Daily Archives: March 1, 2019

2019-03-01: News Headlines

Philip M. Giraldi (2019-03-01). How Pro-Israel Foundations in Washington are Pushing a US War with Iran. mintpressnews.com "As an ex-CIA case officer who worked on the Iran target for a number of years, I was shocked when I read the Times' article, primarily because it sounded like a repeat of the fabricated intelligence that was used against both Iraq and Iran in 2001 through 2003," says Philip M. Giraldi.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2019-03-01). "Killer Diplomacy": The Kim-Trump Summit in Hanoi, Sabotaged by Mike Pompeo? globalresearch.ca "If Kim Jong-un suddenly dies, don't ask me about it"… Given the history of the CIA, I'm just not going to talk about it," (Mike Pompeo, October 2017). And you expect the DPRK Leadership to Trust Washington's "Chief Negotiator"

David Rosen (2019-03-01). Remember the Maine? CIA Intervention in Venezuela. counterpunch.org In January 1897, Frederic Remington, a 19th-century painter famous for his depictions of the Old West, was on assignment in Havana for William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal to illustrate Spanish atrocities against Cubans. He sent a telegram to Hearst, noting: "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble. There will be no war. I wish to return." Hearst replied: "Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war." More

John Kiriakou (2019-03-01). Former CIA Whistleblower: Yes, Even the US Post Office Is Spying on You. mintpressnews.com The Mail Cover Program allows your mailman to photograph and send to federal law enforcement organizations the front and back of every piece of mail…

Consortiumnews (2019-03-01). The 18th Vigil for Assange Live Here at 4 pm. consortiumnews.com Please join us for a live webcast at 4pm EST today of the 18th Unity4J vigil for Julian Assange. In this edition we'll break down Trump lawyer Michael Cohn's testimony regarding WikiLeaks, as well as other news. You can watch… Read more →

Consortiumnews (2019-03-01). JOHN KIRIAKOU: Neither Rain, Sleet, nor Snow Will Stop the Post Office From Spying on You. consortiumnews.com It's called the "Mail Cover Program" and it's run by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Yes, even…

RT (2019-03-01). Chelsea Manning subpoenaed by grand jury, likely over past contact with Assange. rt.com Activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury, though the summons makes no mention of what she will be questioned about.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2019-03-01). 'To Punish an Outspoken Whistleblower,' Chelsea Manning Subpoeaned to Testify Before Grand Jury. commondreams.org "By serving Chelsea Manning with a grand jury subpoena, the government is attempting once again to punish an outspoken whistleblower for her historic disclosures." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/manning-subpoena.jpg

Lee Fang (2019-03-01). Google Hedges on Promise to End Controversial Involvement in Military Drone Contract. theintercept.com Following months of protests from its employees, Google announced last summer that it would not renew its contract with the military on Project Maven, an initiative to use artificial intelligence to improve the targeting and surveillance capabilities of drones on the battlefield. | In an email sent this week by Kent Walker, Google's senior vice president for global affairs, the Silicon Valley giant appeared to hedge on its commitment to fully cut ties with the drone initiative.In an email sent this week b…

WSWS (2019-03-01). Australian government refuses to defend Julian Assange. wsws.org In a Senate committee hearing, Foreign Minister Marise Payne reiterated the government's refusal to secure the freedom of the persecuted WikiLeaks founder.

WSWS (2019-02-28). Cohen assertions are not evidence of WikiLeaks "collusion" with Trump or Russia. wsws.org If Roger Stone did tell Trump he talked with Julian Assange, then Stone was lying.

RT (2019-02-28). Whistleblower claims Facebook employing 'deboosting' tools to suppress conservative content. rt.com Conservative transparency group Project Veritas has released an expose featuring a former Facebook employee describing the company's alleged practices of deboosting, burying and deleting right-wing content.

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski (2019-02-26). The "Permanent War State" Aims to Plunder Venezuela — Wilkerson and Jay. therealnews.com Trump promises "democracy and freedom" to Venezuela, delivered by Elliott Abrams who brought you illegal wars, coups, and support for dictatorships; and Mike Pompeo and VP Pence, both with deep ties to the Koch brothers who need Venezuelan heavy crude to feed their Texas refinery — Col. Larry Wilkerson joins TRNN's Paul Jay…

Janaina Cesar (2019-02-25). The Secret History of Fiat Brazil's Internal Espionage Network and Collaboration With the Military Dictatorship. theintercept.com The workers were a threat to the company's bottom line, so Fiat Brazil suppressed labor organizing through an internal spy ring.

ACLU (2019-02-25). The Supreme Court Rightly Cited the Black Codes in Ruling Against Excessive Fines, Fees, and Forfeitures. aclu.org The justices held that the Eighth Amendment protects people from state and local authorities' abusive reliance on monetary penalties to raise money. | Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a rare unanimous ruling in Timbs v. Indiana, holding for the first time that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause applies to state and local governments — not just federal authorities. | The fact that this landmark decision is unanimous is itself remarkable. But it bears noting that in…

Democracy Now! (2019-02-21). Ending the Punishment of Poverty: Supreme Court Rules Against High Fines & Civil Asset Forfeiture. democracynow.org In a major victory for civil liberties advocates, the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to limit the practice of civil asset forfeiture—a controversial practice where police seize property that belongs to people suspected of crimes, even if they are never convicted. On Wednesday, the court ruled the Eighth Amendment protects people from state and local authorities imposing onerous fines, fees and forfeitures to generate money. The case centered on an Indiana man named Tyson Timbs, whose Land Rover was seized when he was arrested for selling drugs. The vehicle was worth $42,000—more than four times t…

splcenter (2019-02-19). New hate map helps users explore landscape of hate. splcenter.org The Southern Poverty Law Center has introduced an updated, interactive hate map equipped with new features to help people better understand the hate groups operating in their state and across the country.

Bill Blum (2019-02-16). Unequal Justice: Kavanaugh's Vote on Abortion Access Bodes Ill for Roe. progressive.org It hasn't taken Kavanaugh long to show his true colors. The big reveal came on February 7, when he voted against a "stay" that will keep a draconian Louisiana abortion law from taking effect.

Melissa Crow, Senior Supervising Attorney of the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project (2019-02-15). SPLC statement on Supreme Court's denial of Trump administration's request to immediately enforce asylum ban. splcenter.org The U.S. Supreme Court today denied the Trump administration's request to immediately enforce a new policy of denying asylum to migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border between ports of entry.

Yanis Varoufakis (2018-11-29). On Julian Assange and the Political Economy & future of Europe. zcomm.org Interview on the socio-economic transformations taking place within the core of the European Union and how much time is left until it disintegrates…

Chris Hedges (2018-11-26). Crucifying Julian Assange. zcomm.org Chris Hedges and Joe Lauria, journalist and editor-in-chief, Consortium, discuss efforts to force #WikiLeaks publisher, #JulianAssange, out of the Ecuador Embassy in London and extradite him to the USA to stand trial.

2019-03-01: Social Media Postees

"Killer Diplomacy": The Kim-Trump Summit in Hanoi, Sabotaged by Mike Pompeo?
Prof Michel Chossudovsky | globalresearch.ca | 2019-03-01
"If Kim Jong-un suddenly dies, don't ask me about it"… Given the history of the CIA, I'm just not going to talk about it," (Mike Pompeo, October 2017). And you expect the DPRK Leadership to Trust Washington's "Chief Negotiator"
globalresearch.ca/the-kim-trump-summit-in-hanoi-sabotaged-by-mike-pompeo/5670071

Former CIA Whistleblower: Yes, Even the US Post Office Is Spying on You
John Kiriakou | mintpressnews.com | 2019-03-01
The Mail Cover Program allows your mailman to photograph and send to federal law enforcement organizations the front and back of every piece of mail…
mintpressnews.com/former-cia-whistleblower-yes-even-the-us-post-office-is-spying-on-you/255766/

The 18th Vigil for Assange Live Here at 4 pm
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-03-01
Please join us for a live webcast at 4pm EST today of the 18th Unity4J vigil for Julian Assange. In this edition we'll break down Trump lawyer Michael Cohn's testimony regarding WikiLeaks, as well as other news. You can watch… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/03/01/the-18th-vigil-for-assange-live-here-at-4-pm/

How Pro-Israel Foundations in Washington are Pushing a US War with Iran
Philip M. Giraldi | mintpressnews.com | 2019-03-01
"As an ex-CIA case officer who worked on the Iran target for a number of years, I was shocked when I read the Times' article, primarily because it sounded like a repeat of the fabricated intelligence that was used against both Iraq and Iran in 2001 through 2003," says Philip M. Giraldi.
mintpressnews.com/how-pro-israel-foundations-in-washington-are-pushing-a-us-war-with-iran/255782/

JOHN KIRIAKOU: Neither Rain, Sleet, nor Snow Will Stop the Post Office From Spying on You
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-03-01
It's called the "Mail Cover Program" and it's run by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Yes, even…
consortiumnews.com/2019/02/28/john-kiriakou-neither-rain-sleet-nor-snow-will-stop-the-post-office-from-spying-on-you/

Remember the Maine? CIA Intervention in Venezuela
David Rosen | counterpunch.org | 2019-03-01
In January 1897, Frederic Remington, a 19th-century painter famous for his depictions of the Old West, was on assignment in Havana for William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal to illustrate Spanish atrocities against Cubans. He sent a telegram to Hearst, noting: "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble. There will be no war. I wish to return." Hearst replied: "Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war."
counterpunch.org/2019/03/01/remember-the-maine-cia-intervention-in-venezuela/

'To Punish an Outspoken Whistleblower,' Chelsea Manning Subpoeaned to Testify Before Grand Jury
Andrea Germanos, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-03-01
"By serving Chelsea Manning with a grand jury subpoena, the government is attempting once again to punish an outspoken whistleblower for her historic disclosures." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/manning-subpoena.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/03/01/punish-outspoken-whistleblower-chelsea-manning-subpoeaned-testify-grand-jury?cd-origin=rss

Chelsea Manning subpoenaed by grand jury, likely over past contact with Assange
RT | rt.com | 2019-03-01
Activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury, though the summons makes no mention of what she will be questioned about. | …
rt.com/usa/452777-chelsea-manning-subpoena-julian-assange/

Australian government refuses to defend Julian Assange
WSWS | wsws.org | 2019-03-01
In a Senate committee hearing, Foreign Minister Marise Payne reiterated the government's refusal to secure the freedom of the persecuted WikiLeaks founder.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/01/assa-m01.html

Google Hedges on Promise to End Controversial Involvement in Military Drone Contract
Lee Fang | theintercept.com | 2019-03-01
Following months of protests from its employees, Google announced last summer that it would not renew its contract with the military on Project Maven, an initiative to use artificial intelligence to improve the targeting and surveillance capabilities of drones on the battlefield. | In an email sent this week by Kent Walker, Google's senior vice president for global affairs, the Silicon Valley giant appeared to hedge on its commitment to fully cut ties with the drone initiative.In an email sent this week b…
theintercept.com/2019/03/01/google-project-maven-contract/

Cohen assertions are not evidence of WikiLeaks "collusion" with Trump or Russia
WSWS | wsws.org | 2019-02-28
If Roger Stone did tell Trump he talked with Julian Assange, then Stone was lying.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/02/28/wiki-f28.html

Whistleblower claims Facebook employing 'deboosting' tools to suppress conservative content
RT | rt.com | 2019-02-28
Conservative transparency group Project Veritas has released an expose featuring a former Facebook employee describing the company's alleged practices of deboosting, burying and deleting right-wing content. | …
rt.com/usa/452699-whistleblower-exposes-facebook-suppressing-conservatives/

The "Permanent War State" Aims to Plunder Venezuela — Wilkerson and Jay
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-02-26
Trump promises "democracy and freedom" to Venezuela, delivered by Elliott Abrams who brought you illegal wars, coups, and support for dictatorships; and Mike Pompeo and VP Pence, both with deep ties to the Koch brothers who need Venezuelan heavy crude to feed their Texas refinery — Col. Larry Wilkerson joins TRNN's Paul Jay…
therealnews.com/stories/the-permanent-war-state-aims-to-plunder-venezuela-wilkerson-and-jay

The Supreme Court Rightly Cited the Black Codes in Ruling Against Excessive Fines, Fees, and Forfeitures
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-02-25
The justices held that the Eighth Amendment protects people from state and local authorities' abusive reliance on monetary penalties to raise money. | Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a rare unanimous ruling in Timbs v. Indiana, holding for the first time that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause applies to state and local governments — not just federal authorities. | The fact that this landmark decision is unanimous is itself remarkable. But it bears noting that in…
aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/race-and-criminal-justice/supreme-court-rightly-cited-black-codes-ruling-against

The Secret History of Fiat Brazil's Internal Espionage Network and Collaboration With the Military Dictatorship
Janaina Cesar | theintercept.com | 2019-02-25
The workers were a threat to the company's bottom line, so Fiat Brazil suppressed labor organizing through an internal spy ring.
theintercept.com/2019/02/25/fiat-brazil-spying-workers-collaborated-dictatorship/

Ending the Punishment of Poverty: Supreme Court Rules Against High Fines & Civil Asset Forfeiture
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-02-21
In a major victory for civil liberties advocates, the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to limit the practice of civil asset forfeiture–a controversial practice where police seize property that belongs to people suspected of crimes, even if they are never convicted. On Wednesday, the court ruled the Eighth Amendment protects people from state and local authorities imposing onerous fines, fees and forfeitures to generate money. The case centered on an Indiana man named Tyson Timbs, whose Land Rover was seized when he was arrested for selling drugs. The vehicle was worth $42,000–more than four times t…
www.democracynow.org/2019/2/21/ending_the_punishment_of_poverty_supreme

New hate map helps users explore landscape of hate
splcenter | splcenter.org | 2019-02-19
The Southern Poverty Law Center has introduced an updated, interactive hate map equipped with new features to help people better understand the hate groups operating in their state and across the country.
splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2019/new-hate-map

Unequal Justice: Kavanaugh's Vote on Abortion Access Bodes Ill for Roe
Bill Blum | progressive.org | 2019-02-16
It hasn't taken Kavanaugh long to show his true colors. The big reveal came on February 7, when he voted against a "stay" that will keep a draconian Louisiana abortion law from taking effect.
progressive.org/dispatches/unequal-justice-dear-brett-your-ideology-is-showing-blum-190216/

SPLC statement on Supreme Court's denial of Trump administration's request to immediately enforce asylum ban
Melissa Crow, Senior Supervising Attorney of the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project | splcenter.org | 2019-02-15
The U.S. Supreme Court today denied the Trump administration's request to immediately enforce a new policy of denying asylum to migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border between ports of entry.
splcenter.org/news/2019/02/15/splc-statement-supreme-court%25E2%2580%2599s-denial-trump-administration%25E2%2580%2599s-request-immediately-enforce