(2018-09-08). Modi's Attack on Left-Leaning Intellectuals Threatens India's Democracy. truthout.org In a nationwide operation on August 28 by the government of right-wing Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, security officials raided the homes of eight activists, lawyers and journalists, eventually arresting Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao. They were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, a draconian anti-terrorism law that has been used by the government to curb freedom of expression and association in the name of national security. | They are not terrorists. Neither are Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson or Mahesh Raut, who were arrested in June. They are activists, writers, poets, journalists and lawyers. They are citizens of India who believe in the plurality of our country and fight for its most marginalized. For that, they are being punished by a regime that, since its ascendance, has worked to polarize Indian democracy along…
(2018-09-08). Facebook's partnership with the Atlantic Council. wsws.org The campaign against "fake news," "election meddling" and "disinformation" is emerging as the integration of the social media monopolies with the US military-intelligence apparatus.
(2018-09-07). SPLC statement on loss of Medicaid benefits to thousands of Arkansans. splcenter.org New figures released by the state of Arkansas this week show that more than 4,600 low-income people in the state have lost their Medicaid benefits because of a draconian state requirement that they must work in order to receive those benefits.
(2018-09-07). A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Woman. truthdig.com Disregarded during her most productive years in the New York art scene of the 1960s, Yayoi Kusama finds herself the subject of an engaging new documentary, "Kusama: Infinity," which explores how her masterwork, "Infinity Mirror Rooms," became an Instagram sensation, vaulting her to fame and fortune. Today, Kusama is among the world's top-selling female artists. | Director Heather Lenz, who cut her teeth in television, conjures an evocative but ultimately two-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character, splicing stirring archival footage with interviews with professionals and curators from the world's most recognizable institutions, as well as the artist herself. Now 89 and living in Tokyo, Kusama brings us no closer to understanding her work or her process. | Born in 1929, Kusama grew up on a farm in rural Matsumoto City, Japan. Even at an early age, she exhibited strange behavior, which Lenz…
(2018-09-07). Pompeo's Fingerprints Are All Over Trump's New Syria Regime Change Policy. mintpressnews.com Mike Pompeo's fingerprints are all over Trump's new Syria policy, including the Washington Post's main source for details on the changes, James Jeffrey, Pompeo's "representative for Syria engagement."
(2018-09-07). Ex-Trump Campaign Adviser Sentenced for Lying to FBI. truthdig.com George Papadopoulos, the first to plead guilty in Robert Mueller's probe, gets 14 days in prison, well under the six-month sentence sought by the government.
(2018-09-07). Trump Should Fire Jeff Sessions, But Not For the Reason You Think. counterpunch.org 
On August 23, President Trump went after Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Mueller investigation, belittling his character by asking "what kind of man is this?" For his part, Sessions declared that he wouldn't let political considerations influence the Department of Justice (DOJ). This war of words between the executive office and More
(2018-09-07). Pompeo visits Pakistan to demand "reset" in support for Afghan war. wsws.org US Secretary of State Pompeo and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford staged a four-hour visit to Pakistan on Wednesday.
(2018-09-07). Ex-Trump campaign aide Papadopoulos jailed for 14 days, slapped with $9,500 fine in Mueller probe. rt.com 
George Papadopoulos, a former campaign aide of President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to two weeks in prison, a $9,500 fine and 200 hours of community service for lying to the FBI in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.
(2018-09-07). CIA Democrat complains of political spying by Republicans. wsws.org Democrat Abigail Spanberger, whose main political "credential" is eight years as an undercover CIA operative, is denouncing the Republican Party for obtaining a copy of her full federal security clearance document.
(2018-09-06). The Kavanaugh Cover-up? Role in Torture & Domestic Spying Policy Remains Unknown as Papers Withheld. democracynow.org 
Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing enters its third day today. On Wednesday Capitol Police arrested 73 people protesting Kavanaugh's nomination. The protests began almost immediately when Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley tried to start the hearing. Protesters included Women's March organizers from 26 states. Among them was a teenager who stood on a chair and said, "I'm 18, and I'm here for the youth of the country. You're ruining my future." We speak to Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's National Security Project, and Vince Warren, executive direct…
(2018-09-06). Apparently the "Deep State's" a "Conspiracy Theory" But the "Steady State" Isn't. globalresearch.ca A supposedly anonymous high-ranking member of the Trump Administration published an op-ed in the New York Times bragging about the existence of the so-called "steady state" that's resisting the President's policies …
(2018-09-06). Arundhati Roy: The U.S. Is Growing Closer to India Militarily as Modi Expands Crackdown on Dissent. democracynow.org 
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis are in New Delhi today for talks aimed at deepening military and trade ties between India and the United States. India is the largest weapons importer in the world. The trip comes just a week after the Indian government conducted raids across the country targeting prominent human rights activists, lawyers, poets and critics of the Narendra Modi government. At least five people were arrested. Critics say the arrests are part of a broader attempt by Modi's government to silence dissidents ahead of next year's general election. We speak with the prize-w…
(2018-09-06). Pentagon has 'zero intelligence' on Syrian militants' chemical weapons capabilities — Mattis. rt.com 
Despite having a "fairly good penetration" of the Syrian opposition groups, the US has not seen any evidence suggesting that the militants in Idlib are capable of staging a chemical attack, the US defense secretary claimed. |
(2018-09-05). U.K. Charges Two Suspected Russian Intelligence Agents in Nerve Agent Attack. theintercept.com Two suspected Russian spies were charged on Wednesday with smuggling a Novichok nerve agent into Britain in March and using it to poison a former spy.
(2018-09-05). Sheryl Sandberg Misled Congress About Facebook's Conscience. theintercept.com Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg draped herself in the star-spangled banner of American principles before today's Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on social media. Sandberg proclaimed that democratic values of free expression were integral to the company's conscience. "We would only operate in a country where we could do so in keeping with our values," she went on. Either this was a lie told under oath, or Facebook has some pretty lousy values."We would only operate in a country where we could do so in keeping with our values." | Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questioned Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about the fact that they are both ostensibly American companies, but also firms with users around the world — including in countries with legal systems and values that differ drastically from the United States. Rubio cited various governments that crack down…
(2018-09-05). Ellsberg Says Assange, as a Journalist, Can't Be Tried Under Espionage Act. consortiumnews.com In an interview with Consortium News Editor-in-Chief Joe Lauria, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg says the Espionage Act, under which he was indicted, cannot apply to Julian Assange because he is a journalist. Speaking during an online vigil for Assange… Read more →
(2018-09-04). What Does The Intercept's NSA Leak Say About Russian Vote Hacking? therealnews.com 
With Reality Winner sentenced to five years behind bars, The Intercept's Jim Risen joins Aaron Maté to discuss the NSA leaker's harsh sentence and what the document she revealed actually says. Is there solid evidence of Russian vote hacking?
(2018-09-04). Fuel tanker smashes into bridge in Japan during massive typhoon (VIDEO). rt.com 
A hulking tanker ship smashed right into a bridge linking Osaka Kansai airport with the Japanese mainland. The collision happened as Japan is being battered by the largest typhoon in 25 years. |
(2018-09-04). No more science for you: Liquid nitrogen experiment fail caught on camera (VIDEO). rt.com 
The Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas is beloved by locals and known for its hands-on approach to science education. However, things got a little out of hand at a recent event combining magic and science.
(2018-09-03). Economic Update: Capitalism's Problems Provoke Opposition. therealnews.com 
This week: Updates on Missouri vote for union position; the irrationality of student debt; economic sanction of Iran isolates and costs U.S. for Trump political gains; Monsanto puts profits over cancer risks; Louisiana legislature punishes big banks for lending to assault rifle producers; special guest: Troy Walcott, a Spectrum Cable technician on strike in New…
(2018-09-02). Desperate for collusion proof, FBI 'tried & failed to recruit Russian oligarchs' — report. rt.com 
FBI agents tried to turn Russia's once-richest man into a US mole, according to an explosive NYT report. It claims that Oleg Deripaska was one of six oligarchs targeted for information in a Russiagate-related intelligence flop.
(2018-09-01). An Online Vigil in Defense of Julian Assange With Daniel Ellsberg, Craig Murray, Bill Binney and Ray McGovern. consortiumnews.com Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, on Saturday helped moderate a daylong chain of interviews in defense of WikiLeaks and its publisher Julian Assange, including a discussion with Daniel Ellsberg. A #Unity4J online vigil was held on Saturday to defend the WikiLeaks… Read more →
(2018-08-31). US has already drafted list of targets for potential strike in Syria — report. rt.com 
The US military and intelligence have already compiled a list of preliminary targets they would strike in response to another chemical-weapons incident in Syria, CNN reported, citing US administration officials. |
(2018-08-31). Trump legal team to challenge Mueller probe legitimacy in counter-report. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump's legal team, led by his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, is working on a comprehensive report intended as a response to the conclusions of the "Russia collusion" probe, which are yet to be released.
(2018-08-28). Headlines for August 28, 2018. democracynow.org U.N. Accuses U.S.-Backed, Saudi-led Coalition of Possible War Crimes in Yemen, North Korea Warns Denuclearization Talks in Jeopardy, Federal Court Strikes Down North Carolina's Gerrymandered Voting Map, U.S. Student Loan Watchdog Accuses Trump Administration of Siding with Predatory Lenders, Facebook Bans Burmese Army Commander-in-Chief After U.N. Genocide Report, U.S. and Mexico Reach Agreement to Revise Portions of NAFTA | , Trump Breaks Near-Silence on Death of Sen. John McCain, Study Links Air Pollution to Reduction in Intelligence, Bloomberg Reassigns Journalist Who Exposed Wells Fargo's Ties to Gun Industry…