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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Correcting the Record on Another Misleading CalPERS Press Release

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Correcting the Record on Another Misleading CalPERS Press Release

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Adam Carolla Calls Out Biased Press, Defends Bill O"Reilly

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Adam Carolla Calls Out Biased Press, Defends Bill O"Reilly

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Quantico Commander Press Conference on Base Shooting

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Quantico Commander Press Conference on Base Shooting

Monday, March 24, 2014

House Dems press for immigration vote

Activists gather near the U.S. Capitol to urge Congress to pass immigration reform this year. | M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO

Democrats are hoping to spread the pressure outside Washington. | M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO

House Democrats plan to launch a discharge petition on Wednesday in a long-shot effort to force a floor vote on immigration reform – their latest move to pressure Republicans to advance an overhaul this year.

Already this year, Democrats have tried the procedural gambit to compel votes on raising the federal minimum wage and extending unemployment insurance that have so far failed to attract GOP support. And the third time likely won’t be the charm for House Democrats – successful petitions are notoriously rare. A member of the majority party signing onto a discharge effort is considered a significant breach of party loyalty.

Still, the strategy brings more attention to comprehensive immigration reform, an issue that House Republicans are letting fade from the spotlight. As the prospects of reform in the House have dimmed, attention from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates has turned to President Barack Obama to do some sort of administrative action that would slow the rate of deportations of undocumented immigrants.

The discharge petition will be filed on a House bill that largely mirrors the legislation written by the Senate Gang of Eight that passed that chamber last June, according to a senior House Democratic aide. Democrats will mark the launch with an event on the steps at the East Front of the Capitol on Wednesday morning.

And Democrats are hoping to spread the pressure outside Washington. The New Democrat Coalition, a group of center-left House Democrats who have taken up immigration reform as a key issue, will be working with FWD.us to host press events in key districts to promote reform and the discharge petition effort. FWD.us is the advocacy group backed by Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg.

“We’ll be driving home the case that comprehensive reform is good for the economy, lowers the deficit, and helps our most innovative tech companies succeed in the global marketplace,” another House Democratic aide involved in the effort said.

The legislation has three Republican co-sponsors – California Reps. Jeff Denham and David Valadao, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida – but all three lawmakers have indicated separately that they won’t sign a discharge petition on the bill.

POLITICO – Congress

House Dems press for immigration vote

Press covering Michelle O shoved, screamed at, blocked from events in China...

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Press covering Michelle O shoved, screamed at, blocked from events in China...

Sunday, February 2, 2014

9/11 Truther Takes Microphone During Super Bowl Press Conference

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AboveTopSecret.com New Topics In General Conspiracies

9/11 Truther Takes Microphone During Super Bowl Press Conference

Man Disrupts Super Bowl Press Conference Telling People To Investigate Lies Surrounding 9/11 Attacks

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Man Disrupts Super Bowl Press Conference Telling People To Investigate Lies Surrounding 9/11 Attacks

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

U. N. Climate Report Leaked to Press Paints Bleak Picture

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U. N. Climate Report Leaked to Press Paints Bleak Picture

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Breaking Video News - Welcome to The Associated Press

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Breaking Video News - Welcome to The Associated Press

9/11: Press for truth - sous-titré français

A featured video on 9/11 and the issues surrounding the event.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Tech executives press Obama to reform surveillance practices

By Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:49pm EST

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the economy at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress in Washington December 4, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Technology company executives pressed President Barack Obama on Tuesday to rein in the U.S. government’s electronic spying after a court dealt a blow to the administration’s surveillance practices.

Top executives from Apple Inc, Google Inc, Yahoo Inc, Netflix Inc, Comcast Corp, AT&T Inc, Microsoft Corp, Twitter Inc, Facebook Inc and other companies met privately for more than two hours with Obama and top White House aides.

The session came as Obama and his national security team decide what recommendations to adopt from an outside panel’s review on constraining the activities of the National Security Agency without compromising U.S. national security.

The White House had trumpeted the meeting as a chance to talk up progress made in repairing the government’s healthcare website after its botched rollout generated a political firestorm and sent Obama’s job approval rating tumbling.

But in a brief statement released after the session, the tech companies focused solely on government surveillance, not healthcare.

“We appreciated the opportunity to share directly with the president our principles on government surveillance that we released last week and we urge him to move aggressively on reform,” the technology companies said in their statement.

The NSA’s practices essentially made the companies partners in sweeping government surveillance efforts against private citizens.

Separately, Obama’s nominee to be chief legal counsel to the Central Intelligence Agency said on Tuesday she disagreed with a judge’s ruling that the NSA surveillance programs are likely unlawful, citing a 1979 case often used as precedent in privacy cases.

“I have a different view about the Fourth Amendment,” nominee Caroline Krass said at a Senate hearing. “I think that under Smith v. Maryland, which I still consider to be good law, there is not a reasonable expectation of privacy in telephony metadata.”

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the U.S. government’s gathering of Americans’ phone records is likely unlawful.

PROTECT PRIVACY

Eight tech companies launched a campaign a week ago asking for governments to reform surveillance practices to protect privacy, writing an open letter to Obama and Congress on the issue.

They said revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden had highlighted an urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide.

A representative from one of the companies, who asked not to be identified, said the White House had wanted to meet to discuss the HealthCare.gov website. The invitations were sent before the White House received the tech companies’ letter.

The main draw for the tech companies was the opportunity to press the case on the need for more transparency on the bulk data collected.

A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the meeting as constructive and “not at all contentious.” Obama and a clutch of his top advisers – including national security adviser Susan Rice and counterterrorism aide Lisa Monaco – listened closely to the company executives’ ideas and concerns, the official added.

Documents provided by Snowden showed that a U.S. surveillance court had secretly approved the collection of raw daily phone records in the United States. Other revelations have included reports that U.S. monitoring extended to some foreign leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Obama is due to announce next month what steps he will take to roll back the sweeping surveillance practices.

The White House said after the tech meeting that the president and the executives discussed the national security and economic impacts of unauthorized intelligence disclosures as Obama nears completion on his intelligence review.

“The president made clear his belief in an open, free and innovative Internet and listened to the group’s concerns and recommendations, and made clear that we will consider their input as well as the input of other outside stakeholders as we finalize our review of signals-intelligence programs,” the White House said in a statement.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Will Dunham and Lisa Shumaker)

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Reuters: Politics

Tech executives press Obama to reform surveillance practices

Monday, December 16, 2013

Press For Truth - Thoughts On The "Occupy Movement"

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Press For Truth - Thoughts On The "Occupy Movement"

Sunday, December 15, 2013

PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Dec 16

PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Dec 16
http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-89EKCgBk8MZdE.gif

Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:54pm EST

Dec 16 (Reuters) – The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Telegraph

STANDARD CHARTERED FORCED BY BANK TO STRIP TOP EXEC OF RISK ROLE

The Bank of England has forced Standard Chartered to strip its finance director, Richard Meddings, of his responsibility for risk at the emerging markets-focused lender. ()

JAPAN’S SOMPO DUE TO BUY INSURER CANOPIUS

The Lloyd’s of London insurer Canopius is expected to be bought by Sompo Japan Insurance for 100 billion yen($ 969.56 million) this week. ()

ADIDAS MAY CUT SPORTS DIRECT FROM SUPPLY OF WORLD CUP 2014 FOOTBALL SHIRTS

Adidas may refuse to supply Sports Direct with Argentina, Germany and Spain football shirts ahead of the 2014 World Cup over concerns about the state of the discount retailer’s stores and customer service. ()

BIRDS EYE OWNER ASKS LENDERS FOR EXTRA BREATHING SPACE

Iglo, the debt-laden company behind Birds Eye frozen food, has asked its lenders for extra breathing space as its new chief executive, Elio Sceti, seeks to double sales by 2020. ()

The Guardian

INSURANCE FIRM RSA DENIES INVESTOR DEMAND FOR SALE

The troubled insurance firm RSA has denied that leading shareholders have demanded it put itself up for sale but admitted it was considering its options, including disposals and cost cuts. ()

VIRGIN MONEY TO ENTER CURRENT ACCOUNT MARKET

Virgin Money, the financial services company that took over Northern Rock, is expected to offer current accounts for the first time next year. ()

The Times

BOOST FOR JOHN LEWIS AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES

Demand for sofas and carving trays helped John Lewis to post a 1.4 percent year-on-year rise in sales in the week to Dec. 14. Sales of 149.9 million pounds ($ 244.01 million) were up 12.6 percent on two years ago and an increase of 3.7 percent compared with last week’s figures. ()

FRACKERS SEEK COMIC RELIEF IN DISHING OUT BENEFIT FUNDS

The shale gas industry is in talks with the organisation that distributes donations on behalf of Sport Relief and Comic Relief to run its proposed 1.1 billion pound community benefit fund. ()

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Reuters: Bonds News

Read more about PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Dec 16 and other interesting subjects concerning Bonds at TheDailyNewsReport.com

The Origins Of Skiing, Freedom Of The Press, Extreme Air Travel

Enlarge image i

A lassoed elk struggles after Serik demonstrates the age-old technique of capturing game in deep snow.

Jonas Bendiksen/National Geographic

A lassoed elk struggles after Serik demonstrates the age-old technique of capturing game in deep snow.

Jonas Bendiksen/National Geographic

This week on the podcast, we speak with a journalist testing the limits of the First Amendment, learn about the controversial origins of skiing, and discover exactly what some travelers will do…for air miles.

News

The Origins Of Skiing, Freedom Of The Press, Extreme Air Travel

News

Murder In Pakistan, Fiction In Iran And The ‘Weirdest Show On Television’

Eric Andre performs at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago in June 2012.

News

Child Miners, Dinosaurs, And The Rulings Of ‘Judge’ John Hodgman

John Hodgman, left, presides over a live taping of the Judge John Hodgman podcast, as Jesse Thorn looks on.

News

The True Lives Of Fake Hitmen, Remaking Las Vegas, Johnnie Walker

Las Vegas, long known for its gambling-fueled revenue model, took a big hit in the financial crisis. The city is now trying to remake itself as more than a one-economy town.

News

The Origins Of Skiing, Freedom Of The Press, Extreme Air Travel

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Dems still press for new sanctions

Sen. Chuck Schumer says he was ‘disappointed’ by the pact and that sanctions are likely. | AP Photo

Leading Senate Democrats aren’t backing down from their calls for new penalties on Iran despite the Obama administration’s landmark deal to rein in the nation’s nuclear weapons program.

Senior Democrats on Sunday suggested the Senate is as likely as ever to slap Iran with additional sanctions, a move sure to frustrate President Barack Obama’s delicate diplomatic effort.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the chamber’s No. 3 Democrat, said he was “disappointed” by the pact and argued that Iran won more from the deal’s looser economic penalties than the international community gained by slowing down the country’s nuclear program.

“This disproportionality of this agreement makes it more likely that Democrats and Republicans will join together and pass additional sanctions when we return in December. I intend to discuss that possibility with my colleagues,” Schumer said.

Senators from both parties spent the past few weeks pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran even as they were personally lobbied by Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry to hold off for diplomatic talks to run their course.

The instant backlash — especially from fellow Democrats — suggests that Kerry will have a lot of work to do to convince lawmakers to wait on new sanctions and allow the deal to proceed.

Kerry, who helped broker the deal, is expressing confidence in how it will be received on Capitol Hill. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” he predicted that “Congress will recognize that this deal actually has a great deal of benefit in it.”

On Sunday, Senate leaders gave a sense of how they might move forward. Legislation that the upper chamber would likely consider would include a six-month “window” that would allow the United States and Iran to finalize a deal, said Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). But it would also include a trigger that could slap Iran with immediate penalties if further diplomacy fails, he added.

“I do not believe we should further reduce our sanctions, nor abstain from preparations to impose new sanctions on Iran should the talks fail,” Menendez said. “I expect that the forthcoming sanctions legislation to be considered by the Senate will provide for a six month window to reach a final agreement before imposing new sanctions on Iran, but will at the same time be immediately available should the talks falter or Iran fail to implement or breach the interim agreement.”

Menendez critiqued the agreement for disproportionately aiding Iran and called for vigorous enforcement of existing sanctions and “ongoing” verification of the nuclear program’s scale-back, particularly given “Iran’s history of duplicity.” Schumer agreed the deal “does not seem proportional” but said he remained hopeful that the Obama administration could eventually seal an agreement to scrap all nuclear weapons capability in Iran.

Other influential Democrats took a more moderate stance.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) argued the deal is a test of Iran’s willingness to follow through on its international commitments and that a “partial roll-back of Iran’s nuclear energy activities is a bigger plus for us” than the financial relief that Iran is receiving. But even in generally praising the Obama administration’s negotiating acumen, Levin made it clear he would support a new sanctions bill if the tentative agreement falters.

“If Iran does not consent to a comprehensive agreement that ensures it cannot acquire a nuclear weapon, there is a broad consensus in Congress to impose even tougher sanctions,” Levin said.

Sen. Bill Nelson said the Iran deal is better than the alternative.

“It is a choice between a pause or imminent war,” the Florida Democrat said. “I choose a verifiable pause.”

Before the breakthrough, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated on Friday the Senate may pursue a bipartisan sanctions bill in December, when the chamber returns from a two-week Thanksgiving recess for a short work period. Obama successfully urged Reid and his colleagues to hold off last week on considering sanctions during the fragile diplomatic talks.

An Iran sanctions bill would likely be drafted in the Senate Banking Committee by Chairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), who has generally been deferential to Reid on whether a new sanctions bill is needed.

POLITICO – Congress

Dems still press for new sanctions

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Burma, S.Africa...Britain? Intl press freedom team dispatched to UK for first time

Burma, S.Africa...Britain? Intl press freedom team dispatched to UK for first time
http://isbigbrotherwatchingyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/433a0__internet_backdoor__2press-freedom-royal-charter.si.jpg

Published time: November 10, 2013 19:24

A picture shows the offices of the Guardian newspaper in central London (AFP Photo/Andrew Cowie)

An ‘unprecedented’ international mission is to enter the UK in January amid increasing concern over the country’s press freedom laws. The global community is becoming unsettled by the idea of a Royal Charter to restrict press freedom.

The World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) represents over 100 countries and 18,000 organizations, and is known for its press freedom campaigns in countries such as Burma, South Africa, and Mexico.

While typically examining the press restrictions in still-developing countries, the association is now expressing serious concern over Britain’s reputation, saying that it is sending the mission “in response to recent actions by the British government.”

The visit will mark the first time such an organization has visited the UK. The delegation will meet the government and opposition figures as well as media representatives.

“A press freedom mission to the United Kingdom is unprecedented and we cannot underestimate our concern for what is happening,” said Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of the Paris-based organization in a statement published on their website.

“It is rather difficult for the United Kingdom to lecture Sri Lanka and others about their press freedom record, when its own actions result in such widespread international condemnation,” he added.

Press freedom is to be a subject high on the agenda in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka which UK Prime Minister David Cameron will attend this week.

The mission is responding to actions regarded as divergent to press freedom guarantees – specifically the Royal Charter and associated legislation, but also in response to NSA leak discussions.

Since June, when NSA surveillance activities were first revealed, there has been increasing concern over whether it would cause state-sponsored press regulation and a crackdown on reporting political scandals.

“The mission is a direct response to recent actions widely seen as contrary to press freedom guarantees… and…will also include discussion of the criticism of The Guardian for its coverage of the revelations from former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden,” WAN-IFRA stated.

The Guardian

The crackdown on Guardian leaks has overshadowed restrictions placed on other papers in recent months. Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, is to be questioned by British lawmakers next month over the publishing of intelligence files leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, after UK spy chiefs warned that it had damaged national security.

Cameron has said that if The Guardian cannot be trusted to protect issues of national security then the government will be forced to issue a ‘D notice’ to force them not to publish any further intelligence revelations.

British media is currently mourning the legal plans which it says will “mark the end to 300 years of a free press” through politicians “having a say in what can be printed,” as it was denounced in tabloid the Daily Mirror.

The Royal Charter was devised with the intention of establishing a landmark new system of press regulation, causing an uproar among politicians, journalists and media personalities alike. Some have been avid defenders, and others say that it will amount to censorship. The charter itself was sealed by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on October 30, after an application to prevent the charter getting the royal seal of approval was dismissed.

Discussions of the Royal Charter emerged after a widespread practice of phone-hacking was revealed by several large newspapers and media companies. Among the targets were Royal Family members and relatives of the 7/7 bombings.

The Leveson Inquiry was set up in November 2012 to examine how the press had ‘wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people’.

RT – News

Read more about Burma, S.Africa...Britain? Intl press freedom team dispatched to UK for first time and other interesting subjects concerning Internet Spying and Secrecy at TheDailyNewsReport.com

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Eric Boehlert: The D.C. Press Yawns While Republicans Return To Radically Obstructionist Ways

Republicans in the U.S. Senate made history this week when they successfully filibustered the nomination of Rep. Melvin Watt (R-N.C.) to become director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Watt received 56 Senate votes, four short of the 60 necessary to end the filibuster.

The move represented the latest round of raw, extremist obstructionism that Republicans have proudly practiced for the last five years, particularly when it comes to mounting extraordinary efforts to block presidential appointments that in the past were considered to be routine.

The historic element of the Watt rejection was that throughout American history it has been virtually unheard for a sitting member of Congress to be filibustered — to be denied the courtesy of a final vote — when selected by the president to fill an administration position. Prior to this week’s partisan blockade of Watt, a Congressional rejection like his hadn’t happened since before the Civil War, in 1843.

That important historical context should have been included in every story about the Watt filibuster, but it wasn’t. That’s not surprising considering the Beltway press corps seems to have made a conscious decision during the Obama presidency to omit virtually all context with regards to the Republicans’ continued radical behavior as they cling to filibusters to methodically block, stall and reject most White House policy proposals, as well as countless nominations.

The pliant coverage over the years has likely only enabled Republicans to push ahead with their corrosive strategy, knowing there’s certainly no downside with regards to adverse media attention. After all, Republican moved to recently shut down the government, yet lots of journalists suggested the radical, destructive move was because “both sides” just couldn’t agree, essentially blaming Democrats for Republican extremism.

Note that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) recently announced he was going to block all Obama nominations until he got more answers about the 2012 terror attack in Benghazi. Although as CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin noted, Republicans block Obama picks as a matter of general principle, so it’s not like Graham even needs a stated reason for the obstruction.

Watt wasn’t the only presidential pick rejected by Republicans on October 31. They also blocked Patricia Millett, who was nominated to fill one of three vacancies on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Despite the fact Millett had previously served as an assistant solicitor general, and represented the administration before the Supreme Court 32 times, under both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Republicans denied her the right to an up or down vote.

It’s telling that Republicans barely even bother to give reasons for the filibusters any more, and that the press doesn’t find that odd.

Media Matters for America – County Fair

Eric Boehlert: The D.C. Press Yawns While Republicans Return To Radically Obstructionist Ways

Friday, November 1, 2013

Israel lobby trying to ‘undermine’ Iran nuclear talks – Press TV

Israel has been trying to “undermine” ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the world powers by putting more pressure on the United States to toughen sanctions against Tehran, an analyst says.

Link for the four minute audio interview is here. Embed would not work for some reason.

___________________________

In an interview with Press TV on Thursday, Veterans Today columnist Jim Dean said there are some efforts by the Israel lobby in the US for using “military option” against Iran.

However, he said, the United States is now focusing on the peace in the Middle East because it is “critical” to Washington’s “economic survival.”

The US Senate is ratcheting up pressure on the White House to tighten sanctions against Iran in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand for more pressure against Tehran.

On Monday, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said that the Senate aims to cut Iran’s current oil exports to 500,000 barrels per day.

Iran held nuclear talks with the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany in Geneva earlier this month. The two sides are set to meet again in Geneva on November 7-8.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry defended the talks with Iran in an apparent rejection of Netanyahu’s demand for more pressure against Tehran.

The top US diplomat said “some have suggested that somehow there’s something wrong” with giving diplomacy a chance. “We will not succumb to those fear tactics and forces that suggest otherwise,” Kerry said.

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Veterans Today

Israel lobby trying to ‘undermine’ Iran nuclear talks – Press TV

Thursday, September 19, 2013

O"Reilly: Press At Odds With Public Over Second Amendment

O’REILLY: There is no question the American media is opposing the majority of Americans over the Second Amendment. And the reason is that most journalists live in secure places. Here in New York City, many press people live in high-rise apartment buildings protected from intruders. But most Americans don’t have the money to do that. So they must protect themselves. That’s why the founding fathers put the Second Amendment into the Constitution — self-protection. Once again, when Americans lose their lives to violent crime, that situation should never ever be exploited for political gain.

RealClearPolitics Video Log

O"Reilly: Press At Odds With Public Over Second Amendment

Monday, September 16, 2013

U.S., France, Britain to press Assad on chemical arms

PARIS/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United States, France and Britain on Monday stepped up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to stick to a deal under which Syria must give up its chemical weapons, and warned he would suffer consequences if Damascus did not comply.

Reuters: Top News

U.S., France, Britain to press Assad on chemical arms

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

More From Weekends On All Things Considered Podcast

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The Origins Of Skiing, Freedom Of The Press, Extreme Air Travel

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Murder In Pakistan, Fiction In Iran And The ‘Weirdest Show On Television’

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Child Miners, Dinosaurs, And The Rulings Of ‘Judge’ John Hodgman

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The True Lives Of Fake Hitmen, Remaking Las Vegas, Johnnie Walker

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Friday, November 1, 2013

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013