Category Archives: Fail!

#BanThis

Rebecca A.Ethiopia – USA35, ATTORNEY BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

I was born in Ethiopia and remember having most of my mother’s family close by as I grew. Some aunts and uncles were already in the US, specifically to further their studies, and my sister (the only one I have) went on a trip with my grandparents to visit those aunties and uncles in Boston. Unfortunately, or fortunately as it were, my sister had an accident that brought her under the scrutiny of specialist doctors who diagnosed her with scoliosis. She needed surgery and so she, along with my grandparents, stayed longer than expected to find her medical care.At the same time, my parents were more directly feeling the repression of the current authoritarian regime in Ethiopia. It was 1986 and Mengistu Hailemariam was in power then. My father was most targeted and suffered through detention before it was decided that we could no longer stay there with out risking further harm. My mother and I left my father and traveled to Boston on our own. There, we were met by my sister, whom I hadn’t seen in what seemed to my 5 year old self as years. We lived with my mother’s parents and her brother and sister for a couple of years until my father was finally able to travel and join us. Since the my parents have worked on creating a new life for themselves. My father worked various jobs: cashier, taxi driver, security guard and my mother did the same (except for the driving part, she has always been a nervous driver). And my sister and I grew up in the US. Somewhat local, but the feeling that we were foreign or different ever present in our lives. I spoke to my mother right after the Executive Order banning Muslim travel came into effect. She lamented how she thought she had left a place like this. She was sad that she now has to encounter a world order that she was much too familiar with 30 years ago; a repressive and discriminatory government that she desperately needed to escape, but somehow has followed her still.Why did your family come to the United States?My family came to the United States to escape government persecution and repression.What would the U.S. be missing out on if you or your people were banned?A family who doesn’t feel like the holiday season has started until they have seen Die Hard at least 3 times. A mother and father who regularly help with their weekly church service. Two young black sisters who watch Seinfeld still and feel it resonate in their lives.

Source: #BanThis

Inoreader – Immigrants and Their Children Respond to Trump: #BanThis

There is so much we risk losing when any of us are banned. Unlike what is claimed by the administration, we are not banning the unknown, the evil, the ever illusive ‘other’. This order  is banning us – people who have been a part of the United States for generations and who make up this nation. Trump’s oversimplified rhetoric on immigration is a false depiction of our country, its history of immigration, and our struggles. #BanThis resists this erasure.To see more of this project and contribute to the campaign, follow them on Instagram at @banthiscampaign or check out their website at banthisthecampaign.org.

Source: Inoreader – Immigrants and Their Children Respond to Trump: #BanThis

Trump’s American Dream: You’ll Have to Be Asleep to Believe It – In The Fray

While there are many reasons why Donald Trump won the election, it’s clear that the movement of the white working class away from the Democratic Party had something to do with it. Given that this demographic seems to have put Trump over the top in the Electoral College, what do we expect his administration’s policies to do for this group—and for the working class (which, importantly, is increasingly nonwhite) more broadly?First, his proposed tax plan will dramatically increase income inequality in this country. It will be a windfall for elites—particularly the richest 0.1%, America’s corporate executives and Wall Street financiers—who already have rewritten the rules of the economic game to favor them. Meanwhile, it will punish millions of low-income and single-parent families by stripping away some of their tax deductions. (Ironically, the white working class that broke decisively for Trump has been increasingly falling into this latter camp.)

Source: Trump’s American Dream: You’ll Have to Be Asleep to Believe It – In The Fray

‘Least racist person’ Trump asks black reporter if black caucus are ‘friends of yours’ | US news | The Guardian

Minutes after Donald Trump insisted he was “the least racist person” at a press conference on Thursday, the president asked a black reporter to arrange a meeting for him with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).The American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan asked the president if he was going to include the CBC in conversations he will have about his “inner city” policies.Trump responded by repeatedly asking Ryan if she could set up a meeting with the caucus, members of which the president suggested could be “friends” of hers.Trump uses press conference to declare administration ‘fine-tuned machine’ Read more“Are they friends of yours? No, go ahead,” Trump said. “Set up the meeting.”

Source: ‘Least racist person’ Trump asks black reporter if black caucus are ‘friends of yours’ | US news | The Guardian

SuperSpreader Spin – Making Money and Status from Pandemic News

Pandemic SuperSpreader Spin – this is how spin works to advance status of scientists (income and power) and advance commercial interests of for profit and not-for-profit publications.

  1. Create a new term for a known phenomena and it seems new and thus newsworthy.
  2. Since people have been studying the spread of disease, it has been know that a small number of people can and are responsible for spreading disease quickly if they come in close contact with a large number of people in a short space of time. “Typhoid Mary” was a carrier who worked in restaurants in New York City and could thus come into contact with a large number of people visiting a restaurant where she was employed.
  3. A modern version could be because an ill person has greater mobility than in earlier times. A person who is contagious for influenza or TB could potentially infect hundreds of people in a flight from Manila to Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York City and subway trip home with two transfers and a stop at a local fast food restaurant before going to a welcome home party.
  4. Employ might, could perhaps and maybe to add to spin.

When a new term is spun here can be the overnight result:

Ebola Study Shows How ‘Superspreaders’ Can Prolong An Outbreak

Huffington Post – ‎15 hours ago‎

A new analysis points to the role that “superspreaders” have in prolonging infectious disease outbreaks. Disease “superspreaders” may have played a major role in the spread of the Ebola virus during the 2014 outbreak in West Africa, according to a new …

Ebola “Super Spreaders” Responsible for Most Cases in Last Outbreak

Morocco World News – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

Rabat – New research has found the majority of cases in the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 were caused by the phenomenon of “super spreaders,” according to BBC News. Super spreaders are small pockets of infected individuals who pass a virus on to a …

Superspreaders Caused Much of the 2014 Ebola Epidemic

Smithsonian – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

Ebola. World Health Organization workers gear up to go into an old Ebola isolation ward in Lagos, Nigeria. (CDC – Flickr/Creative Commons). By Erin Blakemore. smithsonian.com. February 15, 2017 10:47AM. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0. In 2014 and 2015, …

Super Spreaders Caused Most Cases Of Ebola

Counsel & Heal – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – AUGUST 18: Public health advocates stage an Ebola awareness and prevention event on August 18, 2014 in Monrovia, Liberia. The Liberian government and international groups are trying to convince residents of the danger and are …

Ebola Superspreaders: 3 Percent Infected 61 Percent of Victims

Newsmax – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

Ebola “superspreaders,” a small percentage of those infected by the disease in West Africa did the most damage by infecting others, according to a new study looking back at the 2014-15 epidemic. The study, published this week in the journal Proceedings

West Africa: Ebola Epidemic Fuelled By ‘Super-Spreaders’ – Study

AllAfrica.com – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

Most of the people who were infected with Ebola in the 2014 West Africa epidemic contracted the viral disease through “super-spreaders”, researchers say. According to a study published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, …

Small percentage of patients found responsible for spreading lethal Ebola epidemic

NORCAL – ‎Feb 15, 2017‎

A small percentage of so-called “superspreaders” was likely responsible for spreading the lethal Ebola epidemic that left thousands of people dead in West Africa, according to a new study. A team of experts from New Jersey’s Princeton University and

Ebola ‘super-spreaders’ cause most cases

Walta Information Center (blog) – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

The majority of cases in the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests. The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61%) were caused

Ebola ‘Superspreaders’: Faster Contamination Basically Through Contacts of Bodily Fluids

Latin Post – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

In 2014, the greater part of the population infected in West Africa got wiped out through contact with the disease called Ebola. Though Typhoid Mary was the most superspreader, which has infected 51 individuals, and three of whom passed in the vicinity

Small Percentage of Ebola Patients Found Responsible for Most Cases in Epidemic

Voice of America – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

FILE – Health workers carry the body of a suspected Ebola victim for burial at a cemetery in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Dec. 21, 2014. Share. Share on Facebook · Share on Twitter · Share on Google+ · Email to a Friend. Print. See comments. WASHINGTON —.

‘Superspreaders’ Are Responsible For The 2014 Ebola Outbreak, Study Says

Medical Daily – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

A new study finds that a small number of people, referred to as ‘superspreaders,’ may have been responsible for nearly two-thirds of Ebola cases during the 2014-2015 epidemic in West Africa. Although superspreaders have been previously thought to play

Study: Disease ‘superspreaders’ accounted for nearly two-thirds of Ebola cases

Lexington Herald Leader – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

They are called the superspreaders, the minority of people who are responsible for infecting many others during epidemics of infectious diseases. Perhaps the most famous superspreader was Typhoid Mary, presumed to have infected 51 people, three of …

Researchers Document Dynamics of Superspreading Events in the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola Epidemic

Infection Control Today – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

For many infections, some infected individuals transmit to disproportionately more susceptibles than others, a phenomenon referred to as “superspreading.” Understanding superspreading can facilitate devising individually targeted control measures

Ebola epidemic fuelled by ‘super-spreaders’: study

MWC News (satire) (registration) (blog) – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Scientists say small percentage of people were the cause of most cases of Ebola virus that ravaged West Africa in 2014. Most of the people who were infected with Ebola in the 2014 West Africa epidemic contracted the viral disease through “super

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

ReliefWeb – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Small Percentage Of People Infected With Ebola Considered ‘Superspreaders,’ Responsible For 61% Of Cases In West …

Kaiser Family Foundation – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

“Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of ‘superspreaders’ with the disease, researchers said Monday…” (2/13). International Business Times: Sierra Leone

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Thomson Reuters Foundation – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

“Superspreaders” Caused Almost Two-Thirds Of Ebola Cases In Recent Outbreak

IFLScience – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Infecting tens of thousands of people, and claiming the lives of almost half of those, the outbreak of Ebola a few years back was the worst ever experienced. But it now seems that the vast majority of those who were infected with the disease contracted

Disease ‘superspreaders’ accounted for nearly two-thirds of Ebola cases, study finds

Pharmacy Today, American Pharmacists Association, pharmacist.com – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Scientists report that superspreaders accounted for a majority of the Ebola virus cases in the 2014–15 epidemic in West Africa. Scientists report that superspreaders accounted for a majority of the Ebola virus cases in the 2014–15 epidemic in

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Cyprus Mail – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases of the disease, which ravaged the West African

Small percentage of people spread most Ebola cases: Study

Geo News, Pakistan – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Most of the people who were infected with Ebola in the 2014 West Africa epidemic contracted the viral disease through “super-spreaders”, researchers say. According to a study published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, …

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fueled West Africa Ebola epidemic: researchers

Reuters – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases of the

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Reuters – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Thomson Reuters Foundation – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Thomson Reuters Foundation – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

RTE.ie – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers have said. Six in 10 cases of the disease, which ravaged the West African

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Daily News & Analysis – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Daily Mail – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fuelled West Africa Ebola epidemic – researchers

Thomson Reuters Foundation – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Most people infected with Ebola in the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus contracted it from just a tiny fraction of patients known as “superspreaders”, researchers said on Tuesday. Six in 10 cases

Study reveals small percentage of people spread most cases

Pulse Nigeria – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

The West African Ebola epidemic was the largest in history and killed more than 11,300 people. Published: 14.02.2017; Pulse News Agency International By AFP. Print; eMail · An MSF facility treating ebola in Kailahun in 2014 play. An MSF facility

Small percentage of people spread most Ebola cases: Study

Times of India – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

MIAMI: Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National

Just 3 percent of Ebola Patients Were ‘Super-Spreaders’ Who Caused Majority of Cases: Study

Newsweek – ‎Feb 14, 2017‎

Almost two-thirds of cases in the West African Ebola outbreak were caused by just 3 percent of infected people, according to a study. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), highlighted the role of so-called …

Ebola ‘super-spreaders’ cause most cases

The Kathmandu Post – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Feb 14, 2017- The majority of cases in the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests. The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61

Ebola epidemic fuelled by ‘super-spreaders’: study

Aljazeera.com – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Scientists say small percentage of people were the cause of most cases of Ebola virus that ravaged West Africa in 2014. 14 Feb 2017 06:40 GMT. Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker. 0; All Social. The West Africa outbreak began in Guinea in early 2014 …

Sierra Leone: ‘Superspreading’ accounted for more than 60% of Ebola cases

Yahoo News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Just 3% of people with Ebola were involved in about 61% of transmissions of the disease in the 2014-15 epidemic in West Africa. The study also found that superspreaders had the most influence on the spread of Ebola in the tail-end of the epidemic.

Small percentage of people spread most Ebola cases: study

New Vision – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of …

Ebola ‘super-spreaders’ cause most cases

BBC News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The majority of cases in the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests. The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61%) were caused

Ebola ‘super-spreaders’ cause most cases

Mo4ch News (press release) (blog) – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The majority of cases in the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests. The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61%) were caused

Ebola spread by small number of infected people

The Asian Age – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The West African Ebola epidemic was the largest in history and killed more than 11,300 people. If superspreading had been completely under control about two-thirds of Ebola cases could have been avoided (Photo: AFP). Miami: Most of the people infected …

Small percentage of infected people responsible for ebola epidemic: study

Deccan Chronicle – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Miami: Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National

Ebola ‘superspreaders’ accounted for nearly two-thirds of infections, study finds

South China Morning Post – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

They are called the superspreaders, the minority of people who are responsible for infecting many others during epidemics of infectious diseases. Perhaps the most famous superspreader was Typhoid Mary, presumed to have infected 51 people, three of …

Ebola ‘super-spreaders’ cause most cases

BBC News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The majority of cases in the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests. The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61%) were caused

Superspreaders Drove Ebola Epidemic, Study Finds

41 NBC News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Medical staff at the Hastings Ebola Treatment Center work to escort a man in the throes of Ebola-induced delirium back into the isolation ward from which he escaped in Hastings, Sierra Leone on Sunday, November 23, 2014. Pete Muller / Prime for

Small Percentage Of People Spread Most Ebola Cases: Study

Times Now – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of …

Superspreaders Drove Ebola Epidemic, Study Finds

NBCNews.com – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The story is well known among Ebola experts – the traditional healer who died from the virus in Sierra Leone and whose body infected 13 mourners at her funeral, who in turn infected more than 300 other people. It’s called a “superspreading” event, and

Disease ‘superspreaders’ accounted for nearly two-thirds of Ebola cases, study finds

Reading Eagle – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

They are called the superspreaders, the minority of people who are responsible for infecting many others during epidemics of infectious diseases. Perhaps the most famous superspreader was Typhoid Mary, presumed to have infected 51 people, three of …

Small percentage of people spread most Ebola cases: study

Yahoo News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of …

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fueled the Ebola epidemic: Two thirds of cases traceable to highly infection minority

Daily Mail – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Disease ‘superspreaders’ fueled the spread of the devastating Ebola epidemic in 2014, a new study claims. The West African Ebola epidemic was the largest in history and killed more than 11,300 people, with many of the cases involving people infected …

Small percentage of people spread most Ebola cases: study

Yahoo News – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Miami (AFP) – Most of the people infected with Ebola in the West Africa epidemic that began in 2014 got sick through contact with a small number of “superspreaders” with the disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National …

Disease ‘superspreaders’ accounted for nearly two-thirds of Ebola cases, study finds

Washington Post – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

They are called superspreaders, the minority of people who are responsible for infecting many others during epidemics of infectious diseases. Perhaps the most famous superspreader was Typhoid Mary, presumed to have infected 51 people, three of whom …

Disease ‘superspreaders’ were driving cause of 2014 Ebola epidemic

EurekAlert (press release) – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study about the overwhelming importance of “superspreaders” in some infectious disease epidemics has shown that in the catastrophic 2014-15 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, about 3 percent of the people infected were ultimately …

Sierra Leone: Ebola ‘superspreaders’ accounted for over 60% of cases

International Business Times UK – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

Understanding people and contexts which increase the risk of superspreading could help contain future epidemics. Martha Henriques. By Martha Henriques. Updated February 14, 2017 09:58 GMT. Ebola Red Cross workers in the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in …

Disease ‘superspreaders’ were driving cause of 2014 Ebola epidemic

Medical Xpress – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

The Ebola virus, isolated in November 2014 from patient blood samples obtained in Mali. The virus was isolated on Vero cells in a BSL-4 suite at Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Credit: NIAID. A new study about the overwhelming importance of …

This ‘Scorecard’ Makes it Easier to Fight Ebola Outbreaks

Newsweek – ‎Feb 13, 2017‎

A Doctors Without Borders health worker carries a child suspected of having Ebola in October 5, 2014 in Paynesville, Liberia. A new scoring system that calculates the severity of an Ebola case could help fight outbreaks and save lives. John Moore/Getty.

Ebola outbreak: ‘Superspreaders’ were driving cause of 2014-15 West Africa epidemic – Outbreak News Today – Overblown “Mighta/Coulda” “news” driven by researchers looking for status and newsies for readers?

If superspreading had been completely controlled, almost two thirds of the infections might have been prevented, scientists said in the study. The researchers also noted that their findings were conservative, since they only focused on people who had been buried safely. This suggests that the role of superspreaders may have been even more profound than this research indicates.

Source: Ebola outbreak: ‘Superspreaders’ were driving cause of 2014-15 West Africa epidemic – Outbreak News Today

If your 6 year-old goes to school when he/she is actively infectious with “?” then she/he is a superspreader. In short, this is not anything new  – it is how disease spreads normally. But to use a special term – superspreader, it sounds new and perhaps more dangerous. It also takes precious attention away from the impact of the facts that greater numbers of infections have a lot to do with modern mobility, humans invading natural landscape in greater numbers, and the over use of anti-bacterials in medicine and agriculture.

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“Traitor!” Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence – The New York Times

Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, according to four current and former American officials.American law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time that they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said. The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election.The officials interviewed in recent weeks said that, so far, they had seen no evidence of such cooperation.But the intercepts alarmed American intelligence and law enforcement agencies, in part because of the amount of contact that was occurring while Mr. Trump was speaking glowingly about the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin. At one point last summer, Mr. Trump said at a campaign event that he hoped Russian intelligence services had stolen Hillary Clinton’s emails and would make them public.The officials said the intercepted communications were not limited to Trump campaign officials, and included other associates of Mr. Trump. On the Russian side, the contacts also included members of the Russian government outside of the intelligence services, the officials said. All of the current and former officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the continuing investigation is classified.

Woman dies following Horner Park police shooting – Chicago Tribune – Two more police cannot disarm a person with a knife? Just kill them because we can? Crap!

He said the woman “made some threatening statements” and the officers tried to calm her down. She continued to walk toward the officers, before they deployed a Taser on her two times, Guglielmi said.”That had no effect,” he said. “She continued to advance after that, making threatening statements toward the officers, and the officers discharged their service weapons.”Guglielmi said the woman was shot twice and transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. He said the woman had no identification on her and hasn’t been identified yet. Guglielmi said the woman is believed to be about 40 or 50 years old, and a knife was recovered.He said the officers, who were not hurt, have more than 10 years’ experience with the Police Department. They will be placed on a 30-day administrative assignment, mandatory for all Chicago police officers involved in shootings.

Source: Woman dies following Horner Park police shooting – Chicago Tribune

Betsy DeVos Is Briefly Blocked From Entering a School – The New York Times

 

Democrats have expressed concern about contributions by Ms. DeVos’s family to groups that support so-called conversion therapy for gay people; her donations to Republicans and their causes, which she agreed have totaled about $200 million over the years; and her past statements that government “sucks” and that public schools are a “dead end.”

Trump and Netanyahu are allies in a losing battle | +972 Magazine

The most important clue to solve this puzzle is Trump and Netanyahu’s obsession with attacking, controlling and manipulating the news media (indeed, this is one of the major sources of Netanyahu’s recent legal troubles). Admittedly, even within their own camps, they are extreme outliers in terms of crudity and relentlessness on this issue — something that surely has to do with their individual psychological makeup. But they are also emblematic of a broader approach on the right, which has fueled the rise of rigorously partisan and uncurious media organs such as Israel Hayom in Israel and Fox News in the U.S.Journalists are a major problem for the Israeli and American extreme right because, despite all their flaws, they occasionally do provide information and cover actual events. In other words, they reflect reality — however partially and inadequately.Reality is the greatest foe of the extreme right wingers currently in power. In the real world, Palestinians, Mexicans, Muslims, and many other groups that they do not like continue to exist, despite travel bans and land grabs. In the real world, international relations are crucial for the prosperity of both countries and cannot be flippantly dismissed. “Alternative facts” are easily malleable. Actual facts cannot be so flexibly managed. The extreme right is not creating “facts on the ground,” it is being undone by them, bit by bit.Netanyahu, Trump, and their allies are fighting a losing battle. Deep inside, they know this. If they truly believed otherwise, their disposition would be sunny and confident, not dark and fretful.This is not cause for complacency. Part of the reason these agendas will be defeated is precisely because people are not complacent — they are mobilized and agitated (at least in the U.S.; this kind of mass opposition seems to be further down the road in Israel and Palestine). Until they are stopped, Trump and Netanyahu can do great harm, some of which will be irreparable. Nonetheless, the struggle against them must begin with the insight that we are not fighting an ascendant and secure power, we are opposing a desperate and fearful faction.

Source: Trump and Netanyahu are allies in a losing battle | +972 Magazine