Mastodawn

maggie_pdx Nov 19, 2023

Frank Pasquale Nov 19, 2023

Super-debased: “The Medical Information Nuanced Accountability Judgment Act is a George Santos measure that would prohibit the federal government from imposing mandates for somewhat new vaccines, never mind the already rigorous testing requirements. The title’s acronym is “MINAJ,” apparently a reference to the rapper Nicki Minaj, who became a hero to vaccine skeptics.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/18/opinion/george-santos-republican-party.html

Opinion | George Santos Is More Dangerous Than You Know

Mr. Santos has exposed just how much craziness the Republican Party is willing to tolerate in pursuit of narrow partisan gains.

The New York Times

maggie_pdx Nov 18, 2023

Heidi Li Feldman Nov 17, 2023

Here is Margaret Sullivan, an especially astute observer and explainer, on the nature of Musk’s latest antisemitic conduct and comments. Particularly good on the antisemitism of the so-called Great Replacement theory. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/17/elon-musk-antisemitism-social-media-hate-speech- #Musk #antisemitism

By affirming an antisemitic trope, Elon Musk sinks to a dangerous new low

The owner of X has the power to elevate the hateful speech of others and bring about enormous harm

The Guardian

maggie_pdx Nov 18, 2023

kcarruthers Nov 18, 2023

U.S. Prepared to Issue Visa Bans on Israeli 'Extremists' Attacking Palestinians in West Bank, Biden Says

The move, which President Biden revealed in a Washington Post op-ed, is the most significant punitive measure taken by his administration toward Israel since assuming power

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-18/ty-article/u-s-to-issue-visa-bans-on-israeli-extremists-attacking-palestinians-in-west-bank/0000018b-e409-df9a-ab8b-fec973190000

maggie_pdx Nov 18, 2023

M.S. Bellows, Jr.Nov 18, 2023

Short 🧵: I've been very critical of Biden's over-the-top support for Israel recently, but I'm starting to suspect he's playing a longer game than anyone realizes. Some incredibly important, hopeful signs are embedded in his (superficially pro-Israel) op-ed today: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/18/joe-biden-gaza-hamas-putin/
c @chargrille

Joe Biden: The U.S. won’t back down from the challenge of Putin and Hamas

Our goal should not be simply to stop the war for today — it should be to end the war forever, break the cycle of violence and build something stronger in Gaza.

The Washington Post

maggie_pdx Nov 18, 2023

Robert Reich Nov 17, 2023

Meta will allow political ads that claim the 2020 election was stolen.

YouTube will no longer remove videos making similar claims.

Monetizing lies has become a big business in America. It’s one of the core challenges to democracy.

maggie_pdx Oct 23, 2023

Steve Herman Oct 22, 2023

Joint statement on Israel from Canada, France, Germany Italy, UK and US. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/22/joint-statement-on-israel-2/

Joint Statement on Israel | The White House

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom spoke regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and…

The White House

maggie_pdx Oct 22, 2023

Joshua Holland Oct 22, 2023

Wild that Tom Emmer, a wingnut crypto-bro who first popped up on my radar when he sponsored a bill that would've allowed MN to ignore federal laws and opposed an anti-bullying law cuz it'd protect LGBTQ kids is probly the least-bad Speaker candidate--and the MAGA chuds have their knives out for him

maggie_pdx Oct 22, 2023

Dr. Jack Brown

Oct 22, 2023

61 years ago today, JFK delivered his Cuban Missile Crisis speech and began a blockade of Cuba. Here is the speech in full. It still gives me pause. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrPkIYb9iog

Oval Office Address on the Cuban Missile Crisis - John F. Kennedy - Oct. 22, 1962

YouTube

maggie_pdx Oct 22, 2023

Dan Gillmor Oct 22, 2023

The United States defeated itself in response to the 9/11 terrorism. We've barely begun to repair the damage we caused ourselves -- and so many others -- with misguided policies.

It is disheartening to watch Israel not learn from this history, writes Tom Friedman in today's NY Times column:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/opinion/biden-speech-israel-gaza.html

Opinion | Israel Is About to Make a Terrible Mistake

Both Israelis and Palestinians must behave in ways that we can support. No more blank checks.

The New York Times

maggie_pdx Oct 22, 2023

Frank Pasquale Oct 22, 2023

“A vicious cycle has emerged between higher energy and food production costs, reduced farm yields & higher food prices. Rising fertiliser prices mean farmers use less of them, which means lower yields and higher inflation. The snowball cycle of higher prices is exacerbated by higher interest rates, which raise costs of all inputs.
And yet, in the middle of rising prices, big commodity trading companies have enjoyed record profits.”
https://www.ft.com/content/0ddb8e87-feed-4506-a682-4af1386532bc

Big companies defy expectations to become even bigger

Corporate concentration is linked to price gouging and commodities volatility, according to a new UN report

Financial Times