Trump Tweets, Then Netanyahu Bans Reps. Ilhan Omar & Rashida Tlaib From Israel
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-08-16
Jim Zogby and Phyllis Bennis discuss the Trump-Netanyahu dynamic, the diminishing power of AIPAC, and the political battle against Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib…
therealnews.com/stories/trump-tweets-then-netanyahu-bans-reps-ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-from-israel
It's No Wonder the Military likes Violent Video Games, They Can Help Train Civilians to Become Warriors
Neve Gordon | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-16
Following the recent massacres in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, the bestselling author Keith Boykin tweeted: Trump is on TV blaming the Internet, social media, video games and mental health for the mass shootings. Nonsense! Every country has Google, Facebook, video games and people with mental health issues. What they don't have is…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/16/its-no-wonder-the-military-likes-violent-video-games-they-can-help-train-civilians-to-become-warriors/
Greenland Rejects Idea of Trump Buying Island
telesurenglish.net | 2019-08-16
U.S. President Donald Trump privately discussed with his advisers this week the idea of buying the world's biggest island, Greenland, from Denmark. | RELATED: | Greenland Loses Two Gigatons of Ice to 'Unusual' Melt, Heat | However, it appears the people of Greenland are opposed to the notion that island nation would become part of the United States, especially after Trump's inquiry. | In response to Trump's inquiry, several politicians from Greenland took to social media to reject…
telesurenglish.net/news/Greenland-Rejects-Idea-of-Trump-Buying-Island-20190816-0003.html
What Is Israel Trying to Hide? Reps. Tlaib & Omar Blocked from Taking Official Trip to West Bank
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-16
Israel sparked outrage Thursday when it banned two freshman Democratic congresswomen of color — Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota — from entering the country. Following outcry from Democratic leaders and Palestinians, Israel granted permission for Tlaib to enter the country on "humanitarian" grounds to visit her family in the West Bank — though Tlaib said Friday she will not visit her family under such conditions. Israel originally denied entrance to Tlaib and Omar after President Donald Trump tweeted, "It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tl…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/16/ilhan_omar_rashida_tlaib_israel_trump
This New York Times Editor's Demotion Was Long Overdue
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-08-15
The New York Times announced yesterday (The Wrap, 8/13/19) that it had demoted deputy Washington editor Jonathan Weisman for "recent serious lapses in judgment." These included a since-deleted tweet from last month that asserted that politicians of color don't really count as coming from their regions: | Saying @RashidaTlaib (D-Detroit) a…
truthdig.com/articles/new-york-times-editors-demotion-was-long-overdue/
Arron Banks slammed for 'joking' about Greta Thunberg getting in a 'freak yachting accident'
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-08-15
Insurance tycoon Arron Banks has come under fire for a tweet about 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg.The Leave.EU founder responded to a post by Green party MP Caroline Lucas about Greta's voyage across the Atlantic on a racing yacht, writing: "Freak yachting accidents do happen in August …"He later tweeted that it was a "joke" after his comment sparked outrage from social media users.Arron Banks said his tweet was a "joke" (PA)Among those to criticise his post was actress Amanda Abbington, who tweeted: "You're wishing a potentially fatal accident onto a sixteen year old girl, why..?"She had ea…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/08/15/arron-banks-slammed-for-joking-about-greta-thunberg-getting-in-a-freak-yachting-accident/
Face of privilege Ben Shapiro slammed for calling poverty a 'you problem'
rt.com | 2019-08-15
Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro has been eviscerated online, after a tone-deaf attack on Americans forced to take a second job to make ends meet. He called poverty a "you problem" as the country faces a possible recession. | …
rt.com/usa/466520-ben-shapiro-attacked-twitter-privilege/
Jonathan Weisman's Judgment Has Been Lapsing for a Long While Now
Jim Naureckas | fair.org | 2019-08-14
The New York Times announced yesterday (The Wrap, 8/13/19) that it had demoted deputy Washington editor Jonathan Weisman for "recent serious lapses in judgment." These included a since-deleted tweet from last month that asserted that politicians of color don't really count as coming from their regions: | Saying @RashidaTlaib (D-Detroi…
fair.org/home/jonathan-weismans-judgment-has-been-lapsing-for-a-long-while-now/
Asda workers are facing the sack unless they 'sign a punishing new contract'
Emily Apple | thecanary.co | 2019-08-14
A campaign by workers and the GMB union is fighting back for Asda workers who are facing the sack in "12 weeks' time unless they sign a punishing new contract". | So far, over 10,000 people have signed a petition supporting the workers. And people are tweeting to say they stand with staff by using the hashtag #AsdaRespectYourWorkers. | New contracts: | The new contracts will mean that Asda staff lose some of the benefits they currently receive. In some cases, this inclu…
thecanary.co/trending/2019/08/14/asda-workers-are-facing-the-sack-unless-they-sign-a-punishing-new-contract/
'Crazy inverted yield curve': Trump launches blistering attack on Fed chief Powell
rt.com | 2019-08-14
Reacting to the stock market slide, US President Donald Trump has turned his Twitter guns on "clueless" Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell, blaming his refusal to cut interest rates for the "crazy" inverted yield curve of bonds. | …
rt.com/usa/466510-trump-clueless-powell-crazy-yield/
Big election business: Democratic candidates, even critical of Facebook, pour millions into platform
rt.com | 2019-08-14
Though many Democrats have decried the role of social media giant Facebook in spreading 'fake news' during the 2016 presidential election, the party's new debate rules are driving candidates to shovel millions into the platform. | …
rt.com/usa/466505-democratic-candidates-millions-facebook/
Facebook had human contractors 'reviewing' users' Messenger voice chats
rt.com | 2019-08-14
Facebook says it has stopped feeding users' audio chats to human reviewers for transcription, similar to what other Big Tech were recently caught doing. Facebook's contractors were reportedly kept in the dark about their job. | …
rt.com/usa/466439-facebook-ends-contractor-review-messenger/
New Ukip leader claims media is controlled by 'traitor class' over Brexit
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-08-14
Ukip's new leader has claimed the press is being controlled by a "traitor class" which is "conspiring with foreign powers" against Brexit. | Richard Braine, who took the helm of the Eurosceptic party last week, said there was an "EU federalist class" controlling the media, as he lashed out at the "bias" in Brexit reporting. | Speaking at a press conference in Westminster, Mr Braine cited the change of editor at the Daily Mail and appointment of former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg at Facebook. | "In the last three years we have seen a concerted effort in the media — we've seen Geordie Greig installed at…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/08/14/new-ukip-leader-claims-media-is-controlled-by-traitor-class-over-brexit/
How Voice of America Persian Became a Trump Administration PR Machine
Jordan Michael Smith | theintercept.com | 2019-08-13
As an Iranian American journalist covering the Iran-U.S. relationship, Negar Mortazavi is accustomed to receiving vitriol on social media. Still, she found it unusual when she saw on Twitter that someone had called her a "treasonous criminal" and "a spy and an enemy of the people." The tweets got darker: "If the U.S. had laws of the Middle Ages like Iran, this mouthpiece of the corrupt regime would have been executed," one read, in Farsi. | What made the tweets unusua…
theintercept.com/2019/08/13/trump-voa-persian/
Facebook Settlement Breaks a Record, But Not the Cycle of Exploitation
Amos Toh | progressive.org | 2019-08-09
For years, Facebook engaged in a pattern of deceptive conduct that misled users about how their data was being handled. Now, despite a $5 billion fine imposed by the U.S. government, it promises to do little to guarantee a change in behavior.
progressive.org/dispatches/facebook-settlement-breaks-a-record-but-not-the-cycle-of-exploitation-toh-190809/
Documents Reveal Monsanto Surveilled Journalists, Activists & Even Musician Neil Young
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-09
Explosive new documents reveal the U.S. agribusiness giant Monsanto ran a "fusion center" to surveil and discredit journalists and activists who criticized or wrote damning reports about Monsanto, as well as legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young, who released an album in 2015 called "The Monsanto Years." Monsanto monitored Young's Twitter activity and even analyzed the lyrics of his album. The fusion center also surveilled journalist Carey Gillam, who has done extensive research and writing about Monsanto and its popular pesticide Roundup, which has been linked to cancer. The corporation also targeted the nonpro…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/9/monsanto_fusion_center_surveillance_of_critics
El Paso Shooting Suspect May Have Authored Manifesto Containing White Nationalist Talking Points
Brett Barrouquere and Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2019-08-03
The suspect in a shooting that left 20 people dead at an El Paso Walmart may have posted and liked anti-immigrant leaning remarks on what appears to be his Twitter account.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/08/03/el-paso-shooting-suspect-may-have-authored-manifesto-containing-white-nationalist-talking
Facebook Dismantles Saudi-Linked Network of Fake Accounts
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-01
More than 350 profiles and pages linked to the Saudi government with some 1.4 million followers were taken down by Facebook on Thursday.