The entire calamity was an example of an imperial, ruinous escapade left in a shambles. And the inability on the part of US departments and agencies to understand the durability of the Taliban and the conspicuous weakness of the regime in Kabul, showed yet again a monumental inability to identify the obvious.
WILMINGTON, Del. — The judge presiding over a voting machine company’s defamation lawsuit against Fox News for airing bogus allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election indicated Tuesday he would allow jurors to hear some testimony about threats directed at the company, but only to a point. Delaware Superior
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis granted a motion by Fox to prohibit any reference to specific threats or harassment directed at Dominion Voting Systems. But he said he would allow Dominion to talk generally about threats it had received to show how it has been damaged by the Fox broadcasts.
Megan Meier, an attorney for Dominion, argued unsuccessfully that jurors should be allowed to hear details about threats the company has received.
“It has decimated Dominion’s ability to attract and retain employees, because the company is under siege,” she said.
Meier noted that local election officials throughout the U.S. who are responsible for deciding whether to contract with Dominion also have been harassed and threatened, part of a pattern of attacks against election workers since the 2020 election.
Davis said he did not want the jury to be prejudiced against Fox because of threats made by people with no connection to the network.
Source: Dominion allowed to discuss general threats in Fox defamation trial | TribLIVE.com
The judge ruled that Fox can’t bring up broadcasts where reporters accurately fact-checked Trump’s lies about the 2020 election, to prove that other broadcasts that amplified those lies weren’t defamatory.
Those other broadcasts “are not relevant” to the case, Davis said, because “you can’t absolve yourself of defamation by putting someone else on at a different time” who told the truth about Dominion.
Just Security: A Fox News defeat in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit would be good for the First Amendment
Albanese can’t claim the work of others
“Every day that the prosecution of Julian Assange continues is another day that our own government needlessly undermines our own moral authority abroad and rolls back the freedom of the press under the First Amendment at home.”
Source: US Lawmakers Implore DOJ to Drop ‘Unprecedented’ Charges Against Julian Assange
Boosters might welcome Saudi participation — and oil money — in global sporting events. But critics call it “sportswashing” — an effort to use splashy sporting events to distract from human rights violations.
Source: Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf League Is ‘Sportswashing’ At Its Worst | The Smirking Chimp
The Israeli newspaper Arab 48 reports that on Monday about 17,000 Israeli squatters marched through the Palestinian West Bank to the shuttered illegal squatter-settlement of Evyatar on Mount Sabih near the hamlet of Beita in the vicinity of Nablus, demanding its revival. Some 27 Palestinian counter-protesters suffered injuries from rubber-tipped metal bullets, and another hundred suffered ill effects from inhalation of military-grade tear gas. They were shot by Israeli troops that provided security to the far-right march.
In opposition, Federal Labor spoke up long and loud in favour of government transparency. Now they are in government, their voice on this has gone rather quiet.
There’s already been quite a bit of backsliding once Labor bums got comfortable again in ministerial chairs. One thing’s for sure now; there’s now a court case on-foot that goes directly to the credibility of Mark Dreyfus as much as it goes to the credibility of government. I’d like to think he’ll back transparency, but after he abandoned whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride, I’m just not sure. We’ll find out soon.
Can a Prime Minister use a Cabinet reshuffle to sweep government dirt under the carpet? Rex Patrick reports on rorts and transparency.
Source: Rex v the A-G: will Labor keep Liberal dirt under the carpet? – Michael West
With a compliant mainstream media failing to hold it to account, the Liberal Party is completely out of touch with voters’ opinions and its own failures, writes Dr Victoria Fielding.
Source: Lack of media scrutiny helped the Liberals lose their way
Despite being proven wrong time and again, trickle-down economics keeps limping forward, resurrected by governments to justify tax cuts for the rich with false promises of prosperity for all.
Source: Gag laws prevent people from speaking out, even after leaving the Public Trustee’s care – ABC News
“As the monster snowpack looms, state water officials have warned farmers to “stay ongoing and prepared for the next several months—all the way through September.”
Source: Sorry California, Melting Snowpacks to Unleash More Epic Floods – Mother Jones
Many suspect that Murdoch was promoting the idea that his behaviour showed a mental impediment, in order to avoid being called to give evidence. However, it seems to have backfired if this was indeed the fact. Giving away a $3.5M diamond didn’t help show a judge he was a fruitcake and prevent him from being subpoenaed to testify.
As an aside, the judge overseeing these matters was approached by the legal team representing the defendant mogul to have him excused from giving evidence in person due to his age and general doddering condition.
The very astute judge questioned, ‘was this the same defendant of whom he had been reading was anticipating betrothal and marriage and looking forward to doing much travelling and lounging on beaches with his new squeeze who, he had just presented with a $3.5 million 11-carat diamond solitaire engagement ring?’ The judge sensibly dismissed the application.
Source: You Wouldn’t Read About It ! – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Australia’s official media watchdog has found three-quarters of recent complaints upheld for violations of media ethical principles were against Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, as Alan Austin reports.
Source: News Corp condemned for malicious lies and attacks against minorities
The ministry said 15-year-old Mohammad Balhan sustained gunshot wounds to his head, chest and abdomen.
In a separate part of the West Bank, thousands of Israelis, including government ministers, marched towards the evacuated outpost of Evyatar in support of settlement expansion.
Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital – territories Israel captured in a 1967 war.
US-sponsored statehood talks have been stalled since 2014 while Jewish settlements have expanded, developments which Palestinians say have undermined the chances of a viable state being established.
Source: Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in West Bank raid
I don’t believe Trump alone is responsible for the birth of modern Republican fascism, but he has legitimized and encouraged the vicious rancor that has led much of the GOP into election-denying fascism.
Source: Is the GOP Becoming the American Fascist Party? | The Smirking Chimp
One can learn much about political dealmaking in New York in the late 20th century in “Without Compromise: The Brave Journalism That First Exposed Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and the American Epidemic of Corruption,” a collection of Barrett’s investigative article published after his death in 2017, prefaced with essays by people who knew and worked with him.
“Without Compromise,” stands as a fitting tribute to the work Barrett did to inform the public in the city he loved. To be fair to his work the monument could perhaps be placed outside City Hall, since Barrett exposed corruption on both sides of the political spectrum, which in the New York of the ’70s and ’80s was dominated by Democrats. (Including Donald J. Trump, at that time.) But if anyone wishes to honor Wayne Barrett while sticking it to the guy who has spent his life enriching himself at the public’s expense while calling the free press “the enemy of the people,” that spot on Fifth Avenue would be perfect.
Source: The man who saw Trump coming: Wayne Barrett warned us decades ago | Salon.com
A paternalistic Coalition thinks it knows better than Australia’s Indigenous peoples what is best for them, perpetuating our long neo-colonial legacy of exclusionary governance.
‘The [Migration] Act confers a number of extraordinary and unusual powers on the Minister… [Emily] has been the object of the exercise of all these extraordinary powers, so it is little wonder she apprehends she is being victimised and/or punished.’
Peter Dutton a case that reflects the true authoritarian nature of the man
Now ten years old, Oliver hasn’t seen his mother outside of a detention centre since 2015. In those days, Oliver was just a preschooler, and he and his mother led quiet and unassuming lives. To understand why their lives unravelled, one must look back to events that took place prior to Oliver’s birth.
in 2020, Dutton exercised his personal power under section 501 to overturn the Tribunal’s decision and refuse Emily’s visa, arguing it was in the ‘national interest’ to keep her from entering the Australian community. At this point, Emily’s minor criminal conviction and infringement of immigration law had occurred over a decade ago, Oliver was still without a mother, and the threat to her life was still ongoing.
An article about Peter Dutton regarded the worst Health Minister, the Worst Immigration Minister, the worst Homeland Minister, and now leader of the worst political opposition party in Australia’s history.
Source: NZ mother detained indefinitely under ‘God-like’ ministerial powers
The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which covers an area greater than the US and Mexico combined, holds enough water to raise global sea level by more than 57 metres if melted completely. This would flood hundreds of cities worldwide. And evidence suggests it is melting fast. Satellite observations have revealed that grounded ice (ice that is in contact with the bed beneath it) in coastal areas of West Antarctica has been lost at a rate of up to 30 metres per day in recent years.
Israel fires rockets at Syria in retaliation for strikes against the Israeli-controlled territory, the military says, as tension along Israel’s northern border remains high following a cross-border exchange of fire.
Successive Israeli governments have pretended to engage in a ‘peace process’, but in reality they have continued to consolidate and expand the occupation. While our unelected representatives pontificate they, the Israelis consolidate.
Source: For Palestine, “peace processes” have meant expansion of Israeli occupation – Pearls and Irritations
The snow is melting, and both Russia and Ukraine are preparing for what is likely to be the most violent — and decisive — stage of this war.
Last week’s melodrama made it plainer than ever that Trump does not understand America – what made it, what it is now, what it stands for around the globe. He just doesn’t get it. His mental and emotional landscape is painfully limited, walled in, barren, scared, and perpetually angry. His whole world is himself alone. Fake patriot Trump is a man without a country. It’s a fair bet the country will ultimately decide it can do without Trump.
Below is a list of 3 key issues that show the Anthony Albanese government is not much better than the Scott Morrison government when it comes to openness and transparency.
1 The Albanese government is continuing with it charges against whistleblowers David McBride who exposed war crimes and Richard Boyle who exposed corruption at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
2 The Albanese government is abusing FOI laws just as much as the Scott Morrison government and that is set to be exposed in detail in a Senate Inquiry that the Albanese government voted against holding. (Click here to read more)
3 While campaigning for the May 2022 federal election Anthony Albanese promised public hearings for the new National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). But after being elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did a dirty deal with opposition leader Peter Dutton so the NACC will only have public hearings in exceptional circumstances. (Click here to read more)
when it comes to Liberal values, I must say that now that I’ve looked, I find that there’s a number that I’d find it hard to disagree with… It just makes me wonder why on earth the Federal Liberal Party ignores most of them, most of the time.
Source: Why I Support Liberal Values… – » The Australian Independent Media Network
They always tell you it will be “safe” . Oil, Gas, and Nuclear power, It never is and the damage is never factored into their costing. Rio Tinto blows up Aboriginal sites says sorry gets fined and continues saying accidents happen sorry.
Their do good greenwashing, a minimal cost-to the damage they do are merely a cost not an investment in the future. They are PR schemes, publicity to make them appear to be transitioning and really care. They pay handsomely for the media that is only to willing to sell the misinformation globally locally or strategically along with politicians easily bought. That’s their trickle-down expense in order to continue
The oil and gas company says it is unaware how much gas was released when a pipeline in South Australia’s outback exploded in January. Meanwhile, Aboriginal traditional owners walk out of the company’s AGM in Adelaide.
Source: Santos confirms Cooper Basin pipeline explosion, as protesters converge on company AGM – ABC News
You don’t get to say “journalism is not a crime” while literally working to criminalize journalism, writes Caitlin Johnstone.
Russian security services have formally filed espionage charges against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia since his arrest last month. Gershkovich reportedly denies the spying allegations and says he was engaged in journalistic activity in Russia.
This news came out at the same time as a joint statement was published by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell condemning Gershkovich’s detention as a violation of press freedoms.
“Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime,” the senators write. “We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian government’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices.”
That conclusion is even more relevant today than it was at the time. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity to escape from our potentially fatal embrace with the United States is closing. This self-inflicted tragedy in the waiting would see a grim future for Australia…..
The one glimmer of hope that remains is that the path we are on can be averted, and averted in short order requiring only two resources: leadership and moral courage.
All it would take is for the Prime Minister to publicly and forthrightly state that Australia will not participate in a war against China under any circumstances, other than as an act of self-defence in the improbable event that China was to attack Australia. This the Prime Minister could do tomorrow.
Source: The United States is in decline, with AUKUS, so too is Australia – Pearls and Irritations
This is a talk Chris Hedges gave on April 6 at a protest at Princeton Theological Seminary demanding the removal of hedge fund billionaire Michael Fisch as chair of the seminary’s trustee board.
Source: Chris Hedges: The Hypocrisy of the Christian Church – scheerpost.com
At this rate, we will be up to 440 ppm by 2030, and up to 500 ppm by 2050. And that is if the rate of new emissions doesn’t increase. That would put us back in the Eocene, just after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Ben-Gvir and the other extremists in government are Netanyahu’s only chance to stay in power and avoid going to jail for corruption. They know that, and are taking advantage of the situation to support with all means possible the violence Jewish settlers have unleashed onto Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and to continue eroding the status quo at the holy sites with the aim to establish new facts on the ground – ie, full Israeli control.
Netanyahu does not necessarily mind. For him, the violence is a useful distraction from the anti-government protests which have plagued his sixth term in office.
Source: Israel is creating an explosive situation in Al-Aqsa | Al-Aqsa Mosque | Al Jazeera
“Our clients were degraded, dehumanised and had their lives devalued over many years in the camps on Nauru and Manus Island. Their statements describe the horror of life in detention including physical and sexual violence, racism, discrimination and self-harm.”
Global pariah Experts agree that the government’s lack of action risks turning Australia into a global pariah.
Source: Experts sound Gong on Chinese money-laundering in Australian property market – Michael West
Two British-Israeli sisters have been killed in an Israel gun attack on their car in the West Bank.
The attack, which also injured their mother, took place near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley and the girls’ father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said.
Fake News: The true meaning of ‘fake news’ is brought into relief by the Western mainstream media. The use of words like ‘clashes’ fails in the true reporting of the bloodthirsty massacres of Palestinians by Israeli,IDF, Police and extremist Jewish citizens.
Al Jazeera is one of the few media outlets that report and describe the total mayhem, imbalance and bias found in media reporting of Israel’s war crimes that now shames Jews globally.
It is difficult, of course, to find any linguistic or moral equivalent to the media obsession with reporting Israeli savagery as “clashes”. One would not perceive an elk as “clashing” with a hunter’s rifle, just as one would not perceive a “clash” between a human neck and a guillotine.
While America churns China turns to the Yemen The Saudis and Biden loses out
“Biden promised to end the war in Yemen. Two years into his presidency, China may have delivered on that promise.”
How elite corruption operates “everyone does it ” so Trump shouldn’t be charged is his and the Republicans’ Defense cry.
But it’s not just Clarence Thomas on the wrong side of the law. According to tax law, those trips, flights and vacations could be gifts subject to gift tax. They were supposed to be reported by Harlan Crow to the IRS at the time they were given. IRS rules state that “The gift tax is a tax on the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return. The tax applies whether or not the donor intends the transfer to be a gift.”
Source: Clarence And Ginni Thomas Have Given Harlan Crow A Huge Tax Headache | Crooks and Liars
A blockbuster new story reveals that Clarence Thomas has been traveling around the world on a superyacht and private jet owned by billionaire megadonor Harlan Crow. Yet somehow, right-wingers continue to pretend that Thomas is an enemy of “the elites.”
Source: Clarence Thomas Is Exactly What He Appears: a Corrupt, Plutocrat-Backed Ruling-Class Elite
Adding another humiliating chapter to his despicable life, the twice-impeached former President becomes the first ex-president to face criminal charges. Responding to the indictment, Trump said, “Never before in our nation’s history has this been done.” He’s right, never before in our nation’s history have we had a president as corrupt, dishonorable, unethical, and malicious as Donald Trump — a gangster who did inestimable damage to the country.
Source: Trump’s Arraignment was Unprecedented, but so is the Enormity of his Crimes against America
The Athenian citizens were the controllers and the engine room of their own democracy. They made laws, administered them and decided when they had been breached. No one, irrespective of wealth or power, had any more influence than anyone else.
I’ll agree, in part. There is a problem with ideology in our classrooms: neoliberal ideology. The educational fad du jour is called Positive Education. As a former history teacher, allow me to give you a brief lesson.
Source: Positive Education is driving away teachers and sending students backwards
![Planting trees in Indonesia[1]](https://olddogthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/photo20credit20wri20indonesia1-e1680582647620.jpg)
Debate over Labor’s Safeguard Mechanism has raged like a fire through a Sumatran peat forest. One of the most controversial aspects of the program is the use of carbon offsets, which some of our biggest companies are now buying in Indonesia. Zacharias Szumer reports.
Source: Carbon offsets stampede: Australian polluters are spending big in Indonesia – Michael West
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