shadowproof--2020-12-18--Dissenter Weekly: New Acting Attorney General Involved In Lawsuit Against Snowden’s Book

Dissenter Weekly : New Acting Attorney General Involved In Lawsuit Against Snowden ’ s Book On this edition of the “ Dissenter Weekly , ” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights Jeffrey A. Rosen , the acting attorney general who will be at the Justice Department until the end of President Donald Trump ’ s administration in January .
He was involved in the lawsuit against NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden ’ s book , Permanent Record .
Later in the show , Gosztola covers COVID-19 data whistleblower Rebekah Jones ’ column encouraging would-be whistleblowers to not be intimidated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents .
This is the last broadcast of the “ Dissenter Weekly ” in 2020 , and Kevin uses the overtime portion of the show to give a bit of a speech on what lies ahead for whistleblowers in the coming year .
He urges viewers to consider the courage of unknown and unsung whistleblowers , who work among us but do not have the kind of support networks high-profile truth-tellers do .
Trump ’ s New Acting Attorney General Backed Lawsuit Against Snowden ’ s Book COVID-19 Data Whistleblower Who Had Home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Confirms Assange Claims Around Publication Of Unredacted Diplomatic Cables [ Note : If a headline doesn ’ t have a link , it is largely original reporting or commentary from Kevin . ]
This show is brought to you by Shadowproof.com , a 100 % reader-funded press organization .
If you enjoy our work , you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $ 5/month or more : https : //shadowproof.com/donate

On this edition of the “Dissenter Weekly,” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights Jeffrey A. Rosen, the acting attorney general who will be at the Justice Department until the end of President Donald Trump’s administration in January. He was involved in the lawsuit against NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s book, Permanent Record.
Later in the show, Gosztola covers COVID-19 data whistleblower Rebekah Jones’ column encouraging would-be whistleblowers to not be intimidated. She had her home raided by Florida agents.
This is the last broadcast of the “Dissenter Weekly” in 2020, and Kevin uses the overtime portion of the show to give a bit of a speech on what lies ahead for whistleblowers in the coming year. He urges viewers to consider the courage of unknown and unsung whistleblowers, who work among us but do not have the kind of support networks high-profile truth-tellers do.
This week’s stories:
Trump’s New Acting Attorney General Backed Lawsuit Against Snowden’s Book
COVID-19 Data Whistleblower Who Had Home Raided Pens Message For Would-Be Whistleblowers
Audio Confirms Assange Claims Around Publication Of Unredacted Diplomatic Cables
[Note: If a headline doesn’t have a link, it is largely original reporting or commentary from Kevin.]
Send tips and feedback to editor@shadowproof.com
This show is brought to you by Shadowproof.com, a 100% reader-funded press organization. If you enjoy our work, you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $5/month or more: https://shadowproof.com/donate


shadowproof--2020-12-23--Beyond Prisons Podcast: Study And Struggle Feat. Garrett Felber

Garrett Felber joins the Beyond Prisons podcast to discuss Study and Struggle , which he helped launch in 2020 as “ a bilingual political education program on abolition and immigrant justice which supports and collaborates with grassroots organizations in Mississippi.
” Felber is a former assistant professor of history at the University of Mississippi and the author of “ Those Who Know Don ’ t Say : The Nation of Islam , the Black Freedom Movement and the Carceral State ” and co-author of “ The Portable Malcolm X Reader ” with the late Manning Marable .
He was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass Incarceration conference and Project Director of the Parchman Oral History Project , a collaborative oral history , archival , and documentary storytelling project on incarceration in Mississippi .
In 2016 , Felber co-founded Liberation Literacy , an abolitionist collective inside and outside Oregon prisons .
Felber is currently a fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University , where he will be working on his next book project : “ We Are All Political Prisoners : The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre.
” “ Those Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation of Islam , the Black Freedom Movement , and the Carceral State ” ( UNC Press , 2020 ) Created and hosted by Kim Wilson and Brian Sonenstein Support our show and join us on Patreon .
Check out our other donation options as well .
Please listen , subscribe , and rate/review our podcast on Apple Podcast , Spotify , and Google Play Join our mailing list for updates on new episodes , events , and more Kim Wilson is available for speaking engagements and to facilitate workshops .
Please contact @ @ @ @ @ @

Garrett Felber joins the Beyond Prisons podcast to discuss Study and Struggle, which he helped launch in 2020 as “a bilingual political education program on abolition and immigrant justice which supports and collaborates with grassroots organizations in Mississippi.”
(NOTE: This episode was recorded a few weeks before Felber was wrongfully fired by the University of Mississippi for speaking out against its racist donors and role in perpetuating the carceral state; you can find out more about what happened here.)
Felber is a former assistant professor of history at the University of Mississippi and the author of “Those Who Know Don’t Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement and the Carceral State” and co-author of “The Portable Malcolm X Reader” with the late Manning Marable.
He was the lead organizer of the Making and Unmaking Mass Incarceration conference and Project Director of the Parchman Oral History Project, a collaborative oral history, archival, and documentary storytelling project on incarceration in Mississippi. In 2016, Felber co-founded Liberation Literacy, an abolitionist collective inside and outside Oregon prisons.
Felber is currently a fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, where he will be working on his next book project: “We Are All Political Prisoners: The Revolutionary Life of Martin Sostre.”
Episode Notes & Resources
Study And Struggle
“Those Who Know Don’t Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State” (UNC Press, 2020)
Follow Garrett on Twitter @garrett_felber
Credits
Created and hosted by Kim Wilson and Brian Sonenstein
Edited by Ellis Maxwell
Website & volunteers managed by Victoria Nam
Theme music by Jared Ware
Support Beyond Prisons
Visit our website at beyond-prisons.com
Support our show and join us on Patreon. Check out our other donation options as well.
Please listen, subscribe, and rate/review our podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Play
Join our mailing list for updates on new episodes, events, and more
Send tips, comments, and questions to beyondprisonspodcast@gmail.com
Kim Wilson is available for speaking engagements and to facilitate workshops. Please contact beyondprisonspodcast@gmail.com for more information
Twitter: @Beyond_Prison
Facebook: @beyondprisonspodcast
Instagram: @beyondprisons


shadowproof--2020-12-23--Top 10 Protest Albums Of 2020

Top 10 Protest Albums Of 2020

In an NPR interview , Apple described how the motivation of her critically acclaimed masterpiece was to urge listeners to “ fetch your tool of liberation .
Set yourself free.
” The album is an example of how the personal is frequently political .
For instance , when Apple sings , “ Kick me under the table all you want .
I won ’ t shut up , ” she is referring to an uncomfortable dinner party , but it can apply to any scenario where someone attempts to silence your voice .
On “ Relay , ’ she speaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed rebuke of social media influencers ( “ I resent you presenting your life like a fucking propaganda brochure ” ) .
Apple also shows empathy for the trauma of others , like on “ For Her , ” which was composed—with permission—about a friend who used to intern for a Hollywood producer .
The unsettling lyric , “ Good morning .
You raped me in the same bed your daughter was born in , ” takes on greater relevance in the # MeToo era .
Even though the songs were written and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the album is impactful because it perfectly encapsulates the feelings of anxiety and isolation that many experienced .
And currently , everyone feels the urge to reach for the metaphorical bolt cutters .
This is the experimental hip-hop trio ’ s sequel to their 2019 horrorcore masterpiece “ There Existed an Addiction to Blood ” ( which was one of the best protest albums of 2019 ) .
Just like the predecessor , the tunes effectively employ horror movie themes to explore sociopolitical issues .
The intent of the music is summed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ There ’ s a well-worn adage in film scholarship that says : Every era gets the monster it deserves—meaning during each period of history , different monsters come to embody the specific sociopolitical anxieties of the time : Bela Lugosi ’ s Dracula and antisemitism , Godzilla and the atom bomb , ‘ Invasion of the Body Snatchers ’ and McCarthyism , Anne Rice ’ s vampires and the AIDS crisis.
” “ While these figures are largely reactionary , clipping .
intentionally recast their figures of monstrosity through the lens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics to address the struggles of our current era.
” Examples of recasting figures of monstrosity to provide social commentary include “ Pain Everyday , ” which is a call-to-arm the ghosts of lynching victims to haunt the heirs of their murderers , and “ Eaten Alive , ” which uses swamp monsters to analyze environmental destruction and gentrification .
Another album standout , “ Body for the Pile , ” tells the tale of three police officers who are murdered .
It is a poignant reminder that unchecked police brutality can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being any backlash .
The album makes for an uncomfortable listening experience , but waking up to real-life horrors is necessary .
47Soul makes dance music for resistance .
The band is composed of members from Palestine , London , and the United States that perform a style of music they dubbed Shamstep—hip hop and electronic styles combined with Middle Eastern-influenced melodies .
It features British Iraqi rapper Lowkey , British Palestinian rapper and singer Shadia Mansour , Jordan-based musician The Synaptik , and Tamer Nafar , known for founding DAM .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the tracks connect the Palestinian struggle to struggles for justice and liberation throughout the world through lyrics in Arabic and English .
“ Border Ctrl ” calls for an end to the “ Mexico-Bethlehem wall.
” On “ Hold Your Ground , ” Lowkey delivers a verse that name-checks Donald Trump and Boris Johnson and alludes to the poisoning of discourse along with “ censorship that never stops.
” Deliberately , the album reclaims the word “ semitic.
” They note “ semitic languages ” include Hebrew and Arabic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot.
” Arabs can be semites , and the album confronts many of the political , theological , and geographical themes that allow apartheid and occupation to persist in Palestine .
( Kevin Gosztola ) Irreversible Entanglements – Who Sent You ?
Irreversible Entanglements is a liberation-oriented free jazz collective that pushes boundaries , both lyrically and sonically .
Their sophomore album , “ Who Sent You ?
” builds on the sound they created for their debut album in 2017 .
Camae Ayewa ( a.k.a .
Moor Mother ) , Keir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Luke Stewart describe the album as a “ holistic jam ” of “ infinite possibilities coming back around.
” It explores traumas in past eras that still have a deep impact on Black lives in America while also turning toward a future of Afrotopia , when oppression no longer holds so many down .
“ At what point do we stand up ?
At the breaking point ?
At the point of no return ?
” declares Ayewa on “ The Code Noir/Amina.
” “ At what point ?
At what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up out of the void , up out of a hell ?
At what point ?
At what point ?
At what point do we give a shit ?
Do we stand up and say something ?
” The void of 2020 and the hell of COVID-19 , paired with ongoing terror of violence by the carceral state , has been felt in the extreme .
A protest song on the breaking point for oppressed people could not be more poignant and called for in these times .
Another track “ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africans fleeing Earth to escape oppression .
“ No más .
No more .
No longer will we allow them to divide and conquer , divide and oppress , define our humanity.
” This is jazz music that encourages Black people to reclaim their dignity , a poignant listen in a year that demanded clarity from music .
“ I ’ ve never really had money , but I was the poorest I ’ d been a couple of years ago after working a load of minimum wage jobs.
” That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working class experiences influenced the British indie rocker ’ s stunning self-titled debut .
She skillfully uses her scathing wit to denounce capitalism , apathy , hypocrisy , and misogyny .
Standout tracks include “ Supermarket Sweep , ” and “ Call in Sick , ” which address the monotony and exploitative nature of low-paying jobs .
Elsewhere on the album , the satirical “ Hippy Elite ” comes off like a catchy , modern-day version of Phil Ochs ’ “ Love Me , I ’ m a Liberal.
” And on “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white males , who use their privilege to force their will on others .
Then there is “ FNP , ” which stands for “ Forgotten Normal People.
” The lyrics not only make it clear that the elite doesn ’ t care about lower class people , but it also features a rousing call to arms for the forgotten masses , who must stand together and force those in power to acknowledge them .
One of the most prolific and hardest working protest musicians is David Rovics , who has released a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1999 .
This year , the guitarist and folk singer released two albums .
“ Notes From a Failed State , ” released in June , opens with “ Precipice , ” where he sings about being on the edge as the state pulls the rug out from under lower class people .
He refers to mass graves dug for “ essential workers.
” Many of Rovics ’ songs tend to be specifically topical .
“ Essentially Expendable ” is a more focused song on “ essential workers ” that centers on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver in Detroit who died from COVID-19 eleven days after he shared a video expressing his anger over a coughing passenger .
“ Each Couch By The Street , ” “ Don ’ t Pay The Rent , ” and “ Rent Party ” speak to the looming eviction crisis that still persists for millions of Americans while Congress goes above and beyond to keep corporations afloat ( even offering them tax breaks for “ three-martini lunches ” ) .
The majority of the songs were written in April and May and largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals with the uprising around George Floyd ’ s death .
Others tell stories known to the left but ignored by the media establishment .
As the movement troubadour sings on the album ’ s concluding track , “ It ’ s a future of uncertainty , but our liberation can only be as free as our imagination.
” ( Kevin Gosztola ) And every day on the evening news they feed you fear for free And you so numb you watch the cops choke out a man like me until my voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I can ’ t breathe ’ Those lyrics from the album track could have easily been a reference to the murder of George Floyd .
But the song was written before that incident and referred to the dying words of Eric Garner .
This exemplifies what made the fourth album by the dynamic rap duo of Killer Mike and El-P so momentous .
The album provided a prophetic time capsule that perfectly captured the political climate of 2020 while also expressing the frustrations of continuing to observe systemic injustices .
Another example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” which features the poignant line , “ Where murderous chokehold cops still earnin ’ a livin ’ .
Funny how some say money don ’ t matter .
That ’ s rich now , isn ’ t it ?
Get it ?
Comedy .
Try to sell a pack of smokes to get food .
Get killed and it ’ s not an anomaly.
” The album included several guest spots , including pioneers of socially conscious music like Rage Against The Machine ’ s Zack De La Rocha ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staples ( “ pulling the pin ” ) .
Their presence helped connect past generations to the present and offer lessons for the future .
Consider this SAULT ’ s spiritual contribution to Black people and the African Diaspora in 2020 .
Through this collection , the British rhythm and blues collective spoke to the hardship and trauma of Black life while agitating for revolutionary change .
The release came weeks after George Floyd was murdered and was dedicated to “ all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the best out of a slew of music put out as the world witnessed a resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests .
“ Black Is ” features a number of collaborators , including Cleo Sol , an R & B singer-songwriter , and Michael Kiwanuka , another R & B singer-songwriter .
Many of the songs use subdued beats or a sparse rhythms to create memos for the movement .
For example , “ Hard Life ” points to those threatened by Black freedom yet insists things will change if people stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police murder and says , “ We are dying , it ’ s the reason we are crying.
” Yet , there can be no backing down .
“ We will never show fear.
” An Afrobeat sound distinguishes “ Bow ” from most of the tracks .
The song goes through a roll call of countries in the African continent .
“ We got , we got , we got , we got rights .
We got rights.
” Together , the tracks powerfully celebrate those who threw off their chains in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to injustice .
Toots & The Maytals – Got To Be Tough Toots Hibbert , one of the forefathers of reggae and ska music , died in September at the age of 77 .
Before his death , “ Got To Be Tough ” —his first album in a decade—was released in collaboration with his longtime band , The Maytals .
Much of the music is a kind of fusion of reggae and rock .
On “ Just Brutal , ” he says everything you do is just brutal , and he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to .
It ’ s dispirited , but then he follows it with , “ Got To Be Tough , ” a spirited call to stand up to the hard times .
“ Freedom Train ” contains an upbeat keyboard riff that provides a backbone for Toots to address the state of the world for working people .
He pairs it with a message to climb aboard the train to freedom .
Those who watched director Steve McQueen ’ s “ Small Axe ” film anthology , which told stories about West Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s , were introduced ( or re-introduced ) to Toots and the Maytals .
Their landmark song , “ Pressure Drop , ” from 1969 was featured in “ Mangrove.
” Toots never wavered while creating positive vibrations .
“ Be careful of what you speak and what you doing .
It ’ s not complicated .
Don ’ t take life for granted , be careful , be strong , ” he said in one of his last interviews .
And remember , the pressure ’ s going to drop on you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the best protest albums of 2020 expressed the frustration and anxieties that many feel in the present political climate .
“ Wonderful Hell , ” released right before the United States presidential election by the feminist hardcore band War on Women , was such an album .
It skillfully blends the band ’ s aggressive musical attacks with the incisive lyrics and impassioned vocals of Shawna Potter .
And even though there is plenty of justifiable anger , that anger is directed in a positive way .
Lyrics such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ash are not the end .
If you want it then you ’ re gon na have to build it yourself , ” ( “ The Ash Is Not The End ” ) and “ There ’ s got to be a better way .
Than giving up and wallowing .
Let ’ s raise some wonderful , beautiful hell .
And make this world worth living in ” ( “ Wonderful Hell ” ) serve as calls for collective and constructive action .
Another album standout is “ White Lies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We politely request you get your boots off our necks.
” By exposing the efforts to whitewash systemic oppression , the band plays their part in being allies .
Even though there is understandably a collective relief and elation over President Donald Trump ’ s defeat , the reality is that Biden is also an older white man with a history of sexual assault accusations known for supporting the status quo .
There will be plenty to remain angry over under Biden , making the music of War On Women all the @ @ @

Fiona Apple — Fetch The Bolt Cutters In an NPR interview, Apple described how the motivation of her critically acclaimed masterpiece was to urge listeners to “fetch your tool of liberation. Set yourself free.” The album is an example of how the personal is frequently political. For instance, when Apple sings, “Kick me under the table all you want. I won’t shut up,” she is referring to an uncomfortable dinner party, but it can apply to any scenario where someone attempts to silence your voice. On “Relay,’ she speaks out against toxic influences, including a pointed rebuke of social media influencers (“I resent you presenting your life like a fucking propaganda brochure”). Apple also shows empathy for the trauma of others, like on “For Her,” which was composed—with permission—about a friend who used to intern for a Hollywood producer. The unsettling lyric, “Good morning. You raped me in the same bed your daughter was born in,” takes on greater relevance in the #MeToo era. Even though the songs were written and recorded before the global COVID-19 pandemic, the album is impactful because it perfectly encapsulates the feelings of anxiety and isolation that many experienced. And currently, everyone feels the urge to reach for the metaphorical bolt cutters. (C.J. Baker)
clipping. – Visions Of Bodies Being Burned This is the experimental hip-hop trio’s sequel to their 2019 horrorcore masterpiece “There Existed an Addiction to Blood” (which was one of the best protest albums of 2019). Just like the predecessor, the tunes effectively employ horror movie themes to explore sociopolitical issues. The intent of the music is summed up on the album’s Bandcamp page: “There’s a well-worn adage in film scholarship that says: Every era gets the monster it deserves—meaning during each period of history, different monsters come to embody the specific sociopolitical anxieties of the time: Bela Lugosi’s Dracula and antisemitism, Godzilla and the atom bomb, ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ and McCarthyism, Anne Rice’s vampires and the AIDS crisis.” “While these figures are largely reactionary, clipping. intentionally recast their figures of monstrosity through the lens of an anti-racist, anti-patriarchal, anti-colonial politics to address the struggles of our current era.” Examples of recasting figures of monstrosity to provide social commentary include “Pain Everyday,” which is a call-to-arm the ghosts of lynching victims to haunt the heirs of their murderers, and “Eaten Alive,” which uses swamp monsters to analyze environmental destruction and gentrification. Another album standout, “Body for the Pile,” tells the tale of three police officers who are murdered. It is a poignant reminder that unchecked police brutality can’t continue to go on without there being any backlash. The album makes for an uncomfortable listening experience, but waking up to real-life horrors is necessary. (C.J. Baker)
47Soul – Semitics 47Soul makes dance music for resistance. The band is composed of members from Palestine, London, and the United States that perform a style of music they dubbed Shamstep—hip hop and electronic styles combined with Middle Eastern-influenced melodies.
It features British Iraqi rapper Lowkey, British Palestinian rapper and singer Shadia Mansour, Jordan-based musician The Synaptik, and Tamer Nafar, known for founding DAM. Both The Synaptik and Nafar are Palestinian rappers.
Many of the tracks connect the Palestinian struggle to struggles for justice and liberation throughout the world through lyrics in Arabic and English. “Border Ctrl” calls for an end to the “Mexico-Bethlehem wall.” On “Hold Your Ground,” Lowkey delivers a verse that name-checks Donald Trump and Boris Johnson and alludes to the poisoning of discourse along with “censorship that never stops.”
Deliberately, the album reclaims the word “semitic.” They note “semitic languages” include Hebrew and Arabic. People who speak the languages “mixed a lot.” Arabs can be semites, and the album confronts many of the political, theological, and geographical themes that allow apartheid and occupation to persist in Palestine.
(Kevin Gosztola)
Irreversible Entanglements – Who Sent You? Irreversible Entanglements is a liberation-oriented free jazz collective that pushes boundaries, both lyrically and sonically. Their sophomore album, “Who Sent You?” builds on the sound they created for their debut album in 2017.
Camae Ayewa (a.k.a. Moor Mother), Keir Neuringer, Aquiles Navarro, Tcheser Holmes, and Luke Stewart describe the album as a “holistic jam” of “infinite possibilities coming back around.” It explores traumas in past eras that still have a deep impact on Black lives in America while also turning toward a future of Afrotopia, when oppression no longer holds so many down.
“At what point do we stand up? At the breaking point? At the point of no return?” declares Ayewa on “The Code Noir/Amina.” “At what point? At what point do we pull each other up, up out of the void, up out of a hell? At what point? At what point? At what point do we give a shit? Do we stand up and say something?”
The void of 2020 and the hell of COVID-19, paired with ongoing terror of violence by the carceral state, has been felt in the extreme. A protest song on the breaking point for oppressed people could not be more poignant and called for in these times.
Another track “No Más” revolves around the concept of Africans fleeing Earth to escape oppression. “No más. No more. No longer will we allow them to divide and conquer, divide and oppress, define our humanity.”
This is jazz music that encourages Black people to reclaim their dignity, a poignant listen in a year that demanded clarity from music. (Kevin Gosztola)
Billy Nomates – s/t “I’ve never really had money, but I was the poorest I’d been a couple of years ago after working a load of minimum wage jobs.” That’s what Nomates told NME. Nomates’ working class experiences influenced the British indie rocker’s stunning self-titled debut. She skillfully uses her scathing wit to denounce capitalism, apathy, hypocrisy, and misogyny. Standout tracks include “Supermarket Sweep,” and “Call in Sick,” which address the monotony and exploitative nature of low-paying jobs. Elsewhere on the album, the satirical “Hippy Elite” comes off like a catchy, modern-day version of Phil Ochs’ “Love Me, I’m a Liberal.” And on “Fat White Man,” Nomates indicts white males, who use their privilege to force their will on others. Then there is “FNP,” which stands for “Forgotten Normal People.” The lyrics not only make it clear that the elite doesn’t care about lower class people, but it also features a rousing call to arms for the forgotten masses, who must stand together and force those in power to acknowledge them. (C.J. Baker)
David Rovics – Notes From A Failed State One of the most prolific and hardest working protest musicians is David Rovics, who has released a new album just about every year since 1999. This year, the guitarist and folk singer released two albums.
“Notes From a Failed State,” released in June, opens with “Precipice,” where he sings about being on the edge as the state pulls the rug out from under lower class people. He refers to mass graves dug for “essential workers.”
Many of Rovics’ songs tend to be specifically topical. “Essentially Expendable” is a more focused song on “essential workers” that centers on the story of Jason Hargrove, a bus driver in Detroit who died from COVID-19 eleven days after he shared a video expressing his anger over a coughing passenger.
“Each Couch By The Street,” “Don’t Pay The Rent,” and “Rent Party” speak to the looming eviction crisis that still persists for millions of Americans while Congress goes above and beyond to keep corporations afloat (even offering them tax breaks for “three-martini lunches”).
The majority of the songs were written in April and May and largely deal with the pandemic. One song deals with the uprising around George Floyd’s death. Others tell stories known to the left but ignored by the media establishment.
As the movement troubadour sings on the album’s concluding track, “It’s a future of uncertainty, but our liberation can only be as free as our imagination.”
(Kevin Gosztola)
Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 4 And every day
on the evening news
they feed you fear for free
And you so numb
you watch the cops
choke out a man like me
until my voice
goes from a shriek
to whisper,
‘I can’t breathe’ Those lyrics from the album track could have easily been a reference to the murder of George Floyd. But the song was written before that incident and referred to the dying words of Eric Garner. This exemplifies what made the fourth album by the dynamic rap duo of Killer Mike and El-P so momentous. The album provided a prophetic time capsule that perfectly captured the political climate of 2020 while also expressing the frustrations of continuing to observe systemic injustices. Another example of this was “JU$T,” which features the poignant line, “Where murderous chokehold cops still earnin’ a livin’. Funny how some say money don’t matter. That’s rich now, isn’t it? Get it? Comedy. Try to sell a pack of smokes to get food. Get killed and it’s not an anomaly.” The album included several guest spots, including pioneers of socially conscious music like Rage Against The Machine’s Zack De La Rocha (“JU$T”) and Mavis Staples (“pulling the pin”). Their presence helped connect past generations to the present and offer lessons for the future. (C.J. Baker)
SAULT – UNTITLED (Black Is) Consider this SAULT’s spiritual contribution to Black people and the African Diaspora in 2020. Through this collection, the British rhythm and blues collective spoke to the hardship and trauma of Black life while agitating for revolutionary change.
The release came weeks after George Floyd was murdered and was dedicated to “all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism.” It received widespread acclaim and was one of the best out of a slew of music put out as the world witnessed a resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests.
“Black Is” features a number of collaborators, including Cleo Sol, an R&B singer-songwriter, and Michael Kiwanuka, another R&B singer-songwriter. Many of the songs use subdued beats or a sparse rhythms to create memos for the movement.
For example, “Hard Life” points to those threatened by Black freedom yet insists things will change if people stay the course. “Wildfires” confronts police murder and says, “We are dying, it’s the reason we are crying.” Yet, there can be no backing down. “We will never show fear.”
An Afrobeat sound distinguishes “Bow” from most of the tracks. The song goes through a roll call of countries in the African continent. “We got, we got, we got, we got rights. We got rights.”
Together, the tracks powerfully celebrate those who threw off their chains in a moment when so many were awakened to injustice. (Kevin Gosztola)
Toots & The Maytals – Got To Be Tough Toots Hibbert, one of the forefathers of reggae and ska music, died in September at the age of 77. Before his death, “Got To Be Tough”—his first album in a decade—was released in collaboration with his longtime band, The Maytals.
Much of the music is a kind of fusion of reggae and rock. On “Just Brutal,” he says everything you do is just brutal, and he does not know what the world is coming to. It’s dispirited, but then he follows it with, “Got To Be Tough,” a spirited call to stand up to the hard times.
“Freedom Train” contains an upbeat keyboard riff that provides a backbone for Toots to address the state of the world for working people. He pairs it with a message to climb aboard the train to freedom.
Those who watched director Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” film anthology, which told stories about West Indian immigrants in London during the 1960s and 1970s, were introduced (or re-introduced) to Toots and the Maytals. Their landmark song, “Pressure Drop,” from 1969 was featured in “Mangrove.” Toots never wavered while creating positive vibrations. “Be careful of what you speak and what you doing. It’s not complicated. Don’t take life for granted, be careful, be strong,” he said in one of his last interviews. And remember, the pressure’s going to drop on you if you’re doing people wrong. (Kevin Gosztola)
War on Women – Wonderful Hell Many of the best protest albums of 2020 expressed the frustration and anxieties that many feel in the present political climate. “Wonderful Hell,” released right before the United States presidential election by the feminist hardcore band War on Women, was such an album. It skillfully blends the band’s aggressive musical attacks with the incisive lyrics and impassioned vocals of Shawna Potter. And even though there is plenty of justifiable anger, that anger is directed in a positive way. Lyrics such as “The fire, the embers, the ash are not the end. If you want it then you’re gonna have to build it yourself,” (“The Ash Is Not The End”) and “There’s got to be a better way. Than giving up and wallowing. Let’s raise some wonderful, beautiful hell. And make this world worth living in” (“Wonderful Hell”) serve as calls for collective and constructive action. Another album standout is “White Lies,” which contains the potent line, “We politely request you get your boots off our necks.” By exposing the efforts to whitewash systemic oppression, the band plays their part in being allies. Even though there is understandably a collective relief and elation over President Donald Trump’s defeat, the reality is that Biden is also an older white man with a history of sexual assault accusations known for supporting the status quo. There will be plenty to remain angry over under Biden, making the music of War On Women all the more essential. (C.J. Baker)


shadowproof--2020-02-04--Interview With Eoin Higgins: The Aftermath Of 2020 Iowa Caucus

Shadowproof Editor Kevin Gosztola is joined by Common Dreams Senior Editor Eoin Higgins to discuss the fall-out from the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ what happened with the caucus app developed by Shadow Inc. , a startup company with @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Eoin and Kevin put the cronyism between the Iowa @ @ @ @ @ into perspective .
They highlight why the swirling suspicions around how the state party handled @ @ @ @ @ Later in the conversation , Eoin and Kevin address the poor performance of Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ and what the strong showing in Iowa may mean for Pete Buttigieg .
They conclude @ @ @ @ @ Mike Bloomberg and how he is ramping up his efforts to challenge Bernie Sanders for @ @ @ @ @ since Sanders increasingly seems like the campaign best suited to go the long haul .

Shadowproof Editor Kevin Gosztola is joined by Common Dreams Senior Editor Eoin Higgins to discuss the fall-out from the 2020 Iowa Caucus. They discuss what happened with the caucus app developed by Shadow Inc., a startup company with former staff from Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Eoin and Kevin put the cronyism between the Iowa Democratic Party and Shadow Inc. into perspective. They highlight why the swirling suspicions around how the state party handled the caucuses is understandable.
Later in the conversation, Eoin and Kevin address the poor performance of Joe Biden’s campaign in Iowa and what the strong showing in Iowa may mean for Pete Buttigieg.
They conclude with talk about Republican billionaire Mike Bloomberg and how he is ramping up his efforts to challenge Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination, especially since Sanders increasingly seems like the campaign best suited to go the long haul.


shadowproof--2020-02-04--Reporter Notes: Exposing Corruption Within The DNC

File : The 2010 Democratic National Committee logo projected on a screen near a podium with the American flag behind it .
( Flickr / Nostri-Imago ) The Iowa Caucuses were a total fiasco .
Despite cronyism linked to an app used by the state party , Senator Bernie Sanders has surged in numerous polls .
Corporate Democrats , particularly those in leadership positions in the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) , are quite nervous that Sanders may become the party ’ s presidential nominee .
The DNC changed debate rules in order to help a Republican billionaire , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualify for the next presidential debate .
( Bloomberg contributed $ 800,000 to the DNC , and the DNC funneled $ 575,000 to 44 different state parties . )
A little more than a week ago , DNC Chair Tom Perez and party elites appointed a neoliberal cast of corporate lobbyists and foreign policy hacks to the 2020 Democratic National Convention committees .
Only one well-known Sanders supporter was granted a spot on a committee .
Shadowproof played a role in exposing this DNC corruption so I ’ ll take a moment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 24 , Perez ’ s list of nominees was posted .
“ Some DNC members , ” according to The Hill , referred to the list as the “ midnight convention committee picks.
” They were rubber-stamped by the DNC ’ s executive committee less than 24 hours later .
The following Saturday morning I wondered : Who are these people ?
I recognized a few names from their roles in Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign or their past work for President Barack Obama ’ s administration .
But by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority of these people .
A Twitter thread I compiled started with the Platform Committee co-chairs .
Denis McDonough , Obama ’ s former chief of staff , was granted a position .
He pushed the Senate to speed up their confirmation of John Brennan to head the CIA , despite his past support for torture .
He was one of Obama ’ s advisers , who helped the administration develop the process by which alleged terrorism suspects would be put on a kill list for assassination .
But I also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he launched in December 2018 with Heidi Capozzi , the senior vice president of human resources at Boeing .
The network ’ s eleven founding members included Aon , Archer Daniels Midland ( ADM ) , Boeing , Duke Energy , Kaiser Permanente , McKinsey & Company , Microsoft , and Walmart .
My Saturday afternoon was spent conducting research .
By the evening , I was stunned at just how Republican these people seemed .
Danielle Gray , who was appointed to be a vice-chair of the platform committee , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shield of North Carolina ’ s website .
She is a senior vice president , chief legal officer , and corporate secretary for the health insurance corporation .
Note : Gray is not a politician who accepted contributions from a business that expects her to make policy on their behalf .
It ’ s worse .
She currently works for a corporation with an interest in preventing the expansion of Medicare to cover millions of Americans .
Meghan Stabler , who is on the board of Democratic Majority For Israel ( DMFI ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The political arm of this dark money group launched one of the few ad campaigns against Sanders in Iowa and invoked his heart attack to make him seem “ unelectable ” to Iowans .
In researching the other committees , I found Representative Barney Frank , who was appointed to chair the rules committee , sits on the board of Signature Bank New York .
Trump ’ s family has relied on the bank as a go-to lender .
I learned CNN contributor Maria Cardona , who was appointed to chair the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position at the Dewey Square Group , a lobbying firm that represents corporate interests in their efforts to undermine progressive reforms .
Two others from Dewey Square were appointed as well .
While the health reform debate unfolded during Obama ’ s administration , the firm placed letters to the editor in a newspaper “ under names of elderly Massachusetts residents without their knowledge or consent.
” James Boland , who is the president of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers ( BAC ) union , was appointed to the rules committee .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board of directors for the National Endowment for Democracy ( NED ) , which President Ronald Reagan launched in the 1980s in response to the backlash against the CIA for its meddling in countries .
By acting overtly , NED de-stigmatized and normalized many of the covert operations that once upset representatives and senators .
It was 11 pm on January 25 , and I still had dozens of names of people to get through on the list of 93 appointees .
Yet , already the outpouring of gratitude and shock at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for committees was significant .
“ It ’ s a veritable who ’ s who of the Bernie-hating world , ” Elizabeth Hamilton Argyropoulos , a popular Sanders supporter on Twitter , replied .
Grayzone editor-in-chief Max Blumenthal invited me to contribute an article .
After figuring out who the corporate Democrats were on the credentials committee , I spent the rest of Sunday developing and writing a report .
“ Thank you so much for this and the hard work put into it !
” one person said .
“ Your research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” I was grateful for all the appreciation shared with me .
It inspired me to keep working even when I was tired .
From Monday to Wednesday , DNC appointments were the talk of online progressive media , and most shows relied upon my Twitter thread .
The Real News interviewed me .
“ Around the Nation ” with Jeff Waldorf , a show affiliated with The Young Turks , featured the thread .
Hard Lens Media covered the thread .
Papi Chulomin covered the thread .
Krystal Ball referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , “ Rising , ” produced by The Hill .
On his show , “ Status Coup , ” Jordan Chariton spent 15 minutes reading the thread .
Comedians Jimmy Dore , Stef Zamorano , and Ron Placone spent 20 minutes reading my thread on their hugely popular show .
This incredible clip garnered over 100,000 views in a couple days .
The three did their best to get through most of the thread , but each name they read sucked more life out of their broadcast .
Every unpleasant detail required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find humor in the moral rot within the DNC .
“ Whew , have you had a bowl full of neoliberals yet ?
Wow , this is something , ” Dore said .
Referring to SEIU ’ s Mary Kay Henry , who endorsed Clinton early in 2015 , Placone added , “ So far , the one with the least horrible résumé is corrupt union leader…That ’ s like the one that is the least offensive.
” In terms of online print media , our friends over at Common Dreams showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these DNC appointees .
The New Republic relied on our reporting .
My article for the Grayzone was republished at Consortium News .
Unfortunately , the progressive echo chamber did not push the establishment news media to focus more attention on the backgrounds of these individuals .
Most reporting from establishment news media highlighted “ Sanders supporters ” or “ Sanders allies , ” who were angry .
It was the “ bros , ” who were at it again , showing their dissatisfaction with Democratic leaders .
A follow-up report on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did rather well .
It further demonstrated the hunger for reporting , which follows the money and documents clear conflicts of interest among Democrats who are aligned against Sanders and the progressive wing of the party .
Remarkably , by the end of the week , the thread reached figures in the DNC .
James Zogby , founder of the Arab-American Institute , who is a Sanders supporter that was purged from the DNC ’ s executive committee in 2017 , shared the thread .
“ At every step along the way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounds of the party , the chair has , instead , chosen to rub in salt .
This is another example & it ’ s disappointing .
We ’ ll need everyone on board to win in November .
Best time to start is NOW !
” Zogby tweeted .
Ray McKinnon tweeted , “ Please read this thread and understand why , as a DNC Member representing [ North Carolina ] , I signed on to the letter to Chairman Tom Perez , imploring that we ensure there is faith in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic ] voters must have faith in us as leaders .
This ain ’ t helping.
” He even urged Diane Robertson , a DNC member appointed to the rules committee , to look at the thread so she could better understand what was happening internally .
( Which suggests there is a lot of dysfunction among leadership at the moment . )
Shadowproof picked up several new YouTube subscribers and some more members became regular donors .
We grew our base of followers on Twitter , and the thread was recognized as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians , who downplay evidence that party elites are conspiring against Sanders .
This was an example of the power of independent media to reach people at the grassroots level and bypass the filters of establishment media .
Efforts to rig the primary against anyone but Sanders will make the Democratic Party ’ s nominee increasingly unelectable in the general election against Trump .
On the other hand , if Sanders becomes the nominee , a tide will wash over corporate Democrats and wash them away .
They will lose their influence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irrelevant .
And that is why there is so much panic among the establishment right now .
If we understand the Democratic Party to be a corporate political party , a fake opposition party that puts capitalism before the needs of working people , then it is likely we are witnessing the death of the Democratic Party .
Out of the smoldering ashes will rise something even more venal , or the party will finally reconstitute itself as an organization supportive of progressive politics .

Editor’s Note Kevin Gosztola wrote this edition of Shadowproof’s members-only newsletter to share some of his notes from covering the previous week of developments involving the Democratic National Committee’s efforts to rig the primary so anybody but Bernie Sanders is the party’s presidential nominee. Become a member for $5/month or more to gain access to interviews with our reporters, arts and culture reviews, and “reporter’s notebook” entries like this one.
The Iowa Caucuses were a total fiasco. Despite cronyism linked to an app used by the state party, Senator Bernie Sanders has surged in numerous polls. Corporate Democrats, particularly those in leadership positions in the Democratic National Committee (DNC), are quite nervous that Sanders may become the party’s presidential nominee.
The DNC changed debate rules in order to help a Republican billionaire, former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, qualify for the next presidential debate. (Bloomberg contributed $800,000 to the DNC, and the DNC funneled $575,000 to 44 different state parties.)
A little more than a week ago, DNC Chair Tom Perez and party elites appointed a neoliberal cast of corporate lobbyists and foreign policy hacks to the 2020 Democratic National Convention committees. Only one well-known Sanders supporter was granted a spot on a committee.
Shadowproof played a role in exposing this DNC corruption so I’ll take a moment to memorialize our success.
Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez issued a list of individuals he nominated for the 2020 Democratic National Convention committees. Let's examine some of the individuals. I'll initially focus on the nominees for the DNC Platform Committee. Thread. pic.twitter.com/fVm41YClJQ — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) January 25, 2020
On Friday, January 24, Perez’s list of nominees was posted. “Some DNC members,” according to The Hill, referred to the list as the “midnight convention committee picks.” They were rubber-stamped by the DNC’s executive committee less than 24 hours later.
The following Saturday morning I wondered: Who are these people?
I recognized a few names from their roles in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign or their past work for President Barack Obama’s administration. But by and large, I was unaware of the vast majority of these people.
A Twitter thread I compiled started with the Platform Committee co-chairs. Denis McDonough, Obama’s former chief of staff, was granted a position. He pushed the Senate to speed up their confirmation of John Brennan to head the CIA, despite his past support for torture. He was one of Obama’s advisers, who helped the administration develop the process by which alleged terrorism suspects would be put on a kill list for assassination.
But I also stumbled on the Rework America Business Network that he launched in December 2018 with Heidi Capozzi, the senior vice president of human resources at Boeing. The network’s eleven founding members included Aon, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Boeing, Duke Energy, Kaiser Permanente, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, and Walmart.
My Saturday afternoon was spent conducting research. By the evening, I was stunned at just how Republican these people seemed.
Danielle Gray, who was appointed to be a vice-chair of the platform committee, had a profile on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s website. She is a senior vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary for the health insurance corporation.
Note: Gray is not a politician who accepted contributions from a business that expects her to make policy on their behalf. It’s worse. She currently works for a corporation with an interest in preventing the expansion of Medicare to cover millions of Americans.
Meghan Stabler, who is on the board of Democratic Majority For Israel (DMFI), was appointed to the platform committee. The political arm of this dark money group launched one of the few ad campaigns against Sanders in Iowa and invoked his heart attack to make him seem “unelectable” to Iowans.
In researching the other committees, I found Representative Barney Frank, who was appointed to chair the rules committee, sits on the board of Signature Bank New York. Trump’s family has relied on the bank as a go-to lender.
I learned CNN contributor Maria Cardona, who was appointed to chair the rules committee with Frank, holds a position at the Dewey Square Group, a lobbying firm that represents corporate interests in their efforts to undermine progressive reforms. Two others from Dewey Square were appointed as well.
While the health reform debate unfolded during Obama’s administration, the firm placed letters to the editor in a newspaper “under names of elderly Massachusetts residents without their knowledge or consent.”
James Boland, who is the president of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) union, was appointed to the rules committee. I was stunned to find he is on the board of directors for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which President Ronald Reagan launched in the 1980s in response to the backlash against the CIA for its meddling in countries. By acting overtly, NED de-stigmatized and normalized many of the covert operations that once upset representatives and senators.
It was 11 pm on January 25, and I still had dozens of names of people to get through on the list of 93 appointees. Yet, already the outpouring of gratitude and shock at the Democratic Party establishment’s picks for committees was significant. “It’s a veritable who’s who of the Bernie-hating world,” Elizabeth Hamilton Argyropoulos, a popular Sanders supporter on Twitter, replied.
Grayzone editor-in-chief Max Blumenthal invited me to contribute an article. After figuring out who the corporate Democrats were on the credentials committee, I spent the rest of Sunday developing and writing a report.
“Thank you so much for this and the hard work put into it!” one person said. “Your research is invaluable. Hats off, friend!” I was grateful for all the appreciation shared with me. It inspired me to keep working even when I was tired.
From Monday to Wednesday, DNC appointments were the talk of online progressive media, and most shows relied upon my Twitter thread. The Real News interviewed me. “Around the Nation” with Jeff Waldorf, a show affiliated with The Young Turks, featured the thread. Hard Lens Media covered the thread. Papi Chulomin covered the thread.
Krystal Ball referred to the thread on her popular Internet news program, “Rising,” produced by The Hill. On his show, “Status Coup,” Jordan Chariton spent 15 minutes reading the thread.
Comedians Jimmy Dore, Stef Zamorano, and Ron Placone spent 20 minutes reading my thread on their hugely popular show. This incredible clip garnered over 100,000 views in a couple days.
The three did their best to get through most of the thread, but each name they read sucked more life out of their broadcast. Every unpleasant detail required them to dig deeper into the well to find humor in the moral rot within the DNC.
“Whew, have you had a bowl full of neoliberals yet? Wow, this is something,” Dore said. Referring to SEIU’s Mary Kay Henry, who endorsed Clinton early in 2015, Placone added, “So far, the one with the least horrible résumé is corrupt union leader…That’s like the one that is the least offensive.”
In terms of online print media, our friends over at Common Dreams showed Shadowproof a lot of love for exposing these DNC appointees. The New Republic relied on our reporting. My article for the Grayzone was republished at Consortium News.
Unfortunately, the progressive echo chamber did not push the establishment news media to focus more attention on the backgrounds of these individuals. Most reporting from establishment news media highlighted “Sanders supporters” or “Sanders allies,” who were angry. It was the “bros,” who were at it again, showing their dissatisfaction with Democratic leaders.
A follow-up report on the DNC appointments was published at Shadowproof and did rather well. It further demonstrated the hunger for reporting, which follows the money and documents clear conflicts of interest among Democrats who are aligned against Sanders and the progressive wing of the party.
Remarkably, by the end of the week, the thread reached figures in the DNC. James Zogby, founder of the Arab-American Institute, who is a Sanders supporter that was purged from the DNC’s executive committee in 2017, shared the thread.
“At every step along the way, when given an opportunity to heal the wounds of the party, the chair has, instead, chosen to rub in salt. This is another example & it’s disappointing. We’ll need everyone on board to win in November. Best time to start is NOW!” Zogby tweeted.
Ray McKinnon tweeted, “Please read this thread and understand why, as a DNC Member representing [North Carolina], I signed on to the letter to Chairman Tom Perez, imploring that we ensure there is faith in our process. Specific candidates aside, [Democratic] voters must have faith in us as leaders. This ain’t helping.”
He even urged Diane Robertson, a DNC member appointed to the rules committee, to look at the thread so she could better understand what was happening internally. (Which suggests there is a lot of dysfunction among leadership at the moment.)
Shadowproof picked up several new YouTube subscribers and some more members became regular donors. We grew our base of followers on Twitter, and the thread was recognized as a useful resource to rebut pundits or politicians, who downplay evidence that party elites are conspiring against Sanders.
This was an example of the power of independent media to reach people at the grassroots level and bypass the filters of establishment media.
Efforts to rig the primary against anyone but Sanders will make the Democratic Party’s nominee increasingly unelectable in the general election against Trump. On the other hand, if Sanders becomes the nominee, a tide will wash over corporate Democrats and wash them away. They will lose their influence, and their politics will be even more irrelevant. And that is why there is so much panic among the establishment right now.
If we understand the Democratic Party to be a corporate political party, a fake opposition party that puts capitalism before the needs of working people, then it is likely we are witnessing the death of the Democratic Party.
Out of the smoldering ashes will rise something even more venal, or the party will finally reconstitute itself as an organization supportive of progressive politics.


shadowproof--2020-03-27--Dissenter Weekly: Judge Keeps Assange Jailed As COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies—Plus, Amazon Workers S

Dissenter Weekly: Judge Keeps Assange Jailed As COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies—Plus, Amazon Workers Speak Out

On this edition of the “ Dissenter Weekly , ” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights a British magistrate court judge ’ s decision to deny WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange bail during the coronavirus pandemic .
Assange ’ s attorneys applied for bail because they believe he faces “ imminent danger.
” He suffers from a chronic lung condition , which makes him especially vulnerable to a virus that severely affects anyone with respiratory ailments .
Later in the show , Gosztola highlights Jacksonville , Florida , as an example of a city where businesses are defying a work-from-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon workers , who are blowing the whistle on horrific working conditions .
“ Dissenter Weekly ” airs every Thursday at 4pm ET on YouTube and Facebook , and covers whistleblower and press freedom news from that week .
Judge Denies Assange Bail As UN Human Rights Official Urges Governments To Protect Detainees During COVID-19 Pandemic Unsanitized : The Dangerous Life Of An Amazon Worker Julian Assange has been in jail for 352 days , since he was expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London .
This show is brought to you by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization .
If you enjoy our work , you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $ 5/month or more : https : //shadowproof.com/donate

On this edition of the “Dissenter Weekly,” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights a British magistrate court judge’s decision to deny WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange bail during the coronavirus pandemic.
Assange’s attorneys applied for bail because they believe he faces “imminent danger.” He suffers from a chronic lung condition, which makes him especially vulnerable to a virus that severely affects anyone with respiratory ailments.
Later in the show, Gosztola highlights Jacksonville, Florida, as an example of a city where businesses are defying a work-from-home order. He also spends time on Amazon workers, who are blowing the whistle on horrific working conditions.
“Dissenter Weekly” airs every Thursday at 4pm ET on YouTube and Facebook, and covers whistleblower and press freedom news from that week.
This week’s stories:
Judge Denies Assange Bail As UN Human Rights Official Urges Governments To Protect Detainees During COVID-19 Pandemic
Whistleblower Complaints Filed In Jacksonville Against Businesses Defying Work-From-Home Order
Unsanitized: The Dangerous Life Of An Amazon Worker
Whistleblowing Inmate Says New York Prison Labor Isn’t Making Hand Sanitizer
***
Julian Assange has been in jail for 352 days, since he was expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London.
Send tips and feedback to editor@shadowproof.com
This show is brought to you by Shadowproof.com, a 100% reader-funded press organization. If you enjoy our work, you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $5/month or more: https://shadowproof.com/donate


shadowproof--2020-03-31--Wisconsin Is Holding A Pandemic Primary On April 7 That Will Disenfranchise Voters

Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers has declined to invoke emergency powers and reschedule the state ’ s April 7 primary , even though a majority of Wisconsin residents support changing the date .
A number of federal lawsuits have been filed in Wisconsin , including by groups committed to get-out-the-vote efforts .
The lawsuits request an expansion of mail-in voting and/or postponement of in-person voting .
Thirteen states , including New York , Ohio , and Pennsylvania , have rescheduled their primaries .
While Alaska and Wyoming are still holding their primaries in April , the states canceled in-person voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote by mail .
The irrational commitment by Evers , the Republican-controlled state legislature , and the Elections Commission to holding a primary in the middle of an intensifying pandemic flouts statewide and nationwide orders issued to protect the public ’ s health .
It forces communities to give up their right to vote if they want to make certain they do not contract the virus .
COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin surpassed 1,200 on March 30 .
Twenty-three people have died , and Evers has said the severity of this disease in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis within a crisis.
” On March 26 , Souls To The Polls , Voces De La Frontera , Black Leaders Organizing For Communities , the American Federation Of Teachers , Local 212 , SEIU Wisconsin State Council , and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin sued the Wisconsin Elections Commission and asked a federal court to order the state to move the primary to after April 24 , when Evers ’ emergency order [ PDF ] expires .
They also asked the court to extend mail-in voting to June 2 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission , as well as Evers , that have the authority to make changes to the primary that would limit or prevent voter disenfranchisement .
The groups contend holding the primary on April 7 will unconstitutionally infringe upon the rights voters .
It will violate the Voting Rights Act .
“ Assuming that public health experts confirm that the pandemic has flattened out and subsided such that in-person voting can be conducted in a safe manner , ” the groups believe there is no defensible reason not to wait for that to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties with the most populous metropolitan areas in Wisconsin—Milwaukee County , Dane County ( Madison ) , Brown County ( Green Bay ) , Outagamie County ( Appleton ) , and Racine County ( Racine ) —have reported “ community spread of COVID-19.
” At least 400 trained election staff notified the city of Milwaukee they will not work the election .
In Madison , over 650 poll workers canceled their assigned shifts .
Only 54 out of 278 poll workers in Green Bay have agreed to work polling places on April 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning supplies .
Staff shortages are due to the fact that counties overwhelmingly rely on elderly citizens to administer elections .
“ It is irresponsible to conduct an in-person election knowing not only that older Americans are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 during times of community spread , but that they also are the backbone of the election process , ” the lawsuit states .
“ There is no way to protect poll workers if basic sanitizing wipes are unavailable for the 13-hour election day , particularly since the voting process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate in close proximity to each other , ” the lawsuit also adds .
Thus far , there “ appears to be no hand sanitizer or sanitation wipes available through local , state , or federal channels ” so cities can not guarantee they will be able to keep polling places safe for voters and poll workers .
State officials have suggested , as officials in Arizona , Florida , and Illinois did , that younger people be hired to work polling places .
But this rests on a widespread misperception that younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
The Wisconsin Health Department advised , “ Younger people , and particularly those who are 18 to 30 years old , aren ’ t immune to COVID-19 .
Anyone can contract COVID-19 .
So it ’ s important for everyone , including young and healthy people , to practice social distancing.
” Groups estimate the city of Milwaukee could see a 44 percent reduction in turnout that disproportionately impacts African American and Hispanic residents .
According to the lawsuit , “ The COVID-19 virus has struck hard in the African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in the spring general election will enable thousands of voters to participate in the election who otherwise will be disenfranchised.
” Voces claims most of the voters they represent are “ new or infrequent voters , who require significant attention and assistance.
” However , if the primary is held on April 7 , they will not vote in-person “ due to fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
” SEIU Wisconsin has engaged in canvassing work and found there are a “ significant number of people , especially those in older age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person , who do not want to vote a different way , and who do not feel comfortable with or capable of navigating the absentee ballot process .
In some cases , these are people who do not have a smartphone or computer and who , as a result , do not have access to or the ability to request and submit ballots online.
” Although Wisconsin has encouraged residents to fill out absentee ballots , the state requires absentee ballot certifications to be signed by the voter and a witness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizen .
“ This requirement constitutes an insurmountable hurdle for many eligible Wisconsin voters under quarantine or in isolation , ” the lawsuit maintains .
“ All eligible Wisconsin voters under self-quarantine who live alone or who do not have an adult U.S. citizen in their household will be unable to satisfy the state ’ s witness signature requirement and cast a mail-in absentee ballot.
” The Wisconsin State Senate ceased in-person meetings .
Lawmakers are meeting via teleconference , and the Wisconsin State Capitol building is closed to the public .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin Supreme Court were postponed .
“ Despite the other branches of government suspending activities that would allow the public to physically access the State Capitol , the Senate chambers , and the courts , the Elections Commission continues to insist that municipal clerks provide in-person voter registration , and that the polls be open for in-person voting on April 7.
” Because numerous jurisdictions are overwhelmed by absentee ballot requests , “ Wisconsin voters are at a high risk of not receiving their ballots with sufficient time to mail it into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is received prior to the Election Day receipt deadline .
This too will lead to disenfranchisement.
” Republicans demanded the state ’ s supreme court block officials from waiving the photo identification requirement for voters , who submit absentee ballots .
That will ensure more voters are denied their right to vote .
Plainly , as Wisconsin state officials push on with the pandemic primary , they ignore and resist calls to implement changes to the process that would protect the public from the spread of the coronavirus while also ensuring voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force Wisconsin voters , especially vulnerable communities , to choose to exercise their right to vote by taking actions that may greatly impact their health and the health of their families , friends , and neighbors , or they may stay home and skip voting entirely .

Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers has declined to invoke emergency powers and reschedule the state’s April 7 primary, even though a majority of Wisconsin residents support changing the date.
A number of federal lawsuits have been filed in Wisconsin, including by groups committed to get-out-the-vote efforts. The lawsuits request an expansion of mail-in voting and/or postponement of in-person voting.
Thirteen states, including New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, have rescheduled their primaries.
While Alaska and Wyoming are still holding their primaries in April, the states canceled in-person voting and everyone who wants to participate will vote by mail.
The irrational commitment by Evers, the Republican-controlled state legislature, and the Elections Commission to holding a primary in the middle of an intensifying pandemic flouts statewide and nationwide orders issued to protect the public’s health. It forces communities to give up their right to vote if they want to make certain they do not contract the virus.
COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin surpassed 1,200 on March 30. Twenty-three people have died, and Evers has said the severity of this disease in the African American community in Milwaukee is a crisis within a crisis.”
On March 26, Souls To The Polls, Voces De La Frontera, Black Leaders Organizing For Communities, the American Federation Of Teachers, Local 212, SEIU Wisconsin State Council, and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin sued the Wisconsin Elections Commission and asked a federal court to order the state to move the primary to after April 24, when Evers’ emergency order [PDF] expires. They also asked the court to extend mail-in voting to June 2.
Ultimately, it is the Wisconsin Elections Commission, as well as Evers, that have the authority to make changes to the primary that would limit or prevent voter disenfranchisement.
The groups contend holding the primary on April 7 will unconstitutionally infringe upon the rights voters. It will violate the Voting Rights Act.
“Assuming that public health experts confirm that the pandemic has flattened out and subsided such that in-person voting can be conducted in a safe manner,” the groups believe there is no defensible reason not to wait for that to happen and reschedule in-person voting.
The five counties with the most populous metropolitan areas in Wisconsin—Milwaukee County, Dane County (Madison), Brown County (Green Bay), Outagamie County (Appleton), and Racine County (Racine)—have reported “community spread of COVID-19.”
At least 400 trained election staff notified the city of Milwaukee they will not work the election. In Madison, over 650 poll workers canceled their assigned shifts.
Only 54 out of 278 poll workers in Green Bay have agreed to work polling places on April 7, and the state has not provided cleaning supplies.
Staff shortages are due to the fact that counties overwhelmingly rely on elderly citizens to administer elections.
“It is irresponsible to conduct an in-person election knowing not only that older Americans are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 during times of community spread, but that they also are the backbone of the election process,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit adds, “There is no way to protect poll workers if basic sanitizing wipes are unavailable for the 13-hour election day, particularly since the voting process requires people to make direct contact and operate in close proximity to each other.”
Thus far, there “appears to be no hand sanitizer or sanitation wipes available through local, state, or federal channels” so cities cannot guarantee they will be able to keep polling places safe for voters and poll workers.
Evers and various other officials have warned against postponing the primary because local government positions may be left vacant. The lawsuit asserts, “Many cities and villages have charters that permit incumbents to continue in office pending the selection of their successor, and even in the absence of such a charter provision, incumbents will continue as de facto fully valid office holders pending the completion of the election process.”
State officials have suggested, as officials in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois did, that younger people be hired to work polling places. But this rests on a widespread misperception that younger people are not as vulnerable to contracting the virus.
The Wisconsin Health Department advised, “Younger people, and particularly those who are 18 to 30 years old, aren’t immune to COVID-19. Anyone can contract COVID-19. So it’s important for everyone, including young and healthy people, to practice social distancing.”
Groups estimate the city of Milwaukee could see a 44 percent reduction in turnout that disproportionately impacts African American and Hispanic residents.
According to the lawsuit, “The COVID-19 virus has struck hard in the African American community and extending the deadline to vote in the spring general election will enable thousands of voters to participate in the election who otherwise will be disenfranchised.”
Voces claims most of the voters they represent are “new or infrequent voters, who require significant attention and assistance.” However, if the primary is held on April 7, they will not vote in-person “due to fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus.”
SEIU Wisconsin has engaged in canvassing work and found there are a “significant number of people, especially those in older age brackets, who strongly prefer to vote in person, who do not want to vote a different way, and who do not feel comfortable with or capable of navigating the absentee ballot process. In some cases, these are people who do not have a smartphone or computer and who, as a result, do not have access to or the ability to request and submit ballots online.”
Although Wisconsin has encouraged residents to fill out absentee ballots, the state requires absentee ballot certifications to be signed by the voter and a witness, who must be an adult United States citizen.
“This requirement constitutes an insurmountable hurdle for many eligible Wisconsin voters under quarantine or in isolation,” the lawsuit maintains. “All eligible Wisconsin voters under self-quarantine who live alone or who do not have an adult U.S. citizen in their household will be unable to satisfy the state’s witness signature requirement and cast a mail-in absentee ballot.”
The Wisconsin State Senate ceased in-person meetings. Lawmakers are meeting via teleconference, and the Wisconsin State Capitol building is closed to the public.
All jury trials and in-person proceedings at the Wisconsin Supreme Court were postponed.
“Despite the other branches of government suspending activities that would allow the public to physically access the State Capitol, the Senate chambers, and the courts, the Elections Commission continues to insist that municipal clerks provide in-person voter registration, and that the polls be open for in-person voting on April 7.”
Because numerous jurisdictions are overwhelmed by absentee ballot requests, “Wisconsin voters are at a high risk of not receiving their ballots with sufficient time to mail it into the municipal clerk’s office so that it is received prior to the Election Day receipt deadline. This too will lead to disenfranchisement.”
Republicans demanded the state’s supreme court block officials from waiving the photo identification requirement for voters, who submit absentee ballots. That will ensure more voters are denied their right to vote.
Plainly, as Wisconsin state officials push on with the pandemic primary, they ignore and resist calls to implement changes to the process that would protect the public from the spread of the coronavirus while also ensuring voting rights are protected.
In-person voting will force Wisconsin voters, especially vulnerable communities, to choose to exercise their right to vote by taking actions that may greatly impact their health and the health of their families, friends, and neighbors, or they may stay home and skip voting entirely.