From Prosecutor to Censor: Barbara McQuade’s Call to Erode Free Speech
Barbara McQuade, who was in 2017 dismissed from her job as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, has in the meantime turned into quite something of a “misinformation warrior.”
Earlier this year McQuade – who in the past also worked as co-chair of the Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee in the Obama Administration – published a book, “Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.”
Now, she herself is attacking the First Amendment as standing in the way of censorship (“content moderation”) and advocating in favor of essentially finding ways to bypass it. Opponents might see this as particularly disheartening, coming from somebody who used to hold such a high judicial office.
“The better course for regulating social media and online content might be to look at processes versus content because content is so tricky in terms of First Amendment protections. Regulating some of the processes could include things like the algorithms,” McQuade said.
This point – that the First Amendment serves precisely the purpose it was designed for – has lately been cropping up more and more frequently in the liberal spectrum of US politics, with the situation resembling a coordinated “narrative building.”
McQuade also sticks to the script, as it were, on other common talking points this campaign season: the dangers of AI (as a tool of “misinformation” – but the same camp loves AI as a tool of censorship). In the scenario where AI is perceived as a threat, McQuade wants new laws to regulate the field.
And she repeats the suddenly renewed calls to change CDA’s Section 230 in a particular way – namely, a way that pressures social platforms to toe the line, or else see legal protections afforded to them eroded.
This is phrased as amending the legislation to provide for civil liability, i.e., “money damages” if companies behind these platforms are found to not force users to label AI-generated content or delete bot accounts diligently enough.
McQuade’s comments regarding Section 230 are made in the context of her ideas on “regulating processes rather than content” (as a way to circumvent the First Amendment).
While on the face of it, stepping up bot removal sounds reasonable, there are reasons to fear this could be yet another false narrative whose actual goal is punishing platforms for not deleting real accounts falsely accused of being “bots” by certain media and politicians.
The Hamilton 68 case, exposed in the Twitter Files, is an example of this.
BREAKING: Biden Pledges To Never Leave, Throwing Deep State Into Panic
EU Commission Urges Digital ID, E-Health Records & Touts ‘Anti-Disinformation’ Efforts in Digital Decade Report
Earlier this week the EU Commission (EC) published its second report on what it calls “the state of the digital decade,” urging member countries to step up the push to increase access and incentivize the use of digital ID and electronic health records.
At the same time, the bloc is satisfied with how the crackdown on “disinformation,” “online harms,” and the like is progressing.
In a press release, the EC said the report was done to assess the progress made in reaching the objectives contained in the Digital Decade Policy Program (DDPP), targeting 2030 as the year of completion.
EU members have now for the first time contributed to the document with analyses of their national “Digital Decade strategic roadmaps.” And, here, the EC is not exactly satisfied: the members’ efforts will not meet the EU’s “level of ambition” if things continue to develop as they currently are, the document warns.
In that vein, while the report is generally upbeat on the uptake of digital ID (eID schemes) and the use of e-Health records, its authors point out that there are “still significant differences among countries” in terms of eID adoption.
To remedy member countries falling short on these issues, it is recommended that they push for increased access to eID and e-Health records in order to meet the objectives set for 2030.
The EU wants to see both these schemes available to 100% of citizens and businesses by that date – and reveals that eID is at this point available to 93% of citizens across the 27 of the bloc’s countries, “despite uneven take-up.”
Still, the EC’s report shows that policymakers in Brussels are optimistic that the EU digital ID Wallet will “incentivize” eID use.
And, the document’s authors are happy with the way the controversial Digital Services Act (DSA) is getting enforced. Critics, however, believe it is there to facilitate crackdowns on speech – under the guise of combating “disinformation,” etc.
The EU calls this, “strengthening the protection against online harms and disinformation,” while also mentioning that it is launching investigations (into online platforms) to make sure DSA is enforced.
And in order to reinforce the message that DSA is needed as a force for good, the report asserts that “online risks are on the rise and disinformation has been identified as one of the most destabilizing factors for our societies, requiring comprehensive, coordinated action across borders and actors.”
BREAKING: Biden Pledges To Never Leave, Throwing Deep State Into Panic
US Defendants in Failed African Coup Cite Coercion
Two US citizens have told a court in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that they took part in a failed coup in May because they were threatened with death if they refused to join.
On May 19, armed men temporarily seized President Felix Tshisekedi’s office in Kinshasa after storming the home of Vital Kamerhe, the outgoing economy minister and candidate for speaker of the National Assembly. The group’s leader, Congolese politician Christian Malanga – who obtained US citizenship while living in exile – was killed by security forces during the clashes.
Six people were reportedly killed in the standoff, including two police officers who were assigned to protect Kamerhe.
Speaking on Friday for the first time since the trial began, the two US suspects – Marcel Malanga, who is Christian Malanga’s son, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun – said that they were threatened by the coup leader.
Marcel explained that he traveled to the DRC at his father’s invitation and had no prior knowledge of the plot, stating: “I am American, I do not speak French or Lingala.” He added that it was his first visit to the central African nation. Read more US nationals involved in attempted coup in African state – army
“Dad had threatened to kill us if we did not follow his orders,” Marcel Malanga told the military court.
Zalman-Polun stated that while he was a long-time business associate of Christian Malanga, he did not take part in planning the coup attempt.
“I met Malanga in 2013 … he had never been so violent,” Zalman-Polun stated.
The hearings are set to continue on Monday. Malanga and Zalman-Polun are among more than 50 suspects on trial for their alleged roles in the failed bid to overthrow the DRC government. The defendants also include UK, Canadian, and Belgian citizens. They face counts of criminal conspiracy, murder, terrorism, and other charges.
On Friday, during the hearing in Kinshasha, Judge Freddy Ehume said the actions of the Americans were “punishable by death.” The open-air proceedings were shown live on television.
During the coup attempt, Christian Malanga, a self-proclaimed problem-solver vowing to end the “corruption and political gridlock” in Kinshasa, live-streamed the standoff on Facebook.
READ MORE: Americans put on trial over failed African coup attempt
“We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country,” he declared in local language Lingala, according to a Reuters translation.
In March, the DRC lifted its moratorium on capital punishment, citing the need to purge the army of traitors and address a surge in terrorism.
Tshisekedi won a second term in December, winning 73% of votes.
BREAKING: Biden Pledges To Never Leave, Throwing Deep State Into Panic
NYC Mayor Unveils Innovative New Tool to Clean Up City: Trash Cans
Residents of the Big Apple will now have the option to throw their refuse in specially designated receptacles known as “trash cans” rather than on the streets.
An investigation into New York City’s notorious trash problem discovers the underlying obstacle to putting up dumpsters is… parking.
It’s easier to let people pile trash bags on sidewalks that feed rats and vermin than to take some of NYC’s 3 million curb spots from drivers. pic.twitter.com/OSuYaFvFMz— Miriam Pinski (@mirijulip) March 3, 2024
Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the new sanitation effort Monday, requiring buildings with one to nine residential units to use wheeled garbage bins.
Beginning November 12, all properties with 1-9 residential units will be required to set their trash out in…a wheelie bin! Who’d have thought???
— NYC Sanitation (@NYCSanitation) July 8, 2024
Don’t have one? Property owners and building managers can buy the Official NYC Bin at https://t.co/Pe5iBzWmij. pic.twitter.com/sZzPgaknBM
“Many people thought it was impossible that these babies here, the bins, were going to be part of our trash revolution,” Adams said at a press conference outside NYC’s mayoral estate Gracie Mansion, where he showed New Yorkers a demonstration on how to use the bins.
“We are only catching up to what other municipalities around the globe are currently doing,” Adams stated.
The mayor was mercilessly mocked on social media over the common-sense initiative introducing what’s already standard in most American towns.
Incredible stuff. Mark my words, this will become the standard trash disposal method in many major cities.
— Rishabh Kumar (@Kumar_EconIneq) July 8, 2024
What are these “trash cans” that you speak of?
— SSGoodGirl (@USSGoodGirl) July 8, 2024
Welcome to the mid 20th century, New York!
— Gentleman Bugg (@bookybook5050) July 8, 2024
NYC, now catching up with the rest of the U.S. Only 30 years behind ?
— Brandon.lee.72 (@_bwc_9_) July 8, 2024
The new trash disposal solution comes as news crews filmed in awe earlier this year at the sight of a side-loading garbage truck.
Here’s a demo of New York City’s new automatic side loading garbage truck lifting large on street containers. A pilot program is expanding to all of Community Board District 9 in West Harlem. pic.twitter.com/d9NmXaupOC
— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) February 1, 2024
KJP & Kirby Raise Eyebrows After Claiming Joe Biden Will Hold ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference
Biden lackeys Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby bizarrely claimed Joe Biden will hold a “big boy” press conference in the coming days, raising eyebrows among those questioning his mental acuity.
After clearing the term with Jean-Pierre, White House National Security Communications Advisor Kirby stated that Biden will soon hold a “big boy” press conference to assuage skeptics concerned about his cognitive state.
“The president will hold a conference — I guess a ‘big boy’ press conference, we’re calling it — and take questions from you all,” Kirby smirked at reporters during a briefing Monday.
JUST IN: Both Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby refer to President Biden’s upcoming press conference as a “Big Boy” press conference.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 8, 2024
Remarkable.
KJP: “This week, President Biden will… hold a press conference, a Big Boy press conference.”
Kirby: “After that the president will… pic.twitter.com/gJf3k2cIgz
Biden press secretary Jean-Pierre used the same “big boy” press conference term when explaining Biden’s upcoming schedule this week.
At the same briefing, Kirby insisted that the Joe Biden the world saw stumbling, bumbling, and freezing during the presidential debate is not the same “commander in chief” he interacts with on a daily basis.
CBS’s @EdOKeefe: “Have you, in your meetings with him, ever seen him appear similarly to the way he did on debate night?”
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 8, 2024
WH’s John Kirby: “Look, I’m a spokesman and the last —”
O’Keefe: “You have a lot of meetings with him.”
Kirby: “— I am. The last thing I’m going to do is… pic.twitter.com/Q5OsD3Mqpe
Kirby and Jean-Pierre’s effusive use of the infantilizing term “big boy” to describe Biden raised eyebrows online.
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy joked, “One way to stop getting people to focus on [Biden] being 81 and possibly having issues with his acuity is just to call him a big boy.”
Peter Doocy: “One way to stop getting people to focus on [Biden] being 81 and possibly having issues with his acuity is just to call him a big boy.” pic.twitter.com/hoBy6GgzIO
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 8, 2024
These people really sat down in a room together at the White House and said to themselves “you know what would really revamp the image of our dementia ridden boss? Telling the world that he’s giving a ‘big boy press conference.’” pic.twitter.com/liieFRVDCH
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 8, 2024
Who’s ready for the big boy press conference pic.twitter.com/hn6fjTuBDo
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) July 8, 2024
Can you imagine the outrage if Trump had a “big boy” rally?
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 8, 2024
This is a new low and pathetic…
?? pic.twitter.com/EF3ex0zyzl
Why does the White House continually refer to Biden’s solo press conference Thursday as his “big boy press conference”?
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) July 8, 2024
Jokes aside, that is very poor messaging at a time when they need to portray the President as in command, strong, and taking the lead.
“A big boy press conference?”
— Eric Matheny ?️ (@ericmmatheny) July 8, 2024
Our President has the mental and physical capacity of a preschooler.
pic.twitter.com/MgVxvZpMru
This is how much Biden is trusted. Watch the looks they give each other!!??
— SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) July 8, 2024
Now John Kirby says Biden will hold a “big boy press conference”…
How terrified do y’all think they are to let that senile moron back in front of a microphone? pic.twitter.com/ZQWVQT8C0P
Kirby and Jean-Pierre’s patronizing tone is similar to that of Jill Biden when she excessively praised Sleepy Joe after his disastrous debate.
“Joe, you did such a great job answering every question! You knew all the facts!” Jill said to her husband in front of a cheering crowd.
“you did such a good job you answered every question” ???
— Shibetoshi Nakamoto (@BillyM2k) June 28, 2024
you get a gold star joe!
pic.twitter.com/0rouls5KSI
It’s obvious Biden isn’t the one wearing the “big boy” pants in the White House, begging the question, who really controls the country?
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Top Silver Broker In US Exposes Industry Scams, What’s Coming Next In Must-Watch Interview
Renowned economist Kirk Elliot joined The Alex Jones Show Monday to share how to avoid common scams in the industry and what to expect from the coming boom in the silver market:
More:
Respected Economist Warns Global Economic Bubble Now Collapsing / Deep State Planning War@kirkelliottphd pic.twitter.com/4YFrTU7JuW
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) July 1, 2024
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