Top Items:
Anne Applebaum / The Atlantic:
Other Regimes Will Hijack Planes Too — Even when our most basic civilizational values are in dispute, there are a few sets of rules and regulations that we nevertheless manage to share. The laws of the sea, for example, or the norms governing the conduct of air-traffic controllers.
Discussion:
CNN, Insider, Politico, The Guardian, CBS News, Washington Post and KEYT-TV, more at Mediagazer »
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Adam Taylor / Washington Post:
As countries condemn Belarus flight diversion, critics accuse West of similar tactics — In an elaborate ploy, a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius on Sunday was forced to land in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, over a bomb scare that Belarusian authorities appear to have engineered.
Tom Jones / Poynter:
The Associated Press fired a reporter over social media use — and what it means for other news outlets — Should journalists be expected to erase who they are for the sake of appearing to be objective? News outlets need to refine these policies. — The big buzz in the media the past few days …
Discussion:
Glenn Greenwald, New York Times, CNN, The Hill, Fox News and Columbia Journalism Review, more at Mediagazer »
Washington Post:
Europe moves to isolate Belarus after Minsk forces airliner to land and detains dissident — RIGA, Latvia — European leaders on Monday were taking steps to cut off air connections with Belarus, barring airlines from flying over the country a day after its leaders forced a commercial jet to land and arrested a dissident journalist.
Discussion:
New Republic, Reuters, news.com.au, The Moscow Times, BBC, France 24, Al Jazeera, Joe.My.God., Foreign Policy, NBC New York, New York Times and Patterico's Pontifications
Sergei Kuznetsov / Politico:
Why the Belarusian journalist was snatched from the Ryanair flight
Why the Belarusian journalist was snatched from the Ryanair flight
Discussion:
Newstalk, Insider, KEYT-TV, Washington Free Beacon and ABC7, more at Mediagazer »
Sheena McKenzie / CNN:
Belarus accused of ‘state-sponsored piracy’ as Ryanair says KGB agents were on diverted plane
Belarus accused of ‘state-sponsored piracy’ as Ryanair says KGB agents were on diverted plane
Discussion:
New York Post and KEYT-TV
Tasneem Nashrulla / BuzzFeed News:
AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After A Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism
AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After A Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism
Discussion:
Politico and The Intercept
Gideon Rachman / Financial Times:
Belarus kidnapping sets a dangerous global precedent
Belarus kidnapping sets a dangerous global precedent
Discussion:
New York Times and Digby's Hullabaloo
David McCabe / New York Times:
Florida, in a First, Will Fine Social Media Companies That Bar Candidates — The new law is a direct response to Facebook's and Twitter's suspensions of former President Donald J. Trump. — WASHINGTON — Florida on Monday became the first state to regulate how companies like Facebook …
Discussion:
spectator.us, Sun-Sentinel, TechCrunch and Forbes, more at Mediagazer »
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis:
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Stop the Censorship of Floridians by Big Tech — MIAMI - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7072 to hold Big Tech accountable by driving transparency and safeguarding Floridians' ability to access and participate in online platforms.
Discussion:
The Hill, The Daily Wire, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, RedState, The Daily Caller, Townhall, Breitbart, Insider, IJR, NOQ Report, One America News Network, The Federalist, WATCH LIVE and Mediaite
Cat Zakrzewski / Washington Post:
Florida governor signs bill barring social media companies from blocking political candidates — Tech trade groups say law is unconstitutional, conflicts with federal law — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that aims to punish social media companies for their moderation decisions …
Discussion:
CNN, CBS Miami, Joe.My.God., New York Post, Associated Press, The Verge and Washington Times
Nihal Krishan / Washington Examiner:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill stopping social media from banning politicians
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill stopping social media from banning politicians
Discussion:
RedState, Florida Politics, Associated Press, National Review and Althouse
John Hudson / Washington Post:
Key impeachment witness Gordon Sondland sues Mike Pompeo and U.S. for $1.8 million in legal fees — President Donald Trump's former ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, is suing former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and the U.S. government for $1.8 million to compensate …
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Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Sondland sues Pompeo, U.S. for $1.8M in impeachment legal bills
Sondland sues Pompeo, U.S. for $1.8M in impeachment legal bills
Discussion:
Law & Crime, NPR, ABC News and Washington Examiner
Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
How the Liberal Media Dismissed the Lab-Leak Theory and Smeared Its Supporters — When Nicholson Baker wrote a cover story for New York laying out the evidence that COVID-19 may have originated in a lab in Wuhan, China, the hypothesis was still highly controversial.
Discussion:
The Federalist, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Forbes, Breitbart and FOX News Radio
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Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
The vexing ‘lab leak’ theory on China and the coronavirus
The vexing ‘lab leak’ theory on China and the coronavirus
Discussion:
CNBC, Fox News, Summit News, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, BizPac Review, TheBlaze, Reason and HotAir
Jim Geraghty / National Review:
The Circumstantial Evidence at Wuhan Lab Keeps Growing
The Circumstantial Evidence at Wuhan Lab Keeps Growing
Discussion:
USA Today, Wall Street Journal, HotAir, Summit News, Althouse and WSVN-TV
Stephen L. Miller / spectator.us:
Don't let the media get away with U-turning on the lab leak theory
Don't let the media get away with U-turning on the lab leak theory
Discussion:
El American
Shawn Boburg / Washington Post:
Commerce Department security unit evolved into counterintelligence-like operation, Washington Post examination found — An obscure security unit tasked with protecting the Commerce Department's officials and facilities has evolved into something more akin to a counterintelligence operation …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Verge, Raw Story, Gizmodo, The Hill and The Intellectualist
Matti Friedman / The Atlantic:
Israel's Problems Are Not Like America's — Rereading Exodus, the schmaltzy 1958 best seller about Israel that became a Hollywood movie starring Paul Newman, I was surprised by something I hadn't noticed as a teenager. The author, Leon Uris, describes a utopia of brave young pioneers in khaki shorts …
Discussion:
HotAir
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Max Fisher / New York Times:
As Israel's Dependence on U.S. Shrinks, So Does U.S. Leverage
As Israel's Dependence on U.S. Shrinks, So Does U.S. Leverage
Discussion:
HuffPost
Matan Arad-Neeman / Medium:
Matan Arad-Neeman — We write to you as proud alumni of your campaign.
Matan Arad-Neeman — We write to you as proud alumni of your campaign.
Discussion:
Axios, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Federalist, Mediaite, Washington Post, Common Dreams and The National Interest
Juliet Macur / New York Times:
Simone Biles Dials Up the Difficulty, ‘Because I Can’ — The Olympic gold medalist's new vault is so dangerous that gymnastics, for now, limits the scoring rewards for trying it. Biles says that's unfair. — INDIANAPOLIS — Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history …
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
The campaign for D.C. statehood just got a big boost — One of the most nettlesome objections to extending congressional representation to the residents of Washington, D.C., is that it requires a constitutional amendment. Many Republicans say this, which is hardly surprising.
Discussion:
Common Dreams
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
McGahn Is Likely to Testify Next Week on Trump's Efforts to Obstruct Russia Inquiry — A delay is said to have stemmed from an initial threat by former President Donald J. Trump to intervene, but he apparently reversed course. — WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump's former White House counsel …
Zach Montellaro / Politico:
They tried to overturn the 2020 election. Now they want to run the next one. — Republicans who sought to undercut or overturn President Joe Biden's election win are launching campaigns to become their states' top election officials next year, alarming local officeholders and opponents …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, HotAir, ABC News, Kausfiles, CNN, Insider, Occupy Democrats, Daily Kos, Vanity Fair, Steve Bannon's War Room, KTAR.com, Raw Story, Mock Paper Scissors and Political Wire
Wall Street Journal:
Amazon Nears Deal to Buy Hollywood Studio MGM — Deal for the ‘Rocky’ and ‘James Bond’ studio would mark tech company's second largest-ever acquisition — Amazon.com Inc. is nearing a deal to buy the Hollywood studio MGM Holdings for almost $9 billion including debt, said people familiar with the matter …
Discussion:
Forbes, Vox, Al Jazeera, Joe.My.God., New York Post, Gizmodo, Deadline, Breitbart and Hollywood Reporter, more at Mediagazer »
Jack Posobiec / Human Events:
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked State Department Memo Indicates Official Support for BLM Agenda — A source within the Biden State Department wishing to remain anonymous has shared with Human Events News a document that indicates that all U.S. “Diplomatic and Consular posts” are being encouraged …
Adam Klasfeld / Law & Crime:
Judge Reveals More About the ‘Principal Lies’ Paul Manafort Told to Robert Mueller — A federal judge unsealed nearly half a dozen files on Monday itemizing the “principal lies” Donald Trump's since-pardoned former campaign chair Paul Manafort allegedly told special counsel Robert Mueller's team …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
New York Times:
What the Tulsa Race Massacre Destroyed — THE MARQUEE BLOCK — More than 70 businesses operated in mostly one-, two- and three-story red brick buildings clustered along the block. All but a couple were owned by Black entrepreneurs. — In this stretch alone, there were four hotels …
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money
Andrew Marantz / New Yorker:
Are We Entering a New Political Era? — The neoliberal order seems to be collapsing. A generation of young activists is trying to insure that it's replaced by progressive populism, not by the fascist right. — Last June, when most Americans could agree that their country was in crisis …
Ayaan Hirsi Ali / UnHerd:
How influencers have enabled anti-Semitism — Instagram activists have turned false narratives into deadly fantasies — Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, Founder of the AHA Foundation, and host of The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast.
Discussion:
NPR, Jewish Journal and TheBlaze
Ashley Parker / Washington Post:
Weightlifting, Gatorade, birthday calls: Inside Biden's day — During a speech in Pittsburgh in March, President Biden held up the index card he keeps in his right breast pocket to track the nation's covid deaths, inadvertently revealing a glimpse of his private schedule on the back side.
Discussion:
New York Post, Breitbart, Fox News, Insider and Townhall
Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
The GOP's shifting arguments against a Jan. 6 commission — There have been plenty of indications that Republicans don't want to see a congressional Jan. 6 commission for one very basic reason: It's politically bad. — It's bad because it would necessarily point the finger (to some degree) …
Discussion:
Politico, New York Times, Deseret News, Reuters, The Hill and Common Dreams
Catherine Shoard / The Guardian:
Kevin Spacey set for return to movies with paedophilia drama — The actor, who has been the subject of multiple sexual misconduct allegations, is to play a detective in Franco Nero's film about a man wrongly suspected of child abuse — Kevin Spacey, the actor who has faced numerous allegations …
Discussion:
IJR, Louder With Crowder, ABC News, New York Times, The Daily Caller, Vanity Fair, Mediaite, Fox News and Breitbart
Natalie B. Compton / Washington Post:
30 observations from my first vaccinated flight — Everything you hated about flying is back, baby. — Many people took a hiatus from travel last year, because — well, you know why. Road warriors stayed home. Newlyweds put off their honeymoons. But now that millions of people …
Luke Savage / The Atlantic:
If Democracy Is Dying, Why Are Democrats So Complacent? — If you've followed recent Democratic messaging, you'll have heard that American democracy is under serious attack by the Republican Party, representing an existential threat to the country. If you've followed Democratic lawmaking …
Discussion:
Politico, Breitbart and Media Matters for America
Allison Fisher / Media Matters for America:
Will “climate lockdowns” be Fox's next bonkers conspiracy theory? — Laura Ingraham told viewers that, in the name of climate change, more COVID-style lockdowns are coming … On back-to-back nights last week, Fox prime-time host Laura Ingraham warned her viewers that COVID-19 lockdowns …
Cleve Wootson / Washington Post:
Biden to meet with George Floyd's family amid uncertain progress on race — On Tuesday, a year after George Floyd was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, his family members will fly to Washington, D.C., for a private audience with President Biden, their first in-person meeting …
Discussion:
Power Line
Craig Mauger / Detroit News:
Whitmer apologizes after photo shows her at bar violating her own order — Lansing — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an apology Sunday after a photo emerged showing her at a restaurant with 12 other people gathered around tables pushed together in violation of her health department's current epidemic order.
Reuters:
EXCLUSIVE: Court action seeks probe of Trump's Scottish golf course buys — The Scottish government is facing a new legal challenge over its February rejection of a motion to investigate former U.S. President Donald Trump's all-cash purchases of two golf courses, reviving an effort to force Trump to disclose how he financed the deals.
Discussion:
Vanity Fair, Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, Raw Story and HuffPost, more at Mediagazer »
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
The Vaccine Class Gap — The biggest vaccination gap isn't based on race or partisanship. It's based on class. — It is common to hear about two different demographic groups that are hesitant to receive a Covid-19 vaccination: Republican voters and racial minorities, especially Black and Latino Americans.
Discussion:
HotAir