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  • Field Team 6

    Ralph welcomes former TV writer turned grass roots organizer, Jason Berlin, who explains how his group, Field Team 6, uses the latest data and analytics to identify and reach out to potential Democratic voters in order to register them to vote and how that could turn the tide in purple, flippable states.

    Jason Berlin is a former TV writer and co-founder of Field Team 6, a national voter-registration project that organizes voter drives to register Democrats in the most flippable states across the country.

    The fact is you can’t get out the vote if those voters don’t exist to begin with. It’s like no one had a talk with people about where a voter comes from. So we concentrate on that first half of the equation—getting people over that biggest hurdle, getting them registered, generating this river of new Democrats and Independents who can then get into the system and be targeted by the massive get-out-the-vote machinery.

    Jason Berlin

    The Democratic Party over the years has exhibited serious symptoms of masochism. It’s like they’ve written off half the country, where they don’t even compete.

    Ralph Nader

    In Case You Haven’t Heard with Francesco DeSantis

    News 9/4/24

    1. On August 28th, the Israeli Defense Forces targeted United Nations World Food Programme vehicles with “repeated gunfire,” per CNN. According to the agency, “Despite being clearly marked and receiving multiple clearances by Israeli authorities to approach, the vehicle was directly struck by gunfire as it was moving toward an…IDF…checkpoint.” Photos show at least ten bullet holes in the vehicle windows. As this piece highlights, “ongoing airstrikes and repeated evacuation orders by Israeli forces have forced many of the agency’s food warehouses and community kitchens to shutter…The IDF-designated ‘humanitarian zone’ in Gaza is also steadily shrinking; in the past month alone, the IDF has reduced this zone by 38%.” This incident is reminiscent of the Israeli strike on World Central Kitchen workers in April, when the IDF killed three Britons, a Palestinian, a US-Canadian dual citizen, an Australian, and a Pole via multiple airstrikes. Two days after the World Food Programme incident, CNN reported that the IDF killed four in a humanitarian aid vehicle affiliated with the American Near East Refugee Aid organization.

    2. On Monday, the Israeli labor federation, Histradrut, called a general strike in order to “pressure Netanyahu’s government into changing its approach to cease-fire negotiations,” per NPR. This action was taken in response to the death of six hostages who would have been released had Israel agreed to the ceasefire proposed in early July. According to NPR, “Many schools and government buildings were shut…[and]…Ben Gurion airport…paused flights for several hours.” Yet, Israel’s Labor Court quickly ordered the strike to end and the union obeyed; the action lasted less than one business day. This incident illustrates the deep discontent with the Netanyahu government’s handling of the hostage negotiations, but also the impotence of Israeli civil society to change course.

    3. In more positive news related to labor and Israel, Democracy Now! reports Jimmy Williams Jr. president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, says his union is “directing its massive international pension fund to divest from the Gaza genocide.” According to left-wing British outlet Skwakbox, the Painter’s Union receives $330 million dollars in new contributions from union members each year.

    4. The Middle East Monitor reports “Ray Youssef, CEO of the Bitcoin marketplace platform, Noonesapp…[alleges that cryptocurrency giant Binance] ‘has seized all funds from all Palestinians as per the request of the IDF. They refuse to return the funds. All appeals denied.’” Responding to this allegation, a Binance spokesperson claimed that this seizure of assets only covers a limited number of accounts linked to “illicut funds,” though “Binance did not specify the extent or value of the ‘illicit funds’ involved.” Boosters of cryptocurrency, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have framed it in terms of “transactional freedom,” per Axios. Not so for the Palestinians, it seems.

    5. Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the U.K. Labour Party, has united with four other independent, pro-Gaza MPs to form the Independent Alliance, per the BBC. This new parliamentary bloc will “use their…platform to campaign for scrapping the two-child benefit limit and against arms sales to Israel.” With five MPs in this alliance, it already outnumbers the Green Party and is equal to Reform UK, the far-right party formed by Brexit champion Nigel Farage. In their first move since forming the Independent Alliance, the MPs issued a statement in response to Foreign Minister David Lammy’s announcement that the U.K. will suspend a small number of arms export licenses to Israel. This statement reads “For months, we have called for an immediate and full suspension of arms sales to Israel. The government has finally admitted there is a clear risk of weapons being used to commit violations of international law…This announcement must be the first step in ending all arms…used by the Israeli military to commit genocide in Gaza.”

    6. According to the ACLU of Indiana, “[Indiana University] has approved a new policy that prohibits all expressive activity if it takes place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., even if the activity is not at all disruptive, such as standing silently, holding a sign, wearing a t-shirt with a communicative message, or discussing current events with friends.” This policy, which “carries harsh punishments, including suspension or expulsion for students, and suspension or termination of staff,” was adopted in response to campus pro-Palestine demonstrations last year. The ACLU of Indiana has already filed a lawsuit to overturn this chilling policy. And at New York University, Palestine Legal reports “In a dangerous escalation of repression, [NYU] announced new student conduct policies last week that appear to prohibit criticism of Zionism. If implemented, these policies risk creating a hostile environment for Palestinian and anti-Zionist Jewish students and severely curtail…free expression.” This statement notes that NYU does not afford protected status to any other political ideology and that this decision “opens the door for other ethno-nationalist ideologies to claim protection from criticism. With Zionism enshrined as a protected class, there’s no reason why Hindu nationalism, Christian nationalism, white nationalism or similar ideologies wouldn’t be afforded the same.” Palestine Legal has vowed that it will “continue to monitor and combat institutional attempts to punish and censor students organizing for Palestinian rights.”

    7. In a major escalation of tensions, the United States seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s plane in the Dominican Republic and transferred it to Florida, per the BBC. According to this report, “US officials said the plane was seized for suspected violations of US export control and sanctions laws,” while Venezuelan officials have denounced this move as an act of “piracy,” and “reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation.” Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the US had justified itself “with the coercive measures that they unilaterally and illegally impose around the world.” This is just the latest case of western governments seizing Venezuelan state assets; in 2018, the Bank of England seized nearly $2 billion worth of Venezuelan gold and has refused to return those assets despite urging from the United Nations special rapporteur on sanctions, per Declassified UK.

    8. The Miami Herald is out with a stunning new report on the dubious “Havana Syndrome” which finds that patients were “coerced” to join an NIH study on the supposed illness. According to this piece, “An internal review board at the National Institutes of Health…decided to shut down a long-term study of Havana Syndrome patients that found no signs of brain injuries, after several participants complained of mishandled medical data, bias and pressures to join the research. [Jennifer George] A spokeswoman for NIH said the internal review found that ‘informed consent’ policies to join the study ‘were not met due to coercion.” Though George insists the coercion was not on the part of the NIH, she declined to identify who coerced the patients.

    9. Daniel Nichanian of Bolts Magazine reports “[Arizona Democratic Senate nominee Ruben] Gallego, fresh off of a police union endorsement, just penned a letter to the US [Department of Justice] asking them to stand down in its investigations against the Phoenix police and its effort to bring the department under a consent decree.” The proposed consent decree in question stems from a DOJ investigation that found “[Phoenix PD] uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force… unlawfully detain, cite, and arrest people experiencing homelessness and unlawfully dispose of their belongings…discriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people when enforcing the law…violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech and expression…[and] discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when dispatching calls for assistance and responding to people in crisis.”

    10. Finally, in more positive Senate-related news, a new Split Ticket poll shows populist Independent candidate Dan Osborn running neck-and-neck with incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in Nebraska. While Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris 54 to 37, the same poll shows Senator Fischer leading by only 1 point – 39% to Osborn’s 38%, with 23% undecided. Osborn, a union leader who organized the 2021 Kellogg strike, has been favorably profiled by the American Prospect. There is no Democrat running for this seat.

    This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven’t Heard.



    Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe


    This content originally appeared on Ralph Nader Radio Hour and was authored by Ralph Nader.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • EXPLAINED: The (worrying) popularity of caterpillar fungus

    By now the army of scavengers has retreated from the high hillsides of the eastern Tibetan plateau, their bounty in hand. Harvest season for yartsa gunbu (དབྱར་རྩྭ་དགུན་འབུ།), or caterpillar fungus, typically runs from May to July, when winter snows have receded and thousands of rural, ethnic Tibetans can prospect for what’s also known as “soft gold.” 

    It’s hard to overstate the importance these few weeks hold for the people who climb the steep slopes. Collecting caterpillar fungus —  which is used to treat a variety of ailments — can account for as much as 90% of a rural family’s annual income. 

    But high demand has spurred overharvesting, making it harder to find the fungus in its natural environment. Climate change poses another challenge. Warmer temperatures on the high plateau are reducing the length of winter, a critical time for yartsa gunbu.

    Now a new threat is emerging, sources inside China say: artificial varieties designed to fill the gaps between supply and demand, in the form of either cultivated fungi or fake products altogether. Although Chinese authorities have tried to regulate the sale of cultivated fungus, interviews with Tibetans and online videos that attract tens of thousands of viewers say imposters have infiltrated the market.

    “It will definitely jeopardize the lives of thousands of Tibetan herders and farmers whose income depend on the wild yartsa,” said Lobsang Yeshi, who has practiced traditional Tibetan medicine at Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamshala, India, for the past 20 years. 

    20240905-CATERPILLAR-FUNGUS-TIBET-OVERHARVEST-003.JPG
    A local resident pulls out a caterpillar fungus west China’s Qinghai province May 12, 2007. (Simon Zo/Reuters)

    What is caterpillar fungus and where does it come from?

    Yartsa gunbu translates to “summer grass, winter bug.” The Ophiocordyceps sinensis – its scientific name – releases spores that sink underground and infect the larvae of ghost moths, so called for the white color of males. The yartsa gunbu takes over, commandeering the caterpillar’s nervous system, consuming its organs and finally, in spring, emerging from its head as a brown stoma at altitudes of greater than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). Its methods have drawn comparisons to the fungus that stars in the HBO hit zombie series, “The Last of Us.” Harvested intact, it’s about the length of a little finger and shaped like a caterpillar with a stem attached. 

    Yartsa gunbu is found primarily in the Himalaya mountains and the Tibetan plateau. The Yushu Tibetan Autonomous prefecture in Qinghai province, east of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, is a particularly good place to look. Thousands of its residents set up makeshift camps from which they hike into the thin air.

    The annual harvest is reportedly around 300 million fungi that can cost $7 a pop or more, leaving a multi-billion dollar market. 

    20240905-CATERPILLAR-FUNGUS-TIBET-OVERHARVEST-005.JPG
    A jar of caterpillar fungus on sale at a herbal medicine shop in Queens, New York, Aug. 23, 2024 (Lobsang Gelek/RFA)

    What is caterpillar fungus used for?

    Yartsa gunbu has been used in Tibetan and Chinese traditional medicine to treat heart, liver and lung ailments. More recently, it acquired a reputation for improving sexual stamina in men and women. (“Himalayan Viagra” is another moniker.) Studies have shown possible benefits, though scientists say more clinical research is needed.

    Users consume yartsa gunbu by brewing it with hot water similar to how tea or herbal infusions are prepared, or chewing it as it comes. Some put it in soups and other recipes. Lesser specimens are ground into powders.

    Why are people growing a fungus ? 

    Pluckers like to pick the fungus before it releases spores, limiting its ability to reproduce and leading to its population decline. China has encouraged the development of cultivated yartsa gunbu, and one company has reportedly solved the puzzle, synthetically growing the O. sinensis fungus found in the wild. 

    But some individuals are trying to cultivate fungus varieties on their own. That, fungus traders say, has undercut prices and, because the buyer’s remain suspicious of its medicinal properties, consumer confidence, several sources told RFA. 

    In Guangzhou, a major market, “there is a hesitancy of customers in buying because of too much artificial fungus in the market,” one trader said. A Tibetan living in Qinghai province said prices have dropped nearly 20% this year. 

    In New York, a retailer said he can still sell a single piece of wild fungus for $14, but “there are a lot of fake and cultivated yartsa” undercutting the business, he said. “Nowadays, people are selling thousands of artificial yartsa online per day, as well as in shops, jeopardizing the original yartsa business,” he said.

    Studies have shown that cultivated fungus can replicate the chemical compounds of natural varieties, though there are differences. 

    20240905-CATERPILLAR-FUNGUS-TIBET-OVERHARVEST-004.JPG
    A local resident displays a few caterpillar fungus, Qinghai province, China, May 12, 2007. (Simon Zo/Reuters)

    What is China doing to protect the market?

    Chinese authorities seem to be aware of the financial risks to some of their poorest populations. 

    In April, the Chinese government in Qinghai, tried to control the artificial plantation of yartsa gunbu. But a trader in Nagchu, Tibet Autonomous Region, an area that historically has been among the best for finding wild yartsa gunbu, said enforcement has been lax.

    “Chinese authorities have come out with a lot of rules saying that the artificial fungus is banned,” the trader said. “But the on-ground reality is that the Chinese authorities are not strictly monitoring or stopping the sale of artificial fungus. And this is making it tough for us to sell the real fungus.” 

    Lobsang from RFA Tibetan contributed to this article. Edited by Jim Snyder and Boer Deng.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By Lobsang Gelek for RFA.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Chinese soccer fans bemoan 0-7 loss to Japan as ‘Day of Shame’

    Chinese netizens reacted with embarrassment and frustration to the men’s national soccer team’s humiliating 0-7 loss to Japan in a World Cup qualifying match, with some calling it a “Day of Humiliation.”

    “Ah! It’s simply embarrassing to talk about. As a Chinese, I am ashamed,” sports enthusiast Zhao Xiang told Radio Free Asia. “This is practically a joke.”

    “Why can’t we solve these problems?” he asked. “I don’t think the physique of Chinese people is an issue. Koreans and Japanese are also Asian and they make it to the (World Cup). Why can’t we?”

    Japan is one of Asia’s strongest teams, competing in every World Cup since 1998. Meanwhile, China has only managed to qualify once, in 2002 – so getting beaten isn’t terribly surprising.

    But losing by such a lopsided score in Thursday’s match in Saitama, north of Tokyo, was hard for many Chinese fans to swallow. 

    02-China-Japan-Soccer-World-Cup_Football.jpg
    Japan’s Takumi Minamino fights for the ball with China’s defender Liu Yang during their World Cup qualifying match in Saitama, Sept. 5, 2024. (Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP)

    Despite its relative lack of success in the world’s premier tournament, China is a soccer-crazed nation. President Xi Jinping, a fan himself, once expressed his hope for China to host and even win the men’s World Cup one day. 

    “Sept. 5 is a day of humiliation for Chinese soccer,” said an online media outlet run by the government of Shandong province.

    Chinese citizens have a complex relationship with Japan, owing to the troubled history between the two nations, which fought major wars against each other during the 20th century and found themselves aligned on opposite sides of the Cold War.

    EXPLORE OUR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER COVERAGE

    North Korea falls 0-1 to Uzbekistan to start 3rd round of World Cup Asian qualifiers

    Asian qualifier outlook round 3: North Korea 

    Podcast: RFA Insider EP10 (Timecode 17:32)

    While thousands of Chinese tourists have flocking to Japan each year, Chinese social media regularly erupts in Japan-bashing sentiment, such as when Japan released wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant last year into the ocean, sparking fears about tainted seafood. 

    ‘Real gap’

    It was the worst loss for China’s men’s team since 2012, when the team suffered a 0-8 shellacking to perennial world powerhouse Brazil.

    The Chinese women’s national soccer team has performed much better, competing in eight World Cups, with the 1999 team finishing 2nd in that year’s tournament. The women’s team is ranked 18th in the world, while the men’s team is ranked 87th.

    Zhang Yuning, a former player of the Chinese team, said the match “demonstrates the real gap between Chinese and Japanese football.” 

    “It is ultimately reflected in the score, which demonstrates the difference between Chinese and Japanese football,” he said.

    03-China-Japan-Soccer-Fernandinho-Alan-Dalei-Wang.JPG
    China’s Fernandinho, Alan, Dalei Wang and teammates after their 0-7 World Cup qualifier loss to Japan in Saitama, Sept. 5, 2024. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

    He said the Chinese team should acknowledge the gap and try to perform better in the upcoming matches.

    According to Chinese media reports, Fan Zhiyi, another former national player, also criticized the home team by stating that the loss to a powerful team like Japan was understandable, but it was terrible that Japan was allowed to score so easily.

    “If it weren’t so far from here, I would have really jumped into the Huangpu river,” Fan said, referring to Shanghai’s main waterway, in a widely circulated video. “How many football association presidents have we had? Has anything changed? It’s just changing the syrup without replacing the prescription!” 

    Competing for spots

    Thursday’s match was the start of the third round of China and Japan’s world cup qualifying campaign, and they are competing with 16 other Asian teams for spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

    Wataru Endo opened up the scoring for Japan in the 12th minute, and China managed to keep the Japanese out of the goal for the rest of the first half until the second minute past regulation, when Kaoru Mitoma found the back of the net. 

    Goals rained down on China in the second half, with Takumi Minamoto scoring in the 52nd and 58th minutes, followed by Junya Ito at 77, Daizen Maeda at 87, and Takefusa Kubo at 5 minutes past regulation.

    04-China-Japan-Soccer-World-Cup-AFC-Branko-Ivankovic .jpg
    China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic on the sidelines during the World Cup qualifying round football match between Japan and China in Saitama, Sept. 5, 2024. (Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP)

    Many fans on social media blamed the loss on China’s new manager, Croatian Branko Ivankovic, who was handed the reins in February, but others clapped back.

    “Stop blaming the head coach and demanding for his resignation after the game,” netizens said. “It doesn’t matter who the coach is. … (we should) just withdraw from the competition. … We can’t afford the embarrassment.” 

    Others suggested that China withdraw from international soccer altogether.

    With the defeat, China sits at the bottom of the Group C standings, and will look to regain its footing on Tuesday vs Saudi Arabia in Dalian.

    Also in Group C, Bahrain upset Australia 1-0 and Saudi Arabia and Indonesia played to a 1-1 draw.

    Meanwhile, in Group B, Palestine turned heads earning a scoreless draw against heavily favored South Korea, and in Group A, North Korea lost to Uzbekistan 0-1.

    Translated by Li Yaqian. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By Huang Chun-mei for RFA Mandarin.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Podcast: Master of Deceit, Episode 5 – A guilty verdict, but questions remain | RFA Stories


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by Radio Free Asia.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Torrential rains, deadly flooding hit Tibetan areas of Qinghai province

    Read RFA’s coverage of this topic in Tibetan.

    Heavy rains in Tibetan areas of central China’s Qinghai province have triggered severe flooding, destroying infrastructure and killing at least nine people and hundreds of livestock, three Tibetans from inside Tibet said.

    The rains have drenched the area since Sept. 2, flooding roads, damaging bridges and causing landslides, they said. Chinese state media reported that heavy rains have  inundated houses and swept away vehicles.

    Tibet is experiencing heavier annual rainfalls and flooding than in the past, which some Tibetan rights groups say is due to climate change.

    Six people died in Trelnag township of Serchen (Gonghe in Chinese) County in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the sources said, insisting on not being identified to avoid reprisals from authorities.

    Five of them died while traveling in a vehicle when a bridge collapsed, one source said.

    Three others died due to a landslide in Honaguk village in Minhe county of Tsoshar (Haidong in Chinese) prefecture. 

    Some areas experienced severe hailstorms, which shattered windows and glass panes in the homes of nomads, the sources said.

    Livestock dies

    The flooding killed livestock as well. Nearly 400 cattle and sheep died In Tsekhok (Zekog) county in the Malho (Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. 

    Residents there needed help pulling dead cattle from the water and mud.

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    In Minhe district, houses were damaged, and highways and bridges were washed over, while grasslands were covered by mud.

    As of Sept. 4, the Chinese government elevated the weather-damage alert for Qinghai from level 4 to level 3. 

    Chinese state media reported a level-one flood warning has been issued for Siling (Xining) city as well as Tathang, Kumbum and Tongkor counties. As a result, officials suspended bus transportation from Siling to these areas.

    Roads and bridges connecting Tongkor and Siling have been severely damaged by the flooding, the sources said.

    Additionally, roads leading from Dashi (Haiyan) and Kangtsa (Gangcha) counties of Tsojang (Haibei) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Themchen (Tianjun) county of Tsonub (Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) to Siling (Xining) city have been cut off, making travel in and out of these areas impossible.

    The areas have been hit by flooding before.

    In 2022, five people died and over 2,000 head of livestock died due to flooding in parts of Qinghai province, including Mangra (Guinan), Serkog and Rebgong counties, as well as Labrang town in Sanchu (Xiahe) County of Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province.

     

    Additional reporting and translation by Tashi Wangchuk and Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.




    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By Chakmo Tso and Dickey Kundol for RFA Tibetan.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Kremlin Klown Kar: Meet “Project Good Old USA” [TEASER]

    Guess who finally decided to do their job! The Department of Justice dropped indictments on a sweeping Russian disinformation criminal ring, funding MAGA social media-stormtroops calling for the violent overthrow of our democracy to establish a Russian-style dictatorship and abandoning Ukraine to Russia, where it would be genocided. As Gaslit Nation has long warned: If it sounds like a Kremlin shill, it’s a Kremlin shill. Fortunately for the DOJ, Russian-backed MAGA traitors in Congress confessed to being unregistered foreign agents by deliberately blocking Ukraine aid for six months, giving Russia the advantage in a dangerous invasion threatening all of Europe. Follow the money! Lock the traitors up!

    In this week’s bonus show, exclusive to subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher on Patreon, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin File podcast joins Gaslit Nation to break down the sweeping charges by the Feds, exposing Russian active measures trying to steal the election for Trump like they did in 2016, with help from MAGA/Russia shills like Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Lauren Chen, and Lauren Southern, among others. Longtime Trump/Russia connector, Kremlin propagandist, and Senator Rand Paul advisor Dimitri Simes was also indicted, along with his Russian-born wife. We also discuss what’s next: Who else might have their home raided by the FBI? We’re looking at you, David Sacks! 

    To hear the full bonus show, get all episodes ad-free, invites to exclusive events, and support our independent journalism during these tough times, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level or higher, or Democracy Defender ($10/month) to submit questions for our regular Q&As! Discounted annual subscriptions are available. Thank you for supporting the show—we couldn’t make Gaslit Nation without you!

    Join us for a Gaslit Nation event!

    • Every Monday 4 PM ET: Join our weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom. Vent, ask questions, and build coalitions. Support us on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher to register!

    • September 10 at 9 PM ET: Debate watch party in the Victory Chat on Patreon for subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher. 

    • September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/

    • September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption. 

    • September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It.

    • September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025.

    Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit for exclusive access to events, bonus content, and more! Enjoy annual discounts and support independent media as we push back against the rise of fascist oligarchy. Thank you for standing with us!

     Show Notes:

     Telegram CEO’s Detention In France Extended As Moscow Cries Foul https://www.rferl.org/a/durov-telegram-paris/33093898.html

     Mystery blonde traveling with secretive Telegram CEO was posting trip on social media before he was arrested — and now she’s missing https://nypost.com/2024/08/26/world-news/telegram-ceo-pavel-durovs-mystery-blonde-companion-raises-questions/

    Attack on train system highlights broad array of security threats to Paris Olympics Russian-backed sabotage and cyberattacks, street protests and an attack directed or inspired by a terrorist group could disrupt events across France. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/attack-train-system-highlights-broad-array-security-threats-paris-olym-rcna163921

    DOJ: Russia aimed propaganda at Gamers to swing 2024 election https://www.wired.com/story/project-good-old-usa-russia-2024-election/

    Inside Tenet Media, the pro-Trump ‘supergroup’ allegedly funded by Russia Even some of the right-wing stars hired by the group last year wondered why it existed. Now, a new federal indictment claims it was a propaganda front. https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/09/05/tenet-media-russia-rt-tim-pool/

    Flora Garamvolgyi on Twitter: One of the US Company founders listed in the DOJ indictment is Lauren Chen, who recently visited Budapest, to speak at MCC Feszt. story for @RFERL https://x.com/floragaramvolgy/status/1831596824836358482


    This content originally appeared on Gaslit Nation and was authored by Andrea Chalupa.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Satellite imagery suggest floods damaged North Korea’s power grid

    Read a version of this story in Korean

    North Korean nights look darker than usual these days, satellite imagery revealed, leading experts to conclude that damage from floods in July may have damaged the country’s archaic power grid.

    The Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System, a satellite jointly operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, on Aug. 23 photographed the area around the North Korean city of Sinuiju, which lies across the Yalu River from the Chinese city of Dandong.

    When compared to a satellite photo taken June 26 of the same area, the North Korean side appears to be much darker, with very little change in brightness on the Chinese side. 

    Bruce Songhak Chung, a researcher at the Korean Institute for Security and Strategy, who analyzed the nighttime lighting footage, told RFA Korean on Aug. 28 that the reason the Sinuiju area has become dark could be damaged power lines and facilities from the flood.

    20240904-NORTH-KOREA-NIGHT-LIGHT-002.PNG
    Nighttime lighting has been drastically reduced in the area around Jeonwi Street and Hwasong Street in Pyongyang, where construction sites for residential housing are located. (Planet Labs (background) + VIIRS (blue translucent) Analyzed by RFA, Image created by Jeong Seong-hak)

    “It appears that during the heavy rains, power lines were damaged due to the loss of or damage to telephone poles and wires, including the nighttime barbed wire fences installed along the Yalu River,” he said. 

    “So I think they are experiencing a power shortage because the power is not being supplied properly,” Chung said.

    The high-voltage electric fences along the Yalu River that were under construction are meant to prevent North Korean residents from escaping.  

    Jacob Bogle, a private satellite imagery analyst, told RFA that although the two hydroelectric dams that supply Sinuiju with power are not known to have been damaged, he believes some of the transmission lines and electrical substations were.

    “It’s possible that the dams, which are operated jointly with China, underwent inspections, with turbines being temporarily shut down one by one leading to less electricity generation,” he said.

    Pockets of darkness in Pyongyang

    The darkness was not only limited to the Sinuiju area. The Hwasong area of Pyongyang, site of a major housing construction project, was also dark. 

    20240904-NORTH-KOREA-NIGHT-LIGHT-003.JPEG
    Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, flooded by heavy rains in late July. (Yonhap News)

    JPSS satellite images taken on June 26 and Aug. 26 show that the bright lights that illuminated the area for nighttime workers were noticeably darker.

    “We may presume that the power situation in Pyongyang may have suddenly worsened recently, or perhaps that construction workers may have been mobilized for flood recovery in Sinuiju,” said Chung.

    Jiro Ishimaru, the founder and chief editor of the Osaka-based Asia Press news outlet that specializes in North Korea, told RFA that authorities are making an all-out flood recovery effort.

    “Even in areas where flood damage is not as severe, each company is organizing stormtroopers and sending them to the flood sites,” he said, using the term by which North Korea calls its soldiers assigned to construction work.

    Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By Seo Hye Jun for RFA Korean.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • This Week in Human Rights News


    This content originally appeared on Human Rights Watch and was authored by Human Rights Watch.

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  • Solving Economic Inequality: An Occupy Movement for this Moment?


    This content originally appeared on Laura Flanders & Friends and was authored by Laura Flanders & Friends.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • CPJ joins call urging U.S. government to make effective use of Global Magnitsky sanctions

    The Committee to Protect Journalists joined the nonpartisan human rights organization, Human Rights First, with over 90 press freedom and advocacy groups in expressing deep concern over the U.S. government’s declining response to international human rights and corruption violations in a September 5, 2024 letter. 

    The signatories urged the Departments of State and Treasury to prioritize the effective use of Global Magnitsky sanctions, a human rights and anticorruption accountability tool that authorizes sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

    Read the full letter here.


    This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Zelenskiy Urges Allies To Allow Ukraine To Strike Deeper Inside Russia


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and was authored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Zelenskiy Urges Allies To Allow Ukraine To Strike Deeper Inside Russia


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and was authored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Human rights investigators called for arms embargo, peacekeeping force in Sudan – September 6, 2024

    Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice.

    Sudanese refugee camp in Chad, 16 May 2023

    (Sudanese refugee camp in Chad, 16 May 2023 / Henry Wilkins, Voice of America)

    The post Human rights investigators called for arms embargo, peacekeeping force in Sudan – September 6, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.


    This content originally appeared on KPFA – The Pacifica Evening News, Weekdays and was authored by KPFA.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Chicago journalist struck with police bike while covering protests

    Raven Geary, who operates the independent outlet Jinx Press, was struck with a bicycle by a Chicago Police Department officer while documenting a pro-Palestinian protest planned to coincide with the nearby Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20, 2024.

    A small gathering of protesters, unaffiliated with and more militant than other groups that had organized larger demonstrations earlier in the week, converged around 7 p.m. outside the Israeli Consulate in Chicago’s West Loop section. The demonstrators and police, who far outnumbered them, clashed repeatedly. The protesters were later ordered to leave the area and police began arresting them, Block Club Chicago reported.

    Geary told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the protest “blew up really quickly.”

    “There was such a massive show of police, unlike we normally see, and a lot of just unclear directions — both to protesters and to journalists — about what the police wanted us to do,” she said. “At a certain point I guess they were giving dispersal orders over a megaphone, for example, and where I was situated I never even heard a single audible dispersal order.”

    She added that those who said they did hear the orders to disperse reported that police blocked them from doing so.

    Police corralled protesters and press multiple times over the course of several hours, Geary said, and at one point an officer struck her in the leg with a bicycle, bruising her. She told the Tracker that she was clearly identifiable as media and was wearing Jinx Press media credentials, but that given the chaos of the scene, she couldn’t be certain whether she was deliberately targeted.

    When reached by email for comment, the Chicago Police Department directed the Tracker to CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling’s news conferences during the DNC, declining to respond to questions about officers’ aggression toward journalists and reported attempts to revoke press credentials.

    “We want to allow you to do your jobs. We really do. But there are times when we’re calling a mass arrest or we’re attempting to move in, we need you guys to step to the side,” Snelling said of journalists during the Aug. 21 news conference. “If you don’t do that, it’s obstructing us and it makes it harder for us to take the people into custody that we’re trying to take into custody. And what we don’t want is for you to get caught in the middle of it and injured and hurt.”

    At least four other journalists were shoved or pulled by officers responding to the protests outside the consulate that day, and at least three were arrested.


    This content originally appeared on U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: Incident Database and was authored by U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: Incident Database.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • IN C ● 20 SONNEURS (Lausanne, 2024)


    This content originally appeared on Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes and was authored by Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes.

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  • UN News Today 06 September 2024

    Sudan war: Rights investigators demand arms embargo extension to end ‘rampant’ abusesFlooding affects more than 710,000 people in South Sudan: OCHAMiddle East crisis: top UN envoy condemns latest West Bank killings  


    This content originally appeared on UN News – Global perspective Human stories and was authored by Daniel Johnson.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Nicaragua deports 135 political prisoners, including 2 journalists 

    Mexico City, September 6, 2024—Nicaraguan authorities deported 135 political prisoners to Guatemala on Thursday, September 5, including journalists Víctor Ticay and Fabiola Tercero. 

    “Nicaragua’s release of journalists Víctor Ticay and Fabiola Tercero brings us relief, but they should never have been imprisoned, as they were simply doing their jobs as journalists,” said Cristina Zahar, CPJ’s Latin America program coordinator, in São Paulo. “Nicaragua must stop persecuting journalists and their families for their reporting and allow the media to operate without the constant threat of detention or exile.”

    Authorities arrested Ticay, a reporter for privately owned TV broadcaster Canal 10, after he live-streamed a Catholic Easter celebration on April 6, 2023, following a government ban on public expressions of religion. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in August 2023 on charges of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and disseminating false news. 

    Tercero, an independent journalist from Managua, went missing on July 12, 2024, after police entered her home. Until her deportation to Guatemala, her whereabouts were unknown.


    This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Viral Nitish-Lalu meeting video is from 2022; ‘political game-changer’ speculation baseless

    Three days after RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav had met Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at the state secretariat, a video clip of Kumar meeting RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav at the latter’s residence in the presence of Tejaswi Yadav and Rabri Devi is being circulated on social media.

    The supposed recent meeting between the two party supremos is being dubbed as a probable game-changer in national politics since the NDA government is dependent on the Nitish-led JD(U)’s support and RJD is a part of the Opposition alliance.     

    X (formerly Twitter) user Shailendra Yadav (@ShailendraA2Y), who describes himself as a freelance journalist, shared the video on September 5, 2024, claiming that the incident took place “today”. What he wrote in Hindi can be loosely translated as “The game is on in Bihar.” (Archive)

    The X handle Dhruv Rathee (Parody) (@dhruvrahtee) also shared the video. He claimed the meeting took place on September 5. (Archive)

    The same video was also tweeted by user Dinesh Kumar (@DineshKumarLive) (Archive)

    Fact Check

    After breaking down the video into multiple keyframes, we ran reverse image searches, which led us to a two-year-old YouTube video uploaded by the OTV or OdishaTV on September 5, 2022, which contained the same visuals as the viral clip.

    Further, a relevant keyword search led us to a tweet by news agency ANI (@ANI) from September 5, 2022. It said that Nitish Kumar had met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav at latter’s residence.

    As readers can see, the photos in the tweet match the visuals in the viral video. Comparison below:

    We also found a news report from September 5, 2022 by ANI which states, “Patna (Bihar) [India], September 5 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav at the latter’s residence in Patna, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi.” 

    Hence, from the above findings, it is clear that the video clip is not a recent one, rather it dates back to September 2022 when Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar called on Lalu Prasad Yadav at the latter’s residence. The claims by different social media users that the meeting is recent and hence potentially game-changing are false.

    Incidentally, on Friday, September 6, 2024, Nitish Kumar rubbished speculation about his joining hands with the RJD again and said that he had “made a mistake twice” and would not repeat it, The Hindu reported.

    Ankita Mahalanobish is an intern at Alt News.

    The post Viral Nitish-Lalu meeting video is from 2022; ‘political game-changer’ speculation baseless appeared first on Alt News.


    This content originally appeared on Alt News and was authored by Ankita Mahalanobish.

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  • Fred Trump III Denounces His Uncle Donald Trump for Saying Disabled People “Should Just Die”


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

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  • Dedrick Asante-Muhammad & Algernon Austin on the Black Economy

     

     

    CEPR: The Best Black Economy in Generations – And Why It Isn’t Enough

    CEPR (8/26/24)

    This week on CounterSpin: Corporate economic news can be so abstract that it’s disinforming even when it’s true. The big idea is that there’s something called “the US economy” that can be doing well or poorly, which obscures the reality that we are differently situated, and good news for the stock market, say, may mean nothing, or worse, for me. A people-centered press corps would spell out the meaning of economic “indicators,” not just in terms of their impact on different communities, but in relation to where we want to go as a society that has yet to address deep historical and structural harms.

    A new report on the current state of the Black economy takes up these questions. We’ll hear from its co-authors: Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; and Algernon Austin is director of the Race and Economic Justice program at the Center for Economic and Policy Research.


    This content originally appeared on FAIR and was authored by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • “Beyond Catastrophic”: U.N. Issues Dire Warning on Gaza as Israel Hinders Polio Vaccination Drive


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Russia Intensifies Strikes on Ukraine as U.S. Pledges $250 Million More for Kyiv Amid Deepening War


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Top U.S. & World Headlines — September 6, 2024


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  • Superpoze‬ – Live at ARTE Concert ‪Festival 2022


    This content originally appeared on Blogothèque and was authored by Blogothèque.

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  • M K Stalin photo at Times Square, New York? The viral image is edited

    Recently, there has been significant discussion on social media about Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin’s visit to the United States. Amid this, a photo went viral showing Stalin’s photo displayed at Times Square in New York. The image was widely shared by media outlets with claims that the banner was put up to welcome Stalin to the United States.

    A verified X (formerly Twitter) account, DMK Updates, shared the photo on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “Power of new history, tomorrow is ours. (Archived link)

    Another verified X account called ABP Naidu also shared the image, writing, “A warm welcome to Chief Minister M K Stalin who is on a visit to America.” (Archived link)

    Many news outlets shared the photo, though several have since deleted or altered their posts. 

    Fact Check

    To investigate the authenticity of the viral image, Alt News conducted a reverse image search. This led to the discovery of an article from the Nantucket Preservation Trust titled “Friday’s Search: History of Times Square,” published on January 2, 2015. Every element in this photo is the same as in the viral photo, except that in place of Stalin’s image, there are other advertisements.

    The same image was found in a 2011 Facebook post as well. 

    When Alt News compared the viral image with the original, it became evident that Stalin’s picture had been edited onto the advertisements at Times Square.

    Despite this, social media users began sharing a video, purportedly proving the authenticity of the viral photo.

    A verified X user, Kalgi Kumar, posted the video, suggesting it was evidence that disproved that the image was edited. (Archived link)

    Similarly, the DMK Updates X handle also shared the video, captioning it “Fact-check.”

    Alt News continued its investigation by conducting a reverse image search on frames from the video. We found a post from the X account Spark Media which showed banners of M K Stalin at Times Square.

    Additionally, a post by America-DMK confirmed that banners welcoming the Tamil Nadu chief minister were indeed displayed in Times Square. The post mentioned that individuals like Balamuruganagan, Thani Ravi, Gosal, and Mani were part of the event. In the video, Balamuruganagan is seen speaking in front of a banner of M K Stalin, matching the viral video but with slight differences in image details.

    Comparing the viral photo with the images shown in the video, Alt News identified discrepancies in the design, such as variations in text size, flag shapes, colours, and Stalin’s photo itself.

    To sum it up, the viral image being shared, purported to be a banner of M K Stalin displayed at Times Square to welcome him to the US, is an edited photo. However, it is true that banners of chief minister M K Stalin were indeed displayed at Times Square during his visit. 

    The post M K Stalin photo at Times Square, New York? The viral image is edited appeared first on Alt News.


    This content originally appeared on Alt News and was authored by pawan.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Battlefield Footage: Russian Forces Enter Village In Donetsk Combat Zone


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and was authored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Fred Trump III Denounces His Uncle Donald Trump for Saying Disabled People “Should Just Die”

    Fredtrumpiiidonaldtrumpsonwilliam

    Democracy Now! is joined by the nephew of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Fred Trump III’s new memoir, All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way, shares fresh insights into the Trump family and acts as a platform to advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities. Fred Trump’s own son William has a rare genetic disorder that causes severe developmental and intellectual disabilities. He says Donald Trump once told him to abandon William, saying, “He doesn’t recognize you. Let him die, and move down to Florida.” After a meeting in the Oval Office about dedicating more resources to people with disabilities, Fred Trump says his uncle said, “Those people, the costs. They should just die.”

    “How could one human being say that about any other human being, least of all your grandnephew?” says Fred Trump, who calls on the next president to support disabled Americans. “The Harris campaign and her positions are ones that I believe. Now, that being said, I have yet to hear anything regarding disability actions … and I will put their feet to the fire on this.”


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • “Beyond Catastrophic”: U.N. Issues Dire Warning on Gaza as Israel Hinders Polio Vaccination Drive

    Seg2 gaza 1

    The United Nations is warning the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains “beyond catastrophic” as more than 1 million Palestinians in Gaza did not receive any food rations in August amid Israel’s relentless assault. Israel’s 11-month campaign has killed more than 15,000 children and enabled the besieged territory’s first polio outbreak in a quarter-century. INARA founder Arwa Damon just got back from spending two weeks in Gaza, where the nonprofit currently provides medical and mental healthcare to Palestinian children. “Israel has decimated every single aspect of any sort of infrastructure within the Gaza Strip, from sewage to water to electricity to you name it,” says Damon, who reports that humanitarian assistance has diminished significantly while displaced Palestinians play a “macabre, dark, twisted game” of trying to escape constant Israeli bombing.


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Russia Intensifies Strikes on Ukraine as U.S. Pledges $250 Million More for Kyiv Amid Deepening War

    Seg1 austin ukraine damage

    Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced more U.S. aid for Ukraine just days after the country was hit by one of the deadliest airstrikes since Russia’s invasion in early 2022. On Tuesday, a pair of Russian missiles struck a military academy and hospital in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava, killing at least 51 people and injuring more than 270. “The sense … is that the U.S. is giving Ukraine enough so that it doesn’t lose, but not enough so that it can actually make significant and needed gains,” says award-winning journalist Arwa Damon, who is in Ukraine providing medical and mental healthcare with her organization INARA, the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance. “This has been going on for well over two years right now, and they really want to begin to be able to see a way out.”


    This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

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  • Europe: More people have died crossing the Mediterranean and English Channel by Boat


    This content originally appeared on Human Rights Watch and was authored by Human Rights Watch.

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