(2020-01-07). Mixing unrelated issues? Indian singer Chinmayi Sripada sparks heated debate with controversial tweet. rt.com 
Singer Chinmayi Sripada has come under fire on social media after posting a message about the prejudice faced by women, Muslims and 'untouchables' in India. The tweet was criticized as a gross generalization. | Chinmayi Sripada became one of the leading figures in India's #MeToo movement when she accused popular lyricist and novelist Vairamuthu of sexual assault (a claim that he rejects). She has one million followers on Twitter — and that's where she sparked a heated debate over her recent post. | "A woman's character, a Dalit's merit, and a Muslim's patriotism are always questioned in this country," her…
(2020-01-07). Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters. democracynow.org 
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation — practices used by firms like Cambridge Analytica. The secretive data firm collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent to sway voters to support Trump during the 2016 campaign. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. We speak wit…
(2020-01-07). "The Great Hack": Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020? democracynow.org 
The documentary "The Great Hack," which was shortlisted for the Oscars, explores how the data firm Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cambridge Analytica collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent. Cambridge Analytica then used the data to sway voters to support President Trump during the 2016 campaign. We speak with "The Great Hack" co-directors Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, as well as Cambridge Analytica whistle…
(2020-01-07). Facebook bans deepfakes ahead of US election, but vows no collateral damage against satire or parody videos. rt.com 
Facebook has announced a new policy to tackle machine learning and AI-manipulated 'deepfake' videos on the platform ahead of the 2020 US presidential election but claims satire and parody videos will be spared. | Under the new rules, announced Monday by Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of global policy management, videos will be removed from Instagram and Facebook if they meet two criteria. | Videos will be automatically flagged by Facebook if they have "been edited or synthesised … in ways that aren'
(2020-01-07). Ms. Ocasio-Cortez Goes to Washington: AOC shamed into un-liking antiwar journalist's tweet, apologizing for wrongthink. rt.com 
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez learned the hard way about the phalanx of thought-police waiting to pounce on politicians' 'wrongthink' when she was shamed into un-liking a tweet from an antiwar journalist. | Ocasio-Cortez (AOC, for short) stepped a little too far outside the mainstream when she clicked 'like' on a tweet by journalist Rania Khalek about US fears of Iranian retaliation over the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. An army of blue-checks and their enforcers quickly encircled her to point out the error of her ways, gloating when she finally knuckled under and apologized. | Last ni…
(2020-01-07). 52 Pick-Up: Trump's Deranged Threats to Bomb the Past. counterpunch.org 
On January 4th, President Trump tweeted that his military response to any Iranian military reactions to his assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani could include attacks on "52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD." For an administration whose acts in the present routinely require Orwellian carpet-bombing campaigns on the past (consider Mike Pence's lie this week that Iran was involved in the 9/11 attacks), t…
(2020-01-07). WATCH Elon Musk bust HOT MOVES on stage as he rejoices at launch of Tesla car in Shanghai (VIDEO). rt.com 
The avid entrepreneur broke into an awkward dance during a Tesla event in China, garnering cheers from local staff and igniting an avalanche of tongue-in-cheek comments on social media. | Elon Musk showcased his little-known dance talent as he rejoiced at the official launch of his company's Model 3 electric cars in Shanghai, right in front of the city mayor and top-tier officials. | As some song was turned on, the eccentric billionaire started to boogie away on the stage, busting out somewhat awkward dance moves. | He gave out high fives, even throwing his jacket off as the beats got more energetic. | | &co…
(2020-01-07). 'Fiery conditions': Nike changes Australian Open outfit ad after bushfire backlash. rt.com 
Sportswear giant Nike was forced to change its newly-released Australian Open outfit ad after receiving a widespread backlash over a promise to help players battle "fiery conditions" on the court. | Nike's new knee-length bodysuit is aimed at helping female athletes combat Australia's enervating heat, however, the wording used in the ad sparked outrage on social media. | READ MORE: Australia's cricketing 'King of Spin' Shane Warne sells prized Baggy Green cap for bushfire victims | "Melbourne also tra…
(2020-01-07). Ilhan Omar just pointed out one really f**ked up detail about Trump's war on Iran. thecanary.co Donald Trump effectively started a war with Iran on 3 January by assassinating one of the country's top generals. As would be the case with virtually any other regional power, Iran has vowed to respond. | Congresswoman Ilhan Omar took to Twitter on 6 January and pointed out one sobering, maddening, and…
(2020-01-07). Is This the End of U.S. Interference in West Asia? truthdig.com Major General Hossein Salami, the chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, said on January 4 that his country would take "strategic revenge" against the United States for the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. The assassination of Soleimani, Salami said, will be later seen as a "turning point" in U.S. interference in West Asia. | Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reacted strongly to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's suggestion that Iraqis were "dancing in the street" to celebrate the assassination…
(2020-01-07). The Hottest Day on Earth: the Politics of Australia's Bushfires. counterpunch.org Just before Christmas and in excessive secret, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, known as Scomo, tried to escape the nightmare of bushfires he left behind. Scomo flew 8,000km to Hawaii. Meanwhile the bush firestorm was ravaging Australia. Unforeseen by Scomo and his entourage, a Facebook storm was also ravaging his approval ratings. Hence, reluctantly and More
(2020-01-07). Big Data Firms Helped Sway the 2016 Election. Could It Happen Again in 2020? truthout.org The documentary "The Great Hack," which was shortlisted for the Oscars, explores how the data firm Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cambridge Analytica collapsed in May 2018 after The Observer newspaper revealed the company had harvested some 87 million Facebook profiles without the users' knowledge or consent. Cambridge Analytica then used the data to sway voters to support President Trump during the 2016 campa…
(2020-01-07). India: Chalking & The "Facebook Connection" Attack On Gayatri Khandhadai. indybay.org Chalking & The "Facebook Connection" | Gayatri Khandhadai, had a "Pakistan connection" since her Facebook page listed her as having collaborated with Bytes for All, Pakistan, a human rights organisation. He showed printed copies of her Facebook profile page along with another printed copy of Bytes for All's association with the Association of All Pakistan Citizen Journalists. Vishwanathan said her "link to Pakistan" would be investigated.
(2020-01-07). Using Marx as a pejorative to defend the ease of doing business: analysing the World Bank's attack on CGD. mronline.org The recent attack by a Senior World Bank Official, against the Centre for Global Development (CGD) has been rightly publicised on social media, for failing to engage with critique and misconstruing it as ideology. | Source
(2020-01-07). Meet Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Releasing Troves of New Files from Data Firm. democracynow.org 
New details are emerging about how the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica worked to manipulate voters across the globe, from the 2016 election in the United States to the Brexit campaign in Britain and elections in over 60 other countries, including Malaysia, Kenya and Brazil. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. The documents come from Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser, who worked at the firm for three-and-a-half yea…
(2020-01-07). 'What next? British air?' Baffled Brits bash Co-Op supermarket chain over boast about ice cubes made with 'British water'. rt.com 
Bewildered Brits are pouring scorn on the Co-Op food store chain after it took the peculiar decision to boast that its bags of ice cubes contain "British water". | With the UK still reeling from more than three years of debates about Brexit, even simple packaging can set off hair triggers, with some fearing any expression of national pride. | Also on rt.com | | No Big Ben bong to celebrate Brexit day after House speaker rejects Tory MPs' proposal | In this feverish environment a picture of a Co-Op ice cube bag emblazoned with a British flag and the words "made w…
(2020-01-07). Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Reveals Extent of Global Voter Manipulation. truthout.org New details are emerging about how the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica worked to manipulate voters across the globe, from the 2016 election in the United States to the Brexit campaign in Britain and elections in over 60 other countries, including Malaysia, Kenya and Brazil. A new trove of internal Cambridge Analytica documents and emails are being posted on Twitter detailing the company's operations, including its work with President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. T…
(2020-01-07). Turkey deports foreign terrorist to US. yenisafak.com Without naming the terrorist group, the ministry in a tweet said Turkey will continue returning foreign terrorists to their home countries.Turkey deported nearly 780 foreign terrorists back to their countries in 2019.The issue of handling of Daesh/ISIS members and their families detained in Syria — including foreign members of the terror group — has been controversial, with Turkey arguing foreign-born terrorists should be repatriated to their countries of origin, while several European countries have refused, saying the terrorists were denationalized.Since recognizing Daesh/ISIS as a terror group in 2013, Turke…
(2020-01-07). Over 130 arrested in anti-drug operations across Turkey. yenisafak.com At least 137 suspects have been arrested in anti-drug operations across Turkey, a security source said on Tuesday.The suspects were arrested by Turkish police in 49 provinces for encouraging drug use through social media, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.In its anti-drug efforts last year, Turkey confiscated over 40 tons of marijuana and seized about 40 million cannabis roots.
(2020-01-07). Left-wing coalition forms government in Spain despite nationalist opposition. thecanary.co 
Spain's parliament has narrowly chosen Socialist (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez to form a new government as the head of a left-wing coalition. | The confidence vote — which Sánchez won by 167 votes against 165, with 18 abstentions — ends almost a year of political limbo for the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. His party will lead a coalition with Unidas Podemos ('United We Can') as its junior partner. | pic.twitter.com/qRnWgZWB7D | — Josh Feldberg (@JoshFeldberg) (2020-01-06). Damage control: Trump admin backtracking on threat to target Iran's 'cultural sites' after international outrage. rt.com 
US administration officials are scrambling to walk back Donald Trump's suggestion that he would target Iranian cultural sites by denying that he ever made the threat, even after he doubled down. | Trump provoked widespread outrage with a tweet Saturday claiming that Washington had 52 Iranian sites in its crosshairs, some of which were "very important" to "Iranian culture." Those targets, he added, would be hit "very fast and very hard" if Tehran retaliated for the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani. ….targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some…
(2020-01-06). Antiwar posts go viral on social media after US murder of Iranian general. wsws.org On Twitter and other social media platforms, youth from every region of the globe expressed their opposition to war and the possibility of nuclear annihilation.
(2020-01-06). The anti-Tory resistance has begun. No prize for guessing the city that's leading the way. thecanary.co Still feeling depressed about the general election result? Well get over it, because the resistance has already begun. And it's no surprise which city is at the forefront of the rebellion: Liverpool.Mass rave: On Saturday, a mass rave took place in the centre of the city, outside Primark on Church Street. It was billed…
(2020-01-06). More Rockets Fired At US Embassy, US Iranians Detained & Trump Says Twitter Is "Notifying Congress" thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-01-06). US House Democrats Will Vote to Limit Trump's War Power on Iran. telesurenglish.net United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Sunday that the legislative body will seek to limit President Donald Trump's "military actions regarding Iran" in the wake of increased tensions between the two countries. | RELATED: | Trump Says Tweets Serve as 'Notification' to US Congress in Case of War | The "provocative and disproportionate" airstrike on Major General Qassem Soleimani "endangered our service members, diplomats, and others by risking a seriou…
(2020-01-06). Millions of Iranians Attend Soleimani's Funeral in Tehran. telesurenglish.net Hundreds of thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran on Monday to bid farewell to the Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed last Friday by the U.S. military in Baghdad. | RELATED: | Trump Says Tweets Serve as 'Notification' to US Congress in Case of War | Leading the funeral procession was the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who broke down in tears as he commeorated the late general's contribution to the Islamic Republic. | Iranian state t…
(2020-01-06). "You're Not a Dictator": Lawmakers and Experts Inform Trump He Can't Declare War via Tweet. commondreams.org "The Constitution doesn't allow presidents to declare war over social media." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump-tweetin.jpg …
(2020-01-06). A 'car crash' interview shows exactly why Jess Phillips is unfit to be Labour leader. thecanary.co 
On 5 January, Jess Phillips appeared on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show to discuss her candidacy for the Labour leadership position. And despite admitting that Brexit was one of the things that contributed to Labour's loss, she's still apparently committed to arguing for re-entry to the EU: | "If our country is safer, if it is more economically viable to be in the EU, then I will fight for that regardless of how difficult that argument is to make" | Labour leadership candidate Jess Philli…
(2020-01-05). Trump says his tweets are 'notification' to Congress, pledges 'disproportionate' response to Iran in case of attack. rt.com 
The US President Donald Trump has literally said that his Twitter posts should be seen as "notification to the United States Congress" — in another tweet no less — as he vowed to "strike back" should Iran target any American. | The president minced no words as he continued to threaten Tehran with a swift and potentially devastating response as the two nations have found themselves on the brink of a military conflict after the US killed a top Iranian commander on a direct order from the White House. | This time, however, he did not just issue another threat but also said that the US Congress should…
(2020-01-05). US Pressure Gets Cuban Team Out of Baseball Caribbean Series. telesurenglish.net Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced Sunday that United States pressure towards the Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball (CBPC) has prevented the participation of the winning team of the Cuban National Series in the next edition of the Caribbean Series. | RELATED: | Cuba Reject US Sanctions Against Minister | "Cuban sport is also attacked by the empire," wrote Diaz-Canel on Twitter after the released statement from the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) denouncing the obstac…
(2020-01-05). Trump Says Tweets Serve as 'Notification' to US Congress. telesurenglish.net United States President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday that his tweets will serve as notification to the U.S. Congress in case he decides to strike Iran. | RELATED: | Thousands Mourn Iranian General as Quds Force Unfurls Red Flag | "These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required,…
(2020-01-04). 'End #TrumpsWar now', US congresswoman & presidential candidate Gabbard tweets after drone strike killed Iranian general. rt.com 
US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, one of the Democratic Party contenders in the 2020 presidential race, said American armed forces must leave Iraq and Syria, instead of pushing towards war. | "End #TrumpsWar now. Remove our troops from Iraq and Syria," the politician from Hawaii tweeted on Saturday. | End #TrumpsWar now. Remove our troops from Iraq and Syria.— Tulsi Gabbard üå∫ (@TulsiGabbard) January 4, 2020
(2020-01-04). 'Supermani': CNN contributor falls for obvious Iran satire as US journos struggle to understand who Soleimani really was. rt.com 
Neoconservative mainstream media favorite Michael Weiss appears to have fallen for a satirical piece on Qassem Soleimani that claimed the man did not cast a shadow and was nicknamed "Supermani." | Daily Beast senior editor and frequent CNN guest Michael Weiss is earning plenty of mockery on social media following him appearing to fall for a clearly satirical story on the legend of Qassem Soleimani, the late Iranian general recently assassinated by the US military. | "It was a well cultivated (and mythologized) aura, which the…
(2020-01-03). Australia Wildfire Coverage Is Long on Koalas, Short on Causes. fair.org 
Fires making their own weather are interesting (The Hill, 12/30/19)—but not as important as humans making their own climate. | If you've only been following the bushfires ravaging Australia through the headlines popping up on your social media feeds — which, let's face it, is more popular than reading newspapers these days — it's proba…
(2019-12-30). Michael Moore on Trump, 2020 & Why "the Old, Angry White Guy" Doesn't Represent the Working Class. democracynow.org 
Last week on Democracy Now!, acclaimed filmmaker "Michael Moore predicted": www.democracynow.org/2019/12/26/michael_moore_donald_trump_impeachment Donald Trump would win re-election if Democrats don't choose a candidate to run against him who excites their base of voters. His comments prompted President Donald Trump to respond on Twitter, "He made [the] same prediction in 2016. Nobody ever said Michael was stupid!" But Moore's comments went further than Trump's tweet alluded to. He said the working class in the United States is mostly women, people of color and young people — all groups who tend to v…
(2019-12-02). The War on Truth: How Israel's Social Media Trolls Conquered Facebook. zcomm.org Israel may have found a way to circumvent the influence of Facebook on the discussions pertaining to Palestinian rights and the Israeli occupation…
(2019-12-01). The Usual Incoherence on Student Benefits Is Back. peoplespolicyproject.org 
Of all the welfare state topics, student benefits manages to consistently attract the most incoherent and weird arguments, and the recent spate of arguments on this front are no exception. In the last week, a student benefit dustup has been instigated by Pete Buttigieg ostensibly being against free public college for millionaires and billionaires while Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are ostensibly for it. | This has set off the usual round of commentary about how Buttigieg is arguing for means-testing while Warren and Sanders are arguing f…
(2019-11-17). CAP's Topher Spiro Is Trying to Deceive Journalists By Lying. peoplespolicyproject.org 
It's been fun to see how the Center for American Progress (CAP) navigates this year's presidential election. For insider political reasons, they can't support Biden or Sanders. But for a long time, it was unclear who the alternative candidate they could support would be. | When Kamala Harris was rising, CAP's staff was doing overtime boosting her on Twitter and in the press, including boosting Harris's absurd health care proposal. But Harris's collapse put an end to that strategy. Recently Warren has risen as the alternative and so CAP has been working to promote her campaign, which puts CAP in the comical positi…