News & Comment

Tech and social media giants fund new censorship effort that declares corporate media trustworthy, turns algorithms against most independent media….--Whitney Webb’s MintPress report is here
--Dem prez candidates talk about breaking up big tech, as they take donations from big tech
--and a Googler who led protests has quit, citing retaliation
--Russian and US Navy ships blame each other for near-collision off the Philippines

Trump plays bad cop holding Mexico hostage to unspecified conditions to avoid threatened tariffs, as AMLO deploys troops to Guatemala border….--Mexico has little choice but to submit to the tyrant, AMLO will hold rally Saturday at Tijuana border
--6 migrants died in high speed chase with Border patrol in south Texas
--adding some drama to her allergy to impeachment, Pelosi says she’d rather see Trump in prison as Nadler presses to start impeachment inquiry

IMF, big promoter of predatory capitalism and free trade, says “self-inflicted wounds” cost $455 billion worldwide, tells Trump to stop….--IMF boss Christine Lagarde lectures Trump, as Fed chair Powell tips rescue plans if Trump’s arbitrary tariffs lead to recession
--hints that Trump is just bluffing about new, escalating tariffs on Mexican imports surface as VP Pence meets with Mexico’s foreign minister
--Mexico has already buckled to Trump’s bullying, deporting 80,000 migrants since January, and accepting 9,000 people who await asylum decisions

Displaying equal parts arrogance and ignorance, Trump promotes Brexiters Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, targets National Health Service for privatization….--Day 2 of awkward moments, as Farage is fingered for payoffs during Brexit campaign, just 2 hours before he met with Stable Genius
--lame duck Theresa May squirms at press conference where Trump targets NHS, and he says tariffs on Mexico’s exports will go into effect next week
--a Trump-appointed federal judge in DC evades his responsibility, says he won’t take sides in dispute between Congress and president

As Air Force One was landing, Trump tweeted insults to the Muslim mayor of London, proving that wealth doesn’t insure class….--Mexico’s new president, AMLO, shows real class and dignity in letter responding to Trump’s latest tariff threats
--ICE stacks 900 migrants in a cell with max capacity of 125, gruesome treatment for people who Trump views as disposable, based on racism and classism

In latest irrational move, Trump threatens tariffs rising to 25% on Mexican imports, another form of collective punishment, hostage-taking…..--his arbitrary, emotional threat does not appear to be legal, and there are many reasons that show it will harm US economy, as WashPost reports
--Mexican President AMLO walks tightrope, trying to avoid confrontation with Trump
--after lightning appeal from TrumpCo, Oakland judge instantly rejects request to allow border wall construction with Pentagon money

10 Dem Prez candidates and 40 House members support “impeachment inquiry” after Mueller statement; pundit says: Do Your Damned Duty!.....--Pelosi keeps her impeachment brakes on, but momentum is building
--NY Times opinion columnist Charles M. Blow blows his lid in this op-ed

St. Bob Mueller finally speaks in code, un-exonerating Trump, affirming evidence-free assertions, refusing to testify to Congress, that’s all, g’bye…..--with very little notice, Mueller gave 9-minute statement that explains little about the mysteries of his report, and says he will say no more
--admitting he never intended to indict Trump, he restated assertions of Russian hacking and Wikileaks distribution, with no public evidence
--using double negatives, he said Trump is not “not guilty”, and said people should read his damn report

Michael Wolff’s new book says Robert Mueller wrote 3-count indictment of Trump for obstruction, quotes Trump in anti-Semitic comment…..--federal judge in Oakland blocks Trump plan to use Pentagon money to build The Wall

As expected, the US added 17 charges under Espionage Act to indictment of Julian Assange, even Rachel Maddow now cares….--all the new charges relate to WikiLeaks’ distribution of materials leaked by Chelsea Manning, who should be immediately released
--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola makes key points, including Manning’s status