At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to counter what it perceived as China’s growing influence in the Philippines, a nation hit especially hard by the deadly virus.
Pentagon ran secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during pandemic
Tag: Congress
Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World
As the US celebrates $95.3 billion in military funding for Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the US, we unpack the US Indo-Pacific strategy and what’s at stake.
Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World
Donors to Bob Menendez Legal Defense Linked to ex-Terror Group
Disclosure: it’s a reprint of an article by Eli Clifton from The Responsible Statecraft and The Intercept. If you have a problem with that, this is for you.
Donors to Bob Menendez Legal Defense Linked to ex-Terror Group (archived)
Much of the cash in the fund — he has raised over $400,000 — comes from sources one might anticipate. New Jersey and New York donors with various business and political interests in his home state, including the real estate firm led by Jared Kushner’s family, have given the fund money. There are, however, many lesser-known donors. One is Ahmad Moeinimanesh, an electronic engineer from Northern California. Another is Hossein Afshari, also from California.
Related:
Iranian exiles, DC lobbyists and the campaign to delist the MEK
The Iranian American Community of Northern California. It paid $400,000 over the past year to a Washington lobby group, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, to work on Capitol Hill to work for the removal of the MEK from the list of foreign terrorist organisations. The company assigned several former members of Congress to the account. The IACNC has also organised events in support of unbanning the MEK with appearances by Ros-Lehtinen and other prominent members of Congress as well as former White House officials.
Its director, Ahmad Moeinimanesh, has made personal financial donations to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the chair of the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee even though her congressional district is on the other side of the country in Florida, as well as to her reelection committee. She has accepted more than $20,000 in political contributions from activists who support the MEK’s delisting.
The IACNC’s registered address is at a photocopying shop in Albany, California, owned by Behnam Mirabdal who has made financial donations to Ros-Lehtinen and Dana Rohrabacher, a subcommittee chairman who is among the most vigorous proponents of unbanning the MEK.
US government asset, from PH, calling for censorship of US citizens
Maria Ressa is calling for the revocation of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Revoking Section 230 would increase social media censorship and remove competition for Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and YouTube (Google). Why? Due to threats of being sued, social media companies could ‘hold’ your posts until approved by artificial intelligence or a human. They’d also be inclined to remove more content. As for competition, smaller companies can’t afford the legal teams and/or fees that large companies can. The lawsuits could bankrupt a smaller company. Considering that Rappler is also funded by Big Tech, I’m not surprised that she’s on their side. This isn’t about hate speech, or ‘disinformation’, it’s about controlling the narrative!
In this clip, she complains about being criticized for appearing with Clinton and for being accused of being a CIA agent and a Communist. Of course, she’s not going to mention why she’s been accused of being a CIA agent (because she’s been funded by the CIA-cutout National Endowment for Democracy and other front organizations)!
Related:
AI Briefing: Hillary Clinton and Google’s Eric Schmidt both suggest Section 230 reform
Some speakers — including Clinton, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa — also called on Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Ressa, a journalist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, also noted it’s hard for people to know what it’s like to be a victim of online harassment or misinformation until they’ve been attacked.
Maria A. Ressa, LL.D. ’24, Harvard Commencement Address 2024
Communications Decency Act – Section 230
WikiSpooks: Rappler (Sponsored by Facebook, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Google, Internews, National Endowment for Democracy, Open Society Foundations, Omidyar Network)
After leaving Congress early, Mike Gallagher joins Packers-Microsoft venture capital firm
After leaving Congress early, Mike Gallagher joins Packers-Microsoft venture capital firm
Gallagher’s move comes after media reports initially linked Gallagher to the data analytics company Palantir after he announced in late March he would leave Congress in mid-April — before the end of his current term. But when asked by the Journal Sentinel last month about the Palantir rumors, Gallagher dismissed them as “propaganda.
Related:
TitletownTech: Welcomes former U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher as senior strategic advisor
Chinese Company Under Congressional Scrutiny Makes Key U.S. Drugs
Lawmakers raising national security concerns and seeking to disconnect a major Chinese firm from U.S. pharmaceutical interests have rattled the biotech industry. The firm is deeply involved in development and manufacturing of crucial therapies for cancer, cystic fibrosis, H.I.V. and other illnesses.
Chinese Company Under Congressional Scrutiny Makes Key U.S. Drugs
Latest:
US bill to restrict WuXi AppTec, Chinese biotechs revised to give more time to cut ties
Biden Offers to Turn U.S. Military Personnel Into Saudi Royal Bodyguards
President Joe Biden has made a habit of putting the interest of foreign governments before that of the American people. Like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Biden Offers to Turn U.S. Military Personnel Into Saudi Royal Bodyguards by Doug Bandow
Flashback (has he forgotten?):
[2019] American Soldiers Are Not Bodyguards for Saudi Royals by Doug Bandow
President Donald Trump believes in America First except when it comes to the Saudi royal family. Then it is Saudi Arabia first.
Congress holds antisemitism hearing focused on K-12 schools
Leaders of three large public school systems told a congressional panel Wednesday that they’re fighting antisemitism with education and, when necessary, discipline, rejecting accusations that they have allowed hate to go unchecked.
Reading Update 05-08-2024b – Our Task: To Make José Rizal Obsolete (Finished)
OUR TASK: TO MAKE JOSE RIZAL OBSOLETE by PROF. RENATO CONSTANTINO (Part 1 of 2)
OUR TASK: TO MAKE JOSE RIZAL OBSOLETE by PROF. RENATO CONSTANTINO (Part 2 of 2)
I just finished reading ‘The Filipinos in the Philippines and other essays’. I’m not sure what I’ll read next. Maybe I’ll read Michael Parenti’s ‘The Face of Imperialism’. 🤷🏼♀️
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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