News & Comment

UC Berkeley scientist Joel Moskowitz issues detailed report blasting FCC for using 1990’s standards without new studies of 5G’s human impact…--read the article in Scientific American here

NY Times deeply “buries the lede” in report on Spanish firm paid by Sheldon Adelson to spy on Julian Assange….--read the report here
--more than 5 dozen opinion leaders from many nations ask Archbishop of Canterbury to call for Assange’s release

Justice in Baltimore, as 3 men wrongfully convicted of 1983 murder are freed, and retrial exonerates man convicted in 2016….--Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart will have first Thanksgiving outside in 36 years
--Devon Little was freed November 22 after retrial on murder charges; lawyer says actual shooter is still at large

In important new book Anti-Vax, Prof. Bernice Hausman explores vaccination controversies, and rejects snide attitudes of majority herd toward skeptics….--in fresh in-depth interview, Hausman explores many factors that cause people to question vaccination for some or all communicative diseases
--in blistering decision, federal judge rejects the expansive claims of Trump’s lawyers, says McGhan and other present and former officials must testify
--Trump feints, says he wants his boys to testify

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg, ex-Republican, wants to rescue Dems from Biden and the lefties, his fool’s errand will mostly hurt Joe…--self-funded Bloomberg won’t take contributions, so how does he get onto debate stage?
--Bloomberg News promises not to investigate the owner, or Dem rivals
--at The Intercept, Mehdi Hasan recaps Bloomberg’s terrible foreign policy views

In rambling 50-minute phone call to friends at Fox, Trump attacks impeachment and claims call from Sondland “never took place”...--at one point, Trump says he won’t be impeached, at another he says he wants a trial in the Senate
--Trump’s aggressive behavior collides with the tactics of his cult of GOP defenders
--building on Fiona Hill’s testimony, NY Times offers details of Russian scheme to blame Ukraine

Fiona Hill channels John Bolton and David Holmes appears credible, but so far, Dems have not landed knockout blow….--Hill opened with full embrace of Russiagate narrative and attack on Trump’s fiction of Ukraine meddling in 2016
--Holmes offers details of Sondland’s phone call to Trump and early concern—in March—about Giuliani’s “investigations” in Ukraine
--Hunter Biden’s love life is exposed, as Arkansa woman uses DNA test to prove he fathered her baby

Sondland confirms quid pro quo, and shares the blame with Pence, Pompeo, Mulvaney and Giuliani; racketeering under Trump’s direction….--Sondland’s “refreshed” testimony is a major breakthrough, and it’s clear he doesn’t plan to go down alone

After blistering UN report, Sweden again closes its 9-year investigation of Assange on allegations of consensual but unprotected sex acts…--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola reviewed the UN report yesterday

Meeting with megadonors, Obama warns candidates not to go too far left, Bernie and AOC push back as Buttigieg tops Iowa poll…--using hyperbole, Obama says lefties want to “tear down the system” and AOC responds “we are bringing the party home”
--Buttigieg jumps 9% in Iowa poll to 25%, leading the field, as Warren waters down her plan for Medicare for All
--newbies: Bloomberg apologizes for “stop and frisk” and Deval Patrick gets weak reception from California Dem convention
--gatekeepers at the NY Times approve of the moderates