(2019-09-02). Remembering Mitch Podolak. counterpunch.org 
Before going to bed last night, I learned from a post I was tagged on on Facebook that Mitch Podolak had died. If I ever checked my Feed, I might have learned earlier — he had died several days earlier, on August 25th, 2019. Incidentally, exactly one year after US Senator John McCain died, who More
(2019-09-02). Over 30 feared dead after boat engulfed in flames off California coast. rt.com 
Dozens of people are missing after a large fire broke out on a boat off the coast of California. The US Coast Guard deployed multiple crews to tackle the blaze which sank the vessel near Santa Cruz Island. | The incident took place just before 3: 30am on Monday when the 75-foot scuba diving boat 'Conception' caught on fire. At least 38 people were on board, according to the US Coast Guard. | #CoastInc: @VCFD responded to boat fire off the north side of Santa Cruz Island at…
(2019-09-02). Western "Progressives" Support Yet Another Color Revolution in Hong Kong. dissidentvoice.org Misinformed "progressive" western "activists" and pundits are putting down their remote controls and organic smoothies just long enough to tweet out that Hong Kong protesters need to be supported as paragons of virtue and justice. Some have even blogged and bloviated about the importance of these protests as a struggle for freedom against "dictatorship." Most …
(2019-09-02). This Labor Day, US Workers One-Third Poorer Than in 2003—While Top 1% Now Two-Times Richer. commondreams.org The oligarchy is doing just fine, explains historian Juan Cole. (Image: Screenshot/AJ+/Youtube) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/on-labor-day-us-workers-are-1-3-750×422.jpg …
(2019-09-02). Reports of Paid Recall Canvassers Continue to Circulate. indybay.org Community members in Santa Cruz are continuing to report on social media encounters they have had with petition signature gatherers who say they have been paid to work for the campaign to recall Progressive City Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover. Despite the reports, Santa Cruz United (SCU), the organization behind the recall, still describes itself on its website as, "a lean, all-volunteer organization. Expenses include this website, printing, meeting rooms, filing fees, records requests and small miscellaneous costs."
(2019-09-02). Please Shut Up, Mr. President, and Read Some Books. commondreams.org A display of a phone with tiny hands is seen near tweets by US President Donald Trump at "The Daily Show Presents: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library" exhibition in Washington, DC on June 14, 2019. – The Daily Show opened the Washington, DC exhibition of "The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library" in celebration of President Trump's 73rd birthday. (Photo: Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP / Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_read_book.jpg …
(2019-09-02). The media goes into 'attack Corbyn' mode ahead of a possible snap election. His response is sublime. thecanary.co 
Rumours are flying that a snap general election could be imminent. Dutifully, a number of Britain's media outlets have lurched into 'attack Corbyn' mode. Both the Financial Times (FT) and the Daily Mail, among others, came out fighting against Labour plans for housing and workers if it gets into government. | But little do these anti-Corbyn warriors know from within their establishment echo chamber that the plans are supported by a lot of people. And Jeremy Cor…
(2019-09-01). The sharing of Johnson's Brexit tweets raises some interesting questions. thecanary.co Academic Marc Owen Jones studied two of Boris Johnson's Brexit tweets from 15 and 27 August. He found something, that could be revealing when he analysed 13,000 retweets of Johnson's original messages. | Jones suggested that a large number of these retweets could either be "inorganic" or from Trump supporters. | His analysis also led Journalist Carole Cadwalladr to…
(2019-09-01). In 'stop the coup' demos, police arrest protesters while protecting some from the far right. thecanary.co 
On 31 August, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against Boris Johnson's proroguing of parliament. Protesters gathered in many major cities across the UK and shared updates and images on social media using the hashtag #stopthecoup. | However, the police presence was a cause for concern. Some tried to convince protesters in London to 'clear the streets': | The police have been sent in to persuade the protesters to clear the streets. But it's cat & mou…
(2019-09-01). McDonnell slams the 'dictatorship' after Johnson takes his assault on UK democracy to the next level. thecanary.co 
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded Boris Johnson's government an "elective dictatorship" on 1 September after the administration took its assault on UK democracy to the next level. | The Tory attack on our democracy is getting worse. Gove has just refused to confirm to @AndrewMarr9 that the government will accept legislation passed by Parliament. This is a startling move beyond anything we've ever seen. Johnson government is becoming an elective dictatorship. | — John McDonnel…
(2019-09-01). CanaryPod: Topple Uncaged S2 EP17. thecanary.co 
THIS PODCAST CONTAINS LANGUAGE AND CONTENT SOME PEOPLE MAY FIND OFFENSIVE. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS EPISODE ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE HOST AND GUESTS. | Welcome to series two of #ToppleUncaged! | Every week, The Canary will be bringing you an innovative podcast for the media landscape; hosted by me, Steve Topple. | You'll get my quick fire round-up of the news in Topple's Twittering. Then, I'll be going in on a story or campaign you may have missed, with a very special guest, on Free Flying With… After that, you get to have your say on the week's talking points in Twitter Chirps Back. And finally, I'll be brin…
(2019-08-31). Fakes for me, not for thee: US govt to use false social media profiles to monitor immigrants. rt.com 
US Citizenship and Immigration officers can now use fake social media accounts to surveil foreigners seeking visas and citizenship, even after years of US lawmakers blasting foreign rivals for supposedly doing the same. | Officers have until recently been banned from creating fictitious profiles, but a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) privacy review dated July 2019 but posted online on Friday has reversed that ban. According to the review, officers with the department's…
(2019-08-30). Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's account 'compromised,' posted racial slurs. rt.com 
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was hacked on his own platform, his company said, with a torrent of strange tweets sent from his account. Twitter said it is investigating the matter further. | Dorsey's Twitter account began putting out inflammatory tweets on Friday afternoon, just before 4pm, according to CNBC. Some of…
(2019-08-30). Stunning but deadly: Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Dorian sparkling as it approaches US (VIDEO). rt.com 
As Hurricane Dorian makes its way to the US, a meteorologist has shared stunning satellite snaps of the "extremely dangerous" storm's brightly colored lightning eruptions amid swirling clouds that look like a fireworks display. | Hurricane Dorian putting on a lightning show tonight. | Spectacular imagery. pic.twitter.com/cdrs22PZqe— Dakota Smith (@weatherdak) August 30, 2019 | Meteorologist Dakota Smith shared the footage on Twitter and explained that the flashes seen in the…
(2019-08-30). 'Good luck determining what happened': Trump says US not involved in Iranian satellite 'incident'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump denied any American involvement after reports of a failed Iranian satellite launch, in which a rocket is said to have exploded on a launch pad. Iran, meanwhile, has not issued any accusations of the sort. | In a tweet on Friday, the president assured Washington had nothing to do with the apparently botched satellite mission, and wished Tehran "good luck" in figuring out what went wrong. He also attached an image of damage done to the launch site. | "The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at S…
(2019-08-30). Is a Rouhani-Trump Meeting Imminent? dissidentvoice.org PressTV Interview Transcript www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsp1UcXqEo&feature=youtu.be Peter Koenig 29 August 2019 Background Tehran and Washington have been locked in a dispute since last year when the US unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear agreement and re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he is ready to meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani within …
(2019-08-28). When Ilhan Omar Is Accused of Anti-Semitism, It's News. When a Republican Smears Muslims, There's Silence. theintercept.com 
Rep. Ilhan Omar participates in a panel discussion during the Muslim Collective for Equitable Democracy Conference and Presidential Forum at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2019. | the Benjamins, baby." | That is, of course, what Rep. Ilhan Omar famously tweeted on February 10, in response to a tweet from my colleague Glenn Greenwald decrying "how much time U.S. political leaders spend defending a foreign nation" — namely, the state of Israel. Then, when a journalist followed up by asking Omar w…
(2019-08-23). WaPo Complicit in Corruption of DC Council's Corporate 'Concierge'. fair.org 
After years of hiding in plain sight, Jack Evans' ethical problems are suddenly a story (WJLA, 3/5/19). | When the FBI came knocking on DC Councilmember Jack Evans' door in June, it set off an earthquake in local politics and business. | Over his 28 years on the DC Council, Evans has served as " concierge" for the elite, steering gobs of public money to stadiums, arenas and luxury condos. Along the way, it wasn't just developers and banks that profited; so did Evans. | Ev…
(2019-08-23). Israel's Online Occupation of Palestine. progressive.org How a Facebook post can land you in prison.
(2019-08-16). Marjorie Taylor Greene: How an Outspoken MAGA Fan Built a Following in a World of Extremists. splcenter.org Originally a MAGA supporter but now an emerging MAGA star, Marjorie Taylor Greene has deftly leveraged social media and confrontations in public to increase her visibility. Now she's entering politics as a GOP candidate for Georgia's 6th Congressional District.