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☆ What Navalny Can Teach Americans About Bravery - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Vladimir Putin’s Russia has just become even more bleak and soulless with the reported death in an Arctic prison of Aleksei Navalny, the 47-year-old dissident who showed immense bravery and humor as he tried to bring democracy to his homeland. Navalny’s strength, resilience and courage contrast with the fecklessness of so many Americans dealing with Putin. From Donald Trump to Tucker Carlson, a remarkable number of American leaders and their mouthpieces roll over before the Russian president. “Why do Trump and his congressional enablers want to further appease this Russian tyrant?” Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, asked after the news broke of Navalny’s death. I hope Navalny’s example will fortify Americans and Europeans alike, for despite all our resources we have not shown a sliver of the strength that he did.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Aleksei Navalny, Putin, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Trump, Dick Durbin Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Russian, Illinois

☆ Analysis: After Tucker Carlson’s softball interview, Putin walks away with propaganda victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —It’s evident now why Vladimir Putin granted an interview to Tucker Carlson. At times, between the airing of grievances, Putin appeared to school Carlson on historical events as the host looked on in bewilderment. It was a massive propaganda victory for Putin, who can — and will – now twist the encounter for his own ends. “VLADIMIR PUTIN’S INTERVIEW GAINS OVER 20 MILLION VIEWERS IN FIRST TWO HOURS,” RT boasted in one on-screen graphic. At the end of the interview, Carlson asked Putin if he would be “willing to release” Evan Gershkovich, the imprisoned reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

Persons: CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, Tucker, Putin, Alexei Navalny, Carlson, Putin’s, Clarissa Ward, “, ” Carlson, ” Putin, Putin’s mouthpieces, VLADIMIR PUTIN’S, Volodymyr Zelensky, Dmitry Peskov, ” Evan Gershkovich, Gershkovich, he’s, ”, Ted Mann, Evan, ’, ” Mann, “ Carlson, “ Evan Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Central Intelligence Agency, TASS, Wall Street Journal Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, bewilderment, Kiev

☆ Maker of Wegovy, Ozempic showers money on U.S. obesity doctors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Novo spent at least $25.8 million over the past decade on U.S. medical professionals to promote its two obesity drugs, Wegovy and Saxenda, the analysis found. Jastreboff has also worked on clinical trials of obesity drugs for Eli Lilly, which markets a Wegovy competitor. Some doctors said Novo’s payments exemplify how the flood of industry money can dominate decision-making about care and coverage. Government pharmacy officer Solaru said her agency concluded that the new obesity drugs could be cost-effective by preventing other weight-related diseases and boosting workplace productivity. In January, the personnel office told its health plans they must cover at least one GLP-1 obesity drug for 8 million workers, retirees and family members.

Persons: Lee Kaplan, Kaplan, ”, gastroenterologist, He’s, Novo, Donna Ryan, Ryan, “, ” Kaplan, ” Novo, Robert Lustig, “ I’m, Lustig, They’re, Ania, ” Jastreboff, Jastreboff, Eli Lilly, Lilly’s Zepbound, Lilly, ” Lilly, Novo’s, Ayana, Sanders, Arthur Kellermann, ” Kellermann, mouthpieces, ’ ”, “ I'm, Jamy Ard, Ard, Dele, ” Solaru, ” Ryan, Scott Kahan, Kahan, Solaru, Christine Gallagher, Wegovy, Rebekah Carl, Carl, Jen Wexler, gaunt, Wexler Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Dartmouth, Nutrition Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Cambridge, Obesity Society, U.S ., Management, Reuters . Pharmaceutical, ”, U.S, United, National Health Service, University of California, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Doctors, Wegovy’s, BMI, Yale University’s Center, Weight Management, Wall Street, American Medical Association, Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, Affordable, . Pharmaceutical, Companies, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management, Obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research, U.S . National Institutes of Health, Personnel Management, Coalition, STOP, George Washington University, Novo Locations: CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Boston, U.S, Novo, Danish, United States, Louisiana, San Francisco, Wegovy, Pennington, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, Government, New Columbia , Pennsylvania, Florida

☆ Rupert Murdoch, a kingmaker in GOP politics, enriched himself as he poisoned America
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Rupert Murdoch’s reign over the insidious right-wing media kingdom he forged into existence over a decades-long career is coming to a close. Murdoch is a strategic thinker and ruthless businessman, who would have given the timing of his exit immense thought. Is the announcement an indication that Murdoch is attempting to further cement his son, Lachlan, as his successor? The other question is: How will this transition impact the organization of Murdoch’s companies? And the biggest question of all: Does Murdoch have some additional surprises left up his sleeve?

Persons: Rupert Murdoch’s, Murdoch, “, Murdoch bashed, ”, ” Murdoch, —, Donald Trump, Lachlan, Will Lachlan Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, News Corporation, Fox News, Fox, Voting Systems, Dominion, News Corporations Locations: cahoots, Smartmatic

☆ China is doing everything it can to conceal the true extent of its economic turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

China's economy is turning into a big black blob. This is happening because Xi's China is one that puts ideology before economic growth. Not because the reforms weren't working, but because the China they were creating is not the one Xi wants to see. Even as the main drivers of China's economy stumble, there will be no direct support to help households power through this fragile period. Known unknownsTransparency in China's economic data has always moved the same cycles as its politics.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, it's, Charlene Chu, Xi, who've, It's, Chu, Fan Zhang, Zhang, Xie Huanchi, thegovernment, Victor Shih, Ministry of State Security —, isn't, Shih, Linette Lopez Organizations: Communist, Autonomous Research, Nike, Starbucks, CCP, National Bureau of Statistics, Custom, J Capital Research, Study Times, Getty, World Trade Organization, Century China Center, University of California, Communist Party, Ministry of State Security, Beijing Locations: China, COVID, Xinhua, University of California San Diego, Beijing

☆ Newly declassified US intel claims Russia is laundering propaganda through unwitting Westerners
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Russian intelligence is operating a systematic program to launder pro-Kremlin propaganda through private relationships between Russian operatives and unwitting US and western targets, according to newly declassified US intelligence. “At the end of the day, this unwitting target is disseminating Russian influence operation, Russian propaganda to their target public,” the US official said. In fact, the FSB directed his efforts and “almost certainly financed the project,” according to the declassified intelligence. The FSB does use similar tactics to influence political opinion within Russia, according to the intelligence. “The purpose of those protests really was … designed to sell it to the Russian people,” the US official said.

Persons: “, Maxim Grigoriev, Syria –, Bashar al, Assad, optees ”, Andrey Stepanenko, Natalia Burlinova, Anton Tsvetkov Organizations: Washington CNN, Russian, Russian Federal Security Service, CNN, UN, “, US, Embassy — Locations: Russian, Syria, Russia, United States, Ukraine, New York, Boston, Washington, Moscow —, Ukrainian

☆ Trump’s media mouthpieces have faced legal peril over his election lies. Now it’s his turn
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump’s dangerous lies about the 2020 election, which saturated right-wing media after the presidential contest and led to the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, have finally put the disgraced former president in serious legal jeopardy. Fox News, Newsmax, and One America News have already been hurled into legal peril for their roles in disseminating Trump’s election lies to the masses. Each of them have faced colossal lawsuits from Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, two voting technology companies at the center of Trump’s lies. In the indictment handed down Tuesday, special counsel Jack Smith alleged Trump knew the lies that he was pushing about the election were false. Now, Trump will be forced to step into the same dangerous arena as his media allies.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Trump’s, Rupert Murdoch, Jack Smith, Murdoch, Joe Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Republican, Fox News, America, Voting Systems, Trump, Dominion, MAGA Media Locations: Smartmatic, Trump’s, Dominion

☆ Fox News’ new prime time lineup shows Rupert Murdoch can’t quit Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The influential Fox News lineup, which debuts Monday night, is made up of Trump mouthpieces — personalities who have willfully spread propaganda and misinformation on behalf of Trump during his years in the White House. With the surprise firing of Tucker Carlson from the 8pm perch this spring, Murdoch had the opportunity to reshape Fox News prime time. Winding back the Republican Party to a previous era may be impossible, even for Murdoch. Even if Youngkin did enter the race, Murdoch surely knows that his odds of dethroning Trump would be slim. Which may explain his decision to go with a prime time lineup that has reliably championed Trump.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Murdoch, Trump, MAGA, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, Murdoch’s, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, dethroning Trump Organizations: CNN, GOP, Fox News, Republican Party, Trump, Republican, Florida Gov, Virginia Gov

☆ Russian flyers who disobeyed orders to attack Wagner forces may be caught up in Putin's dragnet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Suspicions of disloyalty seemingly extend far beyond senior officials and generals who had direct ties to Prigozhin. Some pilots and airmen are said to face questions for refusing orders to fire on the Wagner columns during their coup. Some Russian bloggers felt it was hypocritical to punish the aviators when the mutineers were let off. Russian warplanes fired on Wagner Group mercenaries to try to stop their advance over the weekend, but some pilots and airmen face questions for refusing orders to fire. Putin is said to have discussed assassinating Prigozhin and has indicated the Wagner founder is under investigation for stealing from the Russian government.

Persons: Wagner, —, Romanov, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Sergei Surovikin, Putin, Prigozhin Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, Prigozhin Locations: Prigozhin, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Belarus

May 9 (Reuters) - Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has renewed his attacks on the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange’s law firm as he mounts his defense against a raft of fraud, money laundering and campaign finance charges. Bankman-Fried late Monday asked a judge to designate FTX’s current leadership and the exchange’s attorneys at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell as part of the “prosecution team” in the criminal case against him. FTX and Sullivan & Cromwell provided such extensive cooperation to the government that prosecutors had “effectively deputized the company to aid the prosecution,” Bankman-Fried argued. Sullivan & Cromwell, a prominent Wall Street law firm with about 900 lawyers, represented FTX on transactions and regulatory matters before its collapse last year. In Monday’s filing, Bankman-Fried’s defense team said Ray and FTX’s bankruptcy lawyers have acted as “public mouthpieces” for the prosecution and have turned over “cherry-picked” information incriminating Bankman-Fried.

☆ Leaked Breitbart messages highlight right-wing media struggle over Republican party’s future
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The tense back and forth inside Breitbart reflects a growing tension inside the right-wing media universe writ large — one that could have consequences for national politics. Ahead of the 2024 Republican primary contest, battle lines are starting to be drawn. It’s reminicent of what took place in right-wing media during the 2016 GOP primary season. But the manner in which the biggest mouthpieces in right-wing media cover the looming primary is highly consequential, and could ultimately decide who gets the party’s blessing. Republican primary voters primarily get their news from partisan outlets, such as Breitbart and Fox News, while shunning news from mainstream outlets.

☆ The Manhattan DA's office investigating Trump has been 'inundated' with hundreds of angry calls spewing racial slurs and parroting Trump's rhetoric
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Manhattan attorney's office investigating Donald Trump has been "inundated" with calls from angry supporters. The callers have been parroting Trump's rhetoric and hurling racial slurs against DA Alvin Bragg. In recent days, the Manhattan DA's office has been the victim of several death threats. In a since-deleted post, Trump also shared a photo of himself holding a baseball bat, ready to swing, next to Bragg. "I'm not his social media consultant," Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

☆ I built a 'tiny house' hotel that made $860,000 in bookings in its first year. Here are my tips for starting a successful short-term-rental business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

French shares how he grew direct bookings and the property's social media to find early success. Last year, I built and opened a "tiny hotel" — a short-term-rental property made up of seven tiny houses — that made $860,000 in bookings. Live Oak Lake. I started growing the Live Oak Lake Instagram presence when we opened, and now we have 70,000 followers. We make about 10% more profit through direct bookings because we can avoid booking-site fees.

☆ U.S.-China relations just got more fragile
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indefinitely postponed his visit to Beijing due to a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the United States. Brown | AFP | Getty ImagesBEIJING — U.S.-China relations look increasingly fragile, analysts say, after a now-downed Chinese balloon forced U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to indefinitely postpone his trip to Beijing. "A key question is why the Biden administration decided to publicize this balloon but not previous [reported] ones," Wildau said. While discussion of the balloon — including memes — circulated on Chinese social media, China's official Chinese-language mouthpieces have been more muted so far. "That alone would mean the Chinese leadership would be more restrained and would not want to let this balloon situation blow out of proportion."

☆ Prince Harry's William resentment makes 'Spare' a royal tragedy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Vicky Ward | Vicky Ward Is The Author Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“I was twenty the first time I heard the story of what Pa allegedly said to Mummy the day of my birth,” Harry writes. So, too, despite all Harry’s resentment, seems to be his brother. William stays by Harry’s side the night before Harry’s wedding, only leaving to stay the night with Kate and his kids. But on this topic, Harry’ resentment gets the better of him. They’ll read “Spare” and see that, personalities aside, the chief culprit for Harry’s lifelong resentment is the unfortunate law of primogeniture.

☆ Unprecedented protests in China are making headlines around the world, except inside China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It is one of the top stories — if not the top story — for major news organizations around the world. But for the hundreds of millions in China relying on news coverage from state-run media, there has been almost no coverage of the unprecedented challenge to leader Xi Jinping. Other state-run media outlets are also doing their best to wholly ignore the mass demonstrations, which have broken out in at least 16 cities. Mentions of the protests were absent Monday on the websites belonging to the People’s Daily and China Daily, two other prominent state-controlled media organizations. The concerted effort by the state-run media to silence the protests and carry government messaging put on display the lengths Xi’s mouthpieces will go to crush dissent.

CNN —Elon Musk on Sunday gave credence to a fringe conspiracy theory about the violent attack on Paul Pelosi. The new Twitter owner tweeted a link to an article full of baseless claims about Pelosi. Musk, who has 112 million followers on the platform he now owns, posted the baseless story about Pelosi in response to a tweet from Hilary Clinton at 8:15 am ET. He later deleted the tweet around 2 pm, but not before racking up more than 28,000 retweets and 100,000 likes. Linking to a Los Angeles Times story about Pelosi’s alleged attacker, Clinton wrote, “The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories.

☆ Elon Musk bizarrely responds to Hillary Clinton after she links 'hate and deranged conspiracy theories' from GOP to Paul Pelosi's attack: 'There might be more to this story than meets the eye'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk tweeted a link to a site with conspiracy theories about Paul Pelosi's assault. In a tweeted reply to Hillary Clinton, Musk shared a link to a site with conspiracy theories about the attack. Clinton condemned the assault, accusing the "Republican Party and its mouthpieces" of regularly spreading "hate and deranged conspiracy theories." Following the assault, Paul Pelosi underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and is expected to make a full recovery. While several mainstream conservatives have condemned the assault, some right-wing pundits have cast doubt and shared conspiracy theories about the attack.

☆ Elon Musk, new owner of Twitter, tweets unfounded, anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi attack
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, tweeted out a since-deleted, unfounded and anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theory Sunday morning about the attack on the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from a website that has a history of publishing false information. The fact-checking website Media Bias/Fact Check rates the Santa Monica Observer as a "questionable source" based on "the routine publication of false and misleading information and the use of poor sources." Media Bias/Fact Check said the website's article on the Pelosi attack "appears to be fake and defamatory." The publisher of the website, David Ganezer, unsuccessfully ran for Santa Monica City Council in 2010 and 1988, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. Pelosi suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, according to Drew Hammill, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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