Daily Archives: January 12, 2020

2020-01-12: News Headlines

Ben Norton (2020-01-13). Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts. thegrayzone.com As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter and Facebook are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with Washington's…

RT (2020-01-12). Facebook 'thought police' censors pro-Iran posts 'to comply with US sanctions'… as Trump warns Tehran against censorship. rt.com Facebook has admitted to selectively censoring pro-Iranian government Instagram posts about the murdered General Soleimani, as US President Donald Trump hypocritically championed free speech and warned Tehran against censorship. | Instagram has confirmed that they have been removing posts that voice support for Qassem Soleimani, with a Facebook spokesperson claiming that censorship is fully justified in order to comply with US sanctions. Instagram is one of the few social media platforms that is not blocked in Iran, and it is where many within the country went to fuel outrage over the US assassination strike i…

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-01-12). The Engineered Destruction and Political Fragmentation of Iraq. globalresearch.ca The objective is to engineer a civil war in Iraq, in which both sides are controlled indirectly by US-NATO. The scenario is to arm and equip them, on both sides, finance them with advanced weapons systems and then "let them fight".

sputniknews (2020-01-12). Italian Vessel Travelling to GNA-Controlled Port in Libya Detained by Haftar's Forces. sputniknews.com Earlier, the Libyan National Army warned marine traffic about using the ports of Misrata and Khoms, but the UN-backed Libyan government said that the cities were under their control and vessels could enter the ports unimpeded.

RT (2020-01-12). Could Vermont become the next Nevada? Bill to decriminalize prostitution on the table. rt.com Vermont lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize prostitution in the state, as conservatives remain staunchly against the progressive idea that is being pushed increasingly mainstream around the United States. | The proposal to legalize sex work is sponsored by four female lawmakers and is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Selene Colburn, a cosponsor on the bill and a member of the Progressive Party, said decriminalizing sex work would improve…

Global Research News (2020-01-12). Selected Articles: Iran Admits Accidentally Shooting Down Ukrainian Passenger Jet. globalresearch.ca A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer" | . | . | | | If, like us, this is …

RT (2020-01-11). 'Your courage is inspiring!' Trump tweets in FARSI, backing Iranian protesters against Tehran govt. rt.com US President Donald Trump has appealed directly to the protesters in the streets of Iran, wading into the grief and fueling anti-government discontent, after Tehran admitted to accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jet. | "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," Trump wrote both in English and Farsi, addressing the protesters in Iran. | ÿ®Ÿá ŸÖÿ±ÿØŸÖ &yuml…

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-11). For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó. commondreams.org The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly.

WSWS (2020-01-11). Germany: Response to satirical children's video exposes self-censorship of the media. wsws.org The week before Christmas, German broadcaster WDR posted an online video of a children's choir singing an updated version of a satirical song, triggering hysterical denunciations.

T.J. Coles (2020-01-10). "Trust Us Not to be Really Impartial": Reflections on the Structure and Content of the BBC. counterpunch.org As Iran responds to US war crimes and tensions escalate, we can expect the BBC to increase its anti-Iranian propaganda. The BBC's Defence Correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, opines: "it was rocket attacks from Iran's proxies — local Shia militia — against US bases [in Iraq] that formed the prelude to this recent crisis," referring to Iranian More

David Rosen (2020-01-10). Despair in America: the Unspoken Issue of the 2020 Election. counterpunch.org Ever wake up one morning and ask yourself if anything really matters? Why do I stay alive? These are but two of the existential questions that an increasing number of Americans are asking but are rarely discussed publicly. Asking such questions has been neutralized, mainstreamed, through self-help advice columns and books, psychotherapy or academic debates. Sometimes More

Alan Macleod (2020-01-10). Bolivia's New Right-Wing Government Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists, Doctors. mintpressnews.com The US-backed administration of Jeanine Añez is arresting prominent members of the press and even doctors in what it calls a "dismantling of the propaganda apparatus of the dictatorial regime of Evo Morales."

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-10). For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó. fair.org The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…

Staff (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…

Staff (2019-12-27). The Top 5 Mainstream Media Myths That Perpetuate Income Inequality. therealnews.com The Real News takes aim at the top 5 mainstream myths that bolster income inequality and tout the ultra-rich.

Ramzy Baroud (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…

Jeff Cohen (2019-12-02). What George Carlin Taught Us about Media Propaganda by Omission. zcomm.org Corporate TV news outlets serve up a series of partial scores. Call it "propaganda by omission"

2020-01-12: Social Media Postees

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

Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-13
As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter and Facebook are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with Washington's…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/12/us-pressure-s…

The Engineered Destruction and Political Fragmentation of Iraq
Prof Michel Chossudovsky | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-12
The objective is to engineer a civil war in Iraq, in which both sides are controlled indirectly by US-NATO. The scenario is to arm and equip them, on both sides, finance them with advanced weapons systems and then "let them fight".
globalresearch.ca/the-destruction-and-po…

On the Issue of "Electability"
Andrew Levine | zcomm.org | 2020-01-12
In Sanders and perhaps also in Warren, there is hope. The others, along with mainstream Democrats generally, should either join up or step aside

Italian Vessel Travelling to GNA-Controlled Port in Libya Detained by Haftar's Forces
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-12
Earlier, the Libyan National Army warned marine traffic about using the ports of Misrata and Khoms, but the UN-backed Libyan government said that the cities were under their control and vessels could enter the ports unimpeded.
sputniknews.com/africa/20200112107801520…

Facebook 'thought police' censors pro-Iran posts 'to comply with US sanctions'… as Trump warns Tehran against censorship
rt.com | 2020-01-12
Facebook has admitted to selectively censoring pro-Iranian government Instagram posts about the murdered General Soleimani, as US President Donald Trump hypocritically championed free speech and warned Tehran against censorship. | Instagram has confirmed that they have been removing posts that voice support for Qassem Soleimani, with a Facebook spokesperson claiming that censorship is fully justified in order to comply with US sanctions. Instagram is one of the few social media platforms that is not blocked in Iran, and it is where many within the country went to fuel outrage over the US assassination strike i…
rt.com/news/478044-instagram-iran-trump-…

Could Vermont become the next Nevada? Bill to decriminalize prostitution on the table
rt.com | 2020-01-12
Vermont lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize prostitution in the state, as conservatives remain staunchly against the progressive idea that is being pushed increasingly mainstream around the United States. | The proposal to legalize sex work is sponsored by four female lawmakers and is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Selene Colburn, a cosponsor on the bill and a member of the Progressive Party, said decriminalizing sex work would improve…
rt.com/usa/478087-vermont-prostitution-l…

Selected Articles: Iran Admits Accidentally Shooting Down Ukrainian Passenger Jet
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-12
A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer" | . | . | | | If, like us, this is …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-iran…

'Your courage is inspiring!' Trump tweets in FARSI, backing Iranian protesters against Tehran govt
rt.com | 2020-01-11
US President Donald Trump has appealed directly to the protesters in the streets of Iran, wading into the grief and fueling anti-government discontent, after Tehran admitted to accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jet. | "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," Trump wrote both in English and Farsi, addressing the protesters in Iran. | ÿ®Ÿá ŸÖÿ±ÿØŸÖ &yuml…
rt.com/usa/478043-trump-iran-tweet-prote…

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | commondreams.org | 2020-01-11
The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly.
commondreams.org/views/2020/01/11/wester…

Germany: Response to satirical children's video exposes self-censorship of the media
wsws.org | 2020-01-11
The week before Christmas, German broadcaster WDR posted an online video of a children's choir singing an updated version of a satirical song, triggering hysterical denunciations.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/11/vide…

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-01-10
The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…
fair.org/home/for-western-press-the-only…

Bolivia's New Right-Wing Government Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists, Doctors
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-10
The US-backed administration of Jeanine Añez is arresting prominent members of the press and even doctors in what it calls a "dismantling of the propaganda apparatus of the dictatorial regime of Evo Morales."
mintpressnews.com/bolivia-right-wing-gov…

Bolivia's New Right-Wing Government Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists, Doctors
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-10
The US-backed administration of Jeanine Añez is arresting prominent members of the press and even doctors in what it calls a "dismantling of the propaganda apparatus of the dictatorial regime of Evo Morales."
mintpressnews.com/bolivia-right-wing-gov…

"Trust Us Not to be Really Impartial": Reflections on the Structure and Content of the BBC
T.J. Coles | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-10
As Iran responds to US war crimes and tensions escalate, we can expect the BBC to increase its anti-Iranian propaganda. The BBC's Defence Correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, opines: "it was rocket attacks from Iran's proxies

"Trust Us Not to be Really Impartial": Reflections on the Structure and Content of the BBC
T.J. Coles | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-10
As Iran responds to US war crimes and tensions escalate, we can expect the BBC to increase its anti-Iranian propaganda. The BBC's Defence Correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, opines: "it was rocket attacks from Iran's proxies

Despair in America: the Unspoken Issue of the 2020 Election
David Rosen | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-10
Ever wake up one morning and ask yourself if anything really matters? Why do I stay alive? These are but two of the existential questions that an increasing number of Americans are asking but are rarely discussed publicly. Asking such questions has been neutralized, mainstreamed, through self-help advice columns and books, psychotherapy or academic debates. Sometimes…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/10/despair-in-a…

Despair in America: the Unspoken Issue of the 2020 Election
David Rosen | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-10
Ever wake up one morning and ask yourself if anything really matters? Why do I stay alive? These are but two of the existential questions that an increasing number of Americans are asking but are rarely discussed publicly. Asking such questions has been neutralized, mainstreamed, through self-help advice columns and books, psychotherapy or academic debates. Sometimes…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/10/despair-in-a…

After Approval by House Democrats, GOP-Controlled Senate Urged to Pass Measure to Curtail Toxic 'Forever Chemicals'
Andrea Germanos, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-01-10
The legislation would require the federal government to test for health effects of PFAS. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…
commondreams.org/news/2020/01/10/after-a…

Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation

Propaganda Machine: The Military Roots of Cambridge Analytica's Psychological Manipulation of Voters
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-07
We continue our discussion of data harvesting, targeted advertising and voter manipulation

The Top 5 Mainstream Media Myths That Perpetuate Income Inequality
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-27
The Real News takes aim at the top 5 mainstream myths that bolster income inequality and tout the ultra-rich.
therealnews.com/stories/the-top-5-mainst…