mintpressnews--2020-09-29--Don’t Be Fooled: The 2020 Election Has Already Been Decided

Republicans and Democrats alike fear that the other party will attempt to hijack this election .
President Trump is convinced that mail-in ballots are a scam except in Florida , where it ’ s safe to vote by mail because of its “ great Republican governor.
” The FBI is worried about foreign hackers continuing to target and exploit vulnerabilities in the nation ’ s electoral system , sowing distrust about the parties , the process , and the outcome .
I , on the other hand , am not overly worried : after all , the voting booths have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprised of Republicans and Democrats who are determined to retain power at all costs .
The outcome is a foregone conclusion : the Deep State will win and “ we the people ” will lose .
The damage has already been done .
The Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) , which has been tasked with helping to “ secure ” the elections and protect the nation against cyberattacks , is not exactly an agency known for its adherence to freedom principles .
After all , this is the agency largely responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police state .
Since its creation , the DHS has ushered in the domestic use of surveillance drones , expanded the reach of fusion centers , stockpiled an alarming amount of ammunition ( including hollow point bullets ) , urged Americans to become snitches through a “ see something , say something ” campaign , overseen the fumbling antics of TSA agents everywhere , militarized the nation ’ s police , spied on activists and veterans , distributed license plate readers and cell phone trackers to law enforcement agencies , contracted to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lockdowns in American cities , conducted virtual strip searches of airline passengers , established Constitution-free border zones , funded city-wide surveillance cameras , and undermined the Fourth Amendment at every turn .
So , no , I ’ m not losing a night ’ s sleep over the thought that this election might by any more rigged than it already is .
And I ’ m not holding my breath in the hopes that the winner of this year ’ s popularity contest will save us from government surveillance , weaponized drones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SWAT team raids , asset forfeiture schemes , overcriminalization , profit-driven private prisons , graft and corruption , or any of the other evils that masquerade as official government business these days .
You see , after years of trying to wake Americans up to the reality that there is no political savior who will save us from the police state , I ’ ve come to realize that Americans want to engage in the reassurance ritual of voting .
They want to believe the fantasy that politics matter .
They want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference between the Republicans and Democrats ( there ’ s not ) .
Some will swear that Donald Trump has been an improvement on Barack Obama ( he is not ) .
Others are convinced that Joe Biden ’ s values are different from Donald Trump ’ s ( with both of them , money talks ) .
Most of all , voters want to buy into the fantasy that when they elect a president , they ’ re getting someone who truly represents the citizenry rather than the Deep State ( in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American police state , an elite group of wealthy donors is calling the shots in cooperation with a political elite ) .
The sad truth is that it doesn ’ t matter who wins the White House , because they all work for the same boss : Corporate America .
Understanding this , many corporations hedge their bets on who will win the White House by splitting their donations between Democratic and Republican candidates .
Politics is a game , a joke , a hustle , a con , a distraction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many devout Americans , a religion .
It is a political illusion aimed at persuading the citizenry that we are free , that our vote counts , and that we actually have some control over the government when in fact , we are prisoners of a Corporate Elite .
In other words , it ’ s a sophisticated ruse aimed at keeping us divided and fighting over two parties whose priorities , more often than not , are exactly the same so that we don ’ t join forces and do what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to throw the whole lot out and start over .
It ’ s no secret that both parties support endless war , engage in out-of-control spending , ignore the citizenry ’ s basic rights , have no respect for the rule of law , are bought and paid for by Big Business , care most about their own power , and have a long record of expanding government and shrinking liberty .
Most of all , both parties enjoy an intimate , incestuous history with each other and with the moneyed elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jabs the candidates volley at each other for the benefit of the cameras , they ’ re a relatively chummy bunch away from the spotlight .
Moreover , despite Congress ’ so-called political gridlock , our elected officials seem to have no trouble finding common ground when it ’ s time to collectively kowtow to the megacorporations , lobbyists , defense contractors and other special interest groups to whom they have pledged their true allegiance .
So don ’ t be fooled by the smear campaigns and name-calling or drawn into their divide-and-conquer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just useful tactics that have been proven to engage voters and increase voter turnout while keeping the citizenry at each other ’ s throats .
It used to be that the cogs , wheels and gear shifts in the government machinery worked to keep the republic running smoothly .
However , without our fully realizing it , the mechanism has changed .
Its purpose is no longer to keep our republic running smoothly .
To the contrary , this particular contraption ’ s purpose is to keep the Deep State in power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the whole .
Just consider how insidious , incestuous and beholden to the corporate elite the various “ parts ” of the mechanism have become .
Congress .
Perhaps the most notorious offenders and most obvious culprits in the creation of the corporate-state , Congress has proven itself to be both inept and avaricious , oblivious champions of an authoritarian system that is systematically dismantling their constituents ’ fundamental rights .
Long before they ’ re elected , Congressmen are trained to dance to the tune of their wealthy benefactors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their time in office raising money .
As Reuters reports , “ For many lawmakers , the daily routine in Washington involves fundraising as much as legislating .
The culture of nonstop political campaigning shapes the rhythms of daily life in Congress , as well as the landscape around the Capitol .
It also means that lawmakers often spend more time listening to the concerns of the wealthy than anyone else.
” The President .
What Americans want in a president and what they need are two very different things .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise in branding , marketing and creating alternate realities for the consumer—a.k.a.
, the citizenry—that allows them to buy into a fantasy about life in America that is utterly divorced from our increasingly grim reality .
Take President Trump , for instance , who got elected by promising to drain the swamp in Washington DC .
Instead of putting an end to the corruption , however , Trump has paved the way for lobbyists , corporations , the military industrial complex , and the rest of the Deep State ( also referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to feast on the carcass of the dying American republic .
The lesson : to be a successful president , it doesn ’ t matter whether you keep your campaign promises , sell the American people to the highest bidder , or march in lockstep with the Corporate State as long as you keep telling people what they most want to hear .
The Supreme Court .
The U.S. Supreme Court—once the last refuge of justice , the one governmental body really capable of rolling back the slowly emerging tyranny enveloping America—has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police state , absolving government and corporate officials of their crimes while relentlessly punishing the average American for exercising his or her rights .
Like the rest of the government , the Court has routinely prioritized profit , security , and convenience over the basic rights of the citizenry .
Indeed , law professor Erwin Chemerinsky makes a compelling case that the Supreme Court , whose “ justices have overwhelmingly come from positions of privilege , ” almost unerringly throughout its history sides with the wealthy , the privileged , and the powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this triumvirate of total control would be completely ineffective without a propaganda machine provided by the world ’ s largest corporations .
Besides shoveling drivel down our throats at every possible moment , the so-called news agencies which are supposed to act as bulwarks against government propaganda have instead become the mouthpieces of the state .
The pundits which pollute our airwaves are at best court jesters and at worst propagandists for the false reality created by the American government .
When you have internet and media giants such as Google , NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thomson Reuters , Comcast , Time Warner , Viacom , Public Radio International and The Washington Post Company donating to political candidates , you no longer have an independent media—what we used to refer to as the “ fourth estate ” —that can be trusted to hold the government accountable .
The American People .
“ We the people ” now belong to a permanent underclass in America .
It doesn ’ t matter what you call us—chattel , slaves , worker bees , it ’ s all the same—what matters is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockstep with and submit to the will of the state in all matters , public and private .
Unfortunately , through our complicity in matters large and small , we have allowed an out-of-control corporate-state apparatus to take over every element of American society .
The game is rigged , and “ we the people ” keep getting dealt the same losing hand .
The people dealing the cards—the politicians , the corporations , the judges , the prosecutors , the police , the bureaucrats , the military , the media , etc.—have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to maintain their power and control over the citizenry , while milking us of our money and possessions .
It really doesn ’ t matter what you call them—Republicans , Democrats , the 1 % , the elite , the controllers , the masterminds , the shadow government , the police state , the surveillance state , the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that while they are dealing the cards , the deck will always be stacked in their favor .
As I make clear in my book , Battlefield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People , our failure to remain informed about what is taking place in our government , to know and exercise our rights , to vocally protest , to demand accountability on the part of our government representatives , and at a minimum to care about the plight of our fellow Americans has been our downfall .
Now we find ourselves once again caught up in the spectacle of another presidential election , and once again the majority of Americans are acting as if this election will make a difference and bring about change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be different from the old boss .
When in doubt , just remember what the astute commentator George Carlin had to say about the matter : The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice .
You don ’ t .
You have no choice .
You have owners .
They own you .
They own everything .
They own all the important land .
They own and control the corporations .
They ’ ve long since bought and paid for the Senate , the Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halls .
They got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies , so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear .
They got you by the balls .
They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying .
Lobbying to get what they want .
Well , we know what they want .
They want more for themselves and less for everybody else , but I ’ ll tell you what they don ’ t want .
They don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of critical thinking .
They don ’ t want well-informed , well-educated people capable of critical thinking .
They ’ re not interested in that .
That doesn ’ t help them .
That ’ s against their interests .
They want obedient workers .
Obedient workers , people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork… .
It ’ s a big club and you ain ’ t in it .
You and I are not in the big club .
…The table is tilted , folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to notice… .
Nobody seems to care .
That ’ s what the owners count on… .
It ’ s called the American Dream , ’ cause you have to be asleep to believe it .
Feature photo | Workers adjust signage as preparations take place for the first Presidential debate in the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion , Sept. 28 , 2020 , in Cleveland .
Patrick Semansky | AP Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute .
His new book Battlefield America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( SelectBooks , 2015 ) is available online at www.amazon.com .
Whitehead can be contacted at johnw @ rutherford.org .

Republicans and Democrats alike fear that the other party will attempt to hijack this election. President Trump is convinced that mail-in ballots are a scam except in Florida, where it’s safe to vote by mail because of its “great Republican governor.” The FBI is worried about foreign hackers continuing to target and exploit vulnerabilities in the nation’s electoral system, sowing distrust about the parties, the process, and the outcome.
I, on the other hand, am not overly worried: after all, the voting booths have already been hijacked by a political elite comprised of Republicans and Democrats who are determined to retain power at all costs.
The outcome is a foregone conclusion: the Deep State will win and “we the people” will lose.
The damage has already been done.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been tasked with helping to “secure” the elections and protect the nation against cyberattacks, is not exactly an agency known for its adherence to freedom principles.
After all, this is the agency largely responsible for turning the American republic into a police state. Since its creation, the DHS has ushered in the domestic use of surveillance drones, expanded the reach of fusion centers, stockpiled an alarming amount of ammunition (including hollow point bullets), urged Americans to become snitches through a “see something, say something” campaign, overseen the fumbling antics of TSA agents everywhere, militarized the nation’s police, spied on activists and veterans, distributed license plate readers and cell phone trackers to law enforcement agencies, contracted to build detention camps, carried out military drills and lockdowns in American cities, conducted virtual strip searches of airline passengers, established Constitution-free border zones, funded city-wide surveillance cameras, and undermined the Fourth Amendment at every turn.
So, no, I’m not losing a night’s sleep over the thought that this election might by any more rigged than it already is.
And I’m not holding my breath in the hopes that the winner of this year’s popularity contest will save us from government surveillance, weaponized drones, militarized police, endless wars, SWAT team raids, asset forfeiture schemes, overcriminalization, profit-driven private prisons, graft and corruption, or any of the other evils that masquerade as official government business these days.
You see, after years of trying to wake Americans up to the reality that there is no political savior who will save us from the police state, I’ve come to realize that Americans want to engage in the reassurance ritual of voting.
They want to believe the fantasy that politics matter.
They want to be persuaded that there’s a difference between the Republicans and Democrats (there’s not).
Some will swear that Donald Trump has been an improvement on Barack Obama (he is not).
Others are convinced that Joe Biden’s values are different from Donald Trump’s (with both of them, money talks).
Most of all, voters want to buy into the fantasy that when they elect a president, they’re getting someone who truly represents the citizenry rather than the Deep State (in fact, in the oligarchy that is the American police state, an elite group of wealthy donors is calling the shots in cooperation with a political elite).
The sad truth is that it doesn’t matter who wins the White House, because they all work for the same boss: Corporate America. Understanding this, many corporations hedge their bets on who will win the White House by splitting their donations between Democratic and Republican candidates.
Politics is a game, a joke, a hustle, a con, a distraction, a spectacle, a sport, and for many devout Americans, a religion. It is a political illusion aimed at persuading the citizenry that we are free, that our vote counts, and that we actually have some control over the government when in fact, we are prisoners of a Corporate Elite.
In other words, it’s a sophisticated ruse aimed at keeping us divided and fighting over two parties whose priorities, more often than not, are exactly the same so that we don’t join forces and do what the Declaration of Independence suggests, which is to throw the whole lot out and start over.
It’s no secret that both parties support endless war, engage in out-of-control spending, ignore the citizenry’s basic rights, have no respect for the rule of law, are bought and paid for by Big Business, care most about their own power, and have a long record of expanding government and shrinking liberty. Most of all, both parties enjoy an intimate, incestuous history with each other and with the moneyed elite that rule this country.
Despite the jabs the candidates volley at each other for the benefit of the cameras, they’re a relatively chummy bunch away from the spotlight. Moreover, despite Congress’ so-called political gridlock, our elected officials seem to have no trouble finding common ground when it’s time to collectively kowtow to the megacorporations, lobbyists, defense contractors and other special interest groups to whom they have pledged their true allegiance.
So don’t be fooled by the smear campaigns and name-calling or drawn into their divide-and-conquer politics of hate. They’re just useful tactics that have been proven to engage voters and increase voter turnout while keeping the citizenry at each other’s throats.
It’s all a grand illusion.
It used to be that the cogs, wheels and gear shifts in the government machinery worked to keep the republic running smoothly. However, without our fully realizing it, the mechanism has changed. Its purpose is no longer to keep our republic running smoothly. To the contrary, this particular contraption’s purpose is to keep the Deep State in power. Its various parts are already a corrupt part of the whole.
Just consider how insidious, incestuous and beholden to the corporate elite the various “parts” of the mechanism have become.
Congress. Perhaps the most notorious offenders and most obvious culprits in the creation of the corporate-state, Congress has proven itself to be both inept and avaricious, oblivious champions of an authoritarian system that is systematically dismantling their constituents’ fundamental rights. Long before they’re elected, Congressmen are trained to dance to the tune of their wealthy benefactors, so much so that they spend two-thirds of their time in office raising money. As Reuters reports, “For many lawmakers, the daily routine in Washington involves fundraising as much as legislating. The culture of nonstop political campaigning shapes the rhythms of daily life in Congress, as well as the landscape around the Capitol. It also means that lawmakers often spend more time listening to the concerns of the wealthy than anyone else.”
The President. What Americans want in a president and what they need are two very different things. The making of a popular president is an exercise in branding, marketing and creating alternate realities for the consumer—a.k.a., the citizenry—that allows them to buy into a fantasy about life in America that is utterly divorced from our increasingly grim reality. Take President Trump, for instance, who got elected by promising to drain the swamp in Washington DC. Instead of putting an end to the corruption, however, Trump has paved the way for lobbyists, corporations, the military industrial complex, and the rest of the Deep State (also referred to as “The 7th Floor Group”) to feast on the carcass of the dying American republic. The lesson: to be a successful president, it doesn’t matter whether you keep your campaign promises, sell the American people to the highest bidder, or march in lockstep with the Corporate State as long as you keep telling people what they most want to hear.
The Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court—once the last refuge of justice, the one governmental body really capable of rolling back the slowly emerging tyranny enveloping America—has instead become the champion of the American police state, absolving government and corporate officials of their crimes while relentlessly punishing the average American for exercising his or her rights. Like the rest of the government, the Court has routinely prioritized profit, security, and convenience over the basic rights of the citizenry. Indeed, law professor Erwin Chemerinsky makes a compelling case that the Supreme Court, whose “justices have overwhelmingly come from positions of privilege,” almost unerringly throughout its history sides with the wealthy, the privileged, and the powerful.
The Media. Of course, this triumvirate of total control would be completely ineffective without a propaganda machine provided by the world’s largest corporations. Besides shoveling drivel down our throats at every possible moment, the so-called news agencies which are supposed to act as bulwarks against government propaganda have instead become the mouthpieces of the state. The pundits which pollute our airwaves are at best court jesters and at worst propagandists for the false reality created by the American government. When you have internet and media giants such as Google, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Turner Broadcasting, Thomson Reuters, Comcast, Time Warner, Viacom, Public Radio International and The Washington Post Company donating to political candidates, you no longer have an independent media—what we used to refer to as the “fourth estate”—that can be trusted to hold the government accountable.
The American People. “We the people” now belong to a permanent underclass in America. It doesn’t matter what you call us—chattel, slaves, worker bees, it’s all the same—what matters is that we are expected to march in lockstep with and submit to the will of the state in all matters, public and private. Unfortunately, through our complicity in matters large and small, we have allowed an out-of-control corporate-state apparatus to take over every element of American society.
We’re playing against a stacked deck.
The game is rigged, and “we the people” keep getting dealt the same losing hand. The people dealing the cards—the politicians, the corporations, the judges, the prosecutors, the police, the bureaucrats, the military, the media, etc.—have only one prevailing concern, and that is to maintain their power and control over the citizenry, while milking us of our money and possessions.
It really doesn’t matter what you call them—Republicans, Democrats, the 1%, the elite, the controllers, the masterminds, the shadow government, the police state, the surveillance state, the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that while they are dealing the cards, the deck will always be stacked in their favor.
As I make clear in my book, Battlefield America: The War on the American People, our failure to remain informed about what is taking place in our government, to know and exercise our rights, to vocally protest, to demand accountability on the part of our government representatives, and at a minimum to care about the plight of our fellow Americans has been our downfall.
Now we find ourselves once again caught up in the spectacle of another presidential election, and once again the majority of Americans are acting as if this election will make a difference and bring about change. As if the new boss will be different from the old boss.
When in doubt, just remember what the astute commentator George Carlin had to say about the matter:
The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls. They got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying. Lobbying to get what they want. Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I’ll tell you what they don’t want. They don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well-informed, well-educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That’s against their interests. They want obedient workers. Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork…. It’s a big club and you ain’t in it. You and I are not in the big club. …The table is tilted, folks. The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice…. Nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on…. It’s called the American Dream, ’cause you have to be asleep to believe it.
Feature photo | Workers adjust signage as preparations take place for the first Presidential debate in the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion, Sept. 28, 2020, in Cleveland. Patrick Semansky | AP
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His new book Battlefield America: The War on the American People (SelectBooks, 2015) is available online at www.amazon.com. Whitehead can be contacted at [email protected].


mintpressnews--2020-09-30--NJ Homeland Security Assessment Warns Violent Unrest Could Follow 2020 Election

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election , potential civil unrest and worse has been predicted by multiple governmental agencies and assorted federal outfits , including the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness .
Last week the organization published a “ supplemental threat assessment ” on the upcoming electoral contest subtitled “ The Convergence of COVID-19 , Nationwide Civil Unrest , and the Upcoming Presidential Election.
” Using COVID-19 as a backdrop , the 13-page report identifies the pandemic as the “ driving factor ” behind “ public health fears , economic instability , political dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will persist until 2021 .
It is the first publically-released evaluation of concerns federal law enforcement officials are said to be harboring over the election and comes on the heels of a recently leaked memo from DHS , which echoed many of the same narratives developed in the document issued by DHS ’ satellite regional New Jersey office , including the leading role of White Supremacist groups .
In August , the FBI distributed a bulletin to police departments across the country warning about domestic extremists “ across the ideological spectrum , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plot against government and election-related targets to express their diverse grievances involving government policies and actions.
” More significantly , the Bureau ’ s missive directed police to prepare “ to act prior to a possible democratic presidential administration , ” due to fears that “ stricter firearm regulations would be enacted quickly thereafter.
” In all three official communications , the specter of domestic violence brought on by election results plays a paramount role and , by and large , centers on two opposing factions of potential domestic extremists who are projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respective anti-establishment , yet strangely partisan , divides .
Only the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security ’ s report provides somewhat greater detail about who these factions are and the specific scenarios they are expecting to confront in less than one month ’ s time .
According to the document , the COVID-19 pandemic protocols will necessarily “ alter ” the electoral process and set the stage for “ disputes or delayed election results , ” which in turn will unleash the “ primarily anarchist , anti-government , and racially motivated ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the political spectrum who will try to occupy election offices and use tactics similar to those employed by certain groups at capitol buildings spurred by the lockdowns – a reference to right-wing demonstrations like the one that took place in Lansing , Michigan last week .
In addition to the prospect of violence in the streets , the report also highlights the threat posed by “ disinformation ” surrounding the efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine cautioning against the “ demonization of pharmaceutical companies ” and “ false narratives to incite supporters.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied in the report to state actors like China , Russia and Iran , whose supposed “ global [ COVID-19 ] disinformation efforts targeting the United States ” will play a large part in the execution of these threats .
The bulk of the document , however , focuses on the interplay between the left and right-wing extremists and the state , asserting that while “ Antifa ” and other left-leaning groups will resort to damaging public property , “ including arson , looting , and general vandalism , ” the right-wing groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposing the left-wingers themselves and lead to violent street clashes .
These points are noteworthy in light of new information surrounding the individual responsible for sparking the arson and the looting in Minneapolis over the killing of George Floyd , dubbed Umbrella Man .
In the anger that erupted after the brutal suffocation of George Floyd , whose neck was crushed under the knee of a Minnesota police officer , many suspected that the black-clad individual caught on video vandalizing and setting fire to an Autozone retail establishment was actually a police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests were just getting underway .
But a July report from ABC revealed Umbrella Man ’ s true identity and his links to a powerful White Supremacist prison gang network that dates back to the early 1950s .
The unnamed 32-year old suspect was found to be a member of the Aryan Cowboys , a “ prison gang out of Minnesota and Kentucky , ” which is but one in a national network of White Supremacist prison gangs controlled from the top by the Aryan Brotherhood ( AB ) , also known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or One-Two .
One of AB ’ s top former lieutenants got his start as a criminal in Minnesota , himself , and claims to be the originator of the entire White Supremacist narrative for member-retention purposes .
John Greschner , now a police informant , takes all the credit for developing the White Supremacy angle back in the 1970s when he was doing time with AB ’ s founder , Barry “ Baron ” Mills .
“ Look , man , ” Greschner told Mills , “ we got ta have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds them together… If you give them something deeper they can feel connected to , maybe some northern European religion or whatever , and some racial thing and all that , well , they ’ ll start to feel like they ’ re down with a greater cause.
” According to a leaked DHS memo , “ white supremacist extremists – who increasingly are networking with likeminded persons abroad – will pose the most persistent and lethal threat.
” The FBI ’ s bulletin for the country ’ s police departments piled on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case from last year regarding an unnamed extremist who ostensibly planned to start a race war with a homemade bomb .
The FBI bulletin stated that the Ohio-based extremist “ an intent for his group of followers to be operationally ready for the 2024 election based on a belief that the President would win re-election in 2020.
” Jared Maples , director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness , says that conditions surrounding the upcoming election amount to a “ witch ’ s brew ” we haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The brew , itself , seems to be largely concocted by the multiple agencies tasked with doing something about the threats .
But , so far , little has been done in the way of preparing law enforcement for the intensified admonitions .
A former FBI agent and counterterrorism expert decried the Bureau ’ s bulletin , saying that any “ young police officer trying to protect his community and reading this report ” would have be able to take nothing out of it except fear .
Feature photo | A right-wing protester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Black Lives Matter counter-protesters who are across the street in front of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem , Ore , Sept. 7 , 2020 .
Andrew Selsky | AP

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, potential civil unrest and worse has been predicted by multiple governmental agencies and assorted federal outfits, including the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Last week the organization published a “supplemental threat assessment” on the upcoming electoral contest subtitled “The Convergence of COVID-19, Nationwide Civil Unrest, and the Upcoming Presidential Election.”
Using COVID-19 as a backdrop, the 13-page report identifies the pandemic as the “driving factor” behind “public health fears, economic instability, political dissent, and cultural turmoil,” that will persist until 2021.
It is the first publically-released evaluation of concerns federal law enforcement officials are said to be harboring over the election and comes on the heels of a recently leaked memo from DHS, which echoed many of the same narratives developed in the document issued by DHS’ satellite regional New Jersey office, including the leading role of White Supremacist groups.
In August, the FBI distributed a bulletin to police departments across the country warning about domestic extremists “across the ideological spectrum,” who were likely to “continue to plot against government and election-related targets to express their diverse grievances involving government policies and actions.” More significantly, the Bureau’s missive directed police to prepare “to act prior to a possible democratic presidential administration,” due to fears that “stricter firearm regulations would be enacted quickly thereafter.”
In all three official communications, the specter of domestic violence brought on by election results plays a paramount role and, by and large, centers on two opposing factions of potential domestic extremists who are projected to clash along the fringes of their respective anti-establishment, yet strangely partisan, divides. Only the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security’s report provides somewhat greater detail about who these factions are and the specific scenarios they are expecting to confront in less than one month’s time.
Setting the stage
According to the document, the COVID-19 pandemic protocols will necessarily “alter” the electoral process and set the stage for “disputes or delayed election results,” which in turn will unleash the “primarily anarchist, anti-government, and racially motivated” mobs of disaffected Americans on either side of the political spectrum who will try to occupy election offices and use tactics similar to those employed by certain groups at capitol buildings spurred by the lockdowns – a reference to right-wing demonstrations like the one that took place in Lansing, Michigan last week.
In addition to the prospect of violence in the streets, the report also highlights the threat posed by “disinformation” surrounding the efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine cautioning against the “demonization of pharmaceutical companies” and “false narratives to incite supporters.” This particular plot line is also tied in the report to state actors like China, Russia and Iran, whose supposed “global [COVID-19] disinformation efforts targeting the United States” will play a large part in the execution of these threats.
The bulk of the document, however, focuses on the interplay between the left and right-wing extremists and the state, asserting that while “Antifa” and other left-leaning groups will resort to damaging public property, “including arson, looting, and general vandalism,” the right-wing groups will, instead, hone in on opposing the left-wingers themselves and lead to violent street clashes. These points are noteworthy in light of new information surrounding the individual responsible for sparking the arson and the looting in Minneapolis over the killing of George Floyd, dubbed Umbrella Man.
Starting the Fire
In the anger that erupted after the brutal suffocation of George Floyd, whose neck was crushed under the knee of a Minnesota police officer, many suspected that the black-clad individual caught on video vandalizing and setting fire to an Autozone retail establishment was actually a police officer playing the role of saboteur as the protests were just getting underway. But a July report from ABC revealed Umbrella Man’s true identity and his links to a powerful White Supremacist prison gang network that dates back to the early 1950s.
The unnamed 32-year old suspect was found to be a member of the Aryan Cowboys, a “prison gang out of Minnesota and Kentucky,” which is but one in a national network of White Supremacist prison gangs controlled from the top by the Aryan Brotherhood (AB), also known as The Brand, Alice Baker, AB or One-Two. One of AB’s top former lieutenants got his start as a criminal in Minnesota, himself, and claims to be the originator of the entire White Supremacist narrative for member-retention purposes.
John Greschner, now a police informant, takes all the credit for developing the White Supremacy angle back in the 1970s when he was doing time with AB’s founder, Barry “Baron” Mills.
“Look, man,” Greschner told Mills, “we gotta have some deeper catalyst that pulls people in and holds them together… If you give them something deeper they can feel connected to, maybe some northern European religion or whatever, and some racial thing and all that, well, they’ll start to feel like they’re down with a greater cause.”
According to a leaked DHS memo, “white supremacist extremists – who increasingly are networking with likeminded persons abroad – will pose the most persistent and lethal threat.” The FBI’s bulletin for the country’s police departments piled on with its own examples, citing a case from last year regarding an unnamed extremist who ostensibly planned to start a race war with a homemade bomb. The FBI bulletin stated that the Ohio-based extremist “an intent for his group of followers to be operationally ready for the 2024 election based on a belief that the President would win re-election in 2020.”
Jared Maples, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, says that conditions surrounding the upcoming election amount to a “witch’s brew” we haven’t seen in centuries, if ever. The brew, itself, seems to be largely concocted by the multiple agencies tasked with doing something about the threats. But, so far, little has been done in the way of preparing law enforcement for the intensified admonitions.
A former FBI agent and counterterrorism expert decried the Bureau’s bulletin, saying that any “young police officer trying to protect his community and reading this report” would have be able to take nothing out of it except fear.
Feature photo | A right-wing protester armed with an AR-15 style rifle looks at Black Lives Matter counter-protesters who are across the street in front of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore, Sept. 7, 2020. Andrew Selsky | AP
Raul Diego is a MintPress News Staff Writer, independent photojournalist, researcher, writer and documentary filmmaker.


mintpressnews--2020-09-30--Amid Torrent of Anti-BDS Legislation, Columbia University Students Win Referendum Against Apartheid

In a political climate that broadly supports Israel both financially and ideologically , a student group at Columbia University has beaten the odds , passing a referendum that calls for circumspection of its school ’ s investment in the state .
What makes this accomplishment particularly striking is the fact that Congress and U.S. states are currently considering – or in many cases , have already passed – legislation to do the exact opposite .
So-called anti-BDS laws , referring to the Boycott , Divest , and Sanctions movement for Palestinian rights , are already in place in 30 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 12 more .
These laws make demands of individuals and companies contracted by the state requiring public employees to sign a document stating that they will not participate in a boycott of Israel in spite of that country ’ s many well-documented breaches of international law , human rights violations , and possible crimes against humanity .
The laws are currently being challenged in several states .
In addition to states , Congress also has a slew of anti-BDS laws on the books or under consideration – this in spite of declarations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACLU ) that such legislation is unconstitutional on the grounds that it threatens free speech by “ [ sending ] a message to Americans that they will be penalized if they dare to disagree with their government.
” Journalist Glenn Greenwald points out that states with anti-BDS laws require their citizens to be “ literally more loyal to Israel than they are to the U.S. , insofar as they may say and do things to their own country that they may not engage in vis-à-vis Israel.
” For its part , BDS asserts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative , describing itself as : Politicians who oppose the effort frame it as anti-Semitic .
Its organizers , however , point out its roots in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its opposition to “ all forms of racism , including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
” Columbia University Students for Justice in Palestine SJP reported on the passage of their referendum on Tuesday morning .
The referendum called on the school to consider divestment from , “ companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel ’ s acts towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid acts against Palestinians.
” The student group indicated that 61 percent of students who participated in the vote were in favor of the referendum ; 27 percent were against it , and 11 percent abstained .
Columbia ’ s president , Lee Bollinger , also released a statement Tuesday morning warning that the referendum would not automatically result in investment policy changes , declaring , “ Questions about possible divestment of endowment funds are not decided by referendum , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently expressed his view that BDS is tied to anti-Semitism , and that it ignores “ similar issues in other countries.
” Both arguments are familiar to the BDS movement and are refuted on its FAQ page .
Romy Ronen , vice-president of Students Support Israel ( SSI ) at Columbia , commented that the vote “ is making the majority of pro-Israel students on campus feel unsafe , victimized , and disappointed.
” SJP ’ s victory follows failed attempts 2017 and 2019 to pass the referendum .
The group proclaimed yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects years of organizing and is a testament to the strength and power of the student movement for Palestinian liberation.
” It went on to say : In 2019 , after President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring protection for Jewish students against discrimination based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance ( IHRA ) definition of anti-Semitism – a definition that is highly controversial in that it considers criticism of Israel to be a form of anti-Semitism .
The ACLU wrote of Trump ’ s order that “ Anti-Semitism is a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be protected against harassment and discrimination .
But the government can not equate speech criticizing Israel with unlawful discrimination.
” The first case to be filed under Trump ’ s order was at Columbia , where the Lawfare Project – which provides free legal services for pro-Israel disputes – requested an investigation on behalf of a Jewish Israeli-American student who complained of anti-Semitic discrimination because the university had allowed its SJP group to hold events advocating for Palestinian rights .
The Lawfare Project has brought a number of what Palestine Legal calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Palestine Legal also reports that in the last four years , the Israeli government has earmarked over $ 100 million to fight advocates of Palestinian rights .
Kathryn Shihadah writes for MintPress News and If Americans Knew .
She speaks regularly about the injustice and demonization Palestinians face at the hands of Israel with complicity from the United States , especially to Christian audiences .
Kathryn has lived in the Middle East for ten years and has traveled extensively .
She blogs at PalestineHome.org .

In a political climate that broadly supports Israel both financially and ideologically, a student group at Columbia University has beaten the odds, passing a referendum that calls for circumspection of its school’s investment in the state.
What makes this accomplishment particularly striking is the fact that Congress and U.S. states are currently considering – or in many cases, have already passed – legislation to do the exact opposite.
Israel protected, free speech threatened
So-called anti-BDS laws, referring to the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement for Palestinian rights, are already in place in 30 states and have been introduced or are pending in 12 more. These laws make demands of individuals and companies contracted by the state requiring public employees to sign a document stating that they will not participate in a boycott of Israel in spite of that country’s many well-documented breaches of international law, human rights violations, and possible crimes against humanity. The laws are currently being challenged in several states.
In addition to states, Congress also has a slew of anti-BDS laws on the books or under consideration – this in spite of declarations by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that such legislation is unconstitutional on the grounds that it threatens free speech by “[sending] a message to Americans that they will be penalized if they dare to disagree with their government.”
Journalist Glenn Greenwald points out that states with anti-BDS laws require their citizens to be “literally more loyal to Israel than they are to the U.S., insofar as they may say and do things to their own country that they may not engage in vis-à-vis Israel.”
For its part, BDS asserts that it is a nonviolent, grassroots initiative, describing itself as:
A Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity. Israel is occupying and colonising Palestinian land, discriminating against Palestinian citizens of Israel and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes. Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS call urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law.
Politicians who oppose the effort frame it as anti-Semitic. Its organizers, however, point out its roots in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its opposition to “all forms of racism, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.”
Justice at Columbia
Columbia University Students for Justice in Palestine SJP reported on the passage of their referendum on Tuesday morning. The referendum called on the school to consider divestment from, “companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s acts towards Palestinians that… fall under the United Nations International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid acts against Palestinians.”
The student group indicated that 61 percent of students who participated in the vote were in favor of the referendum; 27 percent were against it, and 11 percent abstained.
Columbia’s president, Lee Bollinger, also released a statement Tuesday morning warning that the referendum would not automatically result in investment policy changes, declaring, “Questions about possible divestment of endowment funds are not decided by referendum,” but through an advisory committee.
Bollinger has recently expressed his view that BDS is tied to anti-Semitism, and that it ignores “similar issues in other countries.” Both arguments are familiar to the BDS movement and are refuted on its FAQ page.
Romy Ronen, vice-president of Students Support Israel (SSI) at Columbia, commented that the vote “is making the majority of pro-Israel students on campus feel unsafe, victimized, and disappointed.”
SJP’s victory follows failed attempts 2017 and 2019 to pass the referendum. The group proclaimed yesterday that “the success of this vote reflects years of organizing and is a testament to the strength and power of the student movement for Palestinian liberation.”
It went on to say:
The student body at Columbia College has made it very clear they want nothing to do with Israel’s practices of settler-colonialism, military occupation, and apartheid.”
Executive protection
In 2019, after President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring protection for Jewish students against discrimination based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism – a definition that is highly controversial in that it considers criticism of Israel to be a form of anti-Semitism.
The ACLU wrote of Trump’s order that “Anti-Semitism is a real and present problem… People of all faiths must be protected against harassment and discrimination. But the government cannot equate speech criticizing Israel with unlawful discrimination.”
The first case to be filed under Trump’s order was at Columbia, where the Lawfare Project – which provides free legal services for pro-Israel disputes – requested an investigation on behalf of a Jewish Israeli-American student who complained of anti-Semitic discrimination because the university had allowed its SJP group to hold events advocating for Palestinian rights.
The Lawfare Project has brought a number of what Palestine Legal calls “meritless complaints” to various universities.
Palestine Legal also reports that in the last four years, the Israeli government has earmarked over $100 million to fight advocates of Palestinian rights.
Feature photo | Columbia University SJP
Kathryn Shihadah writes for MintPress News and If Americans Knew. She speaks regularly about the injustice and demonization Palestinians face at the hands of Israel with complicity from the United States, especially to Christian audiences. Kathryn has lived in the Middle East for ten years and has traveled extensively. She blogs at PalestineHome.org.


mintpressnews--2020-09-30--Fed Study on Household Wealth Reveals Troubling Trends in American Inequality

Millionaires and billionaires hold a remarkable 79.2 percent of the United States ’ household wealth .
That is according to a newly released triennial study into consumer and household finances from the Federal Reserve .
The report paints a picture of an unequal America , where a small minority of the rich control the vast majority of household wealth .
11.9 percent of American households have at least $ 1 million in wealth .
Overall , mean family wealth declined by three percent across the country between 2016 and 2019 .
However , the study notes , wealthy and highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but households where the main breadwinner had not achieved a high school diploma saw their wealth fall .
In some parts of the country , one million dollars might not seem like an unusual price for a home .
However , nationwide , the median home value dropped to $ 247,000 in 2020 , with much more expensive properties rarer .
Those merely having a mortgage on a million-dollar home do not qualify as owning $ 1 million in household wealth .
At the same time , much of the country is living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic , around 40 percent of Americans reported that they would be unable to cover a small $ 400 emergency such as a leaking roof or a car repair .
In 2018 , 14.3 million U.S. households were food insecure , meaning they had problems finding enough to eat .
The coronavirus and the economic dislocation that it has caused has greatly exacerbated both poverty and inequality , meaning that the Federal Reserve ’ s study , based on data collected before the pandemic , is likely out of date and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2017 , just three men — Bill Gates , Warren Buffet , and Jeff Bezos — held more wealth than the bottom half of America ( 164 million people ) .
Since the pandemic began , all three have greatly increased their fortunes .
Bezos , for example , has added over $ 73 billion to his since March alone .
This is in stark contrast to tens of millions of people who lost their jobs , leading to a massive wave of de facto rent strikes across the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump administration has used the crisis to force through a number of reforms that amount to a giveaway to the country ’ s plutocrats .
A nonpartisan congressional body found that 82 percent of the tax cuts hidden away in the government ’ s Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act went to those who earned over $ 1 million per year , with less than three percent going to the great majority of Americans who earn less than $ 100,000 yearly .
Big businesses have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than smaller ones and stand to be in a much stronger position when the dust settles .
Data from business review site Yelp found that 60 percent of businesses that had to close during the pandemic are now permanently shut .
Much of the suffering that the pandemic has caused , however , has been silent and invisible , with many quietly forced to live with relatives or staying almost permanently indoors .
Matt Bruenig from the People ’ s Policy Project also noted that the Fed ’ s report showed there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
The mean white household is nearly five times wealthier than the average Hispanic one , and nearly seven times wealthier than a black one .
Within each group , however , there are also enormous disparities , with the top decile controlling around 70 percent of all wealth , a small , comfortable , middle class , and a large mass of very poor people at the bottom .
Indeed , 10-15 percent of the country not only has no wealth but is in debt .
These sorts of disparities are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but are seen across the West and most of the world .
A new report in Scotland , for instance , found that the richest 20 families have as much wealth as the bottom 30 percent of the population .
Professor Danny Dorling of Oxford University has argued that this kind of global inequality , where houses are regularly bought and sold for $ 1 million , is completely unsustainable , merely because if it continues for a lot longer the rich will own literally everything .
The November election presents the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates on many issues .
Yet on the economy , the Democrats and the Republicans do not differ wildly .
Biden began his campaign for president promising his ultra-wealthy donors at a ritzy New York fundraiser that “ nothing would fundamentally change ” if he were president and that he “ needed ” them greatly .
The New York Times recently published an investigative report into Trump ’ s finances and taxes .
Despite the fact that it showed he barely paid any taxes for years , many Democrats chose to attack him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t a “ real ” billionaire after all , suggesting this was the major scandal the report exposed .
Thus , whoever wins in November , it is unlikely that this problem will get better quickly .
Feature photo | A man is seen at a homeless encampment that sits under Interstate 110 near Ramirez Street in downtown Los Angeles , May 21 , 2020 .
Mark J. Terrill | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Millionaires and billionaires hold a remarkable 79.2 percent of the United States’ household wealth. That is according to a newly released triennial study into consumer and household finances from the Federal Reserve. The report paints a picture of an unequal America, where a small minority of the rich control the vast majority of household wealth. 11.9 percent of American households have at least $1 million in wealth. Overall, mean family wealth declined by three percent across the country between 2016 and 2019. However, the study notes, wealthy and highly educated families saw their fortunes rise, but households where the main breadwinner had not achieved a high school diploma saw their wealth fall.
In some parts of the country, one million dollars might not seem like an unusual price for a home. However, nationwide, the median home value dropped to $247,000 in 2020, with much more expensive properties rarer. Those merely having a mortgage on a million-dollar home do not qualify as owning $1 million in household wealth.
At the same time, much of the country is living in serious poverty. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 40 percent of Americans reported that they would be unable to cover a small $400 emergency such as a leaking roof or a car repair. In 2018, 14.3 million U.S. households were food insecure, meaning they had problems finding enough to eat. The coronavirus and the economic dislocation that it has caused has greatly exacerbated both poverty and inequality, meaning that the Federal Reserve’s study, based on data collected before the pandemic, is likely out of date and an underestimate of the problem’s severity.
In 2017, just three men — Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Jeff Bezos — held more wealth than the bottom half of America (164 million people). Since the pandemic began, all three have greatly increased their fortunes. Bezos, for example, has added over $73 billion to his since March alone. This is in stark contrast to tens of millions of people who lost their jobs, leading to a massive wave of de facto rent strikes across the country and a boom in demand for food banks.
The Trump administration has used the crisis to force through a number of reforms that amount to a giveaway to the country’s plutocrats. A nonpartisan congressional body found that 82 percent of the tax cuts hidden away in the government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act went to those who earned over $1 million per year, with less than three percent going to the great majority of Americans who earn less than $100,000 yearly. Big businesses have been able to weather the storm far better than smaller ones and stand to be in a much stronger position when the dust settles. Data from business review site Yelp found that 60 percent of businesses that had to close during the pandemic are now permanently shut. Much of the suffering that the pandemic has caused, however, has been silent and invisible, with many quietly forced to live with relatives or staying almost permanently indoors.
Matt Bruenig from the People’s Policy Project also noted that the Fed’s report showed there are massive differences in wealth between racial groups. The mean white household is nearly five times wealthier than the average Hispanic one, and nearly seven times wealthier than a black one. Within each group, however, there are also enormous disparities, with the top decile controlling around 70 percent of all wealth, a small, comfortable, middle class, and a large mass of very poor people at the bottom. Indeed, 10-15 percent of the country not only has no wealth but is in debt.
These sorts of disparities are not limited to the United States alone but are seen across the West and most of the world. A new report in Scotland, for instance, found that the richest 20 families have as much wealth as the bottom 30 percent of the population. Professor Danny Dorling of Oxford University has argued that this kind of global inequality, where houses are regularly bought and sold for $1 million, is completely unsustainable, merely because if it continues for a lot longer the rich will own literally everything.
The November election presents the United States with a stark choice between two candidates on many issues. Yet on the economy, the Democrats and the Republicans do not differ wildly. Biden began his campaign for president promising his ultra-wealthy donors at a ritzy New York fundraiser that “nothing would fundamentally change” if he were president and that he “needed” them greatly. The New York Times recently published an investigative report into Trump’s finances and taxes. Despite the fact that it showed he barely paid any taxes for years, many Democrats chose to attack him on the grounds that he wasn’t a “real” billionaire after all, suggesting this was the major scandal the report exposed. Thus, whoever wins in November, it is unlikely that this problem will get better quickly.
Feature photo | A man is seen at a homeless encampment that sits under Interstate 110 near Ramirez Street in downtown Los Angeles, May 21, 2020. Mark J. Terrill | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-09-30--Presidential Debate Debacle Leaves Americans Feeling Angry and Uninformed

Tuesday night ’ s much anticipated presidential debate between incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden drew the attention of tens of millions around the world .
But few appeared satisfied or enlightened after watching it .
Although it touched on many serious topics , including the Supreme Court , climate change , policing , and the coronavirus pandemic , little of any substance was actually said by either man , the event descending into a farcical bickering battle .
Biden repeatedly attacked Trump ’ s character .
“ You ’ re the worst president America has ever had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , describing the president as a “ clown ” and a “ racist ” and telling him to “ shut up.
” Trump , meanwhile , constantly interrupted his opponent , attacking Biden ’ s intelligence and accusing him of being in thrall to the radical left on healthcare , a charge he vehemently denied ( despite the fact that a socialist-style healthcare plan is highly popular among Americans ) .
Few on social media appeared impressed by the spectacle , or able to draw meaningful policy distinctions between the two from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the 3 minute summary clips of the debate tomorrow are going to capture just how much despair you feel watching it all , ” was a common sentiment .
Andrew Yang , a candidate for the Democratic nomination who ran on the concept of universal basic income , reacted by saying , “ Everyone who watched that debate deserves $ 1,000 a month.
” Former MintPress writer Whitney Webb described the event as a “ shit show ” consisting of “ two old , grumpy career con artists yelling at each other.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the “ debate ” was actually a carefully choreographed show where both parties had vetoes over moderators .
“ This isn ’ t a debate , it ’ s a farce , ” he said .
Surprisingly , the reaction from the press was remarkably similar .
Political commentator Andrew Sullivan described it as the lowest point in American political culture in his lifetime .
“ That was a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck .
That was the worst debate I have ever seen .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a debate , it was a disgrace .
The American people lost tonight , ” said CNN anchor Jake Tapper , live on television , with countless talking heads on the network suggesting that was the final debate and all others should be canceled .
A snap NBC/YouGov poll found that , of Americans who watched the debate , 69 percent felt annoyed by it , but only 17 percent were informed .
Less than one in three were entertained , and one in five felt pessimistic about the future after watching .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt the debate was negative , rather than positive .
Despite the lack of substance , a few notable moments did occur .
Moderator Chris Wallace repeatedly pressed Trump to condemn white nationalists groups like the Proud Boys .
The president refused , instead telling them to “ stand back and stand by , ” a comment that sounds more like a general ordering his troops than a condemnation .
He quickly deflected and attacked Antifa , insisting that they were the real problem .
Even when Wallace tried to change the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his distaste for the leftist anti-fascist movement .
Massachusetts senator Ed Markey commented that “ Trump won ’ t condemn white supremacists because he is one.
” The president also expressed his serious concern over the upcoming “ fraudulent election.
” “ I ’ m encouraging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully , ” he said when asked if he would respect the results .
“ If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated , I can ’ t go along with that , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a centerpiece of American life for the past sixty years since 66.4 million people watched the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960 .
Americans consistently agree that they help them make a choice in who to vote for .
In 2016 , for instance , nearly two-thirds of the country said they found them useful in deciding which party to choose .
Yet the very format itself , with candidates able only to discuss or present issues in small , quotable sound bites might be helping to dumb down the process altogether .
Grand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be explained properly .
An increasing number of people are questioning the purpose of the events .
With last night ’ s disaster , their case will be made stronger .
Feature photo | A composite image shows Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden , right , and incumbent Republican President Donald Trump gesturing while speaking during the first presidential debate , Sept. 29 , 2020 , at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic , in Cleveland , Ohio .
Patrick Semansky | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Tuesday night’s much anticipated presidential debate between incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden drew the attention of tens of millions around the world. But few appeared satisfied or enlightened after watching it. Although it touched on many serious topics, including the Supreme Court, climate change, policing, and the coronavirus pandemic, little of any substance was actually said by either man, the event descending into a farcical bickering battle. Biden repeatedly attacked Trump’s character. “You’re the worst president America has ever had. Come on,” he said, describing the president as a “clown” and a “racist” and telling him to “shut up.” Trump, meanwhile, constantly interrupted his opponent, attacking Biden’s intelligence and accusing him of being in thrall to the radical left on healthcare, a charge he vehemently denied (despite the fact that a socialist-style healthcare plan is highly popular among Americans).
Few on social media appeared impressed by the spectacle, or able to draw meaningful policy distinctions between the two from the debate. “I don’t think the 3 minute summary clips of the debate tomorrow are going to capture just how much despair you feel watching it all,” was a common sentiment. Andrew Yang, a candidate for the Democratic nomination who ran on the concept of universal basic income, reacted by saying, “Everyone who watched that debate deserves $1,000 a month.” Former MintPress writer Whitney Webb described the event as a “shit show” consisting of “two old, grumpy career con artists yelling at each other.” Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins noted that the “debate” was actually a carefully choreographed show where both parties had vetoes over moderators. “This isn’t a debate, it’s a farce,” he said.
That debate was the worst thing I've ever seen & I was in The Star Wars Holiday Special. — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) September 30, 2020
Surprisingly, the reaction from the press was remarkably similar. Political commentator Andrew Sullivan described it as the lowest point in American political culture in his lifetime. “That was a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck. That was the worst debate I have ever seen. In fact, it wasn’t even a debate, it was a disgrace. The American people lost tonight,” said CNN anchor Jake Tapper, live on television, with countless talking heads on the network suggesting that was the final debate and all others should be canceled.
A snap NBC/YouGov poll found that, of Americans who watched the debate, 69 percent felt annoyed by it, but only 17 percent were informed. Less than one in three were entertained, and one in five felt pessimistic about the future after watching. By a figure of 83-17, viewers felt the debate was negative, rather than positive.
at least i get a free lobotomy tonight — aída chávez (@aidachavez) September 30, 2020
Despite the lack of substance, a few notable moments did occur. Moderator Chris Wallace repeatedly pressed Trump to condemn white nationalists groups like the Proud Boys. The president refused, instead telling them to “stand back and stand by,” a comment that sounds more like a general ordering his troops than a condemnation. He quickly deflected and attacked Antifa, insisting that they were the real problem. Even when Wallace tried to change the subject, Trump interrupted him twice to express his distaste for the leftist anti-fascist movement. Massachusetts senator Ed Markey commented that “Trump won’t condemn white supremacists because he is one.”
The 1st Presidential Debate… a summary. pic.twitter.com/KeTNGcH82i — Ireland Simpsons Fans (@iresimpsonsfans) September 30, 2020
The president also expressed his serious concern over the upcoming “fraudulent election.” “I’m encouraging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully,” he said when asked if he would respect the results. “If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I can’t go along with that,” he added.
https://twitter.com/zei_squirrel/status/1311185217579888645
Televised presidential debates have become a centerpiece of American life for the past sixty years since 66.4 million people watched the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960. Americans consistently agree that they help them make a choice in who to vote for. In 2016, for instance, nearly two-thirds of the country said they found them useful in deciding which party to choose. Yet the very format itself, with candidates able only to discuss or present issues in small, quotable sound bites might be helping to dumb down the process altogether. Grand ideas usually need more than one minute to be explained properly. An increasing number of people are questioning the purpose of the events. With last night’s disaster, their case will be made stronger.
Feature photo | A composite image shows Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, and incumbent Republican President Donald Trump gesturing while speaking during the first presidential debate, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. Patrick Semansky | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-10-02--Under Pressure, Amazon Reveals Over 20,000 Employees Likely Contracted COVID

It announced the figure in the middle of a public relations statement detailing the measures it was taking to try to keep its employees safe from the virus .
The company presented itself as a proactive and responsible business .
“ As part of this commitment , we ’ ve decided to publicly share the COVID-19 infection rates among Amazon front-line employees—something few if any companies and no other major retailers have done , ” noted its blog post .
It also claimed to be carrying out thousands of tests a day on its staff and noted that , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that represented a smaller percentage of positive tests than the general population .
However , Amazon did not include any of its third-party delivery contractors in the figures , who number in the many tens of thousands , at least .
Nor was there any confirmation on the number of deaths .
Amazon also called on other big companies to do as it had done .
“ We hope sharing this data and our learnings will encourage others to follow , and will prove useful as states make decisions about reopening public facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring people back to work , ” they said .
“ Wide availability of data would allow us to benchmark our progress and share best practices across businesses and industries.
” Yet Amazon ’ s move may not be as bold and forward-thinking as it might first appear .
The company had been widely condemned for its secrecy and refusal to release figures .
On Wednesday , NBC News reported that half a million of its employees had begun to crowdsource that same information in order to build up a database to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company for keeping them in the dark about co-worker infections and their lack of response to the pandemic , which included crowding hundreds of people into recreation rooms , thereby exposing them to increased risk .
Thus , it appears that Amazon may have been pressured into the decision , deciding to announce it themselves rather than have it leaked by its workers .
In March , the company fired an employee who organized a mass walkout at a New York City facility protesting the company ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not an excuse for the online retail giant , whose business has expanded into supermarkets , cloud computing , and streaming services .
The company ’ s CEO , Jeff Bezos , became the world ’ s richest individual late last year , surpassing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates .
Bezos has seen his net wealth grow by over $ 73 billion since lockdown began on March 18 and now stands at over $ 186 billion .
That means that , on average , he has added $ 370 million to his wealth every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicting that by 2026 he will become the first trillionaire in world history .
In January he made headlines and gained praise for donating AU $ 1 million ( around 700,000 USD ) to help tackle the Australian wildfires .
But given his extraordinary wealth , this sum was equivalent to an average worker donating a nickel .
Amazon is not a company known for treating its employees ’ welfare as its top priority .
Workers feel under so much pressure that they urinate in bottles or wear adult diapers rather than risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s warehouses are notoriously hot , so much so that ambulances are a common sight in summer , as employees suffer from heatstroke .
Nor are workers well remunerated .
In Arizona , for example , the company ’ s own data shows that one in three employees depend on food stamps to get by .
It is the twenty-eighth largest employer in the state .
However , it ranked fifth on the list for most employees enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) .
It is a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as employees suffer and risk their lives during a pandemic for low pay , Amazon continues to grow , becoming among the largest corporations on the planet , with an owner who is now vastly more wealthy than any other individual in the world , outranking Gates by $ 70 billion .
Can this state of affairs go on indefinitely ?
There seems to be no end in sight yet to his historic accumulation .
Feature photo | A screenshot from video released by Amazon demonstrating its new augmented reality-based technology for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

It announced the figure in the middle of a public relations statement detailing the measures it was taking to try to keep its employees safe from the virus. The company presented itself as a proactive and responsible business. “As part of this commitment, we’ve decided to publicly share the COVID-19 infection rates among Amazon front-line employees—something few if any companies and no other major retailers have done,” noted its blog post. It also claimed to be carrying out thousands of tests a day on its staff and noted that, despite the large figure of 19,816 cases, that represented a smaller percentage of positive tests than the general population. However, Amazon did not include any of its third-party delivery contractors in the figures, who number in the many tens of thousands, at least. Nor was there any confirmation on the number of deaths.
Amazon also called on other big companies to do as it had done. “We hope sharing this data and our learnings will encourage others to follow, and will prove useful as states make decisions about reopening public facilities and employers consider whether and how to bring people back to work,” they said. “Wide availability of data would allow us to benchmark our progress and share best practices across businesses and industries.”
Yet Amazon’s move may not be as bold and forward-thinking as it might first appear. The company had been widely condemned for its secrecy and refusal to release figures. On Wednesday, NBC News reported that half a million of its employees had begun to crowdsource that same information in order to build up a database to keep themselves safer. Employees also condemned the company for keeping them in the dark about co-worker infections and their lack of response to the pandemic, which included crowding hundreds of people into recreation rooms, thereby exposing them to increased risk. Thus, it appears that Amazon may have been pressured into the decision, deciding to announce it themselves rather than have it leaked by its workers. In March, the company fired an employee who organized a mass walkout at a New York City facility protesting the company’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
A lack of funds is certainly not an excuse for the online retail giant, whose business has expanded into supermarkets, cloud computing, and streaming services. The company’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, became the world’s richest individual late last year, surpassing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Bezos has seen his net wealth grow by over $73 billion since lockdown began on March 18 and now stands at over $186 billion. That means that, on average, he has added $370 million to his wealth every day of the pandemic. Some are predicting that by 2026 he will become the first trillionaire in world history. In January he made headlines and gained praise for donating AU$1 million (around 700,000 USD) to help tackle the Australian wildfires. But given his extraordinary wealth, this sum was equivalent to an average worker donating a nickel.
Amazon is not a company known for treating its employees’ welfare as its top priority. Workers feel under so much pressure that they urinate in bottles or wear adult diapers rather than risk the wrath of management. The company’s warehouses are notoriously hot, so much so that ambulances are a common sight in summer, as employees suffer from heatstroke.
Nor are workers well remunerated. In Arizona, for example, the company’s own data shows that one in three employees depend on food stamps to get by. It is the twenty-eighth largest employer in the state. However, it ranked fifth on the list for most employees enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is a similar story in other states.
Thus, even as employees suffer and risk their lives during a pandemic for low pay, Amazon continues to grow, becoming among the largest corporations on the planet, with an owner who is now vastly more wealthy than any other individual in the world, outranking Gates by $70 billion. Can this state of affairs go on indefinitely? There seems to be no end in sight yet to his historic accumulation.
Feature photo | A screenshot from video released by Amazon demonstrating its new augmented reality-based technology for use in its warehouses
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.