Steve Gatena

More important analysis..

2

This is my latest California True Crime book. It doesn't get any more true crime than this book. If you are interested in True Crime that occured in California, then this book is for you. https://lnkd.in/gv6pryiY

8

News camerman from local TV station is taken down violently by #police at #UniversityofTexas at #Austin.  This will not improve the declining #USA ranking of 45th on the #WorldPressFreedomIndex by #ReportersWithoutBorders.  arresting reporters is one reason why the #USA is ranked 45th on #WorldPressFreedomIndex by #ReportersWithoutBorders.    The anti-war #protests are growing as more students challenge their academic institutions demanding divestment.  #Gaza #Israel #USA #CeasefireNOW Over 100 protesters arrested near #USA #Senate Majority Leader #ChuckSchumer's house in #Brooklyn. Anti-war demonstrations are growing and facing pushback from colleges using police to try to stop demonstrations. Republican Speaker of The House  Rep. #MikeJohnson and other GOP members of the #USA #Congress were booed while addressing protests at #ColumbiaUniversity. Meanwhile, 97 Journalists have been killed in #Gaza! https://t.co/Uj0EzVVacc Summary of my briefing for office of Rep. Pramila Jayapal on violations of press freedom in Gaza and declining ranking of USA on the World Press Freedom Index: https://t.co/G2sAS2o2H5 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders: https://rsf.org/en/index #pressfreedom #freepress #democracy

Renée DiResta | The Invisible Rulers Turning Lies Into Reality Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California Jun 20, 2024 Just what is the machinery that powers hugely influential propaganda? How does it work? Who’s behind it? And what can people do about it? Renée DiResta, a writer and former researcher with Stanford’s Internet Observatory, comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to share her research into the way power and influence have been profoundly transformed, how a virtual rumor mill of niche propagandists increasingly shapes public opinion. She says that while propagandists position themselves as trustworthy Davids, their reach, influence, and economics make them classic Goliaths—invisible rulers who create bespoke realities to revolutionize politics, culture, and society. Their work is driven by a simple maxim: if you make it trend, you make it true. By revealing the machinery and dynamics of the interplay between influencers, algorithms, and online crowds, DiResta vividly illustrates the way propagandists deliberately undermine belief in the fundamental legitimacy of institutions that make society work. This alternate system for shaping public opinion, unexamined until now, is rewriting the relationship between the people and their government in profound ways. It has become a force so shockingly effective that its destructive power can seem limitless. Scientific proof is often powerless in front of it. Democratic validity is bulldozed by it. Leaders are humiliated by it. But they need not be. Join us as DiResta not only predicts the consequences of these online propagandists but offers ways for leaders to rapidly adapt and fight back. Photo by Bill Wadman. June 17, 2024 Speakers Renee DiResta Former Technical Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observatory; Author, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality In Conversation with Quentin Hardy Independent Technology Journalist #propaganda #onlinedisinformation #rumormill #antivax #digitalliteracy #rhetoric #antivaccine #socialmedia #communicationstheory #grouppsychology #socialpsychology #influencers #groupidentity #massmedia #nationalidentity #publicopinion #manipulation #publictrust #lies #factsmatter #persuasion #conspiracytheories #QAnon #savethechildren #childtrafficking #facts #truth #normality

2

The #LiberalDemocrats #Manifesto is yet another appalling example of #Politicians (who have the ultimate responsibility for) being prepared to make claims, which can only be described as lies, and in this case put in a document to influence to general public in respect of the #generalelection. New #homes produce 61% less carbon than older [Over 10yrs old] #properties. #Newhomes are powered by 57% less #energy. More than 99% of all #newhouses are sold as #freehold The facts published to counter the wild claims made by the #Liberals can be checked at various sources including the #HouseofCommonsLibrary Given the #YoungLiberals appreciation of the need to build more #homes and a figure of 380,000 being put in the document, perhaps rather than trying to knock #NewHousing there should have been more explanation as to how they are going to deliver on their target, and please don't say by building 10 #NewTowns - which realistically would take at least 10 years before the delivery of the first #home at one is achieved https://lnkd.in/gFPqBuun

3

Around the world, dictators, demagogues, and despots are running the "Authoritarian Playbook." They: -Politicize independent institutions. -Spread disinformation. Quash criticism & dissent. -Gather executive power. Erode checks & balances. -Target vulnerable & marginalized communities. Vilify immigrants & minorities. -Corrupt free & fair elections. -Stoke political violence. https://lnkd.in/eb6zZUQi At their best, journalists respond to these autocratic plays by publishing & broadcasting trustworthy, contextualized information about corruption, waste, fraud, & abuses of power necessary for publics to be self-governing. The acts of journalism the press create is a necessary – but insufficient – condition for any government of, by, and for the People to long endure. In that sense, a free press acts as an immune system for democracy itself. The people who founded the United States understood this core function and chose to codify freedom of the press in our First Amendment. That why autocrats call the press "enemies of the people," defame reporters as liars or spies, & repress, jail, insure, or outright murder journalists to prevent lifting the veil of secrecy that hides what strongmen do, away from the public eye.

1

Bob Menendez and Biden’s Cuba Policy The fall of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), will produce many benefits, including the likely replacement of the corrupt Menendez with progressive Congressman Andy Kim, who won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat. But one benefit that has not gotten much notice is that Menendez’s ouster will remove a prime obstacle to normalization of relations with Cuba. With Democrats having the narrowest of Senate majorities, Menendez, has repeatedly used his power to warn Biden against any normalization. He bragged in a November 2021 interview with Telemundo that he had blocked the administration from liberalization of Cuba policy. “On the contrary,” he said, “President Biden has tightened our policy against the regime.” And in a recent documentary film called Hardliner on the Hudson (https://lnkd.in/e4qzHZwM), Menendez described himself as the enforcer of a policy of zero liberalization. “If you want my support, I don’t want you making any policy changes on Cuba without consulting me,” he said of Biden. What would normalization look like? We have been here before, under President Barack Obama. As a candidate for president, Obama courageously argued that the U.S. policy of isolating and impoverishing Cuba with an economic embargo had failed. Obama appreciated that the sanctions were not hurting the regime; they only increased suffering on the part of ordinary Cubans. They also had driven Cuba further into the arms of the Russians as their protectors and had not compelled any political or economic liberalization. As president, Obama delivered. Just weeks into his new administration in 2009, he relaxed restrictions on remittances and travel. The Cuban government, now under Raúl Castro, reciprocated by liberalizing Cuba’s state-controlled economy. A new private sector prospered and Cuba enjoyed a boom. The number of self-employed workers tripled between 2009 and 2013. But all of this was undone by President Trump. The embargo is now tightly enforced; open travel to Cuba has ended, diplomatic relations are frozen, and Cuba is back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Cuban economy has suffered accordingly. Since 2021, the number of Cubans seeking refuge in the U.S. has increased to some 500,000 migrants. The Trump reversion has exacerbated the increased flow of migrants and the attendant problems from that. In 2020, campaigning for president, Biden promised to restore the Obama policies. But only token reversals have been forthcoming. Cuba is still branded a state sponsor of terrorism; normal diplomatic relations are still suspended, and the economic blockade continues to be fully enforced. With Bob Menendez having lost his influence, one major obstacle to Biden carrying out his campaign pledge on Cuba is now presumably gone. So what is Biden waiting for? See more at: https://lnkd.in/eQfaN59b

9

2 Comments

https://lnkd.in/gpmci9uv Still confused about who is standing against terrorism and who is ENGAGED in terrorism? READ THE ARTICLE. California law enforcement stood by as violent pro-I groups attack pro-P groups. Uh... sound familiar? Powerful parties standing by and watching as I attacks P? Gives new meaning (and rationale) to the 'Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe!' mantras repeated on the pro-P side. A good question is, why do anti-genicide activists have to work around the reality that law enforcement won't actually enforce the laws of the land but will happily use force to suppress freedom of expression? Racists gotta racist. You only act this way - as a person, as a movement, as a police force - if you feel entitled to (and are assured of) TOTAL IMPUNITY inside the governing system. How are we gonna change that????

12

2 Comments

More than half of U.S. counties lack access (or have limited access) to a local news source. This alarming news is courtesy of an analysis of "news deserts" from Northwestern Medill. Anyone who has worked in the media - particularly in newspapers - isn't surprised by these numbers. The increasing number of journalists out of work is alarming. Citizens have lost their trust in establishment news sources, no longer believing them to be fair and balanced. (Some media outlets deserve to lose citizens' trust, but that's a rant for another time). When readers and viewers disengage, media outlets lose ad revenue. If they can't pay the bills, the layoffs begin, followed by a closure if they can't financially recover. #Journalist friends, is it worth turning the media into a government-supported (and owned) entity to save the industry? Someone in my connections list suggested this, and I have strong feelings about it. The press is called the Fourth Estate for a reason. A democracy requires informed citizens. Journalists fill that role while providing a feedback loop between a government and its voters. It's not an exaggeration to say that the government is no longer accountable with journalists out of the picture. I've not worked full-time for a daily newspaper for quite some time. However, I still consider myself a journalist. As much as it pains me to see daily newspapers (and even weekly community papers) dying off, the government has no business trying to save journalism. The government subsidizing the press could be seen as having no press because it'll skew the coverage. There's a reason journalists in communist countries push for a free press. They know the citizens of those countries are fed only the information the government wants them to know. Don't think for a minute that a U.S. government-funded media would be fair and balanced. Nonprofit news isn't the answer, either. Just look at the recent flap with NPR and its perceived "biases." It doesn't help that they receive a portion of their operational budget from the federal government. I don't know what the solution is to save the journalism industry. But this isn't it. What are your thoughts?

8

9 Comments

GOD BLESS AMERICA  I'm alarmed that our government seems unaware of the 'Council for Decreed Termination,' a concept rooted in ancient Rome's first form of government, which grants the current president the power to act, even beyond the Supreme Court's authority. These raises concerns about checks and balances. Meanwhile, Russia's attack on Kyiv's largest children's hospital is unconscionable. The intentional targeting of children is a horrific act. The world must acknowledge Russia's willingness to destroy innocent lives. It's crucial to recognize the connection between Trump and Putin's actions and the danger they pose to our democracy. Project 2025, a Trump initiative, promotes a violent and authoritarian future for America. We must reject this vision. Let's stand united and strong against threats to our democracy. Vote for democracy, vote blue and support President Biden. Hold accountable those who promote evil and seek to destroy our country. United we stand, and with God's blessing, we will overcome. URGENT: Contact President Biden About 'Council for Decreed Termination' Private message me if you want to text President Biden about this crucial matter. The 'Council for Decreed Termination,' rooted in ancient Rome of the first form of government, grants the current president the power to act beyond the Supreme Court's authority. This concept, taught in universities worldwide except the United States, is essential to safeguarding our democracy and constitution. Time is of the essence. Take action now. #democracy #usa #andersoncooper #cosmopolitan #palmbeach #lgbtqi #linkedin #VOTE #unitedkingdom #france #germany #italy #egypt #colombia #brazil #newyorker #reuters

1

GOD BLESS AMERICA  I'm alarmed that our government seems unaware of the 'Council for Decreed Termination,' a concept rooted in ancient Rome's first form of government, which grants the current president the power to act, even beyond the Supreme Court's authority. These raises concerns about checks and balances. Meanwhile, Russia's attack on Kyiv's largest children's hospital is unconscionable. The intentional targeting of children is a horrific act. The world must acknowledge Russia's willingness to destroy innocent lives. It's crucial to recognize the connection between Trump and Putin's actions and the danger they pose to our democracy. Project 2025, a Trump initiative, promotes a violent and authoritarian future for America. We must reject this vision. Let's stand united and strong against threats to our democracy. Vote for democracy, vote blue and support President Biden. Hold accountable those who promote evil and seek to destroy our country. United we stand, and with God's blessing, we will overcome. URGENT: Contact President Biden About 'Council for Decreed Termination' Private message me if you want to text President Biden about this crucial matter. The 'Council for Decreed Termination,' rooted in ancient Rome of the first form of government, grants the current president the power to act beyond the Supreme Court's authority. This concept, taught in universities worldwide except the United States, is essential to safeguarding our democracy and constitution. Time is of the essence. Take action now. #democracy #usa #andersoncooper #cosmopolitan #palmbeach #lgbtqi #linkedin #VOTE #unitedkingdom #france #germany #italy #egypt #colombia #brazil #newyorker #reuters

1

The newspapers and cable news programs are full of reports of uproars at college campuses over pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests. I mention the flip side of these two phenomenon since it does appear that what started as pro-Palestinian cease fire protests are morphing into pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests. The mainstream media tending left, tend to still report these demonstrations as "peaceful protests" even as Jewish students experiencing them first hand are finding them intimidating and outright antisemitic in some cases. The level of emotion exhibited at these protests, disruption, organization and spreading disruption they are causing on campus and beyond is starting to look to average observers as a repeat of the destructive BLM demonstrations/riots of the summer of 2020. And having learned nothing it would seem, college presidents, Mayors, and City Councils are mostly responding in a permissive fashion. Yes, some demonstrators have been cleared from encampments on college campuses, removed from blocking roadways, and arrested. But, you will note that in every instance I am familiar with, the protesters regrouped and re-occupied the same spaces shortly afterwards. In a contest of which side seems more determined, the protesters are winning hands down. "No justice, no peace" appears to me more than an empty slogan. Nowhere is the lack of leadership from our institutions and politicians being felt more acutely than in New York City, home to more Jews than any place outside Israel And according to an article in today's WSJ, "Some Jewish New Yorkers Feel a Dark Cloud." Some on the left may say that this is an "over reaction" to a very small contingent of demonstrators. However, making people fearful does not require large scale pogroms. Think back to the summer of the "Son of Sam." A handful of random murders in New York by David Berkowitz made the city crazy. And while the Palestinian protests have not resulted in deaths as yet, the fear that Jews are being targeted for verbal and physical abuse on campuses and on the streets of the Upper West Side of Manhattan is sufficient to upset people's sense of personal security. It is very simple. Either the authorities take these fears seriously and act to reassure people that they are safe, or things will only get worse as Israel begins its Rafah operations and spring turns to summer. Minimizing the fears or scoffing at them by the media will only embolden the worst elements of the anti-Israel protesters and further scare those who already feel vulnerable.

15

5 Comments