Daily Archives: August 3, 2019

2019-08-03: News Headlines

Ed Sykes (2019-08-03). As centrists pile on to attack Corbyn, Twitter strikes back with an important dose of truth. thecanary.co The Brecon and Radnorshire constituency was a Liberal Democrat seat until the party's electoral wipeout in 2015. The Lib Dems have now won it back from the Tories in a by-election, reducing Boris Johnson's working parliamentary majority to just one. And centrists have been hailing the victory as a defeat for Jeremy Corbyn. But the truth is far less…

Lawrence S. Wittner (2019-08-03). The democratic debates need more questions about nuclear war. nationofchange.org There is a remarkable incongruity between the existential danger of nuclear war and the absence of public discussion about preventing it. | This disconnect is all too apparent today, as arms control and disarmament treaties are scrapped, nations embark on vast nuclear weapons buildups, and governments threaten nuclear war against one another. Meanwhile, the mass media routinely avoids these issues but, instead, focuses on movie stars, athletes, and President Donald Trump's latest tweeted insults. | Do I exaggerate? Consider the following. | In May 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the l…

Andrew Emett (2019-08-03). Former cop charged with beating unarmed man on video. nationofchange.org Caught on surveillance video repeatedly punching an unarmed man in the back of the head, a former California police officer was recently charged with using unreasonable force and filing false reports in order to cover-up his actions. In the video, another officer can be seen striking the unarmed man's legs with a metal baton. | On June 19, 2014, a home surveillance camera recorded then 27-year-old Edgar Vargas-Arzate placing his hands in the air before calmly lying on his stomach in surrender. As several officers surrounded the…

RT (2019-08-03). Monopoly? What monopoly? Facebook to consolidate empire by branding Instagram, WhatsApp. rt.com Facebook subsidiaries Instagram and WhatsApp will soon carry the 'by Facebook' brand as the company tightens its grip on social media, flaunting its monopoly status in the face of mounting antitrust probes and privacy scandals.

Emily Apple (2019-08-03). Priti Patel wants criminals to 'literally feel terror' but her comments should fill all of us with fear. thecanary.co Priti Patel has said she wants criminals to "feel terror" at the thought of offending. In her first interview as home secretary, she pledged to get a grip on violent crime after Boris Johnson committed to recruiting 20,000 more police officers. | Se told the Daily Mail: Quite frankly, with more police officers out there and greater police presence, I want (criminals) to literally feel terror at the thought of committing offences. | Be afraid. Be very afraid.: | But as Twitter users pointed out, every single one of us should be scared by Patel's comments: | This is basically Priti Patel saying she wants the…

Robert Fantina (2019-08-02). The MEK: Illusion vs. Reality. counterpunch.org The oddly named People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (known as the MKO or MEK), whose sole purpose is the overthrow of the people's government of Iran, has been busy. Some of their members, who seem to be mainly elderly, are technologically savvy, and use social media to further their disgraceful cause. But they don't just More

RT (2019-08-02). Real threat to democracy: Media meddle in Democrat debate by siding with Harris, demonizing Gabbard. rt.com Why would the most talked-about candidate at the Democratic Party debate be almost entirely invisible on Twitter and attacked on cable networks afterward? Perhaps because the establishment protects its own.

RT (2019-08-02). Now urine for it: Hunt is on for ANOTHER Walmart peeing bandit. rt.com A 15-year-old who urinated on a wine shelf at a Texas Walmart may face felony charges after video of the teen and his friends chortling over the pee puddle was posted on social media, according to local authorities.

Doug Johnson Hatlem (2019-08-02). The Big Lie Democratic Centrists Are Telling About 2018. counterpunch.org Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report tweeted it in response to Nancy Pelosi's attack on The Squad. John Hickenlooper unloaded a flatly false version of it during the first night of this week's Democratic debates. David Axelrod stated this falsehood as fact on CNN before the start of the second night of debates. Nate Silver More

Glen Black (2019-08-02). People are celebrating the 'loony mudslide' that buried UKIP. thecanary.co While the Lib Dems won Brecon's by-election on 1 August, the Monster Raving Loony Party stole the show. 334 people voted for its candidate, Lady Lily the Pink, meaning the party came second to last — above UKIP. And the reaction on social media has been priceless. | "The seco…

RT (2019-08-02). 'Leningrad Lindsey': Russia-baiting senator gets taste of own medicine as xenophobic hashtag trends. rt.com A trending Twitter hashtag, created to shame Lindsey Graham for his alleged un-American ways, has brought Russia-baiting full circle, with the senator now on the receiving end of the mass paranoia he helped foment.

teleSUR (2019-08-01). Ecuador: Ola Bini's NGO Office Sacked, Tech Equipment Stolen. telesurenglish.net The offices of the non-governmental organization Center for Digital Autonomy (CAD) in Ecuador, founded by Swedish programmer and digital privacy activist Ola Bini, were sacked Wednesday night, according to his attorney, Carlos Soria. | RELATED: | Ecuador: Ola Bini Released as Court Grants Habeas Corpus | "Ola Bini's workplace was 'burglarized' Wednesday and the 'thieves' took computer equipment with which the CAD works," Soria tweeted, adding that this is just a tactic to "intimidate.

Glen Black (2019-08-01). Saboteurs claim they saved the life of an otter that was being hunted illegally. thecanary.co Tense footage shows the moment that hunt saboteurs 'saved the life' of what they said was an otter. Although otters were made a protected species more than 40 years ago, the activists claim people are still hunting them illegally. | "An otter was seen… fleeing": | Saboteur groups said they caught the Culmstock H…

teleSUR (2019-08-01). Bolsonaro Supporters Attack Glenn Greenwald's Mother. telesurenglish.net Arlene Greenwald, the mother of journalist and author Glenn Greenwald, was attacked via social media Thursday by supporters of Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro. | RELATED: | Brazil: Minister Moro Seeks Deportation of Glenn Greenwald | A blogger named Oswaldo Eustaquio questioned the terminal cancer Glenn's mother is suffering from and wrote on his Twitter account that Glenn lied about his mother's health situation. Eustaquio concluded she was in good health based of her Facebook p…

Ed Sykes (2019-08-01). Labour mayor set to take power back from big banks and hand it to the people. thecanary.co North of Tyne metro mayor Jamie Driscoll promised before his election that he'd set up a locally-owned ' People's Co-operative Bank'. Now in power, this plan has just moved one step closer to reality. | The first step towards creating a customer-owned bank: | During his campaign, Driscoll promised to: establish an independent cooperative to begin the process of…

Middle East Eye (2019-08-01). Facebook Dismantles Saudi-Linked Network of Fake Accounts. theantimedia.com More than 350 profiles and pages linked to the Saudi government with some 1.4 million followers were taken down by Facebook on Thursday.

RT (2019-08-01). Tulsi most-Googled candidate during debate… raising questions over 'muted' Twitter trend. rt.com While presidential challenger Tulsi Gabbard was the most searched for candidate on Google during the second round of Democratic debates, her rankings on Twitter stoked accusations that results were being manipulated.

RT (2019-08-01). #KamalaHarrisDestroyed trends on Twitter after annihilation by Tulsi Gabbard, 'Russian bots' blamed. rt.com Twitter deemed presidential hopeful Kamala Harris utterly "destroyed," after fellow candidate Tulsi Gabbard landed dizzying verbal haymakers on the former California prosecutor. Naturally, 'Russian bots' were swiftly blamed.

Rick Sterling (2019-07-31). Tulsi Gabbard vs Google Goliath. dissidentvoice.org Introduction The Tulsi Gabbard presidential campaign has filed a major law suit against Google. This article outlines the main points of the law suit and evidence the the social media giant Google has quietly acquired enormous influence on public perceptions and has been actively censoring alternative viewpoints. Tulsi Now vs Google Tulsi Now, Inc vs …

Binoy Kampmark (2019-07-30). Permissible Deviance: Facebook's FTC Fine. dissidentvoice.org It was something of a shrug moment. One of the world's largest digital platforms had been fined $5 billion for privacy violations by the Federal Trade Commission, claiming it had violated its 2012 order. The FTC order also requires the company "to restructure its approach to privacy from the corporate board-level down, establishing strong new …

Mat Ward (2019-07-30). 10 new political albums that will make you smile. greenleft.org.au The world is a dark place in July 2019, but it's inspiring some great protest music to give you hope and raise a smile. Here are the best new albums that related to this month's political news. What albums would you suggest? Comment on Twitter, Facebook, or email. | VARIOUS ARTISTS – DEADLY HEARTS 2.jpg: | 1. VARIOUS ARTISTS – DEADLY HEARTS 2 : | From July 7 to 14, Australia held…

Staff (2019-07-29). Baltimore Residents: Trump's Attacks on the City Are Rooted in "Racism and White Supremacy" democracynow.org President Trump is facing widespread outrage after describing Baltimore as a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" in tweets attacking Congressmember Elijah Cummings, one of the most prominent African-American lawmakers in Washington. Trump tweeted that Cummings's district is "considered the Worst in the USA," and said "no human being would want to live there." Trump's initial tweets came after Fox News ran a story about Baltimore and after Cummings criticized the conditions of immigration jails along the Mexican border. Officials across Baltimore and Maryland denounced the president's remarks, and The Balti…

Kathryn Casteel (2019-07-29). Texas sheriff who stars on reality show fails to publicly address sexist images posted on Facebook by one of his top officers. splcenter.org Stories about law enforcement officers disciplined for posting offensive images or words on Facebook are increasingly popping up in the news.

Katie Halper (2019-07-26). MSNBC's Anti-Sanders Bias Makes It Forget How to Do Math. fair.org When MSNBC legal analyst Mimi Rocah ( 7/21/19) said that Bernie Sanders "made [her] skin crawl," though she "can't even identify for you what exactly it is," she was just expressing more overtly the anti-Sanders bias that pervades the network. MSNBC's Mimi Rocah ( 7/21/19) explaining how Bernie Sanders makes her "skin crawl." | The hostility is so entrenched, in fact, it seems to have corrupted MSNBC's mathematical reasoni…

Josmar Trujillo (2019-07-26). The 'Total Anarchy' of Wet Cops. fair.org by Josmar Trujillo "Total Anarchy": The headline has changed, but the tweet remains (Twitter, 7/22/19). | The family of Eric Garner, the Staten Island father infamously choked to death by a New York City cop in 2014 (Extra!, 1—2/15), was told last week by the Justice Department that charges would not be brought against that officer. Family members and activists responded with fury, mostly aimed at Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose refusal to fire the officer, Daniel Pantaleo, allo…

Hatewatch Staff (2019-07-17). Retaking Everything: The Story of Identity Dixie. splcenter.org A small Facebook campaign predicated on keeping Confederate monuments in place has morphed into a group of more than 200 ardent, secretive separatists planning to make the South a separate nation. And Hatewatch has learned the identities of some of the group's leaders and members.

2019-08-03: Social Media Postees

The democratic debates need more questions about nuclear war
Lawrence S. Wittner | nationofchange.org | 2019-08-03
There is a remarkable incongruity between the existential danger of nuclear war and the absence of public discussion about preventing it. | This disconnect is all too apparent today, as arms control and disarmament treaties are scrapped, nations embark on vast nuclear weapons buildups, and governments threaten nuclear war against one another. Meanwhile, the mass media routinely avoids these issues but, instead, focuses on movie stars, athletes, and President Donald Trump's latest tweeted insults. | Do I exaggerate? Consider the following. | In May 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the l…
nationofchange.org/2019/08/03/the-democratic-debates-need-more-questions-about-nuclear-war/

As centrists pile on to attack Corbyn, Twitter strikes back with an important dose of truth
Ed Sykes | thecanary.co | 2019-08-03
The Brecon and Radnorshire constituency was a Liberal Democrat seat until the party's electoral wipeout in 2015. The Lib Dems have now won it back from the Tories in a by-election, reducing Boris Johnson's working parliamentary majority to just one. And centrists have been hailing the victory as a defeat for Jeremy Corbyn. But the truth is far less…
thecanary.co/trending/2019/08/03/as-centrists-pile-on-to-attack-corbyn-twitter-strikes-back-with-an-important-dose-of-truth/

Priti Patel wants criminals to 'literally feel terror' but her comments should fill all of us with fear
Emily Apple | thecanary.co | 2019-08-03
Priti Patel has said she wants criminals to "feel terror" at the thought of offending. In her first interview as home secretary, she pledged to get a grip on violent crime after Boris Johnson committed to recruiting 20,000 more police officers. | Se told the Daily Mail: Quite frankly, with more police officers out there and greater police presence, I want (criminals) to literally feel terror at the thought of committing offences. | Be afraid. Be very afraid.: | But as Twitter users pointed out, every single one of us should be scared by Patel's comments: | This is basically Priti Patel saying she wants the…
thecanary.co/uk/2019/08/03/priti-patel-wants-criminals-to-literally-feel-terror-but-her-comments-should-fill-all-of-us-with-fear/

Monopoly? What monopoly? Facebook to consolidate empire by branding Instagram, WhatsApp
rt.com | 2019-08-03
Facebook subsidiaries Instagram and WhatsApp will soon carry the 'by Facebook' brand as the company tightens its grip on social media, flaunting its monopoly status in the face of mounting antitrust probes and privacy scandals. | …
rt.com/usa/465702-facebook-brands-instagram-whatsapp-monopoly/

The Big Lie Democratic Centrists Are Telling About 2018
Doug Johnson Hatlem | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-02
Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report tweeted it in response to Nancy Pelosi's attack on The Squad. John Hickenlooper unloaded a flatly false version of it during the first night of this week's Democratic debates. David Axelrod stated this falsehood as fact on CNN before the start of the second night of debates. Nate Silver…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/02/the-big-lie-democratic-centrists-are-telling-about-2018/

People are celebrating the 'loony mudslide' that buried UKIP
Glen Black | thecanary.co | 2019-08-02
While the Lib Dems won Brecon's by-election on 1 August, the Monster Raving Loony Party stole the show. 334 people voted for its candidate, Lady Lily the Pink, meaning the party came second to last — above UKIP. And the reaction on social media has been priceless. | "The seco…
thecanary.co/trending/2019/08/02/people-are-celebrating-the-loony-mudslide-that-buried-ukip/

The MEK: Illusion vs. Reality
Robert Fantina | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-02
The oddly named People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (known as the MKO or MEK), whose sole purpose is the overthrow of the people's government of Iran, has been busy. Some of their members, who seem to be mainly elderly, are technologically savvy, and use social media to further their disgraceful cause. But they don't just…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/02/the-mek-illusion-vs-reality/

'Leningrad Lindsey': Russia-baiting senator gets taste of own medicine as xenophobic hashtag trends
rt.com | 2019-08-02
A trending Twitter hashtag, created to shame Lindsey Graham for his alleged un-American ways, has brought Russia-baiting full circle, with the senator now on the receiving end of the mass paranoia he helped foment. | …
rt.com/usa/465664-lindsey-graham-leningrad-twitter-trend/

Real threat to democracy: Media meddle in Democrat debate by siding with Harris, demonizing Gabbard
rt.com | 2019-08-02
Why would the most talked-about candidate at the Democratic Party debate be almost entirely invisible on Twitter and attacked on cable networks afterward? Perhaps because the establishment protects its own. | …
rt.com/usa/465692-gabbard-harris-media-coverage/

Now urine for it: Hunt is on for ANOTHER Walmart peeing bandit
rt.com | 2019-08-02
A 15-year-old who urinated on a wine shelf at a Texas Walmart may face felony charges after video of the teen and his friends chortling over the pee puddle was posted on social media, according to local authorities. | …
rt.com/usa/465616-teen-urinates-wine-walmart-viral/

Ecuador: Ola Bini's NGO Office Sacked, Tech Equipment Stolen
telesurenglish.net | 2019-08-01
The offices of the non-governmental organization Center for Digital Autonomy (CAD) in Ecuador, founded by Swedish programmer and digital privacy activist Ola Bini, were sacked Wednesday night, according to his attorney, Carlos Soria. | RELATED: | Ecuador: Ola Bini Released as Court Grants Habeas Corpus | "Ola Bini's workplace was 'burglarized' Wednesday and the 'thieves' took computer equipment with which the CAD works," Soria tweeted, adding that this is just a tactic to "intimidate.
telesurenglish.net/news/Ecuador-Ola-Binis-NGO-Office-Sacked-Tech-Equipment-Stolen-20190801-0038.html

Bolsonaro Supporters Attack Glenn Greenwald's Mother
telesurenglish.net | 2019-08-01
Arlene Greenwald, the mother of journalist and author Glenn Greenwald, was attacked via social media Thursday by supporters of Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro. | RELATED: | Brazil: Minister Moro Seeks Deportation of Glenn Greenwald | A blogger named Oswaldo Eustaquio questioned the terminal cancer Glenn's mother is suffering from and wrote on his Twitter account that Glenn lied about his mother's health situation. Eustaquio concluded she was in good health based of her Facebook p…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bolsonaros-Supporters-Attack-Glenn-Greenwalds-Mother-20190801-0029.html

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.

Facebook Dismantles Saudi-Linked Network of Fake Accounts

Tulsi most-Googled candidate during debate… raising questions over 'muted' Twitter trend
rt.com | 2019-08-01
While presidential challenger Tulsi Gabbard was the most searched for candidate on Google during the second round of Democratic debates, her rankings on Twitter stoked accusations that results were being manipulated. | …
rt.com/usa/465587-tulsi-trending-google-twitter/

#KamalaHarrisDestroyed trends on Twitter after annihilation by Tulsi Gabbard, 'Russian bots' blamed
rt.com | 2019-08-01
Twitter deemed presidential hopeful Kamala Harris utterly "destroyed," after fellow candidate Tulsi Gabbard landed dizzying verbal haymakers on the former California prosecutor. Naturally, 'Russian bots' were swiftly blamed. | …
rt.com/usa/465579-kamala-harris-destroyed-tulsi/

Tulsi Gabbard vs Google Goliath
Rick Sterling | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-07-31
Introduction The Tulsi Gabbard presidential campaign has filed a major law suit against Google. This article outlines the main points of the law suit and evidence the the social media giant Google has quietly acquired enormous influence on public perceptions and has been actively censoring alternative viewpoints. Tulsi Now vs Google Tulsi Now, Inc vs …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/07/tulsi-gabbard-vs-google-goliath/

Permissible Deviance: Facebook's FTC Fine
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-07-30
It was something of a shrug moment. One of the world's largest digital platforms had been fined $5 billion for privacy violations by the Federal Trade Commission, claiming it had violated its 2012 order. The FTC order also requires the company "to restructure its approach to privacy from the corporate board-level down, establishing strong new …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/07/permissible-deviance-facebooks-ftc-fine/

10 new political albums that will make you smile
Mat Ward | greenleft.org.au | 2019-07-30
The world is a dark place in July 2019, but it's inspiring some great protest music to give you hope and raise a smile. Here are the best new albums that related to this month's political news. What albums would you suggest? Comment on Twitter, Facebook, or email. | VARIOUS ARTISTS – DEADLY HEARTS 2.jpg: | 1. VARIOUS ARTISTS – DEADLY HEARTS 2 : | From July 7 to 14, Australia held…
greenleft.org.au/content/10-new-political-albums-will-make-you-smile

Baltimore Residents: Trump's Attacks on the City Are Rooted in "Racism and White Supremacy"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-07-29
President Trump is facing widespread outrage after describing Baltimore as a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" in tweets attacking Congressmember Elijah Cummings, one of the most prominent African-American lawmakers in Washington. Trump tweeted that Cummings's district is "considered the Worst in the USA," and said "no human being would want to live there." Trump's initial tweets came after Fox News ran a story about Baltimore and after Cummings criticized the conditions of immigration jails along the Mexican border. Officials across Baltimore and Maryland denounced the president's remarks, and The Balti…
www.democracynow.org/2019/7/29/donald_trump_elijah_cummings_baltimore_tweets

Texas sheriff who stars on reality show fails to publicly address sexist images posted on Facebook by one of his top officers
Kathryn Casteel | splcenter.org | 2019-07-29
Stories about law enforcement officers disciplined for posting offensive images or words on Facebook are increasingly popping up in the news.
splcenter.org/news/2019/08/01/texas-sheriff-who-stars-reality-show-fails-publicly-address-sexist-images-posted-facebook

The 'Total Anarchy' of Wet Cops
Josmar Trujillo | fair.org | 2019-07-26
by Josmar Trujillo "Total Anarchy": The headline has changed, but the tweet remains (Twitter, 7/22/19). | The family of Eric Garner, the Staten Island father infamously choked to death by a New York City cop in 2014 (Extra!, 1–2/15), was told last week by the Justice Department that charges would not be brought against that officer. Family members and activists responded with fury, mostly aimed at Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose refusal to fire the officer, Daniel Pantaleo, allo…
fair.org/home/the-total-anarchy-of-wet-cops/

Facebook cafeteria workers demand decent wages, 8-hour day
Rosa Pergams | liberationnews.org | 2019-07-24
Software engineers come out on picket line in solidarity.
liberationnews.org/facebook-cafeteria-workers-demand-decent-wages-8-hour-da/

Retaking Everything: The Story of Identity Dixie
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2019-07-17
A small Facebook campaign predicated on keeping Confederate monuments in place has morphed into a group of more than 200 ardent, secretive separatists planning to make the South a separate nation. And Hatewatch has learned the identities of some of the group's leaders and members.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/07/17/retaking-everything-story-identity-dixie