Guarantee-a-Free-Venezuela-Maduro-Says-20190711-0013.html
Guatemala: Morales to Visit Washington to Discuss Migration
telesurenglish.net | 2019-07-11
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales plans to travel to Washington next week to discuss migration and possibly offer up his country as a safe third location for asylum seekers. | RELATED: | Two Guatemalan Indigenous Leaders Killed | Via Twitter, the Guatemalan government said the head of state would be visiting the northern nation from July 13 unt…
telesurenglish.net/news/Guatemala-Morales-to-Visit-Washington-to-Discuss-Migration-20190711-0014.html
Guatemala: Morales to Visit Washington to Discuss Migration
telesurenglish.net | 2019-07-11
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales plans to travel to Washington next week to discuss migration and possibly offer up his country as a safe third location for asylum seekers. | RELATED: | Two Guatemalan Indigenous Leaders Killed | Via Twitter, the Guatemalan government said the head of state would be visiting the northern nation from July 13 unt…
telesurenglish.net/news/Guatemala-Morales-to-Visit-Washington-to-Discuss-Migration-20190711-0014.html
Border Patrol Refuses to Come Clean on Secret Facebook Group
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-07-11
Following the exposure of offensive social media posts, the agency won't say how many members have been disciplined or even investigated.
truthdig.com/articles/border-patrol-refuses-to-come-clean-on-secret-facebook-group/
Frantz Fanon against Facebook: how to decolonize your digital-mind
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-07-11
From the Algeria to algorithms, Lizzie O'Shea argues that Frantz Fanon's ideas have much to offer us as we seek to understand, and resist, some of the most profound challenges of living in the digital age. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/07/11/frantz-fanon-against-facebook-how-to-decolonize-your-digital-mind/
Can Amy McGrath Take Down Mitch McConnell? Maybe Not — But Democrats Still Could
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-07-11
Former fighter pilot Amy McGrath's Tuesday announcement that she would run against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his Kentucky seat R-Ky., was welcomed by more than $2.5 million in donations in the first 24 hours — and near-universal dismissal from election forecasters and political pundits. | As New York Times statistician Dave Wasserman tweeted: "Folks, there is just no amount of $$$ that is going to elect a Dem to federal office next…
truthout.org/articles/can-amy-mcgrath-take-down-mitch-mcconnell-maybe-not-but-democrats-still-could/
White House disinvites author of 'anti-Semitic' Soros cartoon from social media summit
rt.com | 2019-07-11
Cartoonist Ben Garrison has been disinvited from the White House Social Media Summit after complaints about a 'blatantly anti-Semitic' cartoon he drew depicting controversial financier George Soros as a puppet master. | …
rt.com/usa/463881-trump-censors-garrison-antisemitic-soros/
'Fake news less important than social media,' says Trump ahead of WH social media summit
rt.com | 2019-07-11
In anticipation of the White House's social media summit, where online personalities will gather to discuss censorship on the web, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to put tech companies and the 'Fake News Media' on blast. | …
rt.com/usa/463934-trump-white-house-social-media-summit/
Coincidence or conspiracy? Twitter abuzz after global crash during Trump's bias & free speech tirade
rt.com | 2019-07-11
It's been a hard day for Twitter. First the platform's executives were not invited to the White House social media summit, then it experienced technical difficulties and a global outage, provoking whispers of a conspiracy. | …
rt.com/usa/463965-social-media-summit-twitter/
Free speech for EVERYONE? Trump scolds social media platforms as MSM attacks his select audience
rt.com | 2019-07-11
All Americans have the right to speak freely, not just supporters of one political party or another, President Donald Trump told social media platforms at a White House "summit" featuring mainly influencers who have supported him. | …
rt.com/usa/463966-trump-social-media-summit-controversy/
Selected Articles: Geopolitical Crisis in the Middle East
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2019-07-11
Global Research has over 50,000 subscribers to our Newsletter. | Our objective is to recruit one thousand committed "volunteers" among our 50,000 Newsletter subscribers to support the distribution of Global Research articles (email lists, social media, crossposts). | Do not send us …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-geopolitical-crisis-in-the-middle-east-monetary-system-no-deal-brexit/5683340
Why Trump caved to China and Huawei
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2019-07-10
Everything about the trade war between the United States and China is bewildering. Truces would come out of nowhere but then they would be set aside by U.S. President Donald Trump in a stream of tweets at odd hours. Regardless, Huawei and China are unlikely to blink. They have the upper hand. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/07/09/why-trump-caved-to-china-and-huawei/
As Border Crisis Deepens, Nancy Pelosi Asks for Prayer to Heal Democratic Rifts
Aída Chávez | theintercept.com | 2019-07-10
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued her criticism of the progressives in her party at a private House Democratic caucus meeting on Wednesday. "Every time I'm attacked, I raise more money," Pelosi said, looking directly at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and drawing huge applause from the caucus. | Pelosi claimed that party infighting was putting the House majority at risk by jeopardizing seats flipped from red to blue in 2018. Ocasio-Cortez has been openly critical on Twitter of Blue Dogs and New Democrats, who represent conservatives in the caucus. "Think twice about it," Pelosi advised about staffers who tweet,…
theintercept.com/2019/07/10/nancy-pelosi-aoc-democratic-party/
The United States of Fascism Hysteria
C. J. Hopkins | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-07-10
So it's been an exciting few weeks for Antifa and the rest of the neoliberal Resistance. OK, they haven't yet managed to overthrow the Putin-Nazi occupation government (hereinafter "POG"), but they've definitely got "the Fash" on the run. "Fascism" hysteria is spreading like wildfire. Liberal Twitter mobs are out for blood. At this point, it's …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/07/the-united-states-of-fascism-hysteria/
Man 'suffers seizure' while restrained by police after parking dispute
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-07-10
Footage of a man who appeared to suffer a seizure while being restrained by police during a scuffle over parking his car has provoked accusations of brutality. | Video of the arrest in Abbott Road, Tower Hamlets, east London, on Tuesday was shared on social media and provoked anger among some users. | Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had discussed the incident, which was caught on body-worn video, with the Metropolitan Police. | It said: "Following discussions earlier today, we can confirm we've received a referral from the Met Police relating to yesterday's incident in Abbott Roa…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/07/10/man-suffers-seizure-while-restrained-by-police-after-parking-dispute/
SPLC statement on White House social media summit
splcenter.org | 2019-07-10
The Trump administration's social media summit today is a gathering of groups and individuals who have no business at the White House.
splcenter.org/news/2019/07/10/splc-statement-white-house-social-media-summit
Kids in cages: House Dems scrub tweet with photo of Obama-era detention center used to attack Trump
rt.com | 2019-07-10
House Democrats have erased a tweet promoting a hearing on the effects of President Trump's border policies on children after finding out they used a photo depicting a migrant detention center under President Obama's watch. | …
rt.com/usa/463874-house-democrats-delete-tweet-obama/
London's Burning: Brexit and Climate Change
Kenneth Surin | counterpunch.org | 2019-07-10
The Brexit farce continues, this time compounded by the pantomime that is the Tory-party leadership election. Both candidates are from the monied elite (of course), and will be disastrous as prime minister. The choice between them will be made by the largely male, white, and geriatric Tory party membership– it is a standing joke in social media that the meeting of the Young Conservatives at their annual conference has an average age of over 40.
counterpunch.org/2019/07/10/londons-burning-brexit-and-climate-change/
Ilhan Omar brands Tucker Carlson a 'racist fool' in scathing tweet
rt.com | 2019-07-10
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called Fox News host Tucker Carlson a "racist fool" for saying she is "living proof" that US immigration policy is a danger to the country. | …
rt.com/usa/463833-tucker-carlson-ilhan-omar/
Trump Takes the Bait, Lashing Out at U.K. Ambassador Whose Private Notes Were Leaked
Robert Mackey | theintercept.com | 2019-07-09
Donald Trump's tweet, lashing out Britain's ambassador to the United States, Kim Darroch, for writing private assessments of the American president's shortcomings, arrived on Monday with all the inevitability of a cuckoo popping out of a clock to announce the progress of time. | In fact, the president's angry denunciation of the previously obscure diplomat — with whom, he wrote, "We will no longer deal" — was so predictable, it looked to some observers like the intended outcome of a plot, hatched in London, to depose the amba…
theintercept.com/2019/07/08/trump-takes-bait-lashing-uk-ambassador-whose-private-notes-leaked/
Trump cannot block Twitter critics, federal court confirms
rt.com | 2019-07-09
A federal appeals court in New York has upheld a decision barring President Donald Trump from blocking critics from his personal Twitter account, arguing that he uses the platform for "official purposes." | …
rt.com/usa/463783-trump-cannot-block-twitter-federal-appeals/
Facebook's Libra Currency Monetizes Identity and Threatens Privacy
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-07-05
Bill Black discusses Feacebook's new proposed crypto-currency, called "Libra." Facebook could use this technology to standardize identity and create a world of ultimate surveillance, and then profit from it, says Black…
therealnews.com/stories/facebooks-libra-currency-monetizes-identity-and-threatens-privacy
US Congressman Justin Amash Quits the Republican Party
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-07-04
(ZH Op-Ed) — Update: That was quick. President Trump has apparently taken a quick break from preparing for today's festivities to take one last swing at Amash on his way out the door. In a tweet, Trump called him "the dumbest & most disloyal [man] in Congress". Trump insisted Amash "knew he couldn't get the nomination to run again …
theantimedia.com/justin-amash-quits-republican-party/
US Congressman Justin Amash Quits the Republican Party
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-07-04
(ZH Op-Ed) — Update: That was quick. President Trump has apparently taken a quick break from preparing for today's festivities to take one last swing at Amash on his way out the door. In a tweet, Trump called him "the dumbest & most disloyal [man] in Congress". Trump insisted Amash "knew he couldn't get the nomination to run again …
theantimedia.com/justin-amash-quits-republican-party/
Why is it so easy to monetise hate?
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2019-07-04
The rapidity with which homophobic rugby player Israel Folau raised $2.2 million for his fight against Rugby Australia is just the latest example of how easy it is to monetise hate these days. It is a morbid symptom of a capitalist system plumbing the depths of moral bankruptcy. | Folau has taken Rugby Australia to the Fair Work Commission after he was sacked for breaching his contract by posting offensive public attacks against homosexual people on social media. | Folau's celebrity hate crusade has garnered a lot of the attention — but his is just one of many well-monetised hate campaigns. | For insta…
greenleft.org.au/content/why-it-so-easy-monetise-hate
Secret Border Patrol agents' Facebook group exposes vile racism, sexism
Marcos Lugo | liberationnews.org | 2019-07-03
This is only the latest incident to reveal law enforcement personnel's connections to facsist and reactionary tendencies.
liberationnews.org/secret-border-patrol-agents-facebook-group-exposes-vile-racism-sexism/
Border Agents Caught Posting Racist, Sexist Messages About Migrants & AOC in Secret Facebook Group
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-03
Customs and Border Protection has opened an investigation into…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/3/border_patrol_facebook_group_offensive_posts
White Nationalist Shieldwall Network Member Arrested in Alleged Anti-LGBTQ Attack Invokes Domestic Terror Ideology on Facebook
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2019-06-27
Three members of the Shieldwall Network (SWN), an Arkansas-based white nationalist group founded by longtime movement leader Billy Roper, were arrested last week in connection with second-degree battery.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/06/27/white-nationalist-shieldwall-network-member-arrested-alleged-anti-lgbtq-attack-invokes