PBC News & Comment: In Assange Coverage, Corporate Media Show True Colors

Instead of standing firmly for the right to publish, most American media demonize Assange and downplay threat to media freedom…--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola points out that the indictment is about attempted “computer intrusion” but uses language from the Espionage Act
--Glenn Greenwald calls out false reporting that the indictment is based on new information, and a pretext to punish publication of secrets
--Greenwald’s live interview on NPR disappeared from the archives after host screwed up from the get-go, but you can hear it here
--at ConsortiumNews, Jonathan Cook rants that 7 years of lies about Assange won’t stop now
--at NY Times, columnist Michelle Goldberg kicks Assange, then worries about the precedent
--reacting, Hillary Clinton is restrained, doesn’t invoke Russiagate
--but Rachel Maddow and the WashPost, NY Times relentlessly stoke the Russiagate narrative in covering Assange indictment
--Bill Barr’s comments about investigating the Mueller investigation rile the promoters, including Jimmy “The Perjurer” Clapper
--GOP operative Sam Patten gets probation for lobbying for Ukraine, as Dem operative Greg Craig is charged in the same general case
--Steve Volker, the attorney who won injunction to block Keystone XL, predicted on March 21 that Trump would claim to be above the law; he was right
--Trump signs orders to bulldoze legal hurdles like court injunctions
--in Israel, Netanyahu appears to prevail in election after unprecedented meddling by Trump
--Omar Barghouti, co-founder of BDS movement, is denied entry to US
--EU relents, gives Britain till Halloween to Brexit
--after months of protest, Sudan’s strongman steps down after 30 years, replaced by new military regime
--Trump relishes renewed threat to release immigrants waiting for asylum ruling to sanctuary cities like San Francisco
--is Michael Avenatti a crook, or is he getting bicoastal payback for representing Stormy Daniels?
--as expected, craven senators confirm former oil lobbyist David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary
--in ugly drama at 3am, GOP majority on Supreme Court insists that Alabama execution go forward
--New Hampshire legislature has veto-proof margins in ending death penalty