The Weekly Watch

Media Obsessions Continue to Obscure the Obvious...

Why is it you never hear anyone in the media say Hillary and the DNC meddled in the primary election to defeat Bernie Sanders and become the nominee? It is the one obvious truth no one utters. Instead we continue the Russia T-rump witch hunt, as net neutrality is at risk, children in Yemen and Syria die because of our actions, and the mass extinction event accelerates. It is indeed a media of mass distraction and Amerika plays right into its hands.

truth economized.jpg
With all the talk of Don Jr, no one seems to remember that Hillary Clinton supporters paid large sums of money, reportedly about $1 million, to have ex-British spy Christopher Steele use his Russian connections to dig up dirt on Trump inside Russia, resulting in a salacious dossier that Clinton backers eagerly hawked to the news media.
Also, the two events – Trump Jr.’s meeting with the Russian lawyer and the Clinton camp’s commissioning of Steele’s Russia dossier – both occurred in June 2016, so you might have thought it would be a journalistic imperative to incorporate a reference or two to the dossier.

https://consortiumnews.com/2017/07/10/forgetting-the-dirty-dossier-on-tr...

I've become a fan of the podcast Intercepted... There's a transcript there for those who prefer to read. Either way Glenn Greenwald was dead on target from my view...he's at the start of the show.
https://theintercept.com/2017/07/12/intercepted-podcast-dumb-dumber-and-...

He was also on Democracy Now, but I thought the podcast interview was better
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/13/glenn_greenwald_donald_trump_jrs_...

Anybody keep up with George Webb? He spent most of the week in DC trying to get more info on the Seth Rich murder. I've always liked spy stories, and George is almost like a serial spy saga. https://www.youtube.com/user/georgwebb

Why are they distracting us with Don Jr? Because of the little things they continue to push through.
https://theintercept.com/2017/07/14/congress-trying-to-sneak-through-maj...

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Syria

Max Blumenthal continues to impress me with his knowledge and perspective on the Middle East.
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19506:Max-Blumenthal-on-How-the-Media-Co... (24 min)
I posted part one last Sunday but if you missed it here it is again (22 min)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19496:Trump%2C-Putin-and-Russiagate-Coll...

The ceasefire agreement reached by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in southwest Syria appears aimed at weakening Iran and containing its influence inside Syria, says Alternet reporter Ben Norton
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19551:How-US-Russia-Ceasefire-in-Syria-I... (15 min)

How about our victory in Iraq? Did everyone see what it looked like? Jimmy Dore will show you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDiKDfX5PWs (22 min)

The U.K. High Court has dismissed a challenge to the British government's arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19527:UK-Court-Allows-Saudi-Arms-Sales-a...

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Venezuela
It amazed me that neither “expert” interview mentioned the millions of dollars we are pouring into the revolution against Maduro.
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/11/is_venezuela_facing_a_us_backed

Abby Martin does a much better job...she actually goes to Venezuela and talks with people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYWrPiUeWY (22 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6yFP8HjVQ (26 min)

Brazil
Glenn Greenwald shares his view of the situation in Brazil (10 min and transcript)
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/13/a_further_blow_to_democracy_in

Mexico
The Mexican government reportedly used an Israeli-made spy software called Pegasus to surveil a team of international investigators dispatched to Mexico to investigate the high-profile disappearance of 43 students in 2014. two part interview with transcripts
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/12/mexico_spied_on_human_rights_inve...
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/13/from_mexico_to_russia_to_uae

climate change.jpg

Environment

Great interview with David Suzuki, Canadian environmentalist – has the movement failed? (20 min)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19507:Has-the-Environmental-Movement-Fai...

A new report, "Talk is Cheap: How G20 Governments Are Financing Climate Disaster", claims G20 governments provide an average of $72 billion per year in public finance for fossil fuels—nearly four times as much as they provide for clean energy. Insights from the lead author, Alex Doukas, senior campaigner at Oil Change International. (10 min and transcript)
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/10/even_as_all_g20_countries_except

California Gov. Jerry Brown poses as an anti-Trump climate-change savior, but his policies support Big Oil's agenda, says Adam Scow, California director at Food & Water Watch (10 min)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19508:Jerry-Brown%3A-Climate-Champion-or...

It isn't politicians standing up for the environment, it is people and James says it plainly...capitalism is the enemy (10 min and transcript)
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/7/14/oscar_nominated_actor_james_cromw...

Great conversations from the week

Chris Hedges and Noam Chomsky discuss his 10 principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YdBzwJCpo8 (part 1 25 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkWVRlqzAMk (part 2 26 min)

Nice interview with Naomi Klein and Jeremy Corbyn (17 min and transcript)
https://theintercept.com/2017/07/13/video-naomi-klein-and-jeremy-corbyn-...

The Healthcare Joke

Why don't we push for single payer? Jimmy Dore explains using Peanut comics (6 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDtILBtzpME

Michael Lighty of the National Nurses United says Democrats should offer no compromises and progressives should fight for single payer (7 min and transcript)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19547:%27No-Compromise-on-Health-Care%27...

The Economy

How about bitcoin? Have you got any? Nice history and summary (12 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad2s4CnTMYA

Seattle passes tax on the the wealthy. Kshama Sawant tells the story (14 min)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19531:Seattle-Answers-Trump%27s-War-on-W...

Richard Wolff explains how our politicians are owned by the banks (3 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae8xfOvW48Q

extinction ahead.jpg

There was hard rain that fell here yesterday. An inch and a half in about 20 or 30 minutes. For every degree of warming, the air can hold 7% more water vapor. Last year was a drought, this year plenty of rain. Perhaps change is the only constant. Sadly the change we face leads to extinction...

The scientists conclude: “The resulting biological annihilation obviously will have serious ecological, economic and social consequences. Humanity will eventually pay a very high price for the decimation of the only assemblage of life that we know of in the universe.”
Nearly half of the 177 mammal species surveyed lost more than 80% of their distribution between 1900 and 2015
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/10/earths-sixth-mass-ex...

There are solutions, but corporate greed...the very nature of capitalism stands in the way. Here's hoping we can face and overcome those significant challenges! I look forward to your stories and thoughts for the week in the comments below.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

A very good roundup this morning. I can't wait to go back and watch many of the posted videos. I so appreciate the work you do to bring these to us. I cannot trust the MSM to correctly inform me - instead I count on you, gjohnsit, and joe's EB, along with many others here, but you three are my bread and butter for truth in reporting.

Edited to add: I listen to the Intercept podcasts, too - very informative. I was actually disturbed by the Democracy Now! interview with Glenn G. They tried real hard to get him into agreeing that DJ Jr.'s actions were horrible, while he brought up her heinous' Russia actions, which they seemed to dismiss. Is it me or did I really hear that? Is my interpretation correct or am I making hay? Glenn, however, is smarter than the average bear and stood his ground.

They've informed me our monsoon season has started, but we remain in the donut hole. I hope when the rains come that it is not in the form of flooding. I'm almost afraid to go out of town due to the fact we have to manage water here, but we're headed to NYC for a couple of days late month and I'm just going to enjoy myself and the city with good friends. Hoping for rain this week - I'll keep the blog posted.

Have a beautiful day, folks! Pleasantry

Re-edited for infernal typos!!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lookout's picture

That is why I posted both of those interviews. I respect and appreciate Amy and the others on DN, but they seem to be sold on the Russia narrative - perhaps blinded by their dislike of T-rump. I found their Venezuela coverage even worse.

I think we must be careful not to dismiss our allies because we hold some different views. Like all media we must be vigilant in our search for truth, and as Twain said be aware it is so valuable that we rarely see it!

Thanks as always for your visit!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Lookout's picture

Chris Hedges and Matthew Hoh, a Marine Corps veteran and diplomat who resigned his State Department post in Afghanistan in protest over the war. (25 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndfm6E83OHc

Just caught this interview this AM. I found it a powerful piece about our stupidity in Afghanistan.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

smiley7's picture

Thanks for the news, returning later to read and listen.

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Arrow's picture

So much to read and listen to.

It'll keep me going for a few hours this fine morning

Everyone have a great day.

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I want a Pony!

I can't keep up with all the links. Great job. Thanks.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Lookout's picture

Hope you all found something of interest.

It is still the primordial fog out this AM. Hopefully it will burn off soon.

As they say....onward through the fog...

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

MarilynW's picture

while his party is destroying the USA as we knew it. That may have been the plan all along. I have to wonder what is the ideal country envisioned by the destroyers. By any sane measure it's going to be the country from hell. Who would want that? Those who welcome the apocalypse?

In the meantime we have the distraction of watching the distraction of the Trump fiasco unfold.

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To thine own self be true.

Lookout's picture

@MarilynW

They want to use the bunkers they have built? What a world.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Glen Greenwald is always an interesting clip.
I will get off thread just a bit...
Your links got me to checking out some old Jimmy Dore shows which show just how nuts Rachel Maddow is, and a video from Debbie the Sane Progressive on evolving into something different. She is getting away from elections, politics, voting, trying to disengage from it and see if that makes any difference.
Anyway, it is a hot afternoon here in Texas. I am taking my brother out to eat at his favorite Chinese restaurant, and I will swing by my office, feed my office cat.
Have a good day, Lookout, and as always, thanks for all you do.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Lookout's picture

@on the cusp

is fun. Like all of us he can get carried away...it is easy to carry on when you feel betrayed. Have a nice meal with your brother!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

And...I've gotta say Syria, Trump and Putin and all are confusing as hell.
Your article in real news:

The ceasefire agreement reached by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in southwest Syria appears aimed at weakening Iran and containing its influence inside Syria, says Alternet reporter Ben Norton

Meanwhile, several places have reported that Netanyahoo (sic) is against the agreement because it "strengthens" Iran's hand in Syria.
I suspect when Netanyahu says it strengthens Iran's hand, he really means that it doesn't weaken Iran as much as we would like. And he would like Iran to cease to exist. Such horseshit.

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Lookout's picture

@peachcreek

from what I understand. A precursor to zoning? It's a mess no matter what.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

cited repeatedly, while Hillary's interference against Bernie is never mentioned:

Sanders is a Sixties liberal; Hillary is a multi millionaire Sixties neocon; this is America. Do the math, folks.

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Lookout's picture

@HenryAWallace

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”