Daily Archives: October 17, 2019

2019-10-17: News Headlines

Binoy Kampmark (2019-10-17). A Coalition of Support: Parliamentarians for Julian Assange. counterpunch.org Australian politicians, and the consular staff of the country, are rarely that engaged on the subject of protecting their citizens. In a couple of notorious cases, Australian authorities demonstrated, not only an indifference, but a consciously venal approach to its citizens in overseas theatres. Mamdouh Ahmed Habib, a dual Australian-Egyptian national, was detained in Pakistan More

WSWS (2019-10-17). UN special rapporteur on torture warns: "Assange will not get a fair trial in Virginia" wsws.org A panel discussion at Columbia University on Tuesday laid bare the fraudulent character of the charges brought against Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning and put the spotlight on those who committed the war crimes that WikiLeaks exposed.

Matthew Cole (2019-10-17). Trump Sent Attorney General Barr to Rome In Search of a Deep State Plot. Italian Intelligence Says There's Nothing There. theintercept.com Italian spies have told their government that they didn't have a relationship with Joseph Mifsud, a mysterious professor at the heart of the Mueller probe.

WSWS (2019-10-17). Australia: "Four Corners" program promotes anti-China witch-hunt. wsws.org The program underscores the role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a mouthpiece for the political establishment and the intelligence agencies.

Robert Reich (2019-10-17). Should the Supreme Court be reformed? nationofchange.org In recent years the legitimacy of the Supreme Court has come under question as Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Senate Republicans have bent the nomination process for their own political gain. At the same time, the Court has rewritten the rules of our democracy. In just the last few years, it has rolled back the Voting …

WSWS (2019-10-17). The jailing of Catalan nationalists: Spanish government builds a police state. wsws.org The Spanish Supreme Court's sentencing Monday of a dozen Catalan nationalists to a decade in prison for sedition is a politically illegitimate ruling that will live in infamy.

Heather L. Weaver (2019-10-16). Trump Cabinet Officials Double Down on Religious Favoritism. aclu.org Last Friday was a banner day for religious favoritism in the Trump administration. | In | Nashville, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a "speech" that was — for | all intents and purposes — a Christian sermon. Addressing an association of | Christian counselors, Secretary Pompeo discussed how to be a good Christian | leader, quoting scripture and urging audience members to conduct themselves in | accordance with his interpretation of biblical tenets. He also commandeered | State Department resources to advertise his sermon in advance, broadcast it live, | and disseminate a video of it after…

Staff (2019-10-16). What Happens When the FBI Chooses Sides. therealnews.com We ask FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley to compare the Russiagate investigation with the treatment of Hillary Clinton's emails, and ask whether the current polarized political landscape makes it more likely for the agency to make partisan choices.

Dianne Mathiowetz (2019-10-16). Atlanta Pride says 'Free Chelsea Manning!'. workers.org For over three hours on Oct. 12, tens of thousands of Atlanta Pride marchers passed by stationary teams on both sides of Peachtree Street with banners and leaflets calling for freedom for Chelsea Manning, the anti-war whistleblower. Upon spotting the banners reading, "Free Chelsea Manning! Jail War Criminals,"countless participants reached . . . | Continue reading Atlanta Pride says 'Free Chelsea Manning!' at Workers.org

The Canary (2019-10-16). Judge wins landmark 'whistleblower' appeal at UK's highest court. thecanary.co A judge who says she was bullied and suffered a breakdown after raising concerns about Government cuts has won a landmark appeal at the UK's highest court.District Judge Claire Gilham has been involved in a lengthy legal wrangle to have a "whistleblowing" claim aired at an employment tribunal.A unanimous ruling by five Supreme Court justices on Wednesday means that her case can now proceed at a tribunal.The judge, who sat at Warrington County Court in Cheshire, says she was "treated detrimentally as a result of raising concerns about systemic failings in the court administration". | But to date she had suffered d…

RT (2019-10-15). Just like #PodestaEmails? Project Veritas says Twitter throttling #ExposeCNN. rt.com Though the recordings from inside CNN by Project Veritas are generating lots of interest, the hashtag is not auto-completing or showing up as trending on Twitter. But if it really is being throttled, it wouldn't be the first time. | The conservative gadflies at Veritas, best known for making undercover videos of mainstream media figures saying things they'd rather keep private, have released a flurry of videos from inside CNN since Monday with the help of a whistleblower technician who worked for the network. The recordings purport to show CNN as being obsessed with resisting President Donald Trump. | Also on…

Jay Stanley (2019-10-15). 'Smart' Cameras Are Now On the Lookout For Distracted Drivers in Australia. aclu.org "Smart" traffic cameras that use artificial intelligence to try to spot people using cell phones while driving are being rolled out in Australia. The devices take a high-resolution photograph through the front windshield of each passing vehicle, and also capture its license plate. Each photograph is then analyzed by an AI algorithm. If the algorithm decides that the driver is touching a mobile phone, tablet, or another device, it then forwards the photograph to a human reviewer who confirms the violation and issues a citation to the car's registered owner along with a hefty fine. | This technology represents…

Leslie Cooper (2019-10-15). Will the Supreme Court Sanction the Use of a Religious Litmus Test For Foster Parents? aclu.org There are currently 440,000 children in foster care across the | country. And the Supreme Court has been asked to hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, | a case that could profoundly impact all of them. | In a petition filed with the court, a taxpayer-funded foster care agency is claiming a constitutional right to exclude prospective foster families that don't meet its religious criteria when providing public child welfare services. The ACLU and the ACL…

Binoy Kampmark (2019-10-14). A Coalition of Support: Parliamentarians for Julian Assange. dissidentvoice.org Australian politicians, and the consular staff of the country, are rarely that engaged on the subject of protecting their citizens. In a couple of notorious cases, Australian authorities demonstrated not only an indifference, but a consciously venal approach to its citizens in overseas theatres. Mamdouh Ahmed Habib, a dual Australian-Egyptian national, was detained in Pakistan …

Fight Back (2019-10-14). Tampa Bay demands Supreme Court uphold LGBT job rights. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On October 7 and 8, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied against the lack of federal job protections for LGBT workers. On October 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) began discussions on three cases that relate to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects against job discrimination on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," in order to decide whether sexual orientation and gender identity are also protected under Title VII. Tampa Bay SDS held two rallies in response to this, as a part of a National SDS call to action. SDS demanded that…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-12). Turkey Attacks US Troops, Iran Tanker Bombed No One Cares, CIA "Whistleblower" & Terrorism Vaccine. 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 (10/11/19). 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 …

Janine Jackson (2019-10-11). 'The Public Is Clearly on the Side of Net Neutrality'. fair.org Janine Jackson interviewed Free Press's Craig Aaron about the net neutrality setback for the October 4, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…

Aaron Maté (2019-10-10). CIA spied on Julian Assange 24/7 in Ecuadorian embassy. thegrayzone.com The CIA was given 24/7 video and audio surveillance of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange while he lived under asylum at…

Robin Savannah Carver (2019-10-10). The Supreme Court Needs to Protect Trans People from Discrimination. progressive.org "I wasn't hired because I am trans. And in more than half the country—twenty-nine states, in fact —that's perfectly legal."

Staff (2019-10-09). Divided Supreme Court Hears Landmark LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Case. democracynow.org The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in three cases that will determine whether LGBTQ people can be fired from their jobs due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Among the court's conservative justices, only Neil Gorsuch appeared open to prohibiting such workplace discrimination. One of the cases centers on a transgender woman from Michigan named Aimee Stephens, who was fired from her job at a funeral home in 2013. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in the three cases by early next summer. We speak to James Esseks, director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, who attended Tu…

Janine Jackson (2019-10-08). 'Political Interference in the Whistleblower Disclosure Process Is Horrifying' – CounterSpin interview with Dana Gold on whistleblower protection. fair.org Janine Jackson interview the Government Accountability Project's Dana Gold about whistleblower protection for the October 4, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…

CounterSpin (2019-10-04). Dana Gold on Whistleblower Protections, Craig Aaron on Net Neutrality Setback. fair.org Media…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-04). MSM "Protects" Fake Whistleblower, Twitter Bans Egypt Activists & Iraq In Chaos After Naming Israel. 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 (10/3/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2019-09-19). Saudi/Pompeo Iran "Proof" Just More Deception & Israel Bombed Syria Twice In 24 hrs, No One Cared. 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 (9/18/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2019-09-17). Trump Backs Down, Walks Back "Locked & Loaded" After Iran Narrative Crumbles & Pompeo Should Go Next. 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 (9/16/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2019-09-15). Houthis Bomb Major Saudi Oil Facility, Pompeo Blames Iran & Assange To Remain Jailed AFTER Sentence. 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 (9/14/19). 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 …

Ryan Cristián (2019-09-13). Israel Caught Spying On White House, White House Does Nothing & US, France, UK Accused Of War Crimes. 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 (9/12/19). 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 …

2019-10-17: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

UN special rapporteur on torture warns: "Assange will not get a fair trial in Virginia"
wsws.org | 2019-10-17
A panel discussion at Columbia University on Tuesday laid bare the fraudulent character of the charges brought against Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning and put the spotlight on those who committed the war crimes that WikiLeaks exposed.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/10/17/melz-o17.html

A Coalition of Support: Parliamentarians for Julian Assange
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2019-10-17
Australian politicians, and the consular staff of the country, are rarely that engaged on the subject of protecting their citizens. In a couple of notorious cases, Australian authorities demonstrated, not only an indifference, but a consciously venal approach to its citizens in overseas theatres. Mamdouh Ahmed Habib, a dual Australian-Egyptian national, was detained in Pakistan…
counterpunch.org/2019/10/17/a-coalition-of-support-parliamentarians-for-julian-assange/

Trump Sent Attorney General Barr to Rome In Search of a Deep State Plot. Italian Intelligence Says There's Nothing There
Matthew Cole | theintercept.com | 2019-10-17
Italian spies have told their government that they didn't have a relationship with Joseph Mifsud, a mysterious professor at the heart of the Mueller probe.
theintercept.com/2019/10/17/mueller-investigation-joseph-mifsud-italy/

Australia: "Four Corners" program promotes anti-China witch-hunt
wsws.org | 2019-10-17
The program underscores the role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a mouthpiece for the political establishment and the intelligence agencies.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/10/17/corn-o17.html

Should the Supreme Court be reformed?
Robert Reich | nationofchange.org | 2019-10-17
In recent years the legitimacy of the Supreme Court has come under question as Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Senate Republicans have bent the nomination process for their own political gain. At the same time, the Court has rewritten the rules of our democracy. In just the last few years, it has rolled back the Voting …
nationofchange.org/2019/10/17/should-the-supreme-court-be-reformed/

The jailing of Catalan nationalists: Spanish government builds a police state
wsws.org | 2019-10-17
The Spanish Supreme Court's sentencing Monday of a dozen Catalan nationalists to a decade in prison for sedition is a politically illegitimate ruling that will live in infamy.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/10/17/pers-o17.html

Trump Cabinet Officials Double Down on Religious Favoritism
Heather L. Weaver | aclu.org | 2019-10-16
Last Friday was a banner day for religious favoritism in the Trump administration. | In | Nashville, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a "speech" that was — for | all intents and purposes — a Christian sermon. Addressing an association of | Christian counselors, Secretary Pompeo discussed how to be a good Christian | leader, quoting scripture and urging audience members to conduct themselves in | accordance with his interpretation of biblical tenets. He also commandeered | State Department resources to advertise his sermon in advance, broadcast it live, | and disseminate a video of it after…
aclu.org/news/religious-liberty/trump-cabinet-officials-double-down-on-religious-favoritism

What Happens When the FBI Chooses Sides
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-10-16
We ask FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley to compare the Russiagate investigation with the treatment of Hillary Clinton's emails, and ask whether the current polarized political landscape makes it more likely for the agency to make partisan choices.
therealnews.com/stories/fbi-investigation-russiagate-clinton-partisan

Atlanta Pride says 'Free Chelsea Manning!'
Dianne Mathiowetz | workers.org | 2019-10-16
For over three hours on Oct. 12, tens of thousands of Atlanta Pride marchers passed by stationary teams on both sides of Peachtree Street with banners and leaflets calling for freedom for Chelsea Manning, the anti-war whistleblower. Upon spotting the banners reading, "Free Chelsea Manning! Jail War Criminals,"countless participants reached . . . | Continue reading Atlanta Pride says 'Free Chelsea Manning!' at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/10/44051/

Judge wins landmark 'whistleblower' appeal at UK's highest court
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-10-16
A judge who says she was bullied and suffered a breakdown after raising concerns about Government cuts has won a landmark appeal at the UK's highest court.District Judge Claire Gilham has been involved in a lengthy legal wrangle to have a "whistleblowing" claim aired at an employment tribunal.A unanimous ruling by five Supreme Court justices on Wednesday means that her case can now proceed at a tribunal.The judge, who sat at Warrington County Court in Cheshire, says she was "treated detrimentally as a result of raising concerns about systemic failings in the court administration". | But to date she had suffered d…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/10/16/judge-wins-landmark-whistleblower-appeal-at-uks-highest-court/

'Smart' Cameras Are Now On the Lookout For Distracted Drivers in Australia
Jay Stanley | aclu.org | 2019-10-15
"Smart" traffic cameras that use artificial intelligence to try to spot people using cell phones while driving are being rolled out in Australia. The devices take a high-resolution photograph through the front windshield of each passing vehicle, and also capture its license plate. Each photograph is then analyzed by an AI algorithm. If the algorithm decides that the driver is touching a mobile phone, tablet, or another device, it then forwards the photograph to a human reviewer who confirms the violation and issues a citation to the car's registered owner along with a hefty fine. | This technology represents…
aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/smart-cameras-are-now-on-the-lookout-for-distracted-drivers-in-australia

Just like #PodestaEmails? Project Veritas says Twitter throttling #ExposeCNN
rt.com | 2019-10-15
Though the recordings from inside CNN by Project Veritas are generating lots of interest, the hashtag is not auto-completing or showing up as trending on Twitter. But if it really is being throttled, it wouldn't be the first time. | The conservative gadflies at Veritas, best known for making undercover videos of mainstream media figures saying things they'd rather keep private, have released a flurry of videos from inside CNN since Monday with the help of a whistleblower technician who worked for the network. The recordings purport to show CNN as being obsessed with resisting President Donald Trump. | Also on…
rt.com/usa/471005-veritas-cnn-hashtag-twitter/

Will the Supreme Court Sanction the Use of a Religious Litmus Test For Foster Parents?
Leslie Cooper | aclu.org | 2019-10-15
There are currently 440,000 children in foster care across the | country. And the Supreme Court has been asked to hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, | a case that could profoundly impact all of them. | In a petition filed with the court, a taxpayer-funded foster care agency is claiming a constitutional right to exclude prospective foster families that don't meet its religious criteria when providing public child welfare services. The ACLU and the ACL…
aclu.org/news/lgbt-rights/will-the-supreme-court-sanction-the-use-of-a-religious-litmus-test-for-foster-parents

A Coalition of Support: Parliamentarians for Julian Assange
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-10-14
Australian politicians, and the consular staff of the country, are rarely that engaged on the subject of protecting their citizens. In a couple of notorious cases, Australian authorities demonstrated not only an indifference, but a consciously venal approach to its citizens in overseas theatres. Mamdouh Ahmed Habib, a dual Australian-Egyptian national, was detained in Pakistan …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/10/a-coalition-of-support-parliamentarians-for-julian-assange/

Tampa Bay demands Supreme Court uphold LGBT job rights
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-10-14
Tampa, FL – On October 7 and 8, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied against the lack of federal job protections for LGBT workers. On October 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) began discussions on three cases that relate to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects against job discrimination on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin," in order to decide whether sexual orientation and gender identity are also protected under Title VII. Tampa Bay SDS held two rallies in response to this, as a part of a National SDS call to action. SDS demanded that…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/10/14/tampa-bay-demands-supreme-court-uphold-lgbt-job-rights

Turkey Attacks US Troops, Iran Tanker Bombed No One Cares, CIA "Whistleblower" & Terrorism Vaccine
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-10-12
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 (10/11/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/turkey-attacks-us-troops-iran-tanker-bombed-no-one-cares-cia-whistleblower-terrorism-vaccine/

CIA spied on Julian Assange 24/7 in Ecuadorian embassy
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-10-10
The CIA was given 24/7 video and audio surveillance of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange while he lived under asylum at…
thegrayzone.com/2019/10/10/cia-spied-on-julian-assange-in-ecuadorian-embassy/

The Supreme Court Needs to Protect Trans People from Discrimination
Robin Savannah Carver | progressive.org | 2019-10-10
progressive.org/dispatches/SCOTUS-trans-people-deserve-job-protection-carver-191010/

Divided Supreme Court Hears Landmark LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Case
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-10-09
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in three cases that will determine whether LGBTQ people can be fired from their jobs due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Among the court's conservative justices, only Neil Gorsuch appeared open to prohibiting such workplace discrimination. One of the cases centers on a transgender woman from Michigan named Aimee Stephens, who was fired from her job at a funeral home in 2013. The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in the three cases by early next summer. We speak to James Esseks, director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, who attended Tu…
www.democracynow.org/2019/10/9/supreme_court_lgbtq_sex_discrimination_cases

'Political Interference in the Whistleblower Disclosure Process Is Horrifying' – CounterSpin interview with Dana Gold on whistleblower protection
Janine Jackson | fair.org | 2019-10-08
Janine Jackson interview the Government Accountability Project's Dana Gold about whistleblower protection for the October 4, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
fair.org/home/political-interference-in-the-whistleblower-disclosure-process-is-horrifying/

Dana Gold on Whistleblower Protections, Craig Aaron on Net Neutrality Setback
CounterSpin | fair.org | 2019-10-04
Media…
fair.org/home/dana-gold-on-whistleblower-protections-craig-aaron-on-net-neutrality-setback/

MSM "Protects" Fake Whistleblower, Twitter Bans Egypt Activists & Iraq In Chaos After Naming Israel
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-10-04
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 (10/3/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/msm-protects-fake-whistleblower-twitter-bans-egypt-activists-iraq-in-chaos-after-naming-israel/

Saudi/Pompeo Iran "Proof" Just More Deception & Israel Bombed Syria Twice In 24 hrs, No One Cared
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-09-19
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 (9/18/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/saudi-pompeo-iran-proof-just-more-deception-israel-bombed-syria-twice-24-hrs-no-one-cared/

Trump Backs Down, Walks Back "Locked & Loaded" After Iran Narrative Crumbles & Pompeo Should Go Next
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-09-17
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 (9/16/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/trump-backs-down-walks-back-locked-loaded-after-iran-narrative-crumbles-pompeo-should-go-next/