News & Comment

Screwing wildfire victims, California’s rogue utility with criminal history makes premature bankruptcy filing while it’s still solvent; state takeover possible….--“You can’t believe a word they say”, says state senator
--as US corporate media “manufactures consent” for Venezuela coup with heavily biased reporting, most Democrats support Trump or avoid the issue
--John Bolton lays it out to Fox Biz News, “we’re looking at the oil assets”
--Maduro offers to talk with Guaido, but the US-backed “opposition leader” doesn’t seem interested

As US tries to slink out of Afghanistan after 17 years, NY Times sells new regime change war in Venezuela…--US envoy Khalilzad reports major progress in Taliban talks, but NY Times “news analysis” warns against withdrawal
--bipartisan regime change scheme for Venezuela builds momentum, as TrumpCo gives self-appointed opposition leader Guaido billions in oil revenue

Trump craters after 34-day partial shutdown, implies that he’ll use emergency powers if Congress doesn’t deliver in 3 weeks….--in dawn raid by 29 agents, Mueller arrests Roger Stone on indictment that is only about lying to Congress and alleged witness tampering
--in fresh in-depth interview, The Nation’s Aaron Maté comments on Stone and breaks down the recent wave of media malpractice

In risky, unprecedented move, Trump tweets “recognition” of Venezuelan opposition leader who declared he’s replaced Maduro as military stands firm….--WashPost coverage oozes contempt for socialism as it features Pence and Pompeo’s support for coup

Buzzfeed’s apparent blunder on its Trump-told-Cohen-to-lie story draws hypocritical attacks from error-prone mainstream media outlets…--Mueller’s non-denial denial is a curious statement that doesn’t challenge the central claim of the report
--Glenn Greenwald’s been keeping score, and spoofs Buzzfeed with “listicle” of 10 biggest media failures on Trump/Russia story

Unnamed sources tell Buzzfeed that Trump ordered Cohen to lie about Moscow project, and some Dems talk about starting impeachment…--read the story here
--tough talk from Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, but will they impeach?
--Democrats Greg Craig and Tony Podesta, along with former GOP congressman Vin Weber, may be indicted following law firm settlement

British conservatives sunk May’s Brexit plan, rescued her next day; GOP Senate backed Trump on sanctions relief for Russian Derapaska…--Tories narrowly save Theresa May from no-confidence vote
--Mitch McConnell and Mitt Romney led mini-filibuster that let Mnuchin decision stand, but media reports gloss over that part
--grandstanding on a dead issue, 130 House Republicans vote against easing sanctions
--Rudy 911 Giuliani muddies the waters on collusion, again

Last week, MintPress News broke the story about Newsguard, a for-profit truth squad blessed by corporate media to rate media outlets…--read the NY Times report here
--Newsguard is discussed in new in-depth interview with reporter Max Blumenthal, as he details his reporting on UK’s “Integrity Initiative” and the role of Simon Bracey-Lane, who "volunteered" for Bernie Sanders in 2016

As large group of Democrats pursue 2020 nomination, supporters reject any/all criticism of their favorite and attack honest critics….--on Facebook, women call fair criticism of Warren, Harris, Gabbard or Gillibrand “mansplaining” or “misogyny”
--Kevin Gosztola profiles Tulsi Gabbard as soldier against regime change wars

In latest salvo of unproven assertions, The Times uses FBI investigations prompted by Comey’s firing to float latest collusion meme….--read the article here, and look at paragraph 11’s admission that begins “No evidence has emerged publicly….”
--in tweetstorm and TV interview, Trump blasts back