(2020-05-19). Trump Sacks Another Regime Official, a Policy of Purging Critics. globalresearch.ca On Friday, Trump sacked State Department Inspector General Steve Linick — reportedly for launching an investigation into how Pompeo runs things. | A White House statement said Pompeo "recommended the move" — to quash an inquiry into his management of the …
(2020-05-19). How the New York Times Enhances Trump's Propaganda. counterpunch.org 
The mendacity of Donald Trump is without parallel in the history of American presidential politics. His lies, as tabulated by the Washington Post's fact checker, number in the thousands. U.S. truth tellers have become Trump's favorite targets as Inspectors General, federal judges, intelligence officers, and the nation's media face constant punishment and harassment from the White
(2020-05-19). Stir Crazy! Episode #37: Hydroxyholdafuqup. therealnews.com 
On today's show: Sociologist Taure Brown, TRNN executive producer Lisa Snowden-McCray, and TRNN managing editor Marc Steiner. Hosted by Kim Brown.
(2020-05-19). Trump's Inspector General Purge and the Death of Dissent. commondreams.org Last Friday, Trump notified Congress of the removal of Steve Linick, the State Department's inspector general. This was reportedly done at Secretary Mike Pompeo's urging to ensure a friendlier IG was at the helm so Pompeo could avoid accountability in at least two investigations Linick was pursuing into his actions. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mike_0.jpg …
(2020-05-18). Exposed: CIA used Sheldon Adelson's firm to spy on Julian Assange. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal reveals explosive new details on the CIA spying and sabotage operation against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange….
(2020-05-18). Trump fires State Department inspector general. wsws.org Over the past six weeks, Trump also has removed the inspectors general of the Intelligence Community, Defense and Health and Human Services.
(2020-05-18). Britain's covert operations to overthrow Syrian government exposed. wsws.org Sarkha is one of many programmes in a vast network of fake news activities carried out by the intelligence arms of the US and European powers.
(2020-05-18). Senate Intelligence Chairman steps down amid investigation probe. nationofchange.org Richard Burr spent most of his time as Intelligence Committee Chairman suppressing intelligence reports and public knowledge of government misconduct.
(2020-05-17). Operation Baton: Colombia's most epic military corruption probe in history? colombiareports.com 
Colombia's army is so corrupt, one general was even selling classified information to guerrillas, a counterintelligence operation discovered before its findings mysteriously disappeared. Operation Baton was meant to purge the…
(2020-05-16). Revolutionary Boiling Point, And Other Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com Still mad at China's brutal authoritarian government for imprisoning Julian Assange after his journalism exposed Chinese war crimes. | ~ | Arresting people for future crimes is called "pre-crime", and it's the stuff of dystopian horror fiction. | Violently dominating an entire planet because another country might hurt yours in the future is called "US foreign policy", and it's the stuff of mainstream news punditry. | ~ | Saying a US politician is bad on foreign policy but good on domestic policy is a bit like saying "Yeah my boyfriend murders hitchhikers, but he cooks." | ~ | Dominant revolutionary thought…
(2020-05-18). Ousted Inspector General Was Also Probing Possible Illegal Pompeo-Trump Effort to Force Through Saudi Arms Deal. commondreams.org "Since day one, this president has thought he's above the law, above criticism, and can get away with anything—including a fake 'emergency' to sell bombs to Saudi Arabia," says Sen. Bernie Sanders. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/state-dept-ig-probe-emergency.jpg …
(2020-05-16). Supreme Court Election Year Vacancy 'Would be Different' This Time From Merrick Garland in 2016, Says Lindsey Graham. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/lindz.jpg …
(2020-05-18). How Will COVID-19 Change the World? Historian Frank Snowden on Epidemics From the Black Death to Now. democracynow.org 
Pandemics, like revolution, war and economic crises, are key determinants of historic change. We look at the history of epidemics, from Black Death to smallpox to COVID-19, and discuss how the coronavirus will reshape the world with leading medical historian Frank Snowden, author of "Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present." He is a professor emeritus at Yale University who has been in Italy since the pandemic began, and himself survived a COVID-19 infection.
(2020-05-19). Turn Out the Lights, Russiagate Is Over. strategic-culture.org The possibility that Trump will not chicken out this time, and rather will challenge the Security State looms large since he felt personally under attack. | Ray McGOVERN | Seldom mentioned among the motives behind the persistent drumming on alleged Russian interference was an over-arching need to help the Security State hide their tracks. | The need for a scapegoat to blame for Hillary Clinton's snatching defeat out of the jaws victory also played a role; as did the need for the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex (MICIMATT) to keep front and center in the minds of Ame…
(2020-05-18). Wisconsin Defeats COVID-19 Tyranny as the State Supreme Court Tosses Out Lockdown Order. strategic-culture.org On May 13th the Wisconsin
(2020-05-16). Techno-Tyranny: How the U.S. National Security State is Using Coronavirus to Fulfill an Orwellian Vision. strategic-culture.org 
Whitney WEBB | LAST YEAR, A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CALLED FOR THE US TO ADOPT AN AI-DRIVEN MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FAR BEYOND THAT USED IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN ORDER TO ENSURE AMERICAN HEGEMONY IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. NOW, MANY OF THE "OBSTACLES" THEY HAD CITED AS PREVENTING ITS IMPLEMENTATION ARE RAPIDLY BEING REMOVED UNDER THE GUISE OF COMBATING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS. | Last year, a U.S. government body dedicated to examining how artificial intelligence can "address the national security and defense needs of the United States" discussed in detail the "structural" changes that the American economy and socie…
(2020-05-19). Defend DACA: A Supreme Court Briefing w/ Rep. Jayapal & others. indybay.org Online…
(2020-05-18). How Will COVID-19 Change the World? truthout.org Pandemics, like revolution, war and economic crises, are key determinants of historic change. We look at the history of epidemics, from Black Death to smallpox to COVID-19, and discuss how the coronavirus will reshape the world with leading medical historian Frank Snowden, author of Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present. He is a professor emeritus at Yale University who has been in Italy since the pandemic began, and himself survived a COVID-19 infection. | TRANSCRIPT: | This is a rush transcript. Copy may n…
(2020-05-17). Harry Dunn's mother says UK is on 'road to ruin' if 'bully' US wins extradition row. thecanary.co 
The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has said Britain will be on the "road to ruin" if it backs down in its diplomatic row with the "bully" US government.Charlotte Charles said "we have to stand up to them" as it emerged the UK has agreed to extradite two fugitives to the United States, which refuses to hand over suspect Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official.Washington officials are reportedly "furious" that UK police have issued an international wanted notice for Sacoolas, who was charged with causing the 19-year-old's death by dangerous driving in December.Dunn was killed when his motor…
(2020-05-19). German Constitutional Court limits power of BND spy agency's overseas internet surveillance. rt.com 
The Constitutional Court in Germany ruled on Tuesday that, in monitoring the internet traffic of foreign nationals abroad, the BND intelligence agency has partly breached the constitution. | The ruling said that internet surveillance of foreigners abroad violates the freedom of the press enshrined in the country's constitution. | It is the first time the court has ruled that the BND is subject to Germany's constitution even for its activities overseas. | The ruling also means that complaints brought by foreign journalists and Reporters Without Borders were largely successful, Reuters said.
(2020-05-19). Top Ukrainian journalist comes out as INTEL AGENT after interviews with 'enemies of the state' kindle protests. rt.com 
A prominent Ukrainian media personality has stirred public anger by interviewing controversial Russian figures regarded as fugitives by Kiev. His explanation? It was all part of an elaborate sting operation. | It wouldn't be unprecedented for a popular reporter or editor to moonlight as an intelligence officer. But Dmitry's Gordon's explanation – that he was carrying out espionage while many of his viewers accused him of treason – would certainly stand out as an unusual example of the genre. | Gordon, an influential Ukrainian journalist and video blogger, first sat down with Russian MP Natalia Poklonskaya, who…
(2020-05-18). Pompeo throws yet another accusation at WHO for being pro-China, after delays to Taiwan getting observer status. rt.com 
By delaying the decision to grant Taiwan observer status, the World Health Organization (WHO) is further undermining its credibility and exposing its pro-China bias, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed. | WHO member nations unanimously voted to postpone the decision to grant Taiwan observer status until later in the year, in order to avoid shifting the focus away from the Covid-19 pandemic. This was in spite of the country having previously participated in a non-voting observer capacity between 2009 and 2016. | According to Pompeo, by delaying this decision, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebre…
(2020-05-17). DHS & FBI fear more attacks on 5G infrastructure fueled by Covid-19 conspiracies. rt.com 
The Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies are worried that conspiracy theories, bizarrely linking the Covid-19 pandemic to the 5G technology rollout, could inspire more vandalism and violence in the US. | The DHS, FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center issued a joint warning to US law enforcement officials about the growing threat this week, while a separate DHS intelligence report,
(2020-05-19). Snowden Lauds Court's Ruling Curbing German Intelligence's Spying on Foreigners Abroad. sputniknews.com BERLIN (Sputnik) – Edward Snowden, former Central Intelligence Agency employee who exposed illegal spying by US intelligence agencies, welcomed on Tuesday the ruling of the German Federal Constitutional Court declaring the country's BND foreign intelligence service's surveillance of foreign citizens outside Germany unconstitutional.
(2020-05-19). Cash Rules: Stealing Money, Not Spying Top Motive For Cybercriminals in 2019, Verizon Report Finds. sputniknews.com The report analysed 32,002 security breaches and roughly 3,950 confirmed incidences across 81 countries, detailing the most preferred crimes used by hackers and reasons for engaging in cybercrime.
(2020-05-18). WHO's Hesitation to Granting Taiwan Observer Status 'Further Damages' Its Credibility, Pompeo Says. sputniknews.com The World Health Organisation's member states agreed during the virtual World Health Assembly to postpone the discussion on granting Taiwan observer status in the agency, despite mounting pressure from the United States.
(2020-05-19). German spy agency's global surveillance unconstitutional. yenisafak.com German spy agency's mass surveillance of global communications and internet traffic is unconstitutional, the country's top court ruled on Tuesday.The Federal Constitutional Court's ruling said the Federal Intelligence Service's (BND) current surveillance powers, which allow it to conduct mass surveillance on foreigners in other countries, violate fundamental rights enshrined in the country's constitution."German state authority is bound by the fundamental rights of the Basic Law not only within the German territory," the court stressed in its ruling, and added: "Protection against telecommunications surveillance…
(2020-05-19). US courts revoke emergency protections in coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Over the past week, the US Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court have issued a series of antidemocratic decisions that place countless lives at risk and increase the hardships faced by workers in the coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-05-17). The sad story of Colombia's Supreme Court judge who only accidentally gets people in legal trouble. colombiareports.com 
Colombia's Supreme Court magistrate Cristina Lombana seems to have a special gift to accidentally get her allegedly criminal former army buddies in legal trouble. Since President Ivan Duque swore in…
(2020-05-16). Wisconsin FRSO condemns state Supreme Court ruling that ends 'safer-at-home'. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – Ryan Hamann, a Wisconsin Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) leader stated, "The Wisconsin Supreme Court – meeting virtually, I might add – voted 4-3 to strike down the 'safer-at-home' order. While this is disappointing, it is not a surprise. The judicial system, much like the government, is intricately tied to the wealthy business owners and their anti-people agenda. What it proves is that the ruling class in this state is willing to sacrifice the lives of the working class just to maintain a higher rate of profit." | Hamann continued, "Governor Evers' order itself was fairl…
(2020-05-16). Dems launch ANOTHER Trump probe — after he fires State Dept official who was investigating Pompeo & pushed a new 'dossier'. rt.com 
Two Democrat-led committees on Capitol Hill have launched a fresh investigation into President Trump. This probe focuses on allegations that Trump fired a State Department employee for political reasons. | Trump informed Congress on Friday that he intends to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, claiming he "no longer" had confidence in him. | By Saturday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-New York) and Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) sent a letter to the White House, alleging the firing was "politically-motivated," and announcin…
(2020-05-16). Whistleblower Says Systemic Mortgage Fraud Has Returned to Wall Street. truthout.org Among the toxic contributors to the financial crisis of 2008, few caused as much havoc as Twelve yea…
(2020-05-15). Democracy At Stake: "Faithless Electors" SCOTUS Case Tests If Electoral College Members Can Go Rogue. democracynow.org 
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a case that could shape the outcome of future presidential elections. The question at hand was whether Electoral College members can "go rogue" and support candidates who did not win the state's popular vote. In 2016, one of Colorado's nine electors, Michael Baca, attempted to cast his Electoral College ballot for Republican John Kasich instead of Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Colorado secretary of state at the time — a Republican — removed Baca as an elector. Colorado is one of 31 other states that has a law requiring presidential electors to vote for…
(2020-05-15). DeRay McKesson on the Threat to Protesters' Rights. aclu.org Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, protests have erupted across the country. Some are related to the virus: Protestors in Ohio and Michigan took to the streets and state capitols to call for an end to their governors' stay-at-home orders. Others are calling out an ongoing injustice: the killing, often at the hands of the state, of Black Americans. Now, the rights of participants in protests across the spectrum could be at stake unless the Supreme Court weighs in on an important decision., , In this episode of At Liberty, we speak with DeRay McKesson, an activist at the center of an important ACLU…
(2020-05-15). 'The American friends': New court files expose Sheldon Adelson's security team in US spy operation against Julian Assange. thegrayzone.com An exclusive investigation by The Grayzone reveals new details on the critical role Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands played in…
(2020-05-15). Whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright testifies winter could be 'darkest in modern history'. peoplesworld.org 
Dr. Rick Bright, the top Health and Human Services official dumped by Trump for blowing the whistle on the administration's disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic, testified to Congress Thursday that essentially everything the president is saying about his administration's response to the pandemic is a lie. One of the most damaging of those lies, …
(2020-05-15). Roaming Charges: Unmasked and Anonymous. counterpunch.org 
I'm hyped for some ObamaGate action, as long as its about things that matter: health care plan designed by Heritage Foundation, bailing out Wall Street, failing to close Gitmo, droning US citizens, Afghan surge, the jailing of whistleblowers and legal harassment of journalists, the Libyan and Honduran coups, mass surveillance, the funding and arming of proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, record deportations, Deepwater Horizon, new nukes (both power plants and weapons), etc…
(2020-05-15). Headlines for May 15, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Whistleblower Says U.S. Unprepared for Second Wave of Infections, The Lancet Assails Trump's "Inconsistent and Incoherent" COVID-19 Response, Trump Says Mass Coronavirus Testing May Be "Overrated", FDA Warns of Inaccurate Results from Rapid Coronavirus Test Used by White House | , Michigan Cancels Legislative Session as Armed Protesters Gather at State Capitol, California to Slash Billions from State Budget as Coronavirus Hammers Tax Revenues, Amazon to End $2-an-Hour Hazard Pay as CEO Jeff Bezos Gains $30 Billion During Pandemic, New York Police Tackle and Arrest Mother for Allegedly Wearing a Mask I…