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Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times/DAMON WINTER/The New York Times/ When Laura Poitras co-founded First Look Media with Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill in 2013, the venture had immediate prestige: Poitras and Greenwald shared a Pulitzer Prize for their work at the Guardian on Edward Snowen’s NSA leaks, and Scahill’s reporting illuminated the excesses of the U.S. global war on terror. Now Scahill is the only co-founder who remains. Greenwald left in November, accusing the Intercept’s editors of “censorship,” claiming that the outlet had refused to publish a column concerning Hunter Biden’s business dealings, because they were in the tank for Biden. Intercept editor-in-chief Betsy Reed said Greenwald was making himself out to be a “victim, rather than a grown person throwing a tantrum,” she wrote in a scathing public statement. In January, Poitras announced that she, too, had left First Look — but not by choice. In an open letter, Poitras wrote the company fired after … [Read more...] about Why Did First Look Let Go of Laura Poitras?

The Marriott International hotel chain and Australia’s Qantas Airways have changed their websites under pressure from the Chinese government to remove references to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Macau as separate “countries,” rather than regions of China. Beijing played hardball with Marriott after the hotel company created an online customer survey that asked customers which country they lived in. The choices included Tibet, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong, all of which China fiercely insists are its territories, although Taiwan is governed independently and Hong Kong is semi-autonomous. The Chinese Cyberspace Administration declared Marriott’s survey “seriously violated national laws and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” and ordered the Marriott website and mobile phone app shut down for a week, including online booking services for the hundred-plus Marriott hotels in China. Marriott International Group executives were even questioned by the police for potential … [Read more...] about China Punishes Companies for Identifying Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet as Countries

The two Republican commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington, have blasted attempts by House Democrats to have cable carriers drop conservative networks like Fox News, Newsmax, and OAN. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA), both senior Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent letters to numerous cable, satellite, and video streaming companies, asking them if they planned to continue carrying the conservative networks. The Democrats accused the conservative networks of spreading “misinformation,” a common line of attack used by leftists and their allies in the mainstream media against conservatives. The letter followed weeks of lobbying from CNN for cable networks to censor their competitors in conservative media. Republicans on the FCC blasted Democrat politicians for supporting the campaign to suppress dissenting media. “By writing letters to the cable providers and other regulated … [Read more...] about FCC Republicans Blast Democrat Attempt to Censor Cable Networks

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has a fresh spring in his step after the Republicans defied the odds and professional political prognosticators by picking up 15 seats in the 2020 congressional elections. McCarthy, who has his eyes on the majority in November 2022, approached the 2020 congressional elections differently than Republicans in recent history have traditionally targeted congressional electoral efforts, and his moves paid off—and not only infuriated but befuddled the beltway pundit class. For the first time since 1994, in 2020 no GOP incumbent running for reelection lost. Meanwhile, McCarthy blew away fundraising records previously set by former House Speaker Paul Ryan—astonishing since he did it from the minority. Usually, House political leaders do better raising money from the majority. That’s not to mention the most significant development which is a freshman class entering Congress in 2021 that represents perhaps the most diverse in party history with the most … [Read more...] about Exclusive: After 2020 Gains, Kevin McCarthy Eyes House GOP Majority, Speaker’s Gavel in Midterms

close Video Impact of equity requirements on coronavirus vaccine rollout 'The Madness of Crowds' author Douglas Murray argues red states are more successful in rolling out the coronavirus vaccine than blue states. The Centers for Diease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned older Americans of scams involving the COVID-19 vaccine. In guidance entitled " What Older Adults Need to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines ," posted on Feb. 19, the CDC said adults 65 years of age and older — one of the first groups eligible to receive the jab — should be aware that COVID-19 vaccines are "free of charge" for those living in the U.S. "If anyone asks you to pay for access to vaccine, you can bet it’s a scam," the CDC said in the guidance. "Don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or emails you promising access to the vaccine for an extra fee." Though the vaccine is free of charge, "your vaccination provider may bill … [Read more...] about Beware of COVID-19 vaccine scams, CDC warns older adults